Silver(I) ions bridged by pyridazine: doubling the ligand functionality for the design of unusual 3D coordination frameworks

Nitrogen donor tetradentate ligands 4,4'-bipyridazine (bpdz) and pyridazino[4,5-d]pyridazine (pp) were prepared by inverse electron demand Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions of 1,2,4,5-tetrazine. Examination of their behaviour towards silver(i) ions revealed a special potential of the ligands for the design of 3D coordination frameworks involving characteristic polynuclear and polymeric silver(i)-pyridazine motifs and multiple coordination of the ligands. Ag(4)(pp)(5)(ClO(4))(4) and Ag(4)(pp)(5)(SiF(6))(BF(4))(2).4H(2)O adopt a unique 3D trinodal 4,4,5-connected topology based upon five-fold coordination of the metal ions and tetradentate bridging function of the organic modules. Complexes Ag(3)(L)(3)(SO(3)CF(3))(3).nH(2)O and Ag(4)(L)(3)(X)(4).nH(2)O (L = bpdz, pp; X = BF(4)(-), 0.5SiF(6)(2-)) illustrate formation of highly-connected frameworks incorporating trinuclear clusters as an origin of the net connectivity. In the carboxylate complexes Ag(2)(L)(R(F)COO)(2) (R(F) = CF(3), C(2)F(5), C(3)F(7)) the pyridazine and acido ligands act as complementary linkers for generation of 3D frameworks involving helicate motifs. Fused bicyclic pyridazine pp is a unique system combining very efficient sigma(N)-donor ability and pronounced pi-acidity. The coordination frameworks commonly exhibit strong anion-pi interactions, including unprecedented examples of double anion-pi,pi binding that occur between pyridazino[4,5-d]pyridazine as a double pi,pi-receptor for geometry complementary SiF(6)(2-) anions.     

4,4'-Bipyridazine: a new twist for the synthesis of coordination polymers

A new polydentate ligand 4,4'-bipyridazine (4,4'-bpdz) was prepared by employing inverse electron demand cycloaddition of 1,2,4,5-tetrazine. A unique combination of structural simplicity, ampolydentate character and efficient donor properties towards Cu(I), Cu(II) and Zn(II) provide wide new possibilities for the synthesis of coordination polymers incorporating the 4,4'-bpdz module either as a bi-, tri- or tetradentate connector between the metal ions. 1D coordination polymers Cu(2)(4,4'-bpdz)(CH(3)CO(2))(4) x 4H(2)O and Zn(4,4'-bpdz)(NO(3))(2), and interpenetrated (4,4)-nets in [Cu(4,4'-bpdz)(2)(H(2)O)(2)]S(2)O(6) were closely related to 4,4'-bipyridine compounds. 1D "ladder-like" polymer Cu(2)(4,4'-bpdz)(3)(CF(3)CO(2))(4) and the unprecedented 3D binodal net ({8(6)}{6(3);8(3)}) in [Cu(3)(4,4'-bpdz)(6)(H(2)O)(4)](BF(4))(6) x 6H(2)O were based upon a combination of linear and angular organic bridges. Complex [Cu(3)(OH)(2)(4,4'-bpdz)(3)(H(2)O)(2){CF(3)CO(2)}(2)](CF(3)CO(2))(2) x 2H(2)O has a "NbO-like" 3D topology incorporating discrete dihydroxotricopper(II) clusters linked by tri- and tetradentate ligands. The tetradentate function of the 4,4'-bpdz ligand was especially relevant for copper(I) complexes, which adopt layered Cu(2)X(2)(4,4'-bpdz) (X = Cl, Br) or 3D chiral framework (X = I) structures based upon infinite (CuX)(n) chains. The electron deficient character of the ligand was manifested by short anion-pi interactions (O-pi 3.02-3.20; Cl-pi 3.35 A), which may be involved as a factor for controlling the supramolecular structure.     

A Fluorescent Molecular Probe for the Detection of Hydrogen Based on Oxidative Addition Reactions with Crabtree‐Type Hydrogenation Catalysts

A Crabtree‐type Ir^I complex tagged with a fluorescent dye (bodipy) was synthesized. The oxidative addition of H₂ converts the weakly fluorescent Ir^I complex (Φ=0.038) into a highly fluorescent Ir^III species (Φ=0.51). This fluorogenic reaction can be utilized for the detection of H₂ and to probe the oxidative addition step in the catalytic hydrogenation of olefins.     

Detection of the Elusive Triazane Molecule (N3H5) in the Gas Phase

We report the detection of triazane (N₃H₅) in the gas phase. Triazane is a higher order nitrogen hydride of ammonia (NH₃) and hydrazine (N₂H₄) of fundamental importance for the understanding of the stability of single‐bonded chains of nitrogen atoms and a potential key intermediate in hydrogen–nitrogen chemistry. The experimental results along with electronic‐structure calculations reveal that triazane presents a stable molecule with a nitrogen–nitrogen bond length that is a few picometers shorter than that of hydrazine and has a lifetime exceeding 6±2 μs at a sublimation temperature of 170 K. Triazane was synthesized through irradiation of ammonia ice with energetic electrons and was detected in the gas phase upon sublimation of the ice through soft vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization coupled with a reflectron‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. Isotopic substitution experiments exploiting [D₃]‐ammonia ice confirmed the identification through the detection of its fully deuterated counterpart [D₅]‐triazane (N₃D₅).     

Influence of electron doping on the hydrogenation of fullerene C60 : a theoretical investigation

The influence of electron attachment on the stability of the mono- and dihydrogenated buckminsterfullerene C(60) was studied using density functional theory and semiempirical molecular orbital techniques. We have also assessed the reliability of computationally accessible methods that are important for investigating the reactivity of graphenic species and surfaces in general. The B3LYP and M06L functionals with the 6-311+G(d,p) basis set and MNDO/c are found to be the best methods for describing the electron affinities of C(60) and C(60)H(2) . It is shown that simple frontier molecular orbital analyses at both the AM1 and B3LYP/6-31G(d) levels are useful for predicting the most favourable position of protonation of C(60)H(-) , that is, formation of the kinetically controlled product 1,9-dihydro[60]fullerene, which is also the thermodynamically controlled product, in agreement with experimental and previous theoretical studies. We have shown that reduction of exo- and endo-C(60)H makes them more stable in contrast to the reduction of the exo,exo-1,9-C(60)H(2) , reduced forms of which decompose more readily, in agreement with experimental electrochemical studies. However, most other dihydro[60]fullerenes are stabilized by reduction and the regioselectivity of addition is predicted to decrease as the less stable isomers are stabilized more by the addition of electrons than the two most stable ones (1,9 and 1,7).     

A crossed molecular beam study on the reaction of methylidyne radicals [CH(X(2)Π)] with acetylene [C(2)H(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+))]-competing C(3)H(2) + H and C(3)H + H(2) channels

We carried out the crossed molecular beam reaction of ground state methylidyne radicals, CH(X(2)Π), with acetylene, C(2)H(2)(X(1)Σ(g)(+)), at a nominal collision energy of 16.8 kJ mol(-1). Under single collision conditions, we identified both the atomic and molecular hydrogen loss pathways forming C(3)H(2) and C(3)H isomers, respectively. A detailed analysis of the experimental data suggested the formation of c-C(3)H(2) (31.5 ± 5.0%), HCCCH/H(2)CCC (59.5 ± 5.0%), and l-HCCC (9.0 ± 2.0%). The reaction proceeded indirectly via complex formation and involved the unimolecular decomposition of long-lived propargyl radicals to form l-HCCC plus molecular hydrogen and HCCCH/H(2)CCC plus atomic hydrogen. The formation of c-C(3)H(2) was suggested to be produced via unimolecular decomposition of the cyclopropenyl radical, which in turn could be accessed via addition of the methylidyne radical to both carbon atoms of the acetylene molecule or after an initial addition to only one acetylenic carbon atom via ring closure. This investigation brings us closer to unraveling of the reaction of important combustion radicals-methylidyne-and the connected unimolecular decomposition of chemically activated propargyl radicals. This also links to the formation of C(3)H and C(3)H(2) in combustion flames and in the interstellar medium.     

A π‐Stacked Porphyrin–Fullerene Electron Donor–Acceptor Conjugate That Features a Surprising Frozen Geometry

A “frozen” electron donor–acceptor array that bears porphyrin and fullerene units covalently linked through the ortho position of a phenyl ring and the nitrogen of a pyrrolidine ring, respectively, is reported. Electrochemical and photophysical features suggest that the chosen linkage supports both through‐space and through‐bond interactions. In particular, it has been found that the porphyrin singlet excited state decays within a few picoseconds by means of a photoinduced electron transfer to give the rapid formation of a long‐lived charge‐separated state. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show HOMO and LUMO to be localized on the electron‐donating porphyrin and the electron‐accepting fullerene moiety, respectively, at this level of theory. More specifically, semiempirical molecular orbital (MO) configuration interaction (CI) and unrestricted natural orbital (UNO)‐CI methods shed light on the nature of the charge‐transfer states and emphasize the importance of the close proximity of donor and acceptor for effective electron transfer.     

Big data analysis of ab Initio molecular integrals in the neglect of diatomic differential overlap approximation

Most modern semiempirical quantum-chemical (SQC) methods are based on the neglect of diatomic differential overlap (NDDO) approximation to ab initio molecular integrals. Here, we check the validity of this approximation by computing all relevant integrals for 32 typical organic molecules using Gaussian-type orbitals and various basis sets (from valence-only minimal to all-electron triple-ζ basis sets) covering in total more than 15.6 million one-electron (1-e) and 10.3 billion two-electron (2-e) integrals. The integrals are calculated in the nonorthogonal atomic basis and then transformed by symmetric orthogonalization to the Löwdin basis. In the case of the 1-e integrals, we find strong orthogonalization effects that need to be included in SQC models, for example, by strategies such as those adopted in the available OMx methods. For the valence-only minimal basis, we confirm that the 2-e Coulomb integrals in the Löwdin basis are quantitatively close to their counterparts in the atomic basis and that the 2-e exchange integrals can be safely neglected in line with the NDDO approximation. For larger all-electron basis sets, there are strong multishell orthogonalization effects that lead to more irregular patterns in the transformed 2-e integrals and thus cast doubt on the validity of the NDDO approximation for extended basis sets. Focusing on the valence-only minimal basis, we find that some of the NDDO-neglected integrals are reduced but remain sizable after the transformation to the Löwdin basis; this is true for the two-center 2-e hybrid integrals, the three-center 1-e nuclear attraction integrals, and the corresponding three-center 2-e hybrid integrals. We consider a scheme with a valence-only minimal basis that includes such terms as a possible strategy to go beyond the NDDO integral approximation in attempts to improve SQC methods. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Electronic Properties of Strained Double‐Weyl Systems

The effects of strains on the low‐energy electronic properties of double‐Weyl phases are studied in solids and cold‐atom optical lattices. The principal finding is that deformations do not couple, in general, to the low‐energy effective Hamiltonian as a pseudoelectromagnetic gauge potential. The response of an optical lattice to strains is simpler, but still only one of the several strain‐induced terms in the corresponding low‐energy Hamiltonian can be interpreted as a gauge potential. Most interestingly, the strains can induce a nematic order parameter that splits a double‐Weyl node into a pair of Weyl nodes with the unit topological charges. The effects of deformations on the motion of wavepackets in the double‐Weyl optical lattice model are studied. It is found that, even in the undeformed lattices, the wavepackets with opposite topological charges can be spatially split. Strains, however, modify their velocities in a very different way and lead to a spin polarization of the wavepackets.