An Electron Dynamics Mechanism of Charge Separation in the Initial‐Stage Dynamics of Photoinduced Water Splitting in XMnWater (X=OH,OCaH) and Electron–Proton Acceptors

An electron dynamics mechanism of charge separation in the initial stage of excited‐state reactions of the class of X?Mn?OH₂???A${ \to }$ X?Mn?OH???HA (X=OH or OCaH; A=N‐methylformamidine, guanidine, imidazole, or ammonia cluster) is reported. The dynamic effect of calcium doping is also revealed. This study provides a novel factor to be considered in designing efficient systems for photoinduced water splitting.     

Electron Density Analysis of Hyperconjugation

Hyperconjugation is analyzed through the electron density of orbitals responsible for hyperconjugative interactions, which cannot be detected by means of conventional electron‐density‐based calculations. This interaction is detected through the π electron density topology, by excluding σ electron density from the total. As the presence of the hyperconjugation phenomenon in carbocation systems is well understood, several carbocations are benchmarked, and the results show that the positive carbon atom establishes a hyperconjugative critical point with the adjacent methyl group(s). Also, π localization and delocalization indices are employed to support the conclusions made by the topological analysis.     

Reduction of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds and of their N-phenylimine derivatives by sodium cyanide under aprotic conditions

Some aromatic 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds, i.e. 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, acenaphthenequinone and benzil, and their corresponding N-phenyl monoimines, have been reduced, using dry acetonitrile as the solvent, in the presence of sodium cyanide as a reducing agent. Comparative potentiostatic preparative-scale electrolysis is described.     

An investigation of the electron density of a Jahn–Teller‐distorted CrII cation: the crystal structure and charge density of hexakis(acetonitrile‐κN)chromium(II) bis(tetraphenylborate) acetonitrile disolvate

In the crystal structure of the title homoleptic Cr^II complex, [Cr(CH₃CN)₆](C₂₄H₂₀B)₂·CH₃CN, the [Cr(CH₃CN)₆]²⁺ cation is a high‐spin d⁴ complex with strong static, rather than dynamic, Jahn–Teller distortion. The electron density of the cation was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray refinements using aspherical structure factors from wavefunction calculations. The detailed picture of the electronic density allowed us to assess the extent and directionality of the Jahn–Teller distortion of the Cr^II cation away from idealized octahedral symmetry. The topological analysis of the aspherical d‐electron density about the Cr^II cation showed that there are significant valence charge concentrations along the axial Cr—N axes. Likewise, there were significant valence charge depletions about the Cr^II cation along the equatorial Cr—N bonds. These charge concentrations are in accordance with a Jahn–Teller‐distorted six‐coordinate complex.     

Dicyclohexylammonium bromoacetate: a low molecular mass organogelator with a one‐dimensional secondary ammonium monocarboxylate (SAM) synthon

The asymmetric unit of the title salt, C₁₂H₂₄N⁺·C₂H₂BrO₂⁻, contains a dicyclohexylammonium cation connected to a bromoacetate anion by means of an N—H...O hydrogen bond. In the crystal, the ion pairs assemble via N—H...O interactions, forming zigzag infinite chains parallel to the c axis with the (...H—N—H...O—C—O...)_n motif that is considered to be a prerequisite for ensuring gelation properties of secondary ammonium monocarboxylate salts. The title salt was characterized by FT–IR, X‐ray powder diffraction (XRPD), TG–DTA and ¹H NMR spectroscopy in solution. Gelation experiments revealed that dicyclohexylammonium bromoacetate forms molecular gels with dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to reveal morphological features of dried gels.     

萘酰亚胺取代修饰4,4′-螺双环戊并[2,1-b∶3,4-b′]二噻吩化合物的合成制备及其在有机薄膜光伏器件中的应用研究

近年来,新型有机非富勒烯受体的开发极大地促进了有机聚合物太阳能电池效率的不断突破。其中具有空间非平面结构的新型非富勒烯受体材料是该领域的一个研究热点。本文选取1,8-萘酰亚胺(NMI)作为受电子单元,合成制备了基于螺[4,4]双环戊[2,1-b∶3,4-b′]二噻吩核心单元的空间非平面化合物SCPDT-(NMI)4及对应的基于环戊[2,1-b∶3,4-b′]二噻吩以及环戊[2,1-b∶3,4-b′]二噻吩-4-酮的线性模型化合物CPDT-(NMI)2和CPDT-O-(NMI)2。在此基础上,详细研究了3个化合物的光谱吸收、荧光光谱以及循环伏安电化学性质。结果表明,具有螺形结构的SCPDT-(NMI)4因其非平面结构以及较高的分子内空间位阻,导致其吸收光谱与线性化合物CPDT-(NMI)2相比出现了11nm的蓝移。固体薄膜吸收光谱结果表明,这一系列化合物具有弱的分子间相互作用。电化学循环伏安测试结果表明,所合成的3个化合物均有可逆的氧化还原过程。据此测得化合物的LUMO能级大致为-3.5~-3.8eV之间,可作为电子受体用于有机薄膜光伏电池。利用所合成的萘酰亚胺修饰的化合物作为电子受体,PBDB-T作为电子给体制备了有机太阳能电池器件。器件实验结果表明,基于空间非平面SCPDT-(NMI)4的器件光电转换效率达到了1.16%,远高于以线性分子CPDT-(NMI)_2作为受体的器件效率(0.11%)。荧光光谱猝灭实验结果表明,所合成的萘酰亚胺化合物与聚合物之间不完全的电子转移是影响器件性能的最主要因素。     

A charge‐transfer salt composed of methyl viologen and hexacyanidoferrate(II)

The methyl viologen dication, used under the name Paraquat as an agricultural reagent, is a well‐known electron‐acceptor species that can participate in charge‐transfer (CT) interactions. The determination of the crystal structure of this species is important for accessing the CT interaction and CT‐based properties. The title hydrated salt, bis(1,1′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐1,1′‐diium) hexacyanidoferrate(II) octahydrate, (C₁₂H₁₄N₂)₂[Fe(CN)₆]·8H₂O or (MV)₂[Fe(CN)₆]·8H₂O [MV²⁺ is the 1,1′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐1,1′‐diium (methyl viologen) dication], crystallizes in the space group P 2₁/c with one MV²⁺ cation, half of an [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anion and four water molecules in the asymmetric unit. The Fe^II atom of the [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anion lies on an inversion centre and has an octahedral coordination sphere defined by six cyanide ligands. The MV²⁺ cation is located on a general position and adopts a noncoplanar structure, with a dihedral angle of 40.32 (7)° between the planes of the pyridine rings. In the crystal, layers of electron‐donor [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anions and layers of electron‐acceptor MV²⁺ cations are formed and are stacked in an alternating manner parallel to the direction of the −2a + c axis, resulting in an alternate layered structure.     

The Quest for Mononuclear Gold(II) and Its Potential Role in Photocatalysis and Drug Action

The chemistry of gold strongly focuses on the ubiquitous oxidation states +I and +III. The intermediate oxidation state +II is generally avoided in mononuclear gold species. In recent years, gold(II) has been increasingly suggested as a key intermediate in artificial photosynthesis systems, with gold(III) moieties acting as electron acceptors, as well as in gold‐catalyzed photoredox catalysis and radical chemistry. This Minireview provides a concise summary of confirmed and characterized mononuclear open‐shell gold(II) complexes. Recent findings on structural motifs and reactivity patterns will be discussed. Exciting developments in the fields of photosynthesis, photocatalysis, and potential roles in medicinal chemistry will be outlined.