Manuel R. Bermejo

Electronic and steric effects in manganese Schiff-base complexes as models for the water oxidation complex in photosystem II. The isolation of manganese-(II) and -(III) complexes of 3- and 3,5-substituted N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine (H2salen) ligands

Manganese-(II) and -(III) complexes of substituted N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine (H2salen) ligands H2L (substituents are in the 3, 5 or 3,5 positions of the phenyl rings of the salen moiety) have been prepared and thoroughly characterised. The reaction of Mn(ClO4)2·6H2O with H2L in ethanol in air normally leads to manganese(III) complexes ligated by both the N2O2 ligand and water molecule(s). However, by employing electron-withdrawing substituents on the ligand, e.g. 3-Br,5-NO2, a manganese(II) complex can be obtained. A ‘borderline’ ligand is represented by the 5-NO2 derivative (nsalen), which produces a manganese(II) complex contaminated with a small amount of a manganese(III) species. Using a more rigorous oxidising agent in the synthesis, [Fe(η-C5H5)2][FeCl4], drives the reaction totally to a manganese(III) complex [Mn(nsalen)Cl(H2O)]. In addition to magnetic susceptibility studies, cyclic voltammetry has been employed. All the complexes exhibit an oxidation and reduction peak, the reversible character being confirmed by pulse voltammetry. Pulse voltammetry also confirmed the nature of the manganese(II) species [Mn(bnsalen)(H2O)2·2H2O [H2bnsalen =N,N′-bis(3-bromo-5-nitrosalicylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine] and that a slight amount of a manganese(III) species is present in [Mn(nsalen)(H2O)2]·2H2O. Six complexes have been crystallographically characterised. Despite the retention of an octahedral manganese environment in all of them, the supramolecular structures exhibit a wide diversity. The 3,5-dichloro and 5-bromo salen complexes containing co-ordinated water display combined π and hydrogen bonding, as well as dimerisation. The complex [{Mn(µ-dbsalen)(µ-O)}2](dbsalen = 3,5-dibromo derivative) offers an alternative bridging arrangement, and [Mn(bsalen)(MeOH)(OClO3)]·H2O (bsalen = 5-bromo derivative) highlights the versatility of the manganese centre in these systems where, unexpectedly, perchlorate is co-ordinated in place of a lattice water. A more subtle rearrangement of supramolecular structure is obtained in [Mn(nsalen)Cl(H2O)] where the usual combination of π- or hydrogen-bonding interaction is modified by the corresponding ability of the 5-NO2 substituent.

Mono- and polynuclear complexes of Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) with N,N′-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-1,3-diamino-2-propanol

Abstract Mono- and polynuclear neutral complexes have been obtained by direct electrochemical reaction of metal anodes with the potentially heptadentate and tetracompartmental ligand N , N ′-bis(3-hydroxysalicylidene)-1,3-diamino-2-propanol (H 5 L). Physicochemical data suggest that the ligand behaves as a di- or tetra-anion in mono- and polynuclear complexes, respectively. Metal ions are held together by μ-phenoxo oxygen bridges in polynuclear complexes. Nickel and copper environments are distorted to tetrahedral and square-planar, respectively. Zinc and cadmium could be hexa-coordinated in the mononuclear complexes. Finally, iron and cobalt ions seem to be in pseudo-octahedral fields.

Synthesis and structural characterisation of new manganese(II) and (III) complexes. Study of their photolytic and catalase activity and X-ray crystal structure of [Mn(3-OMe, 5-Br-salpn)(EtOH)(H2O)]ClO4

Abstract New [MnIIL(H2O)2] and [MnIIIL(H2O)2]ClO4 complexes, where L are substituted N,N′-bis(salicylidene)propane-1,3-diamine (H2salpn) ligands have been prepared and thoroughly characterised by elemental analysis, IR and mass spectroscopy, conductivity and magnetic measurements at room temperature (and, in the case of 1, at variable temperature). Cyclic and normal pulse voltammetry measurements were also performed. All these studies support an octahedral geometry around the metal with the Schiff base in the equatorial plane acting as tetradentate and solvent molecules in the axial positions. Crystallographic characterisation of 6 confirms this geometry and shows a supramolecular structure involving π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions. The ability to split water by these complexes and their catalase activity has also been studied.

Conformational rearrangement of 2,6-bis(1-salicyloylhydrazonoethyl)pyridine (H4daps) on complexation. Synthesis and X-ray characterisation of H4daps and its copper helicate complex [Cu(H2daps)(H2O)]2·2CH3CN

The copper complex of 2,6-bis(1-salicyloylhydrazonoethyl)pyridine, H4daps, has been prepared by an electrochemical procedure and characterised by elemental analysis, IR, FAB mass spectroscopy, ΛM, magnetic susceptibility measurements and EPR studies. The molecular structures of the ligand H4daps (1) and its copper complex [Cu(H2daps)(H2O)]2·2CH3CN (3) have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The ligand shows in the solid state a syn-open conformation that allows it to act as a binucleating ligand, after a conformational change, as is shown by the study of the copper dihelicate 3. This compound contains the dianionic ligand [H2daps]2− in an anti-open conformation. The comparative study of this complex, with others previously reported, allows us to confirm that the conformational rearrangement undergone by H4daps upon complexation depends strongly on the metal nature and its stereochemical preferences.

A new type of manganese-Schiff base complex, catalysts for the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide as peroxidase mimics

New manganese(II) and manganese(III) complexes of substituted N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-diimino-2-methylethane have been prepared and characterized. Elemental analysis, IR and EPR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, magnetic measurements and the study of their redox properties have confirmed their respective formulae as MnIIL(H2O)2 and MnIIIL(H2O)n(ClO4). Electron-withdrawing substituents on the phenyl rings of the ligand stabilize the oxidation state (II) for manganese, but the electron-donating substituents on the Schiff bases are those that lead to Mn(III) complexes, which behave as efficient peroxidase mimics in the presence of the water-soluble trap ABTS. The rate of peroxidase activity of the present complexes is significantly higher than that of other series of Mn-Schiff base compounds, probably due to their versatility in adopting in solution a structure that allows the coordination of the hydrogen peroxide substrate molecule to the manganese.

Dinuclear nickel complexes with a Ni2O2 core : a structural and magnetic study

The acetylacetonate complexes [Ni(2)L(1)(acac)(MeOH)] x H(2)O, 1 x H(2)O and [Ni(2)L(3)(acac)(MeOH)] x 1.5H(2)O, 2 x 1.5H(2)O (H(3)L(1) = (2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine and H(3)L(3) = (2-(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine) were prepared and fully characterised. Their crystal structures show that they are dinuclear complexes, extended into chains by hydrogen bond interactions. These compounds were used as starting materials for the isolation of the corresponding [Ni(2)HL(x)(o-O(2)CC(6)H(4)CO(2))(H(2)O)] x n MeOH and [Ni(2)HL(x)(O(2)CCH(2)CO(2))(H(2)O)]x nH(2)O dicarboxylate complexes (x = 1, 3; n = 1-3). The crystal structures of [Ni(2)HL(1)(o-O(2)CC(6)H(4)CO(2))(H(2)O)] x MeOH, 3 x MeOH, [Ni(2)HL(3)(o-O(2)CC(6)H(4)CO(2))(H(2)O)] x 3 MeOH, 4 x 3 MeOH and [Ni(2)HL(1)(O(2)CCH(2)CO(2))(H(2)O)] x 2.5H(2)O x 0.25 MeOH x MeCN, 5 x 2.5H(2)O x 0.25 MeOH x MeCN, were solved. Complexes 3-5 show dinuclear [Ni(2)HL(x)(dicarboxylate)(H(2)O)] units, expanded through hydrogen bonds that involve carboxylate and water ligands, as well as solvate molecules. The variable temperature magnetic susceptibilities of all the complexes show an intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling between the Ni(II) ions, which is attempted to be rationalized by comparison with previous results and in the light of molecular orbital treatment. Magnetisation measurements are in accord with a S = 2 ground state in all cases.

A 3D network of helicates fully assembled by π-stacking interactions

The neutral dinuclear dihelicate [Cu2(L)2] x 2CH3CN (1) forms a unique 3D network in the solid state due to pi-stacking interactions, which are responsible for intermolecular antiferromagnetic coupling between Cu(II) ions.

A direct route to obtain manganese(III) complexes with a new class of asymmetrical Schiff base ligands

A new class of asymmetrically substituted Schiff base ligands has been synthesised incorporating hard amido donor atoms. The single crystal X-ray structure of one of these ligands, H3-amsal, has been determined [H3-amsal=3-aza-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)but-3-enamide]. The structure reveals the ligand to be suitable for use as an equatorially co-ordinating ligand in octahedral complexes. A new route to obtaining manganese(III) complexes of these ligands, with high yield and purity, has been designed. Complexes of the form MnIII(amsal-R)(H2O)n (n=1–4) have been prepared by the electrochemical oxidation of a manganese anode in an acetonitrile solution of the ligands. The compounds have been characterised by elemental analyses, IR and 1H NMR spectroscopies, FAB mass spectrometry, magnetic measurements, ΛM and cyclic voltammetry.

Zinc and cadmium complexes with an achiral symmetric helicand. Crystal structure of an enantiomerically pure Λ-Zn(II) monohelicate

Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes with an N-tosyl substituted N4-donor Schiff base, containing a 2-propanol residue as spacer, have been prepared. The X-ray crystal structure of the monohelicate Λ-Zn(OHPTs)·H2O [H2OHPTs: N,N′-bis(2-tosylaminobenzylidene)-1,3-diamino-2-propanol] has been solved. The Zn(II) ion assumes a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry, involving the four donor N atoms of the bisdeprotonated ligand. Strong (O–H⋯O) hydrogen bonds between neighbouring complex and lattice water molecules lead to intricate intermolecular interactions that seem to drive the crystal packing. This Zn(II) complex shows an intense blue fluorescence in solution (λ = 430 nm, ϕ = 0.14), which is also observed in the solid state (λ = 490 nm). Cd(OHPTs)·4H2O, although at a lower level (ϕ = 0.08), is also luminescent (λ = 430 nm) in acetonitrile solution.

Pentadentate thiosemicarbazones as versatile chelating systems. A comparative structural study of their metallic complexes

We have prepared some transition and post-transition metal complexes derived from the pentadentate thiosemicarbazone ligand bis(4-N-ethylthiosemicarbazone)-2,6-diacetylpyridine H(2)L(Et), by both chemical and electrochemical procedures. The complexes have been synthesised and fully characterised, including the crystal structures for the ligand H(2)L(Et) and its manganese, cadmium and lead complexes. We have also performed multinuclear (109)Ag, (113)Cd, (119)Sn and (207)Pb studies for silver, cadmium, tin and lead compounds, respectively. Moreover we present here a comparative study on the different structures found for pentadentate thiosemicarbazonate complexes, trying to check the influence of different factors, such as experimental procedure, size of metal, structure of the ligand, and metal oxidation state, on the final structure of the complex formed. Our aim is gaining a better insight into the coordination trends of pentadentate thiosemicarbazone ligands.