Solvent-Templated Methylammonium-Based Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskites with Short Interlayer Distances.

Two-dimensional (2D) halide perovskites are exquisite semiconductors with great structural tunability. They can incorporate a rich variety of organic species that not only template their layered structures but also add new functionalities to their optoelectronic characteristics. Here, we present a series of new methylammonium (CH3NH3+ or MA)-based 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites templated by dimethyl carbonate (CH3OCOOCH3 or DMC) solvent molecules. We report the synthesis, detailed structural analysis, and characterization of four new compounds: MA2(DMC)PbI4 (n = 1), MA3(DMC)Pb2I7 (n = 2), MA4(DMC)Pb3I10 (n = 3), and MA3(DMC)Pb2Br7 (n = 2). Notably, these compounds represent unique structures with MA as the sole organic cation both within and between the perovskite sheets, while DMC molecules occupy a tight space between the MA cations in the interlayer. They form hydrogen-bonded [MA···DMC···MA]2+ complexes that act as spacers, preventing the perovskite sheets from condensing into each other. We report one of the shortest interlayer distances (∼5.7-5.9 Å) in solvent-incorporated 2D halide perovskites. Furthermore, the synthesized crystals exhibit similar optical characteristics to other 2D perovskite systems, including narrow photoluminescence (PL) signals. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm their direct-band-gap nature. Meanwhile, the phase stability of these systems was found to correlate with the H-bond distances and their strengths, decreasing in the order MA3(DMC)Pb2I7 > MA4(DMC)Pb3I10 > MA2(DMC)PbI4 ∼ MA3(DMC)Pb2Br7. The relatively loosely bound nature of DMC molecules enables us to design a thermochromic cell that can withstand 25 cycles of switching between two colored states. This work exemplifies the unconventional role of the noncharged solvent molecule in templating the 2D perovskite structure.

Chelating Phosphine-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Platinum Complexes via Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrophosphination and Their Cytotoxicity Toward MKN74 and MCF7 Cancer Cell Lines.

A series of activated vinyl azoles was hydrophosphinated in the presence of a chiral palladacycle catalyst under mild conditions to give enantioenriched phosphine azoles with moderate enantioselectivities and yields. The racemic phosphine azoles were transformed into eleven novel chelating phosphine-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) platinum complexes. The drug efficacies of nine selected phosphine-NHC platinum(II) chlorides in two cancer cell lines (MKN74 and MCF7) were evaluated, and two were found to exhibit activities comparable to that of cisplatin.

Catalytic Asymmetric Diarylphosphine Addition to α-Diazoesters for the Synthesis of P-Stereogenic Phosphinates via P*-N Bond Formation.

The asymmetric catalytic P-H addition of racemic secondary phosphines to electrophilic α-diazoesters via P*-N bond formation is disclosed for the first time. Interaction between the diazoester and the palladium catalyst resulted in the unusually enhanced electrophilic ability of the terminal nitrogen in the diazo functionality, as opposed to the commonly expected formation of a metal carbene by nitrogen elimination. Further derivatization of the generated phosphinic hydrazones provided access to enantioenriched P-stereogenic diarylphosphinates via a simple transformation.

Catalytic Approach toward Chiral P,N-Chelate Complexes Utilizing the Asymmetric Hydrophosphination Protocol.

A synthetic procedure for obtaining a chiral P,N ligand was developed by exploiting the versatility of the asymmetric hydrophosphination protocol catalyzed by a phosphapalladacycle complex. The addition of the synthesized ligand to various metal sources led to the generation of chiral and enantioenriched chelate complexes, which can be useful prototypes for catalyst design in the future. The resulting coordination compounds were comprehensively characterized by solid-state (X-ray crystallography) and solution-based (one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy) techniques and natural bond orbital (density functional theory) analysis to determine their structural and key electronic features.

Catalytic and Mechanistic Developments of the Nickel(II) Pincer Complex-Catalyzed Hydroarsination Reaction.

Synthetic challenges have significantly slowed the development of the catalytic asymmetric hydroarsination reaction despite it being a highly attractive C-As bond formation methodology. In addition, there is a poor understanding of the main reaction steps in such reactions which limit further development in the field. Herein, key intermediates of the hydroarsination reaction catalyzed by a PCP NiII -Cl pincer complex are presented upon investigating the reaction with DFT calculations, conductivity measurements, NMR spectroscopy, and catalytic screening. The novel Ni-Cl-As interaction proposed was then contrasted against known NiII -catalyzed hydrophosphination reactions to highlight dissimilarities between them even though P and As share a close group relationship. Lastly, the asymmetric hydroarsination of nitroolefins was further developed to furnish a library of chiral organoarsines in up to 99 % yield and 80 % ee under mild conditions (-20 °C to RT) between 5 to 210 mins.

Ytterbium-Catalyzed Hydroboration of Aldehydes and Ketones.

The well-defined heavy rare-earth ytterbium iodide complex 1 (L2YbI) has been successfully employed as an efficient catalyst for the hydroboration of a wide range of aldehydes and ketones with pinacolborane (HBpin) at room temperature. The protocol requires low catalyst loadings (0.1-0.5 mol %) and proceeds rapidly (>99% conversion in <10 min). Additionally, catalyst 1 shows a good functional group tolerance even toward the hydroxyl and amino moieties and displays chemoselective hydroboration of aldehydes over ketones under mild conditions.

Pd-catalyzed enantiodivergent and regiospecific phospha-Michael addition of diphenylphosphine to 4-oxo-enamides: efficient access to chiral phosphinocarboxamides and their analogues.

The palladacycle-catalyzed asymmetric P-H addition of 4-oxo-enamides has been developed, which provides efficient access to phosphinocarboxamides and their analogues. Solvent-mediated reversal of stereoselectivity (ee from +96% to -92%) was observed, and the underlying mechanism that allows facile access to both enantiomers of the product by judicious choice of solvents is revealed.

A one-pot diastereoselective self assembly of C-stereogenic copper(I) diphosphine clusters.

C-chirogenic diphosphine-based clusters with 8-membered "chairlike" Cu4Cl4L2 and 12-membered "drumlike" Cu6Cl6L3 (L = diphosphine) frameworks were prepared in one-pot syntheses from chiral diphosphines, which were generated in situ via the double hydrophosphination reaction in excellent enantio- and diastereoselectivity. Excellent control over the final molecular architecture of the cluster (drum vs chair) could be achieved by the judicious selection of the source of the copper atoms employed in the synthetic protocol. Each cluster was characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, (1)H, (13)C, and (31)P{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy. The synthesized clusters were found to exhibit catalytic activity in the hydroboration reaction of α,ß-unsaturated enones with excellent yields albeit with low enantioselectivity.

Synthesis, structural characterisation and stereochemical investigation of chiral sulfur-functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of palladium and platinum.

Palladium and platinum complexes containing a sulfur-functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene (S-NHC) chelate ligand have been synthesised. The absolute conformations of these novel organometallic S-NHC chelates were determined by X-ray structural analyses and solution-phase 2D (1)H-(1)H ROESY NMR spectroscopy. The structural studies revealed that the phenyl substituents on the stereogenic carbon atoms invariably take up the axial positions on the Pd-C-S coordination plane to afford a skewed five-membered ring structure. All of the chiral complexes are structurally rigid and stereochemically locked in a chiral ring conformation that is either (Rs ,S,R)-λ or (Ss ,R,R)-δ in both the solid state and solution.

Synthesis and characterization of conformationally rigid chiral pyridine-N-heterocyclic carbene-based palladacycles with an unexpected Pd-N bond cleavage.

The versatility of a previously developed method for the synthesis of chiral carbene-based palladacycles is demonstrated through the synthesis of two new chiral pyridine-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene palladacycles with different wingtip groups. The efficiency in their resolution with different counter anions and different chiral amino acid salt auxiliaries has been studied. The absolute stereochemistries of all the chiral compounds were confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. An unexpected Pd-N bond cleavage that resulted in the racemization of the α-carbon center in these complexes has also been investigated.

Inorganic frameworks of low-dimensional perovskites dictate the performance and stability of mixed-dimensional perovskite solar cells.

Mixed-dimensional perovskites containing mixtures of organic cations hold great promise to deliver highly stable and efficient solar cells. However, although a plethora of relatively bulky organic cations have been reported for such purposes, a fundamental understanding of the materials' structure, composition, and phase, along with their correlated effects on the corresponding optoelectronic properties and degradation mechanism remains elusive. Herein, we systematically engineer the structures of bulky organic cations to template low-dimensional perovskites with contrasting inorganic framework dimensionality, connectivity, and coordination deformation. By combining X-ray single-crystal structural analysis with depth-profiling XPS, solid-state NMR, and femtosecond transient absorption, it is revealed that not all low-dimensional species work equally well as dopants. Instead, it was found that inorganic architectures with lesser structural distortion tend to yield less disordered energetic and defect landscapes in the resulting mixed-dimensional perovskites, augmented in materials with a longer photoluminescence (PL) lifetime, higher PL quantum yield (up to 11%), improved solar cell performance and enhanced thermal stability (T80 up to 1000 h, unencapsulated). Our study highlights the importance of designing templating organic cations that yield low-dimensional materials with much less structural distortion profiles to be used as additives in stable and efficient perovskite solar cells.

Asymmetric synthesis of enaminophosphines via palladacycle-catalyzed addition of Ph2PH to α,ß-unsaturated imines.

A highly reactive, chemo- and enantioselective addition of diphenylphosphine to α,ß-unsaturated imines catalyzed by a palladacycle has been developed, thus providing the access to a series of chiral tertiary enaminophosphines in high yields. A putative catalytic cycle has also been proposed.

Palladacycle-catalyzed asymmetric hydrophosphination of enones for synthesis of C*- and P*-chiral tertiary phosphines.

A highly reactive and stereoselective hydrophosphination of enones catalyzed by palladacycles for the synthesis of C*- and P*-chiral tertiary phosphines has been developed. When Ph(2)PH was employed as the hydrophosphinating reagent, a series of C*-chiral tertiary phosphines were synthesized (C*-P bond formation) in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities, and a single recrystallization provides access to their enantiomerically pure forms. When racemic secondary phosphines rac-R(3)(R(4))PH were utilized, a series of tertiary phosphines containing both C*- and P*-chiral centers were generated (C*-P* bond formation) in high yields with good diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The stereoelectronic factors involved in the catalytic cycle have been revealed.

A tandem Heck-aza-Michael addition protocol for the one-pot synthesis of isoindolines from unprotected amines.

A palladacycle-catalyzed tandem Heck-intramolecular aza-Michael reaction protocol has been developed for the one-pot synthesis of 1-substituted isoindolines from N-unprotected 2-bromobenzylamines and acrylates with high yields.

Domino cyclization-alkylation protocol for the synthesis of 2,3-functionalized indoles from o-alkynylanilines and allylic alcohols.

A practical and efficient protocol for the one-pot synthesis of 2,3-substituted indoles was developed via a palladacycle catalyzed domino cyclization-alkylation reaction involving 2-alkynylanilines and allylic alcohols under mild conditions without any additives.

Asymmetric synthesis of functionalized 1,3-diphosphines via chiral palladium complex promoted hydrophosphination of activated olefins.

Aldehyde, ester- and keto-functionalized monophosphine palladium complexes containing the ortho-metalated (R)-(1-(dimethylamino)ethyl)naphthalene as the chiral auxiliary and reaction promoter were synthesized via hydrophosphination of acrolein and the subsequent Wittig reactions in a one-pot process. Under very mild conditions, the second-stage hydrophosphination of the monophosphine substrates gave the corresponding ester-, keto-, and hydroxyl-functionalized chiral 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane palladium complexes with good yields and stereoselectivities. The coordination properties and absolute configurations of the novel 1,3-diphosphine complexes were established by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The enantiomerically pure functionalized diphosphine ligands with ester and keto functionalities could be subsequently liberated stereospecifically by treatment of the corresponding dichloro palladium complexes with aqueous potassium cyanide in high yields.

C-As Bond Formation Reactions for the Preparation of Organoarsenic(III) Compounds.

Potential widespread applications of organoarsenic chemistry have been limited by the inherent lack of safe and effective As-C bond formation reactions. Several alternative reagents and methods have been developed in the last few decades to address the hazards and drawbacks associated with traditional arsenic synthetic strategies. Herein, this minireview summarizes the advances made in nucleophilic, electrophilic, radical and metal-mediated As(III)-C bond formations while specifically highlighting the behavior of arsenic synthons with various well-established reagents (eg. Grignard reagents, organolithium compounds, organometallic reagents, radical initiators and Lewis/Brønsted bases). Avenues for asymmetric synthesis are also discussed, as are recent advances in organoarsenic chemistry suggesting that arsines exhibit novel reactivities independent from that of other relatively more well explored Group V cogeners.

Asymmetric synthesis of diphosphine ligands containing phosphorus and carbon stereogenic centers by means of a chiral palladium complex promoted hydrophosphination reaction.

An organopalladium complex containing ortho-metalated (R)-(1-(dimethylamino) ethyl)naphthalene as the chiral auxiliary has been used to promote the asymmetric hydrophosphination reaction between diphenylphosphine and phenyldi[(Z)-prop-1-enyl]phosphine in high regio- and stereoselectivity under mild conditions. The hydrophosphination reaction generated only two diastereomers in a ratio of 1:1. The two hydrophosphination products contained both phosphorus and carbon stereogenic centers and were subsequently isolated by fractional crystallization. Their absolute stereochemistries were analyzed by X-ray crystallography. The naphthylamine auxiliary could be removed chemoselectively from the template products by treatment with concentrated hydrochloric acid to form the corresponding optically pure neutral dichloro complexes. Subsequently, the dichloro complexes underwent ligand displacement with aqueous cyanide to generate the optically pure diphosphine ligands in high yields.

Organoplatinum complex promoted the asymmetric endo stereochemically controlled Diels-Alder reaction between 3-diphenylphosphinofuran and diphenylvinylphosphine.

The organoplatinum complex containing ortho-metalated (R)-(1-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-naphthalene as the chiral auxiliary has been used efficiently to promote the asymmetric [4 + 2] Diels-Alder reaction between diphenylvinylphosphine and 3-diphenylphosphinofuran to generate two chelating diphosphine endocycloadducts in the ratio 17:1. The absolute configurations of the three newly generated stereocenters have been assigned by single-crystal X-ray analysis.

Investigating palladium pincer complexes in catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphination and hydroarsination.

Given the periodic relationship of phosphines and arsines, is remodeling the catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphination reaction an efficient manner to develop the corresponding hydroarsination reaction? Herein, a chiral PCP-Pd(ii) pincer complex adept at generating enantioenriched phosphines was examined in the asymmetric hydroarsination reaction. Under distinct conditions, tertiary phosphines and arsines were generated in excellent yields (P: 96%, As: 91%) and ees (P: 90%, As: 85%). While secondary arsine reagents were not direct substitutes for the analogous phosphines, important parameters were identified which increased yield and ee of the hydroarsination reaction. Unlike the PCP-PdOAc pincer complex commonly used for hydrophosphinations, hydroarsination reactions involved a PCP-PdCl catalyst with 10 equiv. of CsF for optimal performance. Notable differences between the two reactions and their workup procedures were highlighted to guide further developments in the field. Lastly, respective mechanisms were proposed and contrasted for the activation of HEPh2 (E = P, As).