Protonation of a Biologically Relevant CuII μ‐Thiolate Complex: Ligand Dissociation or Formation of a Protonated CuI Disulfide Species?

The proton‐induced electron‐transfer reaction of a Cu^II μ‐thiolate complex to a Cu^I‐containing species has been investigated, both experimentally and computationally. The Cu^II μ‐thiolate complex [Cu^II₂( L^MeS )₂]²⁺ is isolated with the new pyridyl‐containing ligand L^MeSSL^Me , which can form both Cu^II thiolate and Cu^I disulfide complexes, depending on the solvent. Both the Cu^II and the Cu^I complexes show reactivity upon addition of protons. The multivalent tetranuclear complex [Cu^I₂Cu^II₂( LS )₂(CH₃CN)₆]⁴⁺ crystallizes after addition of two equivalents of strong acid to a solution containing the μ‐thiolate complex [Cu^II₂( LS )₂]²⁺ and is further analyzed in solution. This study shows that, upon addition of protons to the Cu^II thiolate compound, the ligand dissociates from the copper centers, in contrast to an earlier report describing redox isomerization to a Cu^I disulfide species that is protonated at the pyridyl moieties. Computational studies of the protonated Cu^II μ‐thiolate and Cu^I disulfide species with LSSL show that already upon addition of two equivalents of protons, ligand dissociation forming [Cu^I(CH₃CN)₄]⁺ and protonated ligand is energetically favored over conversion to a protonated Cu^I disulfide complex.     

A Dual‐Functional Metallogel of Amphiphilic Copper(II) Quinolinol: Redox Responsiveness and Enantioselectivity

A dual‐functional metallogel, which was based on the copper(II) complex of quinolinol‐substituted L ‐glutamide, showed both redox‐responsive and enantioselective properties; moreover, the metallogels collapsed into a sol after reduction and could be revived upon subsequent oxidation. The supramolecular chirality and morphology also reversible changed with the gel–sol transition. Furthermore, the metallogels showed new enantioselective recognition towards chiral aromatic amino acids. A new emission band in the blue‐light region at around 393 nm appeared when the metallogels encountered L ‐aromatic amino acids, whereas no new emission band was observed for the corresponding D ‐aromatic amino acids. Such enantioselectivity only occurred in the gel state. No similar phenomenon could be observed in solution. This result suggested that, during the gel formation, the gelator molecules self‐assembled into ordered, chiral supramolecular structures and enhanced the enantiorecognition of the L ‐aromatic amino acids.     

NMR Studies on Hydrolysis and Condensation Reactions of Alkoxysilanes Containing Si—H Bonds

Hydrolysis and condensation reactions of four organically modified alkoxides, used for the preparation of silicon oxycarbide gel precursors, have been followed by 29Si NMR. Triethoxysilane (HSi(OEt)3) and methyldiethoxysilane (MeHSi(OEt)2) react extremely fast compared to methyltriethoxysilane (MeSi(OEt)3) and tetraethoxysilane (Si(OEt)4). Co-hydrolysis reactions between different pairs of precursors—MeSi(OEt)3/Si(OEt)4; MeSi(OEt)3/HSi(OEt)3; MeHSi(OEt)2/Si(OEt)4; and MeHSi(OEt)2/HSi(OEt)3—were investigated by solution state 29Si and 17O NMR. Despite significantly different reactivities between precursors, evidence for co-condensation reactions has been found for each system. Finally, two-dimensional 29Si-1H heteronuclear correlation MAS-NMR spectroscopy was used to probe the local environments of the various Si sites in the product hybrid networks.     

Redox-driven intramolecular anion translocation between a metal centre and a hydrogen-bond-donating compartment

Dicationic ligands incorporating two 2,2'-bipyridine units and two imidazolium moieties, [1](2+) and [2](2+), form stable chelate complexes with Cu(II) and Cu(I) in acetonitrile solution. Each Cu(II) complex binds two X(-) ions according to two stepwise equilibria, the first involving the Cu(II) centre and the second involving the bis-imidazolium compartment. Cu(I) complexes are able to host only one NO(3)(-) ion in the bis-imidazolium cavity, while other anions induce demetallation. Thus, in the presence of one equivalent of NO(3)(-), the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox change makes the anion translocate quickly and reversibly from one binding site to the other within the [Cu(II,I)(1)](4+/3+) system, as demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential electrolysis experiments.     

Interfacial behavior and film patterning of redox-active cationic copper(II)-containing surfactants

Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a novel series of single-tail amphiphiles LPyCn (Py=pyridine, Cn=C18, C16, C14, C10) and their copper(II)-containing complexes, which are of relevance for patterned films. The N-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)alkyl-1-amine ligands and their complexes [CuIICl2(LPyC18)] (1), [CuIICl2(LPyC16)] (2), [CuIICl2(LPyC14)] (3), [CuIIBr2(LPyC18)] (4), [CuIIBr2(LPyC16)] (5), and [CuIIBr2(LPyC10)] (6) were synthesized, isolated, and characterized by means of mass spectrometry, IR and NMR spectroscopies, and elemental analysis. Complexes 1, 2, 3, and 6 had their molecular structure solved by X-ray diffraction methods, which showed that the local geometry around the metal center is distorted square planar. With the aim of using these species as precursors for redox-responsive films, an assessment of their electrochemical properties involved cyclic voltammetry in different solvents, with different supporting electrolytes and scan rates. Density functional theory calculations of relevant species in bulk and at interfaces were used to evaluate their electronic structure and dipole moments. The morphology and order of the resulting films at the air/water interface were studied by isothermal compression and Brewster angle microscopy. Biphasic patterned Langmuir films were observed for all complexes except 3 and 6, and dependence on the chain length and the nature of the halogen coligand determine the characteristics of the isotherms and their intricate topology. Complexes 3 and 6, which have shorter chain lengths, failed to exhibit organization. These results exemplify the first comprehensive study of the behavior of single-tail metallosurfactants, which are likely to lead to high-end technological applications based on their patterned films.     

Proton Catalysis in the Redox Responsivity of a Mini‐Sized Photochromic Diarylethene

A thermally irreversible dithienylethene (DTE) photochrom can be turned into a thermally reversible one in presence of Cu^II triflate. A ring opening (DTEC closed→DTEO open) occurs through the formation of a copper‐containing fast transient intermediate. Stopped‐flow experiments monitored at 410 and 780 nm have allowed to show that the stoichiometry of this intermediate is DTE/Cu=1:1. At longer monitoring times (i.e., several seconds after mixing), the intermediate undergoes a slow decay while the residual DTEC closed form opens. A joint detailed kinetic and electrochemical analysis has unveiled a proton catalysis scenario in which electron transfer between DTEC and Cu^II, ligand exchange, protonation‐deprotonation equilibria of the cation radicals and ring opening are embedded into two main reaction cycles. At the beginning of the reaction, Cu^II is reduced into Cu^I and DTE is degraded without ring opening. Then, as the reaction progresses, the triflic acid released from the Cu^II reduction switches‐on a propagation cycle during which ring opens without any more Cu^II consumption. Cyclic voltammetry, spectro‐electrochemical measurements, delayed photocoloration experiments in presence of Cu^II and acid–base additions have confirmed the main features of the proton catalysis.