skip to main content

Attention:

The NSF Public Access Repository (PAR) system and access will be unavailable from 11:00 PM ET on Thursday, January 16 until 2:00 AM ET on Friday, January 17 due to maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience.


This content will become publicly available on September 16, 2025

Title: Gold Tripyrrindione: Redox Chemistry and Reactivity with Dichloromethane
The identification of ligands that stabilize Au(III) centers has led to the isolation of complexes for applications in catalysis, gold-based therapeutics, and functional materials. Herein, we report the coordination of gold by tripyrrin-1,14-dione, a linear tripyrrole with the scaffold of naturally occurring metabolites of porphyrin-based protein cofactors (e.g., heme). Tripyrrindione H3TD2 binds Au(III) as a trianionic tridentate ligand to form square planar complex [Au(TD2)(H2O)], which features an adventitious aqua ligand. Two reversible ligand-based oxidations of this complex allow access to the other known redox states of the tripyrrindione framework. Conversely, (spectro)electrochemical measurements and DFT analysis indicate that the reduction of the complex is likely metal-based. The chemical reduction of [Au(TD2)(H2O)] leads to a reactive species that utilizes dichloromethane in the formation of a cyclometalated organo-Au(III) complex. Both the aqua and the organometallic Au(III) complexes were characterized in the solid state by microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) methods, which were critical for the analysis of the microcrystalline sample of the organo-gold species. Overall, this study illustrates the synthesis of Au(III) tripyrrindione as well as its redox profile and reactivity leading to gold alkylation chemistry.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2203361 1942084
PAR ID:
10553293
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
ACS Publications
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Inorganic Chemistry
Volume:
63
Issue:
37
ISSN:
0020-1669
Page Range / eLocation ID:
17188 to 17197
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. The tripyrrin-1,14-dione biopyrrin, which shares the scaffold of several naturally occurring heme metabolites, is a redox-active platform for metal coordination. We report the synthesis of square planar platinum( ii ) tripyrrindiones, in which the biopyrrin binds as a tridentate radical and the fourth coordination position is occupied by either aqua or tert -butyl isocyanide ligands. These complexes are stable through chromatographic purification and exposure to air. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data and density functional theory (DFT) analysis confirm that the spin density is located predominantly on the tripyrrindione ligand. Pancake bonding in solution between the Pt( ii ) tripyrrindione radicals leads to the formation of diamagnetic π dimers at low temperatures. The identity of the monodentate ligand ( i.e. , aqua vs . isocyanide) affects both the thermodynamic parameters of dimerization and the tripyrrindione-based redox processes in these complexes. Isolation and structural characterization of the oxidized complexes revealed stacking of the diamagnetic tripyrrindiones in the solid state as well as a metallophilic Pt( ii )−Pt( ii ) contact in the case of the aqua complex. Overall, the properties of Pt( ii ) tripyrrindiones, including redox potentials and intermolecular interactions in solution and in the solid state, are modulated through easily accessible changes in the redox state of the biopyrrin ligand or the nature of the monodentate ligand. 
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    Our efforts in the chemistry of gold complexes featuring ambiphilic phosphine‐carbenium L/Z‐type ligand have led us to consider the reduction of the carbenium moiety as a means to modulate the gold–carbenium interaction present in these complexes. Here, it was shown that the one‐electron reduction of [(o‐Ph2P(C6H4)Acr)AuCl]+(Acr=9‐N‐methylacridinium) produces a neutral stable radical, the structure of which showed a marked increase in the Au–Acr distance. Related structural changes were observed for the phosphine oxide analogue [(o‐Ph2P(O)(C6H4)Acr]+, the reduction of which interfered with the P=O→carbenium interaction. These structural effects, driven by a reduction‐induced change in the electronic and electrostatic characteristics of the compounds, showed that the charge and accepting properties of the carbenium unit can be modulated. These results highlight the redox‐noninnocence of carbenium Z‐type ligand, a feature that can be exploited to induce specific conformational changes.

     
    more » « less
  3. [Cp*Rh] complexes (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) supported by bidentate chelating ligands are a useful class of compounds for studies of redox chemistry and catalysis. Here, we show that the bis(2-pyridyl)methane ligand, also known as dipyridylmethane or dpma, can support [Cp*Rh] complexes in the formally + iii and + ii rhodium oxidation states. Specifically, two new rhodium complexes ([Cp*Rh(dpma)(L)] n+ , L = Cl − , CH 3 CN) have been isolated and structurally characterized, and the properties of the complexes have been compared with those of [Cp*Rh] complexes bearing the related dimethyldipyridylmethane (Me 2 dpma) ligand. Complex [Cp*Rh(dpma)(NCCH 3 )] 2+ displays a quasireversible rhodium( iii / ii ) reduction by cyclic voltammetry; related electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic studies confirm access to the unusual rhodium( ii ) oxidation state. Further reduction to the formally rhodium( i ) oxidation state, however, is followed by deprotonation of dpma, as observed in electrochemical studies and chemical reduction experiments. This reactivity can be understood to occur as a consequence of the presence of doubly benzylic protons in the dpma ligand, since use of the analogous Me 2 dpma enables reduction to rhodium( i ) without involvement of ligand deprotonation. These findings highlight the important role of the ligand backbone substitution pattern in influencing the stability of highly-reduced complexes, a key class of metal species for study of electron and proton management in catalysis. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    In this research article, we describe the synthesis and characterization of mononuclear and dinuclear Cu complexes bound by a family of tridentate redox‐active ligands with tunable H‐bonding donors. The mononuclear Cu‐anion complexes were oxidized to the corresponding “high‐valent” intermediates by oxidation of the redox‐active ligand. These species were capable of oxidizing phenols with weak O−H bonds via H‐atom abstraction. Thermodynamic analysis of the H‐atom abstractions, which included reduction potential measurements, pKadetermination and kinetic studies, revealed that modification of the anion coordinated to the Cu and changes in the H‐bonding donor did not lead to major differences in the reactivity of the “high‐valent” CuY complexes (Y: hydroxide, phenolate and acetate), which indicated that the tridentate ligand scaffold acts as the H+and eacceptor.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Reaction of (P)AuOTf [P=P(t‐Bu)2o‐biphenyl] with indenyl‐ or 3‐methylindenyl lithium led to isolation of gold η1‐indenyl complexes (P)Au(η1‐inden‐1‐yl) (1 a) and (P)Au(η1‐3‐methylinden‐1‐yl) (1 b), respectively, in >65 % yield. Whereas complex1 bis static, complex1 aundergoes facile, degenerate 1,3‐migration of gold about the indenyl ligand (ΔG153K=9.1±1.1 kcal/mol). Treatment of complexes1 aand1 bwith (P)AuNTf2led to formation of the corresponding cationic bis(gold) indenyl complexestrans‐[(P)Au]211‐inden‐1,3‐yl) (2 a) andtrans‐[(P)Au]212‐3‐methylinden‐1‐yl) (2 b), respectively, which were characterized spectroscopically and modeled computationally. Despite the absence of aurophilic stabilization in complexes2 aand2 b, the binding affinity of mono(gold) complex1 atoward exogenous (P)Au+exceed that of free indene by ~350‐fold and similarly the binding affinity of1 btoward exogenous (P)Au+exceed that of 3‐methylindene by ~50‐fold. The energy barrier for protodeauration of bis(gold) indenyl complex2 awith HOAc was ≥8 kcal/mol higher than for protodeauration of mono(gold) complex1 a.

     
    more » « less