Reduction of dioxygen by a dimanganese unit bonded inside a cavity provided by a pyrrole-based dinucleating ligand

Photophysical Studies of a Zr(IV) Complex with Two Pyrrolide-Based Tetradentate Schiff Base Ligands

The reaction of two equivalents of N,N'-bis(2-pyrrolylmethylidene)-1,2-phenylenediamine (H2bppda) with tetrabenzylzirconium provided the air- and moisture-stable eight-coordinate complex Zr(bppda)2. Temperature-dependent steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy established weak photoluminescence (ΦPL = 0.4% at 293 K) by a combination of prompt fluorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) upon visible light excitation at and around room temperature. TADF emission is strongly quenched by 3O2 and shows highly temperature-sensitive emission lifetimes of hundreds of microseconds. The lifetime of the lowest energy singlet excited state, S1, was established by transient absorption spectroscopy and shows rapid deactivation (τ = 142 ps) by prompt fluorescence and intersystem crossing to the triplet state, T1. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations predict moderate ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) contributions of 25-30% for the S1 and T1 states. A comparison of Zr(bppda)2 to related zirconium pyridine dipyrrolide complexes, Zr(PDP)2, revealed important electronic structure changes due to the eight-coordinate ligand environment in Zr(bppda)2, which were correlated to differences in the photophysical properties between the two compound classes.

How 5 f Electron Polarisability Drives Covalency and Selectivity in Actinide N-Donor Complexes

We report a series of isostructural tetravalent actinide (Th, U−Pu) complexes with the N‐donor ligand N,N’‐ethylene‐bis((pyrrole‐2‐yl)methanimine) (H₂L, H₂pyren). Structural data from SC‐XRD analysis reveal [An(pyren)₂] complexes with different An−N_imine versus An−N_pyrrolide bond lengths. Quantum chemical calculations elucidated the bonding situation, including differences in the covalent character of the coordinative bonds. A comparison to the intensely studied analogous N,N′‐ethylene‐bis(salicylideneimine) (H₂salen)‐based complexes [An(salen)₂] displays, on average, almost equal electron sharing of pyren or salen with the An^IV, pointing to a potential ligand‐cage‐driven complex stabilisation. This is shown in the fixed ligand arrangement of pyren and salen in the respective An^IV complexes. The overall bond strength of the pure N‐donor ligand pyren to An^IV (An=Th, U, Np, Pu) is slightly weaker than to salen, with the exception of the Pa^IV complex, which exhibits extraordinarily high electron sharing of pyren with Pa^IV. Such an altered ligand preference within the early An^IV series points to a specificity of the 5f¹ configuration, which can be explained by polarisation effects of the 5 f electrons, allowing the strongest f electron backbonding from Pa^IV (5f¹) to the N donors of pyren.

Pyrrophens: Pyrrole-Based Hexadentate Ligands Tailor-Made for Uranyl (UO22+) Coordination and Molecular Recognition

Derivatives of a novel pyrrole-containing Schiff base ligand system (called "pyrrophen") are presented which feature substituted phenylene linkers (R¹ = R² = H (H₂L¹); R¹ = R² = CH₃ (H₂L²)) and a binding pocket modeled after macrocyclic species. These ligands bind neutral CH₃OH in the solid state through pyrrolic hydrogen-bonding. The interaction of the uranyl cation (UO₂²⁺) and H₂L^1-2 yields planar hexagonal bipyramdial uranyl complexes, while the Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ complexes were found to self-assemble as dinuclear helicate complexes (M₂L₂) with H₂L¹ under identical conditions. The favorable binding of UO₂²⁺ over Zn²⁺ provides insight into the molecular recognition of uranyl over other metal species. Structural features of these complexes are examined with special attention to features of the UO₂²⁺ coordination environment which distinguish them from other related salophen and porphyrinoid complexes.

Ligands with Two Monoanionic N,N-Binding Sites: Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry

Polytopic ligands have become ubiquitous in coordination chemistry because they grant access to a variety of mono- and polynuclear complexes of transition metals as well as rare-earth and main-group elements. Nitrogen-based ditopic ligands, in which two monoanionic N,N-binding sites are framed within one molecule, are of particular importance and are therefore the primary focus of this review. In detail, bis(amidine)s, bis(guanidine)s, bis(β-diimine)s, bis(aminotroponimine)s, bis(pyrrolimine)s, and miscellaneous bis(N,N-chelating) ligands are reviewed. In addition to the general synthetic protocols, the application of these ligands is discussed along with their coordination chemistry, the multifarious binding modes, and the ability of these ligands to bridge two (or more) metal(loids).

Self-assembly of 1,4-bis(pyrrol-2-ylmethyleneamine)butane mediated by Ni(II) and weak intermolecular interactions

A complex [NiL] was prepared by the self-assembly of 1,4-bis(pyrrol-2-ylmethyleneamine)butane (H2L) with Ni(OAc)2·2H2O, its structure was elucidated by X-ray analysis and the weak intermolecular interactions play a crucial role in the molecular packing.

Metal-templated synthesis of intertwined, functionalized strands as precursors to molecularly woven materials

A novel approach toward molecularly woven materials is presented, based on metal-templated precursors containing intertwined strands with functional endings.

(E)-2,4,6-Trimethyl-N-[(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methyl-idene]aniline

The title compound, C₁₄H₁₆N₂, is a pyrrole-2-carbaldimine ligand that shows an E conformation at the imine double bond. The dihedral angle between the rings is 78.3 (1)°. In the crystal, pairs of mol­ecules form centrosymmetric dimers [graph-set descriptor is presumably R²₂(10)] via N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds between the pyrrole N—H group and the imine N atom of a neighbouring mol­ecule.

Design and Synthesis of Binucleating Macrocyclic Clefts Derived from Schiff-Base Calixpyrroles

The syntheses, characterisation and complexation reactions of a series of binucleating Schiff-base calixpyrrole macrocycles are described. The acid-templated [2+2] condensations between meso-disubstituted diformyldipyrromethanes and o-phenylenediamines generate the Schiff-base pyrrolic macrocycles H(4)L(1) to H(4)L(6) upon basic workup. The single-crystal X-ray structures of both H(4)L(3).2 EtOH and H(4)L(6).H2O confirm that [2+2] cyclisation has occurred, with either EtOH or H2O hydrogen-bonded within the macrocyclic cleft. A series of complexation reactions generate the dipalladium [Pd2(L)] (L=L(1) to L(5)), dinickel [Ni2(L(1))] and dicopper [Cu2(L)] (L=L(1) to L(3)) complexes. All of these complexes have been structurally characterised in the solid state and are found to adopt wedged structures that are enforced by the rigidity of the aryl backbone to give a cleft reminiscent of the structures of Pacman porphyrins. The binuclear nickel complexes [Ni2(mu-OMe)2Cl2(HOMe)2(H(4)L(1))] and [Ni2(mu-OH)2Cl2(HOMe)(H(4)L(5))] have also been prepared, although in these cases the solid-state structures show that the macrocyclic ligand remains protonated at the pyrrolic nitrogen atoms, and the Ni(II) cations are therefore co-ordinated by the imine nitrogen atoms only to give an open conformation for the complex. The dicopper complex [Cu2(L(3))] was crystallised in the presence of pyridine to form the adduct [Cu2(py)(L(3))], in which, in the solid state, the pyridine ligand is bound within the binuclear molecular cleft. Reaction between H(4)L(1) and [Mn(thf){N(SiMe(3))2}2] results in clean formation of the dimanganese complex [Mn2(L(1))], which, upon crystallisation, formed the mixed-valent complex [Mn2(mu-OH)(L(1))] in which the hydroxo ligand bridges the metal centres within the molecular cleft.

Distinct M and P Helical Complexes of H2O and Metal Ions NiII, CuII, and ZnII with Enantiomerically Pure Chiral Bis(pyrrol-2-ylmethyleneamine)cyclohexane Ligands: Crystal Structures and Circular Dichroism Properties

The enantiomerically pure bis-bidentate ligands of bis(pyrrol-2-ylmethyleneamine)cyclohexane [H2(LR,S)] are easily synthesized from condensation of the pure R,R and S,S enantiomers of the 1,2-diaminecyclohexane spacer with 2 equiv of pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde. The coordination of [H2(LR,S)] with a H2O molecule and metal ions NiII, CuII, and ZnII gives rise to distinct helical structures and crystal packing motifs: homochiral and enantiopure infinite single-helical polymeric chains of [(H2(LR,S).H2O)n] via hydrogen bonds, mononuclear single helices of [NiII(LR,S)] and [CuII(LR,S)], and a double-stranded dinuclear helicate of [ZnII2(LR,S)2], respectively. The helical structures for all metal complexes in the solid state still remain in the solution. Remarkably, chiral ligands of [H2(LR)] and [H2(LS)] predetermine the chirality of the helices and helicates, i.e., P left-handedness and M right-handedness, respectively. The structural changes of these complexes induced by different coordinators are also characterized by circular dichroism (CD) and absorption spectra in both the solid state and solution. Analysis of CD spectra, with aids of absolute determination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures, reveals both intraligand and interligand chromophore couplings. For the potential applications of these complexes, other experiments such as magnetism, photoluminescence, and nonlinear optical properties have also been investigated.

Molecular recognition: preorganization of a bis(pyrrole) Schiff base derivative for tight dimerization by hydrogen bonding

Multiple techniques have been used to delineate the self-assembly of a bis(pyrrole) Schiff base derivative (compound 4, C(16)H(14)N(4)), which forms an unusual dimer through complementary N-H...N=C hydrogen bonds between twisted, C2-symmetric monomer units. The asymmetric unit of the crystal structure comprises one and a half dimer units, with one dimer exhibiting approximate D2 point-group symmetry and the other exact D2 symmetry (space group C2/c). The dimers pack into columns whose axes are collinear with the a axis of the unit cell. The columns assemble into discrete layers with two distinct types of hydrogen-sized voids residing between the layers. Despite the promising architecture of the voids within the lattice of 4, the absence of genuine channels to interconnect the voids precludes the uptake of hydrogen gas, even at elevated pressures (10 bar). AM1 calculations of the structure of dimeric 4 indicate that self-recognition through hydrogen bonding depends primarily on favorable electrostatic interactions. The potential-energy surface for monomeric 4 mapped by counter-rotation of an adjacent pair of C=C-N=C torsion angles indicates that the X-ray structures of the four monomeric units are global minima with highly nonplanar conformations that are preorganized for self-recognition by hydrogen bonding. The in vacuo enthalpy of association for the dimer was calculated to be significantly exergonic (DeltaG(assoc)=-21.9 kJ mol(-1), 298 K) and in excellent agreement with that determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl3 (DeltaG(assoc)=-16.6(4) kJ mol(-1), 298 K). Using population and bond order analyses, in conjunction with the conformation dependence of the frontier MO energies, we have been able to show that pi-electron delocalization is only marginally diminished in the nonplanar conformers of 4 and that the electronic structures of the constituent monomers of the dimer are well mixed.

Syntheses and Structures of Dinuclear Double-Stranded Helicates of Divalent Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, and Zinc

The syntheses and solid-state and solution structures of a series of unusually volatile, charge neutral, [4 + 4] double-stranded helical complexes of divalent manganese, iron, cobalt, and zinc are described. Deprotonation of the N4-donor iminopyrrole ligand H2L by KH cleanly generates the salt K2(THF)2L, which displays both sigma and pi interactions between K and iminopyrrolyl fragments in the X-ray crystal structure. Transamination, salt elimination, and protonolysis reactions were found to be versatile and, in general, high-yielding routes to the dinuclear double helicates [M2(L)2] (M = Mn, Fe, Co, and Zn). These compounds are isomorphous in the solid state by X-ray crystallography and adopt dinuclear cleft motifs as a result of pi stacking between opposing iminopyrrolyl fragments. This motif was also observed in the solution structures of [Fe2(L)2] and [Zn2(L)2] below 230 and 200 K, respectively (DeltaG++ = approximately 46 and 39.0 kJ mol(-1), respectively).

Calix[4]pyrrole Schiff Base Macrocycles. Novel Binucleating Ligands for μ-Oxo Iron Complexes

New bimetallic mu-oxo diferric complexes of several previously reported calix[4]pyrrole Schiff base macrocycles are described. The synthesis of a new member of this class of macrocycles is also reported; it was prepared via an acid-catalyzed condensation between 1,9-bisformyl-5,5-dipropyldipyrromethane and o-phenylenediamine. Reactions of the free base macrocycles or their bis-HCl salts with Fe(II) mesitylene, followed by air oxidation, gave the binuclear mu-oxo bis-Fe(III) compounds 6-10 in moderate yield. X-ray crystallography data reveal two different coordination environments for the Fe-O-Fe subunit in 6-10 that it is suggested can be controlled by altering the reaction conditions. Structural properties of these metalated pyrrolic macrocycles are also compared to those of mu-oxo diferric porphyrins and mu-oxo diferric texaphyrin. Complexes 6-10 exhibit two distinct types of M-N bonds that are similar in length to the bonds observed in metallotexaphyrin complexes. However, the electronics of the present systems are very different from those of texaphyrins and porphyrins in that no delocalized bonding patterns are observed within the ligands as a whole.