New insights into the metal ion–peptide hydroxamate interactions: Metal complexes of primary hydroxamic acid derivatives of common dipeptides in aqueous solution

Complex formation of primary dipeptide hydroxamic acids, L-Ala-L-AlaNHOH and L-Ala-L-SerNHOH, as well as the corresponding Z-protected ones, Z-L-Ala-L-AlaNHOH and Z-L-Ala-L-SerNHOH (Z = benzyloxycarbonyl), with iron(III), aluminium(III), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) was studied in aqueous solution by pH-potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV–Vis, EPR, CD, ¹H NMR) methods. The exclusive formation of [O,O] chelated hydroxamate complexes was found with iron(III) and aluminium(III) with all the ligands. Formation of linkage isomers with the involvement of either [O,O] hydroxamate or [NH₂,CO] chelates was detected both in the zinc(II)-L-Ala-L-AlaNHOH and -L-Ala-L-SerNHOH systems. Upon increasing the pH, none of these chelating sets are capable of preventing the hydrolysis of the metal ion. The formation of stable complexes was found in the nickel(II) and copper(II) systems above pH ∼ 6 with a [NH₂, N_amide, N_hydrox.] binding mode after deprotonation and coordination of the peptide amide and the hydroxamate group. With an excess of copper(II), the formation of trinuclear [Cu₃H_xL₂]^x+4 type (x = −4 to −6) complexes as the major species was also detected. Blocking the terminal amino group in the Z-protected ligands results in a dramatic decrease of the nickel(II) and zinc(II) binding strengths, and insoluble complexes with copper(II). No indication was found for the role of the hydroxyl group of the serine moiety in metal ion binding.     

Synthesis, characterization and ethylene oligomerization studies of nickel complexes bearing 2-imino-1,10-phenanthrolines

A series of nickel (II) complexes ligated by 2-imino-1,10-phenanthrolines were synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analysis as well as by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals complexes 3, 5, 7 and 11 as the five-coordinated distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. Upon activation with Et₂AlCl, these complexes exhibited considerably high activity for ethylene oligomerization (up to 3.76 × 10⁷ g mol⁻¹(Ni) h⁻¹ for 12 with 10 equiv. of PPh₃). The ligand environment and reaction conditions significantly affect the catalytic activity of their nickel complexes.     

Synthesis, characterization and application of pincer-type nickel iminophosphinite complexes

Two pincer-type nickel iminophosphinite complexes, [(2-(CHNR)-6-(OPR′₂)C₆H₃)NiCl] (R = 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃, R′ = Ph (2a) or ⁱPr (2b)), were synthesized from the reactions of bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel(0) and corresponding iminophosphinite ligands. The solid state structures of the nickel pincer complexes were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction studies. They were successfully employed in the Kumada reaction of non-activated aryl chlorides and phenylmagnesium bromide at room temperature.     

N-(Pyridin-2-yl)picolinamide tetranickel clusters: Synthesis,structure and ethylene oligomerization

A series of N-(pyridin-2-yl)picolinamide derivatives was synthesized and characterized. Tetranickel complexes were obtained by stoichiometric reaction of NiBr₂ and corresponding ligands, and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analysis. Moreover, the coordination pattern of complex 3a was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the structure, two ligands linked two nickel atoms to form a unit, and two units were bridged via μ₃-OMe and μ₂-Br to form a tetranickel cluster. These Ni(II) complexes were investigated in ethylene oligomerization and found to exhibit remarkable catalytic activities upon activation with MAO. Reaction conditions as well as ligand environment significantly affected the catalytic performance of the nickel complexes; the highest activity could be achieved to be 2.7 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹ Ni h⁻¹.     

Chloride-bridged Ni(II) complexes with ferromagnetic exchange interaction from thiazoline hydrazone derivative ligands

A novel ligand 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline acetylhydrazone (ATHAc) and two new chloride-bridged dimeric nickel(II) complexes containing thiazoline hydrazone derivative ligands, [{Ni(ATsc)(MeOH)}₂(μ-Cl)₂]Cl₂ (1) (ATsc = 2-acetyl-2-thiazoline semicarbazone) and [{Ni(ATHAc)(H₂O)}₂(μ-Cl)₂]Cl₂ (2), were prepared and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. In addition, NMR spectroscopy for ATHAc and magnetic susceptibility measurements for nickel complexes were performed. The structure of nickel(II) complexes consists of dimeric molecules in which nickel ions are bridged by two chloride ligands. The coordination geometry around each nickel ion can be described as a distorted octahedron with each nickel atom coordinated to one thiazoline nitrogen atom, one imine nitrogen atom, one carbonyl oxygen atom, one oxygen atom (from a methanol molecule in 1 and from a water molecule in 2) and two bridge chloride ligands. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of the complexes show the ferromagnetic behaviour in the solid state (J = 5.7(2) cm⁻¹ in 1; 6.6(3) cm⁻¹ in 2).     

Two bis-[1-(aryliminomethyleny)-2-oxy-naphthalen] nickel catalysts for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Two bis-(1-arylliminomethylenyl-2-oxy-naphthalen) nickel complexes (aryl = 2-methylphenyl, complex 1; aryl = 2,6-diisoproylphenyl, complex 2) were reacted with alkylaluminium in presence of equimolar PPh₃ and tested as catalysts in methyl methacrylate (MMA) polymerization. The two nickel catalysts can initiate polymerization of MMA with good to high activity, the highest activity reaching 1.1 × 10⁵ g PMMA/(mol Ni · h) by less bulky complex 1 at 0.8 mol/L of MMA, 400 of Al/Ni ratio and 0 °C. In addition, the structures of nickel complexes and polymerization conditions, such as monomer concentration, polymerization temperature and Al/Ni molar ratio on catalytic activity of polymerization have great influences on catalytic activity and product properties.     

Novel non-chelated cobalt(II) benzimidazole complex catalysts: Synthesis, crystal structures and cocatalyst effect in vinyl polymerization of norbornene

The novel non-chelated monodentate benzimidazole (BI) complexes CoCl₂(BI)₂ (1)-(3), where BI = 1-(2-methoxybenzyl)- 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzimidazole (1), BI = 2-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-1H-benzimidazole (2) and 2-methyl-1H-benzimidazole (3) were synthesized and characterized by single X-ray crystallography. Unexpectedly, in solid state these complexes show similar coordination behavior to their analogue nickel(II) benzimidazole complexes such as inter-molecular H-bonding pattern and presence of acetonitrile solvent molecules per unit of complex molecule. Moreover, among these cobalt catalysts 1-3, similar trend to that of nickel catalysts is observed for metal-to-nitrogen (M-X) coordination bond length and halogen-metal-halogen (X-M-X) bond angle. But unlike nickel(II) benzimidazole complexes, these catalysts show very low activity for vinyl polymerization of norbornene (NB) upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO); however, the activity abruptly increased in modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO). The presence of a small amount of toluene strongly hampered the activity, and the use of dry methylaluminoxane (dMAO) as a cocatalyst did not result in a high activity. The use of toluene-free solid modified methylaluminoxane (sMMAO) is found to be the best cocatalyst, where the highest activity of value 3.9 × 10⁷ g of PNB mol_Co⁻¹ h⁻¹ was achieved for 3/sMMAO at 30 °C.     

DNA cleavage activities of tetraazamacrocyclic oxamido nickel(II) complexes

The DNA cleavage activities of nickel(II) ion and four closely related macrocyclic nickel(II) complexes NiL¹ ∼ NiL⁴ in the absence of any added redox cofactors are compared and the structure of NiL³ methanol solvate has been characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis, where L¹ ∼ L⁴ are the dianions of tetraazamacrocyclic oxamido Schiff bases. In NiL³·MeOH, the macrocyclic [N₄] ligand coordinates to the central Ni(II) ion forming a distorted square–planar geometry. The adjacent mononuclear molecules are linked by O–H?O hydrogen bonds and Ni?O and Ni?L van der Waals forces into 2D supramolecular structure. Agarose gel electrophoresis studies indicate that the ability of these nickel(II) complexes to cleave DNA is highly dependent upon the ligand employed. In the absence of any added oxidizing agents, only NiL³ is a relatively good DNA cleavage agent, and the process of plasmid DNA cleavage is much sensitive to ionic strength and pH value. The NiL³-mediated DNA cleavage reaction is a typical pseudo-first-order consecutive reaction, and the rate constants of 0.148 ± 0.007 h⁻¹ (k₁) and 0.0118 ± 0.0018 h⁻¹ (k₂) for the conversion of supercoiled to nicked DNA and nicked to linear DNA are obtained in presence of 0.5 mmol L⁻¹ NiL³. The results of DNA cleavage experiments, combining with those of circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy indicate that the main binding modes between DNA and the complexes should be groove binding and electrostatic interaction.     

Self-assembly of 1D coordination polymers from nickel(II) tetraaza macrocycle and carboxylate ligands

Reactions of [Ni(L)]Cl₂ · 2H₂O (L = 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane) with isophthalic acid (H₂isoph) and 1,3,5-cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid (H₃chtc) yield the 1D nickel(II) complexes {[Ni(L)(isoph)] · 3H₂O}_n (1) and {[Ni(L)(H-chtc)] · H₂O}_n (2). The structures were characterized by X-ray crystallography, spectroscopic and magnetic susceptibility. The crystal structures of the 1D chain compounds 1 and 2 show an elongated distorted octahedron about each nickel(II) ion. The magnetic behavior of two compounds exhibits weak intrachain antiferromagnetic interaction with J values of −0.93 cm⁻¹ for 1 and −1.28 cm⁻¹ for 2. The electronic spectra of the complexes are significantly affected by the nature of the carboxylate ligands.     

The synthesis,characterization and melting properties of thiophene-containing dithiocarboxylate complexes of nickel(II)

The reactions of a series of 5-alkyl-2-thiophenedithiocarboxylates with nickel(II) chloride afforded two types of complexes, blue nickel(II) complexes with two terminal dithiocarboxylate ligands, [Ni(S₂CTR)₂] and violet nickel(II) complexes with perthio- and dithiocarboxylate ligands, [Ni(S₂CTR)(S₃CTR)] (where T = 2,5-disubstituted thiophene, R = C_nH_2n+1, n = 4, 6, 8, 12, 16). The blue monomers are preferred for the shorter chains (C₄ and C₆) and the violet compounds form exclusively for the longer chains (C₈, C₁₂, and C₁₆) in the alkylthiophene complexes. In addition to the above series, [Ni(S₂CTCH₃)₂], was prepared in a one-pot reaction in THF and both the blue and violet products were isolated. It was possible to convert the blue complexes [Ni(S₂CTR)₂] (R = butyl, hexyl) into the corresponding violet complexes [Ni(S₂CTR)(S₃CTR)] after stirring in THF solutions for prolonged periods of time. Liquid-crystalline properties of these complexes were examined by DSC and POM. The violet complexes with C₈ and C₁₂ alkyl chains showed liquid-crystalline properties.     

Synthesis, structural characterization and electrochemical studies of new macrocyclic Schiff base containing pyridine head and its metal complexes

A new macrocyclic ligand, 1,3,5-triaza-2,4:7,8:13,14-tribenzo-9,12-dioksa-cyclopentadeca-1,5-diene was synthesized by reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,2-bis(2-carboxyaldehyde phenoxy)ethane. Then, its Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Co(III) and La(III) complexes were synthesized by the template effect by the reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,2-bis(2-carboxyaldehyde phenoxy)ethane and Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O, Ni(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, Pb(NO₃)₂, Co(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, La(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O, respectively. The ligand and its metal complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV-Vis spectra, magnetic susceptibility, thermal gravimetric analysis, conductivity measurements, mass spectra, and cyclic voltammetry. All complexes are diamagnetic and Cu(II) complex is binuclear. The Co(II) was oxidized to Co(III). The comparative electrochemical studies show that the nickel complex exhibited a quasi-reversible one-electron reduction process, while copper and cobalt complexes gave irreversible reduction processes in DMSO solution.     

Mixed-ligand ternary complexes of potentially pentadentate but functionally tridentate Schiff base chelates

The potentially pentadentate chelate 2,6-diacetylpyridine-bis(N-methyl-S-methyldithiocarbazate) (Nmedapsme) has been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. Its reactions with nickel(II) salts did not lead to pentadentate coordinated ligand complexes but ternary complexes of general formula, [Ni(Nmedapsme)(nmesme)L]X·H₂O (L = Br⁻, I⁻; X = I⁻, BF₄⁻) where Nmedapsme binds as a tridentate and nmesme = N-methyl-S-methyldithiocarbazate. The related ternary nickel(II) complexes of formula, Ni(Nmedapsme)(nmetsc)Br₂ has also been prepared and characterized. X-ray crystal structures of [Ni(Nmedapsme)(nmesme)I]I·H₂O and [Ni(Nmedapsme)(nmesme)Br]BF₄·H₂O revealed that, in these complexes, the Nmedapsme ligand acts as a tridentate NNN donor while the distal S-donors are not coordinated. The bidentate (NS) ligand, nmesme coordinates to the nickel(II) ion via the amino nitrogen and the thione sulfur atoms, the sixth coordination site is occupied by an anion. In both complexes, the nickel(II) ion adopts a distorted octahedral configuration. The complex [Cu(nmesme)₂(ONO₂)]NO₃ was obtained from an unsuccessful attempt to complex copper(II) with Nmedapsme. Hydrolysis of the parent Schiff base Nmedapsme occurred during complexation. An X-ray crystallographic structure analysis shows that the complex, [Cu(nmesme)₂(ONO₂)]NO₃ has an approximately square-pyramidal geometry with the two nmesme ligands coordinated to the copper(II) ion as NS bidentate chelating agents via the amino nitrogen and thione sulfur atoms and the fifth coordination position of copper(II) is occupied by a monodentate nitrate ligand.     

Synthesis and characterization of new macrocyclic Schiff base derived from 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,7-bis(2-formylphenyl)-1,4,7-trioxaheptane and its Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Co(III) and La(III) complexes

A new macrocyclic ligand, 1,3,5-triaza-2,4:7,8:16,17-tribenzo-9,12,15-trioxacyclooktadeca-1,5-dien (L) was synthesized by reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,7-bis(2-formylphenyl)-1,4,7-trioxaheptane. Then, its Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Co(III) and La(III) complexes were synthesized by template effect by reaction of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 1,7-bis(2-formylphenyl)-1,4,7-trioxaheptane and Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O, Ni(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, Pb(NO₃)₂, Co(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, La(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O, respectively. The ligand and its metal complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV–Vis spectra, magnetic susceptibility, thermal gravimetric analysis, conductivity measurements, mass spectra and cyclic voltammetry. All complexes are diamagnetic and Cu(II) complex is binuclear. The Co(II) was oxidized to Co(III). The comparative electrochemical studies show that the nickel complex exhibited a quasi-reversible one-electron reduction process while copper and cobalt complexes gave irreversible reduction processes in DMSO solution.     

Nickel(II) complexes of tetradentate NSNO pyridylthioazophenol ligands: Synthesis,characterization and crystal structure

Two sets of nickel(II) complexes of a series of tetradentate NSNO ligands were synthesized and isolated in their pure form. All these complexes, formulated as [Ni(L)Cl]₂ and [Ni(L)(N₃)]₂ [HL = pyridylthioazophenols], were characterized using physicochemical and spectroscopic tools. The solid-state structures of two complexes (1a and 2a) were established by X-ray crystallography. The geometry about the nickel ion of the complexes is octahedral and the complexes are dimeric in nature. In 1, two Ni(II) ions are bridged by two Cl⁻ anions while in 2 they are bridged by two azide ions in a μ-1,1-bridging fashion.     

Nickel nitrosyl complexes in a sulfur-rich environment: The first poly(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate derivatives

The diamagnetic nickel mononitrosyl complexes (Tm^R)Ni(NO) (R = Bu^t, p-Tol) and (Bm^R)Ni(PPh₃)(NO) (R = Me, Bu^t) have been readily prepared from Ni(PPh₃)₂(NO)Br and the appropriate Na(Tm^R) or Na(Bm^R) reagents, respectively. These species constitute the first nickel nitrosyl complexes supported by these ligand systems. An X-ray diffraction study of (Tm^p-Tol)Ni(NO) confirmed its pseudo-tetrahedral geometry and the presence of a nearly linear nitrosyl ligand. In contrast, (Bm^Me)Ni(PPh₃)(NO) can be best described as having a trigonal pyramidal geometry, a spatial arrangement unprecedented in nickel nitrosyl chemistry, which is facilitated by the disposition of the Bm^Me ligand and the presence of a weak intramolecular Ni?H–B interaction opposite to the apical triphenylphosphine ligand.     

Vinyl polymerization of norbornene catalyzed by a series of bis(β-ketoiminato)nickel (II) complexes in the presence of methylaluminoxane

A series of nickel complexes with β-ketoiminato ligands based on pyrazolone derivative were synthesized and characterized, which are highly active catalyst precursors for norbornene polymerization under mild reaction conditions through a vinyl-type polymerization mechanism. The catalytic activity could be up to 3.38 × 10⁷ g polymer/mol Ni h. The molecular weight distributions of the polynorbornenes (M_w/M_n = 2.05-2.56) indicate the presence of a single active species in the polymerization process.     

2-Oxazoline/benzoxazole-1,10-phenanthrolinylmetal (iron, cobalt or nickel) dichloride: Synthesis, characterization and their catalytic reactivity for the ethylene oligomerization

Series of 2-benzoxazole-1,10-phenanthrolines (L1-L4) and 2-oxazoline-1,10-phenanthrolines (L5-L8) were synthesized and used as tridentate N^N^N ligands in coordinating with metal (nickel, cobalt or iron) chlorides. Their metal complexes, nickel(II) (Ni1-Ni8), cobalt(II) (Co1-Co8) and iron(II) (Fe1-Fe8), were characterized by elemental and IR spectroscopic analyses. The molecular structures of the ligand L2 and the complexes Ni3, Co1, Co3 and Fe2 have been determined by the single-crystal crystallography. The nickel complex Ni3 and iron complex Fe2 display an octahedral geometry, whereas cobalt complex Co1 is with a distorted bipyramidal geometry and Co3 as square pyramidal geometry. At 10 atm ethylene, all the complexes showed good activities in ethylene dimerization upon activation with appropriate aluminum cocatalysts; the nickel complexes gave the activity up to 3.11 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹(Ni) h⁻¹ upon activation with diethylaluminum chloride (Et₂AlCl), meanwhile the cobalt and iron complexes showed activities up to 1.51 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹(Co) h⁻¹ and 1.89 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹(Fe) h⁻¹, individually, upon activation with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO).     

Nickel(II) complexes bearing phosphinooxazoline ligands: Synthesis, structures and their ethylene oligomerization behaviors

A series of Ni(II) complexes 4a-f ligated by the unsymmetrical phosphino-oxazolines (PHOX) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy, and the structures of complexes 4c-4e were confirmed by the X-ray crystallographic analysis. All derivatives showed distorted tetrahedron geometry by the nickel center and coordinative atoms. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO) or Et₂AlCl, these complexes exhibited considerable to high activity of ethylene oligomerization. The ligands environments and reaction conditions significantly affect their catalytic activities, while the highest oligomerization activity (up to 1.18 × 10⁶ g · mol⁻¹(Ni) · h⁻¹) was observed for 4d at 20 atm of ethylene. Incorporation of 2-4 equivalents of PPh₃ as auxiliary ligands in the 4a-f/MAO catalytic systems led to higher activity and longer catalytic lifetime.