N,N′‐Dicyclohexyl‐N‐[4‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)butanoyl]urea

The title compound, C₂₅H₃₅N₃O₂, is a novel urea derivative. Pairs of intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds join the molecules into centrosymmetric R₂²(12) and R₂²(18) dimeric rings, which are alternately linked into one‐dimensional polymeric chains along the [010] direction. The parallel chains are connected via C—H...O hydrogen bonds to generate a two‐dimensional framework structure parallel to the (001) plane. The title compound was also modelled by solid‐state density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A comparison of the molecular conformation and hydrogen‐bond geometry obtained from the X‐ray structure analysis and the theoretical study clearly indicates that the DFT calculation agrees closely with the X‐ray structure.     

Formation, reactivity, and photorelease of metal bound nitrosyl in [Ru(trpy)(L)(NO)](n+) (trpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine, L = 2-phenylimidazo[4,5-f]1,10-phenanthroline)

Nitrosyl complexes with {Ru-NO} (6) and {Ru-NO} (7) configurations have been isolated in the framework of [Ru(trpy)(L)(NO)] ( n+ ) [trpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine, L = 2-phenylimidazo[4,5- f]1,10-phenanthroline] as the perchlorate salts [ 4](ClO 4) 3 and [ 4](ClO 4) 2, respectively. Single crystals of protonated material [ 4-H (+)](ClO 4) 4.2H 2O reveal a Ru-N-O bond angle of 176.1(7) degrees and triply bonded N-O with a 1.127(9) A bond length. Structures were also determined for precursor compounds of [ 4] (3+) in the form of [Ru(trpy)(L)(Cl)](ClO 4).4.5H 2O and [Ru(trpy)(L-H)(CH 3CN)](ClO 4) 3.H 2O. In agreement with largely NO centered reduction, a sizable shift in nu(NO) frequency was observed on moving from [ 4] (3+) (1953 cm (-1)) to [ 4] (2+) (1654 cm (-1)). The Ru (II)-NO* in isolated or electrogenerated [ 4] (2+) exhibits an EPR spectrum with g 1 = 2.020, g 2 = 1.995, and g 3 = 1.884 in CH 3CN at 110 K, reflecting partial metal contribution to the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO); (14)N (NO) hyperfine splitting ( A 2 = 30 G) was also observed. The plot of nu(NO) versus E degrees ({RuNO} (6) --> {RuNO} (7)) for 12 analogous complexes [Ru(trpy)(L')(NO)] ( n+ ) exhibits a linear trend. The electrophilic Ru-NO (+) species [ 4] (3+) is transformed to the corresponding Ru-NO 2 (-) system in the presence of OH (-) with k = 2.02 x 10 (-4) s (-1) at 303 K. In the presence of a steady flow of dioxygen gas, the Ru (II)-NO* state in [ 4] (2+) oxidizes to [ 4] (3+) through an associatively activated pathway (Delta S++ = -190.4 J K (-1) M (-1)) with a rate constant ( k [s (-1)]) of 5.33 x 10 (-3). On irradiation with light (Xe lamp), the acetonitrile solution of paramagnetic [Ru(trpy)(L)(NO)] (2+) ([ 4] (2+)) undergoes facile photorelease of NO ( k NO = 2.0 x 10 (-1) min (-1) and t 1/2 approximately 3.5 min) with the concomitant formation of the solvate [Ru (II)(trpy)(L)(CH 3CN)] (2+) [ 2'] (2+). The photoreleased NO can be trapped as an Mb-NO adduct.     

Activating a Low Overpotential CO2 Reduction Mechanism by a Strategic Ligand Modification on a Ruthenium Polypyridyl Catalyst

The introduction of a simple methyl substituent on the bipyridine ligand of [Ru(tBu₃tpy)(bpy)(NCCH₃)]²⁺ (tBu₃tpy=4,4′,4′′‐tri‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine; bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) gives rise to a highly active electrocatalyst for the reduction of CO₂ to CO. The methyl group enables CO₂ binding already at the one‐electron reduced state of the complex to enter a previously not accessible catalytic cycle that operates at the potential of the first reduction. The complex turns over with a Faradaic efficiency close to unity and at an overpotential that is amongst the lowest ever reported for homogenous CO₂ reduction catalysts.     

Phenylalanine-Tethered pH-Responsive Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate)

A series of pH-responsive random copolymers comprised of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and tert-butyl carbamate (Boc)-protected phenylalanine methacryloyloxyethyl ester (Boc-Phe-EMA) were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF) at 70 °C. The synthesized copolymers were comprehensively characterized using a combination of techniques, including ¹H NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Reactivity of each monomers towards controlled radical polymerization was evaluated by determining the reactivity ratios by virtue of extended Kelen-Tüdös method at high conversions revealed the higher reactivity of non-modified HEMA (r_HEMA=1.03) in contrast to Boc-Phe-EMA (r_Boc-Phe-EMA=0.48). Furthermore, the expulsion of the Boc-groups resulted copolymers with ionizable pendant primary ammonium and hydroxyl groups. To understand the glass transition behaviours of homo- and co-polymers, differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) measurements were carried out. The effect of HEMA content on the pH-sensitivity of the copolymers in aqueous medium was investigated through turbidity measurements. Finally, the counteranion exchange from trifluoroacetate to chloride provided copolymers with enhanced water solubility and unaltered phase transition pH.     

ZrCl4-mediated synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles from vinyl nitrates and their biological evaluation

A ZrCl₄-mediated simple method for the conversion of vinyl nitrates to 1,2,3-triazoles in excellent yields is developed. The obtained new triazoles were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity.     

Enantioselective Nickel-Catalyzed Intramolecular Allylic Alkenylations Enabled by Reversible Alkenylnickel E/Z Isomerization

Enantioselective nickel-catalyzed arylative cyclizations of substrates containing a Z-allylic phosphate tethered to an alkyne are described. These reactions give multisubstituted chiral aza- and carbocycles, and are initiated by the addition of an arylboronic acid to the alkyne, followed by cyclization of the resulting alkenylnickel species onto the allylic phosphate. The reversible E/Z isomerization of the alkenylnickel species is essential for the success of the reactions.     

An orthogonal ferromagnetically coupled tetracopper(II) 2 x 2 homoleptic grid supported by micro-O4 bridges and its DFT study

A pyrazole based ditopic ligand (PzOAP), prepared by the reaction between 5-methylpyrazole-3-carbohydrazide and methyl ester of imino picolinic acid, reacts with Cu(NO3)2.6H2O to form a self-assembled, ferromagnetically coupled, alkoxide bridged tetranuclear homoleptic Cu(II) square grid-complex [Cu4(PzOAP)4(NO3)2] (NO3)2.4H2O (1) with a central Cu4[micro-O4] core, involving four ligand molecules. In the Cu4[micro-O4] core, out of four copper centers, two copper centers are penta-coordinated and the remaining two are hexa-coordinated. In each case of hexa-coordination, the sixth position is occupied by the nitrate ion. The complex 1 has been characterized structurally and magnetically. Although Cu-O-Cu bridge angles are too large (138-141 degrees) and Cu-Cu distances are short (4.043-4.131 A), suitable for propagation of expected antiferromagnetic exchange interactions within the grid, yet intramolecular ferromagnetic exchange (J = 5.38 cm(-1)) is present with S = 4/2 magnetic ground state. This ferromagnetic interaction is quite obvious from the bridging connections (d(x2-y2)) lying almost orthogonally between the metal centers. The exchange pathways parameters have been evaluated from density functional calculations.     

Non-innocent behaviour of ancillary and bridging ligands in homovalent and mixed-valent ruthenium complexes [A2Ru(mu-L)RuA2]n, A = 2,4-pentanedionato or 2-phenylazopyridine, L(2-) = 2,5-bis(2-oxidophenyl)pyrazine

Structurally characterised 2,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazine (H2L) can be partially or fully deprotonated to form the complexes [(acac)2Ru(mu-L)Ru(acac)2], [1], acac = acetylacetonato = 2,4-pentanedionato, [(pap)2Ru(mu-L)Ru(pap)2](ClO4)2, [2](ClO4)2, pap = 2-phenylazopyridine, or [(pap)2Ru(HL)](ClO4), [3](ClO4). Several reversible oxidation and reduction processes were observed in each case and were analysed with respect to oxidation state alternatives through EPR and UV-VIS-NIR spectroelectrochemistry. In relation to previously reported compounds with 2,2'-bipyridine as ancillary ligands the complex redox system [1]n is distinguished by a preference for metal-based electron transfer whereas the systems [2]n and [3]n favour an invariant Ru(II) state. Accordingly, the paramagnetic forms of [1]n, n = -, 0, +, exhibit metal-centred spin whereas the odd-electron intermediates [2]+, [2](3+) and [3] show radical-type EPR spectra. A comparison with analogous complexes involving the 3,6-bis(2-oxidophenyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine reveals the diminished pi acceptor capability of the pyrazine-containing bridge.     

Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Prodrugs: A Versatile Approach to Prepare Well‐Defined Drug‐Loaded Nanoparticles

The synthesis of polymer–drug conjugates from prodrug monomers consisting of a cyclic polymerizable group that is appended to a drug through a cleavable linker is achieved by organocatalyzed ring‐opening polymerization. The monomers polymerize into well‐defined polymer prodrugs that are designed to self‐assemble into nanoparticles and release the drug in response to a physiologically relevant stimulus. This method is compatible with structurally diverse drugs and allows different drugs to be copolymerized with quantitative conversion of the monomers. The drug loading can be controlled by adjusting the monomer(s)/initiator feed ratio and drug release can be encoded into the polymer by the choice of linker. Initiating these monomers from a poly(ethylene glycol) macroinitiator results in amphiphilic diblock copolymers that spontaneously self‐assemble into micelles with a long plasma circulation, which is useful for systemic therapy.     

Reductive approach to mixed valency (n = 1-) in the pyrazine ligand-bridged [(acac)2Ru(μ-L(2-))Ru(acac)2](n) (L(2-) = 2,5-pyrazine-dicarboxylate) through experiment and theory

The diruthenium(III) complex [(acac)(2)Ru(μ-L(2-))Ru(acac)(2)] (1) with acac(-) = acetylacetonato = 2,4-pentanedionato and a 2,5-pyrazine-dicarboxylato bridge, L(2-), has been obtained and structurally characterized as the rac (ΔΔ,ΛΛ) diastereomer. The Ru(III)Ru(III) configuration in 1 (d(Ru-Ru) = 6.799 ?) results in a triplet ground state (μ = 2.82 μ(B) at 300 K) with a density functional theory (DFT) calculated triplet-singlet gap of 10840 cm(-1) and the metal ions as the primary spin-bearing centers (Mulliken spin densities: Ru, 1.711; L, 0.105; acac, 0.184). The paramagnetic 1 exhibits broad, upfield shifted (1)H NMR signals with δ values ranging from -10 to -65 ppm and an anisotropic electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum (g = 2.133, g(1) - g(3) = Δg = 0.512), accompanied by a weak half-field signal at g = 4.420 in glassy frozen acetonitrile at 4 K. Compound 1 displays two closely spaced oxidation steps to yield labile cations. In contrast, two well separated reversible reduction steps of 1 signify appreciable electrochemical metal-metal interaction in the Ru(II)Ru(III) mixed-valent state 1(-) (K(c) ≈ 10(7)). The intermediate 1(-) shows a weak, broad Ru(II)→Ru(III) intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) band at about 1040 nm (ε = 380 M(-1) cm(-1)); the DFT approach for 1(-) yielded Mulliken spin densities of 0.460 and 0.685 for the two metal centers. The monitoring of the ν(C═O) frequencies of the uncoordinated C═O groups of L(2-) in 1(n) by IR spectroelectrochemistry suggests valence averaging (Ru(2.5)Ru(2.5)) in 1(-) on the vibrational time scale. The mixed-valent 1(-) displays a rhombic EPR signal (g = 2.239 and Δg = 0.32) which reveals non-negligible contributions from the bridging ligand, reflecting a partial hole-transfer mechanism and being confirmed by the DFT-calculated spin distribution (Mulliken spin density of -0.241 for L in 1(-)). The major low energy electronic transitions in 1(n) (n = 0,-,2-) have been assigned as charge transfer processes with the support of TD-DFT analysis.