Polymerization of norbornene by palladium(II) complexes bearing ethylene-bridged bisindolinyl- or bis(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinyl) ligands

Novel moisture and air stable, cationic palladium(II) amine complexes (1–4) of the general type [Pd(N∩N)(X)₂](BF₄)₂, [N∩N=1,2-bis(N-indolinyl)ethane (BIE) 1, 3; 1,2-bis(N-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolinyl)ethane (BTQE) 2, 4; X=NCCH₃, H₂O] were found to catalyze the polymerization reaction of bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene at room temperature. The amorphous polymer products consist of 2,3-linked norbornene units; no indications for ring opened species could be observed. The polymerization activity of the diaqua-complexes 3, 4 is superior compared to their acetonitrile analogues due to a facile activation by a Wacker-type reaction. The cationic Pd(II)-compounds are inactive towards homo- and copolymerization reactions of polar monomers, like acrylates or carbon monoxide. However, addition of methylacrylate resulted in polynorbornene products with increased molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distributions.     

“Living” radical polymerization of styrene catalyzed by cyclometalated ruthenium(II) complexes bearing nonlabile ligands

Cationic substitutionally inert cyclometalated ruthenium (II) and osmium (II) complexes, ([Mt(o‐C₆H₄‐2‐py)(LL)₂]PF₆), where LL‐1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) or 2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy), were used for radical polymerization of styrene. Gradual modification of the complexes within the series allowed comparison of the catalytic activity and the redox properties. There was no correlation between the reducing powers of the complexes and their catalytic activities. The osmium compound of the lowest reduction potential was not active. All the ruthenium complexes catalyzed the polymerization of styrene in a controlled manner; but the level of control and the catalytic activity were different under the same polymerization conditions. [Ru(o‐C₆H₄‐2‐py)(phen)₂]PF₆ demonstrated the best catalytic performance though its redox potential was the highest. It catalyzed the “living” polymerization with a reasonable rate at a catalyst‐to‐initiator ratio of 0.1. 1 equiv. of Al(OiPr)₃ accelerated the polymerization and improved the control, but higher amount of Al(OiPr)₃ did not speed up the polymerization and moved the process into the uncontrollable regime. Under the most optimal conditions, the controlled polymerization occurs fast without any additive and the catalyst degradation. Added free ligands inhibited the polymerization suggesting that the catalytically active ruthenium intermediates are generated via the reversible dechelation of bidentate phen or bipy ligands. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3814–3828, 2009     

Crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation of chiral-at-metal ruthenium(II) complexes bearing achiral ligands

Recently, we observed that the enantiopure Lambda form of the tributylammonium salt of the chiral anion tris[tetrachlorobenzene-1,2-bis(olato)]phosphate, also named Trisphat, was able to induce an efficient resolution of a Delta,Lambda racemic mixture of cis-[Ru(dmp)2(NCCH3)2](PF6)2 (dmp=2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) due to the spontaneous and selective precipitation of the heterochiral pair [Delta-Ru(dmp)2(CH3CN)2][Lambda-Trisphat]2. We report here that the combination of such a stereoselective precipitation process and irradiation results in the quantitative conversion of the initial [Ru(dmp)2(NCCH3)2]2+ racemate into only one of the two enantiomers. This is the first example in inorganic chemistry of an asymmetric transformation that leads to a chiral complex with no chiral ligand. Finally, three new racemic ruthenium bis(diimine) complexes, namely [Ru(dmp)2(NCCH3)Py](PF6)2 (Py=pyridine), [Ru(dmp)2(1,3-diaminopropane)](PF6)2, and [Ru(dmp)2(ethylenediamine)](PF6)2 were synthesized. For all of them, crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation proved to be an efficient way of obtaining the corresponding optically active chiral-at-metal complexes in high yields and with excellent stereoselectivities.     

Cytotoxic performances of new anionic cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes bearing chelated O^O ligands

The in vitro biological activity towards the MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cell line of two different series of anionic Pt(II) organometallic complexes was tested. For the first time, cytotoxic activity of anionic Pt(II) complexes has been observed. The anionic compounds of general formula NBu₄[(C^N)Pt(O^O)], where (C^N) represents the cyclometalated form of 2-phenylpyridine (H(PhPy)), 2-thienylpyridine (H(Thpy)) or 2-benzo[h]quinoline (H(Bzq)), feature two different (O^O) chelated ligands: tetrabromocatechol [BrCat]²⁻ ( 1 – 3 ) or alizarine [Aliz]²⁻ ( 4 – 6 ). Complexes 1 – 6 displayed a significant cytotoxic effect against the studied cell line (IC₅₀ range of 1.9–52.8 μM). For BrCat-containing complexes 1 – 3 , the biological activity was independent of the nature of the coordinated (C^N) ligand. In contrast, in the case of 4 – 6 , the cytotoxicity (significantly high for 4 ) was concomitantly induced by the presence of either the PhPy or the [Aliz]²⁻ ligand. Since complexes 1–6 are emissive in solution, the potential use of 4 as a theranostic agent was investigated using confocal analysis. The fluorescence signal from MDA-MB-231 cells incubated with 4 indicated the localization of the compound into the cytosol region.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of ruthenium(II) complexes bearing phosphine-pyrazolyl based tripod ligands

Phosphine-pyrazolyl based tripod ligands ROCH₂C(CH₂Pz)₂(CH₂PPh₂) (R = H, Me, allyl; Pz = pyrazol-1-yl) were efficiently synthesized and characterized. Reactions of these ligands with [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂]₂ afforded complexes of the type [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂](L) (6-8) in which the ligands exhibit κ¹-P-coordination to the metal center. Complex [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂{Ph₂PCH₂C(CH₂OH)(CH₂Pz)₂}] (6) underwent chloride-dissociation in CH₂Cl₂/MeCN to give complex [RuCl(η⁶-p-cymene){κ²(P,N)-Ph₂PCH₂C(CH₂OH)(CH₂Pz)₂}][Cl] (9). Complexes 6-9 demonstrated poor to moderate catalytic activity in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone. All these complexes were fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods and their molecular structures were determined by X-ray crystallographic study.     

Systematic modulation of a bichromic cyclometalated ruthenium(II) scaffold bearing a redox-active triphenylamine constituent

The syntheses and physicochemical properties of nine bis-tridentate ruthenium(II) complexes containing one cyclometalating ligand furnished with terminal triphenylamine (TPA) substituents are reported. The structure of each complex conforms to a molecular scaffold formulated as [Ru(II)(TPA-2,5-thiophene-pbpy)(Me(3)tctpy)] (pbpy = 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine; Me(3)tctpy = trimethyl-4,4',4'-tricarboxylate-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine), where various electron-donating groups (EDGs) and electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs) are installed about the TPA unit and the anionic ring of the pbpy ligand. It is found that the redox chemistry of the Ru center and the TPA unit can be independently modulated by (i) placing EWGs (e.g., -CF(3)) or EDGs (e.g., -OMe) on the anionic ring of the pbpy ligand (substituted sites denoted as R(2) or R(3)) and/or (ii) installing electron-donating substituents (e.g., -H, -Me, -OMe) para to the amine of the TPA group (i.e., R(1)). The first oxidation potential is localized to the TPA unit when, for example, EDGs are placed at R(1) with EWGs at R(2) (e.g., the TPA(?+)/TPA(0) and Ru(III)/Ru(II) redox couples appear at +0.98 and +1.27 V vs NHE, respectively, when R(1) = -OMe and R(2) = -CF(3)). This situation is reversed when R(3) = EDG and R(1) = -H: TPA-based and metal-centered oxidation waves occur at +1.20 and +1.11 V vs NHE, respectively. The UV-vis spectrum for each complex is broad (e.g., absorption bands are extended from the UV region to beyond 800 nm in all cases) and intense (e.g., ε ～ 10(4) M(-1)·cm(-1)) because of the overlapping intraligand charge-transfer and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer transitions. The information derived from this study offers guiding principles for modulating the physicochemical properties of bichromic cyclometalated ruthenium(II) complexes.     

Mixed complexes of ruthenium(III) and ruthenium(II) with triphenylphosphine or triphenylarsine and other ligands

The reactions of [RuCl₃(AsPh₃)₃] with ligands containing nitrogen (ammonia, hydrazines, amine and thiocyanate) and oxygen (carboxylates) and the reactions of β-diketones (acetylacetone, dibenzoylmethane and benzoylacetone) with [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₂]_n and [RuCl₂(AsPh₃)₂]₂ have been studied. Apart from this, a new Ru(III) complex, [RuBr₃(AsPh₃)₃] has also been synthesized. The compounds obtained have been characterised by analyses, conductivity and magnetic measurements, molecular weight and spectral studies (IR and visible). An equilibrium between hexacoordinated and pentacoordinated species is suggested on the basis of electronic spectral studies.     

Stereospecific synthesis and redox properties of ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes bearing a redox-active 1,8-naphthyridine unit

Two stereoisomers of cis-[Ru(bpy)(pynp)(CO)Cl]PF₆ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, pynp = 2-(2-pyridyl)-1,8-naphthyridine) were selectively prepared. The pyridyl rings of the pynp ligand in [Ru(bpy)(pynp)(CO)Cl]⁺ are situated trans and cis, respectively, to the CO ligand. The corresponding CH₃CN complex ([Ru(bpy)(pynp)(CO)(CH₃CN)]²⁺) was also prepared by replacement reactions of the chlorido ligand in CH₃CN. Using these complexes, ligand-centered redox behavior was studied by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques. The molecular structures of pynp-containing complexes (two stereoisomers of [Ru(bpy)(pynp)(CO)Cl]PF₆ and [Ru(pynp)₂(CO)Cl]PF₆) were determined by X-ray structure analyses.     

Phosphine-substituted dithiolene complexes as ligands: communication between ruthenium(II) centers through a dimolybdenum bis(dithiolene) core

The reaction of Mo2(SCH2CH2S)2Cp2 (1; Cp=eta-C5H5) with an excess of an alkyne in refluxing dichloromethane affords the bis(dithiolene) complexes Mo2(micro-SCR1=CR2S)2Cp2 (2a, R1=R2=CO2Me; 2b, R1=R2=Ph; 2c, R1=H, R2=CO2Me) whereas with 1 equiv of alkyne at room temperature the mixed dithiolene-dithiolate species Mo2(micro-SCR1=CR2S)(micro-SCH2CH2S)Cp2 (3a, R1=R2=CO2Me; 3b, R1=R2=Ph) are formed. The remaining dithiolate ligand in 3 can then be converted into a different dithiolene by reaction with a second alkyne. Applying this methodology, we have used bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene to prepare the first examples of complexes containing phosphine-substituted dithiolene ligands: Mo2{micro-SC(CO2Me)=C(CO2Me)S}{micro-SC(PPh2)=C(PPh2)S}Cp2 (2g) and Mo2{micro-SC(PPh2)=C(PPh2)S}2Cp2 (2h). Tri- and tetrametallic complexes can then be assembled by coordination of these diphosphines to CpRuCl units by reaction with CpRu(PPh3)2Cl. Electrochemical studies of the Ru(II)/Ru(III) couple in Mo2{micro-SC(PPh2)=C(PPh2)S}2Cp2(RuClCp)2 (4b) reveals that the two separate ruthenium centers are oxidized electrochemically at different potentials, demonstrating communication between them through the dimolybdenum bis(dithiolene) core. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to explore the electronic structures of these species and to predict and assign their electronic spectra.     

Tuning of luminescence spectra of neutral ruthenium(II) complexes by crystal waters

Neutral ruthenium(II) complexes [RuLL'(CN)2] (L, L' = bpy, dmb, dbb; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dmb = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, dbb = 4,4'-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) were prepared, and the luminescence characteristics of the complexes in the solid state were measured. The luminescence was tuned by crystal waters included in the crystals; for example, [Ru(dbb)2(CN)2] x 2H2O, [Ru(dbb)2(CN)2] x H2O, and [Ru(dbb)2(CN)2] emit luminescence at 640, 685, and 740 nm, respectively.     

Electronic communication between two amine redox centers bridged by a bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) complex

Two bis(terpyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes 2 and 3 appended with one or two di-p-anisylamino groups, respectively, were synthesized and fully characterized. Their electronic properties were studied by electrochemical and spectroscopic analyses. Electronic communication between individual amine sites of 3 was estimated by intervalence charge-transfer band analyses.     

Schiff base complexes of ruthenium(II) with tridentateN-methyl-S-methyldithiocarbazate ligands

Summary Schiff bases (HL) produced by the condensation ofN-methyl-S-methyldithiocarbazate with -diketones and aromatic aldehydes or ketones react with [RuHClCO(PPh₃)₃] to yield hexacoordinated complexes of the type [RuClCO(PPh₃)₂(L)]. These Schiff bases react with [RuCl₂{P(OR)₃}₄] in 11 molar ratio to yield [RuCl{P(OR)₃}₂(L)] in which L is a tridentate. The chlorine atom in the complex can be removed in coordinating solvents in the presence of anions such as [BPh₄]^– to give cationic complexes. Bis chelate complexes, [Ru{P(OR)₃}₂(L)₂] are prepared from 12 molar proportions of the reactants. These complexes were characterised by elemental analyses, i.r.,¹H n.m.r., u.v. and conductivity studies.NCL Communication No. 4224.     

Mixed-ligand copper(II) complexes with positive redox potentials

Summary Mixed-ligand complexes formed by reaction of Cu(ClO₄)₂ with 3-(2-pyridyl)-5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazine (dppt) as primary ligand and 2,2-bipyridine (bipy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp), N,N-bis(pyrid-2-ylmethyl)amine (dipica), N,N-bis(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)amine (bba), 1,3-bis(2-benzimidazolyl)-2-thiapropane (bbms) and 1,5-bis(benzimidazolyl)-3-thiapentane (bbes) as the secondary ligands have been isolated. They are of the type [Cu(dppt)L](ClO₄)₂·nH₂O, where n = 0 or 2. All complexes exhibit only one ligand field band and their cryogenic solution e.p.r. spectra are axial, with v_max and g values diagnostic of a square-based geometry. The spectral and redox data are consistent with facial coordination of the tridentate ligands. All the complexes exhibit a positive redox potential (versus n.h.e.). The weak -bonding of dppt, caused by the highly electron-withdrawing phenyl rings, the strong -back bonding involving phen and dmp, and interligand repulsions appear to be responsible for the relatively positive Cu^II/Cu^I redox potentials.     

Agostic Si-H bond coordination assists C-H bond activation at ruthenium in bis(phosphinobenzylsilane) complexes

Reaction of a phosphinobenzylsilane compound with ruthenium complexes leads to C-H and/or Si-H activation. The new complex Ru{eta(2)-H-SiMe2CH(o-C(6)H(4))PPh2}2 (5) was isolated and X-ray, NMR and DFT studies reveal that 5 displays two agostic Si-H interactions and two carbon-metallated bonds.     

Binuclear 1,2,4,5-tetraimino-3,6-diketocyclohexane bis[bis(bipyridine)ruthenium(II)] redox series

The reaction of the [Ru(bpy)2(MeOH)2]2+ cation (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) with 1,2,4,5-tetraaminobenzene in the presence of trace water and oxygen yields the cation [(bpy)2Ru(1,2,4,5-tetraimino-3,5-diketocyclohexane)Ru(bpy)2]4+. This binuclear species undergoes ligand-based reductions, giving the 3+ and 2+ charged species. The X-ray structure, electrochemistry, ZINDO calculations, and NMR, ESR, UV/vis, and IR spectra were analyzed where possible, giving an electronic model of the binuclear species and some of its redox products. The X-ray structure reveals the [(bpy)2Ru] fragments symmetrically disposed across the 1,2,4,5-tetraimino-3,5-diketocyclohexane bridge in a molecule with Cs symmetry.     

Charge-transfer luminescence from ruthenium(II) complexes containing tridentate ligands

Four complexes of the general formula Ru(NNN)²⁺₂ (N NN = tridentate N-heterocyclic ligand) were synthesized and studied spectroscopically. All exhibit visible absorption spectra that are charge-transfer-to-ligand in origin, are luminescent in glasses at 77 K, and display emission spectra that possess energies, structures, and decay tines that label them as charge transfer.     

Synthesis and characterization of bis(2,2′-bipyridine) ruthenium complexes containing thiosemicarbazide ligands: unique redox series

Two series of heterochelates of ruthenium(II) containing two bipyridyl molecules and a bidentate chelating sulfur---nitrogen donor ligand in the form of 4-aryl substituted thiosemicarbazides have been synthesized and characterized. The first series of complexes are dicationic in which the ring substituted 4-aryl thiosemicarbazides (N---S) are chelated in the keto form through the hydrazinic nitrogen and the thione sulfur atom. They are of the [Ru(bpy)₂NS]⁺² type. The second series have the general formula [Ru(bpy)₂NS]⁺¹ in which the thiosemicarbazide moiety remains chelated to the Ru^II centre through the hydrazinic nitrogen and the deprotonated thiolato S-atom. All the complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, UV-vis, IR and EPR spectroscopy. The complexes were found to constitute a three membered redox series which were investigated by cyclic voltammetry.     

Redox-switchable π-conjugated systems bearing terminal ruthenium(II) complexes

p-Phenylenediamine bearing terminal bipyridyl moieties was synthesized by palladium-catalyzed amination. The corresponding ruthenium(II) complex was formed and characterized, providing a redox-switchable photoinduced electron-transfer system.