John Fielden

Combining Very Large Quadratic and Cubic Nonlinear Optical Responses in Extended, Tris-Chelate Metallochromophores with Six π-Conjugated Pyridinium Substituents

We describe a series of nine new complex salts in which electron-rich Ru(II) or Fe(II) centers are connected via pi-conjugated bridges to six electron-accepting N-methyl-/N-arylpyridinium groups. This work builds upon our previous preliminary studies (Coe , B. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 13399-13410; J. Phys. Chem. A 2007, 111, 472-478), with the aims of achieving greatly enhanced NLO properties and also combining large quadratic and cubic effects in potentially redox-switchable molecules. Characterization has involved various techniques, including electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The complexes display intense, visible d --> pi* metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands, and their pi --> pi* intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) absorptions in the near-UV region show molar extinction coefficients as high as ca. 3.5 x 10(5) M(-1) cm(-1). Molecular quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) responses beta have been determined by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering at 800 and 1064 nm and also via Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopic studies. The directly and indirectly derived beta values are very large, with the Stark-based static first hyperpolarizabilities beta(0) reaching as high as ca. 10(-27) esu, and generally increase on extending the pi-conjugation and enhancing the electron-accepting strength of the ligands. Cubic NLO properties have also been measured by using the Z-scan technique, revealing relatively high two-photon absorption cross sections of up to 2500 GM at 750 nm.

Nickel(II) and Palladium(II) Complexes of Azobenzene-Containing Ligands as Dichroic Dyes

A large series of complexes has been synthesized with two chelating, Schiff base azobenzene derivatives connected linearly by coordination to a central nickel(II) or palladium(II) ion. These compounds have the general formulas M(II)(OC(6)H(3)-2-CHNR-4-N═NC(6)H(4)-4-CO(2)Et)(2) [M = Ni; R = n-Bu (3c), n-C(6)H(13) (3d), n-C(8)H(17) (3e), n-C(12)H(25) (3f), Ph (3g), OH (3h), C(6)H(4)-4-CO(2)Et (3i). M = Pd; R = i-Pr (4a), t-Bu (4b), n-Bu (4c), n-C(6)H(13) (4d), n-C(8)H(17) (4e), n-C(12)H(25) (4f), Ph (4g)], M(II)[OC(6)H(3)-2-CHN(n-C(8)H(17))-4-N═NC(6)H(4)-4-CO(2)(n-C(8)H(17))](2) [M = Ni (9), Pd (10)], M(II)[OC(6)H(3)-2-CHN(n-C(8)H(17))-4-N═NC(6)H(4)-4-C(6)H(4)-4-O(n-C(7)H(15))](2) [M = Ni (14), Pd (15)], and M(II)[OC(6)H(3)-2-CHN(CMe(2))-4-N═NC(6)H(4)-4-CO(2)Et](2) [M = Ni (17), Pd (18); the CMe(2) groups are connected]. These compounds have been characterized by using various physical techniques including (1)H NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Single-crystal X-ray structures have been obtained for two pro-ligands and five complexes (3e, 4e, 14, 15, and 17). The latter always show a strictly square planar arrangement about the metal center, except for the Ni(II) complex of a salen-like ligand (17). In solution, broadened (1)H NMR signals indicate distortions from square planar geometry for the bis-chelate Ni(II) complexes. Electronic absorption spectroscopy and ZINDO_S (Zerners intermediate neglect of differential overlap) and TD-DFT (time-dependent density functional theory) calculations show that the lowest energy transition has metal-to-ligand charge-transfer character. The λ(max) of this band lies in the range of 409-434 nm in dichloromethane, and replacing Ni(II) with Pd(II) causes small blue-shifts. Dichroic ratios measured in various liquid crystal hosts show complexation-induced increases with Ni(II), but using Pd(II) has a detrimental effect.

Extending metal-to-polyoxometalate charge transfer lifetimes: the effect of heterometal location.

In an effort to develop robust molecular sensitizers for solar fuel production, the electronic structure and photodynamics of transition-metal-substituted polyoxometalates (POMs), a novel class of compound in this context, was examined. Experimental and computational techniques including femtosecond (fs) transient absorption spectroscopy have been used to study the cobalt-containing Keggin POMs, [Co(II) W12 O40 ](6-) (1 a), [Co(III) W12 O40 ](5-) (2 a), [SiCo(II) (H2 O)W11 O39 ](6-) (3 a), and [SiCo(III) (H2 O)W11 O39 ](5-) (4 a), finding the longest lived charge transfer excited state so far observed in a POM and elucidating the electronic structures and excited-state dynamics of these compounds at an unprecedented level. All species exhibit a bi-exponential decay in which early dynamic processes with time constants in the fs domain yield longer lived excited states which decay with time constants in the ps to ns domain. The initially formed states of 1 a and 3 a are considered to result from metal-to-polyoxometalate charge transfer (MPCT) from Co(II) to W, while the longer-lived excited state of 1 a is tentatively assigned to a localized intermediate MPCT state. The excited state formed by the tetrahedral cobalt(II) centered heteropolyanion (1 a) is far longer-lived (τ=420 ps in H2 O; τ=1700 ps in MeCN) than that of 3 a (τ=1.3 ps), in which the single Co(II) atom is located in a pseudo-octahedral addendum site. Short-lived states are observed for the two Co(III) -containing heteropolyanions 2 a (τ=4.4 ps) and 4 a (τ=6.3 ps) and assigned solely to O→Co(III) charge transfer. The dramatically extended lifetime for 1 a versus 3 a is ascribed to a structural change permitted by the coordinatively flexible central site, weak orbital overlap of the central Co with the polytungstate framework, and putative transient valence trapping of the excited electron on a single W atom, a phenomenon not noted previously in POMs.

Chiral Hexanuclear Ferric Wheels

The homochiral iron(III) wheels [Fe(6){(S)-pedea}(6)Cl(6)] and [Fe(6){(R)-pedea)}(6)Cl(6)] [(R)- and (S)-2; pedea = phenylethylaminodiethoxide] exhibit high optical activities and antiferromagnetic exchange. These homochiral products react with each other, producing the centrosymmetric, crystallographically characterized [Fe(6){(S)-pedea}(3){(R)-pedea}(3)Cl(6)] diastereomer [(RSRSRS)-2]. (1)H NMR and UV-vis studies indicate that exchange processes are slow in both homo- and heterochiral systems but that, upon combination, the reaction between (R)- and (S)-2 occurs quickly.

Transition Metal Substitution Effects on Metal-to-Polyoxometalate Charge Transfer

A series of hetero-bimetallic transition metal-substituted polyoxometalates (TMSPs) were synthesized based on the Co(II)-centered ligand [Co(II)W11O39](10-). The eight complex series, [Co(II)(M(x)OHy)W11O39]((12-x-y)-) (M(x)OHy = V(IV)O, Cr(III)(OH2), Mn(II)(OH2), Fe(III)(OH2), Co(II)(OH2), Ni(II)(OH2), Cu(II)(OH2), Zn(II)(OH2)), of which six are reported for the first time, was synthesized starting from [Co(III)W11O39](9-) and studied using spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational techniques to evaluate the influence of substituted transition metals on the photodynamics of the metal-to-polyoxometalate charge transfer (MPCT) transition. The bimetallic complexes all show higher visible light absorption than the plenary [Co(II)W12O40](6-) and demonstrate the same MPCT transition as the plenary complex, but they have shorter excited-state lifetimes (sub-300 ps in aqueous media). The decreased lifetimes are rationalized on the basis of nonradiative relaxation due to coordinating aqua ligands, increased interaction with cations due to increased negative charge, and the energy gap law, with the strongest single factor appearing to be the charge on the anion. The most promising results are from the Cr- and Fe-substituted systems, which retain excited-state lifetimes at least 50% of that of [Co(II)W12O40](6-) while more than tripling the absorbance at 400 nm.

Organoimido-Polyoxometalate Nonlinear Optical Chromophores: A Structural, Spectroscopic, and Computational Study

Ten organoimido polyoxometalate (POM)-based chromophores have been synthesized and studied by hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS), Stark and Resonance Raman spectroscopies, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. HRS β0 values for chromophores with resonance electron donors are significant (up to 139 × 10-30 esu, ∼5 times greater than that of the DAS+ cation), but systems with no donor, or the -NO2 acceptor show no activity, in some cases, despite large DFT-predicted β-values. In active systems with short (phenyl) π-bridges, β0 values comfortably exceed that of the purely organic structural analogue N,N-dimethyl-4-nitroaniline (DMPNA), and intrinsic β-values, β0/N3/2 (where N is the number of bridge π-electrons) thus appear to break empirical performance limits (β0/N3/2 vs λmax) for planar organic systems. However, β0 values obtained for extended systems with a diphenylacetylene bridge are comparable to or lower than that of their nitro analogue, N,N-dimethyl-4-[(4-nitrophenyl)ethynyl]-aniline (DMNPEA). Resonance Raman spectroscopy confirms the involvement of the POM in the electronic transitions, whether donor groups are present or not, but Stark spectroscopy indicates that, in their absence, the transitions have little dipolar character (hence, NLO inactive), consistent with DFT-calculated frontier orbitals, which extend over both POM and organic group. Stark and DFT also suggest that β is enhanced in the short compounds because the extension of charge transfer (CT) onto the POM increases changes in the excited-state dipole moment. With extended π-systems, this effect does not increase CT distances, relative to a -NO2 acceptor, so β0 values do not exceed that of DMNPEA. Overall, our results show that (i) the organoimido-POM unit is an efficient acceptor for second-order NLO, but an ineffective donor; (ii) the nature of electronic transitions in arylimido-POMs is strongly influenced by the substituents of the aryl group; and (iii) organoimido-POMs outperform organic acceptors with short π-bridges, but lose their advantage with extended π-conjugation.

Level crossings and zero-field splitting in the {Cr8}-cubane spin cluster studied using inelastic neutron scattering and magnetization

Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) in variable magnetic field and high-field magnetization measurements in the millikelvin temperature range were performed to gain insight into the low-energy magnetic excitation spectrum and the field-induced level crossings in the molecular spin cluster {Cr(8)}-cubane. These complementary techniques provide consistent estimates of the lowest level-crossing field. The overall features of the experimental data are explained using an isotropic Heisenberg model, based on three distinct exchange interactions linking the eight Cr(III) paramagnetic centers (spins s = 3/2), that is supplemented with a relatively large molecular magnetic anisotropy term for the lowest S = 1 multiplet. It is noted that the existence of the anisotropy is clearly evident from the magnetic field dependence of the excitations in the INS measurements, while the magnetization measurements are not sensitive to its effects.

Design and sterospecific synthesis of modular ligands based upon cis-1,3-trans-5-substituted cyclohexanes

A range of eight novel ligands, based on the cis-1,3-trans-5-substituted cyclohexane framework, have been synthesized by a stereospecific route starting from cis-1,3,5-cyclohexanetriol. This route depends on the use of efficient mono-silylation and mono-tosylation procedures, is well optimised, and due to isolation of the diazido alcohol precursor cis-3,5-diazido-trans-hydroxycyclohexane readily allows the synthesis of a sizeable family of related ligands via O-derivatisation. Such derivatisations allow systematic changes between various coordinating, hydrogen bonding and lipophilic groups, allowing potential for this ligand system to be utilised in supramolecular coordination chemistry.

[CoxCu1−x(DDOP)(OH2)(NO3)](NO3): hydrogen bond-driven distortion of cobalt(ii) by solid solution ‘network mismatch’

Late-first row transition metal nitrate complexes of the tetradentate N-donor ligand cis-3,5-bis[(2-pyridinyleneamino]-trans-hydroxycyclohexane (DDOP) adopt a mono-cationic [M(DDOP)(H(2)O)(NO(3))](+) structure (M = Co, 1; Cu, 2; Zn, 3) in which the DDOP ligand occupies the equatorial plane. The complexes are essentially isostructural and isomorphous, allowing the Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes to co-crystallize in mixed-metal solid solutions with the formula [Co(x)Cu(1-x)(DDOP)(NO(3))(H(2)O)](NO(3)), where x = 0.4 (4), 0.1 (5), and 0.7 (6). For 4, structural and magnetochemical analysis indicate that the geometry of the octahedral Co(II) complex distorts to match that of the dominant Jahn-Teller distorted Cu(II) center. Magnetic susceptibility data of octahedral Co(II) are sensitive to ligand geometry distortions and have been analyzed accordingly, comparing 4 to the reference systems 1 and 2. Bond valence calculations have been used to estimate the relative stabilities of the six hydrogen bonded networks, suggesting that the stretching of the Co(II) coordination sphere 4 in is assisted by adoption of the most stable hydrogen bonded network; but that in 6 this is overcome by a higher loading of Co. This family of complexes therefore represent predictable metal-based tectons which can help probe the influence of secondary non-covalent interactions over metal coordination geometries and properties.

Mn3(OAc)6·CH3CN: a porous dehydrated manganese(II) acetate

The crystal structure of a new form of dehydrated manganese(II) acetate, poly[[hexa-mu(3)-acetato-trimanganese(II)] acetonitrile solvate], {[Mn(3)(CH(3)COO)(6)].CH(3)CN}(n), (I), reveals a three-dimensional polymeric structure based on an {Mn(3)} trimer. The {Mn(3)} asymmetric unit contains three crystallographically independent Mn positions, comprising a seven-coordinate center sharing a mirror plane with a six-coordinate center, and another six-coordinate atom located on an inversion center. Two of the four crystallographically independent acetate (OAc) ligands, as well as the acetonitrile solvent molecule, are also located on the mirror plane. The Mn atoms are connected by a mixture of Mn-O-Mn and Mn-OCO-Mn bridging modes, giving rise to face- and corner-sharing interactions between manganese polyhedra within the trimers, and edge- and corner-sharing connections between the trimers. The network contains substantial pores which are tightly filled by crystallographically located acetonitrile molecules. This structure represents the first porous structurally characterized phase of anhydrous manganese(II) acetate and as such it is compared with the closely related densely packed anhydrous manganese(II) acetate phase, solvent-free beta-Mn(OAc)(2).