Controlling Near-Infrared Chromophore Electronic Properties through Metal–Ligand Orbital Alignment

Synthetic, spectroscopic, structural, and electrochemical investigations of ferricenium derivatives with weakly coordinating anions: ion pairing, substituent, and solvent effects

A facile and effective strategy for the preparation of a series of ferricenium complexes bearing either electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents with weakly coordinating anions such as [B(C6F5)4]- or SbF6- is reported. These systems were thoroughly investigated for their ground state electronic structures in both solution and solid states using infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies as well as single crystal X-ray crystallography and electrochemical measurements. The X-ray structures of the six electron-deficient ferricenium derivatives are of particular interest as only a handful (∼5) of such derivatives have been structurally characterized to date. Comparison of the structural data for both neutral and oxidized derivatives reveals that the nature of the substituents on the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligands displays a more significant impact on the metal-ligand separations (FeCt) in the oxidized species than in their neutral analogs. Our 1H-NMR measurements corroborate that in the neutral ferrocene derivatives, electron-donating ring substitutions lead to a greater shielding of the ring protons while electron-withdrawing groups via induction deshield the nearby ring protons. However, the data for the paramagnetic ferricenium derivatives reveals that this substitutional behavior is more complex and fundamentally reversed, which is further supported by our structural studies. We ascribe this reversal of behavior in the ferricenium derivatives to the δ back-donation from the iron atom into the Cp rings which can lead to the overall shielding of the ring protons. Interestingly, our NMR results for the electron-deficient ferricenium derivatives in solution also indicate a direct correlation between the solvent dielectric constant and the energy barrier for rotation around the metal-ligand bond in these systems, whereas such a correlation is absent or not significant in the case of the electron-rich ferricenium species or the corresponding neutral ferrocene analogs. In this work, we also present the electrochemical behavior of the corresponding ferricenium/ferrocene redox couples including potential values (E1/2), peak-to-peak separation (ΔE1/2), and diffusion coefficients (D) of the redox active species in order to provide a concise outline of these data in one place. Our electrochemical studies involved three different solvents and two supporting electrolytes. Notably, our findings point to the significant effect of ion-pairing in lowering the energy necessary for reduction of the ferricenium ion and E1/2 in lower-polarity media. This has significant implications in applications of the ferrocene or ferricenium derivatives as redox agents in low-polarity solvents where an accurate determination of redox potential is critical.

A four-parameter system for rationalising the electronic properties of transition metal–radical ligand complexes

A heuristic four-parameter scheme captures and predicts the electronic properties of radical-ligand transition metal compounds, overcoming ligand specific descriptions.

Coordination-driven assembly of a supramolecular square and oxidation to a tetra-ligand radical species

The design and synthesis of a supramolecular square was achieved by coordination-driven assembly of redox-active nickel(ii) salen linkers and (ethylenediamine)palladium(ii) nodes. The tetrameric geometry of the supramolecular structure was confirmed via MS, NMR, and electrochemical experiments. While oxidation of the monomeric metalloligand Schiff-base affords a Ni(iii) species, oxidation of the coordination-driven assembly results in ligand radical formation.

Understanding Factors that Control the Structural (Dis)Assembly of Sulphur-Bridged Bimetallic Sites

Bimetallic structures of the general type [M2(µ-S)2] are omnipresent in nature, for biological function [M2(µ-S)2] sites interconvert between electronically distinct, but isostructural, forms. Different from structure-function relationships, the current understanding of the mechanism of formation and persistence of [M2(µ-S)2] sites is poorly developed. This work reports on bimetallic model compounds of nickel that interconvert between functional structures [Ni2(µ-S)2]+/2+ and isomeric congeners [2{κ-S–Ni}]2+/+, S = Aryl-S−, in which the nickel ions are geometrically independent. Interconversion of the two sets of structures was studied quantitatively by UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Assembly of the [Ni2(µ-S)2]+ core from [2{κ-S–Ni}]+ is thermodynamically and kinetically highly preferred over the disassembly of [Ni2(µ-S)2]2+ into [2{κ-S–Ni}]2+. Labile Ni-η2/3-bonding to aromatic π-systems of the primary thiophenol ligand is critical for modeling (dis)assembly processes. A phosphine coligand mimics the role of anionic donors present in natural sites that saturate metal coordination. Three parameters have been identified as critical for structure formation and persistence. These are, first, the stereoelectronic properties of the metals ions, second, the steric demand of the coligand, and, third, the properties of the dative bond between nickel and coligand. The energies of transition states connecting functional and precursor forms have been found to depend on these parameters.

A colorimetric and near -infrared ratiometric fluorescent probe for the determination of endogenous tyrosinase activity based on cyanine aggregation

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for TYR activity with high sensitivity was developed based on the H-aggregation of a cyanine dye.

Near-infrared mito-specific fluorescent probe for ratiometric detection and imaging of alkaline phosphatase activity with high sensitivity

A NIR ratiometric fluorescent probe based on cyanine dye was developed for detecting and intracellular imaging of ALP activity with high sensitivity.

Tuning of Thiyl/Thiolate Complex Near-Infrared Chromophores of Platinum through Geometrical Constraints

The chemistry of radical-ligand complexes of the transition metals has developed into a vibrant field of research that spans from fundamental studies on the relationship between the chemical and electronic structures to applications in catalysis and functional materials chemistry. In general, fine-tuning of the relevant properties relies on an increasingly diversifying pool of radical-proligand structures. Surprisingly, the variability of the conformational freedom and the number of distinct bonding modes supported by many radical proligands is limited. This work reports on the angular constraints and relative geometric alignment of metal and ligand orbitals as key parameters that render a series of chemically similar thiyl/thiolate complexes of platinum(II) electronically and spectroscopically distinct. The use of conformational flexible thiophenols as primary ligand scaffolds is essential to establishing a defined radical-ligand [(^areneS)₂Pt^II]^•+ core whose electronic structure is modulated by a series of auxiliary coligands at platinum.

Exploiting exciton coupling of ligand radical intervalence charge transfer transitions to tune NIR absorption

We detail the rational design of a series of bimetallic bis-ligand radical Ni salen complexes in which the relative orientation of the ligand radical chromophores provides a mechanism to tune the energy of intense intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) bands in the near infrared (NIR) region.

We detail the rational design of a series of bimetallic bis-ligand radical Ni salen complexes in which the relative orientation of the ligand radical chromophores provides a mechanism to tune the energy of intense intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) bands in the near infrared (NIR) region. Through a suite of experimental (electrochemistry, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy) and theoretical (density functional theory) techniques, we demonstrate that bimetallic Ni salen complexes form bis-ligand radicals upon two-electron oxidation, whose NIR absorption energies depend on the geometry imposed in the bis-ligand radical complex. Relative to the oxidized monomer [1˙]⁺ (E = 4500 cm^–1, ε = 27 700 M^–1 cm^–1), oxidation of the cofacially constrained analogue 2 to [2˙˙]²⁺ results in a blue-shifted NIR band (E = 4830 cm^–1, ε = 42 900 M^–1 cm^–1), while oxidation of 5 to [5˙˙]²⁺, with parallel arrangement of chromophores, results in a red-shifted NIR band (E = 4150 cm^–1, ε = 46 600 M^–1 cm^–1); the NIR bands exhibit double the intensity in comparison to the monomer. Oxidation of the intermediate orientations results in band splitting for [3˙˙]²⁺ (E = 4890 and 4200 cm^–1; ε = 26 500 and 21 100 M^–1 cm^–1), and a red-shift for [4˙˙]²⁺ using ortho- and meta-phenylene linkers, respectively. This study demonstrates for the first time, the applicability of exciton coupling to ligand radical systems absorbing in the NIR region and shows that by simple geometry changes, it is possible to tune the energy of intense low energy absorption by nearly 400 nm.

Mechanistic Aspects of Redox-Induced Assembly and Disassembly of S-Bridged [2M-2S] Structures

Sulfur-bridged binuclear structures [2M-2S] play a pivotal role in a variety of chemical processes such as bond breaking and formation and electron transfer. In general, structural persistence is deemed essential to the respective function but owing to the lack of a suitable molecular model system, the current understanding of the factors that control the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of [2M-2S] cores clearly is limited. This work reports a series of binuclear complexes of nickel derived from a 1,4-terphenyldithiophenol ligand platform that is ideally suited for mechanistic work to overcome this limitation. Redox-induced assembly and disassembly of S-bridged [2M-2S] fragments have been investigated at the molecular level. As part of an extended square scheme, metastable binuclear structures that are significant mechanistically have been identified, characterized, and their reactivity studied quantitatively. Electronic properties that are inherent to [2M-2S] structures and determine thermodynamic and kinetic stability are differentiated from steric effects imposed by co-ligands.