Excited-state interaction of dicyanocuprate(1-) with halide ions. Does the emission originate from a simple inorganic exciplex?

Photoinduced, Copper-Catalyzed Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation with Alkyl Electrophiles: Cyanation of Unactivated Secondary Alkyl Chlorides at Room Temperature

We have recently reported that, in the presence of light and a copper catalyst, nitrogen nucleophiles such as carbazoles and primary amides undergo C-N coupling with alkyl halides under mild conditions. In the present study, we establish that photoinduced, copper-catalyzed alkylation can also be applied to C-C bond formation, specifically, that the cyanation of unactivated secondary alkyl chlorides can be achieved at room temperature to afford nitriles, an important class of target molecules. Thus, in the presence of an inexpensive copper catalyst (CuI; no ligand coadditive) and a readily available light source (UVC compact fluorescent light bulb), a wide array of alkyl halides undergo cyanation in good yield. Our initial mechanistic studies are consistent with the hypothesis that an excited state of [Cu(CN)2](-) may play a role, via single electron transfer, in this process. This investigation provides a rare example of a transition metal-catalyzed cyanation of an alkyl halide, as well as the first illustrations of photoinduced, copper-catalyzed alkylation with either a carbon nucleophile or a secondary alkyl chloride.

Electronic, bonding, and optical properties of 1d [CuCN]n (n = 1-10) chains, 2d [CuCN]n (n = 2-10) nanorings, and 3d [Cun (CN)n ]m (n = 4, m = 2, 3; n = 10, m = 2) tubes studied by DFT/TD-DFT methods

The electronic, bonding, and photophysical properties of one-dimensional [CuCN](n) (n = 1-10) chains, 2-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) nanorings, and 3-D [Cu(n)(CN)(n)](m) (n = 4, m = 2, 3; n = 10, m = 2) tubes are investigated by means of a multitude of computational methodologies using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent-density-functional theory (TD-DFT) methods. The calculations revealed that the 2-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) nanorings are more stable than the respective 1-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) linear chains. The 2-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) nanorings are predicted to form 3-D [Cun (CN)(n)](m) (n = 4, m = 2, 3; n = 10, m = 2) tubes supported by weak stacking interactions, which are clearly visualized as broad regions in real space by the 3D plots of the reduced density gradient. The bonding mechanism in the 1-D [CuCN](n) (n = 1-10) chains, 2-D [CuCN](n) (n = 2-10) nanorings, and 3-D [Cu(n)(CN)(n)](m) (n = 4, m = 2, 3; n = 10, m = 2) tubes are easily recognized by a multitude of electronic structure calculation approaches. Particular emphasis was given on the photophysical properties (absorption and emission spectra) of the [CuCN](n) chains, nanorings, and tubes which were simulated by TD-DFT calculations. The absorption and emission bands in the simulated TD-DFT absorption and emission spectra have thoroughly been analyzed and assignments of the contributing principal electronic transitions associated to individual excitations have been made.

Two novel halogeno(cyano)argentates with efficient luminescence

The reactions of silver(I) cyanide with tetraalkylammonium salts in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF) under solvothermal conditions and then diffused with ether lead to two novel mixed halogeno(cyano)argentates(I) with efficient luminescence.

Two Halogeno(cyano)cuprates with Long-Lived and Strong Luminescence

Solvothermal reactions of copper(I) cyanide with tetramethylammonium salts in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (THF) lead to two novel halogeno(cyano)cuprates, namely, [Me(4)N][Cu(3)(CN)(2)Br(2)] (1) with a 1-D ribbon motif and [Me(4)N](2)[Cu(4)(CN)(5)Cl] (2) with a 3-D nanoporous framework. In 1, four Cu(I) ions are connected via two mu-Br and two mu(3)-Br atoms into a neutral [Cu(4)Br(4)] cluster, and such clusters are further double bridged by [Cu(CN)(2)](2-) linkers to form a 1-D ribbonlike chain. While in 2, Cu(I) ions are connected via mu-CN and mu(3)-CN ligands and mu-Cl atoms into a 2-D fluctuant sheet along the a-c plane, and these sheets are further linked by another kind of mu-CN ligand to form a 3-D nanoporous framework in whose channels reside [Me(4)N](+) cations. Results of optical and luminescent studies indicate that both two complexes are potential materials for semiconductors and long-lived highly luminescent materials.

Nature of Transients in the Laser Flash Photolysis of the Tribromocuprate(I) Complex

Laser flash excitation of the CTTS band of CuBr(3)(2)(-) at 266 nm results in the formation of a luminescent species which decays through a coupled mechanism consistent with the formation of an emitting triplet tricoordinated exciplex in equilibrium with a nonemitting triplet dicoordinated species. The rate constants for some of the decay processes, as well as the formation constant of the radiative intermediate, are estimated. Hydrated electrons and Cu(II) ions are also efficiently produced in about a 1:1 molar ratio in a competing pathway with the copper(I) exciplex formation. Time-resolved absorbance spectra of the hydrated electron and the luminescent species were obtained, leading to the conclusion that the exciplex forms in high yield at high ligand concentrations. Another intermediate appears to be the Br(2)(-) radical anion.