Xavier Fontrodona

Efficient and selective peracetic Acid epoxidation catalyzed by a robust manganese catalyst.

A manganese catalyst containing a tetradentate ligand derived from triazacyclononane exhibits high catalytic activity in epoxidation reactions using peracetic acid as oxidant. The system exhibits broad substrate scope and requires small (0.1-0.15 mol %) catalyst loading. The catalyst is remarkably selective toward aliphatic cis-olefins. Mechanistic studies point toward an electrophilic oxidant delivering the oxygen atom in a concerted step.

DNA-cleavage induced by new macrocyclic Schiff base dinuclear Cu(I) complexes containing pyridyl pendant arms.

A new series of dinuclear Cu(I) complexes with hexaazamacrocyclic Schiff base ligand containing pyridyl pendant arms has been synthesized and characterized. The solid-state structures of [Cu(2)(I)(bsp3py)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (1(CF(3)SO(3))(2)), [Cu(2)(I)(bsm3py)](SbF(6))(2) (2(SbF(6))(2)), and [Cu(2)(I)(bsp2py)](CF(3)SO(3))(2) (3(CF(3)SO(3))(2)) have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The geometries of the copper centers in all three cases are almost identical showing a distorted tetrahedral coordination, very close to a trigonal pyramidal arrangement. Interactions of complexes with calf thymus DNA have been investigated by circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) which suggests that the interaction for each complex is a nonintercalative mode with regard to DNA. The electrophoretic mobility study and the atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the presence of H(2)O(2) reveal a cleavage of pBR322 supercoiled DNA that depends on the nature of the Cu(I) complex used. The most efficient reactivity is observed for complexes 1(CF(3)SO(3))(2) and 2(CF(3)SO(3))(2) whereas complex 3(CF(3)SO(3))(2) displays a lesser reactivity. The different DNA-cleavage activity of complexes 1-3 is due the different electronic factors and complex topology induced by the natures of the different ligands. This work constitutes an example of how small modifications introduced in the macrocyclic backbone of the metal complexes lead to dramatic changes in the nuclease activity.

Through-space ligand interactions in enantiomeric dinuclear Ru complexes.

A family of dinuclear Ru complexes containing monodentate ligands displays dynamics based on supramolecular through-space interactions. The electronic and steric nature of the monodentate ligands allow a fine tuning of the kinetic parameters of this dynamic behavior that can be monitored by variable-temperature (VT) NMR spectroscopy. Water oxidation to molecular dioxygen is a key reaction that needs to be fully understood in order to be able to design new energy-conversion schemes based on water and sunshine. Furthermore, from a biological point of view it is an important reaction that takes place at the oxygen-evolving complex of PSII. However, even though it is under thorough scrutiny its mechanisms are not fully understood. Hence the need to have low-molecular-weight functional models. While at the moment there are few well-defined complexes that have been shown to be capable of oxidizing water to molecular dioxygen even fewer of them have been studied from a mechanistic perspective. Water nucleophilic attack to a high-valent Ru=O group and intramolecular O O bond formation are the two metal-based mechanisms that have been observed so far based on experimental and theoretical grounds. While the synthetic demands for a catalyst capable of carrying out a nucleophilic water attack mechanism are relatively simple, for an intramolecular mechanism the catalysts are based on dinuclear complexes, the structures of which are extraordinarily sophisticated. Thus it is imperative to understand all the relevant aspects of such a mechanism to be able to design efficient and robust water oxidation catalysts. In this particular field, the two key challenging factors that need to be addressed are first the degree of electronic coupling between the two metal centers through the bridging ligand and second the degree and nature of the through space interactions between the active groups that provides the right conditions so that an O O bond can be formed. The present paper sheds light into the latter factor setting up the basis for further ligand/ complex design. We report here the synthesis and thorough characterization of a family of Ru–Hbpp (Hbpp =bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazole) related dinuclear Ru complexes (1–9, see Table 1) of general formula [{Ru(T)}2ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(m-bpp) ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(m-MeCOO)]n+ (T: 2,2’:6’,2’’-terpyridine (trpy) or 1,3-bis(2-pyridylimino)isoindolinato (bid )) and [{Ru(T)(L)}2ACHTUNGTRENNUNG(m-bpp)](n+1)+ (L =MeCN or substituted pyridines; see Figure 1 for the label assignment).

Benzodicarbomethoxytetrathiafulvalene derivatives as soluble organic semiconductors.

A series of new tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives bearing dimethoxycarbonyl and phenyl or phthalimidyl groups fused to the TTF core (6 and 15-18) has been synthesized as potential soluble semiconductor materials for organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). The electron-withdrawing substituents lower the energy of the HOMO and LUMO levels and increase the solubility and stability of the semiconducting material. Crystal structures of all new TTF derivatives are also described, and theoretical DFT calculations were carried out to study the potential of the crystals to be used in OFET. In the experimental study, the best performing device exhibited a hole mobility up to 7.5 × 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)).

Electronic and structural characterisation of a tetrathiafulvalene compound as a potential candidate for ambipolar transport properties

We report a joint experimental and theoretical study on the electronic structure and the solid-state organisation of bis(naphthoquinone)-tetrathiafulvalene (BNQ-TTF) as a promising ambipolar semiconductor. Accordingly, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) fabricated with this material show both hole and electron transport for the first time in TTF derivatives.

Water‐Soluble Manganese Inorganic Polymers: The Role of Carborane Clusters and Producing Large Structural Adjustments from Minor Molecular Changes

The reaction of two different carboranylcarboxylate ligands, 1-CH3-2-CO2H-1,2-closo-C2B10H10 or 1-CO2H-1,2-closo-C2B10H11, with MnCO3 in water leads to polymeric compounds 1 a and 1 b. Both compounds have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Additionally, electrochemical techniques have also been used for compound 1 a. X-ray analysis revealed substantial differences between both compounds: whereas a six-coordinated Mn(II) compound with water molecules bridging two Mn(II) centers has been observed for 1 a, a square pyramidal geometry around each Mn(II) ion with terminal water molecules coordinated to each Mn(II) center has been found for 1 b. The observed differences have been attributed to the existence of different substituents, -CH3 or -H, on one of the carbon atoms of the carboranylcarboxylate ligand. The reaction of 1 a and 1 b with coordinating solvents, such as ethers or Lewis bases, leads to the formation of new compounds with low (mononuclear 4 a, 4 b; dinuclear 3 a, 3 b; and trinuclear 2 a) or high nuclearity (hybrid polymer, 5 a), due to breakage of the corresponding polymer. X-ray analysis shows that the structural core present in the polymeric materials is not maintained in the resulting compounds, with the exception of trinuclear compound 2 a. The magnetic properties of the compounds studied show weak antiferromagnetic coupling.

Ligand influence over the formation of dinuclear [2+2] versus trinuclear [3+3] Cu(I) Schiff base macrocyclic complexes.

The preparation and characterization of three new macrocyclic ligands with pendant arms based on the [2+2] condensation of isophthalaldehyde and the corresponding triamine substituted at the central N-atom is reported. None of these new macrocyclic ligands undergo any equilibrium reaction, based on imine hydrolysis to generate [1+1] macrocyclic formation or higher oligomeric compounds, such as [3+3], [4+4], etc., at least within the time scale of days. This indicates the stability of the newly generated imine bond. In sharp contrast, the reaction of the [2+2] macrocyclic Schiff bases with Cu(I) generates the corresponding dinuclear Cu(I) complexes [Cu(2)(L(1))](2+), 1(2+); [Cu(2)(L(2))(CH(3)CN)(2)](2+), 2(2+); and [Cu(2)(L(3))(CH(3)CN)(2)](2+), 3(2+), together with their trinuclear Cu(I) homologues [Cu(3)(L(4))](3+), 4(3+); [Cu(3)(L(5))(CH(3)CN)(3)](3+), 5(3+); and [Cu(3)(L(6))(CH(3)CN)(3)](3+), 6(3+), where the [2+2] ligand has undergone an expansion to the corresponding [3+3] Schiff base that is denoted as L(4), L(5), or L(6). The conditions under which the dinuclear and trinuclear complexes are formed were analyzed in terms of solvent dependence and synthetic pathways. The new complexes are characterized in solution by NMR, UV-vis, and MS spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray diffraction analysis and IR spectroscopy. For the particular case of the L(2) ligand, MS spectroscopy is also used to monitor the metal assisted transformation where the dinuclear complex 2(2+) is transformed into the trinuclear complex 5(3+). The Cu(I) complexes described here, in general, react slowly (within the time scale of days) with molecular oxygen, except for the ones containing the phenolic ligands 2(2+) and 5(3+) that react a bit faster.

Reusable manganese compounds containing pyrazole-based ligands for olefin epoxidation reactions

We describe the synthesis of new manganese(ii) and manganese(iii) complexes containing the bidentate ligands 2-(3-pyrazolyl)pyridine, pypz-H, and 3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazole, HOphpz-H, with formula [MnX2(pypz-H)2] (X = Cl(-), 1, CF3SO3(-), 2, OAc(-), 3 or NO3(-) (4)), [MnCl2(pypz-H)(H2O)2], 5, or [MnCl(Ophpz-H)2], 6. All the complexes have been characterized through analytical, spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. Single X-ray structure analysis revealed a six-coordinated Mn(ii) ion in complexes 1-5, and a five-coordinated Mn(iii) ion in complex 6. Compound 5 is the first co-crystal of Mn(ii) containing Cl and H2O ligands together with bidentate nitrogen ligands. The catalytic activity of complexes 1-6 has been tested with regard to the epoxidation of styrene and, in the case of 1, 5 and 6, other alkenes have been epoxidized using peracetic acid as oxidant in different media, among which glycerol, a green solvent never used in epoxidation reactions using peracetic acid as oxidant. The catalysts show moderate to high conversions and selectivities towards the corresponding epoxides. For complexes 1, 5 and 6, a certain degree of cis→trans isomerization is observed in the case of cis-β-methylstyrene. These observations have been explained through computational calculations. The reutilization of catalysts 1 and 6 for the epoxidation of alkenes has been evaluated in [bmim] : acetonitrile mixture (bmim = 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium), allowing the effective recyclability of the catalytic system and keeping high conversion and selectivity values up to 12 successive runs, in all cases.

Synthesis and Structure of Novel RuII–N≡C–Me Complexes and their Activity Towards Nitrile Hydrolysis: An Examination of Ligand Effects

The synthesis and isolation of new RuII–acetonitrile complexes, of general formula trans,fac-[Ru(bpea)(B)(MeCN)](BF4)2 (bpea = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine; B = bpy, 2,2′-bipyridine, 4; B = dppe, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, 5), together with a synthetic intermediate trans,fac-[Ru(NO3)(bpea)(dppe)](BF4), 6, are described. Ru(bpea)Cl3, 1, is used as the starting material for the synthesis of all complexes 2–6 presented in this paper, which are characterized by analytical, spectroscopic (IR, UV/Vis, 1D and 2D NMR), and electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry). Furthermore, complexes 4, 5, and 6 have also been characterized in the solid state by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Their structures show a distorted octahedral geometry where the bpea ligand binds in a facial mode, the bidentate ligands bpy and dppe bind in a chelate manner, and finally the MeCN or the NO3 – ligand occupy the sixth position of the octahedral Ru metal centre. The kinetics of the basic hydrolysis of the coordinated MeCN ligand for complexes 4 and 5 and for the related complex [Ru(phen)(MeCN)([9]aneS3)](BF4)2, 7, which contains the 1,4,7-trithiacyclonane ligand ([9]aneS3) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) is also described. Second-order rate constants for acetonitrile hydrolysis measured at 25°C of k = 1.01 × 10–3 M–1 s–1 for 4, 1.08 × 10–4 M–1 s–1 for 5, and 6.8 × 10–3 M–1 s–1 for 7, have been obtained through UV-vis spectroscopy. Activation parameters have also been determined over the temperature range 25.0–45.0°C and agree with a mechanism that involves an associative rate-determining step. Finally the electronic and steric influence of the auxiliary ligands on this reaction for the above and related complexes is discussed.

Polypyrrole-functionalized ruthenium carbene catalysts as efficient heterogeneous systems for olefin epoxidation

New Ru complexes containing the bpea-pyr ligand (bpea-pyr stands for N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-3-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)propan-1-amine), with the formula [RuCl2(bpea-pyr)(dmso)] (isomeric complexes 2a and 2b) or [Ru(CN-Me)(bpea-pyr)X)](n+) (CN-Me = 3-methyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium-2-ide; X = Cl, 3, or X = H2O, 4), have been prepared and fully characterized. Complexes 3 and 4 have been anchored onto an electrode surface through electropolymerization of the attached pyrrole group, yielding stable polypyrrole films. The electrochemical behaviour of 4, which displays a bielectronic Ru(IV/II) redox pair in solution, is dramatically affected by the electropolymerization process leading to the occurrence of two monoelectronic Ru(IV/III) and Ru(III/II) redox pairs in the heterogeneous system. A carbon felt modified electrode containing complex 4 (C-felt/poly-4) has been evaluated as a heterogeneous catalyst in the epoxidation of various olefin substrates using PhI(OAc)2 as an oxidant, displaying TON values of several thousands in all cases and good selectivity for the epoxide product.