Lattice solvent- and substituent-dependent spin-crossover in isomeric iron(II) complexes.

Spin-state switching in iron(II) complexes composed of ligands featuring moderate ligand-field strength-for example, 2,6-bi(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine (BPP)-is dependent on many factors. Herein, we show that spin-state switching in isomeric iron(II) complexes composed of BPP-based ligands-ethyl 2,6-bis(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)isonicotinate (BPP-COOEt, L1) and (2,6-di(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)pyridin-4-yl)methylacetate (BPP-CH2OCOMe, L2)-is dependent on the nature of the substituent at the BPP skeleton. Bi-stable spin-state switching-with a thermal hysteresis width (ΔT1/2) of 44 K and switching temperature (T1/2) = 298 K in the first cycle-is observed for complex 1·CH3CN composed of L1 and BF4- counter anions. Conversely, the solvent-free isomeric counterpart of 1·CH3CN-complex 2a, composed of L2 and BF4- counter anions-was trapped in the high-spin (HS) state. For one of the polymorphs of complex 2b·CH3CN-2b·CH3CN-Y, Y denotes yellow colour of the crystals-composed of L2 and ClO4- counter anions, a gradual and non-hysteretic SCO is observed with T1/2 = 234 K. Complexes 1·CH3CN and 2b·CH3CN-Y also underwent light-induced spin-state switching at 5 K due to the light-induced excited spin-state trapping (LIESST) effect. Structures of the low-spin (LS) and HS forms of complex 1·CH3CN revealed that spin-state switching goes hand-in-hand with pronounced distortion of the trans-N{pyridyl}-Fe-N{pyridyl} angle (ϕ), whereas such distortion is not observed for 2b·CH3CN-Y. This observation points that distortion is one of the factors making the spin-state switching of 1·CH3CN hysteretic in the solid state. The observation of bi-stable spin-state switching with T1/2 centred at room temperature for 1·CH3CN indicates that technologically relevant spin-state switching profiles based on mononuclear iron(II) complexes can be obtained.

New Pyridine Dicarbene Pincer Ligands with Ring Expanded NHCs and their Nickel and Chromium Complexes.

The pincer complexes [NiIIBr(CNC)]Br (4), [CrIIIBr3(CNC)] (5 a) and [CrIIIBr2.3Cl0.7(CNC)] (5 b), where CNC=3,3'-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(1-mesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene), were obtained from the novel ligand CNC, generated in situ from the precursor (CHNCH)Br2 and [NiIIBr2(PPh3)2] or from [CrII{N(SiMe3)2}2(THF)2] and (CHNCH)Br2 by aminolysis, respectively. The tetrahedrally distorted square planar (τ4≅0.30) geometry and the singlet ground state of Ni in 4 were attributed to steric constraints of the CNC backbone. Computational methods highlighted the dependence of the coordination geometry and the singlet-triplet energy difference on the size of the N-substituent of the tetrahydropyrimidine wingtips and contrasted it to the situation in 5-membered imidazolin-2-ylidene pincer analogues. The octahedral CrIII metal center in 5 a and 5 b is presumably formed after one electron oxidation from CH2Cl2. 4/MAO and 5 a/MAO were catalysts of moderate activity for the oligomerization and polymerization of ethylene, respectively. The analogous (CH^N^CH)Br2 precursor, where (CH^N^CH)=3,3'-(pyridine-2,6-diylbis(methylene))bis(1-mesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-ium), was also prepared, however its coordination chemistry was not studied due to the inherent instability of the resulting free C^N^C ligand.

Modulation of the structural information in shape-defined heterocyclic strands: the case of a (pyridine-hydrazone)2pyrazine ligand.

Metal ions (Ag+, Cd2+, Eu3+, Sm3+) and protons can, through coordination and protonation, modulate in three specific ways the structural information contained in the pyrazine-based heterocyclic strand L (obtained from 2,5-bis(methylhydrazino)pyrazine and 2 equivalents of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde), thus generating two linear rod-like conformations and a bent one. This conformational diversity is associated with a structural one that consists of two diprotonated forms (H2L(PF6)2 and H2L(CF3SO3)2), a polymeric architecture [AgL]n(CF3SO3)n, two rack-like complexes ([Eu2H2L3(CF3SO3)6](PF6)2 and [Sm2H2L3(CF3SO3)6](PF6)2) and a grid-like structure ([Cd4L4](CF3SO3)8).

Simultaneous Generation of a [2 × 2] Grid-Like Complex and a Linear Double Helicate: a Three-Level Self-Sorting Process.

Two constitutional dynamic libraries (CDLs)-each containing two amines, two dialdehydes, and two metal salts-have been found to self-sort, generating two pairs of imine-based metallosupramolecular architectures (sharing no component) each with a [2 × 2] grid-like complex and a linear double helicate. These CDLs provided unique examples of a three-level self-sorting process, as only two imine-based ligand constituents, two metal complexes, and two architectures were selected during their assembly out of all the possible combinations of their initial components. The metallosupramolecular architectures assembled were characterized by NMR, mass spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography.

Bi-stable spin-crossover in charge-neutral [Fe(R-ptp)2] (ptp = 2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyridine) complexes.

Bi-stable charge-neutral iron(ii) spin-crossover (SCO) complexes are a class of switchable molecular materials proposed for molecule-based switching and memory applications. In this study, we report on the SCO behavior of a series of iron(ii) complexes composed of rationally designed 2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyridine (ptp) ligands. The powder forms of [Fe2+(R-ptp-)2]0 complexes tethered with less-bulky substituents-R = H (1), R = CH2OH (2), and R = COOCH3 (3; previously reported)-at the 4-position of the pyridine ring of the ptp skeleton showed abrupt and hysteretic SCO at or above room temperature (RT), whereas complex 5 featuring a bulky pyrene substituent showed incomplete and gradual SCO behavior. The role of intermolecular interactions, lattice solvent, and electronic nature of the chemical substituents (R) in tuning the SCO of the complexes is elucidated.

Bi-stable spin-crossover characteristics of a highly distorted [Fe(1-BPP-COOC2H5)2](ClO4)2·CH3CN complex.

A highly distorted high spin Fe(ii)-complex, [Fe(1-BPP-COOC2H5)2](ClO4)2·CH3CN, with a trans-N(pyridine)-Fe-N(pyridine) angle (φ) of 158.83(17)° showed lattice solvent dependent bi-stable spin-state switching characteristics with T1/2 = ca. 233 K and a high thermal hysteresis width (ΔT) of 101 K, for the first cooling and heating cycle, unprecedented for the [Fe(BPP)2]2+ series of complexes; the results presented in this study are fundamentally important and have implications towards the realization of device architectures based on bi-stable SCO complexes.

Entrapment of THF-Stabilized Iridacyclic IrIII Silylenes from Double H-Si Bond Activation and H2 Elimination.

The reaction of H3 SiR (R=Ph, nBu) with cationic η5 -C5 Me5 - (Cp*) and benzo[h]quinolinyl-based iridacycle [1 b]+ gives rise to new [(IrH)→SiRH2 ]+ adducts. In the presence of THF these adducts readily undergo elimination of H2 gas at subambient temperature to form THF-stabilized metallacyclic IrIII silylene complexes, which were characterized in situ by NMR spectroscopy, trapped in minute amounts by reactive crystallization, and structurally characterized by XRD. Theoretical investigations (static DFT-D reaction-energy profiling, ETS-NOCV) support the promoting role of THF in the H2 elimination step and the consolidation of the Ir-to-Si interaction in the spontaneous (ΔG<0) formation of Ir silylenes in the presence of THF. Mechanistic insights indicate that the Ir silylene species arising from the [1 b]+ /phenylsilane system are relevant catalytic species in the hydrodefluorination of fluoroalkanes.

Crystal structure of homodinuclear platinum complex containing a metal-metal bond bridged by hydride and phosphide ligands.

In the title compound, µ-di-phenyl-phosphido-µ-hydrido-bis-[bromido-(tri-phenyl-phosphane-κP)platinum(II)] diethyl ether monosolvate, [Pt2Br2(C12H10P)H(C18H15P)2]·C4H10O or [Pt2(µ-H)(µ-PPh2)Br2(PPh3)2]·(C2H5)2O, the PtII atoms are coordinated in a distorted square-planar arrangement, with one hydrido and one phosphido ligand bridging in a trans position. In the lattice, C-H⋯·O and C-H⋯π interactions are present. This complex has a total number of 32 electrons, 16 electrons for each PtII atom. One of the Br atoms is disordered over two positions in a 0.92:0.08 ratio.

Mononuclear salen-gallium complexes for iso-selective ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide.

A series of mononuclear salen-supported gallium amido/alkoxide derivatives were prepared and structurally characterized and subsequently used as initiators in rac-lactide ring-opening polymerisation (ROP). The reaction of variously substituted salen ligands (1a-1f) with 0.5 equiv. of Ga2(NMe2)6 allowed the isolation of the corresponding (salen)Ga-NMe2 chelates (2b-2d, 2f) via an amine elimination route, as poorly soluble compounds in common solvents. The (salen)Ga-OBn derivatives (3a-3e) may be readily accessed by an amine-elimination/alcoholysis sequence and the molecular structures of 3a, 3d and 3e were confirmed through X-ray crystallography diffraction analysis. The present (salen)Ga-X species may effectively mediate the iso-selective ROP of rac-LA in a controlled manner (Pm up to 0.77 using a 1/1 2f/BnOH mixture as ROP initiator), with a ROP activity greatly dependent upon steric hindrance and geometrical constraints imposed by the variously substituted salen ligands. Based on the present study, salen ligands with limited steric hindrance and a certain degree of flexibility appear best suited for iso-selective ROP by (salen)Ga chelates. The salen-gallium complex 3a is also effective for the controlled ROP of ε-caprolactone (CL) and the production of PCL-b-PLA copolymers.

trans-cis C-Pd-C rearrangement in hemichelates.

Kinetically unstable heteroleptic trans-bispalladacycles were isolated by using hemichelation. Three structures of trans isomers and five of cis isomers were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. The ready trans-to-cis isomerization of such hemichelates that was monitored by variable temperature NMR experiments is facilitated dynamically because the Pd(ii) center can preserve its square planar coordination in a rather low lying transition state, which was localized by methods of the density functional theory. This process is not achievable in the isomerization of conventional homoleptic trans-bispalladacycles since it involves the preliminary partial chelate decoordination and an unfavorable high-lying planar trigonal coordinated - or Y-shaped-Pd(ii) transition state according to DFT investigations.

Flexible Viologen Cyclophanes: Odd/Even Effects on Intramolecular Interactions.

The ability of three bis-viologen cyclophanes to act as redox-triggered contractile switches is investigated. Odd/even effects in the formation of cyclic bis-viologens are circumvented by the use of a Zincke salt intermediate and a tetrathiafulvalene template to prepare a flexible cyclophane with hexyl linkers. Comparative spectro-electrochemical studies of this macrocycle with two other pentyl- or heptyl-linked cyclic bis-viologens show that the development of intramolecular interactions in aqueous solution depends on the length of the bridges. This dependence is confirmed by EPR and DFT studies of the magnetic coupling in the diradical dication species. The anti-ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic nature of the coupling depend, respectively, on the odd or even number of methylene groups in the spacer.

Crystal structures of a copper(II) and the isotypic nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes of the ligand (E)-1-[(2,4,6-tri-bromo-phen-yl)diazen-yl]naphthalen-2-ol.

In the copper(II) complex, bis-{(E)-1-[(2,4,6-tri-bromo-phen-yl)diazen-yl]naph-thalen-2-olato}copper(II), [Cu(C16H8Br3N2O)2], (I), the metal cation is coord-inated by two N atoms and two O atoms from two bidentate (E)-1-[(2,4,6-tri-bromo-phen-yl)diazen-yl]naphthalen-2-olate ligands, forming a slightly distorted square-planar environment. In one of the ligands, the tri-bromo-benzene ring is inclined to the naphthalene ring system by 37.4 (5)°, creating a weak intra-molecular Cu⋯Br inter-action [3.134 (2) Å], while in the other ligand, the tri-bromo-benzene ring is inclined to the naphthalene ring system by 72.1 (6)°. In the isotypic nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes, namely bis-{(E)-1-[(2,4,6-tri-bromo-phen-yl)diazen-yl]naphthalen-2-olato}nickel(II), [Ni(C16H8Br3N2O)2], (II), and bis-{(E)-1-[(2,4,6-tri-bromo-phen-yl)diazen-yl]naphthalen-2-olato}palladium(II), [Pd(C16H8Br3N2O)2], (III), respectively, the metal atoms are located on centres of inversion, hence the metal coordination spheres have perfect square-planar geometries. The tri-bromo-benzene rings are inclined to the naphthalene ring systems by 80.79 (18)° in (II) and by 80.8 (3)° in (III). In the crystal of (I), mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯Br hydrogen bonds, forming chains along [010]. The chains are linked by C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming sheets parallel to (011). In the crystals of (II) and (III), mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming slabs parallel to (10-1). For the copper(II) complex (I), a region of disordered electron density was corrected for using the SQUEEZE routine in PLATON [Spek (2015 ▸). Acta Cryst. C71, 9-18]. The formula mass and unit-cell characteristics of the disordered solvent mol-ecules were not taken into account during refinement.

New Pd(II) hemichelates devoid of incipient bridging COPd interactions.

In organometallic chemistry the commonly known Sidgwick-Langmuir 18 electron rule is constantly being probed for further discovery of molecular compounds that arise as exceptions. The present study examines the formation and the structure of three novel hemichelates of Pd(ii) derived from the reaction of in situ-formed indene and hydrophenanthrene-based organometallic anions with three different µ-chloro-bridged palladacycles. Electronic structure and interaction behavior have been calculated with methods of the density functional theory at the (ZORA) MetaGGA-D TPSS-D3(BJ), GGA-D PBE-D3(BJ), and hybrid PBE0-dDsC dispersion corrected levels, all with the implementation of all electron triple zeta single polarization basis set. A particular focus of the theoretical investigation was made on the nature of the interaction between the [Cr(CO)3] moiety and the Pd(ii) centers, which according to X-ray diffraction analyses lack significant incipient bridging COPd character. Structures were further assessed - Natural Bonding Orbitals (NBO), Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM), and Extended Transition State with Natural Orbitals for Chemical Valence (ETS-NOCV) analysis methods. As a result, intramolecular interactions of interest, primarily around the Pd atom, were analyzed as a measure of natural atomic orbital (NAO) contributions to the natural bonding orbital (NBO) formation, QTAIM analysis with special attention to the bonding critical points (BCPs), as well as energetic analysis of intramolecular interaction forces by Energy Decomposition Analysis (EDA). Theoretical analyses confirm that attractive electrostatics dominate the stabilization of Pd(ii) hemichelates. In the case of complexes , and we expand the known amount of 14 electron transition metal complexes that can be synthesized via reliable synthetic methods. However, complex presented some means of stability but was more reactive to moisture and air under laboratory conditions and escaped thorough analytical characterization.

A Ca(2+)-, Mg(2+)-, and Zn(2+)-Based Dendritic Contractile Nanodevice with Two pH-Dependent Motional Functions.

A contractile dendritic motional device is reported where metal ions with biological importance--Ca(2+) (the main regulatory and signaling species of the natural muscles), Mg(2+), and Zn(2+)--initiate two kinds of motional functions. The first motional function is the metal-ion-induced contraction of a linear strand into a Z-shaped dinuclear complex, and the second one is the change of the height of Z-shaped complexes via transmetalation. By means of the pH-dependent counterligand tren, the two motional features of the machine can depend on alternate additions of acid and base. An optical response is associated with the conversion of the linear form (which is yellow) into the metalated Z-shaped one (which is red).

Crystal structure of 1,1'-{(dodecane-1,12-di-yl)bis-[(aza-niumylyl-idene)methanylyl-idene]}bis-(naphthalen-2-olate).

The title compound, C34H40N2O2, exists in an extended conformation and has crystallographically imposed centrosymmetry. The crystal packing can be described as being composed of parallel layers stacked along [010]. The zwitterionic structure is stabilized by an intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen-bond inter-action.

1,1'-{(Hexane-1,6-di-yl)bis-[(aza-niumylyl-idene)methanylyl-idene]}bis-(naphthalen-2-olate).

The whole molecule of the title Schiff base compound, C28H28N2O2, is generated by inversion symmetry. It is formed from two units of ortho-hy-droxy-naphthaldehyde bridged with 1,6-di-amino-hexane. The N atoms are protonated and, thus, the structure is a bis-zwitterionic compound in the solid state. The zwitterion shows strong intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the iminium N and the naphthaleno-late O atoms.

Spectroscopic, crystal structural and electrochemical studies of zinc(II)-Schiff base complex obtained from 2,3-diaminobenzene and 2-hydroxy naphthaldehyde.

Mononuclear zinc(II) complex, [Zn(II)L], where L is a dianionic ligand, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electronic, IR and NMR [(1)H, (13)C, DEPT, (1)H-(1)H COSY, ROESY, HSQC and HMBC] spectroscopic techniques. Structural analysis of the complex by single crystal X-ray crystallography shows the presence of a distorted square planar coordination geometry (NNOO) of the metal center. The crystal of the title complex C28H18N2O2Zn belongs to the orthorhombic system with space group Pmn21. Electrochemical behavior of the Zn(II)L complex has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry on glassy carbon and platinum electrodes in DMF at 100 mV/s scan rate.

Crystal structure of bis-{µ-1-[(E)-(3-meth-oxy-phen-yl)diazen-yl]naphthalen-2-olato-κ(3) N (2),O:O}bis-({1-[(E)-(3-meth-oxy-phen-yl)diazen-yl]naphthalen-2-olato-κ(2) N (2),O}copper(II)).

The title dinuclear Cu(II) complex, [Cu2(C17H13N2O2)4], is located on an inversion centre. The Cu(II) atoms are each five-coordinated in a distorted square-pyramidal geometry by two N atoms and two O atoms from two bidentate ligands and one bridging O atom from another ligand. In the dinuclear complex, the Cu⋯Cu separation is 3.366 (3) Å. In the crystal, complex mol-ecules are linked via weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a layer parallel to (-101).

First stabilization of 14-electron rhodium(I) complexes by hemichelation.

Hemichelation is emerging as a new mode of coordination where non-covalent interactions crucially contribute to the cohesion of electron-unsaturated organometallic complexes. This study discloses an unprecedented demonstration of this concept to a Group 9 metal, that is, Rh(I). The syntheses of new 14-electron Rh(I) complexes were achieved by choosing the anti-[(η(6):η(6)-fluorenyl){Cr(CO)3}2] anion as the ambiphilic hemichelating ligand, which was treated with [{Rh(nbd)Cl}2] (nbd=norbornadiene) and [{Rh(CO)2Cl}2]. The new T-shaped Rh(I) hemichelates were characterized by analytical and structural methods. Investigations using the methods of the DFT and electron-density topology analysis (NCI region analysis, QTAIM theory) confirmed the closed-shell, non-covalent and attractive characters of the interaction between the Rh(I) center and the proximal Cr(CO)3 moiety. This study shows that, by appropriate tuning of the electronic properties of the ambiphilic ligand, truly coordination-unsaturated Rh(I) complexes can be synthesized in a manageable form.

Redox and luminescent properties of robust and air-stable N-heterocyclic carbene group 4 metal complexes.

Robust and air-stable homoleptic group 4 complexes of the type M(L)2 [1-3; M = Ti, Zr, Hf; L = dianionic bis(aryloxide) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand] were readily synthesized from the NHC proligand 1,3-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)imidazolinium chloride (H3L,Cl) and appropriate group 4 precursors. As deduced from cyclic voltammetry studies, the homoleptic bis-adduct zirconium and hafnium complexes 2 and 3 can also be oxidized, with up to four one-electron-oxidation signals for the zirconium derivative 2 (three reversible signals). Electron paramagnetic resonance data for the one-electron oxidation of complexes 1-3 agree with the formation of ligand-centered species. Compounds 2 and 3 are luminescent upon excitation in the absorption band at 362 nm with emissions at 485 and 534 nm with good quantum yields (ϕ = 0.08 and 0.12) for 2 and 3, respectively. In contrast, the titanium complex 1 does not exhibit luminescent properties upon excitation in the absorption band at 310 and 395 nm. Complexes 2 and 3 constitute the first examples of emissive nonmetallocene group 4 metal complexes.