Blue‐Emissive Cobalt(III) Complexes and Their Use in the Photocatalytic Trifluoromethylation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Room‐temperature luminescent Co^III complexes ( 1 and 2 ) are presented that exhibit intense ligand‐to‐metal and ligand‐to‐ligand charge transfer absorption in the low‐energy UV region (λ_abs≈360–400 nm) and low‐negative quasi‐reversible reduction events (E^1/2_(red)=?0.58 V and ?0.39 V vs. SCE for 1 and 2 , respectively). The blue emission of 1 and 2 at RT is due to the large bite angles and strong σ‐donation of the ligands, the combined effect of which helps to separate the emissive ³LMCT (triplet ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer) and the non‐emissive ³MC (triplet metal‐centered) states. 1 and 2 were found to be powerful photo‐oxidants (E =2.26 V and 2.75 V vs. SCE of 1 and 2 , respectively) and were used as inexpensive photoredox catalysts for the regioselective mono(trifluoromethylation) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in good yields (ca. 40–58 %).     

LaSr3NiRuO4H4: A 4d Transition‐Metal Oxide–Hydride Containing Metal Hydride Sheets

The synthesis of the first 4d transition metal oxide–hydride, LaSr₃NiRuO₄H₄, is prepared via topochemical anion exchange. Neutron diffraction data show that the hydride ions occupy the equatorial anion sites in the host lattice and as a result the Ru and Ni cations are located in a plane containing only hydride ligands, a unique structural feature with obvious parallels to the CuO₂ sheets present in the superconducting cuprates. DFT calculations confirm the presence of S= Ni⁺ and S=0, Ru²⁺ centers, but neutron diffraction and μSR data show no evidence for long‐range magnetic order between the Ni centers down to 1.8 K. The observed weak inter‐cation magnetic coupling can be attributed to poor overlap between Ni 3d and H 1s in the super‐exchange pathways.     

A Square‐Planar Complex of Platinum(0)

The Pt⁰ complex [Pt(PPh₃)(Eind₂‐BPEP)] with a pyridine‐based PNP‐pincer‐type phosphaalkene ligand (Eind₂‐BPEP) has a highly planar geometry around Pt with ∑(Pt)=358.6°. This coordination geometry is very uncommon for formal d¹⁰ complexes, and the Pd and Ni homologues with the same ligands adopt distorted tetrahedral geometries. DFT calculations reveal that both the Pt and Pd complexes are M⁰ species with nearly ten valence electrons on the metals whereas their atomic orbital occupancies are evidently different from one another. The Pt complex has a higher occupancy of the atomic 6s orbital because of strong s–d hybridization due to relativistic effects, thereby adopting a highly planar geometry reflecting the shape and orientation of the partially unoccupied orbital.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Stereospecific C−H Coupling of Benzamides with Epoxides

A Ni(OAc)₂‐catalyzed C?H coupling of 8‐aminoquinoline‐derived benzamides with epoxides has been developed. The reaction proceeds with concomitant removal of the 8‐aminoquinoline auxiliary to form the corresponding 3,4‐dihydroisocoumarins directly. Additionally, the nickel catalysis is stereospecific, and the cis‐ and trans‐epoxides are converted into the corresponding cis‐ and trans‐dihydroisocoumarins with retention of configuration, which is complementary to previously reported palladium catalysis. Moreover, while still preliminary, the C ?H functionalization is also achieved in the presence of modified NiCl₂ catalysts.     

The β‐Agostic Structure in (C5Me5)2Sc(CH2CH3): Solid‐State NMR Studies of (C5Me5)2Sc−R (R=Me,Ph, Et)

Multinuclear solid‐state NMR studies of Cp*₂Sc?R (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; R=Me, Ph, Et) and DFT calculations show that the Sc?Et complex contains a β‐CH agostic interaction. The static central transition ⁴⁵Sc NMR spectra show that the quadrupolar coupling constants (C_q) follow the trend of Ph≈Me>Et, indicating that the Sc?R bond is different in Cp*₂Sc?Et compared to the methyl and phenyl complexes. Analysis of the chemical shift tensor (CST) shows that the deshielding experienced by Cβ in Sc?CH₂CH₃ is related to coupling between the filled σ_C‐C orbital and the vacant orbital.     

Hole and Electron Doping of the 4d Transition‐Metal Oxyhydride LaSr3NiRuO4H4

Hole or electron doping of phases prepared by topochemical reactions (e.g. anion deintercalation or anion‐exchange) is extremely challenging as these low‐temperature conversion reactions are typically very sensitive to the electron counts of precursor phases. Herein we report the successful hole and electron doping of the transition‐metal oxyhydride LaSr₃NiRuO₄H₄ by first preparing precursors in the range La_xSr_4?xNiRuO₈ 0.5<x<1.4 and then converting into the corresponding La_xSr_4?xNiRuO₄H₄ phases. This is particularly noteworthy as the (Ni/Ru)H₂ sheets in the La_xSr_4?xNiRuO₄H₄ phases are structurally analogous to the CuO₂ sheets in cuprate superconductors and hole doping (Ni^1+/2+, Ru²⁺) or electron doping (Ni²⁺, Ru^1+/2+) yields materials with partial occupancy in Ni/Ru –H 1s bands which are analogous to the partially occupied Cu –O 2p bands present in the CuO₂ sheets of doped superconducting cuprates.     

A Unified Treatment of the Relationship Between Ligand Substituents and Spin State in a Family of Iron(II) Complexes

The influence of ligands on the spin state of a metal ion is of central importance for bioinorganic chemistry, and the production of base‐metal catalysts for synthesis applications. Complexes derived from [Fe(bpp)₂]²⁺ (bpp=2,6‐di{pyrazol‐1‐yl}pyridine) can be high‐spin, low‐spin, or spin‐crossover (SCO) active depending on the ligand substituents. Plots of the SCO midpoint temperature (T ) in solution vs. the relevant Hammett parameter show that the low‐spin state of the complex is stabilized by electron‐withdrawing pyridyl (“X”) substituents, but also by electron‐donating pyrazolyl (“Y”) substituents. Moreover, when a subset of complexes with halogeno X or Y substituents is considered, the two sets of compounds instead show identical trends of a small reduction in T for increasing substituent electronegativity. DFT calculations reproduce these disparate trends, which arise from competing influences of pyridyl and pyrazolyl ligand substituents on Fe‐L σ and π bonding.     

Water Formation under Silica Thin Films: Real‐Time Observation of a Chemical Reaction in a Physically Confined Space

Using low‐energy electron microscopy and local photoelectron spectroscopy, water formation from adsorbed O and H₂ on a Ru(0001) surface covered with a vitreous SiO₂ bilayer (BL) was investigated and compared to the same reaction on bare Ru(0001). In both cases the reaction is characterized by moving reaction fronts. The reason for this might be related to the requirement of site release by O adatoms for further H₂‐dissociative adsorption. Apparent activation energies ( ) are found for the front motion of 0.59 eV without cover and 0.27 eV under cover. We suggest that the smaller activation energy but higher reaction temperature for the reaction on the SiO₂ BL covered Ru(0001) surface is due to a change of the rate‐determining step. Other possible effects of the cover are discussed. Our results give the first values for in confined space.     

A Rare Low‐Spin CoIV Bis(β‐silyldiamide) with High Thermal Stability: Steric Enforcement of a Doublet Configuration

Attempted preparation of a chelated Co^II β‐silylamide resulted in the unprecedented disproportionation to Co⁰ and a spirocyclic cobalt(IV) bis(β‐silyldiamide): [Co[(N^tBu)₂SiMe₂]₂] ( 1 ). Compound 1 exhibited a room‐temperature magnetic moment of 1.8 B.M. and a solid‐state axial EPR spectrum diagnostic of a rare S= configuration for tetrahedral Co^IV. Ab initio semicanonical coupled‐cluster calculations (DLPNO‐CCSD(T)) revealed the doublet state was clearly preferred (?27 kcal mol^?1) over higher spin configurations only for the bulky tert‐butyl‐substituted analogue. Unlike other Co^IV complexes, 1 had remarkable thermal stability, and was demonstrated to form a stable self‐limiting monolayer in preliminary atomic layer deposition (ALD) surface saturation experiments. The ease of synthesis and high stability make 1 an attractive starting point to investigate otherwise inaccessible Co^IV intermediates and for synthesizing new materials.     

Modular and Selective Arylation of Aryl Germanes (C−GeEt3) over C−Bpin,C−SiR3 and Halogens Enabled by Light‐Activated Gold Catalysis

Selective C –C couplings are powerful strategies for the rapid and programmable construction of bi‐ or multiaryls. To this end, the next frontier of synthetic modularity will likely arise from harnessing the coupling space that is orthogonal to the powerful Pd‐catalyzed coupling regime. This report details the realization of this concept and presents the fully selective arylation of aryl germanes (which are inert under Pd⁰/Pd^II catalysis) in the presence of the valuable functionalities C?BPin, C?SiMe₃, C?I, C?Br, C?Cl, which in turn offer versatile opportunities for diversification. The protocol makes use of visible light activation combined with gold catalysis, which facilitates the selective coupling of C?Ge with aryl diazonium salts. Contrary to previous light‐/gold‐catalyzed couplings of Ar–N₂⁺, which were specialized in Ar–N₂⁺ scope, we present conditions to efficiently couple electron‐rich, electron‐poor, heterocyclic and sterically hindered aryl diazonium salts. Our computational data suggest that while electron‐poor Ar–N₂⁺ salts are readily activated by gold under blue‐light irradiation, there is a competing dissociative deactivation pathway for excited electron‐rich Ar–N₂⁺, which requires an alternative photo‐redox approach to enable productive couplings.     

A Very Short Uranium(IV)–Rhodium(I) Bond with Net Double‐Dative Bonding Character

Reaction of [U{C(SiMe₃)(PPh₂)}(BIPM)(μ‐Cl)Li(TMEDA)(μ‐TMEDA)_0.5]₂ (BIPM=C(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂; TMEDA=Me₂NCH₂CH₂NMe₂) with [Rh(μ‐Cl)(COD)]₂ (COD=cyclooctadiene) affords the heterotrimetallic U^IV?Rh^I₂ complex [U(Cl)₂{C(PPh₂NSiMe₃)(PPh[C₆H₄]NSiMe₃)}{Rh(COD)}{Rh(CH(SiMe₃)(PPh₂)}]. This complex has a very short uranium–rhodium distance, the shortest uranium–rhodium bond on record and the shortest actinide–transition metal bond in terms of formal shortness ratio. Quantum‐chemical calculations reveal a remarkable Rh U^IV net double dative bond interaction, involving Rh^I 4d ‐ and 4d_xy/xz‐type donation into vacant U^IV 5f orbitals, resulting in a Wiberg/Nalewajski–Mrozek U?Rh bond order of 1.30/1.44, respectively. Despite being, formally, purely dative, the uranium–rhodium bonding interaction is the most substantial actinide–metal multiple bond yet prepared under conventional experimental conditions, as confirmed by structural, magnetic, and computational analyses.     

Catalytic and Atom‐Economic C −C Bond Formation: Alkyl Tantalum Ureates for Hydroaminoalkylation

Atom‐economic and regioselective C ?C bond formation has been achieved by rapid C?H alkylation of unprotected secondary arylamines with unactivated alkenes. The combination of Ta(CH₂SiMe₃)₃Cl₂, and a ureate N,O‐chelating‐ligand salt gives catalytic systems prepared in situ that can realize high yields of β‐alkylated aniline derivatives from either terminal or internal alkene substrates. These new catalyst systems realize C?H alkylation in as little as one hour and for the first time a 1:1 stoichiometry of alkene and amine substrates results in high yielding syntheses of isolated amine products by simple filtration and concentration.     

Reentrant Structural and Optical Properties and Large Positive Thermal Expansion in Perovskite Formamidinium Lead Iodide

The structure of the hybrid perovskite HC(NH₂)₂PbI₃ (formamidinium lead iodide) reflects competing interactions associated with molecular motion, hydrogen bonding tendencies, thermally activated soft octahedral rotations, and the propensity for the Pb²⁺ lone pair to express its stereochemistry. High‐resolution synchrotron X‐ray powder diffraction reveals a continuous transition from the cubic α‐phase (Pm m, #221) to a tetragonal β‐phase (P4/mbm, #127) at around 285 K, followed by a first‐order transition to a tetragonal γ‐phase (retaining P4/mbm, #127) at 140 K. An unusual reentrant pseudosymmetry in the β‐to‐γ phase transition is seen that is also reflected in the photoluminescence. Around room temperature, the coefficient of volumetric thermal expansion is among the largest for any extended crystalline solid.     

Complexes Featuring a cis-[M U M] Core (M=Rh,Ir): A New Route to Uranium-Metal Multiple Bonds

Although examples of multiple bonds between actinide elements and main-group elements are quite common, studies of the multiple bonds between actinide elements and transition metals are extremely rare owing to difficulties associated with their synthesis. Here we report the first example of molecular uranium complexes featuring a cis-[M U M] core (M=Rh, Ir), which exhibits an unprecedented arrangement of two M U double dative bond linkages to a single U center. These complexes were prepared by the reactions of chlorine-bridged heterometallic complexes [{U{N(CH₃)(CH₂CH₂NPⁱPr₂)₂}(Cl)₂[(μ-Cl)M(COD)]₂}] (M=Rh, Ir) with MeMgBr or MeLi, a new method for the construction of species with U−M multiple bonds. Theoretical calculations including dispersion confirmed the presence of two U M double dative bonds in these complexes. This study not only enriches the U M multiple bond chemistry, but also provides a new opportunity to explore the bonding of actinide elements.     

Deriving Structural Information from Experimentally Measured Data on Biomolecules

During the past half century, the number and accuracy of experimental techniques that can deliver values of observables for biomolecular systems have been steadily increasing. The conversion of a measured value Q^exp of an observable quantity Q into structural information is, however, a task beset with theoretical and practical problems: 1) insufficient or inaccurate values of Q^exp, 2) inaccuracies in the function used to relate the quantity Q to structure , 3) how to account for the averaging inherent in the measurement of Q^exp, 4) how to handle the possible multiple‐valuedness of the inverse of the function , to mention a few. These apply to a variety of observable quantities Q and measurement techniques such as X‐ray and neutron diffraction, small‐angle and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, free‐electron laser imaging, cryo‐electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, circular dichroism, Förster resonance energy transfer, atomic force microscopy and ion‐mobility mass spectrometry. The process of deriving structural information from measured data is reviewed with an eye to non‐experts and newcomers in the field using examples from the literature of the effect of the various choices and approximations involved in the process. A list of choices to be avoided is provided.     

Impact of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding on the Reactivity of Cupric Superoxide Complexes with O−H and C−H Substrates

The dioxygen reactivity of a series of TMPA‐based copper(I) complexes (TMPA=tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine), with and without secondary‐coordination‐sphere hydrogen‐bonding moieties, was studied at ?135 °C in 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF). Kinetic stabilization of the H‐bonded [( TMPA)Cu^II(O₂^.?)]⁺ cupric superoxide species was achieved, and they were characterized by resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopy. The structures and physical properties of [( TMPA)Cu^II(N₃^?)]⁺ azido analogues were compared, and the O₂^.? reactivity of ligand–Cu^I complexes when an H‐bonding moiety is replaced by a methyl group was contrasted. A drastic enhancement in the reactivity of the cupric superoxide towards phenolic substrates as well as oxidation of substrates possessing moderate C?H bond‐dissociation energies is observed, correlating with the number and strength of the H‐bonding groups.     

Structure and Composition of the 200 K‐Superconducting Phase of H2S at Ultrahigh Pressure: The Perovskite (SH−)(H3S+)

At ultrahigh pressure (>110 GPa), H₂S is converted into a metallic phase that becomes superconducting with a record T_c of approximately 200 K. It has been proposed that the superconducting phase is body‐centered cubic H₃S (Im m, a=3.089 Å) resulting from the decomposition reaction 3 H₂S→2 H₃S+S. The analogy between H₂S and H₂O led us to a very different conclusion. The well‐known dissociation of water into H₃O⁺ and OH^? increases by orders of magnitude under pressure. H₂S is anticipated to behave similarly under pressure, with the dissociation process 2 H₂S→H₃S⁺+SH^? leading to the perovskite structure (SH^?)(H₃S⁺). This phase consists of corner‐sharing SH₆ octahedra with SH^? ions at each A site (the centers of the S₈ cubes). DFT calculations show that the perovskite (SH^?)(H₃S⁺) is thermodynamically more stable than the Im m structure of H₃S, and suggest that the A site hydrogen atoms are most likely fluxional even at T_c .     

CO2‐Induced Spin‐State Switching at Room Temperature in a Monomeric Cobalt(II) Complex with the Porous Nature

CO₂‐responsive spin‐state conversion between high‐spin (HS) and low‐spin (LS) states at room temperature was achieved in a monomeric cobalt(II) complex. A neutral cobalt(II) complex, [Co^II(COO‐terpy)₂]?4 H₂O ( 1?4 H₂O ), stably formed cavities generated via π–π stacking motifs and hydrogen bond networks, resulting in the accommodation of four water molecules. Crystalline 1?4 H₂O transformed to solvent‐free 1 without loss of porosity by heating to 420 K. Compound 1 exhibited a selective CO₂ adsorption via a gate‐open type of the structural modification. Furthermore, the HS/LS transition temperature (T_1/2) was able to be tuned by the CO₂ pressure over a wide temperature range. Unlike 1 exhibits the HS state at 290 K, the CO₂‐accomodated form 1?CO₂ (P =110 kPa) was stabilized in the LS state at 290 K, probably caused by a chemical pressure effect by CO₂ accommodation, which provides reversible spin‐state conversion by introducing/evacuating CO₂ gas into/from 1 .     

Valence bonds in elongated boron clusters

A well‐defined class of planar or quasi‐planar elongated boron clusters, of type , serves as a basis to identify the valence bond picture of delocalized boron networks. The origin of the series is the cluster, which exhibits σ‐aromaticity. The cluster generating step is the repetitive expansion by three boron atoms in the direction of elongation. Specific electron counting rules are obtained for π‐bonding, peripheral σ‐bonding and multicenter inner σ‐bonding. A valence bond structure is introduced which explains the remarkable regularity in the bonding pattern. The analysis supports 4c‐2e bonds as an alternative to the common 3c‐2e bonds. The results are validated by symmetry induction and ab initio calculations.     

Solvate‐Induced Semiconductor to Metal Transition: Flat [Bi1−] Zigzag Chains in Metallic KBi⋅NH3 versus [Bi1−] Helices in Semiconducting KBi

Polymeric [Bi]^? in KBi?NH₃ has planar zigzag chains with two‐connected Bi atoms and metallic properties, whereas KBi, which has helical chains of Bi atoms, is semiconducting. The isomerization of the Bi chain is induced by solvate molecules. In the novel layered solvate structure uncharged [KBi] layers are separated by intercalated NH₃ molecules. These layers are a structural excerpt of the iso(valence)electronic CaSi, whose metallic properties arise from the planarity of the zigzag chain of Si atoms. Computational studies support this view, they show an anisotropic metallic behavior along the Bi chain. Electron delocalization is also found in the new cyclic anion [Bi₆]^4? isolated in K₂[K(18‐crown‐6)]₂[Bi₆]?9 NH₃. Although [Bi₆]^4? should exhibit one localized double bond, electron delocalization is observed in analogy to the lighter homologues [P₆]^4? and [As₆]^4?. Both compounds were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination.