Pyridyl-, bipyridyl-, and terpyridyl-functionalised azamacrocycles

Abstract

A series of azamacrocycles which have been N-functionalised with pendent pyridylmethyl-(pyCH₂-), bipyridylmethyl-(bipyCH₂-) and terpyridylmethyl- (terpyCH₂-) arms have been synthesised and characterised, and some of their coordination chemistry with transition metal ions is reported. By attaching the pendent-arms at the 5- rather than the 6-position of the py, bipy and terpy, new ligands are generated which can be used to form polynuclear metal complexes in a controlled and systematic fashion. Fluorescent pH and transition metal ion sensors have been developed by reacting the azamacrocyclic N-pendent bipyCH₂ arm(s) with cis-[Ru(bipy)₂Cl₂], to give macrocycles with up to four attached [Ru(bipy)₃]²⁺ groups. That based on 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (9N3), with three attached [Ru(bipy)₃]²⁺ groups, has a first photo excited state pK_a of 7.1, and is a useful fluorescent sensor for physiological pH at below micromolar concentrations. The analogous derivative of cyclam (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) carrying four [Ru(bipy)₃]²⁺ groups has a first photo excited state pK_a of 5.7, allowing kinetic and thermodynamic fluorescence studies of metal ion uptake by an azamacrocycle at neutral pH without complications from protonated species. A pre-organised hexadentate tris(2,2′-bipyridyl) chelating ligand, 1,4,7-tris(2′,2″-bipyridyl-5′-ylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L) has been developed, and crystal structures of mononuclear complexes [M(LH)]³⁺ (M = Ru, Cu) are reported. In [M(LH)]³⁺ the azamacrocyclic N-atoms are non-coordinating to M, but have a very high affinity for a single proton trapped in the macrocyclic cavity. An analogous and potentially nonadentate ligand has been developed based on 9N3 with three N-pendent terpyCH₂-arms.     

A three‐dimensional coordination polymer of 3‐(3,5‐dicarboxybenzyloxy)benzoic acid with zinc

The synthesis is reported of the tricarboxylic acid 3‐(3,5‐dicarboxybenzyloxy)benzoic acid (H₃L) and the product of its reaction under solvothermal conditions with Zn^II cations, namely poly[[μ₆‐3‐(3,5‐dicarboxylatobenzyloxy)benzoato](dimethylformamide)‐μ₃‐hydroxido‐dizinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₁₆H₉O₇)(OH)(C₃H₇NO)]_n, the formation of which is associated with complete deprotonation of H₃L. Its crystal structure consists of a single‐framework coordination polymer of the organic L³⁻ ligand with Zn^II cations in a 1:2 ratio, with additional hydroxide and dimethylformamide (DMF) ligands coordinated to the Zn^II centres. The Zn^II cations are characterized by coordination numbers of 5 and 6, being bridged to each other by hydroxide ligands. In the polymeric framework, the carboxylate‐ and hydroxy‐bridged Zn^II cations are arranged in coordination‐tessellated columns, which propagate along the a axis of the crystal structure, and each L³⁻ ligand links to seven different Zn^II centres via Zn—O bonds of two different columns. The coordination framework, composed of [Zn₂(L)(OH)(DMF)]_n units, forms an open architecture, the channel voids within it being filled by the zinc‐coordinating DMF ligands. This report provides the first structural evidence for the formation of coordination polymers with H₃L via multiple metal–ligand bonds through its carboxylate groups.<!?tpb=21.5pt>     

Synthesis of Isopropyl and Tert-butyl Pyridyl Ketones by Alkylation of Acetylpyridines with Methyl Iodide Using Phase Transfer Catalysis

Isomeric acetylpyridines undergo regiospecific alkylation with methyl iodide under solid/liquid phase transfer conditions (aromatic solvent/KOH/18-crown-6) to give the corresponding isopropyl and/or tert-butyl pyridyl ketones, depending on reaction conditions.     

QMX: A versatile environment for hybrid calculations applied to the grafting of Al2Cl3Me3 on a silica surface

We present a new software to easily perform QM:MM and QM:QM' calculations called QMX. It follows the subtraction scheme and it is implemented in the Atomic Simulation Environment (ASE). Special attention is paid to couple molecular calculations with periodic boundaries approaches. QMX inherits the flexibility and versatility of the ASE package: any combination of methods namely force field, semiempirical, first principle, and ab initio, can be used as hybrid potential energy surface (PES). Its ease of use is demonstrated by considering the adsorption of Al₂Cl₃Me₃ on silica surface and by combining different levels of theory (from standard DFT to MP2 calculations) for the so‐called High Level cluster with standard PW91 density functional theory calculations for the Low Level environment. It is shown that the High Level cluster must contain the silanol group close to the aluminum atoms. The bridging adsorption is favored by 58 kJ mol^?1 at the MP2:PW91 level with respect to the terminal position. Using large clusters at the MP2:PW91 level, it is shown that PW91 calculations are sufficient for structure optimization but that embedded methods are required for accurate energy profiles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Adult neurogenesis and specific replacement of interneuron subtypes in the mouse main olfactory bulb

Background  

New neurons are generated in the adult brain from stem cells found in the subventricular zone (SVZ). These cells proliferate in the SVZ, generating neuroblasts which then migrate to the main olfactory bulb (MOB), ending their migration in the glomerular layer (GLL) and the granule cell layer (GCL) of the MOB. Neuronal populations in these layers undergo turnover throughout life, but whether all neuronal subtypes found in these areas are replaced and when neurons begin to express subtype-specific markers is not known.     

Dramatic Influence of an Anionic Donor on the Oxygen‐Atom Transfer Reactivity of a MnV–Oxo Complex

Addition of an anionic donor to an Mn^V(O) porphyrinoid complex causes a dramatic increase in 2‐electron oxygen‐atom‐transfer (OAT) chemistry. The 6‐coordinate [Mn^V(O)(TBP₈Cz)(CN)]^? was generated from addition of Bu₄N⁺CN^? to the 5‐coordinate Mn^V(O) precursor. The cyanide‐ligated complex was characterized for the first time by Mn K‐edge X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and gives Mn?O=1.53 Å, Mn?CN=2.21 Å. In combination with computational studies these distances were shown to correlate with a singlet ground state. Reaction of the CN^? complex with thioethers results in OAT to give the corresponding sulfoxide and a 2e^?‐reduced Mn^III(CN)^? complex. Kinetic measurements reveal a dramatic rate enhancement for OAT of approximately 24 000‐fold versus the same reaction for the parent 5‐coordinate complex. An Eyring analysis gives ΔH^≠=14 kcal mol^?1, ΔS^≠=?10 cal mol^?1 K^?1. Computational studies fully support the structures, spin states, and relative reactivity of the 5‐ and 6‐coordinate Mn^V(O) complexes.     

Longitudinal 3D Blood Flow Distribution Provided by Diffuse Correlation Tomography during Bone Healing in a Murine Fracture Model

Noninvasive monitoring of vascularization can potentially diagnose impaired bone healing earlier than current radiographic methods. In this study, a noncontact diffuse correlation tomography (DCT) technique was employed to measure longitudinal blood flow changes during bone healing in a murine femoral fracture model. The three-dimensional distribution of the relative blood flow was quantified from one day pre-fracture to 48 days post-fracture. For three mice, frequent DCT measurements were performed every other day for one week after fracture, and then weekly thereafter. A decrease in blood flow was observed in the bone fracture region at one day post-fracture, followed by a monotonic increase in blood flow beyond the pre-injury baseline until five to seven days post-fracture. For the remaining 12 mice, only weekly DCT measurements were performed. Data collected on a weekly basis show the blood flow for most mice was elevated above baseline during the first two post-fracture weeks, followed by a subsequent decrease. Torsional strength of the excised femurs was measured for all 15 mice after 7 weeks of healing. A metric based on the early blood flow changes shows a statistically significant difference between the high strength group and the low strength group.