Intensely luminescent gold(I)-silver(I) cluster complexes with tunable structural features

A new series of isostructural, brilliantly luminescent gold-silver complexes having the formula [Au3(mu3-E)Ag(PPh2py)3](BF4)2 where E = O, S, Se and Ph2Ppy = 2-diphenylphosphinopyridine has been synthesized and characterized. The structural core of these complexes is a Au3Ag metallophilically linked tetrahedron with a group-16 atom functioning as a mu3-ligand capping the three gold atoms. In the solid state, pairs of clusters are joined by two unsupported aurophilic interactions. The emission energy changes strikingly in going from O (blue) to S (yellow) and Se (orange). The luminescence from the E = O system is the first to be reported for a gold(I) oxo system. Additionally, the luminescent 4-methylpyridyl analogue with E = S has been prepared and structurally characterized. For E = S, Se, the change in emission energy with mu3-bridging atom provides a sound basis for an LMMCT assignment of the excited state while lifetime measurements support its spin-forbidden nature. Frozen glass measurements indicate the presence of a higher-energy emitting state for these systems, and for the E = O system, either LMMCT or metal-centered cluster-based emission can be proposed.     

Regioselective [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of a nickel-benzyne complex with 1,3-diynes

[reaction: see text] Reactions of nickel(0)-benzyne complexes with a range of symmetrically substituted 1,3-diynes in the presence of triethylphosphine lead to the regioselective formation of 2,3-dialkynyl naphthalenes. The regioselectivity can be reversed when the diyne possesses substituents of high steric bulk, allowing selective formation of either symmetric dialkynyl naphthalene.     

Preparation and characterization of MgB2 superconductor

The MgB₂ superconductor, synthesized using solid-state and liquid-phase sintering methods, have been characterized for various properties. The upper critical field, irreversibility line and critical current density have been determined using magnetization data. The current-voltage characteristics recorded under an applied magnetic field revealed the existence of vortex glass transition. The surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that MgB₂ is sensitive to atmospheric degradation.