Hybrid scorpionate/cyclopentadienyl titanium and zirconium complexes with alkoxide and imido ligands

The reactivity of hybrid scorpionate/cyclopentadienyl ligand-containing trichloride zirconium complexes [ZrCl₃(bpzcp)] (1) [bpzcp = 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-1,1-diphenylethylcyclopentadienyl] and [ZrCl₃(bpztcp)] (2) [bpztcp = 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-1-tert-butylethylcyclopentadienyl] toward several lithium alkoxides has been carried out. Thus, alkoxide-containing complexes [ZrCl₂(OR)(bpzcp)] (R = Me, 3; Et, 4; ⁱPr, 5; (R)-2-Bu, 6), [ZrCl₂(OR)(bpztcp)] (R = Me, 7; Et, 8; ⁱPr, 9; (R)-2-Bu, 10) and [Zr(OR)₃(bpztcp)] (R = Et, 11; ⁱPr, 12) were prepared by deprotonation of the appropriate alcohol group with BuⁿLi followed by reaction with 1 or 2. In addition, the imido-complex [Ti(N^tBu)Cl(bpztcp)(py)] (13) were also prepared. The structures of these complexes have been proposed on basis of spectroscopic and DFT methods.     

Synthesis of cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) complexes containing tethered functionalities

The reaction of [C₅H₄(CH₂)_nX]Tl (1: n = 2, X = NMe₂, OMe, CN; n = 3, X = NMe₂) with [(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl(μ-Cl)]₂, 2, afforded the sandwich compounds [{η⁵-C₅H₄(CH₂)_nX}Ru(η⁶-C₆H₆)]PF₆, 3, and [η⁵-C₅H₄(CH₂)_nX]₂Ru, 4. Photolytic cleavage of 3 in acetonitrile afforded the tethered products [{η⁵:κN-C₅H₄(CH₂)_nX}Ru(CH₃CN)₂]PF₆, 5.     

Synthesis and structural studies of heteroleptic complexes of ytterbium(III) involving aryloxy- or alkoxy- and cyclopentadienyl ligands

Treatment of tris-cyclopentadienyl-ytterbium in thf with one equivalent of 2,6-di(tert-butyl)phenol, N,N-dimethyl-2-aminoethanol or N,N-diethyl-2-aminoethanol resulted in substitution of one cyclopentadienyl ligand and formation of [YbCp₂(O-C₆H₃^tBu-2,6)(thf)] (1), [{YbCp₂(μ-OCH₂CH₂NMe₂)}₂] (2) or [{YbCp₂(μ-OCH₂CH₂NEt₂)}₂] · (thf)₂ (3), respectively. All compounds were characterised by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic techniques, the latter two also being studied by variable temperature ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Compound (1) is mononuclear with the Yb centre bound by two η⁵-cyclopentadienyl ligands one O-bound thf and an O-bound phenoxy ligand. Compounds (2) and (3) are centrosymmetric dimers with the Yb centre bound by two η⁵-cyclopentadienyl ligands, while the bidentate ligands chelate the metal centre and also bridge to the adjacent Yb through the alkoxy oxygen atom. Variable temperature ¹H NMR studies on compounds (2) and (3) show a solution-state equilibrium between the dimeric solid-state structure and one with the nitrogen atoms non-bound to Yb.     

Syntheses and characterization of iridium and rhodium ethylene complexes containing a doubly linked cyclopentadienyl ligand

The dimerization of 6,6-dimethylfulvene with Ni(cod)₂ yields the 4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-3a,4,7a,8-tetrahydro-s-indacene isomer (1a). Heating a solution of 1a converts it to the 1,4,5,8 (1b) and 1,4,7,8 (1c) tetrahydro-s-indacene isomers. The activation energy for the isomerization is 23(1) kcal/mol. 1b and 1c can be deprotonated with n-BuLi and the reaction of the dianion with [ClIr(C₂H₄)₂]₂ gives two isomers, cis-[(η⁵-C₅H₃)(CMe₂)Ir(C₂H₄)₂]₂ (cis-2) and trans-[(η⁵-C₅H₃)(CMe₂)Ir(C₂H₄)₂]₂ (trans-2). Reaction of 1b and 1c with RhCl₃ · xH₂O in refluxing methanol yields a red-orange solid, which was consistent with the empirical formula, [(C₅H₃)(CMe₂)RhCl₂]_n (3). Reaction of 3 with C₂H₄ in a Na₂CO₃/ethanol mixture afforded cis-[(η⁵-C₅H₃)(CMe₂)Rh(C₂H₄)₂]₂ in 5% yield.     

Ethylene homopolymerization and ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization catalysed by mixed salicylaldiminato cyclopentadienyl zirconium complexes

Three new mixed salicylaldiminato cyclopentadienyl zirconium complexes Cp′[2-Bu^t-6-(C₆H₁₁NCH)C₆H₃O]ZrCl₂ (Cp′ = ⁿBuC₅H₄ (3a), ^tBuC₅H₄ (3b) and Me₄C₅H (3c)) were prepared and the structure of complex 3c was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. All of the three complexes showed high activities for ethylene homopolymerization with the activation of methylaluminoxane, and 3a showed the highest activity up to 1.15 × 10⁶ g PE/mol Zr h for ethylene homopolymerization at 70 °C. The ¹³C NMR spectrum showed that the obtained polymer is linear polyethylene. Complexes 3a-c also catalysed ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization with high activities from 6.29 × 10⁵ to 12.3 × 10⁵ g Copolymer/mol Zr h and with 0.89-1.39% 1-hexene incorporation level. In addition, the influence of the substituted alkyl on Cp on the catalytic behavior of corresponding zirconium complexes was discussed.     

Acid activation of titanium alkoxide systems - Structural characterisation of Ti(IV) sulfonyl-imide complexes

Treatment of [Ti(OⁱPr)₄] with the sulfonyl-imine systems Tos₂NH ([(p-Me-C₆H₄SO₂)₂NH]) and Tf₂NH ([(CF₃SO₂)₂NH]) results in the formation of the new Lewis acidic titanium sulfonyl-imide complexes [Ti(OⁱPr)₂(O,O′-Tos₂N)₂] (1) and [Ti(OⁱPr)₂(HOⁱPr)₂(O-Tf₂N)₂] (2), respectively. The molecular structures of the complexes have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The reaction of [Ti(OⁱPr)₃(OAr)] (Ar = 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl phenyl) with Tf₂NH results in the formation of the dimeric complex [Ti(OⁱPr)₃(O,O′-Tf₂N)]₂ (3), which has also been structurally characterised. The ability of the complexes to catalyst the Friedel-Crafts acylation of anisole has also been assessed.     

Rhodium and iridium olefin complexes with bulky cyclopentadienyl and hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands

The synthesis of a series of rhodium and iridium complexes bearing bulky cyclopentadienyl or hydro(trispyrazolyl)borate ligands is described. The rhodium cyclopentadienyl and hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate diene compounds, [(η⁵-C₅Me₄Bu^t)Rh(η⁴-2,3-MeRC₄H₄] (R = H, 1; Me, 2) and Tp^MsRh(η⁴-2,3-MeRC₄H₄) (R = H, 3; Me, 4; Tp^Ms is hydrotris(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)borate), respectively, have been prepared from the corresponding Rh(I) diene precursors and Zn(C₅Me₄Bu^t)₂ (for 1 and 2), or TlTp^Ms (for 3 and 4), as effective C₅Me₄Bu^t or Tp^Ms transfer reagents. In contrast with these results, attempts to obtain a bis(ethylene) derivative of the Tp^tolIr(I) unit (Tp^tol stands for hydrotris(3-p-tolylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) have provided instead the Ir(III) complex [(κ⁴-N,N′,N″,C-Tp^tol)-Ir(C₂H₅)(C₂H₄)] (5), whose formation requires C-H bond activation of a molecule of ethylene and of one of the Tp^tolp-tolyl substituents. In refluxing toluene 5 experiences metalation of a second p-tolyl substituent to give [(κ⁵-N,N′,N″,C,C′-Tp^tol)-Ir(C₂H₄)] (6), which features unusual κ⁵-Tp^tol coordination. The latter compound reacts with carbon monoxide to yield the corresponding carbonyl, 7.     

DNA interaction and cytotoxicity studies of new ruthenium(II) cyclopentadienyl derivative complexes containing heteroaromatic ligands

Four ruthenium(II) complexes with the formula [Ru(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PP)L][CF₃SO₃], being (PP = two triphenylphosphine molecules), L = 1-benzylimidazole, ; (PP = two triphenylphosphine molecules), L = 2,2′bipyridine, ; (PP = two triphenylphosphine molecules), L = 4-Methylpyridine, ; (PP = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane), L = 4-Methylpyridine, , were prepared, in view to evaluate their potentialities as antitumor agents. The compounds were completely characterized by NMR spectroscopy and their crystal and molecular structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical studies were carried out giving for all the compounds quasi-reversible processes. The images obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM) suggest interaction with pBR322 plasmid DNA. Measurements of the viscosity of solutions of free DNA and DNA incubated with different concentrations of the compounds confirmed this interaction. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1234 was much higher than that of cisplatin against human leukemia cancer cells (HL-60 cells). IC₅₀ values for all the compounds are in the range of submicromolar amounts. Apoptotic death percentage was also studied resulting similar than that of cisplatin.     

Reactivity study of cyclopentadienyl osmium(II) bisphosphine azido complexes with activated alkynes and nitriles: Isolation of osmium triazolato and tetrazolato complexes by 1,3-dipolar addition

The cyclopentadienyl osmium(II) complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os(PPh₃)₂X] [X = Br (1), CH₃CN (2)] reacts with sodium azide (NaN₃) to yield the corresponding azido complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os(PPh₃)₂N₃] (3). This undergoes [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition reaction with activated alkynes like dimethyl and diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to yield triazolato complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os(PPh₃)₂{N₃C₂(CO₂R)₂}] [R = –CH₂CH₃ (4) and –CH₃ (5)]. The complex 3 also reacts with nitriles such as tetracyanoethylene (TCE), fumaronitrile and p-nitrobenzonitrile to yield complexes of the type [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os(PPh₃)₂{N₄C₂(CN)C(CN)₂}] (6), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os(PPh₃)₂{N₃C₂HCN}] (7) and [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os(PPh₃)₂{N₄C(C₆H₄–p-NO₂)}] (8). These complexes were fully characterized on the basis of microanalyses, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic data. The molecular structure of the representative complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os(PPh₃)₂{N₃C₂(CO₂CH₂CH₃)₂}] (4) was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Synthesis, structure and properties of a new layered gadolinium benzenedicarboxylate with piperazine

A hydrothermal reaction of a mixture of Gd(NO₃)₃, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (1,2-BDC), piperazine, NaOH and water at 180 °C for three days under autogeneous pressure gave rise to a new compound of the formula [C₄N₂H₁₂][Gd₂(H₂O)₂(C₆H₄(COO)₂)₂] (I). The connectivity between GdO₈ distorted dodecahedra and 1,2-BDC units gives rise to a two-dimensional structure with large apertures. The fully protonated piperazine molecule occupies the middle of these apertures. The compound has favorable CH?π interactions between the benzene rings of adjacent layers and shows photoluminescence at room temperature. Crystal data: monoclinic, space group = P2₁/c (No. 14), a = 13.1671(3) Å, b = 13.7336(3) Å, c = 11.3100(1) Å, β = 115.411(1)°, v = 1847.34(6) Å³, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0238 for 2658 reflections [I > 2σ(I)].     

Computational investigation of ethene trimerisation catalysed by cyclopentadienyl chromium complexes

Intermediates and transition states of the reaction cycle for the trimerisation of ethene catalysed by the initial catalyst precursor [η⁵-CpCrCl₂]₂ have been characterised by modeling, starting from the species η⁵-CpCrMe₂. This is a simplified model system of the actual catalytically active system containing bulky cyclopentadienyls. The ground-state multiplicity configuration was determined to be that of a quartet, in the case of non-chlorinated Cr(III) species, and a triplet for corresponding chlorinated Cr(IV) analogues. Geometry optimizations were performed on all intermediates, using their ground-state multiplicity, and all relevant transition states were located and subsequently optimised. The effect of an additional chlorine ligand on the chromium centre (viz. species of the form η⁵-CpCrClL_n) on the activation energy barriers was also determined for two key high energy transformations. It was found that the activation energy barriers are lowered significantly upon the addition of a chlorine ligand to the chromium centre. The rate determining step for the non-chlorinated, Cr(III) system, was calculated as requiring a free energy value of 88 kJ mol⁻¹, with the chlorinated Cr(IV) analogue at 56 kJ mol⁻¹ in the same step. The process of ethene tetramerisation was found to be unfeasible with the system, with a free energy barrier of 162 kJ mol⁻¹ associated with this transformation.     

Inhibition of cancer cell growth by ruthenium(II) cyclopentadienyl derivative complexes with heteroaromatic ligands

Inhibition of the growth of LoVo human colon adenocarcinoma and MiaPaCa pancreatic cancer cell lines by two new organometallic ruthenium(II) complexes of general formula [Ru(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PP) L][CF₃SO₃], where PP is 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane and L is 1,3,5-triazine (Tzn) 1 or PP is 2x triphenylphosphine and L is pyridazine (Pyd) 2 has been investigated. Crystal structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images suggest different mechanisms of interaction with the plasmid pBR322 DNA; while the mode of binding of compound 1 could be intercalation between base pairs of DNA, compound 2 might be involved in a covalent bond formation with N from the purine base.     

The propensity of alkoxide and aryloxide derivatives of tungsten carbonyls to aggregate in solution. Synthesis and X-ray structures of dinuclear, trinuclear and tetranuclear complexes derived from the MeOW(CO)5 anion

The complex [Et₄N][W(CO)₅OMe] (1) has been prepared from the reaction of the photochemically generated W(CO)₅THF adduct and [Et₄N][OH] in methanol. Complex 1 was shown to undergo rapid CO dissociation in THF to quantitatively provide the dimeric dianion, [W(CO)₄OMe]₂²⁻. The resulting THF insoluble salt [Et₄N]₂[W(CO)₄OMe]₂ (2) has been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, with the doubly bridging methoxide ligands being in an anti configuration. Complex 2 was found to subsequently react with excess methoxide ligand in a THF slurry to afford the face-sharing octahedron complex [Et₄N]₃[W₂(CO)₆(OMe)₃] (3) which contains three doubly bridging methoxide groups. In the absence of excess methoxide ligand complex 2 cleanly yields the tetrameric complex [Et₄N]₄[W(CO)₃OMe]₄ (4) which has been structurally characterized as a cubane-like arrangement with triply bridging μ³-methoxide groups and W(CO)₃ units. Although complex 3 was not characterized in the solid state, the closely related glycolate derivative [Et₄N]₃[W₂(CO)₆(OCH₂CH₂OH)₃] (5) was synthesized and its structure determined by X-ray crystallography. The trianions of complex 5 are linked in the crystal lattice by strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Crystal data for 2: space group P2₁/n, a = 7.696(2), b = 22.019(4), c = 9.714(2) Å, β = 92.22(3)°, Z = 4, R = 6.43%. Crystal data for 4: space group Fddd, a = 12.433(9), b = 24.01(2), c = 39.29(3) Å, Z = 8, R = 8.13%. Crystal data for 5: space group P2₁2₁2₁, a = 11.43(2), b = 12.91(1), c = 29.85(6) Å, Z = 8, R = 8.29%. Finally, the rate of CO ligand dissociation in the closely related aryloxide derivatives [Et₄N][W(CO)₅OR] (R = C₆H₅ and 3,5-F₂C₆H₃) were measured to be 2.15 × 10⁻² and 1.31 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹, respectively, in THF solution at 5°C. Hence, the value of the rate constant of 2.15 × 10⁻² s⁻¹ establishes a lower limit for the first-order rate constant for CO loss in the W(CO)₅OMe⁻ anion, since the methoxide ligand is a better π-donating group than phenoxide.     

Synthesis of cyclopentadienyl ruthenium complexes containing 5-membered N-heterocyclic thiolates

Mononuclear ruthenium-thiolate complexes of structural type CpRu(PPh₃)₂SR (1) [R = 2-imidazolyl (a), 1-methylimidazolyl (b), 5-methyl-1,3,5-thiadiazolyl (c) and 5-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazolyl (d)] are accessible from the reaction of CpRu(PPh₃)₂Cl with the corresponding thiolate anions. Reaction of CpRu(PPh₃)₂Cl with the heterocyclic-thiolate anions in the presence of the bisphosphine ligands affords CpRu(P-P)SR [P-P = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane; dppm (2), bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane; dppe (3)]. If CO gas was bubbled through a THF solution of 1b, the complex CpRu(PPh₃)(CO)S(C₄N₂H₅) (4b) is produced. These ruthenium-heterocyclic thiolate complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy (IR, ¹H, ³¹P{¹H} NMR and MS) and cyclic voltammetry for some samples. The solid-state structures of 3a and 3b are determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis.     

Phosphorescence of gadolinium(III) chelates under ambient conditions

The gadolinium(III) chelates Gd(dtpaH₂), Gd(hfac)₃, Gd(tta)₃ and Gd(qu)₃ with dtpa=1,1,4,7,7-diethylenetriaminepentaacetate, hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate, tta=thenoyltrifluoroacetonate and qu=8-quinolinolate (or oxinate) show a phosphorescence under ambient conditions. While the UV emission of Gd(dtpaH₂) at λ_max=312 nm comes from a metal-centered ff state, the bluish (λ_max=462 nm), green (λ_max=505 nm) and red (λ_max=650 nm) luminescence of Gd(hfac)₃, Gd(tta)₃ and Gd(qu)₃, respectively, originates from the lowest-energy intraligand triplets.     

Constitutional isomers, stereoisomers and conformers of bis[di-tert-butyl(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl]disulfane

Reaction of tBu₂(Me₃Si)C₅H₂Li with S₂Cl₂ leads to [tBu₂(Me₃Si)C₅H₂]₂S₂. This compound exists as a pair of diastereomers (1,2) with sulfur in an allylic position of the cyclopentadiene system. Each diastereomer exists as a racemate of RS,SR and RR,SS enantiomers, respectively. 1 rapidly, 2 slowly convert below room temperature to a pair of diastereomers (3,4) with sulfur in vinylic position. Again, each diastereomer exists as a racemate of RS,SR and RR,SS enantiomers. 3 and 4 are the stable constitutional isomers at ambient temperatures and do not interconvert. The structures of 2, 3 and 4 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Modulation of channel activity and gadolinium block of MscL by static magnetic fields

The magnetic field of the Earth has for long been known to influence the behaviour and orientation of a variety of living organisms. Experimental studies of the magnetic sense have, however, been impaired by the lack of a plausible cellular and/or molecular mechanism providing meaningful explanation for detection of magnetic fields by these organisms. Recently, mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels have been implied to play a role in magnetoreception. In this study we have investigated the effect of static magnetic fields (SMFs) of moderate intensity on the activity and gadolinium block of MscL, the bacterial MS channel of large conductance, which has served as a model channel to study the basic physical principles of mechanosensory transduction in living cells. In addition to showing that direct application of the magnetic field decreased the activity of the MscL channel, our study demonstrates for the first time that SMFs can reverse the effect of gadolinium, a well-known blocker of MS channels. The results of our study are consistent with a notion that (1) the effects of SMFs on the MscL channels may result from changes in physical properties of the lipid bilayer due to diamagnetic anisotropy of phospholipid molecules and consequently (2) cooperative superdiamagnetism of phospholipid molecules under influence of SMFs could cause displacement of Gd³⁺ ions from the membrane bilayer and thus remove the MscL channel block.     

Highly functionalised cyclobutanols via samarium(II) iodide-induced pinacol cyclisations of carbohydrate-derived 1,4-diketones

D-Ribofuranose and D-arabinofuranose derivatives were converted in a few steps into their 1,4-diketone derivatives, which were pinacol cyclised under the action of SmI2 to form the corresponding chiral cyclobutanediol products. These products can potentially be applied to the synthesis of anti-viral agents, some of whose structures incorporate chiral cyclobutanediol moieties.     

Synthesis, characterization, and redox behavior of six-coordinate (por)Ru(NO)Cl compounds (por = porphyrinato dianion)

A new high-yield preparative route to (por)Ru(NO)Cl compounds (por = porphyrinato dianion) from reactions of (por)Ru(NO)(alkoxide) precursors with boron trichloride is reported. These ruthenium nitrosyl chloride complexes are known to be useful precursors to (por)Ru(NO)-containing derivatives. The crystal structure of (OEP)Ru(NO)Cl (OEP = octaethylporphyrinato dianion) shows that the RuNO linkage is linear. The redox behavior of the (por)Ru(NO)Cl compounds has been determined by cyclic voltammetry. Analysis of the data reveals that the first oxidation of the (por)Ru(NO)Cl compounds is porphyrin-ring centered.     

Chiral samarium iodo and terbutylate derivatives as catalysts for MPV ketone reductions

Samarium iodo and terbutylate derivatives coordinated by various chiral ligands have been prepared and used in situ as new catalysts for MPV reductions of aromatic ketones. The most active catalyst is samarium terbutylate binaphtolate albeit with moderate enantioselectivity.