Enantiomeric Complexes Based on Ruthenium(III) and 2,2'-Biimidazole: X-ray Structure and Magnetic Properties

We have prepared and characterized two Ru(III) compounds based on the 2,2'-biimidazole (H2biim) ligand, namely, a single complex of formula cis-[RuCl2(H2biim)2]Cl·4H2O (1) and a racemic mixture of formula {cis-[RuCl2(H2biim)2]Cl}2·4H2O (2), which contains 50% of Ru(III) complex 1. Both compounds crystallize in the monoclinic system with space groups C2 and P21 for 1 and 2, respectively. These complexes exhibit the metal ion bonded to four nitrogen atoms from two H2biim molecules and two chloride ions, which balance part of the positive charges in a distorted octahedral geometry. Significant differences are observed in their crystal packing, which leads to the observation of differences in their respective magnetic behaviors. Despite having imidazole rings in both compounds, π-π stacking interactions occur only in the crystal structure of 2, and the shortest intermolecular Ru···Ru separation in 2 is consequently shorter than that in 1. Variable-temperature dc magnetic susceptibility measurements performed on polycrystalline samples of 1 and 2 reveal different magnetic behaviors at low temperatures: while 1 behaves pretty much as a magnetically isolated mononuclear Ru(III) complex with S = 1/2, 2 exhibits the behavior of an antiferromagnetically coupled system with S = 0 and a maximum in the magnetic susceptibility curve at approximately 3.0 K.

Modular metallotecton for engineering permanently porous frameworks: supernumerary role of ancillary ion

The formation of robust supramolecular frameworks built from hetero-polytopic metal complexes and interacting with different ancillary ions remains a long-standing and underexplored desire. Herein, the secondary sphere interaction chemistry of [Ru(5-oxido-6-hydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline)a(5,6-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline)(3-a)]-(a-2) (1) (a = 1, 3) coordination ion is reported, where the π-conjugated phenanthroline ligands are functionalized with catecholate groups used as H-bond donors and ligands. The deprotonation of the catechols is found to control the overall charge stoichiometry in 1, acting as a metallotecton to interact with anions of different basicity (Cl- in 1.Cl and Br- in 1.Br) as well as with Li+ cations (in 1.Li+). These interactions lead to the formation of 2D porous honeycomb networks without any significant alteration in the molecular packing. This implies that the self-assembly process is controlled by complementary intermolecular non-covalent interactions making the choice of the ancillary ion insignificant. The robust porous structure of the frameworks is established by uptake of D2O and I2 molecules within the microporous channels. This work demonstrates that supramolecular frameworks appear as flexible candidates for applications in gas sorption, separation and chemical sensing.

Heterogeneous catalysis with an organic–inorganic hybrid based on MoO3 chains decorated with 2,2′-biimidazole ligands

Polymeric [MoO₃(2,2′-biimidazole)]·H₂O outperforms other one-dimensional MoO₃-ligand hybrid materials as a heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst for (bio)olefin epoxidation and sulfoxidation.

Mechanochemical P-derivatization of 1,3,5-Triaza-7-Phosphaadamantane (PTA) and Silver-Based Coordination Polymers Obtained from the Resulting Phosphabetaines

We have described earlier that in aqueous solutions, the reaction of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) with maleic acid yielded a phosphonium-alkanoate zwitterion. The same reaction with 2-methylmaleic acid (citraconic acid) proceeded much slower. It is reported here, that in the case of glutaconic and itaconic acids (constitutional isomers of citraconic acid), formation of the corresponding phosphabetaines requires significantly shorter reaction times. The new phosphabetaines were isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS spectrometry. Furthermore, their molecular structures in the solid state were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD). Synthesis of the phosphabetaines from PTA and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids was also carried out mechanochemically with the use of a planetary ball mill, and the characteristics of the syntheses in solvent and under solvent-free conditions were compared. In aqueous solutions, the reaction of the new phosphabetaines with Ag(CF3SO3) yielded Ag(I)-based coordination polymers. According to the SC-XRD results, in these polymers the Ag(I)-ion coordinates to the N and O donor atoms of the ligands; however, Ag(I)-Ag(I) interactions were also identified. The Ag(I)-based coordination polymer (CP1.2) formed with the glutaconyl derivative of PTA (1) showed considerable antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and yeast strains.

A novel three-dimensional copper(I) cyanide coordination polymer constructed from various bridging ligands: synthesis, crystal structure and characterization

The cyanide ligand can act as a strong σ-donor and an effective π-electron acceptor that exhibits versatile bridging abilities, such as terminal, μ₂-C:N, μ₃-C:C:N and μ₄-C:C:N:N modes. These ligands play a key role in the formation of various copper(I) cyanide systems, including one-dimensional (1D) chains, two-dimensional (2D) layers and three-dimensional (3D) frameworks. According to the literature, numerous coordination polymers based on terminal, μ₂-C:N and μ₃-C,C,N bridging modes have been documented so far. However, systems based on the μ₄-C:C:N:N bridging mode are relatively rare. In this work, a novel cyanide-bridged 3D Cu^I coordination framework, namely poly[(μ₂-2,2'-biimidazole-κ²N³:N^3')(μ₄-cyanido-κ⁴C:C:N:N)(μ₂-cyanido-κ²C:N)dicopper(I)], [Cu₂(CN)₂(C₆H₆N₄)]_n, (I), was synthesized hydrothermally by reaction of environmentally friendly K₃[Fe(CN)₆], CuCl₂·2H₂O and 2,2'-biimidazole (H₂biim). It should be noted that cyanide ligands may act as reducing agents to reduce Cu^II to Cu^I under hydrothermal conditions. Compound (I) contains diverse types of bridging ligands, such as μ₄-C:C:N:N-cyanide, μ₂-C:N-cyanide and μ₂-biimidazole. Interestingly, the [Cu₂] dimers are bridged by rare μ₄-C:C:N:N-mode cyanide ligands giving rise to the first example of a 1D dimeric {[Cu₂(μ₄-C:C:N:N)]ⁿ⁺}_n infinite chain. Furthermore, adjacent dimer-based chains are linked by μ₂-C:N bridging cyanide ligands, generating a neutral 2D wave-like (4,4) layer structure. Finally, the 2D layers are joined together via bidentate bridging H₂biim to create a 3D cuprous cyanide network. This arrangement leads to a systematic variation in dimensionality from 1D chain→2D sheet→3D framework by different types of bridging ligands. Compound (I) was further characterized by thermal analysis, solid-state UV-Vis diffuse-reflectance and photoluminescence studies. The solid-state UV-Vis diffuse-reflectance spectra show that compound (I) is a wide-gap semiconductor with band gaps of 3.18 eV. The photoluminescence study shows a strong blue-green photoluminescence at room temperature, which may be associated with metal-to-ligand charge transfer.

Alternative Technologies That Facilitate Access to Discrete Metal Complexes

Organometallic complexes: these two words jump to the mind of the chemist and are directly associated with their utility in catalysis or as a pharmaceutical. Nevertheless, to be able to use them, it is necessary to synthesize them, and it is not always a small matter. Typically, synthesis is via solution chemistry, using a round-bottom flask and a magnetic or mechanical stirrer. This review takes stock of alternative technologies currently available in laboratories that facilitate the synthesis of such complexes. We highlight five such technologies: mechanochemistry, also known as solvent-free chemistry, uses a mortar and pestle or a ball mill; microwave activation can drastically reduce reaction times; ultrasonic activation promotes chemical reactions because of cavitation phenomena; photochemistry, which uses light radiation to initiate reactions; and continuous flow chemistry, which is increasingly used to simplify scale-up. While facilitating the synthesis of organometallic compounds, these enabling technologies also allow access to compounds that cannot be obtained in any other way. This shows how the paradigm is changing and evolving toward new technologies, without necessarily abandoning the round-bottom flask. A bright future is ahead of the organometallic chemist, thanks to these novel technologies.

Synchronized Collective Proton-Assisted Electron Transfer in Solid State by Hydrogen-Bonding Ru(II)/Ru(III) Mixed-Valence Molecular Crystals

A proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reaction was widely studied with isolated organic molecules and metal complexes in solution in view of the biological catalytic reaction, while studying this reaction in the crystalline or solid-state phase, which has a novel example, would give insight into the rather internal environment of proteins without solvation and a creation of new molecular materials. We tried to crystallize a hydrogen-bonded (H-bonded) coordination polymer with one-dimensional nanoporous channels, formed from redox-active Ru^III complexes, [Ru^III(Hbim)₃] (Hbim^- = 2,2'-biimidazolate monoanion). As a result, a synchronized collective PCET phenomenon was observed for the molecular nanoporous crystal by novel solid-state cyclic voltammetry (CV), which could be measured by only setting some crystals on the electrode surface. The nanoporous crystals, {[Ru^III(Hbim)₃]}_n (1), are simultaneously induced to a synchronized collective Ru^IIRu^III mixed-valence state, {Ru^IIRu^III}_n, with alternating arrays of Ru^II and Ru^III complexes by PCET in a way of the reductive state of {Ru^IIRu^II}_n. Further, a new crystal with {Ru^IIRu^III}_n, {[Ru^II(H₂bim)(Hbim)₂][Ru^III(bim) (Hbim)₂][K(MeOBz)₆]}_n (2), was also prepared, and the solid-state CV revealed the same electrochemical behavior of {Ru^IIRu^III}_n with 1. The single crystal with {Ru^IIRu^III}_n of 2 was unusually a semiconductor with 5.12 × 10^-6 S/cm conductivity at 298 K by an impedance method (8.01 × 10^-6 S/cm by a direct-current method at 277 K). Thus, an unprecedented electron-hopping conductor driven by a low-barrier proton transfer through a PCET mechanism (E_a = 0.30 eV) was realized in the H-bonding molecular crystal with {Ru^IIRu^III}_n. Such studies on a PCET reaction in the crystalline state is not only worthwhile as a model of essential biological reactions without solvation, but also proposed to a new design of molecular materials to occur an electron transfer by using an intermolecular H-bond.