Synthesis and characterization of new, modified terphenyl ligands: Increasing the rotational barrier for flanking rings

The synthesis and characterization of some new terphenyl ligands, modified by meta alkyl substitution on the central ring are described. The new ligands were designed for potential applications in the stabilization of novel low valent main group species or transition metal heteronuclear multiply bonded compounds. Compounds (1), (3) (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl), (5) (Trip = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl) and (6) (Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) were obtained by addition of two equivalents of the corresponding aryl Grignard reagent to the benzyne intermediate generated by lithiation with BuⁿLi of the starting material 2,4-dichloro-5-isopropylcumene, followed by quenching with iodine. The lithium salts of 2 and 4 were obtained treatment of the parent terphenyl iodides with one equivalent of nBuLi. All compounds were isolated as either colorless crystals or as white powders. They were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and (in the case of 1 and 3) by X-ray crystallography. DFT calculations were performed on model terphenyl molecules in an attempt to estimate how much the rotation barriers of the flanking aryls can be influenced by substitution by alkyl groups of the two meta positions on central ring.     

Synthesis and application of novel ionic phosphine ligands with a cobaltocenium backbone

Six novel ionic phosphine ligands with a cobaltocenium backbone, 1,1′-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino) cobaltocenium hexafluorophosphate () (1a), 1,1′-bis(di-iso-propylphosphino) cobaltocenium hexafluorophosphate () (2a), 1,1′-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino) cobaltocenium hexafluorophosphate () (3a), and the monophosphine ligand (Cc⁺ = cobaltocenium; R = Cy, 1b; R = i-Pr, 2b; R = t-Bu, 3b) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. These ligands are air-stable and useful for Suzuki coupling reactions in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (), enabling high catalytic activity.     

Synthesis, characterization, and the role of counterion in stabilizing trigonal pyramidal copper(I)/2,2′bipyridine complexes containing electron-poor methyl acrylate

Copper(I)/2,2′-bipyridine complexes, [Cu^I(bpy)(π-CH₂CHCOOCH₃)][A] have been synthesized and characterized. These complexes are used in copper(I) mediated cyclopropanation and aziridination reactions of methyl acrylate and represent the first class of trigonal pyramidal copper(I) complexes with π-coordinated electron poor olefins. In the case of 1 and 3, weak coordination of the counterion was observed. The counterion was noncoordinating in complex 2, which was dimeric in the solid state with the oxygen atoms of the carbonyl moieties in methyl acrylate bridging two copper(I) centers.     

Ruthenium (II) complexes of the chelating phosphine borane H2ClB · dppm

Reaction of H₂ClB · PPh₂CH₂PPh₂ (H₂ClB · dppm) with results in displacement of all three acetonitrile ligands and the formation of (1), which has been characterised crystallographically. Reaction with carbon monoxide results in a change from η² to η¹ of the borane ligand to afford (2). Compound 1 undergoes H/D exchange under a D₂ atmosphere to afford , while 2 does not.     

Ruthenium-tin complexes from the reaction of HSnPh3 with Ru3(CO)10(NCMe)2 and their reactions with bis(tri-t-butylphosphine)platinum

The compounds Ru₃(CO)₉(SnPh₃)₂(NCMe)(μ-H)₂ (1), Ru₃(CO)₁₀(SnPh₃)₂(μ-H)₂ (2), Ru(CO)₄(SnPh₃)₂ (3) and Ru(CO)₄(SnPh₃)(H) (4) were obtained from the reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₀(NCMe)₂ with HSnPh₃ in hexane solvent. Compounds 1, 3 and the new compound Ru₃(CO)₇(SnPh₃)₃(NCMe)₂(μ-H)₃ (5) were obtained from reaction of Ru₃(CO)₁₀(NCMe)₂ with HSnPh₃ in a CH₂Cl₂ and MeCN solvent mixture. Compound 2 and the new compound Ru₃(CO)₉(SnPh₃)₃(μ-H)₃ (6) were obtained from reactions of 1 and 5 with CO, respectively. Compounds 2 and 6 eliminated benzene when heated to yield Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ-SnPh₂)₂ (7) and Ru₃(CO)₉(μ-SnPh₂)₃ (8) which contain bridging SnPh₂ ligands. Compound 7 was found to react with to yield the adduct, (9) in 59% yield by the addition of groups to two of the Ru-Sn bonds to the bridging SnPh₂ ligands. Fenske-Hall molecular orbital calculations were performed to provide an understanding of the metal-metal bonding in the clusters of 7 and 9. Compounds 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 9 were characterized structurally by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Palladium complexes with meso-bioxazoline ligands for alternating styrene/CO copolymerisation: Counterion effect

Two sets of mono- and dicationic palladium complexes (8) and (10), having and as counterions, were synthesised. The interionic structure of the methyl-acetonitrile complexes [Pd((R,S)-Bn-Box)(CH₃)(NCCH₃)](X) (8) in solution, was investigated by pulsed-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) diffusion measurements and (¹H, ¹⁹F)-HOESY NMR spectroscopy. A high degree of ion-pairing was found in each complex. The HOESY spectra showed that the and anions take up selective positions, on the side of the complex remote from the benzyl groups, but close to the acetonitrile ligand, while the triflate is, partially, occupying a pseudo fifth coordination position on the side of the cation remote from the two benzyl-groups. The complexes 8 and 10 were used as catalyst precursors for the copolymerisation of styrene with carbon monoxide, producing syndiotactic copolymers, with the exception of complex 10a, that led to isotactic copolymers.     

Transition metal carbene chemistry 2: kinetic studies on the nucleophilic substitution reactions of (CO)5MC(SCH3)CH3 (M = Cr and W) with morpholine in aqueous acetonitrile

Kinetic studies of the aminolysis of [methyl(thiomethyl)carbene]pentacarbonyl chromium(0),(CO)₅CrC(CH₃)(SCH₃) (1-Cr(S)) and [methyl(thiomethyl)carbene]pentacarbonyltungsten(0), (CO)₅WC(CH₃)(SCH₃) (1-W(S)), with morpholine, a secondary amine, in 50% acetonitrile-50% H₂O (v/v at 25 °C) is reported. The second-order rate constant (k_A in m⁻¹ s⁻¹) increases with amine concentration, giving a linear dependence with an intercept on the rate axis and a tendency towards leveling off at higher amine concentration. The reaction was found to undergo general base catalysis. The mechanism proposed is very similar to those for ester reactions, involving a nucleophilic addition of amine to the substrate to yield a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate in the first step, followed by deprotonation to form in the second step, which, in the third step, converted to product by H₂O and/or conjugate acid of the base (BH⁺), assisted MeS⁻ expulsion. The reactivity (k₁) of 1-W(S) was found to be higher than that of 1-Cr(S), whereas, comparable , water catalyzed and , BH⁺ catalyzed, leaving group departure were found for both the carbenes complexes. All these observations have been explained successfully.     

Reactions of pyridyl donors with halogens and interhalogens: an X-ray diffraction and FT-Raman investigation

Three different N-donors L, namely N-ethyl-N′-3-pyridyl-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (1), N,N′-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-imidazolidine-4,5-dione-2-thione (2), and tetra-2-pyridyl-pyrazine (3), bearing one, two and four pyridyl substituents, respectively, have been reacted with halogens X₂ (X = Br, I) or interhalogens XY (X = I; Y = Cl, Br). CT σ-adducts L · nXY, bearing linear N?XY moieties (L = 3; X = I; Y = Br, I; n = 2), and salts containing the protonated cationic donors H_nLⁿ⁺ (L = 1 − 3; n = 1, 2, 4), counterbalanced by Cl⁻, Br⁻, , , , , I₂Br⁻, , or anions, have been isolated. Among the reactions products, (H1⁺)Cl⁻, (H1⁺)Br⁻, , , and 3 · 2IBr have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The nature of the products has been elucidated based on elemental analysis and FT-Raman spectroscopy supported by MP2 and DFT calculations.     

Tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl versus tris(trimethylsilyl)germyl: Radical reactivity and oxidation ability

A comparison of the tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl I and tris(trimethylsilyl)germyl II radical reactivity is provided. Their formation as well as their reactivity encountered in a large variety of chemical processes (addition to double bond, halogen abstraction, peroxyl radical formation…) is examined by laser flash photolysis, quantum mechanical calculations and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments. The starting compound (TMS)₃GeH is more reactive than (TMS)₃SiH toward the t-butoxyl, the t-butylperoxyl and the phosphinoyl radicals. A similar behavior is noted for an aromatic ketone triplet state. II exhibits a lower absolute electronegativity: accordingly, the addition to electron rich alkenes is less efficient than for I. Radical II is also found less reactive for both the peroxylation and the halogen abstraction reactions. The rearrangement of is slower than for ; this is related to the respective exothermicity of the processes.     

Magnetic and transport properties of RCr0.3Ge2 (R=Tb, Dy, Ho and Er) compounds

The magnetic and transport properties of ternary rare-earth chromium germanides RCr_0.3Ge₂ (R=Y and Tb-Er) have been determined. X-ray and neutron diffraction studies indicate that these compounds have the CeNiSi₂-type structure (space group Cmcm) [1]. Magnetic measurements reveal the antiferromagnetic ordering below T_N equal to 18.5 K (R=Tb), 11.8 K (Dy), 5.8 K (Ho) and 3.4 K (Er). From the neutron diffraction data the magnetic structures have been determined. For TbCr_0.3Ge₂ and DyCr_0.3Ge₂ at low temperatures the magnetic ordering can be described by two vectors k₁=(,0,0) and k₂=(,0,), and k₁′=(,0,0) and k₂′=(,0,), respectively. In HoCr_0.3Ge₂ and ErCr_0.3Ge₂ the ordering can be described by one propagation vector equal to (,,0) and (0,0,0.4187(2)), respectively. In DyCr_0.3Ge₂ some change in the magnetic ordering is observed at T_t=5.1 K. In temperature range from T_t to T_N the magnetic ordering is given by one propagation vector k=(,0,0). YCr_0.3Ge₂ is a Pauli paramagnet down to 1.72 K which suggests that in the entire RCr_0.3Ge₂ series the Cr atoms do not carry magnetic moments. All compounds studied exhibit metallic character of the electrical conductivity. The temperature dependencies of the lattice parameters reveal strong magnetostriction effect at the respective Nèel temperatures.     

Tin(IV) complexes obtained by reacting 2-benzoylpyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones with SnCl4 and Ph2SnCl2

Reaction of 2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Bz4DH, HL1) and its N(4)-methyl (H2Bz4Me, HL2) and N(4)-phenyl (H2Bz4Ph, HL3) derivatives with SnCl₄ and diphenyltin dichloride (Ph₂SnCl₂) gave [Sn(L1)Cl₃] (1), [Sn(L1)PhCl₂] (2), [Sn(L2)Cl₃] (3), (4) [Sn(L3)PhCl₂] (5) and [Sn(L3)Ph₂Cl] (6). Infrared and ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra of 1-3, 5 and 6 are compatible with the presence of an anionic ligand attached to the metal through the N_py-N-S chelating system and formation of hexacoordinated tin complexes. The crystal structures of 1-3, 5 and 6 show that the geometry around the metal is a distorted octahedron formed by the thiosemicarbazone and either chlorides or chlorides and phenyl groups. The crystal structure of 4 reveals the presence of and trans [Ph₂SnCl₄]²⁻.     

Cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculations of silyl-substituted 1,4-benzoquinones

Cyclic voltammograms of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1a), 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(dimethylvinylsilyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1b), 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(dimethylsilyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (1c), 4,4,6,6,10,10,12,12-octamethyl-4,6,10,12-tetrasilatricyclo[7.3.0.0^3,7]dodeca-1(9),3(7)-diene-2,8-dione (1d), and 5-t-butyl-2-(pentamethyldisilanyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (5h) showed that the first reduction step was reversible and that the second step was irreversible. The first half-wave reduction potentials of 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d shifted negatively relative to 1,4-benzoquinone by −0.31, −0.24, −0.03, and −0.18 V, respectively. These results demonstrated that the electron-accepting ability of the chair-form quinones 1a and 1b was lower than that of the planar quinones 1c and 1d. The of 5h (−0.93 V vs. Ag/Ag⁺) was quite similar to that of 5-t-butyl-2-trimethylsilyl-1,4-benzoquinone (5a, −0.94 V). A cyclic voltammogram of dimethylsilylene-bridged 1,4-benzoquinone dimer 7 showed two kinds of (−0.76 and −0.94 V). The electrochemical behavior of 7 would be interpreted in terms of near-neighbor interactions between reduced and non-reduced quinone units. Theoretical calculations of the silyl-1,4-benzoquinones reproduced well the solid state structures of the compounds. Also, the computed vibrational frequencies of the silyl-1,4-benzoquinones were in good agreement with the IR absorption frequencies of the CO units in the compounds. The LUMO energy levels of the silyl-1,4-benzoquinones were quantitatively proportional to the .     

Preparation, crystal structures, EPR and reflectance spectra of two new charge-transfer salts, [CpFeCpCH2N(CH3)3]4[XMo12O40] · nCH3CN (n = 0 for X = P or n = 1 for X = Ge)

Two new charge-transfer salts, [CpFeCpCH₂N(CH₃)₃]₄[PMo₁₂O₄₀] · CH₃CN (1) and [CpFeCpCH₂N(CH₃)₃]₄[GeMo₁₂O₄₀] (2), were synthesized by the traditional solution synthetic method and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Salt 1 belongs to the triclinic space group P1, and salt 2 belongs to the triclinic space group . There exist the complex interactions of the cationic ferrocenyl donor and Keggin polyanion in the solid state. The solid state UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicate the presence of a charge-transfer band climbing from 450 nm to well beyond 900 nm for 1, a charge-transfer band from 460 to 850 nm with λ_max = 630 nm for 2.The EPR spectra of salts 1 and 2 at 77 K show a signal at g = 2.0048 and 1.9501, respectively, ascribed to the delocalization of one electron in reduced Keggin ion in salt 1 and the Mo^VI in [GeMo₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ is partly reduced to Mo^V owing to the charge-transfer transitions taking place between the ferrocenyl donors and the POM acceptors. The two compounds were also characterized by IR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.     

Crystal structures and spectroscopic properties of a new zinc phosphite cluster and an unexpected chainlike zinc phosphate obtained by hydrothermal reactions

A new zinc phosphite cluster, Zn₂(4,4′-dmbpy)₂(H₂PO₃)₄1, and a new chainlike zinc phosphate, Zn₂(5,5′-dmbpy)₂(HPO₄)(H₂PO₄)₂2, have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions (4,4′-dmbpy=4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridy, 5,5′-dmbpy=5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-dipyridy). Compound 1 is a molecular zinc phosphite constructed from ZnO₃N₂ trigonal bipyramids, H₂PO₃ pseudo-pyramids and 4,4′-dmbpy ligands. Compound 2 possesses a 1D chainlike framework constructed from ZnO₃N₂ trigonal bipyramids, HPO₄ tetrahedra, H₂PO₄ tetrahedra and 5,5′-dmbpy ligands. Both compounds 1 and 2 exhibit intensive photoluminescence originated from the intraligand π-π* transitions. Crystal data: 1, monoclinic, P2₁/n, , , , β=110.857(3)°, , Z=2, R1=0.0297, wR₁=0.0801; 2, triclinic, P-1, , , , α=64.995(9)°, β=65.952(9)°, γ=65.296(8)°, , Z=2, R₁=0.0418, wR₁=0.1010.     

The importance of cluster fragmentation in the catalytic hydrogenation of phenylacetylene by PtRu5 carbonyl cluster complexes

has been shown to be a catalyst precursor for the hydrogenation of PhC₂H to styrene and ethylbenzene. Three new organometallic products have been found in the catalyst solutions. These are , , and Ru₅(CO)₁₁(μ₄-CCHCPh)(μ₄-HC₂Ph)(μ₃-HC₂Ph) (6). Compounds 4-6 have been synthesized independently and structurally characterized and each one has been tested independently for its ability to produce hydrogenation of PhC₂H catalytically. Compound 4 contains an open square-pyramidal cluster of five ruthenium atoms with one platinum atom bridging an edge of the cluster. It is structurally related to 2 but contains one less CO ligand and two hydrido ligands formed by the addition of one equivalent of hydrogen to the metal cluster. It can be obtained directly from 2 by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of trimethylamine oxide. Compound 5 is a tricoordinated mononuclear platinum complex containing one ligand, one CO ligand and one μ₂-PhC₂H ligand. Compound 5 can be obtained directly from by reaction with PhC₂H under an atmosphere of CO. Compound 6 was obtained from the reaction of Ru₅(CO)₁₅(μ₅-C) with PhC₂H in the presence of UV-Vis irradiation. Compound 6 contains three equivalents of PhC₂H; one is present as triply bridging PhC₂H ligand; one is a quadruply bridging ligand; the third one has formed a bond to the carbido ligand in the center of the metal cluster to form a novel tetra-metallated allyl ligand. Compound 5 has the highest catalytic activity of all three compounds and is believed to be responsible for the vast majority of the catalytic hydrogenation produced from the solutions of 2. Compound 4 is transformed into 5 under the conditions of catalysis.     

Synthesis and characterization of new thorium and uranium phenolate complexes

The reaction between the chelating amino bisphenole ligand (ONOO)H₂ (1) and (ONNO)H₂ (2) with an excess of NaH gives the corresponding bis-sodium salts 3 and 4 quantitatively.The salts were reacted with thorium tetrachloride at room temperature to obtain the corresponding (ONOO)ThCl₂ (5) and (ONNO)ThCl₂ (6) complexes.However, ThCl₄ and UCl₄ react with (3) at higher temperatures to give the corresponding isomorphous homoleptic complexes (ONOO)₂Th (7) and (ONOO)₂U (8).We have also synthesized and characterized a thorium salicylaldiminato complex L₃ThCl (11) , in order to study the effect of the bridged ligand on the molecular structure.     

Bimetallic nickel complexes of macrocyclic tetraiminodiphenols and their ethylene polymerization

Schiff’s base condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-R-phenol and affords 34-membered macrocyclic tetraiminodiphenol compounds, (R = H and R′ = iPr, 1; R = Me and R′ = iPr, 2; R = F and R′ = iPr, 3; R = Me and R′ = Et, 4; R = F and R′ = Et, 5) in good yields (47-62%), from which dinuclear nickel complexes, (R = H and R′ =  iPr, 6; R = Me and R′ = iPr, 7; R = F and R′ = iPr, 8) are prepared. Molecular structures of 2, dipotassium salt of 1, and 7 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Addition of B(C₆F₅)₃ to a toluene solution of 6-8 gives insoluble precipitates which show good activity for ethylene polymerization.     

A TEM study of Ni ordering in the Ni6Se5−xTex, 0<x<∼1.7, system

The Ni₆Se_5−xTe_x, 0<x<∼1.7, system has been carefully investigated via electron diffraction and TEM imaging. They reveal a somewhat disordered modulated superstructure phase arising from Ni ion ordering within an essentially well-defined chalcogen sub-structure. As x, and the underlying parent substructure cell dimensions increase, the incommensurate primary modulation wave-vector q characteristic of this Ni ion ordering quickly swings from close to for x=0 towards for x?0.5. A lock-in to would formally transform the underlying parent Bmmb (a_p, b_p, c_p) structure into a P1a1 (a_s=2a_p, b_s=b_p, c_s=a_p+c_p) superstructure phase.