Peculiar orientational disorder in 4-bromo-4'-nitrobiphenyl (BNBP) and 4-bromo-4'-cyanobiphenyl (BCNBP) leading to bipolar crystals.

180° orientational disorder of molecular building blocks can lead to a peculiar spatial distribution of polar properties in molecular crystals. Here we present two examples [4-bromo-4'-nitrobiphenyl (BNBP) and 4-bromo-4'-cyanobiphenyl (BCNBP)] which develop into a bipolar final growth state. This means orientational disorder taking place at the crystal/nutrient interface produces domains of opposite average polarity for as-grown crystals. The spatial inhomogeneous distribution of polarity was investigated by scanning pyroelectric microscopy (SPEM), phase-sensitive second harmonic microscopy (PS-SHM) and selected volume X-ray diffraction (SVXD). As a result, the acceptor groups (NO2 or CN) are predominantly present at crystal surfaces. However, the stochastic process of polarity formation can be influenced by adding a symmetrical biphenyl to a growing system. For this case, Monte Carlo simulations predict an inverted net polarity compared with the growth of pure BNBP and BCNBP. SPEM results clearly demonstrate that 4,4'-dibromobiphenyl (DBBP) can invert the polarity for both crystals. Phenomena reported in this paper belong to the most striking processes seen for molecular crystals, demonstrated by a stochastic process giving rise to symmetry breaking. We encounter here further examples supporting the general thesis that monodomain polar molecular crystals for fundamental reasons cannot exist.

Crystal structures of trans-di-chlorido-tetra-kis-[1-(2,6-diiso-propyl-phen-yl)-1H-imidazole-κN (3)]iron(II), trans-di-bromido-tetra-kis-[1-(2,6-diiso-propyl-phen-yl)-1H-imidazole-κN (3)]iron(II) and trans-di-bromido-tetra-kis-[1-(2,6-diiso-propyl-phen-yl)-1H-imidazole-κN (3)]iron(II) diethyl ether disolvate.

The title compounds, [FeCl2(C15H20N2)4], (I), [FeBr2(C15H20N2)4], (II), and [FeBr2(C15H20N2)4]·2C4H10O, (IIb), respectively, all have triclinic symmetry, with (I) and (II) being isotypic. The Fe(II) atoms in each of the structures are located on an inversion center. They have octa-hedral FeX 2N4 (X = Cl and Br, respectively) coordination spheres with the Fe(II) atom coordinated by two halide ions in a trans arrangement and by the tertiary N atom of four aryl-imidazole ligands [1-(2,6-diiso-propyl-phen-yl)-1H-imidazole] in the equatorial plane. In the two independent ligands, the benzene and imidazole rings are almost normal to one another, with dihedral angles of 88.19 (15) and 79.26 (14)° in (I), 87.0 (3) and 79.2 (3)° in (II), and 84.71 (11) and 80.58 (13)° in (IIb). The imidazole rings of the two independent ligand mol-ecules are inclined to one another by 70.04 (15), 69.3 (3) and 61.55 (12)° in (I), (II) and (IIb), respectively, while the benzene rings are inclined to one another by 82.83 (13), 83.0 (2) and 88.16 (12)°, respectively. The various dihedral angles involving (IIb) differ slightly from those in (I) and (II), probably due to the close proximity of the diethyl ether solvent mol-ecule. There are a number of C-H⋯halide hydrogen bonds in each mol-ecule involving the CH groups of the imidazole units. In the structures of compounds (I) and (II), mol-ecules are linked via pairs of C-H⋯halogen hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the a axis that enclose R 2 (2)(12) ring motifs. The chains are linked by C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming sheets parallel to (001). In the structure of compound (IIb), mol-ecules are linked via pairs of C-H⋯halogen hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the b axis, and the diethyl ether solvent mol-ecules are attached to the chains via C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The chains are linked by C-H⋯π inter-actions, forming sheets parallel to (001). In (I) and (II), the methyl groups of an isopropyl group are disordered over two positions [occupancy ratio = 0.727 (13):0.273 (13) and 0.5:0.5, respectively]. In (IIb), one of the ethyl groups of the diethyl ether solvent mol-ecule is disordered over two positions (occupancy ratio = 0.5:0.5).

Crystal-to-crystal transformation upon dehydration of a copper(II) 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine complex.

The reaction of 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (terpy) with CuCl(2) in the presence of sodium sulfite led to the synthesis of the ionic complex aquachlorido(2,2':6',2''-terpyridyl-κ(3)N,N',N'')copper(II) chlorido(dithionato-κO)(2,2':6',2''-terpyridyl-κ(3)N,N',N'')cuprate(II) dihydrate, [CuCl(C(15)H(11)N(3))(H(2)O)][CuCl(S(2)O(6))(C(15)H(11)N(3))]·2H(2)O, (I), and the in situ synthesis of the S(2)O(6)(2-) dianion. Compound (I) is composed of a [CuCl(terpy)(H(2)O)](+) cation, a [Cu(S(2)O(6))(terpy)](-) anion and two solvent water molecules. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated the loss of two water molecules at ca 363 K, and at 433 K the weight loss indicated a total loss of 2.5 water molecules. The crystal structure analysis of the resulting pale-green dried crystals, µ-dithionato-κ(2)O:O'-bis[chlorido(2,2':6',2''-terpyridyl-κ(3)N,N',N'')copper(II)] monohydrate, [Cu(2)Cl(2)(S(2)O(6))(C(15)H(11)N(3))(2)]·H(2)O, (II), revealed a net loss of 1.5 water molecules and the formation of a binuclear complex with two [CuCl(terpy)](+) cations bridged by a dithionate dianion. The crystal-to-crystal transformation involved an effective reduction in the unit-cell volume of ca 7.6%. In (I), the ions are linked by O-H...O hydrogen bonds involving the coordinated and solvent water molecules and O atoms of the dithionate unit, to form ribbon-like polymer chains propagating in [100]. These chains are linked by Cu...Cl interactions [3.2626 (7) Šin the cation and 3.3492 (7) Šin the anion] centred about inversion centres, to form two-dimensional networks lying in and parallel to (0-11). In (II), symmetry-related molecules are linked by O-H...O hydrogen bonds involving the partially occupied disordered water molecule and an O atom of the bridging thiosulfite anion, to form ribbon-like polymer chains propagating in [100]. These chains are also linked by Cu...Cl interactions [3.3765 (12) Å] centred about inversion centres to form similar two-dimensional networks to (I) lying in and parallel to (0-22), crosslinked into three dimensions by C-H...O=S and C-H...O(water) interactions.

Alignment and relaxation dynamics of dye molecules in host-guest inclusion compounds as probed by dielectric spectroscopy.

The alignment and relaxation dynamics of a polar dye molecule, N,N-dimethyl-4(4-nitrophenylazo)aniline (DNAA), in zeolite L and perhydrotriphenylene (PHTP) channels were investigated by means of a combination of optical, dielectric, and quantum-chemical methods. Both the zeolite L and PHTP channels enable the dye molecules to align along the channel axis. An amplified net dipole moment of DNAA in PHTP is observed and attributed to enhanced 1D close alignment of dye molecules. In zeolite L channels, a concentration gradient is found with aggregation at the channel entrances. The dynamics of the dye in zeolite L channels reveals localized conical rotational fluctuation modes following Arrhenius-type activation with energy of 0.31 eV, which we assign to small noninteracting fluctuating polar units of the dyes being loosely aligned or isolated. Unlike zeolite L, relaxations in PHTP are characterized by cooperative wobbling motions interpreted as increased intermolecular dipole interaction due to a closely packed one-dimensional array. Temperature-dependent activation energies of 0.25 eV below 0 degrees C and 0.37 eV at ambient temperature reflect the role of the soft channel walls in the activation process.

Aqua-chlorido(2,2':6',2''-terpyrid-yl)copper(II) chloride monohydrate.

The title complex, [CuCl(C(15)H(11)N(3))(H(2)O)]Cl·H(2)O, is composed of a monocation that possesses mirror symmetry. The Cu(II) atom has a distorted square-pyramidal geometry, being coordinated by the three N atoms of the terpyridine ligand and a Cl atom in the equatorial plane, and by a water mol-ecule O atom in the axial position. The charges are balanced by a chloride anion positionally disorded over two positions related by the mirror symmetry. The compound crystallizes as a monohydrate, with the water mol-ecule also being positionally disordered over two positions related by the mirror symmetry. In the crystal, the various components of the complex are linked via O-H⋯O and O-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional network in the ab plane. There are also a number of C-H⋯Cl and C-H⋯O inter-actions which stabilize the crystal structure.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Cyclometalated Iridium (III) Complexes: Characterization and Photophysical Properties.

The stereoselective synthesis of a highly luminescent neutral Ir(III) complex comprising two bidentate chiral, cyclometalating phenylpyridine derivatives, and one acetylacetonate as ligands is described. The final complex and some intermediates were characterized by X-ray structural analysis, NMR-, CD-, and CPL-spectroscopy.

Hydrogen-bond patterns in the congruent complex 4-nitrophenol-acetamide (1/1).

Fusion of 4-nitrophenol and acetamide in a 1:1 molar ratio gives the title product, C6H5NO3.C2H5NO, (III), which has the character of a pure covalently bonded compound, having a high sharp melting point. Complex (III) (m.p. 371.9-372.9 K) can be recrystallized from various solvents and forms eutectics with either acetamide or 4-nitrophenol. Similar fusion of mixtures of acetamide and 2-nitrophenol yields no complex similar to (III) and mixtures of acetamide and 3-nitrophenol produce only a weak low-melting complex. The significance of this study lies in its demonstration, via graph set analysis, that some of the patterns found individually in crystalline acetamide or 4-nitrophenol have been preserved in crystals of complex (III), while several higher order graph sets are produced in (III) due to new hydrogen bonds involving the nitro group. In particular, large hydrogen-bonded rings are formed together with helical chains.

Precursors for MOCVD and ALD of rare earth oxides-complexes of the early lanthanides with a donor-functionalized alkoxide ligand.

Complexes of the early lanthanides with the donor-functionalized alkoxide ligand mmp (Hmmp = HOCMe(2)CH(2)OMe, 1-methoxy-2-methylpropan-2-ol) are excellent precursors for Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) and Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) of lanthanide oxides; however, their coordination chemistry, which is the subject of this paper, is rather complex. Precursors for MOCVD and ALD of lanthanide oxides are prepared by the reaction of [Ln{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(3)] with 3 equiv of the alcohol Hmmp in toluene in the presence of 1 equiv of tetraglyme and are indefinitely stable in solution. Reaction of [Ln{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(3)] with 3 equiv of Hmmp in the absence of stabilizing Lewis bases gives complex condensed products with empirical formula [{Ln(mmp)(3-n)}(2)O(n)]. These condensed products show poor volatility and are unsatisfactory precursors for MOCVD or ALD of oxides. The cluster complex [La(3)(mu(3),kappa(2)-mmp)(2)(mu(2),kappa(2)-mmp)(3)(mmp)(4)] has been prepared by careful reaction of [La{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(3)] with 4 equiv of Hmmp and has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Salt metathesis reactions using M(mmp) (M = Li or Na) are unreliable routes to [Ln(mmp)(3)]. Crystals of the heterometallic cluster complex [NaLa(3)(mu(3)-OH)(mu(3),kappa(2)-mmp)(2)(mu(2),kappa(2)-mmp)(4)(mmp)(3)] were isolated from the reaction of [La(NO(3))(3)(tetraglyme)] with 3 equiv of Na(mmp), and crystals of [Li(kappa(2)-Hmmp)Pr(mu(2),eta(2)-mmp)(4))LiCl] were isolated from the reaction of PrCl(3) with 3 equiv of Li(mmp); both of these complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

rac-(Z)-Ethyl 2-bromo-2-[(3R,5R)-3-bromo-5-methyltetrahydrofuran-2-ylidene]acetate.

In the title compound, C9H12Br2O3, a (tetrahydrofuran-2-ylidene)acetate, the double bond has the Z form. In the tetrahydrofuran group, the relative configuration of the Br atom in the 3-position and the methyl group in the 5-position is anti. The compound crystallizes with two independent molecules per asymmetric unit and, in the crystal structure, the individual molecules are linked to their symmetry-equivalent molecules by C-H...O hydrogen bonds, so forming centrosymmetric hydrogen-bonded dimers.

Synthesis of 1,2,4-trioxepanes via application of thiol-olefin co-oxygenation methodology.

Thiol-olefin co-oxygenation (TOCO) of substituted allylic alcohols generates beta-hydroxy peroxides that can be condensed in situ with various ketones, to afford a series of functionalised 1,2,4-trioxepanes in good yields. Manipulation of the phenylsulfenyl group in 8a-8c allows for convenient modification to the spiro-trioxepane substituents. Surprisingly, and in contrast to the 1,2,4-trioxanes examined, 1,2,4-trioxepanes are inactive as antimalarials up to 1000 nM and we rationalize this observation based on the inherent stability of these systems to ferrous mediated degradation. FMO calculations clearly show that the sigma* orbital of the peroxide moiety of 1,2,4-trioxane derivatives 4a and 14b are lower in energy and more accessible to attack by Fe(II) compared to their trioxepane analogues 8b and 9b.

One-dimensional mu-chloromanganese(II)-tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) coordination compound.

A new tetrathiafulvalene derivative 1 bearing a single pyridine group and its coordination complex 2, with stoichiometry [Mn(mu-Cl)Cl(1)2(CH3OH)]n, have been synthesized and fully characterized. The complex 2 shows an extended chain structure, which is potentially favorable for electrical conductivity. Notably, this is the first monohalogen-bridged Mn(II) polymer exhibiting a moderate antiferromagnetic coupling between the Mn(II) centers.

Stereoselectivity in the formation of tris-diimine complexes of Fe(II), Ru(II), and Os(II) with a C2-symmetric chiral derivative of 2,2'-bipyridine.

A C2-symmetric enantiopure 4,5-bis(pinene)-2,2'-bipyridine ligand (-)-L was used to investigate the diastereoselectivity in the formation of [ML3]2+ coordination species (M = Fe(II), Ru(II), Os(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Ni(II)), and [ML2Cl2] (M = Ru(II), Os(II)). The X-ray structures of the [ML3]2+ complexes were determined for Delta-[FeL3](PF6)2, Delta-[RuL3](PF6)2, Lambda-[RuL3](PF6)2, Delta-[OsL3](PF6)2, and Lambda-[OsL3](TfO)2. All of these compounds were also characterized by NMR, CD and UV/VIS absorption spectroscopy. The [FeL3]2+ diastereoisomers were studied in equilibrated solutions at various temperatures and in several solvents. The [RuL3]2+ complexes, which are thermally stable up to 200 degrees C, were photochemically equilibrated.

Design and synthesis of orally active dispiro 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes; synthetic antimalarials with superior activity to artemisinin.

Unsymmetrical dispiro- and spirotetraoxanes have been designed and synthesized via acid-catalyzed cyclocondensation of bis(hydroperoxides) with ketones. Incorporation of water-soluble and polar functionalities, via reductive amination and amide bond formation, produces several analogues with low nanomolar in vitro antimalarial activity. Several analogues display an unprecedented level of oral antimalarial activity for this class of endoperoxide drug.

Synthesis and electrochemical and photophysical studies of tetrathiafulvalene-annulated phthalocyanines.

The synthesis of tetrakis(tetrathiafulvalene)-annulated metal-free and metallophthalocyanines 5-8 via the tetramerization of the phthalonitrile derivative 4 is reported. All of them have been fully characterized by electronic absorption spectroscopy, thin-layer cyclic voltammetry, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Their solution electrochemical data show two reversible four-electron oxidation waves, indicating that these fused systems are strong pi-electron donors, which give rise to tetra- or octaradical cation species. For the metal-free phthalocyanine 5, additionally a reversible one-electron wave was found in the negative direction arising from the reduction of the macrocycle. Moreover, the tetrathiafulvalene unit acts as an efficient reductive electron-transfer quencher for the phthalocyanine emission, but upon its oxidation, an intense luminescence is switched on.

High-nuclearity mixed-chelate ferric complexes from a new family of polynuclear precursors.

The syntheses, structures, and magnetochemical characterization of two novel mixed-chelate undeca- and dodecanuclear ferric complexes are reported. Preformed tri- and pentanuclear ferric complexes that possess tridentate Schiff base (L2- and (L'2-) and acetate ligands were reacted with 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane (H3thme) to afford [Fe11O3(OH)(O2CMe)8(thme)2(L)6] (1) and [Fe12O4(O2CMe)8(thme)2(NH2(CH2)2O)2(L')6] (2), respectively, following structural agglomeration and rearrangement associated with ligand substitution. The incorporation of more than one type of ligand that can both chelate and bridge the Fe centers gives rise to the complicated molecular structures displayed by 1 and 2. As a result of the tripodal conformation of thme3-, the cores of both molecules incorporate several face-shared defect {Fe3O4}+ cuboidal subunits. Variable-temperature dc and ac magnetic susceptibility studies, together with low-temperature magnetization measurements, are consistent with S = 5/2 and S = 0 ground-state spins for 1 and 2, respectively, and suggest that excited states with higher spin values lie relatively close in energy to the ground state for both species. Low-temperature micro-SQUID measurements on oriented single crystals of 1 confirm the easy-axis type magnetic anisotropy suggested by conventional SQUID magnetometry. However magnetization hysteresis is not observed down to 0.04 K, which is ascribed to rapid quantum tunneling of the magnetization associated with transverse interactions.

Chiral induction in self-assembled helicates: CHIRAGEN type ligands with ferrocene bridging units.

The aim of this work was the preparation of enantiomerically pure bis(pinene-bipyridine) ligands containing the ferrocenyl moiety. Several such ligands (1-3) were synthesized and completely characterized. These molecules can be diastereoselectively deprotonated at the acidic methylene group of the pinene moiety using a strong and sterically hindered base such as LDA. Subsequent reaction of the formed anion with alkyl halides yield the family of C(2)-symmetric enantiopure compounds (1a-c). Copper(I), silver(I), or zinc(II) complexes with several ligands (C1-C8) were prepared and structurally characterized in the solid state and in solution. Self-assembled helical species are formed in several cases. It became evident that the chiral groups present in the ligand do not completely determined the helical configuration of the assemblages. Diastereoselectivity is thus not complete with this type of ligands, contrary to other, similar ligands studied before.

A heterodifunctionalised ferrocene derivative that self-assembles in solution through complementary hydrogen-bonding interactions.

A heterodifunctionalised ferrocene, containing a carboxylic acid and an amidopyridine unit, self-assembles in organic solvents through complementary hydrogen bonds.

Synthesis and characterization of a new family of bi-, tri-, tetra-, and pentanuclear ferric complexes.

Nine members of a new family of polynuclear ferric complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The reaction of Fe(O(2)CMe)(2) with polydentate Schiff base proligands (H(2)L) derived from salicylidene-2-ethanolamine, followed in some cases by reaction with carboxylic acids, has afforded new complexes of general formulas [Fe(2)(pic)(2)(L)(2)] (where pic(-) is the anion of 2-picolinic acid), [Fe(3)(O(2)CMe)(3)(L)(3)], [Fe(4)(OR)(2)(O(2)CMe)(2)(L)(4)], and [Fe(5)O(OH)(O(2)CR)(4)(L)(4)]. The tri-, tetra-, and pentanuclear complexes all possess unusual structures and novel core topologies. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirms the presence of high-spin ferric centers in the tri- and pentanuclear complexes. Variable-temperature magnetic measurements suggest spin ground states of S = 0, 1/2, 0, and 5/2 for the bi-, tri-, tetra-, and pentanuclear complexes, respectively. Fits of the magnetic susceptibility data have provided the magnitude of the exclusively antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. In addition, an easy-axis-type magnetic anisotropy has been observed for the pentanuclear complexes, with D values of approximately -0.4 cm(-)(1) determined from modeling the low-temperature magnetization data. A low-temperature micro-SQUID study of one of the pentanuclear complexes reveals magnetization hysteresis at nonzero field. This is attributed to an anisotropy-induced energy barrier to magnetization reversal that is of molecular origin. Finally, an inelastic neutron scattering study of one of the trinuclear complexes has revealed that the magnetic behavior arises from two distinct species.