New discrete and polymeric supramolecular architectures derived from dinuclear (bis-beta-diketonato)copper(II) metallocycles

New examples of adducts between di- (and, in one instance, tetra-) functional nitrogen ligands and planar 'platform-like' dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu2L2], incorporating the 1,3-aryl linked bis-beta-diketonato bridging ligand 1,1'-(1,3-phenylene)-bis(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione) (H2L) have been synthesised. The X-ray structures of six adduct species are reported. The interaction of [Cu2(L)2] with the ditopic ligand aminopyrazine (apyz) yielded the sandwich-like tetranuclear species [(Cu2L2(apyz))2]. A variable-temperature magnetochemical investigation of this product indicated weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the (five-coordinate) copper centres, mediated by the 2-aminopyrazine linkers. An analogous structure, [(Cu2L2(dabco))2] (dabco=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane), was generated when dabco was substituted for aminopyrazine while use of 4,4'-dipyridyl sulfide (dps) and 4,4'-(1,3-xylylene)-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazole) (xbp) as the ditopic 'spacer' ligands resulted in polymeric species of type [Cu2L2(dps)]n and [Cu2L2(xbp)]n, respectively. These latter species exist as one-dimensional chain structures in which copper(II) centres on different dinuclear platforms are linked in a 'zigzag' fashion. In contrast, with 2,2'-dipyridylamine (dpa) a discrete complex of type [Cu2L2(dpa)2] formed in which one potential pyridyl donor from each 2,2'-dipyridylamine ligand remains uncoordinated. The use of the potentially quadruply-bridging hexamethylenetetramine (hmt) ligand as the linker unit was found to give rise to an unusual two-dimensional polymeric motif of type [(Cu2(L2)2)3(hmt)2]n. The product takes the form of a (6,3) network, incorporating triply bridging hexamethylenetetramine units.     

A chromogenic macrocycle exhibiting cation-selective and anion-controlled color change: an approach to understanding structure-color relationships

[reaction: see text] A N-azo-coupled macrocycle (1) with a NO(2)S(2) donor set was synthesized as a chromoionophore and shown to exhibit Hg(2+) selectivity; anion control of the color of the Hg(2+) complex was observed. As a first approach, the nature of the color generation process was probed by determining the crystal structures of the two different colored species obtained with perchlorate and iodide anions. The results can be explained in terms of a "Push-n-Pull Process", which serves to illustrate how the coordinating ability of the anion controls the color change through formation of endo- or exo-metal complexes. The use of "simple" salts to induce color-switching of the above complex species was also reported.     

Selective Separation of Lithium,Magnesium and Calcium using 4-Phosphoryl Pyrazolones as pH-Regulated Receptors

Ensuring continuous and sustainable lithium supply requires the development of highly efficient separation processes such as LLE (liquid-liquid extraction) for both primary sources and certain waste streams. In this work, 4-phosphoryl pyrazolones are used in an efficient pH-controlled stepwise separation of Li⁺ from Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺. The factors affecting LLE process, such as the substitution pattern of the extractant, diluent/water distribution, co-ligand, pH, and speciation of the metal complexes involved, were systematically investigated. The maximum extraction efficiency of Li⁺ at pH 6.0 was 94 % when Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ were previously separated at pH<5.0, proving that the separation of these ions is possible by simply modulating the pH of the aqueous phase. Our study points a way to separation of lithium from acid brine or from spent lithium ion battery leaching solutions, which supports the future supply of lithium in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.     

Neutral (bis-beta-diketonato) iron(III), cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) metallocycles: structural, electrochemical and solvent extraction studies

Neutral dimeric metallocyclic complexes of type [M(2)(L(1))(2)B(n)] (where M = cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II), L(1) is the doubly deprotonated form of a 1,3-aryl linked bis-beta-diketone ligand of type 1,3-bis(RC(O)CH(2)C(O))C(6)H(4) (R=Me, n-Pr, t-Bu) and B is pyridine (Py) or 4-ethylpyridine (EtPy)) have been synthesised, adding to similar complexes already reported for copper(II). New lipophilic ligand derivatives with R = octyl or nonyl were also prepared for use in solvent extraction experiments. Structural, electrochemical and solvent extraction investigations of selected metal complex systems from the above series are reported, with the X-ray structures of [Co(2)(L(1))(2)(Py)(4)] x 2.25CHCl(3) x 0.5H(2)O (R=Pr), [Co(2)(L(1))(2)(EtPy)(4)] (R=t-Bu), [Ni(2)(L(1))(2)(EtPy)(4)] (R=t-Bu), [Zn(2)(L(1))(2)(EtPy)(2)] (R=Me) and [Zn(2)(L(1))(2)(EtPy)(4)] (R=t-Bu) being presented. The electrochemistry of H(2)L(1) (R=t-Bu) and of [Fe(2)(L(1))(3)], [Co(2)(L(1))(2)(Py)(4)], [Ni(2)(L(1))(2)(Py)(4)], [Cu(2)(L(1))(2)] and [Zn(2)(L(1))(2)(Py)(2)] has been examined. Oxidative processes for the complexes are dominantly irreversible, but several examples of quasireversible behaviour were observed and support the assignment of an anodic process, seen between +1.0 and +1.6 V, as a metal-centred oxidation. The reduction processes for the respective metal complexes are not simple, and irreversible in most cases. Solvent extraction studies (water/chloroform) involving variable concentrations of metal, bis-beta-diketone and heterocyclic base have been performed for cobalt(II) and zinc(II) using a radiotracer technique to probe the stoichiometries of the extracted species in each case. Synergism was observed when 4-ethylpyridine was added to the bis-beta-diketone ligand in the chloroform phase. Competitive extraction studies show a clear uptake preference for copper(II) over cobalt(II), nickel(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II).     

Extended three-dimensional supramolecular architectures derived from trinuclear (bis-beta-diketonato)copper(II) metallocycles

Neutral trinuclear (triangular) copper(II) complexes of type [Cu3L3] incorporating the 1,4-aryl linked bis-beta-diketonato bridging ligands, 1,1-(1,4-phenylene)-bis(butane-1,3-dione) (H2L2), 1,1-(1,4-phenylene)-bis(pentane-1,3-dione) (H2L3) and 1,1-(1,4-phenylene)-bis(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione) (H2L4) have been demonstrated to react with selected heterocyclic nitrogen donor bases to generate extended supramolecular architectures whose structures have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Thus on reaction with 4,4'-bipyridine (bipy), [Cu3(L2)3] yields polymeric structures of type {[Cu3(L2)3(bipy)(THF)] x 2.75THF}n and {[Cu3(L2)3(bipy)(THF)] x bipy x 0.75THF}(n) while with pyrazine (pyz), {[Cu3(L2)3(pyz)] x 0.5THF}n was obtained. Each of these extended structures contain alternating triangle/linker units in a one-dimensional polymeric chain arrangement in which two of the three copper sites in each triangular 'platform' are formally five-coordinate through binding to a heterocyclic nitrogen atom. Interaction of the multifunctional linker unit hexamethylenetetramine (hmt) with [Cu3(L3)3] afforded an unusual, chiral, three-dimensional molecular framework of stoichiometry [Cu3(L3)3(hmt)]n. The latter incorporates the trinuclear units coordinated to three triply bridging hmt units. In marked contrast to the formation of the above structures incorporating bifunctional linker units and five-coordinate metal centres, the trinuclear platform [Cu3(L2)3] reacts with the stronger difunctional base 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]-octane (dabco) to yield a highly symmetric trigonal columnar species of type {[Cu3(L4)3(dabco)3] x 3H2O}n in which each copper centre is octahedrally coordinated.     

Tris-β-diketones and related keto derivatives for use as building blocks in supramolecular chemistry

The synthesis of three new tris-β-diketones and some derivatives is reported. In two cases facile alkaline hydrolysis of the diketone moieties yielded the corresponding keto compounds. These are readily functionalised to provide tripodal ligands.     

An expanded neutral M4L6 cage that encapsulates four tetrahydrofuran molecules

A large 4,4'-biphenylene-spaced bis-β-diketone ligand is demonstrated to form a neutral tetrahedral M(4)L(6) metal-organic cage that encloses a volume of 844 ?(3) and encapsulates four tetrahydrofuran guest molecules.     

Macrocyclic ligand design. Structure-function relationships involving the interaction of pyridinyl-containing, oxygen-nitrogen donor macrocycles with selected transition and post transition metal ions on progressive N-benzylation of their secondary amines

Structure-function relationships underlying the interaction of progressively N-benzylated N(4)O(2)-donor macrocycles with cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), zinc(II), cadmium(II), silver(I) and lead(II) have been probed using a range of techniques that include X-ray diffraction, DFT computations, solvent extraction, potentiometric stability constant determinations and competitive membrane transport experiments. Collectively, the results indicate that N-benzylation of the secondary amine donor groups of the parent macrocyclic ring results in an enhanced tendency towards selectivity for silver(I) relative to the other six metals investigated. The observed behaviour serves as additional exemplification of the previously proposed concept of selective 'detuning' as a mechanism for metal ion discrimination.     

A proton induced conformational change in metal complexes with potential hydrogen bonding triplet motifs

Biguanide-like bidentate ligands in a variety of transition metal complexes of different geometries exhibit conformational changes upon protonation/deprotonation that alter their capacity to recognise complementary hydrogen bonding motifs.