Verdazyl Radical Building Blocks: Synthesis, Structure, and Sonogashira Cross-Coupling Reactions

Electronic and Magnetic Interactions in 6-Oxoverdazyl Diradicals: Connection through N(1) vs C(3) Revisited

Four isomeric di-6-oxoverdazyl diradicals connected at their N(1) or C(3) positions with either 1,3- or 1,4-phenylene linkers were obtained and characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical, magnetic, and structural methods. These results were compared to those for the corresponding 6-oxoverdazyl monoradicals. UV-vis spectroscopy demonstrated that only the N(1)-connected para-through-benzene diradical has a distinct spectrum with significant bathochromic and hypsochromic shifts relative to the remaining species. Electrochemical analysis revealed two one-electron reduction processes in all diradiacals, while only the N(1)-connected para-through-benzene diradical exhibits two one-electron oxidation processes separated by 0.10 V. Variable temperature EPR measurements in polystyrene solid solutions gave negative mean exchange interaction energies J for all diradicals, suggesting the dominance of conformers with significant intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions for the meta-through-benzene isomers. DFT calculations predict a small preference for the triplet state with the ΔES-T of about 0.25 kcal mol-1 for both meta-through-benzene connected diradicals.

Syntheses, Characterization, and Multifaceted Coordination Chemistry of Hydrazonido Titanium Complexes

The reaction of hydrazones with bis(π-η5:σ-η1-pentafulvene)titanium complexes leads to both hydrazonido and hydrazido complexes depending on the interaction of the hydrazone with the fulvene ligand of the metal complex. The molecular structures mostly reveal κ2N,N side-on coordination of the hydrazonido ligand due to the deprotonation of the N-H bond by one of the fulvene moieties. Instead of deprotonation, the reaction of the bis(adamantylidene fulvene)titanium complexes with cinnamon aldehyde phenylhydrazone leads to κ1N coordination. By using donating groups in the backbone of the hydrazone ligands, there are exceptions to this coordination mode due to the insertion of the C═N double bond into the Ti-Cexo bond of the pentafulvene moiety. Using 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde phenylhydrazone, a formal κ3N,N,N ligand system is formed by the coordination of the pyridine nitrogen atom to the metal center via consecutive N-H deprotonation and insertion. Finally, the use of salicylaldehyde phenylhydrazone ultimately produces a complex with the κ3N,N,O coordination mode by double deprotonation of the hydrazone N-H and O-H functions. Because of its slow conversion to the final product, the intermediate was isolated as an insertion product with consecutive O-H deprotonation, showing a κ2N,O coordination mode of the hydrazido ligand.

Recent Developments on Electroactive Organic Electrolytes for Non-Aqueous Redox Flow Batteries: Current Status, Challenges, and Prospects

The ever-increasing threat of climate change and the depletion of fossil fuel resources necessitate the use of solar- and wind-based renewable energy sources. Large-scale energy storage technologies, such as redox flow batteries (RFBs), offer a continuous supply of energy. Depending on the nature of the electrolytes used, RFBs are broadly categorized into aqueous redox flow batteries (ARFBs) and non-aqueous redox flow batteries (NARFBs). ARFBs suffer from various problems, including low conductivity of electrolytes, inferior charge/discharge current densities, high-capacity fading, and lower energy densities. NARFBs offer a wider potential window and range of operating temperatures, faster electron transfer kinetics, and higher energy densities. In this review article, a critical analysis is provided on the design of organic electroactive molecules, their physiochemical/electrochemical properties, and various organic solvents used in NARFBs. Furthermore, various redox-active organic materials, such as metal-based coordination complexes, quinones, radicals, polymers, and miscellaneous electroactive species, explored for NARFBs during 2012-2023 are discussed. Finally, the current challenges and prospects of NARFBs are summarized.

Redox: Organic Robust Radicals and Their Polymers for Energy Conversion/Storage Devices

Persistent radicals can hold their unpaired electrons even under conditions where they accumulate, leading to the unique characteristics of radical ensembles with open-shell structures and their molecular properties, such as magneticity, radical trapping, catalysis, charge storage, and electrical conductivity. The molecules also display fast, reversible redox reactions, which have attracted particular attention for energy conversion and storage devices. This paper reviews the electrochemical aspects of persistent radicals and the corresponding macromolecules, radical polymers. Radical structures and their redox reactions are introduced, focusing on redox potentials, bistability, and kinetic constants for electrode reactions and electron self-exchange reactions. Unique charge transport and storage properties are also observed with the accumulated form of redox sites in radical polymers. The radical molecules have potential electrochemical applications, including in rechargeable batteries, redox flow cells, photovoltaics, diodes, and transistors, and in catalysts, which are reviewed in the last part of this paper.

Direct mapping of kidney function by DCE-MRI urography using a tetrazinanone organic radical contrast agent

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) are ongoing global health burdens. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the gold standard measure of kidney function, with clinical estimates providing a global assessment of kidney health without spatial information of kidney- or region-specific dysfunction. The addition of dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) to the anatomical imaging already performed would yield a 'one-stop-shop' for renal assessment in cases of suspected AKI and CKD. Towards urography by DCE-MRI, we evaluated a class of nitrogen-centered organic radicals known as verdazyls, which are extremely stable even in highly reducing environments. A glucose-modified verdazyl, glucoverdazyl, provided contrast limited to kidney and bladder, affording functional kidney evaluation in mouse models of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and folic acid-induced nephropathy (FAN). Imaging outcomes correlated with histology and hematology assessing kidney dysfunction, and glucoverdazyl clearance rates were found to be a reliable surrogate measure of GFR.

Unlocking Kuhn Verdazyls: New Synthetic Approach and Useful Mechanistic Insights

An optimized synthetic protocol toward the assembly of Kuhn verdazyls based on an azo coupling of arenediazonium salts with readily available hydrazones followed by the base-mediated cyclization of in situ formed formazans with formalin was developed. The scope and limitations of the presented method were revealed. Some new mechanistic insights on the formation of Kuhn verdazyls were also conducted. It was found that in contradiction with previously assumed hypotheses, the synthesis of verdazyls was accomplished via an intermediate formation of verdazylium cations which were in situ reduced to leucoverdazyls. The latter underwent deprotonation under basic conditions to generate corresponding anions which coproportionate with verdazylium cations to furnish the formation of Kuhn verdazyls. The spectroscopic and electrochemical behavior of the synthesized verdazyls was also studied. Overall, our results may serve as a reliable basis for further investigation in the chemistry and applications of verdazyls.

Redox-Addressable Single-Molecule Junctions Incorporating a Persistent Organic Radical

Integrating radical (open-shell) species into non-cryogenic nanodevices is key to unlocking the potential of molecular electronics. While many efforts have been devoted to this issue, in the absence of a chemical/electrochemical potential the open-shell character is generally lost in contact with the metallic electrodes. Herein, single-molecule devices incorporating a 6-oxo-verdazyl persistent radical have been fabricated using break-junction techniques. The open-shell character is retained at room temperature, and electrochemical gating permits in situ reduction to a closed-shell anionic state in a single-molecule transistor configuration. Furthermore, electronically driven rectification arises from bias-dependent alignment of the open-shell resonances. The integration of radical character, transistor-like switching, and rectification in a single molecular component paves the way to further studies of the electronic, magnetic, and thermoelectric properties of open-shell species.

2-(4-(Dimethylamino)phenyl)-3,3-difluoro-4,6-diphenyl-3,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5,3-tetrazaborinin-2-ium-3-ide

Reaction of 1-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)-3,5-diphenylformazane with boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (5 equiv) in the presence of triethylamine (3 equiv) in toluene medium gave “boratetrazine”—2-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)-3,3-difluoro-4,6-diphenyl-3,4-dihydro -1,2,4,5,3-tetrazaborinin-2-ium-3-ide in a 58% yield.

Synthesis and characterization of terthiophene bearing stable radicals

The synthesis and characterization of a new terthiophene bearing stable radical II is described. Through a cross coupling reaction between 2-tributylstannylthiophene and 6-(2,5-dibromo-thiophene-3-yl)pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde (2), 6-[2,2′:5′,2″]terthiophen-3′-ylpyridine-2-carboxaldehyde (3) was prepared. The condensation of 3 with 2, 4-diisopropylcarbonohydrazide bis-hydrochloride affords the heterocyclic tetrazane (4), which was oxidized with 1,4-benzoquinone to form the stable radical II. II characterized by IR, ESR, and cyclic voltammetry. Oxidative electropolymerization of II and its precursor 4 at oxidation peak potential of the terthiophene using cyclic voltammetric scans produces radical functionalized polyterthiophene on a platinum electrode (poly(II)-Pt).

A divergent strategy for the synthesis of redox-active verdazyl radical polymers

We describe a divergent synthetic strategy based on ATRP and CuAAC chemistry for the production of stable radical polymers. As a proof of concept, we prepare verdazyl radical polymers with properties suitable for use in organic electronics.

A Weakly Antiferromagnetically Coupled Biradical Combining Verdazyl with Nitronylnitroxide Units

An antiferromagnetically (AFM) coupled biradical based on oxoverdazyl and nitronylnitroxide was synthesized in 46 % yield using Sonogashira coupling. The obtained heterobiradical evidenced distinct properties of both radical entities in solution. Depending on the solvent, the prepared biradical crystallized in two different forms. SQUID magnetization measurements on Form II showed coupling constants J_intraII /k_B =-2.1 K and zJ_interII /k_B =-11.5 K. Consequently, total intermolecular exchange interactions are five times larger than the intramolecular ones. Further, DFT calculations explained this phenomenon and indicated the advantage of Form I for further in-depth investigations.

Oxidative addition of verdazyl halogenides to Pd(PPh3)4

A novel approach to the preparation of stable Pd-substituted verdazyls was developed through the direct oxidative addition of iodoverdazyls to Pd(PPh₃)₄.

Verdazyls as Possible Building Blocks for Multifunctional Molecular Materials: A Case Study on 1,5-Diphenyl-3-(p-iodophenyl)-verdazyl Focusing on Magnetism, Electron Transfer and the Applicability of the Sonogashira-Hagihara Reaction

This work explores the use of Kuhn verdazyl radicals as building blocks in multifunctional molecular materials in an exemplary study, focusing on the magnetic and the electron transfer (ET) characteristics, but also addressing the question whether chemical modification by cross-coupling is possible. The ET in solution is studied spectroscopically, whereas solid state measurements afford information about the magnetic susceptibility or the conductivity of the given samples. The observed results are rationalized based on the chemical structures of the molecules, which have been obtained by X-ray crystallography. The crystallographically observed molecular structures as well as the interpretation based on the spectroscopic and physical measurements are backed up by DFT calculations. The measurements indicate that only weak, antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling is observed in Kuhn verdazyls owed to the low tendency to form face-to-face stacks, but also that steric reasons alone are not sufficient to explain this behavior. Furthermore, it is also demonstrated that ET reactions proceed rapidly in verdazyl/verdazylium redox couples and that Kuhn verdazyls are suited as donor molecules in ET reactions.

The aromaticity of verdazyl radicals and their closed-shell charged species

The aromaticity of fourteen 3-oxo-verdazyl (1–8) and Kuhn verdazyl (9–14) radicals with different substituents has been investigated computationally using the gauge-including magnetically induced current-density (GIMIC) method.