Interpretation of Mixed-Valence Compound Optical Spectra Near the Class II/III Border: Dinitrobiphenyl and Dinitrophenanthrene Radical Anions

Charge-Separated Mixed Valency in an Unsymmetrical Acceptor-Donor-Donor Triad Based on Diarylboryl and Triarylamine Units

In this study, we report the generation of new mixed-valence (MV) subspecies with charge-separated (CS) characters from an unsymmetrical acceptor-donor-donor (A-D-D) triad. The triad was synthesized by attaching a dimesitylboryl group (A) to a D-D conjugate that consisted of triarylamine (NAr₃) units. The MV radical cation, obtained by chemical oxidation of the triad, exhibited a strong intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) absorption derived from the bis(NAr₃)^•+ moiety in the near-IR region. The charge-separated MV (CSMV) state, obtained by photoexcitation of the triad, caused a blue shift in IVCT energy in the femtosecond transient absorption spectra, reflecting a bias of positive charge distributions to the D end site. This resulted from increased electron density at the A site and restructuring of the central D site from NAr₃ to NAr₂ sites. Interestingly, any shift in the IVCT energy that was caused by the polarity of the solvent was minimal, reflecting the unique characteristics of the CSMV state. These findings represent the first detailed analysis of the CSMV state, including a comparison with conventional MV states. Therefore, this work provides new insights into counterion-free MV systems and their applications in molecular devices.

A Spectroscopic and Computationally Minimal Approach to the Analysis of Charge-Transfer Processes in Conformationally Fluxional Mixed-Valence and Heterobimetallic Complexes

Class II mixed-valence bimetallic complexes {[Cp'(PP)M]C≡C-C≡N[M'(PP)'Cp']}²⁺ (M, M'=Ru, Fe; PP=dppe, (PPh₃ )₂ ; Cp'=Cp*, Cp) exist as conformational ensembles in fluid solution, with a population of structures ranging from cis- to trans-like geometries. Each conformer gives rise to its own series of low-energy intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) and local d-d transitions, which overlap in the NIR region, giving complex band envelopes in the NIR absorption spectrum, which prevent any meaningful attempt at analysis of the band shape. However, DFT and time-dependent (TD)DFT calculations with dispersion-corrected global-hybrid (BLYP35-D3) or local hybrid (lh-SsirPW92-D3) functionals on a small number of optimised structures chosen to sample the ground state potential energy hypersurfaces of each of these complexes has proven sufficient to explain the major features of the electronic spectra. Although modest in terms of computational expense, this approach provides a more accurate description of the underlying molecular electronic structure than would be possible through analysis of the IVCT band by using the static point-charge model of Marcus-Hush theory and derivatives, or TDDFT calculations from a single (global) minimum energy geometry.

Intervalence of two planar chiral 2-methylferrocenyl groups over a diaurum bridge

The electronic structure of recently reported diaurum (Au^I⋯Au^I and XAu^II–Au^IIX) complexes, containing two methylferrocenyloxazoline ligands are described.

The influence of bridge-reduced state levels on the electron transfer within the 2,7-dinitroanthracene radical anion

The 2,7-dinitroanthracene radical anion has an (apparent) electronic coupling much higher than either itsN,Ndistance or its non-Kekule substitution would suggest. The results can only be explained if a low-lying bridge redox state is influencing the electron transfer.

Resonance Raman spectroscopic study of solvent-dependent coexistence of localized and delocalized dinitroaromatic radical anions

Optical absorption spectra of three dinitroaromatic radical anions, 2,7-dinitro-9,9-dimethylfluorene (1•−), 4,4′-dinitrobiphenyl (2•−), and 4,4′-dinitrotolane (3•−) in solvents THF, HMPA, and MeCN show both an unresolved broad band characteristic of charge-localized mixed valence species (Robin-Day classification Class II), and a vibronically structured band of the delocalized species (Class III). With decreasing solvent reorganization energy, a greater portion of the compounds become charge-delocalized. In particular, 1•− with the greatest coupling, is almost entirely composed of the delocalized species in all solvents. An intense Raman mode is used to identify the charge-bearing unit as the nitrobenzene moiety. Resonance Raman profiles are utilized to gain detailed information of vibrational modes. The out-of-phase ring lengthening stretch mode is observed to be enhanced at higher excitation energies, corresponding to the absorption band of the Class II species, while the in-phase ring lengthening stretch mode, a totally symmetric vibration, is most strongly enhanced in the absorption region of the Class III species. Resonance Raman profiles support the solvent-dependent coexistence of Class II and Class III molecules of the same chemical composition.

Predicting the localized/delocalized character of mixed-valence diquinone radical anions. Toward the right answer for the right reason

The Robin-Day class II/III mixed-valence character is established quantum-chemically for a series of mixed-valence diquinone radical anions. Particular emphasis is placed on the radical anion of tetrathiafulvalenedibenzoquinone, Q-TTF-Q, which has recently been used to evaluate constrained density functional approaches (CDFT) and new range hybrid functionals. Using a computational protocol based on hybrid functionals with 35-42% exact-exchange admixture and inclusion of solvent models during the structure optimization, it is demonstrated that a) Q-TTF-Q(•-), 1, and the related diquinone radical anions 2-4 are all delocalized class III species in the gas phase and in nonpolar solvents, in contrast to previous assumptions; b) 1,4,5,8-anthracenetetraone radical anion, 2, remains class III in polar aprotic solvents, c) systems 1, 3 and 4 become class II, providing excellent agreement between computed and experimental intervalence charge-transfer excitations, thermal electron-transfer (ET) barriers and ESR hyperfine couplings. The direct conductor-like screening model for real solvents (D-COSMO-RS) allows the inclusion of specific hydrogen-bonding effects without the computational effort of molecular dynamics simulations and provides increased ET barriers, as well as a predicted incipient symmetry breaking for 2, due to hydrogen bonding in alcohol solvents. For the first time D-COSMO-RS optimizations in solvent mixtures have been evaluated. As previous computational studies of Q-TTF-Q(•-) neglected solvent effects during structure optimizations and obtained charge localization in gas-phase optimizations by CDFT or by exaggerated exact-exchange admixtures, they provided at best the right answer for the wrong reason.

A reliable quantum-chemical protocol for the characterization of organic mixed-valence compounds

Structures, dipole moments, electron-transfer barriers, and spin density distributions of a series of mixed-valent bistriarylamin radical cations have been studied systematically by hybrid density functional methods with variable exact-exchange admixture combined with a continuum solvent model. The chosen systems differ in their bridging units and are all relatively close, from both sides, to the class II/III borderline of the Robin-Day classification of mixed-valence systems. Solvent effects are found to have a dramatic influence on the localized vs delocalized character of these cations. While gas-phase calculations or computations in a nonpolar solvent place all systems on the delocalized class III side, a more polar solvent like acetonitrile enables observation of symmetry breaking and charge localization with moderate exact-exchange admixtures in a hybrid functional for the systems on the class II side (with diphenylbutadiyne and diphenylethyne bridges). In contrast, the cations with the shortest bridges (phenylene, biphenylene) are characterized as class III. The comparison of computed intervalence charge-transfer excitation frequencies with experiment confirms the system with the diphenylbutadiyne bridge, and probably the system with the diphenylethyne bridge, to be class II, whereas in the dichloromethane solvent employed for spectroscopic measurements, the two other systems are on the class III side. Nonstandard hybrid density functional calculations with 35% Hartree-Fock-like exchange combined with continuum solvent models are suggested as a practical protocol for the quantum-chemical characterization of organic mixed-valence systems. This approach should allow closer examinations and provides a basis for the evaluation of other computational methods.