Heterodinuclear M1M2 Complexes (M1=Ni,Pd, Pt; M2=Rh,Ir) Supported by a Tetradentate Phosphine Ligand and Their Application for Hydrosilylation

A new series of cationic heterodinuclear complexes, [M¹M²Cl₂(meso-dpmppp)(RNC)₂]PF₆ (M¹=Ni, M²=Rh, R=^tBu ( 1 a ); M¹=Pd, M²=Rh, R=^tBu ( 2 a ), Xyl ( 2 b ); M¹=Pt, M²=Rh, R=^tBu ( 3 a ), Xyl ( 3 b ); M¹=Pd, M²=Ir, R=^tBu ( 4 a )), supported by a tetradentate phosphine ligand, meso-Ph₂PCH₂P(Ph)(CH₂)₃P(Ph)CH₂PPh₂ (meso-dpmppp), were synthesized by stepwise reactions of meso-dpmppp with NiCl₂ ⋅ 6H₂O or MCl₂(cod) (M=Pd, Pt), forming mononuclear metalloligands of [M¹Cl₂(meso-dpmppp)], and with [M²Cl(cod)]₂ (M²=Rh, Ir) and RNC (R=^tBu, Xyl) in the presence of [NH₄][PF₆]. The related neutral PdRh complex, [PdRhCl₃(meso-dpmppp)(XylNC)] ( 5 ), was also prepared. The structures of 1 – 5 were determined by X-ray analyses to contain two square planar d⁸ metal centers with face-to-face arrangement, where meso-dpmppp supports M¹ and M² metal ions in cis/trans-P,P coordination mode, combining cis-{M¹P₂Cl₂} and trans-{M²P₂(CNR)₂} units. Complexes 1 – 4 showed an intence characteristic absorption around 422–464 nm derived from Rh^I→RNC MLCT transition (HOMO→LUMO+1), which are influenced by changing M¹ (Ni^II, Pd^II, Pt^II) metal ions since HOMO composed of dσ* orbitals appreciably destabilized by changing M¹ from Ni to Pd, and Pt. The electronic structures of 1 a – 4 a were investigated on the basis of DFT calculations and NBO analyses to show weak but noticeable d⁸–d⁸ metallophilic interaction as empirical dispersion energy of 0.9–1.5 kcal/mol without M¹–M² covalent bonding interaction. In addition, 1 – 5 were utilized as catalysts for hydrosilylation of styrene, and the NiRh complex 1 a was found to show higher activity and chemo- and regioselectivity compared with 2 – 5 .     

Evaluation of image sticking property on liquid crystal displays with polymer layers produced from phenanthrene-carrying monomers

As a model of polymer-sustained-alignment liquid crystal display (PSA-LCD), the liquid crystal (LC) cells having the polymer layers produced from monomers of phenanthrene (Phen)-carrying monomers, 2,7-, 3,8-, 1,8- and 3,6-dimethacryloyl-oxy-phenanthrene (DMAPhen), were prepared and investigated image sticking phenomenon with evaluations of residual direct current voltage (V_rDC) and difference in pretilt angle before and after application of alternate current voltage (Δtilt). The V_rDC values were small for the LC cells with the polymer layers produced from the Phen-carrying monomers used in this study. On the other hand, Δtilt depends on the molecular structure of the Phen-carrying monomer. The Δtilt values became small with increasing the linearity of the monomer structure for the Phen-carrying monomers. The findings would be useful for obtaining the small level of image sticking in the PSA-LCDs produced from the Phen-carrying monomers.     

Modification of Wide‐Band‐Gap Oxide Semiconductors with Cobalt Hydroxide Nanoclusters for Visible‐Light Water Oxidation

Cobalt‐based compounds, such as cobalt(II) hydroxide, are known to be good catalysts for water oxidation. Herein, we report that such cobalt species can also activate wide‐band‐gap semiconductors towards visible‐light water oxidation. Rutile TiO₂ powder, a well‐known wide‐band‐gap semiconductor, was capable of harvesting visible light with wavelengths of up to 850 nm, and thus catalyzed water oxidation to produce molecular oxygen, when decorated with cobalt(II) hydroxide nanoclusters. To the best of our knowledge, this system constitutes the first example that a particulate photocatalytic material that is capable of water oxidation upon excitation by visible light can also operate at such long wavelengths, even when it is based on earth‐abundant elements only.     

Direct Transformation of Molecular Dinitrogen into Ammonia Catalyzed by Cobalt Dinitrogen Complexes Bearing Anionic PNP Pincer Ligands

The direct formation of ammonia from molecular dinitrogen under mild reaction conditions was achieved by using new cobalt dinitrogen complexes bearing an anionic PNP‐type pincer ligand. Up to 15.9 equivalents of ammonia were produced based on the amount of catalyst together with 1.0 equivalent of hydrazine (17.9 equiv of fixed nitrogen atoms).     

Application to Photocatalytic H2 Production of a Whole‐Cell Reaction by Recombinant Escherichia coli Cells Expressing [FeFe]‐Hydrogenase and Maturases Genes

A photocatalytic H₂ production system using an inorganic–bio hybrid photocatalyst could contribute to the efficient utilization of solar energy, but would require the development of a new approach for preparing a H₂‐forming biocatalyst. In the present study, we constructed a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli expressing the genes encoding the [FeFe]‐hydrogenase and relevant maturases from Clostridium acetobutylicum NBRC 13948 for use as a biocatalyst. We investigated the direct application of a whole‐cell of the recombinant E. coli. The combination of TiO₂, methylviologen, and the recombinant E. coli formed H₂ under light irradiation, demonstrating that whole cells of the recombinant E. coli could be employed for photocatalytic H₂ production without any time‐consuming and costly manipulations (for example, enzyme purification). This is the first report of the direct application of a whole‐cell reaction of recombinant E. coli to photocatalytic H₂ production.     

Electronic Transitions in Conformationally Controlled Peralkylated Hexasilanes

The photophysical properties of oligosilanes show unique conformational dependence due to σ‐electron delocalization. The excited states of the SAS, AAS, and AEA conformations of peralkylated n‐hexasilanes, in which the SiSiSiSi dihedral angles are controlled into a syn (S), anti (A), or eclipsed (E) conformation, were investigated by using UV absorption, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and linear dichroism spectroscopy. Simultaneous Gaussian fitting of all three spectra identified a minimal set of transitions and the wavenumbers, oscillator strengths, and MCD B terms in all three compounds. The results compare well with those obtained by using the symmetry‐adapted‐cluster configuration interaction method and almost as well with those obtained by time‐dependent density functional theory with the PBE0 functional. The conformational dependence of the transition energies and other properties of free‐chain permethylated n‐hexasilane, n‐Si₆Me₁₄, was also examined as a function of dihedral angles, and the striking effects found were attributed to avoided crossings between configurations of σσ* and σπ* character.     

Virtually complete E-selective alpha,beta-unsaturated ester synthesis by Hg(OTf)2-catalyzed hydration of sec-ethoxyalkynyl acetate

The reaction of alkyl-substituted sec-ethoxyalkynyl acetates with water catalyzed by Hg(OTf)2 afforded alpha,beta-unsaturated esters in excellent yield with high catalytic turnover up to 1000 times under very mild reaction conditions with virtually complete E-selectivity, superior even to that of the HWE reaction.     

Implementation of pi-pi interactions in molecular dynamics simulation

No explicit pi-pi interaction term has been incorporated in the conventional molecular dynamics (MD) simulation programs in spite of its significant role in the folding of biomolecules and the clustering of organic chemicals. In this article, we propose a technique to emphasize the effect of pi-pi interactions using a function of energy and implement it into an MD simulation program. Several trial calculations show that the pi-pi incorporated program gives improved results consistent with experimental data on atom geometry and has no unfavorable interference with the conventional computational framework. This indicates an importance of the explicit consideration of pi-pi interactions in MD simulation.