The Coordination Behaviour of CuI Photosensitizers Bearing Multidentate Ligands Investigated by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

A systematic series of four novel homo- and heteroleptic Cu^I photosensitizers based on tetradentate 1,10-phenanthroline ligands of the type X^N^N^X containing two additional donor moieties in the 2,9-position (X=SMe or OMe) were designed. Their solid-state structures were assessed by X-ray diffraction. Cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis absorption, emission and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were then used to determine their electrochemical, photophysical and structural features in solution. Following, time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy in the picosecond time scale, coupled with time-dependent density functional theory calculations, provided in-depth information on the excited state electron configurations. For the first time, a significant shortening of the Cu−X distance and a change in the coordination mode to a pentacoordinated geometry is shown in the excited states of the two homoleptic complexes. These findings are important with respect to a precise understanding of the excited state structures and a further stabilization of this type of photosensitizers.     

Transformations of chromanol and tocopherol and synthesis of ascorbate conjugates

α-Tocopherol and as a model compound pentamethylchromanol could be transferred into simple and more complex 5a-ether derivatives including galactopyranose as well as ascorbic acid conjugates. Following elaboration of a glucopyranoside spacer element this could be used for tethering the vitamin E and the vitamin C components to give novel conjugates for subsequent biostudies concerning their proposed synergism of antioxidant properties in tissues.     

Systematic structural studies on cobalt(II) complexes of tricyclohexylphosphine oxide and related ligands

The new cobalt(II) phosphine oxide complexes Co(Cy₃PO)₂Cl₂ (1), Co(Cy₃PO)₂Br₂ (2), Co(Cy₃PO)₂I₂ (3), Co(Ph₂CyPO)₂Cl₂ (4), Co(Ph₂CyPO)₂Br₂ (5), Co(Ph₂CyPO)₂I₂ (6), Co(Ph₂EtPO)₂Br₂ (7), Co(Cy₃PO)₂(NCS)₂ (8) and Co(Cy₃PO)₂(NO₃)₂ (9) have been prepared mainly by the reaction of anhydrous CoX₂ (X = Cl, Br, I, NCS, NO₃) with the appropriate phosphine oxide. The complexes were characterised by single-crystal X-ray crystallography supported by IR and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The structural analyses show that the cobalt(II) centre adopts a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry except for 9 which displays an octahedral geometry. Systematic structural features of these complexes are explained within this paper.     

Activation/Inhibition Effects during the Coelectrodeposition of PtAg Nanoparticles: Application for ORR in Alkaline Media

PtAg bimetallic nanoparticles for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media were prepared by pulse electrodeposition (PED). During PED the reduction of Ag⁺ ions predominates, thus an increased Ag content in the co‐deposit is accomplished. The mechanism for this anomalous co‐deposition was elucidated by potential pulse experiments, which revealed that nuclei formation mainly occurs via the reduction of Pt²⁺ ions. The growth of the particles is diffusion controlled leading to the formation of a Ag shell covering a PtAg alloyed region. However, the shell is not growing homogeneously on the PtAg alloy. Hence, regions of the PtAg alloy are exposed, which exhibit an enhanced ORR activity compared to a pure Ag surface.     

Scorpio-Ligand: Synthesis of Biphenyl-Dihydroazepine Phosphoramidite Ligands for Asymmetric Hydrogenation

A novel dihydroazepine-bridged BIPHEP phosphoramidite ligand with an amino acid moiety in the backbone was synthesized and evaluated in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation. The scorpion tail-like amino acid backbone is capable of hydrogen bond formation and able to shift the rotamer composition of the biphenyl axis with the two scissor-like arms. Pivaloyl-l -valine was studied as chiral selector unit and compared with pivaloylglycine as the achiral reference substance. The enantiomerization barrier of the pivaloylglycine-modified biphenylamide was determined to be ΔG^≠=110 kJ/mol. In the case of pivaloyl-l -valine, the (S_ax) isomer is thermodynamically favored. Due to the relatively high barrier, the ligand is atropisomeric at room temperature and allows the preparative separation of the stereoisomers. The obtained phosphoramidite ligands were separated by chiral HPLC. For the first eluting rotamer, Rh complex ([Rh(cod)(L)₂]BF₄) was generated in situ and examined in the enantioselective hydrogenation of 2-acetamidoacrylate and methyl 2-acetamido-3-phenylacrylate, achieving enantiomeric excesses of up to 94 %.     

Rapid Autoxidation Forms Highly Oxidized RO2 Radicals in the Atmosphere

Gas‐phase oxidation routes of biogenic emissions, mainly isoprene and monoterpenes, in the atmosphere are still the subject of intensive research with special attention being paid to the formation of aerosol constituents. This laboratory study shows that the most abundant monoterpenes (limonene and α‐pinene) form highly oxidized RO₂ radicals with up to 12 O atoms, along with related closed‐shell products, within a few seconds after the initial attack of ozone or OH radicals. The overall process, an intramolecular ROO→QOOH reaction and subsequent O₂ addition generating a next R′OO radical, is similar to the well‐known autoxidation processes in the liquid phase (QOOH stands for a hydroperoxyalkyl radical). Field measurements show the relevance of this process to atmospheric chemistry. Thus, the well‐known reaction principle of autoxidation is also applicable to the atmospheric gas‐phase oxidation of hydrocarbons leading to extremely low‐volatility products which contribute to organic aerosol mass and hence influence the aerosol–cloud–climate system.     

New Acyclic Neutral Phosphorus Sulfides and Sulfide Oxides

A great number of binary neutral phosphorus sulfides was discovered and investigated. However all stable representatives of this family of compounds adopt a polycyclic structure in contrast to their lighter homologues, the nitrogen oxides. Acyclic representatives can be stabilized by adduct formation with a nitrogen base. The bis(pyridine) adduct py₂P₂S₅ of the unstable acyclic phosphorus sulfide P₂S₅ is readily obtained stirring P₄S₁₀ in pyridine at ambient temperature. X‐ray diffraction studies on single crystals of py₂P₂S₅ · 0.5 py ( 1b ) show a N₂O₅ like structure for the P₂S₅ framework. The long P–N distances of 1.86 Å indicate only weak coordination of the pyridine molecules to phosphorus. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies on py₂P₂S_4.34O_0.66 ( 2 ) reveal the presence of py₂P₂S₄O ( 3 ) together with py₂P₂S₅ in the crystal. Compound 3 contains the mixed phosphorus oxide sulfide molecule P₂S₄O stabilized as bis(pyridine) adduct. It is readily obtained from pyP₂S₅ by oxidation with KMnO₄ in pyridine. The oxygen atom occupies the bridging position between the two phosphorus atoms. Quantum chemical calculations at the MPW1PW91 level of theory as well as DTA/TG thermal analyses confirm the weak coordination of the pyridine molecules in py₂P₂S₅, py₂P₂S₄O, and py₂P₂S₇ to phosphorus.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Fluorescent Properties of Three One‐Dimensional Coordination Polymers Derived from Polypyridyl Ligands

Three one‐dimensional coordination polymers, [MnCl₂(4‐pyterpy)]∙2CHCl₃ ( 1 ), [Mn(NO₃)₂(4‐pyterpy)]∙CHCl₃ ( 2 ) and [Ag(NO₃)(3‐pyterpy)]∙H₂O ( 3 ) (4‐pyterpy = 4′‐(4‐pyridyl)‐2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine and 3‐pyterpy = 4′‐(3‐pyridyl)‐2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine) were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray diffraction. All three compounds exhibit a rare “head‐to‐tail” coordination of the multidentate ligand, but differ significantly in their polymer chain conformations. Additionally, the fluorescent properties of all three compounds were investigated and show a weak, ligand‐centered fluorescence at 416–418 nm.     

Helfrich repulsion and dynamical phase separation of multicomponent lipid bilayers

Thermal fluctuations of surfactant bilayers in an aqueous solution produce an effective, long-range repulsion that can lead to a continuous unbinding transition. We report on an optical interferometry study of the thermal fluctuations of multicomponent bilayers close to the unbinding transition. We find that, in contrast to the case of single-component bilayers, the thermal fluctuation spectrum of multicomponent bilayers does not agree with a continuous unbinding transition but instead indicates the proximity of an unbinding tricritical point.