Unsymmetric Co-Facial "Salixpyrrole" Hydrogen Evolution Catalysts: Two Metals are Better than One.

Designing ligand architectures that can mimic enzyme active sites is a promising approach for developing efficient small molecule activation catalysts for sustainable energy applications. Some key design features include chemically distinct binding pockets for multiple metal centers and a three-dimensional structure that controls the positioning of catalytic sites. With these principles in mind, mono- and bimetallic unsymmetric cofacial palladium complexes, 2 and 3, respectively, bearing ligands with calixpyrrole and salen coordination sites, or "salixpyrrole" ligands, are reported. These species were accessed in a straightforward Schiff-base reaction with appreciable yields. In addition, both 2 and 3 were found to be active hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts using para-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate as the proton source. The two salixpyrrole species displayed different mechanisms of action, with 2 showing a second-order dependence on acid concentration, whereas 3 exhibited a first-order dependence. Moreover, the bimetallic catalyst was significantly more efficient, with higher turnover frequencies, 4640 s-1 vs 1680 s-1 for 2, and lower overpotentials, 0.39 V vs 0.69 V for 2. The results reported herein provide proof-of-concept that bimetallic catalysts with chemically distinct binding sites demonstrate enhanced catalytic properties in comparison to monometallic or symmetric analogues.

Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution using a Nickel-based Calixpyrrole Complex: Controlling the Secondary Coordination Sphere on an Electrode Surface.

Incorporating design elements from homogeneous catalysts to construct well defined active sites on electrode surfaces is a promising approach for developing next generation electrocatalysts for energy conversion reactions. Furthermore, if functionalities that control the electrode microenvironment could be integrated into these active sites it would be particularly appealing. In this context, a square planar nickel calixpyrrole complex, Ni(DPMDA) (DPMDA=2,2'-((diphenylmethylene)bis(1H-pyrrole-5,2-diyl))bis(methaneylylidene))bis(azaneylylidene))dianiline) with pendant amine groups is reported that forms a heterogeneous hydrogen evolution catalyst using anilinium tetrafluoroborate as the proton source. The supported Ni(DPMDA) catalyst was surprisingly stable and displayed fast reaction kinetics with turnover frequencies (TOF) up to 25,900 s-1 or 366,000 s-1 cm-2 . Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) studies revealed a KIE of 5.7, and this data, combined with Tafel slope analysis, suggested that a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process involving the pendant amine groups was rate-limiting. While evidence of an outer-sphere reduction of the Ni(DPMDA) catalyst was observed, it is hypothesized that the control over the secondary coordination sphere provided by the pendant amines facilitated such high TOFs and enabled the PCET mechanism. The results reported herein provide insight into heterogeneous catalyst design and approaches for controlling the secondary coordination sphere on electrode surfaces.

Indication of Pd-C or Cu-C Intermediate in Respective Bimetallic Nanoclusters Pd/Au-PVP or Cu/Au-PVP Catalyzed Oxidations of endo-4-Oxatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]-8-decene and Tetrahydro-γ-carbolines.

Catalytic oxidations of tricyclic endo-norbornene-fused tetrahydrofuran with bimetallic nanoclusters Cu/Au-PVP and H2O2 or t-BuOOH as an oxidant provided C-H bond oxidation adjacent to the ether function and 4-oxa-tricyclo[5.2.1.0]-8,9-exo-epoxydecane (4), however, oxidation with Pd/Au-PVP took place at the C=C function giving epoxide 4 and oxidative three-bond forming dimeric product, dodecahydro-1,4:6,9-dimethanodibenzofurano[2,3-b:7,8-b']bisoxolane (5). Formation of the latter suggests the involvement of a reactive Pd-C intermediate. Similarly, oxidative C-C bond forming reactions were found in cycloaddition reactions of N2-Boc-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-γ-carbolines and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid with 2 - 5 mol% Cu/Au-PVP and H2O2 at 25 °C, providing two-bond-forming [4+2] cycloadducts. Under similar reaction conditions, Pd/Au-PVP did not produce the cycloadduct, indicating a need of complexation between Cu with the carboxylic acid group of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and allylic amine function of γ-carbolines in the cyclization reaction. The reported intermolecular coupling reactions using Pd/Au-PVP or Cu/Au-PVP nanocluster catalysts under oxidative conditions at 25 °C are unprecedented.

Competition between chalcogen and halogen bonding assessed through isostructural species.

The amino group of 2-amino-5-(4-halophenyl)-1,3,4-chalcogenadiazole has been replaced with bromo/iodo substituents to obtain a library of four compositionally related compounds. These are 2-iodo-5-(4-iodophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole, C8H4I2N2S, 2-bromo-5-(4-bromophenyl)-1,3,4-selenadiazole, C8H4Br2N2Se, 2-bromo-5-(4-iodophenyl)-1,3,4-selenadiazole, C8H4BrIN2Se, and 2-bromo-5-(4-iodophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole, C8H4BrIN2S. All were isostructural and contained bifurcated Ch...N (Ch is chalcogen) and X...X (X is halogen) interactions forming a zigzag packing motif. The noncovalent Ch...N interaction between the chalcogen-bond donor and the best-acceptor N atom appeared preferentially instead of a possible halogen bond to the same N atom. Hirshfeld surface analysis and energy framework calculations showed that, collectively, a bifurcated chalcogen bond was stronger than halogen bonding and this is more structurally influential in this system.

Evaluating structure-property relationship in a new family of mechanically flexible co-crystals.

A structure-property analysis of ten compositionally and chemically similar co-crystals of N-(pyridin-2-yl)alkylamides and carboxylic acids shows that three co-crystals of targets bearing a methyl chain were brittle, while the remaining co-crystals of targets bearing ethyl or propyl chains were flexible. Five of these displayed elastic deformation while two displayed plastic deformation. Compounds with different mechanical behaviour (brittle, plastic, and elastic deformation) in response to external mechanical stimuli could be organized into structurally similar groups based on the presence of specific intermolecular interactions and packing features in each crystal structure.

Influence of Multiple Binding Sites on the Supramolecular Assembly of N-[(3-pyridinylamino) Thioxomethyl] Carbamates.

In this study, we investigated how the presence of multiple intermolecular interaction sites influences the heteromeric supramolecular assembly of N-[(3-pyridinylamino) thioxomethyl] carbamates with fluoroiodobenzenes. Three targets­R-N-[(3-pyridinylamino) thioxomethyl] carbamate (R = methyl, ethyl, and isobutyl)­were selected and crystallized, resulting in three parent structures, five co-crystals, and one co-crystal solvate. Three hydrogen-bonded parent crystal structures were stabilized by N-H···N hydrogen bonding and assembled into layers that stacked on top of one another. Molecular electrostatic potential surfaces were employed to rank binding sites (Npyr > C=S > C=O) in order to predict the dominant interactions. The N-H⋯H hydrogen bond was replaced by I⋯Npyr in 3/6 cases, I⋯C=S in 4/6 cases, and I⋯O=C in 1 case. Interestingly, the I⋯C=S halogen bond coexisted twice with I⋯Npyr and I⋯O=C. Overall, the MEPs were fairly reliable for predicting co-crystallization outcomes; however, it is crucial to also consider factors such as molecular flexibility. Finally, halogen-bond donors are capable of competing for acceptor sites, even in the presence of strong hydrogen-bond donors.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bimetallic Nanoclusters Stabilized by Chiral and Achiral Polyvinylpyrrolidinones. Catalytic C(sp3)-H Oxidation.

Second-generation chiral-substituted poly-N-vinylpyrrolidinones (CSPVPs) (-)-1R and (+)-1S were synthesized by free-radical polymerization of (3aR,6aR)- and (3aS,6aS)-5-ethenyl-tetrahydro-2,2-dimethyl-4H-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-c]pyrrol-4-one, respectively, using thermal and photochemical reactions. They were produced from respective d-isoascorbic acid and d-ribose. In addition, chiral polymer (-)-2 was also synthesized from the polymerization of (S)-3-(methoxymethoxy)-1-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one. Molecular weights of these chiral polymers were measured using HRMS, and the polymer chain tacticity was studied using 13C NMR spectroscopy. Chiral polymers (-)-1R, (+)-1S, and (-)-2 along with poly-N-vinylpyrrolidinone (PVP, MW 40K) were separately used in the stabilization of Cu/Au or Pd/Au nanoclusters. CD spectra of the bimetallic nanoclusters stabilized by (-)-1R and (+)-1S showed close to mirror-imaged CD absorption bands at wavelengths 200-300 nm, revealing that bimetallic nanoclusters' chiroptical responses are derived from chiral polymer-encapsulated nanomaterials. Chemo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivity was found in the catalytic C-H group oxidation reactions of complex bioactive natural products, such as ambroxide, menthofuran, boldine, estrone, dehydroabietylamine, 9-allogibberic acid, and sclareolide, and substituted adamantane molecules, when catalyst Cu/Au (3:1) or Pd/Au (3:1) stabilized by CSPVPs or PVP and oxidant H2O2 or t-BuOOH were applied. Oxidation of (+)-boldine N-oxide 23 using NMO as an oxidant yielded 4,5-dehydroboldine 27, and oxidation of (-)-9-allogibberic acid yielded C6,15 lactone 47 and C6-ketone 48.

Intermolecular binding preferences of haloethynyl halogen-bond donors as a function of molecular electrostatic potentials in a family of N-(pyridin-2-yl)amides.

In order to explore how σ-hole potentials, as evaluated by molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) calculations, affect the ability of halogen atoms to engage in structure-directing intermolecular interactions, we synthesized four series of ethynyl halogen-substituted amide containing pyridines (activated targets); (N-(pyridin-2-yl)benzamides (Bz-act-X), N-(pyridin-2-yl)picolinamides (2act-X), N-(pyridin-2-yl)nicotinamides (3act-X) and N-(pyridin-2-yl) isonicotinamides (4act-X), where X = Cl/Br/I. The molecules are deliberately equipped with three distinctly different halogen-bond acceptor sites, π, N(pyr), and O[double bond, length as m-dash]C, to determine binding site preferences of different halogen-bond donors. Crystallographic data for ten (out of a possible twelve) new compounds were thus analyzed and compared with data for the corresponding unactivated species. The calculated MEPs of all the halogen atoms were higher in the activated targets in comparison to the unactivated targets and were in the order of iodine ≈ chloroethynyl < bromoethynyl < iodoethynyl. This increased positive σ-hole potential led to a subsequent increase in propensity for halogen-bond formation. Two of the four chloroethynyl structures showed halogen bonding, and all three of the structurally characterized bromoethynyl species engaged in halogen bonding. The analogous unactived species showed no halogen bonds. Each chloroethynyl donor selected a π-cloud as acceptor and the bromoethynyl halogen-bond donors opted for either π or N(pyr) sites, whereas all halogen bonds involving an iodoethynyl halogen-bond donor (including both polymorphs of Bz-act-I) engaged exclusively with a N(pyr) acceptor site.

The Balance between Hydrogen Bonds, Halogen Bonds, and Chalcogen Bonds in the Crystal Structures of a Series of 1,3,4-Chalcogenadiazoles.

In order to explore how specific atom-to-atom replacements change the electrostatic potentials on 1,3,4-chalcogenadiazole derivatives, and to deliberately alter the balance between intermolecular interactions, four target molecules were synthesized and characterized. DFT calculations indicated that the atom-to-atom substitution of Br with I, and S with Se enhanced the σ-hole potentials, thus increasing the structure directing ability of halogen bonds and chalcogen bonds as compared to intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The delicate balance between these intermolecular forces was further underlined by the formation of two polymorphs of 5-(4-iodophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine; Form I displayed all three interactions while Form II only showed hydrogen and chalcogen bonding. The results emphasize that the deliberate alterations of the electrostatic potential on polarizable atoms can cause specific and deliberate changes to the main synthons and subsequent assemblies in the structures of this family of compounds.

Establishing Halogen-Bond Preferences in Molecules with Multiple Acceptor Sites.

The interplay between hydrogen bonds (HBs) and halogen bonds (XBs), has been addressed by co-crystallizing two halogen bond donors, 1,4-diiodotetrafluorbenzene(DITFB) and 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene(TITFB) with four series of targets; N-(pyridin-2-yl)benzamide (Bz-X), N-(pyridin-2-yl)picolinamides (2Pyr-X), N-(pyridin-2-yl)nicotinamides (3Pyr-X), N-(pyridin-2-yl)isonicotinamides (4Pyr-X); X=H/Cl/Br/I. The structural outcomes were compared with interactions in the targets themselves. 13 co-crystals were analysed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). In all three co-crystals from the 2Pyr series, the intramolecular HB remained intact while the XB donors engaged with the N(pyr) or O=C sites. In the ten co-crystals from the other three series, the intermolecular HBs present in the individual targets were disrupted in 9/10 cases. Overall, the acceptor sites selected by the halogen-bond donors in these targets were distributed as follows; N(pyr)=81 %, O=C (15 %) or π (4 %).

Blue-shifted aggregation-induced enhancement of a Sn(iv) fluoride complex: the role of fluorine in luminescence enhancement.

A new type of blue-shifted aggregation-induced emission enhancement was observed for a Sn(iv) fluoride complex, resulting in strong emission in the solid state as compared with that in solutions. The fluorinated Sn(iv) complex has a significantly more intense emission efficiency compared to the chlorinated Sn(iv) complex, which is attributed to stronger σ bonding.

Crystal structure of 5,6-bis(9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole: distortion from a hypothetical higher-symmetry structure.

Nucleophilic substitution of F atoms in 5,6-difluorobenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DFBT) for carbazole could be potentially interesting as a novel way of synthesizing building blocks for new conjugated materials for applications in organic chemistry. The crystal structures of 5,6-bis(9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole (DCBT), C30H18N4S, and its hydrate, C30H18N4S·0.125H2O, were investigated using single-crystal X-ray analysis. The hydrate contains two symmetry-independent DCBT molecules. The dihedral angles between the plane of the central benzothiadiazole fragment and that of the carbazole units vary between 50.8 and 69.9°, indicating conformational flexibility of the DCBT molecule in the crystals, which is consistent with quantum chemical calculations. The analysis of the crystal packing of DCBT revealed that the experimental triclinic structure could be described as a distortion from a hypothetical higher-symmetry monoclinic structure. The quantum chemical calculations of two possible monoclinic structures, which are related to the experimental structure by a shifting of molecular layers, showed that the proposed structures are higher in energy by 5.4 and 10.1 kcal mol-1. This energy increase is caused by less dense crystal packings of the symmetric structures, which results in a decrease of the number of intermolecular interactions.

Crystal structure of N,N,N-tri-ethyl-hydroxyl-ammonium chloride.

In the title mol-ecular salt, C6H16NO+·Cl-, two of the C-C-N-O groups in the cation adopt a gauche conformation [torsion angles = 62.86 (11) and -54.95 (13)°] and one an anti conformation [-177.82 (10)°. The cation and anion are linked by an O-H⋯Cl hydrogen bond. The extended structure displays C-H⋯Cl and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, resulting in layers lying parallel to the (100) plane: further C-H⋯Cl contacts connect the sheets into a three-dimensional network.

High-Pressure Stability of Energetic Crystal of Dihydroxylammonium 5,5'-Bistetrazole-1,1'-diolate: Raman Spectroscopy and DFT Calculations.

The vibrational and structural behavior of a novel, energetic crystal, dihydroxylammonium 5,5'-bistetrazole-1,1'-diolate (TKX-50), was examined over a broad pressure range to elucidate its structural and chemical stability at high pressures. Raman measurements were performed on single crystals compressed to 50 GPa in a diamond anvil cell, and data were obtained over the entire frequency range of TKX-50 Raman activity. The Raman spectroscopy results were complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations to provide vibrational mode assignments and to gain insight into pressure effects on the vibrational and crystal response of TKX-50. Several features were observed in Raman spectra measured in the ranges 4-10, 10-13, and 32-36 GPa. We suggest that the changes between 32 and 36 GPa may be associated with a phase transformation. In addition, a number of vibrational modes showed intensity exchange and avoided crossing of vibrational frequency at various pressures, characteristic of the coupling of modes. Despite all these pressure effects, the compression of TKX-50 to 50 GPa and the subsequent release of pressure did not result in any irreversible spectral changes, demonstrating its remarkable chemical stability. DFT calculations, using the PBE functional with an empirical dispersion correction by the Grimme, PBE-D method, were used to calculate pressure effects on Raman frequencies and unit cell parameters. The calculated Raman shifts to 20 GPa are in good overall agreement with the measured shifts over a broad range of frequencies. The calculations also show that TKX-50 exhibits anisotropic compressibility, with a highly incompressible response along the a axis. The calculated bulk modulus, a measure of average stiffness, of TKX-50 is significantly higher than the calculated or measured bulk moduli of other energetic crystals. We suggest that the strong intermolecular interactions and the coupling of vibrational modes may potentially contribute to the shock insensitivity of TKX-50. This work demonstrates the robust high-pressure response of TKX-50, making this crystal attractive for practical applications.

Assessing the viability of extended nonmetal atom chains in M(n)F(4n+2) (M=S and Se).

Theoretical investigations to evaluate the viability of extended nonmetal atom chains on the basis of molecular models with the general formula Mn F4n+2 (M=S and Se) and corresponding solid-state systems exhibiting direct SS or SeSe bonding were performed. The proposed high-symmetry molecules were found to be minima on the potential energy surface for all Sn F4n+2 systems studied (n=2-9) and for selenium analogues up to n=6. Phonon calculations of periodic structures confirmed the dynamic stability of the -(SF4 -SF4 )∞ - chain, whereas the analogous -(SeF4 -SeF4 )∞ - chain was found to have a number of imaginary phonon frequencies. Chemical bonding analysis of the dynamically stable -(SF4 -SF4 )∞ - structure revealed a multicenter character of the SS and SF bonds. A novel definition and abbreviation (ENAC) are proposed by analogy with extended metal atom chain (EMAC) complexes.

Density functional theory calculations of pressure effects on the structure and vibrations of 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (FOX-7).

Pressure effects on the Raman vibrations of an energetic crystal FOX-7 (1, 1-diamino-2, 2-dinitroethene) were examined using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. High accuracy calculations were performed with a periodic plane-wave DFT method using norm-conserving pseudopotentials. Different exchange-correlation functionals were examined for their applicability in describing the structural and vibrational experimental data. It is shown that the PBE functional with an empirical dispersion correction by Grimme, PBE-D method, reproduces best the molecular geometry, unit cell parameters, and vibrational frequencies. Assignments of intramolecular Raman active vibrations are provided. The calculated pressure dependence of Raman shifts for the intramolecular and lattice modes were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data; in particular, the calculations predicted correctly a decrease of frequencies for the NH2 stretching modes with pressure. Also, in accord with experiments, the calculations indicated some instances of modes mixing/coupling with increasing pressure. This work demonstrates that the dispersion-corrected PBE functional can account for the structural and vibrational properties of FOX-7 crystal at ambient and high pressures.

Density Functional Theory of Open-Shell Systems. The 3d-Series Transition-Metal Atoms and Their Cations.

The 3d-series transition metals (also called the fourth-period transition metals), Sc to Zn, are very important in industry and biology, but they provide unique challenges to computing the electronic structure of their compounds. In order to successfully describe the compounds by theory, one must be able to describe their components, in particular the constituent atoms and cations. In order to understand the ingredients required for successful computations with density functional theory, it is useful to examine the performance of various exchange-correlation functionals; we do this here for 4s(N)3d(N') transition-metal atoms and their cations. We analyze the results using three ways to compute the energy of the open-shell states: the direct variational method, the weighted-averaged broken symmetry (WABS) method, and a new broken-symmetry method called the reinterpreted broken symmetry (RBS) method. We find the RBS method to be comparable in accuracy with the WABS method. By examining the overall accuracy in treating 18 multiplicity-changing excitations and 10 ionization potentials with the RBS method, 10 functionals are found to have a mean-unsigned error of <5 kcal/mol, with ωB97X-D topping the list. For local density functionals, which are more practical for extended systems, the M06-L functional is the most accurate. And by combining the results with our previous studies of p-block and 4d-series elements as well as databases for alkyl bond dissociation, main-group atomization energies, and π-π noncovalent interactions, we find five functionals, namely, PW6B95, MPW1B95, M08-SO, SOGGA11-X, and MPWB1K, to be highly recommended. We also studied the performance of PW86 and C09 exchange functionals, which have drawn wide interest in recent studies due to their claimed ability to reproduce Hartree-Fock exchange at long distance. By combining them with four correlation functionals, we find the performance of the resulting functionals disappointing both for 3d transition-metal chemistry and in broader tests, and thus we do not recommend PW86 and C09 as components of generalized gradient approximations for general application.

All-boron analogues of aromatic hydrocarbons: B17- and B18-.

We have investigated the structural and electronic properties of the B(17)(-) and B(18)(-) clusters using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and ab initio calculations. The adiabatic electron detachment energies of B(17)(-) and B(18)(-) are measured to be 4.23 ± 0.02 and 3.53 ± 0.05 eV, respectively. Calculated electron detachment energies are compared with experimental data, confirming the presence of one planar C(2v) ((1)A(1)) isomer for B(17)(-) and two nearly isoenergetic quasi-planar C(3v) ((2)A(1)) and C(s) ((2)A') isomers for B(18)(-). The stability and planarity/quasi-planarity of B(17)(-) and B(18)(-) are ascribed to σ- and π-aromaticity. Chemical bonding analyses reveal that the nature of π-bonding in B(17)(-) and B(18)(-) is similar to that in the recently elucidated B(16)(2-) and B(19)(-) clusters, respectively. The planar B(17)(-) cluster can be considered as an all-boron analogue of naphthalene, whereas the π-bonding in the quasi-planar B(18)(-) is reminiscent of that in coronene.

A concentric planar doubly π-aromatic B19⁻ cluster.

Atomic clusters often show unique, size-dependent properties and have become a fertile ground for the discovery of novel molecular structures and chemical bonding. Here we report an investigation of the B19⁻ cluster, which shows chemical bonding reminiscent of that in [10]annulene (C10H10) and [6]circulene (C24H12). Photoelectron spectroscopy reveals a relatively simple spectrum for B19⁻, with a high electron-binding energy. Theoretical calculations show that the global minimum of B19⁻ is a nearly circular planar structure with a central B6 pentagonal unit bonded to an outer B13 ring. Chemical bonding analyses reveal that the B19⁻ cluster possesses a unique double π-aromaticity in two concentric π-systems, with two π-electrons delocalized over the central pentagonal B6 unit and another ten π-electrons responsible for the π-bonding between the central pentagonal unit and the outer ring. Such peculiar chemical bonding does not exist in organic compounds; it can only be found in atomic clusters.

Planar to linear structural transition in small boron-carbon mixed clusters: C(x)B(5-x)- (x = 1-5).

Bulk carbon and boron form very different materials, which are also reflected in their clusters. Small carbon clusters form linear structures, whereas boron clusters are planar. For example, it is known that the B(5)(-) cluster possesses a C(2v) planar structure and C(5)(-) is a linear chain. Here we study B/C mixed clusters containing five atoms, C(x)B(5-x)(-) (x = 1-5), which are expected to exhibit a planar to linear structural transition as a function of the C content. The C(x)B(5-x)(-) (x = 1-5) clusters were produced and studied by photoelectron spectroscopy; their geometric and electronic structures were investigated using a variety of theoretical methods. We found that the planar-to-linear transition occurs between x = 2 and 3: the global minimum structures of the B-rich clusters, CB(4)(-) and C(2)B(3)(-), are planar, similar to B(5)(-), and those of the C-rich clusters, C(3)B(2)(-) and C(4)B(-), are linear, similar to C(5)(-).