Bioinspired FeIIICdII and FeIIIHgII complexes: synthesis, characterization and promiscuous catalytic activity evaluation

In this work we report on the synthesis, crystal structure, and physicochemical characterization of the novel dinuclear [Fe^IIICd^II(L)(μ-OAc)₂]ClO₄·0.5H₂O (1) complex containing the unsymmetrical ligand H₂L = 2-bis[{(2-pyridyl-methyl)-aminomethyl}-6-{(2-hydroxy-benzyl)-(2-pyridyl-methyl)}-aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol. Also, with this ligand, the tetranuclear [Fe₂^IIIHg₂^II(L)₂(OH)₂](ClO₄)₂·2CH₃OH (2) and [Fe^IIIHg^II(L)(μ-CO₃)Fe^IIIHg^II(L)](ClO₄)₂·H₂O (3) complexes were synthesized and fully characterized. It is demonstrated that the precursor [Fe^III₂Hg^II₂(L)₂(OH)₂](ClO₄)₂·2CH₃OH (2) can be converted to (3) by the fixation of atmospheric CO₂ since the crystal structure of the tetranuclear organometallic complex [Fe^IIIHg^II(L)(μ-CO₃)Fe^IIIHg^II(L)](ClO₄)₂·H₂O (3) with an unprecedented {Fe^III(μ-O_phenoxo)₂(μ-CO₃)Fe^III} core was obtained through X-ray crystallography. In the reaction 2 → 3 a nucleophilic attack of a Fe^III-bound hydroxo group on the CO₂ molecule is proposed. In addition, it is also demonstrated that complex (3) can regenerate complex (2) in aqueous/MeOH/NaOH solution. Magnetochemical studies reveal that the Fe^III centers in 3 are antiferromagnetically coupled (J = − 7.2 cm^− 1) and that the Fe^III-OR-Fe^III angle has no noticeable influence in the exchange coupling. Phosphatase-like activity studies in the hydrolysis of the model substrate bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl) phosphate (2,4-bdnpp) by 1 and 2 show Michaelis-Menten behavior with 1 being ~ 2.5 times more active than 2. In combination with k_H/k_D isotope effects, the kinetic studies suggest a mechanism in which a terminal Fe^III-bound hydroxide is the hydrolysis-initiating nucleophilic catalyst for 1 and 2. Based on the crystal structures of 1 and 3, it is assumed that the relatively long Fe^III…Hg^II distance could be responsible for the lower catalytic effectiveness of 2.     

Water replacement on the decaaqua-di-rhodium(II) cation; synthesis of superoxo and peroxo rhodium(III) complexes with N-donor ligands

The decaaqua-di-rhodium(II) cation has been found to be an interesting starting material in the preparation of dioxygen complexes with different N-donor ligands. Treatment of aqueous HClO₄ solution of [Rh₂(H₂O)₁₀]⁴⁺ with NH₄OH/NH₃, py and/or en results in water exchange and the formation of corresponding [Rh₂^II(H₂O)_10−m(base)_n(OH)_m]^(4−m)+ derivatives. Reaction of the latter with dioxygen afforded superoxo and/or peroxo complexes, depending on reaction conditions: [Rh₂^III(O₂ ⁻)(NH₃)₈(OH)₂](ClO₄)₃ (1), [Rh₂^III(O₂ ⁻)(NH₃)₈(OH)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₄ (2), [Rh₂^III(O₂ ²⁻)(NH₃)₁₀](ClO₄)₄ · 6H₂O (3), [Rh₂^III(O₂ ⁻)(py)₈(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₅ (4), [Rh₂^III(O₂ ²⁻)(en)₄(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₄ (5) and [Rh₂^III(O₂ ⁻)(en)₄(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₅ (6). All the obtained complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, UV-Vis, IR and ESR spectroscopies and magnetic measurements.     

The effects of point of substitution on the electrochemical behavior of new manganese phthalocyanines, tetra-substituted with diethylaminoethanethiol

The syntheses and comparative studies of the spectral, voltammetry and spectroelectrochemical properties of new manganese phthalocyanine complexes, tetra-substituted with diethylaminoethanethio at the peripheral (complex 3a) and non-peripheral positions (complex 3b) are reported. Solution electrochemistry of complex 3a showed quasi-reversible metal-based (Mn^IIIPc⁻²/Mn^IIPc⁻², E_1/2 = −0.07 V vs. Ag|AgCl) and ring-based (Mn^IIPc⁻²/Mn^IIPc⁻³, E_1/2 = −0.78 V vs. Ag|AgCl) reductions, but no ring-based oxidation. However, complex 3b showed weak irreversible ring-oxidation signal (E_p = +0.86 vs. Ag|AgCl). Reversible metal-based (Mn^IIIPc⁻²/Mn^IIPc⁻², E_1/2 = −0.04 V vs. Ag|AgCl) and ring-based (Mn^IIPc⁻²/Mn^IIPc⁻³, E_1/2 = −0.68 V vs. Ag|AgCl) reductions were also observed for complex 3b. Spectroelectrochemistry was used to confirm these processes. Reduction process involving the metal (Mn^IIIPc⁻²/Mn^IIPc⁻²) was associated with the formation of manganese μ-oxo complex in complex 3a.     

The key role of hydrogen bonding in the nuclearity of three copper(II) complexes with hydrazone-derived ligands and nitrogen donor heterocycles

Three new Cu(II) complexes of formula [Cu(L¹)(pyz)(CH₃OH)]ClO₄ (1), [Cu(L¹)(4,4′-bpy)(ClO₄)]·0.5H₂O (2) and [{Cu(L²)(ClO₄)}₂(μ-4,4′-bpy)] (3) have been synthesised by using pyrazine (pyz) and 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy) and tridentate O,N,O-donor hydrazone ligands, L¹H and L²H, obtained by the condensation of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione with salicyloylhydrazide and benzhydrazide, respectively. The ligands and their complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Single crystal X-ray structure analysis evidences the metal ion in a slightly deformed square pyramidal geometry in all the complexes. However complexes 1 and 2 are mononuclear with pyz and 4,4′-bpy, respectively, showing an unusual monodentate behavior, while complex 3 is dinuclear with 4,4′-bpy adopting the typical bridging coordination mode. Self assembly of the complex units by hydrogen bonding interactions produces one-dimensional arrangement in each crystal packing. The magnetic characterization of complex 3 indicates a weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the Cu(II) ions (J = −0.96 cm⁻¹) mediated through the long 4,4′-bpy bridge. Electrochemical behavior of the complexes is also discussed.     

Binuclear manganese(III) complexes of an unsymmetric pyrazolate-based compartmental ligand with hard donor set

The synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of manganese(III) binuclear complexes [Mn^III₂(L-3Н)₂(CH₃ОH)₄]·2CH₃ОH (1) and [Mn^III₂(L-3Н)₂(Py)₄]·2Py (2) (L = 3-[(1E)-N-hydroxyethanimidoyl]-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylic acid) are reported. The ligand contains two distinct donor compartments formed by the pyrazolate-N and the oxime or the carboxylic groups. The complexes were characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction, revealing that both 1 and 2 consist of dinuclear units in which the two metal ions are linked by double pyrazolate bridges with a planar {Mn₂N₄} core. Cryomagnetic measurements show antiferromagnetic interaction with g = 1.99, J = −3.6 cm⁻¹, Θ = −2.02 K for 1 and g = 2.00, J = −3.7 cm⁻¹, Θ = 1.43 K for 2.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of new dinuclear Mn(III) compounds with 4-ClC6H4COO and 4-BrC6H4COO bridges

Four new dinuclear Mn(III) compounds have been synthesised: [{Mn(bpy)(H₂O)}₂(μ-4-ClC₆H₄COO)₂(μ-O)}](ClO₄)₂ (1), [{Mn(EtOH)(phen)}₂(μ-O)(μ-4-ClC₆H₄COO)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2), [{Mn(bpy)(EtOH)}(μ-4-BrC₆H₄COO)₂(μ-O){Mn(bpy)(ClO₄)](ClO₄) (3) and [{Mn(H₂O)(phen)}₂(μ-4-BrC₆H₄COO)₂(μ-O)](ClO₄)₂ (4). The crystal structures of 2 and 3 are evidence for the tendency of the ethanol and the perchlorate to act as ligands. Due to the coordination of these groups, the environment of the manganese ions is elongated in the monodentate ligand direction, and this distortion is more important when this ligand is the perchlorate. The magnetic properties of the four compounds have been analysed: compounds 1, 3 and 4 show antiferromagnetic behaviour, with J = −6.33 cm⁻¹ for 1, J = −6.76 cm⁻¹ for 3 and J = −3.08 cm⁻¹ for 4 (H = −JS₁·S₂), while compound 2 shows a very weak ferromagnetic coupling. For this compound, at low temperature the most important effect on the χ_MT data is the zero-field splitting of the ion, and the best fit was obtained with |D_Mn| = 2.38 cm⁻¹ and |E_Mn| = 0.22 cm⁻¹.     

Mono- and dinuclear manganese(II) complexes derived from the cis/trans isomers of 2,4,5-tris(2-pyridyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazole

Two new manganese(II) complexes, [Mn(L1)(L1H)(ClO₄)(H₂O)][ClO₄]₂·0.5CH₃CN·H₂O (1) [L1 = trans-(±)2-(2,5-di(pyridin-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-4-yl)pyridine)] and [Mn₂(μ-L2)₂(H₂O)₃(CH₃CN)₃][ClO₄]₄·2CH₃CN (2) [L2 = cis-(±)2-(2,5-di(pyridin-2-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-4-yl)pyridine)], have been prepared and examined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, showing that complex 1 is a mononuclear compound, whereas complex 2 is a dinuclear species. The cis/trans isomers L1 and L2 have similar coordination properties, but behave as bidentate and tridentate chelating ligands, respectively, giving distorted octahedral metal coordination geometries. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the molecular and crystal structures are stabilized by a series of intra- and intermolecular interactions. In both cases extended supramolecular networks are generated, in compound 1 through O-H···O, O-H···N, N-H···O, N-H···N, C-H···O, C-H···N, C-H···π and π···π interactions, and in compound 2 through O-H···O, O-H···N, C-H···O and π···π interactions. The observed structural differences between the two metal complexes might be a consequence of these stabilizing effects.     

Co and Cu complexes of reduced Schiff bases: Generation of phenoxyl radical species

The three complexes [Co^IIIL¹Cl] (1), [Co^IIIL²]⁺·ClO₄⁻ (2⁺·ClO₄⁻), and [Cu^IIH₂L²]²⁺·2ClO₄⁻ (H₂3²⁺·2ClO₄⁻) [where H₂L¹ = N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)ethylenediamine, H₂L² = N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)ethylenediamine] have been prepared. The bis-phenolate and bis-phenol complexes, 2⁺ and H₂3²⁺ respectively, have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, showing a metal ion within an elongated octahedral geometry. 1-2 exhibit in their cyclic voltammetry curves two anodic reversible waves attributed to the successive oxidation of the phenolates into phenoxyl radicals. The cobalt radical species (1)⁺, (2)²⁺, and (2)³⁺ have been characterized by combined UV-Vis and EPR spectroscopies. In the presence of one equivalent of base, one phenolic arm of H₂3²⁺ is deprotonated and coordinates the metal. The resulting complex (H3⁺) exhibits a single reversible redox wave at ca. 0.3 V. The electrochemically generated oxidized species is EPR silent and exhibits the typical features of a radical compound, with absorption bands at 411 and 650 nm. The fully deprotonated complex 3 is obtained by addition of two equivalents of nBu₄N⁺OH⁻ to H₂3²⁺. It exhibits a new redox wave at a lower potential (−0.16 V), in addition to the wave at ca. 0.3 V. We assigned the former to the one-electron oxidation of the uncoordinated phenolate into an unstable phenoxyl radical.     

Molecular interactions of zinc(II) cyclams with polycarboxylato ligands

Four new zinc(II) cyclams of the composition {Zn(L)(tp²⁻) · H₂O}_n (1), {Zn(L)(H₂bta²⁻) · 2H₂O}_n (2), [Zn₂(L)₂(ox²⁻)] 2ClO₄ · 2DMF (3), and Zn(L)(H₂btc⁻)₂ · 2DMF (4), where L = cyclam, tp²⁻ = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate ion, H₂bta²⁻ = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate ion, ox²⁻ = oxalate ion, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide, and H₂btc⁻ = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate ion, have been synthesized and structurally characterized by a combination of analytical, spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. The carboxylato ligands in the complexes 1-4 show strong coordination tendencies toward zinc(II) cyclams with hydrogen bonding interactions between the pre-organized N-H groups of the macrocycle and oxygen atoms of the carboxylato ligands. The macrocycles in 1, 2, and 4 adopt trans-III configurations with the appropriate R,R,S,S arrangement of the four chiral nitrogen centers, respectively. However, the complex 3 shows an unusual cis V conformation with the R,R,R,R nitrogen configuration. The finding of strong interactions between the carboxylato ligands and the zinc(II) ions may provide additional knowledge for the improved design of receptor-targeted zinc(II) cyclams in anti-HIV agents.     

Oxime-functionalized diazamesocyclic derivates and their metal complexes: Effect of the ligand backbones and anions on the generation of novel monomeric and mono-μ-Cl dimeric Cu complexes

Two oxime-functionalized diazamesocyclic derivates, namely, N,N′-bis(acetophenoneoxime)-1,4-diazacycloheptane (H₂L¹) and N,N′-bis(acetophenonoxime)-1,5-diazacyclooctane (H₂L²), have been prepared and characterized. Both ligands (obtained in the hydrochloride form) can form stable metal complexes with Cu^II and Ni^II salts, the crystal structures of which were determined by X-ray diffraction technique. The reactions of H₂L¹ with Cu(ClO₄)₂ and Ni(ClO₄)₂ afford a penta-coordinated mononuclear complex [Cu(H₂L¹)Cl] · ClO₄ (1) and a four-coordinated monomeric [Ni(HL¹)] · ClO₄ (2), in which the ligand is monodeprotonated. The ligand H₂L² also forms a quite similar mononuclear [Ni(HL²)] · ClO₄ complex with Ni(ClO₄)₂, according to our previous work. However, reactions of different Cu^II salts [Cu(ClO₄)₂, CuCl₂ and Cu(NO₃)₂ for 3, and CuSO₄ for 4] with H₂L² in the presence of NaClO₄ yield two unusual mono-μ-Cl dinuclear Cu^II complexes [Cu₂(HL²)₂Cl] · (ClO₄) (3), and [Cu₂(H₂L²)(HL²)Cl] · (ClO₄)₂ · (H₂O)(4). These results indicate that the resultant Cu^II complexes (1, 3 and 4) are sensitive to the backbones of diazamesocycles and even auxiliary anions.     

Structural variability in manganese(II) complexes of N,N′-bis(2-pyridinylmethylene) ethane (and propane) diamine ligands

Manganese(II) complexes, Mn₂L¹₃(ClO₄)₄, MnL¹(H₂O)₂(ClO₄)₂, MnL²(H₂O)₂(ClO₄)₂, and {(μ-Cl)MnL²(PF₆)}₂ based on N,N′-bis(2-pyridinylmethylene) ethanediamine (L¹) and N,N′-bis(2-pyridinylmethylene) propanediamine (L²) ligands have been prepared and characterized. The single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of Mn₂L²₃(ClO₄)₄ shows that each of the two Mn(II) ion centers with a Mn-Mn distance of 7.15 Å are coordinated by one ligand while a common third ligand bridges the metal centers. Solid-state magnetic susceptibility measurements as well as DFT calculations confirm that each of the manganese centers is high-spin S = 5/2. The electronic structure obtained shows no orbital overlap between the Mn(II) centers indicating that the observed weak antiferromagentism is a result of through space interactions between the two Mn(II) centers. Under different reaction conditions, L¹ and Mn(II) yielded a one-dimensional polymer, MnL¹(H₂O)₂(ClO₄)₂. Ligand L² when reacted with manganese(II) perchlorate gives contrarily to L¹ mononuclear MnL²(H₂O)₂(ClO₄)₂ complex. The analysis of the structural properties of the MnL²(H₂O)₂(ClO₄)₂ lead to the design of dinuclear complex {(μ-Cl)MnL²(PF₆)} where two chlorine atoms were utilized as bridging moieties. This complex has a rhomboidal Mn₂Cl₂ core with a Mn-Mn distance of 3.726 Å. At room temperature {(μ-Cl)MnL²(PF₆)} is ferromagnetic with observed μ_eff = 4.04 μ_B per Mn(II) ion. With cooling, μ_eff grows reaching 4.81 μ_B per Mn(II) ion at 8 K, and then undergoes ferromagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic phase transition.     

Dinuclear triply bridged copper(II)-carboxylato compounds with different bischelating ligands: Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties

Three new triply bridged dinuclear copper(II) compounds containing carboxylato bridges, [Cu₂(μ-CH₃COO-κ-O¹,O²)₂(μ-CH₃COO-κ-O¹)(dpyam)₂](BF₄) (1), [Cu₂(μ-CH₂CH₃COO-κ-O¹,O²)(μ-OH)(μ-OH₂)(bpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2) and [Cu₂(μ-CH₃COO-κ-O¹,O²)(μ-OH)(μ-OH₂)(phen)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3) (in which dpyam = di-2-pyridylamine, bpy = 2,2-bipyridine, phen = phenanthroline), have been synthesized in order to investigate the magnetic super-exchange pathway between coupled copper(II) centres. All three compounds display a distorted square-pyramidal arrangement around each copper(II) ion with a CuN₂O₃ chromophore. Compound 1 has three acetato bridges, two of which connect each square pyramid at two equatorial sites in a triatomic bridging mode and the third acetato bridge acts at the apical site in the monoatomic bridging mode. The structures of compounds 2 and 3 are mutually similar. In each dinuclear unit, both copper(II) ions are linked at two equatorial positions through a hydroxo bridge and a triatomic carboxylato bridge and at the axial position through a water molecule.The magnetic susceptibility measurements, measured from 5 to 300 K, revealed an antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) ions in compound 1 and a ferromagnetic interaction for compounds 2 and 3 with singlet-triplet energy gaps (J) of −56, 149 and 120 cm⁻¹, for compounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively.     

Manganese(III) complexes of N2O2 donor 5-bromosalicylideneimine ligands: Combined effects of electron withdrawing substituents and chelate ring size variations on electrochemical properties

A series of mononuclear manganese(III) complexes of formulae [Mn(L)(X)(H₂O)] (1-13) and [Mn(L)(X)] (14-17) (X = ClO₄, F, Cl, Br, I, NCS, N₃), derived from the Schiff bases of 5-bromosalicylaldehyde and different types of diamine (1,2-diaminoethane, 1,2-diaminopropane, 1,3-diaminopropane and 1,4-diaminobutane), have been synthesized and characterized by the combination of IR, UV-Vis spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry and by X-ray crystallography. The redox properties of all the manganese(III) complexes show grossly identical features consisting of a reversible or quasireversible Mn^III/Mn^II reduction. Besides Mn^III/Mn^II reduction, the complexes 4, 5, 10, 13 and 16 also show reversible or quasireversible Mn^III/Mn^IV oxidation. A linear correlation has been found for the complexes 5, 7, 11 and 13 [Mn(L²)(X)(H₂O)] (X = F, Cl, Br, I) when E_1/2 [Mn^III/Mn^II] is plotted against Mulliken electronegativities (χ_M). The effect of the flexibility of the ligand on redox potential has been studied. It has been observed that the manganese(II) state is stabilized with increasing flexibility of the ligand environment. The crystal structure of 6 shows an octahedral geometry.     

Carbonyl compound dependent hydrolysis of mono-condensed Schiff bases: A trinuclear Schiff base complex and a mononuclear mixed-ligand ternary complex of copper(II)

Two Schiff bases, HL¹ and HL² have been prepared by the condensation of N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine (mpn) with salicylaldehyde and 1-benzoylacetone (Hbn) respectively. HL¹ on reaction with Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O in methanol produced a trinuclear Cu^II complex, [(CuL¹)₃(μ₃-OH)](ClO₄)₂·H₂O·0.5CH₂Cl₂ (1) but HL² underwent hydrolysis under similar reaction conditions to result in a ternary Cu^II complex, [Cu(bn)(mpn)ClO₄]. Both complexes have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray analyses, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy and electrochemical studies. The partial cubane core [Cu₃O₄] of 1 consists of a central μ₃-OH and three peripheral phenoxo bridges from the Schiff base. All three copper atoms of the trinuclear unit are five-coordinate with a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The ternary complex 2 is mononuclear with the square-pyramidal Cu^II coordinated by a chelating bidentate diamine (mpn) and a benzoylacetonate (bn) moiety in the equatorial plane and one of the oxygen atoms of perchlorate in an axial position. The results show that the Schiff base (HL²) derived from 1-benzoylacetone is more prone to hydrolysis than that from salicylaldehyde (HL¹). Magnetic measurements of 1 have been performed in the 1.8-300 K temperature range. The experimental data clearly indicate antiferromagnetism in the complex. The best-fit parameters for complex 1 are g = 2.18(1) and J = −15.4(2) cm⁻¹.     

Extended molecular networks based on Zn and Cd imparting N-substituted imidazole

Synthesis of complexes with the formulations [M(CPI)₂Cl₂] (M = Zn, 1; M = Cd, 4) and [M(CPI)₆](X)₂ (M = Zn, X = NO₃⁻, 2; X = ClO₄⁻, 3; M = Cd, X = NO₃⁻, 5; X = ClO₄⁻, 6) have been achieved from the reactions of MCl₂, M(NO₃)₂·xH₂O and M(ClO₄)₂·xH₂O (M = Zn, Cd) with 1-(4-cyanophenyl)-imidazole (CPI). Complexes 1-6 have been characterized by elemental analyses and spectral studies (IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, electronic absorption and emission). Molecular structures of 1, 2, 3 and 6 have been determined crystallographically. Weak interaction studies on the complexes revealed presence of various interesting motifs resulting from C-H···N, C-H···Cl and π-π stacking interactions. The complexes under study exhibit strong luminescence at ∼450 nm in DMSO at room temperature.     

A new synthetic route towards heterotrimetallic complexes. Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a [CuMnCr] trinuclear complex

The heterotrimetallic complex, [{LCuMn(H₂O)}{Cr(phen)(C₂O₄)₂}](ClO₄) · H₂O (1), has been obtained by assembling heterobinuclear cations, [LCuMn]²⁺, with [Cr(phen)(C₂O₄)₂]⁻ ions (H₂L is the compartmental Schiff-base resulting from the stepwise condensation of 2,6-diformyl-p-cresol with ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine). The copper(II) and manganese(II) ions are hosted into the compartments of the macrocyclic ligand. [Cr(phen)(C₂O₄)₂]⁻ acts as a ligand, being coordinated through one oxalato oxygen atom to the apical position of the square pyramidal copper(II) ion. The cryomagnetic investigation of 1 reveals an antiferromagnetic interaction between Cu^II and Mn^II within the compartmental ligand (J = −39 cm⁻¹). The interaction between Cu^II and Cr^III across the oxalato bridge is negligible. The crystal structure of [LCuPb](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O, a useful precursor in obtaining 3d-3d′ complexes, is also reported.     

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.     

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.     

Aqua bridge cleavage and metal ion extrusion by thiocyanate anions in a dicopper complex

Reaction of the imidazolidinyl phenolate-based ligand, H₃L [(2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine)] with Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O produces an aqua-bridged cationic reactant complex [Cu₂(μ-H₂O)(μ-L)][ClO₄]·1.5H₂O (1·1.5H₂O). Solution phase interaction of 1·1.5H₂O with SCN⁻ anions in 1:1 molar ratio leads to [Cu₂(μ-L)(NCS)]·2H₂O (2·2H₂O) that does not possess anymore the reactive aqua bridge but instead a terminal SCN⁻ anion coordinated only to one Cu^II ion. Whereas in 1:2 molar ratio, partial extrusion of the Cu^II ions takes place to generate in situ [Cu(NCS)₃(OH₂)]⁻ anions. These complex anions then quantitatively replace anions in 1·1.5H₂O via ‘anion metathesis’ and concurrently remove the aqua bridge by coordination of linear MeCN to one of the Cu^II ions to give [Cu₂(μ-L)(CH₃CN)][Cu(NCS)₃(OH₂)] (3). The literature unknown [Cu(NCS)₃(OH₂)]⁻ anion forms an intimate H-bonded assembly with the cationic part of 3 to yield a novel [Cu₃] isosceles triangle. The precursor complex is known as antiferromagnetic whereas in 2·2H₂O, the Cu^II (S = 1/2) ions in a dinuclear entity exhibit ferromagnetic interactions (J/k_B = +15.0 K and g = 2.22) to yield an S_T = 1 spin ground state in good agreement with the M versus H data below 8 K.     

An oxamato bridged trinuclear copper(II) complex: Synthesis, crystal structure, reactivity, DNA binding study and magnetic properties

A linear tri-nuclear oxamato bridged copper(II) complex [Cu₃(pba)(dpa)₂(H₂O)(ClO₄)](ClO₄)·H₂O (1) (pbaH₄ = 1,3-propanediylbis(oxamic acid), dpa = 2,2′-dipyridylamine) was isolated from the reaction mixture of Na₂[Cu(pba)]·3H₂O, copper perchlorate hexahydrate and dipyridylamine in methanol. On reaction with dpa or DMF in basic medium (KOH) at ambient temperature complex 1 changed to dinuclear oxalate bridged copper(II) derivatives, [Cu₂(μ-C₂O₄)(dpa)₄](ClO₄)₂ (2) and [Cu₂(μ-C₂O₄)(dpa)₂(DMF)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3), respectively. The complexes 1, 2 and 3 have been characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic tools, and also by the X-ray single crystal analysis. The hydrolysis of 1 in basic medium and thermo-gravimetric analysis has been studied. Absorption and emission spectral studies showed that complex 1 interacts with calf thymus-DNA (CT-DNA) with a binding constant (K_b) of 4.01 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and linear Stern-Volmer quenching constant (K_sv) of 6.9 × 10⁴. A strong anti-ferromagnetic interaction with a coupling constant J_CuCu of 320.0 ± 0.3 cm⁻¹ was observed from the study of magnetic behavior of complex 1 in the temperature range of 2-300 K. Electrochemical equivalency of three copper(II) ions in 1 was identified by getting only one quasi reversible cyclic voltammogram.