Monofluoride bridged, binuclear metallacycles of first row transition metals supported by third generation bis(1-pyrazolyl)methane ligands: unusual magnetic properties

Selective sensing of picric acid using a Zn(II)-metallacycle: experimental and theoretical validation of the sensing mechanism and quantitative analysis of sensitivity in contact mode detection

A combination of N,N',N''-tris(3-pyridyl)-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamide (L1) and p-chlorobenzoic acid (HL2) with Zn(NO3)2·6H2O resulted in the formation of a dinuclear metallacycle [ZnL1(L2)2(DMF)2]2 (1(DMF)4). In 1(DMF)4, the Zn(II) centre adopts a square pyramidal geometry, while one of the pyridyl N out of the three pyridyl groups in L1 remained uncoordinated. Solvated DMF molecules are present in 1(DMF)4. The structural and chemical nature of 1(DMF)4 is effective for it to act as a potential fluorescent probe for the detection of nitroaromatic compounds. It is observed that the probe, 1(DMF)4, could selectively detect picric acid (PA) among various aromatic compounds in solution (DMSO), while the solid state (contact mode) detection showed a positive sensing response for the nitrophenols (PA: 87% quenching efficiency, 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP): 57% quenching efficiency and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP): 40% quenching efficiency). The limit of detection (LOD) of PA by the probe in DMSO was found to be 6.8 × 10-11 M while the LOD in contact mode detection was estimated to be 0.49 ng cm-2. The mechanism of selective detection of PA by 1(DMF)4 in DMSO was analyzed through photophysical studies, 1H-NMR experiments and also by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The effective overlap of the absorption spectrum of 1(DMF)4 and emission spectrum of PA in DMSO suggests that the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) is responsible for quenching phenomena in DMSO. The DFT calculations and molecular docking studies showed the adduct formation due to the favorable interactions between 1(DMF)4 and PA in DMSO, while negligible interactions were observed between 1(DMF)4 with other aromatic compounds. The experimental and DFT studies showed that the efficient sensing ability of PA by 1(DMF)4 in the solid-state was due to photoelectron transfer (PET) and FRET phenomena described herein.

Air- and Water-Stable Heteroleptic Copper (I) Complexes Bearing Bis(indazol-1-yl)methane Ligands: Synthesis, Characterisation, and Computational Studies

A series of four novel heteroleptic Cu(I) complexes, bearing bis(1H-indazol-1-yl)methane analogues as N,N ligands and DPEPhos as the P,P ligand, were synthesised in high yields under mild conditions and characterised by spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. In addition, the position of the carboxymethyl substituent in the complexes and its effect on the electrochemical and photophysical behaviour was evaluated. As expected, the homoleptic copper (I) complexes with the N,N ligands showed air instability. In contrast, the obtained heteroleptic complexes were air- and water-stable in solid and solution. All complexes displayed green-yellow luminescence in CH2Cl2 at room temperature due to ligand-centred (LC) phosphorescence in the case of the Cu(I) complex with an unsubstituted N,N ligand and metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) phosphorescence for the carboxymethyl-substituted complexes. Interestingly, proper substitution of the bis(1H-indazol-1-yl)methane ligand enabled the achievement of a remarkable luminescent yield (2.5%) in solution, showcasing the great potential of this novel class of copper(I) complexes for potential applications in luminescent devices and/or photocatalysis.

Coordination of ε-Caprolactone to a Cationic Niobium(V) Alkoxide Complex: Fundamental Insight into Ring-Opening Polymerization via Coordination-Insertion

We report three niobium-based initiators for the catalytic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone, exhibiting good activity and molecular weight control. In particular, we have prepared on the gram-scale and fully characterized a monometallic cationic alkoxo-Nb(V) ε-caprolactone adduct representing, to the best of our knowledge, an unprecedented example of a metal complex with an intact lactone monomer and a functional ROP-initiating group simultaneously coordinated at the metal center. At 80 °C, all three systems initiate the immortal solution-state ROP of ε-caprolactone via a coordination-insertion mechanism, which has been confirmed through experimental studies, and is supported by computational data. Natural bond orbital calculations further indicate that polymerization may necessitate isomerization about the metal center between the alkoxide chain and the coordinated monomer. The observations made in this work are expected to inform mechanistic understanding both of amine tris(phenolate)-supported metal alkoxide ROP initiators, including various highly stereoselective systems for the polymerization of lactides and of coordination-insertion-type ROP protocols more broadly.

A Novel Molecular Assembly of a Cobalt-Sulfate Coordination Polymer and Melamine: A Manifestation of Magnetic Anisotropy

A novel molecular assembly of a cobalt-sulfate coordination polymer and melamine is synthesized under acidic conditions. Bar-shaped pink monocrystals as long as 1 mm are found to align along magnetic field lines in the proximity of a strong magnet. Magnetometry shows no hysteresis at temperatures down to 2 K but instead magnetic anisotropy and antiferromagnetic coupling. X-ray diffraction on a single crystal reveals that the cobalt-sulfate chains are along the shortest lattice vector or the crystal's long axis. The crystal alignment along the magnetic flux can be attributed to single-ion anisotropy that results in longitudinal antiferromagnetic coupling along the chain. Both structurally and magnetically isotropic crystals of metal-organic hybrid materials can be highly useful as elemental components in magneto-optics.

Hydrogen-atom and oxygen-atom transfer reactivities of iron(IV)-oxo complexes of quinoline-substituted pentadentate ligands

A series of iron(II) complexes with the general formula [Fe^II(L2-Qn)(L)]ⁿ⁺ (n = 1, L = F^-, Cl^-; n = 2, L = NCMe, H₂O) have been isolated and characterized. The X-ray crystallographic data reveals that metal-ligand bond distances vary with varying ligand field strengths of the sixth ligand. While the complexes with fluoride, chloride and water as axial ligand are high spin, the acetonitrile-coordinated complex is in a mixed spin state. The steric bulk of the quinoline moieties forces the axial ligands to deviate from the Fe-N_axial axis. A higher deviation/tilt is noted for the high spin complexes, while the acetonitrile coordinated complex displays least deviation. This deviation from linearity is slightly less in the analogous low-spin iron(II) complex [Fe^II(L1-Qn)(NCMe)]²⁺ of the related asymmetric ligand L1-Qn due to the presence of only one sterically demanding quinoline moiety. The two iron(II)-acetonitrile complexes [Fe^II(L2-Qn)(NCMe)]²⁺ and [Fe^II(L1-Qn)(NCMe)]²⁺ generate the corresponding iron(IV)-oxo species with higher thermal stability of the species supported by the L1-Qn ligand. The crystallographic and spectroscopic data for [Fe^IV(O)(L1-Qn)](ClO₄)₂ bear resemblance to other crystallographically characterized S = 1 iron(IV)-oxo complexes. The hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reactivities of both the iron(IV)-oxo complexes were investigated, and a Box-Behnken multivariate optimization of the parameters for catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane by [Fe^II(L2-Qn)(NCMe)]²⁺ using hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant is presented. An increase in the average Fe-N bond length in [Fe^II(L1-Qn)(NCMe)]²⁺ is also manifested in higher HAT and OAT rates relative to the other reported complexes of ligands based on the N4Py framework. The results reported here confirm that the steric influence of the ligand environment is of critical importance for the reactivity of iron(IV)-oxo complexes, but additional electronic factors must influence the reactivity of iron-oxo complexes of N4Py derivatives.

A theoretical study of the super exchange mechanism and magneto-structural relationships in the [Mn(iii)2(μ-F)F4(Me3tacn)2](PF6) coordination compound

A detailed theoretical study of the electronic structure and magnetic properties of the dinuclear Mn(iii) complex, [Mn(iii)₂(μ-F)F₄(Me₃tacn)₂] (complex 1), with a single fluoride bridge is reported.

Substituent effects of N4 Schiff base ligands on the formation of fluoride-bridged dicobalt(ii) complexes via B–F abstraction: structures and magnetism

We report the synthesis and magnetic studies on two fluoride bridged cobalt(ii) dimers derived from propyl-bridged N4 Schiff base ligands via B–F activation.

Phelan-McDermid Syndrome and SHANK3: Implications for Treatment

Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), also called 22q13.3 deletion syndrome, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by global developmental delay, intellectual disability, severe speech delays, poor motor tone and function, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although the overall prevalence of PMS is unknown, there have been at least 1200 cases reported worldwide, according to the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation. PMS is now considered to be a relatively common cause of ASD and intellectual disability, accounting for between 0.5% and 2.0% of cases. The cause of PMS has been isolated to loss of function of one copy of SHANK3, which codes for a master scaffolding protein found in the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses. Reduced expression of SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (SHANK3) leads to reduced numbers of dendrites, and impaired synaptic transmission and plasticity. Recent mouse and human neuronal models of PMS have led to important opportunities to develop novel therapeutics, and at least 2 clinical trials are underway, one in the USA, and one in the Netherlands. The SHANK3 pathway may also be relevant to other forms of ASD, and many of the single-gene causes of ASD identified to date appear to converge on several common molecular pathways that underlie synaptic neurotransmission. As a result, treatments developed for PMS may also affect other forms of ASD.

Synthesis of new heteroscorpionate iridium(i) and iridium(iii) complexes

The reactivity of different heteroscorpionate ligands based on bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane, with different iridium-(i) and -(iii) precursors is reported.

Hydroxide-bridged cubane complexes of nickel(II) and cadmium(II): magnetic, EPR, and unusual dynamic properties

The reactions of M(ClO4)2·xH2O (M = Ni(II) or Cd(II)) and m-bis[bis(1-pyrazolyl)methyl]benzene (Lm) in the presence of triethylamine lead to the formation of hydroxide-bridged cubane compounds of the formula [M4(μ3-OH)4(μ-Lm)2(solvent)4](ClO4)4, where solvent = dimethylformamide, water, acetone. In the solid state the metal centers are in an octahedral coordination environment, two sites are occupied by pyrazolyl nitrogens from Lm, three sites are occupied by bridging hydroxides, and one site contains a weakly coordinated solvent molecule. A series of multinuclear, two-dimensional and variable-temperature NMR experiments showed that the cadmium(II) compound in acetonitrile-d3 has C2 symmetry and undergoes an unusual dynamic process at higher temperatures (ΔGLm‡ = 15.8 ± 0.8 kcal/mol at 25 °C) that equilibrates the pyrazolyl rings, the hydroxide hydrogens, and cadmium(II) centers. The proposed mechanism for this process combines two motions in the semirigid Lm ligand termed the “Columbia Twist and Flip:” twisting of the pyrazolyl rings along the Cpz–Cmethine bond and 180° ring flip of the phenylene spacer along the CPh–Cmethine bond. This dynamic process was also followed using the spin saturation method, as was the exchange of the hydroxide hydrogens with the trace water present in acetonitrile-d3. The nickel(II) analogue, as shown by magnetic susceptibility and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements, has an S = 4 ground state, and the nickel(II) centers are ferromagnetically coupled with strongly nonaxial zero-field splitting parameters. Depending on the Ni–O–Ni angles two types of interactions are observed: J1 = 9.1 cm(–1) (97.9 to 99.5°) and J2 = 2.1 cm(–1) (from 100.3 to 101.5°). “Broken symmetry” density functional theory calculations performed on a model of the nickel(II) compound support these observations.

Physical and structural properties of [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl, a fluorescent imaging probe for HNO

Nitroxyl, or HNO, is involved in a number of important physiological processes, such as vascular relaxation and neuroregulation. Effective imaging tools are required in order to gain a deeper understanding of the in vivo mechanisms of these processes and to identify the endogenous sources of HNO. Here, we further investigate the physical properties of our previously reported fluorescent nitroxyl sensor, [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl (J. Am. Chem. Soc.2010, 132, 5536; BOT1=BODIPY·triazole, a tetradentate ligand). A new high-yielding synthetic procedure for BOT1 is reported. The X-ray crystal structures of two Cu(II) complexes of BOT1 are described. These structural studies show that the BOT1 ligand can form Cu(II) coordination complexes of both square-pyramidal and trigonal-bipyramidal geometries. Cyclic voltammograms of [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl were acquired, revealing the presence of a quasi-reversible feature at 130 mV (vs the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple) in MeCN and at -40 mV (vs Ag/AgCl) in aqueous buffer, which is assigned to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple. The reactivity of [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl with Angeli's salt, a stable source of HNO, was further investigated. A 1000-fold excess of Angeli's salt elicits an immediate 10-fold emission turn-on response of the sensor, consistent with our previous report. A new observation, reported here, is that the intensity of this turn-on emission diminishes at longer incubation times. Fluorescent imaging of nitroxyl by [Cu(BOT1)Cl]Cl in HeLa cells was carried out. Upon treatment of the cells with Angeli's salt, there was a modest 2-fold intracellular turn-on in emission intensity.