A variety of new tri- and tetranuclear Mn–Ln and Fe–Ln (Ln = lanthanide) complexes

The use of carboxylates in the synthesis of 3d/4f clusters, with or without a second organic ligand, has afforded a series of tetranuclear M₂Gd₂ complexes (M = Fe or Mn), and two new trinuclear M₂Gd (M = Fe or Mn) molecular compounds. Only one of these, [Mn₂Gd₂O₂(O₂CBu^t)₈(HO₂CBu^t)₄] (1), does not contain a multidentate chelate ligand. Two other similar tetranuclear clusters were synthesized from the use of triethanolamine (teaH₃) and 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane (thmeH₃). [Mn₂Gd₂(OH)₂(O₂CPh)₄(NO₃)₂(teaH)₂] (2) has very similar structure with 1, bearing a defective incomplete double-cubane core bridged by μ₃-O atoms, whereas in the core of [NHEt₃]₂[Fe₂Gd₂(O₂CPh)₄(thme)₂(NO₃)₄] (3) the thme³⁻ ligand caps the two incomplete cubane units, providing the triply-bridging alkoxides needed for bridging. Two new oxide-centered triangular clusters were synthesized bearing the Schiff-based chelate 2-{[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]methylamino}ethanol (dmemH), namely [Fe₂GdO(O₂CBu^t)₂(dmem)₂(NO₃)₃] (4), and [Mn₂GdO(O₂CBu^t)₂(dmem)₂(NO₃)₃] (5). Magnetic susceptibility measurements and/or reduced magnetization studies established that complexes 1 and 3 have an S = 5 ground state, complex 2 has S = 4, and complexes 4 and 5 are S = 7/2 in their ground states. These complexes portray the feasibility of obtaining products bearing metal cores commonly found in homometallic clusters, even when these include metals with completely different coordination chemistry and electronic structure, such as lanthanides.     

Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Properties of Copper(II) Complexes of Pyridine and Benzimidazole Derivatives

The cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity of a series of six copper(II) complexes with phosphate and hydroxymethyl derivatives of pyridine and benzimidazole were investigated. The complexes and the corresponding free ligands were tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Proteus hauseri ATCC 13315, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Among the tested copper(II) complexes, compounds 2 and 5 containing 1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐ylmethyl diethyl phosphate and 2‐(hydroxymethyl)benzimidazole as ligands, respectively, were most active and limited the growth of S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans by 30–60 % according to concentration and microorganism. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the Cu^II complexes and free ligands towards cancerous B16 (murine melanoma) and non‐cancerous 10T1/2 (murine fibroblasts) cell lines was determined. The 10T1/2 cells were treated with the compounds at concentrations equal to IC₅₀ values for B16 cells. In spite of the use of relatively high concentrations of the complexes, the viability of 10T1/2 cells was very high, ca. 80 % in some cases. Stability of the Cu^II complexes was evaluated in water solutions by UV/Vis spectroscopy. The copper(II) complex of 4‐(hydroxymethyl)pyridine was synthesized and identified.     

Solvothermal Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Luminescent Properties of Three Heterometallic Lanthanide‐Transition‐Metal Frameworks Constructed from Three Types of CuBr Motifs

Three three‐dimensional (3D) heterometallic lanthanide‐transition‐metal (hetero‐Ln‐TM) compounds with the formula [Ln₆(Cu₄Br₃)(Cu₂Br₂)₂(Cu₂Br)(IN)₂₀(H₂O)₁₂] · 2H₂O [Ln = Gd ( 1 ), Ln = Sm ( 2 ), Ln = Eu ( 3 )] based on the linkages of one‐dimensional Ln organic chain and Cu_mBr_n units were synthesized by mixing Ln₂O₃ with isonicotinic acid (HIN = pyridine‐4‐carboxylic acid) under hydrothermal condition. During the synthesis, two ligands were used: the isonicotinate (IN^–) stabilizes the cluster and links the one‐dimensional Ln organic chains and Cu_mBr_n motif, whereas Br^– anions play a very important role in the formation of the distinct Cu_mBr_n units. It is interesting that there are three different Cu‐Br motifs: a closed four‐membered ring [Cu₂Br₂] subunit, a linear [Cu₂Br] subunit, an S‐sharp [Cu₄Br₃] subunit. Strong fluorescence of compounds 2 and 3 suggests an efficient energy transfer from the ligand to Eu³⁺ ions. The luminescent investigation indicates that 2 and 3 are excellent candidates for fluorescent materials.     

Stable Heterometallic CuII‐BaII‐2,5‐Thiophenedicarboxylate Framework with High Capacity for Light Hydrocarbons

The heterometallic Cu^II‐Ba^II coordination polymer, namely [CuBa(tdc)₂(H₂O)(DMF)]_n ( 1 ) (H₂tdc = 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylic acid, DMF = N,N′‐dimethylformamide), was solvothermally synthesized by the reaction of H₂tdc, CuCl₂ · 2H₂O, and Ba(NO₃)₂. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that compound 1 features a 3D intricate framework with the 1D channels occupied by the coordinated solvent molecules. After removing the coordinated solvent molecules, the desolvated samples of 1a exhibit high capacity for light hydrocarbons.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis,Structure, Magnetic,and Photoluminescent Properties of a Heterometallic Cobalt(II)/Cerium(III) Coordination Compound with the Ligand Pyrazine 2, 3‐di­carboxylic Acid

Hydrothermal reaction of the metalloligand {[Co(Pzdc)₂] · 2H₂O}_n ( 1 ) with Ce(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O yields a heterometallic 3d‐4f coordination compound {[Ce₂Co(Pzdc)₄(H₂O)₆] · 2H₂O}_n ( 2 ) (H₂Pzdc = pyrazine 2, 3‐dicarboxylic acid). X‐ray structure determination, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and magnetic property for the targets are presented. Compound 1 affords one‐dimensional double zigzag chains. Compound 2 features a three‐dimensional Co^II–Ce^III herringbone structure, in which the slightly deformational 1 and central Ce^III atoms are linked by Pzdc^2– spacers, and is further analyzed with {4.6₂}₂{4₂.6₂.8₂}{6₃}₂{6₅.8}₂ topology symbol. Magnetic property analysis reveals that the antiferromagnetic interactions occur in compound 2 due to a long‐range superexchange pathway between adjacent magnetic centers. In addition, the solid state photoluminescence of 2 was investigated.     

Synthesis, structure, solid-state thermal decomposition and magnetic properties of binuclear Nd, Gd and Eu cymantrenecarboxylates

New rare-earth cymantrenecarboxylates [Nd₂(μ₂-OOCCym)₄(OOCCym)₂(THF)₄] (1) and [Ln₂(μ₂-OOCCym)₄(OOCCym)₂(THF)₄]·THF (Ln = Gd (2), Eu (3); Cym = (η⁵-C₅H₄)Mn(CO)₃) were synthesized starting from carboxycymantrene and lanthanide nitrates, and characterized by X-ray diffraction. The crystals of 1-3 consist of isolated binuclear molecules; the Ln atoms are eight-coordinate. The magnetic properties of 2 are indicative of antiferromagnetic coupling between the Gd atoms at liquid helium temperature. The thermal decomposition of complexes 1-3 was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). According to the X-ray powder diffraction patterns, the thermal decomposition of the complexes in air affords a mixture of LnMn₂O₅ and Mn₂O₃ as the final products.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of two 3d-4f heterometallic coordination polymers

Two new 4f-3d heterometallic coordination polymers, [Gd₂^IIICo^II(pydc)₃(ox)(H₂O)₄)·2H₂O] (1) and [Dy^IIICu^II(pydc)₂(ox)_1/2(H₂O)₂·H₂O] (2) (pydc = pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate anion, ox = oxalate dianion) were successfully synthesized under hydrothermal condition. Structure and magnetism of the two coordination polymers were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and Quantum Design (MPMS) SQUID magnetometer. In both compounds, metal centers were connected by double ligand bridges. In 1 the gadolinium ions were linked in sheets by OCO ligand bridges and these sheets were connected by separated cobalt coordination spheres to generate the overall 2-D structure. In 2 the dysprosium centers were constructed into one dimensional chain by OCO bridges from pydc ligand bridges and these chains were linked by oxalate bridges to form sheets and different sheets were connected by copper coordination planes. The copper centers in 2 were linked in chain by elongated OCO brides and the chains were connected by hydrogen bond to generate 3-D structure. Magnetic properties of the two complexes were investigated by variable temperature magnetic susceptibility. The magnetic data suggest that overall antiferromagnetic interactions are present in the two compounds.     

A series of M-M′ heterometallic coordination polymers: syntheses, structures and surface photoelectric properties (M=Ni/Co, M′=Cd/Zn)

Four new heterometallic polymers, [NiCd(mal)₂(H₂O)₂]n·2nH₂O 1, [NiZn₂(Hcit)₂(H₂O)₂]n 2, [CoCd₂(Hcit)₂(H₂O)₂]n 3, [CoZn₂(Hcit)₂(H₂O)₂]n 4 (H₂mal=malonic acid, H₄cit=citric acid) were synthesized and characterized. The photoelectric properties of the polymers were discussed by the surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS). The structural analyses indicate 1 is a Ni-Cd heterometallic polymer with 3D structure bridged by the mal^2- group. 2-4 are all heterometallic polymers with 2D structures bridged by the Hcit^3- group. The results of SPS for the four polymers reveal that there are wide photovoltage response bands in the range of 300-800 nm, which indicates that they all possess photoelectric conversion properties. By the introduction of the other metals, the SPS of heterometallic polymers are broadened obviously than the SPS of monometallic complexes. Moreover, the relationships between SPS and UV-Vis absorption spectra have been discussed.     

Substitution derivatives of the heteronuclear cluster RuOs3(μ-H)2(CO)13: Monosubstituted group 15 derivatives

Tertiary group 15 ligand monosubstituted derivatives of the heteronuclear cluster RuOs₃(μ-H)₂(CO)₁₃ have been prepared and their solid state and solution structures examined. A number of isomeric structural types have been identified in solution, and these appear to be correlated to disorder in the solid state. Hydride fluxionality and restricted rotation about the metal-phosphorus bond have also been observed.     

[M(dipicH2)(H2O)3], M = Ni,Cu, Zn (dipicH2 = dipicolinic acid) – A combined crystallographic,spectroscopic and computational study

Cationic metal complexes of dipicolinic acid (dipicH₂) are stabilized by [Ce(dipic)₃]²⁻ ions in the three isomorphous crystals [M(dipicH₂)(OH₂)₃][Ce(dipic)₃] · 3H₂O (M = Ni, 1; Cu, 2; Zn, 3). Magnetic dilution provided by the bulky anions leads to well-resolved EPR spectra in polycrystalline samples of 2. The cations have 4+2 coordination, the carbonyl atom of the carboxylic acid groups coordinating weakly from trans positions. In the case of 2 this steric distortion is augmented by Jahn–Teller distortion. All the three structures are satisfactorily modelled by calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The switch of the Jahn–Teller axis upon deprotonation of the complex, leading to the neutral species Cu(dipic)(H₂O)₃, is also reproduced by DFT. Electronic transition energies as well as the g-tensor component of the d⁹ complex obtained are in good agreement with experiment. However, the calculated hyperfine coupling constants are in error. DFT also fails to satisfactorily account for the electronic transition in the d⁸ ion in 1.