Mononuclear five-coordinate molybdenum(IV) and -(V) monosulfide complexes coordinated with dithiolene ligands: reversible redox of Mo(V)/Mo(IV) and irreversible dimerization of [MoVS]- cores to a dinuclear [MoV2(mu-S)2]2- Core

A mononuclear five-coordinate molybdenum(IV) monosulfide complex, (Et4N)2[MoS(L)2] (L = cyclohexene-1,2-dithiolate) (1), was obtained and characterized by IR, UV-vis spectroscopic methods, and X-ray crystallography. 1 was oxidized by an equivalent ferrocenium cation to give the corresponding mononuclear molybdenum(V) complex, (Et4N)[MoS(L)2] (2), which was stable for a few minutes under a lower concentration than 0.3 mM and then further dimerized to (Et4N)2[Mo(L)2]2(mu-S)2 (3).     

ESR Studies of A(1u) and A(2u) Oxoiron(IV) Porphyrin pi-Cation Radical Complexes. Spin Coupling between Ferryl Iron and A(1u)/A(2u) Orbitals

This study shows the ESR spectra of oxoiron(IV) porphyrin pi-cation radicals of 1-8 in dichloromethane-methanol (5:1) mixture. We reported in a previous paper that oxoiron(IV) porphyrin pi-cation radicals of 1-4 are in an a(1u) radical state while those of 5-8 are in an a(2u) radical. The ESR spectra (g( perpendicular)(eff) approximately 3.1 and g( parallel)(eff) approximately 2.0) for the a(1u) radical complexes, 1-4, appear quite different from those reported previously for the oxoiron(IV) porphyrin pi-cation radical of 5 (g(y) = 4.5, g(x) = 3.6, and g(z) = 1.99). The unique ESR spectra of the a(1u) radical complexes rather resemble those of compound I from Micrococcus lysodeikticus catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (ASP). This is the first examples to mimic the ESR spectra of compound I in the enzymes. From spectral analysis based on a spin Hamiltonian containing an exchange interaction, the ESR spectra of 1-4 can be explained as a moderate ferromagnetic state (J/D approximately 0.3) between ferryl S = 1 and the porphyrin pi-cation radical S' = (1)/(2). The magnitudes of zero-field splitting (D) for ferryl iron and isotropic J value, estimated from the temperature-dependence of the half-saturation power of the ESR signals, are approximately 28 and approximately +8 cm(-1), respectively. A change in the electronegativity of the beta-pyrrole substituent hardly changes the ESR spectral feature while that of the meso-substituent slightly does owing to the change in the E/D value. On the basis of the present ESR results, we propose the a(1u) radical state for compound I of CAT and ASP.     

Mixed-Valent Trinuclear CoIII-CoII-CoIII Complex with 1,3-Bis(5-chlorosalicylideneamino)-2-propanol

A mixed-valent trinuclear complex with 1,3-bis(5-chlorosalicylideneamino)-2-propanol (H₃clsalpr) was synthesized, and the crystal structure was determined by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method at 90 K. The molecule is a trinuclear Co^III-Co^II-Co^III complex with octahedral geometries, having a tetradentate chelate of the Schiff-base ligand, bridging acetate, monodentate acetate coordination to each terminal Co³⁺ ion and four bridging phenoxido-oxygen of two Schiff-base ligands, and two bridging acetate-oxygen atoms for the central Co²⁺ ion. The electronic spectral feature is consistent with the mixed valent Co^III-Co^II-Co^III. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data could be analyzed by consideration of the axial distortion of the central Co²⁺ ion with the parameters Δ = –254 cm⁻¹, λ = –58 cm⁻¹, κ = 0.93, tip = 0.00436 cm³ mol⁻¹, θ = –0.469 K, g_z = 6.90, and g_x = 2.64, in accordance with a large anisotropy. The cyclic voltammogram showed an irreversible reduction wave at approximately −1.2 V·vs. Fc/Fc⁺, assignable to the reduction of the terminal Co³⁺ ions.     

Thermodynamic investigation on glassy states of pure simple compounds

The present review deals primarily with glass transition phenomena in pure simple compounds and pays special attention to the thermodynamic aspects of the vitrification process. The concept of glassy state is extended to liquid crystalline and even to crystalline materials which have any type of disorder. Thus the familiar supercooled liquid-glass transition is shown to be just one example of a class of ‘glass transitions’ due to loss of equilibrium which must occur quite frequently in condensed matter. Evidence of several glass transition phenomena in one and the same compound is given. The fact that glass should be considered as one of the states of aggregation of matter, irrespective of either the method of formation or the existence of three-dimensional periodicity in molecular arrangements, is stressed.     

A New Supramolecular Tetraruthenated Cobalt (II) Porphyrazine Displaying Outstanding Electrocatalytical Performance in Oxygen Evolution Reaction

A new supramolecular electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) was synthesized from a central multibridging cobalt tetrapyridylporphyrazine (CoTPyPz) species by attaching four [Ru(bpy)₂Cl]⁺ groups. Both CoTPyPz and the tetraruthenated cobalt porphyrazine species, TRuCoTPyPz, form very homogenous molecular films just by dropcasting their methanol solutions onto GCE electrodes. Such films exhibited low overpotentials for O₂ evolution, e.g., 560 e 340 mV, respectively, displaying high stability, typically exceeding 15 h. The kinetic parameters obtained from the Tafel plots showed that the peripheral complexes are very important for the electrocatalytic activity. Hyperspectral Raman images taken along the electrochemical process demonstrated that the cobalt center is the primary active catalyst site, but its performance is enhanced by the ruthenium complexes, which act as electron-donating groups, in the supramolecular system.     

Observation of spatial distribution of laser-induced refractive index change in dye-doped liquid crystals

Spatial distributions of photothermal refractive index changes in dye-doped liquid crystals were determined by an optical interferometric method. The refractive index change of the order of 10^-1, including spatial distribution, was estimated by the described experimental technique. The absolute value of the refractive index change was proportional to the pump beam power, and the diameter of the index distribution was slightly larger than that of the pump laser beam due to heat conduction.     

IN SITU OBSERVATION OF 2-DIMENSIONAL TEXTURE OF EUROPIUM COMPLEX ON WATER SURFACE BY BREWSTER ANGLE MICROSCOPY

Monolayers of europium complexes on water surface have been directly visualized in the gas-liquid expanded region at different temperatures using Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). The film texture with network patterns of the complex (C₁₈)₂ Eu(DBM)₄ and hs evolution with time and temperature of the subphase were examined. The average linear cell dimension and the polygon areas have been analyzed as a function of time and the temperature. The mechanism of the domain growth is qualitatively discussed.     

Controlled assembly of silica microspheres in spherically confined polymer particles by using self-organized precipitation (SORP) method

Assembly of submicron-sized microspheres has received much attention due to its high potential for wide variety of applications. We have developed a preparation method of polymer particles by simple mixing of a poor solvent into the polymer solution followed by evaporation of a good solvent. By using this technique, silica nanoparticles and polymer composite particles were prepared. Preparation of three-dimensional assemblies of silica particles in polymer particles and composite Janus particles are shown.