Alkali metal cation complexation and solvent interactions by robust chromium(III) fluoride complexes

Exploring transition metal fluoride chelates - synthesis, properties and prospects towards potential PET probes

The coordination chemistry of the first row transition metal trifluorides with terpy (2,2':6',2''-terpyridine) and Me3-tacn (1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) was explored to identify potential systems for 18F radiolabelling. The complexes [MF3(L)] (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co; L = Me3-tacn, terpy) were synthesised and fully characterised by UV-vis and IR spectroscopy, microanalysis, and, for the diamagnetic [CoF3(L)], using 1H, 19F{1H} and 59Co NMR spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray analyses are reported for [MF3(Me3-tacn)] (M = Mn, Co), [FeF3(terpy)] and [FeF3(BnMe2-tacn)]. Stability tests on [MF3(Me3-tacn)] (M = Cr, Mn, Fe) and [M'F3(terpy)] (M' = Cr, Fe) were performed and Cl/19F halide exchange reactions on [CrCl3(Me3-tacn)] using [Me4N]F in anhydrous MeCN solution, and [FeCl3(Me3-tacn)] using [Me4N]F in anhydrous MeCN or KF in aqueous MeCN solution were also carried out. Halide exchange reactions proved to be successful in forming [FeF3(Me3-tacn)] in aqueous MeCN solution within 30 minutes. Based upon the clean Cl/F exchange and the good stability observed for [FeF3(Me3-tacn)] in a range of competitive media, this was identified as a possible candidate for radiolabelling. 18F/19F isotopic exchange was achieved by addition of [18F]F- in the cyclotron target water to a MeCN solution of the benzyl-substituted analogue, [FeF3(BnMe2-tacn)], at a range of concentrations down to 24 nM with heating to 80 °C for 10 min.; the resulting [Fe18F19F2(BnMe2-tacn)] shows radiochemical purity (RCP) ≥90% after 2 h in a range of formulations, including 10% EtOH/phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and 10% EtOH/human serum albumin (HSA). This is the first reported complex with a transition metal directly bonded to [18F]F-.

Crystal structure of trans-di-fluoridotetra-kis(pyridine-κN)chromium(III) tri-chlorido-(pyridine-κN)zincate monohydrate from synchrotron data

The Cr^III atoms in the title compound show a distorted octa­hedral coordination with four pyridine N atoms in the equatorial plane and two F atoms in axial positions. The [ZnCl₃(C₅H₅N)]⁻ anion has a distorted tetra­hedral geometry.

In the asymmetric unit of the title compound, [CrF₂(C₅H₅N)₄][ZnCl₃(C₅H₅N)]·H₂O, there are two independent complex cations, one tri­chlorido­(pyridine-κN)zincate anion and one solvent water mol­ecule. The cations lie on inversion centers. The Cr^III ions are coordinated by four pyridine (py) N atoms in the equatorial plane and two F atoms in a trans axial arrangement, displaying a slightly distorted octa­hedral geometry. The Cr—N(py) bond lengths are in the range 2.0873 (14) to 2.0926 (17) Å while the Cr—F bond lengths are 1.8609 (10) and 1.8645 (10) Å. The [ZnCl₃(C₅H₅N)]⁻ anion has a distorted tetra­hedral geometry. The Cl atoms of the anion were refined as disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.631 (9):0.369 (9) ratio. In the crystal, two anions and two water mol­ecules are linked via O—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, forming centrosymmetric aggregates. In addition, weak C—H⋯Cl, C—H⋯π and π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.712 (2) and 3.780 (2)Å] link the components of the structure into a three-dimensional network.

The surprising lability of bis(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine)chromium(iii) complexes

The first heteroleptic chromium(iii) complexes with 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine ligands are reported; in basic aqueous conditions or in MeOH in the presence of F⁻ion, the complexes are unexpectedly labile.

cyclo-Tetra-μ-fluorido-1:2κF;2:3κF;3:4κF;1:4κF-octa-nitrato-1κO,O';3κO,O'-tetra-kis-(1,10-phenanthroline)-2κN,N';4κN,N'-2,4-dichromium(III)-1,3-dineodymium(III) methanol tetra-solvate monohydrate

In the title compound, [Cr(2)Nd(2)F(4)(NO(2))(8)(C(12)H(8)N(2))(4)]·4CH(3)OH·H(2)O, two cis-difluoridobis(1,10-phenanthroline)chromium(III) fragments containing octa-hedrally coordinated chromium(III) bridge via fluoride ions to two tetra-nitratoneodymate(III) fragments, forming an uncharged tetra-nuclear square-like core. The fluoride bridges are fairly linear, with Cr-F-Nd angles of 168.74 (8)°. Cr-F bond lengths are 1.8815 (15) Å, slightly elongated compared to those of the parent chromium(III) complex, which has bond lengths ranging from 1.8444 (10) to 1.8621 (10) Å. The tetra-nuclear complex is centered at a fourfold rotoinversion axis, with the Cr and Nd atoms situated on two perpendicular twofold rotation axes. The uncoordinated water mol-ecule resides on a fourfold rotation axis. The four methanol solvent mol-ecules are located around this axis, forming a cyclic hydrogen-bonded arrangement. The title compound is the first structurally characterized example of unsupported fluoride bridges between lanthanide and transition metal ions.