Characterization of Diastereomeric Equilibria of Pseudotetrahedral Bis[(R or S)-N-1-(Ar)Ethylsalicylaldiminato-κ2 N,O]zinc(II) with Λ/Δ-Chirality-At-Metal Induction.

A family of bis[(R or S)-N-1-(Ar)ethylsalicylaldiminato-κ2 N,O]-Δ/Λ-zinc(II) {Ar=C6 H5 (ZnRL1 or ZnSL1 ), p-CH3 OC6 H4 (ZnRL2 or ZnSL2 ) and p-ClC6 H4 (ZnRL3 or ZnSL3 )} compounds was synthesized and investigated by multiple methods. They feature Λ/Δ-chirality-at-metal induction along the pseudo-C2 axis of the molecules. The chirality induction is quantitative in the solid state, explored by X-ray crystallography and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), where R or S-ligated complexes diastereoselectively yield Λ or Δ-configuration at the metal. On the other hand, Λ and Δ-diastereomers co-exist in solution. The Λâ‡†Δ equilibrium is solvent- and temperature-dependent. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra confirm the existence of a diastereomeric excess of Λ-ZnRL1-3 or Δ-ZnSL1-3 in solution. DSC analysis reveals thermally induced irreversible phase transformation from a crystalline solid to an isotropic liquid phase. ECD spectra were reproduced by DFT geometry optimizations and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations, providing ultimate proof of the dominant chirality atmetal in solution.

Pseudotetrahedral Zn(II)-(R or S)-dihalogen-salicylaldiminato complexes with Λ- or Δ-chirality induction at-metal.

Reactions of enantiopure (S or R)-N-1-(phenyl)ethyl-2,4-X1,X2-salicylaldimine (S-H or R-H; X1, X2 = dihalogen) with Zn(II)-nitrate give bis[(S or R)-N-1-(phenyl)ethyl-2,4-X1,X2-salicylaldiminato-κ2N,O]-zinc(II), (Δ-ZnS or Λ-ZnR) with Δ/Λ-chirality induction at-metal in the C2-symmetric molecules. EI-mass spectra show parent ion peaks. X-ray structures indicate that two phenolate-oxygen and two imine-nitrogen atoms from two molecules of the Schiff bases coordinate to the Zn(II) ion in a pseudotetrahedral geometry. Structural analyses give evidence that the S- or R-ligand chirality gives only one diastereomer Δ-ZnS or Λ-ZnR in an enantiopure crystal. Gas-phase optimized structures suggest that the Δ-ZnS or Λ-ZnR diastereomers are slightly more stable than Λ-ZnS or Δ-ZnR by 1-2 kcal mol-1. The intramolecular interactions were analyzed with the Independent Gradient Model (IGM) using the program Multiwfn on the optimized structures and also indicate the diastereomeric preference of Δ-ZnS1 over Λ-ZnS1 (or Λ-ZnR1 over Δ-ZnR1). Variable time and temperature 1H NMR spectra support the presence of only one diastereomer Λ-ZnR or Δ-ZnS in the bulk samples, backed by the simulated spectra which exhibit no diastereomerization in solution. In contrast, the reported Zn(II)-(R or S)-salicylaldiminato/naphthaldiminato complexes show a diastereomeric mixture of both Δ- and Λ-forms and a Δ â‡„ Λ equilibrium in solution. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra in solution display expected mirror-image relationships for the (S or R)-Schiff base ligands and the (S or R)-ligated complexes. Combined analyses of experimental and simulated ECD spectra further support the notion of diastereomeric excess of Δ-ZnS or Λ-ZnR in solution. The overall results thus suggest the preservation of chirality at-zinc induced by S- or R-ligands in a solid or solution. Supramolecular packing analyses explore different kinds of intermolecular interactions with the strongest one for X⋯O. Only the halogen atom in the para position is involved in these interactions with Br⋯O > Cl⋯O. Hirshfeld surface analyses also support these interactions between two molecules at a distance shorter than the sum of the vdW radii. Comparison of the experimental and simulated PXRD patterns from the single-crystal X-ray structures shows a good matching and confirms the phase purity of the bulk samples.

Schiff Base in Ketoamine Form and Rh(η4-cod)-Schiff Base Complex with Z' = 2 Structure from Pairwise C-H···Metallochelate-π Contacts.

Condensation of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (salicylaldehyde) or 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde with 2-ethylaniline yields the Schiff base compound of (E)-2-(((2-ethylphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol (HL1) or (E)-1-(((2-ethylphenyl)imino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol (HL2), which in turn react with the dinuclear complex of [Rh(η4-cod)(µ-O2CCH3)]2 (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) to afford the mononuclear (η4-cod){(E)-2-(((2-ethylphenyl)imino)methyl)phenolato-κ2N,O}rhodium(I), [Rh(η4-cod)(L1)] (1) or (η4-cod){(E)-1-(((2-ethylphenyl)imino)methyl)naphthalen-2-olato-κ2N,O}rhodium(I), [Rh(η4-cod)(L2)] (2) (L1 or L2 = deprotonated Schiff base ligand). The X-ray structure determination revealed that the HL2 exists in the solid state not as the usual (imine)N···H-O(phenol) form (enolamine form) but as the zwitterionic (imine)N-H+···-O(phenol) form (ketoamine form). 1H NMR spectra for HL2 in different solvents demonstrated the existence of keto-enol tautomerism (i.e., keto ⇆ enol equilibrium) in solution. The structure for 1 and 2 showed that the deprotonated Schiff base ligand coordinates to the Rh(η4-cod)-fragment as a six-membered N^O-chelate around the rhodium atom with a close-to-square-planar geometry. Two symmetry-independent molecules (with Rh1 and Rh2) were found in the asymmetric unit in 1 in a structure with Z' = 2. The supramolecular packing in HL2 was organized by π-π and C-H···π contacts, while only two recognized C-H···π contacts were revealed in 1 and 2. Remarkably, there were reciprocal or pairwise C-H···π contacts between a pair of each of the symmetry-independent molecules in 1. This pairwise C-H contact to the Rh-N^O chelate (metalloaromatic) ring may be a reason for the two symmetry-independent molecules in 1. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses revealed an irreversible phase transformation from the crystalline-solid to the isotropic-liquid phase and subsequently confirmed the thermal stability of the compounds. Absorption spectra in solution were explained by excited state properties from DFT/TD-DFT calculations.

Synthesis and Characterization of Bis[(R or S)-N-1-(X-C6H4)ethyl-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminato-κ2N,O]-Λ/Δ-cobalt(II) (X = H, p-CH3O, p-Br) with Symmetry- and Distance-Dependent Vibrational Circular Dichroism Enhancement and Sign Inversion.

The enantiopure Schiff bases (R or S)-N-1-(X-C6H4)ethyl-2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldimine {X = H [(R or S)-HL1], p-CH3O [(R or S)-HL2], and p-Br [(R- or S)-HL3]} react with cobalt(II) acetate to give bis[(R or S)-N-1-(X-C6H4)ethyl-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminato-κ2N,O]-Λ/Δ-cobalt(II) {X = H [Λ/Δ-Co-(R or S)-L1], p-CH3O [Λ/Δ-Co-(R or S)-L2], and p-Br [Λ/Δ-Co-(R or S)-L3]} (1-3), respectively. Induced Λ and Δ chirality originates at the metal center of the C2-symmetric molecule in pseudotetrahedral geometry. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses explored the thermal stability of the complexes, which undergo reversible phase transformation from crystalline solid to isotropic liquid phase for 1 and 3 but irreversible phase transformation for 2. Like other cobalt(II) complexes, compounds 1-3 exhibit a continuous ensemble of absorption and circular dichroism bands, which span from the UV to IR region and can be collected into a superspectrum. Infrared vibrational circular dichroism (IR-VCD) spectra witness the coupling between Co2+-centered low-lying electronic states and ligand-centered vibrations. The coupling produces enhanced and almost monosignate VCD spectra, with both effects being mode-dependent in terms of the A or B symmetry (in the C2 point group) and distance from the Co2+ core.

Pseudotetrahedral copper(II)-complexes with enantiopure (R or S)-2-(((aryl)ethylimino)ethyl)phenolate Schiff base ligands.

Condensation of 2-hydroxy-benzophenone (HL') with (R or S)-(Ar)ethylamine yields the enantiopure Schiff bases (S or R)-2-((E)-1-(1-(Ar)ethylimino)ethyl)phenol {Ar = C6H5 (S- or R-HL1), p-CH3OC6H4 (S- or R-HL2)}. These Schiff bases react with copper(ii) acetate under reflux to give green microcrystals of bis[(R or S)-2-((E)-1-(1-(Ar)ethylimino)ethyl)phenolato-κ2N,O]-Λ/Δ-copper(ii), {Ar = C6H5 (Λ/Δ-Cu-R- or S-L1), p-CH3OC6H4 (Λ/Δ-Cu-R- or S-L2)} with induction of Λ/Δ-chirality at-metal. The presence of Schiff base ligands in the paramagnetic green microcrystals is confirmed by decomplexation reaction with NaCN via reduction of Cu(ii) to Cu(i) in DMSO-d6 solution. Crystallization attempts of the green microcrystalline Schiff-base Cu complexes provide deep-green block-shaped crystals of an about equal admixture of bis[2-oxo-benzophenonato-κ2O,O']-copper(ii), (CuL'2) and bis[2-(imino(phenyl)methyl)phenolato-κ2N,O]copper(ii), (CuL''2) via in situ hydrolysis of the coordinated Schiff base ligands back to 2-hydroxy-benzophenone (HL') and to 2-(imino(phenyl)methyl)phenol (HL''), which in-turn bind with the copper(ii) ion. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns of R-HL1 and Cu-R-L1 allowed their structure determinations using the program Expo-2014 followed by Rietveld refinement. The Cu structures refined to four-coordinated Λ/Δ-copper(ii)-complexes by the two phenolate-oxygen and two imine-nitrogen atoms from two Schiff base ligands in a pseudotetrahedral geometry. DFT optimized structures (at gas-phase) reveal the Δ-Cu-S-L1 or Λ-Cu-R-L1 diastereomer as slightly more stable than the corresponding Λ-Cu-S-L1 or Δ-Cu-R-L1 by ca. 7.60 kcal mol-1, resulting from diastereoselectively induced Λ vs. Δ-chirality at-metal. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra display mirror-image relationships and comparisons of experimental and simulated ECD spectra by TDDFT suggest an excess of the Δ-Cu-S-L1 or Λ-Cu-R-L1 diastereomer in solution. The cyclic voltammograms demonstrate two one electron charge transfer processes for Cu2+/Cu+ and Cu+/Cu0 couples in acetonitrile, respectively.

Solid-state to solution helicity inversion of pseudotetrahedral chiral copper(ii) complexes with 2,4-dihalo-salicylaldiminate ligands.

The enantiopure Schiff bases (R or S)-N-1-(phenyl)ethyl-2,4-X1,X2-salicylaldimine (X1, X2 = Cl, Br, I) coordinate to copper(ii) and provide pseudotetrahedral bis[(S or R)-N-1-(phenyl)ethyl-(2,4-X1,X2-salicylaldiminato-κ2N,O)]-Δ/Λ-Cu(ii) (Λ/Δ-Cu-R or Δ/Λ-Cu-S). An induced Λ and Δ-chirality at-metal centre has been launched along the C2-axis of the molecule. Steric constraints brought by halogen substituents on the coordinating salicylal ring provide diastereoselectively Λ-Cu-R or Δ-Cu-S as major and Δ-Cu-R or Λ-Cu-S as minor diastereomers at solid-state, as evidenced by X-ray crystal structures and PXRD analyses. These results reveal inversion of induced chirality at-metal in comparison to the similar complexes without halogen substituents on the salicylal ring. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra show mirror-image relationships, confirming enantiomeric excess of the R or S-ligated complexes in solution. Comparisons of experimental and simulated ECD spectra suggest diastereomeric excess of Δ-Cu-R or Λ-Cu-S in solution which correspond to an inversion from the found solid-state Λ-Cu-R or Δ-Cu-S as major diastereomers. In addition, the optimized gas-phase structures also reveal Δ-Cu-R or Λ-Cu-S as slightly more stable than Λ-Cu-R or Δ-Cu-S. Thus, solid-state versus solution (or gas-phase) studies also indicate an interconversion of induced chirality (helicity inversion) at-metal from Λ-Cu-R or Δ-Cu-S to Δ-Cu-R or Λ-Cu-S. Thermal stability increases with the molecular weight of the complexes following Cl < ClBr < Br < I substituents. Hirshfeld surface analyses explore the strongest halogen (ortho)-halogen (para) interactions between two molecules in Λ-Cu-R3 or Δ-Cu-S3 at a distance shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii of the two iodine atoms, provide a brilliant red spot on the dnorm surfaces. EPR spectra along with simulation suggest an axial symmetry with gz > gx,y > 2.0 and values for gz/Az ≥ 135 cm indicate pseudotetrahedral geometry for the complexes.

Broad-Range Spectral Analysis for Chiral Metal Coordination Compounds: (Chiro)optical Superspectrum of Cobalt(II) Complexes.

Chiroptical broad-range spectral analysis extending from UV to mid-IR was employed to study a family of Co(II) N-(1-(aryl)ethyl)salicylaldiminato Schiff base complexes with pseudotetrahedral geometry associated with chirality-at-metal of the Δ/Λ type. While common chiral organic compounds have well-separated absorption and circular dichroism spectra (CD) in the UV/vis and IR regions, chiral Co(II) complexes feature an almost unique continuum of absorption and CD bands, which cover in sequence the UV, visible, near-IR (NIR), and IR regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. They can be collected in a single (chiro)optical superspectrum ranging from the UV (230 nm, 5.4 eV) to the mid-IR (1000 cm-1, 0.12 eV), which offers a fingerprint of the structure and stereochemistry of the metal complexes. Each region of the superspectrum contributes to one piece of information: the NIR-CD region, in combination with TDDFT calculations, allows a reliable assignment of the metal-centered chirality; the UV-CD region facilitates the analysis of the Δ/Λ diastereomeric equilibrium in solution; and the IR-VCD region contains a combination of low-lying metal-centered electronic states (LLES) and ligand-centered vibrations and displays characteristically enhanced and monosignate VCD bands. Circular dichroism in the NIR and IR regions is crucial to reveal the presence of d-d transitions of the Co(II) core which, due to the electric-dipole forbidden character, would be otherwise overlooked in the corresponding absorption spectra.

Synthesis, X-ray, and Spectroscopic Study of Dissymmetric Tetrahedral Zinc(II) Complexes from Chiral Schiff Base Naphthaldiminate Ligands with Apparent Exception to the ECD Exciton Chirality.

Bidentate enantiopure Schiff base ligands, (R or S)-N-1-(Ar)ethyl-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminate (R- or S-N^O), diastereoselectively provide Λ- or Δ-chiral-at-metal four-coordinated Zn(R- or S-N^O)2 {Ar = C6H5; Zn-1R or Zn-1S and p-C6H4OMe; Zn-2R or Zn-2S}. Two R- or S-N^O-chelate ligands coordinate to the zinc(II) in a tetrahedral mode and induce Λ- or Δ-configuration at the zinc metal center. In the solid state, the R- or S-ligand diastereoselectively gives Λ- or Δ-Zn configuration, respectively, and forms enantiopure crystals. Single crystal structure determinations show two symmetry-independent molecules (A and B) in each asymmetric unit to give Z' = 2 structures. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra show the expected mirror image relationship resulting from diastereomeric excess toward the Λ-Zn for R-ligands and Δ-Zn for S-ligands in solution. ECD spectra are well reproduced by TDDFT calculations, while the application of the exciton chirality method, in the common point-dipole approximation, predicts the wrong sign for the long-wavelength couplet. A dynamic diastereomeric equilibrium (Λ vs Δ) prevails for both R- and S-ligand-metal complexes in solution, respectively, evidenced by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Variable temperature (1)H NMR spectra show a temperature-dependent shift of the diastereomeric equilibrium and confirm Δ-Zn configuration (for S-ligand) to be the most stable one and favored at low temperature. DSC analyses provide quantitative diastereomeric excess in the solid state for Zn-2R and Zn-2S, which is comparable to the results of solution studies.

Chirality at metal and helical ligand folding in optical isomers of chiral bis(naphthaldiminato)nickel(II) complexes.

Enantiopure bis[{(R or S)-N-1-(Ar)ethyl-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminato-κ(2)N,O}]nickel(ii) complexes {Ar = C6H5 ( or ), p-OMeC6H4 ( or ), and p-BrC6H4 ( or )} are synthesized from the reactions between (R or S)-N-1-(Ar)ethyl-2-oxo-1-naphthaldimine and nickel(ii) acetate. Circular-dichroism spectra and their density-functional theoretical simulation reveal the expected mirror image relationship between the enantiomeric pairs / and / in solution. CD spectra are dominated by the metal-centered Λ- or Δ-chirality of non-planar four-coordinated nickel, this latter being in turn dictated by the ligand chirality. Single crystal structure determination for and shows that there are two symmetry-independent molecules (A and B) in each asymmetric unit that give a Z' = 2 structure. Two asymmetric and chiral bidentate N^O-chelate Schiff base ligands coordinate to the nickel atom in a distorted square planar N2O2-coordination sphere. The conformational difference between the symmetry-independent molecules arises from the "up-or-down" folding of the naphthaldiminato ligand with respect to the coordination plane, which creates right- (P) or left-handed (M) helical conformations. Overall, the combination of ligand chirality, chirality at the metal and ligand folding gives rise to discrete metal helicates of preferred helicity in a selective way. Cyclic voltammograms (CV) show an oxidation wave at ca. 1.30 V for the [Ni(L)2]/[Ni(L)2](+) couple, and a reduction wave at ca. -0.35 V for the [Ni(L)2]/[Ni(L)2](-) couple in acetonitrile.

Induced chirality-at-metal and diastereoselectivity at Δ/Λ-configured distorted square-planar copper complexes by enantiopure Schiff base ligands: combined circular dichroism, DFT and X-ray structural studies.

Bidentate enantiopure Schiff base ligands, (R or S)-N-1-(Ar)ethyl-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminato-κ(2)N,O, diastereoselectively yield Δ/Λ-chiral four-coordinated, non-planar Cu(N^O)2 complexes [Ar = C6H5 R/S-L1, m-C6H4OMe R-L2, p-C6H4OMe R/S-L3, and p-C6H4Br R/S-L4]. Two N,O-chelate ligands coordinate to the copper(II) atom in distorted square-planar mode, and induce metal-centered Δ/Λ-chirality at the copper atom in the C2-symmetric complexes. In the solid state, the R-L1 (or R-L4) ligand chirality diastereoselectively induces a Λ-Cu configuration in Λ-Cu-R-L1 (or Λ-Cu-R-L4), the S-L1 ligand a Δ-Cu configuration in Δ-Cu-S-L1, forming enantiopure crystals upon crystallization. Conversely, the R-L2 ligand combines both Λ/Δ-Cu-R-L2 as a diastereomeric pair in the crystals. In solution, electronic circular dichroism (CD) spectra show full or partial diastereoselectivity towards Λ-Cu for R ligands and towards Δ-Cu for S ligands. The electronic CD spectra measured on all complexes obtained from R ligands (or S ligands), e.g. Cu-R-L1, Cu-R-L2, Cu-R-L3, and Cu-R-L4 (or Cu-S-L1, Cu-S-L3, and Cu-S-L4), show consistent spectral features. TDDFT calculations of the electronic CD spectra for the diastereomers Λ-Cu-R-L1 and Δ-Cu-R-L1 suggest that the CD spectra are largely dominated by the configuration at the metal center (Λ vs. Δ). The experimental CD spectrum of Cu-R-L1 agrees well with the one calculated for the Λ-Cu-R-L1 configuration. Cyclic voltammetry of Cu-R-L1 reveals a quasi-reversible redox wave corresponding to one-electron transfer for the [Cu(II)L2](0)/[Cu(I)L2](-1) couple in acetonitrile. DSC analyses for the complexes show an exothermic peak between 377 and 478 K (ΔH = -12 to -43 kJ mol(-1)), corresponding to a phase transformation from distorted square-planar/tetrahedral to regular tetrahedral geometry on heating.

Polymorphs, enantiomorphs, chirality and helicity in [Rh{N,O}(eta4-cod)] complexes with {N,O}=salicylaldiminato Schiff base or aminocarboxylato ligands.

The dimeric complex acetato(eta4-cycloocta-1,5-diene)rhodium(I), [Rh(O2CMe)(eta4-cod)]2 (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) reacts with N,O-chelating Schiff-base ligands or with N-phenylglycine to afford the diminato- or aminocarboxylato(4-cycloocta-1,5-diene)rhodium(I) complexes [{Rh(eta4-cod)}2(salen)] (1), [{Rh(eta4-cod)}2(salophen)] (2), [Rh((S)-N-phenylglycinato)(eta4-cod)] (3S), [Rh(rac-N-phenylglycinato)(eta4-cod)] (3rac), [Rh((R)-N-(4-methoxphenyl)ethyl-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminato)(eta4-cod)] (4) and [Rh(N-(o-tolyl)-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminato)(eta4-cod)] (5) [salen2- = N,N-ethylene-bis(salicylaldiminato), salophen2- = N,N-(1,2-phenylene)-bis(salicylaldiminato)]. The complexes are characterized by IR-, UV/Vis-, 1H/13C-NMR- and mass-spectroscopy. Complexes 1, 2, 4 and 5 contain six-membered metallaaromatic Rh-(N-CCC-O)-chelate rings which accept C-H...pi contacts. The crystal structure of 2 presents a polymorph (dimorph) (2a) to a previously reported structure (2b, CSD refcode SCLIRB10). Polymorphic forms 2a and 2b are traced to a different interlocking of adjacent dinuclear molecules with their corrugated van der Waals surface. The achiral N-phenylglycine ligand gives a chiral N-phenylglycinato complex [Rh(O2C-CH2-NHPh)(eta4-cod)] (3) with the nitrogen atom becoming the stereogenic center upon metal coordination. Complex 3 can crystallize as the enantiomorph 3S in the tetragonal, chiral space group P41 in a spontaneous resolution of the racemic mixture into homo-chiral helix-enantiomers due to inter-molecular N-H...O hydrogen bonding which connects only molecules of the same (S-) configuration into (right-handed or P-) 41-helical chains. Variation of the crystallization conditions gives 3 as a racemic polymorphic 3rac. R- and S-complexes 3 assemble in the polymorph 3rac in parallel chains along the 21-axes through N-HO hydrogen bonding. Again, only molecules of the same configuration are combined into a chain, albeit neighboring chains have complexes of opposite configuration. The chiral enantiomeric naphthaldiminato complex 4 displays a herring-bone arrangement. Achiral compound 5 crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric polar space group Cc where all molecules show the same orientation.