Formation of Ag2Se nanotubes and dendrite-like structures from UV irradiation of a CSe2/Ag colloidal solution

Ag2Se nanotubes have been successfully synthesized by UV photodissociation of adsorbed CSe2 on the surface of Ag nanowires under ambient conditions. Transmission electron microscopy was used to trace the growth of hollow interiors, allowing a detail study of the Kirkendall effect in 1-dimensional nanosystems. Voids were observed to grow from both ends of the nanowires along the longitudinal axis and ultimately merged to form hollow nanotubes. This phenomenon is attributed to the crystallographic selective adsorption of poly(vinylpyrolidone) on Ag nanowire templates. In addition, we observed the formation of dendrites on aging of the reaction mixture and explained its growth based on a diffusion-limited aggregation model.     

Ag, Ag2S, and Ag2Se nanocrystals: synthesis, assembly, and construction of mesoporous structures

Synthesis of mesoporous materials has become more and more important due to their wide application. Nowadays, there are two main ideas in their preparation. One is focused on the templating method. The other is based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) constructed from molecular building blocks. Herein, we exploit a new idea for their facile and general synthesis, namely, using "artificial atoms" (monodisperse nanoparticles) as uniform building blocks to construct ordered mesoporous materials. Mesoporous Ag, Ag2S, and Ag2Se have been obtained to demonstrate this concept. On the other hand, we also describe a facile method to prepare the "building blocks". Ag nanoparticles were obtained by direct thermal decomposition of AgNO3 in octadecylamine, and Ag2S/Ag2Se nanoparticles were synthesized by reaction between sulfur or selenium powder and Ag nanoparticles formed in situ. This approach for Ag, Ag2S, and Ag2Se nanoparticles is efficient, economical, and easy to scale up in industrial production.     

Amino-carboxylic recognition on surfaces: from 2D to 2D + 1 nano-architectures

The control of the electronic properties of the interfaces between small organic molecules and the substrate is key for the development of efficient and reliable organic-based devices. A promising and widely covered route is to interpose a Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM) to bridge the molecular film and the electrode. The morphology and the electronic level alignment of the triple substrate-SAM-organic layered system can be tuned by properly selecting the SAM composition. We have recently proposed a novel approach to the problem where, under ultra-high vacuum conditions, a molecular film is anchored to the SAM by exploiting the recognition between molecules functionalized, respectively, with -NH(2) and -COOH end-groups. Here we briefly review the role of the amino-carboxylic interaction in the formation of ordered organic 2-dimensional architectures on solid surfaces. We then describe the anchoring process of carboxylic molecules on amine based SAMs we have recently reported on. New results are presented showing how multiple anchoring sites per molecule may be exploited for tailoring the molecular orientation as well as the density of the anchored molecules.     

Diabatic free energy curves and coordination fluctuations for the aqueous Ag+Ag2+ redox couple: a biased Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics investigation

Biased Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations are performed to compute redox potential and free energy curves for the redox half reaction Ag(+)-->Ag(2+)+e(-) in aqueous solution. The potential energy surfaces of reactant and product state are linearly coupled and the system transferred from the reduced state to the oxidized state by variation of the coupling parameter from 0 to 1. The redox potential is obtained by thermodynamic integration of the average ionization energy of Ag(+). Diabatic free energy curves of reduced (R) and oxidized (O) states are obtained to good statistical accuracy by reweighting and combining the set of biased distributions of the ionization energy. The diabatic free energy curves of Ag(+) and Ag(2+) are parabolic over a wide range of the reaction coordinate in agreement with the linear response assumption that underlies Marcus theory. However, we observe deviations from parabolic behavior in the equilibrium region of Ag(+) and find different values for the reorganization free energy of R (1.4 eV) and O (0.9 eV). The computed reorganization free energy of Ag(2+) is in good agreement with the experimental estimate of 0.9-1.2 eV obtained from photoelectron spectroscopy. As suggested by our calculations, the moderate deviation from linear response behavior found for Ag(+) is likely related to the highly fluxional solvation shell of this ion, which exhibits water exchange reactions on the picosecond time scale of the present molecular dynamics simulation.     

Cyclic Se6 and helical infinity1[Sex] as neutral ligands in the new compounds PdBr2Se6 and PdCl2Se8

PdBr2Se6 and PdCl2Se8 are two new compounds with cyclic Se6 coordinated to PdBr2 molecules and one-dimensional helical Sex chains coordinated to PdCl2 molecules. PdBr2Se6 is a black solid with a crystal structure similar, but not equal, to PdCl2Se6. It crystallizes in the space group P1 with the lattice constants a = 4.3946(8) A, b = 7.605(1) A, c = 7.992(2) A, alpha = 66.15(2) degrees , beta = 86.44(2) degrees , gamma = 80.90(2) degrees , and Z = 1 and can be handled in air like the deep red PdCl2Se8 which crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with the lattice constants a = 9.609(2) A, b = 8.958(2) A, c = 13.799(3) A, and Z = 4. In PdBr2Se6, two cyclic Se6 molecules (chair conformation) are directly coordinated to Pd atoms, forming Pd(Se6)2Br2 groups. These are connected to one-dimensional chains via trans-standing Se atoms. In PdCl2Se8, the selenium substructure consists of helical chains with every fifth Se atom directly coordinated to the Pd atom of a PdCl2 group. Each PdCl2 group on the other hand connects two neighboring Sex helices. The type of Sex helix found for this compound is unique and differs from all other ones reported up to now including elemental alpha-Se. A reproducible twinning observed for PdBr2Se6 crystals in the course of the X-ray single-crystal investigations is checked by transmission electron microscopy in connection with details of the atomic arrangement. The Raman spectra of PdBr2Se6 and PdCl2Se8 are compared to Raman data of elemental Se modifications and give significant support for the Se6 and helical Sex to be neutral molecules. A discussion of the results of thermal analyses gives clear evidence that cyclic Se6 and helical Sex are considerably stabilized by bonding to the PdX2 molecules because the melting temperatures of the composite materials are significantly higher than the ones of the respective elemental modifications.     

Structure Elucidator: a versatile expert system for molecular structure elucidation from 1D and 2D NMR data and molecular fragments

StrucEluc is an expert system that allows the computer-assisted elucidation of chemical structures based on the inputs of a series of spectral data including 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectra. The system has been enabled to allow a chemist to utilize fragments stored in a fragment database as well as user-defined fragments submitted by the chemist in the structure elucidation process. The association of fragments in this way has been shown to dramatically speed up the process of structure generation from 2D NMR data and has helped to minimize or eliminate the need for user intervention thereby further enabling the vision of automated elucidation. The use of fragments has frequently transformed very difficult 2D NMR elucidation challenges into easily solvable tasks. A strategy to utilize molecular fragments has been developed and optimized based on specific challenging examples. This strategy will be described here using real world examples. Experience gained by solving more than 150 structure elucidation problems from a variety of literature sources is also reviewed in this work.     

Cs3AgAs4Se8 and CsAgAs2Se4: selenoarsenates with infinite 1 infinity[AsSe2]- chains in different Ag+ coordination environments

Two quaternary silver selenoarsenates Cs3AgAs4Se8 (I) and CsAgAs2Se4 (II) have been discovered by methanothermal reaction of Li3AsSe3 with AgBF4 in the presence of the respective alkali metal sources Cs2CO3 and CsCl. Orange crystals of Cs3AgAs4Se8 (I) were formed after reaction at 120 degrees C for 72 h, whereas red CsAgAs2Se4 (II) was obtained under slightly different conditions at 140 degrees C for 70 h. Both compounds possess novel two-dimensional (2D) polyanions consisting of infinite 1 infinity[AsSe2]- chains that are interconnected by Ag+ ions in different coordination patterns. In I, a double layer of 1 infinity[AsSe2]- chains is bridged by distorted trigonal planar coordinated Ag+ atoms to form a 2 infinity[AgAs4Se8]3- layer with a thickness of about 11.3 A. The nonbonding Ag...Ag distances are about 4.220 A, and large cavities within the layers accommodate for three of the four crystallographic Cs+ cations. The double amount of Ag+ atoms per AsSe2 chain unit in II leads to simple layers 2 infinity[AgAs2Se4]- [=[Ag2As4Se8]2-] in which the Ag+ atoms are arranged in rows between the 1 infinity[AsSe2]- chains, with alternating Ag...Ag distances of 3.053(3) and 3.488(3) A. Hereby the 1 infinity[AsSe2]- polyanions show a disorder within the central (-As-Seb)- chain (b = bridging), while the positions of the terminal Se atoms (Set) remain unaffected. The thermal, optical, and spectroscopic properties of the compounds are reported. Both I and II melt with decomposition and are wide band gap semiconductors with values of 2.07 and 1.79 eV, respectively. Raman spectroscopic data show typical band patterns expected for infinite [AsSe2]- chains. Crystal Data: Cs3AgAs4Se8 (I), monoclinic, C2/c, a = 25.212(2) A, b = 8.0748(7) A, c = 22.803(2) A, beta = 116.272(2) degrees, Z = 8; CsAgAs2Se4 (II), monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 10.9211(1) A, b = 6.5188(2) A, c = 13.7553(3) A, beta = 108.956(1) degrees, Z = 4.     

The cyclic "silver-diphos" motif [Ag2(mu-diphosphine)2]2+ as a synthon for building up larger structures

The dinuclear, cyclic structural motif [Ag2(diphosphine)2](2+), here termed the "silver-diphos" motif, previously observed in many diphosphine-silver complexes, has been investigated as a synthon for building up larger structures such as coordination cages and polymers. A series of ligands containing one to four meta-substituted diphosphine groups, attached via a central core, has been synthesized from the corresponding fluoroarenes by reaction with KPPh2. Upon reaction with silver salts, the target synthon is adopted by meta-substituted diphosphines 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (L1), 2,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzonitrile (L2), and 3,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzamide (L3), each of which gives a single species in solution consistent with the expected dimeric complexes [Ag2L2(anion)2]. X-ray crystal structures of [Ag2(L1)2(OTf)2] and [Ag2(L2)2(SbF6)2] confirm the adoption of the silver-diphos motif in the solid state. Amide-functionalized diphosphine L3 forms a hydrogen-bonded chain structure in the solid state via the amide group. A discrete boxlike cage [Ag4(L4)2][SbF6]4 based on two silver-diphos synthons is formed when the tetraphosphine Ph2Sn{3,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene}2 (L4) reacts with silver(I). Its single-crystal X-ray structure reveals a central cavity of minimum diameter, ca. 5.0 A, which contains a single SbF6(-) counterion disordered over two sites. In contrast to the highly selective behavior of the di- and tetra-phosphines L1-L4, the heptaphosphine P{3,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene}3 L5 and the hexaphosphine PhSn{3,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene}3 L6 give dynamic mixtures upon reaction with silver salts in solution. This nonspecific behavior is rationalized by the fact that their diphosphine groups are not appropriately disposed to form stable discrete structures based on the silver-diphos synthon. By contrast, the octaphosphine Sn{3,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene}4 L7 does selectively form a single, discrete, highly symmetrical product in solution, [Ag4(L7)(OTf)4]. In this case, the ligand unexpectedly adopts an interarm tetra-chelating coordination mode, resulting in a continuous 24-membered ring around the periphery of the molecule. To understand the adoption of this unusual coordination mode, the alternative diphosphine Ph2Sn(3-diphenylphosphinobenzene)2 L8, which models a single interarm chelating site of L7, was also investigated. By contrast to L7, its coordination was nonspecific, giving mixtures of silver complexes upon reaction with AgOTf. The selective interarm chelation by L7 may therefore be stabilized by the continuous coordination ring in [Ag4(L7)(OTf)4]; that is, the four chelating sites can be thought of as acting in a cooperative manner. Alternatively, interarm steric repulsions between phenyl groups may favor interarm chelation. Overall, we conclude that, if the diphosphine groups are appropriately articulated to act independently (i. e., they are adequately separated and oriented), the silver-diphos synthon can be a useful tool for the coordination-based self-assembly of larger structures.     

Crystal structures of two complexes of the rare-earth-DOTA-binding antibody 2D12.5: ligand generality from a chiral system

We report the crystal structures of antibody 2D12.5 Fab bound to an yttrium-DOTA analogue and separately to a gadolinium-DOTA analogue. The rare earth elements have many useful properties as probes, and 2D12.5 binds the DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N' ',N' "-tetraacetic acid) complexes of all of them (Corneillie et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 3436-3437). The structures show that there are no direct protein-metal interactions: a bridging water acts as a link between the protein and metal, with the chelate present as the M isomer in each case. DOTA forms an amphipathic cylinder with the charged carboxylate groups toward the face of the chelate near the metal ion, while nonpolar methylene groups from the macrocycle and the carboxymethyl groups occupy the rear and sides of the molecule. The orientation of the metal-DOTA in the 2D12.5 complex places most of the methylene carbon atoms of DOTA in hydrophobic contact with aromatic protein side chains. Other binding interactions between the metal complex and the antibody include a bidentate salt bridge, four direct H-bonds, and four to five water-mediated H-bonds. We find that 2D12.5 exhibits enantiomeric binding generality, binding yttrium chelates in both Lambda(deltadeltadeltadelta) and Delta(lambdalambdalambdalambda) configurations with modestly different affinities. This develops from the symmetrical nature of the DOTA chelate, which places heteroatoms and hydrophobic atoms in approximately the same relative positions regardless of the helicity of DOTA.     

Ag2.54Tl2Mo12Se15: a new structure type containing Mo6 and Mo9 clusters

The novel structure‐type Ag_2.54Tl₂Mo₁₂Se₁₅ (silver thallium molybdenum selenide) is built up of Mo₆Seⁱ₈Se^a₆ and Mo₉Seⁱ₁₁Se^a₆ cluster units in a 1:2 ratio, which are three‐dimensionally connected to form the Mo–Se network. The Ag and Tl cations are distributed in several voids within the cluster network. Three of the seven independent Se atoms and one Tl atom lie on sites with 3.. symmetry (Wyckoff sites 2c or 2d).     

Chemical design of heterometallic carboxylate structures with Fe3+ and Ag+ ions as a rational synthetic approach

Solid phase thermolysis of pivalate complex [Fe₃O(Piv)₆(HPiv)₃]Piv generates the [Fe₃O(Piv)₆]⁺ complex cation due to a deficiency of ligands in the coordination sphere of the metal ions. Crystallization of [Fe₃O(Piv)₆]⁺ from THF–EtOH leads to the heteroleptic complex [Fe₃O(Piv)₆(THF)(EtOH)(OH)] · 0.5 THF · 0.5 H₂O in 69% yield, while the reaction of [Fe₃O(Piv)₆]⁺ with AgNO₃ in toluene results in the complex [Fe₄Ag₄O₂(Piv)₁₂] · 2 PhMe with a rare combination of Fe^III and Ag^I atoms. Crystal structures of the two new complexes have been established.     

New 1- and 2-dimensional polymeric structures of cyanopyridine complexes of Ag(I) and Cu(I)

Polymeric transition metal chalcogenides have attracted much attention because of their possible unusual properties directly derived from their extended structures. The molecules n-cyanopyridine (n = 2, 3, and 4) and pyridine-3,4-dicarbonitrile are found to function as bidentate or monodentate (only pyridine nitrogen donor atom) ligands in the coordination of silver(I) and copper(I) ions, respectively. The mode of coordination depends on the anion and the crystallization conditions and has been elucidated in all cases by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. We report here the syntheses, structural characterization, and electrical properties of six new polymers, [Ag(2)(2-cyanopyridine)(2)(NO(3))(2)](n)(1), [Ag(4)(3-cyanopyridine)(8)(SiF(6))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](n) (2), [Ag(3-cyanopyridine)(2)(NO(3))](n)(3), [Ag(pyridine-3,4-dicarbonitrile)(2)(NO(3))](n)(4), [Cu(I)(4-cyanopyridine)(2)(SCN)](n)(5), and [Cu(I)(pyridine-3,4-dicarbonitrile)(2)(SCN)](n)(6). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibit novel two-dimensional networks, while 3-6 have one-dimensional chain structures, in which 3 is a single-stranded helix. Room-temperature conductivities of 1, 2, 4, and 6 have been measured and are 3.1 x 10(-)(7), 2.7 x 10(-)(7), 7.4 x 10(-)(6), and 4.3 x 10(-)(5) S.cm(-)(1), respectively. The effect of temperature on the conductivities has been investigated.     

Non-Born-Oppenheimer molecular structure and one-particle densities for H2D+

We show that the nonadiabatic (non-Born-Oppenheimer) ground state of a three-nuclei system can be effectively calculated with the use of an explicitly correlated Gaussian basis set with floating centers. Sample calculations performed for the H2D+ system with various basis set sizes show good convergence with respect to both the total energy and the expectation values of the internuclear distances (molecular geometry), the distances between the nuclei and the electrons, and between the electrons. We also provide a derivation of the formulas for one-particle density calculations and some density plots showing the spatial distribution of the H2D+ nuclear and electronic densities.     

Two polymeric structures with a benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate ligand acting in μ2- and μ4-bridging modes

catena-Poly[[tetraaquabis(1H-pyrazole-κN²)nickel(II)] [[diaquabis(1H-pyrazole-κN²)nickel(II)]-μ-benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylato-κ²O¹:O⁴] tetrahydrate], {[Ni(C₃H₄N₂)₂(H₂O)₄][Ni(C₁₀H₂O₈)(C₃H₄N₂)₂(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O}_n, (I), and poly[[(μ₄-benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylato-κ⁴O¹:O²:O⁴:O⁵)octakis(1H-pyrazole-κN²)dicobalt(II)] tetrahydrate], {[Co₂(C₁₀H₂O₈)(C₃H₄N₂)₈]·4H₂O}_n, (II), are polymeric compounds crystallizing in the space group P, with two independent metallic cations and one benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate (btc) anion, each lying on symmetry centres. Individual coordination polyhedra are regular and the main differences are in the way the btc anion binds [μ₂ in (I) and μ₄ in (II)], promoting a `chain-like' one-dimensional structure in (I) and a `sieve-like' two-dimensional motif in (II).     

Distinguishing the formation of C2D+4 ions from C2D+6 (by D2 loss) and from C2D5H+ (by HD loss) in a Reflectron spectrometer

The D₂ loss from C₂D⁺₆ ions and the HD loss from C₂D₅H⁺ ions has been investigated in a photoelectron photoion coincidence experiment employing a reflecting ion time of a flight mass spectrometer (Reflectron). The experiment is able to distinguish the metastable formation of C₂D⁺₄ ions (m/z = 32) from C₂D⁺₆ ions by D₂ loss and from C₂D₅H⁺ ions by HD loss simultaneously in a mixture of deuterated ethanes. The breakdown curves of the title reactions are presented and compared to the H₂ loss from C₂H⁺₆ ions. The HD loss from C₂D₅H⁺ is shifted by 67 meV and the D₂ loss from C₂D⁺₆ is shifted by 108 meV with respect to the H₂ loss from C₂H⁺₆. This shift reflects a strong kinetic isotope effect which is most likely due to tunneling of H/D atoms through a barrier.     

A simple chemosensor for Hg2+ and Cu2+ that works as a molecular keypad lock

A new chemosensor which can detect Hg(2+) in water and Hg(2+)/Cu(2+) in acetonitrile and its application as a molecular keypad lock using Cu(2+) and F(-) as ionic inputs are demonstrated.