Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor for Nitric Oxide Using the Self‐Assembled Monolayer of 1,8,15,22‐Tetraaminophthalocyanatocobalt(II) on Glassy Carbon Electrode

Glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of 1,8,15,22‐tetraaminophthalocyanatocobalt(II) (4α‐Co^IITAPc) was used for the selective and highly sensitive determination of nitric oxide (NO). The SAM of 4α‐Co^IITAPc was formed on GC electrode by spontaneous adsorption from DMF containing 1 mM 4α‐Co^IITAPc. The SAM showed two pairs of well‐defined redox peaks corresponding to Co^III/Co^II and Co^IIIPc^?1/Co^IIIPc^?2 in 0.2 M phosphate buffer (PB) solution (pH 2.5). The SAM modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) by enhancing its oxidation current with 310 mV less positive potential shift when compared to bare GC electrode. In amperometric measurements, the current response for NO oxidation was linearly increased in the concentration range of 3×10^?9 to 30×10^?9 M with a detection limit of 1.4×10^?10 M (S/N=3). The proposed method showed a better recovery for NO in human blood serum samples.     

Lability‐Controlled Syntheses of Heterometallic Clusters

A bulky bidentate ligand was used to stabilize a macrocyclic [Fe^III₈Co^II₆] cluster. Tuning the basicity of the ligand by derivatization with one or two methoxy groups led to the isolation of a homologous [Fe^III₈Co^II₆] species and a [Fe^III₆Fe^II₂Co^III₂Co^II₂] complex, respectively. Lowering the reaction temperatures allowed isolation of [Fe^III₆Fe^II₂Co^III₂Co^II₂] clusters with all three ligands. Temperature‐dependent absorption data and corresponding experiments with iron/nickel systems indicated that the iron/cobalt self‐assembly process was directed by the occurrence of solution‐state electron‐transfer‐coupled spin transition (ETCST) and its influence on reaction intermediate lability.     

Design and Synthesis of Novel EGFR Inhibitors with L‐Rhamnose–Benzoxazinone Hybrids

Four L ‐rhamnose–benzoxazinone compounds as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors were designed and synthesized. All structures of the compounds were characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and high‐resolution mass spectrometry. The inhibition activities of the target compounds for the EGFR tyrosine kinase activity in vitro were determined. Compounds 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d displayed moderate activity in targeting EGFR.     

Counter‐Anion‐Regulated Mixed‐Valency of Cobalt(II/III) Centers in a Metallosupramolecular Framework

A diamagnetic Au^I₄Co^III₂ hexanuclear complex, [Au₄Co₂(dppe)₂(l ‐nmc)₄]²⁺ ([ 1_{L ‐ nmc} ]²⁺; dppe=1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, l ‐H₂nmc=N‐methyl‐l ‐cysteine), was newly synthesized by the reaction of [Co(l ‐nmc)₂]^? with [Au₂Cl₂(dppe)] and crystallized with different inorganic anions (X=ClO₄^?, NO₃^?, Cl^?, SO₄^2?) to produce ionic solids ([ 1_{L ‐ nmc} ]X_n). Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis revealed that all the solids crystallize in the chiral space group F432 with a face‐centered‐cubic lattice structure consisting of supramolecular octahedra of complex cations. The paramagnetic nature of all the solids was evidenced by magnetic susceptibility measurements, showing the variation of the oxidation states of two cobalt centers in [ 1_{L ‐ nmc} ]ⁿ⁺ from Co^II_1.00Co^III_1.00 for X=ClO₄^? or NO₃^? to Co^II_0.67Co^III_1.33 for X=Cl^?, via Co^II_0.83Co^III_1.17 for X=SO₄^2?. The difference in the Co^II/III mixed‐valences was explained by the difference in sizes and charges of counter anions accommodated in lattice interstices with a fixed volume.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Reactivity of Cobalt(III)–Oxygen Complexes Bearing a Macrocyclic N‐Tetramethylated Cyclam Ligand

Mononuclear metal–dioxygen species are key intermediates that are frequently observed in the catalytic cycles of dioxygen activation by metalloenzymes and their biomimetic compounds. In this work, a side‐on cobalt(III)–peroxo complex bearing a macrocyclic N‐tetramethylated cyclam (TMC) ligand, [Co^III(15‐TMC)(O₂)]⁺, was synthesized and characterized with various spectroscopic methods. Upon protonation, this cobalt(III)–peroxo complex was cleanly converted into an end‐on cobalt(III)–hydroperoxo complex, [Co^III(15‐TMC)(OOH)]²⁺. The cobalt(III)–hydroperoxo complex was further converted to [Co^III(15‐TMC‐CH₂‐O)]²⁺ by hydroxylation of a methyl group of the 15‐TMC ligand. Kinetic studies and ¹⁸O‐labeling experiments proposed that the aliphatic hydroxylation occurred via a Co^IV–oxo (or Co^III–oxyl) species, which was formed by O? O bond homolysis of the cobalt(III)–hydroperoxo complex. In conclusion, we have shown the synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization, and reactivities of mononuclear cobalt complexes with peroxo, hydroperoxo, and oxo ligands.     

Thioamide‐Directed Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed Selective Amidation of C(sp3)−H Bonds

A mild, oxidant‐free, and selective Cp*Co^III‐catalyzed amidation of thioamides with robust dioxazolone amidating agents via C(sp³)−H bond activation to generate the desired amidated products is reported. The method is efficient and allows for the C−H amidation of a wide range of functionalized thioamides with aryl‐, heteroaryl‐, and alkyl‐substituted dioxazolones under the Cp*Co^III‐catalyzed conditions. The observed regioselectivity towards primary C(sp³)−H activation is supported by computational studies and the cyclometalation is proposed to proceed by means of an external carboxylate‐assisted concerted metalation/deprotonation mechanism. The reported method is a rare example of the use of a directing group other than the commonly used pyridine and quinolone classes for Cp*Co^III‐catalyzed C(sp³)−H functionalization and the first to exploit thioamides.     

Group 9 Metal Complexes of meso‐Aryl‐Substituted Rubyrin

The metalation of meso‐tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)‐substituted [26]rubyrin has been explored with Group 9 metal salts (Rh^I, Co^II, Ir^III), affording a Hückel aromatic [26]rubyrin–bis‐Rh^I complex with a highly curved gable‐like structure, a Hückel antiaromatic [24]rubyrin–bis‐Co^II complex that displays intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling between the two Co^II ions (J=?4.5 cm^?1), and two Cp*‐capped Ir^III complexes; in one, the iridium metal sits on the [26]rubyrin frame with two Ir?N bonds, whereas the other has an additional Ir?C bond, although both Ir^III complexes display moderate aromatic character. This work demonstrates characteristic metalation abilities of this [26]rubyrin toward Group 9 metals.     

Trinuclear [CoIII2–LnIII] (Ln=Tb,Dy) Single‐Ion Magnets with Mixed 6‐Chloro‐2‐Hydroxypyridine and Schiff Base Ligands

The Schiff base ligand N1,N3‐bis(3‐methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine (H₂valdien) and the co‐ligand 6‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypyridine (Hchp) were used to construct two 3d–4f heterometallic single‐ion magnets [Co₂Dy(valdien)₂(OCH₃)₂(chp)₂] ? ClO₄ ? 5 H₂O ( 1 ) and [Co₂Tb(valdien)₂(OCH₃)₂(chp)₂] ? ClO₄ ? 2 H₂O ? CH₃OH ( 2 ). The two trinuclear [Co^III₂Ln^III] complexes behave as a mononuclear Ln^III magnetic system because of the presence of two diamagnetic cobalt(III) ions. Complex 1 has a molecular symmetry center, and it crystallizes in the C2/c space group, whereas complex 2 shows a lower molecular symmetry and crystallizes in the P2₁/c space group. Magnetic investigations indicated that both complexes are field‐induced single‐ion magnets, and the Co^III₂–Dy^III complex possesses a larger energy barrier [74.1(4.2) K] than the Co^III₂–Tb^III complex [32.3(2.6) K].     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed C8‐Dienylation of Quinoline‐N‐Oxides

An efficient Cp*Co^III‐catalyzed C8‐dienylation of quinoline‐N‐oxides was achieved by employing allenes bearing leaving groups at the α‐position as the dienylating agents. The reaction proceeds by Co^III‐catalyzed C?H activation of quinoline‐N‐oxides and regioselective migratory insertion of the allene followed by a β‐oxy elimination, leading to overall dienylation. Site‐selective C?H activation was achieved with excellent selectivity under mild reaction conditions, and 30 mol % of a NaF additive was found to be crucial for the efficient dienylation. The methodology features high stereoselectivity, mild reaction conditions, and good functional‐group tolerance. C8‐alkenylation of quinoline‐N‐oxides was achieved in the case of allenes devoid of leaving groups as coupling partners. Furthermore, gram‐scale preparation and preliminary mechanistic experiments were carried out to gain insights into the reaction mechanism.     

Highly Efficient Cooperative Catalysis by CoIII(Porphyrin) Pairs in Interpenetrating Metal–Organic Frameworks

A series of porous twofold interpenetrated In‐Co^III(porphyrin) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were constructed by in situ metalation of porphyrin bridging ligands and used as efficient cooperative catalysts for the hydration of terminal alkynes. The twofold interpenetrating structure brings adjacent Co^III(porphyrins) in the two networks parallel to each other with a distance of about 8.8 Å, an ideal distance for the simultaneous activation of both substrates in alkyne hydration reactions. As a result, the In‐Co^III(porphyrin) MOFs exhibit much higher (up to 38 times) catalytic activity than either homogeneous catalysts or MOF controls with isolated Co^III(porphyrin) centers, thus highlighting the potential application of MOFs in cooperative catalysis.     

White Light Emissive DyIII Single‐Molecule Magnets Sensitized by Diamagnetic [CoIII(CN)6]3− Linkers

The self‐assembly of Dy^III–3‐hydroxypyridine (3‐OHpy) complexes with hexacyanidocobaltate(III) anions in water produces cyanido‐bridged {[Dy^III(3‐OHpy)₂(H₂O)₄] [Co^III(CN)₆]}?H₂O ( 1 ) chains. They reveal a single‐molecule magnet (SMM) behavior with a large zero direct current (dc) field energy barrier, ΔE=266(12) cm^?1 (≈385 K), originating from the single‐ion property of eight‐coordinated Dy^III of an elongated dodecahedral geometry, which are embedded with diamagnetic [Co^III(CN)₆]^3? ions into zig‐zag coordination chains. The SMM character is enhanced by the external dc magnetic field, which results in the ΔE of 320(23) cm^?1 (≈460 K) at H_dc=1 kOe, and the opening of a butterfly hysteresis loop below 6 K. Complex 1 exhibits white Dy^III‐based emission realized by energy transfer from Co^III and 3‐OHpy to Dy^III. Low temperature emission spectra were correlated with SMM property giving the estimation of the zero field ΔE. 1 is a unique example of bifunctional magneto‐luminescent material combining white emission and slow magnetic relaxation with a large energy barrier, both controlled by rich structural and electronic interplay between Dy^III, 3‐OHpy, and [Co^III(CN)₆]^3?.     

Cp*CoIII Catalyzed Site‐Selective CH Activation of Unsymmetrical O‐Acyl Oximes: Synthesis of Multisubstituted Isoquinolines from Terminal and Internal Alkynes

The synthesis of isoquinolines by site‐selective C? H activation of O‐acyl oximes with a Cp*Co^III catalyst is described. In the presence of this catalyst, the C? H activation of various unsymmetrically substituted O‐acyl oximes selectively occurred at the sterically less hindered site, and reactions with terminal as well as internal alkynes afforded the corresponding products in up to 98 % yield. Whereas the reactions catalyzed by the Cp*Co^III system proceeded with high site selectivity (15:1 to 20:1), use of the corresponding Cp*Rh^III catalysts led to low selectivities and/or yields when unsymmetrical O‐acyl oximes and terminal alkynes were used. Deuterium labeling studies indicate a clear difference in the site selectivity of the C? H activation step under Cp*Co^III and Cp*Rh^III catalysis.     

Light‐Induced Bidirectional Metal‐to‐Metal Charge Transfer in a Linear Fe2Co Complex

It is a challenge to reversibly switch both magnetism and polarity using light irradiation. Herein we report a linear Fe₂Co complex, whereby interconversion between Fe^III_LS(μ‐CN)Co^II_HS(μ‐NC)Fe^III_LS (LS=low‐spin, HS=high‐spin) and Fe^III_LS(μ‐CN)Co^III_LS(μ‐NC)Fe^II_LS linkages could be achieved upon heating and cooling, or alternating laser irradiation at 808 and 532 nm. The electron spin arrangement and charge distribution were simultaneously tuned accompanying bidirectional metal‐to‐metal charge transfer, providing switchable polarity and magnetism in the complex.     

Multimetal‐Substituted Epsilon‐Iron Oxide ϵ‐Ga0.31Ti0.05Co0.05Fe1.59O3 for Next‐Generation Magnetic Recording Tape in the Big‐Data Era

From the viewpoints of large capacity, long‐term guarantee, and low cost, interest in magnetic recording tapes has undergone a revival as an archive storage media for big data. Herein, we prepared a new series of metal‐substituted ?‐Fe₂O₃, ?‐Ga^III_0.31Ti^IV_0.05Co^II_0.05Fe^III_1.59O₃, nanoparticles with an average size of 18 nm. Ga, Ti, and Co cations tune the magnetic properties of ?‐Fe₂O₃ to the specifications demanded for a magnetic recording tape. The coercive field was tuned to 2.7 kOe by introduction of single‐ion anisotropy on Co^II (S=3/2) along the c‐axis. The saturation magnetization was increased by 44 % with Ga^III (S=0) and Ti^IV (S=0) substitution through the enhancement of positive sublattice magnetizations. The magnetic tape media was fabricated using an actual production line and showed a very sharp signal response and a remarkably high signal‐to‐noise ratio compared to the currently used magnetic tape.     

Synthesis of 4‐Heteroaryl–Quinazoline Derivatives as Potential Anti‐breast Cancer Agents

4‐Heteroaryl or heteroalkyl–quinazoline derivatives were prepared as dual epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 (VEGFR‐2) inhibitors. The new compounds were tested for their dual enzyme inhibition as well as their cytotoxic activity on MCF7 cell line. The results indicated that almost all the compounds showed moderate dual inhibition of both enzymes. Compound 3 (methyl piperidine‐4‐carboxylate derivative) showed the highest inhibitory activity against both enzymes with IC₅₀ 97.6 and 64.0 µM against EGFR and VEGFR‐2 kinases, respectively. Most of the test compounds showed potent to moderate antitumor activity on MCF7 cell line. Five compounds ( 3 , 9c , 11 , 13 , and 15b ) showed potent cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values between 10 and 17 µM .     

Entrapment of a Pseudo‐Tetrahedral CoII Center by Thioether Sulfur Bound {Co2(μ‐L)} Fragments: Synthesis,Field‐Induced Single‐Ion Magnetism and Catechol Oxidase Mimicking Activity

Simultaneous incorporation of both Co^II and Co^III ions within a new thioether S‐bearing phenol‐based ligand system, H₃L (2,6‐bis‐[{2‐(2‐hydroxyethylthio)ethylimino}methyl]‐4‐methylphenol) formed [Co₅] aggregates [Co^IICo^III₄L₂(μ‐OH)₂(μ_1,3‐O₂CCH₃)₂](ClO₄)₄?H₂O ( 1 ) and [Co^IICo^III₄L₂(μ‐OH)₂(μ_1,3‐O₂CC₂H₅)₂](ClO₄)₄?H₂O ( 2 ). The magnetic studies revealed axial zero‐field splitting (ZFS) parameter, D/hc=?23.6 and ?24.3 cm^?1, and E/D=0.03 and 0.00, respectively for 1 and 2 . Dynamic magnetic data confirmed the complexes as SIMs with U_eff/k_B=30 K ( 1 ) and 33 K ( 2 ), and τ₀=9.1×10^?8 s ( 1 ), and 4.3×10^?8 s ( 2 ). The larger atomic radius of S compared to N gave rise to less variation in the distortion of tetrahedral geometry around central Co^II centers, thus affecting the D and U_eff/k_B values. Theoretical studies also support the experimental findings and reveal the origin of the anisotropy parameters. In solutions, both 1 and 2 which produce {Co^III₂(μ‐L)} units, display solvent‐dependent catechol oxidation behavior toward 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol in air. The presence of an adjacent Co^III ion tends to assist the electron transfer from the substrate to the metal ion center, enhancing the catalytic oxidation rate.     

Extending Metal‐to‐Polyoxometalate Charge Transfer Lifetimes: The Effect of Heterometal Location

In an effort to develop robust molecular sensitizers for solar fuel production, the electronic structure and photodynamics of transition‐metal‐substituted polyoxometalates (POMs), a novel class of compound in this context, was examined. Experimental and computational techniques including femtosecond (fs) transient absorption spectroscopy have been used to study the cobalt‐containing Keggin POMs, [Co^IIW₁₂O₄₀]^6? ( 1 a ), [Co^IIIW₁₂O₄₀]^5? ( 2 a ), [SiCo^II(H₂O)W₁₁O₃₉]^6? ( 3 a ), and [SiCo^III(H₂O)W₁₁O₃₉]^5? ( 4 a ), finding the longest lived charge transfer excited state so far observed in a POM and elucidating the electronic structures and excited‐state dynamics of these compounds at an unprecedented level. All species exhibit a bi‐exponential decay in which early dynamic processes with time constants in the fs domain yield longer lived excited states which decay with time constants in the ps to ns domain. The initially formed states of 1 a and 3 a are considered to result from metal‐to‐polyoxometalate charge transfer (MPCT) from Co^II to W, while the longer‐lived excited state of 1 a is tentatively assigned to a localized intermediate MPCT state. The excited state formed by the tetrahedral cobalt(II) centered heteropolyanion ( 1 a ) is far longer‐lived (τ=420 ps in H₂O; τ=1700 ps in MeCN) than that of 3 a (τ=1.3 ps), in which the single Co^II atom is located in a pseudo‐octahedral addendum site. Short‐lived states are observed for the two Co^III‐containing heteropolyanions 2 a (τ=4.4 ps) and 4 a (τ=6.3 ps) and assigned solely to O→Co^III charge transfer. The dramatically extended lifetime for 1 a versus 3 a is ascribed to a structural change permitted by the coordinatively flexible central site, weak orbital overlap of the central Co with the polytungstate framework, and putative transient valence trapping of the excited electron on a single W atom, a phenomenon not noted previously in POMs.     

A Bio‐Inspired Switch Based on Cobalt(II) Disulfide/Cobalt(III) Thiolate Interconversion

Disulfide/thiolate interconversion supported by transition‐metal ions is proposed to be implicated in fundamental biological processes, such as the transport of metal ions or the regulation of the production of reactive oxygen species. We report herein a mononuclear dithiolate Co^III complex, [Co^IIILS(Cl)] ( 1 ; LS=sulfur containing ligand), that undergoes a clean, fast, quantitative and reversible Co^II disulfide/Co^III thiolate interconversion mediated by a chloride anion. The removal of Cl^? from the Co^III complex leads to the formation of a bis(μ‐thiolato) μ‐disulfido dicobalt(II) complex, [Co₂^II,IILSSL]²⁺ ( 2 ²⁺). The structures of both complexes have been resolved by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction; their magnetic, spectroscopic, and redox properties investigated together with DFT calculations. This system is a unique example of metal‐based switchable Mⁿ₂‐RSSR/2 M⁽ⁿ⁺¹⁾‐SR (M=metal ion, n=oxidation state) system that does not contain copper, acts under aerobic conditions, and involves systems with different nuclearities.     

(μ‐C‐meso‐5,5,7,12,12,14‐Hexa­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐N‐acetato‐1κ5N,N′,N′′,N′′′,O:2κO′)­tetra­chloro‐1κCl,2κ3Cl‐cobalt(III)­zinc(II)

The crystal structure of the title compound, [CoCl(C₁₈H₃₇N₄O₂){ZnCl₃}], has been determined by X‐ray diffraction.C‐meso‐5,5,7,12,12,14‐Hexa­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclotetradecane‐N‐acetate acts as a bridging ligand to coodinate with Co^III and Zn^II ions. The Co^III ion is six‐coordinate in a nearly octahedral environment provided by one Cl atom, four N atoms of the bridging ligand, and one O atom. The Zn^II ion is four‐coordinate in a distorted tetrahedral environment completed by three Cl atoms and an O atom of the bridging ligand.     

Coα‐(1H‐Imidazolyl)‐Coβ‐methylcob(III)amide: Model for Protein‐Bound Corrinoid Cofactors

Coα‐(1H‐Imidazol‐1‐yl)‐Coβ‐methylcob(III)amide ( 4 ) was synthesized by methylation with methyl iodide of (1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)cob(I)amide, obtained by electrochemical reduction of Coα‐(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)‐Coβ‐cyanocob(III)amide ( 5 ). The spectroscopic data and a single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis indicated 4 to exhibit a base‐on constitution in solution and in the crystal. The crucial lengths of the axial Co−N and Co−CH₃ bonds also emerged from the crystallographic data and were found to be smaller by 0.1 and 0.02 Å, respectively, than those in methylcob(III)alamin ( 2 ). The data of 4 support the view, that the `long' axial Co−N bonds as determined by X‐ray crystallography for the B<sub>12</sub>‐dependent methionine synthase, for methylmalonyl‐CoA mutase, and for glutamate mutase represent stretched Co−N bonds. The thermodynamic effect (the `trans influence') of the 1H‐imidazole base in 4 on the organometallic reactivity of this model for protein‐bound organometallic B₁₂ cofactors was examined by studying Me‐group‐transfer equilibria in aqueous solution and using (5′,6′‐dimethyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐yl)cobamides (cobalamins) as reaction partners (Schemes 2 – 5, Table). In comparison with methylcob(III)alamin ( 2 ), 4 was found to be destabilized for an abstraction of the Co‐bound Me group by a Co^III electrophile. In contrast, the abstraction of the Co‐bound Me group by a radical(oid) Co^II species was not significantly influenced thermodynamically by the exchange of the nucleotide base. Likewise, exploratory Me‐group‐transfer experiments with Me−Co^III and nucleophilic Co^I corrinoids at pH 6.8 provided an apparent equilibrium constant near unity. However, this finding also was consistent with partial protonation of the imidazolylcob(I)amide at pH 6.8, suggesting an interesting pH dependence of the Megroup‐transfer equilibrium near neutral pH. Therefore, the replacement of the 5′,6′‐dimethyl‐1H‐benzimidazole base by an 1H‐imidazole moiety, as observed in methyl transferases and in C‐skeleton mutases, does not by itself strongly alter the inherent reactivity of the B₁₂ cofactors in the crucial homolytic and nucleophilic‐heterolytic reactions involving the organometallic bond, but may help to enhance the control of the organometallic reactivity by protonation/deprotonation of the axial base.