Well‐controlled ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic esters catalyzed by aluminum amido complexes: Kinetics and mechanism

A series of aluminum dimethyl complexes 1 – 6 bearing N‐[2‐(pyrrolidinyl)benzyl]anilido ligands were synthesized and well characterized. The molecular structure of complex 1 determined by an X‐ray diffraction study indicates the bidentate chelating mode of the pyrrolidinyl‐anilido ligand. In the absence of a coinitiator, these complexes exhibited excellent control toward the polymerizations of ε‐caprolactone and rac‐lactide, affording polyesters with quite narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.04–1.26). The end group analysis of ε?CL oligomer via ¹H NMR and ESI‐TOF MS methods gave strong support to the hypothesis that the polymerization catalyzed by these aluminum complexes proceeds via a coordination‐insertion mechanism involving a unique Al? N (amido) bond initiation. Via ¹H NMR scale oligomerization studies, it is suggested that the insertion of the first lactide monomer into Al? N bond of the complex is much easier than the insertion of lactide monomer into the newly formed Al? O (lactate) bond and might also be easier than the insertion of the first ε?CL monomer into Al? N bond. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3096–3106     

Tautomerism,protonation regioselectivity of 2-pyrrolidone and its complexation with palladium(II): an insight from the viewpoint of quantum chemistry

It has been established (AM1, PM3, RHF/6-31G**, MP2/6-31G**//RHF/6-31G**) that in the gaseous phase and in aqueous solution, the most thermodynamically stable tautomer of 2-pyrrolidone is lactame. According to PM3 evaluations with an explicit accounting for aqueous medium, the state of tautomeric equilibrium serves as a prerequisite to participation of 2-pyrrolidone's lactime tautomer (pyrroline-2-ol) in complexation with palladium(II) in aqueous solution. 2-Pyrrolidone protonation in the gaseous phase and in aqueous medium has been shown to proceed via the oxygen atom, corresponding to expectations on mesomeric displacement of electron density in the amide fragment. The aqueous medium stabilizes 2-pyrrolidone's lactime tautomer to a greater extent than for lactame, and an O-protonated cyclic amide compared to an N-protonated one. The stereodirective character of palladium(II) complexation with chloride ion and pyrroline-2-ol has been explained. The initially formed tetragonal–pyramidal adduct with an axial organic ligand rearranges into a precursor of the cis product, an intermediate with an extra coordinated axial chlorine atom. The less thermodynamically stable cis isomer of [PdCl₂(pyrroline-2-ol)₂] appears because its precursor is a lower energy intermediate of associative nucleophilic substitution. At a supramolecular level, cis product is capable of being stabilized by means of intermolecular dipole–dipole association in a crystal.     

The Electronic Absorption Spectra of Binuclear Complexes,[Cu(o-phen) (sal)No3 and [Cu2 (sacch)4(im)4] Crystal

The electronic absorption spectra of crystals of the title componds were recorded and the experimental results were explained quantitatively with the ligand field theory and the radial wave function of bound Cu(II) cation. With these spactra, the range of magnetic interactions between two Cu(II) ions of the title compounds are discussed.     

From Binuclear Complexes to Molecular Necklaces: Incorporating Flexible Ligands into Rotaxanes

The conversion of binuclear complexes into larger molecular necklaces can be achieved through rigidifying flexible ligands by threading them through a crown ether to form either an interpenetrated [2]pseudorotaxane or a permanently interlocked [2]rotaxane. The resulting complexes and assemblies are characterized by ¹H and DOSY NMR in solution and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction in the solid‐state.     

Protein Staining Agents from Cationic and Neutral Luminescent Iridium(III) Complexes

Seven luminescent iridium(III) complexes were prepared to investigate the relationships between chemical structures and properties of protein staining. For the first time, the effect of the main ligand, the π conjugation effect of the ancillary ligand, and the charge effect of organometallic complexes on protein staining has been revealed. Most importantly, this study gives the first experimental evidence of the potential applications of charge‐neutral organometallic complexes in protein staining, which could open an avenue of exploiting novel protein staining agents in the future.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Regioselective C‐Benzylation via a Rearrangement Reaction: Access to Benzyl‐Substituted Anilines

An unprecedented C‐benzylation rearrangement reaction, catalyzed by palladium, is reported. The reaction proceeds by rearrangement leading to the direct synthesis of para or ortho benzyl‐substituted N‐methylanilines. The product is obtained in high regioselectivity, without the need to use a ligand for the catalytic process.     

Synthesis,spectral, DFT calculations and antibacterial studies of Fe(III) complexes of new fluorescent Schiff bases derived from imidazo[4',5':3,4]benzo[1,2‐c]isoxazole

New fluorescent heterocyclic ligands were synthesized by the reaction of 8‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐3‐alkyl‐3H‐imidazo[4',5':3,4]benzo [1,2‐c]isoxazol‐5‐amine with p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and p‐chlorobenzaldehyde in good yields. The coordination ability of the ligands with Fe³⁺ ion was examined in an aqueous metanolic solution. Schiff base ligands and their metal complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–vis, mass, and NMR spectra. The optical properties of the compounds were investigated and the results showed that the fluorescence of all compounds is intense and their obtained emission quantum yields are around 0.15 – 0.53. Optimized geometries and assignment of the IR bands and NMR chemical shifts of the new complexes were also computed by using density functional theory (DFT) methods. The DFT‐calculated vibrational wavenumbers and NMR chemical shifts are in good agreement with the experimental values, confirming suitability of the optimized geometries for Fe(III) complexes. Also, the 3D‐distribution map for HOMO and LUMO of the compounds were obtained. The new compounds showed potent antibacterial activity and their antibacterial activity (MIC) against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacterial species were also determined. Results of antibacterial test revealed that coordination of ligands to Fe(III) leads to improvement in the antibacterial activity.