Hydrolytic reactions of tetrasulphur tetranitride in a homogeneous medium

The hydrolytic reactions of tetrasulphur tetranitride are studied in a homogeneous medium. Alkaline hydrolysis gives sulphite, thiosulphate, sulphate and sulphide whereas the products in acid hydrolysis are mainly sulphur dioxide, elemental sulphur and hydrogen sulphide, with traces of polythionates. Under optimum conditions, tetrasulphur tetranitride reacts with sulphite consuming 2 moles of sulphite per mole of sulphur nitride to give 2 moles of trithionate. The reaction of sulphur nitride with thiosulphuric acid gives pentathionate and tetrathionate.

Potentiometric and spectrophotometric investigation of nickel-monoethanol-amine complexes

A detailed study of nickel-monoethanolamine complexes has been made employing potentiometric and spectrophotometric methods. The conditions for the formation of mono as well as polynuclear complexes have been investigated by potentiometric method. Evidence is presented for the formation of the following complexes and their stability constants are determined: NiA2+, Ni22+, Ni32+, NiA42+, NiA52+, NiA22+, Ni2A24+ and Ni3A36+. Combining potentiometric data with the spectrophotometric data, absorption spectra of the pure mononuclear complexes NiA2+ to NiA42+ and NiA2+6 have been computed. The absorption spectrum of NiA2+6 has been discussed on the basis of ligand field and molecular orbital theories. The absorption spectra of intermediate complexes have been interpreted on the basis of average ligand field theory. There has been good agreement between the experimental (10,400 cm-1) value of 10 Dq of NiA2+6 and the calculated value of 10 Dq (11,400 cm-1) on the basis of M.O. theory.

Nitrosation of N,N′-ethylenebis-(acetylacetoneimine) complexes of copper (II) and nickel(II) and characterization of the products

Isonitroso derivatives of copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes of N,N′-ethylenebis(acetylacetoneimine) have been prepared by nitrosation of the respective complexes using nitric oxide as well as nitrite ion. The condensation of isonitrosoacetylacetone in the presence and in the absence of nickel(II) has been investigated. The i.r. and electronic spectra and magnetic moment of the nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes have been studied. The nature of bonding of the ligand to the metal ion is discussed. The complexes have planar structures.

Nickel(II) complexes of 1-benzyl-2-phenylbenzimidazole

Nickel(II) complexes of 1-benzyl-2-phenylbenzimidazole (BPBI) of the general formula [Ni(BPBI)2X2](X=Cl-, Br-, NCS- or NO3-) have been prepared and their magnetic moments, i.r. and electronic spectra studied. [Ni(BPBI)2Cl2] has a pseudotetrahedral structure while [Ni(BPBI)2 Br2] exists as square planar and speudotetrahedral isomers. [Ni(BPBI)2I2] and [NI(BPBI)2(NCS)2] have square planar stereochemistry. The nitrato complex [Ni(BPBI)2(NO)3)2] exists in two different octahedral modifications in the solid state.

Antipyrine and pyridine n-oxide complexes of iron(II)

Iron(II) complexes of 1-phenyl-2,3-dimethyl-5-pyrazolone (antipyrine, Apy) and pyridine N-oxide (PyO), having the formulae [Fe(Apy)6](ClO4)2, Fe(Apy)2Cl2, Fe(Apy)2Br2, Fe(Apy)4I2, [Fe(PyO)3Cl3]2 . 2H2O, [Fe(PyO)Cl2 . 2H2O]2, [Fe(PyO)3Br2]2 and [Fe(PyO)6]I2 have been prepared and characterized. [Fe(Apy)6](ClO4)2 in nitrobenzene and [Fe(PyO)6]I2 in acetonitrile behave as 1:2 electrolytes; Fe(Apy)4I2 shows considerable dissociation while Fe(Apy)2Cl2 and Fe(Apy)2Br2 are non-electrolytes and monomeric in nitrobenzene. [Fe(PyO)3Cl2]2 . 2H2O and [Fe(PyO)3Br2]2 in nitrobenzene and [Fe(PyO)Cl2 . 2H2O]2 in acetonitrile behave as non-electrolytes. All the complexes are spin-free. The i.r. spectra show that the oxygens of the CO and NO groups are the donors in the Apy and PyO complexes. A large decrease in the NO stretching frequency in [Fe(PyO)Cl2. 2H2O]2 suggests PyO acts as a bridge forming a binuclear complex. The chloro and the bromo complexes of Apy have been assigned pseudo tetrahedral structures while the rest of the complexes have octahedral or near octahedral configurations around the iron(II) on the basis of the magnetic moments and the electronic transitions.

Response of fungal and actinobacterial communities to water-level drawdown in boreal peatland sites

"We used PCR-DGGE fingerprinting and direct sequencing to analyse the response of fungal and actinobacterial communities to changing hydrological conditions at 3 different sites in a boreal peatland complex in Finland. The experimental design involved a short-term (3 years; STD) and a long-term (43 years; LTD) water-level drawdown. Correspondence analyses of DGGE bands revealed differences in the communities between natural sites representing the nutrient-rich mesotrophic fen, the nutrient-poorer oligotrophic fen, and the nutrient-poor ombrotrophic bog. Still, most fungi and actinobacteria found in the pristine peatland seemed robust to the environmental variables. Both fungal and actinobacterial diversity was higher in the fens than in the bog. Fungal diversity increased significantly after STD whereas actinobacterial diversity did not respond to hydrology. Both fungal and actinobacterial communities became more similar between peatland types after LTD, which was not apparent after STD. Most sequences clustered equally between the two main fungal phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Sequencing revealed that basidiomycetes may respond more (either positively or negatively) to hydrological changes than ascomycetes. Overall, our results suggest that fungal responses to water-level drawdown depend on peatland type. Actinobacteria seem to be less sensitive to hydrological changes, although the response of some may similarly depend on peatland type. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved."

Thiomalates of alkaline earth metals

Solid state 1:1 complexes of divalent Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba with thiomalic acid(tma) have been isolated and characterised by elemental analysis, IR spectra and thermal studies. It is shown that tma coordinates to the metal ions through carboxylic oxygen atoms. Thermal studies of these complexes show that desulphurisation preceeds decarbonylation reaction leading to the formation of metal carbonates in all the cases except Mg where MgO is the end product. Thermal stability of the anhydrous thiomaltes follows the order Mg not, vert, similar Ca > Sr > Ba. Structures have been proposed based on the information obtained from these studies.