Shawkat M. Aly

Reactivity of CuI and CuBr toward Et2S: a reinvestigation on the self-assembly of luminescent copper(I) coordination polymers.

CuI reacts with SEt(2) in hexane to afford the known strongly luminescent 1D coordination polymer [(Et(2)S)(3){Cu(4)(mu(3)-I)(4)}](n) (1). Its X-ray structure has been redetermined at 115, 235, and 275 K in order to address the behavior of the cluster-centered emission and is built upon Cu(4)(mu(3)-I)(4) cubane-like clusters as secondary building units (SBUs), which are interconnected via bridging SEt(2) ligands. However, we could not reproduce the preparation of a coordination polymer with composition [(Et(2)S)(3){Cu(4)(mu(3)-Br)(4)}](n) as reported in Inorg. Chem. 1975, 14, 1667. In contrast, the autoassembly reaction of SEt(2) with CuBr results in the formation of a novel 1D coordination polymer of composition [(Cu(3)Br(3))(SEt(2))(3)](n) (2). The crystal structure of 2 has been solved at 115, 173, 195, and 235 K. The framework of the luminescent compound 2 consists of a corrugated array with alternating Cu(mu(2)-Br)(2)Cu rhomboids, which are connected through two bridging SEt(2) ligands to a tetranuclear open-cubane Cu(4)Br(4) SBU, ligated on two external Cu atoms with one terminal SEt(2). The solid-state luminescence spectra of 1 and 2 exhibit intense halide-to-metal charge-transfer emissions centered at 565 and 550 nm, respectively, at 298 K. A correlation was also noted between the change in the full width at half-maximum of the emission band between 298 and 77 K and the relative flexibility of the bridging ligand. The emission properties of these materials are also rationalized by means of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations performed on 1.

Acceleration of the through space S1 energy transfer rates in cofacial bisporphyrin bio-inspired models by virtue of substituents effect on the Förster J integral and its implication in the antenna effect in the photosystems

The singlet k(ET) for cofacial β-octaalkylporphyrin/bis(meso-aryl)porphyrin dyads increases linearly with the gap between the donor-acceptor 0-0 fluorescence peaks at 77 K.

Design and Photophysical Properties of Zinc(II) Porphyrin‐Containing Dendrons Linked to a Central Artificial Special Pair

The click chemistry synthesis and photophysical properties, notably photo-induced energy and electron transfers between the central core and the peripheral chromophores of a series of artificial special pair-dendron systems (dendron = G1, G2, G3; Gx = zinc(II) tetra-meso-arylporphyrin-containing polyimides) built upon a central core of dimethylxanthenebis(metal(II) porphyrin) (metal = zinc, copper), are reported. The dendrons act as singlet and triplet energy acceptors or donors, depending on the dendrimeric systems. The presence of the paramagnetic d(9) copper(II) in the dendrimers promotes singlet-triplet energy transfer from the zinc(II) tetra-meso-arylporphyrin to the bis(copper(II) porphyrin) unit and slow triplet-triplet energy transfer from the central bis(copper(II) porphyrin) fragment to the peripheral zinc(II) tetra-meso-arylporphyrin. If bis(zinc(II) porphyrin) is the central core, evidence for chain folding is observed; this is unambiguously demonstrated by the presence of triplet-triplet energy transfer in the heterobimetallic systems, a process that can only occur at short distances.

Reduced and oxidized forms of the Pt-organometallic version of polyaniline.

This work represents an effort to synthesize all four forms of polyaniline (PANI) in its organometallic versions. Polymers containing substituted 1,4-benzoquinone diimine or 1,4-diaminobenzene units in the backbone exhibiting the general structure (C≡CC(6)H(4)-N═C(6)X(4)═N-C(6)H(4)C≡C-PtL(2))(n) and (C≡CC(6)H(4)NH-C(6)X(4)-NHC(6)H(4)C≡C-PtL(2))(n) along with the corresponding model compounds (C≡CC(6)H(4)-N═C(6)X(4)═N-C(6)H(4)C≡C)(PtL(2)Cl)(2) and (C≡CC(6)H(4)NH-C(6)X(4)-NHC(6)H(4)C≡C)(PtL(2)Cl)(2) (L = PBu(3); X = H, F, Cl) were synthesized. The polymers and corresponding model compounds were characterized (including (1)H and (31)P NMR, IR, mass spectra, elemental analysis, and X-ray structure determinations) and investigated for their redox properties in the absence and in the presence of acid. Their optical properties, including ns transient spectroscopy were also investigated. These properties were interpreted through density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) computations. These materials are found to be oligomers (GPC) with thermal stability (TGA) reaching 350 °C. The greatest stabilities were found in the cases with X = F. Using a data bank of 8 X-ray structures of diimine derivatives, a relationship between the C═N bond distance and the dihedral angle between the benzoquinone ring and the flanking phenyl planes is noted. As the size of the substituent X on the benzoquinone center increases, the degree of conjugation decreases as demonstrated by the C═N bond length. The largest dihedral angles are noted for X = Cl. These polymers exhibit drastic chemical differences when X is varied (X = H, F, Cl). The completely reduced polymer (C≡CC(6)H(4)NH-C(6)H(4)-NHC(6)H(4)C≡C-PtL(2))(n) (i.e., X = H) was not chemically accessible whereas in the cases of X = F, Cl, these materials were obtained and represent the first examples of fully reduced organometallic versions of PANI (i.e., leucoemaraldine). For the (C≡CC(6)H(4)-N═C(6)X(4)═N-C(6)H(4)C≡C-PtL(2))(n) polymers, the completely oxidized form for X = H was isolated (pernigraniline), but for X = F and Cl, only the largely reduced mixed-valence form (i.e., emaraldine) was obtained via chemical routes. In acidic solutions, the chemically accessible polymer for X = H, (C≡CC(6)H(4)-N═C(6)H(4)═N-C(6)H(4)C≡C-PtL(2))(n), exhibits two chemically reversible waves indicating that the reduced form (C≡CC(6)H(4)NH-C(6)H(4)-NHC(6)H(4)C≡C-PtL(2))(n) can be generated. The absorption spectra of the highly colored diimine-containing species exhibit a broad charge transfer band (assigned based on DFT calculations (B3LYP); C(6)H(4)C≡C-PtL(2)-C≡CC(6)H(4) → N═C(6)X(4)═N) in the 450-800 nm window red shifting according X = H → Cl → F, consistent with their relative inductive effect. The largest absorptivity is measured for X = H because this polymer is fully oxidized whereas for the cases where X = F and Cl, these polymers exists in the mixed valence form. The ns transient absorption spectra of two polymers (X = F; reduced and mixed-valence polymers) were measured. The triplet excited state in the mixed-valence polymer is dominated by the reduced diamine residue and the T(1)-T(n) absorption of the diimine is entirely quenched.

Effect of t-BuS vs. n-BuS on the topology, Cu⋯Cu distances and luminescence properties of 2D Cu4I4/RS(CH2)4SR metal–organic frameworks

CuI reacts with RS(CH2)4SR (R = n-Bu (L1); t-Bu (L2)) to afford the 2D coordination polymers [Cu4I4{μ-RS(CH2)4SR}2]n (R = n-Bu (1); t-Bu (2)). Their grid networks exhibit nodal Cu4(μ3-I)4 clusters interconnected by dithioethers with mean Cu⋯Cu distances of 2.7265(10) and 2.911(2) A for 1 and 2, respectively. This difference translates in a blue shift of the solid state emission bands and a decrease in emission lifetimes when trading R = n-Bu to the bulky t-Bu.

Dendron to Central Core S1–S1 and S2–Sn (n>1) Energy Transfers in Artificial Special Pairs Containing Dendrimers with Limited Numbers of Conformations

Two dendrimers consisting of a cofacial free-base bisporphyrin held by a biphenylene spacer and functionalized with 4-benzeneoxomethane (5-(4-benzene)tri-10,15,20-(4-n-octylbenzene)zinc(II)porphyrin) using either five or six of the six available meso-positions, have been synthesized and characterized as models for the antenna effect in Photosystems I and II. The presence of the short linkers, -CH2O-, and long C8H17 soluble side chains substantially reduces the number of conformers (foldamers) compared with classic dendrimers built with longer flexible chains. This simplification assists in their spectroscopic and photophysical analysis, notably with respect to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Both steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements indicate that the cofacial free bases and the flanking zinc(II)-porphyrin antennas act as energy acceptor and donor, respectively, following excitation in either the Q or Soret bands of the dendrimers. The rate constants for singlet electronic energy transfer (k(EET)) extracted from the S1 and S2 fluorescence lifetimes of the donor in the presence and absence of the acceptor are ≤ (0.1-0.3)×10(9) and ∼2×10(9)  s(-1) for S1→S1 (range from a bi-exponential decay model) and about 1.5×10(12)  s(-1) for S2→S(n) (n>1). Comparisons of these experimental data with those calculated from Förster theory using orientation factors and donor-acceptor distances extracted from computer modeling suggest that a highly restricted number of the many foldamers facilitate energy transfer. These foldamers have the lowest energy by molecular modeling and consist of one or at most two of the flanking zinc porphyrin antennas folded so they lie near the central artificial special pair core with the remaining antennas located almost parallel to and far from it.

Incorporation of zinc(II) porphyrins in polyaniline in its perigraniline form leading to polymers with the lowest band gap

Conjugated copolymers built upon quinone diimine-zinc(II) porphyrin units exhibit a very low lying charge transfer band at 800 nm and are strongly emissive from the S(2) and T(2) states.

Through space singlet-singlet and triplet-triplet energy transfers in cofacial bisporphyrins held by the carbazoyl spacer

The through space singlet-singlet and triplet-triplet energy transfers in cofacial bis(etio-porphyrins) rigidly held by the carbazoyl spacer were investigated. The studies on singlet-singlet transfer, which operates via a Forster mechanism, were performed using the zinc porphyrin and free base chromophores as energy donor and acceptor, respectively, while the investigation on triplet-triplet processes was performed using the palladium porphyrin, and the zinc porphyrin and free base chromophores as donor and acceptors, respectively. The rate for singlet-singlet transfer (kET(singlet)) is unexpectedly slower than that reported for other similar, rigidly held bisporphyrins such as H2(DPO)Zn(DPO = 4,6-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]dibenzofuran) and H2(DPS)Zn(DPS = 4,6-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethyl-porphyrinyl)]dibenzothiophene)). This slower rate is interpreted by the presence of the H-atom exactly located between the two meso-carbons in the dyads. The rates for triplet-triplet transfer are also slow but not too different from that recently reported for H2(DPX)Pd (DPX = 4,5-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]-9,9-dimethylxanthene) and H2(DPB)Pd (DPB = 1,8-bis[5-(2,8,13,17-tetraethyl-3,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrinyl)]biphenylene) at 77 K. In such cases, the slow rate is interpreted by a through space energy transfer pathway which operates according to a (small range) Dexter mechanism (since the Forster mechanism is inoperative for triplet-triplet processes). The kET(triplet) increases at 298 K which is tentatively interpreted by favorable excited state distortions in the triplet state and fluxion processes which ease intramolecular transfers for these dyads in fluid solution in comparison with former glassy matrices.

Design of Triads for Probing the Direct Through Space Energy Transfers in Closely Spaced Assemblies

Using a selective stepwise Suzuki cross-coupling reaction, two trimers built on three different chromophores were prepared. These trimers exhibit a D(^)A1-A2 structure where the donor D (octa-β-alkyl zinc(II)porphyrin either as diethylhexamethyl, 10a, or tetraethyltetramethyl, 10b, derivatives) through space transfers the S1 energy to two different acceptors, di(4-ethylbenzene) zinc(II)porphyrin (A1; acceptor 1) placed cofacial with D, and the corresponding free base (A2; acceptor 2), which is meso-meso-linked with A1. This structure design allows for the possibility of comparing two series of assemblies, 9a,b (D(^)A1) with 10a,b (D(^)Â1-A2), for the evaluation of the S1 energy transfer for the global process D*→A2 in the trimers. From the comparison of the decays of the fluorescence of D, the rates for through space energy transfer, kET for 10a,b (kET ≈ 6.4 × 10(9) (10a), 5.9 × 10(9) s(-1) (10b)), and those for the corresponding cofacial D(^)A1 systems, 9a,b, (kET ≈ 5.0 × 10(9) (9a), 4.7 × 10(9) s(-1) (9b)), provide an estimate for kET for the direct through space D*→A2 process (i.e., kET(D(^)A1-A2) - kET(D(^)A1) = kET(D*→A2) ∼ 1 × 10(9) s(-1)). This channel of relaxation represents ∼15% of kET for D*→A1.

Properties of the [M(dppm)2M′]2+ Building Blocks (M, M′ = Pd or Pt): Site Selectivity, Emission Features, and Frontier Orbital Analysis

The homodinuclear [ClM(mu-dppm)(2)MCl] complexes 1 (M = Pd) and 2 (M = Pt) react with RNC ligands (R = Ph, xylyl, p-tolyl, p-C(6)H(4)iPr) to provide the A-frame [ClPd(mu-dppm)(2)(mu-C=N-R)PdCl] (R = Ph (5a), xylyl (5b)), [ClPt(mu-dppm)(2)(mu-C=N-R)PtCl] (R = p-tolyl (4a); p-C(6)H(4)iPr (4b)), and the d(9)-d(9) M(2)-bonded [ClPt(mu-dppm)(2)Pt(CN-R)]Cl (R = xylyl (3a); p-C(6)H(4)iPr (3b)) complexes. The heterodinuclear [XPd(mu-dppm)(2)PtX] complexes 6a (X = Cl) and 6b (X = I) react with RNC (R = o-anisyl) to form the A-frame [XPd(mu-dppm)(2)(mu-C=N-R)PtX] (X = Cl (9); I (10a)) and M(2)-bonded [ClPt(mu-dppm)(2)Pt(CN-R)]Cl (10b) complexes. The dangling ligand-containing complex [ClPd(mu-dppm)(2)Pt(eta(1)-dppm=O)](BF(4)) (7) reacts with xylyl-NC stoichiometrically to produce the dicationic salt [(xylyl-NC)Pd(mu-dppm)(2)Pt(eta(1)-dppm=O)](BF(4))(2) (8). Parameters ruling the coordination site terminal versus bridging are discussed. The precursor 10a reacts with RNC (R = o-anisyl, tBu) to form the heterobimetallic bis(isonitrile) [IPd(mu-dppm)(2)(mu-C=N-o-anisyl)Pt(CN-R)]I complexes 11b and 12, respectively, demonstrating the site selectivity of the second CNR ligand coordination, Pd versus Pt. The X-ray structures of 11b and 12 were obtained. Complex 12 is the first example of an A-frame system of the Ni-triad bearing two different isocyanide ligands. Several d(9)-d(9) terminal and d(8)-d(8) A-frame homo- and heterodinuclear complexes in 2-MeTHF at 77 K were studied by UV-vis and luminescence spectroscopy. Assignments for the lowest energy absorption and emission bands are made on the basis of density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory computations.