A first-principles analysis of the magnetism of CuII polynuclear coordination complexes: the case of [Cu4(bpy)4(aspartate)2(H2O)3](ClO4)4.2.5H2O

The magnetic structure of the [Cu4(bpy)4(aspartate)2(H2O)3](ClO4)4.2.5 H2O crystal -- using fractional coordinates determined at room-temperature -- has been analysed in detail. This analysis has been carried out by extending our first principles bottom-up theoretical approach, which was initially designed to study through-space magnetic interactions, to handle through-bond magnetic interactions. The only input data required by this approach are the values of the computed J(AB) exchange parameters for all the unique pairs of spin-containing centres. The results allow the magnetic structure of the crystal, which presents two types of isolated tetranuclear CuII clusters, to be defined in quantitative terms. Each of these clusters presents ferro and antiferromagnetic interactions, the former being stronger, although outnumbered by the latter. The computed magnetic susceptibility curve shows the same qualitative features as the experimental data. However, there are small differences that are presumed to be associated with the use of room-temperature crystal coordinates.     

On the Importance of Thermal Effects and Crystalline Disorder in the Magnetism of Benzotriazinyl‐Derived Organic Radicals

Recent experiments suggest that benzotriazinyl‐derived radicals are promising building blocks for the design of new functional materials. Herein, a detailed computational study of the main structural and magnetic features of two prototypes of this family of radicals is presented. By means of several computational techniques within the DFT framework, this work unveils the key importance of the thermal contraction of the crystal to quantitatively predict the magnetism of the studied compounds. In this sense, for the first time in the context of molecular magnetism, we propose to use variable‐cell geometry optimizations as an efficient alternative to obtain an estimation of low‐temperature crystal structures. The crucial role of crystalline disorder in defining the structure present at low temperature, and thus, the magnetic response, is revealed. Altogether, these are important elements for the rational design of future materials of this family of compounds.     

Stabilisation of 2,6‐Diarylpyridinium Cation by Through‐Space Polar–π Interactions

The through‐space polar–π interactions between pyridinium ion and the adjacent aromatic rings in 2,6‐diarylpyridines affect the pK_a values. Hammett analysis illustrates that the basicity of pyridines correlates well with the sigma values of the substituents at the para position of the flanking aryl rings.     

Fe(bpym)(CN)4]-: a new building block for designing single-chain magnets

We herein present the preparation, crystal structure, magnetic properties, and theoretical study of new heterobimetallic chains of formula {[Fe(III)(bpym)(CN4)]2M(II)(H2O)2}.6H2O [bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine; M = Zn (2), Co (3), Cu (4), and Mn (5)] which are obtained by using the building block PPh4[Fe(bpym)(CN)4].H2O (1) (PPh4+= tetraphenylphosphonium) as a ligand toward the fully solvated MII ions. The structure of complex 1 contains mononuclear [Fe(bpym)(CN)4]- anions. Compounds 2-5 are isostructural 4,2-ribbonlike bimetallic chains where the [Fe(bpym)(CN)4]- unit acts as a bis-monodenate ligand through two of its four cyanide ligands toward the M atom. Water hexamer clusters (4) and regular alternating fused six- and four-membered water rings with two dangling water molecules (2, 3, and 5) are trapped between the cyanide-bridged 4,2-ribbonlike chains. 1 and 2 behave as magnetically isolated low-spin iron(III) centers. 3 behaves as a single-chain magnet (SCM) with intrachain ferromagnetic coupling, slow magnetic relaxation, hysteresis effects, and frequency-dependent ac signals at T < 7 K). As expected for a thermally activated process, the nucleation field (Hn) in 3 increases with decreasing T and increasing v. Below 1.0 K, Hn becomes temperature independent but remains strongly sweep rate dependent. In this temperature range, the reversal of the magnetization may be induced by a quantum nucleation of a domain wall that then propagates due to the applied field. 4 and 5 are ferro- and ferrimagnetic chains respectively, with metamagnetic-like behavior (4). DFT-type calculations and QMC methodology provided a good understanding of the magnetic properties of 3-5.     

Understanding Covalent Mechanochemistry

The time is ripe : A general theoretical framework based on force‐transformed potential energy surfaces rationalizes the intriguing results of recent experiments in the emerging field of covalent mechanochemistry.

     

Delivery modulation in silica mesoporous supports via alkyl chain pore outlet decoration

This article focuses on the study of the release rate in a family of modified silica mesoporous supports. A collection of solids containing ethyl, butyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, octadecyl, docosyl, and triacontyl groups anchored on the pore outlets of mesoporous MCM-41 has been prepared and characterized. Controlled release from pore voids has been studied through the delivery of the dye complex tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II). Delivery rates were found to be dependent on the alkyl chain length anchored on the pore outlets of the mesoporous scaffolding. Moreover, release rates follow a Higuchi diffusion model, and Higuchi constants for the different hybrid solids have been calculated. A decrease of the Higuchi constants was observed as the alkyl chain used to tune the release profile is longer, confirming the effect that the different alkyl chains anchored into the pore mouths exerted on the delivery of the cargo. Furthermore, to better understand the relation between pore outlets decoration and release rate, studies using molecular dynamics simulations employing force-field methods have been carried out. A good agreement between the calculations and the experimental observations was observed.     

Stereoselective syntheses of the antihistaminic drug olopatadine and its E-isomer

Practical stereoselective synthetic routes to the antihistaminic drug olopatadine and its E-isomer have been developed, the key steps being a trans stereoselective Wittig olefination using a nonstabilized phosphorus ylide and a stereoselective Heck cyclization. The stereoselectivity of the Wittig reaction depends on both the phosphonium salt anion and the cation present in the base used to generate the ylide.     

Solid-state aggregation of metallacyclophane-based Mn(II)Cu(II) one-dimensional ladders

Two distinct one-dimensional (1) and two-dimensional (2) mixed-metal-organic polymers have been synthesized by using the "complex-as-ligand" strategy. The structure of 1 consists of isolated ladderlike Mn(II)(2)Cu(II)(2) chains separated from each other by neutral Mn(II)(2) dimers, whereas 2 possesses an overall corrugated layer structure built from additional coordinative interactions between adjacent Mn(II)(2)Cu(II)(2) ladders. Interestingly, 1 and 2 show overall ferri- and antiferromagnetic behavior, respectively, as a result of their distinct crystalline aggregation in the solid state.     

Enantioselective synthesis of piperidine,indolizidine, and quinolizidine alkaloids from a phenylglycinol-derived delta-lactam

Starting from a common lactam, (3R,8aS)-5-oxo-3-phenyl-2,3,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-5H-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridine (1), or its enantiomer, the enantioselective synthesis of 2-alkylpiperidines and cis- and trans-2,6-dialkylpiperidines is reported. The potential of this approach is illustrated by the synthesis of the piperidine alkaloids (R)-coniine, (2R,6S)-dihydropinidine, (2R,6R)-lupetidine, and (2R,6R)-solenopsin A, the indolizidine alkaloids (5R,8aR)-indolizidine 167B and (3R,5S,8aS)-monomorine I, and the nonnatural base (4R,9aS)-4-methylquinolizidine.     

Anion influence on the structure and magnetic properties of a series of multidimensional pyrimidine-2-carboxylato-bridged copper(II) complexes

Seven new polynuclear copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(mu-pymca)2] (1) (pymca(-) = pyrimidine-2-carboxylato), [Cu(mu-pymca)Br] (2), [Cu(mu-pymca)Cl] (3), [Cu(mu-pymca)(SCN)(H2O)] x 4 H2O (4), [Cu(mu-pymca)N3] (5), [Cu2(mu1,5-dca)2(pymca)2] (6) (dca = dicyanamide), and K{[mu-Au(CN)2]2[(Cu(NH3)2)2(mu-pymca)]}[Au(CN)2]2 (7) have been synthesized by reactions of K-pymca with copper(II) ions in the presence of different counteranions. Compound 1 is a linear neutral chain with a carboxylato bridging ligand in a syn-anti coordination mode, whereas complexes 2 and 3 consist of cationic linear chains with cis and trans bis(chelating) pymca bridging ligands. Complex 4 adopts a helical pymca-bridged chain structure. In complex 5, zigzag pymca-bridged chains are connected by double end-on azide bridging ligands to afford a unique honeycomb layer structure. Complex 6 is a centrosymmetric dinuclear system with double mu 1,5-dicyanamide bridging ligands and pymca end-cap ligands. Complex 7 is made of pymca-bridged dinuclear [Cu(NH3)2(mu-pymca)Cu(NH3)2](3+) units connected by [Au(CN)2](-) anions to four other dinuclear units, giving rise to cationic (4,4) rectangular nets, which are linked by aurophilic interactions to afford a singular 3D network. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show that complex 1 exhibits a very weak antiferromagnetic coupling through the syn-anti (equatorial-axial) carboxylate bridge (J = -0.57 cm(-1)), whereas complexes 2-4 and 7 exhibit weak to strong antiferromagnetic couplings through the bis(chelating) pymca bridging ligand J = -17.5-276.1 cm(-1)). Quantum Monte Carlo methods have been used to analyze the experimental magnetic data for 5, leading to an antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -34 cm(-1)) through the pymca ligand and to a ferromagnetic coupling (J = 71 cm(-1)) through the azide bridging ligands. Complex 6 exhibits a very weak antiferromagnetic coupling through the dicyanamide bridging ligands (J = -5.1 cm(-1)). The magnitudes of the magnetic couplings in complexes 2-5 have been explained on the basis of the overlapping between magnetic orbitals and DFT theoretical calculations.