Rhodium‐catalysed hydroformylation of 1‐octene using aryl and ferrocenyl Schiff base‐derived ligands

Monometallic and heterobimetallic complexes of Rh(I) bearing chelating N ,O ‐bidentate aryl‐ and ferrocenyl‐derived ligands have been synthesised via Schiff base condensation reactions, and characterised fully using ¹H NMR, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. The new monometallic and heterobimetallic complexes were evaluated as potential catalyst precursors in the hydroformylation of 1‐octene at 95°C and 40 bar. The ferrocenylimine mononuclear compounds were inactive in the hydroformylation experiments. The Rh(I) monometallic and the ferrocene–Rh(I) heterobimetallic pre‐catalysts displayed good activity and conversion of 1‐octene as well as outstanding chemoselectivity towards aldehydes in the hydroformylation reaction.     

Xantphite: A New Family of Ligands for Catalysis. Applications in the Hydroformylation of Alkenes

The novel bulky diphosphite (P∩P) ligands ( 3 and 4 ) based on the 2,7,9,9‐tetramethyl‐9H‐xanthene‐4,5‐diol ( 2 ) backbone were investigated in the Rh‐catalyzed hydroformylation of oct‐1‐ene, styrene, and (E)‐oct‐2‐ene. These diphosphites gave rise to very active and selective catalysts for the hydroformylation of oct‐1‐ene to nonanal with average rates>10000 (mol aldehyde)(mol Rh)⁻¹h⁻¹ (P(CO/H₂)=20 bar, T=80°, [Rh]=1 mM ) and maximum selectivities of 79% for the linear product. Relatively high selectivities towards the linear aldehyde (up to 70%, linear/branched up to 2.3) but very high activities (up to 39000 (mol aldehyde)(mol Rh)⁻¹h⁻¹) were observed for the hydroformylation of styrene in the presence of these bidentate ligands (P(CO/H₂)=2 – 10 bar, T=120°, [Rh]=0.2 mM ). Remarkable activities (up to 980 (mol aldehyde)(mol Rh)⁻¹h⁻¹) were achieved with these diphosphites for the hydroformylation of (E)‐oct‐2‐ene with selectivities for the linear product of 74% (l/b up to 2.8, P(CO/H₂)=2 bar, T=120°, [Rh]=1 mM ). A detailed study of the solution structure of the catalyst under catalytic conditions was performed by NMR and high‐pressure FT‐IR. The spectroscopic data revealed that under hydroformylation conditions, the bidentate ligands rapidly formed stable, well‐defined catalysts with the structure [RhH(CO)₂(P∩P)]. All the ligands showed a preference for an equatorial‐apical ( ea ) coordination mode in the trigonal bipyramidal Rh‐complexes, indicating that a bis‐equatorial ( ee ) coordination is not a prerequisite for highly selective catalysts.     

Highly regioselective hydroformylation of enamides with phosphite ligands

The regioselective hydroformylation of enamides with a catalyst derived from monodentate phosphites and Rh(acac)(CO)₂ was studied. In the hydroformylation of N-vinylphthalimide, all the biphenol-based ligands led to the branched aldehyde; the fastest reaction was observed when using a sterically bulky phosphite. The olefins (E)-N-propenylphthalimide, vinylpyrrolidone, vinylcaprolactam and vinylcarbazole were also investigated.     

ESI-MS/MS Analysis of Phenolic Compounds from Aeonium arboreum Leaf Extracts and Evaluation of their Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

Aeonium is a genus of succulents belonging to the Crassulaceae family. Their importance in traditional medicine has stimulated both pharmacological and chemical research. In this study, we optimized extraction, separation, and analytical conditions using a high performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry by the negative mode (HPLC-ESI-MS) in order to, for the first time, determine thirty-four compounds from Aeonium arboreum leaves. Twenty-one of them are assigned among which are sixteen flavonoids and five phenolic acids. FRAP, TAC, DPPH, and ABTS^•+ radical scavenging were used to evaluate antioxidant activity. The obtained IC₅₀ values ranged from 0.031 to 0.043 mg.mL⁻¹ for DPPH and between 0.048 and 0.09 mg·mL⁻¹ for ABTS^•+. Antimicrobial activity was also assessed. The obtained minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these extracts ranged from 12.5 to 50 µg·mL⁻¹ against Micrococcus luteus, Listeria ivanovii, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium oxysporum, and from 25 to 50 µg·mL⁻¹ against Candida albicans. Therefore, these extracts can be considered as a potential source of biological active compounds.     

Structural Diversity of Silver Fluorinated β-Diketonates: Effect of the Terminal Substituent and Solvent

In order to demonstrate the role of the fluorination and some solvents in the structural organization of the Ag(I) coordination polymers with β-diketonate ligands (R¹C(O)C_αHC(O)R²)⁻ we synthesized a series of the compounds containing tfac- (R₁ = CH₃, R² = CF₃) and pfpac- (R₁ = CH₃, R² = C₂F₅) anions. Solvent-free [Ag(L)]_∞ (L = tfac 1, pfpac 2) compounds and the corresponding acetonitrile and toluene adducts have been characterized by elemental analysis and/or NMR, IR and single-crystal XRD. This series includes five new coordination polymers. Compound 1 is a 3D coordination framework based on Ag–O_{chelate/bridge}, Ag–C_α bonds, and argentophilic interactions. An increase in the fluorinated group leads to a chain coordination polymer 2 of an unusual structural organization. These chains can be represented as a “DNA-type”, where two intertwined helices based on Ag–O_chelate and Ag–C_α bonds are connected through Ag–O_bridge ones. Two structural types of chain coordination polymers, [Ag(tfac)(CH₃CN)] and [Ag₂(L)₂(solvent)], have been revealed for the adducts. The latter structural type differs significantly from the previously studied toluene and acetonitrile adducts of fluorinated Ag(I) β-diketonates of the same stoichiometry. Thermal analysis in helium showed that both 1 and 2 decompose to metallic silver with the compound of pfpac-ligand being slightly more stable.     

Chemical Characterization of Plant Extracts and Evaluation of their Nematicidal and Phytotoxic Potential

Nacobbus aberrans ranks among the “top ten” plant-parasitic nematodes of phytosanitary importance. It causes significant losses in commercial interest crops in America and is a potential risk in the European Union. The nematicidal and phytotoxic activities of seven plant extracts against N. aberrans and Solanum lycopersicum were evaluated in vitro, respectively. The chemical nature of three nematicidal extracts (EC_50,48h ≤ 113 µg mL⁻¹) was studied through NMR analysis. Plant extracts showed nematicidal activity on second-stage juveniles (J2): (≥87%) at 1000 µg mL⁻¹ after 72 h, and their EC₅₀ values were 71.4–468.1 and 31.5–299.8 µg mL⁻¹ after 24 and 48 h, respectively. Extracts with the best nematicidal potential (EC_50,48h < 113 µg mL⁻¹) were those from Adenophyllum aurantium, Alloispermum integrifolium, and Tournefortia densiflora, which inhibited L. esculentum seed growth by 100% at 20 µg mL⁻¹. Stigmasterol (1), β-sitosterol (2), and α-terthienyl (3) were identified from A. aurantium, while 1, 2, lutein (4), centaurin (5), patuletin-7-β-O-glucoside (6), pendulin (7), and penduletin (8) were identified from A. integrifolium. From T. densiflora extract, allantoin (9), 9-O-angeloyl-retronecine (10), and its N-oxide (11) were identified. The present research is the first to report the effect of T. densiflora, A. integrifolium, and A. aurantium against N. aberrans and chemically characterized nematicidal extracts that may provide alternative sources of botanical nematicides.     

Synthesis and characterisation of two novel Rh(I) carbene complexes: Crystal structure of [Rh(acac)(CO)(L1)]

The [Rh(acac)(CO)(L)] (acac = acetylacetonato; L₁ = 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolinylidene and L₂ = 1,3-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolinylidene) complexes were prepared by the action of the parent carbene on [Rh(acac)(CO)₂] in THF. The crystal structure characterisation of [Rh(acac)(CO)(L₁)] revealed a slightly distorted square planar geometry with the carbene ligand orientated almost perpendicular to the equatorial plane; an elongated trans Rh-O bond of 2.0806(18) Å reflecting the considerable trans-influence of the carbene ligand. By measuring the CO stretching frequencies in a range of [Rh(acac)(CO)(L)] complexes (L = CO, L₁, L₂, PPh₃, PⁿBu₃, P(O-2,4-^tBu₂-Ph)₃) the following electron donating ability series was established: L₁ ∼ L₂ ∼ PⁿBu₃ > PPh₃ > P(O-2,4-^tBu₂-Ph)₃ > CO; indicating the carbenes investigated in this study to have a similar electronic cis-influence as trialkyl phosphines. Both complexes do not display hydroformylation activity towards 1-hexene in the absence of added phosphine or phosphite ligands under the conditions investigated (P = 60; T = 85 °C). In the presence of a phosphine or phosphite ligand the resulting hydroformylation catalysis was identical to that observed for [Rh(acac)(CO)₂] and the corresponding ligand and subsequent high-pressure ³¹P NMR studies confirmed substitution of the carbene ligand under these conditions.     

Novel α-fluorinated cyclic phosphite and phosphinite ligands and their Rh-complexes as suitable catalysts in hydroformylation

Asymmetrical cyclic phosphite and phosphinite ligands of a novel type bearing either trifluoromethyl or pentafluorophenyl group were synthesized using >PCl or >PN< species and racemic fluorinated alcohols. The P-ligands were converted to complexes of Rh^III(L)(Cp^∗)Cl₂ type (where L = phosphite or phosphinite) and, in two instances, their stereostructures were evaluated by X-ray analysis. These complexes along with in situ systems, formed from Rh(CO)₂(acac) precursor and the corresponding ligand, were tested in the hydroformylation of styrene. Both systems provided excellent hydroformylation activities at 100 °C. Using the Rh^I in situ systems, moderate and high regioselectivities towards the branched aldehyde (2-phenyl-propanal) were obtained at 100 and 40 °C, respectively.     

Proton-conductive coordination polymer glass for solid-state anhydrous proton batteries

Designing solid-state electrolytes for proton batteries at moderate temperatures is challenging as most solid-state proton conductors suffer from poor moldability and thermal stability. Crystal–glass transformation of coordination polymers (CPs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) via melt-quenching offers diverse accessibility to unique properties as well as processing abilities. Here, we synthesized a glassy-state CP, [Zn₃(H₂PO₄)₆(H₂O)₃](1,2,3-benzotriazole), that exhibited a low melting temperature (114 °C) and a high anhydrous single-ion proton conductivity (8.0 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 120 °C). Converting crystalline CPs to their glassy-state counterparts via melt-quenching not only initiated an isotropic disordered domain that enhanced H⁺ dynamics, but also generated an immersive interface that was beneficial for solid electrolyte applications. Finally, we demonstrated the first example of a rechargeable all-solid-state H⁺ battery utilizing the new glassy-state CP, which exhibited a wide operating-temperature range of 25 to 110 °C.

Melt-quenched coordination polymer glass shows exclusive H⁺ conductivity (8.0 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 120 °C, anhydrous) and optimal mechanical properties (42.8 Pa s at 120 °C), enables the operation of an all-solid-state proton battery from RT to 110 °C.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Assessment of the Antioxidant Activity of Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) Complexes Derived from Scorpionate Ligands

Seeking to enrich the yet less explored field of scorpionate complexes bearing antioxidant properties, we, here, report on the synthesis, characterization and assessment of the antioxidant activity of new complexes derived from three scorpionate ligands. The interaction between the scorpionate ligands thallium(I) hydrotris(5-methyl-indazolyl)borate (TlTp^4Bo,5Me), thallium(I) hydrotris(4,5-dihydro-2H-benzo[g]indazolyl)borate (TlTp^a) and potassium hydrotris(3-tert-butyl- pyrazolyl)borate (KTp^tBu), and metal(II) chlorides, in dichloromethane at room temperature, produced a new family of complexes having the stoichiometric formula [M(Tp^4Bo,5Me)₂] (M = Cu, 1; Zn, 4; Cd, 7), [M(Tp^a)₂] (M = Cu, 2; Zn, 5; Cd, 8), [Cu(Hpz^tBu)₃Cl₂] (3), [Zn(Tp^tBu)Cl] (6) and [Cd(Bp^tBu)(Hpz^tBu)Cl] (9). The obtained metal complexes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance and elemental analysis, highlighting the total and partial hydrolysis of the scorpionate ligand Tp^tBu during the synthesis of the Cu(II) complex 3 and the Cd(II) complex 9, respectively. An assessment of the antioxidant activity of the obtained metal complexes was performed through both enzymatic and non-enzymatic assays against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl- hydrazyl (DPPH^·), 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS^+·), hydroxyl (HO^·), nitric oxide (NO^·), superoxide (O₂⁻) and peroxide (OOH^·) radicals. In particular, the complex [Cu(Tp^a)₂]⋅0.5H₂O (2) exhibited significant antioxidant activity, as good and specific activity against superoxide (O₂^−·), (IC50 values equal to 5.6 ± 0.2 μM) and might be identified as auspicious SOD-mimics (SOD = superoxide dismutase).     

GC/MS Analysis of Essential Oil and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Syzygium cumini (Pamposia) Grown in Egypt: Chemical Characterization and Molecular Docking Studies

Syzygium cumini (Pomposia) is a well-known aromatic plant belonging to the family Myrtaceae, and has been reported for its various traditional and pharmacological potentials, such as its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antidiarrheal properties. The chemical composition of the leaf essential oil via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed the identification of fifty-three compounds representing about 91.22% of the total oil. The identified oil was predominated by α-pinene (21.09%), followed by β-(E)-ocimene (11.80%), D-limonene (8.08%), β-pinene (7.33%), and α-terpineol (5.38%). The tested oil revealed a moderate cytotoxic effect against human liver cancer cells (HepG2) with an IC₅₀ value of 38.15 ± 2.09 µg/mL. In addition, it effectively inhibited acetylcholinesterase with an IC₅₀ value of 32.9 ± 2.1 µg/mL. Furthermore, it showed inhibitory properties against α-amylase and α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values of 57.80 ± 3.30 and 274.03 ± 12.37 µg/mL, respectively. The molecular docking studies revealed that (E)-β-caryophyllene, one of the major compounds, achieved the best docking scores of −6.75, −5.61, and −7.75 for acetylcholinesterase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase, respectively. Thus, it is concluded that S. cumini oil should be considered as a food supplement for the elderly to enhance memory performance and for diabetic patients to control blood glucose.     

Copper coordination polymers from cavitand ligands: hierarchical spaces from cage and capsule motifs,and other topologies

The cyclotriveratrylene-type ligands (±)-tris(iso-nicotinoyl)cyclotriguaiacylene L1 (±)-tris(4-pyridylmethyl)cyclotriguaiacylene L2 and (±)-tris{4-(4-pyridyl)benzyl}cyclotriguaiacylene L3 all feature 4-pyridyl donor groups and all form coordination polymers with Cu^I and/or Cu^II cations that show a remarkable range of framework topologies and structures. Complex [Cu^I ₄Cu^II _1.5(L1)₃(CN)₆]·CN·n(DMF) 1 features a novel 3,4-connected framework of cyano-linked hexagonal metallo-cages. In complexes [Cu₃(L2)₄(H₂O)₃]·6(OTf)·n(DMSO) 2 and [Cu₂(L3)₂Br₂(H₂O)(DMSO)]·2Br·n(DMSO) 3 capsule-like metallo-cryptophane motifs are formed which linked through their metal vertices into a hexagonal 2D network of (4³.12³)(4².12²) topology or a coordination chain. Complex [Cu₂(L1)₂(OTf)₂(NMP)₂(H₂O)₂]·2(OTf)·2NMP 4 has an interpenetrating 2D 3,4-connected framework of (4.6².8)(6².8)(4.6².8²) topology with tubular channels. Complex [Cu(L1)(NCMe)]·BF₄·2(CH₃CN)·H₂O 5 features a 2D network of 6³ topology while the Cu^II analogue [Cu₂(L1)₂(NMP)(H₂O)]·4BF₄·12NMP·1.5H₂O 6 has an interpenetrating (10,3)-b type structure and complex [Cu₂(L2)₂Br₃(DMSO)]·Br·n(DMSO) 7 has a 2D network of 4.8² topology. Strategies for formation of coordination polymers with hierarchical spaces emerge in this work and complex 2 is shown to absorb fullerene-C₆₀ through soaking the crystals in a toluene solution.     

Synthetic and Structural Studies of Ethyl Zinc β-Amidoenoates and β-Ketoiminates

A set of heteroleptic ethyl zinc β-amidoenoates (1, 2) and β-ketoiminates (3) of the form [LZnEt]₂ with varying steric bulk have been synthesised via the reaction of diethylzinc with β-aminoenoate ligands HL¹ and HL² and β-ketoimine HL³. These complexes have been characterised via ¹H and ¹³C NMR, mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which unambiguously determined all three structures as dimeric species in the solid state. We observe the unusual dimerisation of 1 and 2 through coordination of the central zinc atom to the methine carbon of the second monomer, which gives these complexes high reactivity. The thermal properties of complex 3 are explored via thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), to investigate their potential as single-source precursors to zinc oxide, which shows that 3 has a significantly lower decomposition temperature as compared to its bis-ligated counterpart [Zn(L³)₂], which gives 3 promise as a single-source precursor to zinc oxide.     

An Insight into All Tested Small Molecules against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Albedinis: A Comparative Review

Bayoud disease affects date palms in North Africa and the Middle East, and many researchers have used various methods to fight it. One of those methods is the chemical use of synthetic compounds, which raises questions centred around the compounds and common features used to prepare targeted molecules. In this review, 100 compounds of tested small molecules, collected from 2002 to 2022 in Web of Sciences, were divided into ten different classes against the main cause of Bayoud disease pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (F.o.a.) with structure–activity relationship (SAR) interpretations for pharmacophore site predictions as (δ⁻···δ⁻), where 12 compounds are the most efficient (one compound from each group). The compounds, i.e., (Z)-1-(1.5-Dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-3-yl)-3-hydroxy but-2-en-1-one 7, (Z)-3-(phenyl)-1-(1,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-3-yl)-3-hydroxyprop-2-en-1-one 23, (Z)-1-(1,5-Dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-3-yl)-3-hydroxy-3-(pyridine-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one 29, and 2,3-bis-[(2-hydroxy-2-phenyl)ethenyl]-6-nitro-quinoxaline 61, have antifungal pharmacophore sites (δ⁻···δ⁻) in common in N1---O4, whereas other compounds have only one δ⁻ pharmacophore site pushed by the donor effect of the substituents on the phenyl rings. This specificity interferes in the biological activity against F.o.a. Further understanding of mechanistic drug–target interactions on this subject is currently underway.     

Rhodium/tris-binaphthyl chiral monophosphite complexes: Efficient catalysts for the hydroformylation of disubstituted aryl olefins

A family of threefold symmetry phosphite ligands, P(O–BIN–OR)₃ (BIN = 2,2′-binaphthyl; R = Me, Bn, CHPh₂, 1-adamantyl), derived from enantiomerically pure (R)-BINOL, was developed. Cone angles within the range 240–270° were calculated for the phosphite ligands, using the computational PM6 Hamiltonian. Their rhodium complexes formed in situ showed remarkable catalytic activity in the hydroformylation of hindered phenylpropenes, under relatively mild reaction conditions, with full chemoselectivity for aldehydes, high regioselectivity, however with low enantioselectivity. The ether substituents at the ligand affected considerably the catalytic activity on the hydroformylation of 1,1- and 1,2-disubstituted aryl olefins. The kinetics of the hydroformylation of trans-1-phenyl-1-propene, using tris[(R)-2′-benzyloxy-1,1′-binaphthyl-2-yl]phosphite as model ligand, was investigated. A first order dependence in the hydroformylation initial rate with respect to substrate and catalyst concentrations was found, as well as a positive order with respect to the partial pressure of H₂, and a slightly negative order with respect to phosphite concentration and CO partial pressure.     

Expanding the Ligand Classes Used for Mn(II) Complexation: Oxa-aza Macrocycles Make the Difference

We report two macrocyclic ligands based on a 1,7-diaza-12-crown-4 platform functionalized with acetate (tO2DO2A²⁻) or piperidineacetamide (tO2DO2AM^Pip) pendant arms and a detailed characterization of the corresponding Mn(II) complexes. The X−ray structure of [Mn(tO2DO2A)(H₂O)]·2H₂O shows that the metal ion is coordinated by six donor atoms of the macrocyclic ligand and one water molecule, to result in seven-coordination. The Cu(II) analogue presents a distorted octahedral coordination environment. The protonation constants of the ligands and the stability constants of the complexes formed with Mn(II) and other biologically relevant metal ions (Mg(II), Ca(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)) were determined using potentiometric titrations (I = 0.15 M NaCl, T = 25 °C). The conditional stabilities of Mn(II) complexes at pH 7.4 are comparable to those reported for the cyclen-based tDO2A²⁻ ligand. The dissociation of the Mn(II) chelates were investigated by evaluating the rate constants of metal exchange reactions with Cu(II) under acidic conditions (I = 0.15 M NaCl, T = 25 °C). Dissociation of the [Mn(tO2DO2A)(H₂O)] complex occurs through both proton− and metal−assisted pathways, while the [Mn(tO2DO2AM^Pip)(H₂O)] analogue dissociates through spontaneous and proton-assisted mechanisms. The Mn(II) complex of tO2DO2A²⁻ is remarkably inert with respect to its dissociation, while the amide analogue is significantly more labile. The presence of a water molecule coordinated to Mn(II) imparts relatively high relaxivities to the complexes. The parameters determining this key property were investigated using ¹⁷O NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) transverse relaxation rates and ¹H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles.     

Can Serendipity Still Hold Any Surprises in the Coordination Chemistry of Mixed-Donor Macrocyclic ligands? The Case Study of Pyridine-Containing 12-Membered Macrocycles and Platinum Group Metal ions PdII,PtII, and RhIII

This study investigates the coordination chemistry of the tetradentate pyridine-containing 12-membered macrocycles L¹-L³ towards Platinum Group metal ions Pd^II, Pt^II, and Rh^III. The reactions between the chloride salts of these metal ions and the three ligands in MeCN/H₂O or MeOH/H₂O (1:1 v/v) are shown, and the isolated solid compounds are characterized, where possible, by mass spectroscopy and ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic measurements. Structural characterization of the 1:1 metal-to-ligand complexes [Pd(L¹)Cl]₂[Pd₂Cl₆], [Pt(L¹)Cl](BF₄), [Rh(L¹)Cl₂](PF₆), and [Rh(L³)Cl₂](BF₄)·MeCN shows the coordinated macrocyclic ligands adopting a folded conformation, and occupying four coordination sites of a distorted square-based pyramidal and octahedral coordination environment for the Pd^II/Pt^II, and Rh^III complexes, respectively. The remaining coordination site(s) are occupied by chlorido ligands. The reaction of L₃ with PtCl₂ in MeCN/H₂O gave by serendipity the complex [Pt(L³)(μ-1,3-MeCONH)PtCl(MeCN)](BF₄)₂·H₂O, in which two metal centers are bridged by an amidate ligand at a Pt1-Pt2 distance of 2.5798(3) Å and feature one square-planar and one octahedral coordination environment. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, which utilize the broken symmetry approach (DFT-BS), indicate a singlet d⁸-d⁸ Pt^II-Pt^II ground-state nature for this compound, rather than the alleged d⁹-d⁷ Pt^I-Pt^III mixed-valence character reported for related dinuclear Pt-complexes.     

Resolution of P-Sterogenic 1-Phenylphosphin-2-en-4-one 1-Oxide into Two Enantiomers by (R,R)-TADDOL and Conformational Diversity of the Phosphinenone Ring and TADDOL in the Crystal State

The resolution of racemic 1-phenylphosphin-2-en-4-one 1-oxide (2), was achieved through the fractional crystallization of its diastereomeric complexes with (4R,5R)-(−)-2,2-dimethyl -α,α,α′,α′-tetraphenyl-dioxolan-4,5-dimethanol (R,R-TADDOL) followed by the liberation of the individual enantiomers of 2 by flash chromatography on silica gel columns. The resolution process furnished the two enantiomers of 2 of 99.1 and 99.9% e.e. at isolated yields of 62 and 59% (counted for the single enantiomer), respectively. The absolute configurations of the two enantiomers were established by means of X-ray crystallography of their diastereomerically pure complexes, i.e., (R)-2•R,R)-TADDOL and (S)-2•(R,R)-TADDOL. The structural analysis revealed that in the (R)-2•(R,R)-TADDOL complex, the P-phenyl substituent occupied a pseudoequatorial position, whereas in (S)-2•(R,R)-TADDOL, it appeared in both the pseudoequatorial and the pseudoaxial positions in four symmetrically independent molecules. Concurrent conformational changes of the TADDOL molecules were best described by the observed changes of a pseudo-torsional CO...OC angle that could be considered as a possible measure of TADDOL conformation in its receptor–ligand complexes. The structural analysis of the (R,R)-TADDOL molecule revealed that efficiency of this compound for use as an effective resolving factor comes from its ability to flexibly fit its structure to both enantiomers of a ligand molecule, producing a rare case of resolution for both pure enantiomers with one chiral separating agent. The resolved (R)-2 was used to assign the absolute configuration of a recently described (−)-1-phenylphosphin-2-en-4-one 1-sulfide by chemical correlation. In addition, an attempted stereoretentive reduction of (R)-2 by PhSiH₃ at 60 °C revealed an unexpectedly low barrier for P-inversion in 1-phenylphosphin-2-en-4-one.     

Application of Supramolecular Bidentate Hybrid Ligands in Asymmetric Hydroformylation

In this study we report a novel class of supramolecular bidentate hybrid ligands in which the two inequivalent phosphorus units and pyridine moieties are covalently attached to a chiral scaffold and the supramolecular interactions are used as a second handle to control the coordination sphere around the transition‐metal centre. The coordination chemistry of these ligands was investigated under hydroformylation conditions by high‐pressure NMR and IR spectroscopy, revealing the formation of a single active species in which the phosphane ligand is in the axial position and the phosphoramidite adopts the equatorial position. These ligands were applied in the asymmetric Rh‐catalysed hydroformylation of styrene and para‐substituted analogues. In these hydroformylation reactions, modification of the electronic and steric properties of the zinc(II)‐templates appear to have a significant influence on the activity and selectivity of the catalysis. In particular, zinc(II)‐templates bearing more electron‐withdrawing substituents led to an increase in enantioselectivity.     

The Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of the Fluorinated Palladium β-Diketonate Derivatives: Structure and Physicochemical Properties

To search for new suitable Pd precursors for MOCVD/ALD processes, the extended series of fluorinated palladium complexes [Pd(CH₃CXCHCO(R))₂] with β-diketone [tfa−1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedionato (1); pfpa−5,5,6,6,6-pentafluoro-2,4-hexanedionato (3); hfba−5,5,6,6,7,7,7-heptafluoro-2,4-heptanedionato (5)] and β-iminoketone [i-tfa−1,1,1-trifluoro-2-imino-4-pentanonato (2); i-pfpa−5,5,6,6,6-pentafluoro-2-imino-4-hexanonato (4); i-hfba-5,5,6,6,7,7,7-heptafluoro-2-imino-4-heptanonato (6)] ligands were synthesized with 70–80% yields and characterized by a set of experimental (SXRD, XRD, IR, NMR spectroscopy, TG) and theoretical (DFT, Hirshfeld surface analysis) methods. Solutions of Pd β-diketonates contained both cis and trans isomers, while only trans isomers were detected in the solutions of Pd β-iminoketonates. The molecules 2–6 and new polymorphs of complexes 3 and 5 were arranged preferentially in stacks, and the distance between molecules in the stack generally increased with elongation of the fluorine chain in ligands. The H…F contacts were the main ones involved in the formation of packages of molecules 1–2, and C…F, F…F, NH…F contacts appeared in the structures of complexes 4–6. The stability of complexes and their polymorphs in the crystal phases were estimated from DFT calculations. The TG data showed that the volatility differences between Pd β-iminoketonates and Pd β-diketonates were minimized with the elongation of the fluorine chain in the ligands.