David Quiñonero

Structural, Physicochemical, and Reactivity Properties of an All-Inorganic, Highly Active Tetraruthenium Homogeneous Catalyst for Water Oxidation

Several key properties of the water oxidation catalyst Rb(8)K(2)[{Ru(IV)(4)O(4)(OH)(2)(H(2)O)(4)}(gamma-SiW(10)O(36))(2)] and its mechanism of water oxidation are given. The one-electron oxidized analogue [{Ru(V)Ru(IV)(3)O(6)(OH(2))(4)}(gamma-SiW(10)O(36))(2)](11-) has been prepared and thoroughly characterized. The voltammetric rest potentials, X-ray structures, elemental analysis, magnetism, and requirement of an oxidant (O(2)) indicate these two complexes contain [Ru(IV)(4)O(6)] and [Ru(V)Ru(IV)(3)O(6)] cores, respectively. Voltammetry and potentiometric titrations establish the potentials of several couples of the catalyst in aqueous solution, and a speciation diagram (versus electrochemical potential) is calculated. The potentials depend on the nature and concentration of counterions. The catalyst exhibits four reversible couples spanning only ca. 0.5 V in the H(2)O/O(2) potential region, keys to efficient water oxidation at low overpotential and consistent with DFT calculations showing very small energy differences between all adjacent frontier orbitals. The voltammetric potentials of the catalyst are evenly spaced (a Coulomb staircase), more consistent with bulk-like properties than molecular ones. Catalysis of water oxidation by [Ru(bpy)(3)](3+) has been examined in detail. There is a hyperbolic dependence of O(2) yield on catalyst concentration in accord with competing water and ligand (bpy) oxidations. O(2) yields, turnover numbers, and extensive kinetics data reveal several features and lead to a mechanism involving rapid oxidation of the catalyst in four one-electron steps followed by rate-limiting H(2)O oxidation/O(2) evolution. Six spectroscopic, scattering, and chemical experiments indicate that the catalyst is stable in solution and under catalytic turnover conditions. However, it decomposes slowly in acidic aqueous solutions (pH < 1.5).

Counterintuitive interaction of anions with benzene derivatives

Abstract Ab initio calculations were carried out on complexes between 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB) and anions, where the anion is positioned over the ring along the C 3 axis. This study combines crystallographic and computational evidences to demonstrate an attractive interaction between the anion and the π-cloud of TNB. This interaction is rationalized based on the important role of the quadrupole moment of TNB and the anion-induced polarization. In addition, this study has been extended to 1,3,5-trifluorobenzene (TFB), which possesses a very small quadrupole moment. As a result, minimum energy complexes have been found between TFB and both anions and cations due to the stabilization obtained from the ion-induced polarization.

Cation–π and anion–π interactions

In this review, we analyze the interaction of ions with aromatic rings from several points of view. We start with a short history of cation–π and anion–π interactions and continue with a description of the main forces involved in these interactions. The comprehension of these forces allows us to rationalize the requirement that both the ion and the aromatic compound should have improved the interaction. Some physical properties of both the aromatic rings and the interacting ion are directly related with the strength of the interaction. An interesting part of this review is the study of the interplay of the ion–π interactions with other noncovalent forces. The strength of the ion–π interaction is considerably influenced by the presence of hydrogen bonding or other weaker interactions. These influences can be used to tune the interaction, either weakening or strengthening it. We give some experimental examples that illustrate this point.

Halogen bonding versus chalcogen and pnicogen bonding: a combined Cambridge structural database and theoretical study

In this manuscript we analyze the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) to compare the relative importance of halogen, chalcogen and pnicogen bonding. The three interactions can be explained in terms of electrostatic effects, considering the halogen, chalcogen or pnicogen as a Lewis acid due to the presence of a sigma hole (σ-hole). We have studied the behaviour of the three interactions considering two types of Lewis bases: amines and arenes. Combining the CSD search and a comprehensive theoretical study (DFT-D3) we conclude that the halogen bonding interaction is the energetically most favourable when the electron donor is an amine. In contrast, the pnicogen bond is the most favourable if the Lewis base is benzene (pnicogen–π interaction).

Anion–π interactions: must the aromatic ring be electron deficient?

The favorable interaction of anions with the π-cloud of aromatic derivatives has been studied theoretically using ab initio calculations and confirmed by X-ray data retrieved from the Cambridge Structural Database.

Very Long-Range Effects: Cooperativity between Anion–π and Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions

The interplay between two important non-covalent interactions involving aromatic rings (namely anion-pi and hydrogen bonding) is investigated. Very interesting cooperativity effects are present in complexes where anion-pi and hydrogen bonding interactions coexist. These effects are found in systems where the distance between the anion and the hydrogen-bond donor/acceptor molecule is as long as approximately 11 A. These effects are studied theoretically using the energetic and geometric features of the complexes, which were computed using ab initio calculations. We use and discuss several criteria to analyze the mutual influence of the non-covalent interactions studied herein. In addition we use Baders theory of atoms-in-molecules to characterize the interactions and to analyze the strengthening or weakening of the interactions depending upon the variation of the charge density at the critical points.

Interplay between anion‐π and hydrogen bonding interactions

The interplay between two important noncovalent interactions involving aromatic rings is studied by means of high level ab initio calculations. They demonstrate that synergistic effects are present in complexes where anion‐π and hydrogen bonding interactions coexist. These synergistic effects have been studied using the “atoms‐in‐molecules” theory and the Molecular Interaction Potential with polarization partition scheme. The present study examines how these two interactions mutually influence each other.

Synthetic Prodiginine Obatoclax (GX15‐070) and Related Analogues: Anion Binding, Transmembrane Transport, and Cytotoxicity Properties

Synthetic prodiginine obatoclax shows promise as a potential anticancer drug. This compound promotes apoptosis of cancer cells, although the mechanism of action is unclear. To date, only the inhibition of BCL-2 proteins has been proposed as a mechanism of action. To gain insight into other possible modes of action, we have studied the anion-binding properties of obatoclax and related analogues in solution, in the solid state, and by means of density functional theory calculations. These compounds are well suited to interact with anions such as chloride and bicarbonate. The anion-transport properties of the compounds synthesized were assayed in model phospholipid liposomes by using a chloride-selective-electrode technique and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that these compounds are efficient anion exchangers that promote chloride, bicarbonate, and nitrate transport through lipid bilayers at very low concentrations. In vitro studies on small-cell lung carcinoma cell line GLC4 showed that active ionophores are able to discharge pH gradients in living cells and the cytotoxicity of these compounds correlates well with ionophoric activity.

Coordination Complexes Exhibiting Anion···π Interactions: Synthesis, Structure, and Theoretical Studies

The polydentate ligand 2,4,6-tris(dipyridin-2-ylamino)-1,3,5-triazine (dpyatriz) in combination with the Cu(ClO 4) 2/CuX 2 salt mixtures (X (-) = Cl (-), Br (-), or N 3 (-)) leads to the formation of molecular coordination aggregates with formulas [Cu 3Cl 3(dpyatriz) 2](ClO 4) 3 ( 2), [Cu 3Br 3(dpyatriz) 2](ClO 4) 3 ( 3), and [Cu 4(N 3) 4(dpyatriz) 2(DMF) 4(ClO 4) 2](ClO 4) 2 ( 4). These complexes consist of two dpyatriz ligands bridged via coordination to Cu (II) and disposed either face-to-face in an eclipsed manner ( 2 and 3) or parallel and mutually shifted in one direction. The copper ions complete their coordination positions with Cl (-) ( 2), Br (-) ( 3), or N 3 (-), ClO 4 (-), and N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) ( 4) ligands. All complexes crystallize together with noncoordinate ClO 4 (-) groups that display anion...pi interactions with the triazine rings. These interactions have been studied by means of high level ab initio calculations and the MIPp partition scheme. These calculations have proven the ClO 4 (-)...[C 3N 3] interactions to be favorable and have revealed a synergistic effect from the combined occurrence of pi-pi stacking of triazine rings and the interaction of these moieties with perchlorate ions, as observed in the experimental systems.

Simultaneous Interaction of Tetrafluoroethene with Anions and Hydrogen-Bond Donors: A Cooperativity Study

A computational study of the complexes formed by tetrafluoroethylene, C2F4, with anions has been carried out by means of density functional theory (DFT) and second-order Möller-Plesset (MP2) computational methods, up to MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. In addition, the possibility of cooperativity in the interaction of anions and hydrogen-bond donors (FH, ClH, and H2O) when interacting with different faces of the C2F4 molecule has been explored. Electron density of the complexes has been analyzed by means of atoms in molecules (AIM) methodology, while natural bond orbital (NBO) methodology has been used to characterize the orbital interaction. In addition, natural energy decomposition analysis (NEDA) has been applied to analyze the source of the interaction. The energetic results indicate that C2F4 is a weaker anion receptor than C6F6, but in combination with the anions, it became a stronger hydrogen acceptor than C2H4. Cooperativity effects are observed in YH·C2F4·X(-) clusters. In C2F4·X(-) complexes the dominant attractive terms are the electrostatic and polarization ones, while in YH·C2F4·X(-) complexes the charge transfer increases significantly, becoming the most important term for most of the FH and ClH complexes studied here.