Charge and Spin States in Schiff Base Metal Complexes with a Disiloxane Unit Exhibiting a Strong Noninnocent Ligand Character: Synthesis, Structure, Spectroelectrochemistry, and Theoretical Calculations

Chemical and Redox Noninnocence of Pentane-2,4-dione Bis(S-methylisothiosemicarbazone) in Cobalt Complexes and Their Application in Wacker-Type Oxidation

Cobalt complexes with multiproton- and multielectron-responsive ligands are of interest for challenging catalytic transformations. The chemical and redox noninnocence of pentane-2,4-dione bis(S-methylisothiosemicarbazone) (PBIT) in a series of cobalt complexes has been studied by a range of methods, including spectroscopy [UV-vis, NMR, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)], cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Two complexes [CoIII(H2LSMe)I]I and [CoIII(LSMe)I2] were found to act as precatalysts in a Wacker-type oxidation of olefins using phenylsilane, the role of which was elucidated through isotopic labeling. Insights into the mechanism of the catalytic transformation as well as the substrate scope of this selective reaction are described, and the essential role of phenylsilane and the noninnocence of PBIT are disclosed. Among the several relevant species characterized was an unprecedented Co(III) complex with a dianionic diradical PBIT ligand ([CoIII(LSMe••)I]).

To Bond or Not to Bond: Metal-Metal Interaction in Heterobimetallic Rare-Earth Metal-Silver Complexes

The reaction of 2,4-tBu2-6-(PPh2)PhOH (HOArP) with silver(I) triflate in a 3:1 molar ratio gave the mononuclear coinage metal complex (HOArP-κP)3AgIOTf (1). Treatment of HOArP with LnIII[N(SiMe3)2]3 (Ln = La, Sm, Y, Yb) in a 3:1 molar ratio yielded the mononuclear rare-earth metal complexes LnIII(OArP-κ2O,P)3 (2-Ln). The heterobimetallic rare-earth metal-silver complexes LnIII(OTf)(μ-OArP-1κ1O,2κ1P)3AgI (3-Ln) were prepared from monometallic precursors by reactions of equimolar amounts of 1 with LnIII[N(SiMe3)2]3 or 2-Ln with silver(I) triflate, respectively. The compounds were characterized by NMR, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and the effective magnetic moments of the paramagnetic complexes were determined via the Evans NMR method. Computational studies were conducted on 3-La and 3-Y.

Dual crystalline-amorphous salen-metal complexes behave like nematic droplets with AIEgens vistas

A series of metal salen complexes, original in view of the presence in their structure of a highly flexible and hydrophobic spacer, were prepared on the basis of the reaction of 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane with 3,5-dichloro-, 3,5-dibromo- and 3-hydroxy-salicylaldehyde and various metal ions (Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺). The isolated products were completely characterized from the structural point of view by FTIR, NMR, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction, and further investigated from the perspective of the behavior induced mainly by the structural peculiarities. Emphasis is placed on self-assembly properties, both in bulk and in solution, depending on temperature, solvent nature and concentration, including thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals (LC). LCs that appear in the form of nematic toroidal droplets have been fully demonstrated by polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and fluorescence anisotropy studies. The fluorescence analysis results revealed the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) phenomenon, where the emission occurs only for liquid crystals, with a few exceptions. Because these complexes can exist in both amorphous and crystalline states, it raised the question of how properties, such as electrical, change when switching from one state to another. These were well highlighted by DSC, BDS, PXRD, FTIR and fluorescence anisotropy.

A Theoretical Assessment of Spin and Charge States in Binuclear Cobalt-Ruthenium Complexes: Implications for a Creutz-Taube Model Ion Separated by a C60-Derivative Bridging Ligand

We investigate the spin-state energetics and the role of ionic charges in the electronic configuration of binuclear complexes of the form [(NH₃)₅Co(py)-X-(py)Ru(NH₃)₅]^q+. In these compounds with q = 4-6, py = pyridine, and X = C≡C and C₆₀, the Co-Ru distance varies from ∼1.4 to ∼2.1 nm. We carry out a systematic electronic structure calculation using different exchange-correlation (xc) approaches within spin-density functional theory, which are largely employed to investigate the properties of a variety of coordination complexes. To evaluate the effects of spin states and type of spacer in the bridging ligand on the valence tautomerism between Co^2+/3+ and Ru^2+/3+, we examine in more detail the case of Creutz-Taube-type ions [(NH₃)₅Co(py)-X-(py)Ru(NH₃)₅]⁵⁺. Our analysis shows that the stabilization of low- and high-spin states critically depends on the total charge of the complex, type of X-bridged ligand, and employed xc approach to calculate the electron spin density. Importantly, the C₆₀-bridged group may result in a blockage of the valence tautomerism of the Creutz-Taube complex, inducing bistable charge configurations. Overall, our results also show that an adiabatic description in terms of the frontier molecular spin-orbitals for analyzing the distinct spin-charge states of these complexes may dramatically depend on the density-functional description.

Magnetic Properties and Electronic Structure of the S = 2 Complex [MnIII{(OPPh2)2N}3] Showing Field-Induced Slow Magnetization Relaxation

The high-spin S = 2 Mn(III) complex [Mn{(OPPh₂)₂N}₃] (1_Mn) exhibits field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization (Inorg. Chem. 2013, 52, 12869). Magnetic susceptibility and dual-mode X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies revealed a negative value of the zero-field-splitting (zfs) parameter D. In order to explore the magnetic and electronic properties of 1_Mn in detail, a combination of experimental and computational studies is presented herein. Alternating-current magnetometry on magnetically diluted samples (1_Mn/1_Ga) of 1_Mn in the diamagnetic gallium analogue, [Ga{(OPPh₂)₂N}₃], indicates that the slow relaxation behavior of 1_Mn is due to the intrinsic properties of the individual molecules of 1_Mn. Investigation of the single-crystal magnetization of both 1_Mn and 1_Mn/1_Ga by a micro-SQUID device reveals hysteresis loops below 1 K. Closed hysteresis loops at a zero direct-current magnetic field are observed and attributed to fast quantum tunneling of magnetization. High-frequency and -field EPR (HFEPR) spectroscopic studies reveal that, apart from the second-order zfs terms (D and E), fourth-order terms (B₄^m) are required in order to appropriately describe the magnetic properties of 1_Mn. These studies provide accurate spin-Hamiltonian (sH) parameters of 1_Mn, i.e., zfs parameters |D| = 3.917(5) cm^-1, |E| = 0.018(4) cm^-1, B⁰₄ = B₄² = 0, and B₄⁴ = (3.6 ± 1.7) × 10^-3 cm^-1 and g = [1.994(5), 1.996(4), 1.985(4)], and confirm the negative sign of D. Parallel-mode X-band EPR studies on 1_Mn/1_Ga and CH₂Cl₂ solutions of 1_Mn probe the electronic-nuclear hyperfine interactions in the solid state and solution. The electronic structure of 1_Mn is investigated by quantum-chemical calculations by employing recently developed computational protocols that are grounded on ab initio wave function theory. From computational analysis, the contributions of spin-spin and spin-orbit coupling to the magnitude of D are obtained. The calculations provide also computed values of the fourth-order zfs terms B₄^m, as well as those of the g and hyperfine interaction tensor components. In all cases, a very good agreement between the computed and experimentally determined sH parameters is observed. The magnetization relaxation properties of 1_Mn are rationalized on the basis of the composition of the ground-state wave functions in the absence or presence of an external magnetic field.

Structural, kinetics and mechanistic studies of transfer hydrogenation of ketones catalyzed by chiral (pyridyl)imine nickel(ii) complexes

The chiral synthons (S-)-1-phenyl-N-(pyridine-2-yl)ethylidine)ethanamine (L1), (R-)-1phenyl-N-(pyridine-2-yl)ethylidine))ethanamine (L2) (S)-1-phenyl-N-(pyridine-2-yl methylene) ethanamine (L3), and (R)-1-phenyl-N-(pyridine-2-yl methylene) ethanamine (L4) were synthesized in good yields. Treatments of L1-L4 with NiBr₂(DME) and NiCl₂ precursor afforded dinuclear complexes [Ni₂(L1)₄-μ-Br₂]NiBr₄ (Ni1), [Ni₂(L2)₄-μ-Br₂]NiBr₄ (Ni2), [Ni₂(L3)₄-μBr₂]Br₂ (Ni3), [Ni₂(L4)₄-μ-Br₂]NiBr₄ (Ni4) and [Ni(L4)₂Cl₂] (Ni5). The identities of the compounds were established using NMR, FT-IR and EPR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, magnetic moments, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The dinuclear dibromide nickel complexes dissociate into mononuclear species in the presence of strongly coordinating solvents. Compounds Ni1-Ni5 displayed moderate catalytic activities in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of ketones, but with low enantiomeric excess (ee%). Both mercury and substoichiometric poisoning tests pointed to the homogeneous nature of the active species with the partial formation of catalytically active Ni(0) nanoparticles. Low resolution mass spectrometry analyses of the intermediates supported a dihydride mechanistic pathway for the transfer of hydrogenation reactions.

Nickel(II) Complexes with Redox Noninnocent Octaazamacrocycles as Catalysts in Oxidation Reactions

Nickel(II) complexes with 15-membered (1-5) and 14-membered (6) octaazamacrocyclic ligands derived from 1,2- and 1,3-diketones and S-methylisothiocarbohydrazide were prepared by template synthesis. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, IR, UV-vis, ¹H NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction. The complexes contain a low-spin nickel(II) ion in a square-planar coordination environment. The electrochemical behavior of 1-6 was investigated in detail, and the electronic structure of 1e-oxidized and 1e-reduced species was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance, UV-vis-near-IR spectroelectrochemistry, and density functional theory calculations indicating redox noninnocent behavior of the ligands. Compounds 1-6 were tested in the microwave-assisted solvent-free oxidation of cyclohexane by tert-butyl hydroperoxide to produce the industrially significant mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone (i.e., A/K oil). The results showed that the catalytic activity was affected by several factors, namely, reaction time and temperature or amount and type of catalyst. The best values for A/K oil yield (23%, turnover number of 1.1 × 10²) were obtained with compound 6 after 2 h of microwave irradiation at 100 °C.

Dinuclear manganese(iii) complexes with bioinspired coordination and variable linkers showing weak exchange effects: a synthetic, structural, spectroscopic and computation study

High-resolution HFEPR indicates weak exchange interactions between Mn^III ions in agreement with DFT calculations.

A novel jointly colorimetric and fluorescent sensor for Cu2+ recognition and its complex for sensing S2- by a Cu2+ displacement approach in aqueous media

In this work, a simple and easily synthesized Schiff-based derivative colorimetric and fluorescent sensor (1), 4-dimethylamino-benzoic acid (2-imidazole formaldehyde)-hydrazide, was obtained for the detection of Cu²⁺ and S^2-. The compound 1 exhibited dual spectral responses to Cu²⁺, that is, vivid color change and fluorescence enhancement in the presence of Cu²⁺. The detection limits were valued as 0.46 μM and 15 nM according to absorption and fluorescent response, respectively. Both of them are below the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water (31.5 μM). In addition, the ensemble (1-Cu²⁺) selectively and sensitively detected a low concentration of S^2-. As the addition of S^2- instantly removed Cu²⁺ from the ensemble (1-Cu²⁺) resulting in a color change from yellow to colorless and a "turn-off" fluorescent response. The detection limit for S^2- was estimated as 0.12 μM (from fluorescent method) and 0.68 μM (from absorption method), respectively, each of which was also lower than the maximum allowable level of S^2- (15 μM) in drinking water defined by the WHO. The binding process was confirmed via UV-vis absorption, fluorescence measurements, ¹H NMR, mass spectroscopy and density functional theory calculation. What's more, successful practical application of test paper is used to inspect the S^2- which means the convenient and rapid assay in real samples can be achieved.

Modulating the DNA cleavage ability of copper(ii) Schiff bases through ternary complex formation

Copper(ii) Schiff-bases were electrochemically synthesized and characterized. The presence of co-ligands such as 2,2′-bpy or phen in the metal coordination environment increases the DNA cleavage efficiency.

An iron(iii)-centred ferric wheel Fe⊂{Fe6} with a siloxane-based bis-salicylidene Schiff base

A new iron(iii)-centred ferric wheel Fe⊂{Fe₆} of the formula [Fe₇(H₂L)₆(NCS)₆](ClO₄)₃·10H₂O, where H₄L = N,N'-bis(3-carboxylsalicylidene)-1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane, was synthesised and fully characterised. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra indicate the presence of high spin (S = 5/2) Fe³⁺ cations adopting a slightly different coordination environment in agreement with the X-ray diffraction structure. There are competing antiferromagnetic exchange interactions along the rim (J₁ = -1.00 cm^-1) and the radius (J₂ = -1.46 cm^-1) of the wheel.

A five-coordinate manganese(iii) complex of a salen type ligand with a positive axial anisotropy parameter D

Quantum chemical calculations reproduced well the electronic absorption spectrum and spin Hamiltonian parameters for MnL(NCS).

Heterodinuclear Ni(ii) and Cu(ii) Schiff base complexes and their activity in oxygen reduction

New hetero- and homo-dinuclear Cu/Ni complexes electropolymerise potentiodynamically on glassy carbon electrodes and the polymers reduce dioxygen in water.