Outer sphere perturbation of delocalized mixed-valence complexes

The complexes [[Ru(ttp)(bpy)](2)(micro-adpc)][PF(6)](2) and [[Ru(ttp)(bpy)](2)(micro-dicyd)][PF(6)](2), where ttp is 4-toluene-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, adpc(2)(-) is azodi(phenylcyanamide), and dicyd(2)(-) is 1,4-dicyanamidebenzene, were prepared and characterized by IR and NIR, vis spectroelectrochemistry, and cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structure of the complex, [[Ru(ttp)(bpy)](2)(micro-adpc)][PF(6)](2).6DMF, revealed a planar bridging adpc(2)(-) ligand with the cyanamide groups adopting an anti configuration. IR and comproportionation data are consistent with delocalized mixed-valence complexes, and a spectroscopic analysis assuming C(2)(h) microsymmetry leads to a prediction of multiple MMCT transitions with the lowest energy transition equal to the resonance exchange integral for the mixing of ruthenium donor and acceptor orbitals with a bridging ligand orbital (the preferred superexchange pathway). The solvent dependence of the MMCT band energy that is seen for [[Ru(ttp)(bpy)](2)(micro-adpc)](3+) is due to a ground state weakening of metal-metal coupling because of solvent donor interactions with the acceptor azo group of the bridging ligand.     

Magnetic perturbation of the redox potentials of localized and delocalized mixed-valence complexes

The potential differences (ΔE) between the two one-electron events observed for symmetrical mixed-valence (MV) complexes is generally used as a measurement of the thermodynamic stability of the MV state and often extended to the evaluation of the strength of the coupling between the redox centers through the bridge. In this review article, selected examples illustrate how the ΔE values to assess the degree of electronic communication between metals must be approached very judiciously. The role of the magnetic exchange which can take place between the unpaired spins carried by the redox sites in the doubly oxidized complexes is emphasized.     

Excited mixed-valence states of symmetrical donor-acceptor-donor pi systems

We investigated the spectroscopic properties of a series of four bistriarylamine donor-pi-bridge-donor D-pi-D compounds (dimers), composed of two asymmetric triarylamine chromophores (monomers). UV/vis, fluorescence, and transient absorption spectra were recorded and compared with those of the corresponding D-pi monomers. Bilinear Lippert-Mataga plots indicate a major molecular reorganization of the excited state in polar media for all compounds. The excited states of the dimers are described as mixed-valence states that show, depending on the chemical nature of the pi bridge, a varying amount of interactions (couplings). We found that superradiant emission, that is, an enhancement of the fluorescence rate in the dimer, is observed only in the case of weak and medium coupling. Whether the first excited-state potential energy surface of the dimers is described by single minimum or a double minimum potential depends on the solvent polarity and the electronic coupling. In the latter case, the dimer relaxes in a symmetry broken CT state with partial positive charge at the triarylamine donor and negative charge at the pi bridge. The [2.2]paracyclophane bridged dimer is an example of a weakly coupled system because the spectroscopic behavior is very similar to the corresponding p-xylene monomer. In contrast, anthracene as well as p-xylene bridges mediate a stronger coupling and reveal a significant cooperative influence on the optical properties.     

Practical estimation of XPS binding energies using widely available quantum chemistry software

Chemical shifts observed in high‐resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra are normally used to determine the chemical state of the elements of interest. Often, these shifts are small, or an element is present in several oxidation states in the same sample, so that interpretation of the spectra is difficult without good reference data on binding energies of the likely constituents. In many cases, reference spectra taken from pure reference samples of the chemical components can aid the peak fitting procedure. However, reference materials are not always available, so that it becomes necessary to estimate the binding energies of likely components through quantum chemical calculations. In principle, such calculations have become much easier than in the past, due to the availability of powerful personal computers and excellent software. In practice, though, care needs to be taken in the approximations, assumptions, and settings used in applying such software to calculate binding energies. In this work, we present a general summary of the methods for the calculation of the core electron binding energies and compare the use of 2 of these methods using the popular “GAUSSIAN” software package. Furthermore, a series of results for molecules, containing elements of the second and the third row of the periodic table, are presented and compared with experimental results, in order to establish the quality and fitness‐for‐purpose of the quantum chemical‐based predictions.     

XPS C 1s binding energies for fluorocarbon–hydrocarbon microblock copolymers

Fluorocarbon–hydrocarbon microblock copolymers –(CF₂)_n–(CH₂)_m– (n = 4, 6, 8; m = 6, 8, 10) were synthesized. Binding energies of the C 1s and F 1s peaks of these copolymers were measured using x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The binding energy of the C 1s peaks of the carbon atoms of the hydrocarbon segments was set at 285.0 eV as the binding energy reference. Unexpectedly, the binding energy of the C 1s peak corresponding to the CF₂ group of the microblock copolymers was determined to be ～291.4 eV, which is ～0.8 eV lower than that of the CF₂ group of tetrafluoroethylene. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electron delocalization in mixed-valence butadienediyl-bridged diruthenium complexes

We report electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical investigations on the butadienediyl-bridged diruthenium complexes [{Ru(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl}₂(μ-C₄H₄)] (1), [{Ru(PEt₃)₃(CO)Cl}₂(μ-C₄H₄)] (2), and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl(NC₅H₄COOEt-4)}₂(μ-C₄H₄)] (3). All these complexes are oxidized in two consecutive one-electron steps separated by 315 to 680 mV, depending on the co-ligands. The first oxidation is a chemically and electrochemically reversible process whereas the second varies from nearly reversible to irreversible at room temperature. We have generated and investigated the mixed-valence monocations and observed CO band shifts of ca 25 cm⁻¹ and the appearance of new bands in the visible regime at ca 720 to 800 and 430 to 450 nm. The lower-energy band which tails into the near infrared has been assigned as a charge-resonance (or intervalence charge-transfer) absorption and used to estimate the electronic coupling parameter H _AB. Our investigations point to valence delocalization for 2 ⁺ , and nearly delocalized behavior for 1 ⁺ and 3 ⁺ . Even the complex with the smallest potential splitting is, however, fully delocalized on the longer ESR timescale, as is evident from the coupling pattern of the solution spectrum. Overall IR band shifts on full oxidation and the hyperfine splittings for 1 ⁺ argue for charge and spin delocalization onto the bridging C₄H₄ ligand. This issue has also been addressed by quantum chemical calculations employing DFT methods. Geometry optimizations at each oxidation level reveal inversion of the C–C bond pattern from a short–long–short to a long–short–long alteration and a bis(carbenic) structure at the dication stage. All spectroscopic features such as IR band shifts, average g-values and g-tensor anisotropies are fully reproduced by the calculations. Presented at the 3rd Chianti Electrochemistry Meeting, July 3.–9.2004, Certosa di Pontignano, Italy     

Optical transitions of symmetrical mixed-valence systems in the Class II-III transition regime

In the Robin and Day classification, mixed-valence systems are characterized as Class I, II or III depending on the strength of the electronic interaction between the oxidized and reduced sites, ranging from essentially zero (Class I), to moderate (Class II), to very strong electronic coupling (Class III). The properties of Class I systems are essentially those of the separate sites. Class II systems possess new optical and electronic properties in addition to those of the separate sites. However, the interaction between the sites is sufficiently weak that Class II systems are valence trapped or charge localized and can the be described by a double-well potential. In Class III systems the interaction of the donor and acceptor sites is so great that two separate minima are no longer discernible and the energy surface features a single minimum. The electron is delocalized and the system has its own unique properties. The Robin and Day classification has enjoyed considerable success and most of the redox systems studied to date are readily assigned to Class II. However the situation becomes much more complicated when the system shows borderline Class II/III behavior. Such "almost delocalized" mixed-valence systems are difficult to characterize. In this article spectral band shapes and intensities are calculated utilizing increasingly complex models including two to four states. Free-energy surfaces are constructed for harmonic diabetic surfaces and characterized as a function of increasing electronic coupling to simulate the Class II to III transition. The properties of the charge-transfer absorption bands predicted for borderline mixed-valence systems are compared with experimental data. The treatment is restricted to symmetrical (delta G0 = 0) systems.     

Heterocycles. XIII. Nls orbital binding energies of some quinazolines and pyrimidines by XPS

The X-ray photoelectron spectra of some quinazolin-2(1H)-ones IIa,b , show only one relatively symmetrical line in the N1s binding-energy region, where as the corresponding dehydrogenated products IIIa,b and the pyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones Va,b revealed two well-resolved spectral lines with an energy difference of more than 1 eV. However, compounds IIc and IIIc gave only one broad unsymmetrical line. Quantum mechanical calculations on compounds IIa and IIIa as well as analogues IIc and IIIc supported the experimental findings.     

Amino acid-based ionic liquids: using XPS to probe the electronic environment via binding energies

Here we report the synthesis and characterisation by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of eight high purity amino acid-based ionic liquids (AAILs), each containing the 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium, [C(8)C(1)Im](+), as a standard reference cation. All expected elements were observed and the electronic environments of these elements identified. A fitting model for the carbon 1s region of the AAILs is reported; the C aliphatic component of the cation was used as an internal reference to obtain a series of accurate and reproducible binding energies. Comparisons are made between XP spectra of the eight AAILs and selected non-functionalised ionic liquids. 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate was also studied as a model of the carboxyl containing amino acid anion. The influence of anionic substituent groups on the measured binding energies of all elements is presented, and communication between anion and cation is investigated. This data is interpreted in terms of hard and soft anions and compared to the Kamlet-Taft hydrogen bond acceptor ability, β, for the ionic liquids. A linear correlation is presented which suggests that the functional side chain, or R group, of the amino acid has little impact upon the electronic environment of the charge-bearing moieties within the anions and cations studied.     

Possible artifacts occurring in the calculation of intermolecular energies from delocalized pictures

The intermolecular energy between two identical subsystems may be calculated from symmetrydelocalized MO's resulting for instance from a preliminary SCF calculation of the supersystem. Then each second-order energy correction mixes intramolecular correlation,R ^–6 intermolecular dispersion energy, andR ^–3 components. TheR ^–3 components disappear through subtle cancellations. The shifted Epstein-Nesbet energy denominators introduce an artificial second-order intermolecularR ^–1 component, which would be cancelled by off-diagonal third-order terms, as well as a bad asymptotic limit at infinite distances. TheR ^–1 artifact will also occur in strong symmetrical chemical bonds calculated in the Epstein-Nesbet perturbation scheme from delocalized MO's. These defects will occur in all variational approximate CI techniques which neglect off-diagonal elements between delocalized doubly excited determinants. These artifacts are avoided when using the Moller-Plesset definition of the zeroth order Hamiltonian or when starting from (SCF)localized MO's (even in the Epstein-Nesbet perturbation). The discussion is exemplified on an accurateab initio calculation of the Ar₂ molecule.     

Relative energies of binding for antibody-carbohydrate-antigen complexes computed from free-energy simulations

Free-energy perturbation (FEP) simulations have been applied to a series of analogues of the natural trisaccharide epitope of Salmonella serotype B bound to a fragment of the monoclonal anti-Salmonella antibody Se155-4. This system was selected in order to assess the ability of free-energy perturbation (FEP) simulations to predict carbohydrate-protein interaction energies. The ultimate goal is to use FEP simulations to aid in the design of synthetic high affinity ligands for carbohydrate-binding proteins. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed in the explicit presence of water molecules, at room temperature. The AMBER force field, with the GLYCAM parameter set for oligosaccharides, was employed. In contrast to many modeling protocols, FEP simulations are capable of including the effects of entropy, arising from differential ligand flexibilities and solvation properties. The experimental binding affinities are all close in value, resulting in small relative free energies of binding. Many of the DeltaDeltaG values are on the order of 0-1 kcal mol(-1), making their accurate calculation particularly challenging. The simulations were shown to reasonably reproduce the known geometries of the ligands and the ligand-protein complexes. A model for the conformational behavior of the unbound antigen is proposed that is consistent with the reported NMR data. The best agreement with experiment was obtained when histidine 97H was treated as fully protonated, for which the relative binding energies were predicted to well within 1 kcal mol(-1). To our knowledge this is the first report of FEP simulations applied to an oligosaccharide-protein complex.     

Length dependence of excitation energies in linear polyenes: Localized and delocalized descriptions

The length dependence of the lowest allowed transition energy of linear polyenes is studied using delocalized SCF and localized excitonic approaches. Within the PPP SCF approximations the calculated transition energies converge to a finite values as N^?1 as the number of double bonds (N) becomes large, when the excited state contains all singly excited configurations. On the other hand, the fully localized excitonic method at the level of single excitations, although it predicts a gap in the excitation spectrum of an infinite polyene, gives results which converge to this value as N^?2. The inclusion of double and triple excitations into the excitonic method by means of perturbation theory does not appear to change this behavior. The reasons for the discrepancy between the two approaches is analyzed. Experimentally, the transition energies in solution converge to a finite value as N^?1 to a good degree of approximation. If it is assumed that the solvent shift is constant for long polyenes, the available experimental results favour the delocalized approach as the starting point in describing the length dependence of the excitation energy of long polyenes.     

Hydrogenation of two-electron mixed-valence iridium alkyl complexes

Two-electron mixed-valence complexes of the general formula (tfepma)(3)Ir(2)(0,II)RBr [tfepma = bis(bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphino)methylamine, MeN[P(OCH(2)CF(3))(2)](2), and R = CH(3) (2), CH(2)C(CH(3))(3) (3)] have been synthesized and structurally characterized and their reactivity with H(2) investigated. Hydrogenation of 2 and 3 proceeds in a cascade reaction to produce alkane upon initial H(2) addition, followed by the formation of the Ir(2)(I,III) binuclear trihydride-bromide complex (tfepma)(3)Ir(2)(I,III)H(3)Br (4) upon the incorporation of a second molecule of H(2). Hydrogenation of two-electron mixed-valence di-iridium alkyl complexes is examined with nonlocal density-functional calculations. H(2) attacks the Ir(II) metal center prior to alkyl protonation to produce an eta(2)-H(2) complex. Transition states link all intermediates to a complex that has the same regiochemistry as the crystallographically determined final product. Calculated atomic charges suggest that the second H(2) molecule is homolytically cleaved within the di-iridium coordination sphere and that a hydrogen atom migrates across the intact Ir-Ir metal bond. These results are consistent with the emerging trend that two-electron mixed-valence cores manage the two-electron chemistry of substrates with facility when hydrogen is the atom that migrates between metal centers.     

Probing the effects of heterogeneity on delocalized pi...pi interaction energies

Dimers composed of benzene (Bz), 1,3,5-triazine (Tz), cyanogen (Cy) and diacetylene (Di) are used to examine the effects of heterogeneity at the molecular level and at the cluster level on pi...pi stacking energies. The MP2 complete basis set (CBS) limits for the interaction energies (E(int)) of these model systems were determined with extrapolation techniques designed for correlation consistent basis sets. CCSD(T) calculations were used to correct for higher-order correlation effects (deltaE(CCSD)(T)(MP2)) which were as large as +2.81 kcal mol(-1). The introduction of nitrogen atoms into the parallel-slipped dimers of the aforementioned molecules causes significant changes to E(int). The CCSD(T)/CBS E(int) for Di-Cy is -2.47 kcal mol(-1) which is substantially larger than either Cy-Cy (-1.69 kcal mol(-1)) or Di-Di (-1.42 kcal mol(-1)). Similarly, the heteroaromatic Bz-Tz dimer has an E(int) of -3.75 kcal mol(-1) which is much larger than either Tz-Tz (-3.03 kcal mol(-1)) or Bz-Bz (-2.78 kcal mol(-1)). Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory calculations reveal a correlation between the electrostatic component of E(int) and the large increase in the interaction energy for the mixed dimers. However, all components (exchange, induction, dispersion) must be considered to rationalize the observed trend. Another significant conclusion of this work is that basis-set superposition error has a negligible impact on the popular deltaE(CCSD)(T)(MP2) correction, which indicates that counterpoise corrections are not necessary when computing higher-order correlation effects on E(int). Spin-component-scaled MP2 (SCS-MP2 and SCSN-MP2) calculations with a correlation-consistent triple-zeta basis set reproduce the trends in the interaction energies despite overestimating the CCSD(T)/CBS E(int) of Bz-Tz by 20-30%.     

A bottom-up valence bond derivation of excitation energies in 1D-like delocalized systems

Using the chemically relevant parameters hopping integral t(0) and on-site repulsion energy U, the charge gap (lowest dipolarly allowed transition energy) in 1D systems is examined through a bottom-up strategy. The method is based on the locally ionized states, the energies of which are corrected using short-range delocalization effects. In a valence bond framework, these states interact to produce an excitonic matrix which accounts for the delocalized character of excited states. The treatment, which gives access to the correlated spectrum of ionization potentials, is entirely analytical and valid whatever the U/|t(0)| ratio for such systems ruled by Peierls-Hubbard Hamiltonians. This second-order analytical derivation is finally confronted to numerical results of a renormalized excitonic treatment using larger blocks as functions of the U/|t(0)| ratio. The method is applied to dimerized chains and to fused polybenzenic 1D lattices. Such approaches complement the traditional Bloch-function based picture and deliver a conceptual understanding of the charge gap opening process based on a chemical intuitive picture.     

A mixed-valence compound with one unpaired electron delocalized over four molybdenum atoms in a cyclic tetranuclear ion

The first oxidation of a species derived from a compound having two linked, quadruply-bonded Mo2 units has been performed and [[cis-Mo2(DAniF)2]2(mu-Cl)4]PF6, 2, has been isolated and characterized in many ways; it has one unpaired electron and a fully delocalized structure where the Mo-Mo distances increase from 2.1191(4) A in the reduced species to 2.1453(3) A in 2 and the Kc of 1.3 x 10(9) is three orders of magnitude larger than that of the Creutz-Taube ion.     

One-electron oxidation of electronically diverse manganese(III) and nickel(II) salen complexes: transition from localized to delocalized mixed-valence ligand radicals

Ligand radicals from salen complexes are unique mixed-valence compounds in which a phenoxyl radical is electronically linked to a remote phenolate via a neighboring redox-active metal ion, providing an opportunity to study electron transfer from a phenolate to a phenoxyl radical mediated by a redox-active metal ion as a bridge. We herein synthesize one-electron-oxidized products from electronically diverse manganese(III) salen complexes in which the locus of oxidation is shown to be ligand-centered, not metal-centered, affording manganese(III)-phenoxyl radical species. The key point in the present study is an unambiguous assignment of intervalence charge transfer bands by using nonsymmetrical salen complexes, which enables us to obtain otherwise inaccessible insight into the mixed-valence property. A d(4) high-spin manganese(III) ion forms a Robin-Day class II mixed-valence system, in which electron transfer is occurring between the localized phenoxyl radical and the phenolate. This is in clear contrast to a d(8) low-spin nickel(II) ion with the same salen ligand, which induces a delocalized radical (Robin-Day class III) over the two phenolate rings, as previously reported by others. The present findings point to a fascinating possibility that electron transfer could be drastically modulated by exchanging the metal ion that bridges the two redox centers.     

Synthesis and characterization of completely delocalized mixed-valent dicopper complexes

The multidentate ligands tris[(N'-tert-butylureayl)-N-ethyl)]amine (H(6)1) and 1-(tert-butylaminocarbonyl)-2,2-dimethylaminoethane (H(2)2) have been used to investigate the assembly and properties of complexes with Cu(1.5)Cu(1.5) units. The complexes [Cu(H(5)1)](2)(+) and [Cu(H2)](2)(+) have been isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction methods. [Cu(H(5)1)](2)(+) has a Cu(1.5)Cu(1.5) core, with each copper ion having square planar coordination geometry. The copper ions are linked through two mono-deprotonated urea ligands, which coordinate as mu-1,3-(kappaN:kappaO) ureate bridges to produce a Cu-Cu distance of 2.39 A. The remaining two urea arms of [H(5)1](-) form intramolecular hydrogen bonds, the result of which is to confine the Cu(1.5)Cu(1.5) unit within a pseudomacrocycle. The structure of [Cu(H2)](2)(+) lacks intramolecular hydrogen bonds and thus does not have a pseudomacrocyclic structure. However, the structural properties of the Cu(1.5)Cu(1.5) core in [Cu(H2)](2)(+) are nearly identical to those of [Cu(H(5)1)](2)(+). Both complexes exhibit rhombic EPR spectra at 77 K, which do not change upon cooling to 4 K. The optical spectra of [Cu(H(5)1)](2)(+) and [Cu(H2)](2)(+) are dominated by an intense band at approximately 700 nm. These spectral characteristics are consistent with [Cu(H(5)1)](2)(+) and [Cu(H2)](2)(+) being classified as fully delocalized (type III) mixed-valent species.     

Charging of ionic liquid surfaces under X-ray irradiation: the measurement of absolute binding energies by XPS

Ionic liquid surfaces can become electrically charged during X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments, due to the flux of photoelectrons leaving the surface. This causes a shift in the measured binding energies of X-ray photoelectron peaks that depends on the magnitude of the surface charging. Consequently, a charge correction method is required for ionic liquids. Here we demonstrate the nature and extent of surface charging in ionic liquids and model it using chronopotentiometry. We report the X-ray photoelectron spectra for a range of imidazolium based ionic liquids and investigate the use of long alkyl chains (C(n)H(2n+1), n ≥ 8) and the imidazolium nitrogen, both of which are part of the ionic liquid chemical structure, as internal references for charge correction. Accurate and reproducible binding energies are obtained which allow comparisons to be made across ionic liquid-based systems.     

Novel examples of high-dimensional mixed-valence copper cyanide complexes

The first examples of high-dimensional mixed-valence homometallic cyano-bridged copper complexes were synthesized and characterized: net-structured [Cu(CN)(4){Cu(cyclam)}(1.5)](2)(n)()(H(2)O)(5)(n) (1), ladder-type double-chain-structured [Cu(CN)(2){Cu(CN)(2)Cu(cyclam)}](n)()(H(2)O)(n) (2), layer-structured [{Cu(CN)(2)}(2)Cu(cycalm)](n) (3), and hydrogen-bond-based 2-D [Cu(CN)(3)Cu(cyclam)](n)()(CH(3)OH)(n) (4) (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane). (1) Crystallizes in triclinic space group P with a = 8.3589(11) A, b = 13.478(2) A, c = 14.828(2) A, alpha = 66.895(2) degrees , beta = 77.916(3) degrees , gamma = 85.939(3) degrees , and Z = 1; (2) crystallizes in triclinic space group P with a = 8.2305(12) A, b = 9.8861(15) A, c = 13.219(2) A, alpha = 84.863(3) degrees , beta = 75.744(3) degrees , gamma = 89.818(3) degrees , and Z = 2; 3 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 6.830(2) A, b = 8.482(2) A, c = 17.306(4) A, beta = 98.144(4) degrees , and Z = 2; 4 crystallizes in triclinic space group P with a = 9.470(1) A, b = 10.034(1) A, c = 12.064(1) A, alpha = 67.325(2), beta = 75.593(2), gamma = 70.672(2), and Z = 2. The coordination sphere of Cu(I) sites in the complexes shows diverse structures: tetrahedral [CuC(4)] for (1), tetrahedral [CuC(3)N] and triangular [CuC(2)N] for (2), triangular [CuC(2)N] for (3), and triangular [CuC(3)] for 4. In particular, (1) constitutes the first example of a structurally characterized system containing a bridging tetrahedral [Cu(CN)(4)](3)(-) unit. The diverse structural nature of these complexes is governed by the capping amines and the content of water in the reaction media. The magnetic interactions are negligible in these mixed-valence complexes.