A Structural Diversity of Molecular Alkaline-Earth-Metal Polyphosphides: From Supramolecular Wheel to Zintl Ion

A series of molecular group 2 polyphosphides has been synthesized by using air-stable [Cp*Fe(η⁵-P₅)] (Cp*=C₅Me₅) or white phosphorus as polyphosphorus precursors. Different types of group 2 reagents such as organo-magnesium, mono-valent magnesium, and molecular calcium hydride complexes have been investigated to activate these polyphosphorus sources. The organo-magnesium complex [(^DippBDI−Mg(CH₃))₂] (^DippBDI={[2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃NCMe]₂CH}⁻) reacts with [Cp*Fe(η⁵-P₅)] to give an unprecedented Mg/Fe-supramolecular wheel. Kinetically controlled activation of [Cp*Fe(η⁵-P₅)] by different mono-valent magnesium complexes allowed the isolation of Mg-coordinated formally mono- and di-reduced products of [Cp*Fe(η⁵-P₅)]. To obtain the first examples of molecular calcium-polyphosphides, a molecular calcium hydride complex was used to reduce the aromatic cyclo-P₅ ring of [Cp*Fe(η⁵-P₅)]. The Ca-Fe-polyphosphide is also characterized by quantum chemical calculations and compared with the corresponding Mg complex. Moreover, a calcium coordinated Zintl ion (P₇)³⁻ was obtained by molecular calcium hydride mediated P₄ reduction.     

AlR2Cl/MgR2 combinations as universal cocatalysts for Ziegler–Natta,metallocene, and post‐metallocene catalysts

Combinations of dialkylaluminum chlorides and dialkylmagnesium compounds, when used at molar [AlR₂Cl]:[MgR₂] ratios ≥ 2, act as universal cocatalysts for all three presently known types of alkene polymerization catalysts—Ziegler–Natta, metallocene, and post‐metallocene. When these cocatalysts are used with supported Ti‐based Ziegler–Natta catalysts, they produce catalyst systems which are 1.5–2 times more active than the systems utilizing AlR₃ compounds as cocatalysts. Combinations of AlR₂Cl/MgR₂ cocatalysts and various metallocene complexes produce single‐center catalyst systems similar to those formed in the presence of MAO. The same cocatalysts activate numerous post‐metallocene Ti complexes containing bidentate ligands of a different nature and produce multicenter systems of very high activity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3271–3285, 2009     

Bulky PNP Ligands Blocking Metal-Ligand Cooperation Allow for Isolation of Ru(0), and Lead to Catalytically Active Ru Complexes in Acceptorless Alcohol Dehydrogenation

We synthesized two 4Me−PNP ligands which block metal-ligand cooperation (MLC) with the Ru center and compared their Ru complex chemistry to their two traditional analogues used in acceptorless alcohol dehydrogenation catalysis. The corresponding 4Me−PNP complexes, which do not undergo dearomatization upon addition of base, allowed us to obtain rare, albeit unstable, 16 electron mono-CO Ru(0) complexes. Reactivity with CO and H₂ allows for stabilization and extensive characterization of bis-CO Ru(0) 18 electron and Ru(II) cis and trans dihydride species that were also shown to be capable of C(sp²) −H activation. Reactivity and catalysis are contrasted to non-methylated Ru(II) species, showing that an MLC pathway is not necessary, with dramatic differences in outcomes during catalysis between ⁱPr and ^tBu PNP complexes within each of the 4Me and non-methylated backbone PNP series being observed. Unusual intermediates are characterized in one of the new and one of the traditional complexes, and a common catalysis deactivation pathway was identified.     

Oxidovanadium (IV) and iron (III) complexes with O2N2 donor linkage as plausible antidiabetic candidates: Synthesis,structural characterizations,glucose uptake and model biological media studies

With the upsurging cases of type II diabetic patients, the demand for safe and effective oral antidiabetic drugs is also increasing. Coordination complexes have proven their mettle as efficient oral drug candidates, which thereby motivated us in this work to design new transition metal complexes as plausible candidates for the treatment of diabetes. A reduced salen ligand, {H₂(hpdbal)₂-an} ( 1 ) derived vanadium (IV) and iron (III) complexes, namely, [V^IVO{(hpdbal)₂-an}] ( 2 ) and [{Fe^III (OH₂)((hpdbal)₂-an)}₂ μ₂-SO₄] ( 3 ) were synthesized in this study. The newly obtained ligand and complexes were characterized using usual analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The potential of these compounds in inducing increased glucose uptake by diabetic cells were studied by using insulin resistant HepG2 cells as model diabetic cells and 2-NBDG molecule as a D-glucose analogue and fluorescent tracker. The cells added with the vanadium (IV) complex 3 induced significant NBDG uptake of 95.4% which was higher than that induced by metformin, the standard antidiabetic drug. To elucidate the behavior of the complexes in biological media, model solution studies were conducted with a wide range of pH conditions and protein bovine serum albumin (BSA). The complexes demonstrated effective binding with BSA which was concluded through spectroscopic titration studies and were also found to be sufficiently stable over physiological pH conditions. The study can thus prove to be beneficial in the quest for new antidiabetic drugs.     

New Transition and Actinide Metal Complexes of 2‐Carboxy‐phenylhydrazo‐Benzoylacetone Ligand: Synthesis,Characterization and Biological Study

A new series of binary mononuclear complexes were prepared from the reaction of the hydrazone ligand, 2-carboxyphenylhydrazo-benzoylacetone (H2L), with the metal ions, Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Th(IV) and UO2(VI). The binary Cu(II) complex of H2L was reacted with the ligands 1,10-phenanthroline or 2-aminopyridine to form mixed-ligand complexes. The binary complexes of Cu(II) and Ni(II) are suggested to have octahedral configurations. The Cd(II) and Co(II) complexes are suggested to have tetrahedral and/or square-planar geometries, respectively. The Th(IV) and UO2(VI) complexes are suggested to have octahedral and dodecahedral geometries, respectively. The mixed-ligand complexes have octahedral configurations. The structures of all complexes and the corresponding thermal products were elucidated by elemental analyses, conductance, IR and electronic absorption spectra, magnetic moments, 1H NMR and TG-DSC measurements as well as by mass spectroscopy. The ligand and some of the metal complexes were found to activate the enzyme pectinlyase.     

Kinetic study of thermal degradation of di-, chlorodi- and triorganotin(IV) complexes of 2-[(2,6-dichlorodiphenyl)amino]benzene acetate

The organotin complexes of the general formulae R₂SnL₂, R₂SnLCl and R₃SnL where R = C₄H₉, C₆H₅, and C₇H₇ and L = 2-[(2,6-dichlorodiphenyl)amino]benzene acetate, were subjected to thermal decomposition by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The decomposition of these compounds occurs mostly in two steps. Kinetic parameters such as order of reaction (n), activation energy (Ea), enthalpy (ΔH^?) and entropy (ΔS^?) of activation were calculated by using the Coats and Horowitz methods. The calculated values are in good agreement with observed TG values that confirm the structural integrity of the complexes.     

α-Methyl-benzylcalcium complexes: syntheses, structures and reactivity

α-Methyl-benzylcalcium complexes were prepared analogue to α-Me₃Si-benzylcalcium complexes for which procedures were reported earlier. The crystal structures of homoleptic bis(2-Me₂N-α-Me-benzyl)calcium·(THF)₂ and heteroleptic (9-Me₃Si-fluorenyl)(2-Me₂N-α-Me-benzyl)calcium·(THF) were determined. For both compounds only one of the two diastereomers crystallized. Barriers for inversion of the chiral benzylic carbon were estimated by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy. The α-methyl-benzylcalcium compounds are less stable and show a higher reactivity and faster initiation of styrene polymerization than the analogue α-Me₃Si-benzylcalcium complexes. Intramolecular CH activation in a heteroleptic α-methyl-benzylcalcium complex was observed and the product, a calcium complex with a dianionic alkyl/fluorenyl ansa-ligand, was characterized by crystal structure determination.     

Predicting Small Molecule Activation including Catalytic Hydrogenation of Dinitrogen Promoted by a Dual Lewis Acid

For decades, N₂ activation and functionalization have required the use of transition metal complexes. Thus, it is one of the most challenging projects to activate the abundant dinitrogen through metal-free systems under mild conditions. Here, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept study on the catalytic hydrogenation of dinitrogen (with activation energy as low as 15.3 kcal mol⁻¹) initiated by a dual Lewis acid (DLA) via density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, such a DLA could be also used to activate a series of small molecules including carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, N-ethylenemethylamine, and acetonitrile. It is found that aromaticity plays an important role in stabilizing intermediates and products. Our findings provide an alternative approach to N₂ activation and functionalization, highlighting a great potential of DLA for small molecule activation.     

Metal Effect Meets Volcano Plots: A DFT Study on Tris(phosphino)borane-Transition Metal Complexes Catalyzed H2 Activation

Bifunctional transition metal complexes are of particular interest in metal-ligand cooperative activation of small molecules. As a novel type of bifunctional catalyst, Lewis acid transition metal (LA-TM) complexes have attracted increasing interest in hydrogen activation and storage. To advance the catalyst design, herein the metal effect of LA-TM complexes on the hydrogen activation has been systematically studied with a series of tris(phosphino)borane (TPB) complexes with V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni as metal centers. The metal effect not only influences the mechanism of hydrogen activation, but also notably casts a volcano plot for the activity. TPB complexes of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co tend to activate H₂ through a stepwise mechanism, while TPB-Ni prefers a synergetic mechanism for H₂ activation. More importantly, the metal effect significantly influences the activity of H₂ activation and the formation of the LA-H-TM bridging hydride. The trend of changes in the LA-H-TM structures, the second-order perturbation stabilization energies, and the Laplacian bond orders, along with different metals (from V to Ni), are all interestingly constitute volcano plots for the performance of TPB-TM complexes catalyzed H₂ activation. TPB-Mn and TPB-Fe are found to be the optimal catalysts among the discussed TPB-TM complexes. The volcano plots disclosed for the metal effects should be informative and instructive for homogeneous and heterogeneous LA-TM catalysts development.     

Cationic palladacycles as catalyst precursors for phenyl acetylene polymerization

Novel cationic palladacycles based on benzylidene-2,6-diisopropylphenylimines were prepared via C-H activation using Pd(CH₃CN)₂Cl₂ as metal precursor. The complexes were fully characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The cationic palladacycles were found to be active catalysts for the polymerization of phenylacetylene producing largely trans-cisoidal PPA.     

Synthesis,characterization, biological screening and molecular docking studies of 2-aminonicotinaldehyde (ANA) and its metal complexes

The biological and optical importance of the o-aminoaldehyde family of ligands inspired us to evaluate the coordination properties and biological activities of 2-aminonicotinaldehyde (ANA). Here, we report the synthesis, characterization, biological screening and molecular docking studies of ANA and its metal complexes of Ni(II), Pd(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) using various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of ANA explain the solid-state assembly and an interesting supramolecular herring bone stacking pattern by classical N–H···O/N intra/inter molecular and non-classical C–H···O/N intermolecular H-bonding. ANA and its metal complexes were screened for in vitro anticancer, antimicrobial and anti-oxidant activities. Anticancer activity was tested against HeLa, MCF-7 and HEK293 human cancer cell lines. The [Ni(ANA)₂Cl₂] complex showed good activity against HeLa and MCF-7, the [Pd(ANA)₂Cl₂] and [Cu(ANA)₂Cl₂] complexes against HeLa, and the [Co(ANA)₂Cl₂] complex against MCF-7. In antimicrobial screening, the [Co(ANA)₂Cl₂] and [Cu(ANA)₂Cl₂] complexes were proved to be potent antibacterial and antifungal agents. The anti-oxidant activity of these complexes was investigated through DPPH radical assay, and it was found that all the complexes have good radical scavenging capability. Molecular docking studies were also carried for all the metal complexes against EGFR as a target protein by using Autodock, and the results strongly correlated with the anticancer activity.     

Calculation of chemical equilibria in CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>-heparin-sodium adenosinetriphosphate and MgCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>-heparin-sodium adenosinetriphosphate systems in physiological salines

Chemical equilibria in aqueous solutions of disodium adenosinetriphosphate (Na₂H₂ATP), high-molecular-weight heparin (H₄Hep) and Na₂H₂ATP and in MCl₂-H₄Hep-Na₂H₂ATP-H₂O-NaCl (M = Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺) solutions in the 0.15 M NaCl background were studied using computer simulation and pH titration at 2.3 ≤ pH ≤ 10.5. Formation constants were determined for two protonated ATP species, three protonated complex species of heparin with ATP of equimolar stoichiometry, and mixed-ligand calcium and magnesium complexes with heparin and adenosinetriphosphate. The formation constants for mixed-ligand calcium(II) complexes with heparin are more than two times those of homoligand calcium complexes with heparin. As a result, the Ca²⁺ ion concentration at 6.8 ≤ pH ≤ 7.4 (the pH range of blood plasma stability) decreases from 40 to 100 wt % depending on the ratio of the initial concentrations of CaCl₂, H₄Hep, and Na₂H₂ATP.     

Design,synthesis, characterization and biological studies of copper(II) complexes with 2‐aminobenzimidazole derivatives as biomimetic agents

Four novel copper(II) complexes of 2‐aminobenzimidazole derivatives (obtained from the Knoevenagel condensation of acetylacetone (obtained from acetylacetone and halogen‐substituted benzaldehydes) and 2‐aminobenzimidazole) were synthesized. They were characterized using elemental analysis, molar conductance measurements, and fast atom bombardment mass, Fourier transform infrared, NMR, UV–visible and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies. On the basis of the spectral studies, a distorted square planar geometry was assigned for all the complexes. The antibacterial screening of the ligands and their complexes revealed that all the complexes had higher activities than the free ligands. Superoxide dismutase and antioxidant activities of the copper complexes were also studied. The shifts in ΔE _p, E _1/2, I _pc and I _pa values were explored for the interaction of the complexes with calf thymus DNA using the electrochemical technique.     

Physical characteristics,vibrational spectroscopy and normal-coordinate analysis of 2-aminophenol and 2-phenylenediamine complexes

Hg(II) and Cd(II) complexes with 2-aminophenol (Amph) and 2-phenylenediamine (Phda) as ligands were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, electrical conductivity, thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TG), X-rays, FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra. The complexes formed can be formulated as [M(L)₂·nH₂O]·mH₂O. The electrical conductivity of 0.001 M DMSO solutions revealed the non-electrolytic behavior of the Amph complexes while Phda complexes behave as a 1:2 electrolyte. DTA analysis reveals the presence of two types of water coordinating as aligned and as water of crystallization. ΔE_a of the stepwise decomposition was evaluated. X-ray powder diffraction studies on the ligands and their complexes are described. The fundamental frequencies of these complexes have been assigned on the basis of normal coordinate calculations, carried out using a generalized valence force field (GVFF). The proposed assignments are discussed in relation to the group frequencies in structurally related molecules and in terms of the computed potential-energy distributions among the symmetry coordinates.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of homogeneous catalytic reactions. Part 4. Hydrogenation of cyclohexanone and 2-cyclohexen-1-one catalysed by the complexes [MH(CO)(NCMe)2(PPh3)2]BF4 (M = Ru,Os)

Kinetic and mechanistic studies of the homogeneous hydrogenation of cyclohexanone were carried out using the cationic complexes [MH(CO)(NCMe)₂(PPh₃)₂]BF₄ (M = Ru, Os) as the catalyst precursors, which were very efficient under mild reaction conditions in 2-methoxyethanol solution. For both complexes, the catalytic hydrogenation of cyclohexanone proceeds according to the rate law r = k[M][H₂]. The activation parameters were also calculated, the activation energy for the osmium catalyst being higher than for the ruthenium(I). All experimental data are consistent with a mechanism involving the oxidative addition of hydrogen as the rate-determining step of the catalytic cycle. Finally, the [MH(CO)(NCMe)₂(PPh₃)₂]BF₄ complexes were efficient precatalysts for the selective reduction of 2-cyclohexen-1-one to cyclohexanone; the reduction of the CO group of cyclohexanone only begins to take place when the ,-unsaturated ketone has been consumed.     

Photochemically Induced Reductive Elimination as a Route to a Zirconocene Complex with a Strongly Activated N2 Ligand

The zirconocene dinitrogen complex [{(η⁵‐C₅Me₄H)₂Zr}₂(μ₂,η²,η²‐N₂)] was synthesized by photochemical reductive elimination from the corresponding zirconium bis(aryl) or aryl hydride complexes, providing a high‐yielding, alkali metal‐free route to strongly activated early‐metal N₂ complexes. Mechanistic studies support the intermediacy of zirconocene arene complexes that in the absence of sufficient dinitrogen promote C? H activation or undergo comproportion to formally Zr^III complexes. When N₂ is in excess arene displacement gives rise to strong dinitrogen activation.     

Reactions of Me2Si(2‐Me‐4,5‐BenzInd)Zr(Cl)(NEt2) and Me2Si(2‐Me‐4,5‐BenzInd)ZrCl2 (BenzInd = benzindenyl) with trimethylaluminum and methylaluminumoxane: Correlation of spectroscopy and propene polymerizations

The activity of metallocene/methylaluminumoxane (MAO) catalysts in olefin polymerization is highly dependent on both the alkylation and activation of the complexes. The leaving ligands have an important role in the complex activation, influencing the activity of the system. The aim of this work was to study the reactions of complexes Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4,5‐BenzInd)₂ZrCl₂ ( A ; BenzInd = benzindenyl) and Me₂Si(2‐Me‐4,5‐BenzInd)₂Zr(Cl)(NEt₂) ( B ) with trimethylaluminum (TMA) and MAO. The reaction kinetics and products were studied by both ultraviolet–visible and NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the polymerization behavior of the different species was investigated in propene polymerizations. Complex B was more easily monomethylated by TMA than complex A and resulted in L₂Zr(Me)(NR₂)‐type species. Monomethylation of the complexes before polymerization enhanced the polymerization activity of both complexes. When complexes A and B reacted with MAO, similar cationic species were formed, giving equal polymerization activities. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6455–6464, 2005     

Calcium and strontium anthranilato complexes as effective Fusarium moniliforme controlling agents

This paper presents the one‐pot reaction synthesis of coordination calcium and strontium compounds [Ca(L)₂(H₂O)₂ 1 and Sr(L)₂(H₂O)₂ 2 ] with the 2‐(4‐chlorophenylamino) benzoic acid ligand ( HL  = C₁₃H₁₀NO₂Cl). The complexes were obtained in good yields, and their structures were corroborated according to their CHN, spectroscopic (IR and UV/Vis.) and solution molar conductivity data as the latter confirmed their molecular nature. Additionally, the powder X‐ray diffraction pattern of the complexes was used to determine the cell parameters and the hkl indices together with their corresponding 2θ values. The microbial resistance against the currently available antifungal agents requires searching for new antifungal compounds. Promising fungicidal activities of these coordination complexes were determined against the Fusarium corn disease as complexes 1 and 2 at 30°C inhibited the grain pathogenicity by 70% and 66%, respectively. Moreover, 1 and 2 retarded the amylase enzymes that are responsible for the pathogenicity by 35.13% and 26.22% at 30°C.     

Complexation and thermogravimetric investigation on tin(II) and tin(IV) with norfloxacin as antibacterial agent

The interaction of tin(II) and tin(IV) chlorides with norfloxacin (NOR) has been investigated. Elemental analysis, infrared, mass spectra and thermal analysis have been used to characterize the isolated solid complexes. The results support the formation of complexes with the formula [Sn(NOR)₂]Cl₂·4H₂O and [Sn(NOR)₃]Cl₄. The infrared spectra of the isolated solid complexes suggested that NOR act as bidentate ligand through the carbonyl oxygen atom and one oxygen atom of the carboxylic group forming six-membered rings with the tin ions. The interpretation, mathematical analysis and evaluation of kinetic parameters of thermogravimetric (TGA) and its differential (DTG), such as entropy of activation, pre-exponential factors, activation energy evaluated by using Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger equations are carried out for two complexes. The data obtained indicate that the two complexes decompose in one stage and general mechanisms describing the decomposition are suggested. Furthermore, the electronic, and ¹H?NMR spectra have been studied.     

Endohedral complexes of fullerene-like silica molecules with H2O, CH4, and CH3NH2 molecules

The possibility of formation of (SiO₂)₆₀@H₂O, (SiO₂)₆₀@CH₄, and (SiO₂)₆₀@CH₃NH₂ endohedral complexes was studied by the density functional (DFT) method (B3LYP exchange correlation functional, 6-31G** basis). The penetration of these molecules into the cavity of fullerene-like silica molecules is hindered by high activation barriers, which ensures the stability of the complexes formed during the synthesis of these molecules.