New avenues for ligand-mediated processes--expanding metal reactivity by the use of redox-active catechol, o-aminophenol and o-phenylenediamine ligands

Conformational stabilization of isatin Schiff bases – biologically active chemical probes

Two ways of conformation stabilization for isatin Schiff bases (group of biologically active compounds) are reported here: complexation with metals that stabilize E-conformer and substitution in the 4^th position of isatin core stabilizing Z-form.

Theoretical insights into the reaction of Cp*(Cl)Hf(diene) with isonitriles

The reaction of Cp*(Cl)Hf(2,3-dimethylbutadiene) with isonitriles is theoretically investigated, and detailed elementary reactions and the substitution effects are examined.

Inner-sphere vs. outer-sphere reduction of uranyl supported by a redox-active, donor-expanded dipyrrin

The uranyl(vi) complex UO₂Cl(L) of the redox-active, acyclic diimino-dipyrrin anion, L^- is reported and its reaction with inner- and outer-sphere reductants studied. Voltammetric, EPR-spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic studies show that chemical reduction by the outer-sphere reagent CoCp₂ initially reduces the ligand to a dipyrrin radical, and imply that a second equivalent of CoCp₂ reduces the U(vi) centre to form U(v). Cyclic voltammetry indicates that further outer-sphere reduction to form the putative U(iv) trianion only occurs at strongly cathodic potentials. The initial reduction of the dipyrrin ligand is supported by emission spectra, X-ray crystallography, and DFT; the latter also shows that these outer-sphere reactions are exergonic and proceed through sequential, one-electron steps. Reduction by the inner-sphere reductant [TiCp₂Cl]₂ is also likely to result in ligand reduction in the first instance but, in contrast to the outer-sphere case, reduction of the uranium centre becomes much more favoured, allowing the formation of a crystallographically characterised, doubly-titanated U(iv) complex. In the case of inner-sphere reduction only, ligand-to-metal electron-transfer is thermodynamically driven by coordination of Lewis-acidic Ti(iv) to the uranyl oxo, and is energetically preferable over the disproportionation of U(v). Overall, the involvement of the redox-active dipyrrin ligand in the reduction chemistry of UO₂Cl(L) is inherent to both inner- and outer-sphere reduction mechanisms, providing a new route to accessing a variety of U(vi), U(v), and U(iv) complexes.

An elusive vinyl radical isolated as an appended unit in a five-coordinate Co(iii)-bis(iminobenzosemiquinone) complex formed via ligand-centered C-S bond cleavage

Redox-active ligand H4Pra(edt(AP/AP)) experienced C-S bond cleavage during complexation reaction with Co(OAc)2·2H2O in the presence of Et3N in CH3OH in air. Thus, formed complex 1 was composed of two iminobenzosemiquinone radicals in its coordination sphere and an unprecedented stable tethered-vinyl radical. The complex has been characterized by mass, X-ray single crystal, X-band EPR, variable-temperature magnetic moment measurements and DFT based computational study.

Localized Mixed-Valence and Redox Activity within a Triazole-Bridged Dinucleating Ligand upon Coordination to Palladium

The new dinucleating redox-active ligand (L^H4 ), bearing two redox-active NNO-binding pockets linked by a 1,2,3-triazole unit, is synthetically readily accessible. Coordination to two equivalents of Pd^II resulted in the formation of paramagnetic (S=1/2 ) dinuclear Pd complexes with a κ² -N,N'-bridging triazole and a single bridging chlorido or azido ligand. A combined spectroscopic, spectroelectrochemical, and computational study confirmed Robin-Day Class II mixed-valence within the redox-active ligand, with little influence of the secondary bridging anionic ligand. Intervalence charge transfer was observed between the two ligand binding pockets. Selective one-electron oxidation allowed for isolation of the corresponding cationic ligand-based diradical species. SQUID (super-conducting quantum interference device) measurements of these compounds revealed weak anti-ferromagnetic spin coupling between the two ligand-centered radicals and an overall singlet ground state in the solid state, which is supported by DFT calculations. The rigid and conjugated dinucleating redox-active ligand framework thus allows for efficient electronic communication between the two binding pockets.

Nickel(II) Complex of a Hexadentate Ligand with Two o-Iminosemiquinonato(1-) π-Radical Units and Its Monocation and Dication

Aerobic reaction of a hexadentate redox-active o-aminophenol-based ligand, H4L(3) = N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-2,2'-diamino(diphenyldithio)-ethane, in CH3OH with Ni(II)(O2CCH3)2·4H2O and Et3N afforded isolation of a reddish-brown crystalline solid [Ni(L(3))] 1. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiment exhibits two oxidative responses at E1/2 = 0.09 and 0.53 V vs SCE (saturated calomel electrode). Chemical oxidation of 1 in air by [Fe(III)(η(5)-C5H5)2][PF6] and AgBF4 in CH2Cl2 led to the isolation of one-electron oxidized species [1](1+) as purple [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2 and two-electron oxidized species [1](2+) as dark purple [1][BF4]2·CH2Cl2, respectively. X-ray crystallographic analysis at 100(2) K unambiguously established that the ligand is present in [Ni(II){(L(ISQ)O,N)(•-)}{(L(ISQ)O,N)(•-)}{(LS,S)(0)}] 1, [Ni(II){(L(IBQ)O,N)(0)}{(L(ISQ)O,N)(•-)}{(LS,S)(0)}][PF6]·CH2Cl2, and [Ni(II){(L(IBQ)O,N)(0)}{(L(IBQ)O,N)(0)}{(LS,S)(0)}][BF4]2·CH2Cl2, as monoanionic o-iminosemiquinonate(1-) π-radical (Srad = 1/2) (L(ISQ))(•-) and neutral o-iminoquinone (L(IBQ))(0) redox-levels. Complexes 1, [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2, and [1][BF4]2·CH2Cl2 possess an S = 2, 3/2, and 1 ground-state, respectively, established by temperature-dependent (2-300 K) magnetic behavior of 1 and [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2, and a μeff value of [1][BF4]2·CH2Cl2 at 300 K. Both 1 and [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2 exhibit ferromagnetic exchange-coupling between the two electrons of Ni(II) and two/one ligand π-radicals, respectively. The redox processes are shown to be ligand-based. Spectroscopic and redox properties, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the CAM-B3LYP-level of theory adequately describe the electronic structure of 1, [1](1+), and [1](2+). The observed UV-vis-NIR absorptions for 1, [1][PF6]·CH2Cl2, and [1][BF4]2·CH2Cl2 have been assigned, based on time-dependent (TD)-DFT calculations.

Redox-Active-Ligand-Mediated Formation of an Acyclic Trinuclear Ruthenium Complex with Bridging Nitrido Ligands

Coordination of a redox-active pyridine aminophenol ligand to Ru(II) followed by aerobic oxidation generates two diamagnetic Ru(III) species [1 a (cis) and 1 b (trans)] with ligand-centered radicals. The reaction of 1 a/1 b with excess NaN3 under inert atmosphere resulted in the formation of a rare bis(nitrido)-bridged trinuclear ruthenium complex with two nonlinear asymmetrical Ru-N-Ru fragments. The spontaneous reduction of the ligand centered radical in the parent 1 a/1 b supports the oxidation of a nitride (N(3-) ) to half an equivalent of N2 . The trinuclear omplex is reactive toward TEMPO-H, tin hydrides, thiols, and dihydrogen.

Radical non-radical states of the [Ru(PIQ)] core in complexes (PIQ = 9,10-phenanthreneiminoquinone)

9,10-Phenanthreneiminosemiquinonate anion radical (PIQ˙(-)) complexes of ruthenium of types trans-[Ru(II)(PIQ˙(-))(PPh3)2(CO)Cl] () and trans-[Ru(III)(PIQ˙(-))(PPh3)2Cl2] () are reported. Reactions of and with I2 afford trans-[Ru(III)(PIQ˙(-))(PPh3)2(CO)Cl](+)I3(-)·½CH2Cl2 ((+)I3(-)·½CH2Cl2) and trans-[Ru(PIQ˙(-))2(PPh3)2(μ-Cl)3](+)I3(-)·¼I2·¼toluene) ((+)I3(-)·¼I2·¼toluene), while the reaction of with Br2 yields a 9,10-phenanthreneiminoquinone (PIQ) complex of the type mer-[Ru(III)(PIQ)(PPh3)Br3]·½CH2Cl2 (·½CH2Cl2). In comparison, the reaction of trans-[Ru(III)(PQ˙(-))(PPh3)2Cl2] (PQ), a 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) analogue of affords only trans-[Ru(III)(PQ)(PPh3)2Cl2](+)Br3(-) ((+)Br3(-)). Considering the X-ray bond parameters, EPR spectra and the atomic spin densities obtained from the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, is defined as a PIQ˙(-) (average C-O/N and C-C lengths, 1.280(2) and 1.453(3) Å) complex of ruthenium(ii) while is a neutral PIQ (average C-O, C-N, C-C and C-O/N lengths, 1.248(7), 1.284(7), 1.485(8) and 1.266(7) Å) complex of the ruthenium(iii) ion. The single crystal X-ray bond parameters proposed that (+)I3(-) (average C-O/N and C-C lengths, 1.294(8) and 1.449(9) Å) and (average C-O/N and C-C lengths, 1.289(2) and 1.447(4) Å) are PIQ˙(-) complexes of ruthenium(iii), while the (+) ion (average C-O/N and C-C lengths, 1.288 ± 0.004 and 1.450 ± 0.017 Å) is a co-facial bi-octahedral complex of ruthenium(iii). In contrast, the (+) ion is a PQ complex of the ruthenium(iii) ion. EPR spectra and the calculated atomic spin densities authenticated that the (+) ion obtained after constant potential coulometric oxidation of is a PIQ complex of ruthenium(iii), while the (-) ion is a hybrid state of [Ru(II)(PIQ˙(-))] and [Ru(III)(PIQ(2-))] states. It is observed that the PIQ˙(-) state in which spin is more localized on the nitrogen (∼38% in and ∼35% in (-) ion) is stable and the coordination of the PIQ(2-) state is not observed in this study. Redox activities, UV-vis/NIR absorption spectra and their origins and the spectroelectrochemical measurements for → (+), → (-) and (+) → (2+) conversions are analyzed.

Redox-ligand sustains controlled generation of CF3 radicals by well-defined copper complex

A well-defined copper complex bearing iminosemiquinone ligands performs single electron reduction of an electrophilic CF3+ source into CF˙3 radicals. This redox behavior is enabled by the ligand which shuttles through two different redox states (iminosemiquinone and iminobenzoquinone) while the copper center is preserved as a Cu(ii). This system was used in the trifluoromethylation of silyl enol ethers, heteroaromatics and in the hydrotrifluoromethylation of alkynes. This is the first example of cooperative redox catalysis for the controlled generation of CF˙3 radicals.

Coordination of o-benzosemiquinonate, o-iminobenzosemiquinonate, 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline anion radicals to oxidovanadium(iv)

Coordination of semiquinonate and heterocyclic α-diimine anion radicals to oxidovanadium(iv) is authenticated.

RhCl(PPh3)3-mediated C–H oxyfunctionalization of pyrrolido-functionalized bisazoaromatic pincers: a combined experimental and theoretical scrutiny of redox-active and spectroscopic properties

Non-trivial coordination mode of symmetrical NNN ligands with Rh(iii) leads to redox-active NNO-scaffolds via C(sp²)–H oxyfunctionalization at rt, opening an opportunity to juxtapose different redox-active domains.

Solid-state valence tautomeric octahedral {CoII[(BQ-N-Cat)]2}0 complex formation via ligand-centered phenolic C–O bond breaking and Co–O bond making

An octahedral {Co^II[(BQ-N-Cat)]₂}⁰ complex was formed by ligand-centered phenolic C–O bond cleavage. The complex showed solid-state valence tautomerism that is triggered by lattice solvent molecule.

Microwave-assisted green synthesis of some nanoconjugated copolymers: characterisation and fluorescence quenching studies with bovine serum albumin

The copolymer POPD-co-PNA quenches BSA fluorescence revealing many of its photophysical characteristics including a higher association constant and its scintillating presence on the latter.

C–H activation of ethers by pyridine tethered PCsp3P-type iridium complexes

An iridium complex supported by a PC^PyP ligand featuring an internal pyridine tether showed selective mono-C–H activation of ethers, which represent intermediates in the synthesis of the corresponding Fischer carbenes.

Highly polar solvent-induced disproportionation of a cationic Pt(ii)–diimine complex containing an o-semiquinonato

The unprecedented disproportionation of [Pt^II(3,5-DTBSQ)(DTBbpy)]⁺PF₆⁻ in highly polar solvents, DMSO and DMF, was elucidated for the first time.

An unprecedented one-step synthesis of octahedral Cu(ii)-bis(iminoquinone) complexes and their reactivity with NaBH4

The non-innocent ligands, H₂L^{AP(o-NO2-OPh)} and H₂L^AP, upon reacting with 2 equivalents of CuCl₂·2H₂O in the presence of Et₃N and air provided the corresponding octahedral Cu(ii)-bis(iminoquinone) complexes (2 and 3) in one-step. The complexes underwent reduction by NaBH₄ in dry CH₃CN and produced H₂ gas.

Reversible cyclometalation at RhI as a motif for metal–ligand bifunctional bond activation and base-free formic acid dehydrogenation

The first example of base-free catalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid using reversible cyclometalation at Rh(i) is discussed, using a combination of experimental and computational methods.