Molecular QCA cells. 2. Characterization of an unsymmetrical dinuclear mixed-valence complex bound to a Au surface by an organic linker

Utilization of binary information encoded in the charge configuration of quantum-dot cells (the quantum-dot cellular automata, QCA, paradigm) requires surface-bound molecule-sized dots for room temperature operation. Molecular QCA cells are mixed-valence complexes, and the evaluation of a surface-bound unsymmetrical, heterobinuclear, two-dot, Fe-Ru molecular QCA cell is described. The tailed complex, trans-[Ru(dppm)(2)(C[triple bond]CFc)(N[triple bond]CCH(2)CH(2)-NH(2))][PF(6)] (dppm = methylbis(diphenylphosphane), Fc = (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))), is covalently modified with the molecular adapter, HS(CH(2))(10)COOH, for binding to a Au surface. Preparation and characterization of the films by AFM, XPS, and electrochemical techniques are reported. Cyclic voltammetric techniques are used to assess film growth, coverage and uniformity, effects of thiol diluents on areal densities of the complex, and stabilities of the accessible redox states. Amperometric techniques are used to investigate the efficiency of both chemical and electrochemical oxidation in producing the mixed-valence dication on the surface.     

Catalytic photooxidation of alcohols by an unsymmetrical tetra(pyridyl)pyrazine-bridged dinuclear Ru complex

The dinuclear complexes [(tpy)Ru(tppz)Ru(bpy)(L)](n+) (where L is Cl(-) or H(2)O, tpy and bpy are the terminal ligands 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine and 2,2'-bipyridine, and tppz is the bridging backbone 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine) were prepared and structurally and electronically characterized. The mononuclear complexes [(tpy)Ru(tppz)](2+) and [(tppz)Ru(bpy)(L)](m+) were also prepared and studied for comparison. The proton-coupled, multi-electron photooxidation reactivity of the aquo dinuclear species was shown through the photocatalytic dehydrogenation of a series of primary and secondary alcohols. Under simulated solar irradiation and in the presence of a sacrificial electron acceptor, the photoactivated chromophore-catalyst complex (in aqueous solutions at room temperature and ambient pressure conditions) can perform the visible-light-driven conversion of aliphatic and benzylic alcohols into the corresponding carbonyl products (i.e., aldehydes or ketones) with 100% product selectivity and several tens of turnover cycles, as probed by NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography. Moreover, for aliphatic substrates, the activity of the photocatalyst was found to be highly selective toward secondary alcohols, with no significant product formed from primary alcohols. Comparison of the activity of this tppz-bridged complex with that of the analogue containing a back-to-back terpyridine bridge (tpy-tpy, i.e., 6',6'-bis(2-pyridyl)-2,2':4',4':2',2'-quaterpyridine) demonstrated that the latter is a superior photocatalyst toward the oxidation of alcohols. The much stronger electronic coupling with significant delocalization across the strongly electron-accepting tppz bridge facilitates charge trapping between the chromophore and catalyst centers and therefore is presumably responsible for the decreased catalytic performance.     

Structure of an unsymmetrical heptalithium cage complex containing aldolate and enolized aldolate dianion

The solid state structure of a lithium mixed anion aggregate, 1, containing aldolate, enolized aldolate, and unenolized ketone, which are all derived from pinacolone, is described. Theoretical calculations (semiempirical PM3 and ab initio HF/6-31G*) are used to quantify the relative stabilities of a model aldolate and also enolized aldolate isomers. Ab initio calculations indicate isomers with a cubane core, for both aldolates and enolized aldolate anions, are stabilized over open ring or ladder derivatives. The highly unsymmetrical structure of 1 incorporates three distinct components, i.e., two bridging monomeric enolized aldolates, an open monomeric enolized aldolate, and a monomeric aldolate. The composition of 1 is consistent with origination from an aldolate tetramer.     

Structure and chromotropism properties of an unsymmetrical alkoxo-bridged nickel(II) cubane-like complex

A new tetranuclear cubane-like complex, [Ni₄(L)₄Cl₄(H₂O)₃(EtOH)]·(H₂O), has been synthesized from the reaction of a metal salt with the bidentate ligand 2-hydroxymethylpyridine (LH), and its crystal structure, spectroscopic and chromotropic properties have been studied. The complex has a [Ni₄O₄] core comprising a distorted cubane arrangement, of which four nickel(II) ions were bridged by μ₃-alkoxo moieties. Each nickel(II) was coordinated to three μ₃-alkoxo oxygens, one pyridine nitrogen and one chloride. The peripheral ligation was completed by an oxygen atom of water or ethanol ligand, which participated in intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Chromotropism properties of the complex including solvato-, thermo-, and ionochromism were investigated. The complex displayed strong ionochromism and shows high-sensitive and selective activity toward CN^? and SCN^? anions in the presence of other halides and pseudo-halides. The solvatochromic property of the complex was analyzed by a multi-parametric equation using SPSS/PC software. The stepwise multiple linear regression method demonstrated that the acceptor power of the solvent plays the most important role in the observed negative solvatochromism of the compound. It shows reversible thermochromism in solution due to loss of the weakly coordinated water and ethanol from the nickel(II) units.     

Structure and spectral properties of dinuclear zinc complex containing semicarbazonate ligands

The dinuclear Zn(2+) complex [Zn(HSSC)OAc](2)·2DMF (H(2)SSC=salicylaldehyde semicarbazone; HOAc=acetic acid; DMF=N,N-dimethylfomamide) was prepared and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray. The basic structural unit of the complex is a dinuclear complex [Zn(HSSC)OAc](2) in which the semicarbazone ligand adopts the phenol-imine form. The deprotonated phenol group forms a one-atom bridge between the two zinc centers, and both of the zinc centers are five-coordinated. The local coordination environment of Zn(2+) can be approximately considered as square pyramidal. UV spectral studies show that the H(2)SSC provides strong binding of Zn(2+) in a 1:1 ratio in solution. The conditional binding constant of the complex is lgK(Zn-L)=12.89±0.76 in 0.05M Tris-HCl buffer at pH 7.4. The H(2)SSC exhibits an enhanced fluorescence effect by the addition of Zn(2+), and affords an excellent selectivity for Zn(2+) under physiological conditions.     

Hydrosilylation of a dinuclear tantalum dinitrogen complex: cleavage of N2 and functionalization of both nitrogen atoms

Hydrosilylation of the ditantalum dinitrogen complex ([NPN]Ta)2(mu-H)2(mu-eta1:eta2-N2) proceeds via an addition reaction to produce ([NPN]TaH)(mu-H)2(mu-eta1:eta2-N-NSiH2Bu)(Ta[NPN]), which contains a new N-Si bond and a terminal tantalum hydride; this species has been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. This complex undergoes reductive elimination of H2 followed by N-N bond cleavage to generate a new intermediate with the formula ([NPN]TaH)(mu-N)(mu-NSiH2Bu)(Ta[NPN]); confirmation of N-N bond cleavage is evident from the 15N-labeled isotopomer that displays an absence of 15N-15N scalar coupling in the 15N NMR spectrum. In the presence of additional silane, a second hydrosilylation and reductive elimination results to give ([NPN]Ta)2(mu-NSiH2Bu)2, a species in which each dinitrogen-derived N atom has been converted to a bridging silylimide ligand. This latter complex displays C2h symmetry both in solution and in the solid state.     

Structure of an unsymmetrical isomer from the attempted synthesis of 1,8-dicyclooctatetraenylnaphthalene.

Attempted synthesis of 1,8-dicyclooctatetraenylnaphthalene (1) by the palladium(0)-catalyzed coupling of 1,8-dibromonaphthalene with cyclooctatetraenyltrimethylstannane afforded a single unsymmetrical isomer of 1 in 88% yield. Two-dimensional NMR methods and spectral synthesis were employed to assign the structure of the isomer (2). AM1 geometry-optimized structures of 2 and its isomers showed that the unexpected unsymmetrical structure of 2 results from the minimization of repulsive inter-ring H-H interactions. Compound 2 is postulated to arise via tandem [2 + 2] cycloaddition and 6 pi --> 4 pi + 2 sigma electrocyclization reactions of 1.     

Synthesis and reactions of heterodinuclear organopalladium complex having an unsymmetrical PN ligand

Novel heterodinuclear organopalladium complexes having an unsymmetrical PN ligand (Et₂NC₂H₄PPh₂-κ²N,P)RPd-ML_n (ML_n = Co(CO)₄; R = Me (2a), Ph (2b), ML_n = MoCp(CO)₃; R = Ph (3b)) are synthesized by metathetical reactions of PdRX(Et₂NC₂H₄PPh₂-κ²N,P) (X = I, NO₃) with Na⁺[ML_n]⁻. Reversible dissociation of the Pd-N bond in 3b is revealed by variable temperature NMR studies. Reactions of 2a and 2b with CO yield corresponding acyl complexes (Et₂NC₂H₄PPh₂-κ²N,P)(RCO)Pd-Co(CO)₄ (R = Me (5a), Ph (5b)). Rate of CO insertion for 2a and 2b is significantly faster than those for mononuclear methylpalladium complex, PdMeI(Et₂NC₂H₄PPh₂-κ²N,P) (1a), and methylpalladium-cobalt complex with a 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) ligand, (dppe-κ²P,P′)MePd-Co(CO)₄ (6a). 5a smoothly reacts with nucleophiles such as diethylamine, methanol and benzenethiol to give corresponding amide, ester and thioester, respectively. These reactions of 5a are also significantly faster than those of corresponding mononuclear analogues and the similar heterodinuclear complexes with symmetrical bidentate ligands such as 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane or N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine ligand.     

Synthesis and luminescence properties of a kinetically stable dinuclear ytterbium complex with differentiated binding sites

The complex Yb2L contains two DO3A units separated by a phenol bridging group and gives time-resolved luminescence spectra in solution consistent with the presence of two types of binding site.     

Unprecedented binding and activation of CS2 in a dinuclear copper(I) complex

The first structural characterisation of a copper-carbondisulfide complex revealed a hitherto unknown binding mode for CS(2): it interacts with two metal centres (Cu(I)) simultaneously via both C=S π bonds. DFT calculations showed that complex formation occurs mainly due to a donation of electron density from the copper centres into the C=S π* orbitals.     

A biphenylene-bridged dinuclear constrained geometry titanium complex for ethylene and ethylene/1-octene polymerizations

Permethylated cyclopentadienyl dinuclear constrained geometry titanium catalyst, [μ-(C₆H₄)₂-2,2′]{(η⁵-C₅Me₃)[1-Me₂Si(η¹-N-^tBu)](TiCl₂)}₂ (BPTi₂) linked by a biphenylene bridge was synthesized and tested in ethylene and ethylene/1-octene polymerizations upon activation by TIBA (triisobutylaluminum)/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄]. When compared with the corresponding highly active, mononuclear analogs, Me₂Si(η⁵-2-PhC₅Me₃)(η¹-N-^tBu)TiCl₂ (PhTi₁) and Me₂Si(η⁵-C₅Me₄)(η¹-N-^tBu)TiCl₂ (MeTi₁), BPTi₂ exhibits significantly increased molecular weight of polymer (>two-fold), as well as high level of activity and 1-octene incorporations in ethylene and ethylene/1-octene polymerizations. Although the lower activity was observed at high 1-octene feeds, the combined effects of rigidity and electronic conjugation induced by the biphenylene bridge might be responsible for the observed polymerization properties of BPTi₂.     

A biphenylene-bridged dinuclear constrained geometry titanium complex for ethylene and ethylene/1-octene polymerizations

Permethylated cyclopentadienyl dinuclear constrained geometry titanium catalyst, [μ-(C₆H₄)₂-2,2′]{(η⁵-C₅Me₃)[1-Me₂Si(η¹-N-^tBu)](TiCl₂)}₂ (BPTi₂) linked by a biphenylene bridge was synthesized and tested in ethylene and ethylene/1-octene polymerizations upon activation by TIBA (triisobutylaluminum)/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄]. When compared with the corresponding highly active, mononuclear analogs, Me₂Si(η⁵-2-PhC₅Me₃)(η¹-N-^tBu)TiCl₂ (PhTi₁) and Me₂Si(η⁵-C₅Me₄)(η¹-N-^tBu)TiCl₂ (MeTi₁), BPTi₂ exhibits significantly increased molecular weight of polymer (>two-fold), as well as high level of activity and 1-octene incorporations in ethylene and ethylene/1-octene polymerizations. Although the lower activity was observed at high 1-octene feeds, the combined effects of rigidity and electronic conjugation induced by the biphenylene bridge might be responsible for the observed polymerization properties of BPTi₂.     

Synthesis, structure and catalytic activity of an oxo-bridged dinuclear oxovanadium complex of an isonicotinohydrazide ligand

A mononuclear dioxo vanadium(V) complex of a hydrazone ONO donor ligand, [V^VO₂(L¹)] (1), was synthesized by the reaction of V₂O₅ and terephthalic acid with H₂L¹ in 1:1:1 mol ratio, while an oxo-bridged bis(vanadium(IV)oxo) complex, [μ ₂–O–{V^IVO(L²)}₂] (2), was synthesized by the treatment of isonicotinic acid hydrazide, salicylaldehyde and CoSO₄·7H₂O with bis(acetylacetonato)oxovanadium(IV) (H₂L¹ = isonicotinic acid(2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-hydrazide, H₂L² = isonicotinic acid (1-methyl-3-oxo-butylidene)-hydrazide). The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic methods. The crystal structure of complex 2 was determined by X-ray analysis. The complexes were tested as catalysts for the oxidation of cycloalkenes and benzyl alcohol using H₂O₂ as terminal oxidant. Excellent selectivity was achieved in the oxidation of cyclohexene.     

Dual silane surface functionalization for the selective attachment of human neuronal cells to porous silicon

Porous silicon (pSi) surfaces were chemically micropatterned through a combination of photolithography and surface silanization reactions. This patterning technique produces discretely defined regions on a pSi surface functionalized with a specific chemical functionality, and the surrounding surface displays a completely different functionality. The generated chemical patterns were characterized by a combination of IR microscopy and the conjugation of two different fluorescent organic dyes. Finally, the chemically patterned pSi surface was used to direct the attachment of neuronal cells to the surface. This patterning strategy will be useful for the development of high-throughput platforms for investigating cell behavior.