Designed Topology and Site‐Selective Metal Composition in Tetranuclear [MM′⋅⋅⋅M′M] Linear Complexes

The ligand 1,3‐bis[3‐oxo‐3‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)propionyl]benzene (H₄L), designed to align transition metals into tetranuclear linear molecules, reacts with M^II salts (M=Ni, Co, Cu) to yield complexes with the expected [MM???MM] topology. The novel complexes [Co₄L₂(py)₆] ( 2 ; py=pyridine) and [Na(py)₂][Cu₄L₂(py)₄](ClO₄) ( 3 ) have been crystallographically characterised. The metal sites in complexes 2 and 3 , together with previously characterised [Ni₄L₂(py)₆] ( 1 ), favour different coordination geometries. These have been exploited for the deliberate synthesis of the heterometallic complex [Cu₂Ni₂L₂(py)₆] ( 4 ). Complexes 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions between pairs of metals within each cluster, leading to S=0 spin ground states, except for the latter cluster, which features two quasi‐independent S=1/2 moieties within the molecule. Complex 4 gathers the structural and physical conditions, thus allowing it to be considered as prototype of a two‐qbit quantum gate.     

Poly[[bis{μ2‐N2,N6‐bis[(pyridin‐3‐yl)methyl]pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxamide}dichloridonickel(II)] N,N‐dimethylformamide tetrasolvate]

In the title compound, {[NiCl₂(C₁₉H₁₇N₅O₂)₂]·4C₃H₇NO}_n, the Ni^II atom is located on an inversion centre and is in a six‐coordinated octahedral geometry, formed by four pyridine N atoms from four N²,N⁶‐bis[(pyridin‐3‐yl)methyl]pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxamide (BPDA) ligands occupying the equatorial plane and two chloride anions at the axial sites. The bidentate bridging BPDA ligands link the Ni^II atoms into a two‐dimensional corrugated grid‐like flexible layer with a (4,4)‐connected topology, which consists of left‐ and right‐handed helical chains sharing the common Ni^II atoms. Investigation of the thermal stability shows that the network is stable up to 573 K.     

π–π Dimerization of a mono(pyridyl–imine) platinum(II) chelate

The cation of the title complex salt, chlorido{2,2‐dimethyl‐N‐[(E)‐1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)ethylidene]propane‐1,3‐diamine}platinum(II) tetrafluoridoborate, [PtCl(C₁₂H₁₉N₃)]BF₄, exhibits a nominally square‐planar Pt^II ion coordinated to a chloride ion [Pt—Cl = 2.3046 (9) Å] and three unique N‐atom types, viz. pyridine, imine and amine, of the tridentate Schiff base ligand formed by the 1:1 condensation of 1‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)ethanone and 2,2‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine. The cations are π‐stacked in inversion‐related pairs (dimers), with a mean plane separation of 3.426 Å, an intradimer Pt...Pt separation of 5.0785 (6) Å and a lateral shift of 3.676 Å. The centroid (Cg) of the pyridine ring is positioned approximately over the Pt^II ion of the neighbouring cation (Pt...Cg = 3.503 Å).     

The role of π–π stacking and hydrogen‐bonding interactions in the assembly of a series of isostructural group IIB coordination compounds

The supramolecular chemistry of coordination compounds has become an important research domain of modern inorganic chemistry. Herein, six isostructural group IIB coordination compounds containing a 2‐{[(2‐methoxyphenyl)imino]methyl}phenol ligand, namely dichloridobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)zinc(II), [ZnCl₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 1 , diiodidobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)zinc(II), [ZnI₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 2 , dibromidobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)cadmium(II), [CdBr₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 3 , diiodidobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)cadmium(II), [CdI₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 4 , dichloridobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)mercury(II), [HgCl₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 5 , and diiodidobis(2‐{(E)‐[(2‐methoxyphenyl)azaniumylidene]methyl}phenolato‐κO)mercury(II), [HgI₂(C₂₈H₂₆N₂O₄)], 6 , were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray crystallography and spectroscopic techniques. All six compounds exhibit an infinite one‐dimensional ladder in the solid state governed by the formation of hydrogen‐bonding and π–π stacking interactions. The crystal structures of these compounds were studied using geometrical and Hirshfeld surface analyses. They have also been studied using M06‐2X/def2‐TZVP calculations and Bader's theory of `atoms in molecules'. The energies associated with the interactions, including the contribution of the different forces, have been evaluated. In general, the π–π stacking interactions are stronger than those reported for conventional π–π complexes, which is attributed to the influence of the metal coordination, which is stronger for Zn than either Cd or Hg. The results reported herein might be useful for understanding the solid‐state architecture of metal‐containing materials that contain M^IIX₂ subunits and aromatic organic ligands.     

Luminescent Palladium(II) Complexes with π‐Extended Cyclometalated [RC^N^NR′] and Pentafluorophenylacetylide Ligands: Spectroscopic,Photophysical, and Photochemical Properties

A series of cyclometalated Pd^II complexes that contain π‐extended R? C^N^N? R′ (R? C^N^N? R′=3‐(6′‐aryl‐2′‐pyridinyl)isoquinoline) and chloride/pentafluorophenylacetylide ligands have been synthesized and their photophysical and photochemical properties examined. The complexes with the chloride ligand are emissive only in the solid state and in glassy solutions at 77 K, whereas the ones with the pentafluorophenylacetylide ligand show phosphorescence in the solid state (λ_max=584–632 nm) and in solution (λ_max=533–602 nm) at room temperature. Some of the complexes with the pentafluorophenylacetylide ligand show emission with λ_max at 585–602 nm upon an increase in the complex concentration in solutions. These Pd^II complexes can act as photosensitizers for the light‐induced aerobic oxidation of amines. In the presence of 0.1 mol % Pd^II complex, secondary amines can be oxidized to the corresponding imines with substrate conversions and product yields up to 100 and 99 %, respectively. In the presence of 0.15 mol % Pd^II complex, the oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines could be performed with product yields up to 91 %. The Pd^II complexes have also been used to sensitize photochemical hydrogen production with a three‐component system that comprises the Pd^II complex, [Co(dmgH)₂(py)Cl] (dmgH=dimethylglyoxime; py=pyridine), and triethanolamine, and a maximum turnover of hydrogen production of 175 in 4 h was achieved. The excited‐state electron‐transfer properties of the Pd^II complexes have been examined.     

Di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis[chlorido(4′‐p‐tolyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ3N,N′,N′′)nickel(II)]: a supramolecular system constructed by C—H...Cl interactions

The title complex, [Ni₂Cl₄(C₂₂H₁₇N₃)₂], was synthesized solvothermally. The molecule is a centrosymmetric dimer with the unique Ni^II centre in a distorted octahedral N₃Cl₃ coordination environment. The chloride bridges are highly asymmetric. In the 4′‐p‐tolyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine ligand, the p‐tolyl group is perfectly coplanar with the attached pyridine ring, and this differs from the situation found in previously reported compounds; however, there are no π–π interactions between the ligands. The terminal Cl atom forms four intermolecular C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds with one methyl and three methine groups. The methyl group also forms intermolecular C—H...π interactions with a pyridine ring. These nonclassical hydrogen bonds extend the molecule into a three‐dimensional network.     

Two (E)‐2‐arylidene‐1,4‐di‐p‐tosyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoxaline compounds: supramolecular frameworks built with C—H...O and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions

The pyrazine ring in two N‐substituted quinoxaline derivatives, namely (E)‐2‐(2‐methoxybenzylidene)‐1,4‐di‐p‐tosyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoxaline, C₃₀H₂₈N₂S₂O₅, (II), and (E)‐methyl 2‐[(1,4‐di‐p‐tosyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoxalin‐2‐ylidene)methyl]benzoate, C₃₁H₂₈N₂S₂O₆, (III), assumes a half‐chair conformation and is shielded by the terminal tosyl groups. In the molecular packing of the compounds, intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds between centrosymmetrically related molecules generate dimeric rings, viz. R₂²(22) in (II) and R₂²(26) in (III), which are further connected through C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions into novel supramolecular frameworks.     

Three AgI,CuI and CdII coordination polymers based on the new asymmetrical ligand 2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole: syntheses,characterization and emission properties

The new asymmetrical organic ligand 2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole ( L , C₁₇H₁₃N₅O), containing pyridine and imidazole terminal groups, as well as potential oxdiazole coordination sites, was designed and synthesized. The coordination chemistry of L with soft Ag^I, Cu^I and Cd^II metal ions was investigated and three new coordination polymers (CPs), namely, catena‐poly[[silver(I)‐μ‐2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole] hexafluoridophosphate], {[Ag( L )]PF₆}_n, catena‐poly[[copper(I)‐di‐μ‐iodido‐copper(I)‐bis(μ‐2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)] 1,4‐dioxane monosolvate], {[Cu₂I₂( L )₂]·C₄H₈O₂}_n, and catena‐poly[[[dinitratocopper(II)]‐bis(μ‐2‐{4‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]phenyl}‐5‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole)]–methanol–water (1/1/0.65)], {[Cd( L )₂(NO₃)₂]·2CH₄O·0.65H₂O}_n, were obtained. The experimental results show that ligand L coordinates easily with linear Ag^I, tetrahedral Cu^I and octahedral Cd^II metal atoms to form one‐dimensional polymeric structures. The intermediate oxadiazole ring does not participate in the coordination interactions with the metal ions. In all three CPs, weak π–π interactions between the nearly coplanar pyridine, oxadiazole and benzene rings play an important role in the packing of the polymeric chains.     

Four NiII complexes with the new cyclam–methylimidazole ligand 1‐[(1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane

Although it has not proved possible to crystallize the newly prepared cyclam–methylimidazole ligand 1‐[(1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane (L^Im1), the trans and cis isomers of an Ni^II complex, namely trans‐aqua{1‐[(1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane}nickel(II) bis(perchlorate) monohydrate, [Ni(C₁₅H₃₀N₆)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂·H₂O, (1), and cis‐aqua{1‐[(1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane}nickel(II) bis(perchlorate), [Ni(C₁₅H₃₀N₆)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂, (2), have been prepared and structurally characterized. At different stages of the crystallization and thermal treatment from which (1) and (2) were obtained, a further two compounds were isolated in crystalline form and their structures also analysed, namely trans‐{1‐[(1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane}(perchlorato)nickel(II) perchlorate, [Ni(ClO₄)(C₁₅H₃₀N₆)]ClO₄, (3), and cis‐{1,8‐bis[(1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane}nickel(II) bis(perchlorate) 0.24‐hydrate, [Ni(C₂₀H₃₆N₆)](ClO₄)₂·0.24H₂O, (4); the 1,8‐bis[(1‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane ligand is a minor side product, probably formed in trace amounts in the synthesis of L^Im1. The configurations of the cyclam macrocycles in the complexes have been analysed and the structures are compared with analogues from the literature.     

(μ‐C‐meso‐5,5,7,12,12,14‐Hexa­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐N‐acetato‐1κ5N,N′,N′′,N′′′,O:2κO′)­tetra­chloro‐1κCl,2κ3Cl‐cobalt(III)­zinc(II)

The crystal structure of the title compound, [CoCl(C₁₈H₃₇N₄O₂){ZnCl₃}], has been determined by X‐ray diffraction.C‐meso‐5,5,7,12,12,14‐Hexa­methyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclotetradecane‐N‐acetate acts as a bridging ligand to coodinate with Co^III and Zn^II ions. The Co^III ion is six‐coordinate in a nearly octahedral environment provided by one Cl atom, four N atoms of the bridging ligand, and one O atom. The Zn^II ion is four‐coordinate in a distorted tetrahedral environment completed by three Cl atoms and an O atom of the bridging ligand.     

[N,N′‐Bis­(salicyl­idene)‐2,2‐di­methyl‐1,3‐propane­diaminato]­nickel(II) and [N,N′‐bis­(salicyl­idene)‐2,2‐di­methyl‐1,3‐propane­diaminato]copper(II)

In the title compounds, {2,2′‐[2,2‐di­methyl‐1,3‐propane­diyl­bis­(nitrilo­methyl­idyne)]­diphenolato‐κ⁴N,N′,O,O′}nickel(II), [Ni(C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₂)], and {2,2′‐[2,2‐di­methyl‐1,3‐propane­diyl­bis­(nitrilo­methyl­idyne)]­diphenolato‐κ⁴N,N′,O,O′}copper(II), [Cu(C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₂)], the Ni^II and Cu^II atoms are coordinated by two iminic N and two phenolic O atoms of the N,N′‐bis­(salicyl­idene)‐2,2‐di­methyl‐1,3‐propane­diaminate (SALPD^2?, C₁₇H₁₆N₂O₂^2?) ligand. The geometry of the coordination sphere is planar in the case of the Ni^II complex and distorted towards tetrahedral for the Cu^II complex. Both complexes have a cis configuration imposed by the chelate ligand. The dihedral angles between the N/Ni/O and N/Cu/O coordination planes are 17.20 (6) and 35.13 (7)°, respectively.     

A comparative study of the packing of two polymorphs of the nickel(II) pincer complex [2,6‐bis(di‐tert‐butylphosphinoyl)‐4‐(3,5‐dinitrobenzoyloxy)phenyl‐κ3P,C1,P′]chloridonickel(II)

Pincer complexes can act as catalysts in organic transformations and have potential applications in materials, medicine and biology. They exhibit robust structures and high thermal stability attributed to the tridentate coordination of the pincer ligands and the strong σ metal–carbon bond. Nickel derivatives of these ligands have shown high catalytic activities in cross‐coupling reactions and other industrially relevant transformations. This work reports the crystal structures of two polymorphs of the title Ni^II POCOP pincer complex, [Ni(C₂₉H₄₁N₂O₈P₂)Cl] or [NiCl{C₆H₂‐4‐[OCOC₆H₄‐3,5‐(NO₂)₂]‐2,6‐(OP^tBu₂)₂}]. Both pincer structures exhibit the Ni^II atom in a distorted square‐planar coordination geometry with the POCOP pincer ligand coordinated in a typical tridentate manner via the two P atoms and one arene C atom via a C—Ni σ bond, giving rise to two five‐membered chelate rings. The coordination sphere of the Ni^II centre is completed by a chloride ligand. The asymmetric units of both polymorphs consist of one molecule of the pincer complex. In the first polymorph, the arene rings are nearly coplanar, with a dihedral angle between the mean planes of 27.9 (1)°, while in the second polymorph, this angle is 82.64 (1)°, which shows that the arene rings are almost perpendicular to one another. The supramolecular structure is directed by the presence of weak C—H…O=X (X = C or N) interactions, forming two‐ and three‐dimensional chain arrangements.     

A new one‐dimensional nickel metal–organic framework: catena‐poly[[[diaquabis(4‐{[(1‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoato‐κO)nickel(II)]‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ2N:N′] monohydrate]

The title complex, {[Ni(C₁₅H₁₁N₄O₂S)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n, was synthesized by the reaction of nickel chloride, 4‐{[(1‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)sulfanyl]methyl}benzoic acid (HL) and 4,4′‐bipyridine (bpy) under hydrothermal conditions. The asymmetric unit contains two half Ni^II ions, each located on an inversion centre, two L⁻ ligands, one bpy ligand, two coordinated water molecules and one unligated water molecule. Each Ni^II centre is six‐coordinated by two monodentate carboxylate O atoms from two different L⁻ ligands, two pyridine N atoms from two different bpy ligands and two terminal water molecules, displaying a nearly ideal octahedral geometry. The Ni^II ions are bridged by 4,4′‐bipyridine ligands to afford a linear array, with an Ni...Ni separation of 11.361 (1) Å, which is further decorated by two monodentate L⁻ ligands trans to each other, resulting in a one‐dimensional fishbone‐like chain structure. These one‐dimensional fishbone‐like chains are further linked by O—H...O, O—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions to form a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture. The thermal stability of the title complex was investigated via thermogravimetric analysis.     

Cyano‐Bridged ‘Oximato’ Complexes: Synthesis,Structure, and Catalase‐Like Activities

The reaction of the ‘oximato’‐ligand precursor A (Fig. 1) and metal salts with KCN gave two mononuclear complexes [ML(CN)(H₂O)_n](ClO₄) ( 1 and 2 ; L={N‐(hydroxy‐κO)‐α‐oxo‐N′‐[(pyridin‐2‐yl‐κN)methyl[1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4‐ethanimidamidato‐κN′}; M=Co^II ( 1 ), Cu^II ( 2 ); n=2 for Co^II, n=0 for Cu^II; Figs. 2 and 3). The new cyano‐bridged pentanuclear ‘oximato’ complexes [{ML(H₂O)_n(NC)}₄M¹(H₂O)_x](ClO₄)₂ ( 3 – 6 ) and trinuclear complexes [{ML(H₂O)_n(NC)}₂M¹L](ClO₄) ( 7 – 10 ) ([M¹=Mn^II, Cu^II; x=2 for Mn^II, x=0 for Cu^II] were synthesized from mononuclear complexes and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance, and IR and thermal analysis. The four [ML(CN)(H₂O)_n]⁺ moieties are connected by a metal(II) ion in the pentanuclear complexe 3 – 6 , each one involving four cyano bridging ligands (Fig. 4). The central metal ion displays a square‐planar or octahedral geometry, with the cyano bridging ligands forming the equatorial plane. The axial positions are occupied by two aqua ligands in the case of the central Mn‐atom. The two [ML(CN)(H₂O)_n]⁺ moieties and an ‘oximato’ ligand are connected by a metal(II) ion in the trinuclear complexes 7 – 10 , each one involving two cyano bridging ligands (Fig. 5). The central metal ions display a distorted square‐pyramidal geometry, with two cyano bridging ligands and the donor atoms of the tridentate ‘oximato’ ligand. Moreover catalytic activities of the complexes for the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were also investigated in the presence of 1H‐imidazole. The synthesized homopolynuclear Cu^II complexes 6 and 10 displayed eficiency in disproportion reactions of H₂O₂ producing H₂O and dioxygen thus showing catalase‐like activity.     

Design and synthesis of methyl 2‐{[4‐phenyl‐5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl]sulfanyl}acetate (phpy2NS) as a ligand for complexes of Group 12 elements: structural assessment and hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular assembly analysis

The reaction of 2‐cyanopyridine with N‐phenylthiosemicarbazide afforded 2‐[amino(pyridin‐2‐yl)methylidene]‐N‐phenylhydrazine‐1‐carbothioamide (Ham4ph) and crystals of 4‐phenyl‐5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione (pyph3NS, 1 , C₁₃H₁₀N₄S). Crystals of methyl 2‐{[4‐phenyl‐5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl]sulfanyl}acetate (phpy2NS, 2 , C₁₆H₁₄N₄O₂S), derived from 1 , were obtained by the reaction of Ham4ph with chloroacetic acid, followed by the acid‐catalyzed esterification of the carboxylic acid with methyl alcohol. Crystals of bis(methanol‐κO)bis(methyl 2‐{[4‐phenyl‐5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl‐κ²N¹,N⁵]sulfanyl}acetato)zinc(II)/cadmium(II) hexabromidocadmate(II), [Zn_0.76Cd_0.24(C₁₆H₁₄N₄O₂S)₂(CH₃OH)₂][Cd₂Br₆] or [Zn_0.76Cd_0.24(phpy2NS)₂(MeOH)₂][Cd₂Br₆], 3 , and dichlorido(methyl 2‐{[4‐phenyl‐5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl‐κ²N¹,N⁵]sulfanyl}acetato)mercury(II), [HgCl₂(C₁₆H₁₄N₄O₂S)] or [Hg(phpy2NS)Cl₂], 4 , were synthesized using ligand 2 and CdBr₂ or HgCl₂, respectively. The molecular and supramolecular structures of the compounds were studied by X‐ray diffractometry. The asymmetric unit of 3 is formed from CdBr₃ and M(phpy2NS)(MeOH) units, where the metal centre M has a 76% occupancy of Zn^II and 24% of Cd^II. The M²⁺ centre of the cation, located on a crystallographic inversion centre, is hexacoordinated and appears as a slightly distorted octahedral [MN₄O₂]²⁺ cation. The Cd centre of the anion is coordinated by two terminal bromide ligands and two bridging bromide ligands that generate [Cd₂Br₆]^2? cadmium–bromide clusters. These clusters display crystallographic inversion symmetry forming two edge‐shared tetrahedra and serve as agents that direct the structure in the formation of supramolecular assemblies. In mononuclear complex 4 , the coordination geometry around the Hg²⁺ ion is distorted tetrahedral and comprises two chloride ligands and two N‐atom donors from the phpy2NS ligand, viz. one pyridine N atom and the other from triazole. In the crystal packing, all four compounds exhibit weak intermolecular interactions, which facilitate the formation of three‐dimensional architectures. Along with the noncovalent interactions, the structural diversity in the complexes can be attributed to the metal centre and to the coordination geometry, as well as to its ionic or neutral character.     

A novel nickel(II) coordination polymer incorporating 1,4‐phenylene­diacetic acid and 1,10‐phenanthroline

The title nickel(II) coordination polymer, viz. poly[[bis­(1,10‐phenanthroline)tris­(μ₃‐1,4‐phenyl­enediacetato)trinickel(II)] dihydrate], {[Ni₃(C₁₀H₈O₄)₃(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]·2H₂O}_n, consists of linear trinuclear building blocks with two crystallographically unique Ni atoms. One Ni^II atom and the geometric centre of one 1,4‐phenyl­enediacetate ligand in the trinuclear unit both lie on inversion centres, while the other unique Ni^II atom lies near the inversion centre, together with another 1,4‐phenyl­enediacetate ligand. Each pair of adjacent trinuclear units is bridged by 1,4‐phenyl­enediacetate ligands, forming two kinds of infinite chains along the a and b axes, respectively. These two kinds of chains crosslink to yield a two‐dimensional network in the ab plane. The two‐dimensional sheets further stack along the c axis viaπ–π stacking inter­actions and hydrogen bonds, forming a three‐dimensional supramolecular structure.     

Synthesis and Study of Cationic,Two‐Coordinate Triphenylphosphine– Gold–π Complexes

Cationic, two‐coordinate triphenylphosphine–gold(I)–π complexes of the form [(PPh₃)Au(π ligand)]⁺ SbF₆^? (π ligand=4‐methylstyrene, 1? SbF₆), 2‐methyl‐2‐butene ( 3? SbF₆), 3‐hexyne ( 6? SbF₆), 1,3‐cyclohexadiene ( 7? SbF₆), 3‐methyl‐1,2‐butadiene ( 8? SbF₆), and 1,7‐diphenyl‐3,4‐heptadiene ( 10? SbF₆) were generated in situ from reaction of [(PPh₃)AuCl], AgSbF₆, and π ligand at ?78 °C and were characterized by low‐temperature, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy without isolation. The π ligands of these complexes were both weakly bound and kinetically labile and underwent facile intermolecular exchange with free ligand (ΔG^≠≈9 kcal mol^?1 in the case of 6? SbF₆) and competitive displacement by weak σ donors, such as trifluoromethane sulfonate. Triphenylphosphine–gold(I)–π complexes were thermally unstable and decomposed above ?20 °C to form the bis(triphenylphosphine) gold cation [(PPh₃)₂Au]⁺SbF₆^? ( 2? SbF₆).     

Self‐Assembly of Dialkyltin Moieties and Mercaptobenzoic Acid into Macrocyclic Complexes with Hydrophobic “Pseudo‐Cage” or Double‐Cavity Structures: Supramolecular Infrastructures Involving Intermolecular C?H⋅⋅⋅S Weak Hydrogen Bonds and π–π Interactions

Four novel organotin complexes of two types—[R₂Sn(o‐SC₆H₄CO₂)]₆ (R=Me, 1 ?H₂O; nBu, 2 ) and {[R₂Sn(m‐CO₂C₆H₄S)R₂Sn(m‐SC₆H₄CO₂)SnR₂]O}₂ (R=Me, 3 ; nBu, 4 )—have been prepared by treatment of o‐ or m‐mercaptobenzoic acid and the corresponding R₂SnCl₂ (R=Me, nBu) with sodium ethoxide in ethanol (95 %). All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy, TGA, and X‐ray crystallography diffraction analysis. The molecular structure analyses reveal that both 1 and 2 are hexanuclear macrocycles with hydrophobic “pseudo‐cage” structures, while 3 and 4 are hexanuclear macrocycles with double‐cavity structures. Furthermore, the supramolecular structure analyses show that looser and more intriguing supramolecular infrastructures were also found in complexes 1 – 4 , which exist either as one‐dimensional chains of rings or as two‐dimensional networks assembled from the organometallic subunits through intermolecular C? H???S weak hydrogen bonds (WHBs) and π–π interactions.     

Enhanced π‐back‐donation resulting in the trans labilization of a pyridine ligand in an N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) PdII precatalyst: a case study

The molecular structure of the benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene–PdCl₂–pyridine‐type PEPPSI (pyridine‐enhanced precatalyst, preparation, stabilization and initiation) complex {1,3‐bis[2‐(diisopropylamino)ethyl]benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene‐κC²}dichlorido(pyridine‐κN)palladium(II), [PdCl₂(C₅H₅N)(C₂₃H₄₀N₄)], has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and natural bond orbital (NBO) and charge decomposition analysis (CDA). Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) searches were used to understand the structural characteristics of the PEPPSI complexes in comparison with the usual N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes. The presence of weak C—H…Cl‐type hydrogen‐bond and π–π stacking interactions between benzene rings were verified using NCI plots and Hirshfeld surface analysis. The preferred method in the CDA of PEPPSI complexes is to separate their geometries into only two fragments, i.e. the bulky NHC ligand and the remaining fragment. In this study, the geometry of the PEPPSI complex is separated into five fragments, namely benzimidazol‐2‐ylidene (Bimy), two chlorides, pyridine (Py) and the Pd^II ion. Thus, the individual roles of the Pd atom and the Py ligand in the donation and back‐donation mechanisms have been clearly revealed. The NHC ligand in the PEPPSI complex in this study acts as a strong σ‐donor with a considerable amount of π‐back‐donation from Pd to C_carbene. The electron‐poor character of Pd^II is supported by π‐back‐donation from the Pd centre and the weakness of the Pd—N(Py) bond. According to CSD searches, Bimy ligands in PEPPSI complexes have a stronger σ‐donating ability than imidazol‐2‐ylidene ligands in PEPPSI complexes.     

Self‐Assembly of Five 8‐Hydroxyquinolinate‐Based Complexes: Tunable Core,Supramolecular Structure,and Photoluminescence Properties

Five new Zn^II complexes, namely [Zn₃(L)₆] ( 1 ), [Zn₂(Cl)₂(L)₂(py)₂] ( 2 ), [Zn₂(Br)₂(L)₂(py)₂] ( 3 ), [Zn(L)₂(py)] ( 4 ), and [Zn₂(OAc)₂(L)₂(py)₂] ( 5 ), were prepared by the solvothermal reaction of ZnX₂ (X^?=Cl^?, Br^?, F^?, and OAc^?) salts with a 8‐hydroxyquinolinate ligand (HL) that contained a trifluorophenyl group. All of the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and powder and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. The building blocks exhibited unprecedented structural diversification and their self‐assembly afforded one mononuclear, three binuclear, and one trinuclear Zn^II structures in response to different anions and solvent systems. Complexes 1 – 5 featured four types of supramolecular network controlled by non‐covalent interactions, such as π???π‐stacking, C? H???π, hydrogen‐bonding, and halogen‐related interactions. Investigation of their photoluminescence properties exhibited disparate emission wavelengths, lifetimes, and quantum yields in the solid state.