1,4,7-Trithiacyclononane, a novel tridentate thioether ligand, and the structure of its nickel(II), cobalt(II), and copper(II) complexes

Ligand field design enables quantum manipulation of spins in Ni2+ complexes

Creating the next generation of quantum systems requires control and tunability, which are key features of molecules. To design these systems, one must consider the ground-state and excited-state manifolds. One class of systems with promise for quantum sensing applications, which require water solubility, are d8 Ni2+ ions in octahedral symmetry. Yet, most Ni2+ complexes feature large zero-field splitting, precluding manipulation by commercial microwave sources due to the relatively large spin-orbit coupling constant of Ni2+ (630 cm-1). Since low lying excited states also influence axial zero-field splitting, D, a combination of strong field ligands and rigidly held octahedral symmetry can ameliorate these challenges. Towards these ends, we performed a theoretical and computational analysis of the electronic and magnetic structure of a molecular qubit, focusing on the impact of ligand field strength on D. Based on those results, we synthesized 1, [Ni(ttcn)2](BF4)2 (ttcn = 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane), which we computationally predict will have a small D (Dcalc = +1.15 cm-1). High-field high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data yield spin Hamiltonian parameters: gx = 2.1018(15), gx = 2.1079(15), gx = 2.0964(14), D = +0.555(8) cm-1 and E = +0.072(5) cm-1, which confirm the expected weak zero-field splitting. Dilution of 1 in the diamagnetic Zn analogue, [Ni0.01Zn0.99(ttcn)2](BF4)2 (1') led to a slight increase in D to ∼0.9 cm-1. The design criteria in minimizing D in 1via combined computational and experimental methods demonstrates a path forward for EPR and optical addressability of a general class of S = 1 spins.

Molecular Switch Cobalt Redox Shuttle with a Tunable Hexadentate Ligand

Strong-field hexadentate ligands were synthesized and coordinated to cobalt metal centers to result in three new low-spin to low-spin Co(III/II) redox couples. The ligand backbone has been modified with dimethyl amine groups to result in redox potential tuning of the Co(III/II) redox couples from -200 to -430 mV versus Fc^+/0. The redox couples surprisingly undergo a reversible molecular switch rearrangement from five-coordinate Co(II) to six-coordinate Co(III) despite the ligands being hexadentate. The complexes exhibit modestly faster electron self-exchange rate constants of 2.2-4.2 M^-1 s^-1 compared to the high-spin to low-spin redox couple [Co(bpy)₃]^3+/2+ at 0.27 M^-1 s^-1, which is attributed to the change in spin state being somewhat offset by this coordination switching behavior. The complexes were utilized as redox shuttles in dye-sensitized solar cells with the near-IR AP25 + D35 dye system and exhibited improved photocurrents over the [Co(bpy)₃]^3+/2+ redox shuttle (19.8 vs 18.0 mA/cm²). Future directions point toward pairing the low-spin to low-spin Co(II/III) tunable series to dyes with significantly more negative highest occupied molecular orbital potentials that absorb into the near-IR where outer sphere redox shuttles have failed to produce efficient dye regeneration.

Structures, properties and applications of Cu(II) complexes with tridentate donor ligands

Tridentate ligands offer theree donor atoms to coordinate to metal ions. The remaining vacant coordination sites on the metal ions provided opportunities to implement additional co-ligands to generate complexes with desired properties. Herein we discuss selected examples of Cu(ii) complexes with tridentate ligands utilizing combinations of N, O, S, and Se donors, focusing on effects of ligand flexibility/rigidity on their coordination modes, properties and applications.

Synthesis, crystallographic, spectroscopic studies and biological activity of new cobalt(II) complexes with bioactive mixed sulindac and nitrogen-donor ligands

Four novel complexes [Co(H2O)4(sul)2] 1, [Co(2-ampy)2(sul)2] 2, [Co(H2O)2(1,10-phen) (sul)2] 3 and [Co(2,9-dimephen)(sul)2] 4 (sul = sulindac, 2-ampy = 2-amino pyridine, 1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,9-dimeph = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) were prepared and characterized by IR, UV-Visible spectroscopy and magnetic properties. The crystal structures of complexes 1 and 4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In-vitro anti-bacterial activity for the prepared complexes against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Bordetella, Escherichia coli) bacteria and Yeast species (Saccharomyces and Candida) were performed using agar well-diffusion method. Only complex 4 showed reasonable activity against yeast. All compounds showed more anti-bacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative. Graphical abstract This work reports synthesis, crystallographic, spectroscopic studies and biological activity of new cobalt(II) complexes with bioactive mixed sulindac and nitrogen-donor ligands. The crystal structures of complexes 1 and 4 were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In-vitro anti-bacterial activity of the prepared complexes and their parent ligands were investigated against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using agar diffusion method.

A density functional theory protocol for the calculation of redox potentials of copper complexes

The calculated redox potentials of copper complexes agree nicely with their corresponding experimental redox potentials.

Dicoumarol complexes of Cu(II) based on 1,10-phenanthroline: synthesis, X-ray diffraction studies, thermal behavior and biological evaluation

A series of Cu(II) complexes containing dicoumarol derivatives and 1, 10-phenanthroline have been synthesized. Structural and spectroscopic properties of ligands were studied on the basis of mass spectra, NMR ((1)H and (13)C) spectra, FT-IR spectrophotometry and elemental analysis, while physico-chemical, spectroscopic and thermal properties of mixed ligand complexes have been studied on the basis of infrared spectra, mass spectra, electronic spectra, powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction study suggested the suitable octahedral geometry for hexa-coordinated state. The kinetic parameters such as order of reaction (n), energy of activation (Ea), entropy (S(*)), pre-exponential factor (A), enthalpy (H(*)) and Gibbs free energy (G(*)) have been calculated using Freeman-Carroll method. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of all complexes were measured. All the compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes and Bacillus subtilis, while antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger have been carried out. Also compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis shows clear enhancement in the anti-tubercular activity upon copper complexation.

Fast Low-Spin Cobalt Complex Redox Shuttles for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

A low-spin cobalt(II) complex, cobalt bis(trithiacyclononane), [Co(ttcn)2](3+/2+), was investigated for use as a redox shuttle in dye-sensitized solar cells, DSSCs. This unique cobalt complex redox shuttle is stable, transparent, and easy to synthesize from commercial ligands and has attractive energetic and kinetic features for use in DSSCs. Initial results indicate that the overall performance is limited by recombination. Variation of the sensitizer and deposition of an ultrathin coating of alumina on nanoparticle-based TiO2 DSSC photoanodes reduced recombination, which resulted in significantly improved quantum yields. The photovoltaic behavior was compared to the current record efficiency cobalt tris-bipyridine, [Co(bpy)3](3+/2+), redox shuttle and produced similar results. Further use of high extinction organic sensitizers with only ∼200 mV of driving force for regeneration was examined, which produced efficiencies of over 2%; importantly, regeneration is not rate-limiting in this system, thus demonstrating the promise of using such fast redox shuttles.

Multiple heating rate kinetic parameters, thermal, X-ray diffraction studies of newly synthesized octahedral copper complexes based on bromo-coumarins along with their antioxidant, anti-tubercular and antimicrobial activity evaluation

Series of new Cu(II) complexes were synthesized by classical thermal technique. The biologically potent ligands (L) were prepared by refluxing 6-brom 3-acetyl coumarin with aldehydes in the presence of piperidine in ethanol. The Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized by mixing an aqueous solution of Cu(NO(3))(2) in 1:1 molar ratios with ethanolic bidentate ligands and Clioquinol. The structures of the ligands and their copper complexes were investigated and confirmed by the elemental analysis, FT-IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, mass spectral and powder X-ray diffraction studies respectively. Thermal behaviour of newly synthesized mixed ligand Cu(II) complexes were investigated by means of thermogravimetry, differential thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, electronic spectra and magnetic measurements. Dynamic scan of DSC experiments for Cu(II) complexes were taken at different heating rates (2.5-20 °C min(-1)). Kinetic parameters for second step degradation of all complexes obtained by Kissinger's and Ozawa's methods were in good agreement. On the basis of these studies it is clear that ligands coordinated to metal atom in a monobasic bidentate mode, by OO and ON donor system. Thus, suitable octahedral geometry for hexa-coordinated state has been suggested for the metal complexes. Both the ligands as well as its complexes have been screened for their in vitro antioxidant, anti-tubercular and antimicrobial activities. All were found to be significant potent compared to parent ligands employed for complexation.

Bis(1,4,7-trithia-cyclo-nona-ne)nickel(II) bis-(tetra-fluorido-borate) nitro-methane disolvate

The homoleptic thio­ether title complex, [Ni(C₆H₁₂S₃)₂](BF₄)₂·2CH₃NO₂, shows the expeced hexa­kis­(thio­ether) octa­hedral environment around the Ni^II atom. It crystallized as two crystallographically independent complex cations, [Ni(9S3)₂]²⁺ (9S3 = 1,4,7-trithia­cyclo­nona­ne), within the unit cell where each Ni^II lies on an inversion center. In addition to the complex cations, there are two crystallographically independent BF₄⁻ anions present to balance the charge, and each shows disorder along a pseudo-C₃ axis with ratios of 0.53 (2):0.47 (2) and 0.55 (2):0.45 (2). Two nitro­methane solvent mol­ecules per complex cation are also present in the unit cell.

Measurement of the Dependence of Interfacial Charge-Transfer Rate Constants on the Reorganization Energy of Redox Species at n-ZnO/H2O Interfaces

The interfacial energetic and kinetics behavior of n-ZnO/H2O contacts have been determined for a series of compounds, cobalt trisbipyridine (Co(bpy)3(3+/2+)), ruthenium pentaamine pyridine (Ru(NH3)5 py(3+/2+)), cobalt bis-1,4,7-trithiacyclononane (Co(TTCN)2(3+/2+)), and osmium bis-dimethyl bipyridine bis-imidazole (Os(Me2bpy)2(Im)2(3+/2+)), which have similar formal reduction potentials yet which have reorganization energies that span approximately 1 eV. Differential capacitance vs potential and current density vs potential measurements were used to measure the interfacial electron-transfer rate constants for this series of one-electron outer-sphere redox couples. Each interface displayed a first-order dependence on the concentration of redox acceptor species and a first-order dependence on the concentration of electrons in the conduction band at the semiconductor surface, in accord with expectations for the ideal model of a semiconductor/liquid contact. Rate constants varied from 1 x 10(-19) to 6 x 10(-17) cm4 s(-1). The interfacial electron-transfer rate constant decreased as the reorganization energy, lambda, of the acceptor species increased, and a plot of the logarithm of the electron-transfer rate constant vs (lambda + deltaG(o)')(2)/4lambda k(B)T (where deltaG(o)' is the driving force for interfacial charge transfer) was linear with a slope of approximately -1. The rate constant at optimal exoergicity was found to be approximately 5 x 10(-17) cm4 s(-1) for this system. These results show that interfacial electron-transfer rate constants at semiconductor electrodes are in good agreement with the predictions of a Marcus-type model of interfacial electron-transfer reactions.

Electron-Transfer Oxidation of Coenzyme B12 Model Compounds and Facile Cleavage of the Cobalt(IV)−Carbon Bond via Charge-Transfer Complexes with Bases. A Negative Temperature Dependence of the Rates

The electron-transfer oxidation and subsequent cobalt-carbon bond cleavage of vitamin B12 model complexes were investigated using cobaloximes, (DH)2Co(III)(R)(L), where DH- = the anion of dimethylglyoxime, R = Me, Et, Ph, PhCH2, and PhCH(CH3), and L = a substituted pyridine, as coenzyme B12 model complexes and [Fe(bpy)3](PF6)3 or [Ru(bpy)3](PF6)3 (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) as a one-electron oxidant. The rapid one-electron oxidation of (DH)2Co(III)(Me)(py) (py = pyridine) with the oxidant gives the corresponding Co(IV) complexes, [(DH)2Co(IV)(Me)(py)]+, which were well identified by the ESR spectra. The reorganization energy (lambda) for the electron-transfer oxidation of (DH)2Co(Me)(py) was determined from the ESR line broadening of [(DH)2Co(Me)(py)]+ caused by the electron exchange with (DH)2Co(Me)(py). The lambda value is applied to evaluate the rate constants of photoinduced electron transfer from (DH)2Co(Me)(py) to photosensitizers in light of the Marcus theory of electron transfer. The Co(IV)-C bond cleavage of [(DH)2Co(Me)(py)]+ is accelerated significantly by the reaction with a base. The overall activation energy for the second-order rate constants of Co(IV)-C bond cleavage of [(DH)2Co(IV)(Me)(py)]+ in the presence of a base is decreased by charge-transfer complex formation with a base, which leads to a negative activation energy for the Co(IV)-C cleavage when either 2-methoxypyridine or 2,6-dimethoxypyridine is used as the base.

One-Dimensional Copper(I) Coordination Polymers Based on a Tridentate Thioether Ligand

The one-dimensional copper(I) coordination polymers Cu(3){MeSi(CH(2)SMe)(3)}(2)X(3) (X = Cl, Br) and [{MeSi(CH(2)SMe)(3)}Cu(NCMe)]Y (Y = OSO(2)CF(3), BF(4), PF(6)) were readily obtained in very good to excellent yields (80-95%) by reacting CuX or [Cu(NCMe)(4)]Y, respectively, with the tridentate thioether ligand MeSi(CH(2)SMe)(3) in acetonitrile. The new complexes were characterized by a combination of analytical and spectroscopic techniques, including electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and, for the bromo and hexafluorophosphate derivatives, single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both complexes exhibit one-dimensional chain structures with approximately tetrahedral copper centers and bridging unidentate/bidentate thioether ligands.

A Novel Mixed Macrocycle Complex of Nickel: Synthesis, Structure, and Redox Chemistry of [Ni(II)([9]aneN(3))([9]aneS(3))](ClO(4))(2).CHCl(3) ([9]aneN(3) = 1,4,7-Triazacyclononane and [9]aneS(3) = 1,4,7-Trithiacyclononane)

The mixed macrocycle cation, [Ni([9]aneN(3))([9]aneS(3))](2+) (where [9]aneN(3) = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane and [9]aneS(3) = 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane), has been prepared by stepwise complexation of [9]aneN(3) and [9]aneS(3), respectively, to Ni(II) cation. The intermediate [Ni([9]aneN(3))(CH(3)NO(2))(3)](2+) has been isolated and characterized by mass spectrometry and UV-visible spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry of [Ni([9]aneN(3))(CH(3)NO(2))(3)](2+) shows a quasireversible wave for the Ni(II/III) couple (E(1/2) = 0.73V vs Fc(+/0)), and the Ni(III) species exhibits an axial ESR spectrum (g( perpendicular) = 2.101 and g( parallel) = 1.985). The structure of [Ni([9]aneN(3))([9]aneS(3))](ClO(4))(2).CHCl(3) has been determined. It crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 13.3911(8) Å, b = 14.4430(9) Å, c = 13.6116(8) Å, beta = 107.2090(10) degrees, V = 2514.7(3) Å(3), and Z = 4. Of the 15 047 reflections collected, 5765 reflections (I > 2sigma(I)) were used in the refinement to obtain a final R(w) = 0.0278 and R(F) = 0.0368. In the cation [Ni([9]aneN(3))([9]aneS(3))](2+), the two macrocycles occupy the trigonal faces of the Ni(2+) ion, imposing a distorted octahedral geometry. Cyclic voltammetry of the complex in CH(3)CN (Pt electrodes, 0.1 M n-Bu(4)NClO(4), 500 mV) shows a quasireversible wave for the Ni(II)/Ni(III) couple (E(1/2) = 0.86V vs Fc(+/0)). Chemical oxidation by NOPF(6) of the cation [Ni([9]aneN(3))([9]aneS(3))](2+) generates a Ni(III) species that shows axial ESR spectrum with g( perpendicular) = 2.106 and g( parallel) = 2.063. No characteristic reduction wave was observed in either CH(3)CN or CH(3)NO(2) media.