Stabilization of NH- Group Adjacent to Naked Silicon(II) Atom in Base Stabilized Aminosilylenes.

Aminosilylene, comprising reactive NH- and Si(II) sites next to each other, is an intriguing class of compounds due to its ability to show diverse reactivity. However, stabilizing the reactive NH- group next to the free Si(II) atom is challenging and has not yet been achieved. Herein, we report the first examples of base stabilized free aminosilylenes Ar*NHSi(PhC(Nt Bu)2 ) (1 a) and Mes*NHSi(PhC(Nt Bu)2 ) (1 b) (Ar*=2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-methylphenyl and Mes*=2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl), tolerating a NH- group next to the naked Si(II) atom. Remarkably, 1 a and 1 b exhibited interesting differences in their reactivity upon heating. With 1 a, an intramolecular C(sp3 )-H activation of one of the benzhydryl methine hydrogen atoms to the Si(II) atom produced the five-membered cyclic silazane 2. However, with 1 b, a rare 1,2-hydrogen shift to the Si(II) atom afforded a silanimine 3, with a hydride ligand attached to an unsaturated silicon atom. Further, the coordination capabilities of 1 a were also tested with Ru(II) and Fe(0) precursors. Treatments of 1 a with [Ru(η6 -p-cymene)Cl2 ]2 led to the isolation of a η6 -arene tethered complex [RuCl2 {Ar*NHSi(PhC(t BuN)2 )-κ1 -Si-η6 -arene}] (4), whereas with the Fe(CO)5 precursor a Fe(0) complex [Fe(CO)4 {Ar*NHSi(PhC(t BuN)2 )-κ1 -Si}] (5) was obtained. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted to shed light on the structural, bonding, and energetic aspects in 1-5.

Water-soluble and reusable Ru-NHC catalyst for aqueous-phase transfer hydrogenation of quinolines with formic acid.

Water-soluble Ru-NHC complexes were synthesized and their catalytic activity was tested in the transfer hydrogenation of quinoline-type N-heteroarenes using a formic acid/sodium formate buffer solution. The unique multifunctional features of the designed ligand within the catalyst backbone endowed it with excellent durability, reusability and compatibility with a simple aqueous-phase operation. Thus, it was possible to reuse as little as 0.25 mol% of the catalyst for three consecutive catalytic runs to provide an overall turnover number of around 900. A mechanistic investigation suggested that hydride generation was the rate-limiting step, whereas hydride transfer was relatively facile. Furthermore, computational studies supported that the reaction pathway was dominated by 1,4-hydride insertion at the N-heteroarene substrates.

Reactivity of Nitric Oxide and Nitrosonium Ion with Copper(II/I) Schiff Base Complexes: Mechanistic Aspects of Imine C═N Bond Cleavage and Oxidation of Pyridine-2-aldehyde to Pyridine-2-carboxylic Acid.

Four Schiff base ligands of the general formulas [6-(R)-2-pyridyl-N-(2'-methylthiophenyl)methylenimine] (RL1) and 6-p-chlorophenyl-2-pyridyl-N-(2'-phenylthiophenyl)methylenimine (RL2), where R = H, Me, p-ClPh, and their bis-ligand copper(II) and copper(I) complexes, 1-4 and 1'-4', respectively, were synthesized and characterized. The reactivities of 1-4 with nitric oxide (NO) gas and of 1'-4' with solid NOBF4 (NO+) were examined in dry acetonitrile in the presence and absence of water (H2O). The results revealed that, in the absence of H2O, complexes 1-4 (or 1'-4') reacts with NO (or NOBF4), leading to imine C═N bond cleavage of both (or one) Schiff base(s) that generates 2 (or 1) equiv of 2-(methyl/phenyl)thiobenzenediazonium perchlorates (5/6) and the corresponding picolaldehyde (RPial) via a copper nitrosyl of a {CuNO}10-type intermediate. In the presence of H2O, the in situ formed RPial get oxidized to the corresponding picolinic acid (RPicH) via an in situ formed LCuIOH intermediate (LCuI + HO-NO → LCuIOH + NO+; L = RL1/RL2/RPic- and νO-H of CuIOH = 3650 cm-1) and subsequently produces, with the aid of NO+ oxidant, the picolinate-ligated copper(II) complexes (i) [(HPic)2Cu] (7), [(MePic)4Cu3(NO3)2]n·H2O (8·H2O), or [(ClPhPic)2Cu] (9) when NO reacts with 1-4 or (ii) [(RPic)CuII(RL1/RL2)]+ when NO+ reacts with 1'-4'. The CuII to CuI reduction of [(RPic)CuII(RL1/RL2)]+ is essential for C═N cleavage of the remaining RL1/RL2 Schiff base; excess NO can do it. The X-ray structures (1, 1', 3', 5, 7, and 8) and spectroscopic results revealed the role of CuII/I, NO, NO+, and H2O, shedding light on the mechanism of C═N bond cleavage and the oxidation of pyridine-2-aldehyde to pyridine-2-carboxylic acid. The reaction of 1 with 15NO revealed that the terminal N of the N2+ group of 5 originates from 15NO [ν14N14N- = 2248 cm-1 and ν15N14N- = 2212 cm-1].

Bis(µ-thiolato)-dicopper Containing Fully Spin Delocalized Mixed Valence Copper-Sulfur Clusters and Their Electronic Structural Properties with Relevance to the CuA Site.

With aromatic and aliphatic thiol-S donor Schiff base ligands, the copper-sulfur clusters, [(L1)8CuI6CuII2](ClO4)2·DMF·0.5CH3OH (1) and [(L2)12CuI5CuII11(µ4-S)(µ4-O)6](ClO4)·4H2O, respectively, have been reported ( Chem. Commun. 2017, 53, 3334); HL1/HL2 are 2-(((3-methylthiophen-2-yl)methylene)amino)benzene/ethanethiol). Complex 1 comprises a wheel shaped Cu8S8 framework, made up of interlinked Cu2{µ-S(R)}2 units. To understand the properties with relevance to the CuA site and to check whether self-assembly generates similar type clusters to 1, three complexes, [(L3)8CuI6CuII2](ClO4)2·(C2H5)2O·2.5H2O (2), [(L3Cl)8CuI6CuII2](ClO4)2·1.25(C2H5)2O·1.25CH3OH·2H2O (3), and [(L3CF3)8CuI6CuII2](ClO4)2·2(C2H5)2O·H2O (4) have been synthesized with supporting ligands HL3X (HL3 = 2-((furan-2-ylmethylene)amino)benzenethiol when X = -H; X = -Cl or -CF3 para to thiol-S are HL3Cl and HL3CF3 ligands, respectively). The X-ray structures of 3 and 4 feature a similar Cu8S8 architecture to 1. The spectroscopic properties and the X-ray structures revealed that 2-4 are fully spin delocalized mixed valence (MV) of class-III type clusters. The structural parameters of the N2Cu2{µ-S(R)}2 units of 3 and 4 closely resemble those of the MV binuclear CuA site. With the aid of UV-vis-NIR, EPR, and spectroelectrochemical studies, the electronic properties of these complexes have been described in comparison with the MV model complexes and CuA site.

Nickel(II)-Mediated Reversible Thiolate/Disulfide Conversion as a Mimic for a Key Step of the Catalytic Cycle of Methyl-Coenzyme†M Reductase.

According to the well-accepted mechanism, methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) involves Ni-mediated thiolate-to-disulfide conversion that sustains its catalytic cycle of methane formation in the energy saving pathways of methanotrophic microbes. Model complexes that illustrate Ni-ion mediated reversible thiolate/disulfide transformation are unknown. In this paper we report the synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic properties and redox interconversions of a set of NiII complexes comprising a tridentate N2 S donor thiol and its analogous N4 S2 donor disulfide ligands. These complexes demonstrate reversible NiII -thiolate/NiII -disulfide (both bound and unbound disulfide-S to NiII ) transformations via thiyl and disulfide monoradical anions that resemble a primary step of MCR's catalytic cycle.

Model Complexes for the Nip Site of Acetyl Coenzyme A Synthase/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Dehydrogenase: Structure, Electrochemistry, and CO Reactivity.

Aliphatic thiolato-S-bridged tri- and binuclear nickel(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized as models for the Nip site of the A cluster of acetyl coenzyme A synthase (ACS)/carbon monooxide (CO) dehydrogenase. Reaction of the in situ formed N2Sthiol donor ligands with [Ni(H2O)6](ClO4)2 afforded the trinuclear complexes [Ni{(LMe(S))2Ni}2](ClO4)2·CH3CN (1·CH3CN) and [Ni{(LBr(S))2Ni}2](ClO4)2·5H2O (2·5H2O) following self-assembly. Complexes 1 and 2 react with [Ni(dppe)Cl2] and dppe [dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane] to afford the binuclear [Ni(dppe)Ni(LMe(S))2](ClO4)2·2H2O (3·2H2O) and [Ni(dppe)Ni(LBr(S))2](ClO4)2·0.75O(C2H5)2 [4·0.75O(C2H5)2], respectively. The X-ray crystal structures of 1-4 revealed a central NiIIS4 moiety in 1 and 2 and a NiIIP2S2 moiety in 3 and 4; both moieties have a square-planar environment around Ni and may mimic the properties of the Nip site of ACS. The electrochemical reduction of both terminal NiII ions of 1 and 2 occurs simultaneously, which is further confirmed by the isolation of [Ni{(LMe(S))2Ni(NO)}2](ClO4)2 (5) and [Ni{(LBr(S))2Ni(NO)}2](ClO4)2 (6) following reductive nitrosylation of 1 and 2. Complexes 5 and 6 exhibit νNO at 1773 and 1789 cm-1, respectively. In the presence of O2, both 5 and 6 transform to nitrite-bound monomers [(LMe(S-S))Ni(NO2)](ClO4) (7) and [(LBr(S-S))Ni(NO2)](ClO4)2 (8). The nature of the ligand modification is evident from the X-ray crystal structure of 7. To understand the origin of multiple reductive responses of 1-4, complex [(LMe(SMe))2Ni](ClO4)2 (9) is considered. The central NiS4 part of 1 is labile like the Nip site of ACS and can be replaced by phenanthroline. The treatment of CO to reduce 3 generates a 3red-(CO)2 species, as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (νCO = 1997 and 2068 cm-1) and electron paramagnetic resonance ( g1 = 2.18, g2 = 2.13, g3 = 1.95, and AP = 30-80 G) spectroscopy. The CO binding to NiI of 3red is relevant to the ACS activity.

A Copper(II) Nitrite That Exhibits Change of Nitrite Binding Mode and Formation of Copper(II) Nitrosyl Prior to Nitric Oxide Evolution.

The proton-coupled reduction of CuII-bound nitrite (NO2-) to nitric oxide (NO2- + 2H+ + e- → NO(g) + H2O), such as occurs in the enzyme copper nitrite reductase, is investigated in this work. Our studies focus on the copper(II/I) model complexes [(L2)Cu(H2O)Cl] (1), [(L2)Cu(ONO)] (2), [(L2)Cu(CH3CO2)] (3), and [Co(Cp)2][(L2)Cu(NO2)(CH3CN] (4), where HL2 = N-[2-(methylthio)ethyl]-2'-pyridinecarboxamide. Complex 1 readily reacts with a NO2- anion to form the nitrito-O-bound copper(II) complex 2. Electrochemical reduction of CuII → CuI indicates coordination isomerization from asymmetric nitrito-κ2-O,O to nitro-κ1-N. Isolation and spectroscopic characterization of 4 support this notion of nitrite coordination isomerization (νCu-N ∼ 460 cm-1). A reduction of 2, followed by reaction with acetic acid, causes evolution of stoichiometric NO via the transient copper(II) nitrosyl species and subsequent formation of the acetate-bound complex 3. The probable copper nitrosyl intermediate [(L2)Cu(NO)(CH3CN)]+ of the {CuNO}10 type is evident from low-temperature UV-vis absorption (λmax = 722 nm) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. A density functional theory (DFT)-optimized model of [(L2)Cu(NO)(CH3CN)]+ shows end-on NO binding to Cu with Cu-N(NO) and N-O distances of 1.989 and 1.140 Å, respectively, and a Cu-N-O angle of 119.25°, consistent with the formulation of CuII-NO•. A spin-state change that triggers NO release is observed. Considering singlet- and triplet-state electronic configurations of this model, DFT-calculated νNO values of 1802 and 1904 cm-1, respectively, are obtained. We present here important mechanistic aspects of the copper-mediated nitrite reduction pathway with the use of model complexes employing the ligand HL2 and an analogous phenyl-based ligand, N-[2-(methylthio)phenyl]-2'-pyridinecarboxamide (HL1).

Mixed valence copper-sulfur clusters of highest nuclearity: a Cu8 wheel and a Cu16 nanoball.

Fully spin delocalized mixed valence copper-sulfur clusters, 1 and 2, supported by µ4-sulfido and NSthiol donor ligands are synthesized and characterized. Wheel shaped 1 consists of Cu2S2 units. The unprecedented nanoball 2 can be described as S@Cu4(tetrahedron)@O6(octahedron)@Cu12S12(cage) consisting of both Cu2S2 and (µ4-S)Cu4 units. The Cu2S2 and (µ4-S)Cu4 units resemble biological CuA and CuZ sites respectively.

Electron transfer mechanism of catalytic superoxide dismutation via Cu(ii/i) complexes: evidence of cupric-superoxo/-hydroperoxo species.

To understand the electron transfer mechanisms (outer versus inner sphere) of catalytic superoxide dismutation via a Cu(ii/i) redox couple such as occur in the enzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, the Cu(ii/i) complexes [(L1)2Cu](ClO4)2·CH3CN, (1·CH3CN) and [(L1)2Cu](ClO4), (2) supported by a bis-N2Sthioether ligand, 2-pyridyl-N-(2'-methylthiophenyl)methyleneimine (L1) have been synthesized and structurally characterised. Both 1 and 2 display the same cyclic voltammogram (CV) featuring a quasireversible response at E1/2 = +0.33 V vs. SCE that falls in the SOD potential window of -0.04 V to +0.99 V. These complexes catalytically dismutate superoxide radicals at 298 K in aqueous medium (the IC50 for 1 is 2.15 µM). Electronic absorption spectra (233 K and 298 K), FTIR, ESI mass spectra, CV (233 K and 298 K) and DFT calculations collectively indicate formation of [(L1)2Cu(O2˙(-))](+), [(L1)2Cu(O2(2-))] and [(L1)2Cu(OOH(-))](+) species and help to elucidate the electron transfer mechanism for the SOD function of 1 and 2. Once O2˙(-) binds to Cu(II) (evident at 233 K), the first step of the catalytic cycle (Cu(II) + O2˙(-)→ Cu(I) + O2) does not follow but the second step (Cu(I) + O2˙(-) + 2H(+)→ H2O2 + Cu(II)) does follow. Therefore, the catalytic disproportionation of superoxide radicals via1 and 2 at 298 K indicates that the first and second steps of the catalytic cycle proceed through outer and inner sphere electron transfer mechanisms, respectively. Feasibility of the first step to occur in pure aprotic solvent (where 18-crown-6-ether is used to solubilise KO2) was tested and also supports the same notion of the electron transfer mechanisms as stated above.

Copper coordinated ligand thioether-S and NO2(-) oxidation: relevance to the CuM site of hydroxylases.

In order to gain insight into the coordination site and oxidative activity of the CuM site of hydroxylases such as peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM), dopamine ß-monooxygenase (DßM), and tyramine ß-monooxygenase (TßM), we have synthesized, characterized and studied the oxidation chemistry of copper complexes chelated by tridentate N2Sthioether, N2Osulfoxide or N2Osulfone donor sets. The ligands are those of N-2-methylthiophenyl-2'-pyridinecarboxamide (HL1), and the oxidized variants, N-2-methylsulfenatophenyl-2'-pyridinecarboxamide (HL1(SO)), and N-2-methylsulfinatophenyl-2'-pyridinecarboxamide (HL1(SO2)). Our studies afforded the complexes [(L1)Cu(II)(H2O)](ClO4)·H2O (1·H2O), {[(L1(SO))Cu(II)(CH3CN)](ClO4)}n (2), [(L1)Cu(II)(ONO)] (3), [(L1(SO))Cu(II)(ONO)]n (4), [(L1)Cu(II)(NO3)]n (5), [(L1(SO))Cu(II)(NO3)]n (6) and [(L1(SO2))Cu(II)(NO3)] (7). Complexes 1 and 3 were described in a previous publication (Inorg. Chem., 2013, 52, 11084). The X-ray crystal structures revealed either distorted octahedral (in 2, 4-6) or square-pyramidal (in 1, 3) coordination geometry around Cu(II) ions of the complexes. In the presence of H2O2, conversion of 1→2, 3-5→6 and 6→7 occurs quantitatively via oxidation of thioether-S and/or Cu(ii) coordinated NO2(-) ions. Thioether-S oxidation of L1 also occurs when [L1](-) is reacted with [Cu(I)(CH3CN)4](ClO4) in DMF under O2, albeit low in yield (20%). Oxidations of thioether-S and NO2(-) were monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Recovery of the sulfur oxidized ligands from their metal complexes allowed for their characterization by elemental analysis, (1)H NMR, FTIR and mass spectrometry.