Structure, morphology and interface properties of ultrathin SnTTBPP(OH)2-films adsorbed on Ag(100).

The molecular interaction of dihydroxo[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-tert-butyl-phenyl)porphyrinato]-tin(IV) (SnTTBPP(OH)(2)), the structural order and growth of ultrathin films on Ag(100) have been studied by means of low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and synchrotron based photoelectron spectroscopy, i.e., X-ray photoemission (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS/XANES) spectroscopy. For the first time, monolayer adsorption of a metalloporphyrin with octahedral coordination of the metal center by two additional axial hydroxo ligands is investigated in a multi-technique study. The delicate balance of molecule-substrate interactions and intermolecular interactions leads to the formation of a densely-packed organic monolayer which is commensurate with the Ag(100) substrate. From NEXAFS linear dichroism an almost coplanar orientation of the porphyrin system is derived. XPS and NEXAFS clearly indicate that the axial hydroxo ligands are cleaved in monolayer films, i.e., upon adsorption to the Ag substrate. With increasing film thickness orientational order gets lost and leads to polycrystalline growth for thicker films as confirmed by scanning X-ray transmission microscopy (STXM).

Investigation of chromophore-chromophore interaction by electro-optic measurements, linear dichroism, x-ray scattering, and density-functional calculations.

Free-beam interferometry and angle-resolved absorption spectra are used to investigate the linear electro-optic coefficients and the linear dichroism in photoaddressable bis-azo copolymer thin films. From the first- and second order parameters deduced, the chromophore orientation distribution is calculated and displayed for several poling temperatures and chromophore concentrations. The influence of dipole-dipole interaction on the overall polymer dynamics is discussed. The first order parameter, and therefore the Pockels effect, peaks for a poling temperature of around 10 degrees C above the glass transition. The decrease of the Pockels effect above this temperature region is triggered by a head-to-tail chromophore orientation, i.e., a transition to a microcrystalline phase, increasing the second order parameter. Comparison of the experimentally observed absorption spectra and those obtained by density-functional calculations support the picture of differently aligned bis-azo dye molecules in a trans,trans configuration. Complementary wide-angle x-ray scattering is recorded to confirm the various kinds of ordering in samples poled at different temperatures.

Polymer-supported carbene complexes of palladium: well-defined, air-stable, recyclable catalysts for the Heck reaction

N-Heterocyclic dicarbene chelate complexes of formula [cis-CH2N(H)C=C(H)N(R)C2PdX2] (X = Br, I; R = (CH2)nOH; n = 2, 3) have been prepared and structurally characterized (for X= I, n = 2). The complexes were immobilized on a functionalized polystyrene support (Wang resin) through one of the oxygen centres. The complexes efficiently catalyze the Heck reaction of activated and non-activated arylbromides, are recyclable under aerobic conditions and exhibit hardly any leaching, which is in line with our theoretical investigations on ligand dissociation energies related to Pd0 and PdII centres.

Highly Active Ruthenium Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis: The Synergy of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes and Coordinatively Labile Ligands.

Two N-heterocyclic carbene ligands at once may be one too many, at least if you intend to have highly active ruthenium catalysts for olefin metathesis. Density functional calculations recommend the replacement of the second carbene ligand in the successful ROMP catalysts 1 by coordinatively more labile ligands as in 2 or 3. In both cases, the catalytic activity is greatly improved.