Transition Metal-Catalyzed C-H Oxidation of Saturated Hydrocarbons with Molecular Oxygen.

The C-H oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons to the corresponding alcohols and ketones can be performed efficiently at room temperature with molecular oxygen (1 atm) in the presence of acetaldehyde and catalysts such as Fe, Cu(OH)2 , and CuCl2 -18-crown-6 complex. Moreover, extremely high turnover numbers (>27,000) have been obtained for the C-H oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons with molecular oxygen (1 atm) using a combination of Cu(OAc)2 and acetonitrile at 70 °C. Related oxidation reactions such as epoxidation, Baeyer-Villiger reaction, acetoxylation of ß-lactams with molecular oxygen and a suitable aldehyde at room temperature are described.

Phosphorescent Molecules That Resist Concentration Quenching in the Solution State: Concentration-Driven Emission Enhancement of Vaulted trans-Bis[2-(iminomethyl)imidazolato]platinum(II) Complexes.

In this paper, we describe the first phosphorescent molecules that do not exhibit the concentration quenching in the homogeneous solution state throughout the entire range of concentrations. A series of newly designed polymethylene-vaulted trans-bis[2-(iminomethyl)imidazolato]platinum(II) complexes (1a, n = 10; 1b, n = 12; 1c, n = 14) was prepared by treating [PtCl2(CH3CN)2] with the corresponding N,N'-bis[(1H-imidazol-2-yl)methylene]-1,ω-alkanediamines. The trans coordination and vaulted structures of 1 have been unequivocally established from X-ray diffraction studies. When the concentration of a clear homogeneous solution of 1a-c in organic solvents increases from the diluted to the saturated state, the emission intensity and quantum efficiency increase continuously without concentration quenching at ambient temperature. This is in contrast to the emission profiles of other analogues 2-4 and typical AIEgens, which show ordinary concentration quenching under the same measurement conditions. The present concentration-driven emission enhancement is observed more intensely in a solution of a racemic mixture of 1 in comparison to that of the optically pure solution. Kinetic studies, 1H NMR, XRD analyses, and DFT calculations revealed that this specifically intense emission enhancement of 1 is attributed to an increase in the contribution of a 3MMLCT to 1GS transition, which is caused by the specific ability for the formation of a cofacial association dimer of 1.

Helicity Control of Supramolecular Gel Fibers Consisting of an Achiral NiII Complex in a Chiral Nematic Solvent.

The supramolecular chirality of aggregates consisting of achiral trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)NiII complex 1 bearing long alkyl chains can be generated and controlled precisely in a chiral nematic liquid-crystalline (LC) solvent, whereas the complex naturally forms achiral gel fibers in achiral nematic LC solvents and crystals in nonmesogenic solvents. The direction and intensity of the helicity of the gel fibers of 1 in the LC gel state can be adjusted by means of the nature of the helical twisting and the concentration of the chiral dopants. Helicity control was precisely detected in the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of LC gels and by direct SEM observation of the dried gel fibers. XRD analysis revealed that the flexibility of the herringbone-based lamellar alignment of this complex is the key to the LC-specific gelation and helicity control of the gel fibers.

Dynamic neighbouring participation of nitrogen lone pairs on the chromogenic behaviour of trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) coordination platforms.

The participation of neighbouring nitrogen lone pairs in the chromogenic control of trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) platforms was examined, using newly designed Pt analogues bearing salicylaldehyde hydrazone ligands. A series of non-vaulted and vaulted Pt complexes (1-5) with salicylaldehyde hydrazones as trans-coordinated bidentate ligands were synthesized and characterized with regard to the chromogenic behaviour of the trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) coordination platforms. X-ray diffraction and 2D NMR data demonstrated that, in the case of the non-vaulted N-monomethyl complexes 1, there was significant participation of neighbouring N(2) lone pairs in the d-π conjugation of the trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) platforms owing to conformational fixation arising from intramolecular hydrogen bonding. In contrast, the lone pairs of the N,N-dimethyl analogues 2 made a much less significant contribution to the extension of the d-π conjugation, due to their high conformational mobility. Complexes 1-5 were found to have structure-dependent chromogenic properties in the solution state, such that the absorption spectra of the N-methyl, short-vaulted complexes 1 and 3 exhibited significant hypsochromic shifts relative to the N,N-dimethyl, long-vaulted analogues 2 and 5, which had spectra very similar to that of the trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) complex 6. The introduction of MeO groups at the 3- and 5 positions on the aromatic rings of 1 and 2 gave rise to significant hypsochromic and bathochromic shifts, respectively. In addition, νmax - ET(30) plots for various solvents revealed that complexes 1-5 exhibit negative solvatochromism, in which the data obtained in alcoholic solvents are hypsochromically separated from those in non-alcoholic solvents for 1 and 3, an effect that is not observed for 2 and 5. Complexes 1-5 also exhibit emission enhancement upon addition of excess CH3SO3H in dimethyl sulfoxide, and a significant effect of the linker on quantum yields (Φ77 K) was observed in the case of the vaulted complexes. Density functional theory calculations (B3LYP/6-31G*, LanL2DZ) determined that the structure dependence of the chromogenic behaviour of these non-vaulted and polymethylene-vaulted hydrazone complexes can be attributed to variations in the participation of neighbouring nitrogen lone pairs in the d-π conjugation on the trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(ii) coordination platforms.

Control of Metal Arrays Based on Heterometallics Masquerading in Heterochiral Aggregations of Chiral Clothespin-Shaped Complexes.

Heterometal arrays in molecular aggregations were obtained by the spontaneous and ultrasound-induced gelation of organic liquids containing the chiral, clothespin-shaped trans-bis(salicylaldiminato) d8 transition-metal complexes 1. Heterometallic mixtures of complexes 1 a (Pd) and 1 b (Pt) underwent strict heterochiral aggregation entirely due to the organic shell structure of the clothespin shape, with no effect of the metal cores. This phenomenon provides an unprecedented means of generating highly controlled heterometallic arrangements such as alternating sequences [(+)-Pd(-)-Pt(+)-Pd(-)-Pt⋅⋅⋅] as well as a variety of single metal-enriched arrays (e.g., [(+)-Pt(-)-Pd(+)-Pd(-)-Pd(+)-Pd(-)-Pd⋅⋅⋅] and [(+)-Pd(-)-Pt(+)-Pt(-)-Pt(+)-Pt(-)-Pt⋅⋅⋅]) upon the introduction of an optically active masquerading unit with a different metal core in the heterochiral single-metal sequence. The present method can be applied to form various new aggregates with optically active Pd and Pt units, to allow 1) tuning of the gelation ultrasound sensitivity based on the different hearing abilities of the metal units; 2) aggregation-induced chirality transfer between heterometallic species; and 3) aggregation-induced chirality enhancement. A mechanistic rationale is proposed for these molecular aggregations based on the molecular structures of the units and the morphologies of the aggregates.

Highly fluorescent flavins: rational molecular design for quenching protection based on repulsive and attractive control of molecular alignment.

Unprecedented intense fluorescent emission was observed for a variety of flavin compounds bearing a perpendicular cyclic imide moiety at the C7 position of an isoalloxazine platform. A series of alloxan-substituted flavins was prepared selectively by reduction of the corresponding N-aryl-2-nitro-5-alkoxyanilines with zinc dust and subsequent reaction with alloxan monohydrate in the presence of boric acid. Analogues bearing oxazolidine-2,4-dione functionality were obtained on methylation of the alloxan-substituted flavins with methyl iodide and subsequent rearrangement in the presence of an inorganic base. The flavin compounds exhibit intense white-green fluorescent emission in the solution state under UV excitation at 298 K, with emission efficiencies Φ298 K greater than 0.55 in CH3 CN, which are higher than the values for all reported flavin compounds under similar conditions. The highest Φ298 K value of 0.70 was obtained in CH3 CN for isoalloxazine bearing C7-alloxan and N10-2,6-diisopropylphenyl groups. The temperature dependence of the emission intensities indicates that the pronounced emission properties at 298 K are attributable to the highly heat resistant properties towards emission decay with increasing temperature. Mechanistic studies, including X-ray diffraction analysis, revealed that the good emission properties and high heat resistance of the alloxan-substituted flavins are due to a synergetic effect of the associative nature of the C7-alloxan unit and the repulsive nature of the perpendicular bulky substituents at the C7 and N10 positions.

Solid-state emission enhancement in vaulted trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(II) crystals with halogen functionality.

The synthesis, structure, and solid-state emission of vaulted trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(ii) complexes 1-3 with halogen functionalities are described and compared with the non-substituted analogues. Chloro-substitution provided an improvement of the low emission properties of short-vaulted, non-substituted complexes 1 and 2 in the crystalline state at ambient temperature, while the intense emission of long-vaulted analogues 3 remained unchanged. Bromo-substituted crystals also emit intensively, while the fluoro analogue is non-emissive under the same conditions. Temperature-dependent emission spectra indicate that all chloro- and bromo-substituted crystals with enhanced emission properties at ambient temperature exhibit improved heat resistance properties towards emission decay with the halogen functionalities. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that such a positive effect of halogenation for the enhancement of solid-state emission is due to significant molecular constraints in the crystals by a combination of the vaulted structure and three-dimensional HX hydrogen bonding interactions.

Binuclear trans-bis(ß-iminoaryloxy)palladium(II) complexes doubly linked with pentamethylene spacers: structure-dependent flapping motion and heterochiral association behavior of the clothespin-shaped molecules.

The synthesis, structure, and solution-state behavior of clothespin-shaped binuclear trans-bis(ß-iminoaryloxy)palladium(II) complexes doubly linked with pentamethylene spacers are described. Achiral syn and racemic anti isomers of complexes 1-3 were prepared by treating Pd(OAc)2 with the corresponding N,N'-bis(ß-hydroxyarylmethylene)-1,5-pentanediamine and then subjecting the mixture to chromatographic separation. Optically pure (100 % ee) complexes, (+)-anti-1, (+)-anti-2, and (+)-anti-3, were obtained from the racemic mixture by employing a preparative HPLC system with a chiral column. The trans coordination and clothespin-shaped structures with syn and anti conformations of these complexes have been unequivocally established by X-ray diffraction studies. (1)H NMR analysis showed that (±)-anti-1, (±)-anti-2, syn-2, and (±)-anti-3 display a flapping motion by consecutive stacking association/dissociation between cofacial coordination planes in [D8]toluene, whereas syn-1 and syn-3 are static under the same conditions. The activation parameters for the flapping motion (ΔH(≠) and ΔS(≠)) were determined from variable-temperature NMR analyses as 50.4 kJ mol(-1) and 60.1 J mol(-1) K(-1) for (±)-anti-1, 31.0 kJ mol(-1) and -22.7 J mol(-1) K(-1) for (±)-anti-2, 29.6 kJ mol(-1) and -57.7 J mol(-1) K(-1) for syn-2, and 35.0 kJ mol(-1) and 0.5 J mol(-1) K(-1) for (±)-anti-3, respectively. The molecular structure and kinetic parameters demonstrate that all of the anti complexes flap with a twisting motion in [D8]toluene, although (±)-anti-1 bearing dilated Z-shaped blades moves more dynamically than I-shaped (±)-anti-2 or the smaller (±)-anti-3. Highly symmetrical syn-2 displays a much more static flapping motion, that is, in a see-saw-like manner. In CDCl3, (±)-anti-1 exhibits an extraordinary upfield shift of the (1)H NMR signals with increasing concentration, whereas solutions of (+)-anti-1 and the other syn/anti analogues 2 and 3 exhibit negligible or slight changes in the chemical shifts under the same conditions, which indicates that anti-1 undergoes a specific heterochiral association in the solution state. Equilibrium constants for the dimerizations of (±)- and (+)-anti-1 in CDCl3 at 293 K were estimated by curve-fitting analysis of the (1)H NMR chemical shift dependences on concentration as 26 M(-1) [KD(racemic)] and 3.2 M(-1) [KD(homo)], respectively. The heterochiral association constant [KD(hetero)] was estimated as 98 M(-1), based on the relationship KD(racemic) = 1/2 KD(homo) +1/4 KD(hetero). An inward stacking motif of interpenetrative dimer association is postulated as the mechanistic rationale for this rare case of heterochiral association.

Solid-state phosphorescence of trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(II) complexes bearing long alkyl chains: morphology control towards intense emission.

Morphology control for intense solid-state phosphorescence of non-emissive, but potentially emissive crystals of platinum complexes and the mechanistic rationale are described. A series of trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(II) complexes bearing linear alkyl chains (1a: n=5; 1b: n=8; 1c: n=12; 1d: n=14; 1e: n=16; 1f: n=18) was synthesized and the solid-state emission properties were examined by using crystals/aggregates prepared under various precipitation conditions. Crystals of 1e, prepared using "kinetic" conditions including rapid cooling, high concentrations, and poor solvents, emit intensive yellow phosphorescence (λ(max)=545 nm) under UV irradiation at 298 K with an absolute quantum efficiency of 0.36, whereas all the crystals of 1a-1f prepared using "thermodynamic" conditions including slow cooling, low concentrations, and good solvents were either non- or less emissive with Φ(298K) values of 0.12 (1a), 0.11 (1b), 0.10 (1c), 0.07 (1d), 0.02 (1e), and 0.02 (1f) under the same measurement conditions. The amorphous solid 1e, prepared by rapid cooling and freeze-drying, was also non-emissive (Φ(298K)=0.02, 0.02). Temperature-dependent emission spectra showed that the kinetic crystals of 1e exhibit high heat-resistance towards emission decay with increasing temperature, whereas the amorphous solid 1e is entirely heat-quenchable. This is a rare example of the change from a non-emissive crystal into a highly emissive crystal by morphology control through crystal engineering. Emission spectra and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the emissive, kinetic crystals of 1e are clearly distinct from those of the less emissive, thermodynamic crystals of 1a-1f. Single-crystal XRD unequivocally establishes that the thermodynamic crystals of 1d have a multilayered lamellar structure supported by highly regulated, consecutive π-stacking interactions between imine moieties, whereas the kinetic crystals of 1e have a face-to-edge lamellar structure with less stacking. These results lead to the conclusion that 1) morphology control of long-chained complexes exclusively generates a metastable herringbone-based lamellar packing motif that exhibits intense emission and high heat-resistance, while 2) a thermodynamically stable, highly regulated, consecutive stacking motif is unfavorable for solid-state emission.

A clothes-peg-shaped binuclear trans-bis(2-aminotroponato)palladium(II) complex bearing pentamethylene spacers.

rac-Bis{µ-trans-2,2'-[pentane-1,5-diylbis(azanediyl)]ditroponato}dipalladium(II), [Pd2(C19H20N2O2)2], has been synthesized and fully characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, (1)H NMR, FT-IR and mass spectroscopy. The trans coordination, vaulted structure and anti conformation have been unequivocally established from the X-ray diffraction studies. This is the first example of a bis(aminotroponato)palladium complex. In the crystalline state, the molecule has twofold symmetry and each molecular unit undergoes intermolecular offset π-stacking of the tropone rings to afford heterochiral interpenetrating dimers that are aligned in a lamellar manner with a herringbone packing motif.

Vaulted trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(II) crystals: heat-resistant, chromatically sensitive platforms for solid-state phosphorescence at ambient temperature.

The synthesis, structure, and solid-state emission of vaulted trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(II) complexes are described. A series of polymethylene (1: n=8; 2: n=9; 3: n=10; 4: n=11; 5: n=12; 6: n=13) and polyoxyethylene (7: m=2; 8: m=3; 9: m=4) vaulted complexes (R=H (a), 3-MeO (b), 4-MeO (c), 5-MeO (d), 6-MeO (e), 4-CF3O (f), 5-CF3O (g)) was prepared by treating [PtCl2(CH3CN)2] with the corresponding N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,ω-alkanediamines. The trans coordination, vaulted structures, and the crystal packing of 1-9 have been unequivocally established from X-ray diffraction studies. Unpredictable, structure-dependent phosphorescent emission has been observed for crystals of the complexes under UV excitation at ambient temperature, whereas these complexes are entirely nonemissive in the solution state under the same conditions. The long-linked complex crystals 4-6, 8, and 9 exhibit intense emission (Φ77K =0.22-0.88) at 77 K, whereas short-linked complexes 1-3 and 7 are non- or slightly emissive at the same temperature (Φ77K <0.01-0.18). At 298 K, some of the long-linked crystals, 4a, 4b, 5c, 5e, 6c, 6e, and 9b, completely lose their high-emission properties with elevation of the temperature (Φ298K <0.01-0.02), whereas the other long-linked crystals, 5a, 6a, 9a, and 9d, exhibit high heat resistance towards emission decay with increasing temperature (Φ298K =0.21-0.38). Chromogenic control of solid-state emission over the range of 98 nm can be performed simply by introducing MeO groups at different positions on the aromatic rings. Orange, yellow-green, red, and yellow emissions are observed in the glass and crystalline state upon 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-MeO substitution, respectively, whereas those with CF3 O substituents have orange emission, irrespective of the substitution position. DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31G*, LanL2DZ) showed that such chromatic variation is ascribed to the position-specific influence of the substituents on the highest-occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels of the trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(II) platform. The solid-state emission and its heat resistance have been discussed on the basis of X-ray diffraction studies. The planarity of the trans-coordination sites is strongly correlated to the solid-state emission intensities of crystals 1-9 at lower temperatures. The specific heat-resistance properties shown exclusively by the 5a, 6a, 9a, and 9d crystals are due to their strong three-dimensional hydrogen-bonding interactions and/or Pt···Pt contacts, whereas heat-quenchable crystals 4a, 4b, 5c, 5e, 6c, 6e, and 9b are poorly bound with limited interactions, such as non-, one-, or two-dimensional hydrogen-bonding networks. These results lead to the conclusion that Pt···Pt contacts are an important factor in the heat resistance of solid-state phosphorescence at ambient temperature, although the role of Pt···Pt contacts can be substituted by only higher-ordered hydrogen-bonding fixation.

Ultrasound-induced emission enhancement based on structure-dependent homo- and heterochiral aggregations of chiral binuclear platinum complexes.

Instant and precise control of phosphorescent emission can be performed by ultrasound-induced gelation of organic liquids with chiral, clothespin-shaped trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)Pt(II) complexes, anti-1. Nonemissive solutions of racemic, short-linked anti-1a (n = 5) and optically pure, long-linked anti-1c (n = 7) in organic liquids are transformed immediately into stable phosphorescent gels upon brief irradiation of low-power ultrasound. Emission from the gels can be controlled by sonication time, linker length, and optical activity of the complexes. Several experimental results indicated that structure-dependent homo- and heterochiral aggregations and ultrasound-control of the aggregate morphology are key factors for emission enhancement.

Highly phosphorescent crystals of vaulted trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(II) complexes.

Unprecedented strong phosphorescent emission in the crystalline state is observed for a variety of vaulted trans-bis(salicylaldiminato)platinum(II) complexes which are newly synthesized as a third coordination mode of well-studied bis(salicylaldiminato) complexes. This Communication describes the dynamic photophysical properties of these complexes in the liquid and crystalline states and a mechanistic rationale for the strong emission in the crystalline state.

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines with molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide and sodium cyanide: sp3 C-H bond activation and carbon-carbon bond formation.

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines with molecular oxygen in the presence of sodium cyanide and acetic acid gives the corresponding alpha-aminonitriles, which are highly useful intermediates for organic synthesis. The reaction is the first demonstration of direct sp(3) C-H bond activation alpha to nitrogen followed by carbon-carbon bond formation under aerobic oxidation conditions. The catalytic oxidation seems to proceed by (i) alpha-C-H activation of tertiary amines by the ruthenium catalyst to give an iminium ion/ruthenium hydride intermediate, (ii) reaction with molecular oxygen to give an iminium ion/ruthenium hydroperoxide, (iii) reaction with HCN to give the alpha-aminonitrile product, H2O2, and Ru species, (iv) generation of oxoruthenium species from the reaction of Ru species with H2O2, and (v) reaction of oxoruthenium species with tertiary amines to give alpha-aminonitriles. On the basis of the last two pathways, a new type of ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines with H2O2 to give alpha-aminonitriles was established. The alpha-aminonitriles thus obtained can be readily converted to alpha-amino acids, diamines, and various nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds.

Water-soluble diruthenium complexes bearing acetate and carbonate bridges: highly efficient catalysts for aerobic oxidation of alcohols in water.

The aerobic oxidation of alcohols in water can be performed efficiently in the presence of a catalytic amount of the water-soluble diruthenium complex Ru2(micro-OAc)3(micro-CO3) under an atmospheric pressure (1 atm) of O2.

Aerobic ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines with sodium cyanide.

RuCl3-catalyzed oxidative cyanation of tertiary amines with sodium cyanide under molecular oxygen (1 atm) at 60 degrees C gives the corresponding alpha-aminonitriles, which are versatile synthetic intermediates of various compounds such as amino acids and unsymmetrical 1,2-diamines, in excellent yields. This reaction is clean and should be an environmentally benign and useful process.