LIFETIMES OF RYDBERG LEVELS IN THE PERTURBED 6SNP P-1,3(1) SERIES OF YBI

Using two methods: (1) three-step excitation and (2) single UV photon excitation in an atomic beam with direct observation of the decay of the fluorescence light, we have measured the lifetimes of the Rydberg levels of YbI belonging to the perturbed series 6snp J = 1 levels. The measured values have been interpreted by the multichannel quantum defect theory (MQDT).

SYNTHESIS AND X-RAY STRUCTURE OF AN ORGANOLANTHANUM COMPLEX [(BUTCP)3LACLLI(THF)3]

LaCl3.2LiCl reacts with two equivalents of Bu(t)CpNa in THF to give the complex [(Bu(t)Cp)3LaClLi(THF)3]. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction at room temperature. Two units, (Bu(t)Cp)3La and Li(THF)3, are connected by a single chlo

SYNTHESIS AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF [LI(THF)4][((T)BUCP)YB(NPH2)3]

The title complex [Li(THF)4] [(tBuCp)Yb(NPh2)3] was synthesized by the reaction of t-butylcyclopentadienyl ytterbium dichloride with 2 equivalents of LiNPh2 in THF, hexane, and toluene at -78-degrees-C. The complex was characterized by elemental analysis,

SYNTHESES AND X-RAY STRUCTURES OF BIS(T-BUTYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL)LANTHANIDE CHLORIDE COMPLEXES [(BU(T)CP)2LNCL]2 (LN = PR, GD, ER)

Reaction of lanthanide trichlorides with two equivalents of sodium t-butylcyclopentadienide in THF gave rise to the bis(t-butylcyclopentadienyl)lanthanide chloride complexes [(Bu(t)Cp)2LnCl]2 (Ln = Pr, Gd, Er), which were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the crystal structures of [(ButCp)2PrCl]2 (1) and [(ButCp)2GdCl]2 (2) were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature. The coordination number for Pr3+ and Gd3+ is 8 and the bond lengths Pr-Cl and Gd-Cl are 2.864(2) and 2.771(3) angstrom, respectively. The structural studies showed the complexes to have C2h symmetry.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BINUCLEAR ORGANOLANTHANIDE COMPLEXES INVOLVING CYCLOPENTADIENYL AND N-PROPYLOXIDE LIGANDS - X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF [(C5H5)2YB(MU-OCH2CH2CH3)]2

By the reaction of Cp3Ln (Cp = C5H5; Ln = Dy, Ho, Yb) with equimolar n-propyl alcohol in THF (tetrahydrofuran) at room temperature three new binuclear organolanthanide complexes, [CP2Ln(mu-OCH2CH2CH3)]2 (Ln = Dy, Ho, Yb), have been synthesized, as shown by X-ray single-crystal structure analysis for the complex [Cp2Yb(mu-OCH2CH2CH3)]2. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and MS spectra. The Yb2O2 unit is planar, and the ytterbium atom is coordinated by two Cp ring centroids and two oxygen atoms of two n-propyloxide ligands to form a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The average Yb-C (Cp) bond distance is 2.589(17) angstrom. The average Yb-O distance is 2.199(5) angstrom. The Yb-Yb separation [3.521(1) angstrom] indicates that no metal-metal interaction is present.

SYNTHESES OF BIS(TERT-BUTYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL)LANTHANOID CHLORIDE COMPLEXES AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES OF BIS(TERT-BUTYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL)CHLORO(BISTETRAHYDROFURAN)-PRASEODYMIUM AND BIS(TERT-BUTYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL)-CHLOROTETRAHYDROFURANYTTERBIUM

Reaction of lanthanoid trichloride with two equivalents of sodium t-butylcyclopentadienide in tetrahydrofuran affords bis(t-butylcyclopentadienyl)lanthanoid chloride complexes (t-BuCp)2LnCl. nTHF (Ln = Pr, Nd, n = 2; Ln = Gd, Yb, n = 1). The compound (t-BuCp)2PrCl.2THF (1) crystallizes from THF in monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with unit cell dimensions a = 15.080(3), b = 8.855(2), c = 21.196(5) angstrom, beta = 110.34(2)degrees, V = 2653.9 angstrom-3 and D(calcd) = 1.41 g/cm3 for Z = 4. The central metal Pr is coordinated to two t-BuCp ring centroids, one chlorine atom and two THF forming a distorted trigonal bipyramid. The crystal of (t-BuCp)2YbCl.THF (2) belongs to the monoclinic crystal system, space group P2(1)/n with a = 7.726(1), b = 12.554(2), c = 23.200(6) angstrom, beta = 97.77(2)degrees, V = 2229.56 angstrom-3, D(calcd) = 1.50 g/cm3 and Z = 4. The t-BuCp ring centroids, the chlorine atom and the oxygen atom of the THF describe a distorted tetrahedron around the central ion of ytterbium.

Near-infrared photoluminescence of lanthanide complexes containing the hemicyanine chromophore

The near-infrared luminescence properties of three (E)-N-hexadecyl-N',N'-dimethylamino-stilbazolium tetrakis(1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-benzoyl-5-pyrazolonato) lanthanide(III) complexes are described. These three complexes, containing trivalent neodymium, erbium and ytterbium, respectively, show near-infrared luminescence in acetonitrile solution upon UV irradiation. Luminescence decay times have been measured. The complexes consist of a positively charged hemicyanine chromophore with a long alkyl chain and a tetrakis(pyrazolonato) lanthanide(III) anion. Because of the absence of an alpha-hydrogen atom in the pyrazolonato ligands, and because of the saturation of the coordination sphere by four bidentate ligands, the luminescence properties are enhanced when compared to, e.g. quinolinate complexes. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rare-earth complexes of ferrocene-containing ligands: Visible-light excitable luminescent materials

The ferrocene-derivatives bis(ferrocenyl-ethynyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (Fc(2)phen) and ferrocenoyltrifluoroacetone (Hfta) have been used to synthesize ferrocene-containing rare-earth beta-diketonate complexes. The complexes [Ln(tta)(3)(Fc(2)phen)] and [Ln(fta)(3)(phen)] (where Ln = La, Nd, Eu, Yb) show structural similarities to the tris(2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)(1,10-phenanthroline)lanthanide(III) complexes, [Ln(tta)(3)(phen)]. The coordination number of the lanthanide ion is 8, and the coordination sphere can be described as a distorted dodecahedron. However, the presence of the ferrocene moieties shifts the ligand absorption bands of the rare-earth complexes to longer wavelengths so that the complexes can be excited not only by ultraviolet radiation but also by visible light of wavelengths up to 420 nm. Red photoluminescence is observed for the europium(III) complexes and near-infrared photoluminescence for the neodymium(III) and ytterbium(III) complexes. The presence of the ferrocene groups makes the rare-earth complexes hydrophobic and well-soluble in apolar organic solvents.

Lanthanide(III) nitrobenzenesulfonates as new nitration catalysts: The role of the metal and of the counterion in the catalytic efficiency

Lanthanide(III) complexes of p-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid, Ln(p-NBSA)(3), m-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid, Ln(m-NBSA)(3), and 2,4-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid, Ln(2,4-NBSA)(3), were prepared, characterized and examined as catalyst for the nitration of benzene, toluene, xylenes, naphthalene, bromobenzene and chlorobenzene. The initial screening of the catalysts showed that lanthanum(III) complexes were more effective than the corresponding ytterbium(III) complexes, and that catalysts containing the bulky 2,4-NBSA ligand were less effective than the catalyst containing p-NBSA (nosylate) or m-NBSA ligands. Examination of a series of Ln(p-NBSA)(3) and Ln(m-NBSA)(3) catalysts revealed that there is a clear correlation between the ionic radii of the lanthanide(III) ions and the yields of nitration, with the lighter lanthanides being more effective. The X-ray single crystal structure of Yb(m-NBSA)(3).6H(2)O shows that two m-NBSA ligands are directly bound to the metal centre while the third ligand is not located in the first coordination sphere, but it is hydrogen bonded to one of the water molecules which is coordinated to ytterbium(III). NMR studies suggest that this structure is preserved under the conditions used in the nitration reaction. The structure of Yb(m-NBSA)(3) is markedly different from the structure of the well-known ytterbium(III) triflate catalyst. The coordination of the nitrobenzenesulfonate counterion to the lanthanide(III) ion suggests that steric effects might play an important role in determining the efficiency of these novel nitration catalysts. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004).

Metals in the Exosphere of the Highly Irradiated Planet WASP-12b

We present near-UV transmission spectroscopy of the highly irradiated transiting exoplanet WASP-12b, obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. The spectra cover three distinct wavelength ranges: NUVA (2539-2580 Å), NUVB (2655-2696 Å), and NUVC (2770-2811 Å). Three independent methods all reveal enhanced transit depths attributable to absorption by resonance lines of metals in the exosphere of WASP-12b. Light curves of total counts in the NUVA and NUVC wavelength ranges show a detection at a 2.5s level. We detect extra absorption in the Mg II ??2800 resonance line cores at the 2.8s level. The NUVA, NUVB, and NUVC light curves imply effective radii of 2.69 ± 0.24 R J , 2.18 ± 0.18 R J , and 2.66 ± 0.22 R J respectively, suggesting the planet is surrounded by an absorbing cloud which overfills the Roche lobe. We detect enhanced transit depths at the wavelengths of resonance lines of neutral sodium, tin, and manganese, and at singly ionized ytterbium, scandium, manganese, aluminum, vanadium, and magnesium. We also find the statistically expected number of anomalous transit depths at wavelengths not associated with any known resonance line. Our data are limited by photon noise, but taken as a whole the results are strong evidence for an extended absorbing exosphere surrounding the planet. The NUVA data exhibit an early ingress, contrary to model expectations; we speculate this could be due to the presence of a disk of previously stripped material.

Structure and interactions of ultracold Yb ions and Rb atoms

In order to study ultracold charge-transfer processes in hybrid atom-ion traps, we have mapped out the potential-energy curves and molecular parameters for several low-lying states of the Rb, Yb+ system. We employ both a multireference configuration interaction and a full configuration interaction (FCI) approach. Turning points, crossing points, potential minima, and spectroscopic molecular constants are obtained for the lowest five molecular states. Long-range parameters, including the dispersion coefficients, are estimated from our ab initio data. The separated-atom ionization potentials and atomic polarizability of the ytterbium atom (ad=128.4 atomic units) are in good agreement with experiment and previous calculations. We present some dynamical calculations for (adiabatic) scattering lengths for the two lowest (Yb, Rb+) channels that were carried out in our work. However, we find that the pseudopotential approximation is rather limited in validity and only applies to nK temperatures. The adiabatic scattering lengths for both the triplet and singlet channels indicate that both are large and negative in the FCI approximation.

Ultracold radiative charge transfer in hybrid ion-atom traps

We present ab initio quantum chemistry calculations for elastic scattering and the radiative charge transfer reaction process and collision rates for trapped ytterbium ions immersed in a quantum degenerate rubidium vapor.
The collision of the ion (or ions) with the quasiatom is the key mechanism to transfer quantum coherences between the systems. We use first-principles
quantum chemistry codes to obtain the potential surfaces and coupling terms for the two-body interaction of Yb^+ with Rb. We find that the low energy collision has an inelastic radiative charge transfer process in agreement with recent experiments.
The charge transfer cross section agrees well with the semiclassical Langevin model at higher energies but is dominated by resonances at submillikelvin temperatures.

Ring-opening of cycloalkane epoxides and aziridines with aromatic amines : toward the total synthesis of pactamycin

Résumé Cette thèse consiste en trois thèmes résumés dans les paragraphes ci-dessous. L’influence de différents groupements protecteurs du groupe hydroxyle lors des réactions d’ouverture des cis- et trans- 3-hydroxy-1,2-époxycycloalcanes a été étudiée. Il a été montré que Yb(OTf)3 constituait un catalyseur doux pour l’ouverture régiosélective de cycles afin d’obtenir les -anilino cycloalcanols correspondants avec de bons rendements. Le chauffage du milieu réactionnel dans le toluène comme solvant a permis d’augmenter la cinétique de la réaction, au dépend du rendement. La partie aniline a été régiosélectivement introduite en position vicinale du groupe hydroxyle ou éther afin d’obtenir un unique régioisomère. La même tendance a été observée avec les époxydes du 3-azidocyclohex-1-ène et du 3-carbamate correspondant. Le temps de réaction a été réduit lorsque Yb(OTf)3 a été dissous dans l’acétonitrile. Le triflate d’ytterbium (III) a également été utilisé comme catalyseur pour l’ouverture de cycle régiosélective d’aziridines non-activées sur des cyclohexanes portant des substituants azotures ou éthers de benzyle. L’ion azoture ou l’aniline forment les produits trans correspondants, donnant alors accès à des diamines vicinales avec de bons rendements. Un éther ω-alcoxy p-méthoxybenzylique racémique, inhibiteur de HDAC, a été ainsi préparé en huit étapes synthétiques (rendement total de 26%) à partir du 1-((tert-butyldiphénylsilyl)oxy)hept-6-èn-2-ol. Ceci représente un progrès par rapport à la précédente méthode (9 étapes, rendement total de 16%). La métathèse croisée se montre particulièrement efficace et pratique dans cette stratégie et l’alkylation par le trichloroacétimidate de p-méthoxybenzyle en présence de Sc(OTf)3 améliore le rendement global de la synthèse. Un aminoalcool présent dans la pactamycine et contenant le squelette carboné, les groupements fonctionnels et la stéréochimie requise a été synthétisé en 27 étapes à partir de la L-thréonine. La méthodologie décrite dans cette thèse permet la synthèse de cet intermédiaire clé à l’échelle multigramme.

Aqueous Sol-gel Process for Nanocrystalline Photocatalytic Titania, Transparent Functional Coatings and Ceramic Membrane

The present thesis develops from the point of view of titania sol-gel chemistry and an attempt is made to address the modification of the process for better photoactive titania by selective doping and also demonstration of utilization of the process for the preparation of supported membranes and self cleaning films.A general introduction to nanomaterials, nanocrystalline titania and sol-gel chemistry are presented in the first chapter. A brief and updated literature review on sol-gel titania, with special emphasis on catalytic and photocatalytic properties and anatase to rutile transformation are covered. Based on critical assessment of the reported information the present research problem has been defined.The second chapter describes a new aqueous sol-gel method for the preparation of nanocrystalline titania using titanyl sulphate as precursor. This approach is novel since no earlier work has been reported in the same lines proposed here. The sol-gel process has been followed at each step using particle size, zeta potential measurements on the sol and thermal analysis of the resultant gel. The prepared powders were then characterized using X-ray diffraction, FTIR, BET surface area analysis and transmission electron microscopy.The third chapter presents a detailed discussion on the physico-chemical characterization of the aqueous sol-gel derived doped titania. The effect of dopants such as tantalum, gadolinium and ytterbium on the anatase to rutile phase transformation, surface area as well as their influence on photoactivity is also included. The fourth chapter demonstrates application of the aqueous sol-gel method in developing titania coatings on porous alumina substrates for controlling the poresize for use as membrane elements in ultrafiltration. Thin coatings having ~50 nm thickness and transparency of ~90% developed on glass surface were tested successfully for self cleaning applications.

Growth, optical characterization, and laser operation of a stoichiometric crystal KYb(WO4)(2)

We present our recent achievements in the growing and optical characterization of KYb(WO4)2 (hereafter KYbW) crystals and demonstrate laser operation in this stoichiometric material. Single crystals of KYbW with optimal crystalline quality have been grown by the top-seeded-solution growth slow-cooling method. The optical anisotropy of this monoclinic crystal has been characterized, locating the tensor of the optical indicatrix and measuring the dispersion of the principal values of the refractive indices as well as the thermo-optic coefficients. Sellmeier equations have been constructed valid in the visible and near-IR spectral range. Raman scattering has been used to determine the phonon energies of KYbW and a simple physical model is applied for classification of the lattice vibration modes. Spectroscopic studies (absorption and emission measurements at room and low temperature) have been carried out in the spectral region near 1 µm characteristic for the ytterbium transition. Energy positions of the Stark sublevels of the ground and the excited state manifolds have been determined and the vibronic substructure has been identified. The intrinsic lifetime of the upper laser level has been measured taking care to suppress the effect of reabsorption and the intrinsic quantum efficiency has been estimated. Lasing has been demonstrated near 1074 nm with 41% slope efficiency at room temperature using a 0.5 mm thin plate of KYbW. This laser material holds great promise for diode pumped high-power lasers, thin disk and waveguide designs as well as for ultrashort (ps/fs) pulse laser systems.