A novel one-dimensional metal-organic framework with a µ-cyanido-argentate group: catena-poly[[(5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl-κ(2)N,N')silver(I)]-µ-cyanido-κ(2)N:C].

The design and synthesis of metal coordination and supramolecular frameworks containing N-donor ligands and dicyanidoargentate units is of interest due to their potential applications in the fields of molecular magnetism, catalysis, nonlinear optics and luminescence. In the design and synthesis of extended frameworks, supramolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking and van der Waals interactions, have been exploited for molecular recognition associated with biological activity and for the engineering of molecular solids.The title compound, [Ag(CN)(C12H12N2)]n, crystallizes with the Ag(I) cation on a twofold axis, half a cyanide ligand disordered about a centre of inversion and half a twofold-symmetric 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (5,5'-dmbpy) ligand in the asymmetric unit. Each Ag(I) cation exhibits a distorted tetrahedral geometry; the coordination environment comprises one C(N) atom and one N(C) atom from substitutionally disordered cyanide bridging ligands, and two N atoms from a bidentate chelating 5,5'-dmbpy ligand. The cyanide ligand links adjacent Ag(I) cations to generate a one-dimensional zigzag chain. These chains are linked together via weak nonclassical intermolecular interactions, generating a two-dimensional supramolecular network.

Mixed-Lanthanoid Metal-Organic Framework for Ratiometric Cryogenic Temperature Sensing.

A ratiometric thermometer based on a mixed-metal Ln(III) metal-organic framework is reported that has good sensitivity in a wide temperature range from 4 to 290 K and a quantum yield of 22% at room temperature. The sensing mechanism in the europium-doped compound Tb0.95Eu0.05HL (H4L = 5-hydroxy-1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid) is based not only on phonon-assisted energy transfer from Tb(III) to Eu(III) centers, but also on phonon-assisted energy migration between neighboring Tb(III) ions. It shows good performance in a wide temperature range, especially in the range 4-50 K, reaching a sensitivity up to 31% K(-1) at 4 K.

Predicting cellulose solvating capabilities of acid-base conjugate ionic liquids.

Different acid-base conjugates were made by combining a range of bases and superbases with acetic and propionic acid. Only the combinations that contained superbases were capable of dissolving cellulose. Proton affinities were calculated for the bases. A range, within which cellulose dissolution occurred, when combined with acetic or propionic acid, was defined for further use. This was above a proton affinity value of about 240 kcal mol(-1) at the MP2/6-311+G(d,p)//MP2/ 6-311+G(d,p) ab initio level. Understanding dissolution allowed us to determine that cation acidity contributed considerably to the ability of ionic liquids to dissolve cellulose and not just the basicity of the anion. By XRD analyses of suitable crystals, hydrogen bonding interactions between anion and cation were found to be the dominant interactions in the crystalline state. From determination of viscosities of these conjugates over a temperature range, certain structures were found to have as low a viscosity as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, which was reflected in their high rate of cellulose dissolution but not necessarily the quantitative solubility of cellulose in those ionic liquids. 1,5-Diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-enium propionate, which is one of the best structures for cellulose dissolution, was then distilled using laboratory equipment to demonstrate its recyclability.

Homogeneous hydrogenation and isomerization of 1-octene catalyzed by nickel(II) complexes with bidentate diarylphosphane ligands.

A systematic library of 24 nickel(II) complexes with bidentate diphosphane ligands was synthesized, and the solid-state structures of five of them were determined with X-ray crystallography. The compounds C1-C3 are common P2Ni(II)X2-type complexes, while C4 contains a unique [P2Ni(II)(NH3)(OAc)](+) square-planar structure with a P2NO donor set and C5 constitutes a rare [(P2Ni(II))2(µ-OH)2](2+) dinuclear compound. The catalytic activity of all complexes was tested in the hydrogenation and/or isomerization of 1-octene in a CH2Cl2/CH3OH reaction medium. Catalyst precursors bearing ligands with o-alkoxy aryl rings selectively hydrogentate 1-octene to n-octane, while catalytic systems comprising ligands without the o-alkoxy functionality selectively isomerize the substrate to a mixture of internal alkenes, mostly cis- and trans-2-octene. The conversion is enhanced by equipping the ligand aryl rings with electron-donating alkoxy groups, by increasing the steric bulk of the backbone and/or the aryl rings, by employing relatively noncoordinating anions, and by adding a base as the cocatalyst. Using the compound [Ni(L3X)I2] as the catalyst precursor and upon application of standard hydrogenation conditions, full conversion of the substrate was achieved in 1 h to isomerization products only (TON = 1940). When a catalytic amount of the base is added, a similar result is obtained even in the absence of H2. A maximum TON of 4500 in 1 h with 96% selectivity for n-octane was achieved by employing [Ni(oMeO-L3X)(NH3)(OAc)]PF6 as the catalyst precursor.

Hetero triply-bridged dinuclear copper(II) compounds with ferromagnetic coupling: a challenge for current density functionals.

Seven new hetero triply-bridged dinuclear Cu(II) compounds have been synthesized and characterized corresponding to a series with general formula [Cu(2)(L)(2)(µ-OH)(µ-OH(2))(µ-O(2)CR)]X(2) (where L = bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine and 5,5'-dmbpy = 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine; R = H for formate, CH(3) for acetate, CH(2)CH(3) for propionate and C(CH(3))(3) for trimethylacetate and X = CF(3)SO(3)(-) and ClO(4)(-)). All compounds exhibit ferromagnetic behavior with the experimental J values derived from magnetic susceptibility measurements being in the 73-104 cm(-1) range. The overall qualitative behavior is reproduced by state of the art density functional theory based methods. However, none of the functionals is able to reproduce the fine details along the series which constitutes an excellent benchmark for future developments.

Mononuclear and dinuclear manganese compounds stabilized by supramolecular interactions.

New manganese compounds [Mn(HphpzMe)(2)(H(2)phpzMe)(HCO(2))] (1), [Mn(2)(phpzMe)(2)(HphpzMe)(2)(OCH(3))]·2CH(3)OH (2), Na{[Mn(HphpzPh)(phpzPh)(MeOH)(2)](2)}(HCO(2)) (3), [Mn(HphpzPh)(2)(EtOH)(2)]ClO(4)·2EtOH (4) and [Mn(HphpzPh)(2)N(3)] (5) were synthesized and characterized with various techniques. 1, 4 and 5 are mononuclear manganese(III) compounds, 2 is a mixed-valence dinuclear manganese(III/IV) compound, and 3 is a trinuclear compound containing two manganese(III) ions and a sodium(I) ion. A remarkable feature is the spontaneous formation of the formate ion as a result of the methanol or methoxide oxidation in compounds 1 and 3. Using ethanol precludes the formation of the formate and compound 4 is obtained. The molecular structure of all compounds is stabilized by supramolecular interactions, including strong hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions.

Copper perchlorate and tetrafluoridoborate compounds with the ligand 1,4,5-triazanaphthalene. Gradual transformation of mononuclear Cu(II) compounds via polynuclear mixed-valence Cu(II)/Cu(I) species to dinuclear Cu(I); syntheses, characterizations and X-ray structures.

When the ligand 1,4,5-triazanaphthalene (abbreviated as tan) is reacted with Cu(II) BF(4)(-) and ClO(4)(-) salts, a variety of mononuclear compounds has been found, all with the [Cu(tan)(4)] unit and varying amounts of weakly coordinating axial ligands and lattice solvents. Reproducible compounds formed include two purple compounds, analyzing as [Cu(tan)(4)](ClO(4))(2)(CH(3)OH)(2)(H(2)O) (1) and [Cu(tan)(4)](BF(4))(2)(CH(3)OH)(1.5)(H(2)O) (3), and two blue compounds, analyzing as [Cu(tan)(4)](ClO(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2) (2) and [Cu(tan)(4)](2)(BF(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2) (4). Upon standing at room temperature, red-coloured, mixed-valence dinuclear-based 3D coordination polymers are formed by conversion of the purple/blue products, of which [Cu(2)(tan)(4)](n)(BF(4))(3n) (5) and the isomorphic methanol-water adduct [Cu(tan)(4)](n)(BF(4))(3n)(CH(3)OH)(n)(H(2)O)(5n) (5A) are presented in this paper. In addition a fully reduced dinuclear Cu(I) compound of formula [Cu(2)(tan)(3)(ClO(4))(2)] (7) has been observed, and structurally characterized, as a rare three-blade propeller structure, with a Cu-Cu distance of 2.504 Å.

Tetra-hedral zinc in tetra-kis-(1-methyl-1H-imidazole-κN)zinc bis-(tetra-fluorido-borate).

In the title compound, [Zn(C(4)H(6)N(2))(4)](BF(4))(2), the Zn(II) ion is in a slightly distorted tetra-hedral coordination geometry, with Zn-N distances in the range 1.980 (2)-1.991 (2) Å. The tetra-hedral angles are in the range 104.93 (9)-118.81 (9)°.

The complex story of a simple Brønsted acid: unusual speciation of HBr in an ionic liquid medium.

Crystalline solids, co-existing in equilibrium with the 3-methyl-1H-imidazolium bromohydrogenates(I) ionic liquid, have been characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis. The Brønsted acidic, homo-conjugate [H(2)Br(3)](-) anions presented are discussed in terms of their structure and reactivity, in efforts to advance the understanding of Brønsted acidity in ionic liquid media.

Discrete tetrairon(III) cluster exhibiting a square-planar Fe4(mu4-O) core: structural and magnetic properties.

The aerobic reaction of the Schiff-base ligand N-(benzimidazol-2-yl)salicylaldimine (Hbisi) with iron(II) perchlorate in methanol leads to the formation of the remarkable coordination compound [Fe(4)(mu(4)-O)(mu-MeO)(4)(bisi)(4)](ClO(4))(2) x 4 MeOH (1), whose single-crystal X-ray structure reveals the presence of a discrete Fe(III)(4)(mu(4)-O) core. Magnetic and Mossbauer studies both show that the exchange interaction within the square tetranuclear iron(III) unit is dominated by the central bridging mu(4)-oxido ligand, the involvement of the mu-methoxido bridges being negligible.

Manganese(III)-mediated cyclodimerization of a hydrazinyl derivative generating an unprecedented 1,2,3,5,6-substituted leuco-verdazyl ring.

The one-pot reaction of Mn(OAc)(3) with two equivalents of 6-(pyridine-2-ylhydrazonomethyl)phenol (Hphp) in methanol leads to a unique leuco-verdazyl-type ring. The remarkable cyclodimerization reaction is proposed to involve a number of one-electron oxidative steps mediated by Mn(3+) ions, as well as a very uncommon 1,2-radical aryl migration and a nucleophilic attack of the solvent, i.e. methanol.

High nuclearity manganese(III) compounds containing phenol-pyrazole ligands: the influence of the ligand on the core geometry.

Three high-nuclearity manganese(III) clusters have been synthesized and characterized: [Mn8(µ4-O)4(phpzH)8(thf)4] (1), [Mn8(µ4-O)4(phpzH)4(EtOH)4]·2EtOH (2), and [Mn6(µ3-O)4(µ3-Br)2(HphpzEt)6(phpzEt)] (3). Compounds 1 and 2 contain a [Mn8(µ4-O4)(phpzH)8] core in which antiferromagnetic interactions between the manganese(III) ions are found. Compound 3 is a hexanuclear manganese(III) cluster in which weak ferromagnetic interactions appear to be operative. The formation and the stability of the cluster cores in relation to the type of phenol-pyrazole ligand and the reaction conditions are discussed.

Manganese(III) compounds with phenol-pyrazole based-ligands: impact of the co-ligand and the carboxylate ligand on the trinuclear core [Mn3(mu3-O)(phpzR)3(O2CR')n](1-n).

The reaction of H2phpzR (R = Me, Ph; H2phpzMe = 3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5(3)-methylpyrazole and H2phpzPh = 3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5(3)-phenylpyrazole) with Mn(O2CR').nH2O (R' = Me and Ph) and (nBu4N)MnO4 in ethanol (EtOH) affords three new manganese(III) compounds, [Mn3(mu3-O)(phpzMe)3(O2CMe)(EtOH)].EtOH (1), (nBu4N)[Mn3(mu3-O)(phpzMe)3(O2CPh)2] (2) and (nBu4N)[Mn3(mu3-O)(phpzPh)3(O2CPh)2] (3). Their synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties are reported. Compounds 1-3 are mu3-oxido-centered trinuclear manganese(III) compounds whose edges are bridged by phpzR2- with average intracluster separations of 3.25 A. The three Mn-O-Mn angles are distorted from the equilateral triangle with values in the range of 113 degrees to 124 degrees; 117 degrees to 125 degrees; and 117 degrees to 126 degrees for complexes 1-3, respectively. Hydrogen bonding interactions between the trinuclear units of 1 result in a one-dimensional chain structure. Compounds 2 and 3 have isolated trinuclear units, perhaps as a result of the presence of the bulky nBu4N+ cation. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility studies indicate the presence of both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic interactions in compound 1 (J1 = -10.3 cm(-1), J2 = +10.9 cm(-1)), while only antiferromagnetic interactions are present in compounds 2 and 3 (J1 = -4.2 cm(-1), J2 = -10.3 cm(-1) for 2; and J1 = -4.8 cm(-1), J2 = -10.2 cm(-1) for 3), with J1 representing the similar Mn-O-Mn angles and J2 representing the unique Mn-O-Mn angle (Mn(1)-O(1)-Mn(2)).

Chemical, structural and biological studies of cis-[Pt(3-Acpy)(2)Cl(2)].

Recent developments in the field of platinum anticancer drugs have revealed that compounds containing derivates of pyridine may exhibit highly cytotoxic activity against a variety of tumor cells, with AMD473 (cis-PtCl(2)(NH(3))(2-methylpyridine)) as one of the most relevant examples. Following these advances, this paper describes the synthesis, characterization and X-ray structure of the square-planar compound cis-[Pt(3-Acpy)(2)Cl(2)] (1, Acpy stands for acetylpyridine), where the coordination of 3-acetylpyridine takes places through the pyridine nitrogen of the ligand. The structural arrangement of this compound is highly peculiar and it is the first example with two of these 3-acetylpyridine molecules in a cis disposition. In addition, the anticancer and antibacterial activities of this compound together with studies of DNA binding are also described in detail, with selective activity of compound 1 against A2780R cells. cis-[Pt(3-Acpy)(2)Cl(2)] apparently coordinates to the DNA double helix upon exchange of at least one of the Cl(-) ions with the media and shows very interesting bacteriolytic and bacteriostatic activity against Escherichia coli and Streptomyces, respectively.

Cytotoxic activity and cellular processing in human ovarian carcinoma cell lines of a new platinum(II) compound containing a fluorescent substituted propylene diamine ligand.

A new fluorescent platinum(II) compound containing the N,N'-bis-(anthracen-9-ylmethyl)propane-1,3-diamine as a carrier ligand has been designed, synthesized and characterized. High cytotoxic activity of cis-[Pt(bapda)Cl2] is observed in A2780 and A2780R cells (human ovarian carcinoma sensitive and cisplatin-resistant, respectively). Nevertheless, cross-resistance to platinum from cis-[Pt(bapda)Cl2] in the A2780R cells was found. To study the role of GSH towards inactivation of cis-[Pt(bapda)Cl2], GSH-depleted and non-depleted A2780R cells were used in several in vitro studies. The results suggest that cis-[Pt(bapda)Cl2] is not susceptible to the inactivation by GSH. Cellular processing of bapda and cis-[Pt(bapda)Cl2] was followed using fluorescence microscopy in the A2780, the A2780R and GSH-depleted A2780R cells. Interestingly, differences in the cellular processing followed by fluorescence microscopy between normal and GSH-depleted A2780R cells have been observed for the carrier ligand. Sequestration of these compounds in acidic lysosomes is visible after incubation in most cases, and no fluorescence was observed in the nucleus. Interaction of cis-[Pt(bapda)Cl2] with calf thymus DNA strongly suggests that the this new platinum(II) compound intercalates between the DNA base pairs. Additionally, the reaction of cis-[Pt(bapda)Cl2] with 9-ethylguanine appears to be very slow, as studied by 1H and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy.

A copper complex bearing a TEMPO moiety as catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols.

A new bifunctional, triazine-based ligand has been designed with the aim to generate a copper(II) complex holding a TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy) moiety. The coordination compound obtained from the ligand 4-(2-(3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethoxy)-6-(4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl)-N,N-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-amine (pypzt-1) and copper(II) bromide (i.e. complex 8) is capable of catalysing the selective, aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to 84% of benzaldehyde in 24 h. This "galactose oxidase activity" of the copper/TEMPO complex is observed as well for the conversion of the non-activated alkyl alcohol octan-1-ol to octanal with a yield of 29% after the same reaction time. The single-crystal X-ray structure of 8 shows that its crystal lattice contains [Cu(I)Br(2)](-) anions which appear to be stabilised by means of both anion-pi and hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, the solid state structure of 8 exhibits (lone-pair)-pi interactions between the nitrogen atom of an acetonitrile molecule and a triazine ring. The magnetic properties of 8 have been investigated by EPR and magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Concurrent anion...pi interactions between a perchlorate ion and two pi-acidic aromatic rings, namely pentafluorophenol and 1,3,5-triazine.

The rational design of a ligand containing two electron-poor pi-rings, i.e. a triazine and a pentafluorophenoxy groups, has allowed the preparation of a copper complex where both the anticipated anion...pi interactions are present.

Mononuclear manganese(III) complexes as building blocks for the design of trinuclear manganese clusters: study of the ligand influence on the magnetic properties of the [Mn3(mu3-O)](7+) core.

The synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of three new manganese(III) clusters are reported, [Mn 3(mu 3-O)(phpzH) 3(MeOH) 3(OAc)] (1), [Mn 3(mu 3-O)(phpzMe) 3(MeOH) 3(OAc)].1.5MeOH (2), and [Mn 3(mu 3-O)(phpzH) 3(MeOH) 4(N 3)].MeOH (3) (H 2phpzH = 3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-pyrazole and H 2phpzMe = 3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5(3)-methylpyrazole). Complexes 1- 3 consist of a triangle of manganese(III) ions with an oxido-center bridge and three ligands, phpzR (2-) (R = H, Me) that form a plane with the metal ions. All the complexes contain the same core with the general formula [Mn 3(mu 3-O)(phpzR) 3] (+). Methanol molecules and additional bridging ligands, that is, acetate (complexes 1 and 2) and azide (complex 3), are at the terminal positions. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility studies indicate the presence of predominant antiferromagnetic intramolecular interactions between manganese(III) ions in 1 and 3, while both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic intramolecular interactions are operative in 2.

Structure and DNA cleavage properties of two copper(II) complexes of the pyridine-pyrazole-containing ligands mbpzbpy and Hmpzbpya.

The DNA-cleavage properties of the two copper(II) complexes, [Cu(mbpzbpy)Br(2)](H(2)O)(2.5) (1) and [Cu(mpzbpya)Cl](CH(3)OH) (2), obtained from the ligands 6,6'-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazolmethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine) (mbpzbpy) and 6'-(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazolmethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine-6-carboxylic acid) (Hmpzbpya), respectively, are reported. Upon coordination to Cu(II) chloride in methanol, one arm of the ligand mbpzbpy is hydrolyzed to form mpzbpya. Under the same experimental conditions, the reaction of mbpzbpy with CuBr(2) does not lead to ligand hydrolysis. The ligand mpzbpya is coordinated to a copper(ii) ion generating a CuN(3)OCl chromophore, resulting in a distorted square-pyramidal environment, whereas with the N(4) mbpzbpy ligand, the Cu(II) ion is four-coordinated in a distorted square planar geometry. Both complexes promote the oxidative DNA cleavage of phiX174 phage DNA in the absence of reductant. The oxidative nature of the DNA cleavage reaction has been confirmed by religation and cell-transformation experiments. Studies using standard radical scavengers suggest the involvement of hydroxyl radicals in the oxidative cleavage of DNA. Although both compounds do convert form I (supercoiled) DNA to form II (nicked, relaxed form), only complex 1 is able to produce small amounts of form III (linearized DNA). This observation may be explained either by the attack of the copper(ii) complexes to only one single strand of DNA, or by a single cleavage event. Statistical analysis of relative DNA quantities present after the treatment with both copper(ii) complexes supports a random mode of DNA cleavage.