Characterization of the oxidation products of styryl-substituted terthiophenes and sexithiophenes using electronic absorption spectroscopy and time-dependent DFT

The electronic absorption spectra of a series of alkoxy-styryl substituted terthiophenes, their corresponding sexithiophenes, and the oxidation products of both have been measured. The terthiophenes studied sigma-dimerize to sexithiophenes during the oxidation process and there is clear evidence of sexithiophene radical cations, dications, and pi-dimers in the electronic absorption spectra. The oxidation of concentrated solutions produces predominantly pi-dimer bands, as expected. The absorption spectrum of the styryl-functionalized sexithiophene dication without alkoxy substitution closely resembles that of unsubstituted sexithiophene, while alkoxy substitution induces changes in the wavelength of the dication band maximum and the overall band shape. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations have shown that styryl-based molecular orbitals are important in the transitions of the neutral molecules as well as the charged species, the dication in particular. Kinetics analyses confirm the stabilization effect induced by the alkoxy substituents. The presence of a reversible pi-dimer equilibrium was verified by cyclic voltammetry. It is clear from the experimental observations and the theoretical calculations that both the styryl and alkoxy groups are influencing the electronic properties of this class of molecules.     

Alpha,omega-bis(quinquethienyl)alkanes as a pi-dimer model of polythiophene

[structure: see text] A series of the title dimeric quinquethiophenes linked with a di- to hexamethylene spacer was synthesized and examined as a pi-dimer model of polythiophene. Upon two-electron oxidation with iron(III) chloride in dichloromethane, they readily form intramolecular pi-dimer species, except for the dimethylene-linked dimer that cannot be bent into a pi-stacked structure.     

Do coupling exciton and oscillation of electron-hole pair exist in neutral and charged pi-dimeric quinquethiophenes?

Optical physical properties of neutral and charged quinquethiophene monomer, and neutral and cationic pi-dimeric quinquethiophenes were investigated with density functional theory as well as the two dimensional (2D) site (transition density matrix) and three dimensional (3D) cube (transition density and charge difference density) representations, stimulated by the recent experimental report [T. Sakai et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 8082 (2005)]. Transition density shows the orientation and strength of the transition dipole moment of neutral and charged quinquethiophene monomer, and charge difference density reveals the orientation and result of the charge transfer in neutral and charged quinquethiophene monomer. To study if coupling exciton and oscillation of electron-hole pair exist in neutral and cationic pi-dimeric quinquethiophenes, the coupling constants J (coupling exciton of electron-hole pair) and K (coupling oscillation of electron-hole pair) were introduced to the exciton coordinate and momentum operators, respectively, and the 2D and 3D analysis methods were further developed by extending our previous theoretical methods [M. T. Sun, J. Chem. Phys. 124, 054903 (2006)]. With the new developed 2D and 3D analysis methods, we investigated the excited state properties of neutral and cationic pi-dimeric quinquethiophenes, especially on the coupling exciton and oscillation of electron-hole pair between monomers. The 2D results show that there is neither coupling exciton (J=0) nor oscillation (K=0) of electron-hole pair in neutral pi-dimeric quinquethiophenes. For some excited states of cationic pi-dimeric quinquethiophenes, there is no coupling exciton (J=0), but there is coupling oscillation (K not equal0); while for some excited states, there are both coupling exciton and coupling oscillator simultaneously (J not equal0 and K not equal0). The strength of transition dipole moments of pi-dimeric quinquethiophenes were interpreted with 3D transition density, which reveals the orientations of their two subtransition dipole moments. The 3D charge transition density reveals the orientation and result of intermonomer and/or intramonomer charge transfer. The calculated results reveal that excited state properties of neutral pi-dimeric quinquethiophene are significantly different from those of the cationic pi-dimeric quinquethiophenes.     

Ruthenium complexes of easily accessible tridentate ligands based on the 2-aryl-4,6-bis(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine motif: absorption spectra, luminescence properties, and redox behavior

A family of tridendate ligands 1 a-e, based on the 2-aryl-4,6-di(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine motif, was prepared along with their hetero- and homoleptic Ru(II) complexes 2 a-e ([Ru(tpy)(1 a-e)](2+); tpy=2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) and 3 a-e ([(Ru(1 a-e)(2)](2+)), respectively. The ligands and their complexes were characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, ES-MS, and elemental analysis. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of 2 a and 2 e demonstrated that the triazine core is nearly coplanar with the non-coordinating ring, with dihedral angles of 1.2 and 18.6 degrees, respectively. The redox behavior and electronic absorption and luminescence properties (both at room temperature in liquid acetonitrile and at 77 K in butyronitrile rigid matrix) were investigated. Each species undergoes one oxidation process centered on the metal ion, and several (three for 2 a-e and four for 3 a-e) reduction processes centered on the ligand orbitals. All compounds exhibit intense absorption bands in the UV region, assigned to spin-allowed ligand-centered (LC) transitions, and moderately intense spin-allowed metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorption bands in the visible region. The compounds exhibit relatively intense emissions, originating from triplet MLCT levels, both at 77 K and at room temperature. The incorporation of triazine rings and the near planarity of the noncoordinating ring increase the luminescence lifetimes of the complexes by lowering the energy of the (3)MLCT state and creating a large energy gap to the dd state.     

Thermochromism of the disproportionation equilibrium of pi-dimer radical anion complexes bridged by scandium ions

Semiquinone radical anion (Q(*-)) forms a stable pi-dimer with neutral p-benzoquinone (Q), bridged by two or three scandium ions (Sc(3+)) to afford Q(*-)-nSc(3+)-Q (n= 2,3), which is in disproportionation equilibrium with Q and hydroquinone (QH(2)). The number of binding scandium ions changes depending on temperature, causing a remarkable color change associated with the change in the ESR spectra.     

Resonance Raman and semiempirical electronic structure studies of an odd-electron dinickel tetraiminoethylenedimacrocycle complex

Resonance Raman studies of Ni2TIED3+ (TIED = tetraiminoethylenedimacrocycle) reveal that many modes couple to the intense electronic transition centered at 725 nm, a feature that is nominally similar to the intense delocalized intervalence absorption bands observed in the same region for Fe2(TIED)L4(5+) and Ru2(TIED)L4(5+) (L is any of several axial ligands). Time-dependent spectral modeling of the Raman and absorption spectra for the nickel compound was undertaken to understand the electronic transition. We were unable to model the Raman and absorption spectra successfully with a single electronic transition, suggesting that the absorption band is made up of two overlapping transitions. Semiempirical electronic structure calculations corroborate the suggestion. Additionally, these calculations indicate that the transitions are in fact ligand-localized transitions, with little metal involvement and no charge-transfer character. Furthermore, the ground-state electronic structure is best described as an identical pair of NiII centers bridged by a radical anion rather than a three-site mixed-valence assembly. Previous EPR studies (McAuley and Xu, Inorg. Chem. 1992, 31, 5549) had indicated primarily ligand character for the radical. The assignments are consistent with the resonance Raman results where the dominant modes coupled to the transitions are assigned as totally symmetric bridge vibrations.     

Chemical, pulse radiolysis and density functional studies of a new, labile 5,6-indolequinone and its semiquinone

The chemical and spectroscopic characterization of 5,6-indolequinones and their semiquinones, key transient intermediates in the oxidative conversion of 5,6-dihydroxyindoles to eumelanin biopolymers, is a most challenging task. In the present paper, we report the characterization of a novel, relatively long-lived 5,6-indolequinone along with its semiquinone using an integrated chemical, pulse radiolytic, and computational approach. The quinone was obtained by oxidation of 5,6-dihydroxy-3-iodoindole (1a) with o-chloranil in cold ethyl acetate or aqueous buffer: it displayed electronic absorption bands around 400 and 600 nm, was reduced to 1a with Na2S2O4, and reacted with o-phenylenediamine to give small amounts of 3-iodo-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]phenazine (2). The semiquinone exhibited absorption maxima at 380 nm (sh) and 520 nm and was detected as the initial species produced by pulse radiolytic oxidation of 1a at pH 7.0. DFT investigations indicated the 6-phenoxyl radical and the N-protonated radical anion as the most stable tautomers for the neutral and anion forms of the semiquinone, respectively. Calculated absorption spectra in water gave bands at 350 (sh) and 500 nm for the neutral form and at 310 and 360 (sh) nm for the anion. Disproportionation of the semiquinone with fast second-order kinetics (2k = 1.1 x 1010 M-1 s-1) gave a chromophore with absorption bands resembling those of chemically generated 1a quinone. Computational analysis predicted 1a quinone to exist in vacuo as the quinone-methide tautomer, displaying low energy transitions at 380 and 710 nm, and in water as the o-quinone, with calculated absorption bands around 400 and 820 nm. A strong participation of a p orbital on the iodine atom in the 360-380 nm electronic transitions of the o-quinone and quinone-methide was highlighted. The satisfactory agreement between computational and experimental electronic absorption data would suggest partitioning of 1a quinone between the o-quinone and quinone-methide tautomers depending on the medium.     

Pi-dimer of an aniline dimer: an ESR-UV-vis spectroelectrochemical study

It is shown for the first time that the most important intermediate formed during aniline polymerization, the p-aminodiphenylamine, forms a pi-dimer under oxidation at room temperature in acidified organic solvents that are used in electropolymerization. N-Phenylquinonediimine, which is generally assumed to be formed under oxidation, is only formed in basic solutions and in ionic liquids. Most of the mechanistic studies reported so far take the formation of N-phenylquinonediimine under consideration, although it is not consistent with the UV-vis spectra measured during oxidation of p-aminodiphenylamine. The formation of a pi-dimer is very well consistent with the electronic spectra of the oxidation product. In this way the pi-dimer is very important for the interpretation of the UV-vis spectra of higher oligomers and polyaniline as well. Furthermore, it offers a new interpretation of the redox behavior of p-aminodiphenylamine as found by cyclic voltammetry and has to be considered in the mechanism of the electrochemical polyaniline formation.     

Spectroscopic studies of conducting polymers

Electronic and vibrational spectra of poly(p-phenylenevinylene) doped with donors or acceptors have been studied, together with the spectra obtained for the radical ions and divalent ions of its oligomers. The electronic absorption spectra of doped poly(p-phenylenevinylene) in the region from visible to near-infrared show two bands for the H₂SO₄-doped species and one very broad band for the Na-doped species. On the basis of the analyses of resonance Raman spectra, the two electronic absorption bands of the H₂SO₄-doped species are attributed to a polaron-lattice structure, whereas the broad band of the Na-doped species is attributed to overlapping absorptions associated with localized electronic levels of polarons and bipolarons. A Pauli spin susceptibility of the H₂SO₄-doped species is explained by the polaron-lattice structure.     

Star-shaped and linear nanosized molecules functionalized with hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene: synthesis and optical properties

[structure: see text] A synthetic strategy promising the establishment of a new star-shaped and linear polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) family with distinct molecular topologies has been developed. The Sonogashira reaction between the iodide derivatives 2a-e and phenylacetylene catalyzed with Pd(0) affords 3a-e in high yields. The Diels-Alder and decarbonylation reactions between 3a-e and tetraphenylcyclophentadiene following the oxidation by FeCl(3) produce the star-shaped and linear PAHs 5a-e containing a five-membered ring. The structural analysis and the optical properties of all new compounds are performed by a combination of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, UV-vis, and fluorescence spectrometry. The electronic and photophysical properties are studied by orthogonal comparisons of the absorption and fluorescence spectra in THF solutions, which not only give insight into the interactions among aromatic submoieties in each molecule and the effects of meta-conjugation and para-conjugation on electronic delocalization, but also indicate effective conjugation length variations from oligophenylacetylenes 3a-e to oligophenylene dendrimers 4a-e and PAHs 5a-e. The star-shaped 5c exhibits the highest aggregation in excited states compared with the other four hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) derivatives.     

Electronic absorption spectra of the protonated polyacetylenes H2CnH+ (n = 4, 6, 8) in neon matrixes

Electronic absorption spectra of the protonated polyacetylenic chains H2CnH+ (n = 4, 6, 8) and the neutral H2C8H have been observed in 6 K neon matrixes after mass selection. The wavelength of the H2CnH+ electronic transitions depends quasi-linearly on n, typical of carbon chains. The origin band is at 286.0, 378.6, and 467.6 nm for n = 4, 6, and 8, respectively. Two ground-state vibrations of H2C4H+ in the IR absorption spectrum were also detected. On the basis of the spectroscopic trends and the assignment of the vibrational frequencies in the ground and excited electronic states, it is concluded that the H2CnH+ species are C(2v) linear carbon chains with one H atom on one end and two on the other.     

Radical ion states of platinum acetylide oligomers

The ion radicals of two series of platinum acetylide oligomers have been subjected to study by electrochemical and pulse radiolysis/transient absorption methods. One series of oligomers, Ptn, has the general structure Ph-C[triple bond]C-[Pt(PBu3)2-C[triple bond]C-(1,4-Ph)-C[triple bond]C-]n-Pt(PBu3)2-C[triple bond]C-Ph (where x=0-4, Ph=phenyl and 1,4-Ph=1,4-phenylene). The second series of oligomers, Pt4Tn, contain a thiophene oligomer core, -C[triple bond]C-(2,5-Th)n-C[triple bond]C- (where n=1-3 and 2,5-Th=2,5-thienylene), capped on both ends with -Pt(PBu3)2-C[triple bond]C-(1,4-Ph)-C[triple bond]C-Pt(PBu3)2-C[triple bond]C-Ph segments. Electrochemical studies reveal that all of the oligomers feature reversible or quasi-reversible one-electron oxidation at potentials less than 1 V versus SCE. These oxidations are assigned to the formation of radical cations on the platinum acetylide chains. For the longer oligomers multiple, reversible one-electron waves are observed at potentials less than 1 V, indicating that multiple positive polarons can be produced on the oligomers. Pulse-radiolysis/transient absorption spectroscopy has been used to study the spectra and dynamics of the cation and anion radical states of the oligomers in dichloroethane and tetrahydrofuran solutions, respectively. All of the ion radicals exhibit two allowed absorption bands: one in the visible region and the second in the near-infrared region. The ion radical spectra shift with oligomer length, suggesting that the polarons are delocalized to some extent on the platinum acetylide chains. Analysis of the electrochemical and pulse radiolysis data combined with the density functional theory calculations on model ion radicals provides insight into the electronic structure of the positive and negative ion radical states of the oligomers. A key conclusion of the work is that the polaron states are concentrated on relatively short oligomer segments.     

Syntheses, structural characterizations, and optical and electrochemical properties of directly fused diporphyrins

Directly fused diporphyrins display the extensive pi conjugation as evinced by highly perturbed electronic absorption spectra as well as lowered and largely split first oxidation potentials. Such diporphyrins prepared include meso-beta doubly linked diporphyrins 7, meso-meso beta-beta beta-beta triply linked diporphyrins 8, and meso-meso beta-beta doubly linked diporphyrins 9. Oxidation of 5,15-diaryl-substituted and 5,10,15-triaryl-substituted Ni(II)-, Cu(II)-, and Pd(II)-porphyrins with tris(4-bromophenyl)aminium hexachloroantimonate (BAHA) in CHCl(3) afforded 7, and triply linked Cu(II)-diporphyrins 8a and 8g were respectively prepared by the oxidation of meso-meso singly linked Cu(II)-diporphyrins 5c and 5f with BAHA. Meso-meso beta-beta doubly linked Ni(II)-diporphyrin 9a was isolated along with triply linked Ni(II)-diporphyrin 8e from the similar oxidation of meso-meso singly linked Ni(II)-diporphyrin 5a. Doubly linked diporphyrins 7 and 9a both exhibit significantly perturbed electronic absorption spectra, in which the Soret-like bands are largely split at around 405-418 and 500-616 nm and the Q-bandlike absorption bands are substantially intensified and red-shifted at 748-820 nm, probably as a consequence of symmetry lowering. Triply linked diporphyrins 8 display more strongly perturbed electronic absorption spectra with split Soret-like bands at 408-419 and 567-582 nm and Q-bandlike absorption bands reaching far-infrared region. Structures of three types of fused diporphyrins 7b and 7c, 8g and 8j, and 9a have been unambiguously determined by X-ray crystallography to be nearly coplanar. Both the triply linked diporphyrins 8g and 8j exhibit very flat structures, whereas the doubly linked diporphyrins 7b and 7c exhibit ruffled structures. The doubly linked diporphyrin 9a shows a helically twisted conformation with larger ruffling toward the opposite directions and has been actually separated into two enantiomers, which display strong Cotton effects in the CD spectra. The first oxidation potentials (E(OX1)) decrease in the order of 5 > 7 > or = 9 > 8, indicating lift-up of HOMO orbital in this order, and split potential differences DeltaE = E(OX1) - E(OX2), in turn, increase in the reverse order of 5 < 7< or = 9 < 8. The (1)H NMR spectra have indicated that the aromatic porphyrin ring current becomes weakened in the order of 5 > 7 > 8. Collectively, the electronic interactions between the diporphyrins have been concluded to increase in the other of 5 < 7 < or = 9 < 8.     

Time-dependent density functional molecular orbital and excited state calculations on bis(porphyrinyl)butadiynes in the monocationic, neutral, monoanionic, and dianionic oxidation states

We report a theoretical study of the multiple oxidation states (1+, 0, 1-, and 2-) of a meso,meso-linked diporphyrin, namely bis[10,15,20-triphenylporphyrinatozinc(II)-5-yl]butadiyne (4), using Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT). The origin of electronic transitions of singlet excited states is discussed in comparison to experimental spectra for the corresponding oxidation states of the close analogue bis[10,15,20-tris[3',5'-di-tert-butylphenyl]porphyrinatozinc(II)-5-yl]butadiyne (3). The latter were measured in previous work under in situ spectroelectrochemical conditions. Excitation energies and orbital compositions of the excited states were obtained for these large delocalized aromatic radicals, which are unique examples of organic mixed-valence systems. The radical cations and anions of butadiyne-bridged diporphyrins such as 3 display characteristic electronic absorption bands in the near-IR region, which have been successfully predicted with use of these computational methods. The radicals are clearly of the "fully delocalized" or Class III type. The key spectral features of the neutral and dianionic states were also reproduced, although due to the large size of these molecules, quantitative agreement of energies with observations is not as good in the blue end of the visible region. The TDDFT calculations are largely in accord with a previous empirical model for the spectra, which was based simplistically on one-electron transitions among the eight key frontier orbitals of the C4 (1,4-butadiyne) linked diporphyrins.     

Stable pi-dimer of a tetrathiafulvalene cation radical encapsulated in the cavity of cucurbit[8]uril

The first stable pi-dimer of a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) cation radical encapsulated in the cavity of cucurbit[8]uril has been isolated at room temperature and fully characterized; it shows absorption bands at 400, 540 and 760 nm, characteristic of the TTF cation radical dimer.     

Polarons, bipolarons, and side-by-side polarons in reduction of oligofluorenes

The nature of charge carriers in conjugated polymers was elucidated through optical spectroscopy following single- and multielectron reduction of 2,7-(9,9-dihexylfluorene) oligomers, F(n), n = 1-10, yielding spectra with the two bands typical of polarons upon single reduction. For short oligomers addition of a second electron gave a single band demonstrating the classic polaron-bipolaron transition. However, for long oligomers double reductions yielded spectra with two bands, better described as two polarons, possibly residing side-by-side in the F(n) chains. The singly reduced anions do not appear to delocalize over the entire length of the longer conjugated systems; instead they are polarons occupying approximately four fluorene repeat units. The polarons of F(3) and F(4) display sharp absorption bands, but for longer oligomers the bands broaden, possibly due to fluctuations of the lengths of these unconfined polarons. DFT calculations with long-range-corrected functionals were fully consistent with the experiments describing polarons in anions, bipolarons in dianions of short oligomers, and side-by-side polarons in dianions of long oligomers, while results from standard functionals were not compatible with the experimental results. The computations found F(10)(2-), for example, to be an open-shell singlet ( ≈ 1), with electrons in two side-by-side orbitals, while dianions of shorter oligomers experienced a gradual transition to bipolarons with states of intermediate character at intermediate lengths. The energies and extinction coefficients of each anionic species were measured by ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared absorption spectroscopy with chemical reduction and pulse radiolysis. Reduction potentials determined from equilibria mirrored oxidation potentials reported by Chi and Wegner. Anions of oligomers four or more units in length contained vestigial neutral (VN) absorption bands that arise from neutral parts of the chain. Energies of the VN bands correspond to those of oligomers shorter by four units.     

杨梅酮的电化学和光谱性质研究

应用循环伏安和紫外光谱法研究杨梅酮氧化还原性质及其稳定性.结果表明:在B-R缓冲溶液中玻碳电极上,杨梅酮的氧化还原表现为两步氧化反应和两步还原反应.氧化反应对应于B环4-′OH和C环3-OH的氧化,还原反应对应于C环4位羰基还原为中间体自由基之后再进一步还原生成羟基.以上各步反应均为单电子单质子电极过程.杨梅酮的氧化还原反应与溶液pH关系密切,但其原因来自于去质子化作用,并导致它的抗氧化能力增强,但其最终氧化产物没有电化学活性,并吸附在电极表面,阻碍了电极过程电子传递.在pH 7.45~12.00范围内,杨梅酮也因去质子化作用导致紫外光谱Ⅰ带和Ⅱ带随pH增加,而发生红移,分解作用加剧.同时分解作用还与放置时间有关.     

Electron absorption spectra and voltabsorptograms of poly-3-octylthiophene films

Steady-state absorption spectra of poly-3-octylthiophene films in different oxidation states and differential cyclic voltabsorptograms of poly-3-octylthiophene films in 0.1 M LiClO₄ solutions in acetonitrile are studied. Electron spectra of films demonstrate the following three absorption bands: a complex band with a pronounced maximum at λ = 450 nm, which corresponds to π → π* electron transitions in the reduced fragments of poly-3-octylthiophene films and two absorption bands (at λ_max = 780 and λ_max > 1100 nm), which correspond to the oxidized film fragments. It is concluded that two chemically and optically distinguishable oxidation products are formed during the polymer oxidation.     

Electrochemical properties of dinuclear [Ru([n]aneS4)] complexes of 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine

The syntheses of three new dinuclear [Ru([n]aneS(4))] complexes, where n = 12, 14, 16, bridged by the ligand 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, (dpp) are reported. The absorption spectra of the complexes show changes in the energy of the MLCT bands within the series, indicating that the thiacrown ligands stabilise the Ru(II) oxidation state to different degrees. Electrochemical studies are also consistent with these observations, and reveal that the pi-acceptor properties of [n]aneS(4) ligands lead to metal based oxidation couples occurring at potentials that are more anodic than those observed in the analogous dinuclear [Ru(bpy)(2)](2+) complex. Despite the back-bonding properties of the thiacrown ligands leading to a reduction in ligand-bridge mediated metal-metal coupling, electrochemical interactions between the metals are still considerable.     

9,10-Anthracene dicarboxylate bridged complexes with M2 quadruply bonded dimetal units: [[M2(O2CtBu)3]2(mu-9,10-An(CO2)2)], where M = Mo or W

From the reactions between [M2(O2CtBu)4] and 9,10-anthracenedicarboxylic acid in toluene, the dicarboxylate bridged complexes [[M2(O2CtBu)3]2(mu-9,10An(CO2)2)], have been obtained as microcrystalline yellow (M = Mo) and red (M = W) powders. The powders are soluble in THF forming intense red (M = Mo) and green (M = W) solutions. The electronic absorption spectra in 2-MeTHF have been recorded as a function of temperature (2-298 K) and show a small bathochromic shift on cooling. The electronic structures have been investigated by molecular orbital calculations employing density functional theory on the model compounds [(HCO2)3M2]2(mu-9,10-An(CO2)2) where the M4 unit is constrained to lie in a plane. These reveal a minimum energy, gas-phase structure wherein the plane of the anthracene is twisted by ca. 54 degrees with respect to its 9,10-carboxylate units for both Mo and W. The results of these calculations are correlated with the electronic absorption spectral data and the electrochemical measurements (CV and DPV) of the first and second oxidation waves. The EPR spectra of the radical cations formed by single-electron oxidation with [Cp2Fe](+)[PF6]- in a THF-CH2Cl2 solvent mixture show that the complexes are valence trapped at ambient temperature on the EPR timescale. These results are discussed in the light of recent studies of dicarboxylate-linked MM quadruple bonds.