Sharp magnetization step across the ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic transition in doped CeFe<SUB>2</SUB> alloys

Very sharp magnetization step is observed across the field-induced antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition in various doped CeFe2 alloys, when the measurement is performed below 5 K. In the higher temperature regime (T&gt;5 K) this transition is quite smooth in nature. Comparing to the recently observed similar behavior in manganites showing colossal magnetoresistance and magnetocaloric material Gd5Ge4, we argue that such a magnetization step is a generalized feature of a disorder-influenced first-order phase transition

Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Catalytic Activity of Indenyl tris-N-Pyrrolyl Phosphine Complexes of Ruthenium

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of new ruthenium complexes of the tris-N-pyrrolyl phosphine ligand P(pyr)3 is described. The new ruthenium complexes [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(pyr)3}] and [RuCl(ind){P(pyr)3}2] (ind = indenyl ligand η5-C9H7−) were synthesized in 73% and 63% isolated yield, respectively, by thermal ligand exchange of [RuCl(ind)(PPh3)2] with P(pyr)3. The electronic and steric properties of the new complexes were studied through analysis of the X-Ray structures and through cyclic voltammetry. The new complexes [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(pyr)3}] and [RuCl(ind){P(pyr)3}2] and the known complex [RuCl(ind)(PPh3)2}] differed only slightly in their steric properties, as seen from the comparable bond lengths and angles around the ruthenium center. The oxidation potentials of [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(pyr)3}] and [RuCl(ind){P(pyr)3}2] are +0.34 and +0.71 Volt vs. Cp2Fe0/+, which are substantially higher than that of [RuCl(ind)(PPh3)2] (−0.023 V), which is in accordance with the enhanced π-acidity of the P(pyr)3 ligand. The new complexes are catalytically active in the etherification of propargylic alcohols and in the first ruthenium-catalyzed formation of known and new xanthenones from propargylic alcohols and diketones (18 to 72 h at 90 °C in ClCH2CH2Cl or toluene, 1-2 mol-% catalyst, 69-22 % isolated yields)

Revival of Superconductivity by Y3+/Ca2+ substitution in YBa2Cu2.7Co0.3O7 without reported phase transformation

Results of phase formation, resistivity (r), and thermo-electric power (S), are reported on Y1-xCaxBa2Cu2.7Co0.3O7 compounds with x = 0.1 and 0.2. Pristine compound i.e. without Co or Ca substitution crystallizes in orthorhombic structure with space group P/mmm. Cu-site Co substituted compound i.e. YBa2Cu2.7Co0.3O7 is tetragonal. With simultaneous doping of Ca at Y site in Co substituted compound i.e. Y1-xCaxBa2Cu2.7Co0.3O7 the tetragonal nature still remains. r(T) measurements showed superconducting transition temperature (Tc) to decrease from 90K (YBa2Cu3O7) to 33 K for YBa2Cu2.7Co0.3O7 which with further Ca substitution increases from 33K to 53K (Y0.9 Ca0.1Ba2Cu2.7Co0.3O7) and 67 K for Y0.8 Ca0.2Ba2Cu2.7Co0.3O7. Tc decreases first with Cu-site Co substitution by hole-filling and later recovers by simultaneous hole creation by Y site Ca substitution. Room temperature thermoelectric power S(300 K), which is an indirect measure of mobile carriers shows the decrease of carriers with Co doping and creation by Ca substitution. Our results demonstrate the hole filling by Co substitution is compensated by simultaneous Ca substitution.Comment: 10 pages of TEXT and Fig

Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Catalytic Activity of Indenyl Complexes of Ruthenium Bearing Fluorinated Phosphine Ligands

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of new ruthenium complexes of fluorinated triarylphosphines is described. The new ruthenium complexes [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(p-C6H4CF3)3}] and [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(3,5-C6H3(CF3)2)3}] were synthesized in 57% and 24% isolated yield, respectively, by thermal ligand exchange of [RuCl(ind)(PPh3)2], where ind = indenyl ligand η5-C9H7−. The electronic and steric properties of the new complexes were studied through analysis of the X-ray structures and through cyclic voltammetry. The new complexes [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(p-C6H4CF3)3}] and [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(3,5-C6H3(CF3)2)3}] and the known complex [RuCl(ind)(PPh3)2}] differed only slightly in their steric properties, as seen from comparison of bond lengths and angles associated with the ruthenium center. As determined by cyclic voltammetry, the redox potentials of [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(p-C6H4CF3)3}] and [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(3,5-C6H3(CF3)2)3}] are +0.173 and + 0.370 V vs. Cp2Fe0/+, respectively, which are substantially higher than that of [RuCl(ind)(PPh3)2] (−0.023 V). After activation through chloride abstraction, the new complexes are catalytically active in the etherification of propargylic alcohols (8–24 h at 90 °C in toluene, 1–2 mol% catalyst loading, 29–61% isolated yields). As demonstrated by a comparative study for a test reaction, the three precursor complexes [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(p-C6H4CF3)3}], [RuCl(ind)(PPh3){P(3,5-C6H3(CF3)2)3}] and [RuCl(ind)(PPh3)2}] differed only slightly in catalytic activity

First order magnetic transition in CeFe2_2 alloys: Phase-coexistence and metastability

First order ferromagnetic (FM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) phase transition in doped-CeFe$_2$ alloys is studied with micro-Hall probe technique. Clear visual evidence of magnetic phase-coexistence on micrometer scales and the evolution of this phase-coexistence as a function of temperature, magnetic field and time across the first order FM-AFM transition is presented. Such phase-coexistence and metastability arise as natural consequence of an intrinsic disorder-influenced first order transition. Generality of this phenomena involving other classes of materials is discussed.Comment: 11 pages of text and 3 figure