Push-pull organic dyes and dye-catalyst assembly featuring a benzothiadiazole unit for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production.

In this work, we report the design and the preparation of two new dyes and a molecular dyad for the photoelectrochemical hydrogen production from water in a dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell (DSPEC). We designed dyes that include a benzothiadiazole (BTD) and an indacenodithiophene (IDT) units, and we obtained a new molecular dyad by covalent coupling with the cobalt diimine-dioxime catalyst. The introduction of the benzothiadiazole core in the structure improves the absorption properties and leads to an extension of the spectrum in the visible range up to 650 nm. The photoelectrochemical properties of the new dyad were evaluated on pristine and lithium-doped NiO electrodes. We demonstrate that increasing the light harvesting efficiency of the dyad by introducing a IDT-BTD chromophore is clearly beneficial for the photoelectrochemical activity. We also demonstrate that lithium doping of NiO, which improves the electronic conductivity of the mesoporous film, leads to a significant increase in performance, in terms of TON and F.E., more than doubled with our new dyad. This BTD-based molecular system outperforms the results of previously reported dyads using the same catalyst.

s-Heptazine oligomers: promising structural models for graphitic carbon nitride.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) has interesting catalytic properties but is difficult to study due to its structure and how it is produced. In this study, linear s-heptazine oligomers were synthesized to serve as well-defined molecular models for g-CN. Cyclic voltammetry, absorption and emission spectroscopies showed a clear shift of properties towards those of g-CN as the number of heptazine units increased. DFT calculations supported the characterizations, and helped refine the properties observed.

[Ni(xbsms)Ru(CO)2Cl2]: a bioinspired nickel-ruthenium functional model of [NiFe] hydrogenase.

As a model of the active site of [NiFe] hydrogenases, a dinuclear nickel-ruthenium complex [Ni(xbsms)Ru(CO)2Cl2] was synthesized and fully characterized. The three-dimensional structure reveals a nickel center in a square-planar dithioether-dithiolate environment connected to a ruthenium moiety via a Ni(mu-SR)2Ru bridge. This complex catalyzes hydrogen evolution by electroreduction of the weakly acidic Et3NH+ ions in N,N-dimethylformamide and is therefore the first functional bioinspired model of [NiFe] hydrogenases.

A versatile synthesis of new pyrimidinyl nitronyl nitroxides.

Pyrimidinyl nitronyl nitroxides where the bis-N-oxy fragment is included in a six-membered ring were prepared from diacetonamine by a sequence of reactions including a Grignard reaction, a Ritter reaction and oxidation of the intermediate pyrimidine; the properties of the 2-phenyl-substituted representative are fully described.

Solid-state and solution properties of the lanthanide complexes of a new heptadentate tripodal ligand: a route to gadolinium complexes with an improved relaxation efficiency.

The tripodal ligand (alpha,alpha',alpha' 'nitrilotri(6-methyl-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid)) (H(3)tpaa) forms a Gd(III) complex which has a relaxivity (r(1p) = 13.3 mM(-1) s(-1) at 25 degrees C and at 60 MHz) remarkably higher than those of the currently clinically used contrast agents based on octacoordinate polyaminocarboxylate complexes (3.5-4.7 mM(-1) s(-1)) and a reasonably good thermodynamic stability. The crystal structure of the ligand and of its La, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Tm, Yb, and Lu complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The neutral H(3)tpaa molecule adopts, in the solid state, a preorganized tripodal conformation in which the three H(3)tpaa arms are located on the same side of the molecule, ready to bind a metal ion in a heptadentate coordination mode. The structures of the Ln(III) complexes vary along the series for their nuclearity and number of water molecules coordinated to the metal, and a tetrameric structure is observed for the La(3+) ion (9- and 10-coordinate metal centers), dimeric structures are formed from the Nd(3+) ion through the Yb(3+) ion (9-coordinate), and a monomeric structure results for Lu(3+) (8-coordinate). The relaxivity studies presented here suggest that the high relaxivity of the Gd(tpaa) complex is mainly the consequence of a shorter bound water proton-Gd(III) distance associated with a probable water coordination equilibrium between tris(aqua) and bis(aqua) complexes, giving raise to a mean number of coordinated water molecules q > 2. Both effects are strongly related to the ligand flexibility, which allows for a large volume available for water binding. The observed rapid water exchange rate is probably due to the presence of a low-energy barrier between 10-, 9-, and 8- coordinate geometries. Although the low solubility of the Gd complex of tpaa prevents its practical application as an MRI contrast agent, the straightforward introduction of substituents on the pyridine rings allows us to envisage ligands with a higher water solubility, containing functional groups leading to macromolecular systems with very high relaxivity.

Synthesis, structure, spectroscopic properties, and magnetic properties of an octakis(alkylthio)-substituted lutetium(III) bisphthalocyanine.

The synthesis of a new sandwich lutetium(III) bisphthalocyanine substituted with hexylthio groups (1), [(C6H1)S)8-Pc]2Lu, is described. The compound is very soluble in most common organic solvents and has been fully characterized (elemental analysis, IR, 1H and 13C NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry). The chemically oxidized and reduced forms have been formed and characterized. The crystal structure of the compound (1) has been determined by X-ray diffraction on a single crystal. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 31.558(2) A, b = 32.755(2) A, c = 20.489(1) A, beta = 127.119(1) degrees, and Z = 4. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility, measured on polycrystalline samples and in the range 6-300 K, is in agreement with one unpaired electron per molecular unit as found for the unsubstituted derivative. The magnetic results can be modeled assuming one-dimensional chain of spin S = 1/2 with g = 2.04 and an antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -11.83 cm(-1), H = -2JSigmaSiSj).

Solid state and solution studies of lanthanide(III) complexes of cyclohexanetriols, models of the coordination sites found in sugars.

This report covers studies in trivalent lanthanide complexation by two simple cyclohexanetriols that are models of the two coordination sites found in sugars and derivatives. Several complexes of trivalent lanthanide ions with cis,cis-1,3,5-trihydroxycyclohexane (L(1)()) and cis,cis-1,2,3-trihydroxycyclohexane (L(2)()) have been characterized in the solid state, and some of them have been studied in organic solutions. With L(1)(), Ln(L)(2) complexes are obtained when crystallization is performed from acetonitrile solutions whatever the nature of the salt (nitrate or triflate) [Ln(L(1)())(2)(NO(3))(2)](NO(3)) (Ln = Pr, Nd); [Ln(L(1)())(2)(NO(3))H(2)O](NO(3))(2) (Ln = Eu, Ho, Yb); [Ln(L(1)())(2)(OTf)(2)(H(2)O)](OTf) (Ln = Nd, Eu). Lanthanum nitrate itself gives a mixed complex [La(L(1)())(2)(NO(3))(2)][LaL(1)()(NO(3))(4)] from acetonitrile solution while [La(L(1)())(2)(NO(3))(2)](NO(3)) is obtained using dimethoxyethane as reaction solvent and crystallization medium. With L(2)(), Ln(L)(2) complexes have also been crystallized from methanol solution [Ln(L(2)())(2)(NO(3))(2)]NO(3), (Ln = Pr, Nd, Eu). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses are reported for these complexes. Complex formation in solution has been studied for several triflate salts (La, Pr, Nd, Eu, and Yb) with L(1 )()and L(2)(), respectively in acetonitrile and in methanol. In contrast to the solid state, both structures Ln(L) and Ln(L)(2) equilibrate in solution, as was demonstrated by low-temperature (1)H NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry experiments. Competing experiments in complexing abilities of L(1)() and L(2)() with trivalent lanthanide cations have shown that only L(2)() exhibits a small selectivity (Nd > Pr > Yb > La > Eu) in methanol.

Nitronyl and imino nitroxides: improvement of Ullman's procedure and report on a new efficient synthetic route.

The synthesis of nitronyl and imino nitroxides has been reexamined with the aim of both increasing yields and of offering opportunities for new structures. The conditions for the formation of 2,3-bis(hydroxyamino)-2,3-dimethylbutane, the key intermediate of Ullman's route, have been carefully studied, and a new procedure is proposed, which affords the free base in a very pure form and up to 60% yield. Full characterization of this intermediate including an X-ray crystal structure is presented. An alternative synthetic route through 2,3-diamino-2,3-dimethylbutane and the corresponding imidazolidines which bypasses the delicate synthesis of the bis(hydroxyamino) compound is described. It is shown that 3-chloroperbenzoic acid is an effective oxidant for the transformation of adequately substituted imidazolidines into nitronyl nitroxides, which are obtained in high yield. An illustration of the potentialities of this new route, a new nitronyl nitroxide with two ethyl substituents in positions 4 and 5 of the imidazoline ring, is reported. The scope and limitations of the two routes are discussed.

Nickel porphyrin nanotweezers.

A strapped chiroporphyrin free base with two 8-methylene chains linking two adjacent meso-substituents was synthesized as the alpha 4 conformer; insertion of Ni(II) triggered a complete conversion to the alpha beta alpha beta complex, and demetallation totally regenerated the strapped free base in the alpha 4 conformation.

Solid-state and solution structure of lanthanide complexes of a new nonadentate tripodal ligand containing phenanthroline binding units.

The new nonadentate tripodal ligand trenphen (tris[(1,10-phenanthroline-2-carboxamido)-ethyl]amine) has been synthesized by condensation of tren [tris(2-aminoethyl)amine] with an excess of 1,10-phenanthroline-2-carboxylic acyl chloride. The ligand trenphen and its lanthanide complexes (Sm, Nd, Eu, Tb, and Lu) have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. Crystals of trenphen.H2O.CH3CN, 1, are monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 14.9923(8) A, b = 17.4451(10) A, c = 17.1880(10) A, beta = 114.8290(10) degrees, V = 4079.9(4) A3, Z = 4. The solid-state crystal structures of the isostructural [Ln(trenphen)](OTf)3.yH2O.xEt2O.zCH3CN (OTf = CF3SO3) (Ln = Nd, y = 0.5, x = 1, z = 3 (2); Ln = Sm, y = 0.5, x = 1, z = 3 (3); Ln = Eu, y = 0.5, z = 3 (4); Ln = Tb, y = 0.5, x = 1, z = 1.5 (5); Ln = Lu, y = 0.5, x = 1, z = 1.5 (6)) (trigonal, P-3, Z = 2) show that the covalent tripod trenphen undergoes a rearrangement in the presence of lanthanide ions yielding three tridentate binding units which encapsulate the nine-coordinated lanthanide ion with a slightly distorted, tricapped, trigonal prismatic coordination geometry. The correlation observed between the decrease of Ln-N distances and the metal ionic radius indicates that trenphen, although containing rigid bidentate phenanthroline units, is sufficiently flexible to self-organize without steric constraints around lanthanide ions of different size. Solution-state NMR studies show that complexes 2-6 exist in acetonitrile solution as discrete rigid C3-symmetric species retaining the triple-helical structure observed in the solid state. NMR and ES-MS titration show the formation of bimetallic and trimetallic species in the presence of an excess of metal, whereas mononuclear bistrenphen complexes are obtained in the presence of an excess of ligand.

An integrated approach to the mid-spin state (S = 3/2) in six-coordinate iron(III) chiroporphyrins.

An intermediate-spin state very close to the mid-spin state (S = 3/2) can be stabilized in a ferric porphyrin by an integrated approach which combines the favorable effects of a weak axial field strength and of a small macrocycle hole. Axial ligand exchange by reaction of chloroiron(III)tetramethylchiroporphyrin [(TMCP)FeCl] with silver perchlorate in ethanol-chloroform leads to ethanol-ligated ferric chiroporphyrins. Two distinct crystalline products containing a bisethanol complex [[(TMCP)FeIII(EtOH)2]ClO4] and three variants of a mixed ethanol-water complex [[(TMCP)FeIII(EtOH)(H2O)]ClO4] have been structurally characterized in the solid state. The small hole of the ruffled chiroporphyrin and the weak axial oxygen ligation result in strongly tetragonally distorted complexes. The six-coordinate species exhibit long axial Fe-O bond distances (2.173(5)-2.272(4) A) and the shortest equatorial Fe-N(av) distances (1.950(5)-1.978(7) A) found as yet in a ferric porphyrin, reflecting a singly occupied dz2 orbital and a largely depopulated dx2-y2 orbital. An intriguing case of bond-stretch isomerism is seen for the axial Fe-O bonds in two crystallographically independent mixed ethanol-water species, and it is accounted for by their distinct intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bond arrays. The Mössbauer spectrum (delta = 0.35(1) mm s-1 and delta EQ = 3.79(1) mm s-1 at 77 K) indicates a strong tetragonal distortion around the ferric ion, in agreement with the structural data. The value of the magnetic moment (mu eff = 3.8 mu B in the range 50-300 K) strongly supports a mid-spin state (S = 3/2). The EPR spectrum at 80 K (g perpendicular approximately 4.0, g parallel approximately 2.00) is consistent with a nearly pure mid-spin state (4A2) with little rhombic distortion. The 1H NMR spectra in CDCl3-EtOH exhibit upfield-shifted resonances for the pyrrole protons (delta approximately -30 ppm) which are consistent with the depopulated iron dx2-y2 orbital. Solution equilibria with water and various alcohols, and the spin state of the corresponding species, are discussed on the basis of the NMR data. The bisethanol and ethanol-water species are potential models of unknown hemoprotein ligation states such as Tyr(OH)/Tyr(OH) or Tyr(OH)/H2O that could be obtained by site-directed mutagenesis.

Synthesis, Structure, and Solution Studies of Cyclohexantriol Complexes of Europium(III).

cis,cis-1,3,5-Trihydroxycyclohexane (L(1)()) and cis,cis-1,2,3-trihydroxycyclohexane (L(2)()) have been considered as ligands for the complexation of europium(III) in organic solvents. Three complexes were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, microanalysis, electrospray mass spectrometry, and proton NMR. Depending on the europium(III)-to-ligand ratio, ML or ML(2) complexes were formed in organic solution. Complexes formed with ligand L(2)() are stable in methanol solution, while those obtained from L(1)() are stable only in nonprotic solvents. This difference is related to the amount of energy involved in the necessary chair-chair conversion prior to complexation of the europium(III) ion. In the solid state the coordination sphere including in each case two L(1)()or L(2 )()molecules( )()as tridentate ligands, is completed by a bidentate nitrate anion and one molecule of water in 1, [Eu(L(1))(2)(NO(3))(H(2)O)](NO(3))(2), two monodentate triflate anions and one molecule of water in 2, [Eu(L(1))(2)(OTf)(2)(H(2)O)](OTf), and a bidentate and a monodentate nitrate anion in 3, [Eu(L(2))(2)(NO(3))(2)](NO(3)). Many strong H bonds are present in the crystalline network with H.O distances between 1.77 and 2.301 Å. Proton NMR studies have shown that a moderate lowering of the temperature is sufficient to observe the different species present in solution, the proportions of which depend on the metal-to-ligand ratio. Conductometric studies have also provided indication about the number of coordinated anion in methanol and acetonitrile solutions.

Crystal structure study of (E)-3-(4-Nitrobenzyloxyimino)hexahydroazepin-2-one using synchrotron radiation.

NOHA, 3-(4-nitrobenzyloxyimino)hexahydroazepin-2-one, is a potent anticonvulsive agent. It occurs in two stereoisomers, the Z and E forms. (E)-NOHA is about 1.5 times more active than (Z)-NOHA. While accurate structural data are available for (Z)-NOHA, those for the E form have remained, until recently, highly speculative due to the lack of single crystals of suitable size for X-ray analysis and to the instability of the E isomer under radiation exposure. For structure-activity correlation purposes, efforts have been made to solve the crystal structure of the E isomer. Data collection from tiny needle crystals has been performed using synchrotron radiation. An initial molecular-packing model of this compound was obtained by energy-based and X-ray data modelling and successfully refined by molecular-dynamics methods: space group P2(1)/c, a = 6.225 (5), b = 17.885 (5), c = 12.157 (5) A, beta = 92.35 (5) degrees , R-factor = 3.5% for 343 reflections. In this contribution the crystal and molecular structure of (E)-NOHA is reported and the role of the hydrogen bond acting as the driving force in the intermolecular assembly in the (E)-NOHA crystal is highlighted.