A series of trinuclear Cu(II)Ln(III)Cu(II) complexes derived from 2,6-Di(acetoacetyl)pyridine: synthesis, structure, and magnetism

Competing excitation paths in luminescent heterobimetallic Ln-Al complexes: Unraveling interactions via experimental and theoretical investigations

The interest for heterometallic lanthanide-d or-p metal (Ln-M) complexes is growing because of a potential cooperative or synergistic effect related to the proximity of two different metals in the same molecular architecture affording special tunable physical properties. To exploit the potentiality of Ln-M complexes, suitable synthetic approaches, and the in-depth understanding of the effect of each building block on their properties are mandatory. Here, we report the study on a family of heterometallic luminescent complexes [Ln(hfac)₃Al(L)₃], Ln= Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺. Using different L ligands, we investigated the effect of the steric and electronic properties of the Al(L)₃ fragment, highlighting the general validity of the employed synthetic route. A marked difference in the light emission of [Eu(hfac)₃Al(L)₃] and [Tb(hfac)₃Al(L)₃] complexes has been observed. Thanks to photoluminescence experiments and Density Functional Theory calculations, Ln³⁺ emissions are explained with a model involving two non-interacting excitation paths through hfac or Al(L)₃ ligands.

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of a series of Mn-M-Mn trinuclear complexes with different spin configurations

A series of trinuclear complexes, [MnII2Y^III(L)₂(HL)₂(NO₃)₃][Y^III(NO₃)₅]·7H₂O (1'), [MnII2Gd^III(HL)₄(NO₃)₄]₂[MnII2Gd^III(L)(HL)₃(NO₃)₄][Gd^III(NO₃)₅]₄·2(o-Xy)·12H₂O (2') and [MnII3(L)(HL)₂(NO₃)₄](NO₃)·1.25(p-Xy) (3'), were synthesized using a β-diketone ligand HL (HL = 1,3-bis(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-dione). X-ray structural analyses revealed that each complex has a trinuclear core with an Mn(II)-M-Mn(II) arrangement (M = Y^III (1), Gd^III (2), and Mn^II (3)). In 1' with a diamagnetic Y(III) ion, negligible antiferromagnetic interactions between terminal Mn(II) ions are operative. On the other hand, 2' shows ferromagnetic interactions between Mn(II) and Gd(III) ions, affording a spin ground state of S_T = 17/2. The homometallic Mn(II)₃ complex of 3' has an S_T = 5/2 spin ground state resulting from the antiferromagnetic interactions between neighboring Mn(II) ions. The maximum magnetic entropy change (-ΔS_m) of 1'-3' was estimated to be 12.3, 24.8, and 8.0 J kg^-1 K^-1, respectively.

Structural Characterization, Magnetic and Luminescent Properties of Praseodymium(III)-4,4,4-Trifluoro-1-(2-Naphthyl)Butane-1,3-Dionato(1-) Complexes

Four new Pr(III) mononuclear complexes of formula [Pr(ntfa)3(MeOH)2] (1), [Pr(ntfa)3(bipy)2] (2), [Pr(ntfa)3(4,4′-Mt2bipy)] (3) and [Pr(ntfa)3(5,5′-Me2bipy)] (4), where ntfa = 4,4,4-trifuoro-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)butane-1,3-dionato(1-), 5,5′-Me2bipy = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridine, 4,4′-Mt2bipy = 4,4′-dimethoxy-2,2′-dipyridine, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The complexes display the coordination numbers 8 for 1, 3 and 4, and 10 for 2. Magnetic measurements of complexes 1–4 were consistent with a magnetically uncoupled Pr3+ ion in the 3H4 ground state. The solid state luminescence studies showed that the ancillary chelating bipyridyl ligands in the 2–4 complexes greatly enhance the luminescence emission in the visible and NIR regions through efficient energy transfer from the ligands to the central Pr3+ ion; behaving as “antenna” ligands.

Slow magnetic relaxation and luminescence properties in neodymium(iii)-4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl)butane-1,3-dionato complexes incorporating bipyridyl ligands

A new series of eight-coordinated Nd(iii) complexes derived from 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)butane-1,3-dionate and bi-pyridyl ligands revealed multifunctional molecular materials as photoluminescent single-molecule magnets (SMMs).

A family of planar hexanuclear CoLn clusters with lucanidae-like arrangement and single-molecule magnet behavior

A family of planar hexanuclear CoLn clusters with the hydroxyl and nitrogen rich ligand 2-[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl) amino]-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol (H₃L), formulated as [Co₄Ln₂(μ₃-O)₂(μ-N₃)₂(OH)₂(H₂O)₂(HL)₄]·(CH₃CO₂)₂·20H₂O [Ln = Dy (1), Gd (2), Tb (3), Eu (4) and Ho (5)], have been synthesized and structurally characterized. They are isomorphous and feature a lucanidae-like arrangement. They are the first examples of 3d-4f clusters with the H₃L ligand. In addition, the magnetic properties of 1-5 have been investigated and the single-molecule magnet (SMM) behaviour is observed for 1.

Full Structural Characterization of Homoleptic Complexes of Diacetylcurcumin with Mg, Zn, Cu, and Mn: Cisplatin-level Cytotoxicity in Vitro with Minimal Acute Toxicity in Vivo

At the present time, scientists place a great deal of effort worldwide trying to improve the therapeutic potential of metal complexes of curcumin and curcuminoids. Herein, the synthesis of four homoleptic metal complexes with diacetylcurcumin (DAC), using a ligand designed to prevent the interaction of phenolic groups, rendering metal complexes through the β-diketone functionality, is reported. Due to their physiological relevance, we used bivalent magnesium, zinc, copper, and manganese for complexation with DAC. The resulting products were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), fluorescence spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy (IR), liquid and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), magnetic moment, mass spectrometry (MS), single crystal, and powder X-ray diffraction (SCXRD and PXRD). Crystallization was achieved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as triclinic systems with space group P-1, showing the metal bound to the β-diketone function, while the 1H-NMR confirmed the preference of the enolic form of the ligand. Single crystal data demonstrated a 1:2 metal:ligand ratio. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation was evaluated using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay (TBARS). All four metal complexes (Mg, Zn, Cu, and Mn) exhibited good antioxidant effect (IC50 = 2.03 ± 0.27, 1.58 ± 0.07, 1.58 ± 0.15 and 1.24 ± 0.10 μM respectively) compared with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and α-tocopherol. The cytotoxic activity in human cancer cell lines against colon adenocarcinoma (HCT-15), mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and lung adenocarcinoma (SKLU-1) was found comparable ((DAC)2Mg), or ca. 2-fold higher ((DAC)2Zn) than cisplatin. The acute toxicity assays indicate class 5 toxicity, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines at doses of 3 g/kg for all complexes. No mortality or changes in the behavior of animals in any of the treated groups was observed. A therapeutic potential can be envisaged from the relevant cytotoxic activity upon human cancer cell lines in vitro and the undetected in vivo acute toxicity of these compounds.

Self-assembly of bis-β-diketone-based [M22] dinuclear platforms into 2-dimensional coordination polymers

Bis-β-diketone [M₂L₂] dinuclear platforms self-assemble into 2-dimensional coordination polymers.

Nonanuclear Ni(ii) complexes in a [1-7-1] formation derived from asymmetric multidentate ligands: magnetic and electrochemical properties

Asymmetric multidentate ligands H2Ln formed unique nonanuclear Ni(ii) complexes, [Ni₉(Ln)₆(OH)₆(H₂O)₆] via self-assembly. A corner-sharing tetrahedron-type structure, [Ni₇(μ₃-OH)₆]⁸⁺, and terminal mononuclear units constitute the nonanuclear structure in a [1-7-1] formation.

Metallocyclic Ni4Ln2M2 single-molecule magnets

Magnetic studies on nine new octanuclear cyclic heterotrimetallic complexes reveal that in comparison with analogous octanuclear complexes [Ni₄Dy₂M₂] (M³⁺ = Fe, W and Co), the [Ni₄Dy₂Cr₂] species show the highest energy barrier and the [Ni₄Tb₂M₂] (M = Cr or Fe) complexes display single-molecule magnetic properties.

Ligand-directed assembly of trinuclear and one-dimensional heterotrimetallic CuIILnIIIFeIIIcomplexes: unusual antiferromagnetic CuIIFeIIIcoupling via cyano bridges

Rare phenoxo- and cyano-bridged CuLnFe trinuclear complexes were prepared. The 1D Cu₂DyFe complex displays both single-chain magnetic properties and the intrachain Cu(ii)–Fe(iii) antiferromagnetic coupling.

New coordination features; a bridging pyridine and the forced shortest non-covalent distance between two CO32- species

The aerobic reaction of the multidentate ligand 2,6-bis-(3-oxo-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-propionyl)-pyridine, H4L, with Co(ii) salts in strong basic conditions produces the clusters [Co4(L)2(OH)(py)7]NO3 (1) and [Co8Na4(L)4(OH)2(CO3)2(py)10](BF4)2 (2). Analysis of their structure unveils unusual coordination features including a very rare bridging pyridine ligand or two trapped carbonate anions within one coordination cage, forced to stay at an extremely close distance (dO···O = 1.946 Å). This unprecedented non-bonding proximity represents a meeting point between long covalent interactions and "intermolecular" contacts. These original motifs have been analysed here through DFT calculations, which have yielded interaction energies and the reduced repulsion energy experimented by both CO32- anions when located in close proximity inside the coordination cage.

Synthesis and crystal structure of a novel copper(ii) complex of curcumin-type and its application in in vitro and in vivo imaging

The results of TPEF imaging in a tumor-bearing mouse model demonstrated the potential of the obtained complex for in vivo tumor diagnosis.

Di-maltol-polyamine ligands to form heterotrinuclear metal complexes: solid state, aqueous solution and magnetic characterization

The binding properties of the two ligands (L) N,N'-bis[(3-hydroxy-4-pyron-2-yl)methyl]-N,N'-dimethylethylendiamine (Malten) and 4,10-bis[(3-hydroxy-4-pyron-2-yl)methyl]-1,7-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (Maltonis) towards M(II) transition metal ions (M(II) = Cu(II) for Malten and Co(II) for Maltonis, respectively), were investigated in aqueous solution. Each compound contains two 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone units (Maltol) symmetrically spaced by a different polyamine fragment. The formation of only mononuclear complexes was detected and the main species present in a wide range of pH is the neutral [M(II)(H-2L)] complex. This is able to stabilize one hard M(III) metal ion such as Gd(III) and Y(III), giving rise to the formation of new hetero-trinuclear complexes of M(II)-M(III)-M(II) sequence. The trinuclear species having the formula {M(III)[M(II)(H-2L)]2}(3+) (M(II) = Cu(II) and M(III) = Y(III) or Gd(III) for Malten and M(II) = Co(II) and M(III) = Gd(III) for Maltonis) are also formed in a wide range of pH, including pH = 7 and can be isolated in high yield as a perchlorate salt. The crystal structures of all the studied hetero-trinuclear species highlight that such systems are formed thanks to the synergy between the different stereochemical requirement of the transition metal (Cu(II) or Co(II)) and the different donor atoms set of the ligands which preorganize the maltol units for the binding of the hard M(III) metal, otherwise difficult to bind in water, through L/M(II)/M(III) self-assembling. The magnetic properties of the hetero-trinuclear spin systems were investigated; in the M(II)-Gd(III)-M(II) species, Gd(III) interacts with the two 3d ions of this class of compounds by similar coupling mechanism.