ESI-MS studies of the dehydrogenative Heck reaction of furans with acrylates using benzoquinone as the reoxidant and DMSO as the solvent

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, subsequent MS/MS, and high-resolution mass spectrometry were used to study the dehydrogenative Heck reaction of 2-alkylfurans 1 with acrylates 2, using [Pd(OAc)(2)](3) as the precatalyst, benzoquinone (BQ) as the stoichiometric oxidant, and a mixture of DMSO and AcOH as the solvent. Complexation of [Pd(OAc)(2)](3) by DMSO afforded mononuclear and dinuclear Pd(II) species, which proved to be active catalysts for the C-H activation of 1. Mononuclear and dinuclear Pd(II) species seem also to be involved in the insertion of 2 into the furyl-Pd bond. The C-H activation of 2 and DMSO by mononuclear complexes was observed. The reaction leads to 5,5'-dialkyl-2,2'-bifuran 4 as a byproduct. Bifuryl-palladium, which is an intermediate in the formation of 4, showing the coordination of BQ, was obtained and characterized.     

New chiral P-N ligands for the regio- and stereoselective Pd-catalyzed dimerization of styrene

Two new chiral, enantiomerically pure, hybrid P-N ligands, namely (2R,5S)-2-phenyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-1,3-diaza-2-phosphanicyclo[3,3,0]octan-4-one (1) and (2R,5S)-2-phenyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-1,3-diaza-2-phosphanicyclo[3,3,0]octane (2), have been synthesized starting from L-proline. The two ligands differ in the presence or not of a carbonyl group in the diazaphosphane ring. Their coordination chemistry towards Pd(II) was studied by reacting them with [Pd(CH?)Cl(cod)]. A different behaviour was observed: ligand 2 shows the expected bidentate chelating behaviour leading to the mononuclear Pd-complex, while ligand 1 acts as a terdentate ligand giving a dinuclear species. The corresponding cationic derivatives were obtained from the palladium neutral complexes, both as mono- and dinuclear derivatives, and tested as precatalysts for styrene dimerization, yielding E-1,3-diphenyl-1-butene regio- and stereoselectively as the sole product. A detailed analysis of the catalytic behaviour is reported.     

Synthesis, reactivity, and X-ray crystallographic characterization of mono-, di-, and tetranuclear palladium(II)-metalated species

The reactivity of the tetranuclear metallated palladium compound (Pd[mu 2-(C6H4)PPh2]Br)4 (1) with different ligands has been investigated with the aim of evaluating the influence of the entering ligand on the nature of the reaction products. The results confirmed the ability of the ligand [(C6H4)PPh2]- to expand a bridging [mu 2-] or a chelating [eta 2-] coordination mode, depending on the auxiliary ligands present in the complex. Bulky phosphines stabilize mononuclear species of formula (Pd[eta 2-(C6H4)PPh2]Br[P]), with a four-atom metallocycle, while small phosphines give dinuclear compounds. The molecular structures of three different metalated palladium compounds have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography; the tetranuclear (Pd[mu 2-(C6H4)PPh2]Cl)4 (2), the dinuclear(Pd[mu 2-(C6H4)PPh2]Br[PMe3])2 (3), and the mononuclear (Pd[eta 2-(C6H4)PPh2]Br[PCBr]), (PCBr = P(o-BrC6H4)Ph2) (9) were obtained, the first one by halogen exchange reaction and the others by frame degradation of 1.     

Synergic effect of two metal centers in catalytic hydrolysis of methionine-containing peptides promoted by dinuclear palladium(II) hexaazacyclooctadecane complex

The species obtained by the reaction of [Pd2([18]aneN6)Cl2](ClO4)2(where [18]aneN6 is 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadecane) with AgBF4 have been determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to be an equilibrium mixture of three major types of dinuclear Pd(II) complex cations, [Pd2(mu-O)([18]aneN6)]2+, [Pd2(mu-OH)([18]aneN6)]3+ and [Pd2(H2O)(OH)([18]aneN6)](3+), in aqueous solution. The hydroxo-group-bridged one, [Pd2(mu-OH)([18]aneN6)]3+, is a dominant species, whose crystal structure has been obtained. The crystal structure of [Pd2(mu-OH)([18]aneN6)](ClO4)3 shows that each Pd(II) ion in the dinuclear complex is tetra-coordinated by three nitrogen atoms and one hydroxo group bridge in a distorted square configuration. The two Pd(II) ions are 3.09 A apart from each other. The dinuclear Pd(II) complex cations [Pd2(mu-OH)([18]aneN6)]3+ and [Pd2(H2O)(OH)([18]aneN6)]3+ can efficiently catalyze hydrolysis of the amide bond involving the carbonyl group of methionine in methionine-containing peptides with turnover number of larger than 20. In these hydrolytic reactions, the two Pd(II) ions are synergic; one Pd(II) ion anchors to the side chain of methionine and the other one delivers hydroxo group or aqua ligand to carbonyl carbon of methionine, or acts as a Lewis acid to activate the carbonyl group of methionine, resulting in cleavage of Met-X bond. The binding constant of dinuclear Pd(II) complex cations with AcMet-Gly and AcMet were determined by 1H NMR titration to be 282 +/- 2 M(-1) and 366 +/- 4 M(-1), respectively. The relatively low binding constants enable the catalytic cycle and the possible catalytic mechanism is proposed. This is the first artificial mimic of metallopeptidases with two metal active centers.     

New direction in organopalladium chemistry: structure and reactivity of unsaturated hydrocarbon ligands bound to multipalladium units

Examination of the manner of interaction between Pd(0) and allylpalladium(II) complexes, both being involved as key intermediates in Pd-catalyzed allylic coupling, led us to discover a new role for such combinations in affecting the stereochemistry of the transformations. A similar investigation of the system involving Pd(0) and allenyl/propargyl complexes of Pd(II) led to the discovery of dinuclear Pd(I)bond;Pd(I) complexes containing bridging allenyl/propargyl ligands, which exhibited novel structural and reactivity aspects of great synthetic significance. A systematic comparison was made between the structure, stability, and reactivity of allyl and allenyl/propargyl ligands in dinuclear complexes and those in mononuclear counterparts. On the basis of MO calculations, coordination behavior specific to the ligands of the dinuclear complex is attributed to the occurrence of the back-donating interaction from filled Pdbond;Pd bonding orbitals to vacant ligand pi* orbitals. Similar bonding features are the origin of the ready synthesis of novel one-dimensional sandwich complexes composed of conjugated polyene ligands and linear polypalladium chains. A substitutionally labile dipalladium complex reacts with an equimolar amount of trienes or alkynes to give formal [4pi + 2sigma] or [2pi + 2sigma] adducts, respectively, which undergo further unique transformations with additional unsaturated substrates.     

Ligand Reprogramming in Dinuclear Helicate Complexes: A Consequence of Allosteric or Electrostatic Effects?

The ditopic ligand 6,6'-bis(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-3,3'-([18]crown-6)-2,2'-bipyridine (L(1)) contains both a potentially tetradentate pyridyl-thiazole (py-tz) N-donor chain and an additional "external" crown ether binding site which spans the central 2,2'-bipyridine unit. In polar solvents (MeCN, MeNO(2)) this ligand forms complexes with Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II) and Cu(I) ions via coordination of the N donors to the metal ion. Reaction with both Hg(II) and Cu(I) ions results in the self-assembly of dinuclear double-stranded helicate complexes. The ligands are partitioned by rotation about the central py--py bond, such that each can coordinate to both metals as a bis-bidentate donor ligand. With Zn(II) ions a single-stranded mononuclear species is formed in which one ligand coordinates the metal ion in a planar tetradentate fashion. Reaction with Cd(II) ions gives rise to an equilibrium between both the dinuclear double-stranded helicate and the mononuclear species. These complexes can further coordinate s-block metal cations via the remote crown ether O-donor domains; a consequence of which are some remarkable changes in the binding modes of the N-donor domains. Reaction of the Hg(II)- or Cd(II)-containing helicate with either Ba(2+) or Sr(2+) ions effectively reprogrammes the ligand to form only the single-stranded heterobinuclear complexes [MM'(L(1))](4+) (M=Hg(II), Cd(II); M'=Ba(2+), Sr(2+)), where the transition and s-block cations reside in the N- and O-donor sites, respectively. In contrast, the same ions have only a minor structural impact on the Zn(II) species, which already exists as a single-stranded mononuclear complex. Similar reactions with the Cd(II) system result in a shift in equilibrium towards the single-stranded species, the extent of which depends on the size and charge of the s-block cation in question. Reaction of the dicopper(I) double-stranded helicate with Ba(2+) shows that the dinuclear structure still remains intact but the pitch length is significantly increased.     

Enantiomerically pure pentagonal-bipyramidal metal complexes with predetermined helicity in the solid and solution states

New metal complexes with pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry have been synthesized with the chiral, pentadentate bis(oxazoline) ligand (R,R)-1, including the metal ions magnesium(II), iron(II), and cadmium(II). In the solid state, a complete transfer of chirality from the ligand is observed to exclusively yield enantiomerically pure P-helical, isostructural pentagonal bipyramidal complexes, as determined by X-ray analysis of four compounds. This uncommon coordination geometry is likely to be driven by pi-pi-stacking of the terminal phenyl groups of the linear ligands. The complex cations in [Fe((R,R)-1)(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (3), [Cd((R,R)-1)(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (4), and [Mg((R,R)-1)(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (5) are mononuclear with the two apical positions of the pentagonal bipyramide occupied by two water molecules. In contrast, the structure in dinuclear [Cd((R,R)-1)(MeOH)(mu-I)(CdI3)] (2c) can be described as pentagonal-bipyramidal around cadmium with MeOH and distorted-tetrahedral CdI4 (via one bridging iodo ligand) completing the coordination sphere in axial positions. The crystal packing of 3-5 shows a highly ordered orientation of the mononuclear helical cations into one-dimensional chains along the crystallographic axis a, stabilized by intermolecular pi-pi-stacking. In contrast, the dinuclear helices in 2c are tilted relative to one another, and consequently, directed, one-dimensional helicity in the solid state is not observed. Studies using a combination of mass spectrometry and NMR and CD spectroscopy indicate the presence of only one C2-symmetrical, mononuclear species in acetonitrile for each case, suggesting the formation of diastereo- and enantiomerically pure complexes also in the solution state. All compounds exhibit a very characteristic and almost identical CD pattern between 200 nm and 300 nm. This signal can be attributed to the P-helical, pentagonal arrangement of the ligand.     

Isolation of four new CoII/CoIII and NiII complexes with a pentadentate Schiff base ligand: syntheses, structural descriptions and magnetic studies

In this paper we report the temperature and pH dependent syntheses and systematic characterization of four new Co(II)/Co(III) and Ni(II) complexes with a pentadentate Schiff base ligand H(3)L obtained by condensing 1,3,-diaminopropan-2-ol with 2-hydroxyacetophenone in 1:2 molar ratio. The room temperature syntheses involving Co(II) and Ni(II) nitrates and the ligand H(3)L lead to the isolation of the dinuclear species [Co(2)L(2)(H(2)O)] (1), and the mononuclear complex [Ni(LH)] (3), respectively, whereas refluxing at basic pH leads to the tetranuclear complexes, [Co(II)(2)Co(III)(2)L(2)(μ(3)-OMe)(2)(NO(3))(H(2)O)(2)]NO(3)·2(H(2)O) (2), and [Ni(4)L(2)(μ(3)-OMe)(2)(H(2)O)(2)]·2H(2)O (4). 1 is found to be a simple mono alkoxo-bridged Co(III) dinuclear species, whereas 2 and 4 are both rhomb-like tetrameric complexes with double oxo bridges and μ(3)-methoxo bridges, derived from the methanol solvent, in an open dicubane arrangement. Moreover 2 shows six coordinate ordered Co(II) and Co(III) ions and 4 has both six- and five-coordinate Ni(II) centers. Compound 3 is assigned a tentative mononuclear structure based on IR, UV-Vis spectroscopic, (1)H-NMR and ESI mass study results and is supposed to have one Ni(II) center coordinated with a ligand fragment in square planar geometry. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility study for 2 and 4 is performed which indicate for both 2 and 4 the presence of intracluster dominant ferromagnetic interactions.     

The Stability Constants of Complexes of BDBPH- Metals and Species Distributions

The study on the design and synthesis of model compounds for metalloproteins has been a subject of extensive investigation1. During the last decade, a number of synthetic structural models for some kinds of metalloproteins with several types of ligands have been reported in literature2,3,4. We have recently reported a new 24-membered hexaazadiphenol macrocyclic ligand, 3,6,9,17,20,23-hexaaza-29,30-dihydroxy-13,27-dimethyl-tricyclo [23,3,1,111,15] triaconta-1 (28),11,13,15 (30),25,26-hexaene,…     

Mononuclear and Dinuclear Cobalt Complexes and its Dioxygen Adduct with a New 24-membered Hexaaza Macrocyclic Ligand

Abstract

Dinucleating 24-membered hexaazadiphenol macrocyclic ligand 3,6,9,17,20,23-hexaaza-29,30-dihydroxy-13,27-dimethyl-tricyclo[23,3,1,1^11,15] triaconta-1(29), 11,13,15(30),25,27-hexaene (L or BDBPH), is prepared by the NaBH₄ reduction of the Schiff base obtained from [2+2] template condensation of 2,6-diformyl-p-cresol with diethylenetriamine. The ligand maintains dinuclear integrity for cobalt (II) while facilitating the formation of bridging phenolate dicobalt cores. Potentiometric equilibrium studies indicate that a variety of protonated, mononuclear and dinuclear cobalt (II) complexes form from p[H] 2 through 11 in aqueous solution. The protonation constants of this ligand and stability constants of the 1:1, 1:2 ligand: cobalt(II) complexes were determined in KCl supporting electrolyte (μ = 0.100 M) at 25°C. The mechanism for the formation of dinuclear dioxygen cobalt(II) complexes is also described. The stability constants of mononuclear and dinuclear cobalt complexes were determined under nitrogen. Preliminary results show that the dinuclear dioxygen cobalt (II) complexes do not catalyze hydroxylation of adamantane in the presence of H₂S as two-electron reductant.     

X-ray diffraction and EXAFS studies of hydroxo-Cu(II) complexes based on a calix[6]arene-N3 ligand: evidence for a mononuclear-dinuclear equilibrium controlled by supramolecular features

The formation of hydroxo complexes based on a calix[6]trisimidazole ligand is described. Deprotonation of the mononuclear Cu(II)-aqua complex gives rise to a dinuclear bis(mu-hydroxo) complex that has been characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Spectroscopic studies (EPR and UV-vis), conducted in dichloromethane solutions in the presence of various coordinating cosolvents (DMF, EtOH, or RCN) or with acetamide, revealed the coexistence of a mononuclear hydroxo species. The latter could be trapped by acetic acid to provide an acetato-Cu(II) complex that presents close spectroscopic features. An EXAFS study first conducted on the hydroxo-Cu(II) complex led to an excellent fit for the dinuclear core. It then allowed for the characterization of the mononuclear acetato complex with an acetamide guest included in the calixarene cavity. Hence, this study illustrates the flexibility of calixarene-based ligands and the role of the second coordination sphere in the stabilization of acidic or basic Cu(II) complexes.     

Pyridine-2-thionate as a versatile ligand in Pd(II) and Pt(II) chemistry: the presence of three different co-ordination modes in [Pd2(micro2-S,N-C5H4SN)(micro2-kappa2S-C5H4SN)(micro2-dppm)(S-C5H4SN)2

Reactions of [MCl2(L-L)], M = Pt, Pd; L-L = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) or bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), with NaC5H4SN in a 1 : 2 molar ratio lead to mononuclear species [M(S-C5H4SN)2(P-P)], M = Pt; L-L = dppm (1) or dppe (2) and M = Pd; L-L = dppe (3), as well as to the dinuclear [Pd2(micro2-S,N-C5H4SN)(micro2-kappa2S-C5H4SN)(micro2-dppm)(S-C5H4SN)2] (4). In contrast, reaction of [MCl2(dppm)] with NaC5H4SN in a 1 : 1 molar ratio leads to [Pd2(micro2-S,N-C5H4SN)3(micro2-dppm)]Cl (5) and trans-[Pt(S-C5H4SN)2(PPh2Me)2] (6) respectively. The latter is formed in low yield by cleavage of the dppm ligand. The dinuclear derivatives 4 and 5 present an A-frame and lantern structure, respectively. The former showing three different co-ordination modes in the same molecule with a short Pd-Pd distance of 2.9583 (9) A and the latter with three bridging S,N thionate ligands showing a shorter Pd-Pd distance of 2.7291 (13) A. Both distances could be imposed by the bridging ligands or point to some sort of metal-metal interaction.     

Paramagnetic NMR investigations of high-spin nickel(II) complexes. Controlled synthesis, structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of dinuclear vs. mononuclear species

New dissymmetric tertiary amines (N(3)SR) with varying N/S donor sets have been synthesized to provide mono- and dinuclear complexes. Acetate ions are used to complete the octahedral coordination sphere around nickel(II) atom(s). The facile conversion of mononuclear to dinuclear systems can be controlled to produce either mono- or dinuclear complexes from the same ligand. The dinuclear complex a(BPh(4))(2) ([Ni(2)(N(3)SSN(3))(OAc)(2)](BPh(4))(2)) has been characterized in the solid state by X-ray diffraction techniques as solvate: a(BPh(4))(2).(1/2)[5(CH(3)OH).(CH(3)CN).(CH(3)CH(2)OH)]. The two Ni atoms are six-coordinated and bridged by a disulfide group and two bidentate acetates. Magnetic susceptibility reveals a weak ferromagnetic exchange interaction between the two Ni atoms with J = 2.5(7) cm(-1). UV-vis studies suggest that the six-coordinated structure persists in solution. The (1)H NMR spectrum of a(BPh(4))(2) exhibits sharp significantly hyperfine shifted ligand signals. A complete assignment of resonances is accomplished by a combination of methods: 2D-COSY experiments, selective chemical substitution, and analysis of proton relaxation data. Proton isotropic hyperfine shifts are shown to originate mainly from contact interactions and to intrinsically contain a small J-magnetic coupling and/or zero-field splitting contribution. A temperature dependence study of longitudinal relaxation times indicates that a very unusual paramagnetic Curie dipolar mechanism is the dominant relaxation pathway in these weakly ferromagnetically spin-coupled dinickel(II) centers. The mononuclear nickel(II) analogue exhibits extremely broader (1)H NMR signals and only partial analysis could be performed. These data are consistent with a shortening of electronic relaxation times in homodinuclear compounds with respect to the corresponding mononuclear species.     

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), palladium(II) and dioxouranium(VI) complexes of the antipyrine Schiff base of 3-formylsalicylic acid

A new Schiff base has been synthesized from 4-aminoantipyrine and 3-formylsalicylic acid. The ligand has a dianionic tetradentate compartmental OONO donor system. The cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and dioxouranium(VI) complexes exist in phenolato-bridged dinuclear species, while palladium(II) gives a mononuclear complex with free –COOH groups. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, i.r., u.v.-vis, thermal and magnetic measurements.     

Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) dinuclear metal complexes with an aza-phenolic ligand: crystal structures,magnetic properties,and solution studies

The basicity behavior and ligational properties of the ligand 2-((bis(aminoethyl)amino)methyl)phenol (L) toward Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) ions were studied by means of potentiometric measurements in aqueous solution (298.1 +/- 0.1 K, l = 0.15 mol dm-3). The anionic L-H- species can be obtained in strong alkaline solution; this species behaves as tetraprotic base (log K1 = 11.06, log K2 = 9.85, log K3 = 8.46, log K4 = 2.38). L forms mono- and dinuclear complexes in aqueous solution with all the transition metal ions examined; the dinuclear species show a [M2(L-H)2]2+ stoichiometry in which the ligand/metal ratio is 2:2. The studies revealed that two mononuclear [ML-H]+ species self-assemble, giving the dinuclear complexes, which can be easily isolated from the aqueous solution due to their low solubility. This behavior is ascribed to the fact that L does not fulfill the coordination requirement of the ion in the mononuclear species and to the capacity of the phenolic oxygen, as phenolate, to bridge two metal ions. All three dinuclear species were characterized by determining their crystal structures, which showed similar coordination patterns, where all the single metal ions are substantially coordinated by three amine functions and two oxygen atoms of the phenolate moieties. The two metals in the dinuclear complexes are at short distance interacting together as shown by magnetic measurements performed with Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes, which revealed an antiferromagnetic coupling between the two metal ions. The [Cu2(L-H)2]2+ cation shows a phase transition occurring by the temperature between 100 and 90 K; the characterization of the compounds existing at different temperatures was investigated using X-ray single-crystal diffraction, EPR, and magnetic measurements.     

Complex formation of Ni(II), Cu(II), Pd(II), and Co(III) with 1,2,3,4-tetraaminobutane

Complex formation of the two tetraamine ligands (2S,3S)-1,2,3,4-tetraaminobutane (threo-tetraaminobutane, ttab) and (2R,3S)-1,2,3,4-tetraaminobutane (erythro-tetraaminobutane, etab) with Co(III), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Pd(II) was investigated in aqueous solution and in the solid state. For Ni(II) and Cu(II), the pH-dependent formation of a variety of species [Mn(II)xLyHz](2x+z)+ was established by potentiometric titrations and UV/Vis spectroscopy. In sufficiently acidic solutions the divalent cations formed a mononuclear complex with the doubly protonated ligand of composition [M(H2L)]4+. An example of such a complex was characterized in the crystal structure of [Pd(H2ttab)Cl2]Cl2.H2O. If the metal cation was present in excess, increase of pH resulted in the formation of dinuclear complexes [M2L]4+. Such a species was found in the crystal structure of [Cu2(ttab)Br4].H2O. Excess ligand, on the other hand, lead to the formation of a series of mononuclear bis-complexes [Mq(HxL)(HyL)](q+x+y)+. The crystal structure of [Co(Hetab)2][ZnCl4]2Cl. H2O with the inert, trivalent Co(III) center served as a model to illustrate the structural features of this class of complexes. By using an approximately equimolar ratio of the ligand and the metal cation, a variety of polymeric aggregates both in dilute aqueous solution and in the solid state were observed. The crystal structure of Cu2(ttab)3Br4, which exhibits a two-dimensional, infinite network, and that of [Ni8(ttab)12]Br16.17.5H2O, which contains discrete chiral [Ni8(ttab)12]16+ cubes with approximate T symmetry, are representative examples of such polymers. The energy of different diastereomeric forms of such complexes with the two tetraamine ligands were analyzed by means of molecular mechanics calculations, and the implications of these calculations for the different structures are discussed.     

X-ray structure characterization of palladium(II) ternary complexes of pyridinedicarboxylic and phthalic acid with phenanthroline and bipyridine

The crystal structures of the series of four ternary complexes, [Pd(phen)(2,6-PDCA)].4H(2)O (1) (phen=1,10-phenanthroline; 2,6-PDCA=2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid), [Pd(bpy)(2,3-PDCA)].3H(2)O (2) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridineand; 2,3-PDCA=2,3-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) and [Pd(phen)(PHT)].2.5H(2)O (3) (PHT=o-phthalic acid ) and [Pd(bpy)(PHT)].1.5H(2)O (4), are determined and the coordination modes of palladium(II) ternary complexes are characterized. All complexes take the mononuclear Pd(II) complexes, in which central Pd(II) atom of each complex has a similar distorted square-planar four coordination geometry. In all complexes, the aromatic heterocyclic compounds, phen and bpy, behave as a bidentate N, N' ligand. In the complex 1 and 2, 2,6-PDCA and 2,3-PDCA behave as a bidentate N, O ligand, and in complex 3 and 4, PHT behaves as a bidentate O, O' ligand.     

Synthesis and properties of palladium diselenolenes: X-ray crystal structures of [Pd[SeC(R(1))=C(R(2))Se](PBu(3))(2)] [R(1), R(2) = (CH(2))(n), n = 4, 5, 6

The reaction between [Pd(2)(dba)(3)] (dba = dibenzylideneacetone), tributylphosphine, and a bis(cycloalkeno)-1,4-diselenin leads to either a mononuclear diselenolene [Pd[SeC(R(1))=C(R(2))Se](PBu(3))(2)] or a dinuclear diselenolene [Pd(2)[SeC(R(1))=C(R(2))Se](2)(PBu(3))(2)] [R(1), R(2) = (CH(2))(n), n = 4, 5, 6] depending on the stoichiometry employed. Treatment of the dinuclear diselenolenes with 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) provides a high-yielding route to the mononuclear species [Pd[SeC(R(1))=C(R(2))Se](dppe)]. All new compounds have been characterized by standard spectroscopic and analytical techniques, in particular by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy; the structure of each of the mononuclear tributylphosphine complexes has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Computational studies show that the observed asymmetry of the diselenolenes in the solid state is a result primarily of intramolecular repulsive interactions between the ligands.     

Enantiospecific syntheses of copper cubanes, double-stranded copper/palladium helicates, and a (dilithium)-dinickel coronate from enantiomerically pure bis-1,3-diketones--solid-state self-organization towards wirelike copper/palladium strands

Enantiomerically pure, vicinal diols 1 afforded in a two-step synthesis (etherification and subsequent Claisen condensation) chiral bis-1,3-diketones H(2)L((S,S)) (3 a-c) with different substitution patterns. Reaction of these C(2)-symmetric ligands with various transition-metal acetates in the presence of alkali ions generated distinct polynuclear aggregates 4-8 by diastereoselective self-assembly. Starting from copper(II) acetate monohydrate and depending on the ratio of transition-metal ion to alkali ion to ligand, chiral tetranuclear copper(II) cubanes (C,C,C,C)-[Cu(4)(L((S,S)))(2)(OMe)(4)] (4 a-c) or dinuclear copper(II) helicates (P)-[Cu(2)(L((S,S)))(2)] (5) could be synthesized with square-pyramidal and square-planar coordination geometry at the metal center. In analogy to the last case, with palladium(II) acetate double-stranded helical systems (P)-[Pd(2)(L((S,S)))(2)] (6,7) were accessible exhibiting a linear self-organization of ligand-isolated palladium filaments in the solid state with short inter- and intramolecular metal distances. Finally, the introduction of hexacoordinate nickel(II) in combination with lithium hydroxide monohydrate and chiral ligand H(2)L((S,S)) (3 a) allowed the isolation of enantiomerically pure dinuclear nickel(II) coronate [(LiMeOH)(2) subset{(Delta,Lambda)-Ni(2)(L((S,S)))(2)(OMe)(2)}] (8) with two lithium ions in the voids, defined by the oxygen donors in the ligand backbone. The high diastereoselectivity, induced by the chiral ligands, during the self-assembly process in the systems 4-8 could be exemplarily proven by circular dichroism spectroscopy for the synthesized enantiomers of the chiral copper(II) cubane 4 a and palladium(II) helicate 6.     

Mechanistic study of palladium catalyzed S-S and Se-Se bonds addition to alkynes

The mechanistic study of palladium catalyzed S-S and Se-Se bonds addition to alkynes revealed the involvement of dinuclear transition metal complexes in the catalytic cycle. Coordination of alkyne to dinuclear transition metal complex was found to be the rate determining step of the reaction. An unusual phosphine ligand effect increasing the yield of addition reaction was found in the studied system. A new synthetic procedure was developed to perform the catalytic reaction using easily available Pd(II) complex. The scope of the reaction and the reactivity of S-S and Se-Se bonds toward alkynes were investigated. The X-ray structure of the product of S-S bond addition reaction showed favorable geometry for the possible application as a chelate ligand.