Guest-Shuttling in a Nanosized Metallobox.

An iridium-conjoined long and narrow metallorectangle was obtained by combining a quinoxalinophenanthrophenazine-connected Janus-di-imidazolylidene ligand and pyrazine. The size and shape of this assembly together with the fused polyaromatic nature of its panels provides it with properties that are uncommon for other metallosupramolecular assemblies. For example, this nanosized 'slit-like' metallobox is able show very large binding affinities with planar organic molecules in such a way, that the cavity is asymmetrically occupied by the guest molecule. This unsymmetrical conformation leads to the existence of a large amplitude motion of these guests, which slide between the two sides of the cavity of the host, thus constituting rare examples of molecular shuttles.

Controlled synthesis of polycarbonate diols and their polylactide block copolymers using amino-bis(phenolate) chromium hydroxide complexes.

A diamine-bis(phenolate) chromium(III) complex, CrOH[L] ([L] = dimethylaminoethylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-tert-butylphenolate)), 2, in the presence of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide effectively copolymerizes CO2 and cyclohexene oxide (CHO) into a polycarbonate diol. The resultant low molar mass (6.3 kg mol-1) diol is used to initiate ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) giving ABA-type block copolymers with good molar mass control through varying rac-LA-to-diol loadings and with narrow dispersities. As the degree of rac-LA incorporation increases, the glass transition temperatures (Tg) are found to decrease, whereas decomposition temperatures (Td) increase. (Diphenylphosphonimido)triphenylphosphorane (Ph2P(O)NPPh3) was used as a neutral nucleophilic cocatalyst with 2, giving phosphorus-containing polycarbonates with an Mn value of 28.5 kg mol-1, a dispersity of 1.13, a Tg value of 110 °C and a Td value of over 300 °C. A related Cr(III) complex (4) having a methoxyethyl pendent group rather than a dimethylaminoethyl group was structurally characterized as a hydroxide-bridged dimer.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 3-ferrocenyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine.

A key step towards utilizing polynuclear metal-based systems in magnetic device applications involves the careful design of ligands. This strategic planning aims to produce metal assemblies that exhibit some kind of 'switch' mechanism. Towards this end, a ligand that incorporates a redox-active functional group (ferrocene) is reported. This communication presents the multi-step synthesis, characterization (1H and 13C NMR), and structural analysis (single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Hirshfeld surface analysis) of 3-ferrocenyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine, [Fe(C5H5)(C13H11N4)]. Supra-molecular features, including π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding are qu-anti-fied, while a database search reveals the unique combination of mol-ecular moieties, which offer future opportunities for studies to involve simultaneous Lewis acid and base coordin-ation.

Synthesis of anti-[1](1,6)Naphthaleno[1](1,6)naphthalenophane by Double Contractive Annulation of [2.2]Paracyclophane.

Two-directional contractive annulation of [2.2]paracyclophane has led to the synthesis of anti-[1](1,6)naphthaleno[1](1,6)naphthalenophane (3). This [1.1]cyclophane (SE = 56.6 kcal/mol) consists of two bent and twisted naphthalene units with interplanar distances as short as 2.74 Å. Despite the high strain and structural distortion, 3 was found to be unreactive toward potential cycloaddition partners (TCNE, DMAD) and under UV irradiation.

Approaching the isotropic spin-ladder regime: structure and magnetism of all-pyrazine-bridged copper(II)-based antiferromagnetic ladders.

The crystal structure and magnetic properties of two all-pyrazine-bridged antiferromagnetic spin ladders are reported. The complexes, catena-(bis(3-X-4-pyridone)(µ-pyrazine)copper(II)(-µ-pyrazine)diperchlorate ([Cu(pz)1.5(L)2](ClO4)2 where L = 3-X-4-pyridone and X = Br (1) or Cl (2)), contain copper(II)-based ladders in which both the rung and rail bridges are pyrazine molecules bonded through the x2-y2 orbital of the copper(II) ions. This structural scaffold is proposed to approach the isotropic spin-ladder regime. 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic space group P21/c. Due to the bulk of the 3-X-4-HOpy ligands, the ladders are well isolated in the a-direction (1, 15.6 Å; 2, 15.5 Å). The ladders, which run in the b-direction, are stacked in the c-direction with the separation (1, 7.87 Å; 2, 7.82 Å) between copper(II) ions caused by the bulk of a semi-coordinate perchlorate ion coordinated in the axial position. Computational evaluation of magnetic JAB couplings between Cu-moieties of 2 supports the experimentally proposed magnetic topology and agrees with an isolated isotropic spin-ladder (Jrail = -4.04 cm-1 (-5.77 K) and Jrung = -3.89 cm-1 (-5.56 K)). These complexes introduce a convenient scaffold for synthesizing isotropic spin-ladders with modest superexchange interactions, the strength of which may be tuned by variations in L. The magnetic susceptibility down to 1.8 K, for both compounds, is well described by the strong-rung ladder model giving nearly isotropic exchange with Jrung ≈ Jrail ≈ -5.5 K (1) and -5.9 K (2) using the Hamiltonian. Theoretical simulations of the magnetic response of 2 using the isotropic ladder model are in excellent agreement with experiment. The measured magnetization to 5 T indicates a quantum-dominated magnetic spectrum. Again, calculated lower and saturation (4.3 and 24 T, respectively) critical fields for 2 are consistent with experimental measurements, and magnetization data at very low temperatures indeed suggest the presence of quantum effects. Further, the computational study of short- and long-range spin ordering indicates that a 2D-to-3D crossover might be feasible at lower temperatures. Analysis of the Boltzmann population corroborates the presence of accessible triplet states above the singlet ground state enabling the aforementioned 2D-to-3D crossover.

"Shadow" Synthesis, Structure, and Electronic Properties of [2.2](1,6)(1,8)Pyrenophane-1-monoene.

An unexpected side product of a McMurry reaction was found to be a new [2.2]pyrenophane consisting of two pyrene units with different substitution patterns as well as different types and degrees of distortion from planarity. The new pyrenophane exhibits both monomer and intramolecular excimer fluorescence. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis revealed that there is an intramolecular charge-transfer interaction from the more distorted pyrene system to the less distorted one. The origin of the new pyrenophane was traced back to an impurity that was present a full five steps prior to the McMurry reaction from which it was isolated. The pathway to the pyrenophane shadowed that of the main synthetic route.

Gram-Scale Synthesis of the 1,1,n,n-Tetramethyl[n](2,11)teropyrenophanes.

A gram-scale synthesis of a series of 1,1,n,n-tetramethyl[n](2,11)teropyrenophanes (n=7-9) has been accomplished as well as the first synthesis of the next higher homologue 1,1,10,10-tetramethyl[10](2,11)teropyrenophane. The scale-up of the original small-scale synthesis required the development of several heavily modified synthetic methods, including a chlorination/Friedel-Crafts alkylation protocol and an iodination/Wurtz coupling protocol, which were performed on 25-30 g and 30-60 g scales, respectively. Two separate sets of conditions for the key teropyrene-forming cyclodehydrogenation reaction at the end of the synthetic pathway were developed, an acid-promoted one for the two less strained congeners and an acid-free method for the two more strained homologues.

The Milstein Bipyridyl PNN Pincer Complex of Ruthenium Becomes a Noyori-Type Catalyst under Reducing Conditions.

Hydrogenation of the dearomatized PNN ligand of the Milstein bipyridyl complex RuH(CO)[PNN] (2) gives a square-pyramidal Ru(II) product RuH(CO)[pPNN] (5). The central ring of the pPNN ligand is a piperidine. A minor byproduct of the hydrogenation reaction is complex 6 which has a dimeric structure made of two Ru(II) fragments each possessing a partly hydrogenated PNN ligand. The structures of 5 and 6 have been elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The PNN ligand of 2 is also hydrogenated under the conditions of the catalytic dehydrogenative coupling of ethanol to ethyl acetate. No direct evidence of the aromatized dihydride RuH2(CO)[PNN] (4) was found in this study. However, treating RuHCl(CO)[PNN] with Li[HBEt3] or reacting 2 with H2 at low temperature resulted in a structurally characterized hydride-bridged dimer (7) bearing intact aromatized bipyridyl ligands. M06-L/def2-QZVP DFT calculations provided insights into the thermodynamics of the stoichiometric reactions of this work and into the nature of the intermediates of the catalytic ester hydrogenation facilitated by RuH2(CO)[pPN(H)N] (8) formed from 5 under H2.

Pyrazine-bridged Cu(ii) chains: diaquabis(n-methyl-2-pyridone)copper(ii) perchlorate complexes.

A family of pyrazine-bridged, linear chain complexes of Cu(ii) of the formula [CuL2(H2O)2(pz)](ClO4)2 [pz = pyrazine; L = n-methyl-2(1H)-pyridone, n = 3 (1), 5 (2), and 6 (3)] has been prepared. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows six-coordinate, pyrazine-bridged chains with trans-pairs of ancillary ligands. The substituted pyridine molecules exist in their pyridone tautomers and are coordinated through the carbonyl oxygen atom. The structure is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the pyridone and water molecule, and via hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and perchlorate ions. 2 undergoes a crystallographic phase transition between C2/c (high temperature phase) and P1[combining macron] (low temperature phase). Powder EPR spectra reveal that all complexes are rhombic, although differences between gx and gy can only be seen clearly at Q-band. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility data show antiferromagnetic interactions and the data were fit to the uniform chain model yielding J/kB = -9.8, -9.2 and -11 K for 1-3 respectively. Attempts to model an interchain interaction strength indicate that the chains are very well isolated.

Lithium, sodium, potassium and calcium amine-bis(phenolate) complexes in the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide.

Compounds of Li, Na, K and Ca of a tetradentate amino-bis(phenolato) ligand were prepared. Bimetallic compounds formulated as M2[L](THF)n (where M = Na, n = 1 (1·THF) or Li, n = 1 (2·THF)) were synthesized via the reaction of H2[L] (where [L] = 2-pyridylmethylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4-methoxy-6-tert-butylphenolato) with sodium hydride or n-butyllithium, respectively, in THF. Monometallic complexes MH[L](THF)n (where M = Na, n = 1 (3·THF), Li, n = 0 (4) and K, n = 0 (5)) were obtained by reaction of H2[L] with MN(SiMe3)2 where M = Na, Li, or K. Calcium complex Ca[L](THF) (6·THF) was synthesized in two ways; reaction of Na2[L] with calcium iodide in THF, and reaction of Ca[N(SiMe3)2]2 with H2[L] in toluene. Compounds 1-6 exhibit activity for rac-lactide polymerization under melt and solution conditions. Moderate control of polymer molecular weights was achieved in toluene, whereas polydisperse polymer was obtained under solvent free conditions. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the polymer end groups revealed a predominantly cyclic nature for the polylactides.

Structures, Phase Behavior, and Fluorescent Properties of 3-Phenyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine and Its ZnCl2 Complex.

The synthesis of the asymmetric ligand 3-phenyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (L1) and its single-crystal X-ray structure are reported. L1 displays crystallographic symmetry (orthorhombic, Pccn) higher than its molecular symmetry (point group C1) and also displays supercooling, with a difference in the melting and solidification points of over 100 °C. Upon complexation with ZnCl2, L1 engages in both primary cation and secondary anion coordination via hydrogen bonding, and the complex exhibits a room-to-low-temperature single crystal-to-crystal phase transition. The ZnCl2 complex becomes a birefringent fluid mixed with crystalline domains at high temperatures, as detected by polarized optical microscopy. Examination of the photoluminescence properties showed that the emission intensity increased and a pronounced bathochromic shift was observed in the emission maximum upon going from solution to the solid state, for both the ligand and complex, consistent with aggregation-induced emission behavior.

Synthesis of Emissive Heteroacene Derivatives via Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution.

A synthetic approach for preparing a variety of heterocyclic tetrahydropentacene derivatives via nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions of bidentate nucleophiles and tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile was developed. X-ray crystallography of several products revealed that the compounds containing oxygen and nitrogen heteroatoms are highly planar and engage in π-stacking, while the compounds containing sulfur are bent and do not stack as effectively. The compounds were also highly emissive, and the heteroatom had a significant impact on the emission and electrochemical properties.

Bimetallic and trimetallic zinc amino-bis(phenolate) complexes for ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide.

The synthesis and structural characterization of bimetallic and trimetallic zinc complexes of amino-bis(phenolate) ligands are described. Bimetallic complexes (ZnEt)2[L1] (1a), its THF adduct (ZnEt)2[L1]·THF (1a·THF), and (ZnEt)2[L2] (1b) (where [L1] = n-propylamine-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-di-t-butylphenolate) and [L2] = n-propylamine-N,N-bis(2-methylene-6-t-butyl-4-methylphenolate) were prepared via reaction of the proligands H2[L1] and H2[L2] with ZnEt2. The addition of isopropanol to complex 1a to replace the ethyl groups with more nucleophilic alkoxyl groups afforded trimetallic zinc complex Zn3(i-PrO)2[L1]2 (3). Their structures were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Their catalytic activity towards ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide with or without exogenous alcohol as a co-initiator was studied. These complexes exhibit moderate to good activity for ROP of rac-lactide both in the melt phase and solution. The influence of catalyst and co-initiator loadings were studied and thermodynamic activation parameters were determined. Characterization of the polymers by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry showed controlled and living polymerizations for rac-lactide in the presence of alcohol.

Contractive Annulation: A Strategy for the Synthesis of Small, Strained Cyclophanes and Its Application in the Synthesis of [2](6,1)Naphthaleno[1]paracyclophane.

A new synthetic strategy (contractive annulation) for the synthesis of highly strained cyclophanes has been conceived and its viability has been demonstrated through a nine-step synthesis of [2](6,1)naphthaleno[1]paracyclophane from [2.2]paracyclophane.

Morpholine-Stabilized Cationic Aluminum Complexes and Their Reactivity in Ring-Opening Polymerization of ε-Caprolactone.

The first structures exhibiting bidentate (N, O) chelation of a morpholine group to a p-block element (aluminum) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction methods: Al[L]+ [WCA]-, where [L] = 4-(2-aminoethyl)morpholinylamino- N, N-bis(2-methylene-4,6- tert-butylphenolate) and [WCA]- is a weakly coordinating anion. These compounds are easily synthesized by reacting Al[L]Cl with an equimolar amount of anhydrous Lewis acid and were characterized by elemental analyses, ESI-MS, MALDI-TOF MS, 1H, 13C{1H}, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. DFT calculations showed that Al[L]+ cations containing bidentate NO coordination of the morpholine group are at least 21.1 kJ/mol more stable when compared to hypothetical monodentate (N bound) structures. When combined with protic co-initiators (EtOH, glycerol carbonate), the cationic complexes, where [WCA]- = [GaCl4]- or [InCl4]-, are living catalyst systems for the polymerization of ε-caprolactone, producing polycaprolactone with narrow dispersity ( D̵ = 1.00-1.05). Employing glycidol as a co-initiator furnished polymers with narrow dispersity ( D̵ = 1.01-1.07) but experimental molecular weights diverged considerably from the calculated values. Similar reactivity toward ROP was observed for all complexes containing a stable [WCA]- but where [WCA]- = [AlCl4]-, upon combination with alcohols, alcoholysis was observed. Kinetic studies (Eyring analyses) allowed the determination of activation parameters, which were consistent with a coordination-insertion mechanism for the catalysts containing [WCA]- = [GaCl4]- or [InCl4]-. End group analyses using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy showed hydroxyl and ester end groups within the polymer, corroborating the proposed mechanism. Stoichiometric reactions of EtOH, glycidol or tert-butyl alcohol with the complex, where [WCA]- = [GaCl4]-, showed protonation of the ligand at the N-morpholine site, which leads to dissociation of this pendent group.

Synthesis and Characterization of Liquid-Crystalline Tetraoxapentacene Derivatives Exhibiting Aggregation-Induced Emission.

A series of new tetrakis(dialkoxyphenyl) dicyanotetraoxapentacene derivatives (1 a-c) were prepared by reaction of the appropriate terphenyl diols with tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile in good yields. Compounds 1 b and 1 c, which bear hexyloxy and decyloxy side chains, exhibited columnar hexagonal mesophases, as shown by polarized optical microscopy, variable-temperature powder X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of methoxy-substituted 1 a revealed that the dicyanotetraoxapentacene core is highly planar, consistent with the notion that these molecules are able to stack in columnar mesophases. A detailed photophysical characterization showed that these compounds exhibit aggregation-induced emission in solution, emission in nonpolar solvents, weak emission in polar solvents, and strong emission in the solid state both as powder and in thin films. These observations are consistent with a weakly emissive charge-transfer state in polar solvents and a more highly emissive locally excited state in nonpolar solvents.

Gram-Scale Synthesis and Highly Regioselective Bromination of 1,1,9,9-Tetramethyl[9](2,11)teropyrenophane.

An improved synthetic pathway to the nanobelt-like 1,1,9,9-tetramethyl[9](2,11)teropyrenophane has been developed, and enables the synthesis of gram quantities of material. Key innovations are the development of a sequential chlorination/Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction, a sequential iodination/Wurtz coupling reaction, and a room-temperature teropyrene-forming reaction. The teropyrenophane was found to form a very stable radical cation and undergo a completely regioselective fourfold bromination reaction.

Aqua-chlorido-(2-{[6-(di-methyl-amino)-pyrimidin-4-yl]sulfan-yl}pyrimidine-4,6-di-amine)-copper(II) chloride hydrate.

A copper(II) complex of the non-symmetric bidentate ligand 2-{[6-(di-methyl-amino)-pyrimidin-4-yl]sulfan-yl}pyrimidine-4,6-di-amine (L1) is reported. The single-crystal X-ray structure of aqua-[aqua/chlorido-(0.49/0.51)](2-{[6-(di-methyl-amino)-pyrimidin-4-yl]sulfan-yl}pyrimidine-4,6-di-amine)-copper(II) 0.49-chloride 1.51-hydrate, [CuCl1.51(C10H13N7S)(H2O)1.49]Cl0.49·1.51H2O or [(L1)Cl1.51(H2O)1.49Cu]0.49Cl·1.51H2O, exhibits distorted square-pyramidal geometry around the metal centre, with disorder in the axial position, occupied by chloride or water. The six-membered metal-chelate ring is in a boat conformation, and short inter-molecular S⋯S inter-actions are observed. In addition to its capacity for bidentate metal coordination, the ligand has the ability to engage in further supra-molecular inter-actions as both a hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor, and multiple inter-actions with lattice solvent water mol-ecules are present in the reported structure.

Crystallographic education in the 21st century.

There are many methods that can be used to incorporate concepts of crystallography into the learning experiences of students, whether they are in elementary school, at university or part of the public at large. It is not always critical that those who teach crystallography have immediate access to diffraction equipment to be able to introduce the concepts of symmetry, packing or molecular structure in an age- and audience-appropriate manner. Crystallography can be used as a tool for teaching general chemistry concepts as well as general research techniques without ever having a student determine a crystal structure. Thus, methods for younger students to perform crystal growth experiments of simple inorganic salts, organic compounds and even metals are presented. For settings where crystallographic instrumentation is accessible (proximally or remotely), students can be involved in all steps of the process, from crystal growth, to data collection, through structure solution and refinement, to final publication. Several approaches based on the presentations in the MS92 Microsymposium at the IUCr 23rd Congress and General Assembly are reported. The topics cover methods for introducing crystallography to undergraduate students as part of a core chemistry curriculum; a successful short-course workshop intended to bootstrap researchers who rely on crystallography for their work; and efforts to bring crystallography to secondary school children and non-science majors. In addition to these workshops, demonstrations and long-format courses, open-format crystallographic databases and three-dimensional printed models as tools that can be used to excite target audiences and inspire them to pursue a deeper understanding of crystallography are described.

Ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide mediated by tetrametallic lithium and sodium diamino-bis(phenolate) complexes.

Lithium and sodium compounds supported by tetradentate amino-bis(phenolato) ligands, [Li2(N2O2(BuBuPip))] (1), [Na2(N2O2(BuBuPip))] (2) (where [N2O2(BuBuPip)] = 2,2'-N,N'-homopiperazinyl-bis(2-methylene-4,6-tert-butylphenol), and [Li2(N2O2(BuMePip))] (3), [Na2(N2O2(BuMePip))] (4) (where [N2O2(BuMePip)] = 2,2'-N,N'-homopiperazinyl-bis(2-methylene-4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Variable temperature NMR experiments were performed to understand solution-phase dynamics. The solid-state structures of 1 and 4 were determined by X-ray diffraction and reveal tetrametallic species. PGSE NMR spectroscopic data suggests that 1 maintains its aggregated structure in CD2Cl2. The complexes exhibit good activity for controlled ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide (LA) both solvent free and in solution to yield PLA with low dispersities. Stoichiometric reactions suggest that the formation of PLA may proceed by the typical coordination-insertion mechanism. For example, (7)Li NMR experiments show growth of a new resonance when 1 is mixed with 1 equiv. LA and (1)H NMR data suggests formation of a Li-alkoxide species upon reaction of 1 with BnOH.