Patricia Gómez-Iglesias

Coordination versus coupling of dicyanamide in molybdenum and manganese pyrazole complexes.

The reactions of cis-[MoCl(η(3)-methallyl)(CO)(2)(NCMe)(2)] (methallyl = CH(2)C(CH(3))CH(2)) with Na(NCNCN) and pz*H (pzH, pyrazole, or dmpzH, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole) lead to cis-[Mo(η(3)-methallyl)(CO)(2)(pz*H)(μ-NCNCN-κ(2)N,N)](2) (pzH, 1a; dmpzH, 1b), where dicyanamide is coordinated as bridging ligand. Similar reactions with fac-[MnBr(CO)(3)(NCMe)(2)] lead to the pyrazolylamidino complexes fac-[Mn(pz*H)(CO)(3)(NH═C(pz*)NCN-κ(2)N,N)] (pzH, 2a; dmpzH, 2b), resulting from the coupling of pyrazol with one of the CN bonds of dicyanamide. The second CN bond of dicyanamide in 2a undergoes a second coupling with pyrazole after addition of 1 equiv of fac-[MnBr(CO)(3)(pzH)(2)], yielding the dinuclear doubly coupled complex [{fac-Mn(pzH)(CO)(3)}(2)(μ-NH═C(pz)NC(pz)=NH-κ(4)N,N,N,N)]Br (3). The crystal structure of 3 reveals the presence of two isomers, cis or trans, depending on whether the terminal pyrazoles are coordinated at the same or at different sides of the approximate plane defined by the bridging bis-amidine ligand. Only the cis isomer is detected in the crystal structure of the perchlorate salt of the same bimetallic cation (4), obtained by metathesis with AgClO(4). All the N-bound hydrogen atoms of the cations in 3 or 4 are involved in hydrogen bonds. Some of the C-N bonds of the pyrazolylamidino ligand have a character intermediate between single and double, and theoretical studies were carried out on 2a and 3 to confirm its electronic origin and discard packing effects. Calculations also show the essential role of bromide in the planarity of the tetradentate ligand in the bimetallic complex 3.

Pyrazolylamidino ligands from coupling of acetonitrile and pyrazoles: a systematic study.

Mixed pyrazole-acetonitrile complexes, both neutral fac-[ReBr(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)] (pz*H = pzH, pyrazole; dmpzH, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole; or indzH, indazole) and cationic fac-[Re(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)2]A (A = BF4, ClO4, or OTf), are described. Their role as the only starting products to obtain final pyrazolylamidino complexes fac-[ReBr(CO)3(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)] and fac-[Re(CO)3(pz*H)(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)]A, respectively, is examined. Other products involved in the processes, such as fac-[ReBr(CO)3(pz*H)2], fac-[Re(CO)3(NCMe)(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)]A, and fac-[Re(CO)3(pz*H)2(OTf)] are also described. Warming CD3CN solutions of fac-[Re(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)2]A at 40 °C gives cleanly the pyrazolylamidino complexes [Re(CO)3(pz*H)(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)]A as the only products, pointing to an intramolecular process. This is confirmed by carrying out reactions in the presence of one equivalent of a pyrazole different from that coordinated, which affords complexes where the pyrazolylamidino ligand contains only the pyrazole previously coordinated. When the reactions lead to an equilibrium mixture of the final and starting products, the reverse reaction gives the same equilibrium mixture, which indicates that the coupling reaction of pyrazoles and nitriles to obtain pyrazolylamidino ligands is a reversible intramolecular process. A systematic study of the possible factors which may affect the reaction gives the following results: (a) the yields of the direct reactions are higher for lower temperatures; (b) the tendency of the pyrazoles to give pyrazolylamidino complexes follows the sequence indzH > pzH > dmpzH; and (c) the reaction rates do not depend on the nature of the anion even when a large excess is added. The presence of a small amount of aqueous solution of NaOH catalyzes the reaction. Thus, addition of 0.5-1% of NaOH (aq) to solutions of fac-[ReBr(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)] (in CD3CN) or fac-[Re(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)2]A (in CD3CN, CD3NO2 or (CD3)2CO) allowed the syntheses of the corresponding pyrazolylamidino complexes [ReBr(CO)3(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)] or [Re(CO)3(pz*H)(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)]A with better yields, more rapidly, and in milder conditions.

Affinity modulation of photoresponsive hosts for fullerenes: light-gated corannulene tweezers

Six azobenzene derivatives bearing polyaromatic fragments have been prepared and their reversible photoisomerization has been assessed. Corannulene-functionalized molecules have demonstrated excellent switchable hosting abilities towards fullerenes in which an interesting range of affinities has been found. The success of this design relies upon the reversible formation and destruction of tweezer-like structures.