The reduction of the tribromoamidosilane {N(SiMe )Dipp}SiBr (Dipp=2,6-iPr C H ) with potassium graphite or magnesium resulted in the formation of [Si {N(SiMe )Dipp} ] (1), a bicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilatetraamide. The Si motif in 1 does not adopt a tetrahedral substructure and exhibits two three-coordinate and two four-coordinate silicon atoms. The electronic situation on the three-coordinate silicon atoms is rationalized with positive and negative polarization based on EPR analysis, magnetization measurements, and DFT calculations as well as Si CP MAS NMR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in solution. Reactivity studies with 1 and radical scavengers confirmed the partial charge separation. Compound 1 reacts with sulfur to give a novel type of silicon sulfur cage compound substituted with an amido ligand, [Si S {N(SiMe )Dipp} ] (2).

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are subjects of broad interest in scientific community due to their promising physicochemical properties. Herein we report the facile and controlled light-mediated preparation of gold nanoparticles through a Norrish type I reaction of photoactive polymers. These carefully designed polymers act as reagents for the photochemical reduction of gold ions, as well as stabilizers for the in situ generated AuNPs. Manipulating the length and composition of the photoactive polymers allows for control of AuNP size. Nanoparticle diameter can be controlled from 1.5 nm to 9.6 nm.

The synthesis and characterization of various 6-oxo-verdazyl radicals and their diamagnetic styryl radical trapping products are presented.

Highly ion conducting glass-ceramics, crystallizing in the Na-superionic conducting (NASICON) structure, have been prepared in the system Li1+x Al x Sn y Ge2‑(x+y)(PO4)3 by crystallization of glassy precursor samples. For modest substitution levels (y = 0.25), these crystalline solid solutions show slightly higher electrical conductivity than corresponding samples without Sn, supporting the rationale that the lattice expansion associated with the substitution of Ge by its larger homologue Sn can enhance ionic conductivity. Higher Sn substitution levels (y = 0.45) do not result in any improvement. The glass-to-crystal transition has been characterized in detail by multinuclear single and double resonance NMR experiments. While substantial changes in the 31P and 27Al MAS NMR spectra indicate that the crystallization of the glasses is accompanied by significant modifications in the local environments of the phosphate and the aluminum species, the dipolar solid state NMR experiments indicate that the structures of both phases are dominated by Ge–O–P, Sn–O–P, and Al–O–P connectivities. Substitution of Ge by Al and Sn in the crystalline NASICON structure results in a binomial distribution of multiple phosphate environments, which differ in the number of P–O–Ge, P–O–Al, and P–O–Sn linkages. While there is no chemical shift discrimination between P–O–Al and P–O–Sn linkages, an unambiguous distinction is possible on the basis of 31P­{27Al} rotational echo adiabatic passage double resonance (REAPDOR) experiments.