Toward new paradigms in mixed-valency: ytterbocene-terpyridine charge-transfer complexes

(C5Me5)2Yb x OEt2 reacts with terpyridine and tetrapyridinylpyrazine to afford new mixed-valent systems.     

Challenging the auxiliary donor effect on molecular hyperpolarizability in thiophene-containing nonlinear chromophores: X-ray crystallographic and optical measurements on two new isomeric chromophores

To reexamine the established "auxiliary donor" effect of thiophene in nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores, we have prepared two isomeric donor-acceptor azo dyes, differing only in the position of the thiophene. Experimental analysis of these chromophores, including electric field-induced second harmonic generation (EFISH) and X-ray crystallography, contradicts previous experimental findings on similar chromophores but is consistent with the majority of computational precedents. We have found that the thiophene on the donor side produces a compound with a larger dipole moment; however, the isomer with the thiophene on the acceptor side is more nonlinear and has a higher figure of merit for NLO device applications.     

Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT): from principal photophysics to the development of new chromophores and applications in fluorescent molecular probes and luminescent materials

In this perspective we introduce the basic photophysics of the excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) chromophores, then the state-of-the-art development of the ESIPT chromophores and their applications in chemosensors, biological imaging and white-light emitting materials are summarized. Most of the applications of the ESIPT chromophores are based on the photophysics properties, such as design of fluorescent chemosensors by perturbation of the ESIPT process upon interaction with the analytes, their use as biological fluorescent tags to study DNA-protein interaction by probing the variation of the hydration, or design of white-light emitting materials by employing the large Stokes shift of the ESIPT chromophores (to inhibit the F?ster energy transfer of the components). The photophysical mechanism of these applications is discussed. Furthermore, a new research topic concerning the ESIPT chromophores is proposed based on our group's results, that is, to develop organic triplet sensitizers with ESIPT chromophores.     

A new decavanadate polyoxovanadate nanocluster: synthesis,characterization and rapid adsorption of methylene blue

A new decavanadate polyoxovanadate nanocluster, [2-ampH]₆[V₁₀O₂₈]?2H₂O (1), was synthesized through reaction between ammonium vanadate and 2-aminopyridine at pH = 2. Nanocluster 1 was characterized by IR, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. 1 was found to adsorb and desorb dyes and may have widespread application in wastewater treatment. The utility of 1 for adsorption of methylene blue was studied. The adsorbed dyes can be easily desorbed, and 1 has full efficiency after five cycles.     

Probing the electronic structure of platinum(II) chromophores: crystal structures, NMR structures, and photophysical properties of six new bis- and di- phenolate/thiolate Pt(II)diimine chromophores

A general route for synthesis of six structurally similar Pt(II) diimine thiolate/phenolates chromophores possessing bulky phenolate or thiolate ligands is reported. The Pt chromophores were characterized using an array of techniques including 1H, 13C, and 195Pt NMR, absorption, emission, (spectro)electrochemistry, and EPR spectroscopy. Systematic variation of the electronic structure of the Pt(II) chromophores studied was achieved by (i) changing solvent polarity; (ii) substituting oxygen for sulfur in the donor ligand; (iii) alternating donor ligands from bis- to di-coordination; and (iv) changing the electron donating/withdrawing properties of the ligand(s). The lowest excited state in these new chromophores was assigned to a [charge-transfer-to-diimine] transition from the HOMO of mixed Pt/S (or Pt/O) character on the basis of absorption and emission spectroscopy, UV/vis (spectro)electrochemistry, and EPR spectroscopy. One of the chromophores, Pt(dpphen)(3,5-di-tert-butyl-catecholate) represents an example of a Pt(II) diimine phenolate chromophore that possesses a reversible oxidation centered predominantly on the donor ligand. Results from EPR spectroscopy indicate participation of the Pt(II) orbitals in the HOMO. There is a dramatic difference in the photophysical properties of carborane complexes compared to other mixed-ligand Pt(II) compounds, which includes room-temperature emission and photostability. The charge-transfer character of the lowest excited state in this series of chromophores is maintained throughout. Moreover, the absorption and emission energies and the redox properties of the excited state can be significantly tuned.     

Old friends in a new light: “SnSb” revisited

The binary pnictide ‘SnSb’ has been re-investigated using a combination of X-ray, synchrotron and electron diffraction as well as electron microprobe analysis. Its structure was found to be incommensurately modulated with an underlying rhombohedral parent structure of space group symmetry (No. 166), unit cell parameters , in the hexagonal setting. The incommensurate primary modulation wave vector and the superspace group symmetry is (0, 0, ∼1.311) (No. 166.1). The refinement of the incommensurate structure indicates that the satellite reflections arise from displacive shifts of presumably essentially pure Sn and Sb layers along the hexagonal c-axis, with increasing distance between the Sn-layers and decreasing distance between the Sb layers.     

Allylic boranes are chemist’s best friends: Reactivity, applications, new opportunities

Fruitful methods for the preparation of various (poly)unsaturated, (poly)cyclic and cage organic compounds with the use of allylic type organoboranes have been developed. Allylborane reactions proceeding with the rearrangement of allylic moiety or via a direct rupture of the B-C bond (with retention) little known to the boron community are considered. Synthesis of boron containing clathrochelates and some transformations of 1-boraadamantane, a unique cage compound, are also described.     

Copper beta-Octakis(trifluoromethyl)corroles: new paradigms for ligand substituent effects in transition metal complexes

The reaction of copper beta-octabromo- meso-triarylcorrole derivatives with methyl 2,2-difluoro-2-(fluorosulfonyl)acetate has provided four beta-octakis(trifluoromethyl)corrole complexes, Cu[(CF 3) 8T( p-XP)C] (X = F, H, Me, OMe), in moderate yields. The new complexes present a conglomeration of remarkable substituent effects, both steric and electronic. DFT (OLYP/TZP) geometry optimization of Cu[(CF 3) 8TPC] (i.e., X = H) indicates a sterically hindered, strongly saddled geometry, with numerous short F...F nonbonded contacts of 2.5-2.9 A and certain beta carbons displaced by over 1.5 A relative to the mean corrole plane. The CF 3 groups generally appear as quartets in the (19)F NMR spectra, with unexpectedly large (5) J FF coupling constants of about 14 Hz, apparently a manifestation of the highly crowded structure. The eight CF 3 groups together exert a powerful influence on the redox potentials of the copper corrole core. Thus, the E 1/2ox of Cu[(CF 3) 8TPC] (1.4 V vs saturated calomel electrode) is a full half of a volt above that of Cu(TPC) (0.9 V) and a quarter of a volt above that of Cu(Br 8TPC) (1.14 V). Intriguingly, the beta CF 3 groups also greatly intensify the influence of the meso aryl substituents on the redox potentials, relative to the other Cu[Y 8T( p-XP)C] series, where Y = H, F, and Br. The Cu[(CF 3) 8T( p-XP)C] complexes also exhibit the most red-shifted optical spectra of any series of metallocorroles synthesized to date. Thus, between Cu(TPC) and Cu[(CF 3) 8T( p-MeO-P)C], the Soret maximum shifts by nearly 100 nm. The observed red-shifts are attributed in part to charge-transfer transitions of the Soret region and in part to the extreme nonplanar distortions.     

StePHOX, a new family of optically active, tunable phosphine-oxazoline ligands: syntheses and applications

A new class of optically active phosphine-oxazoline ligands has been synthesized wherein backbone chirality of these new ligands is installed by a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation. Different backbone protecting groups as well as different substitution patterns on the oxazoline ring were studied. These ligands were tested in allylic substitution (with ee's up to 97%) and asymmetric Tsuji allylation.     

Chromophores in cellulosics,XI: isolation and identification of residual chromophores from bacterial cellulose

In the present work, bacterial cellulose (BC) was analyzed for its chromophore content with the chromophore release and identification (CRI) method. In aged BC, seven chromophores were unambiguously identified, despite their very low (ppb) presence. The compounds contain 2-hydroxy-[1,4]benzoquinone, 2-hydroxyacetophenone and 5,8-dihydroxy-naphthoquinone moieties. These three classes of key chromophores had also been found in other celluloses such as bleached pulp, fiber and derivatives. The detection of chromophores in lignin-free BC confirms that the chromophores are formed from oxidized and degraded carbohydrate material rather than lignin fragments. Samples that were insufficiently purified before the aging step also yielded three N-heterocyclic compounds. They originated from tryptophan moieties in residual adhering protein and protein degradation products. N-Heteropentacycles 9 and 10 showed strong adsorption onto cellulosic surfaces, and that adsorption aided oxidation of cyclohexadiene derivative 9 into the corresponding aromatic and intensely yellow system 10, consistent with the strain-induced bond localization theory. In purified fresh BC, no chromophores were detectable by the CRI method. The present contribution is the first report on defined chromophoric structures isolated from BC.     

Fluorene‐ and benzimidazole‐based blue light‐emitting copolymers: Synthesis,photophysical properties,and PLED applications

Blue light‐emitting materials are receiving considerable academic and industrial interest due to their potential applications in optoelectronic devices. In this study, blue light‐emitting copolymers based on 9,9′ ‐ dioctylfluorene and 2,2′‐(1,4‐phenylene)‐bis(benzimidazole) moieties were synthesized through palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. While the copolymer consisting of unsubstituted benzimidazoles (PFBI0) is insoluble in common organic solvents, its counterpart with N‐octyl substituted benzimidazoles (PFBI8) enjoys good solubility in toluene, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane (DCM), and chloroform. The PFBI8 copolymer shows good thermal stability, whose glass transition temperature and onset decomposition temperature are 103 and 428 °C, respectively. Its solutions emit blue light efficiently, with the quantum yield up to 99% in chloroform. The electroluminescence (EL) device of PFBI8 with the configuration of indium‐tin oxide/poly(ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonic acid)/PFBI8/1,3,5‐tris(1‐phenyl‐1H‐benzimidazole‐2‐yl)benzene/LiF/Al emits blue light with the maximum at 448 nm. Such unoptimized polymer light‐emitting diode (PLED) exhibits a maximum luminance of 1534 cd/m² with the current efficiency and power efficiency of 0.67 cd/A and 0.20 lm/W, respectively. The efficient blue emission and good EL performance make PFBI8 promising for optoelectronic applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Lanthanide complexes of new polyaminocarboxylate complexes with two chromophores derived from bispyrazolylpyridine and aceto or benzophenone: synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties

New ionophores derived from 2,6-bis(N-pyrazolyl)pyridine and aceto/benzophenone have been synthesized and fully characterized. The lanthanide complexes of these new ligands were studied from their UV-vis and fluorescence data. Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ complexes were easily formed and their photophysical properties measured. In all cases, lanthanide emission lifetimes were in the range of ms albeit quantum yields were relatively low. Possible flaws in the energy-transfer mechanisms are discussed.     

Solid-phase supported nitrosocarbonyl intermediates: Old scope and new limitations in the organic synthesis

Nitrosocarbonyl intermediates on solid polystyrenic support are generated at room temperature by the mild oxidation of resin-bound stable nitrile oxides. They undergo one-pot ene reactions with tetramethyl- and trimethyl-ethylene and other highly substituted olefins. Less substituted ethylenes as well as cyclohexene and cyclopentene are heavily disfavoured and nitrosocarbonyls on solid phase undergo fast dimerization and/or decomposition pathways. These outcome strongly limit the SP applications in organic synthesis, although applicable to structurally specific N-alkenyl hydroxamic acids.     

Synthesis,characterization and potential applications of new materials in the mesoporous range

M41S is the designation of a new type of mesoporous structures. The characteristics of these materials are large surface areas and very narrow pore size distributions, with pore diameters tunable from 15 to 100 Å. The M41S family consists of MCM-48, which has a cubic ordered pore structure, MCM-41, which has a hexagonally ordered pore structure and MCM-50, which has an unstable lamellar structure. In this review we cover the synthesis, modification, characterization and potential applications of these materials.     

Silicon tetrachloride in organic synthesis: new applications for the vinylogous aldol reaction

This paper describes a novel and efficient methodology for vinylogous aldol reactions based on SiCl₄ catalysis. According to the nucleophilicity Mayr's scale, vinylogous aldol reaction of Chan's diene proved to be effective by using catalytic amount of SiCl₄, without any other promoter. On the contrary, the SiCl₄/Lewis base system has been conveniently exploited for the efficient and selective vinylogous reaction of less nucleophilic Danishefsky's diene and 2-trimethylsilyloxyfuran (TMSOF). Indeed, a number of Lewis bases, such as sulfoxides, formamides and phosphoramides have been successfully used as SiCl₄ promoters. TMSOF and silyloxydienes, resulting from 2,2,6-trimethyl-[1,3]-dioxin-4-one derivatives, required stoichiometric amount of SiCl₄, while vinylogous aldol reaction of Chan's and Danishefsky's dienes took satisfactorily place in the presence of catalytic or sub-stoichiometric amount of catalyst.     

Trivalent boron as acceptor in D-pi-A chromophores: synthesis,structure and fluorescence following single- and two-photon excitation

A series of new donor-pi-acceptor type compounds with trivalent boron as acceptor which show strong two-photon excited up-conversion fluorescence have been synthesized and one crystal structure described.     

Kinetics of copper incorporation into a biosynthetic purple Cu(A) azurin: characterization of red, blue, and a new intermediate species

Evolutionary links between type 1 blue copper (T1 Cu), type 2 red copper (T2 Cu), and purple Cu(A) cupredoxins have been proposed, but the structural features and mechanism responsible for such links as well as for assembly of Cu(A) sites in vivo are poorly understood, even though recent evidence demonstrated that the Cu(II) oxidation state plays an important role in this process. In this study, we examined the kinetics of Cu(II) incorporation into the Cu(A) site of a biosynthetic Cu(A) model, Cu(A) azurin (Cu(A)Az) and found that both T1 Cu and T2 Cu intermediates form on the path to final Cu(A) reconstitution in a pH-dependent manner, with slower kinetics and greater accumulation of the intermediates as the pH is raised from 5.0 to 7.0. While these results are similar to those observed previously in the native Cu(A) center of nitrous oxide reductase, the faster kinetics of copper incorporation into Cu(A)Az allowed us to use lower copper equivalents to reveal a new pathway of copper incorporation, including a novel intermediate that has not been reported in cupredoxins before, with intense electronic absorption maxima at ~410 and 760 nm. We discovered that this new intermediate underwent reduction to Cu(I), and proposed that it is a Cu(II)-dithiolate species. Oxygen-dependence studies demonstrated that the T1 Cu species only formed in the presence of molecular oxygen, suggesting the T1 Cu intermediate is a one-electron oxidation product of a Cu(I) species. By studying Cu(A)Az variants where the Cys and His ligands are mutated, we have identified the T2 Cu intermediate as a capture complex with Cys116 and the T1 Cu intermediate as a complex with Cys112 and His120. These results led to a unified mechanism of copper incorporation and new insights regarding the evolutionary link between all cupredoxin sites as well as the in vivo assembly of Cu(A) centers.