Tuning the electronic properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes

The electron-donating properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes ([N,N'-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)imidazol]-2-ylidene and the respective dihydro ligands) with 4,4'-R-substituted aryl rings (4,4'-R=NEt2, OC(12)H(25), Me, H, Br, S(4-tolyl), SO(4-tolyl), SO2(4-tolyl)) were studied. Twelve new N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands were synthesized as well as the respective iridium complexes [IrCl(cod)(NHC)] and [IrCl(CO)2(NHC)]. Cyclic voltammetry (DeltaE1/2) and IR (nu (CO)) can be used to measure the electron-donating properties of the carbene ligands. Modifying the 4-positions with electron-withdrawing substituents (4-R=-SO(2)Ar, DeltaE1/2=+0.92 V) results in NHC ligands with virtually the same electron-donating capacity as a trialkylphosphine in [IrCl(cod)(PCy3)] (DeltaE1/2 =+0.95 V), while [IrCl(cod)(NHC)] complexes with 4-R=NEt2 (DeltaE1/2= +0.59 V) show drastically more cathodic redox potentials and significantly enhanced donating properties.     

Study of water properties in nanospace

Here we report an anomalous behavior of water, especially its viscosity and hydrodynamic flow, in a nanometer-confined space. As a typical model of a nanometer-confined space, the nanopillar chip, which was developed for DNA size-based separation was used, and single-particle tracking (SPT) technique was applied to investigate water viscosity and hydrodynamic flow in the nanopillar chip. The diffusion coefficients of nanospheres were almost one-third of the theoretical value derived from the Stokes-Einstein equation. This result gave indirect proof that water viscosity in a nanometer-confined space is higher than in a bulk solution. In order to improve resolution and throughput of the nanopillar chip for DNA separation, these potential factors affecting performance should be seriously considered.     

Tuning of the electronic properties of a cyclopentadienylruthenium catalyst to match racemization of electron-rich and electron-deficient alcohols

The synthesis of a new series of cyclopentadienylruthenium catalysts with varying electronic properties and their application in racemization of secondary alcohols are described. These racemizations involve two key steps: 1) β-hydride elimination (dehydrogenation) and 2) re-addition of the hydride to the intermediate ketone. The results obtained confirm our previous theory that the electronic properties of the substrate determine which of these two steps is rate determining. For an electron-deficient alcohol the rate-determining step is the β-hydride elimination (dehydrogenation), whereas for an electron-rich alcohol the re-addition of the hydride becomes the rate-determining step. By matching the electronic properties of the catalyst with the electronic properties of the alcohol, we have now shown that a dramatic increase in racemization rate can be obtained. For example, electron-deficient alcohol 15 racemized 30 times faster with electron-deficient catalyst 6 than with the unmodified standard catalyst 4. The application of these protocols will extend the scope of cyclopentadienylruthenium catalysts in racemization and dynamic kinetic resolution.     

Tuning of the electronic properties of self-assembling and highly sensitive chromic polyalkylthiophenes

The solvatochromic behaviour of different functional group-bearing and self-interacting polyalkylthiophenes with strong chromic responses in solution and self-assembling capacity in the solid state is investigated here. The menagerie of species deriving from the conformational freedom of the conjugated chains in solution has been examined in different solvent mixtures as their physico-chemical nature sensibly affects final material morphology in the solid (film) state. Memory of solution curling shape and of the degree of aggregation is in fact retained through casting or spin-coating procedures and permanently endures in the polymeric film. The efficiency of the final device based on the ICP (inherent conducting polymer) film may therefore be improved by simply acting on its morphology, which is directly determined by polymer dissolution conditions.     

Tuning of electronic properties in thienyl-phosphole pi-conjugated systems through P-functionalization monitored by Raman spectroscopy

Herein, a Raman spectroscopic study of a new family of 2,5-di(2-thienyl)phospholes and thienyl-capped 1,1'-diphospholes is presented. The Raman spectra have been carefully assigned with the help of density functional calculations. For di(2-thienyl)phospholes, two well-differentiated groups of Raman bands exist that arise either from the central phosphole ring or from the outer thiophene substituents. These data reveal a segmentation of the electronic structure. This paper reports interesting relationships between geometrical data such as the BLA (bond-length alternation) parameter and Raman band wavenumbers. These correlations are unprecedented in the chemistry of phospholes and have been used to interpret the evolution of the electronic structure (aromaticity=pi-conjugation) upon 1) substitution of the central sulfur atom of terthiophene by phosphorus and 2) P-functionalization. Increasing the coordination number of the phosphole ring results in intramolecular charge transfer. The best scenario for phosphole aromaticity is found for 1,1'-diphospholes.     

Tuning the optical and electronic properties of 4,8-disubstituted benzobisoxazoles via alkyne substitution

In an effort to design new electron-deficient building blocks for the synthesis of conjugated materials, a series of new trans-benzobisoxazoles bearing halogen or alkynyl substituents at the 4,8-positions was synthesized. Additionally, the impact of these modifications on the optical and electronic properties was investigated. Theoretical calculations predicted that the incorporation of various alkynes can be used to tune the energy levels and band gaps of these small molecules. The targeted 4,8-disubstituted benzobisoxazoles were easily prepared in good yields using a two-step reaction sequence: Lewis acid catalyzed orthoester cyclization followed by Sonogashira cross-coupling. The experimentally determined HOMO values for these 4,8-disubstituted benzobisoxazoles ranged from -4.97 to -6.20 eV and showed reasonable correlation to the theoretically predicted values, with a percent deviation that ranged from 2.4-12.8%. However, the deviation between actual and predicted HOMO values was reduced to less than 3.5% when the theoretical values were extrapolated to the long-chain limit and compared to copolymers containing the 4,8-disubstituted benzobisoxazoles. Collectively, these results indicate that these 4,8-disubstituted trans-benzobisoxazoles can be used for the synthesis of new conjugated materials with electronic properties that are variable and predictable.     

Tuning the electronic structure of diboradiferrocenes

A series of diboradiferrocenes with different aryl substituents was prepared through reaction of B,B-dichlorodiboradiferrocene with arylcopper and Grignard reagents. The mesityl and pentafluorophenyl derivatives, - and -, were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography, and their electronic structure was examined by UV-visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. A comparison of the data for - and - with those of the parent compound - revealed the importance of electronic and steric effects of the substituents on the electronic structure of the compounds and ultimately the degree of electronic interaction between the two ferrocene moieties. An unusually large redox splitting of DeltaE = 703 mV was determined from the cyclic voltammogram of -.     

Tuning tetranuclear manganese-oxo core electronic properties: adamantane-shaped complexes synthesized by ligand exchange

A series of adamantane-shaped [Mn4O6]4+ aggregates has been prepared. Ligand substitution reactions of [Mn4O6(bpea)4](ClO4)4 (1) with tridentate amine and iminodicarboxylate ligands in acetonitrile affords derivative clusters [Mn4O6(tacn)4](ClO4)4 (4), [Mn4O6(bpea)2(dien)2](ClO4)4)(5), [Mn4O6(Medien)4](ClO4)4 (6), [Mn4O6(tach)4](ClO4)4 (7), [Mn4O6(bpea)2(me-ida)2] (8), [Mn4O6(bpea)2(bz-ida)2] (9), [Mn4O6(bpea)2((t)bu-ida)2] (10), and [Mn4O6(bpea)2((c)pent-ida)2] (11) generally on the order of 10 min with retention of core nuclearity and oxidation state. Of these complexes, only 4 had been synthesized previously. Characterization of two members of this series by X-ray crystallography reveals that compound 7 crystallizes as [Mn4O6(tach)4](ClO4)4 x 3CH3CN x 4.5H2O in the cubic space group Fmm and compound 11 crystallizes as [Mn4O6(bpea)2((c)pent-ida)2].7MeOH in the monoclinic space group C2/c. The unique substitution chemistry of 1 with iminodicarboxylate ligands afforded asymmetrically ligated complexes 8-11, the mixed ligand nature of which is most likely unachievable using self-assembly synthetic methods. A special feature of the iminodicarboxylate ligand complexes 8-11 is the substantial site differentiation of the oxo bridges of the [Mn4O6]4+ cores. While there are four site-differentiated oxo bridges in 8, the solution structural symmetry of 8H+ reveals essentially a single protonation isomer, in contrast to the observation of two protonation isomers for 1H+, one for each of the site-differentiated oxo bridges in 1. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on 4, 7, 8, and 9 indicate that each complex is overall ferromagnetically coupled, and variable-field magnetization data for 7 and 9 are consistent with an S = 6 ground state. Electrochemical analysis demonstrates that ligand substitution of bpea affords accessibility to the Mn(V)(Mn(IV))3 oxidation state.     

Tuning electronic eigenvalues of benzene via doping

Using variable atomic numbers within molecular grand-canonical ensemble theory, the highest occupied Kohn-Sham eigenvalue of isoelectronic benzene derivatives is tuned. The performed transmutational changes correspond to the iterative doping with boron and nitrogen. The molecular Fukui function proves to be a reliable index in order to predict the changes in the highest occupied molecular orbital eigenvalue due to doping.     

Construction of regulated nanospace around a porphyrin core

A series of 1,3,5-phenylene-based rigid dendritic porphyrins were synthesized by Suzuki coupling between a porphyrin core and dendron units. The intramolecular energy transfer was studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies. The encapsulation of the porphyrin core within the 1,3,5-phenylene dendron units was found to provide highly efficient energy transfer from the dendron units to the porphyrin core. The dendritic wedge structure affected the energy transfer efficiency. The 1,3,5-phenylene-based rigid dendron units act as highly efficient light-harvesting antennae. These dendritic porphyrins have also been examined as C(60) hosts and substrate-selective oxidation catalysts. The attachment of the second generation of 1,3,5-phenylene-based dendron units with the porphyrin core enabled a stable inclusion of C(60) in toluene. Furthermore, the size and shape of the nanospace in the rigid dendritic porphyrins were found to affect the selectivity of substrates in the catalytic olefin oxidations.     

N‐doped cycloparaphenylenes: Tuning electronic properties for applications in thermally activated delayed fluorescence

We theoretically characterize a series of substituted cycloparaphenylene nanohoops to study the effect of incorporating an electron‐withdrawing group into their cyclic structure. We systematically vary the nature, position, and number of nitrogen‐containing acceptor groups in both neutral (pyridine) and charged forms (pyridinium and methylpyridinium) to provide insights into how this functionalization affects the structural, electronic, and optical properties of these systems. We focus also on the singlet‐triplet energy difference, with low values found, which might pave the way to further applications in the field of devices for light‐emitting applications providing a potential class of TADF‐based emitters.     

Tuning the electronic coupling in a low-bandgap donor-acceptor copolymer via the placement of side-chains

We present a spectroscopic and theoretical investigation of the effect of the presence and position of hexyl side-chains in the novel low-bandgap alternating donor-acceptor copolymer poly[bis-N,N-(4-octylphenyl)-bis-N,N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine-alt-5,5'-4',7',-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole] (T8TBT). We use electronic absorption and Raman spectroscopic measurements supported by calculations of chain conformation, electronic transitions, and Raman modes. Using these tools, we find that sterically demanding side-chain configurations induce twisting in the electronic acceptor unit and reduce the electronic interaction with the donor. This leads to a blue-shifted and weakened (partial) charge-transfer absorption band together with a higher photoluminescence efficiency. On the other hand, sterically relaxed side-chain configurations promote coupling between donor and acceptor units and exhibit enhanced absorption at the expense of luminescence efficiency. The possibility of tuning the donor-acceptor character of conjugated polymers by varying the placement of side-chains has very important ramifications for light emitting diode, Laser, display, and photovoltaic device optimization.     

Tuning the electronic and optical properties of silicon-germanium nanosheet through doping with boron and phosphorus: a first principle study

Structural Chemistry - Under density functional theory (DFT), a first principle analysis is conducted to pure, boron (B)- and phosphorus (P)-doped silicon-germanium nanosheets. It has been revealed...     

The relationship between adsorption energies of methyl on metals and the metallic electronic properties: a first-principles DFT study

A theoretical study of CH3 adsorbed on the (111) surface of some transition and noble metal surfaces M (M = Cu, Ni, Rh, Pt, Pd, Ag, Au) and on the Fe(100) is presented. We find that the hollow site is preferred more than the top one for Fe, Ni, Rh, and Cu, but it is the other way for Pt, Pd, Au, and Ag. In addition, a good linear relationship was observed between the chemisorption energy and d-band center for Group VIII metals or the square of the coupling matrix element for Group IB metals at the hollow site. Interestingly, with a detailed comparison of the adsorption energies at the top and hollow sites, we find that the adsorption energies among each group are very similar on the top site, which supports the theoretical model of Hammer and Norskov that the coupling between the HOMO of adsorbate and sp states of the metal is dominant and almost equal, and that the second coupling to the d-band contributes less but reflects the change of the adsorption energy. It confirms that the coupling to the d band comprises two opposite factors, that is, the d-band center was attractive and the square of the coupling matrix element was repulsive, such that the contributions from the two factors can counteract each other at the top site.     

Tuning the magnetic and electronic properties of polynuclear Prussian-blue-like complexes: the role of the organic ligand

Mixed valence cyanide bridged polynuclear complexes of formula [Fe^II(CNFe^IIIL)₆]^x+, where L is a pentadentate ligand, may be considered as structural models for Prussian Blue. A judicious choice of the peripheral ligand allows us to tune their electronic and magnetic properties. A correlation between the nature of the peripheral ligand and the energy of the intervalence band is found. The acceptor power of the ligand shifts the intervalence band towards low energies and leads to an increase of the magnitude of the ferromagnetic interaction. Thus, the charge-transfer excited state is responsible for the ferromagnetic nature of the exchange coupling interaction in Prussian Blue. To cite this article: G. Rogez et al., C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Tuning magnetic,electronic, and optical properties of Mn-doped NiCr2O4 via microwave method

The main aim of the paper to the synthesis of Mn (x)-doped NiCr₂O₄ nanoparticles by varying Mn content (x = 0.00%, 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.03%) by microwave method for correlating the effect of NiCr₂O₄ on structural, optical, and magnetic properties of the materials. Understanding the optical, magnetic, and structural properties of huge reservoir factors has essential applications in various aspects of materials science. Our study is to relate the reduction of grain size of Mn content in NiCr₂O₄ host material. The XRD results revealed that there was an apparent decrease in the characteristic peaks of Mn in the MnNiCr₂O₄ nanostructure. Particularly, the peak position of (2 2 0) and (3 1 1) planes was decreased. This decrease in peak position is attributed to the creation of defects or disorders due to the Mn ions in the chromite lattice structure. This inter-site Mn cation migration is responsible for the breaking of long-range cation order and the introduction of defects at both the T-site and O-sublattices site simultaneously.     

Tuning intermetallic electronic coupling in polyruthenium systems via molecular architecture

A large number of polynuclear ruthenium complexes encompassing selective combinations of spacer (bridging ligand,BL) and ancillary (AL) functionalities have been designed. The extent of intermetallic electronic communication in mixed-valent states and the efficacy of the ligand frameworks towards the tuning of coupling processes have been scrutinised via structural, spectroelectrochemical, EPR, magnetic and theoretical investigations. Moreover, the sensitive oxidation state features in the complexes of non-innocent quinonoid bridging moieties have also been addressed.     

Characteristics of metallic iron in Y-zeolite catalysts reduced by hydrogen atom beams

Hydrogen atom beams were used to reduce the ionic species of iron-Fe(II) and Fe(III) in Y-zeolite. Reduction to metallic states was confirmed by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectroscopy, and the catalytic activity in CO hydrogenation showed high selectivity towards ethylene and butene.     

Excited electronic state calculations by the transcorrelated variational Monte Carlo method: application to a helium atom

We have implemented the excited electronic state calculations for a helium atom by the transcorrelated variational Monte Carlo (TC-VMC) method. In this method, Jastrow-Slater-type wave function is efficiently optimized not only for the Jastrow factor but also for the Slater determinant. Since the formalism for the TC-VMC method is based on the variance minimization, excited states as well as the ground state calculations are feasible. It is found that both the first and the second excitation energies given by TC-VMC are much closer to the experimental data than those given by the variational Monte Carlo method with using the Hartree-Fock orbitals. The successful results in the TC-VMC method are considered to be due to the nodal optimization of the wave functions.