Control of Stereoselectivity in Diverse Hapalindole Metabolites is Mediated by Cofactor-Induced Combinatorial Pairing of Stig Cyclases

Stereospecific polycyclic core formation of hapalindoles and fischerindoles is controlled by Stig cyclases through a three-step cascade involving Cope rearrangement, 6-exo-trig cyclization, and a final electrophilic aromatic substitution. Reported here is a comprehensive study of all currently annotated Stig cyclases, revealing that these proteins can assemble into heteromeric complexes, induced by Ca²⁺, to cooperatively control the stereochemistry of hapalindole natural products.     

Mechanistic Characterisation of Two Sesquiterpene Cyclases from the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Fusarium fujikuroi

Two sesquiterpene cyclases from Fusarium fujikuroi were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The first enzyme was inactive because of a critical mutation, but activity was restored by sequence correction through site‐directed mutagenesis. The mutated enzyme and two naturally functional homologues from other fusaria converted farnesyl diphosphate into guaia‐6,10(14)‐diene. The second enzyme produced eremophilene. The absolute configuration of guaia‐6,10(14)‐diene was elucidated by enantioselective synthesis, while that of eremophilene was evident from the sign of its optical rotation and is opposite to that in plants but the same as in Sorangium cellulosum. The mechanisms of both terpene cyclases were studied with various ¹³C‐ and ²H‐labelled FPP isotopomers.     

Trichodiene Synthase: Synthesis and Inhibition Kinetics of 12‐Fluoro‐farnesylphosphonophosphate for Sesquiterpene Cyclases

trans, trans‐Farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) serves as a universal substrate for a large family of sesquiterpene cyclases that are responsible for biosynthesis of more than 300 structurally diverse sesquiterpenes in nature. A new FPP substrate analogue, 12‐fluoro‐farnesylphosphonophosphate (12‐F‐F‐CH₂PP), was synthesized in this paper for applications on kinetic and mechanistic studies of the enzyme family. Trichodiene synthase (TS), a sesquiterpene cyclase, catalyzes the conversion of trans, trans‐farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) to trichodiene. 12‐F‐F‐CH₂PP was tested as a potential inhibitor of TS. Inactivation and inhibition kinetic experiments showed that 12‐F‐F‐CH₂PP was not a mechanism‐based inactivator for TS; instead, a mixed‐type reversible inhibition was observed with inhibition constants K_i1 = 2.33 ± 0.50 μM and K_i2 = 25.80 ± 7.70 μM, values close to those previously determined for farnesylphosphonophosphate, K_i1 = 3.25 μM and K_i2 = 9.10 μM. Although 12‐F‐F‐CH₂PP did not irreversibly inactivate TS, this new analogue serves as a potential active‐site directed inactivator and mechanistic probe of other sesquiterpene cyclases and FPP‐utilizing enzymes, which utilize FPP as a common acyclic substrate.     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidosqualene‐lanosterol cyclase: A chemistry–biology interdisciplinary study of the protein's structure–function–reaction mechanism relationships

The oxidosqualene cyclases (EC 5.4.99‐) constitute a family of enzymes that catalyze diverse cyclization/rearrangement reactions of (3S)‐2,3‐oxidosqualene into a distinct array of sterols and triterpenes. The relationship between the cyclization mechanism and the enzymatic structure is extremely complex and compelling. This review covers the historical achievements of biomimetic studies and current progress in structural biology, molecular genetics, and bioinformatics studies to elucidate the mechanistic and structure–function relationships of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidosqualene‐lanosterol cyclase‐catalyzed cyclization/rearrangement reaction. © 2008 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 8: 302–325; 2008: Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ) DOI 10.1002/tcr.20157     

Photochemistry of 1‐Cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐7‐ (piperazin‐1‐yl)quinoline‐3‐carboxylic Acid (=Ciprofloxacin) in Aqueous Solutions

The 1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐7‐(piperazin‐1‐yl)quinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid (=ciprofloxacin; 1 ) undergoes low‐efficiency (Φ=0.07) substitution of the 6‐fluoro by an OH group on irradiation in H₂O via the ππ* triplet (detected by flash photolysis, λ_max 610 nm, τ 1.5 μs). Decarboxylation is a minor process (≤5%). The addition of sodium sulfite or phosphate changes the course of the reaction under neutral conditions. Reductive defluorination is the main process in the first case, while defluorination is accompanied by degradation of the piperazine moiety in the presence of phosphate. In both cases, the initial step is electron‐transfer quenching of the triplet (k_q=2.3⋅10⁸M ⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 2.2⋅10⁷M ⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively). Oxoquinoline derivative 1 is much more photostable under acidic conditions, and in this case the F‐atom is conserved, and the piperazine group is stepwise degraded (Φ=0.001).     

A one‐dimensional coordination polymer formed from the reaction of 1,1‐diphenyl‐3,3′‐[(1R,2R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylbis(azanediyl)]dibut‐2‐en‐1‐one with MnCl2·4H2O

In the title coordination polymer, catena‐poly[[dichloridomanganese(II)]‐μ‐1,1‐diphenyl‐3,3′‐[(1R,2R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylbis(azaniumylylidene)]dibut‐1‐en‐1‐olate‐κ²O:O′], [MnCl₂(C₂₆H₃₀N₂)]_n, synthesized by the reaction of the chiral Schiff base ligand 1,1‐diphenyl‐3,3′‐[(1R,2R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylbis(azanediyl)]dibut‐2‐en‐1‐one (L) with MnCl₂·4H₂O, the asymmetric unit contains one crystallographically unique Mn^II ion, one unique spacer ligand, L, and two chloride ions. Each Mn^II ion is four‐coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral coordination environment by two O atoms from two L ligands and by two chloride ligands. The Mn^II ions are bridged by L ligands to form a one‐dimensional chain structure along the a axis. The chloride ligands are monodentate (terminal). The ligand is in the zwitterionic enol form and displays intramolecular ionic N⁺—H...O⁻ hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions between pairs of phenyl rings which strengthen the chains.     

Synthese und Reaktivität von 2‐Brom‐1,3‐diethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1 H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborol Molekülstruktur von Bis(1,3‐diethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1 H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborol‐2‐yl)

Synthesis and Reactivity of 2‐Bromo‐1,3‐diethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1 H ‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborole Molecular Structure of Bis(1,3‐diethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1 H ‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborol‐2‐yl The reaction of a slurry of calcium hydride in toluene with N,N′‐diethyl‐o‐phenylenediamine ( 1 ) and boron tribromide affords 2‐bromo‐1,3‐diethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1 H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborol ( 2 ) as a colorless oil. Compound 2 is converted into 2‐cyano‐1,3‐diethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1 H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborole ( 3 ) by treatment with silver cyanide in acetonitrile. Reaction of 2 with an equimolar amount of methyllithium affords 1,3‐diethyl‐2‐methyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1 H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborole ( 4 ). 1,3,2‐Benzodiazaborole is smoothly reduced by a potassium‐sodium alloy to yield bis(1,3‐diethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1 H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborol‐2‐yl] ( 7 ), which crystallizes from n‐pentane as colorless needles. Compound 7 is also obtained from the reaction of 2 and LiSnMe₃ instead of the expected 2‐trimethylstannyl‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborole. N,N′‐Bis(1,3‐diethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1 H‐1,3,2‐benzodiazaborol‐2‐ yl)‐1,2‐diamino‐ethane ( 6 ) results from the reaction of 2 with Li(en)C≡CH as the only boron containing product. Compounds 2 – 4 , 6 and 7 are characterized by means of elemental analyses and spectroscopy (IR, ¹H‐, ¹¹B{¹H}‐, ¹³C{¹H}‐NMR, MS). The molecular structure of 7 was elucidated by X‐ray diffraction analysis.     

μ‐Aqua‐penta­aqua­[μ‐3,6‐bis(6‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)­pyridazine]­chloro­dinickel(II) trichloride trihydrate

The title compound, μ‐aqua‐1:2κ²O‐penta­aqua‐1κ²O,2κ³O‐μ‐3,6‐bis(6‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)­pyridazine‐1κ²N¹,N⁶:2κ²N²,N³‐chloro‐1κCl‐dinickel(II) trichloride trihydrate, [Ni₂Cl(C₁₆H₁₄­N₄)(H₂O)₆]Cl₃·3H₂O, consists of two Ni^II atoms, a 3,6‐bis(6‐methyl‐2‐pyridyl)­pyridazine mol­ecule, four Cl atoms and nine water mol­ecules. The two Ni atoms are octahedrally coordinated by N and Cl atoms, and by water mol­ecules, and the three six‐membered rings, a pyridazine and two picolines, are planar to within 0.181 (3) Å. The crystal structure is stabilized by an intra‐ and intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding scheme involving water–water and water–chlorine interactions.     

Discovery and Characterization of a New Family of Diterpene Cyclases in Bacteria and Fungi

Diterpene cyclases from bacteria and basidiomycete fungi are seldom studied. Here, we presented the identification and verification of EriG, a member of the UbiA superfamily, as the enzyme responsible for the cyclization of the cyathane skeleton in the mushroom Hericium erinaceum . Genome mining using the EriG protein sequence as a probe led to the discovery of a new family of ubiquitous UbiA‐related diterpene cyclases in bacteria and fungi. We successfully characterized seven new diterpene cyclases from bacteria or basidiomycete fungi with the help of an engineered Escherichia coli strain and determined the structures of their corresponding products. A new diterpene with an unusual skeleton was generated during this process. The discovery of this new family of diterpene cyclases provides new insight into the UbiA superfamily.     

Controllable assembly of a three‐dimensional metal–organic supramolecular framework displaying hydrogen‐bonding and π–π stacking interactions

The complex poly[[aqua(μ₂‐phthalato‐κ²O¹:O²){μ₃‐2‐[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]acetato‐κ⁴N²,N³:O:O′}{μ₂‐2‐[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]acetato‐κ³N²,N³:O}dizinc(II)] dihydrate], {[Zn₂(C₁₀H₈N₃O₂)₂(C₈H₄O₄)(H₂O)]·2H₂O}_n, has been prepared by solvothermal reaction of 2‐[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]acetonitrile (PPAN) with zinc(II). Under hydrothermal conditions, PPAN is hydrolyzed to 2‐[3‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]acetate (PPAA⁻). The structure determination reveals that the complex is a one‐dimensional double chain containing cationic [Zn₄(PPAA)₄]⁴⁺ structural units, which are further extended by bridging phthalate ligands. The one‐dimensional chains are extended into a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture via hydrogen‐bonding and π–π stacking interactions.     

One‐ and two‐dimensional CdII coordination polymers constructed from 2‐(2‐methyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐yl)acetate ligands

The one‐ and two‐dimensional polymorphic cadmium polycarboxylate coordination polymers, catena‐poly[bis[μ₂‐2‐(2‐methyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐yl)acetato‐κ³N³:O,O′]cadmium(II)], [Cd(C₁₀H₉N₂O₂)₂]_n, and poly[bis[μ₂‐2‐(2‐methyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐yl)acetato‐κ³N³:O,O′]cadmium(II)], also [Cd(C₁₀H₉N₂O₂)₂]_n, were prepared under solvothermal conditions. In each structure, each Cd^II atom is coordinated by four O atoms and two N atoms from four different ligands. In the former structure, two crystallographically independent Cd^II atoms are located on twofold symmetry axes and doubly bridged in a μ₂‐N:O,O′‐mode by the ligands into correspondingly independent chains that run in the [100] and [010] directions. Chains containing crystallographically related Cd^II atoms are linked into sheets viaπ–π stacking interactions. Sheets containing one of the distinct types of Cd^II atom are stacked perpendicular to [001] and alternate with sheets containing the other type of Cd^II atom. The second complex is a two‐dimensional homometallic Cd^II (4,4) net structure in which each Cd^II atom is singly bridged to four neighbouring Cd^II atoms by four ligands also acting in a μ₂‐N:O,O′‐mode. A square‐grid network results and the three‐dimensional supramolecular framework is completed by π–π stacking interactions between the aromatic ring systems.     

Preparation of β2‐Homotryptophan Derivatives for β‐Peptide Synthesis

In view of the prominent role of the 1H‐indol‐3‐yl side chain of tryptophan in peptides and proteins, it is important to have the appropriately protected homologs H‐β² HTrp OH and H‐β³ HTrp OH (Fig.) available for incorporation in β‐peptides. The β²‐HTrp building block is especially important, because β²‐amino acid residues cause β‐peptide chains to fold to the unusual 12/10 helix or to a hairpin turn. The preparation of Fmoc and Z β²‐HTrp(Boc) OH by Curtius degradation (Scheme 1) of a succinic acid derivative is described (Schemes 2–4). To this end, the (S)‐4‐isopropyl‐3‐[(N‐Boc‐indol‐3‐yl)propionyl]‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one enolate is alkylated with Br CH₂CO₂Bn (Scheme 3). Subsequent hydrogenolysis, Curtius degradation, and removal of the Evans auxiliary group gives the desired derivatives of (R)‐H β²‐HTrp OH (Scheme 4). Since the (R)‐form of the auxiliary is also available, access to (S)‐β²‐HTrp‐containing β‐peptides is provided as well.     

Shielding of Electron Acceptors Coordinated to Rhenium(I) by Carboxylato Groups. Intraligand and Charge‐Transfer Excited‐State Properties of fac‐(‘Anthraquinone‐2‐carboxylato')(2,2′‐bipyridine)tricarbonylrhenium (fac‐[ReI(aq‐2‐CO2)(2,2′‐bipy)(CO)3])

The photophysical and photochemical properties of (OC‐6‐33)‐(2,2′‐bipyridine‐κN¹,κN¹′)tricarbonyl(9,10‐dihydro‐9,10‐dioxoanthracene‐2‐carboxylato‐κO)rhenium (fac‐[Re^I(aq‐2‐CO₂)(2,2′‐bipy)(CO)₃]) were investigated and compared to those of the free ligand 9,10‐dihydro‐9,10‐dioxoanthracene‐2‐carboxylate (=anthraquinone‐2‐carboxylate) and other carboxylato complexes containing the (2,2′‐bipyridine)tricarbonylrhenium ([Re(2,2′‐bipy)(CO)₃]) moiety. Flash and steady‐state irradiations of the anthraquinone‐derived ligand (λ_exc 337 or 351 nm) and of its complex reveal that the photophysics of the latter is dominated by processes initiated in the Re‐to‐(2,2′‐bipyridine) charge‐transfer excited state and 2,2′‐bipyridine‐ and (anthraquinone‐2‐carboxylato)‐centered intraligand excited states. In the reductive quenching by N,N‐diethylethanamine (TEA) or 2,2′,2″‐nitrilotris[ethanol] TEOA, the reactive states are the 2,2′‐bipyridine‐centered and/or the charge‐transfer excited states. The species with a reduced anthraquinone moiety is formed by the following intramolecular electron transfer, after the redox quenching of the excited state: [Re^I(aq−2−CO₂)(2,2′‐bipy^.)(CO)₃]⁻⇌[Re^I(aq−2−CO₂^.)(2,2′‐bipy)(CO)₃]⁻ The photophysics, particularly the absence of a Re^I‐to‐anthraquinone charge‐transfer excited state photochemistry, is discussed in terms of the electrochemical and photochemical results.     

Construction and photoluminescence properties of a three‐dimensional ZnII coordination network based on naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid and 1,6‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1,3,5‐hexatriene

In recent years, coordination polymers constructed from multidentate carboxylate and pyridyl ligands have attracted much attention because these ligands can adopt a rich variety of coordination modes and thus lead to the formation of crystalline products with intriguing structures and interesting properties. A new coordination polymer, namely poly[[μ₂‐1,6‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1,3,5‐hexatriene‐κ²N:N′](μ₃‐naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato‐κ⁴O¹,O^1′:O⁴:O^4′)zinc(II)], [Zn(C₁₂H₆O₄)(C₁₆H₁₄N₂)]_n, has been prepared by the self‐assembly of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O, naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid (1,4‐H₂ndc) and 1,6‐bis(pyridin‐3‐yl)‐1,3,5‐hexatriene (3,3′‐bphte) under hydrothermal conditions. The title compound has been structurally characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Each Zn^II ion is six‐coordinated by four O atoms from three 1,4‐ndc²⁻ ligands and by two N atoms from two 3,3′‐bphte ligands, forming a distorted octahedral ZnO₄N₂ coordination geometry. Pairs of Zn^II ions are linked by 1,4‐ndc²⁻ ligands, leading to the formation of a two‐dimensional square lattice ( sql ) layer extending in the ab plane. In the crystal, adjacent layers are further connected by 3,3′‐bphte bridges, generating a three‐dimensional architecture. From a topological viewpoint, if each dinuclear zinc unit is considered as a 6‐connected node and the 1,4‐ndc²⁻ and 3,3′‐bphte ligands are regarded as linkers, the structure can be simplified as a unique three‐dimensional 6‐connected framework with the point symbol 4⁴6¹⁰8. The thermal stability and solid‐state photoluminescence properties have also been investigated.     

Evidence that the β‐Peptide 14‐Helix is Stabilized by β3‐Residues with Side‐Chain Branching Adjacent to the β‐Carbon Atom

Oligomers of β‐substituted β‐amino acids (‘β³‐peptides') are known to adopt a helical secondary structure defined by 14‐membered ring hydrogen bonds ('14‐helix'). Here, we describe a deca‐β³‐peptide, 1 , that does not adopt the 14‐helical conformation and that may prefer an alternative secondary structure. β³‐Peptide 1 is composed exclusively of residues with side chains that are not branched adjacent to the β‐C‐atom (β³‐hLeu, β³‐hLys, and β³‐hTyr). In contrast, an analogous β‐peptide, 2 , containing β³‐hVal residues in place of the β³‐hLeu residues of 1 , adopts a 14‐helical conformation in MeOH, according to CD data. These results illustrate the importance of side‐chain branching in determining the conformational preferences of β³‐peptides.     

Synthesis and NMR characteristics of N‐acetyl‐4‐nitro,N‐acetyl‐5‐nitro,N‐acetyl‐6‐nitro and N‐acetyl‐7‐nitrotryptophan methyl esters

N‐acetyl‐4‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (2), N‐acetyl‐5‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (3), N‐acetyl‐6‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (4) and N‐acetyl‐7‐nitrotryptophan methyl ester (5) were synthesized through a modified malonic ester reaction of the appropriate nitrogramine analogs followed by methylation with BF₃‐methanol. Assignments of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts were made using a combination of ¹H–¹H COSY, ¹H–¹³C HETCOR and ¹H–¹³C selective INEPT experiments. Copyright © 2008 Crown in the right of Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd     

catena‐Poly[[bis[aqua­(1,10‐phenanthroline)lead(II)]‐di‐μ3‐5‐carboxy‐3‐sulfonatobenzoato] dihydrate]

In the centrosymmetric title polymer, catena‐poly[[bis[aqua­(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)lead(II)]‐di‐μ₃‐5‐carboxy‐3‐sulfonatobenzoato‐1:2:1′κ⁴O³:O¹,O^1′:O¹;2′:1:2κ⁴O¹:O¹,O^1′:O³] dihydrate], {[Pb(C₈H₄O₇S)(C₁₂H₈N₂)(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n, each seven‐coordinate lead(II) ion is bound by five O atoms from one water molecule and three 5‐sulfoisophthalate (sip) anions, and by two N atoms from a 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) ligand. The sip sulfonate group is monodentate. One O atom of the sip carboxyl­ate group is chelated to one Pb²⁺ cation, with the other also bridging an adjacent Pb²⁺ cation. The carboxyl group is uncoordinated. This unusual coordination results in a chain structure along the b axis, which is linked by strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds into a three‐dimensional network.     

A two‐dimensional cadmium(II) coordination polymer constructed from 4‐carboxy‐1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐5‐carboxylate and 1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylate ligands

Crystals of poly[[aqua[μ₃‐4‐carboxy‐1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐5‐carboxylato‐κ⁵O¹O^1′:N³,O⁴:O⁵][μ₄‐1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylato‐κ⁷N³,O⁴:O⁴,O^4′:O¹,O^1′:O¹]cadmium(II)] monohydrate], {[Cd₂(C₁₅H₁₄N₂O₄)(C₁₆H₁₄N₂O₆)(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n or {[Cd₂(Hcpimda)(cpima)(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n, (I), were obtained from 1‐(4‐carboxybenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylic acid (H₃cpimda) and cadmium(II) chloride under hydrothermal conditions. The structure indicates that in‐situ decarboxylation of H₃cpimda occurred during the synthesis process. The asymmetric unit consists of two Cd²⁺ centres, one 4‐carboxy‐1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐5‐carboxylate (Hcpimda²⁻) anion, one 1‐(4‐carboxylatobenzyl)‐2‐propyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylate (cpima²⁻) anion, one coordinated water molecule and one lattice water molecule. One Cd²⁺ centre, i.e. Cd1, is hexacoordinated and displays a slightly distorted octahedral CdN₂O₄ geometry. The other Cd centre, i.e. Cd2, is coordinated by seven O atoms originating from one Hcpimda²⁻ ligand and three cpima²⁻ ligands. This Cd²⁺ centre can be described as having a distorted capped octahedral coordination geometry. Two carboxylate groups of the benzoate moieties of two cpima²⁻ ligands bridge between Cd2 centres to generate [Cd₂O₂] units, which are further linked by two cpima²⁻ ligands to produce one‐dimensional (1D) infinite chains based around large 26‐membered rings. Meanwhile, adjacent Cd1 centres are linked by Hcpimda²⁻ ligands to generate 1D zigzag chains. The two types of chains are linked through a μ₂‐η² bidentate bridging mode from an O atom of an imidazole carboxylate unit of cpima²⁻ to give a two‐dimensional (2D) coordination polymer. The simplified 2D net structure can be described as a 3,6‐coordinated net which has a (4³)₂(4⁶.6⁶.8³) topology. Furthermore, the FT–IR spectroscopic properties, photoluminescence properties, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern and thermogravimetric behaviour of the polymer have been investigated.     

The addition‐reaction product of 1,1,1,4,4,4‐hexa­chloro‐1,4‐disila­butane with N‐methyl­imidazole

The product of the addition reaction of 1,1,1,4,4,4‐hexa­chloro‐1,4‐disila­butane with N‐methyl­imidazole is μ‐ethyl­ene‐C¹:C²‐bis­[di­chloro­tris(1‐methyl­imidazole‐N³)­silicon(IV)] dichloride, C₂₆H₄₀Cl₄N₁₂Si₂²⁺·2Cl^?. Two of the six Cl atoms are replaced by aromatic nitro­gen bases and the coordination sphere of silicon is extended from four to six. The mol­ecule is located on a crystallographic centre of inversion. The environment around the Si atom can be described as a slightly distorted octahedron with the Cl atoms occupying axial positions and the three N‐methyl­imidazole ligands and the ethyl­ene bridge in the equatorial plane.     

A new two‐dimensional ZnII coordination polymer constructed by a multidentate N‐heterocyclic ligand and 5‐carboxybenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylate

In the coordination polymer, poly[[{μ‐1‐[(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐imidazole‐κ²N:N′}(μ‐5‐carboxybenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ²O¹:O³)zinc(II)] dimethylformamide monosolvate pentahydrate], {[Zn(C₉H₄O₆)(C₁₁H₁₀N₄)]·C₃H₇NO·5H₂O}_n, the Zn^II ion is coordinated by two N atoms from two symmetry‐related 1‐[(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐imidazole (bmi) ligands and two O atoms from two symmetry‐related 5‐carboxybenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylate (Hbtc²⁻) ligands in a slightly distorted tetrahedral geometry. The Zn^II ions are bridged by Hbtc²⁻ and bmi ligands, leading to a 4‐connected two‐dimensional network with the topological notation (4⁴.6²). Adjacent layers are further connected by 12 kinds of hydrogen bonds and also by π–π interactions, resulting in a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture in the solid state.