Exploring the coordination capabilities of a family of flexible benzotriazole-based ligands using Cobalt (II) sources

In this study we focus on the coordination chemistry of a family of three flexible benzotriazole-based ligands (L1-L3) using Cobalt(II) salts. Our efforts have resulted to the formation of ten novel compounds, formulated as [Co2(L1)2Cl4]·2MeCN (1·2MeCN), Co2(L1)2Br4 (2), [Co(L2)Cl2]·MeCN (3·MeCN), Co(L2)Cl2 (4), [Co2(L2)2Br4]·2MeCN (5·2MeCN), [Co(L2)2(NO3)2]·2MeCN (6·2MeCN), [Co2(L3)2Cl4]·2MeCN (7·2MeCN), Co2(L3)2Cl4 (8), Co2(L3)2Br4 (9), and Co(L3)2(NO3)2 (10). The structures have been well characterised through X-Ray crystallography, FT-IR, ESI-MS, PXRD, Elemental Analysis and TGA studies. The compounds show a large structural variety depending on synthetic parameters (ratio, temperature and metal salt) and the ligand selection (various conformations in each ligand). When tuned appropriately, these factors drastically affect dimensionality, metal geometry and the nuclearity of the final product, resulting in a range of 0D dimers (1, 3, 5, 8, 9), 1D (2, 7, 10) and 2D (4, 6) coordination polymers (CPs). A temperature-induced single-crystal to single-crystal transformation of compound 3 to 4 is additionally reported. The magnetic properties of representative compounds (4, 7, 9) are subject to large changes with only minor structural variations, suggesting that tetrahedral Co(II) nodes in CPs or MOFs could function as sensitive reporters of small changes in the local environment

Three-coordinate iron(II) expanded ring N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

A sterically demanding seven-membered expanded ring N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand allows access to rare examples of three-coordinate iron(II)-NHC complexes incorporating only halide coligands of the general formula [Fe(NHC)X 2 ] (NHC = 7-DiPP; X = Br (1) Cl (2)). Reducing the steric influence of the ancillary NHC ligand through modulation of the N-aryl substituents leads to either four- or three-coordinate complexes of the general formula [Fe(NHC)Br 2 (THF)] (3) or [Fe(NHC)Br 2 ] (4) (NHC = 7-Mes), dependent upon the solvent of recrystallization. The further reduction of NHC steric influence results in four-coordinate geometries at iron in the form of the dimeric species [Fe(NHC)Br(μ-Br)] 2 (5) or [Fe(NHC)Br 2 (THF)] (6) (NHC = SDiPP), again dependent upon the solvent of recrystallization. Compounds 1-6 have been analyzed by 1 H NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, elemental microanalysis, Mössbauer spectroscopy (for 1 and 3-5), and Evans method magnetic susceptibility. In addition to these measurements the three-coordinate species 1 and 4 have been further analyzed by SQUID magnetometry and CASSCF calculations, which show significant magnetic anisotropy that is extremely sensitive to the coordination geometry

Cu(II) coordination polymers as vehicles in the A³ coupling

A family of benzotriazole based coordination compounds, obtained in two steps and good yields from commercially available materials, formulated [CuII(L 1 )2(MeCN)2]·2(ClO4)·MeCN (1), [CuII(L 1 )(NO3)2]·MeCN (2), [ZnII(L 1 )2(H2O)2]·2(ClO4)·2MeCN (3), [CuII (L 1 )2Cl2]2 (4), [CuII 5(L 1 )2Cl10] (5), [CuII 2(L 1 )4Br2]·4MeCN·(CuII 2Br6) (6), [CuII(L 1 )2(MeCN)2]·2(BF4) (7), [CuII(L 1 )2(CF3SO3)2] (8), [ZnII(L 1 )2(MeCN)2]·2(CF3SO3) (9), [CuII 2(L 2 )4(H2O)2]·4(CF3SO3)·4Me2CO (10) and [CuII 2(L 3 )4(CF3SO3)2]·2(CF3SO3)·Me2CO (11) are reported. These air stable compounds were tested as homogeneous catalysts for the A3 coupling synthesis of propargyl amine derivatives from aldehyde, amine and alkyne under a non-inert atmosphere. Fine-tuning of the catalyst resulted in a one dimensional (1D) coordination polymer (CP) (8) with excellent catalytic activity in a wide range of substrates, avoiding any issues that would inhibit its performance

Measuring spin ... spin interactions between heterospins in a hybrid [2]rotaxane

Use of molecular electron spins as qubits for quantum computing will depend on the ability to produce molecules with weak but measurable interactions between the qubits. Here we demonstrate use of pulsed EPR spectroscopy to measure the interaction between two inequivalent spins in a hybrid rotaxane molecule

Exquisite sensitivity of the ligand field to solvation and donor polarisability in coordinatively saturated lanthanide complexes

Crystallographic, emission and NMR studies of a series of C3-symmetric, nine-coordinate substituted pyridyl triazacyclononane Yb(III) and Eu(III) complexes reveal the impact of local solvation and ligand dipolar polarisability on ligand field strength, leading to dramatic variations in pseudocontact NMR shifts and emission spectral profiles, giving new guidance for responsive NMR and spectral probe design

On the possibility of magneto-structural correlations: detailed studies of di-nickel carboxylate complexes

A series of water-bridged dinickel complexes of the general formula [Ni<sub>2</sub>(μ<sub>2</sub>-OH<sub>2</sub>)(μ2- O<sub>2</sub>C<sup>t</sup>Bu)<sub>2</sub>(O<sub>2</sub>C<sup>t</sup>Bu)2(L)(L0)] (L = HO<sub>2</sub>C<sup>t</sup>Bu, L0 = HO<sub>2</sub>C<sup>t</sup>Bu (1), pyridine (2), 3-methylpyridine (4); L = L0 = pyridine (3), 3-methylpyridine (5)) has been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The magnetic properties have been probed by magnetometry and EPR spectroscopy, and detailed measurements show that the axial zero-field splitting, D, of the nickel(ii) ions is on the same order as the isotropic exchange interaction, J, between the nickel sites. The isotropic exchange interaction can be related to the angle between the nickel centers and the bridging water molecule, while the magnitude of D can be related to the coordination sphere at the nickel sites

Tetranuclear Zn/4f coordination clusters as highly efficient catalysts for Friedel-Crafts alkylation

A series of custom-designed, high yield, isoskeletal tetranuclear Zn/4f coordination clusters showing high efficiency as catalysts with low catalytic loadings in Friedel-Crafts alkylation are described for the first time. The possibility of altering the 4f centers in these catalysts without altering the core topology allows us to further confirm their stability via EPR and NMR, as well to gain insights into the plausible reaction mechanism, showcasing the usefulness of these bimetallic systems as catalysts

Measurement of Magnetic Exchange in Asymmetric Lanthanide Dimetallics: Toward a Transferable Theoretical Framework

Magnetic exchange interactions within the asymmetric dimetallic compounds [hqH2][Ln2(hq)4(NO3)3]∙MeOH, (Ln = Er(III) and Yb(III), hqH = 8-hydroxyquinoline) have been directly probed with EPR spectroscopy and accurately modelled by spin Hamiltonian techniques. Exploitation of site selectivity via doping experiments in Y(III) and Lu(III) matrices yields simple EPR spectra corresponding to isolated Kramers doublets, allowing determination of the local magnetic properties of the individual sites within the dimetallic compounds. CASSCF-SO calculations, INS and far-IR measurements are all employed to further support the identification and modelling of the local electronic structure for each site. EPR spectra of the pure dimetallic compounds are highly featured and correspond to transitions within the lowest-lying exchange-coupled manifold, permitting determination of the highly anisotropic magnetic exchange between the lanthanide ions. We find a unique orientation for the exchange interaction, corresponding to a common elongated oxygen bridge for both isostructural analogs. This suggests a microscopic physical connection to the magnetic superexchange. These results are of fundamental importance for building and validating model microscopic Hamiltonians to understand the origins of magnetic interactions between lanthanides and how they may be controlled with chemistr