Ruthenium (II) complexes bearing thioether-appended α-iminopyridine ligands: Arene precursors permit access to κ2-N,N and κ3-N,N,S complexes

Herein we report the preparation of a series of Ru(II) complexes featuring α-iminopyridine ligands bearing thioether functionality (NNS^R, where R = Me, CH₂Ph, Ph). Metallation using [(p-cymene)RuCl]₂ permits access to Ru complexes with a κ²-N,N donor set in which the thioether moiety remains uncoordinated. In the presence of a strong field ligand such as acetonitrile or triphenylphosphine, the p-cymene moiety is displaced, and the ligand adopts a κ³-N,N,S binding mode. These complexes are characterized using a combination of solution and solid state methods, including the crystal structure of [(NNS^Me)Ru (NCMe)₂Cl]Cl. The κ²-N,N-Ru(II) complexes are shown to serve as efficient precatalysts for the oxidation of sec-phenethyl alcohol at modest loadings (alcohol: Ru = 20:1), using a variety of external oxidants and solvents. The complex bearing an S-Ph donor was found to be the most active oxidation catalyst of those surveyed, suggesting that the thioether donor plays an active role in the catalytic cycle.     

A look at bonds and bonding

Structural Chemistry - Even after roughly a century of quantum theory, there is still debate, sometimes rather contentious, as to the nature of the chemical bond—or is it bonds, or is it...     

Newton Polytopes and Relative Entropy Optimization

Foundations of Computational Mathematics - Certifying function nonnegativity is a ubiquitous problem in computational mathematics, with especially notable applications in optimization. We study the...     

Finding a Hamiltonian cycle by finding the global minimizer of a linearly constrained problem

Computational Optimization and Applications - It has been shown that a global minimizer of a smooth determinant of a matrix function corresponds to the largest cycle of a graph. When it exists,...     

A Molecular Photosensitizer in a Porous Block Copolymer Matrix-Implications for the Design of Photocatalytically Active Membranes

Recently, porous photocatalytically active block copolymer membranes were introduced, based on heterogenized molecular catalysts. Here, we report the integration of the photosensitizer, i. e., the light absorbing unit in an intermolecular photocatalytic system into block copolymer membranes in a covalent manner. We study the resulting structure and evaluate the orientational mobility of the photosensitizer as integral part of the photocatalytic system in such membranes. To this end we utilize transient absorption anisotropy, highlighting the temporal reorientation of the transition dipole moment probed in a femtosecond pump-probe experiment. Our findings indicate that the photosensitizer is rigidly bound to the polymer membrane and shows a large heterogeneity of absolute anisotropy values as a function of location probed within the matrix. This reflects the sample inhomogeneity arising from different protonation states of the photosensitizer and different intermolecular interactions of the photosensitizers within the block copolymer membrane scaffold.     

Electrostatics and Polarization in σ- and π-Hole Noncovalent Interactions: An Overview

The energetics of σ- and π-hole interactions can be described very well in terms of electrostatics and polarization, consistent with their Coulombic natures. When both of these components are taken into account, very good correlations with quantum-chemically computed interaction energies are obtained. If polarization is only minor, as when the interactions are quite weak, then electrostatics can suffice, as represented by the most positive electrostatic potential associated with the σ- or π-hole. For stronger interactions, the combination of electrostatics plus polarization is very effective even for interaction energies considerably greater in magnitude than what is normally considered noncovalent bonding. Several procedures for treating polarization are summarized, including the use of point charges and the direct inclusion of electric fields.     

Toward Functional Type III [Fe]‐Hydrogenase Biomimics for H2 Activation: Insights from Computation

The chemistry of [Fe]‐hydrogenase has attracted significant interest due to its ability to activate molecular hydrogen. The intriguing properties of this enzyme have prompted the synthesis of numerous small molecule mimics aimed at activating H₂. Despite considerable effort, a majority of these compounds remain nonfunctional for hydrogenation reactions. By using a recently synthesized model as an entry point, seven biomimetic complexes have been examined through DFT computations to probe the influence of ligand environment on the ability of a mimic to bind and split H₂. One mimic, featuring a bidentate diphosphine group incorporating an internal nitrogen base, was found to have particularly attractive energetics, prompting a study of the role played by the proton/hydride acceptor necessary to complete the catalytic cycle. Computations revealed an experimentally accessible energetic pathway involving a benzaldehyde proton/hydride acceptor and the most promising catalyst.