Consequences of N,C,N'- and C,N,N'-coordination modes on electronic and photophysical properties of cyclometalated aryl ruthenium(II) complexes

The effects of isoelectronic replacement of a neutral nitrogen donor atom by an anionic carbon atom in terpyridine ruthenium(II) complexes on the electronic and photophysical properties of the resulting N,C,N'- and C,N,N'-cyclometalated aryl ruthenium(II) complexes were investigated. To this end, a series of complexes was prepared either with ligands containing exclusively nitrogen donor atoms, that is, [Ru(R(1)-tpy)(R(2)-tpy)](2+) (R(1), R(2) = H, CO(2)Et), or bearing either one N,C,N'- or C,N,N'-cyclometalated ligand and one tpy ligand, that is, [Ru(R(1)-N(/\)C(/\)N)(R(2)-tpy)](+) and [Ru(R(1)-C(/\)N(/\)N)(R(2)-tpy)](+), respectively. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations showed that cyclometalation does not significantly alter the overall geometry of the complexes but does change the bond lengths around the ruthenium(II) center, especially the nitrogen-to-ruthenium bond length trans to the carbanion. Substitution of either of the ligands with electron-withdrawing ester functionalities fine-tuned the electronic properties and resulted in the presence of an IR probe. Using trends obtained from redox potentials, emission energies, IR spectroelectrochemical responses, and the character of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals from DFT studies, it is shown that the first reduction process and luminescence are associated with the ester-substituted C,N,N'-cyclometalated ligand in [Ru(EtO(2)C-C(/\)N(/\)N)(tpy)](+). Cyclometalation in an N,C,N'-bonding motif changed the energetic order of the ruthenium d(zx), d(yz), and d(xy) orbitals. The red-shifted absorption in the N,C,N'-cyclometalated complexes is assigned to MLCT transitions to the tpy ligand. The red shift observed upon introduction of the ester moiety is associated with an increase in intensity of low-energy transitions, rather than a red shift of the main transition. Cyclometalation in the C,N,N'-binding motif also red-shifts the absorption, but the corresponding transition is associated with both ligand types. Luminescence of the cyclometalated complexes is relatively independent of the mode of cyclometalation, obeying the energy gap law within each individual series.

The assembly of supramolecular boxes and coordination polymers based on bis-zinc-salphen building blocks

We report the assembly of supramolecular boxes and coordination polymers based on a rigid bis-zinc(II)-salphen complex and various ditopic nitrogen ligands. The use of the bis-zinc(II)-salphen building block in combination with small ditopic nitrogen ligands gave organic coordination polymers both in solution as well as in the solid state. Molecular modeling shows that supramolecular boxes with small internal cavities can be formed. However, the inability to accommodate solvent molecules (such as toluene) in these cavities explains why coordination polymers are prevailing over well-defined boxes, as it would lead to an energetically unfavorable vacuum. In contrast, for relatively longer ditopic nitrogen ligands, we observed the selective formation of supramolecular box assemblies in all cases studied. The approach can be easily extended to chiral analogues by using chiral ditopic nitrogen ligands.

Directed anisotropy in bis(acetato-kappa2O,O')diaquazinc(II) at 110 and 250 K

The molecule of the title compound, [Zn(C(2)H(3)O(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2)], is located on a twofold axis in the crystal structure. The displacement parameters and the thermal expansion of the crystal show significant anisotropy. This is explained by the two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded structure, with only very weak interactions perpendicular to it. Besides the overall molecular motion, there are internal vibrations, which cause the Zn-O(carboxylate) bonds to fail the Hirshfeld rigid-bond test. It is shown that this can be interpreted in terms of the steric strain in the four-membered chelate ring due to the bidentate carboxylate coordination.

Structure validation in chemical crystallography

Automated structure validation was introduced in chemical crystallography about 12 years ago as a tool to assist practitioners with the exponential growth in crystal structure analyses. Validation has since evolved into an easy-to-use checkCIF/PLATON web-based IUCr service. The result of a crystal structure determination has to be supplied as a CIF-formatted computer-readable file. The checking software tests the data in the CIF for completeness, quality and consistency. In addition, the reported structure is checked for incomplete analysis, errors in the analysis and relevant issues to be verified. A validation report is generated in the form of a list of ALERTS on the issues to be corrected, checked or commented on. Structure validation has largely eliminated obvious problems with structure reports published in IUCr journals, such as refinement in a space group of too low symmetry. This paper reports on the current status of structure validation and possible future extensions.

Structure validation in chemical crystallography

Automated structure validation was introduced in chemical crystallography about 12 years ago as a tool to assist practitioners with the exponential growth in crystal structure analyses. Validation has since evolved into an easy-to-use checkCIF/PLATON web-based IUCr service. The result of a crystal structure determination has to be supplied as a CIF-formatted computer-readable file. The checking software tests the data in the CIF for completeness, quality and consistency. In addition, the reported structure is checked for incomplete analysis, errors in the analysis and relevant issues to be verified. A validation report is generated in the form of a list of ALERTS on the issues to be corrected, checked or commented on. Structure validation has largely eliminated obvious problems with structure reports published in IUCr journals, such as refinement in a space group of too low symmetry. This paper reports on the current status of structure validation and possible future extensions.

Molecular-weight-enlarged multiple-pincer ligands: synthesis and application in palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions

Three different pincer ligand systems are synthesized via nucleophilic substitution reactions of polyaromatic benzyl bromides as support molecules and phenol derivatives as ligand precursors. Retention tests using a polymeric nanofiltration membrane show moderate to good retention in THF and CH(2)Cl(2). Concentration-dependent NMR spectroscopy gives no indication for the formation of aggregates in solution. The three ligand systems are active in both the allylic alkylation and allylic amination reactions and show high selectivity towards the linear trans products. An investigation of the kinetic parameters of the allylic amination reaction show that the reaction of cinnamyl acetate with morpholine is of zero order in cinnamyl acetate and of first order in morpholine. The order in catalyst is found to be one, and the rate constant k' is determined for a reaction under standard conditions. Moreover, one of the tri(pincer)-palladium complexes is used as soluble, molecular-weight-enlarged homogeneous catalyst in continuous allylic alkylation and amination reactions. The conversion of the allylic alkylation reaches a maximum of 30 %, while a maximum conversion of 80 % is reached in the allylic amination reaction. No palladium black was formed.

Cationic and neutral Ni(II) complexes containing a non-innocent PNP ligand: formation of alkyl and thiolate species

The synthesis and characterization of a series of cationic and neutral Ni-complexes with the non-innocent PNP(tBu) pincer ligand is discussed. Starting with the dicationic complex , [Ni(PNP(tBu))(NCMe)](BF(4))(2), a small series of dicationic and monocationic Ni(II) complexes has been prepared. Substitution with tert-butyl isocyanide and azide occurs readily in MeCN solution. IR spectroscopy provided a practical handle to access the formal valence state of the ligand. For the mono- and dicationic tert-butyl isocyanide species and the main vibrational bands in the IR spectra were reproduced quantitatively by DFT theoretical calculations, showing good agreement with the experimentally observed Deltanu upon dearomatization of the PNP(tBu) backbone. Using a selective dearomatization-reprotonation methodology the mononuclear Ni-thiolate species and are cleanly generated and their structures have been determined by X-ray crystal structure determination. Alternatively, starting from the monocationic species [Ni(PNP(tBu))Cl]BF(4), neutral alkyl derivatives are easily available in a two-step procedure, and these species have been spectroscopically characterized.