Spin-Enhanced O−H Cleavage in Electrochemical Water Oxidation

Herein we report the vital role of spin polarization in proton-transfer-mediated water oxidation over a magnetized catalyst. During the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) over ferrimagnetic Fe₃O₄, the external magnetic field induced a remarkable increase in the OER current, however, this increment achieved in weakly alkaline pH (pH 9) was almost 20 times that under strongly alkaline conditions (pH 14). The results of the surface modification experiment and H/D kinetic isotope effect investigation confirm that, at weakly alkaline pH, during the nucleophilic attack of Fe^IV=O by molecular water, the magnetized Fe₃O₄ catalyst polarizes the spin states of the nucleophilic attacking intermediates. The spin-enhanced singlet O−H cleavage and triplet O−O bonding occur synergistically, which promotes the O₂ generation more significantly than the strongly alkaline case involving only spin-enhanced O−O bonding.     

SnIV Porphyrin Scaffolds for Axially Bonded Multiporphyrin Arrays: Synthesis and Structure Elucidation by NMR Studies

A simple, one‐step, supramolecular strategy was adopted to synthesize Sn^IV‐porphyrin‐based axially bonded triads and higher oligomers by using meso‐pyridyl Sn^IV porphyrin, meso‐hydroxyphenyl‐21,23‐dithiaporphyrin, and Ru^II porphyrin as building blocks and employing complementary and non‐interfering Sn^IV?O and Ru^II ??? N interactions. The multiporphyrin arrays are stable and robust and were purified by column chromatography. ¹H, ¹H–¹H COSY and NOESY NMR spectroscopic studies were used to unequivocally deduce the molecular structures of Sn^IV‐porphyrin‐based triads and higher oligomers. Absorption and electrochemical studies indicated weak interaction among the different porphyrin units in triads and higher oligomers, in support of the supramolecular nature of the arrays. Steady‐state fluorescence studies on triads indicated the possibility of energy transfer in the singlet state from the basal Sn^IV porphyrin to the axial 21,23‐dithiaporphyrin. However, the higher oligomers were weakly fluorescent due to the presence of heavy Ru^II porphyrin unit(s), which quench the fluorescence of the Sn^IV porphyrin and 21,23‐dithiaporphyrin units.     

Elevated Catalytic Activity of Ruthenium(II)–Porphyrin‐Catalyzed Carbene/Nitrene Transfer and Insertion Reactions with N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

Bis(NHC)ruthenium(II)–porphyrin complexes were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Owing to the strong donor strength of axial NHC ligands in stabilizing the trans M?CRR′/M?NR moiety, these complexes showed unprecedently high catalytic activity towards alkene cyclopropanation, carbene C? H, N? H, S? H, and O? H insertion, alkene aziridination, and nitrene C? H insertion with turnover frequencies up to 1950 min^?1. The use of chiral [Ru(D₄‐Por)(BIMe)₂] ( 1 g ) as a catalyst led to highly enantioselective carbene/nitrene transfer and insertion reactions with up to 98 % ee. Carbene modification of the N terminus of peptides at 37 °C was possible. DFT calculations revealed that the trans axial NHC ligand facilitates the decomposition of diazo compounds by stabilizing the metal–carbene reaction intermediate.     

Photo-Activating Biomimetic Polyoxomolybdate for Boosting Oxygen Evolution in Neutral Electrolytes

Inspired by the metal-oxo cluster structural feature and charge separation behaviour of the oxygen evolving center (OEC) in photosystem II (PS-II) under photoirradiation, a new crystalline photochromic polyoxomolybdate, MV₂[β-Mo₈O₂₆] ( 1 , MV=methyl viologen cation), is designed as a biomimetic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst in neutral electrolytes. After photoinduced electron transfer (PIET) with colour change from colourless to grey, it remains in an ultra-stable charge-separated state over a year under ambient conditions. The observed overpotential at 10 mA ⋅ cm⁻² and Tafel slope decrease by 49 mV and 62.8 mV ⋅ dec⁻¹ after coloration, respectively. The outstanding OER performance of the coloured state in neutral electrolytes even outperforms the commercial RuO₂ benchmark. Experimental and theoretical studies show that oxygen holes within polyanions after irradiation serve as sites for enhancing direct O−O coupling, thus effectively promoting OER. This is the first successful application of electron-transfer photochromism to realize OER activity gain.     

The Wacker Process: Inner‐ or Outer‐Sphere Nucleophilic Addition? New Insights from Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics

The Wacker process consists of the oxidation of ethylene catalyzed by a Pd^II complex. The reaction mechanism has been largely debated in the literature; two modes for the nucleophilic addition of water to a Pd‐coordinated alkene have been proposed: syn‐inner‐ and anti‐outer‐sphere mechanisms. These reaction steps have been theoretically evaluated by means of ab initio molecular dynamics combined with metadynamics by placing the [Pd(C₂H₄)Cl₂(H₂O)] complex in a box of water molecules, thereby resembling experimental conditions at low [Cl^?]. The nucleophilic addition has also been evaluated for the [Pd(C₂H₄)Cl₃]^? complex, thus revealing that the water by chloride ligand substitution trans to ethene is kinetically favored over the generally assumed cis species in water. Hence, the resulting trans species can only directly undertake the outer‐sphere nucleophilic addition, whereas the inner‐sphere mechanism is hindered since the attacking water is located trans to ethene. In addition, all the simulations from the [Pd(C₂H₄)Cl₂(H₂O)] species (either cis or trans) support an outer‐sphere mechanism with a free‐energy barrier compatible with that obtained experimentally, whereas that for the inner‐sphere mechanism is significantly higher. Moreover, additional processes for a global understanding of the Wacker process in solution have also been identified, such as ligand substitutions, proton transfers that involve the aquo ligand, and the importance of the trans effect of the ethylene in the nucleophilic addition attack.     

A Porphyrin Iron(III) π-Dication Species and its Relevance in Catalyst Design for the Umpolung of Nucleophiles

Isoporphyrins have recently been identified as remarkable species capable of turning the nucleophile attached to the porphyrin ring into an electrophile, thereby providing umpolung of reactivity (Inorg. Chem. 2022 , 61, 8105–8111). They are generated by nucleophilic attack on an iron(III) π-dication, a class of species that has received scant attention. Here, we explore the effect of the porphyrin meso-substituent and report a iron(III) π-dication bearing the meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) ligand. We provide an extensive study of the species by UV/Vis absorption, ²H NMR, EPR, applied field Mössbauer, and resonance Raman spectroscopy. We further explore the system's highly dynamic and tunable properties and address the nature of the axial ligands as well as the conformation of the porphyrin ring. The insights presented are essential for the rational design of catalysts for the umpolung of nucleophiles. Such catalytic avenues could for example provide a novel method for electrophilic chlorinations. We further examine the importance of electronic tuning of the porphyrin by nature of the meso-substituent as a factor in catalyst design.     

Reactivity of carbyne and carbene complexes of molybdenum and tungsten

Summary The interconversion of carbyne, carbyne and hydride complexes derived from protonations oftrans-[M(CNMe)₂(dppe)₂](M = Mo or W) has been studied. The initial site of protonation is shown to be the isonitrile nitrogen and all protonations proceed through the common carbyne intermediatetrans-[M(CNHMe)(CNMe)(dppe)2]⁺. The CNHMe group in traps-[M(CNHMe)₂(dppe)₂]²⁺ is shown to be susceptible to electrophilic attack at N and nucleophilic attack at ligating C, the new complexestrans-[W(CNH2Me)(CNHMe)(dppe)₂](BF₄)₃ andtrans-[Mo(CHNHMe)(CNHMe)(dppe)2]BF4 being formed, respectively.     

The first phosphite complex of a metalloporphyrin

(Di­phenyl phosphite‐κO)(5,10,15,20‐tetra­phenyl­porphyrinato‐κ⁴N)­manganese(III) hexa­fluoro­antimonate(V), [Mn(C₄₄H₂₈N₄)(C₁₂H₁₁O₃P)](SbF₆), is the first example of a structurally characterized di­aryl or di­alkyl phosphite complex of a metal–porphyrin ion. The axial phosphite ligand binds to the Mn^III ion via the P=O O atom, affording a nominally five‐coordinate complex with an Mn—O distance of 2.120 (4) Å. The mean porphyrin Mn—N distance is 2.000 (4) Å and the Mn^III ion is displaced from the 24‐atom porphyrin mean plane by 0.1548 (13) Å towards the axial O atom. The porphyrin adopts a marked saddle conformation, with a small domed component. The saddle distortion of the porphyrin ligand reflects the tight back‐to‐back dimers formed in the lattice by pairs of neighboring cations. The `non‐covalent' dimers in the lattice exhibit an unusual (weak) η²‐type coordination of a pyrrole C=C bond from a neighboring mol­ecule, with Mn^III⃛C distances of 3.697 (5) and 3.537 (5) Å.     

In Situ Electrochemical Conversion of an Ultrathin Tannin Nickel Iron Complex Film as an Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalyst

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is an important half reaction in many energy conversion and storage techniques. However, the development of a low‐cost easy‐prepared OER electrocatalyst with high mass activity and rapid kinetics is still challenging. Herein, we report the facile deposition of tannin‐NiFe (TANF) complex film on carbon fiber paper (CP) as a highly efficient OER electrocatalyst. TANF gives rapid OER reaction kinetics with a very small Tafel slope of 28 mV dec^?1. The mass activity of TANF reaches 9.17×10³ Ag^?1 at an overpotential of 300 mV, which is nearly 200‐times larger than that of NiFe double layered hydroxide. Furthermore, tannic acid in TANF can be electrochemically extracted under anodic potential, leaving the inorganic composite Ni_xFe_1?xO_yH_z as the OER‐active species. This work may provide a guide to probing the electrochemical transformation and investigating the reactive species of other metal–organic complexes as heterogeneous electrocatalysts.     

Highly Pure Synthesis,Spectral Assignments,and Two‐Photon Properties of Cruciform Porphyrin Pentamers Fused with Benzene Units

Tetrameric porphyrin formation of 2‐hydroxymethylpyrrole fused with porphyrins through a bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene unit gave bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene‐fused porphyrin pentamers. Thermal conversion of the pentamers gave fully π‐conjugated cruciform porphyrin pentamers fused with benzene units in quantitative yields. UV/Vis spectra of fully π‐conjugated porphyrin pentamers showed one very strong Q absorption and were quite different from those of usual porphyrins. From TD‐DFT calculations, the HOMO level is 0.49 eV higher than the HOMO?1 level. The LUMO and LUMO+1 levels are very close and are lower by more than 0.27 eV than those of other unoccupied MOs. The strong Q absorption was interpreted as two mutually orthogonal single‐electron transitions (683 nm: 86 %, HOMO→LUMO; 680 nm: 86 %, HOMO→LUMO+1). The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross section value (σ⁽²⁾) of the benzene‐fused porphyrin pentamer was estimated to be 3900 GM at 1500 nm, which is strongly correlated with a cruciform molecular structure with multidirectional π‐conjugation pathways.     

Regio- and stereochemistry of the photo-ring contraction of 4-pyrones

Irradiation of 2-ethyl-3-methyl-4-pyrone 3 in aqueous solution led to the formation of trans-4-ethyl-5-methy-4,5-dihydroxycyclopent-2-enone 4 and trans-2-methyl-3-ethyl-4,5-dihydroxycyclopent-2-enone 5 . In the latter case ¹H nmr analysis confirmed the trans-configuration at C₄ and C₅ . These results are consistent with trapping of a photochemically generated oxabicyclohexenyl zwitterion by nucleophilic attack of both sides of the oxyally system along a path anti to the epoxide ring.     

Visible light induced oxygenation of cyclohexene with activation of water sensitized by dihydroxy coordinated tetraphenyloprphyrinatotin(IV)

Visible light irradiation of a reaction mixture containing dihydroxy coordinated tetraphenylporphyrinatotin(IV), cyclohexene and potassium hexachloroplatinate induced oxygenation of the cyclohexene under degassed conditions. In the reaction system, a water molecule served as the oxygen donor. Cyclohex-2-enol, 1,2-dichlorocyclohexane and 2-chlorocyclohexanol were the major oxidation products and the quantum yield was around 0.1. An experiment using H₂ ¹⁸O revealed that an ¹⁸O atom was quantitatively incorporated into the oxygenated products. The reaction was initially induced by an electron transfer from an excited triplet porphyrin to potassium hexachloroplatinate producing a cation radical of the porphyrin. Metal-oxo type complexes formed through deprotonation of the hydroxy group of the porphyrin cation radical were key reactive intermediates reacting with cyclohexene. Two kinds of the metal-oxo type complex reactive intermediate were kinetically demonstrated to be involved in the reaction system, producing different oxidation products from cyclohexene.     

Stepwise Oxidations in a Cofacial Copper(II) Porphyrin Dimer: Through-Space Spin-Coupling and Interplay between Metal and Radical Spins

cis and trans-copper(II) porphyrin dimers have been synthesized, in which two Cu^II porphyrin macrocycles are bridged through a rigid ethene linker for possible through-space and through-bond spin-couplings between the paramagnetic Cu^II centers. It has been found that the two macrocycles come closer after 1 e⁻ oxidation, however, they move far apart upon further 1 e⁻ oxidation leading to transformation of the cis to the trans isomer. Detailed investigations are performed here on the interactions between the two porphyrin macrocycles, between two unpaired spins of closely spaced Cu^II centers, and also between the unpaired spins of metal and porphyrin π–cation radicals. Spectroscopic investigations along with the X-ray structure of the 2 e⁻-oxidized complex displayed strong electronic communications through the bridge between two porphyrin π–cation radicals. The counterion I₉⁻ is stabilized in an unusual trigonal-pyramidal structure in the 2 e⁻-oxidized complex in which the central iodide ion is bound with four iodine (I₂) molecules. Variable-temperature magnetic study revealed strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two porphyrin π–cation radical spins (J_r–r) in the 2 e⁻-oxidized complex. DFT calculations suggest stabilization of the triplet state, which is also in good agreement with the experiment. Ab initio molecular dynamics allowed the variation of the structural details to be followed upon stepwise oxidations and also the final isomerization process including its associated energy barrier.     

5‐[4‐(Diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorophenyl]‐10,15,20‐tris(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin

The title compound, C₄₈H₂₀F₁₉N₄O₃P, prepared by the nucleophilic attack of triethyl phosphite on one of the 4‐fluoro atoms of 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin, contains a single molecule in the asymmetric unit. The porphyrin unit is almost planar [largest non‐H atom deviation = 0.174 (6) Å], and has the planes of the neighbouring benzene rings oriented at angles ranging from 64.3 (2) to 89.6 (3)° relative to the porphyrin core. The P=O group is almost coplanar with the attached benzene ring, subtending an angle of 4.0 (3)°. Several weak supramolecular interactions, namely C—H...π, C—F...π, P=O...π, C—H...(O,F) and F...F contacts, contribute to the crystal packing.     

d6 and d8 Metal Carbonyl Complexes of 7,7-Dimethoxy-5,6-dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene. Stereoselective Hydroformylation of an [Fe(CO)4(olefin)] Complex

Reaction of 7,7-dimethoxy-5,6-dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene ( 2 ) with various metal carbonyls and their derivatives gave the η²-M(CO)₄ (M = Fe ( 17 ), Ru ( 18 )), η⁴-M(CO)₃ (M = Fe ( 19x, 19n ), Ru ( 20n )), and η²-M(CO)₅ and η⁶-M(CO)₃ (M = Cr, Mo, W) complexes. The trigonal bipyramidal η²-M(CO)₄ complexes present an exceptional C_3v symmetry at the metal with the C,C-double bond in an axial position. In all the η²-complexes, this double bond is stereospecifically coordinated by its exo-vs. endo-η⁴-Fe(CO)₃ configuration was established by chemical correlation (hydrolysis, hydrogenation) with the corresponding complexes ( 24x, 24n ) of 7,7-dimethoxy-2,3-dimethylidenebicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ( 5 ). The relative rates of hydrolysis (AcOH/H₂O 2:1, 50°C) of ligands 2 and 5 and of complexes 19x, 19n, 24x , and 24n to the corresponding ketones showed an acceleration effect only when the metal is coordinated to the exo-face. This was attributed to an F-strain effect on the leaving group of the substrate. Compound 17 was further metallated by [Fe₂(CO)₉] giving the bimetallic isomers 21xn and 21xx . The endocyclic C,C-double bond of the latter can be stereospecifically hydroformylated (1 atm CO, AcOH/H₂O, 25°C) giving 29x (49%). Hydroformylation of 17 gave the corresponding uncoordinated aldehydes 30x/30n in better yields (76%) but with lower selectivity (3:1). These are the first examples of hydroformylation of an isolated [Fe(CO)₄(olefin)] complex.     

Porphyrinylboranes Synthesized via Porphyrinyllithiums

As the most nucleophilic porphyrins, meso‐ or β‐lithiated porphyrins were generated by iodine–lithium exchange reactions of the corresponding iodoporphyrins with n‐butyllithium at ?98 °C. Porphyrinyllithiums thus prepared were used for synthesis of dimesitylporphyrinylboranes through reactions with fluorodimesitylborane. The boryl groups proved to serve as an electron‐accepting unit to alter the photophysical and electrochemical properties. In addition, 5‐diarylamino‐15‐dimesitylboryl‐substituted donor–accepter porphyrins showed increased intramolecular charge‐transfer character in the S₁ state. Furthermore, the reaction of β‐lithiated porphyrin with dichloromesitylborane provided a boron‐bridged porphyrin dimer, which exhibited a conjugative interaction between two porphyrin units through the vacant p‐orbital on the boron center.     

Structural analysis of conformational flexibility in (aqua)(propanediamine- N,N ′-diacetato- N -propionato)chromium(III) dihydrate. Crystal structure of cis -polar,trans (H2O,O5)-[Cr(1,3-pddap)(H2O)]·2H2O

The quinquedentate complex trans(H₂O,O⁵)-[Cr(1,3-pddap)(H₂O)]?·?2H₂O (where 1,3-pddap is the 1,3-propanediamine-N,N?′-diacetate-N-3-propionate ion) was prepared and its structure established by X-ray diffraction method. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna2₁, a?=?17.290(2), b?=?10.821(2), c?=?7.872(1)?Å, Z?=?4. The metal atom is surrounded octahedrally with two nitrogen and three oxygen donors of (1,3-pddap)^3?, forming two six-membered and two five-membered metal chelate rings, and with one water molecule occupying the trans position with respect to the oxygen of the axial glycinate ring. Conformational analysis of the five geometrical isomers of [Cr(1,3-pddap)(H₂O)], performed with the Consistent Force Field (CFF) program and recently developed edta force field, revealed that the global minimum is indeed the trans(H₂O,O⁵) isomer with the geometry in a very good agreement with the crystallographic structure. General patterns for the conformational preferences of edta-type complexes of trivalent first-row transition metals are exposed and discussed.     

Synthesis,Isolation and Crystal Structures of the Metalated Ylides [Cy3P-C-SO2Tol]M (M = Li,Na, K)

The preparation and isolation of the metalated ylides [Cy₃PCSO₂Tol]M ( ^Cy1-M ) (with M = Li, Na, K) are reported. In contrast to its triphenylphosphonium analogue the synthesis of ^Cy1-M revealed to be less straight forward. Synthetic routes to the phosphonium salt precursor ^Cy1 - H₂ via different methods revealed to be unsuccessful or low-yielding. However, nucleophilic attack of the ylide Cy₃P = CH₂ at toluenesulfonyl fluoride under basic conditions proved to be a high-yielding method directly leading to the ylide ^Cy1-H . Metalation to the yldiides was finally achieved with strong bases such as nBuLi, NaNH₂, or BnK. In the solid state, the lithium compound forms a tetrameric structure consisting of a (C–S–O–Li)₄ macrocycle, which incorporates an additional molecule of lithium iodide. The potassium compound forms a C₄-symmetric structure with a (K₄O₄)₂ octahedral prism as central structural motif. Upon deprotonation the P–C–S linkage undergoes a remarkable contraction typical for metalated ylides.     

Three Polymorphic CdII Coordination Polymers Obtained from the Solution and Mechanochemical Reactions of 3‐Cyanopentane‐2,4‐dione with CdII Acetate

We previously reported that monomeric and polymeric metal complexes are obtained from solution and mechanochemical reactions of 3‐cyano‐pentane‐2,4‐dione (CNacacH) with 3d metal acetates (M=Mn^II, Fe^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II, and Zn^II). A common feature found in all complexes was that their structural base is trans‐[M(CNacac)₂]. Here, we report that the reactions of CNacacH with Cd^II acetate in the solution and solid states afford different coordination polymers composed of trans‐[Cd(CNacac)₂] and cis‐[Cd(CNacac)₂] units, respectively. From a methanol solution containing CNacacH (L) and Cd(OAc)₂ ? 2 H₂O (M), a coordination polymer ( Cd‐1 ) in which trans‐[Cd(CNacac)₂] units are three‐dimensionally linked was obtained. In contrast, two different coordination polymers, Cd‐2 and Cd‐3 , were obtained from mechanochemical reactions of CNacacH with Cd(OAc)₂ ? 2 H₂O at M/L ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, respectively. In Cd‐2 , cis‐[Cd(CNacac)₂] units are two‐dimensionally linked, whereas the units are linked three‐dimensionally in Cd‐3 . Furthermore, Cd‐1 and Cd‐2 converted to Cd‐3 by applying an annealing treatment and grinding with a small amount of liquid, respectively, in spite of the polymeric structures. These phenomena, 1) different structures are formed from solution and mechanochemical reactions, 2) two polymorphs are formed depending on the M/L ratio, and 3) structural transformation of resulting polymeric structures, indicate the usability of mechanochemical method in the syntheses of coordination polymers as well as the peculiar structural flexibility of cadmium‐CNacac polymers.     

κ3‐(N^C^C)Gold(III) Carboxylates: Evidence for Decarbonylation Processes

Gold(III) carboxylate species, stabilized by a κ³‐(N^C^C) ligand template, are presented herein. A η¹‐Au^III‐C(O)‐OH species has been characterized under cryogenic conditions as a result of the nucleophilic attack of an ammonium hydroxide onto a dinuclear μ‐CO₂‐κ³‐(N^C^C)Au^III precursor. Thermal decomposition for these species proceeds by an unusual decarbonylation process, in contrast to typical decarboxylation pathways observed in related metallocarboxylic acids.