Recent Advance in the Development of Singlet−Fission−Capable Polymeric Materials

Singlet fission (SF) is a spin–allowed process in which a higher–energy singlet exciton is converted into two lower-energy triplet excitons via a triplet pair intermediate state. Implementing SF in photovoltaic devices holds the potential to exceed the Shockley–Queisser limit of conventional single-junction solar cells. Although great progress has been made in exploiting the underlying mechanism of SF over the past decades, the scope of materials capable of SF, particularly polymeric materials, remains poor. SF–capable polymer is one of the most potential candidates in the implementation of SF into devices due to their distinct superiorities in flexibility, solution processability and self-assembly behavior. Notably, recent advancements have demonstrated high-performance SF in isolated donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymer chains. This review provides an overview of recent progress in the development of SF-capable polymeric materials, with a significant focus on elucidating the mechanisms of SF in polymers and optimizing the design strategies for SF-capable polymers. Additionally, the paper discusses the challenges encountered in this field and presents future perspectives. It is expected that this comprehensive review will offer valuable insights into the design of novel SF-capable polymeric materials, further advancing the potential for SF implementation in photovoltaic devices.     

Topology of the electron density of multicenter bonding in the anion TCNE2 2−

For TCNE₂ ^2? the role of bond paths in the electron density is emphasized to show that the anion contains multicenter bonding interactions across 4 central carbon atoms conferring inherent stability to it, consistent with experimental, and theoretical studies of other authors.     

Elucidating the N−N and C−N Bond-breaking Mechanism in the Photoinduced Formation of Nitrile Imine

In this study, we revealed the significance of chemical bonding for the photochemically induced mechanism of 2-phenyl tetrazole derivatives generating nitrile imines. The correlated electron localization function shows that the formation of imine nitrile involves two key bond events: (i) the heterolytic C−N breakage taking place in the T₁ state and (ii) the homolytic N−N rupture occurring in the T₂ excited state. In particular, a cation-radical specie results from the C−N cleavage, whereas the N−N rupture creates a biradical resonant form of imine nitrile. Additionally, we noticed that the substantial pair delocalization of the C−C-N bonded structure could play a significant role in the conversion of the biradical imine nitrile into both the propargylic and allenic forms via the T₁→S₀ deactivation.     

Tunneling transfer of an electron in oxidation of the HS− ion by an I 3 − complex in aqueous solution

Methods of chemical kinetics have been used in a study of the mechanism of hydrogen sulfide oxidation by iodine. It has been shown that the stage of electron transfer from HS^– to the I ₃ ^/– complex proceeds through a tunneling mechanism. A proposed twinkling model of the reaction mechanism provides an explanation for the observed experimental facts: the dependence of the rate constant on the acidity, viscosity, and ionic strength of the solution; the inverse temperature dependence of the reaction rate constant; the dependence of the reaction rate constant on the concentrations of iodide ion and maleic acid, which are not involved directly in the reaction.B. P. Konstantinov Institute of Nuclear Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Gatchina 188350. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 522–536, March, 1992.     

Effect of EDTA on the diffusion behavior of 99TcO4 − and ReO4 − in GMZ bentonite

Polyaminopolycarboxylate EDTA with powerful metal-binding property, which often presents in low and intermediate-level waste, can enhance the radionuclide migration. The effect of EDTA on the diffusion behavior of ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^? and ReO₄ ^? in Gaomiaozi (GMZ) bentonite was investigated by using through-diffusion method. For ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^? in present of EDTA, the D _e values was (1.2 ± 0.1) × 10^?11 m²/s, which was 4 times higher than that in absent of EDTA. It can be explained that the complexation between ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^? and EDTA might be formed. By contrast, the D _e values of ReO₄ ^? remained unchanged in present or absent of EDTA, indicating that ReO₄ ^? could not complex with EDTA. However, the diffusion of ReO₄ ^? could be increased in present of EDTA, the D _a value was found to be increased from 1.8 × 10^?10 to 5.4 × 10^?10 m²/s. It demonstrated that ReO₄ ^? need more drastic conditions to form the Re(VII)–EDTA complexes than those used for ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^?. For both ReO₄ ^? and ⁹⁹TcO₄ ^?, the rock capacity factor α is less than the total porosity ε _tot, indicating that they has little retention/sorption on the surface of bentonite.     

Modes of coordination and stereochemistry of the NO3 − anions in inorganic nitrates

Stereochemical features of 950 nitrate groups in the structures of 365 inorganic nitrates were analyzed using TOPOS software. The types of coordination of nitrate groups are systematized by means of Voronoi-Dirichlet polyhedra and the method of intersecting spheres. Terminal coordination (53% of the total number of nitrate groups), most of all terminal bidentate coordination (47%) was found to prevail. Bridging nitrate groups occur less frequently (20%). A considerable number of nitrate groups are not incorporated in the coordination sphere of the complexing atom but form H-bonds or bonds of mainly ionic nature (27%). A number of metal cations show clear-cut tendency for a certain mode of coordination of the NO₃ group. Criteria for classification of nitrate groups into four types (slightly distorted groups and groups with monodentate, bidentate and asymmetric type distortion) are proposed. Structural features of nitrate groups depending on the mode of coordination are considered. The geometry of mono- or bidentate nitrate groups can differ appreciably from the typical one because of participation of terminal oxygen atoms in ionic or hydrogen bonds. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 429–440, March, 2008.     

The kinetics of chemical reactions in the products of dissociation of the CO2−H2 gas mixture in microwave discharge

The yields of hydrogen atoms, oxygen atoms and molecules, and hydroxyl radicals after a microwave discharge in the mixture of CO₂ and H₂ were measured by ESR spectroscopy in a flow-type system. A mathematical model of the kinetics of chemical reactions downstream the microwave discharge was devised. The concentrations of particles that cannot be detected under our experimental conditions were estimated. Experimental values of the concentration sensitivity for an RE-1306 ESR spectrometer are as follows: for a pressure of 1 Torr and optimized detection conditions, H^., 10¹¹ cm⁻³; O^., 3·10¹⁰ cm⁻³; OH^., 10¹⁰ cm⁻³; O₂, 3·10¹³ cm⁻³ (Ref. 7); for a pressure of 2 Torr, H^., 5·10¹² cm⁻³; O^., 2·10¹² cm⁻³; OH^., 2.5·10¹¹ cm⁻³; O₂, 7.5·10¹⁴ cm^{−3 8} Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 665–669, April, 2000.     

Strengthening of the C−F Bond in Fumaryl Fluoride with Superacids

The reaction of fumaryl fluoride with the superacidic solutions XF/MF₅ (X=H, D; M=As, Sb) results in the formation of the monoprotonated and diprotonated species, dependent on the stoichiometric ratio of the Lewis acid to fumaryl fluoride. The salts [C₄H₃F₂O₂]⁺[MF₆]⁻ (M=As, Sb) and [C₄H₂X₂F₂O₂]²⁺([MF₆]⁻)₂ (X=H, D; M=As, Sb) are the first examples with a protonated acyl fluoride moiety. They were characterized by low-temperature vibrational spectroscopy. Low-temperature NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray structure analyses were carried out for [C₄H₃F₂O₂]⁺[SbF₆]⁻ as well as for [C₄H₄F₂O₂]²⁺([MF₆]⁻)₂ (M=As, Sb). The experimental results are discussed together with quantum chemical calculations of the cations [C₄H₄F₂O₂ ⋅ 2 HF]²⁺ and [C₄H₃F₂O₂ ⋅ HF]⁺ at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. In addition, electrostatic potential (ESP) maps combined with natural population analysis (NPA) charges were calculated in order to investigate the electron distribution and the charge-related properties of the diprotonated species. The C−F bond lengths in the protonated dication are considerably reduced on account of the +R effect.     

Ab initio simulation of the photoelectron spectra of HCO− and DCO−

Large scale, vibrational CI calculations using a global ab initio potential energy surface are used to calculate multidimensional Franck-Condon overlaps from the ground vibrational state of HCO⁻ and DCO⁻ to all final bound and several quasibound vibrational states of HCO and DCO. The resulting Franck-Condon spectra are compared with recent experimental photoelectron spectra of HCO⁻ and DCO⁻.     

Temperature dependence of the substrate selectivity in the hydroxylation of alkylbenzenes in the H2O2−H2SO4 system

The substrate selectivity in the hydroxylation of methylbenzenes in the H₂O₂−H₂SO₄ (70 wt.%) system was studied at 15–55 °C. The activation entropy correlates with the basicity of the arenes, while the substrate selectivity and activation enthalpy correspond both with the basicity and ionization potentials of ArH. We concluded that the structure of the reaction transition state is intermediate between a charge transfer complex and σ-complex. L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical Organic and Coal Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 70 R. Lyuksemburg ul., Donetsk 340114, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 39–43, January–February, 1999.     

Progress in the non-equilibrium vibrational kinetics of hydrogen in magnetic multicusp H− ion sources

The non-equilibrium vibrational kinetics of H₂ in multicusp magnetic discharges has been studied by improving a previous model developed by our groups. In particular, a complete set of V-T (vibrational translation) rates involving H-H₂(v) collisions, calculated by using a three-dimensional dynamics approach, has been inserted into our self-consistent model for better representing the corresponding relaxation. Different experimental situations are simulated with special emphasis on the temporal scales necessary for the different distributions (electron energy and vibrational distributions) to reach stationary values. Finally, a comparison between theoretical and experimental quantities such as vibrational temperature, electron temperature, electron number density and concentration of negative ions (H⁻) shows a satisfactory agreement, thus indicating the basic correctness of our model.     

Kinetics, substrate selectivity and mechanisms of the first step in the oxidation of alkylbenzenes in the HVO3−H2SO4 system

The kinetics, kinetic isotope effects, and substrate selectivity were studied for the oxidation of alkylbenzenes in the HVO₃−H₂SO₄ system at 30°C. The reaction proceeds by an electrophilic substitution mechanism through a slow step involving formation of a charge transfer complex between the arene and VO ₂ ⁺ cation and is similar to nitration by the NO ₂ ⁺ cation. L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical Organic and Coal Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 70 R. Lyuksemburg ul., Donetsk 340114, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 35, No. 6, pp. 349–353, November–December, 1999.     

Recent developments in the asymmetric organocatalytic Morita−Baylis−Hillman reaction

The goal of this review is to collect the recent developments in asymmetric organocatalytic (aza)-Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions reported since the beginning of 2013. It also includes the asymmetric organocatalysed transformations of racemic (aza)-Morita?Baylis?Hillman adducts, illustrating that they constitute synthetically important synthons in organic chemistry. It is divided into four sections, dealing successively with organocatalytic enantioselective Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions, organocatalytic enantioselective aza-Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions, asymmetric (aza)-Morita?Baylis?Hillman reactions of chiral substrates and asymmetric organocatalysed applications of Morita?Baylis?Hillman adducts.     

Secondary environment effects on the first step of the protonation of SO 4 2− in saline aqueous solutions

The solubility of strontium sulfate in the mixtures of isomolar LiClO₄(NaClO₄) and HClO₄ aqueous solutions was determined at 25°C and ionic strengths of I = 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0. At I>-2, the solubility of SrSO₄ as a function of the hydrogen ion (HClO₄) concentration passes through a maximum, clearly showing a substantial contribution from environment effects (H⁺ substitution for Li⁺ or Na⁺), which counteract complexation (i.e., HSO ₄ ^? formation). A correct method for separating these two effects was proposed, and the parameters of the environment effect and the standard values of pSP° and logβ° were evaluated.     

Investigations of the LaGa1−xNixO3−δ (x < 0.50) system in the scope of SOFC's: synthesis and physical characterizations

The preparation and densification (95 %) of ceramics of the new solid solution LaGa_1−xNixO_3−δ have been carried out for x ≤ 0.50. The chemical analysis of the materials shows that both the oxygen nonstoichiometry amount (δ) and the electron carrier concentration increase with the substitution of nickel for gallium. Whereas LaGaO₃ is an insulator, the Ni-doped phases are semi-conducting and behave as a metal for the highest nickel contents. The dilatometric features versus temperature show these materials to be mechanically compatible with the electrolyte La_0.90Sr_0.10Ga_0.80Mg_0.20O_2.85. In addition their chemical composition does not change at high temperature. All these characteristics make these materials good candidates as cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells.     

Transport properties of electrodialysis membranes in the presence of Zn2+ complexes with Cl−

The aim of this paper is to investigate the properties of anion exchange electrodialysis membranes in contact with aqueous solutions containing zinc chloride complexes. Measurements of electric resistance, water content, quantity of sorbed electrolytes, self-diffusion and electrotransport ionic fluxes were performed as a function of the composition of the external solutions. The results were analysed in relation to the complex formation inside the solutions.     

Unexpected Vulnerability of DPEphos to C−O Activation in the Presence of Nucleophilic Metal Hydrides

C−O bond activation of DPEphos occurs upon mild heating in the presence of [Ru(NHC)₂(PPh₃)₂H₂] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) to form phosphinophenolate products. When NHC=IEt₂Me₂, C−O activation is accompanied by C−N activation of an NHC ligand to yield a coordinated N-phosphino-functionalised carbene. DFT calculations define a nucleophilic mechanism in which a hydride ligand attacks the aryl carbon of the DPEphos C−O bond. This is promoted by the strongly donating NHC ligands which render a trans dihydride intermediate featuring highly nucleophilic hydride ligands accessible. C−O bond activation also occurs upon heating cis-[Ru(DPEphos)₂H₂]. DFT calculations suggest this reaction is promoted by the steric encumbrance associated with two bulky DPEphos ligands. Our observations that facile degradation of the DPEphos ligand via C−O bond activation is possible under relatively mild reaction conditions has potential ramifications for the use of this ligand in high-temperature catalysis.