Supramolecular gold(I) thiobarbiturate chemistry: combining aurophilicity and hydrogen bonding to make polymers,sheets, and networks

The cooperative forces of aurophilic and hydrogen bonding have been used in the self-assembly of phosphine or diphosphine complexes of gold(I) with the thiolate ligands derived from 2-thiobarbituric acid, SC(4)H(4)N(2)O(2), by single or double deprotonation. The reaction of the corresponding gold(I) trifluoroacetate complex with SC(4)H(4)N(2)O(2) gave the complexes [Au(SC(4)H(3)N(2)O(2))(PPh(3))], 1, [(AuSC(4)H(3)N(2)O(2))(2)(micro-LL)], with LL = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2), 2a, Ph(2)P(CH(2))(3)PPh(2), 2b, or Ph(2)PCH=CHPPh(2), 2c, or the cyclic complex [Au(2)(micro-SC(4)H(2)N(2)O(2))(micro-Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))], 3. In the case with LL = Ph(2)P(CH(2))(6)PPh(2), the reaction led to loss of the diphosphine ligand to give [Au(6)(SC(4)H(3)N(2)O(2))(6)], 4, a hexagold(I) cluster complex in which each gold(I) center has trigonal AuS(2)N coordination. Structure determinations show that 1 has no aurophilic bonding, 2b, 3, and 4 have intramolecular aurophilic bonding, and 2c has intermolecular aurophilic bonding that contributes to the supramolecular structure. All the complexes undergo supramolecular association through strong NH...O and/or OH...N hydrogen bonding, and complex 3 also takes part in CH...O hydrogen bonding. The supramolecular association leads to formation of interesting polymer, sheet, or network structures, and 4 has a highly porous and stable lattice structure.     

Grafting and thermal stripping of organo-bimetallic clusters on AU surfaces: toward controlled CO/RU aggregates

The controlled stoichiometry of heterometallic carbonyl clusters make them attractive precursors for the stabilization of bare metal alloy clusters for magnetic applications. The mixed-metal molecular cluster [RuCo3(H)(CO)12] has been functionalized with the phosphane-thiol ligand Ph2PCH2CH2SH to allow subsequent anchoring on a gold surface. The resulting tetrahedral cluster [RuCo3(H)(CO)11(Ph2PCH2CH2SH)] (1) has been characterized by X-ray diffraction and the P-monodentate ligand is axially bound to a cobalt center and trans to the ruthenium cap. This synthesis also yielded the product of oxidative coupling, in which two SH groups were coupled intermolecularly to give a disulfide ligand that links two tetrahedral cluster units in [{RuCo3(H)(CO)11(Ph2PCH2CH2S)}2] (2). This cluster has also been characterized by X-ray diffractions studies. After deposition of 1 on a Au(111) surface by self-assembly, the carbonyl ligands were stripped off by thermal annealing in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) to form a metallic species. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements performed as a function of the annealing temperature show that the cobalt and ruthenium centers converge towards metallic character and that the stoichiometry of the alloy is retained during the annealing process. Preliminary X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) synchrotron experiments indicate that clusters 1 and 2 behave similarly, which is consistent with the retention of their tetrahedral units on the gold surface after transformation of the thiol function or breaking of the disulfide bond to form Au--S bonds, respectively, has occurred.     

Gold(I) chloride adducts of 1,3-bis(di-2-pyridylphosphino)propane: synthesis, structural studies and antitumour activity

The novel water soluble bidentate phosphine ligand 1,3-bis(di-2-pyridylphosphino)propane (d2pypp) has been synthesized by a convenient route involving treatment of 2-pyridyllithium with Cl(2)P(CH(2))(3)PCl(2) and isolation in crystalline form as the hydrochloride salt. The synthesis of the precursor Cl(2)P(CH(2))(3)PCl(2) has been optimized by the use of triphosgene as the chlorinating agent. The 2 : 1 and 1 : 2 AuCl : d2pypp adducts have been synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray studies, and shown to be of the form (AuCl)(2)(mu-d2pypp-P,P') and [Au(d2pypp-P,P')(2)]Cl(.3.75H(2)O), respectively. The latter is more lipophilic than analogous 1 : 2 adducts of gold(I) chloride with the diphosphine ligands 1,2-bis(di-n-pyridylphosphino)ethane (dnpype) for n = 2, 3 and 4, based on measurement of the n-octanol-water partition coefficient (log P = -0.46). A single crystal structure determination of the 1 : 2 Au(I) complex of the 3-pyridyl ethane ligand shows it to be of the form [Au(d3pype-P,P')(2)]Cl.5H(2)O. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of [Au(d2pypp)(2)]Cl was assessed in human normal and cancer breast cells and selective toxicity to the cancer cells found. The significance of these results to the antitumour properties of chelated 1 : 2 Au(I) diphosphine complexes is discussed.     

Syntheses and structures of dinuclear gold(I) dithiophosphonate complexes and the reaction of the dithiophosphonate complexes with phosphines: diverse coordination types

The dinuclear gold(I) dithiophosphonate complex, [Au(2)(dtp)(2)] (1), where dtp = [S(2)P(R)(OR')](-) with R = p-C(6)H(4)OCH(3); R'= c-C(5)H(9), has been synthesized and its reaction studied with the phosphine ligands PPh(3) and Ph(2)P(CH(2))(n)PPh(2) (n = 1-4). Compound 1 contains two gold atoms homobridged by the anionic dithiophosphonate ligand, forming an eight-membered ring complex in a chair form. After the reaction of 1 with diphosphine ligands, the dinuclear open-ring complexes Au(2)(dppm)(dtp)(2) (2), Au(2)(dppe)(dtp)(2) (3), Au(2)(dppp)(dtp)(2) (4), Au(2)(dppb)(dtp)(2) (5) were formed (dppm = diphenylphosphinomethane; dppe = diphenylphosphinoethane; dppp = diphenylphosphinopropane; dppb = diphenylphosphinobutane). The reaction with dppm is stoichiometry-dependent. Thus, when 1 reacts with 2 equiv of dppm, the ionic complex [Au(2)(dppm)(2)(dtp)]dtp forms. This dtp counterion was exchanged with tetrafluoroborate to yield [Au(2)(dppm)(2)(dtp)]BF(4), the crystallization of which afforded two interconvertible isomers, 6-yellow and 7-white. Reaction of 1 with PPh(3) affords the tetracoordinate mononuclear complex [Au(dtp)(PPh(3))(2)] (8). The molecular structures of 1-8 were confirmed by X-ray crystallography and show multiple coordination modes and geometries. The crystal structures of 1 and its reaction products with dppm (2, 6, 7) show short intramolecular Au.Au aurophilic bonding interactions of 2.95-3.10 A while no intermolecular interactions were discernible. However, reaction products of 1 with longer-chain Ph(2)P(CH(2))(n)PPh(2) ligands, n = 2-4, exhibit structures that lack both intra- and intermolecular Au.Au interactions.     

Crystal structures of Au2 complex and Au25 nanocluster and mechanistic insight into the conversion of polydisperse nanoparticles into monodisperse Au25 nanoclusters

We previously reported a size-focusing conversion of polydisperse gold nanoparticles capped by phosphine into monodisperse [Au(25)(PPh(3))(10)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)(5)Cl(2)](2+) nanoclusters in the presence of phenylethylthiol. Herein, we have determined the crystal structure of [Au(25)(PPh(3))(10)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)(5)Cl(2)](2+) nanoclusters and also identified an important side-product-a Au(I) complex formed in the size focusing process. The [Au(25)(PPh(3))(10)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)(5)Cl(2)](2+) cluster features a vertex-sharing bi-icosahedral core, resembling a rod. The formula of the Au(I) complex is determined to be [Au(2)(PPh(3))(2)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)](+) by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry, and its crystal structure (with SbF(6)(-) counterion) reveals Au-Au bridged by -SC(2)H(4)Ph and with terminal bonds to two PPh(3) ligands. Unlike previously reported [Au(2)(PR(3))(2)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)](+) complexes in the solid state, which exist as tetranuclear complexes (i.e., dimers of [Au(2)(PR(3))(2)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)](+) units) through a Au···Au aurophilic interaction, in our case we found that the [Au(2)(PPh(3))(2)(SC(2)H(4)Ph)](+) complex exists as a single entity, rather than being dimerized to form a tetranuclear complex. The observation of this Au(I) complex allows us to gain insight into the intriguing conversion process from polydisperse Au nanoparticles to monodisperse Au(25) nanoclusters.     

upper bond 1 start]PdCl[PPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)C[upper bond 1 end]HCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2)] as a precursor to homo- and hetero-metallic species directed by ESMS (electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry)

The cyclometallated Pd compound [upper bond 1 start]PdCl[PPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)C[upper bond 1 end]HCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2)], obtained from PdCl(2)(Ph(2)P(CH(2))(5)PPh(2)) in refluxing DMF (N,N-dimethylformamide), was characterized by NMR and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. The cyclometallation of MCl(2)(Ph(2)P(CH(2))(5)PPh(2))(M = Pd, Pt) to give and its Pt(ii) analogue was probed using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESMS). The reactivity of towards neutral ligands such as phosphines and pyridines as well as basic metal complexes such as pyridine-thiolate compounds of Au(i), Hg(ii) and Pt(ii) in solution was also investigated. The results showed that the chloride trans to the Pd-C bond is susceptible to ligand replacement. A number of entry metalloligands was examined in an attempt to establish a route to cyclometallated aggregates and clusters.     

Does core size matter in the kinetics of ligand exchanges of monolayer-protected Au clusters?

This paper compares the kinetics of exchanges of phenylethanethiolate ligands (PhC2S-) of the monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs) Au(38)(SC2Ph)(24) and Au(140)(SC2Ph)(53) with p-substituted arylthiols (p-X-PhSH), where X = NO(2), Br, CH(3), OCH(3), and OH. First-order rate constants at 293 K for exchange of the first ca. 25% of the ligands on the molecule-like Au(38)(SC2Ph)(24) MPC, measured using (1)H NMR, vary linearly with the in-coming arythiol concentration; ligand exchange is an overall second-order reaction. Remarkably, the second-order rate constants for ligand exchange on Au(38)(SC2Ph)(24) are very close to those of corresponding exchange reactions on the larger nanoparticle Au(140)(SC2Ph)(53) MPCs. These are the first results that quantitatively show that the chemical reactivity of different sized nanocrystals is almost independent of size; presumably, this is because the locus of the initial ligand exchanges is a common kind of site, thought to be the nanocrystal vertexes. The rates of later stages of exchange (beyond ca. 25%) differ for Au(38) and Au(140) cores, the latter being much slower presumably due to its larger terrace-like surface atom content. The reverse exchange reaction was studied for Au(38)(p-X-arylthiolate)(24) MPCs (X = NO(2), Br, and CH(3)), where the in-coming ligand is now phenylethanethiol. Remarkably, the rate constants of both forward and reverse exchanges display identical substituent effects, which implies a concurrent bonding of both in-coming and leaving ligands to the Au core in the rate-determining step, as in an associative mechanism. X = NO(2) gives the fastest rates, and the ratio of forward and reverse rate constants gives an equilibrium constant of K(EQ,PE) = 4.0 that is independent of X.     

Hydrogen oxidation and production using nickel-based molecular catalysts with positioned proton relays

Highly efficient electrocatalysts for both hydrogen evolution and hydrogen oxidation have been designed, synthesized, and characterized. The catalysts in their resting states are air-stable, mononuclear nickel(II) complexes containing cyclic diphosphine ligands with nitrogen bases incorporated into the ligand backbone. X-ray diffraction studies have established that the cation of [Ni(P(Ph)(2)N(Ph)(2))(2)(CH(3)CN)](BF(4))(2), 6a, (where P(Ph)(2)N(Ph)(2) is 1,3,5,7-tetraphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane) is a trigonal bipyramid with bonds to four phosphorus atoms of the two bidentate diphosphine ligands and the nitrogen atom of an acetonitrile molecule. Two of the six-membered rings formed by the diphosphine ligands and Ni have boat conformations with an average Ni- - -N distance to the two pendant bases of 3.4 A. The cation of [Ni(P(Cy)(2)N(Bz)(2))(2)](BF(4))(2), 6b, (where Cy = cyclohexyl and Bz = benzyl) is a distorted square planar complex. For 6b, all four six-membered rings formed upon coordination of the diphosphine ligands to the metal are in the boat form. In this case, the average Ni- - -N distance to the pendant base is 3.3 A. Complex 6a is an electrocatalyst for hydrogen production in acidic acetonitrile solutions, and compound 6b is an electrocatalyst for hydrogen oxidation in basic acetonitrile solutions. It is demonstrated that the high catalytic rates observed with these complexes are a result of the positioning of the nitrogen base so that it plays an important role in the formation and cleavage of the H-H bond.     

Group 11 complexes containing the [C5(CN)5]- ligand; 'coordination-analogues' of molecular organometallic systems

The reactions of Na[C(5)(CN)(5)] (Na[1]) with group 11 phosphine complexes [(P)(n)MCl] (M = Cu, Ag, Au, P = Ph(3)P; M = Cu, P = dppe (Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))] give a range of compounds containing the pentacyanocyclopentadienide ligand, [C(5)(CN)(5)](-) (1). The new complexes [(Ph(3)P)(2)M{1}](2) [M = Cu (3); M = Ag (5)], [(Ph(3)P)(3)Ag{1}] (4), [(dppe)(3)Cu(2){1}(2)] (6) and [Au(PPh(3))(2)][1] (7) include the first complete series of group 11 complexes of any cyclopentadienide ligand to be structurally characterised.     

Tetraphosphinitoresorcinarene complexes: dynamic clusters with silver(I) and copper(I) halides

Silver(I) and copper(I) halide derivatives of several tetrakis(diphenylphosphinito)resorcinarene ligands are reported. The complexes [resorcinarene(O(2)CR)(4)(OPPh(2))(4)(M(5)X(5))], with resorcinarene = (PhCH(2)CH(2)CHC(6)H(2))(4), R = C(6)H(11), 4-C(6)H(4)Me, C(4)H(3)S, OCH(2)CCH, or OCH(2)Ph, M = Ag, X = Cl, Br, or I, M = Cu, and X = Cl or I, contain a crownlike [P(4)M(5)X(5)] metal halide cluster. These crown clusters were found to be dynamic in solution, as studied by variable-temperature NMR, and easily fragment to give the corresponding complexes containing [P(4)M(4)X(5)](-) and [P(4)M(2)(micro-X)](+) units. Reaction of pentasilver crown clusters with triflic acid gave the corresponding disilver complexes [resorcinarene(O(2)CR)(4)(OPPh(2))(4)]Ag(2)(micro-Cl)]]CF(3)SO(3). Thus, these resorcinarene-based ligands act as a platform for the easy and reversible assembly of copper(I) and silver(I) clusters with novel structures.     

Taking TiF4 complexes to extremes--the first examples with phosphine co-ligands

The first soft donor adducts of TiF(4), [TiF(4)(diphosphine)] (diphosphine = o-C(6)H(4)(PMe(2))(2), R(2)P(CH(2))(2)PR(2), R = Me or Et) have been prepared from [TiF(4)(MeCN)(2)] and the diphosphines in rigorously anhydrous CH(2)Cl(2), as extremely moisture sensitive yellow solids, and characterised by multinuclear NMR ((1)H, (31)P, (19)F), IR and UV/vis spectroscopy. The crystal structure of [TiF(4){Et(2)P(CH(2))(2)PEt(2)}] has been determined and shows a distorted six-coordinate geometry with disparate Ti-F(transF) and Ti-F(transP) distances and long Ti-P bonds. Weaker soft donor ligands including Ph(3)P, Ph(2)P(CH(2))(2)PPh(2), o-C(6)H(4)(PPh(2))(2), Ph(2)As(CH(2))(2)AsPh(2), o-C(6)H(4)(AsMe(2))(2) and (i)PrS(CH(2))(2)S(i)Pr do not form stable complexes with TiF(4), although surprisingly, fluorotitanate(IV) salts of the previously unknown doubly protonated ligand cations [LH(2)][Ti(4)F(18)] (L = o-C(6)H(4)(PPh(2))(2), o-C(6)H(4)(AsMe(2))(2) and (i)PrS(CH(2))(2)S(i)Pr) are formed in some cases as minor by-products. The structure of [o-C(6)H(4)(PPh(2)H)(2)][Ti(4)F(18)] shows the first authenticated example of a diprotonated o-phenylene-diphosphine. The synthesis and full spectroscopic characterisation are reported for a range of TiF(4) adducts with hard N- or O-donor ligands for comparison purposes, along with crystal structures of [TiF(4)(thf)(2)], [TiF(4)(Ph(3)EO)(2)]·2CH(2)Cl(2) (E = P or As), and [TiF(4)(bipy)].     

Ligand heterogeneity on monolayer-protected gold clusters

This paper describes the effects of oxidative electronic charging of the Au cores of the monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs), Au140(S(CH2)5CH3)53 and Au38(SCH2CH2Ph)24, on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of their monolayer ligand shells. Previously unresolved fine structure in the 13C NMR hexanethiolate methyl and C5 methylene resonances is seen in spectra of solutions of monodisperse Au140(S(CH2)5CH3)53 MPCs, reflecting magnetically inequivalent ligand sites. Incremented increases in positive cluster core charge, effected by electrochemical charging, cause the spectral fine structure of the methyl resonance to coalesce, becoming a single peak at the Au140(3+) charge state. The spectral changes are reversible; charging back to the original core charge state regenerates the methyl 13C resonance fine structure. Adding an equimolar quantity of a Au(I) thiolate complex, Au(I)[SCH2(C6H4)C(CH3)3], to an uncharged Au140(S(CH2)5CH3)53 MPC solution in d2-methylene chloride causes partial spectral coalescence. 13C NMR spectra of Au38(SCH2CH2Ph)24 MPCs exhibit roughly comparable spectral changes upon positive core charging to the '0', '+1', and '+2' states. The NMR results indicate that exchange between magnetically inequivalent sites occurs at rates of 100 to 400 s(-1), a rate believed to be too fast to be accountable by actual exchanges of ligands between different sites on the Au core. We also describe changes in core electronic spectra of Au140(S(CH2)5CH3)53 induced by positive charging, measured using spectroelectrochemistry.     

Highly luminescent octanuclear Au(I)-Cu(I) clusters adopting two structural motifs: the effect of aliphatic alkynyl ligands

Reactions of the homoleptic (AuC(2)R)(n) precursors with stoichiometric amount of diphosphine ligand PPh(2)C(6)H(4)PPh(2) (P^P) and Cu(+) ions lead to an assembly of a new family of bimetallic clusters [Au(6)Cu(2)(C(2)R)(6)(P^P)(2)](2+) (type I; R=9-fluorenolyl (1), diphenylmethanolyl (2), 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanolyl (3), 1-cyclohexanolyl (4), Cy (5), tBu (6)). In the case of R=1-cyclohexanolyl, a structurally different complex [Au(6)Cu(2)(C(2)C(6)H(11)O)(6)(P^P)(3)](2+) (7, type II) could be obtained by treatment of 4 with one equivalent of the diphosphine, while for R=isopropanolyl only the latter type of cluster [Au(6)Cu(2)(C(2)C(3)H(7)O)(6)(P^P)(3)](2+) (8) was detected. Steric bulkiness of the alkynyl ligands and O···H-O hydrogen bonding are suggested to play an important role in stabilizing the type I and type II cluster structural motif, respectively. All the complexes exhibit intense photoluminescence in solution with emission parameters that depending on the geometrical arrangement of the octanuclear metal core. The clusters 1-4 and 6 show single emission band in a blue region (469-488 nm) with maximum quantum yield of 94% (4), while structurally different 7 and 8 emit yellow-orange (590 nm) with unity quantum efficiency. The theoretical DFT calculations of the electronic structures have been carried out to demonstrate that the metal-centered triplet emission within the heterometallic core plays a key role for the observed phosphorescence.     

New diphosphine ligands containing ethyleneglycol and amino alcohol spacers for the rhodium-catalyzed carbonylation of methanol

The new diphosphine ligands Ph(2)PC(6)H(4)C(O)X(CH(2))(2)OC(O)C(6)H(4)PPh(2) (1: X=NH; 2: X=NPh; 3: X=O) and Ph(2)PC(6)H(4)C(O)O(CH(2))(2)O(CH(2))(2)OC(O)C(6)H(4)PPh(2) (5) as well as the monophosphine ligand Ph(2)PC(6)H(4)C(O)X(CH(2))(2)OH (4) have been prepared from 2-diphenylphosphinobenzoic acid and the corresponding amino alcohols or diols. Coordination of the diphosphine ligands to rhodium, iridium, and platinum resulted in the formation of the square-planar complexes [(Pbond;P)Rh(CO)Cl] (6: Pbond;P=1; 7: Pbond;P=2; 8: Pbond;P=3), [(Pbond;P)Rh(CO)Cl](2) (9: Pbond;P=5), [(P-P)Ir(cod)Cl] (10: Pbond;P=1; 11: Pbond;P=2; 12: Pbond;P=3), [(Pbond;P)Ir(CO)Cl] (13: Pbond;P=1; 14: Pbond;P=2; 15: Pbond;P=3), and [(Pbond;P)PtI(2)] (18: Pbond;P=2). In all complexes, the diphosphine ligands are trans coordinated to the metal center, thanks to the large spacer groups, which allow the two phosphorus atoms to occupy opposite positions in the square-planar coordination geometry. The trans coordination is demonstrated unambiguously by the single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of complex 18. In the case of the diphosphine ligand 5, the spacer group is so large that dinuclear complexes with ligand 5 in bridging positions are formed, maintaining the trans coordination of the P atoms on each metal center, as shown by the crystal structure analysis of 9. The monophosphine ligand 4 reacts with [[Ir(cod)Cl](2)] (cod=cyclooctadiene) to give the simple derivative [(4)Ir(cod)Cl] (16) which is converted into the carbonyl complex [(4)Ir(CO)(2)Cl] (17) with carbon monoxide. The crystal structure analysis of 16 also reveals a square-planar coordination geometry in which the phosphine ligand occupies a position cis with respect to the chloro ligand. The diphosphine ligands 1, 2, 3, and 5 have been tested as cocatalysts in combination with the catalyst precursors [[Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2)] and [[Ir(cod)Cl](2)] or [H(2)IrCl(6)] for the carbonylation of methanol at 170 degrees C and 22 bar CO. The best results (TON 800 after 15 min) are obtained for the combination 2/[[Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2)]. After the catalytic reaction, complex 7 is identified in the reaction mixture and can be isolated; it is active for further runs without loss of catalytic activity.     

Unexpected metal-induced isomerisms and phosphoryl migrations in Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes of the functional phosphine 2-(bis(diphenylphosphino)methyl)-oxazoline

The reaction of the functional diphosphine 1 [1 = 2-(bis(diphenylphosphino)methyl-oxazoline] with [PtCl(2)(NCPh)(2)] or [PdCl(2)(NCPh)(2)], in the presence of excess NEt(3), affords [Pt{(Ph(2)P)(2)C···C(···NCH(2)CH(2)O)}(2)] ([Pt(1(-H)-P,P)(2)], 3a) and [Pd{(Ph(2)P)(2)C···C(···NCH(2)CH(2)O)}(2)] ([Pd(1(-H)-P,P)(2)], 3b), respectively, in which 1(-H) is (oxazoline-2-yl)bis(diphenylphosphino)methanide. The reaction of 3b with 2 equiv of [AuCl(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) afforded [Pd(1(-H)-P,N)(2)(AuCl)(2)] (4), as a result of the opening of the four-membered metal chelate since ligand 1(-H), which was P,P-chelating in 3b, behaves as a P,N-chelate toward the Pd(II) center in 4 and coordinates to Au(I) through the other P donor. In the absence of a base, the reaction of ligand 1 with [PtCl(2)(NCPh)(2)] in MeCN or CH(2)Cl(2) afforded the isomers [Pt{(Ph(2)P)(2)C═C(OCH(2)CH(2)NH)}(2)]Cl(2) ([Pt(1'-P,P)(2)]Cl(2) (5), 1' = 2-(bis(diphenylphosphino)methylene)-oxazolidine) and [Pt{(Ph(2)P)(2)C═C(OCH(2)CH(2)NH)}{Ph(2)PCH═C(OCH(2)CH(2)N(PPh(2))}]Cl(2) ([Pt(1'-P,P)(2'-P,P)]Cl(2) (6), 2' = (E)-3-(diphenylphosphino)-2-((diphenylphosphino)methylene)oxazolidine]. The P,P-chelating ligands in 5 result from a tautomeric shift of the C-H proton of 1 to the nitrogen atom, whereas the formation of one of the P,P-chelates in 6 involves a carbon to nitrogen phosphoryl migration. The reaction of 5 and 6 with a base occurred by deprotonation at the nitrogen to afford 3a and [Pt{(Ph(2)P)(2)C···C(···NCH(2)CH(2)O)}{Ph(2)PCH═COCH(2)CH(2)N(PPh(2))}]Cl ([Pt(1(-H)-P,P)(2'-P,P)]Cl (7)], respectively. In CH(2)Cl(2), an isomer of 3a, [Pt{Ph(2)P)(2)C···C(···NCH(2)CH(2)O)}{Ph(2)PC(PPh(2))═COCH(2)CH(2)N}] ([Pt(1(-H)-P,P)(1(-H)-P,N)] (8)), was obtained as a side product which contains ligand 1(-H) in two different coordination modes. Complexes 3b·4CH(2)Cl(2), 4·CHCl(3), 6·2.5CH(2)Cl(2), and 8·CH(2)Cl(2) have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction.     

Self-assembly of gold(I) rings and reversible formation of organometallic [2]catenanes

The reaction of the digold(I) diacetylide [(AuCCCH2OC6H4)2CMe2] with diphosphane ligands can lead to formation of either macrocyclic ring complexes or [2]catenanes by self-assembly. This gives an easy route to rare organometallic [2]catenanes, and the effect of the diphosphane ligand on the selectivity of self-assembly is studied. With diphosphane ligands Ph2P(CH2)xPPh2, the simple ring complex [Au2[(CCCH2OC6H4)2CMe2](Ph2P(CH2)xPPh2)] is formed selectively when x = 2, but the [2]catenanes [Au2[(CCCH2OC6H4)2CMe2](Ph2P(CH2)xPPh2)]2 are formed when x = 4 or 5. When x = 3, a mixture of the simple ring and [2]catenane is formed, along with the "double-ring" complex, [Au4[(CCCH2OC6H4)2CMe2]2(Ph2P(CH2)3PPh2)2] and a "hexamer" Au2[(CCCH2OC6H4)2CMe2](Ph2P(CH2)3PPh2)]6] whose structure is not determined. A study of the equilibria between these complexes by solution NMR techniques gives insight into the energetics and mechanism of [2]catenane formation. When the oligomer [(AuCCCH2OC6H4)2CMe2] was treated with a mixture of two diphosphane ligands, or when two [2]catenane complexes [[Au2[(CCCH2OC6H4)2CMe2](diphosphane)]2] were allowed to equilibrate, only the symmetrical [2]catenanes were formed. The diphosphanes Ph2PCCPPh2, trans-[Ph2PCH=CHPPh2] and (Ph2PC5H4)2Fe give the corresponding ring complexes [Au2[(CCCH2OC6H4)2CMe2](diphosphane)], and the chiral, unsymmetrical diacetylide [Au2[(CCCH2OC6H4C(Me)(CH2CMe2)C6H3OCH2CC)] gives macrocyclic ring complexes with all diphosphane ligands Ph2P(CH2)xPPh2 (x = 2-5).     

Synthesis of Polysiloxane-Bound (Ether-phosphine)palladium Complexes. Stoichiometric and Catalytic Reactions in Interphases(1)

The reaction of two equiv of the monomeric ether-phosphine O,P ligand (MeO)(3)Si(CH(2))(3)(Ph)PCH(2)-Do [1a(T(0)()), 1b(T(0)())] {Do = CH(2)OCH(3) [1a(T(0)())], CHCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)O [1b(T(0)())]} with PdCl(2)(COD) yields the monomeric palladium(II) complexes Cl(2)Pd(P approximately O)(2) [2a(T(0)())(2)(), 2b(T(0)())(2)()]. The compounds 2a(T(0)())(2)() and 2b(T(0)())(2)() are sol-gel processed with variable amounts (y) of Si(OEt)(4) (Q(0)()) to give the polysiloxane-bound complexes 2a(T(n)())(2)()(Q(k)())(y)(), 2b(T(n)())(2)()(Q(k)())(y)() (Table 1) {P approximately O = eta(1)-P-coordinated ether-phosphine ligand; for T(n)() and Q(k)(), y = number of condensed T type (three oxygen neighbors), Q type (four oxygen neighbors) silicon atoms; n and k = number of Si-O-Si bonds; n = 0-3; k = 0-4; 2a(T(n)())(2)()(Q(k)())(y)(), 2b(T(n)())(2)()(Q(k)())(y)() = {[M]-SiO(n)()(/2)(OX)(3)(-)(n)()}(2)[SiO(k)()(/2)(OX)(4)(-)(k)()](y)(), [M] = (Cl(2)Pd)(1/2)(Ph)P(CH(2)Do)(CH(2))(3)-, X = H, Me, Et}. The complexes 2b(T(n)())(2)()(Q(k)())(y)() (y = 4, 12, 36) show high activity and selectivity in the hydrogenation of 1-hexyne and tolan. The dicationic complexes [Pd(P&arcraise;O)(2)][SbF(6)](2) [3a(T(0)())(2)(), 3b(T(0)())(2)()] are formed by reacting Cl(2)Pd(P approximately O)(2) with 2 equiv of a silver salt {P&arcraise;O = eta(2)-O&arcraise;P-coordinated ether-phosphine ligand; 3a(T(0)())(2)(), 3b(T(0)())(2)() = [M]-SiOMe(3); [M] = {[Pd(2+)](1/)(2)P(Ph)(CH(2)CH(2)OCH(3))(CH(2))(3)-}{SbF(6)} (a), {[Pd(2+)](1/)(2)P(Ph)(CH(2)CHCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)O)(CH(2))(3)-}{SbF(6)} (b)}. Their polysiloxane-bound congeners 3a(T(n)())(2)(), 3b(T(n)())(2)() {[M]-SiO(n)()(/2)(OX)(3)(-)(n)} are obtained if a volatile, reversible bound ligand like acetonitrile is employed during the sol-gel process. The bis(chelate)palladium(II) complexes 3a(T(n)())(2)(), 3b(T(n)())(2)() are catalytic active in the solvent-free CO-ethene copolymerization, producing polyketones with chain lengths comparable to those obtained with chelating diphosphine ligands. The polysiloxane-bound palladium(0) complexes 5a(T(n)())(2)()(Q(k)())(4)(), 5b(T(n)())(2)()(Q(k)())(4)() {[M]-SiO(n)()(/)(2)(OX)(3)(-)(n)}(2)[SiO(k)()(/2)(OX)(4)(-)(k)](4), [M] = [(dba)Pd](1/)(2)P(Ph)(CH(2)Do)(CH(2))(3)-} undergo an oxidative addition reaction with iodobenzene in an interphase with formation of the complexes PhPd(I)(P approximately O)(2).4SiO(2) [6a(T(n)())(2)()(Q(k)())(4)(), 6b(T(n)())(2)()(Q(k)())(4)()] {[M]-SiO(n)()(/)(2)(OX)(3)(-)(n)](2)[SiO(k)()(/2)(OX)(4)(-)(k)](4), [M] = [PhPd(I)](1/2)P(Ph)(CH(2)Do)(CH(2))(3)-}, which insert carbon monoxide into the palladium-aryl bond even in the solid state.     

Unusual neutral ligand coordination to arsenic and antimony trifluoride

The preparations and spectroscopic characterisation of the hydrolytically unstable As(III) complexes, [AsF(3)(OPR(3))(2)] (R = Me or Ph) and [AsF(3){Me(2)P(O)CH(2)P(O)Me(2)}] are described and represent the first examples of complexes of AsF(3) with neutral ligands. The crystal structure of [AsF(3){Me(2)P(O)CH(2)P(O)Me(2)}] contains dimers with bridging diphosphine dioxide, but there are also long contacts between the dimers to neighbouring phosphine oxide groups, completing a very distorted six-coordination at arsenic and producing a weakly associated polymer structure. The reaction of AsF(3) with OAsPh(3) affords Ph(3)AsF(2), and no arsine oxide complex was formed. Reaction of SbF(3) with OER(3) (R = Me or Ph, E = P or As), Me(2)P(O)CH(2)P(O)Me(2) and Ph(2)P(O)(CH(2))(n)P(O)Ph(2) (n = 1 or 2) in MeOH produces [SbF(3)(OER(3))(2)], [SbF(3){Me(2)P(O)CH(2)P(O)Me(2)}] and [SbF(3){Ph(2)P(O)(CH(2))(n)P(O)Ph(2)}] respectively. The X-ray structures reveal that the complexes contain square pyramidal SbF(3)O(2) cores with apical F and cis disposed pnictogen oxides. However, whilst [SbF(3)(OER(3))(2)] (R = Ph: E = P or As; R = Me: E = As) and [SbF(3){Ph(2)P(O)CH(2)P(O)Ph(2)}] are monomeric, [SbF(3){Me(2)P(O)CH(2)P(O)Me(2)}] is a dimer with bridging diphosphine dioxides producing a twelve-membered ring, and [SbF(3){Ph(2)P(O)(CH(2))(2)P(O)Ph(2)}] is a chain polymer with diphosphine dioxide bridges. In the OAsR(3) reactions with SbF(3), R(3)AsF(2) are also formed. Notably the Sb-O(P) bonds are shorter than As-O(P), despite the covalent radii (As < Sb), consistent with very weak coordination of the AsF(3). IR and multinuclear ((1)H, (19)F and (31)P) NMR data are reported and discussed. BiF(3) does not react with pnictogen oxide ligands under similar conditions and halide exchange of bismuth chloro complexes with Me(3)SnF gave BiF(3).     

Reactivity of the heterometallic clusters [HMCo3(CO)12] and [Et4N][MCo3(CO)12] (M = Fe, Ru) toward phosphine selenides, including selenium transfer. Crystal structures of [HRuCo3(CO)7(mu-CO)3(mu-dppy)], [MCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)7(mu-dppy)], and [RuCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)7(mu-dppm)] [dppy = Ph2(2-C5H4N)P, dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2

The reactivity of [HMCo3(CO)12] and [Et4N][MCo3(CO)12] (M = Fe, Ru) toward phosphine selenides such as Ph3PSe, Ph2P(Se)CH2PPh2, Ph2(2-C5H4N)PSe, Ph2(2-C4H3S)PSe, and Ph2[(2-C5H4N)(2-C4H2S)]PSe has been studied with the aim to obtain new selenido-carbonyl bimetallic clusters. The reactions of the hydrido clusters give two main classes of products: (i) triangular clusters with a mu3-Se capping ligand of the type [MCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)(9-x)L(y)] resulting from the selenium transfer (x = y = 1, 2, with L = monodentate ligand; x = 2, 4, and y = 1, 2, with L = bidentate ligand) (M = Fe, Ru) and (ii) tetranuclear clusters of the type [HMCo3(CO)12xL(y)] obtained by simple substitution of axial, Co-bound carbonyl groups by the deselenized phosphine ligand. The crystal structures of [HRuCo3(CO)7(mu-CO)3(mu-dppy)] (1), [MCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)7(mu-dppy)] (M = Fe (16) or Ru (2)), and [RuCo2(mu3-Se)(CO)7(mu-dppm)] (12) are reported [dppy = Ph2(2-C5H4N)P, dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2]. Clusters 2, 12, and 16 are the first examples of trinuclear bimetallic selenido clusters substituted by phosphines. Their core consists of metal triangles capped by a mu3-selenium atom with the bidentate ligand bridging two metals in equatorial positions. The core of cluster 1 consists of a RuCo3 tetrahedron, each Co-Co bond being bridged by a carbonyl group and one further bridged by a dppy ligand. The coordination of dppy in a pseudoaxial position causes the migration of the hydride ligand to the Ru(mu-H)Co edge. In contrast to the reactions of the hydrido clusters, those with the anionic clusters [MCo3(CO)12]- do not lead to Se transfer from phosphorus to the cluster but only to CO substitution by the deselenized phosphine.     

Synthesis and electrospray mass spectrometry determination of thiolate-protected Au55(SR)31 nanoclusters

Since the pioneering work of Schmid et al. on phosphine-capped Au(55) clusters, the search for thiolated Au(55) has long been of major interest. This work reports the synthesis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) evidence of Au(55)(SCH(2)CH(2)Ph)(31) clusters.