Syntheses and characterization of oxo-centered triruthenium compounds with orthometalated bipyridine

Reaction of oxo-centered triruthenium precursor compound [Ru3O(OAc)6(py)2(CH3OH)](PF6) (1) with 1.3 equiv of bipyridine ligand at ambient temperature gave oxo-centered triruthenium derivatives [Ru3O(OAc)5{micro-eta1(C),eta2(N,N)bipyridine}(py)2](PF6) (bipyridine = 4,4'-dibutyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dbbpy) (2),4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmbpy) (3), 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) (4), 5,5'-dibromo-2,2'-bipyridine (Br2bpy) (5), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (6)). Formation of compounds 2-6 involved substitution of the axial methanol and one of bridging acetates in the precursor compound 1 by an orthometalated bipyridine. Reduction of 2 and 4 by addition of excess hydrazine gave one-electron-reduced neutral products Ru3O(OAc)5(py)2{micro-eta1 (C),eta2(N,N)-bipyridine} (bipyridine = dbbpy (2a), bpy (4a)). As established in the structure of 3 by X-ray crystallography, the orthometalated 2,2'-bipyridine adopts a micro-eta1(C),eta2(N,N) bonding mode. In the 1H NMR spectra of 2-6, the protons of acetate, pyridine, and bipyridine show obvious paramagnetic shifts. Tentative assignments of these proton signals were carried out. Absorption spectra of the bipyridine triruthenium derivatives show characteristic intracluster charge transfer (IC) transitions in the visible to near-infrared region (600-1000 nm) and cluster-to-ligand charge transfer (CLCT) transitions at 320-450 nm. By comparison of the redox data for 2-6, it is concluded that introducing electron-donating substituents to the bipyridine favors stabilizing the [RuIII3]+ and [RuIII2RuII]0 states against disproportionation.     

Influence of ionic liquids bearing functional groups in dye-sensitized solar cells

Ionic liquids containing the nitrile and vinyl functional groups attached to imidazolium cations combined with various anions, e.g., iodide, bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([TFSI]-), or dicyanamide ([N(CN)2]-), have been prepared and characterized. These ionic liquids have been successfully used as electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells based on nanocrystalline TiO2 with the amphiphilic ruthenium sensitizer [ruthenium (4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine)(4,4'-bis(p-hexyloxystyryl)-2,2'-bipyridine)][NCS]2 (coded K-19). The iodide salt was used in 3-methoxypropionitrile-based electrolytes, and the performances of both types of devices were evaluated on the basis of their photocurrent density-voltage characteristics and dark current measurements, demonstrating that the functional groups do not exert a detrimental effect on the performance. The solid-state structure of the nitrile-functionalized salt [C1C3CN(im)]I has also been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, revealing extensive hydrogen bonding between the cation protons and the iodide.     

Separation and optical resolution of a pair of atrop diastereomers of the octahedral rhodium(III) complex with a nine-membered S,S-chelate ring

Treatment of fac-[Rh(aet) 3] (aet = 2-aminoethanethiolate) with 2,2'-bis(bromomethyl)-1,1'-biphenyl gave a mononuclear rhodium(III) complex with a nine-membered S, S-chelate ring, fac-[Rh(aet)(L)] (2+) ([ 1] (2+), L = 2,2'-bis(2-aminoethylthiomethyl)-1,1'-biphenyl). Complex [ 1] (2+) afforded a pair of atrop diastereomers, Delta SS( S ax)/Lambda RR( R ax)-[ 1] (2+) ([ 1a] (2+)) and Delta SS( R ax)/Lambda RR( S ax)-[ 1] (2+) ([ 1b] (2+)), which involves the axial chirality ( R ax/ S ax) about a biphenyl moiety of L, besides the central chirality (Delta/Lambda) about a Rh (III) ion bound by two asymmetric ( R/ S) thioether donors. The atrop diastereomers ([ 1a] (2+) and [ 1b] (2+)) were successfully separated, isolated, and optically resolved, and the circular dichroism (CD) contribution from the axial chirality was evaluated by CD spectral analyses.     

2,2'-联吡啶参与的分子梭合成与1H NMR研究

2-{2-[4-苯基-二(4-特丁基苯基)甲基]苯氧基}乙氧乙醇磺酸酯(1)与4,4'-联吡啶在乙腈中回流36 h, 随后通过阴离子交换得到N-{2-{2-[4-苯基-二(4-特丁基苯基)甲基]苯氧基}乙氧乙基}-4,4'-联吡啶六氟磷酸盐(3), 产率为93.4%. 3与4,4'-二(溴甲基)-2,2'-联吡啶在乙腈中、70 ℃下反应72 h, 生成哑铃型化合物5, 产率为45%. 5与冠醚BPP34C10在55 ℃下搅拌5 d, 得到分子梭6和7, 产率分别为42.3%和27.3%. ¹H NMR数据表明, 富电子冠醚BPP34C10与哑铃型组分上贫电子4,4'-联吡啶的非键作用使4,4'-联吡啶上氢的化学位移向高场有较大移动.     

Electronic modification of the [Ru(II)(tpy)(bpy)(OH(2))](2+) scaffold: effects on catalytic water oxidation

The mechanistic details of the Ce(IV)-driven oxidation of water mediated by a series of structurally related catalysts formulated as [Ru(tpy)(L)(OH(2))](2+) [L = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 1; 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine (bpy-OMe), 2; 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine (bpy-CO(2)H), 3; tpy = 2,2';6',2'-terpyridine] is reported. Cyclic voltammetry shows that each of these complexes undergo three successive (proton-coupled) electron-transfer reactions to generate the [Ru(V)(tpy)(L)O](3+) ([Ru(V)=O](3+)) motif; the relative positions of each of these redox couples reflects the nature of the electron-donating or withdrawing character of the substituents on the bpy ligands. The first two (proton-coupled) electron-transfer reaction steps (k(1) and k(2)) were determined by stopped-flow spectroscopic techniques to be faster for 3 than 1 and 2. The addition of one (or more) equivalents of the terminal electron-acceptor, (NH(4))(2)[Ce(NO(3))(6)] (CAN), to the [Ru(IV)(tpy)(L)O](2+) ([Ru(IV)=O](2+)) forms of each of the catalysts, however, leads to divergent reaction pathways. The addition of 1 eq of CAN to the [Ru(IV)=O](2+) form of 2 generates [Ru(V)=O](3+) (k(3) = 3.7 M(-1) s(-1)), which, in turn, undergoes slow O-O bond formation with the substrate (k(O-O) = 3 × 10(-5) s(-1)). The minimal (or negligible) thermodynamic driving force for the reaction between the [Ru(IV)=O](2+) form of 1 or 3 and 1 eq of CAN results in slow reactivity, but the rate-determining step is assigned as the liberation of dioxygen from the [Ru(IV)-OO](2+) level under catalytic conditions for each complex. Complex 2, however, passes through the [Ru(V)-OO](3+) level prior to the rapid loss of dioxygen. Evidence for a competing reaction pathway is provided for 3, where the [Ru(V)=O](3+) and [Ru(III)-OH](2+) redox levels can be generated by disproportionation of the [Ru(IV)=O](2+) form of the catalyst (k(d) = 1.2 M(-1) s(-1)). An auxiliary reaction pathway involving the abstraction of an O-atom from CAN is also implicated during catalysis. The variability of reactivity for 1-3, including the position of the RDS and potential for O-atom transfer from the terminal oxidant, is confirmed to be intimately sensitive to electron density at the metal site through extensive kinetic and isotopic labeling experiments. This study outlines the need to strike a balance between the reactivity of the [Ru═O](z) unit and the accessibility of higher redox levels in pursuit of robust and reactive water oxidation catalysts.     

Amphiphilic ruthenium sensitizers and their applications in dye-sensitized solar cells

Amphiphilic ligands 4,4'-bis(1-adamantyl-aminocarbonyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (L(1)), 4,4'-bis[5-[N-[2-(3beta-cholest-5-en-3-ylcarbamate-N-yl)ethyl]aminocarbonyl]]-2,2'-bipyridine (L(2)), 4,4'-bis[5-[N-[2-(3beta-cholest-5-en-3-ylcarbamate-N-yl)propyl]aminocarbonyl]]-2,2'-bipyridine (L(3)), and 4,4'-bis(dodecan-12-ol)-2,2'-bipyridine (L(4)) and their heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes of the type [Ru(II)LL(1)(NCS)(2)] (5), [Ru(II)LL(2)(NCS)(2)] (6), [Ru(II)LL(3)(NCS)(2)] (7), and [Ru(II)LL(4)(NCS)(2)] (8) (where L = 4,4'-bis(carboxylic acid)-2,2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized starting from dichloro(p-cymene)ruthenium(II) dimer. All the ligands and the complexes were characterized by analytical, spectroscopic, and electrochemical techniques. The performance of these complexes as charge-transfer photosensitizers in nanocrystalline TiO(2)-based solar cells was studied. When complexes 5-8 anchored onto a 12 + 4 microm thick nanocrystalline TiO(2) films, very efficient sensitization was achieved (85 +/- 5% incident photon-to-current efficiencies in the visible region, using an electrolyte consisting of 0.6 M butylmethylimidazolium iodide, 0.05 M I(2), 0.1 M LiI, and 0.5 M tert-butyl pyridine in 1:1 acetonitrile + valeronitrile). Under standard AM 1.5 sunlight, the complex 8 yielded a short-circuit photocurrent density of 17 +/- 0.5 mA/cm(2), the open-circuit voltage was 720 +/- 50 mV, and the fill factor was 0.72 +/- 0.05, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 8.8 +/- 0.5%.     

Electron-rich heteroaromatic conjugated bipyridine based ruthenium sensitizer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel heteroleptic ruthenium complex carrying a heteroaromatic-4,4'-pi-conjugated 2,2'-bipyridine [Ru(II)LL'(NCS)(2)] (L = 4,4'-bis[(E)-2-(3,4-ethylenedioxythien-2-yl)vinyl]-2,2'-bipyridine, L' = 4,4'-(dicarboxylic acid)-2,2'-bipyridine) was synthesized and used in dye-sensitized solar cells, yielding photovoltaic efficiencies of 9.1% under standard global AM 1.5 sunlight.     

Synthesis and characterization of tris(heteroleptic) Ru(II) complexes bearing styryl subunits

We have developed and optimized a well-controlled and refined methodology for the synthesis of substituted π-conjugated 4,4'-styryl-2,2'-bipyridine ligands and also adapted the tris(heteroleptic) synthetic approach developed by Mann and co-workers to produce two new representative Ru(II)-based complexes bearing the metal oxide surface-anchoring precursor 4,4'-bis[E-(p-methylcarboxy-styryl)]-2,2'-bipyridine. The two targeted Ru(II) complexes, (4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(4,4'-bis[E-(p-methylcarboxy-styryl)]-2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate, [Ru(dmbpy)(dtbbpy)(p-COOMe-styryl-bpy)](PF(6))(2) (1) and (4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(4,4'-dinonyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(4,4'-bis[E-(p-methylcarboxy-styryl)]-2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate, [Ru(dmbpy)(dnbpy)(p-COOMe-styryl-bpy)](PF(6))(2) (2) were obtained as analytically pure compounds in high overall yields (>50% after 5 steps) and were isolated without significant purification effort. In these tris(heteroleptic) molecules, NMR-based structural characterization became nontrivial as the coordinated ligand sets each sense profoundly distinct magnetic environments greatly complicating traditional 1D spectra. However, rational two-dimensional approaches based on both homo- and heteronuclear couplings were readily applied to these structures producing quite definitive analytical characterization and the associated methodology is described in detail. Preliminary photoluminescence and photochemical characterization of 1 and 2 strongly suggests that both molecules are energetically and kinetically suitable to serve as sensitizers in energy-relevant applications.     

Structural studies on the stepwise chelating processes of bidentate 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine and tridentate bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine toward an acetate-bridged dirhodium(II) center

Several intermediates and final products of the reactions of [Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(4)(CH(3)OH)(2)] with a tridentate ligand bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (bpa) and bidentate 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (amp) have been isolated, and the chelation processes of these ligands to the dirhodium(II) center are discussed. The reaction of a 2 equiv amount of bpa in chloroform afforded three products, [Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(2)(eta(1)-CH(3)COO)(bpa)(2)](+) ([1]+), C(2)-[Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(2)(bpa)(2)](2+) ([2a](2+)), and C(s)-[Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(2)(bpa)(2)](2+) ([2b](2+)), where C(2) and C(s) denote the molecular symmetry of the two geometrical isomers. X-ray crystallography revealed that [1](+) contains ax-eq chelated bidentate and ax-eq-eq tridentate bpa and that [2a](2+) and [2b](2+) have two ax-eq-eq tridentate bpa ligands (ax denotes the site trans to the Rh-Rh bond, and eq, the site perpendicular to it). The reaction is initiated by almost instantaneous monodentate or inter-Rh(2)-unit bridging coordination of bpa at the ax sites, which is followed by very slow ax-eq chelate formation and then ultimate ax-eq-eq tridentate coordination. The reaction of [Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(4)(CH(3)OH)(2)] with amp in 1:2 ratio in chloroform initially gives an insoluble polymer in which amp interconnects the ax sites of the dirhodium(II) units. Further reactions afforded [Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(2)(eta(1)-CH(3)COO)(amp)(2)](+) ([4](+)) and [Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(2)(amp)(2)](2+) ([5](2)(+)). The X-ray structural studies show that [4](+) has one ax-eq and one eq-eq chelate and [5](2)(+) two eq-eq chelates. More rigid tridentate ligands 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (tpy) and 4'-chloro-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (Cl-tpy) have been introduced at ax sites in a monodentate mode ([Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(4)(tpy)(2)] (8) and [Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(4)(Cl-tpy)(2)] (9)). While the Rh-Rh distances of these complexes and [Rh(2)(mu-CH(3)COO)(2)(2,2'-bipyridine)(2)(py)(2)](2+) ([7](2)(+)) are practically unchanged (2.56-2.60 A) except for 8 and 9 (2.4 A), the Rh-N(ax) distances range from 2.11 to 2.35 A. Relatively short distances are found for the compounds with ax-eq or ax-eq-eq chelates (<2.22 A). Longest distances (2.32-2.35 A) found for 8 and 9 may be due to the steric effect. The distances of other complexes fall in the normal region. The visible band of the pi*(Rh-Rh) --> sigma*(Rh-Rh) transition in solid-state reflectance spectra shows a red-shift as the Rh[bond]N(ax) distances becomes longer.     

Architecture of supramolecular metal complexes for photocatalytic CO2 reduction: ruthenium-rhenium bi- and tetranuclear complexes

We study the electrochemical, spectroscopic, and photocatalytic properties of a series of Ru(II)-Re(I) binuclear complexes linked by bridging ligands 1,3-bis(4'-methyl-[2,2']bipyridinyl-4-yl)propan-2-ol (bpyC3bpy) and 4-methyl-4'-[1,10]phenanthroline-[5,6-d]imidazol-2-yl)bipyridine (mfibpy) and a tetranuclear complex in which three [Re(CO)3Cl] moieties are coordinated to the central Ru using the bpyC3bpy ligands. In the bpyC3bpy binuclear complexes, 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dmb) and 4,4'-bis(trifluoromethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine ({CF3}2bpy), as well as 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), were used as peripheral ligands on the Ru moiety. Greatly improved photocatalytic activities were obtained only in the cases of [Ru{bpyC3bpyRe(CO)3Cl}3]2+ (RuRe3) and the binuclear complex [(dmb)2Ru(bpyC3bpy)Re(CO)3Cl]2+ (d2Ru-Re), while photocatalytic responses were extended further into the visible region. The excited state of ruthenium in all Ru-Re complexes was efficiently quenched by 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH). Following reductive quenching in the case of d2Ru-Re, generation of the one-electron-reduced (OER) species, for which the added electron resides on the Ru-bound bpy end of the bridging ligand bpyC3bpy, was confirmed by transient absorption spectroscopy. The reduced Re moiety was produced via a relatively slow intramolecular electron transfer, from the reduced Ru-bound bpy to the Re site, occurring at an exchange rate (DeltaG approximately 0). Electron transfer need not be rapid, since the rate-determining process is reduction of CO2 with the OER species of the Re site. Comparison of these results with those for other bimetallic systems gives us more general architectural pointers for constructing supramolecular photocatalysts for CO2 reduction.     

Mono- and dinuclear ruthenium(II) 1,6,7,12-tetraazaperylene complexes

We report the synthesis of free 1,6,7,12-tetraazaperylene (tape). Tape was obtained from 1,1'-bis-2,7-naphthyridine by potassium promoted cyclization followed by oxidation with air. Mono- and dinuclear ruthenium(II) 1,6,7,12-tetraazaperylene complexes of the general formulas [Ru(L-L)(2)(tape)](PF(6))(2), [1](PF(6))(2)-[5](PF(6))(2), and [{Ru(L-L)(2)}(2)(μ-tape)](PF(6))(4), [6](PF(6))(4)-[10](PF(6))(4), with{L-L = phen, bpy, dmbpy (4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine), dtbbpy (4,4'-ditertbutyl-2,2'-bipyridine) and tmbpy (4,4'5,5'-tetramethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)}, respectively, were synthesized. The X-ray structures of tape·2CHCl(3) and the mononuclear complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)(tape)](PF(6))(2)·0.5CH(3)CN·0.5toluene, [Ru(dmbpy)(2)(tape)](PF(6))(2)·2toluene and [Ru(dtbbpy)(2)(tape)](PF(6))(2)·3acetone·0.5H(2)O were solved. The UV-vis absorption spectra and the electrochemical behavior of the ruthenium(ii) tape complexes were explored and compared with the data of the analogous dibenzoeilatin (dbneil), 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpym) and tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3',2'-h:2',3'-j]phenazin (tpphz) species.     

固相熔融合成含4,4'-联吡啶二阳离子的哑铃型化合物

2-{2-[4-苯基-二(4-特丁基苯基)甲基]苯氧基}乙氧乙醇磺酸酯(2.1 mmol)与4,4'-联吡啶(1.0 mmol)混合, 加热到融化, 搅拌10 min, 用石油醚洗涤反应混合物, 得到定量的哑铃型化合物.     

UV-Vis, NMR, and time-resolved spectroscopy analysis of photoisomerization behavior of three- and six-azobenzene-bound tris(bipyridine)cobalt complexes

The photoisomerization properties of tris(bipyridine)cobalt complexes containing six or three azobenzene moieties, namely, [Co(II)(dmAB)3](BF4)2 [dmAB = 4,4'-bis[3'-(4'-tolylazo)phenyl]-2,2'-bipyridine], [Co(III)(dmAB)3](BF4)3, [Co(II)(mAB)3](BF4)2 [mAB = 4-[3' '-(4' '-tolylazo)phenyl]-2,2'-bipyridine], and [Co(III)(dmAB)3](BF4)3, derived from the effect of gathering azobenzenes in one molecule and the effect of the cobalt(II) or cobalt(III) ion were investigated using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, femtosecond transient spectroscopy, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. In the photostationary state of these four complexes, nearly 50% of the trans-azobenzene moieties of the Co(II) complexes were converted to the cis isomer, and nearly 10% of the trans-azobenzene moieties of the Co(III) complexes isomerized to the cis isomer, implying that the cis isomer ratio in the photostationary state upon irradiation at 365 nm is controlled not by the number of azobenzene moieties in one molecule but rather by the oxidation state of the cobalt ions. The femtosecond transient absorption spectra of the ligands and the complexes suggested that the photoexcited states of the azobenzene moieties in the Co(III) complexes were strongly deactivated by electron transfer from the azobenzene moiety to the cobalt center to form an azobenzene radical cation and a Co(II) center. The cooperation among the photochemical structural changes of six azobenzene moieties in [Co(II)(dmAB)3](BF4)2 was investigated with 1H NMR spectroscopy. The time-course change in the 1H NMR signals of the methyl protons indicated that each azobenzene moiety in [Co(II)(dmAB)3](BF4)2 isomerized to a cis isomer with a random probability of 50% and without interactions among the azobenzene moieties.     

A systematic study on the synthesis, reactivity and structure of ortho-palladated aryloximes, including the first cyclopalladated aryloximato and iminoaryloxime complexes

Complexes [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}(μ-Cl)](2) (1) with Ar = C(6)H(4), C(6)H(3)NO(2)-5 or C(6)H(OMe)(3)-4,5,6, were obtained from the appropriate oxime, Li(2)[PdCl(4)] and NaOAc. They reacted with neutral monodentate C-, P- or N-donor ligands (L), with [PPN]Cl ([PPN] = Ph(3)P=N=PPh(3)), with Tl(acac) (acacH = acetylacetone), or with neutral bidentate ligands N^N (tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda), 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine ((t)Bubpy)) in the presence of AgOTf or AgClO(4) to afford complexes of the types [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}Cl(L)] (2), [PPN][Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}Cl(2)] (3), [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}(acac)] (4) or [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}(N^N)]X (X = OTf, ClO(4)) (5), respectively. Complexes 1 reacted with bidentate N^N ligands in the presence of a base to afford mononuclear zwitterionic oximato complexes [Pd{C,N-Ar{C(Me)=NO}-2}(N^N)] (6). Dehydrochlorination of complexes 2 by a base yielded dimeric oximato complexes of the type [Pd{μ-C,N,O-Ar{C(Me)[double bond, length as m-dash]NO}-2}L](2) (7). The insertion of XyNC into the Pd-C(aryl) bond of complex 2 produced the mononuclear iminoaryloxime derivative [Pd{C,N-C(=NXy)Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}Cl(CNXy)] (8) which, in turn, reacted with [AuCl(SMe(2))] to give [Pd{μ-N,C,N-C(=NXy)Ar{C(Me)=NOH}-2}Cl](2) (9) with loss of XyNC. Some of these complexes are, for any metal, the first containing cyclometalated aryloximato (6, 7) or iminoaryloxime (8, 9) ligands. Various crystal structures of complexes of the types 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9 have been determined.     

A new heteroleptic ruthenium sensitizer enhances the absorptivity of mesoporous titania film for a high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cell

A heteroleptic polypyridyl ruthenium complex, cis-Ru(4,4'-bis(5-octylthieno[3,2-b]thiophen-2-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine)(4,4'-dicarboxyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(NCS)2, with a high molar extinction coefficient of 20.5 x 10(3) M(-1) cm(-1) at 553 nm has been synthesized and demonstrated as a highly efficient sensitizer for a dye-sensitized solar cell, giving a power conversion efficiency of 10.53% measured under an irradiation of air mass 1.5 global (AM 1.5G) full sunlight.     

Synthesis,characterization, and polymerization activity of [bis(4,4'-bis(neophyldimethylsilylmethyl)-2,2'-bipyridyl)copper(I)]+CuBr2- and Implications for copper(I) catalyst structures in atom transfer radical polymerization

A series of 4,4'-disilyl-substituted-2,2'-bipyridine ligands were prepared using a metathesis reaction of the dianion of 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine with several trialkylsilyl chlorides: 4,4'bis(tert-butyldimethylsilylmethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (dTBDMSbipy), 4,4'-bis(dimethylthexylsilylmethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (dTHEXbipy), and 4,4'-bis(neophyldimethylsilylmethyl)-2-2'-bipyridine (dNEObipy). It was observed that the side chain length correlated with the ability of the ligand to form hydrocarbon soluble complexes of copper(I) bromide, with dNEObipy forming the most soluble and easily crystallized complexes. The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene using dNEObipy as the ligand displayed molecular weight control equivalent to other ATRP systems in which solubilizing ligands, such as 4,4'-di-5-nonyl-2,2'-bipyridine or 4,4'-di-n-heptyl-2,2'-bipyridine, were used. The one-to-one complex of dNEObipy with CuBr was prepared and its crystal structure was determined. The resulting complex had the ionic formulation [(dNEObipy)2Cu]+[CuBr2]- and displayed similar activities in styrene ATRP as the standard 2 dNEObipy/CuBr catalyst system. These and other polymerization results in addition to NMR experiments suggest that the predominant copper(I) species formed in ATRP solutions is the 2-to-1 ligand-to-copper(I) cation, [(dNEObipy)2Cu]+, with either a dihalocuprate or halide counteranion, depending upon the conditions.     

Phenomenally high molar extinction coefficient sensitizer with "donor-acceptor" ligands for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

A phenomenally high molar extinction coefficient heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(4,4'-carboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine)(4,4'-(4-{4-methyl-2,5-bis[3-methylbutoxy]styryl}-2,5-bis[3-methylbutoxy]-2,2'-bipyridine)(NCS) 2] ( DCSC13) was synthesized by incorporating donor-acceptor ligands. The absorption spectrum of the DCSC13 sensitizer is dominated by metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transitions (MLCT) in the visible region, with absorption maxima appearing at 442 and 554 nm. The lowest MLCT absorption bands are red-shifted, and the molar extinction coefficients of these bands are significantly higher at 72,100 and 30,600 M(-1) cm(-1), respectively, when compared to those of the analogous [Ru(4,4'-carboxylic acid-2,2'-bipyridine)(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)(NCS)2] (N820) sensitizer. The DCSC13 complex, when anchored on nanocrystalline TiO 2 films, exhibited increased short-circuit photocurrent and consequent power-conversion efficiency when compared with the N820 sensitizer.     

Catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds by functionalized ionic liquids-stabilized nickel nanoparticles in aqueous phase: The influence of anions

Two kinds of nickel nanoparticles (NPs) well-dispersed in aqueous phase have been conveniently prepared by reducing nickel(II) salt with hydrazine in the presence of amino group (?NH₂) functionalized ionic liquids: 1-(3-aminopropyl)-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bromide ([AMMIM][Br]) and 1-(3-aminopropyl)-2,3-dimethylimidazolium acetate ([AMMIM][AcO]). The Ni(0) particles are composed of smaller ones which assemble in a blackberry-like shape. The Ni nanoparticles stabilized with [AMMIM][AcO] are much larger than those stabilized with [AMMIM][Br], and the former unexpectedly give much higher activity in the selective hydrogenation of citral and nitrobenzene (NB) in aqueous phase. The Ni(0) nanocatalysts dispersed in aqueous phase are stable enough to be reused at least five times without significant loss of catalytic activity and selectivity during the catalytic recycles.     

Electrochemical and luminescent properties of new mononuclear ruthenium(II) and binuclear iridium(III)-ruthenium(II) terpyridine complexes.

Hexafluorophosphate salts of mononuclear complexes [Ru(II)Cl(L)(terpy)]+ (L = dmbpy (1); dpbpy (2), sambpy (3), and dpp (7), and binuclear complexes [Ru(II)2Cl2(dpp)(terpy)2]2+ (8) and [Ir(III)Ru(II)Cl2(dpp)(terpy)2]3+ (9) were prepared and characterized. Abbreviations of the ligands are bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, dpbpy = 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine, dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine, sambpy = 4,4'-bis((S)-(+)-alpha-1-phenylethylamido)-2,2'-bipyridine, and terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine. The absorption spectra of 8 and 9 are dominated by ligand-centered bands in the UV region and by metal-to-ligand charge-transfer bands in the visible region. The details of their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties were investigated. In both binuclear complexes, it has been found that the HOMO is based on the Ru metal, and LUMO is dpp-based. [Ir(III)Ru(II)Cl2(dpp)(terpy)2]3+, indicating intense emission at room temperature, and a lifetime of 154 ns. The long lifetime of this bimetallic chromophore makes it a useful component in the design of supramolecular complexes.     

Influence of the coordination mode in [Ni{RC(S)NP(S)(OiPr)2}2] for the formation of nickel-containing nanoparticles

The complex [Ni{2-PyNHC(S)NP(S)(OiPr)(2)-1,5,7-N,N',S}(2)] ([NiL(I)(2)]) dissolved in tri-n-octylphosphine (TOP) is decomposed in hot hexadecylamine (HDA) to give TOP-capped Ni nanoparticles. The same procedure using [Ni{2-MeC(6)H(4)NHC(S)NP(S)(OiPr)(2)}(2)-1,3-N,S] ([NiL(II)(2)]) and [Ni{PhC(S)NP(S)(OiPr)(2)-1,5-S,S'}(2)] ([NiL(III)(2)]) leads to the formation of NiS nanoparticles with the rhombohedral and hexagonal structures, respectively. NiH(x) nanoparticles were also produced from a mixture of [NiL(I)(2)] and N(2)H(4). The obtained Ni nanoparticles can be used for the catalytic addition of Ph(2)S(2) to 1-, 2- and 3-hexynes.