Supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns in the organic–inorganic hybrid compound bis(4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium) tetrathiocyanatozinc(II)–4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–water (1/2/2)

Zinc thiocyanate complexes have been found to be biologically active compounds. Zinc is also an essential element for the normal function of most organisms and is the main constituent in a number of metalloenzyme proteins. Pyrimidine and aminopyrimidine derivatives are biologically very important as they are components of nucleic acids. Thiocyanate ions can bridge metal ions by employing both their N and S atoms for coordination. They can play an important role in assembling different coordination structures and yield an interesting variety of one‐, two‐ and three‐dimensional polymeric metal–thiocyanate supramolecular frameworks. The structure of a new zinc thiocyanate–aminopyrimidine organic–inorganic compound, (C₆H₉ClN₃)₂[Zn(NCS)₄]·2C₆H₈ClN₃·2H₂O, is reported. The asymmetric unit consist of half a tetrathiocyanatozinc(II) dianion, an uncoordinated 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidinium cation, a 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine molecule and a water molecule. The Zn^II atom adopts a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry and is coordinated by four N atoms from the thiocyanate anions. The Zn^II atom is located on a special position (twofold axis of symmetry). The pyrimidinium cation and the pyrimidine molecule are not coordinated to the Zn^II atom, but are hydrogen bonded to the uncoordinated water molecules and the metal‐coordinated thiocyanate ligands. The pyrimidine molecules and pyrimidinium cations also form base‐pair‐like structures with an R₂²(8) ring motif via N—H…N hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure is further stabilized by intermolecular N—H…O, O—H…S, N—H…S and O—H…N hydrogen bonds, by intramolecular N—H…Cl and C—H…Cl hydrogen bonds, and also by π–π stacking interactions.     

Diaqua­bis[2′‐(4,5‐diaza­fluoren‐9‐yl­idene)picolinohydrazidato‐κ2N,O]zinc(II) tetra­hydrate: a metal–water chain complex containing cyclic water hexa­mers

In the title compound, [Zn(C₁₇H₁₀N₅O)₂(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O, cyclic water hexa­mers forming one‐dimensional metal–water chains are observed. The water clusters are trapped by the co‐operative association of coordination inter­actions and hydrogen bonds. The Zn^II ion resides on a centre of symmetry and is in an octa­hedral coordination environment comprising two O atoms and two N atoms from two 2′‐(4,5‐diaza­fluoren‐9‐yl­idene)picolinohydrazidate ligands and two water mol­ecules.     

Adsorption of polyfunctional 5‐fluorouracil and 2,4‐dithio‐5‐fluorouracil on Au(111) surface: Structure,energy, and electronic transmission

Adsorption of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) and 2,4‐dithio‐5‐fluorouracil (2,4‐DT‐5‐FU) on Au(111) surface at low coverage is studied by using periodic‐slab‐density functional theory calculation. Isolated 5‐FU molecule adsorbs preferentially at bridge site in a vertical configuration via N? H group by forming the N? H···Au nonconventional H‐bond. The formation of the anchor Au? O bond is not observed. Substitution of oxygen atoms of 5‐FU with sulfur strongly influences the nature of adsorption and leads to the Au? S anchor bond and the N? H···Au nonconventional H‐bond of single 2,4‐DT‐5‐FU molecule on Au(111) surface. The adsorption site and orientation of 2,4‐DT‐5‐FU molecule on the surface are similar to those of 5‐FU. The metal–molecule coupling effects at asymmetric Au/S(N? H)S/mol/C? H/Au and Au/N? H/mol/O/Au transport junctions and symmetric Au/S(N? H)S/mol/mol/S(N? H)S/Au and Au/O/mol/mol/O/Au transport junctions are also investigated. The electronic structure is analyzed in detail, and the obtained results are used for illustrating the electron transmission in metal–molecule–metal systems. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Intramolecular Metal‐Free Oxidative Aryl–Aryl Coupling: An Unusual Hypervalent‐Iodine‐Mediated Rearrangement of 2‐Substituted N‐Phenylbenzamides

Hypervalent‐iodine‐mediated oxidative coupling of the two aryl groups in either 2‐acylamino‐N‐phenyl‐benzamides or 2‐hydroxy‐N‐phenylbenzamides, with concomitant insertion of the ortho‐substituted N or O atom into the tether, has been described for the first time. This unusual metal‐free rearrangement reaction involves an oxidative C(sp²)? C(sp²) aryl–aryl bond formation, cleavage of a C(sp²)? C(O) bond, and a lactamization/lactonization. Furthermore, unsymmetrical diaryl compounds can be easily obtained by removing the tether within the cyclized product.     

Bis(μ‐benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylato)bis{aqua[2‐(2‐chloro‐6‐fluorophenyl)‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline]cadmium(II)} and its zinc(II) analogue

In the isomorphous title compounds, [Cd₂(C₈H₄O₄)₂(C₁₉H₁₀ClFN₄)₂(H₂O)₂] and [Zn₂(C₈H₄O₄)₂(C₁₉H₁₀ClFN₄)₂(H₂O)₂], the Cd^II centre is seven‐coordinated by two N atoms from one [2‐(2‐chloro‐6‐fluorophenyl)‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (L) ligand, one water O atom and four carboxylate O atoms from two different benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (1,2‐bdc) ligands in a distorted pentagonal–bipyramidal coordination, while the Zn^II centre is six‐coordinated by two N atoms from one L ligand, one water O atom and three carboxylate O atoms from two different 1,2‐bdc ligands in a distorted octahedral coordination. Each pair of adjacent metal centres is bridged by two 1,2‐bdc ligands to form a dimeric structure. In the dimer, each L ligand coordinates one metal centre. The dimer is centrosymmetric, with a crystallographic inversion centre midway between the two metal centres. The aromatic interactions lead the dimers to form a two‐dimensional supramolecular architecture. Finally, O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds reinforce the two‐dimensional structures of the two compounds.     

Ammonium N‐(6‐amino‐3,4‐di­hydro‐3‐methyl‐5‐nitro­so‐4‐oxopyrimidin‐2‐yl)­glycinate monohydrate forms hydrogen‐bonded bilayers

In the title compound, NH₄⁺·C₇H₈N₅O₄⁻·H₂O, the independent components are linked into bilayers by an extensive series of two‐centre N—H⃛O hydrogen bonds [H⃛O = 1.85–1.96 Å, N⃛O = 2.776 (2)–2.840 (2) Å and N—H⃛O = 149–172°], and by asymmetric three‐centre N—H⃛(O)₂, O—H⃛(N,O) and O—H⃛(O)₂ hydrogen bonds.     

Supramolecular Structures with the 2‐Propyl‐4,5‐dicarboxy‐1H‐imidazole Ligand: Hydrothermal Synthesis,Structures, and Photoluminescence

Self‐assembly of the rigid organic ligand 2‐propyl‐4,5‐dicarboxy‐1H‐imidazole ( L ) with different metal ions (Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺) led to four new complexes, namely, [M( L )(phen)] [M = Zn ( 1 ); Ni ( 2 ); Cd ( 3 )] and [Cu( L )( 4 )] (phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline). Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, and they were further characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Whereas compounds 1 , 2 , and 3 are discrete units, hydrogen‐bonding interactions play a vital role in these complexes. Compounds 1 and 2 form one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) structures through hydrogen‐bondinginteractions with helical character. In 1 , the hydrogen bonds (O–H ··· O) alternately bridge the M^II cations of the discrete units to form a one‐dimensional (1D) infinite helical chain. Complex 2 forms a 2D helical layer through parallel hydrogen bonds (N/O–H ··· O/N) between two adjacent helical chains. In 3 , the hydrogen bonds (N–H ··· O) connect adjacent discrete units into a ten‐membered ring with extension into a one‐dimensional double‐chain supramolecular structure. Complex 4 is a two‐dimensional gridlike (4,4) topological layer which is extended to a 3D network by hydrogen bonding. The solid‐state fluorescence spectrum of complex 3 was determined.     

Interplay between Cation–π and Coinage‐Metal–Oxygen Interactions: An Ab Initio Study and Cambridge Structural Database Survey

The interplay between cation–π and coinage‐metal–oxygen interactions are investigated in the ternary systems N???PhCCM???O (N=Li⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺; M=Ag, Au; O=water, methanol, ethanol). A synergetic effect is observed when cation–π and coinage‐metal–oxygen interactions coexist in the same complex. The cation–π interaction in most triads has a greater enhancing effect on the coinage‐metal–oxygen interaction. This effect is analyzed in terms of the binding distance, interaction energy, and electrostatic potential in the complexes. Furthermore, the formation, strength, and nature of both the cation–π and coinage‐metal–oxygen interactions can be understood in terms of electrostatic potential and energy decomposition. In addition, experimental evidence for the coexistence of both interactions is obtained from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD).     

Spin Crossover in Nitrito‐Myoglobin as Revealed by Resonance Raman Spectroscopy

The myoglobin (Mb) heme Fe‐O‐N=O and heme Fe‐O‐N=O/2‐nitrovinyl species have been characterized by resonance Raman spectroscopy. In the heme Fe‐O‐N=O species, the bound nitrite ligand is removed by solvent exchange, thus reforming metmyoglobin (metMb). The high‐spin heme Fe‐O‐N=O unit is converted into a low‐spin heme Fe‐O‐N=O/2‐nitrovinyl species that can be reversibly switched between a low‐ and a high‐spin state without removing the bound nitrite ligand, as observed in the case of the heme Fe‐O‐N=O species. This spin‐state change is likely to be accompanied by a general structural rearrangement in the protein‐binding pocket. This example is the first of a globin protein that can reversibly change its metal spin state through an internal perturbation. These findings provide a basis for understanding the structure–function relationship of the spin cross found in other metalloenzymes and Fe^III–porphyrin complexes.     

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of a new luminescent NiII complex: bis{2,4‐dichloro‐6‐[(2‐hydroxypropyl)iminomethyl]phenolato‐κ3O,N,O′}nickel(II)

The design and preparation of transition‐metal complexes with Schiff base ligands are of interest due to their potential applications in the fields of molecular magnetism, nonlinear optics, dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), sensing and photoluminescence. Luminescent metal complexes have been suggested as potential phosphors in electroluminescent devices. A new luminescent nickel(II) complex, [Ni(C₁₀H₁₀Cl₂NO₂)₂], has been synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and elemental analysis, UV–Vis, FT–IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and photoluminescence spectroscopies, and LC–MS/MS. Molecules of the complex in the crystals lie on special positions, on crystallographic binary rotation axes. The Ni^II atoms are six‐coordinated by two phenolate O, two imine N and two hydroxy O atoms from two tridentate Schiff base 2,4‐dichloro‐6‐[(2‐hydroxypropyl)iminomethyl]phenolate ligands, forming an elongated octahedral geometry. Furthermore, the complex exhibits a strong green luminescence emission in the solid state at room temperature, as can be seen from the (CIE) chromaticity diagram, and hence the complex may be a promising green OLED (organic light‐emitting diode) in the development of electroluminescent materials for flat‐panel‐display applications.     

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed N‐Desulfonylative Amination versus N‐to‐O 1,5‐Sulfonyl Migration: A Versatile Approach to 1‐Azabicycloalkanes

Valuable 1‐azabicycloalkane derivatives have been synthesized through a novel gold(I)‐catalyzed desulfonylative cyclization strategy. An ammoniumation reaction of ynones substituted at the 1‐position with an N‐sulfonyl azacycle took place in the presence of a gold cation by intramolecular cyclization of the disubstituted sulfonamide moiety onto the triple bond. Depending on the size of the heterocyclic ring and substitution of the substrates, two unprecedented forms of nucleophilic attack on the sulfonyl group were exploited, that is, a N‐desulfonylation in the presence of an external protic O nucleophile (37–87 %, 10 examples) and a unique N‐to‐O 1,5‐sulfonyl migration (60–98 %, 9 examples).     

Synthesis and insecticidal evaluation of N‐tert‐butyl‐N′‐thio[O‐(1‐methylthioethylimino)‐N″‐methylcarbamate]‐N,N′‐diacylhydrazines

A series of novel N‐tert‐butyl‐N′‐thio[O‐(1‐methylthioethylimino)‐N″‐methylcarbamate]‐N,N′‐diacylhydrazines were synthesized by the reaction of chlorosulfenyl[O‐(1‐methylthioethylimino)‐N‐methylcarbamate] with N‐tert‐butyl‐N,N′‐diacylhydrazine in the presence of sodium hydride. The reaction of sulfur dichloride with O‐(1‐methylthioethylimino)‐N‐methylcarbamate (Methomyl) in the presence of pyridine to yield chlorosulfenyl[O‐(1‐methylthioethylimino)‐N‐methylcarbamate] was reported for the first time. X‐ray single crystal diffraction of N‐tert‐butyl‐N′‐thio[O‐(1‐methylthioethylimino)‐N″‐methylcarbamate]‐N,N′‐dibenzoylhydrazine demonstrated that the parent compounds N‐tert‐butyl‐N,N′‐dibenzoylhydrazine and O‐(1‐methylthioethylimino)‐N‐methylcarbamate were combined by N S N band to give the product. Their larvicidal activities against Oriental armyworm and Aphis laburni were evaluated. All of them exhibited excellent larvicidal activities against Oriental armyworm, with some of them showing higher larvicidal activities than the parent diacylhydrazines. Toxicity assays indicated that the products show knockdown activity for O‐(1‐methylthioethylimino)‐N‐methylcarbamate at higher concentration and insect growth regulators' activities of diacylhydrazines at lower concentrations. At the same time, the products possess insecticidal activities against the aphids. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:631–636, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20360     

Design of two series of 1:1 cocrystals involving 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine and carboxylic acids

Two series of a total of ten cocrystals involving 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine with various carboxylic acids have been prepared and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The pyrimidine unit used for the cocrystals offers two ring N atoms (positions N1 and N3) as proton‐accepting sites. Depending upon the site of protonation, two types of cations are possible [Rajam et al. (2017). Acta Cryst. C 73 , 862–868]. In a parallel arrangement, two series of cocrystals are possible depending upon the hydrogen bonding of the carboxyl group with position N1 or N3. In one series of cocrystals, i.e. 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–3‐bromothiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), 1 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–5‐chlorothiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), 2 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–2,4‐dichlorobenzoic acid (1/1), 3 , and 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–2‐aminobenzoic acid (1/1), 4 , the carboxyl hydroxy group (–OH) is hydrogen bonded to position N1 (O—H…N1) of the corresponding pyrimidine unit (single point supramolecular synthon). The inversion‐related stacked pyrimidines are doubly bridged by the carboxyl groups via N—H…O and O—H…N hydrogen bonds to form a large cage‐like tetrameric unit with an R₄²(20) graph‐set ring motif. These tetrameric units are further connected via base pairing through a pair of N—H…N hydrogen bonds, generating R₂²(8) motifs (supramolecular homosynthon). In the other series of cocrystals, i.e. 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–5‐methylthiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), 5 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–benzoic acid (1/1), 6 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–2‐methylbenzoic acid (1/1), 7 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–3‐methylbenzoic acid (1/1), 8 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–4‐methylbenzoic acid (1/1), 9 , and 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–4‐aminobenzoic acid (1/1), 10 , the carboxyl group interacts with position N3 and the adjacent 4‐amino group of the corresponding pyrimidine ring via O—H…N and N—H…O hydrogen bonds to generate the robust R₂²(8) supramolecular heterosynthon. These heterosynthons are further connected by N—H…N hydrogen‐bond interactions in a linear fashion to form a chain‐like arrangement. In cocrystal 1 , a Br…Br halogen bond is present, in cocrystals 2 and 3 , Cl…Cl halogen bonds are present, and in cocrystals 5 , 6 and 7 , Cl…O halogen bonds are present. In all of the ten cocrystals, π–π stacking interactions are observed.     

Ru‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative C−O Bond Formation with Anilines and Phenols

The Ru catalyzed cross‐dehydrogenative C?O bond formation between anilines and phenols is described and discussed. The exclusive C?O versus C?N bond‐formation selectivity, moreover in the absence of chelating–assisting directing groups and while leaving the N?H position untouched, is a remarkable feature of this metal‐catalyzed radical cross‐dehydrogenative coupling.     

N,N′‐Diethyl‐4‐nitrobenzene‐1,3‐diamine, 2,6‐bis(ethylamino)‐3‐nitrobenzonitrile and bis(4‐ethylamino‐3‐nitrophenyl) sulfone

N,N′‐Diethyl‐4‐nitrobenzene‐1,3‐diamine, C₁₀H₁₅N₃O₂, (I), crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, both of which are nearly planar. The molecules differ in the conformation of the ethylamine group trans to the nitro group. Both molecules contain intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the adjacent amine and nitro groups and are linked into one‐dimensional chains by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The chains are organized in layers parallel to (101) with separations of ca 3.4 Å between adjacent sheets. The packing is quite different from what was observed in isomeric 1,3‐bis(ethylamino)‐2‐nitrobenzene. 2,6‐Bis(ethylamino)‐3‐nitrobenzonitrile, C₁₁H₁₄N₄O₂, (II), differs from (I) only in the presence of the nitrile functionality between the two ethylamine groups. Compound (II) crystallizes with one unique molecule in the asymmetric unit. In contrast with (I), one of the ethylamine groups, which is disordered over two sites with occupancies of 0.75 and 0.25, is positioned so that the methyl group is directed out of the plane of the ring by approximately 85°. This ethylamine group forms an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond with the adjacent nitro group. The packing in (II) is very different from that in (I). Molecules of (II) are linked by both intermolecular amine–nitro N—H...O and amine–nitrile N—H...N hydrogen bonds into a two‐dimensional network in the (10) plane. Alternating molecules are approximately orthogonal to one another, indicating that π–π interactions are not a significant factor in the packing. Bis(4‐ethylamino‐3‐nitrophenyl) sulfone, C₁₆H₁₈N₄O₆S, (III), contains the same ortho nitro/ethylamine pairing as in (I), with the position para to the nitro group occupied by the sulfone instead of a second ethylamine group. Each 4‐ethylamino‐3‐nitrobenzene moiety is nearly planar and contains the typical intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond. Due to the tetrahedral geometry about the S atom, the molecules of (III) adopt an overall V shape. There are no intermolecular amine–nitro hydrogen bonds. Rather, each amine H atom has a long (H...O ca 2.8 Å) interaction with one of the sulfone O atoms. Molecules of (III) are thus linked by amine–sulfone N—H...O hydrogen bonds into zigzag double chains running along [001]. Taken together, these structures demonstrate that small changes in the functionalization of ethylamine–nitroarenes cause significant differences in the intermolecular interactions and packing.     

Hydrogen‐bonded structures of the isomeric compounds of phthalazine with 3‐chloro‐2‐nitrobenzoic acid, 4‐chloro‐2‐nitrobenzoic acid and 4‐chloro‐3‐nitrobenzoic acid

The structures of three isomeric compounds, C₇H₄ClNO₄·C₈H₆N₂, of phthalazine with chloro‐ and nitro‐substituted benzoic acid, namely, 3‐chloro‐2‐nitrobenzoic acid–phthalazine (1/1), (I), 4‐chloro‐2‐nitrobenzoic acid–phthalazine (1/1), (II), and 4‐chloro‐3‐nitrobenzoic acid–phthalazine (1/1), (III), have been determined at 190 K. In the asymmetric unit of each compound, there are two crystallographically independent chloronitrobenzoic acid–phthalazine units, in each of which the two components are held together by a short hydrogen bond between an N atom of the base and a carboxyl O atom. In one hydrogen‐bonded unit of (I) and in two units of (II), a weak C—H...O interaction is also observed between the two components. The N...O distances are 2.5715 (15) and 2.5397 (17) Å for (I), 2.5655 (13) and 2.6081 (13) Å for (II), and 2.613 (2) and 2.589 (2) Å for (III). In both hydrogen‐bonded units of (I) and (II), the H atoms are each disordered over two positions with (N site):(O site) occupancies of 0.35 (3):0.65 (3) and 0.31 (3):0.69 (3) for (I), and 0.32 (3):0.68 (3) and 0.30 (3):0.70 (3) for (II). The H atoms in the hydrogen‐bonded units of (III) are located at the O‐atom sites.     

A Family of 12‐Azametallacrown‐4 Structural Motif with Heterometallic MnIII‐Ln‐MnIII‐Ln (Ln=Dy,Er, Yb,Tb, Y) Alternate Arrangement and Single‐Molecule Magnet Behavior

Mixed 3d–4f 12‐azametallacrown‐4 complexes, [Mn₂Ln₂(OH)₂(hppt)₄(OAc)₂(DMF)₂] ? 2 DMF ? H₂O [Ln=Dy ( 1 ), Er ( 2 ), Yb ( 3 ), Tb ( 4 ) and Y ( 5 ), H₂hppt=3‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐5‐(pyrazin‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole)], were synthesized by reactions of H₂hppt with Mn(OAc)₂ ? 4 H₂O and Ln(NO₃)₃ ? 6 H₂O. This is the first 3d–4f azametallacrown family to incorporate Ln ions into the ring sets. These isostructural complexes exhibit alternating arrangements of two Mn and two Ln ions in the rings with each pair of metal centers bound by an N?N group and μ₂‐O bridging. Magnetic measurements revealed dominant antiferromagnetic interactions between metal centers, and frequency‐dependent out‐of‐phase (${\chi {^\prime}{^\prime}_{\rm{M}} }$ ) signals below 4 K suggest slow relaxation of magnetization.     

“Twin” phosphorous atoms of tetraethyl 2‐methyl‐piperyd‐1‐ylmethylenebisphosphonates

Recently, bisaminophosphonates found applications as therapeutic agents for curing bone disorders. When trying to relate the structures of substituted piperid‐1‐ylmethylenebisphosphonic with their biological properties, non‐typical findings that in ³¹P NMR spectra of 2‐methyl‐piperid‐1‐ylmethylenebisphosphonic and 2‐ethyl‐piperid‐1‐ylmethylenebisphosphonic acids, two separate singlets from each of the phosphonic groups were observed, while their analogues bearing substituent in position 3 exhibit only one signal. Their presence was explained by freezing of the molecular motions by strong hydrogen bonding between NH and P = O atoms. In this work, synthesis as well as spectroscopic and theoretical investigations of the tetraethyl esters of 2‐methyl‐piperid‐1‐ylmethylenebisphosphonic in its racemic and enatiomerically pure forms are reported. Their ³¹P NMR spectra revealed two sets of dublets, which indicate the presence of two non‐equivalent phosphorous atoms. More detailed NMR and theoretical studies indicated that the nonequivalent phosphorous signals in ³¹P NMR spectra may results from the absence of C₂ symmetry of the molecule along with the presence of large ester groups blocking the internal molecular motion around C—N bond, and thus blocking the interchange of ring conformation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 18:774–781, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20349     

A Mononuclear CoII Coordination Complex Locked in a Confined Space and Acting as an Electrochemical Water‐Oxidation Catalyst: A “Ship‐in‐a‐Bottle” Approach

Preparing efficient and robust water oxidation catalyst (WOC) with inexpensive materials remains a crucial challenge in artificial photosynthesis and for renewable energy. Existing heterogeneous WOCs are mostly metal oxides/hydroxides immobilized on solid supports. Herein we report a newly synthesized and structurally characterized metal–organic hybrid compound [{Co₃(μ₃‐OH)(BTB)₂(dpe)₂} {Co(H₂O)₄(DMF)₂}_0.5]_n?n H₂O ( Co‐WOC‐1 ) as an effective and stable water‐oxidation electrocatalyst in an alkaline medium. In the crystal structure of Co‐WOC‐1 , a mononuclear Co^II complex {Co(H₂O)₄(DMF)₂}²⁺ is encapsulated in the void space of a 3D framework structure and this translationally rigid complex cation is responsible for a remarkable electrocatalytic WO activity, with a catalytic turnover frequency (TOF) of 0.05 s^?1 at an overpotential of 390 mV (vs. NHE) in 0.1 m KOH along with prolonged stability. This host–guest system can be described as a “ship‐in‐a‐bottle”, and is a new class of heterogeneous WOC.     

Poly[[diaqua‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐dinitratodi‐μ‐l‐tyrosinato‐dicopper(II)]: a chiral two‐dimensional coordination polymer

The title compound, [Cu₂(C₉H₁₀NO₃)₂(NO₃)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, contains Cu^II atoms and l ‐tyrosinate (l ‐tyr) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy) ligands in a 2:2:1 ratio. Each Cu atom is coordinated by one amino N atom and two carboxylate O atoms from two l ‐tyr ligands, one N atom from a 4,4′‐bipy ligand, a monodentate nitrate ion and a water molecule in an elongated octahedral geometry. Adjacent Cu atoms are bridged by the bidentate carboxylate groups into a chain. These chains are further linked by the bridging 4,4′‐bipy ligands, forming an undulated chiral two‐dimensional sheet. O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds connect the sheets in the [100] direction. This study offers useful information for the engineering of chiral coordination polymers with amino acids and 4,4′‐bipy ligands by considering the ratios of the metal ion and organic components.