Nickel(II) Complexes of Pentadentate N5 Ligands as Catalysts for Alkane Hydroxylation by Using m‐CPBA as Oxidant: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study

A new family of nickel(II) complexes of the type [Ni(L)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂, where L=N‐methyl‐N,N′,N′‐tris(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐ethylenediamine (L1, 1 ), N‐benzyl‐N,N′,N′‐tris(pyrid‐2‐yl‐methyl)‐ethylenediamine (L2, 2 ), N‐methyl‐N,N′‐bis(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐N′‐(6‐methyl‐pyrid‐2‐yl‐methyl)‐ethylenediamine (L3, 3 ), N‐methyl‐N,N′‐bis(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐N′‐(quinolin‐2‐ylmethyl)‐ethylenediamine (L4, 4 ), and N‐methyl‐N,N′‐bis(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐N′‐imidazole‐2‐ylmethyl)‐ethylenediamine (L5, 5 ), has been isolated and characterized by means of elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. The single‐crystal X‐ray structure of [Ni(L3)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂ reveals that the nickel(II) center is located in a distorted octahedral coordination geometry constituted by all the five nitrogen atoms of the pentadentate ligand and an acetonitrile molecule. In a dichloromethane/acetonitrile solvent mixture, all the complexes show ligand field bands in the visible region characteristic of an octahedral coordination geometry. They exhibit a one‐electron oxidation corresponding to the Ni^II/Ni^III redox couple the potential of which depends upon the ligand donor functionalities. The new complexes catalyze the oxidation of cyclohexane in the presence of m‐CPBA as oxidant up to a turnover number of 530 with good alcohol selectivity (A/K, 7.1–10.6, A=alcohol, K=ketone). Upon replacing the pyridylmethyl arm in [Ni(L1)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂ by the strongly σ‐bonding but weakly π‐bonding imidazolylmethyl arm as in [Ni(L5)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂ or the sterically demanding 6‐methylpyridylmethyl ([Ni(L3)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂ and the quinolylmethyl arms ([Ni(L4)(CH₃CN)](BPh₄)₂, both the catalytic activity and the selectivity decrease. DFT studies performed on cyclohexane oxidation by complexes 1 and 5 demonstrate the two spin‐state reactivity for the high‐spin [(N5)Ni^II?O^.] intermediate (ts1_hs, ts2_doublet), which has a low‐spin state located closely in energy to the high‐spin state. The lower catalytic activity of complex 5 is mainly due to the formation of thermodynamically less accessible m‐CPBA‐coordinated precursor of [Ni^II(L5)(OOCOC₆H₄Cl)]⁺ ( 5 a ). Adamantane is oxidized to 1‐adamantanol, 2‐adamantanol, and 2‐adamantanone (3°/2°, 10.6–11.5), and cumene is selectively oxidized to 2‐phenyl‐2‐propanol. The incorporation of sterically hindering pyridylmethyl and quinolylmethyl donor ligands around the Ni^II leads to a high 3°/2° bond selectivity for adamantane oxidation, which is in contrast to the lower cyclohexane oxidation activities of the complexes.     

Synthesis,structure, optical and magnetic properties of [CrL(X)3], {L = 4′-(2-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine; X = Cl,N3, NCS}

Three complexes of composition [CrL(X)₃], where L = 4′-(2-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and X = Cl⁻, N₃⁻, NCS⁻ are synthesized. They are characterized by IR, UV–Vis, fluorescence, EPR spectroscopic, and X-ray crystallographic studies. Structural studies reveal that the Cr(III) ion is coordinated by three N atoms of L in a meridional fashion. The three anions occupy the other three coordination sites completing the mer-N₃Cl₃ (1) and mer-N₃N₃ (2 and 3), distorted octahedral geometry. The Cr–N2 has a shorter length than the Cr–N1 and Cr–N3 distances and the order Cr–N(NCS⁻) < Cr–N(N₃⁻) < Cr–Cl is observed. They exhibit some of the d–d transitions in the visible and intra-ligand transitions in the UV regions. The lowest energy d–d transition follows the trend [CrLCl₃] < [CrL(N₃)₃] < [CrL(NCS)₃] consistent with the spectrochemical series. In DMF, they exhibit fluorescence having π → π^∗ character. All the complexes show a rhombic splitting as well as zero-field splitting (zfs) in X-band EPR spectra at 77 K.     

Synthesis of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines and Imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles Attached to a Cycloalkyl or Saturated Heterocycle Containing a Tertiary Hydroxy Substitution

A new method has been developed for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines, imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles, and benzo[d]imidazo[2,1‐b]thiazoles attached to a cycloalkyl or saturated heterocycle containing a tertiary hydroxy substitution. Readily available substituted 2‐aminopyridines, 2‐aminothiazoles, and 2‐aminobenzothiazoles were treated with bromohydroxycycloalkyl ethanones to afford the desired products in good yields.     

Molecular characterization and antioxidant assay of pigment producing bacteria,Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Microbacterium arborescens isolated from fresh water sediments

Abstract

This study focuses on isolation of pigment producing bacteria from fresh water sediment. The isolated bacteria were grown in nutrient broth and the maximum absorbance of 2.512 was obtained for the extracted pigment at 500 nm. The effective strains were optimized, pH 11 and temperature 30 °C was found to be more favorable for its maximum growth. The isolates were identified based on their molecular characterestics as Microbacterium arborescens and Sphingomonas paucimobilis, molecular size of the amplified 16S rRNA gene sequence was found to be approximately 1270 and 765 bp respectively. The antioxidant property of the pigment was analyzed using DPPH and ABTS assay. The IC₅₀ value of Microbacterium arborescens was higher in all the three assays in comparison with Sphingomonas paucimobilis. The extracted pigment was characterized for the presence of compounds using GC-MS and FTIR analysis to determine the functional groups. As the pigment obtained from M. arborescens had shown better antioxidant activity it may be used as colorant in food industrial applications.     

Cu(NO3)2.3H2O-mediated synthesis of 4'-(2-pyridyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine (L2) from N-(2-pyridylmethyl)pyridine-2-methylketimine (L1). A C-C bond-forming reaction and the structure of {[Cu(L2)(OH)(NO3)][Cu(L2)(NO3)2]}.2H2O

N-(2-Pyridylmethyl)pyridine-2-methylketimine (L1) was synthesized from equimolar quantities of (2-pyridyl)methylamine and 2-acetylpyridine. Methanolic solution of L1 reacted readily with Cu(NO3)2.3H2O in air, affording green solid of composition {[Cu(L2)(OH)(NO3)][Cu(L2)(NO3)2]}.2H2O, where L2 is 4'-(2-pyridyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine. Oxidation of the active methylene group of L1 to an imide and then condensation with 2-acetylpyridine involving a C-C bond-forming reaction, mediated by a Cu2+ ion, are the essential steps involved in the conversion of L1 to L2. L2 is isolated by extrusion of Cu2+ with EDTA(2-). The copper center in [Cu(L2)(OH)(NO3)] has a mer-N3O3 environment, and that in [Cu(L2)(NO3)2] has a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. Two H2O molecules held by C-H...O interactions are present in the predominantly hydrophobic channels of approximate cavity dimension 7.60 x 6.50 A created by aromatic rings through pi-pi interactions.     

Synthesis,spectral, and structural investigation of [ML(NO3)2]: M = Co,Ni, Cu; L = N-(2-pyridylethyl)pyridine-2-methylketimine

Synthesis and structural characterization of distorted pentagonal bipyramidal Co(II), pseudo-octahedral Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of the type [ML(NO₃)₂], {L = N-(2-pyridylethyl)pyridine-2-methylketimine} are reported. Characterization includes elemental analysis, spectral, magnetism, and X-ray crystallographic studies. In case of cobalt (1) both the nitrates coordinate in bidentate fashion resulting overall distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. In nickel (2) and copper (3) complexes, bivalent metal ion is coordinated by the three nitrogen atoms of the tridentate L with two pyridine-N occupying trans positions and amongst the two nitrates one coordinates in a bidentate fashion while other adopts a monodentate fashion. All the complexes exhibit d–d transitions in the visible region. Complex 1 is high-spin in nature and the X-band EPR spectra of 1, and 3 at room temperature and 77 K are reported.     

A combined experimental and computational study on the sulfoxidation by high-valent iron bispidine complexes

Iron-bispidine complexes are efficient catalysts for the oxidation of thioanisole to phenylmethylsulfoxide with iodosylbenzene as oxidant. With the tetradentate bispidine ligand L(1) (L(1) = 2,4-pyridyl-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane)) the catalytic efficiency is smaller than with the pentadentate bispidine ligand L(2) (L(2) = 2,4-pyridyl-7-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)-3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane)). Based on the redox potentials (iron complexes with L(1) are stronger oxidants than with L(2)) and known efficiencies in catalytic olefin oxidation and C-H activation reactions, the expectations were different. A DFT-based analysis is used to explain the apparent contradiction, and this is based on differences in the electronic ground states of the ferryl complexes as well as in the oxygen transfer transition states.     

Synthesis of some 1,3-disubstituted imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines using 2-cyanopyridine

Heating 2-cyanopyridine and hydrazine hydrate at 100 °C and reheating the resultant liquid with pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde yielded a red semi-solid. On adding aqueous KOH, a mixture of 1-(3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazolyl)-3-(2-pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine (2a) and 1-((2-pyridyl)methanimine)-3-(2-pyridyl)imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine (2b) precipitated and from the filtrate 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole (1) was isolated. Similar compounds were obtained from two other pyridinecarboxaldehydes.