Tuning Multimetallic Ordered Intermetallic Nanocrystals for Efficient Energy Electrocatalysis

Ordered intermetallic alloys have attracted extensive attention as advanced electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) reactions with much improved activity and stability. Here, latest progress in tuning intermetallic Pt‐ and Pd‐based nanocrystals with tunable morphology and structure for catalyzing both the cathodic reduction of oxygen and anodic oxidation of fuels (e.g., methanol, ethanol and formic acid) in PEMFCs is highlighted. Making/tuning interesting intermetallic PtM (M = Fe, Co, Pb, Cu, etc.)‐based nanocrystals for boosting oxygen reduction reaction with high activity and stability by using/controlling high‐temperature annealing treatment is discussed. In all the reported Pt‐based intermetallic nanocrystals, controlling the degree of ordering under the proper high temperature treatment is the key for achieving the optimized electrocatalysis. In order to search for cheaper catalysts, the progress on making Pd‐based intermetallic nanocrystals is also discussed. Furthermore, future research directions are proposed and discussed to further enhance the efficiency of such unique intermetallic multimetallic nanocatalysts. This report aims to demonstrate the potential of ordered intermetallic strategy for boosting electrocatalysis and stimulating more research efforts in this field.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of the platinum (II) octaethylporphyrin/tri-n-propylamine system

The electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of platinum (II) octaethyl-porphyrin (PtOEP) in acetonitrile:methylene chloride (CH₃CN:CH₂Cl₂, 50:50 v/v) and CH₂Cl₂ is reported. ECL was generated upon sweep to positive potentials using tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) as an oxidative-reductive coreactant. ECL efficiencies (?_ecl) of 0.18 in CH₃CN:CH₂Cl₂ (50:50 v/v) and 3.90 in methylene chloride were obtained using Ru(bpy)₃(PF₆)₂ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) as a relative standard (?_ecl = 1). The ECL intensity peaks at a potential corresponding to oxidation of PtOEP and TPrA, and ECL emission spectra are nearly identical to photoluminescence emission spectra, indicating that emission is from the PtOEP triplet state.     

Study of Pt(II)-cyclic amines complexes of the types cis- and trans-Pt(amine)2I2 and cis- and trans-Pt(amine)2(NO3)2 and their aqueous products by

Complexes of the types cis- and trans-Pt(amine)₂I₂ containing cyclic amines were synthesized and studied mainly by IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopies. The compounds were converted to cis- and trans-Pt(amine)₂(NO₃)₂, which were also investigated. The hydrolysis and the aquation reactions of the latter compounds were then studied in D₂O in different conditions of pH. In acidic medium, the aqueous product is [Pt(amine)₂(D₂O)₂]²⁺ and for a few amines, [Pt(amine)₂(D₂O)(NO₃)]⁺ was detected. In basic pH, the main product is Pt(amine)₂(OD)₂ and Pt(amine)₂(OD)(NO₃) was detected for several compounds. In neutral pH, the cis isomers form between two and four species in fresh solutions. The most shielded species in ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR is the monoaqua-monohydroxo complex cis-[Pt(amine)₂(D₂O)(OD)]⁺ and the less shielded compound is the dihydroxo-bridged dimer [Pt(amine)₂(μ-OD)₂Pt(amine)₂]²⁺, which were observed for all the compounds. For a few amines, the monohydroxo-bridged dimer [Pt(D₂O)(amine)₂(μ-OD)Pt(OD)(amine)₂]²⁺ was detected and for cyclohexylamine, a fourth signal was assigned to a cyclic hydroxo-bridged trimer [(Pt(amine)₂(μ-OD))₃]³⁺. ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy has shown that the concentration of the monomer decreases with time, while the concentration of the dimers increases. Only one product was observed for the trans isomers in neutral pH. The signal was assigned to the monoaqua-monohydroxo species trans-[Pt(amine)₂(D₂O)(OD)]⁺. The ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra of most of the complexes were measured. All the coupling constants ^2,3J(¹⁹⁵Pt-¹H) and ^2,3J(¹⁹⁵Pt-¹³C) are larger in the cis compounds than in the trans isomers.     

Synthesis, spectroscopy, structure and photophysical properties of dinaphthylmethylarsine complexes of palladium(II) and platinum(II)

Dinaphthylmethylarsine complexes of palladium(II) and platinum(II) with the formulae [MX₂L₂] (M = Pd, Pt; L = di(1-naphthyl)methylarsine = Nap₂AsMe and X = Cl, Br, I), [M₂Cl₂(μ-Cl)₂L₂], [PdCl(S₂CNEt₂)L], [Pd₂Cl₂(μ-OAc)₂L₂] and [MCl₂(PR₃)L] (PR₃ = PEt₃, PPr₃, PBu₃, PMePh₂) have been prepared. These complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, Raman, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The stereochemistry of the complexes has been deduced from the spectroscopic data. The crystal structures of trans-[PdCl₂(PEt₃)(Nap₂AsMe)] and of [Pd(S₂CNEt₂)₂], a follow-up product, were determined. The UV-vis spectra of [MX₂L₂] complexes show a red shift on going from X = Cl to X = I. The complexes [PdX₂L₂] and [PtX₂L₂] are strongly luminescent in fluid solution and in the solid at ambient temperature.     

Insertion reactions of SnCl2 into Pt-Cl bonds in pentahalophenylplatinate(II) complexes

Several pentahalophenylplatinate complexes with Pt-Sn metal-metal bonds have been synthesized by facile insertion of SnCl₂ into Pt-Cl bonds of the starting platinum substrates. The complexes have been characterized spectroscopically and, in the case of (NBu₄)₂[trans-Pt(SnCl₃)₂(C₆F₅)₂] and (NBu₄)₂[trans-Pt₂(μ-Cl)₂(SnCl₃)₂(C₆F₅)₂], the structures have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The reactivity of these derivatives towards neutral ligands has been explored. The electronic spectra of some selected derivatives have also been examined.     

Multinuclear magnetic resonance study of Pt(II) compounds with sulfoxide ligands and crystal structures of complexes of the types [Pt(R2SO)X3] and Pt(R2SO)2Cl2

Pt(II) complexes of the types K[Pt(R₂SO)X₃], NR₄[Pt(R₂SO)X₃] and Pt(R₂SO)₂Cl₂ (where X = Cl or Br) were characterized by multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹⁹⁵Pt, ¹H and ¹³C). In ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR, the chloro ionic compounds have shown signals between −2979 and −3106 ppm, while the cis disubstituted complexes were observed at higher fields, between −3450 and −3546 ppm. The signal of the compound trans-Pt(DPrSO)₂Cl₂ was found at higher field (−3666 ppm) than its cis analogue (−3517 ppm), since π-back-donation is considerably less effective in the trans geometry. In ¹H NMR, a single signal was observed for the sulfoxide in [Pt(DMSO)Cl₃]⁻, but for the other more sterically hindered ligands, two series of resonances were observed for the protons in α and β positions. The coupling constant ³J(¹⁹⁵Pt-¹H) are between 15 and 33 Hz. The ¹³C NMR results were interpreted in relation to the concept of inversed polarization of the π sulfoxide bond. The ²J(¹⁹⁵Pt-¹³C) values vary between 35 and 66 Hz, while a few ³J(¹⁹⁵Pt-¹³C) couplings were observed (13-26 Hz). The crystal structures of five monosubstituted ionic compounds N(n-Bu)₄[Pt(TMSO)Cl₃], N(Me)₄[Pt(DPrSO)Cl₃], K[Pt(EMSO)Cl₃], K[Pt(TMSO)Br₃] · H₂O and N(Et)₄[Pt(DPrSO)Br₃] and one disubstituted complex cis-Pt(DBuSO)₂Cl₂ were determined. The trans influence of the different ligands is discussed.     

Regioselective addition of bifunctional oximehydroxamic acid by the hydroxamic group to Pt(IV)-coordinated nitriles

The metal-mediated coupling between the nitriles RCN in the platinum(IV) complexes trans-[PtCl₄(RCN)₂] (RMe, Et, CH₂Ph, Ph), cis/trans-[PtCl₄(MeCN)(Me₂SO)] and the newly synthesized bifunctional oximehydroxamic acid, viz. N,2-dihydroxy-5-(1-hydroxyiminoethyl)benzamide, proceeds smoothly in CH₂Cl₂ at 40-45 °C to accomplish the new metallaligands HNC(R)ONHC(O)C₆H₃(2-OH)(5-C(Me)NOH) with pendant oxime functionalities due to the regioselective addition of the reagent via its hydroxamic groups. The obtained iminoligands exist in hydroxamic/hydroximic tautomeric equilibrium in solution. The structures of the isolated compounds are based on elemental analyses (C, H, N), IR, 1D ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, and 2D NMR correlation experiments, i.e. ¹H,¹³C-COSY, ¹H,¹³C long range COSY, ¹H,¹⁵N-COSY, and ¹H,¹⁵N long range COSY.     

Thallium(III) complexes of the metalloligands [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4] and [Pt2(μ-Se)2(PPh3)4]

Reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with the diarylthallium(III) bromides Ar₂TlBr [Ar = Ph and p-ClC₆H₄] in methanol gave good yields of the thallium(III) adducts [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlAr₂]⁺, isolated as their salts. The corresponding selenide complex [Pt₂(μ-Se)₂(PPh₃)₄TlPh₂]BPh₄ was similarly synthesised from [Pt₂(μ-Se)₂(PPh₃)₄], Ph₂TlBr and NaBPh₄. The reaction of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with PhTlBr₂ gave [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlBrPh]⁺, while reaction with TlBr₃ gave the dibromothallium(III) adduct [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlBr₂]⁺[TlBr₄]⁻. The latter complex is a rare example of a thallium(III) dihalide complex stabilised solely by sulfur donor ligands. X-ray crystal structure determinations on the complexes [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlPh₂]BPh₄, [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlBrPh]BPh₄ and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄TlBr₂][TlBr₄] reveal a greater interaction between the thallium(III) centre and the two sulfide ligands on stepwise replacement of Ph by Br, as indicated by shorter Tl-S and Pt?Tl distances, and an increasing S-Tl-S bond angle. Investigations of the ESI MS fragmentation behaviour of the thallium(III) complexes are reported.     

Platinum(II) and copper(I) 1-(2-diphenylphosphino-1-naphthyl) isoquinoline complexes: Synthesis and phosphorescence at ambient conditions

The compounds Pt(quinap)(CN)₂, and [Cu(quinap)I]₂ with quinap = 1-(2-diphenylphosphino-1-naphthyl)isoquinoline were synthesized. Quinap is a bidentate ligand which contains a isoquinoline and an arylphosphine group with CT acceptor properties. Accordingly, the Pt(II) and Cu(I) quinap complexes are characterized by a phosphorescence originating from the lowest-energy MLCT triplets with some IL admixture.     

Unusual kinetic and thermodynamic control in the formation of Pt(II)-complexes of a new C1-symmetric phosphine-phosphite

Versatile synthetic routes have been applied to prepare the new asymmetric phosphine-phosphite ligands 8 and 12. The chiral ligands have been designed so that the corresponding ligating groups have similar electronic properties and steric bulk, but 8 forms 6-, while 12 forms 7-membered chelate rings in their coordination compounds. The chelate size variation results in a markedly different coordination behavior towards Pt(II). In their reactions with Pt(PhCN)₂Cl₂ at 1:1 stoichiometry 12 forms the expected Pt(12)Cl₂ complex, while 8 gives the cation quantitatively. In the kinetically controlled reaction is the major product even at a 8:Pt(PhCN)₂Cl₂ = 1:2 ratio. Most interestingly, at 1:1 ligand to precursor ratio, cation rearranges to Pt(8)Cl₂ within one day, indicating that the neutral complex is thermodynamically more favorable.