Mixed-Valence CuI/CuIII Metal–Organic Frameworks with Non-innocent Ligand for Multielectron Transfer

We report two novel three-dimensional copper-benzoquinoid metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), [Cu₄L₃]_n and [Cu₄L₃ ⋅ Cu(iq)₃]_n (LH₄=1,4-dicyano-2,3,5,6-tetrahydroxybenzene, iq=isoquinoline). Spectroscopic techniques and computational studies reveal the unprecedented mixed valency in MOFs, formal Cu(I)/Cu(III). This is the first time that formally Cu(III) species are witnessed in metal–organic extended solids. The coordination between the mixed-valence metal and redox-non-innocent ligand L, which promotes through-bond charge transfer between Cu metal sites, allows better metal-ligand orbital overlap of the d-π conjugation, leading to strong long-range delocalization and semiconducting behavior. Our findings highlight the significance of the unique mixed valency between formal Cu(I) and highly-covalent Cu(III), non-innocent ligand, and pore environments of these bench stable Cu(III)-containing frameworks on multielectron transfer and electrochemical properties.     

Neutral and Anionic Square Planar Palladium(0) Complexes Stabilized by a Silicon Z-Type Ligand

Anionic [Pd(0)−X]⁻ ate complex were proposed as key intermediates in Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling for decades, but their isolation remained elusive. Herein, a chelating Lewis acidic bis(amidophenolato)silane is introduced as a strong Z-type ligand which enables the characterization of the first anionic [Pd(0)−X]⁻ ate complex. Intriguingly, these compounds and the neutral L−Pd(0) analogs exhibit a square planar coordination that is highly unusual for a d¹⁰ metal. Theoretical methods scrutinize the interaction between the Lewis acidic Si(IV) center and the late transition metal, while reactivity studies shed light on the potential role of anionic additives in oxidative addition reactions.     

Schlenk's Legacy—Methyllithium Put under Close Scrutiny

Commercially available stock solutions of organolithium reagents are well-implemented tools in organic and organometallic chemistry. However, such solutions are inherently contaminated with lithium halide salts, which can complicate certain synthesis protocols and purification processes. Here, we report the isolation of chloride-free methyllithium employing K[N(SiMe₃)₂] as a halide-trapping reagent. The influence of distinct LiCl contaminations on the ⁷Li-NMR chemical shift is examined and their quantification demonstrated. The structural parameters of new chloride-free monomeric methyllithium complex [(Me₃TACN)LiCH₃], ligated by an azacrown ether, are assessed by comparison with a halide-contaminated variant and monomeric lithium chloride [(Me₃TACN)LiCl], further emphasizing the effect of halide impurities.     

Rhenium Complexes with p-Fluorophenylisocyanide

p-Fluorophenylisocyanide (CNPh^pF) reacts with [Re(CO)₅Br] under stepwise exchange of the carbonyl ligands depending on the conditions applied. The reaction stops with the formation of fac-[Re(CO)₃Br(CNPh^pF)₂] in boiling THF. An ongoing carbonyl exchange is observed at higher temperatures, e. g. in refluxing toluene, with the final formation of the [Re(CNPh^pF)₆]⁺ cation. The progress of the reactions has been studied by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and the structures of [Re(CO)Br(CNPh^pF)₄] and [Re(CNPh^pF)₆](BPh₄) have been elucidated by X-ray diffraction.     

Structurally Diverse Bench-Stable Nickel(0) Pre-Catalysts: A Practical Toolkit for In Situ Ligation Protocols**

A flurry of recent research has centered on harnessing the power of nickel catalysis in organic synthesis. These efforts have been bolstered by contemporaneous development of well-defined nickel (pre)catalysts with diverse structure and reactivity. In this report, we present ten different bench-stable, 18-electron, formally zero-valent nickel–olefin complexes that are competent pre-catalysts in various reactions. Our investigation includes preparations of novel, bench-stable Ni(COD)(L) complexes (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene), in which L=quinone, cyclopentadienone, thiophene-S-oxide, and fulvene. Characterization by NMR, IR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and natural bond orbital analysis sheds light on the structure, bonding, and properties of these complexes. Applications in an assortment of nickel-catalyzed reactions underscore the complementary nature of the different pre-catalysts within this toolkit.     

Simple Ether-Directed Enantioselective C(sp3)−H Borylation of Cyclopropanes Enabled by Iridium Catalysis

Reported here is an efficient and simple ether-directed iridium-catalyzed enantioselective C(sp³)−H borylation of cyclopropanes. Various functional groups were well-tolerated, affording a vast array of chiral cyclopropanes with high enantioselectivities. We also demonstrated that the turnover numbers of the current reaction could be up to 335.     

Chiral PSiSi-Ligand Enabled Iridium-Catalyzed Atroposelective Intermolecular C−H Silylation

Catalytic enantioselective intermolecular C−H silylation offers an efficient approach for the rapid construction of chiral organosilicon compounds, but remains a significant challenge. Herein, a new type of chiral silyl ligand is developed, which enables the first iridium-catalyzed atroposelective intermolecular C−H silylation reaction of 2-arylisoquinolines. This protocol features mild reaction conditions, high atom economy, and remarkable yield with excellent stereoselectivity (up to 99 % yield, 99 % ee), delivering enantioenriched axially chiral silane platform molecules with facile convertibility. Key to the success of this unprecedented transformation relies on a novel chiral PSiSi-ligand, which facilitates the intermolecular C−H silylation process with perfect chem-, regio- and stereo-control via a multi-coordinated silyl iridium complex.     

Ligand-Enabled Palladium(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective β-C(sp3)−H Arylation of Aliphatic Tertiary Amides**

Amide is one of the most widespread functional groups in organic and bioorganic chemistry, and it would be valuable to achieve stereoselective C(sp³)−H functionalization in amide molecules. Palladium(II) catalysis has been prevalently used in the C−H activation chemistry in the past decades, however, due to the weakly-coordinating feature of simple amides, it is challenging to achieve their direct C(sp³)−H functionalization with enantiocontrol by Pd^II catalysis. Our group has developed sulfoxide-2-hydroxypridine (SOHP) ligands, which exhibited remarkable activity in Pd-catalyzed C(sp²)−H activation. In this work, we demonstrate that chiral SOHP ligands served as an ideal solution to enantioselective C(sp³)−H activation in simple amides. Herein, we report an efficient asymmetric Pd^II/SOHP-catalyzed β-C(sp³)−H arylation of aliphatic tertiary amides, in which the SOHP ligand plays a key role in the stereoselective C−H deprotonation-metalation step.     

Slowly Removing Surface Ligand by Aging Enhances the Stability of Pd Nanosheets toward Electron Beam Irradiation and Electrocatalysis

Surface ligands play an important role in shape-controlled growth and stabilization of colloidal nanocrystals. Their quick removal tends to cause structural deformation and/or aggregation to the nanocrystals. Herein, we demonstrate that the surface ligand based on poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) can be slowly removed from Pd nanosheets (NSs, 0.93±0.17 nm in thickness) by simply aging the colloidal suspension. The aged Pd NSs show well-preserved morphology, together with significantly enhanced stability toward both e-beam irradiation and electrocatalysis (e.g., ethanol oxidation). It is revealed that the slow desorption of PVP during aging forces the re-exposed Pd atoms to reorganize, facilitating the surface to transform from being nearly perfect to defect-rich. The resultant Pd NSs with abundant defects no longer rely on surface ligand to stabilize the atomic arrangement and thus show excellent structural and electrochemical stability. This work provides a facile and effective method to maintain the integrity of colloidal nanocrystals by slowly removing the surface ligand.     

Ligand-Assisted Coupling Manipulation for Efficient and Stable FAPbI3 Colloidal Quantum Dot Solar Cells

For emerging perovskite quantum dots (QDs), understanding the surface features and their impact on the materials and devices is becoming increasingly urgent. In this family, hybrid FAPbI₃ QDs (FA: formamidium) exhibit higher ambient stability, near-infrared absorption and sufficient carrier lifetime. However, hybrid QDs suffer from difficulty in modulating surface ligand, which is essential for constructing conductive QD arrays for photovoltaics. Herein, assisted by an ionic liquid formamidine thiocyanate, we report a facile surface reconfiguration methodology to modulate surface and manipulate electronic coupling of FAPbI₃ QDs, which is exploited to enhance charge transport for fabricating high-quality QD arrays and photovoltaic devices. Finally, a record-high efficiency approaching 15 % is achieved for FAPbI₃ QD solar cells, and they retain over 80 % of the initial efficiency after aging in ambient environment (20–30 % humidity, 25 °C) for over 600 h.