Redox and luminescent properties of robust and air-stable N-heterocyclic carbene group 4 metal complexes.

Robust and air-stable homoleptic group 4 complexes of the type M(L)2 [1-3; M = Ti, Zr, Hf; L = dianionic bis(aryloxide) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand] were readily synthesized from the NHC proligand 1,3-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)imidazolinium chloride (H3L,Cl) and appropriate group 4 precursors. As deduced from cyclic voltammetry studies, the homoleptic bis-adduct zirconium and hafnium complexes 2 and 3 can also be oxidized, with up to four one-electron-oxidation signals for the zirconium derivative 2 (three reversible signals). Electron paramagnetic resonance data for the one-electron oxidation of complexes 1-3 agree with the formation of ligand-centered species.

NIR emission of cyclic [4]rotaxanes containing π-extended porphyrin chromophores.

The photophysical properties of a Cu(I) [4]rotaxane 4(4+) and of the demetalated [4]rotaxane 3 have been determined and compared to those of the component Zn porphyrin 2. All samples emit in the NIR region (700-1200 nm). The luminescence from the interlocked structures is bathochromically shifted with respect to 2 and displays a lower emission quantum yield, much lower for 4(4+) than for 3.

Copper(I)-assembled [3]rotaxane whose two rings act as flapping wings.

A new copper-complexed [3]rotaxane consisting of two coordinating 30-membered rings threaded by a two-binding-site axis has been prepared in good yield from relatively simple organic fragments. The main specificity of the system originates from the stoppering reaction, based on "click" chemistry, and thus from the presence of two triazole groups at positions next to the bidentate chelates of the axis central part. The geometry of the coordinating atoms belonging to the axis is such that the triazole groups can either be part of the coordinating fragments when the metal center is 5-coordinate or be not at all involved in coordination to the metal when the latter is 4-coordinate.

Library of second-generation cycloruthenated compounds and evaluation of their biological properties as potential anticancer drugs: passing the nanomolar barrier.

A library of 32 organoruthenium compounds has been synthesised. Known and novel C-N cyclometalated compounds as well as N-C-N and N-N-C pincer derivatives of this metal have been used in this purpose. Most of the compounds have been tested for their in vitro antitumoral behaviours, good to excellent activities have thus been found.

Synthesis of [5]rotaxanes containing bi- and tridentate coordination sites in the axis.

A new example of a linear [5]rotaxane has been synthesized by using the traditional "gathering-and-threading" approach but based on an unusual axle incorporating a symmetrical bis(bidentate) chelating fragment built on a 4,7-phenanthroline core. The stoppering reaction is particularly noteworthy since, instead of using a trivial bulky stopper as precursor to the blocking group, two semistoppered copper-complexed [2]pseudorotaxanes (namely [2]semirotaxanes) are used, which leads to the desired [5]rotaxane in good yield. The efficiency of the method relies on the use of "click" chemistry, with its very mild conditions, and on the protection by a transition-metal (copper(I)) of the various coordinating groups present in the fragments to be interconnected (terpy and bidentate chelating groups), thus inhibiting potential detrimental side reactions during the copper-catalyzed stoppering reaction.

Electron stimulation of internal torsion of a surface-mounted molecular rotor.

A molecular rotor which includes a central rotator group was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy at 4.9 K as it was grafted on a Cu(111) surface via its two terminal groups. Topographs with submolecular resolution revealed several distinct molecular conformations which we attribute to different angular orientations of the rotator and which are locally stable states according to density functional theory calculations.

Probing electronic superexchange coupling at isolated poly-p-phenylene molecules.

Superexchange coupling in poly-p-phenylene molecular wires was probed using scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures. The coupling strength was characterized by measuring the energy splitting between the molecular states constructed by symmetric and antisymmetric dimerization of molecular fragments' orbitals. The results confirm the theoretically predicted exponential decay behavior of the superexchange coupling on a single-molecule level.

Templated synthesis of cyclic [4]rotaxanes consisting of two stiff rods threaded through two bis-macrocycles with a large and rigid central plate as spacer.

Two related cyclic [4]rotaxanes consisting of double macrocycles and rigid rods incorporating two bidentate chelates have each been prepared in high yield. The first step is a multigathering and threading reaction driven by coordination of two different bidentate chelates (part of either the rings or the rods) to each copper(I) center so as to afford the desired precursor. In both cases, the assembly step is done under very mild conditions, and it is quantitative.

Cyclometalated Ru(II) complexes with improved octahedral geometry: synthesis and photophysical properties.

Cyclometalated bis-tridentate ruthenium(II) complexes incorporating 2,6-diquinolin-8-ylpyridine ligands and exhibiting broad visible absorptions are described. A [Ru(N(wedge)N(wedge)N)(N(wedge)C(wedge)N)](+) complex based only on ligands with expanded bite angles has a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excited-state lifetime of 16 ns, which is attributed to a strong ligand field and therefore reduced deactivation via metal-centered states.

Excited-state relaxation dynamics of Re(I) tricarbonyl complexes with macrocyclic phenanthroline ligands studied by time-resolved IR spectroscopy.

Two sets of supramolecular rhenium carbonyl-phenanthroline complexes were prepared: fac-[Re(Cl)(CO)(3)(N,N)] and fac-[Re(Etpy)(CO)(3)(N,N)](+), where N,N is 2,9-di-anisyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dap) or two related macrocyclic ligands, where the two anisyl groups are connected by a polyether chain of different length and rigidity (m27, m30), which wraps around and above the equatorial Re(CO)(2) group. The excited-state character and relaxation dynamics of these complexes were investigated by picosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy in the spectral region of C[triple bond, length as m-dash]O stretching vibrations, nu(CO). The results were interpreted with the aid of DFT and TD-DFT calculations of the molecular structures and electron-density redistribution upon excitation.

Computational, structural, and mechanistic analysis of the electrochemically driven pirouetting motion of a copper rotaxane.

A mechanism for the electrochemically driven reorganization of a model copper [2]pseudorotaxane is proposed on the basis of density functional theory computations and validated by comparing to experimental results. We investigate in detail the ligand reorganization around the Cu ion from a 4 to 5 coordination number that follows the conversion of the oxidation state from +1 to +2. It is found that for both the oxidation and the reduction processes the rearrangement proceeds in a concerted fashion via a single transition state.

Adjustable receptor based on a [3]rotaxane whose two threaded rings are rigidly attached to two porphyrinic plates: synthesis and complexation studies.

The design and synthesis of a new type of receptor based on a [3]rotaxane, consisting of one thread and two threaded rings, is reported, as well as some of its complexing properties toward given guests. Two rings rigidly attached to porphyrins are threaded by a stiff rod incorporating two 2,2'-bipyridine-like chelates, the threading process being driven by two Cu(I) atoms acting as templates. A double-stoppering reaction based on click chemistry leads to the copper-complexed [3]rotaxane in which the rings are located close to the central part of the thread and the distance between the two porphyrin plates is short.

Quantitative formation of [4]pseudorotaxanes from two rods and two bis-macrocycles incorporating porphyrinic plates between the rings.

[4]pseudorotaxanes consisting of two very large coordinating bis-macrocycles and rigid rods incorporating two side-by-side chelates have been obtained quantitatively utilising the gathering and threading effect of copper(I); the assemblies obtained are several nanometres long and they contain two face-to-face zinc porphyrins which will be used to complex various organic substrates.

Cyclic [2]pseudorotaxane tetramers consisting of two rigid rods threaded through two bis-macrocycles: copper(I)-templated synthesis and X-ray structure studies.

Variously substituted coordinating rigid rods have been synthesized which incorporate a central 4,7-phenanthroline nucleus attached to two 2-pyridyl groups via its 3 and 8 positions, so as to yield bis-bidentate chelates, the two-coordinating axes of the chelates being parallel to one another. Regardless of the nature of the substituents borne by the rods, the copper(I)-induced threading reaction of two such rods through the rings of two bis-macrocycles affords in a quantitative yield the 4-copper(I) threaded assembly. The [2]pseudorotaxane tetramers thus obtained have been fully characterized in solution and, for one of them, an X-ray structure could be obtained, confirming the threaded nature of the complex and providing important structural information.

Iridium terpyridine complexes as functional assembling units in arrays for the conversion of light energy.

In photosynthesis, sunlight energy is converted into a chemical potential by an electron transfer sequence that is started by an excited state and ultimately yields a long-lived charge-separated state. This process can be reproduced by carefully designed multicomponent artificial arrays of three or more components, and the stored energy can be used to oxidize or reduce molecules in solution, to inject electrons or holes, or to create an electron flow. Therefore, the process is important both for artificial-photosynthesis research and for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications.

Ruthenium-based light-driven molecular machine prototypes: synthesis and properties.

In the past years, many dynamic systems often referred to as "molecular machines" have been elaborated. They are generally set in motion by external stimuli like chemical, electrochemical, or photochemical reactions. Light irradiation seems particularly promising since the input signal can be switched on and off fast and readily on a very small place.

A [3]rotaxane with two porphyrinic plates acting as an adaptable receptor.

Following a multistep procedure, the copper(I)-templated strategy allowed preparation of a multifunctional [3]rotaxane. The dumbbell consists of a central two-bidentate chelate unit and two terminal stoppers. The two rings threaded on the rotaxane axis consist each of a 1,10-phenanthroline-incorporating macrocycle, rigidly connected to an appended zinc-complexed porphyrin.

Toward mechanical switching of surface-adsorbed [2]catenane by in situ copper complexation.

Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), we demonstrate that a free [2]catenane consisting of two interlocking 30-membered rings (cat-30) can be deposited on a Ag(111) surface by vacuum sublimation without decomposition. The deposited cat-30 molecules self-organize as ordered dimer chain structures at the surface, presumably via intermolecular pi-pi stacking. An in situ addition of Cu atoms to the surface-adsorbed catenanes induces a drastic change in the molecular organization, i.

Light-induced geometrical changes in acyclic ruthenium(II) complexes and their ruthena-macrocyclic analogues.

The two ligands 1 (4'-(3-anisylphenyl)-2,2';6',2' '-terpyridine) and 2 (2-mesityl-8-anisyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (Scheme 2) were synthesized and coordinated to ruthenium. The corresponding complexes Ru(1)(2)(L)n+, where L = Cl-, CH3CN, or C5H5N, have been fully characterized. Notably, the hindering mesityl group of the phenanthroline ligand was shown to lie opposite to the monodentate ligand L both in solution and in the solid state.

Light intensity effects on photoinduced charge separation parameters in a molecular triad based on an Iridium(III) bis(terpyridine) unit.

The effect of photon flux on the yield and lifetime of charge separation over the extreme components of a D-Ir-A triad, where D is a triphenyl amine electron donor, A is a naphthalene bis(imide) electron acceptor and Ir is an Ir(III) bis(terpyridine) complex, has been investigated. In usual laboratory conditions, with nanosecond and picosecond laser pulses in the 4-8 mJ range, biphotonic processes take place. Biphotonic products and their evolution can introduce complications in reaction mechanisms and their interpretation but can also drastically reduce the yield and the lifetime of the charge-separated state.

Bimetallic iridium(III) complexes consisting of Ir(ppy)(2) units (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine) and two laterally connected N/\N chelates as bridge: synthesis, separation, and photophysical properties.

Reaction of the precursor complex Ir2(ppy)4Cl2 (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine) with the bridging ligand 3,8-dipyridyl-4,7-phenanthroline (L) affords, in 94% yield, the cyclometalated iridium dinuclear complex [(ppy)2Ir(mu-L)Ir(ppy)2]2+ (12+) as a mixture of three stereoisomers. This mixture consists of a meso form Delta,Lambda and a racemic form (enantiomeric pair Delta,Delta and Lambda,Lambda) in the ratio 1:1.5.

Tetranuclear palladium complexes with benzoquinonediimine ligands: synthesis, molecular structure and electrochemistry.

Rare examples of tetrapalladated derivatives in which two flat tetradentate bridging ligands are perfectly face-to-face as a result of a remarkable ancillary ligand effect are reported.