First-row transition metal complexes of the strongly donating pentadentate ligand PY4Im

The new ligand PY4Im, which incorporates an axial N-heterocyclic carbene and four equatorial pyridine donors, is readily prepared on a multigram scale. Six-coordinate first row transition metal complexes of the general formula [(PY4Im)M(MeCN)](2+) (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu), where the PY4Im ligand coordinates in a square pyramidal pentadentate fashion, have been prepared. Structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterization of these compounds provides evidence that PY4Im is a strongly donating ligand that favors the formation of low-spin complexes. Chemical oxidation of the iron(II) complex provides a low spin iron(III) complex, which has also been structurally and spectroscopically characterized. In the case of manganese(II), the PY4Im ligand is unable to either enforce a low-spin state or fully accommodate the metal ion. Rather, the ligand binds in a tridentate, face-capping mode.     

A spectrochemical walk: single-site perturbation within a series of six-coordinate ferrous complexes

A series of ferrous complexes with the pentadentate ligand 2,6-(bis-(bis-2-pyridyl)methoxymethane)pyridine (PY5) was prepared and examined. PY5 binds ferrous iron in a square-pyramidal geometry, leaving a single coordination site accessible for complexation of a wide range of monodentate exogenous ligands: [Fe(II)(PY5)(X)](n+), X = MeOH, H(2)O, MeCN, pyridine, Cl-, OBz-, N(3)-, MeO-, PhO-, and CN-. The spin-states of these ferrous complexes are extremely sensitive to the nature of the single exogenous ligand; the spectroscopic and structural properties correlate with their high-spin (hs) or low-spin (ls) electronic ground state. Systematic metrical trends within six crystallographic structures clearly indicate a preferred conformational binding mode of the PY5 ligand. The relative binding affinities of the exogenous ligands in MeOH indicate that exogenous ligand charge is the primary determinant of the binding affinity; the [Fe(II)(PY5)](2+) unit preferentially binds anionic ligands over neutral ligands. At parity of charge, strong-field ligands are preferentially bound over weak-field ligands. In MeOH, the pK(a) of the exogenously ligated MeOH in [Fe(PY5)(MeOH)](2+) (9.1) limits the scope of exogenous ligands, as strongly basic ligands preferentially deprotonate [Fe(PY5)(MeOH)](2+) to yield [Fe(PY5)(OMe)](1+) rather than ligate to the ferrous center. Exogenous ligation by a strongly basic ligand, however, can be achieved in polar aprotic solvents.     

Two dinuclear iron(II) complexes K[Fe2(L1)(SCN)4]·2(C3H8O) and [Fe2(L1)(SeCN)3(C5H5N)]·H2O are stabilised in the '[HS-LS]' state by a bis-tetradentate pyrazolate-based ligand

Two air-sensitive dinuclear iron(II) complexes, K[Fe(II)(2)(L(1))(SCN)(4)]·2(C(3)H(8)O) (1) and [Fe(II)(2)(L(1))(SeCN)(3)(C(5)H(5)N)]·H(2)O (2), of 3,5-bis[N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-1H-pyrazolate [(L(1))(-)] have been prepared. Interestingly, complex 1 is anionic, featuring four coordinated SCN(-) anions and a potassium counterion whereas complex 2 is neutral, containing a coordinated pyridine molecule and only three coordinated SeCN(-) anions. These are the first iron complexes reported for this type of ligand. Magnetic measurements and M?ssbauer spectra show that both 1 and 2 are in a '[HS-LS]' mixed spin state between 300 and 2 K.     

The protective effect of salicylic acid on lysozyme against riboflavin-mediated photooxidation

Tridentate Schiff base (H(2)L) ligand was synthesized via condensation of o-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 2-aminothiophenol. The metal complexes were prepared from reaction of the ligand with corresponding metal salts presence of substituted pyridine in two different solvents (MeOH or MeCN). The ligand and metal complexes were then characterized by using FTIR, TGA, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectroscopies. The FTIR spectra showed that H(2)L was coordinated to the metal ions in tridentate manner with ONS donor sites of the azomethine N, deprotonated phenolic-OH and phenolic-SH. Furthermore, substituted pyridine was coordinated to the central metal atoms. The thermal behavior of the complexes was investigated by using TGA method and dissociations indicated that substituted pyridine and ligand were leaved from coordination. This coordination of the metal complexes was correlated by (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR. Finally, electrochemical behavior of the ligand and a Ni(II) complex were investigated.     

C-H activation by a mononuclear manganese(III) hydroxide complex: synthesis and characterization of a manganese-lipoxygenase mimic?

Lipoxygenases are mononuclear non-heme metalloenzymes that regio- and stereospecifically convert 1,4-pentadiene subunit-containing fatty acids into alkyl peroxides. The rate-determining step is generally accepted to be hydrogen atom abstraction from the pentadiene subunit of the substrate by an active metal(III)-hydroxide species to give a metal(II)-water species and an organic radical. All known plant and animal lipoxygenases contain iron as the active metal; recently, however, manganese was found to be the active metal in a fungal lipoxygenase. Reported here are the synthesis and characterization of a mononuclear Mn(III) complex, [Mn(III)(PY5)(OH)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (PY5 = 2,6-bis(bis(2-pyridyl)methoxymethane)pyridine), that reacts with hydrocarbon substrates in a manner most consistent with hydrogen atom abstraction and provides chemical precedence for the proposed reaction mechanism. The neutral penta-pyridyl ligation of PY5 endows a strong Lewis acidic character to the metal center allowing the Mn(III) compound to perform this oxidation chemistry. Thermodynamic analysis of [Mn(III)(PY5)(OH)](2+) and the reduced product, [Mn(II)(PY5)(H(2)O)](2+), estimates the strength of the O-H bond in the metal-bound water in the Mn(II) complex to be 82 (+/-2) kcal mol(-)(1), slightly less than that of the O-H bond in the related reduced iron complex, [Fe(II)(PY5)(MeOH)](2+). [Mn(III)(PY5)(OH)](2+) reacts with hydrocarbon substrates at rates comparable to those of the analogous [Fe(III)(PY5)(OMe)](2+) at 323 K. The crystal structure of [Mn(III)(PY5)(OH)](2+) displays Jahn-Teller distortions that are absent in [Mn(II)(PY5)(H(2)O)](2+), notably a compression along the Mn(III)-OH axis. Consequently, a large internal structural reorganization is anticipated for hydrogen atom transfer, which may be correlated to the lessened dependence of the rate of substrate oxidation on the substrate bond dissociation energy as compared to other metal complexes. The results presented here suggest that manganese is a viable metal for lipoxygenase activity and that, with similar coordination spheres, iron and manganese can oxidize substrates through a similar mechanism.     

Investigations into the synthesis and fluorescence properties of Tb(III) complexes of a novel bis-beta-diketone-type ligand and a novel bispyrazole ligand

A novel bis-beta-diketone organic ligand, 1,1'-(2,6-bispyridyl)bis-3-(p-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanedione (L1) and its derivatives, a novel bispyrazole ligand, 2,6-bis(5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (L2) were designed and synthesized and their complexes with Tb(III) ion were successfully prepared. The ligands and the corresponding metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and TG-DTA. Analysis of the IR spectra suggested that the lanthanide metal ion Tb(III) coordinated to the ligands via the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring and the carbonyl oxygen atoms for ligand L1 and the nitrogen atom of the pyrazole ring for ligand L2. The fluorescence properties of the two complexes in solid state were investigated and it was discovered that the Tb(III) ions could be sensitized by both the ligand (L1) and ligand (L2) to some extent. In particular, the complex of ligand (L2) is a better green luminescent material that could be used as a candidate material in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) since it could be much better sensitized by the ligand (L2), and the fluorescence intensity of Tb(III) complex of L2 are almost as twice strong as L1's.     

Experimental and theoretical studies on ferromagnetically coupled metal complexes with imino nitroxides

Copper(II), zinc(II), and nickel(II) complexes with tridentate imino nitroxyl diradicals, [CuCl(bisimpy)(MeOH)](PF(6)) (1), [ZnCl(2)(bisimpy)] (2), and [NiCl(bisimpy)(H(2)O)(2)]Cl x 2H(2)O (3) (bisimpy = 2,6-bis(1'-oxyl-4',4',5',5'-tetramethyl-4',5'-dihydro-1'H-imidazol-2'-yl)pyridine), were prepared, and their magnetic properties were studied. In 1, the Cu(II) ion has a square pyramidal coordination geometry, of which the equatorial coordination sites are occupied by three nitrogen atoms from the bisimpy and a chloride ion. The coordination geometry of the Zn(II) ion in 2 can be described as a trigonal bipyramid, with two chloride ions and a bisimpy. In 3, the Ni(II) ion has a distorted octahedral coordination geometry, of which four coordination sites are coordinated by the bisimpy and chloride ion, and two water molecules occupy the remaining cis positions. Magnetic susceptibility and EPR measurements revealed that in 1 and 3 the Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions with imino nitroxyl diradicals were ferromagnetically coupled, with the coupling constants J (H = -2J(ij) summation operator S(i)S(j)) of +165(1) and 109(2) cm(-1), respectively, and the intraligand ferromagnetic interactions in 1-3 were very weak. DFT molecular orbital calculations were performed on the diradical ligand, 1, and 2 to study the spin density distribution before and after coordination to the metal ions.     

Investigations into the synthesis and fluorescence properties of Eu(III), Tb(III), Sm(III) and Gd(III) complexes of a novel bis-beta-diketone-type ligand

A novel bis-beta-diketon ligand, 1,1'-(2,6-bispyridyl)bis-3-phenyl-1,3-propane-dione (L), was designed and synthesized and its complexes with Eu(III), Tb(III), Sm(III) and Gd(III) ions were successfully prepared. The ligand and the corresponding metal complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, and infrared, mass and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Analysis of the IR spectra suggested that each of the lanthanide metal ions coordinated to the ligand via the carbonyl oxygen atoms and the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring. The fluorescence properties of these complexes in solid state were investigated and it was discovered that all of the lanthanide ions could be sensitized by the ligand (L) to some extent. In particular, the Tb(III) complex was an excellent green-emitter and would be a potential candidate material for applications in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) and medical diagnosis.     

Preparation, characterization and biological activity of Fe(III), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and UO(2)(II) complexes of new cyclodiphosph(V)azane of sulfaguanidine

Novel hexachlorocyclodiphosph(V)azane of sulfaguanidine, H(4)L, l,3-[N'-amidino-sulfanilamide]-2,2,2,4,4,4-hexachlorocyclodiphosph(V)azane was prepared and its coordination behaviour towards the transition metal ions Fe(III), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and UO(2)(II) was studied. The structures of the isolated products are proposed based on elemental analyses, IR, UV-vis, (1)H NMR, mass spectra, reflectance, magnetic susceptibility measurements and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The hyperfine interactions in the isolated complex compounds were studied using 14.4keV gamma-ray from radioactive (57)Co (M?ssbauer spectroscopy). The data show that the ligand are coordinated to the metal ions via the sulfonamide O and deprotonated NH atoms in an octahedral manner. The H(4)L ligand forms complexes of the general formulae [(MX(z))(2)(H(2)L)H(2)O)(n)] and [(FeSO(4))(2) (H(4)L) (H(2)O)(4)], where X=NO(3) in case of UO(2)(II) and Cl in case of Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II). The molar conductance data show that the complexes are non-electrolytes. The thermal behaviour of the complexes was studied and different thermodynamic parameters were calculated using Coats-Redfern method. Most of the prepared complexes showed high bactericidal activity and some of the complexes show more activity compared with the ligand and standards.     

Copper(II) complexes containing hemilabile tridentate ligand as chromotropic probes

Two copper(II) complexes with the general formula [Cu(L)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (1) and [Cu(L)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2), where L=3-((pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)propanamide, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–vis spectroscopy techniques and molar conductance measurements. The crystal structures of the complexes were identified by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The tridentate ligand L acts as an N₂O-donor through the nitrogen atoms of the pyridine and amine moieties as well the oxygen atom of the amide group. The copper(II) ions in both complexes have distorted octahedron structures so that the Cu(II) ion in 1 is coordinated by an aqua ligand and a tridentate ligand defining the basal plane, and by two oxygen atoms of the perchlorate ions occupying the axial positions. However, two ligands L are coordinated to the copper(II) ion in 2, where four nitrogen atoms of pyridine and amine groups occupy the equatorial positions and two oxygen atoms of the amide moieties exist in the apices. The chromotropism (halo-, solvato- and ionochromism) of both complexes were studied using visible absorption spectroscopy. The complexes are soluble in water and organic solvents and display reversible halochromism. The solvatochromism property is due to structural change followed by solvation of the vacant sites of the complexes. The complexes demonstrated obvious ionochromism and are highly sensitive and selective towards CN^? and N₃^? anions in the presence of other halide and pseudo-halide ions.     

Systematic investigation of trigonal-bipyramidal cyanide-bridged clusters of the first-row transition metals

Reactions between [M'(III)(CN)(6)](3-) anions (M' = Co, Cr, or Fe) and mononuclear complexes of M(II) ions (M = Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, or Zn) produce a family of pentanuclear clusters {[M(tmphen)(2)](3)[M'(CN)(6)](2)]}. The core of the clusters is formed by five metal ions that are bridged through six CN- linkers into a trigonal bipyramid, with M and M' ions occupying equatorial and axial positions of the bipyramid, respectively. Three of the CN- ligands from each M' center remain terminal and point toward the outside of the cluster, along the trigonal axes. Studies of magnetic coupling in the {[M(tmphen)(2)](3)[M'(CN)(6)](2)]} family of clusters revealed a similarity between the observed magnetic exchange constants and the values estimated for the molecule-based magnets of the Prussian blue family. The type of the magnetic exchange varies across the series, changing from antiferromagnetic for M = Cr and Mn to ferromagnetic for M = Co and Ni. Complexes {[M(tmphen)(2)](3)[M'(CN)(6)](2)]}, which contain diamagnetic Co(III) ions in the axial positions, serve as convenient model compounds for an accurate assessment of the magnetic parameters for the equatorial M ions in the absence of magnetic interactions. The {[Co(tmphen)(2)](3)[Cr(CN)(6)](2)]} cluster exhibits cyanide linkage isomerism, the relative amount of which depends on the synthetic conditions.     

Synthesis, structure, and physical properties for a series of trigonal bipyramidal M(II)-Cl complexes with intramolecular hydrogen bonds

A series of transition metal chloro complexes with the tetradentate tripodal tris(2-amino-oxazoline)amine ligand (TAO) have been synthesized and characterized. X-Ray structural analyses of these compounds demonstrate the formation of the mononuclear complexes [M(II)(TAO)(Cl)](+), where M(II) = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn. These complexes exhibit distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, coordinating the metal through an apical tertiary amine, three equatorial imino nitrogen atoms, and an axial chloride anion. All the complexes possess an intramolecular hydrogen-bonding (H-bonding) network within the cavity occupied by the metal-bound chloride ion. The metal-chloride bond distances are atypically long, which is attributed to the effects of the H-bonding network. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the Zn complex suggests that the solid-state structures are representative of that observed in solution, and that the H-bonding interactions persist as well. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to probe the electronic structures of the complexes.     

Monomeric, trimeric, and tetrameric transition metal complexes (Mn, Fe, Co) containing N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-aminoethanol/-ate: preparation, crystal structure, molecular magnetism and oxidation catalysis

The reaction of N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-aminoethanol (bpaeOH), NaSCN/NaN(3), and metal (M) ions [M = Mn(II), Fe(II/III), Co(II)] in MeOH, leads to the isolation of a series of monomeric, trimeric, and tetrameric metal complexes, namely [Mn(bpaeOH)(NCS)(2)] (1), [Mn(bpaeO)(N(3))(2)] (2), [Fe(bpaeOH)(NCS)(2)] (3), [Fe(4)(bpaeO)(2)(CH(3)O)(2)(N(3))(8)] (4), [Co(bpaeOH)(NCS)(2)] (5), and [Co(3)(bpaeO)(2)(NO(3))(N(3))(4)](NO(3)) (6). These compounds have been investigated by single crystal X-ray diffractometry and magnetochemistry. In complex 1 the Mn(II) is bonded to one bpaeOH and two thiocyanate ions, while in complex 2 it is coordinated to a deprotonated bpaeO(-) and two azide ions. The oxidation states of manganese ions are 2+ for 1 and 3+ for 2, respectively, indicating that the different oxidation states depend on the type of binding anions. The structures of monomeric iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes 3 and 5 with two thiocyanate ions are isomorphous to that of 1. Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 5 exhibit high-spin states in the temperature range 5 to 300 K. 4 contains two different iron(III) ions in an asymmetric unit, one is coordinated to a deprotonated bpaeO(-), an azide ion, and a methoxy group, and the other is bonded to three azide ions and two oxygens from bpaeO(-) and a methoxy group. Two independent iron(III) ions in 4 form a tetranuclear complex by symmetry. 4 displays both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic couplings (J = 9.8 and -14.3 cm(-1)) between the iron(III) ions. 6 is a mixed-valence trinuclear cobalt complex, which is formulated as Co(III)(S = 0)-Co(II)(S = 3/2)-Co(III)(S = 0). The effective magnetic moment at room temperature corresponds to the high-spin cobalt(II) ion (～4.27 μ(B)). Interestingly, 6 showed efficient catalytic activities toward various olefins and alcohols with modest to excellent yields, and it has been proposed that a high-valent Co(V)-oxo species might be responsible for oxygen atom transfer in the olefin epoxidation and alcohol oxidation reactions.     

Novel repaglinide complexes with manganese(II), iron(III), copper(II) and zinc(II): Spectroscopic,DFT characterization and electrochemical behaviour

Novel transition metal complexes with the repaglinide ligand [2-ethoxy-4-[N-[1-(2piperidinophenyl)-3-methyl-1-1butyl] aminocarbonylmethyl]benzoic acid] (HL) are prepared from chloride salts of manganese(II), iron(III), copper(II), and zinc(II) ions in water-alcoholic media. The mononuclear and non-electrolyte [M(L)₂(H₂O)₂]?nH₂O (M = Mn²⁺, n = 2, M = Cu²⁺, n = 5 and M = Zn²⁺, n = 1) and [M(L)₂(H₂O)(OH)]?H₂O (M = Fe³⁺) complexes are obtained with the metal:ligand ratio of 1:2 and the L-deprotonated form of repaglinide. They are characterized using the elemental and molar conductance. The infrared, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra show the coordination mode of the metal ions to the repaglinide ligand. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and electronic spectra confirm the octahedral geometry around the metal center. The experimental values of FT-IR, ¹H, NMR, and electronic spectra are compared with theoretical data obtained by the density functional theory (DFT) using the B3LYP method with the LANL2DZ basis set. Analytical and spectral results suggest that the HL ligand is coordinated to the metal ions via two oxygen atoms of the ethoxy and carboxyl groups. The structural parameters of the optimized geometries of the ligand and the studied complexes are evaluated by theoretical calculations. The order of complexation energies for the obtained structures is as follows:

$$Fe(III) complex < Cu(II) complex < Zn(II) complex < Mn(II) complex.$$

The redox behavior of repaglinide and metal complexes are studied by cyclic voltammetry revealing irreversible redox processes. The presence of repaglinide in the complexes shifts the reduction potentials of the metal ions towards more negative values.

     

Synthesis and characterization of the tetranuclear iron(III) complex of a new asymmetric multidentate ligand. A structural model for purple acid phosphatases

The ligand, 2-((2-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-((pyridin-2-ylmethylamino)methyl)benzyl)(2-hydroxybenzyl)amino)acetic acid (H(3)HPBA), which contains a donor atom set that mimics that of the active site of purple acid phosphatase is described. Reaction of H(3)HPBA with iron(III) or iron(II) salts results in formation of the tetranuclear complex, [Fe(4)(HPBA)(2)(OAc)(2)(mu-O)(mu-OH)(OH(2))(2)]ClO(4) x 5H(2)O. X-Ray structural analysis reveals the cation consists of four iron(III) ions, two HPBA(3-) ligands, two bridging acetate ligands, a bridging oxide ion and a bridging hydroxide ion. Each binucleating HPBA(3-) ligand coordinates two structurally distinct hexacoordinate iron(III) ions. The two metal ions coordinated to a HPBA(3-) ligand are linked to the two iron(III) metal ions of a second, similar binuclear unit by intramolecular oxide and hydroxide bridging moieties to form a tetramer. The complex has been further characterised by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, UV-vis and MCD spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, magnetic susceptibility measurements and variable-temperature M?ssbauer spectroscopy.     

Valence Tautomerism in Octahedral and Square‐Planar Phenoxyl–Nickel(II) Complexes: Are Imino Nitrogen Atoms Good Friends?

The two tetradentate ligands H(2)L and H(2)L(Me) afford the slightly distorted square-planar low-spin Ni(II) complexes 1 and 2, which comprise two coordinated phenolate groups. Complex 1 has been electrochemically oxidized into 1(+), which contains a coordinated phenoxyl radical, with a contribution from the nickel orbital. In the presence of pyridine, 1(+) is converted into 1(Py) (+), an octahedral phenolate nickel(III) complex with two pyridines axially coordinated: An intramolecular electron transfer (valence tautomerism) is promoted by the geometrical changes, from square planar to octahedral, around the metal center. The tetradentate ligand H(2)L(Me), in the presence of pyridine, and the hexadentate ligand H(2)L(Py) in CH(2)Cl(2) afford, respectively, the octahedral high-spin Ni(II) complexes 2(Py) and 3, which involve two equatorial phenolates and two axially coordinated pyridines. At 100 K, the one-electron-oxidized product 2(Py) (+) comprises a phenoxyl radical ferromagnetically coupled to the high-spin Ni(II) ion, with large zero-field splitting parameters, while 3(+) involves a phenoxyl radical antiferromagnetically coupled to the high-spin Ni(II) ion.     

Complexes of 2,6-bis[N-(2'-pyridylmethyl)carbamyl]pyridine: formation of mononuclear complexes, and self-assembly of double helical dinuclear and tetranuclear copper(II) and trinuclear nickel(II) complexes

The potentially pentadentate ligand 2,6-bis[N-(2'-pyridylmethyl)carbamyl]pyridine (H2L1), readily prepared from reaction of a diester of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H2dipic) and 2-aminomethylpyridine (ampy), shows limited tendency to form 1:1 M:L complexes with labile metal ions, although [CuL1] and [NiL1] were observed as minor species, the latter characterized by a crystal structure analysis. A mononuclear complex formed with inert Co(III) was characterized by a crystal structure as the neutral 1:2 complex [Co(L1)(HL1)] with two ligands acting as tridentate ligands, one coordinated by the central pyridine and its two flanking deprotonated amido groups, and the other by the central pyridine, one amido and one terminal pyridine group, with the remaining poorly coordinating protonated amide remaining unbound along with other terminal pyridine groups. Fe(III) is known to form a symmetrical 1:2 complex, but that complex is anionic due to binding of all four deprotonated amido groups; the unsymmetrical neutral Co(III) complex converts into a symmetrical anionic species only on heating for hours in aqueous base in the presence of activated carbon. The most remarkable tendency of H2L1, however, is towards the formation of robust double helical complexes: a dinuclear Cu(II) complex [Cu2L1(2)] forms, as well as a trinuclear Ni(II) complex [Ni(3)(L1)2(OAc)2(MeOH)2]. Moreover, in the presence of added H2dipic, the tetranuclear complex [Cu4(L1)2(dipic)2(OH2)2] is obtained. All helical complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystal structure analyses, and all crystals feature a racemic mixture of left- and right-handed double helices stabilized by inter-ligand pi-stacking (inter-ring distances of 3.2-3.8 A) of ligands which each span several metal ions. Using the chelating ligand pentane-2,4-dione (acac), each of the two pairs of adjacent monodentate ligands in [Ni3(L1)2(OAc)2(OH2)2] have been shown to be available for substitution without destroying the helical structure, to form [Ni3(L1)2(acac)2], also characterized by a crystal structure.     

Comparative study of beryllium,magnesium and zinc phthalocyanine complexes with 4-picoline

Three new Be(II), Mg(II) and Zn(II) phthalocyaninato(2-) complexes with 4-picoline (4-Mepy) in the crystalline form have been obtained by recrystallization of the respective M(II)Pc in 4-picoline under water-free conditions. BePc and ZnPc in 4-picoline solution form 4 + 1 coordinated complexes, while the 4-Mepy molecules biaxially ligate MgPc. The planar phthalocyaninato(2-) macroring of BePc and ZnPc upon mono-axial ligation by the 4-Mepy molecule adopts the saucer-shape form. The interaction of the central M(II) with the ligated 4-Mepy molecule leads to a deviation of the metal from the centre cavity by ∼0.31 Å and ∼0.35 Å in the Be and Zn phthalocyaninato complexes, respectively. In MgPc, the Pc ring upon biaxial ligation retains a planar configuration. The axial M(II)–N(4-Mepy) bond is longer than the four equatorial M(II)–N_iso bonds in Mg and Zn phthalocyaninato complexes, while in the Be complex the opposite relation between the axial and equatorial Be–N bonds is observed. Thermogravimetric analysis for all these compounds exhibits only one slope down, due to the loss of 4-Mepy molecules from the complexes, which transform finally into the respective M(II)Pc complexes in the β-form.     

Enhanced metal ion selectivity of 2,9-di-(pyrid-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline and its use as a fluorescent sensor for cadmium(II)

The metal ion complexing properties of the ligand DPP (2,9-di-(pyrid-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline) were studied by crystallography, fluorimetry, and UV-visible spectroscopy. Because DPP forms five-membered chelate rings, it will favor complexation with metal ions of an ionic radius close to 1.0 A. Metal ion complexation and accompanying selectivity of DPP is enhanced by the rigidity of the aromatic backbone of the ligand. Cd2+, with an ionic radius of 0.96 A, exhibits a strong CHEF (chelation enhanced fluorescence) effect with 10(-8) M DPP, and Cd2+ concentrations down to 10(-9) M can be detected. Other metal ions that cause a significant CHEF effect with DPP are Ca2+ (10(-3) M) and Na+ (1.0 M), whereas metal ions such as Zn2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+ cause no CHEF effect with DPP. The lack of a CHEF effect for Zn2+ relates to the inability of this small ion to contact all four donor atoms of DPP. The structures of [Cd(DPP)2](ClO4)2 (1), [Pb(DPP)(ClO4)2H2O] (2), and [Hg(DPP)(ClO4)2] (3) are reported. The Cd(II) in 1 is 8-coordinate with the Cd-N bonds to the outer pyridyl groups stretched by steric clashes between the o-hydrogens on these outer pyridyl groups and the central aromatic ring of the second DPP ligand. The 8-coordinate Pb(II) in 2 has two short Pb-N bonds to the two central nitrogens of DPP, with longer bonds to the outer N-donors. The coordination sphere around the Pb(II) is completed by a coordinated water molecule, and two coordinated ClO4(-) ions, with long Pb-O bonds to ClO4(-) oxygens, typical of a sterically active lone pair on Pb(II). The Hg(II) in 3 shows an 8-coordinate structure with the Hg(II) forming short Hg-N bonds to the outer pyridyl groups of DPP, whereas the other Hg-N and Hg-O bonds are rather long. The structures are discussed in terms of the fit of large metal ions to DPP with minimal steric strain. The UV-visible studies of the equilibria involving DPP and metal ions gave formation constants that show that DPP has a higher affinity for metal ions with an ionic radius close to 1.0 A, particularly Cd(II), Gd(III), and Bi(III), and low affinity for small metal ions such as Ni(II) and Zn(II). The complexes of several metal ions, such as Cd(II), Gd(III), and Pb(II), showed an equilibrium involving deprotonation of the complex at remarkably low pH values, which was attributed to deprotonation of coordinated water molecules according to: [M(DPP)(H2O)]n+ <==> [M(DPP)(OH)](n-1)+ + H+. The tendency to deprotonation of these DPP complexes at low pH is discussed in terms of the large hydrophobic surface of the coordinated DPP ligand destabilizing the hydration of coordinated water molecules and the build-up of charge on the metal ion in its DPP complex because of the inability of the coordinated DPP ligand to hydrogen bond with the solvent.     

Fine tuning of the oxidation locus, and electron transfer, in nickel complexes of pro-radical ligands

A large number of complexes of the first-row transition metals with non-innocent ligands has been characterized in the last few years. The localization of the oxidation site in such complexes can lead to discrepancies when electrons can be removed either from the metal center (leading to an M((n+1)+) closed-shell ligand) or from the ligand (leading to an M(n+) open-shell ligand). The influence of the ligand field on the oxidation site in square-planar nickel complexes of redox-active ligands is explored herein. The tetradentate ligands employed herein incorporate two di-tert-butylphenolate (pro-phenoxyl) moieties and one orthophenylenediamine spacer. The links between the spacer and both phenolates are either two imines ([Ni(L1)]), two amidates ([Ni(L3)]2-), or one amidate and one imine ([Ni(L2)]-). The structure of each nickel(II) complex is presented. In the noncoordinating solvent CH2Cl2, the one-electron-oxidized forms are ligand-radical species with a contribution from a singly occupied d orbital of the nickel. In the presence of an exogenous ligand, such as pyridine, a Ni(III) closed-shell ligand form is favored: axial ligation, which stabilizes the trivalent nickel in its octahedral geometry, induces an electron transfer from the metal(II) center to the radical ligand. The affinity of pyridine for the phenoxylnickel(II) species is correlated to the N-donor ability of the linkers.