New organometallic complexes [M(dppe)(R)] {where M = Pt or Pd, dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphano)ethane, and R = CFH-x (x = 6,5,4), CFH-3,5, CFH-5,6, CFH-3,6, CF(OMe)-4, and CF(cyclo-CHN)-4, the numbers x refer to the positions of the protons in the polyfluoroaryl ligands} were synthesised either through transmetalation from the dichlorido complexes [M(dppe)Cl] or through ligand exchange using [M(diene)Cl] precursor complexes with diene = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod) or 1,5-hexadiene (hex). Alternatively, [M(dppX)Cl(R)] complexes with dppX = dppm (1,1-bis(diphenylphosphano)methane), dppe, dppp (1,3-bis(diphenylphosphano)propane), and dppb (1,4-bis(diphenylphosphano)butane) were prepared in decarboxylation reactions from thallium(i) carboxylates Tl(OCR). The different preparative methods were compared in terms of yield and purity. Structural and spectroscopic data are reported for the new dppX- and diene-M(R) complexes. Antiproliferative activity was investigated for these new complexes against the HT-29 (colon carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines, and the active compounds of this first series together with organometallic dppX or hex Pt or Pd complexes were then included in cell tests using L1210 (leukaemia cells) and the cisplatin-resistant L1210/DDP cell line. Remarkably, promising antiproliferative results were found for a few Pt and Pd complexes, while structurally closely related compounds were essentially nontoxic.

Isonicotine amide, picoline amide, pyrazine 2-amide, 2- and 4-amino benzamides and various CuII salts were used to target CuII complexes of these ligands alongside with 1D and 2D coordination polymers. Under the criterion of obtaining crystalline and single phased materials a number of new compounds were reliably reproduced. Remarkably, for some of these compounds the ideal Cu:ligand ratio of the starting materials turned out to be very different from Cu:ligand ratio in the products. Crystal and molecular structures from single-crystal XRD were obtained for all new compounds; phase purity was checked using powder XRD. We observed exclusively the Oamide and not the NH2amide function binding to CuII. In most of the cases; this occurred in chelates with the second pyridine, pyrazine or aminophenyl N function. µ-O,N ditopic bridging was frequently observed for the N = pyridine, pyrazine or aminophenyl functions, but not exclusively. The geometry around CuII in these compounds was very often axially elongated octahedral or square pyramidal. X-band EPR spectra of powder samples revealed various spectral symmetry patterns ranging from axial over rhombic to inverse axial. Although the EPR spectra cannot be unequivocally correlated to the observed geometry of CuII in the solid state structures, the EPR patterns can help to support assumed structures as shown for the compound [Cu(Ina)2Br2] (Ina = isonicotine amide). As UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and magnetic measurement in the solid can also be roughly correlated to the surrounding of CuII, we suggest the combination of EPR, UV-vis spectroscopy and magnetic measurements to elucidate possible structures of CuII compounds with such ligands.

The three complexes [Fe(opo)3], [Cu(opo)2], and [Zn(opo)2] containing the non-innocent anionic ligand opo− (opo− = 9-oxido-phenalenone, Hopo = 9-hydroxyphenalonone) were synthesised from the corresponding acetylacetonates. [Zn(opo)2] was characterised using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, the paramagnetic [Fe(opo)3] and [Cu(opo)2] by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. While the EPR spectra of [Cu(opo)2] and [Cu(acac)2] in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution are very similar, a rather narrow spectrum was observed for [Fe(opo)3] in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution in contrast to the very broad spectrum of [Fe(acac)3] in THF (Hacac = acetylacetone, 2,4-pentanedione; acac− = acetylacetonate). The narrow, completely isotropic signal of [Fe(opo)3] disagrees with a metal-centred S = 5/2 spin system that is observed in the solid state. We assume spin-delocalisation to the opo ligand in the sense of an opo− to FeIII electron transfer. All compounds show several electrochemical opo-centred reduction waves in the range of −1 to −3 V vs. the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple. However, for CuII and FeIII the very first one-electron reductions are metal-centred. Electronic absorption in the UV to vis range are due to π–π* transitions in the opo core, giving Hopo and [Zn(opo)2] a yellow to orange colour. The structured bands ranging from 400 to 500 for all compounds are assigned to the lowest energy π−π* transitions. They show markedly higher intensities and slight shifts for the CuII (brown) and FeIII (red) complexes and we assume admixing metal contributions (MLCT for CuII, LMCT for FeIII). For both complexes long-wavelength absorptions assignable to d–d transitions were detected. Detailed spectroelectrochemical experiments confirm both the electrochemical and the optical assignments. Hopo and the complexes [Cu(opo)2], [Zn(opo)2], and [Fe(opo)3] show antiproliferative activities against HT-29 (colon cancer) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines in the range of a few µM, comparable to cisplatin under the same conditions.

The heterogenization of 2,6-dimethylarylimido–vanadium­(V) dichloride via chemical tethering on insoluble silica supports is reported. The effects of the silica particle size, drying conditions, and the reaction time were investigated. The drying conditions of the support were found to be a crucial parameter: drying temperatures over 400 °C were needed to achieve successful catalysis. The supported catalytic systems were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray (TEM-EDX), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), while the polymers were characterized by FT-IR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and rheology. Ethylene polymerization tests were performed employing the prepared heterogenized catalysts with methylaluminoxane/diethylaluminum chloride as a cocatalyst. The supported catalyst precursor, when activated with diethylaluminum chloride, promotes the synthesis of polyethylene with seemingly controlled particle size in the absence of reactor fouling, suggesting the successful immobilization of the complex over the inert support. The resulting polymer shows features of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). These findings present a proof-of-concept for a new approach toward the heterogenization of arylimido–vanadium complexes.

Homoleptic dinuclear complexes [M2(qpyzc)2] (M=Cu (1) or Ni (2) were obtained from the readily synthesised trischelate pyrazole‐based qpyzc ligand (H2qpyzc=8‐quinoline‐1H‐pyrazole‐3‐carboxamide). Their crystal and molecular structures, magnetic properties, and UV‐vis spectra were reported alongside with DFT and TD‐DFT calculations. Trigonality index τ’4 values of 0.25 and 0.21 for the Cu and Ni centres, respectively reveal a marked distortion from square planar geometry. The two metal coordination planes within a complex are tilted towards each other with 40.2(1)° for Cu(II) and 34.5(2)° for Ni(II). The central six‐membered M2N4 metallocycle is almost planar and the two anionic pyrazolate rings are tilted towards each other by 37.4(1)° (1) and 38.5(2)° (2), respectively. Regardless of this peculiar bonding situation magnetic measurements on 1 are in line with medium‐sized antiferromagnetic coupling with a coupling constant of J=−100 cm−1, an isotropic g value of 2.11 and an S=0 ground state. Complex 2 seems to be diamagnetic. DFT calculations gave an excellent agreement between calculated and experimental metrics of the complexes and supported the prevalence of the singlet ground state for 1. TD‐DFT calculated UV‐vis absorption spectra agree well with observed absorptions and the red colour of both compounds.

The coordination chemistry of three oxido‐pincer ligands 2,6‐(HOCR2)2(pyridine) (H2L) based on 2,6‐pyridinedimethanol [R = H (H2pydim), Me (H2pydip), Ph (H2pyphen)] towards vanadium(V) was explored. Reaction of NH4VO3 with the protoligands H2L gave the dinuclear complexes [(L)OV(μ‐O)VO(L)]. Mononuclear anionic species [VO2(L)]–, which were isolated as alkaline metal salts were obtained from reactions of [VO(acac)2] (acac– = acetylacetonate) and H2L under basic conditions and addition of HCl to these species allowed to isolate the unprecedented oxido chlorido complexes [VOCl(L)] for pydip and pyphen. Cyclic voltammograms of the dinuclear [V2O3(L)2] and mononuclear [VOCl(L)] complexes show reversible VV/VIV reduction waves, while corresponding waves of the anionic [VO2(L)]– are completely irreversible. The mixed‐valent VIV/VV species [V2O3(L)2]·– were characterized by EPR and UV/Vis spectroelectrochemistry revealing a delocalized system with a 15 line EPR spectrum and an intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) band for the bulky pyphen ligand but localized radicals in case of the pydim and pydip derivatives (8 line EPR, no IVCT). DFT calculated structures of the three derivatives show an V–O–V arrangement for [V2O3(pyphen)2]·– of about 145° ideally suited for delocalization, whereas for [V2O3(pydip)2]·– an angle of 128° was found.

Reactions of the organoplatinum complex [Pt(cod)(neoSi)Cl] (neoSi = (trimethylsilylmethyl) with the Ag(I) salts of oxo or fluoride containing anions A– = NO3–, ClO4–, OTf – (trifluoromethanesulfonate) and SbF6– lead to the desired abstraction of the chlorido ligand and precipitation of AgCl. However, further reaction of the resulting Pt complexes [Pt(cod)(neoSi) (solvent)]+ with diverse N-heterocyclic ligands L such as pyridines, caffeine, and guanine did not yield the targeted complexes [Pt(cod)(neoSi)(L)](A) in most of the cases, but to extensive decomposition yielding [Pt(cod)(Me) (solvent)]+, thus transforming the neoSi into a methyl ligand. A detailed study on the reaction with SbF6– combining DFT calculations with NMR and MS revealed that Pt catalysed decomposition of SbF6‒ and fluorination of the neoSi silicon atom leading to FSiMe3. When reacting the parent complex with Ag(BPh4), the arylated derivative [Pt(cod)(neoSi)(Ph)] was obtained and characterised by multinuclear NMR, MS and single crystal XRD.

A multi-gram synthetic route to black solid {CSc6}I12Sc (1) was developed which comprises the reaction of scandium triiodide, ScI3, with graphite and scandium metal at 850°C. Compound 1 dissolved in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) to form a red solution. Results derived from 45Sc NMR and EPR spectroscopy indicated that a scandium cluster species exists in this solution along with a complex cation [Sc(DMA)6]3+. From these solutions crystals of [Sc(DMA)6]I3 (2) and a red oily product was isolated. Compound 2 was also prepared independently by dissolving ScI3 in DMA and two polymorphs, orthorhombic 2O and monoclinic 2M were crystallised. {CSc6}I12Sc (1) also dissolved in THF yielding a red solution which contains [ScI6]3− and a scandium cluster species, as analysed by 45Sc NMR and EPR spectroscopy.