Heteroselenometallic cluster compounds with tetraselenometalates

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.

Nonlinear Optical Materials for the Smart Filtering of Optical Radiation

The control of luminous radiation has extremely important implications for modern and future technologies as well as in medicine. In this Review, we detail chemical structures and their relevant photophysical features for various groups of materials, including organic dyes such as metalloporphyrins and metallophthalocyanines (and derivatives), other common organic materials, mixed metal complexes and clusters, fullerenes, dendrimeric nanocomposites, polymeric materials (organic and/or inorganic), inorganic semiconductors, and other nanoscopic materials, utilized or potentially useful for the realization of devices able to filter in a smart way an external radiation. The concept of smart is referred to the characteristic of those materials that are capable to filter the radiation in a dynamic way without the need of an ancillary system for the activation of the required transmission change. In particular, this Review gives emphasis to the nonlinear optical properties of photoactive materials for the function of optical power limiting. All known mechanisms of optical limiting have been analyzed and discussed for the different types of materials.

Synthesis and molecular and electronic structures of a series of Mo3CoSe4 cluster complexes with three different metal electron populations

The synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of [Mo 3(CoCO)Se 4(dmpe) 3Cl 3] ( 1), [Mo 3(CoCl)Se 4(dmpe) 3Cl 3] ( 2), and [Mo 3(CoCl)Se 4(dmpe) 3Cl 3](TCNQ) ([ 2](TCNQ)) (dmpe = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphanyl)ethane; TCNQ = 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinomethane) cubane-type complexes with 16, 15, and 14 metal electrons, respectively, are reported. These compounds complete the series of cobalt-containing Mo 3CoQ 4 (Q = S, Se) cubane-type complexes, which allows a complete analysis of the consequences of replacing the inner chalcogen and the metal electron count on the structural, magnetic, and electrochemical properties. The experimental evidence is theoretically supported and rationalized on the basis of density-functional theory calculations. For the 15-metal electron [Mo 3(CoCl)Se 4(dmpe) 3Cl 3] complex with S = (1)/ 2, both electron paramagnetic resonance and theoretical studies give support to a spin density mainly located on the heteroatom. The nature of the highest occupied molecular orbital upon chalcogen exchange within the Mo 3CoQ 4 (Q = S, Se) series remains essentially unchanged, whereas the nature of the ligand attached to Co (Cl or CO) results in a different ordering of the molecular orbital scheme. This behavior is explained by the absence of backdonation between an occupied d orbital of Co to an empty pi* Cl orbital, to yield frontier orbitals that differ from those of previous models.

Structural chemistry of (PPh4)2M(WS4)2 materials

In this paper we discuss the structural chemistry of (PPh(4))(2)M(WS(4))(2) (M = Co, Ni, Zn) materials. For M = Ni we and others have been unable to grow single crystals and we report the structure determination from powder diffraction. The material is triclinic (P1, a = 9.3730(2), b = 12.4951(3), c = 12.5189(3) A, alpha = 65.814(1), beta = 83.751(1), gamma = 69.571(1) degrees at T = 293 K). It contains square-planar coordination around Ni. For M = Zn we have isolated two polymorphs. We describe new analysis of the complex superstructure and diffuse scattering observed in the tetragonal polymorph (I4, a = 18.723(4), c = 13.563(4) A at T = 120 K) and the bulk preparation of a monoclinic (P2(1)/c, a = 18.6397(4), b = 15.3693(5), c = 18.9822(5) A, beta = 109.239(2) degrees at T = 293 K) polymorph isostructural with the M = Co material.

Syntheses, Structures, and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Heteroselenometallic W−Se−Ag Cluster Compounds Containing Phosphine Ligands

Treatment of [Et4N]2[WSe4] with a 1:1 mixture of AgNO3 and PCy3 (Cy = cyclohexyl) in the absence of iodide afforded a linear trinuclear compound [(mu-WSe4)(AgPCy3)2] (1). A similar reaction in the presence of iodide gave rise to the isolation of the cubanelike compound [(mu3-WSe4)Ag3(PCy3)3(mu3-I)] (2). Treatment of [Et4N]2[WSe4] with AgI in the presence of bidentate phosphine ligands bis(diphenylphosphino)amine (dppa) and bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) afforded the tetranuclear compounds [(mu3-WSe4)Ag3(mu-I)(mu-dppa)2] (3) and [(mu3-WSe4)Ag3(mu3-I)(mu-dppm)2] (4), respectively, which exhibit an open butterfly configuration. A novel hexanuclear cluster compound [(mu3-WSe4)2Ag4(mu-dppm)3] (5) was obtained from interaction of [Et4N]2[WSe4] with AgNO3 and dppm in the absence of iodide source. The above cluster compounds are electrically neutral and air-stable in both solution and the solid state and have been characterized by electronic, infrared, mass, and NMR spectroscopies. The solid-state structures of five cluster compounds have been established by X-ray crystallography. The nonlinear optical properties of compounds 4 and 5 were examined by z-scan techniques with 7 ns pulses at 532 nm. The optical limiting effects of compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 were determined and compared with related argentoselenometallic compounds.

Construction of New Heteroselenometallic Clusters: Formation of Crownlike [Et4N]4[(μ5-WSe4)(CuI)5(μ-I)2] and Octahedral Polymeric [(μ6-WSe4)Cu6I4(py)4]n from Planar [Et4N]4[(μ4-WSe4)Cu4I6] with Additional Faces

The coplanar cluster compound [Et4N]4[(mu4-WSe4)Cu4I6] (1) was prepared from reaction of [Et4N]2[WSe4] with 4 equiv of CuI in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution in the presence of [Et(4)N]I. Treatment of 1 with pyridine (py) in dry MeCN gave the neutral cluster [(mu4-WSe4)Cu4(py)6I2] (2) in good yield. Recrystallization of 1 from py/i-PrOH resulted in the reorganization of the coplanar WSe4Cu4 core and the formation of a neutral polymeric cluster [(mu3-WOSe3)Cu3(py)3(mu-I)]n (3) containing a nest-shaped OWSe3Cu3 core and a terminal W=O bond. The interaction of cluster 1 with excess PPh3 in CH3Cl3 gave [(mu3-WSe4)Cu3(PPh3)3(mu3-I)] (4) which has a cubanelike SeWSe3Cu3I core. Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of CuI in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) yielded [Et4N]4[(mu5-WSe4)(CuI)5(mu-I)2] (5) which has a crown-like core structure. Treatment of 1 in DMF with 2 equiv of CuI in the presence of py resulted in the formation of a two-dimensional polymeric cluster, [(mu6-WSe4)Cu6I4(py)4]n (6), consisting of an octahedral WSe4Cu6 repeating unit. The solid-state structures of clusters 3, 5, and 6 have been further established by X-ray crystallography. The nonlinear optical properties of 6 have been also investigated. Cluster 6 was found to exhibit good photostability and a large optical limiting effect with the limiting threshold being ca. 0.3 J cm(-2).