Intervalence Charge Transfer in Mixed Valence Compound Modified by the Formation of a Supramolecular Complex

• Published in: The journal of physical chemistry. A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment, & general theory Vol. 116; no. 3; pp. 970 - 978
• Main Authors: Mechouet, Mourad, Perruchot, Christian, Maurel, François, Aeiyach, Salah, Bucher, Christophe, Chardon, Sylvie, Jouini, Mohamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 26.01.2012
• Subjects: A: Kinetics, Spectroscopy; Acetonitrile; Acetonitriles - chemistry; Cations; Charge transfer; Chemical Sciences; Constants; Crown ethers; Crown Ethers - chemistry; Electrochemistry; Formations; Macromolecular Substances - chemical synthesis; Macromolecular Substances - chemistry; Molecular Structure; Oxidation; PDA; Phenylenediamines - chemistry; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
• ISSN: 1089-5639; 1520-5215
• DOI: 10.1021/jp207518r

The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of N,N-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (PDA) were investigated in the absence and in the presence of 18-crown-6-ether (18C6) or dibenzo 24-crown-8-ether (DB24C8), in a solution of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF6) in acetonitrile and in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) only for 18C6. In neutral acetonitrile, PDA undergoes two reversible oxidation processes, which lead first to the formation of the cation-radical considered as mixed valence (MV) compound, and then to the dicationic species. When 18C6 is added in the medium and depending on 18C6 concentration, cyclic voltammetry shows a marked shift to more cathodic potentials of the current waves of the second redox process only. This is attributed to a strong interaction between the PDA+2 dication and two 18C6 molecules, leading to the formation of a supramolecular complex with an association constant value K a = 7.0 × 107 M–2. The interaction of 18C6 with PDA+2 dication has a direct effect on the PDA+. cation-radical corresponding to a decrease in the lifetime of the MV compound and of the intramolecular electron transfer rate when 18C6 is present. Indeed, it results in a large decrease in the intervalence charge transfer (IV-CT) between the two amine centers in the MV compound (k th = 1.35 × 1010 s–1 in 18C6-free neutral solution containing 5.0 × 10–4 M PDA, and k th = 3.6 × 109 s–1 in the same medium at [18C6]/[PDA] = 20/1). And the comproportionation constant K co falls from 6.0 × 106 in 18C6-free solution to 1.6 × 103 at [18C6]/[PDA] = 20/1. In acidified acetonitrile and when TFA concentration is increased, PDA still shows the two successive and reversible oxidation processes, but both are shifted to more anodic potentials. However, when 18C6 is added, the two oxidation waves shift to more cathodic potentials, indicating an interaction of all protonated PDA redox states with 18C6, resulting in the formation of supramolecular complexes. In the presence of TFA, the value of K co is decreased to 4.3 × 104, but it remains unchanged when 18C6 is added, indicating no change in the lifetime of the MV compound. In this medium, IV-CT in the MV compound is greater with 18C6 (k th = 2.3 × 1010 s–1 for [18C6]/[PDA] = 20/1) than without (k th = 1.4 × 109 s–1), which indicates a more important IV-CT rate when 18C6 is present. The results show for the first time that is it possible to control the IV-CT rate, through the lifetime and the potential range where the MV compound is the most important. This control is not obtained as usual by chemical modification of the structure of the starting molecule, but by varying either the acidity or the 18C6 concentration as external stimuli, which lead to reversible formation/dissociation of a supramolecular complex species. Moreover, we also studied the electrochemical properties of PDA in the presence of wider crown ether such as DB24C8. We showed that PDA undergoes the same electrochemical behavior with DB24C8 than with 18C6 in neutral organic medium (K a = 2.9 × 103 M–1). This result suggests that the complexation between the electrogenerated PDA+2 dication and the crown ethers may occur through face-to-face mode rather than rotaxane mode even with DB24C8 which is supposed to form inclusion complexes.