Bioinspired Transition-Metal Complexes as Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most important reactions in life processes and energy conversion systems. To alleviate global warming and the energy crisis, the development of high-performance electrocatalysts for the ORR for application in energy conversion and storage devices such as metal–air batteries and fuel cells is highly desirable. Inspired by the biological oxygen activation/reduction process associated with heme- and multicopper-containing metalloenzymes, iron and copper-based transition-metal complexes have been extensively explored as ORR electrocatalysts. Herein, an outline into recent progress on non-precious-metal electrocatalysts for the ORR is provided; these electrocatalysts do not require pyrolysis treatment, which is regarded as desirable from the viewpoint of bioinspired molecular catalyst design, focusing on iron/cobalt macrocycles (porphyrins, phthalocyanines, and corroles) and copper complexes in which the ORR activity is tuned by ligand variation/substitution, the method of catalyst immobilization, and the underlying supporting materials. Current challenges and exciting imminent developments in bioinspired ORR electrocatalysts are summarized and proposed.     

Copper quinolate: A simple and efficient catalytic complex for coupling reactions

We describe an effective and novel method to prepare N-aryl imidazoles via the copper quinolate-catalyzed N-arylation of aryl halides and imidazoles. A wide range of products were obtained in moderate to excellent yields under the optimal reaction conditions. Applying standard conditions, the model reaction could be performed on a gram scale. This method also presents a new avenue to the “click” reaction of terminal alkynes, benzyl bromide, and sodium azide and to the construction of C–C bonds by homocoupling of phenylboronic acid or phenylacetylene derivatives with the aid of copper quinolate.     

An overview on the copper-promoted synthesis of five-membered heterocyclic systems

The development of novel approaches for the preparation of small-sized heterocyclic products has remained an extremely attractive but challenging proposition. Copper has been known as one of the most applicable and significant transition metals utilized in the synthesis of organic products. A couple of factors such as high earth abundance and versatile catalysis resulted in the growth of copper-promoted synthesis of five-membered heterocyclic products. Utilizations such as making coins and electrical equipment express the importance of copper, as well. Here, a comprehensive overview of the copper-catalyzed synthesis of five-membered heterocyclic products is presented, focusing on the developments over the past 4 years.     

Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescent Nanoswitches: Solvent-Induced Emission Enhancement of Copper Nanoclusters

Copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) as a new class of fluorescent materials have attracted a great deal of interest due to their outstanding fluorescence properties. In this work, a variety of organic solvents were used to induce self-assembly of glutathione-capped CuNCs (GSH-CuNCs) to form ordered assemblies with enhanced fluorescence properties. Assemblies with multicolor fluorescence emission were constructed on the basis of the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) of GSH-CuNCs and the solvent effect. The fluorescence emission from these GSH-CuNCs assemblies can also be tuned from yellow to purple by changing the organic solvent. A possible mechanism based on the size of the assemblies and electron transfer was explored to explain the solvent effects on GSH-CuNCs. Stimuli-responsive nanoswitches with excellent reversibility can be controlled by changing the type of organic solvent and the ratio of the organic solvent to the aqueous solution of GSH-CuNCs. As the CuNCs assemblies exhibit strong, stable, and color-tunable fluorescence, they were employed as color-conversion materials for recognizing different organic solvents.     

NIR Light-Induced ATRP for Synthesis of Block Copolymers Comprising UV-Absorbing Moieties

NIR exposure at 790 nm activated photopolymerization of monomers comprising UV-absorbing moieties by using [Cu^II/(TPMA)]Br₂ (TPMA=tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) in the ppm range and an alkyl bromide as initiator. Some of them comprised structural elements selected either from those showing proton transfer or photocycloaddition upon UV excitation. Polymers obtained comprise living end groups serving as macroinitiator for controlled synthesis of block copolymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions. Chromatographic results indicated formation of block copolymers produced by this synthetic approach. Free-radical polymerization of monomers pursued for comparison exhibited the expected broader dispersity of molecular weight compared to photo-ATRP. Polymerization of these monomers by UV photo-ATRP failed on the contrary to NIR photo-ATRP demonstrating the UV-filter function of the monomers. This work conclusively provides a new approach for the polymerization of monomers comprising UV-absorbing moieties through photo-ATRP in the NIR region. This occurred in a simple and efficient pathway. However, studies also showed that not all monomers chosen successfully proceeded in the NIR photo-ATRP protocol.     

Four-Component Borocarbonylation of Vinylarenes Enabled by Cooperative Cu/Pd Catalysis: Access to β-Boryl Ketones and β-Boryl Vinyl Esters

We report here a general four-component synthetic procedure for the preparation of β-boryl ketones and β-boryl vinyl esters. Joint catalyzed by palladium and copper catalysts, borocarbonylative reaction between vinylarenes, aryl halides/triflates, B₂Pin₂, and carbon monoxide proceed successfully. A variety of synthetically useful β-boryl ketones were synthesized in good to high yields by using aryl iodides as the substrates. It is noteworthy that when aryl triflates were applied as the starting materials, β-boryl vinyl esters were synthesized in a similar manner and with broad functional group tolerance. A rational mechanism for this reaction was also proposed.     

Acceptor-Doping Accelerated Charge Separation in Cu2O Photocathode for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Theoretical and Experimental Studies

Cu₂O is a typical photoelectrocatalyst for sustainable hydrogen production, while the fast charge recombination hinders its further development. Herein, Ni²⁺ cations have been doped into a Cu₂O lattice (named as Ni-Cu₂O) by a simple hydrothermal method and act as electron traps. Theoretical results predict that the Ni dopants produce an acceptor impurity level and lower the energy barrier of hydrogen evolution. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) measurements demonstrate that Ni-Cu₂O exhibits a photocurrent density of 0.83 mA cm⁻², which is 1.34 times higher than that of Cu₂O. And the photostability has been enhanced by 7.81 times. Moreover, characterizations confirm the enhanced light-harvesting, facilitated charge separation and transfer, prolonged charge lifetime, and increased carrier concentration of Ni-Cu₂O. This work provides deep insight into how acceptor-doping modifies the electronic structure and optimizes the PEC process.     

Copper-Catalyzed ortho-Functionalization of Quinoline N-Oxides with Vinyl Arenes

An efficient copper-catalyzed regioselective C−H alkenylation and borylative alkylation of quinoline N-oxides with vinyl arenes in the presence of pinacol diborane has been developed. The reaction proceeds through the borylcupration of the vinyl arenes followed by nucleophilic attack of the resulting alkyl copper species to the quinoline N-oxides. Benzoquinone and KO^tBu were identified as the necessary additives at the second step of the reaction that are crucial for the success of the reaction. A wide range of C2-functionalizaed quinolines were obtained with good functional group tolerance, which may find utilities in pharmaceuticals and synthetic chemistry.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of copper(II), manganese(III) phthalocyanines bearing chalcone groups at peripheral or nonperipheral positions

In this study, new chalcone compound 1 , new phthalonitrile derivatives 2 and 3, new copper(II), manganese(III) phthalocyanines bearing chalcone groups at peripheral or nonperipheral positions were synthesized. Electrochemistry of tetra-(4-{(2 E )-3-[2-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]prop-2-enoyl}phenoxy) substituted Co(II)Pc and Mn(III)Pcs were studied with cyclic voltammetry (CV) to determine the redox properties of the phthalocyanines. According to the results, while the CuPcs 2a and 3a showed two Pc based reduction reactions and one Pc based oxidation reaction, MnPcs 2b and 3b gave two metal-based reduction reactions. All the redox processes are shifted toward positive potentials as a result of the increased electron-withdrawing ability of the trifluoromethyl substituents.     

1,10-Phenanthroline: A versatile ligand to promote copper-catalyzed cascade reactions

Ligand-promoted copper-catalyzed cascade reactions have become a robust tool for the synthesis of cyclic compounds. Although numerous ligands have been developed, this review focuses on the introduction of commercially available 1,10-phenanthroline-promoted copper-catalyzed cascade reactions in recent years. Moreover, based on original articles, this review highlights product yields in the presence and absence of the ligand, and the possible mechanistic role of the ‘copper/1,10-phenanthroline’ catalytic system.