Tuning the Emission of Homometallic DyIII, TbIII, and EuIII 1-D Coordination Polymers with 2,6-Di(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl-methyl)-4-R-phenoxo Ligands: Sensitization through the Singlet State.

This work reports the structural characterization and photophysical properties of DyIII, TbIII, and EuIII coordination polymers with two phenoxo-triazole-based ligands [2,6-di(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl-methyl)-4-R-phenoxo, LRTr (R = CH3; Cl)]. These ligands permitted us to obtain isostructural polymers, described as a 1D double chain, with LnIII being nona-coordinated. The energies of the ligand triplet (T1) states were estimated using low-temperature time-resolved emission spectra of YIII analogues. Compounds with LClTr present higher emission intensity than those with LMeTr. The emission of TbIII compounds was not affected by the different excitation wavelengths used and was emitted in the pure green region. In contrast, DyLMeTr emits in the blue-to-white region, while the luminescence of DyLClTr remains in the white region for all excitation wavelengths. On the other hand, EuIII compounds emit in the blue (ligand) or red region (EuIII) depending on the substituent of the phenoxo moiety and excitation wavelength. Theoretical calculations were employed to determine the excited states of the ligands by using time-dependent density functional theory. These calculations aided in modeling the intramolecular energy transfer and rationalizing the optical properties and demonstrated that the sensitization of the LnIII ions is driven via S1 → LnIII, a process that is less common as compared to T1 → LnIII.

Influence of symmetry on the magneto-optical properties of a bifunctional macrocyclic DyIII complex.

In this work, a novel complex, [Dy(LPr)(NO3)2]·(H2O)·(NO3) (1), containing a highly distorted macrocyclic ligand (LPr) and weak axial anions (NO3-), was synthesized and characterized. Even though this coordination environment is not ideal for maximizing the magnetic anisotropy of a DyIII ion, a magneto-structural analysis reveals that the high distortion of the macrocycle promotes a disposition of the hard plane and easy axis opposite to the expected one. This results in a quite symmetrical environment which allows obtaining a field induced SMM behaviour. The magnetic relaxation properties of this complex were rationalized with the aid of ab initio multireference calculations. Moreover, 1 showed the characteristic emission bands of DyIII ion, indicating that the macrocyclic ligand acts as an efficient sensitizer in the energy transfer process to the emissive state of the DyIII ion. Due to the symmetric environment of 1, the Y/B intensity ratio (0.61) results in CIE coordinates (0.278; 0.314), close to those of the white light region. To gain further insight into the mechanism leading to the luminescence properties, ab initio calculations were performed to elucidate the key factors controlling the Y/B intensity ratio in this bifunctional complex.

Phenylalanine-Based Co2+ and Cd2+ 1D Coordination Polymers: Structural Properties and Catalytic Application for Solvent-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Cycloalkene.

Two 1D coordination polymers (CPs) with general formula [M(L)(H2O)(AcO)]n, (M = Co (1) or Cd (2), AcO = acetate anion and L denotes l-phenylalanine based ligand), were synthesized and fully characterized by various spectroscopies (UV-vis, FTIR, and NMR), thermal techniques, magnetic measurements (for 1), and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction studies. They can be described as "ribbon-like" 1D polymers constructed through a zigzag arrangement. The polymeric structure is developed due to the coordination mode adopted by the amino acid ligand, classified as µ3-N1O1:O1:O2, which simultaneously links three metal centers. This moiety also plays an important role as a magnetic coupler between metal centers in the cobalt system, which shows a weak antiferromagnetic interaction. Both CPs have also been used in the catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen (O2) as an oxidant. Under mild conditions, both compounds demonstrated remarkable catalytic activity, with the cobalt system being more efficient than the cadmium analogue (conversion: 73 and 58% and selectivity for the major product, 2-cyclohexanone: 63 and 55%, for 1 and 2, respectively). Leaching experiments and the results obtained using a radical quencher are consistent with a radical-mediated mechanism for the Co compound. The presence of the superoxide radical was also confirmed using EPR spectroscopy and DMPO as a spin trap, which was further validated by DFT calculations. The activity observed for the Cd analogue is attributed to the organic scaffold assisted by the templating effect of the metal ion.

Dual visible and near-infrared luminescence in mononuclear macrocyclic erbium(III) complexes via ligand and metal centred excitation.

Considering the structural design of some of the scarce molecular-based Er-centred emitters in the literature, we explored the optical properties of three ErIII hexaazamacrocyclic complexes, namely Er-EDA (1), Er-OPDA(2) and Er-DAP(3). The macrocyclic ligands in these complexes differ in the lateral spacers, and are derived from 2,6-pyridine-dicarbaldehyde and ethylenediamine (EDA), ortho-phenylenediamine (OPDA) or 1,3-diaminopropane (DAP). Upon ligand-centred excitation, the bluish-green and green emissions of the ErIII ion were detected only for the complexes containing macrocycles with aliphatic spacers (1 and 3), which evidenced that these ligands can sensitize the ErIII luminescence. On the other hand, the ligand derived from the aromatic diamine (2) does not sensitize the ErIII luminescence. Energy transfer mechanisms, temperature sensing, CIE coordinates and CCT values were analyzed. Besides the excitation in the ligands, the erbium-centred excitation at 980 nm allowed the detection, in all cases, of bluish-green, green and red up-converted emissions, and also the downshifted NIR emission. The possible mechanisms involved in these transitions were described and analyzed according to the available data.

Luminescence of Macrocyclic Mononuclear DyIII Complexes and Their Immobilization on Functionalized Silicon-Based Surfaces.

Two mononuclear DyIII complexes, [Dy(L1)(NCS)3] (Dy-EDA) and [Dy(L2)(NCS)3] (Dy-DAP), where Ln (n = 1-2) corresponds to a macrocyclic ligand derived from 2,6-pyridinedicarboxaldehyde and ethylenediamine (L1) and 1,3-diaminepropane (L2) were immobilized on functionalized silicon-based surfaces. This was achieved by the microcontact printing (µCP) technique, generating patterns on a functionalized surface via covalent bond formation through the auxiliary -NCS ligands present in the macrocyclic complex species. With this strategy, it was possible to control the position of the immobilized molecules on the surface. Water contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared reflection absorption spectra (IRRAS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed that the surfaces were successfully functionalized. Furthermore, the optical properties in a broad temperature range were investigated for the as-prepared compounds. At room temperature, Dy-EDA was shown to emit in the deep blue region (Commission Internationald'Eclairage (CIE): (0.175, 0.128)), while Dy-DAP in the white region (CIE: (0.252, 0.312)). The different CIE values were due to the contribution of the strong emission of the ligand in the case of Dy-EDA. Besides, surface photoluminescence measurements showed that the immobilized complexes retained their bulk emissive properties.

Lanthanide SMMs Based on Belt Macrocycles: Recent Advances and General Trends.

Enhancement of axial magnetic anisotropy is the central objective to push forward the performance of Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) complexes. In the case of mononuclear lanthanide complexes, the chemical environment around the paramagnetic ion must be tuned to place strongly interacting ligands along either the axial positions or the equatorial plane, depending on the oblate or prolate preference of the selected lanthanide. One classical strategy to achieve a precise chemical environment for a metal centre is using highly structured, chelating ligands. A natural approach for axial-equatorial control is the employment of macrocycles acting in a belt conformation, providing the equatorial coordination environment, and leaving room for axial ligands. In this review, we present a survey of SMMs based on the macrocycle belt motif. Literature systems are divided in three families (crown ether, Schiff-base and metallacrown) and their general properties in terms of structural stability and SMM performance are briefly discussed.

Control of magnetic anisotropy by macrocyclic ligand distortion in a family of DyIII and ErIII single molecule magnets.

A family of hexaazamacrocyclic lanthanide complexes, [Ln(Ln)(NCS)3] (LnIII = Dy, Er; n = 1-3) has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetic measurements and ab initio calculations. Macrocyclic ligands (Ln) differ in the lateral spacers, which are aliphatic chains with two and three carbons (for Ln, n = 1 and 2, respectively), and an aromatic ring for Ln = 3. Modification of the macrocycle spacer tunes planarity and rigidity of the equatorial coordination for both oblate (Dy) and prolate (Er) lanthanide ions. Ac-susceptibility studies showed that four of the six complexes are field induced single molecule magnets (SMMs). Trends in magnetic relaxation properties are rationalized with the aid of ab initio multireference calculations, highlighting the combined influence of macrocycle planarity, lanthanide electronic density distribution and intermolecular interactions for the achievement of slow demagnetization.

New Highly Charged Iron(III) Metal-Organic Cube Stabilized by a Bulky Amine.

In this work, we report a new octanuclear cluster based on FeIII and the ligand 1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid, [Et3NH]12[Fe8(IDC)12]·10DMF·13H2O (1), with a metal core containing eight FeIII connected by only one type of organic ligand. A peak at 573 m/z in the mass spectra of the compound suggests the adduct species {[Fe8(IDC)12]+8H}4-. By X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the oxidation state of the iron cation was confirmed to be 3+, also identifying the presence of a quaternary nitrogen species, which act as a countercation of the anionic metal core [Fe8(IDC)12]12-. Mössbauer spectra recorded at different temperatures show an isomer shift and quadrupole splitting parameters that confirm the existence of only FeIII-HS in the structure of 1. X-ray analysis reveals that compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system space group Ibam, confirming a molecular cluster structure with an almost regular cube as geometry, with the FeIII atoms located at the corners of the cube and connected by µ-1κ2 N,O:2κ2 N',O‴-IDC3- bridges. Additionally, the magnetic measurements reveal a weak antiferromagnetic coupling in the Fe8 III coordination cluster (J = -3.8 cm-1). To the best of our knowledge, 1 is the first member of the family of cubes assembled with 1H-imidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid and FeIII cation, exhibiting high pH stability over a broad pH range, making it an ideal candidate for the design of supramolecular structures and metal-organic frameworks.

Enhancement of Terbium(III)-Centered Luminescence by Tuning the Triplet Energy Level of Substituted Pyridylamino-4-R-Phenoxo Tripodal Ligands.

A series of luminescent phenoxo-bridged dinuclear TbIII complexes with tripodal ligands, 2,2'-[[(2-pyridinylmethyl)imino]di(methylene)]-bis(4-R-phenol), where R = CH3 (LCH3) (I), Cl (LCl) (II), CH3O (LCH3O) (III), COOCH3 (LCOOCH3) (IV), were prepared to probe the effect of para-substitution on the phenol ring of the ligand on the TbIII luminescence. For these TbIII complexes a complete suppression of the ligand-centered fluorescence is observed, which demonstrates an efficient ligand-to-metal energy transfer. Complex IV was found to be the one that shows the greater intensity of the emission at room temperature. The obtained quantum yields follow the trend IV > II ≫ I > III. The quantum yield for II and IV is approximately five times greater than those obtained for I and III, indicating that the LCl and LCOOCH3 are better sensitizers of the TbIII ions. These results were rationalized in terms of the variation of the energy gap between the triplet level (T1) of the ligand and the emissive 5D4 level of TbIII, due to the electron-acceptor or electron-donor properties of the substituents. The τav values are in the millisecond range for all the studied complexes and resulted independent of temperature. The Commission International d'Eclairage coordinates (CIE) for all complexes are in the green color region, being insensitive to the variation of temperature. Moreover, the color purity (CP) is ca. 90% for all complexes, being ca. 100% for IV. Thus, the introduction of electron-acceptor substituents on the ligand permitted us to improve the luminescent properties of the TbIII complexes.

Tuning White Light Emission in Dinuclear Phenoxo Bridged DyIII Complexes.

A new series of dinuclear dysprosium(III) complexes, [Dy2(LCH3)2(NO3)2(MeOH)2] (I), [Dy2(LCH3)2(NO3)2(DMF)2]·2DMF (II), [Dy2(LCl)2(NO3)2(DMF)2]·2DMF (III), and [Dy2(LCH3O)2(NO3)2(DMF)2] (IV), with 2,2'-[[(2-pyridinylmethyl)imino]di(methylene)]bis(4-R-phenol), where R = CH3, Cl, and CH3O, were investigated as potential white light emitters. All octacoordinated dysprosium(III) are phenoxo-bridged species and have a similar coordination environment. Nevertheless, I has a MeOH ligand molecule, while for II-IV a DMF ligand replaces that of MeOH. The nature of the coordinated solvent molecule plays an important role in the behavior of the thermal dependence of the Y/B (yellow/blue) emission ratio of the DyIII complexes (Y: 4F9/2 → 6H13/2, yellow and B: 4F9/2 → 6H15/2, blue transitions),, since for I the variation of this ratio is significant, while for the other DyIII complexes with DMF as ligand the ratio remains constant within experimental error. At room temperature the CIE (Commission International d'Eclairage) color coordinates for the DyIII complexes, I (0.286, 0.317), III (0.302, 0.324), and IV (0.322, 0.348) are close to the NTSC (National Television System(s) Committee) standard value for white color. Varying the temperature from 16 to 300 K the CIE coordinates for I change from the blueish to white region of the chromaticity diagram, while those of II present an inverse thermal dependence as compared to I. The CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) values at room temperature for I (8384 K), II (17235 K), and IV (5948 K) permit us to consider these complexes as candidates for white cold light emitters, the high value of II being uncommon. For I and II the CCT values vary strongly with temperature, showing a decrease with increasing temperature for I, and an increase with increasing temperature for II, thus making evident the influence on the photophysical properties of the nature of the coordinated solvent molecule in these complexes.

Corrigendum to "Synthesis and Characterization of New Palladium(II) Thiosemicarbazone Complexes and Their Cytotoxic Activity against Various Human Tumor Cell Lines".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2013/524701.].

First copper(ii) phase M'0.2Mn0.8PS3·0.25H2O and analogous M' = Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) materials obtained by microwave assisted synthesis.

M'0.2Mn0.8PS3·0.25H2O materials are obtained by a mild microwave assisted reaction (M' = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)), which permitted us to obtain the first copper(ii) bimetallic phase. All these materials have a lower energy gap and antiferromagnetic interactions with lower values of the Weiss constant, than that of the pristine phase MnPS3.

1D magnetic interactions in Cu(II) oxovanadium phosphates (VPO), magnetic susceptibility, DFT, and single-crystal EPR.

We report the crystal face indexing and molecular spatial orientation, magnetic properties, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations of two previously reported oxovanadium phosphates functionalized with Cu(II) complexes, namely, [Cu(bipy)(VO2)(PO4)]n (1) and [{Cu(phen)}2(VO2(H2O)2)(H2PO4)2 (PO4)]n (2), where bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, obtained by a new synthetic route allowing the growth of single crystals appropriate for the EPR measurements. Compounds 1 and 2 crystallize in the triclinic group P1̅ and in the orthorhombic Pccn group, respectively, containing dinuclear copper units connected by two -O-P-O- bridges in 1 and by a single -O-P-O- bridge in 2, further connected through -O-P-O-V-O- bridges. We emphasize in our work the structural aspects related to the chemical paths that determine the magnetic properties. Magnetic susceptibility data indicate bulk antiferromagnetism for both compounds, allowing to calculate J = -43.0 cm(-1) (dCu-Cu = 5.07 Å; J defined as Hex(i,j) = -J Si·Sj), considering dinuclear units for 1, and J = -1.44 cm(-1) (dCu-Cu = 3.47 Å) using the molecular field approximation for 2. The single-crystal EPR study allows evaluation of the g matrices, which provide a better understanding of the electronic structure. The absence of structure of the EPR spectra arising from the dinuclear character of the compounds allows estimation of weak additional exchange couplings |J'| > 0.3 cm(-1) for 1 (dCu-Cu = 5.54 Å) and a smaller value of |J'| ≥ 0.15 cm(-1) for 2 (dCu-Cu = 6.59 Å). DFT calculations allow evaluating two different exchange couplings for each compound, specifically, J = -36.60 cm(-1) (dCu-Cu = 5.07 Å) and J' = 0.20 cm(-1) (dCu-Cu =5.54 Å) for 1 and J = -1.10 cm(-1) (dCu-Cu =3.47 Å) and J' = 0.01 cm(-1) (dCu-Cu = 6.59 Å) for 2, this last value being in the range of the uncertainties of the calculations. Thus, these values are in good agreement with those provided by magnetic and single-crystal EPR measurements.

Crystal lattice effect on the quenching of the intracluster magnetic interaction in [V12B18O60H6](10-) polyoxometalate.

In the present work, the synthesis and structural characterization of four new polyoxovanadoborate (BVO) frameworks based on the [V12B18O60H6](10-) polyanion are reported: (NH4)8(1,3-diapH2)[V12B18O60H6]·5H2O (1), K8(NH4)2[V12B18O60H6]·18H2O (2), K10[V12B18O60H6]·10H2O (3) and K8Cs2[V12B18O60H6]·10H2O (4). A global antiferromagnetic behaviour is observed for these 10V(IV)/2V(V) mixed valence clusters. The magnetic data of 1, 2 and 3, which present different countercation environments, show that 1 is more coupled than 2 and 3. DFT calculations show that the positive charges strongly influence the polarization mechanism of the spin density of the vanadyl groups and the extent of the magnetic orbitals, therefore corroborating the experimental observation of the quenching effect of the magnetic coupling between vanadium centres of 2 and 3.

The layered structure of poly[[hexaaqua(µ4-benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylato)dicopper(II)] tetrahydrate].

In the structure of the title compound, {[Cu2(C10H2O8)(H2O)6]·4H2O}n, the benzene-1,2,4,5-tetracarboxylate ligand, (btec)(4-), is located on a crystallographic inversion centre in a µ4-coordination mode. The coordination environment of each pentacoordinated Cu(II) centre is square pyramidal (SBP), formed by three water molecules and two carboxylate O atoms from two different (btec)(4-) ligands. The completely deprotonated (btec)(4-) ligand coordinates in a monodentate mode to four Cu(II) atoms. The alternation of (btec)(4-) ligands and SBP Cu(II) centres leads to the formation of a planar two-dimensional covalent network of parallelograms, parallel to the ab plane. Hydrogen bonds between a basal water molecule and an apical one from an adjacent [Cu(btec)0.5(H2O)3] unit exist in the intralayer space. Hydrogen bonds are also present between the two-dimensional network and the water molecules filling the channels in the structure.

Unusual conformation of a dinuclear paddle wheel copper(II) complex. Synthesis, structural characterization and EPR studies.

An unusual and unique conformation of a paddle wheel type binuclear copper(II) complex containing acetate and acetamido ligands, {Cu2(µ2-O2CCH3)4}(OCNH2CH3) (1), was obtained by solvothermal synthesis. The structural characterization of this compound shows that the apical (acetamido) ligands are disposed at a 62° dihedral angle, generating a special conformation as a consequence of the synthetic method used. This conformation has not been reported in other paddle wheel copper(II) tetraacetate compounds. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of powder samples of (1) were obtained at 9.5 and 33.8 GHz, while single crystal spectra were obtained at 33.8 GHz with a B0 applied in three orthogonal planes. The fit of the single crystal experimental data allowed gave g∥ = 2.345 ± 0.003, and g⊥ = 2.057 ± 0.005. The angular variation of the EPR line allows evaluation of the fine structure of (1), giving D = -0.337 ± 0.002 cm(-1) and E = -0.005 ± 0.001 cm(-1). The line width angular dependence, used together with the Anderson model and Kubo-Tomita theory, permitted the interdimer interaction to be evaluated as |J'| = (0.051 ± 0.002) cm(-1). Using the powder spectral temperature dependence it was possible to evaluate the intradinuclear exchange coupling constan J0 as -101 ± 2 cm(-1), which is considerably lower than that reported for other analogous copper(II) tetraacetate paddle wheel compounds (Cu(II)-PW), showing the remarkable effect of the conformation of the terminal ligands on the magnetic interaction.

Theoretical description of the magnetic properties of µ3-hydroxo bridged trinuclear copper(II) complexes.

A theoretical study of the magnetic properties, using density functional theory, of a family of trinuclear µ3-OH copper(II) complexes reported in the literature is presented. The reported X-ray crystal structures of [Cu3(µ3-OH)(aat)3(H2O)3](NO3)2 · H2O (HUKDUM), where aat: 3-acetylamine-1,2,4-triazole; [Cu3(µ3-OH)(aaat)3(H2SO4)(HSO4)(H2O)] (HUKDOG), where aaat: 3-acetylamine-5-amine-1,2,4-triazole; [Cu3(µ3-OH)(PhPyCNO)3(tchlphac)2] (HOHQUR), where PhPyCNO: phenyl 2-pyridyl-ketoxime and tchlphac: acid 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic; [Cu3(µ3-OH)(PhPyCNO)3(NO3)2(CH3OH)] (ILEGEM); [Cu3(µ3-OH)(pz)3(Hpz)3(ClO4)2] (QOPJIP), where Hpz = pyrazole; [Cu3(µ3-OH)(pz)3(Hpz)(Me3CCOO)2] ∙ 2Me3CCOOH (DEFSEN) and [Cu3(µ3-OH)(8-amino-4-methyl-5-azaoct-3-en-2-one)3][CuI3] (RITXUO), were used in the calculations. The magnetic exchange constants were calculated using the broken-symmetry approach. The calculated J values are for HUKDUM J1 = -68.6 cm(-1), J2 = -69.9 cm(-1), J3 = -70.4 cm(-1); for HUKDOG, J1 = -73.5 cm(-1), J2 = -58.9 cm(-1), J3 = -62.1 cm(-1); for HOHQUR J1 = -128.3 cm(-1), J2 = -134.1 cm(-1), J3 = -120.4 cm(-1); for ILEGEM J1 = -151.6 cm(-1), J2 = -173.9 cm(-1), J3 = -186.9 cm(-1); for QOPJIP J1 = -118.3 cm(-1), J2 = -106.0 cm(-1), J3 = -120.6 cm(-1); for DEFSEN J1 = -74.9 cm(-1), J2 = -64.0 cm(-1), J3 = -57.7 cm(-1) and for RITXUO J1 = -10.9 cm(-1), J2 = +14.3 cm(-1), J3 = -35.4 cm(-1). The Kahn-Briat model was used to correlate the calculated magnetic properties with the overlap of the magnetic orbitals. Spin density surfaces show that the delocalization mechanism is predominant in all the studied compounds.

Synthesis and Characterization of New Palladium(II) Thiosemicarbazone Complexes and Their Cytotoxic Activity against Various Human Tumor Cell Lines.

The palladium(II) bis-chelate complexes of the type [Pd(TSC(1-5))2] (6-10), with their corresponding ligands 4-phenyl-1-(acetone)-thiosemicarbazone, HTSC(1) (1), 4-phenyl-1-(2'-chloro-benzaldehyde)-thiosemicarbazone, HTSC(2) (2), 4-phenyl-1-(3'-hydroxy-benzaldehyde)-thiosemicarbazone, HTSC(3) (3), 4-phenyl-1-(2'-naphthaldehyde)-thiosemicarbazone, HTSC(4) (4), and 4-phenyl-1-(1'-nitro-2'-naphthaldehyde)-thiosemicarbazone, HTSC(5) (5), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques (IR and (1)H- and (13)C-NMR). The molecular structure of HTSC(3), HTSC(4), and [Pd(TSC(1))2] (6) have been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Complex 6 shows a square planar geometry with two deprotonated ligands coordinated to Pd(II) through the azomethine nitrogen and thione sulfur atoms in a cis arrangement. The in vitro cytotoxic activity measurements indicate that the palladium(II) complexes (IC50 = 0.01-9.87 µM) exhibited higher antiproliferative activity than their free ligands (IC50 = 23.48-70.86 and >250 µM) against different types of human tumor cell lines. Among all the studied palladium(II) complexes, the [Pd(TSC(3))2] (8) complex exhibited high antitumor activity on the DU145 prostate carcinoma and K562 chronic myelogenous leukemia cells, with low values of the inhibitory concentration (0.01 and 0.02 µM, resp.).

Single crystal electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of Cu(II) ions in Cu(tyrosine)(2): a study of weak exchange interactions mediated by resonance assisted hydrogen bonds (RAHB).

EPR measurements have been performed on single crystals of [Cu(L-tyrosine)(2)](∞) at 33.8 GHz and at room temperature. The EPR spectra display partially resolved EPR lines for most orientations of the magnetic field in the ab plane, and only one resonance for orientations close to the crystal axes, while only a single line is observed along any direction in the ca and cb crystal planes. This behavior is a result of the selective collapse of the resonances corresponding to the four copper sites in the unit cell produced by the exchange interactions between the copper ions. The magnitudes of the exchange interactions between the copper ions were evaluated from the angular variation of the line width and the collapse of the EPR lines. The value |J(AD)/k(B)|=0.8 K between neighboring copper atoms at 4.942 Å is assigned to a syn-anti equatorial-apical carboxylate bridge with a total bond length of 6.822 Å, while the small value |J(AB)/k(B)|=0.004 K is assigned to a long bridge of 11 atoms with a total bond length of 19.186 Å, that includes one resonance assisted hydrogen bond (RAHB). This finding is discussed in terms of values obtained for similar paths in other model compounds and in proteins.