Persistent Mixed‐Valence [(TTF)2]+. Dyad of a Chiral Bis(binaphthol)–tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) Derivative

Mixed‐valence dyadic [(TTF)₂]^+. (TTF=tetrathiafulvalene) species—the elementary building blocks of organic conductors—are usually too weakly associated to be observed in solution, unless covalently bound in dimers or physically constrained into a cage structure. We demonstrate here that a novel chiral tetrathiafulvalene functionalised with two 1,1′‐binaphthol units ( 1 ) is able to associate in solution into persistent mixed‐valence [(TTF)₂]^+. dyadic moieties through a stereospecific recognition pattern. This redox active molecule exhibits different electrochemical and spectroscopic responses, as enantiopure RR, SS or meso isomers, a rare example of a chiral system in which different diastereoisomers do not exhibit the same electrochemical features, with a selective formation of the mixed‐valence species in the enantiopure (RR)‐ 1 or (SS)‐ 1 isomers only, whereas the meso form does not show this association ability. A rationale for the selective self‐association of the RR and SS enantiomers upon oxidation is provided, based on the different molecular geometries and accessibility of the TTF core toward the formation of the mixed‐valence species.     

Synthesis,Structures, and Magnetic Properties of Chiral One‐dimensional CrIII‐MnIII Heterobimetallic Complexes Based on [(Tp)Cr(CN)3]–

Two Cr^III‐Mn^III heterobimetallic compounds, [Mn((R,R)‐5‐MeOSalcy)Cr(Tp)(CN)₃ · 2CH₃CN]_n ( 1‐RR ) and [Mn((S,S)‐5‐MeOSalcy)Cr(Tp)(CN)₃·2CH₃CN]_n ( 1‐SS ) [Salcy = N,N′‐(1,2‐cyclohexanediylethylene)bis(salicylideneiminato) dianion], were synthesized by using the tricyanometalate building block, [(Tp)Cr(CN)₃]^– [Tp = tris(pyrazolyl) hydroborate] and chiral Mn^III Schiff base precursors. Structural analyses and circular dichroism (CD) spectra revealed that 1‐RR and 1‐SS are a pair of enantiomers containing a neutral cyano‐bridged zigzag chain with (–Cr–C≡N–Mn–N≡C–)_n as the repeating unit. Magnetic studies show that antiferromagnetic couplings between Cr^III and Mn^III ions occur by cyanide bridges. 1‐RR and 1‐SS present metamagnetic, spin‐canting, and antiferromagnetic order behaviors at low temperatures.     

Multifunctionality in Bimetallic LnIII[WV(CN)8]3− (Ln=Gd,Nd) Coordination Helices: Optical Activity,Luminescence, and Magnetic Coupling

Two chiral luminescent derivatives of pyridine bis(oxazoline) (Pybox), (SS/RR)‐iPr‐Pybox (2,6‐bis[4‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazolin‐2‐yl]pyridine) and (SRSR/RSRS)‐Ind‐Pybox (2,6‐bis[8H‐indeno[1,2‐d]oxazolin‐2‐yl]pyridine), have been combined with lanthanide ions (Gd³⁺, Nd³⁺) and octacyanotungstate(V) metalloligand to afford a remarkable series of eight bimetallic CN^?‐bridged coordination chains: {[Ln^III(SS/RR‐iPr‐Pybox)(dmf)₄]₃[W^V(CN)₈]₃}_n ? dmf ? 4 H₂O (Ln=Gd, 1 ‐SS and 1 ‐RR; Ln=Nd, 2 ‐SS and 2 ‐RR) and {[Ln^III(SRSR/RSRS‐Ind‐Pybox)(dmf)₄][W^V(CN)₈]}_n ? 5 MeCN ? 4 MeOH (Ln=Gd, 3 ‐SRSR and 3 ‐RSRS; Ln=Nd, 4 ‐SRSR and 4 ‐RSRS). These materials display enantiopure structural helicity, which results in strong optical activity in the range 200–450 nm, as confirmed by natural circular dichroism (NCD) spectra and the corresponding UV/Vis absorption spectra. Under irradiation with UV light, the Gd^III‐W^V chains show dominant ligand‐based red phosphorescence, with λ_max≈660 nm for 1 ‐(SS/RR) and 680 nm for 3 ‐(SRSR/RSRS). The Nd^III‐W^V chains, 2 ‐(SS/RR) and 4 ‐(SRSR/RSRS), exhibit near‐infrared luminescence with sharp lines at 986, 1066, and 1340 nm derived from intra‐f ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_{9/2,11/2,13/2} transitions of the Nd^III centers. This emission is realized through efficient ligand‐to‐metal energy transfer from the Pybox derivative to the lanthanide ion. Due to the presence of paramagnetic lanthanide(III) and [W^V(CN)₈]^3? moieties connected by cyanide bridges, 1 ‐(SS/RR) and 3 ‐(SRSR/RSRS) are ferrimagnetic spin chains originating from antiferromagnetic coupling between Gd^III (S_Gd=7/2) and W^V (S_W=1/2) centers with J _{1 ‐(SS)}=?0.96(1) cm^?1, J _{1 ‐(RR)}=?0.95(1) cm^?1, J _{3 ‐(SRSR)}=?0.91(1) cm^?1, and J _{3 ‐(RSRS)}=?0.94(1) cm^?1. 2 ‐(SS/RR) and 4 ‐(SRSR/RSRS) display ferromagnetic coupling within their Nd^III‐NC‐W^V linkages.     

The disordered molecular structure of (3aRS,7aRS)‐1,3‐dinitrosooctahydro‐1H‐benzimidazole

The title compound, C₇H₁₂N₄O₂, was obtained by nitrosation of the aminal cage (2R,7R,11S,16S)‐1,8,10,17‐tetraazapentacyclo[8.8.1.1^8,17.0^2,7.0^11,16]icosane. The crystal structure is a racemic mixture of RR and SS enantiomers. The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent half‐molecules, one having two partially occupied conformers with refined occupancy factors of 0.747 (3) and 0.253 (3). The molecules sit across twofold axes. The unique molecules each form chains parallel to [001], with molecules connected by intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The bonding between adjacent chains is weak. The analysis of eight different crystals confirmed the presence of disordered and nondisordered molecules in the same structure as a regular feature.     

Models for potential dendritic nitric oxide donors: crystal structures of two 2‐nitroanilino precursors and nitric oxide‐release behavior of the nitrosated derivatives

Two molecular precursors to dendrimeric materials that could serve as slow and sustained NO‐releasing therapeutic agents have been synthesized and characterized. N¹,N⁴‐Bis(2‐nitrophenyl)butane‐1,4‐diamine, C₁₆H₁₈N₄O₄, (I), crystallizes in a lattice with equal populations of two molecules of different conformations, both of which possess inversion symmetry through the central C—C bond. One molecule has exclusively anti conformations along the butyl chain, while the other has a gauche conformation of the substituents on the first C—C bond. N²,N²‐Bis[2‐(2‐nitroanilino)ethyl]‐N¹‐(2‐nitrophenyl)ethane‐1,2‐diamine, C₂₄H₂₇N₇O₆, (II), crystallizes with one unique molecule in the asymmetric unit. Neighboring pairs of molecules are linked into dimers via N—H…O amine–nitro hydrogen bonds. The dimers are assembled into layers that stack in an A–B–A–B sequence such that the repeat distance in the stacking direction is over 46 Å. Molecular NO‐release agents N¹,N⁴‐bis(2‐nitrophenyl)‐N¹,N⁴‐dinitrosobutane‐1,4‐diamine, C₁₆H₁₆N₆O₆, (III), and N¹‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐N²,N²‐bis{2‐[(2‐nitrophenyl)(nitroso)amino]ethyl}‐N¹‐nitrosoethane‐1,2‐diamine, C₂₄H₂₄N₁₀O₉, (IV), were prepared via treatment of (I) and (II), respectively, with NaNO₂ and acetic acid. The release of NO from solid‐phase samples of (III) and (IV) suspended in phosphate buffer was monitored spectroscopically over a period of 21 days. Although (IV) released a greater amount of NO, as expected due to it having three NO moieties for every two in (III), the (IV):(III) ratio of the rate and extent of NO release was significantly less than 1.5:1, suggesting that some combination of electronic, chemical, and/or steric factors may be affecting the release process.     

Synthesis,structural characterization and thermal properties of a new copper(II) one‐dimensional coordination polymer based on bridging N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐2,2‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine and dicyanamide ligands

The design and synthesis of polymeric coordination compounds of 3d transition metals are of great interest in the search for functional materials. The coordination chemistry of the copper(II) ion is of interest currently due to potential applications in the areas of molecular biology and magnetochemistry. A novel coordination polymer of Cu^II with bridging N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine (H₂L‐DM) and dicyanamide (dca) ligands, catena‐poly[[[μ₂‐2,2‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐oxidobenzylidene)propane‐1,3‐diamine‐1:2κ⁶O,N,N′,O′:O,O′]dicopper(II)]‐di‐μ‐dicyanamido‐1:2′κ²N¹:N⁵;2:1′κ²N¹:N⁵], [Cu₂(C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₂)(C₂N₃)₂]_n, has been synthesized and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction analysis. Structural studies show that the Cu^II centres in the dimeric asymmetric unit adopt distorted square‐pyramidal geometries, as confirmed by the Addison parameter (τ) values. The chelating characteristics of the L‐DM²⁻ ligand results in the formation of a Cu^II dimer with a double phenolate bridge in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal, the dimeric units are further linked to adjacent dimeric units through μ_1,5‐dca bridges to produce one‐dimensional polymeric chains.     

Chiral nickel(II) and palladium(II) catalysts bearing strong electron‐withdrawing fluorine groups: synthesis,characterization and their application in catalytic polymerization for ethylene and styrene

A series of new chiral and achiral nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes, {bis[N,N′‐(2,6‐diethyl‐4‐naphthylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel 3a , {bis[N,N′‐(4‐fluoro‐2‐methyl‐6‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel rac‐(RS)‐ 3b , {bis[N,N′‐(4‐fluoro‐6‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3c and {bis[N,N′‐(4‐fluoro‐6‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dichloropalladium rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3d were successfully synthesized and characterized. The molecular structures of representative ligand rac‐(RS)‐ 2b , nickel complex 3a , rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3c and palladium complex rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3d were determined by X‐ray crystallography. The structures of complexes 3a and rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3c have pseudo‐tetrahedral geometry about the nickel center, showing C₂ molecular symmetry. However, the structure of palladium complex rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3d has pseudo‐square planar geometry about the palladium center, showing C₂ molecular symmetry. Complex 3e {bis[N,N′‐(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel was also synthesized for comparison. Nickel complex rac‐(RS)‐ 3b bearing strong electron‐withdrawing fluorine group in the para‐aryl position and a chiral sec‐phenethyl group in the ortho‐aryl position of the ligand (one methyl group in the ortho‐aryl position) displays the highest catalytic activity for ethylene and styrene polymerization, and produced highly branched polyethylene and syndiotactic‐rich polystyrene. However, palladium complex rac‐(RR/SS)‐ 3d shows low catalytic activity for ethylene and styrene polymerization due to the poor leaving group, Cl, attached to palladium and the unfavorable molecular structure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Highly Enantioselective cis‐Dihydroxylation of Trisubstituted Alkenes with Aqueous H2O2

Reliable methods for enantioselective cis‐dihydroxylation of trisubstituted alkenes are scarce. The iron(II) complex cis‐α‐[Fe^II(2‐Me₂‐BQPN)(OTf)₂], which bears a tetradentate N₄ ligand (Me₂‐BQPN=(R,R)‐N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐methylquinolin‐8‐yl)‐1,2‐diphenylethane‐1,2‐diamine), was prepared and characterized. With this complex as the catalyst, a broad range of trisubstituted electron‐deficient alkenes were efficiently oxidized to chiral cis‐diols in yields of up to 98 % and up to 99.9 % ee when using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as oxidant under mild conditions. Experimental studies (including ¹⁸O‐labeling, ESI‐MS, NMR, EPR, and UV/Vis analyses) and DFT calculations were performed to gain mechanistic insight, which suggested possible involvement of a chiral cis‐Fe^V(O)₂ reaction intermediate as an active oxidant. This cis‐[Fe^II(chiral N₄ ligand)]²⁺/H₂O₂ method could be a viable green alternative/complement to the existing OsO₄‐based methods for asymmetric alkene dihydroxylation reactions.     

Enantiomer-selective radical cyclopolymerization of rac-2,4-pentanediyl dimethacrylate using a ruthenium-mediated chiral atom transfer radical polymerization initiating system

The enantiomer-selective radical polymerization of rac-2,4-pentanediyl dimethacrylate, an equimolar mixture of (2S,4S)-2,4-pentanediyl dimethacrylate (SS- 1 ) and (2R,4R)-2,4-pentanediyl dimethacrylate (RR- 1 ), was carried out with a chiral atom transfer radical polymerization initiating system consisting of methyl 2-bromoisobutyrate ( 3 ), dichlorotris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃], and a chiral additive in anisole at 60 °C. When (S)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol ( a-3 ) was used as the chiral additive, the recovered monomer was enriched in SS- 1 , and the enantiomeric excess was 16.9% at a 22.6% monomer conversion. The specific rotation ([α]₄₃₅, c 0.3, CHCl₃) of the resulting polymer was +40.3° at a 22.6% monomer conversion. For the copolymerization of SS- 1 and RR- 1 with 3 /RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃/ a-3 in anisole at 60 °C, the monomer reactivity ratio for RR- 1 (r_R) was determined to be 4.94, and that for SS- 1 (r_S) was 0.27. For the homopolymerizations of SS- 1 and RR- 1 with 3 /RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃/ a-3 in anisole at 60 °C, the polymerization rate of RR- 1 was considerably faster than that of SS- 1 , and the rate constants for the homopolymerizations were determined to be k_SS = 2.0 × 10⁻³ h⁻¹ and k_RR = 8.2 × 10⁻³ h⁻¹, respectively. With the values of k_SS, k_RR, r_R, and r_S, the relative ratio k_SS/k_RR/k_SR/k_RS was determined to be 1.2:4.9:4.5:1, which indicated that both the growing end of SS- 1 and that of RR- 1 preferentially reacted with RR- 1 . © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4563–4569, 2004     

Four stereoisomers of the novel μ‐opioid receptor agonist tapentadol hydrochloride

The crystal and molecular structures of four stereoisomers of tapentadol hydrochloride [systematic name: 3‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)‐N,N,2‐trimethylpentan‐1‐aminium chloride], C₁₄H₂₄NO⁺·Cl⁻, a novel analgesic agent, have been determined by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. Resolution of the isomers was carried out by reverse‐phase and chiral high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods. Stereoisomers (I) and (II) crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁, each with two tapentadol cations and two chloride anions in the asymmetric unit, while stereoisomers (III) and (IV) crystallize in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁, with one tapentadol cation and one chloride anion in the asymmetric unit. The absolute configurations of the four enantiomers were determined unambiguously by X‐ray crystallography. The crystal structures reveal the stereochemistries at the 3‐ethyl and 2‐methyl groups to be R,R, S,S, S,R and R,S in stereoisomers (I)–(IV), respectively. The ethyl and aminopropyl groups adopt different orientations with respect to the phenol ring for (I) and (IV). In all four structures, the chloride ions take part in N—H...Cl and O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds with the tapentadol molecules, resulting in one‐dimensional helical chains in the crystal packing in each case.     

Chiral Recognition of Racemic Proline based on Chiral Macrocyclic Nickel(II) Complex: Synthesis and Crystal Structures

The reactions of dl‐proline with chiral macrocyclic Ni^II complex [Ni(SS‐L)](ClO₄)₂ in acetonitrile/water gave a six‐coordinate enantiomer formulated as [Ni(SS‐L)(l‐Pro)](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O ( 1 ). Another enantiomer of [Ni(RR‐L)(d‐Pro)](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O ( 2 ) was obtained when [Ni(RR‐L)](ClO₄)₂ was used (L = 5,5,7,12,12,14‐hexamethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane, Pro = proline). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses of complexes 1 and 2 revealed that the Ni^II atom has a distorted octahedral coordination arrangement, being coordinated by four nitrogen atoms of L in a folded configuration, plus two carboxylate oxygen atoms of proline in mutually cis positions. Complexes 1 and 2 are supramolecular stereoisomers, which are constructed with hydrogen bonding linking of [Ni(SS‐L)(l‐Pro)]²⁺ and [Ni(RR‐L)(d‐Pro)]²⁺ monomers to form one‐dimensional zigzag chains. The homochiral natures of complexes 1 and 2 were confirmed by solid CD spectroscopy.     

Syntheses and X‐ray Structure Analyses of the First Bis(chelated) Copper and Iron Bisguanidine Complexes

The synthesis of N¹,N²‐bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)ethane‐1,2‐diamine and the synthesis and structure determination of bis{N¹,N²‐bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)ethane‐1,2‐diamine}copper(II)‐tetraiododicuprate(I) ([Cu(DMEG₂e)₂][Cu₂I₄]) and bis{N¹,N²‐bis(1,3‐dimethylimidazolidin‐2‐ylidene)ethane‐1,2‐diamine}iron(II)‐octacarbonyl‐diferrate(‐I) ([Fe(DMEG₂e)₂][Fe₂(CO)₈]) which represent the first bis(chelated) bisguanidine complexes are described. The dicationic [M(DMEG₂e)₂]²⁺ molecules with M = Cu, Fe follow the same structural principles and thus differ in their coordination geometries from ideal‐typical expectations.     

新型含吡啶酰胺基希夫碱多齿配体的合成,光谱,晶体结构及抑菌活性研究

采用稀释法与胺5倍过量合成了一种新型的含吡啶环的开链二胺1a（N，N′-双(2-氨基乙基)－2，6-吡啶二甲酰胺）。此外，合成了六个新型多齿希夫碱配体N，N′－双(β－R－苯甲醛亚胺基乙基)－2，6－吡啶二甲酰胺[其中，R=H(2a)，o-OH(2b)，p-OH(2c)，m-NO₂(2d)，p- N(CH₃)₂(2e)]及N，N′-双[γ-水杨醛亚胺基正丙基]－2，6－吡啶二甲酰胺2f。通过元素分析,紫外－可见光谱，红外光谱，氢核磁共振谱及质谱对化合物进行了表征。通过化合物2e的单晶结构X－射线单晶衍射分析表明该晶体属于立方晶系P－1空间群，其晶胞参数为：a=11.010(2) nm，b=13.865(3) nm，c=9.6537(19) nm，α=102.77(2)º，β=92.07(3)º，γ=87.98(3)º，V=1435.7(5) nm³，Z=2，D_c=1.230 mg•cm^-3，M_r=531.66。微量热法检测了化合物对大肠杆菌的抑制作用，并初步分析了化合物结构与抗菌活性之间的关系。实验结果表明，所有化合物都对大肠杆菌有抑制作用，其中水杨醛希夫碱的抑菌活性最好。     

Highly Enantioselective Iron‐Catalyzed cis‐Dihydroxylation of Alkenes with Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidant via an FeIII‐OOH Reactive Intermediate

The development of environmentally benign catalysts for highly enantioselective asymmetric cis‐dihydroxylation (AD) of alkenes with broad substrate scope remains a challenge. By employing [Fe^II(L)(OTf)₂] (L=N,N′‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐methyl‐8‐quinolyl)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine) as a catalyst, cis‐diols in up to 99.8 % ee with 85 % isolated yield have been achieved in AD of alkenes with H₂O₂ as an oxidant and alkenes in a limiting amount. This “[Fe^II(L)(OTf)₂]+H₂O₂” method is applicable to both (E)‐alkenes and terminal alkenes (24 examples >80 % ee, up to 1 g scale). Mechanistic studies, including ¹⁸O‐labeling, UV/Vis, EPR, ESI‐MS analyses, and DFT calculations lend evidence for the involvement of chiral Fe^III‐OOH active species in enantioselective formation of the two C?O bonds.     

Twist‐chair conformation of the tetraoxepane ring remains unchanged in tetraoxaspirododecane diamines

A detailed structural analysis has been performed for N,N′‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐7,8,11,12‐tetraoxaspiro[5.6]dodecane‐9,10‐diamine, C₂₀H₂₂Cl₂N₂O₄, (I), N,N′‐bis(2‐fluorophenyl)‐7,8,11,12‐tetraoxaspiro[5.6]dodecane‐9,10‐diamine, C₂₀H₂₂F₂N₂O₄, (II), and N,N′‐bis(4‐fluorophenyl)‐7,8,11,12‐tetraoxaspiro[5.6]dodecane‐9,10‐diamine, C₂₀H₂₂F₂N₂O₄, (III). The seven‐membered ring with two peroxide groups adopts a twist‐chair conformation in all three compounds. The lengths of the C—N and O—O bonds are slightly shorter than the average statistical values found in the literature for azepanes and 1,2,4,5‐tetraoxepanes. The geometry analysis of compounds (I)–(III), the topological analysis of the electron density at the (3, ?1) bond critical points within Bader's quantum theory of `Atoms in molecules' (QTAIM) and NBO (natural bond orbital) analysis at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d,2p) level of theory showed that there are n_O→σ*(C—O), n_N→σ*(C—O) and n_O→σ*(C—N) stereoelectronic effects. The molecules of compounds (I) and (III) are packed in the crystals as zigzag chains due to strong N—H…O and C—H…O hydrogen‐bond interactions, whereas the molecules of compound (II) form chains in the crystals bound by N—H…O, C—H…π and C—H…O contacts. All these data show that halogen atoms and their positions have a minimal effect on the geometric parameters, stereoelectronic effects and crystal packing of compounds (I)–(III), so that the twist‐chair conformation of the tetraoxepane ring remains unchanged.     

Three pairs of enantiomers bearing mitochondria‐targeted TPP+ groups as potential anti‐cancer agents

Six complexes with chiral Schiff‐base ligands containing TPP⁺ groups, [VO L ^R,R/^S,S](ClO₄)₂( 1 for RR, 2 for SS), [Ni L ^R,R/S,S](ClO₄)₂·C₂H₅OH ( 3 for RR, 4 for SS) and [CuL^R,R/S,S](ClO₄)₂·CHCl₃·CH₃CH₂OH ( 5 for RR, 6 for SS) ( L ^R,R/S,S = N,N′‐Bis{5‐[(triphenylphosphonium)‐methyl]salicylidine}‐(1R,2R/1S,2S)‐diphenylethane‐1,2‐diamine, were synthesized to serve as mitochondrion‐targeting anticancer drugs. The introduction of TPP⁺ group(s) might markedly influence the properties of complexes. Compounds 3 and 5 were structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Complexes 1–6 could be moderate intercalating agents to CT‐DNA which is determined by several spectroscopy methods. DNA cleavage experiments revealed that all compounds could promote oxidative cleavage of pBR322 plasmid DNA in the presence of H₂O₂. MTT assay indicated 1–6 exhibited effective cytotoxicity on A549 and MCF‐7 cell lines. Notably, the IC₅₀ values of 5 (1.24 ± 0.33 μM) or 6 (1.47 ± 0.52 μM) were approximately 9–11 fold lower than that of cisplatin (IC₅₀ = 13.56 ± 0.88 μM) on A549 cells. 5 and 6 were picked for further study, which indicated that the cytotoxicity seems to result from multiple mechanisms of action, including effectively suppress the growth and proliferation of A549 cells, generation of reactive oxygen species, dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle perturbation and apoptosis induction. Compounds 1–6 could highly accumulate in the mitochondria by means of ICP‐MS assay. This study demonstrates that 1–6 with mitochondrion‐targeting function could be efficient anticancer drugs.     

Synthesis,crystal structures,photoluminescence, electrochemistry and DFT study of aluminium(III) and gallium(III) complexes containing a novel tetradentate Schiff base ligand

Single crystals of the aluminium and gallium complexes of 6,6′‐{(1E,1′E)‐[1,2‐phenylenebis(azanylylidene)]bis(methanylylidene)}bis(2‐methoxyphenol), namely diaqua(6,6′‐{(1E,1′E)‐[1,2‐phenylenebis(azanylylidene)]bis(methanylylidene)}bis(2‐methoxyphenolato)‐κ⁴O¹,N,N′,O^1′)aluminium(III) nitrate ethanol monosolvate, [Al(C₂₂H₁₈N₂O₄)(H₂O)₂]NO₃·C₂H₅OH, 1 , and diaqua(6,6′‐{(1E,1′E)‐[1,2‐phenylenebis(azanylylidene)]bis(methanylylidene)}bis(2‐methoxyphenolato)‐κ⁴O¹,N,N′,O^1′)gallium(III) nitrate ethanol monosolvate, [Ga(C₂₂H₁₈N₂O₄)(H₂O)₂]NO₃·C₂H₅OH, 2 , were obtained after successful synthesis in ethanol. Both complexes crystallized in the triclinic space group P, with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. In both structures, in one of the independent molecules the tetradentate ligand is almost planar while in the other independent molecule the ligand shows significant distortions from planarity, as illustrated by the largest distance from the plane constructed through the central metal atom and the O,N,N′,O′‐coordinating atoms of the ligand in 1 of 1.155 (3) Å and a distance of 1.1707 (3) Å in 2 . The possible reason for this is that there are various strong π‐interactions in the structures. This was confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, as were the other crystallographic data. DFT was also used to predict the outcome of cyclic voltammetry experiments. Ligand oxidation is more stabilized in the gallium complex. Solid‐state photoluminescence gave an 80 nm red‐shifted spectrum for the gallium complex, whereas the aluminium complex maintains the ligand curve with a smaller red shift of 40 nm.     

Hydrogen‐bonded chains in 2,2,2‐trichloro‐N,N′‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)ethane‐1,1‐diamine and a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded framework in 2,2,2‐trichloro‐N,N′‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)ethane‐1,1‐diamine

In 2,2,2‐trichloro‐N,N′‐bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)ethane‐1,1‐diamine, C₁₆H₁₇Cl₃N₂O₂, molecules are linked into helical chains by N—H...O hydrogen bonds. Molecules of 2,2,2‐trichloro‐N,N′‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)ethane‐1,1‐diamine, C₁₄H₁₁Cl₅N₂, are connected into a three‐dimensional framework by two independent Cl...Cl interactions and one C—H...Cl hydrogen bond.     

Two novel bis‐azomethines derived from quinoxaline‐2‐carbaldehyde

The Schiff base compounds N,N′‐bis[(E)‐quinoxalin‐2‐ylmethylidene]propane‐1,3‐diamine, C₂₁H₁₈N₆, (I), and N,N′‐bis[(E)‐quinoxalin‐2‐ylmethylidene]butane‐1,4‐diamine, C₂₂H₂₀N₆, (II), crystallize in the monoclinic crystal system. These molecules have crystallographically imposed symmetry. Compound (I) is located on a crystallographic twofold axis and (II) is located on an inversion centre. The molecular conformations of these crystal structures are stabilized by aromatic π–π stacking interactions.