Organofunctionalized borotungstate polyoxometalates as tunable photocatalysts for oxidative dimerization of amines.

Organofunctionalized borotungstate Keggin polyoxometalates, ( BuN)H[HBWO(P(O)Ph)] (PBW), ( BuN)H[HBWO(As(O)Ph)] (AsBW), and ( BuN)[HBWO(PhSiOSiPh)] (SiBW), were synthesized and structurally characterized. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the electronic properties of the clusters are dependent on the nature of the appended main group atoms (P, As, or Si). The first reduction potentials were found to shift positively with respect to that of the unmodified parent species ( BuN)[BWO], with PBW showing the largest shift at +100 mV.

Application of a Synthetic Ferredoxin-Inspired [4Fe4S]-Peptide Maquette as the Redox Partner for an [FeFe]-Hydrogenase.

'Bacterial-type' ferredoxins host a cubane [4Fe4S] cluster that enables these proteins to mediate electron transfer and facilitate a broad range of biological processes. Peptide maquettes based on the conserved cluster-forming motif have previously been reported and used to model the ferredoxins. Herein we explore the integration of a [4Fe4S]-peptide maquette into a H -powered electron transport chain.

Why charging Li-air batteries with current low-voltage mediators is slow and singlet oxygen does not explain degradation.

Although Li-air rechargeable batteries offer higher energy densities than lithium-ion batteries, the insulating LiO formed during discharge hinders rapid, efficient re-charging. Redox mediators are used to facilitate LiO oxidation; however, fast kinetics at a low charging voltage are necessary for practical applications and are yet to be achieved. We investigate the mechanism of LiO oxidation by redox mediators.

Diphosphoryl-functionalized Polyoxometalates: Structurally and Electronically Tunable Hybrid Molecular Materials.

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a new class of hybrid Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate (POM) containing a diphosphoryl group (P O X) of the general formula [P W O (P O X)] (X=O, NH, or CR R ). Modifying the bridging unit X was found to impact the redox potentials of the POM. The ease with which a range of α-functionalized diphosphonic acids (X=CR R ) can be prepared provides possibilities to access diverse functionalized hybrid POMs.

Electronic Structure and Photoactivity of Organoarsenic Hybrid Polyoxometalates.

Organofunctionalization of polyoxometalates (POMs) allows the preparation of hybrid molecular systems with tunable electronic properties. Currently, there are only a handful of approaches that allow for the fine-tuning of POM frontier molecular orbitals in a predictable manner. Herein, we demonstrate a new functionalization method for the Wells-Dawson polyoxotungstate [PWO] using arylarsonic acids which enables modulation of the redox and photochemical properties.

Molecular redox species for next-generation batteries.

This Tutorial Review describes how the development of dissolved redox-active molecules is beginning to unlock the potential of three of the most promising 'next-generation' battery technologies - lithium-air, lithium-sulfur and redox-flow batteries. Redox-active molecules act as mediators in lithium-air and lithium-sulfur batteries, shuttling charge between electrodes and substrate systems and improving cell performance. In contrast, they act as the charge-storing components in flow batteries.

A Cooperative Photoactive Class-I Hybrid Polyoxometalate With Benzothiadiazole-Imidazolium Cations.

An organic-inorganic hybrid species based on the Wells-Dawson polyoxotungstate [PWO] and novel fluorescent benzothiadiazole-imidazolium cations, [BTD-4,7-ImH], has been synthesized. X-ray crystallographic analysis shows that the inorganic and organic components form a hydrogen-bonded superstructure and that the cations are revealed to be non-equivalent with varying degrees of rotation between the BTD and imidazolium rings due to competition between weak intra- and intermolecular interactions. The UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicate that the hybrid has a band gap of 3.