Synthesis, reactivity, electrochemical behavior, and crystal structure of a family of multivalent metal carbido-carbonyl clusters based on the Rh10(C)2Au(4-6) framework.

Six metal carbido-carbonyl clusters have been isolated and recognized as members of a multivalent family based on the dioctahedral Rh(10)(C)(2) frame, with variable numbers of CO ligands, AuPPh(3) moieties, and anionic charge: [Rh(10)(C)(2)(CO)(x)(AuPPh(3))(y)](n-) (x = 18, 20; y = 4, 5, 6; n = 0, 1, 2). Anions [Rh(10)(C)(2)(CO)(18)(AuPPh(3))(4)](-) ([2](-)) and [Rh(10)(C)(2)(CO)(18)(AuPPh(3))(4)](2-) ([2](2-)) have been obtained by the reduction of [Rh(10)(C)(2)(CO)(18)(AuPPh(3))(4)] (2) under N(2), while [Rh(10)(C)(2)(CO)(18)(AuPPh(3))(5)](-) ([3](-)) was obtained from [Rh(10)(C)(2)(CO)(20)(AuPPh(3))(4)] (1) by reduction under a CO atmosphere. [3](-) can be better obtained by the addition of AuPPh(3)Cl to [2](2-). [Rh(10)(C)(2)(CO)(18)(AuPPh(3))(6)] (4) is obtained from [3](-) and 2 as well by the reduction and subsequent addition of AuPPh(3)Cl. The molecular structures of [2](2-) ([NBu(4)](+) salt), [3](-) ([NMe(4)](+) salt), and 4 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The redox activities of complexes 1, 2 and [3](-) have been investigated by electrochemical and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. The data from EPR spectroscopy have been accounted for by theoretical calculations.

Cyclopentadienyl ruthenium(II) complexes with bridging alkynylphosphine ligands: synthesis and electrochemical studies.

The reaction of [CpRuCl(PPh(3))(2)] (Cp = cyclopentadienyl) and [CpRuCl(dppe)] (dppe = Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2)) with bis- and tris-phosphine ligands 1,4-(Ph(2)PC[triple bond]C)(2)C(6)H(4) (1) and 1,3,5-(Ph(2)PC[triple bond]C)(3)C(6)H(3) (2), prepared by Ni-catalysed cross-coupling reactions between terminal alkynes and diphenylchlorophosphine, has been investigated. Using metal-directed self-assembly methodologies, two linear bimetallic complexes, [{CpRuCl(PPh(3))}(2)(mu-dppab)] (3) and [{CpRu(dppe)}(2)(mu-dppab)](PF(6))(2) (4), and the mononuclear complex [CpRuCl(PPh(3))(eta(1)-dppab)] (6), which contains a "dangling arm" ligand, were prepared (dppab =1,4-bis[(diphenylphosphino)ethynyl]benzene). Moreover, by using the triphosphine 1,3,5-tris[(diphenylphosphino)ethynyl]benzene (tppab), the trimetallic [{CpRuCl(PPh(3))}(3)(mu(3)-tppab)] (5) species was synthesised, which is the first example of a chiral-at-ruthenium complex containing three different stereogenic centres. Besides these open-chain complexes, the neutral cyclic species [{CpRuCl(mu-dppab)}(2)] (7) was also obtained under different experimental conditions. The coordination chemistry of such systems towards supramolecular assemblies was tested by reaction of the bimetallic precursor 3 with additional equivalents of ligand 2. Two rigid macrocycles based on cis coordination of dppab to [CpRu(PPh(3))] were obtained, that is, the dinuclear complex [{CpRu(PPh(3))(mu-dppab)}(2)](PF(6))(2) (8) and the tetranuclear square [{CpRu(PPh(3))(mu-dppab)}(4)](PF(6))(4) (9). The solid-state structures of 7 and 8 have been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and show a different arrangement of the two parallel dppab ligands. All compounds were characterised by various methods including ESIMS, electrochemistry and by X-band ESR spectroscopy in the case of the electrogenerated paramagnetic species.

Nickelacyclic-cobaltocene vs. nickelacyclic-nickelocene. Synthesis, X-ray structures, electron transfer activity, EPR spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations.

Reactions of 9-nickelafluorenyllithium with cobalt and nickel pentamethylcyclopentadienyl-acetylacetonates resulted in the formation of the novel nickelacyclic-cobaltocene 2 and nickelacyclic-nickelocene 3, respectively, in which the central metal atom is bonded to the nickelafluorenyl ring. On the basis of their redox propensity, compounds 2 and 3 were oxidized to the corresponding monocations [2](+) and [3](+). The crystal and molecular structures of both the redox couples were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In spite of their structural similarity, they display a rather different electron transfer ability. To throw light on such an aspect, the pertinent redox couples have been examined by EPR spectroscopy and the nature of the frontier orbitals involved in the redox activity of the neutral precursors has been supported by extended Huckel theoretical calculations.

Mixed-Valence Porphyrin π-Cation Radical Derivatives: Electrochemical Investigations.

The electrochemistry of [Cu(OEP)] and [Ni(OEP)] are compared with the mixed-valence π-cations [Cu(OEP•/2)]2+and[Ni(OEP•/2)]2+. These electrochemical studies, carried out with cyclic voltametry and hydrodynamic voltametry, show that the mixed valence π-cations have distinct electrochemical properties, although the differences between the [M(OEP)](+/0) and [M(OEP•/2)]2+/0 processes are subtle.

NMR studies of BPTI aggregation by using paramagnetic relaxation reagents.

Paramagnetic probes, whose approach to proteins can be monitored by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies, have been found of primary relevance for investigating protein surfaces accessibility. Here, paramagnetic probes are also suggested for a systematic investigation on protein aggregation. Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) was used as a model system for aggregation by analyzing its interaction with TEMPOL and Gd(III)DTPA-BMA. Some of the measured paramagnetic relaxation rates of BPTI protons exhibited a reverse dependence on protein concentration, which can be attributed to the formation of transient BPTI aggregates.

Design, synthesis, and physicochemical and biological characterization of a new iron chelator of the family of hydroxychromenes.

Increasing evidence suggests that iron plays an important role in tissue damage both during chronic iron overload diseases (i.e., hemochromatosis) and when, in the absence of actual tissue iron overload, iron is delocalized from specific carriers or intracellular sites (inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, postischaemic reperfusion, xenobiotic intoxications, etc.). In the present work, we appropriately modified an iron chelator of the hydroxychromene family in order to obtain a tridentate chelator that would inactivate the iron redox cycle after its complexation, with a view to using this molecule in human therapy and/or in disease prevention. We synthesized such a chelator for the first time and show, by different physicochemical analysis, its tridentate nature and, importantly, its capacity to chelate iron with enough strength to inhibit both iron-dependent H(2)O(2) generation and lipid peroxidation in in vitro biological systems.

Monoreduced [M(R,R'timdt)2]- dithiolenes (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; R,R'timdt = disubstituted imidazolidine-2,4,5-trithione): solid state photoconducting properties in the third optical fiber window.

Electrochemically monoreduced [M(R,R'timdt)(2)](-) dithiolenes, showing unprecedented wavelength selective photoconducting properties in the third optical fiber window (1500-1800 nm), fine-tunable through modifications in the chemical structure, allowed for the fabrication of a test photodetector with a bit rate of about 85 kbit s(-1).

Metal ion complexation and folding of linear peptides.

A Linear peptide, GASYQDLG was synthesised and used as a model to evaluate the effects of nickel additions to increase the conformational stability. The NMR data obtained for the peptide and its histidyl derivative (H)(3)GASYQDLG(H)(3) suggest that in solution folded structures are present only for the H-tagged peptide-Ni(II) ion system. These results suggest that metal ions and additions of a double histidine tags of suitable length can be used as efficient tools to reduce peptide flexibility without other internal modifications. Synthesis of H-tagged analogs could offer a promising strategy for large-scale preparation of diagnostic tools and, in general, whenever more rigid molecular structures should be advisable.

New Adducts of Dirhodium(II) Formamidinate Complexes with Polycyano Acceptor Molecules. X-ray Crystal Structure of the Tricyanomethanide Complex Rh(2)(form)(4)[C(CN)(3)] (form = N,N'-Di-p-tolylformamidinate).

The dirhodium(II) formamidinate complexes Rh(2)(form)(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(2)(H(2)O)(2) (I) and Rh(2)(form)(4) (II, form = N,N'-di-p-tolylformamidinate) react with the polycyano acceptor molecules tetracyanoethylene (TCNE), tetracyano-p-quinodimethane (TCNQ), 2,5-dimethyl-N,N'-dicyano-p-quinonediimine (2,5-DMDCNQI), and N,N'-naphthocyano-p-quinonediimine (NCNQI) giving species whose nature is critically dependent on the redox potentials of the two parent complexes. Complex I reacts via axial coordination with negligible charge transfer (CT) from the dimetal unit to the ligand. With TCNE, it gives the labile monoaxial adduct Rh(2)(form)(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(2)(TCNE) (1), which easily loses the cyano ligand restoring the parent complex. TCNQ, 2,5-DMDCNQI, and NCNQI react with I giving polymeric materials of composition {[Rh(2)(form)(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(2)](2)TCNQ)}(n)() (2) and [Rh(2)(form)(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(2)X](n)() (X = 2,5-DMDCNQI (3), NCNQI (4)). The reaction of II with TCNE, TCNQ, and 2,5-DMDCNQI proceeds via a single electron transfer from the dimetal unit to the cyano ligand to form the CT species [Rh(2)(form)(4)X] (X = TCNE (5), TCNQ (6), 2,5-DMDCNQI (7)). Electrochemical and EPR measurements suggest a different extent of coordination between the polycyano fragment and the dirhodium unit, depending upon the polarity of the solvents. Attempts to crystallize complex 5 from acetonitrile unexpectedly led to the formation of the tricyanomethanide complex Rh(2)(form)(4)[C(CN)(3)] (5A), arising from the unprecedented transformation of the tetracyanoethylenide ion into the tricyanomethanide anion. The complex crystallizes in the tetragonal P4/ncc space group with a = 14.169(6) Å, c = 29.20(2) Å, V = 5863(5) Å(3), and Z = 4. The molecule consists of a dirhodium unit symmetrically bridged by four formamidinate ligands and one tricyanomethanide anion N-coordinated at the axial position of Rh(2).

Synthesis and Chemical and Electrochemical Characterization of Fe-S Carbonyl Clusters. X-ray Crystal Structures of [N(PPh(3))(2)](2)[Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)] and [N(PPh(3))(2)](2)[Fe(6)S(6)(CO)(12)].

A reinvestigation of the redox behavior of the [Fe(3)(&mgr;(3)-S)(CO)(9)](2)(-) dianion led to the isolation and characterization of the new [Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)](2)(-), as well as the known [Fe(6)S(6)(CO)(12)](2)(-) dianion. As a corollary, new syntheses of the [Fe(3)S(CO)(9)](2)(-) dianion are also reported. The [Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)](2)(-) dianion has been obtained by oxidative condensation of [Fe(3)S(CO)(9)](2)(-) induced by tropylium and Ag(I) salts or SCl(2), or more straightforwardly through the reaction of [Fe(4)(CO)(13)](2)(-) with SCl(2). The [Fe(6)S(6)(CO)(12)](2)(-) dianion has been isolated as a byproduct of the synthesis of [Fe(3)S(CO)(9)](2)(-) and [Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)](2)(-) or by reaction of [Fe(4)(CO)(13)](2)(-) with elemental sulfur. The structures of [N(PPh(3))(2)](2)[Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)] and [N(PPh(3))(2)](2)[Fe(6)S(6)(CO)(12)] were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Crystal data: for [N(PPh(3))(2)](2)[Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)], monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (No. 14), a = 24.060(5), b = 14.355(6), c = 23.898(13) Å, beta = 90.42(3) degrees, Z = 4; for [N(PPh(3))(2)](2)[Fe(6)S(6)(CO)(12)], monoclinic, space group C2/c (No. 15), a = 34.424(4), b = 14.081(2), c = 19.674(2) Å, beta = 115.72(1) degrees, Z = 4. The new [Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)](2)(-) dianion shows a "bow tie" arrangement of the five metal atoms. The two Fe(3) triangles sharing the central Fe atom are not coplanar and show a dihedral angle of 55.08(3) degrees. Each Fe(3) moiety is capped by a triply bridging sulfide ligand. The 14 carbonyl groups are all terminal; two are bonded to the unique central atom and three to each peripheral iron atom. Protonation of the [Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)](2)(-) dianion gives reversibly rise to the corresponding [HFe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)](-) monohydride derivative, which shows an (1)H-NMR signal at delta -21.7 ppm. Its further protonation results in decomposition to mixtures of Fe(2)S(2)(CO)(6) and Fe(3)S(2)(CO)(9), rather than formation of the expected H(2)Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14) dihydride. Exhaustive reduction of [Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)](2)(-) with sodium diphenyl ketyl progressively leads to fragmentation into [Fe(3)S(CO)(9)](2)(-) and [Fe(CO)(4)](2)(-), whereas electrochemical, as well as chemical oxidation with silver or tropylium tetrafluoroborate, in dichloromethane, generates the corresponding [Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)](-) radical anion which exhibits an ESR signal at g = 2.067 at 200 K. The electrochemical studies also indicated the existence of a subsequent one-electron anodic oxidation which possesses features of chemical reversibility in dichloromethane but not in acetonitrile solution. A reexamination of the electrochemical behavior of the [Fe(3)S(CO)(9)](2)(-) dianion coupled with ESR monitoring enabled the spectroscopic characterization of the [Fe(3)S(CO)(9)](-) radical monoanion and demonstrated its direct involvement in the generation of the [Fe(5)S(2)(CO)(14)](n)()(-) (n = 0, 1, 2) system.

Steric Crowding and Redox Reactivity in Platinum(II) and Platinum(IV) Complexes Containing Substituted 1,10-Phenanthrolines.

The effect of the phenanthroline substituents on the structure and reactivity of platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes has been investigated. The X-ray crystal structures of the compounds [PtI(2)(4,7-Ph(2)phen)].CHCl(3) (1dz.CHCl(3)), [PtI(4)(4,7-Ph(2)phen)].CHCl(3) (2dz.CHCl(3)), [PtI(2)(2,9-Me(2)-4,7-Ph(2)phen)] (1fz), and [PtI(4)(2,9-Me(2)-4,7-Ph(2)phen)].I(2) (2fz.I(2)) have shown that complexes 1fz and 2fz, containing ortho-substituted phenanthrolines, exhibit a remarkable displacement of the equatorial iodine atoms from the N-Pt-N' plane (average 0.477(2) and 0.199(2) Å, respectively), a bending of the phenanthroline [angle between outer rings of 19.9(7) and 14.2(7) degrees, respectively] and a rotation of the N-C-C'-N' plane with respect to the N-Pt-N' plane [32.3(10) and 26.5(9) degrees, respectively]. Comparison between the structures of 1fz and 2fz, both having the phenanthroline with methyl substituents in the ortho position, indicates that, in the latter case, because of the presence of the two axial iodine ligands, the displacements of the ligands from the equatorial plane are smaller and find a compensation in a narrowing of the I(1)-Pt-I(1') angle (5 degrees ) and a lengthening of the Pt-N bonds (0.07 Å). The electrochemical behavior of the four-coordinate platinum(II) complexes shows that compounds possessing regular planar geometry have access to the one-electron reduced species, whereas those with distorted coordination geometry are irreversibly reduced by collapsing of the complex geometry. This is in sharp contrast with the behavior of related nickel complexes for which the pseudo-tetrahedral coordination imposed by bulky 2,9-substituents of phenanthroline stabilizes the nickel(I) species. Spectroscopic results allow us to assign a significant Pt(I) character to [1d](-) monoanions. The electrogenerated, plus one electron, complexes are not indefinitely stable and, because of conjugation with the phen ligand, progressively restore the Pt(II) oxidation state by transferring the electron to the peripheral organic ligand. The latter process can involve multiple electron additions in the macroelectrolysis time scale. The related platinum(IV) complexes [PtX(4)(L)] undergo irreversible two-electron reduction accompanied by fast release of the axial ligands and formation of the corresponding platinum(II) species.

Iron-Rhodium and Iron-Iridium Mixed-Metal Nitrido-Carbonyl Clusters. Synthesis, Characterization, Redox Properties, and Solid-State Structure of the Octahedral Clusters [Fe(5)RhN(CO)(15)](2)(-), [Fe(5)IrN(CO)(15)](2)(-), and [Fe(4)Rh(2)N(CO)(15)](-). Infrared and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Studies on the Interstitial Nitride.

The cluster [Fe(5)RhN(CO)(15)](2)(-) was synthesized in 40% yield from [Fe(4)N(CO)(12)](-) and [Rh(CO)(4)](-) in refluxing tetrahydrofuran, whereas the analogous anion [Fe(5)IrN(CO)(15)](2)(-) was prepared in CH(3)CN at room temperature from [Fe(6)N(CO)(15)](3)(-) and [Ir(C(8)H(14))(2)Cl](2); the yields are higher than 60%. The monoanion [Fe(4)Rh(2)N(CO)(15)](-) was obtained in 70% yield from [Fe(5)RhN(CO)(15)](2)(-) and hydrated RhCl(3). The solid-state structures of the three anions were determined on their [PPh(4)](+) salts: the six metal atoms are arranged in octahedral cages and are coordinated to 3 edge-bridging and 12 terminal carbonyl ligands and to a &mgr;(6)-N ligand. The Rh and Ir atoms have less terminal COs than Fe, in order to equalize the excess electrons at the d(9) metal centers. The two rhodium atoms in [Fe(4)Rh(2)N(CO)(15)](-) are directly bound. The (15)N NMR spectra of the three compounds have been recorded; the signals of the nitride ligands were found at delta = 514 ppm for the dianions and 470 ppm for [Fe(4)Rh(2)N(CO)(15)](-); any group 9 atom shifts the resonance of nitrogen to higher fields. The coupling constants J((15)N-(103)Rh) are 8-9 Hz. The vibrational patterns of the metal cores have been interpreted on the basis of an idealized M(6) octahedral arrangement, subsequently modified by the perturbations given by different atomic masses and M-M stretching force constants. The motions of the nitrogen are related to the idealized symmetry of the cage; the M-N force constant values depend on the type of metal and on the charge of the anion. The dianions [Fe(5)MN(CO)(15)](2)(-) can be electrochemically oxidized at -20 degrees C to their short-lived monoanions, which can be characterized by EPR spectroscopy. In contrast, the cluster [Fe(4)Rh(2)N(CO)(15)](-) undergoes a single-step 2-electron reduction to the partially stable trianion [Fe(4)Rh(2)N(CO)(15)](3)(-), which was also characterized by EPR spectroscopy. The Fe-Rh nitride clusters are active catalysts for the hydroformylation of 1-pentene, but display low selectivity (35-65%) in n-hexanal and are demolished under catalytic conditions.

Spectroscopic and potentiometric study of the SOD mimic system copper(II)/acetyl-L-histidylglycyl-L-histidylglycine.

Stoichiometry, stability constants and solution structures of the copper(II) complexes of the N-acetylated tetrapeptide HisGlyHisGly were determined in aqueous solution in the pH range 2-11. The potentiometric and spectroscopic data (UV-Vis, CD, EPR and Raman scattering) show that acetylation of the amino terminal group induces drastic changes in the coordination properties of AcHGHG compared to HGHG. The N3 atoms of the histidine side chains are the first anchoring sites of the copper(II) ion. At pH 4.7 and 5.6 both the imidazole rings cooperate in the formation of a 2N equatorial set, while, at higher pH values, 3N and 4N complexes are formed through the coordination of peptide N- atoms. The logbeta values of the copper complexes of AcHGHG are by far lower than those of the corresponding species in the parent CuII-HGHG system.

Spectroscopic, structural, computational and (spectro)electrochemical studies of icosahedral carboranes bearing fluorinated aryl groups.

The icosahedral carboranes 1-C(6)F(5)-2-Ph-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (1), 1-(4'-F(3)CC(6)H(4))-2-Ph-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (2), 1,2-(4'-F(3)CC(6)H(4))(2)-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (3), 1-(4'-H(3)CC(6)F(4))-2-Ph-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (4), 1-(4'-F(3)CC(6)F(4))-2-Ph-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (5), 1,2-(4'-F(3)CC(6)F(4))(2)-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (6), 1,7-(4'-F(3)CC(6)F(4))(2)-1,7-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (7) and 1,12-(4'-F(3)CC(6)F(4))(2)-1,12-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (8), with fluorinated aryl substituents on cage carbon atoms, have been prepared in good to high yields and characterised by microanalysis, (1)H, (11)B and (19)F NMR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and (spectro)electrochemistry. By analysis of <δ(11)B>, the weighted average (11)B chemical shift, a ranking order for the ortho carboranes 1-6 is established based on the combined electron-withdrawing properties of the C-substituents, and is in perfect agreement with that established independently by electrochemical study. In a parallel computational study the effects of a wide range of different substituents on the redox properties of carboranes have been probed by comparison of ΔE values, where ΔE is the energy gap between the DFT-optimised [7,9-R(2)-7,9-nido-C(2)B(10)](2-) anion and its DFT-optimised basket-shaped first oxidation product. The overall conclusion from the NMR spectroscopic, electrochemical and computational studies is that strongly electron withdrawing substituents significantly stabilise [7,9-nido-C(2)B(10)](2-) dianions with respect to oxidation, and that the best practical substituent is 4-F(3)CC(6)F(4). Thus attention focussed on the reduction of 1,2-(4'-F(3)CC(6)F(4))(2)-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10), compound 6. The sequence 6/[6](-)/[6](2-) appears reversible on the cyclic voltammetric timescale but on the longer timescale of macroelectrolysis the radical anion is only partially stable. EPR study of the electrogenerated monoanions from the ortho-carboranes 1-6 confirms the cage-centred nature of the redox processes. In contrast, the reduction of the meta- and para-carboranes 7 and 8, respectively, appears to be centred on the aromatic substituents, a conclusion supported by the results of DFT calculation of the LUMOs of compounds 6-8. Bulk 2-electron reduction of 6 affords a dianion which is remarkably stable to reoxidation, surviving for several hours in the open laboratory in the absence of halogenated solvents.

Supraicosahedral indenyl cobaltacarboranes.

13-vertex indenyl cobaltacarboranes with 4,1,6-, 4,1,10- and 4,1,2-CoC(2)B(10) architectures have been synthesised by reduction of the corresponding closo carborane and metallation with an {(eta-C(9)H(7))Co} fragment. Variants of the 4,1,6-isomer were prepared with no, one and two methyl groups on cage C atoms, whilst 4,1,2-species were obtained both with two methyl groups and a trimethylene tether on the cage C atoms. Thermolysis of the 4,1,6-isomers yielded the corresponding 4,1,8-isomers, which in turn were converted to 4,1,12-isomers by thermolysis at higher temperatures. Alternatively relatively mild heating of the 4,1,10-isomer led to the 4,1,12-isomer directly. Products were characterised by mass spectrometry, (1)H and (11)B NMR spectroscopies and, in most cases, elemental analysis, and nine compounds were studied crystallographically. The 4,1,6-, 4,1,8-, 4,1,10- and 4,1,12- species have docosahedral cages whilst the 4,1,2-species are henicosahedral. In the structural studies attention focused on the orientation of the indenyl ligand with respect to the carborane ligand since this affords experimental information on the metal-cage bonding through the structural indenyl effect. There is a general tendency for the indenyl ligand to adopt orientations in which the ring junction C atoms lie trans to cage B atoms. In cases where the orientation is not compromised by the presence of a non-H substituent on the face of the carborane there is generally good agreement between the experimental orientation and that computed by DFT calculations for the related naphthalene ferracarboranes (eta-C(10)H(8))FeC(2)B(10)H(12). The presence of C-methyl substituents in the indenyl cobaltacarboranes tends to override this preference except in the case of 1,6-Me(2)-4-(eta-C(9)H(7))-4,1,6-closo-CoC(2)B(10)H(10) where the indenyl ligand instead is forced to incline away from the cage methyl groups. In DCM solution the 4,1,6-, 4,1,8-, 4,1,10- and 4,1,12- isomers of (eta-C(9)H(7))CoC(2)B(10)H(12) exhibit two, stepwise, 1-electron reductions assigned to Co(III)/Co(II)/Co(I) couples at less negative potentials than those of the corresponding Cp compounds. Moreover these reductions are easier for those isomers (4,1,6- and 4,1,10-) in which there are two cage C atoms in the carborane face to which the metal atom is bound. By spectroelectrochemical and EPR measurements it is concluded that the reductions of these indenyl cobaltacarboranes are largely metal-based.

Supramolecular metal-polypyridyl and Ru(II) porphyrin complexes: photophysical, electron paramagnetic resonance, and electrochemical studies.

A series of mixed-metal supramolecular porphyrin arrays in which the geometry of the central metal-polypyridyl moiety defines the spatial arrangement of two or more Ru(II)-porphyrin units through axial coordination have been prepared by employing self-assembly based protocols, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties have been studied. The electrochemical properties of the constituent parts of these arrays depend only on their own chemical environment, regardless of the nuclearity and the overall charge of the compound; in this way species with predetermined redox patterns can be obtained via the synthetic control of the self-assembly process. Interestingly, several of these arrays are luminescent both at room and at low temperatures, and in many cases core-to-periphery or periphery-to-core intramolecular energy transfer processes take place according to the nature of the central metal template.

Electrochemical and EPR studies of the corannulene ruthenium(II) sandwich complex [(eta6-C6Me6)Ru(eta6-C20H10)](SbF6)(2).

The dication [(eta6-C6Me6)Ru(eta6-C20H10)]2+ in propylene carbonate solution exhibits a sequence of reduction processes that is either metal-centered [Ru(II)/Ru(I)/Ru(0)] or ligand-centered. The marginally stable Ru(I) monocation [(eta6-C6Me6)Ru(eta6-C20H10)]+ has been characterized by EPR spectroscopy. The electrochemistry of C20H10 and EPR features of its stable monoanion [C20H10]- have also been revisited.

Mixed Co-Rh nitrido-encapsulated carbonyl clusters. synthesis, solid-state structure, and electrochemical/EPR characterization of the anions [Co10Rh(N)2(CO)21]3-, [Co10Rh2(N)2(CO)24]2-, and [Co11Rh(N)2(CO)24]2-.

The nitrido-encapsulated heterometallic cluster anions [Co(10)Rh(N)2(CO)21](3-) (1), [Co(10)Rh2(N)2(CO)24](2-) (2), and [Co(11)Rh(N)2(CO)24](2-) (3) have been obtained by tailored redox-condensation reactions. These three anions are rare high-nuclearity mixed-metal clusters containing two interstitial nitrogen atoms. Their structures have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction on their [NR4]+ salts (R = Me for 1 and 3, R = Et for 2), and their electrochemical and ESR properties have been studied in detail. It is noteworthy that 1 has an unprecedented stereochemistry that does not exhibit a close geometrical resemblance with the isoelectronic homometallic anion [Co(11)N2(CO)11(mu2-CO)10](3-), and 2, despite its even number of electrons, is a paramagnetic species.

New copper(II)/cyclic tetrapeptide system that easily oxidizes to copper(III) under atmospheric oxygen.

A 13-membered ring cyclic tetrapeptide was synthesized by the solid-phase peptide synthesis method, and its copper(II) coordination properties were analyzed by optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and electrochemistry. All collected data strongly support the presence, at alkaline pH, of a stable peptide/copper(III) complex that is formed in solution by atmospheric dioxygen oxidation. On the basis of previous studies on cyclic peptide/copper systems, we suggest that the copper(III) ion is at the center of the ligand's cavity being coordinated to four deprotonated amide nitrogen atoms. This donor set would greatly lower the redox potential for the CuIII/CuII couple, thus allowing easy oxidation of the coordinated copper(II) by atmospheric oxygen.

Electron transfer activity of nickelacyclic complex analogues of nickelocene: synthesis of (eta(5)-R-cyclopentadienyl){eta(4)-[1-(eta(5)-R-cyclopentadienyl)]-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-nickela-2-cyclopentenyl}nickel complexes (R = H, CH(3)) and crystal structures of the redox couples [(eta(5)- methylcyclopentadienyl){eta(4)-[1-(eta(5)-methylcyclopentadienyl)]-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-nickela-2-cyclopentenyl}nickel]((0/+)) and [(eta(5)-methylcyclopentadienyl){eta(5)-[1-(eta(5)-methylcyclopentadienyl)-1-nickelafluorenyl}nickel]((0/+)).

Following previous reports on the synthesis and structure of different nickelacyclic complexes analogues of nickelocene, we now deal with the new metallacyclic compounds (eta5-R-cyclopentadienyl){eta4-[1-(eta5-R-cyclopentadienyl)]-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-nickela-2-cyclopentenyl}nickel (R = H, CH3). The redox ability of the whole series of nickelacyclic derivatives has been also investigated by electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques, and the nature of the frontier orbitals responsible for the rich electron transfer activity of this class of compounds has been supported by theoretical considerations. On the basis of the redox properties of a few neutral members of the series, their chemical oxidation afforded the corresponding monocations and the crystal structures of the pertinent redox couples were determined by X-ray single-crystal analysis.