Study of the Counter Cation Effects on the Supramolecular Structure and Electronic Properties of a Dianionic Oxamate-Based {NiII2} Helicate.

Herein, we describe the synthesis, crystal structure, and electronic properties of {[K2(dmso)(H2O)5][Ni2(H2mpba)3]·dmso·2H2O}n (1) and [Ni(H2O)6][Ni2(H2mpba)3]·3CH3OH·4H2O (2) [dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide; CH3OH = methanol; and H4mpba = 1,3-phenylenebis(oxamic acid)] bearing the [Ni2(H2mpba)3]2- helicate, hereafter referred to as {NiII2}. SHAPE software calculations indicate that the coordination geometry of all the NiII atoms in 1 and 2 is a distorted octahedron (Oh) whereas the coordination environments for K1 and K2 atoms in 1 are Snub disphenoid J84 (D2d) and distorted octahedron (Oh), respectively. The {NiII2} helicate in 1 is connected by K+ counter cations yielding a 2D coordination network with sql topology. In contrast to 1, the electroneutrality of the triple-stranded [Ni2(H2mpba)3] 2- dinuclear motif in 2 is achieved by a [Ni(H2O)6]2+ complex cation, where the three neighboring {NiII2} units interact in a supramolecular fashion through four R22(10) homosynthons yielding a 2D array. Voltammetric measurements reveal that both compounds are redox active (with the NiII/NiI pair being mediated by OH- ions) but with differences in formal potentials that reflect changes in the energy levels of molecular orbitals. The NiII ions from the helicate and the counter-ion (complex cation) in 2 can be reversibly reduced, resulting in the highest faradaic current intensities. The redox reactions in 1 also occur in an alkaline medium but at higher formal potentials. The connection of the helicate with the K+ counter cation has an impact on the energy levels of the molecular orbitals; this experimental behavior was further supported by X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) experiments and computational calculations.

Unexpected formation of a dodecanuclear {CoII6CuII6} nanowheel under ambient conditions: magneto-structural correlations.

We report the unique heterobimetallic dodecanuclear oxamate-based {CoII6CuII6} nanowheel obtained using an environmentally friendly synthetic protocol. The effective Hamiltonian methodology employed herein allows the rationalisation of magnetic isotropic or anisotropic metal clusters, being a significant advance for future studies of exciting properties only observed at low and ultralow temperatures.

Building-up host-guest helicate motifs and chains: a magneto-structural study of new field-induced cobalt-based single-ion magnets.

In this work, we present the synthetic pathway, a refined structural description, complete solid-state characterization and the magnetic properties of four new cobalt(ii) compounds of formulas [Co(H2O)6][Co2(H2mpba)3]·2H2O·0.5dmso (1), [Co(H2O)6][Co2(H2mpba)3]·3H2O·0.5dpss (2), [Co2(H2mpba)2(H2O)4]n·4nH2O (3), and [Co2(H2mpba)2(CH3OH)2(H2O)2]n·0.5nH2O·2ndpss (4) [dpss = 2,2'-dipyridyldisulfide and H4mpba = 1,3-phenylenebis(oxamic) acid], where 2 and 4 were obtained from [Co(dpss)Cl2] (Pre-I) as the source of cobalt(ii). All four compounds are air-stable and were prepared under ambient conditions. 1 and 2 were obtained from a slow diffusion method [cobalt(ii) : H2mpba2- molar ratio used 1 : 1] and their structures are made up of [Co2(H2mpba)3]2- anionic helicate units and [Co(H2O)6]2+ cations, exhibiting supramolecular three-dimensional structures. Interestingly, a supramolecular honeycomb network between the helicate units interacting with each other through R22(10) type hydrogen bonds occurs in 2 hosting one co-crystallized dpss molecule. On the other hand, for the first time, linear (3) and zigzag (4) cobalt(ii) chains were isolated by slow evaporation of stirred solutions of mixed solvents with cobalt(ii) : H2mpba2- in 1 : 2 molar ratio at room temperature. Magnetic measurements of Pre-I revealed a quasi magnetically isolated S = 3/2 spin state with a significant second-order spin-orbit contribution as expected for tetrahedrally coordinated cobalt(ii) ions. The analysis of the variable temperature static (dc) magnetic susceptibility data through first- (1 and 3) and second-order spin-orbit coupling models (2 and 4) reveals the presence of magnetically non-interacting high-spin cobalt(ii) ions with easy-axis (1 and 4)/easy-plane magnetic anisotropies (2 and 4) with low rhombic distortions. Dynamic (ac) magnetic measurements for Pre-I and 1-4 below 8.0 K show that they are examples of field-induced Single-Ion Magnets (SIMs).

Amoxicillin photodegradation under visible light catalyzed by metal-free carbon nitride: An investigation of the influence of the structural defects.

Herein, the structural defects of metal-free polymeric carbon nitrides were controlled by making use of different precursors in their syntheses, i.e. melamine (CN-M) and thiourea (CN-T), as well as a 1:1 mixture of them (CN-1M:1 T). By controlling the structural defects, the electronic, morphological and chemical properties were modified. Additionally, the activities of synthesized PCNs were evaluated for amoxicillin photodegradation under visible light irradiation (16 mW cm-2). The results of photocatalytic tests showed that CN-T material has better efficiency (100 % removal within 48 h), which is directly related to the greater number of defects present in its structure with consequent improvement of electron-hole pairs separation efficiency. The CN-T material showed excellent stability with only 13 % decrease in its photocatalytic activity after the third cycle. A mechanism for amoxicillin degradation by CN-T was proposed based on the ESI-MS and the in situ EPR allied with spin trapping method investigations.

On the magneto-structural role of the coordinating anion in oxamato-bridged copper(ii) derivatives.

We herein present the synthesis, spectroscopic analysis, description of the crystal structures and magnetic properties of four new complexes of the formula [{Cu(opba)(H2O)1.2}{Cu(dmphen)(SCN)}2]·dmf (1), [{Cu(opba)}2{Cu(dmphen)Cl}4]·1.5dmf·2.5dmso (2), [{Cu(opba)}2{Cu(dmphen)Br}4]·dmf·2.3dmso (3) and [{Cu(opba)}{Cu(dmphen)(dca)}2]n (4) [H4opba = N,N'-1,2-phenylenebis(oxamic acid), dmphen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and dca = dicyanamide anion]. 1 is a neutral tricopper(ii) complex where an inner [Cu(opba)]2- fragment adopts a bis-bidentate coordination mode towards two outer [Cu(dmphen)(NCS)]+ units. 2 and 3 are bis-trinuclear species where two oxamato-bridged [Cu(opba){Cu(dmphen)X}2] [X = Cl- (2) and Br- (3)] tricopper(ii) entities are connected by two single X ions involving the central and one of the peripheral copper(ii) ions. 4 is a neutral chain made up of oxamato-bridged [Cu(opba){Cu(dmphen)(dca)}2] fragments linked through a single end-to-end dicyanamide ligand that connects the central copper(ii) ion with one of the peripheral copper(ii) ions. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 1-4 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K show the occurrence of strong antiferromagnetic interactions between the copper(ii) ions through the oxamate bridge [J = -328(2) (1), -288(2) (2), -431(2) (3) and -370(1) cm-1 (4), the Hamiltonian being defined as H = -J(S1·S2 + S1·S3)] and a weak ferromagnetic coupling across the equatorial-axial exchange pathway provided by the single halide bridge [j = +3.08(3) (2) and +2.34(1) cm-1 (3)]. These values are analyzed by simple orbital symmetry considerations and compared with those reported in the literature for polynuclear copper(ii) complexes with these bridging ligands.

Nanocrystalline Transition-Metal Gallium Oxide Spinels from Acetylacetonate Precursors via Solvothermal Synthesis.

The synthesis of mixed-metal spinels based on substituted γ-Ga2O3 is reported using metal acetylacetonate precursors in solvothermal reactions with alcohols as solvents at 240 °C. New oxides of Cr, Mn and Fe have been produced, all of which are formed as nanocrystalline powders, as seen by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The first chromium-gallium mixed oxide is thus formed, with composition 0.33Ga1.87Cr0.8O4 ( = vacant site). X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) at the chromium K-edge shows the presence of solely octahedral Cr3+, which in turn implies a mixture of tetrahedral and octahedral Ga3+, and the material is stable on annealing to at least 850 °C. An analogous manganese material with average chemical composition close to MnGa2O4 is shown to contain octahedral Mn2+, along with some Mn3+, but a different inversion factor to materials reported by conventional solid-state synthesis in the literature, which are known to have a significant proportion of tetrahedral Mn2+. In the case of iron, higher amounts of the transition metal can be included to give an Fe:Ga ratio of 1:1. Elemental mapping using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy on the TEM, however, reveals inhomogeneity in the distribution of the two metals. This is consistent with variable temperature 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy that shows the presence of Fe2+ and Fe3+ in more than one phase in the sample. Variable temperature magnetisation and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) indicate the presence of superparamagnetism at room temperature in the iron-gallium oxides.

Photoluminescent and Slow Magnetic Relaxation Studies on Lanthanide(III)-2,5-pyrazinedicarboxylate Frameworks.

In the series described in this work, the hydrothermal synthesis led to oxidation of the 5-methyl-pyrazinecarboxylate anion to the 2,5-pyrazinedicarboxylate dianion (2,5-pzdc) allowing the preparation of three-dimensional (3D) lanthanide(III) organic frameworks of formula {[Ln2(2,5-pzdc)3(H2O)4]·6H2O}n [Ln = Ce (1), Pr (2), Nd (3), and Eu (4)] and {[Er2(2,5-pzdc)3(H2O)4]·5H2O}n (5). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction on 1-5 reveals that they crystallize in the triclinic system, P1̅ space group with the series 1-4 being isostructural. The crystal structure of the five compounds are 3D with the lanthanide(III) ions linked through 2,5-pzdc2- dianions acting as two- and fourfold connectors, building a binodal 4,4-connected (4·648)(426282)-mog network. The photophysical properties of the Nd(III) (3) and Eu(III) (4) complexes exhibit sensitized photoluminescence in the near-infrared and visible regions, respectively. The photoluminescence intensity and lifetime of 4 were very sensitive due to the luminescence quenching of the 5D0 level by O-H oscillators of four water molecules in the first coordination sphere leading to a quantum efficiency of 11%. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1-5 reveal behaviors as expected for the ground terms of the magnetically isolated rare-earth ions [2F5/2, 2H4, 4I9/2, 7F0, and 4I15/2 for Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Eu(III), and Er(III), respectively] with MJ = 0 (2 and 4) and ±1/2 (1, 3, and 5). Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance measurements at low temperature corroborate these facts. Frequency-dependent alternating-current magnetic susceptibility signals under external direct-current fields in the range of 100-2500 G were observed for the Kramers ions of 1, 3, and 5, indicating slow magnetic relaxation (single-ion magnet) behavior. In these compounds, τ-1 decreases with decreasing temperature at any magnetic field, but no Arrhenius law can simulate such a dependence in all the temperature range. This dependence can be reproduced by the contributions of direct and Raman processes, the Raman exponent (n) reaching the expected value (n = 9) for a Kramers system.

Dicopper(II) Metallacyclophanes with N,N'-2,6-Pyridinebis(oxamate): Solution Study, Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Magnetic Properties.

The complexing ability of copper(II) in solution by the ligand N,N'-2,6-pyridinebis(oxamic acid) (H4mpyba, H4L) was determined through potentiometric and UV-vis spectroscopy at 25 °C and 0.15 M NaCl. The logarithms of the equilibrium constants for its copper(II) complexes according to the eqs 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2(H2L)2], 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2(H2L) (HL)] + H, 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2(HL)2] + 2H, 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2(HL)(L)] + 3H, and 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2L2] + 4H were 12.02(7), 8.04(5), 1.26(6), -7.51(6), and -16.36(6), respectively. The knowledge of the solution behavior has supported the synthesis of three new compounds bearing the common building block Cu2L2(4-). Their formulas are (Me4N)4[Cu2(mpyba)2(H2O)2]·H2O (1), (Me4N)4[K2Na2Cu4(mpyba)4(H2O)6.8]·1.6H2O (2), and [Na6Cu2(mpyba)2Cl2(H2O)8]·7H2O (3) (Me4N(+) = tetramethylammonium cation). The [Cu2(mpyba)2(H2O)2](4-) tetraanionic unit, which is present in 1, has a [3,3] metallacyclophane-type motif connected by two N-Cu-N bonds. In 2, a heterotrimetallic decanuclear nanocage is formed through front-to-front assembly of two [Cu2(mpyba)2](4-) units, which also coordinate to potassium(I) and sodium(I) cations by means of carboxylate oxygens from oxamate. The structure of 3 consists of heterobimetallic layers of formula [Na6Cu2(mpyba)2Cl2(H2O)8] and crystallization water molecules, which are interlinked by hydrogen bonds leading to a supramolecular three-dimensional network. The investigation of the magnetic properties of 1-3 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K shows the occurrence of ferromagnetic interactions between the dicopper(II) metallacyclophane unit [J = +6.85 (1), +7.40 (2), and +7.90 cm(-1) (3); H = -JSCu1·SCu2, where SCu1 = SCu2 = 1/2]. Theoretical calculations on 1-3 were carried to substantiate the nature and magnitude of the involved magnetic interactions and to support the occurrence of a spin polarization mechanism accounting for them.

Magneto-structural versatility of copper(II)-3-phenylpropionate coordination polymers with N-donor coligands.

A novel series of copper(II) coordination polymers [Cu2(O2CC8H9)4(pyz)]n (1), [Cu2(O2CC8H9)4(dps)]n (2), {[Cu(O2CC8H9)2(dps)(H2O)]·H2O}n (3), {[NaCu(O2CC8H9)2(bpm)(NO3)]·H2O}n (4), and [Cu4(O2CC8H9)6(OH)2(bpp)2]n (5) [O2CC8H9− = 3-phenylpropionate anion, pyz = pyrazine, dps = di(4-pyridyl)sulfide, bpm = 2,2'-bipyrimidine, and bpp = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane] have been synthesized and magneto-structurally investigated. Compounds 1 and 2 belong to a large group of copper(II) carboxylates where bis-monodentate pyz (1) and dps (2) ligands connect the paddle-wheel [CuII2(µ-O2CC8H9)4] units leading to alternating copper(II) chains. The structure of 3 consists of uniform chains of trans-[CuII(O2CC8H9)2] units linked by the bis-monodentate dps ligand. Compound 4 consists of heterobimetallic chains where [NaI2CuII2(µ-O2CC8H9)4(NO3)2] units are doubly bridged by bis-bidentate bpm ligands. Compound 5 is also a chain compound whose structure is made up by tetranuclear [CuII4(µ3-OH)2(µ-O2CC8H9)4(O2CC8H9)2] units which are doubly bridged by bis-monodentate bpp ligands. The magnetic properties were investigated in the temperature range 1.8­300 K. Strong antiferromagnetic interactions across the quadruple syn­syn carboxylate are observed in 1 and 2 [J = −378 (1) and −348 cm−1 (2)] whereas a weak ferromagnetic coupling through the double out-of-plane oxo(carboxylate) bridge occurs in 4 [J = +2.66 cm−1], the spin Hamiltonian being defined as H = −JS1·S2 with S1 = S2 = SCu = 1/2. A quasi Curie law is observed for 3 (θ = −0.36 cm−1), the bis-monodentate dps ligand being a very poor mediator of magnetic interactions. The analysis of the magnetic properties of 5 is quite complex because of the presence of two crystallographically independent tetracopper(II) units with single-µ-hydroxo, di-µ-hydroxo, µ3-hydroxo and single-µ-hydroxo plus double syn,syn carboxylate bridges in each one. The nature and values of the magnetic couplings for 5 obtained by fitting (intermediate, strong and weak antiferromagnetic interactions for the three former exchange pathways respectively, and intermediate ferromagnetic interactions for the latter one) were substantiated by DFT type calculations.

A heterobimetallic [Mn5(II)Cu5(II)] nanowheel modulated by a flexible bis-oxamate type ligand.

The synthesis, crystal structure and preliminary magnetic characterization of a new heterobimetallic [Mn5(II)Cu5(II)] wheel containing a flexible bis-oxamate type ligand are described. This decanuclear compound exhibits a relatively strong intra-wheel antiferromagnetic interaction leading to a ground spin state S = 10.

Dragging human mesenchymal stem cells with the aid of supramolecular assemblies of single-walled carbon nanotubes, molecular magnets, and peptides in a magnetic field.

Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) are an attractive cell source for therapeutic applicability in diverse fields for the repair and regeneration of damaged or malfunctioning tissues and organs. There is a growing number of cell therapies using stem cells due to their characteristics of modulation of immune system and reduction of acute rejection. So a challenge in stem cells therapy is the delivery of cells to the organ of interest, a specific site. The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of a supramolecular assembly composed of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), molecular magnets (lawsone-Co-phenanthroline), and a synthetic peptide (FWYANHYWFHNAFWYANHYWFHNA) in the hASCs cultures. The hASCs were isolated, characterized, expanded, and cultured with the SWCNT supramolecular assembly (SWCNT-MA). The assembly developed did not impair the cell characteristics, viability, or proliferation. During growth, the cells were strongly attached to the assembly and they could be dragged by an applied magnetic field of less than 0.3 T. These assemblies were narrower than their related allotropic forms, that is, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and they could therefore be used to guide cells through thin blood capillaries within the human body. This strategy seems to be useful as noninvasive and nontoxic stem cells delivery/guidance and tracking during cell therapy.

Characterization of compounds derived from copper-oxamate and imidazolium by X-ray absorption and vibrational spectroscopies.

In this work, compounds derived from copper-oxamate anions (ortho, meta, and para)-phenylenebis (oxamate) and imidazolium cations (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) were synthesized. The compounds were characterized by Raman and FTIR spectroscopies and the band assignments were supported by DFT calculations. Strong IR bands from 1610 to 1700cm(-1) dominated the spectra of the complex and can be assigned to νCO vibrations of the [Cu(opba)](2-) anions by the comparison with the DFT data. In opposition to the FTIR spectra, the main vibrational bands in the Raman spectra are observed in the 1350-1600cm(-1) range. All bands in this region are associated to the modified benzene vibrations of the copper-phenylenebis(oxamate) anions. X-ray absorption near edge (XANES) at different energies (NK and Cu L2,3 edges) was also used to probe the interionic interactions. XANES data show that anion-cation interaction in the Cu-oxamate-imidazolium changes the electronic structure around the CuN sites in the oxamate anion.

Discrete trinuclear copper(II) compounds as building blocks: the influence of the peripheral substituents on the magnetic coupling in oxamato-bridged complexes.

Two new trinuclear copper(ii) complexes without end-capping ligands, (Bu4N)2[Cu(dmso)2{Cu(dnopba)(dmso)}2] () and (Bu4N)2[Cu(dmso)2{Cu(dcopba)(dmso)}2] () [dnopba = 4,5-dinitro-ortho-phenylenebis(oxamate), dcopba = 4,5-dichloro-ortho-phenylenebis(oxamate), Bu4N(+) = tetra-n-butylammonium and dmso = dimethylsulfoxide], were synthesized and their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structures of and consist of two outer bis(oxamato)(dmso)cuprate(ii) units which act as bidentate ligands toward a trans-bis(dmso)copper(ii) inner entity leading to centrosymmetric tricopper(ii) complexes with copper-copper separations across the oxamate bridges of 5.1916(3) () and 5.1776(3) Å (). The peripheral copper(ii) ions in and are five-coordinate in somewhat distorted square pyramidal environments with a dmso molecule filling the apical position whereas the inner copper(ii) ion is six-coordinate in an elongated octahedral environment with two dmso molecules in the axial sites. The investigation of their magnetic properties in the temperature range 2.0-300 K shows the occurrence of a strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling between the copper(ii) ions through the oxamate bridges [J1 = -296(1) () and -334(1) cm(-1) (), the Hamiltonian being defined as H = -J1(SCu2·SCu1 + SCu2·SCu1')], which leads to a low-lying spin doublet at low temperatures. Density functional theory calculations (DFT) have been used to substantiate these magnetic couplings and also to analyse the influence exerted on these interactions by the type of substituent at the 4,5-positions from the phenylene ring of the bis(oxamate) ligand.

A pH-triggered bistable copper(II) metallacycle as a reversible emulsion switch for biphasic processes.

A unique bistable copper-metallacyclic complex is used as an elegant molecular switch for the reversible formation of emulsions by simple pH variation. This switch may have several exciting applications in biphasic processes such as catalysis and separation science technologies.

From antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic exchange in a family of oxime-based Mn(III) dimers: a magneto-structural study.

The reaction of Mn(ClO4)2·6H2O, a derivatised phenolic oxime (R-saoH2) and the ligand tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tpa) in a basic alcoholic solution leads to the formation of a family of cluster compounds of general formula [Mn(III)2O(R-sao)(tpa)2](ClO4)2 (1, R = H; 2, R = Me; 3, R = Et; 4, R = Ph). The structure is that of a simple, albeit asymmetric, dimer of two Mn(III) ions bridged through one µ-O(2-) ion and the -N-O- moiety of the phenolic oxime. Magnetometry reveals that the exchange interaction between the two Mn(III) ions in complexes 1, 3 and 4 is antiferromagnetic, but that for complex 2 is ferromagnetic. A theoretically developed magneto-structural correlation reveals that the dominant structural parameter influencing the sign and magnitude of the pairwise interaction is the dihedral Mn-O-N-Mn (torsion) angle. A linear correlation is found, with the magnitude of J varying significantly as the dihedral angle is altered. As the torsion angle increases the AF exchange decreases, matching the experimentally determined data. DFT calculations reveal that the dyz|π*|dyz interaction decreases as the dihedral angle increases leading to ferromagnetic coupling at larger angles.

A two-dimensional oxamate- and oxalate-bridged Cu(II)Mn(II) motif: crystal structure and magnetic properties of (Bu4N)2[Mn2{Cu(opba)}2ox].

A new compound of formula (Bu4N)2[Mn2{Cu(opba)}2ox] (1) [Bu4N(+) = tetra-n-butylammonium cation, H4opba = 1,2-phenylenebis(oxamic acid), and H2ox = oxalic acid] has been synthesized and magneto-structurally investigated. The reaction of manganese(II) acetate, [Cu(opba)](2-), and ox(2-) in dimethyl sulfoxide yielded single crystals of 1. The structure of 1 consists of heterobimetallic oxamato-bridged Cu(II)Mn(II) chains which are connected through bis-bidentate oxalate coordinated to the manganese(II) ions to afford anionic heterobimetallic layers of 6(3)-hcb net topology. The layers are interleaved by n-Bu4N(+) counterions. Each copper(II) ion in 1 is four-coordinate in a square planar environment defined by two amidate-nitrogen and two carboxylate-oxygen atoms from the two oxamate groups of the obpa ligand. The manganese(II) ion is six-coordinate in a somewhat distorted octahedral surrounding that is built by two oxalate-oxygen and four carbonyl-oxygen atoms from two [Cu(opba)](2-) units. The magnetic properties of 1 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K correspond to those expected for the coexistence of intralayer antiferromagnetic interactions of the type copper(II)-manganese(II) across oxamato and manganese(II)-manganese(II) through oxalato bridges plus a weak spin canting in the very low temperature domain. Simulation of the magnetic data through quantum Monte Carlo methodology reveals the magnitude of the intralayer magnetic interactions [J(CuMn) = -32.5(3) cm(-1), and J(MnMn) = -2.7(3) cm(-1)], their values being within the range of those previously observed in lower nuclearity systems.

Copper(II) assembling with bis(2-pyridylcarbonyl)amidate and N,N'-2,2-phenylenebis(oxamate).

We herein present the synthesis and X-ray structures of five copper(II) complexes of formulae [Cu(bpca)(CF3SO3)(H2O)]·H2O (1), [Cu(bpca)(Phpr)(H2O)]·3/2H2O (2), {[Cu(bpca)]2[Cu(opba)(H2O)]}·H2O (3), {[Cu(bpca)]2(H2opba)}2·6H2O (4) and [Cu(bpca)(EtH2opba)]n (5), where bpca = bis(2-pyridylcarbonyl)amidate, Phpr = 3-phenylpropionate, CF3SO3(−) = triflate (anion of the trifluoromethanesulphonic acid), H4opba = N,N'-1,2-phenylenebis(oxamic acid), and EtH3opba = monoethyl ester derivative of the H4opba. 1 and 2 are mononuclear copper(II) complexes where the copper atom is five-coordinate in distorted square pyramidal surroundings with a tridentate bpca and a water molecule (1)/carboxylate oxygen (2) building the basal plane and a triflate oxygen (1)/water molecule (2) filling the apical position. 3 is a neutral tricopper(II) complex where the [Cu(opba)(H2O)]2− unit acts as a bis-bidentate ligand toward two peripheral [Cu(bpca)]+ fragments. The three crystallographically independent copper(II) ions in 3 are five-coordinate with two nitrogen and two oxygen atoms (inner copper atom)/three bpca-nitrogen and an oxamate oxygen (outer copper atom) building the basal plane plus a water molecule (inner copper)/an oxamate oxygen (outer copper) in the apical position (inner copper atom) of somewhat distorted square pyramidal surroundings. 4 is a centrosymmetric tetracopper(II) compound where four [Cu(bpca)]+ fragments are assembled by two H2opba2− groups adopting an unusual bidentate/bis-monodentate bridging mode. The two crystallographically independent copper(II) ions in 4 are also five-coordinate having the three bpca-nitrogens in basal positions, the other two sites of the distorted square pyramid being filled by two oxygens of either a bidentate oxamate (at one copper centre) or two bis-monodentate oxamates (at the other copper atom). 5 is a zigzag chain of [Cu(bpca)(H2O)]+ units which are connected through the EtH2opba− ligand adopting a bidentate/monodentate bridging mode across the monodeprotonated oxamate group. Each copper(II) ion in 5 is six-coordinate in an elongated octahedral CuN3O3 chromophore. The magnetic properties of 3­5 were investigated in the temperature range 1.9­300 K. 3 exhibits an intermediate intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction [J = -65.8(2) cm(-1) with the Hamiltonian H = -J(S(Cu1)·S(Cu2) + S(Cu2)·S(Cu3))] which leads to a low-lying spin doublet at low temperatures. A weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the inner copper(II) ions occurs in 4 [J = -2.36(2) cm(-1), H = -JS1·S2)] and a very small intrachain antiferromagnetic interaction is observed in 5 [J = -0.17(1) cm(-1) with H = -J∑(i)S(i)·S(i+1)]. These values are analyzed by means of simple orbital symmetry considerations and compared with those previously reported for parent systems.

Cobalt lawsone complexes: searching for new valence tautomers.

Bi-stable molecular systems presenting valence tautomerism are associated with the development of new functional materials, which can be used for applications in organic electric conductors, optoelectronic and molecular magnetic devices. The properties of these materials can be adjusted with slight chemical changes and can be induced by external stimuli. Typical examples of valence tautomer compounds are coordination complexes of Co and o-dioxolene ligands, notably quinone like ones. In the search for a new class of cobalt complexes presenting valence tautomerism we report herein the synthesis and characterization of five new coordination compounds of cobalt and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (lawsone or shortly Law). Complexes [Co(Law)2(im)2]·C6H5CH3 (1), [Co(Law)2(py)2]·CH3OH (2), [Co(Law)2(phen)]·(C4H8O)2 (3), [Co(Law)2(2,2-bpy)]·C6H5CH3 (4) and [Co(Law)2(2,2-bpy)] (5) were synthesized and fully characterized by X-ray diffraction and EPR techniques in a wide range of temperatures and under illumination. Despite presenting similar molecular and geometry packing of the valence tautomer complexes of cobalt and o-dioxolenes, neither structural nor electronic evidence of valence tautomerism could be found in the Co and lawsone complexes.

Design of 1D and 2D molecule-based magnets with the ligand 4,5-dimethyl-1,2-phenylenebis(oxamato).

Three new bimetallic oxamato-based magnets with the proligand 4,5-dimethyl-1,2-phenylenebis(oxamato) (dmopba) were synthesized using water or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as solvents. Single crystal X-ray diffraction provided structures for two of them: [MnCu(dmopba)(H(2)O)(3)](n)·4nH(2)O (1) and [MnCu(dmopba)(DMSO)(3)](n)·nDMSO (2). The crystalline structures for both 1 and 2 consist of linearly ordered oxamato-bridged Mn(II)Cu(II) bimetallic chains. The magnetic characterization revealed a typical behaviour of ferrimagnetic chains for 1 and 2. Least-squares fits of the experimental magnetic data performed in the 300-20 K temperature range led to J(MnCu) = -27.9 cm(-1), g(Cu) = 2.09 and g(Mn) = 1.98 for 1 and J(MnCu) = -30.5 cm(-1), g(Cu) = 2.09 and g(Mn) = 2.02 for 2 (H = -J(MnCu)∑S(Mn),(i)(S(Cu,i) + S(Cu),(i-1))). The two-dimensional ferrimagnetic system [Me(4)N](2n){Co(2)[Cu(dmopba)](3)}(n)·4nDMSO·nH(2)O (3) was prepared by reaction of Co(II) ions and an excess of [Cu(dmopba)](2-) in DMSO. The study of the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility as well as the temperature and field dependences of the magnetization revealed a cluster glass-like behaviour for 3.