Uncatalysed diaryldiazo cyclopropanations on bicyclic lactams: access to annulated prolines.

The uncatalysed cycloaddition of substituted diaryldiazo compounds onto bicyclic unsaturated lactams derived from pyroglutamic acid efficiently leads to highly functionalised azatricyclononanes. The products are readily elaborated to deprotected pyroglutamate derivatives, providing rapid access to conformationally constrained amino acids and their analogues. Preliminary assessment of antibacterial activity against one Gram positive and one Gram negative organism indicated high levels of efficacy in some cases.

Bis{(Z)-[(E)-2-(pyridin-2-yl-methyl-idene)hydrazin-1-yl-idene][(pyridin-2-yl)methyl-sulfan-yl]methane-thiol-ato}nickel(II).

The title compound, [Ni(C13H11N4S2)2], was obtained by the reaction of S-2-picolyldi-thio-carbazate and pyridine-2-carbaldehyde with nickel(II) acetate. The Ni(II) atom is located on a twofold rotation axis and is bonded to four N atoms at distances of 2.037 (8) and 2.109 (9) Å, and to two S atoms at a distance of 2.406 (3) Å, leading to a distorted octa-hedral coordination. The angle between the mean planes of the coordinating moieties of the two symmetry-related tridentate ligands is 83.3 (2)°. In the crystal, complex mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯S hydrogen bonds, π-π inter-actions between the pyridine rings [centroid-centroid distance = 3.775 (9) Å] and C-H⋯π inter-actions. The hydrogen-bonding inter-actions lead to the formation of layers parallel to (010); π-π inter-actions link these layers into a three-dimensional network.

Synthesis of new bulky bis(pyrazolyl)methane carboxylate (heteroscorpionate) ligands and their complexes with iron, manganese and nickel.

Three new sterically demanding ligands based on the bispyrazolylacetic acid motif have been prepared and complexes with Fe(II), Fe(III), Ni(II) and Mn(II) have been synthesised and characterised. Single crystal X-ray structures are included for two of the ligands in the protonated form and ten other complexes. Additionally, a new general route to amide derivatives has been established, a range of amide derivatives synthesised and their coordination chemistry investigated. Only one metal complex was synthesised from the amide ligands, and was bound via the hydroxylamine groups in preference to the pyrazole and carboxylate donor set.

Spirocyclic systems derived from pyroglutamic acid.

The synthesis and likely conformational structure of rigid spirocyclic bislactams and lactam-lactones derived from pyroglutamic acid, and their suitability as lead structures for applications in drug development programmes using cheminformatic analysis, has been investgated.

(3R,4R,5R)-5-(Acetamido-meth-yl)-N-benzyl-3,4-dihy-droxy-tetra-hydro-furan-3-carboxamide.

X-ray crystallographic analysis with Cu Kα radiation established the relative configurations of the stereogenic centers in the title compound, C(15)H(20)N(2)O(5), and clarified mechanistic ambiguities in the synthesis. The conformation of the five-membered ring approximates twisted, about a C-O bond. The absolute configuration of this carbon-branched dipeptide isostere was known based on the use of d-ribose as the starting material. Refinement of the Flack parameter gave an ambiguous result but the refined Hooft parameter is in agreement with the assumed (d-ribose) absolute structure. The crystal structure consists of N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonded bi-layers, with the terminal methyl and phenyl groups forming a hydro-phobic inter-layer inter-face. Some weak C-H⋯O inter-actions are also present.

Multimetallic arrays: symmetrical bi-, tri- and tetrametallic complexes based on the group 10 metals and the functionalisation of gold nanoparticles with nickel-phosphine surface units.

Homobimetallic complexes of nickel, palladium and platinum, [(L2M)2(S2CNC4H8NCS2)]2+, are formed on reaction of the piperazine bis(dithiocarbamate) linker, KS2CNC4H8NCS2K, with [MCl2L2] (M=Ni, L2=dppe, dppf; M=Pd, L2=dppf; M=Pt, L=PEt3, PMePh2, PPh3, L2=dppf). [{Pd(C,N-C6H4CH2NMe2)}2(S2CNC4H8NCS2)] can be obtained in the same way. On reaction of [MCl2L2] (M=Pd, Pt) with the zwitterion S2CNC4H8NH2, a symmetrisation process occurs to yield a mixture of the complexes [M(S2CNC4H8NH2)L2]2+ and [(L2M)2(S2CNC4H8NCS2)]2+. However, the monometallic complexes [L2Ni(S2CNC4H8NH2)]2+ (L2=dppe, dppf) and [(L2Ni)2(S2CNC4H8NCS2)]2+ can be prepared without ready symmetrisation. Starting from the previously reported [(dppm)Ru(S2CNC4H8NH2)]2+, the heterotrimetallic products [(dppm)Ru(S2CNC4H8NCS2)M(dppf)]2+ (M=Pd, Pt) can be prepared without symmetrisation occurring. The crystal structures of five complexes are reported. The metalla-dithiocarbamate complexes [L2Ni(S2CNC4H8NCS2)] (L2=dppe, dppf) were used to functionalise the surface of gold nanoparticles by the displacement of a citrate shell to yield NiAu and FeNiAu materials.

Bifunctional dithiocarbamates: a bridge between coordination chemistry and nanoscale materials.

A dithiocarbamate-based methodology is employed to prepare linked heteromultimetallic complexes and then further exploited in the surface functionalisation of gold nanoparticles.

Stable crystalline annulated diaminocarbenes: coordination with rhodium(I), iridium(I) and catalytic hydroformylation studies.

Stable annulated diaminocarbene ligands 7,9-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-6b,9a-dihydroace naphtha[1,2-d]imidazolin-2-ylidene and 7,9-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-6b,9a-dihydroacenaphtho[1,2-d]imidazolin-2-ylidene; designated as (BIAN-SIMes, 5a,) and (BIAN-SIPr, 5b), respectively, have been prepared. The base dependent decomposition of imidazolinium salts via ring opening at the backbone was also observed. The corresponding rhodium(I) and iridum(I) complexes (4-1,5-COD)M(BIAN-SIMes)Cl and (4-1,5-COD)M(BIAN-SIPr)Cl; M= Rh (6a, 6b) and Ir (7a, 7b) have been synthesised by the reaction of free carbene with [M(4-1,5-COD)(-Cl)]2; where M= Rh, Ir. The cationic Ir(I) complexes [(4-1,5-COD)Ir(BIAN-SIMes)Py]BF4 8a and [(4-1,5-COD)Ir(BIAN -SIPr)Py]PF6 8b have also been synthesised. Compounds 4b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7b and 8b have been structurally characterised. The catalytic activities for the rhodium(I) complexes 6a and 6b were evaluated for the hydroformylation of 1-octene.

Catalytic enantioselective intermolecular hydroacylation: rhodium-catalyzed combination of beta-S-aldehydes and 1,3-disubstituted allenes.

A rhodium(I) catalyst incorporating the Me-DuPhos ligand promotes enantioselective intermolecular hydroacylation between beta-S-aldehydes and 1,3-disubstituted allenes. The nonconjugated enone products are obtained in good yields and with high enantioselectivities.

Enantiomerically pure bicyclo[3.3.1]nona-2,6-diene as the sole source of enantioselectivity in BIPHEP-Rh asymmetric hydrogenation.

In situ resolution of the rapidly racemising diphosphine BIPHEP and its relatives with the cationic Rh complex of (S,S)-bicyclonona-2,6-diene permits the asymmetric hydrogenation of dehydroamino esters.

Ruthenium complexes with tridentate PNX (X = O, S) donor ligands.

The ligands, PhPNXMe (1), PhPNXPh (2), and PhPNSMe (3), (PhPNX = 2-Ph2P-C6H4CH[double bond, length as m-dash]NC6H4X-2; X = O, S) have been prepared. A range of new ruthenium complexes were synthesised using these and related ligands, namely: [{RuCl(PhPNO)}2Cl] (4), [Ru(PhPNO)2] (5), [RuCl(PhPNXR)(PPh3)]BPh4 [X = O, R = Me (6); X = O, R = Ph (7); X = S, R = Me (8)], [{RuCl(PhPNX'R)}2Cl]X [X' = O, R = Me, X = Cl(-) (9); X' = S, R = Me, X = BPh4(-) or PF6(-) (10)], and [RuCl(PhPNO-eta 6C6H5)]BPh4 (11). The catalytic activity of these complexes with respect to the hydrosilyation of acetophenone and the hydrogenation of styrene has been investigated, giving an insight into the requirements for an active complex in these reactions.

Discrimination of chiral guests by chiral channels: variable temperature studies by SXRD and solid state 13C NMR of the deoxycholic acid complexes of camphorquinone and endo-3-bromocamphor.

3alpha,12alpha-dihydroxy-5beta-cholan-24-oic acid (deoxycholic acid DCA) is able to discriminate between the R- and S-enantiomers of camphorquinone and endo-(+)-3-bromocamphor and select only the S-enantiomers from a racemic mixture. DCA forms novel well ordered 1:1 adducts with (1S)-(+)-camphorquinone and (1S)-endo-(-)-3-bromocamphor, both of which have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SXRD). When DCA is cocrystallized with (RS)-camphorquinone and (RS)-endo-3-bromocamphor, 1:1 adducts of the S-enantiomers are produced together with crystals of the free racemic guest. In contrast, in the absence of (1S)-(+)-camphorquinone, DCA forms a 2:1 adduct with (1R)-(-)-camphorquinone. In this 2:1 adduct the guest is disordered at ambient temperature and undergoes a phase change in the region 160-130 K similar to that observed for the ferrocene adduct, but with only partial ordering of the guest. The SXRD structure of the low temperature form and the variable temperature (13)C CP/MAS NMR are reported. Cocrystallizing DCA with (1R)-endo-(+)-3-bromocamphor gives the free guest and a glassy solid.

Cooperative AND ion-pair recognition by heteroditopic calix[4]diquinone receptors.

A new family of heteroditopic calix[4]diquinone receptors capable of the cooperative recognition of ion-pair species through a contact binding mechanism has been developed. The receptors bind contact ion pairs cooperatively, with an unprecedented AND recognition phenomenon being observed to operate in certain cases, in which receptors display no affinity for either of the individual "free" cation or anion, but bind the cation and anion ion-pair strongly. X-ray crystallographic, solution-state, and computational methods rationalize the observed recognition behavior of the receptors. It is shown that the contact ion-pair interaction occurs through a pi-stacking-mediated folding of the receptors such that the anion and cation binding sites are arranged in close proximity, while in the solid state an unusual ion-mediated receptor dimerization is observed. Molecular dynamics simulations are further used to explain the observed trends in the association constants of different ion-pair species and the mechanism of interaction.

4-Methoxy-phenyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-α-d-mannopyran-oside.

The title compound, C(21)H(26)O(10)S, was synthesized in a single step from mannose penta-acetate. The mol-ecular structure confirms the α configuration of the anomeric thioaryl substituent. Spectroscopic and melting-point data obtained for the title compound are in disagreement with those previously reported, indicating the previously reported synthesis [Durette & Shen (1980 ▶). Carbohydr. Res. 81, 261-274] to be erroneous. The crystal structure is stabilized by weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

The exocyclic functionalisation of bis(thiosemicarbazonate) complexes of zinc and copper: the synthesis of monomeric and dimeric species.

This paper reports the synthesis of bimetallic zinc thiosemicarbazone complexes with rigid aromatic linkers, using either 1,3- or 1,4- benzenediamines or 1,3- or 1,4- benzenedialdehydes as the basis of the linking groups. Non-rigid aliphatic diamines and dialdehydes were also used to link the zinc chelating units. Reaction of a bis(thiosemicarbazone) with a pendant NHNH(2) group with monoaldehydes or ketones gives a range of monomeric complexes with exocylic imine groups bearing a range of substituents. The zinc complexes can be quantitatively and rapidly transmetallated to the corresponding copper complexes and this route or direct reaction with the free ligand can be used to radiolabel the monomeric species with (64)Cu. In vivo and in vitro studies of one of the (64)Cu imine complexes shows substantial hypoxic selectivity and high tumour uptake in a murine model.

Novel catalysts for dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other chlorinated aromatics.

Diiron complexes of fluorene and fluorene* (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9-nonamethylfluorene) have been found to be catalysts for the dechlorination of chlorinated aromatics, such as PCBs.

Preparation and characterization of lithium imidoalanate complexes Li(2)[(RN)(4)(AlH(2))(6)] (R = Me or (t)()Bu): first examples of aluminum-rich imidoalanes with an adamantoid structure.

Whereas methylammonium chloride, [MeNH(3)]Cl, reacts with LiGaH(4) in an ether solution to give, according to the conditions, either the adduct MeH(2)N x GaH(3) or the cationic derivative [(MeH(2)N)(2)GaH(2)](+)Cl(-), the corresponding reaction of [MeNH(3)]Cl or [(t)BuNH(3)]Cl with LiAlH(4) proceeds mainly, with H(2) elimination, to the imidoalane Li(2)[(RN)(4)(AlH(2))(6)] (R = Me, 1, or (t)Bu, 2). The crystal structure of 1 x 2Et(2)O reveals, for the first time, anionic units with an adamantane-like Al(6)N(4) skeleton. The Li cations exist at two distinct sites, each linked via Li(mu-H)Al bridges to two [(MeN)(4)(AlH(2))(6)](2-) cages. Despite disordering of the tBu groups, the crystal structure of 2 evidently includes analogous anionic units. By contrast, the main product of the reaction between [(i)PrNH(3)]Cl and LiAlH(4) under similar conditions is the known neutral, hexameric imidoalane [(i)PrNAlH](6), 3, the crystal structure of which has been redetermined.

Molecular structures of free quinuclidine and its adducts with metal trihydrides, MH3 (M=B, Al or Ga), studied by gas-phase electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and quantum chemical calculations.

The structure of quinuclidine, HC(CH(2)CH(2))(3)N, has been re-investigated by quantum chemical calculations and by gas-phase electron diffraction (GED). The GED data, together with published rotational constants, have been analysed using the SARACEN method to determine the most reliable structure (r(h1)) for the gaseous molecule. The structures of two adducts of quinuclidine with group 13 trihydride molecules, MH(3) (M=B, Al), have also been determined by GED and quantum chemical calculations. The effect of the coordination of these hydrides to the quinuclidine nitrogen atom has been investigated, and the structural changes and energetics of adduct formation are discussed. We also present the crystal structure of quinuclidine borane.

Syntheses and structures of pyrazolylmethane complexes of rhenium(III), (IV) and (V).

Reaction of [ReOCl3(PPh3)(2)] with HCpz(3) (pz = pyrazole) in dichloromethane leads to the formation of a new Re(iv) complex [ReCl3(HCpz3)]X (X=Cl, [ReO4]) with loss of the rhenium-oxo group. We also report a convenient, high-yield synthetic route to complexes of the type [ReOXn(L)](3-n)+ (X=Cl, Br, n = 2, 3) by the reaction of bis(pyrazolylmethane) and bis(pyrazolylacetate) ligands with [ReOCl3(PPh3)2]. Dinuclear complexes containing the O=Re-O-Re=O group were also isolated and structurally characterised. We have also investigated the reactions of these ligands with diazenide precursors and isolated and characterised complexes of the type [ReClx(N2Ph) (L)(PPh3)] (x = 1,2). The potential applications of these complexes as radiopharmaeuticals is discussed.

The hexamethylpentalene dianion and other reagents for organometallic pentalene chemistry.

Novel permethylated pentalenide anions are reported which offer exciting new opportunities for the future development of organometallic pentalene chemistry.