Dual-Role of Polyelectrolyte-Tethered Benzimidazolium Cation in Promoting CO2/Pure Water Co-Electrolysis to Ethylene

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), as a promising route to realize negative carbon emissions, is known to be strongly affected by electrolyte cations (i.e., cation effect). In contrast to the widely-studied alkali cations in liquid electrolytes, the effect of organic cations grafted on alkaline polyelectrolytes (APE) remains unexplored, although APE has already become an essential component of CO₂ electrolyzers. Herein, by studying the organic cation effect on CO₂RR, we find that benzimidazolium cation (Beim⁺) significantly outperforms other commonly-used nitrogenous cations (R₄N⁺) in promoting C₂₊ (mainly C₂H₄) production over copper electrode. Cyclic voltammetry and in situ spectroscopy studies reveal that the Beim⁺ can synergistically boost the CO₂ to *CO conversion and reduce the proton supply at the electrocatalytic interface, thus facilitating the *CO dimerization toward C₂₊ formation. By utilizing the homemade APE ionomer, we further realize efficient C₂H₄ production at an industrial-scale current density of 331 mA cm⁻² from CO₂/pure water co-electrolysis, thanks to the dual-role of Beim⁺ in synergistic catalysis and ionic conduction. This study provides a new avenue to boost CO₂RR through the structural design of polyelectrolytes.     

The initiation process in the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran with carbonium ion salts

The initiation process for the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran with (C₆H₅)₃C⁺SbCl₆^? has been studied. Two mechanisms have been considered: a cation-addition process, and a process in which tetrahydrofuran donates a hydride ion to the cation of the initiator to form triphenylmethane. The biscarbonium salt [(C₆H₅)₂C⁺C₆H₄CH₂]₂(SbCl₆^?)₂ has been synthesized and used to initiate the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran. The results are consistent with the hydride-ion mechanism but may be inconclusive because of chain transfer. NMR experiments with 0.05–0.2M solutions of initiator in tetrahydrofuran show that triphenylmethane is rapidly produced in an amount equal to the molar amount of initiator originally present. Some NMR evidence for the presence of an acetal end group in the polymer has been obtained. It is concluded that the initiation process in this system definitely involves the formation of triphenylmethane, although a detailed, unique mechanism cannot be selected at this time.     

Nonisothermal membrane phenomena across perfluorosulfonic acid-type membranes,Flemion S: part I. Thermoosmosis and transported entropy of water

Solvent transports across the perfluorosulfonic acid-type membrane Flemion S were measured for aqueous electrolyte solutions under a temperature difference and under an osmotic pressure difference. H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH ₄ ⁺ , CH₃NH ₃ ⁺ , (CH₃)₂NH ₂ ⁺ , (CH₃)₃NH⁺, (CH₃)₄N⁺, (C₂H₅)₄N⁺, (n-C₃H₇)₄N⁺ and (n-C₄H₉)₄N⁺ were used as counterions. Water flux across the membrane in HCl solution is higher than that in the other electrolyte solutions because hydrogen ions can exchange with the hydrogen of the neighbor water molecules and contribute to the water transport across the membrane as a proton jump in conductivity. The direction of thermoosmosis across the membrane in HCl, NaCl, (CH₃)₄NCl and (C₂H₅)₄NCl solutions was from the cold side to the hot side and that in LiCl, KCl, NH₄Cl, CH₃NH₃Cl, (CH₃)₂NH₂Cl and (n-C₄H₉)₄NBr solutions was from the hot side to the cold side, although thermoosmosis across anion-exchange membranes always occurs toward the hot side.     

Bulk cyclopolymerization of 1,2:5,6‐diepithio‐3,4‐di‐O‐methyl‐1,2:5,6‐tetradeoxy‐D‐mannitol with quaternary ammonium salts leading to gel‐free thiosugar polymer

The bulk cyclopolymerization of diepisulfide, 1,2:5,6‐diepithio‐3,4‐di‐O‐methyl‐1,2:5,6‐tetradeoxy‐D ‐mannitol ( 1 ), was studied using R₄N⁺Br^? (R = ? CH₃, C₂H₅, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, and C₇H₁₅) and (C₄H₉)₄N⁺X^? (X = Cl, I, NO₃, and ClO₄) as the initiators. All the bulk polymerizations of 1 using quaternary tetraalkylammonium salts at 90 °C proceeded without gelation even at high conversion to produce gel‐free polymers consisting of 2,5‐anhydro‐1,5‐dithio‐D ‐glucitol (I) as the major cyclic repeating unit along with 1,5‐anhydro‐2,5‐dithio‐D ‐mannitol (II) and the desulfurized acyclic unit (III) as the minor units. The polymerization rate and molar fraction of the I unit increased with the increasing alkyl chain length of the tetraalkylammonium cation and the increasing nucleophilicity of the counteranion. Tetrabutylammonium chloride exhibited the highest catalytic activity and the highest stereoselectivity, that is, the thiosugar polymer with I:II:III = 81:15:4 and a number‐average molecular weight of 31.9 × 10³ was obtained in 85% yield for a polymerization time of 0.5 h. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 965–970, 2002     

Molecular fragmentations: Part VII. Structures and energies of mass spectral fragments derived from benzene

Molecular structures and energies have been calculated, using MINDO/3, of the mass spectral ions arising from benzene: (C₆H₆)⁺ (three non-valence isomers); (C₆H₅⁺); (C₅H₃⁺) (four isomers); (C₄H₄)⁺ (three isomers); (C₄H₃)⁺ (two isomers); (C₄H₂)⁺ (four isomers); (C₃H₃)⁺; and (C₂H₂)⁺. Calculations have been made for the conjugate neutral fragments, allowing calculation of appearance potentials, and also for the ion (C₆H₇)⁺.     

Experimental and theoretical study on the photoionization of styrene

This study employed a vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation source and reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) to investigate the photoionization and dissociation of styrene. By analyzing the photoionization mass spectrum and efficiency curve alongside G3B3 theoretical calculations, we determined the ionization energy of the molecular ion, appearance energy of fragment ions, and relevant dissociation pathways. The major ion peaks observed in the photoionization mass spectra of styrene correspond to C₈H₈⁺, C₈H₇⁺ and C₆H₆⁺. The ionization energy of styrene is measured as 8.46 ± 0.03 eV, whereas the appearance energies of C₈H₇⁺ and C₆H₆⁺ are found to be 12.42 ± 0.03 and 12.22 ± 0.03 eV, respectively, in agreement with theoretical values. The main channel for the photodissociation of styrene molecular ions is the formation of benzene ions, whereas the dissociation channel that loses hydrogen atoms is the secondary channel. Based on the experimental results and empirical formulas, the required dissociation energies (E_d) of C₈H₇⁺, C₈H₆⁺ and C₆H₆⁺ are calculated to be (3.96 ± 0.06), (4.00 ± 0.06) and (3.76 ± 0.06) eV, respectively. Combined with related thermochemical parameters, the standard enthalpies of formations of C₈H₈⁺, C₈H₇⁺, C₈H₆⁺ and C₆H₆⁺ are determined to be 964.2, 1346.3, 1350.2 and 1327.0 kJ/mol, respectively. Based on the theoretical study, the kinetic factors controlling the styrene dissociation reaction process are determined by using the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus (RRKM) theory. This provides a reference for further research on the atmospheric photooxidation reaction mechanism of styrene in atmospheric and interstellar environments.     

Bis(1‐methyl­guanidinium) tetra­chloro­cuprate(II) and 4‐(2‐pyrimidin‐1‐io)­piperazinium tetra­chloro­cuprate(II)

The crystal structures of the title compounds, (C₂N₃H₈)₂[CuCl₄], (I), and (C₈H₁₄N₄)[CuCl₄], (II), have been studied by X‐ray diffraction. The structures consist of discrete [CuCl₄]^2? anions with two monoprotonated (C₂N₃H₈)⁺ cations for (I) and a diprotonated (C₈N₄H₁₄)²⁺ cation for (II). The [CuCl₄]^2? anions of both compounds have flattened tetrahedral geometries. There are several N—H?Cl weak bonds that join the [CuCl₄]^2? anions and the organic cations helping retain the pseudo‐tetrahedral geometries of the anions.     

Electrical and magnetic properties of ion-exchangeable layered ruthenates

An ion-exchangeable ruthenate with a layered structure, K_0.2RuO_2.1, was prepared by solid-state reactions. The interlayer cation was exchanged with H⁺, C₂H₅NH₃⁺, and ((C₄H₉)₄N⁺) through proton-exchange, ion-exchange, and guest-exchange reactions. The electrical and magnetic properties of the products were characterized by DC resistivity and susceptibility measurements. Layered K_0.2RuO_2.1 exhibited metallic conduction between 300 and 13 K. The products exhibited similar magnetic behavior despite the differences in the type of interlayer cation, suggesting that the ruthenate sheet in the protonated form and the intercalation compounds possesses metallic nature.     

Permethylated electron-reservoir sandwich complexes as references for the determination of redox potentials. Suggestion of a new redox scale

The difference between the redox potentials of decamethylferrocene (FeCp₂^*), decamethylcobalticinium (CoCp₂^*)⁺ and iron-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-hexaethylbenzene cation (FeCp^*C₆Me₆)⁺ is shown not to depend on the solvent and anion of the supporting electrolyte whereas ferrocene, whose redox potential is solvent dependent, does not fit in this series. Suggestions are made concerning the possible use of the three permethylated complexes as reliable references for the determination of redox potentials, and a redox scale versus decamethylferrocene is proposed.     

The Effect of the Weak Completing Nature of NaF,NaN3, and NaC3H3O3 Supporting Electrolytes on the Electrocatalysis of Nickel(II) Reduction in the Presence of Organic Amines

Abstract

Contrary to the results obtained in essentially noncomplexing supporting electrolyte media (NaClo₄, NaN0₃, NaCl and NaBr), the kinetic limited currents of the catalytic prewaves obtained for the polarographic reduction of Ni(II) in the presence of organic amines (o-phenylenediamine, pyridine, etc.) employing weakly complexing supporting electrolytes (NaF, NaN₃, and NaC₂H₃O₂) do not correlate with ?₂ potentials as predicted by simple double layer theory. However, the limiting current does correlate with the ligand exchange rates for Ni(H₂O)₅X⁺ type complexes (where X = F^?, N₃ ^? and C₂H₃O₂ ^?) with an organic ligand. These results lead to a general mechanism for the electrocatalysis mechanism of Ni(II) reduction.     

Chiral anionic layers in tartramide spiroborate salts and variable solvation for [NR4][B(TarNH2)2] (R = Et,Pr or Bu)

The spiroborate anion, namely, 2,3,7,8‐tetracarboxamido‐1,4,6,9‐tetraoxa‐5λ⁴‐boraspiro[4.4]nonane, [B(TarNH₂)₂]^?, derived from the diol l ‐tartramide TarNH₂, [CH(O)(CONH₂)]₂, shows a novel self‐assembly into two‐dimensional (2D) layer structures in its salts with alkylammonium cations, [NR₄]⁺ (R = Et, Pr and Bu), and sparteinium, [HSpa]⁺, in which the cations and anions are segregated. The structures of four such salts are reported, namely, the tetrapropylazanium salt, C₁₂H₂₈N⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?, the tetraethylazanium salt hydrate, C₈H₂₀N⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?·6.375H₂O, the tetrabutylazanium salt as the ethanol monosolvate hemihydrate, C₁₆H₃₆N⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?·C₂H₅OH·0.5H₂O, and the sparteinium (7‐aza‐15‐azoniatetracyclo[7.7.1.0^2,7.0^10,15]heptadecane) salt as the ethanol monosolvate, C₁₅H₂₇N₂⁺·C₈H₁₂BN₄O₈^?·C₂H₅OH. The 2D anion layers have preserved intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the amide groups and a typical metric repeat of around 10 × 15 Å. The constraint of matching the interfacial area organizes the cations into quite different solvated arrangements, i.e. the [NEt₄] salt is highly hydrated with around 6.5H₂O per cation, the [NPr₄] salt apparently has a good metric match to the anion layer and is unsolvated, whilst the [NBu₄] salt is intermediate and has EtOH and H₂O in its cation layer, which is similar to the arrangement for the chiral [HSpa]⁺ cation. This family of salts shows highly organized chiral space and offers potential for the resolution of both chiral cations and neutral chiral solvent molecules.     

Isomerization of silicenium and germenium ions in the systems C<Subscript>4</Subscript>H<Subscript>11</Subscript>M<Superscript>+</Superscript> (M = Si,Ge)

Equilibrium structures of the isomers and transition states of their interconversion in the system C₄H₁₁M⁺ (M = Si, Ge) have been obtained at theB3LYP level of theory using the cc-pVTZ basis set. The structures of these stationary points are close for Si and Ge; the most stable isomer in both systems is the tertiary cation (C₂H₅)(CH₃)₂M⁺, the second in energy is complex with ethylene [(CH₃)₂HM·C₂H₄]⁺. The secondary cation (C₂H₅)₂HM⁺ is third in energy isomer, the height of the barrier of interconversion for these three cations being practically independent on M. However, for M = Ge a substantial decrease in the energy of isomeric forms corresponding to complexes with alkanes is observed. As a result, in the system C₄H₁₁Ge⁺ the fourth in energy is isomer [(C₂H₅)Ge·C₂H₆]⁺ rather than [(C₂H₅)H₂Ge·C₂H₄]⁺ as for M = Si. Nevertheless, the height of the barriers for transition into these structures, although decreasing from M = Si to Ge, remain rather high, and the most favorable route of decomposition in both systems is the elimination of ethylene.     

Tetrabutylammonium cation expulsion versus perchlorate electrolyte anion uptake in the electrochemical oxidation of microcrystals of [(C4H9)4N][Cr(CO)5I] mechanically attached to a gold electrode: a voltammetric and quartz crystal microbalance study

The electrochemistry of microcrystals of [(C₄H₉)₄N][Cr(CO)₅I] attached to a gold electrode which is placed in aqueous (lithium or tetrabutylammonium perchlorate) electrolyte media has been studied in detail by chronoamperometric, voltammetric and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (ECQCM) techniques. Whilst chronoamperometric and voltammetric measurements show that the expected one-electron oxidation of microcrystalline [Cr(CO)₅I]⁻ solid to Cr(CO)₅I occurs at the solid-electrode-solvent (electrolyte) interface, the ECQCM measurements reveal that charge neutralization does not occur exclusively via the expected ejection of the tetrabutylammonium cation. Rather, uptake of ClO₄ ⁻ occurs under conditions where the solubility of sparingly soluble [(C₄H₉)₄N]ClO₄ is exceeded. This is the first time that uptake of an anion rather than loss of a cation has been detected in association with an oxidation during electrochemical studies of microcrystals attached to electrode surfaces. It is therefore now emerging that analogous charge neutralization processes to those encounted in voltammetric studies on conducting polymers are available in voltammetric studies of microcrystals attached to electrodes which are placed in contact with solvent (electrolyte) media. In the presence of LiClO₄ as the electrolyte, an ion exchange process occurs leading to formation of Li[Cr(CO)₅I] . X H₂O which then slowly dissolves in water at a rate that is strongly influenced by the electrolyte concentration, the relatively hydrophobic nature of the [(C₄H₉)₄N]⁺ cation and the poor solubility of [(C₄H₉)₄N]ClO₄. Received: 4 February 1997 / Accepted: 4 March 1997     

Isocyanide addition to MN2(CO)5(Ph2PCH2PPh2)2 and the formation of a four-electron doubly-bridging isocyanide

The reactions of Fe(CO)₅, Fe(CO)₄P(C₆H₅)₃, M(CO)₆ (M  W, Mo, Cr), and (CH₃C₅H₄Mn(CO)₃ with KH and several boron and aluminium hydrides were investigated. Iron pentacarbonyl was converted quantitatively to K⁺Fe(CO)₄-(CHO) by hydride transfer from KBH(OCH₃)₃ allowing isolation of [P(C₆H₅)₃]₂-Nⁿ⁺Fe(CO)₄(CHO)^? in 50% yield. Lower yields were obtained with LiBH(C₂H₅)₃, and other hydride sources gave little or no formyl product. The stability of Fe(CO)₄(CHO)^? in THP was found to depend on the cation, decreasing in the order [P(C₆H₅)₃]₂N⁺ > K⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺. No formyl complexes were isolated and no spectroscopic evidence for formyl formation was observed in the reactions of the other transition metal carbonyls with several hydride sources. Fe(CO)₄-P(C₆H₅)₃ gave K₂Fe(CO)₄ when treated with KHB(OCH₃)₃. When treated with LiBH(C₂H₅)₃, W(CO)₆ gave a mixture of HW₂(CO)₁₀^?and (OC)₅W(COC₂H₅)^?; the latter was methylated to give the carbene complex (OC)₅WC(OCH₃)C₂H₅.     

Crystallographic characterization of the first reported crystalline form of the potent hallucinogen (R)‐2‐amino‐1‐(8‐bromobenzo[1,2‐b;5,4‐b′]difuran‐4‐yl)propane or `bromodragonfly': the 1:1 anhydrous proton‐transfer compound with 3,5‐dinitrosalicylic acid

The 1:1 proton‐transfer compound of the potent substituted amphetamine hallucinogen (R)‐2‐amino‐1‐(8‐bromobenzo[1,2‐b;5,4‐b′]difuran‐4‐yl)propane (common trivial name `bromodragonfly') with 3,5‐dinitrosalicylic acid, namely 1‐(8‐bromobenzo[1,2‐b;5,4‐b′]difuran‐4‐yl)propan‐2‐aminium 2‐carboxy‐4,6‐dinitrophenolate, C₁₃H₁₃BrNO₂⁺·C₇H₃N₂O₇⁻, forms hydrogen‐bonded cation–anion chain substructures comprising undulating head‐to‐tail anion chains formed through C(8) carboxyl–nitro O—H...O associations and incorporating the aminium groups of the cations. The intrachain cation–anion hydrogen‐bonding associations feature proximal cyclic R₃³(8) interactions involving both an N⁺—H...O_phenolate and the carboxyl–nitro O—H...O associations and aromatic π–π ring interactions [minimum ring centroid separation = 3.566 (2) Å]. A lateral hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the third aminium H atom and a carboxyl O‐atom acceptor links the chain substructures, giving a two‐dimensional sheet structure. This determination represents the first of any form of this compound and is in the (R) absolute configuration. The atypical crystal stability is attributed both to the hydrogen‐bonded chain substructures provided by the anions, which accommodate the aminium proton‐donor groups of the cations and give crosslinking, and to the presence of the cation–anion aromatic ring π–π interactions.     

A study of the polymerization of ethylene on Ti(III) monocyclopentadienyl compounds by the density functional theory method

Density functional theory was used to study model ethylene reactions with CpTi^IIIEt⁺A^? (A^? = CH₃B(C₆F₅) ₃ ^? , or B(C₆F₅) ₄ ^? ; A^? can be absent) compounds. The polymerization of ethylene on an isolated CpTiEt⁺ cation is hindered because of equilibrium between the CpTi(C₂H₄)Et⁺ primary complex and the primary product of CpTiBu⁺ insertion. At the same time, the polymerization of ethylene on CpTiEt⁺A^? ion pairs (A^? = CH₃B(C₆F₅) ₃ ^? or B(C₆F₅) ₄ ^? ) is thermodynamically allowed (ΔE from ?26.2 to ?25.6 kcal/mol and ΔG ₂₉₈ from ?10.9 to ?10.4 kcal/mol) and is not related to overcoming substantial energy barriers (ΔE ^# = 8.2?12.3 kcal/mol and ΔG ₂₉₈ ^≠ ) = 7.8?13.3 kcal/mol). The degree of polymerization can be low because of the effective occurrence of polymer chain termination by hydrogen transfer from the polymer chain to the monomer.     

Two novel organic–inorganic hybrid materials from tetrachloridometallate(II) salts and 4‐[(E)‐2‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐2‐yl)ethenyl]pyridinium

Two organic–inorganic hybrid compounds have been prepared by the combination of the 4‐[(E)‐2‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐2‐yl)ethenyl]pyridinium cation with perhalometallate anions to give 4‐[(E)‐2‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐2‐yl)ethenyl]pyridinium tetrachloridocobaltate(II), (C₁₂H₁₂N₂)[CoCl₄], (I), and 4‐[(E)‐2‐(pyridin‐1‐ium‐2‐yl)ethenyl]pyridinium tetrachloridozincate(II), (C₁₂H₁₂N₂)[ZnCl₄], (II). The compounds have been structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, showing the formation of a three‐dimensional network through X—H...Cl_nM⁻ (X = C, N⁺; n = 1, 2; M = Co^II, Zn^II) hydrogen‐bonding interactions and π–π stacking interactions. The title compounds were also characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).     

Dissociation Pathway Analysis of Thymine under Low Energy VUV Photon Excitation

Photon-induced dissociation pathways of thymine are investigated with vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry and theoretical calculations. The photoionization mass spectra of thymine at different photon energy are measured and presented. By selecting suitable photon energy, exclusively molecular ion m/z=126 is obtained. At photon energy of 12.0 eV, the major ionic fragments at m/z=98, 97, 84, 83, 70, and 55 are obtained, which are assigned to C₄H₆N₂₄O⁺、C₄H₅N₂O⁺、C₃H₄N₂O⁺(or C₄H₆NO⁺)、C₄H₅NO⁺、C₂NO₂⁺ and C₃H₅N⁺, respectively. With help of theoretical calculations, the detailed dissociation pathways of thymine at low energy are well established.     

Stereospecific styrene polymerization and ethylene–styrene copolymerization with titanocenes containing a pendant amine donor

A series of monocyclopentadienyl titanium complexes containing a pendant amine donor on a Cp group ( A = CpTiCl₃, B = Cp^NTiCl₃, C = Cp^NTiCl₂TEMPO, for Cp = C₅H₅, Cp^N = C₅H₄CH₂CH₂N(CH₃)₂, and TEMPO = 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxyl) are investigated for styrene homopolymerization and ethylene–styrene (ES) copolymerization. When activated by methylaluminoxane at 70 °C, complexes with the amine group ( B and C ) are active for styrene homopolymerization and afford syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS). The copolymerizations of ethylene and styrene with B and C yield high‐molecular weight ES copolymer, whereas complex A yields mixtures of sPS and polyethylene, revealing the critical role that the pendant amine has on the polymerization behavior of the complexes. Fractionation, NMR, and DSC analyses of the ES copolymers generated from B and C suggest that they contain sPS. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1579–1585, 2010     

Compounds of Undecahydrodecaborate Anion B10H11–

Conditions for the synthesis of salts of the B₁₀H₁₁ ^–anion with different cations in the Cat₂B₁₀H₁₀+ RCOOH (R = H, CF₃; Cat = Me₄N⁺, Et₄N⁺, Bu₄N⁺, Ph₄P⁺, Ph₄As⁺) systems were studied depending on the acid strength (pK _a) and size of the cation. It was established that reactions with trifluoroacetic acid give compounds of this anion with any one of the quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, or arsonium cations, while formic acid can only give salts with the largest of these cations.