Diazo complexes of osmium: preparation of binuclear derivatives with bis(aryldiazene) and bis(aryldiazenido) bridging ligands

Depending on experimental conditions and the nature of the phosphite, the reaction of OsH₂P₄ [P=P(OEt)₃ and PPh(OEt)₂] with bis(aryldiazonium) salts [N₂Ar-ArN₂](BF₄)₂ [Ar-Ar=4,4^′-C₆H₄-C₆H₄, 4,4^′-(2-CH₃)C₆H₃-C₆H₃(2-CH₃), 4,4^′-C₆H₄-CH₂-C₆H₄ and 1,5-C₁₀H₆] afford the cis and the trans binuclear [{OsHP₄}₂(μ-HNNAr-ArNNH)](BPh₄)₂1, 2 aryldiazene derivatives. These complexes 1, 2 further react with the mono(diazonium) (4-CH₃C₆H₄N₂)BF₄ salt to give the bis(aryldiazene) [{Os(4-CH₃C₆H₄NNH)P₄}₂(μ-HNNAr-ArNNH)](BPh₄)₄3, 4 derivatives. Binuclear bis(aryldiazenido) [{OsP₄}₂(μ-N₂Ar-ArN₂)](BPh₄)₂ (6) [P=P(OEt)₃; Ar-Ar=4,4^′-C₆H₄-C₆H₄, 4,4^′-C₆H₄-CH₂-C₆H₄] complexes were prepared by deprotonating with NEt₃ the nitrile-diazene [{Os(4-CH₃C₆H₄CN)P₄}₂(μ-HNNAr-ArNNH)](BPh₄)₄ (5) derivatives. The aryldiazenido compounds 6 react with HCl to give the new aryldiazene [{OsClP₄}₂(μ-HNNAr-ArNNH)](BPh₄)₂ (7) derivatives. The characterisation of the complexes by IR and ¹H, ³¹P, ¹⁵N NMR data is also discussed. The reaction of the hydride OsH₂(PPh₂OEt)₄ with mono(diazonium) salts was also studied and led exclusively to the mono(aryldiazene) [OsH(ArN NH)(PPh₂OEt)₄]BPh₄ (8) (Ar=C₆H₅, 4-CH₃C₆H₄) derivatives. Spectroscopic data (¹H, ³¹P, ¹⁵N NMR) on ¹⁵N-labelled derivatives suggest the presence of two isomers with the N-bonded and the π-bonded ArNNH ligand, respectively.     

Ruthenium(VI) and osmium(VI) nitrido complexes with halogenated phenoxide and thiophenoxide ligands

Treatment of [Buⁿ₄N][Ru(N)Cl₄] with Na(OR) afforded [Buⁿ₄N][Ru(N)(OR)₄] (R = C₆F₅ (1), C₆F₄H (2), C₆Br₅ (3)), whereas that with [Buⁿ₄N][Os(N)Cl₄] gave [Buⁿ₄N][Os(N)(OR)₃Cl] (R = C₆F₅ (4), C₆F₄H (5), C₆Br₅ (6)). Treatment of [Buⁿ₄N][M(N)Cl₄] with Na(SC₆F₄H) and Na(Sxyl) (xyl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl) afforded [Buⁿ₄N][M(N)(SC₆F₄H)₄] (M = Ru (7), Os (8)) and [Buⁿ₄N][M(N)(Sxyl)₄] (M = Ru (9), Os (10)), respectively. The crystal structures of compounds 1, 6 and 9 have been determined.     

Dihydroxylation of alkenes using a Tp-osmium complex

The reaction of TpOs^VI(N)(OH)₂ (1) [Tp = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate], m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA), and trans-stilbene in C₆H₆ at room temperature gives the diolate complex TpOs^VI(N)(trans-O₂C₂H₂Ph₂) (2) and m-chlorobenzoic acid (m-CBA). The trans configuration of the stilbene is retained in the diolate complex as shown in the crystal structure of 2. Complex 2 is hydrolyzed by 2 equivalents of aqueous HCl in CD₂Cl₂ to give rac-hydrobenzoin, the product of cis-dihydroxylation, and TpOs^VI(N)Cl₂. cis-Stilbene, styrene, cyclohexene, trans-dimethyl fumarate, trans-methyl cinnamate, and trans-4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene are also converted to their corresponding free diol products by reaction with 1 and m-CPBA in CD₂Cl₂, and then aqueous HCl. In aqueous HBF₄, oxidation of the water-soluble olefin, 4-styrenesulfonic acid, by 1 is modestly catalytic (15 turnovers in 3 h) with excess PbO₂ as the oxidant. Under non-acidic conditions, the diolate complexes are inert and catalysis is precluded. Mechanistic experiments implicate an oxidizing osmium complex as an intermediate in these reactions.     

Syntheses, structure, and electrochemical properties of homo-metallic binuclear complexes containing ferrocenyl-ethynyl spacers

Structural determinations and electrochemical properties in the series of multinuclear ferrocenyl-ethynyl complexes with formula [(η⁵-C₅R₅)(P₂)M^II-CC-(fc)_n-CC-M^II(P₂)(η⁵-C₅R₅)] (fc = ferrocenyl; M = Fe(II), Ru(II), Os(II); R = H, CH₃; P₂ = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂ (dppe), (C₂H₅)₂PCH₂CH₂P(C₂H₅)₂ (depe)) are reported. Complexes with more electron-rich ligand environment, such as [M(η⁵-C₅R₅)P₂] (R = CH₃ and P₂ = dppe, depe), were also prepared with regard to the understanding of electronic coupling mechanism. Structural determinations confirm that the ferrocenyl group is directly linked to the ethynyl linkage which is linked to the pseudo-octahedral [(η⁵-C₅R₅)(P₂)M] metal center. These complexes undergo sequential reversible oxidation events from 0.0 to 1.0 V referred to the Ag/AgCl electrode in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ solution and the low-potential waves have been assigned to the two end-capped metallic centers. The magnitude of the electronic coupling between the two terminal metallic centers in the series of complexes was estimated by the electrochemical technique. Based on the correlation between the ΔE_1/2 values and the second redox potentials of the end-capping metallic centers in the series of complexes, a qualitative explanation for the difference of the electronic coupling is given.     

Chromatin arrangement in mouse sperm nuclei: an ultrastructural cytochemical study

The arrangement of mouse sperm nuclei chromatin and, in particular, of DNA has been studied by electron microscopic cytochemistry. It had been previously shown that, after a Feulgen-type reaction using an osmium ammine complex (OAC), the OAC-stained DNA was distributed in a spotted pattern in the nucleus (Biggiogera: Basic Appl Histochem 30:501-504, 1986). The present chapter shows that this pattern is characteristic of mouse spermatozoa from testis to vas deferens, with the exception of some testicular spermatozoa, in which DNA was homogeneously stained. DNase digestion of thin-sectioned nuclei resulted in a distribution of residual material complementary to the pattern of the unstained zones after the OAC reaction. These findings are discussed considering the role of -S-S- crosslinks, characteristics of this extremely condensed chromatin, in limiting the availability of DNA to acid hydrolysis.     

Sweetening ruthenium and osmium: organometallic arene complexes containing aspartame

The novel organometallic sandwich complexes [(eta(6)-p-cymene)Ru(eta(6)-aspartame)](OTf)(2) (1) (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) and [(eta(6)-p-cymene)Os(eta(6)-aspartame)](OTf)(2) (2) incorporating the artificial sweetener aspartame have been synthesised and characterised. A number of properties of aspartame were found to be altered on binding to either metal. The pK (a) values of both the carboxyl and the amino groups of aspartame are lowered by between 0.35 and 0.57 pH units, causing partial deprotonation of the amino group at pH 7.4 (physiological pH). The rate of degradation of aspartame to 3,6-dioxo-5-phenylmethylpiperazine acetic acid (diketopiperazine) increased over threefold from 0.12 to 0.36 h(-1) for 1, and to 0.43 h(-1) for 2. Furthermore, the reduction potential of the ligand shifted from -1.133 to -0.619 V for 2. For the ruthenium complex 1 the process occurred in two steps, the first (at -0.38 V) within a biologically accessible range. This facilitates reactions with biological reductants such as ascorbate. Binding to and activation of the sweet taste receptor was not observed for these metal complexes up to concentrations of 1 mM. The factors which affect the ability of metal-bound aspartame to interact with the receptor site are discussed.     

The nature of M-O bond in MOX4 compounds (M = Os, Ru; X = F, Cl, Br, I)

The nature of M-O bond in MOX₄ compounds (where M = Ru or Os and X = F, Cl, Br or I) was analyzed by density functional theory methods at the BP86/LANL2DZ level of theory. The obtained charge density was analyzed by Fermi hole analysis, natural bond order (NBO) analysis and atoms-in-molecules (AIM)-based methods. The M-O bond is essentially a triple bond, although strongly polarized. The clearest differences in bonding between the Ru and Os compounds can be found in the M-O σ bonds, where in the Os compounds we find more charge density resting close to O.     

Structural and computational characterization of Fe-M bonds (M = Ru or Os): From heterobinuclear compounds to oligonuclear iron clusters

Structural survey of the compounds in Cambridge Structural Database was carried out to investigate the Fe-M bonds (where M is either Ru or Os). Compounds ranging from heterobinuclear complexes to heterohexanuclear compounds were included in the survey. The osmium atom has clearly less tendency to participate than ruthenium in the clusters. No compound was found, where all of the three metals were included in the structure. In general, the Fe-M distance seems to get longer, when the number of the participating atoms increases. A computational study carried out at the b3lyp/cep-121 level of theory indicated that metal-metal bonding is dependent on the metal species involved.     

Growth of the metal framework in linear ruthenium and osmium carbonyls

Formation of the linear chain ruthenium and osmium carbonyls by successive linkage of mononuclear [M(CO)₄Cl₂] units and by opening trinuclear clusters [M₃(CO)₁₂] and [FeM₂(CO)₁₂] (M = Ru, Os) with chlorine gas have been studied by computational DFT methods. Energetically the formation of dinuclear [M₂(CO)₈Cl₂] from [M(CO)₄Cl₂] units is the most demanding step. The following chain growth by adding new mononuclear units proceeds more easily with nearly constant energy per step. Cluster opening by chlorine gas to obtain trinuclear [M₃(CO)₁₂Cl₂] is a facile reaction for both ruthenium and osmium clusters as well as for mixed metal clusters. Mixed metal clusters [FeOs₂(CO)₁₂] and [FeRu₂(CO)₁₂] open preferably between iron-osmium or iron-ruthenium bonds producing linear trinuclear Fe-M-M-type of compound. In the case of mixed metal Os-Ru clusters, the cleavage of Os-Ru bond is not clearly preferred. Fragmentation of the cluster to shorter units cis(Cl)-[M(CO)₄Cl₂] or [M₂(CO)₈Cl₂] with equatorial chlorides is highly favorable and competes with the cluster opening. No preferences on the bond type (Os-Ru, Os-Os, or Ru-Ru) that are broken can be found in the case of mixed metal Os-Ru clusters.     

pH-sensitive Ru(II) and Os(II) bis(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) complexes: A photophysical investigation

We have investigated the photophysical properties of two metal complexes, [M(tpy-py)₂][PF₆]₂, where tpy-py = 4′-(4-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and M = Ru(II) or Os(II), in acetonitrile and aqueous solutions at room temperature. Because the 4-pyridyl unit on the 4′-position of each tpy ligand contains a basic nitrogen atom, both of these compounds can exist in three different protonation states. We observed that the absorption and luminescence spectra of these compounds vary on changing the pH, because the protonation of the pendant pyridine unit makes it an electron acceptor by lowering the energy of its π^∗ orbital. We employed the absorption and luminescence spectral changes to study the acid-base reactions for these complexes, and found that the two protonation stages exhibit different pK_a values both in the electronic ground state and in the lowest (emitting) excited state. The absorption spectra and luminescence spectra and lifetimes of the deprotonated, mono-protonated and bis-protonated forms were also determined. While the absorption spectra of the variously protonated forms of both compounds can be intepreted in terms of a linear combination of two different and independent chromophores, namely M(tpy-py) and M(tpy-pyH⁺), the corresponding luminescence spectra exhibit a more complex behaviour, suggesting that the coupling between the two ligands in the lowest excited state is not negligible. Interestingly, at a low pH the luminescence of the Ru complex is switched on, whereas that of the Os complex is strongly quenched upon protonation of the pendant pyridine units. These compounds are of interest because they exhibit a luminescent signal in the red or far red spectral region that can be switched on or off by protons in solution. Hence, they could find applications as luminescent pH sensors and as molecular switches where a low-energy emission signal can be controlled by a chemical acid-base stimulation.