Non-Template-Centered, Closed Tetravanadium Phosphate and Phosphonate Clusters

Tetranuclear V(III) complexes, [HB(pz)(3)](4)V(4)(&mgr;-C(6)H(5)OPO(3))(4) (I), its acetonitrile solvate (I.4CH(3)CN), and [HB(pz)(3)](4)V(4)(&mgr;-O(2)NC(6)H(4)OPO(3))(4).4C(7)H(8).H(2)O (II), and tetranuclear vanadyl complexes, (t-Bupz)(4)V(4)O(4)(&mgr;-C(6)H(5)PO(3))(4).2H(2)O (III) and (t-Bupz)(5)V(4)O(4)(&mgr;-C(6)H(5)PO(3))(4).4CH(3)CN.0.6 H(2)O (IV), have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic, magnetic, and electrochemical methods (pz = pyrazole, t-Bupz = tert-butylpyrazole). The use of organic solvents and bulky organic groups as ancillary ligands leads to formation of neutral species instead of the anionic clusters commonly found in the hydrothermal synthesis of vanadium organophosphate/phosphonate systems. Complexes I.4CH(3)CN and IV have also been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: I.4CH(3)CN, triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 15.495(3) ?, b = 17.000(3) ?, c = 17.949(4) ?, alpha = 89.17(3) degrees, beta = 86.00(3) degrees, gamma = 78.60(3) degrees, Z = 2; IV, triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 15.541(3) ?, b = 16.340(2) ?, c = 19.069(5) ?, alpha = 83.58(2) degrees, beta = 79.67(2) degrees, gamma = 63.68(1) degrees, Z = 2. Both are closed clusters, the core structure of the first consisting of a cubane-like arrangement of metal octahedra and phosphate tetrahedra and the core structure of the second consisting of a distorted, collapsed variant of the first. Unlike other vanadium phosphate clusters, these compounds form in the absence of a central, templating agent. As such they represent the simplest form of a closed cluster in which steric forces and cluster connectivity requirements play the primary role in organizing the cluster framework.     

Transition metal complexes in organic synthesis. Part 68: Iron-mediated total synthesis of mukonine and mukonidine by oxidative cyclization with air as the oxidizing agent

The oxidative cyclization of 5-(2-amino-5-methoxycarbonylphenyl)-substituted tricarbonyl[η⁴-cyclohexa-1,3-diene]iron complexes by air in protic medium provides the corresponding tricarbonyl[η⁴-4a,9a-dihydro-9H-carbazole]iron complexes. This procedure is applied to the total synthesis of the 3-methoxycarbonylcarbazole alkaloids mukonine and mukonidine.     

2,4,6‐Trimethylphenyl isocyanide

The title compound, C₁₀H₁₁N, displays a crystallographic mirror plane that incorporates all the non‐H atoms, as well as the H atoms attached to the aromatic ring. The iso­cyano group is almost linear and shows an N[triple‐bond]C bond distance of 1.158 (3) Å.     

Binding sites of nitrogenase: kinetic and theoretical studies of cyanide binding to extracted FeMo-cofactor derivatives

The first kinetic study of a substrate (CN(-)) binding to the isolated active site (extracted FeMo-cofactor) of nitrogenase is described. The kinetics of the reactions between CN(-) and various derivatives of extracted FeMo-cofactor [FeMoco-L; where L is bound to Mo, and is NMF, Bu(t)NC, or imidazole (ImH)] have been followed using a stopped-flow, sequential-mix method in which the course of the reaction is followed indirectly, by monitoring the change in the rate of the reaction of the cofactor with PhS(-). The kinetic results, together with DFT calculations, indicate that the initial site of CN(-) binding to FeMoco-L is controlled by a combination of the electron-richness of the cluster core and lability of the Mo-L bond. Ultimately, the reactions between FeMoco-L and CN(-) involve displacement of L and binding of CN(-) to Mo. These reactions occur with a variety of rates and rate laws dependent on the nature of L. For FeMoco-NMF, the reaction with CN(-) is complete within the dead-time of the apparatus (ca. 4 ms), while with FeMoco-CNBu(t) the reaction is much slower and exhibits first order dependences on the concentrations of both FeMoco-CNBu(t) and CN(-) (k = 2.5 +/- 0.5 x 10(4) dm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)). The reaction of FeMoco-ImH with CN(-) occurs at a rate which exhibits a first order dependence on FeMoco-ImH but is independent of the concentration of CN(-) (k = 50 +/- 10 s(-1)). The results are interpreted in terms of CN(-) binding directly to the Mo site for FeMoco-NMF and FeMoco-ImH, but with FeMoco-CNBu(t) initial binding at an Fe site is followed by movement of CN(-) to Mo. Complementary DFT calculations are consistent with this interpretation, indicating that, in FeMoco-L, the Mo-L bond is stronger for L = ImH than for L = CNBu(t) and the binding of CN(-) to Mo is stronger than to any Fe atom in the cofactor.     

Tailoring the cavities of hydrogen-bonded amphidynamic crystals using weak contacts: towards faster molecular machines

This work describes the use of C–H⋯F–C contacts in the solid-state from the stator towards the rotator to fine-tune their internal motion, by constructing a set of interactions that generate close-fitting cavities in three supramolecular rotors 1–3I. The crystal structures of these rotors, determined by synchrotron radiation experiments at different temperatures, show the presence of such C–H⋯F–C contacts between extended carbazole stators featuring fluorinated phenyl rings and the 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) rotator. According to the ²H NMR results, using deuterated samples, and periodic density functional theory computations, the rotators experience fast angular displacements (preferentially 120° jumps) due to their low rotational activation energies (E_a = 0.8–2.0 kcal mol⁻¹). The higher rotational barrier for 1 (2.0 kcal mol⁻¹) is associated with a larger number of weak C–H⋯F–C contacts generated by the stators. This strategy offers the possibility to explore the correlation among weak intermolecular forces, cavity shape, and internal dynamics, which has strong implications in the design of future fine-tuned amphidynamic crystals.

This work describes the use of C–H⋯F–C contacts in the solid-state from the stator towards the rotator to fine-tune their internal motion, by constructing a set of interactions that generate close-fitting cavities in three supramolecular rotors 1–3I.     

Correlating axial and equatorial ligand field effects to the single-molecule magnet performances of a family of dysprosium bis-methanediide complexes

Treatment of the new methanediide–methanide complex [Dy(SCS)(SCSH)(THF)] (1Dy, SCS = {C(PPh₂S)₂}²⁻) with alkali metal alkyls and auxillary ethers produces the bis-methanediide complexes [Dy(SCS)₂][Dy(SCS)₂(K(DME)₂)₂] (2Dy), [Dy(SCS)₂][Na(DME)₃] (3Dy) and [Dy(SCS)₂][K(2,2,2-cryptand)] (4Dy). For further comparisons, the bis-methanediide complex [Dy(NCN)₂][K(DB18C6)(THF)(toluene)] (5Dy, NCN = {C(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂}²⁻, DB18C6 = dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether) was prepared. Magnetic susceptibility experiments reveal slow relaxation of the magnetisation for 2Dy–5Dy, with open magnetic hysteresis up to 14, 12, 15, and 12 K, respectively (∼14 Oe s⁻¹). Fitting the alternating current magnetic susceptibility data for 2Dy–5Dy gives energy barriers to magnetic relaxation (U_eff) of 1069(129)/1160(21), 1015(32), 1109(70), and 757(39) K, respectively, thus 2Dy–4Dy join a privileged group of SMMs with U_eff values of ∼1000 K and greater with magnetic hysteresis at temperatures >10 K. These structurally similar Dy-components permit systematic correlation of the effects of axial and equatorial ligand fields on single-molecule magnet performance. For 2Dy–4Dy, the Dy-components can be grouped into 2Dy–cation/4Dy and 2Dy–anion/3Dy, where the former have almost linear C Dy C units with short average Dy C distances, and the latter have more bent C Dy C units with longer average Dy C bonds. Both U_eff and hysteresis temperature are superior for the former pair compared to the latter pair as predicted, supporting the hypothesis that a more linear axial ligand field with shorter M–L distances produces enhanced SMM properties. Comparison with 5Dy demonstrates unusually clear-cut examples of: (i) weakening the equatorial ligand field results in enhancement of the SMM performance of a monometallic system; (ii) a positive correlation between U_eff barrier and axial linearity in structurally comparable systems.

Studies on equatorial donor and C Dy C angle variation effects on energy barriers to the slow relaxation of magnetisation are reported.     

Novel chiral three-dimensional iron(III) compound exhibiting magnetic ordering at T(c) = 40 K

The preparation and crystal structure determination of the iron(III) compound of formula [(NH(4))(2)[Fe(2)O(ox)(2)Cl(2)].2H(2)O](n) (1) (ox = oxalate dianion) are reported here. Complex 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Fdd2, with a = 14.956(7) A, b = 23.671(9) A, c = 9.026(4) A, and Z = 8. The structure of complex 1 consists of the chiral anionic three-dimensional network [Fe(2)O(ox)(2)Cl(2)](2-) where the iron(III) ions are connected by single oxo and bisbidentate oxalato groups. The metal-metal separations through these bridging ligands are 3.384(2) and 5.496(2) A, respectively. Ammonium cations and crystallization water molecules are located in the helical pseudohexagonal tunnels defined by iron atoms. The longest iron-iron distance in the pseudohexagonal tunnel is 15.778(2) A whereas the shortest one is 8.734(2) A. The iron atoms are hexacoordinated: a terminal chloro ligand and five oxygen atoms, that of the oxo group and four from two cis coordinated oxalate ligands, build a distorted octahedral environment around the metal atom. The Fe-O(oxo) bond distance [1.825(2) A] is significantly shorter than the Fe(III)-O(ox) [average value 2.103(4) A] and Fe(III)-Cl bond distances [2.314(2) A]. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 in the temperature range 2.0-300 K reveal the occurrence of a susceptibility maximum at 195 K and a transition toward a magnetically ordered state in the lower temperature region with T(c) = 40 K. The strong antiferromagnetic coupling through the oxo bridge (J = -46.4 cm(-1), the Hamiltonian being H = -JS(A).S(B)) accounts for the susceptibility maximum whereas a weak spin canting of approximately 0.3 degrees due to the antisymmetric magnetic exchange within the chiral three-dimensional network is responsible for the magnetic ordering. The values of coercive field (H(c)) and remnant magnetization (M(r)) obtained from the hysteresis loop of 1 at 5 K are 4000 G and 0.016 micro(B).     

Assigning the resonance Raman spectral features of rhodopsin, isorhodopsin and bathorhodopsin in bovine photostationary state spectra.

Abstract—High resolution resonance Raman spectra of rhodopsin. isorhodopsin and photostationary state mixtures containing a high percentage of bathorhodopsin arc presented. New spectral features are detected which were not obsei-ved in lower resolution studies by other workers. All of the hands in the photostationary state spcctra arc assigned based on pure rhodopsin and isorhodopsin resonance Raman results and alterations in the photostationary state mixture. The spectral features in these spectra are invariant from 20 to 150K indicating that retinal and protein structural alteration, consistent with a model of excitation proposed by Lewis, occurs in steady-state spectra even at 20 K. In addition, the relative intensity of certain features in the photostationary state spectra are altered upon D₂O suspension. One explanation for these alterations is that the contributions of various intcrmediates to the photostationary state mixture are changed when membrane fragments are suspended in D₂O.