Platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes stabilized by abnormal/mesoionic C4-bound dicarbenes.

Platinum(II) complexes comprising abnormal diimidazolylidene ligands were synthesized from cis-PtMe(2)(DMSO)(2) using microwave-assisted double C-H bond activation. NMR analysis revealed an unusual solvolysis process, induced by coordinating solvents such as DMSO and MeCN, which has not been observed in related normal dicarbene complexes. NMR and IR spectroscopy and crystallographic analysis of the mono-substituted DMSO complex indicate a sulfur-bonding of the DMSO ligand to the platinum(II) center.

On the electronic impact of abnormal C4-bonding in N-heterocyclic carbene complexes.

Sterically similar palladium dicarbene complexes have been synthesized that comprise permethylated dicarbene ligands which bind the metal center either in a normal coordination mode via C2 or abnormally via C4. Due to the strong structural analogy of the complexes, differences in reactivity patterns may be attributed to the distinct electronic impact of normal versus abnormal carbene bonding, while stereoelectronic effects are negligible. Unique reactivity patterns have been identified for the abnormal carbene complexes, specifically upon reaction with Lewis acids and in oxidative addition-reductive elimination sequences.

Palladation of diimidazolium salts at the C4 position: access to remarkably electron-rich palladium(II) centers.

Palladation of C2-protected diimidazolium salts with Pd(OAc)2 afforded complexes comprising C4-bound N-heterocyclic dicarbene ligands. The reactivity of these complexes towards Lewis acids (AgBF4, AgOAc) and Brønsted acids (H2SO4, H3PO4, HOAc) revealed that abnormal C4 bonding of the carbenes markedly increases the nucleophilicity of the coordinated palladium center as compared to C2 bonding. Despite its formal +2 charge, the palladium center in these complexes is best described as a Lewis base.

Cyclic and acyclic oxorhenium(V)-peptide conjugates as new ligands of the human cyclophilin hCyp-18.

Peptide metalloconstructs display interesting conformations, activities, and resistance to proteolysis. However, introduction of a metal core close to the residues that interact with the protein might strongly affect the binding. We investigated the effects of a coordinated oxorhenium core on the binding of model peptides to cyclophilin hCyp-18, a protein implicated in important biological processes and several diseases.