Azobenzene complexes of dicyclopentadienyltitanium and dicyclopentadienylvanadium

Reactions of azobenzene with dicarbonyldicyclopentadienyltitanium(II), Ti(π-C₅H₅)₂(CO)₂, and dicyclopentadienylvanadium(II), V(π-C₅H₅)₂, have yielded the corresponding dicyclopentadienylmetal-azobenzene complexes.     

Formation and characterization of the hexanuclear platinum cluster [Pt6(mu-PBu(t)2)4(CO)6](CF3SO3)2 through structural, electrochemical, and computational analyses

The reaction between equimolar amounts of Pt(3)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(3)(H)(CO)(2), Pt(3)()H, and CF(3)SO(3)H under CO atmosphere affords the triangular species [Pt(3)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(3)(CO)(3)]X, [Pt(3)()(CO)(3)()(+)()]X (X = CF(3)SO(3)(-)), characterized by X-ray crystallography, or in an excess of acid, [Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(6)]X(2), [Pt(6)()(2+)()]X(2)(). Structural determination shows the latter to be a rare hexanuclear cluster with a Pt(4) tetrahedral core formed by joining the unbridged sides of two orthogonal Pt(3) triangles. The dication Pt(6)()(2+)() features also extensive redox properties as it undergoes two reversible one-electron reductions to the congeners [Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(6)](+) (Pt(6)()(+)(), E(1/2) = -0.27 V) and Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(6) (Pt(6)(), E(1/2) = -0.54 V) and a further quasi-reversible two-electron reduction to the unstable dianion Pt(6)()(2)()(-)() (E(1/2) = -1.72 V). The stable radical (Pt(6)()(+)()) and diamagnetic (Pt(6)()) species are also formed via chemical methods by using 1 or 2 equiv of Cp(2)Co, respectively; further reduction of Pt(6)()(2+)() causes fast decomposition. The chloride derivatives [Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(5)Cl]X, (Pt(6)()Cl(+)())X, and Pt(6)(mu-PBu(t)()(2))(4)(CO)(4)Cl(2), Pt(6)()Cl(2)(), observed as side-products in some electrochemical experiments, were prepared independently. The reaction leading to Pt(3)()(CO)(3)()(+)() has been analyzed with DFT methods, and identification of key intermediates allows outlining the reaction mechanism. Moreover, calculations for the whole series Pt(6)()(2+)() --> Pt(6)()(2)()(-)()( )()afford the otherwise unknown structures of the reduced derivatives. While the primary geometry is maintained by increasing electron population, the system undergoes progressive and concerted out-of-plane rotation of the four phosphido bridges (from D(2)(d)() to D(2) symmetry). The bonding at the central Pt(4) tetrahedron of the hexanuclear clusters (an example of 4c-2e(-) inorganic tetrahedral aromaticity in Pt(6)()(2+)()) is explained in simple MO terms.     

Unprecedented eta(1)-P(basal) coordination of P(4)X(3) molecules (X = S, Se). An experimental and theoretical study of the apical vs basal complexation dichotomy

Reaction of [(triphos)Re(CO)(2)(OTf)] (1) [triphos = MeC(CH(2)PPh(2))(3); OTf = OSO(2)CF(3)] with P(4)S(3) and P(4)Se(3) yields pairs of coordination isomers, namely, [(triphos)Re(CO)(2)[eta(1)-P(apical)-P(4)X(3)]](+) (X = S, 2; Se, 5) and [(triphos)Re(CO)(2)[eta(1)-P(basal)-P(4)X(3)]](+) (X = S, 3; Se, 6). The latter represent the first examples of the eta(1)-P(basal) coordination achieved by the P(4)X(3) molecular cage. Further reaction of 2/3 and 5/6 mixtures with 1 affords the dinuclear species [[(triphos)Re(CO)(2)](2)[mu,eta(1:1)-P(apical,)P(basal)-P(4)X(3)]](2+) (X = S, 4; Se, 7) in which the unprecedented M-eta(1)-P(basal)/eta(1)-P(apical)-M' bridging coordination of the P(4)X(3) molecule is accomplished. A theoretical analysis of the bonding properties of the two coordination isomers is also presented. The directionality of apical vs basal phosphorus lone pairs is also discussed in terms of MO arguments.     

ASV determination of cadmium complexation in seawater. Methodology evaluation

The methodology for using DPASV to study cadmium complexation in seawater is evaluated using EDTA as a model ligand and by analysing natural samples. The results show that the methodology gives an accurate evaluation of metal complexation when inert complexes are studied, both as regards the ligand concentration and the conditional stability constant; the error for both the parameters is lower than 10% at a ligand concentration of about 10(-8) M and a conditional stability constant of 10(9) M-1. Cadmium complexes with ligands present in natural seawater show an evident kinetic lability that may lead to underestimation of the conditional stability constant when a working electrode characterised by a very thick diffusion layer is used. The conditional stability constant in one water sample of the Adriatic coast ranged between 0.14 and 1.4 l/nmol using a rotating disk electrode at rotation rates of 300 and 6000 rpm. The results of cadmium complexation obtained for samples collected in coastal seawater show that the ligands present low specificity for the metal.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Three Homoleptic Bismuth Silanolates: [Bi(OSiR3)3] (R = Me,Et, iPr)

The bismuth tris(triorganosilanolates) [Bi(OSiR₃)₃] ( 1 , R = Me; 2 , R = Et; 3 , R = iPr) were prepared by reaction of R₃SiOH with [Bi(OtBu)₃]. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group with Z = 2 and the lattice constants a = 10.323(1) Å, b = 13.805(1) Å, c = 21.096(1) Å and α = 91.871(4)°, β = 94.639(3)°, γ = 110.802(3)°. In the solid state compound 1 is a trimer as result of weak intermolecular bismuth‐oxygen interactions with Bi–O distances in the range 2.686(6)–3.227(3) Å. The coordination at the bismuth atoms Bi(1) and Bi(3) is best described as 3 + 2 coordination whereas Bi(2) shows a 3 + 3 coordination. The intramolecular Bi–O distances fall in the range 2.041(3)–2.119(3) Å. Compound 3 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcm with Z = 4 and the lattice constants a = 7.201(1) Å, b = 23.367(5) Å and c = 20.893(1) Å, whereas the triethylsilyl‐derivative 2 is liquid. In contrast to [Bi(OSiMe₃)₃] ( 1 ) compound 3 is monomeric in the solid state, but shows similar intramolecular Bi–O distances in the range 1.998(2)–2.065(5) Å. The bismuth silanolates are highly soluble in common organic solvents and strongly moisture sensitive. Compound 1 shows the lowest thermal stability.     

Electrochromic devices based on binuclear mixed valence compounds adsorbed on nanocrystalline semiconductors

A series of cyano-bridged binuclear mixed valence complexes of the general formula M-Ru(III)(NH(3))(4)pyCOOH [pyCOOH = isonicotinic acid; M = cis-Ru(bpy)(2)(CN)(2), 1 (bpy = 2,2' bipyridine); trans-Ru(py)(4)(CN)(2), 2 (py = pyridine); [Ru(CN)(6)](4)(-), 3; [Fe(CN)(6)](4)(-), 4] have been prepared and anchored through the carboxylic function to nanocrystalline TiO(2) or SnO(2) electrodes. The complexes display a reversible electrochromic behavior in the range of applied potential from -0.5 to +0.5 V, versus SCE. Tuning of the electronic transitions in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions is achieved through changes of the solvent and of the cyano-bridged metal moiety M.     

Highly Soluble and Green Indigo Dyes: 4,4′,7,7′‐Tetraalkoxy‐5,5′‐diaminoindigotins

Two new types of 4,4′,7,7′‐tetraalkoxyindigotins, 1a – f and 2a – f along with the new N‐substituted indigotins 4e – f , were synthesized from dinitrobenzaldehydes 5a – f , which were prepared from 2‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxybenzaldehyde ( 7 ) via dialkoxybenzaldehydes 6a – f (Scheme). The new dialkoxyindigotin 3g was obtained from dialkoxybenzaldehyde 6g via nitrobenzaldehyde 8g . The 1,4‐dialkoxy‐2,3‐dinitrobenzenes 9 were isolated as by‐products. The 4,4′,7,7′‐tetraalkoxy‐5,5′‐diaminoindigotins 1 are soluble in organic solvents, and their solutions are green, which is highly uncommon for indigotins and is primarily caused by electronic effects of substituents, steric effects playing a minor role. The indigotins 1 produce a strong red shift of the longest‐wavelength absorption and negative solvatochromism indicating the predominance of polar resonance structures in the ground state. Tautomeric structures were excluded. These indigotins are valuable compounds for technical applications, for synthetic purposes, and for analytical studies. SANS (Small‐angle neutron scattering) experiments showed that certain 4,4′,7,7′‐tetraalkoxy‐5,5′‐diaminoindigotins 1 form rod‐like aggregates in solution. The similarly substituted 4,4′,7,7′‐tetraalkoxy‐5,5′‐dinitroindigotins 2 are far less soluble. They produce red monoanions (preferably dimers) and bluish‐purple dianions in organic solvents.     

Designing generalized statistical ensembles for numerical simulations of biopolymers

Conformational properties of polymers, such as average dihedral angles or molecular alpha-helicity, display a rather weak dependence on the detailed arrangement of the elementary constituents (atoms). We propose a computer simulation method to explore the polymer phase space using a variant of the standard multicanonical method, in which the density of states associated to suitably chosen configurational variables is considered in place of the standard energy density of states. This configurational density of states is used in the Metropolis acceptance/rejection test when configurations are generated with the help of a hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm. The resulting configurational probability distribution is then modulated by exponential factors derived from the general principle of the maximal constrained entropy by requiring that certain average configurational quantities take preassigned (possibly temperature dependent) values. Thermal averages of other configurational quantities can be computed by using the probability distributions obtained in this way. Moments of the energy distribution require an extra canonical sampling of the system phase space at the desired temperature, in order to locally thermalize the configurational degrees of freedom. As an application of these ideas we present the study of the structural properties of two simple models: a bead-and-spring model of polyethylene with independent hindered torsions and an all-atom model of alanine and glycine oligomers with 12 amino acids in vacuum.     

Photoinduced processes within compact dyads based on triphenylpyridinium-functionalized bipyridyl complexes of ruthenium(II)

As an alternative to conventional charge-separation functional molecular models based on long-range ET within redox cascades, a "compact approach" has been examined. To this end, spacer elements usually inserted between main redox-active units within polyad systems have been removed, allowing extended rigidity but at the expense of enhanced intercomponent electronic communication. The molecular assemblies investigated here are of the P-(theta (1))-A type, where the theta (1) twist angle is related to the degree of conjugation between the photosensitizer (P, of {Ru(bpy)(3)}(2+) type) and the electron-acceptor (A). 4-N- and 4-N-,4'-N-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridinio)-2,2'-bipyridine ligands (A(1)-bpy and A(2)-bpy, respectively) have been synthesized to give complexes with Ru(II), 1-bpy and 2-bpy, respectively. Combined solid-state analysis (X-ray crystallography), solution studies ((1)H NMR, cyclic voltammetry) and computational structural optimization allowed verifying that theta (1) angle approaches 90 degrees within 1-bpy and 2-bpy in solution. Also, anticipated existence of strong intercomponent electronic coupling has been confirmed by investigating electronic absorption properties and electrochemical behavior of the compounds. The capability of 1-bpy and 2-bpy to undergo PET process was evaluated by carrying out their photophysical study (steady state emission and time-resolved spectroscopy at both 293 and 77 K). The conformational dependence of photoinduced processes within P-(theta (1))-A systems has been established by comparing the photophysical properties of 1-bpy (and 2-bpy) with those of an affiliated species reported in the literature, 1-phen. A complementary theoretical analysis (DFT) of the change of spin density distribution within model [1-bpy(theta (1))](-) mono-reduced species as a function of theta (1) has been undertaken and the possibility of conformationally switching emission properties of P was derived.     

Localized Orbitals vs. Pseudopotential-Plane Waves Basis Sets: Performances and Accuracy for Molecular Magnetic Systems

 Density functional theory, in combination with a) a careful choice of the exchange-correlation part of the total energy and b) localized basis sets for the electronic orbitals, has become the method of choice for calculating the exchange-couplings in magnetic molecular complexes. Orbital expansion on plane waves can be seen as an alternative basis set especially suited to allow optimization of newly synthesized materials of unknown geometries. However, little is known on the predictive power of this scheme to yield quantitative values for exchange coupling constants J as small as a few hundredths of eV (50–300 cm⁻¹). We have used density functional theory and a plane waves basis set to calculate the exchange couplings J of three homodinuclear Cu-based molecular complexes with experimental values ranging from +40 cm⁻¹ to −300 cm⁻¹. The plane waves basis set proves as accurate as the localized basis set, thereby suggesting that this approach can be reliably employed to predict and rationalize the magnetic properties of molecular-based materials. Corresponding author. E-mail: Carlo.Massobrio@ipcms.u-strasbg.fr Received August 5, 2002; accepted August 9, 2002