The present invention relates to a novel metal complex, a method for producing same, and a method for producing a gamma-lactam compound using same, and the metal complex according to the present invention is used as a catalyst for producing a gamma-lactam compound and can efficiently produce a gamma-lactam compound with an excellent yield and excellent selectivity.

Chemically inert, mechanically tough, cationic metallo-polyelectrolytes designed as durable anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cobaltocenium-containing cyclooctene with triazole as the only linker group, followed by backbone hydrogenation to provide a new class of AEMs with a polyethylene-like framework and alkaline-stable cobaltocenium cation for ion transport, which exhibit excellent thermal, chemical and mechanical stability, as well as high ion conductivity.

Metal complexes of formula (I) are described:

[M(L.sup.1).sub.x(L.sup.2).sub.y(hydra).sub.z].sub.n  formula (I) wherein: M=metal atom having an atomic number selected from the ranges a) through c): a) 12, 21 to 34, with the exception of 30, b) 39 to 52, with the exception of 48, c) 71 to 83, with the exception of 80, L.sup.1=neutral or anionic ligand, with x=0 or 1, L.sup.2=neutral or anionic ligand, with y=0 or 1, (hydra)=acetone dimethylhydrazone monoanion, with z=1, 2, or 3, n=1 or 2, and the total charge of the complex is 0.

A cyclopentadienyl nickel complex compound represented by a formula (I): Ni(R.sup.1.sub.nC.sub.5H.sub.5-n).sub.2 (I), where R.sup.1 is each independently a C1-4 alkyl group, and n is 2, 3, or 4.

Biologically active compounds and their methods of preparation are provided that may be used as photosensitizers for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, particularly for PDT of cancer, infectious and other hyperproliferative diseases, fluorescence diagnosis and PDT treatment of non-tumorous indications such as arthritis, inflammatory diseases, viral or bacterial infections, dermatological otorhinolanyingology disorders, ophthalmological or urological disorders. As the compounds exhibit also toxicity against targets (tumor cells, bacteria, inflammation-related cells) without light these biologically active compounds may also be used for the light-independent treatment of such indications. Embodiments also include methods to synthesize iridium(III) complex structures incorporating a substituted 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl-dipyrromethene (2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyldipyrrin) unit or a substituted 3-mtrophenyl-dipyrromethene (3-nitroplienyl-dipyrritt) unit. Amphiphilic compounds with increased anti-tumour and anti-bacterial efficacy are also provided. Specifically, this is achieved by substitution with bromine atoms and sugar moieties.

Biologically active compounds and their methods of preparation are provided that may be used as photosensitizers for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, particularly for PDT of cancer, infectious and other hyperproliferative diseases, fluorescence diagnosis and PDT treatment of non-tumorous indications such as arthritis, inflammatory diseases, viral or bacterial infections, dermatological otorhinolanyingology disorders, ophthalmological or urological disorders. As the compounds exhibit also toxicity against targets (tumor cells, bacteria, inflammation-related cells) without light these biologically active compounds may also be used for the light-independent treatment of such indications. Embodiments also include methods to synthesize iridium(III) complex structures incorporating a substituted 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl-dipyrromethene (2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyldipyrrin) unit or a substituted 3-mtrophenyl-dipyrromethene (3-nitroplienyl-dipyrritt) unit. Amphiphilic compounds with increased anti-tumour and anti-bacterial efficacy are also provided. Specifically, this is achieved by substitution with bromine atoms and sugar moieties.

The invention provides a method comprising hydrogenating a ketone in the presence of (i) a base, (ii) hydrogen gas and (iii) a catalyst comprising a charged or neutral complex of formula (I):

##STR00001## wherein: Mn is a manganese atom or a manganese ion in oxidation state (I) to (VII); R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently optionally substituted C.sub.4-8monocyclic aryl or C.sub.3-7monocyclic heteroaryl moieties; -Fc- denotes a ferrocene (bis(η.sup.5-cyclopentadienyl)iron) moiety covalently bonded via adjacent carbon atoms of one of the two cyclopentadienyl moieties, and which may be optionally further substituted, in either cyclopentadienyl ring; —Z— is an alkylene linker of the formula —(CH.sub.2).sub.1-6— in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms of the alkylene may be independently substituted; —N.sup.x is an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heteroaryl moiety, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and —N.sup.x is substituted one or more times with an electron donating group; and L.sup.1-L.sup.3 constitute one, two or three ligands, wherein, when the complex of formula (I) is charged, the catalyst comprises one or more additional counterions to balance the charge of the complex.

The invention provides a method comprising hydrogenating a ketone in the presence of (i) a base, (ii) hydrogen gas and (iii) a catalyst comprising a charged or neutral complex of formula (I):

##STR00001## wherein: Mn is a manganese atom or a manganese ion in oxidation state (I) to (VII); R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently optionally substituted C.sub.4-8monocyclic aryl or C.sub.3-7monocyclic heteroaryl moieties; -Fc- denotes a ferrocene (bis(η.sup.5-cyclopentadienyl)iron) moiety covalently bonded via adjacent carbon atoms of one of the two cyclopentadienyl moieties, and which may be optionally further substituted, in either cyclopentadienyl ring; —Z— is an alkylene linker of the formula —(CH.sub.2).sub.1-6— in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms of the alkylene may be independently substituted; —N.sup.x is an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heteroaryl moiety, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and —N.sup.x is substituted one or more times with an electron donating group; and L.sup.1-L.sup.3 constitute one, two or three ligands, wherein, when the complex of formula (I) is charged, the catalyst comprises one or more additional counterions to balance the charge of the complex.

The present application relates to: a ruthenium precursor compound for forming a film having high thermal stability; a precursor composition for forming a film, comprising the ruthenium precursor compound; and a method for forming a ruthenium-containing film using the precursor for forming a film.

Compounds of general formula I are used as labels in an electrochemical assay: (I) in which: Fc and Fc′ are substituted or unsubstituted ferrocenyl moieties, X is a C1 to C6 alkylene chain which is optionally interrupted by —O— or —NH—; Y is a C1 to C6 alkylene chain which is optionally interrupted by —O— or —NH—; Z is a C1 to C12 alkylene chain which may optionally be substituted and/or may optionally be interrupted by —O—, —S—, cycloalkyl, —CO—, —CONR1-, —NR1CO— or —NR1- in which R1 represents hydrogen or C1 to C4 alkyl; and R is a linker group. Compounds I are used to make labelled substrates, as well as functionalised compounds for making the labelled substrates.