Axial ligation of nitrogenous bases to five-coordinate chloro-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinatochromium(III)

The axial ligations of nitrogenous bases to the five-coordinate chloro-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinatochromium(III) [Cr(III)(TPP)(Cl)] were studied in a non-coordinating solvent, dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂), by spectrophotometric methods. A correlation exists between log K for the axial ligation:

and pK_a for the N-donor ligand. This correlation suggests that ligand to metal σ bonding contributes to the complex formation, rather than does metal to ligand π back-donation.     

A theoretical and comparative CNDO study of chlorophylls a and b and their beryllium homologs

CNDO/II calculations of chlorophylls a and b and their beryllium homologs show that the 3d atomic orbitals of the metal atoms contribute significantly to the σ and π bonding energies. In both chlorophylls a and b replacement of magnesium by beryllium stabilizes the total molecular energy by 40 kcal/mol.     

A push‐pull integrated pest management scheme for preventing use of parrot nest boxes by invasive Africanized honey bees

Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera scutellata) compete with endangered parrots for nest boxes and can hamper conservation efforts. We tested an integrated pest management push‐pull protocol in the Atlantic Forest in São Paulo, Brazil, in an effort to prevent bee swarms from colonizing nest boxes (N = 30 in the forest plus five in aviaries) meant for use by Vinaceous‐breasted Amazons (Amazona vinacea). Fifteen parrot nest boxes were treated with a permethrin insecticide to “push” scout bees away and each parrot box was paired with a bee trap box containing a pheromone lure to “pull” bees. Over a 1‐yr period (March 2013 to March 2014), 29 insect colonies moved into 18 of the 35 trap boxes. Nine Africanized honey bee, three native Jatai bee (Tetragonisca sp.), and 17 wasp colonies occupied trap boxes. Only one experimental push‐pull pair untreated parrot box was invaded by bees and no parrot boxes in aviaries were colonized. Four of the parrot nest boxes were occupied by birds during our study. Although none were used by Vinaceous‐breasted Amazons, Southern House Wrens (Troglodytes musculus), Green‐winged Saltators (Saltator similis), and Plain Parakeets (Brotogeris tirica) nested in the boxes and all nests were successful. Although long‐term studies are needed before drawing conclusions about the effectiveness of trap boxes, our results suggest that a push‐pull protocol may prove useful for reducing the use of nest boxes meant for parrots and other cavity‐nesting birds by Africanized honey bees and other insects.     

Preparation and characterization of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes with water-soluble macrocyclic N4-ligands: 6,15-diethyl-4,13-dihydro-1,10-dimethyl-(E)-dipyridinio [b,i] [1,4,8,11] tetraazacyclotetradecine iodide or methyl sulfate

The mixture of 6,15-diethyl-4,13-dihydro-(E)-dipyrido [b,i] [1,4,8,11] tetraazacyclotetradecine (2-E) and 6,15-diethyl-4,13-dihydro-(Z)-dipyrido [b,i][1,4,8,11] tetraazacyclotetradecine (2-Z) was prepared by cyclization of 3,4-diaminopyridine and 2-ethyl-3-ethoxyacrolein. Two kinds of isomers were separated by repeated recrystallization from chloroform. Methylation of pyridine comprised in 2-E using iodomethane or dimethyl sulfate afforded the corresponding dimethylated product (2-E-I or 2-E-S), which is soluble in water. The cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of 2-E-I and 2-E-S were prepared. The absorption bands appearing in the energy range greater than 18 000 cm⁻¹ were attributed to the π → π* transitions within a ligand molecule and CT transitions from metal to ligand. Since the d → d* bands for nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes were obscured by the π → π* and CT bands, no significant absorption bands were found in the region more than 18000 cm⁻¹. One of the d → d* bands for the cobalt(II) complex was observed at around 13 000 cm⁻¹. These complexes assume the square- planar structures. A strong IR band due to the CN stretching mode of the macrocycle moiety was observed at ca. 1640 cm−1 and shifted slightly toward lower energy upon metal-coordination, cis (2-Z) and trans (2-E) isomers in the present macrocycle can be judged by the amine proton signals of NMR spectra. All proton signals except for amine protons show downfield shifts due to the deshielding effect of the positive charge provided by methylation of pyridine contained in the metal-free macrocycle. Upon formation of the nickel(II) complex all proton signals, except the aromatic protons adjacent to the nitrogen atom of a pyridine ring, also show a downfield shift, which is attributed to the deshielding effect based on the positive charge given by nickel(II). The intensity change of the electronic spectrum at 425 nm is available for the determination of copper(II) concentrations in the aqueous solution using the water-soluble macrocycles (2-E-I and 2-E-S) and a good linear correlation is observed up to 8 × 10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³.     

Characterization of the reduction steps of Fe(III) porphyrins

Polarographic studies have shown that Fe(III) porphyrins undergo successively three one-electron reduction steps in dimethylformamide. The first involves the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. The second step proceeds to a second reduction of the metal ion and is attributed to the Fe(II)/Fe(I)_couple. This new reduction state of iron porphyrins has been characterized by ESR spectra and by absorption spectra in various solvents. This compound is not axially liganded by strong nucleophilic bases but is sensitive to solvation, the lone electron being localised in the d_z2 orbital. The third reduction step is assumed to involve a reduction of the porphyrin π-electron system.All these results have been confirmed by chemical reductions in tetrahydrofuran.     

A variable temperature spectroscopic study on Paracoccuspantotrophus pseudoazurin: Protein constraints on the blue Cu site

The blue or Type 1 (T1) copper site of Paracoccuspantotrophus pseudoazurin exhibits significant absorption intensity in both the 450 and 600 nm regions. These are σ and π S_Cys to Cu²⁺ charge transfer (CT) transitions. The temperature dependent absorption, EPR, and resonance Raman (rR) vibrations enhanced by these bands indicate that a single species is present at all temperatures. This contrasts the temperature dependent behavior of the T1 center in nitrite reductase [S. Ghosh, X. Xie, A. Dey, Y. Sun, C. Scholes, E. Solomon, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 106 (2009) 4969-4974] which has a thioether ligand that is unconstrained by the protein. The lack of temperature dependence in the T1 site in pseudoazurin indicates the presence of a protein constraint similar to the blue Cu site in plastocyanin where the thioether ligand is constrained at 2.8 Å. However, plastocyanin exhibits only π CT. This spectral difference between pseudoazurin and plastocyanin reflects a coupled distortion of the site where the axial thioether in pseudoazurin is also constrained, but at a shorter Cu-S_Met bond length. This leads to an increase in the Cu²⁺-S_Cys bond length, and the site undergoes a partial tetragonal distortion in pseudoazurin. Thus, its ground state wavefunction has both σ and π character in the Cu²⁺-S_Cys bond.     

Anthracycline-copper(II) complexes: Structure-dependent coordination pattern as evidenced by ESR

The copper(II) coordination properties of different anthracycline antitumor agents were studied by ESR spectroscopy. Three classes of drugs have been identified: (i) adria-like, which contains adriamycin, daunomycin, 4′-deoxydaunomycin, 4′-deoxy- 4′-iododaunomycin and 4-demethoxydaunomycin; (ii) 4′-epiadria-like, which contains 4′-epiadriamycin, 4′-epidaunomycin, 4-demethoxy-6-deoxydaunomycin and 4-demethoxy-11-deoxydaunomycin; and (iii) border-line type, which contains carminomycin, 6-O- methylcarminomycin, 11-deoxycarminomycin and 6- deoxycarminomycin. They have been characterized by their different Cu(II) chelation properties.The adria-like class members give rise to multi- nuclear complexes, where both the CO and COH functionalities of both sides of the hydroxyanthra- quinone system are involved in the coordination. By contrast, the 4′-epiadria-like drugs form monomeric Cu(II) complexes because of the unavailability of the C(6)OH group. The border-line type compounds yield more than one monomeric Cu(II)adduct because of the presence of OH at the C(4) position.All Cu(II) derivatives are characterized by a very strong ligand field, the unpaired electron lying in the d_x²−_y² orbital. The onset of comptexation is oxygen dependent and this is related to the σ and π bond properties of the anthracycline ligand.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, and molecular hyperpolarizabilities of a new Schiff base ligand, and its copper(II), nickel(II), and cobalt(II) metal complexes

A new ligand (HL) obtained from the Schiff base condensation of 4-(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde with 4-nitroaniline is reported, with its nickel(II), copper(II), and cobalt(II) complexes. The crystal structures are reported for the four derivatives. While, Ni^IIL₂ and Cu^IIL₂ are centrosymmetric molecules, Co^IIL₂ exhibits a pseudo-tetrahedral molecular structure. The quadratic hyperpolarizabilities (β) of HL and Co^IIL₂, measured by electric field induced second harmonic (EFISH) technique, are equal to 66 and 110 × 10⁻³⁰ cm⁵ esu⁻¹, respectively. Beside a geometric effect (pseudo-T_d symmetry), the coordination of the metal center provides an intrinsic enhancement of the NLO response. In addition, an enhancement of the thermal stability of about 60° is found upon metal complexation.     

Inductive influence of 4′-terpyridyl substituents on redox and spin state properties of iron(II) and cobalt(II) bis-terpyridyl complexes

A series of iron and cobalt bis-terpyridine (terpy) complexes were prepared with the general formula [M(R-terpy)₂](PF₆)₂, where M represents Co(II) and Fe(II), and R is the following terpyridine substituents in order of increasing electron-withdrawing behavior [(C₄H₈)N, (C₄H₉)NH, HO, CH₃O, CH₃-phenyl, H, Cl, CH₃SO, CH₃SO₂]. The complexes were prepared to investigate the extent of redox and spin state control that is attainable by simply varying the electron donating/withdrawing influence using a single substituent site on the terpyridine ligand. Cyclic voltammetry was used to assess the substituents influence on the M(III/II) redox couple. A plot of the M(III/II) redox potential (E_1/2) versus the electron donating/withdrawing nature of the substituents (Hammett constants), shows a strong linear trend for both metals; however, the substituents were observed to have a stronger influence on the Fe(III/II) couple. Solution magnetic susceptibility measurements at room temperature were carried out using standard NMR methodology (modified Evans method) where all of the Fe(II) complexes exhibited a diamagnetic, low spin (S = 0) behavior. In the cobalt series where R = H for [Co(R-terpy)₂]²⁺, the complex is known to be near the spin cross-over where the room temperature effective magnetic moment (μ_eff) in solution is ≈3.1 Bohr magnetons; however, in this study the μ_eff is observed to vary between 2.7 and 4.1 Bohr magnetons depending on the R-substituent.     

Design of Lewis acid–base complex: enhancing the stability and first hyperpolarizability of large excess electron compound

In the present paper, a new type of Lewis acid–base complex BX₃???Li@Calix[4]pyrrole (X = H and F) was designed and assembled based on electride molecule Li@calix[4]pyrrole (as a Lewis base) and the electron deficient molecule BX₃ (as a Lewis acid) by employing quantum mechanical calculation. The new Lewis acid–base complex offers an interesting push-excess electron-pull (P-e-P) framework to enhance the stability and nonlinear optical (NLO) response. To measure the nonlinear optical response, static first hyperpolarizabilities (β ₀) are exhibited. Significantly, point-face assembled Lewis acid–base complex BF₃???Li@Calix[4]pyrrole (II) has considerable first hyperpolarizabilities (β ₀) value (1.4?×?10⁶ a.u.), which is about 117 times larger than reported 11,721 a.u. of electride Li@Calix[4]pyrrole. Further investigations show that, in BX₃???Li@Calix[4]pyrrole with P-e-P framework, a strong charge-transfer transition from the ground state to the excited state contributes to the enhancement of first hyperpolarizability. Theory calculation of enthalpies of reaction (Δ_rH⁰) at 298 K demonstrates that it is feasible to synthetize the complexes BX₃???Li@Calix[4]pyrrole. In addition, compared with Li@Calix[4]pyrrole, the vertical ionization potential (VIP) and HOMO–LUMO gap of BX₃???Li@Calix[4]pyrrole have obviously increased, due to the introduction of the Lewis acid molecule BX₃. The novel Lewis acid–base NLO complex possesses not only a large nonlinear optical response but also higher stability.

Active site-specifically reconstituted nickel(II) horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase: Optical spectra of binary and ternary complexes with coenzymes,coenzyme analogues,substrates, and inhibitors

Insertion of nickel ions into the empty catalytic site of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase yields an active enzyme with 65% metal substitution and about 12% intrinsic activity. The electronic absorption spectrum is characterized by bands at 357 nm (2900 M^?1 cm^?1, 407 nm (3500 M^?1 cm^?1), 505 nm (300 M^?1 cm^?1), 570 nm (?130 M^?1 cm^?1), and 680 nm (?80 M^?1 cm^?1). The absorption and CD spectra are similar to those of nickel(II) azurin and nickel(II) aspartate transcarbamoylase and prove coordination of the nickel(II) ions to sulfur in a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. Changes of the spectra upon ligand binding at the metal or conformation changes of the protein induced by coenzyme, or both, indicate alterations of the metal geometry.The chromophoric substrate trans-4-(N, N-dimethylamino)-cinnamaldehyde forms a ternary complex with Ni(II) liver alcohol dehydrogenase and the coenzyme analogue 1,4,5,6-tetrahydronicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide, stable between pH 6 and 10. The corresponding ternary complex with NADH is only stable at pH > 9.0. The spectral redshifts induced in the substrate are 11 nm larger than those found in the zinc enzyme. We suggest direct coordination of the substrate to the catalytic metal ion which acts as a Lewis acid in both substrate coordination and catalysis.     

The effect of redox potential on the kinetics of fluorescence induction in Photosystem II particles from Phormidium laminosum. Sigmoidicity,energy transfer and the slow phase

Fluorescence induction curves in 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU)-inhibited Photosystem (PS) II particles isolated from the blue-green alga Phormidium laminosum have been analysed as a function of redox potential. Redox titration of the initial fluorescence indicated a single component with E_m,7.5 = +30 mV (n = 1) (Bowes, J., Horton, P. and Bendall, D.S. (1981) FEBS Lett. 135, 261–264). Despite this simplified electron acceptor system and the small number of chlorophylls per reaction centre, a sigmoidal induction curve was nevertheless seen. Sigmoidicity decreased as Q was reduced potentiometrically prior to induction such that the induction was exponential when the ratio $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 0.64}$. These particles also showed a slow (β) phase of induction which titrated with an E_m value slightly more positive than that of the major quencher. It is concluded that the sigmoidal shape of the fluorescence induction curve observed in Phormidium PS II particles is not a consequence of a requirement for two photons to close the PS II reaction centre, but is generated as a result of energy transfer between photosynthetic units comprising one reaction centre per approx. 50 chlorophylls. Also, the existence of PS II heterogeneity (PS II_α, PS II_β centres) does not require a structurally differentiated chloroplast, but may only indicate the extent of aggregation of PS II centres.     

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.     

Theoretical investigation on switchable second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of novel cyclopentadienylcobalt linear [4]phenylene complexes

As a kind of novel organometallic complexes, the cyclopentadienylcobalt (CpCo) linear [4]phenylene complexes (4 = number of benzene rings) display efficient switchable nonlinear optical (NLO) response when CpCo reversibly migrates along the linear [4]phenylene triggered by heating or lighting. In this paper, the second-order NLO properties for CpCo linear [4]phenylene complexes were calculated by using the density functional theory (DFT) methods with four functionals. All of the functionals yield the same order of β _tot values: 1<2<4<3. The effect of solvent on second-order NLO properties has been studied using polarized continuum model (PCM) in the tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution. The solvent leads to a slight enhancement of the NLO responses for the studied complexes relevant to their NLO responses in vacuo. The electronic absorption spectra were investigated by the TDDFT methods. The TDDFT calculations indicate that the maximum absorption peaks of complexes 2–4 in the near-infrared spectrum area show the bathochromic shift together with a decreasing intensity compared to complex 1. We have also found that the cobalt (Co) atom acts as a donor in all the organometallic complexes and the d → π* and π → π* charge transfer (CT) transitions contribute to the enhancement of second-order NLO response. Furthermore, two experimentally existing complexes 1 and 3 are found to have a large difference in β _tot values. It is our expectation that this difference may stimulate the search for a new type of switchable NLO material based on CpCo linear [4]phenylene complexes.

Study of the O-Ru-N bonding in trans-[Ru(NH3)4(SO4)L] complexes (L=imidazole, histidine and substituted pyridines): a X-ray, EPR, spectroscopic and theoretical MO study

Spectroscopic studies on trans-[Ru(NH₃)₄(SO₄)L]⁺ where L=imidazole, histidine, pyridine and substituted pyridines were undertaken to understand the effect of various ligands on the Ru-N bonding in these complexes. The sulfate complexes show two major bands in the 250-270 and 310-350 nm region of the UV-Vis spectrum. Based on quantum chemical calculations the lowest energy band has been assigned to a LMCT (SO₄ ²⁻ → Ru^III) transition. The energy of the LMCT transition decreases as the order of the axial ligand L basicity: Him > L-hist > 4-NH2-py > 4-Cl-py > 4-pic > py > nia > 4-Cn-py > isn > pz. EPR spectra give only two g values showing that the two LUMO containing the metal d_π orbitals are degenerate and the energy separation between the LUMO and HOMO, calculated from the g values correlates linearly with the charge transfer energy and electrochemical properties. These correlations suggest extensive π donation from L to the Ru(III) d orbitals. An X-ray study of the 4-pic complex shows a bent S-O-Ru bond of 127.5° and MO calculations for three other complexes predict similar angles due to extensive σ and π bonding interaction between the sulfate oxygen and the Ru(III) ion. Surprisingly, the MO calculations do not predict the observed degeneracy in the LUMO orbital found by EPR studies. We shall argue that these discrepancies can be reconciled by insisting that the orientation of the L ring be coplanar with the S-O-Ru plane as is the case in the one X-ray study.     

Third-order NLO properties of the DMF solutions of 3-D network and 2-D layered organic-metal polymers with (4, 4) grid units

Reactions of 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis-1H-benzimidazole (bbbm) with Cd(II), Ni(II), or Co(II) afford three organic-metal polymers: {[Cd(bbbm)(SO₄)(H₂O)₂]CH₃OH}_n (1), {[Ni(bbbm)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ · 2CH₃OH · 6H₂O}_n (2) and {[Co(bbbm)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ · 2CH₃OH · 6H₂O}_n (3). In 1, bbbm and coordinate to Cd(II) simultaneously leading to a 3-D structure. In 2 and 3, each bridging bbbm ligand links two Ni(II) or Co(II) ions forming the 2-D layered structure with (4, 4) grid units. Each (4, 4) grid unit is a 44-membered ring and constructed by four bbbm ligands acting as four sides and four Ni(II) or Co(II) ions representing four corners. Their third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties in DMF solution have been studied by Z-scan technique. The results show that the DMF solution of 2 possesses both the large third-order NLO absorptive and strong refractive behaviors; and 3’s shows large NLO absorptive effect and weak NLO refractive behavior. A reasonably good fit between the experimental data and the theoretical curve suggests that the experimentally obtained NLO effects are effective third-order in nature.     

Paramagnetic NMR investigations of Co(II) and Ni(II) amicyanin

 The paramagnetic ¹H NMR spectra of the Co(II) and Ni(II) substituted forms of the type 1 blue copper protein (cupredoxin) amicyanin have been assigned. This is the first such analysis of a cupredoxin, which has a distorted tetrahedral active site with the ligands provided by two histidines, a cysteine and a methionine. The isotropic shifts of the resonances in these spectra are compared with those of Co(II) and Ni(II) azurin. A number of interesting similarities and differences are found. The coordination of the metal by the two equatorial histidine ligands is very similar in both proteins. The interaction between the introduced metal and the thiolate sulfur of the equatorial cysteine ligand is enhanced in the amicyanin derivatives. Resonances belonging to the weak axial methionine ligand exhibit much larger shifts in the amicyanin derivatives, indicative of shorter M(II)-S(Met) distances. The presence of shorter axial M(II)-S(Met) and equatorial M(II)-S(Cys) distances in both Co(II) and Ni(II) amicyanin is ascribed to the absence of a second axially interacting amino acid at the active site of this cupredoxin. Received: 2 February 1999 / Accepted: 19 May 1999     

Torsional strain considerations in the mechanism of the proteolytic enzymes,with particular application to carboxypeptidase A

Torsional deformation of the peptide linkage by anti distortion of cis substituents (i.e., forcing groups attached to one side of an amide partial π bond out of plane in opposite directions) leads to rehybridization of the constituent atoms (nitrogen and carbonyl carbon) toward tetrahedral geometry. In consequence the partial π bond is uniquely activated toward trans (antarafacial) addition with defined steric orientation of addends. Application of these considerations to the known structure of an enzyme-substrate complex of carboxypeptidase A leads to a unique mechanistic hypothesis for proteolytic cleavage by this enzyme. Extant evidence concerning the mode of catalysis is considered in light of a mechanism involving electrostatically induced torsional activation of the scissile peptide bond, Lewis acid coordination of zinc to amide carbonyl, proton donation from Glu 270 to the amide nitrogen of the scissile bond, with concerted attack upon the amide carbonyl by solvent water.     

Theory of proton hyperfine interactions in bacterial photosynthetic systems.: Bacteriopheophytin cation and anion

The electronic structures of the cation and anion of bacteriopheophytin a monomer are investigated by the self-consistent charge extended Hückel procedure including both π and σ electrons in the molecule. The calculated electron distributions are tested by comparison of the predicted hyperfine fields at proton sites with experimental data in both the ions and most important, by their ability to explain the observed trend in the hyperfine fields in going from the cation bacteriopheophytin⁺a to the anion, a trend that is similar in many respects to the corresponding observed trend for the bacteriochlorophyll a cation and anion. Good agreement is obtained with experiment both for the absolute values of the observed proton hyperfine fields in both bacteriopheophytin a cation and anion as well as the ratio of the corresponding fields for the two systems. In particular, our calculated electron distributions in the two molecules lead, for the cation, to substantially different proton hyperfine fields for the two methyl groups attached to rings I and III, while for the anion, the corresponding fields are much closer to each other, a trend in good agreement with recent data. Also explained are the features of larger methine hyperfine constants in the anion as compared to the cation and the reverse trend for the protons in rings II and IV. Other features of the calculated electron distributions in the cation and anion are discussed and compared with each other. Possible additional measurements in the two systems that could provide further tests of the theoretically obtained electron distribution will be pointed out.     

Palladium(II) amido complexes with an unsymmetrical PNP′ pincer-type coordination and a new (E,E)-tetradentate diphosphinoazine coordination mode

Cationic palladium(II) complexes [PdCl{PR₂CH₂C(Bu^t)NNC(Bu^t)CH₂PR₂}]Cl, where R = isopropyl, cyclohexyl or tert-butyl, were synthesized by the reactions of the corresponding diphosphinoazines with bis(acetonitrile)palladium(II) dichloride. When bis(benzonitrile)palladium(II) dichloride was used instead, in the molar ratio of 2:1 to the diphosphinoazine, a new complex was isolated with the isopropyl ligand showing a previously unknown (E,E) tetradentate coordination mode. Crystal and molecular structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. The solid complex was a racemate of two axially chiral enantiomers and the chirality was preserved in solution. Reactions of the cationic complexes with triethylamine gave complexes [PdCl{PR₂CHC(Bu^t)NNC(Bu^t)CH₂PR₂}], containing deprotonated diphosphinoazines in ene-hydrazone unsymmetrical pincer-like configuration. The complexes represent several of the still rare examples of Pd(II) amido bis(phosphine) complexes with a chlorine atom covalently bonded trans to the amide nitrogen.