Ferrocene-Based Trimethylsilyl Chalcogenide Reagents for the Assembly of Functionalized Metal-Chalcogen Architectures

Anion-templated silver nanoclusters: precise synthesis and geometric structure

Metal nanoclusters (NCs) are gaining much attention in nanoscale materials research because they exhibit size-specific physicochemical properties that are not observed in the corresponding bulk metals. Among them, silver (Ag) NCs can be precisely synthesized not only as pure Ag NCs but also as anion-templated Ag NCs. For anion-templated Ag NCs, we can expect the following capabilities: 1) size and shape control by regulating the central anion (anion template); 2) stabilization by adjusting the charge interaction between the central anion and surrounding Ag atoms; and 3) functionalization by selecting the type of central anion. In this review, we summarize the synthesis methods and influences of the central anion on the geometric structure of anion-templated Ag NCs, which include halide ions, chalcogenide ions, oxoanions, polyoxometalate, or hydride/deuteride as the central anion. This summary provides a reference for the current state of anion-templated Ag NCs, which may promote the development of anion-templated Ag NCs with novel geometric structures and physicochemical properties.

Salts of Tris(pentafluoroethyl)silylchalcogenolates [Si(C2F5)3E]- with E = S, Se, and Te: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity

Unlike silanolates [SiR₃O]^- (R = alkyl, aryl), which have been intensely studied, the heavier derivatives [SiR₃E]^- (E = S, Se, Te) have been much less examined. Among such species, virtually nothing is known about perfluoroalkyl-substituted silylchalcogenolates. In this contribution, a convenient synthesis of tris(pentafluoroethyl)silylchalcogenolate salts [{(Et₂N)₃P═N}₃PN(H)^tBu][Si(C₂F₅)₃E] (E = S, Se, Te; ^tBu = tert-butyl) is presented. All representatives were isolated and fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction studies. Furthermore, first reactivity studies of these novel species toward selected metal halide complexes were performed. In this course, metal complexes [HgPh{SSi(C₂F₅)₃}] (2) and [Au(PPh₃){SSi(C₂F₅)₃}] (3) were isolated and characterized.

New protective ligands for atomically precise silver nanoclusters

Atomically precise silver nanoclusters (NCs) have emerged as a hot topic attracting immense research interest. Protecting ligands are needed for direct capping on cluster surfaces in order to prevent aggregation and to stabilize NCs. It has been demonstrated that protective ligands are critical to determining the sizes, structures and properties of silver NCs. The past decades have witnessed conventionally used organic ligands (thiolates/selenols, phosphines and alkynyls) and inorganic ligands (chalcogens and halogens) being extensively used to passivate NC surfaces. However, only in the most recent years have new-type protecting ligands beyond the conventional ones begun to be introduced in the protecting sphere of new functional silver NCs. The present Frontier article covers the most recent examples of some new protective agents for well-defined silver NCs. We describe four classes of novel silver NCs stabilized by newly-developed surface ligands, namely, nitrogen-donor organic ligands, oxygen-donor inorganic ligands, metalloligands and macrocyclic hosts, paying attention to the synthesis, structures and properties of these silver NCs. This Frontier article will hopefully attract more cluster scientists to explore more freshly ligated atomically precise silver NCs with novel structures and properties in the years ahead. The literature survey in this review is based on publications up to February 2020. Some suggestions for future directions in this field are also given.

Ultrasonic-assisted fabrication of thin-film electrochemical detector of H2O2 based on ferrocene-functionalized silver cluster

A novel ferrocene-functionalized silver cluster (FcAgCs) has been designed and synthesized with the assistant of ultrasound treatment and fully characterized by single crystal spectroscopy, IR, UV-Vis, XRD, TGA, NMR, CV and elemental analyses. Ultrasound synthesis method facilitates and accelerates synthesis of this amazing structure and plays a vital role in the synthesis of this special cluster. Single-crystal X-ray analysis reveal that the cluster can be described as a cationic [(dppf)₂Ag₄(CC^tBu)₂(CH₃OH)₂]²⁺ (dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) species consisted of four rhombic silver atom and two isolated BF₄^- counter anions. Thermal stability greater than 200 °C and solution CV results show that the title cluster is sufficiently stable and suitable for the fabricating of FcAgCs/ITO thin-films and exploring as electrochemical responding materials. Based on its properties, we use it to prepare thin-films on ITO substrate by spin coating method. Verification of synthesis, thickness, uniformity and stability of the fabricated FcAgCs/ITO thin-films were characterized and confirmed by UV, XRD, SEM and the scotch tape adhesion peel test. Moreover, we use this FcAgCs/ITO thin-film electrode as thin-film electrochemical detector which shows sensitive and quick response in the detection of H₂O₂.

Recent advances in the self-assembly of polynuclear metal–selenium and –tellurium compounds from 14–16 reagents

The use of reagents containing bonds between group 14 elements and Se or Te for the self-assembly of polynuclear metal–chalcogen compounds is covered. Background material is briefly reviewed and examples from the literature are highlighted from the period 2007–2017. Emphasis is placed on the different classes of 14–16 precursors and their application in the targeted synthesis of metal–chalcogen compounds. The unique properties arising from the combination of specific 14–16 precursors, metal atoms, and ancillary ligands are also described. Selected examples are chosen to underline the progress in (i) controlled synthesis of heterometallic (ternary) chalcogen clusters, (ii) chalcogen clusters with organic functionalized surfaces, and (iii) crystalline open-framework metal chalcogenides.

Formation and Structural Diversity of Organo-Functionalized Tin-Silver Selenide Clusters

When reacting the organic functionalized tin selenide clusters [(SnR¹ )₃ Se₄ Cl] (A, R¹ =CMe₂ CH₂ C(O)Me) or [(SnR¹ )₄ Se₆ ] (B) with (SiMe₃ )₂ Se and [Ag(PPh₃ )₃ Cl] at -78 °C in CH₂ Cl₂ , a microcrystalline intermediate (compound 1) precipitates, which was investigated by magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry calculations, to derive information about its composition and structure. Compound 1 re-dissolves under reorganization into the organo-functionalized Ag/Sn/Se cluster compound [Ag₆ (μ₆ -Se)(Ag₈ Se₁₂ ){(R¹ Sn)₂ Se₂ }₆ ] (2), or the mixed-valence cluster [(AgPPh₃ )₂ (Sn^II Cl)₂ Se₂ {(R¹ Sn^IV )₂ Se₂ }₂ ] (3), depending on the presence or the exclusion of daylight, respectively. The addition of N₂ H₄ ⋅H₂ O to a solution of 1 yields selectively [Ag₇ (μ₇ -Se)(Ag₇ Se₁₂ ){(R² Sn)₂ Se₂ }₆ ] (4, R² =CMe₂ CH₂ C(N₂ H₂ )Me), the Ag/Sn/Se core of which is isomeric to that of 2. 2-4 were characterized by X-ray diffraction. NMR spectroscopic studies on solutions of 1 indicate the co-existence of different species.

Hemilabile silver(i) complexes containing pyridyl chalcogenolate (S, Se) ligands and their utility as molecular precursors for silver chalcogenides

A series of silver triphenylphosphine complexes containing pyridyl chacogenolate (S, Se) ligands has been synthesized by employing [AgCl(PPh₃)₃] and [Ag₂(μ-Cl)₂(PPh₃)₄].

Organotin-oxido cluster-based multiferrocenyl complexes obtained by hydrolysis of ferrocenyl-functionalized organotin chlorides

Three organotin-oxido clusters were formed by hydrolysis of ferrocenyl-functionalized organotin chloride precursors in the presence of NaEPh (E=S, Se). [R(Fc) SnCl3 ⋅HCl] (C; R(Fc) = CMe2 CH2 C(Me)=N-N=C(Me)Fc) and [SnCl6 ](2-) formed {(R(Fc) SnCl2 )3 [Sn(OH)6 ]}[SnCl3 ] (3 a) and {(R(Fc) SnCl2 )3 [Sn(OH)6 ]}[PhSeO3 ] (3 b), bearing an unprecedented [Sn4 O6 ] unit, in a one-pot synthesis or stepwise through [(R(Fc) SnCl2 )2 Se] (1) plus [(R(Fc) SnCl2 )SePh] (2). A one-pot reaction starting out from FcSnCl3 gave [(FcSn)9 (OH)6 O8 Cl5 ] (4), which represents the largest Fc-decorated Sn/O cluster reported to date.

New polydentate trimethylsilyl chalcogenide reagents for the assembly of polyferrocenyl architectures

A series of polychalcogenotrimethylsilane complexes Ar(CH2ESiMe3)n, (Ar = aryl; E = S, Se; n = 2, 3, and 4) can be prepared from the corresponding polyorganobromide and M[ESiMe3] (M = Na, Li). These represent the first examples of the incorporation of such a large number of reactive -ESiMe3 moieties onto an organic molecular framework. They are shown to be convenient reagents for the preparation of the polyferrocenylseleno- and thioesters from ferrocenoyl chloride. The synthesis, structures, and spectroscopic properties of the new silyl chalcogen complexes 1,4-(Me3SiECH2)2(C6Me4) (E = S, 1; E = Se, 2), 1,3,5-(Me3SiECH2)3(C6Me3) (E = S, 3; E = Se, 4) and 1,2,4,5-(Me3SiECH2)4(C6H2) (E = S, 5; E = Se, 6) and the polyferrocenyl chalcogenoesters [1,4-{FcC(O)ECH2}2(C6Me4)] (E = S, 7; E = Se, 8), [1,3,5-{FcC(O)ECH2}3(C6Me3)] (E = S, 9; E = Se, 10) and [1,2,4,5-{FcC(O)ECH2}4(C6H2)] (E = S, 11 illustrated; E = Se, 12) are reported. The new polysilylated reagents and polyferrocenyl chalcogenoesters have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (13)C, (77)Se), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and, for complexes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 11, single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The cyclic voltammograms of complexes 7-11 are presented.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and photoluminescence studies of a ruthenocenyl-decorated Sn/S cluster

Recently, we reported on ferrocenyl-decorated Sn/S clusters; herein, we present the extension of our investigations by attachment of ruthenocenyl units to an according cluster skeleton. The latter was realized upon improvement of the synthesis of acetylruthenocene, its conversion to a hydrazone derivative, and the subsequent reaction with a keto-functionalized Sn/S precursor complex. The report comprises the crystal structures of acetylruthenocene and the ruthenocenyl-terminated Sn/S cluster [(R(Rc)Sn)4Sn2S10] (R(Rc) = CMe2CH2C(Me)═N-N═C(Me)Rc), as well as the discussion of the electrochemical properties of the latter and its behavior during time-resolved photoluminescence investigations.

Towards the installation of transition metal ions on donor ligand decorated tin sulfide clusters

Decoration of tetrelchalcogenide T-E clusters with chelating donor ligands was achieved to capture transition metal ions on their surfaces. We demonstrate that by covalent linking of bispyridyl ligands to an Sn-S complex, [ZnX](+) units can be trapped and incorporated into the cluster framework. Intermediates that were identified using spectroscopy and/or X-ray diffraction gave insight into the formation processes.

Heptametallic, octupolar nonlinear optical chromophores with six ferrocenyl substituents

New complexes with six ferrocenyl (Fc) groups connected to Zn(II) or Cd(II) tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) cores are described. A thorough characterisation of their BPh4(-) salts includes two single-crystal X-ray structures, highly unusual for such species with multiple, extended substituents. Intense, visible d(Fe(II))→π* metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands accompany the π→π* intraligand charge-transfer absorptions in the near UV region. Each complex shows a single, fully reversible Fe(III/II) wave when probed electrochemically. Molecular quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) responses are determined by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering and Stark spectroscopy. The latter gives static first hyperpolarisabilities β0 reaching as high as approximately 10(-27)  esu and generally increasing with π-conjugation extension. Z-scan cubic NLO measurements reveal high two-photon absorption cross-sections σ2 of up to 5400 GM in one case. DFT calculations reproduce the π-conjugation dependence of β0, and TD-DFT predicts three transitions close in energy contributing to the MLCT bands. The lowest energy transition has octupolar character, whereas the other two are degenerate and dipolar in nature.