Dinuclear Species Research Articles

Synthesis and Structure of Copper Complexes of a N6O4 Macrocyclic Ligand and Catalytic Application in Alcohol Oxidation

Reactions between N6O4 macrocyclic 1,4,19,22,25,40-hexaaza-10,13,31,34-tetraoxa-6,14,27,35(1,4)-tetrabenzenacyclopentacontane (L) and several copper salts (viz. trifuoromethane and toluene sulfonates, nitrate, perchlorate, benzoate, and acetate) led to the formation of dinuclear compounds [Cu2(OSO2CF3)2(DMF)2L](SO3CF3)2 (1), [Cu2(p-OSO2C6H4Me)2L(DMF)2](SO3C6H4Me)2 (2), [Cu2(ONO2)2L(DMF)2](NO3)2 (3), [Cu2(OClO3)2(DMF)2L](ClO4)2 (4), [Cu2(OOCPh)2L(H2O)2](O2CPh)2 (5), and [Cu2(OOCMe)4L] (6), which were characterized by IR, elemental analysis and TG-DTA (thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis), as well as by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis). The molecular structures of compounds 1–6 reveal a considerable conformational flexibility of the ligand L, which allowed its readjustment for the formation of the metal compounds and confirmed the presence of dinuclear endo macrocyclic species. In every case, the L ligand coordinates to each copper cation via three nitrogen atoms, with the remaining coordination positions of the metal square pyramid environment being accomplished by neutral or anionic ligands. The macrocyclic cavities appear to be adequate for the enclosure of a neutral species as proved by compound 6 with 1,4-dioxane. The compounds, in combination with the TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidinyloxyl) radical and in alkaline aqueous solution, act as efficient catalysts in the aerobic oxidation of different alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes (yields up to 99% and TON up 232) after 20 h at 70 °C. In addition, the microwave-assisted solvent-free peroxidative oxidation (by tert-butylhydroperoxide, TBHP) of 1-phenylethanol led to acetophenone yields up to 99% and TOF of 1.1 × 103 after 0.5 h, without any additive.

Copper(II) complexes of coumarin-derived Schiff base ligands: Pro- or antioxidant activity in MCF-7 cells?

A series of copper(II) complexes of Schiff base-derived ligands (1–7) were studied for their pro- and antioxidant behaviour in the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. The coordination modes of two of the copper(II) complexes were investigated by pH-potentiometry, EPR and UV–Vis spectroscopic methods. The solution studies indicated that monomeric species are present in the Cu(II) – L1 system at neutral pH, whereas dinuclear species were observed in the case of the Cu(II) – L7 system. This difference in speciation was reflected in their relative cytotoxicities with the copper(II) complex of L1, showing significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells whilst the complex of L7 was inactive. In fact, only three of the seven complexes studied in this series were cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells but this cytotoxicity did not correlate with their ability to bind to DNA, cleave DNA or act as a pro-oxidant. In contrast to previous copper(II) complexes studied by our group, the compounds studied here do not appear to lead to intracellular reactive oxygen species generation at any significant level. In a yeast-based assay, all of the copper complexes had the ability to protect Saccharomyces cerevisiae against menadione-induced oxidative stress but not hydrogen peroxide-induced stress, indicating a lack of catalase activity. Given that the adaptive mechanisms induced by hypoxia in cancer cells have selective effects, with a fine-tuned protection against damage and stress of many kinds, particularly against oxidative stress, chemotherapeutic compounds which are not pro-oxidants may offer a therapeutic advantage.

Solvent extraction studies of nickel(II) by capric acid from sodium sulfate solution

The extraction of nickel(II) from sulfate medium of the ionic strength of 0.33 M by capric acid dissolved in chloroform has been carried out at 25 °C. The stoichiometry of the organometallic complexes extracted was given by using the slope analysis method. Nickel(II) complexes exist as mononuclear species NiL2.2HL and as dinuclear species (NiL2.2HL)2 in low and high capric acid concentrations, respectively. Extraction constants for each species were determined. UV–visible and FT-IR spectroscopy have also been performed for the study of the ligand and their complexes. Electronic spectra of nickel(II) caprate species suggest the octahedral geometry. The present results have been compared with the previous results for the extraction of cobalt(II) and copper(II) and found that the extraction order for capric acid for the three metals is as follows: Cu > Ni > Co.

Electrospray Mass Spectrometry Investigation into the Formation of CPO-27

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has been utilized to investigate the self-assembly processes occurring during the formation of the microporous metal–organic framework CPO-27-M (M = Co, Ni). The mono- and dinuclear building units {M(Hxdhtp)} and {M2(Hxdhtp)}, where Hxdhtp is the organic linker HxC8O6 and fragments thereof, were identified as key species present in the reaction mixture during the product formation. Time-resolved powder X-ray diffraction analysis was used to follow the synthesis and confirmed that no other crystalline products occur in the reaction mixture prior to the crystallization of CPO-27-Ni. When equimolar reactions were performed at room temperature, compounds [(M(H2dhtp)(H2O)4·2H2O] (M = Co, Ni) crystallized instead of CPO-27 obtained at the higher temperature of the solvothermal procedure. It was confirmed that mono- and dinuclear species are key building blocks not only in the formation of CPO-27-M but also in the formation of the 1D chain structure (M(H2dhtp)(H...

Structural and Luminescent Properties of Homoleptic Silver(I), Gold(I), and Palladium(II) Complexes with nNHC-tzNHC Heteroditopic Carbene Ligands.

Novel silver(I), gold(I), and palladium(II) complexes were synthesized with bidentate heteroditopic carbene ligands that combine an imidazol-2-ylidene (nNHC) with a 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene (tzNHC) connected by a propylene bridge. The silver(I) and gold(I) complexes were dinuclear species, [M2(nNHC-tzNHC)2](PF6)2 (M = Ag or Au), with the two bidentate ligands bridging the metal centers, whereas in the palladium(II) complex [Pd(nNHC-tzNHC)2](PF6)2, the two ligands were chelated on the same metal center. Because of the presence of two different carbene units, isomers were observed for the gold(I) and palladium(II) complexes. The molecular structures of the head-to-tail isomer for gold(I) complexes, with a twisted or folded-syn conformation of the bridge between the carbene units, were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The study was completed with a systematic structural investigation through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. For palladium(II) species, the head-to-head form was structurally characterized. The dinuclear gold(I) complexes were emissive in the solid state in the blue region (PLQY up to 8%); time-dependent density functional theory (abbreviated as TD-DFT) calculations disclosed that the absorption bands have metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer character and evidenced that the emission occurs from the T1 level (phosphorescence).

Exclusive imidazole ligation to CuIII2O2 and CuIIICuII2O2 cores.

We disclose herein the synthesis and characterization of L2Cu(iii)2O2 and L3Cu(iii)Cu(ii)2O2 complexes with nitrogen ligation exclusively from imidazoles for the first time. Their accessibility by direct oxygenation of a L-Cu(i) precursor and the resulting Cu(iii) formation inform on the kinetic accessibility and thermodynamic superiority of imidazole in stabilizing Cu(iii).

Synthesis and characterization of di-nuclear bis(benzotriazole iminophenolate) cobalt complexes: catalysis for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide with epoxides.

A family of di-nuclear bis(benzotriazole iminophenolate) (BiIBTP) cobalt complexes containing diverse ancillary carboxylate derivatives have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The one-pot synthesis of the BiIBTP ligand precursor with cobalt perchlorate salt (2.0 equiv.) and carboxylic acid derivatives (2.0 or 5.0 equiv.) in the presence of triethylamine (5.0 equiv.) under refluxing methanolic solution generated bimetallic di-carboxylate Co(ii)/Co(ii) complexes [(C83CBiIBTP)Co2(O2CR)2] (R = C6H5 (1), C6F5 (2), 4-CF3-C6H4 (3), 4-OMe-C6H4 (4), CF3 (5)) in ≧65% yields. Interestingly, the Co(ii)/Co(iii) mixed-valence complex 6 resulted from the treatment of 1 with silver perchlorate (1.0 equiv.) as the oxidizing agent under an O2-atmosphere in 50% yield. The crystal structure of 6 reveals an ionic and di-nuclear benzoate species composed of a cationic moiety formulated as [(C83CBiIBTP)Co2(O2CC6H5)2]+ and a counterbalanced perchlorate anion, and both metal atoms are attributed to hexa-coordinated cobalt ions with varied coordination environments. Catalysis results of CO2/epoxide copolymerization indicated that complex 1 was more efficient than 2-6 where compound 6 was shown to be the least active. Co complex 1 incorporating benzoate coligands was demonstrated to effectively catalyze the CO2-copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO), 4-vinyl-1,2-cyclohexene oxide or cyclopentene oxide, producing the associated CO2-based polycarbonates with >99% carbonate repeated units under optimal conditions. Not only the controllable character of complex 1 for CO2/CHO copolymerization is enabled, but also 1 has been shown to catalyze such a copolymerization in the "immortal" manner. Using the same di-cobalt catalyst in combination with excess ratios of neopentyl glycol (up to 150 equiv.) as the chain transfer agent could give low molecular weight poly(cyclohexene carbonate) polyols with monomodal molecular weight distributions. This work offers the facilely prepared di-nuclear cobalt complexes as catalysts for the efficient catalysis of CO2-copolymerization.

Heteroatom substitution effects in spin crossover dinuclear complexes.

We probe the effect of heteroatom substitution on the spin crossover (SCO) properties of dinuclear materials of the type [Fe2(NCX)4(R-trz)5]·S (X = S, Se; S = solvent; R-trz = (E)-N-(furan-2-ylmethylene)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amine (furtrz); (E)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethylene)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-4-amine (thtrz)). For the furtrz family ([Fe2(NCX)4(furtrz)5]·furtrz·MeOH; X = S (furtrz-S) and X = Se (furtrz-Se)) gradual and incomplete one-step SCO transitions are observed (furtrz-S (T1/2 = 172 K) and furtrz-Se (T1/2 = 205 K)) and a structural evolution from [HS-HS] to [HS-LS] per dinuclear species. Contrasting this, within the thtrz family ([Fe2(NCX)4(thtrz)5]·4MeOH; X = S (thtrz-S) and X = Se (thtrz-Se)) more varied SCO transitions are observed, with thtrz-S being SCO-inactive (high spin) and thtrz-Se showing a rare complete two-step SCO transition (T1/2(1,2) = 170, 200 K) in which the FeII sites transition from [HS-HS] to [HS-LS] to [LS-LS] per dinuclear unit with no long range ordering of spin-states at the intermediate plateau. Detailed structure-function analyses have been conducted within this growing dinuclear family to rationalise these diverse spin-switching properties.

Guest-Adaptable Spin Crossover Properties in a Dinuclear Species Underpinned by Supramolecular Interactions.

Molecular crystals with guest-adaptable crystalline structures and properties are comparatively rare owing to their inherent reduced structural stability and malleability to support molecular variation. To overcome this intrinsic challenge, here we introduce structural stabilizing supramolecular interactions into a dinuclear material and henceforth demonstrate a dynamic structural and spin crossover property interchange between solvated (A·3MeOH) and desolvated (A·Ø) products (A = [FeII2( o-NTrz)5(NCS)4]; 4-( o-nitrobenzyl)imino-1,2,4-triazole). Relatively uncommon for molecular species, the guest molecules in A·3MeOH are evolved (A·Ø) via a single-crystal to single-crystal transformation with affiliated phase transition resulting in a reversible transformation from one- to two-step spin crossover (SCO) transition character. We additionally present the water-saturated product (A·3H2O), which distinctly shows an abrupt one-step SCO character with a 22 K wide thermal hysteresis loop. Detailed structure-property analysis highlights that the substantial structural malleability and guest-adaptable SCO properties of this dinuclear species are afforded by the supportive, yet flexible, supramolecular interaction pathways derived from the ligand functionalization.

Hydrogen‐Generating Ru/Pt Bimetallic Photocatalysts Based on Phenyl‐Phenanthroline Peripheral Ligands

Recent studies on hydrogen-generating supramolecular bimetallic photocatalysts indicate a more important role of the peripheral ligands than expected, motivating us to design a Ru/Pt complex with 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline peripheral ligands. Photoinduced intra- and inter-ligand internal conversion processes have been investigated using transient absorption spectroscopy, spanning the femto- to nanosecond timescale. After photoexcitation and ultrafast intersystem crossing, triplet states localised on either the peripheral ligands or on the bridging ligand/catalytic unit are populated in a non-equilibrated way. Time-resolved photoluminescence demonstrates that the lifetime for the Ru/Pt dinuclear species (795±8 ns) is significantly less than that of the mononuclear analogue (1375±20 ns). The photocatalytic studies show modest hydrogen turnover numbers, which is possibly caused by the absence of an excited state equilibrium. Finally, we identify challenges that must be overcome to further develop this class of photocatalysts and propose directions for future research.

FeII Complexes with Triple N1,N2‐Triazole Bridge Schiff Base Ligand: Antiferromagnetic Dimer vs. Spin Conversion Trimer

Based on the p‐tolyl functionalized Schiff base 1,2,4‐triazole ligand 4‐(p‐tolylidene‐amino)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole (toltrz), a series of three triazole‐bridged FeII complexes have been prepared. The compounds represent a range of dinuclear and trinuclear species, with µ2‐N1,N2‐triazole bridges linking the FeII centers. Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal a gradual single‐step spin crossover (SCO) behavior for the trimeric compound 3 on the central FeII site. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction at 120 K confirms that the central FeII site undergoes a HS to LS transition while the peripheral FeII remain in HS state (HS = high spin; LS = low spin). Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructures with different terminal ligand XCN (X = S, Se), these two compounds stay in high spin state over the whole temperature range but display weak antiferromagnetic exchange coupling.

Synthesis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and molecular structure of tetrakis{(E)-2-((pyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)phenolato}(hydroxido)0.5(nitrato)1.5-tetracopper(II) nitrate hydroxide

Reaction between (E)-2-((pyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)phenol (HL) and copper(II) nitrate provides tetrakis{(E)-2-((pyridin-2-ylimino)methyl)phenolato}(hydroxido)0.5(nitrato)1.5-tetracopper(II) nitrate hydroxide, [(CuL)4(NO3)1.5(OH)0.5](NO3)(OH) (1). ESI-mass spectra show the ion peaks for the dinuclear species at m/z 565 for [(CuL)2(HCO2)]+ and 521 for [(CuL)2+H]+ and the mononuclear species at m/z 260 for [(CuL)]+. Vibrational spectra show very strong bands at 1604/1546 cm−1 for ν(C = N/C = C) and at 1384, 1351 cm−1 for ν(NO3–). Cyclic voltammograms demonstrate an irreversible redox processes for the Cu(II)/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu(0) couples in acetonitrile. X-ray molecular structure determination explores the formation of a cationic tetranuclear copper(II)-complex, in which a deprotonated ligand molecule chelates to one copper ion with the phenolate-O and imino-N atoms. In addition, a phenolate-O atom bridges between two neighboring copper ions and a pyridine-N atom coordinates to a third copper ion, so that each ligand bridges among three copper ions in a κ2N,O:κO:κN' coordination sphere. Thus, the four copper ions and four chelating-bridging ligands assemble primarily into a cationic [(CuL)4]4+ complex. The two copper ions are further coordinated by either a nitrate anion (75% occupancy) or a hydroxide anion (25% occupancy) and form the core of a tetranuclear [(CuL)4(NO3)1.5(OH)0.5]2+ cation.

Theoretical Overview of Methane Hydroxylation by Copper-Oxygen Species in Enzymatic and Zeolitic Catalysts.

As fossil-based energy sources become more depleted and with renewable-energy technologies still in a very early stage of development, the utilization of highly abundant methane as a transitional solution for current energy demands is highly important despite difficulties in transport and storage. Technologies enabling the conversion of methane to liquid/condensable energy carriers that can be easily transported and integrated into the existing chemical infrastructures are therefore essential. Although there commercially exists a two-step gas-to-liquid process involving syngas production, a novel route of methane conversion that can circumvent the high-cost production of syngas should be developed. Among all of the conceptually possible methods for converting methane to methanol, methane hydroxylation (CH4 + 1/2O2 → CH3OH) at low temperature seems to be the most viable since it provides a direct route of conversion and allows a much lower operational cost. However, it is hampered by the fact that the complete oxidation to CO2 is thermodynamically more favored. To overcome this, an effective catalyst that is able to "mildly" oxidize methane and stabilize the resultant methyl radical toward methanol formation is required. Particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) and copper-exchanged zeolites are two catalysts known to hydroxylate methane into methanol at low temperature with high selectivity. Having been studied for more than 30 years, these copper-cored catalysts are still relevant topics of discussion since the actual structure of the active sites has not been agreed upon, and thus, the reaction mechanism and factors influencing their reactivity and productivity are yet to be understood. Density functional theory (DFT) has provided us with a powerful computational tool for accomplishing these tasks. This Account presents an overview of the recent progress in the computational elucidation of the catalytic mechanism of methane hydroxylation by mono-, di-, and trinuclear copper sites in pMMO and Cu-exchanged zeolites as well as its correlations to the influencing factors that must be controlled to achieve higher reactivity. First, we briefly introduce the catalytic mechanism of a bare CuO+ cation as the simplest copper-oxo system in methane hydroxylation. The system is then extended to the copper-oxo species in pMMO and zeolites, and the radical and nonradical mechanisms are examined. Investigations of the reactivities of mononuclear and dinuclear copper-oxo species in the pMMO active site suggest that the bis(μ-oxo)CuIICuIII, (μ-oxo)(μ-hydroxo)CuIICuIII, and CuIIIO species are important for the catalytic activity of pMMO. In the case of Cu-exchanged zeolites, as the mono(μ-oxo)CuIICuII and tris(μ-oxo)CuIICuIIICuIII active sites have been fully characterized in experiments, here we discuss the effects of zeolite structures on the geometry and reactivity of the active sites.

Mechanistic Investigation on the Polymerization of Phenylacetylene by 2-Diphenylphosphinopyridine Rhodium(I) Catalysts: Understanding the Role of the Cocatalyst and Alkynyl Intermediates

The mono- and dinuclear rhodium(I) complexes featuring 2-(diphenylphosphino)pyridine ligands, [Rh(cod)(Ph2PPy)]+ and [Rh(nbd)(μ-Ph2PPy)]22+ (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, nbd = 2,5-norbornadiene), have been prepared in order to be evaluated as phenylacetylene (PA) polymerization catalysts. In contrast with compound [Rh(nbd){Ph2P(CH2)2Py}]+, featuring a 2-(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl)pyridine ligand, that showed a moderate catalytic activity, both [Rh(diene)(Ph2PPy)]nn+ (n = 1, cod; n = 2, nbd) complexes showed no catalytic activity due to the formation of unusual dinuclear species [Rh2(diene)2(μ-Ph2PPy)(μ-C≡C-R)]+, supported by a Ph2PPy bridging ligand and an alkynyl ligand coordinated in a μ-η1:η2 fashion, which are inactive in PA polymerization. However, compounds [Rh(diene)(Ph2PPy)]nn+ efficiently polymerize PA in the presence of a cocatalyst as iPrNH2 affording highly stereoregular poly(phenylacetylene) (PPA) of Mw = 3.42 × 105 (cod) and 2.02 × 105 (nbd) with polydispersities of 1.39 and initiation efficiencies of 4–7%. NMR studies on the polymerization reaction have allowed identification of the alkynyl species [Rh(C≡CPh)(cod)(Ph2PPy)] as the likely initiating species involved in the generation of the rhodium-vinyl species responsible for the propagation step. The iPrNH2 cocatalyst is possibly involved in the efficient proton transfer from the coordinated PA to iPrNH2 that allows for a significant concentration of the key initiating species [Rh(C≡CPh)(cod)(Ph2PPy)]. The distinct behavior of compounds [Rh(diene)(Ph2PPy)]nn+ as PA polymerization catalysts is a consequence of the binucleating ability of the Ph2PPy ligand in combination with the low basicity of the pyridine fragment which allows for the stabilization of the inactive alkynyl-bridge dinuclear species.

Dimers, monomers and pentacoordination in a series of earth-abundant transition metal dibromido complexes supported by a neutral SNS ligand framework

Pincer-type architectures represent an important class of ligand frameworks for the design and synthesis of transition metal coordination complexes and catalysts. The first systematic application of bis(thioether)pyridine “SNS” ligands in coordination chemistry of first-row transition-metal bromides and the first structurally characterized “SNS” complexes of Mn and Fe are reported. The complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis, UV–Vis and FTIR spectroscopy, mass-spectrometry, elemental analysis, and where appropriate by Evans method. Analysis of the resulting complexes reveals a set of monomeric and dinuclear species, whose coordination mode is associated with a delicate balance of structural features arising from the metal’s d-orbital occupancy and the steric load of the ligand. Dimerization of the solid state structure appears to be primarily favored through lower steric load from the ligand and lower metal d-electron count.

Interplay of Electronic and Steric Effects of R2PH (R = tBu, o‐tolyl) in Reactions with Triruthenium Dodecacarbonyl

The reaction of [Ru3(CO)12] with P(o‐tolyl)2H (molar ratio of 1 to 2) in refluxing THF afforded the electron‐precise metal cluster [Ru3(μ‐H)2(μ‐P{o‐tolyl}2)2(CO)8] (3). This reaction behavior is comparable to that using the secondary phosphane PtBu2H operating with the same molar ratio. As shown in earlier work, the ruthenium carbonyl reacted with an excess of PtBu2H under similar conditions with cluster degradation affording the coordinatively unsaturated complex [Ru2(μ‐H)(μ‐PtBu2)(PtBu2H)2(CO)4]. We found that the reaction using similar reaction conditions with P(o‐tolyl)2H in excess did not result in such a reactive dinuclear species. Here compound 3 was formed in a first step, which reacted with excess of the phosphane affording the new cluster [Ru3(μ‐H)2(μ‐P{o‐tolyl}2)2(P{o‐tolyl}2H)2(CO)6] (2). The molecular structures of 2 and 3 in the solid were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Moreover, the 31P NMR spectra of the new compounds showed coalescence phenomena on the NMR time scale caused by a restricted rotation about the P–C bonds, and, presumably, about Ru–P bonds, within the phosphane and phosphanido ligands.

A Strong Support Effect in Selective Propane Dehydrogenation Catalyzed by Ga(i-Bu)3 Grafted onto γ-Alumina and Silica

The reactions of Ga(i-Bu)3 (i-Bu = CH2CH(CH3)2) with the dehydrated and partially dehydroxylated surfaces of alumina (Al2O3–500) and silica (SiO2–700) were studied by IR, high field solid-state NMR and EXAFS spectroscopies, as well as elemental analysis. Grafting onto Al2O3–500 occurs selectively by protonolysis at individual surface hydroxyl groups, resulting in the formation of mononuclear [(≡AlO)Ga(i-Bu)2L] (L = surface oxygen) sites as the major surface organometallic entities. Conversely, grafting on silica affords dinuclear species [(≡SiO)2Ga2(i-Bu)3] by a combination of protonolysis and isobutyl group transfer to Si. Further evidence for the difference in nuclearity was obtained by analysis of the WT-EXAFS. The mononuclear alumina-supported Ga sites show much higher activity in propane dehydrogenation than their dinuclear silica-supported counterparts. The propane dehydrogenation reaction may require the presence of Al–O–Ga bonds to promote heterolytic C–H bond activation. Comparisons with benchmar...

Instant Detection of Hydrogen Cyanide Gas and Cyanide Salts in Solid Matrices and Water by using CuII and NiII Complexes of Intramolecularly Hydrogen Bonded Zwitterions.

A series of intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded zwitterionic compartmental ligands HL1-HL4, containing a pendent diamine arm that is monoprotonated and an aldehyde functionality at two different ortho-positions of a 4-halophenoxide, is reported herein. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD) provides persuasive evidence for the identification of this class of proton-transferred zwitterions at room temperature. The solid-state photoluminescent nature of these zwitterions remains intact in aqueous and organic solutions. Grinding of HL1 and HL2 with Cu2+ /Ni2+ salts develop turn-on probes 1-4. Compounds 1 and 4 are dinuclear CuII and NiII species, respectively. Compound 2 is a tetranuclear CuII complex. Interestingly, compound 3 is a mononuclear NiII species in which both nitrogen atoms in the pendant diamine arm are protonated and, therefore, not coordinated to the NiII center. All these probes (1-4) display an instant response to the poison gas hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and cyanide salts present in both solid matrices and aqueous (100 % water) solution. Selective and rapid sensing of HCN gas and cyanide salts in solid/soil/water phases, without any interference, by the mechanosynthesized complexes 1-4 can be perceived easily by the naked eye under a hand-held UV lamp.

Redox-Assisted Osmium-Promoted C–C Bond Activation of Alkylnitriles

The redox-assisted C(sp)–C(sp3) bond activation of alkylnitriles coordinated to osmium(II) dihydride fragments has been performed with an osmium(VI) polyhydride to liberate alkanes and generate dinuclear complexes formed by two osmium(IV) polyhydride moieties linked by only one CN bridge. In addition, the bonding situation in these novel dinuclear species has been computationally studied.

Dinuclear Tricyclic Transition State Model for Carbonyl Addition of Organotitanium Reagents: DFT Study on the Activity and Enantioselectivity of BINOLate Titanium Catalysts.

In the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral BINOL derivatives (or BINOLs), a mixture of various organometallic compounds with Ti(O iPr)4 undergoes enantioselective addition to aldehydes and ketones. Although the catalyst and reacting nucleophile of the reaction have been elucidated to be ( BINOLate)Ti2(O iPr)6 and RTi(O iPr)3, respectively, little is known about the properties of short-lived intermediates and transition structures. In this work, the mechanism of this reaction is investigated with the aid of DFT (M06) calculations. The study provides support for the following mechanistic understandings: (i) The direct racemic reaction proceeds through a pathway involving initial aggregation of RTi(O iPr)3 with Ti(O iPr)4 followed by carbonyl addition of the resulting dinuclear aggregate. (ii) The enantioselective reaction takes place through a pathway involving initial ligand exchange of RTi(O iPr)3 with ( BINOLate)Ti2(O iPr)6 followed by the addition of the resulting chiral dinuclear titanium species via a chiral BINOLate-chelated, tricyclic transition structure. (iii) The enantioselective pathway is favorable not because BINOLate ligands accelerate the carbonyl addition but because the ligands stabilize the chiral dinuclear species against deaggregation through a chelating bridge. (iv) The chiral transition structure serves as a model accounting for the re-face addition generally observed in the reaction of aldehydes with ( R)- BINOLs.