1H NMR, electron paramagnetic resonance, and density functional theory study of dinuclear pentaammineruthenium dicyanamidobenzene complexes

Paramagnetic (1)H NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies and density functional theory (DFT) spin density calculations were selectively performed on the [{(NH(3))(5)Ru}(2)(μ-L)](3+,?4+,?5+) complexes, where L is 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-, 2,5-dichloro-, 2,5-dimethyl-, and unsubstituted 1,4-dicyanamidobenzene dianion, to characterize the electronic structure of these complexes. EPR spectra of the [{(NH(3))(5)Ru}(2)(μ-L)](3+) complexes in N,N'-dimethylformamide at 4 K showed a ruthenium axial signal, and thus the complexes are [Ru(II),L(2-), Ru(III)] mixed-valence systems. DFT spin density calculations of [{(NH(3))(5)Ru}(2)(μ-L)](3+) where L = 1,4-dicyanamidobenzene dianion gave mostly bridging-ligand centered spin distribution for both vacuum and implicit solvent calculations, in poor agreement with EPR, but more realistic results were obtained when explicit electrostatic interactions between solute and solvent were included in modeling. For the [{(NH(3))(5)Ru}(2)(μ-L)](4+) complexes, EPR spectroscopy showed no signal down to 4 K. Nevertheless, solvent-dependent (1)H NMR data and analysis support a [Ru(III),L(2-), Ru(III)] state. Hyperfine coupling constants (A(c)/h) of trans- and cis-ammine and phenyl hydrogens were determined to be 17.2, 3.8, and -1.5 MHz respectively. EPR studies of the [{(NH(3))(5)Ru}(2)(μ-L)](5+) complexes showed a metal-radical axial signal and based on previously published (1)H NMR data, a [Ru(IV),L(2-), Ru(III)] state is favored over a [Ru(III),L(-), Ru(III)] state.     

A series of trifacial Pd6 molecular barrels with porphyrin walls

Three new nanoscopic trigonal prisms, [(tmen)(6) Pd(6) (H(2)L)(3)](NO(3))(12) (1), [(Meen)(6) Pd(6)(H(2) L)(3)](NO(3))(12) (2), and [(2,2'-bipy)(6)Pd(6) (H(2)L)(3)](NO(3))(12) (3), have been synthesized in excellent yields through single-step metal-ligand-coordination-driven self-assembly using 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3-pyridyl)porphyrin (H(2)L) as a donor and cis-blocked Pd(II) 90° acceptors. These complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic studies and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All of these barrels quantitatively bind Zn(II) ions in the N(4) pockets of the porphyrin walls at room temperature. Their corresponding zinc-embedded complexes, [(tmen)(6)Pd(6)(ZnL)(3)](NO(3))(12) (1?a), [(Meen)(6) Pd(6)(ZnL)(3)](NO(3))(12) (2?a), and [(2,2'-bipy)(6)Pd(6)(ZnL)(3)](NO(3))(12) (3?a), were synthesized under ambient conditions by the post-synthetic binding of Zn(II) ions into the H(2)N(4) pockets of the porphyrin walls of these complexes. These zinc-embedded complexes were characterized by electronic absorption, fluorescence emission, (1)H?NMR spectroscopy, as well as elemental analysis. Complexes 1-3 exhibited considerable microporosity in their solid state. Complex 1 was an efficient adsorbent for nitrogen gas and EtOH, MeOH, and water vapors.     

Double-fold C-H oxygenation of arenes using PyrDipSi: a general and efficient traceless/modifiable silicon-tethered directing group

The efficient Pd-catalyzed double-fold C-H oxygenation of arenes into resorcinols using the newly developed 2-pyrimidyldiisopropylsilyl (PyrDipSi) directing group is described. Its use allows for the sequential introduction of OAc and OPiv groups in a one-pot manner to produce orthogonally protected resorcinol derivatives. The PyrDipSi group is superior to the previously developed 2-pyridyldiisopropylsilyl (PyDipSi) group, as it is efficient for monooxygenation of ortho-substituted arenes. Notably, the PyrDipSi group can be easily installed into arene molecules and can be easily removed or modified after the oxygenation reaction.     

Reversible grafting of α-naphthylmethyl radicals to epitaxial graphene

The Kolbe electrochemical oxidation strategy has been utilized to achieve an efficient quasireversible electrochemical grafting of the α-naphthylmethyl functional group to graphene. The method facilitates reversible bandgap engineering in graphene and preparation of electrochemically erasable organic dielectric films. The picture shows Raman D-band maps of both systems.     

Four‐Center Oxidation State Combinations and Near‐Infrared Absorption in [Ru(pap)(Q)2]n (Q=3,5‐Di‐tert‐butyl‐N‐aryl‐1,2‐benzoquinonemonoimine,pap=2‐Phenylazopyridine)

The complex series [Ru(pap)(Q)₂]ⁿ ([ 1 ]ⁿ–[ 4 ]ⁿ; n=+2, +1, 0, ?1, ?2) contains four redox non‐innocent entities: one ruthenium ion, 2‐phenylazopyridine (pap), and two o‐iminoquinone moieties, Q=3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐N‐aryl‐1,2‐benzoquinonemonoimine (aryl=C₆H₅ ( 1⁺ ); m‐(Cl)₂C₆H₃ ( 2⁺ ); m‐(OCH₃)₂C₆H₃ ( 3⁺ ); m‐(tBu)₂C₆H₃ ( 4 ⁺)). A crystal structure determination of the representative compound, [ 1 ]ClO₄, established the crystallization of the ctt‐isomeric form, that is, cis and trans with respect to the mutual orientations of O and N donors of two Q ligands, and the coordinating azo N atom trans to the O donor of Q. The sensitive C? O (average: 1.299(3) Å), C? N (average: 1.346(4) Å) and intra‐ring C? C (meta; average: 1.373(4) Å) bond lengths of the coordinated iminoquinone moieties in corroboration with the N?N length (1.292(3) Å) of pap in 1 ⁺ establish [Ru^III(pap⁰)(Q^.?)₂]⁺ as the most appropriate electronic structural form. The coupling of three spins from one low‐spin ruthenium(III) (t_2g⁵) and two Q^.? radicals in 1 ⁺– 4 ⁺ gives a ground state with one unpaired electron on Q^.?, as evident from g=1.995 radical‐type EPR signals for 1 ⁺– 4 ⁺. Accordingly, the DFT‐calculated Mulliken spin densities of 1 ⁺ (1.152 for two Q, Ru: ?0.179, pap: 0.031) confirm Q‐based spin. Complex ions 1 ⁺– 4 ⁺ exhibit two near‐IR absorption bands at about λ=2000 and 920 nm in addition to intense multiple transitions covering the visible to UV regions; compounds [ 1 ]ClO₄–[ 4 ]ClO₄ undergo one oxidation and three separate reduction processes within ±2.0 V versus SCE. The crystal structure of the neutral (one‐electron reduced) state ( 2 ) was determined to show metal‐based reduction and an EPR signal at g=1.996. The electronic transitions of the complexes 1 ⁿ– 4 ⁿ (n=+2, +1, 0, ?1, ?2) in the UV, visible, and NIR regions, as determined by using spectroelectrochemistry, have been analyzed by TD‐DFT calculations and reveal significant low‐energy absorbance (λ_max>1000 nm) for cations, anions, and neutral forms. The experimental studies in combination with DFT calculations suggest the dominant valence configurations of 1 ⁿ– 4 ⁿ in the accessible redox states to be [Ru^III(pap⁰)(Q^.?)(Q⁰)]²⁺ ( 1 ²⁺– 4 ²⁺)→[Ru^III(pap⁰)(Q^.?)₂]⁺ ( 1 ⁺– 4 ⁺)→[Ru^II(pap⁰)(Q^.?)₂] ( 1 – 4 )→[Ru^II(pap^.?)(Q^.?)₂]^? ( 1 ^?– 4 ^?)→[Ru^III(pap^.?)(Q^2?)₂]^2? ( 1 ^2?– 4 ^2?).     

Competition between hydrogen bonding and dispersion interactions in the indole···pyridine dimer and (indole)2···pyridine trimer studied in a supersonic jet

Structures of the indole···pyridine dimer and (indole)2···pyridine trimer have been investigated in a supersonic jet using resonant two-photon ionization (R2PI) and IR-UV double resonance spectroscopic techniques combined with quantum chemistry calculations. R2PI spectra of the dimer and the trimer recorded by electronic excitation of the indole moiety show that the red-shift in the band origin of the dimer with respect to the 0(0)(0) band of the monomer is larger compared to that of the trimer. The presence of only one conformer in the case of both the dimer and the trimer has been confirmed from IR-UV hole-burning spectroscopy. The structures of the dimer and the trimer have been determined from resonant ion dip infrared (RIDIR) spectra combined with ab initio as well as DFT/M05-2X and DFT/M06-2X calculations. It has been found that the dimer, observed in the experiment, has a V-shaped geometry stabilized by N–H···N and C–H···N hydrogen bonding interactions, as well as C–H···π and π···π dispersion interactions. The geometry of the trimer has been found to be a cyclic one stabilized by N–H···N, N–H···π, C–H···π, and C–H···N interactions. The most important finding of this current study is the observation of the mixed dimer and trimer, which are stabilized by hydrogen bonding as well as dispersion interactions.     

Fluorescent properties of antioxidant cysteine ABZ analogue

The antioxidant properties of aminobenzamide cysteine (ABZ Cys) makes it a molecule that can potentially be used as a drug in oxidative stress related diseases and delivered in the form of a nanoparticles. Here we have studied the photo-physical properties of ABZ Cys, a fluorescent analogue of a popular antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). We have compared ABZ Cys steady state and time-resolved fluorescence properties with its parent compounds anthranilic acid and anthranilamide in solution as well as in poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer films. ABZ Cys did not show any significant shift in absorption after entrapment in PVA film, but there was a shift towards shorter wavelengths in the emission peak compared to the phosphate buffer solution. Fluorescence lifetimes and quantum yields indicated a slight quenching of ABZ Cys fluorescence in comparison to the cysteine-less parent compounds. We also demonstrated that very low concentrations of ABZ Cys, such as 100 nM, are readily detected by a commercial spectrofluorometer. Hence we have established the possible use of ABZ Cys in biomedical applications.     

Alkylation of Ethanolamines: An Approach to a Novel Class of Functional Surfactants

Some monomeric and dimeric surfactants with functional head groups have been synthesized from di- and triethanolamine synthons. The treatment of alkyl bromide with triethanolamine resulted in simultaneous N-alkylation and O-alkylation products. However, with diethanolamine, N-alkylated products were obtained, which were further used to synthesize various double-tailed surfactants and gemini surfactants.