Steric congestion at, and proximity to, a ferrous center leads to hydration of α-nitrile substituents forming coordinated carboxamides.

The question of the conversion of nitrile groups into amides (nitrile hydration) by action of water in mild and eco-compatible conditions and in the presence of iron is addressed in this article. We come back to the only known example of hydration of a nitrile function into carboxamide by a ferrous [Fe(II)] center in particularly mild conditions and very efficiently and demonstrate that these unusual conditions result from the occurrence of steric stress at the reaction site and formation of a more stable end product. Two bis(cyano-substituted) (tris 2-pyridyl methyl amine) ligands have been prepared, and the structures of the corresponding FeCl2 complexes are reported, both in the solid state and in solution. These two ligands only differ by the position of the nitrile group on the tripod in the α and ß position, respectively, with respect to the pyridine nitrogen. In any case, intramolecular coordination is impossible. Upon action of water, the nitrile groups are hydrated however only if they are located in the α position. The fact that the ß-substituted ß-(NC)2TPAFeCl2 complex is not water sensitive suggests that the reaction proceeds in an intramolecular way at the vicinity of the metal center. In the bis α-substituted α-(NC)2TPAFeCl2 complex, both functions are converted in a very clean fashion, pointing out that this complex exhibits ligand flexibility and is not deactivated after the first hydration. At a preparative scale, this reaction allows the one-pot conversion of the bis(cyano-substituted) tripod into a bis(amido-substituted) one in particularly mild conditions with a very good yield. Additionally, the XRD structure of a ferric compound in which the two carboxamido ligands are bound to the metal in a seven-coordinate environment is reported.

Hydroxylation of aromatics with the help of a non-haem FeOOH: a mechanistic study under single-turnover and catalytic conditions.

Ferric-hydroperoxo complexes have been identified as intermediates in the catalytic cycle of biological oxidants, but their role as key oxidants is still a matter of debate. Among the numerous synthetic low-spin Fe(III)(OOH) complexes characterized to date, [(L(5)(2))Fe(OOH)](2+) is the only one that has been isolated in the solid state at low temperature, which has provided a unique opportunity for inspecting its oxidizing properties under single-turnover conditions. In this report we show that [(L(5)(2))Fe(OOH)](2+) decays in the presence of aromatic substrates, such as anisole and benzene in acetonitrile, with first-order kinetics. In addition, the phenol products are formed from the aromatic substrates with similar first-order rate constants. Combining the kinetic data obtained at different temperatures and under different single-turnover experimental conditions with experiments performed under catalytic conditions by using the substrate [1,3,5-D(3)]benzene, which showed normal kinetic isotope effects (KIE>1) and a notable hydride shift (NIH shift), has allowed us to clarify the role played by Fe(III)(OOH) in aromatic oxidation. Several lines of experimental evidence in support of the previously postulated mechanism for the formation of two caged Fe(IV)(O) and OH(·) species from the Fe(III)(OOH) complex have been obtained for the first time. After homolytic O-O cleavage, a caged pair of oxidants [Fe(IV)O+HO(·)] is generated that act in unison to hydroxylate the aromatic ring: HO(·) attacks the ring to give a hydroxycyclohexadienyl radical, which is further oxidized by Fe(IV)O to give a cationic intermediate that gives rise to a NIH shift upon ketonization before the final re-aromatization step. Spin-trapping experiments in the presence of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide and GC-MS analyses of the intermediate products further support the proposed mechanism.

A highly selective luminescent sensor for the time-gated detection of potassium.

A terbium complex with long luminescence lifetime for the selective time-gated detection of potassium is presented. The complex demonstrates high sensitivity with a 25-fold increase in time-gated luminescence intensity between 0 and 15 mM potassium. The high selectivity of the complex for potassium over other physiological cations, and especially sodium (93 fold), is likely due to a favorable cation-pi interaction between a phenol moiety and the potassium ion.

Principles of responsive lanthanide-based luminescent probes for cellular imaging.

The advent of chemical tools for cellular imaging--from organic dyes to green fluorescent proteins--has revolutionized the fields of molecular biology and biochemistry. Lanthanide-based probes are a new player in this area, as the last decade has seen the emergence of the first responsive luminescent lanthanide probes specifically intended for imaging cellular processes. The potential of these probes is still undervalued by the scientific community. Indeed, this class of probes offers several advantages over organic dyes and fluorescent proteins. Their very long luminescence lifetimes enable quantitative spatial determination of the intracellular concentration of an analyte through time-gating measurements. Their emission bands are very narrow and do not overlap, enabling the simultaneous use of multiple lanthanide probes to quantitatively detect several analytes without cross-interference. Herein we describe the principles behind the development of this class of probes. Sensors for a desired analyte can be designed by rationally manipulating the parameters that influence the luminescence of lanthanide complexes. We will discuss sensors based on varying the number of inner-sphere water molecules, the distance separating the antenna from the lanthanide ion, the energies of excited states of the antenna, and PeT switches.

A new chiral diiron catalyst for enantioselective epoxidation.

The dinuclear chiral complex Fe(2)O(bisPB)(4)(X)(2)(ClO(4))(4) (X = H(2)O or CH(3)CN) catalyzes with high efficiency (up to 850 TON) and moderate enantioselectivity (63%) the epoxidation of electron deficient alkenes at 0 degrees C by a peracid.

Facile synthesis of the new tripodal tetraamine ligand tris(thiazolylmethyl) amine, and full characterization of two ferrous complexes.

We report in this communication the facile synthesis of the new tris(thiazolylmethyl)amine TTA ligand and the full characterization in solution and in the solid state of two ferrous complexes, [(TTA)FeCl2] and [(TTA)Fe(OTf)2]. TTA, the first example of a simple tris(thiazolemethyl)amine chelate--the second one only within this class of tripods--exerts a weak ligand field and the tertiary amine is weakly bound to the metal centre.

Solvent-dependent reversible ligand exchange in nickel complexes of a monosulfide bis(diphenylphosphino)(N-thioether)amine.

The coordination chemistry of the DPPA-type functional phosphine bis(diphenylphosphino)(N-thioether)amine N(PPh2)2(CH2)3SMe () and its monosulfide derivative, (Ph2P)N{P(S)Ph2}(CH2)3SMe (1·S), towards Ni(II) precursors has been investigated. The crystal structures of N{P(S)Ph2}2(CH2)3SMe (1·S2), [NiCl2{(Ph2P)2N(CH2)3SMe-P,P}] (2), [NiCl2((Ph2P)N{P(S)Ph2}(CH2)3SMe-P,S)] (3), [Ni((Ph2P)N{P(S)Ph2}(CH2)3SMe-P,S)2]NiCl4 (3'), [Ni((Ph2P)N{P(S)Ph2}(CH2)3SMe-P,S)2](BF4)2 (4), and [Ni((Ph2P)NH{P(S)Ph2}-P,S)2]Cl2 (5) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In all of the complexes with the hybrid ligand 1·S, P,S-chelation to the Ni(II) center is observed. Despite the stability generally associated with five-membered ring chelation, easy migration of this LL'-type P,S-chelating ligand from one metal center to another was observed, which accounts for the reversible ligand-redistribution reaction occurring in the equilibrium between the neutral, diamagnetic complex [NiCl2LL'] and the paramagnetic ion-pair [Ni(LL')2][NiCl4]. Detailed investigations by multinuclear NMR, UV/Vis, and FTIR spectroscopic methods and DFT calculations are reported. Each of the formula isomers 3 and 3' can be selectively obtained, depending on the experimental conditions.

Structural bases of oxygen-sensitivity in Fe(II) complexes with tripodal ligands. Steric effects, Lewis acidity and the role of ancillary ligands.

The complexation of Fe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) to the series of fluoro α-substituted tris-(2-aminomethylpyridyl)amine tripods F(1-3)TPA yields the triflato F(1-3)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) complexes which have firstly been characterized in solution. As expected, bis-acetonitrile charged species are present in CH(3)CN, and neutral bis-triflato complexes in CH(2)Cl(2). The X-ray diffraction analyses of F(1)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) and F(2)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) crystallized from CH(2)Cl(2) solutions show that their structure in solution is retained in the solid state, with coordination of both triflate ions and the κ(4) coordination mode of the tripod in each complex. The solid state structure of the [F(2)TPAFe(NCMe)(SO(3)CF(3))](SO(3)CF(3)) complex obtained from crystallization in acetonitrile of the bis-triflato precursor is also reported. The presence of a bound triflate in the solid state is unexpected and interpreted as the result of solid-state stabilization by a metal center which displays some Lewis acidity character because of its coordination to an electron-deficient tripod. The fourth compound whose solid state structure is reported is [F(2)TPAFe(H(2)O)(2)](SO(3)CF(3))(2), fortuitously obtained after the bis-triflato precursor was handled under aerobic conditions. In CH(3)CN, all complexes are oxygen stable. The gain in stability of the bis-acetonitrile adducts is certainly responsible for the lack of reactivity of all complexes in this solvent. In CH(2)Cl(2), the parent TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) complex reacts with O(2) to yield a compound belonging to the well-known class of µ-oxo diferric compounds. Whereas F(1)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) is poorly reactive, F(2)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) and F(3)TPAFe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) turn out to be completely inert. This strongly contrasts with the behavior of the known F(1-3)TPAFeCl(2) complexes for which an increased reactivity is observed upon ligand substitution. In CH(2)Cl(2), conductimetry measurements indicate extremely weak (if any!) dissociation of the ancillary ligands in all complexes. Comparative analysis of the structures reveals relatively invariant structural parameters within the series of Fe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) complexes, whereas FeCl(2) complexes display important metal to ligand elongations upon tripod substitution. The reactivity increase upon fluorination of the ligand in the FeCl(2) complexes is interpreted as resulting from sterically-induced pyridine flexibility. The opposite situation with Fe(SO(3)CF(3))(2) complexes is due to the lock of the coordination polyhedron in the absence of important steric stress, especially when the metal center becomes electron-deficient.

Tuning the conversion of cyclohexane into cyclohexanol/one by molecular dioxygen, protons and reducing agents at a single non-porphyrinic iron centre and chemical versatility of the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine TPAFe(II)Cl2 complex in mild oxidation chemistry.

We report that the oxygen sensitivity of some Fe(II) complexes with tripodal ligands can be used, with benefit, in the oxidation of cyclohexane under mild conditions. Depending on the solvent, two very different reaction pathways are involved, which share the coordination of O(2) to the metal as the common initial step. We have synthesized a series of α-chlorinated tripods in the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine series Cl(n)TPA (n = 1-3) and fully characterized the corresponding FeX(2) complexes (X = Cl, CF(3)SO(3)). The single-crystal X-ray structure analyses of the FeCl(2) complexes are reported. In CH(3)CN, the FeCl(2) complexes react smoothly with O(2), whereas the Fe(CF(3)SO(3))(2) complexes are non-sensitive. In CH(3)CN, the reaction of the oxygen-sensitive Cl(n)TPAFeCl(2) (n = 0-3) with O(2), acetic acid and zinc amalgam, in the presence of cyclohexane, affords a mixture of cyclohexanol/one in an ≈ ol/one ratio of 3.1 and a selectivity of the C3°/C2° in the adamantane conversion that is consistent with a metal-oxo based oxidation. Limited efficiency (≈ 2 TON) was observed for the parent TPAFeCl(2) complex and Cl(1)TPAFeCl(2), whereas both other complexes turned out to be poorly active. The TPAFeCl(2) complex was used to address mechanistic questions: when the reaction was carried out in pyridine, the ol/one ratio shifted to 0.15 while efficiency was improved by 7-fold. In pyridine and in the presence of a spin trap (DMPO), the radical-based character of the reaction was definitely established, by contrast with acetonitrile, where no oxygenated radicals were detected. Thus, the reactivity differences arise from involvement of two distinct active species. The dichotomous radical/biomimetic pathway is discussed to interpret these results.

Mononuclear iron complexes relevant to nonheme iron oxygenases. Synthesis, characterizations and reactivity of Fe-Oxo and Fe-Peroxo intermediates.

The new ligand L(6)(2)4E (N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(5-ethyl-2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine) was designed as a more robust analog of TPEN (N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine) for which the ability at stabilizing high valent Fe-Oxo and Fe-(hydro)peroxo has been reported. With respect to the latter, the pyridyl beta-substituents in L(6)(2)4E do not modify the Fe coordination chemistry. From the Fe(II) precursor, [FeO](2+) and Fe(III)-(hydro)peroxo intermediates are prepared using the same synthetic methods as those reported for the TPEN analogs. The spectroscopic characteristics of all L(6)(2)4E-Fe complexes are very similar to their TPEN analog. However, [(L(6)(2)4E)FeO](2+) has a greater lifetime than that of [(TPEN)FeO](2+). This can be explained by a restricted bimolecular autodegradation due to the bulkiness provided by the ethyl substituents. Regarding small organic molecule oxidation, [(L(6)(2)4E)FeO](2+) and [(L(6)(2)4E)FeOOH](2+) exhibit behaviours that seem to be general for the complexes built with ligands of the TPEN family: [FeO](2+) appears to be efficient to epoxidize olefins, whereas [FeOOH](2+) hydroxylates the aromatic ring of anisole with efficacy.

Preparation and characterization of a microcrystalline non-heme FeIII(OOH) complex powder: EPR reinvestigation of FeIII(OOH) complexes-improvement of the perturbation equations for the g tensor of low-spin FeIII.

The first example of a microcrystalline powder of a synthetic low-spin (LS) mononuclear Fe(III)(OOH) intermediate has been obtained by the precipitation of the [Fe(III)(L(5) (2))(OOH)](2+) complex at low temperature. The high purity of this thermally unstable powder is revealed by magnetic susceptibility measurements. EPR studies on this complex, in the solid state and also in frozen solution, are reported and reveal the coexistence of two related Fe(III)(OOH) species in both states. We also present a theoretical analysis of the g tensor for LS Fe(III) complexes, based on new perturbation equations. These simple equations provide distortion-energy parameters that are in good agreement with those obtained by a full-diagonalization calculation.