Lone-Pair-Induced Topicity Observed in Macrobicyclic Tetra-thia Lactams and Cryptands: Synthesis, Spectral Identification, and Computational Assessment.

The synthesis of a rigid macrobicyclic N,S lactam L1 and a topologically favored in/in N,S cryptand L2 are reported with X-ray structure analysis, dynamic correlation NMR spectroscopy, and computational analysis. Lactam L1 exhibits two distinct rotameric conformations (plus their enantiomeric counterparts) at 25 °C, as confirmed via NMR spectroscopy and computational analysis. Coalescence of the resonances of L1 was observed at 115 °C, allowing for complete nuclei to frequency correlation. Combining computational investigations with experimental data, topological equilibria and relative energies/strain relating to the perturbation of the pore were determined. Due to the increased conformational strain of the N2S2 template, the nitrogen lone pairs in L2 elicit a unique transannular interaction, resulting in a thermodynamically favored in/in nephroidal racemate. The combination of preferred topology, steric relief, and electronic localization of L2 induces a chiral environment imparted through the amine with a computed inversion barrier of 10.3 kcal mol-1.

Blue copper protein analogue: synthesis and characterization of copper complexes of the N2S2 macrocycle 1,8-dithia-4,11-diazacyclotetradecane.

To improve understanding of copper at the active site of Type 1 copper proteins, Cu(I) and Cu(II) complexes of 1,8-dithia-4,11-diazacyclotetradecane, shown in , have been successfully isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. In these compounds, both Cu(I) and Cu(II) are centered in the plane of the macrocycle containing two sulphur and two nitrogen heteroatoms comprising the distorted tetrahedral/square planar coordination geometry. The UV/VIS spectra, electrochemistry and EPR properties have been obtained for the Cu(II) complex 2. Three absorption bands at 295 nm, 354 nm, and 545 nm are observed in aqueous solution at a pH of 5. These bands have been assigned to the N → Cu(II) and S → Cu(II) charge transfer bands and the d-d transitions respectively. The Cu(I/II) redox midpoint potential of complex 2 in CH3CN is +403 mV versus NHE.

Ultrafast spectroscopy and structural characterization of a photochromic isomerizing ruthenium bis-sulfoxide complex.

Irradiation of [Ru(bpy)2(bpSOp)](PF6)2 (where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine and bpSOp is 1,3-bis(phenylsulfinyl)propane) results in the formation of two new isomers, namely the S,O- and O,O-bonded species. The crystal structure of the bis-thioether and bis-sulfoxide complexes are reported. NMR spectroscopy of the bis-thioether complex in solution is consistent with the molecular structure determined by diffraction methods. Further, NMR spectroscopy of the bis-sulfoxide complex reveals two conformers in solution, one that is consistent with the solid state structure and a second conformer showing distortion in the aliphatic portion of the chelate ring. Time-resolved visible absorption spectroscopy reveals isomerization time constants of 91 ps in dichloroethane (DCE) and 229 ps in propylene carbonate (PC). Aggregate isomerization quantum yields of 0.57 and 0.42 have been determined in DCE and in PC, respectively. The kinetics of the thermal reversion from the O,O- to S,O-bonded isomer are strongly solvent dependent, occurring with rates of 2.41 × 10(-3) and 4.39 × 10(-5) s(-1) in DCE, and 4.68 × 10(-4) and 9.79 × 10(-6) s(-1) in PC. The two kinetic components are assigned to the two isomers identified in solution.

Pentacene-fused diporphyrins.

In this work, we report the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and theoretical analysis of a linearly conjugated pentacene-fused porphyrin dimer and cross-conjugated quinone-fused dinaphtho[2,3]porphyrins. These multichromophoric systems display non-typical UV-visible absorptions of either porphyrins or pentacenes/quinones. UV-visible, emission and magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy suggest strong electronic interactions among the multichromophores in the system. DFT calculations revealed the delocalization of the HOMOs and LUMOs spanning the entire dimer and linker assembly. The pentacene-fused porphyrin dimer is significantly more stable than both the corresponding pentacene and the heptacene derivatives. The availability of these huge π-extended and electronically highly interactive multichromophoric systems promises unprecedented electronic and photophysical properties.

Phlorins bearing different substituents at the sp3-hybridized meso-position.

Phlorins bearing different substituents at the sp(3)-hybridized meso-position were investigated. The extent to which different substituents at this unique position can influence phlorin spectroscopic properties, structure, and stability is of interest given that such substituents are not in direct conjugation with the phlorin macrocycle. While the effect of various substituents at the sp(2)-hybridized positions has been the subject of prior investigations, the impact of different substituents at the saturated carbon atom has not been systematically examined. In this study, phlorins with different combinations of geminal methyl and phenyl substituents were prepared in yields of 24-49% via dipyrromethane + dipyrromethanedicarbinol routes, and their NMR spectra, UV-vis spectra, X-ray crystal structures, and stability toward light and air were compared. The nature of the substituents at the sp(3)-hybridized position was found to impact spectroscopic properties, structure, and stability to varying degrees. Thus, the choice of substituents at the sp(3)-hybridized meso-position provides a further option for altering phlorin properties.

A new highly fluorescent and symmetric pyrrole-BF2 chromophore: BOPHY.

The new fluorescent chromophore BOPHY can be readily synthesized in two steps from commercially available reagents via the coupling of pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde with hydrazine followed by reaction with BF3. The resultant symmetric and dimeric tetracycle is composed of two BF2 units in six-membered chelate rings appended with pyrrole units on the periphery. The quantum yields of fluorescence for the unmodified compound and the tetramethyl variant are near unity, with values of 95 and 92%, respectively, in CH2Cl2. We have probed the electronic structure of this compound via cyclic voltammetry and density functional theory analysis.

The synthesis of biologically relevant conjugates of Re(CO)3 using pyridine-2-carboxyaldehyde.

The new pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde adduct, Re(CO)3(NC6H5C(O)H)Cl 1, and previously reported complex Re(CO)3(NC6H5C(O)H)Br 2 react with aniline derivatives sulfanilamide or 4-aminofluorescein in methanol giving Schiff base conjugates Re(CO)3(pyca-R)X (pyca = pyridinecarbaldehyde imine, X = Cl, Br), 3-6. Pre-isolation of compounds 1 and 2 provides a convenient method for preparing conjugate complexes in addition to the known methods of ligand synthesis and one-pot reactions. All new compounds were completely characterized, and compound 1 and the sulfanilamide derivatives 3 and 4 were structurally elucidated by X-ray crystallography.

The synthesis and pH-dependent behaviour of Re(CO)3 conjugates with diimine phenolic ligands.

In this report we present a study of a series of Re(CO)3 pyridine-imine complexes with pendant phenol groups. We investigated the effects of the position of the phenol hydroxyl group (para, meta or ortho to the imine) on the steric and electronic characteristics of a series of Re(CO)3X(pyca-C6H4OH) compounds, where X = Cl, Br and pyca = pyridine-2-carbaldehyde imine. These compounds can be generated either via ligand synthesis followed by metal chelation (compound 4) or via a one-pot method (compounds 2, 3, 5 and 6). All six compounds show striking differences in pH-dependent UV-visible absorption based on the position of the phenol hydroxyl group.

Synthesis of C2 -Symmetric Dimeric Re(I) Peptide Complexes.

The reactions of [Re(CO)3(H2O)3]Br or Re(CO)5Cl with two peptides, glycylglycine or glycylalanine, were investigated. Each reaction produced a unique, well-defined product. Structural elucidation showed the formation of chiral compounds with the formula [Re(CO)3(Gly-Xxx-O)]2, Xxx = Gly 1, Ala 2. Each dimer displays C2 -symmetry and a nearly rectangular shape. The ligands are bound via the amine and amide carbonyl at a rhenium center and via the pendant carboxylate to the adjacent rhenium center. Both products are fully characterized, via X-ray structure elucidation.

Tuning excited state isomerization dynamics through ground state structural changes in analogous ruthenium and osmium sulfoxide complexes.

The complexes [Ru(bpy)2(pyESO)](PF6)2 and [Os(bpy)2(pyESO)](PF6)2, in which bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine and pyESO is 2-((isopropylsulfinyl)ethyl)pyridine, were prepared and studied by (1)H NMR, UV-visible and ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy, as well as by electrochemical methods. Crystals suitable for X-ray structural analysis were grown for [Ru(bpy)2(pyESO)](PF6)2. Cyclic voltammograms of both complexes provide evidence for S→O and O→S isomerization as these voltammograms are described by an ECEC (electrochemical-chemical electrochemical-chemical) mechanism in which isomerization follows Ru(2+) oxidation and Ru(3+) reduction. The S- and O-bonded Ru(3+/2+) couples appear at 1.30 and 0.76 V versus Ag/AgCl in propylene carbonate. For [Os(bpy)2(pyESO)](PF6)2, these couples appear at 0.97 and 0.32 V versus Ag/AgCl in acetonitrile, respectively. Charge-transfer excitation of [Ru(bpy)2(pyESO)](PF6)2 results in a significant change in the absorption spectrum. The S-bonded isomer of [Ru(bpy)2(pyESO)](2+) features a lowest energy absorption maximum at 390 nm and the O-bonded isomer absorbs at 480 nm. The quantum yield of isomerization in [Ru(bpy)2(pyESO)](2+) was found to be 0.58 in propylene carbonate and 0.86 in dichloroethane solution. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic measurements were collected for both complexes, revealing time constants of isomerizations of 81 ps (propylene carbonate) and 47 ps (dichloroethane) in [Ru(bpy)2(pyESO)](2+). These data and a model for the isomerizing complex are presented. A striking conclusion from this analysis is that expansion of the chelate ring by a single methylene leads to an increase in the isomerization time constant by nearly two orders of magnitude.

The role of arene-arene interactions in the folding of ortho-phenylenes.

The ortho-phenylenes are a simple class of helical oligomers and representative of the broader class of sterically congested polyphenylenes. Recent work has shown that o-phenylenes fold into well-defined helical conformations (in solution and, typically, in the solid state); however, the specific causes of this folding behavior have not been determined. Here, we report the effect of substituents on the conformational distributions of a series of o-phenylene hexamers. These experiments are complemented by dispersion-corrected DFT calculations on model oligomers (B97-D/TZV(2d,2p)). The results are consistent with a deterministic role for offset arene-arene stacking interactions on the folding behavior. On the basis of the experimental and computational results, we propose a model for o-phenylene folding with two simple rules. (1) Conformers are forbidden if they include a particular sequence of biaryl torsional states that causes excessive steric strain. These "ABA" states correspond to consecutive dihedral angles of -55°/+130°/-55° (or +55°/-130°/+55). (2) The stability of the remaining conformers is determined by offset arene-arene stacking interactions that are easily estimated as an additive function of the number of well-folded torsional states (±55°) along the backbone. For the parent, unsubstituted poly(o-phenylene), each interaction contributes roughly 0.5 kcal/mol to the helix stability (in chloroform), although their strength is sensitive to substituent effects. The behavior of the o-phenylenes as a class is discussed in the context of this model. They are analogous to α-helices, with axial aromatic stacking interactions in place of hydrogen bonding. The model predicts that the overall folding propensity should be quite sensitive to relatively small changes in the strength of the arene-arene stacking. In a broader sense, these results demonstrate that polyphenylenes may exhibit folding behavior that is amenable to simple models, and validate the use of diffusion-corrected DFT methods in predicting their three-dimensional structures.

1,1'-Bis(tert-butyl-dimethyl-sil-yl)ferrocene.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Fe(C11H19Si)2], consists of one half of a ferrocene derivative. The Fe(II) atom lies on a twofold rotation axis, giving an eclipsed conformation for the cyclo-penta-dienyl ligands. No significant inter-molecular inter-actions are observed in the crystal structure.

Sequential picosecond isomerizations in a photochromic ruthenium sulfoxide complex triggered by pump-repump-probe spectroscopy.

The complex [Ru(bpy)(2)(bpSO)](PF(6))(2), where bpy is 2,2'-bipydine and bpSO is 1,2-bis(phenylsulfinyl)ethane, exhibits three distinct isomers which are accessible upon metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) irradiation. This complex and its parent, [Ru(bpy)(2)(bpte)](PF(6))(2), where bpte is 1,2-bis(phenylthio)ethane, have been synthesized and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, NMR, X-ray crystallography, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. A novel method of 2-color Pump-Repump-Probe spectroscopy has been employed to investigate all three isomers of the bis-sulfoxide complex. This method allows for observation of the isomerization dynamics of sequential isomerizations of each sulfoxide from MLCT irradiation of the S,S-bonded complex to ultimately form the O,O-bonded metastable complex. One-dimensional (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) (COSY, NOESY, and TOCSY) (1)H NMR data show the thioether and ground state S,S-bonded sulfoxide complexes to be rigorously C(2) symmetric and are consistent with the crystal structures. Transient absorption spectroscopy reveals that the S,S to S,O isomerization occurs with an observed time constant of 56.8 (±7.4) ps. The S,O to O,O isomerization time constant was found to be 59 (±4) ps by pump-repump-probe spectroscopy. The composite S,S- to O,O-isomer quantum yield is 0.42.

Oxazolochlorins. 9. meso-Tetraphenyl-2-oxabacteriochlorins and meso-tetraphenyl-2,12/13-dioxabacteriochlorins.

The formal replacement of one or two pyrrole groups in meso-tetraphenylporphyrin by oxazole moieties is described, generating inter alia the bacteriochlorin-type chromophores oxazolobacteriochlorins (oxabacteriochlorins) and bisoxazolobacteriochlorins (dioxabacteriochlorins). The key step is the conversion of a ß,ß'-dihydroxy-functionalized pyrroline group into an oxazolone or (substituted) oxazole. Depending on the substitution pattern on the oxazole or oxazoline moieties, mono- and dioxabacteriochlorins may have chlorin- or bacteriochlorin-like spectra. The optical properties (as measured by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies) of the novel oxa- and dioxabacteriochlorins are described and contrasted against benchmark chlorins and bacteriochlorins. The conformations of a representative number of mono- and dioxabacteriochlorins, as their free bases or Zn(II) complexes, were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. They proved to be essentially planar, showing that the modulation of their optical properties is primarily due to their intrinsic electronic structures and electronic substituent effects and are not largely affected by conformational effects. The mono- and bisoxazolobacteriochlorins are a novel class of readily prepared and oxidatively stable chlorin and bacteriochlorin analogues with tunable optical spectra that, in part, reach into the NIR.

Phthalocrowns: isoindoline-crown ether macrocycles.

The reaction of diiminoisoindoline with amine-terminated polyethers results in the formation of phthalocrown macrocycles. For n = 1 (where n is the number of ether units), a 2 + 2 condensation takes place, but for n = 2 and 3, a 1 + 1 macrocycle formation occurs. The n = 2 phthalocrown is particularly stable due to a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond, but the n = 3 ring hydrolyzes to form a 3-imino-1-oxoisoindoline derivatized crown ether species. For the n = 1 phthalocrown, we observed dynamic behavior in the (1)H NMR spectrum, and using VTNMR were able to measure a ΔG(‡) = 44.6 kJ/mol for proton exchange.

Water-soluble ionic benzoporphyrins.

Novel ionic water-soluble tetrabenzoporphyrins have been successfully synthesized via a cascade reaction based on the Heck reaction. The UV-Vis spectra of these porphyrins displayed red-shifted and broadened Soret bands, and significantly enhanced Q bands. These porphyrins are highly water soluble.

meso-Aryl-3-alkyl-2-oxachlorins.

The formal replacement of a pyrrole moiety of meso-tetraarylporphyrin 1 by an oxazole moiety is described. The key step is the conversion of porpholactones 4 (prepared by a known two-step oxidation procedure from 1) by addition of alkyl Grignard reagent to form meso-tetraaryl-3-alkyl-2-oxachlorins 9 (alkyloxazolochlorins; alkyl = Me, Et, iPr). Hemiacetal 9 can be converted to an acetal, reduced to an ether, or converted to bis-alkyloxazolochlorins 11. The optical properties (UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy) are described. The chlorin-like optical properties of the alkyloxazolochlorins are compared to regular chlorins, such as 2,3-dihydroxychlorins and nonalkylated oxazolochlorins made by reduction from porpholactone 4. The conformations of the mono- and bis-alkylated 2-oxachlorins, as determined by single crystal X-ray diffractometry, are essentially planar, thus proving that their optical properties are largely due to their intrinsic electronic properties and not affected by conformational effects. The mono- and bis-3-alkyl-2-oxachlorins are a class of readily prepared and oxidatively stable chlorins.

meso-arylporpholactones and their reduction products.

The rational syntheses of meso-tetraaryl-3-oxo-2-oxaporphyrins 5, known as porpholactones, via MnO(4)(-)-mediated oxidations of the corresponding meso-tetraaryl-2,3-dihydroxychlorins (7) is detailed. Since chlorin 7 is prepared from the parent porphyrin 1, this amounts to a 2-step replacement of a pyrrole moiety in 1 by an oxazolone moiety. The stepwise reduction of the porpholactone 5 results in the formation of chlorin analogues, meso-tetraaryl-3-hydroxy-2-oxachlorin (11) and meso-tetraaryl-2-oxachlorins (12). The reactivity of 11 with respect to nucleophilic substitution by O-, N-, and S-nucleophiles is described. The profound photophysical consequences of the formal replacement of a pyrrole with an oxazolone (porphyrin-like chromophore) or (substituted) oxazole moiety (chlorin-like chromophore with, for the parent oxazolochlorin 12, red-shifted Q(x) band with enhanced oscillator strengths) are detailed and rationalized on the basis of SAC-CI and MNDO-PSDCI molecular orbital theory calculations. The single crystal X-ray structures of the porpholactones point at a minor steric interaction between the carbonyl oxygen and the flanking phenyl group. The essentially planar structures of all chromophores in all oxidation states prove that the observed optical properties originate from the intrinsic electronic properties of the chromophores and are not subject to conformational modulation.

Bis[bis-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-borato]cobalt(II).

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Co(C(10)H(16)BN(4))(2)], comprises one unit of the complex. The geometry around the Co(II) ion is a distorted tetra-hedron. The dihedral angles between the pyrazole rings in the two ligands are 47.19 (15) and 47.20 (16)°, while that between the coordination planes is 79.77 (7)°.

Bis(4-methyl-3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole-κN)silver(I) nitrate.

In the title complex, [Ag(C(16)H(14)N(2))(2)]NO(3), the geometry around the Ag(I) ion is T-shaped with two short Ag-N bonds to the pyrazole ligand and one long Ag-O bond to the nitrate anion. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter-molecular N-H⋯O, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions.