One- and two-armed lariat ether peptide derivatives: syntheses and cation binding properties

Series of peptide-based lariat ethers derived from aza-18-crown-6 and bibracchial lariat ethers (BiBLEs) based on 4,13-diaza-18-crown-6 have been prepared. Sidearms incorporate inter alia the amino acids glycine, alanine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Cation binding affinities for Na⁺ and K⁺ are reported.     

Simple Approach to the Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of trans-1,2-Cyclopropane Derivatives

In the presence of KF·2H2O, furoylmethyltriphenylarsonium bromide （1a） or thienoylmethyltriphenylarsonium bromide （1b） reacted with 2-[（un）substituted benzylidene]malononitrile （2） in chloroform at room temperature to give trans-3,3-dicyano-1-furoyl-2-[（un）substituted phenyl]cyclopropane （3a） or trans-3,3-dicyano-1-thienoyl-2- [（un）substituted phenyl]cyclopropane （3b） respectively in good yield with high stereoselectivity. The structures of product 3 were confirmed by IR, MS, 1^H NMR, 1^H-1^H COSY and microanalysis. The relative configuration of product 3 was determined by 1^H-1^H NOESY technique. The mechanism for the formation of product 3 was also proposed.     

Metalated 1, 3‐Azaphospholes: η1‐(1H‐1, 3‐Benzazaphosphole‐P)M(CO)5 and μ2‐[(1, 3‐Benzazaphospholide‐P)(cyclopentadienide)nickel] Complexes

1H‐1, 3‐Benzazaphospholes react with M(CO)₅(THF) (M = Cr, Mo, W) to give thermally and relatively air stable η¹‐(1H‐1, 3‐Benzazaphosphole‐P)M(CO)₅ complexes. The ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR‐data are in accordance with the preservation of the phosphaaromatic π‐system of the ligand. The strong upfield ³¹P coordination shift, particularly of the Mo and W complexes, forms a contrast to the downfield‐shifts of phosphine‐M(CO)₅ complexes and classifies benzazaphospholes as weak donor but efficient acceptor ligands. Nickelocene reacts as organometallic species with metalation of the NH‐function. The resulting ambident 1, 3‐benzazaphospholide anions prefer a μ₂‐coordination of the η⁵‐CpNi‐fragment at phosphorus to coordination at nitrogen or a η³‐heteroallyl‐η⁵‐CpNi‐semisandwich structure. This is shown by characteristic NMR data and the crystal structure analysis of a η⁵‐CpNi‐benzazaphospholide. The latter is a P‐bridging dimer with a planar Ni₂P₂ ring and trans‐configuration of the two planar heterocyclic phosphido ligands arranged perpendicular to the four‐membered ring.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Physical Properties of a Barium Complex with 5‐Sulfoisophthalic Acid Sodium Salt

The complex [Ba₃(sip)₂(H₂O)₉] · H₂O ( 1 ) (NaH₂sip = 5‐sulfoisophthalic acid sodium) was synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Structural determination reveals that the asymmetric unit in 1 contains two crystallographically independent Ba^II atoms. The Ba1 atom is eight‐coordinate with distorted monocapped pentagonal bipyramidal arrangement, whereas the Ba2 atom is ten‐coordinated with bicapped tetragonal prismatic arrangement. The two carboxylate groups of sip^3– adopt different coordination modes, μ₂‐η¹:η¹‐bridging, and μ₂‐η²:η¹‐bridging. The sulfonate group coordinates to three different Ba^II atoms in a tridentate μ₃ mode to generate a ladder‐like one‐dimensional chain. The chains are connected by μ₂‐η¹:η¹‐bridging carboxylate groups to form a wave‐like two‐dimensional network, which are further linked by sip^3– anions to generate a three‐dimensional structure. The thermal stability and luminescence properties of complex 1 were also investigated.     

Gutmann's Donor Numbers Correctly Assess the Effect of the Solvent on the Kinetics of SNAr Reactions in Ionic Liquids

We report an experimental study on the effect of solvents on the model S_NAr reaction between 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene and morpholine in a series of pure ionic liquids (IL). A significant catalytic effect is observed with reference to the same reaction run in water, acetonitrile, and other conventional solvents. The series of IL considered include the anions, NTf₂^?, DCN^?, SCN^?, CF₃SO₃^?, PF₆^?, and FAP^? with the series of cations 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium ([BMIM]⁺), 1‐ethyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium ([EMIM]⁺), 1‐butyl‐2,3‐dimethyl‐imidazolium ([BM₂IM]⁺), and 1‐butyl‐1‐methyl‐pyrrolidinium ([BMPyr]⁺). The observed solvent effects can be attributed to an “anion effect”. The anion effect appears related to the anion size (polarizability) and their hydrogen‐bonding (HB) abilities to the substrate. These results have been confirmed by performing a comparison of the rate constants with Gutmann's donicity numbers (DNs). The good correlation between rate constants and DN emphasizes the major role of charge transfer from the anion to the substrate.     

Synthesis of 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives using 1,2‐hydroboration, 1,1‐organoboration and protodeborylation

The reaction of di(alkyn‐1‐yl)vinylsilanes R¹(H₂C═CH)Si(C≡C―R)₂ (R¹ = Me ( 1 ), Ph ( 2 ); R = Bu (a), Ph (b), Me₂HSi (c)) at 25°C with 1 equiv. of 9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9‐BBN) affords 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives ( 3a , 3b , 3c , 4a , 4b ), bearing one Si―C≡C―R function readily available for further transformations. These compounds are formed by consecutive 1,2‐hydroboration followed by intramolecular 1,1‐carboboration. Treated with a further equivalent of 9‐BBN in benzene they are converted at relatively high temperature (80–100°C) into 1‐alkenyl‐1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives ( 5a , 5b 6a , 6b ) as a result of 1,2‐hydroboration of the Si―C≡C―R function. Protodeborylation of the 9‐BBN‐substituted 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , using acetic acid in excess, proceeds smoothly to give the novel 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene ( 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ). The solution‐state structural assignment of all new compounds, i.e. di(alkyn‐1‐yl)vinylsilanes and 1‐silacyclopent‐2‐ene derivatives, was carried out using multinuclear magnetic resonance techniques (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹B, ²⁹Si NMR). The gas phase structures of some examples were calculated and optimized by density functional theory methods (B3LYP/6‐311+G/(d,p) level of theory), and ²⁹Si NMR parameters were calculated (chemical shifts δ²⁹Si and coupling constants ⁿJ(²⁹Si,¹³C)). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and structure of novel spirosilanes. Combination of 1,2‐hydroboration and 1,1‐organoboration

The reaction of tetra(alkyn‐1‐yl)silanes Si(C?C‐R¹)₄ 1 [R¹ = ^tBu ( a ), Ph ( b ), C₆H₄‐4‐Me ( c )] with 9‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9‐BBN) in a 1:2 ratio affords the spirosilane derivatives 5a – c as a result of twofold intermolecular 1,2‐hydroboration, followed by twofold intramolecular 1,1‐organoboration. Intermediates 3a–c , in which two alkenyl‐ and two alkyn‐1‐yl groups are linked to silicon, were identified by NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of the spiro compound 5c was determined by X‐ray analysis, and the solution‐state structures of products and intermediates follow conclusively from the consistent NMR spectroscopic data sets (¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photoinduced electron transfer of [ Ru (bpy)_2 (4, 4'-dcbpy)]~(2 ) with electron donors

Emission quenching of [Ru(bpy)2(4, 4'-dcbpy)] (PF6)2 (1) by benzenamine,4-[2-[5-[4-[4-dimethylamino]phenyl]-4,5-di-hydro-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]-ethenyl]-N,N-dimetyl (2) or 1, 5-diphenyl-3-(2-phenothiazine)-2-pyrazoline (3) was observed. Measurements of the emission decay of 1 before and after addition of 2 or 3 by single photon counting technique con-finned the observations. The emission quenching of 1 by 2 or 3 was submitted to Stern-Volmer equation. It was calculated that the quenching rate constants (kq) are 5.5 × 109(mol/L)-1s-1 for 2 and 4.0 × 109(mol/L)-1s-1 for 3, respectively. These results indicated a character of dynamic quenching process. The singlet-state of 2 or 3 was also quenched by 1. The quenching behaviors did not conform to the Stern- Volmer equation and involved both static and dynamic quenching processes. The apparent quenching rate constant (kapp) was calculated to be 3 × 109 (mol/L)-1 for the interaction of excited 2 with 1, and 1.2 × 109 (mol/L)-1 for that of excited 3 wit     

Efficient Microscale Preparation of Isotopically Enriched 1‐[79Br]Bromo‐2‐Fluoroethylene, [79Br]BrHC˭CHF

Abstract

An efficient preparation of 1‐[⁷⁹Br]bromo‐2‐fluoroethylene, [⁷⁹Br]BrHC?CHF, was carried out by a three‐step procedure: (a) natural 1‐bromo‐2‐fluoroethylene, BrHC?CHF, was iodinated to 1‐fluoro‐2‐iodoethylene, FHC?CHI; (b) 1‐fluoro‐2‐iodoethylene was ⁷⁹Br₂‐brominated to 1,2‐di[⁷⁹Br]bromo‐1‐fluoro‐2‐iodoethane, [⁷⁹Br]BrFCHCH[⁷⁹Br]BrI; and (c) 1,2‐di[⁷⁹Br]bromo‐1‐fluoro‐2‐iodoethane was dehalogenated to 1‐[⁷⁹Br]bromo‐2‐fluoroethylene, [⁷⁹Br]BrHC?CHF. The yield of isolated product, on a 2‐mmol scale, was 62% with respect to ⁷⁹Br₂.     

Synthesis,Structure, Luminescent and Thermal Properties of Ytterbium(III) and Dysprosium(III) Complexes with 5‐Sulfoisophthalic Acid Sodium Salt

Two rare earth metal‐organic framework compounds [Ybsip(H₂O)₅] · 3H₂O ( 1 ) and [Dysip(H₂O)₄] ( 2 ) (NaH₂sip: 5‐sulfoisophthalic acid sodium salt) were synthesized hydrothermally, and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. In complex 1 , each Yb^III atom is nine‐coordinate with a distorted monocapped tetragonal prismatic arrangement. Two carboxylate groups of each sip^3– molecule adopt the same μ₁‐η¹:η¹ chelating coordination model connecting two Yb^III atoms. The oxygen atoms of the sulfonate group do not participate in coordination with Yb^III. The whole sip^3– molecule acts as a μ₂ bridge to form an one‐dimensional (1D) chain structure. The 1D chains are linked by hydrogen bonding to generate two‐dimensional layers, and are further combined together to form a three‐dimensional structure. In complex 2 , the Dy^III atom is nine‐coordinate with a distorted monocapped tetragonal antiprismatic arrangement. In each sip^3– anion, two carboxylate groups take the same μ₁‐η¹:η¹ chelating coordination mode, only an oxygen atom of sulfonate group bond to Dy^III ion. The whole ligand sip^3– acts as a μ₃ bridge linking three different Dy^III ions to generate a wave‐like two‐dimensional network with (6,3) topological structure. The two‐dimensional networks are further linked by O–H ··· O hydrogen bonds to form a three‐dimensional structure. The thermal and luminescent properties of both complexes are investigated.     

Inclusion of Ethyl Acetoacetate Bearing 7‐Hydroxycoumarin Dye by β‐Cyclodextrin and its Cooperative Assembly with Mercury(II) Ions: Spectroscopic and Molecular Modeling Studies

The inclusion of the fluorescent organic dye, ethyl 3‐(7‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)‐3‐oxopropanoate ( 1 ) by the host β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD), and its response toward mercuric ions (Hg²⁺), was studied by UV/Vis, fluorescence, and ¹H NMR spectroscopic analyses, mass spectrometry and molecular modeling studies. ¹H NMR measurements together with molecular modeling studies for dye 1 demonstrate that it exhibits two tautomeric forms (keto and enol); however, when the dye is included into the β‐CD cavity, the enol form predominates. Moreover, by using spectroscopic and spectrometry techniques, a 1:1 stoichiometry was determined for the complexes formed between dye 1 (enol form) and β‐CD, with a binding constant (K_b1=1.8×10⁴ m ^?1) and for the dye 1 (keto form)‐Hg²⁺ (K_b2=2.3×10³ m ^?1). Interestingly, in the presence of 1 –β‐CD complex and mercuric ions, a ternary supramolecular system (Hg– 1 –β‐CD complex) was established, with a 1:1:1 stoichiometry and a K_b3 value of 4.3×10³ m ^?1, with the keto form of the dye being the only one present in this assembly. The three‐component system provides a starting point for the development of novel and directed supramolecular assemblies.     

Self‐aggregation of Synthetic Zinc Chlorophyll Derivatives Possessing 31‐Hydroxy or Methoxy Group and 131‐Mono‐ or Dicyanomethylene Moiety in Nonpolar Organic Solvents as Models of Chlorosomal Bacteriochlorophyll‐d Aggregates

Methyl 13¹‐(di)cyanomethylene‐pyropheophorbides were synthesized by Knoevenagel reactions of the corresponding 13¹‐oxo‐chlorins prepared from modifying chlorophyll‐a with malononitrile or cyanoacetic acid. Alternatively, methyl 13¹‐cyanomethylene‐pyropheophorbides were produced by Wittig reactions of 13¹‐oxo‐chlorins with Ph₃P=CHCN. Self‐aggregation of zinc complexes of the semi‐synthetic chlorophyll derivatives possessing a hydroxy or methoxy group at the 3¹‐position was examined in 1%(v/v) tetrahydrofuran or dichloromethane and hexane by electronic absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Although intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding between the 3¹‐hydroxy and 13¹‐oxo groups of bacteriochlorophylls‐c/d/e/f was essential for their self‐aggregation in natural light‐harvesting antenna systems (=chlorosomes), zinc 3¹‐hydroxy‐13¹‐di/monocyanomethylene‐chlorins self‐aggregated in the less/lesser polar organic solvents to form chlorosome‐like large oligomers in spite of lacking the 13¹‐oxo moiety as the hydrogen‐bonding acceptor. Zinc 3¹‐methoxy‐13¹‐dicyanomethylene‐chlorin gave similar self‐aggregates regardless of lack of both the 3¹‐hydroxy and 13¹‐oxo groups. The present self‐aggregation was ascribable to stronger coordination of the 3¹‐oxygen atom to the central zinc than the conventional systems, where the electron‐withdrawing cyano group(s) increased the coordinative ability of the central zinc through the chlorin π‐system.     

Damage to Isolated DNA Mediated by Singlet Oxygen

In the present work, we study the reaction of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) with isolated DNA. Emphasis is placed on the identification and quantitative measurement of the DNA modifications that are produced by the reaction of ¹O₂ with DNA. For this purpose, calf‐thymus DNA was incubated with the endoperoxide of N,N′‐di(2,3‐dihydroxypropyl)‐1,4‐naphthalenedipropanamide, a chemical generator of ¹O₂. Thereafter, DNA was digested, and the resulting oxidized nucleosides were measured by means of a recently optimized high‐performance‐liquid‐chromatography tandem‐mass‐spectrometry assay. It was found that, among the different DNA lesions observed, 7,8‐dihydro‐8‐oxo‐2′‐deoxyguanosine is the major ¹O₂‐mediated DNA‐damage product. Interestingly, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, oxidized pyrimidine bases, 7,8‐dihydro‐8‐oxo‐2′‐deoxyadenosine, and 2,6‐diamino‐5‐formamido‐4‐hydroxypyrimidine are not formed, at least not in detectable amounts, following treatment of DNA with the ¹O₂ generator. The reported results strongly suggest that the decomposition of the endoperoxide provides a pure source of ¹O₂, and that reaction of ¹O₂ with isolated DNA induces the specific formation of 7,8‐dihydro‐8‐oxo‐2′‐deoxyguanosine.     

Non-isothermal Decomposition Kinetics, Specific Heat Capac-ity and Adiabatic Time-to-explosion of a High Energy Material: 4,6-Bis(5-amino-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-5-nitropyrimidine

The thermal behavior of 4,6‐bis‐(5‐amino‐3‐nitro‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐5‐nitropyrimidine (BANTNP) was studied under a non‐isothermal condition by DSC, PDSC and TG/DTG methods. The kinetic parameters (E_a and A) of the exothermic decomposition reaction are 304.52 kJ·mol^?1 and 10^24.47 s^?1 at 0.1 MPa, 272.52 kJ·mol^?1 and 10^21.76 s^?1 at 5.0 MPa, respectively. The kinetic equation at 0.1 MPa can be expressed as: dα/dT=10^25.3(1?α)^3/4exp(?3.8044×10⁴/T)/β The critical temperature of thermal explosion is 588.28 K. The specific heat capacity of BANTNP was determined with a Micro‐DSC method, and the standard molar specific heat capacity is 397.54 J·mol^?1·K^?1 at 298.15 K. The adiabatic time‐to‐explosion of BANTNP was calculated to be 11.75 s.     

Two‐Dimensional Holo‐ and Hemidirected Lead(II) Coordination Polymers: Synthetic,Spectroscopic, Thermal,and Structural Studies of [Pb(μ‐SCN)2(μ‐ebp)1.5]n and {[Pb(μ‐OAc)(μ‐ebp)](ClO4)}n (ebp=4,4′‐[(1E)‐Ethane‐1,2‐diyl]bis[pyridine]; OAc=Acetato)

Two new coordination polymers of Pb^II complexes with bridging 4,4′‐[(1E)‐ethane‐1,2‐diyl]bis[pyridine] (ebp), thiocyanato, and acetato ligands, [Pb(μ‐SCN)₂(μ‐ebp)_1.5]_n ( 1 ) and {[Pb(μ‐OAc)(μ‐ebp)](ClO₄)}_n ( 2 ), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, thermal analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In 1 , the Pb²⁺ ions are doubly bridged by both the ebp and the SCN⁻ ligands into a two‐dimensional polymeric network. The seven‐coordinate geometry around the Pb²⁺ ion in 1 is a distorted monocapped trigonal prism, in which the Pb²⁺ ions have a less‐common holodirected geometry. In 2 , the Pb²⁺ ions are bridged by AcO⁻ ligands forming linear chains, which are also further bridged by the neutral ebp ligands into a two‐dimensional polymeric framework. The Pb²⁺ ions have a five‐coordinate geometry with two N‐atoms from two ebp ligands and three O‐atoms of AcO⁻. Although ClO acts as a counter‐ion, it also makes weak interactions with the Pb²⁺ center. The arrangement of the ligands in 2 exhibits hemidirected geometry, and the coordination gap around the Pb²⁺ ion is possibly occupied by a configurationally active lone pair of electrons.     

Nickel(II) Complexes of 1‐Alkyl‐1‐azonia‐3,5‐diaza‐7‐phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane – Synthesis and Solid‐State Structures

Complexes [NiI₃(mpta)₂]I ( 1 ) and [NiI₃(ppta)₂]I ( 2 ) have been synthesized by reaction of nickel(II) halide salts with ‐1‐methyl‐1‐azonia‐3,5‐diaza‐7‐phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1^3,7]decane iodide (mpta⁺I^?) and 1‐(n‐propyl)‐1‐azonia‐3,5‐diaza‐7‐phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1^3,7]decane bromide (ppta⁺Br^?) respectively. The crystal structures of compounds 1 and 2 are described and are similar, with both compounds crystallizing in monoclinic space groups. The geometry about both nickel atoms is that of a trigonal bipyramid with the cationic phosphine ligands found in the axial positions and the iodide ligands arranged in the equatorial plane.     

A Minimalist Approach to C?H Activation by Copper

The complex [Cu₂( 1 )₂]²⁺ ( 1 = 1,3‐bis(1‐methyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)benzene) undergoes slow oxidation by dioxygen in DMF solution to give the hydroxylated product [Cu₂( 2 ‐H)₂]²⁺ ( 2 = 2,6‐bis(1‐methyl‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)phenol) characterized by an X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis. The oxidation occurs much faster when Cu^II is mixed with 1 in the presence of H₂O₂, with 80% hydroxylation observed within a few minutes. The mononuclear complex formed with 1‐methyl‐2‐phenyl‐1H‐benzimidazole ( 3 ) shows no hydroxylation under these conditions. It is concluded that the hydroxylation requires the presence of a ligand capable of stabilizing a binuclear species, but no special coordinative activation of the copper is required.     

Solid‐State and Solution Structural Studies of 4‐{[C(E)]‐1H‐Azol‐1‐ylimino)methyl}pyridin‐3‐ols

The new N‐salicylideneheteroarenamines 1 – 4 were prepared by reacting the biologically relevant 3‐hydroxy‐4‐pyridinecarboxaldehyde ( 5 ) with 1H‐imidazol‐1‐amine ( 6 ), 1H‐pyrazol‐1‐amine ( 7 ), 1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐amine ( 8 ), and 1H‐1,3,4‐triazol‐1‐amine ( 9 ). Solution ¹H‐, ¹³C‐, and ¹⁵N‐NMR were used to establish that the hydroxyimino form A is the predominant tautomer. A combination of ¹³C‐ and ¹⁵N‐CPMAS‐NMR with X‐ray crystallographic studies confirms that the same form is present in the solid state. The stabilities and H‐bond geometries of the different forms, tautomers and rotamers, are discussed by using B3LYP/6‐31G** calculations.     

Conformational dynamics of bis(BF2)‐2,2′‐bidipyrrins revealed by through‐space 13C?19F and 19F?19F couplings

The conformation of [bis‐(N,N′‐difluoroboryl)]‐3,3′‐diethyl‐4,4′,8,8′,9,9′,10,10′‐octamethyl‐2,2′‐bidipyrrin (1) in solution was studied by analyzing the ¹³C? ¹⁹F and ¹⁹F? ¹⁹F through‐space spin–spin couplings. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were assigned on the basis of nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY), heteronuclear single‐quantum correlation (HSQC), and heteronuclear multiple‐bond correlation (HMBC) experiments. The ¹⁹F spectrum of 1 was compared with that of 2‐ethyl‐1,3,5,6,7‐pentamethyl‐4,4‐difluoro‐4‐bor‐3a,4a‐diaza‐s‐indacen (2). The ¹⁹F? ¹⁹F through‐space spin? spin coupling in 1 was thus assigned and the coupling constant was obtained by simulating the coupling patterns. The obtained conformation of 1 was compared with those of the known complexes [bis‐(N,N′‐difluoroboryl)]‐3,3′,8,8′,9,9′‐hexaethyl‐4,4′,10,10′‐tetramethyl‐6,6′‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐2,2′‐bidipyrrin (3)and [bis‐(N,N′‐difluoroboryl)]‐9,9′‐diethyl‐4,4′,8,8′,10,10′‐hexamethyl‐3,3′‐bis(methoxycarbonylethyl)‐2,2′‐bidipyrrin (4). The conformational dynamics of 1, 3, and 4 was surveyed by observing the temperature dependence of the through‐space coupling constants between 253 and 333 K. The ¹³C? ¹⁹F and ¹⁹F? ¹⁹F through‐space spin–spin couplings thus confirm similar conformations of different BisBODIPYs in solution in contrast to earlier findings in the solid state. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of an Unexpected Tetranuclear Zinc(II) Complex and a Benzoquinone Compound Derived from ZnII‐ and CdII‐Promoted Reactivity of Schiff Base Ligands

An unexpected polyhydroxyl‐bridged tetranuclear Zn^II complex and a benzoquinone compound derived from metal‐ion promoted reactivity of Schiff base ligands were synthesized and characterized. The reaction of zinc(II) acetate dihydrate with oxime‐type Schiff base ligand HL¹ [HL¹ = 1‐(3‐((3,5‐dibromosalicylaldehyde)amino)phenyl)ethan‐1‐one O‐benzyl oxime] in methanol, acetone, and acetonitrile resulted in the chemoselective cleavage of the C=N bond of the Schiff base HL¹, and then the further addition of acetone to two salicylaldehyde molecules derived from cleavage of the C=N bond in situ α,α double aldol reaction promoted by Zn^II ions. The newly formed ligands H₄L² coordinate to four Zn^II ions forming a defect‐dicubane core structure [Zn^II₄(H₂L²)₂(μ₃‐OCH₃)₂(μ‐OCH₃)₂(CH₃OH)₂] ( 1 ) bridged exclusively by oxygen‐based ligands. The similar ligand HL³ [HL³ = 1‐(3‐((3,5‐dichlorosalicylaldehyde)amino)phenyl)ethan‐1‐one O‐benzyl oxime)] was employed to react with Cd^II acetate dihydrate under the same reaction conditions. No aldol addition occurred but a unexpected benzoquinone compound 2,5‐bis(((3‐(1‐((benzyloxy)imino)ethyl)phenyl)imino)methyl)‐1,4‐benzoquinone ( 2 ) formed. The results provided interesting insights into one‐pot routes involving in situ reactions act as a strategy for obtaining a variety of polymeric/polynuclear complexes which are inconvenient to obtain from directly presynthesizing the ligands.