Ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) complexes [M(C^N^C)(N^N)L](n+) (L = Cl(-), n = 1; L = CH3CN, t-BuNC, n = 2) containing a neutral tridentate N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-based pincer ligand, either 2,6-bis(1-butylimidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine (C(1)^N^C(1)) or 2,6-bis(3-butylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine (C(2)^N^C(2)), and a neutral 2,2'-bipyridine-type aromatic diimine have been prepared. Investigations into the effects of varying M (Ru and Os), C^N^C, N^N, and L on the structural, electrochemical, absorption, and emission characteristics associated with [M(C^N^C)(N^N)L](n+) are presented. Interestingly, spectroscopic findings and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations in this work support a dπ(Ru(II)/Os(II)) → π*(N^N) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) assignment for the lowest-energy transition in [M(C^N^C)(N^N)L](n+) and not a dπ(Ru(II)/Os(II)) → π*(C^N^C) MLCT assignment. This is in stark contrast to [Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl](+) and [Os(tpy)(bpy)Cl](+) (tpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) for which the lowest-energy transitions are assigned as dπ(Ru/Os) → π*(tpy) MLCT transitions. [Ru(II)(C^N^C)(N^N)L](n+) is emissive with emission maxima of around 600-700 nm observed upon photoexcitation of their dπ(Ru(II)) → π*(N^N) MLCT bands. The electronic structures for [Ru(C^N^C)(N^N)Cl](0) have also been probed by spectroelectrochemistry, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and DFT calculations, which reveal that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs) for [Ru(C^N^C)(N^N)Cl](+) are N^N-based.

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Osmium(II) complexes containing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-based pincer ligand 1,3-bis(1-methylimidazolin-2-ylidene)phenyl anion (C(1)^C^C(1)) or 1,3-bis(3-methylbenzimidazolin-2-ylidene)phenyl anion (C(2)^C^C(2)) and aromatic diimine (2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), or 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Ph(2)bpy)) in the form of [Os(C^C^C)(N^N)(CO)](+) have been prepared. Crystal structures for these complexes show that the Os-C(NHC) bonds are essentially single (Os-C(NHC) distances = 2.079(5)-2.103(7) Å). Spectroscopic comparisons and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations suggest that the lowest-energy electronic transition associated with these complexes (λ(max) = 493-536 nm, ε(max) = (5-10) × 10(3) dm(3) mol(-1) cm(-1), solvent = CH(3)CN) originate from a d(π)(Os(II)) → π*(N^N) metal-to-ligand charge transfer transition, where the d(π)(Os(II)) and π*(N^N) levels contain significant contribution from the C^C^C ligands. All these complexes are emissive in the red-spectral region (674-731 nm) with quantum yields of 10(-4)-10(-2) and emission lifetimes of around 1-6 μs. Transient absorption spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemical measurements have also been used to probe the nature of the emissive excited-states. Overall, this joint experimental and theoretical investigation reveals that the C^C^C ligands can be used to modulate the photophysical properties of a [Os(N^N)] core via the formation of the hybrid [Os + C^C^C] frontier orbitals.

Metal-induced cyclization of functionalized alkynes represents one of the most general approaches to prepare organic heterocycles. AlthoughR u II centers are well-established to promote alkyne to vinylidener earrangements and many Ru II -mediated alkyne cyclizations have been rationalized to be the resultso fp ost-vinylidene transformations, recent discoveries indicate that Ru II centers can serve as electrophiles and induce alkyne cyclizationsw ithoutv inylidene intermediacy. In this Minireview,a no verview of the Ru II -induced cyclization of heteroatom-functionalized alkynes in the last decadei sp rovided, with an emphasis on the discoveries and validations of the unconventional "non-vinylidene-involving" pathways. Recent Progress of Ruthenium-Induced Cyclization of AlkynesResearcho nt he activation of heteroatom-functionalizeda lkynes by Ru II complexes for oxygen-and nitrogen-containing heterocycles of different ring sizes (5-to 8-membered) continues unabated. Most reported Ru complexes ares upported by Cp (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) or structurally analogous h 5 -ligands, amine-or mixed amine/phosphine-basedc helates. In general, the catalyst loadings are almost lower than 10 mol %a nd can be as low as 0.5 mol %. Although the cyclizations are mostly demonstrated with terminala lkynes, there are increasing number of successful reports on cyclizing internal alkynes.T he use of proton shuttles( internal or external bases which facilitate protont ransfer) has been found to be critical in many of these catalytic reactions. Noteworthy,s everal recent studies clearly indicatet hat the "vinylidene-involving" and "non-vinylidene-involving" pathwaysd epicted in Scheme 1are competing mechanisms. In this section, Ru-catalyzedc yclization of heteroatom-functionalized alkynes in the last decade is discussed in chronological order,e xcept in the cases of certain serial or outlying works. Catalytic Ru II -mediated cyclizations of N/O-functionalized alkynesthrough "vinylidene-involving" pathwaysThe successful isolations of Fe-, Ru-, and Os-oxacarbene complexesf rom the reactions between homopropargylic/bis-ho-Scheme1.(a) Established mechanisms for the formation of Ru-vinylidene species. (b) Electrophilic cyclizationso fheteroatom-functionalized alkynes induced by Ru.[a] Dr.Scheme8.Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of alkynols into 5-, 6-and 7membered oxacycles developed by Jia and co-workers. [13,14] Scheme7.Ru-catalyzed cyclizationso fa niline-and phenol-tethered alkynes into indoles and benzofurans, respectively developed by Grotjahn and coworkers. [11,12] Scheme9.Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of hydroxyl-and amine-substituteda lkynes into isochromenes, indolesa nd isoquinolinones developedby Blacquiereand co-workers. [15][16][17] Scheme10. Ru-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of alcohol-tethered alkynes developedb yWen and co-workers. [18] Chem.E ur.Scheme20. Isolation of, and proposed formation mechanism for 4a.The synthesis of 4b is also depictedf or reference [31].Scheme21. Isolation of, and proposed formation mechanism for...

Osmium(II) complexes bearing C,N,C-pincer ligand 2,6-bis(alkylimidazolin-2-ylidene)pyridine (CNC-Me and CNC-Bu for alkyl = methyl and n-butyl, respectively) or 2,6-bis(3-butylbenzimidazolin-2-ylidene)pyridine (CNC 0 -Bu) and aromatic diimine (2,2 0 -bipyridine (bpy)/1,10-phenanthroline (phen)) have been prepared. The X-ray crystal structure of [Os(CNC-Me)(bpy)Cl](PF 6 ) shows that the Os-C bonds are essentially single (Os-C distances = 2.042(4) and 2.059(4) A ˚). Spectroscopic comparisons of [Os(C,N,C)(diimine)Cl] þ and [Os(tpy)(bpy)Cl] þ (tpy = 2,2 0 ;6 0 ,2 00terpyridine) suggest that the lowest-energy absorption bands for [Os(C,N,C)(diimine)Cl] þ originate from a d π (Os II ) f π*(diimine) metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transition. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the π*(diimine) levels in [Os(C,N,C)(diimine)Cl] þ are lower lying than the π*(C,N,C). The Os(II/III) oxidation waves for [Os(C,N,C)(diimine)Cl] þ are reversible, with E 1/2 = -0.03 to 0.16 V vs Cp 2 Fe þ/0 . The absorption spectra for the Os(III) species have been obtained by spectroelectrochemical methods.

Aqueous zinc (Zn) ion batteries with low cost and high safety are promising devices for grid energy storage; however, the Zn anode problems, including dendrite growth and parasitic side reactions, severely retard their practical implementation. Here, a two-dimensional covalentorganic framework (COF) coating is developed to address these issues. Under the regulation of an optimal modulator, the prepared COF (COF− H) containing rich alkynyl units in an AA-stacking mode not only features a flower-like structure but also exhibits high crystallinity, large surface area, and high stability in strong acid and base medium. Consequently, the Zn anode with this COF-based artificial interface layer greatly mitigates the surface corrosion and efficiently suppresses the growth of the Zn dendrite, which is mainly attributed to the homogeneous distribution of Zn 2+ in uniform channels and strong affinity of electron-rich sites including alkynyl, ketone, and enamine groups in COF−H toward Zn 2+ . The resulting Zn anode endows the symmetric cell with a long cycling lifetime of over 900 h at 3 mA cm −2 and promotes the cyclability of the COF@ Zn||MnO 2 full cell. This study provides insights into designing highly crystalline COFs and constructing a highly reversible Zn anode for advanced rechargeable aqueous Zn ion batteries.

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A class of ruthenium−indolizine complexes was isolated and structurally characterized, and they represent the first examples of metalated indolizine species. Both experimental and theoretical investigations on the formation of these complexes support a 5-endo-dig cyclization mechanism and discount a vinylidene−5-exo-dig cyclization pathway.