Mechanofluorochromic behaviours of functionalized carbazole-based difluoroboron compounds with different aryl substituents moieties

To better understand the relationship between molecular structure and mechanofluorochromic characteristics, three carbazole-based N^O-chelated difluoroboron compounds ( Cz-S-BF ₂ , Cz-PhNp-S-BF ₂ , and Cz-BNp-S-BF ₂ ) with different aryl substituents moieties were designed and synthesized. The mechanofluorochromic behaviours of Cz-S-BF ₂ (luminescence from bluish-green to yellowish-green, emission from 504 to 535 nm) without aryl substitution and Cz-PhNp-S-BF ₂ (luminescence from green and yellow, emission from 521 to 557 nm) with a phenyl-naphthalene group underwent reversible conversion using the grinding–fuming process. For Cz-BNp-S-BF ₂ this was not apparent due to the well coplanarity of the binaphthalene moiety. Mechanofluorochromic properties were demonstrated through XRD patterns measurement. We envisage that this study will provide a practicable reference to acquire organic molecules with mechanofluorochromic characteristics.     

Synthesis, characterization, crystal structures, and photophysical properties of a series of room-temperature phosphorescent copper(I) complexes with oxadiazole-derived diimine ligand

In this paper, we report four phosphorescent Cu(I) complexes of [Cu(OP)(PPh₃)₂]BF₄, [Cu(Me-OP)(PPh₃)₂]BF₄, [Cu(OP)(POP)]BF₄, and [Cu(Me-OP)(POP)]BF₄ with oxadiazole-derived diimine ligands, where OP = 2-(5-phenyl-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)-pyridine, Me-OP = 2-(5-p-tolyl-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)-pyridine, POP = bis(2-(diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl) ether, and PPh₃ = triphenylphosphane, including their synthesis, crystal structures, photophysical properties, and electronic nature. The Cu(I) center has a distorted tetrahedral geometry within the Cu(I) complexes. Theoretical calculation reveals that all emissions originate from triplet metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer excited state. It is found that the inter-molecular sandwich structure triggered by inter- and intra-molecular pi-stacking within solid state Cu(I) complexes is highly effective on restricting the geometric relaxation that occurs in excited states, and thus greatly enhances the photoluminescence (PL) performances, including PL quantum yield improvement, PL decay lifetime increase, and emission blue shift.     

Metal chelates of heterocyclic nitrogen-containing ketones. XIV. Metal ion,anion and substituent effects on the enolization of mono-keto compounds

A number of new complexes of iron(II), cobakt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and palladium(II) containing 2-picolyl-p-nitrophenyl- or 2-picolyl-p-tolyl ketone, L and L′, respectively, and various anions (Cl^?, Br^?, NSC^?, BF₄^? or ClO₄^?) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, ESR, IR and reflectance spectral measurements. The stereochemistry and the nature of the complexes are markedly dependent upon the molar of the reactants, the anions and the ligand substituents. In all complexes the ligands are cheated to the metal ion via the pryridine nitrogen and the carbonyl oxygen atoms, whereby in the case of [ML₂]X₂, M = iron(II) and [ML₃]X₂, M = cobalt(II) or nickel(II) and X = ClO₄^? or BF₄^?, the 2-picolyl-p-nitrophenyl ketone exists in its enol form which is only deprotonated in the presence of palladium(II). The ligand field parameters (Dq, B′, λ and β) are calculated and related to the electronic environment and the basicity of the ligands.     

Synthesis, structure and cytotoxicity studies of four-coordinate bis (cis-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethene) gold(I) complexes, [Au(dppey)2]X

Four-coordinate 1:2 gold(I) complex salts with cis-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethene, [Au(dppey)₂]X have been synthesized for X = PF₆⁻, CF₃SO₃⁻, BF₄⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻ and BPh₄⁻ and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. Single crystal X-ray structure determinations show the BF₄⁻, Cl⁻ and Br⁻ complexes to be isostructural, although with different degrees of hydration, while the BPh₄⁻ complex crystallizes as an acetone solvate with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The Au(P-P)₂ core for the BF₄⁻, Cl⁻ and Br⁻ complexes adopts D₂ symmetry with Au-P bond lengths 2.3980(7)-2.4009(7) Å and inter-ligand P-Au-P angles 114.78(2)-127.82(2))°. The Au(P-P)₂ core in the BPh₄⁻ complex is unsymmetrical with Au-P bond lengths 2.364(1)-2.420(1) Å and inter-ligand P-Au-P angles 104.76(5)-137.50(4)°. In vitro cytotoxicity studies show the PF₆⁻, CF₃SO₃⁻, BF₄⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻ and I⁻ complexes to be potent and selective growth inhibitors of the human cell lines MCF7 (hormone-dependent breast cancer), MDA-MB-231 (hormone-independent breast cancer), MM96L (melanoma), CI80-13S (cisplatin resistant ovarian cancer) and a normal cell line NFF (neonatal foreskin fibroblasts), achieving IC₅₀ values between 13 and 196 nM. The halogen and triflate salts were approximately twice as potent towards the MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines compared to the PF₆⁻ and BF₄⁻ derivatives; while the cytotoxicity of all complexes towards the sensitive CI80-13S and MM96L cancer cell lines was approximately 10-fold greater than that displayed towards the normal human cell line (NFF).     

Heteropolymetallic complexes of 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf). IV. Solvolytic behavior and cytostatic properties towards the KB cell-line of dppf and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane cis-complexes of Pt(II) and Pd(II)

The novel cis-platinum(II) complexes [(dppe)Pt(μ-OH)]₂(BF₄)₂ and [(dppe)Pt(DMF)₂](BF₄)₂ have been prepared and characterized by ³¹P NMR, together with cis-[(dppe)Pt(μ-Cl)]₂(BF₄)₂, both in poorly and strongly coordinating solvents (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane). All these complexes and their dppf analogs (dppf = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) as well as (dppf)PtCl₂, (dppe)PtCl₂, (dppf)PdCl₂, [(dppf)Pd(μ-Cl)]₂(BF₄)₂ and [(dppf)Pd(μ-OH)]₂(BF₄)₂ have been tested as antiproliferating agents towards Eagle's KB cell-line. Their activity is compared with that of free diphosphine ligands. For Pt(II) complexes, the ID₅₀ figures are found to be higher than those observed for free dppf and dppe. On the contrary, the activity of the palladium dppf complexes is substantially identical to that of free diphosphine.     

EPR study of the oxidation reaction of nickel(0) phosphine complexes with Lewis and Brønsted acids

The oxidation of Ni(PPh₃)₄ with BF₃ · OEt₂, H₃CCOOH, and F₃CCOOH, and that of (PPh₃)₂Ni(C₂H₄) with BF₃ · OEt₂ is studied by EPR spectroscopy. The reaction of the Ni(0) complexes with BF₃ · OEt₂ gives Ni(II) complexes with which they react to form Ni(I) compounds with covalent Ni-F and Ni-B bonds that transform with excess BF₃ · OEt₂ into cationic paramagnetic Ni(I) complexes. Acetic acid also adds oxidatively to Ni(PPh₃)₄ to form a Ni(II) complex that reacts further to give Ni(I) hydride and carboxylate complexes. The Ni(I) hydride is transformed by the acid into the Ni(I) carboxylate with release of hydrogen, the amount of which depends on the rate of acid addition. The following Ni(I) complexes are identified in the reaction medium: [Ni(PPh₃)₃]BF₄, [(PPh₃)₂Ni(OEt₂)]BF₄, [(PPh₃)Ni(OEt₂)_n]BF₄, (PPh₃)₂NiBF₂, (PPh₃)₃NiOOCCH₃, and [(PPh₃)₂Ni(OEt₂)P(OEt)₃]BF₄. Oxidation schemes of Ni(0) complexes by Lewis and Brønsted acids are given.     

Reactivity of [PdCl(bdtp)](BF4) with monodentate neutral and anionic ligands. Structure of [Pd(bdtp)(PPh3)](BF4)2 (bdtp = 1,5-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)-3-thiapentane)

Complex [PdCl(bdtp)](BF₄), in presence of AgBF₄ or NaBF₄, reacts with pyridine (py), triphenylphosphine (PPh₃), cyanide (CN⁻), thiocyanate (SCN⁻) or azide (N₃⁻) ligands, leading to the formation of the following complexes: [Pd(bdtp)(py)](BF₄)₂ [1](BF₄)₂, [Pd(bdtp)(PPh₃)](BF₄)₂ [2](BF₄)₂, [Pd(CN)(bdtp)](BF₄) [3](BF₄), [Pd(SCN)(bdtp)](BF₄) [4](BF₄) and [Pd(N₃)(bdtp)](BF₄) [5](BF₄). These complexes were characterised by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, conductivity measurements, infrared and NMR spectroscopies. The crystal structure of [2](BF₄)₂ was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The metal atom is coordinated by two azine nitrogen atoms, and one sulfur atom of the thioether-pyrazole ligand and one triphenylphosphine in a distorted square-planar geometry.     

Dinuclear copper(I) complexes containing diimine and phosphine ligands: Synthesis, copper-copper separation and photophysical properties

Dinuclear copper(I) complexes with bridging bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)methane (dcpm) or bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) and 2,2′-bipyridine or 2-[N-(2-pyridyl)methyl]amino-5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridine (L), [Cu₂(bpy)₂(dppm)₂](BF₄)₂ (1), [Cu₂(bpy)₂(dcpm)](BF₄)₂ (2), [Cu₂(L)(dppm)](BF₄)₂ (3) and [Cu₂(L)(dcpm)](BF₄)₂ (4) were prepared, and their structures were determined by X-ray crystal analysis. Two-, three-, and four-coordinate copper(I) centers are found in these complexes. Compounds 3 and 4 show close Cu^I?Cu^I separations of 2.664(3) and 2.674(1) Å, respectively, whereas an intramolecular copper-copper distance of 3.038 Å is found in 2 having only dcpm as an additional bridge. Powdered samples of 1, 3, and 4 display intense and long-lived phosphorescence with λ_max at 533, 575, and 585 nm at room temperature, respectively. In the solid state, 2 exhibits only a weak emission at 555 nm. The time-resolved absorption and emission spectra of these complexes were investigated. The difference in the emission properties among complexes 1-4 suggests that both Cu^I?Cu^I distances and coordination environment of the copper(I) centers affect the excited-state properties.     

Synthesis and characterization of phosphorescent iridium complexes containing trifluoromethyl-substituted phenyl pyridine based ligands

Several iridium complexes containing trifluoromethyl-substituted phenyl pyridine based ligands have been synthesized and characterized to try to investigate the effect of trifluoromethyl group and its position on physical properties. The complexes have the general structure of (C-N)₂Ir(LX), where the C-N are 2-phenylpyridine (ppy), 2-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyridine (fmppy), 2-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenyl)-4-methylpyridine (fmpmpy), 2-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-trifluoromethylpyridine (tfmppy) and the LX are 2-picolinic acid (pic) and acetylacetonate (acac). The (tfmppy)₂Ir(pic) was characterized using X-ray crystallography. The absorption, emission, and thermostability of the complexes were systematically investigated. Introduction of CF₃ substituents into 2-phenylpyridine in (ppy)₂Ir(pic) lead to some decrease in the sublimation temperature, which is more suitable to devices fabrication. The experimental results revealed that the emissive colors of these complexes could be finely tuned by suitable incorporation of trifluoromethyl substituents on the 2-phenylpyridine ligand, obtaining bright green-blue emission λ_max values from 471 to 489 nm in CH₂Cl₂ solution at room temperature, with high solution quantum efficiencies ranging from 0.37 to 1.89 relative to Ir(ppy)₃.     

New nickel complexes with an S4 coordination sphere; synthesis, characterization and reactivity towards nickel and iron compounds

Three new nickel complexes have been synthesized with the ligands Hbss (4-mercapto-2-thia-1-butylbenzene) and Hbsms (2-(benzylsulfanyl)-2-methyl-1-propanethiol). [Ni(bss)₂] is a mononuclear complex with an S₄ coordination environment. [Ni₃(bss)₄](BF₄)₂ and [Ni₃(bsms)₄](BF₄)₂ are linear trinuclear complexes that can be synthesized either directly from the ligands Hbss and Hbsms in a reaction with Ni(BF₄)₂, or via the mononuclear complexes [Ni(bss)₂] and [Ni(bsms)₂] in a reaction with Ni(BF₄)₂. These reactions have been monitored with ligand field spectroscopy. Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction were obtained for [Ni₃(bss)₄](BF₄)₂. The complex crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c. The nickel centers are in a square-planar environment; two peripheral nickel centers with an S₂S₂^′ (S=thiolato; S^′=thioether) coordination environment and the central nickel ion with an S₄ coordination environment.The mononuclear nickel complexes [Ni(bss)₂] and [Ni(bsms)₂] were reacted with FeCl₂, resulting in the hetero-tetranuclear nickel-iron complexes [Ni(bss)₂FeCl₂]₂ and [Ni(bsms)₂FeCl₂]₂. All complexes were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods.     

Multistimuli-responsive fluorescence behaviours of aggregation-induced emission small-molecule and electrospun nanofibre films for acid–base vapour sensing

Multistimuli-responsive fluorescent materials have garnered great research interest benefited from their practical applications. Two twisted-structure compounds containing tetraphenylethylene (TPE) as the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) group and a pyridine unit as the acid reaction site to obtain new multistimuli-responsive fluorescent compounds (namely, TPECNPy: TPECNPy-2 and TPECNPy-3) were successfully synthesized through a one-step Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The multiple-stimuli response process of TPECNPy was investigated by means of photoluminescence (PL) spectra and emission colour. The results showed that both TPECNPy compounds with excellent AIE abilities displayed reversible emission wavelength and colour changes in response to multiple external stimuli, including grinding–fuming by CH₂Cl₂ or annealing and HCl-NH₃ vapour fuming. More importantly, fluorescent nanofibre films were prepared by electrospinning a solution of TPECNPy mixed with cellulose acetate (CA), and these exhibited reversible acid-induced discolouration, even with only 1 wt% TPECNPy. The results of this study may inspire strategies for designing multistimuli-responsive materials and preparing fluorescent sensing nanofibre films.     

Synthesis, structures and spectroscopic properties of new 1,2-bis[2-(4-methyl-7-acetylamino-1,8-naphthyridine)]ethylene ligand and its binuclear copper(I) complexes

The synthesis, characterization, spectroscopic properties of a new ligand 1,2-bis[2-(4-methyl-7-acetylamino-1,8-naphthyridine)]ethylene (L) and its two binuclear Cu(I) complexes containing triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) or bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm), [Cu₂(L)(PPh₃)₄](BF₄)₂·2CH₂Cl₂ (1·2CH₂Cl₂) and [Cu₂(L)(dppm)₂](BF₄)₂·4H₂O (2·4H₂O) are reported. The structural investigation of these compounds based on X-ray crystal analysis shows that the copper(I) centers adopt different coordination geometries, O(N)CuP₂⁺ and NCuP₂⁺ for complexes 1 and 2, respectively. Upon irradiation of a degassed organic solution of L at 365 nm, photoinduced isomerization reaction and an intramolecular proton transfer of ligand L were detailed studied by absorption spectral changes. A spectroscopic investigation involving time-dependent density functional theory calculations allows assignment of the excited states that relate to emission and transient absorption spectra. The observed lower-energy absorption bands appearing in the region of 413 and 418 nm for 1 and 2 in dichloromethane are assigned to ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT, phosphine → napy) transition in nature. Compared with well-structured solid-state emission originating from ππ^∗ transition of ligand L, complexes 1 and 2 exhibit intense room-temperature solid-state emissions with λ_max at 586 and 620 nm, respectively. The energy and the shape of the emission bands are clearly different from that of the ligand, indicating the emissions come from different excited states.     

Effects of imidazolium room temperature ionic liquids on the fluorescent properties of norfloxacin

The effects of 12 imidazolium room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), including [C_nmim]BF₄, [C_nmim]PF₆, and [C_nmim]Br (n = 4, 6, 8, 10), on the fluorescent properties of norfloxacin were examined. The fluorescence intensity of norfloxacin at 0.1 mg/L in methanol significantly increased with the addition of [C_nmim]BF₄ and [C_nmim]PF₆ into the solvent at 0.1–15.0%. The sensitizing effect may result from the higher viscosity of the RTILs–methanol mixture solvent than that of the methanol itself. However, the quenching effect on fluorescence of norfloxacin was observed in [C_nmim]Br–methanol solvent. The fluorescence intensities of norfloxacin decreased with an increase in the alkyl chain length of the alkyl substituents of the imidazolium ring of RTILs. The main interaction between the RTILs and norfloxacin is not by hydrogen bonding. The fact, that some RTILs can significantly sensitize fluorescence of norfloxacin, indicates that RTILs could be a group of promising solvents for development of sensitive spectrofluorimetric methods for determination of norfloxacin at ultra‐trace levels in environmental samples. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cyanoscorpionates: Co(II), Mn(II), and Ni(II) complexes coordinated only through the cyano group

New complexes have been synthesized of scorpionate ligands with cyano substituents in the 4-positions of the pyrazoles and tert-butyl substituents in the 3-positions of the pyrazoles. Reaction of Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Ni(cyclam)²⁺ (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) with Tp^t-Bu,4CN in a 1:2 ratio produced new octahedral metal complexes of the form (Tp^t-Bu,4CN)₂ML₄ (L₄ = (H₂O)₄, (H₂O)₂(MeOH)₂, or cyclam). Unlike the sandwich complexes previously isolated with Tp^Ph,4CN, the crystal structures showed none of the pyrazole nitrogen atoms coordinated to the metal. Rather, the metal is coordinated to one CN nitrogen atom from each ligand, with two Tp anions coordinated trans to each other around the metal center. This leaves the Tp pyrazole nitrogen atoms open for another metal to coordinate, which could to lead to heterometallic complexes, new coordination polymers, as well as the framework for supramolecular complexes.     

3,5-Bis(diphenylphosphinoethyl)pyrazolate ligand (PNNP) and its dirhodium complexes: Comparison with related quadridentate dinucleating diphenylphosphinomethyl (PNNP) and phthalazine derivatives (PNNP)

Dirhodium carbonyl complex with the 3,5-bis(diphenylphosphinoethyl)pyrazolato ligand (PNNP^C2), [(μ-κ²:κ²-PNNP^C2)Rh₂(CO)₃]BF₄, is prepared and its reactivity is studied as compared with the previously reported 3,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyrazolate (PNNP), [(μ-κ²:κ²-PNNP){Rh(CO)₂}₂]BF₄, and 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phthalazine (PNNP^Ph) derivatives, [(μ-κ²:κ²-PNNP^Ph){Rh(CO)₂}₂](BF₄)₂. The three quadridentate ligands are different in the size of the central ring and the charge; six-membered ring/neutral (PNNP^C2) vs. five-membered ring/mono-negative (PNNP) vs. six-membered ring/neutral (PNNP^Ph). The number of the carbonyl ligands (n) in the dirhodium carbonyl complexes, [(μ-PNNP)Rh₂(CO)_n](BF₄)_x, is dependent on the dinucleating ligand: n = 2 (PNNP^Ph), 3 (PNNP^C2) and 4 (PNNP^Py). The three dirhodium carbonyl complexes serve as 4e-acceptors, and their reactivities turn out to be very similar as can be seen from formation of the analogous, unique tetranuclear μ₄-acetylide ([(μ-PNNP)₂{Rh(CO)}₄(μ₄-CC-R)](BF₄)_x) and μ₄-dicarbide complexes ([(μ-PNNP)₂{Rh(CO)}₄(μ₄-C₂)](BF₄)_x).     

Complexes of chromium(II) and iron(II) with hexamethylphosphoramide

The chromium(II) complexes CrX₂(HMPA)₂, in which X = Cl or Br and HMPA is hexamethylphosphoramide, and Cr(HMPA)₄(BF₄)₂ have been prepared. The effective magnetic moments show little deviation from the value expected for high spin chromium(II) from room temperature to liquid nitrogen temperature. The diffuse reflectance spectra suggest that the chromium ions are in a strongly distorted six coordinate environment. The iron(II) complexes, FeX₂(HMPA)₂, X = Br or I, and [Fe(HMPA)_4](BF₄)₂, from their magnetic behaviour and Mössbauer and electronic spectra, contain tetrahedral iron(II). The isomer shift of the last complex is the most positive so far reported for a tetrahedral iron(II) complex.     

Optical activity of dimolybdenum complex induced by chiral,chelating diamine ligand; syntheses and structures of [Mo2(O2CCF3)2(S,S-dach)2(CH3CN)2][BF4]2 and [Mo2(O2CCF3)2(R,R-dach)2(CH3CN)2][BF4]2 (dach=1,2-diaminocyclohexane)

The first structurally characterized, quadruply bonded complexes containing chiral diamine ligands, [Mo₂(O₂CCF₃)₂(S,S-dach)₂(CH₃CN)₂][BF₄]₂ (1), and [Mo₂(O₂CCF₃)₂(R,R-dach)₂(CH₃CN)₂][BF₄]₂ (2); (dach=1,2-diaminocyclohexane) were prepared by reactions of [Mo₂(O₂CCF₃)₂(CH₃CN)₆][BF₄]₂ with S,S-dach and R,R-dach, respectively, in CH₃CN. Their UV–Vis and circular dichroism (CD) spectra have been recorded and their structures determined by X-ray crystallography. Crystals of complexes 1 and 2 conform to the space groups P2 with two independent half molecules in the asymmetric unit. The two molecules have a similar structure consisting of a Mo₂ unit bridged by two cis-trifluoroacetate ligands and chelated by two dach ligands. Two acetonitrile molecules are coordinated to the Mo centers along the MoMo bond. The absorption wavelength at 507 nm for both 1 and 2 can be assigned to δ_xy→δ_xy* transitions. The solution CD spectra of these two complexes show two prominent bands at 525 and 385 nm and form mirror images of each other. The solid CD spectra of complexes 1 and 2 show marked red-shift in the absorption energies as compared with those measured in solution. The one-electron static coupling mechanism was invoked to explain the CD spectra for these complexes and the second lowest energy bands were assigned to be δ_xy→δ_x²−y² transitions.     

Coordination polymers of 1,8-bis(2-methylthioethoxy)anthraquinone and 1,5-bis(2-methylthioethoxy)anthraquinone with Ag(I): Synthesis and X-ray crystallography

The reaction of 2-(methylthioethanol) with 1,8-dichloroanthraquinone and 1,5-dichloroanthraquinone in THF with base produces 1,8-bis(2-methylthioethoxy)anthraquinone (1) and 1,5-bis(2-methylthioethoxy)anthraquinone (2), respectively. Silver(I) complexes of 1 and 2 have been synthesized after combination with [Ag(CH₃CN)₄]BF₄ in 1:1 M ratio to yield, [(1,8-bis(2-methylthioethoxy)anthraquinone)Ag]BF₄, (3) and [(1,5-bis(2-methylthioethoxy)anthraquinone)Ag·CH₃CN]BF₄, (4). X-ray crystal structures of the free ligand (1) and the Ag(I) complexes (3 and 4) are reported. The intraannular carbonyl group forms a coordinate-covalent bond with Ag(I) and, in the solid state, both silver(I) complexes are found as coordination polymers.     

Enhanced activity,enantioselectivity and stability of papain in asymmetric hydrolysis of d,l-p-hydroxyphenylglycine methyl ester with ionic liquid

Papain-mediated asymmetric hydrolysis of D,L-p-hydroxyphenylglycine methyl ester (D,L-HPGME) was examined in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIM·BF₄) and different solvents. The activity of the enzyme varied widely with change in BMIM·BF₄ concentration, with 12.5% (v/v) being the optimum BMIM·BF₄ concentration for the reaction. Papain displayed much higher hydrolytic activity and enantioselectivity in phosphate buffer solution of 12.5% (v/v) BMIM·BF₄ (pH 7.0) than in other media examined. Comparative studies on the kinetics and activation energy (E_a) of this reaction performed in different media showed a higher V_max, a lower K_m and a lower E_a for the reaction taking place in phosphate buffer solution of 12.5% (v/v) BMIM·BF₄ than in other media tested. The stability of papain at 45°C was considerably enhanced in BMIM·BF₄ as compared with aqueous buffer, 2-propanol and acetonitrile. A half-life time of 169 h was observed with BMIM·BF₄ in the presence of substrate, which was 9.2–16.8-fold higher than those with the other solvents. These results suggested that BMIM·BF₄ is an excellent reaction medium for this reaction.     

Novel carbon-centered heteroscorpionate ligands: Cu(I) complexes and luminescence properties

Herein, we describe the synthesis of N,N′,S donor ligands 2-(1-(3,5-diisopropyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-3-(methythio)propyl)-4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridine (L1) and 2-(1-(3,5-diisopropyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-(methythio)ethyl)-4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridine (L2). Cu(I) complexes were prepared by reacting L1 or L2 with [Cu(CH₃CN)₄]BF₄ or CuCl. The coordination behavior of the thioether arm of the ligands was found to determine the nuclearity of the resulting complexes, in which [Cu(L1)PPh₃]BF₄ (1) is polynuclear, [Cu(L2)PPh₃]BF₄ (2) is mononuclear, while [Cu(L1)]₂(BF₄)₂ (3), [Cu(L2)CH₃CN]₂(BF₄)₂ (4), and [Cu(L1)Cl]₂ (5) are dinuclear. In the dimeric complex [Cu(L2)Cl]₂ (6), the sulfur atoms are not metal-bound. Rather, the two bridging chloride ions link the two copper centers. Compounds 4-6 are luminescent in the solid state, and exhibit emission bands centered at 490 nm (4), 544 nm (5), and 562 nm (6), respectively. Their excitation spectra display bands at 280 nm and 380 nm. According to DFT calculations, the HOMO is distributed partially over the metal centers and partially over the chloride anions (5 and 6) or the sulfur atoms (4) of the ligands, while the LUMO is a π∗ antibonding pyridine orbital. This suggests that the emission properties are derived from metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT), halide-to-ligand charge-transfer (XLCT), and ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (LLCT) excited states.