Perspective
Bispidine coordination chemistry
The rigidity and well-defined size and shape of the bispidine scaffold, as well as the ease of preparing 4- to 10-dentate ligands are the main features for its very rich coordination chemistry.
Perspective
Copper coordination chemistry of the patellamides – cyanobactins in the ascidian-Prochloron symbiosis
Prochloron didemni, an obligate symbiont of certain ascidians (sea squirts found in tropical areas), produces various cyclic peptides in large quantities, and their copper coordination chemistry is shown to be related to their biological funcion.
Frontier
Molecular Fe(II)–Ln(III) dyads for luminescence reading of spin-state equilibria at the molecular level
Efficient and easy lanthanide(III)-based luminescence reading of iron(II) spin-state equilibria presents an attractive challenge, owing to the delicate combination of the primogenic effect and the Fermi golden rule.
Communication
Non-aggregated ruthenium naphthalocyanine enabling homogeneous carbene insertion into N–H bonds at low catalyst loading
The first highly efficient Ru naphthalocyanine catalyst for conversion of amines to glycine derivatives has been developed. Unlike widely studied phthalocyanine counterparts, metal naphthalocyanines were not yet described as homogeneous catalysts.
Salen-type nickel(II) complexes for distinct selective hydrosilylation of alkenes under mild conditions
A cheap and easy to synthesise nickel(II) complex catalyses hydrosilylation with selectivity dependent on the type of alkene used.
Paper
Platinum(II) and ruthenium(II) coordination complexes equipped with an anchoring site for binding the protein kinase enzyme pockets: synthesis, molecular docking and biological assays
Several Ru(II) and Pt(II) protein kinase inhibitors were prepared. The Ru(II) species have a better affinity for the MST2 binding pocket whereas the Pt(II) compound interact with the S6K1 kinase.
Paper
A chiral Si(IV) complex bearing a 1,2,4-triazole-2,2′-diphenol ligand: synthesis, (chiro-)optical properties and computational investigation
The reactivity of a tridentate ligand derived from Deferasirox towards silicon was studied. The Si complex exhibits enhanced photoluminescence in the violet-to-deep-blue region and was obtained as a racemate of two Δ/Λ enantiomers which were separated and fully characterized.
Paper
Exploring catalytic activity modulations: photoredox catalysis with substituted copper(I)-dipyridylamine derivatives
Novel heteroleptic copper(I)-dipyridylamine complexes demonstrate enhanced photoredox catalytic performance in styrene transformations with tailored ligand effects.
Paper
Effects of removing boron from subphthalocyanines: a theoretical perspective
Herein, we unveil the effect of removing the boron atom from boron-subphthalocyanines using density functional theory. The results highlight the critical impact of the central element on the properties of these porphyrinoids.
Paper
Water-soluble luminescent platinum(II) complexes for guanine quadruplex binding
16 differently substituted platinum(II) complexes were synthesized and evaluated with respect to their ability to bind guanine quadruplex DNA.
Tailoring the local environment of Ln3+ in pyridine-based complexes: effect on the thermodynamic, kinetic, structural and relaxation properties
The effect on the thermodynamic, kinetic and relaxation properties of the replacement of carboxylate functions by pyridine or imidazole groups in pyridine-based polyaminopolycarboxylate lanthanide complexes was investigated.
Synthesis, spectral and electrochemical studies of electron-deficient nitrile porphyrins and their utilization in selective cyanide sensing
A facile synthesis strategy for β-cyano-porphyrins and their metal complexes is reported. CuTPP(CN)2 exhibited a saddle-shaped conformation of the ring. NiTPP(CN)2 facilitated selective and naked-eye cyanide ion detection with an LOD value of 5 ppm.
Zn2+ triazamacrocyclic chelators with methylpyridine pendant arms for B-cell apoptosis: a structure–activity study
Apoptosis of B-cells induced by triazamacrocyclic derivatives with methylpyridine arms with or without Zn2+ chelation depending on the triazamacrocycle.
Pd@BTL–Cd core–shell nanoparticles as plasmonic photocatalysts for the reductive amination of furfural in water
This work reports the step-wise fabrication of a core–shell plasmonic nanocomposite Pd@BTL–Cd consisting of a BTL–Cd shell and a palladium nanoparticle core for reductive amination of furfural.
Paper
Insight into copper coordination in O2 reduction by water-soluble cytochrome c oxidase models
A water soluble cytochrome c oxidase model with a bipyridine binding site for copper is compared with its terpyridine analogue. Two nitrogen atoms are better than one…?
Meso-β, β–β′ trifused porphyrins: synthesis, spectral, electrochemical and DFT studies and their femtosecond third-order nonlinear optical properties
Meso-β, β–β′ trifused porphyrins have been synthesized and exhibited nonplanar conformation with a high dipole moment values. Femtosecond third-order NLO measurements demonstrated promising 3PA coefficients and cross-section values.
Paper
Synthesis and characterization of heptacoordinated molybdenum(II) complexes supported with 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (bpp) ligands
Coordination of the redox non-innocent and proto-responsive 2,6-bis(pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (bpp) ligand to Mo(0) precursors in the presence of silver acetate produces hepta-coordinated Mo(II) complexes in moderate to good yields.
Water-soluble platinum and palladium porphyrins with peripheral ethyl phosphonic acid substituents: synthesis, aggregation in solution, and photocatalytic properties
A new family of water-soluble photosensitizers featuring ethyl phosphonate groups on the tetrapyrrolic macrocycle was studied. Two sterically bulky phosphonate substituents significantly reduce the solution aggregation of tetraanionic porphyrins.
Application of a simple copper(II) complex compound as an epinephrine selective voltammetric sensor in the presence of uric acid under aqueous conditions
A new monometallic copper(II) complex forms a self-assembled monolayer on gold electrode surface, becoming an electrochemical sensor which detects epinephrine alone and in the presence of interferents under aqueous conditions.
Paper
Electron transfer kinetics of a series of copper complexes with tripodal tetradentate guanidine quinolinyl ligands
New copper(I) and copper(II) complexes with tripodal tetradentate guanidine quinolinyl ligands and their electron transfer kinetics are presented.
Paper
Supramolecular bidentate rhodium(I) or iridium(I) phosphine and oxazoline amino acid bioconjugates as selective catalysts for enantioselective reactions
Supramolecular Rh(I) and Ir(I) catalysts were applied in enantioselective hydrogenation and hydroformylation. The presence of a heteroleptic rhodium precatalytic complex with bioconjugate ligands, SupraPHOX, has been confirmed spectroscopically.
Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-based bridged BODIPY dimers: synthesis, electrochemistry, and one- and two-photon photophysical properties
Four BODIPY dyes (6a–6d) with electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups at the meso-position were synthesized by the Sonogashira coupling reaction of 2,5-diethynylthieno[3,2-b]thiophene with mono-iodo-BODIPY moieties.
Paper
Controlled and sequential single-electron reduction of the uranyl dication
Single-electron reductions of the uranyl(VI) dication to uranyl(V) and to uranium(IV) in a flexible tripodal pyrrole-imine ligand form heterometallic transition metal- and rare-earth-uranyl complexes.
Paper
Synthesis of low-molecular weight and branched polyethylenes via ethylene polymerization using 9-(arylimino)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrocyclohepta-pyridylnickel precatalysts
Cycloalkyl-fused pyridine-based nickel complexes efficiently polymerize ethylene; the strong hydrogen bonding and agostic interactions were observed in facilitating better spatial orientation to form low Mw and branched PE waxes.
Paper
Taming 2,2′-biimidazole ligands in trivalent chromium complexes
Moving from homoleptic [Cr(biimidazole)3]3+ toward heteroleptic [Cr(phen)2(biimidazole)]3+ restores solubility, stability and pH-dependent near infrared phosphorescence at the molecular level.
Paper
Novel ligands from direct benzylic functionalisation of tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine
A novel synthetic protocol allows the direct functionalisation of tris-(2-pyridylmethyl)amines (TPA or TPMA) in the benzylic position.
Small molecular donor materials based on β–β-bridged BODIPY dimers with a triphenylamine or carbazole unit for efficient organic solar cells
Design and synthesis of two BODIPY dimer-based small molecules functionalized with triphenylamine (TPA, ZMH-1) and carbazole (CZ, ZMH-2) units as the electron donor. Ternary OSCs based on ZMH-1 and ZMH-2 reach PCEs of 13.7% and 12.7%, respectively.
Synthesis of Ru(II) and Os(II) photosensitizers bearing one 9,10-diamino-1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene scaffold
Eight Ru(II) and Os(II) photosensitizers bearing a common 9,10-disubstituted-1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene backbone are spectroscopically characterized and the most promising candidates were investigated for guanosine-5′-monophosphate oxidation.
Paper
Precursor molecules for 1,2-diamidobenzene containing cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes – synthesis and magnetic properties
Precursor molecules are presented that are essential building blocks for generating metal–organic architectures based magnetic materials.
About this collection
This themed collection, guest edited by Gabriel Canard (Aix-Marseille University, France) and Olivier Siri (Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, France), highlights the role of nitrogen ligands in a wide diversity of areas, namely in coordination chemistry, metal-organic chemistry, inorganic and bioinorganic chemistry, biologically active compounds, materials, catalysis (both homogeneous and heterogeneous), metal-mediated synthesis, non-covalent interactions and supramolecular assemblies, C-H bond activation and functionalization, and electrochemistry.