Metal-metal interactions in heterobimetallic d8-d10 complexes. Structures and spectroscopic investigation of [M'M' '(mu-dcpm)2(CN)2]+ (M' = Pt, Pd; M' ' = Cu, Ag, Au) and related complexes by UV-vis absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopy and ab initio calculations

Redox-Transmetalation Reactions: Easy Access to Homo- and Heterodimetallic d8,d10 Complexes

The ability of the imine PyCH═N-CH2Py (Py = 2-pyridyl, bpi) to behave as a heteroditopic ligand, which is suitable for creating two separate compartments to host metals in different oxidation states, has been developed by studying the reactions of the mixed-valence complexes [(cod)M-Ι(μ-bpi)MΙ(cod)] (M = Rh, Ir) with [M'(Cl)2(PPh3)2] (M' = Pd, Ni). The results depend on the molar ratio of the reagents used (1:1 or 1:2) to give the heterometallic complexes {d10-M',d8-M}-[(PPh3)(Cl)M'0(μ-bpi)MΙ(cod)] (Pd,Rh, 4; Pd,Ir, 5; Ni,Rh, 8; Ni,Ir, 9) and the two-electron mixed-valent compounds [(PPh3)(Cl)M'0(μ-bpi)M'ΙΙ(Cl)] (M' = Ni, 10; Pd, 11), respectively. A redox process occurs in the replacement of the low-valent [(cod)M-I] fragment, whereas the exchange of the [(cod)MI] fragment is redox-neutral. The metal with a d8 configuration in the products exhibits a square-planar geometry coordinated to two (Rh/Ir) or three (Ni/Pd) nitrogen atoms of the bridging bpi ligand. Conversely, the metal with a d10 configuration adopts trigonal-planar geometries, π-bonded to the imine C═N bond. The isolated complexes 4/5 and 10/11, along with the hypothetical heterometallic Pd,Ni compound (12), were studied by DFT methods. Additionally, the T-shaped moiety 'M'ΙΙ(PPh3)(Cl)(η1-CH-N(bpi))', stabilized by a secondary γ-agostic interaction, and the 'M'II(Cl)(κ3N-bpi)' fragment was found to be accessible redoxomers of complexes 10 and 11 by DFT calculations.

Platinum(II)-Gold(I) Heterotrinuclear Complexes with N,N’-Diarylamine-functionalized Acetylide Ligands for Red Electroluminescence

In this work, 4-substituted phenylacetylides with electron-rich N,N’-diarylamine groups are used for the design of triphosphine-supported PtAu2 complexes with red phosphorescence. Although PtAu2 complex 1 with 4-ethynyl-N,N’-diphenylaniline displays orange emission...

A heterodinuclear, formal Au+IPt0 complex with weakly bound alkene ligands

[(Ph₃P)AuPt(nbe)₃][BAr₄^F] (nbe = norbornene) constitutes the first olefin-containing, formal Au^+IPt⁰ complex. The unusual coordination mode and the electronic properties have been analyzed spectroscopically and by calculations. The low binding energy of the nbe ligands make this complex a valuable precursor for formal Au^+IPt⁰ complexes and a candidate for heterobimetallic catalysis.

Structural, Spectroscopic, and Chemical Bonding Analysis of Zn(II) Complex [Zn(sal)](H2O): Combined Experimental and Theoretical (NBO, QTAIM, and ELF) Investigation

The Zn(II) complex of salen-like scaffold [Zn(sal)](H2O) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV–Vis, and 1H-NMR spectroscopic techniques. The structure of complex was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In the complex, Zn (II) was placed in the inner N2O2 compartment of the salen scaffold in square planar geometry and crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n. DFT and TDDFT calculations were performed to reproduce the experimentally observed structural and spectroscopic (IR and UV–vis) findings. The bonding of the Zn(II) framework in the [Zn(sal)](H2O) complex was explored in depth. The theoretical approaches employed were perturbation theory within the context of the natural bond orbital (NBO) framework, and quantum theory of atoms in molecule (QTAIM) and electron localization function (ELF) analysis. The study begins by delineating the difference between the NBO and QTAIM approaches. This paper thus exhibits the supportive nature of NBO theory and QTAIM in discussion of the bonding in the [Zn(sal)](H2O) complex, when both the methodologies are used in combination.

Silver(I) Complexes of Diphenylpyridines: Crystal Structures, Luminescence Studies, Theoretical Insights, and Biological Activities

A series of simple two-coordinated cationic silver(I) complexes, namely, [Ag{4-(4-R¹ -phenyl)-2,6-diphenylpyridine}₂ ]X (X=ClO₄ ^- , BF₄ ^- , or SO₃ CF₃ ^- ), with different electron-donating or -withdrawing groups (e.g., R¹ =N(Me)₂ , Me, H, Cl, and Br) on the phenyl ring, were successfully prepared. Extensive characterization of these complexes by various NMR spectroscopy techniques and mass spectrometry was further corroborated by single-crystal XRD analyses. Detailed photophysical investigations of [Ag{4-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-2,6-diphenylpyridine}₂ ]ClO₄ (C1) displayed a strong room-temperature fluorescence in solution with an anomalously high luminescence quantum yield of 0.83. The effects of distinct substituent groups (C2-C5), π-conjugated aromatic rings (C6 and C7), and anions (C8 and C9) on the photoluminescence properties were evaluated. Furthermore, DFT and time-dependent DFT calculations were performed to discern the composition of the excited state, as well as to confirm the obtained relative emission energies upon substitution with electronically different ligands. These results indicated that the strong electron-donating substituent of N,N-dimethylamine played an important role in the unprecedented high luminescence quantum yield of C1. In addition, preliminary antimicrobial studies and confocal microscopy fluorescent imaging of HeLa cells labeled with these complexes reveal their potential applications in biological activities.

Role of Lewis acid additives in a palladium catalyzed directed C-H functionalization reaction of benzohydroxamic acid to isoxazolone

Metallic salts as well as protic additives are widely employed in transition metal catalyzed C-H bond functionalization reactions to improve the efficiency of catalytic protocols. In one such example, ZnCl₂ and pivalic acid are used as additives in a palladium catalyzed synthesis of isoxazolone from a readily available benzohydroxamic acid under one pot conditions. In this article, we present some important mechanistic insights into the role of ZnCl₂ and pivalic acid, gained by using density functional theory (M06) computations. Two interesting modes of action of ZnCl₂ are identified in various catalytic steps involved in the formation of isoxazolone. The conventional Lewis acid coordination wherein zinc chloride (ZnCl₂·(DMA)) binds to the carbonyl group is found to be more favored in the C-H activation step. However, the participation of a hetero-bimetallic Pd-Zn species is preferred in reductive elimination leading to C_aryl-N bond formation. Pivalic acid helps in relay proton transfer in C-H bond activation through a cyclometallation deprotonation (CMD) process. The explicit inclusion of ZnCl₂ and solvent N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMA) stabilizes the transition state and also helps reduce the activation barrier for the C-H bond activation step. The electronic communication between the two metal species is playing a crucial role in stabilizing the C_aryl-N bond formation transition state through a Pd-Zn hetero-bimetallic interaction.

An Extended Chain and Trinuclear Complexes Based on Pt(II)-M (M = Tl(I), Pb(II)) Bonds: Contrasting Photophysical Behavior

The syntheses and structural characterizations of a Pt-Tl chain [{Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2}Tl(Me2CO)]n 1 and two trinuclear Pt2M clusters (NBu4)[{Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2}2Tl] 2 and [{Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2}2Pb] 3 (bzq = 7,8-benzoquinolinyl), stabilized by donor-acceptor Pt → M bonds, are reported. The one-dimensional heterometallic chain 1 is formed by alternate "Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2" and "Tl(Me2CO)" fragments, with Pt-Tl bond separations in the range of 2.961(1)-3.067(1) Å. The isoelectronic trinuclear complexes 2 (which crystallizes in three forms, namely, 2a, 2b, and 2c) and 3 present a sandwich structure in which the Tl(I) or Pb(II) is located between two "Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2" subunits. NMR studies suggest equilibria in solution implying cleavage and reformation of Pt-M bonds. The lowest-lying absorption band in the UV-vis spectra in CH2Cl2 and tetrahydrofuran (THF) of 1, associated with (1)MLCT/(1)L'LCT (1)[5dπ(Pt) → π*(bzq)]/(1)[(C6F5) → bzq], displays a blue shift in relation to the precursor, suggesting the cleavage of the chain maintaining bimetallic Pt-Tl fragments in solution, also supported by NMR spectroscopy. In 2 and 3, it shows a blue shift in THF and a red shift in CH2Cl2, supporting a more extensive cleavage of the Pt-M bonds in THF solutions than in CH2Cl2, where the trinuclear entities are predominant. The Pt-Tl chain 1 displays in solid state a bright orange-red emission ascribed to (3)MM'CT (M' = Tl). It exhibits remarkable and fast reversible vapochromic and vapoluminescent response to donor vapors (THF and Et2O), related to the coordination/decoordination of the guest molecule to the Tl(I) ion, and mechanochromic behavior, associated with the shortening of the intermetallic Pt-Tl separations in the chain induced by grinding. In frozen solutions (THF, acetone, and CH2Cl2) 1 shows interesting luminescence thermochromism with emissions strongly dependent on the solvent, concentration, and excitation wavelengths. The Pt2Tl complex 2 shows an emission close to 1, ascribed to charge transfer from the platinum fragment to the thallium [(3)(L+L')MM'CT]. 2 also shows vapoluminescent behavior in the presence of vapors of Me2CO, THF, and Et2O, although smaller and slower than those of 1. The trinuclear neutral complex Pt2Pb 3 displays a blue-shift emission band, tentatively assigned to admixture of (3)MM'CT (3)[Pt(d) → Pb(sp)] with some metal-mediated intraligand ((3)ππ/(3)ILCT) contribution. In contrast to 1 and 2, 3 does not show vapoluminescent behavior.

Ionic bonding of lanthanides, as influenced by d- and f-atomic orbitals, by core-shells and by relativity

Lanthanide trihalide molecules LnX3 (X = F, Cl, Br, I) were quantum chemically investigated, in particular detail for Ln = Lu (lutetium). We applied density functional theory (DFT) at the nonrelativistic and scalar and SO-coupled relativistic levels, and also the ab initio coupled cluster approach. The chemically active electron shells of the lanthanide atoms comprise the 5d and 6s (and 6p) valence atomic orbitals (AO) and also the filled inner 4f semivalence and outer 5p semicore shells. Four different frozen-core approximations for Lu were compared: the (1s(2) -4d(10) ) [Pd] medium core, the [Pd+5s(2) 5p(6) = Xe] and [Pd+4f(14) ] large cores, and the [Pd+4f(14) +5s(2) 5p(6) ] very large core. The errors of LuX bonding are more serious on freezing the 5p(6) shell than the 4f(14) shell, more serious upon core-freezing than on the effective-core-potential approximation. The LnX distances correlate linearly with the AO radii of the ionic outer shells, Ln(3+) -5p(6) and X(-) -np(6) , characteristic for dominantly ionic Ln(3+) -X(-) binding. The heavier halogen atoms also bind covalently with the Ln-5d shell. Scalar relativistic effects contract and destabilize the LuX bonds, spin orbit coupling hardly affects the geometries but the bond energies, owing to SO effects in the free atoms. The relativistic changes of bond energy BE, bond length Re , bond force k, and bond stretching frequency vs do not follow the simple rules of Badger and Gordy (Re ∼BE∼k∼vs ). The so-called degeneracy-driven covalence, meaning strong mixing of accidentally near-degenerate, nearly nonoverlapping AOs without BE contribution is critically discussed.

Determinants for simultaneous binding of copper and platinum to human chaperone Atox1: hitchhiking not hijacking

Cisplatin (CisPt) is an anticancer agent that has been used for decades to treat a variety of cancers. CisPt treatment causes many side effects due to interactions with proteins that detoxify the drug before reaching the DNA. One key player in CisPt resistance is the cellular copper-transport system involving the uptake protein Ctr1, the cytoplasmic chaperone Atox1 and the secretory path ATP7A/B proteins. CisPt has been shown to bind to ATP7B, resulting in vesicle sequestering of the drug. In addition, we and others showed that the apo-form of Atox1 could interact with CisPt in vitro and in vivo. Since the function of Atox1 is to transport copper (Cu) ions, it is important to assess how CisPt binding depends on Cu-loading of Atox1. Surprisingly, we recently found that CisPt interacted with Cu-loaded Atox1 in vitro at a position near the Cu site such that unique spectroscopic features appeared. Here, we identify the binding site for CisPt in the Cu-loaded form of Atox1 using strategic variants and a combination of spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. We directly prove that both metals can bind simultaneously and that the unique spectroscopic signals originate from an Atox1 monomer species. Both Cys in the Cu-site (Cys12, Cys15) are needed to form the di-metal complex, but not Cys41. Removing Met10 in the conserved metal-binding motif makes the loop more floppy and, despite metal binding, there are no metal-metal electronic transitions. In silico geometry minimizations provide an energetically favorable model of a tentative ternary Cu-Pt-Atox1 complex. Finally, we demonstrate that Atox1 can deliver CisPt to the fourth metal binding domain 4 of ATP7B (WD4), indicative of a possible drug detoxification mechanism.

Role of metal in folding and stability of copper proteins in vitro

Metal coordination is required for function of many proteins. For biosynthesis of proteins coordinating a metal, the question arises if the metal binds before, during or after folding of the polypeptide. Moreover, when the metal is bound to the protein, how does its coordination affect biophysical properties such as stability and dynamics? Understanding how metals are utilized by proteins in cells on a molecular level requires accurate descriptions of the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters involved in protein-metal complexes. Copper is one of the essential transition metals found in the active sites of many key proteins. To avoid toxicity of free copper ions, living systems have developed elaborate copper-transport systems that involve dedicated proteins that facilitate efficient and specific delivery of copper to target proteins. This review describes in vitro and in silico biophysical work assessing the role of copper in folding and stability of copper-binding proteins. Examples of proteins discussed are: a blue-copper protein (Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin), members of copper-transport systems (bacterial CopZ, human Atox1 and ATP7B domains) and multi-copper ferroxidases (yeast Fet3p and human ceruloplasmin). The consequences of interactions between copper proteins and platinum-complexes are also discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cell Biology of Metals.