One-pot synthesis of highly emissive dipyridinium dihydrohelicenes.

Condensation of a pyridyl-2-carbaldehyde derivative with 2-(bromoethyl)amine hydrobromide gave tetracyclic pyrido[1,2-a]pyrido[1',2':3,4]imidazo-[2,1-c]-6,7-dihydropyrazinium dications in excellent yields. Crystal structures and NOE data demonstrated the helical character of the dications, the dihedral angles between the two pyrido groups ranging from 28-45°. An intermediate in the synthesis was also characterized. A much brighter emission compared to literature helicenes has been found, with quantum yields as high as 60 % in the range of λ=460-600 nm. Preliminary cytotoxicity studies against HT-29 cancer cells demonstrated moderate-to-good activity, with IC50 values 12-30× that of cisplatin.

Tripyrrindione as a Redox-Active Ligand: Palladium(II) Coordination in Three Redox States.

The tripyrrin-1,14-dione scaffold of urinary pigment uroerythrin coordinates divalent palladium as a planar tridentate ligand. Spectroscopic, structural and computational investigations reveal that the tripyrrindione ligand binds as a dianionic radical, and the resulting complex is stable at room temperature. One-electron oxidation and reduction reactions do not alter the planar coordination sphere of palladium(II) and lead to the isolation of two additional complexes presenting different redox states of the ligand framework. Unaffected by stability problems common to tripyrrolic fragments, the tripyrrindione ligand offers a robust platform for ligand-based redox chemistry.

Stable mixed-valent radicals from platinum(II) complexes of a bis(dioxolene) ligand.

Three diplatinum(II) complexes [{PtL}2(µ-thea)] (H4thea = 2,3,6,7-tetrahydroxy-9,10-dimethyl-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene) have been prepared, with diphosphine or bipyridyl "L" co-ligands. One-electron oxidation of these complexes gave radical cations containing a mixed-valent [thea·](3-) ligand with discrete catecholate and semiquinonate centers separated by quaternary methylene spacers. The electronic character of these radicals is near the Robin-Day class II/III border determined by UV/Vis/NIR and EPR spectroscopies. Crystal-structure determinations and a DFT calculation imply that oxidation of the thea(4-) ligand may lead to an increased through-space interaction between the dioxolene π systems.

Platinum(ii) complexes of mixed-valent radicals derived from cyclotricatechylene, a macrocyclic tris-dioxolene.

Three complexes of cyclotricatechylene (H6ctc), [{PtL}3(µ3-ctc)], have been synthesised: (L = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene {dppb}, 1; L = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane {dppe}, 2; L = 4,4'-bis(tert-butyl)-2,2'-bipyridyl { t Bu2bipy}, 3). The complexes show three low-potential, chemically reversible voltammetric oxidations separated by ca. 180 mV, corresponding to stepwise oxidation of the [ctc]6- catecholato rings to the semiquinonate level. The redox series [1]0/1+/2+/3+ and [3]0/1+/2+/3+ have been characterised by UV/vis/NIR spectroelectrochemistry. The mono- and di-cations have class II mixed valent character, with reduced radical delocalisation compared to an analogous bis-dioxolene system. The SOMO composition of [1˙]+ and [3˙]+ has been delineated by cw EPR, ENDOR and HYSCORE spectroscopies, with the aid of two monometallic model compounds [PtL(DBsq˙)]+ (DBsqH = 3,5-bis(tert-butyl)-1,2-benzosemiquinone; L = dppe or t Bu2bipy). DF and time-dependent DF calculations confirm these interpretations, and demonstrate changes to spin-delocalisation in the ctc macrocycle as it is sequentially oxidised.

Complex thermal expansion properties in a molecular honeycomb lattice.

[FeL3][BF4]2·xH2O (L = 3-(pyrazinyl)-1H-pyrazole) shows negative thermal expansion between 150-240 K but positive thermal expansion at 240-300 K, linked to rearrangement of anions and water molecules within pores in the lattice.

Iron(II) complexes of new hexadentate 1,1,1-tris-(iminomethyl)ethane podands, and their 7-methyl-1,3,5-triazaadamantane rearrangement products.

New iron(II) podand complexes have been prepared, by condensation of 2-(aminomethyl)-2-methyl-1,3-diaminopropane with 3 equiv of a heterocyclic aldehyde in the presence of hydrated Fe[BF(4)](2) or Fe[ClO(4)](2) as templates. The 2-(aminomethyl)-2-methyl-1,3-diaminopropane is prepared in situ by deprotonation of its trihydrochloride salt. The chloride must be removed from these reactions by precipitation with silver, to avoid the formation of the alternative 2,4,6-trisubstituted-7-methyl-1,3,5-triazaadamantane condensation products, or their FeCl(2) adducts. The crystal structures of two 2,4,6-tri(pyridyl)-7-methyl-1,3,5-triazaadamantane-containing species are presented, and contain two different geometric isomers of this tricyclic ring with three equatorial, or two equatorial and one axial, pyridyl substituents. Both structures feature strong C-HX (X = Cl or F) hydrogen bonding from the aminal C-H groups in the triazaadamantane ring. Five iron(II) podand complexes were successfully obtained, all of which contain low-spin iron centres.