Controlling redox processes in metal complexes and multifunctional materials

Transition metal complexes incorporating redox-active ligands have the potential to facilitate controlled multielectron chemistry, enabling their use in catalysis and energy storage applications. Moreover, the use of transition metal complexes containing redox-active ligands has been extended to two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) materials, such as supramolecular assemblies (i.e., metallacycles, molecular cages, or macrocycles) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for catalytic, magnetic, electronic, and sensing applications. Salens (N2O2 bis(Schiff-base)-bis(phenolate) are an important class of redox-active ligands, and have been investigated in detail as they are able to stabilize both low and high metal oxidation states for the above-mentioned applications. The work in this thesis focuses on the synthesis and electronic structure elucidation of metal salen complexes in monomeric form, as discrete supramolecular assemblies and 3D MOFs. Structural and spectroscopic characterization of the neutral and oxidized species was completed using mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction, NMR, UV-Vis-NIR, and EPR spectroscopies, as well as theoretical (DFT) calculations. Chapter 2 discusses the synthesis and electronic structure evaluation of a series of oxidized uranyl complexes, containing redox-active salen ligands with varying para-ring substituents (tBu, OMe, NMe2). Chapters 3 and 4 discuss the incorporation of a redox-active nickel salen complex equipped with pyridyl groups on the peripheral positions of the ligand framework into supramolecular structures via coordination-driven self-assembly. The self-assembly results in formation of a number of distinct metallacycles, affording di-, tetra-, and octa-ligand radical species. Finally, the design, synthesis, and incorporation of metal salen units into MOFs is discussed in Chapter 5. Preliminary assembly and oxidation experiments are presented as an opportunity to explore the redox-properties of salen complexes incorporated into a solid-state 3D framework. Overall, the work described in this thesis provides a pathway for salen ligand radical systems to be used in redox-controlled host-guest chemistry, catalysis, and sensing

Synthesis and Electronic Structure Determination of Uranium(VI) Ligand Radical Complexes

   Pentagonal bipyramidal uranyl complexes of salen ligands, N,N’-bis(3-tert-butyl-(5R)-salicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine, in which R = tBu (1a), OMe (1b), and NMe2 (1c), were prepared and the electronic structure of the one-electron oxidized species [1a-c]+ were investigated in solution. The solid-state structures of 1a and 1b were solved by X-ray crystallography, and in the case of 1b an asymmetric UO22+ unit was found due to an intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction. Electrochemical investigation of 1a-c by cyclic voltammetry showed that each complex exhibited at least one quasi-reversible redox process assigned to the oxidation of the phenolate moieties to phenoxyl radicals. The trend in redox potentials matches the electron-donating ability of the para-phenolate substituents. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of cations [1a-c]+ exhibited gav values of 1.997, 1.999, and 1.995, respectively, reflecting the ligand radical character of the oxidized forms, and in addition, spin-orbit coupling to the uranium centre. Chemical oxidation as monitored by ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-vis-NIR) spectroscopy afforded the one-electron oxidized species. Weak low energy intra-ligand charge transfer (CT) transitions were observed for [1a-c]+ indicating localization of the ligand radical to form a phenolate / phenoxyl radical species. Further analysis using density functional theory (DFT) calculations predicted a localized phenoxyl radical for [1a-c]+ with a small but significant contribution of the phenylenediamine unit to the spin density. Time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations provided further insight into the nature of the low energy transitions, predicting both phenolate to phenoxyl intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) and phenylenediamine to phenoxyl CT character. Overall, [1a-c]+ are determined to be relatively localized ligand radical complexes, in which localization is enhanced as the electron donating ability of the para-phenolate substituents is increased (NMe2 > OMe > tBu)

Influence of Electron-Withdrawing Substituents on the Electronic Structure of Oxidized Ni and Cu Salen Complexes

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Mn( iv ) and Mn( v )-radical species supported by the redox non-innocent bis(2-amino-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)amine pincer ligand

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Exciton Coupling in Redox‐Active Salen based Self‐Assembled Metallacycles

International audienceThe incorporation of a redox-active nickel salen complex into supramolecular structures was explored via coordination-driven self-assembly with homobimetallic ruthenium complexes (bridged by oxalato or 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinato ligands). The self-assembly resulted in the formation of a discrete rectangle using the oxalato complex and either a rectangle or a catenane employing the larger naphthoquinonato complex. The formation of the interlocked self-assembly was determined to be solvent and concentration dependent. The electronic structure and stability of the oxidized metallacycles was probed using electrochemical experiments, UV-Vis-NIR absorption, EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, confirming ligand radical formation. Exciton coupling of the intense near-infrared (NIR) ligand radical intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) bands provided further confirmation of the geometric and electronic structures in solution

Coordination-driven assembly of a supramolecular square and oxidation to a tetra-ligand radical species

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Octahedral Co(III) Salen Complexes: The Role of Peripheral Ligand Electronics on Axial Ligand Release upon Reduction

A series of octahedral CoIII salen complexes (where salen represents a N2O2 bis-Schiff-base bis-phenolate framework) were prepared with axial imidazole ligating groups. When using 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm) axial ligands, the CoIII / CoII reduction potential could be altered by 220 mV via variation of the electron-donating ability of the para-ring substituents (R = H (1), OMe (2), tBu (3), Br (4), NO2 (5), and CF3 (6)). In addition, the irreversibility of the reduction process suggested substantial geometrical changes and axial ligand exchange upon reduction to the more labile CoII oxidation state. Installing an imidazole-coumarin conjugate as the axial ligands resulted in fluorescence quenching when bound to the CoIII centre (R = H (7), OMe (8), and CF3 (9)). The redox properties and fluorescence increase upon ligand release for 7-9 were studied under reducing conditions, and in the presence of excess competing ligand (1-MeIm). It was determined that the Lewis acidity of the CoIII centre was the dominant factor in controlling axial ligand exchange for this series of complexes.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Divalent Cobalt and Copper Coordination Complexes of κ2-N, O-Derivatives of (Z)-1-R-2-(2’-oxazolin-2’-yl)-eth-1-en-1-ates: Structure and Reactivity Patterns

The synthesis and characterisation of a small library of Co and Cu derivatives (29 examples) incorporating the (Z)-1-R1-2-(4’,4’-R2-2’-oxazolin-2’-yl)-eth-1-en-1-ate (L: R1 = alkyl or aryl; R2 = H or Me) skeleton is described. This work includes six new derivatives of “Tohda’s Ligands”. In the case where R2 = H, solid-state stable Co(II) materials of formula Co(κ2-N,O-L)2 could, in some cases, be obtained following base-induced deprotonation of L+H and treatment with hydrated CoX2 salts. These complexes display redox induced solution decomposition behaviour giving Co(κ2-N,O-L)3 as one isolable product. Stable Cu(II) complexes could only be obtained in the case of for R1 = Ph and R2 = H. In the case of R2 = Me, distorted tetrahedral Co(II) compounds (also Co(κ2-N,O-L)2) are obtained as above (twelve examples). Square planar derivatives of Cu(II), of similar stoichiometry, are likewise isolated (eleven new examples). In contrast to the R2 = H reactions, all of these latter materials were found to be air-stable in solution or the solid phase. In total, 18 complexes have been characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Molecular modelling (PM6(tm) and DFT) are also used to elucidate the molecular properties of selected complexes. Only a single Co complex (R1 = t-butyl and R2 = Me) of the library displays reversible one-electron redox properties.<br /

Functionalised tetrathiafulvalene- (TTF-) macrocycles: recent trends in applied supramolecular chemistry

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