Zinc, cadmium, and mercury complexes of a pyridyloxy-substituted cyclotriphosphazene: syntheses, structures, and fluxional behavior.

The synthesis and characterization of the fluxional, d(10) cyclotriphosphazene complexes, [MLCl(2)] (M = Zn, Cd, and Hg; L = spiro-[(1,1'-biphenyl)-2,2'-dioxy]tetrakis(4-methyl-2-pyridyloxy)cyclotriphosphazene), are described. Single-crystal X-ray structures show that the zinc complex has crystallized into two crystal forms: one as a tetrahedral species, with a N(2)Cl(2) donor set in which a geminal pair of the pendant pyridyloxy nitrogen atoms binds to the zinc, and the other as a trigonal-bipyramidal (tbp) one, with an N(3)Cl(2) donor set. The third nitrogen atom comes from the phosphazene ring and the two pyridyl ligands are non-geminal. The asymmetric unit of the cadmium complex contains three structurally distinct molecules. One molecule has a tbp structure similar to that of the zinc complex. The second molecule has a six-coordinate, distorted octahedral geometry around the cadmium center with a N(4)Cl(2) donor set, with three of the nitrogen donor atoms coming from the pendant pyridyloxy arms. The third site contains a tbp complex and a distorted octahedral species with a relative occupancy of 3:1. The identification of these three different forms in the one crystal suggests that the energy difference between the tbp and distorted octahedral isomers is not large. Quantitative analysis of the (1)H NMR and variable-temperature (31)P NMR spectra of the zinc, cadmium, and mercury complexes in a CD(2)Cl(2) solution, coupled with the X-ray structural results, shows that an associative fluxional mechanism (ΔS(++) < -65 J mol(-1) K(-1)) is operating.

Excited states of Ru(II) and Re(I) bipyridyl complexes attached to cyclotriphosphazenes: a synthetic, spectroscopic, and computational study.

A series of new cyclotriphosphazene ligands substituted with pendant 2,2'-bipyridyl moieties, namely, bis[(1,1'-biphenyl)-2,2'-dioxy](2,2'-bipyridyl-3,3'-dioxy)cyclotriphosphazene (L(1)), bis[(1,1'-biphenyl)-2,2'-dioxy][bis{4-(2,2'-bipyridin)-4-yl-phenyoxy}]cyclotriphosphazene (L(2)), (pentaphenoxy)[4-(2,2'-bipyridin)-4-yl-phenyoxy]cyclotriphosphazene (L(3)), and (pentaphenoxy) [4-{6-phenyl(2,2'-bipyridin)-4-yl}-phenoxy]cyclotriphosphazene (L(4)), has been used to synthesize the ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) complexes, [(L)Ru(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(4) (L = L(1) or L(3)), [(L(2)) {Ru(bpy)(2)}(2)](PF(6))(4), [(L)Re(CO)(3)Cl] (L = L(1), L(3) or L(4)), and [(L(2)) {Re(CO)(3)Cl}(2)]. Single crystal X-ray structures of [(L(1))Re(CO)(3)Cl] and [(L(4))Re(CO)(3)Cl] show the bipyridyl component of the cyclotriphosphazene substituted ligands is bound to the Re(I) giving a distorted octahedral "N(2)C(3)Cl" coordination sphere in both cases. Density functional theory (DFT) methods were employed to model the ground-state vibrational properties of the molecules, and their accuracies verified using vibrational spectroscopy. Electronic transitions were identified using UV-visible and resonance Raman spectroscopic techniques, aided by time-dependent (TD) DFT methods. Transient resonance Raman spectra of the excited states of the compounds were acquired and found to be comparable to those reported for studied metal bipyridyl units lacking the cyclotriphosphazene substituents. The cyclotriphosphazene unit has little effect on the properties of the metal bipyridyl chromophore.

Metal-metal communication in copper(II) complexes of cyclotetraphosphazene ligands.

Copper(II) chloride and bromide react with the pyridyloxy-substituted cyclotetraphosphazene ligands, octakis(2-pyridyloxy)cyclotetraphosphazene (L(1)), and octakis(4-methyl-2-pyridyloxy)cyclotetraphosphazene (L(2)), to form the dimetallic complexes, [L(CuX2)2] (L = L(1), X = Br; L = L(2), X = Cl or Br), and [{L(1)(CuCl2)2}n]. Single crystal X-ray crystallography shows the complex [{L(1)(CuCl2)2}n] to be a coordination polymer propagated by interligand "Cu(mu-Cl)2Cu" bridges whereas [L(2)(CuCl2)2] forms discrete dimetallic cyclotetraphosphazene-based moieties. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility data for [{L(1)(CuCl2)2}n] are consistent with a weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the copper(II) centers occurring via the bridging chloride ions. [L(2)(CuCl2)2] and [L(CuBr2)2] (L = L(1) and L(2)) exhibit normal Curie-like susceptibilities. The abstraction of a chloride ion, using [Ag(MeCN)4](PF6), from each copper site in [L(2)(CuCl2)2], affords the new complex, [L(2)(CuCl)2](PF6)2, in which the two copper(II) ions are separated by "N-P=N-P=N" phosphazene bridges. Electron spin resonance and variable temperature magnetic measurements indicate the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the unpaired electrons on the copper(II) centers. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations on the [L(2)(CuCl)2](2+) dication and the related cyclotriphosphazene complex, [L(4)(CuCl2)2] (L(4) = hexakis(4-methyl-2-pyridyloxy)cyclotriphosphazene), have identified "electron-density-bridge" molecular orbitals which involve Cu 3d orbitals overlapping with the non-bonding N-based molecular orbitals on the phosphazene rings as the pathway for this interaction.

Mechanically interlocked gold and silver nanoparticles using metallosupramolecular catenane chemistry.

We have employed the toolbox of metallosupramolecular chemistry to mechanically interlock gold and silver nanoparticles. A specifically designed PEGthiol-functionalized bis(phenanthroline)copper(I) complex acts to 'catenate' the nanoparticles. The interlocked assemblies were characterised by three complementary techniques: DLS, SERS and TEM.

Conformational flexibility in 2,2'-Dioxybiphenyl-chloro-cyclotetraphosphazenes and its relevance to polyphosphazene analogues.

The reaction of the cyclotetraphosphazene, [N4P4Cl8], with the difunctional reagent, 2,2'-biphenol, in the presence of potassium carbonate in acetone produced the spiro-substituted derivatives, 2,2'-dioxybiphenylhexachlorocyclotetraphosphazene, bis(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)tetrachloro-cyclotetraphosphazene, and tris(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)dichlorocyclotetraphosphazene. Both cis and trans geometrical isomers of the bis compound are observed. Although chromatographic separation of these was unsuccessful, a sample of the trans isomer was obtained by fractional crystallization. The compounds all show non-first-order 31P NMR spectra which were simulated to extract the spectral parameters. Single-crystal X-ray structures of both the trans bis and the tris compounds show that the cyclophosphazene rings exhibit conformational flexibility which gives rise to different crystalline forms being obtained from the same solvent systems. Crystals of trans-bis(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)tetrachloro-cyclotetraphosphazene were obtained in two different space groups: Pnna (orthorhombic) and P21/n (monoclinic). In the orthorhombic structure, the dominant (72%) conformation of one phosphazene ring is a chair form, and the other (28%) resembles a boat. While for the monoclinic structure, the ring is virtually flat with an oval shape. In both cases the dioxybiphenyl groups are found in R and S configurations in the same molecule and are pi stacked in columns (Pnna) or involved in pi-pi or pi-H interactions (P21/n), thus anchoring the phosphorus atoms of the cyclotetraphosphazenes but still allowing flexibility in the ring conformations. Three crystalline modifications of tris(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)dichloro-cyclotetraphosphazene were obtained: two in space group P (triclinic), which contained two molecules of dichloromethane in the unit cell, and one solvent-free form in space group P21/n (monoclinic). The cyclophosphazene rings exhibit puckered conformations with the trans-dioxybiphenyl moieties having opposing RS or SR conformations. DFT calculations were carried out on each of the phosphazene ring conformations in trans-bis(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)tetrachlorocyclotetraphosphazene identified from the X-ray diffraction analysis. It is concluded that intermolecular interactions (i.e., pi-pi or pi-H) between the dioxybiphenyl groups is a factor that modifies the nature of the potential energy surface between the different conformers. The flexibility of the phosphazene ring is supported computationally through the calculated low-energy barriers and experimentally through the highly disordered phosphazene ring conformations observed in the solid state. The results on 2,2'-dioxybiphenyl-substituted cyclotetraphosphazenes provide evidence that microcrystalline domains in their 2,2'-dioxybiphenyl-substituted polyphosphazene analogues will be generated by similar pi-pi and pi-H interactions.

Conformationally rigid chelate rings in metal complexes of pyridyloxy-substituted 2,2'-dioxybiphenyl-cyclotetra- and cyclotriphosphazene platforms.

Divalent metal halides react with pyridyloxy-substituted 2,2'-dioxybiphenyl-cyclotri- and cyclotetraphosphazene ligands to form the complexes, [MLX2] [M=Co or Cu; L=(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)tetrakis(2-pyridyloxy)cyclotriphosphazene (L1) or (2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)tetrakis(4-methyl-2-pyridyloxy)cyclotriphosphazene (L2); X=Cl or Br], [ZnLCl2] [L=bis(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)bis(2-pyridyloxy)cyclotriphosphazene (L3) or bis(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)bis(4-methyl-2-pyridyloxy)cyclotriphosphazene (L4)], [MLCl2] [M=Cu or Hg; L=tris(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)bis(2-pyridyloxy)cyclotetraphosphazene (L5)] and [Cu2LCl4] (L=trans-bis(2,2'-dioxybiphenyl)tetrakis(2-pyridyloxy)cyclotetraphosphazene (L6)]. Single-crystal X-ray structures show the L2 ligand complexes to have a N3Cl2 five-coordinate, trigonal-bipyramidal donor set with the phosphazene ring and pendant pyridyloxy nitrogens binding to the metal ions. The coordinated L2 ligand in the complex, [CoL2Cl2], slowly hydrolyses in acetonitrile with the loss of a pyridine pendant arm to form a dimetallic species, which has been characterized by crystallography as [{CoL2aCl}]2.4MeCN (L2a=[N3P3(biph)(OPy)3(O)]-, biph=2,2'-dioxybiphenyl, OPy=2-oxopyridine). The ligands, L3, L4, L5, and L6, bind to the metal halides via gem-substituted pyridyloxy nitrogens only. The resulting rigid eight-membered chelate rings all have distorted boat conformations, which force distorted-tetrahedral N2Cl2 coordination environments onto the metal ions. The spectroscopic (ESR and electronic) and magnetic properties of the complexes are reported.

Gold(I) and platinum(II) complexes with a new diphosphine ligand based on the cyclotriphosphazene platform.

A new diphosphine ligand assembled on the cyclotriphosphazene platform forms linear chelate and dimetallic bridged complexes with Au(I) and a cis-chelate complex with Pt(II).

Polymer building blocks: self-assembly of silver(I) cyclotriphosphazene cationic columns.

The multimodal ligand hexakis(2-pyridyloxy)cyclotriphosphazene (L) and its 4-methyl-2-pyridyloxy analogue (MeL) react with Ag(I) to afford {[AgL]+}infinity supramolecular cationic columns via self-assembly, with the anions occupying the intercolumnar channels. In contrast, the reaction of MeL with Cu(I) yields a dimetallic Cu(II) complex containing mu-OH and mu-4-methyl-2-pyridyloxylato bridges.

Copper(II) chloride complexes with multimodal ligands based on the cyclotriphosphazene platform.

The reaction of hexakis(2-pyridyloxy)cyclotriphosphazene (L) and hexakis(4-methyl-2-pyridyloxy)cyclotriphosphazene (MeL) with copper(ii) chloride afford the complexes [CuLCl(2)], [(CuCl(2))(2)(MeL)], [CuLCl]PF(6) and [Cu(MeL)Cl]PF(6). The single-crystal X-ray structure of [CuLCl(2)] shows the copper ion to be in a square based pyramidal distorted trigonal bipyramidal (SBPDTBP) environment (tau= 0.47) with L acting as a kappa(3)N donor, coordinating via the nitrogen atoms from two non-geminal pyridyloxy pendant arms, a nitrogen atom in the phosphazene ring and two chloride ions. In the dimetallic complex, [(CuCl(2))(2)(MeL)], the geometry about both (symmetry related) copper(ii) centres is also SBPDTBP (tau= 0.57) with a 'N(3)Cl(2)' donor set. In the monocation of [CuLCl]PF(6), L acts as a kappa(5)N donor, bonding to the copper(ii) centre through the nitrogen atoms of four pyridyloxy pendant arms, a phosphazene ring nitrogen atom and a chloride ion to give an elongated rhombic octahedral coordination sphere. The phosphazene ring atoms remain virtually coplanar in all three structures as a consequence of the phenoxy-hinge, which links the pyridine pendant donors to the cyclotriphosphazene platform, allowing the formation of six-membered chelate rings. The spectroscopic (mass spectral, EPR and electronic) and magnetic properties of the complexes are discussed. The EPR and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility results for the dicopper complex, [(CuCl(2))(2)(MeL)], point to a very weak electronic interaction between the metal atoms.

Preparation and photochemistry of cobalt(III) amino and amino acidato complexes containing tripodal polypyridine ligands.

The photochemical reactivities of cobalt(III)-diamine and cobalt(III)-amino acid compounds have been compared using complexes that also contain polypyridyl ligands. Metallacyclic complexes result from UV-induced photodecarboxylation reactions of the amino acid complexes. UV-irradiation of closely related complexes with amine donors replacing the carboxylate donors does not lead to the production of the same metallacyclic products. The reported UV-induced fragmentation of amine donors and subsequent metallacycle formation appears not to be a general reaction. Nine cobalt(III) complexes of polypyridyl ligands have been structurally characterised, including four that also contain amino acid ligands and one that contains a three-membered metallacyclic ring.