A Robust One‐Compartment Fuel Cell with a Polynuclear Cyanide Complex as a Cathode for Utilizing H2O2 as a Sustainable Fuel at Ambient Conditions

A robust one‐compartment H₂O₂ fuel cell, which operates without membranes at room temperature, has been constructed by using a series of polynuclear cyanide complexes that contain Fe, Co, Mn, and Cr as cathodes, in sharp contrast to conventional H₂ and MeOH fuel cells, which require membranes and high temperatures. A high open‐circuit potential of 0.68 V was achieved by using Fe₃[{Co^III(CN)₆}₂] on a carbon cloth as the cathode and a Ni mesh as the anode of a H₂O₂ fuel cell by using an aqueous solution of H₂O₂ (0.30 M , pH 3) with a maximum power density of 0.45 mW cm^?2. The open‐circuit potential and maximum power density of the H₂O₂ fuel cell were further increased to 0.78 V and 1.2 mW cm^?2, respectively, by operation under these conditions at pH 1. No catalytic activity of Co₃[{Co^III(CN)₆}₂] and Co₃[{Fe^III(CN)₆}₂] towards H₂O₂ reduction suggests that the N‐bound Fe ions are active species for H₂O₂ reduction. H₂O₂ fuel cells that used Fe₃[{Mn^III(CN)₆}₂] and Fe₃[{Cr^III(CN)₆}₂] as the cathode exhibited lower performance compared with that using Fe₃[{Co^III(CN)₆}₂] as a cathode, because ligand isomerization of Fe₃[{M^III(CN)₆}₂] into (FeM₂)[{Fe^II(CN)₆}₂] (M=Cr or Mn) occurred to form inactive Fe? C bonds under ambient conditions, whereas no ligand isomerization of Fe₃[{Co^III(CN)₆}₂] occurred under the same reaction conditions. The importance of stable Fe²⁺? N bonds was further indicated by the high performance of the H₂O₂ fuel cells with Fe₃[{Ir^III(CN)₆}₂] and Fe₃[{Rh^III(CN)₆}₂], which also contained stable Fe²⁺? N bonds. The stable Fe²⁺? N bonds in Fe₃[{Co^III(CN)₆}₂], which lead to high activity for the electrocatalytic reduction of H₂O₂, allow Fe₃[{Co^III(CN)₆}₂] to act as a superior cathode in one‐compartment H₂O₂ fuel cells.     

A Mixed‐Valence {Fe13} Cluster Exhibiting Metal‐to‐Metal Charge‐Transfer‐Switched Spin Crossover

It is promising and challenging to manipulate the electronic structures and functions of materials utilizing both metal‐to‐metal charge transfer (MMCT) and spin‐crossover (SCO) to tune the valence and spin states of metal ions. Herein, a metallocyanate building block is used to link with a Fe^II‐triazole moiety and generates a mixed‐valence complex {[(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^III(CN)₃]₉[Fe^II₄(trz‐ph)₆]}?[Ph₃PMe]₂?[(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^III(CN)₃] ( 1 ; trz‐ph=4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole). Moreover, MMCT occurs between Fe^III and one of the Fe^II sites after heat treatment, resulting in the generation of a new phase, {[(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^II(CN)₃][(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^III(CN)₃]₈ [Fe^IIIFe^II₃(trz‐ph)₆]}? [Ph₃PMe]₂?[(Tp^4‐Me)Fe^III(CN)₃] ( 1 a ). Structural and magnetic studies reveal that MMCT can tune the two‐step SCO behavior of 1 into one‐step SCO behavior of 1 a . Our work demonstrates that the integration of MMCT and SCO can provide a new alternative for manipulating functional spin‐transition materials with accessible multi‐electronic states.     

Cyanide-bridged [Fe8M6] clusters displaying single-molecule magnetism (M=Ni) and electron-transfer-coupled spin transitions (M=Co)

Cyanide‐bridged metal complexes of [Fe₈M₆(μ‐CN)₁₄(CN)₁₀ (tp)₈(HL)₁₀(CH₃CN)₂][PF₆]₄?n CH₃CN?m H₂O (HL=3‐(2‐pyridyl)‐5‐[4‐(diphenylamino)phenyl]‐1H‐pyrazole), tp^?=hydrotris(pyrazolylborate), 1 : M=Ni with n=11 and m=7, and 2 : M=Co with n=14 and m=5) were prepared. Complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphous, and crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n. They have tetradecanuclear cores composed of eight low‐spin (LS) Fe^III and six high‐spin (HS) M^II ions (M=Ni and Co), all of which are bridged by cyanide ions, to form a crown‐like core structure. Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that intramolecular ferro‐ and antiferromagnetic interactions are operative in 1 and in a fresh sample of 2 , respectively. Ac magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 showed frequency‐dependent in‐ and out‐of‐phase signals, characteristic of single‐molecule magnetism (SMM), while desolvated samples of 2 showed thermal‐ and photoinduced intramolecular electron‐transfer‐coupled spin transition (ETCST) between the [(LS‐Fe^II)₃(LS‐Fe^III)₅(HS‐Co^II)₃(LS‐Co^III)₃] and the [(LS‐Fe^III)₈(HS‐Co^II)₆] states.     

Cage‐like Fe,Na‐Germsesquioxanes: Structure,Magnetism, and Catalytic Activity

A series of four unprecedented heterometallic metallagermsesquioxanes were synthesized. Their cage‐like architectures have a unique type of molecular topology consisting of the hexairon oxo {Fe₆O₁₉} core surrounded in a triangular manner by three cyclic germoxanolates [PhGe(O)O]₅. This structural organization induces antiferromagnetic interactions between the Fe^III ions through the oxygen atoms. Evaluated for this first time in catalysis, these compounds showed a high catalytic activity in the oxidation of alkanes and the oxidative formation of benzamides from alcohols.     

Cage‐like Fe,Na‐Germsesquioxanes: Structure,Magnetism, and Catalytic Activity

A series of four unprecedented heterometallic metallagermsesquioxanes were synthesized. Their cage‐like architectures have a unique type of molecular topology consisting of the hexairon oxo {Fe₆O₁₉} core surrounded in a triangular manner by three cyclic germoxanolates [PhGe(O)O]₅. This structural organization induces antiferromagnetic interactions between the Fe^III ions through the oxygen atoms. Evaluated for this first time in catalysis, these compounds showed a high catalytic activity in the oxidation of alkanes and the oxidative formation of benzamides from alcohols.     

The Building Block [FeIII(pzphen)(CN)4]– and its Lanthanide Complexes: Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Magnetic Properties

The cyanide building block [Fe^III(pzphen)(CN)₄]^– and its four lanthanide complexes [{Fe^III(pzphen)(CN)₄}₂Ln^III(H₂O)₅(DMF)₃] · (NO₃) · 2(H₂O) · (CH₃CN) [Ln = Nd ( 1 ), Sm ( 2 ), DMF = dimethyl formamide] and [{Fe^III(pzphen)(CN)₄}₂Ln^III(NO₃)(H₂O)₂(DMF)₂](CH₃CN) [Ln = Gd ( 3 ), Dy ( 4 )] were synthesized and structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 2 are ionic salts with two [Fe^III(pzphen)(CN)₄]^– cations and one Ln^III ion, but compounds 3 and 4 are cyano‐bridged Fe^III‐Ln^III heterometallic 3d‐4f complexes exhibiting a trinuclear structure in the same conditions. Magnetic studies show that compound 3 is antiferromagnetic between the central Fe^III and Gd^III atoms. Furthermore, the trinuclear cyano‐bridged Fe^III₂Dy^III compound 4 displays no single‐molecular magnets (SMMs) behavior by the alternating current magnetic susceptibility measurements.     

Two oxo complexes with tetra­nuclear [Fe4(μ3‐O)2]8+ and trinuclear [Fe3(μ3‐O)]7+ units

Two new oxo complexes, namely hexa‐μ₂‐acetato‐acetato­aquabis­(di‐3‐pyridylamine)di‐μ₃‐oxo‐tetra­iron(III) chloride mono­hydrate ethanol 1.25‐solvate, [Fe₄(C₂H₃O₂)₇O₂(C₁₀H₉N₃)₂(H₂O)]Cl·1.25C₂H₆O·H₂O, (I), containing a tetra­nuclear [Fe₄(μ₃‐O)₂]⁸⁺ unit, and 2‐methyl­imidazolium hexa‐μ₂‐acetato‐acetatodiaqua‐μ₃‐oxo‐triiron(III) chloride dihydrate, (C₄H₇N₂)[Fe₃(C₂H₃O₂)₇O(H₂O)₂]Cl·2H₂O, (II), with a trinuclear [Fe₃(μ₃‐O)]⁷⁺ unit, are presented. Both structures are formed by two well differentiated entities, viz. a compact isolated cluster composed of Fe^III ions coordinated to O²⁻ and CH₃CO₂⁻ anions, and an external group formed by a central Cl⁻ ion surrounded by different solvent groups to which the anion is bound through hydrogen bonding. In the case of (I), charge balance cannot be achieved within the groups, so the structure is macroscopically ionic; in the case of (II), in contrast, each group is locally neutral owing to the inter­nal compensation of charges. The trinuclear complex crystallizes with the metal cluster, chloride anion and 2‐methyl­imidazolium cation bisected by a crystallographic mirror plane.     

A {Co4O4} Cubane Incorporated within a Polyoxoniobate Cluster

A novel octacobalt‐containing polyoxoniobate, Na₆K₁₂[H₂Co₈O₄(Nb₆O₁₉)₄]?39 H₂O, has been prepared by a combination of hydrothermal and diffusion methods. The polyanion [H₂Co₈O₄(Nb₆O₁₉)₄]^18? incorporates a tetrameric assembly of Lindqvist‐type [Nb₆O₁₉]^8? fragments trapping a {Co^II₄Co^III₄} cluster which comprises a central {Co^III₄O₄} cubane core, surrounded by another four Co^II ions linkers. Furthermore, magnetic measurements show that the compound exhibits antiferromagnetic interactions.     

FeII Spin‐Crossover Phenomenon in the Pentadecanuclear {Fe9[Re(CN)8]6} Spherical Cluster

The self‐assembly of iron(II) ions with rare octacyanidorhenate(V) metalloligands in a methanolic solution results in the formation of a nanometric pentadecanuclear {Fe^II₉[Re^V(CN)₈]₆(MeOH)₂₄}?10 MeOH ( 1 ) molecule with a six‐capped body‐centered cubic topology. The cluster demonstrates a thermally‐induced spin‐crossover phase transition at T_1/2=195 K which occurs selectively for a single Fe^II ion embedded in the center of a cluster core.     

Self‐Templating and In Situ Assembly of a Cubic Cluster‐of‐Clusters Architecture Based on a {Mo24Fe12} Inorganic Macrocycle

Engineering self‐templating inorganic architectures is critical for the development of bottom‐up approaches to nanoscience, but systems with a hierarchy of templates are elusive. Herein we describe that the cluster‐anion‐templated (CAT) assembly of a {CAT}?{Mo₂₄Fe₁₂} macrocycle forms a giant ca. 220 nm³ unit cell containing 16 macrocycles clustered into eight face‐shared tetrahedral cluster‐of‐clusters assemblies. We show that {CAT}?{Mo₂₄Fe₁₂} with different CATs gives the compounds 1 – 4 for CAT=Anderson {FeMo₆} ( 1 ), Keggin {PMo₁₂} ( 2 ), Dawson {P₂W₁₈} ( 3 ), and {Mo₁₂O₃₆(HPO₃)₂} ( 4 ) polyoxometalates. “Template‐free” assembly can be achieved, whereby the macrocycle components can also form a template in situ allowing template to macrocycle to superstructure formation and the ability to exchange the templates. Furthermore, the transformation of template clusters within the inorganic macrocycle {Mo₂₄Fe₁₂} allows the self‐generation of an uncapped {Mo₁₂O₃₆(HPO₃)₂} in compound 4 .     

One‐Pot Assembly of a New Mixed‐Valent Aggregate Based on Inorganic Polyoxometalate Ligands

Employing a “one‐pot” synthesis strategy, the reaction of Na₂WO₄·2H₂O, Na₂HAsO₄·7H₂O, FeCl₃·6H₂O, various Ln³⁺ ions, and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) in aqueous solutions with pH values ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 results in the isolation of polytungstoarsenate‐based iron aggregates, ‐K₈Na₁₄[HMTA]₄[(Fe^III₃Fe^II_0.25(OH)₃)(AsO₄)(AsW₉O₃₄)]₄·24H₂O ( 1 ) (HMTA = hexamethylenetetraamine). The polyoxoanion of 1 contains a mixed‐valent {Fe^III₁₂Fe^II(μ₃‐OH)₁₂(μ₄‐AsO₄)₄} cluster surrounded by four [B‐α‐AsW₉O₃₄]^9? units. It is the first polytungstatoarsenate‐based mixed‐valent {Fe^III₁₂Fe^II} aggregate and the largest iron cluster based on [AsW₉O₃₄]^9? ligands. The compound was characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV/Vis absorption, and diffuse‐reflectance UV/Vis spectroscopy, TG analyses, XRPD, XPS and gel‐filtration chromatography. The electrochemical and electrocatalytical properties were also investigated. Crystal data for 1 , orthorhombic, Fddd, a = 28.156(6) Å, b = 36.003(7) Å, c = 42.126(8) Å, α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90°, Z = 8.     

Electron Transfer in the Cs⊂{Mn4Fe4} Cubic Switch: A Soluble Molecular Model of the MnFe Prussian‐Blue Analogues

A mixed‐valence {Mn^II₃Mn^IIIFe^II₂Fe^III₂} cyanide‐bridged molecular cube hosting a caesium cation, Cs?{Mn₄Fe₄}, was synthesized and structurally characterized by X‐ray diffraction. Cyclic‐voltammetry measurements show that its electronic state can be switched between five different redox states, which results in a remarkable electrochromic effect. Magnetic measurements on fresh samples point to the occurrence of a spin‐state change near room temperature, which could be ascribed to a metal‐to‐metal electron transfer converting the {Fe^II?CN?Mn^III} pair into a {Fe^III?CN?Mn^II} pair. This feature was only previously observed in the polymeric MnFe Prussian‐blue analogues (PBAs). Moreover, this novel switchable molecule proved to be soluble and stable in organic solvents, paving the way for its integration into advanced materials.     

Chemical assembly of the heteronuclear pivalate complex with the Li<Superscript>I</Superscript> and Fe<Superscript>III</Superscript> ions

The heteronuclear complex [Fe₄Li₂(O)₂(Piv)10(H₂O)₂] (1, Piv is the pivalic acid anion) was obtained by refluxing Fe^III pivalates with Li^I pivalates in toluene and isolated as the 1?PhCH₃ solvate with a toluene molecule. According to X-ray diffraction data, complex 1 contains the {Fe₄Li₂O₂} core. The Mössbauer spectroscopy data indicate that the core comprises para magnetic Fe^III ions in the high-spin state located in the symmetric octahedral environment of oxygen atoms. Thermolysis of 1 studied by simultaneous thermal analysis demonstrated thermal stability of the complex up to 225 °С. The main end product of thermolysis at 600 °С is the mixed oxide LiFe₅O₈.     

FeIII in a low‐spin state in caesium bis[3‐ethoxysalicylaldehyde 4‐methylthiosemicarbazonato(2–)‐κ3O2,N1,S]ferrate(III) methanol monosolvate

The synthesis and crystal structure (at 100 K) of the title compound, Cs[Fe(C₁₁H₁₃N₃O₂S₂)₂]·CH₃OH, is reported. The asymmetric unit consists of an octahedral [Fe^III(L)₂]⁻ fragment, where L²⁻ is 3‐ethoxysalicylaldehyde 4‐methylthiosemicarbazonate(2−) {systematic name: [2‐(3‐ethoxy‐2‐oxidobenzylidene)hydrazin‐1‐ylidene](methylamino)methanethiolate}, a caesium cation and a methanol solvent molecule. Each L²⁻ ligand binds through the thiolate S, the imine N and the phenolate O atoms as donors, resulting in an Fe^IIIS₂N₂O₂ chromophore. The O,N,S‐coordinating ligands are orientated in two perpendicular planes, with the O and S atoms in cis positions and the N atoms in trans positions. The Fe^III cation is in the low‐spin state at 100 K.     

Unusual Magneto-Structural Features of the Halo-Substituted Materials [FeIII(5-X-salMeen)2]Y: a Cooperative [HS-HS]↔[HS-LS] Spin Transition

X-ray structures of the halo-substituted complexes [Fe^III(5-X-salMeen)₂]ClO₄ (X=F, Cl, Br, I) [salMeen=N-methyl-N-(2-aminoethyl)salicylaldiminate]at RT have revealed the presence of two discrete HS complex cations in the crystallographic asymmetric unit with two perchlorate counter ions linking them by N−H_amine⋅⋅⋅O_perchlorate interactions. At 90 K, the two complex cations are distinctly HS and LS, a rare crystallographic observation of this coexistence in the Fe^III-salRen (R=alkyl) spin-crossover (SCO) system. At both temperatures, crystal packing shows dimerization through C−H_imine⋅⋅⋅O_phenolate interactions, a key feature for SCO cooperativity. Moreover, there are noncovalent contacts between the complex cations through type-II halogen-halogen bonds, which are novel in this system. The magnetic profiles and Mössbauer spectra concur with the structural analyses and reveal 50 % SCO of the type [HS-HS]↔[HS-LS] with a broad plateau. In contrast, [Fe^III(5-Cl-salMeen)₂]BPh₄⋅2MeOH is LS and exhibits a temperature-dependent crystallographic phase transition, exemplifying the influence of lattice solvents and counter ions on SCO.     

Electrostatic bending and outer-sphere intervalence transfer in a flexible ligand-bridged ruthenium(III)-iron(II) complex

Abstract

In the mixed-valence complex [Ru^III(NH₃)₅(μ-dpypn)Fe^II(CN)₅] with the flexible bridging ligand 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane (dpypn), electrostatic interactions between the {Ru(NH₃)₅}³⁺ and {Fe(CN)₅}^3? moieties drive a strong bending of dpypn and approximation of the Ru^III and Fe^II centers, from which the enhanced electronic coupling between metal ions produces an intense intervalence-transfer absorption in the near-infrared region. Density functional theory calculations corroborate both the electrostatic bending in this heterobinuclear complex and a linear geometry in the homobinuclear counterparts [Ru(NH₃)₅(μ-dpypn)Ru(NH₃)₅]⁵⁺ and [Fe(CN)₅(μ-dpypn)Fe(CN)₅]^5?, for which no evidence of electronic coupling was found because of the separation between metal centers. Furthermore, the heterobinuclear species formed an inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin where the imposed linear geometry prevents significant electronic coupling and intervalence charge transfer between the Ru^III and Fe^II centers.     

Dinuclear vanadium and tetranuclear iron complexes obtained with the open Wells–Dawson [Si2W18O66] tungstosilicate

Reaction of two transition metal cations M (M = V^V, Fe^III) on the open Wells–Dawson anion α-[{K(H₂O)₂}Si₂W₁₈O₆₆]^15– leads to dinuclear and tetranuclear complexes, respectively. The molecular anions [{KV₂O₃(H₂O)₂}(Si₂W₁₈O₆₆)]^11– and [{Fe₄(OH)₆}(Si₂W₁₈O₆₆)]^10– have been structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The oxo/hydroxometallic clusters [KV₂O₃(H₂O)₂]⁵⁺ and [Fe₄(OH)₆]⁶⁺ are included in the pocket between the two subunits of [Si₂W₁₈O₆₆]^16–. The Fe^III atoms of the iron complex can be reduced to Fe^II by a single four-electron step. To cite this article: N. Leclerc-Laronze et al., C. R. Chimie 9 (2006).     

A {Nb6P2W12}‐Based Hexameric Manganese Cluster with Single‐Molecule Magnet Properties

By deliberately using a metastable polyanion [(NbO₂)₆P₂W₁₂O₅₆]^12? ( 1 ), which was formed in situ, we have discovered the unprecedented hexameric cluster {Mn₁₅(Nb₆P₂W₁₂O₆₂)₆} ( 2 ), in which the six polyanions [Nb₆P₂W₁₂O₆₁]^10? are alternately connected by four intriguing trinuclear {Mn^III₃} moieties and four {Mn^II} linkers. This discovery is the first in which the phosphoniobotungstate has been made accessible by using transition‐metal ions; furthermore, polyanion 2 represents the largest niobotungstate cluster reported to date. Analysis by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS ) provides insight into the self‐assembly process, and the peaks observed relate to the different charge states of the parent cluster, thus confirming the stability of 2 . In addition, magnetic‐susceptibility measurements reveal that each {Mn^III₃} subunit is a separate single‐molecule magnet (SMM). This discovery results from the exploration of the reverse effect of metastable polyanion 1 possessing high reactivity, thereby turning a disadvantage into an advantage. This finding could define a new synthetic strategy for the design and synthesis of magnetic polyoxometalate (POM) clusters.     

Synthesis,structure and magnetic properties of a decanuclear Fe(III)/oxo cluster

An iron (III) cluster, namely [Fe₁₀(μ₃–O)₈L₈(NO₃)₆] (1), has been synthesized by treatment of Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O with 3,5–dimethyl–1–(hydroxymethyl)–pyrazole (HL) under ambient temperature. The core skeleton of {Fe^III₁₀} can be regarded as a pear-like cage with eight triangular {Fe^III₃(μ₃–O)} units, in which each three Fe^III centers is held together by one μ₃–O²⁻ group with Fe^III centers as corner-sharing triangle units. Importantly, {Fe^III₁₀} cluster is not only stable in solid state but also in solution, which is confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), respectively. Furthermore, 1 shows antiferromagnetic exchange behavior arising from the interactions between the iron(III) centers.     

Metallat‐Ionen [Al(OR)4]— als Chelatliganden für Übergangsmetall‐Kationen

Metalat Ions [Al(OR)₄]^— as Chelating Ligands for Transition Metal Cations Waterfree CoCl₂ can be reacted with [{Li(Diglyme)}{Al(O^tBu)₄}] in THF to the complex [Li(THF)₄][{CoCl₂}{Al(O^tBu)₄}]. Addition of diglyme to the reaction mixtures gives the blue compound [Li(diglyme)₂][{CoCl₂}{Al(O^tBu)₄}] ( 1 ). According to this procedure the Fe^II complex [Li(Diglyme)₂][{FeCl₂}₂{Al(O^tBu)₄}] ( 2 ) was formed by treatment of FeCl₂ with Li[Al(O^tBu)₄]. [{Li(diglyme)}{Al(O^tBu)₄}] in THF/diglyme can be used as alkoxide transfer reagent on TiCl₄ to give the neutral complex [TiCl₂(O^tBu)₂(diglyme)] ( 3 ). The sky‐blue salt [Li(THF)₄]₂[{CoCl₂}₃{Al(OCH₂Ph)₄}₂] ( 4 ) was obtained by reaction of Li[Al(OCH₂Ph)₄] with CoCl₂ in THF. By treatment of 4 with diglyme ligand redistribution was observed giving the sky‐blue compound [Li(Diglyme)₂]₂[{CoCl₂}₃{Al(OCH₂Ph)₄}₂] ( 5 ) and the violet salt [Li(Diglyme)₂]₂[Co₂Cl₅(OCH₂Ph)] ( 6 ). A similar salt can be synthesized also directly from Li[Al(O^tBu)₄] and CoCl₂ in diglyme to give [Li(Diglyme)₂]₂[Co₂Cl₅(O^tBu)] ( 7 ). 1 — 7 were characterized by IR spectroscopy, partly by mass spectrometry and X‐ray analyses. UV‐VIS spectra were recorded from 1 and 5 . According to the X‐ray analyses the M^II ions as well as the Al^III ions are coordinated distorted tedrahedrally. In 1 , 2 , 4 und 5 the unit [Al(OR)₄]^— acts a chelating ligand as desired.