Ligand dynamics and reactivity in trimetallic clusters

The general relationships between trinuclear cluster reactivity and the ligand dynamical processes in these systems are explored. Three specific mechanistic studies are presented: (1) the rate and stereochemistry of ligand addition to ₃-imidoyl complexes, (2) the factors influencing the rate of carbon-hydrogen bond activation in ₃-alkyne complexes, and (3) the origin of anomalously large kinetic deuterium isotope effect in metal to ligand and ligand to metal hydrogen transfer in trinuclear and binuclear complexes. In all three cases, the current state of the mechanistic studies are summarized and the possible rate of specific ligand dynamical processes in controlling the mechanism are put forth.     

Mechanochemical preparation of hydrogen-bonded adducts between the diamine 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane and dicarboxylic acids of variable chain length: an X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR study

Mechanical mixing of solid dicarboxylic acids of variable chain length HOOC(CH(2))(n)COOH (n = 1-7) with solid 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane generates the corresponding salts or co-crystals of the formula [N(CH(2)CH(2))(3)N]-H-[OOC(CH(2))(n)COOH] (n=1-7). Preparation of the same systems from solution has been instrumental for a full characterization of the mechanochemical products by means of single-crystal and powder-diffraction X-ray analyses, as well as by solid-state NMR. The acid-base adducts, whether involving proton transfer from the COOH group to the N-acceptor, that is having ((-))O...H-N((+)) interactions, or the formation of neutral O-H...N hydrogen bonds, show a melting point alternation phenomenon analogous to that shown by the neutral carboxylic acids. The carbon chemical shift tensors of the COOH group obtained from the sideband intensity of low speed spinning NMR spectra provide a reliable criterion for assigning the protonation state of the adducts.     

Solid-state (15)N CPMAS NMR and computational analysis of ligand hapticity in rhodium(η-diene) poly(pyrazolyl)borate complexes

Novel [Rh(η-diene)Tp(x)] complexes of sterically encumbered Tp(x) ligands (Tp(x) = Tp(4Bo), diene = cod, 1; nbd, 2; Tp(x) = Tp(4Bo,5Me), diene = cod, 3; nbd, 4; Tp(x) = Tp(a,3Me), diene = cod, 5; nbd, 6; Tp(x) = Tp(a*,3Me), diene = cod, 7; nbd, 8) have been prepared by treatment of [Rh(η-diene)(μ-Cl)](2) with TlTp(x) (Tp(x) in general, in detail: Tp(4Bo) = hydrotris(indazol-1-yl)borate, Tp(4Bo,5Me) = hydrotris(5-methyl-indazol-1-yl)borate, Tp(a,3Me) = hydrotris(3-methyl-2H-benz[g]-4,5-dihydroindazol-2-y1)borate, Tp(a*,3Me) = hydrotris(3-methyl-2H-benz[g]indazol-2-yl)borate), and characterized by analytical and spectral data (IR, (1)H, (11)B, and (13)C NMR solution). The structures adopted by [Rh(nbd)Tp(4Bo)] 2, [Rh(cod)Tp(4Bo,5Me)] 3, [Rh(nbd)Tp(a,3Me)] 6, [Rh(nbd)Tp(a*,3Me)] 8, and [Rh(nbd)Tp(a*,3Me*)] 8* (incorporating a borotropomeric ligand), have been investigated. Low steric hindrance between the ligands in 2 and 3 permits κ(3) coordination of the pyrazolylborate while the high steric encumbrance present in 6, 8, and 8* results in κ(2) ligands. The coordination modes of the ligands to the metal have also been established by (15)N CPMAS studies of selected ligands and their corresponding Rh complexes. These spectroscopic data are in agreement with the (15)N chemical shifts obtained by using quantum-chemical methods to assist reliable assignments of the experimental values, affording new insights into the extraction of structural information concerning the hapticity (κ(2) or κ(3)) of the poly(pyrazolyl)borate ligands to the Rh metal.     

Photo-induced pyridine substitution in cis-[Ru(bpy)(2)(py)(2)]Cl(2): a snapshot by time-resolved X-ray solution scattering

Determination of transient structures in light-induced processes is a challenging goal for time-resolved techniques. Such techniques are becoming successful in detecting ultrafast structural changes in molecules and do not require the presence of probe-like groups. Here, we demonstrate that TR-WAXS (Time-Resolved Wide Angle X-ray Scattering) can be successfully employed to study the photochemistry of cis-[Ru(bpy)(2)(py)(2)]Cl(2), a mononuclear ruthenium complex of interest in the field of photoactivatable anticancer agents. TR-WAXS is able to detect the release of a pyridine ligand and the coordination of a solvent molecule on a faster timescale than 800 ns of laser excitation. The direct measurement of the photodissociation of pyridine is a major advance in the field of time-resolved techniques allowing detection, for the first time, of the release of a multiatomic ligand formed by low Z atoms. These data demonstrate that TR-WAXS is a powerful technique for studying rapid ligand substitution processes involving photoactive metal complexes of biological interest.     

Para‐hydrogen induced polarization of Si‐29 NMR resonances as a potentially useful tool for analytical applications

Para‐hydrogen–induced polarization effects have been observed in the ²⁹Si NMR spectra of trimethylsilyl para‐hydrogenated molecules. The high signal enhancements and the long T₁ values observed for the ²⁹Si hyperpolarized resonances point toward the possibility of using ²⁹Si for hyperpolarization applications. A method for the discrimination of multiple compounds and/or complex mixtures of hydroxylic compounds (such as steroids), consisting of the silylization of alcoholic functionalities with an unsaturated silylalkyl moiety and subsequent reaction with para‐H₂, is proposed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Os(bpy)2(CO)(enIA)][OTf]2: a novel sulfhydryl-specific metal-ligand complex

The synthesis and physical-chemical characterization of the metal-ligand complex [Os(bpy)2(CO)(enIA)][OTf]2 (where enIA = ethylenediamine iodoacetamide) with a sulfhydryl-specific functional group is described. The UV and visible absorption and luminescence emission, including lifetime and steady-state anisotropy, are reported for the free probe and the probe covalently linked to two test proteins. The spectroscopic properties of the probe are unaffected by chemical modification and subsequent covalent linkage to the proteins. The luminescence lifetime in aqueous buffer is approximately 200 ns and the limiting anisotropy is greater than 0.125, suggesting a potentially useful probe for biophysical investigations.     

Solid-State Dynamics and High-Pressure Studies of a Supramolecular Spiral Gear

The structures and solid-state dynamics of the supramolecular salts of the general formula [(12-crown-4)₂ ⋅ DABCOH₂](X)₂ (where DABCO=1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, X=BF₄, ClO₄) have been investigated as a function of temperature (from 100 to 360 K) and pressure (up to 3.4 GPa), through the combination of variable-temperature and variable-pressure XRD techniques and variable-temperature solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The two salts are isomorphous and crystallize in the enantiomeric space groups P3₂2₁ and P3₁2₁. All building blocks composing the supramolecular complex display dynamic processes at ambient temperature and pressure. It has been demonstrated that the motion of the crown ethers is maintained on lowering the temperature (down to 100 K) or on increasing the pressure (up to 1.5 GPa) thanks to the correlation between neighboring molecules, which mesh and rotate in a concerted manner similar to spiral gears. Above 1.55 GPa, a collapse-type transition to a lower-symmetry ordered structure, not attainable at a temperature of 100 K, takes place, proving, thus, that the pressure acts as the means to couple and decouple the gears. The relationship between temperature and pressure effects on molecular motion in the solid state has also been discussed.     

Solid-state NMR studies of weak interactions in supramolecular systems

The field of application of solid-state NMR to the study of supramolecular systems is growing rapidly, with many research groups involved in the development of techniques for the study of crystalline and amorphous phases. This Feature Article aims to provide an overview of the recent contributions of our research group to this field, paying particular attention to the study of the weak interactions such as hydrogen bonds in supramolecular systems through solid-state NMR investigations. The structure and dynamic behaviour of selected host-guest systems will be also discussed.     

Three polymorphic forms of the co-crystal 4,4'-bipyridine/pimelic acid and their structural, thermal, and spectroscopic characterization

Three crystal forms of the co-crystal 4,4'-bipy/pimelic acid (bipy: bipyridine), [NH(4)C(5)-C(5)H(4)N][HOOC(CH(2))(5)COOH], have been prepared and their relationship investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, variable-temperature X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Both X-ray and NMR spectroscopic results indicate that no proton transfer takes place, that is, the three crystal forms are true co-crystals of neutral molecules. Forms I and II both convert into Form III at high temperature, Forms II and III being the thermodynamically stable forms at room and high temperature, respectively.