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Important electromeric states in manganese-oxo porphyrins MnO(P)(+) and MnO(PF4)(+) (porphyrinato or meso-tetrafluoroporphyrinato) have been investigated with correlated ab initio methods (CASPT2, RASPT2), focusing on their possible role in multistate reactivity patterns in oxygen transfer (OAT) reactions. Due to the lack of oxyl character, the Mn(V) singlet ground state is kinetically inert. OAT reactions should therefore rather proceed through thermally accessible triplet and quintet states that have a more pronounced oxyl character. Two states have been identified as possible candidates: a Mn(V) triplet state and a Mn(IV)O(L(•)a2u)(+) quintet state. The latter state is high-lying in MnO(P)(+) but is stabilized by the substitutions of H by F at the meso carbons (where the a2u orbital has a significant amplitude). Oxyl character and Mn-O bond weakening in these two states stems from the fact that the Mn-O π* orbitals become singly (triplet) or doubly occupied (quintet). Moreover, an important role for the reactivity of the triplet state is also likely to be played by the π bond that has an empty π* orbital, because of the manifest diradical character of this π bond, revealed by the CASSCF wave function. Interestingly, the diradical character of this bond increases when the Mn-O bond is stretched, while the singly occupied π* orbital looses its oxygen radical contribution. The RASPT2 results were also used as a benchmark for the description of excited state energetics and Mn-O oxyl character with a wide range of pure and hybrid density functionals. With the latter functionals both the Mn(V) → Mn(IV) promotion energy and the diradical character of the π bond (with empty π*) are found to be extremely dependent on the contribution of exact exchange. For this reason, pure functionals are to be preferred.

The syntheses and the characterization by chemical analysis, (1)H and (31)P NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry of a series of linear triphenylphosphine gold(I) complexes with substituted N-heterocycle ligands (L), [(PPh3)Au(I)(L)](+), is reported. The reaction of [(PPh3)Au(L)](+) (L = Cl(-) or substituted N- heterocyclic pyridine) with the C-terminal (Cys3His) finger of HIVNCp7 shows evidence by mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and (31)P NMR spectroscopy of a long-lived {(PPh3)Au}-S-peptide species resulting from displacement of the chloride or pyridine ligand by zinc-bound cysteine with concomitant displacement of Zn(2+). In contrast, reactions with the Cys2His2 finger-3 of the Sp1 transcription factor shows significantly reduced intensities of {(PPh3)Au} adducts. The results suggest the possibility of systematic (electronic, steric) variations of "carrier" group PR3 and "leaving" group L as well as the nature of the zinc finger in modulation of biological activity. The cytotoxicity, cell cycle signaling effects, and cellular accumulation of the series are also reported. All compounds display cytotoxicity in the micromolar range upon 96 h continuous exposure to human tumor cells. The results may have relevance for the reported inhibition of viral load in simian virus by the gold(I) drug auranofin.

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The search for earth-abundant metal-based catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that operates in neutral conditions is a challenge in the field of sustainable energy.

a b s t r a c tA polymer gel electrolyte composed of a poly(ethylene oxide) derivative, poly(ethylene oxide-co-2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl glycidyl ether), mixed with gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), LiI and I 2 is employed in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The electrolyte is characterized by conductivity experiments, Raman spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The influence of the electrolyte composition on the kinetics of DSSC is also investigated by transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS). The electrolyte containing 70 wt.% of GBL and 20 wt.% of LiI presents the highest conductivity (1.9 × 10 −3 S cm −1 ). An efficiency of 4.4% is achieved using this composition. The increase in I SC as a function of GBL can be attributed an increase in the mobility of the iodide (polyiodide) species. The increase in the yield of the intermediate species, I 2 − , originating in the regeneration reaction, is confirmed by TAS. However, the charge recombination process is faster at this composition and a decrease in the V oc is observed. Photovoltage decay experiments confirm an acceleration in charge recombination for the DSSC assembled with the electrolyte containing more GBL. Raman investigations show that in this electrolyte the I 5 − /I 3 − ratio is higher. Theoretical calculations also indicate that the I 5 − species is a better electron acceptor.

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Modification of wide band gap semiconductor surfaces by a new generation of supramolecular sensitizers combining porphyrin and ruthenium-polypyridyl complexes leads to versatile molecular interfaces, allowing the exploitation of photoinduced charge transfer in photoelectrochemical devices.