Structural characterization and catalytic activities of copper complexes with pyridine-amine-phosphine-oxide ligand

A new tetradentate containing pyridine, amine and phosphine oxide donor systems (1) was synthesized by the condensation of o-diphenylphosphinoaniline with 2-pyridinecarbaldehyde. Reaction of 1 with equal molar amount of CuCl₂ and Cu(ClO₄)₂ provided the formation of [CuCl₂(1)] (4) and [[Cu(1)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂] (5), respectively. The ligand 1 behaves as a tridentate in 4, while as a tetradentate in 5. Both complexes were characterized by EPR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Both copper(II) complexes are in a square-pyramidal geometry. Single crystal structure of the copper complex reveals that the copper center is surrounded by three nitrogen donors and two chloride for 4; three nitrogen donors, water and oxygen donor from the moiety of phosphine oxide for 5. Complexation of 1 with CuCl in dichloromethane resulted in the formation of the corresponding copper(I) species, which catalyzed the oxidation of benzylic alcohols under aerobic conditions.     

Sensing of Fe(III) ion via turn-on fluorescence by fluorescence probes derived from 1-naphthylamine

Fluorescence probes NA1 and NA2 derived from 1-naphthylamine (NA) as fluorophore have been synthesized and characterized by different spectroscopic studies. Identification behaviour of these probes towards various metal ions has been investigated. Both the fluorescent probes are selective as well as sensitive towards Fe(III) ion. Novel fluorescence probe NA2 afforded turn-on fluorescence behaviour for Fe(III) ion over other metal ions such as Ca(II), Mg(II), Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Hg(II).     

Copper catalysed 1,4-addition of organozinc reagents to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds: a mechanistic investigation

A mechanistic study of the 1,4-addition of diethylzinc to 2-cyclohexenone catalysed by copper complexes of the Schiff base ligand H₂L1 was performed. The kinetic law of this system was determined and the nature of the different copper complexes involved in the reaction was investigated. The experimental results indicate a first-order dependence of the reaction rate on 2-cyclohexenone concentration, a zero-order on diethylzinc concentration, and a first-order dependence with respect to the concentration of a 1:1.2 mixture of Cu(OTf)₂ and H₂L1. A sharp change in the kinetics of the reaction was observed at catalyst concentrations higher than 9 mM, indicating the possible formation of catalytically inactive species. An aggregate copper complex, with the molecular formula [(CuL1)₂ · Cu(OTf)₂](TfOH)_1/3 (1), is formed upon mixing Cu(OTf)₂ and ligand H₂L1 in toluene. Complex 1 is reduced in situ to a catalytically active copper(I) species by addition of 12 equivalents of Et₂Zn. This species is able to perform the conjugate addition to 2-cyclohexenone under stoichiometric conditions and resumes its catalytic activity in the presence of 2-cyclohexenone and Et₂Zn.     

Chiral copper-bipyridine complexes: Synthesis, characterization and mechanistic studies on asymmetric cyclopropanation

Chiral bipyridine ligands of different steric properties when reacted with CuCl₂ formed orange, yellow or green solids of new copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L)Cl₂] (L = L2-6), in good yield. Together with [Cu(L1)Cl₂], these complexes were characterized in solution by UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The complexes give d-d transitions between 860 and 970 nm, and exhibit one quasi-reversible Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple between +0.405 V and +0.516 V versus NHE. Two of the copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L5)Cl₂] and [Cu(L6)Cl₂], and a copper(I) complex of L1, [Cu(L1)Cl], were characterized by X-ray crystallography. The triflate derivatives of both the Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes are active catalysts towards the cyclopropanation of ethyl diazoacetate with styrene. The asymmetric induction suffers when the size difference between the alkyl and alkoxyl groups was minimized. The mechanism of the cyclopropanation was studied with kinetic and competition experiments. The rate is first order in catalyst and ethyl diazoacetate, inverse order with styrene and is strongly affected by the counterion.     

Selective metal ion recognition using a fluorescent 1,8-diquinolylnaphthalene-derived sensor in aqueous solution

The use of anti-1,8-bis(2,2′-diisopropyl-4,4′-diquinolyl)naphthalene, 1, for metal ion-selective fluorescence recognition has been investigated. Employing CuCl₂, ZnCl₂, FeCl₂, and FeCl₃ in fluorescence titration experiments of 1 revealed formation of a bluegreen light emitting bimetallic complex. A dramatic red-shift of the fluorescence maximum of 1 and metal ion-selective quenching was observed in the presence of Cu(II), Fe(II), and Fe(III)chlorides in acetonitrile. By contrast, addition of ZnCl₂ was found to result in fluorescence enhancement, whereas Cu(I) did not induce any significant fluorescence change of 1. The sensor was found to undergo highly ion-selective fluorescence quenching in aqueous solution. Screening of main group and transition metal ions showed excellent selectivity for FeCl₃ even in the presence of competing metal ions.     

FRET induced by an ‘allosteric’ cycloaddition reaction regulated with exogenous inhibitor and effectors

A Cu(I) catalyzed Huisgen cycloaddition was engineered to afford products featuring intramolecular excimer formation (exciplex, 3) or intramolecular Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET, 6, 7). It was further demonstrated that this reaction could be silenced by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which prohibited the reduction of copper(II) sulfate to the catalytically active Cu(I) species by sodium ascorbate. Exogenous transition metal ions such as Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺ were shown to competitively coordinate with EDTA thus releasing free Cu²⁺ for the subsequent reduction, and consequently restoring the reaction. The modulated catalysis showed metal ion concentration dependence and could be monitored by both HPLC and fluorescence. This study is a demonstration of a new sensing paradigm, where a catalytic organometallic reaction can be used as the signal amplifying module of a sensing application by engineering a regulatory element into the reaction process, analogous to an allosteric enzyme or an allosteric ribozyme system.     

Morphological consequences of metal ion-peptide vesicle interaction

The triskelion peptide conjugate 1, having a Trp-Trp dipeptide unit on the three arms, was synthesized and studied for the interaction of peptide-based soft structures with metal ions, by fluorescence and microscopic analyses. We observed that fluorescence was significantly quenched upon addition of Cu(II) metal ions, whereas the addition of other metal ions also caused moderate to insignificant changes in the fluorescence emission, suggesting specificity of this triskelion peptide 1 for Cu(II) ions. The addition of Cu(II) and other metal ions also altered the morphology of preformed vesicles obtained from triskelion peptide 1 in a concentration-dependent fashion, as observed from microscopic analysis. Such metal-responsive soft structures may find potential use as novel materials for delivery and sensing applications.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of two copper complexes with one-dimensional chain structures bridged by bipyridine ligands

Two copper complexes {[Cu(phen)(azpy)(H₂O)(ClO₄)](ClO₄)}_n1 (phen=1,10-phenthroline, azpy=4,4′-azobispyridine) and {[Cu(phen)(bpe)(H₂O)(ClO₄)](ClO₄)}_n2 (bpe=trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene), have been synthesized and characterized. The X-ray analysis reveals that copper ion has distorted square pyramidal coordination environments in the complexes 1 and 2. The copper is coordinated by two N atoms of phen, two N atoms from two bridging ligand azpy in 1 and from two bridging ligand bpe in 2, one O atom of coordinated water. Due to Jahn Teller distortion the sixth site in 1 and 2 is occupied by one O atom from one perchlorate anion. Copper ions are linked to each other through bridging ligand azpy in 1 and bridging ligand bpe in 2 to form one-dimensional chain. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies show that there is a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the Copper ions in 1 and 2.     

Copper(I) and silver(I) complexes of 1,5-methylene- and diethylmethylene-bridged bis(oxazoline) ligands. In situ Cu(II)-catalyzed oxidation of methylene bridge

Silver(I) and copper(I) complexes of C₂-symmetric bis(oxazoline) ligands were studied by UV, NMR, IR, EPR and ES-MS spectroscopies. The stability constants of the Ag-1a and Ag-1b complexes with 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometries in acetonitrile were determined by NMR spectrometric titrations. The evidence of tetrahedral coordination for complex (Ag(1a)₂(⁺ was obtained from the complexation induced shifts (CIS) and NOEs. Mass spectra revealed the Cu(II) mediated oxidation of methylene bridge in copper complexes of 1a and 1b, which was in accordance with the UV, NMR, IR and EPR findings. The efficiency of Cu(I) complexes of methylene-bridged 1,5-bis(oxazoline)s 1 as chiral catalysts in stereoselective cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate, was compared to that of the dialkylmethylene-bridged 1,5-bis(oxazoline)s 2.     

Cu and CN-selective fluorogenic sensors based on pyrene-appended thiacalix[4]arenes

Two new fluorescent sensors 1 and 2 based on thiacalix[4]arenes bearing pyrene moieties have been synthesized in cone conformation. The binding abilities of these sensors towards different cations such as lithium, sodium, potassium, nickel, cadmium, copper, zinc, lead, silver, mercury and anions like fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, cyanide, acetate, hydrogen sulfate and nitrate have been examined by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. These receptors show pronounced selectivity for copper and cyanide ions. In CH₂Cl₂/CH₃CN (1:1), the presence of Cu(II) ion induces the formation of 1:1 (H/G) complex with receptor 1 and 1:2 (H/G) complex with receptor 2. The cyanide ions form a 1:1 (H/G) complex with both receptors.     

Synthesis and coordination chemistry of new tetradentate N2S2 donor Schiff-base ligand ca2-dapte: Mononuclear and dinuclear copper(I) complexes [Cu(ca2dapte)]ClO4 and [{Cu(PPh3)(X)}2(ca2dapte)] (X = I and Br)

A mononuclear copper(I) complex, [Cu(ca₂dapte)]ClO₄ (1), and two dinuclear copper(I) complexes, [{Cu(PPh₃)(X)}₂(ca₂dapte)] (X = I (2) and Br (3)), of a new tetradentate N₂S₂ donor Schiff-base ligand ca₂dapte have been prepared (ca₂dapte = N,N′-bis(trans-cinnamaldehyde)-1,2-di(o-iminophenylthio)ethane). These compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses (CHN), FT-IR, UV–Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of these copper(I) complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The coordination geometry around Cu(I) centers in these complexes is a distorted tetrahedron. The ca₂dapte is coordinated to Cu(I) as a tetradentate ligand in 1, while it acts as a bis-bidentate bridging ligand in 2 and 3.     

Assembly of cyano-bridged Cu(II)/Cu(II) and Cu(I)/Cu(II) compounds obtained by controlled ration of cyanide

One reaction system of Cu²⁺, dipn, and CN⁻ with two different molar ratio sets of 1:1:5, and 2:1:8 produced two compounds 1 [Cu^II(dipn)][Cu^II(CN)₄], and 2, respectively (dipn = dipropylenetriamine). Their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 is built from Cu(I) and Cu(II) centers, which are bridged by cyanide groups and metal-metal bonds. The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 were investigated in 2-300 K. Compound 1 exhibits an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between copper(II) ions mediated by cyano-bridges.     

Dinuclear copper(II) complexes of a novel 3-(aminomethyl)naphthoquinone Mannich base: Synthesis,structural, magnetic and electrochemical studies

A novel versatile tridentate 3-(aminomethyl)naphthoquinone proligand, 3-[N-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminobenzyl]-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (HL), was obtained from the Mannich reaction of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (Lawsone) with 2-aminomethylpyridine (amp) and benzaldehyde. The reactions of HL with CuCl₂·2H₂O yielded two novel dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L)(H₂O)(μ-Cl)Cu(L)Cl] (1b), [CuCl(L)(μ-Cl)Cu(amp)Cl] (2) and a polymeric compound, [Cu(L)Cl)]_n (1a), whose relative yields were sensitive to temperature, reagents concentration and presence of base. The crystalline structures of 1b and 2 were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The two copper atoms in complex 1b are connected by a single chloro bridge with a Cu?Cu separation of 4.1342(8) Å and Cu(1)–Cl(1)–Cu(2) angle of 109.31(4)°. In complex 2 the two copper atoms are held together by a chloro and a naphthalen-2-olate bridges [Cu(1)–Cl(2)–Cu(2) and Cu(1)–O(1)–Cu(2) angles being 83.31(3) and 109.70(9)°, respectively, and the Cu?Cu separation, 3.3476(9) Å]. As expected, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of complex 1b showed weak antiferromagnetic intramolecular coupling between the copper(II) centers, with J = −5.7 cm⁻¹, and evidenced for complex 2 strong antiferromagnetic coupling, with J ∼ −120 cm⁻¹. Furthermore, the magnetic behaviour of compound 1a suggested an infinite 1D coordination polymeric structure in which the copper(II) centers are connected by Cl–Cu–Cl bridges. Solution data (UV–Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry) indicated structural changes of 2 and 1a in CH₃CN, and evidenced conversion of polymer 1a into dimer 1b.     

Linear Schiff-base fluorescence probe with aggregation-induced emission characteristics for Al detection and its application in live cell imaging

A simple Schiff-base derivative with salicylaldehyde moieties as fluorescent probe 1 was reported by aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characterization for the detection of metal ions. Spectral analysis revealed that probe 1 was highly selective and sensitive to Al³⁺. The probe 1 was also subject to minimal interference from other common competitive metal ions. The detection limit of Al³⁺ was 0.4 μM, which is considerably lower than the World Health Organization standard (7.41 μM), and the acceptable level of Al³⁺ (1.85 μM) in drinking water. The Job's plot and the results of ¹H-NMR and FT-IR analyses indicated that the binding stoichiometry ratio of probe 1 to Al³⁺ was 1:2. Probe 1 demonstrated a fluorescence-enhanced response upon binding with Al³⁺ based on AIE characterization. This response was due to the restricted molecular rotation and increased rigidity of the molecular assembly. Probe 1 exhibited good biocompatibility, and Al³⁺ was detected in live cells. Therefore, probe 1 is a promising fluorescence probe for Al³⁺ detection in the environment.     

Synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of highly soluble phthalocyanines substituted with four 3,5-dimethylpyrazole-1-methoxy groups

The synthesis and characterization of new peripherally tetra-3,5-dimethylpyrazole-1-methoxy substituted metal-free (4), zinc (5), nickel (6), cobalt (7), copper (8) and lead (9) phthalocyanines are described for the first time in this study. The photophysical (fluorescence quantum yields and fluorescence lifetimes) and photochemical (photodegradation and singlet oxygen quantum yields) properties of metal-free (4), zinc (5) and lead (9) phthalocyanines are studied in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Nickel (6), cobalt (7) and copper (8) phthalocyanines (6-8) did not evaluate for this purpose due to transition metal and paramagnetic behavior of central metals in the phthalocyanine cavity. The fluorescence quenching behavior of metal-free (4), zinc (5) and lead (9) phthalocyanines are also investigated. The fluorescence emissions of these phthalocyanines are effectively quenched by 1,4-benzoquinone in DMSO.     

Influence of synthesis condition on product formation: hydrothermal auto-oxidated synthesis of five copper halides with ratio of Cu(I)/Cu(II) in 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 and 1:0

The hydrothermal synthesis and structural characterization of five copper iodides derived from chelated ligands, 1, 10-phenanthroline (phen), ethylenediamine (en) and 1, 3-propanediamine, are reported. Except monovalent copper compound 1 ((phen)Cu₃I₃1), other four compounds ([Cu(phen)₂I][CuI₂] 2, [Cu(phen)₂I][Cu₃I₄] 3, [Cu(en)₂][Cu₄(phen)₂I₆] 4 and [Cu(1, 3-propanediamine)₂][CuI₂]₂5) are mixed-valent Cu(I)-Cu(II) compounds by partially auto-oxidated from Cu(I). Supramolecular frameworks of these compounds can be assembled by C/N-H?I hydrogen bonds, Cu(I)-Cu(I) interaction, weak Cu-I semicoordinate interaction, C-H?π and π-π stacking interactions. It's noteworthy that we find hydrothermal synthesis under higher pH value, higher synthesis temperature and longer reaction time can obtain higher ratio of Cu(I)/Cu(II) copper iodides and organic ligand with lower steric hinderance is prone to coordinated with divalent copper to form cation unit. Finally, the fluorescent study shows 1 exhibits intense orange-red luminescence with long lifetime at 293 K and more intense emission and longer lifetime at 77 K. Moreover, the room temperature EPR spectra of above five compounds not only show the valence of copper but demonstrate the coordination environment of Cu(II) centre.     

A simple click generated probe for highly selective sequential recognition of Cu(II) and pyrophosphate

A click generated quinoline derivative (1) has been synthesized and used as a fluorescent probe for sequential recognition of Cu²⁺ and pyrophosphate (PPi) in DMSO/H₂O (1:1, v/v, HEPES 20 mM, pH = 7.4) solution. Probe 1 displays high selectivity to Cu²⁺ ions, and the in-situ prepared probe 1-Cu²⁺ exhibits high selectivity toward pyrophosphate (PPi) with emission recovery of probe 1. Therefore, 1-Cu²⁺ complex can be applied as a fluorescence turn-on probe for PPi with high selectivity and sensitivity.     

Synthesis and characterization of Cu(II) paddlewheel complexes possessing fluorinated carboxylate ligands

The goal of this study was to establish the relationship between the ¹⁹F NMR line broadening and the varying distance between the ¹⁹F nucleus and copper(II) ion, with the aim of gathering data that can be used to interpret ¹⁹F NMR spectra of subsequent fluorine-labeled, copper-binding proteins. Fluorinated alkyl and aryl copper(II) carboxylates were synthesized from fluorinated carboxylic acids and Cu(OH)₂. The copper(II) carboxylates were characterized using ¹⁹F NMR, IR, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the alkyl carboxylate compounds, the line broadening and chemical shift lessened with increased distance between the fluorine atom and the copper ions; however, in the aryl carboxylate derivatives, increased distance was not a factor in the amount of line broadening or change in chemical shift between the acid and metal salt. The compound, bis(3-(trifluoromethyl)butyrate) copper(II) (5) was found to possess the optimum combination of decreased line broadening and increased chemical shift sensitivity in ¹⁹F NMR. The crystal structures obtained for compounds 1, 2, 4, and 6 were analogous to previous copper(II) carboxylate complexes, though it is noted that compound 6, bis(5,5,5-trifluoropentanoate) copper(II) assumes a tetrameric structure lacking apical ligands, and thus enables the formation of an extended network of near-neighbor copper(II) ions.     

A ratiometric fluorescent chemodosimeter for Cu(II) in water with high selectivity and sensitivity

Coumarin derivative 1 was synthesized as an efficient ratiometric chemodosimeter for the detection of Cu(II) in 99% water/DMSO (v/v) at pH 7.0. Mechanism studies suggested that 1 formed a complex with Cu(II) at 2:1 ratio accompanied by quenching of green fluorescence at 524 nm; when the solution was heated to 50 °C for 30 min, Cu(II)-promoted hydrolysis of coumarin lactone moiety of 1 occurred with bright blue fluorescence at 451 nm emerged. With fluorescence intensity ratio detection at 451 nm and 524 nm, 1 features an excellent sensitivity with the detection limit of 15 nmol L⁻¹ toward Cu(II) and a good selectivity over other metal ions.     

Dinuclear copper(I) complexes of tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane: Synthesis, structure, and reactivity

The reaction of [Cu(NCMe)₄](BF₄) with equimolar amounts of the tris(substituted-pyrazolyl)methane ligand HCPz₃ or HC(3,5-Me₂Pz)₃ yields the respective salts [Cu(HCPz₃)(NCMe)](BF₄) (1a) or [Cu(HC(3,5-Me₂Pz)₃)(NCMe)](BF₄) (1). The acetonitrile ligand of 1 can be replaced by prazine, 4,4′-dipyridine or 1,4-diisocyanobenzene to yield related mononuclear complexes [Cu(HC(3,5-Me₂Pz)₃)(pyrazine)](BF₄) (2), [Cu(HC(3,5-Me₂Pz)₃)(4,4′-bipyridine)] (BF₄) (3) or [Cu(HC(3,5-Me₂Pz)₃)(1,4- CNC₆H₄NC)](BF₄) (7), respectively. A series of binuclear copper(I) complexes {[Cu(HC(3,5-Me₂Pz)₃)]₂(μ -BL)}(BF₄)₂ (4, BL = pyrazine; 5, BL = 4,4′-dipyridine; 8, BL = 1,4-diisocyanobenzene) were prepared by treating equal molar ratio of 1 with related mononuclear complexes 2, 3 and 7. In addition, binuclear copper(I) complexes were also prepared from treatment of 2 equiv of 1 with the related bridge ligand. Both of 4 and 5 reformed mononuclear starting complex 1 in acetonitrile solution. However, the more robust complex 8 was stable in acetonitrile solutions. The structure of complexes 1a, 4, 5, and 7 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The redox properties of 4 and 8 were examined by cyclic voltammetry and exhibited two quasi-reversible waves suggesting that no significant structural reorganization occurs during the redox process on the electrochemical time scale.