Multi-electron transfer process of vanadyl complexes for oxidative polymerization of diphenyl disulfide

Oligo(p-phenylene sulfide) is synthesized by oxidative polymerization of diphenyl disulfide with oxygen catalyzed by vanadyl acetylacetonate under strongly acidic conditions. The mechanistic studies reveal that the redox cycles of the vanadyl complexes give rise to catalysis through a two-electron transfer between diphenyl disulfide and molecular oxygen. The VO catalysts act as an excellent electron mediator to bridge a 1.0 V potential gap between the oxidation potential of disulfides and the reduction potential of oxygen. The VO-catalyzed oxygen-oxidative polymerization provides pure oligo(pphenylene sulfide)s containing an S–S bond. The polymeric product is of low molecular weight due to the insolubility under these conditions. (N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato))oxovanadium-(IV), VO(salen), was used as an inert model compound to elucidate the redox chemistry of the vanadium complex. VO(salen) reacts with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (CF₃SO₃H) or triphenylmethyl tetrafluoroborate (?₃C(BF₄)) to form a deoxygenated complex, V^IV(salen)²⁺, and a μ-oxodinuclear complex, [(salen)VOV(salen)]X₂, (X = CF₃SO₃^? or BF₄^?). The dimerization of VO(salen) is initiated by deoxygenation to produce V(salen)²⁺ which enters into an equilibrium with a second VO(salen) complex to produce the μ-oxo dimer. The two-electron transfer of the μ-oxo dinuclear vanadium complex is elucidated.     

Chiral vanadyl salen complex anchored on supports as recoverable catalysts for the enantioselective cyanosilylation of aldehydes. Comparison among silica, single wall carbon nanotube, activated carbon and imidazolium ion as support

The activity and enantiomeric excess (ee) (in some cases >85%) obtained for the asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes using different heterogeneous chiral catalysts are compared. A library of recoverable catalysts was developed by immobilization of a chiral vanadyl salen complex having a terminal carbon-carbon double bond onto a series of scaffolds including silica, single-wall carbon nanotubes, activated carbon and room-temperature ionic liquids. The covalent linkage has been achieved by radical initiated addition of mercapto groups to CC. The highest enantiomeric excesses, similar to those obtained in the homogeneous phase, were achieved using silica as support or with the homogeneous tetra-tert-butyl salen catalyst dissolved in an imidazolium ionic liquid. The use of silica as support permits an easier separation and reuse of the catalyst from the reaction media.     

Mixed copper-lanthanide metallomesogens

This paper describes the first examples of heteropolynuclear metallomesogens that contain both a transition metal ion and a trivalent lanthanide ion. Adducts were formed between a mesomorphic [Cu(salen)] complex (salen=2,2'-N,N'-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine) with six terminal tetradecyloxy chains and a lanthanide nitrate (Ln=La, Gd). Different stoichiometries were found, depending on the lanthanide ion: a trinuclear copper-lanthanum-copper complex [La(NO(3))(3)(Cu(salen))(2)] and a binuclear copper-gadolinium complex [Gd(NO(3))(3)Cu(salen)]. The compounds exhibit a hexagonal columnar mesophase (Col(H)) over a wide temperature-range with rather low melting temperatures. Although the clearing point could be observed for the parent [Cu(salen)] complex, the mixed f-d complexes decomposed in the high-temperature part of the mesomorphic domain before clearing. On the basis of X-ray diffraction measurements and molecular modelling, a structural model for the mesophase of the metal complexes is proposed.     

Donor properties of the vanadyl ion: reactions of vanadyl salicylaldimine beta-ketimine and acetylacetonato complexes with groups 14 and 15 Lewis acids

Reactions of organosilicon, -germanium, -tin, -lead, -antimony, and -tin tetrahalide Lewis acids with VO(salen) [H(2)salen = N,N'-bis(salicylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine], related vanadyl salicylaldimines, VO(acacen) [H(2)acacen = N,N'-bis(acetylacetonato)ethane-1,2-diamine], and VO(acac)(2) (acac = acetylacetonato) have been investigated, revealing VO(salen) and VO(acacen) to be significantly stronger vanadyl donors than VO(acac)(2). The vanadyl donor strength of VO(salen) significantly diminishes with the introduction of electron-withdrawing substituents on the salicylaldimine ligand, and the introduction of methyl substituents on the imine carbon atoms can result in a preference for phenolic over vanadyl oxygen donation. Vanadyl donation results in an increase in the vanadyl bond length, while it leaves the distance of vanadium from the basal plane relatively unaffected. Coordination of water trans to a vanadyl oxygen that is involved in a donor bond to tin or lead has little or no effect on the vanadyl bond length but results in a marked movement of vanadium toward the basal plane and a decrease of the V=O-D (D = Sn or Pb) bond angle by as much as 13 degrees, the latter reflecting a loss of multiple bond character of the vanadyl bond. Formation of a vanadyl donor bond results in a decrease in both the vanadyl stretching frequency (infrared spectrum) and energy of the e(pi) <-- b(2) transition (electronic spectrum), the latter being intimately related to the strength of the vanadyl donor bond, while the shift of the b(1) <-- b(2) transition to higher or lower energy is relatively small for vanadyl salicylaldimine and beta-ketimine complexes. Donation through the phenolic oxygen atoms results in an increase in the vanadyl stretching frequency and energy of the e(pi) <-- b(2) transition, which can result in e(pi) <-- b(2)/b(1) <-- b(2) energy crossover.     

Organometallic[bond]polyoxometalate hybrid compounds: metallosalen compounds modified by Keggin type polyoxometalates

Hybrid compounds with two functional centers consisting of a metallosalen moiety (M[bond]salen; M = Mn, Co, Ni, and Pd) connected by an alkylene bridging group to a lacunary Keggin type polyoxometalate were synthesized and characterized. In these metallosalen-polyoxometalate compounds (M[bond]salen[bond]POM) it was shown by the use of a combination of UV[bond]vis, (1)H NMR, EPR, XPS, and cyclic voltammetry measurements that the polyoxometalate exerts a significant intramolecular electronic effect on the metallosalen moiety leading to formation of an oxidized metallosalen moiety. For the Mn[bond]salen[bond]POM, the metallosalen center is best described as a metal[bond]salen cation radical species; that is, a localized "hole" is formed on the salen ligand. For the other M[bond]salen[bond]POM compounds, the metallosalen moiety can be described as a hybrid of a metal[bond]salen cation radical species and an oxidized metal[bond]salen species, that is, a delocalized "hole" is formed at the metallosalen center. It is proposed that these oxidized metallosalen centers are best characterized as stabilized charge transfer (metallosalen donor[bond]polyoxometalate acceptor) complexes despite the relatively large distance between the two functional centers.     

An ENDOR and DFT analysis of ‘solvatochromic’ effects in an oxovanadium (IV) complex

The ‘solvatochromic’ effects of a vanadyl salen complex [VO^IV(salen)] in frozen solution was studied by ENDOR and DFT calculations. In a non-coordinating solvent (dichloromethane), both ENDOR and DFT were in excellent agreement on the expected square pyramidal structure, where V^IV=O is positioned out of the equatorial ligand xy-plane (as determined from calculated VH distances). In a coordinating solvent (dimethylformamide), a subtle perturbation from the square pyramidal structure was observed, suggesting that DMF coordinates trans to the vanadyl oxo-ligand, pulling V^IV=O back into the ligand plane. The axial coordination of DMF was confirmed by ENDOR and in the DFT optimised [VO^IV(salen)]–DMF complex.     

Asymmetric intramolecular cyclopropanation of diazo compounds with metallosalen complexes as catalyst: structural tuning of salen ligand

Intramolecular cyclopropanation of alkenyl α-diazoacetates and alkenyl diazomethyl ketones was examined by using optically active (ON⁺)Ru(II)(salen) and Co(II)(salen) complexes as catalysts. For the cyclization of 2-alkenyl α-diazoacetates, Co(II)(salen) complexes 9 and 10 were found to be superior catalysts to the corresponding (ON⁺)Ru(II)(salen) complexes 4 and 5. On the other hand, (ON⁺)Ru(II)(salen) complex 2 was found to be the catalyst of choice for the cyclization of 3-alkenyl diazomethyl ketones, and complex 4 was found to be a good catalyst for the cyclization of (E)-4-alkenyl diazomethyl ketones. The present study demonstrates that metallosalen complexes, especially optically active (ON⁺)Ru(II)(salen) and Co(II)(salen) complexes, can serve as efficient catalysts for the cyclization of alkenyl diazocarbonyl compounds, if a suitable salen ligand is used as the chiral auxiliary.     

(Salen)tin complexes: syntheses, characterization, crystal structures, and catalytic activity in the formation of propylene carbonate from CO(2) and propylene oxide

A series of (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) complexes was synthesized. The (salen)tin(IV) complexes, (salen)SnX(2) (X = Br and I), were prepared in good yields via the direct oxidation reaction of (salen)tin(II) complexes with Br(2) or I(2). (Salen)SnX(2) successfully underwent the anion-exchange reaction with AgOTf (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) to form (salen)Sn(OTf)(2) and (salen)Sn(X)(OTf) (X = Br). The (salen)Sn(OTf)(2) complex was easily converted to any of the dihalide (salen)SnX(2) compounds using halide salts. All complexes were fully characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis, while some were characterized by (13)C, (19)F, and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy. Several crystal structures of (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) were also determined. Finally, both (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) complexes were shown to efficiently catalyze the formation of propylene carbonate from propylene oxide and CO(2). Of the series, (3,3',5,5'-Br(4)-salen)SnBr(2), 3i, was found to be the most effective catalyst (TOF = 524 h(-)(1)).     

Asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to aldehydes promoted by chiral polymeric vanadium(V) salen complex as an efficient and recyclable catalyst

The asymmetric addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide to various aldehydes catalyzed by efficient new vanadyl polymeric salen complexes having 12 repeating salen units was investigated at room temperature. An excellent yield of the trimethylsilylether of cyanohydrins (up to 98%) with high chiral induction (96%) in case of 2-methylbenzaldehyde was achieved in 18 h. The catalyst recovered four times with retention of its performance.     

Insulin-mimetic vanadyl(IV) complexes as evaluated by both glucose-uptake and inhibition of free fatty acids (FFA)-release in isolated rat adipocytes

We have recently proposed the existence of some potent vanadyl complexes with blood glucose-lowering activity in experimental diabetic animals based on the results of an in vitro FFA (free fatty acids)-release assay in isolated rat adipocytes treated with epinephrine and evidence of an in vivo blood glucose lowering effect in experimental diabetic animals. However, the FFA assay depends indirectly on the glucose-uptake of vanadyl complexes in adipocytes. It is therefore necessary to develop a more reliable in vitro glucose-uptake assay, in place of the glucose uptake method using radioactive compounds such as (14)C-glucose, to identify insulin-mimetic vanadyl complexes. In the present study, we proposed a combined in vitro assay by using the conventional glucose oxidase method for glucose-uptake and FFA assay in isolated rat adipocytes. Insulin, vanadyl sulfate (VOSO(4)), bis(picolinato)vanadyl (VO(pa)(2)), and bis(6-methylpicolinato)vanadyl (VO(6mpa)(2)) complexes exhibited concentration-dependent uptake of (+)-D-glucose and inhibition of FFA release in the adipocytes treated with epinephrine. Vanadyl complexes were found to accelerate glucose-uptake at lower concentrations than VOSO(4). In vitro high insulin-mimetic activity of VO(pa)(2) and VO(6mpa)(2) were thus indicated by both glucose-uptake and FFA-release, with the insulin-mimetic activity of VO(6mpa)(2) being higher than that of VO(pa)(2), as suggested by the partition coefficient (0.330 for VO(pa)(2) and 0.595 for VO(6mpa)(2)). The proposed assay provides a more reliable method than each single method for the evaluation of in vitro insulin-mimetic activity of compounds.     

Vanadyl(IV) complexes of 4-alkoxy substituted [N,O] donor salicylaldimine Schiff bases derived from chloro-/nitro-aniline: synthesis,mesomorphism, and DFT study

Oxovanadium(IV)-Schiff-base complexes, [VOL₂] {L?=?N,N′-bis-(4-X-amino phenyl (4′-n-alkoxy)-salicylaldiminato), n?=?10, 18; X?=?Cl, NO₂}, have been synthesized from the interaction of vanadyl (VO²⁺) and the bidentate [N,O] donor in methanol/ethanol. The compounds were characterized by FT–IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, FAB-mass spectra, elemental analyses, and solution electrical conductivity. Mesomorphic behavior of the ligands and their vanadyl complexes were probed by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The compounds are thermally stable and exhibit enantiotropic smectic A mesomorphism over the temperature range of 57–231°C. The mesophase–isotropic transition temperatures for the complexes are much higher than the ligands. Melting and clearing points of the compounds did not show any definitive trend with regards to alkoxy chain length or electronegative substituent. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of the vanadyl complexes clearly show the absence of exchange interactions among the vanadyl spin centers. Non-electrolytic natures of the complexes were shown by conductometric measurements. A ν(V=O) of ～970?cm^?1 corroborated the absence of any V=O?···?V=O interactions. Density functional theory study carried out using DMol3 at BLYP/DNP level to determine the energy-optimized structure revealed a distorted square pyramidal geometry for the vanadyl complexes.     

Synthesis and characterization of Rhodium(III) dichloro complexes with unsymmetrically bound salen-type ligands

We have synthesized a series of novel octahedral Rh(III) salen-type complexes where the salen ligand is unsymmetrically bound to the Rh(III) dichloride center. This mode of bonding left one intact phenol group coordinating to the rhodium center and has never before been observed in salen-metal chemistry. These remarkably stable complexes possess unique coordination geometry and represent the first time that Rh(III) salen complexes have been successfully isolated from the direct combination of RhCl(3).3H2O and the salen ligand in the absence of a nucleophilic base. The (salen)Rh(III) dichloride complex can be converted to the analogous monochloride complex by reaction with metal carbonate salts.     

Assessment of the various ionization methods in the analysis of metal salen complexes by mass spectrometry

Metal salen complexes are one of the most frequently used catalysts in enantioselective organic synthesis. In the present work, we compare a series of ionization methods that can be used for the mass spectral analysis of two types of metalosalens: ionic complexes (abbreviated as Com⁺X^?) and neutral complexes (NCom). These methods include electron ionization and field desorption (FD) which can be applied to pure samples and atmospheric pressure ionization techniques: electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) which are suitable for solutions. We found that FD is a method of choice for recording molecular ions of the complexes containing even loosely bonded ligands. The results obtained using atmospheric pressure ionization methods show that the results depend mainly on the structure of metal salen complex and the ionization method. In ESI spectra, Com⁺ ions were observed, while in APCI and APPI spectra both Com⁺ and [Com + H]⁺ ions are observed in the ratio depending on the structure of the metal salen complex and the solvent used in the analysis. For complexes with tetrafluoroborate counterion, an elimination of BF₃ took place, and ions corresponding to complexes with fluoride counterion were observed. Experiments comparing the relative sensitivity of ESI, APCI and APPI (with and without a dopant) methods showed that for the majority of the studied complexes ESI is the most sensitive one; however, the sensitivity of APCI is usually less than two times lower and for some compounds is even higher than the sensitivity of ESI. Both methods show very high linearity of the calibration curve in a range of about 3 orders of magnitude of the sample concentration. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and catalytic activity of a chiral periodic mesoporous organosilica (ChiMO)

A chiral vanadyl salen complex having two peripheral trimethoxysilyl groups has been used to obtain a chiral periodic mesoporous organosilica having MCM-41 periodicity and the two Si-CH2 groups anchored on the framework; this solid induces 30% enantioselectivity in the cyanosilylation of benzaldehyde.     

In situ formation of heterobimetallic salen complexes containing titanium and/or vanadium ions

A combination of high-resolution electrospray mass spectrometry and (1)H NMR spectroscopy has been used to prove that when a mixture of [(salen)TiO]2 complexes containing two different salen ligands (salen and salen') is formed, an equilibrium is established between the homodimers and the heterodimer [(salen)TiO2Ti(salen')]. Depending upon the structure and stereochemistry of the two salen ligands, the equilibrium may favor either the homodimers or the heterodimer. Extension of this process to mixtures of titanium(salen) complexes [(salen)TiO]2 and vanadium (V)(salen') complexes [(salen')VO] (+)Cl (-) allowed the in situ formation of the heterobimetallic complex [(salen)TiO2V(salen')] (+)X (-) to be confirmed for all combinations of salen ligands studied except when the salen ligand attached to titanium contained highly electron-withdrawing nitro-groups. The rate of equilibration between heterobimetallic complexes is faster than that between two titanium complexes as determined by line broadening in the (1)H NMR spectra. These structural results explain the strong rate-inhibiting effect of vanadium (V)(salen) complexes in asymmetric cyanohydrin synthesis catalyzed by [(salen)TiO]2 complexes. It has also been demonstrated for the first time that the titanium and vanadium complexes can undergo exchange of salen ligands and that this is catalyzed by protic solvents. However, the ligand exchange is relatively slow (occurring on a time scale of days at room temperature) and so does not complicate studies aimed at using heterobimetallic titanium and vanadium salen complexes as asymmetric catalysts. Attempts to obtain a crystal structure of a heterobimetallic salen complex led instead to the isolation of a trinuclear titanium(salen) complex, the formation of which is also consistent with the catalytic results obtained previously.     

Structural investigation of high-valent manganese-salen complexes by UV/Vis,Raman, XANES,and EXAFS spectroscopy

XANES and EXAFS spectroscopic studies at the Mn-K- and Br-K-edge of reaction products of (S,S)-(+)-N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminomanganese(III) chloride ([(salen)Mn(III)Cl], 1) and (S,S)-(+)-N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminomanganese(III) bromide ([(salen)Mn(III)Br], 2) with 4-phenylpyridine N-oxide (4-PPNO) and 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA) are reported. The reaction of the Mn(III) complexes with two equivalents of 4-PPNO leads to a hexacoordinated compound, in which the manganese atom is octahedrally coordinated by four oxygen/nitrogen atoms of the salen ligand at an average distance of approximately 1.90 A and two additional, axially bonded oxygen atoms of the 4-PPNO at 2.25 A. The oxidation state of this complex was determined as approximately +IV by a comparative study of Mn(III) and Mn(V) reference compounds. The green intermediate obtained in reactions of MCPBA and solutions of 1 or 2 in acetonitrile was investigated with XANES, EXAFS, UV/Vis, and Raman spectroscopy, and an increase of the coordination number of the manganese atoms from 4 to 5 and the complete abstraction of the halide was observed. A formal oxidation state of IV was deduced from the relative position of the pre-edge 1s-->3d feature of the X-ray absorption spectrum of the complex. The broad UV/Vis band of this complex in acetonitrile with lambda(max)=648 nm was consistent with a radical cation structure, in which a MCPBA molecule was bound to the Mn(IV) central atom. An oxomanganese(V) or a dimeric manganese(IV) species was not detected.     

Trimetallic Nickel–Lanthanum and Nickel–Gadolinium Metallomesogens

Adducts were formed between a mesomorphic Ni(salen) complex [salen=2,2′-N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine] with six terminal alkoxy chains and a lanthanide nitrate (Ln=La, Gd). Different alkoxy chain lengths were used: OC¹²H²⁵, OC¹⁴H²⁹, OC¹⁶H³³ and OC¹⁸H³⁷. Trinuclear nickel–lanthanum and nickel–gadolinium complexes [Ln(NO³)³{Ni(salen)}²] were obtained. The compounds exhibit a wide-temperature-range hexagonal columnar mesophase (Col^H) with rather low melting points. The mesophase stability ranges of both the parent nickel complexes and the nickel–lanthanide complexes decrease with increasing chain length. A decrease in the mesophase stability range over the lanthanide series was also observed. The results are compared with those of similar copper–lanthanide complexes. A marked difference is the higher thermal stability of the nickel–lanthanide complexes in comparison with the copper–lanthanide complexes.     

Liquid-crystalline oxovanadium(IV) complexes accessed from bidentate [N,O] donor salicylaldimine Schiff-base ligands

A series of bis[4-(n-alkoxy)-N-(4′-R-phenyl)salicylideneiminato]oxovanadium(IV) complexes (n?=?6,?10,?14,?16,?18 and R?=?C₃H₇) were prepared and their mesogenic properties were investigated. The mesomorphic behaviors of the compounds were studied by polarized optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Ligands display SmA/SmC and unexpected nematic mesophases. The complexes bearing longer alkoxy carbon chain (n?=?10,?14,?16, and 18) showed both monotropic or enantiotropic transitions with smectic A and high ordered smectic E phases. However, the complex with shorter carbon chain length (n?=?6) showed monotropic transition with an unprecedented nematic (N) phase. A density functional theory study was carried out using DMol3 at BLYP/DNP level to obtain a stable optimized structure. A square-pyramidal geometry for the vanadyl complexes has been suggested. A ν_V=O stretching value of ～970?cm^?1 corroborated absence of any V?=?O?···?V?=?O interactions. Cyclic voltammetry revealed a quasireversible one-electron response at 0.61?V for the VO(IV)–VO(V) redox couple. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of the vanadyl complexes suggested absence of any exchange interactions among the vanadyl spin centers.     

Thermal formation of mixed-metal inorganic complexes at atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric-pressure thermal desorption ionization (APTDI), a new variant on older ionization methods, is employed to generate gas-phase ions from inorganic and organometallic compounds. The method is compared to conventional electrospray ionization (ESI) of these compounds and found in most cases examined to yield simpler mass spectra which are useful in the characterization of the pure compounds. Cluster formation, however, is prominent in these spectra and mixtures of V(IV)O(salen), Ni(II)(salen) and Co(II)(salen) show mixed-metal cluster ions. This makes APTDI a way to prepare gas-phase ions which contain multiple selected metal atoms and ligands. Such mixed-metal complexes can be mass-selected and structurally characterized by tandem mass spectrometry. Strong contrasts are evident in the dissociation behavior of homonuclear and heteronuclear metal clusters, the latter showing accompanying redox processes. The chemical reactivity accompanying collision-induced dissociation (CID) of some of the mixed-metal clusters is typified by the protonated species H+[NiVO(salen)], which undergoes a formal oxidation process (hydrogen atom loss) to give the molecular radical cation of Ni(salen). This ionization method may provide a new route to unique inorganic compounds on surfaces through soft landing of appropriate cluster ions. The contrasting behavior of the ESI and APTDI processes is evident in the salens where ESI shows simple Bronsted acid/base chemistry, no mixed-metal clusters and no redox chemistry.     

Charge distribution in Mn(salen) complexes

The charge and spin distribution in manganese‐salen complexes were analyzed using different basis sets and density functionals. Five population analysis methods [Mulliken, Löwdin, Natural population analysis (NPA), atoms in molecules (AIM), and CHelpG] were used to characterize the charge distribution. Results show that NPA and AIM were the only methods capable of giving charges with the correct sign for all cases under study. According to the analysis of the natural charge and spin distributions, the salen ligand shows a complex behavior, counteracting the effect of the chloro and oxo ligands on the metal center. Furthermore, the presence of a chloride counter ion increases the oxo‐radical character of Oxo‐Mn(salen) complexes, which may play an important role in the rationalization of the catalytic properties of Mn(salen) complexes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.