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Host–guest composite materials were prepared applying the anionic forms of Ni(II)-amino acid (l-histidine, l-cysteine, and l-tyrosine) as the guests and CaAl-layered double hydroxide (CaAl-LDH) as the host. The syntheses were performed either by introducing the amino acid anions first and then constructing the metal ion–amino acid complexes or intercalating the pre-prepared complexes in anionic forms. The pristine as well as the composite LDH samples were structurally characterized by X-ray diffractometry, mid IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The structural features of the interlayer complexes were studied by UV–Vis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission, mid and far IR and X-ray absorption spectroscopies as well as energy-dispersed X-ray analysis. On the basis of the acquired data, structural models were constructed. The composites were applied as catalysts in the liquid-phase oxidation of cyclohexene applying peracetic acid and the in situ formed iodosyl benzene as oxidants. Using peracetic acid afforded epoxide, while applying iodosyl benzene provided cis diol as the major or exclusive oxidation product. The catalysts displayed good recycling properties.

The MAX IV Laboratory in Lund is currently operating two storage rings, the 1.5GeV MAX II and the 700MeV MAX III, as well as constructing the new facility MAX IV, which will house a 1.5GeV and a 3GeV ring. At the MAX II synchrotron there are three hard X-ray beamlines at which crystallography can be performed: I711, I811 and I911. Beamline I711 is mainly used for powder diffraction. I811 is an EXAFS station at which surface XRD can also be carried out. I911 is a beamline with five experimental stations on a single superconducting wiggler source, of which two are currently used for macromolecular crystallography, namely the monochromatic station I911-2 and the tuneable station I911-3, which is equipped with a state-of-the-art goniometer and robotic sample changer. We will give an overview of the capabilities of these beamlines, focusing particularly on the macromolecular crystallography beamline I911 and some recent scientific highlights produced there. We will also give a brief overview of new beamlines for crystallography that are under construction or planned for the MAX IV facility.

Seismological studies have revealed that a complex texture or heterogeneity exists in the Earth's inner core and at the boundary between core and mantle. These studies highlight the importance of understanding the properties of iron when modelling the composition and dynamics of the core and the interaction of the core with the lowermost mantle. One of the main problems in inferring the composition of the lowermost mantle is our lack of knowledge of the high-pressure and high-temperature chemical reactions that occur between iron and the complex Mg-Fe-Si-Al-oxides which are thought to form the bulk of the Earth's lower mantle. A number of studies have demonstrated that iron can react with MgSiO3-perovskite at high pressures and high temperatures, and it was proposed that the chemical nature of this process involves the reduction of silicon by the more electropositive iron. Here we present a study of the interaction between iron and corundum (Al(2)O3) in electrically- and laser-heated diamond anvil cells at 2,000-2,200 K and pressures up to 70 GPa, simulating conditions in the Earth's deep interior. We found that at pressures above 60 GPa and temperatures of 2,200 K, iron and corundum react to form iron oxide and an iron-aluminium alloy. Our results demonstrate that iron is able to reduce aluminium out of oxides at core-mantle boundary conditions, which could provide an additional source of light elements in the Earth's core and produce significant heterogeneity at the core-mantle boundary.