A series of 1,2,3-dithiazolyl radicals have been prepared as spin-bearing radical ligands for coordination to paramagnetic transition metal and lanthanide ions to afford both interesting magnetic and potential conductive properties. The novel syntheses and full characterization of the ligands are described with the electronic properties investigated by both solution & solid-state EPR and cyclic voltammetry. The ligand structures are characterized by X-ray crystallography and the magnetic properties investigated. The ligands described herein represent the first reported 1,2,3-dithiazolyl radical ligands to coordinate to paramagnetic transition metal or lanthanide ion(s). The 1,2,3-dithiazoyl ligands described have been used to prepare a number of metal complexes and the structures have been fully characterized by X-ray crystallography. A diverse range of complexes including monomers, trimers and polymers have been synthesized and characterized. The solid-state and solution magnetic properties of the metal complexes have been investigated using a range of appropriate instrumental techniques, and are reported. The chelating properties of the 1,2,3-dithiazolyl ligands described are via an unprecedented motif. A para-naphthoquinone backbone is utilized with the fused 1,2,3dithiazolyl heterocyclic ring. The coordination geometry between the nitrogen atom and the quinone oxygen(s) allows for the variety of complexes reported, including the design objective of a polymeric paramagnetic coordination complex. A series of 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl radical anions have been prepared as spin-bearing radical ligands for the coordination to paramagnetic transition metal and lanthanide ions to enable both interesting magnetic and conductive properties. The syntheses and full characterizations are described with the electronic properties investigated by solution EPR and cyclic voltammetry. The ligand structures are characterized by X-ray crystallography and both the magnetic properties and conductivity (including Extended Hückel Theory calculations) are investigated and reported. A series of novel fluorinated 1,2,5-thiadiazole closed shell neutral ligands have been prepared and characterized. The radical anion is studied in situ by EPR. All materials generated in the synthesis were sent to the National Cancer Institute (USA) for collaboration involving clinical cancer inhibition studies and the results are reported.

Ce travail s'articule autour de deux grandes parties : i- la synthèse de nouveaux tripodes tris-A,C,E-alpha-cyclodextrine, et l'étude de leurs complexes de coordination avec les métaux. La fonctionnalisation des bis-hétérocycles est une étape importante dans la préparation de ces tripodes moléculaires. En conséquence, la mise au point d'une nouvelle famille de réactifs, les tétrahalogeno-diarylglycoluriles, a permis une halogénation radicalaire sélective des systèmes hétéro-aromatiques pi-déficients non réactifs et impliqués dans la construction des podants cyclodextriniques. La sélectivité et le mécanisme de la réaction ont pu être expliqués en partie par la formation d'un complexe supramoléculaire [réactif /substrat] et l'existence d'interactions halogène-halogène dans le solide; ii- la mise en évidence d'une haute spéciation des tripodes cyclodextrines vis-à-vis d'un certain nombre de métaux et la formation d'hélices métallo-supramoléculaires chirales induite par l'implantation en position 6,6' des unités hétérocycliques. La configuration absolue des hélicates formés est résolue dans quelques cas / This work is structured around two main parts: i- the synthesis of new tris-A,C,E-alpha-cyclodextrin tripods, and studies of their complexes with transition metals. The functionalization of bis-heterocycles is an important step in the preparation of tripods. Therefore, the development of a new family of reagents tetrahalo-diarylglycolurils allowed a selective radical halogenation of heteroaromatic pi-deficient systems, non-reactive and involved in the construction of podants cyclodextrinics. The selectivity and the mechanism of the reaction could be partially explained by the formation of a supramolecular complex [reagent / substrate] and the existence of halogen-halogen interactions in solid state; ii- the highlight of a high speciation tripods cyclodextrins towards a number of metals and formation of supramolecular chiral metallo-helices induced by anchoring in position 6,6' of heterocyclic units. The absolute configuration of helicates formed in some cases is resolved

Presently, much research has been completed focusing on metal coordination complexes in the liquid phase but very little in terms of the gas phase. The purpose of this research is to further investigate these conditions and learn more about the reactions that can occur using Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (ESI QToF MS). This research focuses on Nickel (II) and Iron (III) Nitrate solutions in combination with five ligands: 2,2’-Bipyridine, 4,4’-Bipyridine, 2,2’-Bipyridine-4,4’-Dicarboxylic Acid, 1,10-Phenanthroline and the Baker Group’s SNS Ligand. Observations of these complexes were restricted to the monocations. Those combinations that successfully coordinated in the gas phase were subjected to further analysis to determine their fragmentation pathways under specific conditions. To investigate their interactions, studies were conducted using three different mixing techniques. These techniques included a pre-mixed single-spray solution, a dual-spray injection method, and the TRESI (time-resolved electrospray ionization) method. By using all three methods, the compounds’ ability to react in solution over time can be compared to real-time mixing in both the gas and liquid phases, via dual-spray and TRESI techniques respectively. Further experimentation took place on target complexes, created by each of the ten combinations of starting compounds, to further investigate the gas phase properties and fragmentation patterns that exist. It was observed that most experiments with the Nickel (II) Nitrate solution were successful with all three methods, while the Iron (III) Nitrate however created some problems. In general, single-spray analysis gave the best results compared to dual-spray, which was ineffective for some combinations, particularly the 2,2’-Bipyridine-4,4’-Dicarboxylic Acid and SNS ligands. It was found that both the 2,2’-Bipyridine and 4,4’-Bipyrdine combinations produced very similar results despite their respective bidentate and bridging coordination tendencies. The TRESI method provided limited information due to the delayed reaction times with some combinations. Overall, this work proved useful in its ability to compare metal coordination complex formation in solution and gas phases.

Yes / A highly porous carbon was synthesized using a coordination complex as an unusual precursor. During controlled pyrolysis, a trinuclear copper complex, [CuII3Cl4(H2L)2]·CH3OH, undergoes phase changes with melt and expulsion of different gases to produce a unique morphology of copper-doped carbon which, upon acid treatment, produces highly porous graphitic carbon with a surface area of 857 m2 g–1 and a gravimetric hydrogen uptake of 1.1 wt % at 0.5 bar pressure at 77 K. / EPSRC (EP/R01650X/1 for VPT, and EP/E040071/1 for MT) and the University of Bristol

A series of binuclear coordination complexes of 4-(2′-pyrimidal)-1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl and its selenium analogue have been prepared to examine their structural and magnetic properties. The zinc(II) coordination complex is the first example of a DTDA radical ligand N-coordinated to a diamagnetic metal center. The magnetic properties reveal that it exhibits Curie behaviour and can be used as a benchmark to compare the analogous coordination complexes which possess paramagnetic metal ions. The nickel(II) coordination complex of the selenium containing radical pymDSDA was shown to dimerize in the solid state and is the only binuclear complex thus far that has done so. The manganese(II) complex of pymDSDA is by far the most interesting and is isomorphous to the DTDA analogue. For both complexes, one of the two molecules in the asymmetric unit form chains in the solid state joined by intermolecular contacts between a sulfur or selenium atom from the radical, and an oxygen atom coordinated to a neighbouring molecule. This feature gives rise to a ground state spin greater than that of an individual binuclear coordination complex. The radical ligand is however disordered in the solid state and so these random chain lengths are dependent on the orientation of the ligands in adjacent complexes. The 1,2,3-DTA species examined herein are related to the 4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydronaphtho[1,2-d][1,2,3]dithiazolyl radical and the related protonated species 4-hydroxy-5H-naphtho[1,2-d][1,2,3]dithiazol-5-one. The proton from this latter compound has shown that it can be substituted with alkyl groups and this was achieved using acetyl chloride to place an acetyl group in this position. The above radical did not exhibit the strong donor properties required for metal coordination and preliminary investigations of the radical dianionic suggest that it is chemically irreversible by cyclic voltametry. The acetyl group unfortunately did not provide the chemically reversibility of interest although has established a potential route toward the substitution chemistry of this compound. The other 1,2,3-DTA compounds discussed herein are not complete, although the data acquired on the precursor compounds leading up to the radical will be discussed.

It has been observed that in certain cases the exposure of dyed fibres to aging techniques results in the strengthening of fibres. This thesis explores the hypothesis that the strengthening is due to radical cross-coupling reactions that could be initiated through metal ion mediated photodecarboxylation. The approaches taken in this research include kinetic experiments (using flash photolysis), examination of possible cross-coupling experiments (using species of opposite charge), and the design and examination of small molecule model systems. A flash photolysis system was developed and used in attempts to determine the rates of photochemical product formation for cobalt(III) amino acid complexes. Lower limits have been established for the rate of product formation in these systems. The lower limits are: 2 x 10⁷ s⁻¹ for [Co(bpy)2(gly)]²⁺; 2 x 10⁷ s⁻¹ for [Co(tpa)(gly)]²⁺; and 5 x 10⁶ s⁻¹ for [Co(tpa)(aib)]²⁺, where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine; gly is glycinate; tpa is tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; and aib is aminoisobutyrate. In past studies, the rates of a series of cobalt(III) amino acid complexes were reported as being the same, and much slower. It is thought that in these cases it may not be the rate of the formation of product that was being measured, but rather the response time of the electronics that was being observed. In this thesis the results obtained for the rate for the aib complex were somewhat lower than those of the gly complexes. This may imply, for the aib complex at least, the rate of the formation of the metallocycle is being observed (and not the response times of the electronics or other limitations of the instrumentation), but the data is poor and there is considerable doubt about this. The steady state photolysis of opposite charged species [Co(bpy)2(gly)]²⁺ and [Co(EDTA)]⁻ is reported. The reactions were carried out on a small scale in deuterated solvent for NMR spectrometry analysis and also on a large scale for the possible isolation and characterisation of the products. Evidence was found for a different reaction occurring when both complexes were present. The exact nature of the product remains elusive. A model system was designed in which a dinuclear ligand would bind to two metal centres and a fibre mimic would be later added. Eight ligands are discussed that could potentially bind two octahedral metal centres. They all had a xylene spacing group linking the two polydentate sites together. Five of the ligands have two bidentate binding sites. The other three had two tridentate sites. The binding sites in three of the bis(bidentate) ligands were based on ethane-1,2- diamine (en). Two of these ligands produced hypodentate monocobalt and sundentate dicobalt complexes. The other two bidentate ligands were based on 2- aminomethylpyridine (ampy). Both of these ligands degraded in the complexation reaction conditions. The binding sites in the tridentate ligands were all based on tacn. Once again, the principal products isolated were hypodentate systems in which only one metal ion was coordinated by the ligands. There is a distinct pattern observed in the xylene spaced ligands to form hypodentate complexes with cobalt(III) metal centred complexes. There is evidence of the di-nuclear species from a reaction with a charcoal catalyst in the bis(bidentate) system. ¹H NMR spectrometry, ¹³C NMR spectrometry, elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to study and characterise the complexes and ligands that were prepared in this project.

Supramolecular chemistry has asserted itself as a significant multidisciplinary field concerned with molecular effects afforded through non-covalent molecular interactions. The increased interest in the literature towards nanoscale devices, through modulation of molecular function, has seen the renaissance of supramolecular chemistry as function progresses from solution to surface. Heterosupramolecular chemistry follows the architectural principles of supramolecular chemistry and embraces both covalent and non-covalent interactions of condensed phase surfaces and molecular components. A modular approach to device architecture was applied as a novel method of performing photocatalysis under visible light illumination. The application of heterosupramolecular assembly to the design of photoelectrochemical cells capable of visible light induced charge separation allowed the study of interfacial processes by means of electrochemical observations. Preparation of a series of supramolecular components was undertaken as specific molecular species within a photochemical system. Starting from a synthesised bidentate ligand that incorporated an acidic functional group, 4,4'-bis(methyl)phosphonate-2,2'-bipyridine (dmpbpy) as its ethyl ester, was chelated to give the surface sensitisers, bis-(2,2'-bipyridine)-(4,4'-bis(methyl)phosphonato-2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) dichloride ([Ru(bpy)2(dmpbpy)]Cl2) and cis-bis-(4,4'-bis-(methyl)phosphonato-2,2'-bipyridine)(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) dichloride ([Ru(dmpbpy)2(bpy)]Cl2). An electron relay moiety with an acidic functional group, 1-ethyl-1'-(2-phosphonoethyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride (EVP), was also prepared using a procedure developed by the candidate. The electronic properties of the prepared photosensitisers were examined by theoretical quantum chemical TD-DFT calculations on the molecular structures and singlet excitations were discussed in relation to experimental data. This identified that the lowest lying LUMO states were consistently occupied by 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and this was speculated to be a factor affecting quantum injection yields. The effect of microwave modification of colloidal TiO2 suspensions under extended periods of treatment was investigated. Nanoparticles of TiO2 were compared and contrast to similar convection hydrothermally treated TiO2 and a commercial titania product, namely Degussa P25, both of which are utilised in device fabrication. The investigation identified that extended periods of microwave hydrothermal treatment do not greatly enhance the crystallinity and primary grain size of TiO2. The heterosupramolecular assembly of a multi-component photochemical system was constructed from prepared molecular and condensed phase components. It was demonstrated that this device was capable of inducing a photochemical reaction in H2O under irradiation with  > 420 nm in the absence of an organic electron donor. Interpretation of the photocurrents obtained from this assembly provided understanding of photochemical reactions under low light intensities. Optimised conditions for the photochemical reaction was determined to be pH = 5 and illumination yielded = 0.0036% with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) = 1.6%. Photocatalytic decomposition of organic compounds in a dye-sensitised photoelectrocatalytic cell was investigated for the complete mineralisation of EDTA into CO2, H2 and simple amines and interpreted through photocurrent observations. This was extended to a broad range of organic compounds of various solution concentrations as a simulated industrial waste stream. Photooxidation gave unique photocurrent-time profiles which identified two distinct interfacial processes by mathematical treatment of photocurrent transients with a kinetic model. Kinetic parameters were proposed as a factor for qualitative discrimination of the organic compounds. The implications of these results for heterogeneous catalysis were discussed and the formation of Host-Guest complexes as a method of molecular sensing and as specific photocatalytic receptors was proposed.

It has been observed that in certain cases the exposure of dyed fibres to aging techniques results in the strengthening of fibres. This thesis explores the hypothesis that the strengthening is due to radical cross-coupling reactions that could be initiated through metal ion mediated photodecarboxylation. The approaches taken in this research include kinetic experiments (using flash photolysis), examination of possible cross-coupling experiments (using species of opposite charge), and the design and examination of small molecule model systems. A flash photolysis system was developed and used in attempts to determine the rates of photochemical product formation for cobalt(III) amino acid complexes. Lower limits have been established for the rate of product formation in these systems. The lower limits are: 2 x 10⁷ s⁻¹ for [Co(bpy)2(gly)]²⁺; 2 x 10⁷ s⁻¹ for [Co(tpa)(gly)]²⁺; and 5 x 10⁶ s⁻¹ for [Co(tpa)(aib)]²⁺, where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine; gly is glycinate; tpa is tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine; and aib is aminoisobutyrate. In past studies, the rates of a series of cobalt(III) amino acid complexes were reported as being the same, and much slower. It is thought that in these cases it may not be the rate of the formation of product that was being measured, but rather the response time of the electronics that was being observed. In this thesis the results obtained for the rate for the aib complex were somewhat lower than those of the gly complexes. This may imply, for the aib complex at least, the rate of the formation of the metallocycle is being observed (and not the response times of the electronics or other limitations of the instrumentation), but the data is poor and there is considerable doubt about this. The steady state photolysis of opposite charged species [Co(bpy)2(gly)]²⁺ and [Co(EDTA)]⁻ is reported. The reactions were carried out on a small scale in deuterated solvent for NMR spectrometry analysis and also on a large scale for the possible isolation and characterisation of the products. Evidence was found for a different reaction occurring when both complexes were present. The exact nature of the product remains elusive. A model system was designed in which a dinuclear ligand would bind to two metal centres and a fibre mimic would be later added. Eight ligands are discussed that could potentially bind two octahedral metal centres. They all had a xylene spacing group linking the two polydentate sites together. Five of the ligands have two bidentate binding sites. The other three had two tridentate sites. The binding sites in three of the bis(bidentate) ligands were based on ethane-1,2- diamine (en). Two of these ligands produced hypodentate monocobalt and sundentate dicobalt complexes. The other two bidentate ligands were based on 2- aminomethylpyridine (ampy). Both of these ligands degraded in the complexation reaction conditions. The binding sites in the tridentate ligands were all based on tacn. Once again, the principal products isolated were hypodentate systems in which only one metal ion was coordinated by the ligands. There is a distinct pattern observed in the xylene spaced ligands to form hypodentate complexes with cobalt(III) metal centred complexes. There is evidence of the di-nuclear species from a reaction with a charcoal catalyst in the bis(bidentate) system. ¹H NMR spectrometry, ¹³C NMR spectrometry, elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to study and characterise the complexes and ligands that were prepared in this project.

The English translation of the chapters written in French is available in Appendix. / La motivation initiale de ce travail provient de l'importance que les composés de coordination ont dans notre vie quotidienne. Leurs propriétés les rendent attrayants pour un large éventail d'applications, dans des domaines allant de la catalyse et de la conversion et stockage de l'énergie solaire jusqu’au domaine des matériaux et des sciences de la vie. Poussée par l'évolution et le progrès général de notre société, la recherche en chimie de coordination moderne évolue vers la complexité au niveau moléculaire, où la Nature représente une source majeure d'inspiration, comme dans le cas de la photosynthèse artificielle et de la chimie métallo-supramoléculaire. Dans le même temps, l'étude des complexes de coordination nourrit la curiosité scientifique et les approches pluridisciplinaires ouvrent de nouveaux mondes fascinants, tout en repoussant les frontières de la connaissance à des niveaux sans précédent. En continuité avec l'étude et le développement de composés de coordination pour des applications spécifiques, le thème central de cette thèse est l'interaction Métal - Ligand et les moyens de la moduler par le design du ligand, afin de générer les propriétés nécessaires pour les applications ciblées. Le design de complexes de coordination est considéré comme un «ensemble de composants modulables» – le ligand: les groupes fonctionnels des atomes donneurs, les substituants et leurs effets électroniques et stériques, le type et la dimension du cycle chélate; l’ion métallique; l'environnement. Les ligands étudiés ici sont les oxydes d’amidines N,N’-disubstitués (AMOXs) (aussi appelés α-aminonitrones ou hydroxyamidines). L'influence du motif de substitution du ligand sur les propriétés des composés est étudiée pour des complexes bis(AMOX) de cobalt(II) et de zinc(II). Les bis(chélates) de cobalt(II) sont plan carré (bas spin) à l'état solide, mais présentent une isomérisation de la structure plan carré (bas spin) vers une structure tétraédrique (haut spin) en solution dans des solvants non-coordinants. L'équilibre d'isomérisation est fortement influencé par le motif de substitution sur le ligand, du fait d’une combinaison de facteurs stériques et électroniques. Une approche théorique (DFT/ TD-DFT) et expérimentale combinée a montré que, dans la famille des chélates bis(AMOX) de zinc(II), le gap optique peut être finement modulé pour de potentielles applications dans des dispositifs optoélectroniques par la modification spécifique des ligands. Un cas spécial de solvatomorphisme a été identifié: des modifications de la géométrie et de l’état de spin sont induites par la présence ou l’absence de liaisons hydrogènes dans un même composé de cobalt(II). L’influence de l'environnement est ainsi illustrée. Les interactions faibles sont les principaux facteurs responsables pour la stabilisation du système vers une combinaison spécifique géométrie - état de spin à l'état fondamental, de façon similaire au contrôle allostérique et aux interactions hôte-invité dans les systèmes biologiques. Des études préliminaires vers des systèmes supramoléculaires à base des ligands AMOX ont été effectuées (assemblées multimétalliques vers des matériaux fonctionnels et des systèmes photocatalytiques pour conversion d'énergie solaire, en particulier la photocatalyse pour la production de H2). J’espère que les résultats et les perspectives présentées dans cette thèse incitent à la poursuite de la chimie de coordination des AMOXs. / The underlying motivation for this work stems from the importance that coordination compounds play in our daily lives. Their properties make them suitable and attractive for a wide range of applications in fields going from catalysis and solar energy conversion/ storage to materials and life sciences. Driven by the general progress of our society, research in modern coordination chemistry evolves toward complexity at the molecular level, with Nature representing a major source of inspiration as shown by artificial photosynthesis and metallosupramolecular chemistry. At the same time, the study of coordination complexes nurtures scientific curiosity, and multidisciplinary approaches are opening fascinating new worlds, while pushing the frontiers of knowledge to unprecedented depths. In line with the study and the development of coordination compounds for specific applications, the central theme of this thesis is the Metal-Ligand interaction and how it can be modulated through ligand design to generate the properties targeted for particular applications. The design of coordination complexes is seen as a ‘collection of adjustable components’ (e.g. the ligand: the donor atoms and their functional groups, the type and the size of the chelating ring, the ring substituents and their electronic and steric effects; the metal-ion; the environment). The ligands under study are the N,N’-disubstituted amidine oxides (AMOXs) (also known as α-aminonitrones/ hydroxyamidines). The influence of the ligand substitution pattern on the properties of the compounds is investigated in series of cobalt(II) and zinc(II) bis(AMOX) complexes. The cobalt(II) bis(chelates) are square-planar (low spin) in the solid state, but show square-planar (low spin) to tetrahedral (high spin) isomerization in solution of non-coordinating solvents. The isomerization equilibrium is highly sensitive to the substitution pattern on the ligand due to a combination of steric and electronic influences. A combined experimental and theoretical approach [DFT and time dependent (TD-DFT)] has shown that in the family of zinc(II) bis(AMOX) chelates, by specific modification of the ligands, the optical band gap can be fine-tuned for potential applications in optoelectronic devices. A special case of hydrogen-bonding-induced geometry and spin change at a cobalt(II) centre within a same cobalt(II) bis(chelate) has been identified. It highlights the influence of the environment on the properties of the complex. Weak interactions are the main factors responsible for biasing the system toward a specific geometry – spin state combination in the ground state, in a similar fashion to allosteric control and host-guest interactions in biological systems. Preliminary studies were conducted toward AMOX-based supramolecular systems: multimetallic assemblies toward functional materials and photocatalytic systems for solar energy-conversion (in particular photocatalysis for H2 production). It is my hope that the above results and the perspectives presented in this work motivate further developments in AMOX coordination chemistry.