Nanoscale analysis of frozen honey by atom probe tomography.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of the analysed volume is one of the main goals of atom probe tomography (APT) and can deliver nearly atomic resolution (~ 0.2 nm spatial resolution) and chemical information with a mass sensitivity down to the ppm range. Extending this technique to frozen biological systems would have an enormous impact on the structural analysis of biomolecules. In previous works, we have shown that it is possible to measure frozen liquids with APT. In this paper, we demonstrate the ability of APT to trace nanoscale precipitation in frozen natural honey. While the mass signals of the common sugar fragments CxHy and CxOyHz overlap with (H2O)nH from water, we achieved correct stoichiometric values via different interpretation approaches for the peaks and thus determined the water content reliably. Next, we use honey to investigate the spatial resolution capabilities as a step toward the measurement of biological molecules in solution in 3D with sub-nanometer resolution. This may take analytical techniques to a new level, since methods of chemical characterization for cryogenic samples, especially biological samples, are still limited.

3d Metal Complexes in T-shaped Geometry as a Gateway to Metalloradical Reactivity.

ConspectusLow-valent, low-coordinate 3d metal complexes represent a class of extraordinarily reactive compounds that can act as reagents and catalysts for challenging bond-activation reactions. The pursuit of these electron-deficient metal complexes in low oxidation states demands ancillary ligands capable of providing not only energetic stabilization but also sufficiently high steric bulk at the metal center. From this perspective, pincer ligands are particularly advantageous, as their prearranged, meridional coordination mode scaffolds the active center while the substituents of the peripheral donor atoms provide effective steric shielding for the coordination sphere. In a T-shaped geometry, the transition metal complexes possess a precisely defined vacant coordination site, which, combined with the often observed high-spin electron configuration, exhibits unusually high selectivity of these compounds with respect to one-electron redox chemistry. In light of the intractable reaction pathways typically observed with related electronically unsaturated 3d transition metal complexes, the pincer coordination mode enables the isolation of low-valent compounds with more controlled and unique reactivity. We have thus investigated a series of T-shaped metal(I) complexes using three different types of pincer ligands, which may be regarded as "metalloradicals" due to their selectively exposed unpaired electrons.These compounds display remarkably high thermal stability and represent rarely observed "naked" monovalent metal species featuring both monomeric and dimeric structures. Extensive reactivity studies using various organic substrates highlight a strong tendency of these paramagnetic compounds to undergo one-electron oxidation, leading to the isolation of a plethora of metal(II) species with reduced organic ligands as unusual structural elements. The exploration of C2 symmetric T-shaped Ni(I) complexes as asymmetric catalysts also shows success in enantioselective hydrodehalogenation of geminal dihalogenides. In addition, this specific class of low-valent, low-coordinate complexes can be further diversified by introducing redox-active pincer ligands or building homobimetallic systems with two T-shaped units.This Account focuses on the discussion of selected examples of iron, cobalt, and nickel pincer complexes bearing a [P,N,P] or [N,N,N] donor set; however, their electronic structure and radical-type reactivity can be broadly extended to other pincer systems. The availability of various types of pincer ligands should allow fine-tuning of the reactivity of the T-shaped complexes. Given the unprecedented reactivity observed with these compounds, we expect the studies of T-shaped 3d metal complexes to be a fertile field for advancing base metal catalysis.

A Modular Atom Probe Concept: Design, Operational Aspects, and Performance of an Integrated APT-FIB/SEM Solution.

Atomic probe tomography (APT) is able to generate three-dimensional chemical maps in atomic resolution. The required instruments for APT have evolved over the last 20 years from an experimental to an established method of materials analysis. Here, we describe the realization of a new modular instrument concept that allows the direct attachment of APT to a dual-beam SEM microscope with the main achievement of fast and direct sample transfer and high flexibility in chamber and component configuration. New operational modes are enabled regarding sample geometry, alignment of tips, and the microelectrode. The instrument is optimized to handle cryo-samples at all stages of preparation and storage. It comes with its own software for evaluation and reconstruction. The performance in terms of mass resolution, aperture angle, and detection efficiency is demonstrated with a few application examples.

Status and Direction of Atom Probe Analysis of Frozen Liquids.

Imaging of liquids and cryogenic biological materials by electron microscopy has been recently enabled by innovative approaches for specimen preparation and the fast development of optimized instruments for cryo-enabled electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Yet, cryo-EM typically lacks advanced analytical capabilities, in particular for light elements. With the development of protocols for frozen wet specimen preparation, atom probe tomography (APT) could advantageously complement insights gained by cryo-EM. Here, we report on different approaches that have been recently proposed to enable the analysis of relatively large volumes of frozen liquids from either a flat substrate or the fractured surface of a wire. Both allowed for analyzing water ice layers which are several micrometers thick consisting of pure water, pure heavy water, and aqueous solutions. We discuss the merits of both approaches and prospects for further developments in this area. Preliminary results raise numerous questions, in part concerning the physics underpinning field evaporation. We discuss these aspects and lay out some of the challenges regarding the APT analysis of frozen liquids.

Observability of Paramagnetic NMR Signals at over 10 000 ppm Chemical Shifts.

We report an experimental observation of 31 P NMR resonances shifted by over 10 000 ppm (meaning percent range, and a new record for solutions), and similar 1 H chemical shifts, in an intermediate-spin square planar ferrous complex [tBu (PNP)Fe-H], where PNP is a carbazole-based pincer ligand. Using a combination of electronic structure theory, nuclear magnetic resonance, magnetometry, and terahertz electron paramagnetic resonance, the influence of magnetic anisotropy and zero-field splitting on the paramagnetic shift and relaxation enhancement is investigated. Detailed spin dynamics simulations indicate that, even with relatively slow electron spin relaxation (T1 ≈10-11  s), it remains possible to observe NMR signals of directly metal-bonded atoms because pronounced rhombicity in the electron zero-field splitting reduces nuclear paramagnetic relaxation enhancement.

Metalloradical Reactivity, Charge Transfer, and Atom Abstractions in a T-Shaped Iron(I) Complex.

A study of the reactivity of a T-shaped iron(I) complex supported by a carbazole-based PNP pincer ligand (1) has established its strongly reducing character and propensity to bind small molecules with concomitant transfer of charge and spin density. Metalloradical reactivity was observed in the reaction with the stable radical 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxyl (TEMPO) yielding the corresponding FeII hydroxylaminato complex 2. Complex 1 reacted rapidly and selectively with two molecules of carbon monoxide to give the corresponding low-spin dicarbonyl complex 3. When reacted with phenylacetylene, the alkyne complex 4 was isolated in which the alkyne was found to bind side-on as an η2-ligand, which adopts radical anion character as a result of charge transfer from the metal center. Reaction with diphenyl diazomethane generated an adduct 5 in which the diazoalkane also appears to be partially reduced and acquires radical character. Upon exposure to carbon dioxide, oxygen atom abstraction was observed, ultimately leading to the isolation of the monocarbonyl iron(I) complex 6 and a dinuclear carboxylato ferrous complex 7. Furthermore, reaction with chalcogen atom transfer reagents resulted in the formation of the corresponding dinuclear ferrous chalcogenido compounds (E = S (8), Se (9)), which were found to display strong antiferromagnetic coupling (8, JAFC = -68 cm-1; 9: JAFC = -58 cm-1).

Single or Paired? Structure and Reactivity of PNP-Chromium(II) Hydrides.

The preparation and reactivity of a range of novel paramagnetic chromium(II) complexes supported by a carbazole-based PNP pincer ligand is reported. Deprotonation of the ligand precursors R(PNP)H (1R) and subsequent reaction with chromium(II) chloride led to the formation of square-planar chlorido complexes R(PNP)CrCl (2R). Further reaction with various alkylating agents resulted in the isolation of chromium alkyl complexes R(PNP)CrR' (3R-R') which were then hydrogenated to yield two rare examples of paramagnetic chromium(II) hydrides 4iPr and 4tBu. Both compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction and paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy supported by a comprehensive DFT-supported assignment of the resonances. While the di(tert-butyl)phosphino PNP substituted complex 4tBu was found to exhibit a monomeric square-planar molecular structure, its isopropyl-substituted analog 4iPr forms a dimer, also indicated by a strong antiferromagnetic coupling of the chromium centers. The pronounced reactivity of these compounds toward C═X double bonds was demonstrated by reaction with benzophenone, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and carbon dioxide, which gave the corresponding insertion products. The alkoxido complex 5iPr, the amidinato complex 6iPr, and the formato compound 7tBu were also characterized by X-ray diffraction.

Opening up the Valence Shell: A T-Shaped Iron(I) Metalloradical and Its Potential for Atom Abstraction.

A thermally stable, T-shaped, d7 high-spin iron(I) complex was obtained by reduction of a PNP-supported ferrous chloride. Paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy combined with DFT modeling was used to analyze the electronic structure of the coordinatively highly unsaturated complex. The metalloradical character of the compound was demonstrated by the formation of a benzophenone ketyl radical complex upon addition of benzophenone. Furthermore, the compound displays a rich chemistry as an oxygen-atom abstractor from epoxides, yielding a dinuclear, diferrous [Fe2 O] complex.

Taking Solution Proton NMR to Its Extreme: Prediction and Detection of a Hydride Resonance in an Intermediate-Spin Iron Complex.

Guided by DFT based modeling the chemical shift range of a hydride resonance in the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of the intermediate-spin, square planar iron complex tBu(PNP)Fe-H was predicted and detected as a broad resonance at -3560 ppm (295 K) with a temperature dependent shift of approximately 2000 ppm between 223 and 383 K. The first detection of a metal-bonded hydrogen atom by solution NMR in a complex with a paramagnetic ground state illustrates the interplay of theory and experiment for the characterization of key components in paramagnetic base metal catalysis.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of a High-Spin Iron(II) Hydrido Complex Supported by a PNP Pincer Ligand and Its Application as a Homogenous Catalyst for the Hydrogenation of Alkenes.

This study focused on the synthesis and characterization of a range of low-valent, high-spin iron(II) complexes supported by a carbazole-based PNP pincer-type ligand. The addition of the lithiated ligand (PNP)Li to FeCl2(THF)1.5 yielded the chlorido complex (PNP)FeCl (1), which could be readily converted to the four-coordinate iron(II) alkyl complexes (PNP)FeR [R = CH2SiMe3 (3a), Me (3b), CH2Ph (3c)]. These iron(II) complexes were fully characterized by X-ray analysis and a comprehensive, density-functional-theory-assisted study with complete assignment of their paramagnetic 1H and 13C NMR spectra. Treatment of 1 with KHBEt3 or the addition of molecular hydrogen to (PNP)FeR afforded a high-spin iron(II) PNP hydrido complex, which was identified as the dimer [(PNP)Fe(µ-H)]2 (4) with two bridging hydrido ligands between the iron centers. Exposing complexes 1 and 4 to carbon monoxide led to the corresponding six-coordinate, diamagnetic complexes (PNP)Fe(CO)2Cl (2) and (PNP)Fe(CO)2H (5), of which 2 was present as cis/trans isomers. Furthermore, 4 was found to be an active catalyst for the hydrogenation of alkenes.