New Insight into a Deceptively Simple Reaction: The Coordination of bpy to RuII-Carbonyl Precursors - The Central Role of thefac-[Ru(bpy)Cl(CO)3]+Intermediate and theChloride Rebound Mechanism

This work demonstrates how a careful reexamination of well-trodden fields can fill conceptual gaps that previously escaped full understanding. The coordination of 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) to the known Ru(II)-chlorido-carbonyl precursors \u2013 the dinuclear [RuCl2(CO)3]2 (P1) and the polymeric [RuCl2(CO)2]n (P2) \u2013 has been investigated by several groups in the past, and a remarkably large number of ruthenium mono(bpy) carbonyls were identified and fully characterized. Many were investigated as catalysts or key intermediates for the photochemical, electrochemical, and photo-electrochemical reduction of CO2, and for the water\u2013gas shift reaction. Nevertheless, even though most \u2013 if not all \u2013 the reaction products are known already, a careful exam of the literature led us to believe that a convincing general scheme interconnecting them all was still missing and important questions remained unanswered. For this reason, we investigated the reactivity of two mononuclear Ru(II)-carbonyl-dmso precursors, trans,cis,cis-[RuCl2(CO)2(dmso-O)2] (P3) and fac-[RuCl2(CO)3(dmso-O)] (P4) \u2013 that can be considered as \u2018activated forms\u2019 of P2 and P1, respectively \u2013 towards the coordination of bpy. Compounds P3 and P4, allowed us to gain new mechanistic insight and a deeper level of understanding. In particular, we found that coordination of bpy to P4 (or P1) generates first the tricarbonyl cation fac-[Ru(bpy)Cl(CO)3]+.This key intermediate undergoes the facile and selective nucleophilic attack on the CO trans to Cl (by RO\u2013 in alcoholic solvents or OH\u2013 from adventitious water in other solvents), leading to all other species. We also demonstrated that Cl\u2013 \u2013 even when in large excess \u2013 is unable to replace a carbonyl on fac-[Ru(bpy)Cl(CO)3]+. However, the chloride set free from the precursor, competes efficiently with bpy for the coordination to Ru(II) (chloride rebound mechanism)

Neutral 1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadamantane-Ruthenium(II) Complexes as Precursors for the Preparation of Highly Water-Soluble Derivatives

The monodentate phosphane ligand 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) imparts excellent water solubility to its complexes. We aimed to prepare precursors with one or more PTA coligands for solubility and one or more labile ligands for facile replacement by a linker. For this purpose, we investigated the reactivity of the neutral isomers trans- and cis-RuCl2(PTA)4 (1 and 2) towards 2,2\u2032-bipyridine (bpy), as a model chelating diimine linker. The new derivatives mer-[Ru(bpy)Cl(PTA)3]Cl (9) and fac-[Ru(bpy)Cl(PTA)3]Cl (10) were prepared and characterized. We also found that PTA reacts rapidly with cis,fac-RuCl2(dmso-O)(dmso-S)3 (11) and trans-RuCl2(dmso-S)4 (13) under mild conditions through the replacement of pairs of mutually trans dmso ligands with high selectivity, even when in stoichiometric defect. Thus, 11 affords cis,cis,trans-RuCl2(dmso-S)2(PTA)2 (12), whereas 13 gives 1. The two dmso ligands of 12 can be replaced selectively by chelating diimines such as bpy to afford the less symmetrical all-cis product cis,cis-Ru(bpy)Cl2(PTA)2 (16)

Modulating the Shape of Short Metal-Mediated Heteroleptic Tapes of Porphyrins

In view of developing artificial light-responsive complex systems, the preparation of discrete and robust heteroleptic assemblies of different chromophores in precisely defined positions is of great value since they would allow to investigate directional processes unavailable in symmetrical architectures. Here we describe the preparation, through a modular stepwise approach, and characterization of four novel and robust metal-mediated heteroleptic 4+3 porphyrin tapes, labeled D-4-T-4-D-4, D-3-T-4-D-3, D-4-T-3-D-4, and D-3-T-3-D-3, where a central meso-tetrapyridylporphyrin (either 3 '-TPyP=T-3 or 4 '-TPyP=T-4) is connected to two equal cis-dipyridylporphyrins (either 3 ' cisDPyMP=D-3 or 4 ' cisDPyMP=D-4) through four {t,c,c-RuCl2(CO)(2)} fragments. Whereas D-4-T-4-D-4 is flat, the tapes containing at least one 3 ' PyP, i. e. D-3-T-4-D-3, D-4-T-3-D-4, and D-3-T-3-D-3, have unprecedented - and well defined - 3D geometries, and each exists in solution as a pair of stereoisomers in slow conformational equilibrium. The X-ray molecular structures of two such conformers, the C-shaped (D-3-T-4-D-3)(C) and the z-shaped (D-4-T-3-D-4)(z), were determined and are fully consistent with the solution NMR findings

Protic Ionic Liquids Based Crosslinked Polymer Electrolytes: A New Class of Solid Electrolytes for Energy Storage Devices

Herein, the preparation of an innovative crosslinked polymer electrolyte (PEO_HPyr) encompassing protic ionic liquids (PILs) displaying high ionic conductivity, wide thermal, and electrochemical stability is reported, thus suitable for use in safe energy storage devices. The first example of an all‐solid‐state electrochemical double layer capacitor (EDLC) containing a PEO_HPyr‐based electrolyte is presented, which shows high performance at ambient temperature and exceptional stability. Furthermore, the first example of a PIL‐based lab‐scale lithium‐metal cell with lithium iron phosphate cathodes is also presented, which provides almost full capacity (i.e., 150 mAh g−1 at C/20) and highly reversible cycling at ambient conditions and different current rates. The excellent results obtained clearly demonstrate that PIL‐based crosslinked polymer electrolytes represent a new and very interesting class of solid electrolytes for energy storage devices

Synthesis of hyperbranched low molecular weight polyethylene oils by an iminopyridine nickel(II) catalyst

A 6-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)iminopyridine dibromo nickel(II) complex was synthesized, characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and tested in ethylene polymerization using diethylaluminumchloride as the cocatalyst. Low molecular weight (Mn ∼ 103 g mol−1) polyethylene oils were obtained under a variety of reaction conditions. Detailed NMR analysis showed the formation of hyperbranched macromolecules (branching density >100 branches per 1000 carbons) with a high fraction of “branches on branch” and one unsaturation per chain, resulting in polymer features comparable to those of polymers produced by α-diimine Pd(II) catalysts. The DFT model of the catalytic species showed that the ortho-2,6-dimethylphenyl substituent of the pyridine group destabilizes the ethylene coordination to the metal centre but does not encumber both axial coordination site. So the polymerization performance of 1 can be addressed to the catalytic pocket generated by the coordinated ligand that favors both chain transfer and chain walking over propagatio

Photolabile Ru Model Complexes with Chelating Diimine Ligands for Light-Triggered Drug Release

A series of water-soluble photolabile model complexes of the general formula [Ru([9]aneS3)(chel)(py)]Cl2 ([9]aneS3 = 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane, chel = chelating diimine) was prepared and fully characterized. The photo-triggered release of pyridine with visible light as a function of the nature of the diimine (chel = 2,2\u2032-bipyridine (6) 1,10-phenanthroline (7), 4,7-diphenil-1,10-phenanthroline (8), dipyrido-[3,2-a:2\u2032,3\u2032-c]phenazine (dppz, 9), 2,2\u2032-biquinoline (bq, 10)) was investigated. Our aim is that of establishing if this type of complexes in the future might be realistically used in the photo-uncaging strategy of photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT). Compounds 6 \u2013 9 present a MLCT absorption in the blue region of the visible spectrum. When irradiated with light at 470 nm, they rapidly and quantitatively release the coordinated pyridine. Complex 10 turned out to be quite different from to the others in the series. Structure-wise, in 10 the average plane of coordinated bq \u2013 owing to its steric demand \u2013 is remarkably tilted relative to the equatorial coordination plane (37.43 (4)\ub0, with the \u201cfront\u201d of the ligand pointing towards the axial py) and the orientation of py is ca. orthogonal compared to that found in 6 and 7 for minimizing steric clashes with bq. The low-lying acceptor orbitals of bq induce a red-shift of the MLCT absorption maximum to ca. 500 nm. Contrary to the expectations, complex 10 is more photo-stable compared to 6 \u2013 9 and photo-dissociation of both py and bq, in ca. equal amounts, occurs. A detailed theoretical investigation was performed on 10 (and on 6 for comparison), for explaining its peculiar spectral features and photochemical behavior

Ru(ii)-Peptide bioconjugates with the cppH linker (cppH = 2-(2'-pyridyl)pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid): synthesis, structural characterization, and different stereochemical features between organic and aqueous solvents

Three new Ru(ii) bioconjugates with the C-terminal hexapeptide sequence of neurotensin, RRPYIL, namely trans,cis-RuCl2(CO)2(cppH-RRPYIL-\u3baNp) (7), [Ru([9]aneS3)(cppH-RRPYIL-\u3baNp)(PTA)](Cl)2 (8), and [Ru([9]aneS3)Cl(cppH-RRPYIL-\u3baNp)]Cl (11), where cppH is the asymmetric linker 2-(2'-pyridyl)pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid, were prepared in pure form and structurally characterized in solution. The cppH linker is capable of forming stereoisomers (i.e. linkage isomers), depending on whether the nitrogen atom ortho (No) or para (Np) to the carboxylate on C4 in the pyrimidine ring binds the metal ion. Thus, one of the aims of this work was to obtain pairs of stereoisomeric conjugates and investigate their biological (anticancer, antibacterial) activity. A thorough NMR characterization clearly indicated that in all cases exclusively Np conjugates were obtained in pure form. In addition, the NMR studies showed that, whereas in DMSO-d6 each conjugate exists as a single species, in D2O two (7) or even three if not four (8 and 11) very similar stable species form (each one corresponding to an individual compound). Similar results were observed for the cppH-RRPYIL ligand alone. Overall, the NMR findings are consistent with the occurrence of a strong intramolecular stacking interaction between the phenol ring of tyrosine and the pyridyl ring of cppH. Such stacking interactions between aromatic rings are expected to be stronger in water. This interaction leads to two stereoisomeric species in the free cppH-RRPYIL ligand and in the bioconjugate 7, and is somehow modulated by the less symmetrical Ru coordination environments in 8 and 11, affording three to four very similar species

(15)N NMR spectroscopy unambiguously establishes the coordination mode of the diimine linker 2-(2'-pyridyl)pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid (cppH) in Ru(II) complexes

We investigated the reactivity of three Ru(II) precursors - trans,cis,cis-[RuCl2(CO)2(dmso-O)2], cis,fac-[RuCl2(dmso-O)(dmso-S)3], and trans-[RuCl2(dmso-S)4] - towards the diimine linker 2-(2'-pyridyl)pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid (cppH) or its parent compound 4-methyl-2-(2'-pyridyl)pyrimidine ligand (mpp), in which a methyl group replaces the carboxylic group on the pyrimidine ring. In principle, both cppH and mpp can originate linkage isomers, depending on how the pyrimidine ring binds to ruthenium through the nitrogen atom ortho (N(o)) or para (N(p)) to the group in position 4. The principal aim of this work was to establish a spectroscopic fingerprint for distinguishing the coordination mode of cppH/mpp also in the absence of an X-ray structural characterization. By virtue of the new complexes described here, together with the others previously reported by us, we successfully recorded (1)H,(15)N-HMBC NMR spectra at natural abundance of the (15)N isotope on a consistent number of fully characterized Ru(ii)-cppH/mpp compounds, most of them being stereoisomers and/or linkage isomers. Thus, we found that (15)N NMR chemical shifts unambiguously establish the binding mode of cppH and mpp - either through N(o) or N(p) - and can be conveniently applied also in the absence of the X-ray structure. In fact, coordination of cppH to Ru(ii) induces a marked upfield shift for the resonance of the N atoms directly bound to the metal, with coordination induced shifts (CIS) ranging from ca. -45 to -75 ppm, depending on the complex, whereas the unbound N atom resonates at a frequency similar to that of the free ligand. Similar results were found for the complexes of mpp. This work confirmed our previous finding that cppH has no binding preference, whereas mpp binds exclusively through N(p). Interestingly, the two cppH linkage isomers trans,cis-[RuCl2(CO)2(cppH-\u3baN(p))] () and trans,cis-[RuCl2(CO)2(cppH-\u3baN(o))] () were easily obtained in pure form by exploiting their different solubility properties

cis-Locked Ru(II)-DMSO Precursors for the Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Bis-Heteroleptic Polypyridyl Compounds

We describe a synthetic strategy for the preparation of bis-heteroleptic polypyridyl Ru(II) complexes of the type [Ru(L1)2(L2)]2+ (L1 and L2 = diimine ligands) from well-defined Ru(II) precursors. For this purpose, a series of six neutral, anionic, and cationic cis-locked Ru(II)-DMSO complexes (2-7) of the general formula [Y] fac-[RuX(DMSO-S)3(O-O)]n (where O-O is a symmetrical chelating anion: oxalate (ox), malonate (mal), acetylacetonate (acac); X = DMSO-O or Cl-; n = -1/0/+1 depending on the nature and charge of X and O-O; when present, Y = K+ or PF6-) were efficiently prepared from the well-known cis-[RuCl2(DMSO)4] (1). When treated with diimine chelating ligands (L1 = bpy, phen, dpphen), the compounds 2-7 afforded the target [Ru(L1)2(O-O)]0/+ complex together with the undesired (and unexpected) [Ru(L1)3]2+ species. Nevertheless, we found that the formation of [Ru(L1)3]2+can be minimized by carefully adjusting the reaction conditions: in particular, high selectivity toward [Ru(L1)2(O-O)]0/+ and almost complete conversion of the precursor was obtained within minutes, also on a 100-200 mg scale, when the reactions were performed in absolute ethanol at 150 \ub0C in a microwave reactor. Depending on the nature of L1 and concentration, with the oxalate and malonate precursors, the neutral product [Ru(L1)2(O-O)] can precipitate spontaneously from the final mixture, in pure form and acceptable-to-good yields. When spontaneous precipitation of the disubstituted product does not occur, purification from [Ru(L1)3]2+ can be rather easily accomplished by column chromatography or solvent extraction. By comparison, under the same conditions, compound 1 is much less selective, thus demonstrating that locking the geometry of the precursor through the introduction of O-O in the coordination sphere of Ru is a valid strategic approach. By virtue of its proton-sensitive nature, facile and quantitative replacement of O-O in [Ru(L1)2(O-O)]0/+ by L2, selectively affording [Ru(L1)2(L2)]2+, was accomplished in refluxing ethanol in the presence of a slight excess of trifluoroacetic acid or HPF6