Ralf Haiges

Singlet Fission in a Covalently Linked Cofacial Alkynyltetracene Dimer

Singlet fission is a process in which a singlet exciton converts into two triplet excitons. To investigate this phenomenon, we synthesized two covalently linked 5-ethynyl-tetracene (ET) dimers with differing degrees of intertetracene overlap: BET-X, with large, cofacial overlap of tetracene π-orbitals, and BET-B, with twisted arrangement between tetracenes exhibits less overlap between the tetracene π-orbitals. The two compounds were crystallographically characterized and studied by absorption and emission spectroscopy in solution, in PMMA and neat thin films. The results show that singlet fission occurs within 1 ps in an amorphous thin film of BET-B with high efficiency (triplet yield: 154%). In solution and the PMMA matrix the S1 of BET-B relaxes to a correlated triplet pair (1)(T1T1) on a time scale of 2 ps, which decays to the ground state without forming separated triplets, suggesting that triplet energy transfer from (1)(T1T1) to a nearby chromophore is essential for producing free triplets. In support of this hypothesis, selective excitation of BET-B doped into a thin film of diphenyltetracene (DPT) leads to formation of the (1)(T1T1) state of BET-B, followed by generation of both DPT and BET-B triplets. For the structurally cofacial BET-X, an intermediate forms in <180 fs and returns to the ground state more rapidly than BET-B. First-principles calculations predict a 2 orders of magnitude faster rate of singlet fission to the (1)(T1T1) state in BET-B relative to that of crystalline tetracene, attributing the rate increase to greater coupling between the S1 and (1)(T1T1) states and favorable energetics for formation of the separated triplets.

Hydrogen Generation from Formic Acid Decomposition by Ruthenium Carbonyl Complexes. Tetraruthenium Dodecacarbonyl Tetrahydride as an Active Intermediate

The present Minireview covers the formation and the structural characterization of noble metal carbonyl and hydrido carbonyl complexes, with particular emphasis on ruthenium complexes using formic acid as a carbonyl and hydride source. The catalytic activity of these organometallic compounds for the decarboxylation of formic acid, a potential hydrogen storage material, is also reviewed. In addition, the first preparation of [Ru(4)(CO)(12)H(4)] from RuCl(3) and formic acid as well as the catalytic activity of [Ru(4)(CO)(12)H(4)] for the decomposition of formic acid to hydrogen and carbon dioxide are presented.

Energetic high-nitrogen compounds: 5-(trinitromethyl)-2H-tetrazole and -tetrazolates, preparation, characterization, and conversion into 5-(dinitromethyl)tetrazoles.

A convenient access to 5-(trinitromethyl)-2H-tetrazole (HTNTz) has been developed, based on the exhaustive nitration of 1H-tetrazole-5-acetic acid, which was prepared from ethyl cyanoacetate and HN3 in a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction, followed by basic hydrolysis. HTNTz was converted into the ammonium, guanidinium, rubidium, cesium, copper, and silver 5-(trinitromethyl)-2H-tetrazolates. In addition, the ammonia adducts of the copper and silver salts were isolated. The reaction of HTNTz with hydrazine and hydroxylamine resulted in the formation of hydrazinium 5-(dinitromethyl)tetrazolate and hydroxylammonium 5-(dinitromethyl)-1H-tetrazolate, respectively. Acid treatment of both 5-(dinitromethyl)tetrazolates resulted in the isolation of 5-(dinitromethylene)-4,5-dihydro-1H-tetrazole, which was converted into potassium 5-(dinitromethyl)-1H-tetrazolate by reaction with K2CO3. All prepared compounds were fully characterized by (1)H, (13)C, (14)N, and (15)N NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure determination. Initial safety testing (impact, friction, and electrostatic sensitivity) and thermal stability measurements (differential thermal analysis, DTA) were also carried out. The 5-(trinitromethyl) and 5-(dinitromethyl)tetrazoles are highly energetic materials that explode upon impact or heating.

Long-Lived Trifluoromethanide Anion: A Key Intermediate in Nucleophilic Trifluoromethylations.

The trifluoromethanide anion is the postulated key intermediate in nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reactions. However, for more than six decades, the trifluoromethanide anion was widely believed to exist only as a short-lived transient species in the condensed phase. It has now been prepared in bulk for the first time in THF solution. The trifluoromethanide anion with the [K(18-crown-6)](+) cation was unequivocally characterized by low-temperature (19)F and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. Its intermediacy in nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reactions was directly evident by its reaction chemistry with various electrophilic substrates. Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy, along with quantum mechanical calculations, support the persistence of the trifluoromethanide anion.

Amine-free reversible hydrogen storage in formate salts catalyzed by ruthenium pincer complex without pH control or solvent change.

Due to the intermittent nature of most renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, energy storage is increasingly required. Since electricity is difficult to store, hydrogen obtained by electrochemical water splitting has been proposed as an energy carrier. However, the handling and transportation of hydrogen in large quantities is in itself a challenge. We therefore present here a method for hydrogen storage based on a CO2 (HCO3 (-) )/H2 and formate equilibrium. This amine-free and efficient reversible system (>90 % yield in both directions) is catalyzed by well-defined and commercially available Ru pincer complexes. The formate dehydrogenation was triggered by simple pressure swing without requiring external pH control or the change of either the solvent or the catalyst. Up to six hydrogenation-dehydrogenation cycles were performed and the catalyst performance remained steady with high selectivity (CO free H2 /CO2 mixture was produced).

Proton-Assisted Reduction of CO2 by Cobalt Aminopyridine Macrocycles

We report here the efficient reduction of CO2 to CO by cobalt aminopyridine macrocycles. The effect of the pendant amines on catalysis was investigated. Several cobalt complexes based on the azacalix[4](2,6)pyridine framework with different substitutions on the pendant amine groups have been synthesized (R = H (1), Me (2), and allyl (3)), and their electrocatalytic properties were explored. Under an atmosphere of CO2 and in the presence of weak Brønsted acids, large catalytic currents are observed for 1, corresponding to the reduction of CO2 to CO with excellent Faradaic efficiency (98 ± 2%). In comparison, complexes 2 and 3 generate CO with TONs at least 300 times lower than 1, suggesting that the presence of the pendant NH moiety of the secondary amine is crucial for catalysis. Moreover, the presence of NH groups leads to a positive shift in the reduction potential of the Co(I/0) couple, therefore decreasing the overpotential for CO2 reduction.

N-Difluoromethylation of imidazoles and benzimidazoles using the Ruppert-Prakash reagent under neutral conditions.

Direct N-difluoromethylation of imidazoles and benzimidazoles has been achieved using TMS-CF3 (the Ruppert-Prakash reagent) under neutral conditions. Difluoromethylated products were obtained in good-to-excellent yields. Inexpensive, commercially available starting materials, neutral conditions, and shorter reaction times are advantages of this methodology. Reactions are accessible through conventional as well as microwave irradiation conditions.

A Persistent α‐Fluorocarbanion and Its Analogues: Preparation, Characterization, and Computational Study

Fluoro power: In agreement with theoretical studies on alpha-fluorocarbanions an X-ray crystal structure shows the alpha-fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)methide anion adopts a pyramidal configuration (see picture). High-level calculations and NMR spectroscopy studies demonstrate that electron-withdrawing substituents play a crucial role in modulating the properties of bis(phenylsulfonyl)methide anions.

Nitryl Cyanide, NCNO2

The elusive nitryl cyanide, NCNO2, has been synthesized and characterized. It was prepared in good yield, isolated by fractional condensation, characterized by NMR and vibrational spectroscopy, and studied by theoretical calculations. Nitryl cyanide holds promise as a high energy density material (HEDM) and might also prove useful as a HEDM building block. The simplicity and inherent stability of nitryl cyanide, together with the known multitude of nitriles in interstellar space, suggest that the compound might also be a potential candidate for observations in atmospheric and interstellar chemistry.

Difluoro(sulfinato)methylation of N-Sulfinyl Imines Facilitated by 2-Pyridyl Sulfone: Stereoselective Synthesis of Difluorinated β-Amino Sulfonic Acids and Peptidosulfonamides†

Fluorine, despite its almost complete absence from biological systems in nature, has become one of the most utilized element for modulating the properties of biologically active molecules and for studying their mechanism of action. The sulfonamide moiety is one of the most important pharmacophores in medicinal chemistry, and a-fluorosulfonamides have been shown to have improved anti-inflammatory activity and enzyme inhibitory potency. It has been rationalized that a-fluorine substitutions of sulfonamides can increase their acidity and lipophilicity, both of which can significantly affect the biological activity of these molecules. However, biological studies on fluorinated sulfonamides have been largely limited to simple a-fluorosulfonamides with the general structure A. In contrast, b-sulfonamidopeptides, as structural analogues of peptides with enhanced metabolic