Background

Molecular crystal engineering involving an organic ligand coordinated to metal ions which are self assembled in the formation of supramolecular architectures is a field of evergreen interest. This self assembly process is governed by a variety of hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions. These interactions play a vital role in controlling the properties and in turn the potential applications of the organic-inorganic hybrid materials [1]. Their applications involve a wide spectrum ranging from molecular sensing ion-exchange catalysis, magnetism, and gas storage [2]-[6]. The transition metals such as cobalt, zinc, iron, copper, platinum and palladium enhance the cytotoxic activity of the cytokinins on tumour cells [7]-[16].

Coordination site of the cytokinins is governed by various factors such as pH, nature of the metal, substituents on the aminopurine skeleton, etc [17]-[20]. Copper and cadmium cytokinin crystal structures were reported in our laboratory [21]-[23]. Some of the reported cobalt cytokinin complexes have very good anticancer activity (in vitro condition) than the derivatives tested for clinical trials [24].

Experimental section

Materials and methods

All reagents, solvents and ligands used for syntheses were purchased from commercial sources and used as received.

Preparation of bis[bis(furfuryladeninN1-H ium) manganese(II) (mono aqua) (trichlorido)] chloride (FAMNCL) (1)

40 ml aqueous solution of MnCl2.4H2O (0.0495 g) was heated at 95°C for 30 min. over a water bath. 0.0717 g of furfuryladenine and 3 drops of conc. HCl were added to this solution, and the heating was continued for 90 min. The resultant solution was allowed to slow evaporation at room temperature. After a few days pale green crystals of (1) were obtained.

Preparation of bis[bis(furfuryladeninN1-H ium) cobalt(II) (mono aqua) (trichlorido)] chloride (FACOCLI) (2)

The preparation procedure of (2) was same as that of (1) except CoCl2.6H2O (0.0595 g) was used instead of MnCl2.4H2O. After a few days pink prismatic crystal of (2) were obtained.

Preparation of bis[bis(furfuryladeninN1-H ium) cobalt(II) (tetrachlorido)] [bis(furfuryladeninN1-H ium) cobalt(II) (mono aqua) (trichlorido)] chloride (FACOCLII) (3)

20 ml aqueous solution of CoCl2.6H2O (0.0538 g) was stirred at 40°C for 30 min. To this15 ml ethanolic solution of furfuyladenine (0.0717 g) and 0.0398 g of 3-pyridine sulfonic acid were added. It resulted in white turbidity, which was removed by the addition of 5 ml dil.HCl. The solution was further heated at 50°C for 90 min. The resultant solution was allowed to slow evaporation at room temperature. After a few days pink coloured precipitate was formed. The pink precipitate was recrystallized using methanol.

Preparation of [bis(furfuryladeninN1-H ium)nickel (II)(mono aqua) (trichlorido)] chloride monohydrate. (FANICL) (4)

The preparation procedure of (4) was same as that of 1 except of NiCl2.6H2O (0.0594 g) was used instead of MnCl2.4H2O. After a few days green prismatic crystal of (2) were obtained.

Preparation of zinc (II)benzyladeninN1-H ium tri bromido [Zn(BAH+)Br3] BAZNBR (5)

40 ml aqueous solution of ZnBr2 (0.0563 g) was heated at 70°C for 30 min. over a magnetic stirrer. 0.0563 g of benzyladenine and 4 drops of conc. HBr were added to this solution and heated to 60 min. The resultant solution was allowed to slow evaporation at room temperature. After a few days pale green crystals of (5) were obtained.

Preparation of catena-Poly [μ-bromido bis(benzyladeninN1-H ium) di cadmium (II) tri -μ-bromido] (BACDBR) (6)

40 ml aqueous solution of CdBr2.4H2O (0.0861 g) was heated at 55°C for 30 min. over a magnetic stirrer. 0.0563 g of benzyladenine and 4 drops of conc. HBr were added to this solution and heated to 60 min. The resultant solution was allowed to slow evaporation at room temperature. After a few days pale green crystals of (6) were obtained .

Crystal structure determination

Intensity data sets were collected at room temperature, on a BRUKER SMART APEXII CCD [25] area-detector diffractometer equipped with graphite monochromated Mo Kα radiation (λ = 0.71073Å). The data were reduced by using the program SAINT [25] and empirical absorption corrections were done by using the SADABS [25]. The structures were solved by direct methods using SHELXS-97 [26] and subsequent Fourier analyses, refined anisotropically by full-matrix least-squares method using SHELXL-97 [26] within the WINGX suite of software, based on F2 with all reflections. All carbon hydrogens were positioned geometrically and refined by a riding model with Uiso 1.2 times that of attached atoms. All non H atoms were refined anisotropically. The molecular structures were drawn using the ORTEP-III [27] and MERCURY [28]. Crystal data and the selected parameters for compounds (1-6) were summarized in (Tables 1 and 2) respectively. The crystals remained stable throughout the data collection.

Table 1 Crystal data and structure refinement information for compounds (1-6)
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Table 2 Selected bond parameters in 1-6
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Results and discussion

Single crystal x-ray diffraction studies reveal that (1) and (2) are isomorphous structures. The cytokinins in complexes (1-4), are N3 protonated, N9 coordinated and N7-H tautomer, but in (5) it is N1-protonated, N7 coordinated and N9-H tautomer. This can be confirmed from the bond angle difference between the N9-H neutral kinetin, benzyladenine structures and their protonated compounds [29],[30]. Axially coordinated adenine ligand moieties are arranged in a trans manner with respect to the central axis (passing through the N9 atoms and metal) in the compounds (1-4). Also the dihedral angle between the adenine ring and the N6-substituent aromatic ring shows the compounds all are active cytokinins [31].

A lattice halide ion bridges N6-H and N7-H (Hoogsteen site hydrogens) [32],[33] via. N-H…X hydrogen bonds [shown schematically in Scheme 1c] which lead to a chain like pattern in the crystals (1-4). A centrosymmetric base pair is formed due to the pairing of N3 and N9-H hydrogen bonds in (5) (Scheme 1d). Coordination spheres are arranged as a ladder by the coordinated chloride ion and water in structures (1-3) (only Co1 of 3). Ladders of (1-3) have a similar type of hydrogen bonds and atomic arrangements. There is no such ladder type pattern observed in Co2 and Co3 cobalt centers of (3) due to the absence of water molecule in the coordination sphere. An intra molecular S(6) ring motif is formed by N3 hydrogens with the halide ions in all the crystal structures.

Scheme 1
scheme 1

In (a-d) X = Cl-,Br-. (a-c) R = C6H5 for BA/C4H3O for FA. (d) R = C6H5 for BA.

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Crystal structure description of [FAMNCL] 1 & Crystal structure description of [FACOCLI] 2

The asymmetric unit of (1) as well as (2) consists of two metal centers with similar distorted octahedral coordination geometry (made up of two furfuryladenine cations, three chloride ions and a water molecule). A lattice chloride ion lies at general position and two lattice chloride ions are present in special position (each with 0.5 occupancy).

The special position chloride ions (Cl7 and Cl8 for complex (3) where as Cl8 and Cl9 for complex (3)) are positioned at e 2 Wyckoff site symmetry [34]-[36]. The Hoogsteen site hydrogens are involved in N-H…Cl hydrogen bonds with the lattice chloride ion which leads to a chain like pattern in the crystal structures (1) and (2) respectively (Figure 1c,d). Crystal structure (1) contains cobalt ion and (2) contains manganese ion as metal centers, but all other groups are similar in the asymmetric unit. The inter ligand interactions involving the chloride ions and the water molecules generate a ladder like pattern (Figure 1c,d). In the ladder M1 and M2 metal centers (Mn1and Mn2 for (1) and Co1 and Co2 for (2)) are arranged alternatively (Figure 1e,f).

Figure 1
figure 1

ORTEP views of 1 & 2. (a, b) ORTEP views of 1 & 2respectively. (b, c) Chain formed by the Hoogsteen site hydrogens and lattice chloride ions in 1 & 2 respectively. (c, d) Supramolecular ladder formed by the coordinated water and chloride ions via O-H…Cl interactions in 1 and 2 respectively.

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In these supramolecular ladders the coordinated water and coordinated chloride ions in the structures (1) and (2) form R44(12) and R22 (8) ring motifs made up of O-H…Cl interactions. Perpendicular to the R22(8) motif, R32(9) motif is made by the same chloride and water with adenine ring N3 & C2 hydrogens. The ladders are arranged in a scissoring arrangement in the packing pattern of the crystal structures (1) and (2) respectively (Figure 2a,b). The supramolecular chains are connected by supramolecular ladders and this leads to a three dimensional network which is also further stabilized by the C10-H…Cl interactions in both (1, 2).

Figure 2
figure 2

The scissoring arrangement of supramolecular ladders. a, b) The scissoring arrangement of supramolecular ladders in 1 and 2 respectively.

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Crystal structure description of [FACOCLII] 3

The asymmetric unit consists of three mononuclear cobalt centers and two lattice chloride ions. All the three Co centers have a distorted octahedral geometry. Two of the cobalt centers (each on an inversion center) have similar coordination geometry made up of two chloride ions, one furfuryladenine cation and their inversion related ligands (Figure 3a). They are (Co2 and Co3 ions) positioned at a ī and e ī Wyckoff site symmetries respectively. Unlike these Co2 and Co3 ions, Co1 ion lies at the general position (surrounded by the two furfuryladenine cations, three chloride ions and a hydronium ion). This cobalt center (Co1) also forms R44(12), R22(8), R32(9) and the ladder type arrangement, which is similar to that of crystals (1) and (2), which is the unique character observed in Co1 and not in Co2 or Co3 centre. A supramolecular chain is formed by the Hoogsteen site hydrogens and a lattice chloride ion. In this chain the cobalt centers are arranged as (-Co2-Co1-Co3-Co1-Co2-Co1-Co3-)n revealing the alternative arrangement of Co1 inbetween (Co2 and Co3) as well as (Co3 and Co2) (Figure 3b). Supramolecular ladders are interlinked by a set of N-H…Cl interactions at the Hoogsteen site. (Fig3.3c).

Figure 3
figure 3

ORTEP view of (3). a) An ORTEP view of (3) showing the atom labelling scheme. Displacement ellipsoids are drawn at 20% probability level. b) Chain observed in FACOCLII. Hydrogens not involved in hydrogen bonding are omitted for clarity. c) Supramolecular ladders interlinked by a set of N-H…Cl interactions at the Hoogsteen site.

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Crystal structure description of (FANICL) 4

The asymmetric unit consists of a cobalt ion with distorted octahedral coordination geometry, coordinated to two furfuryladenine cations and two chloride ions equatorially, a chloride ion and a water molecule axially (Figure 4).

Figure 4
figure 4

An ORTEP view of (4) showing the atom labelling scheme. Displacement ellipsoids are drawn at 50% probability level.

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In the lattice, two chloride ions with 0.5 occupancy and a water molecule are present. The N-H…Cl interactions found in between the Hoogsteen site hydrogen and lattice chloride ion generates a chain which is also observed in (1-3) (Figure 5). Two of the metal centers are connected by a O-H…O,C-H..Cl and two O-H…Cl interactions inbetween a coordinated water molecule, lattice water molecule and two of the coordinated chloride ions (Figure 5). One of the lattice water hydrogen is involved in bifurcated hydrogen bond with two coordinated chloride ions forming a R12(4) motif. The C-H…Cl interaction is present inbetween the C2 hydrogen of the coordinated furfuryl adenine and the chloride of the next cobalt centre. O-H…O, two C-H…Cl, two O-H…Cl and N-H…Cl interactions generates a three dimensional network by connecting two of these chains (Figure 5).

Figure 5
figure 5

The metal centers connected by a O-H…O,C-H..Cl and two O-H…Cl interactions as well as Chain formed by N-H…Cl interactions in between the Hoogsteen site hydrogen and lattice chloride ion.

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Crystal structure description of [Zn(BAH+)Br3] (BAZNBR) 5

The asymmetric unit consists of a zinc(II) metal center, terahedrally coordinated to benzyladeninium cation (BAH+) and three bromide ions. The BAH+ is a N7-coordinated; N1 protonated; N9-H tautomer (Figure 6).

Figure 6
figure 6

An ORTEP view of (5) showing the atom labelling scheme. Displacement ellipsoids are drawn at 50% probability level.

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The Br1 interchelated by the N6-H atom through N-H…Br hydrogen bond forms a S(7) motif. The N1 and C2 atoms form hydrogen bonds with two different bromide ions leading to a R22(7) ring motif. The continuous formation of R22(7) ring motif extends a chain along c axis (Figure 7a). In this chain adjacent adenine moieties are in different planes and forming a N-H…N base pair with two different chain adenine moieties, but alternate adenine moieties; are in same plane and form a base pair with the same chain adenine moieties (Figure 7a).

Figure 7
figure 7

The formation of N-H…N base pair. a) The formation of N-H…N base pair between alternative adenine moieties which lie in same plane. b) R66(34) ring motif is formed between two chains through the N-H… Br and C-H… Br bonds.

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R66(34) ring motif is formed between these two chains through the N-H… Br and C-H… Br bonds (Figure 7b). A single chain is connected through base pair with two different chains. These two chains are further connected to different chains and so on, generating three dimensional networks. (Figure 8a). The phenyl rings of symmetry related molecules are stacked with one another giving additional stabilization to the structure (Figure 8b).

Figure 8
figure 8

The base pair connecting the successive chains. a) The base pair connecting the successive chains leading to a three dimensional network. The benzyl substituents are omitted for clarity. b) The stacking between the phenyl rings of the adenine moieties along b axis.

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Crystal structure description of (BACDBR) 6

The crystal structure of (6) is a coordination polymer and it consists of two cadmium centers bridged by three bromide ions. Each of the cadmium center is six coordinated by five bromide and one benzyadeninium cation (BAH+) (Figure 9). Each of the dicadmium centers are linked to each other by a bromide ion and this extends the structure into a coordination polymer (Figure 10a).

Figure 9
figure 9

An ORTEP view of (8) showing the atom labelling scheme. Displacement ellipsoids are drawn at 50% probability level.

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Figure 10
figure 10

Coordination polymer formed by the monobridged bromide ion. a) Coordination polymer formed by the monobridged bromide ion (Br2) linking the dicadmium center. b) Coordination polymeric chains linked by the Hoogsteen site hydrogens and monobridged Br2 ions via N-H…Br hydrogen bonds. c) C-H…π interaction between C2 hydrogen and the phenyl ring of BAH+. d) Formation of three dimensional networks viewed along c axis.

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The cadmium ions in this dicadmium center are separated by the distance of 3.467Å. In this polymeric chain, all BAH+ ions are arranged in one side. The chains are connected by the Br2 bromide ions and the Hoogsteen site hydrogens via N-H..Br hydrogen bonds (Figure 10b). Polymeric chain interlinks generate “V” shaped arrangement repeatedly in the network. Each cadmium has one bromide ion, which is not involved in bridging, which forms a S(6) intramolecular ring motif with the N3 hydrogen of BAH+. C-H…Br interaction is found between C15 hydrogen of the phenyl ring and the Br4. A weak C-H…π interaction is observed between C2 hydrogen and phenyl ring of the BAH+ (Figure 10c). Three dimensional network of the crystal structure viewed along c axis is shown in (Figure 10d).

Conclusion

We have obtained a series of metal complexes of N6-furfuryl adenine/N6-benzyl adenine. Of these six, five are mononuclear while the one is a coordination polymer. Complexes show two different coordination geometries like distorted octahedral in 1-4, 6 and tetrahedral in 5). In complexes (1-4) the primary supramolecular organization remain common which is a chain made up of N-H…Cl interactions inbetween the Hoogsteen sites hydrogen and a Chloride anion lying at the lattice. These crystal structures show several supramolecular motifs, stacking patterns, preferred site of protonation/coordination, etc., in these kinds of complexes. This piece of work may also help in study of similar type complexes which may eventually lead to novel functional materials.

Supplementary material

CCDC 1005990-1005993, 1005996 and 1005997 contain the supplementary crystallographic data for structures (1-6) respectively can be obtained free of charge via http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/Community/Requestastructure/Pages/DataRequest.aspx?, or from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Center, 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 IEZ, UK; fax:(+44)1223-336-033; or e-mail: deposit@ccdc.cam.ac.uk.

Authors' contributions

This work was prepared in the research group of PTM. He proposed the work and drafted the manuscript. SJJ, DTS participated in the design and presiding the experiments, collected the X-ray data and drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.