Synthesis and characterization of mixed-valent manganese phosphonate cage complexes

The reaction of phenylphosphonic acid (PhPO(3)H(2)) with the mixed-valent basic oxo-centered manganese triangle [Mn(3)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(py)(3)] (1; where py=pyridine) in the presence of a suitable base gives four different manganese clusters depending on the identity of the base. The syntheses and structural characterization of [Mn(18)(mu(3)-O)(8)(PhPO(3))(14)(O(2)CCMe(3))(12)(py)(6)(H(2)O)(2)] (2), [Mn(7)(mu(3)-O)(3)(O(3)PPh)(3)(O(2)CCMe(3))(8)(py)(3)] (3), [Mn(9)Na(mu(3)-O)(4)(mu(4)-O)(2)(O(3)PPh)(2)(O(2)CCMe(3))(12)(H(2)O)(2)(H(2)O)(0.67)(Py)(0.33)] (4), and [Mn(13)(mu(3)-O)(8)(OMe)(8)(O(3)PPh)(4)(O(2)CCMe(3))(10)] (5) are described. Complexes 4 and 5 are homovalent Mn(III) cages, while 2 and 3 contain divalent, trivalent, and/or tetravalent ions. All the manganese centers are valence-localized, the octahedral Mn(III) sites being recognizable by marked Jahn-Teller distortions. The magnetic properties of compounds 2-5 have been investigated in the polycrystalline state by magnetic susceptibility and high-field magnetization measurements, which reveal that spin ground states vary from 0< or =S > or =8. AC susceptibility measurements performed on 4 and 5, in the 1.6-10.0 K ranges show the presence of out of AC susceptibility signal (chi(M)') for 4, and an effective energy barrier (U(eff)) for the re-orientation of the magnetization is found to be 17 K, but for 5, the chi(M)' maximum is found to be below 1.5 K.     

Synthesis, structure, and dynamics of six-membered metallacoronands and metallodendrimers of iron and indium

In the reaction of the N-substituted diethanolamines (H(2)L(1-3)) (1-3) with calcium hydride followed by addition of iron(III) or indium(III) chloride, the iron wheels [Fe(6)Cl(6)(L(1))(6)] (4) and [Fe(6)Cl(6)(L(2))(6)] (6) or indium wheels [In(6)Cl(6)(L(1))(6)] (5), [In(6)Cl(6)(L(2))(6)] (8) and [In(6)Cl(6)(L(3))(6)] (9) were formed in excellent yields. Exchange of the chloride ions of 6 by thiocyanate ions afforded [Fe(6)(SCN)(6)(L(2))(6)] (7). Whereas the structures of 4, 5 and 7 were determined unequivocally by single-crystal X-ray analyses, complexes 8 and 9 were characterised by NMR spectroscopy. Contrary to what is normally presumed, the scaffolds of six-membered metallic wheels are not generally rigid, but rather undergo nondissociative topomerisation processes. This was shown by variable temperature (VT) (1)H NMR spectroscopy for the indium wheel [In(6)Cl(6)(L(1))(6)] (5) and is highlighted for the enantiotopomerisation of one indium centre [ 1/6[S(6)-5]<==>[1/6[S(6)-5']]. The self-assembly of metallic wheels, starting from diethanolamine dendrons, is an efficient strategy for the convergent synthesis of metallodendrimers.     

Capacitance Effects Superimposed on Redox Processes in Molecular‐Cluster Batteries: A Synergic Route to High‐Capacity Energy Storage

Rechargeable molecular‐cluster batteries (MCBs) based on the manganese cluster complex [Mn₁₂O₁₂(CH₃CH₂C(CH₃)₂COO)₁₆(H₂O)₄] ([Mn12]) that exhibited a capacity of approximately 200 A h kg^?1 in the battery voltage range of 4.0 to 2.0 V were developed. In these batteries, the capacity of approximately 100 A h kg^?1 in the range of 4.0–3.0 V is caused by a chemical reduction from [Mn12]⁰ to [Mn12]^8?, whereas the other half in the range of 3.0–2.0 V cannot be explained by a redox change of the Mn ions. We performed the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and ⁷Li solid‐state NMR measurements on the Mn12‐MCBs to investigate the origin of the capacity below 3.0 V. Pseudo‐rectangular‐shaped CV curves in the range of 3.0–2.0 V demonstrate the presence of an electrical double‐layer (EDL) capacitance in Mn12‐MCBs, which corresponds to approximately 100 A h kg^?1. ⁷Li NMR studies suggest that Li ions form an EDL with electrons in carbon black electrodes in the capacitance voltage range. The capacitance effects are not formed by the single‐carbon electrodes alone, but appear only in the mixture of Mn12 and the carbon black electrodes. This type of coexistence of capacitance effects and redox reaction in one electrochemical cell is quite unusual and can serve as a new working principle for high‐performance energy‐storage devices.     

Structural and magnetic investigations of the mixed-valence Fe(II,III) two-dimensional layer complex, [Fe2(II) Fe2(III)(HCOO)10(C6H7N)6]n.

The structure of the complex, [Fe2(II)Fe2(III)(HCOO)10(C6H7N6)n, (1) exhibits a neutral two-dimensional layer network of alternating iron(II) and iron(III) ions, bridged equatorially by formate groups. All iron atoms are octahedrally coordinated, with iron(III) coordinating axially to one gamma-picoline and one formate group, while the iron(II) centers interact axially with two gamma-picoline groups, above and below the layer plane. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 at all studied temperatures [at 120 K, the cell dimensions are: a = 10.228(1), b = 12.071(1), c = 12.072(1) A, alpha = 89.801(2), beta = 71.149(2), gamma = 73.371(2) degrees]. An intralayer antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of J = -2.8 cm(-1) between iron(II) and iron(III) was observed in the magnetic studies. Decreasing the temperature to close to 20 K causes a magnetic-ordering phenomenon to occur and a low-temperature phase with a long-range antiferromagnetic spin orientation appears. The magnetic phase transition was confirmed by M?ssbauer spectroscopic studies at temperatures above and below the critical temperature. Structural information of 1 from synchrotron X-ray diffraction data collected at room temperature and 16 K suggests that the antiferromagnetic ordering is caused by an enhanced pi-pi interaction between chi-picoline groups from adjacent layers.     

A light-induced phase exhibiting slow magnetic relaxation in a cyanide-bridged [Fe4Co2] complex

Single-molecule magnets: A cyanide-bridged hexanuclear complex showed a thermal electron-transfer-coupled spin transition centered at 220?K. Light irradiation at low temperature (LT; HT = high temperature) generated a metastable state showing slow magnetic relaxation in measurements of the alternating-current magnetic susceptibility (χ(m); see picture).     

Heterometallic Mixed‐Valence Copper(I,II) Cyanides that were Tuned by Using the Chelate Effect: Discovery of Famous Cairo Pentagonal Tiling and Unprecedented (3,4)‐Connected {83}2{86} Topological 3D Net

By using environmentally friendly [Ni(CN)₄]^2? as a cyanide source, three new heterometallic cyano‐bridged mixed‐valence Cu^I/Cu^II coordination polymers with three different electronic configurations (d⁸–d¹⁰), that is, [Cu₂Ni(CN)₅(H₂O)₃] ( 1 ), [Cu₂Ni(CN)₅(pn)H₂O] ( 2 ), and [Cu₃Ni(CN)₆(pn)₂] ( 3 , pn=1,2‐propane diamine) have been synthesized by gradually increasing the amount of pn. Compound 1 , which was hydrothermally synthesized in the absence of pn ligand, exhibits the famous 2D Cairo pentagonal tiling, in which the Cu^I, Cu^II, and Ni^II atoms act as trigonal, T‐shaped, and square‐planar nodes, respectively. Notably, there are three water molecules located at the meridianal positions of the octahedrally coordinated Cu^II atom in compound 1 . A similar reaction, except for the addition of a small amount of pn, generated a similar Cairo pentagonal tiling layer in which two of the water molecules that were located at the meridianal positions of the octahedrally coordinated Cu^II atom were replaced by a chelating pn group. Another similar hydrothermal reaction, with the addition of a larger amount of pn, yielded compound 3 , which showed a related two‐fold‐interpenetrated (3,4)‐connected 3D framework with an unprecedented {8³}₂{8⁶} topology in which the Cu^II atom was chelated by two pn groups. These structural changes between compounds 1 , 2 , 3 can be explained by the chelating effect of the pn group. The replacement of two meridianally coordinated water molecules on the octahedral Cu^II atom in compound 1 by a pn group gives compound 2 , which shows similar Cairo tiling, and a further increase in the amount of pn results in the formation of the [Cu(NC)₂(pn)₂] unit and the two‐fold‐interpenetrated 3D framework of compound 3 . The mixed‐valence properties of compounds 1 , 2 , and 3 were confirmed by variable‐temperature magnetic‐susceptibility measurements.     

Facile access to redox-active C2-bridged complexes with half-sandwich manganese end groups

The dinuclear mixed-valent complex [(MeC5H4)(dmpe)MnC(2)Mn(dmpe)(C5H4Me)](+)[(eta2-MeC5H4)3Mn](-)[1](+)[2]- (dmpe=1,2-bis(dimethylphosphanyl)ethane) was prepared by the reaction of [Mn(MeC5H4)2] with dmpe and Me(3)SnC[triple chemical bond]CSnMe3. The reactions of [1](+)[2]- with K[PF6] and Na[BPh4] yielded the corresponding anion metathesis products [(MeC5H4)(dmpe)MnC2Mn(dmpe)(C5H4Me)][PF6] ([1][PF6]) and [(MeC5H4)(dmpe)MnC2Mn(dmpe)(C5H4Me)][BPh4] ([1][BPh4]). These mixed-valent species can be reduced to the neutral form by reaction with Na/Hg. The obtained complex [(MeC5H4)(dmpe)MnC2Mn(dmpe)(C5H4Me)] (1) displays a triplet/singlet spin equilibrium in solution and in the solid state, which was additionally studied by DFT calculations. The diamagnetic dicationic species [(MeC5H4)(dmpe)MnC2Mn(dmpe)(C5H4Me)][PF6]2 ([1][PF6]2) was obtained by oxidizing the mixed-valent complex [1][PF6] with one equivalent of [Fe(C5H5)2][PF6]. Both redox processes are fully reversible. The dinuclear compounds were characterized by NMR, IR, UV-visible, and Raman spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. X-ray diffraction studies were performed on [1][2], [1][PF6], [1][BPh4], and [1][PF6]2.     

Lability‐Controlled Syntheses of Heterometallic Clusters

A bulky bidentate ligand was used to stabilize a macrocyclic [Fe^III₈Co^II₆] cluster. Tuning the basicity of the ligand by derivatization with one or two methoxy groups led to the isolation of a homologous [Fe^III₈Co^II₆] species and a [Fe^III₆Fe^II₂Co^III₂Co^II₂] complex, respectively. Lowering the reaction temperatures allowed isolation of [Fe^III₆Fe^II₂Co^III₂Co^II₂] clusters with all three ligands. Temperature‐dependent absorption data and corresponding experiments with iron/nickel systems indicated that the iron/cobalt self‐assembly process was directed by the occurrence of solution‐state electron‐transfer‐coupled spin transition (ETCST) and its influence on reaction intermediate lability.     

In‐situ XAFS Studies of Mn12 Molecular‐Cluster Batteries: Super‐Reduced Mn12 Clusters in Solid‐State Electrochemistry

In situ X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses were performed on rechargeable molecular cluster batteries (MCBs), which were formed by a lithium anode and cathode‐active material, [Mn₁₂O₁₂(CH₃CH₂C(CH₃)₂COO)₁₆(H₂O)₄] with tert‐pentyl carboxylate ligand (abbreviated as Mn12tPe), and with eight Mn³⁺ and four Mn⁴⁺ centers. This mixed valence cluster compound is used in an effort to develop a reusable in situ battery cell that is suitable for such long‐term performance tests. The Mn12tPe MCBs exhibit a large capacity of approximately 210 Ah kg⁻¹ in the voltage range V=4.0–2.0 V. The X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectra exhibit a systematic change during the charging/discharging with an isosbestic point at 6555 eV, which strongly suggests that only either the Mn³⁺ or Mn⁴⁺ ions in the Mn12 skeleton are involved in this battery reaction. The averaged manganese valence, determined from the absorption‐edge energy, decreased monotonically from 3.3 to 2.5 in the first half of the discharging (4.0>V>2.8 V), but changed little in the second half (2.8>V>2.0 V). The former valence change indicates a reduction of the initial [Mn12]⁰ state by approximately ten electrons, which corresponds well with the half value of the observed capacity. Therefore, the large capacity of the Mn12 MCBs can be understood as being due to a combination of the redox change of the manganese ions and presumably a capacitance effect. The extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) indicates a gradual increase of the Mn²⁺ sites in the first half of the discharging, which is consistent with the XANES spectra. It can be concluded that the Mn12tPe MCBs would include a solid‐state electrochemical reaction, mainly between the neutral state [Mn12]⁰ and the super‐reduced state [Mn12]⁸⁻ that is obtained by a local reduction of the eight Mn³⁺ ions in Mn12 toward Mn²⁺ ions.     

A wheel-shaped single-molecule magnet of [MnII 3MnIII 4]: quantum tunneling of magnetization under static and pulse magnetic fields

The reaction of N-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)iminodiethanol (=H3(5-NO2-hbide)) with Mn(OAc)2* 4 H2O in methanol, followed by recrystallization from 1,2-dichloroethane, yielded a wheel-shaped single-molecule magnet (SMM) of [MnII 3MnIII 4(5-NO2-hbide)6].5 C2H4Cl2 (1). In 1, seven manganese ions are linked by six tri-anionic ligands and form the wheel in which the two manganese ions on the rim and the one in the center are MnII and the other four manganese ions are MnIII ions. Powder magnetic susceptibility measurements showed a gradual increase with chimT values as the temperature was lowered, reaching a maximum value of 53.9 emu mol(-1) K. Analyses of magnetic susceptibility data suggested a spin ground state of S=19/2. The zero-field splitting parameters of D and B 0 4 were estimated to be -0.283(1) K and -1.64(1)x10(-5) K, respectively, by high-field EPR measurements (HF-EPR). The anisotropic parameters agreed with those estimated from magnetization and inelastic neutron scattering experiments. AC magnetic susceptibility measurements showed frequency-dependent in- and out-of-phase signals, characteristic data for an SMM, and an Arrhenius plot of the relaxation time gave a re-orientation energy barrier (DeltaE) of 18.1 K and a pre-exponential factor of 1.63x10(-7) s. Magnetization experiments on aligned single crystals below 0.7 K showed a stepped hysteresis loop, confirming the occurrence of quantum tunneling of the on magnetization (QTM). QTM was, on the other hand, suppressed by rapid sweeps of the magnetic field even at 0.5 K. The sweep-rate dependence of the spin flips can be understood by considering the Landau-Zener-Stückelberg (LZS) model.     

Metal-metal electronic coupling in syn and anti stereoisomers of mixed-valent (FeCp)2-, (RhL2)2-, and (FeCp)(RhL2)-as-indacenediide ions

The extent of metal-metal electronic coupling was quantified for a series of syn and anti stereoisomers of (FeCp)(2)-, (RhL(2))(2)- and (FeCp)(RhL(2))- (L(2)=1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod), L=CO) as-indacenediide mixed-valent ions by spectroelectrochemical and DFT studies. The effect of the syn/anti orientation of the metal units with respect to the planar aromatic ligand indicates that electron transfer occurs through the bridge rather than through space. The nature of the metal was found to be crucial: while homobimetallic diiron species are localised valence-trapped ions (Class II), the dirhodium analogues are almost delocalised mixed-valent ions (borderline and Class III). Finally, despite their redox asymmetry, even in the heterobimetallic iron-rhodium as-indacenediide complexes, strong metal-metal coupling is present. In fact, oxidation of the iron centre is accompanied by electron transfer from rhodium to iron and formation of a reactive 17-electron rhodium site. syn and anti Fe-Rh as-indacenediide complexes are rare examples of heterobimetallic systems which can be classified as borderline Class II/Class III species.     

Naphthalene and Anthracene Complexes Sandwiched by Two {(Cp*)FeI} Fragments: Strong Electronic Coupling between the FeI Centers

The reactions of the half‐sandwich iron(II) complex [FeCl(Cp*)(tmeda)] ( 1 ; Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅, TMEDA=N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine) with potassium naphthalenide or potassium anthracenide gave the diamagnetic complexes [(Cp*)Fe(μ‐polyarene)Fe(Cp*)] (polyarene=naphthalene ( 2 ), anthracene ( 3a )), which have two {(Cp*)Fe} units bound to opposite faces of the polyarene. One of two {(Cp*)Fe} units in 3a is located over the central ring of anthracene while the other is positioned over an outer ring. The {(Cp*)Fe} unit bound to the central ring of 3a migrates to the outer ring upon heating in the solid state to give the isomer 3b . The electrochemical potential separations between successive one‐electron redox events for complexes 2 and 3b are large. The mixed valence complexes [ [2]+ ]⁺ and [ [3b]+ ]⁺ were synthesized by chemical oxidation. The mixed‐valence complex [ [3b]+ ]⁺ is charge delocalized on the Mössbauer timescale at 78 K, and its absorption spectrum shows an intervalence charge‐transfer band. Complex [ [2]+ ]⁺ exhibits two absorption bands in the near‐IR region and a slightly broadened doublet in the Mössbauer spectrum. DFT calculations were carried out to examine the electronic structures of these dinuclear iron(I) complexes to elucidate the factors responsible for their diamagnetism and to determine the degree of charge delocalization in the mixed‐valence complexes.     

Homo- and heterometallic [2x2] grid arrays containing RuII, OsII, and FeII subunits and their mononuclear RuII and OsII precursors: synthesis, absorption spectra, redox behavior, and luminescence properties

The absorption spectra, redox behavior, and luminescence properties (both at 77 K in rigid matrices and at room temperature in fluid solution) of a series of [2x2] molecular grids have been investigated. The latter were prepared either by means of sequential self-assembly, or by a stepwise protection/deprotection procedure, and are based on a ditopic hexadentate ligand 1 in which two terpyridine-like binding sites are fused together in a linear arrangement. The molecular grids studied include the homometallic species [[Fe(1)](4)](8+) (Fe(2)Fe(2)), and the heterometallic species [[Ru(1)](2)[Fe(1)](2)](8+) (Ru(2)Fe(2)) and [[Os(1)](2)[Fe(1)](2)](8+) (Os(2)Fe(2)). For comparison purposes, the properties of the mononuclear complexes [Ru(1)(2)](2+) (1-Ru) and [Os(1)(2)](2+) (1-Os) have been studied. All these compounds exhibit very intense absorption bands in the UV region (epsilon in the 10(5)-10(6) M(-1) cm(-1) range, attributed to spin-allowed ligand-centered (LC) transitions), as well as intense metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions (epsilon in the 10(4)-10(5) M(-1) cm(-1) range) that extend to the entire visible region. The mononuclear species 1-Ru and 1-Os exhibit relatively intense luminescence, both in acetonitrile at room temperature (tau=59 and 18 ns, respectively) and in butyronitrile rigid matrices at 77 K. In contrast, the tetranuclear molecular grids do not exhibit any luminescence, either at room temperature or at 77 K. This is attributed to fast intercomponent energy transfer from the Ru- or Os-based subunits to the low-lying metal-centered (MC) levels involving the Fe(II) centers, which leads to fast radiationless decay. The redox behavior of the compounds is characterized by several metal-centered oxidation and ligand-centered reduction processes, most of them reversible in nature (as many as twelve for Fe(2)Fe(2)). Detailed assignment of each redox process has been made, and it is apparent that these systems can be viewed as multilevel molecular electronic species capable of reversibly exchanging a number of electrons at accessible and predetermined potentials. Furthermore, it is shown that the electronic interaction between specific subunits depends on their location in the structure and on the oxidation states of the other components.