Two new Ru-aqua complexes containing a phosphonated trpy ligand with the general formula [Ru(trpy-P)(B)(H2O)](2+) (trpy-P is diethyl [2,2': 6',2 ''-terpyridin]-4'-ylphosphonate (1); B = bpm (5a) is 2,2'-bipyrimidine; (or) B = azpy (cis- and trans-5b) is 2-phenylazopyridine) are reported. These complexes and their synthetic intermediates have been characterized by the usual analytic techniques and by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. X-ray structures of the cis and trans Ru-Cl complexes that are synthetic intermediates to the corresponding Ru-aqua complexes have also been obtained. The phosphonated complexes 4a and trans-4b have been anchored onto MNPs of Fe3O4 (6.2 +/- 2 nm), via covalent bonds to generate 6a and trans-6b, respectively. These new materials have been characterized by UV-vis, IR, TEM and CV. The Ru-aqua complexes were generated in situ by dissolving the Ru-Cl complexes in water. The Ru-aqua complexes 5a and trans-5b are excellent catalysts for the epoxidation of olefins and are stereoselective for cis-alkenes such as cis-beta-methylstyrene and cis-stilbene. Remarkably, the analog supported onto MNPs, 7a, displays practically the same behavior as its homogeneous counterpart. Multiple recycling experiments for the epoxidation of cis-beta-methylstyrene involving magnetic decantation of the catalyst were carried out with 7a without significant loss of activity.

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

A family of new ruthenium complexes containing a combination of polypyridyl and carbene ligands has been prepared and characterized from structural, spectroscopic, and redox viewpoints both experimentally and computationally. Interestingly, a correlation between E1/2, defined as the difference between E1/2(RuIV/III) and E1/2(RuIII/II), and the activity and selectivity of some catalytic oxidation processes has been clearly established. A density functional theory study on the synthesized species has been carried out revealing a correlation between the number of carbene ligands and E1/2, and consequently with the RuIII disproportionation. The reactivity of these complexes has been tested with regard to the electrocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol.

The synthesis of new dinuclear complexes of the general formula {[Ru(II)(trpy)]2(μ-pdz-dc)(μ-(L)}(+) [pdz-dc is the pyridazine-3,6-dicarboxylate dianion; trpy is 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine; L = Cl (1(+)) or OH (2(+))] is described. These complexes are characterized by the usual analytical and spectroscopic techniques and by X-ray diffraction analysis. Their redox properties are characterized by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Complex 2(+) is used as the starting material to prepare the corresponding Ru-aqua complex {[Ru(II)(trpy)(H2O)]2(μ-pdz-dc)}(2+) (3(2+)), whose electrochemistry is also investigated by means of CV and DPV. Complex 3(2+) is able to catalytically and electrocatalytically oxidize water to dioxygen with moderate efficiencies. In sharp contrast, 3(2+) is a superb catalyst for the epoxidation of alkenes. For the particular case of cis-β-methylstyrene, the catalyst is capable of carrying out 1320 turnovers with a turnover frequency of 11.0 cycles min(-1), generating cis-β-methylstyrene oxide stereospecifically.

A new chiral derivative of the N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine (bpea) ligand, Me-pinene[5,6]bpea [(-)-L1], has been prepared from a new aldehyde building block [Me-pinene-aldehyde, (-)-4] arising from the monoterpene chiral pool. The tridentate (-)-L1 ligand has been employed to prepare a new set of Ru-Cl complexes in combination with didentate 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) with the general formula [RuCl((-)-L1)(bpy)](+). These complexes have been characterized in solution by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Isomeric mixtures of trans,fac-C1a and anti,mer-C1c compounds are formed when (-)-L1 is reacted with a [Ru(bpy)(MeOH)Cl3] precursor. Density functional theory calculations of all of the potential isomers of this reaction have been performed in order to interpret the experimental results in terms of electronic and steric effects and also to unravel the observed isomerization pathway between anti,mer-C1c and trans,fac-C1a.

New mononuclear ruthenium complexes with general formula [Ru(bid)(B)(Cl)] (bid is (1Z,3Z)-1,3-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)isoindolin-2-ide; B = bidentate ligand 2,2'-bipyridine or R(2)-bpy, where R = COOEt or OMe) were synthesized and tested as precatalysts for the hydrogenative reduction of CO(2) in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) as solvent with added NEt(3). Significant amounts of formic acid were produced by these catalysts and a kinetic analysis based on initial rate constants was carried out. The potential mechanisms including intermediate species for these catalytic systems were investigated by means of quantum chemical calculations to gain deeper insight into the processes. The effect of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups on catalyst performance was studied both experimentally and theoretically.

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

A series of mononuclear and dinuclear chiral manganese(II) complexes containing the neutral bidentate chiral nitrogen ligand (-)-pinene[5,6]bipyridine, (-)-L, were prepared from different manganese salts. The chirality in these complexes arises from the pinene ring that has been fused to the 5,6 positions of one pyridine group of the bipyridine ligand. These complexes have been characterized through analytical, spectroscopic (IR, UV/Vis, ESI-MS) and electrochemical techniques (cyclic voltammetry). Single X-ray structure analysis revealed a five-coordinated Mn(II) ion in [{MnCl((-)-L)}2(mu-Cl)2] (2), [{Mn((-)-L)}2(mu-OAc)3](PF6) (3) and [MnCl2(H2O)((-)-L)] (4) and a six-coordinated one in [MnCl2((-)-L)2] (5), [Mn(CF3SO3)2((-)-L)2] (6) and [Mn(NO3)(H2O)((-)-L)2)](NO3) (7). The magnetic properties of the binuclear compounds 2 and 3 have been studied. Both compounds show a weak antiferromagnetic coupling (2, J = -0.22 cm(-1); 3, J = -0.85 cm(-1)). The catalytic activity of the whole set of complexes has been tested with regard to the epoxidation of aromatic alkenes with peracetic acid. In the particular case of styrene, good selectivities and moderate enantioselectivities were obtained. Furthermore, total retention of the initial cis configuration was achieved when epoxidizing cis-beta-methylstyrene with the chloride complexes. In general, the epoxidation activity of these manganese complexes is strongly dependent on the steric encumbrance of the substrates employed.