Construction of a series of mercury(II) complexes based on a bis-pyridyl-bis-amide ligand: Effect of counter anions, interactions on the supermolecular structures

Four new complexes, [Hg(L)Cl₂]₂ (1), [Hg(L)Br₂]₂ (2), [Hg(L)I₂(DMF)₂]_n (3), and [HgLCl(SCN)]_n (4) (L = N,N-bis-(3-pyridyl)isophthalamide) were obtained through the self-assembly of a rigid conjugated clamp-like bis-pyridyl-bis-amide ligand L with HgX₂ (X = Cl for 1, Br for 2, I for 3, and Cl for 4 with the addition of KSCN) and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectrum, etc. Employments of different anions result in different structures. Complexes 1 and 2 feature bimetallic macrocycle formed by coordinating two Hg(II) metal centers by two ligands which are in syn-syn conformation. The macrocyclic subunits further self-assemble into a porous macrocycle structure via the hydrogen-bonding and π-π stacking interactions. Introduction of I⁻ and SCN⁻ ions bring about stronger steric hindrance effect. Complexes 3 and 4 are polymers with infinite 1D polymeric chain in herringbone fashion and the hydrogen-bonding interactions and π-π stacking interactions between the parallel benzene rings and the pyridyl rings stabilize the supromolecular framework. Furthermore, we measured their fluorescent properties in the solid state at room temperature and XRD properties also have been determined.     

The novel 1D chain and 3D network of mercury carborane-diphenylphosphine complexes constructed by covalent bond or hydrogen bond interactions

The closo- and nido-carborane-diphenylphosphine complexes [Hg₂{1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀}₂(μ-Cl₂)₂(μ-HgCl₂)₃]·2CH₂Cl₂ (1) and [HgCl(PPh₃){7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}] (2) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and X-ray structure determination. The X-ray structure analysis for these two complexes showed that the carborane cage ligand was coordinated bidentately to the Hg(II) center through its two phosphorus atoms. The coordination geometry of the mercury atom complexed by P₂Cl₂ unit in complex 1 or P₃Cl unit in complex 2 was a distorted tetrahedron, while the mercury atom in complex 2 coordinated to six Cl atoms was a slightly distorted octahedron. X-ray analysis reveals that the complex 1 forms a 1D chain coordination polymer via bridged Hg-Cl bonds. For complex 2, it displays a 3D network constructed by the C-H···Cl hydrogen bonds and C-H···H-B dihydrogen bonds.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of mercury(II) complexes with a novel ferrocenyliminophosphine

Synthesis of the novel ligand ferrocenyliminophosphine [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe{(η⁵-C₅H₄)CHN(C₆H₄-2-PPh₂)}] (1, L) and studies on its complexation properties with mercury (II) are reported. Halogen-bridged binuclear mercury (II) complexes [HgX(μ-X)L]₂ (X = Cl (2a), Br (2b)) and a mononuclear mercury (II) complex HgCl₂L₂ (4a) have been obtained under different reaction conditions. In both cases, the ferrocenyliminophosphine acts as a P-monodentate ligand and the imino nitrogen does not participate in coordination to mercury (II). All the new compounds 1, 2a, 2b and 4a were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR and IR spectra. In addition, structures of 2a and 4a have been determined by X-ray single-crystal analysis.     

Synthesis and X-ray structures of triphenylphosphine-mercury(II) thiosalicylate complexes: novel aggregation processes

Reaction of [HgCl₂(PPh₃)₂] with one equivalent of thiosalicylic acid (tsalH₂, HSC₆H₄CO₂H) and excess triethylamine, followed by recrystallisation from dichloromethane-diethyl ether gives the compound [Hg₂(tsal)₂(PPh₃)₂] (2). This has a bis(S,O)-chelated mercury centre with a nido-trigonal bipyramidal coodination, with the four oxygens of the two carboxylates also coordinated to a Hg(PPh₃)₂ moiety. When a reduced quantity of pyridine was used as the base a different crystalline product was isolated. This was characterised as [Hg₂(tsal)₂(PPh₃)₂][Hg(tsalH)₂] (3), which contains the same [Hg₂(tsal)₂(PPh₃)₂] moiety found for 2, co-crystallised with a [Hg(tsalH)₂]. The two mercury-thiosalicylate species are connected by means of O-H?O hydrogen bonding.     

Copper(II) nitrato and chloro complexes with sterically hindered tridentate ligands: Influence of ligand framework and charge on their structure and physicochemical properties

Copper(II) coordination complexes of the neutral ligand, tris(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane (L2′), i.e. the copper(II) nitrato complexes [Cu(L2′)(NO₃)][Cu(NO₃)₄]_1/2 (1) and [Cu(L2′)(NO₃)](ClO₄) (2) and the copper(II) chloro complex [Cu(L2′)(Cl)](ClO₄) (3), and its anionic borate analogue, hydrotris(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate (L2⁻), i.e. the copper(II) nitrato complex [Cu(L2)(NO₃)] (4) and the copper(II) chloro complex [Cu(L2)(Cl)] (5), were synthesized in order to investigate the influence of ligand framework and charge on their structure and physicochemical properties. While X-ray crystallography did not show any definitive trends in terms of copper(II) atom geometry in four-coordinate copper(II) chloro complexes 3 and 5, different structural trends were observed in five-coordinate copper(II) nitrato complexes 1, 2, and 4. These complexes were also characterized by spectroscopic techniques, namely, UV-Vis, ESR, IR/far-IR, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.     

A novel copper(II) complex with a pendant Schiff base: An unprecedented monodentate bonding mode of the potentially tridentate ligand

The 1:1 condensation of 1-benzoylacetone and 1,2-diaminopropane yields 6-amino-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4-azahept-2-en-1-one (HL). When copper(II) perchlorate is added to the methanolic solution of HL, followed by triethylamine in 1:2:1 molar ratio, an unusual copper(II) complex, [Cu(L)(HL)]ClO₄, is separated out where the deprotonated ligand, L, is coordinated in the usual chelating tridentate manner but HL is coordinated to Cu(II) only through the amine N, i.e. it acts as a pendant ligand. The complex is characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and reactivity of a four-coordinate iron(II) chloride complex bearing the sterically demanding tert-butyl-tris(3-isopropylpyrazolyl)borato ligand

The salt elimination reaction between FeCl₂(THF)_1.5 and the sterically hindered thallium tert-butyl-tris(3-isopropylpyrazolyl)borate, Tl[t-BuTp^i-Pr], affords the new air and moisture-sensitive, high-spin, four-coordinate complex Fe[t-BuTp^i-Pr]Cl (1) in 52% yield. Compound 1 has been characterized by elemental analysis, paramagnetic ¹H NMR, and X-ray crystal structure determination. Fe[t-BuTp^i-Pr]Cl is monomeric, and the homoscorpionate ligand is κ³-coordinated. The Fe(II) ion lies in a trigonally distorted tetrahedral environment with average N-Fe-N and N-Fe-Cl angles of 89.4(2)° and 125.7(2)°, respectively. Upon reactions with methyllithium followed by carbonylation, the six-coordinate acetyl-dicarbonyl derivative Fe[t-BuTp^i-Pr](CO)₂{C(O)Me} was identified by IR spectroscopy. The reaction of 1 with ethylmagnesiumbromide furnished a mixture of mononuclear Grignard complexes Mg[t-BuTp^i-Pr]X (X = Et, Cl, Br), resulting formally from a facile and quantitative replacement of the [Fe-Cl]⁺ fragment by [Mg-X]⁺.     

Zinc mediated synthesis of a new heteroditopic ligand with hard and soft sites

A new heteroditopic, Schiff's base tripodal ligand has been synthesized by employing a thermodynamic template effect using Zn²⁺ as a template which leaves the pseudo cavity after the Schiff's base condensation.     

Unexpected assembly of a novel triply bridged diiron(II) core by a bidentate Schiff base ligand

The unusual dinucleating properties of a simple bidentate Schiff base (LH, 1) in the presence of weakly coordinating methanol solvent lead to the self-assembly of (2) (b and t refer to bridging and terminally bound ligands, respectively). Complex 2 is the first diiron(II) species in which the two metal centers are triply bridged by single atoms in an asymmetric fashion, involving both μ-O^Ph and μ-OH^Me bridges. This binding mode produces an Fe?Fe distance of 3.139(1) Å. Dinucleation appears to be driven by a combination of ligand deficiency and solvent-mediated chemistry reminiscent of host-guest interactions. The presence of a μ-MeOH ligand is unprecedented in iron chemistry. Parallel-mode EPR spectra of complex 2 recorded at 4 K show an intense negative signal at g_∥≈16, suggesting the dimeric form exists in solution.     

New mononuclear mercury(II) complexes of a bifunctionalized ylide containing five-membered chelate ring: Spectral and structural characterization

The reaction of a new bifunctionalized ylide, Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂C(H)C(O)(C₆H₄Cl) (2) with mercury(II) halides in equimolar ratios using dry methanol as solvent yielded the P, C-chelated complexes, {HgX₂[Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂C(H)C(O)(C₆H₄Cl)]} where X = Cl (3), Br (4), I (5). The structures of complexes 4 and 5 have been characterized crystallographically. Single crystal X-ray analyses reveal the presence of mononuclear complexes containing Hg atom in a distorted tetrahedral environment. Characterization of the obtained compounds was also performed by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ³¹P, and ¹³C NMR. A theoretical study at DFT (B3LYP) level using standard CEP-31G basis set showed that the experimentally determined structure of the complex 5 is about 0.6-15.75 kcal mol⁻¹ more stable than its other bonding modes.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of four pH-dependent Pb(II) and Cd(II) phosphonates based on a novel ligand, 3-phosphono-benzoic acid

Four metal phosphonate hybrid compounds, [Pb(Hpbc)] (1), [Pb₃(pbc)₂(H₂O)₂] (2), [Cd(H₂pbc)₂(H₂O)₂] (3) and [Cd_1.5(pbc)(H₂O)_1.5] · 0.5H₂O (4) (H₃pbc = 3-phosphono-benzoic acid) were successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal/solvothermal reaction of metal acetate and 3-phosphono-benzoic acid. Compounds 1-4 were pH-dependent products and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Compound 1 is a two-dimensional (2D) structure constructed by inorganic layer and organic pendant. With the increase of pH value, structure 2 shows 3D inorganic framework with distributing organic moieties in the channels. In 3, the Cd₂O₁₀ dimers are linked by alternating terminal and bridging ligands, resulting in 1D chain structure. Compound 4 is a 2D structure where the 1D inorganic chains are connected by the organic moieties of the ligands.     

Identification and functional perspective of a novel HLA-A allele: A*0279

A novel HLA-A allele, HLA-A*0279, was identified using PCR-SSP and PCR-SBT methods. It is inheritable. HLA-A*0279 differs from HLA-A*020601 by a single nucleotide at position 497 in exon 3, leading to an amino acid change from Threonine to Isoleucine at the alpha2 helix of HLA molecule. To investigate whether the altered amino acid residue could affect its peptide-binding repertoire, we compared the predicted crystal structure of HLA-A*020601 and HLA-A*0279 by Swiss-PdbViewer software analysis. We found that the crystal structure of the two molecules is very similar except for a difference in the number of hydrogen bonds they can possibly form, which in turn could affect their structural stability. To test whether HLA-A*0279 has the ability to cross-present A*0201 - restricted peptides to T cells, the full lenght cDNA of HLA-A*0201, -A* 020601 and -A*0279 were respectively transfected into COS-7 cells, which were then used as targets in IFN-gamma release Elispot assay. A*2079 was found to be able to present A*0201- restricted peptides to and induce the response of CTL, thus it can be classified as member of the HLA-A2 functional supertype family. This finding would benefit the design of peptide vaccines to be applied in broader populations.The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper have been submitted to the Genbank nucleotide sequence database and have been assigned the accession numbers AY856830 and HWS10002813.The name HLA-A*0279 was officially assigned by the World Health Organization Nomenclature Committee in January 2005.     

Synthesis, characterization and copper chemistry of a non-symmetric phenanthroline ligand: 2-Methyl-9-(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazolylmethyl)-1,10-phenanthroline

The synthesis of an unsymmetrical phenanthroline-based ligand, 2-methyl-9-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolylmethyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (L), and its cupric [Cu(II)] (1) and cuprous [Cu(I)] (2) complexes, are reported. The X-ray structures of each of these Cu complexes show distinct changes in coordination environments consistent with the geometrical preferences of the two oxidation states. In the solid-state, the Cu(II) complex (1) adopts a geometry best described as trigonal bipyramidal, while the Cu(I) complex (2) consists of a single dicationic dimer in which the ligand bridges between two copper ions, separated by 4.26 Å. The two Cu(I) coordination sites differ in 2 with one copper center complexed in a trigonal planar geometry and the other copper in a distorted tetrahedral environment; the latter coordination results from an additional CH₃CN ligand. Complex 1 exhibits a reversible redox process at −0.34 V versus Fc/Fc⁺ in CH₃CN, attributable to the Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ couple, while the dimeric Cu(I) complex (2) does not display this redox couple on the CV timescale. Over minutes however, complex 1 does oxidize in the presence of dioxygen to 2 in CH₃CN.     

Two novel oxomolybdenum complexes derived from the reaction of chlorotrisulfidomolybdate precursor with a pyridine-containing tridentate ligand

Reaction of chlorotrisulfidomolybdate [PPh₄][MoClS₃] (1) with one equivalent of tridentate ligand PyCH₂NHC₂H₄SNa (PyNSNa) in THF generated both a mononuclear and a dinuclear complexes, [PPh₄][(PyNS)MoO(η²-S₂)₂] (2) and [PPh₄][(PyNS)Mo(O)(μ-S)₂Mo(S)(η²-S₂)]·0.5MeCN (3·0.5MeCN). These two complexes were separated mechanically and fully characterized using IR, UV/Vis spectra, ¹H NMR spectra and X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. In both complexes, one terminal sulfido ligand was substituted by one oxo group. In complex 3, two types of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in its solid state led to a 1-D structure in which each unit was a dimmer formed via hydrogen bonding.     

A novel trinuclear nickel(II) complex of an unsymmetrical tetradentate ligand involving bridging oxime and acetylacetone functions

A novel trinuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni₃(L)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂, where L is a bridging unsymmetrical tetradentate ligand, involving o-phenylenediamine, diacetyl monoxime and acetylacetone (H₂L = 4-[2-(3-hydroxy-1-methyl-but-2-enylideneamino)-phenylimino]-pentan-2-one oxime) has been synthesized and characterized structurally. In the complex, an octahedral Ni(II) centre is held in the middle by two square planar units with the aid of oxime and ketonic bridges.     

Metal-dependent dimensionality in coordination polymers of a semi-rigid dicarboxylate ligand with additional amide groups: Syntheses, structures and luminescent properties

Three new coordination polymers, [CdL(H₂O)₃·H₂O]_n (1), [MnL(H₂O)₂]_n (2) and [ZnL]_n (3) (L = 2,2′-[1,4-bis(-benzamido)]diacetate) have been hydrothermally synthesized. Complex 1 and complex 2 are 1-D infinite zigzag chain and 2-D rectangular grid networks, respectively, in which are further stabilized by hydrogen bonds, thus affording two 3-D supramolecular frameworks. Complex 3 exhibits a (4, 4)-connected PtS topology. Moreover, an unusual phenomenon has been observed that the dimension of these coordination polymers gradually increases with the decrease of coordination numbers of metal ions. In addition, complex 1 exhibits a strong blue luminescence in the solid state at room temperature and may be potential candidate for luminescent materials.     

Copper(II) complexes of a new N-picolylated bis benzimidazolyl diamide ligand: Synthesis, crystal structure and catechol oxidase studies

Copper(II) complexes of a new bis benzimidazole diamide ligand N-picolyl-N,N′-bis(2-methylbenzimidazolyl)hexanediamide [Pic-GBHA = L₂] have been synthesized and characterized. One of the compound [Cu(L₂)(NO₃)₂] has been structurally characterized. The copper atom is bound to two benzimidazolyl nitrogen atoms, two amide carbonyl oxygen atoms and a bidentate nitrate ion, resulting in a distorted octahedral geometry. EPR spectra obtained at low temperature indicate a tetragonal geometry in the solution state. Complexes display a quasi-reversible redox wave due to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) reduction process having fairly cathodic E_1/2. These Cu(II) complexes were utilized to carry out oxidation of ditertbutylcatechol (DTBC) in methanol using molecular oxygen as the oxidant in. Low temperature EPR study of the oxidation reaction implicates the formation of an active copper species with fairly low A_‖ value. The presence of picolyl groups on the ligand also serve as a proton sponge giving 2-3 times higher rates of reaction in comparison to the non-picolylated ligand, implying a role of free basic groups in the pH control of enzymatic oxidation of catechols by catechol oxidase and tyrosinase.     

Hydrogen-bond assisted stabilization of the less favored conformation of a tridentate Schiff base ligand in dinuclear nickel(II) complex: An experimental and theoretical study

The Schiff base ligand, HL (2-[1-(3-methylamino-propylimino)-ethyl]-phenol), the 1:1 condensation product of 2-hydroxy acetophenone and N-methyl-1,3-diaminopropane, has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography as the perchlorate salt [H₂L]ClO₄ (1). The structure consists of discrete [H₂L]⁺ cations and perchlorate anions. Two dinuclear Ni^II complexes, [Ni₂L₂(NO₂)₂] (2), [Ni₂L₂(NO₃)₂] (3) have been synthesized using this ligand and characterized by single crystal X-ray analyses. Complexes 2 and 3 are centrosymmetric dimers in which the Ni^II ions are in distorted fac- and mer-octahedral environments, respectively, bridged by two μ₂-phenolate ions of deprotonated ligand, L. The plane of the phenyl rings and the Ni₂O₂ basal plane are nearly coplanar in 2 but almost perpendicular in 3. We have studied and explained this different behavior using high level DFT calculations (RI-BP86/def2-TZVP level of theory). The conformation observed in 3, which is energetically less favorable, is stabilized via intermolecular non-covalent interactions. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light, characteristic fluorescence of compound 1 was observed; by comparison fluorescence intensity decreases in case of compound 3 and completely quenched in compound 2.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and esterification of a novel iron(III) 18-metallacrown-6 complex

The trianionic heptadentate ligand, (Z)-3-(5′-chlorosalicylhydrazinocarbonyl) propenoic acid, has been synthesized and reacted with FeCl₃·6H₂O, to produce the complex [Fe^III₆(C₁₂H₈N₂O₅Cl)₆(H₂O)₄(CH₃OH)₂]·8H₂O·4CH₃OH. In the self-assembly process the ligand was esterified and transferred into (Z)-methyl 3-(5′-chlorosalicylhydrazinocarbonyl) propenoate. In the crystal structure, the neutral Fe(III) complex contain a 18-membered metallacrown ring consisting of six Fe(III) and six trianionic ligands. The 18-membered metallacrown ring is formed by the succession of six structural moieties of the type [Fe(III)-N-N]. Due to the meridional coordination of the ligands to the Fe³⁺ ions, the ligands enforce the stereochemistry of the Fe³⁺ ions as a propeller configuration with alternating Λ/Δ forms. The metallacrown can be treated with SnCl₂ or Zn powder to obtain purified ester.     

Zebrafish HSF4: a novel protein that shares features of both HSF1 and HSF4 of mammals

Heat-shock proteins (hsps) have important roles in the development of the eye lens. We previously demonstrated that knockdown of hsp70 gene expression using morpholino antisense technology resulted in an altered lens phenotype in zebrafish embryos. A less severe phenotype was seen with knockdown of heat-shock factor 1 (HSF1), suggesting that, while it likely plays a role in hsp70 regulation during lens formation, other regulatory factors are also involved. Heat-shock factor 4 plays an important role in mammalian lens development, and an expressed sequence tag encoding zebrafish HSF4 has been identified. The deduced amino acid sequence shares structural similarities with mammalian HSF4 including the lack of an HR-C domain. However, the HR-C domain is absent due to a severe C-terminal truncation within zebrafish HSF4 (zHSF4) relative to the mammalian protein. Surprisingly, the amino acid composition of the zHSF4 DNA binding domain shares a greater degree of identity with HSF1 proteins than it does with mammalian HSF4 proteins. Consistent with this, the binding affinity of in vitro synthesized zHSF4 for discontinuous heat-shock response element sequences is more limited, similar to what has been previously observed for HSF1 proteins. Hsf4 mRNA is expressed in zebrafish adult eye tissue but is only observed in developing embryonic tissue at 60 h post-fertilization or later. This, together with the lack of an observable phenotype following morpholino-based antisense knockdown of hsf4, suggests that zHSF4 is unlikely to play a role in regulating early embryonic lens development.