Insights into water coordination associated with the Cu(II)/Cu(I) electron transfer at a biomimetic Cu centre.

The coordination properties of the biomimetic complex [Cu(TMPA)(H2O)](CF3SO3)2 (TMPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) have been investigated by electrochemistry combined with UV-Vis and EPR spectroscopy in different non-coordinating media including imidazolium-based room-temperature ionic liquids, for different water contents. The solid-state X-ray diffraction analysis of the complex shows that the cupric centre lies in a N4O coordination environment with a nearly perfect trigonal bipyramidal geometry (TBP), the water ligand being axially coordinated to Cu(II). In solution, the coordination geometry of the complex remains TBP in all media.

Tetracarboxylate ligands as new chelates supporting copper(II) paddlewheel-like structures.

Two new ligands N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-methylbenzoic acid)-1,4-diaminomethylbenzene, 5H4, and N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-methylbenzoic acid)-4,4'-diaminomethyldiphenyl, 6H4, carrying four carboxylate groups suitable for bridging dinuclear centers have been prepared and their paddlewheel complexes with copper(II) prepared. The phenyl-bridged ligand 5H4 gives a cyclic octanuclear species [(Cu2)4(5)4], while the diphenyl-bridged ligand 6H4 gives a lantern-like tetranuclear species [(Cu2)2(6)2]; both were characterized by X-ray crystallography. If the amine functions of 5 are protonated, intramolecular hydrogen bonds position the four carboxylates in such a way as to allow formation of the unusual compound [Cu4(5H2)2Cl](3+) in which a Cu4 square centered by a chloro ligand is sandwiched between two (5H2)(2-) ligands.

Electrochemical behavior and dioxygen reactivity of tripodal dinuclear copper complexes linked by unsaturated rigid spacers.

New dinucleating ligands based on two tripodal tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (TMPA) units linked by a series of delocalized π-electrons spacers have been synthesized. Their di-Cu(II) complexes have been prepared and structurally characterized. As compared to the corresponding monotopic complexes, these dinuclear Cu(II) complexes reveal spectroscopic and voltammetric features ascribable to weakly perturbed electronic interactions.

Supramolecular squares of dirhodium(II) tetracarboxylate: combining carboxylate-exchange and metal-ligand coordination for self-assembly.

Square self-assemblies are obtained from dirhodium(II) tetracarboxylate complexes using an isonicotinate-type ligand to act as an equatorial ligand to one dirhodium unit and an axial ligand to another. It is shown that the supramolecular squares are formed selectively out of a number of possible compounds in the dynamic carboxylate exchange library.

A generic platform for the addressable functionalisation of electrode surfaces through self-induced "electroclick".

A novel and general strategy for the immobilisation of functional objects onto electrodes is described. The concept is based on the addition of two pendant ethynyl groups onto a bis(pyridyl)amine derivative, which acts as a molecular platform. This platform is pre-functionalised with an N(3)-tagged object of interest by Huisgen cycloaddition to one of the ethynyl groups in biphasic conditions.

Self-induced "electroclick" immobilization of a copper complex onto self-assembled monolayers on a gold electrode.

We report the self-induced "electroclick" immobilization of the [Cu(II)(6-ethynyl-TMPA)(H(2)O)](2+) complex, by its simple electro-reduction, onto a mixed azidoundodecane-/decane-thiol modified gold electrode. The redox response of the grafted [Cu(II/I)(TMPA)] at the modified electrode is fully reversible indicating no Cu coordination change and a fast electron transfer.