Synthetic and structural aspects of the chemistry of saturated polyaza macrocyclic ligands bearing pendant coordinating groups attached to nitrogen

Macrocycle-supported titanium complexes with chelating imido ligands: analogues of ansa-metallocenes

Reactions of 1,4-dimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L1a) and 1,4-diisopropyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L1b) to form 1-aminopropyl-4,7-di-R-1,4,7-triazacyclononane [R = Me (H2L3a) or Pri (H2L3b)] and 1-(2-aminobenzyl)-4,7-di-R-1,4,7-triazacyclononane [R = Me (H2L5a) or Pri (H2L5b)] are reported. Reaction of H2L3a and H2L5a with [Ti(NMe2)2Cl2] gives the ansa-linked macrocycle-imido complexes [Ti(kappa 4-L3a)Cl2] (5a) and [Ti(kappa 4-L5a)Cl2] (6a), respectively, and NHMe2. Reaction of H2L3a with [Ti(NBut)Cl2(py)3] gives [Ti(NBut)(kappa 3-H2L3a)Cl2] (7), which possesses a pendant alkylamine group that does not undergo amine/tert-butylimido group exchange to give 5a and ButNH2. However, reaction of H2L3b and H2L5b with [Ti(NBut)Cl2(py)3] does give amine/tert-butylimido group exchange to form [Ti(kappa 4-L3b)Cl2] (5b), [Ti(kappa 4-L5b)Cl2] (8b), and ButNH2. The compounds 5a,b and 6a,b are isolobal analogues of group 4 ansa-metallocene complexes and relatives of titanium cyclopentadienyl-amido constrained geometry olefin polymerization catalysts. Reaction of 5b with AgOTf affords [Ti(kappa 4-L3b)(OTf)Cl] (8) as the major product, the crystal structure of which has been determined. Alkylation of 6b by RLi gives the dialkyl derivatives [Ti(kappa 4-L5b)(R)2] [R = Me (9) or CH2SiMe3 (10)]. The ethylene polymerization capability of the compounds 5a,b, 6a,b, and 10 in the presence of methylaluminoxane has been determined and compared to that of [Ti(NBut)(kappa 3-L1a,b)Cl2] (11a,b); in all instances, low yields of high-molecular-weight polymer are obtained.

Crystal Structures and Reactivity of 3a,5a,8a,10a-Tetraazaperhydropyrene Derivatives. An Alternative Approach to Selective Nitrogen Alkylation of 1,4,8,11-Tetraazacyclotetradecane (Cyclam)

1-Alkyl and 1,8-dialkyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecanes (alkyl = benzyl or methyl) were synthesised through cis-aminal of cyclam which was obtained by reaction of glyoxal and cyclam. The corresponding trans-aminal was synthesised from the respective linear tetraamine and glyoxal followed by cyclisation using 1,2-dibromoethane. The trans-aminal derivatives cannot be used for preparation of cyclam or its derivatives due to exceptional stability of the aminal bridge. The different reactivity of both cis- and trans-aminals is discussed on the basis of the X-ray structures determined for a series of the cyclam derivatives and could be explained by steric hindrance in the trans-aminals.

Bis(methylphosphonic Acid) Derivatives of 1,4,8,11-Tetraazacyclotetradecane (Cyclam). Synthesis, Crystal and Molecular Structures, and Solution Properties

Cyclam derivatives with methylphosphonic acid arms in position 1,8 and substituent R = H, Me, CH2Ph in positions 4 and 11 are synthesised by Mannich reaction of an appropriate cyclam derivative, formaldehyde and phosphonic acid/diethyl phosphite followed by removal of protecting benzyl groups from nitrogen atoms. Mono(methylphosphonic acid) derivative of cyclam can be obtained by a similar route. Crystal structures of four phosphonic acid derivatives show the same ring conformation and orientation pendants due to strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds between phosphonate oxygen atoms and protonated nitrogen atoms adjacent over ethylene chains. The hydrogen bonds are stable even in aqueous solution. Activation parameters for destabilisation of the conformation are estimated from temperature-dependent NMR measurement. The protonation constants determined confirm the expected high basicity of the compounds and its dependence on the nitrogen atom substituents. The enhanced basicity of the nitrogen atoms non-bonded to methylenephosphonic acid moiety, is explained by the presence of the strong hydrogen bonds.

Metal Ion Dependent Molecular Inclusion Chemistry: Inclusion of p-Toluenesulfonate and p-Nitrophenolate within the Structure of Coordinated 1,4,7,10-Tetrakis((S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane

The pendant donor macrocyclic ligand 1,4,7,10-tetrakis((S)-2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane ((S)-thphpc12) has been synthesized in quantitative yield from cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) and (2S)-(+)-3-phenoxy-1,2-epoxypropane. An X-ray diffraction study supports the result of molecular orbital calculations in showing that complexation with hydrated cadmium(II) diperchlorate produces an approximately square-antiprismatic complex in which the metal ion is located between a plane containing the four nitrogen atoms and a plane containing the four oxygen atoms. As a consequence of this the four phenoxymethyl moieties, each attached to one of the four N-O chelate rings, juxtapose to form a substantial empty cavity allowing the complex to act as a molecular receptor. Inclusion complexes have been formed from this complex in which either a p-toluenesulfonate or p-nitrophenolate anion has entered the cavity. An X-ray crystallographic study of [Cd((S)-thphpc12)(p-toluenesulfonate)]ClO(4) shows that the guest anion is retained within the cavity by four hydrogen bonds to the group of hydroxyl moieties associated with the ligand. (13)C NMR and conductivity studies indicate that this inclusion complex retains its integrity in DMSO or DMF solution. Parallel studies have been conducted with [Pb((S)-thphpc12)](ClO(4))(2) indicating that the corresponding inclusion complexes are of lower stability.

Unusual Ligand Isomerization Dictated by Coordination Requirements of the Metal Ion: A Double-Bond Shift in Cu(II)-Assisted Template Condensation between Diacetylpyridine and a Tripodal Tetramine

This paper reports a new effect in template-directed Schiff base condensation, a "fine-tuning" of the macrocyclic structure in accordance with the precise coordination requirements of the metal ion. The nature of the metal template determines the outcome of Schiff base condensation between a difunctional carbonyl component (2,6-diacetylpyridine) and a trifunctional amine component (tris(3-aminopropyl)amine, trpn). Both Cu(II) and Ni(II) facilitate [1 + 1] condensation with the formation of macrocyclic products in 50-60% yield, but single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that the chemical structure of the major product is metal-ion dependent. In the nickel(II) complex [Ni(L(sym))](2+), the C=N double bonds are conjugated with the pyridine ring, as expected from the structure of the starting diacetylpyridine. In contrast, the copper(II) ion caused isomerization of the macrocyclic ligand, with one of the C=N double bonds migrating into the initially saturated six-membered chelate ring forming [Cu(L(asym))](2+). The second product isolated, in small quantities, from the copper(II)-templated condensation has been characterized as an isomeric symmetric macrocycle [Cu(L(sym))](2+). In the case of the zinc(II) template, no macrocyclic product has been isolated; instead, a zinc(II) complex of the starting tetramine, Zn(trpn)Cl(2).2H(2)O, was recovered and structurally characterized. An unusual double-bond migration in the course of Cu(II)-directed template condensation is governed by the coordination requirements of the central metal ion. The asymmetric ligand isomer is more flexible than its symmetric counterpart and can therefore better accommodate the five-coordinate central metal ion. This effect is more pronounced for the copper(II) complex than for the nickel(II) complex, because of shorter in-plane M-N distances in the former, as follows from the X-ray structure determination. The position of the double bond in the macrocyclic ring influences the spectral properties of the copper(II) complexes and the ionization constants of the amino group in the side arm.