Metal ion size and coordination mode in complexes of a β-diketiminate ligand with pendant quinoline arms

A suite of late first row transition metal complexes has been synthesized using a monoanionic nitrogen donor β-diketiminate ligand with quinolyl pendant arms, BDI^QQH (1). BDI^QQNiOTf (2), BDI^QQCuCl (4), BDI^QQZnCl (5) were prepared from the reaction of 1 with Ni(OTf)₂, CuCl₂·2H₂O and ZnCl₂, respectively. BDI^QQNiCl (3) was synthesized from an anion exchange of 2 with ⁿBu₄NCl. Reaction of 1 and CoI₂ afforded the unexpected [(BDI^QQ)₂Co]⁺I⁻ (6). Through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, ligand geometries in BDI^QQ complexes were investigated and it was found that smaller ionic radius and higher charge destabilize 1:1 metal-ligand complexes relative to alternative 1:2 complexes like 6 owing to significant conformational strain in 1:1 complexes involving metals with small ionic radii. Synthesis and characterization of these complexes, including crystal structures of 4 and 5, are reported, in addition to the results of DFT calculations.     

Structural diversity of neutral bis-(β-iminoaldehyde) complexes of nickel(II)

Series of Ni^II and Cu^II complexes with dianionic [N₂O₂] ligands were synthesized and characterised applying spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction techniques. The ligands were obtained by 1:2 condensation of ethylene- and propylenediamine with malonic aldehyde derivatives (R² = H, R¹ = H or OCH₃). Although the molecular formulae of the complexes are quite similar, the X-ray investigations have proved a significant structural diversity in the solid state. Among others, we found some simple nearly planar molecules stacked in the crystal lattice with electron density of six-membered rings delocalised over the chelate rings as well as some very complex polymeric or nickel acetate bridged trinuclear complexes. The coordination of the nickel ion by surrounding oxygen and nitrogen atoms is square-planar in the simplest case and octahedral in the most complex one. Small topological differences in similar molecules generate completely different crystal structures.From magnetic studies, a small, negative value of J obtained confirms the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the Ni^II ions in polymeric chain of the propylenediamine dialdehyde substituted derivative.     

Synthesis of mixed sphere β-diketonate nickel(II) complexes

Complexes of the type [Ni(β-diketonate)(L L)_1,2] (LL = diphosphine, (2), en or dipy, (3)) have been synthesized from [Ni(β-diketonate)₂] (1) and the free ligand under stoichiometric conditions in ethanol. Complexes 2 are square-planar species, while compounds 3 are hexacoordinate complexes, all being quite stable toward ligand disproportionation. The ligand-set {P₂O₂^-} appears to be particularly stable in the nickel(II) coordination sphere and turns out to exert a fairly strong average ligand field.     

Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of tetranuclear and trinuclear nickel(II) complexes with β-diketone-functionalized pyridinecarboxylate ligand

The new β-diketone-functionalized pyridinecarboxylate ligand 2-(3-oxo-3-phenyl-propionyl)-6-pyridinecarboxylic acid (H₂L) has been synthesized and fully characterized. Its tetranuclear and trinuclear nickel(II) coordination compounds [Ni₄L₄(DMF)(H₂O)₃]·2.5DMF·3H₂O (1) and [Ni₃L₂(OAc)₂(DMF)₂ (H₂O)₂]·DMF·H₂O (2) have also been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 has a [2 × 2] molecular grid structure and 2 is a trinuclear structure. The magnetic properties study of 1 and 2 revealed the intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between the Ni(II) ions exists.     

A DFT overview of high-valent iron, cobalt and nickel tetraamidomacrocyclic ligand (TAML) complexes: the end of innocence?

Amidato-N ligands are normally viewed as classic, strongly sigma-donating, innocent ligands. However, when coordinated to high-valent transition metal centers, tetraamidomacrocyclic ligands are often substantially non-innocent, i.e., exhibit radical character involving the amido pi-systems. Even the so-called MAC* ligand, generally considered to be an innocent ligand, is non-innocent in several of its known complexes.     

Anion controlled structural variation of silver(I) coordination polymers with a new donor-π-acceptor ligand

A new ligand with D-π-A symmetry has been synthesized in high yield by Knoevenagel condensation of 4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde with malononitrile. The ligand forms coordination polymers with Ag(I) salts at room temperature where the ultimate structure is dependent upon the counter anion. With AgNO₃, a 2D tubular structure is formed where the nitrate anions bridge two Ag(I) centers. When AgBF₄ is used, a 1D grid structure results but with AgOTf, a 1D zigzag structure is formed. Thus, anions control the structure of the coordination polymers formed. Each coordination polymer affords high TPA activity that can be correlated with the structure of the polymer.     

Organogold(I) complexes of a C2-symmetric diacetylide ligand derived from 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol

Alkynylgold(I) complexes incorporating a chiral binaphthyl group have been prepared. Bis(alkyne) reagents [rac-1,1′-C₂₀H₁₂-2,2′-(OCH₂CCH)₂] (1) and [rac-1,1′-C₂₀H₁₂-2,2′-(OC(O)CH₂CCH)₂] (2), react with [AuCl(SMe₂)] and base to give insoluble oligomeric alkynylgold(I) complexes [rac-1,1′-C₂₀H₁₂-2,2′-(OCH₂CCAu)₂]_n (3) and [rac-1,1′-C₂₀H₁₂-2,2′-(OC(O)CH₂CCAu)₂]_n (4), which react with phosphine or diphosphine ligands to give soluble complexes [rac-1,1′-C₂₀H₁₂-2,2′-(OCH₂CCAuPR₃)₂] (5), R = Ph or Cy, [rac-1,1′-C₂₀H₁₂-2,2′-(OCH₂CCAu)₂(Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂)] (6), or [rac-1,1′-C₂₀H₁₂-2,2′-(OC(O)CH₂CCAu)₂(Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂)] (7), with n = 3–5. Several of the complexes 6 and 7 are shown to exist as mixtures of isomeric forms in solution.     

Oxoiron(IV) complexes of the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligand family: effect of pyridine α-substituents

The oxoiron(IV) complexes of two 6-substituted tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligand derivatives have been generated and characterized with respect to their spectroscopic and reactivity properties. The introduction of an α-substituent maintains the low-spin nature of the oxoiron(IV) unit but weakens the ligand field, as evidenced by red shifts in its characteristic near-IR chromophore. While its hydrogen-atom abstraction ability is only slightly affected, the oxo-transfer reactivity of the oxoiron(IV) center is significantly enhanced relative to that of the parent complex. These results demonstrate that the ligand environment plays a key role in modulating the reactivity of this important biological oxidant. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Reactions of metal complexes with carbohydrates: Synthesis and characterization of novel nickel(II) complexes containing glycosylamines derived from a monosaccharide and a diamine. An X-ray crystallographic study of (ethylenediamine) {N-(2-aminoethyl)-d-fructopyranosylamine} nickel(II) · Cl2 · CH3OH

Tris(ethylenediamine)- or tris(trimethylenediamine)-nickel(II) salts react with d-glucose, d-mannose, or d-fructose to give novel, octahedral, nickel(II) complexes containing glycosylamine(s) derived from the reaction of the monosaccharide with the diamine. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, and electronic absorption, infrared, and circular dichroism spectra. The complexes from aldoses contain two sugar entities, and those from a ketose have one sugar unit. The X-ray crystal structure was determined of one of the products, in which N-(2-aminoethyl)-d-fructopyranosylamine and ethylenediamine are coordinated to a nickel ion. Crystal data for the compound: a = 12.348(5) Å, b = 18.478(8) Å, c = 8.464(4) Å, Z = 4, space group P2₁2₁2₁, 2348 unique observed reflections [Fo > 3σ(Fo)] used in the structure analysis, R = 0.068, Rw = 0.053. The sugar is coordinated to the nickel ion at three points, through the 1- and 3-hydroxyl groups and the nitrogen atom on C-2.     

The hydrolysis of α-amino-acid esters in mixed ligand complexes with copper(II)-iminodiacetate

α-Amino-acid esters (EH⁺) interact with [Cu(IMDA)]° to give mixed ligand complexes according to the equilibrium,

where EH⁺ represents the protonated ester ⁺NH₃CH(R)CO₂R′ and IMDA^2? is HN(CH₂CO_2^?)₂. The mixed ligand complexes are only formed over a rather narrow pH range (ca. pH 5.8–6.5). At higher pH there is kinetic evidence for the competing equilibrium,

Rate constants k_OH have been obtained by pH-stat for the hydrolyses [where A^? = NH₂CH(R)CO_2^?]

The complexed α-amino-acid esters undergo base hydrolysis ca. 10⁴ times faster than the free esters E. Values of k_OH show little dependence on the nature of the alkyl substituent R but the normal leaving group effect of methyl esters hydrolyzing at ca. twice the rate of ethyl esters is observed. Activation parameters have been determined for base hydrolysis of [Cu(IMDA)(glyOMe)]°, and possible mechanisms for the reaction are considered.     

Ethylene dimerization catalyzed by mixed phosphine–iminophosphorane nickel(II) complexes: a DFT investigation

A computational study utilizing density functional theory (DFT) was performed to analyze the mechanism of ethylene dimerization catalyzed by (P,N) nickel(II) complexes, where (P,N) is a mixed phosphine–iminophosphorane ligand. Two plausible reaction pathways were considered, namely the Cossee and metallacycle pathways, for three model systems. The fundamental role of ligand assymetry and the importance of steric and trans effects were elucidated. In order to discriminate between both mechanisms, the activation of the precatalyst by trimethylaluminum was modeled. The results obtained allow the establishment of useful guidelines for creating new specifically tailored nickel-based catalysts for controlled dimerization.     

Mesogenic and magnetic properties of nickel(II) complexes formed from 2′-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)malondialdehydes

The synthesis, characterization, thermal behavior and magnetic properties of a number of bis[2-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)malondialdehyde] nickel(II) complexes are reported. X-ray studies of the nickel(II) complexes were performed. It was found that the nickel(II) complexes show liquid-crystalline smectic A phases over a broad temperature range with low melting points. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements of the bis[2-(4-decyloxyphenyl)malondialdehyde] nickel(II) complex were carried out in the range of 4.2–480 K. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibilities and magnetic moments of this compound (_eff=3.27 _B at 300 K) indicate that the nickel centers are octahedrally coordinated. Models for the molecular arrangement in the crystalline and liquid-crystalline phases are discussed on the basis of the magnetic data. In spite of the oxygen bridge between the nickel centers, no exchange interactions were found in the crystalline and liquid-crystalline phases.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes possessing the η-p-cymene ligand

Complexes possessing a soft donor η⁶-arene and hard donor acetylacetonate ligand, [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ²-O,O-acac-μ-CH)]₂[OTf]₂ (1) (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate; acac = acetylacetonate) and {Ar′ = 3,5-(CF₃)-C₆H₃}, were prepared and fully characterized. The lability of the μ-CH linkage for complex 1 and the THF ligand of 2 allow access to the unsaturated cation [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ²-O,O-acac)]⁺. The reaction of with KTp {Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate} produces . The azide complex forms upon reaction of with N₃Ar (Ar = p-tolyl), and reaction of with CHCl₃ at 100 °C yields the chloride-bridged binuclear complex . The details of solid-state structures of [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(κ²-O,O-acac-μ-CH)]₂[OTf]₂ (1), and are disclosed.     

Validation of a new restraint docking method for solution structure determinations of protein–ligand complexes

A new method is proposed for docking ligands into proteins in cases where an NMR-determined solution structure of a related complex is available. The method uses a set of experimentally determined values for protein–ligand, ligand–ligand, and protein–protein restraints for residues in or near to the binding site, combined with a set of protein–protein restraints involving all the other residues which is taken from the list of restraints previously used to generate the reference structure of a related complex. This approach differs from ordinary docking methods where the calculation uses fixed atomic coordinates from the reference structure rather than the restraints used to determine the reference structure. The binding site residues influenced by replacing the reference ligand by the new ligand were determined by monitoring differences in ¹H chemical shifts. The method has been validated by showing the excellent agreement between structures of L. casei dihydrofolate reductase.trimetrexate calculated by conventional methods using a full experimentally determined set of restraints and those using this new restraint docking method based on an L. casei dihydrofolate reductase.methotrexate reference structure.     

Can a hydroxide ligand trigger a change in the coordination number of magnesium ions in biological systems?

Density functional (B3LYP) calculations indicate that a hydroxide ligand is capable of triggering a reduction in the coordination number of Mg(2+) ions from 6 to 5. Since this could be quite relevant in the mode of action of magnesium-containing enzymes (especially hydrolases in which a metal-bound hydroxide species is believed to play a crucial role), we have performed a systematic deprotonation study of biologically relevant magnesium complexes. We explicitly calculated the preferred coordination number of [MgL(1)(x)L(2)(y)L(3)(z)](2)(-)(n) species at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. L(1), L(2), and L(3) represent combinations of water, hydroxide, carboxylate (models Glu and Asp), ammonia ligands (models Lys and His residues), and fluoride ions. As expected, Mg(2+) exclusively prefers an octahedral coordination geometry with H(2)O, HCO(2)(-), or NH(3). Surprisingly, one hydroxide ligand triggers a change to a trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The isoelectronic fluoride ion behaves similarly. When two OH(-) are present, a tetrahedral coordination geometry is preferred. We postulate that a hydroxide (in addition to its role as an active nucleophile) could be employed by magnesium-containing enzymes to trigger a differential coordination behavior.     

Development of a novel PPARγ ligand screening system using pinpoint fluorescence-probed protein

The activation of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), which plays a central role in adipocyte differentiation, depends on ligand-dependent co-activator recruitment. In this study, we developed a novel method of PPARγ ligand screening by measuring the increase in fluorescent polarization accompanied by the interaction of a fluorescent co-activator and PPARγ. Sterol receptor co-activator-1 (SRC-1), a major PPARγ co-activator, was probed by fluorescent TAMRA by the Amber codon fluorescence probe method. Polarization was increased by adding PPARγ ligands to a solution containing labeled SRC-1 (designated TAMRA-SRC-S) and PPARγ. The disassociation constants (Kd) of the PPARγ synthesized ligands, pioglitazone (221 nM), troglitazone (83.0 nM), and 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-ΔPGJ(2)) (156 nM), were determined by this method. Farnesol (2.89 μM) and bixin (21.1 μM), which we have reported to be PPARγ ligands, increased the fluorescent polarization. Their Kd values were in agreement with the ED(50) values obtained in the luciferase assay. The results indicate that the method is valuable for screening natural PPARγ ligands.     

Synthesis and exploratory coordination chemistry of the new ditertiary carbinamine ligand 2,6-bis(α-aminoisopropyl)pyridine

The new pyridine-based N∩N∩N tridentate ligand 2,6-C₅H₃N(CMe₂NH₂)₂ (1) was synthesized by the treatment of 2,6-pyridinedicarbonitrile with an excess of the organocerium reagent in situ generated from CeCl₃ and methyllithium in THF. The reaction of 1 with [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃] in THF at ambient conditions afforded (OC-6-23)-[RuCl{2,6-C₅H₃N(CMe₂NH₂)₂}(PPh₃)₂]Cl (2). The corresponding dimethyl sulfoxide complex [RuCl{2,6-C₅H₃N(CMe₂NH₂)₂}{S(O)Me₂}₂]Cl (3) was isolated as a mixture of the (OC-6-23) and (OC-6-32) stereoisomers 3a and 3b from the reaction between 1 and (OC-6-22)-[RuCl₂{S(O)Me₂}₃(OSMe₂)] in toluene at 80 °C. A prolonged interaction in toluene at reflux temperature gave isomerically pure 3a. The metal trichloride hydrates MCl₃ · xH₂O (M = Ru, Rh, Ir; x ≅ 2-4) produced mer-[RuCl₃{2,6-C₅H₃N(CMe₂NH₂)₂}] (M = Ru: 4; Rh: 5; Ir: 6), when combined with 1 in refluxing ethanol. The crystal structures of the following compounds were determined: ligand 1 and complexes 2-5 as addition compounds 2 · CH₂Cl₂, 3a · C₇H₈, 4 · EtOH and .     

Phosphodiesterolytic activity of samarium(III) mixed ligand complexes containing crown ethers and α-amino acids

Phosphodiesterolytic activity of samarium complexes containing crown ethers and amino acids was systematically studied. Formation constants of mixed ligand Sm–crown ethers–amino acids complexes (crown ethers = 18-crown-6, 15-crown-5 and 12-crown-4 and amino acids = Gly and Arg) were determined at 37.0 °C and 0.50 M NMe₄Cl. Kinetics of the hydrolysis of BNPP (bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate) mediated by lanthanide(III)-mixed ligands complexes was studied under the same experimental conditions. The rate of BNPP cleavage is sensitive to metal ion concentration, pH, and ligand to metal molar ratio. Hydrolysis follows Michaelis–Menten-type saturation kinetics. High pH values markedly increase the observed activity. Potentiometric titrations results together with kinetic data of all these systems, under identical conditions, allowed us to identify the active species towards hydrolysis. Complexes with phosphodiesterolytic activity are monomeric hydroxylated cationic species. In general, a good phosphodiesterolytic activity is observed for these complexes under similar conditions to the physiological ones.