A copper(II) complex of benzimidazole-based ligand: synthesis,structure, redox aspects and fluorescence properties

Employing 1-(2-methoxybenzyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzimidazole (bpb) as a monodentate ligand, a new greenish-blue copper(II) complex, [Cu(bpb)₂(NO₃)₂] (1a), has been synthesized. 1a has been characterized analytically and spectroscopically. The X-ray crystal structure of 1a reveals that it adopts a cis disposition with respect to the ligands. The solid state structure of 1a is stabilized by intramolecular offset face-to-face π–π stacking. Non-covalent supramolecular edge-to-face C–H?π interactions with neighboring molecules give 1-D supramolecular chains that further lead to the formation of an assembled 3-D supramolecular metal-organic framework via hydrogen bonding interactions. 1a shows blue fluorescence most likely due to intramolecular offset face-to-face π–π stacking. At room temperature, 1a is one-electron paramagnetic. It shows a rhombic EPR spectrum with g₁ = 2.12, g₂ = 2.42, and g₃ = 2.52 in the solid state at liquid nitrogen temperature. In cyclic voltammetry, 1a displays a one-electron oxidative Cu(II)/Cu(III) couple. Our DFT calculations, corroborate the observed experimental results of 1a.     

Excited electronic state decomposition of furazan based energetic materials: 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-azoxyfurazan and its model systems, diaminofurazan and furazan

We report the first experimental and theoretical study of gas phase excited electronic state decomposition of a furazan based, high nitrogen content energetic material, 3,3'-diamino-4,4'-azoxyfurazan (DAAF), and its model systems, diaminofurazan (DAF) and furazan (C2H2N2O). DAAF has received major attention as an insensitive high energy explosive; however, the mechanism and dynamics of the decomposition of this material are not clear yet. In order to understand the initial decomposition mechanism of DAAF and those of its model systems, nanosecond energy resolved and femtosecond time resolved spectroscopies and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) calculations have been employed to investigate the excited electronic state decomposition of these materials. The NO molecule is observed as an initial decomposition product from DAAF and its model systems at three UV excitation wavelengths (226, 236, and 248 nm) with a pulse duration of 8 ns. Energies of the three excitation wavelengths coincide with the (0-0), (0-1), and (0-2) vibronic bands of the NO A 2Sigma+<--X 2Pi electronic transition, respectively. A unique excitation wavelength independent dissociation channel is observed for DAAF, which generates the NO product with a rotationally cold (20 K) and a vibrationally hot (1265 K) distribution. On the contrary, excitation wavelength dependent dissociation channels are observed for the model systems, which generate the NO product with both rotationally cold and hot distributions depending on the excitation wavelengths. Potential energy surface calculations at the CASSCF level of theory illustrates that two conical intersections between the excited and ground electronic states are involved in two different excitation wavelength dependent dissociation channels for the model systems. Femtosecond pump-probe experiments at 226 nm reveal that the NO molecule is still the main observed decomposition product from the materials of interest and that the formation dynamics of the NO product is faster than 180 fs. Two additional fragments are observed from furazan with mass of 40 amu (C2H2N) and 28 amu (CH2N) employing femtosecond laser ionization. This observation suggests a five-membered heterocyclic furazan ring opening mechanism with rupture of a CN and a NO bond, yielding NO as a major decomposition product. NH2 is not observed as a secondary decomposition product of DAAF and DAF.     

The Total Synthesis of Eleutherobin: A Surprise Ending

An “sp ² –sp ³ Stille coupling” of the vinyl triflate 1 and the stannyl compound 2 is a key step toward the completion of the total synthesis of eleutherobin, a natural product exhibiting taxol-like cytotoxic activity.     

Graphene oxide (GO) catalyzed transamidation of aliphatic amides: An efficient metal-free procedure

Transamidation involves direct interconversion of an amide with amine, and represents an alternative to the common method of amide formation from the reaction of carboxylic acid with an amine. While the carboxamides have huge potential in biological systems and polymer industries, their formation from carboxylic acids requires activation by a suitable catalyst. A metal-free transamidation of aliphatic amide with aromatic amine catalyzed by graphene oxide (GO) has been developed and established as a general, synthetically useful and selective procedure. Graphene oxide bearing several carboxylic acids on the edges and having large surface area acts as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for transamidation.     

Photophysical and theoretical insights on non-covalently linked fullerene-zinc phthalocyanine complexes

The photo-physical aspects of non-covalently linked assemblies of a series of fullerenes, namely, C60, C70, tert-butyl-(1,2-methanofullerene)-61-carboxylate (1) and [6,6]-phenyl C70 butyric acid methyl ester (2) with a designed zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc), viz., zinc-1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octabutoxy-29H,31H-phthalocyanine (3) in toluene medium are studied employing absorption spectrophotometric, steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopic measurements. Of central interest in these investigations is the preferential binding of various fullerenes with ZnPc in toluene. The ground state interaction between fullerenes and 3 is first evidenced from UV-Vis measurements. Steady state fluorescence experiment reveals efficient quenching of the excited singlet state of 3 in presence of both underivatized and derivatized fullerenes. K values for the complexes of C60, C70, 1 and 2 with 3 are determined to be 6500, 22,230, 47,800 and 54,770 dm3 mol(-1), respectively. The magnitude of K suggests that 3 preferentially binds C70 and derivatized C70 in comparison to C60 and 1. Time resolved emission measurements establish that C(70)-3 and 2-3 complexes are stabilized much more in comparison to C(60)-3 and 1-3 systems in terms of charge separation process. Semi empirical calculations employing third parametric method substantiate the strong binding of C70 and its derivative with 3 in terms of heat of formation values of the respective complexes, and at the same time, determine the orientation of bound guest (here fullerenes) with the molecular plane of 3.     

Copper(I) complexes of N-(aryl)pyridine-2-aldimines: Spectral, electrochemical and catalytic properties

The reactions of N-(aryl)pyridine-2-aldimines (L-R; R = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl and NO₂), derived from pyridine-2-aldehyde and para-substituted anilines, with CuI in methanol under ambient conditions afford a series of brown complexes of the type [{Cu(L-R)I}₂]. The structure of the [{Cu(L-OCH₃)I}₂] complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. In these dimeric complexes the two copper centers are linked through an iodo-bridge, and the L-R ligands are coordinated to the metal center through the pyridine-nitrogen and imine-nitrogen. All the complexes show characteristic ¹H NMR signals and intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. These complexes also show an emission near 465 nm, whilst they are excited at 340 nm, with relatively poor quantum yields (φ ∼0.002 at 298 K). Cyclic voltammetry on all the complexes shows two successive Cu(I)-Cu(II) oxidations on the positive side of SCE, and a reduction of the coordinated imine ligand on the negative side. These copper(I) complexes are found to efficiently catalyze Suzuki type C-C coupling reactions.     

Synthesis and DNA binding studies of Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal complexes of N1,N5-bis[pyridine-2-methylene]-thiocarbohydrazone Schiff-base ligand

The thiocarbohydrazone Schiff-base ligand with a nitrogen and sulphur donor was synthesized through condensation of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde and thiocarbohydrazide. Schiff-base ligands have the ability to conjugate with metal salts. A series of metal complexes with a general formula [MCl2(H2L)]·nH2O (MNi, Co, Cu and Zn) were synthesized by forming complexes of the N1,N5-bis[pyridine-2-methylene]-thiocarbohydrazone (H2L) Schiff-base ligand. These metal complexes and ligand were characterized by using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy, physicochemical characterization, CHNS and conductivity. The biological activity of the synthesized ligand was investigated by using Escherichia coli DNA as target. The DNA interaction of the synthesized ligand and complexes on E. coli plasmid DNA was investigated in the aqueous medium by UV-Vis spectroscopy and the binding constant (Kb) was calculated. The DNA binding studies showed that the metal complexes had an improved interaction due to trans-geometrical isomers of the complexes than ligand isomers in cis-positions.     

Recent advances in Garratt-Braverman cyclization: Mechanistic and synthetic explorations

Garratt-Braverman cyclization has emerged as one of the simplest synthetic tool to construct two consecutive CC bonds leading to the formation of various important structural scaffolds having significance in the field of therapeutics and material science. The strategic design of suitable precursor for this cycloaromatization reaction involves the deep understanding of reaction pathways involving diradicals and ions. On the other hand, the reaction offers an unprecedented mechanistic paradox for the chemists to solve. This report aims at outlining the recent mechanistic and synthetic developments with special emphasis on the research outcomes from our laboratory.     

Mixed-ligand and binuclear complexes of oxovanadium(IV)

Summary Mixed ligand complexes of the type [VOLA]ClO₄ where L=5-bromosalicylaldehyde (L) or 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde (L) and A=2, 2-dipyridyl (A) or 1, 10-phenanthroline (A) have been prepared. Treatment of the mononuclear complexes, [VOLA]ClO₄, withp-phenylenediamine (ppd) orm-phenylenediamine (mpd) yielded homobinuclear [VOLA-NC₆H₄N-LAVO](ClO₄)₂, complexes, which were characterised by elemental analyses, spectra, magnetic susceptibility and molar conductance measurements.