Group 11 metal complexes of the dinucleating triazole appended bisphosphine 1,4-bis(5-(diisopropylphosphaneyl)-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene

The synthesis of a triazole appended dinucleating bisphosphine 1,4-bis(5-(diisopropylphosphaneyl)-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene (2) and its coinage metal complexes are described. The dinucleating bisphosphine 2 was obtained by the temperature-controlled lithiation of 1,4-bis(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene (1a) and 1,4-bis(1-(2-bromophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene (1b) followed by the reaction with ⁱPr₂PCl. The reactions of 2 with copper(I) halides in 1 : 2 molar ratios yielded the [Cu(μ₂-X)]₂ dimeric complexes [{Cu(μ₂-X)}₂(PⁱPr₂N₃PhC₂)₂C₆H₄] (3, X = Cl; 4, X = Br; and 5, X = I), whereas the reaction of 2 with AgBr resulted in the formation of hetero-cubane complex [{Ag₄(μ₃-Br)₄}{(PⁱPr₂N₃PhC₂)₂C₆H₄}₂] (7). Similar reactions of 2 with AgX in 1 : 2 molar ratios yielded disilver complexes [{Ag(μ₂-X)}₂{(PⁱPr₂N₃PhC₂)₂C₆H₄}] (6, X = Cl and 8, X = I). Treatment of 2 with AgOAc in a 1 : 2 molar ratio afforded a dinuclear complex [Ag₂(μ₂-OAc)₂{(PⁱPr₂N₃PhC₂)₂(C₆H₄)}] (9) with one of the acetate ligands bridging the two metal centres in the side-on mode, whereas the other one adopting the end-on mode keeping the >CO group uncoordinated. The reaction of 2 with two equivalents of [AuCl(SMe₂)] afforded the digold complex [(AuClPⁱPr₂N₃PhC₂)₂C₆H₄] (10). The molecular structures of 2-5 and 7-10 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Non-covalent interactions between Cu and C_arene were observed in the molecular structures of 3, 4 and 5. These weak interactions were also assessed by DFT calculations in terms of their non-covalent interaction plots (NCI) and QTAIM analyses.

Keep it tight: a crucial role of bridging phosphine ligands in the design and optical properties of multinuclear coinage metal complexes

Copper subgroup metal ions in the +1 oxidation state are classical candidates for aggregation via non-covalent metal-metal interactions, which are supported by a number of bridging ligands. The bridging phosphines, soft donors with a relatively labile coordination to coinage metals, serve as convenient and essential components of the ligand environment that allow for efficient self-assembly of discrete polynuclear aggregates. Simultaneously, accessible and rich modification of the organic spacer of such P-donors has been used to generate many fascinating structures with attractive photoluminescent behavior. In this work we consider the development of di- and polynuclear complexes of M(i) (M = Cu, Ag, Au) and their photophysical properties, focusing on the effect of phosphine bridging ligands, their flexibility and denticity.

N-Heterocyclic Carbenes in Materials Chemistry

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have become one of the most widely studied class of ligands in molecular chemistry and have found applications in fields as varied as catalysis, the stabilization of reactive molecular fragments, and biochemistry. More recently, NHCs have found applications in materials chemistry and have allowed for the functionalization of surfaces, polymers, nanoparticles, and discrete, well-defined clusters. In this review, we provide an in-depth look at recent advances in the use of NHCs for the development of functional materials.

Tetrameric and polymeric silver complexes of the omeprazole scaffold; synthesis, structure, in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activities and DNA interaction

Two complexes [AgI(pmtbH)]₄ (1) and {[Ag₄(pmtbH)₄(NO₃)₄·2X}_n (2) (where pmtbH is 2-[(2-pyridinylmethyl)thio]-1H-benzimidazole and X is H₂O or MeOH) were synthesised and structurally characterised. Complex 2 showed therapeutic potential against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but complex 1 did not show significant activity in vitro. Further in vivo studies using larvae of the insect Galleria mellonella indicated that complex 2 significantly stimulates the immune system and that pre-treatment with the complex offers appreciable protection against all three bacteria. Real-time flow cytometry data support the observed antimicrobial profile of complex 2 and suggest the antimicrobial response may be linked to a form of bacterial programmed cell death (PCD). Complex 2 was found to interact with DNA in the bacterial and fungal cells but it did not cleave plasmid DNA isolated from the three bacteria.

Mono- and dimeric complexes of an asymmetric heterotopic P,CNHC,pyr ligand

An asymmetric heterotopic ligand (S-N(Me)CP) containing a central bicyclic, expanded-ring NHC with one pyridyl and one phosphine exo-substituent has been synthesised and its coordination chemistry with selected late transition metals investigated. The amidinium precursor [S-N(Me)CHP]PF6 shows variable coordination modes with Ag(i), Cu(i) and Au(i) depending on the L : M ratio. The reaction of two mols of [S-N(Me)CHP]PF6 with [Cu(MeCN)4]BF4, AgBF4 or Au(THT)Cl gives the bis-ligand complexes [Cu(κ-P-N(Me)CHP)2(CH3CN)2]BF4·(PF6)2, 1, and [M(κ-P-N(Me)CHP)2]X·(PF6)2 (3: M = Ag, X = BF4; 6: M = Au, X = Cl) respectively. The 1 : 1 reaction of [S-N(Me)CHP]PF6 with AgOTf gave the head-to-tail dimer H,T-[Ag2(μ-N,P-N(Me)CHP)2(μ-OTf)2](PF6)2, 2, whereas the analogous reaction with Au(THT)Cl gave monomeric [Au(κ-P-N(Me)CHP)Cl]PF6, 5. Complex 2 was converted to H,T-[Ag2(μ-C,P-N(Me)CP)2](PF6)2, 4, upon addition of base, while 6 gave [Au(κ-C-N(Me)CP)2]Cl, 8, when treated likewise. Reaction of [S-N(Me)CHP]PF6 with Ni(1,5-COD)2 gave the oxidative addition/insertion product [Ni(κ(3)-N,C,P-N(Me)CP)(η(3)-C8H13)]PF6, 9, which converted to [Ni(κ(3)-N,C,P-N(Me)CP)Cl]PF6, 10, upon exposure of a CHCl3 solution to air. Complex 10 showed conformational isomerism that was also present in [Rh(κ(3)-N,C,P-N(Me)CP)(CO)]PF6, 14, prepared from the precursor complex [Rh(κ-P-N(Me)CHP)(acac)(CO)]PF6, 13, upon heating in C6H5Cl. [Pt(κ(3)-N,C,P-N(Me)CP)(Cl)]PF6, 12, derived from trans-[Pt(κ-P-N(Me)CHP)2(Cl)2](PF6)2, 11, was isolated as a single conformer.

Functional Short-Bite Ligands: Synthesis, Coordination Chemistry, and Applications of N-Functionalized Bis(diaryl/dialkylphosphino)amine-type Ligands

The aim of this review is to highlight how the diversity generated by N-substitution in the well-known short-bite ligand bis(diphenylphosphino)amine (DPPA) allows a fine-tuning of the ligand properties and offers a considerable scope for tailoring the properties and applications of their corresponding metal complexes. The various N-substituents include nitrogen-, oxygen-, phosphorus-, sulfur-, halogen-, and silicon-based functionalities and directly N-bound metals. Multiple DPPA-type ligands linked through an organic spacer and N-functionalized DRPA-type ligands, in which the PPh2 substituents are replaced by PR2 (R = alkyl, benzyl) groups, are also discussed. Owing to the considerable diversity of N-functionalized DPPA-type ligands available, the applications of their mono- and polynuclear metal complexes are very diverse and range from homogeneous catalysis with well-defined or in situ generated (pre)catalysts to heterogeneous catalysis and materials science. In particular, sustained interest for DPPA-type ligands has been motivated, at least in part, by their ability to promote selective ethylene tri- or tetramerization in combination with chromium. Ligands and metal complexes where the N-substituent is a pure hydrocarbon group (as opposed to N-functionalization) are outside the scope of this review. However, when possible, a comparison between the catalytic performances of N-functionalized systems with those of their N-substituted analogs will be provided.

Coinage metal complexes with bridging hybrid phosphine-NHC ligands: synthesis of di- and tetra-nuclear complexes

A series of P-NHC-type hybrid ligands containing both PR2 and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) donors on meta-bis-substituted phenylene backbones, L(Cy), L(tBu) and L(Ph) (R = Cy, tBu, Ph, respectively), was accessed through a modular synthesis from a common precursor, and their coordination chemistry with coinage metals was explored and compared. Metallation of L(Ph)·n(HBr) (n = 1, 2) with Ag2O gave the pseudo-cubane [Ag4Br4(L(Ph))2], isostructural to [Ag4Br4(L(R))2] (R = Cy, tBu) (T. Simler, P. Braunstein and A. A. Danopoulos, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., 2015, 54, 13691), whereas metallation of ·HBF4 (R = Ph, tBu) led to the dinuclear complexes [Ag2(L(R))2](BF4)2 which, in the solid state, feature heteroleptic Ag centres and a 'head-to-tail' (HT) arrangement of the bridging ligands. In solution, interconversion with the homoleptic 'head-to-head' (HH) isomers is facilitated by ligand fluxionality. 'Head-to-tail' [Cu2Br2(L(R))2] (R = Cy, tBu) dinuclear complexes were obtained from L(R)·HBr and [Cu5(Mes)5], Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, which also feature bridging ligands and heteroleptic Cu centres. Although the various ligands L(R)l ed to structurally analogous complexes for R = Cy, tBu and Ph, the rates of dynamic processes occurring in solution are dependent on R, with faster rates for R = Ph. Transmetallation of both NHC and P donor groups from [Ag4Br4(L(tBu))2] to AuI by reaction with [AuCl(THT)] (THT = tetrahydrothiophene) led to L(tBu) transfer and to the dinuclear complex [Au2Cl2L(tBu)] with one L(tBu) ligand bridging the two Au centres. Except for the silver pseudo-cubanes, all other complexes do not exhibit metallophilic interactions.

Breuil PA, Olivier-Bourbigou H, Braunstein P. Synthesis and characterization of oxygen-functionalised-NHC silver(i) complexes and NHC transmetallation to nickel(ii)

New silver(i) complexes bearing alcohol- or ether-functionalized NHCs were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Their NHC transmetallation ability was assessed and gave rise to a Ni(ii) bis(NHC) complex in the case of the ether-functionalisation.