Dynamic chirality, chirality transfer and aggregation behaviour of dithienylethene switches

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of chiral and achiral low molecular weight organogelators (LMWGs) based on bis-amide substituted dithienylethene photochromic switches is reported. The LMWGs gelate a range of solvents depending on the specific functionalisation of the hydrogen bonding amide groups. In mixtures of chiral and achiral LMWGs the stereochemical outcome of the chiral aggregation is determined by the chiral LMWG molecules in most cases. However, for the first time we demonstrate that the stereochemical outcome of the aggregation can be influenced by the achiral LWMG molecules in some cases. Furthermore specific π-π (and/or van der Waals) interactions of chiral LMWGs 1-3o with the solvent allow the solvent to influence the control of chirality of aggregation. This influence of the solvent has a dramatic effect on whether four- or two-gel states are available.     

Synthesis and structure of halogen derivatives of 9-dimethylsulfonium-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborane [9-Me2S-7,8-C2B9H11]

Halogenation of 9-dimethylsulfonium-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborane [9-SMe₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁] with N-chlorosuccinimide, bromine and iodine gave the expected corresponding halogen derivatives [9-SMe₂-11-X-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀], where X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3). In the bromination reaction, [9-SMe₂-6-Br-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀] (4) was isolated as a minor product being the first example of substitution at a “lower” belt of the 7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate cage. The use of excess of bromine resulted in dibromo derivative [9-SMe₂-6,11-Br₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₉] (5). Structures of the compounds prepared were determined using ¹¹B-¹¹B COSY NMR spectroscopy (for all halogen derivatives) and single crystal X-ray diffraction (for compounds 2, 3, and 5).     

The new dispirobino and dispiroansa spermine derivatives of cyclotriphosphazenes

In this study, the crystal structures of the dispiroansa spermine derivatives of cyclotriphosphazene are characterised for the first time. The reaction of spiro-, gem-disubstituted cyclotriphosphazene derivatives, N₃P₃Cl₄R₂ [R = NHPh, (HN(CH₂)₃NH)_0.5, (OCH₂C(CH₃)₂CH₂O)_0.5], (1–3), with spermine (4), in aprotic solvents such as CH₂Cl₂ results in a series of dispirobino spermine derivatives of cyclotriphosphazene (5a, 6a, 7), namely spermine bridged compounds. Whereas, in protic solvents such as CHCl₃ give, dispiroansa derivatives (8–10) namely tetracyclic cyclotriphosphazene. The new series of dispirobino and dispiroansa spermine derivatives of cyclotriphosphazene (5a, 6a, 7–10) have been characterised by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, X-ray (for 5a, 8, 10) and ¹H, ³¹P NMR spectroscopies.     

Reactions of trimethylsiloxychlorosilanes with lithium metal - On the mechanism of the formation of trimethylsiloxysilyllithium compounds LiSiRR’(OSiMe3)

The reaction pathway for the formation of the trimethylsiloxysilyllithium compounds (Me₃SiO)RR′SiLi (2a: R = Et, 2b: R = ⁱPr, 2c: R = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂ (Mes); 2a-c: R′ = Ph; 2d: R = R′ = Mes) starting from the conversion of the corresponding trimethylsiloxychlorosilanes (Me₃SiO)RR′SiCl (1a-d) in the presence of excess lithium in a mixture of THF/diethyl ether/n-pentane at −110 °C was investigated.The trimethylsiloxychlorosilanes (Me₃SiO)RPhSiCl (1a: R = Et, 1b: R = ⁱPr, 1c: R = Mes) react with lithium to give initially the trimethylsiloxysilyllithium compounds (Me₃SiO)RPhSiLi (2a-c). These siloxysilyllithiums 2 couple partially with more trimethylsiloxychlorosilanes 1 to produce the siloxydisilanes (Me₃SiO)RPhSi-SiPhR(OSiMe₃) (Ia-c), and they undergo bimolecular self-condensation affording the trimethylsiloxydisilanyllithium compounds (Me₃SiO)RPhSi-RPhSiLi (3a-c). The siloxydisilanes I are cleaved by excess of lithium to give the trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums (Me₃SiO)RPhSiLi (2). In the case of the two trimethylsiloxydisilanyllithiums (Me₃SiO)RPhSi-RPhSiLi (3a: R = Et, 3b: R = ⁱPr) a reaction with more trimethylsiloxychlorosilanes (Me₃SiO)RPhSiCl (1a, 1b) takes place under formation of siloxytrisilanes (Me₃SiO)RPhSi-RPhSi-SiPhR(OSiMe₃) (IIa: R = Et, IIb: R = ⁱPr) which are cleaved by lithium to yield the trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums (Me₃SiO)RPhSiLi (2a, 2b) and the trimethylsiloxydisilanyllithiums (Me₃SiO)RPhSi-RPhSiLi (3a, 3b). The dimesityl-trimethylsiloxy-silyllithium (Me₃SiO)Mes₂SiLi (2d) was obtained directly by reaction of the trimethylsiloxychlorosilane (Me₃SiO)Mes₂SiCl (1d) and lithium without formation of the siloxydisilane intermediate. Both silyllithium compounds 2 and 3 were trapped with HMe₂SiCl giving the products (Me₃SiO)RR′Si-SiMe₂H and (Me₃SiO)RPhSi-RPhSi-SiMe₂H.     

Substituted lithiumtrimethylsiloxysilanides LiSiRR′(OSiMe3) - Investigations of their synthesis, stability and reactivity

The reactions of the trimethylsiloxychlorosilanes (Me₃SiO)RR′SiCl (1a-h: R′ = Ph, 1a: R = H, 1b: R = Me, 1c: R = Et, 1d: R = ⁱPr, 1e: R = ^tBu, 1f: R = Ph, 1g: R = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂ (Mes), 1h: R = 2,4,6-(Me₂CH)₃C₆H₂ (Tip); 1i: R = R′ = Mes) with lithium metal in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at −78 °C and in a mixture of THF/diethyl ether/n-pentane in a volume ratio 4:1:1 at −110 °C lead to mixtures of numerous compounds. Dependent on the substituents silyllithium derivatives (Me₃SiO)RR′SiLi (2b-i), Me₃SiO(RR′Si)₂Li (3a-g), Me₃SiRR′SiLi (4a-h), (LiO)RR′SiLi (12e, 12g-i), trisiloxanes (Me₃SiO)₂SiRR′ (5a-i) and trimethylsiloxydisilanes (6f^∗, 6h^∗, 6i^∗) are formed. All silyllithium compounds were trapped with Me₃SiCl or HMe₂SiCl resulting in the following products: (Me₃SiO)RR′SiSiMe₂R″ (6b-i: R″ = Me, 7c-i: R″ = H), Me₃SiO(RR′Si)₂SiMe₂R″ (8a-g: R″ = Me, 9a-g: R″ = H), Me₃SiRR′SiSiMe₂R″ (10a-h: R″ = Me, 11a-h: R″ = H) and (HMe₂SiO)RR′SiSiMe₂H (13e, 13g-i). The stability of trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums 2 depends on the substituents and on the temperature. (Me₃SiO)Mes₂SiLi (2i) is the most stable compound due to the high steric shielding of the silicon centre. The trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums 2a-g undergo partially self-condensation to afford the corresponding trimethylsiloxydisilanyllithiums Me₃SiO(RR′Si)₂Li (3a-g). (Me₃)Si-O bond cleavage was observed for 2e and 2g-i. The relatively stable trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums 2f, 2g and 2i react with n-butyllithium under nucleophilic butylation to give the n-butyl-substituted silyllithiums ⁿBuRR′SiLi (15g, 15f, 15i), which were trapped with Me₃SiCl. By reaction of 2g and 2i with 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene the corresponding 1,1-diarylsilacyclopentenes 17g and 17i are obtained.X-ray studies of 17g revealed a folded silacyclopentene ring with the silicon atom located 0.5 Å above the mean plane formed by the four carbon ring atoms.     

Synthesis, characterization and Schlenk equilibrium studies of methylmagnesium compounds with O- and N-donor ligands - the unexpected behavior of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (pmdta = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine)

MgMe₂ (1) was found to react with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) in tetrahydrofuran (thf) yielding a binuclear complex [{MgMe₂(thf)}₂(μ-dabco)] (2). Furthermore, from reactions of MgMeBr with diglyme (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether), NEt₃, and tmeda (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) in etheral solvents compounds MgMeBr(L), (L = diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) were obtained as highly air- and moisture-sensitive white powders. From a thf solution of 7 crystals of [MgMeBr(thf)(tmeda)] (8) were obtained. Reactions of MgMeBr with pmdta (N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) in thf resulted in formation of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in nearly quantitative yield. On the other hand, the same reaction in diethyl ether gave MgMeBr(pmdta) · MgBr₂(pmdta) (10) and [{MgMe₂(pmdta)}₇{MgMeBr(pmdta)}] (11) in 24% and 2% yield, respectively, as well as [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) as colorless needle-like crystals in about 26% yield. The synthesized methylmagnesium compounds were characterized by microanalysis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The coordination-induced shifts of the ¹H and ¹³C nuclei of the ligands are small; the largest ones were found in the tmeda and pmdta complexes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed in 2 a tetrahedral environment of the Mg atoms with a bridging dabco ligand and in 8 a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination of the Mg atom. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) showed them to be monomeric with five-coordinate Mg atoms. The square-pyramidal coordination polyhedra are built up of three N and two C atoms in 12 and three N and two Br atoms in 13. The apical positions are occupied by methyl and bromo ligands, respectively. Temperature-dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements (from 27 to −80 °C) of methylmagnesium bromide complexes MgMeBr(L) (L = thf (4); diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) in thf-d₈ solutions indicated that the deeper the temperature the more the Schlenk equilibria are shifted to the dimethylmagnesium/dibromomagnesium species. Furthermore, at −80 °C the dimethylmagnesium compounds are predominant in the solutions of Grignard compounds 4-6 whereas in the case of the tmeda complex7 the equilibrium constant was roughly estimated to be 0.25. In contrast, [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in thf-d₈ revealed no dismutation into [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) even up to −100 °C. In accordance with this unexpected behavior, 1:1 mixtures of 12 and 13 were found to react in thf at room temperature yielding quantitatively the corresponding Grignard compound 9. Moreover, the structures of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9c), [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12c), and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13c) were calculated on the DFT level of theory. The calculated structures 12c and 13c are in a good agreement with the experimentally observed structures 12 and 13. The equilibrium constant of the Schlenk equilibrium (2 9c ? 12c + 13c) was calculated to be K_gas = 2.0 × 10⁻³ (298 K) in the gas phase. Considering the solvent effects of both thf and diethyl ether using a polarized continuum model (PCM) the corresponding equilibrium constants were calculated to be K_thf = 1.2 × 10⁻³ and K_ether = 3.2 × 10⁻³ (298 K), respectively.     

Urea derivatives as low-molecular-weight gelators

This paper reports an overview of low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) that have a ureide moiety as a hydrogen-bonding site. Various mono-, bis-, tris-, and tetrakis-urea compounds can form supramolecular gels with organic solvents. The author developed a C ₃-symmetrical tris-urea molecule that can form a ubiquitous framework of LMWGs. The supramolecular organogel of the tris-urea molecule exhibited a chemical-stimuli-responsive reversible gel–sol phase transition. Supramolecular hydrogels are constructed from self-assemblies of amphiphilic urea derivatives. Sugar-connected amphiphilic tris-urea was found to form a gel with water, and the hydrogels showed chemical-stimuli-responsive gel–sol phase transitions. The potential of supramolecular hydrogels as matrices of electrophoresis has been demonstrated through the supramolecular gel electrophoresis (SUGE) of protein samples using our developed amphiphilic tris-urea LMWG.     

Stereoisomeric bis(phenylglycinol)malonamide gelators: rare examples of gelling meso-compounds

Gelation of malonamides was investigated for the first time. Bis(phenylglycinol)malonamide 1, and methyl-, dimethyl-, ethyl-, diethyl- and isopropylmalonamides 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively, exhibited profoundly different gelling properties. Monoalkyl malonamides are efficient organogelators, and their gelling properties strongly depend on their stereochemistry. In contrast, symmetrically substituted dialkymalonamides, that is, (R,R)-dimethylmalonamide 3 and (R,R)-diethylmalonamide 5 as well as the unsubstituted 1 lack any gelation ability. Methyl derivative (R,R)-2 is an excellent, and its ethyl analogue (R,R)-4 a moderate gelator of toluene, p-xylene and tetralin while the isopropyl derivative (R,R)-6 shows only very weak gelation of tetralin and some more polar solvents. Meso diastereoisomers (R,r,S)-2 and (R,s,S)-2, as well as (R,r,S)-4 and (R,s,S)-4), each possessing a pseudoasymmetric centre represent very rare examples of gelling meso-compounds. The racemate 4 (rac-4) showed more efficient gelation of some solvents than the pure enantiomer (R,R)-4, while rac-2 failed to gel any of the solvents which were efficiently gelled by (R,R)-2.     

Chemically modified oximato complexes of titanium(IV) isopropoxide as new precursors for the sol-gel preparation of nano-sized titania: Crystal and molecular structure of [Ti{ONC10H16}4·2CH2Cl2]

Reactions of [Ti(OPrⁱ)₄] with various oximes, in anhydrous refluxing benzene yielded complexes of the type [Ti{OPrⁱ}_4−n{L}_n], where, n = 1-4 and LH = (CH₃)₂CNOH (1-4), C₉H₁₆CNOH (5-8) and C₉H₁₈CNOH (9-12). The compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight measurements, FAB-mass, FT-IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}) spectral studies. The FAB-mass spectra of mono- (1), and di- (2), (6), (10) substituted products indicate their dimeric nature and that of tri- (3) and tetra- (4), (8) substituted derivatives suggest their monomeric nature. Crystal and molecular structure of [Ti{ONC₁₀H₁₆}₄·2CH₂Cl₂] (8A) suggests that the oximato ligands bind the metal in a dihapto η²-(N, O) manner, leading to the formation of an eight coordinated species. Thermogravimetric curves of (3), (6) and (10) exhibit multi-step decomposition with the formation of TiO₂ as the final product in each case, at 900 °C. Low temperature (∼600 °C) sol-gel transformations of (2), (3), (4), (6), (7) and (8) yielded nano-sized titania (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f), respectively. Formation of anatase phase in all the titania samples was confirmed by powder XRD patterns, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. SEM images of (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) exhibit formation of nano-grains with agglomer like surface morphologies. Compositions of all the titania samples were investigated by EDX analyses. The absorption spectra of the two representative samples, (a) and (f) indicate an energy band gap of 3.17 eV and 3.75 eV, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterisation of six Fe(II or III), Co(II) or Zr(IV) complexes containing the ligand [CH(SiMe2R)P(Ph)2NSiMe3] (R = Me, NEt2) and of [Co{N(SiMe3)C(Ph)C(H)P(Ph)2NSiMe3}2]

The C,N-(trimethylsilyliminodiphenylphosphoranyl)silylmethylmetal complexes [Fe(L)₂] (3), [Co(L)₂] (4), [ZrCl₃(L)]·0.83CH₂Cl₂ (5), [Fe(L)₃] (6), [Fe(L′)₂] (7) and [Co(L′)₂] (8) have been prepared from the lithium compound Li[CH(SiMe₂R)P(Ph)₂NSiMe₃] [1a, (R = Me) {≡ Li(L)}; 1b, (R = NEt₂) {≡ Li(L′)}] and the appropriate metal chloride (or for 7, FeCl₃). From Li[N(SiMe₃)C(Ph)C(H)P(Ph)₂NSiMe₃] [≡ Li(L″)] (2), prepared in situ from Li(L) (1a) and PhCN, and CoCl₂ there was obtained bis(3-trimethylsilylimino- diphenylphosphoranyl-2-phenyl-N-trimethylsilyl-1-azaallyl-N,N′)cobalt(II) (9). These crystalline complexes 3-9 were characterised by their mass spectra, microanalyses, high spin magnetic moments (not 5) and for 5 multinuclear NMR solution spectra. The X-ray structure of 3 showed it to be a pseudotetrahedral bis(chelate), the iron atom at the spiro junction.     

Isolation of secondary metabolites from Hortia oreadica (Rutaceae) leaves through high-speed counter-current chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a two-phase solvent system (hexane–ethanol–acetonitrile–water 10:8:1:1, v/v) was applied to examine the leaves of Hortia oreadica, which afforded the known limonoid guyanin (1), the alkaloids rutaecarpin (2) and dictamnine (6), the dihydrocinnamic acid derivatives methyl 5,7-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-propanoate (3), 5,8-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-propanoic acid (4), together with the new E-3,4-dimethoxy-α(3-hydroxy-4-carbomethoxyphenyl)cinnamic acid (5). The recovery of compounds 1–6 was determined by comparison with LC-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization MS/MS data: 66.2%, 93.1%, 102.5%, 101.2%, 99.0% and 84.9%, respectively. Compound 3 showed IC₅₀ of 23.6 μM against Plasmodium falciparum and 15.6 μM against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesienses and was not toxic to KB cells (IC₅₀ > 100 μM).     

A convenient one-pot synthesis of 2-(trifluoromethyl)-3,4,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-chromen-5(6H)-one derivatives and their further transformations

The trifluoromethyl containing heterocycles, 2-hydroxy-4-aryl-3-(thien-2-oyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-3,4,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-chromen-5(6H)-one derivatives 4, were synthesized via a one-pot three-component reaction of aldehyde 1 with 1,3-cyclohexanedione 2 and 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(thien-2-yl)butane-1,3-dione 3 in the presence of a catalytic amount of Et₃N. The effect of bases and solvents on the reaction efficiency and yield was briefly investigated. Treatment of 4 with an excess amount of NH₄OAc in ethanol afforded 2-trifluoromethyl-1H-quinolin-5-one derivatives 5. Refluxing of 4 with TsOH in CHCl₃ gave the corresponding dehydrated products 8.     

New organobimetallic compounds containing catecholate and o-semiquinolate ligands

New organobimetallic compounds CatSn[CpM(CO)_n]₂ (2-4) were obtained by the insertion of CatSn(II) (1) into the metal-metal bond of [CpM(CO)_n]₂ (Cat - 3,6-di-tert-butylcatecholate dianion; M = Fe (2), n = 2; M = Mo (3), W (4), n = 3). The structure of CatSn[CpMo(CO)₃]₂ was determined by X-ray analysis. The oxidation of compounds 2-4 with silver(I) triflate was found to produce stable paramagnetic o-semiquinolate derivatives which keep both Sn-M bonds. New paramagnetic tin(IV) complexes were investigated by EPR spectroscopy.     

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.     

Fascioquinols A-F: bioactive meroterpenes from a deep-water southern Australian marine sponge, Fasciospongia sp.

Chemical investigation of a southern Australian deep-water marine sponge, Fasciospongia sp., returned the new meroterpene sulfate fascioquinol A (1) together with a series of acid mediated hydrolysis/cyclization products, fascioquinols B (2), C (3) and D (4), and strongylophorine-22 (5). Additional co-metabolites include the new meroterpenes fascioquinol E (6) and fascioquinol F (8), together with the known sponge metabolite geranylgeranyl 1,4-hydroquinone (7). Structures were assigned to 1-8 on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis, chemical interconversion, mechanistic and biosynthetic considerations, and literature comparisons. The known 1,4-hydroquinone 7 was identified as the dominant cytotoxic principle in the Fasciospongia sp. extract, with selective inhibitory activity against gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS, IC₅₀ 8 μM) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y, IC₅₀ 4 μM) cell lines. By contrast, while the fascioquinols displayed little or no inhibitory activity towards human cell lines, 1 and 2 displayed promising Gram-positive selective antibacterial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus (IC₅₀ 0.9-2.5 μM) and Bacillus subtilis (IC₅₀ 0.3-7.0 μM).     

Lissoclibadins 1-3, three new polysulfur alkaloids, from the ascidian Lissoclinum cf. badium

Three new polysulfur alkaloids, lissoclibadins 1 (1)-3 (3), were isolated from the ascidian Lissoclinum sp. (cf. L. badium Monniot, F. and Monniot, C., 1996). The structures of 1-3 were assigned on the basis of their spectral data, and the computational modeling study was utilized for 1. Compound 1 had a trimeric structure of three identical aromatic anime moieties connected through two sulfide and a disulfide bonds. Compounds 2 and 3 were dimeric structures of the same unit as that of 1 connected through a sulfide and disulfide bonds (2) and two sulfide bonds (3). Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the growth of the marine bacterium Ruegeria atlantica (15.2 mm at 20 μg/disk and 12.2 mm at 5 μg/disk, respectively) and 2 showed antifungal activity to Mucor hiemalis (13.8 mm at 50 μg/disk). Compounds 1-3 were cytotoxic against HL-60 (IC₅₀=0.37, 0.21, and 5.5 μM, respectively).     

Heterolytic CH-bond activation in the synthesis of Ni{(2-aryl-κC)pyridine-κN}2 and derivatives

Thermolysis of Ni(OTf)₂ in 2-phenyl-pyridine or 2-tolyl-pyridine afforded the cationic chelate derivatives, [bis(2-aryl-pyridine)Ni{(2-aryl-κC²)pyridine-κN}]OTf (aryl = phenyl, 1a; tolyl, 1b). Addition of KBr to 1a and LiBr to 1b provided the bromides, (2-aryl-pyridine)BrNi{(2-aryl-κC²)pyridine-κN} (aryl = phenyl, 2a; tolyl, 2b). When subjected to KO^tBu in Et₂O, the bromides generated the entitled bis-cyclometalated compounds, Ni{(2-aryl-κC²)pyridine-κN}₂ (aryl = phenyl, 3a; tolyl, 3b). These compounds insert diphenylacetylene into one cyclometalate arm to produce [(2-aryl-κC²)pyridine-κN]Ni[2-(2-(1,2-diphenylethenyl-κC²)aryl)pyridine-κN] (aryl = phenyl, 4a; p-tolyl, 4b). X-ray crystallographic studies were conducted on 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a, and a brief DFT study of 3a confirmed its low spin configuration and rippled geometry.     

Synthesis,photophysical and nonlinear optical properties of microwave synthesized 4-tetra and octa-substituted lead phthalocyanines

This work presents the photophysical and nonlinear optical behaviour of newly synthesized complexes: 2,(3)-tetrakis(4-benzyloxyphenoxyphthalocyaninato) lead (5a) and 2,3-octakis(4-benzyloxyphenoxyphthalocyaninato) lead (6a). The nonlinear optical behaviour of complexes 5a and 6a are compared with those of 2,(3)-tetraphenoxyphthalocyaninato lead (5b), 2,(3)-tetrakis(4-t-butylphenoxyphthalocyaninato) lead (5c), 2,3-octaphenoxyphthalocyaninato lead (6b) and 2,3-octakis(4-t-butylphenoxyphthalocyaninato) lead (6c). The synthesis of 5a and 6a was performed using microwave irradiation. Photophysical properties were studied for these complexes in dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, toluene, tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. The fluorescence spectra were different from excitation spectra due to demetallation upon excitation. High triplet quantum yields ranging from 0.80 to 0.86 (in DMSO, DMF and toluene) and low triplet lifetimes (20–50 μs in DMSO, and <10 μs in the rest of the solvents) were observed due to the presence of heavy atom. Nonlinear optical properties were studied in dimethylsulfoxide. The optical limiting threshold intensity (I_lim) for the PbPc derivatives were calculated and ranged from 2.1 to 6.6 W/cm².     

Reactions of Mo(II)-tetraphosphine complex [MoCl2{meso-o-C6H4(PPhCH2CH2PPh2)2}] with a series of small molecules

Reactions of Mo(II)-tetraphosphine complex [MoCl₂(κ⁴-P4)] (2; P4 = meso-o-C₆H₄(PPhCH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂) with a series of small molecules have been investigated. Thus, treatment of 2 with alkynes RCCR′ (R = Ph, R′ = H; R = p-tolyl, R′ = H; R = Me, R′ = Ph) in benzene or toluene gave neutral mono(alkyne) complexes [MoCl₂(RCCR′)(κ³-P4)] containing tridentate P4 ligand, which were converted to cationic complexes [MoCl(RCCR′)(κ⁴-P4)]Cl having tetradentate P4 ligand upon dissolution into CDCl₃ or CD₂Cl₂. The latter complexes were available directly from the reactions of 2 with the alkynes in CH₂Cl₂. On the other hand, treatment of 2 with 1 equiv. of XyNC (Xy = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) afforded a seven-coordinate mono(isocyanide) complex [MoCl₂(XyNC)(κ⁴-P4)] (7), which reacted further with XyNC to give a cationic bis(isocyanide) complex [MoCl(XyNC)₂(κ⁴-P4)]Cl (8). From the reaction of 2 with CO, a mono(carbonyl) complex [MoCl₂(CO)(κ⁴-P4)] (9) was obtained as a sole isolable product. Reaction of 9 with XyNC afforded [MoCl(CO)(XyNC)(κ⁴-P4)]Cl (10a) having a pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry with axial CO and XyNC ligands, whereas that of 7 with CO resulted in the formation of a mixture of 10a and its isomer 10b containing axial CO and Cl ligands. Structures of 7 and 9 as well as [MoCl(XyNC)₂(κ⁴-P4)][PF₆](8′) and [MoCl(CO)(XyNC)(κ⁴-P4)][PF₆] (10a′) derived by the anion metathesis from 8 and 10a, respectively, were determined in detail by the X-ray crystallography.     

Dimolybdenum complexes containing anions of N,N′-bis(pyrimidine-2-yl)formamidine and N-(2-pyrimidinyl)formamide

The reactions of Mo₂(O₂CCH₃)₄ with different equivalents of N,N′-bis(pyrimidine-2-yl)formamidine (HL1) and N-(2-pyrimidinyl)formamide (HL2) afforded dimolybdenum complexes of the types Mo₂(O₂CCH₃)(L1)₂(L2) (1) trans-Mo₂(L1)₂(L2)₂ (2) cis-Mo₂(L1)₂(L2)₂ (3) and Mo₂(L2)₄ (4). Their UV–Vis and NMR spectra have been recorded and their structures determined by X-ray crystallography. Complexes 2 and 3 establish the first pair of trans and cis forms of dimolybdenum complexes containing formamidinate ligands. The L1 ligands in 1–3 are bridged to the metal centers through two central amine nitrogen atoms, while the L2 ligands in 1–4 are bridged to the metal centers via one pyrimidyl nitrogen atom and the amine nitrogen atom. The Mo–Mo distances of complexes 1 [2.0951(17) Å], 2 [2.103(1) Å] and 3 [2.1017(3) Å], which contain both Mo?N and Mo?O axial interactions, are slightly longer than those of complex 4 [2.0826(12)–2.0866(10) Å] which has only Mo?O interactions.