Complexes with 6-amino-5-nitroso-2-thiouracil and violuric acid derivatives containing the fac-ReI(CO)3 core: Synthesis, XRD structural and photoluminescence characterization

Small compound - big colors: synthesis and structural investigation of brightly colored alkaline earth metal 1,3-dimethylviolurates

A series of brightly colored alkaline earth metal 1,3-dimethylviolurates M(Me₂Vio)₂ have been prepared and fully characterized. The title compounds AE(Me₂Vio)₂·nH₂O (AE = Mg, n = 6 (3); AE = Ca, n = 8 (4), AE = Sr, n = 6 (5); AE = Ba, n = 4 (6)) were obtained by neutralizing 1,3-dimethylvioluric acid monohydrate (=H(Me₂Vio)·H₂O; 2) with 0.5 equiv. of the corresponding metal dihydroxides AE(OH)₂. The hair-like appearance of the Sr derivative 5 prevented the growth of single-crystals. This problem could be solved by crystallizing the crown ether derivative Sr(Me₂Vio)₂(18-crown-6) (5a). The isolated salts exhibit intense colors ranging from red to purple. Various attempts to prepare the beryllium derivative Be(Me₂Vio)₂ failed. Instead, work-up of the reaction mixtures provided pink crystals of a new modification of 2 formulated as [H₃O][Me₂Vio] (2b) as shown by an X-ray diffraction study. An unexpected oxidation reaction of the barium salt Ba(Me₂Vio)₂ led to formation of the novel mixed-anion salt Ba(Me₂Vio)(Me₂NO₂Barb)·2H₂O (8, Me₂NO₂Barb^- = 1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrobarbiturate anion). Compound 8 could also be synthesized deliberately by treatment of Ba(OH)₂ with a 1 : 1 mixture of 2 and 1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrobarbituric acid (7, =H(Me₂NO₂Barb)·H₂O). All new compounds were fully characterized by their IR, Raman, NMR (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}) and UV-vis spectra as well as elemental analyses. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the solid-state structures of compounds 3, 4, 5a and 6 are governed by the typical coordination behavior of the alkaline-earth metals, i.e. increasing coordination numbers and a decreasing degree of hydration when going from Mg to Ba. The dimensions of the structures range from hydrogen-bonded ions (3) over monomeric, neutral complex molecules (4, 5a), to polymeric networks (6). The successful isolation of the mixed-anion barium salt 8 adds a new facet to the coordination chemistry of violurate and related ligands.

Origin of chromic effects and crystal-to-crystal phase transition in the polymorphs of tyraminium violurate

Chromic materials are nowadays widely used in various technological applications, however understanding the effect and the possibility of tuning the obtained colour of a material are still challenging. Here a combined experimental and theoretical study is presented on the solvatochromic and crystallochromic effects in the (pseudo)polymorphs of tyraminium violurate. This organic material exhibits a large solvatochromic shift (ca 192 nm) associated with broad colour change (from yellow to dark violet). Tyraminum violurate crystallizes as red crystals of form (I) from water as a solvate, and as an unsolvated form [violet crystals of (II)] from methanol solution. Form (I), when heated, undergoes two crystal-to-crystal phase transformations associated with colour change of the crystals. Crystals of (II) show extreme birefringence (ca 0.46) and high refractive index (n γ above 1.90), which can be correlated with preferential orientation of the resultant dipole moments of the ions. Examination of optical effects (UV-Vis spectra) along with theoretical calculations (QTAIM, atomic and bond polarizabilities) enabled the description of the origin of colour in the studied materials.

Intermolecular Carbonyl···Carbonyl Interactions in Transition-Metal Complexes

We performed a comprehensive analysis of intermolecular carbonyl-carbonyl interactions in transition-metal complexes. Those interactions can be classified in two main types depending on the organometallic or organic nature of the donor carbonyl: M-CO···CO and R-CO···CO, respectively. By means of a combined structural and computational study we unraveled their geometrical features and strength. Moreover, electronic structure, natural bond orbitals, energy decomposition analysis, and quantum theory of atoms in molecules calculations were performed to try to understand their nature. Remarkably, we discovered that these carbonyl-carbonyl contacts have several features of the n → π* interaction. The charge transfer from an oxygen lone pair to an empty antibonding π orbital of the acceptor carbonyl is also accompanied by an electrostatic O^δ-···C^δ+ interaction. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of an intermolecular n → π* interaction in metal complexes. These results might be significant, for instance, for the catalytic activation of carbonyl-containing small molecules with metal compounds or in the design of hybrid organic-inorganic materials, metal-organic frameworks, and other extended structures.

Influence of Intramolecular Charge Transfer and Nuclear Quantum Effects on Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds in Azopyrimidines

Intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IMHBs) in 5-azopyrimidines are investigated by NMR spectroscopy and DFT computations that involve nuclear quantum effects. A series of substituted 5-phenylazopyrimidines with one or two hydrogen bond donors able to form IMHBs with the azo group is prepared by azo coupling. The barrier of interconversion between two rotamers of the compounds with two possible IMHBs is determined by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy and it is demonstrated that the barrier is significantly affected by intramolecular charge transfer. Through-hydrogen-bond scalar coupling is investigated in ¹⁵N labeled compounds and the stability of the IMHBs is correlated with experimental NMR parameters and rationalized by path integral molecular dynamics simulations that involve nuclear quantum effects. Detailed information on the hydrogen bond geometry upon hydrogen-to-deuterium isotope exchange is obtained from a comparison of experimental and calculated NMR data.

Self-assembly synthesis, structure, topology, and magnetic properties of a mononuclear Fe(iii)-violurate derivative: a combined experimental and theoretical study

New Fe(iii) complex features remarkable supramolecular assembly, antiferromagnetic exchange coupling, and ordering temperature.

Cadmium(ii) complexes containing N,N′-dimethylviolurate as ligand or counteranion: synthesis, characterization, crystal structures and DFT study

The synthesis and X-ray characterization of two N,N′-dimethylvioluric acid (1) derivatives of formula [Cd(DMV)₂(benzim)₂] (2) (benzim = benzimidazole) and [Cd(H₂O)₄(py)₂](DMV)₂ (3) (py = pyridine) are reported.

Structural and theoretical studies on rhodium and iridium complexes with 5-nitrosopyrimidines. Effects on the proteolytic regulatory enzymes of the renin-angiotensin system in human tumoral brain cells

The reactions of [RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2], [RhCl(CO)2]2 and [IrCl(CO)(PPh3)2] with different 5-nitrosopyrimidines afforded sixteen complexes which have been structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR ((1)H and (13)C) spectral methods and luminescence spectroscopy. The crystal and molecular structures of [Rh(III)Cl(VIOH-1)2(PPh3)], [Rh(III)Cl(DVIOH-1)2(PPh3)] and [Rh(II)(DVIOH-1)2(PPh3)2] have been established from single crystal x-ray structure analyses. The three complexes are six-coordinated with both violurato ligands into an equatorial N5,O4-bidentate fashion, but with different mutually arrangements. Theoretical studies were driven on the molecular structure of [Rh(III)Cl(VIOH-1)2(PPh3)] to assess the nature of the metal-ligand interaction as well as the foundations of the cis-trans (3L-2L) isomerism. An assortment of density functional (SOGGA11-X, B1LYP, B3LYP, B3LYP-D3 and wB97XD) has been used, all of them leading to a similar description of the target system. Thus, a topological analysis of the electronic density within AIM scheme and the study of the Mulliken charges yield a metal-ligand link of ionic character. Likewise, it has been proved that the cis-trans isomerism is mainly founded on that metal-ligand interaction with the relativistic effects playing a significant role. Although most of the compounds showed low direct toxicity against the human cell lines NB69 (neuroblastoma) and U373-MG (astroglioma), they differently modify in several ways the renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-regulating proteolytic regulatory enzymes aminopeptidase A (APA), aminopeptidase N (APN) and insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP). Therefore, these complexes could exert antitumor activity against both brain tumor types, acting through the paracrine regulating system mediated by tissue RAS rather than exerting a direct cytotoxic effect on tumor cells.