Dimeric (N 2 S)Ni complexes and the monomeric N 2 S 2 bismercaptodiazacycloheptane nickel complex, (bme-dach)Ni, serve as precursors to two N 2 -, N′-/S-complexes where N 2 =diazacycloheptane, N′=imidazole and S=thiolate. As rare examples of nickel complexes containing a mixed thiolate/imidazole ligand set, these complexes are characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV/vis, and variable temperature 1 H NMR spectroscopies, and electrochemistry. Density functional theory computations relate the orientation of the imidazole with respect to the N 2 N′SNi square plane to the VT NMR observed fluxionality and activation parameters. The superoxide dismutase activity of the imidazole complexes was investigated by the nitroblue tetrazolium assay.

The dianionic NiN2S2 complex, Ni(ema)2-, ema=N,N'-ethylenebis-2-mercaptoacetamide, known as a reasonable model of the tripeptide complex Ni(CGC)2- (C=cysteine; G=glycine) with respect to the two carboxyamido nitrogens and cis-dithiolates in a (N2S2)4- ligand scaffold as found in acetyl CoA synthase, has been explored for S-based reactivity toward oxygenation and alkylation. The isolation and structural characterization of a sulfinato species, [Et4N]2[Ni(ema).O2], prepared through a unique direct reaction of molecular O2 with crystalline [Et4N]2[Ni(ema)] is described. Reaction of [Et4N]2[Ni(ema)] with Br(CH2)3Br yields a neutral N2S2 macrocyclic complex shown by DFT computations and electrostatic-potential mapping to be opposite in electron distribution from the neutral NiN2S2 complexes in which the anionic charge is localized on sulfur.

Photophysical data and orbital energy levels (from electrochemistry) were compared for molecules with the same BODIPY acceptor part (red) and perpendicularly oriented xanthene or BODIPY donor fragments (green). Transfer of energy, hence the photophysical properties of the cassettes, including the pH dependant fluorescence in the xanthene containing molecules, correlates with the relative energies of the frontier orbitals in these systems. Intracellular sensing of protons is often achieved via sensors that switch off completely at certain pH values, but probes of this type are not easy to locate inside cells in their “off-state”. A communication from these laboratories (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 1642 – 3) described how the energy transfer cassette 1 could be used for intracellular imaging of pH. This probe is fluorescent whatever the pH, but its exact photophysical properties are governed by the protonation-states of the xanthene donors. This work was undertaken to further investigate correlations between structure, photophysical properties, and pH for energy transfer cassettes. To achieve this, three other cassettes 2 – 4 were prepared another one containing pH-sensitive xanthene donors (2), and two “control cassettes” that each have two BODIPY-based donors (3 and 4). Both the cassettes 1 and 2 with xanthene-based donors fluoresce red under slightly acidic conditions (pH < ca 6), and green when the medium is more basic (> ca 7), whereas the corresponding cassettes with BODIPY donors give almost complete energy transfer regardless of pH. The cassettes that have BODIPY donors by contrast, show no significant fluorescence from the donor parts, but the overall quantum yields of the cassettes when excited at the donor (observation of acceptor fluorescence) are high (ca 0.6 and 0.9). Electrochemical measurements were performed to elucidate orbital energy level differences between the pH-fluorescence profiles of cassettes with xanthene donors, relative to the two with BODIPY donors. These studies confirm energy transfer in the cassettes is dramatically altered by analytes that perturb relative orbital levels. Energy transfer cassettes with distinct fluorescent donor and acceptor units provide a new, and potentially useful, approach to sensors for biomedical applications.

The well-established presence of histidine donors in binding sites of Ni-containing biomolecules prompts the study of orientational preference and stereodynamic nature of flat monodentate ligands (L = imidazoles, pyridine and an N-heterocyclic carbene) bound to planar N 2 SNi moieties. Square planar [N 2 SNiL] n+ complexes are accessed through bridge-splitting reactions of dimeric, thiolate-S bridged [N 2 SNi] 2 complexes. The solid state molecular structures of three mononuclear products, and three monothiolate bridged dinickel complexes, reveal that the plane of the added monodentate ligand orients largely orthogonal to the N 2 SNiL square plane. Variable temperature 1 H NMR characterization of dynamic processes and ground state isomer ratios of imidazole complexes in their stopped exchange limiting spectra, readily correlate with DFT-guided interpretation of Ni-L rotational activation barriers. Full DFT characterization find Ni-L bond lengthening as well as a tetrahedral twist distortion in the transition state, reaching a maximum in the NHC complex, and relating mainly to the steric hindrance derived both from the ligand and the binding pocket. In the case of the imidazole ligands a minor electronic contribution derives from intramolecular electrostatic interactions (imidazole C-2 C-H δ+ --S δ− interaction). Computational studies find this donor-acceptor interaction is magnified in O-analogues, predicting coplanar arrangements in the ground state of N 2 ON imid Ni complexes.