NJC Blog

Since the October issue of NJC is dedicated to Didier Astruc, we asked some of the contributors to share their souvenirs of Didier with us.

The first group of authors, highlighted in this article, are former collaborators of Didier. In a companion article, we’ll talk with some of his scientific friends.

Marie-Hélène Delville, a CNRS researcher at the ICMCB in Bordeaux, first met Didier Astruc in Rennes, in June 1981. He proposed that she spend one month in his group. This “short” visit ended with a thesis and a CNRS position in 1985 when the group moved to Bordeaux. Marie-Hélène stayed 11 more years with Didier and then moved on to develop her own research activity on hybrid multifunctional nanoparticles and their applications in biology and energy efficiency.

Building on a solid chemistry background from her university studies,  Marie-Hélène says that Didier “gave me the opportunity to enter this fabulous world of organometallic chemistry—a hybrid chemistry mixing up organic chemistry and metals at the Angstrom level.”

Her best souvenir of Didier dates from 1989, when both received awards:  the German-French Humboldt Award for him and the French CNRS bronze medal for her.

Stéphane Rigaut, currently professor of chemistry at the University of Rennes 1, obtained his Ph.D. thesis under the joint direction of Didier and Marie-Hélène. With them, Stéphane discovered organometallic and  physical chemistry, and the perfect association of both. His research activity is now concentrated on multifunctional molecular wires and switches including redox active carbon-rich organometallics.

Stéphane’s most vivid memory of Didier sheds light on the latter’s insight: “During my Ph.D., we observed an unexpected and strange reaction that he immediately connected to a complicated succession of steps including electron transfers and oxygen activations. Further studies showed that he was totally right!”

Beatriz Alonso Garrido is an Associate Professor in the Inorganic Chemistry Department of the Autonoma University of Madrid. She spent the year 1999 as a postdoctoral fellow in Didier’s laboratory and they have remained in contact since then, united by their common interest in organometallic redox-active macromolecules (dendrimers and polymers).  In particular, Beatriz works on the development of their applications as sensors and biosensors.

Of her experience in Bordeaux, Beatriz notes that she had the opportunity to get a deeper insight into organic and organometallic synthesis as well as in the field of dendrimers. In addition, Beatriz says that “Didier allowed me to grow in two spaces: research and academic interests giving me valuable knowledge in both worlds. I am really grateful to him for placing his trust in me to co-translate his textbook “Chimie Organométallique” from French to Spanish.”

French gastronomy mixes well with chemistry in Beatriz’s interactions with Didier: long talks on chemistry around a table with a good French meal and a nice bottle of Bordeaux.

Our authors briefly comment their contributions to the dedicated issue:

Electrochromic devices based on in situ polymerised EDOT and Prussian Blue: influence of transparent conducting oxide and electrolyte composition—towards up-scaling by Sandrine Duluard, Ayse Celik-Cochet, Iyad Saadeddin, Anne Labouret, Guy Campet, Gerhard Schottner, Uwe Posset and Marie-Helene Delville, New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 2314-2321. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20231F

This paper is significant in the sense that it explicitly shows how the combination of polymer chemistry (flexible substrate and conducting layer), inorganic chemistry (indium tin oxide transparent conducting layer) and coordination chemistry (Prussian blue layer) can synergistically work to provide flexible electrochromic devices that can be darkened or lightened electronically. Automatic control of the amount of light and heat that passes through windows is achieved, such that these windows can be used as energy-saving devices.

Redox-active ruthenium(II) σ-arylacetylide wires for molecular electronics incorporating insulating chains by Ahmed Benameur, Pierre Brignou, Emmanuel Di Piazza, Yves-Marie Hervault, Lucie Norel and Stéphane Rigaut, New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 2105-2113. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20235A

Because molecular wires display properties strongly connected to their structure, carbon-rich metal complexes allowing intramolecular electron transfer with easily accessible redox states are of special interest to understand charge transport through molecular wires on the molecular length in metal—molecule—metal junctions.

Carbosilane based dendritic cores functionalized with interacting ferrocenyl units: synthesis and electrocatalytical properties by José Losada, Pilar García-Armada, Víctor Robles, Ángel M. Martínez, Carmen M. Casado and Beatriz Alonso, New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 2187-2195. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20190E

This contribution describes the synthesis of two carbosilane dendritic cores functionalized with eight electronically communicating ferrocenyl moieties. Platinum electrodes modified with electrodeposited films of these two dendrimers exhibit electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of oxygen and both oxidation and reduction of hydrogen peroxide.

For the full list of articles comprising this dedicated issue, click here!

Since the October issue of NJC is dedicated to Didier Astruc, we asked some of the contributors to share their souvenirs of Didier with us.

The authors highlighted in this article are some of Didier’s scientific friends. In a companion article, we talked with three former collaborators.

Holger Butenschön is a Professor at Leibniz University in Hannover, working in the fields of organic and organometallic chemistry.

Holger first met Didier at an organometallic chemistry conference in Gera, Germany, in the summer of 1990. He recalls that “We had a good time together with Peter Vollhardt and others.” They met on several other occasions, including during the summer holidays that Holger spent with his family near Bordeaux. The last time their paths crossed was in Düsseldorf at a ferrocene conference: “this gave us the chance to share a bottle of good red wine in the hotel.”

“Didier’s work was always a valuable source of new ideas. Myself coming from organic chemistry, his way of thinking broadened my mind.” Holger clearly remembers a small detail: Didier whistles when he finds something is interesting or remarkable.

Paola Ceroni, currently Associate Professor of chemistry at the University of Bologna, studies the photochemistry of supramolecular systems and nano-objects, with particular attention devoted to photoactive dendrimers.

Paola has no direct connection with Didier, but has followed his pioneering work on dendrimers since her student days. She explains that “his research on electroactive dendrimers has been very stimulating for my research, particularly with reference to molecular batteries and electrochemical sensors with signal amplification.” Didier’s visit to Bologna in 2009, on the occasion of the joint prize of the Italian and French Chemical Societies, was the occasion for them to enjoy a walking tour of the city.

Hiroshi Nishihara is Professor of chemistry and Vice Dean of the School of Science of the University of Tokyo. His research centers on the creation of new electro-, photo-, and magneto-functional materials based on transition metal complexes, donor-acceptor conjugated systems, and/or metal nanoparticles.

Hiroshi and Didier have a very close relationship, dating back to their meeting in 1998 at the first Chianti Meeting on Inorganic Electrochemistry (ChiMIE). Hiroshi was from the start much impressed by Didier’s intellectual knowledge and wonderful personality, and has appreciated the valuable advice given by Didier. “Discussion with him is always encouraging and gives me new ideas.”

The two friends have met many times since on various occasions. Hiroshi in particular recalls trips together to beautiful and historical places, such as Maui. Hiroshi has visited Didier in Bordeaux four times, and Didier has reciprocated with stays in Tokyo on two occasions. In addition, each has welcomed a student from his colleague’s group: Marie-Christine Daniel went to Tokyo while Tetsuro Kusamoto spent time in Bordeaux.

Our authors briefly comment their contributions to the dedicated issue:

New cyclopentadienylethylphosphane chelate complexes with unsymmetrical phosphane substitution by Karin Janssen (née Kirleis) and Holger Butenschön, New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 2287-2298. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20292H

While cyclopentadienylalkylphosphane chelate complexes with two identical substituents at phosphorus have been widely investigated, our contribution presents the first cobalt chelates with different substituents at phosphorus. This causes some asymmetry and gives an insight into the through-space interactions of the substituents with the other ligands present in the complex.

Designing light harvesting antennas by luminescent dendrimers by Vincenzo Balzani, Giacomo Bergamini, Paola Ceroni and Enrico Marchi, New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 1944-1954. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20142E

Dendrimers are macromolecules with extraordinary properties: their aesthetically pleasing structures enable a controlled organization of different functional units. This is a prerequisite to build up an efficient molecular antenna, in which the light absorbed by the peripheral units is funneled to a common acceptor by a sequence of energy transfer steps. Applications of these systems to the conversion of solar energy into electricity or fuels as well as sensors with signal amplification are envisaged.

Synthesis of photo-switchable 3-FcAB-modified polymer particles by Kosuke Namiki, Masaki Murata, Shoko Kume and Hiroshi Nishihara, New J. Chem., 2011, 35, 2146-2152. DOI: 10.1039/C1NJ20189A

We introduced 3-ferrocenylazobenze to the polymer particles and succeeded in reversible trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene moiety by green light irradiation combined with redox reaction of the ferrocene moiety. This result can lead to developing a photo-switching system using spectroscopic detection of the isomerization behaviors of nano-dots.

For the full list of articles comprising this dedicated issue, click here!