The relationship between the boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) structure and the effectiveness of homogeneous and heterogeneous solar hydrogen-generating systems as well as DSSCs.

A series of boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes (B1­B5) having H atoms at 2,6-positions or heavy-atom I at 2-/2,6-positions, and an ortho- or a para-COOH substituted phenyl moiety at the 8-position on the BODIPY core were synthesized and characterized. These organic dyes were applied for investigating the relationship between the BODIPY structure and the effectiveness of homogeneous and heterogeneous visible-light-driven hydrogen production as well as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For the homogeneous photocatalytic hydrogen production systems with a cobaloxime catalyst, the efficiency of hydrogen production could be tuned by substituting with heavy atoms and varying carboxyl group orientations of BODIPYs. As a result, B5 containing two I atoms and an ortho-COOH anchoring group was the most active one (TONs = 197). The activity of hydrogen generation followed the order B5 > B3 > B2 > B1 = B4 = 0. An interesting "ortho-position effect" was observed in the present homogeneous systems, i.e., substitution groups were located at the ortho-position and higher hydrogen production activities were obtained. For the heterogeneous hydrogen production systems with a platinized TiO2 catalyst, the effectiveness of hydrogen evolution was highly influenced by the intersystem crossing efficiency, molar absorptivity and positions of the anchoring group of dyes. Thus, B3 having two core iodine atoms and a para-COOH group with TONs of 70 excelled other BODIPYs and the TONs of hydrogen generation showed the trend of B3 > B5 > B2 > B1 = B4 = 0. The results demonstrate that the present photocatalytic H2 production proceeds with higher efficiency and stability in the homogeneity than in the heterogeneity. In the case of DSSCs, the overall cell performance of BODIPY chromophores was highly dependent on both the absence or the presence of iodine atoms on the BODIPY core and ­COOH anchoring positions. The B1­TiO2 system showed the best cell performance, because the most effective surface binding mode is allowed with this structure. This is also in contrast with the case of dye-sensitized solar H2 generation, in which B3 was the most efficient chromophore. The differences between dye-sensitized hydrogen-generating systems and DSSCs may be due to rates of electron transfer and the dye aggregation tendency.

Noble-metal-free BODIPY-cobaloxime photocatalysts for visible-light-driven hydrogen production.

In this study a series of supramolecular BODIPY-cobaloxime systems Co-Bn (n = 1-4): [{Co(dmgH)2Cl}{4,4-difluoro-8-(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene}] (Co-B1), [{Co(dmgH)2Cl}{4,4-difluoro-8-(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,6-diiodo-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene}] (Co-B2), [{Co(dmgH)2Cl}{4,4-difluoro-8-(3-pyridyl)-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene}] (Co-B3), and [{Co(dmgH)2Cl}{4,4-difluoro-8-(3-pyridyl)-1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-2,6-diiodo-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene}] (Co-B4) (BODIPY = boron dipyrromethene, dmgH = dimethylglyoxime) have been synthesized by replacing one axial chlorine of cobaloxime moieties with the pyridine residues of BODIPYs, and structurally characterized. Absorption spectra show that the optical properties of the BODIPY-cobaloximes are essentially the sum of their constituent components, indicating weak interactions between the cobaloxime units and BODIPY chromophores in the ground state. If any, electronic communications may take place through the intramolecular electron transfer across their orthogonal structures. The possibility of intramolecular electron transfer is further supported by the results of the density functional theory (DFT) calculations at UB3LYP/LANL2DZ levels on Co-B2˙(-) and Co-B4˙(-), which show that the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) possess predominantly BODIPY character, while the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) are located on the cobalt centers. The HOMO → LUMO transition is an electron-transfer process (BODIPY˙(-) radical anions → cobaloxime fragments). In view of the possible occurrence of electron transfer, these noble-metal-free BODIPY-cobaloximes are studied as single-component homogeneous photocatalysts for H2 generation in aqueous media. Under optimized conditions, the 2,6-diiodo BODIPY-sensitized cobaloxime Co-B4 that contains a meta-pyridyl at the 8-position of BODIPY presents excellent H2 photoproduction catalytic activity with a turnover number (TON) of 85, which is comparable to that of its analogue Co-B2 that has a para-pyridyl attached onto 2,6-diiodo BODIPY (TON = 82); however, both of the noniodinated BODIPY-sensitizer cobaloximes (Co-B1, Co-B3) exhibit a complete lack of activity under the same experimental conditions. These results show that the presence of heavy atoms in the core of BODIPY is essential for the catalytic process and reductive quenching pathways (namely, the intramolecular electron transfers from BODIPY˙(-) species to the cobalt centers) for these photocatalytically active systems of Co-Bn (n = 2 and 4) are thermodynamically feasible for the hydrogen-evolving reaction.

Discovery of polymorphism-dependent emission for crystalline boron-dipyrromethene dye.

4-Methoxycarbonylphenyl-substituted BODIPY (boron-dipyrromethene) dye gives, in the solid state, three polymorphs. In spite of the absence of any strong intermolecular interactions in all crystalline forms, the three polymorphs show different photoluminescence properties. This behavior highlights the importance of molecular arrangements of the BODIPY moieties in the crystalline state in perturbing their photophysical properties.

Synthesis, structure, and bonding of BaTl4. Size effects on encapsulation of cations in electron-poor metal networks.

The synthesis, structure, and bonding of BaTl(4) are described [C2/m, Z = 4, a = 12.408(3), b = 5.351(1), c = 10.383(2) Å, ß = 116.00(3)°]. Pairs of edge-sharing Tl pentagons are condensed to generate a network of pentagonal biprisms along b that encapsulate Ba atoms. Alternating levels of prisms along c afford six more bifunctional Tl atoms about the waists of the biprisms, giving Ba a coordination number of 16. Each Tl atom is bonded to five to seven other Tl atoms and to three to five Ba atoms. There is also strong evidence that Hg substitutes preferentially in the shared edges of the Tl biprisms in BaHg(0.80)Tl(3.20) to generate more strongly bound Hg(2) dimers. Cations that are too small relative to the dimensions of the surrounding polyanionic network make this BaTl(4) structure (and for SrIn(4) and perhaps EuIn(4) as well) one stable alternative to tetragonal BaAl(4)-type structures in which cations are bound in larger hexagon-faced nets, as for BaIn(4) and SrGa(4). Characteristic condensation and augmentation of cation-centered prismatic units is common among many relatively cation- and electron-poor, polar derivatives of Zintl phases gain stability. At the other extreme, the large family of Frank-Kasper phases in which the elements exhibit larger numbers of bonded neighbors are sometimes referred to as orbitally rich.

BaHg2Tl2. An unusual polar intermetallic phase with strong differentiation between the neighboring elements mercury and thallium.

High yields of the novel BaHg(2)Tl(2) are achieved from reactions of the appropriate cast alloys at approximately 400 degrees C. (Isotypic SrHg(2)Tl(2) also exists.) The tetragonal barium structure (P4(2)/mnm, a = 10.606 A, c = 5.159 A) was refined from both single-crystal X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data in order to ensure the atom site assignments although distances and calculated atom site population also support the results. The Hg and Tl network atoms are distinctive in their functions and bonding. Parallel chains of Hg hexagons and of Tl tetrahedra along c are constructed from polyhedra that share opposed like edges, and these are in turn interconnected by Hg-Tl bonds. Overall, the number of Tl-Tl bonds per cell exceeds the Hg-Hg type by 20:12, but these are approximately 1:2 each in bonding according to their average -ICOHP values (related to overlap populations). Barium is bound within a close 15-atom polyhedron, 12 atoms of which are the more electronegative Hg. LMTO-ASA calculations show that scalar relativistic effects are particularly important for Hg 5d-6s mixing in Hg-Hg and Hg-Tl bonding, whereas relatively separate Tl 6s and 6p states are more important in Tl-Tl interactions. The 6p states of Hg and Tl and 5d of Ba define a dominant conduction band around E(F), and the phase is metallic and Pauli-like paramagnetic. The thallium characteristics here are close to those in numerous alkali-metal-Tl cluster systems. Other active metal-mercury phases that have been studied theoretically are all distinctly electron-richer and more reduced, and without appreciable net 5d, 6s contributions to Hg-Hg bonding.

SrAu4In4 and Sr4Au9In13: polar intermetallic structures with cations in augmented hexagonal prismatic environments.

The title compounds were synthesized via high-temperature reactions of the elements in welded Ta tubes and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and band structure calculations. SrAu(3.76(2))In(4.24) crystallizes in the YCo5In3 structure type with two of eight network sites occupied by mixtures of Au and In: Pnma, Z = 4, a = 13.946(7), b = 4.458(2), c = 12.921(6) A. Its phase breadth appears to be small. Sr4Au9In 13 exhibits a new structure type, P_6 m2, Z = 1, a = 12.701(2), c = 4.4350(9) A. The Sr atoms in both compounds center hexagonal prisms of nominally alternating In and Au atoms and also have nine augmenting (outer) Au + In atoms around their waists so as to define 21-vertex Sr@Au9M4In8 (M = Au/In) and Sr@Au9In12 polyhedra, respectively. The relatively larger Sr content in the second phase also leads to condensation of some of the ideal building units into trefoil-like cages with edge-shared six-member rings. One overall driving force for the formation of these structures can be viewed as the need for each Sr cation to have as many close neighbors as possible in the more anionic Au-In network. The results also depend on the cation size as well as on the flexibility of the anionic network and an efficient intercluster condensation mode as all clusters are shared. Band structure calculations (LMTO-ASA) emphasize the greater strengths (overlap populations) of the Au-In bonds and confirm expectations that both compounds are metallic.

[Ph(3)PCH(2)Ph](2)[Zn(3)(tp)(3)Cl(2)] and Ni(3)(tma)(2)(H(2)O)(8): two unusual claylike frameworks of metal-polycarboxylate coordination polymers (tp = terephthalate, tma = trimesate).

Two new compounds, [Ph3PCH2Ph]2[Zn3(tp)3Cl2] (1) and Ni3(tma)2(H2O)8 (2) (tp = terephthalate, tma = trimesate), are metal-polycarboxylate coordination polymers prepared by similar hydrothermal synthesis techniques. X-ray single-crystal structural analysis shows that both compounds crystallize in the 2D claylike lamellar architectures, in which 1 possesses the interlayer [Ph3PCH2Ph]+ exchangeable cation and has been confirmed by PXRD patterns. 1 (C74H56Cl2O12P2Zn3) belongs to monoclinic P21/c, Z = 2 (a = 18.956(1) A, b = 10.2697(5) A, c = 17.067(1) A, beta = 99.486(4) degrees ). 2 (C18H22O20Ni3) is attributed to triclinic P, Z = 1 (a = 6.6643(8) A, b = 9.622(1) A, c = 10.089(1) A, alpha = 112.675(2) degrees , beta = 94.007(1) degrees, gamma = 106.411(2) degrees ). Linear metal trinuclear clusters bridged by rigid linear tp ligands for 1 and trigonal tma ligands for 2 give rise to a novel 2D 6-linked (3,6) topological anionic network in 1 and an interesting 2D 3,6-linked molybdenite topological neutral network in 2, respectively. Both compounds exhibit intense fluorescent emission bands at 410 nm (lambda(exc) = 355 nm) for 1 and 398 nm (lambda(exc) = 300 nm) for 2 in the solid state at room temperature.

Transformation of AeIn4 Indides (Ae=Ba, Sr) into an AeAu2In2 structure type through gold substitution.

The title compounds were prepared from the elements by high-temperature solid-state synthesis techniques. X-ray structural analyses shows that BaAu2In2 (1) and SrAu2In2 (2) crystallize in a new orthorhombic structure, Pnma, Z=4 (a=8.755(2), 8.530(2) A; b=4.712(1), 4.598(1) A; c=12.368(3), 12.283(4) A, respectively). Gold substitutes for 50% of the indium atoms in the tetragonal BaIn4 and monoclinic SrIn4 parents to give this new and more flexible orthorhombic structure. The Ae atoms in this structure are contained within chains of hexagonal prisms built of alternating In and Au that have additional augmenting atoms around their waists from further condensation of parallel displaced chains. The driving forces for these structural changes are in part the shorter Au-In distances (2.72 and 2.69 A) relative to d(In-In) in the parents, presumably because of relativistic contractions with Au. Generalities about such centered prismatic building blocks and their condensation modes in these and related phases are described. Band structure calculations (EHTB) demonstrate that the two compounds are metallic, which is confirmed by measurements of the resistivity of 1 and the magnetic susceptibilities of both.

Substitution of Au or Hg into BaTl2 and BaIn2. New ternary examples of smaller CeCu2-type intermetallic phases.

The compounds BaAu(0.40(2))Tl(1.60(7)) (1), BaAu(0.36(4))In(1.64(4)) (2), and BaHg(0.92(2))In(1.08(2)) (3) have been prepared by high-temperature techniques. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that these have the orthorhombic CeCu(2)-type structure, Imma, Z = 4 (a = 5.140(1), 5.104(1), 5.145(1) A; b = 8.317(2), 8.461(2), 8.373(2) A; c = 8.809(2), 8.580(2), 8.715(2) A, respectively). The structure consists of a four-linked honeycomblike polyanion (4(2)6(3)8) of infinity3[Tr2]2- (Tr = In or Tl) with encapsulated Ba2+ cations. The Au or Hg randomly replace Tr in a single type of site. The two gold phases exhibit appreciable nonstoichiometry ranges. Band calculations (EHTB) demonstrate that the three compounds are electron-poor and metallic, and the latter has been confirmed for 1 through resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The orthorhombic structure of 1 contrasts with the hexagonal structure of BaTl2 (CaIn2-type, P6(3)/mmc), a change that appears to be driven by substitution of the smaller Au atoms into the polyanion network. Relativistic effects for the heavier Au and Hg are evidently responsible for decreases in lattice parameters and bond lengths from BaIn2 to those in isostructural 2 and 3.

A novel ribbon-candy-like supramolecular architecture of cadmium(II)-terephthalate polymer with giant rhombic channels: twofold interpenetration of the 3D 8(2)10-a net.

The hydrothermal reaction of H2tp (tp = terephthalate), [Ph3PCH2Ph]Cl and water with Cd(O2CCH3)(2).2H2O gives rise to a novel ribbon-candy-like supramolecular architecture with twofold interpenetration of an unprecedented 3D 8(2)10-a net formed by polymer ([Ph3PCH2Ph][Cd(tp).Cl].2H2O]n containing giant rhombic channels, which displays strong fluorescent emission in the solid state.

Synthesis, structure, and fluorescence of the novel cadmium(II)-trimesate coordination polymers with different coordination architectures.

Three novel complexes, Cd3tma2*13H2O (1), Cd3tma2*dabco*2H2O (2), and Cd3Htma3*8H2O (3) (tma = trimesate), of cadmium(II)-trimesate coordination polymers are obtained from hydrothermal reaction. 1 (C18H32O25Cd3) crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group [a = 18.985(2) A, b = 7.3872(6) A, c = 20.432(2) A, = 97.1660(10), and Z = 4]. 2 (C24H22N2O14Cd3) crystallizes in the monoclinic P2(1)/c space group [a = 10.1323(2) A, b = 19.5669(5) A, c = 13.15880(10) A, = 108.9810(10), and Z = 4]. 3 (C27H28O26Cd3) belongs to the trigonal P31c space group [a = 15.7547(3) A, b = 15.7547(3) A, c = 7.93160(10) A, and Z = 2]. The Cd(II) centers in the three complexes are bridged by tma ligands in the coordination fashion of unidentate, bridging unidentate, bidentate, chelating bis-bidentate, chelating/bridging bis-bidentate, or chelating/bridging bidentate to form the T-shaped molecular bilayer motif for 1, chicken-wire-like motif for 2, and honeycomb-like porous structure for 3, respectively, in which the T-shaped molecular bilayer motif and chicken-wire-like motif are further interlinked in interdigitating or alternating fashion to construct the different coordination architectures. These three complexes exhibit strong fluorescent emission bands at 355 nm (lambda(ex) = 220 nm) for 1, 437 nm (lambda(ex) = 365 nm) for 2, and 353 nm (lambda(ex) = 218 nm) for 3 in the solid state at room temperature.

Synthesis and characterization of a series of novel heptanuclear trigonal-prismatic polyhedra with different edge-ligands.

Five novel heptanuclear trigonal-prismatic polyhedra, Na4[PrNi6(Gly)9(mu 3-OH)3(H2O)6].(ClO4)7 (1), Na2[PrNi6(Gly)8(mu 3-OH)3(mu 2-OH2)-(H2O)6].(ClO4)6.(H2O)2 (2), Na[DyNi6(Gly)7(mu 3-OH)3(mu 2-OH2)2(H2O)6].(ClO4)6.H2O (3), [SmNi6(Gly)6-(mu 3-OH)3Cl3(H2O)6].Cl3.(H2O)9 (4), and [ErNi6(Gly)6(mu 3-OH)3Cl3(H2O)6].Cl3.(H2O)9 (5), were synthesized through self-assembly and characterized by X-ray structure analysis. Complex 1 crystallizes in the trigonal P3 space group (a = b = 18.1121(2), c = 11.987(0) A, and Z = 2). Complex 2 belongs to the triclinic P1 space group (a = 16.0145(3), b = 20.58650(10), c = 20.8452(3) A, alpha = 78.0590(10), beta = 67.9200(10), gamma = 68.1540(10) degrees, and Z = 4). Complex 3 belongs to the monoclinic P2(1)/m space group (a = 14.9863(3), b = 13.533, c = 15.6171(3) A, beta = 116.8970(10) degrees, and Z = 2). Complexes 4 and 5 are isomorphous (4: trigonal, P3; a = b = 11.8661(4), c = 18.2034(10) A, Z = 2; 5: a = b = 11.9001(5), c = 18.1229(11) A, Z = 2). A Ln3+ ion is in the center of the prism formed by six nickel atoms. It coordinates to nine oxygen atoms. Its coordination polyhedron may be best described as a tricapped trigonal prism. The five complexes all have a core of [LnNi6(Gly)6-(mu 3-OH)3(H2O)6]6+ and were obtained through the edge-ligand exchange of the three mu 2-OH2 ligands of [LnNi6(Gly)6-(mu 3-OH)3(H2O)6(mu 2-OH2)3]6+ partly or wholly by glycine or Cl-. Magnetic measurements reveal that 1 and 4 exhibit antiferromagnetic interaction, while 5 exhibits a ferromagnetic interaction.