Electrochemical and chemical formation of [Mn4(IV)O5(terpy)4(H2O)2]6+, in relation with the photosystem II oxygen-evolving center model [Mn2(III,IV)O2(terpy)2(H2O)2]3+

To examine the real ability of the binuclear di-mu-oxo complex [Mn2(III,IV)O2(terpy)2(H2O)2]3+ (2) to act as a catalyst for water oxidation, we have investigated in detail its redox properties and that of its mononuclear precursor complex [Mn(II)(terpy)2]2+ (1) in aqueous solution. It appears that electrochemical oxidation of 1 allows the quantitative formation of 2 and, most importantly, that electrochemical oxidation of 2 quantitatively yields the stable tetranuclear Mn(IV) complex, [Mn4(IV)O5(terpy)4(H2O)2]6+ (4), having a linear mono-mu-oxo{Mn2(mu-oxo)2}2 core. Therefore, these results show that the electrochemical oxidation of 2 in aqueous solution is only a one-electron process leading to 4 via the formation of a mono-mu-oxo bridge between two oxidized [Mn2(IV,IV)O2(terpy)2(H2O)2]4+ species. 4 is also quantitatively formed by dissolution of the binuclear complex [Mn2(IV,IV)O2(terpy)2(SO4)2] (3) in aqueous solutions. Evidence of this work is that 4 is stable in aqueous solutions, and even if it is a good synthetic analogue of the "dimers-of-dimers" model compound of the OEC in PSII, this complex is not able to oxidize water. As a consequence, since 4 results from an one-electron oxidation of 2, 2 cannot act as an efficient homogeneous electrocatalyst for water oxidation. This work demonstrates that a simple oxidation of 2 cannot produce molecular oxygen without the help of an oxygen donor.     

Structural and physical characterization of tetranuclear [Mn(II)3Mn(IV)] and [Mn(II)2Mn(III)2] valence-isomer manganese complexes

Two tetranuclear Mn complexes with an average Mn oxidation state of +2.5 have been prepared. These valence isomers have been characterized by a combination of X-ray crystallography, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility. The Mn(II)3Mn(IV) tetramer has the Mn ions arranged in a distorted tetrahedron, with an S = 6 ground spin state, dominated by ferromagnetic exchange among the manganese ions. The Mn(II)2Mn(III)2 tetramer also has a distorted tetrahedral arrangement of Mn ions but shows magnetic behavior, suggesting that it is a single-molecule magnet. The X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra for the two complexes are similar, suggesting that, while Mn XANES has sufficient sensitivity to distinguish between trinuclear valence isomers (Alexiou et al. Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 2185), similar distinctions are difficult for tetranuclear complexes such as that found in the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex.     

A novel aggregate of [Mn2(mu-O)2] units: [Mn8O10(O2CMe)6(H2O)2(bpy)6]4+ with a serpentine core

The synthesis, characterization and initial reactivity studies are reported of the mixed-valence (Mn(IV)6Mn(III)2) title compound, which possesses an unusual serpentine-like core and is the highest average oxidation state (+3.75) Mn(x) (x > 4) cluster to date.     

Structure and properties of new mixed-valent [Mn(III)2Mn(IV)3Ln(III)5O5] complexes (Ln(III) = Tm(III), Lu(III), and Yb(III))

By using 2'-hydroxyacetophenoxime, a new family of complexes with an [Mn(III)(2)Mn(IV)(3)Ln(5)O(5)] core was obtained with Ln = Tm (1), Lu (2), and Yb (3). Heterometallic Mn/Tm and Mn/Lu combinations have had no precedence so far. Studies of the magnetic properties indicate the presence of intracomplex antiferromagnetic interactions in 1 and 3, as well as a dominating ferromagnetic interaction between Mn(III) and Mn(IV) spins in 2, leading to an S(T) = 5/2 ground state.     

A family of calix[4]arene-supported [Mn(III)2Mn(II)2] clusters

In the cone conformation calix[4]arenes possess lower-rim polyphenolic pockets that are ideal for the complexation of various transition-metal centres. Reaction of these molecules with manganese salts in the presence of an appropriate base (and in some cases co-ligand) results in the formation of a family of calixarene-supported [Mn(III)(2)Mn(II)(2)] clusters that behave as single-molecule magnets (SMMs). Variation in the alkyl groups present at the upper-rim of the cone allows for the expression of a degree of control over the self-assembly of these SMM building blocks, whilst retaining the general magnetic properties. The presence of various different ligands around the periphery of the magnetic core has some effect over the extended self-assembly of these SMMs.     

Density functional theory study of ruthenium (II)-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes with tricarbonyl compounds

Density functional theory has been employed to study the mechanism of the [2+2+2] ruthenium(II)-catalyzed cycloaddition between 1,6-diynes and tricarbonyl compounds, proposing a viable multistep-pathway according with that was previously suggested, but clarifying some aspects. This process is compared with the one-step reaction in absence of catalyst.     

Density functional theory study of geometrical structures and electronic properties of silica nanowires

Silica nanowires are expected to possess structural diversity like bulk silica. We modeled three silica nanowires based on the side-shared two-membered rings, spiro-united two-membered rings, and three-membered rings, respectively. By performing density functional theory calculations, we studied their geometrical structures and electronic properties with and without the presence of external electric field. It is found that the stability of silica nanowires increases with length and diameter. As indicated by calculated large HOMO-LUMO gaps, silica nanowires are expected to be good insulating materials. The energy gaps, however, gradually decrease with applied electronic field and finally close, resulting in the breakdown of the insulating nanowires. Moreover, it is shown that the breakdown threshold remarkably increases with the nanowire diameter. These significant findings from the present calculations for the simplest silica nanowires will provide relevant insight into the structures and properties of much more complicated real silica nanowires.     

Supramolecular approach to crystallization of polynuclear chromium(III) aqua hydroxo complexes: synthesis and crystal structures of complexes [Cr2(OH)2(H2O)8]4+ and [Cr4(OH)6(H2O)12]6+ with cucurbit[n]uril (n = 7, 8)

Supramolecular compounds of the compositions {[Cr₂(OH)₂(H₂O)₈](C₄₂H₄₂N₂₈O₁₄)₂}-(NO₃)₄·18.75H₂O (1) and {[Cr₄(OH)₆(H₂O)₁₂](C₄₈H₄₈N₃₂O₁₆)₃(NO₃)₆·55H₂O (2) were synthesized from aqueous solutions of chromium(III) nitrate and the macrocyclic cavitand cucurbit[n]uril (C_6n H_6n N_4n O_2n , where n = 7 or 8, respectively). According to the X-ray diffraction study, the polynuclear chromium aqua complexes are disposed in cavities formed by the cucurbit[n]uril molecules and are linked to these molecules through hydrogen bonds between the hydroxo and aqua ligands of the polycations and the portal oxygen atoms of the macrocycles. Compound 1 is the first example of supramolecular compounds of cucurbit[7]uril with metal aqua complexes. The isolation of the supramolecular adduct with cucurbit[8]uril 2 in the single-crystalline state allows the determination of the structure of the tetranuclear chromium aqua complex having an adamantane-like structure, [Cr₄(μ₂-OH)₆(H₂O)₁₂]⁶⁺, which has been previously unknown in the solid state.     

Octanuclearity and tetradecanuclearity in manganese chemistry: an octanuclear manganese(II)/(III) complex featuring the novel [Mn8(mu4-O)2(mu3-OH)2]14+ core and [Mn10(II)Mn4(III)O4(O2CMe)20[(2-py)2C(OH)O]4] (2-py = 2-pyridyl)

Reactions of Mn sources with di-2-pyridyl ketone, (2-py)2CO, and phenyl 2-pyridyl ketone oxime, (ph)(2-py)CNOH, give the novel clusters [Mn10(II)Mn4(III)O4(O2CMe)20[(2-py)2C(OH)O]4] 1 and [Mn4(II)Mn4(III)O2(OH)2(O2CPh)10[(ph)(2-py)CNO]4] 2, respectively, which possess low-spin ground states; the observed tetradecanuclearity in 1 is extremely rare in 3d-metal chemistry, while the core of 2 has a unique topology consisting of two linked [Mn2(II)Mn2(III)O(OH)] units.     

Hydrolysis of [Pt(dien)H2O]2+ and [Pd(dien)H2O]2+ complexes in water

The hydrolysis of the [Pt(dien)H₂O]²⁺ and [Pd(dien)H₂O]²⁺ complexes has been investigated by potentiometry at 298 K, in 0.1 mol dm^–3 aqueous NaClO₄. Least-squares treatment of the data obtained indicates the formation of mononuclear and -hydroxo-bridged dinuclear complexes with stability constants: log ₁₁ = –6.94 for [Pt(dien)OH]⁺, log ₁₁ = –7.16 for [Pd(dien)OH]⁺, and also log ₂₂ = –9.37 for [Pt₂(dien)₂(OH)₂]²⁺ and log ₂₂ = –10.56 for [Pd₂(dien)₂(OH)₂]²⁺. At pH values > 5.5, formation of the dimer becomes significant for the Pt^II complex, and at pH > 6.5 for the Pd^II complex. These results have been analyzed in relation to the antitumor activity of Pt^II complexes.