Assembly of a mononuclear ferrous site using a bulky aldehyde-imidazole ligand

A New Tetradentate Mixed Aza-Thioether Macrocycle and Its Complexation Behavior towards Fe(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) Ions

A new tetradentate mixed aza-thioether macrocyclic ligand 2,6-dithia[7](2,9)-1,10-phenanthrolinophane ([13]ane(phenN₂)S₂) was successfully synthesized. Reacting metal precursors [Fe(CH₃CN)₂(OTf)₂], Ni(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O, and Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O with one equivalent of [13]ane(phenN₂)S₂ afforded [Fe([13]ane(phenN₂)S₂)(OTf)₂] (1), [Ni([13]ane(phenN₂)S₂)](ClO₄)₂ (2(ClO₄)₂), and [Cu([13]ane(phenN₂)S₂)(OH₂)](ClO₄)₂ (3(ClO₄)₂), respectively. The structures of [13]ane(phenN₂)S₂ and all of its metal complexes were investigated by X-ray crystallography. The [13]ane(phenN₂)S₂ was found to behave as a tetradentate ligand via its donor atoms N and S.

Generation and Stability of the gem-Diol Forms in Imidazole Derivatives Containing Carbonyl Groups. Solid-State NMR and Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Studies

The stability of gem-diol forms in imidazolecarboxaldehyde isomers was studied by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ss-NMR) combined with single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. These methodologies also allowed determining the factors governing the occurrence of such rare functionalization in carbonyl moieties. Results indicated that the position of the carbonyl group is the main factor that governs the generation of geminal diols, having a clear and direct effect on hydration, since, under the same experimental conditions, only 36% of 5-imidazolecarboxaldehydes and 5% of 4-imidazolecarboxaldehydes were hydrated, as compared to 2-imidazolecarboxaldehydes, with which a 100% hydration was achieved. Not only did trifluoroacetic acid favor the addition of water to the carbonyl group but also it allowed obtaining single crystals. Single crystals of the gem-diol and the hemiacetal forms 2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde and N-methyl-2-imidazolecarboxaldehyde, respectively, were isolated and studied through ¹H ss-NMR. Mass spectrometry and solution-state NMR experiments were also performed to study the hydration process.