Synthesis of a symmetrical octamethyl-substituted cucurbituril with a dimethyl-substituted glycoluril dimer

A symmetrical octamethyl-substituted cucurbituril has been synthesized in a controlled manner by using a dimer of dimethyl-substituted glycoluril, which was in turn synthesized under formaldehyde-deficient conditions. The dimer of dimethyl-substituted glycoluril and the symmetrical octamethyl-substituted cucurbituril have been characterized by NMR spectrometry, ESI mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure of the dimer of dimethyl-substituted glycoluril is notable because it constitutes a useful new building block that could permit the formation of such cucurbit[n]urils with substituents in certain positions or with limited numbers of methine groups on their backbones.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of supramolecular compounds of tetranuclear ZrIV and HfIV aqua hydroxo complexes with macrocyclic cavitand cucurbituril

Slow evaporation of hydrochloric acid solutions of zirconium(iv) or hafnium(iv) oxochlorides and cucurbituril in air afforded compounds with composition [M₄(OH)₈(H₂O)₁₆]Cl₈·(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)·16H₂O, where M = Zr (1) or Hf (2). According to the X-ray diffraction data, complexes 1 and 2 are isostructural. Their crystal structures can be described as packings of polymer chains consisting of alternating cucurbituril molecules and tetranuclear cations [M₄(OH)₈(H₂O)₁₆]⁸⁺ linked to each other via an extensive network of hydrogen bonds. Compound 2 is the first structurally characterized tetranuclear hafnium aqua complex.     

Synthesis and the crystal structure of a supramolecular adduct of the [Mo3O4(H2O)6Cl3]+ cluster complex with macrocyclic cavitand cucurbituril

The crystalline supramolecular compound of composition {(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)[Mo₃O₄(H₂O)₆Cl₃]₂}Cl₂·14H₂O was obtained by slow concentration of a hydrochloric solution of the cluster aqua complex [Mo₃O₄(H₂O)₉]⁴⁺ and macrocyclic cavitand cucurbituril (C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂). The molecular and crystal structure of the supramolecular adduct was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of supramolecular adducts of molybdenum and tungsten selenide aqua complexes with macrocyclic cavitand cucurbituril

The supramolecular compounds {[W₃Se₄Cl₃(H₂O)₆]₂[PyHC₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂]}Cl₃·18H₂O (1) and {[Cl₃SnMo₃Se₄Cl₃(H₂O)₆][Cl₃SnMo₃Se₄Cl₂(H₂O)₇](C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)}Cl·26H₂O (2) were isolated from solutions of the selenium-containing tungsten and molybdenum clusters [W₃Se₄(H₂O)₉]⁴⁺ and [Cl₃SnMo₃Se₄(H₂O)₉]³⁺, respectively, and organic cavitand cucurbituril. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that the macrocylcic cucurbituril molecule is coordinated on both sides by the cluster cations through the formation of complementary hydrogen bonds. Compound 1 has a chain structure stabilized by Se...Se interactions between the adjacent cluster cores. In compound 2, the bridging ₂-selenium atoms of the cluster fragment Mo₃Se₄ are coordinated to the tin atom of the SnCl₃ ^– ligand, thus losing the ability to be involved in Se...Se interactions.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of SmIII and ThIV complexes with macrocyclic cavitand cucurbituril

Slow evaporation of solutions of samarium nitrate and thorium chloride in hydrochloric acid containing the macrocyclic cavitand cucurbituril (C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂) afforded crystals of the [{Sm(H₂O)₅(NO₃)}₂(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)](NO₃)₄·6.5H₂O and [{Th(H₂O)₅Cl}₂(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)]Cl₆·13H₂O complexes, respectively. The [Sm(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)(H₂O)₅(SO₄)][Sm(H₂O)₅(SO₄)₂]·17H₂O complex was generated upon heating (130 °C) of a mixture of samarium sulfate, cucurbituril, and water in a sealed tube. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that the metal atoms in these complexes are bound to the portal oxygen atoms of the cucurbituril molecules. In addition, the portal oxygen atoms of cucurbituril are linked to the coordinated H₂O molecules via hydrogen bonds.     

Oxazolidine Nitroxide Transformation in a Coordination Sphere of the Ln3+ Ions

Upon the interaction of the hydrated lanthanide(III) salts found in acetonitrile solution with a tripodal paramagnetic compound, 4,4-dimethyl-2,2-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3-oxazolidine-3-oxyl (Rad), functionalized by two pyridyl groups, three neutral, structurally characterized complexes with diamagnetic polydentate ligands—[Dy(RadH)(hbpm)Cl₂], [Yb₂(ipapm)₂(NO₃)₄], and [Ce₂(ipapm)₂(NO₃)₄(EtOAc)₂]—were obtained. These coordination compounds are minor uncolored crystalline products, which were formed in a reaction mixture due to the Rad transformation in a lanthanide coordination sphere, wherein the processes of its simultaneous disproportionation, hydrolysis, and condensation proceed differently than in the absence of Ln ions. The latter fact was confirmed by the formation of the structurally characterized product of the oxazolidine nitroxide transformation during its crystallization in toluene solution. Such a conversion in the presence of 4f elements ions is unique since no similar phenomenon was observed during the synthesis of the 3d-metal complexes with Rad.     

Crystallographic report: Crystal structures of organometallic aqua complexes [Cp*RhIII(bpy)(OH2)]2+ and [Cp*RhIII(6,6′‐Me2bpy)(OH2)]2+ used as key catalysts in regioselective reduction of NAD+ analogues

Crystal structures of organometallic aqua complexes [Cp*Rh^III(bpy)(OH₂)]²⁺ ( 1 , Cp* = η⁵‐C₅Me₅, bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine) and [Cp*Rh^III(6,6′‐Me₂bpy)(OH₂)]²⁺ ( 2 , 6,6′‐Me₂bpy = 6,6′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine) used as key catalysts in regioselective reduction of NAD⁺ analogues were determined definitely by X‐ray analysis. The yellow crystals of 1 (PF₆)₂ and orange crystals of 2 (CF₃SO₃)₂ used in the X‐ray analysis were obtained from aqueous solutions of 1 (PF₆)₂ and 2 (CF₃SO₃)₂. The Rh–O_aqua length of 2.194(4) Å obtained for 1 (PF₆)₂ is significantly different from that of 2.157(3) Å obtained for the previously reported disorder model [Cp*Rh^III(bpy)(0.7H₂O/0.3CH₃OH)](CF₃SO₃)₂·0.7H₂O in which the coordinated water is replaced by a coordinated methanol. The five‐membered ring involving the Rh atom and the 6,6′‐Me₂bpy chelating unit in 2 (CF₃SO₃)₂ is not flat, whereas the five‐membered chelate ring in 1 (PF₆)₂ is nearly flat. Such a non‐planar structure in 2 (CF₃SO₃)₂ is ascribed to the steric repulsion between the 6,6′‐Me₂bpy ligand and the Cp* ligand. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of the macrocyclic ligand cucurbit[6]uril for isolation of tetranuclear lanthanide aquahydroxo-carboxylate complexes from aqueous solutions

The tetranuclear lanthanide complexes {[Ln₄(μ₃-OH)₄(μ₂-OH)₂(C₅NH₄COO)₂ (H₂O)₄-(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)₂][Ln(H₂O)₈]_1.5[Ln(H₂O)₆(NO₃)₂]_0.5} (NO₃)₉·nH₂O (Ln = Ho, Gd, or Er) were prepared by heating (130 °C) aqueous solutions of lanthanide nitrates, cucurbit[6]uril (C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂), and 4-cyanopyridine. The tetradentate coordination of the macrocyclic cucurbit[6]uril ligands through the portals leads to the formation of sandwich compounds, in which the tetranuclear hydroxo complex is located between two macrocyclic molecules. The polynuclear complexes are additionally stabilized by the chelating effect of the isonicotinate ligands generated by hydrolysis of 4-cyanopyridine. In the complexes, the aromatic moiety of the isonicotinate ion is encapsulated into the hydrophobic inner cavity of cucurbit[6]uril. In the absence of cucurbit[6]uril, the reaction with 4-cyanopyridine produces only the polymeric complexes [Nd(C₅NH₄COO)₃(H₂O)₂] and [Ln(C₅NH₄COO)₂(H₂O)₄]NO₃ (Ln = Pr, Sm, or Gd), whose structures were established by X-ray diffraction. In water and aqueous solutions of nonionic and cationic surfactants, irreversible changes of the tetranuclear fragment of the complex (Ln = Gd) were observed after storage for two days, whereas the anionic surfactant stabilizes the complexes. Dedicated to Academician O. M. Nefedov on the occasion of his 75th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 1885–1894, November, 2006.     

Synthesis and the crystal structure of the supramolecular complex [Cl3InW3S4(H2O)9]2+ with cucurbituril

The supramolecular complex {[Cl₃InW₃S₄(H₂O)₉]₂(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)}Cl₄·28H₂O was prepared by mixing solutions of [Cl₃InW₃S₄(H₂O)₉]²⁺ and cucurbituril in hydrochloric acid. The molecular and crystal structure of the resulting complex was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Formation of aqua and tetraammine Cu(II) complexes inside the cavities of cucurbit[6,8]urils: A DFT forecast

Results of DFT calculations of the structure and thermodynamics of formation of aqua and tetraammine Cu(II) complexes inside CB[n] (n = 6,8) are presented in this study. Formation thermodynamics of the complexes in the cavitands was evaluated by taking into account the most probable number of water molecules inside CB[n]. In this methodology, the complexation was first considered as a substitution reaction in which the guest complex displaces partially or completely the water molecules that are located inside the cavity. The water molecules present in the cavitand were shown to play an important role in the fixation of the guest complex inside the cavity due to the hydrogen bonds with the oxygen portals. The hydration of Cu(II) ion inside CB[6] leads to the formation of an inclusion compound with the formula {[Cu(H₂O)₄]²⁺·2H₂O}@CB[6] while in CB[8] {[Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺·4H₂O}@CB[8] is formed. For the binding of tetraammine Cu(II) complex, CB[8] was determined to be a significantly more suitable “container” than CB[6]. Both a direct embedding of this complex into the CB[8] and another mechanism in which ammonia molecules replace the water molecules in the Cu(II) aqua complex, preexisting in CB[8] were determined to be thermodynamically possible. Both these lead to the formation of the resultant inclusion compound described by the formula {[Cu(NH₃)₄(H₂O)₂]²⁺·4H₂O}@CB[8].     

Homoleptic lanthanide guanidinate complexes: The effective initiators for the polymerization of trimethylene carbonate and its copolymerization with ε‐caprolactone

The ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) using homoleptic lanthanide guanidinate complexes [RNC(NR′₂)NR]₃Ln as single component initiators has been fully investigated for the first time. The substituents on guanidinate ligands and center metals show great effect on the catalytic activities of these complexes, that is, ? N(CH₂)₅ > ? NⁱPr₂ > ? NPh₂ (for R′), ? Cy > ? ⁱPr (for R), and Yb > Sm > Nd. Among them, [Ph₂NC(NCy)₂]₃Yb shows the highest catalytic activity. Some features and kinetic behaviors of the TMC polymerization initiated by [Ph₂NC(NCy)₂]₃Yb were studied in detail. The polymerization rate is first order, with the monomer concentration and M_n of the polymer increasing with the polymer yield increasing linearly. The results indicated the present system having “living character.” A mechanism that the polymerization occurs via acyl‐oxygen bond cleavage rather than alkyl‐oxygen bond cleavage was proposed. The copolymerization of TMC with ?‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) initiated by [Ph₂NC(NCy)₂]₃Yb was also tested. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1778–1786, 2005     

Molecular mechanics calculations of β‐diketonate,aqua, and aqua‐β‐diketonate complexes of lanthanide ions using Gillespie–Kepert model

A version of molecular mechanics based on the Gillespie–Kepert model of coordination bonds “repulsion” is applied to lanthanide complexes. The force field parameters are developed that describe the structure of β‐diketonate‐, aqua‐, and mixed aqua‐β‐diketonate complexes with good accuracy; the same parameters are applicable to various coordination numbers/polyhedra. For the aqua complexes, typical root‐mean‐square deviation (calculated vs. X‐ray experimental values) is 0.02 Å in Ln–O bond lengths and 2.0° in O–Ln–O valence angles. For most of the other compounds, the same precision is achieved in coordination bond lengths, while 3.5° is a typical precision for coordination bond angles. Calculations successfully reproduce the puckering of the β‐diketonate chelate rings, as well as the relative stability of isomers for a representative example. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 38–50, 2001     

Ln3+‐Mediated Self‐Assembly of a Collagen Peptide into Luminescent Banded Helical Nanoropes

Design of biomimetic peptides to achieve the desired properties of natural collagen has much potential to build functional biomaterials. A collagen‐peptide/Ln³⁺ system has been constructed and self‐assembled to form helical nanoropes with a distinct periodic banding pattern characteristic of natural collagen. The fully reversible self‐assembly is specifically mediated by lanthanide ions, but not by other commonly used divalent metal ions. Lanthanide ions not only provide an external biocompatible stimulus of the assembly, but also play as a functional unit to endow the assembled materials with easily tunable photoluminescence. To our knowledge, this is the first report of collagen‐peptide‐based materials with exquisite nanorope structure and excellent photoluminescent features. These novel luminescent nanomaterials may have great potential in cell imaging, medical diagnostics, and luminescent scaffolds for cell cultivation.     

Surface grafting of cobalt complexes on polymeric supports: Evidence for site isolation and applications to reversible dioxygen binding

Imprinted polymers were synthesized using the surface‐grafting technique with [Co(III) 1 (vpy)(dmap)]PF₆ { 1 , bis[2‐hydroxy‐4‐(4‐vinylbenzyloxy)benzaldehyde]ethylene‐diimine; vpy: 4‐vinylpyridine; dmap: N,N′‐dimethyl‐4‐aminopyridine} as the template. The metallated sites were probed using spectroscopic techniques including UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies to investigate the site architecture and isolation of the immobilized sites in the surface‐grafted polymers. EPR studies showed a distribution of four and five coordinated sites similar to the bulk copolymers, and the surface‐grafted polymer showed reversible binding to dioxygen in multiple cycles. Both results indicated site isolation in the surface‐grafted polymers analogous to the bulk polymers. Although the dioxygen binding in surface‐grafted polymers is reversible, the spin density decreases to 50% in the third cycle as opposed to bulk copolymers. This indicates that the sites are more heterogeneous and more exposed to the environment than the analogous sites in bulk copolymers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 888–897, 2001     

Synthesis and crystal structures of sumpramolecular compounds of cucurbit[n]urils (n = 6, 8) with polynuclear strontium aqua complexes

Crystals of the {[Sr₄(H₂O)₁₂(NO₃)₄](C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)}(NO₃)₄·3H₂O and {[Sr₂(H₂O)₁₂][Sr(H₂O)₃(NO₃)₂]₂(C₄₈H₄₈N₃₂O₁₆)}(NO₃)₄·8H₂O were prepared by slow concentration of aqueous solutions containing strontium nitrate and macrocyclic cavitands, viz., cucurbit[6]uril and cucurbit[8]uril ([C₆H₆N₄O₂] _n , n = 6 and 8), respectively. According to the results of X-ray diffraction analysis, the crystal structures of these supramolecular compounds are built from polymeric chains, which consist of the alternating cucurbit[n]uril molecules and Sr²⁺ cations linked through the bridging aqua ligands and nitrate anions. The supramolecular compound of cucurbit[8]uril provides the first example of compounds in which this macrocycle is bound to metal aqua complexes.     

Magnetic interactions in a series of paramagnetic Ln(III) complexes with a chelated imino nitroxide radical

The magnetic interactions in a new series of isostructural imino nitroxide radical lanthanide(III) complexes, [Ln(hfac)₃(IM2py)] (Ln = Gd–Yb: IM2py = 2-(2′-pyridyl)-4,5-dihydro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1H-imidazoline-1-oxy; hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione), are examined by considering the intrinsic paramagnetic contribution of the Ln(III) ion from the corresponding [Ln(hfac)₃(pybzim)] with a diamagnetic pybzim(2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole) ligand; the Ln(III)–IM2py interaction being antiferromagnetic for the 4f⁷ to 4f¹³ Ln(III) complexes and negligibly small for the other complexes. This series is the first example reverse to the previous cases for the series of Ln–Cu or Ln–aminoxyl(NIT) radical (4,5-dihydro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1H-imidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxy) complexes, other than only a few examples of semiquinone Ln complexes. This reverse nature of the magnetic interaction, as compared with the NIT complexes, validates the empirical approach by O. Kahn et al. [Inorg. Chem. 38 (1999) 3692; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122 (2000) 3413] in the spin-coupled systems for a series of Ln(III) complexes.     

Synthesis, mechanism and NMR spectra of lanthanide complexes with a novel unsymmetrical Schiff base

Owing to its two unsymmetrical-NH_2 groups sited on different terminals, 2, 6-diaminocaproic acid (lysine) was used as a reactant for synthesizing a novel unsymmetrical Schiff base with salicylaldehyde on one side and ovanillin on the other for the first time. It is a new way to synthesize such a special unsymmetrical Schiff base. It is named "hetero bis-Schiff base" for distinguishing it from others. The synthesis method, formation mechanism as well as twelve new lanthanide complexes with the above ligand are reported and discussed herein. They were characterized by elementary analysis, molar conductivity, IR-spectra and especially by ~1H and ~(13)C NMR spectra. The results obtained may provide a new promising method for synthesizing similar unsymmetrical Schiff bases and their complexes.     

Magnetic properties of cyano-bridged Ln3+-M3+ complexes. Part I: trinuclear complexes (Ln3+ = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm; M3+ = FeLS, Co) with bpy as blocking ligand

The reaction of Ln(NO3)3(aq) with K3[Fe(CN)6] or K3[Co(CN)6] and 2,2'-bipyridine in water/ethanol led to eight trinuclear complexes: trans-[M(CN)4(mu-CN)2{Ln(H2O)4(bpy)2}2][M(CN)6].8H2O (M = Fe3+ or Co3+, Ln = La3+, Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, and Sm3+). The structures for the eight complexes [La2Fe] (1), [Ce2Fe] (2), [Pr2Fe] (3), [Nd2Fe] (4), [Ce2Co] (5), [Pr2Co] (6), [Nd2Co] (7), and [Sm2Co] (8) have been solved; they crystallize in the triclinic space group P and are isomorphous. They exhibit a supramolecular 3D architecture through hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking interactions. A stereochemical study of the nine-vertex polyhedra of the lanthanide ions, based on continuous shape measures, is presented. No significant magnetic interaction was found between the lanthanide(III) and the iron(III) ions.     

Platinum Oxoboryl Complexes as Substrates for the Formation of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 Lewis Acid–Base Adducts and 1,2‐Dipolar Additions

The oxoboryl complex trans‐[(Cy₃P)₂BrPt(B?O)] ( 2 ) reacts with the Group 13 Lewis acids EBr₃ (E=Al, Ga, In) to form the 1:1 Lewis acid–base adducts trans‐[(Cy₃P)₂BrPt(B?OEBr₃)] ( 6 – 8 ). This reactivity can be extended by using two equivalents of the respective Lewis acid EBr₃ (E=Al, Ga) to form the 2:1 Lewis acid–base adducts trans‐[(Cy₃P)₂(Br₃Al‐Br)Pt(B?OAlBr₃)] ( 18 ) and trans‐[(Cy₃P)₂(Br₃Ga‐Br)Pt(B?OGaBr₃)] ( 15 ). Another reactivity pattern was demonstrated by coordinating two oxoboryl complexes 2 to InBr₃, forming the 1:2 Lewis acid–base adduct trans‐[{(Cy₃P)₂BrPt(B?O)}₂InBr₃] ( 20 ). It was also possible to functionalize the B?O triple bond itself. Trimethylsilylisothiocyanate reacts with 2 in a 1,2‐dipolar addition to form the boryl complex trans‐[(Cy₃P)₂BrPt{B(NCS)(OSiMe₃)}] ( 27 ).     

Synthesis and crystal structure of a supramolecular adduct of the cubane cluster [CIPdMo3Se4(H2O)7Cl2]+ with macrocyclic cavitand cucurbituril

A new heterometallic selenide-bridged 60-electron complex containing the cubane cluster fragment [M0₃(μ₃-Se)₄Pd]^4τ was prepared by heating a solution of [Mo₃Se₄(H₂O)₉]Cl₄ and palladium black in 2M HCl. The cluster complex was isolated from aqueous solutions as a hydrolytically stable supramolecular adduct with macrocyclic cavitand cucurbituril. The molecular and crystal structure of {[ClPdMo₃Se₄(H₂O)₇Cl₂](C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)Cl}·7H₂O were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 1905–1909, November, 2000.