Functionalized NU-1000 with an Iridium Organometallic Fragment: SO2 Capture Enhancement.

A new material, MOF-type [Ir]@NU-1000, was accessed from the incorporation of the iridium organometallic fragment [Ir{κ3(P,Si,Si)PhP(o-C6H4CH2SiiPr2)2}] into NU-1000. The new material incorporates less than 1 wt % of Ir(III) (molar ratio Ir to NU-1000, 1:11), but the heat of adsorption for SO2 is significantly enhanced with respect to that of NU-1000. Being a highly promising adsorbent for SO2 capture, [Ir]@NU-1000 combines exceptional SO2 uptake at room temperature and outstanding cyclability. Additionally, it is stable and can be regenerated after SO2 desorption at low temperature.

On the incompatibility of lithium-O2 battery technology with CO2.

When solubilized in a hexacarboxamide cryptand anion receptor, the peroxide dianion reacts rapidly with CO2 in polar aprotic organic media to produce hydroperoxycarbonate (HOOCO2-) and peroxydicarbonate (-O2COOCO2-). Peroxydicarbonate is subject to thermal fragmentation into two equivalents of the highly reactive carbonate radical anion, which promotes hydrogen atom abstraction reactions responsible for the oxidative degradation of organic solvents. The activation and conversion of the peroxide dianion by CO2 is general. Exposure of solid lithium peroxide (Li2O2) to CO2 in polar aprotic organic media results in aggressive oxidation. These findings indicate that CO2 must not be introduced in conditions relevant to typical lithium-O2 cell configurations, as production of HOOCO2- and -O2COOCO2- during lithium-O2 cell cycling will lead to cell degradation via oxidation of organic electrolytes and other vulnerable cell components.

Anion-Receptor Mediated Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide to Carbonate by Peroxide Dianion.

The reactivity of peroxide dianion O2(2-) has been scarcely explored in organic media due to the lack of soluble sources of this reduced oxygen species. We now report the finding that the encapsulated peroxide cryptate, [O2⊂mBDCA-5t-H6](2-) (1), reacts with carbon monoxide in organic solvents at 40 °C to cleanly form an encapsulated carbonate. Characterization of the resulting hexacarboxamide carbonate cryptate by single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that carbonate dianion forms nine complementary hydrogen bonds with the hexacarboxamide cryptand, [CO3⊂mBDCA-5t-H6](2-) (2), a conclusion that is supported by spectroscopic data. Labeling studies and (17)O solid-state NMR data confirm that two-thirds of the oxygen atoms in the encapsulated carbonate derive from peroxide dianion, while the carbon is derived from CO. Further evidence for the formation of a carbonate cryptate was obtained by three methods of independent synthesis: treatment of (i) free cryptand with K2CO3; (ii) monodeprotonated cryptand with PPN[HCO3]; and (iii) free cryptand with TBA[OH] and atmospheric CO2. This work demonstrates CO oxidation mediated by a hydrogen-bonding anion receptor, constituting an alternative to transition-metal catalysis.

Ultrafast Photoinduced Electron Transfer from Peroxide Dianion.

The encapsulation of peroxide dianion by hexacarboxamide cryptand provides a platform for the study of electron transfer of isolated peroxide anion. Photoinitiated electron transfer (ET) between freely diffusing Ru(bpy)3(2+) and the peroxide dianion occurs with a rate constant of 2.0 × 10(10) M(-1) s(-1). A competing electron transfer quenching pathway is observed within an ion pair. Picosecond transient spectroscopy furnishes a rate constant of 1.1 × 10(10) s(-1) for this first-order process. A driving force dependence for the ET rate within the ion pair using a series of Ru(bpy)3(2+) derivatives allows for the electronic coupling and reorganization energies to be assessed. The ET reaction is nonadiabatic and dominated by a large inner-sphere reorganization energy, in accordance with that expected for the change in bond distance accompanying the conversion of peroxide dianion to superoxide anion.

Electron-transfer studies of a peroxide dianion.

A peroxide dianion (O2(2-)) can be isolated within the cavity of hexacarboxamide cryptand, [(O2)⊂mBDCA-5t-H6](2-), stabilized by hydrogen bonding but otherwise free of proton or metal-ion association. This feature has allowed the electron-transfer (ET) kinetics of isolated peroxide to be examined chemically and electrochemically. The ET of [(O2)⊂mBDCA-5t-H6](2-) with a series of seven quinones, with reduction potentials spanning 1 V, has been examined by stopped-flow spectroscopy. The kinetics of the homogeneous ET reaction has been correlated to heterogeneous ET kinetics as measured electrochemically to provide a unified description of ET between the Butler-Volmer and Marcus models. The chemical and electrochemical oxidation kinetics together indicate that the oxidative ET of O2(2-) occurs by an outer-sphere mechanism that exhibits significant nonadiabatic character, suggesting that the highest occupied molecular orbital of O2(2-) within the cryptand is sterically shielded from the oxidizing species. An understanding of the ET chemistry of a free peroxide dianion will be useful in studies of metal-air batteries and the use of [(O2)⊂mBDCA-5t-H6](2-) as a chemical reagent.

Experimental and computational studies on the formation of cyanate from early metal terminal nitrido ligands and carbon monoxide.

An important challenge in the artificial fixation of N2 is to find atom efficient transformations that yield value-added products. Here we explore the coordination complex mediated conversion of ubiquitous species, CO and N2, into isocyanate. We have conceptually split the process into three steps: (1) the six-electron splitting of dinitrogen into terminal metal nitrido ligands, (2) the reduction of the complex by two electrons with CO to form an isocyanate linkage, and (3) the one electron reduction of the metal isocyanate complex to regenerate the starting metal complex and release the product. These steps are explored separately in an attempt to understand the limitations of each step and what is required of a coordination complex in order to facilitate a catalytic cycle. The possibility of this cyanate cycle was explored with both Mo and V complexes which have previously been shown to perform select steps in the sequence. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of some of the steps and DFT calculations suggest that, although the reduction of the terminal metal nitride complex by carbon monoxide should be thermodynamically favorable, there is a large kinetic barrier associated with the change in spin state which can be avoided in the case of the V complexes by an initial binding of the CO to the metal center followed by rearrangement. This mandates certain minimal design principles for the metal complex: the metal center should be sterically accessible for CO binding and the ligands should not readily succumb to CO insertion reactions.

A porous Sm(III) coordination nanotube with hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels.

The π-π stacking interactions between tptz units from adjacent Sm(tptz)(HCOO)(3) coordination nanotubes leads to additional 1D channels (tptz = 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine). The present compound is a rare case of a tubular porous material with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels. Permanent porosity was confirmed by N(2) adsorption isotherms.

Reversible reduction of oxygen to peroxide facilitated by molecular recognition.

Generation of soluble sources of peroxide dianion (O(2)(2-)) is a challenge in dioxygen chemistry. The oxidizing nature of this anion renders its stabilization in organic media difficult. This Report describes the chemically reversible reduction of oxygen (O(2)) to cryptand-encapsulated O(2)(2-). The dianion is stabilized by strong hydrogen bonds to N-H groups from the hexacarboxamide cryptand. Analogous stabilization of peroxide by hydrogen bonding has been invoked recently in crystalline saccharide and protein systems. The present peroxide adducts are stable at room temperature in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N,N'-dimethylformamide (DMF). These adducts can be obtained in gram quantities from the cryptand-driven disproportionation reaction of potassium superoxide (KO(2)) at room temperature.

A homologous heterospin series of mononuclear lanthanide/TCNQF(4) organic radical complexes.

Reactions between trivalent rare earth ions (M(III) = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er and Yb) and the radical anion of 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQF(4)) produce a family of mononuclear complexes {M[(TCNQF(4))](2)[H(2)O](x)}.(TCNQF(4))(3H(2)O), x = 6, 7. The cationic complex {M(III)([TCNQF(4)](-) )(2)[H(2)O](x)}(+) cocrystallizes with one [TCNQF(4)](-) radical anion and three water molecules. One of the coordinated [TCNQF(4)](-) radicals is involved in pi-pi stacking interactions with the uncoordinated [TCNQF(4)](-) radicals which leads to the antiferromagnetic coupling for these ((TCNQF(4))(2))(2-)pi-dimers. The second coordinated [TCNQF(4)](-) remains as a radical ligand and is not involved in pi-pi interactions. Magnetic studies indicate that the Sm compound magnetically orders at 4.4 K and that a fraction of the Gd and Dy samples undergo magnetic ordering at 3.7 K and 4.3 K respectively due to partial dehydration (loss of interstitial water molecules). Diamagnetic metal ions were used to generate magnetically dilute Gd, and Dy compounds that do not exhibit any signs of magnetic ordering.

Heterospin single-molecule magnets based on terbium ions and TCNQF(4) radicals: interplay between single-molecule magnet and phonon bottleneck phenomena investigated by dilution studies.

A series of isostructural compounds with formula [M(TCNQF(4))(2)(H(2)O)(6)]TCNQF(4)3 H(2)O (M=Tb (1), Y (2), Y:Tb (74:26) (3), and Y:Tb (97:3) (4); TCNQF(4)= tetrafluorotetracyanoquinodimethane) were prepared and their magnetic properties investigated. Compounds 1, 3, and 4 show the beginning of a frequency-dependent out-of-phase ac signal, and decreasing intensity of the signal with decreased concentration of Tb(III) ions in the diluted samples is observed. No out-of-phase signal was observed for 2, an indication that the behavior of 1, 3, and 4 is indicative of slow paramagnetic relaxation of Tb(III) ions in the samples. A more detailed micro-SQUID study at low temperature revealed an interplay between single-molecule magnetic (SMM) behavior and a phonon bottleneck (PB) effect, and that these properties depend on the concentration of diamagnetic yttrium ions. A combination of SMM and PB phenomena was found for 1, whereby the PB effect increases with increasing dilution until eventually a pure PB effect is observed for 2. The PB behavior is interpreted as being due to the presence of a "sea of organic S=1/2 radicals" from the TCNQF(4) radicals in these compounds. The present data underscore the fact that the presence of an out-of-phase ac signal may not, in fact, be caused by SMM behavior, particularly when magnetic metal ions are combined with organic radical ligands such as those found in the organocyanide family.

A ladder based on paddlewheel diruthenium(II, II) rails connected by TCNQ rungs: a polymorph of the hexagonal 2-D network phase.

The slow diffusion reaction of [Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4)(THF)(2)] with TCNQ in CH(2)Cl(2)/4-chlorotoluene, respectively, leads to the formation of ladder chain composed of [Ru(2)] rails and TCNQ rungs in a 2 : 1 ratio.

Conversion of a porous material based on a Mn(II)-TCNQF(4) honeycomb net to a molecular magnet upon desolvation.

Removal of methanol molecules from the interstices of a metal-organic framework based on a 2-D hexagonal Mn(II)-TCNQF(4) net results in stronger magnetic interactions and leads to a glassy magnetically ordered state; the magnetic behavior can be reversibly cycled upon solvation-desolvation of the material.

Single-crystal to single-crystal phase transitions of bis(N-phenylisonicotinamide)silver(I) nitrate reveal cooperativity properties in porous molecular materials.

Two single-crystal to single-crystal phase transitions in trans-[Ag(NPI)(2)](NO(3)).2CH(3)OH (), (NPI = N-phenylisonicotinamide) were characterized with X-ray crystallography; the first transition is reversible and arises from a desolvation transition induced by vacuum and generated ; the second transition was induced by heat at 140 degrees C and generated .

Lanthanide-3d cyanometalate chains Ln(III)-M(III) (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb; M=Fe) with the tridentate ligand 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz): evidence of ferromagnetic interactions for the Sm(III)-M(III) compounds (M=Fe, Cr).

A series of cyanide-bridged chain mixed Fe(III)/Ln(III) (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb) complexes with the tridentate ligand 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz) used as a capping group has been prepared. Reactions of tptz and LnCl3 with K3Fe(CN)6 yield a family of air-stable 1-D compounds {[Pr(tptz)(H2O)4Fe(CN)6].8H2O}infinity, {[Nd(tptz)(H2O)4Fe(CN)6].8H2O}infinity, {[Sm(tptz)(H2O)4Fe(CN)6].8H2O}, {[Eu(tptz)(H2O)4Fe(CN)6].6H2O}infinity, {[Gd(tptz)(H2O)4Fe(CN)6].6H2O}infinity, and {[Tb(tptz)(H2O)4Fe(CN)6].8H2O}infinity. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility studies of reveal that in , the Sm(III) and Fe(III) ions are ferromagnetically coupled with 3-D ordering occurring below 3.5 K. The appearance of the frequency dependent out-of-phase signal is explained in terms of an ordering with a spin glass-like behavior. To compare the magnetic behavior of with related compounds, {[Sm(tptz)(H2O)4Co(CN)6].8H2O}infinity and {[La(tptz)(DMF)(H2O)3Fe(CN)6].5H2O}infinity, {[Sm(tmphen)(DMF)3(H2O)Fe(CN)6].2H2O}infinity, {[Sm(tmphen)2(H2O)2Fe(CN)6].MeOH.13H2O}infinity and {[Sm(tmphen)2(H2O)2Cr(CN)6].MeOH.9H2O}infinity with 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (tmphen) were also prepared.

Structure and magnetic properties of a hydroxo-bridged copper(II) distorted cubane stabilized via supramolecular hydrogen bonding with an ionic hexafluoroacetylacetonate.

Tetranuclear [Cu(II)4(OH)4(aib)4)](hfac)4 (1; aib = 2-methyl-2-amino-4-iminopentane; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) forms from the reaction of aqueous ammonia and Cu(hfac)2.2H2O in acetone. The structure of 1 reveals that four noncoordinating hfac- counterions stabilize the distorted cubane complex via multiple H-bonding contacts. Magnetic susceptibility studies reveal that cubane-like 1 is best described as a pair of independent antiferromagnetically coupled dimers with g = 2.10 and J/kB = -298 K (207 cm(-1)) (H = -2JS1.S2).