Xavier F. Le Goff

Mechanochromic and Thermochromic Luminescence of a Copper Iodide Cluster

The mechanochromic and thermochromic luminescence properties of a molecular copper(I) iodide cluster formulated [Cu(4)I(4)(PPh(2)(CH(2)CH=CH(2)))(4)] are reported. Upon mechanical grinding in a mortar, its solid-state emission properties are drastically modified as well as its thermochromic behavior. This reversible phenomenon has been attributed to distortions in the crystal packing leading to modifications of the intermolecular interactions and thus of the [Cu(4)I(4)] cluster core geometry. Notably, modification of the Cu-Cu interactions seems to be involved in this phenomenon directly affecting the emissive properties of the cluster.

Thermochromic Luminescence of Copper Iodide Clusters: The Case of Phosphine Ligands

Three copper(I) iodide clusters coordinated by different phosphine ligands formulated [Cu(4)I(4)(PPh(3))(4)] (1), [Cu(4)I(4)(Pcpent(3))(4)] (2), and [Cu(4)I(4)(PPh(2)Pr)(4)] (3) (PPh(3) = triphenylphosphine, Pcpent(3) = tricyclopentylphosphine, and PPh(2)Pr = diphenylpropylphosphine) have been synthesized and characterized by (1)H and (31)P NMR, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. They crystallize in different space groups, namely, monoclinic P21/c, cubic Pa ̅3, and tetragonal I ̅42m for 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The photoluminescence properties of clusters 1 and 3 show reversible luminescence thermochromism with two highly intense emission bands whose intensities are temperature dependent. In accordance to Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, these two emission bands have been attributed to two different transitions, a cluster centered (CC) one and a mixed XMCT/XLCT one. Cluster 2 does not exhibit luminescence variation in temperature because of the lack of the latter transition. The absorption spectra of the three clusters have been also rationalized by time dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations. A simplified model is suggested to represent the luminescence thermochromism attributed to the two different excited states in thermal equilibrium. In contrast with the pyridine derivatives, similar excitation profiles and low activation energy for these phosphine-based clusters reflect high coupling of the two emissive states. The effect of the Cu-Cu interactions on the emission properties of these clusters is also discussed. Especially, cluster 3 with long Cu-Cu contacts exhibits a controlled thermochromic luminescence which is to our knowledge, unknown for this family of copper iodide clusters. These phosphine-based clusters appear particularly interesting for the synthesis of original emissive materials.

Polymorphic Copper Iodide Clusters: Insights into the Mechanochromic Luminescence Properties

An in-depth study of mechanochromic and thermochromic luminescent copper iodide clusters exhibiting structural polymorphism is reported and gives new insights into the origin of the mechanochromic luminescence properties. The two different crystalline polymorphs exhibit distinct luminescence properties with one being green emissive and the other one being yellow emissive. Upon mechanical grinding, only one of the polymorphs exhibits great modification of its emission from green to yellow. Interestingly, the photophysical properties of the resulting partially amorphous crushed compound are closed to those of the other yellow polymorph. Comparative structural and optical analyses of the different phases including a solution of clusters permit us to establish a correlation between the Cu-Cu bond distances and the luminescence properties. In addition, the local structure of the [Cu4I4P4] cluster cores has been probed by (31)P and (65)Cu solid-state NMR analysis, which readily indicates that the grinding process modifies the phosphorus and copper atoms environments. The mechanochromic phenomenon is thus explained by the disruption of the crystal packing within intermolecular interactions inducing shortening of the Cu-Cu bond distances in the [Cu4I4] cluster core and eventually modification of the emissive state. These results definitely establish the role of cuprophilic interactions in the mechanochromism of copper iodide clusters. More generally, this study constitutes a step further into the understanding of the mechanism involved in the mechanochromic luminescent properties of metal-based compounds.

Phosphasalen Yttrium Complexes: Highly Active and Stereoselective Initiators for Lactide Polymerization

Preparation and characterization of three yttrium alkoxide complexes with new phosphasalen ligands are reported. The phosphasalens are analogues of the well-known salen ligands but with iminophosphorane donors replacing the imine functionality. The three yttrium alkoxide complexes show mono- and dinuclear structures in the solid state, depending on the substituents on the ligand. The new ligands and complexes are characterized using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The complexes are all rapid initiators for lactide polymerization; they show excellent polymerization control on addition of exogeneous alcohol. The mononuclear complex shows extremely rapid rates and a high degree of stereocontrol in rac-lactide polymerization, yielding heterotactic PLA (P(s) of 0.9). The phosphasalens are, therefore, excellent ligands for lactide ring-opening polymerization catalysis showing superior rates and stereocontrol versus salen ligands, which may be related to their excellent donating ability and the high degrees of steric protection they can confer.

An Unusual Access to Medium Sized Cycloalkynes by a New Gold(I)-Catalysed Cycloisomerisation of Diynes

A study was conducted to demonstrate efficient cycloisomerization of a series of 1,9- and 1,10-diynes into medium sized cycloalkynes by a gold-catalyzed alkyne-alkyne coupling. The reaction was performed using 4 mol% of gold complex in CD2Cl2 at room temperature and was monitored by using 1H NMR spectroscopy. The reaction of analogous diyne substrate was more rapid and a complete conversion was observed after 40 hours at room temperature. The cycloalkyne was isolated as a solid in 95% yield from which single crystals suitable for X-ray crystal structure determination was obtained. A rapid screening of catalysts and experimental conditions was undertaken to optimize the formation of cycloalkyne. A mechanistic proposal was also introduced for the cycloisomerization of diynes into cycloalkynes on the basis of the experimental observations.

Cationic dimetallic gold hydride complex stabilized by a xantphos-phosphole ligand: synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, and density functional theory study.

The bis-2,5-diphenylphosphole xantphos ligand (XDPP) 1 reacts with the [AuCl(tht)] complex to afford the monocoordinated [Au(XDPP)Cl] 2 and the dicoordinated chelate species [Au(XDPP)Cl] 3. Addition of AgOTf on this mixture, at room temperature, affords the cationic [Au(XDPP)][OTf] complex 4 which was fully characterized. An X-ray crystal structure analysis confirms the bent structure of this 14 VE [ML(2)](+) complex. Reaction of 4 with HSiMe(2)Ph in tetrahydrofuran at -78 degrees C yields the dinuclear [(XDPP)Au-H-Au(XDPP)](+) cationic complex 5, in which the hydride bridges the two [Au(XDPP)](+) metal fragments. In 5, the Au-P bond lengths are different and the phosphorus atoms which are located nearly trans to the hydride ligand exhibit significantly shorter P-Au bond lengths. Reaction of 4 with DSiMe(2)Ph to form the [(XDPP)Au-D-Au(XDPP)](+) complex 6 allowed to unambiguously ascribe the chemical shift of the deuteride in (2)H NMR (delta = 7.0 ppm with a (2)J(DP) = 8.4 Hz. The electronic structure of the [(XDPP)Au-H-Au(XDPP)](+) complex was studied through density functional theory calculations. An orbital analysis is developed in which complex 5 is viewed as the combination of two 12 electrons fragments [Au(XDPP)](+) with H(-). This analysis reveals that the hydride interacts in a bonding way with the sigma MO between the two gold atoms and in an antibonding way with a combination of d orbitals at the metal centers. This simple description allows to rationalize the inequivalence of the two types of P-Au bonds in 5.

A new and convenient approach towards bis(iminophosphoranyl)methane ligands and their dicationic, cationic, anionic and dianionic derivatives

The availability of bis(aminophosphoranes) 2a–c through a straightforward synthesis yielded access to a whole family of N,N ligands via sequential deprotonation. The obtained cationic 3a–c, neutral 4a–c, anionic 5a–c and dianionic 6a–c compounds were fully characterized by NMR and X-ray crystallography. Monocations 3a–c were shown to result from the deprotonation of 2a–c at the bridging methylene carbon. DFT calculations evidenced a substantial negative charge at this carbon. For the neutral bis(iminophosphoranes) 4a–c, two different forms were experimentally observed depending on the nature of the substituent at nitrogen. In the presence of an aryl group, a bis(iminophosphorane) is obtained whereas with alkyl substituent a tautomeric form resulting from a (1,3) hydrogen shift is observed. Theoretical studies were in good agreement with experimental results showing that these two forms are close in energy. The structure obtained for monoanion 5a reveals that a substantial interaction occurs between the anionic carbon and the lithium cation. The X-ray crystal structure of the optically pure dianion 6b has also been recorded.

Siloxanol-functionalized copper iodide cluster as a thermochromic luminescent building block.

A copper iodide cluster bearing reactive silanol groups exhibits thermochromic luminescence properties sensitive to its chemical environment and is thus a suitable building block for the synthesis of optically active materials.

Chiral undecagold clusters: synthesis, characterization and investigation in catalysis

Enantiopure undecagold clusters protected by chiral atropisomeric diphosphine ligands (P^P) have been synthesized by the stoichiometric reduction of the corresponding (P^P)(AuCl)(2) complexes with NaBH(4). The molecular mono-disperse [Au(11)(P^P)(4)Cl(2)]Cl species have been thoroughly characterized using an array of analytical techniques. (31)P NMR experiments suggested the presence of a slow intramolecular ligand exchange process. Circular dichroism measurements showed that enantiomeric clusters display mirror-image chiroptical activity. Such undecagold clusters containing two chloride ligands bound to the peripheral Au(I) atoms were expected to display a carbophilic Lewis acidity similar to the well-documented molecular Au(I) complex catalysts. Chloride abstraction, performed to generate active Au(+) sites, induced the Au(11) cluster evolution to larger gold clusters and nanoparticles, together with Au(I) complexes, which, in fact, perform the catalysis. This result was corroborated by running an asymmetric tandem hydroarylation-carbocyclization reaction, for which the enantiomeric excesses obtained with Au(11) clusters are similar to those reported using Au(I) complexes.

Facile B-H bond activation of borane by stable carbenoid species.

Stable nucleophilic carbene compounds have recently been shown to be able to mimic in some instances the reactivity of metal fragments in the reaction of unactivated E-H bonds (E = H, R3Si, NH2, R2P). However, the insertion into a B-H bond of the strongly Lewis acidic BH3 molecule has never been observed at a single C atom or even at a metal fragment. Our results show that designed stable, highly electrophilic carbenoid fragments in compounds 4 and 6 can achieve this reactivity in a controlled manner. Density functional theory calculations corroborated the experimental results on the presently designed systems as well as the lack of reactivity on nucleophilic carbenes.