Synthesis, crystal structure and esterification of a novel iron(III) 18-metallacrown-6 complex

The trianionic heptadentate ligand, (Z)-3-(5′-chlorosalicylhydrazinocarbonyl) propenoic acid, has been synthesized and reacted with FeCl₃·6H₂O, to produce the complex [Fe^III₆(C₁₂H₈N₂O₅Cl)₆(H₂O)₄(CH₃OH)₂]·8H₂O·4CH₃OH. In the self-assembly process the ligand was esterified and transferred into (Z)-methyl 3-(5′-chlorosalicylhydrazinocarbonyl) propenoate. In the crystal structure, the neutral Fe(III) complex contain a 18-membered metallacrown ring consisting of six Fe(III) and six trianionic ligands. The 18-membered metallacrown ring is formed by the succession of six structural moieties of the type [Fe(III)-N-N]. Due to the meridional coordination of the ligands to the Fe³⁺ ions, the ligands enforce the stereochemistry of the Fe³⁺ ions as a propeller configuration with alternating Λ/Δ forms. The metallacrown can be treated with SnCl₂ or Zn powder to obtain purified ester.     

Synthesis, characterization and bioactivity of a novel 18-metallacrown-6: [Mn(pcshz)(CH3OH)]6 · 4CH3OH · 4H2O

The reaction of N-propionyl-5-chlorosalicylhydrazide (H₃pcshz) with Mn(OAc)₂ · 4H₂O in methanol solution gives a novel 18-metallacrown-6 [Mn(pcshz)(CH₃OH)]₆ · 4CH₃OH · 4H₂O (1). The structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray diffraction and it crystallizes in the monoclinic system and space group P2(1)/n. The ring of the metallacrown is consisted of six interlink [Mn-N-N] repeated units through hydrazide N-N group bridging the ring manganese ions. And the ligand enforces the metal ions to form the stereochemistry as a propeller configuration with alternation Λ/Δ form. The largest diameters of the disc-shaped hexanuclear ring are about 8.82 Å at entrance, 9.83 Å at the central of the cavity, respectively. The solution integrity and stability of the metallacrown was studied by electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results show it is soluble and stable in methanol. Antibacterial screening data indicate the forming of the complex weakens dramatically the antibacterial activity of the ligand H₃pcshz except for Eschericha coli.     

Hexanuclear copper(II) complex of a novel poly(pyridine) ligand exhibiting unique long distance ferromagnetic interactions through a nitrato-O,O bridge

A novel hexanuclear copper complex [Cu₆(NO₃)₁₂(opytrizediam)₂(H₂O)][(CH₃)₂CO]_0.5(CH₃CH₂CH₂OH)_0.5 (1) with a NO₃ bridge has been synthesized by reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O with the new potentially octadentate ligand opytrizediam in n-propanol/acetone solution (opytrizediam=N,N^′-{2,4-di[(di-pyridin-2-yl)amine]-1,3,5-triazine} ethylenediamine). A single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis showed the presence of six structurally different copper centres. The coordination spheres of four copper(II) ions are best described as square-pyramidal CuN₂O₃ chromophores while the two other copper(II) ions are in a trigonal-bipyramidal CuN₄O environment. Variable-temperature studies on 1 revealed a unique ferromagnetic coupling of two copper(II) ions bridged by a didentate nitrate anion and separated by a distance of 6.391(6) Å, with J=8.6(1) cm⁻¹.     

Catalytic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol by a manganese(III) 18-azametallacrown-6 compound: Synthesis, crystal structure, fluorescence, magnetic and kinetic investigation

A new macrocyclic hexanuclear manganese(III) 18-azametallacrown-6 compound, [Mn₆(ashz)₆(CH₃OH)₃(H₂O)₃] · 3H₂O · 3DMF (1), has been prepared using a trianionic pentadentate ligand N-acetylsalicylhydrazide (ashz³⁻) and characterised by various techniques such as elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and X-ray diffraction. Six ashz³⁻ ligands connect six metal ions to form the cyclic skeleton based on the M-N-N-M linkage. Due to the meridional coordination of the ligand to the Mn³⁺ ion, the ligand enforces the stereochemistry of the Mn³⁺ ions as a propeller configuration with alternating Δ/Λ forms. The kinetic studies on catecholase activity of 1 for the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) by O₂ were done using UV-Vis absorption spectra method. Compound 1 has been evaluated as a model system for the catechol oxidase enzyme and it is found that the compound shows high catecholase activity. It exhibits the activity with a turnover number of 270 h⁻¹. A kinetic treatment on the basis of the Michaelis-Menten model has been applied. The magnetic susceptibility (300-5 K) study indicates antiferromagnetic exchange interactions with J = −2.6 cm⁻¹ between the adjacent Mn³⁺ ions.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic studies of terephthalato- and fumarato-bridged dinickel(II) complexes with tripodal poly-benzimidazole ligand

Two novel dinuclear nickel(II) complexes [Ni₂(ntb)₂(μ-tp)(H₂O)_1.61(CH₃OH)_0.39](NO₃)₂·5.13CH₃OH·2.25H₂O (1) and [Ni₂(ntb)₂(μ-fum)(H₂O)(CH₃OH)](NO₃)₂·6CH₃OH·H₂O (2) (tp = terephthalate dianion, fum = fumarate dianion, ntb = tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amine) containing tetradentate poly-benzimidazole ligand were synthesized and structurally characterized by IR spectra, UV-Vis, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. The Ni(II) ions in 1 and 2 have distorted octahedral geometry with four nitrogen atoms of ntb, one oxygen atom of water and one oxygen atom supplied by the carboxylate group of the bridged dicarboxylato ligand. Complexes 1 and 2 consist of terephthalato- and fumarato-bridged dinickel(II) centers in bis(monodentate) bonding fashion. The Ni?Ni distances are 11.333 Å for 1 and 8.966 Å for 2. The magnetic susceptibility measurements at variable temperature show that two complexes exhibit weak antiferromagnetic interactions between nickel(II) ions with J values of −0.25 cm⁻¹ and −0.36 cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Structures and properties of octaethylporphinato(phenolate)iron(III) complexes with NH?O hydrogen bonds: modulation of Fe-O bond character by the hydrogen bond

Iron(III) porphinate complexes of phenolate that have NH?O hydrogen bonds on the coordinating oxygen, [Fe^III(OEP){O-2,6-(RCONH)₂C₆H₃}] (R = CF₃ (1), CH₃ (3)) and [Fe^III(OEP)(O-2-RCONHC₆H₄)] (R = CF₃ (2), CH₃ (4)) (OEP = 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H, 23H-porphinato), were synthesized and characterized as models of heme catalase. The presence of NH?O hydrogen bonds was established by their crystal structures and IR shifts of the amide NH band. The crystal structure of 1 shows an extremely elongated Fe-O bond, 1.926(3) Å, compared to 1.887(2) Å in 2 or 1.848(4) Å in [Fe^III(OEP)(OPh)]. The NH?O hydrogen bond decreases an electron donation from oxygen to iron, resulting in a long Fe-O bond and a positive redox potential.     

Octahedral hexanuclear complexes involving light lanthanide ions

Two new hexanuclear complexes involving two of the lightest lanthanide ions have been synthesized and structurally described. Their chemical formula is [Ln₆(μ₆-O)(μ₃-OH)₈(NO₃)₆(H₂O)₁₄] · 2NO₃ · 2H₂O with Ln = Pr or Nd. The structure has been solved for the Pr³⁺-containing compound. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n (no. 14) with a = 12.4163(2) Å, b = 10.51210(10) Å, c = 16.0389(2) Å, β = 95.7810(6)° and Z = 4. The chemical and thermal stabilities of both the compounds have been studied. These studies reveal that they can be used as molecular chemical precursors for further materials synthesis. To the best of our knowledge, this praseodymium-containing hexanuclear complex is the first ever reported.     

A hexanuclear iron(III) complex [Fe6O2(OH)2(PhCOO)10(hedmp)2]·3CH3CN assembled from 2-hydroxyethyl-3,5-dimethyl pyrazole

In order to assemble polynuclear iron(III) complexes, the coordination chemistry of the 2-hydroxyethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (hedmp-H) ligand has been investigated. Reaction of hedmp-H with trinuclear iron carboxylate precursor [Fe₃O(PhCOO)₆(H₂O)₃]Cl in acetonitrile yielded the hexanuclear Fe(III) complex [Fe₆O₂(OH)₂(PhCOO)₁₀(hedmp)₂]·3CH₃CN (1). This aggregate has been characterized by employing various analytical techniques, spectroscopic studies and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Detailed magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that 1 displays an S_T = 5 ground state.     

The structures and magnetism of trinuclear Ni(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) complexes derived from unsymmetrical compartmental ligands

Trinuclear Ni(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) complexes have been prepared from the asymmetric compartmental proligands 2-alkyliminomethyl-4-methyl-6-{[methyl-(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethyl)-amino]-methyl}-phenol(alkyl=ethyl, n-propyl and n-butyl) and 2-[(2-methoxy-ethylimino)-methyl]-4-methyl-6-{[methyl-(2-pyridin-2-yl-ethyl)-amino]-methyl}-phenol, which provide adjacent tridentate N₂O and bidentate NO donor sets. The crystal structures of [Ni₃(L⁶)₂(OAc)₂(NCS)₂] · CH₃OH · H₂O, [Co₃(L⁴)₂(OAc)₂(NCS)₂], and [Mn₃(L⁷)₂(OAc)₂(NCS)₂] · CH₃OH · H₂O were determined and show that the metals provide an isosceles triangle with M¹-M²=M¹-M³ ≈ 3.2 Å and M²-M³ ≈ 5.0 Å. The cryomagnetic properties of the complexes have been studied and indicate a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the adjacent, M¹M² and M¹M³ ions with little magnetic interaction between the terminal M²M³ ions.     

Synthesis, characterization, X-ray molecular structure and catalase-like activity of a non-heme iron complex: Dichloro[N-propanoate-N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]iron(III)

In this work we present the synthesis and characterization of the complex dichloro[N-propanoate-N,N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]iron(III) [Fe^III(PBMPA)Cl₂]. The ligand LiPBMPA was synthesized through the Michael reaction of BMPA with methylacrylate, followed by alkaline hydrolysis. The complex [Fe^III(PBMPA)Cl₂] has been synthesized by the reaction of the ligand with FeCl₃ · H₂O and was mainly characterized by cyclic voltammetry, conductivimetry, and electronic, infrared and Mössbauer spectroscopies, and by X-ray structural analysis, which showed an iron center coordinated by one carboxylate oxygen in a monodentate way, one tertiary amine, two pyridine groups and two chloride ions. It has been proposed that in water the chloride ligands are shifted by the solvent molecules and the species [Fe^III(PBMPA)(H₂O)₂]Cl₂ is predominant. The catalase-like activity of the complex was tested in water, and it proved to be active in the hydrogen peroxide dismutation. Kinetics studies were conducted following the initial rates method. The reaction is first order in relation to both the complex and the hydrogen peroxide. Based on the presence of a lag phase that depends on the initial complex concentration, we propose that the active species that shows in situ catalase-like activity, is a binuclear complex.     

Cyclic and acyclic compartmental Schiff bases, their reduced analogues and related mononuclear and heterodinuclear complexes

[1+1] macrocyclic and [1+2] macroacyclic compartmental ligands (H₂L), containing one N₂O₂, N₃O₂, N₂O₃, N₄O₂ or O₂N₂O₂ Schiff base site and one O₂O_n (n=3, 4) crown-ether like site, have been prepared by self-condensation of the appropriate formyl- and amine precursors. The template procedure in the presence of sodium ion afforded Na₂(L) or Na(HL) · nH₂O. When reacted with the appropriate transition metal acetate hydrate, H₂L form M(L) · nH₂O, M(HL)(CH₃COO) · nH₂O, M(H₂L)(X)₂ · nH₂O (M=Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺; X=CH₃COO⁻, Cl⁻) or Mn(L)(CH₃COO) · nH₂O according to the experimental conditions used. The same complexes have been prepared by condensation of the appropriate precursors in the presence of the desired metal ion. The Schiff bases H₂L have been reduced by NaBH₄ to the related polyamine derivatives H₂R, which form, when reacted with the appropriate metal ions, M(H₂R)(X)₂ (M= Co²⁺, Ni²⁺; X=CH₃COO⁻, Cl⁻), Cu(R) · nH₂O and Mn(R)(CH₃COO) · nH₂O. The prepared ligands and related complexes have been characterized by IR, NMR and mass spectrometry. The [1+1] cyclic nature of the macrocyclic polyamine systems and the site occupancy of sodium ion have been ascertained, at least for the sodium (I) complex with the macrocyclic ligand containing one N₃O₂ Schiff base and one O₂O₃ crown-ether like coordination chamber, by an X-ray structural determination. In this complex the asymmetric unit consists of one cyclic molecule of the ligand coordinated to a sodium ion by the five oxygen atoms of the ligand. The coordination geometry of the sodium ion can be described as a pentagonal pyramid with the metal ion occupying the vertex. In the mononuclear complexes with H₂L or H₂R the transition metal ion invariantly occupies the Schiff base site; the sodium ion, on the contrary, prefers the crown-ether like site. Accordingly, the heterodinuclear complexes [MNa(L)(CH₃COO)_x] (M=Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni², x=1; M=Mn³⁺, x=2) have been synthesised by reacting the appropriate formyl and amine precursors in the presence of M(CH₃COO)_n · nH₂O and NaOH in a 1:1:1:2 molar ratio. The reaction of the mononuclear transition metal complexes with Na(CH₃COO) · nH₂O gives rise to the same heterodinuclear complexes. Similarly [MNa(R)(CH₃COO)_x] have been prepared by reaction of the appropriate polyamine ligand H₂R with the desired metal acetate hydrate and NaOH in 1:1:2 molar ratio.     

Making 3d-4f hexanuclear clusters from heterotrinuclear cationic building blocks

The syntheses and crystal structures of two new hexanuclear complexes are reported: [{(LCu^II(ONO₂))(LCu^II(H₂O))Nd^III}₂(μ-C₂O₄)](NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O (1) and [{(LNi^II(H₂O))(N(CN)₂)}₂Pr^III}₂(ONO₂)](OH) · 2H₂O · 3CH₃CN (2) (L is the dianion of the Schiff-base resulted from the 2:1 condensation of 3-methoxysalyciladehyde with 1,3-propanediamine). Compounds 1 and 2 were obtained by connecting heterotrinuclear cationic complexes [{LM^II}₂Ln^III]³⁺ with oxalato or nitrato linkers. The structure of the complex cation in 1 shows two almost linear trinuclear [Cu₂Nd] moieties which are linked by a bis-chelating oxalato bridge between the neodymium ions. The hexanuclear cationic moiety in 2 is built up of two heterotrinuclear [Ni₂Pr] units that are linked by a nitrato group bridging two praseodymium(III) ions. The spectroscopic (FTIR, UV-Vis) and magnetic properties of 1 and 2 have been investigated.     

Mono and bimetallic Co Schiff base complexes: Coordination induced ligand imidazolidine ring cleavage and stabilization

2-(2′-Hydroxyphenyl) imidazoline ring grafted dinucleating diimine-diamine-tris-phenol ligand (H₃aeas) has been obtained from a two-step reaction of 2-hydroxy acetophenone, N,N′-bis-(2-aminoethyl)ethylenediamine and 2-hydroxy benzaldehyde. Reaction of the ligand with Co(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O and NEt₃ in MeOH-DCM solvent mixture yielded the monometallic complex [Co(aea)]ClO₄·H₂O (1) of imidazolidine ring hydrolyzed hexadentate proligand H₂aea. Any solvent derived MeO⁻ bridged Co₂ complex could not be obtained due to facile cobalt coordination assisted hydrolytic cleavage of substituted imidazolidine ring. When the reaction is carried out with Co(NO₃)₂·4H₂O and CoCl₂·6H₂O in presence of NH₄NCS and NaN₃ in MeOH-DCM and MeOH under aerobic conditions, preassembly of bimetallic [Co₂(μ-OMe)]⁵⁺ and [Co₂(μ-N₃)]⁵⁺ cores takes place on the solvent derived methoxido and azido clips through non-hydrolytic pathways in [(SCN)₂Co₂(μ-OMe)(μ-aeas)]·DMF (2), and cocrystals of [(N₃)₂Co₂(μ-OMe)(μ-aeas)] (3a) and [(N₃)₂Co₂(μ-N₃)(μ-aeas)] (3b), respectively.     

New κ-PNN′- and κ-PNN′O-polydentate ligands: Synthesis, coordination and structural studies

The three-step synthesis of new mixed P/N/N′/O-donor ligands C₆H₃(OH){2-NHC(O)CH₂NCHC₆H₄PPh₂}(4-CH₃) 3a·HH and C₆H₄(OH){3-NHC(O)CH₂NCHC₆H₄PPh₂} 3b·HH, by Schiff base condensation of the 1° amines C₆H₃(OH){2-NHC(O)CH₂NH₂}(4-CH₃) 2a or C₆H₄(OH){3-NHC(O)CH₂NH₂} 2b with C₆H₄(CHO)(2-PPh₂) in refluxing EtOH, is described. Reaction of 1 equiv. of 3a·HH or 3b·HH with MCl₂(cod) (M = Pt, Pd; cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) affords the κ²-PN-chelate complexes MCl₂(3a·HH) (M = Pd 4a; M = Pt 4b) and MCl₂(3b·HH) (M = Pt 4c). The dichlorometal(II) complexes 4d and 4e, bearing instead a pendant 4-phenolic group, were similarly prepared (in >90% yield). Chloro-bridge cleavage of [Pd(μ-Cl)(η³-C₃H₅)]₂ with 3a·HH or 3b·HH gave the monocationic κ²-PN-chelate complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)(3a·HH)]Cl 5a or [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)(3b·HH)]Cl 5b, respectively. Elimination of cod, and single CH₃ protonation, from Pt(CH₃)₂(cod) upon reaction with 1 equiv. of 3a·HH or 3b·HH in C₇H₈ at room temperature afforded the neutral complexes C₆H₃(OH){2-NC(O)CH₂NCHC₆H₄PPh₂Pt(CH₃)}(4-CH₃) 6a and C₆H₄(OH){3-NC(O)CH₂NCHC₆H₄PPh₂Pt(CH₃)} 6b, respectively bearing a monoanionic (3a·H⁻ or 3b·H⁻) κ³-PNN′-tridentate ligand. Amide and phenol deprotonation were readily achieved, using KO^tBu as base, to give high yields of the κ⁴-PNN′O-tetradentate complexes C₆H₃(O){2-NC(O)CH₂NCHC₆H₄PPh₂Pd}(4-CH₃) 7a and C₆H₃(O){2-NC(O)CH₂NCHC₆H₄PPh₂Pt}(4-CH₃) 7b bearing the dianionic ligand 3a²⁻. All new compounds have been characterised by multinuclear NMR, FTIR, mass spectroscopy and microanalysis. Single crystal X-ray studies have been performed on compounds 1b·1.5CH₂Cl₂, 3b·HH·0.5Et₂O, 6b·CHCl₃ and 7b·0.5Et₂O.     

Dinuclear iron, ruthenium and cobalt complexes containing 1,4-dimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane ligands as well as carboxylato and oxo or hydroxo bridges

The reaction of 1,4-dimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L-Me₂) with FeSO₄ · 7H₂O in aqueous ethanol gives, in the presence of sodium carboxylates, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide and KPF₆, the dinuclear Fe(III)-Fe(III) complex cations [(L-Me₂)₂Fe₂(O)(OOCR)₂]²⁺ (R = H: 1, R = CH₃: 2, R = C₆H₅: 3), which crystallise as the hexafluorophosphate salts. The corresponding reaction with RuCl₃ · nH₂O does not work, however, the analogous Ru(III)-Ru(III) complex [(L-Me₂)₂Ru₂(O)(OOCCH₃)₂]²⁺ (5) can be synthesised by reacting Ru(dmso)₄Cl₂ with L-Me₂, HCl and air in refluxing ethanol, followed by addition of sodium acetate, the mononuclear intermediate (L-Me₂)RuCl₃ · H₂O (4) being also isolated and characterised. The reaction of L-Me₂, sodium acetate, hydrogen peroxide and triethylamine with CoCl₂ · 6H₂O in acetonitrile yields, however, the hydroxo-bridged Co(III)-Co(III) complex [(L-Me₂)₂Co₂(OH)(OOCCH₃)₂]³⁺ (6). The molecular structures of 2, 5 and 6, solved by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses of the hexafluorophosphate salts, reveal for the orange crystals of [2][PF₆]₂ a Fe-Fe distance of 3.104(1) Å, for the purple crystals of [5][PF₆]₂ a Ru-Ru distance of 3.230(1) Å, and for the violet crystals of [6][PF₆]₃ · (CH₃)₂CO a Co-Co distance of 3.358(1) Å. All six complexes show catalytic activity for the oxidation of isopropanol with hydrogen peroxide in water to give acetone in the presence of ascorbic acid as co-catalyst.     

Synthesis, structures and properties of dinuclear cadmium(II) complexes based on polybenzimidazole binucleating ligands

Three novel cadmium(II) complexes [Cd₂(tbpo)(O₂CC₆H₄-p-NO₂)₂]ClO₄·3CH₃OH (1) [Cd₂(bbap)(O₂CC₆H₄-p-NO₂)₂]ClO₄·4.5CH₃OH·0.75H₂O (2) and [Cd(ntb)(O₂CC₆H₄-p-NO₂)]ClO₄·4CH₃OH (3) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, ¹H NMR and X-ray crystallography, where tbpo⁻ and bbap⁻ are anions of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-2-hydroxo-1,3-diaminopropane and 2,6-bis[bis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol, respectively; ntb is tris(2-benzimidazolymethyl)amine. Complexes 1 and 2 contain μ-phenolate-bridged and μ-alkoxo-bridged dicadmium(II) cores with the Cd1?Cd2 separation of 3.671 Å for complex 1 and 3.718 Å for 2. One of the 4-nitrobenzoate anions bridged the two cadmium(II) ions in syn-anti mode through its carboxylate group, the other 4-nitrobenzoate is only coordinated with Cd2 in bidentate chelating mode. The two central cadmium(II) atoms are in trigonal bipyramidal and pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. In complex 3, the cadmium(II) atom is coordinated with four nitrogen atoms of ntb and one carboxylate oxygen atom of 4-nitrobenzoate in distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Experiment shows that there is a higher affinity of 4-nitrobenzoate anion as coligand with the dinuclear [Cd₂(tbpo)]³⁺ and [Cd₂(bbap)]³⁺ cores than that with the mononuclear [Cd(ntb)]²⁺ core.     

Iron(III) induced 2-phenyl imidazolidine ring hydrolysis of a new binucleating Schiff base ligand: X-ray structure of the mononuclear Fe(NNO)2 end product

The reaction of triethylenetetramine, salicylaldehyde and benzaldehyde in 1:2:1 mole ratio in methanol at room temperature affords a novel μ-bis(tridentate) ligand H₂L′ through the formation of an imidazolidine ring within the parent hexadentate precursor in a two step reaction. The ligand H₂L′ reacts with Fe(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O in aqueous methanol in the presence of triethylamine to form the mononuclear [Fe^IIIL](ClO₄) complex, (where L²⁻ is the anion of the parent hexadentate H₂saltrien ligand) after the cleavage of the imidazolidine ring. The mononuclear complex has a structure with an N₄O₂ donor atom set of the hexadentate ligand forming a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around the metal atom as established from a crystal structure determination. The Fe-N(imine) distances are 1.934(10) and 1.948(9) Å, Fe-N(amine) distances are 2.062(8) and 2.076(9) Å and Fe-O(phenol) distances are 1.864(8) and 1.872(7) Å. The terminal oxygen donor atoms occupy cis positions and the remaining four nitrogen atoms (two cis amine and two trans imine) complete the coordination sphere. The mononuclear complex has a magnetic moment 1.89 μ_B corresponding to the low-spin 3d⁵ configuration. The UV-Vis spectrum of the end product, after the imidazolidine ring hydrolysis, is different from the spectrum of the initial reaction mixture containing the μ-bis(tridentate) ligand H₂L′.     

The reactivity of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4] towards difunctional chloroacetamide alkylating agents: Formation of cyclized or bridged products

The reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] towards some bis(chloroacetamide) alkylating agents have been investigated. Reaction with one mole equivalent of the hydrazine-derived compound ClCH₂C(O)NHNHC(O)CH₂Cl led to the cyclized product [Pt₂{SCH₂C(O)NHNHC(O)CH₂S}(PPh₃)₄]²⁺ which showed two different PPh₃ environments in the ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectrum, as a result of non-fluxional behavior of the dithiolate ligand in solution. Reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with the ortho and para isomers of the phenylenediamine-derived bis(chloroacetamides) ClCH₂C(O)NHC₆H₄NHC(O)CH₂Cl gave tetrametallic complexes containing two {Pt₂S₂} moieties spanned by the CH₂C(O)NHC₆H₄NHC(O)CH₂ group. Both the ortho and para isomers were crystallographically characterized; in the ortho isomer there is intramolecular CO···H-N and S···H-N hydrogen bonding involving the two amide groups.     

Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of a polymeric copper(II) complex containing the novel ligand 4,4-(1,4-phenylene)bis[3-phenyl-5-(2-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole]

The synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of the complex {[Cu^II(Ph₂PBPT)(bpy)](ClO₄)₂ · 2DMF}_∞ where Ph₂PBPT=4,4^′-(1,4-phenylene)bis[3-phenyl-5-(2-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole], bpy=2,2^′-bipyridine and DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide are reported. In this one-dimensional coordination polymer the Cu²⁺ ions are in a distorted octahedral N₆ coordination environment made up of two Ph₂PBPT molecules, each chelating via one pyridine and one triazole nitrogen, and one bpy co-ligand. Within the zig-zag chain thus formed the shortest distance between two metal centres across the Ph₂PBPT ligand is 13.305(3) Å while it is 10.009(3) Å between two chains. This complex represents the first structurally characterised example of a coordination compound incorporating a chelating 4,4^′-bis(4H-1,2,4-triazole) as a ligand.     

Chemistry and reactivity of dinuclear iron oxamate complexes: alkane oxidation with hydrogen peroxide catalysed by an oxo-bridged diiron(III) complex with amide and carboxylate ligation

A new dinuclear iron(III) complex with the tetradentate ligand N,N^′-o-phenylenebis(oxamate) (opba) has been synthesised, and structurally, magnetically and electrochemically characterised. It possesses an unprecedented triply bridged Fe₂(μ-O)(μ-RCO₂?H₂O?O₂CR)₂ core, whereby two N-amides from the opba ligand complete the square-pyramidal coordination sphere of the O-carboxylate rich iron site (Fe-N=2.053 Å and Fe-O=2.015 Å). The antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the two high-spin Fe^III ions through the oxo bridge (J=−190 cm⁻¹; H=−JS₁·S₂) is weaker than that found in related μ-oxo singly bridged diiron(III) complexes. The lessened antiferromagnetic coupling correlates to the remarkably long Fe-O distance (R=1.808 Å), which is associated to the relatively bent Fe-O-Fe angle (α=131.8°) in the Fe₂O unit. It experiences an irreversible one-electron oxidation process in acetonitrile at 25 °C (E=0.63 V versus SCE) to give the putative mixed-valent diiron(III,IV) species which is unstable under the experimental conditions. The reactivity of this unique oxo-bridged diiron(III) oxamate complex toward hydrogen peroxide activation and hydrocarbon oxidation in the presence of dioxygen has been examined. It catalyses the oxidation of alkanes like cyclohexane and adamantane to the corresponding alcohols and ketones by H₂O₂ and O₂ in acetonitrile at room temperature with limited catalytic activities (total yields of ca. 5% after 24 h) and modest selectivities (A/K=0.9, KIE=2.4, tert/sec=3.0). Overall, these results are more in line with a mechanism involving alkyl radicals as transient intermediates, although they do not exclude the possibility that a metal-based active oxidant is also involved in this C-H bond oxidation chemistry.