Schiff Base in Ketoamine Form and Rh(η4-cod)-Schiff Base Complex with Z' = 2 Structure from Pairwise C-H···Metallochelate-π Contacts

Condensation of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (salicylaldehyde) or 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with 2-ethylaniline yields the Schiff base compound of (E)-2-(((2-ethylphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol (HL1) or (E)-1-(((2-ethylphenyl)imino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol (HL2), which in turn react with the dinuclear complex of [Rh(η4-cod)(µ-O2CCH3)]2 (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) to afford the mononuclear (η4-cod){(E)-2-(((2-ethylphenyl)imino)methyl)phenolato-κ2N,O}rhodium(I), [Rh(η4-cod)(L1)] (1) or (η4-cod){(E)-1-(((2-ethylphenyl)imino)methyl)naphthalen-2-olato-κ2N,O}rhodium(I), [Rh(η4-cod)(L2)] (2) (L1 or L2 = deprotonated Schiff base ligand). The X-ray structure determination revealed that the HL2 exists in the solid state not as the usual (imine)N···H-O(phenol) form (enolamine form) but as the zwitterionic (imine)N-H+···-O(phenol) form (ketoamine form). 1H NMR spectra for HL2 in different solvents demonstrated the existence of keto-enol tautomerism (i.e., keto ⇆ enol equilibrium) in solution. The structure for 1 and 2 showed that the deprotonated Schiff base ligand coordinates to the Rh(η4-cod)-fragment as a six-membered N^O-chelate around the rhodium atom with a close-to-square-planar geometry. Two symmetry-independent molecules (with Rh1 and Rh2) were found in the asymmetric unit in 1 in a structure with Z' = 2. The supramolecular packing in HL2 was organized by π-π and C-H···π contacts, while only two recognized C-H···π contacts were revealed in 1 and 2. Remarkably, there were reciprocal or pairwise C-H···π contacts between a pair of each of the symmetry-independent molecules in 1. This pairwise C-H contact to the Rh-N^O chelate (metalloaromatic) ring may be a reason for the two symmetry-independent molecules in 1. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses revealed an irreversible phase transformation from the crystalline-solid to the isotropic-liquid phase and subsequently confirmed the thermal stability of the compounds. Absorption spectra in solution were explained by excited state properties from DFT/TD-DFT calculations.

Taming salophen in rare earth metallocene chemistry

An unprecedented series of salophen-bridged rare earth metallocenes, (Cp*2RE)2(μ-tBusalophen) (RE = Gd, Dy, and Y), has been crystallized. The solid and solution states have been unambiguously characterized by magnetic, spectroscopic and DFT methods.

Schiff base ligands derived from 1,2-bis(2′-nitro-/amino-phenoxy)-3-R-benzene and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and their Cu/Zn(ii) complexes: synthesis, characterization, X-ray structures and computational studies

Racemic crystals of Cu/Zn(ii)-tetradentate Schiff base ligands with Λ/Δ-chirality induction at-metal center.

Effect of Substituents on the Crystal Structures, Optical Properties, and Catalytic Activity of Homoleptic Zn(II) and Cd(II) β-oxodithioester Complexes

Five novel zinc(II) and cadmium(II) β-oxodithioester complexes, [Zn(L1)₂] (1), [Zn(L2)₂]_n (2), [Zn(L3)₂]_n (3) [Cd(L1)₂]_n (4), [Cd(L2)₂]_n (5), with β-oxodithioester ligands, where L1 = 3-(methylthio)-1-(thiophen-2-yl)-3-thioxoprop-1-en-1-olate, L2 = 3-(methylthio)-1-(pyridin-3-yl)-3-thioxoprop-1-en-1-olate, and L3 = 3-(methylthio)-1-(pyridin-4-yl)-3-thioxoprop-1-en-1-olate, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis, and NMR spectroscopy (¹H and ¹³C{¹H}). The solid-state structures of all complexes were ascertained by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The β-oxodithioester ligands are bonded to Zn(II)/Cd(II) metal ions in an O^∧S and N chelating/chelating-bridging fashion leading to the formation of 1D (in 2-4) and 2D (in 5) coordination polymeric structures, but complex 1 was obtained as a discrete tetrahedral molecule. Complex 4 crystallizes in the C2 chiral space group and has been studied using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The multidimensional assemblies in these complexes are stabilized by many important noncovalent C-H···π (ZnOSC₃, chelate), π···π, C-H···π, and H···H interactions. The catalytic activities of 1-5 in reactions involving C-C and C-O bond formation have been studied, and the results indicated that complex 3 can be efficiently utilized as a heterogeneous bifunctional catalyst for the Knoevenagel condensation and multicomponent reactions to develop biologically important organic molecules. The luminescent properties of complexes were also studied. Interestingly, zinc complexes 1-3 showed strong lumniscent emission in the solid state, whereas cadmium complexes 4 and 5 exhibited bright luminescent emission in the solution phase. The semiconducting behavior of the complexes was studied by solid-state diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), which showed optical band gaps in the range of 2.49-2.62 eV.

Vapour- and solvent-mediated crystalline transformations in Mo(vi) hydrazone complexes controlled by noncovalent interactions

Through the use of hydrogen bond driven solid-state synthesis, mononuclear complexes are transformed into crystalline materials.

Molybdenum(vi) complexes of hemilabile aroylhydrazone ligands as efficient catalysts for greener cyclooctene epoxidation: an experimental and theoretical approach

The focus of this work was on the synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of Mo(vi) complexes with hemilabile 2-aminobenzhydrazone ligands.

[Rh(L-alaninate)(1,5-Cyclooctadiene)] Catalyzed Helix-Sense-Selective Polymerizations of Achiral Phenylacetylenes

The [Rh(L-alaninate)(cod)] (cod = 1,5-Cyclooctadiene) complex was synthesized and characterized. Asymmetric polymerizations of achiral phenylacetylene with two hydroxyl groups and a dodecyl group (DoDHPA) were performed by using the rhodium complex as the catalyst to provide polymers with a higher molecular weight (>10⁵) than the polymers obtained using the [Rh(cod)Cl]₂ initiator systems. The resulting polymers showed circular dichroism (CD) signals at approximately 310 and 470 nm, indicating that they have a preferential one-handed helical structure. The helix sense in the polymer main chain was controlled by the sign of the catalyst chirality. These findings suggest that the rhodium complex with a chiral amine is the true active species for the helix-sense-selective polymerization of DoDHPA. The [Rh(L-alaninate)(cod)] complex also exhibits high catalytic activity in the polymerization of phenylacetylene (PA) to give a high yield and molecular weight. All these results demonstrate that this Rh complex is an excellent catalyst for the polymerization of phenylacetylene monomers.

Synthesis and hydroformylation evaluation of Fréchet-type organometallic dendrons with N,O-salicylaldimine Rh(i) complexes at the focal point

A series of organometallic dendrons containing N,O-salicylaldimine entities at the focal point were synthesised by reacting the N,O-salicylaldimine-functionalised Fréchet dendrons (G0, G1 and G2) with a [Rh(μ-Cl)(η2:η2-COD)]2 dimer to yield the corresponding Rh(COD) [COD = cyclooctadiene] complexes. These Rh(COD) complexes were exposed to an atmosphere of CO to yield a new class of rhodium carbonyl organometallic dendrons with Rh(CO)2 units at the focal point. All the compounds were characterised using standard spectroscopic and analytical techniques, these include nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction for compounds 1, 4 and 7. All of the complexes were evaluated in the hydroformylation of 1-octene, with excellent conversion and chemoselectivity towards aldehydes. The G0-(CO)2 catalyst precursor (7) was active in the hydroformylation of 1-octene, styrene, 7-tetradecene, methyl oleate, triolein, d-limonene and R-citronellal. The conversion and chemoselectivity towards aldehydes for 7-tetradecene, methyl oleate, triolein and d-limonene were promising. Across a particular dendron series, an increase in chemoselectivity was observed due to the dendritic effect. Mercury drop tests were performed for the G0-analogues and these confirm that the hydroformylation can be attributed to a combination of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis.

Uranium rhodium bonding in heterometallic complexes

The U^IV–Rh^I intermetallic distances in the U₂Rh₂ complex (left, 2.7601(5) Å) and URh complex (right, 2.7630(5) Å) are very short and almost identical in the solid state even though solution electrochemistry suggests very different metal-based reduction processes.

The heterotetra- and bimetallic uranium(iv)–rhodium(i) complexes [U^IVI₂(μ-OAr^P-1κ¹O,2κ¹P)₂Rh^I(μ-I)]₂ (2) (Ar^PO^– = 2-(diphenylphosphino)-6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxide) and U^IVI(μ-I)(μ-OAr^P-1κ¹O,2κ¹P)₃Rh^I (3) were prepared by treatment of U^IVI(OAr^P-κ²O,P)₃ (1) with rhodium(i) iodide olefin complexes. The reaction of 1 with the monodentate cyclooctene (coe) rhodium(i) precursor [(coe)₂Rh^II]₂ gives only the bimetallic complex [U^IVRh^I] 3, and with the diene [(cod)Rh^II]₂ (5) (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene), mixtures of [U^IVRh^I]₂ complex 2 and [U^IVRh^I] 3 along with (cod)Rh^IOAr^P-κ²O,P (4), a Rh^I side-product from the formation of 2. The complexes were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. The U^IV–Rh^I intermetallic distances in 2 (2.7601(5) Å) and 3 (2.7630(5) Å) are among the shortest between f-elements and transition metals reported to date. Despite almost identical U–Rh bond lengths in the solid state, in solution only weak, and very different interactions between the metal centres are found.

Packing polymorphism in 3-amino-2-pyrazinecarboxylate based tin(ii) complexes and their catalytic activity towards cyanosilylation of aldehydes

3-Amino-2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid is used to synthesize two new mononuclear interconvertible packing polymorphs of tin(ii) which act as heterogeneous catalysts for the cyanosilylation of aldehydes with trimethylsilyl cyanide.

Magnetostructural relationships in polymorphic ethylmalonate-containing copper(ii) coordination polymers

Three ethylmalonate-containing non-centrosymmetric copper(ii) coordination polymers with magnetic properties ranging from antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetic ordering are synthetized under nearly identical conditions.

Spontaneous resolution of a Δ/Λ-chiral-at-metal pseudo-tetrahedral Schiff-base zinc complex to a racemic conglomerate with C–H⋯O organized 41- and 43-helices

Weak supramolecular interactions can be decisive!

Synthesis and characterization of thallium–salen derivatives for use as underground fluid flow tracers

[Tl₂(salo-Bu^t)] (1, shown) and [Tl₂(saloPh-Bu^t)] (2) were synthesized and characterized for use as monitors for deep subterranean fluid flows.

Conformational variety of flexible mono-dentate ligands in coordination compounds: influence of π-involving interactions

The effect of intermolecular interactions on the conformational variety of flexible mono-dentate ligands in coordination compounds has been investigated through the preparation of two series of mercury(ii) complexes. In this regard, the molecular and structural architecture of eight complexes, [HgCl2(L(amide-Cl))2] (), [HgCl2(L(amide-Br))2] (), [HgBr2(L(amide-Br))2] (), and [HgI2(L(amide-Br))2] (), as the first series and [HgBr2(L(imine-Cl))2] (), [HgBr2(L(imine-Br))2] (), [HgI2(L(imine-Cl))]n (), and [HgI2(L(imine-Br))]n (), as the second series, using two kind of flexible ligands, N-(1-halonaphthalen-4-yl)nicotinamide, L(amide-X), and 4-halo-N-((pyridin-3-yl)methylene)naphthalen-1-amine, L(imine-X), has been studied. Inspection of the packing of these compounds clearly shows the presence of conformational changes in the arrangement of the ligands in each series. Although there are slight differences between the crystal packing of these compounds, it seems that π-involving intermolecular interactions including πnaphπnaph in the first series and πimineπpy/naph in the second series with the cooperation of Hgπpy can lock the ligand conformational variety to a single conformer.

Chirality at metal and helical ligand folding in optical isomers of chiral bis(naphthaldiminato)nickel(ii) complexes

Ni-Schiff base complexes combine ligand chirality, chirality at metal, and helical ligand folding in a concerted way.

Supramolecular homochiral helicity and zigzag hydrogen bonded chains in 1,2,4-triazole derived aminoester and aminoacid

Two new triazole ligands were synthesized, and their crystal structure analysis revealed unprecedented homochiral helical and 2D hydrogen bonded network structures.

Mesoxalate as Cu(ii)–Ln(iii) linker in the construction of MOFs in DMSO/water medium

The combination of [Cu₃(Hmesox)₃]³⁻ with La(iii), Ce(iii), Pr(iii), Nd(iii) and Eu(iii) in DMSO/H₂O yields 3d–4f heterometallic metal–organic frameworks, with the dimensionality of the network being controlled by the coordination number of the Ln(iii) ion.

Synthesis of a series of new platinum organometallic complexes derived from bidentate Schiff-base ligands and their catalytic activity in the hydrosilylation and dehydrosilylation of styrene

Substituents on Schiff base ligands impact the rate and selectivity for Pt-catalysed dehydro/hydrosilylation reactions.

Polyamine quinoline rhodium complexes: synthesis and pharmacological evaluation as antiparasitic agents against Plasmodium falciparum and Trichomonas vaginalis

Salicylaldimine ligands and their corresponding Rh(i) complexes were prepared and evaluated as antiparasitic agents.