Complexation to Fe(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) of multidentate ligands resulting from condensation of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde with alpha,omega-triamines: selective imidazolidine/hexahydropyrimidine ring opening revisited

The condensation reaction between 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and diethylenetriamine, 3-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]propylamine, and 3,3'-iminobis(propylamine) in a 2:1 molar ratio yields ligands that may be isolated exclusively in the dissymmetric (cyclic) isomeric forms L(A), L(B)/L(B*), and L(C). The template effect of a metal center (Fe(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II)) results in the ring opening of L(C) including one hexahydropyrimidine ring and one (long) propylene bridge. The resulting symmetric bis-Schiff base isomeric form L(C') is stabilized through pentacoordination, yielding [Fe(II)L(C')(NCS)](NCS) (3), [Ni(II)L(C')(NCS)](NCS) (6), and [Zn(II)L(C')(NCS)](NCS) (9). The same metal centers are too bulky to exert a template effect on L(A) including one imidazolidine ring and one (short) ethylene bridge. L(A) acts as a tetradentate ligand yielding [Fe(II)L(A)(NCS)2] (1), [Ni(II)L(A)(NCS)2] (4), and [Zn(II)L(A)(NCS)2] (7). The template effect of the metal center is selective toward the ligand L(B)/L(B*) including a hexahydropyrimidine (imidazolidine) ring and the shorter ethylene (longer propylene) bridge. The Fe(II) cation is small enough to exert a template effect, resulting in the ring opening of L(B)/L(B*). The resulting bis-Schiff base L(B') is stabilized through pentacoordination, yielding [Fe(II)L(B')(NCS)](NCS) (2). Ni(II) is too bulky to promote the ring opening of L(B)/L(B*): L(B) acts as a tetradentate ligand, yielding [Ni(II)L(B)(NCS)2] (5) (the L(B*) isomer is totally converted to L(B)). The coordinative requirements and stereochemical preference of the bulkier Zn(II) cation allow neither the ring opening of L(B)/L(B*) nor the tetracoordination of L(B) or L(B*) but stabilize the novel tetradentate dissymmetric form L(B degrees) in [Zn(II)L(B degrees)(NCS)2].H2O (8) (L(B degrees) results from MeOH addition across the imine bond of L(B)). Density functional theory calculations performed for Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes of the L(B)/L(B*)/L(B degrees) set of ligands allowed one to compare the relative stabilities of all possible isomers, showing that the most stable ones correspond to those experimentally obtained: isomerization, or methanol addition across the imine bond, of the tetradentate ligand depends on the relative stabilities of all possible isomeric complexes.     

NH/pi interaction in a spin-crossover complex [FeII(HLMe)2](BPh4)2.2CH3CN (BPh4-=Tetraphenylborate; HLMe=2-Methylimidazol-4-yl-methylideneamino-2-ethylpyridine)

Three FeII complexes, [Fe(HLR)2](BPh4)2.solvent (R=H, Me, Ph), were synthesized, where BPh4-=tetraphenylborate and HLR=2-substituted-imidazol-4-yl-methylideneamino-2-ethylpyridine. The magnetic susceptibility measurements in 5-300 K revealed that [Fe(HLH)2](BPh4)2.H2O, [Fe(HLMe)2](BPh4)2.2CH3CN, and [Fe(HLPh)2](BPh4)2.CH3CN are low-spin (LS), spin-crossover (SC), and high-spin (HS) FeII complexes, respectively, indicating that the spin state can be effectively tuned by the bulkiness of the substituent. Complex shows a steep SC around 250 K, where it assumes a cyclic structure of {[Fe(HLMe)2]BPh4}2 constructed by four NH/pi bonds between the imidazole group and the phenyl ring of BPh4- in the HS state and a deformed structure with NH/pi bonds and linear CH3CN...HN hydrogen bonds at the terminals in the LS state.     

A 2D layered spin crossover complex constructed by NH...Cl- hydrogen bonds: [FeIIH3LMe]Cl.I3 (H3LMe = tris[2-(((2-methylimidazoyl-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine

A 2D layered spin crossover complex, [FeIIH3L(Me)]Cl.I3, has been synthesized from the reaction of FeIIICl3, a tripod ligand (H3LMe = tris[2-(((2-methylimidazoyl-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine), and NaI in methanol. The compound showed an abrupt spin transition between the HS (S = 2) and LS (S = 0) states at T(1/2) = 110 K without hysteresis. The crystal structures of the HS and LS states were determined at 180 and 90 K. A 2D layered structure is composed of NH...Cl- hydrogen bonds between the Cl- ion and three neighboring imidazole groups of [FeIIH3LMe]2+. The green light irradiation at 5 K induced the LIESST effect, and the thermal relaxation process from the HS to LS state showed a sigmoid curve at T > 55 K.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of new Schiff-base nickel(II) complexes. Toward a new type of molecular switch?

An H2L Schiff-base ligand that was obtained from the monocondensation of diaminomaleonitrile and 4-(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde is reported together with four related nickel(II) complexes formulated as [Ni(L)(L')] (L' = MePhCHNH2, iPrNH2, Py, and PPh3). Crystal structures have been solved for H2L, [Ni(L)(MePhCHNH2)], and [Ni(L)(iPrNH2)]. Surprisingly, the complexation process leads to the formation of a rather unusual nickel amido (-NH-Ni(II)) bond by deprotonation of the primary amine of H2L. A reduction of the quadratic hyperpolarizability (beta) from 38 x 10(-30) to 17.5 x 10(-30) cm5 esu(-1) is evidenced on H2L upon metal complexation by the electric-field-induced second-harmonic (EFISH) technique. Qualitative ZINDO/SCI quantum chemical calculations indicate that, in [Ni(L)(MePhCHNH2)], the beta orientation strongly depends on the laser wavelength. In particular, a beta rotation strictly equal to 90 degrees could be obtained with 1.022 microm incident light on passing from [Ni(L)(MePhCHNH2] to a hypothetical [Ni(HL)(MePhCHNH2]+ protonated complex, thus raising the possibility for a new type of molecular switch.     

Statistical aging and nonergodicity in the fluorescence of single nanocrystals

The relation between single particle and ensemble measurements is addressed for semiconductor CdSe nanocrystals. We record their fluorescence at the single molecule level and analyze their emission intermittency, which is governed by unusual random processes known as Lévy statistics. We report the observation of statistical aging and ergodicity breaking, both related to the occurrence of Lévy statistics. Our results show that the behavior of ensemble quantities, such as the total fluorescence of an ensemble of nanocrystals, can differ from the time-averaged individual quantities, and must be interpreted with care.     

Noise-reduction capabilities of a raman-mediated wavelength converter

We describe ultrawideband Raman-mediated wavelength conversion. The nonlinear conversion transfer function is calculated analytically and simulated numerically in the cw regime, and the predicted performance is confirmed experimentally. Data conversion from long- to short-wavelength bands with signal reshaping and significant noise reduction are demonstrated experimentally at 10 Gbits/s and modeled by numerical simulations. Q factors and extinction ratios that are both larger than 10 dB are possible over an effective conversion bandwidth of 35 nm.