Intramolecular Charge Transfer in Kekulé‐ and Non‐Kekulé‐Bridged Bis(triarylamine) Radical Cations: Missing Key Compounds in Organic Mixed‐Valence Systems

From the viewpoint of para‐meta topological bridging effect on the electronic coupling in organic mixed‐valence (MV) systems, the optically induced and thermally assisted intramolecular charge/spin transfer (ICT/IST) processes have been investigated for three bis(triarylamine) (BTA) radical cations as missing key compounds in very basic BTA MV systems. In contrast to the case of p‐ and m‐dinitrobenzene radical anions, the difference in the strength of electronic coupling (V) was not so large for the present BTA MV radical cations, although they still fall within the paradigm of strong V for para‐linkage and weak V for meta‐linkage. Unexpectedly, it has been found that meta‐phenylenediamine radical cation has an electronic coupling comparable to those in the para‐conjugated BTA‐based MV species, and the ICT/IST rate exceeds the ESR time‐scale. This finding is very encouraging considering that sufficient electronic communication can be ensured even when the redox‐active centers are linked directly by the meta‐phenylene bridge, thus broadening the selection of π‐bridging units for molecule‐based optoelectronics.     

Tuning Ground States of Bis(triarylamine) Dications: From a Closed‐Shell Singlet to a Diradicaloid with an Excited Triplet State

Three bis(triarylamine) dications were isolated by using weakly coordinating anions. Their electronic structures in the ground state were investigated by various experiments in conjunction with theoretical calculations. The ground‐state electronic structures of these species were tunable by substituent effects, with two of them as closed‐shell singlets and one of them as an open‐shell singlet in the solid state. The excited state of the latter is thermally accessible, indicated by EPR and SQUID measurements. The work provides a new and stable diradicaloid structure motif with an excited triplet sate.     

Controlling Through‐Space and Through‐Bond Exchange Pathways in Bis‐Cobaltocenes for Molecular Spintronics

Pinching molecules via chemical strain suggests intuitive consequences, such as compression at the pinched site and clothespin‐like opening of other parts of the structure. If this opening affects two spin centers, it should result in reduced communication between them. We show that for naphthalene‐bridged biscobaltocenes with competing through‐space and through‐bond pathways, the consequences of pinching are far less intuitive: despite the known dominance of through‐space interactions, the bridge plays a much larger role for exchange spin coupling than previously assumed. Based on a combination of chemical synthesis, structural, magnetic, and redox characterization, and a newly developed theoretical pathway analysis, we can suggest a comprehensive explanation for this non‐intuitive behavior. These results are of interest for molecular spintronics, as naphthalene‐linked cobaltocenes can form wires on surfaces for potential spin‐only information transfer.     

Conformational Dependence of Through‐Space Tellurium–Tellurium Spin–Spin Coupling in Peri‐Substituted Bis(Tellurides)

Three related series of peri‐substituted bis(tellurides) bearing naphthalene, acenaphthene and acenaphthylene backbones (Nap/Acenap/Aceyl(TeY)₂ (Nap=naphthalene‐1,8‐diyl N ; Acenap=acenaphthene‐5,6‐diyl A ; Aceyl=acenaphthylene‐5,6‐diyl Ay ; Y=Ph 1 ; Fp 2 ; Tol 3 ; An‐p­ 4 ; An‐o­ 5 ; Tp 6 ; Mes 7 ; Tip 8 ) have been synthesised and their solid‐state structures determined by X‐ray crystallography. Molecular conformations were classified as a function of the two C9‐C‐Te‐C(Y) dihedral angles (θ); in the solid all members adopt AB or CCt configurations, with larger Te(aryl) moieties exclusively imposing the CCt variant. Exceptionally large J(¹²⁵Te,¹²⁵Te) spin–spin coupling constants between 3289–3848 Hz were obtained for compounds substituted by bulky Te(aryl) groups, implying these species are locked in a CCt‐type conformation. In contrast, compounds incorporating smaller Te(aryl) moieties are predicted to be rather dynamic in solution and afford much smaller J values (2050–2676 Hz), characteristic of greater populations of AB conformers with lower couplings. This conformational dependence of through‐space coupling is supported by DFT calculations.     

Self‐assembly of Two Cobalt(II) Coordination Polymers Derived from Tetrabromoterephthalate and Flexible Bis(Benzimidazole) Co‐ligands

Two new cobalt(II) coordination polymers, {[Co(L1)(tbta)] · 0.8H₂O}_n ( 1 ) and {[Co(L2)(tbta)] · H₂O}_n ( 2 ) [L1 = 1,1′‐(1,3‐propanediyl)bis(2‐methylbenzimidazole), L2 = 1,2‐bis(2‐methylbenzimidazole‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene, H₂tbta = tetrabromoterephthalic acid] were obtained under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction methods, IR spectroscopy, TGA, and elemental analysis. The cobalt atoms present similar environments with tetrahedral arrangements in 1 and 2 . The two complexes show a 2D (4,4) coordination network with sql topology. Compound 2 is further extended into a rare 3 , 3 , 4T3 three‐dimensional supramolecular framework by weak C–H ··· O hydrogen bonding interactions. The fluorescence and catalytic properties of the complexes for the degradation of the congo red azo dye in a Fenton‐like process were investigated.     

Oligo(p‐phenyleneethynylene) (OPE) Molecular Wires: Synthesis and Length Dependence of Photoinduced Charge Transfer in OPEs with Triarylamine and Diaryloxadiazole End Groups

The systematic synthesis and photophysical, electrochemical and computational studies on an extended series of triphenylamine‐[C?C‐1,4‐C₆H₂(OR)₂]_n‐C?C‐diphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole dyad molecules (the OR groups are at 2,5‐positions of the para‐phenylene ring and R=C₆H₁₃; n=0–5, compounds 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 , respectively) are reported. Related molecules with identical end groups, triphenylamine‐C?C‐1,4‐C₆H₂(OR)₂‐C?C‐triphenylamine (R=C₆H₁₃; 6 ) and diphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐[C?C‐C₆H₂(OR)₂]₂‐C?C‐diphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (R=C₆H₁₃; 7 ) were also studied. These D–B–A 1 – 5 , D–B–D 6 and A–B–A 7 (D=electron donor, B=bridge, A=electron acceptor) systems were synthesized using palladium‐catalysed cross‐coupling reactions of new p‐phenyleneethynylene building blocks. Steady‐state emission studies on the dyads 1 – 5 reveal a complicated behavior of the emission that is strongly medium dependent. In low polarity solvents the emission is characterized by a sharp high‐energy peak attributed to fluorescence from a locally excited (LE) state. In more polar environments the LE state is effectively quenched by transfer into an intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) state. The medium dependence is also observed in the quantum yields (QYs) which are high in cyclohexane and low in acetonitrile, thus also indicating charge‐transfer character. Low‐temperature emission spectra for 2 – 5 in dichloromethane and diethyl ether also reveal two distinct excited states, namely the LE state and the conventional ICT state, depending on solvent and temperature. Hybrid DFT calculations for 1 – 7 establish that the OPE bridge is involved in both frontier orbitals where the bridge character increases as the bridge length increases. Computed TD‐DFT data on 1 – 5 assign the emission maxima in cyclohexane as LE transitions. Each time‐resolved emission measurement on 2 – 7 in cyclohexane and diethyl ether reveals a wavelength dependent bi‐exponential decay of the emission with a fast component in the 5–61 ps range on blue detection and a slower approximately 1 ns phase, independent of detection wavelength. The fast component is attributed to LE fluorescence and this emission component is rate limited and quenched by transfer into an ICT state. The fast LE fluorescence component varies systematically with conjugation length for the series of D–B–A dyads 2 – 5 . An attenuation factor β of 0.15 Å^?1 was determined in accordance with an ICT superexchange mechanism.     

Influence of Flexible Bis(benzimidazole) Derivatives on the Self‐assembly of Three Mixed Ligands Silver(I) Coordination Polymers

Three silver(I) coordination polymers namely, [Ag₄(L1)₂(1, 4‐ndc)₂]_n ( 1 ) {[Ag(L2)] · (1, 4‐Hndc) · H₂O}_n ( 2 ), and {[Ag(L3)(H₂O)] · (1, 4‐Hndc)}_n ( 3 ) [L1 = 1, 3‐bis(benzimidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene, 1, 4‐H₂ndc = 1, 4‐naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, L2 = 1, 3‐bis(5, 6‐dimethylbenzimidazole‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene, L3 = 1, 4‐bis(5, 6‐dimethylbenzimidazole)butane], were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and XRPD analysis. Complex 1 displays a 1D tube‐like chain, which is packed into a 3D supramolecular network by π–π stacking interactions. Complex 2 features an infinite 1D linear chain. Complex 3 contains a 1D wave‐like chain, which is extended into a 3D supramolecular network through O–H ··· O hydrogen bonding interactions. Moreover, these coordination polymers exhibit catalytic properties for degradation of methyl orange in Fenton‐like processes.     

Tuning Cadmium Coordination Architectures by Phenylenediacetate Position Isomers and 1,4‐Bis(benzimidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene

Three position isomers 1,2‐, 1,3‐, 1,4‐phenylenediacetate and 1,4‐bis(benzimidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene (bmb) were used to assembly cadmium(II) coordination polymers, [Cd(bmb)(1,2‐phda)]_n ( 1 ), {Cd(bmb)(1,3‐phda)] · 0.5(bmb)}_n ( 2 ), and [Cd(bmb)_0.5(1,4‐phda)]_n ( 3 ), which are characterized by elemental analyses, infrared spectra (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Single crystal structure analysis shows that complex 1 is a two‐dimensional wave‐like layer network. Complex 2 features a (3,5)‐connected three‐dimensional frameworks with (4².6)(4².6⁵.8³) topology, whereas complex 3 shows a (4,4)‐connected three‐dimensional (4.6⁴.7)(4².6².8²) topology. The structural versatility reveals that a significant structure‐directing effect of the position of the acetate groups during self‐assembly of these coordination polymers. Moreover, luminescent properties and thermal stabilities of three complexes were discussed in detail.     

Synthesis,Structures, and Catalytic Properties of Two ­Cobalt(II) Coordination Polymers Based on 5‐Substituted Isophthalate and Flexible Bis(benzimidazole) Co‐ligands

Two new Co^II coordination polymers, [Co(L₁)_0.5(hip)]_n ( 1 ) and [Co(L₂)(mip) · 2H₂O]_n ( 2 ) [L₁ = 1,1′‐(1,4‐butanediyl)bis‐1H‐benzimidazole, L₂ = 1,3‐bis(5,6‐dimethylbenzimidazol‐1‐yl)‐2‐propanol, H₂hip = 5‐hydroxyisophthalic acid, H₂mip = 5‐methylisophthalic acid], were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction. Complex 1 exhibits a 3D supramolecular network constructed with 2D (4,4) layer by O–H ··· O hydrogen bonding. Complex 2 has 1D ladder‐like chains, which are further assembled into a 3D supramolecular framework by π–π stacking interactions. In addition, fluorescence and catalytic properties of compounds 1 and 2 were investigated in solid state.     

Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Simultaneous Determination of Copper(II) and Silver(I) with Bis(2‐hydroxyacetophenone) Butane‐2,3‐dihydrazone Modified Carbon Paste Electrodes

The behavior of a modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) for simultaneous determination of copper(II) and silver(I) by anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry (ASV) was studied. The electrode was built incorporating the bis(2‐hydroxyacetophenone) butane‐2,3‐dihydrazone (BHAB) as a complexing agent to a Nujol‐graphite base paste. The resulting electrode demonstrated linear responses over the range of Cu(II) and Ag(I) concentrations 0.1–20 and 0.01–2.0 µM respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the determination of 5.0 µM of both metal ions were 2.9 and 3.1 % for Cu(II) and Ag(I), respectively. The method has been applied to the analysis of copper in wheat and barley seed samples and silver in developed radiological film.     

Electron Spin Exchange in Linked Phenothiazine–Viologen Charge Transfer Complexes Incorporated in “Through‐Ring” (Rotaxane) α‐Cyclodextrins

A series of covalently bound phenothiazine (PHZ) donor and methylviologen (V) acceptor compounds with polymethylene chain spacers (C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂) were incorporated in a “through‐ring” (rotaxane) fashion to α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) hosts such that the alkyl chains were fully extended, with the donor and acceptor on opposite sides of the α‐CD cylinder. Photoexcitation of the PHZ unit induces electron transfer from the PHZ first excited triplet state to the V moiety, forming a biradicaloid charge‐separated state. Time‐resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy at the X‐band and Q‐band microwave frequencies was used to investigate the spin exchange interaction, J, in these biradicaloids. Simulation of the spectra using a “static” model for spin‐correlated radical pairs allows extraction of the J values, which are negative in sign and have absolute values range from 2 to 1000 Gauss. Comparison of the PHZ_nV (n = 8, 10, 12) spectra to those obtained using phenyl ether spacers indicates that π‐bonds may assist the electronic coupling. The results are discussed in terms of through‐bond vs through‐space electronic coupling mechanisms.     

Study of the Interaction of Bis(4‐pyridylthio)methane with Copper(II) Chloride and Bromide

The new ligand bis(4‐pyridylthio)methane (4‐bpytm) ( 1 ) and its complexes [CuX₂(4‐bpytm)] and [CuX₂(4‐bpytm)₂] (X = Cl and Br) ( 2 – 5 ) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR‐Raman, UV/Vis spectroscopy. The structures of (4‐bpytm) ( 1 ), [CuCl₂(4‐bpytm)₂] ( 3 ) and [CuBr₂(4‐bpytm)₂] ( 4 ) were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. X‐ray analysis of the 1:2 derivatives reveals that the copper atom has a distorted (4 + 2) octahedral environment. The copper atom is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from four bridging 4‐bpytm ligands and two halogen atoms. The axial Cu–N bonds are considerably longer than the equatorial Cu–N bonds owing to JahñTeller distortion. CuX₂ units are linked to each other through bridging 4‐bpytm ligands to form a 2D interpenetrated coordination polymer. The structural parameters of the 4‐bpytm ligand in these complexes were compared with those of the free ligand.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Six Pentanuclear and Tetranuclear Mo/W‐Cu‐S Clusters with Bis(diphenylphosphanyl) Methane

Six heterothiometalic clusters, namely, [WS₄Cu₄(dppm)₄](ClO₄)₂ · 2DMF · MeCN ( 1 ), [MoS₄Cu₄(dppm)₄](NO₃)₂ · MeCN ( 2 ) [MoS₄Cu₃(dppm)₃](ClO₄) · 4H₂O ( 3 ), [WS₄Cu₃(dppm)₃](NO₃) · 4H₂O ( 4 ), [WS₄Cu₃(dppm)₃]SCN · CH₂Cl₂ ( 5 ), and [WS₄Cu₃(dppm)₃]I · CH₂Cl₂ ( 6 ) [dppm = bis (diphenylphosphanyl)methane] were synthesized. Compounds 1 – 4 were obtained by the reactions of (NH₄)₂MS₄ (M = Mo, W) with [Cu₂(μ₂‐dppm)₂(MeCN)₂(ClO₄)₂] {or [Cu(dppm)(NO₃)]₂} in the presence of 1,10‐phen in mixed solvent (CH₃CN/CH₂Cl₂/DMF for 1 and 2 , CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH/DMF for 3 and 4 . Compounds 5 and 6 were obtained by one‐pot reactions of (NH₄)₂WS₄ with dppm and CuSCN (or CuI) in CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH. These clusters were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction as well as IR, ¹H NMR, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Structure analysis showed that compounds 1 and 2 are “saddle‐shaped” pentanuclear cationic clusters, whereas compounds 3 – 6 are “flywheel‐shaped” tetranuclear cationic clusters. In 1 and 2 , the MS₄^2– unit (M = W, Mo) is coordinated by four copper atoms, which are further bridged by four dppm molecules. In compounds 3 – 6 , the MS₄^2– unit is coordinated by three copper atoms and each copper atom is bridged by three dppm ligands.     

An Efficient and High‐Yield One‐Pot Synthesis of Bis(oxazoline)s

An efficient and mild one‐pot synthesis of bis(oxazoline) (BOX) ligands is developed from reactions of dicarboxy dichlorides with β‐amino alcohols in the presence of 11.0 equiv. NEt₃ followed by the addition of 3.6 equiv. methanesulfonyl chloride (MsCl). Nine different BOX ligands were prepared in excellent yields of ≥ 80%. Advantages of this improved synthesis are mild reaction conditions, short total reaction time of 9 h, and high isolated yields.     

Cobalt(II)‐Terephthalate Frameworks Containing Bis(benz­imidazole) Derivative Co‐ligands: Syntheses,Crystal Structures,Catalytic and Fluorescence Properties

Two metal‐organic coordination polymers of Co^II with the molecular formulae [Co(L₁)(tp)(H₂O)₂]_n ( 1 ) and [Co(L₂)(tp) · H₂O]_n ( 2 ) [L₁ = 1, 4‐bis(benzimidazole‐1‐ylmethyl)‐ benzene; L₂ = 1, 1‐(1, 4‐butanediyl)bis(5, 6‐dimethylbenzimidazole); tp = terephthalate] were synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies, infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and elemental analysis. The structure determination of complex 1 reveals a 2D layer with (4, 4) topology, with Co^II ions at the nodes connected through tp and L₁ co‐ligands. Complex 2 is the first example of a four‐connected SrAl₂ structure type ( sra , 4²6³8 topology) with threefold interpenetration in Co^II coordination frameworks, forming by bridging L₂ and tp co‐ligands. In addition, the fluorescence and catalytic performances of the complexes for the degradation of methyl orange were investigated.     

3D Luminescent Copper(I) Iodide Coordination Polymer Based on Cu4I4 Clusters and an Ethyl‐bridging Bis(triazole) Ligand

The copper‐iodine based coordination polymer [Cu₄I₂(bmte)]_n ( 1 ) [H₂bmte = 1,2‐bis(5‐methyl‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)ethane] was synthesized using cuprous iodide and a flexible 3‐substituted, ethyl‐bridging bis(triazole) ligand under solvothermal conditions. X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that compound 1 shows a 3D framework containing Cu₄I₄ clusters and alternating left‐ and right‐handed [Cu(triazole)] helices, which result in a (4,8)‐connected fluorite (flu) topological network. Moreover, compound 1 exhibits orange phosphorescence with the emission maxima at 590 nm in the solid state at room temperature.