Syntheses and Spectroscopic and Structural Characterization of Silver(I) Complexes Containing Tertiary Phosphines and Hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)-, Hydrotris(4-bromopyrazol-1-yl)-, Hydrotris(3,5-dimethypyrazol-1-yl)-, and Hydrotris(3-methyl-2-thioxo-1-imidazolyl)borates

Facile synthesis of air-stable heterobimetallic osmium-silver hydride complexes

The synthesis and characterization of air-stable heterobimetallic Os-Ag hydrides are described. All of the new heterobimetallic Os-Ag hydrides are neutral, and the in situ generated and presynthesized cis-[Os](H)-CC-R units in these frameworks act as organometallic bidentate chelating ligands coordinating with the AgPPh₃ cation, which makes these complexes more stable. Our results provide a new synthetic route for the construction of stable heterobimetallic complexes.

Antiproliferative Homoleptic and Heteroleptic Phosphino Silver(I) Complexes: Effect of Ligand Combination on Their Biological Mechanism of Action

A series of neutral mixed-ligand [HB(pz)₃]Ag(PR₃) silver(I) complexes (PR₃ = tertiary phosphine, [HB(pz)₃]⁻ = tris(pyrazolyl)borate anion), and the corresponding homoleptic [Ag(PR₃)₄]BF₄ compounds have been synthesized and fully characterized. Silver compounds were screened for their antiproliferative activities against a wide panel of human cancer cells derived from solid tumors and endowed with different platinum drug sensitivity. Mixed-ligand complexes were generally more effective than the corresponding homoleptic derivatives, but the most active compounds were [HB(pz)₃]Ag(PPh₃) (5) and [Ag(PPh₃)₄]BF₄ (10), both comprising the lipophilic PPh₃ phosphine ligand. Detailed mechanistic studies revealed that both homoleptic and heteroleptic silver complexes strongly and selectively inhibit the selenoenzyme thioredoxin reductase both as isolated enzyme and in human ovarian cancer cells (half inhibition concentration values in the nanomolar range) causing the disruption of cellular thiol-redox homeostasis, and leading to apoptotic cell death. Moreover, for heteroleptic Ag(I) derivatives, an additional ability to damage nuclear DNA has been detected. These results confirm the importance of the type of silver ion coordinating ligands in affecting the biological behavior of the overall corresponding silver complexes, besides in terms of hydrophilic–lipophilic balance, also in terms of biological mechanism of action, such as interaction with DNA and/or thioredoxin reductase.

Influence of Benzannulation on Metal Coordination Geometries: Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Tris(2-mercapto-1-methylbenzimidazolyl)hydroborato Cadmium Bromide, {[TmMeBenz]Cd(μ-Br)}2

The tris(2-mercapto-1-methylbenzimidazolyl)hydroborato cadmium complex, {[TmMeBenz]Cd(μ-Br)}2, may be synthesized via the reaction of [TmMeBenz]K with CdBr2. X-ray diffraction demonstrates that {[TmMeBenz]Cd(μ-Br)}2 exists as a dimer, which is in marked contrast to the monomeric structure of the non-benzannulated counterpart, [TmMe]CdBr, and thereby demonstrates that benzannulation of tris(2-mercapto-1-methylbenzimidazolyl)hydroborato ligands can have a distinct impact on the molecular structure of their metal complexes. In accord with this observation, density functional theory calculations indicate that the benzannulated dimers, {[TmMeBenz]Cd(μ-X)}2 (X = Cl, Br, I), are more stable with respect to dissociation than are their non-benzannulated counterparts, {[TmMe]Cd(μ-X)}2. Furthermore, the calculations also indicate that the stability of the dimer depends on the nature of X, such that the dimer becomes more stable in the sequence I < Br < Cl.

Synthesis and structural characterization of tris(2-mercapto-1-methylbenzimidazolyl)hydroborato cadmium halide complexes, {[Tm(MeBenz)]Cd(μ-Cl)}2 and [Tm(MeBenz)]CdI: a rare example of cadmium in a trigonal bipyramidal sulfur-rich coordination environment

The tris(2-mercapto-1-methylbenzimidazolyl)hydroborato cadmium complexes, {[Tm(MeBenz)]Cd(μ-Cl)}2 and [Tm(MeBenz)]CdI, have been synthesized via the reactions of [Tm(MeBenz)]K with CdCl2 and CdI2, respectively. While X-ray diffraction studies demonstrate that the iodide derivative, [Tm(MeBenz)]CdI, is a monomer, the chloride derivative, {[Tm(MeBenz)]Cd(μ-Cl)}2, exists as a dimer, which is unprecedented for Group 12 [Tm(R)]MX (X = Cl, Br, I) compounds. Furthermore, the cadmium centers of {[Tm(MeBenz)]Cd(μ-Cl)}2 are trigonal bipyramidal, which is an uncommon motif for cadmium complexes with a [S3Cl2] coordination sphere.

Molecular structures of tris(2-mercapto-1-tert-butylimidazolyl)hydroborato and tris(2-mercapto-1-adamantylimidazolyl)hydroborato sodium complexes: analysis of [Tm(R)] ligand coordination modes and conformations

The tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborato complexes, [κ(3)-S2H-Tm(Bu(t))]Na(THF)3 and [κ(3)-S2H-Tm(Ad)]Na(THF)3, which feature t-butyl and adamantyl substituents, have been synthesized via the reactions of the respective 1-R-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazole-2-thiones with NaBH4 in THF (R = Bu(t), 1-Ad). X-ray diffraction studies indicate that the compounds are monomeric and that the [Tm(R)] ligands coordinate to the metal in a κ(3)-S2H manner via two of the sulfur donors and the hydrogen attached to boron, a combination that is unprecedented for sodium derivatives. Analysis of the tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborato compounds that are listed in the Cambridge Structural Database has allowed for the formulation of a set of criteria that enables κ(x)-S(x) and κ(x+1)-S(x)H coordination modes to be identified. Furthermore, the various κ(x)-S(x) and κ(x+1)-S(x)H coordination modes have also been analyzed with respect to the conformations of the [Tm(R)] ligands, which differ by rotation of the imidazolethione moieties about the B-N bond.

Benzannulated tris(2-mercapto-1-imidazolyl)hydroborato ligands: tetradentate κ4-S3H binding and access to monomeric monovalent thallium in an [S3] coordination environment

The benzannulated tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borohydride sodium complex, [Tm(Bu(t)Benz)]Na, has been synthesized via the reaction of NaBH4 with 1-tert-butyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-thione, while [Tm(MeBenz)]K has been synthesized via the reaction of KBH4 with 1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-thione. The molecular structures of the solvated adducts, {[Tm(Bu(t)Benz)]Na(THF)}2(μ-THF)2 and [Tm(MeBenz)]K(OCMe2)3, have been determined by X-ray diffraction, which demonstrates that the [Tm(R)] ligands in these complexes adopt different coordination modes to that in {[Tm(MeBenz)]Na}2(μ-THF)3. Specifically, while the [Tm(MeBenz)] ligand of the sodium complex {[Tm(MeBenz)]Na}2(μ-THF)3 adopts a κ(3)-S3 coordination mode, the potassium complex [Tm(MeBenz)]K(OCMe2)3 adopts a most uncommon inverted κ(4)-S3H coordination mode in which the potassium binds to all three sulfur donors and the hydrogen of the B-H group in a linear KH-B manner. Furthermore, the [Tm(Bu(t)Benz)] ligand of {[Tm(Bu(t)Benz)]Na(THF)}2(μ-THF)2 adopts a κ(3)-S2H coordination mode, thereby demonstrating the flexibility of this ligand system. The monovalent thallium compounds, [Tm(MeBenz)]Tl and [Tm(Bu(t)Benz)]Tl, have been obtained via the corresponding reactions of [Tm(MeBenz)]Na and [Tm(Bu(t)Benz)]Na with TlOAc. X-ray diffraction demonstrates that the three sulfur donors of the [Tm(RBenz)] ligands of both [Tm(MeBenz)]Tl and [Tm(Bu(t)Benz)]Tl chelate to thallium. This coordination mode is in marked contrast to that in other [Tm(R)]Tl compounds, which exist as dinuclear molecules wherein two of the sulfur donors coordinate to different thallium centers. As such, this observation provides further evidence that benzannulation promotes κ(3)-S3 coordination in this system.

Synthesis and structural characterization of bis and tris(2-mercapto-1-methylbenzimidazolyl)hydroborato complexes: benzannulation promotes κ³-coordination

The benzannulated bis and tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borohydride compounds, [BmMeBenz]Na and [TmMeBenz]Na, have been synthesized via the reactions of NaBH4 with two and three equivalents of 1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-thione, respectively. X-ray diffraction studies on the THF adducts, {μ-[BmMeBenz]Na(THF)₂}₂ and {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃, indicate that both compounds are dinuclear but differ according to the nature of the bridging ligand. Specifically, {μ-[BmMeBenz]Na(THF)₂}₂ possesses bridging [BmMeBenz] ligands and terminal THF ligands, while {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃ possesses terminal [TmMeBenz] ligands and bridging THF ligands. The tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borohydride ligand of {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃ coordinates in a κ³-manner, which is in marked contrast to the κ²-, κ¹- and κ⁰-modes that have been reported for various [TmMe]Na derivatives. Density functional theory (DFT) geometry optimization calculations of the anions [TmMeBenz]⁻ and [TmMe]⁻ in the gas phase indicate that the conformation required for κ³-S₃ coordination, i.e. one in which the three sulfur donors point away from the B-H group, is relatively more stable for [TmMeBenz]⁻ than for [TmMe]⁻, and thus provides a rationalization for the observation that benzannulation enables κ³-coordination of tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borohydride ligand in {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃. Furthermore, comparison of the molecular structure and IR spectroscopic properties of [TmMeBenz]Re(CO)₃ with those of [TmMe]Re(CO)₃ indicates that benzannulation reduces the electron donating properties of the ligand, but has little effect on its steric properties. {μ-[BmMeBenz]Na(THF)₂}₂ and {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃ react with [Me₃PCuCl]₄ to give [BmMeBenz]CuPMe₃ and [TmMeBenz]CuPMe₃, the first pair of structurally related bis and tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborato copper(I) compounds.

Copper(I) and silver(I) complexes supported by the tridentate [{Ti(η(5)-C5Me5)(μ-NH)}3(μ3-N)] metalloligand

Copper(I) and silver(I) ionic compounds [(L)M{(μ(3)-NH)(3)Ti(3)(η(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(μ(3)-N)}][O(3)SCF(3)] containing [MTi(3)N(4)] cube-type cations have been prepared by reaction of [(CF(3)SO(2)O)M{(μ(3)-NH)(3)Ti(3)(η(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(μ(3)-N)}] (M = Cu (2), Ag (3)) with a variety of donor molecules L. Treatment of complexes 2 and 3 with NH(3) in toluene at room temperature gives the ammonia adducts [(H(3)N)M{(μ(3)-NH)(3)Ti(3)(η(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(μ(3)-N)}][O(3)SCF(3)] (M = Cu (4), Ag (5)), whose X-ray crystal structures reveal two cube-type cations associated through hydrogen bonding interactions between the ammine ligands and one oxygen atom of each trifluoromethanesulfonate anion. Analogous treatment of 2 and 3 with 1 equiv of pyridine, 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide, tert-butylisocyanide, or triphenylphosphane gives the ionic compounds [(L)M{(μ(3)-NH)(3)Ti(3)(η(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(μ(3)-N)}][O(3)SCF(3)] (L = py, M = Cu (6), Ag (7); L = CNAr, M = Cu (8), Ag (9); L = CNtBu, M = Cu (10), Ag (11); L = PPh(3), M = Cu (12), Ag (13)). The reactions of 2 and 3 with methylenebis(diphenylphosphane) (dppm) in a 1:1 ratio lead to the single-cube complexes [(dppm)M{(μ(3)-NH)(3)Ti(3)(η(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(μ(3)-N)}][O(3)SCF(3)] (M = Cu (14), Ag (15)), whereas in a 2:1 ratio give the bisphosphane-bridged double-cube compounds [{M(μ(3)-NH)(3)Ti(3)(η(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(μ(3)-N)}(2)(μ-dppm)][O(3)SCF(3)](2) (M = Cu (16), Ag (17)). Similarly, treatment of 2 or 3 with a half equivalent of ethane-1,2-diylbis(diphenylphosphane) (dppe) affords double-cube derivatives [{M(μ(3)-NH)(3)Ti(3)(η(5)-C(5)Me(5))(3)(μ(3)-N)}(2)(μ-dppe)][O(3)SCF(3)](2) (M = Cu (18), Ag (19)). The X-ray crystal structures of 4, 5, 10, 14, 15, and 18 have been determined.

Applications of Tripodal [S(3)] and [Se(3)] L(2)X Donor Ligands to Zinc, Cadmium and Mercury Chemistry: Organometallic and Bioinorganic Perspectives

The tripodal tris(2-mercapto-1-R-imidazolyl)hydroborato ligand system, [Tm(R)], and its selenium counterpart, [Tse(R)], provide useful platforms for investigating organometallic and bioinorganic aspects of the chemistry of zinc, cadmium and mercury in sulfur-rich and selenium-rich coordination environments. For example, the tridentate [Tm(R)] ligand provides an [S(3)] donor array that is of use for mimicking aspects of zinc enzymes and proteins that have sulfur-rich active sites, such as the Ada DNA repair protein. With respect to mercury, an interesting application of the [Tm(Bu(t) )] ligand is the synthesis of the mercury alkyl compounds [Tm(Bu(t) )]HgR (R = Me, Et) that react with PhSH to yield [Tm(Bu(t) )]HgSPh and RH, a reaction that emulates mercury detoxification by the organomercurial lyase, MerB. In addition to the tridentate [Tm(R)] and [Tse(R)] ligands, applications of the bidentate counterparts, [Bm(R)] and [Bse(R)] are also described.

Tripodal borate ligands from tris(dimethylamino)borane: the first synthesis of a chiral tris(methimazolyl)borate ligand, and the crystal structure of a single diastereomer pseudo-C3-symmetric Ru(ii) complex

The activation of tris(dimethylamino)borane towards reaction with a chiral methimazole by N-methylimidazole has been used to prepare the first example of a chiral tris(methimazolyl)borate ligand. Coordination of this neutral ligand to Ru(II) has been achieved by reaction with [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2) to provide a single diastereomer complex in which the chirality of the methimazolyl substituents dictate the chirality of the bicyclo[3.3.3]cage formed by the ligand on coordination to the metal. The alternative approach to chiral tris(methimazolyl)borate ligands involving the introduction of a chiral group onto the boron atom has been explored by replacing N-methylimidazole in the above reaction by chiral oxazolines as activating bases in reaction with simple methimazole. However, although the B(NMe(2))(3) is activated to reaction with methimazole by these oxazolines, an intramolecular oxazoline ring-opening by a coordinated methimazolyl sulfur occurs and prevents the successful synthesis of these ligands.

Synthesis and structural characterization of tris(2-seleno-1-mesitylimidazolyl) hydroborato complexes: a new type of strongly electron donating tripodal selenium ligand

A new tripodal ligand that features three selenium donors, namely the tris(2-seleno-1-mesitylimidazolyl)hydroborato ligand, [Tse(Mes)], has been constructed via the reaction of KBH(4) with 1-mesitylimidazole-2-selone; comparison of the IR spectroscopic data of [Tse(Mes)]Re(CO)(3) with those of a variety of related LRe(CO)(3) complexes demonstrates that the [Tse(Mes)] ligand is more strongly electron donating than Cp, Cp*, [Tp], [Tp(Me(2))] and [Tm(Mes)] ligands.

Palladium complexes with Pd→B dative bonds: Analysis of the bonding in the palladaboratrane compound [κ4-B(mimBut)3]Pd(PMe3)

The dinuclear complex {[mu-kappa(1),kappa(3)-B(mim(Bu(t)))(3)]Pd}(2), which features a Pd-->B dative bond, may be obtained by the reaction of [Tm(Bu(t))]K with Pd(OAc)(2); treatment of {[mu-kappa(1),kappa(3)-B(mim(Bu(t)))(3)]Pd}(2) with PMe(3) affords the mononuclear boratrane derivative [kappa(4)-B(mim(Bu(t)))(3)]Pd(PMe(3)), for which a molecular orbital analysis indicates that the palladium center possesses a d(8) configuration.

Coinage metal complexes of tris(pyrazolyl)methanide [C(3,5-Me2pz)3]−: κ3-coordination vs. backbone functionalisation

Tris(pyrazolyl)methanides, [C(3,5-R2pz)3]-, contain an unassociated tetrahedral carbanionic centre in the bridgehead position. In addition to nitrogen donor centres for transition metal coordination, an accessible reactive site for further manipulations is available in the backbone of the ligand. The coordination variability of the ambidental C-/N ligand [C(3,5-Me2pz)3]- was elucidated by investigating its coinage metal complexes. Two principle coordination modes were found for complexes of general formula [LMPR3] (with M = Cu(I), Ag(I), Au(I); L =[C(3,5-Me2pz)3]-; R = Ph, OMe). While for Cu(I) (2,3) and Ag(I) (4) complexes the anionic ligand acts as a face-capping, six electron N3-donor, gold(I) (5) is coordinated by the bridging carbanion yielding a two coordinate Au(I) complex comprising a covalent Au-C bond. The complexes featuring the kappa3-coordinated N3-donor ligand were investigated by 31P CP (MAS) NMR in the solid state.

Barriers to Racemization in C3-Symmetric Complexes Containing the Hydrotris(2-mercapto-1-ethylimidazolyl)borate (TmEt) Ligand

The tripodal ligands hydrotris(N-ethyl-2-mercaptoimidazol-1-yl)borate (NaTm(Et)) (1) and hydrotris(N-benzyl-2-mercaptoimidazol-1-yl)borate (NaTm(Bn)) (2), analogues of the hydrotris(N-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazol-1-yl)borate ligand (Tm) containing alternative nitrogen substituents, have been employed to examine the racemization of their C3-symmetric complexes with both four- and six-coordinate metals. The ligands react at room temperature with metal halides to provide C3-symmetric metal complexes. The syntheses of the four-coordinate complexes [Tm(Et)ZnCl] (3), [Tm(Et)CdBr] (4), [Tm(Et)HgCl] (5), [Tm(Et)CuPPh3] (6), [Tm(Et)AgPPh3] (7), and [Tm(Bn)ZnCl] (8) are reported. The six-coordinate complexes [Tm(Et)Ru(p-cymene)]Cl (9), [Tm(Et)Ru(p-cymene)]PF(6) (10), and [Tm(Et)Mn(CO)3] (11) were also synthesized. The X-ray crystal structures of 3, 4, 6, and 9 are reported. The diastereotopic nature of the ethyl and benzyl hydrogen atoms in the ligands allows the enantiomeric forms of these complexes to be distinguished by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Variable-temperature (VT) 1H NMR spectra have thus been used to investigate the energies of the racemization processes occurring in these chiral complexes. In solvents the activation energies to racemization for the four-coordinate complexes lay in the range of 53-77 kJ mol(-1). In non-donor solvents the energies are reduced and a dissociative mechanism is therefore implicated. No interconversion could be observed by VT NMR for the six-coordinate complexes in any solvent. To further explore the racemization mechanisms ab initio density functional theory calculations have been conducted on the ground- and transition-state structures of representative six-coordinate [Mn(I)] and four-coordinate [Zn(II)] complexes following a proposed nondissociative mechanism of racemization. The calculated energy barriers to racemization are 163 and 121 kJ mol(-1), respectively. It is concluded that the low-energy racemization of substitution-labile four-coordinate complexes occurs via a dissociative mechanism, while substitution-inert six-coordinate complexes experience a significantly higher barrier to racemization. Whether this is due to the operation of a dissociative mechanism with a higher activation barrier or to a nondissociative mechanism remains unknown.

Unexpected New Chemistry of the Bis(thioimidazolyl)methanes

[reaction: see text] The synthesis of the linkage isomers of the bis(thioimidazolyl)methane family of compounds, namely CH(2)(N-tim)(2) (1) and CH(2)(S-tim)(2) (2) (where tim = thio(methyl)imidazolyl) has been reinvestigated in order to optimize the yields, to complete the characterization of these known compounds, and also to ascertain the effect of varying heteroatom binding on their electrochemistry. During the course of these studies, the reactive intermediate ClCH(2)(S-tim) (3) was isolated and characterized. The chloromethyl derivative 3 readily decomposes on warming to give the ionic compound [CH(2)(mu-C(4)H(5)N(2)S)(2)CH(2)](Cl)(2) (4), which was converted to the hexafluorophosphate salt (5) and then was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It was also shown that CH(2)(S-tim)(2) (2) could be converted at temperatures greater than 120 degrees C to CH(2)(N-tim)(2) (1) by a thermal isomerization that proceeds via the remaining possible linkage isomer CH(2)(S-tim)(N-tim). Electrochemical studies on 1-3 in acetonitrile reveals that each undergoes irreversible (one electron per ring) oxidations above 0.7 V versus Ag/AgCl, while the ionic compound 5 shows an irreversible reduction wave centered at -1.09 V.

Tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate complexes of the coinage metals: syntheses and molecular structures of the first gold compounds and related copper and silver derivatives

The first tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate complexes of gold, Au(Tm(tBu)) and (Tm(tBu))Au(PPh3), have been prepared and structurally characterized. Together with their copper and silver analogues M(Tm(tBu)) and (Tm(tBu))M(PPh3)(M = Cu, Ag), these compounds constitute the first two complete series of Tm(R) derivatives to be isolated for the coinage metals. In order to evaluate the steric and electronic effects of the bulky tert-butyl substituents in these species, comparative structural analyses with the known methyl-substituted analogue Ag(Tm(Me)) and various (Tm(Me))M(PR3) derivatives (M = Cu, Ag) are also presented.