Synthesis, characterization, and water oxidation by a molecular chromophore-catalyst assembly prepared by atomic layer deposition. The "mummy" strategy.

A new strategy for preparing spatially-controlled, multi-component films consisting of molecular light absorbing chromophores and water oxidation catalysts on high surface area, mesoporous metal oxide surfaces is described. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is used to embed a surface-bound chromophore in a thin layer of inert Al2O3, followed by catalyst binding to the new oxide surface. In a final step, catalyst surface-binding is stabilized by a subsequent ALD overlayer of Al2O3. The ALD assembly procedure bypasses synthetic difficulties arising from the preparation of phosphonic acid derivatized, covalently-linked assemblies. An ALD mummy-based assembly has been used to demonstrate photoelectrochemical dehydrogenation of hydroquinone. Electrocatalytic water oxidation at pH 8.8 is observed over a 2 hour electrolysis period and light-assisted water oxidation over a 6 hour photolysis period with O2 detected with a generator-collector electrode configuration.

Mechanistic implications of proton transfer coupled to electron transfer.

The kinetics of electron transfer for the reactions cis-[Ru(IV)(bpy)2(py)(O)]2+ + H+ + [Os(II)(bpy)3]2+ <==> cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ + [Os(III)(bpy)3]3+ and cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ + H+ + [Os(II)(bpy)3]2+ <==> cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2(py)(H2O)]2+ + [Os(III)(bpy)3]3+ have been studied in both directions by varying the pH from 1 to 8. The kinetics are complex but can be fit to a double "square scheme" involving stepwise electron and proton transfer by including the disproportionation equilibrium, 2cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ <==> (3 x 10(3) M(-1) x s(-1) forward, 2.1 x 10(5) M(-1) x s(-1) reverse) cis-[Ru(IV)(bpy)2(py)(O)]2+ + cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2(py)(H2O)]2+. Electron transfer is outer-sphere and uncoupled from proton transfer. The kinetic study has revealed (1) pH-dependent reactions where the pH dependence arises from the distribution between acid and base forms and not from variations in the driving force; (2) competing pathways involving initial electron transfer or initial proton transfer whose relative importance depends on pH; (3) a significant inhibition to outer-sphere electron transfer for the Ru(IV)=O2+/Ru(III)-OH2+ couple because of the large difference in pK(a) values between Ru(IV)=OH3+ (pK(a) < 0) and Ru(III)-OH2+ (pK(a) > 14); and (4) regions where proton loss from cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2(py)(H2O)]2+ or cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ is rate limiting. The difference in pK(a) values favors more complex pathways such as proton-coupled electron transfer.

Ultrafast excited-state energy migration dynamics in an efficient light-harvesting antenna polymer based on Ru(II) and Os(II) polypyridyl complexes.

A detailed study of the excited state energy migration dynamics that take place within an assembly of Ru(II) and Os(II) polypyridyl complexes linked together through a polymer backbone is presented. The energy migration process is initiated by the photoexcitation of the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition in one of the Ru(II) complexes and terminated by energy transfer to a lower energy Os(II) trap. Energy transfer sensitization of Os(II) can occur in a single step if the excited state is formed adjacent to a trap, or after a series of hops between isoenergetic rutheniums prior to reaching a trap. The dynamics of the energy transfer process are followed by monitoring the growth of Os(II) luminescence at 780 nm. The kinetics of the growth are complex and can be fit by a sum of two exponentials. This kinetic complexity arises both from the presence of a distribution of donor-acceptor distances and the variety of time scales by which Os(II) can be formed. We have augmented the time-resolved experiments with Monte Carlo simulations, which provide insight into the polymer array's structure and at the same time form the basis of a molecular-level description of the energy migration dynamics. The simulations indicate that the most probable Ru-->Os energy transfer time is approximately 400 ps while the time scale for Ru-->Ru hopping is approximately 1-4 ns. The time scale for Ru-->Ru hopping relative to its natural lifetime (1000 ns) suggests that this polymer system could be extended to considerably longer dimensions without an appreciable loss in its overall efficiency.

Redox chemistry of morpholine-based Os(VI)-hydrazido complexes: trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+).

The oxidations of benzyl alcohol, PPh3, and the sulfides (SEt2 and SPh2) (Ph = phenyl and Et = ethyl) by the Os(VI)-hydrazido complex trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+) (tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine and O(CH2)4N(-) = morpholide) have been investigated in CH3CN solution by UV-visible monitoring and product analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For benzyl alcohol and the sulfides, the rate law for the formation of the Os(V)-hydrazido complex, trans-[Os(V)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](+), is first order in both trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+) and reductant, with k(benzyl) (25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C, CH3CN) = (1.80 +/- 0.07) x 10(-4) M(-1) s(-1), k(SEt2) = (1.33 +/- 0.02) x 10(-1) M(-1) s(-1), and k(SPh2) = (1.12 +/- 0.05) x 10(-1) M(-1) s(-1). Reduction of trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+) by PPh3 is rapid and accompanied by isomerization and solvolysis to give the Os(IV)-hydrazido product, cis-[Os(IV)(tpy)(NCCH3)2(NN(CH2)4O)](2+), and OPPh3. This reaction presumably occurs by net double Cl-atom transfer to PPh3 to give Cl2PPh3 that subsequently undergoes hydrolysis by trace H2O to give the final product, OPPh3. In the X-ray crystal structure of the Os(IV)-hydrazido complex, the Os-N-N angle of 130.9(5) degrees and the Os-N bond length of 1.971(7) A are consistent with an Os-N double bond.

Reversible osmium(VI) nitrido to osmium(II) ammine interconversion in complexes containing polypyrazolyl ligands.

This paper describes the 4e-/3H+ interconversion between NH3 and N3-, which is reversible in the coordination spheres of Os complexes containing either tpm (tpm = tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane) or Tp (Tp = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate anion) ligands. Electrochemical or chemical reduction of the nitrido complexes [Os(VI)(tpm)(Cl)2(N)]+ (1) and Os(VI)(Tp)(Cl)2(N) (2) in acidic aqueous solution gives the corresponding Os(II)-ammine complexes, which, after air oxidation and workup, are isolated and structurally characterized as [Os(III)(tpm)(Cl)2(NH3)](PF6) (3) and Os(III)(Tp)(Cl)2(NH3) (4). The Os(III)-ammine complexes are reoxidized electrochemically to the nitrido complexes by stepwise mechanisms involving the loss of both electrons and protons and sequential Os(III-->IV) and Os(IV-->VI) oxidations.

Surface control of oxidation by an adsorbed Ru(IV)-oxo complex.

When adsorbed to optically transparent, thin films of TiO(2) nanoparticles on glass, the aqua complex [Ru(II)(tpy)(bpy(PO(3)H(2))(2))(OH(2))](2+) (bpy(PO(3)H(2))(2) is 2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-diphosphonic acid; tpy is 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) is oxidized by Ce(IV)(NH(4))(2)(NO(3))(6) in 0.1 M HClO(4) to its Ru(IV)=O(2+) form as shown by UV-visible measurements and analysis of oxidative equivalents by oxidation of hydroquinone to quinone. Kinetic studies on the oxidations of cyclohexene, benzyl alcohol, phenol, and trans-stilbene by surface-bound Ru(IV)=O(2+) by UV-visible monitoring reveal direct evidence for initial 2-electron steps to give Ru(II) intermediates in all four cases. These steps are masked in solution where Ru(IV) --> Ru(II) reduction is followed by rapid reactions between Ru(II) intermediates and Ru(IV)=O(2+) to give Ru(III). Reactions between Ru(II) and Ru(IV)=O(2+) on the surface are inhibited by binding to the surface, which restricts translational mobility. Rate constants on the surface and in solution are comparable, pointing to comparable reactivities. The surface experiments give unprecedented insight into oxidation mechanism with important implications for achieving product selectivity in synthesis by limiting oxidation to two electrons.

Redox-induced terpyridyl substitution in the Os(VI)-hydrazido complex, trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NN(CH(2))(4)O)](2+).

Reaction between the Os(VI)-hydrazido complex, trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NN(CH(2))(4)O)](2+) (tpy = 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine and O(CH(2))(4)N(-) = morpholide), and a series of N- or O-bases gives as products the substituted Os(VI)-hydrazido complexes, trans-[Os(VI)(4'-RNtpy)(Cl)(2)(NN(CH(2))(4)O)](2+) or trans-[Os(VI)(4'-ROtpy)(Cl)(2)(NN(CH(2))(4)O)](2+) (RN(-) = anilide (PhNH(-)); S,S-diphenyl sulfilimide (Ph(2)S=N(-)); benzophenone imide (Ph(2)C=N(-)); piperidide ((CH(2))(5)N(-)); morpholide (O(CH(2))(4)N(-)); ethylamide (EtNH(-)); diethylamide (Et(2)N(-)); and tert-butylamide (t-BuNH(-)) and RO(-) = tert-butoxide (t-BuO(-)) and acetate (MeCO(2)(-)). The rate law for the formation of the morpholide-substituted complex is first order in trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NN(CH(2))(4)O)](2+) and second order in morpholine with k(morp)(25 degrees C, CH(3)CN) = (2.15 +/- 0.04) x 10(6) M(-)(2) s(-)(1). Possible mechanisms are proposed for substitution at the 4'-position of the tpy ligand by the added nucleophiles. The key features of the suggested mechanisms are the extraordinary electron withdrawing effect of Os(VI) on tpy and the ability of the metal to undergo intramolecular Os(VI) to Os(IV) electron transfer. These substituted Os(VI)-hydrazido complexes can be electrochemically reduced to the corresponding Os(V), Os(IV), and Os(III) forms. The Os-N bond length of 1.778(4) A and Os-N-N angle of 172.5(4) degrees in trans-[Os(VI)(4'-O(CH(2))(4)Ntpy)(Cl)(2)(NN(CH(2))(4)O)](2+) are consistent with sp-hybridization of the alpha-nitrogen of the hydrazido ligand and an Os-N triple bond. The extensive ring substitution chemistry implied for the Os(VI)-hydrazido complexes is discussed.

Separation of positional isomers of oxidation catalyst precursors.

A series of polypyridyl ruthenium complexes of the general formula [Ru(tpy)(bpy')Cl]+ where tpy is 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine and bpy' is 4-carboxy-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4-CO2H-4'-Mebpy), a proline derviative (4-CO-Pra-(Boc)(OMe)-4'-Mebpy), or 4-((diethoxyphosphinyl)methyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4-CH2PO3Et2-4'-Mebpy) are prepared. For each complex, two isomers exist, and these are separated chromatographically. The structure of the hexafluorophosphate salt of cis-[Ru(tpy)(4-CO2H-4'-Mebpy)Cl]+, cis-1, is determined by X-ray crystallography. The salt crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Cc with a = 12.4778(6) A, b = 12.6086(6) A, c = 20.1215(9) A, beta = 107.08200(1) degrees, Z = 4, R = 0.058, and Rw = 0.072. The structures of the remaining complexes are assigned by 1H NMR comparisons with cis-1. The complexes are potentially important precursors for the incorporation of RuIV=O2+ oxidants into polymers or peptides or for their adsorption onto oxide surfaces. Preliminary electrochemical results for the isomers of [Ru(tpy)(4-CH2PO3H2-4'-Mebpy)(H2O)]2+, 4, adsorbed on ITO (In2O3:Sn) surfaces add support to a recently proposed electron-transfer mechanism involving cross-surface proton-coupled electron transfer.

Formation and Reactivity of the Osmium(IV)-Cyanoimido Complex [Os(IV) (bpy)(Cl)3 (NCN)](-).

Oxo-like reactivity exists for a new series of osmium complexes such as [Os(IV) (bpy)(Cl)3 (NCN)](-) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, see structure) containing the cyanoimido ligand. This ligand is formed directly at the metal center by the reaction of Os(VI) -nitrido precursors with tetraethylammonium cyanide. In the cyanoimido complexes there is an extensive electron-transfer chemistry at the metal center and an extensive functional-group chemistry based on the ligand.

Photophysics of phenyleneethynylene metal-organic oligomers. Probing the lowest excited state by time-resolved IR spectroscopy.

The long-lived excited state in a series of metal-organic phenyleneethynylene oligomers is probed by UV-visible and infrared transient absorption spectroscopy.

Mimicking the antenna-electron transfer properties of photosynthesis.

A molecular assembly based on derivatized polystyrene is described, which mimics both the light-harvesting and energy-conversion steps of photosynthesis. The system is unique in that the two key parts of a photosynthetic system are incorporated in a functional assembly constructed from polypyridine complexes of Ru(II). This system is truly artificial, as none of the components used in construction of the assembly are present in a natural photosynthetic system. Quantitative evaluation of the energy and electron transfer dynamics after transient irradiation by visible light offers important insights into the mechanisms of energy transport and electron transfer that lead to photosynthetic light-to-chemical energy conversion.

Mechanism and molecular-electronic structure correlations in a novel series of osmium(V) hydrazido complexes.

Reaction between the Os(VI) nitrido (OsVI identical to N+) complexes [OsVI(L3)(Cl)2(N)]+ (L3 is 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (tpy) or tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane (tpm)) and secondary amines (HN(CH2)4O = morpholine, HN(CH2)4CH2 = piperidine, and HN(C2H5)2 = diethylamine) gives Os(V)-hydrazido complexes, [OsV(L3)(Cl)2(NNR2)]+ (NR2 = morpholide, piperidide, or diethylamide). They can be chemically or electrochemically oxidized to Os(VI) or reduced to Os(IV) and Os(III). The Os-N bond lengths and Os-N-N angles in the structures of these complexes are used to rationalize the bonding between the dianionic hydrazido ligand and Os. The rate law for formation of the Os(V) hydrazido complexes with morpholine as the base is first order in [OsVI(L3)(Cl)2(N)]+ and second order in HN(CH2)4O with ktpy(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = (581 +/- 12) M-2 s-1 and ktpm(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = 2683 +/- 40 M-2 s-1. The proposed mechanism involves initial nucleophilic attack of the secondary amine on the Os(VI) nitrido group to give a protonated Os(IV)-hydrazido intermediate. It is subsequently deprotonated and then oxidized by OsVI identical to N+ to Os(V). The extensive redox chemistry for these complexes can be explained by invoking a generalized bonding model. It can also be used to assign absorption bands that appear in the electronic from the visible-near-infrared spectra including a series of d pi-->d pi interconfigurational bands at low energy.

Mechanistic control of product selectivity. Reactions between cis-/trans cis-/trans-[OsVI(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ and triphenylphosphine sulfide.

Reactions between the Os(VI)-nitrido complexes cis- and trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ (tpy is 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) and triphenylphosphine sulfide, SPPh3, give the corresponding Os(IV)-phosphoraniminato, [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+, and Os(II)-thionitrosyl, [Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)2(NS)]+, complexes as products. The Os-N bond length and Os-N-P angle in cis-[Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)](PF6) are 2.077(6) A and 138.4(4) degrees. The rate law for formation of cis- and trans-[Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+ is first order in both [Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ and SPPh3 with ktrans(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = 24.6 +/- 0.6 M(-1) s(-1) and kcis(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = 0.84 +/- 0.09 M(-1) s(-1). As found earlier for [Os(II)(tpm)(Cl)2(NS)]+, both cis- and trans-[Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)2(NS)]+ react with PPh3 to give [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+ and SPPh3. For both complexes, the reaction is first order in each reagent with ktrans(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = (6.79 +/- 0.08) x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1) and kcis(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = (2.30 +/- 0.07) x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1). The fact that both reactions occur rules out mechanisms involving S atom transfer. These results can be explained by invoking a common intermediate, [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NSPPh3)]+, which undergoes further reaction with PPh3 to give [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+ and SPPh3 or with [Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ to give [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+ and [Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)2(NS)]+.

One-pot synthesis and characterization of a chromophore--donor--acceptor assembly.

The acid-functionalized tris-heteroleptic chromophore--donor--acceptor assembly [RuII(bpyCOOH)(bpyCH2PTZ)(bpyCH2MV2+)](PF6)4]4+ (1) (bpyCOOH = 4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4-carboxylic acid; bpyCH2PTZ = 10-((4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)methyl)phenothiazine; bpyCH2MV2+ = 1-((4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)methyl)-1'-methyl- 4,4'-bipyridinediium) was synthesized in a one-pot reaction by careful selection of the order of ligand addition to RuCl2(DMSO)4 (DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide). The success of this method was based upon separation and isolation of 1 from mixtures containing ligand-scrambled products by cation exchange chromatography. Metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excitation in acetonitrile at 464 nm was followed by intramolecular electron transfer to give a redox-separated state [RuII(bpyCOOH)(bpyCH2PTZ.+)(bpyCH2MV.+)]4+ with an efficiency of eta RS = 0.35 +/- 0.05.

Step-scan FTIR time-resolved spectroscopy study of excited-state dipole orientation in soluble metallopolymers.

Step-scan FTIR time-resolved spectroscopy (S2FTIR TRS) in acetonitrile-d3 has been used to probe the acceptor ligand in metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states of amide-substituted polypyridyl complexes of RuII and in analogues appended to polystyrene. On the basis of ground-to-excited state shifts in v(C = O) of -31 cm-1 for the amide group in [RuII(bpy)2(bpyCONHEt')]2+ (bpyCONHEt' = 4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine-4-carboxamide-Et'; Et' = -CH2CH2BzCH2CH3) (1) and in the derivatized polystyrene abbreviated [PS-[CH2-CH2NHCObpy-RuII(bpy)2]20]40+ (3), the excited-state dipole is directed toward the amide-containing pyridyl group in the polymer side chain. Smaller shifts in v(C = O) of -17 cm-1 in [RuII(4,4'-(CONEt2)2bpy)2-(bpyCONHEt')]2+ (2) and in the derivatized polystyrene abbreviated [PS-[CH2CH2NHCObpy-RuII(4,4'-(CONEt2)2bpy)2]20]40+ (4) indicate that the excited-state dipole is directed toward one of the diamide bpy ligands. The nearly identical results for 1 and 3 and for 2 and 4 show that the molecular and electronic structures of the monomer excited states are largely retained in the polymer samples. These conclusions about dipole orientation in the polymers are potentially of importance in understanding intrastrand energy transfer dynamics. The excited-state dipole in 3 is oriented in the direction of the covalent link to the polymer backbone, and toward nearest neighbors. In 4, it is oriented away from the backbone.

Electrocatalysis in photochemically activated electropolymerized thin films.

In reductively electropolymerized thin films of poly-cis-[Ru(vbpy)2(py)2](PF6)2 ("vbpy" is 4-methyl-4'-vinyl-2,2'-bipyridine and "py" is pyridine), on glassy carbon electrodes, photochemical ligand loss with aqueous HClO4 in the external solution occurs to give poly-cis-[Ru(vbpy)2(OH2)2](ClO4)2, but the efficiency of ligand loss is greatly decreased compared to the efficiency in solution. In cyclic voltammograms of films containing the aqua complex, there is evidence for both RuIII/II and higher oxidation state RuIV/III, RuV/IV, and RuVI/V couples. The redox chemistry of the resulting films is dictated by the film structure and can be controlled by varying the electropolymerization conditions and external solution composition. The oxidation of alcohols by these higher oxidation state couples has been investigated electrochemically.