Search

The C^N^C pincer ligand shown may be aurated via a well-characterised dimercury(ii) complex, a dinuclear palladium(ii) complex or directly using a rhodium(iii) catalyst.

Strongly halogen-bonded complexes form between 4-alkoxyphenyl-4-pyridines and iodine as well as the interhalogens ICl and IBr. Examples are characterised by single crystal X-ray crystallography and most complexes show a liquid-crystalline SmA phase. more...

Hydrogen-bonded complexes are formed between two chain lengths of 4-alkoxystilbazoles and six different chlorophenols; four complexes are characterised crystallographically and all but two show liquid crystal behaviour. more...

The optical and electrochemical properties of quadruply bonded dimolybdenum paddlewheel complexes (Mo

Indole-ynones have been established as general substrates for radical dearomatizing spirocyclization cascade reactions. Five distinct and varied synthetic protocols have been developed─cyanomethylation, sulfonylation, trifluoromethylation, stannylation and borylation─using a variety of radical generation modes, ranging from photoredox catalysis to traditional AIBN methods. The simple and easily prepared indole-ynones can be used to rapidly generate diverse, densely functionalized spirocycles and have the potential to become routinely used to explore radical reactivity. Experimental and computational investigations support the proposed radical cascade mechanism and suggest that other new methods are now primed for development. more...

The solid-state structure of sixteen triphilic triazolium salts with different anions is considered in terms of the potentially competing factors driving organisation.

A conjugate addition/ring expansion (CARE) cascade reaction sequence is reported that enables medium-sized ring and macrocyclic bis-lactams to be prepared from primary amines and cyclic imides.

International audience; The reaction between [IrCl(COD)]2 and dppe in a 1:2 ratio was investigated in detail under three different conditions. [IrCl(COD)(dppe)], 1, is formed at room temperature in the absence of base. In the presence of a strong base at room temperarture, hydride complexes that retain the carbocyclic ligand in the coordination sphere are generated. In isopropanol, 1 is converted into [IrH(1,2,5,6-η2:η2-COD)(dppe)] (2) on addition of KOtBu, with k12 = (1.11±0.02)·10-4 s-1, followed by reversible isomerisation to [IrH(1-κ-4,5,6-η3-C8H12)(dppe)] (3) with k23 = (3.4±0.2)·10-4 s-1 and k32 = (1.1±0.3)·10-5 s-1 to yield an equilibrium 5:95 mixture of 2 and 3. However, when no hydride source is present in the strong base (KOtBu in benzene or toluene), the COD ligand in 1 is deprotonated, followed by β-H elimination of an IrI-C8H11 intermediate, which leads to complex [IrH(1-κ-4,5,6-η3-C8H10)(dppe)] (4) selectively. This is followed by its reversible isomerisation to 5, which features a different relative orientation of the same ligands (k45 = (3.92±0.11)·10-4 s-1; k54 = (1.39±0.12)·10-4 s-1 in C6D6), to yield an equilibrated 32:68 mixture of 4 and 5. DFT calculations assisted in the full rationalization of the selectivity and mechanism of the reactions, yielding thermodynamic (equilibrium) and kinetic (isomerization barriers) parameters in excellent agreement with the experimental values. Finally, in the presence of KOtBu and isopropanol at 80 °C, 1 is tranformed selectively to K[IrH4(dppe)] (6), a salt of an anionic tetrahydride complex of IrIII. This product is also selectively generated from 2, 3, 4 and 5 and H2 at room temperature, but only when a strong base is present. These results provide an insight into the catalytic action of [IrCl(LL)(COD)] complexes in the hydrogenation of polar substrates in the presence of a base. more...

Tripalladium clusters of the type [Pd3(PPh3)4]2+, wherein three linearly connected Pd atoms are stabilized by phosphine and arsine ligands, have been detected and isolated as intermediates during the reduction of well-defined mononuclear [Pd(OTf)2(XPh3)2] (X = P and X = As, respectively) to Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs). The isolated [Pd3(PPh3)4]2+ cluster isomerizes on broad-band UV irradiation to form an unexpected photoisomer, produced by a remarkable change in conformation at one of the bridging PPh3 ligands. A catalytic role for these [Pd3(XPh3)4]2+ species is exemplified in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling (SMCC) reactions, with high activity seen in the arylation of a brominated heterocyclic 2-pyrone. Use of the [Pd3(PPh3)4]2+ cluster enables a switch in site selectivity for SMCC reactions involving 2,4-dibromopyridine from the typical C2-bromide site (seen previously for mononuclear Pd catalysts) to the atypical C4-bromide site, thereby mirroring recently reported cyclic Pd3 clusters and PdNPs. We have further determined that the thermal isomer and photoisomer of [Pd3(PPh3)4]2+ are similarly catalytically active in the Pd-catalyzed hydrogenation of phenylacetylene to give styrene. Our findings link the evolution of mononuclear Pd(II) salts to PdNPs via the intermediacy of linear [Pd3(XPh3)4]2+ clusters. more...

The design and development of an oxime-based hydroxylation reagent, which can chemoselectively convert aryl halides (X = F, Cl, Br, I) into phenols under operationally simple, transition-metal-free conditions is described. Key to the success of this approach was the identification of a reducing oxime anion which can interact and couple with open-shell aryl radicals. Experimental and computational studies support the proposed radical-nucleophilic substitution chain mechanism., The design and development of an oxime-based hydroxylation reagent, which can chemoselectively convert aryl halides (X = F, Cl, Br, I) into phenols under operationally simple, transition-metal-free conditions is described. more...

Palladium complexes of polycatenar 2,5-diphenylpyridine ligands were prepared in a two-stage reaction from (NH4)2[PdCl4]; their liquid crystal and emission properties are reported and discussed. For tetracatenar and hexacatenar derivatives, neither the ligand nor their complexes were liquid crystalline. The tricatenar ligand only showed a SmC phase identified by a Schlieren texture. Palladation of the tricatenar and dicatenar ligands led to complexes showing a SmA phase, with a range that depended on the ligand. The identity of the mesophases was supported by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). All ligands and complexes exhibited luminescence properties with the emission lifetimes of the complexes suggesting the absence of phosphorescence. more...

[PdI2(μ-PPh2)(μ2-OAc)(PPh3)2] is the reduction product of PdII(OAc)2(PPh3)2, generated by reaction of 'Pd(OAc)2' with two equivalents of PPh3. Here, we report that the reaction of [PdI2(μ-PPh2)(μ2-OAc)(PPh3)2] with PPh3 results in a nuanced disproportionation reaction, forming [Pd0(PPh3)3] and a phosphinito-bridged PdI-dinuclear complex, namely [PdI2(μ-PPh2){κ2-P,O-μ-P(O)Ph2}(κ-PPh3)2]. The latter complex is proposed to form by abstraction of an oxygen atom from an acetate ligand at Pd. A mechanism for the formal reduction of a putative PdII disproportionation species to the observed PdI complex is postulated. Upon reaction of the mixture of [Pd0(PPh)3] and [PdI2(μ-PPh2){κ2-P,O-μ-P(O)Ph2}(κ-PPh3)2] with 2-bromopyridine, the former Pd0 complex undergoes a fast oxidative addition reaction, while the latter dinuclear PdI complex converts slowly to a tripalladium cluster, of the type [Pd3(μ-X)(μ-PPh2)2(PPh3)3]X, with an overall 4/3 oxidation state per Pd. Our findings reveal complexity associated with the precatalyst activation step for the ubiquitous 'Pd(OAc)2'/nPPh3 catalyst system, with implications for cross-coupling catalysis. more...

Co(II), Ni(II) and Ag(I) complexes of mefenamic acid (Hmef)/tolfenamic acid (Htolf) and metronidazole (met) formulated as [Co(mef)2(met)2] (1), [Ni(tolf)2(met)2] (2) and [Ag(met)2](NO3)·Htolf (3) h... more...

A side chain insertion method for the ring expansion of lactams into macrocyclic thiolactones is reported, that can also be incorporated into Successive Ring Expansion (SuRE) sequences. The reactions are less thermodynamically favourable than the analogous lactam- and lactone-forming ring expansion processes (with this notion supported by DFT data), but nonetheless, three complementary protecting group strategies have been developed to enable this challenging transformation to be achieved. more...

Emissive gold(III) complexes of pincer 2,6-diphenylpyridines also bearing a phenylacetylide ligand have been modified at both the pincer and phenylacetylide to confer liquid crystalline properties, with most complexes showing a columnar hexagonal phase in the condensed phase. Solution NMR studies show a preferred orientation for self-association, consistent with structural parameters in the liquid crystal phase obtained by X-ray methods. While the pattern of substitution of the phenylacetylide has no discernible effect on the photophysics, when two alkoxy chains are attached to the pincer ligands, photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY) of around 3% are found, whereas when four alkoxy chains are attached the PLQY increases significantly to 36%. Insight from computational chemistry indicated that the incorporation of the alkoxy donor groups raises the energy of the pincer-based HOMO−1 orbital, with a concomitant lowering of the LUMO ← HOMO−1 transition energy, consistent with an experimentally observed red shift. The gold complexes were fabricated into OLED devices using solution processing methods, being doped into the emissive layer at 5%, leading to external quantum efficiencies of up to 7.14%, values that compare well with those of related complexes in the literature. more...

“GaOTf” is a simple, convenient source of low‐valent gallium for synthetic chemistry and catalysis. However, little is currently known about its composition or reactivity. In this work, 71Ga NMR spectroscopy shows the presence of [Ga(arene)n]+ salts on oxidation of Ga metal with AgOTf in arene solvents. However, a more complex picture of speciation is uncovered by X‐ray diffraction studies. In all cases, mixed‐valence compounds containing Ga‐arene and Ga‐OTf coordination motifs, in addition to an unusual “naked” [Ga]+ ion, are found. Addition of 18‐crown‐6 allows for the isolation of a discrete GaI crown complex. Evidence of a potential intermediate in the formation of “GaOTf” has been isolated in the form of the bimetallic silver(I)/gallium(I) cluster anion [Ag4{Ga(OTf)3}4(μ‐Ga)6(OTf)4]2−., Gallium(I) triflate is a promising new source of low‐valent gallium for synthesis and catalysis. However, little is known about its composition and structural chemistry. Here it is demonstrated that speciation is quite complex in this system, with compounds containing Ga in multiple oxidation states being isolated from arene solutions. more...

Microcrystalline (∼1 μm) [Rh(Cy

A novel conjugate addition/ring expansion (CARE) cascade reaction sequence is reported that enables medium-sized ring and macrocyclic bis-lactams to be prepared from primary amines and cyclic imides. The reactions are simple to perform, generally high yielding, and very broad in scope, especially with respect to the primary amine component. CARE reactions can also be performed iteratively, enabling β-peptoid-based macrocyclic peptide mimetics to be 'grown' more...

The sequential solid/gas single-crystal to single-crystal reaction of [Rh(Cy2P(CH2)3PCy2)(COD)][BArF4] (COD = cyclooctadiene) with H2or D2was followed in situ by solid-state31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy (SSNMR) and ex situ by solution quenching and GC-MS. This was quantified using a two-step Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kologoromov (JMAK) model that revealed an inverse isotope effect for the second addition of H2, that forms a σ-alkane complex [Rh(Cy2P(CH2)3PCy2)(COA)][BArF4]. Using D2, a temporal window is determined in which a structural solution for this σ-alkane complex is possible, which reveals an η2,η2-binding mode to the Rh(I) center, as supported by periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Extensive H/D exchange occurs during the addition of D2, as promoted by the solid-state microenvironment. more...

SABRE catalysts [Ir(H)2(η2-pyruvate)(sulfoxide)(NCH) transfer magnetisation from para-hydrogen to pyruvate yielding hyperpolarised 13C NMR signals enhanced by >2000-fold. Properties of the catalyst control efficiency., Hyperpolarisation techniques such as signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) can deliver NMR signals several orders of magnitude larger than those derived under Boltzmann conditions. SABRE is able to catalytically transfer latent magnetisation from para-hydrogen to a substrate in reversible exchange via temporary associations with an iridium complex. SABRE has recently been applied to the hyperpolarisation of pyruvate, a substrate often used in many in vivo MRI studies. In this work, we seek to optimise the pyruvate-13C2 signal gains delivered through SABRE by fine tuning the properties of the active polarisation transfer catalyst. We present a detailed study of the effects of varying the carbene and sulfoxide ligands on the formation and behaviour of the active [Ir(H)2(η2-pyruvate)(sulfoxide)(NHC)] catalyst to produce a rationale for achieving high pyruvate signal gains in a cheap and refreshable manner. This optimisation approach allows us to achieve signal enhancements of 2140 and 2125-fold for the 1-13C and 2-13C sites respectively of sodium pyruvate-1,2-[13C2]. more...

The complexes [Pt(tolpy)Cl(L)] (tolpy = 2-(4-tolyl)pyridyl; L = dmso, dms, py, PPh3, CO) are precursors for the catalytic cleavage of C–C bonds and extrusion of CO from a series of unactivated keto... more...

Vinyl sulfoxides are an important functional group used in a wide range of organic transformations. Here, we use [IrCl(COD)(IMes)] where IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenyl)imidazole-2-ylidene and COD = cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene to rapidly hydrogenate phenylvinylsulfoxide. We use para-hydrogen-induced hyperpolarization (PHIP) to follow this reaction with [IrCl(H)2(IMes)(S(O)(Ph)(Et))2] dominating in the later stages. Decomposition to form the reduced C-S bond cleavage product [Ir2(H)3(κ2-H)(κ2-SPh)2(IMes)2(S(Et)(Ph)O)] limits turnover. The related product [Ir2(H)4(κ2-S)(IMes)2(S(O)(CH2Ph)2)2] is formed from dibenzylsulfoxide, demonstrating the wider utility of this transformation. more...

Oxazolidinone synthesis through the coupling of carbon dioxide and aziridines was catalysed by an aluminium(salphen) complex at 50–100 °C and 1–10 bar pressure under solvent-free conditions. The process was applicable to a variety of substituted aziridines, giving products with high regioselectivity. It involved the use of a sustainable and reusable aluminium-based catalyst, used carbon dioxide as a C1 source and provided access to pharmaceutically important oxazolidinones as illustrated by a total synthesis of toloxatone. This protocol was scalable, and the catalyst could be recovered and reused. A catalytic cycle was proposed based on stereochemical, kinetic and Hammett studies. more...

Site-selective dihalogenated heteroarene cross-coupling with organometallic reagents usually occurs at the halogen proximal to the heteroatom, enabled by intrinsic relative electrophilicity, particularly in strongly polarized systems. An archetypical example is the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling (SMCC) of 2,4-dibromopyridine with organoboron species, which typically exhibit C2-arylation site-selectivity using mononuclear Pd (pre)catalysts. Given that Pd speciation, particularly aggregation, is known to lead to the formation of catalytically competent multinuclear Pdn species, the influence of these species on cross-coupling site-selectivity remains largely unknown. Herein, we disclose that multinuclear Pd species, in the form of Pd3-type clusters and nanoparticles, switch arylation site-selectivity from C2 to C4, in 2,4-dibromopyridine cross-couplings with both organoboronic acids (SMCC reactions) and Grignard reagents (Kumada-type reactions). The Pd/ligand ratio and the presence of suitable stabilizing salts were found to be critically important in switching the site-selectivity. More generally, this study provides experimental evidence that aggregated Pd catalyst species not only are catalytically competent but also alter reaction outcomes through changes in product selectivity. more...

A side chain insertion method for the ring expansion of lactams into macrocyclic thiolactones is reported, that can also be incorporated into Successive Ring Expansion (SuRE) sequences. The reactions are less thermodynamically favourable than the analogous lactam- and lactone-forming ring expansion processes (with this notion supported by DFT data), but nonetheless, three complementary protecting group strategies have been developed to enable this challenging transformation to be achieved. more...

The crystal structure of [Al(tBu-salen)]2O·HCl shows major changes compared to that of [Al(tBu-salen)]2O. The additional proton is localized on the bridging oxygen atom, making the aluminium atoms more electron deficient. As a result, a water molecule coordinates to one of the aluminium atoms, which becomes six-coordinate. This pushes the salen ligand associated with the six-coordinate aluminium ion closer to the other salen ligand and results in the geometry around the five-coordinate aluminium atom becoming more trigonal bipyramidal. These results experimentally mirror the predications of DFT calculations on the interaction of [Al(tBu-salen)]2O and related complexes with carbon dioxide. Variable temperature NMR studies of protonated [Al(tBu-salen)]2O complexes revealed that the structures were dynamic and could be explained on the basis of an intramolecular rearrangement in which the non-salen substituent of a five-coordinate aluminium(tBu-salen) unit migrates from one face of a square based pyramidal structure to the other via the formation of structures with trigonal bipyramidal geometries. Protonated [Al(tBu-salen)]2O complexes were shown to have enhanced Lewis acidity relative to [Al(tBu-salen)]2O, coordinating to water, dioxane and 1,2-epoxyhexane. Coordinated epoxyhexane was activated towards ring-opening, to give various species which remained coordinated to the aluminium centers. The protonated [Al(tBu-salen)]2O complexes catalysed the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide both in the presence and absence of tetrabutylammonium bromide as a nucleophilic cocatalyst. The catalytic activity was principally determined by the nature of the nucleophilic species within the catalyst structure rather than by changes to the Lewis acidity of the metal centers. more...

By functionalising 2,5-di(N,N′-carbazolyl)terephthalonitrile or 2,3,5,6-tetra(N,N′-carbazolyl)terephthalonitrile with alkoxy chains located on the carbazole moiety, a family of materials is realised, all of which show a TADF response and two of which are also liquid crystalline. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry. The authors would like to thank the University of York (AFS), the Universität Regensburg (MZS) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) (Project No. 389797483) for financial support. more...

Aromatic hydroxylation reactions catalyzed by heme-thiolate enzymes proceed via an epoxide intermediate. These aromatic epoxides could be valuable building blocks for organic synthesis giving access to a range of chiral trans-disubstituted cyclohexadiene synthons. Here, we show that naphthalene epoxides generated by fungal peroxygenases can be subjected to nucleophilic ring opening, yielding non-racemic trans-disubstituted cyclohexadiene derivates, which in turn can be used for further chemical transformations. This approach may represent a promising shortcut for the synthesis of natural products and APIs. more...

Cobalt complexes with 2-(diisopropylphosphinomethyl)pyridine (PN) ligands have been synthesized with the aim of demonstrating electrocatalytic proton reduction to dihydrogen with a well-defined hydride complex of an Earth-abundant metal. Reactions of simple cobalt precursors with 2-(diisopropylphosphino-methyl)pyridine, (PN) yield [CoII(PN)2(MeCN)][BF4]2 1, [CoIII(PN)2(H)(MeCN)][PF6]2 2 and [CoIII(PN)2(H)(Cl)][PF6] 3. Complexes 1 and 3 have been characterized crystallographically. Unusually for a bidentate PN ligand, all three exhibit geometries with mutually trans phosphorus and nitrogen ligands. Complex 1 exhibits a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with an axial MeCN ligand in a low-spin electronic state. In complexes 2 and 3, the PN ligands lie in a plane leaving the hydride trans to MeCN or chloride, respectively. The redox behavior of the three complexes has been studied by cyclic voltammetry at variable scan rates and by spectroelectrochemistry. A catalytic wave is observed in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at an applied potential close to the Co(II/I) couple of 1. Bulk electrolysis of 1, 2 or 3 at a potential of –1.4 V in the presence of TFA yields H2 with Faradaic yields close to 100%. Foot-of-the-wave analysis allows calculation of kcat values of 860 and 1560 M-1 s-1 for 1 and 2 measured at 0.025 and 0.030 M TFA, respectively. The catalytic performance of 1 and 2 is compared to those of related catalysts by means of Tafel plots. A catalytic mechanism is proposed in which the pyridine moiety of a PN ligand acts as a pendant proton donor following opening of the chelate ring. more...

The substrate scope of sulfoxide‐containing magnetisation transfer catalysts is extended to hyperpolarize α‐ketoisocaproate and α‐ketoisocaproate‐1‐[13C]. This is achieved by forming [Ir(H)2(κ 2‐ketoisocaproate)(N‐heterocyclic carbene)(sulfoxide)] which transfers latent magnetism from p‐H2 via the signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) process. The effect of polarization transfer field on the formation of enhanced 13C magnetization is evaluated. Consequently, performing SABRE in a 0.5 μT field enabled most efficient magnetisation transfer. 13C NMR signals for α‐ketoisocaproate‐1‐[13C] in methanol‐d 4 are up to 985‐fold more intense than their traditional Boltzmann derived signal intensity (0.8 % 13C polarisation). Single crystal X‐ray diffraction reveals the formation of the novel catalyst decomposition products [Ir(μ‐H)(H)2(IMes)(SO(Ph)(Me)2)]2 and [(Ir(H)2(IMes)(SO(Me)2))2(μ‐S)] when the sulfoxides methylphenylsulfoxide and dimethylsulfoxide are used respectively., Extending substrate scope: It is demonstrated that the scope of sulfoxide‐containing SABRE polarization transfer catalysts can be extended to hyperpolarize molecules with similar α‐keto acid motifs to pyruvate. This could lead to a larger range of potential applications of SABRE in monitoring chemical transformations. more...

N,N′-Phenylenebis(5-tert-butylsalicylideneimine) is shown to be an effective single-component catalyst for the metal- and halide-free synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide... more...

Ionic, tetracatenar liquid crystals containing an N-phenylpyridinum core are described; many of these compounds display a SmA phase, something extremely rare in tetracatenar materials. The competing forces driving mesophase formation lead to an unprecedented difference in phase stabilities for SmA and Colh phases. more...

Palladium(II) acetate ‘Pd(OAc)2’/nPPh3 is a ubiquitous precatalyst system for cross-coupling reactions. It is widely accepted that reduction of in situ generated trans-[Pd(OAc)2(PPh3)2] affords [Pd0(PPh3)n] and/or [Pd0(PPh3)2(OAc)]− species which undergo oxidative addition reactions with organohalides – the first committed step in cross-coupling catalytic cycles. In this paper we report for the first time that reaction of Pd3(OAc)6 with 6 equivalents of PPh3 (i.e. a Pd/PPh3 ratio of 1 : 2) affords a novel dinuclear PdI complex [Pd2(μ-PPh2)(μ2-OAc)(PPh3)2] as the major product, the elusive species resisting characterization until now. While unstable, the dinuclear PdI complex reacts with CH2Cl2, p-fluoroiodobenzene or 2-bromopyridine to afford Pd3 cluster complexes containing bridging halide ligands, i.e. [Pd3(X)(PPh2)2(PPh3)3]X, carrying an overall 4/3 oxidation state (at Pd). Use of 2-bromopyridine was critical in understanding that a putative 14-electron mononuclear ‘PdII(R)(X)(PPh3)’ is released on forming [Pd3(X)(PPh2)2(PPh3)3]X clusters from [Pd2(μ-PPh2)(μ2-OAc)(PPh3)2]. Altering the Pd/PPh3 ratio to 1 : 4 forms Pd0(PPh3)3 quantitatively. In an exemplar Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, the importance of the ‘Pd(OAc)2’/nPPh3 ratio is demonstrated; catalytic efficacy is significantly enhanced when n = 2. Employing ‘Pd(OAc)2’/PPh3 in a 1 : 2 ratio leads to the generation of [Pd2(μ-PPh2)(μ2-OAc)(PPh3)2] which upon reaction with organohalides (i.e. substrate) forms a reactive Pd3 cluster species. These higher nuclearity species are the cross-coupling catalyst species, when employing a ‘Pd(OAc)2’/PPh3 of 1 : 2, for which there are profound implications for understanding downstream product selectivities and chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivities, particularly when employing PPh3 as the ligand. more...

We report the formation of a series of novel [Ir(H)2(IMes)(α-13C2-carboxyimine)L] complexes in which the identity of the coligand L is varied. When examined with para-hydrogen, complexes in which L is benzylamine or phenethylamine show significant 1H hydride and 13C2 imine enhancements and may exist in 13C2 singlet spin order. Isotopic labeling techniques are used to double 13C2 enhancements (up to 750-fold) and singlet state lifetimes (up to 20 seconds) compared to those previously reported. Exchange spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory are used to investigate the stability and mechanism of rapid hydrogen exchange in these complexes, a process driven by dissociative coligand loss to form a key five coordinate intermediate. When L is pyridine or imidazole, competitive binding to such intermediates leads to novel complexes whose formation, kinetics, behaviour, structure, and hyperpolarization is investigated. The ratio of the observed PHIP enhancements were found to be affected not only by the hydrogen exchange rates but the identity of the coligands. This ligand reactivity is accompanied by decoherence of any 13C2 singlet order which can be preserved by isotopic labeling. Addition of a thiol coligand proved to yield a thiol oxidative addition product which is characterized by NMR and MS techniques. Significant 870-fold 13C enhancements of pyridine can be achieved using the Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange (SABRE) process when α-carboxyimines are used to block active coordination sites. [Ir(H)2(IMes)(α-13C2-carboxyimine)L] therefore acts as unique sensors whose 1H hydride chemical shifts and corresponding hyperpolarization levels are indicative of the identity of a coligand and its binding strength. more...

Pd-Catalyzed arylcyanation reactions are widely applied in academic and industrial problems. We demonstrate for the first time that water acts as a powerful trigger for heterogeneous catalysis in arylcyanation reactions. A selection of trans-Pd(OAc)2(HNR2)2 precatalysts have been synthesized, characterized and kinetically scrutinized as precatalysts for the Pd-catalyzed arylcyanation of aryl bromides. Kinetic and mechanistic studies using in operando infrared spectroscopic analysis reveal the key role played by water, specifically deriving from K4[Fe(CN)6]·3H2O, in facilitating a remarkable switch in mechanism from a homogeneous to heterogeneous catalytic manifold. Evidence for heterogeneity includes sigmoidal kinetic traces, an order in Pd of 0.26 and catalyst turnover sequestration upon addition of excess Hg. The TOF and TON values recorded using K4[Fe(CN)6] (4000 ppm H2O). Catalytic cycles are configured according to the experimental evidence gained from this study. We conclude that water plays a critical role in Pd catalyst speciation in arylcyanation chemistry. more...

The synthesis of novel tetrahydroquinoxalines by a metal induced one-electron reductive cyclisation of salophen ligands was found to occur when a salophen ligand was treated with chromium(ii) chloride or decamethylcobaltocene. more...

During data collection, the unreported potassium crown ether salt [K(18-crown-6][AuCl4] undergoes a sequential X-ray-induced and irreversible single-crystal to single-crystal transformation from P1 to C2/c followed by a topotactic reduction to crystalline [K(18-crown-6][AuCl2] within the same C2/c space group. more...

The formation and hyperpolarization of an [Ir(H)2 (amine)(IMes)(η2 -imine)]Cl complex that can be created in a hyperpolarized nuclear singlet state is reported. These complexes are formed when an equilibrium mixture of pyruvate, amine (benzylamine or phenylethylamine), and the corresponding imine condensation product, react with preformed [Ir(H)2 (amine)3 (IMes)]Cl. These iridium α-carboxyimine complexes exist as two regioisomers differentiated by the position of amine. When examined with para-hydrogen the hydride resonances of the isomer with amine trans to hydride become strongly hyperpolarized. The initial hydride singlet states readily transfer to the corresponding 13 C2 state in the labelled imine and exhibit magnetic state lifetimes of up to 11 seconds. Their 13 C signals have been detected with up to 420 fold signal gains at 9.4 T. On a longer timescale, and in the absence of H2 , further reaction leads to the formation of neutral carbonate containing [Ir(amine)(η2 -CO3 )(IMes)(η2 -imine)]. Complexes are characterized by, IR, MS, NMR and X-ray diffraction. more...

The X-ray crystallographic and physicochemical investigation of newly synthesized coordination complex of nickel (Trans-difluorobis(N,N-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine-k2N,N')nickel(II)octahydrate [Ni(dmen)2F2].8H2O is encompassed in this manuscript. The synthesized complex was characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR studies, magnetic measurements, electronic absorption measurements, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals are monoclinic in the P2(1)/c space group, with a = 8.0271(4) A, b = 4.4509(8) A, c = 15.1013(11)A, α = 90°, β = 113.2340(10)°, γ = 90°. The crystal structure displays O-H⋯F and O-H⋯O hydrogen-bond interactions. Solubilization of [Ni(dmen)2F2].8H2O (NiDC) by anionic surfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), in aqueous solutions in the pre-micellar, micellar and post-micellar concentration ranges was accomplished by UV–Visible spectroscopy and electrical conductivity measurements. The thermodynamic parameters of complex-surfactant interaction including standard entropy (ΔSmic), free energy (ΔGmic), and enthalpy (ΔHmic) of micelle formation were evaluated. The disruption of structured water in the near environment of hydrophobic groups of the surfactant was responsible for the increase in critical micelle concentration (CMC) with increasing temperature. The negative values of ΔGmic and ΔHmic indicate that solubilization of complex in micelles was spontaneous, in addition to enthalpy and entropy-driven. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed the quantitative measure of interaction of the complex with surfactant in terms of partition constant (Kx), the free energy of partition (ΔGpart), binding coefficient (Kbind), and binding free energy (ΔGbind). The presence of surfactant led to a red-shift in UV–Vis spectra of NiDC which indicates their strong interaction. From the outcomes of the study, it is very clear that CMC in pure surfactants was lower than the CMC found with Ni-complex. The NMR study revealed that the complex is resided at the palisade layer by interacting with the functional moieties of hydrophobic chain. This indication well coincides with results of partitioning study by UV–Vis spectroscopy. The complex also has significant antioxidant and hemolytic activity against DPPH and RBCs respectively but it has no cyctotoxicity against 3 T3 cell lines. more...

The syntheses of three series of complexes designed with self-complementary motifs for formation of halogen bonds between an iodotetrafluorophenyl ligand and a halide ligand at square-planar nickel are reported, allowing structural comparisons of halogen bonding between all four halides C6F4I···X-Ni (X = F, Cl, Br, I). In the series trans-[NiX(2,3,5,6-C6F4I)(PEt3)2] 1pX and trans-[NiX(2,3,4,5-C6F4I)(PEt3)2] (X = F, Cl, Br, I) 1oX, the iodine substituent on the benzene ring was positioned para and ortho to the metal, respectively. The phosphine substituents were varied in the series, trans-[NiX(2,3,5,6-C6F4I)(PEt2Ph)2] (X = F, I) 2pX. Crystal structures were obtained for the complete series 1pX, and for 1oF, 1oCl, 1oI and 2pI. All these complexes exhibited halogen bonds in the solid state, of which 1pF exhibited unique characteristics with a linear chain, the shortest halogen bond d(C6F4I···F-Ni) = 2.655(5) A and the greatest reduction in halogen bond distance (I···F) compared to the sum of the Bondi van der Waals radii, 23%. The remaining complexes form zig-zag chains of halogen bonds with distances also reduced with respect to the sum of the van der Waals radii. The magnitude of the reductions follow the pattern F > Cl ∼ Br > I, 1pX > 1oX, consistent with the halogen bond strength following the same order. The variation in the I···X-Ni angles is consistent with the anisotropic charge distribution of the halide ligand. The temperature dependence of the X-ray structure of 1pF revealed a reduction in halogen bond distance of 0.055(7) A on cooling from 240 to 111 K. Comparison of three polymorphs of 1oI shows that the halogen bond geometry may be altered significantly by the crystalline environment. The effect of the halogen bond on the 19F NMR chemical shift in the solid state is demonstrated by comparison of the magic-angle spinning NMR spectra of 1pF and 1oF with that of a complex incapable of halogen bond formation, trans-[NiF(C6F5)(PEt3)2] 3F. Halogen bonding causes deshielding of δiso in the component of the tensor perpendicular to the nickel coordination plane. The results demonstrate the potential of fluoride ligands for formation of halogen bonds in supramolecular structures. more...

A novel scaffold for the construction of self-organised ionic liquids and ionic liquid crystals bearing both perfluorocarbon and hydrocarbon moieties has been developed. The phase behaviour and physical properties of these materials can be tuned as a function of chain length and fluorine content and significant structural elaboration is possible, giving a highly flexible system. more...

A new complex [Co(phen)3]F2·2H2O has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR studies, magnetic measurements, electronic absorption measurements and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals are triclinic in the P-1 space group, with a = 11.9520(8), b = 12.8152(9), c = 15.1013(11)A, α = 98.175(2)°, β = 91.601(2)°, γ = 114.8700(10)°. The crystal structure displays O H ⋯ F and O H ⋯ O hydrogen-bond interactions. Solubilization of [Co(phen)3]F2·2H2O by anionic surfactants sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and sodium stearate (SS), in aqueous solutions in the premicellar and micellar concentration ranges has been investigated by using UV–visible spectroscopy and electrical conductivity measurements. The equilibrium model was used to evaluate thermodynamic parameters of complex-surfactant interaction like standard entropy (ΔSm), free energy (ΔGm) and enthalpy (ΔHm) of micelle formation. The disruption of structured water in the near environment of hydrophobic groups of surfactants is responsible for the increase in critical micelle concentration (CMC) with the rise in temperature. The negative value of ∆ Gm and ΔHm indicate that solubilization of complex in micelles of both surfactants was spontaneous, in addition to enthalpy and entropy driven. UV–visible spectroscopy uncovers the quantitative measure of interaction of complex with surfactant in terms of partition constant (Kx), binding coefficient (Kb), binding free energy (ΔGb) and free energy of partition (ΔGp). The results obtained suggested that the critical micelle concentration of both surfactants is increased due to the presence of complex in micellar medium. Complex exhibited significant radical scavenging potential against DPPH radical and hemolytic effect against RBCs. Further, the complex exhibited no substantial cytotoxic effect against 3T3 cell line. more...