Effect of Bulkiness on Reversible Substitution Reaction at MnII Center with Concomitant Movement of the Lattice DMF: Observation through Single‐Crystal to Single‐Crystal Fashion

The porous coordination polymer ({[Mn(L)H₂O](H₂O)_1.5(dmf)}_n, 1 ) (DMF=N,N‐dimethylformamide) exhibits variety of substitution reactions along with movement of lattice DMF molecule depending upon bulkiness of the external guest molecules. If pyridine or 4‐picoline is used as a guest, both lattice and coordinated solvent molecules are simultaneously substituted (complexes 6 and 7 , respectively). If a bulky guest like aniline is used, a partial substitution at the metal centers and full substitution at the channels takes place (complex 8 ). If the guest is 2‐picoline (by varying the position of bulky methyl group with respect to donor N atom), one Mn^II center is substituted by 2‐picoline, whereas the remaining center is substituted by a DMF molecule that migrates from the channel to the metal center (complex 9 ). Here, the lattice solvent molecules are substituted by 2‐picoline molecules. For the case of other bulky guests like benzonitrile or 2,6‐lutidine, both the metal centers are substituted by two DMF molecules, again migrating from the channel, and the lattice solvent molecules are substituted by these guest molecules (complex 10 and 11 , respectively). A preferential substitution of pyridine over benzonitrile (complex 12 ) at the metal centers is observed only when the molar ratio of PhCN:Py is 95:5 or less. For the case of an aliphatic dimethylaminoacetonitrile guest, the metal centers remain unsubstituted (complex 13 ); rather substitutions of the lattice solvents by the guest molecules take place. All these phenomena are observed through single crystal to single crystal (SC–SC) phenomena.     

Salts of two pentahalo(N‐donor)­bismuthate(III) anions: [BiX5L]2− (X = Cl,Br; L = pyridine, 4‐picoline)

Two pentahalo(N‐donor)­bismuthate(III) salts, bis­[hydrogen bis(4‐picoline)(1+)] penta­bromo(4‐picoline‐N)bismuthate(III), (C₁₂H₁₅N₂)₂[BiBr₅(C₆H₇N)], (I), and bis­(pyridinium) penta­chloro­(pyridine‐N)­bismuthate(III), (C₅H₆N)₂[BiCl₅(C₅H₅N)], (II), are described which show modest deviations from octahedral geometry at bismuth. In (I), the cations comprise two 4‐picoline mol­ecules sharing a proton and in (II), pyridinium cations are present. The anion in (I) has twofold and that in (II) has mirror crystallographic symmetry. Both structures show a layered packing formed by the anions with the cations between the layers. Ring–ring interactions seem important in (I), whilst in (II), N/­C—H?Cl—Bi hydrogen bonding is abundant.     

More crystal field theory in action: the metal–4‐picoline (pic)–sulfate [M(pic)x]SO4 complexes (M = Fe,Co, Ni,Cu, Zn,and Cd)

Seven crystal structures of five first‐row (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) and one second‐row (Cd) transition metal–4‐picoline (pic)–sulfate complexes of the form [M(pic)_x]SO₄ are reported. These complexes are catena‐poly[[tetrakis(4‐methylpyridine‐κN)metal(II)]‐μ‐sulfato‐κ²O:O′], [M(SO₄)(C₆H₇N)₄]_n, where the metal/M is iron, cobalt, nickel, and cadmium, di‐μ‐sulfato‐κ⁴O:O‐bis[tris(4‐methylpyridine‐κN)copper(II)], [Cu₂(SO₄)₂(C₆H₇N)₆], catena‐poly[[bis(4‐methylpyridine‐κN)zinc(II)]‐μ‐sulfato‐κ²O:O′], [Zn(SO₄)(C₆H₇N)₂]_n, and catena‐poly[[tris(4‐methylpyridine‐κN)zinc(II)]‐μ‐sulfato‐κ²O:O′], [Zn(SO₄)(C₆H₇N)₃]_n. The Fe, Co, Ni, and Cd compounds are isomorphous, displaying polymeric crystal structures with infinite chains of M^II ions adopting an octahedral N₄O₂ coordination environment that involves four picoline ligands and two bridging sulfate anions. The Cu compound features a dimeric crystal structure, with the Cu^II ions possessing square‐pyramidal N₃O₂ coordination environments that contain three picoline ligands and two bridging sulfate anions. Zinc crystallizes in two forms, one exhibiting a polymeric crystal structure with infinite chains of Zn^II ions adopting a tetrahedral N₂O₂ coordination containing two picoline ligands and two bridging sulfate anions, and the other exhibiting a polymeric crystal structure with infinite chains of Zn^II ions adopting a trigonal bipyramidal N₃O₂ coordination containing three picoline ligands and two bridging sulfate anions. The structures are compared with the analogous pyridine complexes, and the observed coordination environments are examined in relation to crystal field theory.     

An infrared and raman spectroscopic investigation of copper(II) tetracyanonickelate complexes ofα-,β- andγ-picoline

Copper(II) dipicoline tetracyanonickelate complexes, CuL₂Ni(CN)₄ (L=,- or-picoline), have been prepared for the first time and their infrared and Raman spectra are reported. Their structure consists of polymeric layers of {Cu-Ni(CN)₄} with picoline molecules bound directly to the copper. It is proposed that the Cu-NC bonds are in two nonequivalent pairs in trans positions. Low temperature (83K) IR spectra have also been recorded and it is noted that the Ni(CN)₄ group frequencies increase with decreasing temperature while the picoline frequencies are insensitive to temperature.     

2‐Chloro‐4,5‐dihydroimidazole,Part X. Revisiting route to N‐heteroarylimidazolidin‐2‐ones

The ureidation reactions of 2‐ and 4‐picoline N‐oxides with 2‐chloro‐4,5‐dihydroimidazole are described. A mechanism of novel thioureidation reaction of 4‐picoline N‐oxide with 2‐(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐ylthioxy)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazole is proposed. Structural assignment is confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C nmr as well as by X‐ray crystallography.     

Are Organotin Reagents Derived from Bis(trimethylsilyl)picoline Suitable Precursors for the Preparation of Cyclometallated Complexes?

The organotin reagents [2‐PyC(SiMe₃)₂SnR₃] (R = Me, ⁿBu) were prepared in good yields from the reaction between the lithium salt of 2‐bis(trimethylsilyl)picoline and the corresponding trialkyltin chlorides. Reactions of these organotin reagents were carried out with various Pd and Pt complexes including [MCl₂(cod)] and [MCl₂(PhCN)₂] (M = Pd, Pt). The results show that a Me group is transferred to the metal atom, rather than the 2‐bis(trimethylsilyl)picolyl group. The mechanism for this reaction is discussed and reasons why Me group transfer occurs based on DFT computed structural data are given.     

Physicochemical Properties of Complexes of Zinc Iodide with Pyridine N-Oxides

Polycrystalline 1 : 2 complexes of ZnI₂ with N-oxides of pyridine, picoline, and 2,6-lutidine were studied by IR spectroscopy, dielectrometry, and conductometry. An equilibrium between three solid phases was observed. These phases are characterized by different enthalpies of formation of intermolecular bonds and different mechanism of electronic effect transmission via these bonds. Gas-like thermal molecular motion in one of the phases of the 2,6-lutidine N-oxide complex was observed. Reversible chemical reactions on the surface of the crystalline 3-picoline N-oxide complex are initiated on exposure to an alternating electric field. Two complexes, similarly to the ZnCl₂ complexes, are ionized in the cumulative mode on fast heating from 18-19 to 26-45°C. Partial activation energies of electrical conductivity of different ions were determined for a number of complexes and inorganic salts.     

Reaction from isomeric parent ions in the dissociation of dimethylpyrroles

The major dissociation pathways of the [M-H]⁺ (loss of NH₃ or CH₄) and the [M+H]⁺ (loss of NH₃ or CH₃) ions from dimethylpyrroles have been determined to occur from isomeric parent ions. For the [M-H]⁺ ion (formed by loss of a methyl hydrogen), loss of NH₃ leads to the formation of the phenylium ion and is preceded by consecutive carbon ring expansions followed by a ring contraction to form protonated aniline. Loss of CH₄ occurs after the first carbon ring expansion, which forms protonated picoline. The relative partitioning between the two dissociation paths depends upon the internal energy content of the parent ion; the highest point on the potential energy surface is the second ring expansion step. The [M+H]⁺ ion reacts through a similar pathway via dihydro analogs of picoline and aniline. The proposed reaction pathways are supported by results of semiempirical molecular orbital calculations.     

Chemical and Photochemical Water Oxidation Catalyzed by Mononuclear Ruthenium Complexes with a Negatively Charged Tridentate Ligand

Two mononuclear ruthenium complexes [RuL(pic)₃] ( 1 ) and [RuL(bpy)(pic)] ( 2 ) (H₂L=2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid, pic=4‐picoline, bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) have been synthesized and fully characterized. Both complexes could promote water oxidation chemically and photochemically. Compared with other known ruthenium‐based water oxidation catalysts using [Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆] (Ce^IV) as the oxidant in solution at pH 1.0, complex 1 is one of the most active catalysts yet reported with an initial rate of 0.23 turnover s^?1. Under acidic conditions, the equatorial 4‐picoline in complex 1 dissociates first. In addition, ligand exchange in 1 occurs when the Ru^III state is reached. Based on the above observations and MS measurements of the intermediates during water oxidation by 1 using Ce^IV as oxidant, [RuL(pic)₂(H₂O)]⁺ is proposed as the real water oxidation catalyst.     

Bis(4‐picoline‐κN)gold(I) dibromidoaurate(I) and bis(4‐picoline‐κN)gold(I) dichloridoaurate(I): space‐group ambiguity?

Bis(4‐picoline‐κN)gold(I) dibromidoaurate(I), [Au(C₆H₇N)₂][AuBr₂], (I), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, with two half cations and one general anion in the asymmetric unit. The cations, located on centres of inversion, assemble to form chains parallel to the a axis, but there are no significant contacts between the cations. Cohesion is provided by flanking anions, which are connected to the cations by short Au...Au contacts and C—H...Br hydrogen bonds, and to each other by Br...Br contacts. The corresponding chloride derivative, [Au(C₆H₇N)₂][AuCl₂], (II), is isotypic. A previous structure determination of (II), reported in the space group P with very similar axis lengths to those of (I) [Lin et al. (2008). Inorg. Chem. 47 , 2543–2551], might be identical to the structure presented here, except that its γ angle of 88.79 (7)° seems to rule out a monoclinic cell. No phase transformation of (II) could be detected on the basis of data sets recorded at 100, 200 and 295 K.     

C–H bond activation versus ring cleavage in the gas phase ion-molecule reactions of Nb+ and Ta+ with toluene and picoline

The reactions of Nb⁺ and Ta⁺ with toluene and picoline and their deuterium-labelled analogues were studied in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. Methyl substitution completely changes the reactivities relative to benzene and pyridine. Both metals react to dehydrogenate toluene exclusively. In contrast to benzene, no ring cleavage is observed in the Ta⁺/toluene reaction. A simple explanation for this difference in reactivities is proposed based on the relative energies of the Hückel orbitals of benzene and toluene. The (b₁) symmetric antibonding orbital is higher in energy for toluene. Population of this orbital is necessary for formation of the metallanorbornadiene intermediate and does not occur at thermal energies. Reaction with ring labelled toluene-d₅ shows exclusive H₂ or D₂ elimination in reaction with Nb⁺ and H₂, HD, and D₂ elimination in reaction with Ta⁺. Reactions with the picolines show both dehydrogenation and ring cleavage. Isotope labelling studies show facile H/D scrambling occurs in the intermediate ion-molecule complexes with HCN and DCN both eliminated from the methyl-d₃-2-picoline and 4-picoline. The metals react with picoline and pyridine by different mechanisms. The isotope labelling results suggest a metal-hydrido-azepinium structure for the intermediate complex.     

Shedding Light on the Diverse Reactivity of NacNacAl with N‐Heterocycles

The aluminum(I) compound NacNacAl (NacNac=[ArNC(Me)CHC(Me)NAr]^?, Ar=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃, 1 ) shows diverse and substrate‐controlled reactivity in reactions with N‐heterocycles. 4‐Dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), a basic substrate in which the 4‐position is blocked, induces rearrangement of NacNacAl by shifting a hydrogen atom from the methyl group of the NacNac backbone to the aluminum center. In contrast, C?H activation of the methyl group of 4‐picoline takes place to produce a species with a reactive terminal methylene. Reaction of 1 with 3,5‐lutidine results in the first example of an uncatalyzed, room‐temperature cleavage of an sp² C?H bond (in the 4‐position) by an Al^I species. Another reactivity mode was observed for quinoline, which undergoes 2,2′‐coupling. Finally, the reaction of 1 with phthalazine produces the product of N?N bond cleavage.     

Nuclease activity of mixed ligand complexes of copper(II) with heteroaromatic derivatives and picoline

New picoline adducts with carbamic acid [(furan-2-yl)methylene]hydrazide–Cu^II (CFMH) (1); thiocarbamic acid [(furan-2-yl)methylene]hydrazide–Cu^II (TFMH) (2); carbamic acid [(furan-2-yl)ethylidene]hydrazide–Cu^II (CFEH) (3), thiocarbamic acid [(furan-2-yl)ethylidene]hydrazide–Cu^II (TFEH) (4); carbamic acid [(thiophene-2-yl) methylene]hydrazide–Cu^II (CTMH) (5), thiocarbamic acid [(thiophene-2-yl)methylene]hydrazide–Cu^II (TTMH) (6), carbamic acid [(thiophene-2-yl)ethylidene]hydrazide–Cu^II (CTEH) (7), thiocarbamic acid [(thiophene-2-yl)ethylidene]hydrazide–Cu^II (TTEH) (8) have been prepared and characterized by analytical, i.r., electronic, e.s.r. and c.v. spectral data. The electronic spectra suggest distorted octahedral geometry for all the picoline adducts. E.s.r. g values lie between 2.251–2.286 at l.n.t. All the adducts undergo a quasi-reversible one-electron reduction in the range +0.47 to +0.51 V versus s.c.e., attributable to the Cu^III/Cu^II redox couple. The electron transfer is much faster in the semicarbazone complexes than in the thiosemicarbazone complexes. All adducts showed increased nuclease activity in the presence of oxidant; the nuclease activity is compared with that of the parent copper(II) complexes.     

Supramolecular Block Copolymers from Tricarboxamides. Biasing Co-assembly by the Incorporation of Pyridine Rings

The synthesis of a series of triangular-shaped tricarboxamides endowed with three picoline or nicotine units (compounds 2 and 3 , respectively) or just one nicotine unit (compound 4 ) is reported, and their self-assembling features investigated. The pyridine rings make compounds 2 – 4 electronically complementary with our previously reported oligo(phenylene ethynylene)tricarboxamides (OPE-TA) 1 to form supramolecular copolymers. C₃-symmetric tricarboxamide 2 forms highly stable intramolecular five-membered pseudocycles that impede its supramolecular polymerization into poly-2 and the co-assembly with 1 to yield copolymer poly-1-co-2 . On the other hand, C₃-symmetric tricarboxamide 3 readily forms poly-3 with great stability but unable to form helical supramolecular polymers despite the presence of the peripheral chiral side chains. The copolymer poly-1-co-3 can only be obtained by a previous complete disassembly of the constitutive homopolymers in CHCl₃. Helical poly-1-co-3 arises in a process involving the transfer of the helicity from racemic poly-1 to poly-3 , and the amplification of asymmetry from chiral poly-3 to poly-1 . Importantly, C_2v-symmetric 4 , endowed with only one nicotinamide moiety and three chiral side chains, self-assembles into a P-type helical supramolecular polymer ( poly-4 ) in a thermodynamically controlled cooperative process. The combination of poly-1 and poly-4 generates chiral supramolecular copolymer poly-1-co-4 , whose blocky microstructure has been investigated by applying the previously reported supramolecular copolymerization model.     

Base adducts of dioxobis(acetoacetanilidato)uranium(VI)

Uranyl complexes of the type [UO₂L₂B], where L is the enolate of acetoacetanilide, and B a monodentate base like pyridine, picoline, aniline or N-substituted aniline, have been synthesised and characterised by analysis, conductance and magnetic measurements, thermal, IR and NMR spectral studies. The order of thermal stability and features of IR spectra of the series have been explained. Pentagonal bipyramidal structure has been assigned for the complexes based on the NMR spectral evidence.     

Calcium-mediated dearomatization, C-H bond activation, and allylation of alkylated and benzannulated pyridine derivatives

A facile and general synthetic pathway for the production of dearomatized, allylated, and C? H bond activated pyridine derivatives is presented. Reaction of the corresponding derivative with the previously reported reagent bis(allyl)calcium, [Ca(C₃H₅)₂] ( 1 ), cleanly affords the product in high yield. The range of N‐heterocyclic compounds studied comprised 2‐picoline ( 2 ), 4‐picoline ( 3 ), 2,6‐lutidine ( 4 ), 4‐tert‐butylpyridine ( 5 ), 2,2′‐bipyridine ( 6 ), acridine ( 7 ), quinoline ( 8 ), and isoquinoline ( 9 ). Depending on the substitution pattern of the pyridine derivative, either carbometalation or C? H bond activation products are obtained. In the absence of methyl groups ortho or para to the nitrogen atom, carbometalation leads to dearomatized products. C(sp³)? H bond activation occurs at ortho and para situated methyl groups. Steric shielding of the 4‐position in pyridine yields the ring‐metalated product through C(sp²)? H bond activation instead. The isolated compounds [Ca(2‐CH₂‐C₅H₄N)₂(THF)] ( 2 b ?(THF)), [Ca(4‐CH₂‐C₅H₄N)₂(THF)₂] ( 3 b ?(THF)₂), [Ca(2‐CH₂‐C₅H₃N‐6‐CH₃)₂(THF)_n] ( 4 b ?(THF)_n; n=0, 0.75), [Ca{2‐C₅H₃N‐4‐C(CH₃)₃}₂(THF)₂] ( 5 c ?(THF)₂), [Ca{4,4′‐(C₃H₅)₂‐(C₁₀H₈N₂)}(THF)] ( 6 a ?(THF)), [Ca(NC₁₃H₉‐9‐C₃H₅)₂(THF)] ( 7 a ?(THF)), [Ca(4‐C₃H₅‐C₉H₇N)₂(THF)] ( 8 b ?(THF)), and [Ca(1‐C₃H₅‐C₉H₇N)₂(THF)₃] ( 9 a ?(THF)₃) have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and metal analysis. 9 a ?(THF)₄ and 4 b ?(THF)₃ were additionally characterized in the solid state by X‐ray diffraction experiments. 4 b ?(THF)₃ shows an aza‐allyl coordination mode in the solid state. Based on the results, mechanistic aspects are discussed in the context of previous findings.     

Dielectric Relaxation Studies of Binary Mixture of α‐Picoline and Methanol Using Time Domain Reflectometry at Different Temperatures

Complex permittivity spectra of binary mixtures of varying concentrations of α‐picoline and methanol (MeOH) were obtained using time domain reflectometry (TDR) technique over frequency range 10 MHz to 25 GHz at 283.15 K, 288.15 K, 293.15 K and 298.15 K temperatures. The dielectric relaxation parame‐ ters namely static permittivity (σ₀), high frequency limit permittivity (σ_oo1) and the relaxation time (ρ) were determined by fitting complex permittivity data to the single Debye/Cole‐Davidson model. Complex non linear least square (CNLS) fitting procedure was carried out using LEVMW software. The excess static permittivity (σ₀^E) and the excess inverse relaxation time (1/ρ)^E which contains information regarding mo‐ lecular structure and interaction between polar — polar liquids, were also determined. From the experimental data, effective Kirkwood correlation factor (g^eff) and Bruggeman factor (f_B) were calculated. Excess parameters were fitted to the Redlich‐Kister polynomial equation. The values of static permittivity and relaxation time increase non‐linearly with increase in the mol fraction of MeOH at all temperatures. The values of excess static permittivity (σ₀^E) and the excess inverse relaxation time (1/ρ)^E are negative for the studied α‐picoline — MeOH system at all temperatures.     

Improving the Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to CO through Immobilisation of a Molecular Re Catalyst on TiO2

The photocatalytic activity of phosphonated Re complexes, [Re(2,2′‐bipyridine‐4,4′‐bisphosphonic acid) (CO)₃(L)] (ReP; L=3‐picoline or bromide) immobilised on TiO₂ nanoparticles is reported. The heterogenised Re catalyst on the semiconductor, ReP–TiO₂ hybrid, displays an improvement in CO₂ reduction photocatalysis. A high turnover number (TON) of 48 mol_CO mol_Re^?1 is observed in DMF with the electron donor triethanolamine at λ>420 nm. ReP–TiO₂ compares favourably to previously reported homogeneous systems and is the highest TON reported to date for a CO₂‐reducing Re photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is even observed with ReP–TiO₂ at wavelengths of λ>495 nm. Infrared and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopies confirm that an intact ReP catalyst is present on the TiO₂ surface before and during catalysis. Transient absorption spectroscopy suggests that the high activity upon heterogenisation is due to an increase in the lifetime of the immobilised anionic Re intermediate (t_{50 %}>1 s for ReP–TiO₂ compared with t_{50 %}=60 ms for ReP in solution) and immobilisation might also reduce the formation of inactive Re dimers. This study demonstrates that the activity of a homogeneous photocatalyst can be improved through immobilisation on a metal oxide surface by favourably modifying its photochemical kinetics.     

Structure ofp-tetrakis-(4-nitrophenylazo)calix[4]-arene-4-picoline (1∶4) complex

The structure of thep-tetrakis-(4-nitrophenylazo)calix[4]arene-4-picoline (14) complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystals are monoclinic, space groupC2/c,a=24.9097) Å,b=8.425(6) Å,c=33.81(1) Å, =101.13(2)°,D _c =1.330 g/cm³,Z=4, finalR value =0.067. The cone conformation adopted by this azocalixarene is disturbed by the positions of the picoline molecules. Two of them are inside the macorocycle cavity and the two others are outside. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. Sup. 82190 (32 pages).     

Annelation reactions of pentafluorobenzonitrile

Annelation reactions between pentafluorobenzonitrile and N,N-dimethylethylene diamine and 3-methyl picoline gave [6,6]-bicyclic and [6,5,6]-tricyclic ring-fused systems, respectively. Reaction of 4-morpholino tetrafluorobenzonitrile with hydrazine and phenyl hydrazine gave [5,6] ring-fused systems arising from a tandem S_NAr and cyclisation process involving annelation onto the pendant cyano group providing an indication of the synthetic possibilities for heterocycle formation using the pentafluorobenzonitrile scaffold.