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At least 1,063 records · Page 59
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Fe II Hexa N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex with a 528 ps Metal-to-Ligand Charge-Transfer Excited-State Lifetime

In this paper, the iron carbene complex [Fe II (btz) 3 ](PF 6 ) 2 (where btz = 3,3'-dimethyl-1,1'-bis(p-tolyl)-4,4'-bis(1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene)) has been synthesized, isolated, and characterized as a low-spin ferrous complex. It exhibits strong metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorption bands throughout the visible spectrum, and excitation of these bands gives rise to a 3 MLCT state with a 528 ps excited-state lifetime in CH 3 CN solution that is more than one order of magnitude longer compared with the MLCT lifetime of any previously reported Fe II complex. The low potential of the [Fe(btz) 3 ] 3+ /[Fe(btz) 3 ] 2+ redox couple makes the 3 MLCT state of [Fe II (btz) 3 ] 2+ a potent photoreductant that can be generated by light absorption throughout the visible spectrum. Finally, taken together with our recent results on the [Fe III (btz) 3 ] 3+ form of this complex, these results show that the Fe II and Fe III oxidation states of the same Fe(btz) 3 complex feature long-lived MLCT and LMCT states, respectively, demonstrating the versatility of iron N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as promising light-harvesters for a broad range of oxidizing and reducing conditions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Unconventional Complex Coacervation between Neutral Polymer and Inorganic Polyoxometalate in Aqueous Solution via Direct Water Mediation

Water, specifically in a hydration shell, is critical for many biological supramolecular aggregations in nature, where water can directly mediate intermolecular association via hydrogen bonding and is regarded as “structured water”. Conversely, little has been reported on the biomimetic water-mediated supramolecular assembly with adequately high water content to date, because of the competing thermodynamic processes of water hydration and water as a building block to participate in self-assembly. In this work, we explore water-mediated complexation based on entropy-driven biphasic coacervate formation using highly hydrophilic neutral polymer and inorganic mineral-analogous nanoclusters. For the first time (to the best of our knowledge), nonelectrostatic liquid–liquid separating coacervate formation is demonstrated between polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyoxometalate (POM) nanoclusters in aqueous solutions of varied PEG and POM concentrations, POM types, and aqueous medium conditions. Comprehensive characterization using fluorescence microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, calorimetry, and other techniques has confirmed that the compositions, microstructure, and thermodynamics of PEG–POM complex coacervation are highly similar to entropy-driven complex coacervation between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes in aqueous solution. However, the effect of heavy water on critical POM concentration for the onset of coacervate formation suggests that water, instead of the counter ions as commonly debated for polyelectrolyte complex coacervation, is responsible for PEG–POM coacervate formation. Specifically, structured water works as a hydrogen bond donor for both highly hydrated PEG and POM to directly mediate the PEG–water–POM association, resulting in the release of excess hydrated water for entropy-driven PEG–POM complex coacervation. Furthermore, water-mediated complex coacervation could be developed as a general and simple strategy to build biomimetic hybrid nanomaterials with high water content for various applications from energy-related functional nanomaterials to biomedical ramification.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Controlling P–C/C–H Bond Cleavage in Nickel Bis(diphosphine) Complexes: Reactivity Scope, Mechanism, and Computations

The synthesis of heteroleptic [Ni(P 2 N 2 )(diphosphine)][BF 4 ] 2 complexes and the cleavage of P–C and C–H bonds of the P 2 N 2 ligand in those complexes are reported here. The products are five-coordinate complexes in which Ni–C and P–H bonds have formed to give a cyclic moiety containing Ni–CH$=$NR 2 . The reactivity of [Ni(P 2 N 2 )(diphosphine)][BF 4 ] 2 complexes is influenced by the rigidity of the diphosphine, the steric effect of the substituents, and length of the carbon linker of the diphosphine ligands. Diphosphine ligands bearing a rigid backbone (e.g., dmpbz, 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)benzene) or aromatic substituents (e.g., dppe, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) react with [Ni(P t Bu 2 N Bn 2 )(CH 3 CN) 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 to give P–C/C–H bond cleavage products. Both [Ni(P t Bu 2 N Bn 2 )(dmpe)(MeCN)][BF 4 ] 2 and [Ni(P t Bu 2 N Bn 2 )(dmpm)(MeCN)][BF 4 ] 2 (dmpm = 1,2-bis(dimethylylphosphino)methane) were prepared by the reaction of [Ni(P t Bu 2 N Bn 2 )(CH 3 CN) 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 with the corresponding diphosphine ligands. [Ni(P t Bu 2 N Bn 2 )(dmpe)(MeCN)][BF 4 ] 2 readily undergoes P–C/C–H bond cleavage in nitromethane. In sharp contrast, [Ni(P t Bu 2 N Bn 2 )(dmpm)][BF 4 ] 2 is stabilized by dmpm, a diphosphine with small bite angle, and does not show P–C/C–H bond cleavage reactivity. Computational results show that for complexes bearing less bulky diphosphine ligands, such as dmpm, the barriers for the rate-determining transition states are in some examples higher than 30 kcal/mol with the M06 functional, higher than those for complexes bearing more rigid or more bulky ligands, consistent with experimental studies. The calculated barriers for the first transition state correlated with increased values of the dihedral angle formed by the two NiP 2 planes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Mechanistic Studies of Ligand Substitution, Linkage Isomerism, and Insertion Reactions in Electron Rich Pd(II) Complexes of a Zwitterionic Diimine Ligand

We have prepared cationic palladium complexes possessing a new zwitterionic ligand bis-N,N’–1-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridyl) oxalamide [(N ^ N)Pd(Me)(L)] + [BArF] - , (BArF=3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 C 6 H 3 , L=NCMe, CO). The structure of [(N ^ N)Pd(Me)(CO)] + [BArF] - was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Energy Decomposition Analysis (EDA) indi-cates this N ^ N zwitterionic ligand is more electron-donating relative to bidentate diimine ligands. Low temperature NMR analysis shows the existence of linkage isomers with the N ^ N isomer the most stable. Structures were assigned using NMR and DFT analysis. Barriers to interconversion of isomers are ΔG ‡ = 10-12 kcal/mol. Kinetics of acetoni-trile displacement from [(N ^ N)Pd(Me)(NCCH 3 )] + [BArF] - by CD 3 CN, ethylene and t Bu 3 P were measured and mechanisms of exchange determined. The ethylene complex, [(N ^ N)Pd(Me)(C 2 H 4 )] + was generated at -45 °C, and the barrier of migrato-ry insertion determined at 0 °C (ΔG ‡ = 23.4 kcal/mol) and compared to related diimine complexes. The methyl carbonyl complex undergoes migratory insertion in the presence of CO at -70 to -55 °C (ΔG ‡ = ca. 15.7 kcal/mol) to yield the acyl carbonyl complex. Furthermore, the neutral bis-trimethylsilylmethyl complex [(N ^ N)Pd(CH 2 SiMe 3 ) 2 was prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. It displays dynamic behavior at very low temperatures in the NMR spectrum (-90 °C, ΔG ‡ =7.9 kcal/mol) which, supported by DFT analysis, is ascribed to rotation of the bulky -CH 2 SiMe 3 groups.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

A Tertiary Carbon–Iron Bond as an Fe I Cl Synthon and the Reductive Alkylation of Diphosphine-Supported Iron(II) Chloride Complexes to Low-Valent Iron

We explored ligand-induced reduction of ferrous alkyl complexes via homolytic cleavage of the alkyl fragment with simple chelating diphosphines. The reactivities of the sodium salts of diphenylmethane, phenyl(trimethylsilyl)methane, or diphenyl(trimethylsilyl)methane were explored in their reactivity with (py) 4 FeCl 2 . Furthermore, we prepared a series of monoalkylated salts of the type (py) 2 FeRCl and characterized from the addition of 1 equiv of the corresponding alkyl sodium species. These complexes are isostructural and have similar magnetic properties. The double alkylation of (py) 4 FeCl 2 resulted in the formation of tetrahedral high-spin iron complexes with the sodium salts of diphenylmethane and phenyl(trimethylsilyl)methane that readily decomposed. A bis(cyclohexadienyl) sandwich complex was formed with the addition of 2 equiv of the tertiary alkyl species sodium diphenyl(trimethylsilyl)methane. The addition of chelating phosphines to (py) 2 FeRCl resulted in the overall transfer of Fe(I) chloride concurrent with loss of pyridine and alkyl radical. (dmpe) 2 FeCl was synthesized via addition of 1 equiv of sodium diphenyl(trimethylsilyl)methane, whereas the addition of 2 equiv of the sodium compound to (dmpe) 2 FeCl 2 gave the reduced Fe(0) nitrogen complex (dmpe) 2 Fe(N 2 ). Our results demonstrate that iron–alkyl homolysis can be used to afford clean, low-valent iron complexes without the use of alkali metals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

1,2-Addition of Formic or Oxalic Acid to – N{CH 2 CH 2 (PiPr 2 )} 2 -Supported Mn(I) Dicarbonyl Complexes and the Manganese-Mediated Decomposition of Formic Acid

(PN H P)Mn(CO) 2 (I) carboxylate complexes (PN H P = HN{CH 2 CH 2 (PiPr 2 )} 2 ) were prepared in this study via 1,2-addition of either formic or oxalic acid to (PNP)Mn(CO) 2 (PNP = the deprotonated, amide form of the ligand –N{CH 2 CH 2 (PiPr 2 )} 2 ). The structural and spectral properties of these complexes were compared. The manganese formate complex was found to be dimeric in the solid state and monomeric in solution. Half an equivalent of oxalic acid was employed to form the bridging oxalate dimanganese complex. The catalytic competencies of the carboxylate complexes were assessed, and the formate complex was found to decompose formic acid catalytically. Both dehydrogenation and dehydration pathways were active as assessed by the presence of H 2 , CO 2 , and H 2 O. Lastly, the addition of LiBF 4 exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on the catalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Unexpected Actinyl Cation-Directed Structural Variation in Neptunyl(VI) A-Type Tri-lacunary Heteropolyoxotungstate Complexes

A-type tri-lacunary heteropolyoxotungstate anions (e.g., [PW 9 O 34 ] 9- , [AsW 9 O 34 ] 9- , [SiW 9 O 34 ] 10- and [GeW 9 O 34 ] 10- ) are multi-dentate oxygen donor ligands that readily form sandwich complexes with actinyl cations ({UO 2 } 2+ , {NpO 2 } + , {NpO 2 } 2+ & {PuO 2 } 2+ ) in near neutral/slightly alkaline aqueous solutions. Two or three actinyl cations are sandwiched between two trilacunary anions, with additional cations (Na + , K + or NH 4 + ) also often held within the cluster. Studies thus far have indicated that it is these additional +I cations, rather than the specific actinyl cation, that direct the structural variation in the complexes formed. We now report the structural characterization of the neptunyl (VI) cluster complex (NH 4 ) 13 [Na(NpO 2 ) 2 (A-α- PW 9 O 34 ) 2 ]·12H 2 O. The anion in this complex, [Na(NpO 2 ) 2 (PW 9 O 34 ) 2 ] 13- , contains one Na + cation and two {NpO 2 } 2+ cations held between two [PW 9 O 34 ] 9- anions – with an additional partial occupancy NH 4 + or {NpO 2 } 2+ cation also present. In the analogous uranium (VI) system, under similar reaction conditions that includes an excess of NH 4 Cl in the parent solution, it was previously shown that [(NH 4 ) 2 (U VI O 2 ) 2 (A-PW 9 O 34 ) 2 ] 12- is the dominant species in both solution and the crystallized salt. Spectroscopic studies provide further proof of differences in the observed chemistry for the {NpO 2 } 2+ /[PW 9 O 34 ] 9- and {UO 2 } 2+ /[PW 9 O 34 ] 9- systems, both in solution and in solid state complexes crystallized from comparable salt solutions. The work revealed that varying the actinide element (Np vs. U) can indeed measurably impact structure and complex stability in the cluster chemistry of actinyl (VI) cations with A-type tri-lacunary heteropolyoxotungstate anions.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Noble-Gas Difluoride Complexes of Mercury(II): The Syntheses and Structures of Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 ·1.5NgF 2 (Ng = Xe, Kr) and Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2

The synthesis of high-purity Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 has resulted in its structural characterization in the solid state by Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in solution by 19 F NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 (-173 °C) consists of discrete Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 units having gauche-conformations that interact through long Hg---O and Hg---F intramolecular contacts to give a chain structure. Furthermore, the Lewis acidity of Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 toward NgF 2 (Ng = Xe, Kr) was investigated in SO 2 ClF solvent and shown to form stable coordination complexes with NgF 2 at -78 °C. Both complexes were characterized by low-temperature Raman spectroscopy (-155 °C) and single-crystal XRD. The complexes are isostructural and are formulated as Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 ·1.5NgF 2 . The Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 units of Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 ·1.5NgF 2 also have gauche-conformations and are linked through bridging NgF 2 molecules, also resulting in chain structures. The complexes represent the only examples of coordination compounds where NgF 2 coordinates to mercury in a neutral covalent compound and the only example of mercury coordinated to KrF 2 . Moreover, the Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 ·1.5KrF 2 complex is the only KrF 2 complex known to contain a bridging KrF 2 ligand. Energy-minimized gas-phase geometries and vibrational frequencies for the model compounds, [Hg(OTeF5) 2 ] 3 and [Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 ] 3 ·2NgF 2 , were obtained and provide good approximations of the local environments of Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 and NgF 2 in the crystal structures of Hg(OTeF5)2 and Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 ·1.5NgF 2 . Assignments of the Raman spectra of Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 and Hg(OTeF 5 ) 2 ·1.5NgF 2 are based on the calculated vibrational frequencies of the model compounds. Natural bond orbital analyses provided the associated bond orders, valencies, and natural population analysis charges.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2022

Alkali Metal Ions Dictate the Structure and Reactivity of an Iron(II) Imido Complex

The presence of redox innocent metal ions has been proposed to modulate the reactivity of metal ligand multiple bonds; however, insight from structure/function relationships is limited. Here, alkali metal reduction of the Fe(III) imido complex [Ph 2 B( t BuIm) 2 Fe=NDipp] (1) provides the series of structurally characterized Fe(II) imido complexes [Ph 2 B( t BuIm) 2 Fe=NDippLi(THF) 2 ] (2), [Ph 2 B( t BuIm) 2 Fe=NDippNa(THF) 3 ] (3), and [Ph 2 B( t BuIm) 2 Fe=NDippK] 2 (4), in which the alkali metal cations coordinate the imido ligand. Structural investigations demonstrate that the alkali metal ions modestly lengthen the Fe=N bond distance from that in the charge separated complex [Ph 2 B( t BuIm) 2 Fe=NDipp][K(18-C-6)THF 2 ] (5), with the longest bond observed for the smallest alkali metal ion. In contrast to 5, the imido ligands in 2–4 can be protonated and alkylated to afford Fe(II) amido complexes. Combined experimental and computational studies reveal that the alkali metal polarizes the Fe=N bond, and the basicity of imido ligand increases according to 5 < 4 ≈ 3 < 2. The basicity of the imido ligands influences the relative rates of reaction with 1,4-cyclohexadiene, specifically by gating access to complex 5, which is the species that is active for HAT. All complexes 2–4 react with benzophenone form metastable Fe(II) intermediates that subsequently eliminate the metathesis product Ph 2 C=NDipp, with relative rates dependent on the alkali metal ion. By contrast, the same reaction with 5 does not lead to the formation of Ph 2 C=NDipp. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that the coordination of alkali metal ions dictate both the structure and reactivity of the imido ligand and moreover can direct the reactivity of reaction intermediates.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

What Is the Right Level of Activation of a High-Spin {FeNO} 7 Complex to Enable Direct N–N Coupling? Mechanistic Insight into Flavodiiron NO Reductases

Flavodiiron nitric oxide reductases (FNORs), found in pathogenic bacteria, are capable of reducing nitric oxide (NO) to nitrous oxide (N 2 O) to detoxify NO released by the human immune system. Previously, we reported the first FNOR model system that mediates direct NO reduction (Dong, H. T.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 13429-13440), but no intermediate of the reaction could be characterized. Here, we present a new set of model complexes that, depending on the ligand substitution, can either mediate direct NO reduction or stabilize a highly activated high-spin (hs) {FeNO} 7 complex, the first intermediate of the reaction. The precursors, [{Fe II (MPA-(RPhO) 2 )} 2 ] (1, R = H and 2, R = t Bu, Me), were prepared first and fully characterized. Complex 1 (without steric protection) directly reduces NO to N 2 O almost quantitatively, which constitutes only the second example of this reaction in model systems. Contrarily, the reaction of sterically protected 2 with NO forms the stable mononitrosyl complex 3, which shows one of the lowest N-O stretching frequencies (1689 cm -1 ) observed so far for a mononuclear hs-{FeNO} 7 complex. Here this study confirms that an N-O stretch & LE;1700 cm -1 represents the appropriate level of activation of the FeNO unit to enable direct NO reduction. The higher activation level of these hs-{FeNO} 7 complexes required for NO reduction compared to those formed in FNORs emphasizes the importance of hydrogen bonding residues in the active sites of FNORs to activate the bound NO ligands for direct N-N coupling and N2O formation. The implications of these results for FNORs are further discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Two-Coordinate Coinage Metal Complexes as Solar Photosensitizers

Generating a sustainable fuel from sunlight plays an important role in meeting the energy demands of the modern age. Herein we report two-coordinate carbene-metal-amide (cMa, M = Cu(I) and Au(I)) complexes can be used as sensitizers to promote the light driven reduction of water to hydrogen. The cMa complexes studied here absorb visible photons (ε vis > 10 3 M -1 cm -1 ), maintain long excited state lifetimes (τ ~ 0.2-1 μs) and perform stable photo-induced charge transfer to a target substrate with high photoreducing potential (E +/* up to 2.33 V vs. Fc +/o based on a Rehm-Weller analysis). We pair these coinage metal complexes with a cobalt-glyoxime electrocatalyst to photocatalytically generate hydrogen and compare the performance of the copper- and gold-based cMa complexes. We also find that these two-coordinate complexes presented can perform photo-driven hydrogen production from water without the addition of the cobalt-glyoxime electrocatalyst. In this “catalyst free” system the cMa sensitizer partially decomposes to give metal nanoparticles that catalyze water reduction. Furthermore, this work identifies two-coordinate coinage metal complexes as promising abundant metal, solar fuels photosensitizers that offer exceptional tunability and photoredox properties.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Pursuing Heteroleptic Ligand Design Principles for Photoactive Fe Complexes with Ultrafast X-ray Emission and Variable-Temperature Optical Spectroscopies

Understanding the key parameters that govern the photophysical and photochemical properties of transition metal complexes is essential for the development of efficient photosensitizers for photocatalytic applications. Achieving this objective necessitates clear and detailed investigations of their electronic excited states, for which time-resolved metal Kβ X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) has proven highly effective. Here, we present a time-resolved Fe Kβ XES study of a heteroleptic Fe(II) polypyridyl carbene complex, [Fe(phen) 2 (C 4 H 10 N 4 )] 2+ (1; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), utilizing both the valence-to-core and Kβ mainline spectral regions, complemented by variable-temperature transient optical absorption (VT-TA) spectroscopy. Detailed analysis of the time-resolved Kβ XES data, supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and an Eyring analysis of the VT-TA data, reveals parallel excited state relaxation dynamics that support an assignment of the long-lived excited state to a triplet metal-centered state. Placing these results in the context of prior studies of heteroleptic Fe(II) polypyridyl cyanide complexes motivated a series of DFT calculations to investigate the effects of ligand structural flexibility and arrangement. These calculations reinforce the experimentally derived conclusion that constraining structural flexibility with multidentate ligands significantly impacts the excited state relaxation dynamics. Furthermore, our study emphasizes that the arrangement of strong field ligands in heteroleptic complexes substantially affects the energy of Jahn–Teller active triplet metal-centered states in low-spin d 6 metal complexes. Together, these findings provide synthetic design principles for extending metal-to-ligand charge transfer excited state lifetimes of heteroleptic Fe complexes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

Detection of an Iridium-Dihydrogen Complex: A Proposed Intermediate in Ionic Hydrogenation

Addition of high pressures of H2 to five-coordinate [(tBu)4(POCOP)Ir(CO)(H)]OTf [(tBu)4(POCOP) = ?3-C6H3-2,6- (OP(tBu)2)2] complexes results in observation of two new iridium-dihydrogen complexes. If the aryl moiety of the POCOP ligand is substituted with an electron withdrawing protonated dimethylamino group at the para position, hydrogen coordination is enhanced. Five-coordinate Ir-H complexes generated by addition of triflic acid to (tBu)4(POCOP)Ir(CO) species show an Ir-H 1H NMR chemical shift dependence on the number of equivalents of acid present. It is proposed that excess triflic acid in solution facilitates triflate dissociation from iridium, resulting in unsaturated five-coordinate Ir-H complexes. The five-coordinate iridium-hydride complexes were found to catalyze H/D exchange between H2 and CD3OD. The existence of the dihydrogen complexes as well as isotope exchange reactions provide evidence for proposed ionic hydrogenation mechanistic intermediates for glycerol deoxygenation.

Goldberg, Jonathan M.↗
DOE OSTI2017

A Six-Coordinate Peroxynitrite Low-Spin Iron(III) Porphyrinate Complex—The Product of the Reaction of Nitrogen Monoxide (·NO (g) ) with a Ferric-Superoxide Species

Peroxynitrite ( – OON=O, PN) is a reactive nitrogen species (RNS) which can effect deleterious nitrative or oxidative (bio)chemistry. It may derive from reaction of superoxide anion (O 2 •– ) with nitric oxide (·NO) and has been suggested to form an as-yet unobserved bound heme-iron-PN intermediate in the catalytic cycle of nitric oxide dioxygenase (NOD) enzymes, which facilitate a ·NO homeostatic process, i.e., its oxidation to the nitrate anion. Here, a discrete six-coordinate low-spin porphyrinate-Fe III complex [(P Im )Fe III ( – OON=O)] (P Im ; a porphyrin moiety with a covalently tethered imidazole axial “base” donor ligand) has been identified and characterized by various spectroscopies (UV–vis, NMR, EPR, XAS, resonance Raman) and DFT calculations, following its formation at –80 °C by addition of ·NO (g) to the heme-superoxo species, [(P Im )Fe III (O 2 •– )]. DFT calculations confirm that is a six-coordinate low-spin species with the PN ligand coordinated to iron via its terminal peroxidic anionic O atom with the overall geometry being in a cis-configuration. Complex thermally transforms to its isomeric low-spin nitrato form [(P Im )Fe III (NO 3 – )]. While previous (bio)chemical studies show that phenolic substrates undergo nitration in the presence of PN or PN-metal complexes, in the present system, addition of 2,4-di- tert -butylphenol ( 2,4 DTBP) to complex does not lead to nitrated phenol; the nitrate complex still forms. Furthermore, DFT calculations reveal that the phenolic H atom approaches the terminal PN O atom (farthest from the metal center and ring core), effecting O–O cleavage, giving nitrogen dioxide (·NO 2 ) plus a ferryl compound [(P Im )Fe IV =O] (7); this rebounds to give [(P Im )Fe III (NO 3 – )].The generation and characterization of the long sought after ferriheme peroxynitrite complex has been accomplished.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

New Rh 2 (II,II) Complexes for Solar Energy Applications: Panchromatic Absorption and Excited-State Reactivity

In this work, the new heteroleptic paddlewheel complexes cis-[Rh 2 (μ-form) 2 (μ-np) 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 , where form = p-ditolylformamidinate (DTolF) or p-difluorobenzylformamidinate (F-form) and np = 1,8-napthyridyine, and cis-Rh 2 (μ-form) 2 (μ-npCOO) 2 (npCOO – = 1,8-naphthyridine-2-carboxylate), were synthesized and characterized. The complexes absorb strongly throughout the ultraviolet (λ max = 300 nm, ε = 20 300 M –1 cm –1 ) and visible regions (λ max = 640 nm ε = 3500 M –1 cm –1 ), making them potentially useful new dyes with panchromatic light absorption for solar energy conversion applications. Ultrafast and nanosecond transient absorption and time-resolved infrared spectroscopies were used to characterize the identity and dynamics of the excited states, where singlet and triplet Rh 2 /form-to-naphthyridine, metal/ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (ML-LCT) excited states were observed in all four complexes. The npCOO – complexes exhibit red-shifted absorption profiles extending into the near-IR and undergo photoinitiated electron transfer to generate reduced methyl viologen, a species that persists in the presence of a sacrificial donor. The energy of the triplet excited state of each complex was estimated from energy-transfer quenching experiments using a series of organic triplet donors (E( 3 ππ*) from 1.83 to 0.78 eV). The singlet reduction (+0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl) potentials, and singlet and triplet oxidation potentials (-1.1 and -0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl, respectively) were determined. Finally, based on the excited-state lifetimes and redox properties, these complexes represent a new class of light absorbers with potential application as dyes for charge injection into semiconductor solar cells and in sensitizer-catalyst assemblies for photocatalysis that operate with irradiation from the ultraviolet to ~800 nm.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer to a Molybdenum Ethylene Complex Yields a β-Agostic Ethyl: Structure, Dynamics and Mechanism

In this paper, the interconversion of molybdenum ethylene and ethyl complexes by proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is described, an unusual transformation in organometallic chemistry. The cationic molybdenum ethylene complex [( Ph Tpy)(PPh 2 Me) 2 Mo(C 2 H 4 )][BArF 24 ] ([1-C 2 H 4 ] + ; Ph Tpy = 4'-Ph-2,2',6',2"-terpyridine, ArF 24 = [C 6 H 3 -3,5-(CF 3 ) 2 ] 4 ) was synthesized, structurally characterized, and its electronic structure established by a combination of spectroscopic and computational methods. The overall electronic structure is best described as a molybdenum(III) complex with a metallacyclopropane and a redox neutral terpyridine ligand. Addition of the nonclassical ammine complex [( Ph Tpy)(PPh 2 Me) 2 Mo(NH 3 )][BArF 24 ] ([1-NH 3 ] + ) to [1-C 2 H 4 ] + resulted in a net C–H bond-forming PCET reaction to yield the molybdenum ethyl [( Ph Tpy)(PPh 2 Me) 2 Mo(CH 2 CH 3 )][BArF 24 ] ([1-CH 2 CH 3 ] + ) and amido [( Ph Tpy)(PPh 2 Me) 2 Mo(NH 2 )][BArF 24 ] ([1-NH 2 ] + ) compounds. The reaction was reversed by addition of 2,4,6-tritert-butylphenoxyl radical to [1-CH 2 CH 3 ] + . The solid-state structure of [1-CH 2 CH 3 ] + established a β-agostic ethyl ligand that is maintained in solution as judged by variable temperature 1 H and 13 C NMR experiments. A combination of variable-temperature NMR experiments and isotopic labeling studies were used to probe the dynamics of [1-CH 2 CH 3 ] + and established restricted β-agostic -CH 3 rotation at low temperature (ΔG ‡ = 9.8 kcal mol –1 at -86 °C) as well as ethyl isomerization by β-hydride elimination-olefin rotation-reinsertion (ΔH ‡ = 19.3 ± 0.6 kcal mol –1 ; ΔS ‡ = 3.4 ± 1.7 cal mol –1 K –1 ). The β-(C–H) bond-dissociation free energy (BDFE) in [1-CH 2 CH 3 ] + was determined experimentally as 57 kcal mol –1 (THF) supported by a DFT-computed value of 52 kcal/mol –1 (gas phase). Comparison of pK a and electrochemical data for the complexes [1-C 2 H 4 ] + and [1-NH 3 ] + in combination with a deuterium kinetic isotope effect (k H /k D ) of 3.5(2) at 23 °C support a PCET process involving initial electron transfer followed by protonation leading to the formation of [1-CH 2 CH 3 ] + and [1-NH 2 ] + or a concerted pathway. Lastly, the data presented herein provides a structural, thermochemical and mechanistic foundation for understanding the PCET reactivity of organometallic complexes with alkene and alkyl ligands.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on the Fragmentation of Gas-Phase Uranyl-, Neptunyl- and Plutonyl-Diglycolamide Complexes

Fragmentation of actinyl(VI) complexes UVIO2(L)22+, NpVIO2(L)22+ and PuVIO2(L)22+ (L = tetramethyl-3-oxa-glutaramide, TMOGA) produced by electrospray ionization was examined in the gas phase by collision induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Cleavage of the C-Oether bond was observed for all three complexes, with dominant products being UVIO2(L)(L-86)+ with charge reduction, and NpVIO2(L)(L-101)2+ and PuVIO2(L)(L-101)2+ with charge conservation. The neptunyl and plutonyl complexes also exhibited substantial L+ loss to give pentavalent complexes NpVO2(L)+ and PuVO2(L)+, whereas the uranyl complex did not, consistent with the comparative An 5f-orbital energies and the AnVIO22+/AnVO2+ (An = U, Np, Pu) reduction potentials. CID of NpVO2(L)2+ and PuVO2(L)2+ was dominated by neutral ligand loss to form NpVO2(L)+ and PuVO2(L)+, which hydrated by addition of residual water in the ion trap; UVO2(L)2+ was not observed. Theoretical calculations of the structures and bonding of the AnVIO2(L)22+ complexes using density functional theory reveal that the metal centers are coordinated by six oxygen atoms from the two TMOGA ligands. The results are compared with radiolytic decomposition of TMOGA in solution.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2014

Observation of a Rare Earth Ion–Extractant Complex Arrested at the Oil–Water Interface During Solvent Extraction

Selective extraction of metal ions from a complex aqueous mixture into an organic phase is used to separate toxic or radioactive metals from polluted environments and nuclear waste, as well as to produce industrially relevant metals, such as rare earth ions. Selectivity arises from the choice of an extractant amphiphile, dissolved in the organic phase, which interacts preferentially with the target metal ion. The extractant-mediated process of ion transport from an aqueous to an organic phase takes place at the aqueous–organic interface; nevertheless, little is known about the molecular mechanism of this process despite its importance. Although state-of-the-art X-ray scattering is uniquely capable of probing molecular ordering at a liquid–liquid interface with subnanometer spatial resolution, utilizing this capability to investigate interfacial dynamical processes of short temporal duration remains a challenge. We show that a temperature-driven adsorption transition can be used to turn the extraction on and off by controlling adsorption and desorption of extractants at the oil–water interface. Lowering the temperature through this transition immobilizes a supramolecular ion–extractant complex at the interface during the extraction of rare earth erbium ions. Under the conditions of these experiments, the ion–extractant complexes condense into a two-dimensional inverted bilayer, which is characterized on the molecular scale with synchrotron X-ray reflectivity and fluorescence measurements. Raising the temperature above the transition leads to Er ion extraction as a result of desorption of ion–extractant complexes from the interface into the bulk organic phase. XAFS measurements of the ion–extractant complexes in the bulk organic phase demonstrate that they are similar to the interfacial complexes.

Bu, Wei↗