Mixed-ligand complexes based on asymmetric gadolinium β-diketonates: Synthesis, crystal structure, and theoretical modeling

AbstractMixed-ligand complexes of asymmetric gadolinium β-diketonates with 2,2′-bipyridyl (Bipy)—[Gd(Pa)3(Bipy)] (HPa is pivaloylacetone) (I) and [Gd(Pta)3(Bipy)] (HPta is pivaloyltrifluoroacetone) (II)-have been obtained by direct interaction of initial reagents and their structures have been studied by X-ray crystallography. Crystals of I are monoclinic: a = 9.536(1) Å, b = 15.037(1) Å, c = 13.280(1) Å, β = 109.56(1)°, V = 1798.7(3) Å3, Z = 2, space group P21. Crystals of II are triclinic: a = 9.6696(17) Å, b = 12.1348(9) Å, c = 18.243(3) Å, α = 100.257(12)°, β = 103.997(2)°, γ = 101.438(11)°, V = 1977.4(5), Z = 2, space group P $$\bar 1$$ . The coordination polyhedron of the central gadolinium atom in I and II is a distorted square antiprism formed by six oxygen atoms of the three β-diketonate ligands (av. Gd-O, 2.35(2) and 2.351(5) Å in I and II, respectively) and two nitrogen atoms of the Bipy ligand (av. Gd-N, 2.47(2) and 2.584(7) Å in I and II, respectively). Although the molecular structures of these complexes are similar, they have different crystal packings. In II, the planes of the Bipy ligands of neighboring molecules related by an inversion center are bound by stacking interaction (the distance between the Bipy planes is 3.45 Å). The structure and properties of these mixed-ligand complexes have been discussed based on the results of quantum-chemical density functional theory calculations (DFT/B3PW91). The nature of the substituents in the β-diketonate ligand has an effect on the structure and properties of the complexes. The correlation between the Gd-Dik and Gd (Dik)3-Bipy bond energies has been studied.