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A new meso-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl) substituted porphycene and its cobalt complex were synthesized and characterized. Several meso-tetraarylporphycene cobalt complexes having different substituents showed catalytic activity for the hydrogen gas evolution reaction (HER) in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) under electrochemical reductive conditions. The electrochemical potential of the HER was -1.50V vs. Ag/AgCl in THF. The active species of this reaction were determined to be the ligand reduced species of Co(II) porphycenes. The catalytic efficiencies of the cobalt complexes of meso-aryl substituted porphycenes and meso-tetraphenylporphyrin were compared and meso-tetraphenyl porphycene cobalt complex exhibited the best current efficiency of 72%. Based on these experimental results and theoretical calculations, we proposed a possible HER mechanism of this system.

Steric bulkiness – the metric of the robustness of the self-photosensitized, single metal-active-site catalysis, elucidated in CO2 photoreduction.

We have achieved aerobic transformation of methane to C1 chemicals catalysed by a homogeneous organometallic catalyst with light energy input.

The carboxylate adducts of OsO4 ([OsO4(X)]−, X− = AcO− and BzO−) were isolated and their structures, physicochemical properties and reactivity were explored. The C(sp3)−H oxygenation mechanism by the carboxylate adducts was discussed based on their kinetics and DFT studies.

Kinetically stable open-shell singlet diradicaloids regioselectively react with radical species generated from azo-based radical initiators as well as HSn(n-Bu)3.

Benzene hydroxylation catalyzed by ruthenium-substituted Keggin-type polyoxometalates [Ru

A tin(II) complex coordinated by a sterically demanding o-phenylenediamido ligand is synthesized. The ligand is redox-active to reach a tin(II) complex with the diiminobenzosemiquinone radial anion in the oxidation by AgPF6. The tin(II) complex reacts with a series of nosylazides (x-NO2C6H4-SO2-N3; x = o, m, or p) at -30 °C to yield the corresponding nitrene radical bound tin(II) complexes. The nitrene radical complexes exhibit C(sp3)-H activation and amination reactivity.

A Pd-catalyzed domino reaction of 1,8,13-tribromo-9-methoxytriptycenes is reported. Under conventional Suzuki coupling conditions, the triptycenes underwent multiple transformations to give 1,9-bridged triptycenes. Based on mechanistic investigations, a single Pd catalyst functions as Pd0 , PdII and PdIV species to catalyze four distinct processes: (1) aryl to alkyl 1,5-Pd migration, (2) intramolecular arylation, (3) homocoupling of phenylboronic acid and (4) Suzuki coupling. DFT calculations revealed that 1,5-Pd migration likely proceeds via both concerted PdII and stepwise PdIV routes. Asymmetric synthesis of the chiral triptycenes, as well as optical resolution, and further transformation are also reported.

Antiaromatic compounds have recently received considerable attention because of their novel properties such as narrow HOMO-LUMO gaps and facile formation of mutual stacking. Here, the spontaneous assembly of antiaromatic meso-2-thienyl-substituted 5,15-dioxaporphyrin (DOP-1) is scrutinized at the liquid-solid interface by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Polymorphism in monolayers characterized by the orthogonal and parallel assemblies is found at the low concentration of 0.05 mM. The parallel assembly is more stable and dominantly formed at higher concentrations. Aggregation was observed at concentrations0.2 mM, and the STM images of the aggregates implied the formation of stacked layers. The intrinsic electronic structures of the mutually stacked bilayer generated by applying an electric pulse to the monolayer were probed by scanning tunneling spectroscopy to reveal the narrowing of the HOMO-LUMO gap by about 20 % compared with the monolayer, thus suggesting significant molecular orbital interactions.

The B12 derivative, heptamethyl cobyrinate, -mediated electrochemical synthesis of cyanoformamides has been developed. Aerobic oxygenation of the carbon-centered radical initiated in situ generation of the reactive acyl chloride intermediate, which led to cyanoformamides in the presence of an amine. This one-pot and scalable synthetic method has been demonstrated with 41 examples up to 94% yields with 21 new compounds. The mechanism of electrolysis mediated by the B12 derivative has been proposed based on the DFT calculations.

Although hydrocarbons are known to act as reductants for the catalytic reduction of nitric oxides (NOx) over copper-based catalysts, the reaction mechanism requires clarification. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to investigate the reduction mechanisms of NOx to dinitrogen coupled to the hydroxylation of methane or benzene using the dicopper complex reported by Zhang and co-workers [ J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 10159-10164]. The B3LYP functional was used to optimize the (μ-oxo)(μ-nitrosyl)dicopper complex in the quartet state and the (μ-η2:η2-NO2)dicopper complex in the doublet state, the latter of which was found to be the ground state. Then, we investigated the reactivities of the (μ-η2:η2-NO2)dicopper complex toward methane and benzene by considering the conversions of N2O to N2 in the presence and the absence of methane or benzene. In the presence of methane and benzene, the calculated activation energies were 27.0 and 21.0 kcal/mol, respectively, whereas that with N2O alone was prohibitively high (61.9 kcal/mol). Thus, the (μ-η2:η2-NO2)dicopper complex prefers the reactions with methane and benzene to that with N2O. The reaction of the (μ-η2:η2-NO2)dicopper complex with methane or benzene generated the (μ-nitrosyl)dicopper complex. The (μ-nitrosyl)dicopper complex then reacted with N2O to regenerate the (μ-η2:η2-NO2)dicopper complex and N2 with an activation barrier of 31.5 kcal/mol. The overall reactions for methane and benzene hydroxylation were calculated to be exothermic by 41.7 and 54.1 kcal/mol, respectively. These results suggest that the catalytic reduction of NOx using hydrocarbons is feasible at certain operating temperatures. Thus, our calculations provide new insights into the design of catalysts for NOx purification.

A cyclometalated osmium(III) complex, [OsIIICl(phpy)(tpy)]+ (OsIII(phpy); phpy = 2-C6H4-2′-C5H4N-κC,N) is synthesized from OsIIICl3(tpy) (tpy = 2,2′;6′,2″-terpyridine) and 2-phenylpyridine (H-phpy)...

Tetraalkoxyphenanthrylene-hexaynylene and -octaynylene macrocycles, which represent the first examples of isolable arylene-alkynylene macrocycles (AAMs) that contain polyyne chains longer than tetrayne, were synthesized and their self-association behavior was examined. Extending the polyyne chain from diyne to tetrayne, hexayne, and octayne exponentially increased the self-association constant of the macrocycles.

We have thoroughly investigated oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BA) derivatives by a RuIV(O) complex (RuIV(O)) in the absence or presence of Bronsted acids in order to elucidate the proton-coupled ele...

A proton-electron coupling system, exhibiting unique bistability or multistability of the protonated state, is an attractive target for developing new switchable materials based on proton dynamics. Herein, we present an iron(II) hydrazone crystalline compound, which displays the stepwise transition and bistability of proton transfer at the crystal level. These phenomena are realized through the coupling with spin transition. Although the multi-step transition with hysteresis has been observed in various systems, the corresponding behavior of proton transfer has not been reported in crystalline systems; thus, the described iron(II) complex is the first example. Furthermore, because proton transfer occurs only in one of the two ligands and π electrons redistribute in it, the dipole moment of the iron(II) complexes changes with the proton transfer, wherein the total dipole moment in the crystal was canceled out owing to the antiferroelectric-like arrangement.

Motivated by a recent study on [IrV(η5-C5H5){ppy}(O)]2+ (ppy is 2-phenylpryridine), which is able to cleave the C–H bond of decalin but not for methane due to a high activation energy of 25.7 kcal/...

First-principle theoretical study was performed to elucidate the reaction mechanism of the direct conversion of methane to methanol using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant over Pd and Au/Pd catalysts...

Polarization change induced by directional electron transfer attracts considerable attention owing to its fast switching rate and potential light control. Here, we investigate electronic pyroelectricity in the crystal of a mononuclear complex, [Co(phendiox)(rac-cth)](ClO4)·0.5EtOH (1·0.5EtOH, H2phendiox = 9, 10-dihydroxyphenanthrene, rac-cth = racemic 5, 5, 7, 12, 12, 14-hexamethyl-1, 4, 8, 11-tetraazacyclotetradecane), which undergoes a two-step valence tautomerism (VT). Correspondingly, pyroelectric current exhibits double peaks in the same temperature domain with the polarization change consistent with the change in dipole moments during the VT process. Time-resolved Infrared (IR) spectroscopy shows that the photo-induced metastable state can be generated within 150 ps at 190 K. Such state can be trapped for tens of minutes at 7 K, showing that photo-induced polarization change can be realized in this system. These results directly demonstrate that a change in the molecular dipole moments induced by intramolecular electron transfer can introduce a macroscopic polarization change in VT compounds., Polarization change from directional electron transfer attracts considerable attention owing to its fast switching rate and potential light control. Here, the authors provide a proof-of-concept of electronic pyroelectricity induced by intramolecular electron transfer in the single crystal of a valence tautomeric compound.

The composite materials of acidic polymers and imidazole (Im) exhibit good high-proton conduction, making them potentially useful in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. The proton conduction mechanism must be clearly elucidated for the design of future high proton-conduction materials. This study examines the local hydrogen-bonding structures and dynamics of Im for proton-conducting poly(vinylphosphonic acid)-Im (PVPA-xIm) composites by using molecular dynamics simulations. Radial distribution functions (RDFs) characterize the hydrogen bonds between Im or imidazolium cation (ImH+) and phosphonic acid (PA) group and among Im molecules. RDFs and diffusion coefficients suggest that the intercalation of Im to PVPA reduces Im mobility because of the interaction between Im and PA groups. However, similar to pure Im, the amount of Im with fast rotational motions increases as the amount of Im increases. Our study leads us to conclude that long-range proton transport occurs through the hydrogen-bonding network of...

A RuII complex, [RuII(tpphz)(bpy)2]2+ (1) (tpphz = tetrapyridophenazine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), whose tpphz ligand has a pyrazine moiety, is converted efficiently to [RuII(tpphz-HH)(bpy)2]2+ (2) having a dihydropyrazine moiety upon photoirradiation of a water-methanol mixed solvent solution of 1 in the presence of an electron donor. In this reaction, the triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited state (3MLCT*) of 1 is firstly formed upon photoirradiation and the 3MLCT* state is reductively quenched with an electron donor to afford [RuII(tpphz˙-)(bpy)2]+, which is converted to 2 without the observation of detectable reduced intermediates by nano-second laser flash photolysis. The inverse kinetic isotope effect (KIE) was observed to be 0.63 in the N-H bond formation of 2 at the dihydropyrazine moiety. White-light (380-670 nm) irradiation of a solution of 1 in a protic solvent, in the presence of an electron donor under an inert atmosphere, led to photocatalytic H2 evolution and the hydrogenation of organic substrates. In the reactions, complex 2 is required to be excited to form its 3MLCT* state to react with a proton and aldehydes. In photocatalytic H2 evolution, the H-H bond formation between photoexcited 2 and a proton is involved in the rate-determining step with normal KIE being 5.2 on H2 evolving rates. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations on the reaction mechanism of H2 evolution from the ground and photo-excited states of 2 were performed to have a better understanding of the photocatalytic processes.

DFT calculations are carried out to investigate the geometric effects of the supporting ligands in the relative energies of the (μ–η2:η2-peroxido)CuIICuII complex 1 and the bis(μ-oxido)CuIIICuIII complex 2. The N3-tridentate ligand bearing acyclic propane diamine framework La preferentially provided 1, whereas the N3-tridentate ligand with cyclic diamine framework such as 1,4-diazacycloheptane Lb gave 2 after the oxygenation of the corresponding CuI complexes as reported previously [S. Itoh, et al., Inorg. Chem., 2014, 53, 8786–8794]. Calculations at the B3LYP*-D3 level of theory can reasonably explain the experimental results in relative energies, structures and harmonic frequencies of 1 and 2. Perturbational effects of the diamine chelates of La and Lb especially on the equilibrium of 1 and 2 are investigated in detail. In the range from 2.30 A to 3.40 A of the N–N distance in the diamine moiety, 1 is more stable than 2 by 8.4 kcal mol−1 at the distance of 3.40 A. Calculated potential energies indicate that the decrease in the N–N distance is associated with a decrease in energy of 2, leading that 2 can be most stabilized at the N–N distance of 2.60 A. Furthermore, molecular orbitals analyses are performed to explain that the energy gaps between the σ* orbital of the O–O bond and the dx2−y2 orbitals of the CuII ions of 1 get small as the diamine moiety is shrunk, leading to facilitate the O–O bond cleavage from 1 to 2.

Push-pull fluorenones (FOs) were synthesized by treating a benzopentalenequinone (BPO) derivative with alkynes that bear an electron-rich aniline moiety via a regioselective [4 + 2] cycloaddition (CA) followed by a [4 + 1] retrocycloaddition (RCA). The resulting FOs were readily converted into dibenzodicyanofulvenes (DBDCFs) by treatment with malononitrile in the presence of TiCl4 and pyridine. The FOs and DBDCFs exhibit intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) that manifests in absorptions at 350-650 nm and amphoteric electrochemical behavior. Furthermore, FOs and DBDCFs that contain a C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C bond react with tetracyanoethylene in a formal [2 + 2] CA followed by a retro-electrocyclization to afford sterically congested tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) conjugates. The substituent (H or Me) on the aromatic ring adjacent to the butadiene moiety thereby determines whether the butadiene adopts an s-cis or s-trans conformation, and thus controls the physicochemical properties of the resulting TCBDs. The TCBD conjugates exhibit ICT absorptions (≤800 nm) together with up to four reversible reduction steps.

An iron(II) complex of a quadruply ring-fused porphyrin (QFP), Fe-1, in which four mesityl groups were introduced at the periphery to improve the solubility in organic solvents, has been newly synthesized and characterized. In the pyridine solution, two pyridine molecules bind to the low-spin Fe[Formula: see text] center of Fe-1 as axial ligands to make the complex stable even under air. Characterization of Fe-1 was performed using 1H NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF-MS spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The 1H NMR signals of Fe-1 were observed in the diamagnetic region, reflecting the low-spin state of the FeII center. In the differential pulse voltammogram of Fe-1, three oxidation waves and four reduction waves were observed in pyridine; the first oxidation wave at -0.08 V vs. Fc/Fc[Formula: see text] can be ascribed to the oxidation process of the FeII center, FeII/FeIII, and other six waves can be assigned to the redox processes of the QFP ligand. Furthermore, the ESR measurement of 1e[Formula: see text]-reduced Fe-1 upon controlled-potential bulk electrolysis in pyridine exhibited a signal at [Formula: see text] = 2.003 with a well-resolved 45-line hyperfine splitting at room temperature, due to the coupling with four nitrogen nuclei and twelve hydrogen ones of the QFP ligand. This indicates that the ligand radical anion of Fe-1 is stabilized by delocalization of the spin density owing to the peripheral ring fusion and resultant expansion of the [Formula: see text]-conjugation.

Theoretical computation reveals busy electron transfer during NO reduction by a dinuclear copper complex.

The reaction of osmium tetroxide (OsO

During the self-assembly of π-conjugated molecules, linkers and substituents can potentially add supportive noncovalent intermolecular interactions to π-stacking interactions. Here, we report the self-assembly behavior of thienopyrrole-fused thiadiazole (TPT) fluorescent dyes that possess ester or ether linkers and dodecyloxy side chains in solution and the condensed phase. A comparison of the self-association behavior of the ester- and ether-bridged compounds in solution using detailed UV-vis, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopic studies revealed that the subtle replacement of the ether linkers by ester linkers leads to a distinct increase in the association constant (ca. 3-4 fold) and the enthalpic contribution (ca. 3 kcal mol

A tin(II) complex coordinated by a sterically demanding

This work reports the synthesis, crystal structures, and electronic properties of structurally constrained S,C,C- and O,C,C-bridged triarylamine derivatives and their persistent radical cations. O,C,C-Bridged triphenylamines and a dinaphthylphenylamine were obtained through a straightforward synthetic protocol. Similar to a previously reported S,C,C-bridged triphenylamine, the O,C,C-bridged triarylamines were easily oxidized to afford the corresponding radical cations, which were obtained as hexachloroantimonate salts. X-ray crystallographic analyses showed almost planar structures for these O,C,C-bridged triarylamine radical cations, which represent new members of the family of planar triarylamine radical cations without substituents on the aryl rings. Detailed investigations of the electronic properties of the S,C,C- and O,C,C-bridged triarylamine radical cations demonstrated that the spin and positive charge are sufficiently delocalized over the planar triarylamine scaffolds. The results provide the following insights into the effects of the bridging unit (sulfur vs oxygen) and the dibenzo-annulation on the spin delocalization in the bridged triarylamine radical cations: (1) An effective decrease of the spin density on the nitrogen atom is observed for the sulfur bridge relative to the oxygen bridge; and (2) a moderate decrease of the spin density on the oxygen atom rather than the nitrogen atom is induced by the dibenzo-annulation.

An iridium aqua complex [IrIII(η5-C5Me5){bpy(COOH)2}(H2O)]2+ under visible light irradiation has been experimentally reported to form an iridium–oxo (Ir–oxo) complex [IrV(η5-C5Me5){bpy(COOH)2}(O)]2...

The study of transition metal clusters exhibiting fast electron hopping or delocalization remains challenging, because intermetallic communications mediated through bridging ligands are normally weak. Herein, we report the synthesis of a nanosized complex, [Fe(Tp)(CN)3]8[Fe(H2O)(DMSO)]6 (abbreviated as [Fe14], Tp−, hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide), which has a fluctuating valence due to two mobile d-electrons in its atomic layer shell. The rate of electron transfer of [Fe14] complex demonstrates the Arrhenius-type temperature dependence in the nanosized spheric surface, wherein high-spin centers are ferromagnetically coupled, producing an S = 14 ground state. The electron-hopping rate at room temperature is faster than the time scale of Mössbauer measurements (, Fast intermetallic electron transfer is expected in principle in nanozised transition metal complexes, but has been prevented by the bridging ligands. Here the authors synthesize a mixed-valence iron metal-ligand nanocluster with cyanide bridges, showing extended delocalized electronic structure

A helicene compound called AIBTh, wherein two azulene units are fused with isobenzothiophene, has been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. The enantiomers of A...