Florian Molton

Lithium/Sulfur Cell Discharge Mechanism: An Original Approach for Intermediate Species Identification

The lithium/sulfur battery is a promising electrochemical system that has a high theoretical capacity of 1675 mAh g(-1), but its discharge mechanism is well-known to be a complex multistep process. As the active material dissolves during cycling, this discharge mechanism was investigated through the electrolyte characterization. Using high-performance liquid chromatography, UV-visible absorption, and electron spin resonance spectroscopies, we investigated the electrolyte composition at different discharge potentials in a TEGDME-based electrolyte. In this study, we propose a possible mechanism for sulfur reduction consisting of three steps. Long polysulfide chains are produced during the first reduction step (2.4-2.2 V vs Li(+)/Li), such as S(8)(2-) and S(6)(2-), as evidenced by UV and HPLC data. The S(3)(•-) radical can also be found in solution because of a disproportionation reaction. S(4)(2-) is produced during the second reduction step (2.15-2.1 V vs Li(+)/Li), thus pointing out the gradual decrease of the polysulfide chain lengths. Finally, short polysulfide species, such as S(3)(2-), S(2)(2-), and S(2-), are produced at the end of the reduction process, i.e., between 2.1 and 1.9 V vs Li(+)/Li. The precipitation of the poorly soluble and insulating short polysulfide compounds was evidenced, thus leading to the positive electrode passivation and explaining the early end of discharge.

Sulfonium polyoxometalates: a new class of solid-state photochromic hybrid organic-inorganic materials.

For the very first time, sulfonium polyoxometalate (POM) assemblies are shown to develop efficient solid-state photochromism in ambient conditions. The optical properties of the already known Rb(0.75)(NH(4))(5.25)[(Mo(3)O(8))(2)O(O(3)PC(CH(2)S(CH(3))(2))OPO(3))(2)]·8H(2)O (1) and a new material (Me(3)S)(4)[Mo(8)O(26)] (2) under UV excitation are investigated by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, revealing that the color change effect is highly tunable playing with the nature of the POM. A mechanism involving the photoreduction of Mo(6+) cations associated with electron transfers from the sulfonium cations toward the POMs is proposed.

Room Temperature Magnetic Switchability Assisted by Hysteretic Valence Tautomerism in a Layered Two-Dimensional Manganese-Radical Coordination Framework

The manganese-nitronyl-nitroxide two-dimensional coordination polymer {[Mn2(NITIm)3]ClO4}n (1) (NITImH = 2-(2-imidazolyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-3-oxide-1-oxyl) undergoes an unusual hysteretic thermo-induced valence tautomeric transition near room temperature, during which the manganese(II) ions are oxidized to manganese(III) and two of the three deprotonated radicals (NITIm-) are reduced to their diamagnetic aminoxyl form (denoted NITRed2-). Upon cooling, the high-temperature species {[MnII2(NITIm)3]ClO4}n (1HT) turns into the low-temperature species {[MnIII2(NITRed)2(NITIm)]ClO4}n (1LT) around 274 K, while on heating the process is reversed at about 287 K. This valence tautomeric phenomenon is supported by temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), crystal structure determination, UV-vis absorption, X-ray absorption (XAS), and emission (XES) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies in the solid state.

Intramolecular Electron Transfers Thwart Bistability in a Pentanuclear Iron Complex

With the intention to investigate the redox properties of polynuclear complexes as previously reported for the pentamanganese complex [{Mn(II)(μ-bpp)3}2Mn(III)Mn(II)2(μ3-O)](3+) (2(3+)), we focused on the analogous pentairon complex that was previously isolated as all-ferrous. As Masaoka and co-workers recently published, aerobic synthesis leads to the [{Fe(II)(μ-bpp)3}2Fe(III)Fe(II)2(μ3-O)](3+) complex (1(3+)). This species exhibits in acetonitrile solution four reversible one-electron oxidation waves. Accordingly, the three oxidized species 1(4+), 1(5+), and 1(6+) with a 3Fe(II)2Fe(III), 2Fe(II)3Fe(III), and 1Fe(II)4Fe(III) composition, respectively, were generated by bulk electrolysis and isolated. Mössbauer spectroscopy allowed us to determine the spin states of all the iron ions and to unambiguously locate the sites of the successive oxidations. They all occur in the μ3-oxo core except for the 1(4+) to 1(5+) process that presents a striking electronic rearrangement, with both metals in axial position being oxidized while the core is reduced to the [Fe(III)Fe(II)2(μ3-O)](5+) oxidation level. This strongly differs from the redox behavior of the Mn5 system. The origin of this electronic switch is discussed.

An air-persistent oxyallyl radical cation with simple di(methyl)amino substituents

We report an experimental and theoretical study of the 1,1,3,3-tetrakis-di(methylamino)oxyallyl radical cation. Despite simple substituents with minimal steric hindrance, this radical was found to be stable under an inert atmosphere and persistent for several hours in well-aerated solutions.

Biophysical and physiological characterization of ZraP from Escherichia coli, the periplasmic accessory protein of the atypical ZraSR two-component system.

The ZraSR system belongs to the family of TCSs (two-component signal transduction systems). In Escherichia coli, it was proposed to participate in zinc balance and to protect cytoplasmic zinc overload by sequestering this metal ion into the periplasm. This system controls the expression of the accessory protein ZraP that would be a periplasmic zinc scavenger. ZraPSR is functionally homologous with CpxPAR that integrates signals of envelope perturbation, including misfolded periplasmic proteins. The auxiliary periplasmic regulator CpxP inhibits the Cpx pathway by interacting with CpxA. Upon envelope stress sensing, the inhibitory function of CpxP is relieved, resulting in CpxR activation. Similarly to CpxPAR, ZraPSR probably plays a role in envelope stress response as a zinc-dependent chaperone activity was demonstrated for ZraP in Salmonella. We have purified ZraP from E. coli and shown that it is an octamer containing four interfacial metal-binding sites contributing to dimer stability. These sites are located close to the N-terminus, whereas the C-terminus is involved in polymerization of the protein to form a tetramer of dimers. In vitro, ZraP binds copper with a higher affinity than zinc and displays chaperone properties partially dependent on zinc binding. In vivo, zinc-bound ZraP is a repressor of the expression of the zraPSR operon. However, we have demonstrated that none of the Zra proteins are involved in zinc or copper resistance. We propose an integrated mechanism in which zinc is a marker of envelope stress perturbation and ZraPSR TCS is a sentinel sensing and responding to zinc entry into the periplasm.

Effective ascorbate-free and photolatent click reactions in water using a photoreducible copper(II)-ethylenediamine precatalyst

Summary The search for copper catalysts able to perform effectively click reactions in water in the absence of sodium ascorbate is an active area of current research with strong potential for applications in bioconjugation. The water-soluble and photoreducible copper(II)–EDA (EDA = ethylenediamine) complex 1, which has two 4-benzoylbenzoates acting as both counterion and photosensitizer, has been synthesized and characterized by different techniques including single crystal X-ray diffraction. Highly efficient photoreduction was demonstrated when solutions of 1 in hydrogen atom donating solvents, such as THF or MeOH, were exposed to UVA radiation (350–400 nm) provided by a low pressure mercury lamp (type TLC = thin-layer chromatography, 365 nm), or by a 23 W fluorescent bulb, or by ambient/sunlight. In water, a much poorer hydrogen atom donating solvent, the photoreduction of 1 proved inefficient. Interestingly, EPR studies revealed that complex 1 could nonetheless be effectively photoreduced in water when alkynes were present in solution. The catalytic activity of 1 for click reactions involving a range of water-soluble alkynes and azides, in particular saccharides, was tested under various illumination conditions. Complex 1 was found to exhibit a photolatent character, the photogenerated copper(I) being very reactive. On irradiating aqueous reaction mixtures containing 1 mol % of 1 at 365 nm (TLC lamp) for 1 h, click reactions were shown to proceed to full conversion.

The serendipitous discovery of a readily available redox-bistable molecule derived from cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbenes

Bis(azoliums) are readily available in one step from cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes and bis(acyl chlorides). A two-electron reduction of the bis(azolium), featuring a gem-(dimethyl)malonoyl spacer, leads to the corresponding transient diradical, which undergoes an intramolecular cyclization. The latter can be re-oxidized at a higher potential to yield back the bis(azolium). The redox bistability of this simple organic molecular system is linked to the formation of a weak C–O bond (27 kcal mol−1). Both redox forms can be isolated and stored for months without evidence of decay.

Study of the Direct Red 81 Dye/Copper(II)-Phenanthroline System

Recovered papers contain several chromophores, such as wood lignin and dyes. These have to be eliminated during paper recycling in order to produce white paper. Hydrogen peroxide under alkaline conditions is generally used to decolorize lignin, but its effect on dyes is limited. Copper(II)-phenanthroline (Cu-Phen) complexes can activate the oxidation of lignin by hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide may also be activated during recycled fiber bleaching, thus enhancing its color-stripping efficiency towards unoxidizable azo dyes. The purpose of this paper was to determine the effect of Cu-Phen complexes on a model azo dye, Direct Red 81 (DR81), in aqueous solution. Different Cu-Phen solutions (with different initial Cu:Phen molar ratios) were prepared and mixed with the dye at different pHs. The geochemical computer program PHREEQC allowed precise calculation of the theoretical distribution between different possible coordinates (CuPhenOH+, Cu(Phen)22+, CuPhen(OH)2, Cu(Phen)32+, etc.) depending on pH and initial concentrations. UV-vis spectroscopic measurements were correlated with the major species theoretically present in each condition. The UV absorbance of the system was mainly attributed to the Cu-Phen complex and the visible absorbance was only due to the dye. Cu-Phen appeared to reduce the color intensity of the DR81 dye aqueous solution under specific conditions (more effective at pH 10.7 with Cu:Phen = 1:1), probably owing to the occurrence of a coordination phenomenon between DR81 and Cu-Phen. Hence, the ligand competition between phenanthroline and hydroxide ions would be disturbed by a third competitor, which is the dye molecule. Further investigation proved that the DR81 dye is able to form a complex with copper-phenanthroline, leading to partial color-stripping. This new “color-stripping effect” may be a new opportunity in paper and textile industries for wastewater treatment.

Effect of Monoelectronic Oxidation of an Unsymmetrical Phenoxido-Hydroxido Bridged Dicopper(II) Complex

A (μ-hydroxido, μ-phenoxido)CuIICuII complex 1 has been synthesized using an unsymmetrical ligand bearing an N, N-bis(2-pyridyl)methylamine (BPA) moiety coordinating one copper and a dianionic bis-amide moiety coordinating the other copper(II) ion. Electrochemical mono-oxidation of the complex in DMF occurs reversibly at 213 K at E1/2 = 0.12 V vs Fc+/Fc through a metal-centered process. The resulting species (complex 1+) is only stable at low temperature and has been spectroscopically characterized by UV-vis-NIR cryo-spectroelectrochemical and EPR methods. DFT and TD-DFT calculations, consistent with experimental data, support the formation of a CuIICuIII phenoxido-hydroxido complex. Low-temperature chemical oxidation of 1 by NOSbF6 yields a tetranuclear complex 2(SbF6)(NO2) which displays two binuclear CuIICuII subunits. The X-ray crystal structure of 2(SbF6)(NO2) evidences that the nitrogen of the terminal amide group is protonated and the coordination of the amide occurs via the O atom. The bis-amide moiety appears to be a non-innocent proton acceptor along the redox process. Alternatively, protonation of complex 1 leads to the complex 2(ClO4)2, as evidenced by X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and 1H NMR.