NIR luminescence intensities increase linearly with proportion of polar thiolate ligands in protecting monolayers of Au38 and Au140 quantum dots

The near-infrared photoluminescence of monolayer-protected Au38 and Au140 clusters (MPCs) is intensified with exchange of nonpolar ligands by more polar thiolate ligands. The effect is general and includes as more polar in-coming ligands: thiophenolates with a variety of p-substituents; alkanethiolates omega-terminated by alcohol, acid, or quaternary ammonium groups; and thio-amino acids. Remarkably, place exchanges of the initial phenylethanethiolates on Au38 MPCs by p-substituted thiophenolates and thio-amino acids and of hexanethiolates on Au140 MPCs by omega-quaternary ammonium terminated undecylthiolates result in increases in the near-infrared (NIR) luminescence intensities that are linear with the number of new polar ligands. The increased intensities are systematically larger for thiophenolate ligands having more electron-withdrawing substituents. Analogous effects on intensities are observed in the NIR emission of Au140 MPCs upon place exchange of alkanethiolates with thiolates having short connecting alkanethiolate chains to quaternary ammonium and to omega-carboxylic acid termini, and with oxidative charging of the Au cores. The observations are consistent with sensitivity of the luminescence mechanism to any factor that enhances the electronic polarization of the bonds between the Au core atoms and their thiolate ligands. The luminescence is discussed in terms of a surface electronic excitation, as opposed to a core volume excitation.     

The mechanical properties of crystalline cyclopentyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

The anisotropic elastic constants of crystalline octacyclopentyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (CpPOSS) were determined using molecular dynamics. The force field used for these calculations was shown to model accurately the rhombohedral and triclinic crystal structures of octasilsesquioxane and CpPOSS, respectively, as well as the vibrational frequencies of octasilsesquioxane. The moduli for CpPOSS are anisotropic, with a Reuss-averaged bulk modulus of 7.5 GPa, an isotropic averaged Young's modulus of 11.78 GPa, and an isotropic averaged shear modulus of 4.75 GPa. These isotropic averages or, alternatively, the full anisotropic stiffness tensor of the crystal can be used with micromechanical composite models to calculate the effective elastic properties of polymer nanocomposites that contain crystalline aggregates of CpPOSS.     

Cyclometallated Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes with a trithiacrown ligand

We report the synthesis and full characterization for a series of cyclometallated complexes of Pt(II) and Pd(II) incorporating the fluxional trithiacrown ligand 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane ([9]aneS3). Reaction of [M(C insertion mark N)(micro-Cl)]2 (M = Pt(II), Pd(II); C insertion mark N = 2-phenylpyridinate (ppy) or 7,8-benzoquinolinate (bzq)) with [9]aneS3 followed by metathesis with NH4PF6 yields [M(C insertion mark N)([9]aneS3)](PF6). The complexes [M(C insertion mark P)([9]aneS3)](PF6) (M = Pt(II), Pd(II); Cinsertion markP = [CH2C6H4P(o-tolyl)2-C,P]-) were synthesized from their respective [Pt(C insertion mark P)(micro-Cl)]2 or [Pd(C insertion mark P)(micro-O2CCH3)]2 (C insertion mark P) starting materials. All five new complexes have been fully characterized by multinuclear NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies in addition to elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and single-crystal structural determinations. As expected, the coordinated [9]aneS3 ligand shows fluxional behavior in its NMR spectra, resulting in a single 13C NMR resonance despite the asymmetric coordination environment of the cyclometallating ligand. Electrochemical studies reveal irreversible one-electron metal-centered oxidations for all Pt(II) complexes, but unusual two-electron reversible oxidations for the Pd(II) complexes of ppy and bzq. The X-ray crystal structures of each complex indicate an axial M-S interaction formed by the endodentate conformation of the [9]aneS3 ligand. The structure of [Pd(bzq)([9]aneS3)](PF6) exhibits disorder in the [9]aneS3 conformation indicating a rare exodentate conformation as the major contributor in the solid-state structure. DFT calculations on [Pt([9]aneS3)(ppy)](PF6) and [Pd([9]aneS3)(ppy)](PF6) indicate the HOMO for both complexes is primarily dz2 in character with a significant contribution from the phenyl ring of the ppy ligand and p orbital of the axial sulfur donor. In contrast, the calculated LUMO is primarily ppy pi* in character for [Pt([9]aneS3)(ppy)](PF6), but dx2-y2 in character for [Pd([9]aneS3)(ppy)](PF6).     

Special pair dance and partner selection: elementary steps in proton transport in liquid water

Conditional and time-dependent radial distribution functions reveal the details of the water structure surrounding the hydronium during the proton mobility process. Using this methodology for classical multistate empirical valence bond (MS-EVB) and ab initio molecular dynamics trajectories, as well as quantal MS-EVB trajectories, we supply statistical proof that proton hops in liquid water occur by a transition from the H3O+[3H2O] Eigen-complex, via the H5O2+ Zundel-complex, to a H3O+[3H2O] centered on a neighboring water molecule. In the "resting period" before a transition, there is a distorted hydronium with one of its water ligands at a shorter distance and another at a longer distance than average. The identity of this "special partner" interchanges rapidly within the three first-shell water ligands. This is coupled to cleavage of an acceptor-type hydrogen bond. Just before the transition, a partner is selected by an additional translation of the H3O+ moiety in its direction, possibly enabled by loosening of donor-type hydrogen bonds on the opposite side. We monitor the transition in real time, showing how the average structure is converted to a distorted H5O2+ cation constituting the transitional complex for proton hopping between water molecules.     

Olefination of ketones using a gold(III)-catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangement

An atom-economical and efficient olefination strategy for ketones is described. Ethoxyacetylide addition followed by a gold-catalyzed Meyer-Schuster rearrangement affords alpha,beta-unsaturated esters, generally in excellent overall yield from the starting ketones. The alkynophilicity of Au3+ promotes an interaction with the electron-rich acetylenes that catalyzes the Meyer-Schuster rearrangement selectively over other conceivable pathways.     

Selective sp3 C-H activation of ketones at the beta position by Ir(I). Origin of regioselectivity and water effect

The reaction of the cationic (PNP)Ir(I)(cyclooctene) complex (1) (PNP = 2,6-bis-(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)pyridine) with 2-butanone or 3-pentanone results in the selective, quantitative activation of a beta C-H bond, yielding O,C-chelated complexes. Calculations show that the selectivity is both kinetically (because of steric reasons in the rate determingin step (RDS)) and thermodynamically controlled, the latter as a result of carbonyl oxygen coordination in the product. The RDS is formation of the eta2-C,H intermediates from the complexed ketone intermediates. Water has a strong influence on the regioselectivity, and in its presence, reaction of 1 with 2-butanone gives also the alpha terminal C-H activation product. Computational studies suggest that water can stabilize the terminal alpha C-H activation product by hydrogen bonding, forming a six-membered ring with the ketone, as experimentally observed in the X-ray structure of the acetonyl hydride aqua complex.     

Structure and composition of cationic-nonionic surfactant mixed adsorbed layers on mica

The composition and morphology of mixed adsorbed layers comprising one of several poly(oxyethylene) alkyl ether nonionic surfactants, C(i)E(j), and two cationic surfactants-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and tetradecyltriethylammonium bromide (TTeAB)-at the mica/solution interface have been studied using depletion adsorption and atomic force microscopy. The nonionic surfactants do not themselves adsorb onto mica, but can coadsorb with a cationic surfactant. The extent of their hydrophobic association with the adsorbed cationic surfactant depends on alkyl chain length, while the adsorbed layer morphologies are sensitive to the number of ethoxy groups. Nonionic surfactants with headgroups containing less than eight ethylene oxide units decrease the adsorbed aggregate curvature, gradually transforming globular TTeAB or cylindrical DTAB adsorbed aggregates into a rod, mesh, or bilayer structure. Those with larger headgroups favor globular aggregates. The mechanism by which the nonionic surfactant modifies the adsorbed morphology is the formation of defects in the form of cylinder end-caps or branch-points, leading to adsorbed layer compositions that differ from ideal mixing predictions. All mixed adsorbed films become saturated with the nonionic component when the capacity of the aqueous side of the adsorbed layer is reached.     

Phosphonium-borate zwitterions, anionic phosphines, and dianionic phosphonium-dialkoxides via tetrahydrofuran ring-opening reactions

Sterically demanding secondary phosphines and phosphides react with (THF)B(C(6)F(5))(3) (THF = tetrahydrofuran) to give the THF ring-opened compounds [R(2)PHC(4)H(8)OB(C(6)F(5))(3)] and [Mes(2)PC(4)H(8)OB(C(6)F(5))(3)Li(THF)(2)] (Mes = C(6)H(2)Me-2,4,6). These reactions also occur consecutively to give the double THF ring-opened compounds [Mes(2)P(C(4)H(8)OB(C(6)F(5))(3))(2)][Li(THF)(4)] and [t-Bu(2)P(C(4)H(8)OB(C(6)F(5))(3))(2)Li].     

Synthesis, molecular structure, and reactivity of the isolable silylenoid with a tricoordinate silicon

The first tricoordinate fluorosilylenoid, (t-Bu2MeSi)2SiFLi.3THF (1), was synthesized, and its X-ray molecular structure was determined. 1 was synthesized in 40% yield by a bromine-lithium exchange reaction in THF of the corresponding fluorobromosilane with t-Bu2MeSiLi. 1 is best described as an R2SiF- anion attracted to a (Li.3THF)+ cation with a small contribution of resonance structure that consists of a silylene fragment and FLi.3THF. 1 reacts as a nucleophile with MeCl, PhH2SiCl, H2O, and MeOH, as an electrophile with MeLi, and as a silylene with Li (or t-BuLi) and Na, yielding alpha-lithium and alpha-sodium silyl radicals, respectively. Either photolysis or thermolysis of 1 yields the corresponding disilene R2Si=SiR2 (R = t-Bu2MeSi), probably via dimerization of R2Si:.     

Pulsed‐laser polymerization‐gel permeation chromatographic determination of the propagation‐rate coefficient for the methyl acrylate dimer: A sterically hindered monomer

The methyl acrylate dimer (MAD) is a sterically hindered macromonomer, and the propagating radical can fragment to an unsaturated end group. The propagation‐rate coefficient (k_p) for MAD was obtained by pulsed‐laser polymerization (PLP). The Mark–Houwink–Sakaruda parameters required for the analysis of the molecular weight distributions (MWDs) were obtained by multiple‐detector gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with on‐line viscometry. The small radical created by the fragmentation results in a short‐chain polymer that means the MWD may no longer be given by that expected for “ideal” PLP conditions; simulations suggest that the degree of polymerization required for “ideal” PLP conditions can be obtained from the primary point of inflection provided the GPC traces also show a clear secondary inflection point (radicals terminated by the second, rather than the first, pulse subsequent to initiation). Over the temperature range of 40–75 °C, the data can be best fitted by k_p/dm³ mol^?1 s^?1 = 10^6.1 exp(?29.5 kJ mol^?1), with a moderately large joint confidence interval for the Arrhenius parameters. The data are consistent with an increased activation energy and reduced frequency factor as compared with acrylate or methacrylate; both of these changes can be ascribed to hindrance. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3902–3915, 2001