From Gas Phase Observations to Solid State Reality: The Identification and Isolation of Trinuclear Salicylaldoximato Copper Complexes.

Conditions have been identified in which phenolic aldoximes and ketoximes of the types used in commercial solvent extraction processes can be doubly deprotonated and generate polynuclear Cu complexes with lower extractant:Cu molar ratios than those found in commercial operations. Electrospray mass spectrometry has provided an insight into the solution speciation in extraction experiments and has identified conditions to allow isolation and characterization of polynuclear Cu-complexes. Elevation of pH is effective in enhancing the formation of trinuclear complexes containing planar {Cu-μ-O} or {Cu-μ-OH} units.

Chromophore Multiplication To Enable Exciton Delocalization and Triplet Diffusion Following Singlet Fission in Tetrameric Pentacene.

A tetrameric pentacene, PT, has been used to explore the effects of exciton delocalization on singlet fission (SF). For the first time, triplet decorrelation through intramolecular triplet diffusion was observed following SF. Transient absorption spectroscopy was used to examine different decorrelation mechanisms (triplet diffusion versus structural changes) for PT and its dimeric equivalent PD on the basis of the rate and activation barrier of the decorrelation step.

Controlling excimer formation in indolo[3,2,1-]carbazole/9-carbazole based host materials for RGB PhOLEDs.

Three novel materials (, and ), based on the indolo[3,2,1-]carbazole and 9-carbazole building blocks, with high triplet energies ( > 2.80 eV) and good thermal stability ( > 101 °C) were synthesized, characterized and applied as host materials in PhOLED devices. In course of the preparation of the materials, an improved protocol for the synthesis of the indolo[3,2,1-]carbazole moiety has been developed.

Reversible Pressure-Controlled Depolymerization of a Copper(II)-Containing Coordination Polymer.

A unique pressure-induced Cu-N bond breaking/bond forming reaction is reported. The variation of pressure on a single crystal of a one-dimensional copper- (II)-containing coordination polymer (Cu L (1-methylpiperazine) ] , where H L is 1,1'-(1,3-phenylene)-bis(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione)), was monitored using single crystal X-ray diffraction with the aid of a diamond anvil cell. At a very low elevated pressure (≈0.

Unified model for singlet fission within a non-conjugated covalent pentacene dimer.

When molecular dimers, crystalline films or molecular aggregates absorb a photon to produce a singlet exciton, spin-allowed singlet fission may produce two triplet excitons that can be used to generate two electron-hole pairs, leading to a predicted ∼50% enhancement in maximum solar cell performance. The singlet fission mechanism is still not well understood. Here we report on the use of time-resolved optical and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to probe singlet fission in a pentacene dimer linked by a non-conjugated spacer.

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and enhancing photoluminescence quantum yields of [Cu(I)(diimine)(diphosphine)](+) complexes-photophysical, structural, and computational studies.

The complexes [Cu(I)(POP)(dmbpy)][BF4] (1) and [Cu(I)(POP)(tmbpy)][BF4] (2) (dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl; tmbpy = 4,4',6,6'-tetramethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl; POP = bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)-phenyl]ether) have been studied in a wide temperature range by steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy in fluid solution, frozen solution, and as solid powders. Emission quantum yields of up to 74% were observed for 2 in a rigid matrix (powder), substantially higher than for 1 of around 9% under the same conditions. Importantly, it was found that the emission of 2 at ambient temperature represents a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) which renders the compound to be a good candidate for singlet harvesting in OLEDs.

Hierarchical assembly of discrete copper(II) metallo-structures from pre-assembled dinuclear (bis-β-diketonato)metallocycles and flexible difunctional co-ligands.

The sequential interaction of preformed [Cu2(L1)2(THF)2] (where H2L1 is 1,1-(1,3-phenylene)-bis(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione incorporating a 1,3-phenylene linker between its two β-diketone domains) and [Cu2(L4)2]·2H2O (where H2L4 is 1,1-(4,4′-oxybiphenylene)-bis(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione) incorporating a flexible oxybiphenylene linkage between the two β-diketone groups) with the potentially difunctional aliphatic non-planar co-ligands, N-methylpiperazine (mpip), N,N′-dimethylpiperazine (dmpip) and 1,4-thiomorpholine (thiomorph) is reported. A series of extended molecular assemblies exhibiting a range of di- and tetranuclear assemblies were obtained and their X-ray structures determined. Dinuclear [Cu2(L1)2(mpip)2]·2mpip incorporates two 5-coordinate, square pyramidal metal centres as does tetranuclear [{Cu2(L1)2}2(dmpip)2]·2dmpip.

Photo-isomerisation of alkenyl complexes of platinum(II): structural, spectroscopic, kinetic and computational investigations.

In this work UVA and blue light have been used to study photo-isomerisation about the C=C double bond in complexes of the type [PtCl(-CH=CHAr)(tmeda)] [Ar = C6H5, (E)-2a; 4-CH3O-C6H4, (E)-2b; 3-NO2-C6H4, (E)-2c; and 3-CH3O-C6H4, (E)-2d]. The progress of the reaction has been monitored by NMR spectroscopy following irradiation of the NMR sample. The NMR data have been complemented with X-ray diffractometric analysis of compounds (E)-2a-c and (Z)-2a.

Metalloligands containing aminofulvene-aldiminate (AFA) ligands and their bimetallic complexes.

A simple and convenient route to η(5)-coordinated Ru and Rh aminofulvene-aldiminate (AFA) complexes is described. The metalloligands [Cp*Ru{η(5)-(Ph(2)AFAH)}][BF(4)] (3), [Cp*Ru{η(5)-(benzyl(2)AFAH)}][OTf] (7), [Cp*Rh{η(5)-(Cy(2)AFA)H}][BF(4)](2) (8) and [Cp*Rh{η(5)-(Cy(2)AFA)}][BF(4)] (9) have been synthesised and characterised. The basicity of 9 has been found to be significantly less than its neutral analogue and thus eliminates the need for a deprotonation step to ligate to a second metal in the κ(2)-N,N'-coordination mode.

Design and function of pre-organised outer-sphere amidopyridyl extractants for zinc(II) and cobalt(II) chlorometallates: the role of C-H hydrogen bonds.

Four new sterically hindered pyridines, L(1)-L(4)-containing amido substituents at the 2-position act as efficient solvent extractants for [CoCl(4)](2-) or [ZnCl(4)](2-) from acidic chloride solutions through protonation of the pyridino N-centre to form the neutral outer-sphere complexes [(LH)(2)MCl(4)]. These ionophores show very high selectivity for chlorometallate anions over chloride ion and are readily stripped to liberate the free-metal chlorides without the formation of inner-sphere complexes [ML(2)Cl(2)]. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of [(L(2)H)(2)CoCl(4)] and [(L(2)H)(2)ZnCl(4)] (L(2) = 2-(4,6-di-tert-butylpyridin-2-yl)-N,N'-dihexylmalonamide) coupled with (1)H NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations on L(2)H(+) and other complexes of [ZnCl(4)](2-) confirm that the pyridinium NH group does not address the outer co-ordination sphere of the metallanion, but rather forms a hydrogen bond to the pendant amide groups and thus pre-organizes the ligand to present both C-H and amido N-H hydrogen-bond donors to the [MCl(4)](2-) ions.

Family of carboxylate- and nitrate-diphenoxo triply bridged dinuclear Ni(II)Ln(III) complexes (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Er, Y): synthesis, experimental and theoretical magneto-structural studies, and single-molecule magnet behavior.

Seven acetate-diphenoxo triply bridged M(II)-Ln(III) complexes (M(II) = Ni(II) and Ln(III) = Gd, Tb, Ho, Er, and Y; M(II) = Zn(II) and Ln(III) = Ho(III) and Er(III)) of formula [M(μ-L)(μ-OAc)Ln(NO(3))(2)], one nitrate-diphenoxo triply bridged Ni(II)-Tb(III) complex, [Ni(μ-L)(μ-NO(3))Tb(NO(3))(2)]·2CH(3)OH, and two diphenoxo doubly bridged Ni(II)-Ln(III) complexes (Ln(III) = Eu, Gd) of formula [Ni(H(2)O)(μ-L)Ln(NO(3))(3)]·2CH(3)OH have been prepared in one pot reaction from the compartmental ligand N,N',N"-trimethyl-N,N"-bis(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylbenzyl)diethylenetriamine (H(2)L). Moreover, Ni(II)-Ln(III) complexes bearing benzoate or 9-anthracenecarboxylate bridging groups of formula [Ni(μ-L)(μ-BzO)Dy(NO(3))(2)] and [Ni(μ-L)(μ-9-An)Dy(9-An)(NO(3))(2)]·3CH(3)CN have also been successfully synthesized. In acetate-diphenoxo triply bridged complexes, the acetate bridging group forces the structure to be folded with an average hinge angle in the M(μ-O(2))Ln bridging fragment of ~22°, whereas nitrate-diphenoxo doubly bridged complexes and diphenoxo-doubly bridged complexes exhibit more planar structures with hinge angles of ~13° and ~2°, respectively.

Structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of phenolic oxime complexes of Cu and Ni.

Square planar complexes of the type Ni(L(1))(2), Ni(L(2))(2), Cu(L(1))(2), and Cu(L(2))(2), where L(1)H = 2-hydroxy-5-t-octylacetophenone oxime and L(2)H = 2-hydroxy-5-n-propylacetophenone oxime, have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, UV/vis spectroscopy, field-effect-transistor measurements, density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations, and, in the case of the paramagnetic species, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and magnetic susceptibility. Variation of alkyl groups on the ligand from t-octyl to n-propyl enabled electronic isolation of the complexes in the crystal structures of M(L(1))(2) contrasting with π-stacking interactions for M(L(2))(2) (M = Ni, Cu). This was evidenced by a one-dimensional antiferromagnetic chain for Cu(L(2))(2) but ideal paramagnetic behavior for Cu(L(1))(2) down to 1.

Strategy for the rational design of asymmetric triply bridged dinuclear 3d-4f single-molecule magnets.

Three triply bridged M(II)-Dy(III) dinuclear complexes, [Ni(μ-L)(μ-OAc)Dy(NO(3))(2)] 1, [Zn(μ-L)(μ-OAc)Dy(NO(3))(2)] 2, and [Ni(μ-L)(μ-NO(3))Dy(NO(3))(2)]·2CH(3)OH 3 were prepared with a new and flexible compartmental ligand, N,N',N″-trimethyl-N,N″-bis(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylbenzyl)diethylene triamine (H(2)L), containing N(3)O(2)-inner and O(4)-outer coordination sites. These complexes have diphenoxo/acetate (1 and 2) or diphenoxo/nitrate (3) asymmetric bridging fragments. Compounds 1 and 3 exhibit ferromagnetic interaction between Ni(2+) and Dy(3+) ions and frequency dependence of the out-of-phase (χ″(M)) alternating current (ac) susceptibility signal characteristic of single-molecule-magnet behavior.

Encapsulation of a magnesium hydroxide cubane by a bowl-shaped polypyrrolic Schiff base macrocycle.

Hydrolysis of a Pacman-shaped binuclear magnesium complex of a polypyrrolic Schiff base macrocycle results in the formation of a new magnesium hydroxide cubane that is encapsulated by the macrocyclic framework through both coordinative and hydrogen-bonding interactions.

Using the outer coordination sphere to tune the strength of metal extractants.

A series of 3-substituted salicylaldoximes has been used to demonstrate the importance of outer-sphere interactions on the efficacy of solvent extractants that are used to produce approximately one-quarter of the world's copper. The distribution coefficient for extraction of copper by 5-tert-butyl-3-X-salicylaldoximes (X = H, Me, (t)Bu, NO(2), Cl, Br, OMe) varies by more than two orders of magnitude. X-ray structure determinations of preorganized free ligand dimers (10 new structures are reported) indicate that substituents with a hydrogen-bond acceptor atom attached to the 3-carbon atom, ortho to the phenolic oxygen, buttress the intermolecular hydrogen bond from the oximic proton.

Donor-extended tripodal pyrroles: encapsulation, metallation, and H-bonded tautomers.

A tripodal iminopyrrole provides an environment suited to the encapsulation of water through hydrogen-bonding, and the formation of metal complexes by deprotonation and imine-pyrrole tautomerisation.

Hexagonal wheel formation through the hydrogen-bonded assembly of cobalt Pacman complexes.

A cobalt aquo-hydroxo complex of a ditopic Schiff-base pyrrole-crown ether macrocycle has been prepared and forms a rigid Pacman-clefted structure that assembles through hydrogen-bonding into a hexagonal wheel motif in the solid state.

Hexa- and octanuclear iron(III) salicylaldoxime clusters.

The syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of six iron complexes stabilised with the derivatised salicylaldoxime ligands Me-saoH(2) (2-hydroxyethanone oxime) and Et-saoH(2) (2-hydroxypropiophenone oxime) are discussed. The four hexanuclear and two octanuclear complexes of formulae [Fe(8)O(2)(OMe)(4)(Me-sao)(6)Br(4)(py)(4)]·2Et(2)O·MeOH (1·2Et(2)O·MeOH), [Fe(8)O(2)(OMe)(3.85)(N(3))(4.

Cation and anion selectivity of zwitterionic salicylaldoxime metal salt extractants.

3-Dialkylaminomethyl substituted salicylaldoximes are efficient metal salt extractants, and, in contrast to related "salen"-based reagents, are sufficiently stable to acid hydrolysis to allow commercial application in base metal recovery. Crystal structures show that metal salts are bound by a zwitterionic form of the reagents, with copper(II) nitrate, tetrafluoroborate and trifluoroacetate forming [Cu()(2)X(2)] assemblies in a tritopic arrangement with a trans-disposition of the anions outwith the coordination sphere. Copper(II) chloride, bromide and zinc(II) chloride form 1:1 assemblies, [Cu()X(2)], with the halides in the inner coordination sphere of the metal, leading to high chloride selectivity and very good mass transport efficiencies of CuCl(2).

New discrete and polymeric supramolecular architectures derived from dinuclear Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of aryl-linked bis-beta-diketonato ligands and nitrogen bases: synthetic, structural and high pressure studies.

New examples of nitrogen base adducts of dinuclear Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of the doubly deprotonated forms of 1,3-aryl linked bis-beta-diketones of type [RC(=O)CH(2)C(=O)C(6)H(4)C(=O)CH(2)C(=O)R] (L(1)H(2)) incorporating the mono- and difunctional amine bases pyridine (Py), 4-ethylpyridine (EtPy), piperidine (pipi), 1,4-piperazine (pip), N-methylmorpholine (mmorph), 1,4-dimethylpiperazine (dmpip) and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (tmen) have been synthesised by reaction of the previously reported [Cu(2)(L(1))(2)].2.5THF (R = Me), [Cu(2)(L(1))(2)(THF)(2)] (R = t-Bu), [Ni(2)(L(1))(2)(Py)(4)] (R = t-Bu) and [Co(2)(L(1))(2)(Py)(4)] (R = t-Bu) complexes with individual bases of the above type.

Building Fe(III) clusters with derivatised salicylaldoximes.

The syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of nine new iron complexes containing salicylaldoxime (saoH(2)) or derivatised salicylaldoximes (R-saoH(2)), [Fe(3)O(OMe)(Ph-sao)(2)Cl(2)(py)(3)].2MeOH (1.2MeOH), [Fe(3)O(OMe)(Ph-sao)(2)Br(2)(py)(3)].

A new synthesis of charge-neutral tris-pyrazolyl and -methimazolyl borate ligands.

The dimethylamine in the adducts [(HNMe(2))B(azolyl)(3)] (azolyl=methimazolyl, pyrazolyl), obtained by reaction of the azole with B(NMe(2))(3), can readily be substituted with a range of nitrogen donors to provide new charge-neutral, tripodal ligands in high yield. This observation has led to a revision of an earlier interpretation of the mechanism of the formation of these species. The donor properties of the ligands [(nmi)B(azolyl)(3)] (nmi=N-methylimidazole) have been compared with their anionic analogues [HB(azolyl)(3)](-) by synthesis of their manganese(I)-tricarbonyl complexes and comparison of their infrared nu(CO) energies.

Palladium complexes of 6-aminofulvene-2-aldiminate (AFA) ligands.

Bis(N,N'-2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-6-aminofulvene-2-aldimine (4) has been synthesised and characterised. The synthesis and characterisation of two zwitterionic Pd(ii) complexes [(Ph(2)AFA)Pd(Me)DMAP] (1) and [(Ph(2)AFA)Pd(N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-2-C,N)] (2) are reported. Activation of 1 and 2 for ethene polymerisation with Lewis acids such as BF(3) and B(C(6)F(5))(3) were not successful.