Probing Conformational Variation in Luminescent Dinuclear Gold(I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes

Structure and reactivity of germylene-bridged digold complexes

The bonding between gold and main-group metallic elements (M) featuring Au^δ−−M^δ+ polarity, has been studied recently. The gold in the bonds is expected to have the oxidation number of −1, and hence, nucleophilic. However, the knowledge of the reactivity of the gold-metal bonds remains limited. Here, we report digold-substituted germanes of the form of R’₂Ge(AuPR₃)(AuGeR’₂) (3a; R = Me, 3b; R = Et), featuring two Au-Ge(IV) and one Au-Ge(II) bonds. DFT calculations of 3a revealed the existence of high-lying σ(Ge-Au) type HOMO and low-lying LUMO with germylene p_π nature. A pendular motion of AuPR₃ group between Ge(IV) and Ge(II) of 3 occurs in the NMR time scale, suggesting that the Ge(II) center has an enhanced electrophilicity to be attacked by the nucleophilic gold (−I) atom. 3a reacts with nucleophilic Cl⁻ and electrophilic MeOTf reagents at Ge(II) and Ge(IV) centers, respectively.

The number of metal complexes featuring gold-germanium bonds is limited. Here the authors report the preparation of germylene-bridged digold complexes complexes and study their structure, bonding, and reactivity.

Dinuclear Gold(I) Complexes Bearing N,N'-Allyl-Bridged Bisimidazolylidene Ligands

A novel N,N'-allyl-bridged bisimidazolium salt and a novel dinuclear Ag(I) and a Au(I) NHC complex are reported. Both metallacyclic complexes have a twisted structural shape due to the rigid allylic system and form two different isomers relating to the position of the double bonds. The allyl-group shows photoisomerisation, but no reactivity towards bases for the additional coordination of Pd(II).

A luminescent lipid mimetic iridium(III) N-heterocyclic carbene complex for membrane labelling

Labelling phospholipid membranes with luminophores without altering the biophysical characteristics of the system is particularly challenging due to the small size of the phospholipid molecules and the sensitivity of membrane properties to the presence of fused heterocyclic molecules. Here the design and synthesis of a luminescent lipid mimetic Ir(III) N-heterocyclic carbene complex of the form [Ir(ppy)₂(C^N)] (where ppy = 2-(phenyl)-pyridine and C^N is a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand) conjugated to stearic acid is described. This complex was synthesised by the reaction of an acetate functionalised Ir(III) precursor complex with tert-butyl N-(2-aminoethyl)carbamate (mono-BOC protected ethylene diamine) and after deprotection of the amine group this complex was coupled to stearic acid using the peptide coupling reagent 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC). The photophysical properties of the synthesised complexes were evaluated and they showed blue-green luminescence in the range of 514-520 nm. Fluorescence microscopy studies showed that the lipid mimetic complex successfully incorporated into liposomes composed of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), while dynamic light scattering (DLS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies showed that the complex had negligible influence on the biophysical properties of the liposomes.

Dinuclear gold(i) complexes: from bonding to applications

The last two decades have seen a veritable explosion in the use of gold(i) complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and phosphine (PR₃) ligands.

Synthesis, conformational analysis and antibacterial activity of Au(i)–Ag(i) and Au(i)–Hg(ii) heterobimetallic N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

A family heterobimetallic Au(i)–Ag(i) and Au(i)–Hg(ii) complexes of bis-N-heterocyclic carbene ligands been prepared and their antibacterial properties evaluated.

Synthesis, characterization, and biological studies of multidentate gold(i) and gold(iii) NHC complexes

The synthesis and characterization of a novel macrocyclic Au(iii) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) imidazolyl complex, a novel macrocyclic tetra-NHC benzimidazole ligand, and the corresponding Ag(i) and Au(i) complexes are presented. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the Au(i) benzimidazolyl complex 3 reveals an unusual structure, differing from the respective Au(i) imidazolyl complex 4. Both complexes have a Au₄L₂ composition; however, 3 has two C-Au(i)-C units acting as a connection between the two ligands with two Au(i) atoms being linearly coordinated inside the cavity of the macrocyclic ligand. In the case of complex 4, the structure shows a box-type coordination with all four Au(i) atoms being located between the two ligands. Stability studies in cell culture medium are performed for subsequent MTT assays and they show an unprecedented proton-to-deuterium exchange of the methylene bridge of the Au(iii) imidazolyl complex. In MTT assays, the tetranuclear acyclic Au(i) complex 5 displays the lowest IC₅₀ values in MCF-7, PC3, and A2780cisR cells with a selective cytotoxicity for MCF-7 and A2780cisR cells.

Dinuclear zwitterionic silver(i) and gold(i) complexes bearing 2,2-acetate-bridged bisimidazolylidene ligands

Four novel dinuclear Ag(i) and Au(i) NHC complexes bearing two 2,2-acetate-bridged bisimidazolylidene ligands (R = Me and iPr) of zwitterionic and metallacyclic forms are reported. The functionalized methylene bridge of the ligands leads to water soluble complexes, which have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction in the case of L_a-H₂-PF₆, Ag₂(L_a)₂, Ag₂(L_b)₂ and Au₂(L_a)₂. Dimerization processes caused by hydrogen bonding or Ag(i)-carboxylate interactions in the solid state were observed for L_a-H₂-PF₆ and Ag₂(L_a)₂. DOSY NMR experiments confirmed that both bisimidazolium salts appear as dimers in aqueous solutions, in contrast to the corresponding monomeric Ag(i) and Au(i) complexes. Both gold(i) complexes form syn- and anti-isomers analogous to the reference coinage metal-based complexes. Protonation studies of the syn-isomer gold(i) complex Au₂(L_a)₂ were successful, whereas post-modification esterification or amidation reactions were not feasible. Additionally, decarboxylation reactions (thermally induced Krapcho- or oxidative Hunsdiecker-type) of the bisimidazolium salts were observed. Thus, the proximity of the carboxyl moiety to imidazolium/imidazolylidene rings seems to negatively affect stability and reactivity.

Luminescent iridium(iii) complexes of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands prepared using the ‘click reaction’

Luminescent and electrochemiluminescent N-heterocyclic carbene-combined 1,2,3-triazole and 1,2,3-triazolylidene Ir(iii) complexes have been prepared and their potential as luminescent probes in cell imaging has been evaluated.

Ligation-Enhanced π-Hole···π Interactions Involving Isocyanides: Effect of π-Hole···π Noncovalent Bonding on Conformational Stabilization of Acyclic Diaminocarbene Ligands

The reaction of cis-[PdCl₂(CNXyl)₂] (Xyl = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) with the aminoazoles [1 H-imidazol-2-amine (1), 4 H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine (2), 1 H-tetrazol-5-amine (3), 1 H-benzimidazol-2-amine (4), 1-alkyl-1 H-benzimidazol-2-amines, where alkyl = Me (5), Et (6)] in a 2:1 ratio in the presence of a base in CHCl₃ at RT proceeds regioselectively and leads to the binuclear diaminocarbene complexes [(ClPdCNXyl)₂{μ-C(N-azolyl)N(Xyl)C═NXyl}] (7-12; 73-91%). Compounds 7-12 were characterized by C, H, N elemental analyses, high-resolution ESI⁺-MS, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1D (¹H, ¹³C) and 2D (¹H,¹H-COSY, ¹H,¹H-NOESY, ¹H,¹³C-HSQC, ¹H,¹³C-HMBC) NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction (XRDn). Inspection of the XRDn data and results of the Hirshfeld surface analysis suggest the presence in all six structures of intramolecular π-hole_isocyanide···π_arene interactions between the electrophilic C atom of the isocyanide moiety and the neighboring arene ring. These interactions also result in distortion of the Pd-C≡N-Xyl fragment from the linearity. Results of density functional theory calculations [M06/MWB28 (Pd) and 6-31G* (other atoms) level of theory] for model structures of 7-9 followed by the topological analysis of the electron density distribution within the framework of Bader's theory (QTAIM method) reveal the presence of these weak interactions also in a CHCl₃ solution, and their calculated strength is 1.9-2.2 kcal/mol. The natural bond orbital analysis of 7-9 revealed that π(C-C)Xyl → π*(C-N)isocyanide charge transfer (CT) takes place along with the intramolecular π-hole_isocyanide···π_arene interactions. The observed π(C-C)_Xyl → π*(C-N)_isocyanide CT is due to ligation of the isocyanide to the metal center, whereas in the cases of the uncomplexed p-CNC₆H₄NC and CNXyl species, the effects of CT are negligible. Available CCDC data were processed from the perspective of isocyanide-involving π-hole···π interactions, disclosed the role of metal coordination in the π-hole donor ability of isocyanides, and verified the π-hole_isocyanide···π_arene interaction effect on the stabilization of the in-conformation in metal-bound acyclic diaminocarbenes.

Bimetallic d10 -Metal Complexes of a Bipyridine Substituted N-Heterocyclic Carbene

The hybrid ligand 3-(2,2'-bipyridine-6-ylmethyl)-1-mesityl-1H-imidazolylidene (NHC^Bipy ) featuring both carbene and N-donor sites, was selectively complexed with various d¹⁰ metal cations in order to examine its coordination behavior with regard to homo and heterometallic structures. Respective silver complexes can be obtained by the silver oxide route and are suitable transmetallation reagents for the synthesis of gold(I) compounds. Starting from the mononuclear complexes [(NHC^Bipy )AuCl], [(NHC^Bipy )Au(C₆ F₅ )] and [(NHC^Bipy )₂ Au][ClO₄ ], open-chain as well as cyclic heterobimetallic complexes containing Cu⁺ , Ag⁺ , Zn²⁺ , Cd²⁺ , and Hg²⁺ were synthesized. Furthermore, the homobimetallic species [(NHC^Bipy )₂ M₂ ][ClO₄ ]₂ (M=Cu, Ag) were obtained. All bimetallic compounds were fully characterized including single-crystal X-ray analysis. Their photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated in the solid state at temperatures between 15 and 295 K and compared with those of the mononuclear species. There is a clear difference in PL properties between the open chain and the cyclic heterobimetallic complexes. The latter species show different PL properties, depending on the metals involved. In addition, collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments were performed on electrosprayed cations of the cyclic heterobimetallic compounds, to compare the metal binding at the carbene and N-donor sites.