Solitonic waves in polyene dications and principles of charge carrier localization in π‐conjugated organic materials

The quantum‐chemical investigations by ab initio method (restricted Hartree–Fock/6‐31G**) have been performed for a series of unsubstituted, monosubstituted, and disubstituted neutral polyenes and their double charged cations. The waves of charge alternation (characterized by the difference in the electron densities at the nearest carbon atoms or Δq function) and bond length alternation (characterized by the lengths difference of the nearest carbon–carbon bonds or Δl function) are reported. Comparisons are made with the corresponding monocationic polymethine molecules. We found that ionization by two electrons results in formation of two solitonic waves of charge alternation, rather than superposition of two overlapping solitonic waves into one. These waves behave similar to two independent elastic particles, which do not penetrate into each other despite the special confinement by the length of chromophore π‐system. In monosubstituted polyene dication, Δq and Δl functions contain two waves each; however, only one wave is mobile and sensitive to a change of the chemical nature of the terminal group, whereas the second wave remains practically unchanged. The introduction of one oxymethyl or phenyl terminal groups leads to a relatively small shift of the mobile wave from the center to a direction of the terminal group. The effect of the amino or tropilium terminal groups is much more pronounced and leads to a shift of the mobile wave to the end of the molecule. In disubstituted polyene dication, both solitonic waves become mobile and shift symmetrically to both ends. The general principles of the charge localization described in this study may be used in molecular design and fine‐tuning of the charge transport properties in plastic photovoltaics and other organic semiconducting materials. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Design of pincer complexes based on (methylsulfanyl)acetic/propionic acid amides with ancillary S‐ and N‐donors as potential catalysts and cytotoxic agents

Pincer complexes featuring readily tunable tridentate ligand frameworks comprise one of the most actively studied classes of organometallic and metal–organic compounds and find extensive use in catalysis, organic synthesis, materials science, and other fields of chemistry and allied disciplines. Currently growing attention is devoted to non‐classical ligand scaffolds, such as functionalized carboxamides, which offer multiple options for directed structural modifications. In this study, the reactions of (methylsulfanyl)acetyl and propanoyl chlorides with 2‐(aminomethyl)pyridine, 2‐(2‐aminoethyl)pyridine, 8‐aminoquinoline and 2‐(diphenylthiophosphoryl)aniline afford a series of new pincer‐type ligands based on functionalized carboxamides. The ligands obtained readily undergo direct cyclopalladation under the action of PdCl₂(NCPh)₂ in dichloromethane at room temperature, resulting in Pd(II) pincer complexes with N,N,S‐ and S,N,S‐donor sets. Importantly, some of the cyclopalladated derivatives can also be produced efficiently under solvent‐free conditions according to the approach recently developed by our group. The complexes obtained have been tested for cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines and catalytic activity in the model Suzuki reaction. The results have been compared to those for the related Pd(II) pincer complexes to define the main structure–activity relationships and to outline the most promising structures for further investigations.     

Facile Separation,Spectroscopic Identification,and Electrochemical Properties of Higher Trifluoromethylated Derivatives of [70]Fullerene

We survey the structure and electronic properties of the family of higher trifluoromethylated C₇₀(CF₃)_n molecules with n=14, 16, 18, and 20. Twenty‐two available compounds, of which thirteen are newly obtained and characterized, demonstrate the broad diversity of π‐system topologies, which enabled us to study the interplay between the CF₃ addition pattern and the electronic properties. UV/Vis spectroscopic and cyclic voltammetric studies demonstrate the importance of the exact addition pattern rather than the plain number of addends. Of particular interest is the skew pentagonal pyramid (SPP) addition pattern, which enables formation of closed‐shell cyclopentadienyl anions C₇₀(CF₃)_{n? 1} ^? through CF₃ detachment upon electron transfer. A detailed study of the process is presented for a SPP‐C₇₀(CF₃)₁₆ where potentiostatic electrolysis at the second reduction potential gives C₇₀(CF₃)₁₅^? oxidizable to a persistent C₇₀(CF₃)₁₅^· radical. Together with the literature data for the lower C₇₀(CF₃)_n compounds with n=2–12, the present results show good correlation between the experimental boundary level positions and the DFT predictions. The compounds turn out to be electron acceptor molecular semiconductors with experimental LUMO energies and HOMO–LUMO gaps within the ranges of ?4.3 to ?3.7 eV and 1.6 to 3.3 eV, respectively, depending on the shape of the conjugated fragments. The HOMO levels fall within the range of ?5.6 to ?6.9 eV and show linear correlation with the number of addends.     

Distribution of benzo-substituted crown-ethers between chloroform and water: effects of macrocycle ring size and lithium chloride

Small size benzo-substituted crown ethers are attractive complexing agents for lithium isotope separation by solvent extraction. Low transfer of the crown ethers from solvent to water is a key point for applicability of the extractants. In the present study, 9- and 12-membered crown ethers were synthesized, and their distribution between chloroform and water was studied. Polyether ring size, benzene substituents and addition of LiCl to water were found to effect on distribution constants. Low losses of the macrocycles were observed at single-stage contact with aqueous phase. However, these losses should be taken into account in the design of multistage processes for the preparation of highly enriched lithium isotopes.     

Influence of pH of solution on phase composition of samarium-strontium cobaltite powders synthesized by wet chemical technique

Powders of Sm_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-δ and La_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-δ were synthesized using wet chemical technique. Structural and surface properties of synthesized materials were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of pH on the phase state, chemical composition, morphology, and fractal dimension of the synthesized powders were investigated. It was found that the change of pH has the influence on phase composition of synthesized powders. The increase of solution pH allows one to obtain homogeneous samples at lower temperatures down to 900–950?°C.

Open image in new window

     

The thermal behavior of double complex compounds with the cation [Cr(ur)6]3+ in a reducing atmosphere

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The thermal behavior of double complex compounds (DCC) [Cr(ur)6][Co(CN)6]·4H2O (I), [Cr(ur)6][Co(C2O4)3]·3.5H2O (II),...     

Correction to: Lithium ion conductivity of solid solutions based on Li8ZrO6

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Lithium ion conductivity of lithium hexaoxozirconate Li8ZrO6 doped by Mg2+, Sr2+, Nb5+, V5+, and Ce4+ cations was studied using impedance spectroscopy. The...     

Highly Emissive Self‐Trapped Excitons in Fully Inorganic Zero‐Dimensional Tin Halides

The spatial localization of charge carriers to promote the formation of bound excitons and concomitantly enhance radiative recombination has long been a goal for luminescent semiconductors. Zero‐dimensional materials structurally impose carrier localization and result in the formation of localized Frenkel excitons. Now the fully inorganic, perovskite‐derived zero‐dimensional Sn^II material Cs₄SnBr₆ is presented that exhibits room‐temperature broad‐band photoluminescence centered at 540 nm with a quantum yield (QY) of 15±5 %. A series of analogous compositions following the general formula Cs_4?xA_xSn(Br_1?yI_y)₆ (A=Rb, K; x≤1, y≤1) can be prepared. The emission of these materials ranges from 500 nm to 620 nm with the possibility to compositionally tune the Stokes shift and the self‐trapped exciton emission bands.     

The equilibrium molecular structure of 3-cyanopyridine according to gas-phase electron diffraction and microwave data and the results of quantum-chemical calculations

1. Download high-res image (159KB)
2. Download full-size image