X-band EPR Research Articles

Solution structure, oxidative DNA damage, biological activity and molecular docking of ternary copper(II) L−argininato complexes

Continuing our search for metal drugs with markedly higher toxicity to cancer cells than to normal cells, we evaluated the effect of 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) as a co-ligand in the compounds [Cu(μ−O,O’−NO3)(L−Arg)(bpy)]NO3}n (1) and [CuCl(L−Arg)(bpy)]Cl·3H2O (2) (L−Arg = L−arginine), on DNA interaction, cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity, compared to the effects induced by other co-ligands i.e. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and SCN− ions, in similar Cu(II) compounds we have studied previously. Potentiometric, X-band EPR and UV–Vis experiments were first used to structurally characterise the complexes formed in solutions 1 and 2 and in model Cu(II)/bpy/L−Arg systems. Gel electrophoresis in the presence of H2O2 was used to identify DNA damage by 1 and 2. In addition, cyclic voltammetry of both compounds was performed to confirm the existence of Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox pairs involved in the free radical mechanism of this DNA damage. The DNA binding constants of 1 and 2 were determined spectrophotometrically. The selectivity of the cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity of compounds 1 and 2 was tested in vitro against human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), liver cancer (HepG2) and normal cells in comparison with those previously observed by us for compounds consisting of phen and SCN− ligands. Molecular docking calculations were performed for [Cu(L−Arg)(bpy)]2+ species (arraised in solutions of 1 and 2) interacting with B-DNA (aureolin), metalloproteinase (S. aureus) and penicillin-binding protein (E. coli) to determine the nature of the complex-receptor interaction, potential binding modes and energies.

Анализ зашумленных спектров электронного парамагнитного резонанса

The paper compares various methods for analyzing the signal of noisy EPR spectra, including those that allow increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. The EPR spectra were modeled (by computer calculation) or adjusted (in the case of an experiment) using the Tsallis function, which made it possible to smoothly adjust the shape of the line. It is shown that the method of minimizing the error function at low noise determines the parameters of the spectrum with high accuracy, but at high noise is inferior to the maximum likelihood method. It was found that the procedure of "smoothing" the spectra increases the signal-to-noise ratio, but practically does not improve the accuracy of determining the signal parameters. Measurements and analysis of the intrinsic noise of the Varian E-4 X-band EPR spectrometer, necessary for the application of the maximum likelihood method, revealed the Gaussian distribution for experimental noise.

Higher-Magnesium-Doping Effects on the Singlet Ground State of the Shastry-Sutherland SrCu2(BO3)2.

Doping of quantum antiferromagnets is an established approach to investigate the robustness of their ground state against the competing phases. Predictions of doping effects on the ground state of the Shastry-Sutherland dimer model are here verified experimentally on Mg-doped SrCu2(BO3)2. A partial incorporation of Mg2+ on the Cu2+ site in the SrCu2(BO3)2 structure leads to a subtle but systematic lattice expansion with the increasing Mg-doping concentration, which is accompanied by a slight decrease in the spin gap, the Curie-Weiss temperature, and the peak temperature of the susceptibility. These findings indicate a doping-induced breaking of Cu2+ spin-1/2 dimers that is also corroborated by X-band EPR spectroscopy that points to a systematic increase in the intensity of free Cu2+ sites with increasing Mg-doping concentration. Extending the Mg-doping up to nominal x = 0.10 yielding SrCu1.9Mg0.1(BO3)2, in the magnetization measurements taken up to 35 T, a suppression of the pseudo-1/8 plateau is found along with a clear presence of an anomaly at an onset critical field μ0H'C0 ≈ 9 T. The latter, absent in pure SrCu2(BO3)2, emerges due to the pairwise coupling of liberated Cu2+ spin-1/2 entities in the vicinity of Mg-doping induced impurities.

Lanthanide-based F-MOFs: Structure, hydrolytic stability, spectral and magnetic properties

A series of five novel lanthanide-based fluorinated metal-organic frameworks (Ln-F-MOFs) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions by the reaction of 3,3′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (H2L) and lanthanide Ln(III) ions (Ln(III)La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Eu). Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis revealed that all prepared complexes are isostructural. A single-crystal X-ray crystallographic study of one representative of the isostructural group, namely {[La2(L)3(DMF)2(H2O)2]}n showed, that compound crystallizes in a triclinic system with space group P-1. The lattice parameter values are a = 8.563(2) Å, b = 13.199(3) Å, c = 16.008(4) Å, α = 104.588(7) °, β = 92.904(7) ° and γ = 92.717(7) °, with two formula units in the unit cell. The overall structure is formed by 2D polymeric layers, which are arranged into a semi-3D supramolecular structure through hydrogen bonds and other intramolecular interactions. The study of the hydrophobic properties of the complexes showed that the complexes exhibit surface hydrophobicity with a “rose petal effect” and a contact angle of approximately 107°. However, the structures are not hydrolytically stable in the long term and the structure starts to delaminate after two days in water. This is a manifestation of the fact that the complexes do not form a 3D polymer network, it is made up of 2D layers connected only by weak non-bonding interactions. The photoluminescence properties of the Ln(III) complexes are determined by the characteristic 5d-4f or 4f-4f electron transitions for the individual lanthanide ions. The magnetic properties of Nd(III), Pr(III) and Eu(III) variants were studied. The magnetic properties of {[Pr2(L)3(DMF)2(H2O)2]}n are characterized by the presence of a low-lying quasi-doublet with 15.6 cm−1 energy splitting, whereas Eu(III) variant is nonmagnetic at low temperatures, but the magnetic 7F1 state is accessible by thermal excitation. For Nd(III) complex, the X-band EPR measurements were performed. Since 1D channels with dimensions of 4.90 × 7.23 Å2 are present within the structure, the adsorption of N2, CO2 and H2 gases was also studied.

Impact of Zeeman and hyperfine interactions on the magnetic properties of paramagnetic metal Ions: I. Local interactions of the electron spin

The anisotropic Zeeman interaction of an ion, and the strong hyperfine interaction with its own nucleus, can significantly influence its interactions with the local environment. These effects, including the reduction of the effective magnetic moment of the electron spin and the phase memory decay rate, are studied theoretically. Analytical expressions describing the mean magnetic moment of the electron spin are obtained. The results of the theoretical analysis and accompanying numerical computations show that the strong hyperfine interaction of the ion reduces its effective magnetic moment. In particular, a 7% reduction is found for the scandium endofullerene Sc2@C80(CH2Ph) under conditions typical of an X-band EPR experiment.

A General Concept for the Electronic and Steric Modification of 1-Metallacyclobuta-2,3-dienes: A Case Study of Group 4 Metallocene Complexes.

The synthesis of group 4 metal 1-metallacyclobuta-2,3-dienes as organometallic analogues of elusive 1,2-cyclobutadiene has so far been limited to SiMe3 substituted examples. We present the synthesis of two Ph substituted dilithiated ligand precursors for the preparation of four new 1-metallacyclobuta-2,3-dienes [rac-(ebthi)M] (M=Ti, Zr; ebthi=1,2-ethylene-1,10-bis(η5-tetrahydroindenyl)). The organolithium compounds [Li2(RC3Ph)] (1 b: R=Ph, 1 c: R=SiMe3) as well as the metallacycles of the general formula [rac-(ebthi)M(R1C3R2)] (2 b: M=Ti, R1=R2=Ph, 2 c: M=Ti, R1=Ph, R2=SiMe3; 3 b: M=Zr, R1=R2=Ph; 3 c: M=Zr, R1=Ph, R2=SiMe3) were fully characterised. Single crystal X-ray diffraction and quantum chemical bond analysis of the Ti and Zr complexes reveal ligand influence on the biradicaloid character of the titanocene complexes. X-band EPR spectroscopy of structurally similar Ti complexes [rac-(ebthi)Ti(Me3SiC3SiMe3)] (2 a), 2 b, and 2 c was carried out to evaluate the accessibility of an EPR active triplet state. Cyclic voltammetry shows that introduction of Ph groups renders the complexes easier to reduce. 13C CPMAS NMR analysis provides insights into the cause of the low field shift of the resonances of metal-bonded carbon atoms and provides evidence of the absence of the β-C-Ti interaction.

PhenTAA: A Redox-Active N4-Macrocyclic Ligand Featuring Donor and Acceptor Moieties.

Here, we present the development and characterization of the novel PhenTAA macrocycle as well as a series of [Ni(R2PhenTAA)]n complexes featuring two sites for ligand-centered redox-activity. These differ in the substituent R (R = H, Me, or Ph) and overall charge of the complex n (n = -2, -1, 0, +1, or +2). Electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques (CV, UV/vis-SEC, X-band EPR) reveal that all redox events of the [Ni(R2PhenTAA)] complexes are ligand-based, with accessible ligand charges of -2, -1, 0, +1, and +2. The o-phenylenediamide (OPD) group functions as the electron donor, while the imine moieties act as electron acceptors. The flanking o-aminobenzaldimine groups delocalize spin density in both the oxidized and reduced ligand states. The reduced complexes have different stabilities depending on the substituent R. For R = H, dimerization occurs upon reduction, whereas for R = Me/Ph, the reduced imine groups are stabilized. This also gives electrochemical access to a [Ni(R2PhenTAA)]2- species. DFT and TD-DFT calculations corroborate these findings and further illustrate the unique donor-acceptor properties of the respective OPD and imine moieties. The novel [Ni(R2PhenTAA)] complexes exhibit up to five different ligand-based oxidation states and are electrochemically stable in a range from -2.4 to +1.8 V for the Me/Ph complexes (vs Fc/Fc+).

Copper-assisted anticancer activity of hydroxycinnamic acid terpyridine conjugates on triple-negative breast cancer.

The development of active therapeutic agents to treat highly metastatic cancer while minimizing damage to healthy cells is of utmost importance. Due to potential antioxidant properties, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (caffeic acid and p-coumaric acids) were found to inhibit highly metastatic breast cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo without much effect on normal cells. Especially due to the structure-activity relationships, ester and amide derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids are reported to gain much higher radical scavenging ability than their naked hydroxycinnamic acid analogs like caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid. These results prompted us to design a set of ligands by incorporating an amide moiety on caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid to achieve the least toxicity towards healthy cell lines. Further, the Cu(II) complexes of amide-coupled caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid ligands have been explored for their therapeutic activity on triple-negative breast cancer and other cancer cells like colon, and prostate cancer. The Cu(II) complexes (4 & 5) were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, and X-band EPR spectroscopy. The trigonal bipyramidal geometry of complexes was confirmed by the X-band EPR spectra recorded in solution state at liquid N2 temperature. The purity of the complexes was determined by elemental analysis and HPLC traces. Initially, Calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) binding studies with the complexes were explored. The results suggested the complexes (4 & 5) bind majorly through an intercalative mode of binding with ct-DNA, whereas no significant binding was observed for the bare organic ligands (2 & 3). The intercalation binding modes of 4 and 5 were further supported by UV-visible spectroscopy, ct-DNA melting point analysis, and CD spectroscopy. Moreover, these complexes showed better activity towards cisplatin-resistant TNBC cell lines (4T1, a TNBC cell line derived from the mammary gland tissue of a mouse). The combination of antioxidants and Cu(II) as the metal center made the complexes more cytotoxic toward cancer cell lines (4T1) (IC50 ∼ 3.5 ± 2.5 μM) and the least toxic toward healthy cells (L929) (IC50 ∼ 15 ± 5 μM). Finally, the mechanism of cell death was studied using JC-1 staining and a cell colony formation assay. These studies might help in designing safer anticancer drugs for treating more aggressive types of cancer.

Ni(II) and Pd(II) complexes of a new redox-active pentadentate azo-appended 2-aminophenol ligand: Pd(II)-assisted intraligand cyclization forms a phenoxazinyl ring.

Square planar complexes of Ni(II) and Pd(II) of a new redox-active pentadentate azo-appended 2-aminophenol ligand (H4L = N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-2,2'-diamino-ortho-azobenzene) in three accessible redox levels [amidophenolate(2-), semiquinonate(1-) π radical, and quinone(0)] were synthesized. The coordinated HL(3-) ligand provides four donor sites [two N(iminophenolates), an N'(azo), and an O(phenolate)], while the phenolic OH group remains free in the three complexes. Cyclic voltammetry on complex [Ni(L)] 1 and its corresponding Pd(II) analogue [Pd(L)] 2 in CH2Cl2 displayed three redox responses (two oxidative at E1/2 = 0.06 V and Epa (anodic peak potential) = 0.80 V and one reductive at -0.77 V for 1 and at E1/2 = 0.08 V and Epa = 0.85 V and at -0.74 V for 2vs. Fc+/Fc). The chemical oxidation of 1 with AgSbF6 afforded [Ni(L)]SbF6·2CH2Cl2 (3·2CH2Cl2). Complex [Pd(L*)] 4, which is coordinated by a phenoxazinyl derivative of L(4-), was obtained via intraligand cyclization in the parent complex 2 under basic oxidizing conditions. The molecular structures of 1, 2, 3·2CH2Cl2 and 4 were elucidated through X-ray crystallography at 100 K. Characterization using 1H NMR, X-band EPR, and UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy established that the complexes have [NiII{(LISQ)˙2-}] 1, [PdII{(LISQ)˙2-}] 2, [NiII{(LIBQ)-}]SbF6/1+SbF6-(3), and [PdII{(L*AP)˙2-}] 4 electronic states. Complexes 1, 2, and 4 possess paramagnetic St (total spin) = 1/2 ground-state, whereas 3 is diamagnetic (St = 0). Density functional theory (DFT) electronic structural calculations at the B3LYP level rationalized the observed experimental results. Time-dependent (TD)-DFT calculations allowed us to identify the nature of the observed absorption spectra.

Measuring local pH at interfaces from molecular tumbling: A concept for designing EPR-active pH-sensitive labels and probes.

Molecular probes and indicators are broadly employed for pH measurements in bulk media and at interfaces. The underlying physical principle of pH measurements of most of these probes is based on a change in the electronic structure that, for example, results in a shift of the emission peak of the fluorescence probes, changes in NMR chemical shifts due to the affected electronic shielding, or magnetic parameters of pH-sensitive nitroxides as measured by EPR. Here we explore another concept for measuring local protonation state of molecular tags based on changes in rotational dynamics of electron spin-bearing moieties that are readily detected by conventional continuous wave X-band EPR. Such changes are especially pronounced at biological interfaces, such as lipid bilayer membranes, due to the probe interactions with adjacent charges and polarizable dipoles. The concept was demonstrated by synthesizing a series of pH-sensitive nitroxides and spin-labelled phospholipids. EPR spectra of these newly synthesized nitroxides exhibit relatively small - about 0.5 G - changes in isotropic nitrogen hyperfine coupling constant upon reversible protonation. However, spin-labelled phospholipids incorporated into lipid bilayers demonstrated almost 6-fold change in rotational correlation time upon protonation, readily allowing for pKa determination from large changes in EPR spectra. The demonstrated concept of EPR-based pH measurements leads to a broader range of potential nitroxide structures that can serve as molecular pH sensors at the desired pH range and, thus, facilitates further development of spin-labelling EPR methods to study electrostatic phenomena at chemical and biological interfaces.

Quantum spin coherence and electron spin distribution channels in vanadyl-containing lantern complexes.

We herein investigate the heterobimetallic lantern complexes [PtVO(SOCR)4] as charge neutral electronic qubits based on vanadyl complexes (S = 1/2) with nuclear spin-free donor atoms. The derivatives with R = Me (1) and Ph (2) give highly resolved X-band EPR spectra in frozen CH2Cl2/toluene solution, which evidence the usual hyperfine coupling with the 51V nucleus (I = 7/2) and an additional superhyperfine interaction with the I = 1/2 nucleus of the 195Pt isotope (natural abundance ca. 34%). DFT calculations ascribe the spin density delocalization on the Pt2+ ion to a combination of π and δ pathways, with the former representing the predominant channel. Spin relaxation measurements in frozen CD2Cl2/toluene-d8 solution between 90 and 10 K yield Tm values (1-6 μs in 1 and 2-11 μs in 2) which compare favorably with those of known vanadyl-based qubits in similar matrices. Coherent spin manipulations indeed prove possible at 70 K, as shown by the observation of Rabi oscillations in nutation experiments. The results indicate that the heavy Group 10 metal ion is not detrimental to the coherence properties of the vanadyl moiety and that Pt-VO lanterns can be used as robust spin-coherent building blocks in materials science and quantum technologies.

Oxidatively-induced C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond formation at a tucked-in iron(iii) complex.

Carbon-carbon (C-C) bond formation is a cornerstone of synthetic chemistry, relying on routes such as transition-metal mediated cross-coupling for the introduction of new carbon-based functionality. For {[M] n+-C} (M = metal) structural units, studies that offer well-defined relationships between metal oxidation state, hydrocarbon strain, and {[M] n+-C} bond thermochemistry are thus informative, providing a means to reliably access new product classes. Here, we show that one-electron oxidation of the iron tucked-in complex [(η6-C5Me4[double bond, length as m-dash]CH2)Fe(dnppe)] (dnppe = 1,2-bis(di-n-propylphosphino)ethane) results in C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond formation giving unique {Fe2} dimers. Freeze-quenched CW X-band EPR spectroscopy allowed for spectroscopic identification of the reactive [(η6-C5Me4[double bond, length as m-dash]CH2)Fe(dnppe)]+ intermediate. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a primarily Fe-centered radical and a weak {[Fe]-C} bond (BDE[Fe]-C = 24.5 kcal mol-1, c.f. BDEC-C(ethane) = 90 kcal mol-1). For comparison, a structurally analogous Fe(iii) methyl complex was prepared, [Cp*Fe(dnppe)(CH3)]+ (Cp* = C5Me5 -), where C(sp3)-C(sp3) coupling was not observed, consistent with a larger calculated BDE[Fe]-C value of 47.8 kcal mol-1. These data are analogized to the simple hydrocarbons ethane and cyclopropane, where a strain-induced BDEC-C decrease of 33 kcal mol-1 is witnessed on cyclization.

Phase-dependent polymerization isomerism in the coordination complexes of a flexible bis(β-diketonato) ligand.

First prepared in the late 70s, the pro-ligand 1,3-bis(3,5-dioxo-1-hexyl)benzene (H2bdhb) contains two acetoacetyl terminations linked to a central 1,3-phenylene unit through dimethylene bridges. Since each termination can be either in diketonic or keto-enolic form, in organic solution it exists as a mixture of three spectroscopically resolvable tautomers. In the presence of pyridine, Co2+ and the bdhb2- anion form a crystalline dimeric compound with formula [Co2(bdhb)2(py)4] (2) and a Co⋯Co separation of more than 11 Å. Complex 2 contains two pseudo-octahedrally coordinated and non-interacting high-spin cobalt(II) ions (S = 3/2) displaying a large easy-plane anisotropy (D ∼ 70 cm-1), as consistently indicated by magnetic measurements, X-band EPR spectra, and complete active space self-consistent field/N-electron valence state perturbation theory (CASSCF/NEVPT2) calculations. At cryogenic temperatures (T < 7 K) and in an applied static magnetic field, the compound shows detectably slow magnetic relaxation, which occurs through direct and Raman mechanisms. Combined mass spectrometry, UV-Vis, and 1H/2H NMR data, including an isotopic labelling experiment and a determination of molecular weight by diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY), show that 2 rearranges to monomeric high-spin [Co(bdhb)(py)x] species (x = 0, 1, or 2) in organic solution (CH2Cl2, THF) with concomitant partial dissociation of the py ligands. The X-band EPR spectra in a frozen CH2Cl2/toluene matrix concurrently suggest a significant alteration of the coordination environment upon dissolution. These observations are fairly well reproduced by density functional theory (DFT) and CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations on the lowest Gibbs free energy conformers of each species, as provided by an extensive conformational search based on meta-dynamics simulations and semiempirical tight-binding methods. After the vanadyl analogue, compound 2 provides the second example of polymerization isomerism in the 1 : 1 adducts of bdhb2- with divalent metal ions.

Synthesis and reduction of [(C5H4SiMe3)2Ln(μ-OR)]2 (Ln = La, Ce) complexes: structural effects of bridging alkoxides.

Alcoholysis of Cp'3Ln (Ln = La, Ce; Cp' = C5H4SiMe3) generate high-yielding (72-97%) bimetallic LnIII complexes of [Cp'2Ln(μ-OR)]2 [R = Et, iPr, or C6H4-4-tBu]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of these complexes reveal unexpected decreases in Ln⋯Ln distances, increasing Cpcent-Ln-Cpcent angles, and increasing intermolecular C⋯C contacts with bulkier bridging alkoxides, in line with structural control driven by significant dispersion forces. 1H NMR spectroscopy of [Cp'2Ce(μ-OEt)]2 and [Cp'2Ce(μ-OiPr)]2 revealed significantly upfield resonances assigned as methylene and methine moieties of -43.74 and -70.85 ppm, respectively. 2D 1H DOSY NMR experiments of [Cp'2Ce(μ-OiPr)]2 in C6D6 supported a dimeric structure in solution, including in the presence of a Lewis base (i.e., THF). Reduction of [Cp'2La(μ-OiPr)]2 using KC8 in the presence of 2.2.2-cryptand at -78 °C generated a purple solution and X-band EPR spectroscopy revealed an eight-line hyperfine pattern indicative of a LaII species.

Benzene-1,4-Di(dithiocarboxylate) Linker-Based Coordination Polymers of Mn2+, Zn2+, and Mixed-Valence Fe2+/3.

Three new coordination polymers (CPs) constructed from the linker 1,4-di(dithiocarboxylate) (BDDTC2-)─the sulfur-analog of 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate (BDC2-)─together with Mn-, Zn-, and Fe-based inorganic SBUs are reported with description of their structural and electronic properties. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed structural diversity ranging from one-dimensional chains in [Mn(BDDTC)(DMF)2] (1) to two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb sheets observed for [Zn2(BDDTC)3][Zn(DMF)5(H2O)] (2). Gas adsorption experiments confirmed a 3D porous structure for the mixed-valent material [Fe2(BDDTC)2(OH)] (3). 3 contains a 1:1 ratio of Fe2+/3+ ions, as evidenced by 57Fe Mössbauer, X-band EPR, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Its empirical formula was established by elemental analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, infrared vibrational spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy in lieu of elusive single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. In contrast to the Mn- and Zn-based compounds 1 and 2, the Fe2+/3+ CP 3 showed remarkably high electrical conductivity of 5 × 10-3 S cm-1 (according to van der Pauw measurements), which is within the range of semiconducting materials. Overall, our study confirms that sulfur derivatives of typical carboxylate linkers (e.g., BDC) are suitable for the construction of electrically conducting CPs, due to acceptedly higher covalency in metal-ligand bonding compared to the electrically insulating carboxylate CPs or metal-organic frameworks. At the same time, the direct comparison between insulating CPs 1 and 2 with CP 3 emphasizes that the electronic structure of the metal is likewise a crucial aspect to construct electrically conductive materials.

Non-resonant absorption of the X-band electromagnetic wave power in a narrow-gap PbS semiconductor at temperatures of 2.6–8 K in the range of magnetic fields 0–100 mT

Studies of magnetically dependent effects of nonresonant absorption of electromagnetic wave energy in the resonator of the X-band EPR spectrometer related to the superconductivity of metallic lead inclusions and microscopic structural defects in crystals of narrow-band semiconductors PbS1 – x and PbS1 – x:Mn have been performed. It is shown that nanoscale lead particles present in polycrystalline material PbS0.96 with a high content of sulfur vacancies at temperatures of 2.6–8 K manifest themselves as superconductors of the 2nd kind and demonstrate high thermomagnetic stability. It was found that in a single-crystal sample PbS0.996 with a significantly lower concentration of sulfur vacancies under the influence of the electric component of the microwave field in the resonator of the ESR spectrometer, non-periodic bursts of microwave power absorption associated with avalanches of Abrikosov vortices and demonstrating the absence of thermomagnetic stability of superconducting regions associated with defects in the crystal structure of the sample PbS0.996 are observed.

Reductive nitrosylation of Iron(III) complexes of tetradentate ligands

Two iron (III) complexes, 1 and 2 with L1 and L2, [ L1 = N,N′-bis(2- hydroxybenzyl) - 1, 2- diaminobenzene; L2 = N, N′- bis(2- hydroxybenzyl) ethylenediamine], respectively, were synthesized and characterized. In methanol solution of the complexes, the Fe(III) centre was found to reduce in presence of NO gas. The formation of [FeIII-NO] intermediate prior to the reduction of Fe(III) center was evidenced by UV-visible, solution FT-IR, X-band EPR studies. The presence of excess NO gas leads to the reductive nitrosylation of the complexes leading to the formation of corresponding Fe(II)-nitrosyl complexes, 3 and 4, respectively. The Fe(II)-nitrosyls were isolated as solid and characterized spectroscopically. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to optimize the structures of all the complexes. All the complexes are fully optimized using PBE functional and DNP basis set in the presence of methanol solvent. The Conductor-like Screening Model (COSMO) as incorporated into the DMol (Maron et al., 2013) [3] program with dielectric constant of 37.5 is adopted to study the solvent effect.

Unexpected coordination mode for a phenol/pyridine-containing tripodal ligand towards copper(II) ions: Solid state, solution and DFT Studies

Reaction between the tripodal ligand HBPAMFF, namely, 3-[N,N-(2-pyridylmethyl)(2-hydroxybenzyl)aminomethyl]-5-methylsalicylaldehyde, and stoichiometric amounts of CuCl2·2H2O afforded a turquoise mononuclear complex (1), which crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P 21/c. The pentacoordinated copper site adopts a slightly distorted square pyramidal geometry with the apical position occupied by a phenolic oxygen. A combined experimental-theoretical analysis of the mid-infrared absorptions of 1 confirmed that both phenol groups present in HBPAMFF remain fully protonated upon complexation. Still in the solid state, X-band EPR spectroscopy showed a three g-values rhombic spectrum without a hyperfine unfolding. Solution studies were performed in acetonitrile (MeCN), in which the chloride ions remain mostly coordinated to copper, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), with the replacement of a chloride ion by a solvent molecule in the coordination sphere of copper. Electronic spectroscopy and frozen solution EPR also confirm the different nature of the species present in MeCN and DMSO. This work shines a light on some structural aspects regarding metal compounds of phenol-containing ligands, such as HBPAMFF, and their mono- and binucleating derivatives.

Macrocyclic NiII-Xanthate [NiII2-µ2-bis-{(κ2S,S-S2COCH2CH2)2N(Ts)}] Complex and a Cyclic Thiocarbonate Monomer: Synthesis, Crystallography, Photophysical, TD-DFT and Investigation of Thermochromism

Potassium salt of N,N-Bis(2-dithiocarbonatoethyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfon amide (K2xan) was synthesized and characterized prior to use in the progress of a 24-membered binuclear metallomacrocyclic compound [NiII2-µ2-bis-{(κ2S,S-S2COCH2CH2)2N(Ts)}] (1) and a synthetically challenging 16-member organic functional macrocycle 6,14-ditosyl-1,3,9,11-tetraoxa-6,14-diaza-cyclohexadecane-2,10-dithione (2). Compounds have been characterized by using microanalysis, standard spectroscopic and crystallographic techniques. A plausible mechanism for the formation of compound 2 has been established based on experimental evidence. Compounds 1 and 2 fluoresces at 377 and 293 nm upon excitation at 314 and 232 nm, respectively. The single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) study revealed a distorted square planar coordination geometry around NiII-centre in 1 which is consistent in the solution of non-coordinating solvents such as CH2Cl2. In a coordinating solvent such as DMSO, however, charge transfer bands 421, 481 nm vanished and characteristic d-d transition band at 698 nm appeared which suggest a change in the coordination geometry around NiII centre from square planar (in CH2Cl2) to octahedral complex (in DMSO). This solvatochromic behaviour of NiII-xanthate complex 1 is supplemented by reversible thermochromic behaviour over a wide temperature ca 30–90°C. Notably, thermal degradation of NiII-xanthate complex 1 gave a stable residual mass that corresponds to NiS. The X-band EPR, UV–visible and TD-DFT studies and electrochemical investigations have been performed to rationalize the results and establish the structure-property correlation.

Syntheses of two copper(II) coordination polymers from a morpholine-based tridentate Schiff base ligand: crystal structures and magnetic properties

Two new one-dimensional (1-D) end-to-end azido and thiocyanato bridged Cu(II) coordination polymers, [Cu(L)(µ-1,3-N3)] n (ClO4) n (1) and [Cu(L)(µ-1,3-NCS)] n (ClO4) n (2) with a morpholine-based tridentate N,N,N-donor Schiff base ligand (1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-N-[2-(morpholin-4-yl)ethyl]methanimine, L) have been synthesized. Compounds 1 and 2 have been characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic techniques. The X-ray single crystal structures of 1 and 2 show the formation of regular zigzag chains with µ-1,3-azido and µ-1,3-thiocyanate bridges, respectively. Variable temperature (2–300 K) magnetic studies indicate that 1 shows a ferromagnetic intrachain exchange interaction with g = 2.135(2) and J = 2.13(2) cm−1, while in 2 this interaction is antiferromagnetic with g = 2.1412(3) and J = –0.277(2) cm−1. X-band EPR spectra of 1 and 2 in frozen (143 K) DMF solution corroborate our magnetic studies.