From mono- to poly-nuclear heteroleptic alkaline earth-titanium complexes containing 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionate (thd) and pyrazole (Hpz) or 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (Hpz*) ligands

Lanthanoid complexes supported by retro-Claisen condensation products of β-triketonates

β-Triketonates have been recently used as chelating ligands for lanthanoid ions, presenting unique structures varying from polynuclear assemblies to polymers. In an effort to overcome low solubility of the complexes of tribenzoylmethane, four β-triketones with higher lipophilicity were synthesised. Complexation reactions were performed for each of these molecules using different alkaline bases in alcoholic media. X-ray diffraction studies suggested that the ligands were undergoing decomposition under the reaction conditions. This is proposed to be caused by in situ retro-Claisen condensation reactions, consistent with two examples that have been reported previously. The lability of the lanthanoid cations in the presence of a varying set of potential ligands gave rise to structures where one, two, or three of the molecules involved in the retro-Claisen condensation reaction were linked to the lanthanoid centres. These results, along with measurements of ligand decomposition in the presence of base alone, suggest the solvent used will modulate the impact of the retro-Claisen condensation in these complexes.

The Imidazole Role in Strontium β-Diketonate Complexes Formation

A selection of new strontium beta-diketonate derivatives (imH2)2[Sr2(beta-dike)6] [where imH = imidazole and beta-dike = tfac (tfacH = 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione), tfbz (tfbzH = 1,1,1-trifluoro-4-phenyl-2,4-butanedione), or hfac (hfacH = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione)], [Sr2(tfac)4(Meim)2(H2O)2], (MeimH)2[Sr(beta-dike)4] (where Meim = 1-methylimidazole and beta-dike = tfbz or hfac), [Sr2(thd)4(imH)2(EtOH)], and [Sr2(thd)4(Meim)2(EtOH)] (where thdH = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione) have been synthesized and fully characterized. (imH2)2[Sr2(beta-dike)6] and (MeimH)2[Sr(beta-dike)4] are di- and mononuclear Sr anionic complexes, respectively, while [Sr2(tfac)4(Meim)2(H2O)2], [Sr2(thd)4(imH)2(EtOH)], and [Sr2(thd)4(Meim)2(EtOH)] are neutral dinuclear molecular derivatives. The derivative (imH2)2[Sr2(hfac)6] slowly decomposes in solution under aerobic conditions, giving (imH2)2[Sr(H2O)2(tfa)3](tfa) (tfaH = trifluoroacetic acid), which is an ionic compound containing polynuclear anionic chains composed of Sr(H2O)2(tfa)3 units. When a deficiency of imH is employed, the thdH proligand forms not only the dinuclear derivative [Sr2(thd)4(imH)2(EtOH)] but also an additional product with the formula [Sr(thd)2(H2O)2(EtOH)], in which the Sr atom is seven-coordinated. A complete solid-state characterization has been accomplished by comparing X-ray and solid-state 13C NMR data. Elucidation of the H-bond interaction between the heterocyclic rings and metal complexes by cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning 15N NMR is also reported.