Enabling Valence Delocalization in Iron(III) Macrocyclic Complexes through Ring Unsaturation

The complexes [FeIII(HMC)(C2DMA)2]CF3SO3 ([2]OTf) and [FeIII(HMTI)(C2Y)2]CF3SO3 ([3a-c]OTf) have been prepared and thoroughly characterized (HMC = 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane; HMTI = 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,3,8,10-tetraene; Y = Fc (ferrocenyl, [3a]OTf), 4-(N,N-dimethyl)anilino (DMA, [3b]OTf), or 4-(N,N-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)anilino (TPA, [3c]OTf); OTf- = CF3SO3-)). Vibrational and electronic absorption spectroelectrochemical analyses following one-electron oxidation of the ethynyl substituent Y revealed evidence of strong coupling in the resultant mixed valent species for all HMTI-based complexes. However, the analogous mixed valent ion based on [2]OTf appeared to be more localized. Thus, the tetra-imino macrocycle HMTI has enabled significant valence delocalization along the -C2-FeIII-C2- bridge. Electron paramagnetic resonance and Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of [3b]OTf reveal that the π-acidity of HMTI lowers the energy of the FeIII dπ orbitals compared to the purely σ-donating HMC. This observation provides a basis for the interpretation of the macrocycle-dependent valence (de)localization.

Bis-Alkynyl Complexes of Fe(III) Tetraaza Macrocycles─A Tale of Two Rings

Reported herein are new Fe bis-alkynyl complexes [Fe^III(L)(C₂R)₂]BPh₄ based on tetraimine macrocycle (L = HMTI = meso-5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,3,8,10-tetraene; 1a-1c; R = C₆H₅ (a), C₁₀H₉ (b), SiMe₃ (c)) and tetraamine macrocycle (L = HMC = meso-5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane; 2a-2c). These complexes have been characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electronic absorption spectroscopy, and cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. Spectroelectrochemical studies of 1a and 2a allowed for investigation of the Fe^II oxidation state, which revealed a strong dependence on the nature of the macrocycle for both the energies of the Fe^II to C₂Ph metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) and the ν(C≡C). The ν(C≡C) was further influenced by the oxidation state, though sensitivity to the formal metal oxidation state was much higher in the case of 2a than in 1a. These findings are rationalized on the basis of the relative energies of the formally metal-centered orbitals via density functional theory calculations.

A unique series of chromium(iii) mono-alkynyl complexes supported by tetraazamacrocycles

Described herein is the synthesis and characterization of macrocyclic Cr^III mono-alkynyl complexes. By using the meso-form of the tetraazamacrocycle HMC (HMC = 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane), trans-[Cr(HMC)(C₂Ph)Cl]OTf (1a), trans-[Cr(HMC)(C₂Np)Cl]OTf (2a), trans-[Cr(HMC)(C₂C₆H₄^tBu)Cl]OTf (3a), and trans-[Cr(HMC)(C₂(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃))Cl]OTf (4a) complexes have been realized. These complexes were synthesized in high yield through the reaction of trans-[Cr(meso-HMC)(C₂Ar)₂]OTf (1b-4b) with stoichiometric amounts of methanolic HCl. Single crystal X-ray diffraction showed that the trans-stereochemistry and pseudo-octahedral geometry is retained in the desired mono-alkynyl complexes. The absorption spectra of complexes 1a-4a display d-d bands with distinct vibronic progressions that are slightly red shifted from trans-[Cr(HMC)(C₂Ar)₂]⁺ with approximately halved molar extinction coefficients. Time-delayed measurements of the emission spectra for complexes 1a-4a at 77 K revealed phosphorescence with lifetimes ranging between 343 μs (4a) and 397 μs (1a). The phosphorescence spectra of 1a-4a also exhibit more structuring than the bis-alkynyl complexes due to a strengthened vibronic coupling between the Cr^III metal center and alkynyl ligands.

Copper(ii) complexes of N-propargyl cyclam ligands reveal a range of coordination modes and colours, and unexpected reactivity

The coordination chemistry of N-functionalised cyclam ligands has a rich history, yet cyclam derivatives with pendant alkynes are largely unexplored. This is despite the significant potential and burgeoning application of N-propargyl cyclams and related compounds in the creation of diversely functionalised cyclam derivatives via copper-catalysed azide-alkyne 'click' reactions. Herein we describe single crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic investigations of the coordination chemistry of copper(ii) complexes of cyclam derivatives with between 1 and 4 pendant alkynes. The crystal structures of these copper complexes unexpectedly reveal a range of coordination modes, and the surprising occurrence of five unique complexes within a single recrystallisation of the tetra-N-propargyl cyclam ligand. One of these species exhibits weak intramolecular copper-alkyne coordination, and another is formed by a surprising intramolecular copper-mediated hydroalkoxylation reaction with the solvent methanol, transforming one of the pendant alkynes to an enol ether. Multiple functionalisation of the tetra-N-propargyl ligand is demonstrated via a 'tetra-click' reaction with benzyl azide, and the copper-binding behaviour of the resulting tetra-triazole ligand is characterised spectroscopically.

Crystal structures of two (5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)iron(III) complexes

Reported in this contribution are the synthesis and crystal structures of two new Fe^III complexes of 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (HMC), namely, dichlorido(5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)iron(III) chloride, [FeCl₂(C₁₆H₃₆N₄)]Cl or cis-[FeCl₂(rac-HMC)]Cl (1), and dichlorido(5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane)iron(III) tetrachloridoferrate, [FeCl₂(C₁₆H₃₆N₄)][FeCl₄] or trans-[FeCl₂(meso-HMC)][FeCl₄] (2). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that both 1 and 2 adopt a pseudo-octahedral geometry, where the macrocycles adopt folded and planar geometries, respectively. The chloride ligands in 1 are cis to each other, while those in 2 have a trans configuration. The relevant bond angles in 1 deviate substantially from an ideal octahedral coordination geometry, with the angles between the cis substituents varying from 81.55 (5) to 107.56 (4)°, and those between the trans-ligating atoms varying from 157.76 (8) to 170.88 (3)°. In contrast, 2 adopts a less strained configuration, in which the N-Fe-N angles vary from 84.61 (8) to 95.39 (8)° and the N-Fe-Cl angles vary from 86.02 (5) to 93.98 (5)°.

Crystal structures of 5,12-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-decane cobalt(III) mono-phenyl-acetyl-ide and bis-phenyl-acetyl-ide

Reported in this contribution are the synthesis and crystal structures of new mono- and bis-phenyl-acetyl-ides based on CoIII(DMC) (DMC is 5,12-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-ne). Chlorido-(5,12-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-ne)(phenyl-ethyn-yl)cobalt(III) chloride-aceto-nitrile-methanol (1/1/1), [Co(C8H5)Cl(C12H28N4)]Cl·CH3CN·CH3OH, 1, and (5,12-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-aza-cyclo-tetra-deca-ne)bis-(phenyl-ethyn-yl)cobalt(III) tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate-di-chloro-methane (2/1), [Co(C8H5)2(C12H28N4)]2(CF3SO3)2·CH2Cl2, 2, were prepared under weak-base conditions in satisfactory yields. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that both 1 and 2 adopt a pseudo-octa-hedral symmetry in which the Cl-Co-C angles of 1 and C-Co-C of 2 range from 177.7 (2) to 178.0 (2)° and from 177.67 (9) to 179.67 (9)°, respectively. In both structures, the CoIII metal center is coordinated in the equatorial plane by four N atoms, in which the N-Co-N angles range from 85.6 (3) to 94.4 (3)°. The structure of 1 features two crystallographically independent mol-ecules in its triclinic cell (Z' = 2), which are related to each other by pseudo-monoclinic symmetry. The crystal investigated was twinned by a symmetry operator of the approximate double-volume C-centered cell (180° rotation around [201] of the actual triclinic cell), with a refined twin ratio of 0.798 (3) to 0.202 (3). Both methanol solvent mol-ecules in 1 are disordered, the major occupancy rates refined to 0.643 (16) and 0.357 (16). Compound 2 also contains two mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit, together with two tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate anions [of which one is disordered; occupancy values of 0.503 (16) and 0.497 (16)] and a disordered di-chloro-methane [occupancy values of 0.545 (12) and 0.455 (12)].

Molecular recognition and activation by polyaza macrocyclic compounds based on host-guest interactions

The design and syntheses of supramolecular hosts for the recognition and activation of molecules and anions are one of the most active research fields in supramolecular chemistry, in which polyaza macrocyclic ligands and their complexes have drawn particular attention due to their strong host-guest interactions. This review mainly focuses on the recent progress in the recognition of molecules and anions by polyaza macrocyclic compounds including polyaza macrocycles, polyaza macrobicycles and polyaza macrotricycles, as well as the activation of molecules by polyaza macrocyclic ligands and their metal complexes.

Redox-driven porphyrin based systems for new luminescent molecular switches

This work explores the possibility of controlling the fluorescence of porphyrins via oxidation of a ruthenium acetylide unit. The modulation depends on the nature of the porphyrin unit(s).

V. Synthesis of new fused heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via C–S and C–C bond formation by C–H bond activation in the presence of new Pd(ii) Schiff's base complexes

Pd(ii) Schiff base macrocyclic complexes are used as photocatalysts with high stability, C–S bond and intramolecular C–H bond activation under visible light irradiation.