A Modular Class of Fluorescent Difluoroboranes: Synthesis,Structure, Optical Properties,Theoretical Calculations and Applications for Biological Imaging

Ten borylated bipyridines (BOBIPYs) have been synthesized and selected structural modifications have been made that allow useful structure–optical property relationships to be gathered. These systems have been further investigated using DFT calculations and spectroscopic measurements, showing blue to green fluorescence with quantum yields up to 41 %. They allow full mapping of the structure to determine where selected functionalities can be implemented, to tune the optical properties or to incorporate linking groups. The best derivative was thus functionalised with an alkyne linker, which would enable further applications through click chemistry and in this optic, the stability of the fluorophores has been evaluated.     

A Boron‐Fluorinated Tris(pyrazolyl)borate Ligand (FTp*) and Its Mono‐ and Dinuclear Copper Complexes [Cu(FTp*)2] and [Cu2(FTp*)2]: Synthesis,Structures, and DFT Calculations

Reaction of [Si(3,5‐Me₂pz)₄] ( 1 ) with [Cu(MeCN)₄][BF₄] ( 2 ) gave the mono‐ and dinuclear copper complexes [Cu₂(^FTp*)₂] ( 3 ) and [Cu(^FTp*)₂] ( 4 ). Both complexes contain the so‐far unprecedented boron‐fluorinated ^FTp* ligand ([FB(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃]^? with pz=pyrazolyl) originating from 1 , acting as a pyrazolyl transfer reagent, and the [BF₄]^? counter anion of 2 , serving as the source of the {BF} entity. The solid‐state structures as well as the NMR and EPR spectroscopic characteristics of the complexes were elaborated. Pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) experiments revealed that 3 retains (almost entirely) its dimeric structure in benzene, whereas dimer cleavage and formation of acetonitrile adducts, presumably [Cu(^FTp*)(MeCN)], is observed in acetonitrile. The short Cu???Cu distance of 269.16 pm in the solid‐state is predicted by DFT calculations to be dictated by dispersion interactions between all atoms in the complex (the Cu?Cu dispersion contribution itself is only very small). As revealed by cyclic voltammetry studies, 3 shows an irreversible (almost quasi‐reversible at higher scan rates) oxidation process centred at E^pa=?0.23 V (E⁰_1/2=?0.27 V) (vs. Fc/Fc⁺). Oxidation reactions on a preparative scale with one equivalent of the ferrocenium salt [Fc][BF₄] (very slow reaction) or air (fast reaction) furnished blue crystals of the mononuclear copper(II) complex [Cu(^FTp*)₂] ( 4 ). As expected for a Jahn–Teller‐active system, the coordination sphere around copper(II) is strongly distorted towards a stretched octahedron, in accordance with EPR spectroscopic findings.     

Titanium(IV) Cations with Trigonal Monopyramidal Geometry: Unusual Lewis Acids Supported by a Triaryl Triamidoamine Ligand

Protonolysis of the titanium alkyl complex [Ti(CH₂SiMe₃)(Xy-N₃N)] (Xy-N₃N=[{(3,5-Me₂C₆H₃)NCH₂CH₂}₃N]³⁻) supported by a triamidoamine ligand, with [NEt₃H][B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄] or [PhNMe₂H][B(C₆F₅)₄] afforded the cations [Ti(Xy-N₃N)][A] (A⁻=[B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄]⁻ ( 1[B(Ar^Cl)₄] ; B(Ar^Cl)₄=tetrakis(3,5-dichlorophenyl)borate); A⁻=[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ ( 1[B(Ar^F)₄] ; B(Ar^F)₄=tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate). These Lewis acidic cations were reacted with coordinating solvents to afford the cations [Ti(L)(Xy-N₃N)][B(C₆F₅)₄] ( 2-L ; L=Et₂O, pyridine and THF). XRD analysis revealed a trigonal monopyramidal (TMP) geometry for the tetracoordinate cations in 1[B(Ar^X)₄] and trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) geometry for the pentacoordinate cations in 2-L . Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy showed a dynamic equilibrium for 2-Et₂O in solution, involving the dissociation of Et₂O. Coordination to the titanium(IV) center activated the THF molecule, which, in the presence of NEt₃, underwent ring-opening to give the titanium alkoxide [Ti(O(CH₂)₄NEt₃)(Xy-N₃N)][B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄] ( 3 ). Hydride abstraction from C_β,eq of the triamidoamine ligand arm in [Ti(CH₂SiMe₃)(Xy-N₃N)] or [Ti(NMe₂)(Xy-N₃N)] with [Ph₃C][B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄] led to the diamidoamine–imine complex [Ti(R){(Xy-N=CHCH₂)(Xy-NCH₂CH₂)₂N}][B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄] (R=CH₂SiMe₃ ( 4 a ); R=NMe₂ ( 4 b )). Hydride addition to 4 b with [Li(THF)][HBPh₃] gave [Ti(NMe₂)(Xy-N₃N)], whereas KH deprotonated further to give [Ti(NMe₂){(Xy-NCH=CH)(Xy-NCH₂CH₂)₂N}] ( 5 ). XRD on single crystals of 3 and 4 b confirmed the proposed structures.     

Compositional analysis of multi-element magnetic nanoparticles with a combined NMR and TEM approach

The increasing interest in nanoscale materials goes hand in hand with the challenge to reliably characterize the chemical compositions and structural features of nanosized objects in order to relate those to their physical properties. Despite efforts, the analysis of the chemical composition of individual multi-element nanoparticles remains challenging—from the technical point of view as well as from the point of view of measurement statistics. Here, we demonstrate that zero-field solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) complements local, single particle transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies with information on a large assembly of chemically complex nanoparticles. The combination of both experimental techniques gives information on the local composition and structure and provides an excellent measurement statistic through the corresponding NMR ensemble measurement. This analytical approach is applicable to many kinds of magnetic materials and therefore may prove very versatile in the future research of particulate magnetic nanomaterials.