A novel heteroditopic terpyridine-pincer ligand as building block for mono- and heterometallic Pd(II) and Ru(II) complexes

A palladium-catalyzed Stille coupling reaction was employed as a versatile method for the synthesis of a novel terpyridine-pincer (3, TPBr) bridging ligand, 4'-{4-BrC6H2(CH2NMe2)(2)-3,5}-2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine. Mononuclear species [PdX(TP)] (X = Br, Cl), [Ru(TPBr)(tpy)](PF6)(2), and [Ru(TPBr)(2)](PF6)(2), synthesized by selective metalation of the NCNBr-pincer moiety or complexation of the terpyridine of the bifunctional ligand TPBr, were used as building blocks for the preparation of heterodi- and trimetallic complexes [Ru(TPPdCl)(tpy)](PF6)(2) (7) and [Ru(TPPdCl)(2)]-(PF6)(2) (8). The molecular structures in the solid state of [PdBr(TP)] (4a) and [Ru(TPBr)(2)](PF6)(2) (6) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Electrochemical behavior and photophysical properties of the mono-and heterometallic complexes are described. All the above di- and trimetallic Ru complexes exhibit absorption bands attributable to (MLCT)-M-1 (Ru -> tpy) transitions. For the heteroleptic complexes, the transitions involving the unsubstituted tpy ligand are at a lower energy than the tpy moiety of the TPBr ligand. The absorption bands observed in the electronic spectra for TPBr and [PdCl(TP)] have been assigned with the aid of TD-DFT calculations. All complexes display weak emission both at room temperature and in a butyronitrile glass at 77 K. The considerable red shift of the emission maxima relative to the signal of the reference compound [Ru(tpy)(2)](2+) indicates stabilization of the luminescent (MLCT)-M-3 state. For the mono- and heterometallic complexes, electrochemical and spectroscopic studies (electronic absorption and emission spectra and luminescence lifetimes recorded at room temperature and 77 K in nitrile solvents), together with the information gained from IR spectroelectrochemical studies of the dimetallic complex [Ru(TPPdSCN)(tpy)](PF6)(2), are indicative of charge redistribution through the bridging ligand TPBr. The results are in line with a weak coupling between the {Ru(tpy)(2)} chromophoric unit and the (non)metalated NCN-pincer moiety.

Synthesis, photophysical, photochemical, and redox properties of nitrospiropyrans substituted with Ru or Os tris(bipyridine) complexes

Photochromic nitrospiropyrans substituted with 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+), and [Os(bpy)(3)](2+) groups were synthesized, and their photophysical, photochemical, and redox properties investigated. Substitution of the spiropyran with the metal complex moiety results in strongly decreased efficiency of the ring-opening process as a result of energy transfer from the excited spiropyran to the metal center. The lowest excited triplet state of the spiropyran in its open merocyanine form is lower in energy than the excited triplet MLCT level of the [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) moiety but higher in energy than for [Os(bpy)(3)](2+), resulting in energy transfer from the excited ruthenium center to the spiropyran but inversely in the osmium case. The open merocyanine form reduces and oxidizes electrochemically more easily than the closed nitrospiropyran. Like photoexcitation, electrochemical activation also causes opening of the spiropyran ring by first reducing the closed form and subsequently reoxidizing the corresponding radical anion in two well-resolved anodic steps. Interestingly, the substitution of the spiropyran with a Ru or Os metal center does not affect the efficiency of this electrochemically induced ring-opening process, different from the photochemical path.

Electrochemical studies of bi- and polymetallic complexes featuring acetylide based bridging ligands

Acetylide-based bridging ligands have been widely used in the preparation of complexes that display a degree of electronic interaction between metal-based redox groups located at the ligand termini. The electrochemical response of these systems has been selectively reviewed, with a focus on the variation in properties that accompany changes in the structure of the bridging ligand and the nature of the metal groups.

Excited states of nitro-polypyridine metal complexes and their ultrafast decay. Time-resolved IR absorption, spectroelectrochemistry, and TD-DFT calculations of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)3(5-Nitro-1,10-phenanthroline)]

The lowest absorption band of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)(3)(5-NO2-phen)] encompasses two close-lying MLCT transitions. The lower one is directed to LUMO, which is heavily localized on the NO2 group. The UV-vis absorption spectrum is well accounted for by TD-DFT (G03/PBEPBE1/CPCM), provided that the solvent, MeCN, is included in the calculations. Near-UV excitation of fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)(3)(5-NO2-phen)] populates a triplet metal to ligand charge-transfer excited state, (MLCT)-M-3, that was characterized by picosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy. Large positive shifts of the v(CO) bands upon excitation (+70 cm(-1) for the A'(1) band) signify a very large charge separation between the Re(Cl)(CO)3 unit and the 5-NO2-phen ligand. Details of the excited-state character are revealed by TD-DFT calculated changes of electron density distribution. Experimental excited-state v(CO) wavenumbers agree well with those calculated by DFT. The (MLCT)-M-3 state decays with a ca. 10 ps lifetime (in MeCN) into another transient species, that was identified by TRIR and TD-DFT calculations as an intraligand (3)n pi* excited state, whereby the electron density is excited from the NO2 oxygen lone pairs to the pi* system of 5-NO2-phen. This state is short-lived, decaying to the ground state with a similar to 30 ps lifetime. The presence of an n pi* state seems to be the main factor responsible for the lack of emission and the very short lifetimes of 3 MLCT states seen in all d(6)-metal complexes of nitro-polypyridyl ligands. Localization of the excited electron density in the lowest (MLCT)-M-3 states parallels localization of the extra electron in the reduced state that is characterized by a very small negative shift of the v(CO) IR bands (-6 cm(-1) for A'(1)) but a large downward shift of the v(s)(NO2) IR band. The Re-Cl bond is unusually stable toward reduction, whereas the Cl ligand is readily substituted upon oxidation.

Syntheses, structures, some reactions, and electrochemical oxidation of ferrocenylethynyl complexes of iron, ruthenium, and osmium

The syntheses and characterizations of several complexes containing ferrocenylethynyl and ferrocene-1,1'-bis(ethynyl) groups attached to M(PP)Cp'[M = Fe, Ru, PP = dppe, Cp'= Cp*; M = Ru, Os, PP = (PPh3)(2), dppe, Cp' = Cp] are described. Reactions with tetracyanoethene have given either tetracyanobuta-1,3-dienyl or eta(3)-allylic derivatives, while addition of Me+ afforded the corresponding vinylidene derivatives. Some electrochemical measurements are discussed in terms of electronic communication between the redox-active M(PP)Cp' groups through the ferrocene nucleus. The molecular structures of 14 of these complexes have been determined by crystallographic methods.

Strongly nucleophilic RhI centre in square-planar complexes with terdentate (κ3) 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligands: crystallographic, electrochemical and density functional theoretical studies

Rh-I-terpyridine complexes have been unambiguously formed for the first time. The 2,21:6',2"-terpyridine (tpy), 4'-chloro-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (4'-Cl-tpy) and 4'-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl-ortho-carboranyl)-2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (carboranyl-tpy) ligands were used for successful syntheses and characterisation of the corresponding Rh-I complexes with halide coligands, [Rh(X)(4'-Y-terpyridine)] (X = Cl, Y = H, Cl, carboranyl; X = Br, Y = H). All four neutral Rh-tpy complexes are square planar, with Rh-X bonds in the plane of the 4'-Y-terpyridine ligands. Full characterisation of these dark blue, highly air-sensitive compounds was hampered by their poor solubility in various organic solvents. This is mainly due to the formation of pi-stacked aggregates, as evidenced by the crystal structure of [Rh(Cl)(tpy)]; in addition, [Rh(Cl)(carboranyl-tpy)] merely forms discrete dimers. The (bonding) properties of the novel Rh-I-terpyridine complexes have been studied with single-crystal X-ray diffraction, (time-dependent) density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations, far-infrared spectroscopy, electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. From DFT calculations, the HOMO of the studied Rh-I-terpyridine complexes involves predominantly the metal centre, while the LUMO resides on the terpyridine ligand. Absorption bands of the studied complexes in the visible region (400-900 nm) can be assigned to MLCT and MLCT/XLCT transitions. The relatively low oxidation potentials of [Rh(X)(tpy)] (X = Cl, Br) point to a high electron density on the metal centre. This makes the Rh-I-terpyridine complexes strongly nucleophilic and (potentially) highly reactive towards various (small) substrate molecules containing carbon-halide bonds.

Multimetallic ruthenium(II) complexes as electrochemiluminescent labels

Two homometallic complexes containing two and three ruthenium polypyridyl units linked by amino acid lysine (Lys) and the related dipeptide (LysLys) were synthesized and their electrochemical, spectroscopic, and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties were investigated. The electrochemical and photophysical data indicate that the two metal complexes largely retain the electronic properties of the reference compound for the separate ruthenium moieties in the two bridged complexes, [4-carboxypropyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine]bis(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex. The ECL studies, performed in aqueous media in the presence of tri-n-propylamine as co-reactant, show that the ECL intensity increases by 30% for the dinuclear and trinuclear complexes compared to the reference. Heterogeneous ECL immunoassay studies, performed on larger dendritic complexes containing up to eight ruthenium units, demonstrate that limitations due to the slow diffusion can easily be overcome by means of nanoparticle technology. In this case, the ECL signal is proportional to the number of ruthenium units. Multimetallic systems with several ruthenium centers may, however, undergo nonspecific bonding,to streptavidin-coated particles or to antibodies, thereby increasing the background ECL intensity and lowering the sensitivity of the immunoassay.

Titanocene anticancer complexes and their binding mode of action to human serum albumin: a computational study

Due to the pivotal role played by human serum albumin (HSA) in the transport and cytotoxicity of titanocene complexes, a docking study has been performed on a selected set of titanocene complexes to aid in the current understanding of the potential mode of action of these titanocenes upon binding HSA. Analysis of the docking results has revealed potential binding at the known drug binding sites in HSA and has provided some explanation for the specificity and subsequent cytotoxicity of these titanocenes. Additionally, a new alternative binding site for these titanocenes has been postulated.

Homoleptic Diphosphacyclobutadiene Complexes [M(η4-P2C2R2)2]x− (M=Fe, Co; x=0, 1)

The preparation and comprehensive characterization of a series of homoleptic sandwich complexes containing diphosphacyclobutadiene ligands are reported. Compounds [K([18]crown-6)(thf)2][Fe(hapto4-P2C2tBu2)2] (K1), [K([18]crown-6)(thf)2][C(h4-P2C2tBu2)2] (K2), and [K([18]crown-6)(thf)2][Co(hapto4-P2C2Ad2)2] (K3, Ad=adamantyl) were obtained from reactions of [K([18crown-6)(thf)2][M(hapto4-C14H10)2] (M=Fe, Co) with tBuCP (1, 2), or with AdCP (3). Neutral sandwiches [M(hapto4-P2C2tBu2)2] (4: M=Fe 5: M=Co) were obtained by oxidizing 1 and 2 with [Cp2Fe]PF6. Cyclic voltammetry and spectro-electrochemistry indicate that the two [M(hapto4-P2C2tBu2)2]-/[M(hapto4-P2C2tBu2)2] moieties can be reversibly interconverted by one electron oxidation and reduction, respectively. Complexes 1–5 were characterized by multinuclear NMR, EPR (1 and 5), UV/Vis,and Moessbauer spectroscopies (1 and 4), mass spectrometry (4 and 5), and microanalysis (1–3). The molecular structures of 1–5 were determined by using X-ray crystallography. Essentially D2d-symmetric structures were found for all five complexes, which show the two 1,3-diphosphacyclobutadiene rings in a staggered orientation. Density functional theory calculations revealed the importance of covalent metal–ligand pi bonding in 1–5. Possible oxidation state assignments for the metal ions are discussed.

Dimetallic complexes of macrocycles with two rigid dibenzofuran units as receptors for detection of anionic substrates

The hexaazamacrocycles [28](DBF)2N6 {cyclo[bis(4,6-dimethyldibenzo[b,d]furaniminoethyleneiminoethylene]} and [32](DBF)2N6 {cyclo[bis(4,6-dimethyldibenzo[b,d]furaniminopropyleneiminopropylene]} form stable dinuclear copper(II) complexes suitable to behave as receptors for several anionic substrates. These two receptors were used to study the binding interactions with several substrates, such as imidazole (Him) and some carboxylates [benzoate (bz−), oxalate (ox2−), malonate (mal2−), phthalate (ph2−), isophthalate (iph2−), and terephthalate (tph2−)] by spectrophotometric titrations and EPR spectroscopy in MeOH (or H2O):DMSO (1:1 v/v) solution. The largest association constant was found for ox2− with Cu2[32](DBF)2N64+, whereas for the aromatic dicarboxylate anions the binding constants follow the trend ph2− > iph2− > tph2−, i.e. decrease with the increase of the distance of the two binding sites of the substrate. On the other hand, the large blue shift of 68 nm observed by addition of Him to Cu2[32](DBF)2N64+ points out for the formation of the bridged CuimCu cascade complex, indicating this receptor as a potential sensor for the detection and determination of imidazole in solution. The X-band EPR spectra of the Cu2[28](DBF)2N64+ and Cu2[32](DBF)2N6]4+ complexes and the cascade complexes with the substrates, performed in H2O:DMSO (1:1 v/v) at 5 to 15 K, showed that the CuCu distance is slightly larger than the one found in crystal state and that this distance increases when the substrate is accommodated between the two copper centres. The crystal structure of [Cu2[28](DBF)2N6(ph)2]·CH3OH was determined by X-ray diffraction and revealed the two copper centres bridged by two ph2− anions at a Cu···Cu distance of 5.419(1) Å. Each copper centre is surrounded by three carboxylate oxygen atoms from two phthalate anions and three contiguous nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle in a pseudo octahedral coordination environment.

Synthesis, structural characterization and electrochemical activity of oxidovanadium(IV/V) complexes of a diprotic ONS chelating ligand

The present work reports the chemistry of a few oxidovanadium(IV) and (V) complexes of the ONS chelating ligand S-benzyl-beta-N-(2-hydroxyphenylethylidine) dithiocarbazate (H2L). Major objective of this work is to arrive at some general conclusions about the influence of binding environment generated by the replacement of an O-donor center by a S-donor point in a ligand (of a similar arrangement of the other O- and N-donor points) on the redox behavior and on the structural features of comparable [VO(OEt)(ONS)] and [VO(OEt)(ONO)] complexes. Synthesis, characterization by various physicochemical techniques (UV-Vis, IR, EPR and elemental analysis), exploration of electrochemical activity of the oxidovanadium(V) complex [(VO)-O-V(OEt) L] (1), the mixed ligand complex [(VO)-O-V(N-O)L] (3) (where N-O is the mono anion of 8-hydroxyquinoline) and a binuclear complex [(VO)-O-V(OEt)L](2)(mu-4,4'-bipy) (2) are reported. Similar studies on of mixed ligand oxidovanadium(IV) complexes of the formula [(VO)-O-V(N-N)L] (4,5) (where N-N = 2,2'-bipy and o-phen) are also presented here. The [(VO)-O-V(OEt)L] complex is pentacoordinated and distorted square pyramidal, while the [V-IV(N-N)L] complexes are hexacoordinated and octahedral. Structural features of the complex 1 were compared with the corresponding aspects of the previously reported analogous complex [(VO)-O-V(OEt)(ONO)] (1').

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structures and properties of complex salts and sterically crowded heteroleptic complexes of group 10 metal ions with aromatic sulfonyl dithiocarbimates and triphenylphosphine ligand

Two new complex salts of the form (Bu4N)(2)[Ni(L)(2)] (1) and (Ph4P)(2)[Ni(L)(2)] (2) and four heteroleptic complexes cis-M(PPh3)(2)(L) [M = Ni(II) (3), Pd(II) (4), L = 4-CH3OC6H4SO2N=CS2] and cis-M(PPh3)(2)(L') [M = Pd(II) (5), Pt(II) (6), L' = C6H5SO2N=CS2] were prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, H-1, C-13 and P-31 NMR and UV-Vis spectra, solution and solid phase conductivity measurements and X-ray crystallography. A minor product trans-Pd(PPh3)(2)(SH)(2), 4a was also obtained with the synthesis of 4. The NiS4 and MP2S2 core in the complex salts and heteroleptic complexes are in the distorted square-plane whereas in the trans complex, 4a the centrosymmetric PdS2P2 core is perforce square planar. X-ray crystallography revealed the proximity of the ortho phenyl proton of the PPh3 ligand to Pd(II) showing rare intramolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot Pd anagostic binding interactions in the palladium cis-5 and trans-4a complexes. The complex salts with sigma(rt) values similar to 10 (5) S cm (1) show semi-conductor behaviors. The palladium and platinum complexes show photoluminescence properties in solution at room temperature.

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of mono- and di-nuclear nickel(II) thiocyanate complexes with tridentate N3 donor Schiff bases

The 1:1 condensation of N-methyl-1,3-diaminopropane and N,N-diethyl-1,2-diminoethane with 2-acetylpyridine, respectively at high dilution gives the tridentate mono-condensed Schiff bases N-methyl-N'-(1-pyridin-2-yl-ethylidene)-propane-1,3-diamine (L-1) and N,N-diethyl-N'-(1-pyridin-2-yl-ethylidene)-ethane-1,2-diamine (L-2). The tridentate ligands were allowed to react with methanol solutions of nickel(II) thiocyanate to prepare the complexes [Ni(L-1)(SCN)(2)(OH2) (1) and [{Ni(L-2)(SCN)}(2)] (2). Single crystal X-ray diffraction was used to confirm the structures of the complexes. The nickel(II) in complex 1 is bonded to three nitrogen donor atoms of the ligand L-1 in a mer orientation, together with two thiocyanates bonded through nitrogen and a water molecule, and it is the first Schiff base complex of nickel(II) containing both thiocyanate and coordinated water. The coordinated water initiates a hydrogen bonded 2D network. In complex 2, the nickel ion occupies a slightly distorted octahedral coordination sphere, being bonded to three nitrogen atoms from the ligand L-2, also in a mer orientation, and two thiocyanate anions through nitrogen. In contrast to 1, the sixth coordination site is occupied by a sulfur atom from a thiocyanate anion in an adjacent molecule, thus creating a centrosymmetric dimer. A variable temperature magnetic study of complex 2 indicates the simultaneous presence of zero-field splitting, weak intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling and intermolecular antiferromagnetic interactions between the nickel(II) centers.

Use of a reduced Schiff-Base ligand to prepare novel chloro-bridged chains of rare Cu(II) trinuclear complexes with mixed azido/oxo and chloro/oxo bridges

Two mixed bridged one-dimensional (1D) polynuclear complexes, [Cu3L2(mu(1,1)-N-3)(2)(mu-Cl)Cl](n) (1) and {[Cu3L2(mu-Cl)(3)Cl]center dot 0.46CH(3)OH}(n), (2), have been synthesized using the tridentate reduced Schiff-base ligand HL (2-[(2-dimethylamino-ethylamino)-methyl]-phenol). The complexes have been characterized by X-ray structural analyses and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. In both complexes the basic trinuclear angular units are joined together by weak chloro bridges to form a 1D chain. The trinuclear structure of 1 is composed of two terminal square planar [Cu(L)(mu(1,1)-N-3)] units connected by a central Cu(II) atom through bridging nitrogen atoms of end-on azido ligands and the phenoxo oxygen atom of the tridentate ligand. These four coordinating atoms along with a chloride ion form a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry around the central Cu(II). The structure of 2 is similar; the only difference being a Cl bridge replacing the mu(1,1)-N-3 bridge in the trinuclear unit. The magnetic properties of both trinuclear complexes can be very well reproduced with a simple linear symmetrical trimer model (H = JS(i)S(i+1)) with only one intracluster exchange coupling (J) including a weak intertrimer interaction (.j) reproduced with the molecular field approximation. This model provides very satisfactory fits for both complexes in the whole temperature range with the following parameters: g = 2.136(3), J = 93.9(3) cm(-1) and zj= -0.90(3) cm(-1) (z = 2) for 1 and g = 2.073(7), J = -44.9(4) cm(-1) and zJ = -1.26(6) cm(-1) (z = 2) for 2.

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of three unprecedented tri-nuclear and one very rare tetra-nuclear copper(II) Schiff-base complexes supported by mixed azido/phenoxo/nitrato or acetato bridges

Three novel mixed bridged trinuclear and one tetranuclear copper(II) complexes of tridentate NNO donor Schiff base ligands [Cu-3(L-1)(2)(mu(LI)-N-3)(2)(CH3OH)(2)(BF2)(2)] (1), [Cu-3(L-1)(2)(mu(LI)-NO3-I kappa O.2 kappa O')(2)] (2), [Cu-3(L-2)(2)(mu(LI)-N-3)(2)(mu-NOI-I kappa O 2 kappa O')(2)] (3) and [Cu-4(L-3)(2)(mu(LI)-N-3)(4)(mu-CH3COO-I kappa O 2 kappa O')(2)] (4) have been synthesized by reaction of the respective tridentate ligands (L-1 = 2[1-(2-dimethylamino-ethylimino)-ethyl]-phenol, L-2 = 2[1-(2-diethylamino-ethylimino)-ethyl]-phenol, L-3 = 2-[1-(2-dimethylamino-ethylimino)-methyl]-phenol) with the corresponding copper(II) salts in the presence of NaN3 The complexes are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and variable-temperature magnetic measurements Complex 1 is composed of two terminal [Cu(L-1)(mu(LI)-N-3)] units connected by a central [Cu(BF4)(2)] unit through nitrogen atoms of end-on azido ligands and a phenoxo oxygen atom of the tridentate ligand The structures of 2 and 3 are very similar, the only difference is that the central unit is [Cu(NO1)(2)] and the nitrate group forms an additional mu-NO3-I kappa O 2 kappa O' bridge between the terminal and central copper atoms In complex 4, the central unit is a di-mu(L1)-N-3 bridged dicopper entity, [Cu-2(mu(L1)-N-3)(2)(CH3COO)(2)] that connects two terminal [Cu(L-3)(mu(L1)-N-3)] units through end-on azido; phenoxo oxygen and mu-CH3COO-1 kappa O center dot 2 kappa O' triple bridges to result in a tetranuclear unit Analyses of variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data indicates that there is a global weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the copper(II) ions in complexes 1-3, with the exchange parameter J of -9 86, -11 6 and -19 98 cm(-1) for 1-3, respectively In complex 4 theoretical calculations show the presence of an antiferromagnetic coupling in the triple bridging ligands (acetato, phenoxo and azido) while the interaction through the double end-on azido bridging ligand is strongly ferromagnetic.