Synthesis and characterization of diametrically substituted tetra-O-n-butylcalix[4]arene ligands and their chelated complexes of titanium,molybdenum, and palladium

The ligation properties of three new upper-rim-substituted calix[4]arene ligands, 5,17-bis(hydroxymethyl)-tetra-n-butoxycalix[4]arene ((HOCH2)2-nBu4Clx, 7), 5,17-bis((diphenylphosphinito)methoxy)-tetra-n-butoxycalix[4]arene ((PPh2OCH2)2-nBu4Clx, 8), and 5,17-bis((diphenylphosphino)methyl)-tetra-n-butoxycalix[4]arene ((PPh2CH2)2-nBu4Clx, 10) are reported herein. The newly prepared compounds differ from previously reported diametrically substituted calix[4]arene derivatives in that the lower-rim substituent was n-butyl. The presence of this lower-rim substituent did not reduce the inherent crystallinity of these complexes as purification of all materials occurred via simple crystallizations. The key precursor for the syntheses of 8 and 10 was 7, acquisition of which occurred in six steps starting from tetra-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, 1. Calix[4]arene derivatives include, tetra-n-butoxycalix[4]arene (nBu4Clx, 3), 5,11,17,23-tetrabromo-tetra-n-butoxycalix[4]arene (Br4-nBu4Clx, 4), 5,17-dibromo-tetra-n-butoxycalix[4]arene (Br2-nBu4Clx, 5), 5,17-bis(formyl)-tetra-n-butoxycalix[4]arene ((CHO)2-nBu4Clx, 6), and 5,17-bis(chloromethyl)-tetra-n-butoxycalix[4]arene ((ClCH2)2-nBu4Clx, 9), all of which were synthesized using modifications of existing procedures. Characterization of all compounds occurred, when possible, using 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR, elemental analyses, FAB-MS, ESI-MS, FT-IR, and X-ray crystallography. The solid-state structures of all calix[4]arene intermediates and ligands showed that the annulus adopted the pinched-cone conformation in which the average C(5)...C(17) intraannular separation was 4.5 +/- 0.4 A. Reaction of 7 with CpTiMe3 yielded the cis-chelate, CpTi(Me)[(OCH2)2-nBu4Clx] (11), quantitatively. Data obtained using ESI-MS (positive-ion mode) confirmed the monomer formulation showed above, and 1H NMR spectra provided sufficient information to deduce the nature of the Ti coordination sphere. Reaction of 8 with cis-Cl2Pd(NCPh)2 in refluxing benzene afforded cis-Cl2Pd[(PPh2OCH2)2-nBu4Clx] (12) in good yields. The monomeric identity of this compound was verified by both X-ray crystallography and positive-ion ESI-MS. The cis-bidentate calix[4]arene ligand did not undergo any noticeable contortion upon chelation of the PdCl2 fragment. Acid-promoted decomposition of 12 occurred in the presence of adventitious HCl and gaseous HCl, and the products of this decomposition were 9 and [mu2-ClPd(PPh2OH)(PPh2O)]2. In addition, chelates of 8 that contained Mo(CO)3L (L = NCMe (14a), NCEt (14b), and CO (14c)) showed that the mode of coordination was relatively insensitive to the identity of the metal. X-ray crystallography afforded views of the solid-state structures of 14b,c and, like 12, showed that the Mo(CO)3L fragment resided above the pinched-cone of the calix[4]arene. 1H NMR revealed that C-H/pi interactions existed between L (14a,b) and a phenyl ring of the coordinated phosphinite. Finally, the bis(diphenylphosphine)calix[4]arene ligand (10) readily coordinated the Mo(CO)3L species, but the reaction did not go to completion, as evidenced by 1H NMR, even after a 5 day reaction time. Data suggest that the product is similar to that observed for 12 and 14, but the incomplete reaction complicated attempts to obtain pure material and prohibited definitive assignment of the coordination array.     

Copper (II) complexes of sterically hindered o-diphenol derivatives: synthesis, characterization and microbiological studies

Cu (II) complexes with the sterically hindered diphenol derivatives 3,5-di(tert-butyl)-1,2-benzenediol (I), 4,6-di(tert-butyl)-1,2,3-benzenetriol (II) and the sulfur-containing 4,6-di(tert-butyl)-3-(2-hydroxyethylsulfanyl)-1,2-benzenediol (III) and 2-[4,6-di(tert-butyl)-2,3-dihydroxyphenylsulfanyl]acetic acid (IV) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, TG/DTA, FT-IR, ESR, XPS, XPD and conductivity measurements. Compounds I–III can coordinate in their singly deprotonated forms and act as bidentate ligands. These compounds yield Cu (II) complexes of the stoichiometry Cu(L)₂, which have square planar geometry (g_| > g_⊥ > g_e). Unlike them, compound IV behaves as a terdentate ligand, and its complex Cu(L^IV)₂ has distorted octahedral geometry. According to ESR data, only the Cu(L^II)₂ complex contains a very small amount of phenoxyl radicals. Antimicrobial activities of these ligands and their respective Cu (II) complexes have been determined with respect to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as on yeasts. Their phytotoxic properties against Chlorella vulgaris 157 were also examined.     

Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical studies of the heterometallic diclusters [{Fe2(μ-CO)(CO)6(μ-PPh2)Au}2(diphosphine)] (diphosphine=dppm, dppip, dppe, dppp)

Treatment of [(ClAu)₂(diphosphine)] {diphosphine=bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm), bis(diphenylphosphino)isopropane (dppip), 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe), 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp)} with two equivalents of the anion [Fe₂(μ-CO)(CO)₆(μ-PPh₂)]⁻ in the presence of TlBF₄ gives the new heterometallic diclusters [{Fe₂(μ-CO)(CO)₆(μ-PPh₂)Au}₂(diphosphine)] that have been isolated and characterized. Their ³¹P-NMR spectra show different patterns as a function of the diphosphine ligand. The electrochemical behavior of these compounds has been investigated and compared with that of the mono- [Fe₂(μ-CO)(CO)₆(μ-PPh₂)(μ-AuPPh₃)] and tricluster [{Fe₂(μ-CO)(CO)₆(μ-PPh₂)Au}₃(triphos)] derivatives.     

Second harmonic generation in polymers containing a new azo chromophore based on phenylnitrobenzoxazole

The synthesis of the new chromophores 2‐{4‐[4‐(N,N‐dihydroxyethylamino)‐phenylazo]‐phenyl}‐6‐nitrobenzoxazole ( 1 ) and 4‐[4‐(N,N‐dihydroxyethylamino)phenylazo]‐benzoic acid ( 2 ) is described. Three homopolymers obtained by the polycondensation of 1 with propyloxy‐terephthalic acid and 1 and 2 with 2,4‐tolylenediisocianate as well as two copolymers obtained by polycondensation of appropriate mixtures of chromophores 1 and 2 with 2,4‐tolylene‐diisocianate were prepared and characterized. All as‐prepared polymers but one (homopolyurethane of 1 ) were amorphous and exhibited good optical clarity, good thermal stability above the glass transition, and solubility in organic solvents. The second‐order nonlinear optical behavior of the amorphous polymers was investigated on spin‐coated corona‐poled films through second harmonic generation (SHG) experiments at 1064 nm. At this wavelength, resonance‐enhanced values of the SHG coefficient d₃₃ were found in the range between 6 and 34 pm/V where higher values were observed for polymers with a higher molar content of 1 . © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1468–1475, 2002     

A molecular mechanics study of the effect of substitution in position 1 on the conformational space of the oxytocin/vasopressin ring

Summary The effect of the substitution in position 1 on the low-energy conformations of the oxytocin/vasopressin 20-membered ring was investigated by means of molecular mechanics. Three representative substitutions were considered: -mercapto-,-dimethyl)propionic acid (Dmp), (-mercapto-,-cyclopentamethylene)propionic acid (Cpp), both forming strong antagonists, and (,-dimethyl--mercapto)propionic acid (-Dmp), forming analogs of strongly reduced biological activity, with the -mercaptopropionic (Mpa) residue taken as reference. Both ECEPP/2 (rigid valence geometry) and AMBER (flexible valence geometry) force fields were employed in the calculations. Three basic types of backbone conformations were taken into account which are distinguished by the type of -turn at residues 3 and 4: 1/III, II, and I/III, all types containing one or two intra-annular hydrogen bonds. The allowed (ring-closed) disulfide-bridge conformations were searched by an algorithm formulated in terms of scanning the disulfide-bridge torsional angle C-S-S-C. The ECEPP/2 and AMBER energies of the obtained conformations were found to be in reasonable agreement. Two of the low-energy conformers of the [Mpa¹]-compound agreed very well with the cyclic part of the two conformers found in the crystal structure of [Mpa¹]-oxytocin. An analysis of the effect of -substitution on relative energies showed that the conformations with the N-C-CH₂-CH₂ (₁) and C-CH₂-CH₂-S (₁) angles of the first residue around (–100°, 60°) and (100°, –60°) are not affected; this in most cases implies a left-handed disulfide bridge. In the case of -substitution the allowed values of ₁ are close to ± 60°. This requirement, being in contradiction to the one concerning -substitution, could explain the very low biological activity of the -substituted analogs. The conformational preferences of substituted compounds can largely be explained by the analysis of local interactions within the first residue. Based on the selection of the conformations which are low in energy for both the reference and -substituted compounds, two distinct types of possible binding conformations were proposed, the first one being similar to the crystal conformer with a left-handed disulfide bridge, the second one having a right-handed bridge, but a geometry different from that of the crystal conformer with the right-handed bridge. The first type of disulfide-bridge arrangement is equally favorable for both I/III and II types of backbone structure, while the second one is allowed only for the II type of backbone. No conformation of the I/III type has a low enough energy to be considered as a possible binding conformation for all of the active compounds studied in this work.     

Use of U-shaped donor-bridge-acceptor molecules to study electron tunneling through nonbonded contacts

A systematic determination of electronic coupling matrix elements in U-shaped molecules is demonstrated. The unique architecture of these systems allows for the determination of the electronic coupling through a pendant molecular moiety that resides between the donor and acceptor groups; this moiety quantifies the efficiency of electron tunneling through nonbonded contacts. Experimental electron-transfer rate constants and reaction free energies are used to calibrate a molecular-based model that describes the solvation energy. This approach makes it possible to experimentally determine electronic couplings and compare them with computational values.     

Stereoselective hydroxylation of an achiral cyclopentanecarboxylic acid derivative using engineered P450s BM-3

Substrate engineered, achiral carboxylic acid derivative was biohydroxylated with various mutants of cytochrome P450 BM-3 to give two out of the four possible diastereoisomers in high de and ee. The BM-3 mutants exhibit up to 9200 total turnovers for hydroxylation of the engineered substrate, which without the protecting group is not transformed by this enzyme.     

The psuedo‐michael reaction of 2‐aminoimidazolines 2. Part 1. Synthesis and structure assignment of isomeric 5(1H)‐Oxo and 7(1H)‐Oxo‐2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine‐6‐carboxylates

The pseudo‐Michael reaction of 1‐aryl‐2‐aminoimidazolines‐2 with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate (DEEM) was investigated. Extensive structural studies were performed to confirm the reaction course. For derivatives with N1 aromatic substituents, it was found that the reaction course was temperature dependent. When the reaction temperature was held at ?10 °C only the formation of 1‐aryl‐7(1H)‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydroimi‐dazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine‐6‐carboxylates ( 4 ) was observed in contrast to earlier suggestions. Under the room temperature conditions, the same reaction yielded mixtures, with varying ratio, of isomeric 1‐aryl‐7(1H)‐oxo‐ ( 4a‐4f ) and 1‐aryl‐5(1H)‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine‐6‐carboxylates ( 5a‐5f ). The molecular structure of selected isomers, 4b and 5c , was confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. Frontal chro‐matography with delivery from the edge was applied for the separation of the isomeric esters. The isomer ratio of the reaction products depended on the character of the substituents on the phenyl ring. The 1‐aryl‐7(1H)‐oxo‐carboxylates ( 4a‐4f ) were preferably when the phenyl ring contained H, 4‐CH₃, 4‐OCH₃ and 3,4‐Cl₂ substituents. Chloro substitution at either position 3 or 4 in the phenyl ring favored the formation of isomers 5a‐5f . The isomer ratios were confirmed both by ¹H NMR and chromatography. The reaction of the respective hydrobromides of 1‐aryl‐2‐aminoimidazoline‐2 with DEEM, in the presence of triethylamine, gave selectively 5(1H)‐oxo‐esters ( 5a‐5f ).     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and chirality of divalent lanthanide reagents containing tri- and tetraglyme

Six new divalent lanthanide complexes using triglyme (trigly) and tetraglyme (tetgly) as achiral ligands have been prepared, using a facile synthetic method, in search for enantioselective solid-state reagents. The crystal structures of cis-[SmI₂(trigly)thf] (1), trans-[YbI₂(trigly)thf] (2), trans-[SmI₂(trigly)dme] (3), trans-[YbI₂(tetgly)] (4), trans-[EuI₂(tetgly)thf] (5), and [Sm(tetgly)₂][SmI₃(tetgly)]I (6) have been determined. All complexes, except 5, are chiral. The 10-coordinate cation in 6 displays a helical chirality since the two tetraglyme ligands are wrapped around the samarium ion. Since trans-[YbI₂(tetgly)] (4), which has a chiral arrangement of terminal methyl groups, crystallizes as a conglomerate, preferential crystallization and consequent enantioselective reduction of acetophenone was attempted, but resulted in racemic products, possibly on account of racemic twinning in 4.     

Exploring the self-assembly of dumbbell-shaped polyoxometalate hybrids,from molecular building units to nanostructured soft materials

The formation of hierarchical nanostructures using preformed dumbbell-like species made of covalent organic–inorganic polyoxometalate (POM)-based hybrids is herein described. In this system, the presence of charged subunits (POM, metal linkers, and counter ions) in the complex molecular architecture can drive their aggregation, which results from a competition between the solvation energy of the discrete species and intermolecular electrostatic interactions. We show that the nature of the POM and the charge of the metal linker are key parameters for the hierarchical nanoorganization. The experimental findings were corroborated with a computational investigation combining DFT and molecular dynamics simulation methods, which outlines the importance of solvation of the counter ion and POM/counter ion association in the aggregation process. The dumbbell-like species can also form gels, in the presence of a poorer solvent, displaying similar nanoorganization of the aggregates. We show that starting from the designed molecular building units whose internal charges can be controlled by redox trigger we can achieve their implementation into soft nanostructured materials through the control of their supramolecular organization.

The formation of hierarchical nanostructures using supramolecular dumbbell-like species made of organic–inorganic polyoxometalate-based hybrids is investigated by combination of SAXS and computational methods.