Poly(phenylene methylene) (PPM) exhibits pronounced blue fluorescence in solutions as well as in the solid state despite its non-p-conjugated nature. Optical spectroscopy was used to explore the characteristics and the physical origin of its unexpected optical properties, namely absorption in the 350-450 nm and photoluminescence in the 400-600 nm spectral regions. It is shown that PPM possesses two discrete optically active species, and a relatively long photoluminescence lifetime (>8 ns) in the solid-state. Given the evidence reported herein, p-stacking and aggregation/crystallization, as well as the formation of anthracene-related impurities, are excluded as the probable origins of the optical properties. Instead there is sufficient evidence that PPM supports homoconjugation, that is: p-orbital overlap across adjacent repeat units enabled by particular chain conformation(s), which is confirmed by DFT calculations. Furthermore, poly(2-methylphenylene methylene) and poly(2,4,6-trimethylphenylene methylene) -two derivatives of PPM -were synthesized and found to exhibit comparable spectroscopic properties, confirming the generality of the findings reported for PPM. Cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed the HOMO-LUMO gap to be 3.2-3.3 eV for all three polymers. This study illustrates a new approach to the design of light-emitting polymers possessing hitherto unknown optical properties.

The bidentate phenolate-oxazoline ligands 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxazoline (1a, Hoz) and 2-(4',4'-dimethyl-3',4'-dihydrooxazol-2'-yl)phenol (1b, Hdmoz) were used to synthesize two sets of oxorhenium(V) complexes, namely, [ReOCl2(L)(PPh3)] [L = oz (2a) and dmoz (2b)] and [ReOX(L)2] [X = Cl, L = oz (3a or 3a'); X = Cl, L = dmoz (3b); X = OMe, L = dmoz (4)]. Complex 3a' is a coordination isomer (N,N-cis isomer) with respect to the orientation of the phenolate-oxazoline ligands of the previously published complex 3a (N,N-trans isomer). The reaction of 3a' with silver triflate in acetonitrile led to the cationic compound [ReO(oz)2(NCCH3)](OTf) ([3a'](OTf)). Compound 4 is a rarely observed isomer with a trans-O═Re-OMe unit. Complexes 3a, 3a', [3a'](OTf), and 4 were tested as catalysts in the reduction of a perchlorate salt with an organic sulfide as the O acceptor and found to be active, in contrast to 2a and 2b. A comparison of the two isomeric complexes 3a and 3a' showed significant differences in activity: 87% 3a vs 16% 3a' sulfoxide yield. When complex [3a'](OTf) was used, the yield was 57%. Density functional theory calculations circumstantiate all of the proposed intermediates with N,N-trans configurations to be lower in energy compared to the respective compounds with N,N-cis configurations. Also, no interconversions between N,N-trans and N,N-cis configurations are predicted, which is in accordance with experimental data. This is interesting because it contradicts previous mechanistic views. Kinetic analyses determined by UV-vis spectroscopy on the rate-determining oxidation steps of 3a, 3a', and [3a'](OTf) proved the N,N-cis complexes 3a' and [3a'](OTf) to be slower by a factor of ∼4.

Aluminum- and gallium-bridged [1]ferrocenophanes (4a, 4b), [1]chromarenophanes (5a, 5b), and [1]vanadarenophanes (6a, 6b) were synthesized from the respective dilithiated sandwich compounds with element dichlorides (Me2Ntsi)ECl2 [E = Al, Ga; Me2Ntsi = C(SiMe3)2(SiMe2NMe2)] in moderate to high isolated yields (54−97%). The new intramolecularly stabilized aluminum compound (Me2NCH2tsi)AlCl2 (2a) was synthesized, but was proven to be unreactive with respect to [Fe(LiC5H4)2]·2/3TMEDA. The diamagnetic species 2a, 4a, 4b, 5a, and 5b were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 27Al), CHN elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry, whereas the paramagnetic compounds 6a and 6b were characterized by IR spectroscopy, CHN elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. In addition, the molecular structures of compounds 2a, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. All [1]cyclophanes are strained species, as revealed by the following tilt angles α [deg]:  14.33(14) (4a), 15.83(19) (4b), 11.81(9) (5a), 13.24(13) (5b), 14.65(14) (6a), and 15.63(14) (6b).

We synthesized and characterized a set of new oxorhenium(V) complexes coordinated by various pyrazole containing phenol (L1-L3) and naphthol ligands (L4-L7). Depending on the starting material, we were able to selectively synthesize monosubstituded or disubstituted complexes of the type [ReOBr(2)L(PPh(3))] (1-7; L = L1-L7) and [ReOClL(2)] (L = L1 8; L2 9; L4 10; L6 11), respectively. All complexes are stable to air and moisture, both in solid state as well as in solution. Furthermore, the cationic oxorhenium(V) complex [ReO(L1)(2)(NCMe)](OTf) (8a) was obtained upon chloride abstraction with silver triflate from 8. All new complexes were able to catalyze the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene in yields up to 64%. The ease of preparation and their tolerance to air and moisture, as well as the simple ligand modifications, make them an interesting class of novel catalysts. An attempted reduction of perchlorate ClO(4)(-) with complex 8 was unsuccessful. Molecular structures of complexes 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 8a, 10, and 11 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.

The first example of a [1]ferrocenophane with a heavier group 13 element in the bridging position is described. The [1]aluminaferrocenophane, with the aluminum atom equipped with a bulky and intramolecularly stabilizing ligand, has been synthesized and structurally characterized by NMR spectroscopy and singlecrystal X-ray analysis. † Dedicated to Professor Peter Paetzold on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

Two new [1]ruthenocenophanes, Ru(η5-C5H4)2E(Me2Ntsi) (Me2Ntsi = C(SiMe3)2SiMe2NMe2; E = Al, Ga), bridged by aluminum (3a) and gallium (3b), were synthesized by reaction of dilithioruthenocene with (Me2Ntsi)ECl2 in good to moderate yields (3a, 80%; 3b, 36%). Both species were analyzed by standard techniques (multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, UV−vis, MS), and their molecular structures were deduced from single-crystal X-ray analysis. Compared to the analogous [1]ferrocenophanes 2a,b, compounds 3a,b showed an increased ring tilt as indicated by the tilt angle α (2a, α = 14.33(14)°; 3a, α = 20.31(19)°; 2b, α = 15.83(19)°; 3b, α = 20.91(19)°). Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) with previously published aluminum- and gallium-bridged [1]ferrocenophanes Fe(η5-C5H4)2E(Pytsi) (Pytsi = C(SiMe3)2SiMe2(2-C6H4N); E = Al (1a), Ga (1b)) and Fe(η5-C5H4)2E(Me2Ntsi) (E = Al (2a), Ga (2b)) and the [1]ruthenocenophanes 3a,b (this paper) has been shown to be very sluggish or unsuccessful. Only the ROP of 1b with [Pd(dba)2] (2 mol %, toluene, 25 °C, 48 h) resulted in polymeric material (GPC analysis:  M w = 2.11 × 104, PDI = 3.0).

The synthesis, characterization, structure, and electrochemistry of [1.1]ferrocenophanes, bridged by the heavier group 13 elements aluminum (1a), gallium (1b), and indium (1c), are described and discussed. Compounds 1a-c have been synthesized from dilithioferrocene and intramolecularly coordinated group 13 element dihalides Ar'EX(2) (Ar' = 2-(Me(2)NCH(2))C(6)H(4); EX(2) = AlCl(2), GaCl(2), InI(2)). Although the synthesis and characterization of 1a by single-crystal X-ray analysis has been described recently (Braunschweig, H.; Burschka, C.; Clentsmith, G. K. B.; Kupfer, T.; Radacki, K. Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 4906), compounds 1b and 1c are described for the first time. The galla (1b) and the inda (1c) [1.1]ferrocenophane have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray determination [1b: C(38)H(40)Fe(2)Ga(2)N(2), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.3467(5) Angstroms, b = 11.6311(4) Angstroms, c = 14.0747(7) Angstroms, beta = 105.931(2) degrees, Z = 2; 1c: C(38)H(40)Fe(2)In(2)N(2), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.5522(7) Angstroms, b = 11.8476(8) Angstroms, c = 13.9855(9) Angstroms, beta = 104.990(3) degrees, Z = 2]. All three compounds 1a-c are anti conformers with trans orientations of the two donating NMe(2) groups. For the [1.1]ferrocenophane 1a, an unprecedented fully reversible two-electron redox process was observed by cyclic voltammetry, whereas the corresponding Ga and In species exhibit a more conventional stepwise redox chemistry. According to the Robin-Day classification, 1a is a class I and 1b and 1c are class II species. In addition to the reversible processes, compound 1a shows an irreversible oxidation at higher voltages accompanied by adsorption processes. The irreversible adsorption process was investigated with an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM).

The first [1]molybdarenophanes were synthesized and structurally characterized. The aluminum and gallium compounds [(Me2Ntsi)Al(eta6-C6H5)2Mo] (2a) and [(Me2Ntsi)Ga(eta6-C6H5)2Mo] (2b) [Me2Ntsi = C(SiMe3)2(SiMe2NMe2)] were obtained from [Mo(LiC6H5)2].TMEDA and (Me2Ntsi)ECl2 [E = Al, Ga] in analytical pure form with isolated yields of 74% (2a) and 52% (2b). The silicon-bridged species [Ph2Si(eta6-C6H5)2Mo] (2c) was synthesized from [Mo(LiC6H5)2].TMEDA and Ph2SiCl2. Compound 2c was isolated as a crystalline material in an approximately 90% overall purity, from which a single crystal was used for X-ray analysis. The molecular structures of all three [1]molybdarenophanes 2a-c were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The ring-tilt angle alpha was found to be 18.28(17), 21.24(10), and 20.23(29) degrees for 2a, 2b, and 2c, respectively. Variable temperature NMR measurements of 2a and 2b (-80 to 80 degrees C; 500 MHz) showed a dynamic behavior of the gallium species 2b but not of compound 2a. The dynamic behavior of 2b was rationalized by assuming that the Ga-N donor bond breaks, inversion at the nitrogen atom occurs, and a rotation of the Me2Ntsi ligand takes place followed by a re-formation of the Ga-N bond on the other side of the gallium atom. The analysis of the signals of meta and ortho protons of 2b gave approximate values of DeltaG not equal of 59.6 and 59.1 kJ mol-1, respectively. Compound 2b reacted with [Pt(PEt3)3] to give the ring-open product [(eta6-C6H6)Mo{eta6-C6H5[GaPh(Me2Ntsi)]}] (3b). The molecular structure of 3b was deduced from a single-crystal X-ray determination. The formation of the unexpected platinum-free product 3b can be rationalized by assuming that benzene reacted with 2b in a 1:1 ratio. Through a series of 1H NMR experiments with 2b it was shown that small amounts of donor molecules (e.g., THF) in benzene are needed to form 3b; in the absence of a donor molecule, 2b is thermally stable.