The kinetics of the E-Z-E isomerisation and liquid-crystalline properties of selected azobenzene derivatives investigated by the prism of the ester group inversion

Two new groups of azobenzene ester derivatives were synthesised: alkyl 4-[4-(nonyloxy)phenyl]diazenyl]benzoates and 4-[4-(nonyloxy)phenyl]diazenyl]phenyl alkanoates. All 35 presented homologues are mesogenic. Moreover, some of the above-mentioned compounds exhibit rich liquid-crystalline polymorphism likewise tetramorphism. During this investigation by the use of polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-Ray studies, six types of mesophases were detected: nematic, smectics (A, C, I, F) and G. Furthermore, due to the presence of the photosensitive azo moiety, the E–Z isomerisation reaction is possible. This process, which is initiated by the UV irradiation, causes significant changes in the UV-Vis absorption spectra of investigated compounds. However, the photoisomerisation is a reversible process and in the dark the thermal relaxation of Z isomer takes place. Based on the achieved data, the kinetic constants of the isomerisation and relaxation processes were calculated. It shows that conversion of the ester bond makes some changes in the optical properties. The shift of about 7 nm of the absorbance maximum was observed. Surprisingly, the inversion of the ester group has significant influence on the liquid-crystalline polymorphism replacing one mesophase (for benzoates) into four (for alkanoates).     

Calculation of the vibration–rotational transition intensities of water molecules trapped in an argon matrix: stretching O–H vibrations spectral region

The frequencies and intensities of vibration–rotational transitions of water molecules in an argon matrix were calculated for temperatures of 6 and 30 K. The rigid asymmetric top approximation was used with available literature values of the effective rotational constants in the ground and excited vibrational states. The calculations were carried out by taking into account the existence of a non-equilibrium population distribution between the rotational levels of ortho- and para-water isomers. It was assumed that the temperature relaxation of the population of rotational levels is independent of the ortho- and para-isomers. Comparison of the results of the theoretical calculations with experimental literature data shows good agreement for the majority of the rotational structure lines for symmetric and antisymmetric stretching vibrations both in the frequency values and in the values of the relative intensities.     

Proton-Transfer Dynamics of Photoacidic Merocyanines in Aqueous Solution

Photoacids attract increasing scientific attention, as they are valuable tools to spatiotemporally control proton-release reactions and pH values of solutions. We present the first time-resolved spectroscopic study of the excited state and proton-release dynamics of prominent merocyanine representatives. Femtosecond transient absorption measurements of a pyridine merocyanine with two distinct protonation sites revealed dissimilar proton-release mechanisms: one site acts as a photoacid generator as its pK_a value is modulated in the ground state after photoisomerization, while the other functions as an excited state photoacid which releases its proton within 1.1 ps. With a pK_a drop of 8.7 units to −5.5 upon excitation, the latter phenolic site is regarded a super-photoacid. The 6-nitro derivative exhibits only a phenolic site with similar, yet slightly less photoacidic characteristics and both compounds transfer their proton to methanol and ethanol. In contrast, for the related 6,8-dinitro compound an intramolecular proton transfer to the ortho-nitro group is suggested that is involved in a rapid relaxation into the ground state.     

A Water Molecule Triggers Guest Exchange at a Mono-Zinc Centre Confined in a Biomimetic Calixarene Pocket: a Model for Understanding Ligand Stability in Zn Proteins

In this study, the ligand exchange mechanism at a biomimetic Zn^II centre, embedded in a pocket mimicking the possible constrains induced by a proteic structure, is explored. The residence time of different guest ligands (dimethylformamide, acetonitrile and ethanol) inside the cavity of a calix[6]arene-based tris(imidazole) tetrahedral zinc complex was probed using 1D EXchange SpectroscopY NMR experiments. A strong dependence of residence time on water content was observed with no exchange occurring under anhydrous conditions, even in the presence of a large excess of guest ligand. These results advocate for an associative exchange mechanism involving the transient exo-coordination of a water molecule, giving rise to 5-coordinate Zn^II intermediates, and inversion of the pyramid at the Zn^II centre. Theoretical modelling by DFT confirmed that the associative mechanism is at stake. These results are particularly relevant in the context of the understanding of kinetic stability/lability in Zn proteins and highlight the key role that a single water molecule can play in catalysing ligand exchange and controlling the lability of Zn^II in proteins.     

Understanding the Deactivation Pathways of Iridium(III) Pyridine-Carboxiamide Catalysts for Formic Acid Dehydrogenation

The degradation pathways of highly active [Cp*Ir(κ²-N,N-R-pica)Cl] catalysts (pica=picolinamidate; 1 R=H, 2 R=Me) for formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation were investigated by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Under acidic conditions (1 equiv. of HNO₃), 2 undergoes partial protonation of the amide moiety, inducing rapid κ²-N,N to κ²-N,O ligand isomerization. Consistently, DFT modeling on the simpler complex 1 showed that the κ²-N,N key intermediate of FA dehydrogenation ( I_NH ), bearing a N-protonated pica, can easily transform into the κ²-N,O analogue ( I_NH2 ; ΔG^≠≈11 kcal mol⁻¹, ΔG ≈−5 kcal mol⁻¹). Intramolecular hydrogen liberation from I_NH2 is predicted to be rather prohibitive (ΔG^≠≈26 kcal mol⁻¹, ΔG≈23 kcal mol⁻¹), indicating that FA dehydrogenation should involve mostly κ²-N,N intermediates, at least at relatively high pH. Under FA dehydrogenation conditions, 2 was progressively consumed, and the vast majority of the Ir centers (58 %) were eventually found in the form of Cp*-complexes with a pyridine-amine ligand. This likely derived from hydrogenation of the pyridine-carboxiamide via a hemiaminal intermediate, which could also be detected. Clear evidence for ligand hydrogenation being the main degradation pathway also for 1 was obtained, as further confirmed by spectroscopic and catalytic tests on the independently synthesized degradation product 1 c . DFT calculations confirmed that this side reaction is kinetically and thermodynamically accessible.