Oxidation of copper(II)-coordinated diethylenetriamine by hexacyanoferrate(III) ion. A kinetic investigation

The stoichiometry and kinetics of the reaction between [Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺ and [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ in aqueous alkaline medium are described. The rate equation − (d[Fe(III)]/dt = {k₁[OH⁻]²[[Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺] + k₂[OH⁻] × [[Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺]²}([Fe(III)]/[Fe(II)]) (Fe(III) = [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻; Fe(II) = [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻, the 4:4:1 OH⁻/Fe(III)/[Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺ stoichiometric ratio and the nature of the ultimate products identified in the reaction solution suggest the fast formation of a doubly deprotonated Cu(III)-diamido complex which slowly undergoes an internal redox process where the ligand is oxidised to the Schiff base H₂NCH₂CH₂NCHCHNH.The [[Cu(dien)(OH)]⁺]² term in the rate equation is explained with the formation of a transient μ-hydroxo mixed-valence Cu dimer. A two-electron internal reduction of the Cu(III) complex yielding a Cu(I) intermediate is suggested to account for the presence of monovalent copper in a precipitate which forms at relatively high reactant concentrations and in the absence of dioxygen.     

Equilibria in N-heterocyclic complexes. Part 45. Ligand electron densities in coordinated pyridine

Results of INDO calculations on the species pyridine (py), (pyH)⁺, [py-CH₃]⁺, [Fe(NH₃)_x(py)_6−x]²⁺, [Fe(NH₃)₅(py)]³⁺, [Fe(CN)₅(py)]³⁻, and [Co(CN)₅(py)]²⁻ are presented and discussed, comparing quaternization and coordination.     

Mechanisms for acceleration of halide anation reactions of platinum(IV) complexes. REOA versus ligand assistance and platinum(II) catalysis Without central ion exchange

Chloride anation of trans-Pt(CN)₄ClOH₂⁻ has been studied with and without Pt(CN)₄²⁻ present at 25.0°C by use of stopped-flow and conventional spectrophotometry and a 1.00 M perchlorate medium. The rate law in the absence of Pt(CN)₄²⁻ is Rate=(p₁ + p₂ [H⁺] ) [Cl⁻]² [complex]/(1 + q [Cl₋]) with p₁=(3.0 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁵ M⁻²s⁻¹, p₂=(3.6 ± 0.1) × 10⁻⁵ M⁻³ s⁻¹ and q=(0.62 ± 0.02) M⁻¹. It is compatible with a chloride assistance via an intermediate of the type Cl-Cl-Pt(CN)₄···OH₂²⁻, in which the reactivity of the aqua ligand is enhanced due to a partial reduction of the platinum. This mechanism of halide assistance is in principle the same as the modified reductive elimination oxidative addition (REOA) mechanism proposed by Poë, in which the intermediate is not split into free halogen, platinum(II) and water, and in which electron transfer not necessarily involves complete reduction to platinum(II). To avoid confusion with complete reductive eliminations, reactions without split of the intermediates are here termed halide-assisted reactions. The pH-dependence indicates acid catalysis via a protonated intermediate ClClPt(CN)₄···OH₃⁻.The Pt(CN)₄²⁻accelerated path has the rate law Rate=

[Cl-] [Pt(CN)₄²⁻] [complex] where k=(39.9±0.5) M⁻² s⁻¹ and K_a=(4.0±0.2)10⁻² M is the protolysis constant of trans-Pt(CN)₄ClOH²⁻.Reaction between PtCl₅OH₂⁻ and chloride is accelerated by Pt(CN)₄²⁻ and gives PtCl₆²⁻ as the reaction product. The rate law is Rate=k [Cl⁻] [Pt(CN)₄²⁻] [PtCl₅OH₂⁻] with k=(5.6 ± 0.2)10⁻³ M⁻² s⁻¹ at 35.0°C and for a 1.50 M perchlorate acid medium. The reaction takes place without central ion exchange. Alternative mechanisms with two consecutive central ion exchanges can be excluded. The role of Pt(CN)₄²⁻ in this reaction is very similar to that of the assisting halide in the halide assisted anations. [p ]Reaction between trans-Pt(CN)₄ClOH₂⁻ and PtCl₄²⁻ gives Pt(CN)₄²⁻ and PtCl₅OH₂⁻ as products and has the rate law Rate=k[PtCl₄²⁻] [trans-Pt(CN)₄ClOH₂⁻] with k=(3.32 ± 0.02) M⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 25 °C for a 1.00 M perchloric acid medium. The formation of an aqua complex as the primary reaction product and the rate independent of [Cl⁻] shows that formation of a bridged intermediate of the type Pt(II)Cl₄ClPt(IV)(CN)₄OH₂³⁻ is formed in the initial reaction step, not five-coordinated PtCl₅³⁻.     

Spectroscopic and reactivity comparison of pentacyanonitrosylruthenate(2-) with pentacyanonitrosylferrate(2-), nitroprusside

Lithium penta(cyano-¹³C)nitrosylruthenate (2-), Li₂[Ru(¹³CN)₅NO], in which the anion is the ruthenium analogue of the nitroprusside ion, has been synthesized at 90% isotopic enrichment, and characterized spectroscopically. Despite the very high level of ¹³C enrichment, no two-bond coupling ²J(¹³C_ax-Ru¹³C_eq) was detected in the high-frequency ¹³C NMR spectrum of Li₂[Ru(¹³CN)₅NO], nor was any such coupling observed in Li₄[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁵NO₂)] although both two-bond couplings to ¹⁵N, ²J(¹³C_ax-Ru¹⁵NO₂) and ²J(¹³C_eqRu¹⁵N) were observed. Li₂[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁴NO)] reacted with excess of Li[¹⁵NO₂] to yield Li₄[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁵NO₂)] only: no Li₂[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁵NO)] was observed. Li₄[Ru(¹³CN)₅(¹⁴NO₂)] however showed no exchange with Li[¹⁵NO₂]. While [Ru(CN)₅NO]²⁻ reacted with both OH⁻ and SH⁻ in reactions similar to those of [Fe(CN)₅NO]²⁻, no reactions were detected between [Ru(CN)₅NO]²⁻ and piperidine, [CH(CN)₂]⁻, [CH(COCH₃)₂]⁻, MeS⁻, or [S₂O₄]²⁻, all of which are known to react readily with [Fe(CN)₅NO]²⁻     

Structural isomerism involving an ambidentate ligand: the synthesis and characterization of diselenocyanato [bis(diphenylphosphino)methane] palladium(II) and cyano(selenocyanato) [diphenyl(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phosphine selenide] palladium(II)

The reaction, at 25 °C in methanol, between [Pd(SeCN)₄]²⁻ and bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dpm) has been found to produce cyano(selenocyanato) [diphenyl(diphenylphosphinomethyl) phosphine selenide]palladium(II), [Pd(dpmSe)(CN)(SeCN)], wherein the cyanide group is trans to an Se atom which has been inserted into one PdP bond, and the selenocyanate group is trans to the unchanged diphenylphosphino group. The structure has been confirmed by the results of a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The structural isomer, [Pd(dpm)- (SeCN)₂], of the foregoing complex has also been prepared by the reaction of Pd(C₂H₃O₂)₂ with dpm, followed by reaction with KSeCN. Heating the [Pd(dpm)(SeCN)₂] isomer converts it into [Pd- (dpmSe)(CN)(SeCN)]. A mechanism is proposed for the isomerization which involves an intramolecular selenium atom insertion.     

The oxidation of glutathione by nitroprusside: Changes in glutathione in intact erythrocytes during incubation with sodium nitroprusside as detected by 1H spin echo NMR spectroscopy

Spin echo ¹H NMR spectroscopy showed that when the hypotensive agent sodium nitroprusside, Na₂[Fe(CN)₅NO]·2H₂O, was incubated with intact erythrocytes in ²H₂O saline, glutathione in the erythrocytes was oxidised to diglutathione. This was confirmed by ¹H FT NMR for the in vitro reaction. ¹³C FT NMR showed that the stoichiometry of the glutathione nitroprusside reaction was 1:1; the inorganic products were nitric oxide and hexacyanoferrate(II), [Fe(CN)₆]⁻. At no stage was free cyanide liberated. The reaction of nitroprusside with glutathione, which occurs after the nitroprusside has crossed the erythrocyte membrane, is compared with the reaction of nitroprusside with haemoglobin. In neither of these reactions with major erythrocyte components was any free cyanide liberated by sodium nitroprusside.     

Preparation and structure of [Ru2(O2CMe)4]2[Fe(CN)5NO] and magnetically ordered Hx[Ru2(O2CMe)4]3−x[Cr(CN)5NO] possessing interpenetrating lattices

Reaction of [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]Cl with K₃[Cr(CN)₅NO] in water forms H_x[Ru^II/III₂(O₂CMe)₄]_3−x-[Cr(CN)₅NO]·zH₂O (x = 0.2) that magnetically orders at 4.0 K and possesses an interpenetrating body centered cubic [a = 13.2509(2) Å] structure with random locations of the bridging nitrosyl ligands, and x/3 vacant cation sites. Similarly, the aqueous reaction of [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]Cl with Na₂[Fe(CN)₅NO] forms paramagnetic [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]₂[Fe(CN)₅NO]·H₂O, which has a similar tetragonal interpenetrating structure [a = 13.0186(1) Å, c = 13.0699(2) Å] where the NO ligands are presumably nonbridging and 1/3 of the expected cation sites are unoccupied. The presence of uncoordinated NO sites in addition to missing neighboring [Ru₂(O₂CMe)₄]⁺ units, results in significant vacancies (or holes) in the lattice.     

Synthesis, magnetic properties and crystal structures of two compounds: [Cu(en)(H2O)]2[Fe(CN)6]·4H2O and [Cu(en)2][KFe(CN)6] (en=ethylenediamine)

Two new heterometallic complexes, [Cu(en)(H₂O)]₂[Fe(CN)₆]·4H₂O (1) and [Cu(en)₂][KFe(CN)₆] (2), have been isolated from the reactions of CuCl₂ and en with K₃[Fe(CN)₆] in different molar ratios. Both complexes have been characterized by X-ray analyses, IR spectra and elemental analyses. Complex 1 is a cyanide bridged bimetallic assembly, its crystal structure consists of a two-dimensional polymeric sheet with two different rings, one a four-membered square ring and another a 12-membered hexagonal ring. The Fe(II) ion of 1 has two terminal, two linear bridging and two 1,1 en-on bridging cyanide groups. In the crystal structure of 2, the neighboring [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ units are bridged by the K⁺ and the [K[Fe(CN)₆]]²⁻ units forming a three-dimensional network structure. The [Cu(en)₂]²⁺ units fill in the holes of the network acting as counter cations and charge compensations. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility studies of 1 indicate that the complex exhibits ferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) ions.     

An improved synthesis, crystal structures, and metallochromism of salts of [Ru(tolyl-terpy)(CN)3]

The previously reported complex [Ru(ttpy)(CN)₃]⁻ [ttpy = 4′(p-tolyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine] is conveniently synthesised by reaction of ttpy with Ru(dmso)₄Cl₂ to give [Ru(ttpy)(dmso)Cl₂], which reacts in turn with KCN in aqueous ethanol to afford [Ru(ttpy)(CN)₃]⁻ which was isolated and crystallographically characterised as both its (PPN)⁺ and K⁺ salts. The K⁺ salt contains clusters containing three complex anions and three K⁺ cations connected by end-on and side-on cyanide ligation to the K⁺ ions. The solution speciation behaviour of [Ru(ttpy)(CN)₃]⁻ was investigated with both Zn²⁺ and K⁺ salts in MeCN, a solvent sufficiently non-competitive to allow the added metal cations to associate with the complex anion via the externally-directed cyanide lone pairs. UV-Vis spectroscopic titration of (PPN)[Ru(ttpy)(CN)₃] with Zn(ClO₄)₂ showed a blue shift of 2900 cm⁻¹ in the ¹MLCT absorption manifold due to the ‘metallochromism’ effect; a series of distinct binding events could be discerned corresponding to formation of 4:1, 1:1 and then 1:3 anion:cation adducts, all with high formation constants, as the titration proceeded. In contrast titration of (PPN)[Ru(ttpy)(CN)₃] with the more weakly Lewis-acidic KPF₆ resulted in a much smaller blue-shift of the ¹MLCT absorptions, and the titration data corresponded to formation of 1:1 and then 2:1 cation:anion adducts with weaker stepwise association constants of the order of 10⁴ and then 10³ M⁻¹. Although association of [Ru(ttpy)(CN)₃]⁻ resulted in a blue-shift of the ¹MLCT absorptions, the luminescence was steadily quenched, as raising the ³MLCT level makes radiationless decay via a low-lying ³MC state possible.     

The growth of a cyanide-utilising strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens in liquid culture on nickel cyanide as a source of nitrogen

Pseudomonas fluorescens strain NCIMB11764 is able to utilise cyanide as a source of nitrogen for growth. When KCN(≡ HCN) is the source of nitrogen it has to be supplied as the limiting nutrient in fed-batch cultures [1]. In this study it has been shown that metal-complexed cyanide, as nickel cyanide (Ni(CN)²⁻₄), can be used as the source of nitrogen when it is added directly to the growth medium in batch cultures. Ni(CN)²⁻₄ could also be used as the source of nitrogen in nitrogen-limited continuous cultures. In both batch and continuous cultures, growth on Ni(CN)²⁻₄ was associated with induction of cyanide oxygenase activity. An assay for cyanide has been developed utilising its binding to nickel.     

Dinuclear complexes with a μ-cyano ligand. Part X. Synthesis and characterization of several derivatives of cis-diaquaamminecobalt(III) complexes. Influence of pH

Six new dinuclear complexes, derived from cis-[Co(H₂O)₂(NH₃)₄]³⁺, cis-[Co(H₂O)₂(en)₂]³⁺ and [M(CN)₄^2? (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) were prepared and characterized by means of chemical analysis, electronic and IR measurements. The influence of the pH on the rate of the reaction was studied for the two derivatives of [Pd(CN)₄]^2?, showing that the best conditions to obtain the dinuclear compounds are at pH near 6, where the predominant species are cis-[Co(OH)(H₂O)(amine)₂]²⁺. The [Pt(CN)₄]^2? derivatives show PtPt interactions both in the solid state and in solution.     

Synthesis,characterization and DNA-binding properties of novel dipyridophenazine complex of ruthenium (II) : [Ru(IP)2(DPPZ)]2+

A novel ruthenium(II) complex of dipyridophenazine (DPPZ) with the ancillary ligand imidazole[4,5-f] [1,10]phenanthroline (IP), [Ru(IP)₂(DPPZ)] (PF₆)₂, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, 1D and 2D ¹H NMR, fast-atom bombardment mass spectra (FABMS), electronic spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The DNA-binding properties of the complex were studied by spectroscopic methods. The intrinsic binding constant, K =2.1 × 10⁷M⁻¹, of the complex to calf thymus DNA has been determined by absorption titration in 5 mmol dm⁻³ Tris-HCl, 50 mmol dm⁻³ NaCl buffer (pH 7.0). The excited state lifetimes and luminescence quenching with [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ as the quencher in the presence of DNA were also tested and mono-exponentiality was observed for the emission decay curves. Viscosity measurements together with the optical titrations unambiguously proved that the complex bound with DNA intercalatively and that the binding affinity to DNA was several times larger than that of the parent complex [Ru(bpy)₂(DPPZ)]²⁺.     

Three Co(III)-Fe(II) complexes based on hexacyanoferrates: Syntheses, spectroscopic and structural characterizations

Red or orange crystals of [Co(NH₃)₆]₂Cl₂[Fe(CN)₆] · 4H₂O (1), [Co(en)₃]₂Cl₂[Fe(CN)₆] · 2H₂O (2) and [Co(en)₃]₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃ · 21.6H₂O (3) were isolated from the aqueous systems Co³⁺-L_N-[Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ (L_N = NH₃, en = 1,2-diaminoethane). In all isolated samples the combination of Mössbauer (δ values were from the range −0.07 to −0.08 mm/s) and IR spectra (ν(CN) stretching vibrations in the range 2015-2047 cm⁻¹) confirms the presence of low spin Fe(II) in [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anions. X-ray structure analyses corroborate the ionic character of all studied compounds. These contain diamagnetic [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ (1) or [Co(en)₃]³⁺ (2 and 3) complex cations and diamagnetic [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ complex anions. In compounds 1 and 2 chloride anions are present, too. All three compounds contain water of crystallization, in compound 3 as many as 21.6 molecules per formula unit.     

Uptake,incorporation and calcium-ionophore-stimulated mobilization of arachidonic,eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids by leucocytes of the rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri

Rainbow trout leucocytes contain high levels of neutral lipid (about 70% of total lipid on a wt% basis) consisting of mostly triacylglycerol, free sterols and sterol esters (25%, 15% and 52% of neutral lipid, respectively). The phospholipids, separated by thin-layer chromatography, consisted predominantly of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, each present at about 30% of the total phospholipid. Radiolabelling of the leucocytes for 1 h with 1 μCi (approx. 6 μM) [1−¹⁴C]20:4(n−6), [1−¹⁴C]20:5(n−3) or [1−¹⁴C]22:6(n−3) each gave similar uptake values (approx. 1 · 10⁵ cpm/10⁷ leucocytes). The incorporation into total phospholipids was highest for 22:6(n−3) and lowest for 20:4(n−6). A higher percentage of radiolabel from [1−¹⁴C]22:6(n − 3) was found incorporated into phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine as compared to that from [1−¹⁴C]20:4(n − 6) and [1−^14C]20:5(n−3), while the reverse situation was found with phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine. The relative rates of incorporation into the different phospholipid classes for all three fatty acids were in the order phosphatidylinositol > sphingomyelin > diphosphatidylglycerol > phosphatidylcholine > phosphatidylethanolamine > phosphatidylserine. Calcium ionophore-challenge did not significantly alter the pattern of phospholipid radiolabel. Ionophore-challenge released large amounts of radiolabel, much of which was recovered after high-performance liquid chromatographic separation as free fatty acid/monohydroxy fatty acids, although only approx. 0.3% was recovered in leukotriene B₄ and leukotriene B₅ for the [1−¹⁴C]20:4(n−6) and [1−¹⁴C]20:5(n−3) labelled leucocytes, respectively. Other lipoxygenase products were also radiolabelled and tentatively identified as 20-carboxy-LTB₄, 20-hydroxy-LTB₄, 6-trans-LTB₄, 6-trans-12-epi-LTB₄, 6-trans-8-cis-12-epi-LTB₄ and the corresponding LTB₅ structures. No ‘6-series’ leukotrienes were produced from [1−¹⁴C]22:6(n−3), nor was there any evidence for the synthesis of ‘5-series’ leukotrienes via retroconversion of 22:6(n−3) to 20:5(n−3). This latter finding shows that, despite the preponderance of 22:6(n−3) in the membranes of trout leucocytes, this fatty acid is not a substrate for leukotriene generation.     

Specific cation effect on quenching reactions of excited tris(α,α′-diimine) ruthenium(II) and chromium(III) complexes by cyanide complexes in aqueous solutions

Specific salt effects were studied on the quenching reaction of excited [Ru(NN)₃]²⁺ (NN=2,2′-bipyridine(bpy), 1,10-phenanthrorine(phen)) and [Cr(bpy)₃]³⁺ by [Cr(CN)₆]³⁻, [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ and [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻ in aqueous solutions as a function of alkali metal ions which were added for adjustment of ionic strength. The quenching rate constants in [Ru(NN)₃]²⁺-[Cr(CN)₆]³⁻ and [Cr(bpy)₃]³⁺-[Cr(CN)₆]³⁻ systems are changed by the cations as Li⁺>Na⁺>K⁺≈Rb⁺≈Cs⁺. On the other hand, the rate constants in [Ru(NN)₃]²⁺-[Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ and [Ru(NN)₃]²⁺-[Ni(CN)₄]²⁻ systems, which are diffusion-controlled reactions, are not varied by the alkali metal cations. The obtained order (Li⁺>Na⁺>K⁺≈Rb⁺≈Cs⁺) of the quenching rate constant is quite different from salt effects, Li⁺<Na⁺<K⁺<Rb⁺<Cs⁺, which have been obtained in the electron transfer reactions between complex anions.     

Determination of nanomolar uric and ascorbic acids using enlarged gold nanoparticles modified electrode

Individual and simultaneous determination of 50 nM uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) using enlarged, citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) self-assembled to 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DMT) monolayer modified Au (Au/DMT) electrode by an amperometric method is described for the first time. Self-assembly of AuNPs on the electrode surface was confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), attenuated total reflectance FT-IR and diffuse reflectance spectral measurements. The electron transfer reaction (ETR) of [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− was blocked at Au/DMT electrode, whereas it was restored with a peak separation of 200 mV after the attachment of AuNPs on the Au/DMT (Au/DMT/AuNPs) electrode, which was confirmed from the ETR of the [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− redox couple. When the self-assembled AuNPs were enlarged by hydroxylamine seeding, the ETR of [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− was improved significantly with a peak separation of 100 mV. Tapping mode AFM showed that the average size of the enlarged-AuNPs (E-AuNPs) was 50-70 nm. The E-AuNPs modified electrode catalyzes the oxidation of AA and UA, separates their voltammetric signals by 200 mV, and has excellent sensitivity towards AA and UA with a detection limit of 50 nM. The practical application of the modified electrode was demonstrated by measuring the concentration of UA in blood serum and urine.     

An exploratory scandium-45 NMR study into the complexation of alanine and oligopeptides

The 87.5 MHz ⁴⁵Sc NMR spectrum of 0.025 M aqueous Sc(NO₃)₃ exhibits two resonance signals, separated by ca. 25 ppm, attributable to [Sc(H₂O)₆]³⁺ and [Sc(H₂O)₅OH]²⁺. Acidification leads to a single, comparatively sharp line (W_1/2 = 160 Hz) for the hexaqua complex, the temperature dependence (temperature gradient = 0.076 ppm/deg) of which indicates that relaxation is dominated by the quadrupole mechanism. Addition of α-alanine gives rise to an additional broad signal at ca. +70 ppm (relative to [Sc(H₂O)₆]³⁺), which is assigned to a carboxylato complex [Sc(H₂O)_6−n(ala)_n]³⁺ or [Sc(H₂O)_5−nOH- (ala)_n]²⁺ (1 < n < 2). At ambient temperatures, these species are in slow exchange with the hexaqua and pentaqua-hydroxo complex, progressing through medium towards fast exchange as the temperature increases, and giving rise to an exchange contribution to relaxation. W_1/2 becomes a measure for the stability of the complexes, which increases in the order ala < (ala)₄ ∼ (ala)₂ < ala-val-leu. The pronounced stability of the latter is due to the formation of a chelate-five ring structure (participation of the NH- function of the peptide bond in coordination to Sc³⁺). 1 M aqueous ScCl₃ probably contains the two species [Sc(H₂O)₆]³⁺ and [Sc(H₂O)₅Cl]²⁺, separated by 33 ppm.     

Formation and structural chemistry of the unusual cyanide-bridged dinuclear species [Ru2(NN)2(CN)7] (NN = 2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline)

Crystallisation of simple cyanoruthenate complex anions [Ru(NN)(CN)₄]²⁻ (NN = 2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline) in the presence of Lewis-acidic cations such as Ln(III) or guanidinium cations results, in addition to the expected [Ru(NN)(CN)₄]²⁻ salts, in the formation of small amounts of salts of the dinuclear species [Ru₂(NN)₂(CN)₇]³⁻. These cyanide-bridged anions have arisen from the combination of two monomer units [Ru(NN)(CN)₄]²⁻ following the loss of one cyanide, presumably as HCN. The crystal structures of [Nd(H₂O)_5.5][Ru₂(bipy)₂(CN)₇] · 11H₂O and [Pr(H₂O)₆][Ru₂(phen)₂(CN)₇] · 9H₂O show that the cyanoruthenate anions form Ru-CN-Ln bridges to the Ln(III) cations, resulting in infinite coordination polymers consisting of fused Ru₂Ln₂(μ-CN)₄ squares and Ru₄Ln₂(μ-CN)₆ hexagons, which alternate to form a one-dimensional chain. In [CH₆N₃]₃[Ru₂(bipy)₂(CN)₇] · 2H₂O in contrast the discrete complex anions are involved in an extensive network of hydrogen-bonding involving terminal cyanide ligands, water molecules, and guanidinium cations. In the [Ru₂(NN)₂(CN)₇]³⁻ anions themselves the two NN ligands are approximately eclipsed, lying on the same side of the central Ru-CN-Ru axis, such that their peripheries are in close contact. Consequently, when NN = 4,4′-^tBu₂-2,2′-bipyridine the steric bulk of the t-butyl groups prevents the formation of the dinuclear anions, and the only product is the simple salt of the monomer, [CH₆N₃]₂[Ru(^tBu₂bipy)(CN)₄] · 2H₂O. We demonstrated by electrospray mass spectrometry that the dinuclear by-product [Ru₂(phen)₂(CN)₇]³⁻ could be formed in significant amounts during the synthesis of monomeric [Ru(phen)(CN)₄]²⁻ if the reaction time was too long or the medium too acidic. In the solid state the luminescence properties of [Ru₂(bipy)₂(CN)₇]³⁻ (as its guanidinium salt) are comparable to those of monomeric [Ru(bipy)(CN)₄]²⁻, with a ³MLCT emission at 581 nm.     

Oxidative dehydrogenation of an iron-tetraazacyclotetradecatriene complex

The oxidative dehydrogenation of the bis(N- methyl imidazole)(meso-5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl- 1 4,8 11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,3,8-triene)iron(II) complex, forming the corresponding 1 3,8,10-tetraene product was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry and stopped-flow kinetics with [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻, at 25 °C, I = 0.50 M and pH 7–10. The results led to a mechanism consistent with a reversible one electron transfer process generating iron(III) species which lose a proton (pK_a = 9.77) and undergo induced electron transfer in the presence of the hexacyanoferrate(III) ion (k = 4.2 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹). The intermediate precursor complex (λ_max = 665 nm) formed at this step, converted to the tetraene product according to a first order kinetics, with k = 0.12 s⁻¹.