Solar-Powered Molecular Crystal Motor Based on an Anthracene-Thiazolidinedione Photoisomerization Reaction.

Assembling molecular machines into crystals provides a way to harness their power on large length scales, but the development of a crystal analogue to a molecular motor remains a challenge. The molecule (Z)-5-(anthracen-9-ylmethylene)-3-butylthiazolidine-2,4-dione (C4-ATD) has E and Z isomers with strongly overlapping absorption spectra. This spectroscopic property allows both Z → E and E → Z photoisomerization reactions to be driven by a single light source, and simulations indicate this property can provide a route to robust oscillatory motion. Reprecipitation in an aqueous surfactant enables the growth of single crystal microwires that exhibit continuous mechanical oscillations under a wide range of illumination conditions, including ambient solar irradiation. Molecular crystal motors provide a new approach for transforming continuous light into oscillatory mechanical motion.

Thermal Formation of Metathesis-Active Tungsten Alkylidene Complexes from Cyclohexene.

A 7-tungstabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane complex forms slowly upon addition of cyclohexene to the ethylene complex, W(NAr)(OSiPh3)2(C2H4), at 22 °C. A single-crystal X-ray study showed its structure to be closest to a square pyramid (τ = 0.23). At 22 °C, loss of cyclohexene or ring contraction of the 7-tungstabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane complex is slow. Above ∼80 °C, cyclohexene is ejected to give W(NAr)(OSiPh3)2(C2H4), but a sufficient amount of 7-tungstabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane complex remains in the presence of cyclohexene and the ring contracts to yield methylenecyclohexane and a methylidene complex or ethylene and a cyclohexylidene complex. Other complexes that have been observed include an 8-tungstabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane complex formed from 1,7-octadiene, a 7-tungstabicyclo[4.2.0]octane complex (formed from a methylidene complex and cyclohexene), and a methylenecyclohexane complex. 13C-Labeling studies show that the exo-methylene group in methylenecyclohexane and the α positions in the 8-tungstabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane come from ethylene. An alternative ring contraction of a tungstacyclopentane made from two molecules of cyclohexene cannot be excluded when concentrations of ethylene are low. A cyclohexylidene complex could also form from two cyclohexenes via a newly proposed "alkyl/allyl" mechanism. The results reported here are the first experimental confirmations that a tungstacyclopentane can ring-contract thermally at a substituted WCα position to form a tungstacyclobutane and therefore metathesis-active alkylidenes.

Electrolyte Engineering with Carboranes for Next-Generation Mg Batteries.

To realize an energy storage transition beyond Li-ion competitive technologies, earth-abundant elements, such as Mg, are needed. Carborane anions are particularly well-suited to realizing magnesium-ion batteries (MIBs), as their inert and weakly coordinating properties beget excellent electrolyte performance. However, utilizing these materials in actual electrochemical cells has been hampered by the reliance on the Mg2+ salts of the commercially available [HCB11H11]- anion, which is not soluble in more weakly binding solvents apart from the higher glymes. Herein, we demonstrate it is possible to iteratively engineer the [HCB11H11]- anion surface synthetically to address previous solubility issues and yield a highly conductive (up to 7.33 mS cm-1) and electrochemically stable (up to +4.2 V vs Mg2+/0) magnesium electrolyte that surpasses the state of the art. This novel non-nucleophilic electrolyte exhibits highly dissociative behavior regardless of concentration and is tolerant of prolonged periods of cycling in symmetric cells at high current densities (up to 2.0 mA cm-2, 400 h). The hydrocarbon functionalized carborane electrolyte presented here demonstrates >96% Coulombic efficiency when paired with a Mo6S8 cathode. This approach realizes a needed candidate to discover next-generation cathode materials that can enable the design of practical and commercially viable Mg batteries.

[(F6acac)Pd(µ-HNC6F5)]2, a Large Family of Polymorphs and Solvates with Short F···F Contacts.

Highly fluorinated [(F6acac)Pd(µ-HNC6F5)]2 was prepared by the reaction of palladium bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonate), Pd(F6acac)2, with pentafluoroaniline. This compound generates a large family of crystalline polymorphs and solvates. In this paper, we present a study on the synthesis, solution phase dynamics, and crystal structures of highly fluorinated [(F6acac)Pd(µ-HNC6F5)]2. Pd3(µ-F6acac)2(µ-HNC6F5)4 is produced as a minor byproduct. We also describe the synthesis and structural characterization of trinuclear Pd3(µ-F6acac)3[µ-(CF3)2C=N]3 prepared by the reaction of Pd(F6acac)2 with hexafluoroacetone imine.

Vertex Differentiation Strategy for Tuning the Physical Properties of closo-Dodecaborate Weakly Coordinating Anions.

We report the synthesis and characterization of various compounds containing the 1,7,9-hydroxylated closo-dodecahydrododecaborate (B12H9(OH)32-) cluster motif. Specifically, we show how the parent compound can be synthesized on the multigram scale and further perhalogenated, leading to a new class of vertex-differentiated weakly coordinating anions. We show that a postmodification of the hydroxyl groups by alkylation affords further opportunities for tailoring these anions' stability, steric bulk, and solubility properties. The resulting dodecaborate-based salts were subjected to a full thermal and electrochemical stability evaluation, showing that many of these anions maintain thermal stability up to 500 °C and feature no redox activity below ∼1 V vs Fc/Fc+. Mixed hydroxylated/halogenated clusters show enhanced solubility compared to their purely halogenated analogs and retain weakly coordinating properties in the solid state, as demonstrated by ionic conductivity measurements of their Li+ salts.

Installing Quaternary Germanium Centers in Sila-Diamondoid Cores via Skeletal Isomerization.

This manuscript describes skeletal isomerization strategies to install one to four quaternary germanium atoms in the sila-adamantane core, in a cluster analogy to precision germanium doping in silicon-germanium alloys. The first strategy embodies an inorganic variant of single-atom skeletal editing, where we use a sila-Wagner-Meerwein bond shift cascade to exchange a peripheral Ge atom with a core Si atom. We can install up to four Ge atoms at the quaternary diamondoid centers based on controlling the SixGey stoichiometry of our precursor. We find that bridgehead Ge centers can be selectively functionalized over bridgehead Si centers in SiGe adamantanes; we use this chemistry in conjunction with scanning tunneling microscopy break-junction (STM-BJ) measurements to show that Si8Ge2 adamantane wires give a 60% increase in single-molecule conductance compared with Si10 adamantanes. These studies describe the first quantum transport measurements in sila-diamondoid structures, and demonstrate how main-chain Ge doping can be used to increase electronic transmission in sila-diamondoid-based molecular wires.

Mechanistic Evidence of a Ni(0/II/III) Cycle for Nickel Photoredox Amide Arylation.

This work demonstrates the dominance of a Ni(0/II/III) cycle for Ni-photoredox amide arylation, which contrasts with other Ni-photoredox C-heteroatom couplings that operate via Ni(I/III) self-sustained cycles. The kinetic data gathered when using different Ni precatalysts supports an initial Ni(0)-mediated oxidative addition into the aryl bromide. Using NiCl2 as the precatalyst resulted in an observable induction period, which was found to arise from a photochemical activation event to generate Ni(0) and to be prolonged by unproductive comproportionation between the Ni(II) precatalyst and the in situ generated Ni(0) active species. Ligand exchange after oxidative addition yields a Ni(II) aryl amido complex, which was identified as the catalyst resting state for the reaction. Stoichiometric experiments showed that oxidation of this Ni(II) aryl amido intermediate was required to yield functionalized amide products. The kinetic data presented supports a rate-limiting photochemically-mediated Ni(II/III) oxidation to enable C-N reductive elimination. An alternative Ni(I/III) self-sustained manifold was discarded based on EPR and kinetic measurements. The mechanistic insights uncovered herein will inform the community on how subtle changes in Ni-photoredox reaction conditions may impact the reaction pathway, and have enabled us to include aryl chlorides as coupling partners and to reduce the Ni loading by 20-fold without any reactivity loss.

When the Ferrocene Analogy Breaks Down: Metallocene Transmetallation Chemistry.

Ferrocene 1 and its dianionic Fe(bis)(dicarbollide) analogue 2 are classical compounds that display unusual stability. These compounds are not known to undergo transmetallation chemistry of the Fe-center and have been used extensively as chemical building blocks with consistent integrity. In this manuscript we describe the preparation of a charge compensated Fe(bis)(dicarbollide) species 3 Fe and its unprecedented transmetallation chemistry to Ir. Such reactions are hitherto unknown for any transition metal metallocene or metallacarborane complex. Additionally, we show that 3 Fe can be deprotonated to afford the corresponding bis(NHC) Li-carbenoid 5 that also displays unique reactivity. When 5 is reacted with [Ir(COD)Cl]2 it also undergoes a rapid transmetallation of the ferrocene "like" core to afford 6 but with the added twist that the Li-carbenoid moiety stays intact and does not transmetalate. However, when 6 is subsequently treated with CuCl, the Li-carbenoid transmetalates to Cu, which allows the controlled formation of the corresponding heterobimetallic Ir/Cu aggregate. Lastly, when Li-carbenoid 5 is treated directly with CuCl, a double transmetallation occurs from both Fe to Cu and Li-carbenoid to Cu, resulting in the trimetallic Cu cluster 8. These novel reactions pave the way for new synthetic methods to build complicated polymetallic clusters in a controlled fashion.

Orthogonal, modular anion-cation and cation-anion self-assembly using pre-programmed anion binding sites.

Subcomponent self-assembly relies on cation coordination whereas the roles of anions often only emerge during the assembly process. When sites for anions are instead pre-programmed, they have the potential to be used as orthogonal elements to build up structure in a predictable and modular way. We explore this idea by combining cation (M+) and anion (X-) binding sites together and show the orthogonal and modular build up of structure in a multi-ion assembly. Cation binding is based on a ligand (L) made by subcomponent metal-imine chemistry (M+ = Cu+, Au+) while the site for anion binding (X- = BF4 -, ClO4 -) derives from the inner cavity of cyanostar (CS) macrocycles. The two sites are connected by imine condensation between a pyridyl-aldehyde and an aniline-modified cyanostar. The target assembly [LM-CS-X-CS-ML],+ generates two terminal metal complexation sites (LM and ML) with one central anion-bridging site (X) defined by cyanostar dimerization. We showcase modular assembly by isolating intermediates when the primary structure-directing ions are paired with weakly coordinating counter ions. Cation-directed (Cu+) or anion-bridged (BF4 -) intermediates can be isolated along either cation-anion or anion-cation pathways. Different products can also be prepared in a modular way using Au+ and ClO4 -. This is also the first use of gold(i) in subcomponent self-assembly. Pre-programmed cation and anion binding sites combine with judicious selection of spectator ions to provide modular noncovalent syntheses of multi-component architectures.

Gated, Selective Anion Exchange in Functionalized Self-Assembled Cage Complexes.

Appending functional groups to the exterior of Zn4 L4 self-assembled cages allows gated control of anion binding. While the unfunctionalized cages contain aryl groups in the ligand that can freely rotate, attaching inert functional groups creates a "doorstop", preventing rotation and slowing the guest exchange rate, even though the interiors of the host cavities are identically structured. The effects on anion exchange are subtle and depend on multiple factors, including anion size, the nature of the leaving anion, and the electron-withdrawing ability and steric bulk of the pendant groups. Multiple exchange mechanisms occur, and the nature of the external groups controls associative and dissociative exchange processes: these bulky groups affect both anion egress and ingress, introducing an extra layer of selectivity to the exchange. Small changes can have large effects: affinities for anions as similar as PF6 - and SbF6 - can vary by as much as 400-fold between identically sized cavities.

Cycling a Tether into Multiple Rings: Pt-Bridged Macrocycles for Differentiated Guest Recognition, Pseudorotaxane Transformations, and Guest Capture and Release.

Macrocycle engineering is a key topic in supramolecular chemistry. When synthesizing a ring, one can obtain either complex mixtures of macrocycles of different sizes or a single ring if a template is utilized. Here, we unite these approaches along with post-synthetic modifications to transform a single tether into multiple rings-up to five per tether. The macrocycles contain two bridged phenylpyridine ligands that are connected through a Pt atom, which defines the rings' shape, size, and host activity. All rings undergo redox reactions (between PtII and PtIV ) that allow for large conformational changes. Their reactivity, together with their host performance, is a convenient way to control the capture and release of guests, to mediate ring transformations, and to control pseudorotaxane-to-pseudorotaxane conversions. This novel approach could serve to assemble other libraries of small ring molecules, create cyclic polymers bridged by responsive-at-metal nodes, and produce processable mechanically interlocked molecules.

Hydrogen atom abstraction by a high spin [FeIII=S] complex.

Iron sulfur clusters are critical to a plethora of biological processes; however, little is known about the elementary unit of these clusters, namely the [Fe=S]n+ fragment. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a terminal iron sulfido complex. Despite its high spin (S = 5/2) ground state, structural, spectroscopic, and computational characterization provide evidence for iron sulfur multiple bond character. Intriguingly, the complex reacts with additional sulfur to afford an S = 3/2 iron(III) disulfido (S2 2-) complex. Preliminary studies reveal that the sulfido complex reacts with dihydroanthracene to afford an iron(II) hydrosulfido complex, akin to the reactivity of iron oxo complexes. By contrast, there is no reaction with the disulfido complex. These results provide important insight into the nature of the iron sulfide unit.

Redox-Neutral Transformations of Carbon Dioxide Using Coordinatively Unsaturated Late Metal Silyl Amide Complexes.

Two-coordinate silylamido complexes of nickel and copper rapidly react with CO2 to selectively form a new cyanate ligand along with hexamethyldisiloxane byproducts. Mechanistic insight into these reactions was obtained from the synthesis of proposed intermediates, several silyl- and phenyl- substituted amido analogues, and their subsequent reactivity with CO2. These studies suggest that a unique intramolecular double silyl transfer step facilitates CO2 deoxygenation, which likely contributes to the rapid rates of reaction. The deoxygenation reactions create a platform for a synthetic cycle in which copper amido complexes convert CO2 to organic silylcarbamates.

Facile Addition of B-H and B-B Bonds to an Iron(IV) Nitride Complex.

The nitride ligand in the iron(IV) complex PhB(iPr2Im)3Fe≡N reacts with boron hydrides to afford PhB(iPr2Im)3FeN(B)H (B = 9-BBN (1), Bpin (2)) and with (Bpin)2 to afford PhB(iPr2Im)3FeN(Bpin)2 (3). The iron(II) borylamido products have all been structurally and spectroscopically characterized, demonstrating facile insertion into B-H and B-B bonds by PhB(iPr2Im)3Fe≡N. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the quintet state (S = 2) is significantly lower in energy than the singlet (S = 0) and triplet (S = 1) states for all products. Stoichiometric reaction with (Bpin)2 does not produce the mono-borylated iron imido species PhB(iPr2Im)3FeN(Bpin). DFT calculations suggest that this is because PhB(iPr2Im)3FeN(Bpin) is unstable toward disproportionation to the starting iron(IV) nitride and PhB(iPr2Im)3FeN(Bpin)2. Attempts at B-C bond insertion using phenyl- and benzyl-pinacol borane were unsuccessful, which we attribute to unfavorable kinetics.

A Carboranyl Electrolyte Enabling Highly Reversible Sodium Metal Anodes via a "Fluorine-Free" SEI.

Realization of practical sodium metal batteries (SMBs) is hindered due to lack of compatible electrolyte components, dendrite propagation, and poor understanding of anodic interphasial chemistries. Chemically robust liquid electrolytes that facilitate both favorable sodium metal deposition and a stable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) are ideal to enable sodium metal and anode-free cells. Herein we present advanced characterization of a novel fluorine-free electrolyte utilizing the [HCB11 H11 ]1- anion. Symmetrical Na cells operated with this electrolyte exhibit a remarkably low overpotential of 0.032 V at a current density of 2.0 mA cm-2 and a high coulombic efficiency of 99.5 % in half-cell configurations. Surface characterization of electrodes post-operation reveals the absence of dendritic sodium nucleation and a surprisingly stable fluorine-free SEI. Furthermore, weak ion-pairing is identified as key towards the successful development of fluorine-free sodium electrolytes.

Ene Reactivity of an Fe═NR Bond Enables the Catalytic α-Deuteration of Nitriles and Alkynes.

Herein, we report the reactions of an Fe(II) imido complex [Ph2B(tBuIm)2Fe═NDipp]- (1) with internal alkynes and isobutyronitrile, affording the Fe amido allenyl complexes [Ph2B(tBuIm)2Fe(NHDipp)((R1)C═C═C(R2)(H))]- (R1 = Et or nPr; R2 = Me or Et, 2-5) and the Fe amido keteniminate complex [Ph2B(tBuIm)2Fe(NHDipp)(N═C═CMe2)K(THF)]n (8-K), respectively. These transformations represent the previously unknown ene-like reactivity of a metal-ligand multiple bond. Stoichiometric reactions of 2 and 8-K with DippNH2 lead to the regeneration of 3-hexyne and isobutyronitrile, respectively, with concomitant formation of the bis(anilido) complex [Ph2B(tBuIm)2Fe(NHDipp)2]- (9). These results provide the platform for 1 as an efficient catalyst for the selective α-deuteration of nitriles and alkynes by RND2. These results demonstrate a new reaction mode for metal imido complexes and suggest new avenues for using the imido ligand in catalysis.

Mechanochemical Syntheses of Ln(hfac)3(H2O)x (Ln = La-Sm, Tb): Isolation of 10-, 9-, and 8-Coordinate Ln(hfac)n Complexes.

Volatile lanthanide coordination complexes are critical to the generation of new optical and magnetic materials. One of the most common precursors for preparing volatile lanthanide complexes is the hydrate with the general formula Ln(hfac)3(H2O)x (x = 3 for La-Nd, x = 2 for Sm) (hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonato). We have investigated the synthesis of Ln(hfac)3(H2O)x using more environmentally sustainable mechanochemical approaches. Characterization of the products using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and powder X-ray diffraction shows substantial differences in product distribution between methods. The mechanochemical synthesis of the hydrate complexes leads to a variety of coordination compounds including the expected hydrate product, the known retro-Claisen impurity, and hydrated protonated Hhfac ligand depending on the technique employed. Surprisingly, 10-coordinate complexes of the form Na2Ln(hfac)5·3H2O for Ln = La-Nd were also isolated from reactions using a mortar and pestle. The electrostatic bonding of lanthanide coordination complexes is a challenge for obtaining reproducible reactions and clean products. The reproducibility issues are most acute for the large, early lanthanides whereas for the mid to late lanthanides, reproducibility in terms of product distribution and yield is less of an issue because of their smaller size and greater charge to radius ratio. Ball milling increases reproducibility in terms of generating the desired Ln(hfac)3(H2O)x along with hydrated Hhfac (tetraol) and free Hhfac products. The results illustrate the dynamic behavior of lanthanide complexes in solution and the solid state as well as the structural diversity available to the early lanthanides.

Tungstacyclopentane Ring Contraction Yields Olefin Metathesis Catalysts.

Exposure of a solution of the square pyramidal tungstacyclopentane complex W(NAr)(OSiPh3)2(C4H8) (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3) to ethylene at 22 °C in ambient (fluorescent) light slowly leads to the formation of propylene and the square pyramidal tungstacyclobutane complex W(NAr)(OSiPh3)2(C3H6). No reaction takes place in the dark, but the reaction is >90% complete in ∼15 min under blue LED light (∼450 nm λmax). The intermediates are proposed to be (first) an α methyl tungstacyclobutane complex (W(NAr)(OSiPh3)2(αMeC3H5)), and then from it, a ß methyl version. The TBP versions of each can lose propylene and form a methylene complex, and in the presence of ethylene, the unsubstituted tungstacyclobutane complex W(NAr)(OSiPh3)2(C3H6). The W-Cα bond in an unobservable TBP W(NAr)(OSiPh3)2(C4H8) isomer in which the C4H8 ring is equatorial is proposed to be cleaved homolytically by light. A hydrogen atom moves or is moved from C3 to the terminal C4 carbon in the butyl chain as the bond between W and C3 forms to give the TBP α methyl tungstacyclobutane complex. Essentially, the same behavior is observed for W(NCPh3)(OSiPh3)2(C4H8) as for W(NAr)(OSiPh3)2(C4H8), except that the rate of consumption of W(NCPh3)(OSiPh3)2(C4H8) is about half that of W(NAr)(OSiPh3)2(C4H8). In this case, an α methyl-substituted tungstacyclobutane intermediate is observed, and the overall rate of formation of W(NCPh3)(OSiPh3)2(C3H6) and propylene from W(NCPh3)(OSiPh3)2(C4H8) is ∼20 times slower than in the NAr system. These results constitute the first experimentally documented examples of forming a metallacyclobutane ring from a metallacyclopentane ring (ring contraction) and establish how metathesis-active methylene and metallacyclobutane complexes can be formed and reformed in the presence of ethylene. They also raise the possibility that ambient light could play a role in some metathesis reactions that involve ethylene and tungsten-based imido alkylidene olefin metathesis catalysts, if not others.

High-fidelity Recognition of Organotrifluoroborate Anions (R-BF3 - ) as Designer Guest Molecules.

The recognition of boron compounds is well developed as boronic acids but untapped as organotrifluoroborate anions (R-BF3 - ). We are exploring the development of these and other designer anions as anion-recognition motifs by considering them as substituted versions of the parent inorganic ion. To this end, we demonstrate strong and reliable binding of organic trifluoroborates, R-BF3 - , by cyanostar macrocycles that are size-complementary to the inorganic BF4 - progenitors. We find that recognition is modulated by the substituent's sterics and that the affinities are retained using the common K+ salts of R-BF3 - anions.