Quantification of the Push−Pull Effect in Substituted Alkynes. Evaluation of ±I/±M Substituent Effects in Terms of C≡C Bond Length Variation

A two-step MM and QM/MM approach to model AIEE of aryloxy benzothiadiazole derivatives for optoelectronic applications

Aryloxy-benzothiadiazole (ArO-Btz) derivatives show aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE) in the solid-state and are promising candidates for optoelectronic applications. However, understanding the AIEE is a challenging task and is necessary for the rational molecular design of emitters. Therefore, in the present study, electron acceptors (-F, -CN, -NO₂, and -COOH) on the benzothiadiazole ring have been screened for emission in solution and aggregated phases. Herein, we report QM (DFT/TDDFT) and ONIOM (QM/MM) studies on the four ArO-Btz derivatives in comparison with the parent molecule with typical characteristics of AIEE, optoelectronic and non-linear optical properties. Starting from the optimized crystal structure of the parent compound, the structures of the designed clusters have been pre-optimized with MM and then with QM/MM to explore their absorption and emission in the solid phase. The results indicate that in the aggregated phase, the surrounding environment reduces intra-molecular rotations and molecular motion that lead to enhanced emission. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses reveal that the ground state structure is stabilized from electron delocalization and operative push-pull effects. Interestingly, nitro-benzothiadiazole exhibits prominent AIEE phenomena, with an emission wavelength beyond 700 nm in solution and in the cluster, reinforced by the magnification of its oscillatory strength by 100 times when aggregated. This dinitro-aryloxy-benzothiadiazole derivative is proposed as a near-infrared emitter for dye-sensitized solar cell, optoelectronic, and non-linear optical applications.

Case Study of N-i Pr versus N-Mes Substituted NHC Ligands in Nickel Chemistry: The Coordination and Cyclotrimerization of Alkynes at [Ni(NHC)2 ]

A case study on the effect of the employment of two different NHC ligands in complexes [Ni(NHC)₂] (NHC=ⁱPr₂Im^Me1^Me, Mes₂Im 2) and their behavior towards alkynes is reported. The reaction of a mixture of [Ni₂(ⁱPr₂Im^Me)₄(μ‐(η² : η²)‐COD)] B/ [Ni(ⁱPr₂Im^Me)₂(η⁴‐COD)] B’ or [Ni(Mes₂Im)₂] 2, respectively, with alkynes afforded complexes [Ni(NHC)₂(η²‐alkyne)] (NHC=ⁱPr₂Im^Me: alkyne=MeC≡CMe 3, H₇C₃C≡CC₃H₇4, PhC≡CPh 5, MeOOCC≡CCOOMe 6, Me₃SiC≡CSiMe₃7, PhC≡CMe 8, HC≡CC₃H₇9, HC≡CPh 10, HC≡C(p‐Tol) 11, HC≡C(4‐^tBu‐C₆H₄) 12, HC≡CCOOMe 13; NHC=Mes₂Im: alkyne=MeC≡CMe 14, MeOOCC≡CCOOMe 15, PhC≡CMe 16, HC≡C(4‐^tBu‐C₆H₄) 17, HC≡CCOOMe 18). Unusual rearrangement products 11 a and 12 a were identified for the complexes of the terminal alkynes HC≡C(p‐Tol) and HC≡C(4‐^tBu‐C₆H₄), 11 and 12, which were formed by addition of a C−H bond of one of the NHC N‐ⁱPr methyl groups to the C≡C triple bond of the coordinated alkyne. Complex 2 catalyzes the cyclotrimerization of 2‐butyne, 4‐octyne, diphenylacetylene, dimethyl acetylendicarboxylate, 1‐pentyne, phenylacetylene and methyl propiolate at ambient conditions, whereas 1^Me is not a good catalyst. The reaction of 2 with 2‐butyne was monitored in some detail, which led to a mechanistic proposal for the cyclotrimerization at [Ni(NHC)₂]. DFT calculations reveal that the differences between 1^Me and 2 for alkyne cyclotrimerization lie in the energy profile of the initiation steps, which is very shallow for 2, and each step is associated with only a moderate energy change. The higher stability of 3 compared to 14 is attributed to a better electron transfer from the NHC to the metal to the alkyne ligand for the N‐alkyl substituted NHC, to enhanced Ni‐alkyne backbonding due to a smaller C_NHC−Ni−C_NHC bite angle, and to less steric repulsion of the smaller NHC ⁱPr₂Im^Me.

The 13 C chemical shift and the anisotropy effect of the carbene electron-deficient centre: Simple means to characterize the electron distribution of carbenes

Both the ¹³ C chemical shift and the calculated anisotropy effect (spatial magnetic properties) of the electron-deficient centre of stable, crystalline, and structurally characterized carbenes have been employed to unequivocally characterize potential resonance contributors to the present mesomerism (carbene, ylide, betaine, and zwitter ion) and to determine quantitatively the electron deficiency of the corresponding carbene carbon atom. Prior to that, both structures and ¹³ C chemical shifts were calculated and compared with the experimental δ(¹³ C)/ppm values and geometry parameters (as a quality criterion for obtained structures).