Bonding in Diborane–Metal Complexes: A Quantum‐Chemical and Experimental Study of Complexes Featuring Early and Late Transition Metals

The coordination chemistry of the doubly base‐stabilised diborane(4), [HB(hpp)]₂ (hpp=1,3,4,6,7,8‐hexahydro‐2H‐pyrimido‐[1,2‐a]pyrimidinate), was extended by the synthesis of new late transition‐metal complexes containing Cu^I and Rh^I fragments. A detailed experimental study was conducted and quantum‐chemical calculations on the metal–ligand bonding interactions for [HB(hpp)]₂ complexes of Group 6, 9, 11 and 12 metals revealed the dominant B? H? M interactions in the case of early transition‐metal fragments, whereas the B? B? M bonding prevails in the case of the late d‐block compounds. These findings support the experimental results as reflected by the IR and NMR spectroscopic parameters of the investigated compounds. DFT calculations on [MeB(hpp)]₂ and model reactions between [B₂H₄ ? 2NMe₃] and [Rh(μ‐Cl)(C₂H₄)₂] showed that the bicyclic guanidinate allows in principle for an oxidative addition of the B? B bond. However, the formation of σ‐complexes is thermodynamically favoured. The results point to the selective B? H or B? B bond‐activation of diborane compounds by complexation, depending on the chosen transition‐metal fragment.     

Theoretical study on the interactions of halogen‐bonds and pnicogen‐bonds in phosphine derivatives with Br2, BrCl,and BrF

The MP2 ab initio quantum chemistry methods were utilized to study the halogen‐bond and pnicogen‐bond system formed between PH₂X (X = Br, CH₃, OH, CN, NO₂, CF₃) and BrY (Y = Br, Cl, F). Calculated results show that all substituent can form halogen‐bond complexes while part substituent can form pnicogen‐bond complexes. Traditional, chlorine‐shared and ion‐pair halogen‐bonds complexes have been found with the different substituent X and Y. The halogen‐bonds are stronger than the related pnicogen‐bonds. For halogen‐bonds, strongly electronegative substituents which are connected to the Lewis acid can strengthen the bonds and significantly influenced the structures and properties of the compounds. In contrast, the substituents which connected to the Lewis bases can produce opposite effects. The interaction energies of halogen‐bonds are 2.56 to 32.06 kcal·mol^?1; The strongest halogen‐bond was found in the complex of PH₂OH???BrF. The interaction energies of pnicogen‐bonds are in the range 1.20 to 2.28 kcal·mol^?1; the strongest pnicogen‐bond was found in PH₂Br???Br₂ complex. The charge transfer of lp(P) ? σ*(Br? Y), lp(F) ? σ*(Br? P), and lp(Br) ? σ*(X? P) play important roles in the formation of the halogen‐bonds and pnicogen‐bonds, which lead to polarization of the monomers. The polarization caused by the halogen‐bond is more obvious than that by the pnicogen‐bond, resulting in that some halogen‐bonds having little covalent character. The symmetry adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) energy decomposition analysis showes that the halogen‐bond and pnicogen‐bond interactions are predominantly electrostatic and dispersion, respectively.     

Transition Metal Complexation of σ Bonds

The first σ complexes were found in the 1960s and 1970s, but they did not attract more than passing attention. Only now are we beginning to recognize their key role in the chemical reactions of σ bonds, and this has encouraged more detailed study. In contrast with the more familiar π-donor complexes such as M? (CH₂?CH₂) and complexes like M? NH₃, in which the one pair of electrons on the N atom is bound to the metal atom, in a σ complex an X? H group binds to the transition metal atom; the X? H σ-bonding electron pair acts as a 2e donor to give an (X-H)-M type complex. Dihydrogen complexes (X = H) are one important group of σ complexes. C-H-M complexes (X = R₃C) with an agostic C-H-M interaction have not only been found in the ground state but also implicated in the transition states of many important organometallic transformations such as Ziegler–Natta catalysis and sigma bond metathesis. The importance of X? H bond activation will encourage continued growth in this field.     

Ab initio and AIM studies on typical π‐type and pseudo‐π‐type halogen bonds: Comparison with hydrogen bonds

Series of typical π‐type and pseudo‐π‐type halogen‐bonded complexes B ··· ClY and B ··· BrY and hydrogen‐bonded complex B ··· HY (B = C₂H₄, C₂H₂, and C₃H₆; Y = F, Cl, and Br) have been investigated using the MP2/aug‐cc‐pVDZ method. A striking parallelism was found in the geometries, vibrational frequencies, binding energies, and topological properties between B ··· XY and B ··· HY (X = Cl and Br). It has been found that the lengths of the weak bond d(X ··· π)/d(H ··· π), the frequencies of the weak bond ν(X ··· π)/ν(H ··· π), the frequency shifts Δν(X? Y)/Δν(H? Y), the electron densities at the bond critical point of the weak bonds ρ_c(X ··· π)/ρ_c(H ··· π), and the electron density changes Δρ_c(X? Y)/Δρ_c(H? Y) could be used as measures of the strengths of typical π‐type and pseudo‐π‐type halogen/hydrogen bonds. The typical π‐type and pseudo‐π‐type halogen bond and hydrogen bond are noncovalent interactions. For the same Y, the halogen bond strengths are in the order B ··· ClY < B ··· BrY. For the same X, the halogen bond strength decreases according to the sequence F > Cl > Br that is in agreement with the hydrogen bond strengths B ··· HF > B ··· HCl > B ··· HBr. All of these typical π‐type and pseudo‐π‐type hydrogen‐bonded and halogen‐bonded complexes have the “conflict‐type” structure. Contour maps of the Laplacian of π electron density indicate that the formation of B ··· XY halogen‐bonded complex and B ··· HY hydrogen‐bonded complex is very similar. Charge transfer is observed from B to XY/HY and both the dipolar polarization and the volume of the halogen atom or hydrogen atom decrease on B ··· XY/B ··· HY complex formation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Homolytic Cleavage of a B−B Bond by the Cooperative Catalysis of Two Lewis Bases: Computational Design and Experimental Verification

Density functional theory (DFT) investigations revealed that 4‐cyanopyridine was capable of homolytically cleaving the B?B σ bond of diborane via the cooperative coordination to the two boron atoms of the diborane to generate pyridine boryl radicals. Our experimental verification provides supportive evidence for this new B?B activation mode. With this novel activation strategy, we have experimentally realized the catalytic reduction of azo‐compounds to hydrazine derivatives, deoxygenation of sulfoxides to sulfides, and reduction of quinones with B₂(pin)₂ at mild conditions.     

1‐Azonia‐2‐boratanaphthalenes

The 1‐azonia‐2‐boratanaphthalenes (NH)(BX)C₈H₆ can be synthesized from 2‐aminostyrene and the dihaloboranes XBHal₂ ( 1 ‐ 4 : X = Cl, Br, iPr, tBu). Further derivatives (NH)(BX)C₈H₆ are obtained from 1 by replacing Cl by alkoxy or alkyl groups [ 5 ‐ 8 : X = OMe, OtBu, Me, (CH₂)₃NMe₂]. The hydrolysis of 1 gives a mixture of the bis(azoniaboratanaphthyl) oxide [(NH)BC₈H₆]₂O ( 9 ) and the hydroxy derivative (NH)[B(OH)]C₈H₆ ( 10 ). The diboryl oxide 9 crystallizes in the space group C2/c. The lithiation of 4 at the nitrogen atom gives [NLi(tmen)](BtBu)C₈H₆ ( 11 ), which upon reaction with the diborane(4) B₂Cl₂(NMe₂)₂ yields the 1, 2‐bis(azoniaboratanaphthyl)diborane B₂[N(BtBu)C₈H₆]₂(NMe₂)₂ ( 12 ). The 2‐chloro‐1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl derivative (NMe)(BCl)C₈H₅Ph ( 13 ) of the parent (NH)(BH)C₈H₆ can be synthesized from the aminoborane BCl₂(NMePh) and phenylethyne. Substitution of Cl in 13 gives the derivatives (NMe)(BX)C₈H₅Ph [ 14 ‐ 20 : X = N(SiMe₃)₂, Me, Et, iBu, tBu, CH₂SiMe₃, Ph] and the reaction of 13 with Li₂O affords the bis(azoniaboratanaphthyl) oxide [(NMe)BC₈H₅Ph]₂O ( 21 ). The reaction of 16 or 19 with [(MeCN)₃Cr(CO)₃] yields the complexes [{(NMe)(BX)C₈H₅Ph}Cr(CO)₃] ( 22 , 23 : X = Et, CH₂SiMe₃), in which the chromium atom is hexahapto bound to the homoarene part of 16 or 19 , respectively. The complex 23 crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c. Upon reaction of the phenols para‐C₆H₄R(OH) with the aryldichloroboranes ArBCl₂ and subsequent condensation of the products with phenylethyne, the 1‐oxonia‐2‐boratanaphthalenes O(BAr)C₈H₄RPh with R in position 6 and Ph in position 4 are formed ( 24 ‐ 26 : Ar = Ph, R = H, Me, OMe; 27 ‐ 29 : Ar = C₆F₅, R = H, Me, OMe). The azoniaboratanaphthalenes 1 ‐ 23 were characterized by NMR methods.     

Conversion of trans‐Diboran(4)yl Platinum Complexes into Their cis‐Bisboryl Analogues

The diboran(4)yl trans‐[(iPr₃P)₂Pt(Br){B(NMe₂)B(NMe₂)Br}] ( 1 ) is readily converted into its cis‐bisboryl analogues 2 and 3 by reaction with the chelating bisphosphines 1,2‐bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane (dcpe) and 1,1‐bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)methane (dcpm), respectively. A plausible mechanism of this transformation consists of a sequence of reductive diborane(4) elimination and subsequent reoxidative addition of its B? B bond to the low‐valent platinum centers. Thus, the forced cis configuration of the phosphine ligands induces a change in the preferred reaction site of the diborane(4) with respect to oxidative addition. The reactions proceed with high selectivities, and the cis‐bisboryl complexes 2 and 3 were isolated in moderate yields (55 and 46 %). Moreover, their identity was clearly verified by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction studies.     

Copper(II) and Manganese(II) Coordination Polymers of 5‐Aminobenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylic Acid (abdc) Ligand,Structural Studies of [Cu(μ4‐abdc) (DMF)]n and {[Mn(μ4‐abdc)(H2O)]·H2O}n

Two new two‐dimensional Cu^II and Mn^II coordination polymers of 5‐aminobenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylic acid (abdc) ligand, [Cu(μ₄‐abdc)(DMF)]_n and {[Mn(μ₄‐abdc)(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and IR‐ spectroscopy. The single crystal X‐ray analyses show that the coordination number in these complexes is six, CuO₅Cu and MnO₅N. The compounds are structurally diverse and the coordination polymer obtained from copper show significant copper–copper interaction while the manganese coordination polymer shows Mn–N_amino bond.     

Supramolecular Assemblies of (±-2,2''''-Dihydroxy-1,1''''-binaphthyl with 2,2''''-Bipyridine and Naphthodiazine

Introduction Optically active 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) and its derivatives have been widely used as chiral ligands of catalysts for asymmetric reactions and effective host compounds for the isolation or optical resolution of a wide range of organic guest molecules through the for-mation of crystalline inclusion complexes.1,2 The wide-ranging and important applications of these com-pounds in organic synthesis have stimulated great inter-est in developing efficient methods for their prepara-…     

Assessment of intermolecular interactions at three sites of the arylalkyne in phenylacetylene‐containing lithium‐bonded complexes: Ab initio and QTAIM studies

The intermolecular interactions existing at three different sites between phenylacetylene and LiX (X = OH, NH₂, F, Cl, Br, CN, NC) have been investigated by means of second‐order Møller?Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) calculations and quantum theory of “atoms in molecules” (QTAIM) studies. At each site, the lithium‐bonding interactions with electron‐withdrawing groups (? F, ? Cl, ? Br, ? CN, ? NC) were found to be stronger than those with electron‐donating groups (? OH and ? NH₂). Molecular graphs of C₆H₅C?CH···LiF and πC₆H₅C?CH···LiF show the same connectional positions, and the electron densities at the lithium bond critical points (BCPs) of the πC₆H₅C?CH···LiF complexes are distinctly higher than those of the σC₆H₅C?CH···LiF complexes, indicating that the intermolecular interactions in the C₆H₅C?CH···LiX complexes can be mainly attributed to the π‐type interaction. QTAIM studies have shown that these lithium‐bond interactions display the characteristics of “closed‐shell” noncovalent interactions, and the molecular formation density difference indicates that electron transfer plays an important role in the formation of the lithium bond. For each site, linear relationships have been found between the topological properties at the BCP (the electron density ρ_b, its Laplacian ?²ρ_b, and the eigenvalue λ₃ of the Hessian matrix) and the lithium bond length d(Li‐bond). The shorter the lithium bond length d(Li‐bond), the larger ρ_b, and the stronger the π···Li bond. The shorter d(Li‐bond), the larger ?²ρ_b, and the greater the electrostatic character of the π···Li bond. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Thermal Dehydrogenation of Base‐Stabilized B2H5+ Complexes and Its Role in CH Borylation

Thermally induced dehydrogenation of the H‐bridged cation L₂B₂H₅⁺ (L=Lewis base) is proposed to be the key step in the intramolecular C? H borylation of tertiary amine boranes activated with catalytic amounts of strong “hydridophiles”. Loss of H₂ from L₂B₂H₅⁺ generates the highly reactive cation L₂B₂H₃⁺, which in its sp²‐sp³ diborane(4) form then undergoes either an intramolecular C? H insertion with B? B bond cleavage, or captures BH₃ to produce L₂B₃H₆⁺. The effect of the counterion stability on the outcome of the reaction is illustrated by formation of LBH₂C₆F₅ complexes through disproportionation of L₂B₂H₅⁺ HB(C₆F₅)₃^?.     

Strong N−X⋅⋅⋅O−N Halogen Bonds: A Comprehensive Study on N‐Halosaccharin Pyridine N‐Oxide Complexes

A study of the strong N?X???^?O?N⁺ (X=I, Br) halogen bonding interactions reports 2×27 donor×acceptor complexes of N‐halosaccharins and pyridine N‐oxides (PyNO). DFT calculations were used to investigate the X???O halogen bond (XB) interaction energies in 54 complexes. A simplified computationally fast electrostatic model was developed for predicting the X???O XBs. The XB interaction energies vary from ?47.5 to ?120.3 kJ mol^?1; the strongest N?I???^?O?N⁺ XBs approaching those of 3‐center‐4‐electron [N?I?N]⁺ halogen‐bonded systems (ca. 160 kJ mol^?1). ¹H NMR association constants (K_XB) determined in CDCl₃ and [D₆]acetone vary from 2.0×10⁰ to >10⁸ m ^?1 and correlate well with the calculated donor×acceptor complexation enthalpies found between ?38.4 and ?77.5 kJ mol^?1. In X‐ray crystal structures, the N‐iodosaccharin‐PyNO complexes manifest short interaction ratios (R_XB) between 0.65–0.67 for the N?I???^?O?N⁺ halogen bond.     

New Routes to a Series of σ‐Borane/Borate Complexes of Molybdenum and Ruthenium

A series of agostic σ‐borane/borate complexes have been synthesized and structurally characterized from simple borane adducts. A room‐temperature reaction of [Cp*Mo(CO)₃Me], 1 with Li[BH₃(EPh)] (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, E=S, Se, Te) yielded hydroborate complexes [Cp*Mo(CO)₂(μ‐H)BH₂EPh] in good yields. With 2‐mercapto‐benzothiazole, an N,S‐carbene‐anchored σ‐borate complex [Cp*Mo(CO)₂BH₃(1‐benzothiazol‐2‐ylidene)] ( 5 ) was isolated. Further, a transmetalation of the B‐agostic ruthenium complex [Cp*Ru(μ‐H)BHL₂] ( 6 , L=C₇H₄NS₂) with [Mn₂(CO)₁₀] affords a new B‐agostic complex, [Mn(CO)₃(μ‐H)BHL₂] ( 7 ) with the same structural motif in which the central metal is replaced by an isolobal and isoelectronic [Mn(CO)₃] unit. Natural‐bond‐orbital analyses of 5–7 indicate significant delocalization of the electron density from the filled σ_B?H orbital to the vacant metal orbital.     

Resonance Character of Copper/Silver/Gold Bonding in Small Molecule⋅⋅⋅MX (X=F,Cl, Br,CH3, CF3) Complexes

The resonance character of Cu/Ag/Au bonding is investigated in B???M?X (M=Cu, Ag, Au; X=F, Cl, Br, CH₃, CF₃; B=CO, H₂O, H₂S, C₂H₂, C₂H₄) complexes. The natural bond orbital/natural resonance theory results strongly support the general resonance‐type three‐center/four‐electron (3c/4e) picture of Cu/Ag/Au bonding, B:M?X?B⁺?M:X^?, which mainly arises from hyperconjugation interactions. On the basis of such resonance‐type bonding mechanisms, the ligand effects in the more strongly bound OC???M?X series are analyzed, and distinct competition between CO and the axial ligand X is observed. This competitive bonding picture directly explains why CO in OC???Au?CF₃ can be readily replaced by a number of other ligands. Additionally, conservation of the bond order indicates that the idealized relationship b_B???M+b_MX=1 should be suitably generalized for intermolecular bonding, especially if there is additional partial multiple bonding at one end of the 3c/4e hyperbonded triad.     

Stabilization of Classical [B2H5]−: Structure and Bonding of [(Cp*Ta)2(B2H5)(μ‐H)L2] (Cp*=η5‐C5Me5; L=SCH2S)

The room‐temperature reaction of [Cp*TaCl₄] with LiBH₄?THF followed by addition of S₂CPPh₃ results in pentahydridodiborate species [(Cp*Ta)₂(μ,η²:η²‐B₂H₅)(μ‐H)(κ²,μ‐S₂CH₂)₂] ( 1 ), a classical [B₂H₅]^? ion stabilized by the binuclear tantalum template. Theoretical studies and bonding analysis established that the unusual stability of [B₂H₅]^? in 1 is mainly due to the stabilization of sp²‐B center by electron donation from tantalum. Reactions to replace the hydrogens attached to the diborane moiety in 1 with a 2 e {M(CO)₄} fragment (M=Mo or W) resulted in simple adducts, [{(Cp*Ta)(CH₂S₂)}₂(B₂H₅)(H){M(CO)₃}] ( 6 : M=Mo and 7 : M=W), that retained the diborane(5) unit.     

Zur Umsetzung von Kupfer(I)‐ und Kupfer(II)‐Salzen mit P(C6H4CH2NMe2‐2)3 ‐ die Festkörperstrukturen von {[P(C6H4CH2NMe2‐2)3]CuOClO3}ClO4, {[P(C6H4CH2NMe2‐2)3]Cu}ClO4, [P(C6H4CH2NMe2‐2)3]CuONO2 und [P(C6H4CH2NMe2‐2)2(C6H4CH2NMe2H+NO3‐‐2)]CuONO2

Reaction Behaviour of Copper(I) and Copper(II) Salts Towards P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃ ‐ the Solid‐State Structures of {[P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃]CuOClO₃}ClO₄, {[P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃]Cu}ClO₄, [P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃]CuONO₂ and [P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₂(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂H⁺NO₃^‐‐2)]CuONO₂ The reaction behaviour of P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃ ( 1 ) towards different copper(II) and copper(I) salts of the type CuX₂ ( 2a : X = BF₄, 2b : X = PF₆, 2c : X = ClO₄, 2d : X = NO₃, 2e : X = Cl, 2f : X = Br, 13 : X = O₂CMe) and CuX ( 5a : X = ClO₄, 5b : X = NO₃, 5c : X = Cl, 5d : X = Br) is discussed. Depending on X, the transition metal complexes [P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃Cu]X₂ ( 3a : X = BF₄, 3b : X = PF₆), {[P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃]CuX}X ( 4 : X = ClO₄, 11a : X = Cl, 11b : X = Br, 14 : X = O₂CMe), {[P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃]Cu}ClO₄ ( 6 ), [P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃]CuX ( 7a : X = Cl, 7b : X = Br, 10 : X = ONO₂), [P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₂(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂H⁺NO₃^‐‐2)]CuONO₂ ( 9 ) and [P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃]CuCl}CuCl₂ ( 12 ) are accessible. While in 3a , 3b and 6 the phosphane 1 preferentially acts as tetrapodale ligand, in all other species only the phosphorus atom and two of the three C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂ side‐arms are datively‐bound to the appropriate copper ion. In solution a dynamic behaviour of the latter species is observed. Due to the coordination ability of X in 3a , 3b and 6 non‐coordinating anions X^‐ are present. However, in 4 one of the two perchlorate ions forms a dative oxygen‐copper bond and the second perchlorate ion acts as counter ion to {[P(C₆H₄CH₂NMe₂‐2)₃]CuOClO₃}⁺. In 7 , 9 and 10 the fragments X (X = Cl, Br, ONO₂) form a σ‐bond with the copper(I) ion. The acetate moiety in 14 acts as chelating ligand as it could be shown by IR‐spectroscopic studies. All newly synthesised cationic and neutral copper(I) and copper(II) complexes are representing stable species. Redox processes are involved in the formation of 9 and 12 by reacting 1 with 2 . The solid‐state structures of 4 , 6 , 9 and 10 are reported. In the latter complexes the copper(II) ( 4 ) or copper(I) ion ( 6 , 9 , 10 ) possesses the coordination number 4. This is achieved by the formation of a phosphorus‐ and two nitrogen‐copper‐ ( 4 , 9 , 10 ) or three ( 6 ) nitrogen‐copper dative bonds and a coordinating ( 4 ) or σ‐binding ( 9 , 10 ) ligand X. In 6 all three nitrogen and the phosphorus atoms are coordinatively bound to copper, while X acts as non‐coordinating counter‐ion. Based on this, the respective copper ion occupies a distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere. While in 4 and 10 a free, neutral Me₂NCH₂ side‐arm is present, which rapidly exchanges in solution with the coordinatively‐bound Me₂NCH₂ fragments, this unit is protonated in 10 . NO₃^‐ acts as counter ion to the CH₂NMe₂H⁺ moiety. In all structural characterized complexes 6‐membered boat‐like CuPNC₃ cycles are present.     

Copper(II) Complexes of 3,4,5‐Trisubstituted Pyrazolates: In Situ Formation of Pyrazole Rings from Different Carbon Centers

The synthesis and characterization of two pyrazolate‐bridged dicopper(II) complexes, [Cu₂(L¹)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 , HL¹=3,5‐dipyridyl‐4‐(2‐keto‐pyridyl)pyrazole) and [Cu₂(L²)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 , HL²=3,5‐dipyridyl‐4‐benzoylpyrazole), are discussed. These copper(II) complexes are formed from the reactions between pyridine‐2‐aldehyde, 2‐acetylpyridine (for compound 1 ) or acetophenone (for compound 2 ), and hydrazine hydrate with copper(II) perchlorate hydrate under ambient conditions. The single‐crystal X‐ray structure of compound 1? 2 H₂O establishes the formation of a pyrazole ring from three different carbon centers through C? C bond‐forming reactions, mediated by copper(II) ions. The free pyrazoles (HL¹ and HL²) are isolated from their corresponding copper(II) complexes and are characterized by using various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. A mechanism for the pyrazole‐ring synthesis that proceeds through C? C bond‐forming reactions is proposed and supported by theoretical calculations.     

Synthesis,Structure, Bonding,and Reactivity of Metal Complexes Comprising Diborane(4) and Diborene(2): [{Cp*Mo(CO)2}2{μ‐η2:η2‐B2H4}] and [{Cp*M(CO)2}2B2H2M(CO)4], M=Mo,W

The reaction of [(Cp*Mo)₂(μ‐Cl)₂B₂H₆] ( 1 ) with CO at room temperature led to the formation of the highly fluxional species [{Cp*Mo(CO)₂}₂{μ‐η²:η²‐B₂H₄}] ( 2 ). Compound 2, to the best of our knowledge, is the first example of a bimetallic diborane(4) conforming to a singly bridged C_s structure. Theoretical studies show that 2 mimics the Cotton dimolybdenum–alkyne complex [{CpMo(CO)₂}₂C₂H₂]. In an attempt to replace two hydrogen atoms of diborane(4) in 2 with a 2e [W(CO)₄] fragment, [{Cp*Mo(CO)₂}₂ B₂H₂W(CO)₄] ( 3 ) was isolated upon treatment with [W(CO)₅?thf]. Compound 3 shows the intriguing presence of [B₂H₂] with a short B?B length of 1.624(4) Å. We isolated the tungsten analogues of 3 , [{Cp*W(CO)₂}₂B₂H₂W(CO)₄] ( 4 ) and [{Cp*W(CO)₂}₂B₂H₂Mo(CO)₄] ( 5 ), which provided direct proof of the existence of the tungsten analogue of 2 .     

Boron as an Electron‐Pair Donor for B⋅⋅⋅Cl Halogen Bonds

MP2/aug′‐cc‐pVTZ calculations were performed to investigate boron as an electron‐pair donor in halogen‐bonded complexes (CO)₂(HB):ClX and (N₂)₂(HB):ClX, for X=F, Cl, OH, NC, CN, CCH, CH₃, and H. Equilibrium halogen‐bonded complexes with boron as the electron‐pair donor are found on all of the potential surfaces, except for (CO)₂(HB):ClCH₃ and (N₂)₂(HB):ClF. The majority of these complexes are stabilized by traditional halogen bonds, except for (CO)₂(HB):ClF, (CO)₂(HB):ClCl, (N₂)₂(HB):ClCl, and (N₂)₂(HB):ClOH, which are stabilized by chlorine‐shared halogen bonds. These complexes have increased binding energies and shorter B?Cl distances. Charge transfer stabilizes all complexes and occurs from the B lone pair to the σ* Cl?A orbital of ClX, in which A is the atom of X directly bonded to Cl. A second reduced charge‐transfer interaction occurs in (CO)₂(HB):ClX complexes from the Cl lone pair to the π* C≡O orbitals. Equation‐of‐motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM‐CCSD) spin–spin coupling constants, ^1xJ(B‐Cl), across the halogen bonds are also indicative of the changing nature of this bond. ^1xJ(B‐Cl) values for both series of complexes are positive at long distances, increase as the distance decreases, and then decrease as the halogen bonds change from traditional to chlorine‐shared bonds, and begin to approach the values for the covalent bonds in the corresponding ions [(CO)₂(HB)?Cl]⁺ and [(N₂)₂(HB)?Cl]⁺. Changes in ¹¹B chemical shieldings upon complexation correlate with changes in the charges on B.     

Bismuth Undecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborane: A Retainable Intermediate of B−H Bond Activation by Bismuth(III) Cations

The [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? anion shows an extensive substitutional chemistry based on its three‐dimensional aromaticity. The replacement of functional groups can be attained by electrophilically induced substitution caused by Brønsted or Lewis acidic electrophiles (e.g. Pt²⁺). Until now, it was impossible to structurally characterize a metal‐substituted [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? cage. When an aqueous solution containing both Bi³⁺ cations and [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? anions was heated, the charge‐neutral bismuth undecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborane BiB₁₂H₁₁ was obtained, representing a new class of metalated [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? clusters. The title compound was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopic methods. Compared to the typical B?H bond, the short B?Bi single bond (230 pm) exhibits inverted polarity.