Ferrocene-cyclam: a redox-active macrocycle for the complexation of transition metal ions and a study on the influence of the relative permittivity on the coulombic interaction between metal cations

Chemical and Redox Noninnocence of Pentane-2,4-dione Bis(S-methylisothiosemicarbazone) in Cobalt Complexes and Their Application in Wacker-Type Oxidation

Cobalt complexes with multiproton- and multielectron-responsive ligands are of interest for challenging catalytic transformations. The chemical and redox noninnocence of pentane-2,4-dione bis(S-methylisothiosemicarbazone) (PBIT) in a series of cobalt complexes has been studied by a range of methods, including spectroscopy [UV-vis, NMR, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)], cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Two complexes [CoIII(H2LSMe)I]I and [CoIII(LSMe)I2] were found to act as precatalysts in a Wacker-type oxidation of olefins using phenylsilane, the role of which was elucidated through isotopic labeling. Insights into the mechanism of the catalytic transformation as well as the substrate scope of this selective reaction are described, and the essential role of phenylsilane and the noninnocence of PBIT are disclosed. Among the several relevant species characterized was an unprecedented Co(III) complex with a dianionic diradical PBIT ligand ([CoIII(LSMe••)I]).

Ferrocene decorated unusual mercury(ii) dithiocarbamate coordination polymers: crystallographic and computational studies

Three new ferrocene decorated 1D coordination polymers of Hg(ii) dithiocarbamates were synthesized and the nature of their weak interactions was addressed using computational techniques.

Electrochemical hydrogen peroxide sensor based on cobalt phthalocyanine captured in polyaniline film on a glassy carbon electrode

This work demonstrated preparation, characterization, and application of a cobalt phthalocyanine based enzymeless/mediatorless hydrogen peroxide sensor. The cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) was retained in polyaniline (PANI) film on a glassy carbon electrode during electrochemical polymerization of aniline and consequently a novel composite electrode (GCE/PANI/ CoPc ) for the electrochemical sensor application was constructed. The CoPc functionalized composite electrode, GCE/PANI/ CoPc , was evaluated by voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The results displayed retaining of the CoPc molecules in the PANI film on the GCE electrode. Presence of CoPc in PANI increased conductivity of the composite on the electrode. Sensing performance of the GCE/PANI/ CoPc composite electrode to H2O2 were evaluated in detail with respect to the selectivity, reproducibility, repeatability, stability, linear concentration range, and sensitivity with voltammetric and double potential step chronoamperometric techniques. The GCE/PANI/ CoPc composite electrode gives a linear range for H2O2 between 2 and 18 μM H2O2 with sensitivities of 1.55 A.M-1 during the cathodic SWV scan and with sensitivities of 4.01 A.M-1 during the anodic SWV scan. A direct application of the sensor was performed in a real working condition, for the detection of hydrogen peroxide produced from the reaction between the glucose and glucose oxidase enzyme.

Mesoporous hybrid materials containing nanoscopic "binding pockets" for colorimetric anion signaling in water by using displacement assays

Mesoporous solids functionalized with anion-binding groups have proved to be suitable anion hosts and have been used in selective colorimetric displacement assays. The material UVM-7, a mesoporous MCM41-type support characterized by the presence of nanometric mesoporous particle conglomerates, was selected as inorganic scaffolding. Reaction of the template-free UVM-7 solid with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (1) yielded solid S1, from which the derivatives S2 and S3 were obtained by reaction with 2-methylthio-2-imidazoline hydroiodide (2) and butyl isocyanate (3), respectively. Solids S4 and S5 were prepared by reaction of the starting mesoporous UVM-7 scaffolding with N-methyl-N'-propyltrimethoxysilyl imidazolium chloride (4) and with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (5), respectively. The solids synthesized contain mesoporous binding pockets that can interact with anions through electrostatic attractive forces (S1, S2, S4, S5) and hydrogen-bonding interactions (S1, S2, S3, S4). These functionalized solids were loaded with a dye (d) capable of interacting coordinatively with the anchored binding sites, in our case 5-carboxyfluorescein, to yield the hybrid materials S1d, S2d, S3d, S4d and S5d. These dye-containing solids are the signaling reporters. Their sensing ability towards a family of carboxylates, namely acetate, citrate, lactate, succinate, oxalate, tartrate, malate, mandelate, glutamate and certain nucleotides, has been studied in pure water at pH 7.5 (Hepes, 0.01 mol dm(-3)). In the sensing protocol, a particular analyte may be bonded preferentially by the nanoscopic functionalized pocket, leading to delivery of the dye to the solution and resulting in colorimetric detection of the guest. The response to a given anion depends on the characteristics of the binding pockets and the specific interaction of the anion with the binding groups in the mesopores. We believe that the possibility of using a wide variety of mesoporous supports that can easily be functionalized with anion-binding sites, combined with suitable dyes as indicators, make this approach significant for opening new perspectives in the design of chromogenic assays for anion detection in pure water.

Binding of Nitrate to a CuII−Cyclen Complex Bearing a Ferrocenyl Pendant: Synthesis, Solid-State X-ray Structure, and Solution-Phase Electrochemical and Spectrophotometric Studies

The reaction of Cu(NO3)2.3H2O with the ligand 1-(ferrocenemethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L) in acetonitrile leads to the formation of a blue complex, [Cu(L)(NO3)][NO3] (C1). The X-ray structure determination shows an unexpected binding of a nitrate anion in that the CuII center is surrounded by four N atoms of the 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) macrocycle and two O atoms from a chelating nitrate anion, both Cu-O distances being below the sums of the van de Waals radii. Hydrogen-bonding interactions in the crystal lattice and a weak interaction between a second nitrate O and the CuII center in C1 give rise to a highly distorted CuII geometry relative to that found in the known structure of [Cu(cyclen)(NO3)][NO3] (C5). Electrochemical studies in acetonitrile containing 0.1 M [Bu4N][NO3] as the supporting electrolyte showed that oxidation of C1 in this medium exhibits a single reversible one-electron step with a formal potential E degrees f of +85 mV vs Fc0/+ (Fc = ferrocene). This process is associated with oxidation of the ferrocenyl pendant group. Additionally, a reversible one-electron reduction reaction with an E degrees f value of -932 mV vs Fc0/+, attributed to the CuII/I redox couple, is detected. Gradual change of the supporting electrolyte from 0.1 M [Bu4N][NO3] to the poorly coordinating [Bu4N][PF6] electrolyte, at constant ionic strength, led to a positive potential shift in E degrees f values by +107 and +39 mV for the CuII/I(C1) and Fc0/+(C1) redox couples, respectively. Analysis of these electrochemical data and UV-vis spectra is consistent with the probable presence of the complexes C1, [Cu(L)(CH3CN)2]2+ (C2), [Cu(L)(CH3CN)(NO3)]+ (C3), and [Cu(L)(NO3)2] (C4) as the major species in nitrate-containing acetonitrile solutions. In weakly solvating nitromethane, the extent of nitrate complexation remains significant even at low nitrate concentrations, due to the lack of solvent competition.

Effects of multiple ion loading on redox and luminescence properties of ruthenium trisphenanthroline crown ether hybrids

Homoleptic and heteroleptic ruthenium trisphenanthrolines were prepared with azacrown ethers attached to the 4,7-positions of the phenanthrolines to maximise the electronic communication between the ruthenium and the crown ethers as complexation sites. Redox and spectral data were processed to explain the non-steady trends in the absorption and emission spectra in the series. Addition of Ba2+ entailed large shifts in the redox potential (up to 370 mV) and in the emission spectra (up to 87 nm). Due to the crowded situation of the azacrown ether units in, this complex showed a non-linear behaviour both in the redox and emission properties upon loading with Ba2+ that is postulated to originate from the intermediate formation of sandwich type complexes.

Heteroditopic ferrocene-based ureas as receptors for anions and cations

The synthesis of structurally new types of ferrocene-based ureas, in which the ferrocene moiety is simultaneously attached to two urea groups, have been prepared directly from 1,1-bis(isocyanato)ferrocene 1. Receptors 2a, 2b, and 2d show spectral and electrochemical anion-sensing capability for hydrogenphosphate and fluoride anions, in addition 2d also shows a sensing capability for acetate anion. Heteroditopic receptor 2a, bearing a pyridine binding site, does not complex Cu2+ cations but instead an intramolecular redox reaction takes place to give the oxidized form 2a+. The results obtained by using the heteroditopic receptor 2b, containing two crown ethers units, demonstrate that K+ cations can only be electrochemically detected in the presence of hydrogenphosphate anion. Whereas the new structural motif 2d, in which the two urea groups are part of the macrocycle framework, is a selective electrochemical sensor for Li+ cation in the presence of alkali metal ions. The preferred binding modes and their extent are proposed for the most representative complexes by means of DFT-based theoretical calculations.

Self-Assembly of Heterobimetallic Neutral Macrocycles Incorporating Ferrocene Spacer Groups: Spectroelectrochemical Analysis of the Double Two-Electron Oxidation of a Molecular Rectangle

Two Pt(4)-Fe(2) mixed-metal neutral assemblies, 4 and 5, incorporating four bis(triethylphosphine)platinum(II) centers, two flexible bridging 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylates, and two rigid 2,9-phenanthrenediyl (4) or 1,8-anthracenediyl (5) bridges, have been synthesized. X-ray characterization of 4 and 5 reveals the formation of discrete and highly symmetrical heterobimetallic neutral species possessing a rhomboidal and rectangular shape, respectively. The rectangular molecules, 5, could be reversibly oxidized in two two-electron steps, separated by 0.21 V. Spectroelectrochemistry in the UV-vis-NIR region confirms the ferrocene groups as primary oxidation sites; however, the intermediate 5(2+) is EPR silent even at 4 K due to enhanced EPR relaxation involving the oxidizable 1,8-anthracenediyl linkers.

Heterometallic Compounds Assembled from Ferrocene-Containing Bisthiosemicarbazone Clips

Heteropolynuclear organometallic compounds have been constructed by using the ferrocene-based ligand H(2)L, [NH(2)SCNHN=C(CH(3))(C(5)H(4))](2)Fe. Reaction of the ligand H(2)L with the cobalt(II) salt gave a tetranuclear helicate Co(2)Fe(2) (1) with two ferrocene-based clips wrapped around the two cobalt atoms. The chiral helicates recognized the neighbors with same chirality through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the thiosemicarbazone moieties to form a one-dimensional chiral channel. Reaction of the ligand H(2)L with the cadmium(II) salt afforded a tetranuclear dimeric compound Cd(2)Fe(2) (2), with two symmetric related parts bridged through two sulfur atoms. Reaction of the ligand H(2)L with the copper(I) salt, in the presence of triethylamine, resulted in a hexanuclear compound Cu(4)Fe(2) (3) with a crownlike Cu(4)S(4) octagon similar to that of S(8) sited inside and two ferrocene-containing ligands positioned outside. Electrochemical measurements were displayed to investigate the redox communications between the ferrocene moieties through metal centers.

Voltammetric Studies of Through-Space and Through-Bond Electrostatic Interactions in Alkyl Linked Ferrocene and Benzoaza-15-crown-5 Receptor Molecules in Acetonitrile

Six new ferrocene alkyl-benzoaza-15-crown-5 molecules with different alkyl spacer lengths were synthesized and investigated by voltammetry in acetonitrile. Their mean potentials (E(o)') were more negative than that of ferrocene. The changes were greater for the bis-substituted ligands than for the monosubstituted ones. Increasing the alkyl spacer length shifted E(o)' negatively from -CH2- to -(CH2)2- but positively from -(CH2)2- to -(CH2)4-. This unusual variation is attributed to the combined electron donating and withdrawing influences and also the steric effect from the substituents on the ferrocene moiety. Analyses of the potentials of the molecules and their fully protonated forms suggested intramolecular electrostatic signaling through not only the space but also the alkyl chain which is usually considered to be an insulator for through-bond communication. Diffusion coefficients with insignificant differences between the receptors and their fully protonated forms were derived from cyclic voltammograms, suggesting insignificant further conformational variation upon protonation.

Synthesis, characterization, and X-ray crystal structures of cyclam derivatives. 5. Copper(II) binding studies of a pyridine-strapped 5,12-dioxocyclam-based macrobicycle

The copper(II) binding properties of the macrobicyclic diamide 1,9,12,18,22-pentaazatricyclo[7.6.6.1(3,7)]docosa-3,5,7(22)-triene-13,19-dione (L1) have been fully investigated by spectroscopic (IR, UV-vis, EPR, MALDI-TOF MS), X-ray diffraction, potentiometric, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical methods. This constrained receptor possesses a hemispherical cavity created by cross-bridging the 1 and 8 positions of trans-dioxocyclam (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-5,12-dione, L2) with a 2,6-pyridyl strap. Treatment of L1 with a copper salt in methanol produces a red complex of [Cu(L1H(-1))]+ formula in which the copper atom is embedded in a 13-membered ring and coordinated by both amines as well as the pyridine and one deprotonated amide nitrogen atoms. Infrared spectroscopy provides evidence for protonation of the carbonyl oxygen atom belonging to the copper-bound amide of [Cu(L1H(-1))]+ under strongly acidic conditions. The resulting conversion of the amidate into an iminol group highlights the inert character of the corresponding complexes, which do not dissociate at low pH values. In contrast, both secondary amides of L1 deprotonate in the presence of a weak base, thus affording a blue pentacoordinated [Cu(L1H(-2))] compound where the copper atom sits in the center of the 14-membered dioxocyclam fragment. In aqueous solution, both complexes undergo a pH-driven (pK(a) = 8.73(2)) molecular reorganization, which is reminiscent of a glider motion. The copper(II) cation switches rapidly and reversibly from a four-coordinate flattened tetrahedral arrangement of the donor atoms in the red species to a five-coordinate environment in the blue species, which is intermediate between a square pyramid and a trigonal bipyramid. Conversion of the red to the blue form was also demonstrated to occur upon reduction of [Cu(L1H(-1))]+ by cyclic voltammetry (E(pc) = -0.64 V/SCE in CH(3)CN).

Diametrically Disubstituted Cyclam Derivative Having Hg2+-Selective Fluoroionophoric Behaviors

[reaction: see text] A new fluoroionophore has been synthesized by appending two signaling pyrenylacetamide subunits on the binding motif of 1,8-dimethylcyclam. The designed compound exhibited highly selective and sensitive fluoroionophoric behavior toward Hg(2+) ions of excimer emission in aqueous dioxane (dioxane/H(2)O = 1:9, v/v) solution with a detection limit of 1.3 x 10(-)(6) M. The "ON-OFF" type signaling behavior of the fluoroionophore is due to the metal ion induced conformational changes from folded to open-winged conformations by exploiting the two nearby appended pyrenyl fluorophores.

Redox-active pH-responsive molecules: ferrocenylphosphonic acid, ferrocenylmethylphosphonic acid and 1,1′-ferrocenylbisphosphonic acid. Structural determination of FcPO3Na2·5H2O

The acidity constants of the reduced and oxidized species of ferrocenylphosphonic acids FcPO3H2, FcCH2PO3H2 and fc(PO3H2)2 (Fc = (eta5-C5H5)Fe(eta5-C5H4), fc = (eta5-C5H4)Fe(eta5-C5H4)) in water have been evaluated by potentiometric, 31P NMR, and electrochemical methods. The oxidized forms are more acidic than the reduced ones. The interaction between the redox centre and the charged oxygen atoms of the phosphonate group is shown to be electrostatic. The maximum oxidation shift DeltaE between the protonated and unprotonated species increases with the number of charges of the substrate and decreases with the increase of the distance between the ferrocenyl centre and the oxygen atoms of the phosphonate group. The structure of FcPO3Na2.5H2O is determined. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system. It is lamellar with an inorganic layer formed by tetramers Na4O14, the ferrocenyl groups occupying the interlamellar space.

Bis[1,1′-N,N′-(2-picolyl)aminomethyl]ferrocene as a redox sensor for transition metal ions

The compound bis[1,1'-N,N'-(2-picolyl)aminomethyl]ferrocene, L(1), was synthesized. The protonation constants of this ligand and the stability constants of its complexes with Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) were determined in aqueous solution by potentiometric methods at 25 degrees C and at ionic strength 0.10 mol dm(-3) in KNO(3). The compound L(1) forms only 1:1 (M:L) complexes with Pb(2+) and Cd(2+) while with Ni(2+) and Cu(2+) species of 2 [ratio] 1 ratio were also found. The complexing behaviour of L(1) is regulated by the constraint imposed by the ferrocene in its backbone, leading to lower values of stability constants for complexes of the divalent first row transition metals when compared with related ligands. However, the differences in stability are smaller for the larger metal ions. The structure of the copper complex with L(1) was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and shows that a species of 2:2 ratio is formed. The two copper centres display distorted octahedral geometries and are linked through the two L(1) bridges at a long distance of 8.781(10) Angstrom. The electrochemical behaviour of L(1) was studied in the presence of Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+), showing that upon complexation the ferrocene-ferrocenium half-wave potential shifts anodically in relation to that of the free ligand. The maximum electrochemical shift ([capital Delta]E(1/2)) of 268 mV was found in the presence of Pb(2+), followed by Cu(2+)(218 mV), Ni(2+)(152 mV), Zn(2+)(111 mV) and Cd(2+)(110 mV). Moreover, L(1) is able to electrochemically and selectively sense Cu(2+) in the presence of a large excess of the other transition metal cations studied.

Microwave Spectroscopy Measurements of Rotational Spectra and DFT Calculations for Two Distinct Structural Isomers of 1,1‘-Dimethylferrocene

Microwave spectra were obtained for two distinct structural isomers of 1,1'-dimethylferrocene, an eclipsed synperiplanar isomer (phi = 0 degrees, the E0 isomer), with A = 1176.9003(2) MHz, B = 898.3343(2) MHz, C = 668.7469(2) MHz, and an eclipsed synclinal isomer (phi = 72 degrees, the E72 isomer) with A = 1208.7117(14) MHz, B = 806.4101(12) MHz, and C = 718.7179(8) MHz. The b-dipole, asymmetric-top spectra of both structural isomers were measured in the frequency range of 5-12 GHz using a Flygare-Balle type of spectrometer. A very good fit to observed transitions, with small distortion constants, was obtained for the E0 conformer, indicating that this conformer is nearly rigid. The deviations obtained in a similar least-squares fit for the E72 confomer are significantly larger, indicating possible fluxional behavior for this conformer. In addition, 7 out of the 26 transitions observed for the E72 isomer conformer clearly exhibit very small splittings, giving further evidence for internal motion. DFT calculations for the different possible conformations of 1,1'- dimethylferrocene arising from rotation of one methyl cyclopentadienyl ligand relative to the other about the nominal C5 axis by an angle phi (dihedral angle) were performed using the B3PW91 functional. The calculations converged and were optimized for five structures on this torsional potential energy surface corresponding to different dihedral angles phi; three yielded energy minima, and two gave energy maxima, corresponding to transition states. The experimental results are in very good agreement with the results of the DFT calculations.

Heterodimetallic compounds assembled from ferrocenedicarboxylato and ferrocenecarboxylato ligands

Heteropolynuclear organometallic compounds have been constructed by using two kinds of ferrocene-based ligands, 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid (H(2)L(1)) and ferrocenecarboxylic acid (HL(2)). Reactions the ligand H(2)L(1) with copper(II) and nickel(II) salts, in the presence of pyridine, give a tetranuclear Cu(2)Fe(2) mixed-metallic box Cu(2)L(1)(2)(Py)(2)(DMF)(2)(H(2)O)(2) (1) and a tetranuclear heterobimetallic helix Ni(2)L(1)(2)(Py)(4)(H(2)O) (2), respectively. In these complexes, the ferrocene moieties show cisoid conformations which lead to the formation of the finite coordination geometry, i.e. to molecular complexes. Interactions of the ligand H(2)L(1) with lanthanide ions afford two-dimensional networks [La(2)L(1)(3)(CH(3)OH)(4)]( infinity ) (3), [Eu(2)L(1)(3)(H(2)O)(5)]( infinity ) (4), and [Gd(2)L(1)(3)(CH(3)OH)(2)(H(2)O)(3)]( infinity ) (5), respectively, in which transoid conformations of the ferrocene moiety provide opportunities to form infinite 2-D networks. It is suggested that the conformational freedom of the ferrocene moiety makes the ligand L(1) display different conformations and coordination modes in these complexes. In addition, the pi.pi interactions related to the ferrocene moieties were also found to stabilize the supramolecular architectures in the solid state. As a comparison, reaction of lanthanide ions with the ligand HL(2) resulted in three isostructural heterodinuclear windmill-shaped compounds Ln(2)L(2)(6)(CH(3)OH)(2)(H(2)O)(5) [Ln = La (6), Eu (7), and Gd (8)] by simply diffusing the solutions of lanthanide ions into the mixture of HL(2) and NaOH, respectively. Electrochemical properties of the ferrocene-containing complexes 1-8 are also investigated in the solution or solid state.