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Updated: Apr 25, 2026
Using Cyclic Voltammetry, UV-Vis-NIR, and EPR Spectroelectrochemistry to Analyze Organic Compounds
Published on: October 18, 2018
Variation of electronic transitions and reduction potentials of cerium(IV) complexes
Ursula J Williams1, David Schneider, Walter L Dorfner
1P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. schelter@sas.upenn.edu.
Abstract:
The trivalent compound K[Ce[N(SiHMe2)2]4] was synthesized and oxidized, providing a convenient route to the reported cerium(IV) compound Ce[N(SiHMe2)2]4. Protonolysis reactions of Ce[N(SiHMe2)2]4 with tert-butanol, substituted benzyl alcohols, and 2,6-diphenylphenol yielded the neutral tetravalent compounds Ce(O(t)Bu)4(py)2, Ce2(OCH2C6R5)8(thf)2 (R = Me, F), and Ce(Odpp)4 (dpp = 2,6-(C6H5)2-C6H3). Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of the monometallic cerium(IV) silylamide, alkoxide, and aryloxide compounds revealed variable ligand-to-metal charge transfer transitions and metal-based reduction potentials. Computational bonding analyses were performed to complement the physical characterization of the complexes.
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