Synthesis,Characterization, Self‐Assembly,Gelation, Morphology and Computational Studies of Alkynylgold(III) Complexes of 2,6‐Bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine Derivatives

A novel class of alkynylgold(III) complexes of the dianionic ligands derived from 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine (H₂bzimpy) derivatives has been synthesized and characterized. The structure of one of the complexes has also been determined by X‐ray crystallography. Electronic absorption studies showed low‐energy absorption bands at 378–466 nm, which are tentatively assigned as metal‐perturbed π–π* intraligand transitions of the bzimpy^2? ligands. A computational study has been performed to provide further insights into the nature of the electronic transitions for this class of complexes. One of the complexes has been found to show gelation properties, driven by π–π and hydrophobic–hydrophobic interactions. This complex exhibited concentration‐ and temperature‐dependent ¹H NMR spectra. The morphology of the gel has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Conjugated Polyelectrolyte‐Induced Self‐Assembly of Alkynylplatinum(II) 2,6‐Bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine Complexes

Water‐soluble cationic alkynylplatinum(II) 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine (bzimpy) complexes have been demonstrated to undergo supramolecular assembly with anionic polyelectrolytes in aqueous buffer solution. Metal–metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MMLCT) absorptions and triplet MMLCT (³MMLCT) emissions have been found in UV/Vis absorption and emission spectra of the electrostatic assembly of the complexes with non‐conjugated polyelectrolytes, driven by Pt???Pt and π–π interactions among the complex molecules. Interestingly, the two‐component ensemble formed by [Pt(bzimpy‐Et){C?CC₆H₄(CH₂NMe₃‐4)}]Cl₂ ( 1 ) with para‐linked conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE), PPE‐SO₃^?, shows significantly different photophysical properties from that of the ensemble formed by 1 with meta‐linked CPE, mPPE‐Ala. The helical conformation of mPPE‐Ala allows the formation of strong mPPE‐Ala– 1 aggregates with Pt???Pt, electrostatic, and π–π interactions, as revealed by the large Stern–Volmer constant at low concentrations of 1 . Together with the reasonably large Förster radius, large HOMO–LUMO gap and high triplet state energy of mPPE‐Ala to minimize both photo‐induced charge transfer (PCT) and Dexter triplet energy back‐transfer (TEBT) quenching of the emission of 1 , efficient Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from mPPE‐Ala to aggregated 1 molecules and strong ³MMLCT emission have been found, while the less strong PPE‐SO₃^?– 1 aggregates and probably more efficient PCT and Dexter TEBT quenching would account for the lack of ³MMLCT emission in the PPE‐SO₃^?– 1 ensemble.     

Octadecanuclear Gear Wheels by Self‐Assembly of Self‐Assembled “Double Saddle”‐Type Coordination Entities: Molecular “Rangoli”

A series of self‐assembled “double saddle”‐type trinuclear complexes of [Pd₃L′₃ L ₂] formulation have been synthesized by complexation of a series of cis‐protected palladium(II) components with a slightly divergent “E‐shaped” non‐chelating tridentate ligand, 1,1′‐(pyridine‐3,5‐diyl)bis(3‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)urea ( L ). The cis‐protecting agents L′ employed in the study are ethylenediamine (en), tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda), 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy), and 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen), for 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 , respectively. The crystal structures of [Pd₃(tmeda)₃( L )₂](NO₃)₆ ( 2 ), [Pd₃(bpy)₃( L )₂](NO₃)₆ ( 3 ), and [Pd₃(phen)₃( L )₂](NO₃)₆ ( 4 ) unequivocally support the new architecture. Two of the “double saddle”‐type complexes ( 3 and 4 ) are suitably crafted with π surfaces at the strategically located cis‐protecting sites to facilitate intermolecular π–π interactions in the solid state. As a consequence, six units of the 3 (or 4 ) are assembled, by means of six‐pairs of π–π stacking interactions, in a circular geometry to form an octadecanuclear molecular ring of [(Pd₃L′₃ L ₂)₆] composition. The overall arrangement of the rings in the crystal packing is equated with the traditional Indian art form rangoli.     

Structure and Photosynthetic Mimicking of Bis（2,6—bis（benzimidazol—2—yl）pyridine）manganese（Ⅱ）

Mn(bzimpy)2(1)[bzimpy=2,6-bis(benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine],a mononuclear manganese(Ⅱ）complex,was synthesized by the reaction of Mn(OOCMe)2 with bzimpy in absolute ethanol.The complex was structurally characterized by elemental analysis,cyclic voltammetry,and X-ray crystallography.In the complex,the manganese-nitrogen distances were different,and the geometry and the metal ion environment showed the distortion.The cyclic voltammetric measurements have been performed to assess its redox characteristics.The presence of oxidation wave at 0.62V and 0.081V vs.SCE or 0.8V and 1.0v vs.NHE suggested that this complex could catalyze the oxidation of water,therefore,simulate the water-oxidizing complex(WOC) of photosystem Ⅱ (PS Ⅱ).The measurements of photoreduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP),and oxygen evolution in the manganess-depleted and the comples 1-reconstituted PS Ⅱ preparations just support our conjecture.     

Phosphate‐Triggered Self‐Assembly of N‐[(Uracil‐5‐yl)methyl]urea: A Minimalistic Urea‐Derived Hydrogelator

N‐[(Uracil‐5‐yl)methyl]urea is reported as a minimalistic low‐molecular‐weight hydrogelator (LMWHG). The unusual phosphate‐induced assembly of this compound has been thoroughly investigated by IR, UV/Vis, and NMR spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and rheological experiments. This rare example of an anion‐triggered urea‐based LMWHG is the first example of a pyrimidine‐ and urea‐containing molecule that can be forced into self‐assembly in aqueous solution without additional aromatic or lipophilic groups. The gelator/phosphate ratio within the hydrogel was successfully determined by ³¹P MAS NMR spectroscopy. The hydrogel exhibits a very fast and repeatable self‐healing property, and remarkable G′ values. The viscoelastic properties of the hydrogel can easily be tuned by variation of the phosphate ratio.