An alternative efficient redox couple for the dye-sensitized solar cell system

A series of new cobalt complexes [Co(LLL)(2)X(2)] were synthesized and evaluated as redox mediators for dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO(2) solar cells. The structure of the ligand and the nature of the counterions were found to influence the photovoltaic performance. The one-electron-transfer redox mediator [Co(dbbip)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (dbbip = 2,6-bis(1'-butylbenzimidazol-2'-yl)pyridine) performed best among the compounds investigated. Photovoltaic cells incorporating this redox mediator yielded incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies (IPCE) of up to 80%. The overall yield of light-to-electric power conversion reached 8 % under simulated AM1.5 sunlight at 100 W m(-2) intensity and more than 4% at 1000 W m(-2). Photoelectrodes coated with a 2 microm thick nanoporous layer and a 4 microm thick light-scattering layer, sensitized with a hydrophobic ruthenium dye, gave the best results.     

Understanding the catalytic role of flexible chiral δ-amino alcohols: the 1-(2-aminoethyl)norbornan-2-ol model

An empiric first approach to the knowledge about the structural factors influencing the catalytic behavior of conformationally flexible δ-amino-alcohol-based ligands, for the enantioselective addition of dialkylzincs to prochiral carbonyl groups, has been applied using the 1-(2-aminoethyl)norbornan-2-ol moiety as the model chiral system, and the asymmetrically catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde as the test reaction. For this purpose, a selected small library of seven norbornane-based chiral ligands, bearing well-defined structural variations to allow a comparative study, that is, variation of the relative configuration and steric hindrance at the C(2), C(3) and/or C(7) norbornane positions, has been synthesized and probed in the mentioned test reaction. The experimental results obtained have been rationalized empirically using diastereomeric Noyori-like transition states, demonstrating that the conformational flexibility of the δ-amino-alcohol ligands, contrary to the more studied and rigid β-amino-alcohols, plays a crucial role on the catalytic behavior of such ligands (stereochemical sense and degree of the stereodifferentiation in the asymmetric process), which makes such structural factors, important for the improved design of new related chiral catalysts. In this sense, a robust crude empirical model for the prediction of the catalytic behavior of such δ-amino-alcohol-based ligands is proposed.     

Siliceous materials with the surface polymer layer composed of dextran-polyimine mixture as column packings for liquid chromatography

Summary Forming a polymer layer on the surface of siliceous materials is one of the methods for protecting the silica skeleton from dissolution in alkaline mobile phases as well as eliminating the negative influence of silanol groups on separated molecules e.g. proteins. Polysaccharides, especially their derivatives bearing amine groups, can play the role of the surface layer. This paper discusses the possibilities of preparing such a layer by cross-linking a dextran-polyimine mixture (rather than the traditionally used DEAE-dextran) deposited on the surface of the solid material. The results presented prove the utility of synthesized materials as supports for affinity ligands in high performance affinity chromatography or as supports for complexed metal ions in ligand-exchange chromatography. The properties of the sorbents with a polymer layer can be changed both by the composition of the cross-linked mixture and by chemical modification.     

Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene precursors bearing biphenyl units and their use in ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening metathesis polymerization

A range of new imidazolium and imidazolinium chlorides bearing biphenyl units on their nitrogen atoms was synthesized. They differed by the electron-withdrawing or -donating nature and the steric bulk of the substituents on their aromatic rings. These various N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors were combined with the [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ dimer and potassium tert-butoxide to generate the corresponding ruthenium-arene complexes [RuCl₂(p-cymene)(NHC)] in situ. The catalytic activity of these species was investigated in the photoinduced ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclooctene. The results obtained confirmed the necessity of blocking the ortho-positions of the phenyl rings in the vicinity of the metal center in order to attain high catalytic efficiencies. They also showed that changing the steric and electronic properties of the substituents on the remote phenyl rings of the biphenyl units had no significant influence on the outcome of the polymerization.     

Fluorinated lignands in HPLC

Summary The chromatographic behaviour of C₆F₅(CH₂)₃SiCl₃, C₆H₅(CH₂)₃SiCl₃, CF₃(CF₂)₇CH₂CH₂SiCl₃ and n-C₁₀H₂₁SiCl₃ as well as the bonding of these ligands to silica is described. Phases with partially fluorinated ligands show entirely different chromatographic characteristics to analogous phases, where hydrogen replaces fluorine. The silica with the pentafluorophenyl-3-n-propyl-C₆F₅(CH₂)₃-ligand has higher k-values and a better selectivity for aromatic hydrocarbons than that with phenyl-3-n-propyl C₆H₅(CH₂)₃-groups, whereas the phase with the fluorinated carbon chain is less useful than the silica modified with n-decyltrichlorosilane n-C₁₀H₂₁SiCl₃. The first effect can be explained by complex formation, and the second may be due to a different contact area between the ligand and the solute. The normal hydrocarbon chains hinder each other sterically and expose many adsorption sites, in contrast the perfluorinated chains are sterically fixed and are the first example of real brushes in HPLC.     

New sulfur-coordinating chiral ligands for the Tsuji—Trost reaction

The use of sulfur-coordinating chiral ligands in the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric Tsuji—Trost reaction is reviewed.     

Access to the structures of fluoromagnesium compounds: synthesis and structural characterization of the β-diketiminato magnesium fluoride [{CH(CMeNAr)2}Mg(μ-F)(THF)]2·toluene

β-Diketiminato magnesium fluoride [{CH(CMeNAr)₂}Mg(μ-F)(THF)]₂·toluene (Ar=2,6-i-Pr₂C₆H₃, 2·toluene) was synthesized. The molecular structure of 2 revealed for the first time, the double fluoro bridge feature between the two magnesium atoms with a typical MgF bond length (average 1.95 Å).     

Carbenoid Complexes of Electron-Deficient Transition Metals—Syntheses of and with Short-Lived Building Blocks

The relation of thermodynamic stability and kinetic lability of σ-organometallic compounds of transition metals, together with an improved understanding of the subtle interactions between central metal, ligands, and substrates, has increased the chemist's ability to plan organometallic syntheses. This article presents new results on intermediary and isolable synthetic building blocks incorporating metal–ligand multiple bonds of electron-deficient transition metals; the main emphasis will be placed on compounds with titanium–carbon double bonds. This particular class of compounds is mainly generated by H-transfer reactions starting from readily accessible alkyl and alkenyl derivatives. The preparative use of [L₂Ti(CHR₂)R′] derivatives as sources for [L₂Ti?CR₂] intermediates will be discussed, as well as the nature of these intermediates. Application of the same approach to vinyltitanium compounds [L₂Ti(CH?CH₂)R] opens up an access to a short-lived metallaallene derivative [L₂Ti?C?CH₂] of an electron-deficient transition metal. The reactivity of these synthetic building blocks is mainly characterized by the nucleophilic properties of the α-C atoms as well as by the spatial orientation of the π-bonding planes. Numerous cycloaddition products with unsaturated substrates could be isolated and characterized for the first time by using [L₂Ti?C?CH₂] intermediates. Hence it is possible to compare the properties of a multitude of metallacyclic ring systems with those obtained from “Tebbe–Grubbs chemistry”, and in this context, the dependence of the properties of metallacyclic four-membered rings on the substitution pattern is discussed. This class of compounds includes the metallaoxetanes, which have been obtained for the first time by the cycloaddition of the [CpTi?C?CH₂] intermediate with cumulenes and metal carbonyls. The differing cycloreversion behavior of these metallaoxetanes enables the differentiation of species exhibiting classical and nonclassical reactivity. The number and position of the exocyclic double bonds are the determining factors of the reactivity of the formed metallacycles. The discussion of the products obtained from titanium methylene and vinylidene building blocks is an up-to-date report on the formation and applications of carbene complexes and carbene intermediates of group 4 metals.     

New reactions of 1-alkynes catalyzed by transition metal complexes

Recently discovered catalytic reactions with ruthenium and lanthanide metal complexes have extended the scope of 1-alkynes as useful reagents. The specific formation of aryl-substituted (Z)-1,3-enzymes via the dimerization of HC(triple bond) CR(1) (R(1) = aryl) has been attained using dimeric lanthanide complexes, the catalytic activity of which appears to be unaffected by time. The dimerization of HC(triple bond) CR(2) (R(2) = t-Bu, SiMe(3)) catalyzed by Ru(cod)(cot)/PR(3) or RuH(2)(PPh(3))(3) produces a good yield of butatrienes (Z)R(2)CH=C=C=CHR(2) with a high degree of selectivity. Under certain conditions, HC(triple bond) C=SiMe(3) dimerizes to yield exclusively (Z)-M(3)Si-C(triple bond) C-CH=CH-SiMe(3). The hydration of HC(triple bond)CR(3) (R(3) = alkyl, aryl) catalyzed by RuCl(2)/PR'(3) or CpRuCl(PR"(3))(2) has realized the first example of anti-Markovnikov regioselectivity in an addition reaction of water that produces aldehydes R(3)CH(2)bond;CHO. The application of this reaction to propargylic alcohols has lead to their formal isomerization to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. In contrast, the addition of amines R(4)bond;NH(2) (R(4) = aryl) to HCtbond;CR(5) (R(5) = alkyl, aryl) conforms to Markovnikov's rule to produce ketimines R(5)bond;(C=NR(4))bond;CH(3) when catalyzed by a Ru(3)(CO)(12)/additive. Since the reaction can be performed in air without the need for any solvents, it enables the practical synthesis of aromatic ketimines, which are difficult to prepare by conventional methods. The synthesis of indoles using deactivated anilines is one practical application of this reaction. The mechanisms of some of these reactions have been analyzed in detail with the aid of theoretical calculations.