Unprecedented Behavior of 2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-Terpyridine: Dinuclear Platinum(II) Derivatives with a New N,C∧C,N Bridging Ligand

Cyclometalated and NNN Terpyridine Ruthenium Photocatalysts and Their Cytotoxic Activity

The cyclometalated terpyridine complexes [Ru(η2-OAc)(NC-tpy)(PP)] (PP = dppb 1, (R,R)-Skewphos 4, (S,S)-Skewphos 5) are easily obtained from the acetate derivatives [Ru(η2-OAc)2(PP)] (PP = dppb, (R,R)-Skewphos 2, (S,S)-Skewphos 3) and tpy in methanol by elimination of AcOH. The precursors 2, 3 are prepared from [Ru(η2-OAc)2(PPh3)2] and Skewphos in cyclohexane. Conversely, the NNN complexes [Ru(η1-OAc)(NNN-tpy)(PP)]OAc (PP = (R,R)-Skewphos 6, (S,S)-Skewphos 7) are synthesized in a one pot reaction from [Ru(η2-OAc)2(PPh3)2], PP and tpy in methanol. The neutral NC-tpy 1, 4, 5 and cationic NNN-tpy 6, 7 complexes catalyze the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone (S/C = 1000) in 2-propanol with NaOiPr under light irradiation at 30 °C. Formation of (S)-1-phenylethanol has been observed with 4, 6 in a MeOH/iPrOH mixture, whereas the R-enantiomer is obtained with 5, 7 (50-52% ee). The tpy complexes show cytotoxic activity against the anaplastic thyroid cancer 8505C and SW1736 cell lines (ED50 = 0.31-8.53 µM), with the cationic 7 displaying an ED50 of 0.31 µM, four times lower compared to the enantiomer 6.

Rollover Cyclometalation as a Valuable Tool for Regioselective C-H Bond Activation and Functionalization

Rollover cyclometalation constitutes a particular case of cyclometallation reaction. This reaction occurs when a chelated heterocyclic ligand loses its bidentate coordination mode and undergoes an internal rotation, after which a remote C-H bond is regioselectively activated, affording an uncommon cyclometalated complex, called "rollover cyclometalated complex". The key of the process is the internal rotation of the ligand, which occurs before the C-H bond activation and releases from coordination a donor atom. The new "rollover" ligand has peculiar properties, being a ligand with multiple personalities, no more a spectator in the reactivity of the complex. The main reason of this peculiarity is the presence of an uncoordinated donor atom (the one initially involved in the chelation), able to promote a series of reactions not available for classic cyclometalated complexes. The rollover reaction is highly regioselective, because the activated C-H bond is usually in a symmetric position with respect to the donor atom which detaches from the metal stating the rollover process. Due to this novel behavior, a series of potential applications have appeared in the literature, in fields such as catalysis, organic synthesis, and advanced materials.

Palladium-Catalyzed Directed Halogenation of Bipyridine N-Oxides

The palladium-catalyzed directed C-H halogenation of bipyridine N-oxides was investigated. Using NCS or NBS (N-chloro- or N-bromosuccinimide) and 5 mol % Pd(OAc)₂ in chlorobenzene (0.10 molar) at 110 °C, pyridine-directed functionalization took place and 3-chloro- or 3-bromobipyridine N-oxides were obtained in high yields. The reaction is sensitive to steric hindrance by 4- and 6'-substituents. Only in the latter case, where coordination of palladium by the pyridine is hindered, 3'-halogenation directed by the N-oxide function was observed. The halogenated products were deoxygenated by PCl₃ or PBr₃.

Rhodium-catalyzed selective CH functionalization of NNN tridentate chelating compounds via a rollover pathway

Reported herein is the first example of the Rh(NHC)-catalyzed selective bis C-H alkylation of NNN tridentate chelating compounds in reaction with alkenes. The observed excellent site-selectivity can readily be explained by the postulated rollover pathway in the C-H bond activation step. The reaction is highly facile affording bis-alkylated tridentate products in high yields over a broad range of versatile heteroarene substrates and alkene reactants including ethylene gas, thus enabling its applications to be feasible in coordination and synthetic chemistry.

Chiral cyclometalation of 6-(1-phenylbenzyl)-2,2'-bipyridine

A new bipyridine ligand, 6-(1-phenylbenzyl)-2,2'-bipyridine, has been prepared by a multistep synthesis starting from the corresponding substituted pyridine. The coordinating properties of the new ligand have been tested with two d(8) metal ions, Pt(ii) and Pd(ii), to give the cyclometalated complexes [Pt(N,N,C)Cl] and [Pd(N,N,C)Cl], where N,N,C is a terdentate deprotonated bipyridine containing a new stereogenic carbon atom directly generated by C-H bond activation. The single-crystal of the platinum complex has been solved by X-ray diffraction. DFT calculations confirm the presence of a PtH interaction that stabilizes one of the two possible conformers by 14.7 kJ mol(-1) for Pt and 12.9 kJ mol(-1) for Pd. The energy barrier to pass from one conformer to the other is 25.4 and 23.8 kJ mol(-1) respectively. Under different reaction conditions, regioselective activation of a pyridine C-H bond gave the less common cyclometalated rollover complex [Pt(L-H)Me(DMSO)], which was isolated and characterised.

"Aggregation induced phosphorescence" active "rollover" iridium(III) complex as a multi-stimuli-responsive luminescence material

On reaction of 2,2'-bipyridine with iridium(iii), an "aggregation induced phosphorescence (AIP)" active "rollover" complex, [Ir(PPh3)2(bipy-H)(Cl)(H)] (bipy-H = κ(2)-N,C-2,2'-bipyridine) or [Ir(bipy-H)], is obtained. The emission colour changes from bluish-green to yellowish-orange and vice versa after repeated protonation and deprotonation of [Ir(bipy-H)], respectively, which unequivocally supports its reversible nature. [Ir(bipy-H)] is sensitive to acids with different pKa values. Tuning of the emission properties can be achieved in the presence of acids with different pKas. This behaviour allows the complex, [Ir(bipy-H)], to function as a phosphorescent acid sensor in both solution and the solid state, as well as a chemosensor for detecting acidic and basic organic vapours. The protonated form, [Ir(bipy-H)H(+)], which is generated after protonation of [Ir(bipy-H)] can be used as a solvatochromic probe for oxygen containing solvents, and also shows vapochromic properties. The emission, absorption and (1)H NMR spectra of [Ir(bipy-H)] under acidic and basic conditions demonstrate its reversible nature. DFT based calculations suggest that changes in the electron affinity of the pyridinyl rings are responsible for all these processes.

Rollover cyclometalation with 2-(2'-pyridyl)quinoline

Rollover cyclometalation of 2-(2'-pyridyl)quinoline, L, allowed the synthesis of the family of complexes [Pt(L-H)(X)(L')] and [Pt(L*)(X)(L')][BF4] (X = Me, Cl; L' = neutral ligand), the former being the first examples of Pt(II) rollover complexes derived from the ligand L. The ligand L* is a C,N cyclometalated, N-protonated isomer of L, and can also be described as an abnormal-remote pyridylene. The corresponding [Pt(L-H)(Me)(L')]/[Pt(L*)(Me)(L')](+) complexes constitute an uncommon Brønsted-Lowry acid-base conjugated couple. The species obtained were investigated in depth through NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and density functional theory (DFT) methods to correlate different chemico-physical properties with the nature of the cyclometalated ligand (e.g., L vs bipy or L* vs L) and of the neutral ligand (DMSO, CO, PPh3). The crystal structures of [Pt(L-H)(Me)(PPh3)], [Pt(L-H)(Me)(CO)] and [Pt(L*)(Me)(CO)][BF4] were determined by X-ray powder diffraction methods, the latter being the first structure of a Pt(II)-based, protonated, rollover complex to be unraveled. The isomerization of [Pt(L*)(Me)(PPh3)](+) in solution proceeds through a retro-rollover process to give the corresponding adduct [Pt(L)(Me)(PPh3)](+), where L acts as a classical N,N chelating ligand. Notably, the retro-rollover reaction is the first process, among the plethora of Pt-C bond protonolysis reactions reported in the literature, where a Pt-C(heteroaryl) bond is cleaved rather than a Pt-C(alkyl) one.

(C^C*) Cyclometalated binuclear N-heterocyclic biscarbene platinum(II) complexes--highly emissive phosphorescent emitters

A series of bimetallic N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) platinum(II) complexes with the general formula [Pt(NHC)(L)]2Ph were synthesized, which are composed of two [Pt(NHC)(L)] (L = acetylacetone, dipivaloylmethane or dimesitoylmethane; NHC = 3-methylimidazole or 3-benzylimidazole) fragments. Both fragments are cyclometalated to the same central phenyl ring in the para- or meta-position. All complexes have been fully characterized by standard techniques, two of them additionally by solid-state structures. Photoluminescence properties were investigated and very high quantum yields of 76-93% at room temperature have been observed. For a single-matrix device with an emitter concentration of 30%, a current efficiency of 25 cd A(-1), an external quantum efficiency of 8.5%, and a luminance efficiency of 10 lm W(-1) were achieved at 300 cd m(-2). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to support experimental data and gain further insight into the photoluminescence behaviour.

Combination of lacunary polyoxometalates and high-nuclear transition metal clusters under hydrothermal conditions: IX. a series of novel polyoxotungstates sandwiched by octa-copper clusters

The reaction of CuCl(2).2 H2O with trivacant Keggin polyoxoanions K8Na2[A-alpha-GeW9O34].25 H2O or K10[A-alpha-SiW9O34].25 H2O in the presence of 1,2-diaminopropane (dap), ethylenediamine (en) or 2,2'-bipyridine (2,2'-bpy) under hydrothermal conditions afforded five novel hybrid inorganic-organic octa-Cu sandwiched polyoxotungstates (POTs): H4[CuII8(dap)4(H2O)2(B-alpha-GeW9O34)2].13 H2O (1), (H2en)2[CuII8-(en)4(H2O)2(B-alpha-GeW9O34)2].5 H2O(2), (H2en)2[CuII8(en)4(H2O)2(B-alpha-SiW9-O34)2].8 H2O (3), [CuII(H2O)2]H2[CuII8-(en)4(H2O)2(B-alpha-SiW9O34)2] (4), and [CuII2(H2O)2(2,2'-bpy)2]{[CuII(bdyl)]2-[CuII8(2,2'-bpy)4(H2O)2(B-alpha-GeW9-O34)2]}.4 H2O (bdyl=2,2'-bipyridinyl)(5). Additionally, CuCl(2).2 H2O reacts with the mixture of GeO2, Na2WO(4).2 H2O, H2SiW12O(40).2 H2O in the presence of 2,2'-bpy and 4,4'-bpy under hydrothermal conditions leading to another novel mixed-valent octa-Cu sandwiched POT hybrid: [CuI(2,2'-bpy)(4,4'-bpy)]2[{CuI2(2,2'-bpy)2(4,4'-bpy)]2[CuI2CuII6(2,2'-bpy)2(4,4'-bpy)2(B-alpha-GeW9O34)2}].2 H2O (6). 1, 2, and 3 are discrete dimers constructed from two trivacant Keggin [B-alpha-XW9O34]10- (X=GeIV/SiIV) fragments and an octa-Cu cluster whereas 4 displays the 3D (3,6)-connected nets with (4.6(2))(4(2).6(4).8(7).10(2)) topology, which are built by octa-Cu sandwiched polyoxometalate building blocks through copper cation bridges. 5 is a novel 2D layer based on octa-Cu sandwiched POT clusters and [CuII2(bdyl)] units. Interestingly, the rollover metalation of 2,2'-bpy is firstly observed in the system containing the copper complex under hydrothermal conditions. 6 is a discrete mixed-valent octa-Cu sandwiched POT supported by two CuI-complexes [CuI2-(2,2'-bpy)2(4,4'-bpy)]2+ through 4,4'-bpy bridges, which constructs a novel dodeca-copper cluster. Notably, the octa-Cu cluster in 6 is mixed-valent and is different from those in 1-5. To our knowledge, 1-6 represent a rare family of POTs incorporating novel octa-nuclear transition-metal clusters in polyoxometalate chemistry. They were structurally characterized by FT-IR spectra, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The magnetic properties of 1, 4, and 5 were quantitatively analyzed by the MAGPACK software package.