Coordination Chemistry of Homoleptic Actinide(IV)-Thiocyanate Complexes.

The synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, vibrational and optical spectroscopy for the eight-coordinate thiocyanate compounds, [Et4 N]4 [Pu(IV) (NCS)8 ], [Et4 N]4 [Th(IV) (NCS)8 ], and [Et4 N]4 [Ce(III) (NCS)7 (H2 O)] are reported. Thiocyanate was found to rapidly reduce plutonium to Pu(III) in acidic solutions (pH<1) in the presence of NCS(-) . The optical spectrum of [Et4 N][SCN] containing Pu(III) solution was indistinguishable from that of aquated Pu(III) suggesting that inner-sphere complexation with [Et4 N][SCN] does not occur in water. However, upon concentration, the homoleptic thiocyanate complex [Et4 N]4 [Pu(IV) (NCS)8 ] was crystallized when a large excess of [Et4 N][NCS] was present. This compound, along with its U(IV) analogue, maintains inner-sphere thiocyanate coordination in acetonitrile based on the observation of intense ligand-to-metal charge-transfer bands. Spectroscopic and crystallographic data do not support the interaction of the metal orbitals with the ligand π system, but support an enhanced An(IV) -NCS interaction, as the Lewis acidity of the metal ion increases from Th to Pu.

Boron clusters as highly stable magnesium-battery electrolytes.

Boron clusters are proposed as a new concept for the design of magnesium-battery electrolytes that are magnesium-battery-compatible, highly stable, and noncorrosive. A novel carborane-based electrolyte incorporating an unprecedented magnesium-centered complex anion is reported and shown to perform well as a magnesium-battery electrolyte. This finding opens a new approach towards the design of electrolytes whose likelihood of meeting the challenging design targets for magnesium-battery electrolytes is very high.

Reduction of borazines mediated by low-valent chromium species.

Recharging spent BN fuel: {Cr(CO)(3)} mediates the reduction of borazines by hydride and methyl nucleophiles to generate anionic complexes of dearomatized hexamethylborazine. Subsequent quenching leads to the release of a substituted cyclotriborazane, successfully demonstrating the stepwise reduction of a B=N bond.

Thiocyanate complexes of the lanthanides, Am and Cm.

The synthesis and single crystal structures of Am(iii) and Cm(iii) thiocyanate complexes are reported along with an isostructural series of lanthanide thiocyanate complexes. Because the complexes are isostructural, a comparative study of the metal-thiocyanate bonds was conducted using Raman spectroscopy indicating very similar and electrostatic metal-ligand interactions.

Synthesis, structure, ultrafast kinetics, and light-induced dynamics of CuHETPHEN chromophores.

Five heteroleptic Cu(i)bis(phenanthroline) chromophores with distinct variation in the steric bulk at the 2,9-phenanthroline position were synthesized using the HETPHEN method, and their ground and excited state properties are described. Analysis of the crystal structures reveals a significant distortion from tetrahedral geometry around the Cu(i) centre which is attributed to favourable aromatic interactions between the two phenanthroline ligands. Ultrafast and nanosecond transient optical spectroscopies reveal that the excited state lifetime can be tuned across two orders of magnitude up to 74 nanoseconds in acetonitrile by changing the 2,9-substituent from hydrogen to sec-butyl. X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy at the Cu K-edge confirmed Cu(i) oxidation to Cu(ii) and revealed a decrease of the Cu-N bond lengths in the excited state. The ground and excited state characterization presented here will guide the integration of CuHETPHEN chromophores into complex electron donor-acceptor architectures.

Discovery of low energy pathways to metal-mediated B[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond reduction guided by computation and experiment.

This manuscript describes a combination of DFT calculations and experiments to assess the reduction of borazines (B-N heterocycles) by η6-coordination to Cr(CO)3 or [Mn(CO)3]+ fragments. The energy requirements for borazine reduction are established as well as the extent to which coordination of borazine to a transition metal influences hydride affinity, basicity, and subsequent reduction steps at the coordinated borazine molecule. Borazine binding to M(CO)3 fragments decreases the thermodynamic hydricity by >30 kcal mol-1, allowing it to easily accept a hydride. These hydricity criteria were used to guide the selection of appropriate reagents for borazine dearomatization. Reduction was achieved with an H2-derived hydride source, and importantly, a pathway which proceeds through a single electron reduction and H-atom transfer reaction, mediated by anthraquinone was uncovered. The latter transformation was also carried out electrochemically, at relatively positive potentials by comparison to all prior reports, thus establishing an important proof of concept for any future electrochemical B[double bond, length as m-dash]N bond reduction.