Synthetic Approaches to Polypyridyl Bridging Ligands with Proximal Multidentate Binding Sites

Fifty Shades of Phenanthroline: Synthesis Strategies to Functionalize 1,10-Phenanthroline in All Positions

1,10-Phenanthroline (phen) is one of the most popular ligands ever used in coordination chemistry due to its strong affinity for a wide range of metals with various oxidation states. Its polyaromatic structure provides robustness and rigidity, leading to intriguing features in numerous fields (luminescent coordination scaffolds, catalysis, supramolecular chemistry, sensors, theranostics, etc.). Importantly, phen offers eight distinct positions for functional groups to be attached, showcasing remarkable versatility for such a simple ligand. As a result, phen has become a landmark molecule for coordination chemists, serving as a must-use ligand and a versatile platform for designing polyfunctional arrays. The extensive use of substituted phenanthroline ligands with different metal ions has resulted in a diverse array of complexes tailored for numerous applications. For instance, these complexes have been utilized as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells, as luminescent probes modified with antibodies for biomaterials, and in the creation of elegant supramolecular architectures like rotaxanes and catenanes, exemplified by Sauvage's Nobel Prize-winning work in 2016. In summary, phen has found applications in almost every facet of chemistry. An intriguing aspect of phen is the specific reactivity of each pair of carbon atoms ([2,9], [3,8], [4,7], and [5,6]), enabling the functionalization of each pair with different groups and leading to polyfunctional arrays. Furthermore, it is possible to differentiate each position in these pairs, resulting in non-symmetrical systems with tremendous versatility. In this Review, the authors aim to compile and categorize existing synthetic strategies for the stepwise polyfunctionalization of phen in various positions. This comprehensive toolbox will aid coordination chemists in designing virtually any polyfunctional ligand. The survey will encompass seminal work from the 1950s to the present day. The scope of the Review will be limited to 1,10-phenanthroline, excluding ligands with more intracyclic heteroatoms or fused aromatic cycles. Overall, the primary goal of this Review is to highlight both old and recent synthetic strategies that find applicability in the mentioned applications. By doing so, the authors hope to establish a first reference for phenanthroline synthesis, covering all possible positions on the backbone, and hope to inspire all concerned chemists to devise new strategies that have not yet been explored.

Chemoselective, osmium-free, dihydroxylation/oxidative cleavage of heteroaryl isoprenes by a contemporary Malaprade reaction

The methyl ketone is a central synthetic building block for the construction of advanced heteroaryl scaffolds and systems. Reactions, including oxidative cyclization strategies, are often predicated on efficient access to this ubiquitous moiety. In the context of arenes, standard approaches leveraging Markovnikov hydration/oxidation or oxidative cleavage of the C-C π bond often afford satisfactory performance. However, when the substrate contains an electron-deficient heteroaryl core, the traditional Malaprade reaction, and related oxidative-cleavage strategies, frequently result in diminished performance over carbon-based arenes. In this work we present the development and application of an oxidative cleavage reaction of various pyridinyl isoprenes towards accessing the downstream methyl ketone for utilization in advanced cyclizations for the preparation of soft-N-donor complexant scaffolds. This efficient protocol parallels the principles of Green chemistry by exchanging KMnO₄ for the toxic OsO₄ and offers the end-user an efficient, more environmentally friendly option for accessing heteroaryl methyl ketones in one hour of reaction time using potassium permanganate and sodium paraperiodate as a synergistically potent oxidative cleavage system. The wide substrate scope defined access to simple, as well as advanced heteroaryl methyl ketones. Method development, optimization, substrate scope, preliminary mechanistic observations, and a scale up reaction are delineated herein.

Synthesis of a series of M(II) (M = Mn, Fe, Co) chloride complexes with both inter- and intra-ligand hydrogen bonding interactions

Hydrogen bonding networks are vital for metallo-enzymes to function; however, modeling these systems is non-trivial. We report the synthesis of metal chloride (M = Mn, Fe, Co) complexes with intra- and inter-ligand hydrogen bonding interactions. The intra-ligand hydrogen bonds are shown to have a profound effect on the geometry of the metal center.

Revisiting Dinuclear Ruthenium Water Oxidation Catalysts: Effect of Bridging Ligand Architecture on Catalytic Activity

An attractive catalytic pathway for the conversion of water to oxygen would involve two metal oxide centers combining in a constructive sense to make O═O. This prospect makes the study of certain dinuclear transition metal complexes particularly attractive. In this work, we describe the design and synthesis of two symmetrical bis-tridentate polypyridine ligands 6 and 12 that bind two Ru^II centers at a separation of 3.6 Å in 7 and 5.7 Å in 13. In the presence of Ce^IV at pH = 1, these systems oxidize water with the system having the more proximal metals being more reactive. In the case of the more proximal metal centers, the bridging ligand is a 3,6-disubstituted pyridazine which, under the influence of Ce^IV, cleaves into two [Ru(bpc)(pic)₂CH₃CN]⁺ fragments (14) which then function as the actual catalyst (bpc = 2,2'-bipyridine-6-carboxylate, pic = 4-methylpyridine). The second dinuclear catalyst contains a central pyrimidine ring which is less sensitive to oxidative decay and hence less reactive. Caution is advised in the use of Ce^IV as a sacrificial electron acceptor due to unexpected oxidative decay of the catalyst.

A Chiral Naphthyridine Diimine Ligand Enables Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Alkylidenecyclopropanations

A novel class of chiral naphthyridine diimine ligands (NDI*) readily accessible from C₂ -symmetric 2,6-di-(1-arylethyl)anilines is described. The utility of these ligands, particularly one with fluorinated aryl side arms, is demonstrated by a reductive Ni-catalyzed enantioselective alkylidene transfer reaction from 1,1-dichloroalkenes to olefins. This transformation provides direct access to a broad range of synthetically valuable alkylidenecyclopropanes in high yields and enantioselectivities.

Radical Rebound Hydroxylation Versus H-Atom Transfer in Non-Heme Iron(III)-Hydroxo Complexes: Reactivity and Structural Differentiation

The characterization of high-valent iron centers in enzymes has been aided by synthetic model systems that mimic their reactivity or structural and spectral features. For example, the cleavage of dioxygen often produces an iron(IV)-oxo that has been characterized in a number of enzymatic and synthetic systems. In non-heme 2-oxogluterate dependent (iron-2OG) enzymes, the ferryl species abstracts an H-atom from bound substrate to produce the proposed iron(III)-hydroxo and caged substrate radical. Most iron-2OG enzymes perform a radical rebound hydroxylation at the site of the H-atom abstraction (HAA); however, recent reports have shown that certain substrates can be desaturated through the loss of a second H atom at a site adjacent to a heteroatom (N or O) for most native desaturase substrates. One proposed mechanism for the removal of the second H-atom  involves a polar-cleavage mechanism (electron transfer-proton transfer) by the iron(III)-hydroxo, as opposed to a second HAA. Herein we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of iron complexes with hydrogen bonding interactions between bound aquo or hydroxo ligands and the secondary coordination sphere in ferrous and ferric complexes. Interconversion among the iron species is accomplished by stepwise proton or electron addition or subtraction, as well as H-atom transfer (HAT). The calculated bond dissociation free energies (BDFEs) of two ferric hydroxo complexes, differentiated by their noncovalent interactions and reactivity, suggest that neither complex is capable of activating even weak C-H bonds, lending further support to the proposed mechanism for desaturation in iron-2OG desaturase enzymes. Additionally, the ferric hydroxo species are differentiated by their reactivity toward performing a radical rebound hydroxylation of triphenylmethylradical. Our findings should encourage further study of the desaturase systems that may contain unique H-bonding motifs proximal to the active site that help bias substrate desaturation over hydroxylation.

11-[Bis(trimethylsilyl)amino]-2,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6H-cyclohepta[1,2-b]quinoline

In the title compound, C26H48N2Si4, the cycloheptane ring adopts a chair conformation, while the quinolinyl ring system is almost planar [maximum deviation = 0.040 (3) Å for one of the C atoms carrying a Me3Si group]. In the crystal, in the absence of classical hydrogen bonding, the packing is dominated by van der Waals forces. One of the N-bound trimethylsilyl groups is disordered by rotation about the C—SiMe3bond, and was modelled over two sets of sites in the ratio 0.873 (8):0.127 (8).

Spin state variability in Fe2+ complexes of substituted (2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline) ligands as versatile terpyridine analogues

Fe²⁺ spin crossover complexes [Fe(L)₂]²⁺ (L = substituted (pyridin-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline) were prepared and SCO properties were investigated in solution and in the solid state by an experiment and in silico.

Redox properties and electron transfer in a triarylamine-substituted HS-Co2+/LS-Co3+ redox couple

The redox and electron transfer properties of a triarylamine decorated HS-Co²⁺/LS-Co³⁺ redox couple were investigated by coupled EPR/UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.

Water oxidation catalysis: influence of anionic ligands upon the redox properties and catalytic performance of mononuclear ruthenium complexes

Aiming at highly efficient molecular catalysts for water oxidation, a mononuclear ruthenium complex Ru(II)(hqc)(pic)(3) (1; H(2)hqc = 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid and pic = 4-picoline) containing negatively charged carboxylate and phenolate donor groups has been designed and synthesized. As a comparison, two reference complexes, Ru(II)(pdc)(pic)(3) (2; H(2)pdc = 2,6-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid) and Ru(II)(tpy)(pic)(3) (3; tpy = 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine), have also been prepared. All three complexes are fully characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry (MS), and X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 showed a high efficiency toward catalytic water oxidation either driven by chemical oxidant (Ce(IV) in a pH 1 solution) with a initial turnover number of 0.32 s(-1), which is several orders of magnitude higher than that of related mononuclear ruthenium catalysts reported in the literature, or driven by visible light in a three-component system with [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) types of photosensitizers. Electrospray ionization MS results revealed that at the Ru(III) state complex 1 undergoes ligand exchange of 4-picoline with water, forming the authentic water oxidation catalyst in situ. Density functional theory (DFT) was employed to explain how anionic ligands (hqc and pdc) facilitate the 4-picoline dissociation compared with a neutral ligand (tpy). Electrochemical measurements show that complex 1 has a much lower E(Ru(III)/Ru(II)) than that of reference complex 2 because of the introduction of a phenolate ligand. DFT was further used to study the influence of anionic ligands upon the redox properties of mononuclear aquaruthenium species, which are postulated to be involved in the catalysis cycle of water oxidation.

1-[6-(6-Acetyl-pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]ethanone

In the title compound, C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₂, the asymmetric unit comprises one half-mol­ecule with an inversion center between the pyridine rings. The rings are trans coplanar with the acetyl groups deviating slightly from the mean planes, making a dihedral angle of 4.63 (4)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a supra­molecular sheet parallel to (100).

Water oxidation by a ruthenium complex with noninnocent quinone ligands: possible formation of an O-O bond at a low oxidation state of the metal

Tanaka and co-workers reported a novel dinuclear Ru complex, [Ru2(OH)2(3,6-Bu2Q)2(btpyan)](SbF6)2 (3,6-Bu2Q = 3,6-di tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone, btpyan = 1,8-bis(2,2':6',2''-terpyrid-4'-yl)anthracene), that contains redox active quinone ligands and has an excellent electrocatalytic activity for water oxidation when immobilized on an indium-tin-oxide electrode (Inorg. Chem., 2001, 40, 329-337). The novel features of the dinuclear and related mononuclear Ru species with quinone ligands, and comparison of their properties to those of the Ru analogues with the bpy ligand (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) replacing quinone, are summarized here together with new theoretical and experimental results that show striking features for both the dinuclear and mononuclear species. The identity and oxidation state of key mononuclear species, including the previously reported oxyl radical, have been reassigned. Our gas-phase theoretical calculations indicate that the Tanaka Ru-dinuclear catalyst seems to maintain predominantly Ru(II) centers while the quinone ligands and water moiety are involved in redox reactions throughout the entire catalytic cycle for water oxidation. Our theoretical study identifies [Ru2(O2(-))(Q(-1.5))2(btpyan)](0) as a key intermediate and the most reduced catalyst species that is formed by removal of all four protons before four-electron oxidation takes place. While our study toward understanding the complicated electronic and geometric structures of possible intermediates in the catalytic cycle is still in progress, the current status and new directions for kinetic and mechanistic investigations, and key issues and challenges in water oxidation with the Tanaka catalyst (and its analogues with Cl(-) or NO(2-)substituted quinones and a species with a xanthene bridge instead an antheracene) are discussed.

Preparation and study of a family of dinuclear Ru(II) complexes that catalyze the decomposition of water

An approach is developed for the four-electron oxidation of water to provide dioxygen that involves the juxtaposition of two Ru(II) centers such that a metal-bound water molecule might interact with one or both of the metals. The key element in this approach is an appropriate bridging ligand that will hold the metal assembly intact through the full redox cycle. Various synthetic approaches to such ligands are described with the ultimate preparation of four closely related bis-tridentate polypyridine-type systems in which the bridging and distal portions of the ligand are varied. All of these ligands self-assemble with two Ru(II) centers bridged by a Cl ion in the equatorial plane and four axial monodentate substituted pyridines or N-methylimidazoles to form the well-organized catalyst complexes. These complexes are characterized by their distinctive (1)H NMR spectra as well as an X-ray structure of one representative species. The photophysical and electrochemical features of these complexes are consistent with electronegativity and delocalization effects in the equatorial and axial ligands. Of the 14 complexes studied, all but 2, which each contain four axial N-methylimidazole ligands, catalyze the decomposition of water in the presence of excess Ce(IV) as a sacrificial oxidant at pH = 1. Both the rates of oxygen evolution and the catalyst turnover numbers (TNs) are measured. For the active catalysts, the relative rates vary from 1 to 51 and the TNs measure from 80 to 689. Various analytical methods for making these measurements are discussed, and it is found that there is an approximately linear relationship between the rate and TN. Future work will involve optimization of these systems and studies aimed at a better understanding of the mechanism.

Metal catalyzed rearrangement of a 2,2′-bipyridine Schiff-base ligand to a quaterpyridine-type complex

A Co(II) quaterpyridine-type complex has been prepared via a one-pot transformation of a 2,2'-bipyridine Schiff-base ligand in the presence of a Lewis acidic metal salt.