Bridging vinylalkylidene transition metal complexes

Vinylalkylidene transition metal complexes have been extensively used as ‘multitalent tools’ in organic synthesis, covering a broad field of applications. The vinylalkylidene ligands can be monodentate; alternatively they can adopt a bridging coordination mode in complexes with two adjacent metal atoms. As for other unsaturated organic ligands which can bond in both mono- and di-nuclear modes, the bridging coordination can give rise to new and different chemical properties from those found when the ligand is bound to a single metal centre. Likewise, the synthetic routes to bridging vinylalkylidene complexes offer a broader range of possibilities compared to those used to make mononuclear vinylalkylidenes. In spite of the fact that bridging vinylalkylidene complexes have been known for about 40 years, their synthetic potential as C₃ activated fragments has so far been under-exploited. Comparison with other C₃ bridged ligands (allenyls and allyls) indicates that vinylalkylidene ligands are reactive and versatile species. This review article gives an overview of the chemistry of bridging vinylalkylidene complexes to focus attention on their potential as synthetic tools.     

Copper Complexes with Diazoolefin Ligands and their Photochemical Conversion into Alkenylidene Complexes

Homometallic copper complexes with alkenylidene ligands are discussed as intermediates in catalysis but the isolation of such complexes has remained elusive. Herein, we report the structural characterization of copper complexes with bridging and terminal alkenylidene ligands. The compounds were obtained by irradiation of Cu^I complexes with N-heterocyclic diazoolefin ligands. The complex with a terminal alkenylidene ligand required isolation in a crystalline matrix, and its structural characterization was enabled by in crystallo photolysis at low temperature.     

Synthesis, emission, and electrochemical properties of luminescent dinuclear zinc(II) chalcogenolate complexes. Dynamic 1H NMR studies and X-ray crystal structure of [(bpy)Zn2(SC6H4-Cl-p)(mu-SC6H4-Cl-p)(mu-OAc)2

A series of novel luminescent dinuclear zinc(II) diimine complexes with bridging chalcogenolate ligands have been synthesized, in which the two zinc atoms were found to exist in different coordination environment. The luminescence and electrochemical behavior of these complexes have been studied. These complexes have also been shown to exhibit dynamic fluxional behavior in solution due to an exchange of the bridging and terminal thiolate ligands. The mechanism and kinetics of which have been investigated by variable-temperature 1H NMR studies. The X-ray crystal structure of [(bpy)Zn2(SC6H4-Cl-p)(mu-SC6H4-Cl-p)(mu-OAc)2] has also been determined.     

Titanium-based molecular squares and rectangles: syntheses by self-assembly reactions of titanocene fragments and aromatic N-heterocycles

This paper reports on the potential of titanium compounds as building blocks for supramolecular polygons. Self-assembly reactions of low-valent titanocene units and N-heterocyclic bridging ligands lead to novel titanium-based supramolecular squares. Pyrazine (3), 4,4'-bipyridine (4), and tetrazine (5) were used as bridging ligands, and the acetylene complexes [Cp2Ti{eta2-C2(SiMe3)2}] (1) and [(tBuCp)2Ti{eta2-C2(SiMe3)2}] (2) as sources of titanocene fragments. Molecular rectangles can be synthesized by stepwise reduction of the titanocene dichlorides [Cp(2)TiCl2] and [(tBuCp)2TiCl2] and consecutive coordination of two different bridging ligands. The resulting complexes are the first examples of molecular rectangles containing bent metallocene corner units. Single-crystal X-ray analyses of the tetranuclear compounds revealed the geometric properties of the molecular polygons in the solid state. Comparison of bond lengths and angles in coordinated and free ligands reveals the reduced state of the bridging ligand in the low-valent titanium compounds. The syntheses and properties of these novel, highly air- and moisture-sensitive compounds are discussed.     

The influence of triplet energy levels of bridging ligands on energy transfer processes in Ir(III)/Eu(III) dyads

A series of N^N,O^O-bridging ligands based on substituted 1-(pyridin-2-yl)-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone and their corresponding heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes as well as Ir-Eu bimetallic complexes were synthesized and fully characterized. The influence of the triplet energy levels of the bridging ligands on the energy transfer (ET) process from the Ir(III) complexes to Eu(III) ions in solution was investigated at 77 K in Ir(III)/Eu(III) dyads. Photophysical experiment results show the bridging ligands play an important role in the ET process. Only when the triplet energy level of the bridging ligand was lower than the triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer ((3)MLCT) energy level of the Ir moiety, was pure emission from the Eu(III) ion observed, implying complete ET took place from the Ir moiety to the Eu(III) ion.     

Dimeric palladium complexes with bridging aryl groups: when are they stable?

Stable dimeric palladium(II) complexes of general formula [Pd(2)(mu-R)(2)(eta(3)-allyl)(2)] (R=haloaryl, mesityl) have been prepared. Their X-ray crystal structures, determined for some of the complexes, show that the two coordination square planes are usually coplanar. The haloaryl complexes are fluxional in solution, showing exchange between cis and trans isomers (relative to the orientation of the two allyl groups in the dimer) through solvent-assisted associative bridge splitting. A number of other ancillary ligands (O,O, S,S, or C,N donors) failed to stabilize the bridging situation. Also, bridging phenyls were unstable. The reasons for this behavior and the formation of alternative compounds in attempts at synthesizing them are fully analyzed and explained. Stable aryl bridges seem to be favored by a combination of factors: the use of ancillary ligands of small size and lacking electron lone pairs, and the use of aryl ligands reluctant to homo and hetero C--C coupling. These seem to be more important factors in the stabilization of bridging aryl complexes than the strength of the bridges themselves.     

Polynuclear lanthanide complexes of a series of bridging ligands containing two tridentate N,N',O-donor units: structures and luminescence properties

A set of three potentially bridging ligands containing two tridentate chelating N,N',O-donor (pyrazole-pyridine-amide) donors separated by an o, m, or p-phenylene spacer has been prepared and their coordination chemistry with lanthanide(III) ions investigated. Ligand L(1) (p-phenylene spacer) forms complexes with a 2:3 M:L ratio according to the proportions used in the reaction mixture; the Ln(2)(L(1))(3) complexes contain two 9-coordinate Ln(III) centres with all three bridging ligands spanning both metal ions, and have a cylindrical (non-helical) 'mesocate' architecture. The 1:1 complexes display a range of structural types depending on the conditions used, including a cyclic Ln(4)(L(1))(4) tetranuclear helicate, a Ln(2)(L(1))(2) dinuclear mesocate, and an infinite one-dimensional coordination polymer in which metal ions and bridging ligands alternate along the sequence. ESMS studies indicate that the 1:1 complexes form a mixture of oligonuclear species {Ln(L(1))}(n) in solution (n up to 5) which are likely to be cyclic helicates. In contrast, ligands L(2) and L(3) (with o- and m-phenylene spacers, respectively) generally form dinuclear Ln(2)L(2) Ln(III) complexes in which the two ligands may be arranged in a helical or non-helical architecture about the two metal ions. These complexes also contain an additional exogenous bidentate bridging ligand, either acetate or formate, which has arisen from hydrolysis of solvent molecules promoted by the Lewis-acidity of the Ln(III) ions. Luminescence studies on some of the Nd(III) complexes showed that excitation into ligand-centred pi-pi* transitions result in the characteristic near-infrared luminescence from Nd(III) at 1060 nm.     

Binuclear complexes of Pt(II) with platinated 2-phenylbenzothiazole and bridged derivatives of pyridin- and benzothiazol-2-thiols

Binuclear complexes of Pt(II) cycloplatinated with 2-phenylbenzothiazole and bridging ligands have been shown to contain the Pt-Pt bond. The complexes have been studied by X-ray diffraction, ¹H NMR and electronic absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. The complexes cis-N_(bt),S-isomers with antisymmetric positions of the cyclometalated and the bridging ligands have been detected in the crystals as well as in the solutions. The low-wavelength absorption and luminescence of the complexes have been assigned to the metal-metal-ligand charge transfer. The two-electron oxidation and reduction waves in the voltamperograms are associated with the metal- and the ligand-centered processes, respectively.     

From mononuclear to multinuclear complexes of palladium containing unsaturated hydrocarbon ligands

This review summarizes the author’s contributions to the field of chemistry of group 10 metal complexes containing unsaturated hydrocarbon ligands, with a brief introduction showing how his research subject has shifted from mononuclear type to multinuclear type complexes. New structure and reactivity trends in the multipalladium complexes with bridging allyl and allenyl/propargyl ligands, as well as bridging conjugated polyene molecules are discussed in terms of some unique bonding features of these complexes.     

Metal-metal interactions as a function of bridging ligand topology: an electrochemical,spectroelectrochemical, and magnetic study on dinuclear Oxo-Mo(V) complexes with various isomers of dihydroxynaphthalene as bridging ligand

Reaction of [MoV(TpMe,Me)(O)Cl2] with 1,3-, 1,5-, 1,6-, 2,6-, and 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene affords the dinuclear complexes [[Mo(TpMe,Me)(O)Cl]2(mu-C10H6O2)], abbreviated as 1,3-Mo2, 1,5-Mo2, 1,6-Mo2, 2,6-Mo2, and 2,7-Mo2, according to the substitution pattern of the bridging ligand. Electrochemical, UV-vis/NIR spectroscopic, and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies have been used to probe the effects of the bridging-ligand topology on the metal-metal electronic and magnetic interactions. The complexes can be split into two classes according to the properties of the bridging ligands. Complexes 1,3-Mo2, 1,6-Mo2, and 2,7-Mo2 all have bridging ligands that are topologically equivalent to meta-substituted bridging ligands such as 1,3-dihydroxybenzene, in that (i) there is an odd number of C atoms separating the two oxygen atoms, regardless of the pathway that is taken through the ligand skeleton, and (ii) the doubly oxidized from of the bridging ligand is a diradical. These complexes are classified as being "T-meta" (= topologically equivalent to meta). Complexes 1,5-Mo2 and 2,6-Mo2 have bridging ligands that are topologically equivalent to para-substituted groups such as 1,4-dihydroxybenzene, in that (i) there is an even number of C atoms separating the two oxygen atoms, whichever pathway is taken through the ligand skeleton, and (ii) the doubly oxidized form of the bridging ligand is a diamagnetic quinone. These complexes are classified as "T-para". Electrochemical studies show that the comproportionation constants for the Mo(V)/Mo(IV) mixed-valence states of the T-meta complexes are smaller than those for the T-para complexes. Spectroelectrochemical studies show that the Mo(V)/Mo(IV) mixed-valence states of the T-para complexes show pronounced Mo(IV)-->Mo(V) IVCT transitions, whereas those of the T-meta complexes do not show these transitions. Magnetic susceptibility studies show that the T-meta complexes all display ferromagnetic exchange between the metal centers, whereas the T-para complexes all display antiferromagnetic exchange. Thus, both the electronic and the magnetic properties of these complexes show a clear demarcation into two sets according to the bridging-ligand topology.     

Dimeric Palladium Complexes with Bridging Aryl Groups: When are they Stable?

Stable dimeric palladium(II ) complexes of general formula [Pd₂(μ‐R)₂(η³‐allyl)₂] (R=haloaryl, mesityl) have been prepared. Their X‐ray crystal structures, determined for some of the complexes, show that the two coordination square planes are usually coplanar. The haloaryl complexes are fluxional in solution, showing exchange between cis and trans isomers (relative to the orientation of the two allyl groups in the dimer) through solvent‐assisted associative bridge splitting. A number of other ancillary ligands (O,O, S,S, or C,N donors) failed to stabilize the bridging situation. Also, bridging phenyls were unstable. The reasons for this behavior and the formation of alternative compounds in attempts at synthesizing them are fully analyzed and explained. Stable aryl bridges seem to be favored by a combination of factors: the use of ancillary ligands of small size and lacking electron lone pairs, and the use of aryl ligands reluctant to homo and hetero C? C coupling. These seem to be more important factors in the stabilization of bridging aryl complexes than the strength of the bridges themselves.     

Methods for the Synthesis of μ-Hydrocarbon Transition Metal Complexes without Metal–Metal Bonds

Transition metal complexes in which hydrocarbons serve as σ,σ-, σ,π- or π,π-bound bridging ligands are currently of great interest. This review presents efficient and directed syntheses for such compounds, which often have very aesthetic structures. These reactions are among the most important reaction types in modern organometallic chemistry. They can be a useful aid for the synthesis of tailor-made compounds, for example, for models of catalytic processes and, specifically, for the construction of heterometallic compounds. We will discuss reactions of electrophilic complexes with nucleophilic ones, numerous transformations of (functionalized) hydrocarbons with metal complexes, the currently very topical complexes with bridging acetylide and carbide ligands, and organometallic polymers, which can be expected to have interesting and novel materials properties. Chisholm

1 M. H. Chisholm, Polyhedron 1988 , 7, 757–1077.

has described the importance of these complexes as follows: “Central to the development of polynuclear and cluster chemistry are bridging ligands and central to organometallic chemistry are metal–carbon bonds. Thus bridging ligands hold a pivotal role ins the development of Binuclear and polynuclear organometallic chemistry”.     

Synthesis and characterisation of 1,3-bis(2-benzimidazyl)-2-thiapropane, 1,5-bis(2-benzimidazyl)-3-thiapentane ligands and their PdCl2 complexes

The 1,3-bis(2-benzimidazyl)-2-thiapropane (TP₂) and 1,5-bis(2-benzimidazyl)-3-thiapentane (TP₃) ligands form 5-coordinate square pyramidal monometallic complexes with PdCl₂. In both complexes the ligands act as chelating tridentate, through two of the nitrogen atoms in the imidazole ring and the sulphur atom of the bridging group. The ligands and complexes were characterised by analytical data and by modern spectroscopic methods such as FT-Raman, i.r., ¹H and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectra.     

Mono- and dinuclear ruthenium complexes of bridging ligands incorporating two di-2-pyridylamine motifs: Synthesis, spectroscopy and electrochemistry

Mono- and dinuclear ruthenium(II) complexes of six bridging ligands that contain a central arene (phenyl, naphthalenyl or biphenyl) core to which are attached two di-2-pyridylamine groups have been prepared. These complexes possess six-membered chelate rings. Full assignments of their ¹H NMR spectra are described which provides insight into the comformations of the ligands in these complexes. The extent of metal–metal communication in the dinuclear complexes was probed by electrochemical measurements and related to metal–metal distances.     

Piperazine‐ and DABCO‐bridged dinuclear N‐heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes: synthesis,structure and application to Hiyama coupling reaction

Four dinuclear N ‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladium complexes were prepared by reaction of imidazolinium salts, PdCl₂ and bridging ligands (piperazine and DABCO) in one pot or by direct cleavage of the chloro‐bridged dimeric compounds [Pd(μ ‐Cl)(Cl)(NHC)]₂ with bridging ligands. All of the complexes were fully characterized using ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, high‐resolution mass and infrared spectroscopies, elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The catalytic activities of the obtained palladium catalysts towards Hiyama coupling of aryl chlorides with phenyltrimethoxysilane were investigated and the results showed that the dinuclear palladium complexes were considerably active for the coupling reaction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New dinuclear nickel(II) complexes: synthesis, structure, electrochemical, and magnetic properties

The reaction of [NiBr(2)(bpy)(2)] (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) with organic phosphinic acids ArP(O)(OH)H [Ar = Ph, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (Mes), 9-anthryl (Ant)] leads to the formation of binuclear nickel(II) complexes with bridging ArP(H)O(2)(-) ligands. Crystal structures of the binuclear complexes [Ni(2)(μ-O(2)P(H)Ar)(2)(bpy)(4)]Br(2) (Ar = Ph, Mes, Ant) have been determined. In each structure, the metal ions have distorted octahedral coordination and are doubly bridged by two arylphosphinato ligands. Magnetic susceptibility measurements have shown that these complexes display strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two nickel atoms at low temperatures, apparently similar to binuclear nickel(II) complexes with bridging carboxylato ligands. Cyclic voltammetry and in situ EPR spectroelectrochemistry show that these complexes can be electrochemically reduced and oxidized with the formation of Ni(I),Ni(0)/Ni(III) derivatives.     

Anion influence on the structure and magnetic properties of a series of multidimensional pyrimidine-2-carboxylato-bridged copper(II) complexes

Seven new polynuclear copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(mu-pymca)2] (1) (pymca(-) = pyrimidine-2-carboxylato), [Cu(mu-pymca)Br] (2), [Cu(mu-pymca)Cl] (3), [Cu(mu-pymca)(SCN)(H2O)] x 4 H2O (4), [Cu(mu-pymca)N3] (5), [Cu2(mu1,5-dca)2(pymca)2] (6) (dca = dicyanamide), and K{[mu-Au(CN)2]2[(Cu(NH3)2)2(mu-pymca)]}[Au(CN)2]2 (7) have been synthesized by reactions of K-pymca with copper(II) ions in the presence of different counteranions. Compound 1 is a linear neutral chain with a carboxylato bridging ligand in a syn-anti coordination mode, whereas complexes 2 and 3 consist of cationic linear chains with cis and trans bis(chelating) pymca bridging ligands. Complex 4 adopts a helical pymca-bridged chain structure. In complex 5, zigzag pymca-bridged chains are connected by double end-on azide bridging ligands to afford a unique honeycomb layer structure. Complex 6 is a centrosymmetric dinuclear system with double mu 1,5-dicyanamide bridging ligands and pymca end-cap ligands. Complex 7 is made of pymca-bridged dinuclear [Cu(NH3)2(mu-pymca)Cu(NH3)2](3+) units connected by [Au(CN)2](-) anions to four other dinuclear units, giving rise to cationic (4,4) rectangular nets, which are linked by aurophilic interactions to afford a singular 3D network. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show that complex 1 exhibits a very weak antiferromagnetic coupling through the syn-anti (equatorial-axial) carboxylate bridge (J = -0.57 cm(-1)), whereas complexes 2-4 and 7 exhibit weak to strong antiferromagnetic couplings through the bis(chelating) pymca bridging ligand J = -17.5-276.1 cm(-1)). Quantum Monte Carlo methods have been used to analyze the experimental magnetic data for 5, leading to an antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -34 cm(-1)) through the pymca ligand and to a ferromagnetic coupling (J = 71 cm(-1)) through the azide bridging ligands. Complex 6 exhibits a very weak antiferromagnetic coupling through the dicyanamide bridging ligands (J = -5.1 cm(-1)). The magnitudes of the magnetic couplings in complexes 2-5 have been explained on the basis of the overlapping between magnetic orbitals and DFT theoretical calculations.     

Dithiolene complexes containing N coordinating groups and corresponding tetrathiafulvalene donors

The chemistry of transition metal dithiolene complexes containing N coordinating groups and the corresponding TTF donors, is reviewed starting from the ligand synthesis to the coordination structures where these dithiolene complexes are used as bridging units. The dithiolene ligands containing N coordinating atoms present two coordination poles which can selectively bind different metals and act as bridging units in a variety of coordination architectures. The transition metal dithiolene complexes based on these N containing ligands and the corresponding TTF donors can be themselves regarded as ligands. These can be used to coordinate other metals, potentially leading to a diversity of hetero metallic coordination architectures. With the use of appropriate auxiliary ligands they can lead to discrete metal complexes. In addition they can lead to more extended polymeric structures of different dimensionality such as 1D chains, 2D layers or even 3D polymers can also be obtained.     

Effects of tris(pyrazolyl)borato ligand substituents on dioxygen activation and stabilization by copper compounds

Dinuclear [Cu2(mu-O)2(Tp(R,R')2] complexes, analogues of the active site of oxyhemocyanin, are theoretically studied, and the effect of the substituents of the tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands, Tp(R,R'), is analyzed. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the type of bridging oxygen, peroxo, or bisoxo is strongly influenced by the nature and position of the R substituents because of variable substituent...bridging oxygen interactions, as well as electronic effects. The electronic effects of ligands at the 5 position are not significant, but peroxo complexes are favored by electron-withdrawing groups at the 3 position while bisoxo ones are strongly sterically disfavored.     

Luminescence ranging from red to blue: a series of copper(I)-halide complexes having rhombic {Cu2(mu-X)2} (X = Br and I) units with N-heteroaromatic ligands

A series of Cu(I) complexes formulated as [Cu(2)(mu-X)(2)(PPh(3))(L)(n)] were prepared with various mono- and bidentate N-heteroaromatic ligands (X = Br, I; L = 4,4'-bipyridine, pyrazine, pyrimidine, 1,5-naphthyridine, 1,6-naphthyridine, quinazoline, N,N-dimethyl-4-aminopyridine, 3-benzoylpyridine, 4-benzoylpyridine; n = 1, 2). Single-crystal structure analyses revealed that all the complexes have planar {Cu(2)X(2)} units. Whereas those with monodentate N-heteroaromatic ligands afforded discrete dinuclear complexes, bidentate ligands formed infinite chain complexes with the ligands bridging the dimeric units. The long Cu...Cu distances (2.872-3.303 A) observed in these complexes indicated no substantial interaction between the two Cu(I) ions. The complexes showed strong emission at room temperature as well as at 80 K in the solid state. The emission spectra and lifetimes in the microsecond range were measured at room temperature and at 80 K. The emissions of the complexes varied from red to blue by the systematic selection of the N-heteroaromatic ligands (lambda(em)(max): 450 nm (L = N,N-dimethyl-4-aminopyridine) to 707 nm (L = pyrazine)), and were assigned to metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited states with some mixing of the halide-to-ligand (XL) CT characters. The emission energies were successfully correlated with the reduction potentials of the coordinated N-heteroaromatic ligands, which were estimated by applying a simple modification based on the calculated stabilization energies of the ligands by protonation.