Homogeneous oxidative coupling catalysts. Mechanism of catalysts formation by oxidation of [(Pip)nCuX]4 (n = 1 or 2, Pip = piperidine, X = Cl, Br or I) by dioxygen in aprotic media

This paper reports the mechanism of formation of oxidative coupling catalysts [(Pip)_nCuX]₄O₂, n = 1 or 2 and X = Cl, Br or I, which represent half of the catalytical cycle, Scheme 1. The mechanism has been described as a pre-equilibrium between [(Pip)_nCuX]₄ and O₂. K values are very sensitive to how strong the hydrogen-bonding between copper (I) tetranuclear and incoming dioxygen is, such association is also sensitive to the variation of X. The pronounced pre-equilibrium is the reason behind the oxidation of [(Pip)_nCuI]₄, which is not the case for pyridine type of ligands. The pre-equilibrium followed by rate determining step k₂, which is responsible to the formation of the oxidative coupling catalysts [(Pip)_nCuX]₄O₂. The overall reaction is a second-order process, first order in each [[(Pip)_nCuX]₄] and [O₂], with rate constant k_on (k_on = Kk₂) and exothermic ΔH^≠ varying from −3 to −12 kcal mol⁻¹ and ΔS^≠ varying from −87 to −65 cal deg⁻¹ mol⁻¹. k_on were found to be very sensitive to n value 1 or 2 and to the type of X (Cl, Br or I).     

Homogeneous oxidative coupling catalysts. Mechanism of conversion of 2,6-dimethylphenol [DMP] to 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl-4,4′-diphenoquinone [DPQ] by [(Pip)nCuX]4O2 (n = 1 or 2, Pip = piperidine, X = Cl, Br or I) in aprotic media

This paper represents the mechanism of the second half of the catalytic cycle, Scheme 1, which represents the conversion of 2,6-dimethylphenol [DMP] to 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl, 4,4′-diphenoquinone [DPQ] by homogenous oxidative coupling catalysts [(Pip)_nCuX]₄O₂ in aprotic media. The mechanism can be represented as a pre-equilibrium, K, between the catalyst and 2,6-dimethylphenol to form a complex intermediate which is converted into the activated complex through the rate determining step, k₂, to form the final products. The observed pseudo first-order rate constant is given by k_obs = K k₂[DMP]^y/(1 + K[DMP]^y). When the coordination number around copper(II) is equal to five as in [(Pip)CuX]₄O₂, the system suffers from kinetic saturation due to strong complex formation between catalyst and [DMP] and therefore K[DMP]^y > 10 and k_obs = k₂. Kinetic saturation has been avoided by using six coordinate copper(II) as in [(Pip)₂CuX]₄O₂. The influence of the coordination saturation of copper(II) in [(Pip)₂CuX]₄O₂ helps to evaluate both thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for the system as well as for the structure of the activated complex, (y = 2), which consists of one [(Pip)₂CuX]₄O₂ and two [DMP]. Reduction of copper(II) to copper(I) has been suggested as a rate determining step due to halogen, X, and solvent effects.     

The structural definition of adducts of stoichiometry MX:dpex (2:3)(∞), M = Cu, Ag, X = simple anion, dpex = Ph2E(CH2)xEPh2, E = P, As

Single crystal X-ray structural characterizations are recorded for a number of adducts of MX:dpex (2:3) stoichiometry (MX = simple univalent copper or silver salt; dpex = Ph₂E(CH₂)_xEPh₂ (E = P, As)). CuX:dppe (2:3) (X = Cl, Br, I, CN) are binuclear [(dppe-P,P′)CuX(P-dppe-P′)CuX(P,P′-dppe)], all centrosymmetric. AgX:dpex (2:3) (dpex = ‘dpae’ (Ph₂As(CH₂)₂AsPh₂), X = Br, F₃CCO₂ (= ‘tfa’), F₃CSO₃ (≡ ‘tfs’); dpex = ‘dpape’ (Ph₂As(CH₂)₂PPh₂), X = CN, SCN, OClO₃) are one-dimensional polymers ?-E′)₁AgX(E-dpex-E′)₂-AgX(E-dpex-E′)₁AgX?, P, As sites scrambled in the latter. AgNO₃:dpam (2:3) is also a one-dimensional polymer, ?AgO·NO·OAg(As-dpam-As)AgO·NO·OAg? (‘dpam’ ≡ Ph₂As(CH₂)₂AsPh₂). AgX:dpae (2:3) (X = I, CN, ClO₄, NO₃) and AgX:dpape (2:3) (X = Br, I, NO₃) are two-dimensional polymers with large 30-membered macrocyclic rings; similar webs are found for dppx ligands in AgOH:dppb (2:3) and AgNCO, Agtfa:dpph (2:3) with 42- and 54-membered rings. Complexes AgX:dpape (1:3) (X = Cl, Br) are defined as mono-nuclear [XAg(Ph₂P(CH₂)₂AsPh₂)₃] arrays, the unidentate ligands predominantly P-bound. Synthetic procedures for the adducts are reported, selected compounds being characterized both in solution (¹H, ³¹P NMR, ESI MS) and in the solid state (IR).     

Synthesis, spectroscopic and structural characterization of adducts of stoichiometry CuX:dppe (1:2) (X = I, ClO4, BH4, O3SCF3, SCN, dppe = Ph2P(CH2)2PPh2)

Syntheses and spectroscopic features (IR, NMR and ESI MS) are reported for five 1:2 adducts of CuX with dppe (X = I, ClO₄, NCS, O₃SCF₃ (tfs) BH₄; dppe = Ph₂P(CH₂)₂PPh₂). ESI MS and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy indicate that these species dissociate in solution yielding free diphosphine and 3:2 species. A single crystal X-ray structure determination has been carried out on Cu(dppe)₂NCS defining a four-coordinate complex of the form [(P,P′-dpex)M(P-dpex)X] for M = Cu, the thiocyanate being N-bound; the ionic [Cu(P,P′-dppe)₂]tfs has also been structurally characterized.     

Synthesis and characterisation of the halogenated azanonaboranes [(PrNH2)B8H10XNHPr] (X=Cl, Br, I) and their unexpected hydrolysis to hypho-[B5H10(μ-NHPr)]

Treatment of [(ⁱPrNH₂)B₈H₁₁NHⁱPr] with elemental halogen affords the 8-exo-halogen-substituted derivatives [(ⁱPrNH₂)B₈H₁₀XNHⁱPr] (X=Cl, Br, I). The structures of all three compounds are confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and (for X=Br) by an X-ray diffraction study. The bromoazanonaborane undergoes hydrolytic decomposition to the new five-vertex compound [B₅H₁₀(μ-NHⁱPr)] of hypho-type structure.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of macrocyclic di-n-butyltin(IV) complex with 2-mercapto-4-methyl-5-thiazoleacetic acid, {[n-Bu2Sn(O2CCH2C4H3NS)SS(C4H3NSCH2CO2)Sn n-Bu2]O}2

A novel macrocyclic di-n-butyltin(IV) complex 1 was synthesized by the reaction of di-n-butyltin(IV) oxide and 2-mercapto-4-methyl-5-thiazoleacetic acid. Characterization of the complex 1 was achieved using elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra and X-ray diffraction. X-ray data of the complex 1 revealed that it is an unusual macrocycle containing the bridging-S-S-linkages and tetranuclear ladder based on a planar four-membered Sn₂O₂ ring. In the so-called ladder structure, there are two distinct tin environments, the endocyclic tin atom is best described as five-coordinate and the exocyclic tin atom as six-coordinate.     

Synthetic, spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic structural studies on copper(II) complexes of the aminoguanizone of pyruvic acid

Copper(II) complexes of general empirical formula, CuX(Hagpa) · nH₂O and Cu(agpa) · 2H₂O (H₂agpa = aminoguanizone of pyruvic acid, X = Cl⁻, Br⁻, , CH₃COO⁻, , n = 0, 1, 1.5, 2), have been synthesized and characterized by IR, EPR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The IR spectra of the complexes showed the ONN coordination of the ligand to copper(II) ion. The crystal structures of H₂agpa · H₂O and complexes [Cu(Hagpa)Br] and [Cu₂(Hagpa)₂(H₂O)₂(SO₄)] · DMSO showed an invariable conformation and coordination mode for the uninegatively charged tridentate ligand and revealed the formation of linear polymers in which bromide or sulfate anions bridge the copper(II) ions. The EPR spectra for complexes CuX(Hagpa) · nH₂O are described by spin Hamiltonian for S = 1/2, without hyperfine structure. The g-tensor is symmetrical for Cu(agpa) · 2H₂O, has tri-axial anisotropy for sulfate complexes, and exhibits axial symmetry for the other compounds investigated.     

Synthetic, EPR spectroscopic, magnetic and X-ray crystallographic structural studies on copper(II) complexes of the tridentate N2S donor ligand formed from 6-methyl-2-formylpyridine and S-methyldithiocarbazate (Hmpsme)

New copper(II) complexes of general empirical formula, Cu(mpsme)X · xCH₃COCH₃ (mpsme = anionic form of the 6-methyl-2-formylpyridine Schiff base of S-methyldithiocarbazate; X = Cl, N₃, NCS, NO₃; x = 0, 0.5) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, electronic, EPR and susceptibility measurements. Room temperature μ_eff values for the complexes are in the range 1.75-2.1 μ_B typical of uncoupled or weakly coupled Cu(II) centres. The EPR spectra of the [Cu(mpsme)X] (X = Cl, N₃, NO₃, NCS) complexes reveal a tetragonally distorted coordination sphere around the mononuclear Cu(II) centre. We have exploited second derivative EPR spectra in conjunction with Fourier filtering (sine bell and Hamming functions) to extract all of the nitrogen hyperfine coupling matrices. While the X-ray crystallography of [Cu(mpsme)NCS] reveals a linear polymer in which the thiocyanate anion bridges the two copper(II) ions, the EPR spectra in solution are typical of a magnetically isolated monomeric Cu(II) centres indicating dissociation of the polymeric chain in solution. The structures of the free ligand, Hmpsme and the {[Cu(mpsme)NO₃] · 0.5CH₃COCH₃}₂ and [Cu(mpsme)NCS]_n complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The {[Cu(mpsme)NO₃] 0.5CH₃COCH₃}₂ complex is a centrosymmetric dimer in which each copper atom adopts a five-coordinate distorted square-pyramidal geometry with an N₂OS₂ coordination environment, the Schiff base coordinating as a uninegatively charged tridentate ligand chelating through the pyridine and azomethine nitrogen atoms and the thiolate, an oxygen atom of a unidentate nitrato ligand and a bridging sulfur atom from the second ligand completing the coordination sphere. The [Cu(mpsme)(NCS)]_n complex has a novel staircase-like one dimensional polymeric structure in which the NCS⁻ ligands bridge two adjacent copper(II) ions asymmetrically in an end-to-end fashion providing its nitrogen atom to one copper and the sulfur atom to the other.     

Nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of Schiff base ligands containing N4O2 and N4S2 donors with pyrrole terminal binding groups: Synthesis, characterization, X-ray structures, DFT and electrochemical studies

A series of hexadentate ligands, H₂L^m (m = 1−4), [1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene]{2-[2-(2-{[1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene]amino}phenoxy)ethoxy]phenyl}amine (H₂L¹), [1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene]{2-[4-(2-{[1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene]amino}phenoxy)butoxy]phenyl}amine (H₂L²), [1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene][2-({2-[(2-{[1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene]amino}phenyl)thio]ethyl}thio)phenyl]amine (H₂L³) and [1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene][2-({4-[(2-{[1H-pyrrol-2-lmethylene]amino}phenyl)thio]butyl}thio) phenyl]amine (H₂L⁴) were prepared by condensation reaction of pyrrol-2-carboxaldehyde with {2-[2-(2-aminophenoxy)ethoxy]phenyl}amine, {2-[4-(2-aminophenoxy)butoxy]phenyl}amine, [2-({2-[(2-aminophenyl)thio]ethyl}thio)phenyl]amine and [2-({4-[(2-aminophenyl)thio]butyl}thio)phenyl]amine respectively. Reaction of these ligands with nickel(II) and copper(II) acetate gave complexes of the form ML^m (m = 1−4), and the synthesized ligands and their complexes have been characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques. The solid and solution states investigations show that the complexes are neutral. The molecular structures of NiL³ and CuL², which have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, indicate that the NiL³ complex has a distorted octahedral coordination environment around the metal while the CuL² complex has a seesaw coordination geometry. DFT calculations were used to analyse the electronic structure and simulation of the electronic absorption spectrum of the CuL² complex using TDDFT gives results that are consistent with the measured spectroscopic behavior of the complex. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that all copper complexes are electrochemically inactive but the nickel complexes with softer thioethers are more easily oxidized than their oxygen analogs.     

Structure determination of the 2:1 derivatives of copper(I) bromide and iodide with bis(diphenylphosphino)methane. A simple structural scheme for the formation of (CuX)nLm species

The structures of the complexes (CuX)₂DPM (X = Br, I; DMP = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) were determined from three dimensional X-ray data collected by counter methods. The iodine derivative crystallizes in the space group Pbca with eight units in a cell defined by a = 17.128(9), b = 18.306(9) c, = 16.508 (8) Å. The structure was refined by the least-squares method to a final R factor of 0.054 for 1336 non-zero independent reflections. The bromine derivative crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c with eight units in a cell defined by a = 23.707(1), b = 17.805(9), c = 16.991(1) Å, β = 136.10(5)°. The final least-squares refinement, based on 2489 non-zero independent reflections, gave an R factor of 0.074.Both the compounds have similar structures with a centrosymmetric (CuX)₄ core, in which two copper atoms have a tetrahedral geometry, while the other two are trigonal.The above structures are compared with those already reported for other compounds (CuX)_nL_m and a single scheme is proposed to rationalize the different geometries of the (CuX)_n core on the basis of steric and electronic effects.     

A tetracopper(II) complex with N,N′-bis(picolinoyl)hydrazine

Synthesis, physical properties and X-ray structure of a hydrated tetranuclear copper(II) complex [Cu₄(μ-diph)₂(μ-H₂O)₂(O₂CCH₃)₄(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O with N,N′-bis(picolinoyl)hydrazine (H₂diph) are reported. The centrosymmetric complex has two types of copper(II) centres with distorted square-pyramidal N₂O₃ coordination spheres. The dinucleating trans planar diph²⁻ ligands are parallel to each other and act as N₂O-donor to one metal centre and N₂-donor to the other metal centre. The complex has a rectangular {Cu₄(μ-N-N)₂(μ-OH₂)₂} core with Cu···Cu distances as 4.834(1) and 3.762(1) Å. Solid state as well as solution electronic spectra show several transitions in the wavelength range 700-280 nm. The room temperature (298 K) solid state magnetic moment is 3.55 μ_B. The powder EPR spectra at 298 and 130 K are very similar and axial (g_∥ = 2.25 and g_⊥ = 2.08) in character.     

Spectroscopic, magnetic, and electrochemical studies of a dimeric N-substituted-sulfanilamide copper(II) complex. X-ray and molecular structure of the Cu2(N-(pyridin-2-yl)biphenyl-4-sulfonamidate)4 complex

A dinuclear copper(II) complex with a N-substituted sulfonamide as ligand has been investigated. The new N-(pyridin-2-yl)biphenyl-4-sulfonamide ligand has been prepared and structurally characterized. The copper(II) complex has been synthesized and its crystal structure, magnetic properties and EPR spectra were studied in detail. The metal centers are bridged by four nonlinear triatomic NCN groups. The coordination geometry of the copper(II) ions in the dinuclear entity is distorted square planar with two N-pyridyl and two N-sulfonamido atoms. Magnetic susceptibility data show a moderate antiferromagnetic coupling, with −2 J = 284 cm⁻¹. The EPR spectrum of the polycrystalline sample of the title compound has been measured at the X-band frequency at different temperatures.     

Reactions of copper(II) and nickel(II) compounds of 6-methyl-2-picolylamine with acetone,including and x-ray structural analysis of [Ni(C20H28N4)(NO3)]NO3

The reaction with acetone of nickel(II) and copper(II) bis-chelated compounds of 6-methyl-2-pyridylmethylamine gives compounds of the quadridentate [N₄] ligand 2,6-diaza-1,7-bis-(6′-methyl-2′-pyridyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-hept-2-ene(Q). In the nickel series also, a bis-chelated perchlorate of the terdentate ligand 2-aza-1-(6′-methyl-2′-pyridyl)-3-methyl-hex-2-ene-5-one was obtained. In the copper series, five-coordinate species [Cu(Q)X]X (X = Br, I, NCS) and [Cu(QX]ClO₄ (X = Cl) were isolated. If left in acetone, these undergo further reaction, with increasing ease in the order Cl < Br < I. An intermediate formation of a transient brown colour suggests the possible involvement of a copper(I) intermediate. The nature of the products was established by an X-ray analysis of the structure of [Ni(Q)NO₃]NO₃. Crystals are orthorhombic, a = 20.36(2), b = 13.38(1), c = 8.226(5) Å, space group Pna2₁. Using two-circle diffractometer data (1598 reflections), the structure was solved by Patterson and Fourier methods, and refined by block diagonal least-squares methods to a final R of 0.030. The expected quadridentate ligand was found in the cis-β configuration about the metal, with coordination sphere completed by a bidentate nitrate. Bond-lengths and angles within the molecular cation were unexceptionable considering the small ‘bite’ of the chelated nitrato group of only 59°.     

Spectral properties and bio-activity of copper(II) clofibriates, part III: crystal structure of Cu(clofibriate)2(2-pyridylmethanol)2, Cu(clofibriate)2(4-pyridylmethanol)2(H2O) dihydrate, and Cu2(clofibriate)4(N,N-diethylnicotinamide)2

New copper(II) clofibriates (clof, {2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionic or 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)isobutyric acid}) of composition Cu(clof)₂L₂ (where L=2-pyridylmethanol (2-pymeth) (1), N-methylnicotinamide (Menia) (4), N,N-diethylnicotinamide (Et₂nia) (5), isonicotinamide (isonia) (7) or methyl-3-pyridylcarbamate (mpc) (8)), [Cu(clof)₂(4-pymeth)₂(H₂O)] · 2H₂O (4-pymeth=4-pyridylmethanol) (2 · 2H₂O) and Cu(clof)₂L (where L=4-pymeth (3) or Et₂nia (6)) have been prepared and spectroscopically characterized. All the Cu(clof)₂L₂ compounds seem to possess distorted octahedral copper(II) stereochemistry with differing tetragonal distortions. An X-ray analysis of 1 was carried out and it featured a tetragonal-bipyramidal geometry around the copper(II) atom. X-ray analysis of 2 · 2H₂O featured a square-pyramidal geometry around copper(II) atom. Both the Cu(clof)₂L compounds seem to consist of a binuclear unit of tetracarboxylate type bridging. An X-ray analysis of 6 revealed typical binuclear paddle-wheel type structure, consisting of two copper(II) atoms in square-pyramidal geometry bridged by four carboxylate anions in the xy-plane. All complexes under study were characterized by EPR and electronic spectroscopy. The antimicrobial effects have been tested on various strains of bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi.     

Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystal structure of [Re(L4)(CO)3]Br · 2CH3OH (L4 = N,N-bis[(2-diphenylphosphino)ethyl]methoxyethylamine): A model compound for novel cationic Tc(I)-tricarbonyl radiotracers useful for heart imaging

This report describes synthesis and evaluation of cationic complexes, [^99mTc(CO)₃(L)]⁺ (L = N-methoxyethyl-N,N-bis[2-(bis(3-ethoxypropyl)phosphino)ethyl]amine (L1), N-[(15-crown-5)-2-yl]-N,N-bis[2-(bis(3-ethoxypropyl)phosphino)ethyl]amine (L2) and N-[(18-crown-6)-2-yl]-N,N-bis[2-(bis(3-ethoxypropyl)phosphino)ethyl]amine (L3)) as potential radiotracers for heart imaging. Preliminary results from biodistribution studies in female adult BALB-c mice indicated that the cationic ^99mTc(I)-tricarbonyl complex, [^99mTc(CO)₃(L2)]⁺, has a significant localization in the heart at 60 min post-injection. To understand the coordination chemistry of these bisphosphine ligands with the ^99mTc(I)-tricarbonyl core, we prepared [Re(CO)₃(L4)]Br (L4: N,N-bis[(2-diphenylphosphino)ethyl]methoxyethylamine) as a model compound. [Re(CO)₃(L4)]Br has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ESI-MS, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹H-¹H COSY, and ¹H-¹³C HMQC) methods, and X-ray crystallography. In solid state, [Re(CO)₃(L4)]⁺ has a distorted octahedron coordination geometry with PNP occupying one facial plane. The chelator backbone adopts a “chair” conformation with phosphine-P atoms at equatorial positions and the amine-N at the apical site. In solution, [Re(CO)₃(L4)]⁺ is able to maintain its cationic nature with no dissociation of carbonyl ligands or any of the three PNP donors.     

Synthetic and mechanistic studies on ruthenium dicarbonyl complexes containing PhP(CH2CH2CH2PCy2)2 (Cyttp) ligand

A synthetic and mechanistic study is reported on ligand substitution and other reactions of six-coordinate ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes containing tridentate PhP(CH₂CH₂CH₂PCy₂)₂ (Cyttp). Carbonylation of cis-mer-Ru(OSO₂CF₃)₂(CO)(Cyttp) (1) affords [cis-mer-Ru(OSO₂CF₃)(CO)₂(Cyttp)]O₃SCF₃ (2(O₃SCF₃)) and, on longer reaction times, [cis-mer-Ru(solvent)(CO)₂(Cyttp)](O₃SCF₃)₂ (solvent = acetone, THF, methanol). 2(O₃SCF₃) reacts with each of NaF, LiCl, LiBr, NaI, and LiHBEt₃ to yield [cis-mer-RuX(CO)₂(Cyttp)]⁺ (X = F (3), Cl (4), Br (5), I (6), H (7)), isolated as 3-7(BPh₄). These conversions proceed with high stereospecificity to afford only a single isomer of the product that is assigned a structure in which the Ph group of Cyttp points toward the CO trans to X (anti when X = F, Cl, Br, or I; syn when X = H). Treatment of 2(O₃SCF₃) with NaOMe and CO generates the methoxycarbonyl complex [cis-mer-Ru(CO₂Me)(CO)₂(Cyttp)]⁺ (8), whereas addition of excess n-BuLi to 2(O₃SCF₃) in THF under CO affords mer-Ru(CO)₂(Cyttp) (9). The two ¹³C isotopomers [cis-mer-Ru(OSO₂CF₃)(CO)(¹³CO)(Cyttp)]O₃SCF₃ (2′(O₃SCF₃): ¹³CO trans to P_C; 2″(O₃SCF₃): ¹³CO cis to all P donors) were synthesized by appropriate adaptations of known transformations and used in mechanistic studies of reactions with each of LiHBEt₃, NaOMe/CO, and n-BuLi. Whereas LiHBEt₃ reacts with 2′(O₃SCF₃) and 2″(O₃SCF₃) to replace triflate by hydride without any scrambling of the carbonyl ligands, the corresponding reactions of NaOMe-CO are more complex. The methoxide combines with the CO cis to triflate in 2, and the resultant methoxycarbonyl ligand ends up positioned trans to the incoming CO in 8. A mechanism is proposed for this transformation. Finally, treatment of either 2′(O₃SCF₃) or 2″(O₃SCF₃) with an excess of n-BuLi leads to the formation of the same two ruthenium(0) isomers of mer-Ru(CO)(¹³CO)(Cyttp). These products represent, to our knowledge, the first example of a syn-anti pair of isomers of a five-coordinate metal complex.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a chain coordination polymer {[Cu4L2(H2O)] · H2O}n

A chain coordination polymer with the chemical formula {[Cu₄L₂(H₂O)] · H₂O}_n, has been synthesized by the assembly reaction of K₂CuL · 1.5H₂O and Cu(OAC)₂ · H₂O with a 1:1 mole ratio in methanol, where H₄L = 2-hydroxy-3-[(E)-({2-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)imino]ethyl}imino)methyl] benzoic acid, OAC⁻ = CH₃COO⁻. The crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, the compound has chain molecular structure formed by dissymmetrical tetranuclear units. The magnetic measurements showed that Cu-Cu of the complex exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions, and satisfactory fittings to the observed magnetic susceptibility data were obtained by assuming a binuclear system, and further using molecular field approximation to deal with magnetic exchange interactions between binuclear systems.     

The first monoribbed-functionalized tris-dioximate iron(II) clathrochelate with two inherent NH2-substituents, its reactivity, acid-base and coordination-chemical properties

The diamine bis-α-benzildioximate iron(II) clathrochelate with two inherent NH₂-groups at one of the three ribbed fragments was obtained in a high yield by nucleophilic substitution of the dichlorine-containing macrobicyclic precursor with liquid ammonia. These amino-groups have an essential amide character and undergo deprotonation in the presence of strong bases. The resulted clathrochelate dianion behaves as an acido-ligand and coordinates to copper(II) ion giving the heteronuclear copper(II)-iron(II) complexes with the Cu(N⁻)₄ coordination polyhedron. The reaction of this dianion with benzil afforded the clathrochelate product with annulated heterocyclic ribbed piperazinone fragment as a result of benzilic-type rearrangement with 1,2-shift of the phenyl substituent.The complexes obtained have been characterized using elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF, IR, UV-Vis, multinuclear NMR and EPR spectra, and X-ray crystallography. N₆-coordination polyhedra of their encapsulated iron(II) ions possess a distorted trigonal-prismatic geometry.     

Syntheses of new ferrocenylphosphinecopper(I) complexes and their application to the valence isomerization of norbornadiene to quadricyclene

Copper(I) chloride and bromide reacted with an equimolar amount of ferrocenyldiphenylphosphine (PFcPh₂) in refluxing benzene, affording the new tetrameric complexes [CuX(PFcPh₂)]₄ (1, X= Cl; 2, X = Br) as yellow microcrystals. Their bipyridyl (bpy) derivatives [CuX(bpy)(PFcPh₂)] (3, X=Cl; 4, X=Br) were prepared also. When copper(I) chloride was allowed to react with abundant PFcPh₂, only the mononuclear complex [CuCl(PFcPh₂)₂] (5) was isolated. THF solutions of the copper(I) complexes and 2,5-norbornadiene (Nbd) were irradiated at 366 nm, and the valence isomerization of Nbd to quadricyclene (Q) was observed. Quantum yields with 1 and 2 were about 0.011 and 0.008, respectively, and those with other complexes were very small. ³¹P NMR studies were performed for the complexes in the presence of Nbd or norbornene, and the key photoactive species in the isomerization with 1 and 2 were determined to be their ground state copper-Nbd adducts, i.e. ‘CuX(PFcPh₂)(Nbd)’. Photoexcitation of the adducts was assumed to give rise to the valence isomerization and to release Q.     

Metal-metal bonding and charge localisation in [Ru2X9], X=Cl or Br; n=1, 2, 3, 4. A spectroelectrochemical study

A spectroelectrochemical study of [Ru₂X₉]ⁿ⁻, X=Cl, Br; n=1, 2, 3, 4 has been undertaken. Stable solutions of n=4, 2, 1 can be formed by electrolysis at low temperatures. Analysis of the Vis-NIR spectra of the complexes indicate that the Ru^II---R^III dimers (n=4) have delocalised mixed valence and that the Ru^III---R^III (n=3) dimers have a strong Ru---Ru bond. The more oxidised materials do not form a Ru---Ru bond; the spectroscopic data indicates the Ru^III---R^IV dimers have localised valency.