A Mechanistically and Operationally Simple Route to Metal–N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Complexes

We have been puzzled by the involvement of weak organic and inorganic bases in the synthesis of metal–N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes. Such bases are insufficiently strong to permit the presumed required deprotonation of the azolium salt (the carbene precursor) prior to metal binding. Experimental and computational studies provide support for a base-assisted concerted process that does not require free NHC formation. The synthetic protocol was found applicable to a number of transition-metal- and main-group-centered NHC compounds and could become the synthetic route of choice to form M–NHC bonds.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Catalytic Properties of a 2D Cobalt(Ⅱ) Coordination Polymer Based on Mixed Ligands

A new Co(II) metal-organic coordination polymer based on flexible bis(imidazole) and aromatic dicarboxylate co-ligands, namely [Co(bix)(nph)]n(H2nph = 3-nitrophthalic acid, bix = 1,4-bis(imidazole-1-ylmethyl)benzene), has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, TG, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 9.3767(14), b = 10.1451(15), c = 12.1488(17), α = 102.6450(10), β = 108.856(2), γ = 98.807(2)°, V = 1035.3(3)3, Z = 2, C22H17 Co N5O6, Mr = 506.34, Dc = 1.624 g/cm3, μ = 0.882 mm-1 and F(000) = 518. In the complex, the nph2- ligands connect neighbouring cobalt atoms to form binuclear [Co(nph)]2 subunits, which are linked by pairs of bix ligands to form a 2D honeycomb-like(6,3) network. In addition, the compound is further extended into a 3D supramolecular architecture by π···π stacking interactions. Moreover, the luminescence and catalytic properties of the complex are investigated.     

Expanding the Ligand Classes Used for Mn(II) Complexation: Oxa-aza Macrocycles Make the Difference

We report two macrocyclic ligands based on a 1,7-diaza-12-crown-4 platform functionalized with acetate (tO2DO2A²⁻) or piperidineacetamide (tO2DO2AM^Pip) pendant arms and a detailed characterization of the corresponding Mn(II) complexes. The X−ray structure of [Mn(tO2DO2A)(H₂O)]·2H₂O shows that the metal ion is coordinated by six donor atoms of the macrocyclic ligand and one water molecule, to result in seven-coordination. The Cu(II) analogue presents a distorted octahedral coordination environment. The protonation constants of the ligands and the stability constants of the complexes formed with Mn(II) and other biologically relevant metal ions (Mg(II), Ca(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)) were determined using potentiometric titrations (I = 0.15 M NaCl, T = 25 °C). The conditional stabilities of Mn(II) complexes at pH 7.4 are comparable to those reported for the cyclen-based tDO2A²⁻ ligand. The dissociation of the Mn(II) chelates were investigated by evaluating the rate constants of metal exchange reactions with Cu(II) under acidic conditions (I = 0.15 M NaCl, T = 25 °C). Dissociation of the [Mn(tO2DO2A)(H₂O)] complex occurs through both proton− and metal−assisted pathways, while the [Mn(tO2DO2AM^Pip)(H₂O)] analogue dissociates through spontaneous and proton-assisted mechanisms. The Mn(II) complex of tO2DO2A²⁻ is remarkably inert with respect to its dissociation, while the amide analogue is significantly more labile. The presence of a water molecule coordinated to Mn(II) imparts relatively high relaxivities to the complexes. The parameters determining this key property were investigated using ¹⁷O NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) transverse relaxation rates and ¹H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles.     

Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Polyurethanes Containing Polyisobutylene/Poly(tetramethylene oxide) Mixed Segments

We investigated the thermal properties, microphase separated structure and mechanical properties of a series of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) containing both polyisobutylene (PIB) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) diols in the soft segment (SS). A series of TPUs were prepared with the same weight fraction of the SS but different ratio between PIB and PTMO diols. Molecular weight of the PTMO diol and chemical structure of the hard segment (HS) also varied. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurements did not reveal strong microphase separation between PIB and PTMO in the SS. While it has been assumed that incorporating PTMO diol into the SS can enhance the phase mixing between the hard segment (HS) and SS, our results indicated that, in most cases, the degree of microphase separation of TPUs based on mixed diols is slightly higher than that of TPUs based on only PIB diol.     

Spectral,crystallographic, theoretical and antibacterial studies of palladium(II)/platinum(II) complexes with unsymmetric diphosphine ylides

The reaction of α‐keto‐stabilized diphosphine ylides [Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂═C(H)C(O)C₆H₄‐p‐CN] (n = 1 (Y¹); n = 2 (Y²)) with dibromo(1,5‐cyclooctadiene) palladium(II)/platinum(II) complexes, [Pd/PtBr₂(cod)], in equimolar ratio gave the new cyclometalated Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes [Br₂Pd(κ²‐Y¹)] ( 1 ), [Br₂Pt(κ²‐Y¹)] ( 2 ), [Br₂Pd(κ²‐Y²)] ( 3 ) and [Br₂Pt(κ²‐Y²)] ( 4 ). These compounds were screened in a search for novel antibacterial agents and characterized successfully using Fourier transfer infrared and NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P) spectroscopic methods. Also, the structures of complexes 1 and 2 were characterized using X‐ray crystallography. The results showed that the P,C‐chelated complexes 1 and 2 have structures consisting of five‐membered rings, while 3 and 4 have six‐membered rings, formed by coordination of the ligand through the phosphine group and the ylidic carbon atom to the metal centre. Also, a theoretical study of the structures of complexes 1 – 4 was conducted at the BP86/def2‐SVP level of theory. The nature of metal–ligand bonds in the complexes was investigated using energy decomposition analyses (EDA) and extended transition state combined with natural orbitals for chemical valence analyses. The results of EDA confirmed that the main portions of ΔE_int, about 57–58%, in the complexes are allocated to ΔE_elstat.     

Identification of Intermediates in Zeolite‐Catalyzed Reactions by In Situ UV/Vis Microspectroscopy and a Complementary Set of Molecular Simulations

The optical absorption properties of (poly)aromatic hydrocarbons occluded in a nanoporous environment were investigated by theoretical and experimental methods. The carbonaceous species are an essential part of a working catalyst for the methanol‐to‐olefins (MTO) process. In situ UV/Vis microscopy measurements on methanol conversion over the acidic solid catalysts H‐SAPO‐34 and H‐SSZ‐13 revealed the growth of various broad absorption bands around 400, 480, and 580 nm. The cationic nature of the involved species was determined by interaction of ammonia with the methanol‐treated samples. To determine which organic species contribute to the various bands, a systematic series of aromatics was analyzed by means of time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations. Static gas‐phase simulations revealed the influence of structurally different hydrocarbons on the absorption spectra, whereas the influence of the zeolitic framework was examined by using supramolecular models within a quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics framework. To fully understand the origin of the main absorption peaks, a molecular dynamics (MD) study on the organic species trapped in the inorganic host was essential. During such simulation the flexibility is fully taken into account and the effect on the UV/Vis spectra is determined by performing TDDFT calculations on various snapshots of the MD run. This procedure allows an energy absorption scale to be provided and the various absorption bands determined from in situ UV/Vis spectra to be assigned to structurally different species.     

New 3,4-bis(indol-1-yl)maleimides as protein kinase inhibitors

Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds - Several previously unknown derivatives of 3,4-bis(indol-1-yl)maleimide, as well as 3-(2,3-dihydroindol-1-yl)-4-(indol-1-yl)maleimide were synthesized as...