Quantum chemical study of ethylene addition to group-7 oxo complexes MO2(CH3)(CH2) (M = Mn, Tc, Re)

Quantum chemical calculations using DFT at the B3LYP level have been carried out for the reaction of ethylene with the group-7 compounds ReO₂(CH₃)(CH₂) (Re1), TcO₂(CH₃)(CH₂) (Tc1) and MnO₂(CH₃)(CH₂) (Mn1). The calculations suggest rather complex scenarios with numerous pathways, where the initial compounds Re1-Mn1 may either engage in cycloaddition reactions or numerous addition reactions with concomitant hydrogen migration. There are also energetically low-lying rearrangements of the starting compounds to isomers which may react with ethylene yielding further products. The [2 + 2]_Re,C cycloaddition reaction of the starting molecule Re1 is kinetically and thermodynamically favored over the [3 + 2]_C,O and [3 + 2]_O,O cycloadditions. However, the reaction which leads to the most stable product takes place with initial rearrangement to the dioxohydridometallacyclopropane isomer Re1a that adds ethylene with concomitant hydrogen migration yielding Re1a-1. The latter reaction has a slightly higher barrier than the [2 + 2]_Re,C cycloaddition reaction. The direct [3 + 2]_C,O cycloaddition becomes more favorable than the [2 + 2]_M,C reaction for the starting compounds Tc1 and Mn1 of the lighter metals technetium and manganese but the calculations predict that other reactions are kinetically and thermodynamically more favorable than the cycloadditions. The reactions with the lowest activation barriers lead after rearrangement to the ethyl substituted dioxometallacyclopropanes Tc1a-1 and Mn1a-1. The manganese compound exhibits an even more complex reaction scenario than the technetium compounds. The thermodynamically most stable final product of ethylene addition to Mn1 is the ethoxy substituted metallacyclopropane Mn1a-2 which has, however, a high activation barrier.     

Photophysical properties and computational investigations of tricarbonylrhenium(I)[2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]-X-azole]L and tricarbonylrhenium(I)[2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]L derivatives (X = N-CH3, O, or S; L = Cl, pyridine)

We report a combined experimental and computational study of new rhenium tricarbonyl complexes based on the bidentate heterocyclic N-N ligands 2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]-X-azole (X = N-CH₃, O, or S) and 2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline (X = N-CH₃, O, or S). Two sets of complexes are reported. Chloro complexes, described by the general formula Re(CO)₃[2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]-X-azole]Cl (X = N-CH₃, 1; X = O, 2; X = S, 3) and Re(CO)₃[2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]Cl (X = N-CH₃, 4; X = O, 5; X = S, 6) were synthesized heating at reflux Re(CO)₅Cl with the appropriate N-N ligand in toluene. The corresponding pyridine set {Re(CO)₃[2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo-X-azole]py}PF₆ (X = N-CH₃, 7; X = O, 8; X = S, 9) and {Re(CO)₃[2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]py}PF₆ (X = N-CH₃, 10; X = O, 11; X = S, 12) was synthesized by halide abstraction with silver nitrate of 1-6 followed by heating in pyridine and isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. All complexes have been fully characterized by IR, NMR, electrochemical techniques and luminescence. The crystal structures of 1 and 7 were obtained by X-ray diffraction. DFT and time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations were carried out for investigating the effect of the organic ligand on the optical properties and electronic structure of the reported complexes.     

Synthesis, characterization, reactivity and computational studies of new rhenium(I) complexes with thiosemicarbazone ligands derived from 4-(methylthio)benzaldehyde

N-thioamide thiosemicarbazone derived from 4-(methylthio)benzaldehyde (R = H, HL¹; R = Me, HL² and R = Ph, HL³) have been prepared and their reaction with fac-[ReX(CO)₃(CH₃CN)₂] (X = Br, Cl) in methanol gave the adducts [ReX(CO)₃(HLⁿ)] (1a X = Cl, n = 1; 1a′ X = Br, n = 1; 1b X = Cl, n = 2; 1b′ X = Br, n = 2; 1c X = Cl, n = 3; 1c′ X = Br, n = 3) in good yield.All the compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry (ESI), IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopic methods. Moreover, the structures of HL², HL³, HL³·(CH₃)₂SO and 1b′·H₂O were also elucidated by X-ray diffraction. In 1b′, the rhenium atom is coordinated by the sulphur and the azomethine nitrogen atoms (κS,N³) forming a five-membered chelate ring, as well as three carbonyl and bromide ligands. The resulting coordination polyhedron can be described as a distorted octahedron.The structure of the dimers is based on rhenium(I) thiosemicarbazonates [Re₂(L¹)₂(CO)₆] (2a), [Re₂(L²)₂(CO)₆] (2b) and [Re₂(L³)₂(CO)₆] (2c) as determined by X-ray studies. Methods of synthesis were optimized to obtain amounts of these thiosemicarbazonate complexes. In these compounds the dimer structures are achieved by Re-S-Re bridges, where S is the thiolate sulphur from a κS,N³-bidentate thiosemicarbazonate ligand.Some single crystals isolated in the synthesis of 2b contain [Re(L⁴)(L²)(CO)₃] (3b) where L⁴ (=2-methylamine-5-(para-methylsulfanephenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole) is originated in a cyclization process of the thiosemicarbazone. Furthermore, the rhenium atom is coordinate by the sulphur and the thioamidic nitrogen of the thiosemicarbazonate (κS,N²) affording a four-membered chelate ring.     

Reactivity of 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine with [Re2(CO)8(CH3CN)2]: Molecular structures of [Re2(CO)8(C14H10N4)] and [Re2(CO)8(C14H10N4)Re2(CO)8]

The reaction of the labile compound [Re₂(CO)₈(CH₃CN)₂] with 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine in dichloromethane solution at reflux temperature afforded the structural dirhenium isomers [Re₂(CO)₈(C₁₄H₁₀N₄)] (1 and 2), and the complex [Re₂(CO)₈(C₁₄H₁₀N₄)Re₂(CO)₈] (3). In 1, the ligand is σ,σ′-N,N′-coordinated to a Re(CO)₃ fragment through pyridine and pyrazine to form a five-membered chelate ring. A seven-membered ring is obtained for isomer 2 by N-coordination of the 2-pyridyl groups while the pyrazine ring remains uncoordinated. For 2, isomers 2a and 2b are found in a dynamic equilibrium ratio [2a]/[2b]  =  7 in solution, detected by ¹H NMR (−50 °C, CD₃COCD₃), coalescence being observed above room temperature. The ligand in 3 behaves as an 8e-donor bridge bonding two Re(CO)₃ fragments through two (σ,σ′-N,N′) interactions. When the reaction was carried out in refluxing tetrahydrofuran, complex [Re₂(CO)₆(C₁₄H₁₀N₄)₂] (4) was obtained in addition to compounds 1-3. The dinuclear rhenium derivative 4 contains two units of the organic ligand σ,σ′-N,N′-coordinated in a chelate form to each rhenium core. The X-ray crystal structures for 1 and 3 are reported.     

Electronically variable imino-phenanthrolinyl-cobalt complexes; synthesis, structures and ethylene oligomerisation studies

The 2-imino-1,10-phenanthroline ligands, 1,10-C₁₂H₇N₂-2-CRN(2,6-i-Pr₂-4-R¹-C₆H₂) [R = R¹ = H (L1); R = H, R¹ = Br (L2); R = H, R¹ = CN (L3); R = H, R¹ = i-Pr (L4); R = Me, R¹ = H (L5); R = Me, R¹ = i-Pr (L6)], have been prepared in high yield from the condensation reaction of 1,10-C₁₂H₇N₂-2-CRO (R = H, Me) with one equivalent of the corresponding 4-substituted 2,6-diisopropylaniline. The molecular structures of L2, L5 and L6 reveal the imino nitrogen atoms to adopt a transoid configuration with respect to the phenanthrolinyl nitrogen atoms. Treatment of Lx with one equivalent of CoCl₂ in n-BuOH at 90 °C gives the high spin complexes, (Lx)CoCl₂ [Lx = L1 (1a), L2 (1b), L3 (1c), L4 (1d), L5 (1e), L6 (1f)], in which the metal centres exhibit distorted square pyramidal geometries. Activation of 1a-1f with excess methylaluminoxane (MAO) gives catalysts that are modestly active for the oligomerisation of ethylene affording mainly linear α-olefins along with some degree of internal olefins. While the donor capability of the 4-position of the N-aryl group does not appear to affect the activity of the catalyst, it does have an influence on the ratio of α-olefins to internal olefins. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies have been performed on L2, L5, L6, 1a, 1c and 1f.     

Reactivity of [Re2(CO)8(MeCN)2] with thiazoles: Hydrido bridged dirhenium compounds bearing thiazoles in different coordination modes

Reactions of the labile compound [Re₂(CO)₈(MeCN)₂] with thiazole and 4-methylthiazole in refluxing benzene afforded the new compounds [Re₂(CO)₇{μ-2,3-η²-C₃H(R)NS}{η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}(μ-H)] (1, R = H; 2, R = CH₃), [Re₂(CO)₆{μ-2,3-η²-C₃H(R)NS}{η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}₂(μ-H)] (3, R = H; 4, R = CH₃) and fac-[Re(CO)₃(Cl){η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}₂] (5, R = H; 6, R = CH₃). Compounds 1 and 2 contain two rhenium atoms, one bridging thiazolide ligand, coordinated through the C(2) and N atoms and a η¹-thiazole ligand coordinated through the nitrogen atom to the same Re as the thiazolide nitrogen. Compounds 3 and 4 contain a Re₂(CO)₆ group with one bridging thiazolide ligand coordinated through the C(2) and N atoms and two N-coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands, each coordinated to one Re atom. A hydride ligand, formed by oxidative-addition of C(2)-H bond of the ligand, bridges Re-Re bond opposite the thiazolide ligand in compounds 1-4. Compound 5 contains a single rhenium atom with three carbonyl ligands, two N-coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands and a terminal Cl ligand. Treatment of both 1 and 2 with 5 equiv. of thiazole and 4-methylthiazole in the presence of Me₃NO in refluxing benzene afforded 3 and 4, respectively. Further activation of the coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands in 1-4 is, however, unsuccessful and results only nonspecific decomposition. The single-crystal XRD structures of 1-5 are reported.     

Activation of tri(2-furyl)phosphine at a dirhenium centre: Formation of phosphido-bridged dirhenium complexes

Reaction of tri(2-furyl)phosphine (PFu₃) with [Re₂(CO)_10−n(NCMe)_n] (n = 1, 2) at 40 °C gave the substituted complexes [Re₂(CO)_10−n(PFu₃)_n] (1 and 2), the phosphines occupying axial position in all cases. Heating [Re₂(CO)₁₀] and PFu₃ in refluxing xylene also gives 1 and 2 together with four phosphido-bridged complexes; [Re₂(CO)_8−n(PFu₃)_n(μ-PFu₂)(μ-H)] (n = 0, 1, 2) (3-5) and [Re₂(CO)₆(PFu₃)₂(μ-PFu₂)(μ-Cl)] (6) resulting from phosphorus-carbon bond cleavage. A series of separate thermolysis experiments has allowed a detailed reaction pathway to be unambiguously established. A similar reaction between [Re₂(CO)₁₀] and PFu₃ in refluxing chlorobenzene furnishes four complexes which include 1, 2, 6 and the new binuclear complex [Re₂(CO)₆(η¹-C₄H₃O)₂(μ-PFu₂)₂] (7). All new complexes have been characterized by a combination of spectroscopic data and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes with bispyridine ligands attached to sulfur-rich core: Syntheses, structures and properties

Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes with bispyridine ligands bearing sulfur-rich pendant, Re(CO)₃(Medpydt)X (Medpydt = dimethyl 2-(di(2-pyridyl)methylene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate; X = Cl, 1; X = Br, 2) and Re(CO)₃(MebpyTTF)X (MebpyTTF = 4,5-bis(methyloxycabonyl)-4′,5′-(4′-methyl-2,2′-dipyrid-4-ylethylenedithio)-tetrathiafulvalene; X = Cl, 5; X = Br, 6), were prepared from the reactions between Re(CO)₅X (X = Cl, Br) and Medpydt or MebpyTTF, respectively. Hydrolysis of the above complexes afforded the analogues with carboxylate derivatives, Re(CO)₃(H₂dpydt)X (X = Cl, 3; X = Br, 4) and Re(CO)₃(H₂bpyTTF)X (X = Cl, 7; X = Br, 8). The crystal structures for complexes 1 · 2H₂O, 5 and 6 were determined using X-ray single crystal diffraction. UV-Vis absorption spectra of the rhenium complexes show the intraligand and MLCT transitions. Electrochemical behaviors of all new compounds were studied with cyclic voltammetry. Upon irradiation, complexes 3-6 exhibit blue to red emissions in fluid solutions at the room temperature. The performance of complexes 3, 4, 7 and 8 as photosensitizers for anatase TiO₂ solar cells was preliminarily investigated as well.     

Iron(0) and ruthenium(0) complexes with tridentate phosphonite ligands and their potential for ketene formation from methyl iodide, CO and a base

An efficient route to the novel tridentate phosphine ligands RP[CH₂CH₂CH₂P(OR′)₂]₂ (I: R = Ph; R′ = i-Pr; II: R = Cy; R′ = i-Pr; III: R = Ph; R′ = Me and IV: R = Cy; R′ = Me) has been developed. The corresponding ruthenium and iron dicarbonyl complexes M(triphos)(CO)₂ (1: M = Ru; triphos = I; 2: M = Ru; triphos = II; 3: M = Ru; triphos = III; 4: M = Ru; triphos = IV; 5: M = Fe; triphos = I; 6: M = Fe; triphos = II; 7: M = Fe; triphos = III and 8: M = Fe; triphos = IV) have been prepared and fully characterized. The structures of 1, 3 and 5 have been established by X-ray diffraction studies. The oxidative addition of MeI to 1-8 produces a mixture of the corresponding isomeric octahedral cationic complexes mer,trans-(13a-20a) and mer,cis-[M(Me)(triphos)(CO)₂]I (13b-20b) (M = Ru, Fe; triphos = I-IV). The structures of 13a and 20a (as the tetraphenylborate salt (21)) have been verified by X-ray diffraction studies. The oxidative addition of other alkyl iodides (EtI, i-PrI and n-PrI) to 1-8 did not afford the corresponding alkyl metal complexes and rather the cationic octahedral iodo complexes mer,cis-[M(I)(triphos)(CO)₂]I (22-29) (M = Ru, Fe; triphos = I-IV) were produced. Complexes 22-29 could also be obtained by the addition of a stoichiometric amount of I₂ to 1-8. The structure of 22 has been verified by an X-ray diffraction study. Reaction of 13a/b-20a/b with CO afforded the acetyl complexes mer,trans-[M(COMe)(triphos)(CO)₂]I, 30-37, respectively (M = Ru, Fe; triphos = I-IV). The ruthenium acetyl complexes 30-33 reacted slowly with 2-tert-butylimino-2-diethylamino-1,3-dimethylperhydro-1,3,2-diazaphosphorine (BEMP) even in boiling acetonitrile. Under the same conditions, the deprotonation reactions of the iron acetyl complexes 34-37 were completed within 24-40 h to afford the corresponding zero valent complexes 5-8. It was not possible to observe the intermediate ketene complexes. Tracing of the released ketene was attempted by deprotonation studies on the labelled species mer,trans-[Fe(COCD₃)(triphos)(CO)₂]I (38) and mer,trans-[Fe(¹³COMe)(triphos)(CO)₂]I (39).     

Magneto-structural study on a series of rhenium(IV) complexes containing biimH2, pyim and bipy ligands

Three rhenium(IV) mononuclear compounds of formulae [ReCl₄(biimH₂)] · 2DMF (1), [ReCl₄(pyim)] · DMF (2) and [ReCl₄(bipy)] (3) (biimH₂ = 2,2′-biimidazole, pyim = 2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine and DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide) have been prepared and characterized. The crystal structure of 2 was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system with P2₁/c as space group. The rhenium atom is six-coordinated by four Cl atoms and two nitrogen atoms from a bidentate pyim ligand [average values of Re–Cl and Re–N bonds lengths being 2.330(2) and 2.117(4) Å, respectively]. The magnetic properties were investigated from susceptibility measurements performed on polycrystalline samples of 1–3 in the temperature range 1.9–300 K. The magnetic behaviour found is typical of antiferromagnetically coupled systems, and they exhibit susceptibility maxima at 2.8 (1 and 2) and 5.6 K (3). Short Re^IV–Cl?Cl–Re^IV contacts through space account for the antiferromagnetic behaviour observed.     

A combined experimental and theoretical study of metallic salts of thiapentadienyl, sulfinylpentadienyl and butadienesulfonyls

Alternative methods for the synthesis of the following acyclic salts (CH₂CHCHCHS)M [M = K, 1(K); Na, 1(Na); Li, 1(Li)], (CH₂CHCHCHSO)M [M = K, 2(K); Na, 2(Na)], (CH₂CHCHCHSO₂)M [M = K, 3(K); Na, 3(Na); Li, 3(Li)], (CH(Me)CHC(Me)CHSO₂)M [Me5-syn, M = K, 9(K); Na, 9(Na); Li, 9(Li), (CH(Me)CHCHC(Me)S)M [Me5-syn, M = K, 10(K); Na, 10(Na); Me5-anti, M = K, 11(K); Na, 11(Na)] are described, as a result of the activation of C-S bond in dihydrothiophenes by deprotonation with different bases. The effect of methyl substituents in the dihydrothiophenes is significant, which modifies considerably the choice of the base. The influence of the reaction conditions, type of solvent, base and dihydrothiophenes is analyzed. The NMR spectroscopy, including NOESY, ROESY and difference NOE establish the preferred U conformation for all derivatives, and support a delocalization of charge on the thiapentadienyl (1M) and sulfinylpentadienyl (2M) complexes. However, a conjugated diene structure is proposed on the butadienesulfonyl compounds (3M), in which the negative charge is delocalized in the SO₂ fragment and stabilized with the corresponding cations (M = K, Na and Li). In presence of traces of base, compounds 3M suffer a rearrangement, to the most stable S conformer, 13M. The stability of 3M depends on the size of the cation, the greater the size, the greater stability. Furthermore, a theoretical study shows that electronic and geometrical properties (energy conformers, charge distributions and relative stabilities) of the thiapentadienyl, sulfinylpentadienyl and butadienesulfonyl anions and their corresponding metal salts 1M-3M (M = Li, Na and K) shows to be in good agreement with the experimental findings.     

Synthesis,structural analysis,and thermal and spectroscopic studies of methylmalonate-containing zinc(II) complexes

The synthesis, crystal structure, thermal analysis and spectroscopic studies of five zinc(II) complexes of formulae [Zn(Memal)(H₂O)]_n (1) and [Zn₂(L)(Memal)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (2-5) [H₂Memal = methylmalonic acid, and L = 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy) (2), 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) (3), 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpa) (4) and 4,4′-azobispyridine (azpy) (5)] are presented here. The crystal structure of 1 is a three-dimensional arrangement of zinc(II) cations interconnected by methylmalonate groups adopting the μ₃-κ²O:κO’:κO”:κO”’ coordination mode to afford a rare (10,3)-d utp-network. The structures of the compounds 2-5 are also three-dimensional and they consist of corrugated square layers of methylmalonate-bridged zinc(II) ions which are pillared by bis-monodentate 4,4′-bpy (2), bpe (3), bpa (4) and azpy (5) ligands. The Memal ligand in 2-5 adopts the μ₃-κO:κO′:κO′′:κO′′′ coordination mode. Each zinc(II) ion in 1-5 is six-coordinated with five (1)/four (2-5) methylmalonate-oxygen atoms, a water molecule (1-5) and a nitrogen atom from a L ligand (2-5) building distorted octahedral environments. The rod-like L co-ligands in 2-5 appear as useful tools to control the interlayer metal-metal separation, which covers the range 8.4311(5) Å (2) – 9.644(3) Å (5). The influence of the co-ligand on the fluorescence properties of this series of compounds has been analyzed and discussed by steady-state and time resolved spectroscopy on all five compounds in the solid state.     

New star-shaped triarylamines: synthesis, mesomorphic behavior, and photophysical properties

A total of 18 compounds 1-6 derived from triphenylamine as core group were prepared and characterized, and their mesomorphic properties were also investigated. Compounds 1-4 and 5,6 were prepared from p,p′,p″-triformyltriphenylamine and p,p′-diformyltriphenylamine with appropriate alkoxyphenylamines. The phase behavior of these mesogenic compounds was characterized and studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and powder XRD diffraction. Compounds 1-3 exhibited columnar mesophase, however, compounds 4-6 were nonmesogenic. The mesophases observed in compounds 1-3 were found to be side dependent. Compounds 1a, 2a, and 3a appended with one, two, or three side chains exhibited lamellar columnar (Col_L) phases, and compounds 2b and 3b with four or six side chains formed hexagonal columnar (Col_h) phases. The formation of the mesophases, lamellar or columnar mesophases, was probably induced by H-bonding formed between -CH₂NH groups. The oxidation process determined by cyclic voltammetry showed two redox waves, one appeared at 220-255 mV and the other one at 503-677 mV, which gave energy to HOMOs range of 5.02-5.36 eV. The fluorescent properties of the compounds were examined. All λ_max peaks of the absorption and photoluminescence spectra of compounds occurred at ca. 307-392 nm and 368-456 nm, respectively. Compound 4a has a larger red shift due to a better conjugation linked by CC double bonds instead of -CH₂NH in other compounds.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and coordination modes of tri- and di-organotin derivatives with 2-mercapto-4-methylpyrimidine

The organotin (IV) derivatives of 2-mercapto-4-methylpyrimidine (Hmpymt) R₃SnL (R = Ph 1, PhCH₂2, n-Bu 3), R₂SnCl_mL_n (m = 1, n = 1, R = CH₃4, Ph 5, n-Bu 6, PhCH₂7; m = 0, n = 2, R = CH₃8, n-Bu 9, Ph 10, PhCH₂11) were obtained by the reaction of the organotin(IV) chlorides R₃SnCl or R₂SnCl₂ with 2-mercapto-4-methylpyrimidine hydrochloride (HCl · Hmpymt) in 1:1 or 1:2 molar ratio. All complexes 1-11 were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, ¹H, ¹³C and temperature-dependent ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra. Except for complexes 3 and 6, the structures of complexes 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8-11 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Including tin-nitrogen intramolecular interaction, the tin atoms of complexes 1-7 are all five-coordinated and their geometries are distorted trigonal bipyramidal. While the tin atoms of complexes 8-11 are six-coordinated and their geometries are distorted octahedral. Besides, the ligand adopts the different coordination modes to bond to tin atom between the complexes 1, 6, 7 and 2, 3, 4, 5, 8-11. Furthermore, intermolecular Sn?N or Sn?S interactions were recognized in crystal structures of complexes 4, 7 and 11, respectively.     

Carbonyl complexes of manganese, rhenium and molybdenum with 2-pyridylimino acid ligands

[MBr(CO)₃{κ²(N,O)-pyca}] [M = Mn(1a), Re(1b), pyca = pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde] and [MoCl(η³-C₃H₄Me-2)(CO)₂{κ²(N,O)-pyca}] (1c) react with aminoacid β-alanine to give the corresponding iminopyridine complexes 2a-2c. The same method affords the iminopyridine derivatives from γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) (3a-3c) and 3-aminobenzoic acid (4a-4c). For complexes 2a-2c, 3a, 3c and 4a, the solid state structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography, revealing interesting differences in their hydrogen-bonding patterns in solid state.     

Two novel rhenium complexes derived from [ReO(OMe)Cl2(dpphen)] - Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties

The reaction of [ReO(OMe)Cl₂(dpphen)] (dpphen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) with triphenylphosphine has been examined and two novel rhenium complexes - [Re^IIICl₃(dpphen)(PPh₃)]·Me₂CO (1) and [Re^IVCl₄(dpphen)]·CHCl₃ (2) - have been obtained. The compounds have been characterised by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, magnetic measurements and X-ray crystallography. The electronic structures of [ReCl₃(dpphen)(PPh₃)] and [ReCl₄(dpphen)] have been studied by DFT/B3LYP level calculations, and TD-DFT calculations have been employed for discussion of the electronic spectra in more detail. The magnetic behaviour of 1 is characteristic of mononuclear complexes with d⁴ low-spin octahedral Re(III) complexes (³T_1g ground state) and arise because of the large spin-orbit coupling (ζ = 2500 cm⁻¹), which gives diamagnetic ground state. For complex 2 the results of calculations revealed value of zero-field splitting parameter D = 10.8 cm⁻¹, g_|| = 2.49 and g_⊥ = 1.51.     

Cytotoxic half-sandwich rhodium(III) complexes: Polypyridyl ligand influence on their DNA binding properties and cellular uptake

The DNA binding of polypyridyl (pp) (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh^III complexes of the types [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(pp)](CF₃SO₃) (2-6) (pp = bpy, phen, dpq, dppz, dppn), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh{(Me₂N)₂CS}(pp)](CF₃SO₃)₂ (7-9) (pp = dpq, dppz, dppn) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(L)(pp)](CF₃SO₃) (10) (L = C₆H₅S⁻) and (11) (L = C₁₀H₇S⁻) has been studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy, circular dichroismus and viscosity measurements. Complexes 3-11 are cytotoxic towards the human MCF-7 breast and HT-29 colon cancer cell lines and exhibit IC₅₀ values in the range 0.56-10.7 μM. Stable intercalative binding into CT-DNA is indicated for the dpq and dppz complexes by large increases ΔT_m of 6-12 °C in the DNA thermal denaturation temperature for r = [complex]/[DNA] = 0.1 and by induced CD bands and large viscosity increases. In contrast, significant DNA lengthening is not observed after incubation of the biopolymer with the dppn complexes 2 and 9 at molar ratios of r < 0.08. Pronounced hypochromic shifts for the π-π^∗ transitions of the dppn ligands in the range 320-425 nm indicate the possible presence of surface stacking. The in vitro cytotoxicities of the chloro complexes 4-6 and the (Me₂N)₂CS complexes 7-9 are dependent on the size of the polypyridyl ligand with IC₅₀ values decreasing in the order dpq > dppz > dppn. For instance, IC₅₀ values of 5.3, 1.5 and 0.91 μM were determined for 7-9 against MCF-7 cells. Rapid Cl⁻/H₂O exchange leads the formation of aqua dications for 4-6, whose levels of cellular uptake and cytotoxicities are similar to those established for 7-9. Intramolecular interactions between the aromatic thiolate and dppz ligands of 10 and 11 prevent significant DNA intercalation. X-ray structural determinations have been performed for 2-7 and 11.     

Thio-azo proligands based on 5,6-derivatives-1,10-phenanthroline and their use for iron(II) complexes: Synthesis,characterization and crystal structures

The preparation and characterization of 5,6-substituted-1,10-phenanthrolines, phdtos = 5,6-bistosyl-1,10-phenanthroline (1) and phdbt = 5,6-dibenzyltiol-1,10-phenanthroline (2) are described. The synthesis of (1) was achieved in good yield via the corresponding dihydroxide and 2 was obtained by cross-coupling reaction of 5,6-dibromo-1,10-phenanthroline and benzylthiol mediated by a palladium catalytic system in refluxing toluene (120 °C). These phenanthroline derivatives were used as ligands to afford [Fe^II(phdtos)₃](PF₆)₂ (5) and [Fe^II(phdbt)₃](PF₆)₂ (6) complexes.     

Synthesis, crystal structure analysis, and pharmacological characterization of desmethoxy-sila-venlafaxine, a derivative of the serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor sila-venlafaxine

rac-Desmethoxy-sila-venlafaxine (rac-3) is a derivative of the noradrenaline-selective serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor rac-sila-venlafaxine (rac-1b), a silicon analogue of the serotonin-selective serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor rac-venlafaxine (rac-1a) (rac-1a, rac-1-[2-(dimethylamino)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]cyclohexan-1-ol; rac-1b, rac-1-[2-(dimethylamino)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-1-silacyclohexan-1-ol). The synthesis and crystal structure analyses of rac-3 and rac-3 · HCl are reported, and the pharmacological properties of rac-1a, rac-1b, rac-2 (a sila-venlafaxine derivative with a silacyclopentanol skeleton instead of a silacyclohexanol framework), and rac-3 are compared (comparison of the pharmacological selectivity profiles with respect to serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine reuptake inhibition).