Water's Role in Polymorphic Platinum(II) Complexes.

Solvent plays a vital role in the recrystallization process and resulting crystallinity of materials. This role is of such importance that it can control the stability and utility of materials. In this work, the inclusion of a solvent in the crystalline lattice, specifically water, drastically affects the overall stability of two platinum polymorphs. [Pt(tpy)Cl]BF4 (tpy = 2,2';6'2″-terpyridine) crystallizes in three forms, red (1R) and blue (1B) polymorphs and a yellow nonsolvated form (2). 1R is the more stable of the two polymorphs, whereas 1B loses crystallinity upon dehydration at ambient conditions resulting in the formation of 2. Close examination of the solid-state extended structures of the two polymorphs reveals that 1R has a lattice arrangement that is more conducive to stronger intermolecular interactions compared to 1B, thereby promoting greater stability. In addition, these two polymorphs exhibit unique vapochromic responses when exposed to various solvents.

Spectroscopic Characterization of Platinum(IV) Terpyridyl Complexes.

Pt(tpy)X3+ [X = Cl (1), Br (2); tpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine] salts were prepared by the oxidative addition of Pt(tpy)X+ with X2 as originally reported by Morgan and Burstall in 1934. The complexes have been fully characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. The electronic structures of 1 and 2 were investigated using absorption and emission spectroscopy, and the accumulated data are consistent with stabilization of the singlet ligand-centered and potentially singlet ligand field/singlet ligand-to-metal charge-transfer states for 1 and 2 compared to those for Pt(tpy)Cl+ (3) and Pt(tpy)Br+ (4). The changes in the lowest-energy-absorbing state result in drastic differences in the emission behavior among 1-4. Specifically, 1 emits from a lowest-energy state that appears to have triplet ligand field/triplet ligand-to-metal charge-transfer character, whereas 2 exhibits no appreciable emission between 400 and 800 nm.

Synthesis, Luminescence, and Structure of a Polymorphic Polyfluorinated Diiodoplatinum(II) Diimine Complex.

PtI2(5,5'-bis(HCF2CH2OCH2)-2,2'-bpy)], 55-2FH-PtI2, is the first example of a substituted fluorinated diiodoplatinum diimine complex that exhibits polymorphism. The complex, upon recrystallization, forms two different polymorphs, denoted as α and ß forms. The luminescence of the α and ß forms are the same in glassy solution at 77 K; however, in the solid state, they differ significantly. The major difference between them lies in the solid-state packing of the crystalline structure. The α form is a square planar polyfluorinated PtI2-containing complex. Its extended herringbone structure consists of two neighboring stacked bipyridyl planes that do not overlap. The α form emits stronger than its parent molecule, [PtI2bpy], and much stronger than the ß polymorph. The ß form has a slight tetrahedral distortion about the metal center that ultimately changes the geometry of the complex and decreases the d-orbital splitting from square planar. Furthermore, overlapping bipyridine rings in the extended structure of the ß form quench the emission thus resulting in a lower energy emission. Additionally, the ß form shows only one type of C-H···O intermolecular stacking interaction that can cause the moderate distortion of the metal core.

Platinum(II) Monomer and Dimer Complexes with a Bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl Pincer Ligand.

A series of platinum(II) complexes with the formulas Pt(phebox)(L)(+) (phebox(-) = 1,3-bis(4,4'-dimethyl-2'-oxazolinyl)phenyl anion; L = pyridine (py), 4-phenylpyridine, quinoline, acridine) and Pt2(phebox)2(µ-L')(2+) (L' = pyrazine, 4,4'-bipyridine, 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane) was prepared. Crystallographic data establish that the metal center is bonded to the tridentate phebox(-) and monodentate pyridyl ligands. The five-membered oxazoline rings favor a CH2-CMe2 twist conformation. Pt(phebox)Cl and Pt(phebox)(py)(+) undergo a ligand-based chemically reversible redox reaction, whereas the electrochemistry of the other complexes is chemically and electrochemically less reversible. In contrast to complexes with the 1,3-bis(piperdylmethyl)phenyl anion ligand (pip2NCN(-)) or related pincer ligands, each of the phebox(-) complexes described here exhibits intense emission in room-temperature methylene chloride solution, which is assigned as originating from a lowest, predominantly phebox(-) ligand-centered excited state. In acetonitrile, the complexes undergo solvolysis resulting in displacement of the pyridyl ligands. The accumulated data demonstrate that subtle variations in the nature of the NCN and ancillary ligands of platinum(II) complexes provide access to at least five orbitally distinct emissive excited states.

Highly Selective Colorimetric and Luminescence Response of a Square-Planar Platinum(II) Terpyridyl Complex to Aqueous TcO4(-).

Molecular recognition of an aqueous pertechnetate (TcO4(-)) anion is fundamentally challenging partly due to the charge-diffuse nature of this anion, which hampers design of new technologies for its separation and detection. To address this gap, simple salts of transition metal complexes that undergo a distinct spectroscopic change upon exposure to aqueous anions were explored. The Pt(II) complex [Pt(tpy)Br]SbF6 (tpy = 2,2';6',2″-terpyridine) undergoes a dramatic color change and intense luminescence response upon TcO4(-) uptake due to concomitant enhancement of Pt···Pt interactions. The spectroscopic response was highly selective and quantitative for aqueous TcO4(-) among other competing anions. Complementary Raman spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, structural determination, and theoretical methods were employed to elucidate the mechanism of this response at the molecular level.

Ruthenium bis-diimine complexes with a chelating thioether ligand: delineating 1,10-phenanthrolinyl and 2,2'-bipyridyl ligand substituent effects.

Despite the high π-acidity of thioether donors, ruthenium(II) complexes with a bidentate 1,2-bis(phenylthio)ethane (dpte) ligand and two chelating diimine ligands (i.e., Ru(diimine)2(dpte)(2+)) exhibit room-temperature fluid solution emission originating from a lowest MLCT excited state (diimine = 2,2'-bipyridine, 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 5-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline, 5-bromo-1,10-phenanthroline, 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, and 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline). Crystal structures show that the complexes form 2 of the 12 possible conformational/configurational isomers, as well as nonstatistical distributions of geometric isomers; there also are short intramolecular π-π interactions between the diimine ligands and dpte phenyl groups. The photoinduced solvolysis product, [Ru(diimine)2(CH3CN)2](PF6)2, for one complex in acetonitrile also was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Variations in the MLCT energies and Ru(III/II) redox couple, E°'(Ru(3+/2+)), can be understood in terms of the influence of the donor properties of the ligands on the mainly metal-based HOMO and mainly diimine ligand-based LUMO. E°'(Ru(3+/2+)) also is quantitatively described using a summative Hammett parameter (σT), as well as using Lever's electrochemical parameters (EL). Recommended parametrizations for substituted 2,2'-bipyridyl and 1,10-phenanthrolinyl ligands were derived from analysis of correlations of E°'(Ru(3+/2+)) for 99 homo- and heteroleptic ruthenium(II) tris-diimine complexes. This analysis reveals that variations in E°'(Ru(3+/2+)) due to substituents at the 4- and 4'-positions of bipyridyl ligands and 4- and 7-positions of phenanthrolinyl ligands are significantly more strongly correlated with σp(+) than either σm or σp. Substituents at the 5- and 6-positions of phenanthrolinyl ligands are best described by σm and have effects comparable to those of substituents at the 3- and 8-positions. Correlations of EL with σT for 1,10-phenanthrolinyl and 2,2'-bipyridyl ligands show similar results, except that σp and σp(+) are almost equally effective in describing the influence of substituents at the 4- and 4'-positions of bipyridyl ligands. MLCT energies and d(5)/d(6)-electron redox couples of the complexes with 5-substituted 1,10-phenanthroline exhibit correlations with values for other d(6)-electron metal complexes that can be rationalized in terms of the relative number of diimine ligands and substituents.

X-ray and synchrotron diffraction studies of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline in the role of ligand for two copper polymorphs or hydrogen bonded with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-oxopiperidinium hexafluorophosphate.

Different extended packing motifs of dichlorido[2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline]copper(II), [CuCl2(C17H11N3)], are obtained, depending on the crystallization conditions. A triclinic form, (I), is obtained from dimethylformamide-diethyl ether or methanol, whereas crystallization from dimethylformamide-water yields a monoclinic form, (II). In each case, the Cu(II) centre is in a five-coordinate distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The extended packing for both forms can be described as a highly offset π-stacking arrangement, with interlayer distances of 3.674 (3) and 3.679 (3) Šfor forms (I) and (II), respectively. The reaction of diprotonated Pt(tmpip2NCN)Cl [tmpip2NCN = 2,6-bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidylmethyl)benzyl] with AgPF6 under acidic conditions, followed by the addition of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline, results in a hydrogen-bonded cocrystal, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-oxopiperidinium hexafluorophosphate-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (1/1), C9H18NO(+)·PF6(-)·C17H11N3, (III). The extended packing maximizes π-π interactions in a parallel face-to-face arrangement, with an interlayer stacking distance of 3.4960 (14) Å.

Platinum(II) diimine complexes with halide/pseudohalide ligands and dangling trialkylamine or ammonium groups.

A series of platinum(II) complexes with the formulas Pt(diimine)(pip(2)NCNH(2))(L)(2+) [pip(2)NCNH(2)(+) = 2,6-bis(piperidiniummethyl)phenyl cation; L = Cl, Br, I, NCS, OCN, and NO(2); diimine = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (NO(2)phen), and 5,5'-ditrifluoromethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dtfmbpy)] were prepared by the treatment of Pt(pip(2)NCN)Cl with a silver(I) salt followed by the addition of the diimine and halide/pseudohalide under acidic conditions. Crystallographic data as well as (1)H NMR spectra establish that the metal center is bonded to a bidentate phenanthroline and a monodentate halide/pseudohalide. The pip(2)NCNH(2)(+) ligand with protonated piperidyl groups is monodentate and bonded to the platinum through the phenyl ring. Structural and spectroscopic data indicate that the halide/pseudohalide group (L(-)) and the metal center in Pt(phen)(pip(2)NCNH(2))(L)(2+) behave as Brønsted bases, forming intramolecular NH···L/NH···Pt interactions involving the piperidinium groups. A close examination of the 10 structures reported here reveals linear correlations between N-H···Pt/L angles and H···Pt/L distances. In most cases, the N-H bond is directed toward the Pt-L bond, thereby giving the appearance that the proton bridges the Pt and L groups. In contrast to observations for Pt(tpy)(pip(2)NCN)(+) (tpy = 2,2';6',2"-terpyridine), the electrochemical oxidation of deprotonated adducts, Pt(diimine)(L)(pip(2)NCN), is chemically and electrochemically irreversible.

Luminescence rigidochromism and redox chemistry of pyrazolate-bridged binuclear platinum(II) diimine complex intercalated into zirconium phosphate layers.

The direct intercalation of a pyrazolate-bridged platinum(II) bipyridyl dimer ([{Pt(dmbpy)(µ-pz)}(2)](2+); dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, pz(-) = pyrazolate) within a zirconium phosphate (ZrP) framework has been accomplished. The physical and spectroscopic properties of [{Pt(dmbpy)(µ-pz)}(2)](2+) intercalated in ZrP were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray photoelectron, infrared, absorption, and luminescence spectroscopies. Zirconium phosphate layers have a special microenvironment that is capable of supporting a variety of platinum oxidation states. Diffuse reflectance spectra from powders of the blue-gray intercalated materials show the formation of a low-energy band at 600 nm that is not present in the platinum dimer salt. The nonintercalated complex is nonemissive in room-temperature fluid solution, but gives rise to intense blue-green emission in a 4:1 ethanol/methanol 77 K frozen glassy solution. Powders and colloidal suspensions of [{Pt(dmbpy)(µ-pz)}(2)](2+)-exchanged ZrP materials exhibit intense emissions at room-temperature.

Optical sensing of aqueous nitrate anion by a platinum(II) triimine salt based solid state material.

Selective and quantitative measurement of aqueous nitrate (NO3-) anion is achieved using solid [Pt(Cl-4-tpy)Cl]ClO4 salt (Cl-4-tpy = 4-chloro-2,2':6'2''-terpyridine), and as the salt supported on controlled porous glass. This detection method relies on the color change of the Pt(II) complex from yellow to red and intense luminescence response upon ClO4- exchange with NO3- due to concomitant enhancement of Pt⋯Pt interactions. The spectroscopic response is highly selective for NO3- over a large range of halides and oxoanions.

pH-Mediated Colorimetric and Luminescent Sensing of Aqueous Nitrate Anions by a Platinum(II) Luminophore@Mesoporous Silica Composite.

Increased levels of nitrate (NO3-) in the environment can be detrimental to human health. Herein, we report a robust, cost-effective, and scalable, hybrid material-based colorimetric/luminescent sensor technology for rapid, selective, sensitive, and interference-free in situ NO3- detection. These hybrid materials are based on a square-planar platinum(II) salt [Pt(tpy)Cl]PF6 (tpy = 2,2';6',2″-terpyridine) supported on mesoporous silica. The platinum salt undergoes a vivid change in color and luminescence upon exposure to aqueous NO3- anions at pH ≤ 0 caused by substitution of the PF6- anions by aqueous NO3-. This change in photophysics of the platinum salt is induced by a rearrangement of its crystal lattice that leads to an extended Pt···Pt···Pt interaction, along with a concomitant change in its electronic structure. Furthermore, incorporating the material into mesoporous silica enhances the surface area and increases the detection sensitivity. A NO3- detection limit of 0.05 mM (3.1 ppm) is achieved, which is sufficiently lower than the ambient water quality limit of 0.16 mM (10 ppm) set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The colorimetric/luminescence of the hybrid material is highly selective to aqueous NO3- anions in the presence of other interfering anions, suggesting that this material is a promising candidate for the rapid NO3- detection and quantification in practical samples without separation, concentration, or other pretreatment steps.

Intramolecular NH···Pt interactions of platinum(II) diimine complexes with phenyl ligands.

Pt(pipNC)(2)(phen) [pipNC(-) = 1-(piperidylmethyl)phenyl anion; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline] was prepared by the reaction of cis-Pt(pipNC)(2) with phen. Crystallographic and (1)H NMR data establish that the phen ligand is bidentate, whereas each piperidyl ligand is monodentate and bonded to the platinum at the ortho position of the phenyl group. Acidic conditions allowed for isolation of the salts of diprotonated Pt(pipNHC)(2)(diimine)(2+) adducts (diimine = phen, 2,2'-bipyridine, or 5,5'-ditrifluoromethyl-2,2'-bipyridine). Crystallographic and spectroscopic data for the diprotonated complexes are consistent with H···Pt interactions (2.32-2.51 Å) involving the piperidinium groups, suggesting that the metal center behaves as a Brønsted base. Metal-to-ligand (diimine) charge-transfer states of Pt(pipNHC)(2)(phen)(2+) in solution are strongly destabilized (>2500 cm(-1)) relative to Pt(pipNC)(2)(phen), in keeping with the notion that NH···Pt interactions effectively reduce the electron density at the metal center. Though N···Pt interactions in Pt(pipNC)(2)(phen) appear to be weaker than those found for outer-sphere two-electron reagents, such as Pt(pip(2)NCN)(tpy)(+) [pip(2)NCN(-) = 1,3-bis(piperidylmethylphenyl anion; tpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine], each of the Pt(pipNC)(2)(diimine) complexes undergoes diimine ligand dissociation to give back cis-Pt(pipNC)(2) and free diimine ligand. Electrochemical measurements on the deprotonated complexes suggest that the piperidyl groups help to stabilize higher oxidation states of the metal center, whereas protonation of the piperidyl groups has a destabilizing influence.

Interaction of SbCl5(2-) and thioether groups at the open coordination sites of platinum(II) diimine complexes.

In the solid-state, the approximately square planar cation in orange crystals of [Pt(NO(2)phen)(ttcn)](PF(6))(2) (NO(2)phen = 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline; ttcn = 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane) has a short apical Pt...S(ttcn) distance (2.9415(15) A). In acetonitrile solution, the electronic spectrum shows a long-wavelength absorption band (412 nm; 2200 M(-1) cm(-1)), consistent with the notion that the axial Pt...S(ttcn) interactions stabilize states having metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) character. Reaction with the hexachloroantimonate(V) salt of tris(4-bromophenyl)aminium (TBPA(+)) results in complex redox chemistry, involving the platinum complex, SbCl(5)(2-) and TBPA(+). In the case of Pt(bpy)(ttcn)(2+), orange-yellow crystals of [Pt(bpy)(ttcn)](2)(Sb(4)Cl(16)) were isolated from the reaction, whereas the reaction with Pt(NO(2)phen)(ttcn)(2+) consistently yielded red crystals of [Pt(NO(2)phen)(ttcn)](SbCl(5)) x 2 CH(3)CN. In the latter case, the geometry of the cation, including the apical Pt...S(ttcn) distance (2.9390(12) A), is very similar to that of the PF(6)(-) salt. However, the basal plane of each square pyramidal SbCl(5)(2-) opposes the nearly parallel coordination plane of an adjacent Pt(NO(2)phen)(ttcn)(2+) complex, resulting in an unusually short intermolecular Pt...Sb distance of 3.4259(3) A. The longest wavelength maximum in the diffuse reflectance spectrum and the solid-state emission maximum are shifted by approximately 1200 cm(-1) and approximately 700 cm(-1), respectively, to the red of those of the PF(6)(-) salt, consistent with perturbation of the complex's electronic structure because of the Pt...Sb interaction.

Solution aggregation of platinum(ii) triimine methyl complexes.

The NMR chemical shifts of [Pt(tpy)(CH3)](PF6) (1) and [Pt(mbzimpy)(CH3)](PF6) (2), where tpy = 2,2';6'2''-terpyridine and mbzimpy = 2,6-bis(N-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine, in room-temperature DMSO-d6 displayed concentration dependence as a result of formation of dimers. Quantification of these dimers, expressed by equilibrium constant (K), shows a greater tendency of 2 to aggregate in solution. Structural conformations of these dimers were confirmed by 2D 1H-1H NOESY; the results explicitly suggest a head-to-tail stacking arrangement of molecules in dimers.

Luminescent Pt(2,6-bis(N-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine)X+: a comparison with the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of Pt(tpy)X+ (X = Cl, CCPh, Ph, or CH3).

A series of platinum(ii) pincer complexes of the formula Pt(mbzimpy)X+, 1(a-d), (mbzimpy = 2,6-bis(N-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine; X = Cl; (a), CCPh; (b), Ph; (c), or CH3; (d), CCPh = phenylacetylide, and Ph = Phenyl) have been synthesized and characterized. Electronic absorption and emission, as well as electrochemical properties of these compounds, have been investigated. Pt(tpy)X+ analogs (tpy = 2,2';6'2''-terpyridine), 2(a-d), have also been investigated and compared. Electrochemistry shows that 1 and 2 analogs undergo two chemically reversible one-electron reduction processes that are shifted cathodically along the a < b < c < d series. Notably, these reductions occur at slightly higher negative potentials in the case of 1. The absorption spectra of 1 and 2 in acetonitrile exhibit ligand-centered (1LC) transitions (ε ≈ 104 M-1 cm-1) in the UV region and metal-to-ligand-charge transfer (1MLCT) transitions (ε ≈ 103 M-1 cm-1) in the visible region. The corresponding visible bands of 1b and 2b have been assigned to 1(LLCT/MLCT) mixed state (LLCT: ligand-to-ligand-charge transfer). The preceding 1LC and 1MLCT transitions of 1 occur at lower energies than that of 2. These 1LC transitions have distinctly been blue-shifted along a < c < d in 2, but occur at nearly identical energies in 1. Conversely, 1MLCT transitions are red-shifted along a < c < d in both the analogs. The 77 K glassy solutions of 1 and 2 exhibit an intense vibronically-structured emission band at λmax(0-0) in the 470-560 nm range. This band is red-shifted along b < a ≤ c < d in 1 and along a ≤ d ≈ c ≪ b in 2. The main character of these emissions is assigned to 3LLCT emissive state in 1b and 2b, whereas to 3LC in the rest of the compounds. Relative stabilization of these spin-forbidden emissive states is discussed by invoking configuration mixing with the higher-lying 3MLCT state.

A digital imaging method for evaluating the kinetics of vapochromic response.

This work describes the novel use of a cell phone camera and the L*a*b method (color space defined by the International Commission on Illumination) to characterize the color change in different vapochromic platinum(II) complexes in order to get quantitative and more reliable data. In this study, we have developed a semi-automatic CCA software that digitally analyzes images (e.g., video frames) collected while a vapochromic material is absorbing vapor and changing its color. The advantages of using this method, compared to reflectance or transmission spectroscopy through a thin film, include its low cost, convenience, portability, ease of sample preparation, the lack of need for specialized equipment, and the possibility of simultaneously collecting data on different samples under identical conditions. The results show that this strategy is effective in producing quantitative information about the kinetics of processes.

Phase transformation induced mechanochromism in a platinum salt: a tale of two polymorphs.

Red crystals of [Pt(tpy)Cl]NO3·HNO3 show mechanochromic behaviour turning yellow when pressure is applied. The electronic character and spectroscopic signature of the red and yellow polymorphs change as a result of slipping of the molecular stacking planes in the solid state. The slippage alters the PtPt intermolecular distances from a linear stacked motif with <3.5 Å separations in the red polymorph to a less stacked motif of alternating short intradimer and long interdimer interactions in the yellow polymorph.

Tuning two-electron transfer in terpyridine-based platinum(ii) pincer complexes.

An important factor in obtaining reversible multi-electron transfer is overcoming large changes in coordination geometry. One strategy is to use ligands that can support the geometries favored before and after the electron transfer. Pip2NCN- pincer and terpyridine ligands are used to support square planar Pt(ii) and octahedral Pt(iv). For the Pt(ii) complexes, [Pt(Z-pip2NCN)(R-tpy)]+ (Z = NO2, MeO, H; R = H, tertyl butyl, tolyl), 1H NMR spectroscopy shows that the Z-pip2NCN- ligand is monodentate whereas the R-terpyridyl ligand is tridentate. The availability of flanking piperidyl groups of the monodentate pincer ligand is essential for the stabilization of the metal center upon oxidation. Pt(Z-pip2NCN)(R-tpy)+ complexes undergo two-electron platinum centered oxidation near 0.4 V and two Pt(tpy) centered reductions near -1.0 V and -1.5 V. An estimate of n ox/n red = 1.8 is consistent with an oxidation that involves two-electron transfer per Pt center. Variation in the pincer-(Z) and terpyridine-(R) substituents allows for tuning of the oxidation process over a 260 mV range and the two reduction processes over ranges of 230 mV (first reduction) and 290 mV (second reduction step).

Halide exchange studies of novel Pd(ii) NNN-pincer complexes.

Palladium(ii) complexes with an NNN type pincer ligand (pip2NNN = 2,6-bis(piperdyl-methyl)pyridine) are synthesized and characterized. Electronic and 1H NMR spectra point to decreasing filled/filled repulsions between the dπ(Pd) orbitals and the halide lone pair orbitals along the Cl < Br < I series. For all complexes, the most downfield α-piperidyl resonance of the pip2NNN ligand is sensitive to changes in the coordinated halide while the meta-pyridyl and benzylic resonances are sensitive to changes in the counter anion. This sensitivity is utilized to study halide association and exchange at the fourth coordination site. Conductivity and 1H NMR spectroscopy confirm the interaction between the exogenous anion (Cl-, Br-, BF4 -) and Pd(pip2NNN)X+ (X = Cl, Br).

Assessing flammable storage cabinets as sources of VOC exposure in laboratories using real-time direct reading wireless detectors.

Herein we present the results of measurements using wireless direct-reading photoionization detector-based gas sensors to quantify concentrations of vapors of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in and around flammable storage cabinets containing common organic solvents, including acetone, dichloromethane, trichloroethylene, and benzene. Such cabinets are commonly employed in laboratories to contain flammable liquids. A sensor array was deployed in a series of flammable storage cabinets in working laboratories. Measurements in cabinets containing bottles of typical solvents demonstrate that vapor concentrations gradually increase upon closing the cabinet door. The results suggest that these storage units can be a source of vapors of VOCs in laboratories and the unnecessary exposure of laboratory workers to chemical vapors. Ventilation of cabinets tended to lower maximum concentrations of VOCs. However, the efficacy of this engineering control was found to depend on the quality of the cabinet door seal, as well as having debris-free flame arrestors. Opening cabinet doors resulted in release of vapors to the laboratory atmosphere, which represents an unnecessary exposure risk for workers. A countermeasure aimed at improving the seal of previously opened solvent bottles reduced measured concentrations of VOCs in cabinets below the detector's limit of detection.