A pyridine bridged dicarbene ligand and its silver(I) and palladium(II) complexes: synthesis, structures, and catalytic applications

The potentially tridentate ligand 2,6-bis[(3-methylimidazolium-1-yl)methyl]pyridine dibromide reacts readily with silver(I) oxide in dichloromethane or dimethylsulfoxide to give a dinuclear silver(I)-carbene complex that was isolated as the tetrafluoroborate salt. Single crystal X-ray crystallography shows that each silver(I) ion is bridged by two ligands bonding through the carbene donors. Treatment of the silver(I) complex with suitable palladium(II) precursors gave the complexes PdCl[(CNC)]BF₄ and [PdMe(CNC)]BF₄ (CNC=2,6-bis[(3-methylimidazolin-2-yliden-1-yl)methyl]pyridine), in which the pyridyl and both carbene moieties are coordinated to a single palladium(II). The palladium(II) complexes have been fully characterised, including X-ray crystallography, and exhibit good activities in the Heck coupling reaction of 4-bromoacetophenone and n-butyl acrylate.     

Effective new palladium catalysts for the Suzuki coupling of various haloxylenes to prepare sterically hindered bi- and triaryls

Several new ortho-alkyl and heteroalkyl substituted aryl and aryl alkyl phosphanes and their palladium complexes have been selectively prepared, characterized and compared as potential catalysts for the Suzuki coupling reaction. The modification of the structures of the palladium complexes were made in search of the best possible catalytic activity. The novel catalysts were subsequently used to synthesize sterically hindered bi- and triaryls by coupling various bulky, unactivated bromoxylenes and chloroxylenes with a range of phenyl boronic acids under microwave irradiation. We showed that under optimized reaction conditions, very good results can be obtained with a selection of the new phosphanes and their mononuclear palladium complexes.     

Metal compounds for the treatment of parasitic diseases

The cysteine proteases of the trypanosomatid parasitic protozoa have been validated as targets for chemotherapy of Chagas’ disease and leishmaniasis. Metal complexes of gold, platinum, iridium, palladium, rhodium and osmium have been reported to have activity against a variety of trypanosomatids, but the molecular target of these compounds has not been defined. The activity of gold(III) and palladium(II) cyclometallated complexes, and oxorhenium(V) complexes against mammalian and parasitic cysteine proteases was investigated. All gold(III) complexes (1-6) inhibited cathepsin B with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.2-1.4 μM. Of the six palladium compounds, aceto[2,6-bis[(butylthio-κS)methyl]phenyl-κC]-, (SP-4-3)-palladium(II) (11) was the most potent inhibitor of cathepsin B with an IC₅₀ of 0.4 μM. A clear structure-activity relationship was observed with the oxorhenium(V) complexes with chloro[2,2′-(thio-κS)bis[ethanethiolato-κS)]] oxorhenium(V) (16) being the most potent inhibitor of cathepsin B with an IC₅₀ of 0.009 μM. Six complexes were further tested against the parasite cysteine proteases, cruzain from T. cruzi, and cpB from L. major; the most potent inhibitors were the two rhenium complexes (2(1H)-pyridinethionato-κS²)[2,6-bis[(mercapto-κS)methyl]pyridine-κN¹] oxorhenium(V) (15) and chloro[2,2′-(thio-κS)bis[ethanethiolato-κS)]] oxorhenium(V) (16). The compounds were also evaluated in assays for parasite growth. Two oxorhenium(V) compounds ((p-methoxyphenylthiolato-S)[2,6-bis[(mercapto-κS)methyl]pyridine-κN¹] oxorhenium(V) (14) and (methanethiolato)[2,2′-(thio-κS)bis[ethanethiolato-κS)]] oxorhenium (V) (18)) and the palladium compound 11 inhibited T. cruzi intracellular growth, and compound 11 inhibited promastigote growth in three Leishmania species. In conclusion this preliminary data indicates that metal complexes targeted at parasite cysteine proteases show promise for the treatment of both Chagas’ disease and leishmaniasis.     

3(5)-Pyrazolyl substituted triphenylphosphines as ligands for the palladium catalyzed Heck reaction

3(5)-Pyrazolyl substituted triphenylphosphines have been investigated as ligands for the palladium catalyzed Heck reaction of aryl halides with styrene. Catalysts formed in situ from those phosphines and Pd^II(OAc)₂ are comparable in activity and selectivity with the corresponding pre-synthesized Pd(II) complexes, while Pd₂(dba)₃ has turned out to be a less suitable palladium source. Among the ligands investigated, the bidentate P,N-ligand 2-[3(5)-pyrazolylphenyl]diphenylphosphine has shown the highest activities for the coupling of bromobenzene with styrene in the presence of Pd^II(OAc)₂. In the presence of 1 equiv. of nBu₄NI as the additive, unreactive 4-chloroacetophenone also undergoes Heck coupling with styrene.     

Nickel and palladium complexes bearing ortho-phenoxy modified anilido-imine ligands: Drastic steric effect on coordinated geometry, and catalytic property toward olefin polymerization

A series of new nickel complexes and palladium complexes bearing ortho-phenoxy modified anilido-imine ligands have been synthesized and characterized. X-ray diffraction analyses of the single crystal structures reveal that there are no direct metal-O interactions in all of the complexes. The steric hindrance of complexes has an importance influence on their coordinated geometries. The bulky complexes with 2,6-diisopropylphenyl substituent exist as a dimers with bromine-bridged structure while those with 2,6-dimethylphenyl or phenyl substituents adopt a distorted tetrahedral geometry with four nitrogen atoms of two anilido-imine ligands. The nickel complexes exhibited high activity up to 7.33 × 10⁶ g/(mol of Ni · h) and palladium complexes showed very high activity up to 2.63 × 10⁸ g/(mol of Pd · h) for norbornene polymerization with methylaluminoxane as cocatalyst. The nickel catalysts were attempted to polymerize ethylene at atmosphere pressure, however, only oligomers were produced.     

Methyl-palladium(II) complexes of pyridine-bridged bis(nucleophilic heterocyclic carbene) ligands: Substituent effects on structure,stability, and catalytic performance

A series of discrete, mononuclear palladium(II)–methyl complexes, together with several palladium(II)–chloro analogues, of pyridine-functionalised bis-NHC ligands have been prepared via ligand transmetallation from the silver(I)-NHC complexes. The reported complexes comprise examples with both the methylene-bridged 2,6-bis[(3-R-imidazolin-2-yliden-1-yl)methyl]pyridine (_RC^∧N^∧C; R = Mes, dipp, ^tBu) and planar 2,6-bis(3-R-imidazolin-2-yliden-1-yl)pyridine (_RCNC; R = Mes, dipp) ligands and, when combined with the previously reported _MeC^∧N^∧C/_MeCNC examples, cover a broad spectrum of ligand substituent steric and electronic properties, including the bulky Mes and dipp groups frequently used in catalytic applications. The palladium(II) complexes have been characterised by a variety of methods, including single crystal X-ray crystallography, with the shielding of the Pd–Me groups in the proton NMR spectra of some of the N-aryl substituted examples correlated with the proximity of the aryl rings to the methyl group in the solid state structures. The [PdMe(_RC^∧N^∧C/_RCNC)]⁺ complexes undergo thermal degradation via reductive methyl-NHC coupling to give 2-methyl-3-R-imidazolium-1-yl species with relative stabilities in the order of [PdMe(_MesC^∧N^∧C)]BF₄ > [PdMe(_MeC^∧N^∧C)]BF₄ ≈ [PdMe(_MesCNC)]BF₄ > [PdMe(_MeCNC)]BF₄ > [PdMe(_tBuC^∧N^∧C)]BF₄ ≫ [PdMe(_tBuCNC)]BF₄ (not isolable). A comparison of the activity of the complexes as precatalysts in a model Heck coupling reaction shows greatest activity in those species bearing bulkier N-substituents, with complexes bearing _RC^∧N^∧C ligands generally more efficient precatalysts than those bearing _RCNC ligands.     

Synthesis and characterization of palladium complexes of 3-nitroformazans

3-Nitroformazans react with bis(1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluroacetylacetonato)palladium to afford monometallic complexes. The complexes were characterized via X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and electronic spectroscopy. The nature of the aryl substituents on the formazan ligands had a profound effect on the structure and spectroscopy of the complexes, with o-substituted aromatic rings twisted with respect to the ligand, while the p-tolyl substituted derivative adopted a planar structure. The complexes undergo irreversible reductions near ?1 V versus Fc/Fc⁺.     

Palladium(II) complexes of 2-, 3-, and 4-quinolinyl(diphenyl)phosphane and di-(3-quinolinyl)phenylphosphane: Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic screening

One previously known and three novel quinolinyl phosphanes were synthesized by either a reaction between a lithiated diphenylphosphane and the appropriate chloroquinoline or by a reaction between a lithiated haloquinoline and an arylchlorophosphane. The reaction of the quinolinyl phenylphosphane ligands with PdCl₂(cod) produced monomeric palladium complexes in diethyl ether and dimeric, chlorine-bridged complexes in dichloromethane. Crystal structures of the palladium complexes confirm that the quinolinyl phenylphosphanes do not form chelated structures while bonded to the metal centre. 2-Quinolinyl(diphenyl)phosphane has a tendency to form a cis-isomer while bonded to the metal centre in the mononuclear complex due to attractive interactions between two ligands. A catalytic study showed that the quinolinyl phenylphosphane ligands are moderately active in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of various aryl halides in air.     

Symmetrical bis-(NHC) palladium(II) complexes: Synthesis, structure, and application in catalysis

The synthesis and characterization of symmetrically substituted bis-N-heterocyclic carbene palladium(II) complexes with a functional group attached to the bridging moiety is described, as well as the immobilization of one of them on polystyrene Wang resin. The resulting complexes were tested both in homogeneous and heterogeneous Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions.     

In vitro and in vivo studies of the dermally absorbed Cu(II) complexes of N5O2 donor ligands - Potential anti-inflammatory drugs

Copper complexes of N,N′-di(aminoethylene)-2,6-pyridinedicarbonylamine and bis-(N,N-dimethylethyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide have been studied by glass electrode potentiometry, NMR, UV and IR spectroscopy as potential anti-inflammatory agents for the alleviation of inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The protonation and formation constants with Cu(II), Zn(II) and Ca(II), determined at 25 °C and an ionic strength of 0.15 mol dm⁻³ were used to calculate the copper plasma mobilizing index of the ligands. Spectroscopic studies suggested that metal ion complexation promotes deprotonation and coordination of the amide nitrogens resulting in overall tetragonal distorted copper complexes. Bio-distribution and dermal absorption studies showed the complexes to have relatively long biological half-lives with 50% of the injected dose remaining in the body 24 h after administration.     

Cyclopalladation of N-phenylbenzamides: Synthesis and structure of bimetallic palladium(II)-complexes

Three bimetallic palladium(II) complexes were generated by cyclopalladation of N-methyl-N-phenylbenzamide derivatives, substrates known to undergo oxidative intramolecular cross-coupling via palladium catalysis. These isolable Pd-complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Stoichiometric and catalytic experiments with [(3-methoxy-N-methyl-N-phenylbenzamide)Pd(μ-TFA)]₂ were investigated, and this palladium complex was found to be an effective precatalyst for oxidative cross-coupling.     

Appended 1,2-naphthoquinones as anticancer agents 1: synthesis, structural, spectral and antitumor activities of ortho-naphthaquinone thiosemicarbazone and its transition metal complexes

Copper(II), nickel(II), palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes of ortho-naphthaquinone thiosemicarbazone were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic studies. In both solution (NMR) and solid state (IR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction determination) the free ligand NQTS exists as the thione form. The Pd complex (X-ray) crystallizes as the H-bonded dimer, [Pd(NQTS)Cl]₂ · 2DMSO, where palladium(II) coordinates in a square planar configuration to the monodeprotonated, tridentate thiosemicarbazone ligand. The nickel(II) complex shows 1:2 metal to ligand stoichiometry while the other complexes exhibit 1:1 metal-ligand compositions. In vitro anticancer studies on MCF7 human breast cancer cells reveal that adding a thiosemicarbazone pharmacophore to the parent quinone carbonyl considerably enhances its antiproliferative activity. Among the metal complexes, the nickel compound exhibits the lowest IC₅₀ value (2.25 μM) suggesting a different mechanism of action involving inhibition of topoisomerase II activity.     

Palladium(II) amido complexes with an unsymmetrical PNP′ pincer-type coordination and a new (E,E)-tetradentate diphosphinoazine coordination mode

Cationic palladium(II) complexes [PdCl{PR₂CH₂C(Bu^t)NNC(Bu^t)CH₂PR₂}]Cl, where R = isopropyl, cyclohexyl or tert-butyl, were synthesized by the reactions of the corresponding diphosphinoazines with bis(acetonitrile)palladium(II) dichloride. When bis(benzonitrile)palladium(II) dichloride was used instead, in the molar ratio of 2:1 to the diphosphinoazine, a new complex was isolated with the isopropyl ligand showing a previously unknown (E,E) tetradentate coordination mode. Crystal and molecular structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. The solid complex was a racemate of two axially chiral enantiomers and the chirality was preserved in solution. Reactions of the cationic complexes with triethylamine gave complexes [PdCl{PR₂CHC(Bu^t)NNC(Bu^t)CH₂PR₂}], containing deprotonated diphosphinoazines in ene-hydrazone unsymmetrical pincer-like configuration. The complexes represent several of the still rare examples of Pd(II) amido bis(phosphine) complexes with a chlorine atom covalently bonded trans to the amide nitrogen.     

Coordination of (aminoalkyloxymethyl)dimethylphosphine oxides with palladium(II). Crystal structure of trans-bis[2-(dimethylphosphinoylmethoxy-1,1-dimethylethylamine)]palladium(II) dichloride

The synthesis, structure and spectroscopic properties of novel palladium(II) chloro complexes with a series of (aminoalkyloxymethyl)dimethylphosphine oxides (AOPO) are reported. The complexes with general formula PdCl₂(N,N′-AOPO₂) were obtained by the reaction of PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ with the ligands in dry ethanol. The crystal structure of the trans-bis[2-(dimethylphosphinoylmethoxy-1,1-dimethylethylamine)]palladium(II) dichloride has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic crystal system with P2₁/n space group. The square-planar coordination sphere of palladium consists of two N atoms from two aminoalkyldimethylphosphine ligands and two Cl atoms in trans-arrangement. The AOPO ligand has monodentate coordination through the NH₂ group. The Pd-N and Pd-Cl distances are 2.0610(14) and 2.3225(4) Å, respectively. The preparation of complexes with a composition PdCl₂(AOPO)₂ in chloroform solution are also reported.     

Synthesis and characterization of electronically varied XCX palladacycles with functional arene groups

X-ray crystallographic studies show that varying the nature of the S-aryl ligands in SCS-Pd(II) pincer complexes and the electronic nature of the aryl substituent para to the Pd(II) group in PCP-Pd(II) pincer complexes do not lead to structural changes in these palladacycles that can be correlated with the changing nature of the ligands. While the original C2 symmetry for the S-aryl groups in SCS-Pd(II) pincer complexes seen in the case of the 2,5-bis(thiophenylmethyl)phenylpalladium chloride pincer complex is also seen in other SCS-Pd(II) pincer complexes, the relative stereochemistry of the S-aryl rings is not consistently maintained in 2,5-bis((4-dimethylaminothiophenyl)methyl)-phenylpalladium chloride.     

Synthesis, mesomorphism and luminescence properties of palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with dimeric Schiff base liquid crystals

A series of ortho-metallated Pd and Pt complexes containing dimeric liquid crystals Schiff base as cyclometallated ligands and N-benzoyl thiourea derivatives as co-ligands were prepared and investigated for their liquid crystalline properties. Their structures were assigned based on elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy while the mesogenic properties were investigated by DSC and polarising optical microscopy. The complexes show either monotropic or enantiotropic transitions with nematic and smectic A phases being displayed, with the mesomorphic behaviour strongly related to the type of N-benzoyl thiourea as well as the metal center used. The structure of a palladium(II) complex has been solved by X-ray diffraction.The platinum(II) complexes show photoluminescence properties both in solution and in solid state at room temperature, with the emission band centered around 600 nm. These are the first examples of metallomesogens based on Schiff base cyclometallated ligands that display luminescence properties.     

Palladium(II) complexes bearing the terpyridine-type tridentate ligand with benzo[b]-1,5-naphthyridin-2-yl groups

New types of tridentate ligands, 2-(benzo[b]-1,5-naphthyridin-2-yl)-6-(quinolin-2-yl)-4-tert-butylpyridine (bnqp) and 2,6-bis(benzo[b]-1,5-naphthyridin-2-yl)-4-tert-butylpyridine (bbnp) that are able to accommodate and release two and four electrons, respectively, were synthesized. The palladium(II) complexes having the ligand, [PdCl(bnqp)](PF₆) (1) and [PdCl(bbnp)](PF₆) (2), were also prepared. The molecular structure of 2 was determined by a X-ray diffraction study, where the Pd-Cl coordination bond deviates from a square planner geometry with a N(2)-Pd(1)-Cl(1) angle of 166.6(1)° because of a steric hindrance of the hydrogen atom at the 10-position of benzo[b]-1,5-naphthyridin-2-yl groups. UV-Vis absorption spectra of 1 and 2 in DMSO did not show any interactions with HClO₄, whereas the same acid significantly influenced the patterns of the ligand localized redox reaction in the cyclic voltammograms of those complexes. On the other hand, chemical reduction of 1 and 2 using Na₂S₂O₃ or Na₂S₂O₄ in CH₃CN/H₂O resulted in deposition of metallic palladium(0) with liberating the ligand probably due to the intramolecular electron transfer from the reduced ligand to the palladium(II) center.     

A novel unsymmetrical quadridentate ligand 1-(2′-aminophenyl)-6-methyl-2,5-diazanona-l,6-diene-8-one and its complexes with copper(II), nickel(II) and palladium(II)

Two routes for the preparation of the title compound (6) have been developed. Reaction of equimolar quantities of 2-aminobenzaldehyde, pentane- 2,4-dione and 1,2-diaminoethane yields the ligand 6 and 2-methyl-3-acetylquinoline as side product. The compound 6 was obtained in high yield in a one- step condensation of 2-aminobenzaldehyde with 1-amino-4-methyl-3-azahept-4-ene-6-one (5). Studies on the condensation of 5 with various 2-aminobenz- aldehyde derivatives revealed that the yield of unsymmetrical ligand is evidently influenced by the acidic properties of the hydrogen atom (of atoms) of the ring substituent in the ortho position to the carbonyl group. Copper(II), nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes of 6 have been prepared and characterized. Spectroscopic data of nickel and palladium complexes are consistent with their planar structure. A superhyperfine splitting due to nitrogen is observed in the EPR spectrum of the copper complex in spite of the presence of azomethine hydrogen atom.     

Hydrolysis of the amide bond in histidine- and methionine-containing dipeptides promoted by pyrazine and pyridazine palladium(II)-aqua dimers: Comparative study with platinum(II) analogues

Two dinuclear palladium(II) complexes, [{Pd(en)Cl}₂(μ-pz)](NO₃)₂ and [{Pd(en)Cl}₂(μ-pydz)](NO₃)₂, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental microanalysis and spectroscopic (¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR and UV–vis) techniques (en is ethylenediamine; pz is pyrazine and pydz is pyridazine). The square planar geometry of palladium(II) metal centers in these complexes has been predicted by DFT calculations. The chlorido complexes were converted into the corresponding aqua complexes, [{Pd(en)(H₂O)}₂(μ-pz)]⁴⁺ and [{Pd(en)(H₂O)}₂(μ-pydz)]⁴⁺, and their reactions with N-acetylated l-histidylglycine (Ac–l–His–Gly) and l-methionylglycine (Ac–l–Met–Gly) were studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The palladium(II)-aqua complexes and dipeptides were reacted in 1:1 M ratio, and all reactions performed in the pH range 2.0 < pH < 2.5 in D₂O solvent and at 37 °C. In the reactions of these complexes with Ac–l–His–Gly and Ac–l–Met–Gly dipeptides, the hydrolysis of the amide bonds involving the carboxylic group of both histidine and methionine amino acids occurs. The catalytic activities of the palladium(II)-aqua complexes were compared with those previously reported in the literature for the analogues platinum(II)-aqua complexes, [{Pt(en)(H₂O)}₂(μ-pz)]⁴⁺ and [{Pt(en)(H₂O)}₂(μ-pydz)]⁴⁺.     

Platinum-based complexes of bioactive 3-(5-nitrofuryl)acroleine thiosemicarbazones showing anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity

Eight new platinum(II) complexes with 3-(5-nitrofuryl)acroleine thiosemicarbazones showing anti-trypanosomal activity were synthesized, characterized and in vitro evaluated. Most of the complexes showed IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range against two different strains of Trypanosoma cruzi, causative agent of Chagas disease (American Trypanosomiasis). In addition, most of the newly developed complexes, together with the analogous platinum 5-nitrofuraldehyde containing thiosemicarbazones previously reported, resulted more active than the reference trypanocidal drug nifurtimox on the infective trypomastigote form of the parasite. Their capacity to produce free radicals that could lead to parasite death was evaluated by ESR experiments in the parasite and by respiration measurements. Compounds were tested for their DNA interaction ability. Results showed that some of the compounds could act as dual inhibitors in the parasite, through production of toxic free radicals and interaction with DNA. All the results were compared with those previously reported for the free ligands, the analogous palladium(II) compounds and the previously reported series of platinum(II) compounds.