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The synthesis and structural characterization of the first sulfur-containing derivatives of C,C-biscarborane {ortho-C2B10}2 cluster – thiol, thioether, and disulfide- is reported. The biscarboranyl dithiol (1-HS-C2B10H10)2 exhibits the exceedingly long intracluster carbon-carbon bond length of 1.858(3) Å, which is attributed to the extensive interaction between lone pairs of thiol groups and the unoccupied molecular orbital of carborane cluster. The structures of doubly deprotonated biscarboranyl dithiolate anion (1-S-C2B10H10)22– with various countercations feature even longer carbon-carbon bond of 2.062(10) Å within the cluster along with the short carbon-sulfur bond of 1.660(7) Å, both indicative of significant delocalization of electron density from sulfur atoms into the cluster. 

We report the synthesis and characterization of a nickel(II) complex of the dicarboranyl CNC dianionic pincer ligand, which activates acetonitrile by C–C bond cleavage. Deprotonation of the relatively acidic C–H bond of the coordinated acetonitrile with potassium t-butoxide led to the formation of the C-bound cyanomethylene ligand at the metal center. Unlike most previously characterized Ni(II) cyanoalkyls, the resulting complex exhibited quick transformation under aerobic conditions at room temperature to afford CNC-ligated nickel(II) cyanide, indicating facile cleavage of the C–CN bond. The cyanoalkyl and cyanide complexes were isolated in excellent yields and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Carbon-containing products of the aerobic C–CN bond activation are hydroxyacetonitrile, formaldehyde, cyanomethyl formate, and carbon dioxide. 

The co-evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes (SMBHs) underpins our understanding of galaxy evolution, but different methods to measure SMBH masses have only infrequently been cross-checked. We attempt to identify targets to cross-check two of the most accurate methods, megamaser, and cold molecular gas dynamics. Three promising galaxies are selected from all those with existing megamaser SMBH mass measurements. We present Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA) 12CO (2–1) and 230-GHz continuum observations with angular resolutions of ≈0${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$5. Every galaxy has an extended rotating molecular gas disc and 230-GHz continuum source(s), but all also have irregularities and/or non-axisymmetric features: NGC 1194 is highly inclined and has disturbed and lopsided central 12CO (2–1) emission; NGC 3393 has a nuclear disc with fairly regular but patchy 12CO (2–1) emission with little gas near the kinematic major axis, faint emission in the very centre, and two brighter structures reminiscent of a nuclear ring and/or spiral; NGC 5765B has a strong bar and very bright 12CO (2–1) emission concentrated along two bisymmetric offset dust lanes and two bisymmetric nuclear spiral arms. 12CO (2–1) and 12CO (3–2) observations with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope are compared with the ALMA observations. Because of the disturbed gas kinematics and the impractically long integration times required for higher angular resolution observations, none of the three galaxies is suitable for a future SMBH mass measurement. None the less, increasing the number of molecular gas observations of megamaser galaxies is valuable, and the ubiquitous disturbances suggest a link between large-scale gas properties and the existence of megamasers.

 

Single crystals of A₃MF₆(A = Rb, Cs; M = Al, Ga) were grown from mixed alkali chloride/fluoride fluxes. The polymorphism of each compound was studiedviaTGA/DSC and high temperature X-ray diffraction.

 

The forthcoming generation of materials, including artificial muscles, recyclable and healable systems, photochromic heterogeneous catalysts, or tailorable supercapacitors, relies on the fundamental concept of rapid switching between two or more discrete forms in the solid state. Herein, we report a breakthrough in the “speed limit” of photochromic molecules on the example of sterically-demanding spiropyran derivatives through their integration within solvent-free confined space, allowing for engineering of the photoresponsive moiety environment and tailoring their photoisomerization rates. The presented conceptual approach realized through construction of the spiropyran environment results in ~1000 times switching enhancement even in the solid state compared to its behavior in solution, setting a record in the field of photochromic compounds. Moreover, integration of two distinct photochromic moieties in the same framework provided access to a dynamic range of rates as well as complementary switching in the material’s optical profile, uncovering a previously inaccessible pathway for interstate rapid photoisomerization.