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Group 13 aminoxy complexes, (L)E(TEMPO)₃(TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl; L = THF (tetrahydrofuran) or Py (pyridine); E = Al, Ga, In), display ambiphilic reactivity with H₂and function as synthons for the preparation of materials. 

In situelectrochemical analysis enables access to metal aquo PCET model complexes which are synthetically elaborated and speciation was determined. 

Molecular Ag(II) complexes are superoxidizing photoredox catalysts capable of generating radicals from redox-reticent substrates. In this work, we exploited the electrophilicity of Ag(II) centers in [Ag(bpy)₂(TFA)][OTf] and Ag(bpy)(TFA)₂(bpy, 2,2′-bipyridine; OTf, CF₃SO₃^–) complexes to activate trifluoroacetate (TFA) by visible light–induced homolysis. The resulting trifluoromethyl radicals may react with a variety of arenes to forge C(sp²)–CF₃bonds. This methodology is general and extends to other perfluoroalkyl carboxylates of higher chain length (R_FCO₂^–; R_F, CF₂CF₃or CF₂CF₂CF₃). The photoredox reaction may be rendered electrophotocatalytic by regenerating the Ag(II) complexes electrochemically during irradiation. Electrophotocatalytic perfluoroalkylation of arenes at turnover numbers exceeding 20 was accomplished by photoexciting the Ag(II)–TFA ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) state, followed by electrochemical reoxidation of the Ag(I) photoproduct back to the Ag(II) photoreactant. 

Super-reducing excited states have the potential to activate strong bonds, leading to unprecedented photoreactivity. Excited states of radical anions, accessed via reduction of a precatalyst followed by light absorption, have been proposed to drive photoredox transformations under super-reducing conditions. Here, we investigate the radical anion of naphthalene monoimide as a photoreductant and find that the radical doublet excited state has a lifetime of 24 ps, which is too short to facilitate photoredox activity. To account for the apparent photoreactivity of the radical anion, we identify an emissive two-electron reduced Meisenheimer complex of naphthalene monoimide, [NMI(H)](-). The singlet excited state of [NMI(H)](-) is a potent reductant (-3.08 V vs Fc/Fc(+)), is long-lived (20 ns), and its emission can be dynamically quenched by chloroarenes to drive a radical photochemistry, establishing that it is this emissive excited state that is competent for reported C-C and C-P coupling reactivity. These results provide a mechanistic basis for photoreactivity at highly reducing potentials via singlet excited state manifolds and lays out a clear path for the development of exceptionally reducing photoreagents derived from electron-rich closed-shell anions. 

Lithium peroxide is the crucial storage material in lithium–air batteries. Understanding the redox properties of this salt is paramount toward improving the performance of this class of batteries. Lithium peroxide, upon exposure to p –benzoquinone ( p –C 6 H 4 O 2 ) vapor, develops a deep blue color. This blue powder can be formally described as [Li 2 O 2 ] 0.3   · [LiO 2 ] 0.7   · {Li[ p –C 6 H 4 O 2 ]} 0.7 , though spectroscopic characterization indicates a more nuanced structural speciation. Infrared, Raman, electron paramagnetic resonance, diffuse-reflectance ultraviolet-visible and X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveal that the lithium salt of the benzoquinone radical anion forms on the surface of the lithium peroxide, indicating the occurrence of electron and lithium ion transfer in the solid state. As a result, obligate lithium superoxide is formed and encapsulated in a shell of Li[ p –C 6 H 4 O 2 ] with a core of Li 2 O 2 . Lithium superoxide has been proposed as a critical intermediate in the charge/discharge cycle of Li–air batteries, but has yet to be isolated, owing to instability. The results reported herein provide a snapshot of lithium peroxide/superoxide chemistry in the solid state with redox mediation. 

Targeted as an example of a compound composed of a carbon atom together with two stable neutral leaving groups, 7-isocyano-7-azadibenzonorbornadiene, CN 2 A ( 1 , A = C 14 H 10 or anthracene) has been synthesized and spectroscopically and structurally characterized. The terminal C atom of 1 can be transferred: mesityl nitrile oxide reacts with 1 to produce carbon monoxide, likely via intermediacy of the N -isocyanate OCN 2 A . Reaction of 1 with [RuCl 2 (CO)(PCy 3 ) 2 ] leads to [RuCl 2 (CO)( 1 )(PCy 3 ) 2 ] which decomposes unselectively: in the product mixture, the carbide complex [RuCl 2 (C)(PCy 3 ) 2 ] was detected. Upon heating in the solid state or in solution, 1 decomposes to A , N 2 and cyanogen (C 2 N 2 ) as substantiated using molecular beam mass spectrometry, IR and NMR spectroscopy techniques.