Ferrocene-Derived Palladium(II)-Based Metallosupramolecular Structures: Synthesis, Guest Interaction, and Stimulus-Responsiveness Studies

Using ferrocene-based ligand systems, a series of heterobimetallic architectures of the general formula [Pd_mL_n]^x+ were designed with the aim of installing an opening and closing mechanism that would allow the release and binding of guest molecules. Palladium complex formation was achieved through coordination to pyridyl groups, and using 2-, 3-, and 4-pyridyl derivatives provided access to defined PdL, PdL₂, and Pd₂L₄ structures, respectively. The supramolecular complexes were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis, and for some examples density functional theory calculations and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. ¹H NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate disassembly and reassembly of the metallosupramolecular structures. The former was induced by cleavage of the relatively labile Pd-N_pyridyl bonds with the introduction of the competing ligands N,N'-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and Cl^- (using tetrabutylammonium chloride) to yield [Pd(DMAP)₄]²⁺ and [PdCl₄]^2-, respectively. The process was found to be reversible for several of the heterodimetallic compounds, with the addition of H⁺ or Ag⁺ triggering complex reassembly. Guest binding studies with several architectures revealed interactions with the anionic guests p-toluenesulfonate and octyl sulfate, but not with neutral molecules. Furthermore, the release of guests was reversibly induced with Cl^- ions as a stimulus.

Hydrogen Bonded Foldamers with Axial Chirality: Chiroptical Properties and Applications

Folding phenomenon refers to the formation of a specific conformation widely featured by the intramolecular interactions, which broadly exist in biomacromolecules, and are closely related to their structures and functions. A variety of oligomeric folded molecules have been designed and synthesized, namely "foldamer", exhibiting potentials in pharmaceutical and catalysis. Molecular folding is a promising strategy to transfer chirality from substituents to the whole skeleton, when chirality transfer, amplification, evolution, and other behaviors could be achieved. Investigating chirality using foldamer model deepens the understanding of the structure-function correlation in biomacromolecules and expands the molecular toolbox towards chiroptical and asymmetrical chemistry. Substitutes with abundant hydrogen bonding sites conjugated to a rotatable aryl group afford a parallel β-sheet-like conformation, which enables the emergence and manipulation of axial chirality. This concept aims to give a brief introduction and summary of the hydrogen bonded foldamers with anchored axial chirality, by taking some recent cases as examples. Design principles, control over axial chirality and applications are also reviewed.

Perimeter Coordinated Diastereomeric Rh(I) Complex of Helically Twisted Weakly Aromatic Hybrid Singly N-Confused β-β Fused Ferrocenoporphyrinoids

Expedient synthesis, spectroscopic, solid state structural proof, and theoretical study of helically twisted weakly aromatic hybrid singly N-confused ferrocenoporphyrinoids and the peripheral coordinated Rh(I) complex are reported. The X-ray crystal structure of the macrocycles reveals an ambiguously inverted pyrrole ring reinforcing regioselective β,β-linkage with the spatially adjacent N-confused N-methyl pyrrole ring leading to endocyclic extension of macrocyclic π-conjugation via tricyclic [5.5.5] moiety. The three-dimensional structure with built-in fused tricyclic [5.5.5] moiety has paved way to three-dimensional weak diatropicity with vis-NIR absorptions. The peripheral coordinated Rh(I) complex owing to helical chirality about the macrocyclic ring and planar chirality about the square planar Rh coordination site exists as a mixture of diastereomers (5:3) with well resolved ¹H NMR spectra anticipating weak aromaticity. The experimental spectroscopic measurements are in agreement with theoretically determined electronic structure and properties strongly elucidating sustained weak diatropic ring currents in twisted macrocycles both in neutral form and in the metalated complex. Further fragment molecular orbital approach and molecular orbital theory gave insights on the stability of N-confused β-β fused oxo-ferrocenoporphyrinoids and formation of the selective peripheral coordinated Rh(I) complex.

Biolabeling with cobaltocinium tags

A label for amino and thiol functionalities of peptides and proteins based on the activated cobaltocinium hexafluorophosphate succinimide ester (CoS) is presented. Despite the known selectivity of a succinimide ester towards amines, CoS also modifies cysteine residues under the same reaction conditions. The derivatized biomolecules were investigated using liquid chromatography with subsequent electrospray-mass spectrometric detection (LC/ESI-MS). In combination with their remarkable stability under physiological conditions, easy handling and good spectroscopic properties, cobaltocinium ions provide all requirements for a powerful labeling reagent. Furthermore, in direct comparison to the isoelectronic well-established ferrocene reagents, the higher redox potential and the chemical stability of the cobaltocinium moiety add to the benefits as a derivatizing agent for bioanalysis.

Chirality Induction in Bioorganometallic Conjugates

Considerable attention has been given to the research field of bioorganometallic chemistry, which is a hybrid chemistry field between biology and organometallic chemistry. The introduction of biomolecules, which have hydrogen bonding sites and chiral centers, into organometallic compounds is a promising strategy to construct chirality-organized bioorganometallic conjugates. This feature paper sketches an outline of induction of helical chirality into bioorganometallic conjugates by the control of a torsional twist of the organometallic moiety. Topics covered included control of the helical chirality of 1,n′-disubstituted ferrocene moieties in ferrocene-dipeptide conjugates, and the chirality induction of the Au(I)–Au(I) axis in the dinuclear organogold(I)-uracil conjugates.

Amino acid ferrocene conjugates using sulfonamide linkages

This report presents the synthesis and characterization of mono- and bis(amino acid ester) ferrocene complexes generated using a sulfonamide linking strategy as an alternative to the more heavily explored amide linking strategy. These compounds were investigated to test their ability to form hydrogen bonding interactions both in the solid state and in solution, and were compared to the previously observed intramolecular interstrand crosslinking seen in amide-linked ferrocene constructs. Synthesized compounds also included controls that do not exhibit sulfonamide N-H bonds and thus cannot engage in hydrogen bonding. In the solid state, we observe both S=O⋯H-N and C=O⋯H-N intermolecular interactions, but we do not observe any intramolecular interstrand hydrogen bonding. In the solution phase, we also do not see any intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions in these compounds as measured by titration of d₆-DMSO as a competitive hydrogen bonding reagent. We also collected CD spectra on these compounds, which revealed that the chiral peptides can induce dichroism in the dd transition of the ferrocene units. Our results indicate that the peptide-ferrocene linking group governs whether intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions can occur between the amino acids adjacent to the cyclopentadienyl groups.

Metal coordination of ferrocene–histidine conjugates

Synthesis and complete structural characterization of ferrocene–histidine dipeptides including detailed analysis of the ligand–metal complexation.

Monomeric mixed cadmium-2,2'-dipyridylamine complex derived from ferrocenecarboxylic acid: Structural, electrochemical and biological studies

A mixed Cd(II) complex {[Cd(FcCOO)2(dpyam)(H2O)][Cd(dpyam)2 (H2O)2]·(ClO4)2·CH3OH} (1) (where FcCOO=ferrocenecarboxylic acid and dpyam=2,2'-dipyridylamine), has been synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, (1)H &(13)C NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The molecular structure of compound 1 has been determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique, which consists of mixed two different cadmium(II) complexes and two uncoordinated perchlorate ions. The crystal packing shows that the compound 1 self-assembled by intermolecular hydrogen bonding via pyridyl N-H⋯O and coordinated water O⋯H-O-H⋯O, to afford the molecule 2D supramolecular network. Compound 1 exhibits high-energy intraligand (π-π(∗)) fluorescence emission. In electrochemical studies of compound 1 shows negative potential compared with ferrocenecarboxylic acid due to formation of coordination complex with Cd ions. The antibacterial study against the distinct bacterial strains show compound 1 has significant activity.