在N,N-二甲基甲酰胺/水混合溶剂中制备偶氮聚电解质自组装膜

利用静电吸附逐层自组装方法在有机溶剂N,N二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)和H2O的混合介质中制备非水溶性偶氮聚电解质自组装多层膜.研究了DMF和H2O的配比对自组装膜生长、结构与表面形态的影响.结果表明,DMFH2O的混合溶剂是非水溶性偶氮聚电解质自组装的理想介质,二者之间的配比对自组装膜的生长速度,膜的结构以及表面形态均有显著影响.随着混合溶液中DMF含量的升高,自组装膜的生长速度逐渐下降但线形生长关系越来越好,所得自组装膜中偶氮生色团的H聚集程度逐渐下降,而且自组装膜的表面越来越平整.     

在非水介质中制备聚电解质静电吸附自组装膜

静电吸附自组装是近年来得到广泛研究和应用的一种制备超薄膜的方法,具有操作简单,膜厚可控等很多优点,已经被广泛应用于制备各种功能薄膜材料[1~4].通常情况下,聚电解质的静电吸附自组装都是在水中进行的.一方面,聚电解质在水中可以很容易的实现电离;另一方面,以水做介质可以避免有机溶剂的污染,尤其对模仿各种生物环境非常有利.所以自1991年Decher首先报道该方法以来,绝大多数的聚电解质静电吸附自组装是以水为介质.但是,以水做介质也常常会遇到一些困难,尤其对于疏水性(包括非水溶性)聚电解质来说.在当前研究的许多热点领域中如导电、发…     

Novel Azobenzene-Functionalized Polyelectrolytes of Different Substituted Head Groups 3: Control of Properties of Self-Assembled Multilayer Thin Films

Novel azobenzene polyelectrolytes have been used to fabricate biocompatible self-assembled multilayer (SAMU) thin films of variable absorbance, thickness, organization, and morphology. The prepared SAMU films are useful for directed cell growth, and this application relies directly on control of contact and surface energy, and requires the ability to tune the surface characteristics which are critical to their development. The azo polyelectrolytes employed here were similar in their degree of polymerization and repeat unit composition of acrylic acid monomer and azo monomers, and only differ from each other due to the presence of different substituted head R-groups present on the p-position of the aromatic ring of the azo chromophores. Possession of characteristics of both the self-assembly due to acrylic acid groups, and photoswitchability of the azo monomer enable the azobenzene functionalized polyelectrolytes to exhibit novel photo-reversible applications. The azo polyelectrolytes with the substituted R-group pairs of shorter-ionized hydrophilic COOH and SO₃H, shorter-non-ionized hydrophobic H and OC₂H₅, and larger-nonionized hydrophobic octyl C₈H₁₇ and C₈F₁₇ were used as polyanions and counter charge PDAC used as polycation to fabricate the layer-by-layer SAMU films onto glass and silicon substrates. The fabricated SAMU films were also characterized by various techniques. The UV absorption maxima, λ_max p of the SAMU films move to lower wavelength relative to solution to exhibit a blue shift for the hydrophobic R-groups, while this behaviour was not observed for the hydrophilic R-groups. Similarly, the thickness, organization, morphology and other properties of the thin films were found to be dependent on the type of substituted R-groups of the azo polyelectrolytes due to the inter-related factors of ionization, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, solubility, and aggregation of azo PEL in the dipping solutions used for fabrication of the SAMU films. Understanding and controlling the adsorption characteristics of azo multilayer thin–film of switchable functionalities are vital to explore their potential for the development and application of new devices in diverse areas of biosensor, drug delivery systems, on-chip microscale chemical process and microfluidics systems.     

光响应性偶氮聚电解质自组装研究

将3种侧链带有不同偶氮生色团的聚电解质,用逐层浸渍的方法使其组装成多层膜.利用原子力显微镜(AFM)研究了自组装膜的表面形貌以及随着组装层数增加的变化.详细研究了在紫外光的照射下,薄膜内偶氮生色团由反式到顺式构型的光响应转变,以及在暗室中由顺式回复到反式构型的回复特性.与自组装膜的光响应性和相应的旋涂膜进行比较发现,其中的PNAPE/PDAC自组装膜没有明显的光色效应,而PEAPE/PDAC,PPAPE/PDAC具有明显的光色效应.在暗室中,随生色团的结构不同和在不同的凝集态中,由顺式回复到反式构型的速率明显不同.     

A responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogel microsphere

A responsive hydrogel microsphere, which is constituted by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, was fabricated in an aqueous two-phase system based on the polymer–polymer immiscibility. Characteristics of the hydrogel microsphere, such as the particle size and the morphology of freeze-dried or hydrated natural microspheres in water, tetrahydrofuran (THF)/H₂O (1:1 in volume) or acetone/H₂O (1:1 in volume), were investigated. The results showed that the swelling ratio and the particle size of the hydrogel microspheres were highly dependent on solvent composition. In addition, these characteristics were dramatically reduced when THF or acetone was added into the aqueous media. Scanning electron microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy micrographs also visually demonstrated that the regular spherical shape of the microspheres in water turned to irregular in shape when the microspheres were immersed in THF/H₂O or acetone/H₂O mixtures instead of pure water.     

聚电解质膜PDAC/PSS诱导CaCO3结晶的研究

以模拟软体动物珍珠层的周期性基质控制形成过程制备仿生层状复合材料. 将聚苯乙烯磺酸钠(PSS)与聚二烯二甲基氯化铵(PDAC)用逐层浸渍的方法使其组装成多层膜, 用于诱导过饱和溶液中CaCO₃的结晶, 详细研究了膜紫外吸收随组装层数增加的线性变化. 扫描电镜和X射线衍射表征了晶体的形貌和结构. (PDAC/PSS)₁₅PDAC膜诱导获得的CaCO₃晶体为六面体结构, 晶体尺寸为30～40 μm; (PDAC/PSS)₁₅膜诱导CaCO₃结晶, 可以在膜表面获得形貌与珍珠层非常相似的CaCO₃晶体, 结晶10 h获得的晶片结构呈规则的六边形, 片尺寸约为10～20 μm. X射线衍射结果表明两种晶体的晶格结构与天然珍珠层差异明显, 说明静电作用为晶体形貌的主控因素之一, 但不是晶格结构的决定因素. 复合材料断面电镜照片表明其为层状结构.     

旋涂-逐层自组装制备光响应性聚丙烯酸酯类偶氮聚电解质多层膜

偶氮聚电解质的静电逐层自组装是实现偶氮聚合物功能性的重要手段,是制备诸如光存储材料、光开关材料和非线性光学材料等的新途径.因此,光响应性偶氮聚电解质的静电逐层自组装已引起了人们的广泛关注.静电逐层自组装通常在水溶液中进行,即通过基材在在水溶液中的交替浸渍和逐层     

Isotope effects on thermodynamic properties in four binary systems: Water (or heavy water) + dimethylsulfoxide (or N,N-Dimethylformamide) at 25‡C

Excess enthalpy, excess isobaric heat capacity, density, and speed of sound in mixtures of heavy water (D₂O) + dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and D₂O + dimethylformamide (DMF) were measured at 25‡C. The same properties of the mixtures of normal water + DMSO, and H₂O + DMF were also measured to estimate isotope effects on the thermodynamic excess functions. Both DMSO and DMF are proton acceptors and thus form hydrogen bonds with water. Large negative excess enthalpies and volumes of mixing and excess isentropic compressibilities show that the hydrogen bonding structures of DMSO and DMF with water are stronger and more compact than those in pure water. The excess heat capacity of DMSO-containing mixtures changes sign from negative to positive with increasing water content. The deviations of the excess properties of D₂O systems from those of H₂O systems indicate that the hydrogen bonding structure with D₂O is stronger and more compact.     

Self-assembled second order nonlinear optical multilayer azo polymer

An epoxy based polymer with nonlinear optical azo chromophores was designed to contain anionic groups to induce water solubility and self assembly. Using this polyanion with a polycation, multilayers were prepared on a glass substrate by alternating adsorption from dilute aqueous solutions. The azo chromophores in the confined layer of the polyanion in the multilayer films self-assemble into a noncentrosymmetric alignment and demonstrate second order optical nonlinearity (d₃₃ = 19 pm/V).     

Apparent Molar Volumes of Sodium Methylbenzoates in N, N-Dimethyl Formamide–Water Mixtures at 298.15 K

Densities of sodium methylbenzoate (o-, m-, p-) have been measured in dimethyl formamide (DMF)–water mixtures at 298.15 K with an oscillating-tube densimeter. From these densities, apparent molar volumes of sodium methylbenzoates in DMF–H₂O mixtures have been calculated and partial molar volumes at infinite dilution have been evaluated. Substituent and solvent effects on the transfer volumes of each isomer from water to DMF–H₂O mixed solvents have also been obtained. The results are explained in terms of solvent–solvent and solute–solvent interactions.     

Reactions of Aryl Benzoates with Potassium Aryloxides: Solvent Effects on Reaction Pathway and Kinetics

Temperature dependences of the relative reactivity of potassium aryloxides XC₆H₄O^?K⁺ toward 2,4‐dinitrophenyl benzoate in 50 mol% dimethylformamide (DMF)–50 mol% H₂O mixture have been studied using the competitive reactions technique. Correlation analyses of the relative rate constants k_X/k_H and differences in the activation parameters (ΔΔН^≠ and ΔΔS^≠) of the competitive reactions have revealed the existence of two isokinetic series of the reactions of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl benzoate with potassium aryloxides with electron‐donating substituent (EDS) and electron‐withdrawing substituent (EWS), respectively. We have investigated the effect of the substituent X on the activation parameters for each isokinetic series and concluded that the mechanism of the reactions of 2,4‐dinitrophenyl benzoate with potassium aryloxides XC₆H₄O^?K⁺ in 50 mol% DMF–50 mol% H₂O mixture is the same as in DMF. Analysis of the obtained data with using the method of two‐dimensional reaction coordinate diagram leads to the conclusion that the variation of the solvent from DMF to 50 mol% DMF–50 mol% H₂O mixture affects the reaction pathway. The rate constant k_X for the reaction of 3‐nitrophenyl benzoate with potassium 4‐methoxyphenoxide and the relative rate constants k_X/k_H for the reaction of 3‐nitrophenyl benzoate with potassium aryloxides XC₆H₄O^?K⁺ with EDS were measured in 50 mol% DMF–50 mol% H₂O mixtures at 25°C, and it has been shown that the addition of water to DMF does not change the mechanism but slows down these reactions.     

Novel Azobenzene-Functionalized Polyelectrolytes of Different Substituted Head Groups 2: Control of Surface Wetting in Self-Assembled Multilayer Films

A novel set of light-responsive polyelectrolytes has been developed and studied, to control and tune surface wettability by introducing various types of substituted R head-groups of azo polyelectrolytes in self-assembled multilayer (SAMU) films. As part of a larger project to develop polymer surfaces where one can exert precise control over properties important to proteins and cells in contact, photo-reversibly, we describe here how one can tune quite reliably the contact angle of a biocompatible SAMU, containing a photo-reversible azo chromophore for eventual directed cell growth. The azo polyelectrolytes described here have different substituted R head-group pairs of shorter-ionized hydrophilic COOH and SO₃H, shorter non-ionized hydrophobic H and OC₂H₅, and larger non-ionized hydrophobic octyl C₈H₁₇ and C₈F₁₇, and were employed as polyanions to fabricate the SAMU onto silicon substrates by using the counter-charge polycation PDAC. The prepared SAMU films were primarily characterized by measurement of their contact angles with water. The surface wetting properties of the thin films were found to be dependent on the type of substituted R-groups of the azo polyelectrolytes through their degree of ionization, size, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, solubility, conformation, and inter-polymeric association and intra-polymeric aggregation. All these factors appeared to be inter-related, and influenced variations in hydrophobic/hydrophilic character to different extents of aggregates/non-aggregates in solution because of solvation effects of the azo polyanions, and were thus manifested when adsorbed as thin films via the SAMU deposition process. For example, one interesting observation is significantly higher contact angles of 79° for SAMU films of larger octyl R groups of PAPEA-C₈F₁₇ and PAPEA-C₈H₁₇ than for others with contact angles of 64° observed for non-polar R-groups of OC₂H₅ and H. Furthermore, lower contact angle values of 59° for SAMU films with polar R-groups of COOH and SO₃H relative to that of non-polar R-groups are in accordance with their expected order of the hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity. It is possible that the large octyl groups are more effective in shielding the ionic functional groups on the substrate surface, and contributed less to the water drop-molecule interactions with ionic groups of the PDAC and/or AA groups. In addition, higher hydrophobicity of the SAMU films may be due to the incorporation of bulky and hydrophobic groups in these polyelectrolytes, which can produce aggregates on the surfaces of the SAMU films. Through understanding and controlling the complex aggregation behavior of the different substituted R-groups of these azo polyelectrolytes, and hence their adsorption on substrates, it appears possible to finely tune the surface energy of these biocompatible films over a wide range, enhance the photo-switching capabilities of the SAMU films, and tailor other surface properties for the development and application of new devices in diverse areas of microfluidics, specialty coatings, sensors, and biomedical sciences.     

Novel Azobenzene-Functionalized Polyelectrolytes of Different Substituted Head Groups 1: Synthesis,Characterization and Absorption Spectroscopy Studies

A new class of a series of amphiphilic polyelectrolytes functionalized with azobenzene chromophores have been synthesized and thoroughly characterized by various techniques. A facile two stage strategy is developed, and first involved the preparation of a precursor base polymer, designated as P(APEA), by the free-radical copolymerization of the monomers of acrylic acid (AA) and 2-(phenylethylamino)ethyl acrylate (PEA). In the second step, precursor PAPEA polymers are reacted and post-polymer modified with the diazonium salts to synthesize azobenzene polyelectrolyte, PAPEA-R with different substituted R-groups present on the para position of the aromatic ring of the azo chromophores. The PAPEA-R polyelectrolytes are same in their degree of polymerization and repeat unit compositions of AA and PEA monomers, and only differ from each other by the type of R-groups. The copolymers were classified on the basis of the characteristics of their R-groups into the hydrophilic-ionizeable smaller pair of ─SO₃H and ─COOH, the hydrophobic-non-ionizeable smaller pair of ─ H and ─OC₂H₅, and the hydrophobic-non-ionizeable larger octyl pair of ─C₈H₁₇ and ─ C₈F₁₇. The prepared copolymers are also characterized by NMR spectroscopy for structure, GPC for molecular weight, and UV-Visible spectroscopy for absorption determination. In DMF solvent, approximately similar absorption maxima, (λ_max) values were observed for azo chromophore-containing monomers and after incorporating these into their corresponding polymers structures. However, for the self-assembled multilayer thin films, λ_max moved to lower wavelengths to exhibit a blue shift with hydrophobic R-group of ─C₈H₁₇, while this behaviour was not observed for hydrophilic R-group of ─COOH. The shift in λ_max is found to be highly dependent on the type of substituted R-group, and attributed to aggregation of hydrophobic azo chromophores in DMF:H₂O mixture employed for self-assembly. The presence of the ionizeable AA and light-sensitive azo-chromophore functionalized PEA monomers in the PAPEA-R polyelectrolytes impart self-assembling and photoswitchable characteristics, respectively. Through understanding and controlling the solubility and complex solution aggregation behaviour of the different substituted R-groups of azo PEL, their adsorption, thickness, morphology, wetting, molecular-control, and photoresponsiveness can be tailored to enhance the capabilities of the self-assembled multilayer film process in diversified areas of microfluidics, sensing, and controlled release.     

Metal‐4,4′‐azobis(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazole) Complexes with Seven‐ and Nine‐membered Hydrogen‐bonded Rings Originating from the Pyrrolic NH Function

The metal complexes [Cu(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂(H₂azbpz)₂] · 2H₂O ( 1 ) and [Ni(H₂O)₄(H₂azbpz)₂](NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O ( 2 ) of 4,4′‐azobis(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazole) (H₂azbpz) incorporate the bipyrazole as a monodentate ligand and are associated into supramolecular architectures by hydrogen bonds and azo‐pz π interactions in the solid state. In 1 a cis configuration is integrated and the NH function adjacent to the metal‐coordinating nitrogen atom gives rise to a seven‐membered anion‐assisted hydrogen‐bonded ring around the central metal atom bringing the NH function in endo‐position to the azo‐bridge. The interplay of hydrogen‐bonds and dimeric azo‐pz π interactions in 1 forms one‐dimensional supramolecular chains, which are further interconnected by a heterodromic D_2h symmetric tetrameric water ring. In 2 a trans form of H₂azbpz is mono‐coordinated and the synergy of hydrogen‐bonded rings around the central metal atom and continuous azo‐pz π interactions form a two‐dimensional supramolecular network structure. The supramolecular packings of 1 and 2 is further underpinned by the analysis of their Hirshfeld surface areas.     

Organometallic Polyelectrolytes: Synthesis,Characterization and Layer‐By‐Layer Deposition of Cationic Poly(ferrocenyl(3‐ammoniumpropyl)‐methylsilane)

The water soluble poly(ferrocenylsilane) polycation, poly(ferrocenyl(3‐ammoniumpropyl)methylsilane), was synthesized by transition metal‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of the novel [1]ferrocenophane Fe(η‐C₅H₄)₂SiCH₃(CH₂)₃Cl and by subsequent side group modification. Amination of the chloropropyl moieties using potassium 1,1,3,3‐tetramethyldisilazide followed by acidic hydrolysis produced the polycation. The polycation was employed together with poly(sodium vinylsulfonate) in the electrostatic layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly process to form organometallic multilayers on quartz. The multilayer fabrication process was monitored using UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy and XPS.     

Isotopic substitution effects on the volumetric and viscosimetric properties of water-dimethylsulfoxide mixtures at 25°C

Densities and viscosities of binary mixtures (H₂O or D₂O) (1) + (DMSO or DMSO-D6)(2) have been measured over the entire mole fraction range; and the excess volumes, excess viscosities, and excess partial molar volumes Vf of the components have been obtained. All systems show negative excess volume V^e at all compositions, values for mixtures containing D₂O being more negative than those with H₂O byca. 0.03 cm³-mol^-1 at x₁, = 0.6, where a minimum is observed. The difference between DMSO and DMSO-D6 containing mixtures is negligible. The excess viscosity η^e is always positive and shows a maximum at x₁ = 0.65; at this composition, the substitution of H₂O with D₂O causes an excess viscosity increment ofca. 0.35 mPa-s, while deuteration of DMSO brings about a smaller increase,ca. 0.1 mPa-s. The trend of V ₂ ^E with concentration shows the characteristic features of moderately hydrophobic solutes in water (negative values and a minimum in the water-rich region), features that are slightly but significantly more marked in D₂O than in H₂O. The V ₂ ^E values in the water-diluted region and at x₁, =0 are more negative for D₂O than for H₂O.     

Direct synthesis of porous/hollow magnesium carbonate hydroxide spindly nanorods and their application in water treatment

Spindly Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂·4H₂O nanorods with porous and hollow nanostructures were synthesized in a water-in-oil reverse microemulsion system of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/water/cyclohexane/n-pentanol. These nanorods were characterized by a number of physical techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Comparison experiments showed that fundamental experimental parameters, such as the molar ratio of H₂O to CTAB and the concentration of reactants, were important in the morphological control of Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂·4H₂O nanostructures. The potential applications of the as-synthesized Mg₅(CO₃)₄(OH)₂·4H₂O nanorods in water treatment were also investigated.     

Nuclear magnetic relaxation and ionic solvation of23Na+ and81Br− in aqueous mixtures of simple amides

Ion-solvent interactions of Na⁺ and Br^– in binary aqueous mixtures of formamide,N-methylformamide (NMF), andN,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) are studied by use of²³Na and⁸¹Br magnetic relaxation times, extrapolated to zero salt concentration. The relaxation times, which are controlled by quadrupolar interaction, have been measured over the complete mixture range and are compared with a simplified theoretical formula. It turned out that the²³Na⁺ relaxation in H₂O-formamide and H₂O-NMF mixtures is in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions, implying nonpreferential solvation of Na⁺ in these systems. Small deviations of experimental from theoretical results in H₂O+DMF possibly indicate weak selective hydration of the cation. In the case of the anionic nuclei⁸¹Br^–, deviations from the theoretical curve occur which are to be expected, especially for systems where hydrophobic effects play a role. On the other hand, it is demonstrated that these deviations can easily be explained within the electrostatic theory by differences in structural details of the anionic solvation sphere in the mixtures compared to the pure solvents.     

Disulfonated azo dyes: metal coordination and ion‐pair separation in twelve MII compounds of Ponceau Xylidine and Crystal Scarlet

The structures of seven divalent metal cation compounds of Ponceau Xylidine {PX; systematic name of dication: 4‐[2‐(3,4‐dimethylphenyl)hydrazin‐1‐ylidene]‐3‐oxo‐3,4‐dihydronaphthalene‐2,7‐disulfonate}, also known as Acid Red 26, CI 16150, and of five divalent metal cation compounds of Crystal Scarlet {CS; systematic name of dication: 8‐[2‐(naphthalen‐1‐yl)hydrazin‐1‐ylidene]‐7‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydronaphthalene‐1,3‐disulfonate}, also known as Acid Red 44, CI 16250, are presented. These are hexaaquamagnesium(II) PX dimethylformamide (DMF) monosolvate, [Mg(H₂O)₆](C₁₈H₁₄N₂O₇S₂)·C₃H₇NO, (I); heptaaquacalcium(II) PX 2.5‐hydrate, [Ca(H₂O)₇](C₁₈H₁₄N₂O₇S₂)·2.5H₂O, (II); catena‐poly[aqua(μ‐DMF)tris(DMF)bis(μ₃‐PX)distrontium(II)], [Sr(C₁₈H₁₄N₂O₇S₂)(C₃H₇NO)₂(H₂O)_0.5]_n, (III); the transition‐metal series hexaaquametal(II) PX DMF monosolvate, [M(H₂O)₆](C₁₈H₁₄N₂O₇S₂)·C₃H₇NO, where M (metal) = Co, (IV), Ni, (V), Cu, (VI), and Zn, (VII); heptaaquacalcium(II) CS monohydrate, [Ca(H₂O)₇](C₂₀H₁₃N₂O₇S₂)·H₂O, (VIII); octaaquastrontium(II) CS monohydrate, [Sr(H₂O)₈](C₂₀H₁₃N₂O₇S₂)·H₂O, (IX); catena‐poly[[triaqua(DMF)barium(II)]‐μ‐CS], [Ba(C₂₀H₁₃N₂O₇S₂)(C₃H₇NO)(H₂O)₃]_n, (X); tetrakis(DMF)(CS)copper(II) monohydrate, [Cu(C₂₀H₁₃N₂O₇S₂)(C₃H₇NO)₄]·H₂O, (XI); and catena‐poly[[[aquatris(DMF)zinc(III)]‐μ‐CS] diethyl ether hemisolvate], {[Zn(C₂₀H₁₃N₂O₇S₂)(C₃H₇NO)₃(H₂O)]·0.5C₄H₁₀O}_n, (XII). In all cases, the structures obtained were solvates with dimethylformamide (DMF) and/or water present. The disulfonated naphthalene‐based azo anions adopt hydrazone tautomeric forms. The structures of the Mg salt and of four transition‐metal forms (M = Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) of PX are found to form an isostructural series. All have solvent‐separated ion‐pair (SSIP) type structures and the formula [M(H₂O)₆][PX]·DMF. The Ca salt of PX also has an SSIP structure, but has a higher hydration state, [Ca(H₂O)₇][PX]·2.5H₂O. In contrast, the Sr salt of PX, [Sr(PX)(DMF)₂(H₂O)_0.5]_n forms a one‐dimensional coordination polymer. Both the Ca and the Sr salt of CS have an SSIP structure, namely [Ca(H₂O)₇][CS]·H₂O and [Sr(H₂O)₈][CS]·H₂O, whilst the heavier Ba analogue, [Ba(CS)(DMF)(H₂O)₃]_n, forms a one‐dimensional coordination polymer. Unlike PX, two CS structures containing transition metals are found to be coordination complexes, [Cu(CS)(DMF)₄]·H₂O and {[Zn(CS)(DMF)₃(H₂O)]·0.5Et₂O}_n. This suggests that CS is a better ligand than PX for transition metals. The Cu complex forms discrete molecules with Cu in a square‐pyramidal environment, whilst the Zn species is a one‐dimensional coordination polymer based on octahedral Zn centres.     

Are Two Metal Ions Better than One? Mono- and Binuclear α-Diimine-Re(CO)3 Complexes with Proton-Responsive Ligands in CO2 Reduction Catalysis

Here, the reduction chemistry of mono- and binuclear α-diimine-Re(CO)₃ complexes with proton responsive ligands and their application in the electrochemically-driven CO₂ reduction catalysis are presented. The work was aimed to investigate the impact of 1) two metal ions in close proximity and 2) an internal proton source on catalysis. Therefore, three different Re complexes, a binuclear one with a central phenol unit, 3 , and two mononuclear, one having a central phenol unit, 1 , and one with a methoxy unit, 2 , were utilised. All complexes are active in the CO₂-to-CO conversion and CO is always the major product. The catalytic rate constant k_cat for all three complexes is much higher and the overpotential is lower in DMF/water mixtures than in pure DMF (DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies in the absence of substrate revealed that this is due to an accelerated chloride ion loss after initial reduction in DMF/water mixtures in comparison to pure DMF. Chloride ion loss is necessary for subsequent CO₂ binding and this step is around ten times faster in the presence of water [ 2 : k^Cl(DMF)≈1.7 s⁻¹; k^Cl(DMF/H₂O)≈20 s⁻¹]. The binuclear complex 3 with a proton responsive phenol unit is more active than the mononuclear complexes. In the presence of water, the observed rate constant k_obs for 3 is four times higher than of 2 , in the absence of water even ten times. Thus, the two metal centres are beneficial for catalysis. Lastly, the investigation showed that the phenol unit has no impact on the rate of the catalysis, it even slows down the CO₂-to-CO conversion. This is due to an unproductive, competitive side reaction: After initial reduction, 1 and 3 loose either Cl⁻ or undergo a reductive OH deprotonation forming a phenolate unit. The phenolate could bind to the metal centre blocking the sixth coordination site for CO₂ activation. In DMF, O−H bond breaking and Cl⁻ ion loss have similar rate constants [ 1 : k^Cl(DMF)≈2 s⁻¹, k^OH≈1.5 s⁻¹], in water/DMF Cl⁻ loss is much faster. Thus, the effect on the catalytic rate is more pronounced in DMF. However, the acidic protons lower the overpotential of the catalysis by about 150 mV.