Cellulose modified to host functionalities via facile cation exchange approach.

Properties of cellulose are typically functionalized by organic chemistry means. We progress an alternative facile way to functionalize cellulose by functional group counter-cation exchange. While ion-exchange is established for cellulose, it is far from exploited and understood beyond the most common cation, sodium. We build on our work that established the cation exchange for go-to alkali metal cations. We expand and further demonstrate the introduction of functional cations, namely, lanthanides. We show that cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) carrying sulfate-half ester groups can acquire properties through the counter-cation exchange. Trivalent lanthanide cations europium (Eu3+), dysprosium (Dy3+) and gadolinium (Gd3+) were employed. The respective ions showed distinct differences in their ability of being coordinated by the sulfate groups; with Eu3+ fully saturating the sulfate groups while for Gd3+ and Dy3+, values of 82 and 41 % were determined by compositional analysis. CNCs functionalized with Eu3+ displayed red emission, those containing Dy3+ exhibited no optical functionality, while those with Gd3+ revealed significantly altered magnetic relaxation times. Using cation exchange to alter cellulose properties in various ways is a tremendous opportunity for modification of the abundant cellulose raw materials for a renewable future.

Controlled Ring Opening of a Tetracyclic Tetraphosphane with Twofold Metallocene Bridging.

A direct route to a doubly ferrocene bridged tetracyclic tetraphosphane 1 was developed via reductive coupling of Fe(CpPCl2)2 (2 a), where a chlorine terminated linear P4-compound 3 could be identified as an intermediate. Selective P-P bond activation was further achieved by reacting 1 with elemental selenium or [Cp*Al]4, where regioselective insertion of Se or Al atoms resulted in ferrocenylene bridged [P4Se] (4) or [P4Al] (7) moieties. Compound 7 can be transformed to a hydrogen terminated linear P4 species, 8, with protic solvents. Methylation of compound 1 with MeOTf, proceeds via intermediate formation of monomethylated species 5, which gradually produced Me2-terminated dicationic 6, again containing a linear P4-unit. Besides spectroscopic characterization, the structural details of compounds 1, 4, 6, and 8 could be determined by SC-XRD. Moreover, DFT calculations were used to rationalize the reactivity of 1, derived compounds and intermediates. As a key feature, 1 undergoes ring opening polymerization to a linear polyphosphane 9.

Gradual Coordination and Reversible P-P Bond Activation of a P3 -Unit with Transition Metal Carbonyls.

Coordination of a stereochemically defined P3 -chain to a series of transition metal carbonyls [M(CO)x ]z- (M = Mn (x = 5, z = 1), Fe (x = 4, z = 2) or Co (x = 4, z = 1)) is explored using a [3]ferrocenophane scaffold. A gradual transition from η1 -, η2 - to Î·3 -coordination is observed where in the η2 -mode the terminal positions of the phosphorus chain are bridged. With an excess of cobalt carbonyl successive P-P bond activation and gradual separation of the central phosphorus atoms from the phosphorus chain has been observed. This process is reversible and with suitable reagents such as methyl lithium, the P3 -unit is regenerated in stereospecific manner. The bonding situation and steps of the gradual P-P bond activation are investigated by DFT calculations as well as experimental methods (e.g., NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography).

At the limits of bisphosphonio-substituted stannylenes.

Donor stabilization of Sn(II) and Pb(II) halides with 1,1'-ferrocenylene bridged bisphosphanes has been explored for Fe(C5 H4 P(C6 H5 )2 )2 (dppf), and Fe(C5 H4 PH(C4 H9 ))2 . These bisphosphanes are reacted with SnBr2 and PbCl2 with and without additional Lewis acid (AlCl3 ) forming acyclic and cyclic donor adducts from which the latter represent bisphosphoniotetrylenes. Since dynamic exchange in solution is observed, characterization includes solution and solid-state NMR in addition to SC-XRD, amended by DFT calculations.

A General Strategy for Increasing the Air Stability of Phosphines Including Primary Phosphines.

A general approach for increasing the air-stability of various primary phosphines in the absence of kinetic stabilization is presented that contrasts with previous interpretations, which were limited to specific phosphines. This contribution shows the synthesis of a series of air-stable primary phosphines Fc(CH2 )n PH2 , where n=0,1,2,3; and Fc=ferrocenyl, and their corresponding isolable primary phosphine oxides. It was demonstrated that the ferrocene moiety exerts an antioxidant effect on the primary phosphine group, which is intermolecular, solvent dependent and increases with the electron density on the ferrocene moiety. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the presence of ferrocene in solution also inhibits the oxidation of other secondary and tertiary phosphines in air. Together our findings suggest that quenching of singlet oxygen is the actual reason for the antioxidant effect; this was experimentally confirmed by using other established singlet oxygen quenchers, thus demonstrating a key role of singlet oxygen in the aerobic oxidation of phosphines.

Reduction Behavior of Anisyl-substituted P-Ferrocenyl Phospholes.

P-Ferrocenylphospholes with differing substituents in α-position have been synthesized and their identity and purity was confirmed using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, MS, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the redox properties have been explored with electrochemical measurements. Transferring the reduction to a preparative scale using lithium leads to reductive P-C bond cleavage furnishing the corresponding phospholide which has been transformed to P-tert-butyl substituted phosphole. In addition to phospholide formation reductive demethoxylation with transformation of the anisyl substituent to its phenyl analog was observed. For comparison analogous reactions have been explored for the respective P-phenylphospholes which show a different reactivity.

Electrochemistry and Stability of 1,1'-Ferrocene-Bisphosphonates.

Here, we investigate the electrochemical properties and stability of 1,1'-ferrocene-bisphosphonates in aqueous solutions. 31P NMR spectroscopy enables to track decomposition at extreme pH conditions revealing partial disintegration of the ferrocene core in air and under an argon atmosphere. ESI-MS indicates the decomposition pathways to be different in aqueous H3PO4, phosphate buffer, or NaOH solutions. Cyclovoltammetry exhibits completely reversible redox chemistry of the evaluated bisphosphonates, sodium 1,1'-ferrocene-bis(phosphonate) (3) and sodium 1,1'-ferrocene-bis(methylphosphonate) (8), from pH 1.2 to pH 13. Both the compounds feature freely diffusing species as determined using the Randles-Sevcik analysis. The activation barriers determined by rotating disk electrode measurements revealed asymmetry for oxidation and reduction. The compounds are tested in a hybrid flow battery using anthraquinone-2-sulfonate as the counterside, yielding only moderate performance.

Observation of a Long-lived Electronic Coherence Modulated by Vibrational Dynamics in Molecular Nd3+ -Complexes at Room Temperature.

Temporally delayed, phase-locked coherent pairs of near IR femtosecond laser pulses were employed to study electronic coherences in molecular Nd3+ -complexes at room temperature. Dissolved and solid complexes were studied under a confocal microscope set-up with fluorescence detection. The observed electronic coherence on a few hundred femtoseconds time scale is modulated by additional coherent wave packet dynamics, which we attribute mainly to be vibrational in nature. In future, the complexes may serve as prototypes for possible applications in quantum information technology.

Gradual Donor Stabilization of a Transient Ferrocene Bridged Bisphosphanyl Phosphenium Cation.

A transient phosphenium cation embedded into a [3]ferrocenophane scaffold was formed via chloride abstraction. The cation has been trapped with phosphane, carbene, and silylene donors resulting in stable adducts or bond activation of the ferrocenophane bridge. In the absence of donors, dimerization of the phosphenium cation to the corresponding dication is observed or P-C bond activation with migration of a substituent leading to a putative phosphoniodiphosphene. Using 1,3-di-tert-butylimidazol-2-silylene as the donor, further reaction of the initially formed chlorosilane leads to activation of a P-P bond of the ferrocenophane scaffold with ring expansion of the ansa-bridge. The donor formation and bonding situation are investigated by density functional theory calculations as well as experimental methods (e.g., NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography).

Asymmetrically Substituted Phospholes as Ligands for Coinage Metal Complexes.

A series of coinage metal complexes asymmetrically substituted 2,5-diaryl phosphole ligands is reported. Structure, identity, and purity of all obtained complexes were corroborated with state-of-the-art techniques (multinuclear NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction) in solution and solid state. All complexes obtained feature luminescence in solution as well as in the solid state. Additionally, DOSY-MW NMR estimation experiments were performed to achieve information about the aggregation behavior of the complexes in solution allowing a direct comparison with their structures observed in the solid state.

A localized view on molecular dissociation via electron-ion partial covariance.

Inner-shell photoelectron spectroscopy provides an element-specific probe of molecular structure, as core-electron binding energies are sensitive to the chemical environment. Short-wavelength femtosecond light sources, such as Free-Electron Lasers (FELs), even enable time-resolved site-specific investigations of molecular photochemistry. Here, we study the ultraviolet photodissociation of the prototypical chiral molecule 1-iodo-2-methylbutane, probed by extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pulses from the Free-electron LASer in Hamburg (FLASH) through the ultrafast evolution of the iodine 4d binding energy. Methodologically, we employ electron-ion partial covariance imaging as a technique to isolate otherwise elusive features in a two-dimensional photoelectron spectrum arising from different photofragmentation pathways. The experimental and theoretical results for the time-resolved electron spectra of the 4d3/2 and 4d5/2 atomic and molecular levels that are disentangled by this method provide a key step towards studying structural and chemical changes from a specific spectator site.

Luminescent Properties of Phosphonate Ester-Supported Neodymium(III) Nitrate and Chloride Complexes.

This study examines the synthesis of two geminal bisphosphonate ester-supported Ln3+ complexes [Ln(L3)2(NO3)3] (Ln = Nd3+ (5), La3+ (6)) and optical properties of the neodymium(III) complex. These results are compared to known mono-phosphonate ester-based Nd3+ complexes [Nd(L1/L2)3X3]n (X = NO3-, n = 1; Cl-, n = 2) (1-4). The optical properties of Nd3+ compounds are determined by micro-photoluminescence (µ-PL) spectroscopy which reveals three characteristic metal-centered emission bands in the NIR region related to transitions from 4F3/2 excited state. Additionally, two emission bands from 4F5/2, 2H9/2 → 4IJ (J = 11/2, 13/2) transitions were observed. PL spectroscopy of equimolar complex solutions in dry dichloromethane (DCM) revealed remarkably higher emission intensity of the mono-phosphonate ester-based complexes in comparison to their bisphosphonate ester congener. The temperature-dependent PL measurements enable assignment of the emission lines of the 4F3/2 → 4I9/2 transition. Furthermore, low-temperature polarization-dependent measurements of the transitions from R1 and R2 Stark sublevel of 4F3/2 state to the 4I9/2 state for crystals of [Nd(L3)2(NO3)3] (5) are discussed.

Trifunctional Silyl Groups as Anchoring Units in the Preparation of Luminescent Phosphole-Silica Hybrids.

A synthetic strategy to ß-silylphospholes with three methoxy, ethoxy, chloro, hydrido, or phenyl substituents at silicon has been developed, starting from trimethoxy, triethoxy, or triphenyl silyl substituted phenyl phosphanides and 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiyne. These trifunctional silylphospholes were attached to the surface of uniform spheric silica particles (15 µm) and, for comparison, to a polyhedral silsesquioxane (POSS)-trisilanol as a molecular model to explore their luminescent properties in comparison with the free phospholes. Density functional theory calculations were performed to investigate any electronic perturbation of the phosphole system by the trifunctional silyl anchoring unit. For the immobilized phospholes, cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning NMR measurements (13C, 29Si, and 31P) were carried out to explore the bonding situation to the silica surface. Thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements were performed to approximate the amount of phospholes covering the silica surface. Identity and purity of all novel phospholes have been established with standard techniques (multinuclear NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis) and X-ray diffraction for the POSS derivative.

Photoelectron circular dichroism of O 1s-photoelectrons of uniaxially oriented trifluoromethyloxirane: energy dependence and sensitivity to molecular configuration.

The photoelectron circular dichroism (PECD) of the O 1s-photoelectrons of trifluoromethyloxirane (TFMOx) is studied experimentally and theoretically for different photoelectron kinetic energies. The experiments were performed employing circularly polarized synchrotron radiation and coincident electron and fragment ion detection using cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy. The corresponding calculations were performed by means of the single center method within the relaxed-core Hartree-Fock approximation. We concentrate on the energy dependence of the differential PECD of uniaxially oriented TFMOx molecules, which is accessible through the employed coincident detection. We also compare the results for the differential PECD of TFMOx to those obtained for the equivalent fragmentation channel and similar photoelectron kinetic energy of methyloxirane (MOx), studied in our previous work. Thereby, we investigate the influence of the substitution of the methyl group by the trifluoromethyl group at the chiral center on the molecular chiral response. Finally, the presently obtained angular distribution parameters are compared to those available in the literature.

Phosphetes via Transition Metal Free Ring Closure - Taking the Proper Turn at a Thermodynamic Crossing.

A transition metal free route to phosphetes featuring an exocyclic alkene unit is presented. In this approach phosphanides are added to a variety of diynes generating phosphaallylic intermediates which depending on the reaction conditions transform either to phosphetes or the corresponding phospholes. Investigation of the reaction mechanism by combined quantum chemical and experimental means identifies phosphole formation as thermodynamically controlled reaction path, whereas kinetic control furnishes the corresponding phosphetes. Structural and luminescence properties of the rare class of phosphetes are explored, as well as for selected key intermediates.

C2-Symmetric P-Stereogenic Ferrocene Ligands with Heavier Chalcogenophosphinous Acid Ester Donor Sites.

tert-Butyl-substituted diphospha[2]ferrocenophane was used as a stereochemically confined diphosphane to investigate the addition of various dichalcoganes (R2Ch2; Ch = S, Se, Te and R = Me, Ph). Bischalcogenophosphinous acid esters bearing four soft donor sides were obtained as a mixture of rac and meso diastereomers and characterized by means of multinuclear NMR and X-ray analysis. The coordination chemistry of multidentate ligand 3b was explored toward d10 coinage metal centers (Cu(I), Ag(I), and Au(I)), yielding various bimetallic complexes.

Azido-Functionalized Aromatic Phosphonate Esters in RPOSS-Cage-Supported Lanthanide Ion (Ln = La, Nd, Dy, Er) Coordination.

Within this work, a modified preparation of diethyl 4-azidobenzylphosphonate (L1) is presented and the family of 4- or 4'-azido-substituted aromatic phosphonate esters is increased by three new ligand platforms: diisopropyl 4-azidobenzylphosphonate (L2), diisopropyl ((4'-azido-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)methyl)phosphonate (L3), and diisopropyl 4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzylphosphonate (L4), which exhibit an anomalous splitting of the N3 stretching vibrations. Subsequent coordination to the in situ generated RPOSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane)-cage-supported lanthanide precursors [(Ln{RPOSS})2(THF)m] (P1-P6) (Ln = La, Nd, Dy, Er; R = iBu, Ph; m = 0, 1) yields complexes of the general formula [Ln{RPOSS}(L1-L4)n(S1)x(THF)m] (1-30) (n = 2, 3; x = 0, 1; m = 0-2) retaining the azide unit for future semiconductor surface immobilization. Because the latter compounds are mostly oils or viscous waxes, preliminary solution-state structure elucidations via DOSY-ECC-MW estimations have been carried out which are in accordance with 1H NMR integral ratios as well as solid-state structures, where available. Moreover, the optical properties of the Nd, Dy, and Er derivatives of complexes 1-30 are examined in the visible and NIR spectral regions, where applicable.

Chalcogen-Transfer Rearrangement: Exploring Inter- versus Intramolecular P-P Bond Activation.

tert-Butyl-substituted diphospha[2]ferrocenophane has been used as a stereochemically confined diphosphane to explore the addition of O, S, Se and Te. Although the diphosphanylchalcogane has been obtained for tellurium, all other chalcogens give diphosphane monochalcogenides. The latter transform via chalcogen-transfer rearrangement to the corresponding diphosphanylchalcoganes upon heating. The kinetics of this rearrangement has been followed with NMR spectroscopy supported by DFT calculations. Intermediates during rearrangement point to a disproportionation/synproportionation mechanism for the S and Se derivatives. Cyclic voltammetry together with DFT studies indicate ferrocene-centred oxidation for most of the compounds presented.

Chalcogen-Transfer Rearrangement: Exploring Inter- versus Intramolecular P-P Bond Activation.

Invited for the cover of this issue are Rudolf Pietschnig and co-workers at the University of Kassel and Zsolt Kelemen at Budapest University of Technology and Economics. The image depicts Selene, the goddess of the moon in ancient Greek mythology, and the cycle of chalcogen-transfer rearrangement in the starry sky over the hills of the mountainous region of the northern shore of Lake Balaton (Mts. Badacsony and Gulács) in Hungary. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202002481.

Functionalised phosphonate ester supported lanthanide (Ln = La, Nd, Dy, Er) complexes.

A series of phosphonate ester supported lanthanide complexes bearing functionalities for subsequent immobilisation on semiconductor surfaces are prepared. Six phosphonate ester ligands (L1-L6) with varying aromatic residues are synthesised. Subsequent complexation with lanthanide chloride or -nitrate precursors (Ln = La, Nd, Dy, Er) affords the corresponding mono- or dimeric lanthanide model complexes [LnX3(L1-L3 or L5-L6)3]n (X = NO3, Cl; n = 1 (Nd, Dy, Er), 2 (La, Nd)) or [LnCl2Br(L4-Br)2(L4-Cl)]n (n = 1 (Nd, Dy, Er), 2 (La, Nd)) (1-32). All compounds are thoroughly characterised, and their luminescence properties are investigated in the visible and NIR spectral regions, where applicable.