Manipulating Clusters by Use of Competing N,O-Chelating Ligands: A Combined Crystallographic, Mass Spectrometric, and DFT Study

Mechanistic insights into an NH4OAc-promoted imine dance in Rh-catalysed multicomponent double C-H annulations through an N-retention/exchange dual channel

Developing new and understanding multicomponent reactions (MCRs) is an appealing but challenging task. Herein, Rh(iii)-catalyzed multicomponent double C-H annulations of cyclic diimines (or diketones and acetone), alkynes, and ammonium acetate to assemble functionalized 1,1'-biisoquinolines and C-bridged 1,1'-bisisoquinolines with controllable 14N/15N editing in one shot has been developed. Through a combination of isotopic-labeling (2H, 18O, and 15N) experiments, crystallography, and time-dependent ESI-MS, the reaction process was studied in detail. Ammonium acetate accounts for two rounds of Hofmann elimination and iminization, thus leading to an unprecedented imine dance, cyclic imine → N-alkenyl imine → NH imine. The N-alkenyl imine can immediately guide a C-H annulation (N-retention channel), and some of it is converted into NH-imine to trigger another annulation (N-exchange channel). The channels and 15N ratios can be regulated by the reaction mode and acidity. Moreover, the resulting 1,1'-biisoquinolines are a privileged ligand scaffold which is exemplified herein by a hydrazine-iodine exchange reaction to form drug-like benzo[c]cinnolines.

Construction and structural transformation of two coordination sphere supramolecular isomers based on Co(ii) and 4-(2-pyridyl)-NH-1,2,3-triazole via one-pot synthesis

Two coordination sphere supramolecular isomers based on Co(ii) have been obtained via one-pot synthesis. The structural transformation process has been investigated with the help of mass spectroscopy and theoretical calculations.

The sequential structural transformation of a heptanuclear zinc cluster towards hierarchical porous carbon for supercapacitor applications

The peripheral N/O chelating of Schiff base ligands, inner bridges, counterions, and metal centers gave rise to a brucite disk cluster [Zn₇L₆(OCH₃)₆](NO₃)₂ (Zn₇, (HL = 2-methoxy-6-((methylimino)-methyl)phenolate)) which crystallized into hexagonal prismatic plates. The combination of crystallographic studies, in situ TG-MS, and other characterization techniques showed that with a fixed metal and ligand composition in the precursors, weak correlative interactions (e.g., electrostatic interactions) and shape matching between the cluster core and counterions determine the cluster packing modes in the crystals and affect their phase and morphological changes during pyrolysis. The tracking of the pyrolysis process showed that the peripheral ligands, inner bridge, and counterion decompose first, followed by the Zn₇O₆ core merging with cubic ZnO, which was then reduced by carbon and eventually evaporated, leaving behind a porous carbon structure. In this process, the solid material composition change was in the sequence {Zn₇}-{Zn–O core@C}-{ZnO@C}-{Zn@C}-{C}, which was accompanied by a porosity change from micropores to hierarchical pores, and then to micropores again. The core structure and packing modes of Zn₇ evolved into micropores and mesopores, respectively. Micro-mesoporous carbon Zn₇-1000 featured a capacitance of 1797 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹, where the BET specific surface area was 3119.18 m² g⁻¹, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the highest value reported for a porous carbon electrode. This work represents an important benchmark for the analysis of dynamic chemical processes involving coordination clusters at high temperatures, and it could lead to important applications in high-performance devices.

The phase and morphology of a heptanuclear zinc cluster change during pyrolysis, leading to Zn₇-1000 with a hierarchical pore structure which exhibits capacitance of 1797 F g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹.

From tetranuclear to pentanuclear [Co-Ln] (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) complexes across the lanthanide series: effect of varying sequence of ligand addition

Two new families of cobalt(ii/iii)-lanthanide(iii) coordination aggregates have been reported: tetranuclear [LnCoL₂(N-BuDEA)₂(O₂CCMe₃)₄(H₂O)₂]·(MeOH)_n·(H₂O)_m (Ln = Gd, 1; Tb, 2; Dy, 3; n = 2, m = 10 for 1 and 2; n = 6, m = 2 for 3) and pentanuclear LnCo^IICoL₂(N-BuDEA)₂(O₂CCMe₃)₆(MeOH)₂ (Ln = Dy, 4; Ho, 5) formed from the reaction of two aggregation assisting ligands H₂L (o-vanillin oxime) and N-BuDEAH₂ (N-butyldiethanolamine). A change in preference from a lower to higher nuclearity structure was observed on going across the lanthanide series brought about by the variation in the size of the Ln^III ions. An interesting observation was made for the varying sequence of addition of the ligands into the reaction medium paving the way to access both structural types for Ln = Dy. HRMS (+ve) of solutions gave further insight into the formation of the aggregates via different pathways. The tetranuclear complexes adopt a modified butterfly structure with a more complex bridging network while trapping of an extra Co^II ion in the pentanuclear complexes destroys this arrangement putting the Co-Co-Co axis above the Ln-Ln axis. Direct current (dc) magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal weak antiferromagnetic coupling in 1. Complexes 2 and 5 display no slow magnetic relaxation, whereas complexes 3 and 4 display out-of-phase signals at low temperature in ac susceptibility measurements. All compounds were analyzed with DFT and CASSCF calculations and informations about the single-ion anisotropies and mutual 4f-4f/4f-3d magnetic interactions were derived.

Two Decanuclear DyIIIxCoII10-x (x = 2, 4) Nanoclusters: Structure, Assembly Mechanism, and Magnetic Properties

The aggregation and formation of heterometallic nanoclusters usually involves a variety of complex self-assembly processes; thus, the exploration of their assembly mechanisms through process tracking is more challenging than that for homometallic nanoclusters. We explored here the effect of solvent on the formation of heterometallic clusters, which gave two heterometallic nanoclusters, [Dy₂Co₈(μ₃-OCH₃)₂(L)₄(HL)₂(OAc)₂(NO₃)₂(CH₃CN)₂]·CH₃CN·H₂O (1) and [Dy₄Co₆(L)₄(HL)₂(OAc)₆(OCH₂CH₂OH)₂(HOCH₂CH₂OH)(H₂O)]·9CH₃CN (2), with the H₃L ligand formed from the in situ condensation reaction of 3-amino-1,2-propanediol with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde in the presence of Co(OAc)₂·4H₂O and Dy(NO)₃·6H₂O. It is worth noting that the skeleton of cluster 1 has a high stability under high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESI-MS) conditions with a gradually increasing energy of the ion source. Cluster 2 underwent a multistep fragmentation even under a zero ion-source voltage for the measurement of HRESI-MS. Further analysis showed that cluster 2 underwent a possible fragmentation mechanism of Dy₄Co₆L₆ → Dy₂Co₆L₅/DyL → DyCo₂L₃/DyCo₂L → DyL/Co₂L₂. Most notably, the species emerging in the formation process of cluster 1 were tracked using time-dependent HRESI-MS, from which we proposed its possible formation mechanism of H₂L → Co₂L₂ → Co₂DyL₂/Co₃L₂ → Co₃DyL₂ → Co₄DyL₂ → Co₅Dy₂L₄ → Co₈Dy₂L₆. As far as we know, it is the first time to track the formation process of Dy-Co heterometallic clusters through HRESI-MS with the proposed assembly mechanism. The magnetic properties of the two titled Dy^III_xCo^II_10-x (x = 2, 4) clusters were studied. Both of them exhibit slow magnetic relaxation, and 1 is a single-molecule magnet at zero direct-current field.

A Domino Fusion of an Organic Ligand Depended on Metal-Induced and Oxygen Insertion, Unraveled by Crystallography, Mass Spectrometry, and DFT Calculations

Herein, the reaction of (1-methyl-1 H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methanamine (L1) with Co(H₂ O)₆ Cl₂ , in CH₃ CN at 120 °C, leading to the 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(1-methyl-1 H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)pyrazine (3), isolated as a dimeric cluster {[Co^II ₂ (3)Cl₄ ]⋅2 CH₃ CN} (2), is reported. When O₂ and H₂ O are present, (1-methyl-1 H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carbonyl)amide (HL1') is first formed and crystallized as [Co^III (L1)₂ (L1')]Cl₂ ⋅2 H₂ O (4) before fusion of HL1' with L1, giving 1-methyl-N-(1-methyl-1 H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-carbonyl)-1 H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-carboxamide (HL2'') forming a one-dimensional (1D) chain of [Co^II ₃ (L2'')₂ Cl₄ ]_n (5). The combination of crystallography and mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) of isolated crystals and the solutions taken from the reaction as a function time reveal seven intermediate steps leading to 2, but six steps for 5, for which a different sequence takes place. Control and isotope labeling experiments confirm the two carbonyl oxygen atoms in 5 originate from both air and water. The dependence on the metals, compared with FeCl₃ ⋅6 H₂ O leading to a stable triheteroarylmethyl radical, is quite astounding, which could be attributed to the different oxidation states of the metals and coordination modes confirmed by DFT calculations. This metal and valence dependent process is a very useful way for selectively obtaining these large molecules, which are unachievable by common organic synthesis.

Solvent-induced structural transformation from heptanuclear to decanuclear [Co–Ln] coordination clusters: trapping of unique counteranion and understanding of aggregation pathways

The MeCN solvent-induced transformations of heptanuclear LnIII3CoII2CoIII2⁺ cationic aggregates, associated with literature unknown Ln(iii)-pivalate-based counter anions, to decanuclear LnIII3CoII3/2CoIII4/5 clusters have been investigated.

Synthesis and Structure of Fluorinated (Benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methanols: Bench Compounds for Diverse Applications

A simple and general approach to the synthesis (from commercial precursors) of eight out of nine possible (benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methanols fluorinated on the benzene ring is reported. Molecular and crystalline structures of most compounds were solved by X-ray diffraction analysis. This made it possible to reveal the influence of the number and arrangement of fluorine atoms in the benzene cycle on the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. It was found that the more fluorine atoms are present in a compound, the higher the dimensionality of the H-bonded structure is. Moreover, the presence of fluorine atoms in the synthesized compounds leads to the emergence of C–F…π interactions affecting crystal packing. The synthesized fluorinated (benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methanols may serve as excellent bench compounds for the synthesis of a systematic series of fluorine-containing derivatives to study structure–property correlations in various fields of research from medicine to materials science.

Assembly of Dy60 and Dy30 cage-shaped nanoclusters

Rapid kinetics, complex and diverse reaction intermediates, and difficult screening make the study of assembly mechanisms of high-nuclearity lanthanide clusters challenging. Here, we synthesize a double-cage dysprosium cluster [Dy₆₀(H₂L¹)₂₄(OAc)₇₁(O)₅(OH)₃(H₂O)₂₇]·6H₂O·6CH₃OH·7CH₃CN (Dy₆₀) by using a multidentate chelate-coordinated diacylhydrazone ligand. Two Dy₃₀ cages are included in the Dy₆₀ structure, which are connected via an OAc^- moiety. The core of Dy₆₀ is composed of 8 triangular Dy₃ and 12-fold linear Dy₃ units. We further change the alkali added in the reaction system and successfully obtain a single cage-shaped cluster [Dy₃₀(H₂L¹)₁₂(OAc)₃₆(OH)₄(H₂O)₁₂]·2OH·10H₂O·12CH₃OH·13CH₃CN (Dy₃₀) with a perfect spherical cavity, which could be considered an intermediate in Dy₆₀ formation. Time-dependent, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESI-MS) is used to track the formation of Dy₆₀. A possible self-assembly mechanism is proposed. We track the formation of Dy₃₀ and the six intermediate fragments are screened.

Manipulating clusters by regulating N,O chelating ligands: structures and multistep assembly mechanisms

This work is the first study on how changes in ligand chelation sites regulate the assembly and ultimately control lanthanide clusters with different linkages.

In Situ Metal-Assisted Ligand Modification Induces Mn4 Cluster-to-Cluster Transformation: A Crystallography, Mass Spectrometry, and DFT Study

Dehydration of (S,S)-1,2-bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diol (H₄ L) to (Z)-1,2-bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)ethenol) (H₃ L') was found to be metal-assisted, occurs under solvothermal conditions (H₂ O/CH₃ OH), and leads to [Mn^II ₄ (H₃ L)₄ Cl₂ ]Cl₂ ⋅5 H₂ O⋅5 CH₃ OH (Mn₄ L₄ ) and [Mn^II ₄ (H₂ L')₆ (μ₃ -OH)]Cl⋅4 CH₃ OH⋅H₂ O (Mn₄ L'₆ ), respectively. Their structures were determined by single-crystal XRD. Extensive ESI-MS studies on solutions and solids of the reaction led to the proposal consisting of an initial stepwise assembly of Mn₄ L₄ from the reactants via [MnL] and [Mn₂ L₂ ] below 80 °C, and then disassembly to [MnL] and [MnL₂ ] followed by ligand modification before reassembly to Mn₄ L'₆ via [MnL'], [MnL'₂ ], and [Mn₂ L'₃ ] with increasing solvothermal temperature up to 140 °C. Identification of intermediates [Mn₄ L_x L'_6-x ] (x=5, 4, 3, 2, 1) in the process further suggested an assembly/disassembly/in situ reaction/reassembly transformation mechanism. These results not only reveal that multiple phase transformations are possible even though they were not realized in the crystalline state, but also help to better understand the complex transformation process between coordination clusters during "black-box" reactions.

Heptanuclear brucite disk with cyanide bridges in a cocrystal and tracking its pyrolysis to an efficient oxygen evolution electrode

The development of efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts is still lacking in exploration of the mechanism of controlled pyrolysis of precursors among new material platforms. Here, a novel Co-based coordination molecular cluster has been first introduced as precursor to obtain metallic cobalt core shelled by N-doped carbon (Co@NC) structure which operates as an oxygen evolution electrode. Specifically, a new cocrystal compound, [Co^II₇(μ₃-CN)₆(mmimp)₆] [Co^IICl₃N(CN)₂]·3CH₃OH (Co₇₊₁, mmimp = 2-methoxy-6-((methylimino)-methyl)phenol), was isolated consisting of Brucite disks of cobalt where the usual bridging μ₃-OH is replaced by μ₃-CN produced by the in-situ decomposition of dicyanamide (N≡C-N-C≡N^-). The cobalt atoms are bonded through the nitrogen atom of the cyanide. Remarkably, time dependent thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) analysis was utilized to track its pyrolysis process. It allowed us to propose a possible formation process of the Co@NC structure from Co₇₊₁. Interestingly, an extremely superior OER electrode is optimized for Co@NC-600 having the lowest overpotential of 257 mV at 10 mA/cm² in 1 mol/L KOH solution. The present study pins down the importance of clusters of transition metals on realizing distinct nanostructures operating as highly efficient OER electrocatalyst.

Substituents lead to differences in the formation of two different butterfly-shaped NiDy clusters: structures and multistep assembly mechanisms

The most effective way to understand reaction mechanisms and kinetics is to identify the reaction intermediates and determine the possible reaction patterns. The influencing factors that must be considered in the self-assembly of clusters are the type of ligand, metal ion, coordination anion and the pH of the solution. However, changes in ligand substituents resulting in different self-assembly processes to obtain different types of structures are still very rare, especially with -H and -CH₃ substituents, which do not exert significant steric hindrance effects. In this study, planar mononuclear Ni(L¹)₂ (L¹ = 2-ethoxy-6-(iminomethyl)phenol) was dissolved in methanol and combined with Dy(NO₃)₃·6H₂O for 48 h at room temperature to obtain a butterfly-like Ni₂Dy₂ cluster ([Dy₂Ni₂(L¹)₄(CH₃O)₂(NO₃)₄], 1). The Dy(iii) ions in cluster 1 are in an O₈N coordination environment, and the Ni(ii) ions are in an O₅N coordination environment. High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESI-MS) was used to track species changes during the formation of cluster 1. Six key intermediate fragments were screened, and the self-assembly mechanism was proposed as Ni(L¹)₂→ HL¹ + NiL¹→ DyL¹/Ni(L¹)₂'→ DyNi(L¹)₂→ Dy₂Ni₂(L¹)₄. Through this assembly mechanism, we found that Ni(L¹)₂ was first cleaved into HL¹ + NiL¹ and then further assembled to obtain 1. Another butterfly-like tetranuclear heterometallic cluster ([Dy₂Ni₂(L²)₄(CH₃O)₂(NO₃)₄], 2) was obtained using planar mononuclear Ni(L²)₂ (L² = (E)-2-ethoxy-6-((methylimino)methyl)phenol) with -CH₃ substitution on the nitrogen atom under the same reaction conditions. The structural analysis of cluster 2 showed that the Dy(iii) ions are in an O₉ coordination environment, and the Ni(ii) ions are in an O₄N₂ coordination environment. HRESI-MS was used to trace species changes during the formation of 2, and the assembly mechanism was proposed as Ni(L²)₂→ DyNi(L²)₂→ Dy₂Ni(L²)₂→ Dy₂Ni₂(L²)₄. Analysis of the assembly mechanism of 2 showed that Ni(L²)₂ was twisted during the reaction, and its coordination point was exposed to capture the Dy(iii) ions. Finally, Dy(NO₃)₃·6H₂O was replaced with NaN₃ to obtain a [Ni₂Na₂(L²)₄(N₃)₄] cluster (3) under the same reaction conditions and verify the above-mentioned torsion step. HRESI-MS was also used to trace the assembly process, and the assembly mechanism was proposed as Ni(L²)₂→ NiNa(L²)₂→ NiNa₂(L²)₂→ Ni₂Na₂(L²)₄. Herein, the effect of interference from substitution and the regulation self-assembly process were discovered in the formation of 3d-4f heterometallic clusters, and different types of coordination clusters were obtained.

Tracking the Process of a Solvothermal Domino Reaction Leading to a Stable Triheteroarylmethyl Radical: A Combined Crystallographic and Mass-Spectrometric Study

A new free carbon radical was obtained in a microwave-assisted solvothermal reaction of the primary amine (1-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methanamine with FeCl₃ ⋅6 H₂ O in methanol at 140 °C. Through a combination of crystallography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, the reaction process was studied. The longest domino reaction includes 14 steps and forms up to 12 new covalent bonds (9 C-N and 3 C-C bonds) and 3 five-membered heterocycles. For the first time, the homolytic cleavage of a C-O bond was used to synthesize a triarylmethyl radical.

Formation of nanocluster {Dy12} containing Dy-exclusive vertex-sharing [Dy4(μ3-OH)4] cubanes via simultaneous multitemplate guided and step-by-step assembly

The formation of high-nuclearity clusters of lanthanide usually involved many complicated self-assembly processes. Thus, tracking the formation process is extremely difficult and research on the assembly mechanism is very rare.

Monitoring fragmentation and oligomerization of a di-μ-methoxo bridged copper(ii) complex: structure, mass spectrometry, magnetism and DFT studies

The flat binuclear [Cu₂(L)₂Cl₂] (HL = (1-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-yl)methanol) was studied by mass spectrometry and DFT calculations. Particularly, it shows strong antiferromagnetism with g = 2.20, J = −465 cm⁻¹ and zj = −0.83 cm⁻¹.

Soluble Hetero-Polyoxovanadates and Their Solution Chemistry Analyzed by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are an intriguing class of compounds due to their tremendous structural variety and the wide spectrum of resulting properties, which make them interesting for applications in fields such as catalysis, material science or nanotechnology. Their ability to form large supramolecular architectures by self-assembly offers an entry to complex, functional systems. After an introduction into the structure and synthesis of POMs of the early transition metals, recently discovered water-soluble antimonato polyoxovanadates (Sb-POVs) and the investigation of their chemical reactivity are discussed. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is presented as an analytical technique suitable to investigate the structure of complex POM assemblies in solution and to probe the underlying reactivity and formation mechanisms. This Minireview highlights the first studies on the soluble Sb-POVs and how the knowledge of their reactivity obtained by ESI-MS has fostered the syntheses of numerous novel Sb-POV compounds.