Observation of Confinement-Free Neutral Group Three Transition Metal Carbonyls Sc(CO)7 and TM(CO)8 (TM=Y,La)

Spectroscopic characterization of neutral highly-coordinated compounds is essential in fundamental and applied research, but has been proven to be a challenging experimental target because of the difficulty in mass selection. Here, we report the preparation and size-specific infrared-vacuum ultraviolet (IR-VUV) spectroscopic identification of group-3 transition metal carbonyls Sc(CO)₇ and TM(CO)₈ (TM=Y, La) in the gas phase, which are the first confinement-free neutral heptacarbonyl and octacarbonyl complexes. The results indicate that Sc(CO)₇ has a C_2v structure and TM(CO)₈ (TM=Y, La) have a D_4h structure. Theoretical calculations predict that the formation of Sc(CO)₇ and TM(CO)₈ (TM=Y, La) is both thermodynamically exothermic and kinetically facile in the gas phase. These highly-coordinated carbonyls are 17-electron complexes when only those valence electrons that occupy metal−CO bonding orbitals are considered, in which the ligand-only 4b_1u molecular orbital is ignored. This work opens new avenues toward the design and chemical control of a large variety of compounds with unique structures and properties.     

Symmetry and Rigidity for Boosting Erbium-Based Molecular Light-Upconversion in Solution

Previously limited to highly symmetrical homoleptic triple-helical complexes [Er( Lk )₃]³⁺, where Lk are polyaromatic tridentate ligands, single-center molecular-based upconversion using linear optics and exploiting the excited-state absorption mechanism (ESA) greatly benefits from the design of stable and low-symmetrical [ Lk Er(hfa)₃] heteroleptic adducts (hfa⁻=hexafluoroacetylacetonate anion). Depending on (i) the extended π-electron delocalization, (ii) the flexibility and (iii) the heavy atom effect brought by the bound ligand Lk , the near-infrared (801 nm) to visible green (542 nm) upconversion quantum yield measured for [ Lk Er(hfa)₃] in solution at room temperature can be boosted by up to three orders of magnitude.     

New Water-Soluble Au(III) Complexes with Xyloside-Based Ligands: Synthesis,Structural Characterization,Solution Studies and Catalytic Evaluation

A short and convenient approach to the original xyloside-based ligands, has been achieved, using d -xylose as a starting material. The complexation properties of these ligands towards Au(III) cations were studied by different methods, such as multinuclear NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis. A preliminary study using protometric titrations has been carried out in aqueous solution under various pH conditions, thus in order to investigate the binding of Au(III) cations to these ligands. Furthermore, molecular calculations were performed to obtain additional structural information. The catalytic activity of the most stable Au(III) complexes was evaluated for the homogeneous reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of NaBH₄.     

Experimental and Computational Studies on Uranium Diazomethanediide Complexes

Uranium diazomethanediide complexes can be prepared and their synthesis, structure and reactivity were explored. Reaction of the uranium imido compound [η⁵-1,2,4-(Me₃Si)₃C₅H₂]₂U=N(p-tolyl)(dmap) ( 1 ) or [η⁵-1,3-(Me₃C)₂C₅H₃]₂U=N(p-tolyl)(dmap) ( 4 ) with Me₃SiCHN₂ cleanly yields the first isocyanoimido metal complexes [η⁵-1,2,4-(Me₃Si)₃C₅H₂]₂U(=NNC)(μ-CNN=)U(dmap)[η⁵-1,2,4-(Me₃Si)₃C₅H₂]₂ ( 2 ) and {[η⁵-1,3-(Me₃C)₂C₅H₃]₂U[μ-(=NNC)]}₆ ( 5 ), respectively. Both compounds exhibit remarkable thermal stability and were fully characterized. According to density functional theory (DFT) studies the bonding between the Cp₂U²⁺ and [NNC]²⁻ moieties is strongly polarized with a significant 5 f orbital contribution, which is also reflected in the reactivity of these complexes. For example, complex 5 acts as a nucleophile toward alkylsilyl halides and engages in a [2+2] cycloaddition with CS₂, but no reaction occurs in the presence of internal alkynes.     

Ir-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of gem-Diborylalkenes Enabled by 1,2-Boron Shift

Asymmetric cross-couplings based on 1,2-carbon migration from B-ate complexes have been developed efficiently to access valuable organoboronates. However, enantioselective reactions triggered by 1,2-boron shift have remained to be unaddressed synthetic challenge. Here, Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation enabled by 1,2-boron shift was developed. In this reaction, we disclosed that excellent enantioselectivities were achieved through an interesting dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) process of allylic carbonates at the elevated temperature. Notably, the highly valuable (bis-boryl)alkenes have enabled an array of diversifications to access versatile molecules. Extensive experimental and computational studies were conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism of DKR process and clarify the origin of excellent enantioselectivities.     

Supramolecular Copolymers Under Kinetic,Thermodynamic, or Pathway-Switching Control

Supramolecular copolymers have attracted much attention due to their potential functionalities. However, the co-assembly strategies to construct co-assemblies of small molecules with well-defined sequence structures are still limited, especially for more complex crystalline block co-assemblies. Herein, we target this challenge by designing Ir^III complexes 1 and 2 , which possess unique self-assembly pathways and are capable of forming crystalline assemblies in aqueous systems. Specifically, block and random co-assemblies of 1 and 2 can be synthesized by kinetic and thermodynamic control, respectively. Meanwhile, by adjusting the water content to orthogonalize the on-pathway and the off-pathway, an unprecedented pathway-switching approach is realized to synthesize block and random co-assemblies. By coupling the kinetic pathways, the present co-assembly strategies are expected to pave the way for the synthesis of crystalline co-assemblies of small molecules and the construction of organic heterostructures.     

CO2 Aggregation on Monoethanolamine: Observations from Rotational Spectroscopy

The initial stages of the gas-phase nucleation between CO₂ and monoethanolamine were investigated via broadband rotational spectroscopy with the aid of extensive theoretical structure sampling. Sub-nanometer-scale aggregation patterns of monoethanolamine-(CO₂)_n, n=1–4, were identified. An interesting competition between the monoethanolamine intramolecular hydrogen bond and the intermolecular interactions between monoethanolamine and CO₂ upon cluster growth was discovered, revealing an intriguing CO₂ binding priority to the hydroxyl group over the amine group. These findings are in sharp contrast to the general results for aqueous solutions. In the quinary complex, a cap-like CO₂ tetramer was observed cooperatively surrounding the monoethanolamine. As the cluster approaches the critical size of new particle formation, the contribution of CO₂ self-assembly to the overall stability increases.