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[(DPEPhos)(bcp)Cu]PF6: A General and Broadly Applicable Copper-Based Photoredox Catalyst
Published on: May 21, 2019
Monopicolinate cyclen and cyclam derivatives for stable copper(II) complexation
Luís M P Lima1, David Esteban-Gómez, Rita Delgado
1Université de Bretagne Occidentale, UMR-CNRS 6521, UFR des Sciences et Techniques, 6 avenue Victor le Gorgeu, C.S. 93837, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France.
The cyclam-based ligand HL2 forms highly stable copper(II) complexes with fast complexation, excellent kinetic inertness, and strong thermodynamic and electrochemical stability, making it an attractive copper(II) receptor.
Area of Science:
- Coordination Chemistry
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Macrocyclic Ligand Design
Background:
- Development of selective macrocyclic ligands for metal ion complexation is crucial in various chemical applications.
- 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) and 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) derivatives are widely studied for their coordination properties.
- Understanding the stability and reactivity of copper(II) complexes with novel ligands is essential for potential applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize new cyclen and cyclam derivatives with picolinate pendant arms (HL1 and HL2).
- To investigate the acid-base properties and coordination chemistry of HL1 and HL2, particularly with Cu(2+).
- To evaluate the thermodynamic stability, kinetic inertness, and electrochemical behavior of the resulting copper(II) complexes.
Main Methods:
- Selective protection strategies were employed for the synthesis of cyclen-bisaminal and phosphoryl cyclam derivatives.
- Potentiometric titrations were used to determine stability constants of Cu(2+) complexes.
- Single crystal X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and cyclic voltammetry were utilized for structural and electrochemical analysis.
Main Results:
- Both HL1 and HL2 ligands form thermodynamically stable and selective complexes with Cu(2+) over Zn(2+).
- The cyclam-based ligand HL2 forms a copper(II) complex ([CuL2](+)) exhibiting significantly higher kinetic inertness in acidic media compared to the cyclen analogue ([CuL1](+)).
- Crystallographic and spectroscopic data confirmed the coordination geometry, and electrochemical studies indicated good stability of the complexes upon Cu(2+) reduction.
Conclusions:
- The synthesized macrocyclic ligands HL1 and HL2 effectively complex Cu(2+), with protonation occurring on the picolinate carboxylate group.
- The cyclam-based ligand HL2 is identified as a superior receptor for Cu(2+), demonstrating rapid complexation, exceptional kinetic inertness, and robust thermodynamic and electrochemical stability.
- These findings highlight the potential of HL2 as a highly stable and selective copper(II) chelator for various applications.
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Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...

