New lanthanum (III) complexes containing azaphosphor β-diketon and diimine ligands: Synthesis, crystallography, morphology properties, DNA binding, DNA cleavage, and DFT calculation

Two octa-coordinated lanthanum (III) complexes of deprotonated azaphosphor β-diketon and diimine ligands, [LnL3Q] (L = [Cl2CHC(O)NP(O)(NC6H12)2], Q = Phen (C1) and Bipy (C2)), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and NMR spectra. X-ray crystallography revealed a distorted tetragonal antiprism LaO6N2 coordination geometry around the lanthanum atom in both compounds. Nano-sized complexes (Ć1 and Ć2) were synthesized via a sonochemical process and analyzed using SEM and XRPD. TGA-DTA analysis were performed on complexes in both bulk and nano scales. Redox behavior was also examined by cyclic voltammetry. The interaction between the complexes and calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) was investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence titration, viscosity measurements, and gel electrophoresis. C2 and Ć2 likely intercalate between DNA base pairs through van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding, whereas C1 and Ć1 interact with DNA via groove binding. Further, result indicated the apparent association constant (Kapp) in the range of 4.53 × 104 M-1-26.86 × 104 M-1 with the highest value for nanocomplex Ć2. Fluorescence studies revealed dynamic and static quenching for C1, while the other compounds followed a static quenching process. Hirshfeld surface analysis and the NCI method were employed to demonstrate how non-covalent interactions influence the crystal packing through intermolecular interactions.

Chlorine "Equatorial Belt" Activation of CF3Cl by CO2: The C···Cl Tetrel Bond Dominance in CF3Cl-CO2

Besides its typical halogen donor behavior (exhibiting a Cl σ-hole) in forming Cl···B halogen bonds (B is an electron-rich region), CF₃Cl reveals a new interaction site in its complex with CO₂ when explored by rotational spectroscopy. Experimental evidence and theoretical analyses point out irrefutably that CF₃Cl prefers to link to CO₂ through its Cl "equatorial belt" consisting of the lone pairs of the Cl atom, resulting in a C···Cl tetrel bond. In addition, a secondary plausible C···O tetrel bond and a F···O halogen bond might contribute to the relative orientation of the moieties forming the complex. The effects of the Cl "equatorial belt" present in perhalogenated molecules, such as CF₃Cl, have been hitherto overlooked in describing the origin of noncovalent interactions. That left a significant void that the present study tries to fill by outlining its importance.

Post-synthetic modification of supramolecular assemblies of β-diketonato Cu(ii) complexes: comparing and contrasting the molecular topology by crystal structure and quantum computational studies

Solvent-induced structural transformations on the metal coordination sphere in homoleptic (1 and 2) and heteroleptic (3 and 4) Cu(ii) complexes were analyzed and investigated by crystallographic and quantum computational studies.

Strengthening the Magnetic Interactions in Pseudobinary First-Row Transition Metal Thiocyanates, M(NCS)2

Understanding the effect of chemical composition on the strength of magnetic interactions is key to the design of magnets with high operating temperatures. The magnetic divalent first-row transition metal (TM) thiocyanates are a class of chemically simple layered molecular frameworks. Here, we report two new members of the family, manganese(II) thiocyanate, Mn(NCS)₂, and iron(II) thiocyanate, Fe(NCS)₂. Using magnetic susceptibility measurements on these materials and on cobalt(II) thiocyanate and nickel(II) thiocyanate, Co(NCS)₂ and Ni(NCS)₂, respectively, we identify significantly stronger net antiferromagnetic interactions between the earlier TM ions-a decrease in the Weiss constant, θ, from 29 K for Ni(NCS)₂ to -115 K for Mn(NCS)₂-a consequence of more diffuse 3d orbitals, increased orbital overlap, and increasing numbers of unpaired t_2g electrons. We elucidate the magnetic structures of these materials: Mn(NCS)₂, Fe(NCS)₂, and Co(NCS)₂ order into the same antiferromagnetic commensurate ground state, while Ni(NCS)₂ adopts a ground state structure consisting of ferromagnetically ordered layers stacked antiferromagnetically. We show that significantly stronger exchange interactions can be realized in these thiocyanate frameworks by using earlier TMs.

Equilibrium and site selective analysis for DNA threading intercalation of a new phosphine copper(I) complex: Insights from X-ray analysis, spectroscopic and molecular modeling studies

To clarify the interaction of phosphine copper(I) complex with DNA, our study reports the synthesis of a new phosphine copper(I) complex, along with a detailed analysis of the geometry characterization and its interaction with double-stranded DNA. The triclinic phase Cu(PPh₃)₂(L)(I) with a tetrahedral geometry was identified as the product of the reaction of copper(I) iodide with (E,E)-N,N'-1,2-Ethanediylbis[1-(3-pyridinyl)methanimine] ligand and triphenylphosphine by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Molecular interaction of the synthesized complex with the calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (ct-DNA) was investigated in the physiological buffer (pH 7.4) by multi-spectroscopic approaches associated with a competitive displacement towards Hoechst 33258 and methylene blue (MB) as groove and intercalator probes. The fluorescence and UV/Vis results detected the formation of a complex-DNA adduct in the ground-state with a binding affinity in order of 10⁴ M^-1, which is in keeping with both groove binders and intercalators. The thermodynamic parameters, ΔS⁰ = -200.31 ± 0.08 cal/mol·K and ΔH⁰ = -63.11 ± 0.24 kcal/mol, confirmed that the van der Waals interaction is the main driving force for the binding process. Moreover, the ionic strength and pH effect experiments demonstrated the electrostatic interactions between the complex and DNA is negligible. Analysis of the molecular docking simulation declared the flat (E,E)-N,N'-1,2-Ethanediylbis[1-(3-pyridinyl)methanimine] part of the complex was inserted between the sequential A…T/A…T base pairs, while the phosphine substituents were located in the groove, i.e. threading intercalation. Besides, the cytotoxicity of the complex against the MCF-7 human breast cancer cells was detected at IC50 = 10 μg/mL.

Copper(i) complexes of functionalized sulfur-containing ligands: structural and theoretical insights into chalcogen bonding

Four new copper(i) thiocyanate complexes were studied using geometrical parameters and the lump–hole approach for justification of the strength and nature of chalcogen bonding.

Cu(I) complexes regulated by N-heterocyclic ligands: Syntheses, structures, fluorescence and electrochemical properties

Three mononuclear Cu(I) complexes, namely, [Cu(2-PBO)(PPh₃)₂]·ClO₄·2CH₂Cl₂ (1), [Cu(3-PBO)(PPh₃)₂(ClO₄)]·CH₂Cl₂ (2) and [Cu(PBM)(PPh₃)₂]·ClO₄ (3) (2-PBO = 2-(2'-Pyridyl)benzoxazole, 3-PBO = 2-(3'-Pyridyl)benzoxazole, PBM = 2-(2'-Pyridyl)benzimidazole, PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, X-ray single crystal diffraction and thermal analysis. Photoluminescent investigation shows that complexes 1-3 exhibit distinct tunable light green (512 nm)-to-yellow (557 nm) photoluminescence by varying the N-heterocyclic ligands. Three complexes show intense 2-PBO-based yellow, 3-PBO-based light green and intense PBM-based bright green luminescence upon irradiation with a standard UV lamp (λ_ex = 254 nm) at room temperature. Moreover, the electrochemical properties of 1-3 have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The results suggest the frontier molecular orbits and the HOMO-LUMO energy gaps of these cuprous complexes are effectively adjusted through the introduction of different N-heterocyclic ligands, thus achieving the selective luminescence of the cuprous complexes.