Poly beta-diketones: Prime ligands to generate supramolecular metalloclusters

Introducing Cationic Selenium-Containing Triazapentadiene Ligand Framework: Synthesis, Coordination Chemistry, and Antifungal Activity

Positively charged ligands are scarce. Here, we report the synthesis of unprecedented cationic selenium-containing triazapentadiene ligand framework. The reaction between 2-pyridylselenyl reagents and NaN(CN)2 in a 2:1 ratio produces the sodium complexes featuring the cationic selenium-containing triazapentadiene (SeTAP) ligand. The sodium-to-metal transmetalation allows facile preparation of SeTAP metal complexes, as exemplified by the reactions with CuCl2, AgNO3, NaAuCl4, and FeCl3. Density functional theory calculations have been used to analyze and characterize the chalcogen bonding interactions observed in the solid state for these compounds. Moreover, antifungal properties of the SeTAP ligand and its metal complexes were screened for in vitro activity against several phytopathogenic fungi. Phoma eupyrena exhibited prominent sensitivity against the action of most of the tested compounds.

Engineered π⋯π interactions favour supramolecular dimers X@[FeL3]2 (X = Cl, Br, I): solid state and solution structure

Ditopic bis-pyrazolylpyridine ligands usually react with divalent metal ions (M2+) to produce dinuclear triple-stranded helicates [M2L3]4+ or, via π⋯π interactions, dimers of monoatomic complexes ([ML3]2)4+. The introduction of an additional benzene ring at each end of ligand L increases the number of aromatic contacts within the supramolecular aggregate by 40%, driving the self-recognition process in an irreversible manner. Consequently, the mixing of new bis-pyrazolylquinoline L2 with FeX2 salts leads to crystallization of the tripartite high-spin assemblies (X@[Fe(L2)3]2)3+ (X = Cl, Br or I). The aggregates exhibit exceptional stability, as confirmed by a combination of paramagnetic 1H NMR techniques, demonstrating their persistence in solution. Our investigations further reveal that the guests Br- and I- are retained inside the associate in solution but Cl- is immediately released, resulting in the formation of the empty supramolecular dimer ([Fe(L2)3]2)4+.

Syntheses and Characterization of Main Group, Transition Metal, Lanthanide, and Actinide Complexes of Bidentate Acylpyrazolone Ligands

The synthesis of acylpyrazolone salts and their complexes of main group elements, transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides are described and characterized inter alia by means of single-crystal X-ray crystallography, NMR, and IR spectroscopies. The complexes consist of two, three, or four acylprazolone ligands bound to the metal atom, resulting in a structurally diverse set of coordination complexes with (distorted) octahedral, pentagonal-bipyramidal, or antiprismatic arrangements. Several complexes proved to be polymeric in the solid state including heterobimetallic sodium/lanthanide coordination polymers. A selection of the polymeric compounds was analyzed via TG/DTA measurements to establish their stability. The ligands, in turn, were readily synthesized in good yields from commercially available hydrazine hydrochloride salts. These findings demonstrate that acylpyrazolone ligands can form complexes with metals of varying ionic radii, highlighted by their utility in other areas such as analytical and metal organic framework chemistry.

Gold-Based Coronands as Hosts for M3+ Metal Ions: Ring Size Matters

The controlled, self-assembled synthesis of multinuclear coordination compounds can be performed via different approaches. Frequently, steric, geometric and/or electronic factors located at the ligand systems predefine the way in which metal ions can assemble them to large aggregates. For the compounds in the present paper, also the Pearson's acidities and preferred coordination geometries of the metal ions were used as organization principles. The ligand under study, 2,6-dipicolinoylbis(N,N-diethylthiourea), H₂L1^ethyl, possesses 'soft' sulfur and 'hard' nitrogen and oxygen donors. One-pot reactions of this compound with [AuCl(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) and M³⁺ salts (M = Sc, Y, La, Ln, Ga, In) give products with gold-based {Au₃(L1^ethyl)₃}³⁺ or {Au₂(L1^ethyl)₂}²⁺ coronands, which host central M³⁺ ions. The formation of such units is templated by the M³⁺ ions and the individual size of the coronand rings is dependent on the ionic radii of the central ions in a way that small ions such as Ga³⁺ form a [Ga⊂{Au₂(L1^ethyl)₂}]⁺ assembly, while larger ions (starting from Sc³⁺/In³⁺) establish neutral [M⊂{Au₃(L1^ethyl)₃}] units with nine-coordinate central ions.

Heterometallic Molecular Architectures Based on Fluorinated β-Diketone Ligands

This review summarizes the data on the synthesis of coordination compounds containing two or more different metal ions based on fluorinated β-diketonates. Heterometallic systems are of high interest in terms of their potential use in catalysis, medicine and diagnostics, as well as in the development of effective sensor devices and functional materials. Having a rich history in coordination chemistry, fluorinated β-diketones are well-known ligands generating a wide variety of heterometallic complexes. In this context, we focused on both the synthetic approaches to β-dicarbonyl ligands with additional coordination centers and their possible transformations in complexation reactions. The review describes bi- and polynuclear structures in which β-diketones are the key building blocks in the formation of a heterometallic framework, including the examples of both homo- and heteroleptic complexes.

Evaluation of Manganese Cubanoid Clusters for Water Oxidation Catalysis: From Well-Defined Molecular Coordination Complexes to Catalytically Active Amorphous Films

With a view to developing multimetallic molecular catalysts that mimic the oxygen-evolving catalyst (OEC) in Nature's photosystem II, the synthesis of various dicubanoid manganese clusters is described and their catalytic activity investigated for water oxidation in basic, aqueous solution. Pyridinemethanol-based ligands are known to support polynuclear and cubanoid structures in manganese coordination chemistry. The chelators 2,6-pyridinedimethanol (H₂ L¹ ) and 6-methyl-2-pyridinemethanol (HL² ) were chosen to yield polynuclear manganese complexes; namely, the tetranuclear defective dicubanes [Mn^II ₂ Mn^III ₂ (HL¹ )₄ (OAc)₄ (OMe)₂ ] and [Mn^II ₂ Mn^III ₂ (HL¹ )₆ (OAc)₂ ] (OAc)₂ ⋅2 H₂ O, as well as the octanuclear-dicubanoid [Mn^II ₆ Mn^III ₂ (L² )₄ (O)₂ (OAc)₁₀ (HOMe/OH₂ )₂ ]⋅3MeOH⋅MeCN. In freshly prepared solutions, polynuclear species were detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, whereas X-band electron paramagnetic resonance studies in dilute, liquid solution suggested the presence of divalent mononuclear Mn species with g values of 2. However, the magnetochemical investigation of the complexes' solutions by the Evans technique confirmed a haphazard combination of manganese coordination complexes, from mononuclear to polynuclear species. Subsequently, the newly synthesized and characterized manganese molecular complexes were employed as precursors to prepare electrode-deposited films in a buffer-free solution to evaluate and compare their stability and catalytic activity for water oxidation electrocatalysis.

Phenylboronic acid-based core-shell drug delivery platform clasping 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds by a coordinate interaction

Along with the successful commercialization of chemotherapeutics, such as doxorubicin and paclitaxel, numerous natural compounds have been investigated for clinical applications. Recently, curcumin (CUR), a natural compound with various therapeutic effects, has attracted attention for cancer immunotherapy. Most chemotherapeutics, however, have poor water solubility due to their hydrophobicity, which makes them less suited to biomedical applications; CUR is no exception because of its low bioavailability and extremely high hydrophobicity. In the present study, we developed an easy but effective strategy using the interaction between the 1,3-dicarbonyl groups of drugs and phenylboronic acid (PBA) to solubilize hydrophobic drugs. First, we verified the coordinate interaction between 1,3-dicarbonyl and PBA using 3,5-heptanedione as a model compound, followed by CUR as a model drug. A PBA-grafted hydrophilic polymer was used to form a nanoconstruct by coordination bonding with CUR, which then made direct administration of the nanoparticles possible. The nanoconstruct exhibited remarkable loading capability, uniform size, colloidal stability, and pH-responsive drug release, attributed to the formation of core-shell nanoconstructs by coordinate interaction. The therapeutic nanoconstructs successfully showed both chemotherapeutic and anti-PD-L1 anticancer effects in cellular and animal models. Furthermore, we demonstrated the applicability of this technique to other 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. Overall, our findings suggest a facile, but expandable strategy by applying the coordinate interaction between 1,3-dicarbonyl and PBA, which enables high drug loading and stimuli-responsive drug release.

Charge Neutral [Cu2L2] and [Pd2L2] Metallocycles: Self-Assembly, Aggregation, and Catalysis

A range of morphologically distinct metallosupramolecular Cu(II) and Pd(II) complexes has been constructed, based on the tritopic ligand 1,1',1″-(benzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione) (H₃L). By control of the reaction conditions, it is possible to generate distinct coordination assemblies possessing either macrocyclic or polymeric structures and more importantly distinct activity in catalysis of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling.

Dinuclear triple stranded phenyl-spaced 1,3-bis-β-diketonato lanthanide(iii) complexes: synthesis, structures and spectroscopy

The synthesis and crystal structures of a series of Ln(iii) (Ln = Gd, Nd, Yb as well as Y) complexes of a bis-β-diketone ligand incorporating a 1,3-substituted phenyl ring between its two β-diketone domains (1,1'-(1,3-phenylene)bis(4,4-dimethylpentane-1,3-dione), H₂L¹) is reported. The crystal structures show the complexes are seven coordinate in the solid state with the general formula [Ln₂L¹₃(solvent)₂]. The photophysical properties of the complexes were explored in both solution and the solid state, which show an increase in coordination number in solution.

Synthesis of β-triazolylenones via metal-free desulfonylative alkylation of N-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles

Desulfonylative alkylation of N-tosyl-1,2,3-triazoles under metal-free conditions leading to β-triazolylenones is reported here. The present study encompasses the synthesis of triazoles with a new substitution pattern in a single step from cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and N-tosyl triazole in moderate to high yields. Our synthesis takes place with complete regioselectivity as confirmed by crystallographic analysis which is rationalized by a suitable mechanistic proposal. This method provides an efficient, versatile and straightforward strategy towards the synthesis of new functionalized 1,2,3-triazoles.

Chemical passivation of the under coordinated Pb2+ defects in inverted planar perovskite solar cells via β-diketone Lewis base additives

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are promising new generations of solar cells, which is low in cost with high power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, PSCs suffer from structural defects generated from the under coordinated ions at the surface, which limits their photovoltaic performances. Herein we report, two β-diketone Lewis base additives 2,4-pentanedione and 3-methyl-2,4-nonanedione within the chlorobenzene anti-solvent to passivate the surface defects generated from the under coordinated Pb²⁺ ions in CH₃NH₃PbI₃ perovskite films. The incorporation of the two β-diketone passivators could successfully enhance the open-circuit voltage of the PSCs by 52 mV and 17 mV for 3-methyl-2,4-nonanedione and 2,4-pentanedione, respectively, with improved PCE by 45% for 3-methyl-2,4-nonanedione compared to the pristine PSC. This enhancement in the photovoltaic performance of the PSCs can be attributed to passivation of the defects through the interaction between two carbonyl groups of the β-diketone Lewis base additives and the under coordinated Pb²⁺ defects in the perovskite film, which improved the PSCs PCE and stability.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemistry of Diferrocenyl β-Diketones, -Diketonates, and Pyrazoles

The synthesis of FcC(O)CH(R)C(O)Fc (Fc = Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₅); R = H, 5; ⁿBu, 7; CH₂CH₂(OCH₂CH₂)₂OMe, 9), [M(κ²O,O′-FcC(O)CHC(O)Fc)_n] (M = Ti, n = 3, 10; M = Fe, n = 3, 11; M = BF₂, n = 1, 12), and 1-R′-3,5-Fc₂-^cC₃HN₂ (R′ = H, 13; Me, 14; Ph, 15) is discussed. The solid-state structures of 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15, and 16 ([TiCl₂(κ²O,O′-PhC(O)CHC(O)Ph)₂]) show that 7 and 9 exist in their β-diketo form. Compound 13 crystallizes as a tetramer based on a hydrogen bond pattern, including one central water molecule. The electrochemical behavior of 5–7 and 9–16 was studied by cyclic and square-wave voltammetry, showing that the ferrocenyls can separately be oxidized reversibly between −50 and 750 mV (5–7, 9, 12–15: two Fc-related events; 10, 11: six events, being partially superimposed). For complex 10, Ti-centered reversible redox processes appear at −985 (Ti^II/Ti^III) and −520 mV (Ti^III/Ti^IV). Spectro-electrochemical UV-Vis/NIR measurements were carried out on 5, 6, and 12, whereby only 12 showed an IVCT (intervalence charge-transfer) band of considerable strength (ν_max = 6250 cm⁻¹, Δν_½ = 4725 cm⁻¹, ε_max = 240 L·mol⁻¹·cm⁻¹), due to the rigid C₃O₂B cycle, enlarging the coupling strength between the Fc groups.

Synthesis of 3-Alkylideneisoindolin-1-ones via Sonogashira Cyclocarbonylative Reactions of 2-Ethynylbenzamides

Cyclocarbonylative Sonogashira reactions of ortho-ethynylbenzamides have been investigated. The process is carried out under CO pressure, in the presence of a very small amount of PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ (0.4 mol %) as a catalytic precursor and without the need for a Cu salt as the co-catalyst. 2-Ethynylbenzamide reacted successfully with iodoarenes bearing electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups, giving rise to different classes of compounds depending on the solvent used. On the contrary, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-ethynylbenzamide afforded exclusively polyfunctionalized isoindolinones with high stereoselectivity toward (E) isomers.

Crystal structure of diisopropyl 2,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,4-diene-1,4-dicarboxylate, C14H20O6

C14H20O6, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 6.4270(13) Å, b = 8.3458(17) Å, c = 8.4120(17) Å, α = 107.08(3)°, β = 106.43(3)°, γ = 107.37(3)°, V = 376.2(2) Å3, Z = 1, R gt(F) = 0.0521, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1541, T = 294.0 K.

Crystal structure of diisobutyl 2,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,4-diene-1,4-dicarboxylate, C16H24O6

C16H24O6, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 6.3410(13) Å, b = 7.3430(15) Å, c = 10.241(2) Å, α = 94.06(3)°, β = 103.89(3)°, γ = 113.13(3)°, V = 418.3(8) Å3, Z = 1, R gt(F) = 0.0546, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1691, T = 295(3) K.

Crystal structure of dipentyl 2,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-1,4-diene-1,4-dicarboxylate, C18H28O6

C18H28O6, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 15.061(3) Å, b = 13.791(3) Å, c = 10.106(2) Å, β = 118.60(3)°, V = 1843.0(8) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0462, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1315, T = 294.3 K.

Designed asymmetric coordination helicates with bis-β-diketonate ligands

A new bis-(β-diketone) ligand featuring built-up structural asymmetry yields non-symmetric Fe(iii) and Ga(iii) dinuclear, triple-stranded helicates by design. Their structural properties have been studied, both in solid state and in solution, and compared with their corresponding symmetric analogues. The robustness observed shows the potential of this synthetic strategy to develop non-symmetric helicoidal motifs with specific functional groups.

Dinuclear lanthanide–lithium complexes based on fluorinated β-diketonate with acetal group: magnetism and effect of crystal packing on mechanoluminescence

A convenient and straightforward synthesis of a novel type of Ln–Li β-diketonates with a discrete molecular structure is presented.

Self-assembly of bis-β-diketone-based [M22] dinuclear platforms into 2-dimensional coordination polymers

Bis-β-diketone [M₂L₂] dinuclear platforms self-assemble into 2-dimensional coordination polymers.

A convenient and practical synthesis of β-diketones bearing linear perfluorinated alkyl groups and a 2-thienyl moiety

A versatile and robust synthetic protocol for the preparation of β-diketones bearing 2-thienyl and perfluorinated alkyl radicals of different length or a methyl group was developed. This protocol is suitable for the preparation of multigram quantities of diketones without cumbersome purification procedures. Moreover, the known method for purification of diketones via copper chelates was improved considerably.

Antiproliferative properties of iron supramolecular cylinders

The use of metallohelicates as potential antiproliferative agents is mostly exemplified by one sole family of supramolecular compounds that is based on bis-iminopyridine ligands. In the present investigation, two other types of metallocylinders have been selected and their potential DNA-binding and cytotoxic properties have been investigated. Hence, two new neutral iron(III) metallosupramolecular compounds have been prepared from bis-β-diketone ligands, and a known cationic iron(II) helicate from bis-pyrazole ligands has been used for comparison purposes. DNA-interaction experiments and cell studies reveal remarkable biological properties for one of the neutral iron cylinders and the positively charged, pyrazole-based helicate, as illustrated by their antiproliferative behaviours, which are far better than those of two well-known compounds, i.e. the most studied metallohelicate in the field and cisplatin.

The Coordination and Luminescence of the Eu(III) Complexes with the Polymers (PMMA, PVP)

The rare earth complexes and the polymers can be made into composite nanofibers through electrospinning. The fluorescence intensity of these fiber composites is much higher than that of the rare earth complexes. By changing the mixed proportion of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and complexes, nanofiber materials were prepared. Then, by measuring their fluorescence intensity, it is found that the carbonyl bond of PMMA may have coordinated with the rare earth ions and enhanced the luminescence intensity of them. Then, a series of experiments were designed to study their coordination and luminescence mechanism. The coordination mechanism of the polymers with carbonyl groups and the rare earth complexes was explained by Eu(TFT)₃(TPPO), Eu(TFT)₃(TPPO)₂, Eu(PFP)₃(TPPO), Eu(PFP)₃(TPPO)₂, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) dissolved in chloroform solution, where TFT means 2-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1-tetralone, PFP means 2-(2,2,3,3,3-Pentafluoropro-panoyl)-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one and TPPO means phosphine oxide. The coordination of PVP and the rare earth complexes in solution was studied, and it was found that the fluorine atoms of the ligand had a significant impact on the aggregation-induced effect of the composites. The electron transitioned in the polymers and the complexes were enhanced greatly by the coordination. The colors of emission light could be adjusted by the coordination of the polymers and the rare earth complexes.

N Donor substituted acetylacetones – versatile ditopic ligands

Acetylacetone (2,4-pentanedione) derivatives with N donor substituents represent ditopic ligands with coordination sites of distinctly different Pearson hardness. Deprotonation of the acetylacetone (Hacac) moiety leads to O,O′ chelating monoanionic (acac) ligands suitable for coordination to hard cations. The softer N donor site(s) preferably act as nucleophiles towards softer partners. When the organic molecules are employed as linkers and coordinate via either site, they are often selective and allow to synthesize well-ordered heterometallic solids. This review addresses the derivatives of 17 pentanediones with nitrile, pyridyl and pyrazolyl moieties as N donor substituents, with an emphasis on structurally characterized compounds. Depending on the N donor substituents and the cations, O,O′ or N coordination will dominate. The nitrile-substituted compounds essentially behave as acetylacetones; they may easily O,O′ coordinate to a wide range of cations whereas N coordination is limited to AgI, CuI or, in the case of less soft cations, to longer and presumably weaker contacts, e.g. to the more distant sites in Jahn–Teller distorted CuII. In contrast, pyridyl-substituted pentanediones act as N donor ligands, regardless whether their (H)acac site is chelating a cation or not. The still scarcely explored pyrazolyl derivative shows the most complex coordination pattern: it may be deprotonated both at the acetylacetone and the pyrazol site, the latter affording N,N′ bridging ligands. In addition to N donor nucleophilicity, the distance between the alternative coordination sites and their mutual orientation are relevant for crystal engineering applications.

Stereoselective interactions as manifested by vibrational circular dichroism spectra: the interplay between chiral metal complexes co-adsorbed in a montmorillonite clay

Solid state VCD is applied for intercalated metal complexes.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Luminescent Properties of Polymer Complexes of Nd(III) with β-Dicarbonyl Ligands

The neodymium(III) complexes with 2-methyl-5-phenylpenten-1-3,5-dione and allyl-3-oxo-butanoate were synthesized. The polycomplexes on their basis and copolymers with styrene and N-vinylcarbazole in ratio 5:95 were obtained by free-radical polymerization. The results of above studies have shown that the configuration of the chelate unit is unchanged during the polymerization. As a result, the type of coordination was determined and the structure of coordination polyhedra was assumed. The luminescence spectra of obtained metallocomplexes and polymers in solutions and solid state are investigated and analyzed.