Molybdenum complexes with O,N,S donor ligands as models for active sites in oxotransferases and hydroxylases

A series of homologous mononuclear dioxomolybdenum complexes were prepared and fully characterized with structurally related thiosemicarbazone ligands supplying a tridentate O,N,S donor set to the central metal atom. The ligands are derived from the prototype 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde-4-triphenylmethylthiosemicarbazone (H₂L). Within this series the crystal structures of 11 complex compounds [MoO₂(LRⁿ)(dmf)] and [MoO₂(LRⁿ)(MeOH)] were determined showing characteristic differences in the gross structural properties of the central metal core. From the variation of substituents in this ligand library the influences of electronic ligand effects on the spectroscopic, electrochemical, and functional properties of these biomimetic model complexes for molybdenum-containing oxotransferases are reported.     

Synthesis and characterisation of new Schiff base metal complexes and their use as catalysts for olefin cyclopropanation

New transition metal complexes of Co^II, Cu^II, Ni^II and V^IVO with the Schiff base, HL, 3-acetylcoumarin-N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone have been prepared. Characterisation of the HL ligand and its complexes is also reported. Mass spectra and NMR assignments for the ligand, using COSY, NOESY homonuclear and HMQC and HMBC heteronuclear correlation techniques were carried out. Electronic and magnetic moments of the complexes indicate that the geometries of the metal centres are either distorted octahedral, square pyramidal, square planar or tetrahedral. The structures are consistent with the IR, UV-Vis, ESR, as well as conductivity and magnetic moments measurements. Cyclopropanation reactions of unactivated olefins by ethyldiazoacetate (EDA) in the presence of LCu^IICl as catalyst proceed with excellent TON (up to 9625).     

Synthesis and antimalarial activity of metal complexes of cross-bridged tetraazamacrocyclic ligands

Using transition metals such as manganese(II), iron(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II), and zinc(II), several new metal complexes of cross-bridged tetraazamacrocyclic chelators namely, cyclen- and cyclam-analogs with benzyl groups, were synthesized and screened for in vitro antimalarial activity against chloroquine-resistant (W2) and chloroquine-sensitive (D6) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The metal-free chelators tested showed little or no antimalarial activity. All the metal complexes of the dibenzyl cross-bridged cyclam ligand exhibited potent antimalarial activity. The Mn²⁺ complex of this ligand was the most potent with IC₅₀s of 0.127 and 0.157 μM against the chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2) P. falciparum strains, respectively. In general, the dibenzyl hydrophobic ligands showed better anti-malarial activity compared to the activity of monobenzyl ligands, potentially because of their higher lipophilicity and thus better cell penetration ability. The higher antimalarial activity displayed by the manganese complex for the cyclam ligand in comparison to that of the cyclen, correlates with the larger pocket of cyclam compared to that of cyclen which produces a more stable complex with the Mn²⁺. Few of the Cu²⁺ and Fe²⁺ complexes also showed improvement in activity but Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ complexes did not show any improvement in activity upon the metal-free ligands for anti-malarial development.     

Estimation of pseudopeptide metal ion complexation tendencies by special MS methods,HPCE and circular dichroism

Summary To obtain more insight into catalytic mechanisms of metallo enzymes and specific metal complexation by proteins we use linear and cyclic pseudopeptides as mimetics. Knowledge about tendencies of complex formation of different ligands with selected transition metal ions is an indispensable prerequisite for the development of homo-and hetero-dinuclear metallo enzyme mimetics. Three pseudotripeptide ligands were investigated with respect to formation tendency and properties of complexes with the transition metal ions Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺. To study complexation tendencies we applied different methods. One of the important prerequisites for the application in a secreening of series of peptide ligands is the necessity for a minimal amount of substance. We used and compared certain masspectrometric methods for the estimation of a rank order of complexation of certain transition metal ions. We also applied spectrophotometric titration, circular dichroism measurements, capillary electrophoresis and pH-rate profile of catalytic activity in the attempt to evaluate complex formation tendencies. Except for the spectrophotometric pH-titration and the pH-profile of catalytic activity all methods, were applicable, but each method has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the separation effect of the ligand from the metal complex, and depending on the spectroscopic properties of ligand and complex. The results regarding complex formation are compared to each other. Comparison of pairs by MALDI-TOF-and ESI-MS allows an estimation of the rank order of complexation tendency of one ligand with different metal ions and requires the least amount of substance. The other investigated methods provided additional information on structural properties of the formed complexes; however either they required too much pseudopeptide ligand or were not applicable for all transition metal ions used in this study.     

Estimation of pseudopeptide metal ion complexation tendencies by special MS methods, HPCE and circular dichroism

To obtain more insight into catalytic mechanisms of metallo enzymes and specific metal complexation by proteins we use linear and cyclic pseudopeptides as mimetics. Knowledge about tendencies of complex formation of different ligands with selected transition metal ions is an indispensable prerequisite for the development of homo- and hetero-dinuclear metallo enzyme mimetics. Three pseudotripeptide ligands were investigated with respect to formation tendency and properties of complexes with the transition metal ions Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Mn²⁺. To study complexation tendencies we applied different methods. One of the important prerequisites for the application in a screening of series of peptide ligands is the necessity for a minimal amount of substance. We used and compared certain masspectrometric methods for the estimation of a rank order of complexation of certain transition metal ions. We also applied spectrophotometric titration, circular dichroism measurements, capillary electrophoresis and pH-rate profile of catalytic activity in the attempt to evaluate complex formation tendencies. Except for the spectrophotometric pH-titration and the pH-profile of catalytic activity all methods were applicable, but each method has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the separation effect of the ligand from the metal complex, and depending on the spectroscopic properties of ligand and complex. The results regarding complex formation are compared to each other. Comparison of pairs by MALDI-TOF- and ESI-MS allows an estimation of the rank order of complexation tendency of one ligand with different metal ions and requires the least amount of substance. The other investigated methods provided additional information on structural properties of the formed complexes; however either they required too much pseudopeptide ligand or were not applicable for all transition metal ions used in this study.     

Synthesis and characterization of 2-quinoxalinol Schiff-base metal complexes

The reaction of uranyl acetate with (2,2′-(1E,1′E)-(2-benzyl-3-hydroxyquinoxaline-6,7-diyl)bis(azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(methan-1-yl-1-ylidene) diphenol) (H₂L1) at room temperature in methanol and chloroform yields the UO₂L1 complex. Crystals were grown through solvent diffusion of the ligand-metal complex in dimethyl formamide with diethyl ether to prepare: UO₂L1 · DMF (1). Complexes with 2,2′-(1E,1′E)-(2-benzyl-3-hydroxyquinoxaline-6,7-diyl)bis(azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(methan-1-yl-1-ylidene)dibenzene-1,4-diol (H₂L2) and 2,2′-(1E,1′E)-(2-hydroxy-3-isopropylquinoxaline-6,7-diyl)bis(azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(methan-1-yl-1-ylidene)diphenol (H₂L3) were also prepared, and crystals of the uranyl complexes (UO₂L2 · DMF (2) and (3)) grown from DMF/ether. A fourth complex UO₂L4 · H₂O (4) was prepared through layering a solution of the tetra-tert-butyl substituted 2-quinoxalinol salen ligand H₂L4 in acetone with an aqueous solution containing uranyl acetate. The complexes exhibit a symmetric core featuring a slightly distorted bicapped pentagonal geometry around the uranium center with two oxo-groups and two imine groups from the ligand chelating the ligand and the fifth site in the coordination plane of the ligand occupied by a solvent molecule. These compounds have been characterized using solution (NMR and UV-Vis) and solid-state (IR, X-ray crystallography) techniques. Complexes of H₂L4 with early transition metals; Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺ are also prepared and characterized for comparison of solution and spectroscopic characteristics.     

Chemical and functional characterization of metal-binding pseudotripeptides with different functionalized N-alkyl residues Dedicated to Professor Dr. Ernst-Gottfried Jaeger on occasion of his 65th birthday

Pseudotripeptide ligands with 4 different N-functionalized glycine residues were qualitatively, semiquantitatively and quantitatively tested for their complexation of the bivalent transition metal ions Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺. The functional side chains have different length and different groups available for complexation. MALDI-MS and ESI-MS were used for more qualitative or semiquantitative estimation of the complex formation tendencies. The found ranking differs by these two methods only for Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺. For one of the pseudotripeptide ligands, the ligand L1, complex formation with certain transition metal was estimated quantitatively by potentiometric titration. The Zn-complex of that ligand polarizes bound water strongly, resulting in a low pK_a-value. Complexes of pseudotripeptide ligand L1 with certain metal ions were tested for their hydrolytic activity. The pseudo first order rate constants of the hydrolysis of the substrates 4-nitrophenyl acetate and bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate were compared to complexes with the same metal ions formed with a very well studied ligand from the literature, the 1,4,7,10-tetraaza cyclododecane (cyclen). The hydrolysis of the phosphate ester occurs very slowly compared to the acetate ester. No correlation exists between the estimated pK_a values of complexes formed from ligand L1 with different metal ions and the phosphate ester hydrolysis. The Ni ions give totally different hydrolytic activities for pseudotripeptide ligand L1 and cyclen. With one exception, the Ni-cyclen complex, all other complexes have only a low or moderate catalytic activity.     

Trace metal complexation by the triscatecholate siderophore protochelin: structure and stability

Although siderophores are generally viewed as biological iron uptake agents, recent evidence has shown that they may play significant roles in the biogeochemical cycling and biological uptake of other metals. One such siderophore that is produced by A. vinelandii is the triscatecholate protochelin. In this study, we probe the solution chemistry of protochelin and its complexes with environmentally relevant trace metals to better understand its effect on metal uptake and cycling. Protochelin exhibits low solubility below pH 7.5 and degrades gradually in solution. Electrochemical measurements of protochelin and metal–protochelin complexes reveal a ligand half-wave potential of 200 mV. The Fe(III)Proto³⁻ complex exhibits a salicylate shift in coordination mode at circumneutral to acidic pH. Coordination of Mn(II) by protochelin above pH 8.0 promotes gradual air oxidation of the metal center to Mn(III), which accelerates at higher pH values. The Mn(III)Proto³⁻ complex was found to have a stability constant of log β₁₁₀ = 41.6. Structural parameters derived from spectroscopic measurements and quantum mechanical calculations provide insights into the stability of the Fe(III)Proto³⁻, Fe(III)H₃Proto, and Mn(III)Proto³⁻ complexes. Complexation of Co(II) by protochelin results in redox cycling of Co, accompanied by accelerated degradation of the ligand at all solution pH values. These results are discussed in terms of the role of catecholate siderophores in environmental trace metal cycling and intracellular metal release.     

Preparation of a new 16-MC-4 structure type that captures Mn(II) in the central cavity

Bernhard Lippert has contributed significantly to the understanding of metallamacrocyclic complexes with low valent, late transition metals. In particular, he has pioneered the preparation of metallacalixarenes such as 12-MC-3 and 16-MC-4 structure types. In this article, we provide the preparation of a new 16-MC-4, [Mn₄Br₄(B(^tBuM)PZG)₄] [Mn(HOCO₂)₂], complex made with the ligand potassium N,N-bis(3-methyl-5-tert-butylpyrazolylmethyl)glycinate (KB(^tBuM)PZG). In addition to being the first 16-MC-4 that is composed of manganese, this complex is the first example of a transition metal [Mn(II)] being captured in the interior cavity of the 16-MC-4. We discuss how our ligand design leads to the isolated structure due to the steric bulk that has been appended to the pyrazole ligand.     

Chemical and functional characterization of metal-binding pseudotripeptides with different functionalized N-alkyl residues Dedicated to Professor Dr. Ernst-Gottfried Jaeger on occasion of his 65th birthday

Summary Pseudotripeptide ligands with 4 different N-functionalized glycine residues were qualitatively, semiquantitatively and quantitatively tested for their complexation of the bivalent transition metal ions Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mn²⁺. The functional side chains have different length and different groups available for complexation. MALDI-MS and ESI-MS were used for more qualitative or semiquantitative estimation of the complex formation tendencies. The found ranking differs by these two methods only for Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺. For one of the pseudotripeptide ligands, the ligand L1, complex formation with certain transition metal was estimated quantitatively by potentiometric titration. The Zn-complex of that ligand polarizes bound water strongly, resulting in a low pK _a -value. Complexes of pseudotripeptide ligand L1 with certain metal ions were tested for their hydrolytic activity. The pseudo first order rate constants of the hydrolysis of the substrates 4-nitrophenyl acetate and bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate were compared to complexes with the same metal ions formed with a very well studied ligand from the literature, the 1,4,7,10-tetraaza cyclododecane (cyclen). The hydrolysis of the phosphate ester occurs very slowly compared to the acetate ester. No correlation exists between the estimated pK _a values of complexes formed from ligand L1 with different metal ions and the phosphate ester hydrolysis. The Ni ions give totally different hydrolytic activities for pseudotripeptide ligand L1 and cyclen. With one exception, the Ni-cyclen complex, all other complexes have only a low or moderate catalytic activity. Dedicated to Professor Dr. Ernst-Gottfried Jaeger on occasion of his 65th birthday.     

First-row transition metal complexes of a novel pentadentate amine/imine ligand containing a hexahydropyrimidine core

2-Methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-diamine and formaldehyde are condensed to prepare the hexahydropyrimidine derivative, which is subsequently reacted with two equivalents of 2-vinylpyridine, to produce a novel, potentially pentadentate amine/imine ligand. Full NMR spectroscopic details are reported. The ligand, hexahydro-5-methyl-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3-bis[2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl]pyrimidine, acts as a pentadentate in a series of first-row transition metal complexes (M = Ni²⁺, Fe²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺) but is tridentate towards Mn²⁺, in the corresponding dibromido complex. Single-crystal X-ray structure analyses reveal the metal ions to be hexacoordinate in the case of M = Ni²⁺, Fe²⁺, with and additional aqua or halido (Br⁻, Cl⁻) ligand, or pentacoordinate (M = Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺). Ferric complexes were not obtained, neither from complexation experiments employing iron(III), nor from oxidations using the iron(II) complex, and hydrogen peroxide or iodosylbenzene. In the case of the latter reactions, mass spectrometric data indicate oxidation of the hexahydropyrimidine core, with concomitant decomplexation of the ligand.     

Study of complex formation with 2-hydroxyiminocarboxylates: specific metal binding ability of 2-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2-(hydroxyimino)acetic acid

Complex formation properties of a novel water soluble thiazolyloxime 2-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2-(hydroxyimino)acetic acid (H₃L¹) with Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ were investigated in solution by potentiometrical and spectral (UV-Vis, EPR, NMR) methods. All Cu²⁺ and most of Ni²⁺ complex species detected in solution were found to have square-planar MN₄ core with oxime and heterocyclic nitrogen atoms which was rationalized in terms of destabilizing effect of repulsive interaction between oxygen atom of carboxylic group and nitrogen atom of thiazole ring in N,O-coordinated ligand conformation. It has been found that stability of metal complexes in a series of oxime ligands is dependent upon basicity of nitrogen atom of oxime group. The thiazolyloxime forms less stable complexes with Cu²⁺ but stronger ones with Ni²⁺ ions when compared to parent 2-(hydroxyimino)propanoic acid. The lower stability obtained for Cu²⁺ complexes was elucidated in terms of negative inductive effect of the thiazole and nitrile substituents as well as an effect of intramolecular attractive interaction between thiazolyl sulfur and oxime oxygen atoms in thiazolyloxime. In the case of Ni²⁺ the complexes formed are square-planar and it is why thiazolyl ligand is more effective in metal ion binding than simple 2-(hydroxyimino)propanoic acid forming only octahedral species. The solid state structure of the Co³⁺ complex K₃[Co(HL¹)₃]·5.5H₂O (1) was studied by X-ray analysis. The thiazolyloxime ligand is coordinated to Co³⁺ via oxime nitrogen and carboxylate oxygen atoms forming five-membered chelate rings.     

Model complexes of the active site of galactose oxidase. Effects of the metal ion binding sites

Model compounds of the active site of galactose oxidase have been developed by using new cofactor model ligands, L1H (2-methylthio-4-tert-butyl-6-[{bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino}methyl]phenol) and L2H (2-methylthio-4-tert-butyl-6-[{bis(6-methylpyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino}methyl]phenol). Treatment of the ligands with copper(II) and zinc(II) perchlorate in the presence of triethylamine followed by anion exchange reaction with NaPF₆ or NaBPh₄ provided the corresponding copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes, the crystal structures of which have been determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. All the copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes have been isolated as a dimeric form in which the phenolate oxygen of each ligand acts as the bridging ligand to form a rhombic M₂(OAr)₂ core (M=Cu or Zn). The dimeric complexes can be converted into the corresponding monomer complexes by the treatment with exogenous ligand such as acetate ion. The redox potential and the spectroscopic features of the monomer complexes have also been examined. Furthermore, the copper(II)- and zinc(II)-complexes of the phenoxyl radical species of the ligands have been generated in situ by the oxidation of the phenolate complexes with (NH₄)₂[Ce^IV(NO₃)₆] (CAN) in CH₃CN, and their spectroscopic features have been explored. The structures and physicochemical properties of the phenolate and phenoxyl radical complexes of L1 and L2 have been compared to those of the previously reported copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of L3 (2-methylthio-4-tert-butyl-6-[{bis(2-pyridin-2-ylethyl)amino}methyl]phenol) in order to get insights into the interaction between the metal ions and the organic cofactor moiety.     

Synthesis and biological studies of 4', 7, 8-trihydroxy-isoflavone metal complexes

A new series of complexes of a ligand 4′, 7, 8-trihydroxy-isoflavone with transition metal (zinc, copper, manganese, nickel, cobalt) and selenium have been synthesized and characterized with the aid of elemental analysis, IR, electron ionization mass spectrum (EI-MS) and ¹H NMR spectrometric techniques. The compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activities and antitumor properties. The metal complexes were found to be more active than the free ligand. Investigation on the interaction between the complexes and calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) showed that the absorbance of CT DNA increased and the maximum peak (λ_max = 260 nm) red-shifted, while the intensity of fluorescence spectra of Epstein-Bart DNA (EB-DNA) gradually weakened, which indicated that all of these metal complexes tightly combined with CT DNA.     

Synthesis of a novel pyridine-diamino bridged diphosphine ligand and its macrocyclic metal complexes

A novel long chain diphosphine ligand with a pyridine-diamino bridge, 2,6-bis(N-benzyl-N-diphenylphosphinomethylamino)pyridine (PNP1), was prepared conveniently using the Mannich reaction of HPPh₂ with paraformaldehyde and 2,6-bis(N-benzylamino)pyridine in high yield. Reactions of the ligand with metal complexes, M(COD)Cl₂ (M = Pd, Pt), M(CH₃CN)₄ClO₄ (M = Cu, Ag) and M(CO)₆ (M = Mo, W) afforded the corresponding 10-numbered monometallic macrocyclic complexes with an uncoordinated pyridyl bridge. The monometallic chelate PdCl₂(PNP1) continued to react with Ag⁺ or Cu⁺ giving the μ-Cl bridged bicyclic metallic complex (μ-Cl)₂[PdCl(PNP1)]₂. The diphenylphosphine group coordinated with metal ion in cis-form in all the 10-numbered macrocyclic metal complexes. Ligand PNP1 and another known analogous 2,6-bis(N-diphenylphosphinoamino)pyridine (PNP2) reacted with Au(SMe₂)Cl giving the corresponding bimetallic Au₂Cl₂(PNP1) and Au₂Cl₂(PNP2), respectively. The latter bimetallic complexes continued to react with Ag⁺ and diphosphine ligand to give the corresponding bimetallic macrocyclic complexes Au₂(ligand)₂(ClO₄)₂. All the complexes were characterized and the structures of some complexes were confirmed by X-ray single crystallography determination.     

Study of the O-Ru-N bonding in trans-[Ru(NH3)4(SO4)L] complexes (L=imidazole, histidine and substituted pyridines): a X-ray, EPR, spectroscopic and theoretical MO study

Spectroscopic studies on trans-[Ru(NH₃)₄(SO₄)L]⁺ where L=imidazole, histidine, pyridine and substituted pyridines were undertaken to understand the effect of various ligands on the Ru-N bonding in these complexes. The sulfate complexes show two major bands in the 250-270 and 310-350 nm region of the UV-Vis spectrum. Based on quantum chemical calculations the lowest energy band has been assigned to a LMCT (SO₄ ²⁻ → Ru^III) transition. The energy of the LMCT transition decreases as the order of the axial ligand L basicity: Him > L-hist > 4-NH2-py > 4-Cl-py > 4-pic > py > nia > 4-Cn-py > isn > pz. EPR spectra give only two g values showing that the two LUMO containing the metal d_π orbitals are degenerate and the energy separation between the LUMO and HOMO, calculated from the g values correlates linearly with the charge transfer energy and electrochemical properties. These correlations suggest extensive π donation from L to the Ru(III) d orbitals. An X-ray study of the 4-pic complex shows a bent S-O-Ru bond of 127.5° and MO calculations for three other complexes predict similar angles due to extensive σ and π bonding interaction between the sulfate oxygen and the Ru(III) ion. Surprisingly, the MO calculations do not predict the observed degeneracy in the LUMO orbital found by EPR studies. We shall argue that these discrepancies can be reconciled by insisting that the orientation of the L ring be coplanar with the S-O-Ru plane as is the case in the one X-ray study.     

Stabilities in nitromethane of alkali metal ion complexes with dibenzo-18-crown-6 and dibenzo-24-crown-8 and their transfer from nitromethane to other polar solvents

Stability constants for the 1:1 complexes of Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺ with dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) and dibenzo-24-crown-8 (DB24C8) have been determined by conductometry at 25 °C in a poorly solvating solvent, nitromethane. For both the crown ethers, the stability constant decreases with increasing metal ion size, Na⁺ > K⁺ > Rb⁺ > Cs⁺, regardless of the size compatibility between the metal ions and the ligand cavities. A comparison of the results with those in several other solvents (S: acetonitrile, propylene carbonate, water, methanol, and N,N-dimethylformamide) leads to the conclusion that the selectivity sequence of these crown ethers in nitromethane agrees with the intrinsic one in the absence of a solvent. Transfer activity coefficients of the crown ethers and their complexes from nitromethane to S have been determined to evaluate the solute-solvent interactions. It is shown that DB24C8 shields the alkali metal ions more effectively from the solvents than DB18C6 because of the larger number of oxygen atoms and the more flexible structure of DB24C8. Regarding the complexation in nitromethane as a reference, the complex stability and selectivity in S are discussed. The selectivities of these crown ethers in water, methanol, and N,N-dimethylformamide, which apparently obey the size-fit concept, are largely due to the solvation of the free alkali metal ions.     

The stacking interactions of bipyridine complexes: the influence of the metal ion type on the strength of interactions

The strength of the stacking interactions in the bipy complexes of nickel, palladium, and platinum, [M(CN)₂ bipy]₂ (M?=?Ni, Pd, Pt), was calculated using the ωB97xD/def2-TZVP method. The results show that for all considered geometries, interactions are the strongest for platinum, and weakest for nickel complexes, as a result of higher dispersion contributions of platinum over the palladium and nickel complexes. It was also shown that strength of interactions considerably rises with an increase of the stacking overlap area. As a consequence of the favorable electrostatic term, the strength of interactions also rises when metal atom and cyano ligands are involved in the overlap with bipy ligand. The strongest interaction was calculated in the platinum complex, for the geometry that has overlap of metal and cyano ligands with bipy ligand with an energy of -39.80 kcal mol^-1. The energies for similar geometries of palladium and nickel complexes are -34.60 and -32.45 kcal mol^-1. These energies, remarkably, exceed the strength of the stacking interactions between organic aromatic molecules. These results can be of importance in all systems with stacking interactions, from materials to biomolecules.     

Metallic carbonyl complexes containing heterocycles nitrogen ligands: Part VI. Re(I), Mn(I), Mo(0), and W(0) compounds with 4′-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of new transition metal complexes containing the heterocyclic nitrogen ligand 4′-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine are reported. Complexes of the [XM(CO)₃(L)] type (M=Re(I), Mn(I), Mo(0), or W(0); X=Br or CO; and L=4′-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) were prepared by photosubstitution or by thermolytic reactions. Aspects of the IR, UV–Vis, proton NMR spectra and electrochemistry of the complexes are discussed. Special attention is given to the fact that the heterocyclic nitrogen ligand ph-tpy acts as a bidentate or terdentate chelate in complexes of this type and shows the fluxionality in the coordination. Correlations between redox potentials and spectroscopic measurements indicate the various interactions of the ligand and the metal center, and allow the evaluation of the metal–ligand back-donation.