Directed supramolecular assembly of Cu(II)-based "paddlewheels" into infinite 1-D chains using structurally bifunctional ligands

The construction of Cu(II)-containing supramolecular chains is achieved by combining suitable anionic ligands (for controlling the coordination geometry and for creating a neutral building block) with four new bifunctional ligands containing a metal-coordinating pyridyl site and a self-complementary hydrogen-bonding moiety. Seven crystal structures are presented and in each case, the copper(II) complex displays a "paddlewheel" arrangement, with four carboxylate ligands occupying the equatorial sites, leaving room for the bifunctional ligand to coordinate in the axial positions. The supramolecular chemistry, which organizes the coordination-complexes into the desired infinite 1-D chains, is driven by a combination of N-H...N and N-H...O hydrogen-bonds in five of the seven structures.     

Methylpyrazole-capped two-dimensional supramolecular M(II) (M = Mn, Ni, Co) assemblies constructed by covalent and noncovalent interactions: uncommon coordination modes of methylpyrazoles and magnetic properties

Two mononuclear complexes [Mn(5-methylpyrazole)4(N3)2] (1) and [Ni(5-methylpyrazole)4(N3)2] (2), as well as a novel one-dimensional coordination polymer [Co(3-methylpyrazole)2(5-methylpyrazole)2(tp)]n (3) (tp = terephthalate), were characterized. The isostructural complexes, 1 and 2, display two-dimensional supramolecular networks formed by hydrogen bonds between the N-H groups of 5-methylpyrazoles and the end N atoms of the azide ligands and additional face-to-face pi-pi interactions of the 5-methylpyrazoles. For 3, tp-bridged one-dimensional chains assisted by intrachain hydrogen bonds among the N-H groups of methylpyrazoles and carboxylate oxygens are connected with the help of interchain C-H...O hydrogen bonds, leading to a two-dimensional structure. The intra- and interchain hydrogen bonds account for the coexistence of two unique coordination forms (5-methylpyrazole and 3-methylpyrazole) of methylpyrazoles in the same coordination sphere. Weak antiferromagnetic interactions coupled with the spin-orbit coupling effect are operative in 3 through the tp ligands.     

Novel palladium complexes employing mixed phosphine phosphonates and phosphine phosphinates as anionic chelating [P,O] ligands

A route to various substituted phosphine phosphonic acid compounds of the general form Ar(2)PC(6)H(4)PO(OH)(2) (Ar = Ph, o-MeC(6)H(4), o-MeOC(6)H(4)) has been investigated. These compounds were employed as bidentate anionic [P,O] ligands in neutral palladium complexes. The [P,O] chelating coordination was determined by X-ray crystallography of a representative palladium complex. Furthermore, the bifunctional ligand Ph(2)PC(6)H(4)PO(OH)Ph represents the first example of a chelating anionic [P,O] ligand resulting from the combination of a phosphine and a phosphinate moiety.     

1,3-二(4-吡啶基)-丙烷与邻苯二甲酸构筑的过渡金属配合物的合成、结构和荧光性质

以1,3-二(4-吡啶基)-丙烷(bpp)和邻苯二甲酸(1,2-H2bdc)为配体,通过水热法合成了过渡金属配合物M2(1,2-bdc)2(bpp)2·2H2O[M=Co(1),Ni(2)]和Cd(1,2-bdc)(bpp)·H2O(3).配合物1和2属单斜晶系P21空间群,具有相似的三维骨架结构.配合物中存在2种配位环境相似的金属中心,每个金属中心采取六配位的畸变八面体构型,与来自2个1,2-bdc配体的3个氧原子和2个bpp配体的2个氮原子以及1个水分子配位.1,2-bdc配体采取单齿/双齿螯合的配位模式将金属离子连接成M1-(1,2-bdc)-M2右手螺旋链.bpp配体采取Trans-Gauche(TG)构型,连接相邻的金属离子形成M1-(bpp)-M1链和M2-(bpp)-M2链.这3种链交织在一起构筑成具有{65.8}拓扑的三维结构.配合物3属单斜晶系P21/c空间群,具有单节点的双层二维结构.Cd(Ⅱ)离子采取七配位的畸变五角双锥体构型,与来自2个1,2-bdc配体的4个氧原子,2个bpp配体的2个氮原子和1个水分子配位.1,2-bdc配体采取双齿螯合/双齿螯合的配位模式将Cd(Ⅱ)离子连接成Cd-(1,2-bdc)-Cd链.bpp配体采取TG构型,连接相邻的Cd(Ⅱ)离子,形成Cd-(bpp)-Cd链.这2种链通过共享Cd(Ⅱ)离子交错排列构筑成二维结构.配合物3显示出强的荧光,最大发射位于408 nm处,对应于配体的π*-π跃迁.不同有机小分子对配合物3的荧光强度有不同程度的影响,苯胺对其有显著的猝灭作用,基于荧光猝灭机理,配合物3可用于选择性检测苯胺分子.     

Amino acid and peptide bioconjugates of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with a modified N,N-bis(2-picolyl)amine ligand

Four chelating nitrogen ligands 2-5 derived from N,N-bis(2-picolyl)amine (bpa, 1) were synthesized, namely, (PyCH(2))(2)N-CH(2)-p-C(6)H(4)-CO(2)R (R = Me, 2, and R = H, 3) and (PyCH(2))(2)N-(CH(2))(n)-CO(2)H (n = 2, 4, and n = 5, 5). Amino acid conjugates 6 and 7 were formed by condensation of 3 with H-Phe-OMe and H-betaAla-OMe, respectively. Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of 1-7 were prepared and fully characterized. The X-ray structures of 1(Zn), 2(Zn), 4(Cu), and 7(Cu) were determined. The Zn complexes 1(Zn) and 2(Zn) as well as 7(Cu) show a distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination environment in the solid state. An octahedral complex is observed for 4(Cu) which forms chains along the crystallographic b axis by intermolecular coordination of the carboxylic acid to the metal ion of a neighboring complex. Ligand 3 was used to prepare the peptide bioconjugate 8 (3-Ahx-Pro-Lys-Lys-Lys-Arg-Lys-Phe-NH(2)) with a nuclear localization signal (nls) heptapeptide by solid phase synthesis. Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of 8 were synthesized in situ and studied by FAB-MS, ESI-MS, UV/vis, and EPR (for 8(Cu)), and FAB-MS, ESI-MS, and NMR (for 8(Zn)). All spectroscopic results clearly support metal coordination to the bpa ligand in the bioconjugates 8(M), even in the presence of other potential ligands from amino acid side chains of the peptide. We suggest metal-peptide conjugates like 8(M) as artificial metallochaperones because they have the potential to deliver metal ions to specific compartments in the cell as determined by the peptide moieties.     

Coordination of XeF2 to calcium and cadmium hexafluorophosphates(V)

[M(XeF2)5](PF6)2 (M = Ca, Cd) complexes were prepared by the reaction of MF2 and XeF2 under pressure of gaseous PF5 in anhydrous HF as solvent. The coordination sphere of the Ca atom consists of nine fluorine atoms: three from two PF6(-) units (one bidentate and one monodentate) and one from each of six XeF2 molecules. The coordination sphere of the Cd atom consists of eight fluorine atoms: one from each of two PF6(-) units and one from each of six XeF2 molecules. Two of the XeF2 ligands about M in each compound are bridging ligands and are each linked to two M, generating infinite (-M-F-Xe-F-M-F-Xe-F-) chains along the b-axis in the Ca salt and along the c-axis in the Cd compound. The Cd2+ cation is smaller and more electronegative than the Ca2+ cation. These differences account for the higher F ligand coordination in the Ca2+ salt and for other structural features that distinguish them. The different stoichiometry of the PF6(-) salts when compared with their AsF6(-) analogues, which have the composition [M(XeF2)4](AsF6)2 (M = Ca, Cd), is in accord with the lower F ligand charge in the AsF6(-) when compared with that in the PF6(-) compound. Indeed, the AsF6(-) ligand charges appear to be similar to those in the XeF2-bridged species.     

Hexadentate terephthalamide(bis-hydroxypyridinone) ligands for uranyl chelation: structural and thermodynamic consequences of ligand variation

Several linear, hexa- and tetradentate ligands incorporating a combination of 2,3-dihydroxy-terephthalamide (TAM) and hydroxypyridinone-amide (HOPO) moieties have been developed as uranyl chelating agents. Crystallographic analysis of several {UO(2)[TAM(HOPO)(2)]}(2-) complexes revealed a variable and crowded coordination geometry about the uranyl center. The TAM moiety dominates the bonding in hexadenate complexes, with linker rigidity dictating the equality of equatorial U-O bonding. Hexadentate TAM(HOPO)(2) ligands demonstrated slow binding kinetics with uranyl affinities on average 6 orders of magnitude greater than those of similarly linked bis-HOPO ligands. Study of tetradentate TAM(HOPO) ligands revealed that the high uranyl affinity stems primarily from the presence of the TAM moiety and only marginally from increased ligand denticity. Uranyl affinities of TAM(HOPO)(2) ligands were within experimental error, with TAM(o-phen-1,2-HOPO)(2) exhibiting the most consistent uranyl affinity at variable pH.     

Complexes of Ag(I), Hg(I) and Hg(II) with multidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine ligands: From mononuclear complexes to coordination polymers via helicates, a mesocate, a cage and a catenate

The coordination chemistry of a series of di- and tri-nucleating ligands with Ag(I), Hg(I) and Hg(II) has been investigated. Most of the ligands contain two or three N,N'-bidentate chelating pyrazolyl-pyridine units pendant from a central aromatic spacer; one contains three binding sites (2 + 3 + 2-dentate) in a linear sequence. A series of thirteen complexes has been structurally characterised displaying a wide range of structural types. Bis-bidentate bridging ligands react with Ag(I) to give complexes in which Ag(I) is four-coordinate from two bidentate donors, but the complexes can take the form of one-dimensional coordination polymers, or dinuclear complexes (mesocate or helicate). A tris-bidentate triangular ligand forms a complicated two-dimensional coordination network with Ag(I) in which Ag...Ag contacts, as well as metal-ligand coordination bonds, play a significant role. Three dinuclear Hg(I) complexes were isolated which contain an {Hg2}2+ metal-metal bonded core bound to a single bis-bidentate ligand which can span both metal ions. Also characterised were a series of Hg(II) complexes comprising a simple mononuclear four-coordinate Hg(II) complex, a tetrahedral Hg(II)4 cage which incorporates a counter-ion in its central cavity, a trinuclear double helicate, and a trinuclear catenated structure in which two long ligands have spontaneously formed interlocked metallomacrocyclic rings thanks to cyclometallation of two of the Hg(II) centres.     

Rotamer stability in cis-[Pt(diA)G2] complexes (diA = diamine derivative and G = guanine derivative) mediated by carrier-ligand amine stereochemistry as revealed by circular dichroism spectroscopy

Extensive investigations of cis-[Pt(diA)G2] complexes (in which G = a guanine ligand; diA = a single diamine ligand) revealed the types of interactions between the two G ligands and between the G and the cis-amine substituents when diA is a diamine ligand with substituents on each nitrogen atom being a small hydrogen atom and a bulky group able to slow the rotation about the Pt-G bond. All these interactions are shown to apply also when diA = dach (1,2-diaminocyclohexane), even though this chiral primary diamine has only small N-H atoms on each side of the coordination plane. However, a slight difference in the stereochemistry of the two protons (one N-H has "quasi axial" and the other "quasi equatorial" character) is sufficient to induce a significant change in the relative stabilities of the [Pt(dach)G2] deltaHT and lambdaHT rotamers (HT = head-to-tail). The new results show that at acidic and neutral pH the induction of asymmetry from the dach ligand to the HT rotamers is governed by the G-to-G dipole-dipole interaction, which is greater for the six-membered ring of each guanine leaning towards the cis-G. Such a "six-in" canting of the two guanine ligands can be hampered by the steric interaction between the H8 of each guanine and the substituent on the cis-amine that is on the same side of the coordination plane. Such a repulsion is greater for a "quasi equatorial" N-H than for a "quasi axial" N-H. Under basic pH conditions, deprotonation of the guanine N1-H renders the O6 atom a much better hydrogen-bond acceptor; therefore, the stability of the HT rotamers is governed by the hydrogen-bond interaction of guanine O6 and the cis-amine N-H group. Such a guanine O6/N-H cis-amine interaction is stronger for a "quasi axial" than for a "quasi equatorial" N-H group. In the head-to-head (HH) rotamer, in which the electrostatic repulsion between electron-rich O6 atoms, both on the same side of the platinum coordination plane, tends to place the six-membered rings of each guanine further from the cis-guanine and closer to the cis-amine, we can expect better N-H...O6 hydrogen bonding for the "quasi equatorial" N-H groups.     

Synthesis,Coordination Chemistry and Bonding of Strong N‐Donor Ligands Incorporating the 1H‐Pyridin‐(2E)‐Ylidene (PYE) Motif

A range of N‐donor ligands based on the 1H‐pyridin‐(2E)‐ylidene (PYE) motif have been prepared, including achiral and chiral examples. The ligands incorporate one to three PYE groups that coordinate to a metal through the exocyclic nitrogen atom of each PYE moiety, and the resulting metal complexes have been characterised by methods including single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy to examine metal–ligand bonding and ligand dynamics. Upon coordination of a PYE ligand to a proton or metal‐complex fragment, the solid‐state structures, NMR spectroscopy and DFT studies indicate that charge redistribution occurs within the PYE heterocyclic ring to give a contribution from a pyridinium–amido‐type resonance structure. Additional IR spectroscopy and computational studies suggest that PYE ligands are strong donor ligands. NMR spectroscopy shows that for metal complexes there is restricted motion about the exocyclic C? N bond, which projects the heterocyclic N‐substituent in the vicinity of the metal atom causing restricted motion in chelating‐ligand derivatives. Solid‐state structures and DFT calculations also show significant steric congestion and secondary metal–ligand interactions between the metal and ligand C? H bonds.     

A new type of single-helix coordination polymer with mixed ligands [M2(phen)2(e,a-cis-1,4-chdc)2(H2O)2]n (M=Co and Ni; phen=1,10-phenanthroline; chdc=cyclohexanedicarboxylate)

A new family of single-stranded helices coordination polymers with mixed ligands, [M2(phen)2(e,a-cis-1,4-chdc)2(H2O)2]n (1, M=Co; 2, M=Ni; chdc=cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid; phen=1,10-phenanthroline), were prepared under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, TG analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray crystal structural analyses reveal that 1 and 2 are isomorphic and belong to the monoclinic system. C40H36Co2N4O10, P2(1)/c, a=10.0566(5) A, b=8.8843(5) A, c=20.2912(14) A, beta=100.052(3) degrees, Z=2 for 1; and C40H36Ni2N4O10, P2(1)/c, a=9.8921(6) A, b=9.0151(4) A, c=20.1628(17) A, beta=100.31(2) degrees, Z=2 for 2. In the structures of 1 and 2, the 1,4-chdc ligand possesses only one kind of e,a-cis-conformation although there are both cis- and trans-conformations in the raw material. Two oxygen atoms of one carboxyl in 1,4-chdc ligand and another oxygen atom of contraposition carboxyl link adjacent Co or Ni atoms into an infinite 1-D zigzag chain. The most attractive structural feature of 1 and 2 is that they both exhibit an infinite chiral chainlike structure with 2(1) helices along the b axis. In addition, the right-handed and the left-handed chains are alternate. Meanwhile, the adjacent chains of 1 and 2 are linked via hydrogen bonds into 2-D network structures, which further form 3-D frameworks via pi-pi interactions of 1,10-phen.     

Structural studies of the [tris(imidazolyl)phosphine]metal nitrate complexes [[PimPrl,But]M(NO3)]+ (M = Co,Cu, Zn,Cd, Hg): comparison of nitrate-binding modes in synthetic analogues of carbonic anhydrase

X-ray diffraction studies on a series of cationic divalent metal nitrate complexes supported by the tris(1-isopropyl-4-tert-butylimidazolyl)phosphine ligand, [[PimPri,But]M(NO3)]+ (M = Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg), demonstrate that the nitrate ligand coordination mode is strongly dependent upon the metal. With the exception of that for the HgII derivative, the nitrate ligand coordination modes correlate with the activities of metal-substituted carbonic anhydrases, such that the only MII-carbonic anhydrases which exhibit significant activity, i.e., the Zn and Co species, are those for which the [[PimPri,But]M(NO3)]+ complexes possess strongly asymmetric nitrate ligands. This trend supports the notion that access to a unidentate, rather than a bidentate, bicarbonate intermediate may be a critical requirement for significant carbonic anhydrase activity. Interestingly, the nitrate coordination modes in the series of group 12 complexes, [[PimPri,But]M(NO3)]+ (M = Zn, Cd, Hg), do not exhibit a monotonic periodic trend: the bidenticity is greater for the cadmium complex than for either the zinc or mercury complexes. Since HgII-carbonic anhydrase is inactive, the correlation between nitrate coordination mode and enzyme activity is anomalous for the mercury complex. Therefore, it is suggested that the inactivity of HgII-carbonic anhydrase may be consequence of the reduced tendency of the mercury center in HgII-carbonic anhydrase to bind water.     

Synthesis and structure of two lanthanide complexes with isonicotinic acid N-oxide (HL): [Ln(L)2(H2O)4]n·(NO3)n·n(H2O) (Ln = Sm or Tb)

Two new lanthanide complexes of isonicotinic acid N-oxide (HL), namely [Ln(L)₂(H₂O)₄]_n·(NO₃)_n·n(H₂O) for Ln = Sm or Tb, have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. IR spectra suggest that isonicotinic acid N-oxide acts as a O,O′-bidentate ligand, the N-oxide group as well as the nitrate group are not involved in coordination. Single crystal analyses have shown that both complexes are isomorphous, where the Ln(III) centers are eight coordinated by four O atoms of four water ligands and other four O atoms of two isonicotinic acid N-oxide ligands. The carboxylate groups are only involved in the bidentate syn–syn bridging mode into infinite chains. Hydrogen bonds between aqua ligands, lattice molecules, nitrate and N-oxide groups are formed giving a three-dimensional network.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetochemical analysis of selected first-row transition-metal anilino- and anisolesquarate compounds

The isomorphous polymeric complexes [M(mu-C(6)H(5)NHC(4)O(3))(2)(CH(3)OH)(2)](n) [M = Mn (1), Co (2), Cu (4), Zn (5)] are produced by reacting the anilinosquarate anion with the appropriate metal nitrates in a methanolic solution. Each of these complexes contains the central metal atom in a slightly distorted octahedral environment, with the coordination polyhedron consisting of four mu-1,2-bridging anilinosquarate ligands and two trans-oriented methanols. The polymer chains propagate to form a two-dimensional net of metal centers, with the conformation of the component sheets in the net being controlled by intramolecular N-H...O and O-H...O hydrogen bonds. Under reaction conditions similar to those used in the synthesis of the polymers 1, 2, 4, and 5, the nickel(II) monomer [Ni(C(6)H(5)NHC(4)O(3))(2)(H(2)O)(4)].2H(2)O (3) is produced in which each nickel center is attached to two cis-coordinated anilinosquarate and four aqua ligands in a distorted octahedral arrangement. The ligand conformation in 3 is stabilized by both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which results in the formation of a sheet polymer having distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. Magnetochemical analysis of 1 and 4 reveals normal paramagnetic behavior for 1 and a very weak ferromagnetic interaction in 4; the absence of significant magnetic interactions is attributed to the distortion of the C(4) cycle of the anilinosquarate ligand (lower than C(2)(v) symmetry) in these complexes. Reaction of anisolesquarate with M(NO(3))(2).xH(2)O in acetonitrile produced the set of isomorphous salts [M(H(2)O)(6)][CH(3)OC(6)H(5)C(4)O(3)](2) [M = Mn (6), Co (7), Ni (8), Zn (9)]. The anisolesquarate anions in 6-9 are hydrogen bonded to the [M(H(2)O)(6)](2+) ions to form polymer chains, which are further linked by hydrogen bonds to form complex sheets. Complexation of the anisolesquarate ligand was not observed even when other solvents and reaction conditions were employed.     

Synthesis, Raman spectra and crystal structures of [Cu(XeF2)n](SbF6)2 (n=2, 4)

Pure [Cu(XeF2)2](SbF6)2 was prepared by the reaction of Cu(SbF 6) 2 with a stoichiometric amount of XeF2 in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) at ambient temperature. The reaction between Cu(SbF6)2 and XeF2 (1:4 molar ratio) in aHF yielded [Cu(XeF2)4](SbF6)2 contaminated with traces of Xe 2F 3SbF6 and CuF2. The 6-fold coordination of Cu(2+) in [Cu(XeF2)2](SbF6)2 includes two fluorine atoms from two XeF2 ligands and four fluorine atoms provided by four [SbF6](-) anions. The neighboring [Cu(XeF 2)2](2+) moieties are connected via two [SbF6] units, with the bridging fluorine atoms in cis positions, into infinite [Cu(eta(1)-XeF2)2](cis-eta(2)-SbF 6)2[Cu(eta(1)-XeF 2)2] chains. Because of the high electron affinity of Cu(2+), coordinated XeF2 shows the highest distortion (Xe-Fb=210.2(5) pm, Xe-Ft=190.6(5) pm) observed so far among all known [M(x+)(XeF2)n](A)x (A=BF4, PF6, etc.) complexes. The four equatorial coordination sites of the Cu(2+) ion in [Cu(XeF 2) 4](SbF6)2 are occupied by four XeF 2 ligands. Two fluorine atoms belonging to two [SbF6] units complete the Cu (2+) coordination environment. The neighboring [Cu(XeF2)4](2+) species are linked via one [SbF6] unit, with bridging fluorine atoms in trans positions, into linear infinite [Cu(eta(1)-XeF2)4](trans-eta(2)-SbF6)[Cu(eta(1)-XeF2)4] chains. To compensate for the remaining positive charge, crystallographically independent [SbF6](-) anions are located between the chains and are fixed in the crystal space by weak Xe...F(Sb) interactions.     

Transition‐Metal Chemistry of Alkaline‐Earth Elements: The Trisbenzene Complexes M(Bz)3 (M=Sr,Ba)

We report the synthesis and spectroscopic identification of the trisbenzene complexes of strontium and barium M(Bz)₃ (M=Sr, Ba) in low‐temperature Ne matrix. Both complexes are characterized by a D₃ symmetric structure involving three equivalent η⁶‐bound benzene ligands and a closed‐shell singlet electronic ground state. The analysis of the electronic structure shows that the complexes exhibit metal–ligand bonds that are typical for transition metal compounds. The chemical bonds can be explained in terms of weak donation from the π MOs of benzene ligands into the vacant (n?1)d AOs of M and strong backdonation from the occupied (n?1)d AO of M into vacant π* MOs of benzene ligands. The metals in these 20‐electron complexes have 18 effective valence electrons, and, thus, fulfill the 18‐electron rule if only the metal–ligand bonding electrons are counted. The results suggest that the heavier alkaline earth atoms exhibit the full bonding scenario of transition metals.     

Ag(I)-based tectons for the construction of helical and meso-helical hydrogen-bonded coordination networks

The new ligand 4-(3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)benzoic acid (L) has been prepared and characterized. This bifunctional ligand incorporates both a chelating region, with two nitrogen donors, suitable for chelating to soft transition metal ions, and a self-complementary hydrogen-bonding region which can facilitate intermolecular association of ligands or ligand-based complexes. X-ray structural analysis of the ligand shows it to adopt a one-dimensional helical polymeric structure, with adjacent ligands hydrogen bonded to each other. Reaction of L with silver(I) salts (AgOTf (1, 1.1.5H(2)O), AgNO(3) (2), AgPF6 (3.CH(3)OH), and AgClO(4) (4.CH(3)OH)) results in the formation of complexes with 2:1 stoichiometries. X-ray structural analysis of these complexes shows that, in each case, one-dimensional chain structures are obtained where chiral AgL(2) tectons are hydrogen bonded together, either directly or mediated by anions or solvent. Structures with either helical or meso-helical structures are observed.     

Transition‐Metal Chemistry of Alkaline‐Earth Elements: The Trisbenzene Complexes M(Bz)3 (M=Sr,Ba)

We report the synthesis and spectroscopic identification of the trisbenzene complexes of strontium and barium M(Bz)₃ (M=Sr, Ba) in low‐temperature Ne matrix. Both complexes are characterized by a D₃ symmetric structure involving three equivalent η⁶‐bound benzene ligands and a closed‐shell singlet electronic ground state. The analysis of the electronic structure shows that the complexes exhibit metal–ligand bonds that are typical for transition metal compounds. The chemical bonds can be explained in terms of weak donation from the π MOs of benzene ligands into the vacant (n?1)d AOs of M and strong backdonation from the occupied (n?1)d AO of M into vacant π* MOs of benzene ligands. The metals in these 20‐electron complexes have 18 effective valence electrons, and, thus, fulfill the 18‐electron rule if only the metal–ligand bonding electrons are counted. The results suggest that the heavier alkaline earth atoms exhibit the full bonding scenario of transition metals.     

[2‐(2‐Pyridyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole‐κ2N2,N3]bis(p‐toluato‐κ2O,O′)manganese(II)

In the title compound, [Mn(C₈H₇O₂)₂(C₁₂H₉N₃)], the manganese(II) centre is surrounded by three bidentate chelating ligands, namely, one 2‐(2‐pyridyl)benzimidazole ligand [Mn—N = 2.1954 (13) and 2.2595 (14) Å] and two p‐toluate ligands [Mn—O = 2.1559 (13)–2.2748 (14) Å]. It displays a severely distorted octahedral geometry, with cis angles ranging from 58.87 (4) to 106.49 (5)°. Intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds between the p‐toluate ligands link the molecules into infinite chains, and every two neighbouring chains are further coupled by N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds between the 2‐(2‐pyridyl)benzimidazole and p‐toluate ligands, leading to an infinite ribbon‐like double‐chain packing mode. The complete solid‐state structure can be described as a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework, stabilized by these intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions and possible C—H...π interactions, as well as stacking interactions involving the 2‐(2‐pyridyl)benzimidazole ligands.