Nickel(II)-Based Building Blocks with Schiff Base Derivatives: Experimental Insights and DFT Calculations

We have recently reported a series of neutral square planar tridentate Schiff base (L) complexes of the general formula [(L)M(py)], showing relatively high first-order hyperpolarizabilities and NLO redox switching behavior. In the present study, new members of this family of compounds have been prepared with the objective to investigate their potential as building blocks in the on-demand construction of D-π-A push–pull systems. Namely, ternary nickel(II) building blocks of general formula [(L^A/D)Ni(4-pyX)] (4–7), where L^A/D stands for an electron accepting or donating dianionic O,N,O-tridentate Schiff base ligand resulting from the monocondensation of 2-aminophenol or its 4-substituted nitro derivative and β-diketones R-C(=O)CH₂C(=O)CH₃ (R = methyl, anisyl, ferrocenyl), and 4-pyX is 4-iodopyridine or 4-ethynylpyridine, were synthesized and isolated in 60–78% yields. Unexpectedly, the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction between the 4-iodopyridine derivative 6 and 4-ethynylpyridine led to the formation of the bis(4-pyridyl) acetylene bridged centrosymmetric dimer [{(L^D)Ni}₂(µ²-py-C≡C-py)] (8). Complexes 4–8 were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction and computational methods. In each compound, the four-coordinate Ni(II) metal ion adopts a square planar geometry with two nitrogen and two oxygen atoms as donors occupying trans positions. In 8, the Ni…Ni separation is of 13.62(14) Å. Experimental results were proved and explained theoretically exploiting Density Functional Theory calculations.     

Studying the Origin of the Antiferromagnetic to Spin‐Canting Transition in the β‐p‐NCC6F4CNSSN. Molecular Magnet

The crystal structure of the spin‐canted antiferromagnet β‐p‐NCC₆F₄CNSSN^. at 12 K (reported in this work) was found to adopt the same orthorhombic space group as that previously determined at 160 K. The change in the magnetic properties of these two crystal structures has been rigorously studied by applying a first‐principles bottom‐up procedure above and below the magnetic transition temperature (36 K). Calculations of the magnetic exchange pathways on the 160 K structure reveal only one significant exchange coupling (J(d1)=?33.8 cm^?1), which generates a three‐dimensional diamond‐like magnetic topology within the crystal. The computed magnetic susceptibility, χ(T), which was determined by using this magnetic topology, quantitatively reproduces the experimental features observed above 36 K. Owing to the anisotropic contraction of the crystal lattice, both the geometry of the intermolecular contacts at 12 K and the microscopic J_AB radical–radical magnetic interactions change: the J(d1) radical–radical interaction becomes even more antiferromagnetic (?43.2 cm^?1) and two additional ferromagnetic interactions appear (+7.6 and +7.3 cm^?1). Consequently, the magnetic topologies of the 12 and 160 K structures differ: the 12 K magnetic topology exhibits two ferromagnetic sublattices that are antiferromagnetically coupled. The χ(T) curve, computed below 36 K at the limit of zero magnetic field by using the 12 K magnetic topology, reproduces the shape of the residual magnetic susceptibility (having subtracted the contribution to the magnetization arising from spin canting). The evolution of these two ferromagnetic J_AB contributions explains the change in the slope of the residual magnetic susceptibility in the low‐temperature region.     

Synthesis and structure of an asymmetric copper(I) dimer with two-coordinate and four-coordinate copper(I) sites

An asymmetric copper(I) dimer Cu(1)2(pip)2 [pip = (2-picolyliminomethyl)pyrrole anion] with both two-coordinate and four-coordinate copper(I) sites was synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction and DFT calculations.     

Supramolecular photomagnetic materials: photoinduced dimerization of ferrocene-based polychlorotriphenylmethyl radicals

New ferrocenyl Schiff-base polychlorotriphenylmethyl radicals have been synthesized and characterized. The imino group of one such radical undergoes an irreversible trans to cis structural isomerization induced by light. Such photoinduced isomerization has been monitored by UV/Vis and ESR spectroscopy and also monitored by HPLC. ESR frozen solution experiments at low temperature revealed that the cis isomer dimerizes, showing a strong antiferromagnetic interaction. Although numerous photochromic supramolecular systems have been described, such a photoinduced self-assembly process represents the first example of a one-way photoswitchable magnetic system in which a conversion between a doublet and a singlet ground state species is promoted by a photoinduced dimerization process driven by the formation of hydrogen bonds. DFT calculations on the minimized structure and on the rotational barriers have been performed to establish the origin of such behavior. The effect of the substituents and the media polarity on the photoisomerization of this imine chromophore have also been studied. It has been observed that the efficiency of the process is markedly dependent on the presence and characteristics of electron-donor and electron-acceptor substituents of the ferrocenyl Schiff-base polychlorotriphenylmethyl radicals as well as on the polarity of the solvent.     

Crystal structure of a (25R)-2α,3α-epoxy-5α-spirostan-6, 23-dione hemi-ethyl acetate solvate

The compound (25R)-2,3-epoxy-5-spirostan-6,23-dione, crystallizes as a hemi-ethyl acetate solvate, having two host molecules of similar conformation per molecule of ethyl acetate, in the asymmetric unit. The O atom of the epoxy group is -oriented. The presence of the epoxy group disturbs the chair conformation in the ring A of the steroidal nucleus. Ring A has a C5,C10 half-chair conformation. The six-membered rings B, C, and F have chair conformation as expected. The D ring adopts a C14-envelope conformation and the E ring is midway between a C22,O3 half-chair and a C22-envelope conformations. The A/B, B/C, and C/D ring junctions are trans. Crystal data: C₂₇H₃₈O₅·1/2C₄H₈O₂, Monoclinic, space group P2₁, a = 7.7363(18) b = 28.769(12) c = 12.038(6) Å, = 90.88(5), V = 2679.0(10) ų, Z = 4. The packing of the molecules is assumed to be dictated by van der Waals interactions and by intermolecular C—H ··· O hydrogen bonds.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of an antiferromagnetic spin-ladder complex: bis(2,3-dimethylpyridinium) tetrabromocuprate

The complex (2,3-dmpyH)2CuBr4 has been synthesized and its crystal packing determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (2,3-dmpyH = 2,3-dimethylpyridinium). The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1. The crystal packing is characterized by the formation of a ladder structure for the CuBr4 anions showing short Br...Br contacts. The rungs of the ladder are formed via a crystallographic inversion center, while the rails are formed via unit cell translations. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements agree very well with the ladder model [Jrung = -3.10 cm-1 (-4.34 K) and Jrail = -6.02 cm-1 (-8.42 K)]. The assignment as a magnetic ladder is confirmed by first principles bottom-up theoretical calculations which conclude that Jrung = -3.49 cm-1 (-4.89 K) and Jrail = -7.79 cm-1 (-10.9 K), in very good agreement with the experimental values. They also support the absence of additional significant magnetic exchange within the crystals. Thus, (2,3-dmpyH)2CuBr4 represents the second reported example of a weak-exchange limit magnetic ladder (that is, one in which the exchange along the rail is stronger than that across the rung).     

The mechanism for the reversible oxygen addition to heme. A theoretical CASPT2 study

By performing CASPT2 calculations, the lowest energy pathway for oxygen addition to an isolated heme center of a heme-protein is evaluated and found to be reversible (the oxyheme compound is just 14.9 kcal mol(-1) more stable than the deoxyheme + O(2) reactants, and the energy barriers to dissociation are even smaller).     

The origin of the two-electron/four-centers C--C bond in pi-TCNE(2)2- dimers: electrostatic or dispersion?

The structure and stability of the pi-TCNE(2)2- dimers in K2TCNE2 aggregates is revisited trying to find if the origin of their two-electron/four-centers C--C bond are the electrostatic K+-TCNE- interactions or the dispersion interactions between the anions. The study is done at the HF, B3LYP, CASSCF (2,2), and MCQDPT/CASSCF (2,2) levels using the 6-31+G(d) basis set. Our results show that the only minima of this aggregate that preserves the pi-TCNE(2)2- structure has the two K+ atoms placed in equatorial positions in between the two TCNE- planes. When the K+ atoms are placed along the D2h axis of the anions the structure is not a minimum. The main energetic component responsible for the stability of these aggregates comes from the cation-anion interactions. However, a proper accounting of the dispersion component (as done in the MCQDPT/CASSCF (2,2) calculations) is needed to make the closed-shell singlet more stable than the open-shell singlet. Thus, the bond results from the combination of the electrostatic and dispersion components, being the first the dominant one. The optimum geometry of the closed-shell singlet is very similar to the experimental one found in crystals.     

A computational study of the Dougherty model for the prediction of high-spin states in organic chemistry

The model proposed by Dougherty for the design of high-spin organic systems has been studied from a quantitative point of view using a Heisenberg Hamiltonian formalism. This analysis leads to a decomposition of the phenomenological coupling parameter, J, into contributions from individual active orbital sites and a decomposition of the spin multiplicity into terms from the ferromagnetic coupling unit and the spin-containing units. An analysis of the origin of quintet stability has been carried out for four molecular systems with quintet ground states that have previously been synthesized by Dougherty and by Adam. The results indicate that the ferromagnetic coupling unit plays the dominant role in determining high-spin stability as suggested by Dougherty and gives some insights that may be useful in the rational design of high-spin systems. Received: 31 July 1998 / Accepted: 21 September 1998 / Published online: 23 February 1999     

5‐Amino‐6‐phenyl‐1,6‐di­hydro­pyridazin‐3(2H)‐one

In the title compound, C₁₀H₉N₃O, the pyridazinone moiety is essentially planar and forms a dihedral angle of 49.5 (1)° with the phenyl substituent. The molecular packing is stabilized by van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds.