Synthesis and photophysical properties of novel amphiphilic ruthenium (II) complexes containing 4,4′‐dialkylaminomethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyl ligands

The synthesis of a number of new 2,2′‐bipyridine ligands functionalized with bulky amino side groups is reported. Three homoleptic polypyridyl ruthenium (II) complexes, [Ru(L)₃]²⁺ 2(PF₆^?), where L is 4,4′‐dioctylaminomethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine (Ru4a), 4,4′‐didodecylaminomethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine (Ru4b) and 4,4′‐dioctadodecylaminomethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine (Ru4c), have been synthesized. These compounds were characterized and their photophysical properties examined. The electronic spectra of three complexes show pyridyl π → π* transitions in the UV region and metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer bands in the visible region. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Luminescent Cyclometalated Alkynylplatinum(II) Complexes with a Tridentate Pyridine‐Based N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand: Synthesis,Characterization, Electrochemistry,Photophysics, and Computational Studies

A new class of luminescent alkynylplatinum(II) complexes with a tridentate pyridine‐based N‐heterocyclic carbene (2,6‐bis(1‐butylimidazol‐2‐ylidenyl)pyridine) ligand, [Pt^II(C^N^C)(C?CR)][PF₆], and their chloroplatinum(II) precursor complex, [Pt^II(C^N^C)Cl][PF₆], have been synthesized and characterized. One of the alkynylplatinum(II) complexes has also been structurally characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The electrochemistry, electronic absorption and luminescence properties of the complexes have been studied. Nanosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy has also been performed to probe the nature of the excited state. The origin of the absorption and emission properties has been supported by computational studies.     

Luminescent Dinuclear Bis‐Cyclometalated Gold(III) Alkynyls and Their Solvent‐Dependent Morphologies through Supramolecular Self‐Assembly

A series of luminescent bis‐cyclometalated gold(III) complexes containing bridging alkynyl ligands of different natures has been synthesised and characterised. The photophysical properties of the complexes have been investigated through electronic absorption spectroscopy and emission studies. The vibronic emission bands are found to originate from the triplet intraligand (IL) π–π* excited states of the bis‐cyclometalating ligands with some mixing of ³IL π–π* character of the alkynyl ligands. The electrochemical study of a nonsymmetric dinuclear complex shows two successive reduction processes originating from the reductions of the two different cyclometalating ligands. The complexes are found to undergo supramolecular self‐assembly processes driven by π–π stacking and hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions to give honeycomb nanostructures, as revealed from the SEM images. Solvent‐dependent morphological transformations have also been observed, which have been studied by SEM and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Concurrent Stabilization of π‐Donor and π‐Acceptor Ligands in Aromatized and Dearomatized Pincer [(PNN)Re(CO)(O)2] Complexes

Aromatized cationic [(PNN)Re(π acid)(O)₂]⁺ ( 1 ) and dearomatized neutral [(PNN*)Re(π acid)(O)₂] ( 2 ) complexes (where π acid=CO ( a ), tBuNC ( b ), or (2,6‐Me₂)PhNC ( c )), possessing both π‐donor and π‐acceptor ligands, have been synthesized and fully characterized. Reaction of [(PNN)Re(O)₂]⁺ ( 4 ) with lithiumhexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) yield the dearomatized [(PNN*)Re(O)₂] ( 3 ). Complexes 1 and 2 are prepared from the reaction of 4 and 3 , respectively, with CO or isocyanides. Single‐crystal X‐ray structures of 1 a and 1 b show the expected trans‐dioxo structure, in which the oxo ligands occupy the axial positions and the π‐acidic ligand occupies the equatorial plane in an overall octahedral geometry about the rhenium(V) center. DFT studies revealed the stability of complexes 1 and 2 arises from a π‐backbonding interaction between the d_xy orbital of rhenium, the π orbital of the oxo ligands, and the π* orbital of CO/isocyanide.     

Metallkomplexe mit N2O2S2‐Koordinationssphäre. Synthese und Charakterisierung der Cobalt(II)‐, Nickel(II)‐ und Kupfer(II)‐Komplexe eines 15‐ und eines 16‐gliedrigen N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐funktionalisierten makrocyclischen Liganden

Metal Complexes with N₂O₂S₂ Donor Set. Synthesis and Characterization of the Cobalt(II), Nickel(II), and Copper(II) Complexes of a 15‐ and a 16‐Membered Bis(2‐hydroxyethyl) Pendant Macrocyclic Ligand The macrocyclic ligands 6, 10‐bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐7, 8, 9, 11, 17, 18‐hexahydro‐dibenzo‐[e, n][1, 4, 8, 12]‐dithiadiaza‐cyclopentadecine ( 1 ) (L¹) and 5, 13‐bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20‐nonahydro‐dibenzo‐[g, o][1, 9, 5, 13]‐dithiadiaza‐cyclohexadecine (L⁴) have been prepared. They form the stable complexes [CoL¹(‐H)CoL¹](ClO₄)₃ ( 2 ), [NiL¹](ClO₄)₂·MeOH ( 3 ), Λ‐[CuL¹](ClO₄)₂·MeOH ( 4a ) and rac‐[CuL¹](ClO₄)₂·MeOH ( 4b ), [NiL⁴](ClO₄)₂ ( 5 ), and [CuL⁴](ClO₄)₂ ( 6 ). The compounds 1 to 6 have been characterized by standard methods and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In the complexes 2 to 6 the metal atoms are octahedrally coordinated by the N₂O₂S₂ donor set of the ligands. L¹ and L⁴ are folded herein along the N···M···S‐ and the N···M···N′‐axes, respectively. This results at the metal atom in a all‐cis‐configuration for the complexes of L¹ and a trans‐N₂‐cis‐O₂‐cis‐S₂‐configuration for the complexes of L⁴. The cobalt(II) complex 2 is a dimer, bridged by a rather short hydrogen bridge of 2.402(12)Å length. The copper(II) complexes of L¹ and L⁴ differ with respect to the Jahn‐Teller‐distortion.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties of a two‐dimensional cyanide‐based heterometallic coordination polymer with cationic piperazinium ligands: poly[aquatetra‐μ2‐cyanido‐κ8C:N‐dicyanido‐κ2C‐(piperazinium‐κN4)cobalt(III)copper(II)]

Cyanide as a bridge can be used to construct homo‐ and heterometallic complexes with intriguing structures and interesting magnetic properties. These ligands can generate diverse structures, including clusters, one‐dimensional chains, two‐dimensional layers and three‐dimensional frameworks. The title cyanide‐bridged Cu^II–Co^III heterometallic compound, [Cu^IICo^III(CN)₆(C₄H₁₁N₂)(H₂O)]_n, has been synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, magnetic measurement, thermal study, vibrational spectroscopy (FT–IR) and scanning electron microscopy/energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). The crystal structure analysis revealed that it has a two‐dimensional grid‐like structure built up of [Cu(Hpip)(H₂O)]³⁺ cations (Hpip is piperazinium) and [Co(CN)₆]³⁻ anions that are linked through bridging cyanide ligands. The overall three‐dimensional supramolecular network is expanded by a combination of interlayer O—H...N and N—H...O hydrogen bonds involving the coordinated water molecules and the N atoms of the nonbridging cyanide groups and monodentate cationic piperazinium ligands. A magnetic investigation shows that antiferromagnetic interactions exist in the title compound.     

Synthesis,Electrochemistry, and Photophysical Studies of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridine Complexes with D–π–A–π–D Type Ligands and Their Application Studies as Organic Memories

A new class of ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes with a series of D–π–A–π–D type (D=donor, A=acceptor) ligands was synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the complexes were also investigated. The newly synthesized ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes were found to exhibit two intense absorption bands at both high‐energy (λ=333–369 nm) and low‐energy (λ=520–535 nm) regions. They are assigned as intraligand (IL) π→π* transitions of the bipyridine (bpy) and π‐conjugated bpy ligands, and IL charge‐transfer (CT) transitions from the donor to the acceptor moiety with mixing of dπ(Ru^II)→π*(bpy) and dπ(Ru^II)→π*(L) MLCT characters, respectively. In addition, all complexes were demonstrated to exhibit intense red emissions at approximately λ=727–744 nm in degassed dichloromethane at 298 K or in n‐butyronitrile glass at 77 K. Nanosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy has also been carried out, establishing the presence of the charge‐separated state. In order to understand the electrochemical properties of the complexes, cyclic voltammetry has also been performed. Two quasi‐reversible oxidation couples and three quasi‐reversible reduction couples were observed. One of the ruthenium(II) complexes has been utilized in the fabrication of memory devices, in which an ON/OFF current ratio of over 10⁴ was obtained.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Photophysical Properties of the Di‐ and Trinuclear Phosphine‐Diimine Complexes of Copper(I)

Reactions of [Cu(NCMe)₄]⁺ with stoichiometric amount of diphosphine R₂P–(C₆H₄)_n–PR₂, (R = NC₄H₄, n = 1; R = Ph, n = 1, 2, 3) or tri‐phosphine 1, 3, 5‐(PPh₂–C₆H₄–)₃–C₆H₃ ligands give the corresponding di‐ or trinuclear copper(I) acetonitrile‐phosphine complexes 1 – 5 . Substitution of the labile acetonitrile groups with chelating aromatic diimines – 2, 2′‐bipyridine (bpy), 1, 10‐phenanthroline (phen), 5, 6‐dimethyl‐1, 10‐phenanthroline (dmp), 5, 6‐dibromo‐1, 10‐phenanthroline (phenBr₂) – gives the corresponding substituted compounds 6 – 16 . In all complexes 1 – 16 each central Cu^I atom has tetrahedral configuration completed with two N‐ and two P‐donor groups. The compounds obtained were characterized using elemental analysis, ESI‐MS, X‐ray crystallography, and NMR spectroscopy. All phosphine‐diimine compounds 6 – 16 are photoluminescent at room temperature both in dichloromethane solution and in solid state (λ_ex = 385 nm). In CH₂Cl₂ solution the maxima of emission bands are found in a range 540–640 nm, and in solid in a similar range 538–620 nm. Emission of 6 – 16 is assigned to the triplet excited state dominated by the charge transfer transitions with contribution of the MLCT character.     

Bimetallic Ru(II)–Ir(III) complexes with bridging 2,2′‐bipyrimidine: Synthesis,structures and characterization

In this work, four bimetallic Ru(II)–Ir(III) complexes with the general formula [(bpy)₂Ru(bpm)Ir(C^N)₂](PF₆)₃ (bpy = 2,2‐bipyridine, bpm = 2,2′‐bipyrimidine, C^N = 2‐phenylpyridinato ( 2 ), (2‐p‐tolyl)pyridinato ( 3 ), 2‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl)pyridinato ( 4 ), and 2‐thienylpyridinato ( 5 )) were synthesized. Complexes 2 – 5 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, high‐resolution mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The structures of the complexes 2 and 4 were further confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. All the complexes display strong absorption in the high‐energy UV region assigned to intraligand (IL) transitions, and the lower energy bands are ascribed to metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions. The reduction and oxidation behavior of the complexes 2 – 5 were examined by cyclic voltammetry. Variation of the ligands on Ir(III) center resulted in significant changes in electrochemical properties.     

Heteroscorpionate‐based heteroleptic copper(II) complexes: Antioxidant,molecular docking and in vitro cytotoxicity studies

Three new heteroscorpionate ligands, (2‐hydroxyphenyl)bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)methane (HL¹), (4‐diethylamino‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)methane (HL²) and (5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)methane (HL³), and their heteroleptic copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu(L^1–3)diimine]ClO₄ ( 1 – 6 ; where diimine =2,2′‐bipyridyl or 1,10‐phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic methods. The molecular structure of ligand HL¹ was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. UV–visible, electron paramagnetic resonance and theoretical studies suggest a distorted square pyramidal geometry around copper(II) ion. Analyses of highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals have been used to explain the charge transfer taking place within the complexes. The antioxidant activities of the heteroscorpionate ligands and their heteroleptic copper(II) complexes were determined using ABTS, DPPH and H₂O₂ free radical scavenging assays with respect to standard antioxidant ascorbic acid. In molecular docking studies, the complexes showed π–π, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals and electrostatic interactions with fibroblast growth factor receptor kinase. In vitro cytotoxicity activities of ligands and copper(II) complexes were examined on human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF‐7), cervical (HeLa) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines and normal human dermal fibroblast cell line using MTT assay. Complex 4 exhibited higher anticancer activity than the other complexes against all three cancer lines, being more potent than the standard drug cisplatin.     

Metallorganische 5d6‐Übergangsmetallkomplexe von zwei 1‐Methyl‐(2‐alkylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐Liganden: Strukturen und elektrochemische Oxidation

Organometallic 5d⁶ Transition Metal Complexes of 1‐Methyl‐(2‐alkylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole Ligands: Structures and Electrochemical Oxidation The complexes [(mmb)Re(CO)₃Cl], [(mtb)Re(CO)₃Cl], [(mmb)OsCl(Cym)](PF₆) and [(Cym)OsCl(mtb)](PF₆) where Cym = p‐cymene, mmb = 1‐methyl‐(2‐methylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole and mtb = 1‐methyl‐(2‐tert‐butylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole were synthesized and, except for the latter, structurally characterized. In comparison with other late transition metal compounds of these N‐S chelate ligands the rhenium(I) systems exhibit a balanced coordination to both N and S donor atoms. Anodic one‐electron oxidation produces EPR‐silent rhenium(II) states whereas the osmium(III) species [(mmb)OsCl(Cym)]²⁺ could be identified via EPR and UV/VIS spectroelectrochemistry.     

Syntheses,Structures, and Properties of the Complexes [Ag(N∧S)n](X), N∧S = 1‐Methyl‐2‐(alkylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazoles,X = PF6 (n = 2) or PO2F2 (n = 1)

The complexes [Ag(η²‐N∧S)₂](PF₆), N∧S = 1‐methyl‐2‐(methylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole, mmb (complex 1 ) or 1‐methyl‐2‐(tert‐butylthiomethyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole, mtb (complex 2 ), and [Ag(μ,η²‐mmb)(μ,η²‐O₂PF₂)] (complex 3 ) were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Long Ag–S (ca. 2.70 Å) and shorter Ag–N bonds (ca. 2.23 Å) are part of characteristically distorted tetrahedral coordination arrangements at the silver(I) ions in 1 and 2 . Unexpectedly, the comparison with the copper analogue [Cu(η²‐mmb)₂](PF₆) reveals a more tetrahedral and less linear coordination arrangement for the corresponding silver species. Compound 3 as obtained by hydrolysis of the PF₆ ion or by the use of AgPO₂F₂ exhibits bridging mmb and η²‐difluorophosphate ligands in a chain‐type structure.     

Tridentate Complexes of Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Bearing bis‐Aryloxide Triazole Ligands: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

A novel class of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes bearing tridentate bis‐aryloxide triazole ligands was prepared by using straightforward and high‐yielding synthetic routes. The complexes were fully characterized and the molecular structures of four derivatives were unambigously determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometric analyses. For the most promising luminescent Pt^II derivatives, further experimental investigations were carried out to characterize their photophysical features and to ascertain the nature of the emitting excited state by means of electronic absorption, steady‐state, and time‐resolved emission techniques in different conditions. In degassed fluid solution the complexes displayed broad and featureless photoluminescence with λ_em=522–585 nm, excited‐state lifetime up to few microseconds and quantum yield (PLQY) up to 17 %, depending on the nature of both ancillary ligand and substituent on the tridentate ligand. Computational investigation using density functional theory and time‐dependent DFT were performed to gain insight into the electronic processes responsible for optical transitions and structure–photoluminescence relationship. Jointly, experimental and theoretical characterization indicated that the radiative transition arises from an excited state with admixed triplet‐manifold metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer and ligand‐centered (³MLCT/³LC) character. We elucidated the modulation of the photophysical properties upon variation of substituents for this new family of complexes.     

Zinc(II) Tri‐tert‐butoxysilanethiolates. Synthesis,Properties, Crystal and Molecular Structures of [Zn{SSi(OBut)3}2(NH3)L] (L = 2‐Picoline or 2,4‐Lutidine) and [Zn{SSi(OBut)3}2(NH3)2] · MeCN Complexes

[Zn{SSi(OBu^t)₃}₂(NH₃)]₂ ( 1 ) reacts with 2‐picoline or 2,4‐lutidine (L) without elimination of ammonia giving stable monometallic complexes [Zn{SSi(OBu^t)₃}₂(NH₃)L] ( 3 and 4 ), with two different nitrogen ligands bonded to the metal center. Reaction of (Bu^tO)₃SiSH with zinc di(acetylacetonate) in ammonia atmosphere leads to the complex with two ammine ligands [Zn{SSi(OBu^t)₃}₂(NH₃)₂] · MeCN ( 5 ). Molecular and crystal structures of 3 , 4 and 5 have been determined by the single crystal X‐ray structural analysis. All have distorted tetrahedral geometry. The presence of ammonia gives rise to hydrogen bonds, different in all three cases. 3 , 4 , and 5 are the first examples of structurally characterized ammine ligated zinc thiolates.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Manganese(II) and ­Cobalt(II) Complexes with 2, 6‐Dimethoxybenzoic Acid and Additional N‐Donor Ligands

Three coordination compounds [Mn₃(dmb)₆(H₂O)₄(4, 4′‐bpy)₃(EtOH)]_n ( 1 ) and [M(dmb)₂(pyz)₂ (H₂O)₂] [M^II = Co ( 2 ), Mn ( 3 )] (Hdmb = 2, 6‐dimethoxybenzoic acid, 4, 4′‐bpy = 4, 4′‐bipyridine, pyz = pyrazine) were synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 consists of infinite 1D polymeric chains, in which the metal entities are bridged by 4, 4′‐bpy ligands. There are four crystallographically independent Mn^II atoms in the linear chain with different coordination modes, which is only scarcely reported for linear polymers. The isostructural crystals of 2 and 3 are composed of neutral mononuclear complexes. In crystal the complexes are combined into chains by intermolecular O–H ··· N hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions between antiparallel pyrazine molecules.     

An NHC–Silyl–NHC Pincer Ligand for the Oxidative Addition of C−H,N−H,and O−H Bonds to Cobalt(I) Complexes

N‐Heterocyclic carbene based pincer ligands bearing a central silyl donor, [CSiC]⁻, have been envisioned as a class of strongly σ‐donating ligands that can be used for synthesizing electron‐rich transition‐metal complexes for the activation of inert bonds. However, this type of pincer ligand and complexes thereof have remained elusive owing to their challenging synthesis. We herein describe the first synthesis of a CSiC pincer ligand scaffold through the coupling of a silyl–NHC chelate with a benzyl–NHC chelate induced by one‐electron oxidation in the coordination sphere of a cobalt complex. The monoanionic CSiC ligand stabilizes the Co^I dinitrogen complex [(CSiC)Co(N₂)] with an unusual coordination geometry and enables the challenging oxidative addition of E−H bonds (E=C, N, O) to Co^I to form Co^III complexes. The structure and reactivity of the cobalt(I) complex are ascribed to the unique electronic properties of the CSiC pincer ligand, which provides a strong trans effect and pronounced σ‐donation.     

The Coordination Chemistry of Iron with the 1,4‐Bis(2‐pyridyl‐methyl)piperazine Ligand

The behaviour of Fe^II and Fe^III ions in combination with the potential ligand 1,4‐bis(2‐pyridyl‐methyl)piperazine (BPMP) under anhydrous conditions has been investigated. BPMP has been reacted with FeCl₂, FeCl₃ and [Fe(OTf)₂(MeCN)₂]. This led to the isolation of four new complexes, which were fully characterized and structurally investigated by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. It turned out that in the presence of chloride co‐ligands Fe^III favours the tetradentate coordination mode of BPMP with the piperazine unit in a boat configuration, like for instance in [BPMP(Cl)Fe(μ‐O)FeCl₃] or [BPMP‐FeCl₂][FeCl₄], ( 1 ). However, the employment of FeCl₂ leads to the formation of a coordination polymer [BPMP‐FeCl₂]_n, ( 2 ), containing the piperazine ring in a chair configuration binding to two iron centres each. 2 can only be dissolved in very polar solvents like dmf which is capable of breaking up the polymeric structure under formation of [Cl₂(dmf)Fe(μ‐BPMP‐1κ²N,N:2κ²N,N))Fe(dmf)Cl₂]·2 dmf, ( 3 ). In contrast, using [Fe(OTf)₂(MeCN)₂] instead of FeCl₂ as the starting material leads to a mononuclear Fe^II complex with BPMP bound in the desirable tetradentate fashion: [BPMP‐Fe(OTf)₂], ( 4 ). Unlike other complexes with tetradentate N/py ligands the two residual ligands in 4 are bound almost trans to each other with the potential to adopt a cis orientation under oxidising conditions, and it will be interesting to exploit its catalytic properties in future.     

Catalytic Water Oxidation by Ruthenium(II) Quaterpyridine (qpy) Complexes: Evidence for Ruthenium(III) qpy‐N,N′′′‐dioxide as the Real Catalysts

Polypyridyl and related ligands have been widely used for the development of water oxidation catalysts. Supposedly these ligands are oxidation‐resistant and can stabilize high‐oxidation‐state intermediates. In this work a series of ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(qpy)(L)₂]²⁺ (qpy=2,2′:6′,2′′:6′′,2′′′‐quaterpyridine; L=substituted pyridine) have been synthesized and found to catalyze Ce^IV‐driven water oxidation, with turnover numbers of up to 2100. However, these ruthenium complexes are found to function only as precatalysts; first, they have to be oxidized to the qpy‐N,N′′′‐dioxide (ONNO) complexes [Ru(ONNO)(L)₂]³⁺ which are the real catalysts for water oxidation.     

Spectroscopic and electrochemical study for evaluating DNA interaction activity of 4‐(3‐halophenyl)‐6‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)pyrimidin‐2‐amine based piano stool Cp* Rh (III) and Ir (III) complexes

Six novel organometallic half sandwich complexes [(η5‐C₅Me₅)M(L^1–3)Cl]Cl.2H₂O were synthesized using [{(η⁵‐C₅Me₅)M(μ‐Cl)Cl₂], where M = Ir (III)/Rh (III) and L^1–3 = three pyridyl pyrimidine based ligands; and characterized by NMR, Infra‐red spectroscopy, conductance, elemental and thermal analysis. The complex‐DNA binding mode and/or strength evaluated using absorption titration, electrochemical studies and hydrodynamic measurement proposed intercalative binding mode, which was also confirmed by molecular docking study. Differential pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry studies indicated an alteration in oxidation and reduction potentials of complexes (M⁺⁴/M⁺³) in presence of CT‐DNA. The metal complexes can cleave plasmid DNA as proposed in gel electrophoretic analysis. The LC₅₀ values of complexes evaluated on brine shrimp suggested their potent cytotoxic nature.     

Palladium(II)‐N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes: synthesis,characterization and catalytic application

N‐Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are of great importance and are powerful ligands for transition metals. A new series of sterically hindered benzimidazole‐based NHC ligands (LHX) ( 2a , 2b , 2c , 2d , 2e , 2f ), silver–NHC complexes ( 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f ) and palladium–NHC complexes ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f ) have been synthesized and characterized using appropriate spectroscopic techniques. Studies have focused on the development of a more efficient catalytic system for the Suzuki coupling reaction of aryl chlorides. Catalytic performance of Pd–NHC complexes and in situ prepared Pd(OAc)₂/LHX catalysts has been investigated for the Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction under mild reaction conditions in aqueous N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF). These complexes smoothly catalyzed the Suzuki–Miyaura reactions of electron‐rich and electron‐poor aryl chlorides. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.