Kinetics and mechanism of CO substitution of [η-CpFe(CO)3]PF6 with PPh3 in the presence of substituted pyridine N-oxide

The kinetics of substitution reactions of [η-CpFe(CO)₃]PF₆ with PPh₃ in the presence of R-PyOs have been studied. For all the R-PyOs (R = 4-OMe, 4-Me, 3,4-(CH)₄, 4-Ph, 3-Me, 2,3-(CH)₄, 2,6-Me₂, 2-Me), the reactions yeild the same product [η⁵-CpFe(CO)₂PPh₃]PF₆, according to a second-order rate law that is first order in concentrations of [η⁵-CpFe(CO)₃]PF₆ and of R-PyO but zero order in PPh₃ concentration. These results, along with the dependence of the reaction rate on the nature of R-PyO, are consistent with an associative mechanism. Activation parameters further support the bimmolecular nature of the reactions: ΔH^≠ = 13.4 ± 0.4 kcal mol⁻¹, ΔS^≠ = −19.1 ± 1.3 cal k⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for 4-PhPyO; ΔH^≠ = 12.3 ± 0.3 kcal mol⁻¹, ΔS^≠ = 24.7 ±1.0 cal K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for 2-MePyO. For the various substituted pyridine N-oxides studied in this paper, the rates of reaction increase with the increasing electron-donating abilities of the substituents on the pyridine ring or N-oxide basicities, but decrease with increasing ¹⁷O chemical shifts of the N-oxides. Electronic and steric factors contributing to the reactivity of pyridine N-oxides have been quantitatively assessed.     

Metal carbonyls of telluroether formed by the oxygen atom transfer reaction to M(CO)6 (M = Mo, W) in the presence of (p-CH3OC6H4)2TeO and relative kinetic investigation

A new synthetic process is reported for the preparation of two substituted metal carbonyls, (p-CH₃OC₆H₄)₂TeM(CO)₅ (M = Mo, W). In the presence of (p-CH₃OC₆H₄)₂TeO as O atom transfer reagent in tetrahydrofuran solvent, a CO ligand is replaced by telluroether when M(CO)₆ (M = Mo, W) is reacted with (p-CH₃OC₆H₄)₂TeO under very mild experimental conditions (r.t.). The products were characterized by elemental analysis, mass, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. The spectra suggest that the coordination geometry is distorted from a regular octahedral structure due to an asymmetrical bulky telluroether ligand on the metal atom. Kinetics of these reactions of M(CO)₆ with (p-CH₃OC₆H₄)₂TeO show the reactions are first order in the concentration of M(CO)₆ and of Te oxide. The rates of reaction decrease in the order W(CO)₆>Mo(CO)₆>Cr(CO)₆, and the results obtained are discussed in term of a presumed mechanism.     

Substitution kinetics of tetracarbonyl(η-alkene)ruthenium complexes: ALKENE = ethene and methyl acrylate

The kinetics in heptane of displacement of the alkene ligands ethene and methyl acrylate from Ru(CO)₄(η²-alkene) by P(OEt)₃ have been measured. The reactions occur by reversible dissociation of the alkenes, and activation parameters are compared with those for dissociation of CO from Ru(CO)₅ and for reactions of the corresponding Os complexes. A linear free energy relationship for ligand dissociation from Ru(CO)₅, Ru(CO)₄(C₂H₄) and Ru(CO)₄(MA) has a gradient close to unity, indicating virtually complete bond breaking in the transition states. Competition parameters for reactions of what is probably a solvated Ru(CO)₄S intermediate have been measured for the alkenes and P(OEt)₃, and for eleven other P-donor nucleophiles. Correlations with the electronic and steric properties of the P-donors show negligible dependence on the electron donicity of the nucleophiles and a small but significant dependence on their sizes. The sizes were quantified by Tolman cone angles or by ‘cone angle equivalents’ derived directly from Brown's ligand repulsion energies (E_r). These correlations compared with those, reported elsewhere, for reactions of the probably solvated intermediates Co₂(CO)₅(μ²-C₂Ph₂) and H₃Re₃(CO)₁₁ formed by ligand dissociative processes. In all cases the discrimination between nucleophiles by the intermediates is weak confirming their high reactivity and the borderline nature of the mechanisms of these bimolecular reactions between I_d and I_a.     

Iron release from transferrin induced by mixed ligand complexes of copper(II)

Summary Copper(II) complexes CuL₁L₂ with the ligand pairs 3-phosphoglycerate (PG)/ethylenediamine (en), phosphoserine (PS)/ethylenediamine, phosphoserine/malonate (mal) are shown to be effective in inducing the release of both iron atoms from di-ferric transferrin (Fe2Tf; human serum transferrin) at pH 7.3 in 1 M NaCl at 25°C. Half-times of the reaction with Cu(PG)(en)^– were less than 1 min at 0.02 M concentration. The iron(III) products are polynuclear hydroxo complexes. There is weaker interaction with Cu(PS) ₂ ^4– and virtually none with Cu(serine)(en) nor Cu(PS)(2,2-bipyridyl)^–, revealing crucial effects of the combined ligand sphere including the phosphomonoester group. The results suggest that the release of iron from Fe2Tf, or from either monoferric transferrins, occurred due to the breakdown of the stability of iron binding in conjunction with the expulsion of the synergistic anion carbonate (or oxalate). The active copper(II) complexes are postulated to be models of membrane components that could liberate iron from transferrin succeeding its uptake at the receptor sites of cells.Abbreviations PG phosphoglycerate - PS phosphoserine - en ethylenediamine - Fe2Tf diferric transferrin - Fe_cTf and Fe_NTf transferrin with iron bound to the lobe containing the C- or N-terminus, respectively - apoTf apotransferrin - K-3 all-cis-1,3,5-tris(trimethylammonio)-2,4,6-cyclo-hexanetriol - NTA nitrilotriacetic acid; bipy, 2,2-bipyridine; mal, malonate     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of ammineruthenium(II) complexes by bromine

The reactions of Ru(NH₃)₅py²⁺, Ru(NH₃)₄bpy²⁺, Ru₂(NH₃)₁₀pz⁵⁺, RuRh(NH₃)₁₀pz⁵⁺ and Ru(NH₃)₅pz²⁺ with bromine are first-order in ruthenium and first-order in bromine. The rates decrease with increasing bromide ion concentration and, except for Ru(NH₃)₅pz²⁺, are independent of hydrogen ion concentration. The reactions are postulated to proceed via outer-sphere, one-electron transfer from Ru(II) to Br₂ with the formation of Br₂⁻ as a reactive intermediate. The bromide inhibition is ascribed to the formation of Br₃⁻ which is unreactive in outer-sphere reactions because of the barrier imposed by the need to undergo reductive cleavage. The reaction of Ru(NH₃)₅pz²⁺ is inhibited by hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ion dependence shows that Ru(NH₃)₅pzH³⁺ has a pK_a of 2.49 and is at least 500 times less reactive than Ru(NH₃)₅pz²⁺. The reaction of Ru₂(NH₃)₁₀pz⁴⁺ with bromine is biphasic. The second phase has a rate identical to that of the Ru₂(NH₃)₁₀pz⁵⁺-Br₂ reaction. A detailed analysis shows that the reaction of Ru₂(NH₃)₁₀pz⁴⁺ with bromine proceeds by a sequence of one-electron steps, Br₂⁻ being produced as an intermediate. A linear free energy relationship between rate constants and equilibrium constants, obeyed for all the reactions studied, provides an estimate of 1.5 × 10² M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for the self-exchange rate constant of the Br₂/Br₂⁻ couple.     

Stopped-flow mechanistic study of bromide substitution by an organonitrile at an iron(II) phosphinic centre; a π-electron driven process

The kinetics of the displacement reactions of the bromide ligands of trans-[FeBr₂(depe)₂] (depe = Et₂PCH₂CH₂PEt₂) by the organonitrile NCCH₂C₆H₄OMe-4, in tetrahydrofuran (either in the absence or in the presence of added Br⁻), to give the corresponding mono- and dinitrile complexes trans-[FeBr(NCCH₂C₆H₄OMe-4)(depe)₂]⁺ and trans-[Fe(NCCH₂C₆H₄OMe-4)₂(depe)₂]²⁺, have been investigated by stopped-flow spectrophotometry. The substitution reaction occurs by a mechanism involving rate-limiting dissociation of bromo ligands to form the unsaturated intermediates [FeBr(depe)₂]⁺ (k₁ = 1.52 ± 0.02 s⁻¹) and [Fe(NCR)(depe)₂]²⁺ (k₃ = 0.063 ± 0.008 s⁻¹) which add the nitrile ligand to form those nitrile complexes. The competition between the nitrile and Br⁻ for such metal centres has also been investigated and a stronger inhibiting effect of added Br⁻ is observed for the substitution of the second bromo ligand relative to the first one. The kinetic data are rationalized in terms of π-electronic effects of these unsaturated metal centres and of the bromide and nitrile ligands.     

Intramolecular protonation and other mechanisms for substitution reactions of hydrido(thiolato) — and di(thiolato)-ruthenium(II) phosphine complexes

Reactions of cct-RuH(SR)(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂ (1) (cct = cis, cis, trans) with R′SH provide cct-RuH(SR′)(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂ (R = alkyl, aryl): based on described kinetic data, the proposed mechanism involves PPh₃ loss, coordination of R′SH, intramolecular protonation of RS⁻ by R′SH, and RSH elimination. The intramolecular protonation step circumvents a potentially slow RSH reductive elimination step. A similar mechanism is proposed for the thiol exchange reactions of cct-Ru(SR)₂(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂ (2). A corresponding dissociative mechanism is also proposed for the reaction of 1 with P(p-tolyl)₃, which gives cct-RuH(SR)(CO)₂(PPh₃)(P(p-tolyl)₃) and cct-RuH(SR)(CO)_2⁻ (P(p-tolyl)₃)₂. Other reactions described include the reactions of 1 with H₂, CO, HCl and PPh₃, and the reactions of 2 with P(p-tolyl)₃ and H₂. Exposure to light causes 2 to dimerize in solution.     

Leaving group effects on ligand substitution reactions of pentacyanoferrate(II) complexes: rate constant and activation volume correlations

The kinetics of the reaction of cyanide ions with pentacyanoferrate(II) complexes have been studied spectrophotometrically at pressures of 1 bar and up to 1 kbar, at 298.2 K. An excess of cyanide ions was employed and first-order kinetics were observed both in aqueous solution and in aqueous-mono-ol mixtures. For several pyridine derivative leaving groups, neutral or mono-positively charged, the rate constant variation in aqueous medium is only over one half-order of magnitude, although thiourea and quinoxaline are much more labile, dissociating with rate constants about ten and three hundred times greater than this range, respectively. Very modest changes in rate constant are observed upon addition of 40% methanol, and in a few examples studied, kinetic differences become significant only in cosolvent-rich mixtures. Volumes of activation, Δ V^*, are all positive, for reaction in water, confirming the expected bond extension of the leaving group in a D mechanism. Solvation changes and ligand differences do not wholly explain the variation in Δ V^* values, or the changes in this parameter found when cosolvents are added. Reasonably good correlations are found for the logarithms of rate constants both with the pK_a of the ligand and with Δ V^*. Other potential correlations of the leaving group property and kinetic parameter are discussed.     

Substitution reaction mechanisms of dihydrido-ruthenium(II) phosphine complexes: hydribe basicity and molecular hydrogen intermediates

Kinetic and activation parameter data for the reactions of cct-Ru(H)₂(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂ (1) (cct = cis, cis, trans) in THF with thiols, CO and PPh₃ to give cct-RuH(SR)(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂, Ru(CO)₃(PPh₃)₂ and Ru(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂, respectively, reveal a common, rate-determining step, the initial dissociation of H₂ from 1; the activated complex probably resembles the corresponding Ru(η²-H₂) species. Reaction of Ru(H)₂(dppm)₂ (2) (as a cis/trans mixture, DPPM = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) with thiols initially generated cis- and trans- RuH(SR) (dppm)₂ with a rate that depends on both the type and concentration of thiol. The higher basicity of the hydride ligands in 2 (versus 1), which is demonstrated by deuterium exchange with CD₃OD, gives rise in the thiol reaction to an initial protonation step prior to loss of H₂. A species detected in the thiol reaction is possibly [RuH(η²-H₂ (dppm)₂]², the anticipated intermediate for this reaction and for the hydrogen exchange with alcohol. A longer reaction of 2 with PhCH₂SH gives solely cis-Ru(SCH₂Ph)₂(dppm)₂.     

Monovalent copper as a potential catalyst for formation of acetaldehyde via the migration of methyl radicals to the coordinated carbonyl in the complex (CO)Cu-CH3

Cu_aq⁺ forms stable complexes with carbon monoxide in aqueous solutions. Furthermore it reacts very fast with aliphatic radicals. The reaction of Cu(CO)_maq⁺ with methyl radicals, ^•CH₃ was studied using the pulse-radiolysis technique. The results point out that methyl radicals react with Cu(CO)_aq⁺ to form an unstable intermediate with a Cu^II-C σ bond identified as (CO)Cu^II-CH₃⁺, k = (1.1±0.2) × 10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. This intermediate has a strong LMCT charge transfer band (λ_max = 385 nm, _max = 2500 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹) which is similar to the absorption bands of other transient complexes with Cu^II-alkyl σ bonds. The coordinated carbon monoxide in (CO)Cu^II-CH₃⁺ inserts into the copper—carbon bond (or rather the coordinated methyl migrates to the coordinated carbon monoxide ligand) at a rate of (3.0±0.8) × 10² s⁻¹ to form the copperacetyl complex (CO)_mCu^II-C(CH₃)=O⁺ (λ_max = 480 nm, _max = 2100 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹). The rate of formation of (CO)Cu^II-CH₃⁺ and of the insertion reaction are pH independent. The complex (CO)_mCu^II-C(CH₃)=O⁺ is also unstable and decomposes heterolytically to yield acetaldehyde and Cu_aq²⁺ as the final stable products. This reaction is slightly pH dependent. The same reactivity pattern has been observed for the Cu(CO_naq⁺ complexes (n = 2 or 3). The results clearly point out that CO remains coordinated to transient complexes of the type Cu^II-alkyl.     

The solvent-initiated photochemistry of tris(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamato)iron(III)

The photolysis of [Fe(Et₂dtc)₃], Et₂dtc = diethyldithiocarbamate to yield [Fe(Et₂dtc)₂Cl] proceeds under 313 nm irradiation through a metal complex excited state, as expected. Under 254 nm irradiation, however, the dominant pathway is through a solvent-initiated reaction in which radicals formed after absorption of light by CHCl₃ react thermally with [Fe(Et₂dtc)₃]. The initial rate varies linearly with the light intensity at 313 nm, but at 254 nm varies with the square root of the intensity.     

The dynamics of formation of the O2-Co bond in the cobalt(II) cyclidene complexes

The kinetics of O₂ binding to a vacant coordination site on the cobalt(II) ion have been determined, revealing a radical-like character for the reaction. Reversible oxygenation of Co(II) cyclidenes (C4, C5, C6, C8, C12-bridged and unbridged) was studied by a cryogenic stopped-flow method. In the presence of axial base, kinetic parameters are insensitive to the nature of the solvent, and negative entropies of activation suggest that dissociation of a solvent molecule is not the rate-determining step for the dioxygen binding process. This is in contrast to the behavior of previously studied Co(II) complexes. A very low activation energy (1–4 kcal mol⁻¹), typical of diffusion controlled processes, was found for dioxygen binding. The binding rate constants for the highest affinity complexes (10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) are comparable to the values for natural dioxygen carriers. The size of the lacuna primarily affects the dioxygen binding rates, while the axial bases influence the dioxygen dissociation rates.     

First- and second-order mechanisms for oxidative addition for bound methyl disulfide in the complex W(CO)3(phen)(MeSSMe)

The rate of oxidative addition of methyl disulfide in the complex W(CO)₃(1,10-phenanthroline) (MeSSMe) in methylene chloride has been studied. The dominant reaction pathway is second order in metal complex and inhibited by excess methyl disulfide. Formation of a dinuclear complex [W(CO)₃(phen)]₂(MeSSMe) is proposed to lead to the transition state for cleavage of the sulfur-sulfur bond in the second-order mechanism. In neat methyl disulfide, or in concentratred solutions of methyl disulfide at low metal complex concentrations, the reaction occurs at reduced rate and follows a first-order mechanism. Addition of Mo(CO)₃(1,10-phenanthroline) (MeSSMe) to the corresponding tungsten complex results in a ten-fold increase in the rate of oxidative addition of the tungsten complex and production of Mo(CO)₄(1,10-phenanthroline) as the sole molybdenum-containing product. The faster rate of reaction in the presence of the molybdenum complex is attributed to the faster formation of the heteronuclear dinuclear intermediate by initial loss of MeSSMe from the molybdenum versus tungsten center. Additional kinetic/mechanistic studies are described using a new flow-through FT-IR/microscope reaction system designed to allow convenient monitoring of small quantities of sensitive/hazardous reactants.     

Synthesis of palladium(II) 3d-metal(II) paddlewheel acetate-bridged heterodimetallic complexes: Unexpected catalysis by water molecules

A study of the reaction kinetics between the trinuclear palladium(II) acetate Pd₃(μ-OOCMe)₆ (1) and the mononuclear 3d-metal (Ni^II, Co^II, Cu^II) acetates in acetic acid under water-specified conditions revealed a fairly complicated reaction mechanism triggered by the primary hydrolytic cleavage of an acetate bridge in molecule 1. The isolated reaction products, as established by X-ray diffraction study, are 1D polymeric complexes {Pd(μ-OOCMe)₄M(OH₂)(HOOCMe)₂}_n (M = Ni^II, Co^II, Cu^II, Mn^II, Zn^II) built of the Pd^II-based paddlewheel units [Pd(μ-OOCMe)₄M] and linked trough the H-bonded H₂O and MeCOOH molecules.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of ligand substitution reactions of molybdenum SO2 complexes. Synthesis and X-ray structure of trans-Mo(CO)2 (dmpe) (PPh3) (SO2)

Kinetic results are reported for intramolecular PPh₃ substitution reactions of Mo(CO)₂(η¹-L)(PPh₃)₂(SO₂) to form Mo(CO)₂(η²-L)(PPh₃)(SO₂) (L = DMPE = (Me)₂PC₂H₄P(Me)₂ and dppe=Ph₂PC₂H₄PPh₂) in THF solvent, and for intermolecular SO₂ substitutions in Mo(CO)₃(η²-L)(η²-SO₂) (L = 2,2′-bipyridine, dppe) with phosphorus ligands in CH₂Cl₂ solvent. Activation parameters for intramolecular PPh₃ substitution reactions: ΔH^≠ values are 12.3 kcal/mol for dmpe and 16.7 kcal/mol for dppe; ΔS^≠ values are −30.3 cal/mol K for dmpe and −16.4 cal/mol K for dppe. These results are consistent with an intramolecular associative mechanism. Substitutions of SO₂ in MO(CO)₃(η²-L)(η²-SO₂) complexes proceed by both dissociative and associative mechanisms. The facile associative pathways for the reactions are discussed in terms of the ability of SO₂ to accept a pair of electrons from the metal, with its bonding transformations of η²-SO₂ to η¹-pyramidal SO₂, maintaining a stable 18-e count for the complex in its reaction transition state. The structure of Mo(CO)₂(dmpe)(PPh₃)(SO₂) was determined crystallographically: P2₁/c, A=9.311(1), B = 16.344(2), C = 18.830(2) Å, ß=91.04(1)°, V=2865.1(7) ų, Z=4, R(F)=3.49%.     

η-Allyl-cobalt (II) complexes

(η³-Cyclooctenyl)Co(bisphosphine) compounds react with HBF₄ in the presence of alkenes with oxidation of the metal to give the novel, paramagnetic organocobalt(II) species [(η³-cyclooctenyl)Co(bisphosphine)]⁺BF₄⁻, (η³-2-RC₃H₄)Co(bisphosphine) complexes react similarly. The Co(II) compounds form adducts with CO and NO (the latter being diamagnetic) and undergo facile chemical and electrochemical reduction.     

Synthesis and characterization of pyridine N-oxide complexes of manganese, copper and zinc

A series of metal carboxylates containing pyridine N-oxide are prepared via one pot synthesis and solid phase synthesis. The structural variations from metal to metal are observed. In the case of reactions of manganese(II) acetate with pyridine N-oxide in the presence of aromatic carboxylic acids, polymeric complexes with bridging aromatic carboxylate as well as bridging pyridine N-oxide are observed. Whereas, the reaction of copper(II) acetate with pyridine N-oxide in the presence of an aromatic carboxylic acid led to mononuclear or binuclear paddle wheel carboxylate complexes with monodentate pyridine N-oxide. Co-crystal of two neutral complexes having composition [Cu₂(OBz)₄(MeOH)₂][Cu₂(OBz)₄(pyO)₂] (where OBz = benzoate, pyO = pyridine N-oxide) each neutral parts have paddle wheel structure. Solid phase reaction of zinc chloride with sodium benzoate prepared in situ and pyridine N-oxide leads to a tetra-nuclear zinc complex.     

Ion-pair mechanism in square planar substitution. Reactivity of cationic platinum (II) complexes with negatively charged nucleophiles in solvents of high, medium and low polarity

The rates of displacement of dimethyl sulfoxide from the cation [Pt(phen) (CH₃) (Me₂SO)]⁺ by a series of uncharged and negatively charged nucleophiles have been measured in a methanol/water (19:1 vol./vol.) mixture. The starting complex and the reaction products were characterized either as solids or in solution by their IR and ¹H NMR spectra. The substitution reactions take place by way of a direct bimolecular attack of the ligand on the substrate. The sequence of reactivity observed is as expected on the basis of a nucleophilicity scale relevant for + 1 charged substrates ([Pt(en) (NH₃)Cl]⁺ used as standard). The difference of reactivity between the first (t-BuNH₂) and the last (SeCN⁻) members of the series spans five orders of magnitude. The value measured for the nucleophilic discrimination (1.55) is the highest found so far for cationic substrates. This is a result of the easy transfer of some of the electron density brought in by the incoming ligand into the ancillary ligands. When the reaction is carried out in a series of protic and dipolar aprotic solvents, using chloride ion as nucleophile, the rate of formation of [Pt (phen) (CH₃)Cl] is dominated by the extent of solvation of Cl⁻, as measured by its values of the Gibbs molar energy of transfer Δ_tG⁰. Conductivity measurements at 25°C in dichloromethane were fitted to the Fuoss equation and the values of the dissociation constants K_d for the ion pairs were calculated as follows: 2.27 × 10⁻⁵ M for Bu₄NCl, 2.75 × 10⁻⁵ M for Bu₄NSCN and 17.05 × 10⁻⁵ M for [Pt(phen) (CH₃) (Me₂SO)]PF₆. The pseudo-first-order rate constants k_obs for the reactions with Bu₄NCl, Bu₄NBr, Bu₄NSCN and Bu₄NI showed a curvilinear dependence on the concentration of the salt which levels off very soon (at concentrations higher than 0.005 M the kinetics are zero order in [Bu₄NX]). On addition of the inert electrolyte Bu₄NPF₆ the rates slow down and the kinetics follow the rate law k_obs = kK_ip[Bu₄NX]/[Bu₄NPF₆] + K_ip[Bu₄NX]). These findings fit well with a reaction scheme which involves a pre-equilibrium K_ip between ion pairs, followed by unimolecular substitution within the contact ion pair [Pt(phen) (CH₃) (Me₂SO)X]_ip. Values of the equilibrium constants K_ip for ion-pair exchange and of the internal substitution rates k were derived. The latter showed that the discrimination in reactivity between Cl⁻, Br⁻, SCN⁻ and I⁻ is greatly reduced with respect to aqueous solutions. The reason behind this may be desolvation of the ions coupled to the fact that a contact ion pair is already at a certain distance along the reaction coordinate in the direction of the transition state. Applications of the special salt effect and of ion pairing to synthesis are discussed.     

Systematic coordination chemistry and cytotoxicity of copper(II) complexes with methyl substituted 4-nitropyridine N-oxides

Three new nitrato copper(II) complexes of dimethyl substituted 4-nitropyridine N-oxide were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic, spectroscopic, thermal and X-ray methods, respectively. They were isolated as trans isomers, mononuclear (μ = 1.70-1.88 BM), five (1-2) and four (3) coordinate species of general formula [Cu(NO₃)₂(H₂O)L₂] where L = 2,3-dimethyl-, 2,5-dimethyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide and [Cu (NO₃)₂L₂], L = 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide, respectively. The X-ray crystal structure of (1) (L = 2,3-dimethyl-4-nitropyridine N-oxide) was determined. The organic ligands, the complexes and copper hexaqua ion as a reference were tested in vitro on the cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines: MCF-7 (breast), SW-707 (colon) and P-388 (murine leukemia). The complexes are relatively strong cytotoxic agents towards P-388 cell line. Comparative analysis was performed for all known copper(II) complexes containing methyl derivatives of the 4-nitropyridine N-oxide on the basis of their composition, structure and cytotoxic activities. To obtain the typical structure for these species (i.e., 4-coordinate mononuclear of the type trans-[Cu(inorganic anion)₂L₂]), two methyl groups must be situated on both sides of nitrogen atom(s) (i.e., NO and NO₂) in the ligand. The biological activity was found to be strongly dependent upon the number of the methyl groups and the type of cell line. The best cytotoxic results were found for the complexes without substituents or with one methyl group. Generally, for all cell lines, the complexation increased cytotoxicity when compared with the free ligands.     

Dissociative phosphine exchange for cyclopentadienylmolybdenum(III) systems. Bridging the gap between Werner-like coordination chemistry and low-valent organometallic chemistry

Several phosphine exchange processes on 17-electron CpMoCl₂(PR₃)₂ systems have been investigated. The exchange of two PPh₃ ligands with either two PMe₃ ligands or with Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂ (dppe) is complete within a few minutes at −80 °C. Equally fast is the exchange of two PEt₃ ligands with two PMe₃ ligands. On the other hand, the exchange of two PEt₃ ligands with dppe is much slower ( to a few hours at r.t.), with excess dppe accelerating the exchange and free PEt₃ retarding it. The self-exchange reaction of PMe₃ is extremely slow (less than 25% exchange at r.t. in 6 h at r.t.) and an analysis of the initial rate of this reaction shows a two-term rate law with one [PMe₃]-dependent and one independent term. Finally, PMe₃ self-exchange on Cp^*MoCl₂(PMe₃)₂ proceeds over one order of magnitude faster than for the corresponding Cp system, with a substantially [PMe₃]-independent rate law. All these data are indicative of a dominant dissociative exchange mechanism involving rupture of the Mo---PR₃ bond in the slow step and formation of a 15-electron intermediate. The rate of phosphine dissociation qualitatively correlates with the Mo---P distance in the 17-electron starting complex. Only for the Cp---MoCl₂(PMe₃)₂ system is phosphine dissociation sufficiently slowed down so that the alternative associative exchange pathway becomes competitive. Possible reasons for a low activation barrier in these dissociative exchanges are discussed.