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Biomedical subjects

Judith A K Howard

Publications and source records attributed to Judith A K Howard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Syntheses and structures of asymmetric Bis(silyl) niobocene hydrides.

This paper deals with the preparation and structural investigation of asymmetric bis(silyl) niobocene hydrides, Cp2Nb(SiHMe2)(H)(SiXMe2) (2; X = F (a), Cl (b), Br (c), I (d)) and Cp2Nb(SiXMe2)(H)(SiYMe2) (X,Y= F-I; X not equal Y). Complexes 2a-d were prepared by selective electrophilic activation of the Si-H bond in Cp2Nb(SiHMe2)2(H). The Cp2Nb(SiXMe2)(H)(SiYMe2) complexes were prepared by electrophilic activation of the Si-H bond in 2a-d and, in some cases, by electrophilic exchange of the X halides in Cp2Nb(SiXMe2)2(H) (1) for other halides, Y. The structures of complexes 2b and 2c have been studied by X-ray and neutron diffraction (ND). The ND results unequivocally established that the hydride ligand in 2c is shifted toward the SiBrMe2 ligand and that in 2b is positioned symmetrically between two nonequivalent silyl groups, with the H...SiClMe2 distance being shorter because of the shorter Nb-SiClMe2 bond length. Analysis of the X-ray structures of complexes 2a-d and complexes Cp2Nb(SiXMe2)(H)(SiYMe2) shows that the largest structural distortions are observed for the silyl groups substituted by heavy halogen atoms. These trends are rationalized in terms of stronger interligand hypervalent interactions (IHI) Nb-H...Si-X for heavy atoms X from Group 7.

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High-spin [2 x 2] [Fe(III)2Ni(II)2] heterometallic square grid with an S = 3 ground state.

A [2 x 2] heterometallic [Fe(III)2Ni(II)2] ferrimagnetic, square-grid complex has been synthesized by the self-assembly reaction of a mononuclear Fe(III) precursor with Ni(NO3)2. Intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange through the resulting hydrazone O-bridging framework (M-O-M 133.3-136.4 degrees) leads to an S = 3 ground state. Structural and magnetic properties are discussed.

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Redox non-innocence of thioether macrocycles: elucidation of the electronic structures of mononuclear complexes of gold(II) and silver(II).

The mononuclear +2 oxidation state metal complexes [Au([9]aneS(3))(2)](2+) and [Ag([18]aneS(6))](2+) have been synthesized and characterized crystallographically. The crystal structure of the Au(II) species [Au([9]aneS(3))(2)](BF(4))(2) shows a Jahn-Teller tetragonally distorted geometry with Au-S(1) = 2.839(5), Au-S(2) = 2.462(5), and Au-S(3) = 2.452(5) A. The related Ag(II) complex [Ag([18]aneS(6))](ClO(4))(2) has been structurally characterized at both 150 and 30 K and is the first structurally characterized complex of Ag(II) with homoleptic thioether S-coordination. The single-crystal X-ray structure of [Ag([18]aneS(6))](ClO(4))(2) confirms octahedral homoleptic S(6)-thioether coordination. At 150 K, the structure contains two independent Ag(II)-S distances of 2.569(7) and 2.720(6) A. At 30 K, the structure retains two independent Ag(II)-S distances of 2.615(6) and 2.620(6) A, with the complex cation retaining 3-fold symmetry. The electronic structures of [Au([9]aneS(3))(2)](2+) and [Ag([18]aneS(6))](2+) have been probed in depth using multifrequency EPR spectroscopy coupled with DFT calculations. For [Au([9]aneS(3))(2)](2+), the spectra are complex due to large quadrupole coupling to (197)Au. Simulation of the multifrequency spectra gives the principal g values, hyperfine (A) and quadrupole (P) couplings, and furthermore reveals non-co-incidence of the principal axes of the P tensor with respect to the A and g matrices. These results are rationalized in terms of the electronic and geometric structure and reveal that the SOMO has ca. 30% Au 5d(xy)() character, consistent with DFT calculations (27% Au character). For [Ag([18]aneS(6))](2+), detailed EPR spectroscopic analysis confirms that the SOMO has ca. 26% Ag 4d(xy)() character and DFT calculations are consistent with this result (22% Ag character).

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Luminescent complexes of iridium(III) containing N/\C/\N-coordinating terdentate ligands.

A family of bis-terdentate iridium(III) complexes is reported which contain a cyclometalated, N/\C[wedge]N-coordinating 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)benzene derivative. This coordination mode is favored by blocking competitive cyclometalation at the C4 and C6 positions of the ligand. Thus, 1,3-di(2-pyridyl)-4,6-dimethylbenzene (dpyxH) reacts with IrCl3 x 3H2O to generate a dichlorobridged dimer [Ir(dpyx-N,C,N)Cl(mu-Cl)]2, 1. This dimer is cleaved by DMSO to give [Ir(dpyx)(DMSO)Cl2], the X-ray crystal structure of which is reported here, confirming the N/\C/\N coordination mode of dpyx. The dimer 1 can also be cleaved by a variety of other ligands to generate novel classes of mononuclear complexes. These include charge-neutral bis-terdentate complexes of the form [Ir(N/\C/\N)(C/\N/\C)] and [Ir(N/\C/\N)(C/\N/\O)], by reaction of 1 with C/\N/\C-coordinating ligands (e.g., 2,6-diphenylpyridine and derivatives) and C/\N/\O-coordinating ligands (based on 6-phenylpicolinate), respectively. Treatment of 1 with terpyridines leads to dicationic complexes of the type [Ir(N/\C/\N)(N/\N/\N)]2+, while 2-phenylpyridine gives [Ir(dpyx-N/\C/\N)(ppy-C,N)Cl]. All of the charge-neutral complexes are luminescent in fluid solution at room temperature. Assignment of the emission to charge-transfer excited states with significant MLCT character is supported by DFT calculations. In the [Ir(N/\C/\N)(C/\N/\C)] class, fluorination of the C/\N/\C ligand at the phenyl 2' and 4' positions leads to a blue-shift in the emission and to an increase in the quantum yield (lambda(max) = 547 nm, phi = 0.41 in degassed CH(3)CN at 295 K) compared to the nonfluorinated parent complex (lambda(max) = 585 nm, phi = 0.21), as well as to a stabilization of the compound with respect to photodissociation through cleavage of mutually trans Ir-C bonds. [Ir(dpyx-N/\C/\N)(ppy-C,N)Cl] is an exceptionally bright emitter: phi = 0.76, lambda(max) = 508 nm, in CH(3)CN at 295 K. In contrast, the [Ir(N/\C/\N)(C/\N/\O)] complexes are much less emissive, shown to be due to fast nonradiative decay of the excited state, probably involving reversible Ir-O bond cleavage. The [Ir(N/\C/\N)(N/\N/\N)]2+ complexes are very feeble emitters even at 77 K, probably due to the almost exclusively interligand charge-transfer nature of the lowest-energy excited state in these complexes.

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Chelating N-pyrrolylphosphino-N'-arylaldimine ligands: synthesis, ligand behaviour and applications in catalysis.

Two families of variously-substituted N-pyrrolylphosphino-N'-arylaldimine ligands, 2-(aryl-N=CH)C4H3N-PR2 {R=Ph; R=Pri2N}, have been prepared from the corresponding pyrrolylaldimines . The donor characteristics/basicity of P-N-chelating and have been assessed using a combination of 31P{1H} NMR and IR spectroscopies through study of the magnitudes of 1JSeP for the phosphorus(V) selenides and , and measurement of nu(CO) for the complexes [RhCl(CO)(-kappa2-P,N)], respectively. The synthesis of the palladium(II) complexes [PdCl2(-kappa2-P,N)] was readily achieved from reaction of or with [PdCl2(MeCN)2] in CH2Cl2. X-Ray crystallographic studies of and confirm the chelating nature of the P-N ligands, which adopt a distorted 'envelope' conformation, and highlight the potentially significant steric demands of these metal scaffolds. Reaction of equimolar quantities of with [NiBr2(DME)] in MeCN afforded [NiBr2(-kappa2-P,N)], while the same reaction undertaken in CH2Cl2 with gave rise to the homoleptic bis(pyrrolatoimine) derivative [Ni{2-(mes-N=CH)C4H3N}2] in 45% yield, following P-N bond cleavage. Complex was characterised in the solid-state by X-ray crystallography. No identifiable metal-containing complexes could be obtained on reaction of with a variety of sources of Ni(II). The palladium dichloride complexes and proved inactive in combination with MAO or EtAlCl2 for ethylene polymerisation, and with methanesulfonic acid for CO/ethylene co-polymerisation. Contrastingly, the nickel complexes in combination with 4.5 eq. EtAlCl2 catalysed the formation of butenes and hexenes with moderate activity from ethylene at 1 bar.

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Synthesis and characterisation of dimeric eight-coordinate lanthanide(III) complexes of a macrocyclic tribenzylphosphinate ligand.

The macrocyclic ligand 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triyl(methylenebenzyl-phosphinic acid) H3L3, has been prepared and its complexes with Eu, Gd and Tb(III) studied by NMR, relaxometry, luminescence and single crystal X-ray crystallography. In solution and in the crystal, the complexes have eight-coordinate metal centres with bridging phosphinate groups linking the two twisted square antiprismatic coordination polyhedra. A single stereoisomer crystallises from solution with an RRR and SSS configuration at the P centres in each sub-unit. The relaxivity of [GdL3]2 is low (1.9 mM-1 s-1, 298 K, 20 MHz), consistent with the absence of any proximate water molecules. The terbium dimer possesses a relatively long excited state lifetime (2.47 ms, 298 K).

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On the role of the counter-ion in defining water structure and dynamics: order, structure and dynamics in hydrophilic and hydrophobic gadolinium salt complexes.

The crystal structures of the hydrated salts of [Gd.DOTAM]3+ and its more hydrophobic derivative [Gd.]3+, bearing 4 alpha-phenylethyl groups, (both Gd and Yb salts) are reported and compared. The nature of the anion determines the degree of ordering in the lattice and the extent of hydration. These effects are correlated with the results of 17O and 1H NMR measurements of water exchange dynamics in solution. With [Gd.DOTAM]3+, structural ordering or the extent of hydration in the hydrated lattice follows the sequence Cl->Br->I- and this order also defines the water exchange rate in solution: 7.3, 19.5, 33.3x10(4) s-1 (298 K), respectively. For [Gd.]3+ salts, the measured relaxivity is determined purely by the outer sphere term and the water exchange rate at 298 K is very similar (typically 1x10(4) s-1) for chloride, bromide, iodide, acetate, triflate and nitrate salts, notwithstanding the different nature and extent of hydration found in the crystalline lattice.

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Synthesis and structure of bifunctional N-alkylbenzimidazole phenylboronate derivatives.

N-Methyl and N-n-butyl-2-(2-boronophenyl)benzimidazoles are accessed from the corresponding mono-N-alkyl-ortho-phenylenediamines, either using a polyphosphoric acid-mediated cyclisation with ortho-bromobenzoic acid, or preferably using an Oxone-mediated cyclisation of the corresponding aldehyde, followed by a lithium-exchange and borylation sequence. The resulting boronic acids show unusual physical and chemical properties, as shown by 11B NMR and X-ray crystallography.

Alkylation↗

Syntheses and properties of enantiomerically pure higher (n > or = 7) [n-2]triangulanedimethanols and sigma-[n]helicenes.

(P)-(+)-Hexaspiro[2.0.0.0. 0.0.2.1.1.1.1.1]pentadecane [(P)-17] as well as (M)-(-)- and (P)-(+)-octaspiro[2.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1]nonadecanes [(M)- and (P)-25]-enantiomerically pure unbranched [7]- and [9]triangulanes-have been prepared starting from racemic THP-protected (methylenecyclopropyl)methanol 6. The relative configurations of all important intermediates as well as the absolute configurations of the key intermediates were established by X-ray crystal structure analyses. This new convergent approach to enantiomerically pure linear [n]triangulanes for n=7, 9 was also tested in two variants towards [15]triangulane. Some of the most prominent and unexpected features of the newly prepared compounds are the remarkable modes of self-assembly of the diols (P)-14, (E)-(3S,3'S,4S,4'S,5R,5'R)-21, (P)-(+)-22, and (E)-31 in the solid state through frameworks of intermolecular hydrogen bonds leading to, depending on the respective structure, nanotube- [(P)-14, (P)-(+)-22, and (E)-31], honeycomb-like structures [(E)-(3S,3'S,4S,4'S,5R,5'R)-21] or a supramolecular double helix [(P)-(+)- and (M)-(-)-22]. Liquid crystalline properties of the esters and ethers of the diols (P)-14, (P)-, and (M)-22 have also been tested. Although all of these [n]triangulanes have no chromophore which would lead to significant absorptions above 200 nm, they exhibit surprisingly high specific rotations even at 589 nm with [alpha](20)(D)=+672.9 (c=0.814 in CHCl(3)) for (P)-(+)-17, +909.9 (c=0.96 in CHCl(3)) for (P)-(+)-25, -890.5 (c=1.01 in CHCl(3)) for (M)-(-)-25, and -1302.5 (c=0.36 in CHCl(3)) for (M)-(-)-39, and the specific rotations increase drastically on going to shorter wavelengths. This outstanding rotatory power is in line with their rather rigid helical arrangement of sigma bonds, and accordingly these helically shaped unbranched [n]triangulanes may be termed "sigma-[n]helicenes", as they represent the sigma-bond analogues of the aromatic pi-[n]helicenes. Density functional theory (DFT) computations at the B3 LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory for the geometry optimization and time-dependent DFT for determining optical rotations with a triplet-zeta basis set (B3 LYP/TZVP) reproduce the optical rotatory dispersions (ORD) very well for the lower members (n=4, 5) of the sigma-[n]helicenes. For the higher ones (n=7, 9, 15) the computed specific rotations turn out increasingly larger than the experimental values. The remarkable increase of the specific rotation with an increasing number of three-membered rings is proportional neither to the molecular weight nor to the number of cyclopropane rings in these sigma-[n]helicenes.

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Concise syntheses of tridentate PNE ligands and their coordination chemistry with palladium(II) : a solution- and solid-state study.

A straightforward methodology for the high-yielding synthesis of the di-functionalised phosphines {Ph2P(CH2)2NC4H8E, E = NMe (1), O (2), S (3)}via base-catalysed Michael addition is described. Reaction of the functionalised tertiary phosphines 1-3 with PdCl2(MeCN)2 affords complexes in which the ligands are bound in a tridentate fashion, namely [PdCl(kappa3-PNE)]Cl (6a, 8) as the predominant products. A kappa2-PN coordination mode was also identified crystallographically for ligand following its reaction with PdCl2(MeCN)2, which afforded [PdCl2(-kappa2-PN)] (6b) in ca. 5% yield. Conductivity studies of solutions of 6a are consistent with an ionic formulation, however the poor solubility of and precluded their study in a similar fashion. Analysis of bulk samples of [PdCl2(1)] (6) and [PdCl2(3)] (8) by 15N and 31P NMR spectroscopy in the solid state as consistent with exclusive tridentate binding of the PNE ligands. An X-ray crystallographic study has probed the coordination of in the unusual salt [PdCl(-kappa3-PNN)]2[Mg(SO4)2(OH2)4] (10) prepared by treating a methanolic solution of with excess MgSO4. No data could be obtained to support the transformation of 6a into 6b on addition of excess chloride. In contrast, 6a reacts regioselectively with the water-soluble phosphine Cy2PCH2CH2NMe3Cl to afford the cis-diphosphine complex cis-[PdCl(Cy2PCH2CH2NMe3Cl)(1-kappa2-PN)]Cl2 (9). Reaction of 1 with PdCl(Me)(COD) results in the formation of the kappa2-PN dichloride complex [PdCl(Me)(1-kappa(2)-PN)] (11). Attempts to prepare [Pd(Me)(MeCN)(-kappa2-PN)][PF6] (12) through reaction of 11 with NaPF6 in MeCN led to decomposition. Treatment of PdMe2(TMEDA) with 1 at low temperature initially affords [PdMe2(1-kappa2-NN)], which isomerises to afford [PdMe(2)(1-kappa(2)-PN)] (13); at temperatures greater than 10 degrees C complex 13 decomposes rapidly.

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Photomagnetic properties of iron(II) spin crossover complexes of 2,6-dipyrazolylpyridine and 2,6-dipyrazolylpyrazine ligands.

The photomagnetic properties of the following iron(II) complexes have been investigated: [Fe(L1)2][BF4]2, [Fe(L2)2][BF4]2, [Fe(L2)2][ClO4]2, [Fe(L3)2][BF4]2, [Fe(L3)2][ClO4]2 and [Fe(L4)2][ClO4]2 (L1 = 2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}pyridine; L2 = 2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}pyrazine; L3 = 2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}-4-{hydroxymethyl}pyridine; and L4 = 2,6-di{4-methylpyrazol-1-yl}pyridine). Compounds display a complete thermal spin transition centred between 200-300 K, and undergo the light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect at low temperatures. The T(LIESST) relaxation temperature of the photoinduced high-spin state for each compound has been determined. The presence of sigmoidal kinetics in the HS --> LS relaxation process, and the observation of LITH hysteresis loops under constant irradiation, demonstrate the cooperative nature of the spin transitions undergone by these materials. All the compounds in this study follow a previously proposed linear relation between T(LIESST) and their thermal spin-transition temperatures T(1/2): T(LIESST) = T(0)- 0.3T(1/2). T(0) for these compounds is identical to that found previously for another family of iron(II) complexes of a related tridentate ligand, the first time such a comparison has been made. Crystallographic characterisation of the high- and low-spin forms, the light-induced high-spin state, and the low-spin complex [Fe(L4)2][BF4]2, are described.

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Synthesis, crystal structures, linear and nonlinear optical properties, and theoretical studies of (p-R-phenyl)-, (p-R-phenylethynyl)-, and (E)-[2-(p-R-phenyl)ethenyl]dimesitylboranes and related compounds.

The (p-R-phenyl)dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, MeO, MeS, Br, I), (p-R-phenylethynyl)dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, MeO, MeS, H), (E)-[2-(p-R-phenyl)ethenyl]dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, H(2)N, MeO, MeS, H, CN, NO(2)), (E)-[2-(2-thienyl)ethenyl]dimesitylborane, and (E)-[2-(o-carboranyl)ethenyl]dimesitylborane have been prepared through the reaction of the appropriate p-R-phenyl- and p-R-phenylethynyllithium reagents with dimesitylboron fluoride and by hydroboration of the appropriate p-R-phenylacetylene, 2-ethynylthiophene, and o-ethynylcarborane with dimesitylborane. Their UV/Vis absorption and emission spectra have been recorded in a range of solvents with the fluorescence maxima of the donor-substituted compounds in particular exhibiting large bathochromic shifts in highly polar solvents, indicative of charge transfer leading to large dipole moments in the excited state. The molecular structures of the (p-R-phenyl)dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, MeO, MeS, Br, I), the (E)-[2-(p-R-phenyl)ethenyl]dimesitylboranes (R=Me(2)N, H(2)N MeO, MeS, H), (p-R-phenylethynyl)dimesitylborane (R=Me(2)N), and (E)-[2-(2-thienyl)ethenyl]dimesitylborane, which have been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements, offer evidence of increased conjugation in the ground state with increased donor strength of the R substituent. Their first- and second-order molecular hyperpolarizabilities have been obtained from EFISH and THG measurements, the first-order hyperpolarizabilities being largest for the strongest R-substituent donors. AM1 calculations have been performed on these compounds, showing reasonable agreement with the experimentally obtained bond lengths and hyperpolarizabilities, as well as on several related hypothetical compounds containing multiple C==C bonds, most of which are proposed to have even larger hyperpolarizabilities.

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How phonons govern the behavior of short, strong hydrogen bonds in urea-phosphoric acid.

Recent neutron diffraction data have shown that the hydrogen atom involved in the short, strong hydrogen bond in urea-phosphoric acid migrates toward the midpoint of the hydrogen bond as the temperature increases. With the help of solid state ab initio calculations and inelastic neutron scattering, we have investigated the temperature dependence of the structural and vibrational properties of the system. The potential energy surface of the proton in the short, strong hydrogen bond and the thermal population of the energy levels therein cannot account for the observed proton migration. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations clearly reveal the migration of the proton. This molecular dynamics result was reported recently by other authors, but they only offered a tentative explanation in terms of a resonance between high-frequency vibrations, which is not supported by the calculations presented here. We explain the proton migration in terms of phonon-driven structural fluctuations and their impact on the temperature-dependent evolution of the potential energy surface of the short hydrogen-bond proton.

Hydrogen Bonding↗

Synthesis and reactivity of cobalt boryl complexes.

The reaction between [Co(PMe3)4] and B2(4-Mecat)2 (4-Mecat = 1,2-O2-4-MeC6H3) or between [Co(PMe2Ph)4] and B2(cat)2 (cat = 1,2-O2C6H4) affords the paramagnetic Co(II) bisboryl complexes [Co(PMe3)3[B(4-Mecat)]2] and [Co(PMe2Ph)3{B(cat)]2] respectively, both of which have been structurally characterised. ESR data and preliminary diboration and boryl transfer reactivity studies are also presented. The reaction between [CoMe(PMe3)4] and B2(cat)2 affords the Co(I) monoboryl complex [Co(PMe3)4[B(cat)]].

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