(Tetramethyltetraazaannulene)chromium chloride: a highly active catalyst for the alternating copolymerization of epoxides and carbon dioxide

A tetramethyltetraazaannulene complex incorporating a chromium(III) metal center has been shown to be highly active toward the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and carbon dioxide to afford poly(cyclohexene carbonate) in the presence of [PPN]N3 [PPN+=bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium] as a cocatalyst. An asymptotical rate increase was observed, leveling at 2 equiv of cocatalyst with a maximum turnover frequency of 1300 h(-1) at 80 degrees C. A benefit of this new catalyst system over that of the previously studied less-active (salen)CrX system is that the (tmtaa)CrCl catalyst has a much lower propensity toward the formation of a cyclic carbonate byproduct throughout the copolymerization reaction.     

Studies of the carbon dioxide and epoxide coupling reaction in the presence of fluorinated manganese(III) acacen complexes: kinetics of epoxide ring-opening

Five-coordinate manganese(III) complexes of N, N'-bis(trifluoroacetylacetone)-1,2-ethylenediimine (tfacacen) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The presence of the electron-withdrawing -CF3 substituents enhances the electrophilicity of the metal center in these (tfacacen)MnX (X=Cl, N3, NCO, NCS) derivatives when compared with their (acacen)MnX (acacen=N, N'-bis(acetylacetone)-1,2-ethylenediimine) analogs. This is demonstrated by the increased propensity of the Mn(III) center in the tfacacen complexes to bind a sixth ligand. Binding studies were performed utilizing the upsilonN3 stretching frequency in (tfacacen)MnN3, which is sensitive to the coordination of a ligand at the vacant axial site. Of importance, cyclohexene oxide was shown to readily bind to (tfacacen)MnN3, thereby providing an opportunity for directly monitoring the dependence of the epoxide ring-opening process on the metal complex concentration. In this instance, as has been amply demonstrated in the (salen)CrX case, the ring opening of cyclohexene oxide was found to be second-order in [(tfacacen)MnN3], with an activation energy of 71.0+/-6.0 kJ/mol. In the presence of strongly coordinating anions or amine bases, the rate of epoxide ring opening by (tfacacen)MnN3 was greatly retarded. The manganese cyanate and thiocyanate complexes were examined in an effort to develop other initiators for epoxide ring opening which provide readily accessible infrared spectroscopic probes. Indeed, the thiocyanate ligand was found to be well-suited for monitoring the epoxide ring-opening reaction by infrared spectroscopy.     

Metal salen derivatives as catalysts for the alternating copolymerization of oxetanes and carbon dioxide to afford polycarbonates

Metal salen derivatives of chromium and aluminum, along with n-Bu4NX (X = Cl or N3) salts, have been shown to be effective catalysts for the selective coupling of CO2 and oxetane (trimethylene oxide) to provide the corresponding polycarbonate with only trace quantities of ether linkages. The formation of copolymer is suggested, based on circumstantial evidence, not to proceed via the intermediacy of trimethylene carbonate, which was observed as a minor product of the coupling reaction. For a reaction catalyzed by (salen)CrCl in the presence of n-Bu4NN3 as the cocatalyst, both matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy revealed an azide end group in the copolymer.     

Aluminum salen complexes and tetrabutylammonium salts: a binary catalytic system for production of polycarbonates from CO2 and cyclohexene oxide

A series of complexes of the form (salen)AlZ, where H2salen = N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-phenylenediimine and various other salen derivatives and Z = Et or Cl, have been synthesized. Several of these complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. An investigation of the utilization of these aluminum derivatives along with both ionic and neutral bases as cocatalysts for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide has been conducted. By studying the reactivity of these complexes for this process as substituents on the diimine backbone and phenolate rings are altered, we have observed that aluminum prefers electron-withdrawing groups on the salen ligands, thereby producing an electrophilic metal center to be most active toward production of polycarbonates from CO2 and cyclohexene oxide. For example, the complex derived from H2salen = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-ethylenediimine is essentially inactive when compared to the analogous derivative containing nitro substituents in the 3-positions of the phenolate groups. This is to be contrasted with the catalytic activity observed for the (salen)CrX systems, where electron-donating salen ligands greatly enhanced the reactivity of these complexes for the coupling of CO2 and epoxides. While (salen)AlZ complexes are capable of producing poly(cyclohexene oxide) carbonate with low amounts of polyether linkage along with small quantities of cyclic carbonate byproducts, their reactivities, covering a turnover frequency range of 5.2-35.4 mol of epoxide consumed/(mol of Al x h), are greatly reduced when compared to their (salen)CrX analogues under identical reaction conditions.     

Manganese(III) Schiff base complexes: chemistry relevant to the copolymerization of epoxides and carbon dioxide

Schiff base complexes of the form (acacen)Mn(III)X (acacen = N,N'-bis(acetylacetone)-1,2-ethylenediimine), where X = OAc, Cl, or N(3), have been evaluated for their ability to couple CO(2) and cyclohexene oxide in the presence of a variety of cocatalysts to provide cyclic or polycarbonates. These complexes proved to be ineffective at catalyzing this process; however, valuable information related to the coordination chemistry of these manganese Schiff bases was elucidated. Of importance, mechanistic findings as revealed by comprehensive studies involving structurally related (salen)CrX and (salen)CoX complexes strongly support the requirement of six-coordinate metal species for the effective copolymerization of CO(2) and epoxides. In the case of these Mn(III) complexes, it was determined that in chloroform or toluene solution a five-coordinate species was greatly favored over a six-coordinate species even in the presence of 20 equiv or more of various Lewis bases. Significantly epoxide monomers such as propylene oxide and cyclohexene oxide displayed no tendency to bind to these (acacen)MnX derivatives, even when used as solvents. Only in the case of excessive quantities of heterocyclic amines such as pyridine, DMAP, and DBU was spectral evidence of a six-coordinate Mn derivative observed in solution. X-ray crystal structures are provided for many of the complexes involved in this study, including the one-dimensional polymeric structures of [(acacen)MnOAc x 2H(2)O](n), [(acacen)MnN(3)](n) (mu(1,3)-N(3)), and a rare mixed bridging species [(acacen)MnN(3)](n) (mu(1,3)-N(3)/mu(1,1)-N(3)). In addition, a structure was obtained in which the unit cell contains both a (acacen)MnN(3)(DMAP) and a (acacen)MnN(3) species.     

Mechanistic aspects of the copolymerization reaction of carbon dioxide and epoxides,using a chiral salen chromium chloride catalyst

The air-stable, chiral (salen)Cr(III)Cl complex (3), where H(2)salen = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-salicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexene diamine, has been shown to be an effective catalyst for the coupling of cyclohexene oxide and carbon dioxide to afford poly(cyclohexenylene carbonate), along with a small quantity of its trans-cyclic carbonate. The thus produced polycarbonate contained >99% carbonate linkages and had a M(n) value of 8900 g/mol with a polydispersity index of 1.2 as determined by gel permeation chromatography. The turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) values of 683 g of polym/g of Cr and 28.5 g of polym/g of Cr/h, respectively for reactions carried out at 80 degrees C and 58.5 bar pressure increased by over 3-fold upon addition of 5 equiv of the Lewis base cocatalyst, N-methyl imidazole. Although this chiral catalyst is well documented for the asymmetric ring-opening (ARO) of epoxides, in this instance the copolymer produced was completely atactic as illustrated by (13)C NMR spectroscopy. Whereas the mechanism for the (salen)Cr(III)-catalyzed ARO of epoxides displays a squared dependence on [catalyst], which presumably is true for the initiation step of the copolymerization reaction, the rate of carbonate chain growth leading to copolymer or cyclic carbonate formation is linearly dependent on [catalyst]. This was demonstrated herein by way of in situ measurements at 80 degrees C and 58.5 bar pressure. Hence, an alternative mechanism for copolymer production is operative, which is suggested to involve a concerted attack of epoxide at the axial site of the chromium(III) complex where the growing polymer chain for epoxide ring-opening resides. Preliminary investigations of this (salen)Cr(III)-catalyzed system for the coupling of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide reveal that although cyclic carbonate is the main product provided at elevated temperatures, at ambient temperature polycarbonate formation is dominant. A common reaction pathway for alicyclic (cyclohexene oxide) and aliphatic (propylene oxide) carbon dioxide coupling is thought to be in effect, where in the latter instance cyclic carbonate production has a greater temperature dependence compared to copolymer formation.     

Comparative kinetic studies of the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and propylene oxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of chromium salen derivatives. In situ FTIR measurements of copolymer vs cyclic carbonate production

The catalysis of the reaction of carbon dioxide with epoxides (cyclohexene oxide or propylene oxide) using the (salen)Cr(III)Cl complex as catalyst, where H(2)salen = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexenediimine (1), to provide copolymer and cyclic carbonate has been investigated by in situ infrared spectroscopy. As previously demonstrated for the cyclohexene oxide/CO(2) reaction in the presence of complex 1, coupling of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide was found to occur by way of a pathway first-order in catalyst concentration. Unlike the cyclohexene oxide/carbon dioxide reaction catalyzed by complex 1, which affords completely alternating copolymer and only small quantities of trans-cyclic cyclohexyl carbonate, under similar conditions propylene oxide/carbon dioxide produces mostly cyclic propylene carbonate. Comparative kinetic measurements were performed as a function of reaction temperature to assess the activation barrier for production of cyclic carbonates and polycarbonates for the two different classes of epoxides, i.e., alicyclic (cyclohexene oxide) and aliphatic (propylene oxide). As anticipated in both instances the unimolecular pathway for cyclic carbonate formation has a larger energy of activation than the bimolecular enchainment pathway. That is, the energies of activation determined for cyclic propylene carbonate and poly(propylene carbonate) formation were 100.5 and 67.6 kJ.mol(-1), respectively, compared to the corresponding values for cyclic cyclohexyl carbonate and poly(cyclohexylene carbonate) production of 133 and 46.9 kJ.mol(-1). The small energy difference in the two concurrent reactions for the propylene oxide/CO(2) process (33 kJ.mol(-1)) accounts for the large quantity of cyclic carbonate produced at elevated temperatures in this instance.     

Role of the cocatalyst in the copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide utilizing chromium salen complexes

The mechanism of the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and carbon dioxide to afford poly(cyclohexylene)carbonate catalyzed by (salen)CrN3 (H2salen = N,N,'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-ethylene-diimine) in the presence of a broad range of cocatalysts has been studied. We have previously established the rate of copolymer formation to be very sensitive to both the electron-donating ability of the salen ligand and the [cocatalyst], where N-heterocyclic amines, phosphines, and ionic salts were effective cocatalysts. Significant increases in the rate of copolymerization have been achieved with turnover frequencies of approximately 1200 h(-1), thereby making these catalyst systems some of the most active and robust thus far uncovered. Herein we offer a detailed explanation of the role of the cocatalyst in the copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide catalyzed by chromium salen derivatives. A salient feature of the N-heterocyclic amine- or phosphine-cocatalyzed processes is the presence of an initiation period prior to reaching the maximum rate of copolymerization. Importantly, this is not observed for comparable processes involving ionic salts as cocatalysts, e.g., PPN+ X-. In these latter cases the copolymerization reaction exhibits ideal kinetic behavior and is proposed to proceed via a reaction pathway involving anionic six-coordinate (salen)Cr(N3)X- derivatives. By way of infrared and 31P NMR spectroscopic studies, coupled with in situ kinetic monitoring of the reactions, a mechanism of copolymerization is proposed where the neutral cocatalysts react with CO2 and/or epoxide to produce inner salts or zwitterions which behave in a manner similar to that of ionic salts.     

(Salen)CrIIIX catalysts for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxides: role of the initiator and cocatalyst

The copolymerization of CO(2) and cyclohexene or propylene oxide has been examined employing (salen)Cr(III)Nu complexes (Nu = Cl or N(3)) as catalysts. The addition of various cocatalysts, including phosphines and PPN+ or Bu4N+ Cl- salts serves to greatly enhance the rate of copolymer production. In these instances, the mechanism of the initiation step appears to be unimolecular in catalyst concentration, unlike the bimolecular process cocatalyzed by N-methylimidazole. The copolymers were produced with >95% carbonate linkages with TOFs in the range 39-494 mol epoxide consumed/mol Cr.h. In the presence of phosphine cocatalysts, no cyclic carbonate was produced as a byproduct.     

Copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and carbon dioxide using (salen)Co(III) complexes: synthesis and characterization of syndiotactic poly(cyclohexene carbonate)

Synthetic routes to a series of new (salen-1)CoX (salen-1 = N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-1,2-diaminoalkane; X = halide or carboxylate) species are described and the X-ray crystal structures of two (salen-1)CoX (salen- = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane; X = Cl, I) complexes are presented. (R,R)-(salen-)CoX (X = Cl, Br, I, OAc, pentafluorobenzoate (OBzF(5))) catalysts are active for the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and CO(2), yielding syndiotactic poly(cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC), a previously unreported PCHC microstructure. Variation of the salen ligand and reaction conditions, as well as the inclusion of [PPN]Cl ([PPN]Cl = bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride) cocatalysts, has dramatic effects on the polymerization rate and the resultant PCHC tacticity. Catalysts rac-(salen-)CoX (salen- = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-diaminopropane; X = Br, OBzF(5)) have high activities for CHO/CO(2) copolymerization, yielding syndiotactic PCHCs with up to 81% r-centered tetrads. Using Bernoullian statistical methods, PCHC tetrad and triad sequences were assigned in the (13)C NMR spectra of these polymers in the carbonyl and methylene regions, respectively.     

Polymer-supported salen complexes for heterogeneous asymmetric synthesis: Stability and selectivity

This paper details the enantioselective performance of styrene/divinylbenzene-supported Mn- and Cr-based salen complexes for the epoxidation of olefins and the ring-opening of epoxides to azido-silyl ethers. The Mn catalyst produced the epoxides of 1,2-dihydronaphthalene, styrene, and cis-β-methylstyrene with enantiomeric excesses (ee's) of 46, 9, and 79%, respectively. For the Cr catalyst, the enantioselective ring-opening of epoxyhexane, propylene oxide, and cyclohexene oxide with trimethylsilyl azide proceeded with ee's of 34, 36, and 6%, respectively. Upon recycle of these heterogeneous catalysts, a degradation process was noted for the Mn-catalyst under the conditions for epoxidation that resulted in oxidation and decomposition of the ligand. This process also affects the homogeneous catalyst, thereby limiting the recyclability of both the homogeneous Mn catalyst and its heterogenized version for this reaction. The Cr-catalyzed reaction to ring-open epoxides employs milder conditions and allowed reuse of the heterogeneous catalyst without loss of activity or enantioselectivity through three runs with epoxyhexane. During reaction, the leaching of Cr from the heterogeneous catalyst is less than 0.1%, suggesting possible reuse of the catalyst over hundreds of cycles before reloading the polymer-supported salen ligand with metal would be necessary. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 3888–3898, 1999     

Two novel cyanide-bridged bimetallic magnetic chains derived from manganese(III) Schiff bases and hexacyanochromate(III) building blocks

Two novel complexes, [{Mn(salen)}(2){Mn(salen)(CH(3)OH)}{Cr(CN)(6)}](n)·2nCH(3)CN·nCH(3)OH (1) and [Mn(5-Clsalmen)(CH(3)OH)(H(2)O)](2n)[{Mn(5-Clsalmen)(μ-CN)}Cr(CN)(5)](n)·5.5nH(2)O (2) (salen(2-) = N,N'-ethylene-bis(salicylideneiminato) dianion; 5-Clsalmen(2-) = N,N'-(1-methylethylene)-bis(5-chlorosalicylideneiminato) dianion), were synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The structural analyses show that complex 1 consists of one-dimensional (1D) alternating chains formed by the [{Cr(CN)(6)}{Mn(salen)}(4){Mn(salen)(CH(3)OH)}(2)](3+) heptanuclear cations and [Cr(CN)(6)](3-) anions. While in complex 2, the hexacyanochromate(III) anion acts as a bis-monodentate ligand through two trans-cyano groups to bridge two [Mn(5-Clsalmen)](+) cations to form a straight chain. The magnetic analysis indicates that complex 1 shows three-dimensional (3D) antiferromagnetic ordering with the Ne?el temperature of 5.0 K, and it is a metamagnet displaying antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic transition at a critical field of about 2.6 kOe at 2 K. Complex 2 behaves as a molecular magnet with Tc = 3.0 K.     

Copolymerization of Cyclohexene Oxide and CO(2) with a Chromium Diamine-bis(phenolate) Catalyst

A diamine-bis(phenolate) chromium(III) complex, {CrCl[O(2)NN'](BuBu)}(2) catalyzes the copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide with carbon dioxide. The synthesis of this metal complex is straightforward, and it can be obtained in high yields. This catalyst incorporates a tripodal amine-bis(phenolate) ligand, which differs from the salen or salan ligands typically used with Cr and Co complexes that have been employed as catalysts for the synthesis of such polycarbonates. The catalyst reported herein yields low molecular weight polymers with narrow polydispersities. Structural and spectroscopic details of this complex along with its copolymerization activity for cyclohexene oxide and carbon dioxide are presented.     

The influence of the metal (Al, Cr, and Co) and the substituents of the porphyrin in controlling the reactions involved in the copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon dioxide by porphyrin metal(III) complexes. 1. Aluminum chemistry

The reactivities of aluminum(III) complexes LAlX, where L = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (TFPP), and 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octaethylporphyirn (OEP) and X = Cl or OEt, have been studied with respect to their ability to homopolymerize propylene oxide (PO) and copolymerize PO and CO(2) to yield polypropylene oxide (PPO) and polypropylene carbonate (PPC), respectively, with and without the presence of a cocatalyst, namely, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) or a PPN(+) salt where the anion is Cl(-) or N(3)(-). In the presence of a cocatalyst (0.5 equiv), the TFPP complex is the most active in copolymerization to yield PPC, with the latter being effective even at 10 bar CO(2). An increase in the PPN(+)X(-)/[Al] ratio decreases the rate of PPC formation and favors the formation of propylene carbonate, (PC). Studies of the polymers formed in reactions involving Al-alkoxide initiators and PPN(+) salts by mass spectrometry indicate that one chain is grown per Al center. These results are compared with earlier studies where the reactions display first order kinetics in the metal complex.     

General synthesis of (salen)ruthenium(III) complexes via N...N coupling of (salen)ruthenium(VI) nitrides

Reaction of [Ru (VI)(N)(L (1))(MeOH)] (+) (L (1) = N, N'-bis(salicylidene)- o-cyclohexylenediamine dianion) with excess pyridine in CH 3CN produces [Ru (III)(L (1))(py) 2] (+) and N 2. The proposed mechanism involves initial equilibrium formation of [Ru (VI)(N)(L (1))(py)] (+), which undergoes rapid N...N coupling to produce [(py)(L (1))Ru (III) N N-Ru (III)(L (1))(py)] (2+); this is followed by pyridine substituion to give the final product. This ligand-induced N...N coupling of Ru (VI)N is utilized in the preparation of a series of new ruthenium(III) salen complexes, [Ru (III)(L)(X) 2] (+/-) (L = salen ligand; X = H 2O, 1-MeIm, py, Me 2SO, PhNH 2, ( t )BuNH 2, Cl (-) or CN (-)). The structures of [Ru (III)(L (1))(NH 2Ph) 2](PF 6) ( 6), K[Ru (III)(L (1))(CN) 2] ( 9), [Ru (III)(L (2))(NCCH 3) 2][Au (I)(CN) 2] ( 11) (L (2) = N, N'-bis(salicylidene)- o-phenylenediamine dianion) and [N ( n )Bu 4][Ru (III)(L (3))Cl 2] ( 12) (L (3) = N, N'-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine dianion) have been determined by X-ray crystallography.     

手性（Salen)CO催化的末端环氧化合物水解动力学拆对反应在手性药物合成中的应用

用手性(Salen)Co催化剂催化的外消旋末端环氧化合物的水解动力学拆分反应 所得的手性末端环氧化合物和各种取代的胺和烷氧负离子反应，可得到光学纯的β -胺基醇和β-烷氧基醇类化合物，这两类化合物是重要的生物活性分子．此方法应 用到手性药物T-588(治疗老年痴呆症药)和盐酸左旋沙丁胺醇(治疗哮喘药)的全合 成．     

Cyclohexene oxide/CO2 copolymerization catalyzed by chromium(III) salen complexes and N-methylimidazole: effects of varying salen ligand substituents and relative cocatalyst loading

A detailed mechanistic study into the copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide utilizing CrIII(salen)X complexes and N-methylimidazole, where H2salen = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-ethylenediimine and other salen derivatives and X = Cl or N3, has been conducted. By studying salen ligands with various groups on the diimine backbone, we have observed that bulky groups oriented perpendicular to the salen plane reduce the activity of the catalyst significantly, while such groups oriented parallel to the salen plane do not retard copolymer formation. This is not surprising in that the mechanism for asymmetric ring opening of epoxides was found to occur in a bimetallic fashion, whereas these perpendicularly oriented groups along with the tert-butyl groups on the phenolate rings produce considerable steric requirements for the two metal centers to communicate and thus initiate the copolymerization process. It was also observed that altering the substituents on the phenolate rings of the salen ligand had a 2-fold effect, controlling both catalyst solubility as well as electron density around the metal center, producing significant effects on the rate of copolymer formation. This and other data discussed herein have led us to propose a more detailed mechanistic delineation, wherein the rate of copolymerization is dictated by two separate equilibria. The first equilibrium involves the initial second-order epoxide ring opening and is inhibited by excess amounts of cocatalyst. The second equilibrium involves the propagation step and is enhanced by excess cocatalyst. This gives the [cocatalyst] both a positive and negative effect on the overall rate of copolymerization.     

Cr(N)Cl4]2-: a simple nitrido complex synthesized by nitrogen-atom transfer

A new general route to nitrido complexes of Cr(V) based on nitrogen-atom transfer from Mn(N)(salen) to labile CrCl3(THF)3 is presented. By this approach, the simplest nitrido complex of a first row transition metal, [Cr(N)Cl4]2-, has been synthesized and isolated. [[N(CH3)4]2[Cr(N)Cl4].H2O crystallizes in the cubic space group Fm-3m with disordered anions. Cr-N is 1.555(19) A, Cr-Cl is 2.2912(16) A, and N-Cr-Cl is 101.24(4) degrees . The orbital splitting scheme of [Cr(N)Cl4]2- is extreme with the dx2-y2 orbital 10 000 cm-1 lower in energy than the degenerate {dzx, dyz} set of orbitals destabilized by pi-bonding with the nitrido ligand. Hydrolysis of [Cr(N)Cl4]2 preserves the {CrN}2+ moiety.     

Dinuclear iron(II)-cyanocarbonyl complexes linked by two/three bridging ethylthiolates: relevance to the active site of [Fe] hydrogenases

Dinuclear iron(II)-cyanocarbonyl complex [PPN](2)[Fe(CN)(2)(CO)(2)(mu-SEt)](2) (1) was prepared by the reaction of [PPN][FeBr(CN)(2)(CO)(3)] and [Na][SEt] in THF at ambient temperature. Reaction of complex 1 with [PPN][SEt] produced the triply thiolate-bridged dinuclear Fe(II) complex [PPN][(CN)(CO)(2)Fe(mu-SEt)(3)Fe(CO)(2)(CN)] (2) with the torsion angle of two CN(-) groups (C(5)N(2) and C(3)N(1)) being 126.9 degrees. The extrusion of two sigma-donor CN(-) ligands from Fe(II)Fe(II) centers of complex 1 as a result of the reaction of complex 1 and [PPN][SEt] reflects the electron-rich character of the dinuclear iron(II) when ligated by the third bridging ethylthiolate. The Fe-S distances (2.338(2) and 2.320(3) A for complexes 1 and 2, respectively) do not change significantly, but the Fe(II)-Fe(II) distance contracts from 3.505 A in complex 1 to 3.073 A in complex 2. The considerably longer Fe(II)-Fe(II) distance of 3.073 A in complex 2, compared to the reported Fe-Fe distances of 2.6/2.62 A in DdHase and CpHase, was attributed to the presence of the third bridging ethylthiolate, instead of pi-accepting CO-bridged ligand as observed in [Fe] hydrogenases. Additionally, in a compound of unusual composition ([Na.(5)/(2)H(2)O][(CN)(CO)(2)Fe(mu-SEt)(3)Fe(CO)(2)(CN)])(n)((1)/(2)O(Et)(2))(n) (3), the Na(+) cations and H(2)O molecules combining with dinuclear [(CN)(CO)(2)Fe(mu-SEt)(3)Fe(CO)(2)(CN)](-) anions create a polymeric framework wherein two CN(-) ligands are coordinated via CN(-)-Na(+)/CN(-)-(Na(+))(2) linkages, respectively.     

X-Ray crystal structures of five-coordinate (salen)MnN3 derivatives and their binding abilities towards epoxides: chemistry relevant to the epoxide-CO2 copolymerization process

The synthesis of several (salen)MnN(3) complexes in good yields and purities were achieved by the reaction of manganese(iii) acetate and H(2)salen, followed by metathesis of the remaining acetate ligand with an aqueous solution of NaN(3). The X-ray structures of two derivatives, where salen = N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-ethylenediamine and N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexenediamine respectively, were determined. The complexes were shown to be monomeric 5-coordinate derivatives displaying a distorted square pyramidal geometry, and to be d(4) high-spin derivatives by solution magnetic moment measurements using the Evans method. Binding studies of the (salen)MnN(3) derivatives with added azide ions or cyclohexene oxide showed these complexes to have modest affinities for binding a sixth ligand. These observations are used to rationalize the low activity exhibited by manganese(iii) complexes relative to their chromium(iii) and cobalt(iii) analogs for serving as catalysts for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxides.