1,4-Diphosphinines from Imidazole-2-thiones

1,4-Diphosphinines that are fused to two thiourea units were synthesized from the corresponding tricyclic 1,4-dichloro-1,4-dihydro-1,4-diphosphinines, and their structures and spectroscopic features are described. Electrochemical studies revealed very low oxidation potentials, which are due to the effective π-interaction between the 1,4-diphosphinine ring and the orbitals of the two ylidic C=S bonds. In accordance with the low-lying LUMO, which is largely localized at the two phosphorus centers, dianion formation is strongly preferred. Despite the small HOMO–LUMO gap, which is in accordance with the red color of the title compounds, theoretical calculations suggest considerable aromaticity for the 1,4-diphosphinine ring.     

Tethering of nickel(II) Schiff-base complex onto mesoporous silica: An efficient heterogeneous catalyst for epoxidation of olefins

A new hybrid catalyst has been prepared by tethering a nickel(II) Schiff-base complex via post-synthesis modification of mesoporous silica, MCM-41. The Schiff-base has been derived from salicylaldehyde and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTES) which is chemically anchored on MCM-41 via silicon alkoxide route. The anchored Schiff-bases imposed a stable planar coordination geometry around the central nickel ions. The catalyst has been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, small angle X-ray diffraction (SAX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies. The SAX and TEM measurement showed the mesoporosity of the catalyst. The activity of the catalyst has been assessed in the epoxidation of olefins using tert-butyl-hydroperoxide (tert-BuOOH) as oxidant in heterogeneous condition. Immobilized nickel catalyst was found to be catalytically more active and selective compared to the similar type of nickel(II) complex as well as Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O in homogeneous media. The catalyst can be recycled and reused several times without significant loss of activity.     

A unique two‐dimensional coordination network of 1‐benzofuran‐2,3‐dicarboxylate with lanthanum(III) obtained by solvothermal synthesis

The title compound, poly[bis[diaqualanthanum(III)]‐tris(μ‐1‐benzofuran‐2,3‐dicarboxylato)], [La₂(C₁₀H₄O₅)₃(H₂O)₄]_n, was obtained under solvothermal conditions by reacting lanthanum trinitrate hexahydrate with 1‐benzofuran‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid in a strongly basic environment. It forms an extended two‐dimensional coordination network, wherein every lanthanum ion links to four deprotonated diacid ligands, while two of the latter bridge between adjacent metal cations. The component species are additionally linked to one another by hydrogen bonds. The polymeric arrays are tightly stacked one on top of the other, without incorporating any solvent in the interface zones between them, which are lined with the lipophilic benzofuran residues. This study provides the first example of coordination networking with the aid of the 1‐benzofuran‐2,3‐dicarboxylate ligand.     

Square‐grid coordination networks of diaquabis(4,4′‐bipyridyl)copper(II) crosslinked by hydrogen bonds through two monoanions of 1‐benzofuran‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid and five molecules of water

The title compound, poly[[[diaquacopper(II)]‐di‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridyl] bis(3‐carboxy‐1‐benzofuran‐2‐carboxylate) pentahydrate], {[Cu(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂(H₂O)₂](C₁₀H₅O₅)₂·5H₂O}_n, crystallizes in a single‐framework architecture. It is composed of two‐dimensional square‐grid coordination networks of 1:2:2 copper–4,4′‐bipyridine–water units, wherein each copper ion coordinates equatorially to four bipyridyl units and axially to two water ligands. The polymeric nets are intercalated by layers of the benzofurandicarboxylic acid monoanions and additional water species. An extensive array of hydrogen bonds interlinks the various components of the structure. The Cu atom and the bipyridyl entities are located on axes of twofold rotation. This study confirms the preferred monoanionic nature of the benzofurandicarboxylic acid molecule. It reveals a rarely observed extended coordination polymer composed only of copper ions and bipyridyl linkers, and an interesting hydrogen‐bonding connectivity between the polymeric layers aided by the benzofurandicarboxylic acid and water components intercalated in the structure.     

Porous magnesium carboxylate framework: synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, gas adsorption property and heterogeneous catalytic aldol condensation reaction

A new three-dimensional alkaline-earth metal-organic framework (MOF) compound, [Mg(Pdc)(H(2)O)](n) (1) (H(2)Pdc = pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid), has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1 features a 3D porous framework afforded by the Mg(2)-diad centers through formation of interconnected chair like structural motifs. A nitrogen adsorption study confirms the microporosity of compound 1 with a BET surface area of 211 ± 12 m(2) g(-1). Upon dehydration, the BET surface area of 1 is enhanced to a value of 463 ± 36 m(2) g(-1) due to removal of coordinated water molecule. After rehydration, the compound reverts to its original form as evidenced by powder X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopic analysis and N(2) sorption measurement. Compound 1 retains its pore structure with a variable BET surface area in several cycles of dehydration and rehydration processes indicating robustness of the framework in [Mg(Pdc)(H(2)O)](n) (1). Compound 1 catalyzes the aldol condensation reactions of various aromatic aldehydes with acetone and cyclohexanone in heterogeneous conditions. Notably, the catalytic activity of the compound is enhanced upon dehydration. The catalyst can be recycled and reused several times without significant loss of activity.     

Probing the supramolecular interaction synthons of 1‐benzofuran‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid in its monoanionic form

1‐Benzofuran‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid (C₁₀H₆O₅) is a dicarboxylic acid ligand which can readily engage in organometallic complexes with various metal ions. This ligand is characterized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the two carboxyl residues, and, as a monoanionic species, readily forms supramolecular adducts with different organic and inorganic cations. These are a 1:1 adduct with the dimethylammonium cation, namely dimethylammonium 3‐carboxy‐1‐benzofuran‐2‐carboxylate, C₂H₈N⁺·C₁₀H₅O₅⁻, (I), a 2:1 complex with Cu²⁺ ions in which four neutral imidazole molecules also coordinate the metal atom, namely bis(3‐carboxy‐1‐benzofuran‐2‐carboxylato‐κO³)tetrakis(1H‐imidazole‐κN³)copper(II), [Cu(C₁₀H₅O₅)₂(C₃H₄N₂)₄], (II), and a 4:1 adduct with [La(H₂O)₇]³⁺ ions, namely heptaaquabis(3‐carboxy‐1‐benzofuran‐2‐carboxylato‐κO³)lanthanum 3‐carboxy‐1‐benzofuran‐2‐carboxylate 1‐benzofuran‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid solvate tetrahydrate, [La(C₁₀H₅O₅)₂(H₂O)₇](C₁₀H₅O₅)·C₁₀H₆O₅·4H₂O, (III). In the crystal structure, complex (II) resides on inversion centres, while complex (III) resides on axes of twofold rotation. The crystal packing in all three structures reveals π–π stacking interactions between the planar aromatic benzofuran residues, as well as hydrogen bonding between the components. The significance of this study lies in the first crystallographic characterization of the title framework, which consistently exhibits the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond and a consequent monoanionic‐only nature. It shows further that the anion can coordinate readily to metal cations as a ligand, as well as acting as a monovalent counter‐ion. Finally, the aromaticity of the flat benzofuran residue provides an additional supramolecular synthon that directs and facilitates the crystal packing of compounds (I)–(III).     

Syntheses, structures, absorption and emission properties of a tetraiminodiphenol macrocyclic ligand and its dinuclear Zn(II) and Pb(II) complexes

Synthesis of a Robson type macrocyclic ligand [H₄L](ClO₄)₂ (1) obtained on condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 2,2′-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane, template synthesis of a dinuclear lead(II) complex [Pb^II₂L(NO₃)₂] (2), synthesis of a dinuclear zinc(II) complex [Zn^II₂L(NO₃)(H₂O)](ClO₄) (3) through metal substitution reaction and synthesis of another dinuclear zinc(II) complex [Zn^II₂L(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂·(H₂O)₂ (4) obtained directly from 1 are described in the present study. Crystal structure determinations of 1 and 3 have been carried out. Both the compounds 1 and 3 crystallize in the orthorhombic system with the space groups Fdd2 and P2₁2₁2, respectively. Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric titrations of 1 with triethylamine as well as with zinc(II) acetate are also reported.     

Ferromagnetic exchange in two dicopper(II) complexes using a mu-alkoxo-mu-7-azaindolate bridge

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of two heterobridged mu-alkoxo-mu-7-azaindolate dicopper(II) complexes, [Cu(II)2(L-F)(mu-C7H5N2)] (1) and [Cu(II)2(L-H)(mu-C7H5N2)].CH3OH (2) (H3L-F = 1,3-bis(3-fluorosalicylideneamino)-2-propanol; H3L-H = 1,3-bis(salicylideneamino)-2-propanol) have been reported. Aside from being a new type of heterobridged complex, 1 and 2 exhibit ferromagnetic interaction (2J = 52 cm(-1) for 1 and 33.4 cm(-1) for 2) despite orbital complementarity (7-azaindolate HOMO is antisymmetric).     

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of diphenoxo-bridged M(II)Ln(III) complexes derived from N,N'-ethylenebis(3-ethoxysalicylaldiimine) (M = Cu or Ni; Ln = Ce-Yb): observation of surprisingly strong exchange interactions

A series of heterodinuclear Cu(II)Ln(III) and Ni(II)Ln(III) complexes, [M(II)L(1)Ln(III)(NO(3))(3)] (M = Cu or Ni; Ln = Ce-Yb), with the hexadentate Schiff base compartmental ligand N,N'-ethylenebis(3-ethoxysalicylaldiimine) (H(2)L(1)) have been synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structure determinations of 13 of these compounds reveal that they are all isostructural. All of these complexes crystallize with the same orthorhombic P2(1)2(1)2(1) space group with closely similar unit cell parameters. Typically, the structure consists of a diphenoxo-bridged 3d-4f dinuclear core, self-assembled to two dimensions due to the intermolecular nitrate...copper(II) or nitrate...nickel(II) semicoordination and weak C-H...O hydrogen bonds. Despite that, the metal centers of the neighboring units are well separated (the ranges of the shortest intermolecular contacts (A) are (M...M) 7.46-7.60, (Ln...Ln) 8.56-8.69, and (M...Ln) 6.12-6.20). Variable-temperature (5-300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements of all the complexes have been made. The nature of exchange interactions in the Cu(II)Ln(III) systems has been inferred from the Deltachi(M)T versus T plots, where Deltachi(M)T is the difference between the values of chi(M)T for a Cu(II)Ln(III) system and its corresponding Ni(II)Ln(III) analogue. Ferromagnetic interactions seem to be exhibited by the Cu(II)Gd(III), Cu(II)Tb(III), Cu(II)Dy(III), Cu(II)Ho(III), Cu(II)Tm(III), and Cu(II)Yb(III) complexes, while, for the Cu(II)Er(III) complex, no definite conclusion could be reached. On the other hand, among the lower members of the series, the complexes of Ce(III), Nd(III), and Sm(III) exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions, while the Cu(II)Pr(III) and Cu(II)Eu(III) analogues behave as spin-uncorrelated systems. The observations made here vindicate the proposition of Kahn (Inorg. Chem. 1997, 36, 930). The Deltachi(M)T versus T plots also suggest that, for most of the Cu(II)Ln(III) complexes, the exchange interactions are fairly strong, which probably could be related to the small dihedral angle (ca. 4 degrees) between the CuO(2) and LnO(2) planes.     

Diastereomer-differentiating photochemistry of beta-arylbutyrophenones: Yang cyclization versus type II elimination

The diastereomers of ketones 2 and 3 are shown to exhibit distinct photochemical reactivities due to conformational preferences; while the anti isomers of 2 and 3 undergo efficient Yang cyclization in 75-90% yields with a remarkable diastereoselectivity (> 90%), the syn isomers predominantly undergo Norrish Type II elimination. The differences in the product profiles of the diastereomers are consistent with a mechanistic picture involving the formation of precursor diastereomeric triplet 1,4-biradicals in which the substituents at alpha and beta-positions stabilize the cisoid (cyclization) or transoid (elimination) geometry. The fact that such a diastereomeric relationship does indeed ensue at the triplet-excited-state itself is demonstrated via the nanosecond laser-flash photolysis of model ketones 1. The diastereomeric discrimination in the product profiles observed for ketones 2 and 3 as well as in the triplet lifetimes observed for ketones 1 can both be mechanistically traced back to different conformational preferences of the ground-state diastereomeric ketones and the intermediary 1,4-biradicals. Additionally, it emerges from the present study that the syn and anti diastereomers of ketones 2 and 3 represent two extremes of a broad range of widely examined butyrophenones, which lead to varying degrees of Yang photocyclization depending on the alkyl substitution pattern.