Preparation and Reactivity of Mixed‐Ligands Hydride Complexes [RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)2{P(OR)3}]

Mixed‐ligands hydride complexes [RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂{P(OR)₃}] ( 2 ) (R = Me, Et) were prepared by allowing [RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃] ( 1 ) to react with an excess of phosphites P(OR)₃ in refluxing benzene. Treatment of hydrides 2 first with triflic acid and next with an excess of hydrazine afforded hydrazine complexes [RuCl(CO)(κ¹‐NH₂NHR1)(PPh₃)₂{P(OR)₃}]BPh₄ ( 3 , 4 ) (R1 = H, CH₃). Diethylcyanamide derivatives [RuCl(CO)(N≡CNEt₂)(PPh₃)₂{P(OR)₃}]BPh₄ ( 5 ) were also prepared by reacting 2 first with HOTf and then with N≡CNEt₂. The complexes were characterized spectroscopically and by X‐ray crystal structure determination of [RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂{P(OEt)₃}] ( 2b ).     

The polymer [OsCl2 (cod)]x as a route to hydrazine- and hydrazone-osmium(II) complexes; The crystal structure of [Os(cod)(CNBut)2(NH2NCMe2)2] (BPh4)2·(acetone)2

The salts, [OsCl(cod)(NH₂NR₂)₃]X (R = H, X = BPh₄; R = Me, X = PF₆) and [Os(cod)(NH₂NH₂)₄](BPh₄)₂, formed from [OsCl₂(cod)]_x and hydrazines, can be converted into a range of hydrazine- and hydrazone-osmium(II) complexes with isocyanides and tertiary phosphorus ligands. The crystal structure of [Os(cod)(CNBu^t)₂(NH₂NCMe₂)₂](BPh₄)₂·(acetone)₂ has been elucidated.     

Preparation and reactivity of osmium(II) hydride complexes with phosphites and polypyridyls

Chloro-complexes [OsCl(N-N)P₃]BPh₄ (1, 2) [N-N=2,2^′-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen); P=P(OEt)₃ and PPh(OEt)₂] were prepared by allowing OsCl₄(N-N) to react with zinc dust in the presence of phosphites. Treatment of the chloro-complexes 1, 2 with NaBH₄ yielded, in the case of bpy, the hydride [OsH(bpy)P₃]BPh₄ (4) derivatives. Mono-phosphite [OsCl(bpy)₂P]BPh₄ (3) complexes were also prepared by reacting the [OsCl₂(bpy)₂]Cl compound with zinc dust in the presence of phosphite. Protonation reaction of the hydride [OsH(bpy)P₃]⁺ (4) cations with Brønsted acid was studied and led to thermally unstable (above 0 °C) dihydrogen [Os(η²-H₂)(bpy)P₃]²⁺ (4*) derivatives. The presence of the H₂ ligand is supported by variable-temperature NMR spectra and T_1min measurements. Carbonyl [Os(CO)(bpy){P(OEt)₃}₃](BPh₄)₂ (5), nitrile [Os(CH₃CN)(bpy){P(OEt)₃}₃](BPh₄)₂ (6), and hydrazine [Os(bpy)(NH₂NH₂){P(OEt)₃}₃](BPh₄)₂ (7) complexes were prepared by substituting the H₂ ligand in the η²-H₂ (4*) derivatives. Aryldiazene complex [Os(C₆H₅NNH)(bpy){P(OEt)₃}₃](BPh₄)₂ (8) was also obtained by allowing the hydride [OsH(bpy)P₃]BPh₄ to react with phenyldiazonium cation.     

Preparation and reactivity with azo-species of hydride and dihydrogen complexes of osmium stabilised by tris(pyrazolyl)borate and phosphite ligands

Mixed-ligand OsCl(Tp)L(PPh₃) complexes 1 [Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate; L = P(OMe)₃, P(OEt)₃ and PPh(OEt)₂] were prepared by allowing OsCl(Tp)(PPh₃)₂ to react with an excess of phosphite. Treatment of chlorocomplexes 1 with NaBH₄ in ethanol afforded hydride OsH(Tp)L(PPh₃) derivatives 2. Stable dihydrogen [Os(η²-H₂)(Tp)L(PPh₃)]BPh₄ derivatives 3 were prepared by protonation of hydrides 2 with HBF₄ · Et₂O at −80 °C. The presence of the η²-H₂ ligand is supported by short T_1 min values and J_HD measurements on the partially deuterated derivatives. Treatment of the hydride OsH(Tp)[P(OEt)₃](PPh₃) complex with the aryldiazonium salt [4-CH₃C₆H₄N₂]BF₄ afforded aryldiazene [Os(4-CH₃C₆H₄NNH)(Tp){P(OEt)₃}(PPh₃)]BPh₄ derivative 4. Instead, aryldiazenido [Os(4-CH₃C₆H₄N₂)(Tp)[P(OEt)₃](PPh₃)](BF₄)₂ derivative 5 was obtained by reacting the hydride OsH(Tp)[P(OEt)₃](PPh₃) first with methyltriflate and then with aryldiazonium [4-CH₃C₆H₄N₂]BF₄ salt. Spectroscopic characterisation (IR, ¹⁵N NMR) by the ¹⁵N-labelled derivative strongly supports the presence of a near-linear Os-NN-Ar aryldiazenido group. Imine [Os{η¹-NHC(H)Ar}(Tp){P(OEt)₃}(PPh₃)]BPh₄ complexes 6 and 7 (Ar = C₆H₅, 4-CH₃C₆H₄) were also prepared by allowing the hydride OsH(Tp)[P(OEt)₃](PPh₃) to react first with methyltriflate and then with alkylazides.     

Cationic ruthenium and osmium systems: V. Cationic osmium(II) hydrazine and hydrazone complexes derived from the polymer [OsCl2(COD)]x (COD = cyclo-octa-1,5-diene; x > 2). The crystal structure of [Os(COD(CNBut)2(NH2H:CMe2)2][BPh4]2·(acetone)2

The polymer [OsCl₂(COD)]_x (1; COD = cycloocta-1,5-diene; x > 2) and the appropriate hydrazine have been used to prepare the salts [OsCl(COD)(N₂H₄)₃]BPh₄ (2), [Os(COD)(N₂H₄)₄][BPh₄]₂ (3) and [OsCl(COD)(NH₂NMe₂)₃]PF₆ (4). Treatment of 3 with t-butyl isocyanide produced mer-[Os(CNBu^t)₃(N₂H₄)₃][BPh₄]₂ (5) and trans-[Os(CNBu^t)₄(N₂H₄)₂][BPh₄]₂ (6) from refluxing ethanol and the hydrazone complex [Os(COD)(CNBu^t)₂(NH₂N:CMe₂)₂][BPh₄]₂ (7) from refluxing acetone. Reactions of 3 and L {L = CNxylyl, P(OMe)₃, and P(OMe)₃Ph; xylyl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl} in acetone gave trans-[Os(NH₂N:CMe₂)₂L₄][BPh₄]₂ (8). The crystal structure of [Os(COD)(CNBu^t)₂(NH₂N:CMe₂)₂][BPh₄]₂·(Acetone)₂ (7) has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray counter data and refined to a final R (on F) of 0.090 based on 3014 reflections. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with four formula units in a cell of dimensions a 24.60(2), b 13.31(1), c 24.12(2) Å and β 111.51(2)°. The cation has a crystallographically imposed C₂ symmetry, with octahedral coordination of the osmium atom, assuming that the COD ligand occupies two adjacent coordination sites. Coordination of the mutually trans hydrazone ligands to the osmium atom is through the amino-N atoms rather than through the less basic, more sterically hindered, imino-N atoms. relevant bond distances are: Os-N 2.19(2) (mean), Os-C(COD) 2.19(2) and 2.29(2), and Os-C(isocyanide) 1.93(2) (mean) Å.     

Preparation of bis(aryldiazene) and new aryldiazenido complexes of rhenium

Mixed-ligand hydride ReH₂(NO)L(PPh₃)₂ complexes [L=P(OEt)₃ or PPh(OEt)₂] were prepared by allowing the ReH₂(NO)(PPh₃)₃ species to react with an excess of phosphite. Treatment of ReH₂(NO)L(PPh₃)₂ hydrides with an equimolar amount of aryldiazonium cations ArN₂⁺ gives the mono-aryldiazene [ReH(ArNNH)(NO)L(PPh₃)₂]BPh₄ complexes (Ar=C₆H₅, 4-CH₃C₆H₄), while treatment with an excess of ArN₂⁺ yields bis(aryldiazene) [Re(ArNNH)₂(NO)L(PPh₃)₂](BPh₄)₂ derivatives. Binuclear [{ReH(NO)L(PPh₃)₂}₂(μ-HNNArArNNH)](BPh₄)₂ and [{Re(4-CH₃C₆H₄NNH)(NO)L(PPh₃)₂}₂(μ-HNNArArNNH)](BPh₄)₄ complexes (ArAr=4,4′-C₆H₄C₆H₄, 4,4′-C₆H₄CH₂C₆H₄) were also prepared. The reaction of the triphenylphosphine ReH₂(NO)(PPh₃)₃ complex with aryldiazonium cations was studied and led exclusively to mono-aryldiazene [ReH(ArNNH)(NO)(PPh₃)₃]BPh₄ and [{ReH(NO)(PPh₃)₃}₂(μ-HNNArArNNH)](BPh₄)₂ derivatives. The complexes were characterised spectroscopically (IR, NMR) using the ¹⁵N-labelled derivatives. The aryldiazenido [ReH(C₆H₅N₂){PPh(OEt)₂}₄]BPh₄ complex was prepared by allowing trihydride ReH₃[PPh(OEt)₂]₄ to react with phenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate. A reaction path involving the aryldiazene [ReH₂(C₆H₅NNH){PPh(OEt)₂}₄]⁺ intermediate was also proposed.     

Synthetic and spectroscopic characterization of [Co(triphos)(chiral amino alcoholato)](BPh4) complexes

2,2,2-Tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane (triphos) coordinates to Co(BF₄)₂ · 6H₂O giving red-violet intermediate [Co(triphos)(S)₂](BF₄)₂ (S = solvent) in THF/EtOH. The addition of an equimolar amount of chiral amino alcohol (L-alaninol, S-2-phenylglycinol, R-1-amino-2-propanol and (±)-2-amino-1-phenyl-ethanol) and Na(OH) into this solution affords the green [Co(triphos)(chiral amino alcoholato)](BF₄) complexes. The addition of equimolar Na(BPh₄) precipitates the deep green [Co(triphos)(L-alaninolato)](BPh₄) (1), [Co(triphos)(S-2-phenylglycinolato)](BPh₄) (2), [Co(triphos)(R-1-amino-2-propanolato)](BPh₄) (3), and [Co(triphos)((±)-2-amino-1-phenyl-ethanolato)](BPh₄) (4) complexes, respectively. The complexes are isolated in good yields and characterized by elemental analysis, IR-, UV-Vis-, ¹H-/³¹P-NMR- and mass-spectroscopy. ¹H-/³¹P-NMR results show the paramagnetic nature of the complexes and magnetic moment values are μ_exptl(µB) = 3.65 (1), 3.78 (2), 3.82 (3), and 3.71µB (4) in methanol at 25 °C.     

二（胍基）锆配合物的合成和表征

Addition of one equivalent of LiN（i-Pr）2 or LiN（CH2）5 to carbodiimides, RN=C=NR [R=cyclohexyl （Cy）, isopropyl （i-Pr）], generated the corresponding lithium of tetrasubstituted guanidinates {Li[RNC（N R^′2）NR]（THF）}2 [R=i-Pr, N R^′2=N（i-Pr）2 （1）, N（CH2）5 （2）; R=Cy, N R^′2=N（i-Pr）2 （3）, N（CH2）5 （4）]. Treatment of ZrCl4 with freshly prepared solutions of their lithium guanidinates provided a series of bis（guanidinate） complexes of Zr with the general formula Zr[RNC（N R^′2）NR]2Cl2 [R=i-Pr, N R^′2=N（i-Pr）2 （5）, N（CH2）5 （6）; R=Cy, N R^′2=N（i-Pr）2 （7）, N（CH2）5 （8）]. Complexes 1, 2, 5-8 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ^1H NMR spectra. The molecular structures of complexes 1, 7 and 8 were further determined by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Triple Helicates with Golden Strands: Self‐Assembly of M2Au6 Complexes from Gold(I) Metallaligands and Iron(II), Cobalt(II) or Zinc(II) Cations

Alkynyl gold(I) metallaligands [(AuC≡Cbpyl)₂(μ‐diphosphine)] (bpyl=2,2′‐bipyridin‐5‐yl; diphosphine=Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂, [n=3 (L^Pr), 4 (L^Bu), 5 (L^Pent), 6 (L^Hex)], dppf (L^Fc), Binap (L^Binap) and Diop (L^Diop)) react with MX₂ (M=Fe, Zn, X=ClO₄; M=Co, X=BF₄) to give triple helicates [M₂(L^R)₃]X₄. These complexes, except those containing the semirigid L^Binap metallaligand, present similar hydrodynamic radii (determined by diffusion NMR spectroscopy measurements) and a similar pattern in the aromatic region of their ¹H NMR spectra, which suggests that in solution they adopt a compact structure where the long and flexible organometallic strands are folded. The diastereoselectivity of the self‐assembly process was studied by using chiral metallaligands, and the absolute configuration of the iron(II) complexes with L^Binap and L^Diop was determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD). Thus, (R)‐L^Binap or (S)‐L^Binap specifically induce the formation of (Δ,Δ)‐[Fe₂((R)‐L^Binap)₃](ClO₄)₄ or (Λ,Λ)‐[Fe₂((S)‐L^Binap)₃](ClO₄)₄, respectively, whereas (R,R)‐ or (S,S)‐L^Diop give mixtures of the ΔΔ‐ and ΛΛ‐diastereomers. The ΔΔ helicate diastereomer is dominant in the reaction of Fe^II with (R,R)‐L^Diop, whereas the ΛΛ isomer predominates in the analogous reaction with (S,S)‐L^Diop. The photophysical properties of the new dinuclear alkynyl complexes and the helicates have been studied. The new metallaligands and the [Zn₂(L^R)₃]⁴⁺ helicates present luminescence from [π→π*] excited states mainly located in the C≡Cbpyl units.     

Preparation of Hydride‐Ethylene Complexes of Osmium

Ethylene complexes [OsH(η²‐CH₂=CH₂)L₄]Y ( 1 , 2 ) [L = PPh(OEt)₂, P(OEt)₃; Y = OTf, BPh₄] were prepared by reacting the dihydride OsH₂L₄ first with methyl triflate CH₃OTf and then with ethylene (1 atm). Alternatively, the compound [OsH(η²‐CH₂=CH₂){PPh(OEt)₂}₄]OTf was prepared by allowing the dinitrogen derivative [OsH(N₂){PPh(OEt)₂}₄]OTf to react with ethylene. Acrylonitrile CH₂=C(H)CN reacts with OsH(OTf)L₄ [L = P(OEt)₃] to give the complex [OsH{κ¹‐NCC(H)=CH₂}{P(OEt)₃}₄]BPh₄ ( 3 ). The complexes were characterized spectroscopically (IR and ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR) and by X‐ray crystal structure determination of the [OsH(η²‐CH₂=CH₂){PPh(OEt)₂}₄]BPh₄ derivative.     

Alkoxy-1,3,5-triazapentadien(e/ato) copper(II) complexes: template formation and applications for the preparation of pyrimidines and as catalysts for oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl products

Template combination of copper acetate (Cu(AcO)₂?H₂O) with sodium dicyanamide (NaN(C≡N)₂, 2 equiv) or cyanoguanidine (N≡CNHC(=NH)NH₂, 2 equiv) and an alcohol ROH (used also as solvent) leads to the neutral copper(II)–(2,4‐alkoxy‐1,3,5‐triazapentadienato) complexes [Cu{NH?C(OR)NC(OR)?NH}₂] (R=Me ( 1 ), Et ( 2 ), nPr ( 3 ), iPr ( 4 ), CH₂CH₂OCH₃ ( 5 )) or cationic copper(II)–(2‐alkoxy‐4‐amino‐1,3,5‐triazapentadiene) complexes [Cu{NH?C(OR)NHC(NH₂)?NH}₂](AcO)₂ (R=Me ( 6 ), Et ( 7 ), nPr ( 8 ), nBu ( 9 ), CH₂CH₂OCH₃ ( 10 )), respectively. Several intermediates of this reaction were isolated and a pathway was proposed. The deprotonation of 6 – 10 with NaOH allows their transformation to the corresponding neutral triazapentadienates [Cu{NH?C(OR)NC(NH₂)?NH}₂] 11 – 15 . Reaction of 11 , 12 or 15 with acetyl acetone (MeC(?O)CH₂C(?O)Me) leads to liberation of the corresponding pyrimidines NC(Me)CHC(Me)NC NHC(?NH)OR, whereas the same treatment of the cationic complexes 6 , 7 or 10 allows the corresponding metal‐free triazapentadiene salts {NH₂C(OR)?NC(NH₂)?NH₂}(OAc) to be isolated. The alkoxy‐1,3,5‐triazapentadiene/ato copper(II) complexes have been applied as efficient catalysts for the TEMPO radical‐mediated mild aerobic oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes (molar yields of aldehydes of up to 100 % with >99 % selectivity) and for the solvent‐free microwave‐assisted synthesis of ketones from secondary alcohols with tert‐butylhydroperoxide as oxidant (yields of up to 97 %, turnover numbers of up to 485 and turnover frequencies of up to 1170 h^?1).     

Encapsulating ruthenium and osmium with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine based tripodal ligands

The reaction of a series of tripodal ligands, H₃L^1,2 and L^3-6, with [M(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] (M = Ru, Os) affords a family of coordination cage compounds of the type [M^IIIL^1,2] (1-4) or [M^IIL^3-6](BPh₄)₂ (5-12). The Schiff base ligands (H₃L¹, L³, L⁵) have been synthesized by condensation of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine with salicylaldehyde, pyridine-2-aldehyde and 1-methyl-2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde. These ligands were further reduced and subsequently methylated to form the new ligands (H₃L², L⁴, L⁶). Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 1 and 2 show that the tripodal ligand wraps around the metal center as a hexadentate ligand to form a cage. All the synthesized compounds have been thoroughly characterized by ESI-MS, FT-IR, UV-Vis and NMR spectroscopic methods. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ever report of osmium complexes with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine based tripodal ligands. DFT calculations were performed to obtain geometry optimized structures of all the other complexes (3-12).     

Synthese,Struktur und Eigenschaften der Komplexe [(H2O)Cl4Os≡N‐IrCl(C5Me5)(AsPh3)], [(Ph3Sb)Cl4Os≡N‐IrCl(C5Me5)(SbPh3)], [(Ph3Sb)2Cl3Os≡N‐IrCl(COD)] und [{(Me2PhP)2(CO)Cl2Re≡N}2ReNCl2(PMe2Ph)]

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Properties of the Complexes [(H₂O)Cl₄Os≡N‐IrCl(C₅Me₅)(AsPh₃)], [(Ph₃Sb)Cl₄Os≡N‐IrCl(C₅Me₅)(SbPh₃)], [(Ph₃Sb)₂Cl₃Os≡N‐IrCl(COD)] and [{(Me₂PhP)₂(CO)Cl₂Re≡N}₂ReNCl₂(PMe₂Ph)] The dinuclear complexes [(H₂O)Cl₄Os≡N‐IrCl(C₅Me₅)(AsPh₃)]·H₂O ( 1 ·H₂O), [(Ph₃Sb)Cl₄Os≡N‐IrCl(C₅Me₅)(SbPh₃)] ( 2 ), and [(Ph₃Sb)₂Cl₃Os≡N‐IrCl(COD)] ( 3 ) result from the reaction of the nitrido complexes [(Ph₃As)₂OsNCl₃] and [(Ph₃Sb)₂OsNCl₃] with the iridium compounds [IrCl₂(C₅Me₅)]₂ and [IrCl(COD)]₂ in dichloromethane. 1 crystallizes as 1 ·H₂O in form of green platelets in the monoclinic space group Cm and a = 1105.53(6); b = 1486.76(9); c = 2024.88(10) pm, β = 97.191(4)°, Z = 4. The formation of 1 in air involves a ligand exchange, and the coordination of a water molecule in trans position to the Os‐N triple bond. The resulting complex fragments [(H₂O)Cl₄Os≡N] and [IrCl(C₅Me₅)(AsPh₃)] are connected by an asymmetric nitrido bridge Os≡N‐Ir. The nitrido bridge is characterised by an Os‐N‐Ir bond angle of 173.7(7)°, and distances Os‐N = 168(1) pm and Ir‐N = 191(1) pm. 2 crystallizes in clumped together brown platelets with the space group and a = 1023.3(3), b = 1476.2(3), c = 1872.5(6) pm, α = 74.60(2), β = 73.84(2), γ = 76.19(2)°, Z = 2. In 2 the asymmetric nitrido bridge Os≡N‐Ir joins the two complex fragments [(Ph₃Sb)Cl₄Os≡N] and [IrCl(C₅Me₅)(SbPh₃)], which are formed by a ligand exchange reaction. 3 forms dark green crystals with the triclinic space group and a = 1079.4(1), b = 1172.3(1), c = 1696.7(2) pm, α = 101.192(9),β = 92.70(1), γ = 92.61(1)°, Z = 2. The distances in the almost linear nitrido bridge (Os≡N‐Ir = 175.3(7)°) are Os‐N = 171(1) pm and Ir‐N = 183(1) pm. The reaction of [ReNCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₃] with [Mo(CO)₃(NCMe)₃] unexpectedly affords the trinuclear complex [{(Me₂PhP)₂(OC)Cl₂Re≡N}₂ReNCl₂(PMe₂Ph)] ( 4 ) as the main product. It forms triclinic brown crystals with the composition 4 ·2THF and the space group (a = 1382.70(7), b = 1498.58(7), c = 1760.4(1) pm, α = 99.780(7), β = 99.920(7), γ = 114.064(6)°, Z = 2). In the trinuclear complex, the central fragment, [ReNCl₂(PMe₂Ph)] is joined in trans position to two nitrido complexes [(Me₂PhP)₂(CO)Cl₂Re≡N], giving an almost linear Re≡N‐Re‐N≡Re arrangement. The bond angles and distances in the nitrido bridges are Re‐N‐Re = 167.8(3)°, Re‐N = 171.1(8) pm and 204.2(8) pm; and Re‐N‐Re = 168.1(4)°, Re‐N = 170.9(9) and 203.5(9) pm respectively. As expected, the Re‐N bond length to the terminal nitrido ligand on the central Re atom is much shorter at 161.2(9) pm than the triple bonds of the asymmetric bridges.     

Cytotoxic dimeric half-sandwich Ru(II), Os(II) and Ir(III) complexes containing the 4,4′-biphenyl-based bridging ligands

A series of dinuclear half-sandwich Ru(II), Os(II) and Ir(III) complexes [Ru₂(μ-Lⁿ)(η⁶-pcym)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₂ ( 1 , 4 ), [Os₂(μ-Lⁿ)(η⁶-pcym)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₂ ( 2 , 5 ) and [Ir₂(μ-Lⁿ)(η⁵-Cp*)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₂ ( 3 , 6 ), based on 4,4′-biphenyl-based bridging Schiff base ligands N,N′-(biphenyl-4,4′-diyldimethylidyne)bis-2-(pyridin-2-yl)methanamine (L¹; for 1 – 3 ) and N,N′-(biphenyl-4,4′-diyldimethylidyne)bis-2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethanamine (L²; for 4 – 6 ) is reported; pcym = 1-methyl-4-(propan-2-yl)benzene, Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl. The complexes were characterized by relevant analytical techniques (i.e. elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR, ESI-MS), and their in vitro cytotoxicity was assessed at six cancerous and two non-cancerous (healthy) human cell lines. Overall, complexes 4 – 6 , containing the L² bridging ligand, revealed higher cytotoxicity as compared with 1 – 3 and, thus, they were studied in greater detail. The best-performing complex 6 exceeded at least twice the in vitro cytotoxicity of cisplatin and showed high selectivity towards the cancer cells over the normal ones, including the primary culture of human hepatocytes. In contrast to cisplatin, complexes 4 – 6 did not induce the cell cycle modification of the treated A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells (studied by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis). High levels of superoxide anion were induced by complexes 4 – 6 at the A2780 cells. The levels of activated forms of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 at the A2780 cells treated by Ru(II) complex 4 were comparable with cisplatin, while complexes 5 and 6 had only a minor effect on activation of these caspases.     

Studies on solid state synthesis and the oxygenation property of cobalt (II) Schiff base (vanilline polyamine) complexes

Three new cobalt complexes were synthesized by solid-state reaction at room temperature and the resultant Co complexes reacted with two equivalent oxygen molecules at room temperature to produce the oxygenated complexes [Co·(L₁)₂·(O₂)₂](NO₃)₂·2H₂O (L₁ = N, N’-bis(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxy-benzyl)-diethylenetriamine), [Co·(L₂)₂·(O₂)₂](NO₃)₂·2H₂O (L₂ = N, N’-bis(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxy-benzyl)-triethylenetetramine), and [Co·(L₃)₂·(O₂)₂](NO₃)₂·2H₂O (L₃ = N, N’-bis(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxy-benzyl-tetraethylenepentamine). The oxygenated complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR (Infrared), ¹H-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), and UV-Vis (Ultraviolet Visual) spectrometry, and TG/DTA (Thermogravimetry/Differential Thermal Analysis) analysis, and molar conductance. The coordinated oxygen contents in the oxygenated complexes were also determined by weight method. It was supposed that only one O₂ molecule coordinated to the Co ion forming a superoxo type oxygenated complex. Translated from Acta Chimica Sinica, 2006, 64(15): 1517–1522 (in Chinese)     

Insight into D6h Symmetry: Targeting Strong Axiality in Stable Dysprosium(III) Hexagonal Bipyramidal Single‐Ion Magnets

Following a novel synthetic strategy where the strong uniaxial ligand field generated by the Ph₃SiO^? (Ph₃SiO^?=anion of triphenylsilanol) and the 2,4‐di‐^tBu‐PhO^? (2,4‐di‐^tBu‐PhO^?=anion of 2,4‐di‐tertbutylphenol) ligands combined with the weak equatorial field of the ligand L^N6 , leads to [Dy^III(L^N6)(2,4‐di‐^tBu‐PhO)₂](PF₆) ( 1 ), [Dy^III(L^N6)(Ph₃SiO)₂](PF₆) ( 2 ) and [Dy^III(L^N6)(Ph₃SiO)₂](BPh₄) ( 3 ) hexagonal bipyramidal dysprosium(III) single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) with high anisotropy barriers of U_eff=973 K for 1 , U_eff=1080 K for 2 and U_eff=1124 K for 3 under zero applied dc field. Ab initio calculations predict that the dominant magnetization reversal barrier of these complexes expands up to the 3rd Kramers doublet, thus revealing for the first time the exceptional uniaxial magnetic anisotropy that even the six equatorial donor atoms fail to negate, opening up the possibility to other higher‐order symmetry SMMs.     

Preparation and reactivity of half-sandwich hydrazine complexes of ruthenium and osmium

Hydrazine complexes [MCl(η⁶-p-cymene)(RNHNH₂)L]BPh₄ (1–6) [M = Ru, Os; R = H, Me, Ph; L = P(OEt)₃, PPh(OEt)₂, PPh₂OEt] were prepared by allowing dichloro complexes MCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)L to react with hydrazines RNHNH₂ in the presence of NaBPh₄. Treatment of ruthenium complexes [RuCl(η⁶-p-cymene)(RNHNH₂)L]BPh₄ with Pb(OAc)₄ led to acetate complex [Ru(κ²–O₂CCH₃)(η⁶-p-cymene)L]BPh₄ (7). Instead, the reaction of osmium derivatives [OsCl(η⁶-p-cymene)(CH₃NHNH₂)L]BPh₄ with Pb(OAc)₄ afforded the methyldiazenido complex [Os(CH₃N₂)(η⁶-p-cymene)L}]BPh₄ (8). Treatment with HCl of this diazenido complex 8 led to the methyldiazene cation [OsCl(CH₃NNH)(η⁶-p-cymene)L}]⁺ (9⁺). The complexes were characterised spectroscopically and by X-ray crystal structure determination of [OsCl(η⁶-p-cymene)(PhNHNH₂){PPh(OEt)₂}]BPh₄ (6b) and [Ru(κ²–O₂CCH₃)(η⁶-p-cymene){PPh(OEt)₂}]BPh₄ (7b).     

Complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) with 4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,4-triazole

Novel oligonuclear complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) with 4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,4-triazole (L) of the composition [M₃L₁₀(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₆ (M = Co(II), Ni(II)), [Ni₃L₆(H₂O)₆]Hal₆ (Hal = Cl^?, Br^?), and [Cu₅L₁₆(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₁₀ · 2H₂O were synthesized and studied by magnetic susceptibility, electronic and IR spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction methods. All the above complexes are X-ray amorphous. Antifer-romagnetic exchange interactions between the M²⁺ ions were discovered in the [Co₃L₁₀(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₆ and [Ni₃L₁₀(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₆ complexes, whereas ferromagnetic exchange interactions were observed in the complexes [Ni₃L₆(H₂O)₆]Cl₆, [Ni₃L₆(H₂O)₆]Br₆, and [Cu₅L₁₆(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₁₀ · 2H₂O.     

Redox active and inactive binuclear cobalt(II) and zinc(II) complexes with N6O/N3O coordinating ligands: synthesis,biological activities and cytotoxicity

Four complexes, namely [Zn₂L¹(OAc)₂](PF₆) ( 1 ); [Zn₂L¹(OAc)₂](BPh₄) ( 2 ); [Co₂L¹Cl₂](PF₆) ( 3 ); and [Zn₂L²(PhCOO)₂Cl] ( 4 ) (L¹ = 2,6‐bis(((2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)(pyridine‐2‐ylmethyl)amino)methyl)‐4‐methoxyphenol; L² = 2‐(((2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)amino)methyl)‐4‐methoxyphenol), have been synthesized. Single‐crystal diffraction reveals that the metal atoms in the four complexes are in different coordination environments. The interactions of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) have been investigated using UV absorption, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopies and viscosity measurements, and the modes of CT‐DNA binding for the complexes have been proposed. Further experiments show that the Zn(II)/H₂O₂ system displays significant oxidative cleavage of supercoiled DNA attributed to the peroxide ion coordinated to the Zn(II) ions enhancing their nucleophilicity. This is a rare phenomenon. DNA cleavage mechanism shows that the complexes examined here may be capable of promoting DNA cleavage through an oxidative DNA damage pathway, which is indicative of the involvement of singlet oxygen in the cleavage process. In vitro cytotoxicity of complexes against three human tumor cell lines (HeLa, MCF‐7 and HepG2) demonstrates that these complexes have the potential to act as effective metal‐based anticancer drugs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reactions of Organic Azides with Half‐sandwich Complexes of Iridium: Preparation of Mono‐ and Bis(imine) Derivatives

Imine complexes [IrCl(η⁵‐C₅Me₅){κ¹‐NH=C(H)Ar}{P(OR)₃}]BPh₄ ( 1 , 2 ) (Ar = C₆H₅, 4‐CH₃C₆H₄; R = Me, Et) were prepared by allowing chloro complexes [IrCl₂(η⁵‐C₅Me₅){P(OR)₃}] to react with benzyl azides ArCH₂N₃. Bis(imine) complexes [Ir(η⁵‐C₅Me₅){κ¹‐NH=C(H)Ar}₂{P(OR)₃}](BPh₄)₂ ( 3 , 4 ) were also prepared by reacting [IrCl₂(η⁵‐C₅Me₅){P(OR)₃}] first with AgOTf and then with benzyl azide. Depending on the experimental conditions, treatment of the dinuclear complex [IrCl₂(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)]₂ with benzyl azide yielded mono‐ [IrCl₂(η⁵‐C₅Me₅){κ¹‐NH=C(H)Ar}] ( 5 ) and bis‐[IrCl(η⁵‐C₅Me₅){κ¹‐NH=C(H)Ar}₂]BPh₄ ( 6 ) imine derivatives. In contrast, treatment of chloro complexes [IrCl₂(η⁵‐C₅Me₅){P(OR)₃}] with phenyl azide C₆H₅N₃ gave amine derivatives [IrCl(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)(C₆H₅NH₂){P(OR)₃}]BPh₄ ( 7 , 8 ). The complexes were characterized spectroscopically (IR, NMR) and by X‐ray crystal structure determination of [IrCl(η⁵‐C₅Me₅){κ¹‐NH=C(H)C₆H₄‐4‐CH₃}{P(OEt)₃}]BPh₄ ( 2b ).