Transformations in Transition-Metal Carbonyls Containing Arsenic: Exploring the Chemistry of [Et4N]2[HAs{Fe(CO)4}3] in the Search for Single-Source Precursors for Advanced Metal Pnictide Materials

Actinide Pnictinidene Chemistry: A Terminal Thorium Parent-Arsinidene Complex Stabilised by a Super-Bulky Triamidoamine Ligand

We report the direct synthesis of the terminal pnictidenes [An(TrenTCHS )(PnH)][M(2,2,2-cryptand)] (TrenTCHS ={N(CH2 CH2 NSiCy3 )3 }3- ; An/Pn/M=Th/P/Na 5, Th/As/K 6, U/P/Na 7, U/As/K 8) and their conversion to the pnictides [An(TrenTCHS )(PnH2 )] (An/Pn=Th/P 9, Th/As 10, U/P 11, U/As 12). Use of the super-bulky TrenTCHS ligand was essential to accessing complete families, and 6 is an unprecedented example of a terminal thorium-arsinidene complex and only the second structurally authenticated parent terminal arsinidene complex of any metal. Comparison of the terminal Th=AsH unit of 6 to the bridging ThAs(H)K linkage in structurally analogous [Th(TrenTIPS ){μ-As(H)K(15-crown-5)}] (TrenTIPS ={N(CH2 CH2 NSiPri 3 )3 }3- ) reveals a stronger Th-As bond in the former compared to the latter, and a large response overall to the nature of the Th=AsH bonding upon removal of the electrostatically-bound K-ion; the σ-bond changes little but the π-bond is significantly perturbed.

From Small Metal Clusters to Molecular Nanoarchitectures with a Core-Shell Structure: The Synthesis, Redox Fingerprint, Theoretical Analysis, and Solid-State Structure of [Co38As12(CO)50]4

The cluster [Co₃₈As₁₂(CO)₅₀]^4- was obtained by pyrolysis of [Co₆As(CO)₁₆]^-. The metal cage features a closed-packed core inside a Co/As shell that progressively deforms from a cubic face-centered symmetry. The redox and acid-base reactivities were determined by cyclic voltammetry and spectrophotometric titrations. The calculated electron density revealed the shell-constrained distribution of the atomic charges, induced by the presence of arsenic.

Metal carbonyl clusters of groups 8-10: synthesis and catalysis

In this review article, we discuss advances in the chemistry of metal carbonyl clusters (MCCs) spanning the last three decades, with an emphasis on the more recent reports and those involving groups 8-10 elements. Synthetic methods have advanced and been refined, leading to higher-nuclearity clusters and a wider array of structures and nuclearities. Our understanding of the electronic structure in MCCs has advanced to a point where molecular chemistry tools and other advanced tools can probe their properties at a level of detail that surpasses that possible with other nanomaterials and solid-state materials. MCCs therefore advance our understanding of structure-property-reactivity correlations in other higher-nuclearity materials. With respect to catalysis, this article focuses only on homogeneous applications, but it includes both thermally and electrochemically driven catalysis. Applications in thermally driven catalysis have found success where the reaction conditions stabilise the compounds toward loss of CO. In more recent years, MCCs, which exhibit delocalised bonding and possess many electron-withdrawing CO ligands, have emerged as very stable and effective for reductive electrocatalysis reactions since reduction often strengthens M-C(O) bonds and since room-temperature reaction conditions are sufficient for driving the electrocatalysis.

The Parent Diarsene HAs=AsH as Side-on Bound Ligand in an Iron Carbonyl Complex

The terminal diarsene HAs=AsH ligand attracts special interest concerning its bonding relation in comparison to its isolable relative, ethene. Herein, by the methanolysis of [{Fe(CO)₄}As(SiMe₃)₃] (1) the synthesis of [{Fe(CO)₄}(η²‐As₂H₂)] (2) is reported, containing a parent diarsene as unprecedented side‐on coordinated ligand. Following this synthetic route, also the D‐labeled complex [{Fe(CO)₄}(η²‐As₂D₂)] (2D) could be isolated. The electronic structure and bonding situation of 2 was elucidated by DFT calculations revealing that 2 is best described as an olefin‐like complex. Moreover, the reactivity of 2 towards the Lewis acids [{M(CO)₅}(thf)] (M=Cr, W) was investigated, leading to the complexes [Fe(CO)₄AsHW(CO)₅]₂ (3) and [{Fe(CO)₄}₂AsH{Cr(CO)₅}] (4), respectively.

Electrophilic terminal arsinidene-iron(0) complexes with a two-coordinated arsenic atom

The electrophilic arsinidene complexes 5 and 6 featuring a two-coordinated arsenic atom have been isolated as crystalline solids. Complex 5 readily reacts with an NHC nucleophile (IMe₄) to give the Lewis adduct 7.

A TiO2/FeMnP Core/Shell Nanorod Array Photoanode for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Oxygen Evolution

A variety of catalysts have recently been developed for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution, but very few of them can be readily integrated with semiconducting light absorbers for photoelectrochemical or photocatalytic water splitting. Here, we demonstrate an efficient core/shell photoanode with a highly active oxygen evolution electrocatalyst shell (FeMnP) and semiconductor core (rutile TiO₂) for photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution reaction. Metal-organic chemical vapor deposition from a single-source precursor was used to ensure good contact between the FeMnP and the TiO₂. The TiO₂/FeMnP core/shell photoanode reaches the theoretical photocurrent density for rutile TiO₂ of 1.8 mA cm^-2 at 1.23 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode under simulated 100 mW cm^-2 (1 sun) irradiation. The dramatic enhancement is a result of the synergistic effects of the high oxygen evolution reaction activity of FeMnP (delivering an overpotential of 300 mV with a Tafel slope of 65 mV dec^-1 in 1 M KOH) and the conductive interlayer between the surface active sites and semiconductor core which boosts the interfacial charge transfer and photocarrier collection. The facile fabrication of the TiO₂/FeMnP core/shell nanorod array photoanode offers a compelling strategy for preparing highly efficient photoelectrochemical solar energy conversion devices.

N-Heterocyclic carbene-stabilised arsinidene (AsH)

N-Heterocyclic carbene adducts of the parent arsinidene (AsH) were prepared by two different synthetic routes, either by reaction of As(SiMe₃)₃ with 2,2-difluoroimidazolines followed by desilylation or by reaction of [Na(dioxane)_3.31][AsCO] with imidazolium chlorides.

Two heterotrimetallic organic frameworks constructed using a functionalized Schiff base ligand: syntheses, structures and visible photocatalytic activities for the degradation of chlorophenols

Two 3D heterotrimetallics have been synthesized and their photocatalytic degradation performances for chlorophenols have been investigated.