Perovskites with the Framework-Forming Xenon.

The Group 18 elements (noble gases) were the last ones in the periodic system to have not been encountered in perovskite structures. We herein report the synthesis of a new group of double perovskites KM(XeNaO6) (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) containing framework-forming xenon. The structures of the new compounds, like other double perovskites, are built up of the alternating sequence of corner-sharing (XeO6) and (NaO6) octahedra arranged in a three-dimensional rocksalt order. The fact that xenon can be incorporated into the perovskite structure provides new insights into the problem of Xe depletion in the atmosphere. Since octahedrally coordinated Xe(VIII) and Si(IV) exhibit close values of ionic radii (0.48 and 0.40 Å, respectively), one could assume that Xe(VIII) can be incorporated into hyperbaric frameworks such as MgSiO3 perovskite. The ability of Xe to form stable inorganic frameworks can further extend the rich and still enigmatic chemistry of this noble gas.

How short is the strongest hydrogen bond in the proton-bound homodimers of pyridine derivatives?

Hydrogen bond geometries in the proton-bound homodimers of ortho-unsubstituted and ortho-methylsubstituted pyridine derivatives in aprotic polar solution were estimated using experimental NMR data. Within the series of homodimers studied the hydrogen bond lengths depend on the proton affinity of pyridines and--at least for the ortho-methylsubstituted pyridines--on the pKa of the conjugate acids in an approximately quadratic manner. The shortest possible hydrogen bond in the homodimers of ortho-unsubstituted pyridines is characterized by the N···N distance of 2.613 Å. Steric repulsion between the methyl groups of the ortho-methylsubstituted pyridines becomes operative at an N···N distance of ∼2.7 Å and limits the closest approach to 2.665 Å.

Mutable Lewis and Brønsted acidity of aluminated SBA-15 as revealed by NMR of adsorbed pyridine-15N.

(1)H and variable-temperature (15)N NMR techniques have been used to study the effect of the gradual alumination of SBA-15 on the structure and adsorption properties of this mesoporous material. The interpretation of experimental spectra suggests that aluminum chlorhydrol most effectively reacts with silica surfaces in the confinement of the cavities of rough mesopore walls, instead of forming a homogeneous aluminum film. This first leads to a gradual filling of the cavities and finally results in aluminum islands on the inner surfaces of mesopores. In the sample with a Si/Al atomic ratio of 4.1, up to half of the inner surface area of the mesopores is covered with aluminum. The alumination produces Brønsted acid sites attributed to silanol groups interacting with aluminum but does not affect the proton-donating ability of isolated silanol groups. At high Si/Al ratios, the surface contains only one type of Lewis site attributed to tetracoordinated aluminum. At lower Si/Al ratios, Lewis acid sites with a lower electron-accepting ability appear, as attributed to pentacoordinated aluminum. The numerical values of the surface densities of all chemically active sites have been estimated after annealing at 420 and 700 K. We were surprised to observe that gaseous nitrogen can occupy Lewis acid sites and hinder the interaction of the aluminum with any other electron donor. As a result, aluminated surfaces saturated with nitrogen do not exhibit any Brønsted or Lewis acidity. At room temperature, it takes days before pyridine replaces nitrogen at the Lewis acid sites.

"Hexagonal molybdenum trioxide"--known for 100 years and still a fount of new discoveries.

In 1906, the preparation of "molybdic acid hydrate" was published by Arthur Rosenheim. Over the past 40 years, a multitude of isostructural compounds, which exist within a wide phase range of the system MoO3−NH3−H2O, have been published. The reported molecular formulas of "hexagonal molybdenum oxide" varied from MoO3 to MoO3·0.33NH3 to MoO3·nH2O (0.09 ≤ n ≤ 0.69) to MoO3·mNH3·nH2O (0.09 ≤ m ≤ 0.20; 0.18 ≤ n ≤ 0.60). Samples, prepared by the acidification route were investigated using thermal analysis coupled online to a mass spectrometer for evolved gas analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, Raman, magic-angle-spinning 1H- and 15N NMR spectroscopy, and incoherent inelastic neutron scattering. A comprehensive characterization of these samples will lead to a better understanding of their structure and physical properties as well as uncover the underlying relationship between the various compositions. The synthesized polymeric parent samples can be represented by the structural formula (NH4)(x∞)(3)[Mo(y square 1−y)O(3y)(OH)(x)(H2O)(m−n)]·nH2O with 0.10 ≤ x ≤ 0.14, 0.84 ≤ y ≤ 0.88, and m + n ≥ 3 − x − 3y. The X-ray study of a selected monocrystal confirmed the presence of the well-known 3D framework of edge- and corner-sharing MoO6 octahedra. The colorless monocrystal crystallizes in the hexagonal system with space group P6(3)/m, Z = 6, and unit cell parameters of a = 10.527(1) Å, c = 3.7245(7) Å, V = 357.44(8) Å3, and ρ = 3.73 g·cm(−3). The structure of the prepared monocrystal can best be described by the structural formula (NH4)(0.13∞)(3)[Mo(0.86 square 0.14)O2.58(OH)0.13(H2O)(0.29−n)]·nH2O, which is consistent with the existence of one vacancy (square) for six molybdenum sites. The sample MoO3·0.326NH3·0.343H2O, prepared by the ammoniation of a partially dehydrated MoO3·0.170NH3·0.153H2O with dry gaseous ammonia, accommodates NH3 in the hexagonal tunnels, in addition to [NH4]+ cations and H2O. The "chimie douce" reaction of MoO3·0.155NH3·0.440H2O with a 1:1 mixture of NO/NO2 at 100 °C resulted in the synthesis of MoO3·0.539H2O. This material is of great interest as a host of various molecules and cations.

Geometrical features of hydrogen bonded complexes involving sterically hindered pyridines.

The ability of strongly sterically hindered pyridines to form hydrogen bonded complexes was inspected using low-temperature 1H and 15N NMR spectroscopy in a liquefied Freon mixture. The proton acceptors were 2,6-di(tert-butyl)-4-methyl- and 2,6-di(tert-butyl)-4-diethylaminopyridine; the proton donors were hydrogen tetrafluoroborate, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen fluoride. The presence of the tert-butyl groups in the ortho positions dramatically perturbed the geometry of the forming hydrogen bonds. As revealed by experiment, the studied crowded pyridines could form hydrogen bonded complexes with proton donors exclusively through their protonation. Even the strongest small proton acceptor, anion F-, could not be received by the protonated base. Instead, the simplest hydrogen bonded complex involved the [FHF]- anion. This complex was characterized by the shortest possible N...F distance of about 2.8 A. Because the ortho tert-butyl groups did not prevent the hydrogen bond interaction between the protonated center and the anion completely, an increase of the pyridine basicity caused a further shortening of the N-H distance and a weakening of the hydrogen bond to the counterion.