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Research has been conducted on the trinuclear copper-pyrazolato complexes. The synthesis, X-ray structure determination and characterization of these complexes have been carried out and their chemical interconversions and magnetic susceptibility have been investigated and are discussed.

Research has been conducted on the cobalt(II) urease complex prepared from the cobalt model hydrolase. The results of the facile reaction between this complex and acetohydroxamic acid which produces the monobridged hydroxamate complex are discussed.

Parent dinickel complexes afford two acetohydroxamate-bridged dinuclear nickel complexes, (Ni2(OAc)2(AA)(urea)(tmen)2)(OTf) and (Ni2(OAc)(AA)2(tmen)2)(OAc), with one and two hydroxamate bridges, respectively. This occurs with the replacement of bridging acetate groups and water molecules by hydroxamate, possibly by the bridging acetate undergoing carboxylate shifts. (Ni2(OAc)2(AA)(urea)(tmen)2)(OTf) provides a model of a proposed method of urease inhibition recently seen in a variant of Klebsiella aerogenes urease.

Dinucleating ligands containing pyridine and phenol are prepared and thin complexes with Fe(II) are examined. These complexes model the active sites of purple acid phosphatase. Magnetic susceptibilities of these compounds are also examined.

The synthesis and crystal structure studies of three new trinuclear complexes [[Ni.sub.3][([mu]-O(Ac.sub.F]).sub.4][([mu]-AA).sub.2][(tmen).sub.2]], [[Ni.sub.3][([mu]-O[Ac.sub.F]).sub.4][([mu]-BA).sub.2][(tmen).sub.2]], and [[Co.sub.3][([mu]-O[Ac.sub.F]).sub.4][([mu]-BA).sub.2][(tmen).sub.2]] (where O[Ac.sub.F] = C[F.sub.3]COO(-), AA = acetohydoxamate anion, BA= benzohydroxamate anion tmen = N,N,N'N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) are presented. The metal ions in each structure have distorted octahedral coordination and are triply bridged by one hydroxamate and two trifluoroacetate bridges and nickel trimers exhibiter weak ferromagnetic properties wit AA group and no coupling with BA while the cobalt complexes are antiferromagnetic.

The magnetic and magnetic circular dichroism investigations of a binuclear Co(II) compound are reported. The Hamiltonian of the system involves an isotropic exchange interaction dealing with the real spins of cobalt(II) ions, spin-orbit coupling, and a low-symmetry crystal field acting within the (super 4)T(sub 1g) ground manifold of each cobalt ion.

The new tritopic triaminoguanidine-based ligand 1,2,3-tris[(pyridine-2-ylmethylidene)amino]guanidine (H 2 pytag) was synthesized. The reaction of a mixture of cobalt(II) chloride and cobalt(II) perchlorate with the ligand H 2 pytag in pyridine solution leads to the formation of the trinuclear cobalt(II) complex [Co 3 (pytag)(py) 6 Cl 3 ]ClO 4 . Three octahedrally coordinated high-spin cobalt(II) ions are linked through the bridging triaminoguanidine backbone of the ligand leading to an almost equilateral triangular arrangement. The magnetic properties of the complex were investigated by magnetic measurements, variable-temperature, variable-field magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy, and density functional theory as well as ab initio calculations. A rather strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the cobalt(II) centers of ca. -12 cm -1 is determined together with a strong local anisotropy. The single-ion anisotropy of all three cobalt(II) centers is found to be easy-plane, which coincides with the tritopic ligand plane. MCD measurements and theoretical investigations demonstrate the presence of rhombic distortion of the local Co surrounding.

Reaction of Co(NCS)2 with 4-ethylpyridine leads to the formation of three new compounds of composition Co(NCS)2(4-ethylpyridine)4 (1), [(Co(NCS)2]2(4-ethylpyridine)6 (2), and [Co(NCS)2(4-ethylpyridine)2]n (3). In all compounds the coordination of the Co(II) ions is distorted octahedral. 1 consists of discrete monomeric complexes and in 2 two Co(II) cations are linked by pairs of μ-1,3-bridging thiocyanato ligands into dimers. In the crystal structure of 3 the Co(II) cations are connected into chains by the same bridge as in 2. Magnetic studies show that 1 and 2 are paramagnets down to a temperature of 2 K, while compound 3, which is the main object of this study, is an antiferromagnet with the Néel temperature T(N) = 3.4 K. Its magnetic structure is built from ferromagnetic chains, which are weakly antiferromagnetically coupled. With increasing magnetic field a metamagnetic transition starts at ~175 Oe, as observed for a polycrystalline sample. Magnetic relaxations, which were observed in the antiferromagnetic state, are retained at the metamagnetic transition. With decreasing field 3 remains in a state, in which except of the faster magnetic relaxation process in single chains also a slower process coexists resulting in the appearance of a magnetic hysteresis loop.

Reaction of iron(II) thiocyanate with an excess of trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)-ethylene (bpe) in acetonitrile at room temperature leads to the formation of [Fe(NCS)(2)(bpe)(2)·(bpe)] (1), which is isotypic to its Co(II) analogue. Using slightly different reaction conditions the literature known compound [Fe(NCS)(2)(bpe)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (2) was obtained as a phase pure material. Simultaneous differential thermoanalysis and thermogravimetry prove that the hydrate 2 transforms into the anhydrate [Fe(NCS)(2)(bpe)(2)] (3), that decomposes on further heating into the new ligand-deficient 1:1 compound of composition [Fe(NCS)(2)(bpe)](n) (4), which can also be obtained directly by thermal decomposition of 1. Further investigations reveal that 4 can also be prepared under solvothermal conditions, and single crystal structure analysis shows that the iron(II) cations are linked via μ-1,3 bridging thiocyanato anions into chains, that are further connected into layers by the bpe ligands. Magnetic measurements, performed on powder samples, prove that 1 and 2 show only Curie-Weiss behavior, whereas in 4 antiferromagnetic ordering with a Néel temperature of 5.0 K is observed. At T < 4.0 K a two-step metamagnetic transition occurs at applied magnetic fields of 1300 and 1775 Oe. The magnetic properties are discussed and compared with those of related compounds.

Presented herein is the design of a dinuclear Ni(II) synthetic hydrolase [Ni(2)(HBPPAMFF)(μ-OAc)(2)(H(2)O)]BPh(4) (1) (H(2)BPPAMFF = 2-[(N-benzyl-N-2-pyridylmethylamine)]-4-methyl-6-[N-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl)])-4-methyl-6-formylphenol) to be covalently attached to silica surfaces, while maintaining its catalytic activity. An aldehyde-containing ligand (H(2)BPPAMFF) provides a reactive functional group that can serve as a cross-linking group to bind the complex to an organoalkoxysilane and later to the silica surfaces or directly to amino-modified surfaces. The dinuclear Ni(II) complex covalently attached to the silica surfaces was fully characterized by different techniques. The catalytic turnover number (k(cat)) of the immobilized Ni(II)Ni(II) catalyst in the hydrolysis of 2,4-bis(dinitrophenyl)phosphate is comparable to the homogeneous reaction; however, the catalyst interaction with the support enhanced the substrate to complex association constant, and consequently, the catalytic efficiency (E = k(cat)/K(M)) and the supported catalyst can be reused for subsequent diester hydrolysis reactions.

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization, through elemental analysis, electronic spectroscopy, electrochemistry, potentiometric titration, electron paramagnetic resonance, and magnetochemistry, of two dinuclear copper(II) complexes, using the unsymmetrical ligands N',N',N-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (L1) and N',N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol (L2). The structures of the complexes [Cu(2)(L1)(μ-OAc)](ClO(4))(2)·(CH(3))(2)CHOH (1) and [Cu(2)(L2)(μ-OAc)](ClO(4))·H(2)O·(CH(3))(2)CHOH (2) were determined by X-ray crystallography. The complex [Cu(2)(L3)(μ-OAc)](2+) [3; L3 = N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N',N',N-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3-propanediamin-2-ol] was included in this study for comparison purposes only (Neves et al. Inorg. Chim. Acta2005, 358, 1807-1822). Magnetic data show that the Cu(II) centers in 1 and 2 are antiferromagnetically coupled and that the difference in the exchange coupling J found for these complexes (J = -4.3 cm(-1) for 1 and J = -40.0 cm(-1) for 2) is a function of the Cu-O-Cu bridging angle. In addition, 1 and 2 were tested as catalysts in the oxidation of the model substrate 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and can be considered as functional models for catechol oxidase. Because these complexes possess labile sites in their structures and in solution they have a potential nucleophile constituted by a terminal Cu(II)-bound hydroxo group, their activity toward hydrolysis of the model substrate 2,4-bis(dinitrophenyl)phosphate and DNA was also investigated. Double electrophilic activation of the phosphodiester by monodentate coordination to the Cu(II) center that contains the phenol group with tert-butyl substituents and hydrogen bonding of the protonated phenol with the phosphate O atom are proposed to increase the hydrolase activity (K(ass.) and k(cat.)) of 1 and 2 in comparison with that found for complex 3. In fact, complexes 1 and 2 show both oxidoreductase and hydrolase/nuclease activities and can thus be regarded as man-made models for studying catalytic promiscuity.

The design and development of suitable biomimetic catalytic systems capable of mimicking the functional properties of enzymes continues to be a challenge for bioinorganic chemists. In this study, we report on the synthesis, X-ray structures, and physicochemical characterization of the novel isostructural [Fe(III)Co(II)(BPBPMP)(mu-OAc)(2)]ClO(4) (1) and [Ga(III)Co(II)(BPBPMP)(mu-OAc)(2)]ClO(4) (2) complexes with the unsymmetrical dinucleating ligand H(2)BPBPMP (2-bis[{(2-pyridyl-methyl)-aminomethyl}-6-{(2-hydroxy-benzyl)-(2-pyridyl-methyl)}-aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol). The previously reported complex [Fe(III)Zn(II)(BPBPMP)(mu-OAc)(2)]ClO(4) (3) was investigated here by electron paramagnetic resonance for comparison with such studies on 1 and 2. A magneto-structural correlation between the exchange parameter J (cm(-1)) and the average bond lengh d (A) of the [Fe(III)-O-M(II)] structural unit for 1 and for related isostructural Fe(III)M(II) complexes using the correlation J = -10(7) exp(-6.8d) reveals that this parameter is the major factor that determines the degree of antiferromagnetic coupling in the series [(BPBPMP)Fe(III)(mu-OAc)(2)M(II)](+) (M(II) = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) of complexes. Potentiometric and spectrophotometric titrations along with electronic absorption studies show that, in aqueous solution, complexes 1 and 2 generate the [(HO)M(III)(mu-OH)Co(II)(H(2)O)] complex as the catalytically active species in diester hydrolysis reactions. Kinetic studies on the hydrolysis of the model substrate bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate by 1 and 2 show Michaelis-Menten behavior, with 2 being 35% more active than 1. In combination with k(H)/k(D) isotope effects, the kinetic studies suggest a mechanism in which a terminal M(III)-bound hydroxide is the hydrolysis-initiating nucleophilic catalyst. In addition, the complexes show maximum catalytic activity in DNA hydrolysis near physiological pH. The modest reactivity difference between 1 and 2 is consistent with the slightly increased nucleophilic character of the Ga(III)-OH terminal group in comparison to Fe(III)-OH in the dinuclear M(III)Co(II) species.

As metal ions are present in the catalytic sites of several enzymes, attention has been focused on the synthesis and characterization of metal complexes able to act as biomimetic functional and structural models for these systems. In this study, a novel dinuclear NiII complex was synthesized, [Ni2(L2)(OAc)2(CH3CN)]BPh4 (2) (HL2=2-[N-(2-(pyridyl-2-yl)ethyl)(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)amin omethyl]-4-methyl-6-[N-(2-(imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)amino methyl]phenol), employing a new unsymmetrical dinucleating ligand containing N,O-donor groups as a model for hydrolases. Complex 2 was characterized by a variety of techniques including: elemental analysis, infrared and UV-vis spectroscopies, molar conductivity, electrochemistry, potentiometric titration, magnetochemistry, and single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The structural and magnetochemical data of 2 allow us to consider this complex as a structural model for the active site of the ureases, as previously reported for [Ni2(L1)(OAc)2(H2O)]ClO4.H2O (1) (HL1=2-[N-bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methyl-6-[N-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl] phenol). The characterization of complexes 1 and 2 (mainly by X-ray diffraction and potentiometric titration) led us to study their reactivities toward the hydrolysis of the substrate bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate (2,4-BDNPP). These studies revealed that complexes 1 and 2 show the best catalytic activity reported so far, with acceleration rates 8.8x10(4) and 9.95x10(5) times faster, respectively, than the uncatalyzed hydrolysis of 2,4-BDNPP. Catalytic activity of 2 on 2,4-DNPP showed that the monoester is hydrolyzed 27 times slower than the 2,4-BDNPP diester under identical experimental conditions. Therefore, 1 and 2 can undoubtedly be considered highly efficient functional models of the phosphohydrolases.

The Schiff condensation of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde N-oxide with 2-aminophenol gave a tridentate ligand, abbreviated as Hpoxap. This ligand bears the functionality of a terminating group in a trinuclear complex [Mn(poxap)Mn(ac)4Mn(poxap)], where ac- is the acetate bridge. The magnetic data were treated simultaneously during the fitting procedure with the spin Hamiltonian containing isotropic exchange, the zero-field splitting parameters, and the molecular-field correction and resulted in JMn-Mn/hc = -4.73 cm-1, gMn(t) = 1.96, DMn(t)/hc = -0.45 cm-1, and zj/hc = +0.45 cm-1 with ground state S = 5/2, where t = terminal atom. At low temperature, the features of a ferromagnetic correlation become evident.

The trimer [Co3(mu-OOCCF3)4(mu-H2O)2(OOCCF3)2(H2O)2(C4H8O2)].2C4H8O2. (1) is composed of three tetragonally distorted Co(II) centers bridged by four trifluoroacetates and two bridging water molecules. 1,4-Dioxane is coordinated at a distance of 2.120(3) A from the terminal cobalt Co2; the remaining oxygen of this 1,4-dioxane links the terminal cobalt to a neighbor trimer, forming a one-dimensional chain. The crystal structure displays a network of hydrogen bonds between four noncoordinated 1,4-dioxane molecules and the coordinated terminal water molecules. The magnetic properties of 1 were analyzed with the use of the Hamiltonian including isotropic exchange interactions between real spins of a high-spin Co(II), spin-orbit coupling and a low-symmetry crystal field acting within the (4)T(1g) ground manifold of each cobalt ion. A weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between cobalt ions in 1 was found. The results of the magnetic model are in good agreement with the experimental observations.

Triethylenetetramine (L(4)) was used as a tetradentate blocking ligand that, after complexation with Ni(II), leaves two sites ready for ligation with tricyanomethanide. The formed binuclear complex [L(4)Ni(NCC(CN)CN)(2)NiL(4)](ClO(4))(2) exhibits a ferromagnetic coupling with J/hc = +0.15 cm(-1) and g(Ni) = 2.126; below 16 K, a ferromagnetic ordering is evidenced by ac magnetic susceptibility (both in-phase and out-of-phase), magnetization, field-cooled magnetization, and zero-field-cooled magnetization measurements.

The nine-membered [-Cu(II)-N-N-](3) ring of trimeric copper-pyrazolato complexes provides a sturdy framework on which water is twice deprotonated in consecutive steps, forming mu(3)-OH and mu(3)-O species. In the presence of excess chlorides the mu(3)-O(H) ligand is replaced by two mu(3)-Cl ions. The interconversion of mu(3)-OH and mu(3)-O and the exchange of mu(3)-O(H) and mu(3)-Cl are reversible, and the three species involved have been structurally characterized: [PPN][Cu(3)(mu(3)-OH)(mu-pz)(3)Cl(3)(thf)].CH(2)Cl(2) (1a), monoclinic P2(1)/n, a = 10.055(2) A, b = 35.428(5) A, c = 15.153(2) A, beta = 93.802(3) degrees, V = 5386(1) A(3), Z = 4; [Bu(4)N][Cu(3)(mu(3)-OH)(mu-pz)(3)Cl(3)] (1b), triclinic P-1, a = 9.135(2) A, b = 13.631(2) A, c = 14.510(2) A, alpha = 67.393(2) degrees, beta = 87.979(2) degrees, gamma = 80.268(3) degrees, V = 1643.2(4) A(3), Z = 2; [PPN](2)[Cu(3)(mu(3)-O)(mu-pz)(3)Cl(3)] (2), monoclinic P2/c, a = 12.807(2) A, b = 13.093(2) A, c = 23.139(4) A, beta = 105.391(3) degrees, V = 3741(1) A(3), Z = 2; [PPN](2)[Cu(3)(mu(3)-Cl)(2)(mu-pz)(3)Cl(3)].0.75H(2)O.0.5CH(2)Cl(2) (3a), triclinic P-1, a = 14.042(2) A, b = 23.978(4) A, c = 25.195(4) A, alpha = 76.796(3) degrees, beta = 79.506(3) degrees, gamma = 77.629(3) degrees, V = 7988(2) A(3), Z = 4; [Bu(4)N](2)[Cu(3)(mu(3)-Cl)(2)(mu-pz)(3)Cl(3)] (3b), monoclinic C2/c, a = 17.220(2) A, b = 15.606(2) A, c = 20.133(2) A, beta = 103.057(2) degrees, V = 5270(1) A(3), Z = 4; [Et(3)NH][Cu(3)(mu(3)-OH)(mu-pz)(3)Cl(3)(pzH)] (4), triclinic P-1, a = 11.498(2) A, b = 11.499(2) A, c = 12.186(2) A, alpha = 66.475(3) degrees, beta = 64.279(3) degrees, gamma = 80.183(3) degrees, V = 1331.0(5) A(3), Z = 2. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the three copper centers of 2 are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled with J(Cu-Cu) = -500 cm(-1).

The catecholase activity of a series of dicopper(II) complexes containing different numbers of phenol groups coordinated to the metal centers was studied to identify functional as well as structural models for the type III copper enzymes tyrosinase and catechol oxidase. The syntheses and characterization of complexes [Cu(2)(H(2)bbppnol)(mu-OAc)(H(2)O)(2)]Cl(2).2H(2)O (1) and [Cu(2)(Hbtppnol)(mu-OAc)](ClO(4))(2) (2) were previously reported by us (Inorg. Chim. Acta 1998, 281, 111-115; Inorg. Chem. Commun. 1999, 2, 334-337), and complex [Cu(2)(P1-O(-))(OAc(-))](ClO(4))(2) (3) was previously reported by Karlin et al. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 2156-2162). The catalytic activity of the complexes 1-3 on the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol was determined spectrophotometrically by monitoring the increase of the 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone characteristic absorption band at about 400 nm over time in methanol saturated with O(2)/aqueous buffer pH 8 solutions at 25 degrees C. The complexes were able to oxidize 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to the corresponding o-quinone with distinct catalytic activity. A kinetic treatment of the data based on the Michaelis-Mentèn approach was applied. The [Cu(2)(H(2)bbppnol)(mu-OAc)(H(2)O)(2)]Cl(2) small middle dot2H(2)O complex showed the highest catalytic activity of the three complexes as a result of a high turnover rate (k(cat) = 28 h(-1)) combined with a moderate substrate-catalyst binding constant (K(ass) = 1.3 x 10(3) M(-1)). A mechanism for the oxidation reaction is proposed, and reactivity differences, k(cat)/K(M) of the complexes, were found to be dependent on (DeltaE)(1,2), the difference in the driving force for the reduction reactions Cu(II)(2)/Cu(II)Cu(I) and Cu(II)Cu(I)/Cu(I)(2).

A binuclear tetraprotonated macrocyclic complex [Mg(2)(L(2)-H(4))(NO(3))(2)](NO(3))(2).6H(2)O (1) has been obtained by template condensation of 4-methyl-2,6-diformylphenol and 1,2-diaminoethane in the presence of magnesium acetate and nitrate. Complex 1 on reduction with NaBH(4), followed by the removal of magnesium, yields the 36-membered octaaminotetraphenol macrocyclic ligand H(4)L(1). The replacement of magnesium in 1 with copper(II) leads to the formation of the binuclear complex [Cu(2)L(3)(ClO(4))(2)] (2) derived from the [2+2] cyclization product of 4-methyl-2,6-diformylphenol and 1,2-diaminoethane. From H(4)L(1) a series of tetranuclear nickel(II) complexes 5-8 with the core cation [Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-X)(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)](2+) (X = NCS, N(3), OAc, or Cl) have been synthesized and characterized. The trinuclear complex [Ni(3)L(1)(acac)(2)(H(2)O)(2).2H(2)O (9), obtained by reacting nickel(II) acetylacetonate with H(4)L(1), on treatment with nickel(II) perchlorate produces the tetranuclear compound [Ni(4)L(1)(acac)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](ClO(4))(2) (10). Variable-temperature (4-300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements have been carried out for the tetracopper(II) complex [Cu(4)L(1)(H(2)O)(4)](ClO(4))(4) (3) and the tetranickel(II) complexes [Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(3)-OH)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)(ClO(4))](ClO(4))(2).2CH(3)COCH(3).H(2)O (4), [Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-NCS)(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2).2CH(3)CN (5), [Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-N(3))(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2).2CH(3)OH (6), [Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-OAc)(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2).2H(2)O (7), and [Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-Cl)(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)]Cl(2).4H(2)O (8). The X-ray structure of 5 has been determined. The complex (C(50)H(70)N(12)O(14)Cl(2)S(2)Ni(4)) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr; with a = 11.794(6) Å, b = 12.523(4) Å, c = 12.794(5) Å, alpha = 117.28(5) degrees, beta = 96.38(4) degrees, gamma = 109.65(3) degrees, and Z = 1. In the asymmetric unit each of the nickel(II) centers with distorted octahedral geometry is triply-bridged by a phenoxide group, a water molecule, and a N-bonded thiocyanate and these metal centers are further bridged to their symmetry-related counterparts by another phenoxide group. The experimental susceptibility data have been analyzed using appropriate Heisenberg spin coupling models (H = -2J(ij)()S(i)().S(j)()) and the best-fit spin exchange parameters obtained are as follows: J = -288(3) cm(-)(1) (3); J(1) = -8.1(2) cm(-)(1), J(2) = -10.2(2) cm(-)(1) (4); J(1) = -34.5(1.0) cm(-)(1), J(2) = -9.5(2.0) cm(-)(1) (5); J(1) = -34(1) cm(-)(1), J(2) = 11(2) cm(-)(1) (6); J(1) = -30(1) cm(-)(1), J(2) = -7.0(1.5) cm(-)(1) (7); J(1) = -32(1) cm(-)(1), J(2) = -4(1) cm(-)(1) (8).

Syntheses and properties of low-valent clusters [X{Co(&mgr;-CO)(PMe(3))(2)}(3)], X = none (1), H (2), and H(3) (3), are reported. All solids are isostructural as explicitly shown by single-crystal structure data. The molecular structures of C(21)H(54)Co(3)O(3)P(6) (1) and C(21)H(57)Co(3)O(3)P(6) (3) contain central Co(3) units which form perfect equilateral triangles with Co-Co distances of 2.4055(5) and 2.432(1) Å, respectively. Both compounds crystallize in trigonal space group R&thremacr;c, with Z = 6: 1, a = 10.678(1) Å, c = 52.298(11) Å; 3, a = 10.679(2) Å, c = 52.729(12) Å. Compounds 1 and 2 form a continuous range of solid solutions. Powder samples exhibit molecular paramagnetism of different extent: At 298 K the effective magnetic moments for 1-3 are &mgr;(eff)/&mgr;(B) = 1.9, 3.1, and 2.7, respectively. The magnetic behavior could be rationalized in terms of the Curie-Weiss law for a one electron system (1) and two electron system (2). The two electron approximation has been discussed as well for 3 above 6.2 K. A description of the scope of exchange coupling is presented for 1.

Dinuclear nickel(II) complexes of the ligands 2,6-bis[bis((2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amino)methyl]-p-cresol (bbapOH), N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane (tbpOH), N-methyl-N,N',N'-tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane (m-tbpOH) and 1-[N,N-bis(2-benzimidazolylmethyl)amino]-3-[2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethoxy]-2-hydroxypropane (bpepOH) were prepared in order to model the active site of urease. The novel asymmetric structures of the dinuclear complexes were characterized by X-ray structure analysis. The complex [Ni(2)(bbapO)(ClO(4))(H(2)O)(MeOH)](ClO(4))(2).Et(2)O, 1, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with a = 10.258(2) Å, b = 19.876(3) Å, c = 25.592(4) Å, and beta = 97.12(2) degrees. The nickel ions in 1 are bridged by the phenoxy donor of the ligand and a perchlorate anion. The complexes [Ni(2)(tbpO)(MeCOO)(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(2).H(2)O.Et(2)O, 2, [Ni(2)(m-tbpO)(PhCOO)(EtOH)(2)](ClO(4))(2).EtOH, 3, and [Ni(2)(bpepO)(MeCOO)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2).H(2)O.Et(2)O.2EtOH, 4, also crystallize in the monoclinic crystal system with the following unit cell parameters: 2, C2/c, a = 35.360(13) Å, b = 10.958(3) Å, c = 24.821(10) Å, beta = 103.55(3) degrees; 3, Cc, a = 14.663(5) Å, b = 32.630(13) Å, c = 9.839(3) Å, beta = 92.49(2) degrees; 4, C2/c, a = 27.689(13) Å, b = 12.187(5) Å, c = 31.513(14) Å, beta = 115.01(3) degrees. The dinuclear centers of all these complexes are bridged by the alkoxy donor of the ligand and a carboxylate function. Compounds 2 and 3 have one of the nickel ions in a five-coordinated, trigonal bipyramidal coordination environment and thus show a high structural similarity to the dinuclear active site of urease from Klebsiella aerogenes. Furthermore, their magnetic and spectroscopic properties were determined and related to those of the urease enzymes. Activity toward hydrolysis of test substrates (4-nitrophenyl)urea, 4-nitroacetanilide, 4-nitrophenyl phosphate or bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate by the dinuclear complexes were examined by UV spectroscopic measurements.

Two novel tridentate dinucleating ligands containing benzimidazole were prepared, 1,3-bis(2-benzimidazolyl)-2-propanol (Hbbp, 1) and 1,5-bis(2-benzimidazolyl)-3-pentanol (Hbbpen, 2). Their complexing properties toward copper were studied in order to obtain structural and functional models for catechol oxidases. Syntheses and crystal structures of dinuclear Cu(II) complexes derived from these ligands are reported. [Cu(2)bbp(2)](ClO(4))(2).2MeOH, 3, crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr; with the following unit cell parameters: a = 7.702(3) Å, b = 10.973(6) Å, c = 12.396(6) Å, alpha = 100.59(4) degrees, beta = 99.02(4) degrees, gamma = 98.90(4) degrees, V = 998.7(8) Å(3), and Z = 1. [Cu(2)bbpen(2)](ClO(4))(2).3MeOH, 4, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pccn, with the following unit cell parameters: a = 17.478(9) Å, b = 18.795(8) Å, c = 13.888(6) Å, V = 4562.2(4) Å(3), and Z = 4. Magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature ranges 4.6-459 K (3) and 4.6-425 K (4) indicate an antiferromagnetic coupling between the Cu(II) centers of both complexes. In order to determine the structures of the complexes in solution, XAS spectra (EXAFS and XANES) were recorded in the solid state and in solution. The interpretation of these data, including multiple scattering calculations, together with UV-vis titrations, shows that the complexes have the same structure in the crystalline state as well as in methanolic solution. Complex 4 is able to oxidize 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to the quinone (catecholase activity). This reaction was also studied by XAS and UV-vis spectroscopy. These measurements reveal the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) accompanied by a decrease of the coordination number.

Novel Fe(III)Fe(III) and Fe(II)Fe(III) complexes [Fe(2)(BBPMP)(&mgr;-OAc)(&mgr;-X)](n)() (1, X = OAc(-), n = 1+; 2, X = OH(-), n = 1+; 3, X = OAc(-), n = 0; 4, X = OH(-), n = 0), where BBPMP(3)(-) is the anion of 2,6-bis[(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol, and OAc(-) is acetate, were prepared in order to provide models for the active site of purple acid phosphatases (PAPs). Complex 1 was obtained by the reaction of H(3)BBPMP with Fe(ClO(4))(2).6H(2)O in methanol and sodium acetate trihydrate under ambient conditions, while complex 3 was synthesized as described for 1, under an argon atmosphere with low levels of dioxygen. 2 was isolated from 1in acetonitrile by a substitution of the bridging acetate group by hydroxide, while 4 was generated in solution during a spectropotentiostatic experiment on 2, under argon. Complex 1, [Fe(III)(2)(BBPMP)(&mgr;-OAc)(2)]ClO(4).H(2)O, has been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 14.863(5) Å, b = 12.315(3) Å, c = 20.872(8) Å, beta = 90.83(3) degrees, Z = 4. IR, Mössbauer, magnetic, electronic absorption, and electrochemical properties of 1-3 have been investigated, and some of these properties represent a contribution to the understanding of the dinuclear iron center of PAPs. Complexes 2, [Fe(III)(2)(BBPMP)(&mgr;-OAc)(&mgr;-OH)]ClO(4) (lambda(max) = 568 nm/epsilon = 4760 M(-)(1) cm(-)(1)), and 4 [Fe(II)Fe(III)(BBPMP)(&mgr;-OAc)(&mgr;-OH)] (lambda(max) = 516 nm/epsilon = 4560 M(-)(1) cm(-)(1)), constitute good synthetic analogues for the chromophoric site for the oxidized and reduced forms, respectively, of the enzyme.

A series of heterobimetallic complexes of the type [Fe(III)M(II)L(&mgr;-OAc)(OAc)(H(2)O)](ClO(4)).nH(2)O (2-5) and [{Fe(III)Co(III)L(&mgr;-OAc)(OAc)}(2)(&mgr;-O)](ClO(4))(2).3H(2)O (6) where H(2)L is a tetraaminodiphenol macrocyclic ligand and M(II) = Zn(2), Ni(3), Co(4), and Mn(5) have been synthesized and characterized. The (1)H NMR spectrum of 6 exhibits all the resonances between 1 and 12 ppm. The IR and UV-vis spectra of 2-5 indicate that in all the cases the metal ions have similar coordination environments. A disordered crystal structure determined for 3 reveals the presence of a (&mgr;-acetate)bis(&mgr;-phenoxide)-Ni(II)Fe(III) core, in which the two metal ions have 6-fold coordination geometry and each have two amino nitrogens and two phenolate oxygens as the in-plane donors; aside from the axial bridging acetate, the sixth coordination site of nickel(II) is occupied by the unidentate acetate and that of iron(III) by a water molecule. The crystal structure determination of 6 shows that the two heterobinuclear Co(III)Fe(III) units are bound by an Fe-O-Fe linkage. 6 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Ibca with a = 17.577(4) Å, b = 27.282(7) Å, c = 28.647(6) Å, and Z = 8. The two iron(III) centers in 6 are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled, J = -100 cm(-1) (H = -2JS(1).S(2)), whereas the other two S(1) = S(2) = (5)/(2) systems, viz. [Fe(2)(III)(HL)(2)(&mgr;-OH)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (1) and the Fe(III)Mn(II) complex (5), exhibit weak antiferromagnetic exchange coupling with J = -4.5 cm(-1) (1) and -1.8 cm(-1) (5). The Fe(III)Ni(II) (3) and Fe(III)Co(II) (4) systems, however, exhibit weak ferromagnetic behavior with J = 1.7 cm(-1) (3) and 4.2 cm(-1) (4). The iron(III) center in 2-5 exhibits quasi-reversible redox behavior between -0.44 and -0.48 V vs Ag/AgCl associated with reduction to iron(II). The oxidation of cobalt(II) in 4 occurs quasi-reversibly at 0.74 V, while both nickel(II) and manganese(II) in 3 and 5 undergo irreversible oxidation at 0.85 V. The electrochemical reduction of 6 leads to the generation of 4.

The synthesis of the novel asymmetric ligand 1-[bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]-3-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethoxy]-2-hydroxypropane (ppepOH) is reported. The ligand is suitable to form asymmetric dinuclear complexes with various transition metal ions. As an example, the synthesis and X-ray structure analysis of the dinickel(II) complex [Ni(2)(ppepO)(C(6)H(5)COO)(2)(CH(3)COOH)]ClO(4).C(4)H(10)O are described. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with the following unit cell parameters: a = 13.704(10) Å, b = 14.849(10) Å, c = 22.697(14) Å, beta = 96.80(5) degrees, Z = 4. The nickel(II) ions are bridged by the alkoxy donor of the ligand and two benzoate anions. The hexadentate ligand leaves a free coordination site at one of the nickel(II) ions, which is occupied by a monodentate coordinated acetic acid molecule. The coordination of the neutral acetic acid molecule is selectively stabilized by a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond of the acidic proton to the &mgr;-alkoxo bridge of the dinuclear complex. The asymmetric complex was prepared in order to mimic the substrate uptake in the dinuclear active site of ureases. The magnetic and spectroscopic properties of the complex were determined and related to those of the urease enzymes.