Synthesis, characterization, and photoinduced CO-release reactivity of a Pb(II) flavonolate complex: Comparisons to Group 12 analogs

•First structural characterization of a Pb(II) flavonolate complex.•Pb(II) flavonolate exhibits unique structural and spectroscopic features versus Group 12 analogs.•Irradiation with UV-light induces stoiochiometric or catalytic dioxygenase-type CO release.

The synthesis, characterization, and photoinduced CO-release reactivity of [(6-Ph2TPA)Pb(3-Hfl)]ClO4 (1; 6-Ph2TPA = N,N-bis((6-phenyl-2-pyridyl)methyl)-N-((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine; 3-Hfl = anion of 3-hydroxyflavone) is reported and compared with Group 12 analogues ([(6-Ph2TPA)M(3-Hfl)]ClO4 (M = Hg(II) (2), Cd(II) (3), Zn(II) (4)). The Pb(II) complex exhibits unique features within this group of complexes in terms of its structural and spectroscopic features involving the coordinated flavonolate ligand. Similar to the Group 12 compounds, irradiation of 1 at 300 nm in an O2-containing environment results in the quantitative release of CO and the formation of a Pb(II) O-benzoylsalicylate (O-bs, depside) complex via a photoinduced dioxygenase-type reaction. Comparison of the quantum yield for the reaction of the Pb(II) flavonolate complex (Φ = 0.21(6)) versus the reactions of the structurally-related Group 12 metal complexes (6-Ph2TPA)M(3-Hfl)]ClO4 (M = Hg(II) (2, Φ = 0.31(2)), Cd(II) (3, Φ = 0.28(2)), Zn(II) (4), Φ = 0. 09(1)) revealed that flavonolate complexes of a heavy metal ion (Cd(II), Hg(II), Pb(II)) exhibit a higher reaction quantum yield than the Zn(II) derivative. Both Pb(II) and Zn(II) flavonolate complexes were found to be catalysts for the oxidative photoinduced degradation of 3-hydroxyflavone. The combined results of these investigations suggest that metal contaminants typically present in soil, including toxic heavy metal ions, might facilitate the oxidative decomposition of plant-derived flavonols via photoinduced reactions.

Graphical abstractThe structural, spectroscopic, and photoinduced CO-release reactivity properties of a novel Pb(II) flavonolate complex are reported and compared to Group 12 analogs. The results suggest that divalent metal ions that are typically found in contaminated soils may promote the degradation of plant-derived flavonols via photoinduced oxidative pathways.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide