New Insights into Acylhydrazones E/Z Isomerization: An Experimental and Theoretical Approach

A family of acylhydrazones have been prepared and characterized with the aim of investigating their potential as information storage systems. Their well-established synthetic methodologies allowed for the preparation of seven chemically stable acylhydrazones in excellent yields that have been photophysically and photochemically characterized. In addition, DFT and TD-DFT calculations have been performed to gain more insights into the structural, energetic and photophysical properties of the E/Z isomers. Our results reveal that E/Z configurational isomerization upon irradiation is highly dependent on the stabilization of the E or Z isomers due to the formation of intramolecular H bonds and the electronic/steric effects intrinsically related to their structures. In addition, Raman spectroscopy is also used to confirm the molecular structural changes after the formation of hydrogen bonds in the isomers.

Grid-Type Quaternary Metallosupramolecular Compounds Inhibit Human Cholinesterases through Dynamic Multivalent Interactions

We report the implementation of coordination complexes containing two types of cationic moieties, i. e. pyridinium and ammonium quaternary salt, as potential inhibitors of human cholinesterase enzymes. Utilization of ligands containing NNO-coordination site and binding zinc metal ion allowed mono- and tetra-nuclear complexes to be obtained with corner and grid structural type, respectively, thus affecting the overall charge of the compounds (from +1 to +8). We were able to examine for the first time the multivalency effect of metallosupramolecular species on their inhibitory abilities towards acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Importantly, resolution of the crystal structures of the obtained enzyme-substrate complexes provided a better understanding of the inhibition process at the molecular level.

Recent developments in supramolecular complexes of azabenzenes containing one to four N atoms: synthetic strategies, structures, and magnetic properties

For the last couple of decades, azabenzene-based ligands have drawn much attention from inorganic chemists due to their ability to coordinate with different metal ions to form supramolecular clusters. These azabenzenes are weak σ donors and strong π acceptors and electron-deficient. Metallogrid complexes and non-grid oligomers are well-defined supramolecular clusters, formed by appropriate chelating ligands, and can show interesting optical, magnetic, and electronic properties. Self-assembly of [n × n] metallogrid complexes is dominated by the entropic factor while the formation of oligonuclear metal ion complexes is dominated by other effects like CFSE, electrostatic factors, ligand conformational characters, etc. Herein, the present article gives an overview of six-membered heterocyclic azine-based ligands and their potential for different metal ions to form polynuclear complexes. Moreover, their temperature-dependent magnetic properties and SCO phenomena are well described and tabulated.

Peripherally multi-functionalised metallosupramolecular grids: assembly, decoration, building blocks for dynamic covalent architectures

The sequential assembly of first terminally functionalized bishydrazone ligands followed by their coordination with Zn(ii) metal cations yields peripherally multi-functionalized [2 × 2] grid-type complexes.

Tetranuclear MnII, CoII, CuII and ZnII grid complexes of an unsymmetrical ditopic ligand: synthesis, structure, redox and magnetic properties

Synthesis towards the preparation of an unsymmetrical binucleating Schiff-base ligand, (H₂L) is discussed. It has been synthesized by reacting methyl 6-(hydrazinecarbonyl)picolinate with 2-hydroxy acetophenone. The ligand (H₂L) comprises two different asymmetric binding pockets; however, when reacted with Mn(ii), Co(ii), Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) salts, very stable self-assembled [2 × 2] grid complexes form regardless of the employed metal-to-ligand ratio. The obtained complexes [Mn₄L₄]·(CH₃CN) (1), [Co₄L₄]·(CHCl₃) (2), [Cu₄L₄]·(CHCl₃) (3) and [Zn₄L₄] (4) have been fully characterized by physicochemical methods, including ESI mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallographic analyses, and their EPR, magnetic and redox properties are discussed. All discussed complexes self-assembled in a 'head-to-tail' fashion leading to [2 × 2] grid architectures. Mn, Co and Cu grid complexes show weak to moderate antiferromagnetic coupling among the four metal centers. The high stability of the grid structures is in line with the lack of any observable dissociation or exchange between metal ions in solution. Complexes 1 and 2 show four quasi-reversible to irreversible oxidative responses in cyclic voltammograms at a glassy carbon working electrode in 1,2-dichlorobenzene and at a platinum working electrode in dichloromethane, respectively.

Multiple adaptation of constitutional dynamic networks and information storage in constitutional distributions of acylhydrazones

We report a study of the behavior of four dynamic covalent libraries (DCLs) based on acylhydrazones aAbB and of the corresponding square constitutional dynamic networks (CDNs) NA-ND under the effect of three agents, namely, metal cations, base + metal cations and light irradiation; in particular, the successful switching of the CDN NB between two orthogonal distributions results, respectively, from metallo-selection and photo-selection. The four DCLs undergo triple adaptation when subjected to the three agents with the generation of specific CDN distributions characteristic of each of the four DCLs. The ternary outputs displayed by the DCLs present three states (-1, 0 and 1) related to three different constitutional distributions expressed in response to the triple inputs applied. This latter process amounts to the storage of molecular information in dynamic distributions rather than in selective interactions between complementary entities undergoing molecular recognition.

Different packing motifs of isomeric (E)-N'-(halo-phenyl-methyl-idene)-N-methyl-2-(thio-phen-2-yl)acetohydrazides controlled by C-H⋯O inter-actions

The crystal structures of three isomeric (E)-N'-(chloro-phenyl-methyl-idene)-N-methyl-2-(thio-phen-2-yl)acetohydrazides (C14H13ClN2OS) are described, with the Cl atom in ortho (I), meta (III) and para (IV) positions in the benzene ring. The ortho-bromo derivative (II) (C14H13BrN2OS), which is isostructural with its chloro congener (I), is also reported. Mol-ecules (I)-(III) have similar conformations, which approximate to l-shapes, as indicated by their N-C-C-Ct (t = thio-phene) torsion angles of -90.1 (3), -91.44 (18) and -90.7 (9)°, respectively. The conformation of (IV) is different, with an equivalent torsion angle of -170.75 (11)° corresponding to a more extended shape for the mol-ecule. The thio-phene ring in each structure features 'flip' rotational disorder. The packing for (I) and (II) features inversion dimers, linked by pairs of C-H⋯O inter-actions, which generate R22(14) loops. In the crystal of (III), [010] C(8) chains arise, with adjacent mol-ecules linked by pairs of C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The packing for (IV) features unusually short C-H⋯O inter-actions arising from an H atom attached to the benzene ring (H⋯O = 2.18 Å), which lead to C(9) [301] chains. Hirshfeld fingerprint percentage contact contributions are similar for the four title compounds.

Novel 1D coordination polymers built from acyclic cryptate containing bis(1H-1,2,4-triazole) ligands and featuring coordinated counteranions

Two new coordination polymers, namely, ZnL₂(BF₄)₂ (1) and CuL₂(NO₃)₂ (2) were constructed from a new flexible acyclic cryptate-bis(1H-1,2,4-triazole) ligand.

Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surfaces of differently substituted (E)-N'-benzyl-idene-N-methyl-2-(thio-phen-2-yl)acetohydrazides

The syntheses and crystal structures of (E)-N'-(3-cyano-benzyl-idene)-N-methyl-2-(thio-phen-2-yl)acetohydrazide, C15H13N3OS, (I), and (E)-N'-(4-meth-oxy-benzyl-idene)-N-methyl-2-(thio-phen-2-yl)acetohydrazide, C15H16N2O2S, (II), with different substituents in the meta and para position of the benzene ring are described. Compounds (I) and (II) both crystallize with two mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit, with generally similar conformations [r.m.s. overlay fits for (I) and (II) of 0.334 and 0.280 Å, respectively] that approximate to L-shapes. The thio-phene rings in (I) are well ordered, whereas those in (II) exhibit 'flip' rotational disorder [occupancies 0.662 (2) and 0.338 (2) for mol-ecule 1, and 0.549 (3) and 0.451 (3) for mol-ecule 2]. The packing for (I) features short C-H⋯O inter-actions arising from the C-H grouping adjacent to the cyanide group and C-H⋯Nc (c = cyanide) links arising from the methine groups to generate [110] double chains. Weak C-H⋯π inter-actions inter-link the chains into a three-dimensional network. The packing for (II) features numerous C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions arising from different donor groups to generate a three-dimensional network. Hirshfeld fingerprint plots indicate significant differences in the percentage contact surfaces for (I) and (II).

Different weak inter-actions in the crystals of three isomeric (E)-N-methyl-N'-(nitro-benzyl-idene)-2-(thio-phen-2-yl)acetohydrazides

The crystal structures of three isomeric (E)-N-methyl-N'-(nitro-benzyl-idene)-2-(thio-phen-2-yl)acetohydrazides (formula C14H13N3O3S) are described, with the nitro group in ortho, meta and para positions in the benzene ring. In each crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked by various weak inter-actions (C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π bonds, and π-π stacking), leading to three-dimensional networks in each case, but with little similarity between them.

Construction of bis-, tris- and tetrahydrazones by addition of azoalkenes to amines and ammonia

Exhaustive Michael-type alkylations of amines and ammonia with azoalkenes (generated from α-halohydrazones) were demonstrated as an efficient approach to poly(hydrazonomethyl)amines - a novel class of polynitrogen ligands. An intramolecular cyclotrimerization of C=N bonds in tris(hydrazonomethyl)amine to the respective 1,4,6,10-tetraazaadamantane derivative was demonstrated.

Reversible photo-, metallo- and thermo-induced morphological dynamics of bis-acylhydrazones

A reversible interconversion-cycle, making use of the multiple dynamic properties of bisacylhydrazones, is presented.

Tetratopic pyrimidine–hydrazone ligands modified with terminal hydroxymethyl and acryloyl arms and their Pb(ii), Zn(ii), Cu(ii) and Ag(i) complexes

Tetratopic pym–hyz strands with terminal hydroxymethyl (L1) and acryloyl groups (L2) were synthesised, characterised and reacted with Pb(ii), Zn(ii), Cu(ii) and Ag(i) ions resulting in new linear, horse-shoe shaped and double helical complexes.

Self-assembly of alkoxy-substituted bis(hydrazone)-based organic ligands and of a metallosupramolecular grid on graphite

Self-assembly of a bis(hydrazone) chelating ligand functionalized with octadecyloxy substituents is described, as well as the reproducible thermally activated self-assembly of its metallosupramolecular cationic Co(II) [2x2] grid-type complex, on a highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) substrate. Scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements at the solid/liquid interface reveal that the grid units of the annealed films are oriented edge-on to the basal plane of the HOPG, which indicates that the influence of the octadecyl chains is not sufficient to tie the grids into a face-on orientation. To gain a detailed understanding of the self-assembly behaviour of the grid on HOPG, the results for the grid itself have been compared to those of its constituent ligands.