Redox reactions of uranium hexafluoride. Comparison with phosphorus pentafluoride and preparation of copper(I) hexafluorouranate(V) [1]

Molecular iodine is oxidised by phosphorus pentafluoride in iodine pentafluoride at room temperature giving I₂⁺, PF₆^?, and PF₃. I₂⁺ is formed from uranium hexafluoride under similar conditions, but further oxidation occurs depending on the reaction stoicheiometry used. In all cases uranium pentafluoride is formed. Copper(II) fluoride reacts with UF₅ in acetonitrile at room temperature to give copper(II) hexafluorouranate(V), which is reduced by copper metal to give the copper(I) salt. The latter compound is formed from UF₆ and Cu metal, via the Cu^II salt, only if a fresh Cu surface is used for the reduction step.     

The preparation of copper(II) and copper(I) salts in acetonitrile using group VA and VB pentafluorides

Copper(II) fluorine reacts with the pentafluorides, TaF₅, PF₅, and AsF₅, in acetonitrile to give solvated Cu^II, hexafluoroanion salts. These react with copper metal to give the corresponding Cu^I compounds. Similar reactions occur between AsF₅ and silver(I) or thallium(I) fluorides, but silver(II) fluoride reacts with MeCN, and Ag^I hexafluoroarsenate is formed. PF₅ oxidises Cu slowly in MeCN to give Cu^I hexafluorophosphate, but AsF₅ has no oxidising ability towards metals in MeCN. Spectroscopic data for Cu(MF₆)₂·5MeCN and Cu(MF₆)·4MeCN (M = Ta or P) are discussed.     

Encapsulation of tricopper cluster in a synthetic cryptand enables facile redox processes from CuICuICuI to CuIICuIICuII states

One-pot reaction of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), [Cu^I(MeCN)₄]PF₆, and paraformaldehyde affords a mixed-valent [TREN₄Cu^IICu^ICu^I(μ₃-OH)](PF₆)₃ complex. The macrocyclic azacryptand TREN₄ contains four TREN motifs, three of which provide a bowl-shape binding pocket for the [Cu₃(μ₃-OH)]³⁺ core. The fourth TREN caps on top of the tricopper cluster to form a cryptand, imposing conformational constraints and preventing solvent interaction. Contrasting the limited redox capability of synthetic tricopper complexes reported so far, [TREN₄Cu^IICu^ICu^I(μ₃-OH)](PF₆)₃ exhibits several reversible single-electron redox events. The distinct electrochemical behaviors of [TREN₄Cu^IICu^ICu^I(μ₃-OH)](PF₆)₃ and its solvent-exposed analog [TREN₃Cu^IICu^IICu^II(μ₃-O)](PF₆)₄ suggest that isolation of tricopper core in a cryptand enables facile electron transfer, allowing potential application of synthetic tricopper complexes as redox catalysts. Indeed, the fully reduced [TREN₄Cu^ICu^ICu^I(μ₃-OH)](PF₆)₂ can reduce O₂ under acidic conditions. The geometric constraints provided by the cryptand are reminiscent of Nature''s multicopper oxidases (MCOs). For the first time, a synthetic tricopper cluster was isolated and fully characterized at Cu^ICu^ICu^I (4a), Cu^IICu^ICu^I (4b), and Cu^IICu^IICu^I (4c) states, providing structural and spectroscopic models for many intermediates in MCOs. Fast electron transfer rates (10⁵ to 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) were observed for both Cu^ICu^ICu^I/Cu^IICu^ICu^I and Cu^IICu^ICu^I/Cu^IICu^IICu^I redox couples, approaching the rapid electron transfer rates of copper sites in MCO.

Geometric constraints and site isolation provided by the cryptand enable reversible redox of tricopper μ-oxo cluster.     

Reactivity of 2,2′‐Bis(2N‐(1,1′,3,3′‐tetramethyl‐guanidino))diphenylene‐amine with CuI and [Cu(MeCN)4][PF6]: Benzimidazole Formation vs. Cu Oxidation

The reaction of 2,2′‐Bis(2N‐(1,1′,3,3′‐tetramethyl‐guanidino))diphenylene‐amine (TMG₂PA) ( 1 ) with CuI in MeCN results in the formation of [Cu^II(TMG₂PA^amid)I] ( 2 ) indicatingthat Cu^I is the target of an oxidative attack of the N‐H proton of the ligand which itself is converted to molecular hydrogen. In contrast, if [Cu(MeCN)₄][PF₆] is used as the Cu^I source, [Cu^I₂(TMGbenz)₂][PF₆]₂ ( 3 ) is obtained instead. The use of the non‐coordinating counterion [PF₆]^– apparently prevents Cu^I from oxidation but induces itself a cyclisation reaction within the ligand which results in the formation of a benzimidazole‐guanidine ligand.     

Delocalization tunable by ligand substitution in [L2Al]n− complexes highlights a mechanism for strong electronic coupling

Ligand-based mixed valent (MV) complexes of Al(iii) incorporating electron donating (ED) and electron withdrawing (EW) substituents on bis(imino)pyridine ligands (I₂P) have been prepared. The MV states containing EW groups are both assigned as Class II/III, and those with ED functional groups are Class III and Class II/III in the (I₂P⁻)(I₂P²⁻)Al and [(I₂P²⁻)(I₂P³⁻)Al]²⁻ charge states, respectively. No abrupt changes in delocalization are observed with ED and EW groups and from this we infer that ligand and metal valence p-orbitals are well-matched in energy and the absence of LMCT and MLCT bands supports the delocalized electronic structures. The MV ligand charge states (I₂P⁻)(I₂P²⁻)Al and [(I₂P²⁻)(I₂P³⁻)Al]²⁻ show intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) transitions in the regions 6850–7740 and 7410–9780 cm⁻¹, respectively. Alkali metal cations in solution had no effect on the IVCT bands of [(I₂P²⁻)(I₂P³⁻)Al]²⁻ complexes containing –PhNMe₂ or –PhF₅ substituents. Minor localization of charge in [(I₂P²⁻)(I₂P³⁻)Al]²⁻ was observed when –PhOMe substituents are included.

Organo-aluminum mixed-valent complexes combine properties of both organic and transition element mixed-valent compounds. This supports delocalized electronic structures that are structurally and electronically tunable.     

Ion polarisation-assisted hydrogen-bonded ferroelectrics in liquid crystalline domains

An alkylamide-substituted (−NHCOC₁₀H₂₁) hydrogen-bonded dibenzo[18]crown-6 derivative (1) was prepared to stabilise the ionic channel structure in a discotic hexagonal columnar (Col_h) liquid crystal. The introduction of simple M⁺X⁻ salts such as Na⁺PF₆⁻ and K⁺I⁻ into the ionic channel of 1 enhanced the ionic conductivity of the Col_h phase of the M⁺·(1)·X⁻ salts, with the highest ionic conductivity reaching ∼10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ for K⁺·(1)·I⁻ and Na⁺·(1)·PF₆⁻ at 460 K, which was approximately 5 orders of magnitude higher than that of 1. The introduction of non-ferroelectric 1 into the ferroelectric N,N′,N′′-tri(tetradecyl)-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamide (3BC) elicited a ferroelectric response from the mixed Col_h phase of (3BC)_x(1)_1−x with x = 0.9 and 0.8. The further doping of M⁺X⁻ into the ferroelectric Col_h phase of (3BC)_0.9(1)_0.1 enhanced the ferroelectric polarisation assisted by ion displacement in the half-filled ionic channel for the vacant dibenzo[18]crown-6 of (3BC)_0.9[(M⁺)_0.5·(1)·(X⁻)_0.5]_0.1.

An alkylamide-substituted (−NHCOC₁₀H₂₁) hydrogen-bonded dibenzo[18]crown-6 derivative (1) was prepared to stabilise the ionic channel structure in a discotic hexagonal columnar (Col_h) liquid crystal.     

Novel Conductive Radical Cation Salts Based on Methylenediselenotetraselenafulvalene (MDSe-TSF): A Sign of Superconductivity in κ-(MDSe-TSF)2Br Below 4 K

Seven conductive radical cation salts based on MDSe-TSF (methylenediselenotetraselenafulvalene) have been synthesized by electrocrystallization in the presence of Cl⁻, Br⁻, I₃⁻, I₂Br⁻, PF₆⁻, ClO₄⁻, and Cu(NCS)₂⁻ counter anions. The crystal appearances of these salts fairly depend on the anions employed. X-ray crystallographic analyses have revealed that the PF₆ and ClO₄ salts in the shape of brown thin plates adopt the θ-type structures characterized by the herringbone arrangement of donor stacks, whereas the Cl and Br salts in the shape of black thick plates favor the κ-type structures with the orthogonal arrangement of donor dimers. Regardless of different crystal appearances or crystal packing patterns, all these salts show high conductivity (>10² S cm⁻¹) at room temperature and retain metallic properties down to 4.2 K. Of them, the Br salt shows a weak but distinct diamagnetic shielding signal below 4 K in the dc magnetization measurement under zero-field-cooled (ZFC) condition, suggesting a sign of superconductivity. The band calculations of both PF₆ and Br salts demonstrate closed Fermi surfaces indicative of two-dimensional molecular conductors.     

Dioxygen Reactivity of Copper(I)/Manganese(II)-Porphyrin Assemblies: Mechanistic Studies and Cooperative Activation of O2

The oxidation of transition metals such as manganese and copper by dioxygen (O₂) is of great interest to chemists and biochemists for fundamental and practical reasons. In this report, the O₂ reactivities of 1:1 and 1:2 mixtures of [(TPP)Mn^II] (1; TPP: Tetraphenylporphyrin) and [(tmpa)Cu^I(MeCN)]⁺ (2; TMPA: Tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) are described. Variable-temperature (−110 °C to room temperature) absorption spectroscopic measurements support that, at low temperature, oxygenation of the (TPP)Mn/Cu mixtures leads to rapid formation of a cupric superoxo intermediate, [(tmpa)Cu^II(O₂^•–)]⁺ (3), independent of the presence of the manganese porphyrin complex (1). Complex 3 subsequently reacts with 1 to form a heterobinuclear μ-peroxo species, [(tmpa)Cu^II–(O₂^2–)–Mn^III(TPP)]⁺ (4; λ_max = 443 nm), which thermally converts to a μ-oxo complex, [(tmpa)Cu^II–O–Mn^III(TPP)]⁺ (5; λ_max = 434 and 466 nm), confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In the 1:2 (TPP)Mn/Cu mixture, 4 is subsequently attacked by a second equivalent of 3, giving a bis-μ-peroxo species, i.e., [(tmpa)Cu^II−(O₂²⁻)−Mn^IV(TPP)−(O₂²⁻)−Cu^II(tmpa)]²⁺ (7; λ_max = 420 nm and δ_pyrrolic = −44.90 ppm). The final decomposition product of the (TPP)Mn/Cu/O₂ chemistry in MeTHF is [(TPP)Mn^III(MeTHF)₂]⁺ (6), whose X-ray structure is also presented and compared to literature analogs.     

Copper Complexes as Alternative Redox Mediators in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Thirty years ago, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) emerged as a method for harnessing the sun’s energy and converting it into electricity. Since then, a lot of work has been dedicated to improving their global photovoltaic efficiency and their eco-sustainability. Recently, various articles showed the great potential of copper complexes as a convenient and cheap alternative to the traditional ruthenium dyes. In addition, copper complexes demonstrate that they can act as redox mediators for DSSCs, thus being an answer to the problems related to the I₃⁻/I⁻ redox couple. The aim of this review is to report on the most recent impact made by copper complexes as alternative redox mediators. The coverage, mainly from 2016 up to now, is not exhaustive, but allows us to understand the great role played by copper complexes in the design of eco-sustainable DSSCs.     

Desymmetrizing Heteroleptic [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF6] Compounds: Effects on Structural and Photophysical Properties,and Solution Dynamic Behavior

The preparation, characterization and electrochemical and photophysical properties of a series of desymmetrized heteroleptic [Cu(P^P)(N^N)][PF₆] compounds are reported. The complexes incorporate the chelating P^P ligands bis(2-(diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl)ether (POP) and (9,9-dimethyl-9H-xanthene-4,5-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphane) (xantphos), and 6-substituted 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) derivatives with functional groups attached by –(CH₂)_n– spacers: 6-(2,2′-bipyridin-6-yl)hexanoic acid (1), 6-(5-phenylpentyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (2) and 6-[2-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3,triazol-1-yl)ethyl]-2,2′-bipyridine (3). [Cu(POP)(1)][PF₆], [Cu(xantphos)(1)][PF₆], [Cu(POP)(2)][PF₆], [Cu(xantphos)(2)][PF₆], and [Cu(xantphos)(3)][PF₆] have been characterized in solution using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the single crystal structure of [Cu(xantphos)(3)][PF₆]^.0.5Et₂O was determined. The conformation of the 6-[2-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3,triazol-1-yl)ethyl]-substituent in the [Cu(xantphos)(3)]⁺ cation is such that the α- and β-CH₂ units reside in the xanthene ‘bowl’ of the xantphos ligand. The 6-substituent desymmetrizes the structure of the [Cu(P^P)(N^N)]⁺ cation and this has consequences for the interpretation of the solution NMR spectra of the five complexes. The NOESY spectra and EXSY cross-peaks provide insight into the dynamic processes operating in the different compounds. For powdered samples, emission maxima are in the range 542–555 nm and photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) lie in the range 13–28%, and a comparison of PLQYs and decay lifetimes with those of [Cu(xantphos)(6-Mebpy)][PF₆] indicate that the introduction of the 6-substituent is not detrimental in terms of the photophysical properties.     

Ether‐Soluble Cu53 Nanoclusters as an Effective Precursor of High‐Quality CuI Films for Optoelectronic Applications

An effective strategy is developed to synthesize high‐nuclearity Cu clusters, [Cu₅₃(RCOO)₁₀(C≡CtBu)₂₀Cl₂H₁₈]⁺ ( Cu₅₃ ), which is the largest Cu^I/Cu⁰ cluster reported to date. Cu powder and Ph₂SiH₂ are employed as the reducing agents in the synthesis. As revealed by single‐crystal diffraction, Cu₅₃ is arranged as a four‐concentric‐shell Cu₃@Cu₁₀Cl₂@Cu₂₀@Cu₂₀ structure, possessing an atomic arrangement of concentric M₁₂ icosahedral and M₂₀ dodecahedral shells which popularly occurs in Au/Ag nanoclusters. Surprisingly, Cu₅₃ can be dissolved in diethyl ether and spin coated to form uniform nanoclusters film on organolead halide perovskite. The cluster film can subsequently be converted into high‐quality CuI film via in situ iodination at room temperature. The as‐fabricated CuI film is an excellent hole‐transport layer for fabricating highly stable CuI‐based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with 14.3 % of efficiency.     

Metal–thiosemicarbazone interactions. Synthesis of an iodo-bridged dinuclear [diiodobis(pyrrole-2-carbaldehydethiosemicarbazone)dicopper(I)] complex

Reaction of copper(I) iodide with pyrrole-2-carbaldehydethiosemicarbazone (Hptsc) in a 1:1 mole ratio in MeCN, followed by addition of one mole of Ph₃P, yielded a complex of empirical formula, CuI(Hptsc)(Ph₃P), whose X-ray structure determination has shown that it exists as an iodo-bridged dinuclear copper(I) complex, [Cu₂(-I)₂( ¹-S-Hptsc)₂(PPh₃)₂](1). The central kernel, Cu(-I)₂Cu forms a parallelogram with unequal Cu—I distances {Cu—I, 2.644(2), 2.707(2)Å} and bond angles {Cu—I—Cu, 70.72(7), I—Cu—I, 109.28(7)°}. Each Cu atom is further bonded to one S atom of Hptsc and one P atom of Ph₃P, thus completing tetracoordination. The Cu...Cu separation of 3.097(4)Å is close to the sum of the van der Waals radius of the Cu atom, 2.80 Å. Compound (1) involves relatively strong inter-dimer hydrogen bonding via hydrazinic and pyrrole ring hydrogens with sulfur and iodine atoms respectively of the adjacent dimer {N(1)H...S^#2, 2.50 Å; N(4)H...I^#3, 2.91 Å}. The complex represents the first report of a copper(I) dimer with a thiosemicarbazone.     

Enhanced tungstate electrochromism via formation of transparent conductive networks

Indium tin oxide (ITO) nanopowder was added to a polymer film containing WO₃ · H₂O particles to enhance electron conductivity and complimentary Li ion kinetics in an electrochromic device. Film conductivity increased dramatically with ITO content, suggesting the formation of conductive ITO networks in the film. The improved electron conductivity leads to a substantial increase of the effective Li⁺ ion diffusion coefficient in the composite film, from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁹ cm²/s. Electrochromic contrast studies revealed that the presence of the ITO networks leads to enhanced blue/green color contrast.     

联吡啶[3,2-a：2’,3-c]-7-氮杂-吩嗪铜(I)配合物的合成、表征及其与DNA的相互作用

合成了邻菲罗啉衍生物联吡啶[3,2-a:2',3'-c]-7-氮杂-吩嗪(dpapz)及其铜(I)配合物[Cu(dpapz)₂]PF₆, 利用核磁共振氢谱(¹H NMR), 傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱, 高分辨质谱(HR ESI-MS)等对合成的化合物进行了表征.采用紫外-可见吸收光谱,荧光光谱, DNA熔解温度实验和循环伏安方法研究了dpapz和[Cu(dpapz)₂]PF₆与小牛胸腺DNA(CT DNA)的相互作用. 配体dpapz与小牛胸腺DNA(CT DNA)作用时未观察到吸收峰红移并且减色效应较小(<30%), 且DNA熔解温度也上升较小(ΔT_m=7.8 ℃), 说明dpapz以沟槽结合的方式与CT DNA相互作用. 而[Cu(dpapz)₂]PF₆与CT DNA作用时, 可观测到较小的吸收峰红移(2-3 nm)和较大的减色效应(>50%), 同时DNA熔解温度上升较大(ΔT_m=11.1 ℃), 表明[Cu(dpapz)₂]PF₆以静电相互作用和部分扦插的方式与DNA结合. 溴乙锭(EB)荧光竞争实验和循环伏安实验进一步证实了这一结论. 配体dpapz和[Cu(dpapz)₂]PF₆与DNA的结合常数分别为2.88×10⁵和5.32×10⁵ mol·L^-1. 光照条件下, [Cu(dpapz)₂]PF₆产生单重态氧的能力与dpapz相当, 但产生超氧负离子自由基的能力要弱于dpapz. 活性氧猝灭实验表明, 超氧负离子自由基、单重态氧和羟基自由基均参与了dpapz和[Cu(dpapz)₂]PF₆对DNA的光损伤作用. [Cu(dpapz)₂]PF₆对DNA的亲和性要高于对dpapz的, 使得[Cu(dpapz)₂]PF₆对质粒DNA的光损伤效率明显强于dpapz.     

Magnetic,spectroscopic and biological properties of copper(II) complexes of the tridentate ligand, α-N-methyl-S-methyl-β-N-(2-pyridyl)methylenedithiocarbazate(NNS) and the X-ray crystal structure of the [Cu(NNS)I2] complex

Copper(II) complexes of general formula, Cu(NNS)X ₂ · nH₂O (NNS = the 2-formylpyridine Schiff base of N-methyl-S-methyldithiocarbazate; X = Cl^–, Br^–, I^–, NCS^–; n = 0, 2) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and by magnetic and spectroscopic techniques. Based on magnetic and spectroscopic data, a monomeric five-coordinate square-pyramidal structure is assigned to these complexes. The crystal and molecular structure of [Cu(NNS)I₂] has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex has a monomeric square-pyramidal structure with the ligand coordinated to the copper(II) ion via the pyridine nitrogen atom, the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thione sulfur atom. The fourth and fifth coordination sites are occupied by the iodide ligands. Antimicrobial tests indicate that Schiff base is inactive against the bacteria, Bacillus subtilis (mutant defective DNA repair), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis (wild type) and weakly active against the fungi, Candida albicans, Candida lypolytica, Saccharomyces cereviseae and Aspergillus ochraceous but its copper(II) complexes, Cu(NNS)X ₂ are strongly active against these organisms. A cytotoxicity study of the compounds against leukemic and cervical cancer cells showed that the Schiff base is inactive, but the complexes, [Cu(NNS)I₂] and [Cu(NNS)(NCS)₂] · 2H₂O exhibit significant activity against cervical cancer cells with CD₅₀ values of 4.8 and 4.2 g, respectively.     

Control of Thickness of PEDOT Electrodeposits on Glass/ITO Electrodes from Organic Solutions and its Use as Anode in Organic Solar Cells

Poly-ethylendioxythiophene (PEDOT) was electropolymerized from the monomer EDOT in acetonitrile (ACN) containing Bu₄N⁺ClO₄^-, BF₄^- or PF₆^- ions as supporting electrolyte. The electrode used was transparent electrodes (Glass/ITO) in order to generate the anode of an organic solar cell (OSC). Potentiodynamic and potentiostatic electropolymerization techniques were used to make the conducting polymer deposits (E-PEDOT), which were obtained as a thin film onto the ITO surface. It was possible to control the thickness of the electrodeposited films in the range of 15 to 200 nm measured by AFM. With the thinner films (until 100 nm), it was observed that its absorbance at 700 nm was linearly dependent with their thickness and it was possible to obtain an equation that was used to measure the films thickness of future experiments. The E-PEDOT films were successfully used for constructing OSC's and the efficiency values found were equivalent or slightly superior to those found with the classical PEDOT:PSS anode.     

Copper(I) and copper(II) complexes of an ethylene cross‐bridged cyclam

The preparation and crystal structures of (4,11‐di­benzyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­bi­cyclo­[6.6.2]­hexa­decane‐κ⁴N)copper(I) hexa‐fluorophosphate, [Cu(C₂₆H₃₈N₄)]PF₆, and acetonitrile(4,11‐dibenzyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazabicyclo[6.6.2]hexadecane‐κ⁴N)‐copper(II) bis(hexafluorophosphate), [Cu(C₂H₃N)(C₂₆H₃₈‐N₄)](PF₆)₂, are described. The Cu^I ion is tetracoordinated in a very distorted tetrahedron, while the Cu^II analogue is pentacoordinated in a square pyramid.     

Synthesis,Structure, and UV–Vis Characterization of Antimony(III) Phthalocyanine: [(SbPc)2(Sb2I8)(SbBr3)]2

A new antimony(III)–phthalocyanine complex with the formula of [(SbPc)₂(Sb₂I₈)(SbBr₃)]₂ has been obtained in the reaction of pure antimony powder with phthalonitrile under the oxidation conditions by iodine monobromide vapors. The complex crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group of the triclinic system. Both independent (SbPc)⁺ units exhibit non-planar conformation, since the Sb(III) is larger than the equilibrium cavity size of the ring and cannot be accommodated without its expansion; thus, the metal protrudes out of the cavity, forming a saucer shape. The centrosymmetric anionic unit of the crystal consists of two (Sb₂I₈)²⁻ interacted anionic units forming (Sb₄I₁₆)⁴⁻ anionic complex that interacts with two SbBr₃ molecules to form [Sb₆I₁₆Br₆]⁴⁻ anionic aggregate. Each [Sb₆I₁₆Br₆]⁴⁻ anionic aggregate is surrounded by four (SbPc)⁺ cations forming a supramolecular centrosymmetric (SbPc)₄[Sb₆I₁₆Br₆] complex. Translationally related (SbPc)₄[Sb₆I₁₆Br₆] molecules form a stacking structure along the [100] and [011] directions with N₄–N₄ distances of 3.55 and 3.53 Å, respectively, between the back-to-back-oriented saucer-shaped (SbPc)⁺ units. The interaction between the building units of the crystal was analyzed using the Hirshfeld surface and the analysis of the 2D fingerprint plots. The UV–Vis absorption spectra of crystal 1 were taken in CH₂Cl₂ and toluene solutions in the concentration range from 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻⁶ mol/L. No significant changes related to aggregation in solutions were observed. The Q-band in toluene solution is red shifted by ~15 nm in comparison to that in CH₂Cl₂ solution. Oxidation of (SbPc)₄[Sb₆I₁₆Br₆] yields Sb^VPc derivative. Both Sb^III and Sb^V phthalocyanine derivatives absorb near infrared light (600–900 nm), which should be intriguing from the point of view of potential use as photosensitizers for PDT and as an infrared cut filter for plasma display and silicon photodiodes.     

Metal-phosphine chalcogenide interactions. Crystal and molecular structures of [di-μ-iodo-bis{(methyl cyanide-N)(triphenylthiophosphorane-S)copper(I)}] and [di-μ-chloro-bis{μ-1,2-ethylenebis(diphenylphosphine selenide-Se,Se)} dicopper(I)]

Complexes of Cu^I with tertiary phosphine chalcogenides are described. CuI reacts with Ph₃PS in MeCN/CH₂Cl₂ to form {CuI(Ph₃PS)(MeCN)} and CuCl reacts with 1,2-ethylene-bis(tertiary phosphine selenide) {dpeSe₂} in MeCN to yield {CuCl(dpeSe₂)}. Both compounds exist as halogen-bridged centrosymmetric dimers: [Cu₂(-I)₂-(Ph₃PS)₂(MeCN)₂] (1) and [Cu₂(-Cl)₂(dpeSe₂)₂] (2) respectively. Compound (1) has almost symmetric Cu—I bonds, d(Cu—I) = 2.6503(8) Å and d(Cu—I) = 2.7196(9) Å, and each Cu is further bonded to a S atom [d(Cu—S) = 2.3444(13) Å] from Ph₃PS and to a N atom [d(Cu—N) = 2.030(5) Å] from MeCN. Compound (2) has unequal Cu—Cl bonds, 2.6390(19) and 2.2806(18) Å and nearly equal Cu—Se bonds [2.4042(11) and 2.4060(11) Å]. The geometry about each Cu center in both cases is distorted tetrahedral. The Cu—Cu bond distance in (2) is 3.249(2) Å as compared with 3.4141(16) Å in (1). MeCN is bonded strongly to Cu^I as the excess of Ph₃PS failed to remove it from the coordination sphere. Compound (2) represents the first structurally characterised example of copper(I) with a bis(tertiary phosphine selenide) (dpeSe₂) acting as a bridging ligand.     

A reconstructed porous copper surface promotes selectivity and efficiency toward C2 products by electrocatalytic CO2 reduction

Electrocatalytic synthesis of multicarbon (C₂₊) products from CO₂ reduction suffers from poor selectivity and low energy efficiency. Herein, a facile oxidation–reduction cycling method is adopted to reconstruct the Cu electrode surface with the help of halide anions. The surface composed of entangled Cu nanowires with hierarchical pores is synthesized in the presence of I⁻, exhibiting a C₂ faradaic efficiency (FE) of 80% at −1.09 V vs. RHE. A partial current density of 21 mA cm⁻² is achieved with a C₂ half-cell power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 39% on this electrode. Such high selective C₂ production is found to mainly originate from CO intermediate enrichment inside hierarchical pores rather than the surface lattice effect of the Cu electrode.

The Cu electrode surface is reconstructed by a halide anion assisted method for promoting CO₂ reduction.