Xiaoyong Chang

The effects of chelating N4 ligand coordination on Co(II)-catalysed photochemical conversion of CO2 to CO: reaction mechanism and DFT calculations

Here we describe the synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of a panel of cis-[CoII(N4)Cl2] complexes (N4 = tetradentate N atom donor ligand). We also examine the catalytic activities of these complexes in the photochemical and electrochemical reduction of CO2 to CO using [Ir(ppy)3] as the photosensitizer. Among the complexes studied, cis-[CoII(PDP)Cl2] (C1) (PDP = 1,1′-bis(2-pyridinylmethyl)-2,2′-bipyrrolidine) displayed the highest catalytic activity. This Co(II) complex was able to effectively mediate the reduction of CO2 to CO under either electrochemical or visible light photocatalytic conditions. For the electrocatalysis, C1 catalysed CO2 to CO with up to 96% Faraday efficiency at −1.70 V (vs. SCE, SCE = saturated calomel electrode). A selectivity of up to 95% for CO production was achieved in a photocatalytic CO2 reduction system by using C1 as the catalyst, Ir(ppy)3 as the photosensitizer and triethylamine as the electron donor. The Co(I) species in situ generated by the one electron reduction of cis-[CoII(PDP)Cl]+ is suggested to be directly responsible for CO2 activation. Ultrafast time (ns) resolved absorption spectroscopy revealed that the photoinduced electron transfer from the triplet excited state of Ir(ppy)3 to C1 is a key step in the generation of active Co(I) species. The electronic structure and redox properties of the Co(I) species, [CoI(N4)Cl], as well as its role in the catalytic reaction were investigated by DFT calculations. The presence of one chloride ligand cis to the CO2 coordination site neutralizes the positive charge on the Co(I) centre, therefore assisting the bound CO2 molecule in attracting protons. The reaction mechanism for CO2 reduction to CO catalysed by the recently reported [CoII(TPA)Cl]+ (TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) catalyst was also computed. Subtle modifications of the chelating N4 ligand from cis-[CoII(N4)Cl2] were found to have a profound effect on the efficiency of CO2 reduction by DFT calculations.

From Cluster to Polymer: Ligand Cone Angle Controlled Syntheses and Structures of Copper(I) Alkynyl Complexes.

Copper(I) alkynyl complexes have attracted tremendous attention in structural studies, as luminescent materials, and in catalysis, and homoleptic complexes have been reported to form polymers or large clusters. Herein, six unprecedented structures of Cu(I) alkynyl complexes and a procedure to measure the cone angles of alkynyl ligands based on the crystal structures of these complexes are reported. An increase of the alkynyl cone angle in the complexes leads to a modulation of the structures from polymeric [((PhC≡CC≡C)Cu)2 (NH3 )]∞ , to a large cluster [(TripC≡CC≡C)Cu]20 (MeCN)4 , to a relatively small cluster [(TripC≡C)Cu]8 (Trip=2,4,6-iPr3 -C6 H2 ). The complexes exhibit yellow-to-red phosphorescence at ambient temperature in the solid state and the luminescence behavior of the Cu20 cluster is sensitive to acetonitrile.

Efficient Color-Tunable Copper(I) Complexes and Their Applications in Solution-Processed Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

A series of dppnc- and neocuproine-based CuI complexes (dppnc=7,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate) are synthesized and the emission color of these CuI complexes can be tuned from green to deep red via rational modification of the neocuproine ligand structure. The molecular structures of the emissive CuI complexes, Cu(dppnc)-G (green emitting), Cu(dppnc)-Y (yellow emitting), and Cu(dppnc)-R (red emitting), are characterized and their electronic structures and related transition properties are elucidated by photo-physical and computational (density functional theory) studies. The calculation results suggest that thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) is the emission mechanism for these CuI complexes. Efficient solution-processed green-, yellow-, and red-emitting OLEDs are fabricated based on the emissive complexes as the dopants. High external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 15.20 % and current efficiency of 48.15 cd A-1 at 1000 cd m-2 are achieved in the green-emitting device with Cu(dppnc)-G. A maximum EQE of 10.17 %, CIE coordinates of (0.61, 0.38) and a maximum electroluminescent peak of 631 nm are achieved in the red device based on Cu(dppnc)-R.

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Iron(III) Porphyrin‐Catalyzed Intramolecular C(sp3)–H Amination of Alkyl Azides

Metal-catalyzed intramolecular C-H amination of alkyl azides constitutes an appealing approach to alicyclic amines; challenges remain in broadening substrate scope, enhancing regioselectivity, and applying the method to natural product synthesis. Herein we report an iron(III) porphyrin bearing axial N-heterocyclic carbene ligands which catalyzes the intramolecular C(sp3 )-H amination of a wide variety of alkyl azides under microwave-assisted and thermal conditions, resulting in selective amination of tertiary, benzylic, allylic, secondary, and primary C-H bonds with up to 95 % yield. 14 out of 17 substrates were cyclized selectively at C4 to give pyrrolidines. The regioselectivity at C4 or C5 could be tuned by modifying the reactivity of the C5-H bond. Mechanistic studies revealed a concerted or a fast re-bound mechanism for the amination reaction. The reaction has been applied to the syntheses of tropane, nicotine, cis-octahydroindole, and leelamine derivatives.

Tunable Multicolor Phosphorescence of Crystalline Polymeric Complex Salts with Metallophilic Backbones

A total of 35 [Au(NHC)2 ][MX2 ] (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene; M=Au or Cu; X=halide, cyanide or arylacetylide) complex salts were synthesized by co-precipitation of [Au(NHC)2 ]+ cations and [MX2 ]- anions. These salts contain crystallographically determined polymeric Au⋅⋅⋅Au or Au⋅⋅⋅Cu interactions and are highly phosphorescent with quantum yields up to unity and emission color tunable in the entire visible regions. The nature of the emissive excited states is generally assigned to ligand (anion)-to-ligand (cation) charge-transfer transitions assisted by d10 ⋅⋅⋅d10 metallophilicity. The emission properties can be further tuned by controlled triple-component co-crystallization or by epitaxial growth. Correct recipes for white light-emitting phosphors with quantum yields higher than 70 % have been achieved by screening the combinatorial pool.

Arylruthenium(III) Porphyrin-Catalyzed C–H Oxidation and Epoxidation at Room Temperature and [RuV(Por)(O)(Ph)] Intermediate by Spectroscopic Analysis and Density Functional Theory Calculations

The development of highly active and selective metal catalysts for efficient oxidation of hydrocarbons and identification of the reactive intermediates in the oxidation catalysis are long-standing challenges. In the rapid hydrocarbon oxidation catalyzed by ruthenium(IV) and -(III) porphyrins, the putative Ru(V)-oxo intermediates remain elusive. Herein we report that arylruthenium(III) porphyrins are highly active catalysts for hydrocarbon oxidation. Using catalyst [RuIII(TDCPP)(Ph)(OEt2)] (H2TDCPP = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin), the oxidation of C-H bonds of various hydrocarbons with oxidant m-CPBA at room temperature gave alcohols/ketones in up to 99% yield within 1 h; use of [ nBu4N]IO4 as a mild alternative oxidant avoided formation of lactone from cyclic ketone in C-H oxidation, and the catalytic epoxidation with up to 99% yield and high selectivity (no aldehydes as side product) was accomplished within 5 min. UV-vis, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, resonance Raman, electron paramagnetic resonance, and kinetic measurements and density functional theory calculations lend evidence for the formation of Ru(V)-oxo intermediate [RuV(TDCPP)(O)(Ph)].