Synthesis of nickel sulfide and nickel–iron sulfide nanoparticles from nickel dithiocarbamate complexes and their photocatalytic activities

[ Ni(dtc)₂] (dtc = N-(pyrrole-2-ylmethyl)-N-thiophenemethyldithiocarbamate ( 1 ), N-methylferrocenyl-N-(2-phenylethyl)dithiocarbamate ( 2 ), N-furfuryl-N-methylferrocenyldithiocarbamate ( 3 ), and (N-[pyrrole-2-ylmethyl]-N-thiophenemethyldithiocarbamato-S,S′)(thiocyanato-N)(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II) ( 4 ) complexes were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, ultraviolet–visible, and nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopies. The data were consistent with the formation of square planar nickel(II) complexes, which was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies on 2 and 4 . Fe···Fe interactions exhibited by complex 2 led to supramolecular aggregation. The structure of 4 reveals intermolecular and intramolecular C-H···Ni anagostic interactions. The anion-sensing properties of 2 were studied with halide ions by cyclic voltammetry. It was observed that 2 acts as sensor for bromide. Complexes 1 , 2 , and 3 , were utilized to prepare nickel sulfide, nickel–iron sulfide-1, and nickel–iron sulfide-2, respectively. The composition, structure, morphology, and optical properties of nickel sulfide and nickel–iron sulfides were examined using powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible, fluorescence, and infrared spectroscopy. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of nickel sulfide, nickel–iron sulfide-1, and nickel–iron sulfide-2 indicate the formation of orthorhombic Ni₉S₈, cubic NiFeS₂, and cubic Ni₂FeS₄, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of as-prepared nickel sulfide and nickel–iron sulfide-1 nanoparticles were investigated for photodegradation of methylene blue and rhodamine-B under ultraviolet irradiation. Nickel–iron sulfide-1 nanoparticles show slightly higher photodegradation efficiency compared with the nickel sulfide nanoparticles.     

Magnetic properties of a mononuclear iron(II) complex with a typical FeN6 coordination octahedron

A mononuclear iron(II) complex with the tripodal ligand bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)(quinolin‐2‐ylmethyl)amine (dpqa) has been synthesized and structurally characterized, namely [bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)(quinolin‐2‐ylmethyl)amine‐κ⁴N,N′,N′′,N′′′]bis(thiocyanato‐κS)iron(II), [Fe(NCS)₂(C₂₂H₂₀N₄)], exhibits a three‐dimensional supramolecular network viaπ–π interactions and S...H—C hydrogen‐bonding interactions between adjacent Fe^II centres. Temperature‐dependent magnetic measurements under different external pressures and X‐ray diffraction measurements indicate that all the Fe^II centres in this complex retain a high‐spin state upon cooling from 300 to 2 K. The surprising absence of spin‐crossover behaviour for this mononuclear iron(II) complex is attributed to the steric hindrance originating from the substituted quinoline ring in the dpqa ligand.     

Tunable Trimers: Using Temperature and Pressure to Control Luminescent Emission in Gold(I) Pyrazolate‐Based Trimers

A systematic investigation into the relationship between the solid‐state luminescence and the intermolecular Au???Au interactions in a series of pyrazolate‐based gold(I) trimers; tris(μ₂‐pyrazolato‐N,N′)‐tri‐gold(I) ( 1 ), tris(μ₂‐3,4,5‐ trimethylpyrazolato‐N,N′)‐tri‐gold(I) ( 2 ), tris(μ₂‐3‐methyl‐5‐phenylpyrazolato‐N,N′)‐tri‐gold(I) ( 3 ) and tris(μ₂‐3,5‐diphenylpyrazolato‐N,N′)‐tri‐gold(I) ( 4 ) has been carried out using variable temperature and high pressure X‐ray crystallography, solid‐state emission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and computational techniques. Single‐crystal X‐ray studies show that there is a significant reduction in the intertrimer Au???Au distances both with decreasing temperature and increasing pressure. In the four complexes, the reduction in temperature from 293 to 100 K is accompanied by a reduction in the shortest intermolecular Au???Au contacts of between 0.04 and 0.08 Å. The solid‐state luminescent emission spectra of 1 and 2 display a red shift with decreasing temperature or increasing pressure. Compound 3 does not emit under ambient conditions but displays increasingly red‐shifted luminescence upon cooling or compression. Compound 4 remains emissionless, consistent with the absence of intermolecular Au???Au interactions. The largest pressure induced shift in emission is observed in 2 with a red shift of approximately 630 cm^?1 per GPa between ambient and 3.80 GPa. The shifts in all the complexes can be correlated with changes in Au???Au distance observed by diffraction.     

A linear heterometallic bismuth–copper coordination polymer containing two types of organic ligands

In the linear coordination polymer catena‐poly[[[aqua(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)copper(II)]‐μ‐pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylato‐κ⁴O²:O^2′,N,O⁶‐[(nitrato‐κ²O,O′)bismuth(III)]‐μ‐pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylato‐κ⁴O²,N,O⁶:O^6′] dihydrate], {[Bi^IIICu^II(C₇H₃NO₄)₂(NO₃)(C₁₂H₈N₂)(H₂O)]·2H₂O}_n, the Bi^III cation is O,N,O′‐chelated by the two pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylate ligands and O,O′‐chelated by the nitrate anion, the nine coordinating atoms conferring a tricapped trigonal prismatic environment on the metal centre. Each pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylate ligand uses one of its carboxylate O atoms to bind to an aqua(1,10‐phenanthroline)copper(II) unit, the Cu—O dative bonds giving rise to the formation of a ribbon motif. The Cu^II cation exhibits a square‐pyramidal geometry. The ribbon motif propagates along the shortest axis of the triclinic unit cell and the solvent water molecules are hydrogen bonded to the same ribbon.     

Mixed bis(morpholine‐4‐dithiocarbamato‐S,S′)antimony(III) complexes: synthesis,characterization and biological studies

Some mixed bis(morpholine‐4‐dithiocarbamato‐S,S′)antimony(III) complexes [(OC₄H₈NCS₂)₂SbL] with oxygen or sulfur donor ligands [L = ―OOCCH₃ ( 1 ), ―OOCC₆H₅ ( 2 ), ―SOCCH₃ ( 3 ), ―SCH₂COOH ( 4 ), ―OOCC₆H₄(OH) ( 5 ), ―SCH₂CH₂CH₃ ( 6 ), ―OC₆H₅ ( 7 ), ½ ―SCH₂CH₂S― ( 8 )] have been synthesized by reacting the chloro‐bis(morpholine‐4‐dithiocarbamato‐S,S′)antimony(III) with corresponding oxygen or sulfur donor ligands in 1:1 or 2:1 stoichiometries. These have been characterized by melting point, molecular weight determination (cryoscopically), antimony (iodometrically) and sulfur (gravimetrically) estimation, elemental analyses (C, H and N), UV–visible, FT‐IR, far IR, multinuclear NMR (¹H and ¹³C)], TG/DTA analysis, ESI–mass and powder X‐ray diffraction studies. The splitting of the strong band observed at 1046–1066 cm^?1 due to υ(C―S) indicated anisobidentate mode of binding of the dithiocarbamate group, which was further supported by a ¹³C NMR signal appearing at around δ 200 due to NCS₂ moiety. The base peak observed at m/z 444.9 supports the strong chelating nature of the morpholine‐4‐dithiocarbamate compared to the other hetero ligands used. TGA revealed that, complexes 21 and 4 were decomposed in three steps; also 6 was decomposed in two steps, followed by the formation of Sb₂S₃. The results obtained by antimicrobial screening tests indicate that complex 3 showed a maximum zone of inhibition (20 mm) against Trichoderma ressie at a concentration of 200 µg ml^?1. Complexes 2 , 3 and 8 are most active (zone of inhibition (ZI) 17–20 mm) against both of the fungal species Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma ressie as well as complex 4 (ZI 17 mm) and 6 (ZI 18 mm) against Trichoderma ressie. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phenanthroline complexes of zinc and calcium carbamates

Bis(N,N‐di‐n‐butyl­di­thio­carbamato‐κ²S,S′)(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)­zinc(II) ethanol hemisolvate, [Zn(C₉H₁₈NS₂)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)]·0.5C₂H₆O, (I), and bis(N,N‐di‐n‐hexyldithiocarbamato‐κ²S,S′)­bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)calcium(II), [Ca(C₁₃H₂₆NS₂)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂], (II), are mixed‐ligand com­plexes. In the first compound, the Zn atom has a distorted octahedral coordination, while in the second compound, the Ca atom is eight‐coordinate, with four S and four N atoms forming a highly distorted cube.     

A coordinatively flexible hexadentate ligand gives structurally isomeric complexes M2(L)X3 (M = Cu,Zn; X = Br,Cl)

Polypyridyl multidentate ligands based on ethylenediamine backbones are important metal‐binding agents with applications in biomimetics and homogeneous catalysis. The seemingly hexadentate tpena ligand [systematic name: N,N,N′‐tris(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethylenediamine‐N′‐acetate] reacts with zinc chloride and zinc bromide to form trichlorido[μ‐N,N,N′‐tris(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethylenediamine‐N′‐acetato]dizinc(II), [Zn₂(C₂₂H₂₄N₅O₂)Cl₃], and tribromido[μ‐N,N,N′‐tris(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethylenediamine‐N′‐acetato]dizinc(II), [Zn₂Br₃(C₂₂H₂₄N₅O₂)]. One Zn^II ion shows the anticipated N₅O coordination in an irregular six‐coordinate site and is linked by an anti carboxylate bridge to a tetrahedral ZnX₃ (X = Cl or Br) unit. In contrast, the Cu^II ions in aquatribromido[μ‐N,N,N′‐tris(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethylenediamine‐N′‐acetato]dicopper(II)–tribromido[μ‐N,N,N′‐tris(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethylenediamine‐N′‐acetato]dicopper(II)–water (1/1/6.5) [Cu₂Br₃(C₂₂H₂₄N₅O₂)][Cu₂Br₃(C₂₂H₂₄N₅O₂)(H₂O)]·6.5H₂O, occupy two tpena‐chelated sites, one a trigonal bipyramidal N₃Cl₂ site and the other a square‐planar N₂OCl site. In all three cases, electrospray ionization mass spectra were dominated by a misleading ion assignable to [M(tpena)]⁺ (M = Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺).     

Three complexes of bis(N‐methyl­benzo­hydro­xamato‐O,O′)copper(II)

The first single‐crystal studies of three bis‐transoid Cu–hydrox­amate salts, bis(3‐methoxy‐4,N‐dimethyl­benzo­hydrox­amato‐O,O′)copper(II), [Cu(C₁₀H₁₂NO₃)₂], bis(4‐chloro‐N‐methyl­benzo­hydro­xamato‐O,O′)copper(II), [Cu­(C₈­H₇­Cl­NO₂)₂], bis(N‐methyl‐3,5‐di­nitro­benzo­hydro­xamato‐O,O′)copper(II)–chloro­form (1/2), [Cu­(C₈­H₆­N₃O₆)₂]·­2CHCl₃, are presented. The Cu atom in each of the title compounds sits at a center of inversion and displays a nearly square‐planar geometry with the hydro­xamate‐O atoms connected to it in a syn configuration. The N atoms are in a transoid configuration. Each five‐membered Cu–hydro­xamate ring is planar, thus providing evidence that a planar N atom is present in each ring. The phenyl groups are twisted with respect to the hydro­xamate group by ～40–54°. The angular strain of the sp² carbonyl oxy­gen is significant (～10° from ideal).     

Oligo-m-phenyleneoxalamide copper(II) mesocates as electro-switchable ferromagnetic metal-organic wires

Double‐stranded copper(II) string complexes of varying nuclearity, from di‐ to tetranuclear species, have been prepared by the Cu^II‐mediated self‐assembly of a novel family of linear homo‐ and heteropolytopic ligands that contain two outer oxamato and either zero ( 1 b ), one ( 2 b ), or two ( 3 b ) inner oxamidato donor groups separated by rigid 2‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylene spacers. The X‐ray crystal structures of these Cu^II_n complexes (n=2 ( 1 d ), 3 ( 2 d ), and 4 ( 3 d )) show a linear array of metal atoms with an overall twisted coordination geometry for both the outer CuN₂O₂ and inner CuN₄ chromophores. Two such nonplanar all‐syn bridging ligands 1 b – 3 b in an anti arrangement clamp around the metal centers with alternating M and P helical chiralities to afford an overall double meso‐helicate‐type architecture for 1 d – 3 d . Variable‐temperature (2.0–300 K) magnetic susceptibility and variable‐field (0–5.0 T) magnetization measurements for 1 d – 3 d show the occurrence of S=nS_Cu (n=2–4) high‐spin ground states that arise from the moderate ferromagnetic coupling between the unpaired electrons of the linearly disposed Cu^II ions (S_Cu=1/2) through the two anti m‐phenylenediamidate‐type bridges (J values in the range of +15.0 to 16.8 cm^?1). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for 1 d – 3 d evidence a sign alternation of the spin density in the meta‐substituted phenylene spacers in agreement with a spin polarization exchange mechanism along the linear metal array with overall intermetallic distances between terminal metal centers in the range of 0.7–2.2 nm. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating‐disk electrode (RDE) electrochemical measurements for 1 d – 3 d show several reversible or quasireversible one‐ or two‐electron steps that involve the consecutive metal‐centered oxidation of the inner and outer Cu^II ions (S_Cu=1/2) to diamagnetic Cu^III ones (S_Cu=0) at relatively low formal potentials (E values in the range of +0.14 to 0.25 V and of +0.43 to 0.67 V vs. SCE, respectively). Further developments may be envisaged for this family of oligo‐m‐phenyleneoxalamide copper(II) double mesocates as electroswitchable ferromagnetic ‘metal–organic wires’ (MOWs) on the basis of their unique ferromagnetic and multicenter redox behaviors.     

A Molecular Copper Catalyst for Electrochemical Water Reduction with a Large Hydrogen‐Generation Rate Constant in Aqueous Solution

The copper complex [(bztpen)Cu](BF₄)₂ (bztpen=N‐benzyl‐N,N′,N′‐tris(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethylenediamine) displays high catalytic activity for electrochemical proton reduction in acidic aqueous solutions, with a calculated hydrogen‐generation rate constant (k_obs) of over 10000 s^?1. A turnover frequency (TOF) of 7000 h^?1 cm^?2 and a Faradaic efficiency of 96 % were obtained from a controlled potential electrolysis (CPE) experiment with [(bztpen)Cu]²⁺ in pH 2.5 buffer solution at ?0.90 V versus the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) over two hours using a glassy carbon electrode. A mechanism involving two proton‐coupled reduction steps was proposed for the dihydrogen generation reaction catalyzed by [(bztpen)Cu]²⁺.     

Synthesis,structure and characterization of two copper(II) supramolecular coordination polymers based on a multifunctional ligand 2‐amino‐4‐sulfobenzoic acid

Copper(II) coordination polymers have attracted considerable interest due to their catalytic, adsorption, luminescence and magnetic properties. The reactions of copper(II) with 2‐amino‐4‐sulfobenzoic acid (H₂asba) in the presence/absence of the auxiliary chelating ligand 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) under ambient conditions yielded two supramolecular coordination polymers, namely (3‐amino‐4‐carboxybenzene‐1‐sulfonato‐κO¹)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)copper(II) 3‐amino‐4‐carboxybenzene‐1‐sulfonate monohydrate, [Cu(C₇H₆N₂O₅S)(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂](C₇H₆N₂O₅S)·H₂O, (1), and catena‐poly[[diaquacopper(II)]‐μ‐3‐amino‐4‐carboxylatobenzene‐1‐sulfonato‐κ²O⁴:O^4′], [Cu(C₇H₆N₂O₅S)(H₂O)₂]_n, (2). The products were characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), solid‐state UV–Vis spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, as well as by variable‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction analysis (VT‐PXRD). Intermolecular π–π stacking interactions in (1) link the mononuclear copper(II) cation units into a supramolecular polymeric chain, which is further extended into a supramolecular double chain through interchain hydrogen bonds. Supramolecular double chains are then extended into a two‐dimensional supramolecular double layer through hydrogen bonds between the lattice Hasba⁻ anions, H₂O molecules and double chains. Left‐ and right‐handed 2₁ helices formed by the Hasba⁻ anions are arranged alternately within the two‐dimensional supramolecular double layers. Complex (2) exhibits a polymeric chain which is further extended into a three‐dimensional supramolecular network through interchain hydrogen bonds. Complex (1) shows a reversible dehydration–rehydration behaviour, while complex (2) shows an irreversible dehydration–rehydration behaviour.     

Enhanced Anion Binding from Unusual Coordination Modes of Bis(thiourea) Ligands in Platinum Group Metal Complexes

Treatment of a range of bis(thiourea) ligands with inert organometallic transition‐metal ions gives a number of novel complexes that exhibit unusual ligand binding modes and significantly enhanced anion binding ability. The ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(η⁶‐p‐cymene)(κS,S′,N‐ L³ ?H)]⁺ ( 2 b ) possesses juxtaposed four‐ and seven‐membered chelate rings and binds anions as both 1:1 and 2:1 host guest complexes. The pyridyl bis(thiourea) complex [Ru(η⁶‐p‐cymeme)(κS,S′,N_py‐ L⁴ )]²⁺ ( 4 ) binds anions in both 1:1 and 1:2 species, whereas the free ligand is ineffective because of intramolecular NH???N hydrogen bonding. Novel palladium(II) complexes with nine‐ and ten‐membered chelate rings are also reported.     

The crystal and molecular structures of three copper‐containing complexes and their activities in mimicking galactose oxidase

The structures of three copper‐containing complexes, namely (benzoato‐κ²O,O′)[(E)‐2‐({[2‐(diethylamino)ethyl]imino}methyl)phenolato‐κ³N,N′,O]copper(II) dihydrate, [Cu(C₇H₅O₂)(C₁₃H₁₉N₂O)]·2H₂O, 1 , [(E)‐2‐({[2‐(diethylamino)ethyl]imino}methyl)phenolato‐κ³N,N′,O](2‐phenylacetato‐κ²O,O′)copper(II), [Cu(C₈H₇O₂)(C₁₃H₁₉N₂O)], 2 , and bis[μ‐(E)‐2‐({[3‐(diethylamino)propyl]imino}methyl)phenolato]‐κ⁴N,N′,O:O;κ⁴O:N,N′,O‐(μ‐2‐methylbenzoato‐κ²O:O′)copper(II) perchlorate, [Cu₂(C₈H₇O₂)(C₁₂H₁₇N₂O)₂]ClO₄, 3 , have been reported and all have been tested for their activity in the oxidation of d ‐galactose. The results suggest that, unlike the enzyme galactose oxidase, due to the precipitation of Cu₂O, this reaction is not catalytic as would have been expected. The structures of 1 and 2 are monomeric, while 3 consists of a dimeric cation and a perchlorate anion [which is disordered over two orientations, with occupancies of 0.64 (4) and 0.36 (4)]. In all three structures, the central Cu atom is five‐coordinated in a distorted square‐pyramidal arrangment (τ parameter of 0.0932 for 1 , 0.0888 for 2 , and 0.142 and 0.248 for the two Cu centers in 3 ). In each species, the environment about the Cu atom is such that the vacant sixth position is open, with very little steric crowding.     

Preparation of copper-indium sulfide thin films by single-source OMCVD: Mass-spectral investigation of decomposition path of the organometallic sources

In order to prepare high-quality CuInS₂ thin films vapor phase decomposition patterns of three copper-indium binuclear complexes, and as candidates for source materials were investigated using EI MS. The complex 1c showed series of intensive peaks due to the fragmentation of M⁺. For 1a, only a fragmentation pattern starting from BuIn(S₂CNBu₂)₂ was detectable. This should suggest that 1a decomposed into BuIn(S₂CNBu₂)₂ and copper sulfide before vaporization. In addition an ambiguous feature could be observed for 1b, viz. two fragmentation paths. Consequently, we judge that 1c is a suitable source complex to prepare CuInS₂ thin films via a single-source OMCVD process. Thus chalcopyrite CuIns₂ thin films were successfully prepared via single-source OMCVD using 1c as a source complex, with T_substrate400°C, T_source80°C, base pressure 0.7 Torr and carrier (nitrogen) flow rate 0.8 L min^?1. Fragmentation of two copper dithiocarbmates, Cu(S₂CNBu₂)₂ and Cu[S₂CN(i-Pr)₂]₂, and two butylindium thiolates, Bu₂InS(i-Pr) and BuIn[S(i-Pr)]₂, as components of 1 is additionally discussed.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties of the binuclear copper (II) complex of a new bis (1, 4, 7, 10‐tetraazacyclododecane) ligand

A new binucleating macrocyclic ligand 2,6‐bis (1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecan‐10‐ylmethyl) methoxy‐benzene (L) and its binuclear copper (II) complex, [Cu₂LBr₂] (CIO₄ )₂ · 3H₂O (1), was prepared and the structure was determined by X‐ray crystallography. Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic crystal system, P2₁/n space group with a = 0.8206(3), b =2.0892(8), c = 2.3053(7) mn, β = 95.83(2)°, V = 3.932 nm³, Mr=1017.57, Z = 4, D_c =1.692 g/cm³, and R= 0.0489, R_w 0.0552 for 6571 observed reflections with I ≥ 2σ (1). Both of the copper(II) centers are coordinated by four amine nitrogen donors of cyclen subunits and a bromide anion, and each copper(II) ion is in a square‐pyramidal coordination environment. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility studies indicate that there exists weak intramolecular antiferro‐magnetic coupling ( ?2J = 2.06 cm^?1) between the two copper (II) centers.     

A novel copper(II) complex with 1,10‐phenanthroline and ciprofloxacin

The X‐ray structure analysis of the title compound, chloro[1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐7‐(piperazin‐4‐ium‐1‐yl)‐3‐quinolinecarboxylate‐κ²O³,O⁴](1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)copper chloride dihydrate, [CuCl(C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃)(C₁₂H₈N₂)]Cl·2H₂O or [CuCl(cfH)(phen)]Cl·2H₂O, where cfH is 1‐cyclopropyl‐6‐fluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐7‐(piperazin‐4‐ium‐1‐yl)‐3‐quinolinecarboxylate and phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline, shows that the geometry around the Cu ion is a slightly distorted square pyramid. Two O atoms of the carbonyl and carboxyl groups of ciprofloxacin and two N atoms of 1,10‐phenanthroline are coordinated to the metal centre in the equatorial plane, and a Cl⁻ ion is coordinated at the apical position. Extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonding produces a supramolecular structure that consists of alternating six‐ and 12‐membered rings.     

Luminescent properties of three structures built from 3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olate and cadmium

Yellow–orange tetraaquabis(3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olato‐κN³)cadmium(II) dihydrate, [Cd(C₈HN₄O₂)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O, (I), and yellow tetraaquabis(3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olato‐κN³)cadmium(II) 1,4‐dioxane solvate, [Cd(C₈HN₄O₂)₂(H₂O)₄]·C₄H₈O₂, (II), contain centrosymmetric mononuclear Cd²⁺ coordination complex molecules in different conformations. Dark‐red poly[[decaaquabis(μ₂‐3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olato‐κ²N:N′)bis(μ₂‐3‐cyano‐4‐dicyanomethylene‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐diolato‐κ²N:N′)tricadmium] hemihydrate], [Cd₃(C₈HN₄O₂)₂(C₈N₄O₂)₂(H₂O)₁₀]·0.5H₂O, (III), has a polymeric two‐dimensional structure, the building block of which includes two cadmium cations (one of them located on an inversion centre), and both singly and doubly charged anions. The cathodoluminescence spectra of the crystals are different and cover the wavelength range from UV to red, with emission peaks at 377 and 620 nm for (III), and at 583 and 580 nm for (I) and (II), respectively.     

Near‐IR Core‐Substituted Naphthalenediimide Fluorescent Chemosensors for Zinc Ions: Ligand Effects on PET and ICT Channels

Near‐IR (NIR) emission can offer distinct advantages for both in vitro and in vivo biological applications. Two NIR fluorescent turn‐on sensors N,N′‐di‐n‐butyl‐2‐(N‐{2‐[bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)amino]ethyl})‐6‐(N‐piperidinyl)naphthalene‐1,4,5,8‐tetracarboxylic acid bisimide and N,N′‐di‐ n‐butyl‐2‐[N,N,N′‐tri(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)amino]ethyl‐6‐(N‐piperidinyl)naphthalene‐1,4,5,8‐tetracarboxylic acid bisimide (PND and PNT) for Zn²⁺ based on naphthalenediimide fluorophore are reported. Our strategy was to choose core‐substituted naphthalenediimide (NDI) as a novel NIR fluorophore and N,N‐di(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethane‐1,2‐diamine (DPEA) or N,N,N′‐tri(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)ethane‐1,2‐diamine (TPEA) as the receptor, respectively, so as to improve the selectivity to Zn²⁺. In the case of PND, the negligible shift in absorption and emission spectra is strongly suggestive that the secondary nitrogen atom (directly connected to the NDI moiety, N¹) is little disturbed with Zn²⁺. The fluorescence enhancement of PND with Zn²⁺ titration is dominated with a typical photoinduced electron‐transfer (PET) process. In contrast, the N¹ atom for PNT can participate in the coordination of Zn²⁺ ion, diminishing the electron delocalization of the NDI moiety and resulting in intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) disturbance. For PNT, the distinct blueshift in both absorbance and fluorescence is indicative of a combination of PET and ICT processes, which unexpectedly decreases the sensitivity to Zn²⁺. Due to the differential binding mode caused by the ligand effect, PND shows excellent selectivity to Zn²⁺ over other metal ions, with a larger fluorescent enhancement centered at 650 nm. Also both PND and PNT were successfully used to image intracellular Zn²⁺ ions in the living KB cells.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymer linked copper(I) bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene) mechanocatalysts

In this paper, the synthesis and characterization of a series of latent polymeric bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene) (NHC) copper(I) complexes is reported, which can be activated for the copper(I)‐catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) via ultrasound. To prove the influence of chain length and nature of the polymer towards the activation, poly(isobutylene) (PIB), poly(styrene) (PS) and poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) are synthesized via living polymerization techniques (LCCP, ATRP, CROP) obtaining different chain lengths (from 2500 to 9000 g/mol), followed by quaternization with N‐methylimidazole, generating the corresponding N‐methylimidazolium‐telechelic polymers. The deprotonation of these macroligands via strong bases like sodium tert‐butoxide (NaO^tBu) or potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS) yields the free N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), which are used to coordinate to tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) hexafluorophosphate, forming the final polymer‐based mono‐ and bis(N‐methylimidazole‐2‐ylidene) copper(I)X complexes. The structural proof of these complexes is accomplished via ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy, MALDI‐TOF‐MS and GPC‐techniques. The activation of the copper(I) biscarbene catalysts by ultrasound is studied by GPC, revealing the cleavage of one shielding NHC‐ligand. The initial catalytic latency and the via ultrasound introduced catalytic activation is successfully demonstrated monitoring a CuAAC “click” reaction of benzyl azide and phenylacetylene by in situ ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy introducing thus “click” conversions up to 97%. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3893–3907