Evidence for a zwitterionic transition state in double bond rotations within tungsten-vinyl complexes

Multifunctional Oxazolone Derivative as an Optical Amplifier, Generator, and Modulator

An optical control of many working optoelectronic systems (real-time sensors, optical modulators, light amplifiers, or phase retarders) giving efficient optical gain or remote signal modulation is currently included as scientifically and industrially interesting. In here, an oxazolone derivative as the multifunctional organic system is given in this contribution. The molecule possesses a stilbene group and an oxazolone heteroatomic ring, which implies effective refractive index manipulation and multimode lasing action, respectively. The light modulation is repeatable and stable, also in the hundreds of Hz regime. On the other hand, the amplified optical signal can be easily generated by an external optical pumping source. Thus, signal control is fully available, as is read-in and read-out of the information in real time. Furthermore, this third-order, nonlinear, optical phenomenon using a third harmonic generation technique was also observed. We discovered that only by changing the energy and time regime of the supplied optical signal is the optical or nonlinear optical response observed. Two heteroenergetic molecular states (trans (E) and cis (Z)) can efficiently operate in modern multifunctional optoelectronic systems, which can provide and generate an optical signal. Such functionalities are commonly used in all-optical photonic switchers and logic gates and can be utilized in optical-core networks and computers.

CO2 Cleavage Reaction Driven by Alkylidyne Complexes of Group 6 Metals and Uranium: A Density Functional Theory Study on Energetics, Reaction Mechanism, and Structural/Bonding Properties

Designing novel catalysts is essential for the efficient conversion of metal alkylidyne into metal oxo ketene complexes in the presence of CO₂, which to some extent resolves the environmental concerns of the ever-increasing carbon emission. In this regard, a series of metal alkylidyne complexes, [b-ONO]M≡CCH₃(THF)₂ ([b-ONO] = {(C₆H₄[C(CF₃)₂O])₂N}^3-; M = Cr, Mo, W, and U), have been comprehensively studied by relativistic density functional theory calculations. The calculated thermodynamics and kinetics unravel that the tungsten complex is capable of catalyzing the CO₂ cleavage reaction, agreeing with the experimental findings for its analogue. Interestingly, the uranium complex shows superior catalytic performance because of the associated considerably lower energy barrier and larger reaction rate constant. The M≡C moiety in the complexes turns out to be the active site for the [2 + 2] cyclic addition. In contrast, complexes of Cr and Mo could not offer good catalytic performance. Along the reaction coordinate, the M-C (M = Cr, Mo, W, and U) bond regularly transforms from triple to double to single bonds; concomitantly, the newly formed M-O in the product is identified to have a triple-bond character. The catalytic reactions have been extensively explained and addressed by geometric/electronic structures and bonding analyses.

Anion-Abstraction Catalysis: The Cooperative Mechanism of α-Chloroether Activation by Dual Hydrogen-Bond Donors

We provide here a detailed mechanistic characterization of the electrophile-activation step in a representative thiourea-catalyzed enantioselective reaction proposed to involve generation of ion-pair intermediates. Comparison of catalyst-promoted substrate epimerization with catalytic alkylation points to the participation of a common intermediate in both pathways and provides conclusive evidence for anion abstraction via an SN1-like pathway involving the cooperative action of two catalyst molecules.

Carbon dioxide cleavage across a tungsten-alkylidyne bearing a trianionic pincer-type ligand

Splitting of CO₂ across the tungsten-carbon triple bond in [CF₃-ONO]WCC^tBu(THF)₂ (1) yields the tungsten oxo ketene [CF₃-ONO]W(O){(CH₃)₃CCCO} (6).

Synthesis and characterization of a family of M(2+) complexes supported by a trianionic ONO(3-) pincer-type ligand: towards the stabilization of high-spin square-planar complexes

High-spin square-planar molecular compounds are rare. In an effort to access this unique combination of geometry and spin state, we report the synthesis of a series of M(II) compounds stabilized by a trianionic pincer-type ligand, highlighting the formation of a high-spin square-planar Co(II) complex. Low-temperature, variable-frequency EPR measurements reveal that the ground electronic state of the Co(II) analogue is a highly anisotropic Kramers doublet (effective g values 7.35, 2.51, 1.48). This doublet can be identified with the lowest doublet of a quartet, S = 3/2 spin state that exhibits a very large ZFS, D ≥ 50 cm(-1). The observation of an effective g value considerably greater than the largest spin-only value 6, demonstrates that the orbital angular moment is essentially unquenched along one spatial direction. Density Functional Theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations reveal the electronic configurations of the ground and excited orbital states. A qualitative crystal field description of the geff tensor shows that it originates from the spin-orbit coupling acting on states obtained through the transfer of a β electron from the doubly occupied xy to the singly-occupied {xz/yz} orbitals.