Zhong-Liang Gong

Conformation-Determined Through-Bond versus Through-Space Electronic Communication in Mixed-Valence Systems with a Cross-Conjugated Urea Bridge

Bis-triarylamine 2 and cyclometalated diruthenium 6(PF6)2 with a linear trans,trans-urea bridge have been prepared, together with the bis-triarylamine 3 and cyclometalated diruthenium 8(PF6)2 with a folded cis,cis-N,N-dimethylurea bridge. The linear or folded conformations of these molecules are supported by single-crystal X-ray structures of 2, 3, and other related compounds. These compounds display two consecutive anodic redox waves (N(·+/0) or Ru(III/II) processes) with a potential separation of 110-170 mV. This suggests that an efficient electronic coupling is present between two redox termini through the cross-conjugated urea bridge. The degree of electronic coupling has been investigated by using spectroelectrochemical measurements. Distinct intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) transitions have been observed for mixed-valent (MV) compounds with a linear conformation. The IVCT transitions can also be identified for the folded MV compounds, albeit with a much weaker intensity. DFT results support that the electronic communication occurs by a through-bond and through-space pathway for the linear and folded compounds, respectively. The IVCT transitions of the MV compounds have been reproduced by TDDFT calculations. For the purpose of comparison, a bistriarylamine and a diruthenium complex with an imidazolidin-2-one bridge and a urea-containing mono-triarylamine and monoruthenium complex have been synthesized and studied.

Redox-responsive carbometalated ruthenium and osmium complexes

Organometallic conjugated complexes have become an important type of stimuli-responsive materials because of their appealing electrochemical properties and rich photonic, electronic, and magnetic properties. They are potentially useful in a wide range of applications such as molecular wires, molecular switches, molecular machines, molecular memory, and optoelectronic detections. This review outlines the recent progress on the molecular design of carbometalated ruthenium and osmium complexes and their applications as redox-responsive materials with visible and near-infrared (NIR) absorptions and electron paramagnetic resonance as readout signals. Three molecule systems are introduced, including the symmetric diruthenium complexes, metal-amine conjugated bi-center system, and multi-center redox-active organometallic compounds. Because of the presence of a metal-carbon bond on each metal component and strong electronic coupling between redox sites, these compounds display multiple reversible redox processes at low potentials and each redox state possesses significantly different physical and chemical properties. Using electrochemical potentials as input signals, these materials show reversible NIR absorption spectral changes, making them potentially useful in NIR electrochromism and information storage.

Molecular Conductance through a Quadruple-Hydrogen-Bond-Bridged Supramolecular Junction

A series of self-complementary ureido pyrimidinedione (UPy) derivatives modified with different aurophilic anchoring groups were synthesized. Their electron transport properties through the quadruple hydrogen bonds in apolar solvent were probed employing the scanning tunneling microscopy break junction (STMBJ) technique. The molecule terminated with a thiol shows the optimal electron transport properties, with a statistical conductance value that approaches 10(-3)  G0 . The (1) H NMR spectra and control experiments verify the formation of quadruple hydrogen bonds, which can be effectively modulated by the polarity of the solvent environment. These findings provide a new design strategy for supramolecular circuit elements in molecular electronics.

Multistate Redox Switching and Near-Infrared Electrochromism Based on a Star-Shaped Triruthenium Complex with a Triarylamine Core

A star-shaped cyclometalated triruthenium complex 2(PF6)n (n = 3 and 4) with a triarylamine core was synthesized, which functions as a molecular switch with five well-separated redox states in both solution and film states. The single-crystal X-ray structure of 2(PF6)3 is presented. This complex displays four consecutive one-electron redox waves at +0.082, +0.31, +0.74, and +1.07 V vs Ag/AgCl. In each redox state, it shows significantly different NIR absorptions with λmax of 1590 nm for 24+, 1400 nm for 25+, 1060 nm for 26+, and 740 nm for 27+, respectively. Complex 24+ shows a single-line EPR signal at g = 2.060, while other redox states are all EPR inactive. The spin density distributions and NIR absorptions in different redox states were rationalized by DFT and TDDFT calculations. A vinyl-substituted triruthenium analogous 3(PF6)4 was prepared, which was successfully polymerized on ITO glass electrode surfaces by reductive electropolymerization. The obtained poly-3n+/ITO film was characterized by FTIR, AFM, and SEM analysis. It shows four well-defined redox couples and reversible multistate NIR electrochromism. In particular, a contrast ratio (ΔT%) up to 63% was achieved at the optic telecommunication wavelength (1550 nm).

Urea-bridged diferrocene: structural, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical studies

Urea-bridged diferrocene derivatives N,N′-diferrocenylurea (1) and N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-diferrocenylurea (2) were prepared and characterized. Single-crystal X-ray analysis shows that Compound 1 has a trans-trans linear conformation whereas Compound 2 has a trans-cis conformation. Both compounds display two consecutive redox couples with, respectively, E1/2 of +0.29 and +0.42 V vs. Ag/AgCl for 1 and +0.31 and +0.50 V for 2. Spectroelectrochemical studies show the presence of distinct intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) transitions for the one-electron-oxidized mixed-valent Compound 1+, with an estimated electronic coupling parameter of 190 cm-1. By contrast, the one-electron-oxidized Compound 2+ shows much weaker IVCT transitions.

Cyclometalated Osmium–Amine Electronic Communication through the p-Oligophenylene Wire

A series of bis-tridentate cyclometalated osmium complexes with a redox-active triarylamine substituent have been prepared, where the amine substituent is separated from the osmium ion by a p-oligophenylene wire of various lengths. X-ray crystallographic data of complexes 3(PF6) and 4(PF6) with three or four repeating phenyl units between the osmium ion and the amine substituent are presented. These complexes show two consecutive anodic redox couples between +0.1 and +0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl, with the potential splitting in the range of 300-390 mV. A combined experimental and theoretical study suggests that, in the one-electron-oxidized state, the odd electron is delocalized for short congeners and localized on the osmium component for long congeners. The electronic coupling parameter (Vab) was estimated by the Marcus-Hush analysis. The distance dependence plot of ln(Vab) versus the osmium-amine geometrical distance (Rab) gives a negative linear relationship with a decay slope of -0.19 Å(-1), which is slightly steeper with respect to the previously reported ruthenium-amine series with the same molecular wire. DFT calculations with the long-range-corrected UCAM-B3LYP functional gave more reasonable results for the osmium complexes with respect to those with UB3LYP.

Direct observation of single-molecule hydrogen-bond dynamics with single-bond resolution

The hydrogen bond represents a fundamental interaction widely existing in nature, which plays a key role in chemical, physical and biochemical processes. However, hydrogen bond dynamics at the molecular level are extremely difficult to directly investigate. Here, in this work we address direct electrical measurements of hydrogen bond dynamics at the single-molecule and single-event level on the basis of the platform of molecular nanocircuits, where a quadrupolar hydrogen bonding system is covalently incorporated into graphene point contacts to build stable supramolecule-assembled single-molecule junctions. The dynamics of individual hydrogen bonds in different solvents at different temperatures are studied in combination with density functional theory. Both experimental and theoretical results consistently show a multimodal distribution, stemming from the stochastic rearrangement of the hydrogen bond structure mainly through intermolecular proton transfer and lactam–lactim tautomerism. This work demonstrates an approach of probing hydrogen bond dynamics with single-bond resolution, making an important contribution to broad fields beyond supramolecular chemistry.Hydrogen-bonds are widely found in many systems, such as DNAs and supramolecular assemblies, but it remains challenging to detect their dynamics at a molecular level. Here, Zhou et al. study the stochastic arrangement of hydrogen bonds using single-molecule junctions connected to graphene electrodes.

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and fluorescent spectra of novel pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-4(5H)-one derivatives

A series of fluorescent compounds, containing pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-4(5H)-one moiety, were designed and synthesized from ethyl 1-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylates. The structures of the compounds have been confirmed by IR, (1)H NMR, HRMS and X-ray crystal diffraction. The optical properties of the compounds were investigated by UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The effect of pH on the UV-vis absorption of compound 2a in methanol-H(2)O solutions was studied and interpreted by theory calculation. The pK(a) value of compound 2a was determined by the absorption spectra.

The synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and optical properties of novel 1-ferrocenyl-2-(3-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylthio)ethanone derivatives.

A series of novel 1-ferrocenyl-2-(3-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-ylthio)ethanone derivatives was synthesized by the reaction of 3-substituted-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-thiol and chloroacetyl ferrocene in the presence of sodium hydride and potassium iodide at reflux. The structures of the new compounds were determined by IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy and HRMS. The structure of compound 5c was established by X-ray crystallography. UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectra were recorded in ethanol and dichloromethane. The results showed that compounds 5a-g display similar absorptions ranging from 300 to 500nm and maximal emission bands are about 566nm. The intensity of fluorescence and maximal emission bands are dependent on the groups bonded to triazole rings.

Regulation of intra- and intermolecular Pt–Pt and π–π interactions of a U-shaped diplatinum complex to achieve pseudo-polymorphic emissions in solution and crystalline states

For the purpose of developing multicolor emissive molecular materials, a U-shaped diplatinum molecular switch 1 with an N,N-dimethylurea bridge was prepared. Three forms of single crystals of 1 with yellow (1A), orange (1B), or red (1C) emission were obtained. X-ray analysis shows that the two constituent [Pt(NCN)] units can have an open (1A and 1C) or closed (1B) conformation with different modes of crystal packing. In particular, intermolecular Pt–Pt interaction is evident for 1C with a short Pt–Pt distance of 3.226 A. The interconversion among these crystals was triggered by external conditions, with the aid of an additional form of crystal 1D. The deep-red emissive crystal 1C exhibits excellent photophysical properties with λmax,emi of 650 nm, Φ of 36%, and τ of 846 ns. Spectroscopic analysis supports the hypothesis that compound 1 has a dominant open conformation in CHCl3 and a closed conformation in MeOH solution. The conformational switching and the degree of intermolecular interaction with tunable emission colors can be regulated by solvent composition.