Metal Nitride Cluster Fullerene M3N@C80 (M=Y,Sc) Based Dyads: Synthesis,and Electrochemical,Theoretical and Photophysical Studies

The first pyrrolidine and cyclopropane derivatives of the trimetallic nitride templated (TNT) endohedral metallofullerenes I_h‐Sc₃N@C₈₀ and I_h‐Y₃N@C₈₀ connected to an electron‐donor unit (i.e., tetrathiafulvalene, phthalocyanine or ferrocene) were successfully prepared by 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylides and Bingel–Hirsch‐type reactions. Electrochemical studies confirmed the formation of the [6,6] regioisomers for the Y₃N@C₈₀‐based dyads and the [5,6] regioisomers in the case of Sc₃N@C₈₀‐based dyads. Similar to other TNT endohedral metallofullerene systems previously synthesized, irreversible reductive behavior was observed for the [6,6]‐Y₃N@C₈₀‐based dyads, whereas the [5,6]‐Sc₃N@C₈₀‐based dyads exhibited reversible reductive electrochemistry. Density functional calculations were also carried out on these dyads confirming the importance of these structures as electron transfer model systems. Furthermore, photophysical investigations on a ferrocenyl–Sc₃N@C₈₀‐fulleropyrrolidine dyad demonstrated the existence of a photoinduced electron‐transfer process that yields a radical ion pair with a lifetime three times longer than that obtained for the analogous C₆₀ dyad.     

A Bond Path and an Attractive Ehrenfest Force Do Not Necessarily Indicate Bonding Interactions: Case Study on M2X2 (M=Li,Na, K; X=H,OH, F,Cl)

Interactions in dimers of model alkali metal derivatives M₂X₂ (M=Li or Na or K; X=H or F, Cl, OH) are studied in the frame of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) using the interacting quantum atoms approach (IQA). Contrary to opinion prevalent in QTAIM studies, the interaction between two anions linked by a bond path is demonstrated to be strongly repulsive. One may therefore say that a bond path does not necessarily indicate bonding interactions. The interactions between two anions or two cations that are not linked by a bond path are also strongly repulsive. The repulsive anion–anion and cation–cation interactions are outweighed by much stronger attractive anion–cation interactions, and the model molecules are therefore in a stable state. The attractive Ehrenfest forces (calculated in the frame of the QTAIM) acting across interatomic surfaces shared by anions in the dimers do not reflect the repulsive interactions between anions. Probable reasons of this disagreement are discussed. The force exerted on the nucleus and the electrons of a particular atom by the nucleus and the electrons of any another atom in question is proposed. It is assumed that this force unambiguously exposes whether basins of two atoms are attracted or repelled by each other in a polyatomic molecule.     

Unusually Strong Dipole–Dipole and Dipole–Quadrupole Interactions in a Nanoporous Solid. Crystal Structure and Related Properties of (VO)3[M(CN)6]2·nH2O (M = Fe,Co)

In porous Prussian blue (PB) analogues, the partially naked central metal atoms found at the cavities surface are responsible for many of their physical properties, among them the adsorption potentials. In the as‐synthesized PB analogues, such metal sites stabilize water molecules inside the cavity through coordination bond formation. The filling of the cavity volume is completed with water molecules linked to the coordinated ones through hydrogen bonds formation. Vanadyl‐based PB analogue shows quite different features. The metal(V) at the cavities surface has saturated its coordination sphere with the O atom of the vanadyl ion (V=O). In this material, the V=O group preserves enough strong dipole moment to stabilize adsorbed species at the cavity through dipole–dipole and dipole–quadrupole interactions. This contribution reports the preparation, crystal structure and properties for (VO)₃[M(CN)₆]₂ · nH₂O (M = Fe, Co). According to the refined crystal structure, IR spectra and TG data, six water molecules remain stabilized inside the cavities through a strong dipole–dipole coupling with the vanadyl group. The cavity contains additional water molecules interacting through hydrogen bond bridges with the water molecules coupled to the V=O group. The vanadyl ion is free of hydrogen bonding interactions with the water molecules. The recorded adsorption isotherms for N₂, CO₂ and H₂, three molecules with only quadrupole moment, reveal presence of relative strong adsorption forces due to dipole‐quadrupole interactions.     

The performance of density functional theory for LnF (Ln=Nd,Eu, Gd,Yb) and YbH

Different density functional theory (DFT) functionals have been evaluated by studying geometries and bond strengths of YbH, YbF, EuF, GdF, and NdF and compared with accurate CCSD(T) results and, when available, experiment. The agreement between the CCSD(T) results and experiment, when available, is good. The agreement is also good between bond strengths calculated at the DFT level using relativistic effective core potentials and the CCSD(T) results. However, the all-electron ADF calculations systematically overestimate binding energies. The geometries obtained by both the all-electron and the effective-core-potential-based DFT calculations are generally in good agreement with the CCSD(T) results.Contribution to the Björn Roos Honorary Issue     

Metal–Organic Perovskites: Synthesis,Structures, and Magnetic Properties of [C(NH2)3][MII(HCOO)3] (M=Mn,Fe, Co,Ni, Cu,and Zn; C(NH2)3= Guanidinium)

We report the synthesis, crystal structures, and spectral, thermal, and magnetic properties of a family of metal–organic perovskite ABX₃, [C(NH₂)₃][M^II(HCOO)₃], in which A=C(NH₂)₃ is guanidinium, B=M is a divalent metal ion (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn), and X is the formate HCOO^?. The compounds could be synthesized by either diffusion or hydrothermal methods from water or water‐rich solutions depending on the metal. The five members (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn) are isostructural and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnna, while the Cu member in Pna2₁. In the perovskite structures, the octahedrally coordinated metal ions are connected by the anti–anti formate bridges, thus forming the anionic NaCl‐type [M(HCOO)₃]^? frameworks, with the guanidinium in the nearly cubic cavities of the frameworks. The Jahn–Teller effect of Cu²⁺ results in a distorted anionic Cu–formate framework that can be regarded as Cu–formate chains through short basal Cu? O bonds linked by the long axial Cu? O bonds. These materials show higher thermal stability than other metal–organic perovskite series of [AmineH][M(HCOO)₃] templated by the organic monoammonium cations (AmineH⁺) as a result of the stronger hydrogen bonding between guanidinium and the formate of the framework. A magnetic study revealed that the five magnetic members (except Zn) display spin‐canted antiferromagnetism, with a Néel temperature of 8.8 (Mn), 10.0 (Fe), 14.2 (Co), 34.2 (Ni), and 4.6 K (Cu). In addition to the general spin‐canted antiferromagnetism, the Fe compound shows two isothermal transformations (a spin‐flop and a spin‐flip to the paramagnetic phase) within 50 kOe. The Co member possesses quite a large canting angle. The Cu member is a magnetic system with low dimensional character and shows slow magnetic relaxation that probably results from the domain dynamics.     

Studies of the antenna effect in polymer molecules. XVII. Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of poly(sodium styrenesulfonate-co-N-vinylcarbazole) and poly[sodium styrenesulfonate-co-N-(acryloyloxyhexyl)carbazole]

Two new antenna polyelectrolytes, poly(sodium styrenesulfonate-co-N-vinylcarbazole) (PSSS–VCz) and poly[sodium styrenesulfonate-co-N-(acryloyloxyhexyl)carbazole](PSSS–AHCz) have been synthesized. Both polymers were found to solubilize large hydrophobic compounds such as perylene in aqueous solution, but PSSS–AHCz was much more efficient than PSSS–VCz. The distribution coefficients of perylene between the polymer pseudophase and water was determined to be (2.9 ± 0.1) × 10⁶ and (4.0 ± 0.2) × 10⁴ in PSSS–AHCz and PSSS–VCz, respectively. The greater solubilizing ability of PSSS–AHCz is attributed to the higher content of hydrophobic monomer units in the polymer. Both copolymers displayed photocatalytic activity, absorbing light in the UV-visible spectral region. Energy can then be transferred to a solubilized molecule or dissolved oxygen and induce photochemical reactions. The model reaction used in this study was the photosensitized oxidation of perylene solubilized in aqueous polymer solutions. PSSS–AHCz was found to be a much more efficient photocatalyst than PSSS–VCz. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of PSSS–AHCz is attributed to the greater concentration of carbazole chromophores, the higher local concentration of probe in the polymeric pseudophase and possibly to the elimination of the low-energy excimer.     

Activation of 1, 2‐Dihydrodisilanes at Platinum(0) Phosphine Complexes: Syntheses and Structures of Bissilyl Platinum(II) Complexes

The bissilyl complexes 3 – 6 were synthesized by reactions of the platinum(0) complexes [Pt(η²‐C₂H₄)(diphos)] ( 1 : diphos = dppe; 2 : diphos = dcpe) with the disilanes 1, 1,2, 2‐tetramethyldisilane and 1, 1,2, 2‐tetraphenyldisilane via Si–Si bond activation. The molecular structures of 4 and 5 in the solid state are reported. The reaction of 2 with HPh₂SiSiPh₂H led to the immediate formation of the hydrido disilanyl complex [Pt(H)(SiPh₂SiPh₂H)(dcpe)] ( 7 ), which converts slowly into the bissilyl complex [Pt(SiHPh₂)₂(dcpe)] ( 6 ). The latter was reported before to be a η²‐disilene complex.     

Trifluoromethylpyridine‐Substituted N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes Related to Natural Products: Synthesis,Structure, and Potential Antitumor Activity of some Corresponding Gold(I), Rhodium(I), and Iridium(I) Complexes

This work presents the synthesis, characterization, and application of several new metal(I) complexes with trifluoromethylpyridine‐containing N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. The metal of choice was gold(I) for compounds 7  –  10 , rhodium(I) for 11  –  12 , and iridium(I) for 13  –  14 , respectively. The trifluoromethylpyridine moiety was incorporated, along with other biologically active moieties, with the intention of modifying the lipophilicity of the complexes, so that the transport of the active units (M–NHC) through the cell wall barrier is facilitated. The biological activity of the complexes was investigated. In vitro assessment of antitumor activity in a panel of 12 human tumor cell lines by a monolayer assay revealed good potency (mean IC₅₀ 12.6 μm ) and tumor selectivity for one compound. The solid‐state structures of two solvates of compound 7 , one with MeOH and one with THF, were determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

Noble Metals Can Have Different Effects on Photocatalysis Over Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs): A Case Study on M/NH2‐MIL‐125(Ti) (M=Pt and Au)

M‐doped NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) (M=Pt and Au) were prepared by using the wetness impregnation method followed by a treatment with H₂ flow. The resultant samples were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses, N₂‐sorption BET surface area, and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic reaction carried out in saturated CO₂ with triethanolamine (TEOA) as sacrificial agent under visible‐light irradiations showed that the noble metal‐doping on NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) promoted the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Unlike that over pure NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti), in which only formate was produced, both hydrogen and formate were formed over Pt‐ and Au‐loaded NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti). However, Pt and Au have different effects on the photocatalytic performance for formate production. Compared with pure NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti), Pt/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) showed an enhanced activity for photocatalytic formate formation, whereas Au has a negative effect on this reaction. To elucidate the origin of the different photocatalytic performance, electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out over M/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti).The photocatalytic mechanisms over M/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) (M=Pt and Au) were proposed. For the first time, the hydrogen spillover from the noble metal Pt to the framework of NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) and its promoting effect on the photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is revealed. The elucidation of the mechanism on the photocatalysis over M/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) can provide some guidance in the development of new photocatalysts based on MOF materials. This study also demonstrates the potential of using noble metal‐doped MOFs in photocatalytic reactions involving hydrogen as a reactant, like hydrogenation reactions.     

Alcohol‐Vapor Inclusion in Single‐Crystal Adsorbents [MII2(bza)4(pyz)]n (M=Rh,Cu): Structural Study and Application to Separation Membranes

The vapor absorbency of the series of alcohols methanol, ethanol, 1‐propanol, 1‐butanol, and 1‐pentanol was characterized on the single‐crystal adsorbents [M^II₂(bza)₄(pyz)]_n (bza=benzoate, pyz=pyrazine, M=Rh ( 1 ), Cu ( 2 )). The crystal structures of all the alcohol inclusions were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography at 90 K. The crystal‐phase transition induced by guest adsorption occurred in the inclusion crystals except for 1‐propanol. A hydrogen‐bonded dimer of adsorbed alcohol was found in the methanol‐ and ethanol‐inclusion crystals, which is similar to a previous observation in 2 ?2EtOH (S. Takamizawa, T. Saito, T. Akatsuka, E. Nakata, Inorg. Chem. 2005 , 44, 1421–1424). In contrast, an isolated monomer was present in the channel for 1‐propanol, 1‐butanol, and 1‐pentanol inclusions. All adsorbed alcohols were stabilized by hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic interactions between host and guest. From the combined results of microscopic determination (crystal structure) and macroscopic observation (gas‐adsorption property), the observed transition induced by gas adsorption is explained by stepwise inclusion into the individual cavities, which is called the “step‐loading effect.” Alcohol/water separation was attempted by a pervaporation technique with microcrystals of 2 dispersed in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) membrane. In the alcohol/water separation, the membrane showed effective separation ability and gave separation factors (alcohol/water) of 5.6 and 4.7 for methanol and ethanol at room temperature, respectively.     

Synergetic effect of host-guest chemistry and spin crossover in 3D Hofmann-like metal-organic frameworks [Fe(bpac)M(CN)4] (M=Pt, Pd, Ni)

The synthesis and characterization of a series of three‐dimensional (3D) Hofmann‐like clathrate porous metal–organic framework (MOF) materials [Fe(bpac)M(CN)₄] (M=Pt, Pd, and Ni; bpac=bis(4‐pyridyl)acetylene) that exhibit spin‐crossover behavior is reported. The rigid bpac ligand is longer than the previously used azopyridine and pyrazine and has been selected with the aim to improve both the spin‐crossover properties and the porosity of the corresponding porous coordination polymers (PCPs). The 3D network is composed of successive {Fe[M(CN)₄]}_n planar layers bridged by the bis‐monodentate bpac ligand linked in the apical positions of the iron center. The large void between the layers, which represents 41.7 % of the unit cell, can accommodate solvent molecules or free bpac ligand. Different synthetic strategies were used to obtain a range of spin‐crossover behaviors with hysteresis loops around room temperature; the samples were characterized by magnetic susceptibility, calorimetric, Mössbauer, and Raman measurements. The complete physical study reveals a clear relationship between the quantity of included bpac molecules and the completeness of the spin transition, thereby underlining the key role of the π–π stacking interactions operating between the host and guest bpac molecules within the network. Although the inclusion of the bpac molecules tends to increase the amount of active iron centers, no variation of the transition temperature was measured. We have also investigated the ability of the network to accommodate the inclusion of molecules other than water and bpac and studied the synergy between the host–guest interaction and the spin‐crossover behavior. In fact, the clathration of various aromatic molecules revealed specific modifications of the transition temperature. Finally, the transition temperature and the completeness of the transition are related to the nature of the metal associated with the iron center (Ni, Pt, or Pd) and also to the nature and the amount of guest molecules in the lattice.