Structure and magnetic properties of Ln2[Cu(opba)]3(DMSO)6(H2O) · (H2O) compounds with LnLa-Lu exhibiting ladder-like molecular motifs

The reaction of Ln(III) ions with the precursor [Cu(opba)]²⁻ in DMSO has afforded a series of isostructural compounds of general chemical formula Ln₂[Cu(opba)]₃(DMSO)₆(H₂O) · (H₂O), where Ln(III) stands for a lanthanide ion and opba stands for ortho-phenylenebis(oxamato). The crystal structure has been solved for the Gd(III) containing compound. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbn2₁ (No. 33) with a = 9.4183(2) Å, b = 21.2326(4) Å, c = 37.9387(8) Å and Z = 4. The structure consists of ladder-like molecular motifs parallel to each other. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first Ln(III)Cu(II) coordination polymer family exhibiting the same crystal structure over the whole lanthanide series. The magnetic properties of the compounds have been investigated and the magnetic behavior of the Gd(III) containing compound was studied in more detail.     

High-valent bis(oxo)-bridged dinuclear manganese oxamates: Synthesis, crystal structures, magnetic properties, and electronic structure calculations of bis(μ-oxo)dimanganese(IV) complexes with a binucleating o-phenylenedioxamate ligand

Two novel bis(oxo)-bridged dinuclear manganese(IV) complexes with the binucleating ligand o-phenylenebis(oxamate) (opba), formulated as (Me₄N)₄[Mn₂O₂(opba)₂] (1a) and (Me₄N)₂(Ph₄P)₂[Mn₂O₂(opba)₂] · 8H₂O (1b), have been synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. Like the parent complex (Ph₄P)₄[Mn₂O₂(opba)₂] · 4H₂O (1c), they possess unique Mn₂(μ-O)₂ bridging cores with two additional o-phenylenediamidate bridges which lead to exceptionally short Mn-Mn distances (2.63-2.67 Å) and fairly bent Mn-O-Mn angles (93.8-95.5°). Complexes 1a-c show a moderate to strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two high-spin Mn^IV ions through the bis(oxo)bis(o-phenylenediamidate) quadruple bridge (−J = 70-164 cm⁻¹; H = −JS₁ · S₂). Along this series, the −J values increase with the shortening of the Mn-Mn distance and/or the lessening of the Mn-O-Mn angle. Electronic structure calculations on model complexes reproduce the observed dependence of −J with the Mn-O-Mn angle at short intermetallic distances, and reveal that the magnetic coupling is dominated by the in-plane 3d_x²-y² type superexchange pathway via the oxo bridges with a small but nonnegligible contribution from direct 3d_x²-y² type Mn-Mn σ-bond.     

Structures and properties of octaethylporphinato(phenolate)iron(III) complexes with NH?O hydrogen bonds: modulation of Fe-O bond character by the hydrogen bond

Iron(III) porphinate complexes of phenolate that have NH?O hydrogen bonds on the coordinating oxygen, [Fe^III(OEP){O-2,6-(RCONH)₂C₆H₃}] (R = CF₃ (1), CH₃ (3)) and [Fe^III(OEP)(O-2-RCONHC₆H₄)] (R = CF₃ (2), CH₃ (4)) (OEP = 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethyl-21H, 23H-porphinato), were synthesized and characterized as models of heme catalase. The presence of NH?O hydrogen bonds was established by their crystal structures and IR shifts of the amide NH band. The crystal structure of 1 shows an extremely elongated Fe-O bond, 1.926(3) Å, compared to 1.887(2) Å in 2 or 1.848(4) Å in [Fe^III(OEP)(OPh)]. The NH?O hydrogen bond decreases an electron donation from oxygen to iron, resulting in a long Fe-O bond and a positive redox potential.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a novel iron(III) 18-azametallacrown-6 compound

A novel macrocyclic hexanuclear iron(III) 18-azametallacrown-6 compound, [Fe₆(C₉H₇N₂O₃)₆(CH₃OH)₆]·8CH₃OH·2H₂O, has been prepared using a trianionic pentadentate ligand N-acetylsalicylhydrazide (ashz³⁻) and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Due to the meridional coordination of the ligand to the Fe³⁺ ion, the ligand enforces the stereochemistry of the Fe³⁺ ions as a propeller configuration with alternating Λ/Δ forms. The disc-shaped hexanuclear ring shows about 6.20 Å in diameter at entrance, about 9.31 Å at its largest diameter at the center of the cavity, respectively. There are many kinds of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the title compound. The OH?O hydrogen bond distances range from 2.609(5)-2.901(5) Å. The magnetic susceptibility (4-275K) study indicates antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the adjacent Fe³⁺ ions around the ring.     

A structural study of the hydrated and the dimethylsulfoxide, N,N′-dimethylpropyleneurea, and N,N-dimethylthioformamide solvated iron(II) and iron(III) ions in solution and solid state

The structures of the solvated iron(II) and iron(III) ions have been studied in solution and solid state by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) in three oxygen donor solvents, water, dimethylsulfoxide (Me₂SO), N,N′-dimethylpropyleneurea (DMPU), and one sulfur donor solvent, N,N-dimethylthioformamide (DMTF); these solvents have different coordination and solvation properties. In addition, the structure of hexakis(dimethylsulfoxide)iron(III) perchlorate has been determined crystallographically to support the determination of the corresponding solvate in solution. The hydrated, the dimethylsulfoxide and N,N-dimethylthioformamide solvated iron(II) ions show regular octahedral coordination in both solution and solid state with mean Fe-O, Fe-O, and Fe-S bond distances of 2.10, 2.10, and 2.52 Å, respectively, whereas the N,N′-dimethylpropyleneurea iron(II) solvate is five-coordinated, d(Fe-O) = 2.06 Å. The compounds vary in color from light green (hydrate) to dark orange or red (DMPU). The hydrated iron(III) ion in aqueous solution and the dimethylsulfoxide solvated iron(III) ions in solution and solid state show the expected octahedral coordination, the Fe-O bond distances are 2.00 Å for both, whereas the N,N′-dimethylpropyleneurea iron(III) solvate is found to be five-coordinated with a mean Fe-O bond distance of 1.99 Å. The N,N-dimethylthioformamide solvated iron(III) ion in the solid perchlorate salt is tetrahedrally four-coordinated, the mean Fe-S bond distance is 2.20 Å. Iron(III) is reduced with time to iron(II) in N,N-dimethylthioformamide solution. The compounds vary in color from pale yellow (hydrate) to blackish red (DMPU).     

Structural similarity and functional diversity in diiron-oxo proteins

 Diiron-oxo proteins currently represent one of the most rapidly developing areas of bioinorganic chemistry. All of these proteins contain a four-helix bundle protein fold surrounding a (μ-carboxylato)diiron core, and most, if not all, of the diiron(II) sites appear to react with O₂ as part of their functional processes. Despite these common characteristics, an emerging functional diversity is one of the most striking aspects of this class of proteins. X-ray crystal structures of diiron(II) sites are now available for four of these proteins: hemerythrin (Hr), the hydroxylase protein of methane monooxygenase (MMOH), the R2 protein of Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase (RNR-R2), and a plant acyl-carrier protein Δ⁹-desaturase. The structure of the diiron(II) site in Hr, the sole O₂ carrier in the group, is clearly distinct from the other three, whose function is oxygen activation. The Hr diiron site is more histidine rich, and the oxygen-activating diiron sites contain a pair of (D/E)X_30–37EX₂H ligand sequence motifs, which is clearly not found in Hr. The Hr diiron site apparently permits only terminal O₂ coordination to a single iron, whereas the oxygen-activating diiron(II) centers present open or labile coordination sites on both irons of the center, and show a much greater coordinative flexibility upon oxidation to the diiron(III) state. Intermediates at the formal Fe^IIIFe^III and Fe^IVFe^IV oxidation levels for MMOH and formal Fe^IIIFe^IV oxidation level for RNR-R2 have been identified during reactions of the diiron(II) sites with O₂. An [Fe₂(μ-O)₂]^4+, 3+ "diamond core" structure has been proposed for the latter two oxidation levels. The intermediate at the Fe^IIIFe^IV oxidation level in RNR-R2 is kinetically competent to generate a stable, functionally essential tyrosyl radical. The Fe^IVFe^IV oxidation level is presumed to effect hydroxylation of hydrocarbons in MMOH, but the mechanism of this hydroxylation, particularly the involvement of discrete radicals, is currently controversial. The biological function of diiron sites in three members of this class, rubrerythrin, ferritin and bacterioferritin, remains enigmatic. Received: 31 July 1996 / Accepted: 4 October 1996     

Solid state coordination chemistry: the hydrothermal synthesis and structure of a bimetallic oxide incorporating 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy), [{VO(terpy)}MoO4]

The hydrothermal reaction of MoO₃, Na₃VO₄, 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy) and H₂O in the mole ratio 1.53:1.00:1.30:1460 at pH 3 yields red crystals of [{VO(terpy)}MoO₄] (1) in 55% yield. The structure of 1 is a one-dimensional chain of {VO(terpy)}²⁺ units bridged in the characteristic O,O′-mode by {MoO₄}²⁻ tetrahedra. Crystal data: C₁₅H₁₁N₃O₅MoV, orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a=26.145(1) Å, b=6.7607(4) Å, c=9.2496(5) Å, V=1634.9(2) ų, Z=2, D_calc=1.869 g cm⁻³; structure solution and refinement converged at R₁=0.0335 and wR₂=0.0735.     

Iron(III) induced 2-phenyl imidazolidine ring hydrolysis of a new binucleating Schiff base ligand: X-ray structure of the mononuclear Fe(NNO)2 end product

The reaction of triethylenetetramine, salicylaldehyde and benzaldehyde in 1:2:1 mole ratio in methanol at room temperature affords a novel μ-bis(tridentate) ligand H₂L′ through the formation of an imidazolidine ring within the parent hexadentate precursor in a two step reaction. The ligand H₂L′ reacts with Fe(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O in aqueous methanol in the presence of triethylamine to form the mononuclear [Fe^IIIL](ClO₄) complex, (where L²⁻ is the anion of the parent hexadentate H₂saltrien ligand) after the cleavage of the imidazolidine ring. The mononuclear complex has a structure with an N₄O₂ donor atom set of the hexadentate ligand forming a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around the metal atom as established from a crystal structure determination. The Fe-N(imine) distances are 1.934(10) and 1.948(9) Å, Fe-N(amine) distances are 2.062(8) and 2.076(9) Å and Fe-O(phenol) distances are 1.864(8) and 1.872(7) Å. The terminal oxygen donor atoms occupy cis positions and the remaining four nitrogen atoms (two cis amine and two trans imine) complete the coordination sphere. The mononuclear complex has a magnetic moment 1.89 μ_B corresponding to the low-spin 3d⁵ configuration. The UV-Vis spectrum of the end product, after the imidazolidine ring hydrolysis, is different from the spectrum of the initial reaction mixture containing the μ-bis(tridentate) ligand H₂L′.     

Synthesis, characterization, and magnetic properties of new binuclear CuCu bis(oxamato) complexes

Two new neutral, binuclear Cu^IICu^II bis(oxamato) complexes with the formula [Cu₂(opba)(pmdta)(MeOH)] · 1/2MeOH · dmf (3) and [Cu₂(nabo)(pmdta)(MeOH)] (4), with opba = o-phenylene-bis(oxamato), nabo = 2,3-naphthalene-bis(oxamato), pmdta = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine and dmf = dimethylformamide have been synthesized and their crystal structures have been determined. The structure of 3 consists of dimeric [Cu₂(opba)(pmdta)(MeOH)] entities, joined together by mutual intermolecular Cu?O contacts of the Cu²⁺ ion of one [Cu(opba)]²⁻ complex fragment and one carboxylate atom of the oxamato group of a second [Cu(opba)]²⁻ complex fragment. The structure of 4 consists of neutral binuclear complexes joined together by hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions, giving rise to an unique supramolecular 1D-chain. The magnetic properties of 3 and 4 were studied by susceptibility measurements versus temperature. For the intramolecular J parameter, identical values of (−114 ± 2) cm⁻¹ (3) and (−112 ± 2) cm⁻¹ (4) were obtained.     

Iron(III), chromium(III) and cobalt(II) complexes with squarate: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

The preparation and variable temperature-magnetic investigation of three squarate-containing complexes of formula [Fe₂(OH)₂(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (1) [Cr₂(OH)₂(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (2) and [Co(C₄O₄)(H₂O)₄]_n (3) [H₂C₄O₄ = 3.4-dihydroxycyclobutene-1,2-dione (squaric acid)] together with the crystal structures of 1 and 3 are reported. Complex 1 contains discrete centrosymmetric [Fe₂(OH)₂(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄] diiron(II) units where the iron pairs are joined by a di-μ-hydroxo bridge and two squarate ligands acting as bridging groups through adjacent oxygen atoms. Two coordinated water molecules in cis position complete the octahedral environment at each iron atom in 1. The iron-iron distance with the dinuclear unit is 3.0722(6) Å and the angle at the hydroxo bridge is 99.99(7)°, values which compare well with the corresponding ones in the isostructural compound 2 (2.998 Å and 99.47°) whose structure was reported previously. The crystal structure of 3 contains neutral chains of squarato-O¹,O³-bridged cobalt(II) ions where four coordinated water molecules complete the six-coordination at each cobalt atom. The cobalt-cobalt separation across the squarate bridge is 8.0595(4) Å. A relatively important intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling occurs in 1 whereas it is very weak in 2, the exchange pathway being the same [J = −14.4 (1) and −0.07 cm⁻¹ (2), the spin Hamiltonian being defined as ]. A weak intrachain antiferromagnetic interaction between the high-spin cobalt(II) ions occurs in 3 (J = −0.30 cm⁻¹). The magnitude and nature of these magnetic interactions are discussed in the light of their respective structures and they are compared with those reported for related systems.     

The kinetics of the complex formation between iron(III)-ethylenediaminetetraacetate and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution

The kinetics of the formation of the purple complex [Fe^III(EDTA)O₂]³⁻, between Fe^III-EDTA and hydrogen peroxide was studied as a function of pH (8.22-11.44) and temperature (10-40 °C) in aqueous solutions using a stopped-flow method. The reaction was first-order with respect to both reactants. The observed second-order rate constants decrease with an increase in pH and appear to be related to deprotonation of Fe^III-EDTA ([Fe(EDTA)H₂O]⁻ ⇔ Fe(EDTA)OH]²⁻ + H⁺). The rate law for the formation of the complex was found to be d[Fe^IIIEDTAO₂]³⁻/dt=[(k₄[H⁺]/([H⁺] + K₁)][Fe^III-EDTA][H₂O₂], where k₄=8.15±0.05×10⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and pK₁=7.3. The steps involved in the formation of [Fe(EDTA)O₂]³⁻ are briefly discussed.     

Synthesis and structures of dimeric iron(III)-Oxo and -imido complexes containing intramolecular hydrogen bonds

Hydrogen bonding networks proximal to metal centers are emerging as a viable means for controlling secondary coordination spheres. This has led to the regulation of reactivity and isolation of complexes with new structural motifs. We have used the tridenate ligand bis[(N′-tert-butylureido)-N-ethyl]-N-methylaminato ([H₂1]²⁻) that contains two hydrogen bond donors to examine the oxidation of the Fe^II-acetate complex, [Fe^IIH₂1(η²-OAc)]⁻ with dioxygen, amine N-oxides, and xylyl azide. A complex with Fe^III-O-Fe^III core results from the oxidation with dioxygen and amine N-oxides, in which the oxo ligand is involved in hydrogen bonding to the [H₂1]²⁻ ligand. A distinctly different hydrogen bonding network was found in Fe^III dimer isolated from the reaction with the xylyl azide: a rare Fe^III-N(R)-Fe^III core was observed that does not have hydrogen bonds to the bridging nitrogen atom. The intramolecular H-bond networks within these dimers appear to adjust to the presence of the bridging species and rearrange to its size and electron density.     

Synthesis, characterisation and crystal structure of hydroxylamido-κN,O(iodo)[tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borato]nitrosylmolybdenum(II)

The unusual 18e seven-coordinate Mo(II) complex [Mo(NO)(H₂NO-κ²N,O)(Tp^Me2)I] (1; [Tp^Me2]⁻ is hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) has been synthesised and characterised by IR, ¹H NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopies and by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The complex has a distorted pentagonal bipyramid structure with equatorial κ²-NH₂O⁻ ligand (d_N-O = 1.387 Å, d_Mo-N and d_Mo-O equal 2.049 and 2.092 Å, respectively). In the solid state 1 exists as a dimer (the point group C_i) due to the formation of two NH?O hydrogen bonds (d_N-H?O = 2.064 Å) between the adjacent NH₂O⁻ ligands, whilst in solution at/or above RT it resolves itself giving a monomer, which readily isomerises to more thermodynamically stable diastereoisomer.     

A bimetallic oxide hybrid material constructed from a coordination complex polymer and molybdenum oxide subunits, [Ni(3,4′-bipyridine)2MoO4]·3H2O

The hydrothermal reaction of NiCl₂·6H₂O, MoO₃, 3,4′-bipyridine (3,4′-bpy) and H₂O in the mole ratio 1.0:1.0:2.1:1500 yields [Ni(3,4′-bpy)₂MoO₄]·3H₂O (1·3H₂O) in 80% yield. The structure of 1·3H₂O consists of a three-dimensional coordination polymer {Ni(3,4′-bpy)₂}_n²ⁿ⁺ with entrained {MoO₄}²⁻ tetrahedra and with water molecules of crystallization occupying channels within the bimetallic oxide-ligand framework. Crystal data: C₂₀H₁₆N₄O₄NiMo·3H₂O (1·3H₂O), tetragonal P4₁2₁2, a=13.1866(5) Å, c=29.458(2) Å, V=5122.3(4) ų, Z=8, D_calc=1.532 g cm⁻³.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and structure characterization of the first organically templated metal iodates

The first organically templated molybdenum iodates (C₅H₆N)₂Mo₂O₅(IO₃)₄(H₂O)₂ (1), (C₁₀H₈N₂)[MoO₂(IO₃)₃] · H₃O (2), and uranium iodate (C₅H₅N)₂[(UO₂)(IO₃)₃](IO₃) (3), have been successfully synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions. Compound 1 is simple zero-dimensional units consisting of [(Mo₂O₅(IO₃)₄)]²⁻ anions, which can be described as a tetranuclear unit hanged on either side by two [IO₃] groups. The [Mo₂O₅(IO₃)₄]²⁻ anions are in a close connection through the water molecules and protonated pyridine cations, via hydrogen bonds and intermolecular actions. Compound 2 is built up from [MoO₆] octahedra and [IO₃] pyramids to two-dimensional layers, in which 4,4′-bipy molecules and water cations are located, forming strong hydrogen bonds with the inorganic framework, leading to pseudo three-dimensional structure. Compound 3 is one-dimensional ribbons containing {[(UO₂)(IO₃)₃](IO₃)}²⁻ anions and charge neutrality is achieved by the protonated 4,4′-bipy cations, which reside between two ribbons, forming hydrogen bonds with the inorganic framework and resulting in pseudo two-dimensional structure. Crystal data are as follows: (C₅H₆N)₂Mo₂O₅(IO₃)₄(H₂O)₂ (1), orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 24.097(5) Å, b = 13.532(3) Å, c = 7.836(16) Å, Z = 4, V = 2555.2(9) Å³; (C₁₀H₈N₂)[MoO₂(IO₃)₃] · H₃O (2), monoclinic, C2/c, a = 24.176(5) Å, b = 10.751(2) Å, c = 7.5074(15) Å, β = 107.44(3)°, Z = 8, V = 1861.6(6) Å³; (C₅H₅N)₂[(UO₂)(IO₃)₃](IO₃) (3), monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 14.430(3) Å, b = 7.3459(15) Å, c = 19.811(4) Å, β = 106.70(3)°, Z = 4, V = 2011.3(7) Å³.     

Mono, di and polynuclear Cu(II)-azido complexes incorporating N,N,N reduced schiff base: syntheses, structure and magnetic behavior

Three kinds of copper(II) azide complexes have been synthesised in excellent yields by reacting Cu(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (L¹); N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N′,N′-dimethylethylenediamine (L²); and N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N′,N′-diethylethylenediamine (L³), respectively, in the presence of slight excess of sodium azide. They are the monomeric Cu(L¹)(N₃)(ClO₄) (1), the end-to-end diazido-bridged Cu₂(L²)₂(μ-1,3-N₃)₂(ClO₄)₂ (2) and the single azido-bridged (μ-1,3-) 1D chain [Cu(L³)(μ-1,3-N₃)]_n(ClO₄)_n (3). The crystal and molecular structures of these complexes have been solved. The variable temperature magnetic moments of type 2 and type 3 complexes were studied. Temperature dependent susceptibility for 2 was fitted using the Bleaney-Bowers expression which led to the parameters J = −3.43 cm⁻¹ and R = 1 × 10⁻⁵. The magnetic data for 3 were fitted to Baker’s expression for S = 1/2 and the parameters obtained were J = 1.6 cm⁻¹ and R = 3.2 × 10⁻⁴. Crystal data are as follows. Cu(L¹)(N₃)(ClO₄): Chemical formula, C₁₂H₁₃ClN₆O₄Cu; crystal system, monoclinic; space group, P2₁/c; a = 8.788(12), b = 13.045(15), c = 14.213(15) Å; β = 102.960(10)°; Z = 4. Cu(L²)(μ-N₃)(ClO₄): Chemical formula, C₁₀H₁₇ClN₆O₄Cu: crystal system, monoclinic; space group, P2₁/c; a = 10.790(12), b = 8.568(9), c = 16.651(17) Å; β = 102.360(10)°; Z = 4. [Cu(L³)(μ-N₃)](ClO₄): Chemical formula, C₁₂H₂₁ClN₆O₄Cu; crystal system, monoclinic; space group, P2₁/c; a = 12.331(14), b = 7.804(9), c = 18.64(2) Å; β = 103.405(10)°; Z = 4.     

Complexation properties of a new macrocyclic polyaminic ligand (L) containing amidic pendant arms: crystal structure of [PbL](ClO4)2

Synthesis and characterisation of the new macrocyclic ligand 1,7-dimethyl-4,10-di(methylcarbamoylmethy)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L) are reported. The ligand, based on cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane), has been functionalised by the insertion of two methyl groups and two amidic pendant arms linked to the amine nitrogens. The interaction of L with H⁺, Na(I), Ca(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Gd(III) ions has been studied by potentiometric titrations, microcalorimetric and ¹H NMR measurements in 0.1 mol dm⁻³ Me₄NCl aqueous solution at 298.1±0.1 K. The thermodynamic data suggest that the N₄ moiety is the binding site for Cu(II) and Zn(II), while in the case of Pb(II) also the pendant arms are coordinated to the metal ion. The crystal structure of [PbL](ClO₄)₂ (space group P2₁/a, a=12.883(2) Å, b=12.259(3) Å, c=17.275(5) Å, β=108.65(2)°, V=2585.0(11) ų, Z=4, R=0.0660, R_W ²=0.1467) shows the metal ion hexa-coordinated by the four nitrogen atoms of the cyclic tetra-amine and by the two amidic oxygens of the pendant arms.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetism of a new mixed germanium-polyoxovanadate cluster

A new germanium-polyoxovanadate, (H₃aep)₄[V₁₄Ge₈O₅₀]·2(aep)·13H₂O (1), has been synthesized under solvothermal conditions applying GeO₂, NH₄VO₃, Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O and an aqueous solution of 1-(2-aminoethyl)-piperazine (aep, C₆H₁₈N₃) in the temperature range from 110 to 150 °C. The compound crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric tetragonal space group P-42₁c with a = 17.193(1) Å, c = 16.501(1) Å, V = 4877.9(5) Å³ and Z = 2. The structure consists of isolated spherical [V^IV₁₄Ge^IV₈O₅₀]¹²⁻ cluster anions and protonated amine molecules as counterions. The cluster anion can be viewed as a derivative of the [V₁₈O₄₂] archetype by replacing four VO₅ pyramids by four Ge₂O₇ units. The latter are formed by corner-sharing of two [GeO₄]⁴⁻ tetrahedra. At temperatures above 150 °C the compound (H₂pip)₄(Hpip)₄[V^IV₁₄Ge^IV₈O₅₀(H₂O)] (2) (pip = piperazine, C₄N₂H₁₀) is formed and during the reaction Cu²⁺ is reduced to elemental copper. This redox reaction is essential for the formation of 2. The crystal water molecules in the structure of 1 are emitted at low temperatures. The magnetic properties are dominated by strong intra-cluster antiferromagnetic coupling and the strongest exchange between edge- and corner-sharing VO₅ square pyramids results in an eight-membered spin ring to which two three-membered spin bridges are joined. The magnetic susceptibility data suggest that even at the low temperature of 2 K several multiplet states are still significantly populated.     

Polymorphism and weak antiferromagnetic interactions in dibromo[(−)-sparteine-N,N]copper(II)

Two polymorphic crystal structures of the title compound, dibromo[(−)-sparteine-N,N^′]copper(II), 1, were determined. The structures of two isomorphs of 1, 1a [orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a=11.0463(9) Å, b=11.9839(15) Å and c=12.7835(19) Å] and 1b [orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a=7.6779(9) Å, b=12.0927(14) Å and c=18.090(2) Å], are composed of the same basic structural unit, Cu(C₁₅H₂₆N₂)Br₂. The bond distances in the molecular structures of 1a and 1b are identical to each other within the esds. However, there are slight differences in the bond angles around the Cu(II) center and considerable differences in their packing structure. Crystal 1a exhibits weak anti-ferromagnetism (J=−1.89 cm⁻¹) as opposed to the magnetically isolated paramagnetism observed for the analogous dichloro[(−)-sparteine]copper(II), 2. The results of a magneto-structural investigation of 1a and 2, and other supporting evidence, suggest that the pathway for the weak antiferromagnetic super-exchange in 1a might be through a Cu-Br ? Br-Cu contact.     

Effect of thiocyanate on the peroxidase and pseudocatalase activities of Leishmania major ascorbate peroxidase

We report here that the Leishmania major ascorbate peroxidase (LmAPX), having similarity with plant ascorbate peroxidase, catalyzes the oxidation of suboptimal concentration of ascorbate to monodehydroascorbate (MDA) at physiological pH in the presence of added H₂O₂ with concurrent evolution of O₂. This pseudocatalatic degradation of H₂O₂ to O₂ is solely dependent on ascorbate and is blocked by a spin trap, α-phenyl-n-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), indicating the involvement of free radical species in the reaction process. LmAPX thus appears to catalyze ascorbate oxidation by its peroxidase activity, first generating MDA and H₂O with subsequent regeneration of ascorbate by the reduction of MDA with H₂O₂ evolving O₂ through the intermediate formation of O₂⁻. Interestingly, both peroxidase and ascorbate-dependent pseudocatalatic activity of LmAPX are reversibly inhibited by SCN⁻ in a concentration dependent manner. Spectral studies indicate that ascorbate cannot reduce LmAPX compound II to the native enzyme in presence of SCN⁻. Further kinetic studies indicate that SCN⁻ itself is not oxidized by LmAPX but inhibits both ascorbate and guaiacol oxidation, which suggests that SCN⁻ blocks initial peroxidase activity with ascorbate rather than subsequent nonenzymatic pseudocatalatic degradation of H₂O₂ to O₂. Binding studies by optical difference spectroscopy indicate that SCN⁻ binds LmAPX (Kd = 100 ± 10 mM) near the heme edge. Thus, unlike mammalian peroxidases, SCN⁻ acts as an inhibitor for Leishmania peroxidase to block ascorbate oxidation and subsequent pseudocatalase activity.