2-Acyl-1,1,3,3-tetracyanopropenides (ATCN): structure characterization and luminescence properties of ammonia and alkali metal ATCN salts.

Herein, syntheses, crystal structures, and photoluminescence properties of 24 new ammonia and alkali metal ATCN salts characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction are reported. Moreover, ten structure types of these salts have been described, three of which are predominant. Some ATCNs were obtained as two crystalline polymorphs.

Observation of neutron bursts produced by laboratory high-voltage atmospheric discharge.

For the first time the emission of neutron bursts in the process of high-voltage discharge in air was observed. Experiments were carried out at an average electric field strength of ∼1  MV·m(-1) and discharge current of ∼10  kA. Two independent methods (CR-39 track detectors and plastic scintillation detectors) registered neutrons within the range from thermal energies up to energies above 10 MeV and with an average flux density of ≳10(6)  cm(-2) per shot inside the discharge zone.