Dehydrogenation of amines in aryl-amine functionalized pincer-like nitrogen-donor redox non-innocent ligands via ligand reduction on a Ni(ii) template

Fixation of CO2 with Epoxides Catalyzed by Pincer-Type Azo-Aromatic Complexes of Cobalt as Catalysts

Employing a series of azo-aromatic pincer-type cobalt(II) complexes, 1-5, and an imine-based cobalt complex, 6, a highly efficient catalytic protocol for the cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides at low pressure of CO2 is reported. The electron-withdrawing group-substituted ligands containing complexes 2 and 4 were most efficient. The catalytic protocol with 2 involved a synergistic participation of an azo-aromatic catalyst (0.1 mol %) and tetra-butyl ammonium iodide (TBAI), a cocatalyst (0.2 mol %) at 90 °C temperature, and 1 bar CO2 pressure. A very good conversion, high turnover number, and reusability were observed. Complex 4 worked directly in the reaction, and its efficiency was similar to the efficiency of 2 and TBAI. As 2 was synthesized from a cheaper CoCl2, 2 showed to be more stable than 4; the combination of 2 and TBAI was used for a detailed study. The imine-based complex 6 was less efficient than the corresponding azo-aromatic complex 5. The catalytic protocol was versatile. It was also very effective for the full conversion of bis-epoxides to bis-carbonates at only 2 bar of CO2 pressure in 24 h. The reaction mechanism was investigated using various spectroscopic and computational studies.

Ligand redox controlled amine dehydrogenation and imine hemilability in singlet diradical azo-aromatic Ni(II) complexes: characterization of the electron transfer series of azo-imine complexes of Ni(II)

Herein, using azo-amine (H2L) and azo-imine (L1-3) ligands, singlet diradical Ni(II) complexes [1] and [2] were synthesized from Ni(0)(COD)2 in THF. In separate reactions, homoleptic NiII complexes, [3a]2+-[3c]2+, were synthesized from [NiII(H2O)6](ClO4)2 and L1-3, respectively. All these complexes were characterized thoroughly. The X-ray structures of [1] and [2] showed that the amine side arm in [1] and the imine side arm in [2] are de-coordinated. The dN-N lengths in these two complexes were found to be ∼1.32 Å, which corresponds to the one-electron reduced azo-bond length. These complexes, [1] and [2], showed 1H NMR signals characteristic of diamagnetic compounds. These studies, along with DFT calculations, indicated that the unpaired spins on ligands coupled antiferromagnetically with the two unpaired spins on NiII to result in s = 0 ground states. Complex [1] showed ligand-based redox-induced dehydrogenation of the distal amine side arm to result in L1. Complexes [3a]2+-[3c]2+ have dN-N lengths of ∼1.27 Å and dC-N lengths of ∼1.28 Å. In cyclic voltammetry, complex [3a]2+ showed four well-resolved reversible reductive waves at 0.5 V to -1.6 V in dichloromethane. The first two waves became irreversible when they were measured in acetonitrile solution. The electron transfer series of [3a]2+ was further characterized by spectro-electrochemistry, EPR, and DFT calculations. These showed that all the reductions were associated with the ligand. It was further probed by redox events in complexes [3b]2+ and [3c]2+. While the electron donor -OMe group on the phenyl ring of the azo moiety in [3b]2+ showed a prominent cathodic shift of the potentials, the -F substitution on the phenyl group on the imine side arm of [3c]2+ has almost no effect. It has to be noted here that the oxidation of [2] by two electrons returns it back to complex [3a]2+. Reduction of [3a]2+ by two electrons also resulted in complex [2], indicating reversible ligand redox-induced hemilability of the imine moiety between [3a]2+ and [2]. Moreover, characterization of the electron transfer series of [3a]2+ and [2] has shown superior redox non-innocent behaviour and coordination ability of the azo-pyridine moiety in nickel(II) complexes over the imino-pyridine moiety of the ligand.

A Phosphine-Oxide Cobalt(II) Complex and Its Catalytic Activity Studies toward Alcohol Dehydrogenation Triggered Direct Synthesis of Imines and Quinolines

Herein, a new pincer-like amino phosphine donor ligand, H2L1, and its phosphine-oxide analog, H2L2, were synthesized. Subsequently, cobalt(II) complexes 1 and 2 were synthesized by the reaction of anhydrous Co(II)Cl2 with ligands H2L1 and H2L2, respectively. The ligands and complexes were fully characterized by various physicochemical and spectroscopic characterization techniques. Finally, the identity of the complexes 1 and 2 was confirmed by single crystal X-ray structure determination. The phosphine ligand containing complex 1 was converted to the phosphine oxide ligand containing complex 2 in air in acetonitrile solution. Both complexes 1 and 2 were investigated as precatalysts for alcohol dehydrogenation-triggered synthesis of imines in air. The phosphine-oxide complex 2 was more efficient than the phosphine complex 1. A wide array of alcohols and amines were successfully reacted in a mild condition to result in imines in good to excellent yields. Precatalyst 2 was also highly efficient for the synthesis of varieties of quinolines in air. As H2L2 in 2 has side arms that can be deprotonated, we investigated complex 2 for its base (KOtBu) promoted deprotonation events by various spectroscopic studies and DFT calculations. These studies have shown that mono deprotonation of the amine side arm attached to the pyridine is quite feasible, and deprotonation of complex 2 leads to a dearomatized pyridyl ring containing complex 2a. The mechanistic investigations of the catalytic reaction, by a combination of experimental and computational studies, have suggested that the dearomatized complex, 2a acted as an active catalyst. The reaction proceeded through the hydride transfer pathway. The activation barrier of this step was calculated to be 26.5 kcal/mol, which is quite consistent with the experimental reaction temperature under aerobic conditions. Although various pincer-like complexes are explored for such reactions, phosphine oxide ligand-containing complexes are still unexplored.

Noninnocent Azo-Aromatic Cobalt(II)-Catalyzed sp3 C-H Alkylation of Fluorenes with Alcohols

Herein, employing well-defined redox noninnocent cobalt(II) complexes an efficient sp3 C-H alkylation of fluorenes using alcohols as alkylating agents to result in alkylated fluorenes is reported. The catalytic protocol was versatile with various fluorenes and benzyl alcohols. It also showed very good functional group tolerance with both alcohols and fluorenes. Moreover, an efficient single-step and simultaneous di C-C as well as both C-C and the C-N alkylation reaction of fluorenes was observed with this catalytic protocol. Such selective single-step dialkylation of fluorenes is indeed beneficial. Several control experiments, deuterium labeling, and 1H NMR kinetic studies have revealed a ligand radical-based borrowing hydrogen mechanism involving the azo-aromatic complexes of cobalt as catalysts for the alkylation of fluorenes.

Microwave Assisted Rapid and Sustainable Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Azo Dyes by Coupling of Nitroarenes with Aniline Derivatives

Aromatic azo dyes are of immense commercial importance, and the development of greener routes for their synthesis is imperative due to current environmental concerns. In the present study, a microwave-assisted route has been developed for rapid and convenient synthesis of unsymmetrical azo dyes in a single step. In a metal-catalyst-free approach, an aromatic amine was used as an in situ reductant to affect its direct cross-condensation with nitroarenes to afford a variety of dispersed and water-soluble azo dyes. The electronic and substituent effects were thoroughly understood by placing suitable substituents in both nitroarenes and aniline derivatives in competitive reactions. The microwave (MW) method worked better with aniline or electron-rich aromatic amines to prepare a range of unsymmetrical azo dyes in up to 97% yields within a few minutes. The method worked well in the gram-scale synthesis of commercial dye, solvent yellow 7.

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Microwave-based green synthesis of unsymmetrical azo dyes

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Catalyst-free, rapid synthesis

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Gram-scale synthesis of commercial dyes

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Efficient synthesis of water-soluble dyes

Polymerisation of styrene using pincer type amine functionalized azo aromatic complexes of Co(II) as catalysts

In the present report, three mononuclear azo-aromatic complexes of Co(II), 1-3, and an imine-based Co(II) complex, 4, were synthesized through a reaction of respective amine-functionalized pincer-like ligands, HL1-4, with CoCl₂·6H₂O in the ligand-to-metal ratio of 1 : 1. All the complexes, 1-4, were thoroughly characterized using various physicochemical characterization techniques, single-crystal X-ray structure determination, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Complexes 1-4 were explored for the catalytic styrene polymerisation reaction separately in the presence of modified methyl aluminoxane (MMAO). All the complexes, 1-4, are indeed active for the polymerisation of styrene under mild conditions at room temperature upon activation with MMAO. Among the azo-aromatic complexes 1-3, complex 3 is the most efficient. The activity of the imine complex 4 is poor compared to those of the azo-aromatic complexes 1-3. The weight average molecular weight (M_w) of the isolated polystyrene ranges from 32.9 to 144.0 kg mol^-1, with a polydispersity index (Đ) in the range of 1.1-1.8. Microstructural analysis of the isolated polymer from complexes 1-4 was carried out by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction studies. Their thermal properties were scrutinized by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. These studies have shown the atactic and amorphous nature of the polymers. The mechanical strength of the polymers was measured by a nanoindentation technique which has shown the good plastic/soft nature of the polymers.

Azide-Alkyne "Click" Reaction in Water Using Parts-Per-Million Amine-Functionalized Azoaromatic Cu(I) Complex as Catalyst: Effect of the Amine Side Arm

A series of Cu(II) complexes, 1-4 and 6, were synthesized through a reaction of amine-functionalized pincer-like ligands, HL^1,2, L^a,b, and a bidentate ligand L¹ with CuCl₂·2H₂O. The chemical reduction of complex 1 using 1 equiv of sodium l-ascorbate resulted in a dimeric Cu(I) complex 5 in excellent yield. All of the complexes, 1-6, were thoroughly characterized using various physicochemical characterization techniques, single-crystal X-ray structure determination, and density functional theory calculations. Ligands HL^1,2 and L^a,b behaved as tridentated donors by the coordination of the amine side arm in their respective Cu(II) complexes, and the amine side arm remained as a pendant in Cu(I) complexes. All of these complexes (1-6) were explored for copper(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction at room temperature in water under air. Complex 5 directly served as an active catalyst; however, complexes 1-4 and 6 required 1 equiv of sodium l-ascorbate to generate their corresponding active Cu(I) catalyst. It has been observed that azo-based ligand-containing Cu(I)-complexes are air-stable and were highly efficient for the CuAAC reaction. The amine side arm in the ligand backbone has a dramatic role in accelerating the reaction rate. Mechanistic investigations showed that the alkyne C-H deprotonation was the rate-limiting step and the pendant amine side arm intramolecularly served as a base for Cu-coordinated alkyne deprotonation, leading to the azide-alkyne 2 + 3 cycloaddition reaction. Thus, variation of the amine side arm in complexes 1-4 and use of the most basic diisopropyl amine moiety in complex 4 has resulted in an unique amine-functionalized azoaromatic Cu(I) system for CuAAC reaction upon sodium l-ascorbate reduction. The complex 4 has shown excellent catalysis at its low parts-per-million level loading in water. The catalytic protocol was versatile and exhibited very good functional group tolerance. It was also employed efficiently to synthesize a number of useful functional triazoles having medicinal, catalytic, and targeting properties.

Irreversible Resistive State Switching in Devices with a Homoleptic Cobalt(II) Complex Active Layer

Molecules with bi-stable electronic transport behaviour have been in upfront research topics of the molecular semiconductor devices in the past few decades due to the use of such materials in resistive data storage devices. Transition metal complexes (TMC) are expected to be potential candidates in regard to the tunable and manifold redox behaviour expecting multiple bulk transport states. Finding alternate mechanisms in such devices with TMC as the active layer materials would revoke the multifaceted approach to the functional gain. We have succeeded in demonstrating write once-read many (WORM) type of resistive memory device using a homoleptic Cobalt(II) (Co(II)) complex with large on/off current ratio ensuring the easy readout process at lower voltage. The advantage of this device was the turn on voltage was found to be the low (<2.7 V) operational voltage and the success ratio of the devices were more than 83%. The durability of the stored data was found to be more than 35,000 seconds which ensures the stability of the bistable state in the fabricated devices. Such ambient stable, solution processable devices are important for the large-scale printable devices. The manuscript describes the preparation, optical and electrochemical characterisation of the metal complex used along with a detailed mechanistic investigations and electrical characterisation of memory device obtained from a stable cobalt complex.