Metal-dependent and redox-selective coordination behaviors of metalloligand [MoV(1,2-benzenedithiolato)3]- with CuI/AgI ions

The synthesis and characterization of two coordination polymers, {Cu(I)[Mo(V)(bdt)(3)]·0.5Et(2)O}(n) (1·0.5Et(2)O, bdt: o-benzenedithiolato) and {Ag(I)[Mo(V)(bdt)(3)]}(n) (2), composed of redox-active [Mo(V)(bdt)(3)](-) metalloligand with Cu(I) and Ag(I) ions are reported. The complexation reactions of [Mo(V)(bdt)(3)](-) with Cu(II)(ClO(4))(2) or Ag(I)ClO(4) commonly lead to the formation of one-dimensional (1-D) coordination polymers. The presence of Cu(I) in 1·0.5Et(2)O strongly indicates that the Cu(II) ion is reduced during the complexation reaction with [Mo(V)(bdt)(3)](-), which acts as an electron donor. The total dimensionalities of the assembled structures of 1·0.5Et(2)O and 2 are significantly different and related to the type of additional metal ions, Cu(I) and Ag(I). In contrast to the isolated 1-D chain structure of 1·0.5Et(2)O, complex 2 has a three-dimensional (3-D) assembled structure constructed from additional π-π stacking interactions between adjacent [Mo(V)(bdt)(3)](-) moieties. These structural differences influence the solubility of the complexes in organic solvents; complex 1·0.5Et(2)O is soluble as origomeric species in highly polar solvents, while 2 is insoluble in organic solvents and water. Coordination polymers 1·0.5Et(2)O and 2 were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy in the solid state, and that in solution together with their electrochemical properties were also investigated for 1 because of its higher solubility in polar organic solvents. Complex 1·0.5Et(2)O dissolved in CH(3)CN demonstrates concentration-dependent UV-vis spectra supporting the presence of coordinative interactions between [Mo(V)(bdt)(3)](-) moieties and Cu(I) ions to create the origomeric species even in solutions, an observation that is supported also by electrochemical experiments.     

Electronic spectra of GdF reanalyzed by decomposing state functions according to f-shell angular momentum

The electronic structure of the GdF molecule was studied by means of four-component relativistic configuration interaction (CI) calculations [S. Yamamoto, H. Tatewaki, and T. Saue, J. Chem. Phys. 129, 244505 (2008)]. To analyze the electronic spectra more accurately, the CI wave function is decomposed according to the angular momentum (Ω(f)) generated from the (4f)(7) electrons. The weight of a specified Ω(f) is referred to as the "f-shell Omega component weight." This Ω(f) plays a crucial role in classifying the strong electronic transitions from the upper states (0.7 eV-3.0 eV) to the lower states (~0.55 eV). For these transitions, the upper and lower states have almost identical Ω(f) weights. This appears to be a necessary condition for a transition to be strong. The same condition is expected to hold for other lanthanide linear molecules. A point charge model is also studied, acting as a simplified model of GdF; it successfully reproduces the spectra of GdF, justifying studies based on ligand field theory.     

Kinetic study of proton-transfer reactions of phenylnitromethanes. Implication for the origin of nitroalkane anomaly

Measurements of rate constants and substituent effects for three important elementary steps of proton-transfer reactions of phenylnitromethane were reported. The Hammett ρ values for the deprotonation of ArCH(2)NO(2) with OH(-), protonation of ArCH═NO(2)(-) with H(2)O, and protonation of ArCH═NO(2)(-) with HCl were determined in aqueous MeOH at 25 °C. Comparison of these experimentally observed ρ values with those calculated at B3LYP/6-31G* revealed that aci-nitro species (ArCH═NO(2)H), which is formed on the O-protonation of ArCH═NO(2)(-), does not lie on the main route of the proton-transfer reaction. Analysis of the Br?nsted plot implies that the proton-transfer reaction of most XC(6)H(4)CH(2)NO(2) exhibits nitroalkane anomaly, but not for p-NO(2)C(6)H(4)CH(2)NO(2), and that the transition state charge imbalance is an origin of anomaly.     

A probable hydrogen-bonded Meisenheimer complex: an unusually high S(N)Ar reactivity of nitroaniline derivatives with hydroxide ion in aqueous media

Observations show that nitroanilines exhibit an unusually high S(N)Ar reactivity with OH(-) in aqueous media in reactions that produce nitrophenols. S(N)Ar reaction of 4-nitroaniline (2a) in aqueous NaOH for 16 h yields 4-nitrophenol (4a) quantitatively, whereas a similar reaction of 4-nitrochlorobenzene (1a) gave 4a in 2% yield together with recovered 1a in 97%, suggesting that the leaving ability of the NH(2) group far surpasses that of Cl under these conditions. An essential feature of S(N)Ar reactions of nitroanilines is probably that the NH(2) leaving group participates in a hydrogen-bonding interaction with H(2)O. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for a set of 4-nitroaniline, OH(-), and H(2)O suggest a possible formation of a Meisenheimer complex stabilized by hydrogen-bonding interactions and a six-membered ring structure. The results obtained here contrast with conventional S(N)Ar reactivity profiles in which nitroanilines are nearly unreactive with nucleophiles in organic solvents.     

Photoionization-induced water migration in the amide group of trans-acetanilide-(H2O)1 in the gas phase

IR-dip spectra of trans-acetanilide-water 1:1 cluster, AA-(H(2)O)(1), have been measured for the S(0) and D(0) state in the gas phase. Two structural isomers, where a water molecule binds to the NH group or the CO group of AA, AA(NH)-(H(2)O)(1) and AA(CO)-(H(2)O)(1), are identified in the S(0) state. One-color resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization, (1 + 1) RE2PI, of AA(NH)-(H(2)O)(1) via the S(1)-S(0) origin generates [AA(NH)-(H(2)O)(1)](+) in the D(0) state, however, photoionization of [AA(CO)-(H(2)O)(1)] does not produce [AA(CO)-(H(2)O)(1)](+), leading to [AA(NH)-(H(2)O)(1)](+). This observation explicitly indicates that the water molecule in [AA-(H(2)O)(1)](+) migrates from the CO group to the NH group in the D(0) state. The reorganization of the charge distribution from the neutral to the D(0) state of AA induces the repulsive force between the water molecule and the CO group of AA(+), which is the trigger of the water migration in [AA-(H(2)O)(1)](+).     

He I ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy of benzene and pyridine in supersonic molecular beams using photoelectron imaging

We performed He I ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) of jet-cooled aromatic molecules using a newly developed photoelectron imaging (PEI) spectrometer. The PEI spectrometer can measure photoelectron spectra and photoelectron angular distributions at a considerably higher efficiency than a conventional spectrometer that uses a hemispherical energy analyzer. One technical problem with PEI is its relatively high susceptibility to background electrons generated by scattered He I radiation. To reduce this problem, we designed a new electrostatic lens that intercepts background photoelectrons emitted from the repeller plate toward the imaging detector. An energy resolution (ΔE/E) of 0.735% at E = 5.461 eV is demonstrated with He I radiation. The energy resolution is limited by the size of the ionization region. Trajectory calculations indicate that the system is capable of achieving an energy resolution of 0.04% with a laser if the imaging resolution is not limited. Experimental results are presented for jet-cooled benzene and pyridine, and they are compared with results in the literature.     

Acceleration of the reaction OH + CO → H + CO2 by vibrational excitation of OH

The collision complex formed from a vibrationally excited reactant undergoes redissociation to the reactant, intramolecular vibrational relaxation (randomization of vibrational energy), or chemical reaction to the products. If attractive interaction between the reactants is large, efficient vibrational relaxation in the complex prevents redissociation to the reactants with the initial vibrational energy, and the complex decomposes to the reactants with low vibrational energy or converts to the products. In this paper, we have studied the branching ratios between the intramolecular vibrational relaxation and chemical reaction of an adduct HO(v)-CO formed from OH(X(2)Π(i)) in different vibrational levels v = 0-4 and CO. OH(v = 0-4) generated in a gaseous mixture of O(3)/H(2)/CO/He irradiated at 266 nm was detected with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) via the A(2)Σ(+)-X(2)Π(i) transition, and H atoms were probed by the two-photon excited LIF technique. From the kinetic analysis of the time-resolved LIF intensities of OH(v) and H, we have found that the intramolecular vibrational relaxation is mainly governed by a single quantum change, HO(v)-CO → HO(v-1)-CO, followed by redissociation to OH(v-1) and CO. With the vibrational quantum number v, chemical process from the adduct to H + CO(2) is accelerated, and vibrational relaxation is decelerated. The countertrend is elucidated by the competition between chemical reaction and vibrational relaxation in the adduct HOCO.     

Water-dispersible ultrathin Au nanowires prepared using a lamellar template of a long-chain amidoamine derivative

Straight ultrathin Au nanowires (NWs) with diameters less than 2 nm were synthesized using the lamellar structure of C18AA in an organogel and its selective adsorption for specific gold surfaces. In addition, the potential to form a bilayer structure with interdigitated hydrocarbon chains enabled the production of water-dispersible Au NWs without morphological change.     

One-pot synthesis of blue light-emitting Au nanoclusters and formation of photo-patternable composite films

Blue light-emitting Au nanoclusters were synthesized in a simple one-pot process via reflux of Au ions with amino-terminated poly(1,2-butadiene) in toluene. DLS results and photoemission spectra showed that Au(8) nanoclusters were successfully formed. Moreover, photo-patterned films containing Au(8) clusters were prepared by photolithography.     

Mechanoluminescent light source for a fluorescent probe molecule

We have demonstrated an innovative ability of mechanoluminescent (ML) material as a light source for the first time. By appropriate smart size control and nondestructive mechanical stimulation, the ML particle can be considered a promising candidate of in situ light source for bio-imaging and photo-therapy even in a human body.