Thesis (M.S.)--University of Southern California, 1998. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Southern California, 1998. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 98-113).

The main objective of this project is to synthesize the first family of polynuclear chromium pyrazolate complexes. Complexity in analysis of the experimental magnetic data of multinuclear complexes arises from their (2S +1)N microstates, where S is the spin of each metal center and N is the number of metal centers. For example, high-spin (HS)-FeIII3 has 216 microstates and HS-FeIII8 ≈ 1.7x106 microstates (S= 5/2). However, complexes with chromium(III) S = 3/2 will have a noticeable reduction of microstates. Mononuclear complexes with formula [mer-CrCl3(pzH*)3] (pz*H = pyrazole, 3-Me-pzH, 4-Me-pzH, 4-Cl-pzH, 4-I-pzH, 4-Br-pzH) and [trans-CrCl2(pzH*)4]Cl (pzH* = pyrazole and 3-Me-pzH) were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. Polynuclear iron pyrazolate complexes are prepared by the addition of base to [mer-FeCl3(pzH*)3] and [trans-FeCl2(pzH*)4]Cl complexes; the path is not paralleled by mononuclear chromium(III) pyrazole complexes. There is a challenging situation with these reactions, caused by the attainment of equilibrium, where the stable mononuclear complexes and traces of dinuclear species coexist in solution. Microwave assisted reaction of Cr(NO3)3·9H2O and pyrazole ligand in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution afforded redox inactive trinuclear formate-pyrazolate mixed-ligand complexes with formula [Cr3(μ3-O)(μ-O2CH)3(μ-4-R-pz)3(DMF)3]+ (pz = pyrazolate anion; R= H, Me, Cl). Thermally assisted synthesis with non-hydrolysable solvent yielded an electrochemically active all-pyrazolate complex. Complex with formula (Ph4P)2[Cr3(μ3-O)(μ-4-Cl-pz)6Cl3] and (Ph4P)2[Cr3(μ3-O)(μ-4-Cl-pz)6Br3] have an oxidation process at 0.502 V at 0.332 V, respectively. The latter has a second accessed oxidation process at 0.584 V. These systems are the first example of electrochemically amendable trinuclear pyrazolate complex with {Cr3O} core. The all-ferric complexes [Fe3(μ3-O)(μ-4-NO2-pz)6(L)3]2- (L = NCO-, N3) were synthesized from reaction of [Fe3(μ3-O)(μ-4-NO2-pz)6Cl3]2- with NaNCO and NaN3. Expected reversible reduction processes were observed for both complexes at more negative potential, -0.70 V, compared to the thiocyanate complex (-0.36 V). The 57Fe Mössbauer of the reduced [Fe3(μ3-O)(μ-4-NO2-pz)6(N3)3]3- is suggestive of a HS-to-LS electronic reorganization, as seen for the [Fe3(μ3-O)(μ-4-NO2-pz)6(SCN)3]3- complex. Furthermore, compound [Fe3(μ3-O)(μ-4-NO2-pz)6(N3)3]2-, shows a unique reversible oxidation process at 0.82 V (vs. Fc+/Fc) to a mixed-valent, formally Fe3+2/Fe4+ species.

M.Tech. (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences), Vaal University of Technology / Many oxidic iron compounds—iron oxides; oxy-hydroxides and hydroxides—not only play an important role in a variety of disciplines but also serve as a model system of reduction and catalytic reactions. There are more than 16 identifiable oxidic iron compounds. The reduction of these compounds has been investigated for centuries. Despite this, the reduction behavior of the oxides is not fully understood as yet. To date the reduction mechanism is still plagued with uncertainties and conflicting theories, partly due to the complex nature of these oxides and intermediates formed during the reduction. Thermodynamically, the reduction of iron oxide occurs in steps. For example, during the reduction of hematite (a-Fe2O3) magnetite (Fe3O4) is first formed followed by non-stoichiometric wüstite (Fe1-yO) and lastly metallic iron (a-Fe). The rate of transformation depends on the reduction conditions. Further, this reduction is accompanied by changes in the crystal structure. The reduction behavior of iron oxides using graphite under ball-milling conditions was investigated using Planetary mono mill (Fritsch Pulverisette 6), Mössbauer Spectroscopy (MS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). It was found that hematite transformed into magnetite, Wüstite and or cementite depending on the milling conditions. The study shows that by increasing the milling time, the rotational speed and / or the ball to powder ratio, the extent of the conversion of hematite to its reduction products increased. Further investigations are required for the elucidation of the reduction mechanism. The reaction og magnetite and graphite at different milling conditions lead to the formation of Fe2+ and Fe3+ species, the former increasing at the expense of Fe3O4. Fe3O4 completely disappeared after a BPR of 50:1 and beyond. The Fe2+ species was confirmed to be due to FeO using XRD analysis. HRSEM images Fe2O3 using scanning electron microscopy prior to and after milling at different times showed significant changes while the milling period was increased, HRSEM images showed that the once well defined hematite particles took ill-defined shapes and also became smaller in size, which was a results of the milling action that induced reaction between the two powders to form magnetite. EDX spectra at different milling times also confirmed formation of magnetite. EDX elemental analysis and quantification confirmed the elemental composition of starting material consisting mainly of iron. Similarly, HRSEM images of Fe3O4 using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) prior to and after milling at different BPR showed significant changes when the milling period was increased. EDX spectra at different milling times also confirmed formation of partial FeO and EDX elemental analysis and quantification confirmed the elemental composition of starting material consisting mainly of iron than Fe2O3. TEM images of both Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 particles at different milling conditions displayed observable particle damages as a function of milling period.The once well - defined particles (Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 ) successively took ill – defined shapes, possibly accompanied by crystallite size reduction. MAS showed that the reactive milling of α- Fe2O3 and C resulted in reduction to Fe3O4 , FeO and or cementite depending on the milling conditions etc Time, milling speed and BPR variation which influenced the reduction. The study shows that by increasing the milling time, the rotational speed and / or the ball to powder ratio, the extent of the conversion of hematite to its reduction products increased. XRD study investigations even though were unable to detect spm species (Fe2+ and Fe3+ ) which has smaller crystallites below detection limits ,the variation in time showed an increment in the magnetite peaks accompanied by recession of hematite and graphite peaks as the milling time was increased which relates to the MAS observation.XRD also corroborated the data obtained from MAS that showed that the main constituent was magnetite and further evidence in support of the reduction of hematite to magnetite under reactive milling was obtained using XRD . Overall, the work demonstrated selective reduction of Fe2O3 to Fe3O4 and Fe3O4 to FeO by fine tuning the milling conditions. It is envisaged that the reduction of FeO to Fe and possible carburization to FexC could also be achieved.