Transition metal complexes (M = Cu, Ni and Mn) of Schiff-base ligands: Syntheses, crystal structures, and inhibitory bioactivities against urease and xanthine oxidase

Six new transition metal complexes (M = Cu(II), Ni(II) and Mn(III)) of tridentate (H₂L¹, HL²) and/or bidentate (HL³, HL⁴) Schiff-base ligands, obtained from the condensation of salicylaldehyde with glycine, N-(2-aminoethyl)morpholine, 4-(2-aminoethyl)phenylic acid and 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzsulfamide, respectively, were synthesized and structurally determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Complexes 1-6 were evaluated for their effect on the jack bean urease and xanthine oxidase (XO). Copper(II) complexes 1-3 (IC₅₀ = 0.43-2.25 μM) showed potent inhibitory activity against jack bean urease, comparable with acetohydroxamicacid (IC₅₀ = 42.12 μM), which is a positive reference. And these copper(II) complexes (IC₅₀ = 10.26-15.82 μM) also exhibited strong ability to inhibit activity of XO, comparable to allopurinol (IC₅₀ = 10.37 μM), which was used as a positive reference. Nickel(II) and manganese(III) complexes 4-6 showed weak inhibitory activity to jack bean urease (IC₅₀ = 4.36-8.25 μM) and no ability to inhibit XO (IC₅₀ > 100 μM).     

Amido functional phthalocyanines as metal ion sensor; synthesis, characterization, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, in-situ spectroelectrochemistry

Tetrasubstituted metal ion sensor amido functional phthalocyanines, PyMA-MPc, {PyMA: [N¹,N³-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)malonamide], M = Pd(II), Cu(II) and Co(II)} bearing amido functionality on the periphery were synthesized from the corresponding tetrasubstituted diethylmalonate substituted phthalocyanines, DEM-MPc (DEM: diethylmalonate; M = Pd(II), Cu(II) and Co(II)), and 2-aminopyridine in N,N-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) solvent. The new complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR and mass spectra. Peripheral malonamide groups of the phthalocyanine complexes serve as exocyclic binding sites for metal ion, such as Pd^II and also increase the solubility in protic solvents, i.e MeOH. Protonation of the pyridyl groups with HCl formed quaternized salts of the MPc, N¹,N³-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)malonamide substituted metallophthalocyanines (PyMA-PdPc×8HCl) which are freely soluble in aqueous media. Methylation of M[Pc(CH(COOC₂H₅)₂)₄] with CH₃I gave the octacationic 2(3),9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetrakis-[N¹,N³-bis(N-methylpyridin-2-ylmethyl)malonamide]-phthlocyaninato Cu(II) salts which are freely soluble in water. Voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical studies show that while PyMA-Pd(II)Pc and PyMA-Cu(II)Pc give ring-based reversible/quasi-reversible redox processes, PyMA-Co(II)Pc give both metal and ring-based, reversible/quasi-reversible electron transfer processes.     

Synthesis, structures and properties of alkaline earth metal benzene-1,4-dioxylacetates with three-dimensional hybrid networks

Three novel alkaline earth metal benzene-1,4-dioxylacetates M(L)H₂O (M = Ca, Sr or Ba, L = benzene-1,4-dioxylacetate) with three-dimensional (3D) hybrid frameworks were reported. Both Ca(L)H₂O (1) and Sr(L)H₂O (2) crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c while Ba(L)H₂O (3) in the monoclinic space group P2₁. As determined by X-ray single-crystal analysis, in these compounds each metal ion is coordinated by eight O atoms: four from different carboxylate groups, two from one carboxylate group, one from the ether oxygen and one from one water molecule. Each L²⁻ ligand coordinates to five alkaline earth metal centers through one of its ether oxygen atoms and two carboxylate groups adopting novel μ₃-η²:η²-bridging and μ₂-η¹:η¹-bridging coordination modes to give rise to a 3D network. The luminescence analysis shows that complexes 1 and 2 exhibit fluorescence in the solid state at room temperature.     

A new example of a tetranuclear iron(III) cluster containing the [Fe4O2] core: preparation, X-ray crystal structure, magnetochemistry and Mössbauer study of [Fe4O2(O2CMe)6(N3)2(phen)2]

Two synthetic procedures have been employed that allow access to the new tetranuclear cluster [Fe₄O₂(O₂CMe)₆(N₃)₂(phen)₂] (1), where phen is 1,10-phenanthroline. Complex 1 · 3MeCN displays an unusual structural asymmetry (observed for the second time) in its [Fe₄O₂]⁸⁺ core that can be considered as a hybrid of the bent (butterfly) and planar dispositions of four metal ions seen previously in such compounds with transition metals. Complex 1 has been characterized by variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies, and by IR and variable-temperature ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopies. Magnetochemical data reveal a diamagnetic ground state (S=0) with antiferromagnetic body-body and body-wingtip interactions between the iron(III) ions of the butterfly core (J_bb=−11 cm⁻¹, J_wb=−70 cm⁻¹). Magnetochemical and Mössbauer studies on 1 show that its structural asymmetry has practically no influence on these properties compared with the more symmetric types.     

Synthesis and characterisation of new N1-alkyl-3,5-dipyridylpyrazole derived ligands. Study of their reactivity with Pd(II) and Pt(II)

Two new pyrazole-derived ligands, 1-ethyl-3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazole (L¹) and 1-octyl-3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazole (L²), both containing alkyl groups at position 1 were prepared by reaction between 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl) pyrazole and the appropriate bromoalkane in toluene using sodium ethoxide as base.The reaction between L¹, L² and [MCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] (M = Pd(II), Pt(II)) resulted in the formation complexes of formula [MCl₂(L)] (M = Pd(II), L = L¹ (1); M = Pd(II), L = L² (2); M = Pt(II), L = L¹ (3); M = Pt(II), L = L² (4)). These complexes were characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, infrared, ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and HMQC spectroscopies. The X-ray structure of the complex [PtCl₂(L²)] (4) was determined. In this complex, Npyridine and Npyrazole donor atoms coordinate the ligand to the metal, which complete its coordination with two chloro ligands in a cis disposition.     

Synthesis, structure, sorption and magnetic properties of Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes with thiosemicarbazone of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, bridged by 4,4′-bipyridine

(ML)₂(bipy) complexes (LH₂ = thiosemicarbazone of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, bipy = 4,4′-bipyridine, M = Ni(II), 1, or Cu(II), 2) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 possessed porous structure due to peculiarities of crystal packing, whereas 2 formed infinite zig-zag chains with dense non-porous packing. It was shown that 1 absorbed 0.013 cm³/g of methanol vapor in two steps. Complex 1 was diamagnetic; for 2, the dependency of χ versus T could be interpreted by Bleaney-Bowers expression in 20-300 K temperature range (J = −6.8 cm⁻¹, g = 2.07).     

A fluorescent ligand rationally designed to be selective for zinc(II) over larger metal ions. The structures of the zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of N,N-bis(2-methylquinoline)-2-(2-aminoethyl)pyridine

The metal ion coordinating properties of the ligands N,N-bis(2-methylquinoline)-2-(2-aminoethyl)pyridine (DQPEA) and N,N-bis(2-methylquinoline)-2-(2-aminomethyl)pyridine (DQPMA) are presented. DQPEA and DQPMA differ only in that DQPEA forms six-membered chelate rings that involve the pyridyl group, whereas DQPMA forms analogous five-membered chelate rings.These two ligands illustrate the application of a ligand design principle, which states that increase of chelate ring size in a ligand will result in increase in selectivity for smaller relative to larger metal ions. The formation constants (log K₁) of DQPEA and DQPMA with Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) are reported. As expected from the applied ligand design principle, small metal ions such as Ni(II) and Zn(II) show increases in log K₁ with DQPEA (six-membered chelate ring) relative to DQPMA (five-membered chelate ring), while large metal ions such as Cd(II) and Pb(II) show decreases in log K₁ when the chelate ring increases in size. In order to further understand the steric origin of the destabilization of complexes of metal ions of differing sizes by the six-membered chelate ring of DQPEA, the structures of [Zn(DQPEA)H₂O](ClO₄)₂ (1) [triclinic, , a = 9.2906(10), b = 10.3943(10), c = 17.3880(18) Å, α = 82.748(7)°, β = 88.519(7)°, γ = 66.957(6)°, Z = 4, R = 0.073] and [Cd(DQPEA)(NO₃)₂] (2) [monoclinic, C2/c, a = 22.160(3), b = 15.9444(18), c = 16.6962(18) Å, β = 119.780(3)°, Z = 8, R = 0.0425] are reported. The Zn in (1) is five-coordinate, with a water molecule completing the coordination sphere. The Cd(II) in (2) is six-coordinate, with two unidentate nitrates coordinated to the Cd. It is found that the bonds to the quinaldine nitrogens in the DQPEA complexes are considerably stretched as compared to those of analogous TPyA (tri(pyridylmethyl)amine) complexes, which effect is attributed to the greater steric crowding in the DQPEA complexes. The structures are analyzed for indications of the origins of the destabilization of the complex of the large Cd(II) ion relative to the smaller Zn(II) ion. A possible cause is the greater distortion of the six-membered chelate ring in (2) than in (1), as evidenced by torsion angles that are further away from the ideal values in (2) than in (1). Fluorescence properties of the DQPMA and DQPEA complexes of Zn(II) and Cd(II) are reported. It is found that the DQPEA complex of Zn(II) has increased fluorescence intensity compared to the DQPMA complex, while for the Cd(II) complex the opposite is found. This is related to the greater strain in the six-membered chelate ring of the Cd(II) DQPEA complex as compared to the Zn(II) complex, with resulting poorer overlap in the Cd-N bond, and hence greater ability to quench the fluorescence in the Cd(II) complex.     

1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione complexes of middle transition elements: Mono- and dinuclear derivatives

The synthesis and the characterization of several mono- and dinuclear middle transition metal derivatives of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione, 1, are presented. The reaction of 1 with CrCl₂(THF)₂ gives CrCl₂(O,O′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)(THF)₂, 2, while the halides of iron(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) afford adducts of general formula MX₂(N,N′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂), M = Fe, 4, Co, 5, X = Cl; M = Ni, 6, X = Br. DFT calculations on CrCl₂(L)(THF)₂ with L = O,O′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂ or O,O′-C₁₄H₈O₂ allowed a direct comparison of the coordination properties of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone and 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione to be made. Dinuclear compounds of general formula CrCl₂(THF)₂(O,O′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂-N,N′)MX_nL_m, M = Zr, 7, X = Cl, n = 4, m = 0; M = Cr, 8, X = Cl, n = 2, L = THF, m = 2; M = Fe, 9, Co, 10, X = Cl, n = 2, m = 0; M = Ni, 11, X = Br, n = 2, m = 0, are prepared from 2 and the corresponding metal halide, while VCp₂(O,O′-C₁₂H₆N₂O₂-N,N′)FeCl₂, 12, is synthesized by reacting 4 with VCp₂. The electronic properties of the different complexes are investigated by magnetic moment measurements and EPR spectroscopy.     

Construction of crystal structures of metal(II)-benzoates (M = Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, and Cd) and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane: Effects of metal coordination modes and their catalytic activities

Five polymeric metal(II)-benzoate complexes of formula [Mn(O₂CPh)₂(CH₃OH)₂(bpa)]_n (1-Mn), [Co(O₂CPh)₂(H₂O)(bpa)_1.5]_n (2-Co), [Ni(O₂CPh)₂(H₂O)(bpa)_1.5]_n (3-Ni), [Cu(O₂CPh)₂(CH₃OH)₂(bpa)]_n (4-Cu), and [Cd(O₂CPh)₂(bpa)_1.5]_n (6-Cd) have been synthesized and characterized (bpa = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane). They showed two kinds of structures: parallelogram-like two-dimensional sheets for Co, Ni, and Cd, and one-dimensional chains for Mn, Cu, and Zn. Since similar structures provide similar coordination geometries, the structures depend on the coordination geometries of metal ions. The compounds 1-Mn, 2-Co, 4-Cu, 5-Zn, and 6-Cd have catalyzed efficiently the transesterification of a variety of esters, while 3-Ni has displayed a very slow conversion. The reactivity of catalyst 6-Cd containing Cd ion, well known as an inert metal ion for the ligand substitution, was found to be comparable to that of 5-Zn. The reactivities of the compounds used in this study are in the order of 5-Zn > 6-Cd > 1-Mn > 4-Cu > 2-Co ? 3-Ni, indicating that the non-redox metal-containing compounds (5-Zn and 6-Cd) show better activity than the redox-active metal-containing compounds (1-Mn, 4-Cu, 2-Co, and 3-Ni).     

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

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

Assembly of two low-dimensional coordination polymers from Ag(I) and Cd(II) and 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine

Polydentate nitrogen heterocycle ligand 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (2,3-dpp) reacted with M(NO₃)_x (M = Ag, x = 1; M = Cd, x = 2) to give two new complexes [Ag(2,3-dpp)(NO₃)]₂ (1) and [Cd(2,3-dpp)(NO₃)₂]_n (2). Both complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray analyses showed that complex 1 crystallized in monoclinic, space group P2₁/n is a dimmer containing penta-coordinated Ag⁺ ion. While compound 2 has 1D chain-like structure with repeat unit Cd(2,3-dpp)(NO₃)₂, in which the Cd(II) presents octa-coordinated N4O4 donor set with two four-membered chelating rings and two five-membered chelating rings around Cd(II) ion. Meanwhile, every neutral chain [Cd(2,3-dpp)(NO₃)₂]_n is mutually connected by face-to-face π?π packing interactions to form a two dimensional layer. Furthermore, antibacterial activities of compound 1 and luminescent property of the compound 2 are also investigated.     

Assembly of metal coordination framework, [M(C5O5)(dpe)], with a 2D bi-layer architecture: Thermal stability and magnetic properties (M = Mn, Fe, Cd and Co; dpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane)

A series of coordination polymers, [M(C₅O₅)(dpe)] (M = Mn 1, Fe 2, Cd 3 and Co 4; dpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane) with a 2D metal-organic framework (MOF) has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Structural determination reveals that compounds 1-4 are isostructural and possess a 2D brick-wall-like layered framework with a rectangle grid as the basic building unit through the connectivity of metal ions with μ₃-, μ₄-croconates and anti-dpe ligands. Two 2D layers are then cross-linkaged by gauche-dpe ligands to complete a 2D bi-layered MOF and then extended to a 3D supramolecular architecture through π-π and C-H?O interactions between the croconate and pyridyl rings of dpe, which exhibit high thermo-stability and keep their crystalline forms up to 350 °C. The magnetic exchange coupling between the metal centers for compounds 1, 2 and 4 was analyzed and based on the Curie-Weiss expression and a binuclear magnetic model. The negative values of the Weiss constant and the magnetic exchange coupling constant indicate the antiferromagnetic nature between the metal ions via the bridges of bis-bidentate adjacent μ₃-croconate ligands.     

Structure and characterization of a μ-phenoxo-bis μ-acetato dinuclear Mn(II,II) complex [Mn2(LO)(μ-OAc)2](ClO4) (LOH = 2,6-bis{bis(2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl)aminomethyl}-4-methylphenol): Substituent effects

The synthesis, structure and characterization of the dinuclear Mn(II) complex [Mn₂(LO)(μ-OAc)₂](ClO₄) (1) where LOH = 2,6-bis{bis(2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl)aminomethyl)}-4-methylphenol are reported. The reaction of Mn(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with the dinucleating ligand LOH and H₃CCOONa in the presence of NEt₃ in dry, degassed methanol and under an argon atmosphere, yields 1 as a colorless powder. The crystal structure of 1, determined by X-ray diffraction methods, shows a dinuclear Mn(II) complex in which two Mn(II) ions, each in six-coordinate approximate octahedral coordination, are bridged by the phenolate oxygen of LO⁻ and by two acetate ions in a syn,syn-1,3-bridging mode. The Mn-Mn distance is 3.557(1) Å and Mn-O_phenolate-Mn angle is 112.50(9)°. Cyclic voltammetry of 1 in acetonitrile solution shows a quasi-reversible wave at E_1/2 = 0.65 V, for the Mn₂(II,II)/Mn₂(II,III) redox process, and an irreversible oxidation peak at E_p,c = 1.22 V versus Ag/AgCl for the Mn₂(II,III) to Mn₂(III,III) oxidation process. Controlled potential electrolysis of 1 in acetonitrile solution at 0.85 V (versus Ag/AgCl) takes up 1 F of charge per mole of 1 to yield a brown solution of the Mn₂(II,III) state of the complex, which, however, is unstable and reverts back to the Mn₂(II,II) state in solution at room temperature. Least square fitting of the variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on powdered sample of 1 is obtained with g = 1.888, J = −2.75 cm⁻¹, Par = 0.008, TIP = 0. The low −J value and the room temperature calculated magnetic moment of the complex (5.30 BM per Mn(II)), which is less than the spin-only moment of Mn(II), show that the two Mn(II) ions are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled.     

Rhenium(III) and technetium(III) complexes with 2-mercapto-1,3-azole ligands and X-ray crystal structures

Reactions of labile [MCl₃(PPh₃)₂(NCMe)] (M = Tc, Re) precursors with 1H-benzoimidazole-2-thiol (H₂L¹), 5-methyl-1H-benzoimidazole-2-thiol (H₂L²) and 1H-imidazole-2-thiol (H₂L³), in the presence of PPh₃ and [AsPh₄]Cl gave a new series of trigonal bipyramidal M(III) complexes [AsPh₄]{[M(PPh₃)Cl(H₂L^1-3)₃]Cl₃} (M = Re, 1-3; M = Tc, 4-6). The molecular structures of 1 and 3 were determined by X-ray diffraction. When the reactions were carried out with benzothiazole-2-thiol (HL⁴) and benzoxazole-2-thiol (HL⁵), neutral paramagnetic monosubstituted M(III) complexes [M(PPh₃)₂Cl₂(L^4,5)] (M = Re, 8, 9; M = Tc, 10, 11) were obtained. In these compounds, the central metal ions adopt an octahedral coordination geometry as authenticated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 8 and 11. Rhenium and technetium complexes 1, 4 and rhenium chelate compounds 8, 9 have been also synthesized by reduction of [MO₄]⁻ with PPh₃ and HCl in the presence of the appropriate ligand. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy.     

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

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

Synthesis, structure, and properties of monomeric Fe(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) complexes of neutral N-(aryl)-2-pyridinecarboxamides

We have prepared and structurally characterized six-coordinate Fe(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) complexes of types [M^II(HL¹)₂(H₂O)₂][ClO₄]₂ (M = Fe, 1; Co, 3; and Ni, 5) and [M^II(HL²)₃][ClO₄]₂ · MeCN (M = Fe, 2 and Co, 4) of bidentate pyridine amide ligands, N-(phenyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide (HL¹) and N-(4-methylphenyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide (HL²). The metal centers in bis(ligand)-diaqua complexes 1, 3 and 5 are coordinated by two pyridyl N and two amide O atoms from two HL¹ ligands and six-coordination is completed by coordination of two water molecules. The complexes are isomorphous and possess trans-octahedral geometry. The metal centers in isomorphous tris(ligand) complexes 2 and 4 are coordinated by three pyridyl N and three amide O atoms from three HL² ligands. The relative dispositions of the pyridine N and amide O atoms reveal that the pseudo-octahedral geometry have the meridional stereochemistry. To the best of our knowledge, this work provides the first examples of structurally characterized six-coordinate iron(II) complexes in which the coordination is solely by neutral pyridine amide ligands providing pyridine N and amide O donor atoms, with or without water coordination. Careful analyses of structural parameters of 1-5 along with that reported in the literature [M^II(HL¹)₂(H₂O)₂][ClO₄]₂ (M = Cu and Zn) and [Co^III(L²)₃] have allowed us to arrive at a number of structural correlations/generalizations. The complexes are uniformly high-spin. Spectroscopic (IR and UV/Vis) and redox properties of the complexes have also been investigated.     

Functional model for intradiol-cleaving catechol 1,2-dioxygenase: Synthesis, structure, spectra, and catalytic activity of iron(III) complexes with substituted salicylaldimine ligands

A series of mononuclear iron(III) complexes with containing phenolate donor of substituted-salicylaldimine based ligands [Fe(L¹)(TCC)] · CH₃OH (1), [Fe(L²)(TCC)] · CH₃OH (2), [Fe(L³)(TCC)] (3), and [Fe(L⁴)(TCC)] (4) have been prepared and studied as functional models for catechol dioxygenases (H₂TCC = tetrachlorocatechol, or HL¹ = N′-(salicylaldimine)-N,N-diethyldiethylenetriamine, HL² = N′-(5-Br-salicylaldimine)-N,N-diethyldiethylenetriamine, HL³ = N′-(4,6-dimethoxy-salycyl-aldimine)-N,N-diethyl-diethylenetriamine, HL⁴ = N′-(4-methoxy-salicylaldimine)-N,N-diethyl-diethylenetriamine). They are structural models for inhibitors of enzyme-substrate adducts from the reactions of catechol 1,2-dioxygenases. Complexes 1-4 were characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystal structural analysis. The coordination sphere of Fe(III) atom of 1-4 is distorted octahedral with N₃O₃ donor set from the ligand and the substrate TCC occupying cis position, and Fe(III) is in high-spin (S = 5/2) electronic ground state. The in situ prepared iron(III) complexes without TCC, [Fe(L¹)Cl₂], [Fe(L²)Cl₂], [Fe(L³)Cl₂], and [Fe(L⁴)Cl₂] are reactive towards intradiol cleavage of the 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (H₂DBC) in the presence of O₂ or air. The reaction rate of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase depends on the redox potential and acidity of iron(III) ions in complexes as well as the substituent effect of the ligands. We have identified the reaction products and proposed the mechanism of the reactions of these iron(III) complexes with H₂DBC with O₂.     

Unexpected reactivity resulting from modifications of the ligand periphery: Synthesis, structure, and spectroscopic properties of iron complexes of new tripodal N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands

The chelating ligand tris-[2-(3-aryl-imidazol-2-ylidene)ethyl]amine (TIMEN^R, R = aryl = 2,6-xylyl (xyl), mesityl (mes)) has provided access to reactive transition metal complexes. Here, two new tripodal N-heterocyclic carbene ligands of the TIMEN^R system (R = aryl = tolyl (tol), 3,5-xylyl (3,5xyl)), featuring sterically less demanding aryl substituents were synthesized. With these ligands, Fe(II) precursor complexes could be obtained, namely [(TIMEN^tol)Fe](BF₄)₂ (3) and [(TIMEN^3,5xyl)Fe(CH₃CN)](PF₆)₂ (7), which showed unexpected reactivity upon reduction. Treatment of the compounds with sodium amalgam yield the tris- and bis-metallated products, [(TIMEN^tol∗∗∗)Fe] (4) and [(TIMEN^3,5xyl∗∗)Fe] (8), respectively. While the Fe(III) complex 4 is relatively inert towards oxygen, the Fe(II) complex 8 is prone to oxidation. This oxidation of 8 can readily be observed in chlorinated solvents, producing the Fe(III) complex [(TIMEN^3,5xyl∗∗)Fe](PF₆) (9). All new ligand imidazolium precursors and metal complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray structure determination.     

Structural and magnetic diversity in metal-dicyanamido polymer moieties: Paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic 1D chain compound and weakly ferromagnetic 2D motif

The reaction of M(NO₃)₂·xH₂O (M = Cu, Ni and Co; x = 3 for Cu and x = 6 for Co/Ni), imidazole (Im) and sodium dicyanamide (dca) afforded the complexes [M(Im)₂(dca)₂] (where M = Cu for 1, M = Ni for 2, and M = Co for 3). All of them have been characterized structurally by single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. X-ray analysis reveals that the dicyanamido ligand features the μ_1,3 bridging mode that led to the formation of two-dimensional structure of complex 1 while complexes 2 and 3 attribute an infinite one-dimensional chain like structure to generate the fascinating molecular assemblies. The {N(CN)₂}⁻ ligands present in the complexes 2 and 3 are coordinated in end-to-end (μ_1,5) fashion. All the complexes have distorted octahedral geometry around the central metal ion and coordinated by two amine nitrogen atoms from imidazole ligands and four nitrogen atoms from dca ligands. The variable temperature (2-300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that the magnetic interaction between the metal centers in the complex 1 is dominantly ferromagnetic while the metal ions in complex 3 are antiferromagnetically coupled. On the contrary, complex 2 is a simple paramagnet. The results of magnetic model are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Syntheses and structures of photochromic molybdenum(II) and rhodium(II) complexes with 1,2-dicyano-1,2-bis(2,4,5-trimethyl-3-thienyl)ethene

Four novel Mo(II) and Rh(II) complexes with cis-1,2-dicyano-1,2-bis(2,4,5-trimethyl-3-thienyl)ethene (cis-dbe) or closed-dbe were synthesized and characterized. Employing [M(O₂CCF₃)₄] (M = Mo, Rh) with cis-dbe or closed-dbe afforded complex [Mo₂(O₂CCF₃)₄(cis-dbe)](benzene) (1), [Rh₂(O₂CCF₃)₄(cis-dbe)](benzene) (2), [{Mo₂(O₂CCF₃)₄}₂(closed-dbe)] (3), and [Rh₂(O₂CCF₃)₄(closed-dbe)](p-xylene) (4). The structures of four metal complexes were revealed by X-ray crystallographic analyses and the correlation between the crystal structures and the photochromic performance was discussed. In all complexes, two cyano groups of the ligand bridged two dimetal carboxylates to give a 1-D zigzag infinite chain structure. Upon irradiation with 405 nm light, complex 1 turned into reddish purple from yellow, and the color reverted to initial yellow on exposure to 563 nm light, indicating the reversible cyclization/ring-opening reaction in the crystalline phase. However, the Rh(II) complex 2 did not display similarities in reaction induced by light, which is attributable to the lower ratio of photoactive anti-parallel conformers compared with complex 1 and coordination effect of metal ions on photochromism of diarylethenes. The complexes of Rh(II) ions did not exhibit the expected reversible photoinduced behavior.