On the road to MM'X polymers: redox properties of heterometallic Ni···Pt paddlewheel complexes.

On the quest of heterometallic mixed-valence MM'X chains, we have prepared two stable discrete bimetallic compounds: the reduced (PPN)[ClNi(µ-OSCPh)4Pt] (PPN = bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium; OSCPh = benzothiocarboxylato) and the oxidized [(H2O)Ni(µ-OSCPh)4PtCl] species. The role of the aqua and chlorido axial ligands is crucial to facilitate oxidation of the {Ni(µ-OSCPh)4Pt} core. Experimental and theoretical analyses indicate that a NiPt-Cl/Cl-NiPt isomerization process occurs in the oxidized species. The electronic structure of the reduced system shows two unpaired electrons, one located in a d(x(2)-y(2)) orbital of the Ni(II) ion and a second in the antibonding d(z(2)-dz(2)) combination from the Ni(II) and Pt(II) centers. Oxidation occurs by removing one electron from this second multicenter molecular orbital. Although the mixed-valence character of the oxidized species makes the isolation of MM'X chains very attractive, such polymeric structure is prevented by the low Pt-Cl···Ni interaction energy and the high tendency of Ni centers to coordinate water molecules. Thus, this work offers valuable insights and hints to engage the production of heterometallic mixed-valence MM'X chains, which still is a challenging task.

The isolation of single MMX chains from solution: unravelling the assembly-disassembly process.

Herein, we provide a systematic theoretical and experimental study of the structural and optical properties of MMX (M=metal, X=halide) chains. The influence of solvent, temperature, and concentration has been analyzed to find suitable parameters for initial building-block associations in solution. By using density functional calculations, we have computed the dissociation energy of different MMX oligomers (up to the tetramer) in the gas phase. On the basis of these findings, we discuss the most likely disassembly scenario and propose a new interpretation of these compounds. We also calculated the charge redistribution that occurs upon MM+XMMX binding in vacuum. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is used to calculate the UV/visible spectra of different MMX chains up to the tetramer in the gas phase. The implications of these theoretical findings in the analysis of our experiments are discussed in the text. The overall body of data presented suggests a new way of looking at such linear structures. By taking into account these new data, we have been able to isolate single/few MMX chains on mica.

Electrical behaviour of heterobimetallic [MM'(EtCS2)4] (MM'=NiPd, NiPt, PdPt) and MM'X-chain polymers [PtM(EtCS2)4I] (M=Ni, Pd).

Herein, we report the isolation of new heterobimetallic complexes [Ni(0.6)Pd(1.4)(EtCS(2))(4)] (1), [NiPt(EtCS(2))(4)] (2) and [Pd(0.4)Pt(1.6)(EtCS(2))(4)] (3), which were constructed by using transmetallation procedures. Subsequent oxidation with iodine furnished the MM'X monodimensional chains [Ni(0.6)Pt(1.4)(EtCS(2))(4)I] (4) and [Ni(0.1)Pd(0.3)Pt(1.6)(EtCS(2))(4)I] (5). The physical properties of these systems were investigated and the chain structures 4 and 5 were found to be reminiscent of the parent [Pt(2)(EtCS(2))(4)I] species. However, they were more sensitively dependent on the localised nature of the charge on the Ni ion, which caused spontaneous breaking of the conduction bands.

Supramolecular assembly of diplatinum species through weak Pt(II)⋠⋠⋠Pt(II) intermolecular interactions: a combined experimental and computational study.

The present study elucidates the factors that govern the spontaneous self-assembly of a family of dimetal [Pt(2)L(4)] (L=dithiocarboxylato ligand) complexes. Experimental data show that variables such as temperature, concentration, solvent and the nature of the ligand L have a critical effect on the reversible self-assembly of supramolecular [Pt(2)L(4)](n) entities. In solution, new UV/Vis spectroscopic features emerge at low temperatures and/or high concentrations, which are attributed to the formation of oligomeric [Pt(2)L(4)](n) species. The description of intermolecular Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt interactions, the main driving force for the association, was addressed from a computational perspective. The contributions from intermolecular Pt⋅⋅⋅S and S⋅⋅⋅S interactions to these supramolecular assemblies were found to be repulsive. Experimental UV/Vis data have been interpreted by means of computational spectroscopy.

Electrical conductive coordination polymers.

Coordination polymers are currently one of the hottest topics in Inorganic and Supramolecular Chemistry. This critical review summarizes the current state-of-the-art on electrical conductive coordination polymers (CPs), also named metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The data were collected following two sort criteria of the CPs structure: dimensionality and bridging ligands (151 references).

Design and synthesis of binucleating macrocyclic clefts derived from Schiff-base calixpyrroles.

The syntheses, characterisation and complexation reactions of a series of binucleating Schiff-base calixpyrrole macrocycles are described. The acid-templated [2+2] condensations between meso-disubstituted diformyldipyrromethanes and o-phenylenediamines generate the Schiff-base pyrrolic macrocycles H(4)L(1) to H(4)L(6) upon basic workup. The single-crystal X-ray structures of both H(4)L(3).2 EtOH and H(4)L(6).H2O confirm that [2+2] cyclisation has occurred, with either EtOH or H2O hydrogen-bonded within the macrocyclic cleft. A series of complexation reactions generate the dipalladium [Pd2(L)] (L=L(1) to L(5)), dinickel [Ni2(L(1))] and dicopper [Cu2(L)] (L=L(1) to L(3)) complexes. All of these complexes have been structurally characterised in the solid state and are found to adopt wedged structures that are enforced by the rigidity of the aryl backbone to give a cleft reminiscent of the structures of Pacman porphyrins. The binuclear nickel complexes [Ni2(mu-OMe)2Cl2(HOMe)2(H(4)L(1))] and [Ni2(mu-OH)2Cl2(HOMe)(H(4)L(5))] have also been prepared, although in these cases the solid-state structures show that the macrocyclic ligand remains protonated at the pyrrolic nitrogen atoms, and the Ni(II) cations are therefore co-ordinated by the imine nitrogen atoms only to give an open conformation for the complex. The dicopper complex [Cu2(L(3))] was crystallised in the presence of pyridine to form the adduct [Cu2(py)(L(3))], in which, in the solid state, the pyridine ligand is bound within the binuclear molecular cleft. Reaction between H(4)L(1) and [Mn(thf){N(SiMe(3))2}2] results in clean formation of the dimanganese complex [Mn2(L(1))], which, upon crystallisation, formed the mixed-valent complex [Mn2(mu-OH)(L(1))] in which the hydroxo ligand bridges the metal centres within the molecular cleft.

Metal-directed ring-expansion in Schiff-base polypyrrolic macrocycles.

The reaction between a [2+2] Schiff-base porphyrin analogue and zinc acetate results in the unusual formation of an enlarged [3+3] macrocycle that is stabilised by metal coordination and intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions.

Macrocyclic diiminodipyrromethane complexes: structural analogues of Pac-Man porphyrins.

The complexation of palladium(II) by a unique family of [2+2] diiminodipyrromethane macrocycles yields compounds that adopt structures reminiscent of Pac-Man porphyrins.