Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of Cd(II) and Zn(II) complexes with 2,2′-biimidazole

Coumarin-imidazopyridine hybrids and their first-in-class ZnII metal complexes as potent dual entry and replication inhibitors of Zika viral infection

In this study, we synthesized and characterized a series of coumarin-imidazopyridine hybrid ligands (HL1-HL4) and their corresponding Zn(II) complexes (C1-C4). The ligands were synthesized via a two-step process in 56-90 % yields. The resulting ligands, were utilized to form Zn(II) complexes, characterized by conductivity measurements, HRMS, IR, 1H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffractions. Biological evaluations revealed that these compounds exhibited potent antiviral activity against Zika virus (ZIKV), with EC50 values ranging from 0.55 to 4.8 µM and SI of up to 1490. Notably, the complexes (the first-in-class Zn(II) anti-ZIKV complexes) generally displayed enhanced activity compared to their respective ligands, with some compounds outperforming the reference antiviral, ribavirin. The Time of Addition assay suggested that while some compounds interfere with both viral entry (with a virucidal component) and replication phases, other only acted in replication phases. These results together with molecular modeling studies on ZIKV Envelope protein and ZIKV NS2B-NS3 offered insights for their mode of actions and further optimizations.

Heterogeneous catalysis with an organic–inorganic hybrid based on MoO3 chains decorated with 2,2′-biimidazole ligands

Polymeric [MoO₃(2,2′-biimidazole)]·H₂O outperforms other one-dimensional MoO₃-ligand hybrid materials as a heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst for (bio)olefin epoxidation and sulfoxidation.

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.

Competition and selectivity in supramolecular synthesis: structural landscape around 1-(pyridylmethyl)-2,2′-biimidazoles

Three isomeric forms of 1-(pyridylmethyl)-2,2′-biimidazole, A1–A3, have been synthesized and subjected to systematic co-crystallizations with selected hydrogen- and halogen-bond donors in order to explore the impact of electrostatics and geometry on the resulting supramolecular architectures. The solid-state supramolecular behavior of A1–A3 is largely consistent in halogen-bonded co-crystals. Only two types of primary interactions, the N–H⋯N/N⋯H–N homomeric hydrogen-bond interactions responsible for the pairing of biimidazole moieties and the I⋯N(pyridine) halogen bonds responsible for the co-crystal formation and structure extension, are present in these systems. The co-crystallizations with hydrogen-bond donors (carboxylic acids), however, lead to multiple possible structural outcomes because of the presence of the biimidazole–acid N–H⋯OC/N⋯H–O heterosynthon that can compete with biimidazole–biimidazole N–H⋯N/N⋯H–N homosynthon. In addition, the somewhat unpredictable nature of proton transfer makes the hydrogen-bonded co-crystals structurally less consistent than their halogen-bonded counterparts.

Recognition of fractional non-innocent feature of osmium coordinated 2,2′-biimidazole or 2,2′-bis(4,5-dimethylimidazole) and their interactions with anions

The non-innocent feature of osmium coordinated doubly deprotonated 2,2′-biimidazole derivatives in symmetric dimeric complexes leads to a mixed electronic structural configuration.

Assembled structures of tetrakis(biimidazole)dirhodium complexes hydrogen-bonded with common inorganic anions

Eight new structures of dirhodium complexes, each with four biimidazole (H2bim) ligands, were obtained: [Rh2(H2bim)4(H2O)2](NO3)4·4H2O (I), [Rh2(H2bim)4(H2O)2](ClO4)4·5H2O (II), [Rh2(H2bim)4(MeOH)2](ClO4)4 (III), [Rh2(H2bim)4(DMF)2](BF4)4 (IV), [Rh2(H2bim)4(Mepy)2](SiF6)2·8H2O (V), [{Rh2(H2bim)4(pz)}2(μ-pz)](SiF6)(ClO4)6·12.7H2O (VI), [{Rh2(H2bim)4(pz)}2(μ-pz)](ClO4)8·11.4H2O (VII) and [Rh2(H2bim)4(μ-pz)](SiF6)2·6H2O (VIII). The unbridged Rh-Rh bond distances range between 2.6313 (8) and 2.7052 (5) Å. The dirhodium units adopt a staggered conformation with torsion angles N-Rh-Rh-N of 37.6 (4)-48.98 (8)°. Various assembled structures were constructed by hydrogen bonding between the complexes and the anions: a discrete structure in (IV), one-dimensional structure in (II), two-dimensional structures in (I), (III), (VI), (VII) and (VIII) and a three-dimensional structure in (V).

Element misidentification in X-ray crystallography: a reassessment of the [MCl2(diazadiene)] (M = Cr, Mo, W) series

A series of reports describing the syntheses and structures of [MCl2(diazadiene)] (M = Cr, Mo, W) complexes is reassessed in the context of known chemistry of low-valent Group VI metal complexes, crystallographic trends such as M-Cl bond lengths and unit cell volumes, and calculated metal-ligand bond lengths. Crystallographic data and computational results are inconsistent with any of these species being second or third row transition metal complexes. A review of the crystallographic information files accompanying the [MCl2(diazadiene)] (M = Mo, W) published structures reveals that the metal atoms were inappropriately treated with partial site occupancy factors (0.775 for Mo; 0.4005 and 0.417 for W), the effect of which was to manifest lighter-element behavior and better refinement in accord with the metal atoms' correct identity. A deliberate synthesis and characterization by X-ray diffraction of [ZnCl2((Mes)dad(Me))] ((Mes)dad(Me) = 1,4-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene) are reported. Refinement of this structure with the same combination of second or third row metal and offsetting partial site occupancy is shown to provide final refinement statistics essentially the same as with the correct model employing M = Zn at site occupancy 1.00. Use of the published method for synthesis of [WCl2(diazadiene)] with (Mes)dad(Me) and [WBr4(MeCN)2] in lieu of [WCl4(MeCN)2] is shown to produce [ZnBr2((Mes)dad(Me))], which has also been characterized by X-ray diffraction. It is concluded that the unusual putative 12-electron [MCl2(diazadiene)] (M = Cr, Mo, W) complexes are in all cases the corresponding [ZnCl2(diazadiene)] complexes, Zn having been commonly employed as reducing agent in their synthesis.

Tris(2,2'-bi-1H-imidazole-κN,N)-nickel(II) dinitrate N,N-dimethyl-formamide monosolvate

The reaction of nickel salts and 4,4′-bipyridine with 2,2′-bi­imidazole (H₂biim) yielded the title complex, [Ni(C₆H₆N₄)₃](NO₃)₂·C₃H₇NO. The Ni^II atom is chelated by three H₂biim ligands in a distorted octa­hedral coordination geometry. The two nitrate anions and one dimethyl­formamide (DMF) mol­ecule are not coordinated. The compound has a three-dimensional structure, formed by extensive hydrogen bonding between [Ni(H₂biim)₃]²⁺ cations and nitrate anions, each nitrate anion forming hydrogen bonds with an R₁²(4) motif. The DMF molecule is disordered over three sets of sites, with occupancy ratios of 0.341 (16):0.350 (17):0.309 (19).

Bis(2,2'-bi-1H-imidazole-κN,N)bis-(dimethyl sulfoxide-κO)copper(II) bis-(tetra-fluoridoborate)

In the title copper(II) salt, [Cu(C(6)H(6)N(4))(2)(C(2)H(6)OS)(2)](BF(4))(2), the Jahn-Teller distorted octa-hedral coordination sphere of copper is formed from four 2,2'-bi-1H-imidazole N atoms and two dimethyl sulfoxide O atoms. The Cu atom lies on a center of inversion. N-H⋯O and N-H⋯F hydrogen bonds give rise to a one-dimensional structure. The BF(4) (-) anion is disordered over two sites in a 0.671 (10):0.329 (10) ratio.

Dichloridobis(phenanthridine-κN)zinc(II)

In the mol-ecule of the title compound, [ZnCl(2)(C(13)H(9)N)(2)], the Zn(II) atom is four-coordinated in a distorted tetra-hedral configuration by two N atoms from two phenanthridine ligands and by two terminal Cl atoms. The dihedral angle between the planes of the phenanthridine ring systems is 69.92 (3)°. An intra-molecular C-H⋯Cl inter-action results in the formation of a planar five-membered ring, which is oriented at a dihedral angle of 8.32 (3)° with respect to the adjacent phenanthridine ring system. In the crystal structure, π-π contacts between the phenanthridine systems [centroid-centroid distances = 3.839 (2), 3.617 (1) and 3.682 (1) Å] may stabilize the structure. Two weak C-H⋯π inter-actions are also found.

Dichlorido(6-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine-κN,N')zinc(II)

In the mol­ecule of the title compound, [ZnCl₂(C₁₁H₁₀N₂)], the Zn^II atom is four-coordinated in a distorted tetra­hedral configuration by two N atoms from the 6-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine ligand and by two Cl atoms. There are π–π contacts between the pyridine ring and the five-membered ring, and also between the pyridine rings, [centroid–centroid distances = 3.685 (3) and 3.757 (3) Å, respectively].

Dichlorido(5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine-κN,N')zinc(II)

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [ZnCl(2)(C(12)H(12)N(2))], contains two independent mol-ecules. The Zn(II) atoms are four-coordinated in distorted tetra-hedral configurations by two N atoms from 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine and two terminal Cl atoms. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular C-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules. There are C-H⋯π contacts between the methyl groups and the pyridine and five-membered rings containing Zn(II) atoms; π-π contacts also exist between the pyridine rings [centroid-centroid distances = 3.665 (5) and 3.674 (5) Å].

Synthesis, characterization, and crystal structures of novel oligomeric Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with N,N′-dimethyl-2,2′-biimidazole

Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with N,N′-dimethyl-2,2′-biimidazole (Me2biim) were synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy and by X-ray crystallographic methods. The reaction of zinc perchlorate with Me2biim produced the dinuclear compound [(Me2biim)Zn(µ-Me2biim)3Zn(Me2biim)](ClO4)4, containing two monodentate and three bridging Me2biim ligands bonded to Zn atoms in a distorted tetrahedral environment. A related neutral (NO3)2Cd(µ-Me2biim)3Cd(NO3)2 complex, containing only bridging Me2biim ligands, was also synthesized, in which the distorted octahedral coordination of each Cd atom is completed by one monodentate and one bidentate nitrato ligand. Two ionic trinuclear Cd compounds were also obtained, which include two sets of three bridging Me2biim ligands connecting a central Cd atom to two terminal Cd centers. An extra Me2biim ligand is chelated to each terminal metal, and the sixth coordination site is occupied by water molecules in the symmetric [(Me2biim)(H2O)Cd(µ-Me2biim)3Cd(µ-Me2biim)3Cd(H2O)(Me2biim)](ClO4)6 complex, whereas the aqua ligand is replaced by methanol at one of the terminal units in the non-symmetric [(Me2biim)(H2O)Cd(µ-Me2biim)3Cd(µ-Me2biim)3Cd(CH3OH)(Me2biim)](ClO4)6 compound. In the chelating ligands, dihedral angles of ~38° between the two imidazole rings reduce repulsion between the N-methyl groups, but considerable strain remains, as evidenced from one of the Cd–N bonds being much longer than the other. In the various compounds, dihedral angles of 60–80° are found between the imidazole rings in the bridging ligands, and intramolecular inter-ligand π–π stacking contributes to stabilization.Key words: zinc, cadmium, dimethylbiimidazole, crystal structure, dinuclear, trinuclear.