Search

Enzymatic methane hydroxylation is proposed to efficiently occur at the dinuclear copper site of particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO), which is an integral membrane metalloenzyme in methanotrophic bacteria. The resting state and a possible peroxo state of the dicopper active site of pMMO are discussed by using combined quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics calculations on the basis of reported X-ray crystal structures of the resting state of pMMO by Rosenzweig and co-workers. The dicopper site has a unique structure, in which one copper is coordinated by two histidine imidazoles and another is chelated by a histidine imidazole and primary amine of an N-terminal histidine. The resting state of the dicopper site is assignable to the mixed-valent Cu(I)Cu(II) state from a computed Cu-Cu distance of 2.62 Å from calculations at the B3LYP-D/TZVP level of theory. A μ-η(2):η(2)-peroxo-Cu(II)2 structure similar to those of hemocyanin and tyrosinase is reasonably obtained by using the resting state structure and dioxygen. Computed Cu-Cu and O-O distances are 3.63 and 1.46 Å, respectively, in the open-shell singlet state. Structural features of the dicopper peroxo species of pMMO are compared with those of hemocyanin and tyrosinase and synthetic dicopper model compounds. Optical features of the μ-η(2):η(2)-peroxo-Cu(II)2 state are calculated and analyzed with TD-DFT calculations.

Dinuclear iron carbonyl complex 2, which contains an elongated unsupported Fe–Fe bond, was synthesized by the reaction between Fe2(CO)9 and phosphinyl radical 1. Thermal Fe–Fe bond homolysis led to the generation of a four-coordinate carbonyl-based iron-centered radical, 3, which is stabilized by π-donation. Complex 3 exhibited high reactivity toward organic radicals to form diamagnetic five-coordinate Fe(II) complexes.

A dinuclear RuII complex, [{RuIICl(MeBPA)}2(μ-bpm)](PF6)2 (1), exhibited three reversible redox waves at –0.75, +0.91 and +1.15 V vs Ag/AgCl in acetone at –60 °C. The former wave can be assigned to the 1e–-reduction process of the bridging bpm ligand and the latter two are assigned to the stepwise 1e–-oxidation processes of the two Ru centers. Electrochemical oxidation of 1 afforded a “class I” mixed-valence (MV) state, in which the charge localizes on one of the two Ru centers. On the other hand, electrochemical 1e–-reduction of 1 predominantly proceeds on the bridging bpm ligand. The valence-localized MV state should be derived from a largely distorted structure of the RuII site to reduce the π-back bonding from a filled RuII dπ orbital to the bpm ligand as suggested by DFT calculations.

An FeII complex, 1, having a pentadentate ligand with an NHC moiety catalyzes substrate oxidation to afford 2e−-oxidized products with high selectivity by suppression of overoxidation in water. A Bell–Evance–Polanyi plot for the substrate oxidation catalyzed by 1 exhibited an inflection point around 86 kcal mol−1, indicating strong C–H abstraction ability of the reactive species derived from 1.

The dihydrogenated porphycene cobalt(II) complex was synthesized and electrochemical experiments were carried out. The one-electron reduction of the complex proceeded at the central metal to afford the Co(I) species; in contrast, for the non-hydrogenated porphycene cobalt(II) complex, the one-electron reduction gave the ligand reduced radical anion species. The reactivity of the one-electron reduced species with alkyl halides showed clear differences between the complexes. Hydrogenation of the β-position of the porphycene makes it possible to generate a central cobalt reduced species possessing a higher reactivity than the ligand reduced radical anion species.

ConspectusAs fossil-based energy sources become more depleted and with renewable-energy technologies still in a very early stage of development, the utilization of highly abundant methane as a transitional solution for current energy demands is highly important despite difficulties in transport and storage. Technologies enabling the conversion of methane to liquid/condensable energy carriers that can be easily transported and integrated into the existing chemical infrastructures are therefore essential. Although there commercially exists a two-step gas-to-liquid process involving syngas production, a novel route of methane conversion that can circumvent the high-cost production of syngas should be developed. Among all of the conceptually possible methods for converting methane to methanol, methane hydroxylation (CH4 + 1/2O2 → CH3OH) at low temperature seems to be the most viable since it provides a direct route of conversion and allows a much lower operational cost. However, it is hampered by the fact tha...

The utilization of low-cost and abundant oxygen (O

We report homogeneous electrocatalytic and photocatalytic H

We report the synthesis, photophysical properties, redox characteristics, and self-assembly behavior of disk-shaped trithiazolyl-1,3,5-triazines that bear decyloxybenzene moieties. These compounds were synthesized by a Migita-Kosugi-Stille coupling reaction of 1,3,5-trichlorotriazine with three different tributyltin(thiazoles) as the key step. The structure-property relationships, namely the effects of the incorporation of thiazole units into the triazine unit, the conjugation connectivity between the thiazole and triazine units, and the insertion of ethynylene spacers between the thiazole and decyloxybenzene moieties on the properties of the trithiazolyl-1,3,5-triazines were comprehensively investigated. Binding of the triazine core at the 5-position of the thiazole moieties effectively extended the π-conjugation and afforded high fluorescence quantum yields. The ethynylene spacers substantially lowered the LUMO level relative to the HOMO level. The prepared trithiazolyl-1,3,5-triazines self-assembled in solution, and the introduction of thiazole units at the 5-position enhanced this behavior. Detailed thermodynamic studies on the self-association behavior were conducted, and the formation of self-assembled 1D clusters is disclosed.

Disilaferra- and disilaruthenacyclic complexes containing mesityl isocyanide as a ligand, 3′ and 4′, were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy and crystallography. Both 3′ and 4′ showed excellent catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of alkenes. Compared with iron and ruthenium carbonyl analogues, 1′ and 2′, the isocyanide complexes 3′ and 4′ were more robust under the hydrogenation conditions, and were still active even at higher temperatures (∼80 °C) under high hydrogen pressure (∼20 atm). The iron complex 3′ exhibited the highest catalytic activity toward hydrogenation of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted alkenes among currently reported iron catalysts. Ruthenium complex 4′ catalyzed hydrogenation under very mild conditions, such as room temperature and 1 atm of H2. The remarkably high catalytic activity of 4′ for hydrogenation of unfunctionalized tetrasubstituted alkenes was especially notable, because it was comparable to the activity of iridium complexes reported by Crabtree and Pfa...

A series of [Fe

The anionic Fe(III) complex exhibiting cooperative spin transition with a wide thermal hysteresis near room temperature, K[Fe(5-Brthsa)2 ] (5-Brthsa-H2 =5-bromosalicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone), is reported. The hysteresis (Δ=69 K in the first cycle) shows a one-step transition in heating mode and a two-step transition in cooling mode. X-ray structure analysis showed that the coexistence of hydrogen bond and cation-π interactions, as well as alkali metal coordination bonds, to give 2D coordination polymer structure. This result is contrary to previous reports of broad thermal hysteresis induced by coordination bonds of Fe(II) spin crossover coordination polymers (with 1D/3D structures), and by strong intermolecular interactions in the molecular packing through π-π stacking or hydrogen-bond networks. As a consequence, the importance, or the very good suitability of alkali metal-based coordination bonds and cation-π interactions for communicating cooperative interactions in spin-crossover (SCO) compounds must be reconsidered.

Catalytic activity of [Os(III)(OH)(H2O)(L-N4Me2)](PF6)2 (1: L-N4Me2 = N,N'-dimethyl-2,11-diaza-[3,3](2,6)pyridinophane) in 1,2-cis-aminohydroxylation of alkenes with sodium N-chloro-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (chloramine-T) is explored. Simple alkenes as well as those containing several types of substituents are converted to the corresponding 1,2-aminoalcohols in modest to high yields. The aminoalcohol products have exclusively cis conformation with respect to the introduced -OH and -NHTs groups. The spectroscopic measurements including cold mass spectroscopic study of the reaction product of complex 1 and chloromine-T as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that an oxido-aminato-osmium(V) species [Os(V)(O)(NHTs)(L-N4Me2)](PF6)2 (2) is an active oxidant for the aminohydroxylation. The DFT calculations further indicate that the reaction involves a [3 + 2] cycloaddition between 2 and alkene, and the regioselectivity in the aminohydroxylation of unsymmetrical alkenes is determined by the orientation that bears less steric hindrance from the tosylamino group, which leads to the energetically more preferred product isomer.

The catalytic conversion of methanol to formaldehyde by three kinds of non-porphyrin Ru complexes, Ru IV O ( TPA ) (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) (1a), Ru IV O (6- COO - TPA ) (6-COO-TPA = 2-(6-carboxyl-pyridyl)methyl-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) (1b), and Ru IV O ( N4Py ) (N4Py = N,N-bis(2-pyridyl-methyl)-N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine) (1c), is discussed by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. There are two possible reaction pathways for the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde with respect to the first hydrogen abstraction from the methyl group (path 1) and the hydroxyl group (path 2). Path 1 and path 2 involve the hydroxymethyl radical (• CH 2 OH ) and the methoxyl radical ( CH 3 O •), respectively, as an intermediate. DFT calculations demonstrate that the two pathways are energetically comparable in the reactions by the three Ru IV –oxo complexes. The reactions with 1a and 1c are initiated by the C – H bond dissociation with activation barriers of 22.2 and 21.4 kcal/mol, respectively, while the reaction with 1b is initiated by the O – H bond dissociation with an activation barrier of 18.1 kcal/mol. However, the calculations showed that the rate-determining step is the H -atom abstraction from the CH 3 group of methanol in all the pathways. These results are in good agreement with kinetic analysis of the reactions by the Ru IV –oxo complexes, being useful for considering the mechanism of methanol oxidation.

Ruthenium(ii) complexes of PQQTME, a trimethyl ester derivative of redox-active PQQ (pyrroloquinolinequinone), were prepared using a tridentate ligand, 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (terpy) as an auxiliary ligand. The characterization of the complexes was performed by spectroscopic methods, X-ray crystallography, and electrochemical measurements. In one complex, the pyridine site of PQQTME binds to the [Ru(II)(terpy)] unit as a tridentate ligand, and a silver(i) ion is coordinated by the quinone moiety in a bidentate fashion. In contrast, another complex includes the [Ru(II)(terpy)] unit at the bidentate quinone moiety of the PQQTME ligand. The difference in the coordination modes of the complexes exhibits a characteristic difference in the stability of metal coordination and also in the reversibility of the reduction processes of the PQQTME ligand. It should be noted that an additional metal-ion-binding to the PQQTME ligand largely raises the 1e(-)-reduction potential of the ligand. In addition, we succeeded in the characterization of the 1e(-)-reduced species of the complexes, where the unpaired electron was delocalized in the π-conjugated system of the PQQTME˙(-) ligand, using UV-Vis absorption and ESR spectroscopies.

We report the first example of a µ-η1:η1-N2 dinuclear RuII complex with a polyamine ligand and elucidate the structure by means of X-ray analysis. The N≡N stretching vibration has been observed at ...

A dicopper(II) complex, [Cu2(μ-OH)(6-hpa)]3+, where 6-hpa is 1,2-bis[2-[bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-6-pyridyl]ethane, generates an oxyl radical of CuIIO• and catalyzes the selective hydroxylation of benzene to phenol. From the structural similarity to methane activation catalysts (e.g., bare CuO+ ion, Cu-ZSM-5, and particulate methane monooxygenase), it is expected to catalyze methane hydroxylation. The catalytic performance for the hydroxylation of methane to methanol by this dicopper complex is investigated by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The whole reaction of the methane conversion involves two steps without radical species: (1) C–H bond dissociation of methane by the CuIIO• moiety and (2) C–O bond formation with methyl migration. In the first step, the activation barrier is calculated to be 10.2 kcal/mol, which is low enough for reactions taking place under normal conditions. The activation barrier by the other CuIIO2• moiety is higher than that by the CuIIO• moiety, which ...

We report herein NH tautomerism of a freebase derivative of a quadruply fused porphyrin (H2QFP-Mes, 3), which has one mesityl group at one of the β-positions of the nonfused pyrroles to lower the structural symmetry, allowing us to observe the NH tautomerism with 1H NMR spectroscopy. Compound 3 was revealed to have the two inner NH protons on the two nonfused pyrroles, and the NH tautomerism of 3 was evidenced by variable-temperature (VT) 1H NMR experiments in various deuterated solvents. The VT-NMR studies revealed that the activation barrier for the NH tautomerism of 3 was larger than that of tetraphenylporphyrin. The positive activation entropy (ΔS‡ = 89 J mol–1 K–1), determined for the NH tautomerism, can be explained by dissociation of the π–π stacked dimer structure of 3 in the ground state, as evidenced by the crystal structure and NMR measurements. On the basis of the kinetic studies and density functional theory calculations, the stability of intermediates in the NH tautomerism of 3 and the trans...

The two-electron reduction of a diprotonated dodecaphenylporphyrin derivative by Na2 S2 O4 gave a corresponding isophlorin (Iph) selectively. Formation of Iph was confirmed by spectroscopic measurements and the isolation of tetramethylated Iph. Further reduction of Iph proceeded to form an unprecedented four-electron-reduced porphyrin (IphH2 ), which was fully characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis. IphH2 , with a unique conformation, could be oxidized to reproduce the starting porphyrin, resulting in a proton-coupled four-electron reversible redox system.

While the most likely structure of the active site in iron-containing zeolites has been recently identified as [FeO]

Photocatalytic syntheses of gem-difluoroolefins were performed using the B

A new reaction mode for triarylboranes under photochemical conditions was discovered. Photoirradiation of dimesitylboryl-substituted (hetero)arenes produced spirocyclic boraindanes, where one of the C-H bonds in the ortho-methyl groups of the mesityl substituents was formally added in a syn fashion to a C-C double bond of the (hetero)aryl group. Quantum chemical calculations and laser flash photolysis measurements indicated that the reaction proceeds through a [1,6]-sigmatropic rearrangement. This behavior is reminiscent of the photochemical reaction mode of arylalkenylketones, thus demonstrating the isosteric relation between tricoordinate organoboron compounds and the corresponding pseudo-carbocationic species in terms of pericyclic reactions. Despite the disrupted π-conjugation, the resulting spirocyclic boraindanes exhibited a characteristic absorption band at relatively long wavelengths (λ=370-400 nm).

The influence of protons on the mechanism of the direct decomposition of NO over adjacent dimeric Cu(I) active sites in zeolite is theoretically investigated by using ONIOM (QM/MM) calculations with two dicopper model systems 1T and 2T, where the Cu(I) atoms are separated by one and two SiO4 tetrahedra, respectively. The reaction proceeds through the formation of N2O as a reaction intermediate and further its decomposition into oxygen and nitrogen. The present study shows that the presence of proton plays an important role in the production of N2O from two NO molecules. In the proton-free mechanism, this process requires a large activation barrier of 56.3 and 55.3 kcal/mol on 1T and 2T, respectively, while the inclusion of protons reduces it to 31.4 and 17.3 kcal/mol. The significant decrease in the activation barrier is due to the strengthening of the N–N bond of the formed NO dimer upon protonation, which facilitates the formation of N2O. On the other hand, the presence of protons disfavors the decompos...

The gas-phase acidity (GA) of a series of 1,1-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)propane derivatives, Tf2CHCH2CH(R1)R2, and Tf2CHCH2Ar (Ar = phenol derivatives) was determined by measuring proton-transfer equilibria using a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer and by computing the free energy of the deprotonated carbanions and the corresponding neutrals. The effects of R1 and R2 or Ar groups on the acidity were examined. In Tf2CHCH2CH(R1)R2, the GA values calculated using the conformers of neutral molecules that are free from the intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interaction between the acidic hydrogen atom of the Tf2CH moiety and R1 or R2 group and between the hydrogen atom of the CHR1R2 moiety and the SO2CF3 group were correlated in terms of an equation, GA = −17.0ΣσI + 3.4Σσα + 299.5. On the basis of this correlation, it was elucidated that the intramolecular hydrogen bonding or dipole–dipole interaction in the neutral molecule weakens significantly the acidity. In Tf2CHCH2Ar (5, 6 and 7), the GA was strengthened by the strong hydrogen-bonding interaction between the phenolic hydrogen in the aromatic moiety and the SO2CF3 group in the conjugate anion compared with that in the neutral molecule. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Detailed kinetic studies on the oxidation reactions of organic substrates such as methanol with RuIVO complexes as oxidants, formed electrochemically in water, have been conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism. The rate constants of the oxidation reactions exhibited saturation behaviours relative to the substrate concentration, regardless of the oxidants and the substrates employed. This indicates the existence of a pre-equilibrium process based on the adduct formation between the RuIVO oxidant and the substrate. Herein, we have experimentally confirmed that the driving force of the adduct formation is the hydrogen bonding between the oxidants and alcohols even in water. In addition, we have investigated the kinetic isotope effects (KIE) on the oxidation reaction using methanol and its deuterated derivatives and as a result observed moderate KIE values for the C–H bond of methanol. We have also revealed the independency of the reaction rates from the bond dissociation enthalpies of the C–H bonds of the substrates. This independency is probably derived from the tightly condensed transition state, whose energy level is strongly controlled by the activation entropy but less sensitive to the activation enthalpy.

Dissociation of molecular oxygen is an important elementary process in heterogeneous catalysis. Here, we report on a real-space observation of oxygen photolysis on the Ag(110) surface at 78 K by far- and near-field excitation in the ultraviolet–near-infrared range using a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM) combined with wavelength-tunable laser excitation. The photolysis of isolated oxygen molecules on the surface occurs even by visible light with the cross section of ∼10−19 cm2. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations reveal optical absorption of the hybridized O2–Ag(110) complex in the visible and the near-infrared range which is associated with the oxygen photolysis. We suggest that the photolysis mechanism involves a direct charge transfer process. We also demonstrate that the photolysis can be largely enhanced in plasmonic STM junctions, and the cross section is estimated to be ∼10−17 cm-2in the visible and the near-infrared range, which appears to be an interesting feature of plasmon-induced reactions from the perspective of photochemical conversion with the aid of solar energy.

Porphyrins are well known as 18π conjugated aromatic macrocycles with high stability and also as redox-active compounds exhibiting reversible multi-redox processes. In this study, we demonstrated that the two-electron reduction of a diprotonated dodecaphenylporphyrin derivative by Na2S2O4 in DMSO afforded the corresponding isophlorin (Iph) selectively. Formation of Iph was confirmed by spectroscopic measurements and the isolation of tetra-methylated Iph. Further two-electron reduction of Iph was examined using excess Na2S2O4 in DMSO to obtain an unprecedented four-electron reduced porphyrin (IphH2 ), which was successfully characterized by spectroscopic analysis and X-ray crystallography. IphH2 showed a unique conformation and could be oxidized to reproduce the starting porphyrin by the chemical oxidation, allowing us to establish a proton-coupled four-electron reversible redox system.

Spin doctor: A mononuclear ferric complex [Fe(H-5-Br-thsa)(5-Br-thsa)]⋅H2O (1) (H2-5-Br-thsa = 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide) was synthesized and its magnetic properties and structure were investigated by DFT calculations. This complex shows unprecedented reversible, six/five-step spin-crossover behavior accompanied by symmetry breaking. More importantly, each step in the multi-step transition was successfully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

A new bisdehydro[12]annulene derivative having a thiophene-fused structure has been synthesized. This highly twisted π-conjugated macrocycle with two acetylene moieties in close proximity produces a [2+2]-type alkyne cycloadduct by either photoirradiation or mild heating without any transition metals. Theoretical calculations reveal that the thermal reaction proceeds through successive 8π and 4π electrocyclic reactions, while the photochemical reaction is an asynchronous concerted [2+2] cycloaddition. The fused structure with the less-aromatic thiophene ring is crucial for achieving this reaction. The cycloadduct, thiophene-fused biphenylene, has significant potential as a new polycyclic π-scaffold for electronic applications.

The exact structure of the active site of intermediate Q, the methane-oxidizing species of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO), and the reaction mechanism of Q with methane molecule are still not fully clear. To gain further insights into the structure and reaction mechanism, five diiron models of Q that differ in shape, oxidation state, spin state, and coordination number of the two iron centers are studied. Different mechanisms in different spin states were explored. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that Fe(III)Fe(IV)(μ-O)(μ-OH) is more reactive than Fe(IV)(2)(μ-O)(2) in the oxygen-rich environment and that the reactivity of the active core of sMMO-Q is not enhanced by converting its oxo bridge into a terminal ligand. A four-coordinated diiron model is the most effective for methane hydroxylation. Both radical and non-radical intermediates are involved in the reactions for the four-coordinated diiron model.

Addition of 1 equiv of TFA to an acetone solution containing dodecaphenylporphyrin (H2 DPP) in the presence of 10 % MeOH (v/v) resulted in selective formation of a monoprotonated form (H3 DPP+ ), in sharp contrast to protonation of H2 DPP directly affording a diprotonated form (H4 DPP2+ ) in acetone in the absence of MeOH. The crucial role of MeOH for selective H3 DPP+ formation was interpreted as hydrogen-bonding stabilization of H3 DPP+ , since a MeOH molecule was found to form hydrogen bonds with an NH proton of H3 DPP+ in the crystal. The selectivity of H3 DPP+ formation was evaluated by the formation yield of H3 DPP+ , which increased when elevating the portion of MeOH (0-10 %) in acetone with saturation behavior, suggesting that H3 DPP+ is stabilized by hydrogen bonding with MeOH even in solution, together with the thermodynamic parameters determined from a van't Hoff plot based on the spectroscopic titration. Femto- and nanosecond laser flash photolysis allowed us to elucidate the photodynamics of H3 DPP+ in intermolecular photoinduced electron transfer (ET) from ferrocene derivatives as one-electron donors to the triplet excited state of H3 DPP+ as an electron acceptor. The second-order rate constants of the ET reactions were evaluated in light of the Marcus theory of ET. The reorganization energy of ET was determined to be 1.87 eV, which is slightly larger than that of H4 DPP2+ in acetonitrile (1.69 eV), due to larger structural change upon ET than that of H4 DPP2+ .

The polarization switching mechanism is used in various devices such as pyroelectric sensors and memory devices. The change in polarization mostly occurs by ion displacement. The development of materials whose polarization switches via electron transfer in order to enhance operation speed is a challenge. We devised a synthetic and crystal engineering strategy that enables the selective synthesis of a [CrCo] heterometallic dinuclear complex with a polar crystal structure, wherein polarization changes stem from intramolecular charge transfer between Co and the ligand. Polarization can be modulated both by visible-light irradiation and temperature change. The introduction of chiral ligands was paramount to the successful polarization switching in the valence tautomeric compound. Mixing Cr and Co complexes with enantiopure chiral ligands resulted in the selective formation of only pseudosymmetric [CrCo] heterometallic complexes. Furthermore, the left-handed chiral ligands preferentially interacted with their right-handed counterparts, enabling molecules to form a polar crystal structure.

The mechanisms associated with the hydrogenation of alkenes catalyzed by the iron complex Fe(cis-CO)2{o-(SiMe2)2C6H4}2(H)2 (1) were investigated by DFT calculations. The complex 1 has a structure in which the iron center is bonded to four silicon atoms and two hydrides. Secondary Si···H···Si interactions were also observed. The exchange of a 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene ligand with ethylene and hydrogen gives a disilaferracycle bearing η2-(CH2═CH2) and η2-H2 ligands. The catalytic cycle initiated from the disilaferracycle involves cleavage of a H–H linkage assisted by an Fe–Si bond to form Fe–H and η1-(H–Si) moieties (step 1), hydrogen migration from the Fe–H group to the η2-(CH2═CH2) ligand which accomplishes the insertion of ethylene into the Fe–H bond (step 2), and reaction of the resulting β-agostic ethyl moiety with the η2-(H–Si) group to form ethane on the iron atom (step 3). The octahedral geometry of 1 as well as the presence of π-acidic CO ligands and Fe–Si σ-bonds contributes to all of the cata...

Proton transport via dynamic molecules is ubiquitous in chemistry and biology. However, its use as a switching mechanism for properties in functional molecular assemblies is far less common. In this study, we demonstrate how an intra-carboxyl proton shuttle can be generated in a molecular assembly akin to a rack-and-pinion cascade via a thermally induced single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transition. In a triply interpenetrated supramolecular organic framework (SOF), a 4,4′-azopyridine (azpy) molecule connects to two biphenyl-3,3′,5,5′-tetracarboxylic acid (H4BPTC) molecules to form a functional molecular system with switchable mechanical properties. A temperature change reversibly triggers a molecular movement akin to a rack-and-pinion cascade, which mainly involves 1) an intra-carboxyl proton shuttle coupled with tilting of the azo molecules and azo pedal motion and 2) H4BPTC translation. Moreover, both the molecular motions are collective, and being propagated across the entire framework, leading to a macroscopic crystal expansion and contraction.

A newly prepared tetraazulene-fused tetracene diimide (TA-fused TDI) showed absorption in the near-IR region owing to the effective extension of the π-conjugated system as well as a large two-photon absorption cross-section (σ(2)=2140 GM) at 950 nm. Four reversible reduction processes and n-type semiconductivity were also confirmed as attractive electronic properties of this compound.

Atypically anisotropic and large changes in magnetic susceptibility, along with a change in crystalline shape, were observed in a CoII complex at near room temperature. This was achieved by combining oxalate molecules, acting as rotor, and a CoII ion with unquenched orbital angular momentum. A thermally controlled 90° rotation of the oxalate counter anion triggered a symmetry-breaking ferroelastic phase transition, accompanied by contraction-expansion behavior (ca. 4.5 %) along the long axis of a rod-like single crystal. The molecular rotation induced a minute variation in the coordination geometry around the CoII ion, resulting in an abrupt decrease and a remarkable increase in magnetic susceptibility along the direction perpendicular and parallel to the long axis of the crystal, respectively. Theoretical calculations suggested that such an unusual anisotropic change in magnetic susceptibility was due to a substantial reorientation of magnetic anisotropy induced by slight disruption in the ideal D3 coordination environment of the complex cation.

Recently, it was shown that μ-oxo-μ-peroxodiiron(III) is converted to high-spin μ-oxodioxodiiron(IV) through O-O bond scission. Herein, the formation and high reactivity of the anti-dioxo form of high-spin μ-oxodioxodiiron(IV) as the active oxidant are demonstrated on the basis of resonance Raman and electronic-absorption spectral changes, detailed kinetic studies, DFT calculations, activation parameters, kinetic isotope effects (KIE), and catalytic oxidation of alkanes. Decay of μ-oxodioxodiiron(IV) was greatly accelerated on addition of substrate. The reactivity order of substrates is toluene

Thermal reactions of a silene derivative (Me3Si)2Si═C(OSiMe3)(t-Bu) (1) with silyl-substituted acetylenes, bis(trimethylsilyl)butadiyne, tert-butyldimethylsilylacetylene, and bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene have been investigated with density functional theory calculations for the understanding of substituent effects in the reactivity of the silene. The first critical reaction step for determining the final product is the formation of a biradical intermediate from 1 and the acetylenes. A stepwise [2 + 2] cycloaddition via the biradical intermediate gives a silacyclobutene derivative, which is the precursor of the final product. The activation energy for this reaction step as well as thermodynamic stability of the biradical intermediate is governed by an interplay between geometric and electronic factors. The biradical intermediate is destabilized by steric hindrance between bulky substituents on 1 and acetylene, while it can be stabilized by delocalization of an unpaired electron in the acetylene moiety. Sil...

A heterodinuclear complex based on a Ru(II)-TPA [TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine] complex having a peripheral Cu(II)(bpy)(2) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) group bonded through an amide linkage displayed reversible intramolecular electron transfer between the Ru and Cu complex units that can be controlled by protonation and deprotonation of the bridging amide moiety.

Density functional theory calculations have been performed for a proposal of possible mechanisms of the thermal reaction of an acylsilane, pivaloyltris(trimethylsilyl)silane, and bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene yielding a silacyclopropene, 1-[(tert-butyl)bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]-1-trimethylsiloxy-2,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-silacycloprop-2-ene. Two reaction pathways in which two different silyl species play a role were considered based on analogous reactions of acylsilane and alkyne: (i) A silene (Si═C) intermediate derived from the acylsilane reacts with the acetylene to yield a silacyclobutene intermediate as a result of a stepwise [2 + 2] cycloaddition, and a ring-opening reaction of the silacyclobutene triggers the formation of the silacyclopropene. (ii) The silene intermediate is rearranged to a silylene intermediate, and then [2 + 1] cycloaddition of the acetylene and the silylene gives the silacyclopropene. The high activation energy calculated for the [2 + 2] cycloaddition indicates that the silene w...

The pterin-coordinated ruthenium complex, [Ru(II) (dmdmp)(tpa)](+) (1) (Hdmdmp=N,N-dimethyl-6,7-dimethylpterin, tpa=tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine), undergoes photochromic isomerization efficiently. The isomeric complex (2) was fully characterized to reveal an apparent 180° pseudorotation of the pterin ligand. Photoirradiation to the solution of 1 in acetone with incident light at 460 nm resulted in dissociation of one pyridylmethyl arm of the tpa ligand from the Ru(II) center to give an intermediate complex, [Ru(dmdmp)(tpa)(acetone)](2+) (I), accompanied by structural change and the coordination of a solvent molecule to occupy the vacant site. The quantum yield (ϕ) of this photoreaction was determined to be 0.87 %. The subsequent thermal process from intermediate I affords an isomeric complex 2, as a result of the rotation of the dmdmp(2-) ligand and the recoordination of the pyridyl group through structural change. The thermal process obeyed first-order kinetics, and the rate constant at 298 K was determined to be 5.83×10(-5) s(-1). The activation parameters were determined to be ΔH(≠) =81.8 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(≠) =-49.8 J mol(-1) K(-1). The negative ΔS(≠) value indicates that this reaction involves a seven-coordinate complex in the transition state (i.e., an interchange associative mechanism). The most unique point of this reaction is that the recoordination of the photodissociated pyridylmethyl group occurs only from the direction to give isomer 2, without going back to starting complex 1, and thus the reaction proceeds with 100 % conversion efficiency. Upon heating a solution of 2 in acetonitrile, isomer 2 turned back into starting complex 1. The backward reaction is highly dependent on the solvent: isomer 2 is quite stable and hard to return to 1 in acetone; however, 2 was converted to 1 smoothly by heating in acetonitrile. The activation parameters for the first-order process in acetonitrile were determined to be ΔH(≠) =59.2 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(≠) =-147.4 kJ mol(-1) K(-1). The largely negative ΔS(≠) value suggests the involvement of a seven-coordinate species with the strongly coordinated acetonitrile molecule in the transition state. Thus, the strength of the coordination of the solvent molecule to the Ru(II) center is a determinant factor in the photoisomerization of the Ru(II)-pterin complex.

Valence tautomerism is studied in the [Co(II-HS)(sq)(2)(bpy)]/[Co(III-LS)(sq)(cat)(bpy)] mononuclear cobalt complex by using DFT methods (HS, high spin; LS, low spin; cat, catecholate; sq, semiquinone; bpy, 2,2'-bipyridine). Calculations at the B3LYP* level of theory reproduce well the energy gap between the Co(II-HS) and Co(III-LS) forms giving an energy gap of 4.4 kcal/mol, which is comparable to the experimental value of 8.9 kcal/mol. Potential energy surfaces and crossing seams of the electronic states of the doublet, quartet, and sextet spin states are calculated along minimum energy paths connecting the energy minima corresponding to the different spin states. The calculated minimum energy crossing points (MECPs) are located at 8.8 kcal/mol in the doublet/sextet surfaces, at 10.2 kcal/mol in the doublet/quartet surfaces, and at 8.4 kcal/mol in the quartet/sextet surfaces relative to the doublet ground state. Considering the energy of the three spin states and the crossing points, the one-step relaxation mechanism between the Co(II-HS) and Co(III-LS) forms is the most probable. This research shows that mapping MECPs can be a useful strategy to analyze the potential energy surfaces of systems with complex deformation modes.

The spin transition between the low-spin singlet state and the high-spin quintet state in the [Fe(2-pic)(3)](2+) (2-pic: 2-picolylamine) complex is studied by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. After careful comparison of density functionals BLYP, B3LYP, and B3LYP* (which has 15% Hartree-Fock exchange compared with 20% for B3LYP), we concluded that the spin-state splitting can be accurately reproduced by using the B3LYP* functional. The potential energy surfaces along minimum energy pathways of the three spin states were calculated at the B3LYP*/6-311+G** level of theory to find minimum energy crossing points (MECPs). The MECPs between the singlet and quintet states (SQ(M)) were found (E(SQ) = 6.8 kcal/mol), as well as the MECPs between the triplet and singlet states (ST(M), E(ST) = 12.9 kcal/mol) and the triplet and quintet states (TQ(M), E(TQ) = 12.8 kcal/mol). Although the distortion leading to SQ(M) from the singlet equilibrium geometry is mainly a symmetric expansion of the Fe-N bonds, the distortions leading to ST(M) and SQ(M) are asymmetric. Normal mode analysis demonstrates that these geometrical distortions contain a combination of several low-frequency normal modes, and therefore, these modes play a significant role in the intersystem crossing via the crossing seam.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed for the investigation of a plausible mechanism of the triple bond cleavage of N2 in a diniobium complex supported by tridentate aryl...