Observation of a mixed-metal transition in heterobimetallic Au/Ag dicyanide systems

Crystals of the mixed-metal heterobimetallic Au/Ag dicyanide complex, K[AuxAg1-x(CN)2] (x = 0-->1), were obtained by slow evaporation. The mixed-metal complex K[Au0.44Ag0.56(CN)2] crystallizes in a rhombohedral crystal system, space group R. The crystal structure consists of layers of linear chains of Au(CN)2- and Ag(CN)2- ions and K+ ions that connect the layers through the N atoms. The excitation and emission spectra of single crystals of K[AuxAg1-x(CN)2] were recorded at 4.2-180 K using excitation wavelengths between 230 and 260 nm. Two emission bands due to Ag-Au interactions were observed at 343 and 372 nm. Lifetime measurements indicate the shorter-wavelength emission corresponds to fluorescence and the longer-wavelength band is phosphorescence. These new emission bands are not seen in the pure K[Ag(CN)2] or pure K[Au(CN)2] crystals. Extended Hückel calculations show that the LUMO of the mixed-metal system is bonding while the HOMO is antibonding or very weakly bonding. Moreover, excited-state extended Hückel calculations indicate the formation of exciplexes with shorter metal-metal distances and higher metal-metal overlap populations than the corresponding ground-state oligomers. The luminescence is assigned to a mixed-metal transition from a molecular orbital with Au character to a molecular orbital with Ag character.     

Synthesis and Coordination Behavior of a New Hybrid Bidentate Ligand with Phosphine and Silylene Donors

This work describes the synthesis and coordination behavior of a new mixed-donor ligand PhC(NtBu)₂SiC₆H₄PPh₂ ( 1 ) containing both silylene and phosphine donor sites. Ligand 1 was synthesized from a reaction of ortho-lithiated diphenylphosphinobenzene (LiC₆H₄PPh₂) with chlorosilylene (PhC(NtBu)₂SiCl). Treatment of 1 with Se and GeCl₂ resulted in Si^IV compounds 2 and 3 by selective oxidation of the silylene donor. This strong σ-donor ligand induces dissociation of CuCl and PhBCl₂ leading to formation of ionic complexes 4 and 5 respectively. The reaction of 1 with ZnCl₂ and AlCl₃ resulted in the formation of chelate complexes 5 and 7 , respectively, while treatment with EtAlCl₂ and GaCl₃ forms monodentate complexes 8 and 9 . X-ray analysis of 4 showed that the copper is in the spiro center of the two five-membered rings. Moreover, the copper(I)chloride has not been oxidized but dissociates to Cu⁺ and [CuCl₂]⁻. All the compounds are well characterized by mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Bis(4-benzhydryl-benzoxazol-2-yl)methane – from a Bulky NacNac Alternative to a Trianion in Alkali Metal Complexes

A novel sterically demanding bis(4-benzhydryl-benzoxazol-2-yl)methane ligand 6 (^4−BzhH2BoxCH₂) was gained in a straightforward six-step synthesis. Starting from this ligand monomeric [M(^4-BzhH2BoxCH)] (M=Na ( 7 ), K ( 8₁ )) and dimeric [{M(^4-BzhH2BoxCH)}₂] (M=K ( 8₂ ), Rb ( 9 ), Cs ( 10 )) alkali metal complexes were synthesised by deprotonation. Abstraction of the potassium ion of 8 by reaction with 18-crown-6 resulted in the solvent separated ion pair [{(THF)₂K@(18-crown-6)}{bis(4-benzhydryl-benzoxazol-2-yl)methanide}] ( 11 ), including the energetically favoured monoanionic (E,E)-(^4-BzhH2BoxCH) ligand. Further reaction of ^4−BzhH2BoxCH₂ with three equivalents KH and two equivalents 18-crown-6 yielded polymeric [{(THF)₂K@(18-crown-6)}{K@(18-crown-6)K(^4-BzhBoxCH)}]_n (n→∞) ( 12 ) containing a trianionic ligand. The neutral ligand and herein reported alkali complexes were characterised by single X-ray analyses identifying the latter as a promising precursor for low-valent main group complexes.     

Effect of anionic surfactant on alginate‐chitosan polyelectrolyte multilayer thickness

Alginate and chitosan are among the most common biopolyelectrolytes. Surfactants can be included in alginate and chitosan formulations in order to improve their physical and functional properties. In the present study, the effect of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on alginate‐chitosan polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films is reported for the first time. Layer‐by‐layer deposition technique was employed to prepare the PEM samples and the samples were characterized by ellipsometry, X‐ray reflectivity, atomic force microscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. Incorporation of SDS into PEM formulations increased the film thickness and an increased adsorption behavior between alginate and chitosan layers are observed. Since the concentration of SDS was below its critical micelle concentration, no micelle formation was expected and hydrophobic‐hydrophobic interaction between alginate and SDS might be the main reason. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1798–1803