Luminescent Pt(II) Complexes Using Unsymmetrical Bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolate Analogues

A series of ligands based upon a 1,3-diimino-isoindoline framework have been synthesized and investigated as pincer-type (N∧N∧N) chelates for Pt(II). The synthetic route allows different combinations of heterocyclic moieties (including pyridyl, thiazole, and isoquinoline) to yield new unsymmetrical ligands. Pt(L1-6)Cl complexes were obtained and characterized using a range of spectroscopic and analytical techniques: 1H and 13C NMR, IR, UV-vis and luminescence spectroscopies, elemental analyses, high-resolution mass spectrometry, electrochemistry, and one example via X-ray crystallography which showed a distorted square planar environment at Pt(II). Cyclic voltammetry on the complexes showed one irreversible oxidation between +0.75 and +1 V (attributed to Pt2+/3+ couple) and a number of ligand-based reductions; in four complexes, two fully reversible reductions were noted between -1.4 and -1.9 V. Photophysical studies showed that Pt(L1-6)Cl absorbs efficiently in the visible region through a combination of ligand-based bands and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer features at 400-550 nm, with assignments supported by DFT calculations. Excitation at 500 nm led to luminescence (studied in both solutions and solid state) in all cases with different combinations of the heterocyclic donors providing tuning of the emission wavelength around 550-678 nm.

Programmable synthesis of organic cages with reduced symmetry

Integrating symmetry-reducing methods into self-assembly methodology is desirable to efficiently realise the full potential of molecular cages as hosts and catalysts. Although techniques have been explored for metal organic (coordination) cages, rational strategies to develop low symmetry organic cages remain limited. In this article, we describe rules to program the shape and symmetry of organic cage cavities by designing edge pieces that bias the orientation of the amide linkages. We apply the rules to synthesise cages with well-defined cavities, supported by evidence from crystallography, spectroscopy and modelling. Access to low-symmetry, self-assembled organic cages such as those presented, will widen the current bottleneck preventing study of organic enzyme mimics, and provide synthetic tools for novel functional material design.

Alkyl chain functionalised Ir(iii) complexes: synthesis, properties and behaviour as emissive dopants in microemulsions

Six iridium(iii) complexes of the general form [Ir(C^N)2(N^N)]X (where C^N = cyclometalating ligand; N^N = disubstituted 2,2'-bipyridine), and incorporating alkyl chains of differing lengths (C8, C10, C12), have been synthesised and characterised. The complexes have been characterised using a variety of methods including spectroscopies (NMR, IR, UV-Vis, luminescence) and analytical techniques (high resolution mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction). Two dodecyl-functionalised complexes were studied for their behaviour in aqueous solutions. Although the complexes did not possess sufficient solubility to determine their critical micelle concentrations (CMC) in water, they were amenable for use as emissive dopants in a N-methyl C12 substituted imidazolium salt microemulsion carrier system with a CMC = 36.5 mM. The investigation showed that the metal doped microemulsions had increased CMCs of 40.4 and 51.3 mM and luminescent properties characterised by the dopant.

Synthesis and crystal structures of two related Co and Mn complexes: a celebration of collaboration between the universities of Dakar and Southampton

We report the synthesis and structures of two transition-metal complexes involving 2-(2-hy-droxy-phen-yl)benzimidazole (2hpbi - a ligand of inter-est for its photoluminescent applications), with cobalt, namely, bis-[μ-2-(1H-1,3-benzo-diazol-2-yl)phenolato]bis-[ethanol(thio-cyanato)-cobalt(II)], [Co2(C13H9N2O)2(NCS)2(C2H6O)2], (1), and manganese, namely, bis-[μ-2-(1H-1,3-benzo-diazol-2-yl)phenolato]bis-{[2-(1H-1,3-benzo-diazol-2-yl)phenolato](thio-cyanato)-mang-an-ese(III)} dihydrate, [Mn2(C13H9N2O)4(NCS)2]·2H2O, (2). These structures are two recent examples of a fruitful collaboration between researchers at the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination Organique/Organic Coordination Chemistry Laboratory (LCCO), University of Dakar, Senegal and the National Crystallography Service (NCS), School of Chemistry, University Southampton, UK. This productive partnership was forged through meeting at Pan-African Conferences on Crystallography and quickly grew as the plans for the AfCA (African Crystallographic Association) developed. This article therefore also showcases this productive partnership, in celebration of the IUCr's 75 year anniversary and the recent inclusion of AfCA as a Regional Associate of the IUCr.

An Experimental and Theoretical Insight into I2 /Br2 Oxidation of Bis(pyridin-2-yl)Diselane and Ditellane

The reactivity between bis(pyridin-2-yl)diselane o Py2 Se2 and ditellane o Py2 Te2 (L1 and L2, respectively; o Py=pyridyn-2-yl) and I2 /Br2 is discussed. Single-crystal structure analysis revealed that the reaction of L1 with I2 yielded [(HL1+ )(I- )⋅5/2I2 ]∞ (1) in which monoprotonated cations HL1+ template a self-assembled infinite pseudo-cubic polyiodide 3D-network, while the reaction with Br2 yielded the dibromide Ho PySeII Br2 (2). The oxidation of L2 with I2 and Br2 yielded the compounds Ho PyTeII I2 (3) and Ho PyTeIV Br4 (6), respectively, whose structures were elucidated by X-ray diffraction analysis. FT-Raman spectroscopy measurements are consistent with a 3c-4e description of all the X-Ch-X three-body systems (Ch=Se, Te; X=Br, I) in compounds 2, 3, Ho PyTeII Br2 (5), and 6. The structural and spectroscopic observations are supported by extensive theoretical calculations carried out at the DFT level that were employed to study the electronic structure of the investigated compounds, the thermodynamic aspects of their formation, and the role of noncovalent σ-hole halogen and chalcogen bonds in the X⋅⋅⋅X, X⋅⋅⋅Ch and Ch⋅⋅⋅Ch interactions evidenced structurally.

Halogen bonding with carbon: directional assembly of non-derivatised aromatic carbon systems into robust supramolecular ladder architectures

Carbon, although the central element in organic chemistry, has been traditionally neglected as a target for directional supramolecular interactions. The design of supramolecular structures involving carbon-rich molecules, such as arene hydrocarbons, has been limited almost exclusively to non-directional π-stacking, or derivatisation with heteroatoms to introduce molecular assembly recognition sites. As a result, the predictable assembly of non-derivatised, carbon-only π-systems using directional non-covalent interactions remains an unsolved fundamental challenge of solid-state supramolecular chemistry. Here, we propose and validate a different paradigm for the reliable assembly of carbon-only aromatic systems into predictable supramolecular architectures: not through non-directional π-stacking, but via specific and directional halogen bonding. We present a systematic experimental, theoretical and database study of halogen bonds to carbon-only π-systems (C-I⋯πC bonds), focusing on the synthesis and structural analysis of cocrystals with diversely-sized and -shaped non-derivatised arenes, from one-ring (benzene) to 15-ring (dicoronylene) polycyclic atomatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and fullerene C60, along with theoretical calculations and a systematic analysis of the Cambridge Structural Database. This study establishes C-I⋯πC bonds as directional interactions to arrange planar and curved carbon-only aromatic systems into predictable supramolecular motifs. In >90% of herein presented structures, the C-I⋯πC bonds to PAHs lead to a general ladder motif, in which the arenes act as the rungs and halogen bond donors as the rails, establishing a unique example of a supramolecular synthon based on carbon-only molecules. Besides fundamental importance in the solid-state and supramolecular chemistry of arenes, this synthon enables access to materials with exciting properties based on simple, non-derivatised aromatic systems, as seen from large red and blue shifts in solid-state luminescence and room-temperature phosphorescence upon cocrystallisation.

2-(Thienyl)quinoxaline derivatives and their application in Ir(III) complexes yielding tuneable deep red emitters

The synthesis and characterisation of eleven different 2-(thienyl)quinoxaline species that incorporate different points of functionality, including at the thiophene or quinoxaline rings, are described. These species display variable fluorescence properties in the visible region (λem = 401-491 nm) depending upon the molecular structures and extent of conjugation. The series of 2-(thienyl)quinoxaline species were then investigated as cyclometalating agents for Ir(III) to yield [Ir(C^N)2(bipy)]PF6 (where C^N = the cyclometalated ligand; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Eight complexes were successfully isolated and fully characterised by an array of spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Two Ir(III) examples were structurally characterised in the solid state using single crystal X-ray diffraction; both structures confirmed the proposed formulations and coordination spheres in each case showing that the thiophene coordinates via a Ir-C bond. The photophysical properties of the complexes revealed that each complex is luminescent under ambient conditions with a range of emission wavelengths observed (665-751 nm) indicating that electronic tuning can be achieved via both the thienyl and quinoxaline moieties.

N=8 Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons: Solution Synthesis and High Charge Carrier Mobility

Structurally defined graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have emerged as promising candidates for nanoelectronic devices. Low band gap (<1 eV) GNRs are particularly important when considering the Schottky barrier in device performance. Here, we demonstrate the first solution synthesis of 8-AGNRs through a carefully designed arylated polynaphthalene precursor. The efficiency of the oxidative cyclodehydrogenation of the tailor-made polymer precursor into 8-AGNRs was validated by FT-IR, Raman, and UV/Vis-near-infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy, and further supported by the synthesis of naphtho[1,2,3,4-ghi]perylene derivatives (1 and 2) as subunits of 8-AGNR, with a width of 0.86 nm as suggested by the X-ray single crystal analysis. Low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and solid-state NMR analyses provided further structural support for 8-AGNR. The resulting 8-AGNR exhibited a remarkable NIR absorption extending up to ∼2400 nm, corresponding to an optical band gap as low as ∼0.52 eV. Moreover, optical-pump TeraHertz-probe spectroscopy revealed charge-carrier mobility in the dc limit of ∼270 cm2  V-1  s-1 for the 8-AGNR.

Chirality: a key parameter in chemical probes

Many small molecule bioactive and marketed drugs are chiral. They are often synthesised from commercially available chiral building blocks. However, chirality is sometimes incorrectly assigned by manufacturers with consequences for the end user ranging from: experimental irreproducibility, wasted time on synthesising the wrong product and reanalysis, to the added cost of purchasing the precursor and resynthesis of the correct stereoisomer. Further on, this could lead to loss of reputation, loss of funding, to safety and ethical concerns due to potential in vivo administration of the wrong form of a drug. It is our firm belief that more stringent control of chirality be provided by the supplier and, if needed, requested by the end user, to minimise the potential issues mentioned above. Certification of chirality would bring much needed confidence in chemical structure assignment and could be provided by a variety of techniques, from polarimetry, chiral HPLC, using known chiral standards, vibrational circular dichroism, and x-ray crystallography. A few case studies of our brushes with wrong chirality assignment are shown as well as some examples of what we believe to be good practice.

Ammonium N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)oxamate (AmPicOxam): A Novel Precursor of Calcium Oxalate Coating for Carbonate Stone Substrates

Ammonium N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)oxamate (AmPicOxam), synthesized from O-methyl-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)oxamate, was spectroscopically and structurally characterized and assayed as a novel precursor for the protection and consolidation of carbonate stone substrates. An in-depth characterization of treated and untreated biomicritic limestone and white Carrara marble samples was carried out by means of SEM microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, helium pycnometry, determination of water transport properties, and pull-off tests. The improved solubility (1.00 M, 16.5% w/w) of the title compound with respect to ammonium oxalate (0.4 M, 5% w/w) results in the formation of a thicker protective coating of calcium oxalate (CaOx) dihydrate (weddellite) on marble and biomicrite samples after the treatment with 5% and 12% w/w water solutions, producing a reduction in the stone porosity and increased cohesion. Theoretical calculations were carried out at the DFT level to investigate both the electronic structure of the N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)oxamate anion and the hydrolysis reaction leading from AmPicOxam to CaOx.

A systematic study of the interplay between guest molecule structure and intermolecular interactions in crystalline sponges

Utilization of the crystalline sponge {[(ZnI₂)₃(tpt)₂·x(solvent)]_n} method has enabled characterization of a novel family of synthetic organic oils. The systematic structural differences and diversity of functional groups offered by 13 related molecular adsorbates provide a detailed quantitative understanding of the relationship between the guest structure, its conformation, and the type of intermolecular interactions adopted with neighbouring guests and the host framework. This analysis is extended to assess the connection of these factors to the resulting quality indicators for a particular molecular structure elucidation.

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Copper Complexes Containing "R-Substituted" Bis-7-Azaindolyl Borate Ligands

The coordination chemistry of scorpionate ligands based on borates containing the 7-azaindole heterocycle is relatively unexplored. Thus, there is a requirement to further understand their coordination chemistry. This article outlines the synthesis and characterization of a family of complexes containing anionic flexible scorpionate ligands of the type [(R)(bis-7-azaindolyl)borohydride]^- ([^RBai]^-), where R = Me, Ph or naphthyl. The three ligands were coordinated to a series of copper(I) complexes containing a phosphine co-ligand to form the complexes, [Cu(^MeBai)(PPh₃)] (1), [Cu(^PhBai)(PPh₃)] (2), [Cu(^NaphthBai)(PPh₃)] (3), [Cu(^MeBai)(PCy₃)] (4), [Cu(^PhBai)(PCy₃)] (5) and [Cu(^NaphthBai)(PCy₃)] (6). Additional copper(II) complexes, namely, [Cu(^MeBai)₂] (7) and [Cu(^PhBai)₂] (8), were obtained during attempts to obtain single crystals from complexes 4 and 2, respectively. Complexes 7 and 8 were also prepared independently from CuCl₂ and two equivalents of the corresponding Li[^RBai] salt alongside an additional complex, namely, [Cu(^NaphthBai)₂] (9). The copper(I) and copper(II) complexes were characterized using spectroscopic and analytical methods. Furthermore, a crystal structure was obtained for eight of the nine complexes. In all cases, the boron-based ligand was found to bind to the metal centers via a κ³-N,N,H coordination mode.

β,β-Directly Linked Porphyrin Rings: Synthesis, Photophysical Properties, and Fullerene Binding

Cyclic porphyrin oligomers have been studied as models for photosynthetic light-harvesting antenna complexes and as potential receptors for supramolecular chemistry. Here, we report the synthesis of unprecedented β,β-directly linked cyclic zinc porphyrin oligomers, the trimer (CP3) and tetramer (CP4), by Yamamoto coupling of a 2,3-dibromoporphyrin precursor. Their three-dimensional structures were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The minimum-energy geometries of CP3 and CP4 have propeller and saddle shapes, respectively, as calculated using density functional theory. Their different geometries result in distinct photophysical and electrochemical properties. The smaller dihedral angles between the porphyrin units in CP3, compared with CP4, result in stronger π-conjugation, splitting the ultraviolet-vis absorption bands and shifting them to longer wavelengths. Analysis of the crystallographic bond lengths indicates that the central benzene ring of the CP3 is partially aromatic [harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA) 0.52], whereas the central cyclooctatetraene ring of the CP4 is non-aromatic (HOMA -0.02). The saddle-shaped structure of CP4 makes it a ditopic receptor for fullerenes, with affinity constants of (1.1 ± 0.4) × 10⁵ M^-1 for C₇₀ and (2.2 ± 0.1) × 10⁴ M^-1 for C₆₀, respectively, in toluene solution at 298 K. The formation of a 1:2 complex with C₆₀ is confirmed by NMR titration and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Hydroxypyridine/Pyridone Interconversions within Ruthenium Complexes and Their Application in the Catalytic Hydrogenation of CO2

Reaction of a new ligand 6-DⁱPPon (6-diisopropylphosphino-2-pyridone) with 0.5 equiv of [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ resulted in the formation of a mixture of [RuCl₂(p-cymene)(κ¹-P-6-DⁱPPon)]₂ (1) and [RuCl(p-cymene)(κ²-P,N-6-DⁱPPin)]Cl ([2]^Cl) (where 6-DⁱPPin = 6-diisopropylphosphino-2-hydroxypyridine). The ratio between the two products can be controlled by the nature of the solvent. The similar reaction between 6-DⁱPPon and [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ in the presence of AgOTf and Na[BArF₂₄] (where BArF₂₄ = [{3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃}₄B]^-) resulted in the formation of the complexes [RuCl(p-cymene)(κ²-P,N-6-DⁱPPin)]OTf, ([2]^OTf) and [RuCl(p-cymene)(κ²-P,N-6-DⁱPPin)]BArF₂₄ ([2]^BArF₂₄), respectively. Reactions between complex [2]^Cl, [2]^OTf, or [2]^BArF₂₄ and a base (either DBU or NaOMe) resulted in the deprotonation of the hydroxyl functional group to form a novel neutral orange-colored dearomatized complex, 3. The identity of complex 3 was confirmed as [RuCl(p-cymene)(κ²-P,N-6-DⁱPPon*)], where 6-DⁱPPon* is the anionic species (6-diisopropylphosphino-2-oxo-pyridinide), which contains the deprotonated moiety. The new 6-DⁱPPon ligand and its corresponding air stable half-sandwich derivative ruthenium complexes 1, [2]^OTf, [2]^BArF₂₄, and 3 were all isolated in good yields and fully characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. The interconversions between the neutral and anionic forms of the ligands 6-DⁱPPon, 6-DⁱPPin, and 6-DⁱPPon* offer the potential for novel secondary sphere interactions and proton shuttling reactivity. The consequences for this have been explored in the activation of H₂ and the subsequent catalytic hydrogenations of CO₂ into formate salts in the presence of a base.

Structural (XRD) Characterization and an Analysis of H-Bonding Motifs in Some Tetrahydroxidohexaoxidopentaborate(1-) Salts of N-Substituted Guanidinium Cations

The synthesis and characterization of six new substituted guanidium tetrahydroxidohexaoxidopentaborate(1-) salts are reported: [C(NH₂)₂(NHMe)][B₅O₆(OH)₄]·H₂O (1), [C(NH₂)₂(NH{NH₂})][B₅O₆(OH)₄] (2), [C(NH₂)₂(NMe₂)][B₅O₆(OH)₄] (3), [C(NH₂)(NMe₂)₂][B₅O₆(OH)₄] (4), [C(NHMe)(NMe₂)₂][B₅O₆(OH)₄]·B(OH)₃ (5), and [TBDH][B₅O₆(OH)₄] (6) (TBD = 1,5,7-triazabicyclo [4.4.0]dec-5-ene). Compounds 1-6 were prepared as crystalline salts from basic aqueous solution via self-assembly processes from B(OH)₃ and the appropriate substituted cation. Compounds 1-6 were characterized by spectroscopic (NMR and IR) and by single-crystal XRD studies. A thermal (TGA) analysis on compounds 1-3 and 6 demonstrated that they thermally decomposed via a multistage process to B₂O₃ at >650 °C. The low temperature stage (<250 °C) was endothermic and corresponded to a loss of H₂O. Reactant stoichiometry, solid-state packing, and H-bonding interactions are all important in assembling these structures. An analysis of H-bonding motifs in known unsubstituted guanidinium salts [C(NH₂)₃]₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·2H₂O, [C(NH₂)₃][B₅O₆(OH)₄]·H₂O, and [C(NH₂)₃]₃[B₉O₁₂(OH)₆] and in compounds 1-6 revealed that two important H-bonding R₂²(8) motifs competed to stabilize the observed structures. The guanidinium cation formed charge-assisted pincer cation-anion H-bonded rings as a major motif in [C(NH₂)₃]₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·2H₂O and [C(NH₂)₃]₃[B₉O₁₂(OH)₆], whereas the anion-anion ring motif was dominant in [C(NH₂)₃][B₅O₆(OH)₄]·H₂O and in compounds 1-6. This behaviour was consistent with the stoichiometry of the salt and packing effects also strongly influencing their solid-state structures.

Advanced crystallisation methods for small organic molecules

Molecular materials based on small organic molecules often require advanced structural analysis, beyond the capability of spectroscopic techniques, to fully characterise them. In such cases, diffraction methods such as single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), are one of the most powerful tools available to researchers, providing molecular and structural elucidation at atomic level resolution, including absolute stereochemistry. However SCXRD, and related diffraction methods, are heavily dependent on the availability of suitable, high-quality crystals, thus crystallisation often becomes the major bottleneck in preparing samples. Following a summary of classical methods for the crystallisation of small organic molecules, this review will focus on a number of recently developed advanced methods for crystalline material sample preparation for SCXRD. This review will cover two main areas of modern small organic molecule crystallisation, namely the inclusion of molecules within host complexes (e.g., "crystalline sponge" and tetraaryladamantane based inclusion chaperones) and the use of high-throughput crystallisation, employing "under-oil" approaches (e.g., microbatch under-oil and ENaCt). Representative examples have been included for each technique, together with a discussion of their relative advantages and limitations to aid the reader in selecting the most appropriate technique to overcome a specific analytical challenge.

Fluorine-based Zn salan complexes

We synthesised and characterised the racemic and chiral versions of two Zn salan fluorine-based complexes from commercially available materials. The complexes are susceptible to absorbing H₂O from the atmosphere. In solution (DMSO-H₂O) and at the millimolar level, experimental and theoretical studies identify that these complexes exist in a dimeric-monomeric equilibrium. We also investigated their ability to sense amines via¹⁹F NMR. In CDCl₃ or d⁶-DMSO, strongly coordinating molecules (H₂O or DMSO) are the limiting factor in using these easy-to-make complexes as chemosensory platforms since their exchange with analytes requires an extreme excess of the latter.

Organometallic Platinum(II) Photosensitisers that Demonstrate Ligand-Modulated Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Energy Upconversion Efficiencies

A series of 2-phenylquinoxaline ligands have been synthesised that introduce either CF₃ or OCF₃ electron-withdrawing groups at different positions of the phenyl ring. These ligands were investigated as cyclometalating reagents for platinum(II) to give neutral complexes of the form [Pt(C^N)(acac)] (in which C^N=cyclometalating ligand; acac=acetyl acetonate). X-ray crystallographic studies on three examples showed that the complexes adopt an approximate square planar geometry. All examples revealed strong Pt-Pt linear contacts of 3.2041(6), 3.2199(3) and 3.2586(2) Å. The highly coloured complexes display efficient visible absorption at 400-500 nm (ϵ ≈5000 M^-1  cm^-1 ) and orange red photoluminescent characteristics (λ_em =603-620 nm; Φ_em ≤37 %), which were subtly tuned by the ligand. Triplet emitting character was confirmed by microsecond luminescence lifetimes and the photogeneration of singlet oxygen with quantum efficiencies up to 57 %. Each complex was investigated as a photosensitiser for triplet-triplet annihilation energy upconversion using 9,10-diphenylanthracene as the annihilator species: a range of good upconversion efficiencies (Φ_UC 5.9-14.1 %) were observed and shown to be strongly influenced by the ligand structure in each case.

Chiral Co3Y Propeller-Shaped Chemosensory Platforms Based on 19F-NMR

Two propeller-shaped chiral Co^III₃Y^III complexes built from fluorinated ligands are synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD), IR, UV-vis, circular dichroism (CD), elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), electron spray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹F). This work explores the sensing and discrimination abilities of these complexes, thus providing an innovative sensing method using a ¹⁹F NMR chemosensory system and opening new directions in 3d/4f chemistry. Control experiments and theoretical studies shed light on the sensing mechanism, while the scope and limitations of this method are discussed and presented.

Strained Porphyrin Tape-Cycloparaphenylene Hybrid Nanorings

V-Shaped porphyrin dimers, with masked p-phenylene bridges, undergo efficient oxidative coupling to form meso-meso linked cyclic porphyrin oligomers. Reductive aromatization unmasks the p-phenylenes, increasing the strain. Oxidation then fuses the porphyrin dimers, providing a nanoring with curved walls. The strain in this macrocycle bends the p-phenylene and fused porphyrin dimer units (radii of curvature of 11.4 and 19.0 Å, respectively), but it does not significantly alter the electronic structure of the fused porphyrins.

FeIII in the high-spin state in dimethylammonium bis[3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazonato(2-)-κ3O2,N1,S]ferrate(III)

The synthesis and crystal structure (100 K) of the title compound, [(CH₃)₂NH₂][Fe(C₁₀H₁₁O₂N₃S)₂], are reported. The asymmetric unit consists of an octahedral [Fe^III(L)₂]^- fragment, where L^2- is 3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazonate(2-), and a dimethylammonium cation. Each L^2- ligand binds with the thiolate S, the imine N and the phenolate O atoms as donors, resulting in an Fe^IIIS₂N₂O₂ chromophore. The ligands are orientated in two perpendicular planes, with the O and S atoms in cis positions, and mutually trans N atoms. The Fe^III ion is in the high-spin state at 100 K. The variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements (5-320 K) are consistent with the presence of a high-spin Fe^III ion with D = 0.83 (1) cm^-1 and g = 2.

Solvent‐Free Synthesis of Core‐Functionalised Naphthalene Diimides by Using a Vibratory Ball Mill: Suzuki, Sonogashira and Buchwald–Hartwig Reactions

Solvent‐free synthesis by using a vibratory ball mill (VBM) offers the chance to access new chemical reactivity, whilst reducing solvent waste and minimising reaction times. Herein, we report the core functionalisation of N,N’‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)‐2,6‐dibromo‐1,4,5,8‐naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid (Br₂‐NDI) by using Suzuki, Sonogashira and Buchwald–Hartwig coupling reactions. The products of these reactions are important building blocks in many areas of organic electronics including organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) and organic photovoltaic cells (OPVCs). The reactions proceed in as little as 1 h, use commercially available palladium sources (frequently Pd(OAc)₂) and are tolerant to air and atmospheric moisture. Furthermore, the real‐world potential of this green VBM protocol is demonstrated by the double Suzuki coupling of a monobromo(NDI) residue to a bis(thiophene) pinacol ester. The resulting dimeric NDI species has been demonstrated to behave as an electron acceptor in functioning OPVCs.

An [FeIII8] molecular oxyhydroxide

An [Fe^III₈] hexagonal bipyramid displays antiferromagnetic exchange between the two capping tetrahedral ions and the six ring octahedral ions resulting in a spin ground state of S = 10.

Scale-up and optimization of the synthesis of dual CBP/BRD4 inhibitor ISOX-DUAL

ISOX-DUAL is a dual inhibitor of CBP/p300 (IC₅₀ = 0.65 μM) and BRD4 (IC₅₀ = 1.5 μM) bromodomains, and a useful chemical probe for epigenetic research. Aspects of the published synthetic route to this compound and its analogues are small-scale, poor-yielding or simply unamenable to scale-up without optimization. Herein we describe the development of a refined synthesis that circumvents the challenges of the original report, with notable improvements to several of the key synthetic transformations. Moreover, a general Suzuki Miyaura protocol for the late stage installation of alternative dimethyl-isoxazole acetyl-lysine (KAc) binding motifs is presented.

Long-lived, near-IR emission from Cr(III) under ambient conditions

Bis-terdentate (N^N^N) ligands coordinated to Cr(III) yield complexes that display near-IR emission under aerated solvent conditions at room temperature.

Reversible P-P bond cleavage at an iridium(III) metal centre

Treatment of a κ¹-P-monodentate bicyclic diphosphane iridium(III) complex with a labile gold(I) precursor afforded an unusual Ir^III/Au^I complex in which the P-P single bond has been cleaved. This reaction was cleanly reversed upon addition of tertiary phosphine. Carbon-carbon bond activation, across neighbouring P₂C₂N rings of the coordinated bicyclic diphosphane, occurred upon thermolysis of the Ir^III/Au^I complex.

The spontaneous self-assembly of a molecular water pipe in 3D space

The self-assembly and self-organization of water molecules are relevant in many fields of research. When water spontaneously reacts with 2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-piperidine (TMP) to form colourless and crystalline discrete needles, only in the exact ratio of 2:1, it is important to understand the phenomenon. Single-crystal X-ray and neutron diffraction data have unveiled that TMP self-assembles around columns of water molecules, and as such, the resulting adduct may be described as a series of molecular water pipes.

Enantiopure and racemic radical-cation salts of B(mandelate)2- and B(2-chloromandelate)2- anions with BEDT-TTF

We report the first examples of radical-cation salts of BEDT-TTF with spiroborate anions [B(mandelate)₂]^- and [B(2-chloromandelate)₂]^-, synthesized from either enantiopure or racemic bidentate mandelate or chloromandelate ligands. In the salts prepared using enantiopure ligands only one of two diastereoisomers of the spiroborate anion is incorporated, with the boron centre having the same stereochemistry as the enantiopure ligand. For the racemic salts one racemic pair of spiroborate anions containing an R and an S mandelate ligand is incorporated. In certain solvents helical crystals were obtained when using spiroborate anions with enantiopure ligands. Electrical and magnetic properties, and band structure calculations are reported.

Expanding the Repertoire of Low-Molecular-Weight Pentafluorosulfanyl-Substituted Scaffolds

The pentafluorosulfanyl (‐SF₅) functional group is of increasing interest as a bioisostere in medicinal chemistry. A library of SF₅‐containing compounds, including amide, isoxazole, and oxindole derivatives, was synthesised using a range of solution‐based and solventless methods, including microwave and ball‐mill techniques. The library was tested against targets including human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (HDHODH). A subsequent focused approach led to synthesis of analogues of the clinically used disease modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), Teriflunomide and Leflunomide, considered for potential COVID‐19 use, where SF₅ bioisostere deployment led to improved inhibition of HDHODH compared with the parent drugs. The results demonstrate the utility of the SF₅ group in medicinal chemistry.

N,N'-Substituted thioureas and their metal complexes: syntheses, structures and electronic properties

The synthesis of six N,N'-substituted thiourea ligands (L1a-L3b) was achieved in two steps. A corresponding extensive series of Cu(I), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes (1-24) with varying formulations were synthesised from these ligands by the reaction of a 1 : 1 or a 1 : 2 mixture of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) perchlorate or chloride salts. Complexes 1-24 have been comprehensively characterised by mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, UV-vis., IR, and ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectroscopies where applicable. The X-ray crystal structures were obtained for eight examples: [(L1a)₂Cu]ClO₄ (1), [(L1c)₂Zn](ClO₄)₂ (4), [(L2a)₂Cu]ClO₄ (6), [(L2c)₂Ni](ClO₄)₂ (7), [(L1b)₂Cu](ClO₄) (15), [(L1b)CuCl] (16), [(L4)₂CuCl₂] (19) and [(L3b)CuClO₄] (21). These studies reveal that L1c and L2c represent ligands that have undergone cleavage during reaction with the metal salt; L4 represents an intramolecular rearrangement (via a Hugershoff reaction) of L2b; and in most cases Cu(II) is reduced to Cu(I) during the ligand reaction. The X-ray crystal structures also reveal that 1, 4, 6, 15 and 16 are monometallic species in the solid state; that Cu(I) in 1, 6, 15 and 16 and Zn(II) in 4 are arranged in a distorted tetrahedral geometry; that Cu(I) in 21 adopts a trigonal planar geometry; and that in 7 and 19 the Ni(II) and Cu(II) centres, respectively, possess square planar geometry. Preliminary studies on the biological activity (using the Malaria Sybr Green I Fluorescence assay) of the thiourea containing complexes suggests that the d¹⁰ complexes, and increased ligand stoichiometries, may afford higher potency.

Tautomerism troubles: proton transfer modifies the stereochemical assignments in diastereoisomeric structures of spiro-cyclic 5-methyl-2H-imidazol-4-amine dimers

During the racemization of a novel pharmaceutical spiro-cyclic imidazole-amine compound, namely, 6'-bromo-N-(6'-bromo-4-meth-oxy-4''-methyl-3'H-di-spiro[cyclo-hexane-1,2'-indene-1',2''-imidazol]-5''-yl)-4-meth-oxy-4''-methyl-3'H-di-spiro-[cyclo-hexane-1,2'-indene-1',2''-imidazol]-5''-imine, C36H41Br2N5O2, two impurities were isolated. These impurities were clearly dimers from mass spectroscopic analysis, however single-crystal diffraction characterization was required for the assignment of stereochemistry. The single-crystal diffraction results revealed subtly different structures to those proposed, due to an unexpected proton transfer. The dimers contain four stereocentres, but two of primary inter-est, and are centrosymmetric, so after careful structure refinement and close inspection it was possible to unambiguously assign the stereochemistry of both the homochiral [(S),(S)- and (R),(R)-] and the heterochiral [(S),(R)- and (R),(S)-] compounds.

Electrochemical oxidative Z-selective C(sp2)-H chlorination of acrylamides

An electrochemical method for the oxidative Z-selective C(sp²)-H chlorination of acrylamides has been developed. This catalyst and organic oxidant free method is applicable across various substituted tertiary acrylamides, and provides access to a broad range of synthetically useful Z-β-chloroacrylamides in good yields (22 examples, 73% average yield). The orthogonal derivatization of the products was demonstrated through chemoselective transformations and the electrochemical process was performed on gram scale in flow.

Room-Temperature Cu(II) Radical-Triggered Alkyne C-H Activation

A dimeric Cu(II) complex [Cu(II)2L2(μ2-Cl)Cl] (1) built from an asymmetric tridentate ligand (2-(((2-aminocyclohexyl)imino)methyl)-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol) and weakly coordinating anions has been synthesized and structurally characterized. In dichloromethane solution, 1 exists in a monomeric [Cu(II)LCl] (1') (85%)-dimeric (1) (15%) equilibrium, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies indicate structural stability and redox retention. Addition of phenylacetylene to the CH2Cl2 solution populates 1' and leads to the formation of a transient radical species. Theoretical studies support this notion and show that the radical initiates an alkyne C-H bond activation process via a four-membered ring (Cu(II)-O···H-Calkyne) intermediate. This unusual C-H activation method is applicable for the efficient synthesis of propargylamines, without additives, within 16 h, at low loadings and in noncoordinating solvents including late-stage functionalization of important bioactive molecules. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, postcatalysis, confirmed the framework's stability and showed that the metal center preserves its oxidation state. The scope and limitations of this unconventional protocol are discussed.

Noria and its derivatives as hosts for chemically and thermally robust Type II porous liquids

Porous Liquids (PLs) are a new class of material that possess both fluidity and permanent porosity. As such they can act as enhanced, selective solvents and may ultimately find applications which are not possible for porous solids, such as continuous flow separation processes. Type II PLs consist of empty molecular hosts dissolved in size-excluded solvents and to date have mainly been based on hosts that have limited chemical and thermal stability. Here we identify Noria, a rigid cyclic oligomer as a new host for the synthesis of more robust Type II PLs. Although the structure of Noria is well-documented, we find that literature has overlooked the true composition of bulk Noria samples. We find that bulk samples typically consist of Noria (ca. 40%), a Noria isomer, specifically a resorcinarene trimer, “R3” (ca. 30%) and other unidentified oligomers (ca. 30%). Noria has been characterised crystallographically as a diethyl ether solvate and its ¹H NMR spectrum fully assigned for the first time. The previously postulated but unreported R3 has also been characterised crystallographically as a dimethyl sulfoxide solvate, which confirms its alternative connectivity to Noria. Noria and R3 have low solubility which precludes their use in Type II PLs, however, the partially ethylated derivative Noria-OEt dissolves in the size-excluded solvent 15-crown-5 to give a new Type II PL. This PL exhibits enhanced uptake of methane (CH₄) gas supporting the presence of empty pores in the liquid. Detailed molecular dynamics simulations support the existence of pores in the liquid and show that occupation of the pores by CH₄ is favoured. Overall, this work revises the general accepted composition of bulk Noria samples and shows that Noria derivatives are appropriate for the synthesis of more robust Type II PLs.

Porous Liquids (PLs) are a new class of material that possess both fluidity and permanent porosity. Here we identify Noria, a rigid cyclic oligomer as a new host for the synthesis of more robust Type II PLs.

Mapping of N-C Bond Formation from a Series of Crystalline Peri-Substituted Naphthalenes by Charge Density and Solid-State NMR Methodologies

A combination of charge density studies and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) 1 JNC coupling measurements supported by periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations is used to characterise the transition from an n-π* interaction to bond formation between a nucleophilic nitrogen atom and an electrophilic sp2 carbon atom in a series of crystalline peri-substituted naphthalenes. As the N⋅⋅⋅C distance reduces there is a sharp decrease in the Laplacian derived from increasing charge density between the two groups at ca. N⋅⋅⋅C = 1.8 Å, with the periodic DFT calculations predicting, and heteronuclear spin-echo NMR measurements confirming, the 1 JNC couplings of ≈3-6 Hz for long C-N bonds (1.60-1.65 Å), and 1 JNC couplings of <1 Hz for N⋅⋅⋅C >2.1 Å.

Polysubstituted Ligand Framework for Color Tuning Phosphorescent Iridium(III) Complexes

A series of ligands have been synthesized based upon a polysubstituted 2-phenylquinoxaline core structure. These ligands introduce different combinations of fluorine and methyl substituents on both the phenyl and quinoxaline constituent rings. The resultant investigation of these species as cyclometalating agents for Ir(III) gave cationic complexes of the form [Ir(C^N)₂(bipy)]PF₆ (where C^N = cyclometalating ligand; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine). X-ray crystallographic studies were conducted on four complexes and each revealed the expected distorted octahedral geometry based upon a cis-C,C and trans-N,N ligand arrangement at Ir(III). Supporting computational studies predict that each of the complexes share the same general descriptions for the frontier orbitals. TD-DFT calculations suggest MLCT contributions to the lowest energy absorption and a likely MLCT/ILCT/LLCT nature to the emitting state. Experimentally, the complexes display tunable luminescence across the yellow-orange-red part of the visible spectrum (λ_em = 579-655 nm).

Translating the InChI: adapting neural machine translation to predict IUPAC names from a chemical identifier

We present a sequence-to-sequence machine learning model for predicting the IUPAC name of a chemical from its standard International Chemical Identifier (InChI). The model uses two stacks of transformers in an encoder-decoder architecture, a setup similar to the neural networks used in state-of-the-art machine translation. Unlike neural machine translation, which usually tokenizes input and output into words or sub-words, our model processes the InChI and predicts the IUPAC name character by character. The model was trained on a dataset of 10 million InChI/IUPAC name pairs freely downloaded from the National Library of Medicine's online PubChem service. Training took seven days on a Tesla K80 GPU, and the model achieved a test set accuracy of 91%. The model performed particularly well on organics, with the exception of macrocycles, and was comparable to commercial IUPAC name generation software. The predictions were less accurate for inorganic and organometallic compounds. This can be explained by inherent limitations of standard InChI for representing inorganics, as well as low coverage in the training data.

Morpholine- and Thiomorpholine-Based Amidodithiophosphonato Nickel Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, P-N Cleavage, Antibacterial Activity and Silica Nano-Dispersion

The reactivity of thiomorpholinium P-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-thiomorpholin-amidodithiophosphonate (S-MorH⁺₂)(S-Mor-adtp^-) and morpholinium P-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-morpholin-amidodithiophosphonate (O-MorH⁺₂)(O-Mor-adtp^-) towards nickel (II) dichloride hexahydrated is presented and the hydrolysis of the relevant metal complexes investigated. The hydrolytic products (S-MorH⁺₂)₂ [Ni(dtp)₂]²- and (O-MorH⁺₂)₂[Ni(dtp)₂]²- were characterized by means of FT-IR, ¹H, and ³¹P NMR and XRD and the experimented P-N cleavage investigated and elucidated by means of DFT calculations. The antimicrobial activity of the neutral nickel complex [Ni(S-Mor-adtp)₂] was tested against a set of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria alongside with its nanodispersion in a silica matrix. The complex [Ni(S-Mor-adtp)₂] did not show antibacterial activity, whilst the nano-dispersed sample [Ni(S-Mor-adtp)₂]_SiO₂ demonstrated inhibition to growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The nanocomposites were fully characterized by means of XRPD, TGA, SEM and dinitrogen sorption techniques.