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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. 

The synthesis of meso-aryl 1,14-dimethoxytripyrrin and tripyrrin-1,14-dione allows isolation of palladium(II) complexes presenting aliphatic C–H bond activation reactivity and multiple ligand-based redox processes. 

Biopyrrin pigments, which result from the degradation of heme in biological settings, feature three or two pyrrole rings and characteristic pyrrolin-2-one termini. These scaffolds serve as redox-active ligands and electron reservoirs in coordination compounds. Tripyrrin-1,14-dione coordinates divalent transition metals as a dianionic ligand hosting a delocalized radical. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of palladium(II) and platinum(II) tripyrrindione complexes featuring a primary amine (i.e., aniline, tert-butylamine, 1,2-ethylenediamine) at the fourth coordination site within square planar geometries. Interligand hydrogen-bonding interactions are observed between the coordinated amine and the carbonyl groups on the tripyrrindione scaffold. Notably, 1,2-ethylenediamine is employed to link two Pt(II) tripyrrindione complexes. As revealed by optical absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, all resulting complexes present ligand-based radicals that are stable at room temperature and when exposed to air. Spin pairing through multicenter interactions leads to [Formula: see text]-dimerization of the tripyrrindione radicals and a decrease in the EPR signal at low temperatures. Electrochemical measurements indicate that the ligand system undergoes quasi-reversible one-electron oxidation and reduction, thus confirming the ability of tripyrrindione to form square planar complexes in three different redox states.