A Novel Self‐assembled Nickel(II)‐Cerium(III) Heterotetranuclear Dimer Constructed from N2O2‐type Bisoxime and Terephthalic Acid: Synthesis,Structure, and Photophysical Properties

By self‐assembly of a Salamo‐type ligand H₂L [H₂L = 1,2‐bis(3‐methoxysalicylideneaminooxy)ethane] with Ni(OAc)₂ · 4H₂O, Ce(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O, and H₂bdc (H₂bdc = terephthalic acid), a novel Ni^II‐Ce^III heterometallic complex, [{Ni(L)Ce(NO₃)₂(CH₃OH)(DMF)}₂(bdc)], was obtained. Two crystallographically equivalent [Ni(L)Ce(NO₃)₂(CH₃OH)(DMF)] moieties lie in the inversion center, and are linked by one bdc^2– ligand leading to a heterotetranuclear dimer, in which the carboxylato group bridges the Ni^II and Ce^III atoms. Moreover, the photophysical properties of the Ni^II‐Ce^III complex were studied.     

EPR‐spektroskopische Charakterisierung (X‐, Q‐Band) monomerer AgII‐ und AuII‐Komplexe der Thiakronenether [12]anS4, [16]anS4, [18]anS6 und [27]anS9

EPR Spectroscopic Characterization (X‐, Q‐Band) of Monomeric Ag^II‐ and Au^II‐Complexes of the Thiacrownethers [12]aneS₄, [16]aneS₄, [18]aneS₆ and [27]aneS₉ The reaction of the prepared Ag^I complexes of the thiacrownethers [12]aneS₄, [16]aneS₄, [18]aneS₆ and [27]aneS₉ with c. H₂SO₄ as well as the reaction of [Au^IIICl₄]^‐ with [18]aneS₆ and [27]aneS₉ leads to labile Ag^II‐ (4d⁹, ^{107, 109}Ag: I=1/2) and Au^II‐ (5d⁹, ¹⁹⁷Au: I=3/2) thiacrownether complexes, respectively, which were characterized by X‐ and Q‐band EPR. The EPR spectra of [Ag^II([12]anS₄)]²⁺ and [Ag^II([18]anS₆)]²⁺ were reinvestigated. According to an analysis of the spin‐density distribution only 20 ‐ 25 % is located on the Ag or Au atoms. Most of the spin‐density was found to be on the S donor atoms of the thiacrownethers. The high delocalization of the spin‐density leads certainly to a noticeable reduction of the Ag^I/Ag^II redox potential and is considered as being mainly responsible for the easy accessibility of the Ag^II compounds.     

Heterotrimetallic Coordination Polymers: {CuIILnIIIFeIII} Chains and {NiIILnIIIFeIII} Layers: Synthesis,Crystal Structures,and Magnetic Properties

The use of the [Fe^III(AA)(CN)₄]^? complex anion as metalloligand towards the preformed [Cu^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ or [Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ heterometallic complex cations (AA=2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy) and 1,10‐phenathroline (phen); H₂valpn=1,3‐propanediyl‐bis(2‐iminomethylene‐6‐methoxyphenol)) allowed the preparation of two families of heterotrimetallic complexes: three isostructural 1D coordination polymers of general formula {[Cu^II(valpn)Ln^III(H₂O)₃(μ‐NC)₂Fe^III(phen)(CN)₂ {(μ‐NC)Fe^III(phen)(CN)₃}]NO₃ ? 7 H₂O}_n (Ln=Gd ( 1 ), Tb ( 2 ), and Dy ( 3 )) and the trinuclear complex [Cu^II(valpn)La^III(OH₂)₃(O₂NO)(μ‐NC)Fe^III(phen)(CN)₃] ? NO₃ ? H₂O ? CH₃CN ( 4 ) were obtained with the [Cu^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ assembling unit, whereas three isostructural heterotrimetallic 2D networks, {[Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III(ONO₂)₂(H₂O)(μ‐NC)₃Fe^III(bipy)(CN)] ? 2 H₂O ? 2 CH₃CN}_n (Ln=Gd ( 5 ), Tb ( 6 ), and Dy ( 7 )) resulted with the related [Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III]³⁺ precursor. The crystal structure of compound 4 consists of discrete heterotrimetallic complex cations, [Cu^II(valpn)La^III(OH₂)₃(O₂NO)(μ‐NC)Fe^III(phen)(CN)₃]⁺, nitrate counterions, and non‐coordinate water and acetonitrile molecules. The heteroleptic {Fe^III(bipy)(CN)₄} moiety in 5 – 7 acts as a tris‐monodentate ligand towards three {Ni^II(valpn)Ln^III} binuclear nodes leading to heterotrimetallic 2D networks. The ferromagnetic interaction through the diphenoxo bridge in the Cu^II?Ln^III ( 1 – 3 ) and Ni^II?Ln^III ( 5 – 7 ) units, as well as through the single cyanide bridge between the Fe^III and either Ni^II ( 5 – 7 ) or Cu^II ( 4 ) account for the overall ferromagnetic behavior observed in 1 – 7 . DFT‐type calculations were performed to substantiate the magnetic interactions in 1 , 4 , and 5 . Interestingly, compound 6 exhibits slow relaxation of the magnetization with maxima of the out‐of‐phase ac signals below 4.0 K in the lack of a dc field, the values of the pre‐exponential factor (τ_o) and energy barrier (E_a) through the Arrhenius equation being 2.0×10^?12 s and 29.1 cm^?1, respectively. In the case of 7 , the ferromagnetic interactions through the double phenoxo (Ni^II–Dy^III) and single cyanide (Fe^III–Ni^II) pathways are masked by the depopulation of the Stark levels of the Dy^III ion, this feature most likely accounting for the continuous decrease of χ_M T upon cooling observed for this last compound.     

Controlled Synthesis of Heterotrimetallic Single‐Chain Magnets from Anisotropic High‐Spin 3 d–4 f Nodes and Paramagnetic Spacers

By using the node‐and‐spacer approach in suitable solvents, four new heterotrimetallic 1D chain‐like compounds (that is, containing 3d–3d′–4f metal ions), {[Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)Fe(Tp*)(CN)₃] ? 2 CH₃CN ? CH₃OH}_n (H₂L=N,N′‐bis(3‐methoxysalicylidene)‐1,3‐diaminopropane, Tp*=hydridotris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)borate; Ln=Gd ( 1 ), Dy ( 2 ), Tb ( 3 ), Nd ( 4 )), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. All of these compounds are made up of a neutral cyanide‐ and phenolate‐bridged heterotrimetallic chain, with a {? Fe? C?N? Ni(? O? Ln)? N?C? }_n repeat unit. Within these chains, each [(Tp*)Fe(CN)₃]^? entity binds to the Ni^II ion of the [Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)]⁺ motif through two of its three cyanide groups in a cis mode, whereas each [Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)]⁺ unit is linked to two [(Tp*)Fe(CN)₃]^? ions through the Ni^II ion in a trans mode. In the [Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)]⁺ unit, the Ni^II and Ln^III ions are bridged to one other through two phenolic oxygen atoms of the ligand (L). Compounds 1 – 4 are rare examples of 1D cyanide‐ and phenolate‐bridged 3d–3d′–4f helical chain compounds. As expected, strong ferromagnetic interactions are observed between neighboring Fe^III and Ni^II ions through a cyanide bridge and between neighboring Ni^II and Ln^III (except for Nd^III) ions through two phenolate bridges. Further magnetic studies show that all of these compounds exhibit single‐chain magnetic behavior. Compound 2 exhibits the highest effective energy barrier (58.2 K) for the reversal of magnetization in 3d/4d/5d–4f heterotrimetallic single‐chain magnets.     

Two nickel(II) bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]amine complexes with homophthalic and benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylic acids

Two new Ni^II complexes involving the ancillary ligand bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]amine (bpma) and two different carboxylate ligands, i.e. homophthalate [hph; systematic name: 2‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)acetate] and benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylate (btc), namely catena‐poly[[aqua{bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]amine‐κ³N,N′,N′′}nickel(II)]‐μ‐2‐(2‐carboxylatophenyl)aceteto‐κ²O:O′], [Ni(C₉H₆O₄)(C₁₂H₁₃N₃)(H₂O)]_n, and (μ‐benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylato‐κ⁴O¹,O²:O⁴,O⁵)bis(aqua{bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]amine‐κ³N,N′,N′′}nickel(II)) bis(triaqua{bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]amine‐κ³N,N′,N′′}nickel(II)) benzene‐1,2,4,5‐tetracarboxylate hexahydrate, [Ni₂(C₁₀H₂O₈)(C₁₂H₁₃N₃)₂(H₂O)₂]·[Ni(C₁₂H₁₃N₃)(H₂O)₃]₂(C₁₀H₂O₈)·6H₂O, (II), are presented. Compound (I) is a one‐dimensional polymer with hph acting as a bridging ligand and with the chains linked by weak C—H...O interactions. The structure of compound (II) is much more complex, with two independent Ni^II centres having different environments, one of them as part of centrosymmetric [Ni(bpma)(H₂O)]₂(btc) dinuclear complexes and the other in mononuclear [Ni(bpma)(H₂O)₃]²⁺ cations which (in a 2:1 ratio) provide charge balance for btc⁴⁻ anions. A profuse hydrogen‐bonding scheme, where both coordinated and crystal water molecules play a crucial role, provides the supramolecular linkage of the different groups.     

Ring‐to‐Cage Structural Conversion via Template Effect in a Gold(I) Metallosupramolecular System

A unique example of a ring‐to‐cage structural conversion in a multinuclear gold(I) coordination system with d ‐penicillamine (d ‐H₂pen) is reported. The reaction of [Au₂Cl₂(dppe)] (dppe=1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) with d ‐H₂pen in a 1:1 ratio gave [Au₄(dppe)₂(d ‐pen)₂] ([ 1 ]), in which two [Au₂(dppe)]²⁺ units are linked by two d ‐pen S atoms in a cyclic form so as to have two bidentate‐N,O coordination arms. The subsequent reaction of [ 1 ] with Cu(OTf)₂ afforded [Au₄Cu(dppe)₂(d ‐pen)₂]²⁺ ([ 2 ]²⁺), in which a Cu^II ion is chelated by the two coordination arms in [ 1 ] to form an Au^I₄Cu^II bicyclic metallocage. A similar reaction using Cu(NO₃)₂ was accompanied by the ring expansion of [ 1 ] to [Au₈(dppe)₄(d ‐pen)₄], leading to the production of [Au₈Cu₂(dppe)₄(d ‐pen)₄]⁴⁺ ([ 3 ]⁴⁺). In [ 3 ]⁴⁺, two Cu^II ions are each chelated by the two coordination arms to form an Au^I₈Cu^II₂ tricyclic metallocage, accommodating a nitrate ion. The use of Ni(NO₃)₂ or Ni(OAc)₂ instead of Cu(NO₃)₂ commonly gave a tricyclic metallocage of [Au₈Ni₂(dppe)₄(d ‐pen)₄]⁴⁺ ([ 4 ]⁴⁺), but a water molecule was accommodated inside the Au^I₈Ni^II₂ metallocage.     

Metallkomplexe mit biologisch wichtigen Liganden. CLXVI Metallkomplexe mit Ferrocenylmethyl‐L‐cysteinat und 1,1′‐Ferrocenylbis‐(methyl‐L‐cysteinat) als Liganden

Metal Complexes of Biologically Important Ligands. CLXVI Metal Complexes with Ferrocenylmethylcysteinate and 1,1′‐Ferrocenylbis‐(methylcysteinate) as Ligands A series of complexes of transition metal ions ( Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ ) and of lanthanide ions ( La³⁺, Nd³⁺, Gd³⁺, Dy³⁺, Lu³⁺ ) with the anions of ferrocenylmethyl‐L‐cysteine [(C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄CH(R)SCH₂CH(NH₃⁺)CO₂^?] (L¹) and with the dianions of 1,1′‐ferrocenylbis(methyl‐L‐cysteine) [Fe(C₅H₄CH(R)SCH₂CH(NH₃⁺) CO₂^?)₂] (R = H, Me, Ph) (L²) as N,O,S‐donors were prepared. With the monocysteine ferrocene derivative L¹ as ligands complexes [M^IIL¹₂] or [Cr^IIIL¹₂]Cl type complexes are formed whereas the bis(cysteine) ligand L² yields insoluble complexes of type [ML²]_n, presumably as coordination polymers. The magnetic moments of [Mn^IIL²]_n, [Pr^IIIL²]_n(OH)_n and [Dy^IIIL²]_n(OH)_n exhibit “normal” paramagnetism.     

A novel two‐dimensional nickel(II) coordination polymer with 1,4‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene and azide ligands

The coordination geometry of the Ni^II atom in the title complex, poly[diazidobis[μ‐1,4‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene‐κ²N⁴:N^4′]nickel(II)], [Ni(N₃)₂(C₁₂H₁₂N₆)₂]_n, is a distorted octahedron, in which the Ni^II atom lies on an inversion centre and is coordinated by four N atoms from the triazole rings of two symmetry‐related pairs of 1,4‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene (bbtz) ligands and two N atoms from two symmetry‐related monodentate azide ligands. The Ni^II atoms are bridged by four bbtz ligands to form a two‐dimensional (4,4)‐network.     

Square Planar Nickel（II） Complexes with Halogenated o-Diiminobenzosemiquinonato Ligation： Synthesis,Characterization, and Redox Property

Seven square planar bis（o-diiminobenzosemiquinonato）nickel（II） complexes, [Ni（o-C6H4（NH）（NAr））2] （Ar= Mes, 1; p-F-C6H4, 2; p-CI-C6H4, 3）, [Ni（o-4,5-F2-C6H2（NH）（NPh））2] （4）, and [Ni（o-4,5-CIz-C6H2（NH）（NAr））2] （Ar =Ph, 5; 2,6-F2-C6H3, 6; 2,6-C12-C6H3, 7）, have been synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 19F NMR, IR, UV-Vis-NIR, elemental analyses, HRMS, as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies （1 and 7）. The cyclic voltammograms of these complexes exhibit two reversible redox processes of [NiLe]0n- and [NIL2]l /2 , and one irreversible process of [NiL2]~n＋. Substituent effects on the redox properties of these complexes, in addi- tion with those of the known complexes [Ni（o-C6Ha（NH）（NPh））2] （8） and [Ni（o-3,5-Butz-C6Hz（NH）2）2] （9）, are identified by comparing the half-wave potentials of the reduction waves, as 1 ~ 9 〈 8 ~ 2 〈 3 〈 4 〈 5 〈 7 〈 6, reflect- ing the ease of reduction of [NIL2] parallels the electron-donating and -withdrawing ability of the substituent group. Reduction of 1 with one or two equivalents of sodium metal in THF has led to the isolation of [Na（THF）3][I] and [Na（THF）3]2[1]. The structure data of these two complexes revealed by low-temperature X-ray crystallography suggest their corresponding electronic structures of [Nill（lL-1 ）（IL2-）]1- and [Ni1]（1L2 ）212-, which are in line with those of [9]n （n = 1-, 2-） suggested by spectroelectrochemical study.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Methylation of Aryl Halides with Deuterated Methyl Iodide

A nickel‐catalyzed methylation of aryl halides with cheap and readily available CH₃I or CD₃I is described. The reaction is applicable to a wide range of substrates and allows installation of a CD₃ group under mild reaction conditions without deuterium scrambling to other carbon atoms. Initial mechanistic studies on the stoichiometric and catalytic reactions of the isolated [(dppp)Ni(C₆H₄‐4‐CO₂Et)Br] [dppp=1,3‐bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane] suggest that a Ni⁰/Ni^II catalytic cycle is favored.     

Synthesis of Mixed Silylene–Carbene Chelate Ligands from N‐Heterocyclic Silylcarbenes Mediated by Nickel

The Ni^II‐mediated tautomerization of the N‐heterocyclic hydrosilylcarbene L²Si(H)(CH₂)NHC 1 , where L²=CH(C?CH₂)(CMe)(NAr)₂, Ar=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃; NHC=3,4,5‐trimethylimidazol‐2‐yliden‐6‐yl, leads to the first N‐heterocyclic silylene (NHSi)–carbene (NHC) chelate ligand in the dibromo nickel(II) complex [L¹Si:(CH₂)(NHC)NiBr₂] 2 (L¹=CH(MeC?NAr)₂). Reduction of 2 with KC₈ in the presence of PMe₃ as an auxiliary ligand afforded, depending on the reaction time, the N‐heterocyclic silyl–NHC bromo Ni^II complex [L²Si(CH₂)NHCNiBr(PMe₃)] 3 and the unique Ni⁰ complex [η²(Si‐H){L²Si(H)(CH₂)NHC}Ni(PMe₃)₂] 4 featuring an agostic Si? H→Ni bonding interaction. When 1,2‐bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane (DMPE) was employed as an exogenous ligand, the first NHSi–NHC chelate‐ligand‐stabilized Ni⁰ complex [L¹Si:(CH₂)NHCNi(dmpe)] 5 could be isolated. Moreover, the dicarbonyl Ni⁰ complex 6 , [L¹Si:(CH₂)NHCNi(CO)₂], is easily accessible by the reduction of 2 with K(BHEt₃) under a CO atmosphere. The complexes were spectroscopically and structurally characterized. Furthermore, complex 2 can serve as an efficient precatalyst for Kumada–Corriu‐type cross‐coupling reactions.     

A new organic-inorganic composite sandwich-type phosphotungstate: Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of [Ni(phen)3]2H6[Ni4(H2O)2(B-α-PW9O34)2] · 4H2O

A new organic-inorganic composite sandwich-type phosphotungstate [Ni(phen)₃]₂H₆[Ni₄(H₂O)₂(B-α-PW₉O₃₄)₂] · 4H₂O (I) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) has been synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectrum, thermogravimetry (TG) analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The structural analysis indicates that each structure unit of the compound III consists of two isolated [Ni(phen)₃]²⁺ cations, six protons, one tetra-Ni^II-substituted sandwich-type [Ni₄(H₂O)₂(B-α-PW₉O₃₄)₂]¹⁰⁻ anion and four crystallization water molecules. In the compound III the cations and the polyanion were linked together through electrostatic interactions and intermolecular forces. XPS measurement indicates that the oxidation state of W and Ni atoms in the compound III are +6 and +2, respectively. TG analysis of the compound III shows two steps of weight loss.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Characterization of Two Oxamido‐bridged NiIICuIINiII Heteronuclear Complexes

Two new trinuclear complexes [Cu^II(Ni^IIX₁)₂(C₂H₅OH)₂]· (ClO₄)₂·2(CH₃OH) ( 1 ) and [Cu^II(Ni^IIX₂)₂(H₂O)]·(ClO₄)₂· 0.75(H₂O) ( 2 ) (X₁ = dianion of 5,6;13,14‐dibenzo‐7,12‐bis(ethoxycarboxyl)‐9‐methyl‐2,3‐dioxo‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradeca‐7,11‐diene. X₂ = dianion of 5,6;13,14‐dibenzo‐9,10‐cyclohexano‐7,12‐bis(ethoxycarboxyl)‐2,3‐dioxo‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradeca7,11‐diene.) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X‐ray analysis, elemental analysis, IR, UV and EPR spectroscopies. The complexes consist of Ni^IICu^IINi^II heteronuclear cationic entities. The central Cu^II atom of 1 lies in an octahedral coordination environment, while that of 2 resides in a square‐pyramidal coordination sphere. The adjacent trinuclear units of 1 are linked together through π‐π stacking interactions resulting in a 1D supramolecular chain, whereas the π‐π stacking interactions between the contiguous units of 2 lead to a 2D structure. The EPR spectra of the two complexes show a signal of an axially elongated octahedral Cu^II system in 1 and an axially elongated square‐pyramidal Cu^II system in 2 , respectively. The hyperfine splitting of the Cu^II atoms (I^Cu = 3/2) has also been observed in the EPR spectra.     

Controllable Syntheses of Porous Metal–Organic Frameworks: Encapsulation of LnIII Cations for Tunable Luminescence and Small Drug Molecules for Efficient Delivery

Two porous metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), [Zn₃(L)(H₂O)₂] ? 3 DMF ? 7 H₂O ( MOF‐1 ) and [(CH₃)₂NH₂]₆[Ni₃(L)₂(H₂O)₆] ? 3 DMF ? 15 H₂O ( MOF‐2 ), were synthesized solvothermally (H₆L=1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexakis(3‐carboxyphenyloxymethylene)benzene). In MOF ‐ 1 , neighboring Zn^II trimers are linked by the backbones of L ligands to form a fascinating 3D six‐connected framework with the point symbol (4¹².6³) (4¹².6³). In MOF‐2 , eight L ligands bridge six Ni^II atoms to generate a rhombic‐dodecahedral [Ni₆L₈] cage. Each cage is surrounded by eight adjacent ones through sharing of carboxylate groups to yield an unusual 3D porous framework. Encapsulation of Ln^III cations for tunable luminescence and small drug molecules for efficient delivery were investigated in detail for MOF‐1 .     

Synthesis,Characterization and Structure of Bis‐ and Tetrakis‐Aziridine‐Nickel(II) and Copper(II) Complexes

The synthesis and characterization of mononuclear tetrakis‐aziridine nickel(II ) and copper(II ) complexes as well as of a dinuclear bis‐aziridine copper(II ) complex are described. The reactions of anhydrous MCl₂ (M = Ni^II, Cu^II) with aziridine (= az = C₂H₄NH, C₂H₃MeNH, CH₂CMe₂NH) in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature in a 1:5 and 1:2 molar ratio, respectively, afforded the tetrakis‐aziridine complexes [M(az)₄Cl₂] (M = Ni, Cu) or the dimeric bis‐aziridine complex [Cu(az)₂Cl₂]₂. After purification, all of the complexes were fully characterized. The single crystal structure analysis revealed two different coordination modes. Whereas both nickel(II ) complexes can be classified as showing an elongated octahedral structure, copper(II ) complexes show either an elongated octahedral or a square pyramidal arrangement forming dimers with chlorido bridges in axial positions. Furthermore, the results of magnetic measurements of the nickel(II ) and copper(II ) compounds are presented.     

(μ‐2,6‐Bis{[(2‐hydroxy­phenyl)­(2‐pyri­dyl­methyl)­amino]­methyl}‐4‐methyl­phenolato)­bis­[di­aqua­nickel(II)] ace­tate dimethyl­formamide 0.75‐hy­drate

The binuclear cation of the title compound, [Ni₂(C₃₃H₂₉­N₄O₃)(H₂O)₄]C₂H₃O₂·C₃H₇NO·0.75H₂O, was synthesized as a model for the active site of urease. Two tridentate halves of the symmetrical 2,6‐bis{[(2‐hydroxy­phenyl)(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amino]­methyl}‐4‐methyl­phenolate (BPPMP^3?) ligand are arranged in a meridional fashion around the two Ni^II ions, with the phenoxo O atom bridging the Ni^II ions. The cation has an approximate twofold rotation axis running through the C—O bond of the bridging phenolate group. Four water mol­ecules complete the octahedral environment of each Ni^II ion.     

Nickel(II) Complexes of Pentadentate N5 Ligands as Catalysts for Alkane Hydroxylation by Using m‐CPBA as Oxidant: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study

A new family of nickel(II) complexes of the type [Ni(L)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂, where L=N‐methyl‐N,N′,N′‐tris(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐ethylenediamine (L1, 1 ), N‐benzyl‐N,N′,N′‐tris(pyrid‐2‐yl‐methyl)‐ethylenediamine (L2, 2 ), N‐methyl‐N,N′‐bis(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐N′‐(6‐methyl‐pyrid‐2‐yl‐methyl)‐ethylenediamine (L3, 3 ), N‐methyl‐N,N′‐bis(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐N′‐(quinolin‐2‐ylmethyl)‐ethylenediamine (L4, 4 ), and N‐methyl‐N,N′‐bis(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐N′‐imidazole‐2‐ylmethyl)‐ethylenediamine (L5, 5 ), has been isolated and characterized by means of elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. The single‐crystal X‐ray structure of [Ni(L3)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂ reveals that the nickel(II) center is located in a distorted octahedral coordination geometry constituted by all the five nitrogen atoms of the pentadentate ligand and an acetonitrile molecule. In a dichloromethane/acetonitrile solvent mixture, all the complexes show ligand field bands in the visible region characteristic of an octahedral coordination geometry. They exhibit a one‐electron oxidation corresponding to the Ni^II/Ni^III redox couple the potential of which depends upon the ligand donor functionalities. The new complexes catalyze the oxidation of cyclohexane in the presence of m‐CPBA as oxidant up to a turnover number of 530 with good alcohol selectivity (A/K, 7.1–10.6, A=alcohol, K=ketone). Upon replacing the pyridylmethyl arm in [Ni(L1)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂ by the strongly σ‐bonding but weakly π‐bonding imidazolylmethyl arm as in [Ni(L5)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂ or the sterically demanding 6‐methylpyridylmethyl ([Ni(L3)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂ and the quinolylmethyl arms ([Ni(L4)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂, both the catalytic activity and the selectivity decrease. DFT studies performed on cyclohexane oxidation by complexes 1 and 5 demonstrate the two spin‐state reactivity for the high‐spin [(N5)Ni^II?O^.] intermediate (ts1_hs, ts2_doublet), which has a low‐spin state located closely in energy to the high‐spin state. The lower catalytic activity of complex 5 is mainly due to the formation of thermodynamically less accessible m‐CPBA‐coordinated precursor of [Ni^II(L5)(OOCOC₆H₄Cl)]⁺ ( 5 a ). Adamantane is oxidized to 1‐adamantanol, 2‐adamantanol, and 2‐adamantanone (3°/2°, 10.6–11.5), and cumene is selectively oxidized to 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol. The incorporation of sterically hindering pyridylmethyl and quinolylmethyl donor ligands around the Ni^II leads to a high 3°/2° bond selectivity for adamantane oxidation, which is in contrast to the lower cyclohexane oxidation activities of the complexes.     

Binary salt of a palladium(II) complex with (phosphonomethyl)phosphonic (medronic) acid comprising `handbell‐like' [Pd{μ‐CH2(PO3)2}]3 units

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, dipotassium bis[hexaaquanickel(II)] tris(μ₂‐methylenediphosphonato)tripalladium(II) hexahydrate, K₂[Ni(H₂O)₆]₂[Pd₃{CH₂(PO₃)₂}₃]·6H₂O, consists of half a {[Pd{CH₂(PO₃)₂}]₃}⁶⁻ anion [one Pd atom (4e) and a methylene C atom (4e) occupy positions on a twofold axis] in a rare `handbell‐like' arrangement, with K⁺ and [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cations to form the neutral complex, completed by three solvent water molecules. The {[Pd{CH₂(PO₃)₂}]₃}⁶⁻ units exhibit close Pd...Pd separations of 3.0469 (4) Å and are packed via intermolecular C—H...Pd hydrogen bonds. The [KO₉] and [NiO₆] units are assembled into sheets coplanar with (011) and stacked along the [100] direction. Within these sheets there are [K₄Ni₄O₈] and [K₂Ni₂O₄] loops. Successive alternation of the sheets and [Pd{CH₂(PO₃)₂}]₃ units parallel to [001] produces the three‐dimensional packing, which is also supported by a dense network of hydrogen bonds involving the solvent water molecules.     

Ni3 versus Ni30: A Truncated Octahedron Metal–Organic Cage Constructed with [Ni5(CN)4]6+ Squares and Tripodal Tris‐tacn Ligands That are Large and Flexible

Reactions of trinickel complex of tripodal tris‐tacn ligand N(CH₂‐m‐C₆H₄‐CH₂tacn)₃ ( L , tacn=1,4,7‐triazacyclononane) in acetonitrile–methanol solution with and without phosphate led to two complexes of distinct nuclearities, [(Ni^IICl)₃(CH₃OH)₃(HPO₄) L ](PF₆) (Ni₃, 1 ) and [(Ni^II₅(CN)₄(H₂O)₈Cl)₆ L ₈]Cl₃₀ (Ni₃₀, 2 ). Ligand L takes upward and downward conformation in the structure of 1 and 2 , respectively. It is proposed that phosphate directs the upward conformation of Ni₃ L to form 1 . In the absence of phosphate, Ni₃ L assembles with cyanide ions, which are formed by Ni‐catalyzed C?CN bond cleavage of acetonitrile, to give a nano‐sized Ni₃₀ cage. Complex 2 represents a discrete truncated octahedron cage assembled with [Ni₅(CN)₄]⁶⁺ squares and large and flexible triangular ligands, which is scarcely observed for self‐assembled metal‐organic cages. The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 were examined, showing intriguing magnetic properties.     

Bis(1,5‐di­aza­cyclo­octane‐N,N′)nickel(II) dibromide

The crystal structure of the title complex, [Ni(C₆H₁₄N₂)₂]Br₂, consists of discrete [Ni(C₆H₁₄N₂)₂]²⁺ cations and bromide counter‐anions. The Ni^II ion is at the center of symmetry and is four‐coordinated by four nitro­gen donors of the mesocyclic ligand 1,5‐di­aza­cyclo­octane (DACO) [Ni—N 1.935 (2)–1.937 (2) Å]. The coordination geometry of Ni^II can be considered as square planar and both DACO ligands take the boat–chair conformation. The bromide anions are hydrogen bonded with the nitro­gen donors of the ligands to form a macrocycle‐like ring system.