Tuning Phosphine Oxide-Substituted ortho-Carboranes for Improved Biphasic Electrochemical UO22+ Capture and Release.

We report the synthesis and characterization of a series of new, tunable 1,2-bis(diarylphosphine oxide)-ortho-carboranes, derivatives of our previously reported uranyl (UO22+) capture agent 1,2-(Ph2PO)2-1,2-C2B10H10 (POCb). The series features new cage-substituted variants of POCb, namely, 9-I-POCb (POCbI), 9,12-I2-POCb (POCbI2), 9,12-Me2-POCb (POCbMe2), 9,12-Et2-POCb (POCbEt2), and 4,5,7,8,9,10,11,12-Me8-POCb (POCbMe8). Aryl-substituted variants include 1,2-((4-MeO-Ph)2PO)2-Cb ((OMe)POCb) and 1,2-((4-F-Ph)2PO)2-Cb ((F)POCb). The effects of electron-withdrawing (EWG) and electron-donating (EDG) groups on resulting carborane redox potentials were assessed using electrochemical means, and the resulting Lewis basicities were quantified using empirical and competition-based NMR experiments. In organic solution, carboranes substituted with EWGs exhibited weaker coordination to UO22+, whereas those with EDGs exhibited stronger coordination. Similar to the previously reported unsubstituted POCb, the tunable new series of carboranes were electrochemically reduced and used for the biphasic capture of UO22+ from an aqueous to an organic phase and back again (release) through electrochemical oxidation. Extraction and back-extraction efficiencies were determined by analyses of the aqueous phases by ICP-OES. While all reduced nido-carboranes efficiently extracted UO22+ in high yields (78-88%)─with seemingly no correlation to the aforementioned measured Lewis basicities─we found the back-extraction of UO22+ to be significantly improved from POCb and, surprisingly, more closely related to their hydrophobic rather than their Lewis basic properties.

Selective heterogeneous capture and release of actinides using carborane-functionalized electrodes.

We report the heterogenization of molecular, electrochemically switchable ortho-substituted carboranes (POCb, POCb-Pyr) for selective metal capture. Films of POCb and POCb-Pyr on glassy carbon and carbon fiber (CF) electrodes demonstrated heterogeneous electrochemical behaviour that was enhanced by the inclusion of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Galvanostatically charged CF|CNT|POCb and CF|CNT|POCb-Pyr electrodes selectively captured and released actinides (Th4+, UO22+) from mixed solutions containing alkali (Cs+), lanthanide (Nd3+, Sm3+) and actinide (Th4+, UO22+) metal ions.

Lithium Enolate with a Lithium-Alkyne Interaction in the Enantioselective Construction of Quaternary Carbon Centers: Concise Synthesis of (+)-Goniomitine.

We report a method for direct enantioselective alkylation of 3-alkynoic and 2,3-alkendioic acids that form quaternary stereogenic centers, and application of this method to the total enantioselective synthesis of a complex alkaloid (+)-goniomitine. The methods were effective in the alkylation of both 3-alkynoic acids, 2,3-alkendioic acids substrates with a broad range of heterocyclic and functionalized alkyl group substituents. Accompanying crystallographic studies provide mechanistic insight into the structure of well-defined chiral aggregates, highlighting cation-π interactions between lithium and alkyne groups.

Selective electrochemical capture and release of uranyl from aqueous alkali, lanthanide, and actinide mixtures using redox-switchable carboranes.

We report the selective electrochemical biphasic capture of the uranyl cation (UO2 2+) from mixed-metal alkali (Cs+), lanthanide (Nd3+, Sm3+), and actinide (Th4+, UO2 2+) aqueous solutions to an organic, 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE), phase using the ortho-substituted nido-carborane anion, [1,2-(Ph2PO)2-1,2-C2B10H10]2- (POCb2-). The reduced POCb2- is generated by electrochemical reduction of the closo-carborane, POCb, prior to mixing with the aqueous mixed-metal solution. Subsequent UO2 2+ release from the captured product, [UO2(POCb)2]2-, was performed by galvanostatic bulk electrolysis of the DCE phase and back-extraction of UO2 2+ to a fresh aqueous phase. The selective capture and release of UO2 2+ was confirmed by combined ICP-OES and NMR spectral analyses of the aqueous and organic phases, respectively, against the newly synthesized nido-carborane complexes, [[CoCp*2][Cs(POCb)]]2, [CoCp*2]3[Nd(POCb)3], [CoCp*2]3[Sm(POCb)3], and [CoCp*2]2[Th(POCb)3].

Extensive Redox Non-Innocence in Iron Bipyridine-Diimine Complexes: a Combined Spectroscopic and Computational Study.

Metal-ligand cooperation is an important aspect in earth-abundant metal catalysis. Utilizing ligands as electron reservoirs to supplement the redox chemistry of the metal has resulted in many new exciting discoveries. Here, we demonstrate that iron bipyridine-diimine (BDI) complexes exhibit an extensive electron-transfer series that spans a total of five oxidation states, ranging from the trication [Fe(BDI)]3+ to the monoanion [Fe(BDI]-1. Structural characterization by X-ray crystallography revealed the multifaceted redox noninnocence of the BDI ligand, while spectroscopic (e.g., 57Fe Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopy) and computational studies were employed to elucidate the electronic structure of the isolated complexes, which are further discussed in this report.

Does alma mater matter? An audit study of labour market outcomes of Canadian Bachelor's Degree recipients.

In many parts of the world, the rewards attached to a university degree vary significantly according to the name of the institution one attends, particularly in countries with highly stratified postsecondary systems. Because the Canadian higher education system is relatively homogenous and non-hierarchical, it has been generally accepted that Canadian graduates enter the labour market on equal footing regardless of where they matriculate. We test this assumption through an experimental audit study that compares employers' responses to fictitious matched job applications from equally qualified bachelor's degree recipients from three Ontario universities: Brock, Queen's, and Waterloo. Not all employers make a distinction between the paired applications; but when they do, Waterloo is favoured. In these cases, even though applicants had the same field of study, academic achievement and work experience, employers singled out Waterloo applicants for a response 84% more often than those from Brock. These findings indicate that institutional affiliation matters in Canada, and suggests that graduates from some institutions fare significantly better in the labour market than their equally accomplished peers from other institutions. We conclude that even in relatively non-hierarchical systems with comparatively minimal structural or resource variation, status hierarchies emerge that privilege some graduates over others.

Dans de nombreuses régions du monde, les récompenses liées à un diplôme universitaire varient considérablement selon le nom de l'établissement fréquenté, en particulier dans les pays où les systèmes postsecondaires sont très stratifiés. Le système d'enseignement supérieur canadien étant relativement homogène et non hiérarchisé, il est généralement admis que les diplômés canadiens entrent sur le marché du travail sur un pied d'égalité, quel que soit leur établissement d'enseignement. Nous testons cette hypothèse par le biais d'une étude de vérification expérimentale qui compare les réponses des employeurs à des demandes d'emploi fictives appariées provenant de titulaires de baccalauréats également qualifiés de trois universités ontariennes : Brock, Queen's et Waterloo. Tous les employeurs ne font pas la distinction entre les candidatures jumelées, mais lorsqu'ils le font, c'est Waterloo qui est favorisée. Dans ces cas, même si les candidats avaient le même domaine d'études, les mêmes résultats scolaires et la même expérience professionnelle, les employeurs ont répondu 84% plus souvent aux candidats de Waterloo qu'à ceux de Brock. Ces résultats indiquent que l'affiliation institutionnelle a de l'importance au Canada, et suggèrent que les diplômés de certains établissements réussissent beaucoup mieux sur le marché du travail que leurs pairs tout aussi accomplis d'autres établissements. Nous concluons que, même dans des systèmes relativement non hiérarchiques présentant des variations structurelles ou de ressources relativement minimes, des hiérarchies de statut émergent et privilégient certains diplômés par rapport à d'autres.

Probing reaction processes and reversibility in Earth-abundant Na3FeF6 for Na-ion batteries.

Sodium (Na)-ion batteries are the most explored 'beyond-Li' battery systems, yet their energy densities are still largely limited by the positive electrode material. Na3FeF6 is a promising Earth-abundant containing electrode and operates through a conversion-type charge-discharge reaction associated with a high theoretical capacity (336 mA h g-1). In practice, however, only a third of this capacity is achieved during electrochemical cycling. In this study, we demonstrate a new rapid and environmentally-friendly assisted-microwave method for the preparation of Na3FeF6. A comprehensive understanding of charge-discharge processes and of the reactivity of the cycled electrode samples is achieved using a combination of electrochemical tests, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, magnetometry, and 23Na/19F solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) complemented with first principles calculations of NMR properties. We find that the primary performance limitation of the Na3FeF6 electrode is the sluggish kinetics of the conversion reaction, while the methods employed for materials synthesis and electrode preparation do not have a significant impact on the conversion efficiency and reversibility. Our work confirms that Na3FeF6 undergoes conversion into NaF and Fe(s) nanoparticles. The latter are found to be prone to oxidation prior to ex situ measurements, thus necessitating a robust analysis of the stable phases (here, NaF) formed upon conversion.

Facile proton-coupled electron transfer enabled by coordination-induced E-H bond weakening to boron.

We report the facile activation of aryl E-H (ArEH; E = N, O, S; Ar = Ph or C6F5) or ammonia N-H bonds via coordination-induced bond weakening to a redox-active boron center in the complex, (1-). Substantial decreases in E-H bond dissociation free energies (BDFEs) are observed upon substrate coordination, enabling subsequent facile proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). A drop of >50 kcal mol-1 in H2N-H BDFE upon coordination was experimentally determined.

Carborane Stabilized "19-Electron" Molybdenum Metalloradical.

Paramagnetic metal complexes gained a lot of attention due to their participation in a number of important chemical reactions. In most cases, these complexes are dominated by 17-e metalloradicals that are associatively activated with highly reactive paramagnetic 19-e species. Molybdenum paramagnetic complexes are among the most investigated ones. While some examples of persistent 17-e Mo-centered radicals have been reported, in contrast, 19-e Mo-centered radicals are illusive species and as such could rarely be detected. In this work, the photodissociation of the [Cp(CO)3Mo]2 dimer (1) in the presence of phosphines was revisited. As a result, the first persistent, formally 19-e Mo radical with significant electron density on the Mo center (22%), Cp(CO)3Mo•PPh2(o-C2B10H11) (5b), was generated and characterized by EPR spectroscopy and MS as well as studied by DFT calculations. The stabilization of 5b was likely achieved due to a unique electron-withdrawing effect of the o-carboranyl substituent at the phosphorus center.

Multiple N-H and C-H Hydrogen Atom Abstractions Through Coordination-Induced Bond Weakening at Fe-Amine Complexes.

We report the use of the reported Fe-phthalocyanine complex, PcFe (1; Pc = 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octaethoxy-phthalocyanine), to generate PcFe-amine complexes 1-(NH3)2, 1-(MeNH2)2, and 1-(Me2NH)2. Treatment of 1 or 1-(NH3)2 to an excess of the stable aryloxide radical, 2,4,6-tritert-butylphenoxyl radical (tBuArO•), under NH3 resulted in catalytic H atom abstraction (HAA) and C-N coupling to generate the product 4-amino-2,4,6-tritert-butylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one (2) and tBuArOH. Exposing 1-(NH3)2 to an excess of the trityl (CPh3) variant, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-tritylphenoxyl radical (TrArO•), under NH3 did not lead to catalytic ammonia oxidation as previously reported in a related Ru-porphyrin complex. However, pronounced coordination-induced bond weakening of both α N-H and ß C-H in the alkylamine congeners, 1-(MeNH2)2 and 1-(Me2NH)2, led to multiple HAA events yielding the unsaturated cyanide complex, 1-(MeNH2)(CN), and imine complex, 1-(MeN═CH2)2, respectively. Subsequent C-N bond formation was also observed in the latter upon addition of a coordinating ligand. Detailed computational studies support an alternating mechanism involving sequential N-H and C-H HAA to generate these unsaturated products.

Redox-Controlled Reactivity at Boron: Parallels to Frustrated Lewis/Radical Pair Chemistry.

We report the synthesis of new Lewis-acidic boranes tethered to redox-active vanadium centers, (Ph2N)3V(µ-N)B(C6F5)2 (1a) and (N(CH2CH2N(C6F5))3)V(µ-N)B(C6F5)2 (1b). Redox control of the VIV/V couple resulted in switchable borane versus "hidden" boron radical reactivity, mimicking frustrated Lewis versus frustrated radical pair (FLP/FRP) chemistry, respectively. Whereas heterolytic FLP-type addition reactions were observed with the VV complex (1b) in the presence of a bulky phosphine, homolytic peroxide, or Sn-hydride bond cleavage reactions were observed with the VIV complex, [CoCp2*][(N(CH2CH2N(C6F5))3)V(µ-N)B(C6F5)2] (3b), indicative of boron radical anion character. The extent of radical character was probed by spectroscopic and computational means. Together, these results demonstrate that control of the VIV/V oxidation states allows these compounds to access reactivity observed in both FLP and FRP chemistry.

Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties of a first-row metal phthalocyanine series.

The synthesis and characterization of a 3d-metallophthalocyanine series (OEtPcM; OEtPc = 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octaethoxy-phthalocyanine; M = VO, Cr, MnCl, MnN, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) is presented. With the exception of OEtPcZn, all species were crystallographically characterized, including the protonated (OEtPcH2) and partially lithiated (OEtPcHLi) precursors. The electrochemical behavior of all species - displaying a mix of metal- and ligand-borne redox events - was investigated and tentatively correlated to the structural properties. It was found that non-labile axial metal-ligand substituents (O2-, N3-) and the use of coordinating solvents heavily influenced the reversibility of the electrochemical events, suggesting that aggregation is a dominant consideration for well-defined electrochemical behavior. We used this data to outline possible design criteria for Pc-based charge carrier applications in the context of redox-flow batteries and energy storage.

A tetranuclear nickel cluster isolated in multiple high-valent states.

We report a series of high-valent tetranuclear nickel clusters isolated from the chemical oxidation of an all Ni(ii) ([Ni4]) neutral cluster. Electrochemical analysis of [Ni4] reveals three reversible sequential oxidations at 0.248 V (1e-), 0.678 V (1e-), and 0.991 V (2e-) vs. Fc/Fc+ corresponding to mono-, di-, and tetra-oxidized species, [Ni4]+, [Ni4]2+, [Ni4]4+, respectively. Using spectroscopic, crystallographic, magnetometric, and computational techniques, we assign the primary loci of oxidations to the Ni centers in each case, thus resulting in the isolation of the first tetranuclear all-Ni(iii) cluster, [Ni4]4+.

Redox-switchable carboranes for uranium capture and release.

The uranyl ion (UO22+; U(VI) oxidation state) is the most common form of uranium found in terrestrial and aquatic environments and is a central component in nuclear fuel processing and waste remediation efforts. Uranyl capture from either seawater or nuclear waste has been well studied and typically relies on extremely strong chelating/binding affinities to UO22+ using chelating polymers1,2, porous inorganic3-5 or carbon-based6,7 materials, as well as homogeneous8 compounds. By contrast, the controlled release of uranyl after capture is less established and can be difficult, expensive or destructive to the initial material2,9. Here we show how harnessing the redox-switchable chelating and donating properties of an ortho-substituted closo-carborane (1,2-(Ph2PO)2-1,2-C2B10H10) cluster molecule can lead to the controlled chemical or electrochemical capture and release of UO22+ in monophasic (organic) or biphasic (organic/aqueous) model solvent systems. This is achieved by taking advantage of the increase in the ligand bite angle when the closo-carborane is reduced to the nido-carborane, resulting in C-C bond rupture and cage opening. The use of electrochemical methods for uranyl capture and release may complement existing sorbent and processing systems.

Isolable cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene-phosphonyl radical adducts.

Phosphonyl radicals ([R2P[double bond, length as m-dash]O]˙) and their adducts are proposed as intermediates in a number of important chemical and biological processes. Despite the great interest in these species, there are no examples of stable, isolated phosphonyl radicals or their adducts reported in the literature. Here we report the synthesis, EPR and theoretical study of stable, isolable cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (cAAC)-phosphonyl radical adducts, [cAAC-P(O)R2]˙ (R = OPri, Ph).

Exposing the inadequacy of redox formalisms by resolving redox inequivalence within isovalent clusters.

In this report we examine a family of trinuclear iron complexes by multiple-wavelength, anomalous diffraction (MAD) to explore the redox load distribution within cluster materials by the free refinement of atomic scattering factors. Several effects were explored that can impact atomic scattering factors within clusters, including 1) metal atom primary coordination sphere, 2) M-M bonding, and 3) redox delocalization in formally mixed-valent species. Complexes were investigated which vary from highly symmetric to fully asymmetric by 57Fe Mössbauer and X-ray diffraction to explore the relationship between MAD-derived data and the data available from these widely used characterization techniques. The compounds examined include the all-ferrous clusters [ n Bu4N][(tbsL)Fe3(µ3-Cl)] (1) ([tbsL]6- = [1,3,5-C6H9(NC6H4-o-NSi t BuMe2)3]6-]), (tbsL)Fe3(py) (2), [K(C222)]2[(tbsL)Fe3(µ3-NPh)] (4) (C222 = 2,2,2-cryptand), and the mixed-valent (tbsL)Fe3(µ3-NPh) (3). Redox delocalization in mixed-valent 3 was explored with cyclic voltammetry (CV), zero-field 57Fe Mössbauer, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography techniques. We find that the MAD results show an excellent correspondence to 57Fe Mössbauer data; yet also can distinguish between subtle changes in local coordination geometries where Mössbauer cannot. Differences within aggregate oxidation levels are evident by systematic shifts of scattering factor envelopes to increasingly higher energies. However, distinguishing local oxidation levels in iso- or mixed-valent materials can be dramatically obscured by the degree of covalent intracore bonding. MAD-derived atomic scattering factor data emphasize in-edge features that are often difficult to analyze by X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES). Thus, relative oxidation levels within the cluster were most reliably ascertained from comparing the entire envelope of the atomic scattering factor data.

An untethered C3v-symmetric triarylphosphine oxide locked by intermolecular hydrogen bonding.

A para-substituted triphenylphosphine oxide with terminal vanadocene centers has been prepared and is, to our knowledge, the first example of an untethered C3v-symmetric triarylphosphine oxide in the solid state. Crystallographic and DFT studies suggest this locked conformation is due to intermolecular H-bonding interactions. Electrochemical measurements suggest these interactions may persist in solution. A monometallic variant, adopting the standard C3 propeller geometry, has also been synthesized for comparison.

Cationic magnesium hydride [MgH]+ stabilized by an NNNN-type macrocycle.

A magnesium hydride cation [(L)MgH]+ supported by a macrocyclic ligand (L = Me4TACD; 1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) has been prepared by partial protonolysis of a mixed amide hydride [(L)MgH2Mg{N(SiMe3)2}2] and shown to undergo a variety of reactions with unsaturated substrates, including pyridine.

Switchable Aromaticity in an Isostructural Mn Phthalocyanine Series Isolated in Five Separate Redox States.

The synthesis and characterization of a new phthalocyanine (Pc) Mn-nitride complex, (OEtPc)MnN (2; OEtPc = 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octaethoxy-Pc), as well as its stable, readily accessible oxidized (2+ and 22+) and reduced (2-, 22-) congeners is reported. This unique isostructural series displays switchable aromatic character spanning the aromatic (2), nonaromatic (22+), and antiaromatic (22-) triad, in addition to the open-shell radical states (2+, 2-). All complexes were structurally characterized and displayed significant structural distortions at the redox extrema (22+, 22-) consistent with proposed [16 or 18]annulene π ring circuit models. Spectroscopic and computational studies further support these models. This isolated, fully characterized, isostructural series spanning five redox states (22+, 2+, 2, 2-, 22-) is unique in both the Pc and related macrocyclic (ex. porphyrinoids) literature and may offer direct insight into structural-electronic correlations driven by switchable aromaticity.

Probing Hydrogen Atom Transfer at a Phosphorus(V) Oxide Bond Using a "Bulky Hydrogen Atom" Surrogate: Analogies to PCET.

Recent computational studies suggest that the phosphate support in the commercial vanadium phosphate oxide (VPO) catalyst may play a critical role in initiating butane C-H bond activation through a mechanism termed reduction-coupled oxo activation (ROA) similar to proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET); however, no experimental evidence exists to support this mechanism. Herein, we present molecular model compounds, (Ph2N)3V═N-P(O)Ar2 (Ar = C6F5 (2a), Ph (2b)), which are reactive to both weak H atom donors and a Me3Si• (a "bulky hydrogen atom" surrogate) donor, 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)pyrazine. While the former reaction led to product decomposition, the latter resulted in the isolation of the reduced, silylated complexes (Ph2N)3V-N═P(OSiMe3)Ar2 (3a/b). Detailed analyses of possible reaction pathways, involving the isolation and full characterization of potential stepwise square-scheme intermediates, as well as the determination of minimum experimentally and computationally derived thermochemical values, are described. We find that stepwise electron transfer (ET) + silylium transfer (ST) or concerted EST mechanisms are most likely. This study provides the first experimental evidence supporting a ROA mechanism and may inform future studies in homogeneous or heterogeneous C-H activation chemistry, as well as open up a possible new avenue for main group/transition metal cooperative redox reactivity.