Strategy for the Construction of Diverse Poly-NHC-Derived Assemblies and Their Photoinduced Transformations

A series of supramolecular assemblies of types [Ag₈( L )₄](PF₆)₈ and [Ag₄( L )₂](PF₆)₄, obtained from the tetraphenylethylene (TPE) bridged tetrakis(1,2,4-triazolium) salts H₄-L(PF₆)₄ and Ag^I ions, is described. The assembly type obtained dependends on the N-wingtip substituents of H₄-L(PF₆)₄. Changes in the lengths of the N4-wingtip substituents enables controlled formation of assemblies with either [Ag₄( L )₂](PF₆)₄ or [Ag₈( L )₄](PF₆)₈ stoichiometry. The molecular structures of selected [Ag₈( L )₄](PF₆)₈ and [Ag₄( L )₂](PF₆)₄ assemblies were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. While H₄- L (PF₆)₄ does not exhibit fluorescence in solution, their tetra-NHC (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) assemblies do upon NHC–metal coordination. Upon irradiation, all assemblies undergo a light-induced, supramolecule-to-supramolecule structural transformation by an oxidative photocyclization involving phenyl groups of the TPE core, resulting in a significant change of the luminescence properties.     

C3‐Symmetric Assemblies from Trigonal Polycarbene Ligands and MI Ions for the Synthesis of Three‐Dimensional Polyimidazolium Cations

Metallosupramolecular poly‐NHC‐metal assemblies were prepared from trigonal hexakis (H₆‐ 1 a (PF₆)₆ and H₆‐ 1 b (PF₆)₆) or nonakis (H₉‐ 3 (BF₄)₉) imidazolium salts and Ag₂O. Complexes [Ag₆( 1 a )₂](PF₆)₆ and [Ag₆( 1 b )₂](PF₆)₆ are built from six Ag⁺ ions sandwiched between two trigonal hexacarbene ligands with an inner and an outer NHC donor in each of the three ligand arms. The metal atoms are arranged in two triangles. The hexakis‐NHC ligands bear cinnamic ester groups at the outlying NHC donors, used in postsynthetic [2+2] cycloaddition reactions linking two hexakis‐NHC ligands by three cyclobutane units to give complexes [Ag₆( 2 a )](PF₆)₆ and [Ag₆( 2 b )](PF₆)₆ bearing a dodecacarbene ligand. From the related nonakisimidazolium salt H₉‐ 3 (BF₄)₉, complex [Ag₉( 4 )](BF₄)₉ bearing an octadecacarbene ligand was obtained. Removal of the template metals yielded very large, stable, polyimidazolium cations with 12 or 18 internal imidazolium groups.     

Turn‐On Fluorescence in Tetra‐NHC Ligands by Rigidification through Metal Complexation: An Alternative to Aggregation‐Induced Emission

Two tetraphenylethylene (TPE) bridged tetraimidazolium salts, [H₄ L ‐Et](PF₆)₄ and [H₄ L ‐Bu](PF₆)₄, were used as precursors for the synthesis of the dinuclear Ag^I and Au^I tetracarbene complexes [Ag₂( L ‐Et)](PF₆)₂, [Ag₂( L ‐Bu)](PF₆)₂, [Au₂( L ‐Et)](PF₆)₂, and [Au₂( L ‐Bu)](PF₆)₂. The tetraimidazolium salts show almost no fluorescence (Φ _F<1 %) in dilute solution while their NHC complexes display fluorescence “turn‐on” (Φ _F up to 47 %). This can be ascribed to rigidification mediated by the restriction of intramolecular rotation within the TPE moiety upon complexation. DFT calculations confirm that the metals are not involved in the lowest excited singlet and triplet states, thus explaining the lack of phosphorescence and fast intersystem crossing as a result of heavy atom effects. The rigidification upon complexation for fluorescence turn‐on constitutes an alternative to the known aggregation‐induced emission (AIE).     

Triazole‐Functionalized N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Palladium and Platinum and Efficient Aqueous Suzuki–Miyaura Coupling Reaction

Imidazolium salts bearing triazole groups are synthesized via a copper catalyzed click reaction, and the silver, palladium, and platinum complexes of their N‐heterocyclic carbenes are studied. [Ag₄(L1)₄](PF₆)₄, [Pd(L1)Cl](PF₆), [Pt(L1)Cl](PF₆) (L1=3‐((1‐benzyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)methyl)‐1‐(pyrimidin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐imidazolylidene), [Pd₂(L2)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₂, and [Pd(L2)₂](PF₆)₂ (L2=1‐butyl‐3‐((1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)methyl)imidazolylidene) have been synthesized and fully characterized by NMR, elemental analysis, and X‐ray crystallography. The silver complex [Ag₄(L1)₄](PF₆)₄ consists of a Ag₄ zigzag chain. The complexes [Pd(L1)Cl](PF₆) and [Pt(L1)Cl](PF₆), containing a nonsymmetrical NCN ′ pincer ligand, are square planar with a chloride trans to the carbene donor. [Pd₂(L2)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₂ consists of two palladium centers with CN₂Cl coordination mode, whereas the palladium in [Pd(L2)₂](PF₆)₂ is surrounded by two carbene and two triazole groups with two uncoordinated pyridines. The palladium compounds are highly active for Suzuki–Miyaura cross coupling reactions of aryl bromides and 1,1‐dibromo‐1‐alkenes in neat water under an air atmosphere.     

Metal‐Carbene‐Templated Photochemistry in Solution: A Universal Route towards Cyclobutane Derivatives

A series of dicarbene‐bridged metallacycles [Ag₂( 1 )₂](PF₆)₂, [Ag₂( 2 )₂](BF₄)₂, [Ag₂( 3 )₂](PF₆)₂, [Ag₂( 7 )₂](BF₄)₂, [Ag₂( 8 )₂](BF₄)₂ and [Ag₂( 11 )₂](PF₆)₂ were obtained in high yields via the reactions of 1,2,4‐triazole‐, 1,2,3‐triazole‐ and imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐based ligands with Ag₂O in CH₃CN. The C=C double bonds in all of the newly synthesized metallacycles went through [2 + 2] photodimerization under UV irradiation condition (λ = 365 nm, T = 298 K) yielding the dinuclear rctt‐cyclobutane‐silver(I) complexes [Ag₂( 4 )](PF₆)₂, [Ag₂( 5 )](BF₄)₂, [Ag₂( 6 )](PF₆)₂, [Ag₂( 9 )](BF₄)₂, [Ag₂( 10 )](BF₄)₂ and [Ag₂( 12 )](PF₆)₂, respectively with quantitative yields. Treatment of the these cyclobutane‐bridged silver(I) complexes with NH₄Cl resulted in the exclusive formation of cyclobutane derivatives after removal of the silver(I) metal ions.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Properties of Organometallic Molecular Cylinders Bearing Bulky Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-Based N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

The metal-controlled self-assembly of organometallic molecular cylinders from a series of imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine-based tris-NHC ligands is described in this report. The imidazo[1,5-a]pyridinium salts H₃- L (PF₆)₃ ( L = 4 a – 4 c ) were treated with 1.5 equivalents of Ag₂O to yield the trinuclear Ag^I hexacarbene cages [Ag₃( L )₂](PF₆)₃ ( L = 4 a – 4 c ), in which three Ag^I are sandwiched between the two tricarbene ligands. The silver(I) complexes [Ag₃( L )₂](PF₆)₃ underwent a facile transmetalation reaction in the presence of 3 equivalents of [AuCl(tht)] (tht=tetrahydrothiophene) to furnish the trinuclear Au^I cylinder-like cages [Au₃( L )₂](PF₆)₃ ( L = 4 a – 4 c ) without destruction of the metallosupramolecular structure. The new hexacarbene assemblies feature a large cavity that can easily accommodate a molecule of dimethyl sulfoxide as molecular guest. This is the first study of a unique “host–guest” system containing an organometallic cylinder-like cage derived exclusively from poly-NHC ligands.     

Linear Pyrazole‐bridged Tetra(N‐heterocyclic carbene) Ligands and Their Hexanuclear Silver(I) Complexes

New hybrid ligands are reported that combine two types of popular donor groups within a single linear scaffold, viz., a central pyrazolate bridge and two appended bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene) units; the ligand strands thus provide two potentially tridentate {NCC} compartments. The pyrazole/tetraimidazolium proligands, [H₅L¹](PF₆)₄ and [H₅L²](PF₆)₄ , were synthesized via multi‐step protocols, and the NH prototropy of [H₅L¹](PF₆)₄ was examined by variable temperature (VT) NMR spectroscopy, giving solvent dependent activation parameters (ΔH^? = 27.6 kJ · mol^–1, ΔS^? = –125 J · mol^–1 · K^–1 in [D₃]MeCN; ΔH^? = 40.4 kJ · mol^–1, ΔS^? = –86.9 J · mol^–1 · K^–1 in [D₆]DMSO) that are in the range typical for pyrazoles. Reaction of the proligands with Ag₂O gave hexametallic complexes [Ag₆(L¹)₂](PF₆)₄ and [Ag₆(L²)₂](PF₆)₄ that involve all six potential donor atoms of the ligands, viz. the four C^NHC and two N^pz donors, in metal coordination. X‐ray crystallography revealed a chair‐like central {Ag₆} deck in both complexes but different arrangements of the ligand strands, which goes along with significantly different Ag^I ··· Ag^I distances that indicate more pronounced argentophilic interactions in case of [Ag₆(L¹)₂]^{4 +}.     

Self-Assembly of Benzimidazole-Derived Tris-NHC Ligands and AgI-Ions to Hexanuclear Organometallic Cages and Their Unusual Transmetalation Chemistry

Multi-ligand self-assembly to attain the Ag^I-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-built hexanuclear organometallic cages of composition [Ag₆( 3 a , b )₄](PF₆)₆ from the reaction of benzimidazole-derived tris(azolium) salts [H₃- 3 a , b ](PF₆)₃ with Ag₂O was achieved. The molecular structures of the cages were established by X-ray diffraction studies along with NMR and MS analyses. The existence of a single assembly in solution was supported by diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) ¹H NMR spectra. Further, transmetalation reactions of these self-assembled complexes, [Ag₆( 3 a , b )₄](PF₆)₆, with Cu^I/Au^I-ions provided various coinage metal-NHC complexes having diverse molecular compositions, which included the first example of a hexanuclear Cu^I-dodecacarbene complex, [Cu₆( 3 b )₄](PF₆)₆.     

Coordination Chemistry of Highly Hemilabile Bidentate Sulfoxide N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes with Palladium(II)

Imidazolium salts, [RS(O)? CH₂(C₃H₃N₂)Mes]Cl (R=Me ( L1 a ), Ph ( L1 b )); Mes=mesityl), make convenient carbene precursors. Palladation of L1 a affords the monodentate dinuclear complex, [(PdCl₂{MeS(O)CH₂(C₃H₂N₂)Mes})₂] ( 2 a ), which is converted into trans‐[PdCl₂(NHC)₂] (trans‐ 4 a ; N‐heterocyclic carbene) with two rotamers in anti and syn configurations. Complex trans‐ 4 a can isomerize into cis‐ 4 a (anti) at reflux in acetonitrile. Abstraction of chlorides from 4 a or 4 b leads to the formation of a new dication: trans‐[Pd{RS(O)CH₂(C₃H₂N₂)Mes}₂](PF₆)₂ (R=Me ( 5 a ), Ph ( 5 b )). The X‐ray structure of 5 a provides evidence that the two bidentate SO? NHC ligands at palladium(II) are in square‐planar geometry. Two sulfoxides are sulfur‐ and oxygen‐bound, and constitute five‐ and six‐membered chelate rings with the metal center, respectively. In acetonitrile, complexes 5 a or 5 b spontaneously transform into cis‐[Pd(NHC)₂(NCMe)₂](PF₆)₂. Similar studies of thioether–NHCs have also been examined for comparison. The results indicate that sulfoxides are more labile than thioethers.     

Dinuclear Macrocyclic Quinoline Bridged Mercury and Silver Bis(N‐heterocyclic Carbene) Complexes: Synthesis,Structure, and Spectroscopic Studies

Quinoline bridged imidazolium precursors 5,8‐bis(N‐R‐imidazolylidenylmethylene)quinoline PF₆^– salts [H₂L](PF₆)₂ [R = Me ( 1a ), R = naphthylmethyl ( 1b )] were prepared by quaternization of N‐methylimidazole and N‐naphthylmethylimidazole with 5,8‐bis(bromomethyl)quinoline, respectively. Reaction of the imidazolium ligands 1a and 1b with Hg(OAc)₂ and Ag₂O in acetonitrile gave the macrocyclic transition metal carbene complexes [Hg₂L₂](PF₆)₄ ( 2a and 2b ) and [Ag₂L₂](PF₆)₂ ( 3a and 3b ), respectively. All the N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes were characterized in detail by NMR, ESI‐MS, and elemental analysis. Structures of complexes 2a and 3a were determined by X‐ray diffraction studies. Structural studies revealed that the coordination arrangement of the central mercury atom in complex 2a displays a tricoordinate mode and the molecular conformation results in a“closed” form with the bridging quinoline functionality in the macrocycle, whereas the silver complex 3a does not show an coordiantion between the bridging quinoline and the Ag^I ion, which results in an “open” conformation of the macrocycle. The Hg^II and Ag^I NHC complexes showed similar UV absorption and luminescence in acetonitrile solutions.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and luminescence properties of multinuclear silver complexes of pyrazole-functionalized NHC ligands containing Ag-Ag and Ag-π interactions

A few pyrazole-functionalized imidazolium salts have been prepared via the reactions of N-alkylimidazole and 3,5-bis(chloromethyl)pyrazole or 2-(1-(2-chloroethyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-6-(5-methyl-1-vinyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl) pyridine. Reactions of these imidazolium salts with Ag₂O led to the successful isolation of tetranuclear [Ag₄(L)₂](X)₂ (X = PF₆⁻ or BF₄⁻; H₃L1 = 3,5-bis(N-benzylimidazoliumyl)pyrazole, H₃L2 = 3,5-bis(N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazoliumyl)pyrazole, H₃L3 = imidazolium cyclophane from the condensation of 3,5-bis(chloromethyl)pyrazole and 1,4-bis(imidazolyl)butane) and trinuclear silver clusters supported by N-heterocyclic carbene ligands in high yields. The molecular structures of these silver complexes have been confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, ESI-MS spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The tetranuclear complexes [Ag₄(L1)₂](PF₆)₂ (1) and [Ag₄(L2)₂](BF₄)₂ (2) consist of a pair of Ag-Ag contacts (ca. 3.11 Å) showing weak silver-silver interaction. [Ag₄(L3)₂](PF₆)₂ (3) has a square planar Ag₄ core sandwiched by two NHC cyclophanes with Ag-Ag distances of 3.22 Å. All the silver atoms in 1-3 are located in the same linear C-Ag-N coordination environment. [Ag₃(L4)₂] (PF₆)₃ (HL4 = 2-(1-(2-methylimidazoliumylethyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-6-(5-methyl-1-vinyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl) pyridine) (4) is a trinuclear complex in which the three silver are bridged by two L4 molecules, and the Ag₃ units form one-dimensional chain via Ag-π interaction. The luminescence properties of the imidazolium salts and their silver complexes were also studied.     

Template Synthesis of Three‐Dimensional Hexakisimidazolium Cages

A procedure for the synthesis of three‐dimensional hexakisimidazolium cage compounds has been developed. The reaction of the trigonal trisimidazolium salts H₃L(PF₆)₃, decorated with three N‐olefinic pendants, and silver oxide yielded trinuclear trisilver(I) hexacarbene molecular cylinders of the type [Ag₃L₂]³⁺ with the olefinic pendants from the two different tricarbene ligands arranged in three pairs. Subsequent UV irradiation gave three cyclobutane links between the two tris‐NHC ligands in three [2+2] cycloaddition reactions, thereby generating a three‐dimensional hexakis‐NHC ligand. Removal of the metal ions resulted in the formation of three‐dimensional hexakisimidazolium cages with a large internal cavity.     

A hybrid imidazolylidene/imidazolium nickel NHC complex: an isolated intermediate

Macrocyclic ligand systems with a variety of (different) donor sites oftentimes give rise to very exciting and unexpected multinuclear metal complexes. We report herein the structure of a trinuclear mixed imidazolylidene/imidazolium nickel N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex, namely di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis{μ‐calix[2]imidazolium[2]imidazolylidene[2]pyrazolate}trinickel(II) tetrakis(hexafluoridophosphate) acetonitrile tetrasolvate, [Ni₃(C₂₄H₂₄N₁₂)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₄·4CH₃CN or [Ni₃(L ^Me)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₄·4CH₃CN, that can be understood as a trapped reaction intermediate during the synthesis of the respective [Ni₂L ^Me](PF₆)₂ product. The structure not only contains protonated next to deprotonated imidazole heterocycles, but also Ni²⁺ ions with fundamentally different coordination modes within one molecule. Two of the three metal atoms are coordinated in a square‐pyramidal fashion by half a ligand molecule and one chloride ligand, whereas the third Ni²⁺ ion is bound octahedrally by four pyrazolate moieties and two chloride anions.     

trans‐Diaceto­nitrilebis­(di‐2‐pyridyl sulfide‐N,N′)ruthenium(II) bis­(tetra­fluoro­borate) monohydrate

The title complex, [Ru(C₁₀H₈N₂S)₂(CH₃CN)₂](BF₄)₂·H₂O, is the product of the solvolysis of [Ru(dps‐N,N)₂(dps‐N,S)](PF₆)₂ (dps is di‐2‐pyridyl sulfide) in the presence of HBF₄ in acetone–aceto­nitrile at room temperature. There are two independent cations, with the Ru atoms on inversion centres; each Ru atom has an octahedral geometry with the dps mol­ecules behaving as N,N′‐bidentate ligands and assuming a trans arrangement.     

Chiral one‐ and two‐dimensional silver(I)–biotin coordination polymers

Reaction of biotin {C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃S, HL; systematic name: 5‐[(3aS,4S,6aR)‐2‐oxohexahydro‐1H‐thieno[3,4‐d]imidazol‐4‐yl]pentanoic acid} with silver acetate and a few drops of aqueous ammonia leads to the deprotonation of the carboxylic acid group and the formation of a neutral chiral two‐dimensional polymer network, poly[[{μ₃‐5‐[(3aS,4S,6aR)‐2‐oxohexahydro‐1H‐thieno[3,4‐d]imidazol‐4‐yl]pentanoato}silver(I)] trihydrate], {[Ag(C₁₀H₁₅N₂O₃S)]·3H₂O}_n or {[Ag(L)]·3H₂O}_n, (I). Here, the Ag^I cations are pentacoordinate, coordinated by four biotin anions via two S atoms and a ureido O atom, and by two carboxylate O atoms of the same molecule. The reaction of biotin with silver salts of potentially coordinating anions, viz. nitrate and perchlorate, leads to the formation of the chiral one‐dimensional coordination polymers catena‐poly[[bis[nitratosilver(I)]‐bis{μ₃‐5‐[(3aS,4S,6aR)‐2‐oxohexahydro‐1H‐thieno[3,4‐d]imidazol‐4‐yl]pentanoato}] monohydrate], {[Ag₂(NO₃)₂(C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃S)₂]·H₂O}_n or {[Ag₂(NO₃)₂(HL)₂]·H₂O}_n, (II), and catena‐poly[bis[perchloratosilver(I)]‐bis{μ₃‐5‐[(3aS,4S,6aR)‐2‐oxohexahydro‐1H‐thieno[3,4‐d]imidazol‐4‐yl]pentanoato}], [Ag₂(ClO₄)₂(C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃S)₂]_n or [Ag₂(ClO₄)₂(HL)₂]_n, (III), respectively. In (II), the Ag^I cations are again pentacoordinated by three biotin molecules via two S atoms and a ureido O atom, and by two O atoms of a nitrate anion. In (I), (II) and (III), the Ag^I cations are bridged by an S atom and are coordinated by the ureido O atom and the O atoms of the anions. The reaction of biotin with silver salts of noncoordinating anions, viz. hexafluoridophosphate (PF₆⁻) and hexafluoridoantimonate (SbF₆⁻), gave the chiral double‐stranded helical structures catena‐poly[[silver(I)‐bis{μ₂‐5‐[(3aS,4S,6aR)‐2‐oxohexahydro‐1H‐thieno[3,4‐d]imidazol‐4‐yl]pentanoato}] hexafluoridophosphate], {[Ag(C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃S)₂](PF₆)}_n or {[Ag(HL)₂](PF₆)}_n, (IV), and catena‐poly[[[{5‐[(3aS,4S,6aR)‐2‐oxohexahydro‐1H‐thieno[3,4‐d]imidazol‐4‐yl]pentanoato}silver(I)]‐μ₂‐{5‐[(3aS,4S,6aR)‐2‐oxohexahydro‐1H‐thieno[3,4‐d]imidazol‐4‐yl]pentanoato}] hexafluoridoantimonate], {[Ag(C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃S)₂](SbF₆)}_n or {[Ag(HL)₂](SbF₆)}_n, (V), respectively. In (IV), the Ag^I cations have a tetrahedral coordination environment, coordinated by four biotin molecules via two S atoms, and by two carboxy O atoms of two different molecules. In (V), however, the Ag^I cations have a trigonal coordination environment, coordinated by three biotin molecules via two S atoms and one carboxy O atom. In (IV) and (V), neither the ureido O atom nor the F atoms of the anion are involved in coordination. Hence, the coordination environment of the Ag^I cations varies from AgS₂O trigonal to AgS₂O₂ tetrahedral to AgS₂O₃ square‐pyramidal. The conformation of the valeric acid side chain varies from extended to twisted and this, together with the various anions present, has an influence on the solid‐state structures of the resulting compounds. The various O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds present result in the formation of chiral two‐ and three‐dimensional networks, which are further stabilized by C—H...X (X = O, F, S) interactions, and by N—H...F interactions for (IV) and (V). Biotin itself has a twisted valeric acid side chain which is involved in an intramolecular C—H...S hydrogen bond. The tetrahydrothiophene ring has an envelope conformation with the S atom as the flap. It is displaced from the mean plane of the four C atoms (plane B) by 0.8789 (6) Å, towards the ureido ring (plane A). Planes A and B are inclined to one another by 58.89 (14)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked via O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds, enclosing R₂²(8) loops, forming zigzag chains propagating along [001]. These chains are linked via N—H...O hydrogen bonds, and C—H...S and C—H...O interactions forming a three‐dimensional network. The absolute configurations of biotin and complexes (I), (II), (IV) and (V) were confirmed crystallographically by resonant scattering.     

catena‐Poly[bis[silver(I)‐μ2‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ2N:N′] naphthalene‐2,6‐dicarboxylate tetrahydrate]: self‐assembly of a supramolecular framework via coordination bonds and supramolecular interactions

The ultrasonic reaction of AgNO₃, 4,4′‐bipyridine (bipy) and naphthalene‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂NDC) gives rise to the title compound, {[Ag₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂](C₁₂H₆O₄)·4H₂O}_n. The NDC dianion is located on an inversion centre. The Ag^I centre is coordinated in a linear manner by two N atoms from two bipy ligands. The crystal structure consists of one‐dimensional Ag^I–bipy cationic chains and two‐dimensional NDC–H₂O anionic sheets, constructed by coordination bonds and supramolecular interactions, respectively.     

Iron(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes of N‐Alkylimidazoles and 1‐Methyl‐1H‐1, 2, 4‐Triazole: X‐ray Studies,Magnetic Characterization,and DFT Calculations

Using the ligands N‐methylimidazole ( MeIm ), N‐ethylimidazole ( EtIm ), N‐propylimidazole ( PrIm ), and 1‐methyl‐1H‐1, 2, 4‐triazole ( MeTz ) three series with a total of 13 iron(II) complexes were isolated. The series comprise of the following complexes: (a) [Fe( MeIm )₆](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 ), [Fe( EtIm )₆](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 ), [Fe( PrIm )₆](ClO₄)₂( 3 ), [Fe( MeTz )₆](ClO₄)₂ ( 4 ), [Fe( MeIm )₆](MeSO₃)₂ ( 5 ), [Fe( EtIm )₆](MeSO₃)₂ ( 6 ), and [Fe( MeTz )₆](BF₄)₂ ( 10 ); (b) [Fe( MeIm )₄(MeSO₃)₂]( 7 ), [Fe( EtIm )₄(MeSO₃)₂] ( 8 ), and [Fe( PrIm )₄(MeSO₃)₂] ( 9 ); (c) [Fe( MeIm )₄(NCS)₂] ( 15 ), [Fe( EtIm )₄(NCS)₂] ( 16 ), and [Fe( MeTz )₄(NCS)₂] ( 17 ). Single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies were performed on 7 – 10 and 15 – 17 . Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements were performed on selective examples of all series, and confirmed them to be in the HS state over the range 6–300 K. DFT calculations were performed at BP86/def‐SV(P) and TPSSh/def2‐TZVPP level on all [Fe L ₆]²⁺ complex cations and the neutral complexes 7 – 9 and 15 – 17 . Additionally the four homoleptic nickel(II) complexes [Ni L ₆](ClO₄)₂ ( 11 : L = MeIm ; 12 : L = EtIm ; 13 : L = PrIm ; 14 : L = MeTz ) were synthesized and compounds 11 – 13 structurally characterized. UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopic measurements were carried out on all homoleptic iron(II) and nickel(II) complexes. The 10Dq values were determined to be in the range of 11547–11574 and 10471–10834 cm^–1 for the iron(II) and nickel(II) complexes, respectively.     

2‐Amino‐5‐(2‐pyridyl)‐thiadiazole as Bidentate Ligand

The amino substituted bidentate chelating ligand 2‐amino‐5‐(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole (H₂ L ) was used to prepare 3:1‐type coordination compounds of iron(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II). In the iron(II) perchlorate complex [Fe^II(H₂ L )₃](ClO₄)₂·0.6MeOH·0.9H₂O a 1:1 mixture of mer and fac isomers is present whereas [Fe^II(H₂ L )₃](BF₄)₂·MeOH·H₂O, [Co^II(H₂ L )₃](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O and [Ni^II(H₂ L )₃](ClO₄)₂·MeOH·H₂O feature merely mer derivatives. Moessbauer spectroscopy and variable temperature magnetic measurements revealed the [Fe^II(H₂ L )₃]²⁺ complex core to exist in the low‐spin state, whereas the [Co^II(H₂ L )₃]²⁺ complex core resides in its high‐spin state, even at very low temperatures.     

Phenylimidorhenium(V) Complexes with 1,3‐Diethyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazole‐2‐ ylidene Ligands

The phenylimidorhenium(V) complexes [Re(NPh)X₃(PPh₃)₂] (X = Cl, Br) react with the N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) 1,3‐diethyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazole‐2‐ylidene (L^Et) under formation of the stable rhenium(V) complex cations [Re(NPh)X(L^Et)₄]²⁺ (X = Cl, Br), which can be isolated as their chloride or [PF₆]^? salts. The compounds are remarkably stable against air, moisture and ligand exchange. The hydroxo species [Re(NPh)(OH)(L^Et)₄]²⁺ is formed when moist solvents are used during the synthesis. The rhenium atoms in all three complexes are coordinated in a distorted octahedral fashion with the four NHC ligands in equatorial planes of the molecules. The Re–C(carbene) bond lengths between 2.171(8) and 2.221(3) Å indicate mainly σ‐bonding between the NHC ligand and the electron deficient d² metal atoms. Attempts to prepare analogous phenylimido complexes from [Re(NPh)Cl₃(PPh₃)₂] and 1,3‐diisopropyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazole‐2‐ylidene (L^i?Pr) led to a cleavage of the rhenium‐nitrogen multiple bond and the formation of the dioxo complex [ReO₂(L^i?Pr)₄]⁺.     

Novel Platinum(II) Complexes with Dipyridyl Containing Chelating Ligands and their Products with the Model Nucleobases 1‐Methylthymine and 1‐Methyluracil

The reactions of [Pt(dpma)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ (dpma = 2,2′‐dipyridylmethylamine) and [Pt(dpk)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ (dpk = 2,2′‐dipyridylketone) with the model nucleobases 1‐methylthymine (1‐MeT) and 1‐methyluracil (1‐MeU) were studied. Reaction products were characterized by ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy and by X‐ray structure analysis. The symmetric dpma and dpk diaqua complexes form dinuclear complexes with 1‐methylthymine, acting as secondary bridging ligand via its N3 and O4 donor atoms. [Pt₂(dpma)₂(1‐MeT)₂](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O ( 5 ) and [Pt₂(dpk)(dpk · H₂O)(1‐MeT)₂](PF₆)₂ · 4 H₂O ( 6 ) both show a head‐to‐head arrangement. Biological tests show a significant in vitro antitumor activity of [Pt(dpk)Cl₂] against the human glioma cell line U 87.