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With halides X− (X = Cl, Br, I) 5,6-dicyano-[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4-b]pyrazine 1 forms chalcogen-bonded complexes [1–X]− structurally defined by XRD. UV/Vis spectra of [1–X]− feature red-shifted charge-transfer bands in the Vis part.

2-Methyl-9H-thioxanthene-9-one (1) and its S,S-dioxide (2) are the precursors of pendant groups that determine the reduction potentials of electro-active polyimides, which exhibit electrochromic behavior and are used in organic electronics. Electrochemical reduction of 1 and 2 leads to the formation of the corresponding persistent radical anions and dianion (for S,S-dioxide). Using 3D spectroelectrochemistry, all anions have been shown to exhibit strong absorption in the UV-VIS-NIR wavelength region. Electronic absorption spectra of 1 and 2 and their negative ions were interpreted using time-dependent DFT. According to the calculations, the most intense electronic transitions of the dianions 12 and 22- in the visible region exhibit hypsochromic shift compared to the intense transitions of the corresponding radical anions and have much higher oscillator strengths, which was confirmed experimentally for 2. An empirical kinetic model was proposed based on the analysis of the total charge passed through the cell during electrolysis and on the established mechanism of electrochemical reduction. This model perfectly described the UV-VIS-NIR optical density time dependences observed on 3D spectroelectrochemical surfaces for both compounds 1 and 2. This made it possible to explain the differences in the electrochromic behaviour of ambibolar electro-active polyimides with pendant groups based on 1, 2.

Thermally stable organic diradicals with a triplet ground state along with large singlet-triplet energy gap have significant potential for advanced technological applications. A series of phenylene-bridged diradicals with oxoverdazyl and nitronyl nitroxide units were synthesized via a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of iodoverdazyls with a nitronyl nitroxide-2-ide gold(I) complex with high yields. The diradicals exhibit high stability and do not decompose in an inert atmosphere up to 180 °C. For the diradicals, both substantial AF (ΔEST ≈-64 cm-1 ) and FM (ΔEST ≥25 and 100 cm-1 ) intramolecular exchange interactions were observed. The sign of the exchange interaction is determined both by the bridging moiety (para- or meta-phenylene) and by the type of oxoverdazyl block (C-linked or N-linked). Upon crystallization, diradicals with the triplet ground state form unique one-dimensional exchange-coupled chains with strong intra- and weak inter-diradical ferromagnetic coupling.

The cocrystallization of 1,2,5-chalcogenadiazoles (chalcogen E = S, Se and Te) with cyclic polyethers 18-crown-6 (18-c-6) and dibenzo-18-crown-6 (db-18-c-6) yielded the molecular complexes characte...

Chemistry and materials science of Herz radicals (1,2,3-benzodichalcogenazolyls; chalcogen is S or Se) are discussed including their synthesis, structure and reactivity. Preparation and functional characterization of radical-based molecular conducting and magnetic materials are considered.

Reduction of 2,1,3-benzotelluradiazole (3) yielded a crystalline solid that features a trimeric dianion formally composed of two [3]˙− and one 3 bridged by unusually asymmetric Te⋯N chalcogen bonds. The solid is diamagnetic due to strong antiferromagnetic coupling, as revealed by CASSCF/CASPT2 and BS-DFT.

An interaction of M(hfac)2 (M = Mn or Ni) with N-(bis(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-3-oxido-1-oxyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methylene)-2-methyl-propan-2-amine oxide (a nitronyl nitroxide diradical with theC[double bond, length as m-dash]N(O)-tert-Bu coupler) was investigated under various conditions. It was found that prolongation of reaction time caused transformation of the initial diradical into new diradicals with the uniqueC[double bond, length as m-dash]N-OH coupling unit and formation of binuclear Mn(ii) and Ni(ii) complexes, which were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The resulting binuclear heterospin complexes have a complicated magnetic structure with six paramagnetic centers and a number of exchange interaction channels between them, as well as between neighboring complexes. To adequately describe the magnetic properties of these complexes, high-level ab initio calculations of their electronic structure and parameters of the spin-Hamiltonian were carried out. The accuracy of the conventional broken-symmetry density functional theory approach in the calculation of the exchange interaction parameters was also verified.

A series of heterometallic carboxylate 1D polymers of the general formula [LnIIICd2(piv)7(H2O)2]n·nMeCN (LnIII = Sm (1), Eu (2), Tb (3), Dy (4), Ho (5), Er (6), Yb (7), piv = anion of trimethylacetic acid) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The use of CdII instead of ZnII under similar synthetic conditions resulted in the formation of 1D polymers, in contrast to molecular trinuclear complexes with LnIIIZn2 cores. All complexes 1–7 are isostructural. The luminescent emission and excitation spectra for 2–4 have been studied, the luminescence decay kinetics for 2 and 3 was measured. Magnetic properties of the complexes 3–5 and 7 have been studied, 4 and 7 exhibited the properties of field-induced single-molecule magnets in an applied external magnetic field. Magnetic properties of 4 and 7 were modelled using results of SA-CASSCF/SO-RASSI calculations and SINGLE_ANISO procedure. Based on the analysis of the magnetization relaxation and the results of ab initio calculations, it was found that relaxation in 4 predominantly occurred by the sum of the Raman and QTM mechanisms, and by the sum of the direct and Raman mechanisms in the case of 7.

A series of red-emissive {Cu4I6} clusters have been synthesized from alkyl-tris(2-pyridyl)phosphonium halides, [R-PPy3]Hal, and CuI. The size of the alkyl substituent (R) has a dramatic impact on the structure of the clusters assembled. [Me-PPy3]I salt reacts with CuI (1 : 2) to give the ionic [Cu(Me-PPy3)I]2Cu2I4 complex consisting of the scorpionate [Cu(N,N′,N′′-Me-PPy3)I]+ cation. Under similar conditions, [Pr-PPy3]I forms the zwitterionic [Cu4I6(Pr-TPP)2] complex containing an unusual stepwise [Cu4I6] cluster core. The use of [Bu-PPy3]I or [Bn-PPy3]I in this reaction leads to zwitterionic [Cu4I6(R-TPP)2] complexes, in which a linear-shaped [Cu4I6] module appears. Photophysical studies supported by TD-DFT computations have revealed that the title complexes in the solid state at 298 K exhibit a red photoluminescence (λemmax = 620–650 nm) with short lifetimes (0.04–2.10 μs), which are assigned to the thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) mixed with the cluster centered (3CC) phosphorescence. The compounds synthesized are the first red-emitting representatives of the recently discovered family of zwitterionic CuI-based complexes (so-called “AIO” structures).

5,6-Dicyano[1,2,5]selenadiazolo[3,4-b]pyrazine 1 was synthesized and electrochemically and chemically reduced into its radical anion [1]˙−, which was characterized by EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, and isolated in the form of homospin salts [K(18-crown-6)]+[1]˙− (2) and [Na(18-crown-6)]+[1]˙− (3). The crystal structure of 2 revealed π-dimers of [1]˙− featuring a shortened interplanar separation of 3.18 A, and that of 3 showed chains of alternating cations and anions. DFT and CASSCF calculations on the π-dimers of [1]˙− suggest a closed-shell singlet ground state with a noticeable contribution of diradical character. According to EPR and SQUID magnetometry, salt 2 is diamagnetic in the range of 2–300 K, whereas salt 3 is paramagnetic and reveals weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions.

Thermally resistant air-stable organic triradicals with a quartet ground state and a large energy gap between spin states are still unique compounds. In this work, we succeeded to design and prepare the first highly stable triradical, consisting of oxoverdazyl and nitronyl nitroxide radical fragments, with a quartet ground state. The triradical and its diradical precursor were synthesized via a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of diiodoverdazyl with nitronyl nitroxide-2-ide gold(I) complex. Both paramagnetic compounds were fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry, EPR spectroscopy in various matrices, and cyclic voltammetry. In the diradical, the verdazyl and nitronyl nitroxide centers demonstrated full reversibility of redox process, while for the triradical, the electrochemical reduction and oxidation proceed at practically the same redox potentials, but become quasi-reversible. A series of high-level CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations was performed to predict inter- and intramolecular exchange interactions in crystals of di- and triradicals and to establish their magnetic motifs. Based on the predicted magnetic motifs, the temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility were analyzed, and the singlet-triplet (135 ± 10 cm-1) and doublet-quartet (17 ± 2 and 152 ± 19 cm-1) splitting was found to be moderate. Unique high stability of synthesized verdazyl-nitronylnitroxide triradical opens new perspectives for further functionalization and design of high-spin systems with four or more spins.

triangulo-Trirhenium nonaiodide Re3I9 reacts with 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IMes) to produce the novel 13-electron paramagnetic cluster Re3I8(IMes)2, which was characterized...

Quartet verdazyl-nitronylnitroxide triradical was synthesized via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of the corresponding diiodoverdazyls with a nitronyl nitroxide-2-ide gold(I) complex. The triradical is air-stable and possess good thermal stability with decomposition onset at ∼160 °C in an inert atmosphere. X-ray diffraction analysis of single crystals confirmed the presence of verdazyl and nitroxide radical centers. Magnetic properties were characterized by a SQUID magnetometry of polycrystalline powders and by EPR spectroscopy in different matrices. Collected data analyzed using of the high-level quantum chemical calculations confirmed that the triradical has high-spin ground states.

The first example of a triply bridging (μ3 -P) phosphine ligand has been discovered in the crown-shaped [Cu3 (μ2 -Hal)3 L] (Hal=Cl, Br, or I) complexes supported by tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]phosphine (L). Theoretical analysis completely confirms the observed μ3 -P-bridging pattern, revealing the interaction of the same lone pair of phosphorus with three valence 4s-orbitals of Cu atoms. The presented complexes exhibit outstanding blue phosphorescence (λem =442-465 nm) with the quantum efficiency reaching 100 %. The complex [Cu3 (μ2 -I)3 L] also exhibits remarkable thermo- and mechanochromic luminescence resulting in a sharp change in the emission colour upon external stimuli. These findings essentially contribute to coordination chemistry of the pnictine ligands.

In recent years, research dealing with organic paramagnetic compounds such as stable radicals and high-spin systems has been focused on applied aspects. Several key trends have formed in the application and, hence, in the function-oriented synthesis of organic radicals and polyradicals. This review addresses one of such trends in which the dominant role is played by so-called conjugated nitroxides. Their specific feature is the presence of any unsaturated moiety (C=C, C=N or C=O multiple bond; aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; fused polyaromatic system) adjacent to the nitroxide group. The achievements of the chemistry of conjugated nitroxides are presented, and their physicochemical properties, magneto-structural correlations and practical applications are discussed. The bibliography includes 641 references.

A new synthetic pathway to diradical organic systems is proposed. The effectiveness of this approach was exemplified by the synthesis of a new nitroxide diradical. An interaction of perfluorobiphenyl with lithium tert-butylamide, followed by oxidation of the thusly formed N4,N4&prime, di-tert-butyl-2,2&prime, 3,3&prime, 5,5&prime, 6,6&prime, octafluorobiphenyl-4,4&prime, diamine with meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, led to the polyfluorinated nitroxide diradical, N,N&prime, (perfluorobiphenyl-4,4&prime, diyl)bis(N-tert-butyl(oxyl)amine), with a good total yield. The polyfluorinated diradical is stable and can be isolated in free form and completely characterized. The structure of the nitroxide diradical was proved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the diradical is considerably twisted: dihedral angles between the planes of the nitroxide groups and aromatic cycles are 65.1&deg, and 69.5&deg, and between aromatic cycles 52.6&deg, Quantum chemical calculations predict well-balanced size of both intramolecular and intermolecular exchange interactions with J from &minus, 2.65 to &minus, 1.14 cm&minus, 1.

Interaction of the tetradentate redox-active 6,6'-[1,2-phenylenebis(azanediyl)]bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenol) (H4 L) with TeCl4 leads to neutral diamagnetic compound TeL (1) in high yield. The molecule of 1 has a nearly planar TeN2 O2 fragment, which suggests the formulation of 1 as TeII L2- , in agreement with the results of DFT calculations and QTAIM and NBO analyses. Reduction of 1 with one equivalent of [CoCp2 ] leads to quantitative formation of the paramagnetic salt [CoCp2 ]+ [1].- , which was characterised by single-crystal XRD. The solution EPR spectrum of [CoCp2 ]+ [1].- at room temperature features a quintet due to splitting on two equivalent 14 N nuclei. Below 150 K it turns into a broad singlet line with two weak satellites due to the splitting on the 125 Te nucleus. Two-component relativistic DFT calculations perfectly reproduce the a(14 N) HFI constants and A∥ (125 Te) value responsible for the low-temperature satellite splitting. Calculations predict that the additional electron in 1.- is localised mainly on L, while the spin density is delocalised over the whole molecule with significant localisation on the Te atom (≥30 %). All these data suggest that 1.- can be regarded as the first example of a structurally characterised monomeric tellurium-nitrogen radical anion.

Verdazyl-nitroxide diradicals were synthesized using the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of the corresponding iodoverdazyls with a nitronyl nitroxide-2-ide gold(I) complex with high yields (up to 82%). The synthesized diradicals were found to be highly thermally stable and have a singlet (DEST » -64 cm–1) or triplet ground state (DEST ³ 25 and 100 cm–1), depending on which canonical hydrocarbon diradical type they belong to. Upon crystallization, triplet diradicals form unique one-dimensional (1D) spin S = 1 chains of organic diradicals with intrachain ferromagnetic coupling of J′/kB from 3 to 6 K.

Recent achievements in the charge-transfer chemistry of 1,2,5-chalcogenadiazoles, 1,2,3-dichalcogenazoles (chalcogen is S, Se, or Te), their fused congeners and hybrids are discussed with special emphasis on the synthesis and structural and functional characterization of radical anions, radical-anion salts, charge-transfer complexes, neutral and charged donor–acceptor complexes, and metal coordination compounds.

A new synthetic methodology based on the self-condensation of 1,2,3-benzodithiazolyl diradicals (Herz radicals) produces unprecedented 5-6-6-6-5 and 5-6-7-6-5 pentacyclic sulfur-nitrogen near-IR dyes featuring up to five multiple long-lived and differently coloured redox-states.

Donor-acceptor (D-A) complexes between 3,4-dicyano-1,2,5-chalcogenadiazoles [chalcogen=Te (1 a), Se (1 b), S (1 c)] and the pseudohalides CN- and XCN- (X=O, S, Se, Te) were studied experimentally and theoretically. For 1 a, they were isolated as [K(18-crown-6)][1 a-CN] (2), [K(18-crown-6)][1 a-NCO] (3), [K(18-crown-6)][1 a-SCN] (4), [K(18-crown-6)][1 a-SeCN] (5), and [K][1 a-NCSe] (6) and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopy, and DFT and QTAIM calculations. For 1 b and 1 c, the complexes were not isolated due to unfavorable thermodynamics. In all isolated complexes, the D-A bonds, stabilized by negative hyperconjugation, were longer than the sum of the covalent radii and shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii of the bonded atoms. In mixtures of 1 a, F- , and SeCN- , the complex [1 a-F]- was selectively formed in accordance with thermodynamics. The reaction of 1 a with SeCN- and the cyclic trimeric perfluoro-ortho-phenylene mercury afforded the complex [K(18-crown-6)][SCN]⋅(o-C6 F4 Hg)3 , which was characterized by XRD.

The [(α-diimine)Re(CO)3(Hal)] complexes are able to act as efficient catalysts for electrochemical reduction of CO2 into energy-rich compounds. Among the α-diimine ligands, the 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (dpp-bian) attracted recently increased attention. Reaction of [Re(CO)5Br] with dpp-bian leads to formation of [(dpp-bian)Re(CO)3Br], which was isolated and characterized by XRD as solvent-free [(dpp-bian)Re(CO)3Br] (1), and two solventomorphs [(dpp-bian)Re(CO)3Br]·C6H5CH3 (1-C7H8) and [(dpp-bian)Re(CO)3Br]·0.5CH3CN (1-0.5CH3CN). Electrochemical reduction of 1 in DMF and CH3CN has been studied using CV and in situ EPR spectroelectrochemistry. According to the experimental results, complex 1 undergoes in DMF multistep reduction via a number of intermediates, two of which were detected using in situ EPR spectroscopy. A careful theoretical analysis of the multistep reduction mechanism including calculations of the thermodynamics of elementary reactions and electronic structures of proposed intermediates has been performed. General scheme of the electrochemical reduction, which is essentially ligand-centered, has been proposed and supported by full-electron DFT calculations with scalar relativistic DKH2 and ZORA Hamiltonians.

The reaction between bis(benzene)chromium(0), Cr0(C6H6)2, and [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (abbreviated as TDTD) formed single crystals of the 1 : 1 salt, [CrI(C6H6)2]+[TDTD]-. The crystal structure of [Cr(C6H6)2][TDTD] belongs to the monoclinic P21/c space group, and involves a CdSO4-type network (or quartz dual net), which is formed by CHN hydrogen bonds between [Cr(C6H6)2]+ (S = 1/2) and [TDTD]- (S = 1/2). In addition to this network, the two components form an alternating chain crystal with a π-π overlap along the [110] and [11[combining macron]0] directions. The theoretical calculations for the pairwise intermolecular magnetic exchange interactions in [Cr(C6H6)2][TDTD] reveal the presence of 3D interactions, ranging from an antiferromagnetic interaction of -8.96 cm-1 to a ferromagnetic one of 1.70 cm-1. The temperature dependence of the paramagnetic susceptibility χp indicates the dominance of an antiferromagnetic interaction with a negative Weiss constant of -4.8 K and a magnetic ordering at 8 K, which can be characterized in terms of weak ferromagnetism.

A new approach to the synthesis of fused 1,2,3-thiaselenazoles—rare five-membered heterocycles that contain two different chalcogens—from the corresponding 1,2,3-dithiazoles and SeO2 was accomplished by selective exchange of S and Se atoms. The fused carbo- and heterocyclic units were indene, naphthalenone, cyclohexadienone, cyclopentadiene, benzoannulene, and benzoxazine. The molecular structures of two of the thiaselenadiazole products and one of the dithiazole precursors were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The reaction is highly solvent selective; it only takes place in solvents that contain a C=O group (e.g., DMF or tetramethylurea). According to DFT calculations, the reaction is thermodynamically favorable. Based on the DFT calculations and 77Se NMR spectroscopy, two tentative mechanisms that feature isomeric transition states and intermediates are suggested for the reaction via ring-opening addition of SeO2 to the S−X dithiazole bond (X=N or S). The DFT-calculated first adiabatic electron affinities of the compounds were chalcogen independent and positive in all cases, which assumes formation of thermodynamically stable radical anions (RAs). These calculated RAs featured either normal or abnormal elongation of the S1−X2 (X=S or Se) bond relative to their neutral precursors and possessed π* or σ* SOMOs, respectively.

An Aza-Wittig reaction of 1,1′-bis(triphenylphosphoranylidenamino)-ferrocene with 3-isocyanato-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-oxyl and subsequent intramolecular [2+2]-cycloaddition of the bis(carbodiimide) intermediate was used for the synthesis of a 1,3-diazetidine-2,4-diimine moiety bearing two radical groups and bridging the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings. According to single-crystal X-ray data, the planar 2,4-diimino-1,3-diazetidine moiety adopts a perpendicular orientation with respect to the eclipsed Cp rings. One of the radical groups lies almost within the plane of the four-membered 1,3-diazetidine ring, while the other has a conformationally preferred orientation with dihedral angles ±62.3°. The two Cp rings are constricted by the 1,3-diazetidine-2,4-diimine moiety so that the angle between their planes is 11.0°. The synthesized diradical contains ferrocene and nitroxide redox signaling units that can be oxidized step-by-step at E1/2 = 0.26 and 0.48 V (vs Fc/Fc+), respectively. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed a moderate exchange interaction (|J| ∼ aN) between the two nitroxide radical moieties and the following values of zero-field splitting parameters: ∣D∣ = 3.5 mT and E/D = 0 were obtained. These data were in agreement with density functional theory calculations. The newly developed approach to multispin systems may be interesting for the construction of weakly coupled rigid polyradicals for quantum technologies, the molecular design of magnets, and the creation of ferrocene-based electron-paramagnetic-resonance–active chemical sensors.

Molecular magnets based on copper(ii) ions and stable nitroxide radicals exhibit promising switchable behavior triggered by a number of external stimuli; however, their spin-state-correlated optical properties vital for photoinduced switching have not been profoundly investigated to date. Herein, the electronic absorption spectra of single crystals of three representatives of this unique family are studied experimentally and theoretically in the visible and near-IR regions. We established that the color of the complexes is mainly determined by optical properties of the nitroxide radicals, whereas the Cu(hfac)2 fragment contributes to the near-IR range with the intensity smaller by an order of magnitude. The thermochromism of these complexes evident upon thermal spin state switching is mainly caused by a spectral shift of the absorption bands of the nitroxides. The vibrational progression observed in the visible range for single crystals as well as for solutions of pure nitroxides is well reproduced by DFT calculations, where the C-C stretching mode governs the observed progression. The analysis of the spectra of single crystals in the near-IR region reveals changes in the energy and in the intensity of the copper(ii) d-d transitions, which are well reproduced by SOC-NEVPT2 calculations and owe to the flip of the Jahn-Teller axis in the coordination environment of copper. Further strategies for designing bidirectional magnetic photoswitches using these appealing compounds are discussed.

The first lanthanide complexes with a redox-active sulfur diimide ligand, [LnCp*2 (Me3 SiN=)2 S] (Ln=Sm, Eu, Yb; Cp*=η5 -C5 Me5 ), are reported. The complexes were synthesized by using [LnCp*2 (THF)2 ] and (Me3 SiN=)2 S and have been thoroughly characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, EPR spectroscopy, UV/Vis/NIR electronic absorption spectroscopy and SQUID magnetometry. The results, as interpreted by CASSCF/SOC-RASSI calculations providing a non-perturbative treatment of spin-orbit coupling, indicate that these paramagnetic complexes are best described as Ln3+ and [(Me3 SiN=)2 S]-. adducts. As such, these complexes contain the first isolated and structurally characterized acyclic [(RN=)2 S]-. radical anions.

A series of red-emissive {Cu4I6} clusters have been synthesized from alkyl-tris(2-pyridyl)phosphonium halides, [R-PPy3]Hal, and CuI. The size of the alkyl substituent (R) has a dramatic impact on the structure of the clusters assembled. [Me-PPy3]I salt reacts with CuI (1 : 2) to give the ionic [Cu(Me-PPy3)I]2Cu2I4 complex consisting of the scorpionate [Cu(N,N',N''-Me-PPy3)I]+ cation. Under similar conditions, [Pr-PPy3]I forms the zwitterionic [Cu4I6(Pr-TPP)2] complex containing an unusual stepwise [Cu4I6] cluster core. The use of [Bu-PPy3]I or [Bn-PPy3]I in this reaction leads to zwitterionic [Cu4I6(R-TPP)2] complexes, in which a linear-shaped [Cu4I6] module appears. Photophysical studies supported by TD-DFT computations have revealed that the title complexes in the solid state at 298 K exhibit a red photoluminescence (λemmax = 620-650 nm) with short lifetimes (0.04-2.10 μs), which are assigned to the thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) mixed with the cluster centered (3CC) phosphorescence. The compounds synthesized are the first red-emitting representatives of the recently discovered family of zwitterionic CuI-based complexes (so-called "AIO" structures).

By means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and DFT calculations, it was found that the electron-acceptor ability of 2,1,3-benzochalcogenadiazoles 1-3 (chalcogen: S, Se, and Te, respectively) increases with increasing atomic number of the chalcogen. This trend is nontrivial, since it contradicts the electronegativity and atomic electron affinity of the chalcogens. In contrast to radical anions (RAs) [1].- and [2].- , RA [3].- was not detected by EPR spectroscopy under CV conditions. Chemical reduction of 1-3 was performed and new thermally stable RA salts [K(THF)]+ [2].- (8) and [K(18-crown-6)]+ [2].- (9) were isolated in addition to known salt [K(THF)]+ [1].- (7). On contact with air, RAs [1].- and [2].- underwent fast decomposition in solution with the formation of anions [ECN]- , which were isolated in the form of salts [K(18-crown-6)]+ [ECN]- (10, E=S; 11, E=Se). In the case of 3, RA [3].- was detected by EPR spectroscopy as the first representative of tellurium-nitrogen π-heterocyclic RAs but not isolated. Instead, salt [K(18-crown-6)]+2 [3-Te2 ]2- (12) featuring a new anionic complex with coordinate Te-Te bond was obtained. On contact with air, salt 12 transformed into salt [K(18-crown-6)]+2 [3-Te4 -3]2- (13) containing an anionic complex with two coordinate Te-Te bonds. The structures of 8-13 were confirmed by XRD, and the nature of the Te-Te coordinate bond in [3-Te2 ]2- and [3-Te4 -3]2- was studied by DFT calculations and QTAIM analysis.

The reaction of the redox active 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (dpp-BIAN) and iron(II) iodide in acetonitrile led to a new complex [(dpp-BIAN)FeIII2] (1). Molecular structure of 1 was determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The spin state of the iron cation in complex 1 at room temperature and the magnetic behavior of 1 in the temperature range of 2–300 K were studied using Mossbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements, respectively. The neutral character of dpp-BIAN in 1 was confirmed by IR and UV spectroscopy. The electrochemistry of 1 was studied in solution and solid state using cyclic voltammetry. The generation of the radical anion form of the dpp-BIAN ligand upon reduction of 1 in a CH2Cl2 solution was monitored by EPR spectroscopy.

A novel β-ketoimine-functionalized 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (4-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4-ylamino)pent-3-en-2-one, L2H) was synthesized and used as chelating ligand for the complexation with Zn(II) (complex ZnL2). The spectroscopic and photophysical properties of L2H and ZnL2 as well as those of previously described 4-amino-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (L1) and its complex ZnL1 have been thoroughly studied in the crystalline state and solution. The UV-Vis absorption spectra of free ligands L1, L2H and its deprotonated form L2−, and complexes ZnL1 and ZnL2 were assigned on the basis of TD-DFT calculations. In contrast to ZnL2 having conventional single-band fluorescence, ZnL1 demonstrates a broad double-band purple-white fluorescence spanning the entire visible region. On the basis of careful spectroscopic studies the second band of this unusual fluorescence spectrum was attributed to the presence of traces of free ligand L1 in the crystals of complex ZnL1. The energy transfer from the excited state of ZnL1 to a free ligand L1 was revealed.

The thermal stability of energetic materials, being of the utmost importance for safety issues, is often considered in terms of kinetics, e.g., the Arrhenius parameters of the decomposition rate constant. The latter, in turn, are commonly determined using conventional thermoanalytical procedures with the use of simple Kissinger or Ozawa methods for kinetic data processing. However, thermal decomposition of energetic materials typically occurs via numerous exo- and endothermal processes including fast parallel reactions, phase transitions, autocatalysis, etc. This leads to numerous drawbacks of simple approaches. In this paper, we proposed a new methodology for characterization of the thermochemistry and thermal stability of melt-cast energetic materials, which is comprised of a complementary set of experimental and theoretical techniques in conjunction with a suitable kinetic model. With the aid of the proposed methodology, we studied in detail a novel green oxidizer, tetranitroacetimidic acid (TNAA). The experimental mass loss kinetics in the melt was perfectly fitted with a model comprised of zero-order reaction (sublimation or evaporation) and first-order thermal decomposition of TNAA with the effective Arrhenius parameters Ea = 41.0 ± 0.2 kcal mol-1 and log(A/s-1) = 20.2 ± 0.1. We rationalized the experimental findings on the basis of highly accurate CCSD(T)-F12 quantum chemical calculations. Computations predict that thermolysis of TNAA involves an intricate interplay of multiple decomposition channels of the three tautomers, which are equilibrated via either monomolecular reactions or concerted double hydrogen atom transfer in the H-bonded dimers; the calculated Arrhenius parameters of the effective rate constant coincide well with experiment. Most importantly, calculations provide detailed mechanistic evidence missing in the thermoanalytical experiment and explain formation of the experimentally observed primary products N2O and NO2. Along with the kinetics and mechanism of decomposition, the proposed approach yields accurate thermochemistry and phase change data of TNAA.

Donor-acceptor (D-A) complexes between 3,4-dicyano-1,2,5-chalcogenadiazoles [chalcogen=Te (1 a), Se (1 b), S (1 c)] and the pseudohalides CN

Thermochemistry, kinetics, and mechanism of thermal decomposition of 1,5-diaminotetrazole (DAT), a widely used "building block" of nitrogen-rich energetic compounds, were studied theoretically at a high and reliable level of theory (viz., using the explicitly correlated CCSD(T)-F12/aug-cc-pVTZ procedure). Quantum chemical calculations provided detailed insight into the thermolysis mechanism of DAT missing in the existing literature. Moreover, several contradictory assumptions on the mechanism and key intermediates of thermolysis were resolved. The unimolecular primary decomposition reactions of the seven isomers of DAT were studied in the gas phase and in the melt using a simplified model of the latter. The two-step reaction of N2 elimination from the diamino tautomer was found to be the primary decomposition process of DAT in the gas phase and melt. The effective Arrhenius parameters of this process were calculated to be E a = 43.4 kcal mol-1 and log( A/s-1) = 15.2 in a good agreement with the experimental values. Contrary to the existing literature data, all other decomposition channels of DAT isomers turned out to be kinetically unimportant. Apart from this, a new primary decomposition channel yielding N2, cyanamide, and 1,1-diazene was found for some H-bonded dimers of DAT. We also determined a reliable and mutually consistent set of thermochemical values for DAT (Δ f H solid0 = 74.5 ± 1.5 kcal·mol-1) by combining theoretically calculated (W1 multilevel procedure along with an isodesmic reaction) gas phase enthalpy of formation (Δ f H gas0 = 100.7 ± 1.0 kcal·mol-1) and experimentally measured sublimation enthalpy (Δ sub H0 = 26.2 ± 0.5 kcal·mol-1).

Reaction of [ReOCl3(PPh3)2] with 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone (3,5-DTBQ) in hot toluene produces a new complex [(3,5-di-tert-Bu2C6H2O2)Re(OPPh3)Cl3] (1), which was isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. In order to clarify the charge state of rhenium and the coordinated dioxolene ligand, X-ray experiments at 150 and 290 K were carried out. The C-O, C-C, and Re-O bond distances at both 150 and 290 K fall between those for semiquinolate (3,5-DTBSQ) and catecholate (3,5-DTBCat) forms; an empirical "metrical oxidation state" of the dioxolene ligand was estimated to be -1.5. High-level ab initio calculations (SOC-CASSCF/NEVPT2) revealed a mixed valence nature of the triplet ground state of complex 1 corresponding to a superposition of the Re(IV)-SQ and Re(V)-cat forms. In agreement with the high-level ab initio and DFT calculations, the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility (5-300 K) is well described in the assumption of the triplet ground state, with the anomalously large zero-field splitting (ZFS) arising from the spin-orbit coupling. According to the ab initio calculations, all absorption bands in the visible region of the electronic absorptions spectrum are assigned to the LMCT bands, with significant contribution of the intraligand transition in the most intense band at 555 nm.

The authors are grateful to the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Project 8.14), the Royal Society (RS International Joint Project 2010/R3), the Leverhulme Trust (Project IN-2012-094), the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Project 13), the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (Project of Joint Laboratories of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and National Research Universities), and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Projects 13-03-00072 and 15-03-03242) for financial support of various parts of this work. N.A.S. thanks the Council for Grants of the President of Russian Federation for postdoctoral scholarship (grant MK-4411.2015.3). B.E.B. is grateful for an EaStCHEM Hirst Academic Fellowship. A.V.Z. thanks the Foundation named after D. I. Mendeleev, Tomsk State University, for support of his work. Low-temperature interaction of [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (1) with MoMes2 (Mes = mesitylene / 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) in tetrahydrofuran gave the heterospin (S1 = S2 = 1/2) radical-ion salt [MoMes2]+[1]– (2) whose structure was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). The structure revealed alternating layers of the cations and anions with the Mes ligands perpendicular, and the anions tilted by 45°, to the layer plane. At 300 K the effective magnetic moment of 2 is equal to 2.40 μB (theoretically expected 2.45 μB) and monotonically decreases with lowering of the temperature. In the temperature range 2−300 K, the molar magnetic susceptibility of 2 is well-described by the Curie-Weiss law with parameters C and θ equal to 0.78 cm3⋅K⋅mol–1 and −31.2 K, respectively. Overall, the magnetic behavior of 2 is similar to that of [CrTol2]+[1]– and [CrCp*2]+[1]–, i.e. changing the cation [MAr2]+ 3d atom M = Cr (Z = 24) with weak spin-orbit coupling (SOC) to a 4d atom M = Mo (Z = 42) with stronger SOC does not affect macroscopic magnetic properties of the salts. For the XRD structure of salt 2, parameters of the Heisenberg spin-Hamiltonian were calculated using the broken-symmetry DFT and CASSCF approaches, and the complex 3D magnetic structure with both the ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AF) exchange interactions was revealed with the latter as dominating. Salt 2 is thermally unstable and slowly loses the Mes ligands upon storage at ambient temperature. Under the same reaction conditions, interaction of 1 with MoTol2 (Tol = toluene) proceeded with partial loss of the Tol ligands to afford diamagnetic product. Postprint Postprint

"Breathing crystals" based on copper(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonates and pyrazolyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxides comprise the exchange-coupled clusters within the polymeric chains. Owing to an interplay of exchange interaction between copper(II) and nitroxide spins and Jahn-Teller nature of copper(II) complex, the breathing crystals demonstrate thermally and light-induced magnetostructural transitions in many aspects similar to the classical spin crossover. Herewith, we report the first application of variable temperature (VT) far/mid Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and mid FTIR microscopy to breathing crystals. This VT-FTIR study was aimed toward clarification of the transitions mechanism previously debated on the basis of superconducting quantum interference device, X-ray diffraction, and electron paramagnetic resonance data. VT-FTIR showed the onset of new vibrational bands during phase transitions occurring at the expense of several existing ones, whose intensity was significantly reduced. The most pronounced spectral changes were assigned to corresponding vibrational modes using quantum chemical calculations. A clear-cut correlation was found between temperature-dependent effective magnetic moment of studied compounds and the observed VT-FTIR spectra. Importantly, VT-FTIR confirmed coexistence of two types of copper(II)-nitroxide clusters during gradual magnetostructural transition. Such clusters correspond to weakly coupled and strongly coupled spin states, whose relative contribution depends on temperature. The pronounced difference in the VT-FTIR spectra of two states in breathing crystals is a fingerprint of magnetostructural transition, and understanding of these characteristics achieved by us will be useful for future studies of breathing crystals as well as their diamagnetic analogues.

The first alkyl chain-anchored heteropentacene, dithieno[2,3-d;2′,3′-d′]benzo-[1,2-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene (DTmBDT), mono- or disubstituted with a nitronyl nitroxide group has been prepared through a cross-coupling synthetic procedure of the corresponding dibromo-derivative (Br 2 -DTmBDT) with a nitronyl nitroxide-2-ide gold(I) complex. The synthesized nitroxides possess high kinetic stability, which allowed us to investigate their structure and thermal, optical, electrochemical, and magnetic properties. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of both mono- and diradicals revealed that the nitronyl nitroxide group lies almost in the same plane as the nearest side thiophene ring. Such arrangement favors formation of edge-to-edge dimers, which then form close π-stacks surrounded by interdigitating alkyl chains. Before melting, these nitronyl nitroxide radical substituted molecules undergo at least two different phase transitions (PTs): for the monoradical, PTs are reversible, accompanied by hysteresis, and occur near 13 and 83 °C; the diradical upon heating shows a reversible PT with hysteresis in the temperature range 2–11 °C and an irreversible PT near 135 °C. PTs of this type are absent in Br 2 -DTmBDT. Therefore, the step-by-step substitution of bromine atoms by nitronyl nitroxide groups changes the structural organization of DTmBDT and induces the emergence of PTs. This knowledge may facilitate crystal engineering of π-stacked paramagnets and related molecular spin devices.

In contrast to diradicals connected by alternant hydrocarbons, only a few studies on those connected by nonalternant hydrocarbons have been reported. The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of azulene-1,3-diyl linked bis(nitronyl nitroxide) (NN2 Az) and bis(iminonitroxide) (IN2 Az) diradicals and their Cu(hfac)2 (hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate) complexes were investigated. NN2 Az was shown to have an intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction with Jobs /kB =+10.0 K (H=-2JS1 ⋅S2 ) between (nitronyl nitroxide) spins, whereas IN2 Az was estimated to have a much weaker intramolecular magnetic interaction. The reactions of NN2 Az and IN2 Az with Cu(hfac)2 gave a 1:2 [{Cu(hfac)2 }2 (NN2 Az)] complex and a 1:1 [Cu(hfac)2 (IN2 Az)]⋅C6 H12 complex, respectively. [{Cu(hfac)2 }2 (NN2 Az)] showed strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions (J1-Cu-R /kB ≈-800 K, J2-Cu-R /kB ≈-500 K) between the CuII spins and the coordinating NN spins, whereas [Cu(hfac)2 (IN2 Az)] exhibited a ferromagnetic exchange interaction (Jobs-Cu-R /kB =+114 K) between the CuII spin and the imino-coordinated iminonitroxide spin.