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Malcolm A Halcrow

Publications and source records attributed to Malcolm A Halcrow.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Homoleptic zinc(II) complexes with first and second coordination shells of 5-tert-butylpyrazole.

Reaction of hydrated Zn[NO3]2 or Zn[BF4]2 with four or more equivalents of 3{5}-tert-butylpyrazole (L(tBu)) yields [Zn(L(tBu))4]X2 (X- = NO3- or BF4-). The nitrate complex contains C2-symmetric four-coordinate zinc(II) centers with a slightly flattened tetrahedral geometry, and each nitrate anion hydrogen bonds to two pyrazole N-H groups. Similar reactions with Zn[ClO4]2 or ZnCl2 in the presence of 2 equiv of AgPF6 or AgSbF6 yield instead [{Zn(L(tBu))4}(L(tBu))4][ClO4]2 and [{Zn(L(tBu))4}(L(tBu))2]Y2 (Y- = PF6- or SbF6-). Crystals of [{Zn(L(tBu))4}(L(tBu))4][ClO4]2 are composed of discrete [{Zn(L(tBu))4}(L(tBu))4]2+ supramolecules that are formed from N-H...N hydrogen bonding between zinc-bound and uncoordinated pyrazole rings. The [{Zn(L(tBu))4}(L(tBu))4]2+ moieties are linked into planar 4(4) nets by hydrogen bonding to bridging ClO4- anions. The ClO4- ions are almost perfectly encapsulated in near-spherical cavities of approximate dimensions 5.0 x 5.0 x 4.5 A that are formed by two interlocked supramolecular dications. Similarly, [{Zn(L(tBu))4}(L(tBu))2][PF6]2 crystallizes as discrete supramolecules in the crystal with the PF6- anions occupying a shallow bowl-shaped cavity on the surface of the complex that is formed by two zinc-bound and one uncoordinated pyrazole ligands. (1)H NMR and IR studies of [{Zn(L(tBu))4}(L(tBu))4][ClO4]2 in CD2Cl2 imply that the second-sphere L(tBu) ligands dissociate from the [Zn(L(tBu))4]2+ center in this solvent and that free and metal-bound L(tBu) are in rapid chemical exchange.

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An unusual example of a linearly coordinated acetone ligand in a six-coordinate iron(II) complex.

The title compound, acetonediaqua[2,6-bis(3-tert-butylpyrazol-1-yl)pyridine]iron(II) bis(tetrafluoroborate) acetone disolvate, [Fe(C19H25N5)(C3H6O)(H2O)2](BF4)(2).2C3H6O, contains a C2-symmetric six-coordinate complex dication, with an acetone ligand in its equatorial plane that is linearly coordinated by symmetry (Fe-O=CMe2=180 degrees). This is a consequence of close steric contacts between the coordinated carbonyl group and the two distal tert-butyl substituents on the tridentate ligand.

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Photomagnetic properties of iron(II) spin crossover complexes of 2,6-dipyrazolylpyridine and 2,6-dipyrazolylpyrazine ligands.

The photomagnetic properties of the following iron(II) complexes have been investigated: [Fe(L1)2][BF4]2, [Fe(L2)2][BF4]2, [Fe(L2)2][ClO4]2, [Fe(L3)2][BF4]2, [Fe(L3)2][ClO4]2 and [Fe(L4)2][ClO4]2 (L1 = 2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}pyridine; L2 = 2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}pyrazine; L3 = 2,6-di{pyrazol-1-yl}-4-{hydroxymethyl}pyridine; and L4 = 2,6-di{4-methylpyrazol-1-yl}pyridine). Compounds display a complete thermal spin transition centred between 200-300 K, and undergo the light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect at low temperatures. The T(LIESST) relaxation temperature of the photoinduced high-spin state for each compound has been determined. The presence of sigmoidal kinetics in the HS --> LS relaxation process, and the observation of LITH hysteresis loops under constant irradiation, demonstrate the cooperative nature of the spin transitions undergone by these materials. All the compounds in this study follow a previously proposed linear relation between T(LIESST) and their thermal spin-transition temperatures T(1/2): T(LIESST) = T(0)- 0.3T(1/2). T(0) for these compounds is identical to that found previously for another family of iron(II) complexes of a related tridentate ligand, the first time such a comparison has been made. Crystallographic characterisation of the high- and low-spin forms, the light-induced high-spin state, and the low-spin complex [Fe(L4)2][BF4]2, are described.

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Structural diversity in iron(II) complexes of 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine and 2,6-di(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)pyridine.

The syntheses, magnetochemistry and crystallography of [Fe(L1)2]I0.5[I3]1.5 (1), [Fe(L1)2][Co(C2B9H11)2]2 (2) and [Fe(L2)2][SbF6]2 (3) (L1 = 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine; L2 = 2,6-di(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)pyridine) are described. Compounds 1 and 3 are high-spin between 5-300 K. For 1, this reflects a novel variation of an angular Jahn-Teller distortion at the iron centre, which traps the molecule in its high-spin state. No such distortion is present in 3; rather, the high-spin nature of this compound may reflect ligand conformational strain caused by an intermolecular steric contact in the crystal lattice. Compound 2 exhibits a gradual high --> low spin transition upon cooling with T(1/2) = 318 +/- 3 K, that is only 50% complete. This reflects the presence of two distinct, equally populated iron environments in the solid. One of these unique iron centres adopts the same angular structural distortion shown by 1 and so is trapped in its high-spin state, while the other, which undergoes the spin-crossover, has a more regular coordination geometry. In contrast with 3, the solvated salts [Fe(L2)2][BF4]2 x 4 CH3CN and [Fe(L2)2][ClO4]2 x (CH3)2CO both undergo gradual thermal spin-transitions centred at 175 +/- 3 K.

Cations↗

Copper(II) complexes of thioether-substituted salcyen and salcyan derivatives and their silver(I) adducts.

New syntheses are reported of 5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-3-methylsulfanylbenzaldehyde, 5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanyl-benzaldehyde, and salcyen (H(2)L(1)-H(2)L(3)) and salcyan (H(2)L(4)-H(2)L(6))-type ligands derived from these aldehydes and from 5-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The complexes [CuL](L(2-)=[L(1)](2-)-[L(6)](2-)) bearing sulfanyl substituents each show two distinct voltammetric ligand-based oxidations under the same conditions, the first of which is chemically reversible. The first oxidation product is much longer lived by coulometry for the salcyen than for the salcyan ligand complexes, despite the latter having a substantially lower oxidation potential. The lifetimes of all the ligand oxidation products in this system are substantially smaller than for similar compounds derived from 3,5-di(tert-butyl)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde (Dalton Trans., 2004, 2662). Attempted chemical oxidation of the Schiff base compounds using AgBF(4) yielded instead stable silver(i) adducts. A crystal structure of one such compound showed that the Ag atom was coordinated in a slightly bent geometry by the two ligand sulfanyl groups, with two additional long-range Ag...O interactions to the phenoxide donors. EPR spectra showed that some of these silver adducts dimerise in CH(2)Cl(2), probably through basal, apical intermolecular Cu-O...Cu bridging. In contrast the parent copper(ii) complexes are all monomeric in this solvent by EPR.

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An unusual zinc-promoted decomposition of a bis(2-{pyrid-2-yl}ethyl)amine derivative.

The complex [ZnBr(2)L(1)] (L(1) = ferrocenylmethyl-bis[2-{pyrid-2-yl}ethyl]amine) contains bidentate L(1) by crystallography and NMR spectroscopy and decomposes during recrystallization from CH(2)Cl(2)/pentane via both C-N bond cleavage and formation steps. Other [MBr(2)L(1)] (M = Co, Ni, Cu) compounds do not undergo this reaction and contain L(1) bound in the more usual tridentate coordination mode.

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2-[Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methyl]-4-tert-butyl-6-(phenylsulfanyl)phenol.

The title compound, C23H24N4OS, contains a highly asymmetric bifurcated intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxy group and two pyrazole N atoms. The compound associates into centrosymmetric dimers in the crystal through two unique C-H...pi interactions, which are in turn linked into a (6,3)-network through an additional intermolecular C-H...N hydrogen bond.

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A structural, magnetic and Mössbauer spectroscopic study of an unusual angular Jahn-Teller distortion in a series of high-spin iron(II) complexes.

Single crystal X-ray structures and susceptibility data are described for six homoleptic iron(II) complex salts, of 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine or a 3,3"-disubstituted derivative of it. Zero field Mossbauer spectroscopic data for four of the complexes, and one previously reported analogue, are also discussed. Four of these compounds exhibit an unusual angular Jahn-Teller distortion towards C(2) symmetry to differing degrees, while the other two exhibit structures close to the "ideal" D(2d) symmetry for this ligand set. This structural distortion has two components: a twisting of the plane of one ligand relative to the other about the N{pyridine}-Fe-N{pyridine} vector, so that the two ligands are no longer perpendicular; and a rotation of one ligand about the Fe ion, so that the N{pyridine}-Fe-N{pyridine} angle < 180 degrees. Susceptibility data show that all the complexes are fully high-spin between 5 and 300 K, but yield an unusually wide range of zero-field splitting parameters for the different compounds of between 2.6 and 13.4 cm(-1). Magnetostructural correlations suggest that a low value of |D| is diagnostic for a high degree of "rotation" distortion. The Mossbauer spectra imply that an increased quadrupole splitting might also be diagnostic for the presence of the angular distortion.

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Copper(II) complexes of tridentate pyridylmethylethylenediamines: role of ligand steric hindrance on DNA binding and cleavage.

Copper(II) complexes of three linear unsymmetrical tridentate ligands viz. N-methyl-N'-(pyrid-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine (L1), N,N-dimethyl-N'-(pyrid-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine (L2) and N,N-dimethyl-N'-((6-methyl)pyrid-2-ylmethyl)ethylenediamine (L3) have been isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, electronic absorption and EPR spectroscopy and cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. Of these complexes [Cu(L2)Cl2] and [Cu(L3)Cl2] have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The [Cu(L2)Cl2] complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a=11.566(2) A, b=7.369(1) A, c=15.703(3) A, alpha=90 degrees , beta=109.68(8) degrees , gamma=90 degrees and Z=4 while [Cu(L3)Cl2] crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with a=9.191(2) A, b=12.359(3) A, c=14.880(3) A, alpha=79.61(13) degrees , beta=86.64(13) degrees , gamma=87.28(8) degrees and Z=2. The coordination geometries around copper (II) in these two complexes are best described as trigonal bipyramidal distorted square based pyramidal (TBDSBP). The distorted CuN3Cl basal plane in them is comprised of three nitrogen atoms of the meridionally coordinated ligand and a chloride ion and the axial position is occupied by the other chloride ion. The interaction of these complexes with Calf Thymus DNA (CT DNA) has been studied by using absorption, emission and circular dichroic spectral methods, thermal denaturation studies, viscometry and cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. A strong blueshift in the ligand field band and a redshift in the ligand based bands of the copper(II) complexes on binding to DNA imply a covalent mode of DNA binding of the complexes, which involves coordination of most possibly guanine N7 nitrogen of DNA to form a CuN4 chromophore. This is supported by studying the interaction of the complexes with N-methylimidazole (N-meim), guanosine monophosphate (GMP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and cytidine (cytd) by ligand field and EPR spectral methods, which indicate the formation of a CuN4 chromophore only in the case of the more basic N-meim and GMP. The DNA melting curves obtained in the presence of copper(II) complexes reveal a monophasic and irreversible melting of the DNA strands and the high positive DeltaTm values (12-21 degrees C) also support the formation of strong Cu-N bonds by the complexes with DNA, leading to intra- and/or interstrand crosslinking of DNA. Competitive ethidium bromide (EthBr) binding studies show that the L2 and L3 complexes are less efficient than the L1 complex in quenching EthBr emission, which is consistent with their forming DNA crosslinking preventing the displacement of the DNA-bound EthBr. A very slight decrease in relative viscosity of DNA is observed on treating the L1 and L2 complexes with CT DNA; however, a relatively significant decrease is observed for the L3 complex suggesting that the length of the DNA fiber is shortened. DNA cleavage experiments show that all the complexes induce the cleavage of pBR322 plasmid DNA, the complex of L1 being more efficient than those of sterically hindered L2 and L3 ligands.

Animals↗

Reactions of copper(II) salts with 3[5]-tert-butylpyrazole: double-cubane complexes with bound exogenous anions, and a novel pyrazole coordination mode.

Reaction of CuX(2) (X(-)=Cl(-), Br(-), NO(3) (-)), NaOH, and 3[5]-tert-butylpyrazole (Hpz(tBu)) in a 1:1:2 molar ratio in MeOH at 293 K for three days affords [[Cu(3)(Hpz(tBu))(6)(mu(3)-X)(mu(3)-OH)(3)](2)Cu]X(6) (X(-)=Cl(-), 1; X(-)=Br(-), 2; X(-)=NO(3)(-), 3) in moderate yields. These compounds contain a centrosymmetric, vertex-sharing double-cubane [[Cu(3)(Hpz(tBu))(6)(mu(3)-X)(mu(3)-OH)(3)](2)Cu](6+) core, surrounded by a belt of six hydrogen-bonded X(-) ions. For 1 and 2, the ring of guest anions has near C(3) symmetry, that is slightly distorted owing to the axis of Jahn-Teller elongation at the central Cu ion. For 3 only, the NO(3)(-) guest ions are crystallographically disordered, reflecting their poor complimentarity with complex host. A similar reaction employing CuF(2) yields [[Cu(3)(Hpz(tBu))(4)(mu-pz(tBu))(2)(mu-F)(2)(mu(3)-F)](2)]F(2) (4), whose structure contains a cyclic hexacopper core with approximate C(2v) symmetry. Finally, an analogous reaction using Cu(NCS)(2) gives a mixture of trans-[Cu(NCS)(2)(Hpz(tBu))(2)] (5) and [Cu(2)(NCS)(2)(mu-pz(tBu))(2)(mu-Hpz(tBu))(Hpz(tBu))(2)] (6). The latter compound contains a Hpzt(Bu) ligand bridging the two Cu ions in an unusual kappa(1),mu-coordination mode. The variable temperature magnetic properties of 1-3 show antiferromagnetic behavior, leading to a S=1/2 ground state in which the seven copper(II) ions are associated into three mutually independent distinct spin systems. In confirmation of this interpretation, Q-band EPR spectra of solid 1 and 2 at 5 K also demonstrate a S= 1/2 spin system and exhibit hyperfine coupling to three (63,65)Cu nuclei. Unusually, the coupling is manifest as an eight-line splitting of the parallel feature, rather than the usual 10 lines. This has been rationalized by a spin-projection calculation, and results from the relative magnitudes of coupling to the three Cu nuclei. UV/Vis and mass spectrometric data show that 1-4 decompose to lower nuclearity species in solution.

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Tris[4-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]amine iron(II) diperchlorate monohydrate.

In the title complex, [Fe(C(18)H(24)N(10))](ClO(4))(2).H(2)O, the complex cation adopts a capped trigonal antiprismatic stereochemistry, with a long Fe-amine interaction [2.7468 (16) A]. The Fe centre in the asymmetric unit is fully high-spin at 100 K. Hydrogen bonding assembles dimeric units, which are then linked by further hydrogen bonding into chains running parallel to the crystallographic a axis.

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An X-ray powder diffraction study of the spin-crossover transition and structure of bis(2,6-dipyrazol-1-ylpyrazine)iron(II) perchlorate.

The crystal structure of the iron(II) spin-crossover compound [Fe(C(10)H(8)N(6))(2)](ClO(4))(2) in the high-spin state has been solved from powder X-ray diffraction data using the DASH program and refined using Rietveld refinement. The thermal spin transition has been monitored by following the change in unit-cell parameters with temperature. The title compound has been found to undergo a crystallographic phase change, involving a doubling of the crystallographic a axis, on undergoing the spin transition.

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Cofactor processing in galactose oxidase.

GO (galactose oxidase; E.C. 1.1.3.9) is a monomeric 68 kDa enzyme that contains a single copper ion and an amino acid-derived cofactor. The enzyme is produced by the filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum as an extracellular enzyme. The enzyme has been extensively studied by structural, spectroscopic, kinetic and mutational approaches that have provided insight into the catalytic mechanism of this radical enzyme. One of the most intriguing features of the enzyme is the post-translational generation of an organic cofactor from active-site amino acid residues. Biogenesis of this cofactor involves the autocatalytic formation of a thioether bond between Cys-228 and Tyr-272, the latter being one of the copper ligands. Formation of this active-site feature is closely linked to the loss of an N-terminal 17 amino acid prosequence. When copper and oxygen are added to this pro-form of GO (pro GO), purified in copper-free conditions from the heterologous host Aspergillus nidulans, mature GO is formed by an autocatalytic process. Structural comparison of pro GO with mature GO reveals overall structural similarity, but with some regions showing significant local differences in main-chain position. Some side chains of the active-site residues differ significantly from their positions in the mature enzyme. These structural effects of the prosequence suggest that it may act as an intramolecular chaperone to provide an open active-site structure conducive to copper binding and chemistry associated with cofactor formation. The prosequence is not mandatory for processing, as a recombinant form of GO lacking this region and purified under copper-free conditions can also be processed in an autocatalytic copper- and oxygen-dependent manner.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Di-mu-hydroxo-bis([bis[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]amine-kappa 3N]copper(II)) dichloride hexahydrate.

The title compound, [Cu(2)(OH)(2)(C(14)H(17)N(3))(2)]Cl(2).6H(2)O, is a crystallographically centrosymmetric dimer of square-pyramidal Cu(II) centres, with a basal-basal [Cu(2)(mu-OH)(2)](2+) bridging motif and apical pyridyl donors. The Cl(-) anion is hydrogen bonded to one O-H and one N-H group, and to three different water molecules. Because of disorder, the network of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the hydrated lattice is only partly resolved.

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A crystallographic, EPR and theoretical study of the Jahn-Teller distortion in [CuTp2] (Tp- = tris[pyrazol-1-yl]hydridoborate).

Crystals of the title compound (1) contain two independent, centrosymmetric half-molecules per asymmetric unit. While both of these show Jahn-Teller elongated six-coordinate geometries, the lengths of the elongated Cu-N bonds in the two molecules differ by 0.117(2) A at 30 K. The structure of one of these molecules (molecule A) does not vary with temperature below 350 K. The other molecule (molecule B) shows Cu-N bond lengths that are temperature-dependent between 225 and 375 K, but do not vary further at lower temperature. This indicates a fluxional axis of Jahn-Teller elongation in this molecule at these higher temperatures. Consideration of the thermal parameters in these structures implies that the fluxionality in molecule B is frozen out near 150 K. This conclusion is supported by a Q-band powder EPR study. The d-d transition energies of molecules A and B have been calculated by several density function (DF) methods, including a time-dependent DF calculation. The crystallographic data have been reproduced using the vibronic coupling model of Burgi and Hitchman. This has shown that the different fluxionality regimes for molecules A and B are not a consequence of their different static molecular structures, but rather reflect their different local environments in the crystal.

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A study of the thermal and light induced spin transition in [FeL2](BF4)2 and [FeL2](ClO4)2 L=2,6-di(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)pyrazine.

The spin crossover compounds [FeL2](BF4)2, L=2,6-di(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)pyrazine and [FeL2](ClO4)2 have very unusual two stage spin transitions which are initially steep and then become more gradual. A detailed variable temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction study has shown that the course of the spin transition is controlled by an order-disorder transition in the counter anions. The high and low spin states both crystallise in the tetragonal space group I4, the structures of the high and low spin states are presented at 290 and 30 K, respectively. The title compounds are shown to undergo LIESST (Light Induced Excited Spin State Trapping) under irradiation with either red or green laser light with wavelengths of 632.8 and 532.06 nm, respectively, at 30 K. The cell parameters for the tetragonal photo-induced metastable high spin state at this temperature are a= 9.169(6), c= 17.77(1) A for [FeL2](ClO4)2 with an increase in unit cell volume of 21 A3, and a= 9.11(1), c= 17.75(2) A and an increase in volume of 42.8 A3 for [FeL2](BF4)2.

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Antisymmetric exchange in two tricopper(II) complexes containing a [Cu3(micro3-OMe)]5+ core.

Reaction of CuX2(X-=Cl- or Br-) with 2 molar equivalents of 3[5]-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)pyrazole (HpzMes) in MeOH in the presence of NaOH yields [Cu3X(HpzMes)2(micro-pzMes)3(micro3-OMe)]X (X-=Cl- or Br-). Crystal structures of these compounds show almost identical triangles of Cu(II) ions, centred by a triply bridging methoxide ligand and with three edge-bridging pyrazolide groups. The mesityl substituents on the bridging pyrazolide ligands are arranged in HT, HH, TT fashion. chi(M)T for both compounds decreases steadily with decreasing temperature, reaching 0.40 cm(3) mol(-1) K at 70 K before decreasing further below 40 K. This low temperature behaviour could not be interpreted using conventional superexchange Hamiltonians, but was reproduced by an alternative model that incorporated an additional antisymmetric exchange term. This interpretation was confirmed by the Q-band EPR spectra of the two compounds. NMR experiments show that the structures of these compounds are not retained in solution, in contrast to other closely related tricopper compounds. These are the first examples of triangular Cu(II) compounds bearing a [Cu3micro3-OR)]5+(R is not equal to H) core motif, and the first triangular compounds showing antisymmetric exchange to have been analysed by both susceptibility and EPR measurements.

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