Duncan M. Tooke

The assembly of supramolecular boxes and coordination polymers based on bis-zinc-salphen building blocks

We report the assembly of supramolecular boxes and coordination polymers based on a rigid bis-zinc(II)-salphen complex and various ditopic nitrogen ligands. The use of the bis-zinc(II)-salphen building block in combination with small ditopic nitrogen ligands gave organic coordination polymers both in solution as well as in the solid state. Molecular modeling shows that supramolecular boxes with small internal cavities can be formed. However, the inability to accommodate solvent molecules (such as toluene) in these cavities explains why coordination polymers are prevailing over well-defined boxes, as it would lead to an energetically unfavorable vacuum. In contrast, for relatively longer ditopic nitrogen ligands, we observed the selective formation of supramolecular box assemblies in all cases studied. The approach can be easily extended to chiral analogues by using chiral ditopic nitrogen ligands.

Rigid bis-zinc(II) salphen building blocks for the formation of template-assisted bidentate ligands and their application in catalysis

The template-induced formation of chelating bidentate ligands by the selective self-assembly of two monodentate pyridyl phosphorus ligands on a rigid bis-zinc(II) salphen template with two identical binding sites was studied. Using UV-vis, NMR-spectroscopy and X-ray analysis the formed structures were unambiguously proven. The application of these templated bidentate ligands in transition metal catalysis showed, in most cases, typical bidentate character. Compared to previous work based on a more flexible bis-zinc(II) porphyrin template, the current catalytic data suggest that the rigidity of the template is not an important factor for the improvement of the regio- and enantioselectivity under the applied reaction conditions.

Synthesis of and evidence for electronic communication within heteromultimetallic tetrakis(NCN-pincer metal)-(metallo)porphyrin hybrids.

Several heteromultimetallic pincer-porphyrin hybrids have been prepared in excellent yields by stepwise metalation of a general precursor, [2H(Br(NCN))(4)], which was designed in such a way so as to guarantee selectivity for either the porphyrin or pincer sites during the metalation steps. First, a metal was introduced in the porphyrin cavity using a metal(II) salt, followed by metalation of the pincer units through oxidative addition to an appropriate metal(0) complex. The resulting multimetallic complexes show an appreciable amount of intramolecular communication between the meso-pincer metal groups and the central metalloporphyrin component. This was manifested in changes of the optical and ligand-binding properties of the metalloporphyrin part upon reactions at the peripheral pincer sites.

Changes in magnetic properties from solid state to solution in a trinuclear linear copper(II) complex

A linear trinuclear copper(II) complex containing phenoxido- and alkoxido-bridges between the metal centers has been isolated and structurally characterized. The complex cation consists of a linear array of three copper ions, assembled by means of two doubly deprotonated ligands. The octahedral coordination sphere of the two peripheral copper(II) ions is completed by weakly bound methanol molecules, and the square-planar central metal ion is located on an exact, crystallographic inversion center. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility studies reveal the presence of antiferromagnetic exchange coupling between the copper(II) ions in the trinuclear unit along with small intermolecular antiferromagnetic interactions in the low temperature range. The results were fitted in two different ways, (i) taking into account solely the exchange interaction between the adjacent metal centers or, (ii) regarding exchange interactions between both adjacent and non-adjacent copper(II) ions. Solid-state temperature-dependent X-band EPR studies in the range 4.2–250 K indicate a doublet ground spin state |½, 1〉. In solution, the ground spin state of the complex is found to be a quartet (S = ), suggesting a modification of the exchange coupling interactions between the copper(II) ions. The simulation of the 4.2 K solution spectrum gives rise to the best parameters D > 0.8 cm−1, g⊥ = 2.04 and g∥ = 2.21.

Stoichiometry-dependent structures: an X-ray and neutron single-crystal diffraction study of the effect of reaction stoichiometry on the crystalline products formed in the potassium-cyanurate system.

Reaction of cyanuric acid (C(3)H(3)N(3)O(3); neutral form CYH(3); anionic form CYH_2;-; dianionic form CYH(2-)) with K(2)CO(3) or KOH in aqueous solution gave three different crystalline products, according to the reaction stoichiometry used. The structures of two products were easily determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction: [K(CYH(2))(H(2)O)], (1), of which the crystal structure is already known [Marsh, R. E. et al. (2002). Acta Cryst. B58, 62-77], and [K(2)(CYH)], (2), a highly symmetrical and dense structure. Further stoichiometric variation produced another new complex, (3), and reaction of Rb(2)CO(3) with CYH(3) yielded a further product, (4), which was found to be isostructural with (3). Determination of the structures of (3) and (4) by X-ray diffraction gave a result that was chemically unreasonable owing to a charge imbalance, with the asymmetric unit apparently containing 2- against 1.5+ (partial charges as the result of crystallographic mirror symmetry). A single-crystal neutron diffraction analysis carried out on a fully deuterated sample of (3) revealed the presence of a supercell, with the c axis doubled compared with the X-ray result. Subsequent refinement of the structure with this supercell showed that it is the result of just two D atoms breaking crystallographically imposed mirror symmetry, which is otherwise essentially observed by the rest of the structure. This minor deviation from pseudo-symmetry could not be identified by X-ray diffraction. Thus, single-crystal neutron diffraction data revealed that the true chemical formula of the structure of (3) [and presumably also of the isostructural (4) with Rb instead of K and H instead of D], is [K(3)(C(3)D(2)N(3)O(3))(3)(C(3)D(3)N(3)O(3))(D(2)O)(4)], the deuterated form of [K(3)(CYH(2))(3)(CYH(3))(H(2)O)(4)].

Chiral bidentate aminophosphine ligands: synthesis, coordination chemistry and asymmetric catalysis

Chiral aminophosphines Ph2PN(R)(CH2)nN(R)PPh2 1-4 [n= 2, R = CH(CH3)(Ph) 1; n= 3, R = CH(CH2CH3)(Ph) 2, n= 2, R = CH(CH3)(1-naphthyl) 3; n= 2, R = CH(CH3)(C6H11) 4] were synthesized by the reaction of ClPPh2 with the appropriate easily accessible enantiopure amine building blocks. For compounds 1 and 2, the corresponding selenides 5 and 6 were prepared to determine the electronic character of the phosphine moieties. By reaction of 1 with either PdCl2(cod) or PdCl(CH3)(cod) the cis-complexes 7 and 8 were obtained. The molecular structure for complex 7, cis-[PdCl2(1)], was determined by X-ray crystallography. Reaction of PtCl2(cod) with 1 or 2 yielded the corresponding monomeric cis-isomers 9 and 10. The rhodium derivative [RhCl(CO)(1)] (11) was obtained as a mixture of cis and trans-isomers. Preliminary results in the rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation of styrene and vinyl acetate, with ees up to 51% and high regioselectivities, showed the potential of these chiral aminophosphines for homogeneous catalysis.

Conformational studies of ligand-template assemblies and the consequences for encapsulation of rhodium complexes and hydroformylation catalysis

The second coordination sphere around a transition metal catalyst can contribute to the activity and selectivity that it displays. In this paper we present encapsulated catalysts using a template-ligand assembly strategy based on Zn(II)salphen building blocks, and show that these have significantly different properties in catalysis than previously reported Zn(II)porphyrin-based analogues. The conformational properties of tris-Zn(II)salphen-based capsular catalysts were examined by a combination of solid state and solution phase analytical methods, as well as computational techniques. We found that as a result of the ability of the salphen-based capsules to adopt different conformations compared to porphyrin-based capsules, less stringent constraints are enforced to the catalytic centre, resulting in different catalyst selectivities displayed by the rhodium complexes enclosed.

New diphosphine ligands based on diphenyl ether for the Pd-catalyzed CO/ethene copolymerization

The catalytic activity and selectivity of palladium(II) complexes of new, flexible bidentate ligands in the CO/ethene copolymerization reaction have been found to change considerably with the steric properties of the ligands.

Fourier3D: visualization of electron density and solvent-accessible voids in small-molecule crystallography.

Although three-dimensional electron density visualization is common in protein crystallography, it is rarely used by small-molecule crystallographers. However, in cases such as disorder and the location of hydrogen atoms, it can prove an invaluable tool in correctly interpreting and modelling a crystal structure. The previously released MCE program (Husak & Kratochvil, 2003) excellently fulfills this role for Windows-based PCs, and has inspired us to create an equivalent program to address the needs of crystallographers using Unix (including Linux). Fourier3D reads map files written by PLATON and generates colour-coded three-dimensional surfaces based on specified critical density levels. The map handling is fully interactive and controlled using a simple GUI. There are several display styles for both surfaces and molecular fragments. A screenshot or POV-Ray input file can be written at any time. Whilst sharing a degree of common code with MCE, Fourier3D additionally introduces: a simplified intuitive cross-platform GUI; improved mouse controls; front and rear slabbing planes; high-quality molecular display styles; solid-surface modes; integrated support for visualization of solvent-accessible voids; no need to recompile for use with very large maps; quick reference help and full on-line documentation. Other Unix software that offers similar display methods includes the powder diffraction package FOX (Favre-Nicolin & Cerny, 2002) and the commercially available maXus program (Bruker AXS).

Alkali metal complexes of 6-methyl-2-pyridone: simple formulae, but not so simple structures.

Reaction of 6-methyl-2-pyridone (Hmhp) with Na or K metal, or with Rb or Cs 2-ethylhexoxide, in an appropriate single or mixed solvent, yields a series of solvated polymeric complexes with the empirical formulae M(mhp)(H2O)2 [(1), M = Na; (2), M = K], M(mhp)(H2O) [(3), M = Rb; (4), M = Cs] and Cs(mhp)(ROH) [(5), R = Me; (6), R = Et]. All of the products have been crystallographically characterized and show sheet polymeric structures, except for a double-chain structure for (2). In all of the structures, mhp(-) and solvent molecules function as bridging ligands; two metal ions are bridged (μ2) by each solvent molecule in (1), (5) and (6), while (2) contains both μ2 and μ3 triple bridges, and (3) and (4) display highly unusual μ4 quadruple bridging of metal ions by water molecules. The pyridonate O atom bridges two or three metal ions in each case. Nitrogen is also involved in coordination to the heavier metals; it bonds to a single ion in (3) and (4), but has an almost unprecedented bridging role in (5) and (6). As a result of the extensive bridging by ligands, coordination numbers between 6 and 8 are achieved for the metal ions. In each structure, all solvent OH groups form hydrogen bonds to pyridonate O and, in some cases, N atoms. With one exception, these are the first reported pyridonate complexes of the alkali metals Na-Cs that do not also include transition metals.