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A new linear hexaphosphine, rac-cis,cis,trans-bis{[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphinomethyl]phenylphosphino}methane (P6), was synthesized and isolated as a pure isomer, confirmed by transforming to the corresponding phosphine sulfide. The methylene-bridged linear hexaphosphine readily organized flexible gold(I) and silver(I) hexanuclear chains, [M6(μ-P6)2]X6 (X6 = (OTf)6, M = Au (1), Ag (2); X6 = Cl2(PF6)4, M = Au (3)). The hexaphosphine also supported a tetrasilver(I) complex [Ag4(μ-P6)2](OTf)4 (4), which was readily transformed by treatment with AgOTf into 3, revealing a drastic alternation of the two P6 arrangement. The hexagold(I) chains exhibited a considerably red-shifted absorption (∼410 nm) and emission (540-580 nm) to (1) [5dσ*→6pσ] and from (3) [5dσ*→6pσ] excited states of the metal centers, respectively. The new linear hexaphosphine could be a useful tool to construct linear metal clusters as subnano building blocks., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Reaction of [Pd2(XylNC)6]X2 (X = PF6, BF4) with a linear tetraphosphine, meso-bis[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphino]methane (dpmppm), afforded binuclear Pd(I) complexes, [Pd2(μ-dpmppm)2]X2 ([2]X2), through an asymmetric dipalladium complex, [Pd2(μ-dpmppm)(XylNC)3](2+) ([1](2+)). Complex [2](2+) readily reacted with [Pd(0)(dba)2] (2 equiv) and an excess of isocyanide, RNC (R = 2,6-xylyl (Xyl), tert-butyl ((t)Bu)), to generate an equilibrium mixture of [Pd4(μ-dpmppm)2(RNC)2](2+) ([3'](2+)) + RNC ⇄ [Pd4(μ-dpmppm)2(RNC)3](2+) ([3](2+)), from which [Pd4(μ-dpmppm)2(XylNC)3](2+) ([3a](2+)) and [Pd4(μ-dpmppm)2((t)BuNC)2](2+) ([3b'](2+)) were isolated. Variable-temperature UV-vis and (31)P{(1)H} and (1)H NMR spectroscopic studies on the equilibrium mixtures demonstrated that the tetrapalladium complexes are quite fluxional in the solution state: the symmetric Pd4 complex [3b'](2+) predominantly existed at higher temperatures (>0 °C), and the equilibrium shifted to the asymmetric Pd4 complex [3b](2+) at a low temperature (∼-30 °C). The binding constants were determined by UV-vis titration at 20 °C and revealed that XylNC is of higher affinity to the Pd4 core than (t)BuNC. In addition, both isocyanides exhibited higher affinity to the electron deficient [Pd4(μ-dpmppmF2)2(RNC)2](2+) ([3F'](2+)) than to [Pd4(μ-dpmppm)2(RNC)2](2+) ([3'](2+)) (dpmppmF2 = meso-bis[{di(3,5-difluorophenyl)phosphinomethyl}phenylphosphino]methane). When [2]X2 was treated with [Pd(0)(dba)2] (2 equiv) in the absence of RNC in acetonitrile, linearly ordered octapalladium chains, [Pd8(μ-dpmppm)4(CH3CN)2]X4 ([4]X4: X = PF6, BF4), were generated through a coupling of two {Pd4(μ-dpmppm)2}(2+) fragments. Complex [2](2+) was also proven to be a good precursor for Pd2M2 mixed-metal complexes, yielding [Pd2Cl(Cp*MCl) (Cp*MCl2)(μ-dpmppm)2](2+) (M = Rh ([5](2+)), Ir ([6](2+)), and [Au2Pd2Cl2(dpmppm-H)2](2+) ([7](2+)) by treatment with [Cp*MCl2]2 and [AuCl(PPh3)], respectively. Complex [7](2+) contains an unprecedented PC(sp(3))P pincer ligand with a PCPCPCP backbone, dpmppm-H of deprotonated dpmppm. The present results demonstrated that the binuclear Pd(I) complex [2](2+) was a quite useful starting material to extend the palladium chains and to construct Pd-involved heteromultinuclear systems.

Reactions of meso-bis[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphino]methane (dpmppm) with Cu(I) species in the presence of NaBH4 afforded di- and tetranuclear copper hydride complexes, [Cu2(μ-H)(μ-dpmppm)2]X (1) and [Cu4(μ-H)2(μ4-H)(μ-dpmppm)2]X (2) (X=BF4, PF6). Complex 1 undergoes facile insertion of CO2 (1 atm) at room temperature, leading to a formate-bridged dicopper complex [Cu2(μ-HCOO)(dpmppm)2]X (3). The experimental and DFT theoretical studies clearly demonstrate that CO2 insertion into the Cu2(μ-H) unit occurred with the flexible dicopper platform. Complex 2 also undergoes CO2 insertion to give a formate-bridged complex, [Cu4(μ-HCOO)3(dpmppm)2]X, during which the square Cu4 framework opened up to a linear tetranuclear chain., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A linearly ordered tetraphosphine containing electron-withdrawing substituent groups on the outer phosphorus atoms, meso-bis[{di(3,5-difluorophenyl)phosphinomethyl}phenylphosphino]methane (dpmppmF2), was prepared and reacted with [Pd2(RNC)6](PF6)2 and Pd(dba)2 to afford tetranuclear palladium complexes, [Pd4(μ-dpmppmF2)2(RNC)3](PF6)2 (R = 2,6-xylyl (Xyl) (1), 2,4,6-mesityl (2), 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (3) and tert-butyl (4)), which involve an asymmetric {(RNC)Pd4(CNR)2}(2+) core supported by two dpmppmF2 ligands in anti-arrangement. Each terminal of the Pd4 chain was capped by terminal isocyanide and a semi-bridging RNC is introduced into one terminal Pd site. Mechanistic investigation suggested that the dipalladium(I) complex, [Pd2(μ-dpmppmF2)2(RNC)2](PF6)2 (R = Xyl (6)), was a key intermediate to trap Pd(0) species by the uncoordinated outer phosphine pendants with electron-withdrawing groups. Variable-temperature UV-vis and (31)P{(1)H}, (1)H NMR spectroscopic studies demonstrated that the tetrapalladium complexes are quite fluxional in the solution state at high temperature (>20 °C) relating to a symmetric structure of [Pd4(μ-dpmppmF2)2(RNC)2](PF6)2, and the asymmetric solid state structures are retained even in the solution at low temperature (<-60 °C). Theoretical calculations with DFT methods on the asymmetric (R = Xyl (1)) and symmetric (R = Xyl (1')) structures suggested that contribution of Pd(0)→Pd(I)-Pd(0)-Pd(I) with 60 cluster valence electrons (CVEs) would be dominant in 1, while the symmetric structure of 1' can be recognized as Pd(I)-Pd(0)-Pd(0)-Pd(I) with 58 CVEs. The new tetraphosphine dpmppmF2 was proven very effective in organizing dynamically flexible tetrapalladium chains.

Thermoelectrics is a challenging issue for modern and future energy conversion and recovery technology. Carbon nanotubes are promising active thermoelectic materials owing to their narrow bandgap energy and high charge carrier mobility, and they can be integrated into flexible thermoelectrics that can recover any waste heat. We here report air-stable n-type single walled carbon nanotubes with a variety of weak electron donors in the range of HOMO level between ca. -4.4 eV and ca. -5.6 eV, in which partial uphill electron injection from the dopant to the conduction band of single walled carbon nanotubes is dominant. We display flexible films of the doped single walled carbon nanotubes possessing significantly large thermoelectric effect, which is applicable to flexible ambient thermoelectric modules.

Reactions of M(OAc)2·4H2O (M = Ni, Co) with 3-[benzyl(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-1-propanol (H2L) in the presence of pyridine or triethylamine afforded novel homometallic icosanuclear wheel-shaped complexes [M20L4(HL)4(OAc)28] (M = Ni (1), Co (2)), which consist of a central M(II)12 single-stranded, nearly planar loop with four peripheral [M2(HL)(OAc)2] fragments attached in an S4 symmetrical fashion. The complexes can alternatively be recognized as saddle-shaped wheel structures, in which four tetranuclear units of [M4L(HL)(OAc)7](2-) are connected by four M(2+) ions (M5). The tetranuclear unit itself can be derived from an ideal C2 symmetrical [M4(HL)2(μ-η(2)-OAc)4(μ-η(1),η(1)-OAc)2(η(1),η(1)-OAc)](-) structure through deprotonation of the HL(-) ligand, and is composed of two plane-shared M3O4 incomplete cubanes in which the M2 and M3 atoms are involved in the central fused plane and the M1 and M4 atoms are disposed at the apex sites. Mixed-metal icosanuclear complexes [NixM20-xL4(HL)4(OAc)28] (3, M = Co, x = 9.5) and [Ni12M8L4(HL)4(OAc)28] (4, M = Cu) were also synthesized by using equimolar amounts of Ni(II) and M(II) ions, and were shown to have similar structures to 1 and 2. X-ray crystallographic and fluorescent analyses revealed that complex 3 contains nonstoichiometric amounts of Ni(2+) and Co(2+) ions in the ratio of 9.5:10.5 and that these are disordered at every metal site. In striking contrast, complex 4 has a stoichiometric formula of Ni12Cu8, which was confirmed by the Jahn-Teller elongation of Cu(2+) ions, and consequently, the M2 and M5 positions are occupied exclusively by the Cu(2+) ions. The temperature-dependent direct current (dc) magnetic susceptibility data showed the presence of ferromagnetic exchange interactions in the Ni homometallic (1) and NiCu bimetallic (4) complexes, while the Co homometallic (2) and NiCo bimetallic (3) complexes exhibited antiferromagnetic interactions due to spin-orbit coupling effects of the octahedral Co(II) ions. The present results demonstrate that the unsymmetrical aminoalcohol ligand H2L is quite effective in organizing the homo- and heterometallic icosanuclear wheel-shaped metal arrangements.

A complex with a planar hexagonal Pd(4)Ge(3) core, [Pd{Pd(dmpe)}(3)(μ(3)-GePh(2))(3)], was synthesized and characterized by X-ray and NMR measurements as well as by DFT calculations. 4-tert-Butylbenzenethiol converted the Pd(4) complex into a hexapalladium complex, [{Pd(3)(μ-GePh(2))(2)(μ-H)(μ(3)-GePh(2)(SC(6)H(4)(t)Bu-4))}(2)(μ-dmpe)], composed of two Pd(3)Ge(3) units bridged by a dmpe ligand. The addition of CuI or AgI to the Pd(4) complex yielded [Pd(μ-MI){Pd(dmpe)}(3)(μ(3)-GePh(2))(3) ] (M = Cu, Ag), in which Cu or Ag bridges a Pd-Pd bond of the Pd(4)Ge(3) core. The CuI adducts in solution undergo a pivot motion of the CuI on the surface of the Pd(4)Ge(3) plane on the NMR time scale.

Linearly ordered tetraphosphine, meso-bis[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphino]methane (dpmppm), readily reacted with 4 equiv. of CuX in dichloromethane to afford octanuclear copper(I) complexes, [Cu(8)(mu-X)(8)(mu-dpmppm)(2)] (X = Cl (1a), Br (1b), I (1c)), which involve a ladder-type {Cu(8)(mu-X)(2)(mu(3)-X)(6)} core supported by two dpmppm ligands in anti arrangement. Complex 1a was further transformed by treatment with Cu(OTf)(2) into [Cu(8)(mu-X)(6)(OTf)(2)(mu-dpmppm)(2)] (2) in which two TfO anions attached to both end of the Cu(8) ladder. When complexes 1 were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (dmso) in the presence of 2 equiv. of dpmppm, the octacopper(I) ladder was unzipped to result in the linear tetranuclear copper(I) complex, [Cu(4)X(mu-X)(3)(mu-dpmppm)(2)(dmso)] (X = Cl (3a), Br (3b), I (3c)). Similar treatment of dpmppm with 2 equiv. of CuX in the presence of coordinative solvents, N,N'-dimethylformamide (dmf) and pyridine (py), yielded the symmetrical tetracopper(I) complexes, [Cu(4)(mu-Cl)(3)(mu-dpmppm)(2)(dmf)(2)][CuCl(2)] (4) and [Cu(4)(mu-I)(3)(mu-dpmppm)(2)(py)(2)]I (5). A series of tetracopper(I) complexes with terminal isocyanide ligands, [Cu(4)(mu-X)(3)(mu-dpmppm)(2)(RNC)(2)]PF(6) (X = Cl, R = Xyl (6a); X = Br, R = Mes (7b); X = I, R = Xyl (8a), Mes (8b), (t)Bu (8c)), were obtained from reactions of dpmppm with 2 equiv. of CuX in dmf or acetonitrile followed by addition of an excess of RNC and NH(4)PF(6). Complexes 3-8 possess a bending Cu(4)(mu-X)(3) chain supported by two dpmppm ligands in syn arrangement, where the terminal sites are reactive and accommodate a variety of terminal ligands. When complex 8c was treated with AgPF(6) in a CH(3)CN-CH(2)Cl(2) mixed solvent, the soft Lewis acidic Ag(I) ions took the copper(I)-binding dpmppm off and the resultant two {Cu(4)(mu-I)(3)(mu-dpmppm)((t)BuNC)(2)}(+) fragments were zipped up to form the ladder-type octacopper(I) complex, [Cu(8)(mu-I)(6)(mu-dpmppm)(2)((t)BuNC)(2)](PF(6))(2) (9). The apparent interconversion between the Cu(8) ladder and the Cu(4) chain might proceed through a labile intermediate with a {Cu(4)(mu-X)(3)(mu-dpmppm)}(+) unit, which could be useful synthon of further extended copper(I) halide clusters.

High-valent Ru(VII)O(4)(-) (perruthenate) is a short-lived species in aqueous solutions (pH 1-14) and has scarcely been studied through electrochemistry. By a potential-controlled oxidative deposition method at 1 V vs Ag/AgCl using RuCl(3) in a pH 2 KCl-HCl buffer solution, chemically modified glassy carbon (GCE) and indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes were successfully prepared with a film of hydrous nano ruthenium oxides RuO(2) and RuO(3), stabilizing the high-valent perruthenate anion (Ru(VII)-RuO(x)-CME, x = 2 and 3, CME = chemically modified electrode). The electrodes showed three distinct redox peaks corresponding to Ru(2)O(3)/RuO(2), RuO(2)/RuO(3), and RuO(4)(2-)/RuO(4)(-) redox processes at pH 2, like the classical RuO(2) electrodes in alkaline conditions. Solid state UV-visible spectra of the ITO/Ru(VII)-RuO(x)-CME showed characteristic absorption very close to chemically generated authentic RuO(4)(-) species in alkaline solution. Further, redox-controlled sequential procedures yielded polynuclear ruthenium oxide-hexacyanometallate films (RuO-MCN-CME, M = Fe and Ru), in which Ru(VII)-RuO(x)-CME acted as a specific template. A controlled-potential activation (>1 V) of Ru(VII)-RuO(x)-CME, stabilizing the key RuO(4)(-) species, in a solution of [Fe(CN)(6)](3-) or [Ru(CN)(6)](4-), should be a critical step for the formation of polynuclear RuO-MCN matrix.

Elastic pentacopper molecular chains, [Cu5(panapy)4X2] (X=Cl (), Br ()) and [Cu5(panapy)4]X'2 (X'=BF4 (), PF6 ()), were prepared using a naphthyridine-modulated N6-donor ligand, panapy2-, and showed magnetically coupled, dynamic rearrangement of five Cu(II) ions switched by the presence/absence of halide termination.

A flexible building block: Flexible tetragold(I) chain complexes supported by a new single methylene-bridged tetraphosphine ligand were synthesized and further transformed into discrete linear octagold(I) {Au(8)} and cyclic hexagold(I) {Au(6)} structures by reaction with KI and NaAuCl(4), respectively (see picture, Au purple, Cl dark green, PF(6) light green, I pink). The tetragold complexes are also luminescent at room temperature.

Nanostructured molecular film containing the (micro-hydroxo)bis(micro-carboxylato) diruthenium(III) units, [RuIII2(micro-OH)(micro-CH3COO)2(HBpz3)2]+ ({RuIII2(micro-OH)}), was prepared by an in situ conversion of its micro-oxo precursor, [RuIII2(micro-O)(micro-CH3COO)2(HBpz3)2] ({RuIII2(micro-O)}), in a Nafion membrane matrix, where HBpz3 is hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate. The conversion procedure results in fine nanoparticle aggregates of the {RuIII2(micro-OH)} units in the Nafion membrane (Nf-{RuIII2(micro-OH)}), where an average particle size (4.1 +/- 2.3 nm) is close to the Nafion's cluster dimension of approximately 4 nm. Chemically modified electrodes by using the Nafion molecular membrane films (Nf-{RuIII2(micro-OH)}-MMFEs) were further developed on ITO/glass and glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surfaces, and a selective reduction of nitrosonium ion (NO+), presumably through reaction of a {RuIIRuIII(micro-OH)} mixed-valence state with HNO2, was demonstrated without interference by molecular oxygen in an acidic aqueous solution. The Nf-{RuIII2(micro-OH)}-MMFEs are stable even in a physiological condition (pH 7), where the naked {RuIII2(-OH)} complex is readily transformed into its deprotonated {RuIII2(micro-O)} form, demonstrating an unusual stabilizing effects for the {RuIII2(micro-OH)} unit by the Nafion cluster environment.

Tetranuclear copper(II) complexes containing alpha-D-glucose-1-phosphate (alpha-D-Glc-1P), [Cu4(mu-OH){mu-(alpha-D-Glc-1P)}2(bpy)4(H2O)2]X3 [X = NO3 (1a), Cl (1b), Br (1c)], and [Cu4(mu-OH){mu-(alpha-D-Glc-1P)}2(phen)4(H2O)2](NO3)3 (2) were prepared by reacting the copper(II) salt with Na2[alpha-D-Glc-1P] in the presence of diimine ancillary ligands, and the structure of 2 was characterized by X-ray crystallography to comprise four {Cu(phen)}2+ fragments connected by the two sugar phosphate dianions in 1,3-O,O' and 1,1-O mu4-bridging fashion as well as a mu-hydroxo anion. The crystal structure of 2 involves two chemically independent complex cations in which the C2 enantiomeric structure for the trapezoidal tetracopper(II) framework is switched according to the orientation of the alpha-D-glucopyranosyl moieties. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data of 1a indicated that antiferromagnetic spin coupling is operative between the two metal ions joined by the hydroxo bridge (J = -52 cm(-1)) while antiferromagnetic interaction through the Cu-O-Cu sugar phosphate bridges is weak (J = -13 cm(-1)). Complex 1a readily reacted with carboxylic acids to afford the tetranuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu4{mu-(alpha-D-Glc-1P)}2(mu-CA)2(bpy)4](NO3)2 [CA = CH3COO (3), o-C6H4(COO)(COOH) (4)]. Reactions with m-phenylenediacetic acid [m-C6H4(CH2COOH)2] also gave the discrete tetracopper(II) cationic complex [Cu4{mu-(alpha-D-Glc-1P)}2(mu-m-C6H4(CH2COO)(CH2COOH))2(bpy)4](NO3)2 (5a) as well as the cluster polymer formulated as {[Cu4{mu-(alpha-D-Glc-1P)}2(mu-m-C6H4(CH2COO)2)(bpy)4](NO3)2}n (5b). The tetracopper structure of 1a is converted into a symmetrical rectangular core in complexes 3, 4, and 5b, where the hydroxo bridge is dissociated and, instead, two carboxylate anions bridge another pair of Cu(II) ions in a 1,1-O monodentate fashion. The similar reactions were applied to incorporate sugar acids onto the tetranuclear copper(II) centers. Reactions of 1a with delta-D-gluconolactone, D-glucuronic acid, or D-glucaric acid in dimethylformamide resulted in the formation of discrete tetracopper complexes with sugar acids, [Cu4{mu-(alpha-D-Glc-1P)}2(mu-SA)2(bpy)4](NO3)2 [SA = D-gluconate (6), D-glucuronate (7), D-glucarateH (8a)]. The structures of 6 and 7 were determined by X-ray crystallography to be almost identical with that of 3 with additional chelating coordination of the C-2 hydroxyl group of D-gluconate moieties (6) or the C-5 cyclic O atom of D-glucuronate units (7). Those with D-glucaric acid and D-lactobionic acid afforded chiral one-dimensional polymers, {[Cu4{mu-(alpha-D-Glc-1P)}2(mu-D-glucarate)(bpy)4](NO3)2}n (8b) and {[Cu4{mu-(alpha-D-Glc-1P)}2(mu-D-lactobionate)(bpy)4(H2O)2](NO3)3}n (9), respectively, in which the D-Glc-1P-bridged tetracopper(II) units are connected by sugar acid moieties through the C-1 and C-6 carboxylate O atoms in 8b and the C-1 carboxylate and C-6 alkoxy O atoms of the gluconate chain in 9. When complex 7 containing d-glucuronate moieties was heated in water, the mononuclear copper(II) complex with 2-dihydroxy malonate, [Cu(mu-O2CC(OH)2CO2)(bpy)] (10), and the dicopper(II) complex with oxalate, [Cu2(mu-C2O4)(bpy)2(H2O)2](NO3)2 (11), were obtained as a result of oxidative degradation of the carbohydrates through C-C bond cleavage reactions.

Reactions of CuX2.nH2O with the biscarboxylate ligand XDK (H2XDK = m-xylenediamine bis(Kemp's triacid imide)) in the presence of N-donor auxiliary ligands yielded a series of dicopper(II) complexes, [Cu2(mu-OH)(XDK)(L)2]X (L = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (tetmen), X = NO3 (1a), Cl (1b); L = N,N,N'-trimethylethylenediamine (tmen), X = NO3 (2a), Cl (2b); L =2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), X = NO3 (3); L = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), X = NO3 (4); L = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Me2bpy), X = NO3 (5); L = 4-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Mephen), X = NO3 (6)). Complexes 1-6 were characterized by X-ray crystallography (Cu...Cu = 3.1624(6)-3.2910(4) A), and the electrochemical and magnetic properties were also examined. Complexes 3 and 4 readily reacted with diphenyl phosphoric acid (HDPP) or bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphoric acid (HBNPP) to give [Cu2(mu-phosphate)(XDK)(L)2]NO3 (L = bpy, phosphate = DPP (11); L = phen, phosphate = DPP (12), BNPP (13)), where the phsophate diester bridges the two copper ions in a mu-1,3-O,O' bidentate fashion (Cu...Cu = 4.268(3)-4.315(1) A). Complexes 4 and 6 with phen and Mephen have proven to be good precursors to accommodate a series of sugar monophosphate esters (Sugar-P) onto the biscarboxylate-bridged dicopper centers, yielding [Cu2(mu-Sugar-P)(XDK)(L)2] (Sugar-P = alpha-D-Glc-1-P (23a and b), D-Glc-6-P (24a and b), D-Man-6-P (25a), D-Fru-6-P (26a and b); L = phen (a), Mephen (b)) and [Cu2(mu-Gly-n-P)(XDK)(Mephen)2] (Gly-n-P = glycerol n-phosphate; n = 2 (21), 3 (22)), where Glc, Man, and Fru are glucose, mannose, and fructose, respectively. The structure of [Cu2(mu-MNPP)(XDK)(phen)2(CH3OH)] (20) was characterized as a reference compound (H2MNPP = 4-nitrophenyl phosphoric acid). Complexes 4 and 6 also reacted with d-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (D-Fru-1,6-P2) to afford the tetranuclear copper(II) complexes formulated as [Cu4(mu-D-Fru-1,6-P2)(XDK)2(L)4] (L = phen (27a), Mephen (27b)). The detailed structure of 27a was determined by X-ray crystallography to involve two different tetranuclear complexes with alpha- and beta-anomers of D-Fru-1,6-P2, [Cu4(mu-alpha-D-Fru-1,6-P2)(XDK)2(phen)4] and [Cu4(mu-beta-D-Fru-1,6-P2)(XDK)2(phen)4], in which the D-Fru-1,6-P2 tetravalent anion bridges the two [Cu2(XDK)(phen)2]2+ units through the C1 and C6 phosphate groups in a mu-1,3-O,O' bidentate fashion (Cu...Cu = 4.042(2)-4.100(2) A). Notably, the structure with alpha-D-Fru-1,6-P2 demonstrated the presence of a strong hydrogen bond between the C2 hydroxyl group and the C1 phosphate oxygen atom, which may support the previously proposed catalytic mechanism in the active site of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.

A new sugar-derived Schiff's base ligand N-(3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-4,6-O-ethylidene-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (H3L1) has been developed which afforded the coordinatively labile, alcoholophilic trinuclear Cu(II) complex [Cu3(L1)2(CH3OH)(H2O)] (1). Complex 1 has been further used in the synthesis of a series of alcohol-bound complexes with a common formula of [Cu3(L1)2(ROH)2] (R = Me (2), Et (3), nPr (4), nBu (5), nOct (6)). X-ray structural analyses of complexes 2-6 revealed the collinearity of trinuclear copper(II) centers with Cu-Cu-Cu angles in the range of 166-172 degrees . The terminal and central coppers are bound with NO3 and O4 atoms, respectively, and exhibit square-planar geometry. The trinuclear structures of 2-6 can be viewed as the two {Cu(L1)}- fragments capture a copper(II) ion in the central position, which is further stabilized by a hydrogen-bonding interaction between the alcohol ligands and the sugar C-3 alkoxo group. Complex 2 exhibits a strong antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) ions (J = -238 cm(-1)). Diffusion of methanol into a solution of complex 1 in a chloroform/THF mixed solvent afforded the linear trinuclear complex [Cu(3)(L1)2(CH3OH)2(THF)2] (7). The basic structure of 7 is identical to complex 2; however, THF binding about the terminal coppers (Cu-O(THF) = 2.394(7) and 2.466(7) A) has introduced the square-pyramidal geometry, indicating that the planar trinuclear complexes 2-6 are coordinatively unsaturated and the terminal metal sites are responsible for further ligations. In the venture of proton-transfer reactions, a successful proton transfer onto the saccharide C-3 alkoxo group has been achieved using 4,6-O-ethylidene-d-glucopyranose, resulting in the self-assembled tetranuclear complex, [Cu4(HL1)4] (8), consisting of the mononuclear Cu(II) chiral building blocks, {Cu(HL1)}.

Treatment of a glycosylamine derived Cu(II) complex with ethylamine resulted in crystal-to-crystal transformation from trinuclear complex [Cu3(L1)2(EtNH2)2(MeOH)2]x2MeOHxCHCl3 (2x2MeOHxCHCl3) to a dimeric structure of mononuclear complex [Cu(HL1)(EtNH2)] (3) through proton transfer reaction and rearrangement of hydrogen bonding networks.

A novel neutral trinuclear Cu(II) complex of a Schiff base ligand derived from D-glucose has been synthesised and structurally characterised, which exhibits excellent alcohol binding affinity and activates the C-Cl bond of chloroform in the presence of primary amine.