Azido Ligands Research Articles

PEGylated Molybdenum-Iodine Nanocluster as a Promising Radiodynamic Agent against Prostatic Adenocarcinoma.

The combination of photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy has given rise to a modality called radiodynamic therapy (RDT), based on reactive oxygen species-producing radiosensitizers. The production of singlet oxygen, O2(1Δg), by octahedral molybdenum (Mo6) clusters upon X-ray irradiation allows for simplification of the architecture of radiosensitizing systems. In this context, we prepared a radiosensitizing system using copper-free click chemistry between a Mo6 cluster bearing azido ligands and the homo-bifunctional linker bis-dPEG11-DBCO. The resulting compound formed nanoparticles, which featured production of O2(1Δg) and efficient cellular uptake, leading to remarkable photo- and radiotoxic effects against the prostatic adenocarcinoma TRAMP-C2 cell line. Spheroids of TRAMP-C2 cells were also used for evaluation of toxicity and phototoxicity. In vivo experiments on a mouse model demonstrated that subcutaneous injection of the nanoparticles is a safe administration mode at a dose of up to 0.08 g kg-1. The reported results confirm the relevancy of Mo6-based radiosensitizing nanosystems for RDT.

A mesoionic carbene stabilized nickel(II) hydroxide complex: a facile precursor for C-H activation chemistry.

We report the synthesis of a new nickel(II) hydroxide complex 2 supported by a rigid, tridentate triazolylidene-carbazolid ligand. The complex can be accessed in high yields following a simple and stepwise extraction protocol using dichloromethane and aqueous ammonium chloride followed by aqeous sodium hydroxide solution. We found that complex 2 is highly basic, undergoing various deprotonation/desilylation reactions with E-H and C-H acidic and silylated compounds. In this context we synthesized a variety of novel, functionalized nickel(II) complexes with trimethylsilylolate (3), trityl sulfide (4), tosyl amide (5), azido (6), pyridine (7), acetylide (8, 9), fluoroarene (10 & 11) and enolate (12) ligands. We furthermore found that 2 reacts with malonic acid dimethyl ester in a knoevennagel-type condensation reaction, giving access to a new enolate ligand in complex 13, consisting of two malonic acid units. Furthermore, complex 2 reacts with acetonitrile to form the cyanido complex 14. The formation of complexes 13 and 14 is particularly interesting, as they underline the potential of complex 2 in both C-C bond formation and cleavage reactions.

Photosubstitution and photoreduction of a diazido platinum(IV) anticancer complex.

The hyphenation of HPLC with its high separation ability and ICP-MS with its excellent sensitivity, allows the analysis of Pt drugs in biological samples at the low nanomolar concentration levels. On the other hand, LC-MS provides molecular structural confirmation for each species. Using a combination of these methods, we have investigated the speciation of the photoactive anticancer complex diazido Pt(IV) complex trans, trans, trans-[Pt(N3)2(OH)2(py)2] (FM-190) in aqueous solution and biofluids at single-digit nanomolar concentrations before and after irradiation. FM-190 displays high stability in human blood plasma in the dark at 37 °C. Interestingly, the polyhydroxido species [{PtIV(py)2(OH)4} + Na]+ and [{PtIV(py)2(N3)(OH)3} + Na]+ resulting from the replacement of azido ligands, as determined by LC-MS, were the major products after photoirradiation of FM-190 with blue light (463 nm). This finding suggests that such photosubstituted Pt(IV) tri- and tetra-hydroxido species could play important roles in the biological activity of this anticancer complex. Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations show that these Pt(IV) species arising from FM-190 in aqueous media can be formed directly from a singlet excited state. The results highlight how speciation analysis (metallomics) can shed light on photoactivation pathways for FM-190 and formation of potential excited-state pharmacophores. The ability to detect and identify photoproducts at physiologically-relevant concentrations in cells and tissues will be important for preclinical development studies of this class of photoactivatable platinum drugs.

Azido-mediated intermolecular interactions of transition metal complexes.

The coordinated azido ligand has a variety of ways to establish intermolecular contacts whose nature is computationally analysed in this work on dimers of the [N3-Hg(CF3)] complex with different interactions involving only N⋯N contacts, or with an additional Hg⋯N contact. The applied tools include the molecular electrostatic map of the monomer, an energy decomposition analysis (EDA), a topological AIM analysis of the electron density and the study of NCI (non-covalent interactions) isosurfaces. The interactions between two azido ligands are found to be weakly stabilizing (by 0.2 to 2.7 kcal mol-1), topology-dependent and require dispersion forces to complement orbital and electrostatic stabilization. Those interactions are supplemented by the formation of simultaneous Hg⋯N secondary interactions by about -1 kcal mol-1, and by the ability of the monomer to simultaneously interact with several neighbours in the crystal structure.

Jellyfish-type Dinuclear Hafnium Azido Complexes: Synthesis and Reactivity.

Di- and multinuclear hafnium complexes bridged by ligands have been rarely reported. In this article, a novel 3,5-disubstituted pyrazolate-bridged ligand LH5 with two [N2 N]2- -type chelating side arms was designed and synthesized, which supported a series of dinuclear hafnium complexes. Dinuclear hafnium azides [LHf2 (μ-1,1-N3 )2 (N3 )2 ][Na(THF)4 ] 3 and [LHf2 (μ-1,1-N3 )2 (N3 )2 ][Na(2,2,2-Kryptofix)] 4 were further synthesized and structurally characterized, featuring two sets of terminal and bridging azido ligands like jellyfishes. The reactivity of 3 under reduction conditions was conducted, leading to a formation of a tetranuclear hafnium imido complex [L1 Hf2 (μ1 -NH)(N3 ){μ2 -K}]2 5. DFT calculations revealed that the mixed imido azide 5 was generated via an intramolecular C-H insertion from a putative dinuclear HfIV -nitridyl intermediate.

Structural evolution and zero-field SMM behaviour in ferromagnetically-coupled disk-type Co7 clusters bearing exclusively end-on azido bridges

Concise chemistry leads to a family of heptanuclear CoII-clusters, [Co7(N3)12(CH3CN)12] [Y2(NO3)4(piv)4]·2CH3CN (DC1) (pivH = pivalic acid), [Co7(N3)12(CH3CN)10(NO3)0.4 (Cl)1.6]·4CH3CN (DC2) and [Co7(N3)12(CH3CN)10(NO3)2]·4CH3CN (DC3), in which the metal ions are exclusively bridged by end-on azido ligands to stabilize a beautiful disk-like topology. The resulting clusters exhibit interesting structural transformations and thermodynamically-distinct steady states verified by theoretical calculations. Magnetic studies reveal the first observation of zero-field SMM behaviour in disk-like heptanuclear CoII complexes.

Reactivity of azido terpyridine Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) complexes towards 4,4,4-trifluoro-2-butynoic acid: structural insight into the triazolato coordination mode.

The mono- and binuclear azido terpyridine square-planar complexes of ionic formulas, [Pd2(N3)2L]2+ and [Pt(N3)L]+ (L = 1,4-bis(2,2':6',2''-terpyridin-4'yl)benzene), underwent the catalyst-free [3 + 2] cycloaddition coupling with 4,4,4-trifluoro-2-butynoic acid at ambient temperature affording the corresponding triazolate complexes. A mixture of triazolate isomers was generated by these inorganic click reactions. An increase in the solubility of the compounds was achieved by replacing the azido ligand with a triazolato ligand. By calculating the vibrational modes and comparing the total electronic and zero-point energy values, the local minimum structures of the complexes and the nature of the predominant triazolate isomer were verified. The theoretical work was complemented with natural bond analysis to get an insight into the natural charge and electronic arrangement of the metal ion, the hybridization of M-L bonds and strength of M-N bonds.

Tetranuclear Copper(II) Complexes Derived from 5-Bromo-2-((2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)phenol: Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal Structures and Catalytic Oxidation of Olefins.

An acetate bridged tetranuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu4L2(μ2-η1:η1-CH3COO)6(CH3OH)2] (1), and a chloride, phenolate and azide co-bridged tetranuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu4L2Cl2(μ-Cl)2(μ1,1-N3)2]2CH3OH (2), where L is the deprotonated form of the Schiff base 5-bromo-2-((2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)phenol (HL), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Single crystalX-ray analysis revealed that the Cu atoms in both complexes are in square pyramidal geometry. In complex 1, two [CuL] units and [Cu2(μ2-η1:η1-CH3COO)4] core are linked through two acetate ligands. In complex 2, [Cu2LCl(μ-Cl)] units are linked together by two end-on azido ligands. The Schiff base ligand coordinates to the Cu atoms through four N and O donor atoms. The molecules of both complexes are linked through hydrogen bonds to generate three dimensional networks. The catalytic property of the complexes for epoxidation reactions of some alkenes was studied using tert-butylhydroperoxide as the terminal oxidant under mild conditions in acetonitrile.

Pseudohalide coligands guided structural motifs, magnetism and BSA-interactions of copper(II) complexes derived from 1,3-dimethy-6-aminouracil

Two novel copper(II) complexes with mononuclear (1) and 1D polynuclear (2) structural motifs were synthesized using the novel planar tridentate ligand 1,3-dimethyl-5-(thiazolyl-azo)-6-aminouracil, H2L (triclinic, PĪ space group and Z = 2) and pseudohalide coligands, namely azido and thiocyanato ligands. 1 is a monomeric-azo-azido complex with the monoclinic crystal system and P21/n space group, whereas 2 is a 1D polynuclear coordination polymer of Cu(II)-azo-µ-SCN (µ-SCN is bonded in the end-to-end (anti mode) manner) with the orthorhombic crystal system and Pbca space group. The crystallographic study, magneto-structural study and EPR spectra revealed distinctly that both complexes possess a slightly distorted square-pyramidal geometry about the Cu(II) ion. The observed and/or theoretical TDDFT bands show the nature of multiple intraligand, ligand-to-metal, metal-to-ligand charge transfer and d-d transitions. Direct current (dc) variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 1 and 2 were carried out in the temperature range 1.8–300 K. The copper(II) ions remain non-interacting at 300 K (χmT: 0.417 cm3 mol−1 K for 1 and 0.361 cm3 mol−1 K for 2). The Weiss constant for 1 is −2.3 K and for 2 it is 0.96 K, indicating that weak antiferromagnetic and weak ferromagnetic interactions exist in 1 and 2, respectively. As expected, complex 1 exhibits an intermolecular type of interaction (zJ′ = −1.37(1) cm−1), whereas 2 exhibits an intramolecular magnetic interaction (J = 1.17(2) cm−1) between the Cu(II) ions. The cause of the weak ferromagnetic coupling in 2 may be due to the orthogonality of the magnetic orbitals (dx2-y2) involved in the equatorial-axial singly bridging SCN moiety. All the compounds show excellent binding interactions (KA) with BSA, with the order complex 1 (1.993 × 104 M−1) > complex 2 (6.072 × 103 M−1) > free ligand (2.619 × 103 M−1).

Evaluation of antitumor potential of Cu(II) complex with hydrazone of 2-acetylthiazole and Girard’s t reagent

In this paper, the previously synthesized Cu(II) complex ([CuL1(N3) (CH3OH)]BF4) with N,N,N-trimethyl-2-oxo-2-(2-(1-(thiazol-2-yl)ethylidene)- hydrazinyl)ethan-1-aminium chloride, has been characterized and its biological activity has been studied in detail. The Cu(II) complex consists of ligand coordinated in a deprotonated, formally neutral zwitter-ionic form, via NNO atoms, one azido ligand and one methanol molecule. The Cu(II) complex was selected due to results of the cytotoxic activity, the brine shrimp test and DPPH radical scavenging activity, which were previously performed. The effects of Cu(II) complex on cell cycle phase distribution of cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells were investigated in order to examine the mechanisms of its anticancer activity. The measurement of intracellular ROS levels in HeLa and HaCaT cell lines were evaluated in order to explore their possible generation and the role in cytotoxic activity. The possible anti-invasive and anti-angiogenic properties of Cu(II) complex were evaluated. DNA binding experiments, including fluorescence displacement study and DNA cleavage experiments, were performed in order to obtain information on the type of DNA-metal complex interactions.

Photo-induced primary processes of trans-[Co(acac)2(N3)(py)] in liquid solution studied by femtosecond vibrational and electronic spectroscopies

The elementary light-triggered dynamics of the transition metal complex, trans-[CoIII(acac)2(N3)(py)] (trans-[1]), was investigated using femtosecond mid-infrared (mIR) and UV-Vis spectroscopies following ultrafast acetylacetonate-to-cobalt charge-transfer excitation at 266 nm. The spectro-temporal response is indicative of an ultrafast return to the electronic ground state via a sequential intramolecular electron transfer. The locally excited ligand-to-metal charge transfer state, 1LMCTacac, decays within 200 fs via azide-to-acac electron transfer to another charge-transfer state, 1LMCTazide, that features an azidyl radical ligand attached to a cobalt(II) center. A subsequent cobalt-to azidyl electron transfer occurring within 1.8 ps generates an excited metal centered state, 1MC, thereby re-establishing the fully closed-shell character of the anionic azido and acac ligands. The fully relaxed electronic ground state of trans-[1] is then recovered via internal conversion and vibrational energy relaxation on a 10 ps-time scale.

Crystal structure and magnetic interactions of a new alkoxido and azido bridged 1D copper(II) coordination polymer

A new 1D azido and alkoxido-bridged Cu(II) coordination polymer, [Cu2(H3L)(μ-H2L)(μ-N3)]n (1), was synthesized from the reaction of H4L, Cu(NO3)2·3H2O and NaN3 in methanol, where H4L is (E)-2-((5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol. Compound 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both spectroscopic and structural studies confirmed the presence of the Schiff base and the azide ligands. Azido and alkoxido bridges connect two Cu(II) ions with different coordination environments. The Schiff base ligand, H4L, shows two coordination modes acting as H3L− and H2L2− to the metal cores. The azido ligands show both end-on and end-to-end bridging modes. The magnetic study performed in the 1.8–300 ​K range shows an overall ferromagnetic interaction among the copper(II) ions dominated by the coupling through the alkoxido bridge. We have calculated the value of the magnetic coupling constants by means of DFT calculations, and we compared their values with those obtained from the magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Terpyridine Zn(II) azide compounds: Spectroscopic and DFT calculations

Square-pyramidal Zn(II) azide complexes with the formula of [Znn(N3)2nL] (n = 1; L = 4′-(2-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2′'-terpyridine (LPy), 4′-(4-phenylmorpholine)-2,2′:6′,2′'-terpyridine (LMorph), and n = 2; L = 1,4-bis(2,2′:6′,2′'-terpyridin-4′-yl)benzene (LBPY)) were synthesized, and structurally characterized using different spectroscopic and analytical tools. Ground-state geometry optimization and harmonic vibrational analysis were carried out at two different levels of theory (B3LYP/LANL2DZ and CAM-B3LYP/def2-SVP) to gather insights into the local minimum structures. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses revealed that the electronic population of the 3d orbitals of Zn(II) ion is corresponding to the oxidation state of Zn(I), not Zn(II), in agreement with the ligand to metal charge transfer. Molecular electrostatic potential energy maps showed that the azido ligand may act as a nucleophile in the cycloaddition coupling with electron poor dipolar molecules. The electronic structure and transitions were investigated by executing time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations.

Coexistence of Spin Canting and Metamagnetism in a One-Dimensional Mn(II) Compound Bridged by Alternating Double End-to-End and Double End-On Azido Ligands and the Analog Co(II) Compound

Two new compounds of general formula [M(N3)2(dmbpy)] in which dmbpy = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine, and M = Mn(II) or Co(II), have been solvothermally synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. The structures consist of zig-zag polymeric chains with alternating bis-µ(azide-N1)2M and bis-µ(azide-N1,N3)2M units in which the cis-octahedrally based coordination geometry is completed by the N,N’-chelating ligand dmbpy. The molecular structures are basically the same for each metal. The Mn(II) compound has a slightly different packing mode compared to the Co(II) compound, resulting from their different space groups. Interestingly, relatively weak interchain interactions are present in both compounds and this originates from π–π stacking between the dmbpy rings. The magnetic properties of both compounds have been investigated down to 2 K. The measurements indicate that the manganese compound shows spin-canted antiferromagnetic ordering with a Néel temperature of TN = 3.4 K and further, a field-induced magnetic transition of metamagnetism at temperatures below the TN. This finding affords the first example of an 1D Mn(II) compound with alternating double end-on (EO) and double end-to-end (EE) azido-bridged ligands, showing the coexistence of spin canting and metamagnetism. The cobalt compound shows a weak ferromagnetism resulting from a spin-canted antiferromagnetism and long-range magnetic ordering with a critical temperature, TC = 16.2 K.

Structure and NMR properties of the dinuclear complex di-μ-azido-κ4 N 1:N 1-bis-[(azido-κN)(pyridine-2-carboxamide-κ2 N 1,O)zinc(II)

The new diamagnetic complex, [Zn2(N3)4(C6H6N2O)2] or [Zn2(pca)2(μ1,1-N3)2(N3)2] was synthesized using pyridine-2-carboxamide (pca) and azido ligands, and characterized using various techniques: IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the solid state, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in solution. The mol-ecule is placed on an inversion centre in space group P . The pca ligand chelates the metal centre via the pyridine N atom and the carbonyl O atom. One azido ligand bridges the two symmetry-related Zn2+ cations in the end-on coordination mode, while the other independent azido anion occupies the fifth coordination site, as a terminal ligand. The resulting five-coordinate Zn centres have a coordination geometry inter-mediate between trigonal bipyramidal and square pyramidal. The behaviour of the title complex in DMSO solution suggests that it is a suitable NMR probe for similar or isostructural complexes including other transition-metal ions. The diamagnetic nature of the complex is reflected in similar 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts for the free ligand pca as for the Zn complex.

Magnetically coupled iron azide chains

Three well-defined iron(II) compounds CztBu(PyriPr)2FeCl (1), CztBu(PyriPr)2FeCl(THF) (2), and CztBu(PyriPr)2FeN3 (3), supported by the NNN pincer ligand CztBu(PyriPr)2− were synthesized and characterized.Compound 3 features a one-dimensional chain structure built by CztBu(PyriPr)2Fe units and bridged by end-to-end azido ligands. This chain material exhibits magnetic hysteresis at low temperatures and non-superimposable zero-field cooled and field cooled magnetization. These properties are consistent with single-chain magnet behavior, likely arising from superexchange coupling of Fe(II) centers via the azide bridges.

Vibrational Relaxation Dynamics of an Azido-Cobalt(II) Complex from Femtosecond UV-Pump/MIR-Probe Spectroscopy and Model Simulations with Ab Initio Anharmonic Couplings.

Vibrational energy relaxation is of critical importance for the light-controlled reactivity of transition-metal complexes. In time-resolved optical spectroscopies, it gives rise to pronounced spectral redistributions with complex band shifts and thus to nonexponential kinetics, all of which are very difficult to quantify. Here we study the vibrational relaxation dynamics of a pentacoordinated azido-cobalt(II) complex in liquid solution following its ultrafast charge-transfer excitation in the near-ultraviolet (UV). The complex is photochemically remarkably stable and returns within the experimental time resolution back to its quartet electronic ground state via internal conversion. The nonadiabatic transition effectively instantaneously converts the entire photon energy into kinetic energy of the vibrational degrees of freedom. The ensuing relaxation dynamics of the vibrationally highly excited complex are monitored as a function of time using femtosecond mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy in the antisymmetric stretching region of the azido ligand and occur on a time scale of a few tens of picoseconds. The dynamic evolution of the MIR spectrum due to vibrational cooling of the complex can be understood quantitatively within the framework of an anharmonic coupling model, which relies on an ab initio intramolecular cubic/quartic force field from density functional theory combined with second-order vibrational perturbation theory. The simulations suggest that the primary internal conversion preferentially dumps the excess energy into the low-frequency bending modes of the azido ligand, whereas its high-frequency stretching modes are barely affected by the initial nonadiabatic transition. Surprisingly, the two bending vibrations appear to relax independently of one another, each with its own characteristic cooling time.

Artificial Iron Proteins: Modeling the Active Sites in Non-Heme Dioxygenases.

An important class of non-heme dioxygenases contains a conserved Fe binding site that consists of a 2-His-1-carboxylate facial triad. Results from structural biology show that, in the resting state, these proteins are six-coordinate with aqua ligands occupying the remaining three coordination sites. We have utilized biotin-streptavidin (Sav) technology to design new artificial Fe proteins (ArMs) that have many of the same structural features found within active sites of these non-heme dioxygenases. An Sav variant was isolated that contains the S112E mutation, which installed a carboxylate side chain in the appropriate position to bind to a synthetic FeII complex confined within Sav. Structural studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods revealed a facial triad binding site that is composed of two N donors from the biotinylated ligand and the monodentate coordination of the carboxylate from S112E. Two aqua ligands complete the primary coordination sphere of the FeII center with both involved in hydrogen bond networks within Sav. The corresponding FeIII protein was also prepared and structurally characterized to show a six-coordinate complex with two exogenous acetato ligands. The FeIII protein was further shown to bind an exogenous azido ligand through replacement of one acetato ligand. Spectroscopic studies of the ArMs in solution support the results found by XRD.

Synthesis and crystal structure of a phenolato, chlorido and end-on azido-cobridged tetranuclear copper(II) complex derived from 2-[(2-dimethylaminoethylimino)methyl]-4-methylphenol

A novel phenolato-, chlorido- and end-on azido-cobridged tetranuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu4(daemp)2Cl2(μ-Cl)2(μ1,1-N3)2(MeOH)2] (Hdaemp = 2-[(2-dimethylaminoethylimino)methyl]-4-methylphenol), was prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and UV-Vis spectra, and single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The Schiff base ligands coordinate to the Cu atoms through phenolate O, imino N and amino N atoms. The adjacent Cu···Cu distances are 3.169(2) and 3.063(2) Å. Each Cu atom is in a square pyramidal coordination. The azido ligands link two Cu atoms with end-on bridging mode. There are two coordination modes for the Cl ligands, viz. terminal and bridging. In the crystal structure, the complex molecules are stack along the b axis.

Probing the primary processes of a triazido-cobalt(III) complex with femtosecond vibrational and electronic spectroscopies. Photochemical selectivity and multi-state reactivity.

The elementary dynamics following 355 nm-excitation of the complex, mer-[Co(dien)(N3)3], were studied in liquid dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution using femtosecond-ultraviolet-pump/mid-infrared-to-near-ultraviolet probe spectroscopy in conjunction with electronic structure calculations based on density functional theory. Following the initial N3--to-Co charge transfer excitation, the parent complex undergoes an ultrafast metal-to-ligand back electron transfer (BET) within 2 ps thereby populating a metal-centered singlet excited state, 1MC, which can either repopulate the electronic ground state or cleave an azido ligand from the ligand sphere surrounding the metal center. From the asymptotic ground-state bleaching signal after 1 ns, a primary quantum yield for ligand loss of ca. 13% is estimated. The IR-spectrum of the product demonstrates that the photodissociation occurs selectively from the equatorial binding site thereby leading exclusively to the solvolysis product, mer-trans-[Co(dien)(N3)2(DMSO)]+, which features the solvent ligand in the equatorial coordination plane and the azides in the two axial positions. The remarkable photochemical selectivity is traced back to the initial BET and the nature of the intermediate state, 1MC, whose electronic structure entails occupancy of the σ-antibonding d(x2-y2)-orbital. A stereochemical scrambling at the stage of the primary penta-coordinated diazido product is kinetically inhibited on the singlet surface by an energy barrier of roughly 27 kJ mol-1. Primary penta-coordinated products that may be born on the triplet surface are funneled to their singlet ground-state preferentially from geometries with trans-oriented azido ligands thereby also preventing a stereochemical isomerization that could possibly arise from an intersystem crossing.