3,4-Di-amino-pyridinium hydrogen malonate.

In the title salt, C5H8N3 (+)·C3H3O4 (-), the 3,4-di-amino-pyridinium cation is almost planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.02 Å. The conformation of the hydrogen malonate anion is stabilized by an intra-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bond, which generates an S(6) ring. In the crystal, N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link cations and anions into layers parallel to the ab plane.

Highly flexible molecule "Chameleon": reversible thermochromism and phase transitions in solid copper(II) diiminate Cu[CF3-C(NH)-CF═C(NH)-CF3]2.

Three thermochromic phases (α, green; ß, red; γ, yellow) and six polymorphic modifications (α(1), monoclinic, P2(1)/n, Z = 2; ß(1), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, Z = 4; ß(2), triclinic, P1[overline], Z = 4; ß(3), monoclinic, P2(1)/n, Z = 4; γ(1) and γ(2), tetragonal, P4(2)/n, Z = 4) have been found and structurally characterized for copper(II) diiminate Cu[CF(3)-C(NH)-CF═C(NH)-CF(3)](2) (1). The α phase is stable under normal conditions, whereas the high-temperature ß and γ phases are metastable at room temperature and transform slowly into the more stable α phase over several days or even weeks. X-ray diffraction study revealed that the title molecules adopt different conformations in the α, ß, and γ phases, namely, staircase-like, twisted, and planar, respectively. The investigation of the α, ß, and γ phases by differential scanning calorimetry showed that the three endothermic peaks in the range 283, 360, and 438 K are present on their thermograms upon heating/cooling. The two peaks at 283 and 360 K correspond to the solid-solid phase transitions, and the high-temperature peak at 438 K belongs to the melting process of 1. The temperature and thermal effect of all the observed transitions depend on the prehistory of the crystalline sample obtained. A reversible thermochromic single-crystal-to-single-crystal α(1)<--> ß(1) phase transition occurring within a temperature interval of 353-358 K can be directly observed using a CCD video camera of the X-ray diffractometer. A series of other solid-solid α(1)→γ(1), ß(2)→γ(1), ß(3)→γ(1), and γ(1)<-->γ(2) phase transitions can be triggered in 1 by temperature. It has been suggested that, under equilibrium conditions, the α(1)→γ(1) and ß(2)→γ(1) phase transitions should proceed stepwise through the α(1)→ß(1)→ß(2)→ß(3)→γ(1) and ß(2)→ß(3)→γ(1) stages, respectively. The mechanism of the phase transitions is discussed on the basis of experimental and theoretical data.

Reengineered epipodophyllotoxin.

A variant structural skeleton of epipodophyllotoxin was synthesized and found to rival the natural cyclolignan in antiproliferative and microtubule destabilizing properties. This discovery leads to a new structural class of tubulin targeting agents.

Structural simplification of bioactive natural products with multicomponent synthesis. 4. 4H-pyrano-[2,3-b]naphthoquinones with anticancer activity.

4H-Pyrano-[2,3-b]naphthoquinone is a structural motif commonly found in natural products manifesting anticancer activities. As part of a program aimed at structural simplification of bioactive natural products utilizing multicomponent synthetic processes, we developed a compound library based on this heterocyclic scaffold. We found that several library members displayed low micromolar antiproliferative activity and induced apoptosis in human cancer cells. Selected compounds showed promising activity against cancer cell lines resistant to proapoptotic stimuli, demonstrating their potential in treating cancers with dismal prognoses.

Tricarbonyl(η5-formylcyclopentadienyl)manganese(I) and tricarbonyl(η5-formylcyclopentadienyl)rhenium(I) containing short π(CO)···π(CO) and π(CO)···π interactions.

The structures of tricarbonyl(formylcyclopentadienyl)manganese(I), [Mn(C(6)H(5)O)(CO)(3)], (I), and tricarbonyl(formylcyclopentadienyl)rhenium(I), [Re(C(6)H(5)O)(CO)(3)], (II), were determined at 100 K. Compounds (I) and (II) both possess a carbonyl group in a trans position relative to the substituted C atom of the cyclopentadienyl ring, while the other two carbonyl groups are in almost eclipsed positions relative to their attached C atoms. Analysis of the intermolecular contacts reveals that the molecules in both compounds form stacks due to short attractive π(CO)...π(CO) and π(CO)...π interactions, along the crystallographic c axis for (I) and along the [201] direction for (II). Symmetry-related stacks are bound to each other by weak intermolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of the three-dimensional network.

Pyridine-2,5-diamine.

In the title mol-ecule, C5H7N3, intra-cyclic angles cover the range 117.15 (10)-124.03 (11)°. The N atoms of the amino groups have trigonal-pyramidal configurations deviating slightly from the pyridine plane by 0.106 (2) and -0.042 (2) Å. In the crystal, the pyridine N atom serves as an acceptor of an N-H⋯N hydrogen bond which links two mol-ecules into a centrosymmetric dimer. Inter-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds between the amino groups further consolidate the crystal packing, forming a three-dimensional network.

6-Methyl-pyridin-2-amine.

In the title mol-ecule, C6H8N2, the endocyclic angles are in the range 118.43 (9)-122.65 (10)°. The mol-ecular skeleton is planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.007 Å). One of the two amino H atoms is involved in an N-H⋯N hydrogen bond, forming an inversion dimer, while the other amino H atom participates in N-H⋯π inter-actions between the dimers, forming layers parallel to (100).

Synthesis, molecular and electronic structures of six-coordinate transition metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) complexes with redox-active 9-hydroxyphenoxazin-1-one ligands.

A series of pseudo-octahedral metal (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) complexes 4 of a new redox-active ligand, 2,4,6,8-tetra(tert-butyl)-9-hydroxyphenoxazin-1-one 3, have been synthesized, and their molecular structures determined with help of X-ray crystallography. The effective magnetic moments of complexes 4 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) measured in the solid state and toluene solution point to the stabilization of their high-spin electronic ground states. Detailed information on the electronic structure of the complexes and their redox-isomeric forms has been obtained using density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP*/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. The energy disfavored low-spin structures of manganese, iron, and cobalt complexes have been located, and based on the computed geometries and distribution of spin densities identified as Mn(IV)[(Cat-N-SQ)](2), Fe(II)[Cat-N-BQ)](2), and Co(II)[Cat-N-BQ)](2) compounds, respectively. It has been shown that stabilization of the high-spin structures of complexes 4 (M = Mn, Fe, Co) is caused by the rigidity of the molecular framework of ligands 3 that sterically inhibits interconversions between the redox-isomeric forms of the complexes. The calculations performed on complex 4 (M = Co) predict that a suitable structural modification that might provide for stabilization of the low-spin electromeric forms and create conditions for the valence tautomeric rearrangement via stabilization of the low-spin electromer and narrowing energy gap between the low-spin ground state tautomer and the minimal energy crossing point on the intersection of the potential energy surfaces of the interconverting structures consists in the replacement of an oxygen in the oxazine ring by a bulkier sulfur atom.

Bis(µ2-2-(dimethylamino)ethoxo-N,O,O)-di(phenolato-O)ditin(II): a high-resolution single-crystal X-ray diffraction and quantum chemical study.

Experimental and calculated electron density functions ρ(r) of the title compound in the crystal were obtained. These were compared with ρ(r) for an isolated dimer. Application of the `Atoms in Molecules' theory allowed the visualization of the electron lone pair (Lp) of tin(II) and the calculation of some bond energies and all atomic charges. The stereochemical activity of the Lp was demonstrated and its volume was estimated to be approximately 10 Å(3). The energies of N→Sn and Sn-O bonds were found to be 13-18 and 25-52 kJ mol(-1). According to the experimental, AM05-PW and PBE0/6-311G(d,p) calculation data, µ(2)-2-(dimethylamino)ethoxoate accepts 0.68, 0.45 and 0.40 e from the Sn atom. Using the example of µ(2)-2-(dimethylamino)ethoxoates and complexes of bis(n-butyl)tin(IV) it was demonstrated that the more screened the Sn atom, the better the catalytic activity of its complex in polyurethane synthesis.

Unexpected "amphoteric" character of the halogen bond: the charge density study of the co-crystal of N-methylpyrazine iodide with I2.

An unexpected mechanism of halogen bonding that cannot be rationalized within the accepted sigma-hole model was found in the co-crystal of N-methylpyrazine iodide with molecular iodine via the topological analysis of the electron density distribution derived from the high-resolution X-ray diffraction data.

"Higher density does not mean higher stability" mystery of paracetamol finally unraveled.

Topological analysis of the experimental electron density distribution functions for two polymorphs of paracetamol showed that strong H-bonds are responsible for the higher stability of crystal phase I, weak interactions for the higher density of phase II. This made it possible to finally resolve the contradiction between the relative stabilities and the densities of the two paracetamol polymorphs.

Two distinct mechanisms of alkyne insertion into the metal-sulfur bond: combined experimental and theoretical study and application in catalysis.

The present study reports the evidence for the multiple carbon-carbon bond insertion into the metal-heteroatom bond via a five-coordinate metal complex. Detailed analysis of the model catalytic reaction of the carbon-sulfur (C-S) bond formation unveiled the mechanism of metal-mediated alkyne insertion: a new pathway of C-S bond formation without preliminary ligand dissociation was revealed based on experimental and theoretical investigations. According to this pathway alkyne insertion into the metal-sulfur bond led to the formation of intermediate metal complex capable of direct C-S reductive elimination. In contrast, an intermediate metal complex formed through alkyne insertion through the traditional pathway involving preliminary ligand dissociation suffered from "improper" geometry configuration, which may block the whole catalytic cycle. A new catalytic system was developed to solve the problem of stereoselective S-S bond addition to internal alkynes and a cost-efficient Ni-catalyzed synthetic procedure is reported to furnish formation of target vinyl sulfides with high yields (up to 99%) and excellent Z/E selectivity (>99:1).

Monohalogenated ferrocenes C(5)H(5)FeC(5)H(4)X (X = Cl, Br and I) and a second polymorph of C(5)H(5)FeC(5)H(4)I.

The structures of the three title monosubstituted ferrocenes, namely 1-chloroferrocene, [Fe(C(5)H(5))(C(5)H(4)Cl)], (I), 1-bromoferrocene, [Fe(C(5)H(5))(C(5)H(4)Br)], (II), and 1-iodoferrocene, [Fe(C(5)H(5))(C(5)H(4)I)], (III), were determined at 100 K. The chloro- and bromoferrocenes are isomorphous crystals. The new triclinic polymorph [space group P-1, Z = 4, T = 100 K, V = 943.8 (4) A(3)] of iodoferrocene, (III), and the previously reported monoclinic polymorph of (III) [Laus, Wurst & Schottenberger (2005). Z. Kristallogr. New Cryst. Struct. 220, 229-230; space group Pc, Z = 4, T = 100 K, V = 924.9 A(3)] were obtained by crystallization from ethanolic solutions at 253 and 303 K, respectively. All four phases contain two independent molecules in the unit cell. The relative orientations of the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings are eclipsed and staggered in the independent molecules of (I) and (II), while (III) demonstrates only an eclipsed conformation. The triclinic and monoclinic polymorphs of (III) contain nonbonded intermolecular I...I contacts, causing different packing modes. In the triclinic form of (III), the molecules are arranged in zigzag tetramers, while in the monoclinic form the molecules are arranged in zigzag chains along the a axis. Crystallographic data for (III), along with the computed lattice energies of the two polymorphs, suggest that the monoclinic form is more stable.

Insight into the structures of [M(C(5)H(4)I)(CO)(3)] and [M(2)(C(12)H(8))(CO)(6)] (M = Mn and Re) containing strong I...O and pi(CO)-pi(CO) interactions.

The compounds tricarbonyl(eta(5)-1-iodocyclopentadienyl)manganese(I), [Mn(C(5)H(4)I)(CO)(3)], (I), and tricarbonyl(eta(5)-1-iodocyclopentadienyl)rhenium(I), [Re(C(5)H(4)I)(CO)(3)], (III), are isostructural and isomorphous. The compounds [mu-1,2(eta(5))-acetylenedicyclopentadienyl]bis[tricarbonylmanganese(I)] or bis(cymantrenyl)acetylene, [Mn(2)(C(12)H(8))(CO)(6)], (II), and [mu-1,2(eta(5))-acetylenedicyclopentadienyl]bis[tricarbonylrhenium(I)], [Re(2)(C(12)H(8))(CO)(6)], (IV), are isostructural and isomorphous, and their molecules display inversion symmetry about the mid-point of the ligand C[triple-bond]C bond, with the (CO)(3)M(C(5)H(4)) (M = Mn and Re) moieties adopting a transoid conformation. The molecules in all four compounds form zigzag chains due to the formation of strong attractive I...O [in (I) and (III)] or pi(CO)-pi(CO) [in (I) and (IV)] interactions along the crystallographic b axis. The zigzag chains are bound to each other by weak intermolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonds for (I) and (III), while for (II) and (IV) the chains are bound to each other by a combination of weak C-H...O hydrogen bonds and pi(Csp(2))-pi(Csp(2)) stacking interactions between pairs of molecules. The pi(CO)-pi(CO) contacts in (II) and (IV) between carbonyl groups of neighboring molecules, forming pairwise interactions in a sheared antiparallel dimer motif, are encountered in only 35% of all carbonyl interactions for transition metal-carbonyl compounds.

Mutual influence of cyclopentadienyl and carbonyl ligands in cymantrene: QTAIM study.

The phenomenon of bond length alternation in the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligand of cymantrene (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Mn(CO)(3) was investigated using high-resolution X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and quantum chemical calculations. It was shown that the trans-effect of strong field CO ligands causes the redistribution of electron density in the Cp ring, and it manifests in atomic charges and energy of its carbon atoms. The angle C(Cp)-Mn-CO is characteristic for this feature and can be used for the prediction of bond lengths and the charge distribution in the aromatic fragment in various piano-stool-type complexes.

Synthesis of structurally simplified analogues of pancratistatin: truncation of the cyclitol ring.

Pancratistatin is a phenanthridone-type natural product isolated from several plants of the Amaryllidaceae family. Its potent antiproliferative, antivascular, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties have attracted the attention of synthetic, biological, and medicinal chemists. Pancratistatin's low natural availability and complex structure have steered many of these research projects toward the preparation of its simplified synthetic analogues with useful levels of activity. In this work we have developed synthetic chemistry aimed at the preparation of pancratistatin analogues with a truncated cyclitol portion of the molecule. The described synthetic pathways are based on a highly anti-diastereoselective arylcuprate conjugate addition to gamma-alkoxy-alpha,beta-enoates and syn-selective azidation at the alpha-position of ester enolates. Analogues with the formally cleaved C3-C4 bond, and thus containing an open ring C, as well as a compound containing a truncated lactol moiety in lieu of the cyclitol, were prepared. Several of the analogues exhibited weak antiproliferative activity, with the highest potency observed in the case of the lactol analogue. From these results implications for the design of future pancratistatin analogues are discussed. Furthermore, the synthetic pathways can be used to construct pancratistatin-mimetic libraries, in which the cyclitol moiety is replaced by other cyclic motifs.

Why oxonium cation in the crystal phase is a bad acceptor of hydrogen bonds: a charge density analysis of potassium oxonium bis(hydrogensulfate).

Peculiarities of chemical bonding in the crystal of potassium oxonium bis(hydrogensulfate) were analyzed by means of R. Bader's "Atoms in Molecule" theory on the basis of the experimental data. The results obtained were shown to provide insight into the tendency of the oxygen atom of the oxonium moiety to avoid the H-bond formation in its crystalline salts.

Hydrogen bonds between zwitterions: intermediate between classical and charge-assisted ones. A case study.

Detailed investigation of the electron density distribution function of N-succinopyridine in the crystal and in isolated state within Bader's Atoms in Molecules theory has been carried out to analyze the charge density and energetical aspects of zwitterionic H-bonding. By means of comparative analysis of H-bonds formed between molecular, zwitterionic, and likely charged species, it was shown that, according to the criteria of H-bonding, all these interactions do not differ from each other.

Crystallochemical formula as a tool for describing metal-ligand complexes - a pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate example.

Compounds (299) containing 494 symmetrically independent pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate moieties have been investigated. Among them the structures of Na(3)[Nd(Pydc)(3)].14H(2)O and Na(3)[Er(Pydc)(3)].11.5H(2)O, where H(2)Pydc is pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, while the others were taken from the Cambridge Structural Database. The characteristics of any complex by means of the ;method of crystallochemical analysis' are described, and the coordination types of all the Pydc ions and crystallochemical formulae of all the compounds were determined. Although the ion can act as a mono-, bi-, tri-, tetra- and pentadentate ligand, 96% of Pydc ions are coordinated to the central A atom in the tridentate-chelating mode. The dependence of the denticity and geometry of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate, as well as of the composition of Pydc-containing complexes, was studied as a function of the nature of the A atom, the molar ratio Pydc:A and the presence of neutral or acidic ligands in the reaction mixture.