Trinuclear nickel complexes with triplesalen ligands: simultaneous occurrence of mixed valence and valence tautomerism in the oxidized species

The coordination chemistries of the triple tetradentate triplesalen ligands H(6)talen, H(6)talen(t)(-)(Bu)(2), and H(6)talen(NO)(2) have been investigated with nickel(II). These triplesalen ligands provide three salen-like coordination environments bridged in a meta-phenylene arrangement by a phloroglucinol backbone. The structures of the complexes [(talen)Ni(II)(3)], [(talen(t)(-)(Bu)(2)Ni(II)(3)], and [(talen(NO)(2)Ni(II)(3)] have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All three compounds are composed of neutral trinuclear complexes with square-planar coordinated Ni(II) ions in a salen-like coordination environment. Whereas the overall molecular structure of [(talen(NO)(2)Ni(II)(3)] is nearly planar, the structures of [(talen)Ni(II)(3)] and [(talen(t)(-)(Bu)(2)Ni(II)(3)] are bowl-shaped as a result of ligand folding. The strongest ligand folding occurs at the central nickel-phenolate bond of [(talen(t)(-)(Bu)(2)Ni(II)(3)], resulting in the formation of a chiral hemispherical pocket. The dependence of the physical properties by the substituents on the terminal phenolates has been studied by FTIR, resonance Raman, UV-vis-NIR absorption, and electrochemistry. The three nickel-salen subunits are electronically interacting via the pi system of the bridging phloroglucinol backbone. The strength of this interaction is mediated by two opposing effects: the electron density at the terminal phenolates and the folding of the ligand at the central phenolates. The parent complex [(talen)Ni(II)(3)] is irreversibly oxidized at 0.32 V versus ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc(+)/Fc), whereas [(talen(t)(-)(Bu)2)Ni(II)(3)] and [(talen(NO)(2)Ni(II)(3)] exhibit reversible oxidations at 0.22 V versus Fc(+)/Fc and 0.52 V versus Fc(+)/Fc, respectively. The oxidized species [(talen(t)(-)(Bu)(2)Ni(3)](+) and [(talen(NO)(2)Ni(3)](+) undergo a valence-tautomeric transformation involving a Ni(III) and a phenoxyl radical species, as observed by EPR spectroscopy. Thus, these oxidized forms exhibit the phenomena of valence tautomerism and mixed valence simultaneously. The extent of delocalization of the radical species and of the Ni(III) species is discussed.     

Electronic and photophysical properties of a novel phenol bound dinuclear ruthenium complex: evidence for a luminescent mixed valence state

A novel dinuclear ruthenium(II) complex bridged by dianionic bridge 3-(2-phenol)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole in which the ruthenium metal atoms are bound through N,N coordination to the pyridine and triazole and O,N coordination to the triazole and phenolate is described. The electrochemical, spectroscopic and photophysical behaviour of the dimer is compared with its associated N,N- and O,N-coordinated mononuclear complexes. The mixed valence complex was prepared electrochemically and a weak inter-valence charge transfer transition is observed which from Hush theory provides an electronic coupling matrix element of 666 cm(-1), suggesting the complex is weakly coupled and valence trapped. In its native state the dinuclear compound is essentially non-emissive but upon the oxidation of the O,N moiety luminescence from the complex is reversibly switched on at 0.3 V and reversibly switched off by application of 1.3 or 0 V. To our knowledge this is the first report of a luminescent mixed valence ruthenium complex.     

Electronic structures,bonding, and spin state energetics of biomimetic mononuclear and bridged dinuclear iron complexes: a computational examination

Structural Chemistry - Mononuclear and dinuclear iron complexes are found as key intermediates in many synthetic and biocatalytic reactions, since many of these species are transient and have high...     

Synthesis of an unusual dinuclear chiral iron complex and its application in asymmetric hydrophosphorylation of aldehydes

An unusual dinuclear chiral iron complex has been synthesized and effectively utilized in the asymmetric hydrophosphorylation of aldehydes to synthesize optically active α-hydroxy phosphonates with excellent yield and good enantioselectivity.     

Metal complexes with pyridone-based radicals: Preparation and properties of a dinuclear paddle-wheel copper(II) complex and a mononuclear palladium(II) complex

We prepared and characterized dinuclear copper(II) and mononuclear palladium(II) complexes coordinated with a pyridine-based open-shell ligand, 5-(4′,4′,5′,5′-tetramethylimidazoline-3′-oxide-1′-oxyl)-2(1H)-pyridone (=HL). In the copper(II) dinuclear complex [Cu₂(L)₄(DMF)₂] (1), four deprotonated ligands are coordinated as bridging ligands to form a paddle-wheel type unit. In the palladium(II) complex trans-[PdCl₂(HL)₂] (2), two HL ligands in the neutral hydroxypyridine form are coordinated to the trans positions of the metal ion via the nitrogen atoms. The hydroxyl groups of the ligands are hydrogen-bonded to the chlorine atoms of neighboring molecules, thereby creating a hydrogen-bonded double-chain molecular arrangement. Magnetic susceptibilities of these complexes were measured and analyzed. The small intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction in the latter complex may originate from superexchange through the diamagnetic metal center.     

Route to metallacrowns: the mechanism of formation of a dinuclear iron(III)-salicylhydroxamate complex

The equilibria and the kinetics of the binding of Iron(III) to salicylhydroxamic (SHA) and benzohydroxamic (BHA) acids have been investigated in aqueous solution (I = 1 M (HClO(4)/NaClO(4)), T = 298 K) using spectrophotometric and stopped-flow methods. Whereas Iron(III) forms a 1:1 complex (ML) with BHA, it forms both ML and M(2)L complexes with SHA. The presence of M(2)L in aqueous medium is corroborated by FTIR measurements. The reactive form of Iron(III) is the hydrolyzed species FeOH(2+), which binds to the O,O site in ML and to the O,O and O(P),N (P = phenolate) sites in M(2)L, inducing full deprotonation of the latter. The reaction pathway is discussed in terms of a multistep mechanistic scheme in which the metal-ligand interaction is coupled to hydrolysis and self-aggregation steps of Iron(III). The observation and characterization of M(2)L as a stable species is important because it contains the -Fe-O-N-Fe- sequence, which constitutes the repetitive motif of the SHA-based metallacrown ring and provides the rationale for 12-MC-4 metallacrowns. In the framework of this study, the kinetics of the Iron(III) dimerization and trimerization have also been investigated using the stopped-flow method to perform dilution jumps. The reaction scheme put forward involves two parallel steps (FeOH(2+) + FeOH(2+) and Fe(3+) + FeOH(2+)) that lead to formation of the Fe(2)(OH)(2)(4+) dimer and a slower step (FeOH(2+) + Fe(2)(OH)(2)(4+)) to form the trimer species. The kinetics of the last step have been investigated here for the first time, and the results deduced indicate that, of the two possible trimer structures reported in the literature, Fe(3)(OH)(3)(6+) and Fe(3)(OH)(4)(5+), the latter prevails by far.     

Discrimination of mononuclear and dinuclear dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) by S K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy: insight into the electronic structure and reactivity of DNICs

In addition to probing the formation of dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) by the characteristic Fe K-edge pre-edge absorption energy ranging from 7113.4 to 7113.8 eV, the distinct S K-edge pre-edge absorption energy and pattern can serve as an efficient tool to unambiguously characterize and discriminate mononuclear DNICs and dinuclear DNICs containing bridged-thiolate and bridged-sulfide ligands. The higher Fe-S bond covalency modulated by the stronger electron-donating thiolates promotes the Fe → NO π-electron back-donation to strengthen the Fe-NO bond and weaken the NO-release ability of the mononuclear DNICs, which is supported by the Raman ν(Fe-NO) stretching frequency. The Fe-S bond covalency of DNICs further rationalizes the binding preference of the {Fe(NO)(2)} motif toward thiolates following the trend of [SEt](-) > [SPh](-) > [SC(7)H(4)SN](-). The relative d-manifold energy derived from S K-edge XAS as well as the Fe K-edge pre-edge energy reveals that the electronic structure of the {Fe(NO)(2)}(9) core of the mononuclear DNICs [(NO)(2)Fe(SR)(2)](-) is best described as {Fe(III)(NO(-))(2)}(9) compared to [{Fe(III)(NO(-))(2)}(9)-{Fe(III)(NO(-))(2)}(9)] for the dinuclear DNICs [Fe(2)(μ-SEt)(μ-S)(NO)(4)](-) and [Fe(2)(μ-S)(2)(NO)(4)](2-).     

A dinuclear iron complex based on parallel malonate binding sites: cooperative activation of dioxygen and biomimetic ligand oxidation

A ligand that offers two parallel malonate binding sites linked by a xanthene backbone, namely, Xanthmal2-, has been utilised to synthesise dinuclear FeII complex [Fe2(Xanthmal)2] (1). The reactivity of 1 in contact with O2 was investigated at -40 degrees C and room temperature. After activation of O2 through interaction with both iron centres the ligand is oxidised: at the Calpha position monooxygenation and peroxide formation occur, partially accompanied by C-C bond cleavage to yield alpha-keto ester groups. To reveal mechanistic details investigations concerning 1) peroxide decomposition, 2) the reactivity of a corresponding mononuclear complex, 3) the influence of monooxygenation of the ligand on the reactivity and 4) product formation in dependence on time were carried out. The results can be explained by postulating formation of high-valent Fe intermediates and ligand-to-metal electron transfer, and the mechanistic scheme derived includes several steps that mimic the (suggested) functioning of non-heme iron enzymes. In agreement with this proposal, ligand oxidation can also be performed catalytically. Furthermore, we show that via a competitive route [(Xanthmal)2Fe2O] (2) is formed, which is unreactive towards O2 and thus is a dead end with respect to ligand oxidation. Both compounds 1 and 2 were fully characterised, and their properties are discussed.     

Fluorescent states of exciplex and charge-transfer complexes: experimental evidence for an identical fluorescent state

The exciplex (above ≈ 170°K) and the charge-transfer (CT) complex (below ≈ 130°K) fluorescences were observed in a nonpolar solution of 9,10-dicyanoanthracene and 2-methylnaphthalene. The fluorescence maxima, lifetimes and quantum yields of the exciplex and the CT complex show continuous changes from room temperature to 77°K suggesting an identical fluorescent state of the exciplex and CT complex.     

Controlling aggregation of copper(II)-based coordination compounds: From mononuclear to dinuclear, tetranuclear, and polymeric copper complexes

The use of a strategy combining ligand design and changes of reaction conditions has been investigated with the goal of directing the assembly of mononuclear, dinuclear, tetranuclear, and polymeric copper(II) complexes. As a result, closely related copper monomers, alkoxo dimers, and hydroxo cubanes, along with a carbonate-bridged polymeric species, have been synthesized using the rigid, aliphatic amino ligands cis-3,5-diamino-trans-hydroxycyclohexane (DAHC), cis-3,5-diamino-trans-methoxycyclohexane (DAMC), and the glutaryl-linked derivative glutaric acid bis-(cis-3,5-diaminocyclohexyl) ester (GADACE). The composition of the monomeric complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography as [Cu(DAHC)2](ClO4)2 (1), the two dimers as [{Cu(DAHC)(OMe)}2](ClO4)2.MeOH (2) and [{Cu(DAMC)(OMe)(ClO4)}2] (3), the three Cu4O4 cubanes as [{Cu(DAHC)(OH)}4](ClO4)(4).2.5MeOH (4), [{Cu(DAMC)(OH)}4](ClO4)4.H2O (5), and [{Cu2(OH)2(GADACE)}2]Cl4.2MeOH.6H2O (6), and an infinite-chain structure as [{Cu(DAHC)(CO3)}n] (7). Furthermore, the cubane structures 4 and 5 have been investigated magnetically. Our studies indicate that formation of the monomeric, dimeric, and tetranuclear DAHC and DAMC complexes can be controlled by small changes in reaction conditions and that further preorganization of the ligand moiety by linking the DAHC cores (GADACE) allows more effective direction of the self-assembly of the Cu4O4 cubane core.     

Bonding trends of thiosemicarbazones in mononuclear and dinuclear copper(I) complexes: syntheses, structures, and theoretical aspects

Reactions of copper(I) halides with a series of thiosemicarbazone ligands (Htsc) in the presence of triphenylphosphine (Ph(3)P) in acetonitrile have yielded three types of complexes: (i) monomers, [CuX(eta1-S-Htsc)(Ph3P)2] [X, Htsc = I (1), Br (2), benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (Hbtsc); I (5), Br (6), Cl (7), pyridine-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (Hpytsc)], (ii) halogen-bridged dimers, [Cu2(mu2-X)2(eta1-S-Htsc)2(Ph3P)2] [X, Htsc = Br (3), Hbtsc; I (8), furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (Hftsc); I (11), thiophene-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (Httsc)], and (iii) sulfur-bridged dimers, [Cu2X2(mu2-S-Htsc)2(Ph3P)2] [X, Htsc = Cl (4), Hbtsc; Br (9), Cl (10), pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (Hptsc); Br (12), Httsc]. All of these complexes have been characterized with the help of elemental analysis, IR, 1H, 13C, or 31P NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography (1-12). In all of the complexes, thiosemicarbazones are acting as neutral S-donor ligands in eta()S or mu2-S bonding modes. The Cu...Cu separations in the Cu(mu2-X)2Cu and Cu(mu2-S)2Cu cores lie in the ranges 2.981(1)-3.2247(6) and 2.813(1)-3.2329(8) Angstroms, respectively. The geometry around each Cu center in monomers and dimers may be treated as distorted tetrahedral. Ab initio density functional theory calculations on model monomeric and dimeric complexes of the simplest thiosemicarbazone [H2C=N-NH-C(S)-NH2, Htsc] have revealed that monomers and halogen-bridged dimers have similar stability and that sulfur-bridged dimers are stable only when halogen atoms are engaged in hydrogen bonding with the solvent of crystallization or H2O molecules.     

Variation in the coordination mode of arenedisulfonates: syntheses and structural characterization of mononuclear and dinuclear cadmium(II) arenedisulfonate complexes with two- to zero-dimensional architectures

Seven cadmium(II) arenedisulfonate compounds, namely [Cd(2,2'-bpy)(2)(H(2)O)(peds)].4H(2)O (1), [Cd(2)(2,2'-bpy)(4)(H(2)O)(2)(1,5nds)](1,5nds).4H(2)O (2), [Cd(cyclam)(1,5nds)](2) (3), ([Cd(inia)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(2,6nds)].4H(2)O)(n)(4), ([Cd(inia)(2)(H(2)O)(2)(bpds)].4H(2)O)(n)(5), ([Cd(2)(inia)(4)(H(2)O)(3)(peds)(2)].2H(2)O)(n)(6), and [Cd(1,5nds)(H(2)O)(2)](n) (7), where 2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl, cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, inia = isonicotinamide, nds = naphthalenedisulfonate, bpds = 4,4'-biphenyldisulfonate, and peds = 4,4'-phenyletherdisulfonate, have been obtained from aqueous solution by using similar procedures and structurally characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis. In 1, the peds anion coordinates as a monodentate ligand, leading to a mononuclear unit. In 2 and 3, the 1,5nds anions coordinate as mu(2)-bridging ligands in different modes, producing charged or neutral dinuclear clusters. In 4 and 5, 2,6nds and bpds behave as mu(2)-spacers, resulting in 1-dimensional polymers. While in 6, the peds acts both as terminal and bridging ligands with the SO(3)(-) groups being either monodentate or mu(2)-bridging, creating a knotted 1-dimensional polymer with dinuclear clusters as the repeating units. In 7, 1,5nds acts as a bridging ligand with each SO(3)(-) coordinated as a mu(2)-bridging group to adjacent Cd(II) centers, leading to a 2-dimensional polymer. Together with the reported ([Cu(en)(2)(1,5nds)].2H(2)O)(n) (8), all of the six possible coordination modes adopted by organodisulfonate anions, on the assumption that each SO(3)(-) group could be monodentate or mu(2)-bridging, are realized by introducing nitrogen-containing organic ligands as auxiliaries.     

In situ ligand and complex transformation of an iron(III) Schiff base complex: structural evidence and theoretical calculations

A C-C coupling reaction has been achieved at room temperature by in situ ligand transformation. The iron(III) complexes before and after the in situ transformation, [FeNaL(1)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](2)·2H(2)O (1) (H(2)L(1) = (Z)-2-(2-hydroxyl)benzylideneamino) and [FeL(2)](2)·7.5H(2)O (2) (H(3)L(2) = (E)-2-(2-hydroxyl-benzylideneamino)-3-hydroxyl-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl), have been studied by elemental analyses, FT-IR, UV-vis, TGA and X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. The proposed mechanism of this in situ transformation has been determined based on structural evidence and theoretical calculations using the density functional theory (DFT) M06 method.     

Solid-state high-resolution NMR studies on spin fluctuation associated with valence tautomerism of metal–benzoquinone system: Cobalt complex in the stable and meta-stable phases

Equilibrium between low-spin [Co^III(SQ)(Cat)(N–N)] and high-spin [Co^II(SQ)₂(N–N)] redox isomers, where SQ is semiquinonate (charge: −1, spin: 1/2), Cat is catecholate (charge: −2, spin: 0) and N–N is chelating nitrogen donor ligand, respectively, is a representative valence tautomeric phenomenon. To elucidate independently the spin state of the cobalt ion and that of benzoquinone-derived ligands in the solid state, we measured ¹³C MAS NMR spectrum of 3,5-di-t-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone and ²H MAS NMR spectrum of deuterated 2,2′-bipyridine for [Co(3,5-di-t-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone)₂(2,2′-bipyridine)] · x(C₆H₅CH₃) and its deuterated analogue in a temperature range of 200–350 K. Irreversible change of an effective magnetic moment μ_eff of a virgin sample was observed around 370 K due to a partial loss of crystal solvent and a change of crystal structure, whereas the sample annealed at 390 K showed a crystal structure different from the reported one and a reversible change of μ_eff, which is ascribed to equilibrium between Co(III)-form (S = 1/2) and Co(II)-form (S = 3/2). Based on the shifts and the number of NMR peaks for the annealed sample, we concluded that (1) interconversion between redox isomers occurs faster than NMR time scale (>10⁴ s⁻¹) in the solid state, (2) intraconversion between SQ and Cat in Co(III)-form also occurs much faster than 5 × 10⁴ s⁻¹ even at 198 K and (3) electron spins on SQ ligands in Co(II)-form are quenched probably due to a strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two SQ ligands. The enthalpy and the entropy of the interconversion were estimated to be 17 kJ/mol and 54 J/(K mol), respectively. For the virgin metastable phase, SQ and Cat were clearly distinguished by ¹³C MAS NMR spectrum. The solid-state high-resolution NMR spectrum is useful to detect independently the change of spin states of benzoquinone-derived radical and metal ion.     

Investigation of mononuclear,dinuclear, and trinuclear transition metal (II) complexes derived from an asymmetric Salamo‐based ligand possessing three different coordination modes

A new asymmetric Salamo‐based ligand H₂L was synthesized using 3‐tert‐butyl‐salicylaldehyde and 6‐methoxy‐2‐[O‐(1‐ethyloxyamide)]‐oxime‐1‐phenol. By adjusting the ratio of the ligand H₂L and Cu (II), Co (II), and Ni (II) ions, mononuclear, dinuclear, and trinuclear transition metal (II) complexes, [Cu(L)], [{Co(L)}₂], and [{Ni(L)(CH₃COO)(CH₃CH₂OH)}₂Ni] with the ligand H₂L possessing completely different coordination modes were obtained, respectively. The optical spectra of ligand H₂L and its Cu (II), Co (II) and Ni (II) complexes were investigated. The Cu (II) complex is a mononuclear structure, and the Cu (II) atom is tetracoordinated to form a planar quadrilateral structure. The Co (II) complex is dinuclear, and the two Co (II) atoms are pentacoordinated and have coordination geometries of distorted triangular bipyramid. The Ni (II) complex is a trinuclear structure, and the terminal and central Ni (II) atoms are all hexacoordinated, forming distorted octahedral geometries. Furthermore, optical properties including UV–Vis, IR, and fluorescence of the Cu (II), Co (II), and Ni (II) complexes were investigated. Finally, the antibacterial activities of the Cu (II), Co (II), and Ni (II) complexes were explored. According to the experimental results, the inhibitory effect was found to be enhanced with increasing concentrations of the Cu (II), Co (II), and Ni (II) complexes.     

New route to hybrid materials: Rhodium complex and fluoride ion catalysed hydrolysis of hydrogenosilanes

An alternative route to organosilsesquioxanes by hydrolytic condensation of the Si-H bonds of trihydrosilanes is described. This method avoids the formation of alcohols or acids since the leaving group is removed as hydrogen gas. The influence of the catalyst, ClRh(PPh₃)₃ or fluoride anion, on the properties of the resulting materials is discussed.     

Carbon disulfide binding at dinuclear and mononuclear nickel complexes ligated by a redox-active ligand: iminopyridine serving as an accumulator of redox equivalents for the activation of heteroallenes

The dinuclear complex Ni(2)L(1)(η(2)-CS(2))(2) (), featuring iminopyridine ligation, is prepared by COD substitution from Ni(2)L(1)(COD)(2) (). Spectroscopic, structural, and theoretical data reveals significant activation of the metal-bound C-S bonds, as well as the different oxidation states of the iminopyridine in (1-) and (0).