Chemical fixation of atmospheric CO2 in tricopper(II)-carbonato complexes with tetradentate N-donor ligands: reactive intermediates, probable mechanisms, and catalytic and magneto-structural studies

In the present era, the fixation of atmospheric CO2 is of significant importance and plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of carbon and energy flow within ecosystems. Generally, CO2 fixation is carried out by autotrophic organisms; however, the scientific community has paid substantial attention to execute this process in laboratory. In this report, we synthesized two carbonato-bridged trinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu3(L1)3(μ3-CO3)](ClO4)3 (1) and [Cu3(L2)3(μ3-CO3)](ClO4)3 (2) via atmospheric fixation of CO2 starting with Cu(ClO4)2·6H2O and easily accessible pyridine/pyrazine-based N4 donor Schiff base ligands L1 and L2, respectively. Under very similar reaction conditions, the ligand framework embedded with the phenolate moiety (HL3) fails to do so because of the reduction of the Lewis acidity of the metal center, inhibiting the formation of a reactive hydroxide bound copper(II) species, which is required for the fixation of atmospheric CO2. X-ray crystal structures display that carbonate-oxygen atoms bridge three copper(II) centers in μ3syn-anti disposition in 1 and 2, whereas [Cu(HL3)(ClO4)] (3) is a mononuclear complex. Interestingly, we also isolated an important intermediate of atmospheric CO2 fixation and structurally characterized it as an anti-anti μ2 carbonato-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu2(L2)2(μ2-CO3)](ClO4)2·MeOH (2-I), providing an in-depth understanding of CO2 fixation in these systems. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurement suggests ferromagnetic interactions between the metal centers in both 1 and 2, and the results have been further supported by DFT calculations. The catalytic efficiency of our synthesized complexes 1-3 was checked by means of catechol oxidase and phenoxazinone synthase-like activities. While complexes 1 and 2 showed oxidase-like activity for aerobic oxidation of o-aminophenol and 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol, complex 3 was found to be feebly active. ESI mass spectrometry revealed that the oxidation reaction proceeds through the formation of complex-substrate intermediations and was further substantiated by DFT calculations. Moreover, active catalysts 1 and 2 were effectively utilized for the base-free oxidation of benzylic alcohols in the presence of air as a green and sustainable oxidant and catalytic amount of TEMPO in acetonitrile. Various substituted benzylic alcohols smoothly converted to their corresponding aldehydes under very mild conditions and ambient temperature. The present catalytic protocol showcases its environmental sustainability by producing minimal waste.

Six-coordinated nickel(II) complexes with benzothiadiazole Schiff-base ligands: synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic and HFEPR study

Two new nickel(II) complexes, namely Ni(L1)2 (1) and Ni(L2)2·CH2Cl2(2) were obtained by reacting nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate with the benzothiadiazole Schiff base ligands HL1 = 2-[4-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)imino]methyl-phenol or HL2 = 2-[(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-4-ylimino)methyl]-6-methoxyphenol in the presence of Et3N. The tridentate NNO chelate ligands induce a distorted octahedral environment around the nickel(II) ions. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals elongated Ni-N bonds with the nitrogen atom of the benzothiadiazole ring in both complexes. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interactions create two-dimensional and three-dimensional supramolecular arrays, respectively, for complexes 1 and 2. Magnetic susceptibility and high-field electron paramagnetic resonance measurements show the presence of significant magnetic anisotropy, with an axial distortion parameter D of -8--10 cm-1.

Magneto-structural studies on a number of doubly end-on cyanate and azide bridged dinuclear nickel(ii) complexes with {N3O} donor Schiff base ligands

Two new doubly μ _1,1-N₃ bridged (1 and 3) and six new doubly μ _1,1-NCO bridged Ni^II complexes (2, 4-8) with six different N₃O donor Schiff base ligands have been synthesized and magneto-structurally characterized. All these neutral complex molecules are isostructural and constitute edge sharing bioctahedral structures. Magnetic studies revealed that all these complexes exhibit ferromagnetic interaction through bridging pseudohalides with ferromagnetic coupling constant J being significantly higher for azide-bridged complexes than that of the cyanate analogues. This is consistent with the literature reported data and also the presence of polarizable π systems and two different N and O donor atoms in cyanate ion, rendering it a poor magnetic coupler in comparison to azide analogues. Although, the magneto-structurally characterized doubly μ _1,1-N₃ bridged Ni^II complexes are abundant, only few such complexes with μ _1,1-bridging NCO^- ions are reported in the literature. Remarkably, addition of these six new examples in this ever-growing series of doubly μ _1,1-NCO bridged systems gives us an opportunity to analyse the precise magneto-structural correlation in this system, showing a general trend in which the J value increases with an increase in bridging angles. Therefore, the high degree of structural and magnetic resemblances by inclusion of six new examples in this series is the major achievement of the present work. An elaborate DFT study was performed resulting in magneto-structural correlation showing that nature and value of the J-parameter is defined not only by Ni-N_b-Ni bond angles, but an important role is also played by the Ni1-Ni2-N_b-X_t dihedral angle (N_b and X_t are bridging N and terminal N or O atom of bridging ligands, respectively).

Redox-Neutral Transformations of Carbon Dioxide Using Coordinatively Unsaturated Late Metal Silyl Amide Complexes

Two-coordinate silylamido complexes of nickel and copper rapidly react with CO₂ to selectively form a new cyanate ligand along with hexamethyldisiloxane byproducts. Mechanistic insight into these reactions was obtained from the synthesis of proposed intermediates, several silyl- and phenyl- substituted amido analogues, and their subsequent reactivity with CO₂. These studies suggest that a unique intramolecular double silyl transfer step facilitates CO₂ deoxygenation, which likely contributes to the rapid rates of reaction. The deoxygenation reactions create a platform for a synthetic cycle in which copper amido complexes convert CO₂ to organic silylcarbamates.

Synthesis, structure and magnetism of a novel series of trinuclear nickel(II) clusters

Five novel trinuclear nickel(II) clusters have been successfully synthesized, namely Ni3(fshz)2(L)4·n(sol) (H3fshz = N-formylsalicylhydrazide; L = pyridine, n = 0, 1; L = 4-methylpyridine, n = 1, sol = CH3CN,...

Tryptophan moiety ligand based tri/tetranuclear Ni(ii) complexes: syntheses, structure and magnetic properties

Two N-(2-(hydroxy)-3-methoxybenzylidene)tryptophan coordinated Ni(ii) complexes have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Magnetic analysis reveals antiferromagnetic behaviour for both the compounds.

Proton controlled synthesis of two dicopper(II) complexes and their magnetic and biomimetic catalytic studies together with probing the binding mode of the substrate to the metal center

This paper describes the synthesis, and structural and spectroscopic characterizations of two doubly bridged dicopper(II) complexes, [Cu₂(μ-H₂L)(μ-OMe)](ClO₄)₄·2H₂O (1) and [Cu₂(μ-L)(μ-OH)](ClO₄)₂ (2), with a binucleating ligand (HL) derived from the Schiff base condensation of DFMP and N,N-dimethyldipropylenetriamine, and their biomimetic catalytic activities were related to CAO and phenoxazinone synthase using 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and o-aminophenol (OAPH), respectively, as model substrates. Structural studies reveal that the major differences in these structures appear to be from the distinct roles of the tertiary amine groups of the ligands, which are protonated in 1, whereas it coordinates the metal centers in 2. Magnetic studies disclose that two copper(II) centers are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled with slightly different J values, which is further interpreted and discussed. They exhibited very different biomimetic catalytic activities; whereas 2 is an efficient catalyst, complex 1 showed somewhat lower substrate oxidation. The higher reactivity in 2 is rationalized by the strong involvement of the tertiary amine group of the Schiff base ligand, where the substrate oxidation is favored because of the transfer of protons from the substrate to the tertiary amine group, showing the importance of the functional groups in proximity to the bimetallic active site. Emphasis was also given to probing the binding mode of the substrate using an electronically deficient tetrabromomocatechol (Br₄CatH₂) and the isolated compound [Cu₆(μ-HL)₂(μ-OH)₂(Br₄Cat)₄](NO₃)₂·4H₂O (3) which suggests that monodentate asymmetric binding of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and OAPH occurs during the course of the catalytic reaction.

Molecular magnetism in the multi-configurational self-consistent field method

We develop a structured theoretical framework used in our recent articles (2019 Eur. Phys. J. B 92 93 and 2020 Phys. Rev. B 101 094427) to characterize the unusual behavior of the magnetic spectrum, magnetization and magnetic susceptibility of the molecular magnet Ni₄Mo₁₂. The theoretical background is based on the molecular orbital theory in conjunction with the multi-configurational self-consistent field method and results in a post-Hartree-Fock scheme for constructing the corresponding energy spectrum. Furthermore, we construct a bilinear spin-like Hamiltonian involving discrete coupling parameters accounting for the relevant spectroscopic magnetic excitations, magnetization and magnetic susceptibility. The explicit expressions of the eigenenergies of the ensuing Hamiltonian are determined and the physical origin of broadening and splitting of experimentally observed peaks in the magnetic spectra is discussed. To demonstrate the efficiency of our method we compute the spectral properties of a spin-one magnetic dimer. The present approach may be applied to a variety of magnetic units based on transition metals and rare Earth elements.

A novel triple aqua-, phenoxo- and carboxylato-bridged dinickel(ii) complex, its magnetic properties, and comparative biomimetic catalytic studies with analogous dinickel(ii) complexes

A unique triply bridged dinickel(ii) complex and two doubly bridged dinickel(ii) complexes are reported, and their magnetic properties and comparative biomimetic catalytic performances are studied.

Tuneable structures and magnetic properties of pseudohalo-bridged dinuclear Ni(ii) complexes derived from {N4} and {N3O} donor ligands

Six new dinickel(ii) complexes with different bridges and bridging motifs showing overall diverse magnetic interactions (AF to F interactions) have been discussed and rationalized.

Macrocycle supported dimetallic lanthanide complexes with slow magnetic relaxation in Dy2 analogues

Six dimetallic lanthanide complexes, [Ln2(L')(acac)4] (1Dy-3Gd) (Ln = Dy (1Dy), Tb (2Tb) and Gd (3Gd)) and [Ln2(L')(tfac)4] (4Dy-6Gd) (Ln = Dy (4Dy), Tb (5Tb) and Gd (6Gd)) (H2L' = 1,9-dichloro-3,7,11,15-tetraaza-1,9(1,3)-dibenzenacyclohexadecaphane-2,10-diene-1,9-diol), have been synthesized by the reaction of lanthanide nitrates with the HL ligand in the presence of acetylacetonate (acac) (or trifluoroacetylacetonate (tfac) and triethylamine (HL = 4-chloro-2,6-bis(-((3-((3-(dimethylamino)propyl)amino)propyl)imino)methyl)phenol). Ln-Assisted modification of the Schiff base HL occurred and led to the formation of a new macrocyclic ligand (H2L'). X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the LnIII ions of complexes 1Dy-6Gd are all eight-coordinated in a square antiprismatic geometry with D4d local symmetry. Magnetic measurements of these complexes revealed that 1Dy and 4Dy show single-molecule magnet behaviour with energy barriers of 66.7 and 79.0 K, respectively, under a zero direct magnetic field. The orientations of the magnetic axes and crystal field parameters were obtained from theoretical calculations and an electrostatic model. The magneto-structural correlations of SMMs 1Dy and 4Dy are further discussed in detail.

A facile biomimetic catalytic activity through hydrogen atom abstraction by the secondary coordination sphere in manganese(III) complexes

This paper describes the synthesis and structural characterization of four new manganese(iii) complexes (1-4) derived from N3O donor Schiff base ligands and their biomimetic catalytic activities related to catechol oxidase and phenoxazinone synthase. X-ray crystallography reveals that the Schiff bases coordinate the metal centre in a tridentate fashion, leaving the pendant tertiary amine nitrogen atom either protonated or free to balance the charge of the system, and these pendant triamines participate in strong hydrogen bonding interactions in the solid state. The hydrogen bonding ability of the pendant triamines at the second coordination sphere plays a crucial role in the substrate recognition and the stability of the complex-substrate intermediates. The effect of substitution at the phenolate ring towards the redox potential of the metal centre and the catalytic activity of these complexes has been observed. Detailed kinetic studies further disclose the deuterium kinetic isotope effect in which the transfer of the proton along the hydrogen bond from the substrates to the pendant triamine group at the secondary coordination sphere occurs at the key step in the catalytic reaction. The present reactivity nicely resembles the biochemical reactivities in the natural system in which a concerted electron and proton transfer to different species is usually observed. Remarkably, although some sort of influence of the secondary coordination sphere on catalytic activity has been reported mimicking the function of these metalloenzymes, such a direct participation of the secondary coordination sphere, particularly in modelling phenoxazinone synthase, has not been observed to date.

The first report of a tetra-azide bound mononuclear cobalt(iii) complex and its comparative biomimetic catalytic activity with tri-azide bound cobalt(iii) compounds

Three new azide-bound cobalt(iii) complexes derived from three different triamines with extensive hydrogen bonded supramolecular chain structures and the role of their structural factors in oxidative coupling of o-aminophenols have been reported.

Mono-, tri- and polynuclear copper(ii) complexes of Schiff-base ligands: synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity towards alcohol oxidation

A mononuclear copper(ii) complex acts as a superior catalyst compared to a tri- or polynuclear complex towards oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes.

Influence of the first and second coordination spheres on the diverse phenoxazinone synthase activity of cobalt complexes derived from a tetradentate Schiff base ligand

Cobalt complexes as functional models for phenoxazinone synthase showing the influence of both first and second order coordination spheres on the catalytic activity and important intermediates in the ESI mass spectrum providing better information on the mechanistic pathway.