Assembly of titanium embedded polyoxometalates with unprecedented structural features

Two titanium embedded polyoxometalates with unprecedented structural features are presented: a monotitanium containing tungstoantimonate Na(13)H(3)[TiO(SbW(9)O(33))(2)]·33 H(2)O featuring a {Ti=O}(2+) moiety (1) and a hexatitanium containing tungstoarsenate K(6)[Ti(4)(H(2)O)(10)(AsTiW(8)O(33))(2)]·30 H(2)O containing a {Ti(4)(H(2)O)(10)}(16+) moiety (2). Both compounds have been fully characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR and TGA. 1 is constructed from two α-B-{Sb(III)W(9)O(33)} fragments linked by five sodium cations and an unprecedented square pyramidal Ti(O)O(4) group with a terminal Ti=O bond, and 2 exhibits a Krebs-type structure composed of two {AsTiW(8)O(33)} fragments, where one W(VI) centre has been substituted for a Ti(IV) centre in each, fused together via a belt of four additional Ti(IV) centres. This system represents the tungsten Ti-incorporated polyoxoanion with one of the highest Ti:W ratios so far reported. Additionally, 2 could also be isolated as an n-tetrabutylammonium salt and has been further characterised by electrochemistry and electrospray ionisation (ESI) MS studies. Due to the unique nature of these systems, both have been fully investigated using DFT calculations yielding highly interesting results. Structure 1 has been optimised with five sodium atoms in the belt position, which in addition to reducing the high charge of the cluster influence a stabilisation of the antimony lone pairs. Electrostatic potential calculations highlight the high electronegativity of the terminal oxygen on the titanium centre, enhancing real potentiality as a reactive site for catalysis.     

Towards the Accurate Calculation of 183W NMR Chemical Shifts in Polyoxometalates: The Relevance of the Structure

DFT calculations were carried out to study ¹⁸³W NMR chemical shifts in the family of the Keggin anions with formula α‐[XW₁₂O₄₀]^q? (X=B, Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, As, Zn), in the β‐ and γ‐[SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4? geometric isomers, in the derivative Dawson anion [P₂W₁₈O₆₂]^6?, and in the most symmetrical Lindqvist [W₆O₁₉]^2? anion and its derivative [W₁₀O₃₂]^4?. In this article, we show that the geometry employed in the calculation of NMR chemical shifts in polyoxotungstates is extremely important if we want to be quantitative. Using very large basis sets of QZ4P quality and taking into account the conductor‐like screening model (COSMO) to account for solvent effects (aqueous and organic solutions), good geometries were found for the polyoxoanions. From these optimal geometries the ¹⁸³W NMR chemical shifts were computed with the more standard basis sets of TZP quality and including spin–orbit corrections inside the zero‐order regular approximation (ZORA) to describe the relativistic effects of the internal electrons. With this strategy the mean absolute error between experimental and theoretical values was found to be less than 10 ppm, which is similar to the experimental error. We also discuss how the geometry of the polyoxoanion influences on the shielding.     

Bingel-Hirsch reactions on non-IPR Gd3N@C2n (2n = 82 and 84)

The Bingel-Hirsch reactions on non-isolated pentagon rule (non-IPR) Gd(3)N@C(2n) (2n = 82, 84) are studied. Computational results show that the two metallofullerenes display similar reactivity according to their related topologies. Long C-C bonds with large pyramidalization angles lead to the most stable adducts, the [5,6] bonds in the adjacent pentagon pair being especially favored. The lesser regioselectivity observed for Gd(3)N@C(82) is probably due to the activation of some C-C bonds by means of the metal cluster.     

Reactivity of metallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene anions: electrochemical synthesis of a Lu3N@Ih-C80 derivative

Electrochemically generated Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80) dianions react with the electrophile, PhCHBr(2), to produce a methano derivative of Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80)(CHC(6)H(5)) (1) with high regioselectivity. The compound was characterized by MALDI-TOF, NMR, and UV-vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy. Electrochemical characterization of this Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80)(CHC(6)H(5)) derivative showed the typical irreversible reductive behavior of the pristine Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80), similar to those observed for Bingel adducts of Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80). Using the same conditions, the reaction between Sc(3)N@I(h)-C(80) dianions and PhCHBr(2) was conducted for comparison. Unexpectedly, no nucleophilic reaction was observed, indicating that Sc(3)N@I(h)-C(80) dianions are not reactive toward the electrophile. Theoretical studies for both dianionic Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80) and Sc(3)N@I(h)-C(80) showed that the HOMO is more highly localized on the fullerene cage for [Lu(3)N@I(h)-C(80)](2-) and more localized on the inside cluster for [Sc(3)N@I(h)-C(80)](2-), providing an explanation for the drastically different reactivities observed.     

Quantum mechanics: cleaning up metaphysical baggage

The dynamic electronic structure of atoms and molecules can be directly observed by means of the (e, 2e) reaction, which measures the distribution of energies and momenta of two electrons in coincidence after a knockout reaction initiated by an electron beam of known momentum incident on a molecular gas target. The molecular state for each event is identified by the electron separation energy. The recoil momentum for each event is known from the difference of measured initial and final momenta. It has been verified that values of this momentum are equal under suitable conditions to the momentum of the electron in the target immediately before knockout. Thus the spherically-averaged electron momentum distribution for each molecular orbital is measured. This is directly related to molecular orbitals calculated by the methods of quantum chemistry. Properties obtained by this method for different types of molecules are discussed.     

Identification of a set of genes showing regionally enriched expression in the mouse brain

Background

We have recorded responses from single neurons in murine visual cortex to determine the effectiveness of the input from the two murine cone photoreceptor mechanisms and whether there is any unique selectivity for cone inputs at this higher region of the visual system that would support the possibility of colour vision in mice. Each eye was stimulated by diffuse light, either 370 (strong stimulus for the ultra-violet (UV) cone opsin) or 505 nm (exclusively stimulating the middle wavelength sensitive (M) cone opsin), obtained from light emitting diodes (LEDs) in the presence of a strong adapting light that suppressed the responses of rods.

Results

Single cells responded to these diffuse stimuli in all areas of striate cortex. Two types of responsive cells were encountered. One type (135/323 – 42%) had little to no spontaneous activity and responded at either the on and/or the off phase of the light stimulus with a few impulses often of relatively large amplitude. A second type (166/323 – 51%) had spontaneous activity and responded tonically to light stimuli with impulses often of small amplitude. Most of the cells responded similarly to both spectral stimuli. A few (18/323 – 6%) responded strongly or exclusively to one or the other spectral stimulus and rarely in a spectrally opponent manner.

Conclusion

Most cells in murine striate cortex receive excitatory inputs from both UV- and M-cones. A small fraction shows either strong selectivity for one or the other cone mechanism and occasionally cone opponent responses. Cells that could underlie chromatic contrast detection are present but extremely rare in murine striate cortex.     

Supramolecular Recognition Influences Magnetism in [X@HVIV8VV14O54]6− Self‐Assemblies with Symmetry‐Breaking Guest Anions

Mixed‐valence polyoxovanadates(IV/V) have emerged as one of the most intricate class of supramolecular all‐inorganic host species, able to encapsulate a wide variety of smaller guest templates during their self‐assembly formation process. As showcased herein, the incorporation of guests, though governed solely by ultra‐weak electrostatic and van der Waals interactions, can cause drastic effects on the electronic and magnetic characteristics of the shell complex of the polyoxovanadate. We address the question of methodology for the magnetochemical analysis of virtually isostructural {V^IV/V₂₂O₅₄}‐type polyoxoanions of D_2d symmetry enclosing diamagnetic VO₂F₂^? (C_2v), SCN^? (C_∞v), or ClO₄^? (T_d) template anions. These induce different polarization effects related to differences in their geometric structures, symmetry, ion radii, and valence shells, eventually resulting in a supramolecular modulation of magnetic exchange between the V(3d) electrons that are partly delocalized over the {V₂₂O₅₄} shells. We also include the synthesis and characterization of the novel [V^VO₂F₂@HV^IV₈V^V₁₄O₅₄]^6? system that comprises the rarely encountered discrete difluorovanadate anion as a quasi‐isolated guest species.     

Influence of polyoxometalate ligands on the nature of high-valent transition metal nitrido species. A theoretical analysis of experimentally known and unprecedented compounds

The electronic structure of group 6-8 transition metal (TM) nitrido derivatives [PW(11)O(39){TM(VI)N}](4-) is studied computationally and the potential reactivity of the polyoxoanions is discussed. The observed electrophilic reactivity for the Ru(VI) nitrido derivative is rationalized from frontier molecular orbital analysis. When we move to the left or down in the periodic table (TM = Os, Tc, Re, Mo and W) the electrophilic character of the polyoxometalate decreases or the cluster should be better regarded as a nucleophile. The DFT analysis of the redox properties suggests that the still unknown high-valent Mn(VI)N and Fe(VI)N units could be stabilized by the porphyrin-like ligand [PW(11)O(39)](7-) and their electronic structure indicates that these anions should have a high potential reactivity towards nucleophiles.