Thermo-/Mechano-Chromic Chiral Coordination Dimer: Formation of Switchable and Metastable Discrete Structure through Chiral Self-Sorting.

Although strong chiral self-sorting often emerges in extended covalent or supramolecular polymers, the phenomenon is generally weak in discrete assemblies (e.g., dimers and oligomers) of small molecules due to the lack of a cooperative growth mechanism. Consequently, chiral self-sorting has been overlooked in the design of switchable and metastable discrete supramolecular structures. Here, we report a butyl-benzo[h]quinoline-based iridium(III) complex (Bu-Ir) with helical chirality at its metal center, which forms preferentially a homochiral dimer and exhibits thermo-/mechano-chromism based on a monomer-dimer transformation. While a five-coordinate monomer is formed in a racemic or an enantiopure Bu-Ir solution at 25 °C, a six-coordinate homochiral dimer complex is formed almost exclusively at low temperatures, with a higher degree of dimerization in enantiopure Bu-Ir solution. Estimation of apparent dimerization binding constants (K) and thermodynamic parameters (ΔH and ΔS) based on variable temperature ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and 1H NMR spectra reveals a strong preference for homochiral dimerization (largest known value for the coordination complex, Khomo/Khetero > 50). Notably, crystals of the homochiral dimer are metastable, undergoing a distinct color change upon grinding (from yellow to red) due to mechanical cleavage of coordination bonds (i.e., a dimer to monomer transformation). A comparison with control compounds having different substituents (proton, methyl, isopropyl, and phenyl groups) reveals that Bu-Ir dimerization involves both strong homochiral self-sorting preference and connected thermo-/mechano-chromic behavior, which is based on matched propeller-shaped chirality and subtle steric repulsion between alkyl substituents that render the homochiral dimer switchable and metastable. These findings provide substantial insights into the emergence of dynamic functionality based on the rational design of discrete chiral assemblies.

Confluenine G, a new compound from a basidiomycetous yeast Moesziomyces sp. FKI-9540 derived from the gut of a moth Acherontia lachesis (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae).

Most natural products derived from microorganisms have been sought from actinomycetes and filamentous fungi. As an attempt to develop new microbial resources in the exploratory research for natural products, we searched for new compounds from unexploited microbial taxa presumed to have biosynthetic gene clusters. A new compound confluenine G (1) and a known compound (2Z)-2-octyl-2-pentenedioic acid (2) were isolated from a cultured broth of basidiomycetous yeast, Moesziomyces sp. FKI-9540, derived from the gut of a moth Acherontia lachesis (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae). Based on the results of HR-ESI-MS and NMR analyses, the planar structure of 1 was elucidated. Confluenine G (1) was a new analog of nitrogen-oxidized isoleucine and had rare substructures with oxime and hydroxamic acid in molecule.

Enhanced and Heteromolecular Guest Encapsulation in Nonporous Crystals of a Perfluorinated Triketonato Dinuclear Copper Complex.

The flexible host framework of a perfluorinated mononuclear copper complex, [Cu(L1 )2 ] (1, HL1 =3-hydroxy-1,3-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-2-propen-1-one), with a CuO4 core reversibly encapsulated several organic guest molecules through electrostatic interactions in its crystals. Hence, the corresponding dinuclear complex, [Cu2 (L2 )2 ] (2, H2 L2 =1,5-dihydroxy-1,5-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-1,4-pentadien-3-one), was prepared to enhance guest recognition and the ability to separate molecular mixtures. Complex 2 comprises a Cu2 O6 core and four pentafluorophenyl groups. In crystal 2, cavities are formed on the axial sites of the metal core that are surrounded by pentafluorophenyl groups. The crystal of 2 encapsulates various guest molecules, that is, benzene (3), toluene (4), xylene (5), mesitylene (6), durene (7), and anisole (8). X-ray crystallographic and thermogravimetric (TG) studies show that three guest molecules are present in the crystal cavities. The number of guest molecules found in complex 2 was higher than that in complex 1, for example, (2)3 ⋅(6)10 >1⋅(6)2 , (2)2 ⋅(7)7 >1⋅7, or 2⋅(8)3 >1⋅(8)2 . Naphthalene (9), was encapsulated in 2 to give 2⋅(9)3 , but not in 1. In the crystal of complex 2, heteromolecular guest encapsulation was confirmed, designated as 2⋅(3)2 ⋅9. TG analysis indicates that the thermal stability of the guest-included crystals of 2 is higher than that of 1.

Left- and right-circularly polarized light-sensing based on colored and mechano-responsive chiral nematic liquid crystals.

A liquid crystal host-guest system composed of achiral organic molecules (host) and colored chiral metal complexes (guest) was fabricated to sense both right- and left-handed circularly polarized light (r- and l-CPL), depending on the guest (dopant) concentration. The CPL-sensing can be reversibly turned on and off upon mechanical stress and heating.

Long-Range Intramolecular Electronic Communication in a Trinuclear Ruthenium Tropolonate Complex.

Dinuclear and trinuclear ruthenium complexes, [Ru(trop)2(C2trop)Ru(dppe)Cp] [2b; trop = tropolonato, C2trop = ethynyltropolonato, dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] and [Ru(trop){(C2trop)Ru(dppe)Cp}2] (3), were synthesized, and their electronic and electrochemical properties were investigated in comparison with our previously reported complex [Ru(acac)2(C2trop)Ru(dppe)Cp] (2a). The electron-donating RuII(dppe)Cp unit and electron-accepting RuIIIO6 unit are connected by C2trop in these complexes. 2a incorporates acetylacetonate as an ancillary ligand, while 2b and 3 incorporate tropolonate as an ancillary ligand. Every complex, 2a, 2b, and 3, exhibits similar UV-vis-near-IR (NIR) absorption spectra, demonstrating the lack of explicit intramolecular electronic communication between the units at least in the neutral state. The weak NIR absorption in 2a further diminished upon electrochemical oxidation, indicating almost no electronic communication between the units. In contrast, 2b and 3 exhibit broad NIR absorptions upon oxidation. Additionally, 3 exhibits four stepwise redox couples in the electrochemical study, which are formally attributed to [RuII(trop)3]-/[RuIII(trop)3], two [RuII(dppe)Cp]/[RuIII(dppe)Cp]+, and [RuIII(trop)3]/[RuIV(trop)3]+ couples. Clear separation of the redox couples attributed to the two terminal [Ru(dppe)Cp] units demonstrates the thermodynamic stability of the intermediate oxidation states with respect to disproportionation. Further electrochemical studies using an electrolyte including perfluorinated weakly coordinating anions and density functional theory/time-dependent density functional theory calculations confirmed the effect of ancillary ligands, acetylacetonate and tropolonate. In the case of 2a, electronic delocalization over the whole complex, especially over the [Ru(acac)2(trop)] unit, appears to be small. In contrast, the electronic communication between [Ru(dppe)Cp] and [Ru(trop)3] units in 3 seems to be enhanced upon oxidation, resulting in the long-range intramolecular electronic communication.

Chiral HPLC Separation, Absolute Structural Elucidation, and Determination of Stereochemical Stability of trans-Bis[2-(2-pyridinyl)aminophenolato] Cyclotriphosphazene.

Chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation of trans-bis[2-(2-pyridyl)aminophenolato] dichlorocyclotriphosphazene was achieved and the absolute configuration of was assigned to be S,S by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. The optically pure 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediolate derivatives (+)- and (-)- were synthesized by the reactions of and with (R,R)-hydrobenzoin, respectively, in refluxing toluene in the presence of an excess amount of triethylamine and a catalytic amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine. The racemization of the enantiomers of and the epimerization of diastereomers of 2 were not observed in refluxing toluene neither under acidic nor basic conditions. The stereochemistry of was confirmed by the crystal structure of (+)- and bis[(4-methyl-2-pyridyl)oxy]cyclotriphosphazene derived from . Chirality 28:556-561, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Three polymorphic Cd(II) coordination polymers obtained from the solution and mechanochemical reactions of 3-cyanopentane-2,4-dione with Cd(II) acetate.

We previously reported that monomeric and polymeric metal complexes are obtained from solution and mechanochemical reactions of 3-cyano-pentane-2,4-dione (CNacacH) with 3d metal acetates (M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II)). A common feature found in all complexes was that their structural base is trans-[M(CNacac)(2)]. Here, we report that the reactions of CNacacH with Cd(II) acetate in the solution and solid states afford different coordination polymers composed of trans-[Cd(CNacac)(2)] and cis-[Cd(CNacac)(2)] units, respectively. From a methanol solution containing CNacacH (L) and Cd(OAc)(2)⋅2 H(2)O (M), a coordination polymer (Cd-1) in which trans-[Cd(CNacac)(2)] units are three-dimensionally linked was obtained. In contrast, two different coordination polymers, Cd-2 and Cd-3, were obtained from mechanochemical reactions of CNacacH with Cd(OAc)(2)⋅2 H(2)O at M/L ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, respectively. In Cd-2, cis-[Cd(CNacac)(2)] units are two-dimensionally linked, whereas the units are linked three-dimensionally in Cd-3. Furthermore, Cd-1 and Cd-2 converted to Cd-3 by applying an annealing treatment and grinding with a small amount of liquid, respectively, in spite of the polymeric structures. These phenomena, 1) different structures are formed from solution and mechanochemical reactions, 2) two polymorphs are formed depending on the M/L ratio, and 3) structural transformation of resulting polymeric structures, indicate the usability of mechanochemical method in the syntheses of coordination polymers as well as the peculiar structural flexibility of cadmium-CNacac polymers.

Tris(ß-diketonato) Ru(III) complexes as chiral dopants for nematic liquid crystals: the effect of the molecular structure on the helical twisting power.

Doping nematic liquid crystals with optically active compounds transforms them into chiral nematic phases with helical structures. In this phenomenon, the chirality of the dopant molecules is transferred or amplified to the bulk of the liquid crystals. Δ-[Ru(acac)3] (acac = acetylacetonato) is known to work as one of the dopants with a strong helical twisting power (HTP). In this study, we have systematically modified [Ru(acac)3] to clarify the correlation between the molecular structure and HTP; we have designed and synthesized five new Ru(III) complexes, [Ru(acac)2(acacC8)] (RuC8-1, acac = acetylacetonate, acacC8 = 3-(4'-octyloxy-phenylalkynyl)-pentane-2,4-dionato), [Ru(acac)(acacC8)2] (RuC8-2), [Ru(acacC8)3] (RuC8-3), [Ru(acacC0)3] (RuC0-3, acacC0 = 3-(phenylalkynyl)-pentane-2,4-dionato), and [Ru(acacC24)3] (RuC24-3, acacC24 = 3-(3',4',5'-tri(octyloxy)-phenylalkynyl)-pentane-2,4-dionato). All the complexes, except for RuC0-3, could be separated into Δ, Λ isomers by HPLC on a chiral column and were examined as chiral dopants for a nematic liquid crystal, N-(4-methoxybenzilidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA). The Δ isomers of RuC8-1, RuC8-2, RuC8-3, and RuC24-3 induced a right-handed (P) helix and the magnitudes of the HTPs (/µm(-1)) were determined as follows: RuC8-1 (+60) < RuC8-2 (+109) > RuC8-3 (+78) > RuC24-3 (+41). The HTPs of the ruthenium dopants were not simply proportional to their size. The highest HTP observed in biaxial RuC8-2 was attributed to the balance of the molecular helicity and high ordering in MBBA based on the surface chirality model.

The effect of Cl···π interactions on the conformations of 4-chloro-5-(2-phenoxyethoxy)phthalonitrile and 4-chloro-5-[2-(pentafluorophenoxy)ethoxy]phthalonitrile.

4-Chloro-5-(2-phenoxyethoxy)phthalonitrile, C(16)H(11)ClN(2)O(2), (I), and 4-chloro-5-[2-(pentafluorophenoxy)ethoxy]phthalonitrile, C(16)H(6)ClF(5)N(2)O(2), (II), show different types of electrostatic interaction. In (I), the phenoxy and phthalonitrile (benzene-1,2-dicarbonitrile) moieties are well separated in an open conformation and intermolecular C-H···π interactions are observed in the crystal packing. On the other hand, in (II), the pentafluorophenoxy moiety interacts closely with the Cl atom to form a folded conformation containing an intramolecular halogen-π interaction.

Chiroptical switching behavior of heteroleptic ruthenium complexes bearing acetylacetonato and tropolonato ligands.

Four types of tris-chelate ruthenium complexes bearing acetylacetonato (acac) and tropolonato (trop) ligands were synthesized and optically resolved into Δ and Λ isomers: [Ru(acac)3] (Ru-0), [Ru(acac)2(trop)] (Ru-1), [Ru(acac)(trop)2] (Ru-2), and [Ru(trop)3] (Ru-3). Chiral HPLC chromatograms, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) of the four ruthenium complexes were systematically investigated. As a result, the absolute configurations of the newly prepared enantiomeric complexes Ru-2 and Ru-3 were determined. For the case of Ru-2, its absolute configuration was also confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The ECD changes upon chemical oxidation were further investigated for the four complexes. An ECD change in enantiomeric Ru-1 was observed upon oxidation, but the oxidized species soon returned to the neutral state within a few minutes. Enantiomers of Ru-3 also showed explicit ECD changes upon oxidation. Further, the lifetime of the oxidized state was the longest among the four investigated complexes, whereas they racemized in solution at room temperature. In contrast, the enantiomers of heteroleptic complexes (Ru-1 and Ru-2) concurrently exhibited ECD changes, relatively long lifetime of the oxidized state, and nil or quite slow racemization behavior. The coexistence of acac and trop ligands was key to making the competing factors compatible in the resultant ruthenium complexes.

Hexagonal ordering of racemic Ni(II) complexes in the interlayer space of a clay mineral.

The molecular arrangement of racemic [Ni(phen)3]2+ complexes in the interlayer space of montmorillonite was investigated using X-ray diffraction measurements. When the amount of the adsorbed complexes exceeded the cation exchange capacity, they were found to form a double-molecular layer with the 2D hexagonal arrangement in the interlayer space.

Tris(tropolonato) ruthenium as a hub for connecting π-conjugated systems.

In this study, the intramolecular electronic communication between π-conjugated moieties bridged by the tris-chelate [Ru(trop)3] (trop = tropolonate) framework has been investigated and compared with [Ru(acac)3] (acac = acetylacetonate) derivatives. Two types of π-conjugated groups, -C2SiMe3 and -C2Ph, which were each introduced at the 5-position of tropolonate, were found to behave almost independently in the resultant ruthenium complexes. In contrast, the cyclic voltammetry study of [Ru(trop)3] derivatives showed a clear decrease in ΔE, the difference in the potentials of the two redox couples, with an increase in the number of π-conjugated groups introduced into the [Ru(trop)3] framework. The lower ΔE values observed in [Ru(trop)3] derivatives compared to those in [Ru(acac)3] derivatives illustrated the non-innocent behavior of the tropolonate ligand, i.e., the mixing between the metal- and ligand-based frontier orbitals. This orbital mixing was exemplified in the oxidized [Ru(trop)3] derivatives, which showed a broad near-infrared (NIR) absorption. The increase in the red shift of the NIR absorption with the increasing number of terminal groups indicated intramolecular electronic communication between the terminal π-conjugated moieties. In contrast, no NIR absorption was observed upon oxidation of [Ru(acac)3] derivatives with -C2Ph groups. The lifetimes of the in situ formed [Ru(trop)3]+ and [Ru(acac)3]+ in acetonitrile solution were found to be several hours and minutes, respectively. Density functional theory calculations for [Ru(trop)3] and [Ru(acac)3] with terminal -C2Ph groups demonstrated that the spin densities in their mono-oxidized states were evenly distributed over the entire molecular framework and localized mainly on one ligand, respectively. These results confirmed that the mono-oxidized [Ru(trop)3]+ framework can behave as a hub and induce moderate intramolecular electronic communication between terminal π-conjugated groups.

Visualizing the helical stacking of octahedral metallomesogens with a chiral core.

A combination of grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction and molecular dynamics simulation studies led to the visualization of the stacking structure of a helical columnar liquid crystal formed by enantiopure octahedral metallomesogens with ΔΛ chirality. The helical structure was elucidated as a hybrid of two major proposed structures.

Enantiomorphs of a carbene-ruthenium(II)-porphyrin complex with four 'chiral pillars'.

The chiral metalloporphyrin (dibenzoylmethylene-kappaC)(ethanol-kappaO){5,10,15,20-tetrakis[(1S,4R,5R,8S)-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanoanthracen-9-yl]porphyrinato-kappa(4)N}ruthenium(II)-ethanol-dichloromethane (1/2/2), [Ru(C(84)H(76)N(4))(C(15)H(10)O(2))(C(2)H(6)O)].2C(2)H(6)O.2CH(2)Cl(2), and its enantiomorph were prepared from enantiomerically pure porphyrins. The enantiomers are potential versatile catalysts for asymmetric cyclopropanation, aziridination or epoxidation. In each compound, the rather large dibenzoylcarbene group is squeezed between four columnar 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethanoanthracen-9-yl groups at the meso positions resulting in a doming deformation of the porphyrin core. The dibenzoylcarbene group has an anti conformation. The benzoyl O atoms make short van der Waals contacts (< 2.6 A) with the methine groups of the chiral columnar substituents at the 10 and 20 positions of the porphyrin rings. A hydrogen-bonded supramolecular chain is formed parallel to the b axis by interactions between the benzoyl O atom and the hydroxy groups of the coordinated and uncoordinated ethanol molecules.

(5,10,15,20-Tetra-phenyl-porphyrinato-κN)(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenyl-ethyl-idene-κC)ruthenium(II): a stable fluorinated alkyl-idene complex of a ruthenium(II) porphyrin.

In the title compound, [Ru(C(44)H(28)N(4))(C(8)H(5)F(3))], the fluorin-ated alkyl-idene group is bound to a five-coordinate Ru atom, which is located toward the carbene C atom, 0.3301 (5)Šfrom the least-squares plane of the C(20)N(4) porphyrin core. The Ru=C bond is tilted slightly from the normal to the C(20)N(4) least-squares plane due to steric repulsion between the porphyrinate ligand and the bulky trifluoro-methyl group. The Ru=C bond length of 1.838 (2) Šis comparable with those in bis-(subsituted phen-yl)carbene analogs.

Comprehensive Understanding of Host- and Guest-Dependent Helix Inversion in Chiral Nematic Liquid Crystals: Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

Nematic liquid crystals (LCs) are known to transform into chiral nematic LCs with helical structures upon doping with enantiomeric compounds (called chiral dopants or guests). Here, we investigated the mechanism of host LC- and guest-dependent helix inversion by using octahedral metal complexes as guests. The helical twisting powers (HTPs/µm-1) of eight metal complexes with Δ, Λ chirality were examined in five nematic LC hosts. For example, Δ-[Ru(acac)2(trop)] (Ru-trop, Hacac = 2,4-pentanedione, Htrop = tropolone) induces a left-handed ( M) helix upon doping with N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA), whereas it induces an opposite right-handed ( P) helix in 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB). The monobrominated complex of Ru-trop, Δ-[Ru(acac)2(Brtrop)] (Ru-Br1trop, HBr1trop = 5-bromotropolone), induces P helices in both MBBA and 5CB, whereas the dibrominated complex, Δ-[Ru(acac)2(Br2trop)] (Ru-Br2trop, HBr2trop = 3,7-dibromotroplone) induces M helices in both the media. The molecular dynamics simulation performed in parallel confirmed the drastic effect of the bromo groups on the microscopic ordering direction of guests in nematics. Further, HTPs of all Δ isomers of metal complexes investigated were found to shift in the positive direction as the dielectric constant anisotropy (Δε) of the host LCs increases (and vice versa for Λ isomers). These experimental and calculated results highlight the interplay of steric (excluded volume effect) and electrostatic (dipole-dielectric body) interactions between the host LCs and guest metal complexes.

Development of New Carbon Resources: Production of Important Chemicals from Algal Residue.

Algal biomass has received attention as an alternative carbon resource owing not only to its high oil production efficiency but also, unlike corn starch, to its lack of demand in foods. However, algal residue is commonly discarded after the abstraction of oil. The utilization of the residue to produce chemicals will therefore increase the value of using algal biomass instead of fossil fuels. Here, we report the use of algal residue as a new carbon resource to produce important chemicals. The application of different homogeneous catalysts leads to the selective production of methyl levulinate or methyl lactate. These results demonstrate the successful development of new carbon resources as a solution for the depletion of fossil fuels.

"Colored" inorganic dopants for inducing liquid crystal chiral nematic and blue phases: monitoring of dopant-host interaction by Raman spectroscopy.

A new ruthenium complex that effectively induces chiral nematic and blue phases upon doping with a nematic liquid crystal was developed. The red-colored dopant exhibits strong Raman scattering in solution and nematics even at low concentrations. Further measurements at various concentrations strongly suggested homogeneous dispersion of the dopant in chiral nematics.

Three p-xylene-solvated pseudopolymorphs of bis[1,3-bis(pentafluorophenyl)propane-1,3-dionato]copper(II).

The Cu(2+) ions in the title compounds, namely bis[1,3-bis(pentafluorophenyl)propane-1,3-dionato-κ(2)O,O']copper(II) p-xylene n-solvate, [Cu(C15HF10O2)2]·nC8H10, with n = 1, (I), n = 2, (II), and n = 4, (III), are coordinated by two 1,3-bis(pentafluorophenyl)propane-1,3-dionate ligands. The coordination complexes of (I) and (II) have crystallographic inversion symmetry at the Cu atom and the p-xylene molecule in (I) also lies across an inversion centre. The p-xylene molecules in (I) and (II) interact with the pentafluorophenyl groups of the complex via arene-perfluoroarene interactions. In the crystal of (III), two of the p-xylene molecules interact with the pentafluorophenyl groups via arene-perfluoroarene interactions. The other two p-xylene molecules are located on the CuO4 coordination plane, forming a uniform cavity produced by metal···π interactions.

Bis(acetylacetonato)bis(pyrazolato)ruthenate(iii) as a redox-active scorpionate ligand.

The potential of a new anionic octahedral metal complex [Ru(III)(acac)2(pz)2](-) ((-)) (pzH = pyrazole) as a ligand with a scorpionate coordination behaviour like tris(pyrazolyl)borate (tp) and reversible redox activity is presented. Trinuclear metal complexes, [Ru(III)2Zn(II)(acac)4(pz)4] () and [Ru(II)Ru(III)2(acac)4(pz)4] (), were each synthesized by the reaction of ZnCl2 or Ru3(CO)12 with [Ru(III)(acac)2(pz)(pzH)] (H) that is in situ deprotonated and acts as a precursor of (-). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies clarified that (-) acts as a scorpionate ligand; two (-) units in and one unit in function as bidentate ligands with two pyrazolates as pincers, while another (-) unit in functions as a tridentate ligand with one oxygen atom as a tail in addition to the two pyrazolate pincers. Moreover, and showed reversible multi-stage redox behaviours based on the Ru(II)/Ru(III) and Ru(III)/Ru(IV) couples of the (-) units in the cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. Based on the X-ray, IR, and CV measurements and the comparison with other Ru(ii) complexes with tp derivatives, the (-) unit was found to act as a redox-active scorpionate with electron withdrawing properties compared to the tp.