Highlighting the role of the medium in DFT analysis of the photophysical properties of ruthenium(II) polypyridine-type complexes

In order to test the pertinence of the density functional theory to interpret the photophysical properties of ruthenium(II) polypyridine-type complexes, DFT and TDDFT calculations are performed both on the isolated molecule and in solution media described by the dielectric-like polarized continuum model (PCM). This study is focused on three isoelectronic complexes: [Ru(bpy)(2)(PhenImHPh)](2+) (II), where PhenImHPh represents the 2-(3,5-ditertbutylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline ligand, as well as [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImPh)]+ (I), and [Ru(bpy)(2)(PhenImH2Ph)](3+) (III), obtained by changing the protonic state of the imidazole ring. The structural and electronic properties of the ground and lowest triplet states are fully characterized in vacuo and in water solution, and the absorption spectra in the visible region are also investigated by TDDFT. The theoretical data are compared to the electrochemistry, UV-visible, and photophysical experiments to assess the validity and limits of each type of calculation. The choice of the functional is also discussed.     

Influence of the protonic state of an imidazole-containing ligand on the electrochemical and photophysical properties of a ruthenium(II)-polypyridine-type complex

The synthesis and characterisation of [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImHPh)]2+ where PhenImHPh represents the 2-(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline ligand are described. The compounds issued from the three different protonic states of the imidazole ring [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImPh)]+ (I), [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImHPh)]2+ (II) and [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImH2Ph)]3+ (III) were isolated and spectroscopically characterised. The X-ray structures of [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImPh)](PF6)H2O.6 MeOH, [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImHPh)](NO3)2H2O.3 MeOH and [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImH2Ph)](PF6)3 5 H2O are reported. Electrochemical data obtained on these complexes indicate almost no potential shift for the Ru(III/II) redox couple. Therefore a Coulombic effect between the imidazole ring and the metal centre can be ruled out. The monooxidised forms of I and II have been characterised by EPR spectroscopy and are reminiscent of the presence of a radical species. The emission properties of the parent compound [Ru(bpy)2(PhenImHPh)]2+ were studied as a function of pH and both the lifetimes and intensities decreased upon deprotonation. Photophysical properties, investigated in the absence and presence of an electron acceptor (methylviologen), were distinctly different for the three compounds. Transient absorption features indicate that unique excited states are involved. Theoretical data obtained from DFT calculations in water on the three protonic forms are presented and discussed in the light of the experimental results.     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole derivatives catalyzed by new Yb(OTf)3-pyridylalkylamine complexes as chiral Lewis acids

New Yb(OTf)(3)-pyridylalkylamine complexes have been employed as chiral Lewis acids in the enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole derivatives with trifluoropyruvates. The influence of the substituents as well as the configuration of the ligands have been studied and allowed us to reach enantiomeric excesses up to 83%.     

Self-assembly of tris(2-ureidobenzyl)amines with <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis><Subscript>1</Subscript> symmetry

Abstract  

Tris(2-ureidobenzyl)amines bearing three differentially substituted arms have been synthesized. They possess an asymmetric nitrogen atom, the pivotal one, and thus they feature C ₁ symmetry. The self-assembly of these C ₁-symmetric tris(2-ureidobenzyl)amines may potentially lead to multiple regio- and diastereoisomeric capsules coming from the pairing of the four stereoisomeric monomers with configurations (R, P), (S, P), (R, M) and (S, M). The ¹H- and ¹⁹F{¹H}-NMR spectra confirm the presence of dimeric aggregates, as a mixture of several regio- and diastereoisomeric species.     

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles by microemulsion assisted photoreduction method

A new, clean, cost-effective and rapid method for the synthesis of stable spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is developed. This novel technique combines microemulsion as one of soft-nanotechnology techniques of wet chemistry, with photo-physics of UV-radiation in a unique versatile method to design and obtain controlled nanostructures for multifunctional materials. Based on a phase diagram in ternary water/Brij 30/n-heptane system pristine, and thiol functionalized, gold nanoparticles were obtained by a microemulsion assisted photoreduction technique, allowing increased flexibility during the synthesis and selection of materials. The spherical nanoparticles obtained by this route show a homogeneous size distribution, with an average diameter of 11 nm, for pristine gold nanoparticles and of 12 nm, for functionalized species. The evolution of the system at the nanoscale has been studied using, in tandem, UV-VIS and DLS measurements. The structure, size and shape of the final nanoparticles obtained have been evaluated by adequate instrumental techniques: FTIR, XRD and TEM image analysis. Kinetic studies have also been performed in order to follow the evolution of nanospecies during irradiation procedure.     

Structure simulation into a lamellar supramolecular network and calculation of the metal ions/ligands ratio

Background

Biosensors have attracted increasing attention as reliable analytical instruments in in situ monitoring of public health and environmental pollution. For enzyme-based biosensors, the stabilization of enzymatic activity on the biological recognition element is of great importance. It is generally acknowledged that an effective immobilization technique is a key step to achieve the construction quality of biosensors.

Results

A novel disposable biosensor was constructed by immobilizing laccase (Lac) with silica spheres on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-doped screen-printed electrode (SPE). Then, it was characterized in morphology and electrochemical properties by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The characterization results indicated that a high loading of Lac and a good electrocatalytic activity could be obtained, attributing to the porous structure, large specific area and good biocompatibility of silica spheres and MWCNTs. Furthermore, the electrochemical sensing properties of the constructed biosensor were investigated by choosing dopamine (DA) as the typical model of phenolic compounds. It was shown that the biosensor displays a good linearity in the range from 1.3 to 85.5 ??M with a detection limit of 0.42 ??M (S/N = 3), and the Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m ^app) was calculated to be 3.78 ??M.

Conclusion

The immobilization of Lac was successfully achieved with silica spheres to construct a disposable biosensor on the MWCNTs-doped SPE (MWCNTs/SPE). This biosensor could determine DA based on a non-oxidative mechanism in a rapid, selective and sensitive way. Besides, the developed biosensor could retain high enzymatic activity and possess good stability without cross-linking reagents. The proposed immobilization approach and the constructed biosensor offer a great potential for the fabrication of the enzyme-based biosensors and the analysis of phenolic compounds.     

A theoretical investigation into the photophysical properties of ruthenium polypyridine-type complexes

Excited states of ruthenium polypyridine-type complexes have always attracted the interest of chemists. We have recently found evidence of a remarkable long-lived excited state (30 micros) for a Ru(II) complex containing a heteroditopic ligand that can be viewed as a fused phenanthroline and salophen ligand.1 To unravel this intriguing electronic property, we have used density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand the ground-state properties of [(bpy)(2)Ru(LH(2))](2+), where LH(2) represents N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-(1,10-phenanthroline)diamine. Excited singlet and triplet states have been examined by the time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) formalism and the theoretical findings have been compared with those for the parent complex [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+). The outstanding result is the presence of excited states lower in energy than the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states, originating from intraligand charge transfer (ILCT) from the phenolic rings to the phenanthroline part of the coordinated LH(2). The spin density distribution for the lowest triplet state provides evidence that it is in fact the lowest triplet state of the free ligand. Correlation between the energy level diagram of orbitals for the ground state and that for the (3)ILCT state clearly establishes that the ruthenium retains its formal Ru(II) oxidation state. The quenching of the luminescence and the evidence of the long-lived excited state observed for [(bpy)(2)Ru(LH(2))](2+) are discussed in the light of the computational results.