Discrete Rectangles,Prisms, and Heterometallic Cages from a Conjugated Cp*Rh‐Based Building Block

By carefully selecting an existing synthetic strategy and suitable coordination subunits, constructing desired coordination geometries is no longer that difficult to accomplish. Herein, a new strategy to construct a series of unprecedented structures by using conjugated Cp*Rh‐based complex BN‐OTf (Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) as the building block is proposed. DFT calculations revealed extensive delocalized π bonds in the subunit. With BN‐OTf , rectangular macrocycles TN‐bpy and TN‐bpe were controllably synthesized. Single‐crystal XRD studies confirmed one‐dimensional stacking channels for the tetranuclear structure. Notably, the starting ligand imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylate was found to act not only as a tetradentate but also as a hexadentate ligand that can coordinate to further metal ions. Subsequently, [4 Rh+1 M] heterometallic complexes HMZ (M=Cu and Zn) were accessed by chelating borderline hard/soft Lewis acids. With TN‐Linker or HMZ , two routes resulted in the [8 Rh+2 M] heterometallic cages HMC (M=Cu and Zn) with excellent crystallinity and stability. Surprisingly, when BN‐OTf bonded to rhodium itself, triangular prisms TP‐Linker were obtained with high solubility after being linked by bipyridine linkers. Both the X‐ray structure and ¹H NMR spectrum confirmed the novel isomerization of the triangular structures. All of the compounds were obtained in high yields and were fully characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and in most cases single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination.     

Investigations of the Vicarious C‐Aminations of 5,7‐Dinitrobenzotriazole and 4,6‐Dinitrobenzotriazol‐3‐ium‐1‐oxide and Their Energetic Properties

This combined experimental and theoretical study details the vicarious nucleophilic substitution by amination of 5,7‐dinitrobenzotriazol ( 1 ) and 4,6‐dinitrobenzotriazole‐3‐ium‐1‐oxide ( 4 ) with trimethylhydrazinium iodide to afford the new corresponding one‐ and two‐time aminated compounds and investigations of its mechanism by EPR spectroscopy. The preferred position for the first amination is computed by spin density population and verified by X‐ray crystallography. The zwitterionic structure of 4 is investigated in solution by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and in solid state by X‐ray diffraction. Furthermore, the crystal structure of 1 is presented. The energetic behavior of the aminated products as well as the starting materials 1 and 4 was investigated, regarding sensitivities and performance.     

Physisorption and Chemisorption on Silver Clusters

Adsorption and coadsorption studies on free silver clusters show that nitrogen physisorbs like rare gases, whereas oxygen chemisorbs with similarities and differences to bulk silver surfaces. Silver nanoparticles activate, or even dissociate adsorbed oxygen molecules. The global electron configurations of the adsorbent and adsorbate dominate the stability at small clusters. This is more important than geometry and site effects. Due to electronic shell effects and electron pairing, the activation of oxygen strongly varies with size. At more than 40 free electrons in the complex, such quantum effects start to blur. The size dependence becomes smoother and general trends govern the reactivity, which is driven by the interaction between the charge state of the nanoparticle and the charge transfer of the reaction.     

Acceleration of Long‐Range Photoinduced Electron Transfer through DNA by Hydroxyquinolines as Artificial Base Pairs

The C‐nucleoside based on the hydroxyquinoline ligand (Hq) is complementary to itself and forms stable Hq–Hq pairs in double‐stranded DNA. These artificial Hq–Hq pairs may serve as artificial electron carriers for long‐range photoinduced electron transfer in DNA, as elucidated by a combination of gel electrophoretic analysis of irradiated samples and time‐resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. For this study, the Hq–Hq pair was combined with a DNA‐based donor–acceptor system consisting of 6‐N,N‐dimethylaminopyrene conjugated to 2′‐deoxyuridine as photoinducible electron donor, and methyl viologen attached to the 2′‐position of uridine as electron acceptor. The Hq radical anion was identified in the time‐resolved measurements and strand cleavage products support its role as an intermediate charge carrier. Hence, the Hq–Hq pair significantly enhances the electron hopping capability of DNA compared to natural DNA bases over long distances while keeping the self‐assembly properties as the most attractive feature of DNA as a supramolecular architecture.     

UV Emission of Gd3+ in the Presence of Cu2+: Towards Luminescence Quenching through Quantum Cutting?

The first investigation into the ultraviolet (UV) photoluminescence of gadolinium(III) in the presence of copper(II) is reported. A melt‐quenched barium phosphate glass was used as a model matrix. The optical spectroscopy assessment shows that with increasing CuO concentration the Cu²⁺ absorption band grows steadily, whereas the UV emission from Gd³⁺ ions is progressively quenched. The data, thus, suggests the existence of a Gd³⁺→Cu²⁺ energy‐transfer process ocurring through quantum cutting. A downconversion/cross‐relaxation pathway proceeding through a virtual state in Gd³⁺ is proposed. These findings suggest gadolinium(III) could potentially be used in the optical sensing of copper(II).     

Ionic‐Liquid‐Grafted Rigid Poly(p‐Phenylene) Microspheres: Efficient Heterogeneous Media for Metal Scavenging and Catalysis

Novel guanidinium ionic liquid‐grafted rigid poly(p‐phenylene) (PPPIL) microspheres have been developed for metal scavenging and catalysis. The noble‐metal nanoparticles supported on the microspheres surface can be used as efficient heterogeneous catalysts. The combination of nanoparticles and ionic liquid fragments on the microsphere surfaces enhance the activity and durability of the catalyst. The PPPIL ? Pd⁰ catalyst has been tested in the Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction, and exhibits much higher catalytic activity than Pd catalysts supported on porous polymer matrices. The PPPIL ? Pd⁰ catalyst can be recycled at least for nine runs without any significant loss of activity. The present approach may, therefore, have potential applications in transition‐metal‐nanocatalyzed reactions.     

Influence of Process Parameters on the Reaction Kinetics of the Chromium‐Catalyzed Trimerization of Ethylene

In this paper we report the results of an extensive experimental kinetic study carried out on the novel ethylene trimerization catalyst system, comprising the chromium source [CrCl₃(thf)₃] (thf=tetrahydrofuran), a Ph₂P‐N(iPr)‐P(Ph)‐N(iPr)H (PNPNH) ligand (Ph=phenyl, iPr=isopropyl), and triethylaluminum (AlEt₃) as activator. It could be shown that the initial activity shows a first‐order dependency on the ethylene concentration. Also, a first‐order dependency was found for the catalyst concentration. The initial activity follows a typical Arrhenius behavior with an experimentally determined activation energy of 52.6 kJ mol^?1. At elevated temperatures (ca. 80 °C), a significant deactivation was observed, which can be tentatively traced back to a ligand rearrangement in the presence of AlEt₃. After a fast initial phase, a pronounced ‘kink’ in the ethylene‐uptake curve is observed, followed by a slow, almost linear, further increase of the total ethylene consumption. The catalyst composition, in particular the ligand/chromium and the cocatalyst/chromium molar ratio, has a strong impact on the catalytic performance of the trimerization of ethylene.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of trans‐Configured β‐Lactones: Cooperation of Lewis Acid and Ion Pair Catalysis

The development of the first trans‐selective catalytic asymmetric [2+2] cyclocondensation of acyl halides with aliphatic aldehydes furnishing 3,4‐disubstituted β‐lactones is described. This work made use of a new strategy within the context of asymmetric dual activation catalysis: it combines the concepts of Lewis acid and organic aprotic ion pair catalysis in a single catalyst system. The methodology could also be applied to aromatic aldehydes and offers broad applicability (29 examples). The utility was further demonstrated by nucleophilic ring‐opening reactions that provide highly enantiomerically enriched anti‐aldol products.     

Efficient Two‐Photon Excited Amplified Spontaneous Emission from Organic Single Crystals

E, E‐1, 4‐bis[4′‐(N,N‐dibutylamino)styryl]‐2,5‐dimethoxy‐benzene (DBASDMB) organic crystals with high crystalline quality, large size and excellent optical properties are prepared. The linear and nonlinear properties in the crystal are comparatively studied. The relaxation dynamics pumped by two‐photon are very similar with that pumped by one‐photon. The crystal exhibits very strong two‐photon excited fluorescence and amplified spontaneous emission. Efficient two‐photon absorption, reasonably high fluorescent quantum efficiency, and high crystal quality together with stimulated emission make organic crystals ideal for the application in frequency upconversion and other optoelectronic fields.