Unusual cis / trans Isomerism in Octahedral Nickel(II) Complexes with 1,4,8,11-Tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic Acid) as a Ligand
Nickel(II) ion reacts with 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid) (H4L1) at room temperature with formation of cis-[Ni(L1)]2- complex. The complex was crystallised in several forms in dependence on conditions of isolation (temperature, pH, solvent mixture). Crystal structures of cis-O,O-[Ni(H2L1)] (1), cis-O,O-[Ni(H2L1)]·2H2O (2), cis-O,O-[Ni(H3L1)]Cl·H2O (3) and cis-O,O-[Ni(H4L1)]Cl2·2H2O (4) were determined by X-ray diffraction. In all the compounds, Ni2+ is in octahedral cis-O1,O2-trans-N1,N8-cis-O1,N4-[Ni(L1)]2- (hereafter abbreviated as cis-O,O-[Ni(L1)]2-) arrangement with V conformation of the cyclam ring. Complexes 3 and 4 exhibit very unusual coordination through the phosphoryl group of double-protonated phosphonate moiety. Tetraethylester of H4L1 having only poorly coordinating phosphoryl oxygen atoms also forms nickel(II) complex 5 with cis arrangement. Corresponding trans-O,O-[Ni(L1)]2- complex is formed only in strongly acidic medium through conversion of the cis complex; it was characterised by X-ray diffraction as dihydrochloride dihydrate, trans-O,O-[Ni(H4L1)]Cl2·2H2O (6). The analogous compound (NH4)2(trans-O,O-[Ni(L2)])·H2O (7) is obtained quantitatively by reaction of Ni2+ with 4,11-dibenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid) (H4L2). Formation of this complex 7 in the III cyclam ring conformation is preferred to the cis complex due to steric hindrance of bulky benzyl groups in cis-[Ni(L2)]2- complex with the V cyclam ring conformation.