Inducing ring distortions in unsubstituted metallophthalocyanines using axial N-heterocyclic carbenes

A series of metallophthalocyanine (PcM) complexes with axial N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC; 1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-ylidene (DIP) and 1,3-dimethylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene (DMB)) were prepared and structurally characterized. PcCoII(DIP), PcZnII(DIP), and PcZnII(DMB) are five-coordinate complexes with mild dome-type Pc-ring distortions, while PcFeII(DIP)2 is six-coordinate and has a very large ruffle-type ring-distortion with respect to typical PcM(L)2 systems. The distortion is induced by the highly steric axial DIP ligands. The distortions were quantified and classified by their bond lengths and torsion angles, and according to the normal-coordinate structural decomposition (NSD) analysis. Upon ligation of the NHC, the insoluble PcM materials were solublized in common organic solvents, with typical UV-visible Q-band maxima observable between 658 and 677 nm; the increased solubility is rationalized in terms of the reduced solid-state aggregation of the complexes, attributable to the axial ligation.

Orthogonal Coordination Chemistry of PTA toward Ru(II) and Zn(II) (PTA = 1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) for the Construction of 1D and 2D Metal-Mediated Porphyrin Networks

This work demonstrates that PTA (1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) behaves as an orthogonal ligand between Ru(II) and Zn(II), since it selectively binds through the P atom to ruthenium and through one or more of the N atoms to zinc. This property of PTA was exploited for preparing the two monomeric porphyrin adducts with axially bound PTA, [Ru(TPP)(PTA-κP)₂] (1, TPP = meso-tetraphenylporphyrin) and [Zn(TPP)(PTA-κN)] (3). Next, we prepared a number of heterobimetallic Ru/Zn porphyrin polymeric networks—and two discrete molecular systems—mediated by P,N-bridging PTA in which either both metals reside inside a porphyrin core, or one metal belongs to a porphyrin, either Ru(TPP) or Zn(TPP), and the other to a complex or salt of the complementary metal (i.e., cis,cis,trans-[RuCl₂(CO)₂(PTA-κP)₂] (5), trans-[RuCl₂(PTA-κP)₄] (7), Zn(CH₃COO)₂, and ZnCl₂). The molecular compounds 1, 3, trans-[{RuCl₂(PTA-κ²P,N)₄}{Zn(TPP)}₄] (8), and [{Ru(TPP)(PTA-κP)(PTA-κ²P,N)}{ZnCl₂(OH₂)}] (11), as well as the polymeric species [{Ru(TPP)(PTA-κ²P,N)₂}{Zn(TPP)}]_∞ (4), cis,cis,trans-[{RuCl₂(CO)₂(PTA-κ²P,N)₂}{Zn(TPP)}]_∞ (6), trans-[{RuCl₂(PTA-κ²P,N)₄}{Zn(TPP)}₂]_∞ (9), and [{Ru(TPP)(PTA-κ³P,2N)₂}{Zn₉(CH₃COO)₁₆(CH₃OH)₂(OH)₂}]_∞ (10), were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 4, 6, 9, and 10 are the first examples of solid-state porphyrin networks mediated by PTA. In 4, 6, 8, 9, and 11 the bridging PTA has the κ²P,N binding mode, whereas in the 2D polymeric layers of 10 it has the triple-bridging mode κ³P,2N. The large number of compounds with the six-coordinate Zn(TPP) (the three polymeric networks of 4, 6 and 9, out of five compounds) strongly suggests that the stereoelectronic features of PTA are particularly well-suited for this relatively rare type of coordination. Interestingly, the similar 1D polymeric chains 4 and 6 have different shapes (zigzag in 4 vs “Greek frame” in 6) because the {trans-Ru(PTA-κ²P,N)₂} fragment bridges two Zn(TPP) units with anti geometry in 4 and with syn geometry in 6. Orthogonal “Greek frame” 1D chains make the polymeric network of 9. Having firmly established the binding preferences of PTA toward Ru(II) and Zn(II), we are confident that in the future a variety of Ru/Zn solid-state networks can be produced by changing the nature of the partners. In particular, there are several inert Ru(II) compounds that feature two or more P-bonded PTA ligands that might be exploited as connectors of well-defined geometry for the rational design of solid-state networks with Zn–porphyrins (or other Zn compounds).

This work demonstrates, through the X-ray structural characterization of several polymeric Ru/Zn networks, that PTA (1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) behaves as an orthogonal ligand between Ru(II) and Zn(II). In fact, PTA selectively binds through the P atom to ruthenium and through one or more of the N atoms to zinc.

Synthesis and applications of rhodium porphyrin complexes

A review on rhodium porphyrin chemistry, ranging from synthesis and properties to reactivity and application.