Structural Variety of Cobalt(II), Nickel(II), Zinc(II), and Cadmium(II) Complexes with 4,4'-Azopyridine: Synthesis, Structure and Luminescence Properties

High-Performance Azo Cathodes Enabled by N-Heteroatomic Substitution for Zinc Batteries with a Self-Charging Capability

Redox-active azo compounds are emerging as promising cathode materials due to their multi-electron redox capacity and fast redox response. However, their practical application is often limited by low output voltage and poor thermal stability. Herein, we use a heteroatomic substitution strategy to develop 4,4'-azopyridine. This modification results in a 350 mV increase in reduction potential compared to traditional azobenzene, increasing the energy density at the material level from 187 to 291 Wh kg-1. The introduced heteroatoms not only raise the melting point of azo compounds from 68 °C to 112 °C by forming an intermolecular hydrogen-bond network but also improves electrode kinetics by reducing energy band gaps. Moreover, 4,4'-azopyridine forms metal-ligand complexes with Zn2+ ions, which further self-assemble into a robust superstructure, acting as a molecular conductor to facilitate charge transfer. Consequently, the batteries display a good rate performance (192 mAh g-1 at 20 C) and an ultra-long lifespan of 60,000 cycles. Notably, we disclose that the depleted batteries spontaneously self-charge when exposed to air, marking a significant advancement in the development of self-powered aqueous systems.

FeIII, CuII and ZnII Complexes of the Rigid 9-Oxido-phenalenone Ligand-Spectroscopy, Electrochemistry, and Cytotoxic Properties

The three complexes [Fe(opo)3], [Cu(opo)2], and [Zn(opo)2] containing the non-innocent anionic ligand opo- (opo- = 9-oxido-phenalenone, Hopo = 9-hydroxyphenalonone) were synthesised from the corresponding acetylacetonates. [Zn(opo)2] was characterised using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the paramagnetic [Fe(opo)3] and [Cu(opo)2] by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. While the EPR spectra of [Cu(opo)2] and [Cu(acac)2] in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution are very similar, a rather narrow spectrum was observed for [Fe(opo)3] in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution in contrast to the very broad spectrum of [Fe(acac)3] in THF (Hacac = acetylacetone, 2,4-pentanedione; acac- = acetylacetonate). The narrow, completely isotropic signal of [Fe(opo)3] disagrees with a metal-centred S = 5/2 spin system that is observed in the solid state. We assume spin-delocalisation to the opo ligand in the sense of an opo- to FeIII electron transfer. All compounds show several electrochemical opo-centred reduction waves in the range of -1 to -3 V vs. the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple. However, for CuII and FeIII the very first one-electron reductions are metal-centred. Electronic absorption in the UV to vis range are due to π-π* transitions in the opo core, giving Hopo and [Zn(opo)2] a yellow to orange colour. The structured bands ranging from 400 to 500 for all compounds are assigned to the lowest energy π-π* transitions. They show markedly higher intensities and slight shifts for the CuII (brown) and FeIII (red) complexes and we assume admixing metal contributions (MLCT for CuII, LMCT for FeIII). For both complexes long-wavelength absorptions assignable to d-d transitions were detected. Detailed spectroelectrochemical experiments confirm both the electrochemical and the optical assignments. Hopo and the complexes [Cu(opo)2], [Zn(opo)2], and [Fe(opo)3] show antiproliferative activities against HT-29 (colon cancer) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines in the range of a few µM, comparable to cisplatin under the same conditions.

Photomechanical Molecular Crystals of an Azopyridine Derivative and Its Zinc(II) Complex: Synthesis, Crystallization and Photoinduced Motion

In this work, photomechanical molecular crystals of 4-(4-(6-Hydroxyhexyloxy) phenylazo) pyridine (6cazpy) and its zinc(II) organic complex (complex-I) were synthesized and crystallized. DSC and TGA were used to characterize and compare properties of 6cazpy and its complex-I crystals. Photoinduced motions of 6cazpy crystals and its complex-I crystals were investigated and compared by UV/Vis irradiation. Bending away motions from the light source were observed from both 6cazpy crystals and its complex-I crystals. The bending away motion was attributed to the trans-to-cis photoisomerization of azopyridine derivatives in the crystalline phase. It is worth noting that the photomechanical properties of complex-I were enhanced by the formation of the ligand, which might be caused by the looser packing of molecules inside complex-I crystal. In addition, because of the existence of ligand, which combined two photoactive groups in each complex-I molecule, the isomerization reactions of these two photoactive groups in the molecules can increase the photomechanical movement ability of the crystal. It was also found that the crystal size and shape will affect the photoinduced movement of the crystals. PXRD and AFM were used to investigate the molecular mechanism and the surface topological change upon photoisomerization. The corresponding mechanism was proposed.

Novel tetrahedral cobalt(ii) silanethiolates: structures and magnetism

Three heteroleptic complexes of Co(ii) tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolates have been synthesized with piperidine [Co{SSi(OtBu)₃}₂(ppd)₂] 1, piperazine [Co{SSi(OtBu)₃}₂(NH₃)]₂(μ-ppz)·2CH₃CN 2, and N-ethylimidazole [Co{SSi(OtBu)₃}₂(etim)₂] 3. The complexes have been characterized by a single-crystal X-ray, revealing their tetrahedral geometry on Co(ii) coordinated by two nitrogen and two sulfur atoms. Complexes 1 and 3 are mononuclear, whereas 2 is binuclear. The spectral properties and thermal properties of 1–3 complexes were established by FTIR spectroscopy for solid samples and TGA. The magnetic properties of complexes 1, 2, and 3 have been investigated by static magnetic measurements and X-band EPR spectroscopy. These studies have shown that 1 and 3, regardless of the similarity in structure of CoN₂S₂ cores, demonstrate different types of local magnetic anisotropy. Magnetic investigations of 2 reveal the presence of weak antiferromagnetic intra-molecular Co(ii)–Co(ii) interactions that are strongly influenced by the local magnetic anisotropy of individual Co(ii) ions.

Structural, spectral and thermal properties of three tetrahedral Co(ii) silanethiolates were established by XRD, FTIR for solid samples and TGA. The magnetic properties were investigated by static magnetic measurements and X-band EPR spectroscopy.