Half‐Sandwich Iridium Complexes Bearing a Diprotic Glyoxime Ligand: Structural Diversity Induced by Reversible Deprotonation

Synthesis and deprotonation reactions of half‐sandwich iridium complexes bearing a vicinal dioxime ligand were studied. Treatment of [{Cp*IrCl(μ‐Cl)}₂] (Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) with dimethylglyoxime (LH₂) at an Ir:LH₂ ratio of 1:1 afforded the cationic dioxime iridium complex [Cp*IrCl(LH₂)]Cl ( 1 ). The chlorido complex 1 undergoes stepwise and reversible deprotonation with potassium carbonate to give the oxime–oximato complex [Cp*IrCl(LH)] ( 2 ) and the anionic dioximato(2?) complex K[Cp*IrCl(L)] ( 3 ) sequentially. Meanwhile, twofold deprotonation of the sulfato complex [Cp*Ir(SO₄)(LH₂)] ( 4 ) resulted in the formation of the oximato‐bridged dinuclear complex [{Cp*Ir(μ‐L)}₂] ( 5 ). X‐ray analyses disclosed their supramolecular structures with one‐dimensional infinite chain ( 1 and 2 ), hexagonal open channels ( 3 ), and a tetrameric rhomboid ( 4 ) featuring multiple intermolecular hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions.     

Cyclopentadienyl Ruthenium(II) Complexes with Bridging Alkynylphosphine Ligands: Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies

The reaction of [CpRuCl(PPh₃)₂] (Cp=cyclopentadienyl) and [CpRuCl(dppe)] (dppe=Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) with bis‐ and tris‐phosphine ligands 1,4‐(Ph₂PC≡C)₂C₆H₄ ( 1 ) and 1,3,5‐(Ph₂PC≡C)₃C₆H₃ ( 2 ), prepared by Ni‐catalysed cross‐coupling reactions between terminal alkynes and diphenylchlorophosphine, has been investigated. Using metal‐directed self‐assembly methodologies, two linear bimetallic complexes, [{CpRuCl(PPh₃)}₂(μ‐dppab)] ( 3 ) and [{CpRu(dppe)}₂(μ‐dppab)](PF₆)₂ ( 4 ), and the mononuclear complex [CpRuCl(PPh₃)(η¹‐dppab)] ( 6 ), which contains a “dangling arm” ligand, were prepared (dppab=1,4‐bis[(diphenylphosphino)ethynyl]benzene). Moreover, by using the triphosphine 1,3,5‐tris[(diphenylphosphino)ethynyl]benzene (tppab), the trimetallic [{CpRuCl(PPh₃)}₃(μ₃‐tppab)] ( 5 ) species was synthesised, which is the first example of a chiral‐at‐ruthenium complex containing three different stereogenic centres. Besides these open‐chain complexes, the neutral cyclic species [{CpRuCl(μ‐dppab)}₂] ( 7 ) was also obtained under different experimental conditions. The coordination chemistry of such systems towards supramolecular assemblies was tested by reaction of the bimetallic precursor 3 with additional equivalents of ligand 2 . Two rigid macrocycles based on cis coordination of dppab to [CpRu(PPh₃)] were obtained, that is, the dinuclear complex [{CpRu(PPh₃)(μ‐dppab)}₂](PF₆)₂ ( 8 ) and the tetranuclear square [{CpRu(PPh₃)(μ‐dppab)}₄](PF₆)₄ ( 9 ). The solid‐state structures of 7 and 8 have been determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis and show a different arrangement of the two parallel dppab ligands. All compounds were characterised by various methods including ESIMS, electrochemistry and by X‐band ESR spectroscopy in the case of the electrogenerated paramagnetic species.     

Syntheses and characterization of some new 2-picolylpalladium(II) complexes

The 2-picolylpalladium(II) complex [{Pd(CH₂Py)Cl(PPh₃)}₂] (CH₂Py=2-picolyl) (I), prepared from 2-picolyl chloride and [Pd(PPh₃)₄], was treated with lithium bromide, silver acetate, 4-picoline (pic) and silver perchlorate, thallium acetylacetonate{Tl(acac)}, sodium dimenthyldithiocarbamate-water-(1/2) {Na(dmdc). 2 H₂O}, and 1,2-bis(diphenylphospino)ethane (dppe) to yield [{PdBr(CH₂Py)(PPh₃)}₂] (II), [{Pd(CH₂Py)OAc(PPh₃)}₂] (III), [{Pd(Ch₂Py)(pic)(PPh₃)}₂](ClO₄)₂ (IV), [Pd(CH₂Py)(acac)(PPh₃)] (V), [Pd(CH₂Py)(dmdc)(PPh₃)] (VI), and [Pd(Ch₂Py)Cl(dppe)] (VII), respectively. Halogen abstraction from VII using silver perchlorate afforded an ionic complex [{Pd(CH₂Py)(dppe)}₂](ClO₄)₂ (VIII). It was concluded that the 2-picolyl groups in these eight complexes are σ-bonded to palladium, and that in the dinuclear complexes I, II, III, IV, and VIII, they serve as bridging ligands.     

[{Cp*(OC)2Re}2(μ‐POH)], ein Zweikernkomplex mit einem verbrückenden Hydroxiphosphiniden‐Liganden

[{Cp*(OC)₂Re}₂(μ‐POH)], a Dinuclear Complex with a Bridging Hydroxiphosphinidene Ligand The reaction of [{Cp*(OC)₂Re}₄(μ₄‐η¹ : η¹ : η¹ : η¹‐P₂)] ( 1 ) with 0.1 m HCl gives [{Cp*(OC)₂Re}₂(μ‐POH)] ( 2 ), the X‐ray crystal structure of which reveals a dinuclear rhenium complex with a μ‐POH (hydroxiphosphinidene) ligand.     

Zur Reaktivität von alkylthioverbrückten 44‐CVE‐triangularen Platinclustern: Umsetzungen mit bidentaten Phosphanliganden

On the Reactivity of Alkylthio Bridged 44 CVE Triangular Platinum Clusters: Reactions with Bidentate Phosphine Ligands The 44 cve (cluster valence electrons) triangular platinum clusters [{Pt(PR₃)}₃(μ‐SMe)₃]Cl (PR₃ = PPh₃, 2a ; P(4‐FC₆H₄)₃, 2b ; P(n‐Bu)₃, 2c ) were found to react with PPh₂CH₂PPh₂ (dppm) in a degradation reaction yielding dinuclear platinum(I) complexes [{Pt(PR₃)}₂(μ‐SMe)(μ‐dppm)]Cl (PR₃ = PPh₃, 3a ; P(4‐FC₆H₄)₃, 3b ; P(n‐Bu)₃; 3e ) and the platinum(II) complex [Pt(SMe)₂(dppm)] ( 4 ), whereas the addition of PPh₂CH₂CH₂PPh₂ (dppe) to cluster 2a afforded a mixture of degradation products, among others the complexes [Pt(dppe)₂] and [Pt(dppe)₂]Cl₂. On the other hand, the treatment of cluster 2a with PPh₂CH₂CH₂CH₂PPh₂ (dppp) ended up in the formation of the cationic complex [{Pt(dppp)}₂(μ‐SMe)₂]Cl₂ ( 5 ). Furthermore, the terminal PPh₃ ligands in complex 3a proved to be subject to substitution by the stronger donating monodentate phosphine ligands PMePh₂ and PMe₂Ph yielding the analogous complexes [{Pt(PR₃)}₂(μ‐SMe)(μ‐dppm)]Cl (PR₃ = PMePh₂, 3c ; PMe₂Ph, 3d ). NMR investigations on complexes 3 showed an inverse correlation of Tolmans electronic parameter ν with the coupling constants ¹J(Pt,P) and ¹J(Pt,Pt). All compounds were fully characterized by means of NMR and IR spectroscopy. X‐ray diffraction analyses were performed for the complexes [{Pt{P(4‐FC₆H₄)₃}}₂(μ‐SMe)(μ‐dppm)]Cl ( 3b ), [Pt(SMe)₂(dppm)] ( 4 ), and [{Pt(dppp)}₂(μ‐SMe)₂]Cl₂ ( 5 ).     

Iridium Complexes of 2,2′‐Bidipyrrins

The reaction of [{Ir(cod)(μ‐Cl)}₂] and K₂CO₃ or of [{Ir(cod)(μ‐OMe)}₂] alone with the non‐natural tetrapyrrole 2,2′‐bidipyrrin (H₂BDP) yields, depending on the stoichiometry, the mononuclear complex [Ir(cod)(HBDP)] or the homodinuclear complex [{Ir(cod)}₂(BDP)]. Both complexes react readily with carbon monoxide to yield the species [Ir(CO)₂(HBDP)] and [{Ir(CO)₂}₂(BDP)], respectively. The results from NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction reveal different conformations for the tetrapyrrolic ligand in both complexes. The reaction of [{Ir(coe)₂(μ‐Cl)}₂] with H₂BDP proceeds differently and yields the macrocyclic [4e^?,2H⁺]‐oxidized product [IrCl₂(9‐Meic)] (9‐Meic = monoanion of 9‐methyl‐9,10‐isocorrole), which can be addressed as an iridium analog of cobalamin.     

The Missing Parent Compound [(C5H5)Fe(η5-P5)]: Synthesis,Characterization, Coordination Behavior and Encapsulation

The so far missing parent compound of the large family of pentaphosphaferrocenes [CpFe(η⁵-P₅)] ( 1 b ) was synthesized by the thermolysis of [CpFe(CO)₂]₂ with P₄ using the very high-boiling solvent diisopropylbenzene. It was comprehensively characterized by, inter alia, NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray structure analysis, cyclic voltammetry and DFT computations. Moreover, its coordination behavior towards Cu^I halides was explored, revealing the unprecedented 2D polymeric networks [{CpFe(η^5:1:1:1:1-P₅)}Cu₂(μ-X)₂]_n ( 2 a : X=Cl, 2 b : X=Br) and [{CpFe(η^5:1:1-P₅)}Cu(μ-I)]_n ( 3 ) and even the first cyclo-P₅-containing 3D coordination polymer [{CpFe(η^5:1:1-P₅)}Cu(μ-I)]_n ( 4 ). The sandwich complex 1 b can also be incorporated in nano-sized supramolecules based on [Cp*Fe(η⁵-P₅)] ( 1 a ) and CuX (X=Cl, Br, I): [CpFe(η⁵-P₅)]@[{Cp*Fe(η⁵-P₅)}₁₂(CuX)_20-n] ( 5 a : X=Cl, n=2.4; 5 b : X=Br, n=2.4; 5 c : X=I, n=0.95). Thereby, the formation of the CuI-containing fullerene-like sphere 5 c is found for the first time.     

Dinuclear Manganese(II) Complexes with Bridging Selenidodiarsenate Anions [As2Se4]4−, [As2Se5]4− and [As2Se6]2−

Solvothermal reaction of [MnCl₂(amine)] (amine = terpy and tren) with elemental As and Se at a 1:1:2 molar ratio in H₂O/tren (10:1) affords the dimanganese(II) complexes [{Mn(terpy)}₂(μ‐As₂Se₄)] ( 1 ) and [{Mn(tren)}₂(μ‐As₂Se₅)] ( 2 ) respectively. The tetradentate [As₂Se₄]^4? bridging ligands in 1 contain a central As–As bond and exhibit approximately C_2h symmetry. Pairs of gauche sited Se atoms participate in five‐membered As₂Se₂Mn chelate rings. In contrast, two AsSe₃ pyramids share a common corner in the [As₂Se₅]^4? ligands of 2 and each coordinates an [Mn(tren)]²⁺ fragment through a single terminal Se atom. Such dinuclear complexes are linked into tetranuclear moieties through weak Se···Mn interactions of length 3.026(3) Å involving one of these terminal Se atoms. At a 1:3:6 molar ratio, solvothermal reaction of [MnCl₂(tren)] with As and Se leads to formation of a second dinuclear complex [{Mn(tren)}₂(μ‐As₂Se₆)₂] ( 3 ), which contains two bridging bidentate [As₂Se₆]^2? ligands. These are cyclic with an As₂Se₄ ring and can be regarded as being derived from [As₂Se₅]^4? anions by formation of two Se‐Se bonds to an additional Se atom.     

Distinct Stepwise Reduction of a Nickel?Nickel‐Bonded Compound Containing an α‐Diimine Ligand: From Perpendicular to Coaxial Structures

A nickel? nickel‐bonded complex, [{Ni(μ‐L^.?)}₂] ( 1 ; L=[(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)NC(Me)]₂), was synthesized from reduction of the LNiBr₂ precursor by sodium metal. Further controllable reduction of 1 with 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 equiv of Na, respectively, afforded the singly, doubly, and triply reduced compounds [Na(DME)₃] ? [{Ni(μ‐L^.?)}₂] ( 2 ; DME=1,2‐dimethoxyethane), [Na(Et₂O)]Na[(L^.?)Ni? NiL^2?] ( 3 ), and [Na(Et₂O)]₂Na[L^2?Ni? NiL^2?] ( 4 ). Here L represents the neutral ligand, L^.? denotes its radical monoanion, and L^2? is the dianion. All of the four compounds feature a short Ni? Ni bond from 2.2957(6) to 2.4649(8) Å. Interestingly, they display two different structures: the perpendicular ( 1 and 2 ) and the coaxial ( 3 and 4 ) structure, in which the metal? metal bond axis is perpendicular to or collinear with the axes of the α‐diimine ligands, respectively. The electronic structures, Ni? Ni bonding nature, and energetic comparisons of the two structure types were investigated by DFT computations.     

A Cationic Chlorido‐bridged Palladium(II) Complex of the Sterically Hindered Bis(4‐methylthiazolyl)isoindoline Ligand (4‐Mebti)

The treatment of chlorido[bis(4‐methylthiazolyl)isoindoline]palladium(II) [(4‐Mebti)PdCl] with sodium tetrakis[bis‐3,5(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]boranate Na[BAr^F] in the absence of donor ligands or solvents results in the exclusive formation of the dinuclear cationic complex [{(4‐Mebti)Pd}₂Cl]⁺ independent of the stoichiometry of the reactants. The new compound crystallizes either in the space group or in C2/c depending on the amount of co‐crystallized solvent. In both cases, the molecular structure of the dinuclear cation reveals a sterically crowded situation with the Pd²⁺ ion bound in a non‐planar coordination environment. In solution, [{(4‐Mebti)Pd}₂Cl]⁺ reacts with acetonitrile to form the neutral [(4‐Mebti)PdCl] and an equilibrium mixture of different complexes, from which the mononuclear species [(4‐Mebti)Pd(NCCH₃)]⁺ can be isolated as the pure BAr^F derivative.     

Dinuclear cyclopalladated azobenzene complexes: a comparative study on model compounds for organometallic liquid‐crystalline materials

The series of dinuclear 4,4′‐bis(hexyloxy)azobenzene, [H(Azo‐6)], cyclopalladated complexes of general formula [Azo‐6)Pd(µ‐X)]₂, (X = Cl, Br, I, N₃, SCN, OAc) and [Azo‐6)₂Pd₂(µ‐Ox)] (Ox = oxalate) have been synthesized and investigated for mesomorphism and spectroscopic properties. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of the dinuclear bromo‐ and iodo‐bridged complexes has been performed. The structural data, compared with those of the known homologous chloro compound, show that all the [Azo‐6)Pd(µ‐X)]₂)] (X = Cl, Br, I) molecules crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c and are isomorphous. They are arranged in slipped pairs with intermolecular non‐bonding Pd–Pd contacts ranging from 3.668(1) Å(X = Cl) to 3.758(3) Å(X = I). The different nature of the bridging group allows variation of the distance between the palladium atoms and the bond environment experienced by the metal centers. Thus, this comparative study reveals that the effectiveness of the bridging group in promoting thermotropic mesophases is greater for chloride, bromide, azide or oxalate than for iodide, thiocyanate or acetate. The greatest range of liquid‐crystal behavior was displayed by [Azo−6)₂Pd₂(µ−Ox)]. Remarkably, this compound is the first example of a metallomesogen containing the bridging oxalate group. The bimetallic complexes exhibit different absorption spectra (i.e. colors) depending, in general terms, on the nature of the bridge connecting the two cyclometalated [H(Azo‐6)] moieties, which can be varied so as to tune the optical properties. Blocking the azo group in the trans position results in several cases in weakly luminescent complexes, with luminescence efficiencies ϕ ≈10⁻⁴ and luminescence lifetimes of the order of nanoseconds. Using the data obtained from the 4,4′‐bis(hexyloxy)azoxybenzene [H(Azoxy‐6)] derivative, [Azoxy‐6)Pd(µ<?tf="ps2b61">‐Cl)]₂, from the mononuclear acetylacetonate (acac) complexes [(Azo‐6)Pd(acac)] and [(Azoxy‐6)Pd(acac)], and from the uncomplexed [H(Azo‐6)] and [H(Azoxy‐6)] ligands, the nature of the excited states relevant to the photophysical behavior are discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Manganese(II) Complexes with Bridging Selenidoarsenate(III) Anions [AsSe2(Se2)]3− and [(AsSe2)2(μ‐Se2)]4−

Solvothermal reaction of [MnCl₂(terpy)] with elemental As and Se at a 1:1:2 molar ratio in H₂O/trien (10:1) at 150 °C affords the linear trimanganese(II) complex [{Mn(terpy)}₃(μ‐AsSe₄)₂] ( 1 ). The tridentate [AsSe₂(Se₂)]^3? anions of 1 chelate the terminal {Mn(terpy)}²⁺ fragments and bridge these through their remaining Se atom to the central {Mn(terpy)}²⁺ moiety. Weak interactions of Mn1···Se and Mn3···Se bonds with length 2.914(7) and 3.000(7) Å link the molecules of 1 into infinite chains. Treatment of [MnCl₂(cyclam)]Cl with As and Se at a 1:1:2 molar ratio in superheated H₂O/CH₃OH (1:1) at 150 °C yields the dinuclear complex [{Mn(cyclam)}₂ (μ‐As₂Se₆)] ( 2 ), whose novel [(AsSe₂)₂(μ‐Se₂)]^4? ligands bridge the Mn^II atoms in a μ‐1κ²Se¹, Se²: 2κ²Se⁵,Se⁶ manner.     

Efficient Rhodium‐Catalyzed Multicomponent Reaction for the Synthesis of Novel Propargylamines

[{Rh(μ‐Cl)(H)₂(IPr)}₂] (IPr = 1,3‐bis‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazole‐2‐ylidene) was found to be an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of novel propargylamines by a one‐pot three‐component reaction between primary arylamines, aliphatic aldehydes, and triisopropylsilylacetylene. This methodology offers an efficient synthetic pathway for the preparation of secondary propargylamines derived from aliphatic aldehydes. The reactivity of [{Rh(μ‐Cl)(H)₂(IPr)}₂] with amines and aldehydes was studied, leading to the identification of complexes [RhCl(CO)IPr(MesNH₂)] (MesNH₂ = 2,4,6‐trimethylaniline) and [RhCl(CO)₂IPr]. The latter shows a very low catalytic activity while the former brought about reaction rates similar to those obtained with [{Rh(μ‐Cl)(H)₂(IPr)}₂]. Besides, complex [RhCl(CO)IPr(MesNH₂)] reacts with an excess of amine and aldehyde to give [RhCl(CO)IPr{MesN?CHCH₂CH(CH₃)₂}], which was postulated as the active species. A mechanism that clarifies the scarcely studied catalytic cycle of A₃‐coupling reactions is proposed based on reactivity studies and DFT calculations.     

Zur Reaktion der Alkin‐Kupfer(I)‐Komplexe [CuX(S‐Alkin)] (X = Cl,Br, I; S‐Alkin = 3,3,6,6‐Tetramethyl‐1‐thia‐4‐cycloheptin) mit den Phosphanen PMe3 und Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2 (dppe)

Organometallic Compounds of Copper. XVIII. On the Reaction of the Alkyne Copper(I) Complexes [CuX(S‐Alkyne)] (X = Cl, Br, I; S‐Alkyne = 3,3,6,6‐Tetramethyl‐1‐thiacyclohept‐4‐yne) with the Phosphanes PMe₃ and Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂ (dppe) The alkyne copper(I) halide complexes [CuX(S‐Alkyne)]_n ( 2 ) ( 2 a : X = Cl, 2 b : X = Br, 2 c : X = I; S‐Alkyne = 3,3,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐thiacyclohept‐4‐yne; n = 2, ∞) add the phosphanes PMe₃ and Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂ (dppe) to form the mono‐ and dinuclear copper compounds [(S‐Alkyne)CuX(PMe₃)] ( 6 ) ( 6 a : X = Cl, 6 b : X = Br) and [(S‐Alkyne)CuX(μ‐dppe)CuX(S‐Alkyne)] ( 7 a : X = Cl, 7 b : X = Br, 7 c : X = I), respectively. By‐product in the reaction of 2 a with dppe is the tetranuclear complex [(S‐Alkyne)Cu(μ‐X)₂Cu(μ‐dppe)₂Cu(μ‐X)₂Cu(S‐Alkyne)] ( 8 ). In case of the compounds 7 prolonged reaction times yield the alkyne‐free dinuclear copper complexes [Cu₂X₂(dppe)₃] ( 9 ) ( 9 a : X = Cl, 9 b : X = Br, 9 c : X = I)). X‐ray diffraction studies were carried out with the new compounds 6 a , 6 b , 7 b , 8 , and 9 c .     

Dimanganese Bridging Borylene Complexes and their Reactions with Unsaturated Palladium(0) Complexes – Syntheses,Structures and Calculated Properties

The dimanganese bridging borylene complex [μ‐BMes {(η⁵‐C₅H₄Me)Mn(CO)₂}₂] was synthesized from Mes(Cl)BB(Cl)Mes and K[(η⁵‐C₅H₄Me)Mn(CO)₂H] at low temperature, providing a small sample after manual separation of crystals, allowing a perfunctory spectroscopic analysis, but affording conclusive X‐ray crystallographic structural data. The trimetallic bridging borylene complex [(μ³‐BCl){{(η⁵‐C₅H₄Me)Mn(CO)₂} {Pd(PCy₃)}₂}] was prepared by the addition of [Pd(PCy₃)₂] to a solution of [μ‐BCl{(η⁵‐C₅H₄Me)Mn(CO)₂}₂], affording pure crystals that were fully characterised including X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The structure is reconciled with detailed theoretical analysis for related model complexes, [(μ³‐BX){{(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Mn(CO)₂}{Pd(PMe₃)}₂}] (X = Me, Cl).     

The Nature of the UC Double Bond: Pushing the Stability of High‐Oxidation‐State Uranium Carbenes to the Limit

Treatment of [K(BIPM^MesH)] (BIPM^Mes={C(PPh₂NMes)₂}^2?; Mes=C₆H₂‐2,4,6‐Me₃) with [UCl₄(thf)₃] (1 equiv) afforded [U(BIPM^MesH)(Cl)₃(thf)] ( 1 ), which generated [U(BIPM^Mes)(Cl)₂(thf)₂] ( 2 ), following treatment with benzyl potassium. Attempts to oxidise 2 resulted in intractable mixtures, ligand scrambling to give [U(BIPM^Mes)₂] or the formation of [U(BIPM^MesH)(O)₂(Cl)(thf)] ( 3 ). The complex [U(BIPM^Dipp)(μ‐Cl)₄(Li)₂(OEt₂)(tmeda)] ( 4 ) (BIPM^Dipp={C(PPh₂NDipp)₂}^2?; Dipp=C₆H₃‐2,6‐iPr₂; tmeda=N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine) was prepared from [Li₂(BIPM^Dipp)(tmeda)] and [UCl₄(thf)₃] and, following reflux in toluene, could be isolated as [U(BIPM^Dipp)(Cl)₂(thf)₂] ( 5 ). Treatment of 4 with iodine (0.5 equiv) afforded [U(BIPM^Dipp)(Cl)₂(μ‐Cl)₂(Li)(thf)₂] ( 6 ). Complex 6 resists oxidation, and treating 4 or 5 with N‐oxides gives [{U(BIPM^DippH)(O)₂‐ (μ‐Cl)₂Li(tmeda)] ( 7 ) and [{U(BIPM^DippH)(O)₂(μ‐Cl)}₂] ( 8 ). Treatment of 4 with tBuOLi (3 equiv) and I₂ (1 equiv) gives [U(BIPM^Dipp)(OtBu)₃(I)] ( 9 ), which represents an exceptionally rare example of a crystallographically authenticated uranium(VI)–carbon σ bond. Although 9 appears sterically saturated, it decomposes over time to give [U(BIPM^Dipp)(OtBu)₃]. Complex 4 reacts with PhCOtBu and Ph₂CO to form [U(BIPM^Dipp)(μ‐Cl)₄(Li)₂(tmeda)(OCPhtBu)] ( 10 ) and [U(BIPM^Dipp)(Cl)(μ‐Cl)₂(Li)(tmeda)(OCPh₂)] ( 11 ). In contrast, complex 5 does not react with PhCOtBu and Ph₂CO, which we attribute to steric blocking. However, complexes 5 and 6 react with PhCHO to afford (DippNPPh₂)₂C?C(H)Ph ( 12 ). Complex 9 does not react with PhCOtBu, Ph₂CO or PhCHO; this is attributed to steric blocking. Theoretical calculations have enabled a qualitative bracketing of the extent of covalency in early‐metal carbenes as a function of metal, oxidation state and the number of phosphanyl substituents, revealing modest covalent contributions to U?C double bonds.     

Mono‐ and dinuclear oxime palladacycles bearing diphosphine ligands: An unusual coordination mode for dppe

Three new oxime‐based palladacycles, namely [Pd{C,N‐C₆H₄{C(Me)?NOH}‐2}(dppm)]ClO₄ ( 1 ), [Pd₂{C,N‐C₆H₄{C(Me)?NOH}‐2}₂(dppe)₂(μ‐dppe)](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 ) and [Pd{C,N‐C₆H₄{C(Me)?NOH}‐2}(dppmS₂)]ClO₄ ( 3 ), were synthesized by the reaction of dinuclear oxime complex [Pd{C,N‐C₆H₄{C(Me)?NOH}‐2}(μ‐Cl)]₂ with different diphosphine ligands (dppm, dppe and dppmS₂). The synthesized complexes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, ³¹P NMR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic methods and elemental analyses, and their molecular structures were elucidated using X‐ray crystallography. The structure of 2 is worthy of note as it is the first oxime palladacycle where there are both bridging (P–) and chelating (P^P) dppe ligands, giving rise to a dinuclear complex. The palladium atom is in a five‐coordinate, square pyramidal P₃NC environment, while in 3 the palladium atom is in a distorted square planar environment, coordinated by the oxime ligand and a chelating (S^S) dppmS₂ ligand. These complexes were employed as efficient catalysts for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction of several aryl bromides with phenylboronic acid. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds was also evaluated against human tumour cell lines (HT29, A549 and HeLa) using the MTT assay method. The results indicate that the dinuclear complex 2 has greater catalytic and anticancer activity in comparison with the mononuclear complexes 1 and 3 .     

Efficient zinc initiators supported by NNO‐tridentate ketiminate ligands for cyclic esters polymerization

A series of zinc benzylalkoxide complexes, [LⁿZn(μ‐OBn)]₂ (L = L ¹ H – L ⁵ H ), supported by NNO‐tridentate ketiminate ligands with various electron withdrawing‐donating subsituents have been synthesized and characterized. X‐ray crystal structural studies revealed that complexes 2b and 4b are dinuclear bridging through the benzylalkoxy oxygen atoms with penta‐coordinated metal centers. All the metal complexes have acted as efficient initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide (within 12 min, 0 °C). Remarkably, a molecular weight of PLLA up to 580,000 can be achieved using [(L⁵Zn(μ‐OBn)]₂ ( 5b ) as an initiator. The kinetic studies for the polymerization of L ‐lactide with complex 3b at ?10 °C corresponded to first‐order reactions in the monomer. The ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone, ε‐decalactone, β‐butyrolactone and their copolymer with complex 3b was investigated. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis, nucleic acid binding and cytotoxicity of oligonuclear ruthenium complexes containing labile ligands

We report the synthesis, nucleic acid binding and cytotoxicity of the complexes [Ru(terpy)(Me₂bpy)Cl]⁺, [Ru(terpy)(phen)Cl]⁺ and dinuclear [{Ru(terpy)Cl}₂(??-bb_n)]²⁺ {where Me₂bpy = 4,4??-dimethyl-2,2??-bipyridine; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; and bb_n = bis[4(4??-methyl-2,2??-bipyridyl)]-1,n-alkane, with n = 7, 10, 12, 14}. The complexes were isolated from the reaction of the [Ru(terpy)Cl₃] precursor with the respective bidentate and di-bidentate bridging ligands. The time-course UV?CVisible spectroscopy of the reaction of the mono- and dinuclear complexes with guanosine 5-monophosphate (GMP) showed the movement of the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) band to lower wavelengths, accompanied by a hypochromism effect. The formation of the aqua complex and phosphate-bound intermediates in the reaction were detected by the time-course ¹H NMR and ³¹P NMR experiments, which also demonstrated that the complex bound to the N7 guanine was the major product. The UV?CVisible and ¹H NMR studies showed no evidence of the interaction of the complexes with both adenosine 5-monophosphate (AMP) and cytidine 5-monophosphate (CMP). Cytotoxicity studies of these complexes against a murine leukemia L1210 cell line revealed that the dinuclear [{Ru(terpy)Cl}₂(??-bb_n)]²⁺ complexes were significantly more cytotoxic than mononuclear [Ru(terpy)(Me₂bpy)Cl]⁺. The [{Ru(terpy)Cl}₂(??-bb₁₄)]²⁺ complex appeared to be the most active (IC₅₀ = 4.2 ??M).     

Synthesis,Characterization, Catalytic and Antibacterial Activity of Two Series of Dinuclear Ruthenium Sulphoxide Complexes Using 5,5¢‐Methylenebis(pyridine) as Bis‐chelating Bridging Ligand

The reaction of a new heterocyclic bidentate N containing spacer, (ligand) 5,5′‐methylenebis(pyridine) with ruthenium sulphoxide precursors resulted, dinuclear complexes. We herein report three formulations; [{cis,fac‐RuCl₂(so)₃}₂(μ‐mbp)].3so; [{trans,mer‐RuCl₂(so)₃₂}₂(μ‐mbp)].3so and [{trans‐RuCl₄(so)}₂(μ‐mbp)]^2?[X]₂⁺; where so = dimethyl‐sulfoxide/tetramethylenesulfoxide; mbp = 5,5′‐methylenebis(pyridine) and [X]⁺ = [(dmso)₂H]⁺, Na⁺ or [(tmso)H]⁺. These complexes were characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, molar conductance measurement, magnetic susceptibility, FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C{¹H}‐NMR, electronic spectroscopy and FAB‐Mass spectrometry. Catalytic activity of these complexes has been investigated in hydrolysis of benzonitrile. All the complexes exhibit good antibacterial activity against gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli in comparison to Chloramphenicol.