Xanthene-modified and hangman iron corroles

Iron corroles modified with a xanthene scaffold are delivered from easily available starting materials in abbreviated reaction times. These new iron corroles have been spectroscopically examined with particular emphasis on defining the oxidation state of the metal center. Investigation of their electronic structure using (57)Fe Mo?ssbauer spectroscopy in conjunction with density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveals the non-innocence of the corrole ligand. Although these iron corroles contain a formal Fe(IV) center, the deprotonated corrole macrocycle ligand is one electron oxidized. The electronic ground state of these complexes is best described as an intermediate spin S = 3/2 Fe(III) site strongly antiferromagnetically coupled to the S = 1/2 of the monoradical dianion corrole [Fe(III)Cl-corrole(+?)]. We show here that iron corroles as well as xanthene-modified and hangman xanthene iron corroles are redox active and catalyze the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide via the catalase reaction, and that this activity scales with the oxidation potential. The meso position of corrole macrocycle is susceptible toward nucleophilic attack during catalase turnover. The reactivity of peroxide within the hangman cleft reported here adds to the emerging theme that corroles are good at catalyzing two-electron activation of the oxygen-oxygen bond in a variety of substrates.     

Dinitrogen binding at vanadium in a tris(alkoxide) ligand environment

We report the first tris(alkoxide)V(III) complex to bind dinitrogen. Removal of THF from V(OR)(3)THF furnishes the highly reactive V(OR)(3) fragment, which binds dinitrogen to form [V(OR)(3)](2)(μ-N(2)) in the solid state. Dinitrogen is readily released upon dissolution of the complex. Structural and DFT studies are consistent with significant activation of N(2) when bound by the vanadium tris(alkoxide) platform.     

Frustrated magnetism in the S = 1 kagomé lattice BaNi3(OH)2(VO4)2

Frustrated magnets with integer spin are predicted to have exotic physical properties including spin nematicity, yet few are known to exist. We report a new, frustrated S = 1 magnet, BaNi(3)(OH)(2)(VO(4))(2), which is the structural analogue of the mineral vesignieite. Magnetic frustration arises from a competition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic ordering leading to a glassy transition at 19 K.     

Stability-enhanced hydrogen-evolving dirhodium photocatalysts through ligand modification

The two-electron mixed-valent complex Rh(2)(0,II)(tfepma)(2)(CN(t)Bu)(2)Cl(2) (tfepma = CH(3)N[P(OCH(2)CF(3))(2)](2)) photocatalytically splits HCl to generate H(2). Whereas this catalyst degrades rapidly, with H(2) production ceasing after about 36 hours (3 turnovers), a modified complex, Rh(2)(0,II)(tfepma)(2)(CNAd)(2)Cl(2) (CNAd = 1-adamantylisocyanide) displays enhanced stability with sustained H(2) production continuing for >144 h (7 turnovers).     

Structure-activity correlations in a nickel-borate oxygen evolution catalyst

An oxygen evolution catalyst that forms as a thin film from Ni(aq)(2+) solutions containing borate electrolyte (Ni-B(i)) has been studied by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. A dramatic increase in catalytic rate, induced by anodic activation of the electrodeposited films, is accompanied by structure and oxidation state changes. Coulometric measurements correlated with X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra of the active catalyst show that the nickel centers in activated films possess an average oxidation state of +3.6, indicating that a substantial proportion of nickel centers exist in a formal oxidation state of Ni(IV). In contrast, nickel centers in nonactivated films exist predominantly as Ni(III). Extended X-ray absorption fine structure reveals that activated catalyst films comprise bis-oxo/hydroxo-bridged nickel centers organized into sheets of edge-sharing NiO(6) octahedra. Diminished long-range ordering in catalyst films is due to their ostensibly amorphous nature. Nonactivated films display a similar oxidic nature but exhibit a distortion in the local coordination geometry about nickel centers, characteristic of Jahn-Teller distorted Ni(III) centers. Our findings indicate that the increase in catalytic activity of films is accompanied by changes in oxidation state and structure that are reminiscent of those observed for conversion of β-NiOOH to γ-NiOOH and consequently challenge the long-held notion that the β-NiOOH phase is a more efficient oxygen-evolving catalyst.     

Nucleation, growth, and repair of a cobalt-based oxygen evolving catalyst

The mechanism of nucleation, steady-state growth, and repair is investigated for an oxygen evolving catalyst prepared by electrodeposition from Co(2+) solutions in weakly basic electrolytes (Co-OEC). Potential step chronoamperometry and atomic force microscopy reveal that nucleation of Co-OEC is progressive and reaches a saturation surface coverage of ca. 70% on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrates. Steady-state electrodeposition of Co-OEC exhibits a Tafel slope approximately equal to 2.3 × RT/F. The electrochemical rate law exhibits a first order dependence on Co(2+) and inverse orders on proton (third order) and proton acceptor, methylphosphonate (first order for 1.8 mM ≤ [MeP(i)] ≤ 18 mM and second order dependence for 32 mM ≤ [MeP(i)] ≤ 180 mM). These electrokinetic studies, combined with recent XAS studies of catalyst structure, suggest a mechanism for steady state growth at intermediate MeP(i) concentration (1.8-18 mM) involving a rapid solution equilibrium between aquo Co(II) and Co(III) hydroxo species accompanied with a rapid surface equilibrium involving electrolyte dissociation and deprotonation of surface bound water. These equilibria are followed by a chemical rate-limiting step for incorporation of Co(III) into the growing cobaltate clusters comprising Co-OEC. At higher concentrations of MeP(i) ([MeP(i)] ≥ 32 mM), MePO(3)(2-) equilibrium binding to Co(II) in solution is suggested by the kinetic data. Consistent with the disparate pH profiles for oxygen evolution electrocatalysis and catalyst formation, NMR-based quantification of catalyst dissolution as a function of pH demonstrates functional stability and repair at pH values >6 whereas catalyst corrosion prevails at lower pH values. These kinetic insights provide a basis for developing and operating functional water oxidation (photo)anodes under benign pH conditions.     

Numerical simulations of random sound waves

We perform one-dimensional numerical simulations of both driven and impulsively generated sound waves propagating through a medium whose mass density admits time-independent, random fluctuations. While the amplitude of both types of wave is always attenuated, driven sound waves can be either retarded or speeded up depending on their wavenumber and amplitude and on the strength of the random field. The speed of a pulse propagating in the random medium is also altered, in agreement with the findings for the driven waves. The concomitant action of nonlinearity and randomness results in wave speeding for wavenumbers which are of the order of the size of an average random density fluctuation, whereas it gives retardation for larger wavenumbers.     

A phototriggered molecular spring for aerobic catalytic oxidation reactions

The first catalytic oxidation reactions with cofacial bisporphyrins using molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant are presented. The photocatalytic reactions proceed under mild conditions (ambient temperature and pressure) without the need for a co-reductant. A systematic reactivity study of the photooxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) with a homologous series of bisiron(III) mu-oxo porphyrins containing dibenzofuran, xanthene, or no bridge reveals that the facility of these processes is markedly dependent on the vertical flexibility of the catalyst to provide a phototriggered molecular spring.