Photofunctional Platinum Complexes Featuring N‐heterocyclic Carbene‐Based Pincer Ligands

Photoactive platinum complexes of stoichiometry [Pt(^RCCC^R)L]^0/+ (R=Me, nBu and L=? CN, ? C≡CPh, ? N≡CCH₃, ? Py, ? CO) featuring pincer‐type bis N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands (^RCCC^R) were synthesized. Organometallic syntheses of these complexes are facile and achievable through standard laboratory procedures. Control of intermolecular Pt???Pt interaction, π–π stacking, and emission tuning is achieved through suitable choice of the NHC‐wingtip substituent (R) and the auxiliary ligand (L). Exposure to specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or mechanical grinding triggers changes in emission colors, which render these complexes photofunctional. Solid‐state structures and photoluminescence results are described herein.     

Platinum (II) N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes: Synthesis,characterization and cytotoxic properties

Platinum (II) complexes bearing N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been widely used in catalytic chemistry, but there are very few reports of biological properties of this type of complexes. A series of [PtCl₂(NHC)(PEt₃)] complexes were synthesized. The structures of all compounds were characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, IR and elemental analysis techniques, which supported the proposed structures. The single crystal structures of complexes 1a and 1e were determined. The title complexes show slightly distorted square‐planar coordination around the platinum (II) metal center. The cytotoxic properties of the platinum (II)–NHC complexes have been assessed in various human cancer lines, including cisplatin‐sensitive and resistant cells. IC₅₀ values of these four complexes were determined by the MTS‐based assay on three human cell lines—brain (SHSY5Y), colon (HTC116) and liver (HEP3B). These complexes have been highlighted cancer therapeutic agent with unique structures and functions.     

Nitridorhenium(V) Complexes with 1,3,4‐Triphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ylidene

[ReNCl₂(PPh₃)₂] and [ReNCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₃] react with the N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) 1,3,4‐triphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ylidene (HL^Ph) under formation of the stable rhenium(V) nitrido complex [ReNCl(HL^Ph)(L^Ph)], which contains one of the two NHC ligands with an additional orthometallation. The rhenium atom in the product is five‐coordinate with a distorted square‐pyramidal coordination sphere. The position trans to the nitrido ligand is blocked by one phenyl ring of the monodentate HL^Ph ligand. The Re–C(carbene) bond lengths of 2.072(6) and 2.074(6) Å are comparably long and indicate mainly σ‐bonding between the NHC ligand and the electron deficient d² metal atom. The chloro ligand in [ReNCl(HL^Ph)(L^Ph)] is labile and can be replaced by ligands such as pseudohalides or monoanionic thiolates such as diphenyldithiophosphinate (Ph₂PS₂^?) or pyridine‐2‐thiolate (pyS^?). X‐ray structure analyses of [ReN(CN)(HL^Ph)(L^Ph)] and [ReN(pyS)(HL^Ph)(L^Ph)] show that the bonding situation of the NHC ligands (Re–C(carbene) distances between 2.086(3) and 2.130(3) Å) in the product is not significantly influenced by the ligand exchange. The potentially bidentate pyS^? ligand is solely coordinated via its thiolato functionality. Hydrogen atoms of each one of the phenyl rings come close to the unoccupied sixth coordination positions of the rhenium atoms in the solid state structures of all complexes. Re–H distances between 2.620 and 2.712Å do not allow to discuss bonding, but with respect to the strong trans labilising influence of “N^3?”, weak interactions are indicated.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of palladacycle complexes with n‐butyl‐substituted N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands

A series of monomeric palladacycle complexes bearing n‐butyl‐substituted N‐heterocyclic carbenes, namely [Pd(NHC)X(dmba)] (dmba: dimethylbenzylamine and [Pd(NHC)X(ppy)]; NHC: 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐substituted benzylimidazol‐2‐ylidene; ppy: 2‐phenylpyridine), were prepared either by transmetallation from the corresponding silver carbene complexes or by the reaction of the corresponding acetate‐bridged palladacycle dimer with N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands in high yields. The palladium(II) complexes were characterized using elemental analyses, APCI‐MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. These complexes are efficient in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction between phenylboronic acid and aryl bromides.     

Knight Shift in 13C NMR Resonances Confirms the Coordination of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands to Water‐Soluble Palladium Nanoparticles

The coordination of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands to the surface of 3.7 nm palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) can be unambiguously established by observation of Knight shift (KS) in the ¹³C resonance of the carbenic carbon. In order to validate this coordination, PdNPs with sizes ranging from 1.3 to 4.8 nm were prepared by thermal decomposition or reduction with CO of a dimethyl NHC Pd^II complex. NMR studies after ¹³CO adsorption established that the KS shifts the ¹³C resonances of the chemisorbed molecules several hundreds of ppm to high frequencies only when the particle exceeds a critical size of around 2 nm. Finally, the resonance of a carbenic carbon is reported to be Knight‐shifted to 600 ppm for ¹³C‐labelled NHCs bound to PdNPs of 3.7 nm. The observation of these very broad KS resonances was facilitated by using Car–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) echo train acquisition NMR experiments.     

Ammonia Activation by a Nickel NCN‐Pincer Complex featuring a Non‐Innocent N‐Heterocyclic Carbene: Ammine and Amido Complexes in Equilibrium

A Ni⁰‐NCN pincer complex featuring a six‐membered N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) central platform and amidine pendant arms was synthesized by deprotonation of its Ni^II precursor. It retained chloride in the square‐planar coordination sphere of nickel and was expected to be highly susceptible to oxidative addition reactions. The Ni⁰ complex rapidly activated ammonia at room temperature, in a ligand‐assisted process where the carbene carbon atom played the unprecedented role of proton acceptor. For the first time, the coordinated (ammine) and activated (amido) species were observed together in solution, in a solvent‐dependent equilibrium. A structural analysis of the Ni complexes provided insight into the highly unusual, non‐innocent behavior of the NHC ligand.     

Preliminary toxicological studies of selected water‐soluble polymer–platinum conjugates

The objective of this preliminary investigation of a number of water‐soluble carrier‐bound platinum(II) complexes for potential use in cancer chemotherapy was to assess the toxicological behavior of representative platinum coordination compounds anchored to, or incorporated into, polymeric carriers via polymer‐attached amine ligands. The conjugates included linear polyaspartamides (1–4, 6, 7), each composed of a major fraction of subunits featuring side‐chain‐attached tertiary amino groups as water‐solubilizing entities, and a minor fraction of subunits comprising the anchored platinum complexes, again as side‐chain components. Whereas in 1–4 the platinum atom was polymer‐bound through a single amino group, both 6 and 7 contained polymer‐attached cis‐diamine‐chelating ligands coordinating to the metal center. Also included in this study was a linear polyamidoamine (5), which contained a poly(ethylene oxide) segment in the backbone in addition to intrachain ethylenediamine segments acting as cis‐diamine chelating ligands for coordination to the platinum center. The compounds were injected as aqueous (phosphate‐buffered saline) solutions into the tail veins of CD‐1 mice (four to eight mice per conjugate), and the maximally tolerated dose was determined for each compound. For polyaspartamides 1–4 the dose levels ranged from about 25 mg Pt (kg body weight⁻¹) (in conjugate 4) to 500 mg Pt kg⁻¹ (in compound 1), the latter conjugate proving some 100‐fold less toxic than cisplatin (3–4 mg Pt kg⁻¹), which was included in this study for comparison. Low toxicity (tolerated dose 160 mg Pt kg⁻¹) was also observed for the intrachain cis‐diamineplatinum complex polymer (5). The polyaspartamide conjugates 6 and 7, on the other hand, both characterized by a cis‐diamineplatinum complex system in the side chain, were toxic even below the dose level of 20–25 mg Pt kg⁻¹. The preliminary findings of this study, while providing a basis for more extensive and broad‐based toxicological studies, will serve to direct and optimize structural conjugate designs in forthcoming synthetic programs. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sulfonated N‐heterocyclic carbine‐silver (I) complexes: Synthesis,characterisation and biological evaluation

The synthesis, characterisation and biological activity of water‐soluble Ag(I)‐NHC complexes, general formula Na[(NHC)AgCl] where NHC is a sulfonated and sterically hindered N‐heterocyclic carbene, is reported. The Ag‐NHC complexes (2a–e) were synthesised by reacting the corresponding sulfonated NHC ligands with Ag₂O in the presence of NaCl or NaBr in methanol/water (1:1) solution. Synthesised silver (I)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes have been characterised by NMR, micro‐analysis and HRMS spectroscopic methods. The IC₅₀ values of these complexes were determined by a proliferation BrdU enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against HeLa (human cervix carcinoma), HT29 (human adenocarcinoma) and L929 (mouse fibroblast) cell lines. These complexes have been highlighted as promising and original platforms for building new types of metalodrug. All new water‐soluble Ag(I) complexes demonstrated remarkable cytotoxic activity against HeLa, HT29 and L929 cell lines.     

Water‐Soluble Luminescent Cyclometalated Gold(III) Complexes with cis‐Chelating Bis(N‐Heterocyclic Carbene) Ligands: Synthesis and Photophysical Properties

A new class of cyclometalated Au^III complexes containing various bidentate C‐deprotonated C^N and cis‐chelating bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene) (bis‐NHC) ligands has been synthesized and characterized. These are the first examples of Au^III complexes supported by cis‐chelating bis‐NHC ligands. [Au(C^N)(bis‐NHC)] complexes display emission in solutions under degassed condition at room temperature with emission maxima (λ_max) at 498–633 nm and emission quantum yields of up to 10.1 %. The emissions are assigned to triplet intraligand (IL) π→π* transitions of C^N ligands. The Au^III complex containing a C^N (C‐deprotonated naphthalene‐substituted quinoline) ligand with extended π‐conjugation exhibits prompt fluorescence and phosphorescence of comparable intensity with λ_max at 454 and 611 nm respectively. With sulfonate‐functionalized bis‐NHC ligand, four water‐soluble luminescent Au^III complexes, including those displaying both fluorescence and phosphorescence, were prepared. They show similar photophysical properties in water when compared with their counterparts in acetonitrile. The long phosphorescence lifetime of the water‐soluble AuIII complex with C‐deprotonated naphthalene‐substituted quinoline ligand renders it to function as ratiometric sensor for oxygen. Inhibitory activity of one of these water‐soluble Au^III complexes towards deubiquitinase (DUB) UCHL3 has been investigated; this complex also displayed a significant inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value of 0.15 μM .     

Room‐Temperature Hydrohydrazination of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by Saturated Abnormal N‐Heterocyclic Carbene–Gold(I) Complexes

A number of saturated abnormal N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of gold, in combination with KBAr^F₄ as activator, were successfully applied in the chemoselective addition of hydrazine to alkynes. The reaction proceeds even at room temperature, which was not possible to date with gold catalysts. The reaction can be applied to a number of substituted arylalkynes. With alkylalkynes the yields are low. The saturated abnormal NHC ligands are resistant to isomerization to the saturated normal NHC coordination mode under basic reaction conditions. Under acidic conditions, a simple protonation at the nitrogen atom not neighboring the carbene center was observed and unambiguously characterized by an X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis. Computational studies confirm that such an isomerization would be highly exothermic, the observed kinetic stability probably results from the need to shift two protons in such a process.     

Oxorhenium(V) Complexes with 1,3,4‐Triphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ylidene

Reactions of the oxorhenium(V) complexes [ReOX₃(PPh₃)₂] (X = Cl, Br) with the N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) 1,3,4‐triphenyl‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ylidene (L^Ph) under mild conditions and in the presence of MeOH or water give [ReOX₂(Y)(PPh₃)(L^Ph)] complexes (X = Cl, Br; Y = OMe, OH). Attempted reactions of the carbene precursor 5‐methoxy‐1,3,4‐triphenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 1 ) with [ReOCl₃(PPh₃)₂] or [NBu₄][ReOCl₄] in boiling xylene resulted in protonation of the intermediately formed carbene and decomposition products such as [HL^Ph][ReOCl₄(OPPh₃)], [HL^Ph][ReOCl₄(OH₂)] or [HL^Ph][ReO₄] were isolated. The neutral [ReOX₂(Y)(PPh₃)(HL^Ph)] complexes are purple, airstable solids. The bulky NHC ligands coordinate monodentate and in cis‐position to PPh₃. The relatively long Re–C bond lengths of approximate 2.1Å indicate metal‐carbon single bonds.     

Phosphorescent Platinum(II) Complexes with C^C* Cyclometalated NHC Dibenzofuranyl Ligands: Impact of Different Binding Modes on the Decay Time of the Excited State

Two C^C* cyclometalated platinum(II) N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes with the general formula [(C^C*)Pt(O^O)] (C^C*=1‐dibenzofuranyl‐3‐methylbenzimidazolylidene; O^O=dimesitoylmethane) have been synthesized and extensively characterized, including solid‐state structure determination, ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy, and 2D NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY) spectroscopy to elucidate the impact of their structural differences. The two regioisomers differ in the way the dibenzofuranyl (DBF) moiety of the NHC ligand is bound to the metal center, which induces significant changes in their physicochemical properties, especially on the decay time of the excited state. Quantum yields of over 80 % and blue emission colors were measured.     

Nickel‐Triad Complexes of a Side‐on Coordinating Distannene

NHC adducts of the stannylene Trip₂Sn (Trip=2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl) were reacted with zero‐valent Ni, Pd, and Pt precursor complexes to cleanly yield the respective metal complexes featuring a three‐membered ring moiety Sn‐Sn‐M along with carbene transfer onto the metal and complete substitution of the starting ligands. Thus the easily accessible NHC adducts to stannylenes are shown to be valuable precursors for transition‐metal complexes with an unexpected Sn? Sn bond. The complexes have been studied by X‐ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy as well as DFT calculations. The compounds featuring the structural motif of a distannametallacycle comprised of a [(NHC)₂M⁰] fragment and Sn₂Trip₄ represent rare higher congeners of the well‐known olefin complexes. DFT calculations indicate the presence of a π‐type Sn–Sn interaction in these first examples for acyclic distannenes symmetrically coordinating to a zero‐valent transition metal.     

Pincer‐Type Platinum(II) Complexes Containing N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Ligand: Structures,Photophysical and Anion‐Binding Properties,and Anticancer Activities

Two classes of pincer‐type Pt^II complexes containing tridentate N‐donor ligands ( 1 – 8 ) or C‐deprotonated N^C^N ligands derived from 1,3‐di(2‐pyridyl)benzene ( 10 – 13 ) and auxiliary N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand were synthesized. [Pt(trpy)(NHC)]²⁺ complexes 1 – 5 display green phosphorescence in CH₂Cl₂ (Φ: 1.1–5.3 %; τ: 0.3–1.0 μs) at room temperature. Moderate‐to‐intense emissions are observed for 1 – 7 in glassy solutions at 77 K and for 1 – 6 in the solid state. The [Pt(N^C^N)(NHC)]⁺ complexes 10 – 13 display strong green phosphorescence with quantum yields up to 65 % in CHCl₃. The reactions of 1 with a wide variety of anions were examined in various solvents. The tridentate N‐donor ligand of 1 undergoes displacement reaction with CN^? in protic solvents. Similar displacement of the N^C^N ligand by CN^? has been observed for 10 , leading to a luminescence “switch‐off” response. The water‐soluble 7 containing anthracenyl‐functionalized NHC ligand acts as a light “switch‐on” sensor for the detection of CN^? ion with high selectivity. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the Pt^II complexes towards HeLa cells has been evaluated. Complex 12 showed high cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ value of 0.46 μM , whereas 1 – 4 and 6 – 8 are less cytotoxic. The cellular localization of the strongly luminescent complex 12 traced by using emission microscopy revealed that it mainly localizes in the cytoplasmic structures rather than in the nucleus. This complex can induce mitochondria dysfunction and subsequent cell death.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of bulky 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl substituent‐containing silver–N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes

A series of novel benzimidazolium bromides containing bulky 3,5‐di‐tert ‐butyl group were synthesized in high yields as N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. These NHC ligands were metallated with Ag₂O under moderate conditions to give novel silver–NHC complexes. The structures of all compounds were characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³CNMR, infrared and elemental analysis techniques, which supported the proposed structures. The silver–NHC complexes were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against the standard bacterial strains Enterococcus faecalis , Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the fungal strains Candida albicans and C. tropicalis . The results showed that most of the silver–NHC complexes inhibited the growth of all bacterial strains and fungal strains and were found to display effective antimicrobial activity against different microorganisms.     

Porphyrins Fused to N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs): Modulation of the Electronic and Catalytic Properties of NHCs by the Central Metal of the Porphyrin

We report herein a detailed study of the use of porphyrins fused to imidazolium salts as precursors of N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands 1 M . Rhodium(I) complexes 6 M – 9 M were prepared by using 1 M ligands with different metal cations in the inner core of the porphyrin (M=Ni^II, Zn^II, Mn^III, Al^III, 2H). The electronic properties of the corresponding N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands were investigated by monitoring the spectroscopic changes occurring in the cod and CO ancillary ligands of [( 1 M )Rh(cod)Cl] and [( 1 M )Rh(CO)₂Cl] complexes (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene). Porphyrin–NHC ligands 1 M with a trivalent metal cation such as Mn^III and Al^III are overall poorer electron donors than porphyrin–NHC ligands with no metal cation or incorporating a divalent metal cation such as Ni^II and Zn^II. Imidazolium salts 3 M (M=Ni, Zn, Mn, 2H) have also been used as NHC precursors to catalyze the ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide. The results clearly show that the inner metal of the porphyrin has an important effect on the reactivity of the outer carbene.     

New palladium(II)–N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes containing benzimidazole‐2‐ylidene ligand derived from menthol: synthesis,characterization and catalytic activities

A new series of sterically hindered ligands containing (1R,2S,4R)‐(+)‐menthoxymethyl group attached to benzimidazole‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC), palladium–bis‐NHC complexes and (κ²‐C,N)‐palladacyclic NHC complexes have been synthesized and characterized using appropriate spectroscopic techniques. Catalytic performance of the palladium complexes has been investigated for allylic alkylation, Suzuki and Heck carbon–carbon coupling reactions. These complexes smoothly catalyse the carbon–carbon bond formation reactions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Benchtop Method for Appending Protic Functional Groups to N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Protected Gold Nanoparticles

The remarkable resilience of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) gold bonds has quickly made NHCs the ligand of choice when functionalizing gold surfaces. Despite rapid progress using deposition from free or CO₂‐protected NHCs, synthetic challenges hinder the functionalization of NHC surfaces with protic functional groups, such as alcohols and amines, particularly on larger nanoparticles. Here, we synthesize NHC‐functionalized gold surfaces from gold(I) NHC complexes and aqueous nanoparticles without the need for additional reagents, enabling otherwise difficult functional groups to be appended to the carbene. The resilience of the NHC?Au bond allows for multi‐step post‐synthetic modification. Beginning with the nitro‐NHC, we form an amine‐NHC terminated surface, which further undergoes amide coupling with carboxylic acids. The simplicity of this approach, its compatibility with aqueous nanoparticle solutions, and its ability to yield protic functionality, greatly expands the potential of NHC‐functionalized noble metal surfaces.     

Piperazine‐ and DABCO‐bridged dinuclear N‐heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes: synthesis,structure and application to Hiyama coupling reaction

Four dinuclear N ‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladium complexes were prepared by reaction of imidazolinium salts, PdCl₂ and bridging ligands (piperazine and DABCO) in one pot or by direct cleavage of the chloro‐bridged dimeric compounds [Pd(μ ‐Cl)(Cl)(NHC)]₂ with bridging ligands. All of the complexes were fully characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, high‐resolution mass and infrared spectroscopies, elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The catalytic activities of the obtained palladium catalysts towards Hiyama coupling of aryl chlorides with phenyltrimethoxysilane were investigated and the results showed that the dinuclear palladium complexes were considerably active for the coupling reaction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bis‐NHC Chelate Complexes of Nickel(0) and Platinum(0)

For a long time d¹⁰‐ML₂ fragments have been known for their potential to activate unreactive bonds by oxidative addition. In the development of more active species, two approaches have proven successful: the use of strong σ‐donating ligands leading to electron‐rich metal centers and the employment of chelating ligands resulting in a bent coordination geometry. Combining these two strategies, we synthesized bis‐NHC chelate complexes of nickel(0) and platinum(0). Bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)nickel(0) and ‐platinum(0) react with bisimidazolium salts, deprotonated in situ at room temperature, to yield tetrahedral or trigonal‐planar bis‐NHC chelate olefin complexes. The synthesis and characterization of these complexes as well as a first example of C? C bond activation with these systems are reported. Due to the enforced cis arrangement of two NHCs, these compounds should open interesting perspectives for bond‐activation chemistry and catalysis.