Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Studies of Unsymmetrical Chiral NCC Pincer Pd(II) and Ni(II) Complexes Bearing (Imidazolinyl)aryl NHC Ligands

The Novel Function of Unsymmetrical Chiral CCN Pincer Nickel Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Agents Targeting Prostate Cancer Cells

We report that the pincer nickel complexes display prostate cancer antitumor properties through inhibition of cell proliferation. Notably, they display better antitumor properties than cisplatin. Mechanistic studies reveal that these pincer nickel complexes trigger cell apoptosis, most likely due to cell cycle arrest. Interestingly, these complexes also inhibit androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) signaling, which are critical for prostate cancer survival and progression. Our study reveals a novel function of pincer nickel complexes as potential therapeutic drugs in prostate cancer.

Azolium Control of the Osmium-Promoted Aromatic C-H Bond Activation in 1,3-Disubstituted Substrates

The hexahydride complex OsH₆(PⁱPr₃)₂ promotes the C-H bond activation of the 1,3-disubstituted phenyl group of the [BF₄]^- and [BPh₄]^- salts of the cations 1-(3-(isoquinolin-1-yl)phenyl)-3-methylimidazolium and 1-(3-(isoquinolin-1-yl)phenyl)-3-methylbenzimidazolium. The reactions selectively afford neutral and cationic trihydride-osmium(IV) derivatives bearing κ²-C,N- or κ²-C,C-chelating ligands, a cationic dihydride-osmium(IV) complex stabilized by a κ³-C,C,N-pincer group, and a bimetallic hexahydride formed by two trihydride-osmium(IV) fragments. The metal centers of the hexahydride are separated by a bridging ligand, composed of κ²-C,N- and κ²-C,C-chelating moieties, which allows electronic communication between the metal centers. The wide variety of obtained compounds and the high selectivity observed in their formation is a consequence of the main role of the azolium group during the activation and of the existence of significant differences in behavior between the azolium groups. The azolium role is governed by the anion of the salt, whereas the azolium behavior depends upon its imidazolium or benzimidazolium nature. While [BF₄]^- inhibits the azolium reactions, [BPh₄]^- favors the azolium participation in the activation process. In contrast to benzimidazolylidene, the imidazolylidene resulting from the deprotonation of the imidazolium substituent coordinates in an abnormal fashion to direct the phenyl C-H bond activation to the 2-position. The hydride ligands of the cationic dihydride-osmium(IV) pincer complex display intense quantum mechanical exchange coupling. Furthermore, this salt is a red phosphorescent emitter upon photoexcitation and displays a noticeable catalytic activity for the dehydrogenation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone and of 1,2-phenylenedimethanol to 1-isobenzofuranone. The bimetallic hexahydride shows catalytic synergism between the metals, in the dehydrogenation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and alcohols.

Recent Advances in Chemistry of Unsymmetrical Phosphorus-Based Pincer Nickel Complexes: From Design to Catalytic Applications

Pincer complexes play an important role in organometallic chemistry; in particular, their use as homogeneous catalysts for organic transformations has increased dramatically in recent years. The high catalytic activity of such bis-cyclometallic complexes is associated with the easy tunability of their properties. Moreover, the phosphorus-based unsymmetrical pincers showed higher catalytic activity than the corresponding symmetrical analogues in several catalytic reactions. However, in modern literature, an increasing interest in the development of catalysts based on non-precious metals is observed. For example, nickel, which is an affordable and sustainable analogue of platinum and palladium, known for its low toxicity, has attracted increasing attention in the catalytic chemistry of transition metals in recent years. Thus, this mini-review is devoted to the recent advances in the chemistry of unsymmetrical phosphorus-based pincer nickel complexes, including the ligand design, the synthesis of nickel complexes and their catalytic applications.

Synthesis and application in asymmetric catalysis of P-stereogenic pincer–metal complexes

P-stereogenic pincer: synthesis and application in asymmetric catalysis.

Ditopic Chiral Pineno-Fused 2,2':6',2″-Terpyridine: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and Optical Properties

The syntheses of 4'-substituted chiral 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (tpy) ligands with predetermined configurations and directionalities are rather limited in the supramolecular chemistry field. In this study, a carbazole-linked ditopic chiral ligand L was synthesized using 4'-bromo-substituted pineno-fused tpy 5 as the precursor. Upon complexation with Cd(NO₃)₂·4H₂O and Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O, two enantiomerically pure metallosupramolecules, [Cd₃L₃] and [Zn₄L₄], have been self-assembled and characterized by NMR, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, traveling wave ion mobility-mass spectrometry, and DOSY analysis. In addition, their optical properties are characterized by UV-vis, fluorescence, circular dichroism, and circularly polarized luminescence, suggesting an efficiency transmission and amplification of chirality from the ligand to metal center via self-assembly.

Chiral palladium pincer complexes for asymmetric catalytic reactions

Palladium pincer complexes, containing a monoanionic terdentate ligand composed of an anionic aryl carbon atom and two mutually compatible donor sites, have aroused considerable interest since their first reports in the late 1970s. The high stability of the Pd pincer complexes and particularly their high modularity make these species ideal candidates for catalysis. Furthermore, the nature of the meridional coordination of the pincer ligands, and along with this their ability to enforce a stereo-specific environment around the Pd center, provide a good opportunity for developing chiral Pd pincer catalysts. Thus, a broad variety of chiral Pd pincer complexes have been prepared by the introduction of various stereochemical centers in the pincer skeletons. These chiral Pd pincer complexes have been successfully applied to many asymmetric catalytic reactions such as hydrophosphination reactions, allylation of aldehydes and imines, Michael and aldol reactions, Suzuki-Miyaura reactions as well as reactions of nitrile compounds with imines. This review focuses on the synthetic methods and the applications of chiral Pd pincer complexes in asymmetric catalysis.

A noncovalent interaction insight onto the concerted metallation deprotonation mechanism

The CMD/AMLA mechanisms of cyclopalladation and the parent fictitious cyclonickelation of N,N-dimethylbenzylamine have been investigated by joint DFT-D and DLPNO-CCSD(T) methods assisted by QTAIM.