Copper(I) complexes of N-(aryl)pyridine-2-aldimines: Spectral, electrochemical and catalytic properties

The reactions of N-(aryl)pyridine-2-aldimines (L-R; R = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl and NO₂), derived from pyridine-2-aldehyde and para-substituted anilines, with CuI in methanol under ambient conditions afford a series of brown complexes of the type [{Cu(L-R)I}₂]. The structure of the [{Cu(L-OCH₃)I}₂] complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. In these dimeric complexes the two copper centers are linked through an iodo-bridge, and the L-R ligands are coordinated to the metal center through the pyridine-nitrogen and imine-nitrogen. All the complexes show characteristic ¹H NMR signals and intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. These complexes also show an emission near 465 nm, whilst they are excited at 340 nm, with relatively poor quantum yields (φ ∼0.002 at 298 K). Cyclic voltammetry on all the complexes shows two successive Cu(I)-Cu(II) oxidations on the positive side of SCE, and a reduction of the coordinated imine ligand on the negative side. These copper(I) complexes are found to efficiently catalyze Suzuki type C-C coupling reactions.     

Synthesis, structural and spectroscopic properties of a new Schiff base ligand N,N′-bis(trifluoromethylbenzylidene)ethylenediamine

The Schiff base compound, N,N′-bis(trifluoromethylbenzylidene)ethylenediamine (C₁₈H₁₄F₆N₂) (1), CF₃C₆H₄CHNCH₂CH₂NCHC₆H₄CF₃ has been synthesized by adding a solution of ethylenediammine (en), 0.1 mmol in chloroform to 4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzaldehyde, CF₃C₆H₄CHO (0.2 mmol) and the product was crystallized in ethanol with the mp, 109.2 °C and 75% yield. The crystal structure was investigated by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study at 150 K. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group, P2₁/c with a = 9.295(3), b = 5.976(5), c = 15.204(9) Å and α = 90°, β = 96.56(5)° and γ = 90°. The crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular CH · · · F hydrogen bonds. The asymmetric unit contains only one-half of the molecule related to the center of symmetry coinciding with C(1)-C(1′) and as a whole, the title molecule is in the staggered conformation. The phenyl rings and the CN imine bonds are co-planar. The infrared spectrum showed a sharp peak at 1640 cm⁻¹ which is typical of the conjugated CN stretching and strong peaks at 800-1400 cm⁻¹ regions are due to the C-C and C-H stretching modes. Electronic absorption spectra exhibits strong absorption in the UV region (240 nm wavelength) which have been ascribed to , and electronic transitions. The ¹H NMR spectra showed three distinct peaks at 2.5, 7.8 and 8.5 ppm which are assigned based on the splitting of resonance signals and are clearly confirmed by the X-ray molecular structure. The aromatic protons appear at about 7.8 ppm and the imine protons at 8.5 ppm. The sharp singlet at about 3.95 ppm is assigned to the CH₂-CH₂ protons. Mass spectra of the titled compound showed the molecular ion peak at m/e 372 (M⁺), and fragments at m/e 353 (M-F), 342 (M-2F), 200 (M-CF₃C₆H₄CHN), 186 (M-CF₃C₆H₄CHNCH₂).     

Synthesis and characterization of a tetraruthenium butterfly cluster containing a quadruply-bridging ligand derived from an N,N′-dipyrid-2-ylurea

The tetraruthenium cluster complex [Ru₄(μ₄-κ⁴-dmpu)(CO)₁₀], H₂dmpu = N,N′-bis(6-methylpyrid-2-yl)urea, has been prepared by treating [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with H₂dmpu in toluene at reflux temperature. An X-ray diffraction study has determined that this cluster has a butterfly metallic skeleton hold up by a doubly-deprotonated N,N′-bis(6-methylpyrid-2-yl)urea ligand (dmpu). This ligand has the pyridine N atoms attached to the wing-tip Ru atoms and the amido N atoms spanning Ru-Ru wing-edges, in such a way that the cluster has C₂ symmetry. The donor atoms of doubly-deprotonated N,N′-dipyrid-2-ylureas seem to be appropriately arranged to hold butterfly tetranuclear clusters.     

Catalytic photocarboxylation of 1,1-diphenylethylene with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine and carbon dioxide

Photocarboxylation of 1,1-diphenylethylene with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in MeCN under bubbling of CO₂ proceeded with high catalytic efficiency, giving 3,3-diphenylacrylic acid (DPA) and 3-hydroxy-3,3-diphenylpropionic acid (20). The turnover number (TON=(DPA+20)/TMB) reached 17. Similarly, 1-phenyl-1-cyclohexene yielded cis-2-acetamido-2-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid with TON 5.9. As compared with related N,N-dimethylaniline derivatives, TMB is more resistant to photodecomposition, has the much larger absorbance in the S₀→S₁ transition, and has the lower quenching efficiency by CO₂. Probably these factors are partly responsible for the high TON observed for TMB.     

N,N′-bis(salicylidene)propane-1,2-diamine lanthanide(III) coordination polymers: Synthesis, crystal structure and luminescence properties

Reaction of Ln(NO₃)₃·6H₂O with H₂L [H₂L=N,N′-bis(salicylidene)propane-1,2-diamine] gives rise to five new coordination polymers, viz. [Pr(H₂L)(NO₃)₃(MeOH)]_n (1) and [Ln(H₂L)_1.5(NO₃)₃]_n [Ln=La (2), Eu (3), Sm (4) and Gd (5)]. Crystal structural analysis reveals that H₂L effectively functions as a bridging ligand forming one-dimensional (1D) chain and two-dimensional (2D) open-framework polymers. Solid-state fluorescence spectra of 3 and 4 exhibit typical red fluorescence of Eu(III) and Sm(III) ions at room temperature while 2 emits blue fluorescence of ligand H₂L. The lowest triplet level of ligand H₂L was calculated on the basis of the phosphorescence spectrum of 5. The energy transfer mechanisms in the lanthanide polymers were described and discussed.     

Synthesis,spectral characterization of the zinc(II) mixed-ligand complexes of N(4)-allyl thiosemicarbazones and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine,and crystal structure of the novel [ZnL2(tmen)] compound

Mixed-ligand zinc complexes with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (tmen) and R-salicylaldehyde N(4)-allyl thiosemicarbazones (R: 3-OCH₃ (L₁), 5-Br(L₂)), [ZnL_1,2(tmen)], were synthesized and the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectrometer, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity, electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectra and IR, UV–Vis, ¹H NMR and ¹⁵N spectroscopies. Crystal of [ZnL₂(tmen)] have a slightly distorted square pyramid involving O, N, S atoms of thiosemicarbazone and one N atom of tmen in basal plane and the other N atom of tmen in apex of the pyramid. The non-coordinated allyl group is disordered.     

Influence of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkyl terephthalamide on isothermal crystallization kinetics and morphology evolution of polypropylene

The influence of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkyl terephthalamide (TATA) on the isothermal crystallization kinetics of polypropylene (PP) was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that TATA shows a heterogeneous nucleation effect and leads to the formation of β-PP. TATA can not only shorten the crystallization time but also heighten the crystallization temperature of PP. The crystallization rate constant of PP containing TATA is larger than that of pure PP. The evolution of crystalline morphology of PP was investigated on a polarized optical microscopy (POM) equipped with a hot stage and the results showed that the introduction of TATA into PP can quicken the crystallization of PP, which is consistent with DSC results. TATA also leads to a substantial decrease in the spherulite size of PP and the boundaries of spherulites are hardly distinguished.     

Complexes derived from the copper(II)/succinamic acid/N,N′,N″-chelate tertiary reaction systems: Synthesis,structural and spectroscopic studies

The use of succinamic acid (H₂sucm) in Cu^II/N,N′,N″-donor [2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy), 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (dmbppy)] reaction mixtures yielded compounds [Cu(Hsucm)(terpy)]_n(ClO₄)_n (1), [Cu(Hsucm)(terpy)(MeOH)](ClO₄) (2), [Cu₂(Hsucm)₂(terpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3), [Cu(ClO₄)₂(terpy)(MeOH)] (4), [Cu(Hsucm)(dmbppy)]_n(NO₃)_n·3nH₂O (5^.3nH₂O), and [CuCl₂(dmbppy)]·H₂O (6·H₂O). The succinamate(−1) ligand exists in four different coordination modes in the structures of 1–3 and 5, i.e., the μ₂-κO:κO′:κO″ in 1 and 5 which involves asymmetric chelating coordination of the carboxylato group and ligation of the amide O-atom leading to 1D coordination polymers, the μ₂-κ²O:κO′ in 3 which involves asymmetric chelating and bridging coordination of the carboxylato group, and the asymmetric chelating mode in 2. The primary amide group, either coordinated in 1 and 5, or uncoordinated in 2 and 3, participate in hydrogen bonding interactions, leading to interesting crystal structures. Characteristic IR bands of the complexes are discussed in terms of the known structures and the coordination modes of the Hsucm⁻ ligands. The thermal decomposition of complex 5·3nH₂O was monitored by TG/DTG and DTA measurements.     

N,N′-Diisopropyl- and N,N′-dicyclohexylthiourea cadmium(II) complexes as precursors for the synthesis of CdS nanoparticles

Crystals of the cadmium(II) complexes of N,N-diisopropylthiourea and N,N-dicyclohexylthiourea were obtained and their X-ray single crystal structures determined. These complexes are air-stable, easy to prepare and inexpensive and decompose cleanly to give good quality crystalline CdS. The nanoparticles of CdS thus obtained showed quantum confinement effects in their optical spectra, with close to band-edge emission in luminescence experiments. The broad diffraction patterns observed are typical of nanodimensional particles. The variation of concentration of precursor-to-HDA ratio change the isolated materials from spheres to rod-shaped. TEM images showed agglomerates of needle-like plate of particles.     

Chiral N,N′-dioxide-Yb(III) complexes catalyzed enantioselective hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes

Chiral N,N′-dioxide-Ytterbium(III) complexes promoted the asymmetric addition of diethyl phosphate to aldehydes, giving the corresponding products with good yields and enantioselectivities. The addition of pyridine favored both reactivity and enantioselectivity. A possible catalytic cycle was proposed to explain the mechanism of the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes.     

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.     

A concise synthesis of asymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted guanidines

We present a new and concise method for the preparation of asymmetrical N,N′-disubstituted guanidines starting from thiourea via the reaction of N-Boc-protected N′-alkyl/aryl substituted thioureas with an amine in the presence of mercury(II) chloride and triethylamine.     

Monomer,dimer, tetramer and salt: Structural variations in Zn(II) complexes of 4,4′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide

Complexes of Zn^II salts with 4,4′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide (bpdo) have been prepared by solvathermal and solvent layering methods. Three complexes were obtained from ZnBr₂: 1 is a 2D coordination polymer [Zn₂Br₄(bpdo)₂]_n, (2) a discrete trimetallic molecule [Zn₃Br₆(H₂O)₂(bpdo)₄] and 3 a salt [ZnBr₄][Zn(H₂O)₅(bpdo)]. Complexes 2 and 3 contain Zn^II ions in both octahedral and tetrahedral coordination geometry. While in 2, these are covalently linked by bridging bpdo ligands forming zwitterionic trimetallic molecules, in 3 there is complete charge separation into [ZnBr₄]²⁻ anions and [Zn(H₂O)₅(bpdo)]²⁺ cations. When Zn(NCS)₂ is used as starting material, a 1D coordination polymer [Zn(H₂O)₂ (bpdo)(NCS)₂]_n is obtained.     

N,N′,N″-Tri-Boc-guanidine (TBG): a common starting material for both N-alkyl guanidines and amidinoureas

In this Letter, we describe the unexpected reaction pattern of N,N′N″-tri-Boc-guanidine (TBG) with amines at room temperature and under reflux conditions affording N-substituted guanidines and amidinoureas, potentially important compounds with extensive applications in medicinal chemistry. This investigation shows that TBG is an excellent, readily available common starting material for the synthesis of various N-alkyl guanidines as well as N-alkyl-N′-substituted amidinoureas by simply manipulating the reaction conditions.     

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.     

Syntheses and X-ray structures of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of N,N′-dibenzyl-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and application to nitroaldol reaction

Chiral Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with N,N′-dibenzyl-(R,R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane ligands were synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystal structures of these complexes reveal that Cu complex has the distorted square-planar geometry and the Zn one has the nearly tetrahedral pattern. The coordination of metals to the chiral diamine ligand leads to a 5-membered metallaheterocycle of (S,S)-configuration of nitrogen atoms. Their asymmetric catalytic activities to nitroaldol reaction of benzaldehyde and nitromethane were examined. The difference of the geometry around metals leads to the opposite preferential configuration of alcohol products using these chiral complexes as asymmetric catalysts in the presence of triethylamine or diisopropylethylamine.     

N,N′-Dioxide-scandium(III) complex catalyzed highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole to alkylidene malonates

A highly efficient enantioselective Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with alkylidene malonates has been developed using chiral N,N′-dioxide L4-scandium(III) complex as the catalyst, giving the corresponding products in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% yield and 95% ee). The product 3a was facilely converted into several interesting compounds, such as tryptamines, indolepropionic acids and β-carbolines. It is noteworthy that the seven-membered β-carboline-like compound has been synthesized for the first time. Based on the crystal structure of the chiral N,N′-dioxide L10-scandium(III) complex, the proposed transition state and possible catalytic cycle were presented to elucidate the reaction mechanism.     

Copper(I) catalysis: Synthesis of N,N′-diarylated and N-aryl,N′-formylated chiral C2-symmetric diamines

Chiral N,N′-diaryl C₂-symmetric diamines and N-aryl,N′-formyl-trans-(1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane are readily accessed by copper catalyzed N,N′-diarylation and N-aryl,N′-formylation of trans-(1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane with aryl bromides. N,N′-diarylation using (R)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine and iodobenzene gave the corresponding (R)-N,N′-diphenyl-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diamine derivative in 83% yield.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of novel ruthenium(II) complexes featuring an N,N,O-scorpionate ligand: A versatile synthetic precursor for open-face scorpionatoruthenium(II) complexes

The syntheses and characterization of novel ruthenium(II) complexes containing bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetato (bdmpza), a new class of scorpionate ligands, are reported herein. [RuCl(bdmpza)(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)] (1) was found to be a versatile precursor to synthesize a wide range of new ruthenium(II) complexes with the bdmpza ligand. The treatment of 1 with pyridine (py), diphenylphosphinoethane (dppe), 2,2′-bipyridyl (bpy), 1,10-phenanethroline (phen), or bispicolylamine (Hbpica) in refluxing N,N-dimethylformamide resulted in displacement of the 1,5-cyclooctadiene ligand to afford [RuCl(bdmpza)(py)₂] (2), [RuCl(bdmpza)(dppe)] (3), [RuCl(bdmpza)(bpy)] (4), [RuCl(bdmpza)(phen)] (5), and [Ru(bdmpza)(Hbpica)]Cl (6Cl) in good yields, respectively. The structures of 1–4, and 6 were determined by X-ray structure analyses.