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1. Synthesis of Ba(II) analogs of Ln(II)-in-(2.2.2-cryptand) and layered hexagonal net Ln(II) complexes, [(THF)Cs(µ–η5:η5–C5H4SiMe3)3LnII]

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2021.115493  

   Huh, Daniel N.; Ciccone, Sierra R.; Moore, William N.G.; Ziller, Joseph W.; Evans, William J. (December 2021, Polyhedron)
2. Encapsulation of tricopper cluster in a synthetic cryptand enables facile redox processes from Cu ^I Cu ^I Cu ^I to Cu ^II Cu ^II Cu ^II states

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC05441K  

   Zhang, Weiyao; Moore, Curtis E.; Zhang, Shiyu (March 2021, Chemical Science)

   null (Ed.)

   One-pot reaction of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), [Cu I (MeCN) 4 ]PF 6 , and paraformaldehyde affords a mixed-valent [ TREN4 Cu II Cu I Cu I (μ 3 -OH)](PF 6 ) 3 complex. The macrocyclic azacryptand TREN4 contains four TREN motifs, three of which provide a bowl-shape binding pocket for the [Cu 3 (μ 3 -OH)] 3+ core. The fourth TREN caps on top of the tricopper cluster to form a cryptand, imposing conformational constraints and preventing solvent interaction. Contrasting the limited redox capability of synthetic tricopper complexes reported so far, [ TREN4 Cu II Cu I Cu I (μ 3 -OH)](PF 6 ) 3 exhibits several reversible single-electron redox events. The distinct electrochemical behaviors of [ TREN4 Cu II Cu I Cu I (μ 3 -OH)](PF 6 ) 3 and its solvent-exposed analog [ TREN3 Cu II Cu II Cu II (μ 3 -O)](PF 6 ) 4 suggest that isolation of tricopper core in a cryptand enables facile electron transfer, allowing potential application of synthetic tricopper complexes as redox catalysts. Indeed, the fully reduced [ TREN4 Cu I Cu I Cu I (μ 3 -OH)](PF 6 ) 2 can reduce O 2 under acidic conditions. The geometric constraints provided by the cryptand are reminiscent of Nature's multicopper oxidases (MCOs). For the first time, a synthetic tricopper cluster was isolated and fully characterized at Cu I Cu I Cu I ( 4a ), Cu II Cu I Cu I ( 4b ), and Cu II Cu II Cu I ( 4c ) states, providing structural and spectroscopic models for many intermediates in MCOs. Fast electron transfer rates (10 5 to 10 6 M −1 s −1 ) were observed for both Cu I Cu I Cu I /Cu II Cu I Cu I and Cu II Cu I Cu I /Cu II Cu II Cu I redox couples, approaching the rapid electron transfer rates of copper sites in MCO. 

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3. Tetramethylcyclopentadienyl Ligands Allow Isolation of Ln(II) Ions across the Lanthanide Series in [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][(C ₅ Me ₄ H) ₃ Ln] Complexes

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.8b00557  

   Jenkins, Tener F.; Woen, David H.; Mohanam, Luke N.; Ziller, Joseph W.; Furche, Filipp; Evans, William J. (October 2018, Organometallics)
4. Enabling Visible Light Sensitization of Yb ^III , Nd ^III and Er ^III in Dimeric Ln ^III /Ga ^III Metallacrowns through Functionalization with Ru ^II Complexes for NIR‐II Multiplex Imaging

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202416101  

   Bădescu‐Singureanu, Codruţa C; Nizovtsev, Anton S; Pecoraro, Vincent L; Petoud, Stéphane; Eliseeva, Svetlana V (January 2025, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract Multiplex imaging in the second near‐infrared window (NIR‐II, 1000–1700 nm) provides exciting opportunities for more precise understanding of biological processes and more accurate diagnosis of diseases by enabling real‐time acquisition of images with improved contrast and spatial resolution in deeper tissues. Today, the number of imaging agents suitable for this modality remains very scarce. In this work, we have synthesized and fully characterized, including theoretical calculations, a series of dimeric Ln^III/Ga^IIImetallacrowns bearing Ru^IIpolypyridyl complexes,LnRu‐3(Ln=Y^III, Yb^III, Nd^III, Er^III). Relaxed structures ofYRu‐3in the ground and the excited electronic states have been calculated using dispersion‐corrected density functional theory methods. Detailed photophysical studies ofLnRu‐3have demonstrated that characteristic emission signals of Yb^III, Nd^IIIand Er^IIIin the NIR‐II range can be sensitized upon excitation in the visible range through Ru^II‐centered metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states. We have also showed that these NIR‐II signals are unambiguously detected in an imaging experiment using capillaries and biological tissue‐mimicking phantoms. This work opens unprecedented perspectives for NIR‐II multiplex imaging using Ln^III‐based molecular compounds. 

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5. Evaluating electrochemical accessibility of 4f ⁿ 5d ¹ and 4f ⁿ⁺¹ Ln( ii ) ions in (C ₅ H ₄ SiMe ₃ ) ₃ Ln and (C ₅ Me ₄ H) ₃ Ln complexes

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1DT02427B  

   Trinh, Michael T.; Wedal, Justin C.; Evans, William J. (October 2021, Dalton Transactions)

   The reduction potentials (reported vs. Fc + /Fc) for a series of Cp′ 3 Ln complexes (Cp′ = C 5 H 4 SiMe 3 , Ln = lanthanide) were determined via electrochemistry in THF with [ n Bu 4 N][BPh 4 ] as the supporting electrolyte. The Ln( iii )/Ln( ii ) reduction potentials for Ln = Eu, Yb, Sm, and Tm (−1.07 to −2.83 V) follow the expected trend for stability of 4f 7 , 4f 14 , 4f 6 , and 4f 13 Ln( ii ) ions, respectively. The reduction potentials for Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Lu, that form 4f n 5d 1 Ln( ii ) ions ( n = 2–14), fall in a narrow range of −2.95 V to −3.14 V. Only cathodic events were observed for La and Ce at −3.36 V and −3.43 V, respectively. The reduction potentials of the Ln( ii ) compounds [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Cp′ 3 Ln] (Ln = Pr, Sm, Eu) match those of the Cp′ 3 Ln complexes. The reduction potentials of nine (C 5 Me 4 H) 3 Ln complexes were also studied and found to be 0.05–0.24 V more negative than those of the Cp′ 3 Ln compounds. 

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