Synthesis of two new tripodal ligands and their cyclocondensation with 2-[2-(2-formylphenoxy)ethoxy]benzaldehyde in the presence of manganese(II) and cadmium(II) metal ions

Two new asymmetric tripodal tetraamine ligands, 2-((bis(2-aminoethyl)amino)methyl)benzenamine (L²) and 2-(((2-aminoethyl)(3-aminopropyl)amino)methyl)benzenamine (L³) were synthesized and characterized. [1+1] Macrocyclic Schiff-base complexes containing 1,2-diphenoxyethane head units and a 2-aminobenzyl pendant arm, were synthesized as [MnL⁴(MeOH)](ClO₄)₂ (1), [MnL⁵(MeOH)](ClO₄)₂ (2), [CdL⁴(H₂O)](NO₃)₂ (3) and [CdL⁵(H₂O)](NO₃)₂ (4) from the metal ion templated cyclocondensation reactions of 2-[2-(2-formylphenoxy)ethoxy]benzaldehyde with the (L²) or (L³) tripodal tetraamine ligands. The crystal structure determination of (1) and (4) showed that the complex cations that had formed consisted of pentagonal bipyramidally coordinated Mn(II) and Cd(II) ions, centrally located in a N₃O₂ macrocycle, with one 2-aminobenzyl pendant arm. Supporting ab initio HF-MO calculations have been undertaken using the standard 3-21G^∗ and 6-31G^∗ basis sets.     

Copper(II) complexes of tetradentate N2S2 donor sets: Synthesis,crystal structure characterization and reactivity

Two mononuclear and one dinuclear copper(II) complexes, containing neutral tetradentate NSSN type ligands, of formulation [Cu^II(L¹)Cl]ClO₄ (1), [Cu^II(L²)Cl]ClO₄ (2) and [Cu^II₂(L³)₂Cl₂](ClO₄)₂ (3) were synthesized and isolated in pure form [where L¹ = 1,2-bis(2-pyridylmethylthio)ethane, L² = 1,3-bis(2-pyridylmethylthio)propane and L³ = 1,4-bis(2-pyridylmethylthio)butane]. All these green colored copper(II) complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The dinuclear copper(II) complex 3 changed to a colorless dinuclear copper(I) species of formula [Cu^I₂(L³)₂](ClO₄)₂,0.5H₂O (4) in dimethylformamide even in the presence of air at ambient temperature, while complexes 1 and 2 showed no change under similar conditions. The solid-state structures of complexes 1, 2 and 4 were established by X-ray crystallography. The geometry about the copper in complexes 1 and 2 is trigonal bipyramidal whereas the coordination environment about the copper(I) in dinuclear complex 4 is distorted tetrahedral.     

Synthesis and characterization of two new asymmetrical branched amines and related Mn(II) and Ni(II) Schiff base complexes containing pyridine moieties: Crystal structures of Mn(II) and Ni(II) complexes and their antibacterial properties

Two new branched pentadentate amines (N₅), 3,7-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-5,5-dimethyl-3,7-diazaheptane-1-amine (1) and 4,8-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-6,6-dimethyl-4,8-diaza octane-1-amine (2) have been prepared. These have been used to synthesis two new Schiff base complexes containing a pyridine and 2-pyridylmethyl pendant arm, by template [1+1] condensation of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde with the amines in the presence of Mn(II) in methanol. Elemental and spectral results are used to characterize the complexes and their structures are confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The structure of MnL¹(ClO₄)₂ indicates that in the solid state the Mn(II) ion adopts a slightly distorted octahedral geometry. The crystal structure of [Ni(1)(MeCN)](ClO₄)₂ is also reported and exhibits a slightly distorted octahedral geometry. Also the synthesized complexes were screened for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (Lio), Serratia marcescens (PTCC 1330), Staphylococcous aureus (ATCC 6633), and Proteus vulgaris (Lio) and results showed that the all complexes have antibacterial effects and [NiL¹](ClO₄)₂, [MnL²](ClO₄) and [MnL¹](ClO₄)₂ have more effective ones against E. coli.     

Copper(II) complexes of N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde: Crystal structure of a binuclear complex

Ten copper(II) complexes {[CuL¹Cl] (1), [CuL¹NO₃]₂ (2), [CuL¹N₃]₂ · 2/3H₂O (3), [CuL¹]₂(ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O (4), [CuL²Cl]₂ (5), [CuL²N₃] (6), [Cu(HL²)SO₄]₂ · 4H₂O (7), [Cu(HL²)₂] (ClO₄)₂ · 1/2EtOH (8), [CuL³Cl]₂ (9), [CuL³NCS] · 1/2H₂O (10)} of three NNS donor thiosemicarbazone ligands {pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-p-methoxyphenyl thiosemicarbazone [HL¹], pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-2-phenethyl thiosemicarbazone [HL²] and pyridine-2-carbaldehyde N(4)-(methyl), N(4)-(phenyl) thiosemicarbazone [HL³]} were synthesized and physico-chemically characterized. The crystal structure of compound 9 has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies and is found that the dimer consists of two square pyramidal Cu(II) centers linked by two chlorine atoms.     

Synthesis, characterization and spectroscopic studies of cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes containing meta-bis(2-pyridoxy)benzene

A series of mononuclear and binuclear cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes containing new terdentate meta-bis(2-pyridoxy)benzene ligands: 3,5-bis(2-pyridoxy)toluene (L₁H) and 3,5-bis(2-pyridoxy)-2-dodecylbenzene (L₂H): [Pt(L₁)Cl] (1), [Pt(L₂)Cl] (2), [Pt(L₁)(CH₃CN)](ClO₄) (3), {[Pt(L₁)]₂(μ-dppm)}(ClO₄)₂ (4), {[Pt(L₂)]₂(μ-dppm)}(ClO₄)₂ (5), {[Pt(L₁)]₂(μ-pyrazole)}(ClO₄) (6), {[Pt(L₂)]₂(μ-pyrazole)}(ClO₄) (7), {[Pt(L₁)]₂(μ-imidazole)}(ClO₄) (8) and {[Pt(L₂)]₂(μ-imidazole)}(ClO₄) (9), have been synthesized and characterized. These ligands are coordinated to platinum(II) in a “pincer”-like manner and the presence of pyridyl donors enhances the availability of the ligand π^∗ orbitals for electronic transition. Spectroscopic properties of these cyclometalated complexes were studied. While the non-coplanar nature of the ligands hinders ligand-ligand and metal-metal interactions in these cyclometalated complexes, the presence of long hydrocarbon side chain on ligand L₂H seems to alleviate such hindrance. Intermolecular π-π, and possibly Pt-Pt interactions were observed in complex 2 at high concentration.     

Copper(II) complexes with neutral bis(pyrazolyl)methane ligands: The influence of steric hindrance on their structures and properties

By using the neutral bidentate nitrogen-containing ligands; bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L0″), bis(3,5-diisopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L1″), bis(3-tertiary-butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L3″), and bis(3,5-ditertiary-butyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L4″), the copper(II) nitrato complexes [Cu(L0″)₂(NO₃)]NO₃ (1NO₃), [Cu(L0″)(NO₃)₂] (2), [Cu(L1″)(NO₃)₂] (3), [Cu(L3″)(NO₃)₂] (4), and [Cu(L4″)(NO₃)₂] (5), chloro complexes [Cu(L0″)₂Cl]₂(CuCl₄) (6CuCl₄), [Cu(L0″)₂Cl]₂(Cu₂Cl₆) (6Cu₂Cl₆), [Cu(L1″)Cl₂] (7), and [Cu(L3″)Cl₂] (8), nitrito complexes [Cu(L0″)(ONO)₂] (9) and [Cu(L1″)(ONO)₂] (10), and the complexes with perchlorate ions [Cu(L0″)₂(CH₃OH)](ClO₄)₂ (11ClO₄) and [Cu(L1″)₂(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (12ClO₄) were systematically synthesized and fully characterized by X-ray crystallography and by IR, far-IR, UV–Vis absorption, and ESR spectroscopy. In comparison with the obtained complexes with four bis(pyrazolyl)methanes having different bulkiness at pyrazolyl rings, the second coordination sphere effects on the ligands are discussed in detail. Moreover, the structures and physicochemical properties of these obtained complexes are compared with those of the related complexes with the neutral tridentate tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand.     

Nucleophilic substitution reactions at the Si-Cl bonds of the dichloro(methyl)silyl ligand in five- and six-coordinate complexes of ruthenium(II) and osmium(II)

Treatment of either RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃ or MPhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ with HSiMeCl₂ produces the five-coordinate dichloro(methyl)silyl complexes, M(SiMeCl₂)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (1a, M = Ru; 1b, M = Os). 1a and 1b react readily with hydroxide ions and with ethanol to give M(SiMe[OH]₂)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (2a, M = Ru; 2b, M = Os) and M(SiMe[OEt]₂)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (3a, M = Ru; 3b, M = Os), respectively. 3b adds CO to form the six-coordinate complex, Os(SiMe[OEt]₂)Cl(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂ (4b) and crystal structure determinations of 3b and 4b reveal very different Os-Si distances in the five-coordinate complex (2.3196(11) Å) and in the six-coordinate complex (2.4901(8) Å). Reaction between 1a and 1b and 8-aminoquinoline results in displacement of a triphenylphosphine ligand and formation of the six-coordinate chelate complexes M(SiMeCl₂)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)(κ²(N,N)-NC₉H₆NH₂-8) (5a, M = Ru; 5b, M = Os), respectively. Crystal structure determination of 5a reveals that the amino function of the chelating 8-aminoquinoline ligand is located adjacent to the reactive Si-Cl bonds of the dichloro(methyl)silyl ligand but no reaction between these functions is observed. However, 5a and 5b react readily with ethanol to give ultimately M(SiMe[OEt]₂)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)(κ²(N,N-NC₉H₆NH₂-8) (6a, M = Ru; 6b, M = Os). In the case of ruthenium only, the intermediate ethanolysis product Ru(SiMeCl[OEt])Cl(CO)(PPh₃)(κ²(N,N-NC₉H₆NH₂-8) (6c) was also isolated. The crystal structure of 6c was determined. Reaction between 1b and excess 2-aminopyridine results in condensation between the Si-Cl bonds and the N-H bonds with formation of a novel tridentate “NSiN” ligand in the complex Os(κ³(Si,N,N)-SiMe[NH(2-C₅H₄N)]₂)Cl(CO)(PPh₃) (7b). Crystal structure determination of 7b shows that the “NSiN” ligand coordinates to osmium with a “facial” arrangement and with chloride trans to the silyl ligand.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopic properties of some cadmium(II) complexes with three polyamine and corresponding macroacyclic Schiff base ligands

Three Cd(II) macroacyclic Schiff base complexes [CdL⁴(NO₃)₂] (4), [CdL⁵(NO₃)₂] (5), [CdL⁶(NO₃)₂] (6) were prepared by template condensation of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde with N1-(2-nitrobenzyl)-N1-(2-aminoethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (L¹), N1-(2-nitrobenzyl)-N1-(2-aminoethyl)propane-1,3-diamine (L²) or N1-(2-nitrobenzyl)-N1-(3-aminopropyl)propane-1,3-diamine (L³), in the presence of cadmium metal ion, respectively. Three Cd(II) complexes with L¹, L² and L³ were also synthesized. All complexes have been studied with IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMQC and microanalysis. Two of these complexes, [CdL⁴(NO₃)₂] (4) and [CdL¹(NO₃)₂] (1) have been characterized through X-ray crystallography. In complex 4, the Cd is in a six-coordinate environment comprised of the ligand N₄-donor set and two oxygen atoms of two nitrate groups. In the polyamine complexes (1, 2 and 3) Cd and ligand are in a ratio of 1:1. Supporting ab initio HF-MO calculations have been undertaken using the standard 3-21G^∗ and 6-31G^∗ basis sets.     

Structural and spectral studies of nickel(II) complexes with N(4),N(4)-(butane-1,4-diyl) thiosemicarbazones

Nickel(II) complexes of quinoline-2-carbaldehyde N(4),N(4)-(butane-1,4-diyl) thiosemicarbazone (HL¹) and 2-benzoylpyridine N(4),N(4)-(butane-1,4-diyl) thiosemicarbazone (HL²) have been synthesized and physico-chemically characterized by means of partial elemental analyses, molar conductance measurements, magnetic measurements, electronic and infrared spectral studies. Three complexes were given the formulae [Ni(HL¹)₂]Cl₂ (1), [Ni(HL²)L²]ClO₄ · 7H₂O (2) and [NiL²Cl] · 0.5H₂O (3). The structure of compound 1 has been solved by single crystal X-ray crystallography and is found to be distorted octahedral. Compound 2, when crystallized in DMSO solution, got deprotonated to form a new compound [Ni(L²)₂] (2a), with a distorted octahedral Ni(II) center. In compound 1, HL¹ coordinates to the metal in the thione form, while in compounds 2a and 3, HL² coordinates in its deprotonated thiolate form.     

Mn(II) azamacrocyclic bromide complexes with different nuclearities

The coordination behaviour of a series of pyridyl azamacrocyclic ligands, some of them containing cyanomethyl and cyanoethyl pendant-arms, towards Mn(II) ion was studied. All the complexes were characterized by microanalysis, LSI mass spectrometry, IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. Crystal structures of [MnL¹][MnBr₄] (1), [MnL³][MnBr₄] · 2CH₃CN (3), [Mn₂L⁵Br₄] · 2CH₃CN (5) and [Mn₂L⁶Br₄] (6) complexes have been determined. The X-ray studies show the presence of an ionic mixed octahedral-tetrahedral complex for 1 and 2, with the manganese ion of the cation complex, endomacrocyclicly coordinated by the six nitrogen donor atoms from the macrocyclic backbone in a distorted octahedral geometry. Instead, the complexes 5 and 6 are dinuclear, and both manganese ions are coordinated by one pyridinic and two amine nitrogen atoms from the macrocyclic backbone and two bromide ions, being the geometry around the metal better described as distorted square pyramidal. In all cases, the nitrile pendant-arms do not show coordination to the metal ion.     

Syntheses, structures and ligand conformations of Cu(II), Co(II) and Ag(I) complexes containing the phosphinic amide ligands

The syntheses, structures and ligand conformations of the complexes trans-Cu(L1)₂(ClO₄)₂, (L1 = N-(2-pyrimidinyl)-P,P-diphenyl-phosphinic amide), 1, [trans-Co(L1)₂(CH₃OH)₂](ClO₄)₂·O(C₂H₅)₂, 2, [trans-Co(L2)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂·2CH₃OH, (L2 = N-(2-pyridinyl)-P,P-diphenyl-phosphinic amide), 3, [cis-Co(L2)₂(NO₃)](NO₃), 4, and [Ag(L3)(NO₃)(CH₃CN)]_∞, (L3 = N-(6-methyl-2-pyridinyl)-P,P-diphenyl-phosphinic amide), 5, are reported. The L1 and L2 ligands in the monomeric complexes 1-4 chelate the metal centers through the pyrimidyl/pyridyl nitrogen atoms and the phosphinic amide oxygen atoms, whereas the L3 ligands in complex 5 bridge the metal centers, forming a 1-D zigzag chain. The chelating L2 ligands in complexes 3 and 4 adopt cis conformations and the bridging L3 ligand in complex 5 adopts a trans conformation, respectively.     

Nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of unsymmetrical tetradentate reduced Schiff base ligands

Two new reduced Schiff base ligands, [HL¹ = 4-{2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-amino]-ethylimino}-pentan-2-one and HL² = 4-[2-(1-pyridin-2-yl-ethylamino)-ethylimino]-pentan-2-one] have been prepared by reduction of the corresponding tetradentate unsymmetrical Schiff bases derived from 1:1: 1 condensation of 1,2-ethanediamine, acetylacetone and pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde/2-acetyl pyridine. Four complexes, [Ni(L¹)]ClO₄ (1), [Cu(L¹)]ClO₄ (2), [Ni(L²)]ClO₄ (3), and [Cu(L²)]ClO₄ (4) with these two reduced Schiff base ligands have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The mono-negative ligands L¹ and L² are chelated in all four complexes through the four donor atoms to form square planar nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes. Structures of 3 and 4 reveal that enantiomeric pairs are crystallized together with opposite chirality in the nitrogen and carbon atoms. The two Cu^II complexes (2 and 4) exhibit both irreversible reductive (Cu^II/Cu^I; E_pc, −1.00 and −1.04 V) and oxidative (Cu^II/Cu^III; E_pa, +1.22 and +1.17 V, respectively) responses in cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemically generated Cu^I species for both the complexes are unstable and undergo disproportionation.     

Synthesis of tridentate 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl aminechlorohydro ruthenium(II) complexes: The convenient use of amine hydrochlorides to generate metal-hydride

The reaction of low-valent ruthenium complexes with 2,6-bis(imino)pyridine ligand, [η²-N₃]Ru(η⁶-Ar) (1) or {[N₃]Ru}₂(μ-N₂) (2) with amine hydrochlorides generates six-coordinate chlorohydro ruthenium (II) complexes with amine ligands, [N₃]Ru(H)(Cl)(amine) (4). Either complex 1 or 2 activates amine hydrochlorides 3, and the amines coordinate to the ruthenium center to give complex 4. This is a convenient and useful synthetic approach to form ruthenium complexes with amine and hydride ligands using amine hydrochloride.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activity of Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes with N′,N′-bis[(1E)-1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]propanedihydrazide. Crystal structures of two highly solvated bimetallic complexes of Ni(II)

The bimetallic [Ni₂(H₂L2)₂](ClO₄)₄ (1), [Ni₂(HL2)(H₂L2)](ClO₄)₃ (2) and [Zn₂(H₂L2)₂](BF₄)₄ (3) complexes (H₂L2 = N′,N′²-bis[(1E)-1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]propanedihydrazide) were synthesized and characterized. The structure of complexes (1) and (2) was established by X-ray analysis. NMR spectroscopy was used for the characterization of complex (3). The complexes (1) and (2) were obtained from the same synthetic reaction and two crystal types of these complexes have been isolated during the fractional crystallization process.     

Coordination behavior of 3,4-bis(2-pyridylmethylthio)toluene with copper(II) ions: Synthesis,structural characterization and reactivity,and DNA binding study of the dinuclear copper(II) complex

On reaction of different copper(II) salts with 3,4-bis(2-pyridylmethylthio)toluene (L) having neutral tetradentate NSSN donor set in different chemical environments, two mononuclear copper(II), one dinuclear copper(I) and one dinuclear copper(II) complexes, formulated as [Cu^II(L)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ (1), [Cu^II(pic)₂] (2), [Cu^I₂(L)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3) and [Cu^II₂(L)₂Cl₂](ClO₄)₂ (4), respectively, were isolated in pure form [where pic = picolinate]. All the complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The product of the reactions are dependent on the counter anion of copper(II) salts used as reactant and on the reaction medium. Complexes 1 and 4 were obtained with nitrate and perchlorate copper(II) salts, respectively. On the other hand, C–S bond cleavage was observed in the reaction of L with copper(II) chloride to form in situ picolinic acid and complex 2. Dinuclear complexes 3 and 4 were separated out when copper(II) perchlorate was allowed to react with L in methanol and in acetonitrile, respectively, under aerobic condition. The X-ray diffraction analysis of the dinuclear complex 3 shows a highly distorted tetrahedral geometry about each copper ion. Complex 4 is converted to 3 in acetonitrile in presence of catechol. The spectral study of complex 4 with calf thymus DNA is indicative of a groove binding mode interaction.     

New N-heterocyclic carbene mercury(II) and silver(I) complexes

The complexes [1-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-3-octylimy]₂Hg[HgCl₄] (2a) (imy = imidazol-2-ylidene) and [1-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-3-butylbimy]₂AgPF₆ (2b) (bimy = benzimidazol-2-ylidene) have been prepared and characterized. Crystal packing of complex 2a revealed that 1D polymeric chains are formed by [1-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-3-octylimy]Hg and [HgCl₄]²⁻ through weak Hg…Cl bonds. The packing diagram of 2b showed that 1D supramolecular chains are formed by both benzimidazole ring head to tail π–π stacking interactions and anthracene ring face-to-face π–π stacking interactions.     

Syntheses,characterization and X-ray crystal structures of Ni(II) complexes of tridentate monocondensed and tetradentate dicondensed Schiff bases

Two octahedral complexes [Ni(HL¹)₂](ClO₄)₂ (1) and [Ni(HL²)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2) and a square planar complex [Ni(HL³)]ClO₄ (3) have been prepared, where [HL¹ = 3-(2-amino-ethylimino)-butan-2-one oxime, HL² = 3-(2-amino-propylimino)butan-2-one oxime] and H₂L³ = 3-[2-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl-but-2-enylideneamino)-1-methyl-ethylimino]-butan-2-one oxime. All the complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, spectral studies and room temperature magnetic moment measurements. The molecular structures of all three compounds were elucidated on the basis of X-ray crystallography; complexes 1 and 2 are seen to be the mer isomers.     

Spectral and structural studies of nickel(II) complexes of salicylaldehyde 3-azacyclothiosemicarbazones

Mononuclear nickel(II) complexes with two ONS donor thiosemicarbazone ligands {salicylaldehyde 3-hexamethyleneiminyl thiosemicarbazone [H₂L¹] and salicylaldehyde 3-tetramethyleneiminyl thiosemicarbazone [H₂L²]} have been prepared and physico-chemically characterized. IR and electronic spectra of the complexes have been obtained. The thiosemicarbazones bind to the metal as dianionic ONS donor ligands in all the complexes except in [Ni(HL¹)₂] (1). In compound 1, the ligand is coordinated as a monoanionic (HL⁻) one. The magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that all the complexes are mononuclear and are diamagnetic. The complexes were given the formulae [Ni(HL¹)₂] (1), [NiL¹py] (2), [NiL¹α-pic] (3), [NiL¹γ-pic] · H₂O (4), [NiL²py] (5) and [NiL²γ-pic] (6). The structures of compounds 2 and 3 have been solved by single crystal X-ray crystallography and were found to be distorted square planar in geometry with coordination of azomethine nitrogen, thiolato sulfur, phenolato oxygen and pyridyl nitrogen atoms.     

Copper(II) complexes of N4 tetradentate ligands with flexible alkyl spacers: Crystal structure,DNA binding and cleavage studies

Mononuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu L1] (ClO₄)₂ (1), [Cu L2] (ClO₄)₂ (2) and [Cu L3] (ClO₄)₂ (3) with quadridentate Schiff base ligands L1 (N,N′-bis-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-butane-1,4-diimine), L2 (N,N′-bis-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-pentane-1,5-diimine) and L3 (N,N′-bis-pyridin-2-ylmethyl-hexane-1,6-diimine) have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure data of 1 reveals the existence of the complex in two different geometries, namely a square pyramid and a distorted octahedron, which eventually leads to the packing of the molecule into helical and anti-parallel structures respectively. Absorption titration studies with calf thymus DNA for all three complexes are suggestive of groove binding with binding constant values for 1, 2 and 3 being 2.6 ± 0.2 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, 11.5 ± 0.2 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and 1.83 ± 0.2 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ respectively. Control cleavage experiments using pBR 322 plasmid DNA and distamycin suggest minor groove binding for these complexes. In the presence of ascorbic acid, the complexes show efficient DNA cleavage, the order of efficiency being 1 > 2 ≅ 3.     

Synthesis and characterisation of new pyrazole-phosphinite ligands and their ruthenium(II) arene complexes

The new potentially bidentate pyrazole-phosphinite ligands [(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl diphenylphosphinite] (L¹) and [2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethyl diphenylphosphinite] (L²) were synthesised and characterised. The reaction of L¹ and L² with the dimeric complexes [Ru(η⁶-arene)Cl₂]₂ (arene = p-cymene, benzene) led to the formation of neutral complexes [Ru(η⁶-arene)Cl₂(L)] (L = L¹, L²) where the pyrazole-phosphinite ligand is κ¹-P coordinated to the metal. The subsequent reaction of these complexes with NaBPh₄ or NaBF₄ produced the [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl(L²)][BPh₄] and [Ru(η⁶-benzene)Cl(L²)][BF₄] compounds which contain the pyrazole-phosphinite ligand κ²-P,N bonded to ruthenium. All the complexes were fully characterised by analytical and spectroscopic methods. The structure of the complex [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl(L²)][BPh₄] was also determined by a X-ray single crystal diffraction study.