N4 Ligand Research Articles

New zinc/tetradentate N4 ligand complexes: Efficient catalysts for solvent-free preparation of cyclic carbonates by CO2/epoxide coupling

Tetra-nitrogenated Zn-Schiff-base complexes have been synthetized and studied by X-ray diffraction. The prepared Zn-N4-ligands complexes could not follow the 18-electron rule. This property has allowed the complexes to be efficient in the coordination and activation of the substrates. The zinc complex of N,N’-bis(2-p-tosylaminobenzylidene)-1,2-diaminecyclohexane, Zn(Cy-Ts) combined to tetra-butylammonium iodide (TBAI) in a ratio of 1:1, or to triethylamine, catalyzed efficiently the CO2/epoxides coupling. These catalytic reactions were carried out without solvent at 120 °C under CO2 pressure. Cyclic carbonates were selectively obtained with high yield up to 99% (TON up to 4900). Two plausible pathways of CO2/epoxide coupling mechanism were proposed without halide intervention, where both reactants are activated by the same Zn metal center.

Relationship between Hydrogen-Atom Transfer Driving Force and Reaction Rates for an Oxomanganese(IV) Adduct.

Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reactions by high-valent metal-oxo intermediates are important in both biological and synthetic systems. While the HAT reactivity of FeIV-oxo adducts has been extensively investigated, studies of analogous MnIV-oxo systems are less common. There are several recent reports of MnIV-oxo complexes, supported by neutral pentadentate ligands, capable of cleaving strong C-H bonds at rates approaching those of analogous FeIV-oxo species. In this study, we provide a thorough analysis of the HAT reactivity of one of these MnIV-oxo complexes, [MnIV(O)(2pyN2Q)]2+, which is supported by an N5 ligand with equatorial pyridine and quinoline donors. This complex is able to oxidize the strong C-H bonds of cyclohexane with rates exceeding those of FeIV-oxo complexes with similar ligands. In the presence of excess oxidant (iodosobenzene), cyclohexane oxidation by [MnIV(O)(2pyN2Q)]2+ is catalytic, albeit with modest turnover numbers. Because the rate of cyclohexane oxidation by [MnIV(O)(2pyN2Q)]2+ was faster than that predicted by a previously published Bells-Evans-Polanyi correlation, we expanded the scope of this relationship by determining HAT reaction rates for substrates with bond dissociation energies spanning 20 kcal/mol. This extensive analysis showed the expected correlation between reaction rate and the strength of the substrate C-H bond, albeit with a shallow slope. The implications of this result with regard to MnIV-oxo and FeIV-oxo reactivity are discussed.

Mechanistic Insights into the Enantioselective Epoxidation of Olefins by Bioinspired Manganese Complexes: Role of Carboxylic Acid and Nature of Active Oxidant

Bioinspired manganese and iron complexes bearing nonporphyrinic tetradentate N4 ligands are highly efficient catalysts in asymmetric oxidation reactions by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), in which carboxylic acid is employed as an essential additive to improve product yields and stereo-, regio-, and enantioselectivities. The metal catalysts should possess two cis-binding sites for oxidant (e.g., H2O2) and carboxylic acid to generate high-valent metal-oxo species as active oxidants via a “carboxylic acid-assisted” mechanism. In the present study, we have investigated the role(s) of carboxylic acid and the nature of reactive intermediate(s) in the manganese complex-catalyzed enantioselective epoxidation of olefins, by employing non-heme manganese catalysts, such as 1 bearing a tetradentate N4 ligand (LN4) and 2 bearing a pentadentate N5 ligand (LN5), and using various oxidants, such as H2O2, alkyl hydroperoxides, and iodosylbenzene (PhIO). As expected, 1 possessing two cis-binding sites is an effective catalyst i...

Copper(I)–Dioxygen Reactivity in the Isolated Cavity of a Nanoscale Molecular Architecture

Copper(I) and copper(II) complexes supported by a bulky tetradentate N4 ligand, [CuI(TIPT3tren)(CH3CN)]ClO4 (1) and [CuII(TIPT3tren)Cl]BF4 (2), were synthesized and characterized, where TIPT is 2,2′′,6,6′′‐tetraisopropyl‐1,3′:5′,1′′‐terphenyl and tren is tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine. The copper(II) chloride complex 2 exhibits a trigonal‐bipyramidal structure, as usually observed for the tren ligand system, in which the chloride ligand occupies an axial position and is encapsulated in an isolated cavity consisting of three TIPT substituents. Such a trigonal‐bipyramidal structure is stabilized in acetone, in which hydrogen‐bonding interactions between the anilino N–H groups and the oxygen atom of the acetone molecules, entrapped in the hydrophobic clefts between the TIPT substituents, play an important role. The reaction of copper(I) complex 1 and O2 in an acetone‐containing solvent at –110 °C gave end‐on copper(II) superoxide complex 3 together with putative side‐on copper(III) peroxide complex 4, as was evident from detailed studies by variable‐temperature UV/Vis, resonance Raman, and 1H and 2H NMR spectroscopy. The formation of 3 and 4 was also validated by DFT calculations.

Highly Enantioselective Oxidation of Spirocyclic Hydrocarbons by Bioinspired Manganese Catalysts and Hydrogen Peroxide

Bioinspired manganese complexes have emerged as attractive catalysts for a number of selective oxidation reactions over the past several decades. In the present study, we report the enantioselective oxidation of spirocyclic compounds with manganese complexes bearing tetradentate N4 ligands as catalysts and aqueous H2O2 as a terminal oxidant under mild conditions; spirocyclic tetralone (1a) and its derivatives bearing electron-donating and -withdrawing substituents are converted to their corresponding chiral spirocyclic β,β′-diketones with high yields and enantioselectivities. Spirocyclic indanones are also converted to the β,β′-spirobiindanones with high enantioselectivities. Indeed, the reaction expands the diversity of chiral spirocyclic diketones via a late-stage oxidative process. In addition, it is of importance to note that the catalytic reaction can be easily scaled up and the chiral spirocyclic β,β′-diketones can be transformed into diol products. In mechanistic studies, we have shown that (1) ketones were yielded as products via the initial formation of alcohols, followed by the further oxidation of the alcohols to ketones, (2) hydrogen atom (H atom) abstraction from the methylene C–H bonds of 1a by a putative Mn(V)-oxo intermediate was proposed to be the rate-determining step, and (3) the C–H bond hydroxylation of 1a by the Mn(V)-oxo species was proposed to occur via oxygen rebound mechanism. On the basis of these results, we have proposed a plausible mechanism for the selective C–H bond oxidation of hydrocarbons by bioinspired manganese catalysts and hydrogen peroxide.

Slow spin crossover in bis-meridional Fe2+ complexes through spin-state auto-adaptive N6/N8 coordination.

Fe2+ spin crossover (SCO) complexes with long-lived excited high-spin (HS) states are promising molecular switches. An enhanced kinetic stability of spin-state isomers can be expected to foster applications beyond the limits of cooperative SCO. In this study, we describe a new approach to slow down the spin-state exchange by simple commutation of a phenyl substituent by a pyridyl substituent. To this end, N4 ligand 6-(3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine (3b) is synthesized as an N4 homologue of the well-established meridional N3 ligands motif. Phenyl-substituted 6-(3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine (3a) serves as an intrinsic N3 reference throughout. 3b offers variable coordination numbers, N3 versus N3(+1) and N4, reflecting the preferences of the metal center. As is shown herein through an extended solid-state structure-chemical and solution-state NMR study, which is augmented by density-functional theory modeling, both the coordination geometry and its structural dynamics are indeed highly sensitive towards the expansion of the nominal donor number. The additional donors in 3b introduced through the phenyl-pyridine commutation actually give rise to a rich and diverse stereochemistry of the derived Zn2+ and Fe2+ complexes. Notably, even within a single complex unit coordination of 3b ranges from strongly distorted N3 coordination with a long assisting additional contact (Zn2+ and Fe2+) to a more symmetric N2(+2) or N4 situation in Fe2+. DFT modeling unravels that the additional donors are hemi-labile and coordinate to the Fe2+ only in HS state, leaving the elusive low-spin (LS) state in a fairly undisturbed octahedral environment with 3b being N3 coordinate. That is, the coordination number of the complex autogeneously responds to the altered spin-state. Necessarily this switch in coordination number requires strong structural changes upon SCO. This leads to increased activation barriers for SCO as could be deduced from a temperature-dependent analysis of the dynamic 1H NMR-line broadening and corroborated by accompanying theoretical analysis of the SCO reaction coordinate. For [Fe(3b)2]2+ long spin-state lifetimes τ > 1 ms prevail below the characteristic temperature T (1 ms) = 235 K; this value should be compared with a lifetime of only 150 ns derived for the close analogue [Fe(3a)2]2+. The principle applied herein is general and allows transferring of LS Fe2+ complexes with suitably placed phenyl substituents into SCO complexes with spin-state adaptive coordination number and hence long-lived HS excited states.

Cis-Oxoruthenium complexes supported by chiral tetradentate amine (N4) ligands for hydrocarbon oxidations.

We report the first examples of ruthenium complexes cis-[(N4)RuIIICl2]+ and cis-[(N4)RuII(OH2)2]2+ supported by chiral tetradentate amine ligands (N4), together with a high-valent cis-dioxo complex cis-[(N4)RuVI(O)2]2+ supported by the chiral N4 ligand mcp (mcp = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine). The X-ray crystal structures of cis-[(mcp)RuIIICl2](ClO4) (1a), cis-[(Me2mcp)RuIIICl2]ClO4 (2a) and cis-[(pdp)RuIIICl2](ClO4) (3a) (Me2mcp = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis((6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine, pdp = 1,1'-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-2,2'-bipyrrolidine)) show that the ligands coordinate to the ruthenium centre in a cis-α configuration. In aqueous solutions, proton-coupled electron-transfer redox couples were observed for cis-[(mcp)RuIII(O2CCF3)2]ClO4 (1b) and cis-[(pdp)RuIII(O3SCF3)2]CF3SO3 (3c'). Electrochemical analyses showed that the chemically/electrochemically generated cis-[(mcp)RuVI(O)2]2+ and cis-[(pdp)RuVI(O)2]2+ complexes are strong oxidants with E° = 1.11-1.13 V vs. SCE (at pH 1) and strong H-atom abstractors with DO-H = 90.1-90.8 kcal mol-1. The reaction of 1b or its (R,R)-mcp counterpart with excess (NH4)2[CeIV(NO3)6] (CAN) in aqueous medium afforded cis-[(mcp)RuVI(O)2](ClO4)2 (1e) or cis-[((R,R)-mcp)RuVI(O)2](ClO4)2 (1e*), respectively, a strong oxidant with E(RuVI/V) = 0.78 V (vs. Ag/AgNO3) in acetonitrile solution. Complex 1e oxidized various hydrocarbons, including cyclohexane, in acetonitrile at room temperature, affording alcohols and/or ketones in up to 66% yield. Stoichiometric oxidations of alkenes by 1e or 1e* in t BuOH/H2O (5 : 1 v/v) afforded diols and aldehydes in combined yields of up to 98%, with moderate enantioselectivity obtained for the reaction using 1e*. The cis-[(pdp)RuII(OH2)2]2+ (3c)-catalysed oxidation of saturated C-H bonds, including those of ethane and propane, with CAN as terminal oxidant was also demonstrated.

Oxidation Kinetics Resolution of Racemic Aromatic Sulfoxides by Chiral Porphyrin-Inspired N4 Ligand with Manganese Complex

Oxidation Kinetics Resolution of Racemic Aromatic Sulfoxides by Chiral Porphyrin-Inspired N4 Ligand with Manganese Complex

Nickel(ii) complexes of a 3N ligand as a model for diketone cleaving unusual nickel(ii)-dioxygenase enzymes.

Diketone substrate bound nickel(ii) complexes of 2,6-bis(1-methylbenzimidazolyl)pyridine have been synthesized and characterized as relevant active site models for unusual diketone cleaving Ni(ii)-dependent enzymes Ni-ARD and DKDO. The average Ni-Npy/benzim bond distances (2.050-2.107 Å) of model complexes are almost identical to the Ni-NHis bond distances of NiII-ARD (2.02-2.19 Å). The reaction of these adducts with dioxygen exhibited C-C cleavage with the rate of kO2, 5.24-73.71 × 10-3 M-1 s-1. The phenyl substituted adduct regioselectively elicits 52% of benzoic acid as the major product.

Equilibrating (L)FeIII-OOAc and (L)FeV(O) Species in Hydrocarbon Oxidations by Bio-Inspired Nonheme Iron Catalysts Using H2O2 and AcOH.

Inspired by the remarkable chemistry of the family of Rieske oxygenase enzymes, nonheme iron complexes of tetradentate N4 ligands have been developed to catalyze hydrocarbon oxidation reactions using H2O2 in the presence of added carboxylic acids. The observation that the stereo- and enantioselectivity of the oxidation products can be modulated by the electronic and steric properties of the acid implicates an oxidizing species that incorporates the carboxylate moiety. Frozen solutions of these catalytic mixtures generally exhibit EPR signals arising from two S = 1/2 intermediates, a highly anisotropic g2.7 subset (gmax = 2.58 to 2.78 and Δg = 0.85-1.2) that we assign to an FeIII-OOAc species and a less anisotropic g2.07 subset (g = 2.07, 2.01, and 1.96 and Δg ≈ 0.11) we associate with an FeV(O)(OAc) species. Kinetic studies on the reactions of iron complexes supported by the TPA (tris(pyridyl-2-methyl)amine) ligand family with H2O2/AcOH or AcOOH at -40 °C reveal the formation of a visible chromophore at 460 nm, which persists in a steady state phase and then decays exponentially upon depletion of the peroxo oxidant with a rate constant that is substrate independent. Remarkably, the duration of this steady state phase can be modulated by the nature of the substrate and its concentration, which is a rarely observed phenomenon. A numerical simulation of this behavior as a function of substrate type and concentration affords a kinetic model in which the two S = 1/2 intermediates exist in a dynamic equilibrium that is modulated by the electronic properties of the supporting ligands. This notion is supported by EPR studies of the reaction mixtures. Importantly, these studies unambiguously show that the g2.07 species, and not the g2.7 species, is responsible for substrate oxidation in the (L)FeII/H2O2/AcOH catalytic system. Instead the g2.7 species appears to be off-pathway and serves as a reservoir for the g2.07 species. These findings will be helpful not only for the design of regio- and stereospecific nonheme iron oxidation catalysts but also for providing insight into the mechanisms of the remarkably versatile oxidants formed by nature's most potent oxygenases.

Efficient and Reusable Metal–Organic Framework Catalysts for Carboxylative Cyclization of Propargylamines with Carbon Dioxide

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) capture and transformation are important for decreasing the concentration of atmospheric CO2. To effectively capture CO2 and further fix it into valuable chemical products, functionalized dynamic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been utilized not only because of their inherent cavity for accommodating CO2 but also owing to their reversible structural transformations in response to external stimuli for regulating the reaction. Herein, we report a dynamic and functional MOF [Cd3(L)2(BDC)3]2⋅16 DMF (MOF‐1 a; DMF=N,N‐dimethylformamide) achieved by reaction of the amino tripodal imidazole ligand N1‐(4‐(1 H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzyl)‐N1‐ (2‐aminoethyl)ethane‐1,2‐diamine (L) and 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylic acid (H2BDC) with cadmium salt. MOF‐1 a not only shows unprecedented high catalytic activity [initial turnover number (TON) up to 9300] and broad substrate scope for the carboxylative cyclization of propargylamines with CO2, but also can be switched on and off upon reversible structural transformation owing to its dynamic five‐fold interpenetrating structure. Further studies demonstrate that MOF‐1 a shows selective catalytic properties depending on the size of substrates, similarly to sophisticated biological systems.

Two one-dimensional lanthanide compounds with pentagonal bipyramidal ErIII centers showing slow magnetic relaxation

Two one-dimensional (1D) erbium compounds based on the pentadentate ligand N1, N3-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene) diethylenetriamine (H2valdien) and a bulky anion diphenyl phosphate ([(PhO)2PO2]−) of [ErNa(valdien)Cl((PhO)2PO2)]n (1) and [Er(valdien)((PhO)2PO2)]n (2) have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. For both compounds 1 and 2, each ErIII ion adopts a seven-coordinate ligand set and has a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal geometry with pseudo-D5h symmetry. The ErIII centers are bridged by Cl and/or diphenyl phosphate anions to form 1D chains along the b axis. Furthermore, detailed magnetic measurements indicate that both compounds 1 and 2 exhibit field-induced slow magnetic relaxation behavior. The energy barrier Ueff of compound 1 was determined to be (14.19 ± 0.73) cm−1 ((20.41 ± 1.05) K) for only Orbach process. And the spin–lattice relaxation of both Raman and Orbach processes was considered for compound 1 and the observed energy barrier in whole region was (36.01 ± 5.03) cm−1 ((51.82 ± 7.23) K). These results demonstrated that the lanthanide compounds with pentagonal bipyramidal geometry (pseudo-D5h) could be effectively designed and synthesized by using a suitable pentadentate ligand.

Improvement of Electrochemical Water Oxidation by Fine-Tuning the Structure of Tetradentate N4 Ligands of Molecular Copper Catalysts.

Two copper complexes, [(L1)Cu(OH2 )](BF4 )2 [1; L1=N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane] and [(L2)Cu(OH2 )](BF4 )2 [2, L2=2,7-bis(2-pyridyl)-3,6-diaza-2,6-octadiene], were prepared as molecular water oxidation catalysts. Complex 1 displayed an overpotential (η) of 1.07 V at 1 mA cm-2 and an observed rate constant (kobs ) of 13.5 s-1 at η 1.0 V in pH 9.0 phosphate buffer solution, whereas 2 exhibited a significantly smaller η (0.70 V) to reach 1 mA cm-2 and a higher kobs (50.4 s-1 ) than 1 under identical test conditions. Additionally, 2 displayed better stability than 1 in controlled potential electrolysis experiments with a faradaic efficiency of 94 % for O2 evolution at 1.58 V, when a casing tube was used for the Pt cathode. A possible mechanism for 1- and 2-catalyzed O2 evolution reactions is discussed based on the experimental evidence. These comparative results indicate that fine-tuning the structures of tetradentate N4 ligands can bring about significant change in the performance of copper complexes for electrochemical water oxidation.

Tetrahedral Copper(II) Complexes with a Labile Coordination Site Supported by a Tris-tetramethylguanidinato Ligand.

A new tridentate N3 ligand (TMG3tach) consisting of cis,cis-1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane (tach) and three N,N,N',N'-tetramethylguanidino (TMG) groups has been developed to prepare copper complexes with a tetrahedral geometry and a labile coordination site. Treatment of the ligand with CuIIX2 (X = Cl and Br) gave copper(II)-halide complexes, [CuII(TMG3tach)Cl]+ (2Cl) and [CuII(TMG3tach)Br]+ (2Br), the structures of which have been determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The complexes exhibit a four-coordinate structure with C3v symmetry, where the labile halide ligand (X) occupies a position on the trigonal axis. 2Br was converted to a methoxido-copper(II) complex [CuII(TMG3tach)(OMe)](OTf) (2OMe), also having a similar four-coordinate geometry, by treating it with an equimolar amount of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide in methanol. The methoxido-complex 2OMe was further converted to the corresponding phenolato-copper(II) (2OAr) and thiophenolato-copper(II) (2SAr) complexes by ligand exchange reactions with the neutral phenol and thiophenol derivatives, respectively. The electronic structures of the copper(II) complexes with different axial ligands are discussed on the basis of EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

Synthesis of Light-Controlled Superparamagnetic Core–Shell Structured Nanocomposite for Drug Delivery

This paper reported a core–shell structured site-specific light-controlled magnetic nanocomposite for drug delivery. Its core was composed of superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles for magnetic guiding purposes. Its outer shell consisted of mesoporous silica molecular sieve MCM-41 which offered highly ordered hexagonal tunnels for drug molecules. A ligand N1-(5H-cyclopenta [1,2- b:5,4-b′] dipyridin-5-ylidene) benzene-1,4-diamine (denoted as Dafo-Ph-NH2) was coupled to the MCM-41shell. The Dafo end can flip over under 510 nm light therefore will act as a light stimulated acceptor. The final composite was analyzed by electron microscope images, XRD, IR spectra, thermogravimetry, MTT and N2 adsorption/desorption. Our Dafo-MCM-41@Fe3O4 composite shows light controlled release property for vitamin B12 in vitro.

Enantioselective Epoxidation of Electron‐Deficient Alkenes Catalyzed by Manganese Complexes with Chiral N4 Ligands Derived from Rigid Chiral Diamines

AbstractA series of tetradentate sp2N/sp3N hybrid chiral N4 ligands derived from rigid chiral diamines were synthesized, which enabled the first manganese‐catalyzed enantioselective epoxidation of electron‐deficient alkenes with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an oxidant. The reaction furnishes enantiomerically pure epoxy amides, epoxy ketones as well as epoxy esters in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99.9% ee) with lower catalyst loading. Preliminary studies on structure–activity relationship demonstrated that maintaining comparatively lower electron‐donating ability of the sp3N and relatively higher electron‐donating ability of sp2N of the N4 ligands is beneficial to getting higher activity and selectivity, thus providing us a new view to understand epoxidation with H2O2.magnified image

Bioinspired Manganese Complexes and Graphene Oxide Synergistically Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation of Olefins with Aqueous Hydrogen Peroxide

AbstractBioinspired manganese complexes of N4ligands and graphene oxide (GO) synergistically catalyze the highly enantioselective epoxidation of olefins (up to 99%ee), which is a rare example with GO as a co‐catalyst in asymmetric catalysis. GO as a new and key additive not only successfully functions in catalytic amounts, but also has a positive effect for improving the enantioselectivity of the asymmetric epoxidation compared with the traditional stoichiometric organic carboxylic acid method [e.g., chalcone, 95%ee(3.5 mg GO)vs. 84%ee(5 equiv., 75 mg acetic acid), ethyl cinnamate, 84%ee(3.5 mg GO)vs. 19%ee(5 equiv., 75 mg acetic acid)]. The X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra of GO before and after the reaction indicate that the intensities of C–O become stronger after the reaction, which may have a certain relationship with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and gives a reasonable rationale for the large consumption of H2O2. Also, part of the hydrogen peroxide was used for the oxidation of GO.magnified image

Asymmetric Epoxidation of Olefins with H2O2 Catalyzed by a Bioinspired Aminopyridine N4 Iron Complex

AbstractAn iron complex with a chiral aminopyridine N4 ligand bearing strong electron‐donating and bulky morpholine groups on the ligand is synthesized and characterized. The iron complex serves to efficiently catalyze the asymmetric epoxidation of various olefins by employing aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the green oxidant, providing the corresponding epoxides in good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 93 % yield and 99.9 % ee). Owing to the introduction of morpholine functional groups on the ligand, the Fe‐catalyzed reaction can proceed with a catalytic amount of the carboxylic acid partner (3 mol %).

Metal ions as external stimuli in stereoselective self-sorting of koneramines and thiokoneramines

Stereoselective self-sorting of koneramines and thiokoneramines, which are N3 ligands, evolved from the system of pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde, mono-N-substituted ethylenediamine, primary alcohol or thiol, is observed when metal ions such as Ni(ii), Cu(ii), Zn(ii) and Cd(ii) are added as external stimuli to isolate the emergent molecule.

Novel nickel(ii) complexes of sterically modified linear N4 ligands: effect of ligand stereoelectronic factors and solvent of coordination on nickel(ii) spin-state and catalytic alkane hydroxylation.

A series of Ni(ii) complexes of the types [Ni(L)(CH3CN)2](BPh4)21-3, 5 and [Ni(L4)](BPh4)24, where L = N,N'-bis(2-pyrid-2-ylmethyl)-1,4-diazepane (L1), N-(6-methylpyrid-2-ylmethyl)-N'-(pyrid-2-ylmethyl)-1,4-diazepane (L2), N,N'-bis(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4-diazepane (L3), N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (L5) and L4 = N,N'-bis((1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)methyl)-1,4-diazepane, have been isolated and characterized. The complex cations of 1 and 4 possess, respectively, distorted octahedral and low-spin square planar coordination geometries in which nickel(ii) is meridionally coordinated to all four nitrogen atoms of L1 and L4. DFT studies reveal that L5 with the ethylenediamine backbone coordinates in the cis-β mode in [Ni(L5)(CH3CN)2]2+5, but in the cis-α mode in [Ni(L5)(H2O)2]2+. Also, they illustrate the role of ligand donor atom type, diazacyclo backbone and steric hindrance to coordination of pyridyl nitrogen in conferring novel coordination geometries on Ni(ii). All these complexes catalyse the oxidation of cyclohexane in the presence of m-CPBA as the oxidant up to 600 turnover numbers (TON) with relatively good alcohol selectivity (A/K, 5.6-7.2). Adamantane is oxidized to 1-adamantanol, 2-adamantanol and 2-adamantanone with high bond selectivity (3°/2°, 8.7-11.7). The incorporation of methyl substituent(s) on one (2) or both (3) of the pyridyl rings and the replacement of both the pyridylmethyl arms in 1 by imidazolylmethyl arms to give 4 decrease the catalytic efficiency. Interestingly, 5 with the cis-β mode of coordination provides two labile cis coordination sites for oxidant binding, leading to higher total TON and product/bond selectivity.