A Redox‐Active Dinuclear Platinum Complex Exhibiting Multicolored Electrochromism and Luminescence

A redox series of cyclometalated platinum complexes based on a dinuclear motif linked by acetamidato (aam) bridging ligands, [Pt₂(μ‐aam)₂(ppy)₂] (ppy^?=2‐phenylpyridinate ion), has been synthesized. The complexes in this series are easily oxidized and reduced by both electrochemical and chemical methods, and this is accompanied by multistep changes in their optical properties, that is, multiple color changes and luminescence. Isolation of the complexes and the structural determination of three oxidation states, +2, +2.33, and +3, have been achieved. The mixed‐valent complex, with an average oxidation state of +2.33, forms a trimer based on the dinuclear motif. The mixed‐valent complex has a characteristic color owing to intervalence transitions in the platinum chain. In contrast, the divalent complex exhibits strong red phosphorescence originating from a triplet metal‐metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (³MMLCT) state. This study demonstrates the unique chromic behavior of a redox‐active and luminescent platinum complex.     

Transition from a Metal‐Localized Mixed‐Valence Compound to a Fully Delocalized and Bridge‐Biased Electrophore in a Ruthenium–Amine–Ruthenium Tricenter System

A series of cyclometalated diruthenium complexes with a redox‐active amine bridge were synthesized. Depending on the terminal ligands of the ruthenium components and the substituent on the amine unit, the one‐electron‐oxidized state can be either in the form of a weakly or strongly coupled mixed‐valence diruthenium complex, a fully charge‐delocalized three‐center system, or a bridge‐biased electrophore. This transition among different electronic forms was supported by electrochemistry, near‐infrared absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, and density functional theory analysis.     

Formation of Substituted Oxa‐ and Azarhodacyclobutanes

The preparation of substituted oxa‐ and azarhodacyclobutanes is reported. After exchange of ethylene with a variety of unsymmetrically and symmetrically substituted alkenes, the corresponding rhodium–olefin complexes were oxidized with H₂O₂ and PhINTs (Ts=p‐toluenesulfonyl) to yield the substituted oxa‐ and azarhodacyclobutanes, respectively. Oxarhodacyclobutanes could be prepared with excellent selectivity for incorporation of the oxygen atom on the more substituted carbon atom of the alkene. At the same time, azarhodacyclobutanes showed good‐to‐excellent selectivity for heteroatom incorporation on the less substituted carbon. Furthermore, it was shown that steric modifications of the ancillary ligand have a significant influence on the selectivity of Rh–olefin complex formation as well as formation of the substituted azametallacycles.     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Pyrrolpigmente, 6. Mitt.: Dipolmomente von substituierten Pyrromethenen

The dipole moments of three symmetrically and one, unsymmetrically substituted pyrromethene derivatives were determined using cyclohexane as solvent. By comparison of these moments with those obtained from a semiempirical quantum mechanical treatment including all valence electrons (CNDO/2), the predominance of one tautomeric form of the unsymmetrically substituted species was deduced.     

Unusual Stabilization of Dication Diradical Intermediate of Dizinc(II) Porphyrin Dimer

We have demonstrated here how the nature of a metal ion controls the reactivity of a metalloporphyrin π‐cation radical. One‐electron oxidations of diethylpyrrole‐bridged dicopper(II) and dipalladium(II) porphyrin dimers using iodine as an oxidant result in the formation of strongly interacting cofacial mixed‐valent π‐cation radical dimers. The mixed‐valent cation radical so generated being highly reactive drives a spontaneous and rapid transformation to form an indolizinium‐fused chlorin‐porphyrin heterodimer. In sharp contrast to this, similar addition of iodine leads to 1e‐oxidation of dizinc(II) porphyrin dimer, which is followed by a second oxidation to produce a dication diradical complex. The axial coordination of iodine upon 1e‐oxidation of dizinc(II) porphyrin dimer lowers the overall oxidation potential of the system, and thereby, making the second oxidation easily accessible. This has resulted in the stabilization of a dication diradical complex, in which two porphyrin π‐cation radicals undergo electronic communication through the bridging pyrrole group. Interestingly, despite being well‐separated from each other, the two radical spins undergo strong antiferromagnetic coupling to form a diamagnetic compound. The conjugation also leads to a change in identity of the bridge, which further highlights the critical role played by the bridge in the electronic communication between the two rings. DFT calculations clearly support the experimental observations.     

Cyclometalated complexes derived from calix[4]arene bisphosphites and their catalytic applications in cross-coupling reactions

Palladium and platinum dichloride complexes of a series of symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted 25,26;27,28-dibridged p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene bisphosphites in which two proximal phenolic oxygen atoms of p-tert-butyl- or p-H-calix[4]arene are connected to a P(OR) (R = substituted phenyl) moiety have been synthesized. The palladium dichloride complexes of calix[4]arene bisphosphites bearing sterically bulky aryl substituents undergo cyclometalation by C-C or C-H bond scission. An example of cycloplatinated complex is also reported. The complexes have been characterized by NMR spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. During crystallization of the palladium dichloride complex of a symmetrically substituted calix[4]arene bisphosphite in dichloromethane, insertion of oxygen occurs into the Pd-P bond to give a P,O-coordinated palladium dichloride complex. The calix[4]arene framework in these bisphosphites and their metal complexes adopt distorted cone conformation; the cone conformation is more flattened in the metal complexes than in the free calix[4]arene bisphosphites. Some of these cyclometalated complexes proved to be active catalysts for Heck and Suzuki C-C cross-coupling reactions but, on an average, the yields are only modest.     

Conformational Tuning of the Intramolecular Electronic Coupling in Molecular‐Wire Biruthenium Complexes Bridged by Biphenyl Derivatives

The synthesis and characterization of a series of biphenyl‐derived binuclear ruthenium complexes with terminal {RuCl(CO)(PMe₃)₃} moieties and different structural arrangements of the phenyl rings are reported. Electrochemical studies revealed that the two metal centers of the binuclear ruthenium complexes interact with each other through the biphenyl bridge, and the redox splittings ΔE_1/2 show a strong linear correlation with cos² ?, where ? is the torsion angle between the two phenyl rings. A combination of electrochemical, UV/Vis/NIR, and in situ IR differential spectroelectrochemical analysis clearly showed that: 1) the intramolecular electronic couplings in the binuclear ruthenium complexes could be modulated by changing ?; 2) the electronic ground state of the mixed‐valent cations changes from delocalized to localized through the biphenyl bridge with increasing torsion angle ?, that is, the redox processes of these complexes change from significant involvement of the bridging ligand to an oxidation behavior with less participation of the bridge.     

Diastereoisomeric singly bridged cyclophosphazene-macrocyclic compounds

31P NMR spectroscopy and added chiral shift reagent (CSR) or chiral solvating agent (CSA) have been used to show that unsymmetrically substituted singly bridged macrocyclic phosphazene compounds exist as 1:1 diastereoisomers of two racemic mixtures, in contrast to previous work (ref 2) on symmetrically substituted diastereoisomeric analogues, which exist as meso and racemic forms. The cis-ansa cyclotriphosphazatriene-macrocycle, 1, is meso and monosubstitution of the >P(O-macrocycle)Cl group with 2-naphthol gives a racemic product (7), in which the macrocyclic ring exists in a trans-ansa configuration. Reaction of 7 with the di-secondary amine, piperazine, gives an unsymmetrically disubstituted racemic compound (8) having a cis-ansa configuration of the macrocyclic ring. Reaction of 8 with a further quantity of 1 forms a singly bridged derivative (9) with the macrocyclic rings in cis-trans configurations, and further reaction of 9 with pyrrolidine gives compound 10 with the macrocyclic rings in cis-cis configurations. Both 9 and 10 have four stereogenic centers giving rise to diastereoisomeric compounds existing as mixtures of two racemates. The results are consistent with inversion of configuration at phosphorus at each step of the reaction of >P(OR)Cl groups with nucleophile Z (i.e., Z = naphthoxy, piperazino, pyrrolidino) to form >P(OR)Z derivatives.     

Energy-level tailoring in a series of redox-rich quinonoid-bridged diruthenium complexes containing tris2-pyridylmethyl)amine as a co-ligand

Reactions of [{Ru(tmpa)}₂(μ‐Cl)₂][ClO₄]₂, ( 2 [ClO₄]₂, tmpa=tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine) with 2,5‐dihydroxy‐1,4‐benzoquinone ( L¹ ), 2,5‐di‐[2,6‐(dimethyl)‐anilino]‐1,4‐benzoquinone ( L² ), or 2,5‐di‐[2,4,6‐(trimethyl)‐anilino)]‐1,4‐benzoquinone ( L³ ) in the presence of a base led to the formation of the dinuclear complexes [{Ru(tmpa)}₂(μ‐ L¹ _{?2 H})][ClO₄]₂ ( 3 [ClO₄]₂), [{Ru(tmpa)}₂(μ‐ L² _{?2 H})][ClO₄]₂ ( 4 [ClO₄]₂), and [{Ru(tmpa)}₂(μ‐ L³ _{?2 H})][ClO₄]₂ ( 5 [ClO₄]₂). Structural characterization of 5 [ClO₄]₂ showed the localization of the double bonds within the quinonoid ring and a twisting of the mesityl substituents with respect to the quinonoid plane. Cyclic voltammetry of the complexes show two reversible oxidation and quinonoid‐based reduction processes. Results obtained from UV/Vis/NIR and EPR spectroelectrochemistry are invoked to discuss ruthenium‐ versus quinonoid‐ligand‐centered redox activity. The complex 3 [ClO₄]₂ is compared to the reported complex [{Ru(bpy)}₂(μ‐ L¹ _{?2 H})]²⁺ ( 1²⁺ , bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine). The effects of substituting the bidentate and better π‐accepting bpy co‐ligands with tetradentate tmpa ligands [pure σ‐donating (amine) as well as σ‐donating and π‐accepting (pyridines)] on the redox and electronic properties of the complexes are discussed. Comparisons are also made between complexes containing the dianionic forms of the all‐oxygen‐donating L¹ ligand with the L² and L³ ligands containing an [O,N,O,N] donor set. The one‐electron oxidized forms of the complexes show absorption in the NIR region. The position as well as the intensity of this band can be tuned by the substituents on the quinonoid bridge. In addition, this band can be switched on and off by using tunable redox potentials, making such systems attractive candidates for NIR electrochromism.     

Metal‐Chelating N,N′‐Bis(4‐dimethylaminophenyl)acetamidinyl Radical: A New Chromophore for the Near‐Infrared Region

A new non‐innocent ligand redox system, N,N′‐bis(4‐dimethylaminophenyl) substituted acetamidinato/acetamidinyl, has been designed and described by example of structurally and spectroscopically characterized ruthenium complexes. The hitherto unreported ligand is responsible for rather intense and narrow absorptions in the near‐infrared region of the one‐ and two‐electron oxidized forms. The spectroscopic, computational, and first structural characterization of an amidinyl radical complex adds to the list of established N‐based radical ligands.     

Photochemistry and Photophysical Properties of Novel, Unsymmetrically Substituted Metallophthalocyanines

Abstract— A series of novel, unsymmetrically substituted metallophthalocyanines was synthesized, along with their symmetrically substituted analogs, and the effects of structure and metal substitution on their photophysical and photoredox properties were investigated. The macrocy-cles were synthesized using a mixed-condensation method followed by chromatographic separation of the resulting soluble products. They possess a catechol "active site" and three tert-butyl groups for enhanced solubility. The ground- and excited-state photophysical properties of the free-base, Zn(II) and Pd(II) macrocycles were measured and compared with their symmetrically substituted (tetra[ tert -butyl]) analogs. The efficiency with which these macrocycles sensitize the formation of singlet oxygen was determined and discussed in the context of the excited-state photophysical properties. Several examples of photoinduced electron transfer reactions with one- and two-electron acceptors are demonstrated and discussed. These soluble molecules can be tuned to optimize their photochemical and redox properties by varying the central metal, axial ligands and other substituents, thereby providing a series of molecules for the investigation of photodynamic therapy and photoinduced electron transfer mechanisms.     

C−N Bond Formation from a Masked High‐Valent Copper Complex Stabilized by Redox Non‐Innocent Ligands

The reactivity of a stable copper(II) complex bearing fully oxidized iminobenzoquinone redox ligands towards nucleophiles is described. In sharp contrast with its genuine low‐valent counterpart bearing reduced ligands, this complex performs high‐yielding C?N bond formations. Mechanistic studies suggest that this behavior could stem from a mechanism akin to reductive elimination occurring at the metal center but facilitated by the ligand: it is proposed that a masked high oxidation state of the metal can be stabilized as a lower copper(II) oxidation state by the redox ligands without forfeiting its ability to behave as a high‐valent copper(III) center. These observations are substantiated by a combination of advanced EPR spectroscopy techniques with DFT studies. This work sheds light on the potential of redox ligands as promoters of unusual reactivities at metal centers and illustrates the concept of masked high‐valent metallic species.     

A novel and efficient method for the Pd-catalysed oxidative carbonylation of amines to symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted ureas

A new method for the Pd-catalysed oxidative carbonylation of amines to symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted ureas with unprecedented catalytic efficiencies for this kind of reaction has been developed.     

A Versatile Synthetic Route to Substituted Thianthrenes

2,7-Dinitrothianthrene has been prepared by the base-catalyzed cyclization of 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzenethiol and proves to be a versatile starting point for the preparation of several 2,7-disubstituted thianthrenes, both symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted.     

Desymmetrization of Dicationic Diboranes by Isomerization Catalyzed by a Nucleophile

Cationic monoboranes exhibit a rich chemistry. By constrast, only a few cationic diboranes are known, that all are symmetrically substituted. In this work, the first unsymmetrically substituted dicationic diboranes, featuring sp²–sp²‐hybridized boron atoms, are reported. The compounds are formed by intramolecular rearrangement from preceding isomeric symmetrically substituted dicationic diboranes, a process that is catalyzed by nucleophiles. From the temperature‐dependence of the isomerization rate, activation parameters for this unprecedented rearrangement are derived. The difference in fluoride ion affinity between the two boron atoms and the bonding situation in these unique unsymmetrical dicationic diboranes are evaluated.     

Well‐Defined Dinuclear Gold Complexes for Preorganization‐Induced Selective Dual Gold Catalysis

The synthesis, reactivity, and potential of well‐defined dinuclear gold complexes as precursors for dual gold catalysis are explored. Using the preorganizing abilities of the ditopic PN^HP^iPr ( L^H ) ligand, dinuclear Au^I–Au^I complex 1 and mixed‐valent Au^I–Au^III complex 2 provide access to structurally characterized chlorido‐bridged cationic species 3 and 4 upon halide abstraction. For 2 , this transformation involves unprecedented two‐electron oxidation of the redox‐active ligand, generating a highly rigidified environment for the Au₂ core. Facile reaction with phenylacetylene affords the σ,π‐activated phenylacetylide complex 5 . When applied in the dual gold heterocycloaddition of a urea‐functionalized alkyne, well‐defined precatalyst 3 provides high regioselectivities for the anti‐Markovnikov product, even at low catalyst loadings, and outperforms common mononuclear Au^I systems. This proof‐of‐concept demonstrates the benefit of preorganization of two gold centers to enforce selective non‐classical σ,π‐activation with bifunctional substrates.     

Synthesis and Metalation of Doubly o‐Phenylene‐Bridged Cyclic Bis(dipyrrin)s with Highly Bent Skeleton of Dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1)

Facile synthesis of dibenzoporphyrins(2.1.2.1) has been successfully reported by the simple condensation reaction of o‐dipyrrolylbenzene with various aldehydes in the presence of a Lewis acid. This reaction enables the preparation of various dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1) derivatives with p‐substituted phenyl groups, five‐membered heterocycles, and ethynyl groups at the meso‐positions. Dibenzoporphyrins(2.1.2.1) consist of two dipyrrin units that are connected by o‐phenylene bridges, which adopt highly bent saddle‐shaped structures; this was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. We found that dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1) can be described as a 20π antiaromatic conjugated system, but practically, it is not an antiaromatic macrocycle, which we revealed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The redox potentials had good correlations with Hammett substituent constant (σ_p) of the substituents at the meso‐positions. The free‐base dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1) was able to form the metal complexes with nickel(II), copper(II), palladium(II), platinum(II), and tin(IV) ions. These results suggested that dibenzoporphyrin(2.1.2.1) derivatives can be utilized as novel macrocyclic dianionic tetradentate ligands for various metal ions to give complexes with varying optical and electrochemical properties.     

Spatially Confined Assembly of Monodisperse Ruthenium Nanoclusters in a Hierarchically Ordered Carbon Electrode for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution

The redox units of polyaniline (PAni) are used cooperatively, and in situ, to assemble ruthenium (Ru) nanoclusters in a hierarchically ordered carbon electrode. The oxidized quinonoid imine (QI) units in PAni bond Ru complex ions selectively, whereas reduced benzenoid amine (BA) units cannot. By electrochemically tuning the ratio of QI to BA, Ru complexes are spatially confined in the outer layer of hierarchical PAni frameworks. Carbonization of Ru‐PAni hybrids induces nucleation on the outer surface of the carbon support, generating nearly monodisperse Ru nanoclusters. The optimized catalyst has a low loading of approximately 2 wt % Ru, but exhibits a mass activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction that is about 6.8 times better than commercial 20 wt % Pt/C catalyst.     

Combining Electronic and Steric Effects for Highly Stable Unsymmetric Pentacenes

This paper describes the reactivity of unsymmetrically substituted pentacenes to photochemical oxidation. Acenes in general, and pentacenes in particular, are a key family of compounds for a variety of organic electronics applications. The instability of many pentacene derivatives, particularly to oxidation, is an important restriction in their applicability. Several substitution strategies for decreasing the reactivity of pentacene exist, but these almost always involve symmetrically substituted derivatives, restricting the chemical space of structures from which to choose. In this paper, we demonstrate that combining electronic and steric effects yields highly stable unsymmetrically substituted pentacenes.     

Quantum chemical interpretation of redox properties of ruthenium complexes with vinyl and TCNX type non-innocent ligands

This review provides an overview of density functional theory (DFT) calculations in a consequence with spectroelectrochemical measurements on mononuclear and symmetrically or unsymmetrically bridged di- and tetranuclear ruthenium complexes of vinyl and TCNX ligands. The DFT approach is used for the calculations of molecular structures, vibrational frequencies, electronic and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectral data. DFT calculations enable us to identity the primary redox site and the electron and spin-density distribution between the individual components for the individual redox congeners. The DFT technique reproduces the spectral properties of the presented complexes and their radical ions. The generally close correspondence between experimental and quantum chemical results demonstrate that modern DFT is a powerful tool to address issues like ligand non-innocence and electron and spin delocalization in systems containing both redox-active metal ions and redox-active ligands.