A Two‐Coordinate Cobalt(II) Imido Complex with NHC Ligation: Synthesis,Structure, and Reactivity

The synthesis, structural characterization, and reactivity of the first two‐coordinate cobalt complex featuring a metal–element multiple bond [(IPr)Co(NDmp)] ( 4 ; IPr=1,3‐bis(2′,6′‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazole‐2‐ylidene; Dmp=2,6‐dimesitylphenyl) is reported. Complex 4 was prepared from the reaction of [(IPr)Co(η²‐vtms)₂] (vtms=vinyltrimethylsilane) with DmpN₃. An X‐ray diffraction study revealed its linear C? Co? N core and a short Co? N distance (1.691(6) Å). Spectroscopic characterization and calculation studies indicated the high‐spin nature of 4 and the multiple‐bond character of the Co? N bond. Complex 4 effected group‐transfer reactions to CO and ethylene to form isocyanide and imine, respectively. It also facilitated E? H (E=C, Si) σ‐bond activation of terminal alkyne and hydrosilanes to produce the corresponding cobalt(II) alkynyl and cobalt(II) hydride complexes as 1,2‐addition products.     

Stable ‐ESiMe3 Complexes of CuI and AgI (E=S,Se) with NHCs: Synthons in Ternary Nanocluster Assembly

As a part of efforts to prepare new “metallachalcogenolate” precursors and develop their chemistry for the formation of ternary mixed‐metal chalcogenide nanoclusters, two sets of thermally stable, N‐heterocyclic carbene metal–chalcogenolate complexes of the general formula [(IPr)Ag?ESiMe₃] (IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene; E=S, 1 ; Se, 2 ) and [(iPr₂‐bimy)Cu?ESiMe₃]₂ (iPr₂‐bimy=1,3‐diisopropylbenzimidazolin‐2‐ylidene; E=S, 4 ; Se, 5 ) are reported. These are prepared from the reaction between the corresponding carbene metal acetate, [(IPr)AgOAc] and [(iPr‐bimy)CuOAc] respectively, and E(SiMe₃)₂ at low temperature. The reaction of [(IPr)Ag?ESiMe₃] 1 with mercury(II) acetate affords the heterometallic complex [{(IPr)AgS}₂Hg] 3 containing two (IPr)Ag?S^? fragments bonded to a central Hg^II, representing a mixed mercury–silver sulfide complex. The reaction of [(iPr₂‐bimy)Cu‐SSiMe₃]₂, which contains a smaller N‐heterocyclic‐carbene, with mercuric(II) acetate affords the high nuclearity cluster, [(iPr₂‐bimy)₆Cu₁₀S₈Hg₃] 6 . The new N‐heterocyclic carbene metal–chalcogenolate complexes 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 and the ternary mixed‐metal chalcogenolate complex 3 and cluster 6 have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H and ¹³C), elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene–Phosphinidene Complexes of the Coinage Metals

Coinage metal complexes of the N‐heterocyclic carbene–phosphinidene adduct IPr ? PPh (IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) were prepared by its reaction with CuCl, AgCl, and [(Me₂S)AuCl], which afforded the monometallic complexes [(IPr ? PPh)MCl] (M=Cu, Ag, Au). The reaction with two equivalents of the metal halides gave bimetallic [(IPr ? PPh)(MCl)₂] (M=Cu, Au); the corresponding disilver complex could not be isolated. [(IPr ? PPh)(CuOTf)₂] was prepared by reaction with copper(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate. Treatment of [(IPr ? PPh)(MCl)₂] (M=Cu, Au) with Na(BAr^F) or AgSbF₆ afforded the tetranuclear complexes [(IPr ? PPh)₂M₄Cl₂]X₂ (X=BAr^F or SbF₆), which contain unusual eight‐membered M₄Cl₂P₂ rings with short cuprophilic or aurophilic contacts along the chlorine‐bridged M???M axes. Complete chloride abstraction from [(IPr ? PPh)(AuCl)₂] was achieved with two equivalents of AgSbF₆ in the presence of tetrahydrothiophene (THT) to form [(IPr ? PPh){Au(THT)}₂][SbF₆]₂. The cationic tetra‐ and dinuclear complexes were used as catalysts for enyne cyclization and carbene transfer reactions.     

A Masked Cuprous Hydride as a Catalyst for Carbonyl Hydrosilylation in Aqueous Solutions

Redox‐unstable cuprous hydridotriphenylborate was isolated as an N‐heterocyclic carbene adduct [(IPr)Cu(HBPh₃)] (IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene) with good thermal stability. Although this compound displays a contact ion‐pair structure, Cu^IH‐like catalytic activity was envisaged in carbonyl hydrosilylation. Sufficient moisture stability allowed the catalysis in aqueous/organic media. Mechanistic study further showed that a phenyl group on the borate anion is abstracted by [(IPr)Cu]⁺ to give the cationic organocopper complex [(IPr)₂Cu₂(μ‐Ph)][BPh₄].     

Preparation of Stable Low‐Oxidation‐State Group 14 Element Amidohydrides and Hydride‐Mediated Ring‐Expansion Chemistry of N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

Various low oxidation state (+2) group 14 element amidohydride adducts, IPr ? EH(BH₃)NHDipp (E=Si or Ge; IPr=[(HCNDipp)₂C:], Dipp=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃), were synthesized. Thermolysis of the reported adducts was investigated as a potential route to Si‐ and Ge‐based clusters; however, unexpected transmetallation chemistry occurred to yield the carbene–borane adduct, IPr ? BH₂NHDipp. When a solution of IPr ? BH₂NHDipp in toluene was heated to 100 °C, a rare C? N bond‐activation/ring‐expansion reaction involving the bound N‐heterocyclic carbene donor (IPr) transpired.     

Contributions to the Chemistry of Silicon—Sulphur Compounds. 66. Synthesis,crystal and molecular structure of bis(tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolato)(acetonitrile)cobalt(II)[(t-C4H9O)3SiS]2Co(NCCH3)

The title compound [(t-C₄H₉O)₃SiS]₂Co(NCCH₃)] 1 was obtained by reaction of anhydrous cobalt(II) chloride with tri-tert-butoxysilanethiol and triethylamine in acetonitrile as a solvent. The compound crystallizes as deep-blue orthorhombic plates with a = 17.779(4), b = 45.363(9), c = 9.096(2) Å, space group Fdd2 and Z = 8. The structure was solved by Patterson synthesis and refined to the R value of 0.0343. The crystal consists of mononuclear complexes in which the cobalt atom is five-fold coordinated to two sulphurs, two oxygens and one nitrogen in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal arrangement. The relevant bond distances and angles are: Co? S, 2.2680(7); Co? N, 2.065(4); Co? O1, 2.283(2); S? Si, 2.0666(8) Å; S? Co? S′, 119.14(4); N? Co? S, 120.43(2); O1? Co? O1′, 178.81(10)°.     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Analogues of Thiele and Chichibabin Hydrocarbons

Stable N‐heterocyclic carbene analogues of Thiele and Chichibabin hydrocarbons, [(IPr)(C₆H₄)(IPr)] and [(IPr)(C₆H₄)₂(IPr)] ( 4 and 5 , respectively; IPr=C{N(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)}₂CHCH), are reported. In a nickel‐catalyzed double carbenylation of 1,4‐Br₂C₆H₄ and 4,4′‐Br₂(C₆H₄)₂ with IPr ( 1 ), [(IPr)(C₆H₄)(IPr)](Br)₂ ( 2 ) and [(IPr)(C₆H₄)₂(IPr)](Br)₂ ( 3 ) were generated, which respectively afforded 4 and 5 as crystalline solids upon reduction with KC₈. Experimental and computational studies support the semiquinoidal nature of 5 with a small singlet?triplet energy gap ΔE_S?T of 10.7 kcal mol^?1, whereas 4 features more quinoidal character with a rather large ΔE_S?T of 25.6 kcal mol^?1. In view of the low ΔE_S?T, 4 and 5 may be described as biradicaloids. Moreover, 5 has considerable (41 %) diradical character.     

Syntheses,Structures and Characterization of Cobalt(II) and Cobalt(III) Complexes with N-Benzylated Polyamines and a Terminal Azido Ligand

Mononuclear cobalt(II) and cobalt(III) complexes, [Co(trenb)(N₃)]Cl (1) and [Co(dienb)(N₃)₂(OAc)] (2) (trenb = tris[2-(benzylamino)ethyl]amine, dienb = 1,9-diphenyl-2,5,8-triazanonane) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR and electronic spectra. Their crystal structures were also determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. In Complex 1, cobalt(II) is five-coordinate trigonal bipyramidal with one azido nitrogen atom and four nitrogen donors of the tripodal ligand; the chloride interacts weakly with one of the secondary amino groups of trenb via a hydrogen bond. In Complex 2, cobalt(III) is in a distorted octahedral coordination environment, consisting of three nitrogen atoms of the amine ligand, two azide nitrogen atoms and an oxygen atom of the acetate ion; a six-membered ring involving the hydrogen bond may stabilize the complex, which maintains its solid geometry in DMF as indicated by the electronic spectrum.     

Strong Exchange Coupling in a Trimetallic Radical‐Bridged Cobalt(II)‐Hexaazatrinaphthylene Complex

Reducing hexaazatrinaphthylene (HAN) with potassium in the presence of 18‐c‐6 produces [{K(18‐c‐6)}HAN], which contains the S=1/2 radical [HAN]^.?. The [HAN]^.? radical can be transferred to the cobalt(II) amide [Co{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂], forming [K(18‐c‐6)][(HAN){Co(N′′)₂}₃]; magnetic measurements on this compound reveal an S=4 spin system with strong cobalt–ligand antiferromagnetic exchange and J≈?290 cm^?1 (?2 J formalism). In contrast, the Co^II centres in the unreduced analogue [(HAN){Co(N′′)₂}₃] are weakly coupled (J≈?4.4 cm^?1). The finding that [HAN]^.? can be synthesized as a stable salt and transferred to cobalt introduces potential new routes to magnetic materials based on strongly coupled, triangular HAN building blocks.     

Liquid Phase Hydrogenolysis of Biomass‐derived Lactate to 1,2‐Propanediol over Silica Supported Cobalt Nanocatalyst

Liquid phase hydrogenolysis of ethyl lactate to 1,2‐propanediol was performed over silica supporting cobalt catalysts prepared by two different methods: precipitation‐gel (PG) technique and deposition‐precipitation (DP) procedure. The cobalt species (Co₃O₄/cobalt phyllosilicate) present in the corresponding calcined PG and DP catalysts were different as a consequence of the preparation methods, and Co OH Co olation and Si O Co oxolation molecular mechanisms were employed to elucidate the chemical phenomena during the different preparation procedures. In addition, the texture (BET), reduction behavior (TPR and in‐situ XRD), surface dispersion and state of cobalt species (XPS), and catalytic performance differ greatly between the samples. Because of small particle size, high dispersion of cobalt species and facile reducibility, the Co/SiO₂ catalyst prepared by precipitation‐gel method presented a much higher activity than the catalyst prepared by deposition‐precipitation method. Metallic cobalt is assumed to be the catalytically active site for the hydrogenolysis reaction according to the catalytic results of both cobalt samples reduced at different temperatures and the structure changes after reaction.     

Synthesis,characterization and biological properties of mixed ligand complexes of cobalt(II/III) valproate with 2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline and 1,10‐phenanthroline

The synthesis of mononuclear cobalt(II/III) complexes with two different ligands (complex 2: [Co(valp)₂(2,9‐dmp)] and complex 3: [Co(valp)₂(H₂O)(1,10‐phen)]) was investigated and the characterization of both complexes was achieved using IR, UV–Vis, and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. Using single crystal X‐ray diffraction, the crystal structure of each of the complexes was determined. Additionally, the biological activity of these complexes was studied in five gram‐positive and four gram‐negative bacterial strains. Whereas in all gram‐negative bacteria tested, cobalt valproate complexes did not show any anti‐bacterial activity, both complexes had effects on gram positive bacteria. Complex 2 demonstrated good anti‐bacterial activity against all gram‐positive bacteria with inhibition zone diameter (IZD) ranging between 15–28 mm. Complex 3 exhibited low inhibition activity against all gram‐positive bacteria except E. faecalis with IZD ranging between 11.3–13.7 mm. Moreover, as an indication of its uses as industrial catalyst, the rate of bis(p‐nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) hydrolysis when catalyzed by these complexes was measured at different temperatures, concentrations and pH. Complex 2 proved to be a better catalyst to induce the hydrolysis of BNPP.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New M‐Triazole Complexes (M = Co,Cu, Zn)

Three new complexes with the ligand 3,5‐diamino‐1,2,4‐triazole (Hdatrz), [Co₃(μ₂‐Hdatrz)₆(H₂O)₆]·(NO₃)₈·4H₂O ( 1 ), [Cu₃(μ₂‐Hdatrz)₄(μ₂‐Cl)₂(H₂O)₂Cl₂]·Cl₂·4H₂O·2C₂H₅OH ( 2 ) and {[Zn₂(μ₂‐SO₄) (μ₃‐datrz)₂]·2H₂O}_n ( 3 ) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Complex 1 has a linear trinuclear mixed‐valence cobalt structure with six neutral triazole ligands in the N(1), N(2)‐bridging mode. The central cobalt atom, Co(1), is coordinated to six nitrogen atoms (octahedral) whereas the terminal cobalt atom, Co(2), is coordinated to an N₃O₃ moiety (octahedral). In complex 1 , the uudd cyclic water clusters, nitrate anions and the trimeric cations are linked to a supramolecular structure. Complex 2 features a linear trinuclear copper(II) core, with four N(1), N(2)‐bridging triazole ligands and two chlorido bridges. The central copper atom is coordinated to an N₄Cl₂ moiety (octahedral) whereas the terminal copper is coordinated to an N₂Cl₂O moiety (square‐pyramidal). In complex 2 , tetrahedral hydrogen bonding interactions play an important role to form a supramolecular network. Complex 3 exhibits a polymeric structure, with N(1), N(2), N(4)‐bridging triazolate ligands and sulfate bridges, in which zinc is coordinated to an N₃O moiety (tetrahedral). In complex 3 , water molecules and sulfate anions construct the sulfate‐water supramolecular chain with hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, the complexes were investigated by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopic, and thermogravimetric measurements.     

Cobalt(II) chloride adducts with acetonitrile,propan‐2‐ol and tetrahydrofuran: considerations on nuclearity,reactivity and synthetic applications

High‐spin cobalt(II) complexes are considered useful building blocks for the synthesis of single‐molecule magnets (SMM) because of their intrinsic magnetic anisotropy. In this work, three new cobalt(II) chloride adducts with labile ligands have been synthesized from anhydrous CoCl₂, to be subsequently employed as starting materials for heterobimetallic compounds. The products were characterized by elemental, spectroscopic (EPR and FT–IR) and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses. trans‐Tetrakis(acetonitrile‐κN )bis(tetrahydrofuran‐κO )cobalt(II) bis[(acetonitrile‐κN )trichloridocobaltate(II)], [Co(C₂H₃N)₄(C₄H₈O)₂][CoCl₃(C₂H₃N)]₂, (1), comprises mononuclear ions and contains both acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran (thf) ligands, The coordination polymer catena‐poly[[tetrakis(propan‐2‐ol‐κO )cobalt(II)]‐μ‐chlorido‐[dichloridocobalt(II)]‐μ‐chlorido], [Co₂Cl₄(C₃H₈O)₄], (2′), was prepared by direct reaction between anhydrous CoCl₂ and propan‐2‐ol in an attempt to rationalize the formation of the CoCl₂–alcohol adduct (2), probably CoCl₂(HOⁱPr)_m . The binuclear complex di‐μ‐chlorido‐1:2κ⁴Cl :Cl‐dichlorido‐2κ²Cl‐tetrakis(tetrahydrofuran‐1κO )dicobalt(II), [Co₂Cl₄(C₄H₈O)₄], (3), was obtained from (2) after recrystallization from tetrahydrofuran. All three products present cobalt(II) centres in both octahedral and tetrahedral environments, the former usually less distorted than the latter, regardless of the nature of the neutral ligand. Product (2′) is stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen‐bond network that appears to favour a trans arrangement of the chloride ligands in the octahedral moiety; this differs from the cis disposition found in (3). The expected easy displacement of the bound solvent molecules from the metal coordination sphere makes the three compounds good candidates for suitable starting materials in a number of synthetic applications.     

Cyano­cobalt(III) complexes of penta‐ and tetra­dentate‐coordinated macrocyclic hexa­amines

The pendent‐arm macrocyclic hexa­amine trans‐6,13‐dimethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐6,13‐diamine (L) may coordinate in tetra‐, penta‐ or hexa­dentate modes, depending on the metal ion and the synthetic procedure. We report here the crystal structures of two pseudo‐octa­hedral cobalt(III) complexes of L, namely sodium trans‐cyano­(trans‐6,13‐dimethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐6,13‐diamine)cobalt(III) triperchlorate, Na[Co(CN)(C₁₃H₃₀N₆)](ClO₄)₃ or Na{trans‐[CoL(CN)]}(ClO₄)₃, (I), where L is coordinated as a penta­dentate ligand, and trans‐dicyano­(trans‐6,13‐dimethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐6,13‐diamine)cobalt(III) trans‐dicyano­(trans‐6,13‐dimethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­aza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐6,13‐diaminium)cobalt(III) tetra­perchlorate tetra­hydrate, [Co(CN)₂(C₁₄H₃₂N₆)][Co(CN)₂(C₁₄H₃₀N₆)](ClO₄)₄·4H₂O or trans‐[CoL(CN)₂]trans‐[Co(H₂L)(CN)₂](ClO₄)₄·4H₂O, (II), where the ligand binds in a tetra­dentate mode, with the remaining coordination sites being filled by C‐­bound cyano ligands. In (I), the secondary amine Co—N bond lengths lie within the range 1.944 (3)–1.969 (3) Å, while the trans influence of the cyano ligand lengthens the Co—N bond length of the coordinated primary amine [Co—N = 1.986 (3) Å]. The Co—CN bond length is 1.899 (3) Å. The complex cations in (II) are each located on centres of symmetry. The Co—N bond lengths in both cations are somewhat longer than in (I) and span a narrow range [1.972 (3)–1.982 (3) Å]. The two independent Co—CN bond lengths are similar [1.918 (4) and 1.926 (4) Å] but significantly longer than in the structure of (I), again a consequence of the trans influence of each cyano ligand.     

A DFT Study on the Mechanism of Rh2II,II‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Amidation of Carbamates

The potential‐energy surfaces of the reactions of dirhodium tetracarboxylate (Rh₂^II,II) catalyzed nitrene (NR) insertion into C H bonds were examined by a DFT computational study. A pure Becke exchange functional (B88) rather than a hybrid exchange functional (B3, BHandH) was found to be appropriate for the calculation of the energy difference between the singlet and triplet Rh₂^II,II–NH nitrene species. Rh₂^II,II–NR¹ (R¹=(S)‐2‐methyl‐1‐butylformyl) is thermodynamically more favorable with a free energy lower than that of Rh₂^II,II–N(PhI)R¹. The singlet and triplet states of Rh₂^II,II–NR¹ have similar stability. Singlet Rh₂^II,II–NR¹ undergoes a concerted NR insertion into the C H bond with simultaneous formation of the N H and N C bonds during C H bond cleavage; triplet Rh₂^II,II–NR¹ undergoes H atom abstraction to produce a diradical, followed by subsequent bond formation by diradical recombination. The singlet pathway is favored over the triplet in the context of the free energy of activation and leads to the retention of the chirality of the C atom in the NR insertion product. The reactivities of the C H bonds toward the nitrene‐insertion reaction follow the order tertiary>secondary>primary. Relative reaction rates were calculated for the six reaction pathways examined in this work.     

Synthesis and Structure of Low‐valent η4‐Cinnamaldehyde Cobalt Complexes

Three η⁴‐(C=C–C=O) coordination cobalt(I) complexes 1 – 3 were synthesized by the reactions of cinnamaldehyde, p‐fluorocinnamaldehyde, and p‐chlorocinnamaldehyde with CoMe(PMe₃)₄. Complex 4 as η²‐(C=C) coordination was prepared by the reaction of chalcone with Co(PMe₃)₄. The structures of complexes 1 – 4 were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Although the reactions didn't undergo C–H bond activation and decarbonylation, the formation of complexes 1 – 4 deepens our understanding of the reactions between α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde or ketone with low‐valent central cobalt atom.     

Chemical bonding in “early–late” transition metal complexes [(H2N)3M–M′(CO)4] (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; M′ = Co, Rh, Ir)

Quantum chemical DFT calculations at the BP86/TZ2P level have been carried out for the complex [HSi(SiH₂NH)₃Ti–Co(CO)₄], which is a model for the experimentally observed compound [MeSi{SiMe₂N(4-MeC₆H₄)}₃Ti–Co(CO)₄] and for the series of model systems [(H₂N)₃M–M′(CO)₄] (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; M′ = Co, Rh, Ir). The Ti–Co bond in [HSi(SiH₂NH)₃Ti–Co(CO)₄] has a theoretically predicted BDE of D _e = 59.3 kcal/mol. The bonding analysis suggests that the titanium atom carries a large positive charge, while the cobalt atom is nearly neutral. The covalent and electrostatic contributions to the Ti–Co attraction have similar strength. The Ti–Co bond can be classified as a polar single bond, which has only little π contribution. Calculations of the model compound (H₂N)₃Ti–Co(CO)₄ show that the rotation of the amino groups has a very large influence on the length and on the strength of the Ti–Co bond. The M–M′ bond in the series [(H₂N)₃M–M′(CO)₄] becomes clearly stronger with Ti < Zr < Hf, while the differences between the bond strengths due to change of the atoms M′ are much smaller. The strongest M–M′ bond is predicted for [(H₂N)₃Hf–Ir(CO)₄].     

Aggregation and Degradation of White Phosphorus Mediated by N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Nickel(0) Complexes

The reaction of zerovalent nickel compounds with white phosphorus (P₄) is a barely explored route to binary nickel phosphide clusters. Here, we show that coordinatively and electronically unsaturated N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) nickel(0) complexes afford unusual cluster compounds with P₁, P₃, P₅ and P₈ units. Using [Ni(IMes)₂] [IMes=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene], electron‐deficient Ni₃P₄ and Ni₃P₆ clusters have been isolated, which can be described as superhypercloso and hypercloso clusters according to the Wade–Mingos rules. Use of the bulkier NHC complexes [Ni(IPr)₂] or [(IPr)Ni(η⁶‐toluene)] [IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene] affords a closo‐Ni₃P₈ cluster. Inverse‐sandwich complexes [(NHC)₂Ni₂P₅] (NHC=IMes, IPr) with an aromatic cyclo‐P₅^? ligand were identified as additional products.     

N‐Heterocyclic Phosphenium,Arsenium, and Stibenium Ions as Ligands in Transition Metal Complexes: A Comparative Experimental and Computational Study

Reaction of 2‐chloro‐1,3,2‐diazaarsolenes and ‐diazaphospholenes with Tl[Co(CO)₄] gives instable complexes of type [Co(ER₂)(CO)₄] which decarbonylated to yield [Co(ER₂)(CO)₃]. Spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction studies revealed that the tetracarbonyl complexes can be formulated as ion pair for E = P and as covalent metalla‐arsine for E = As, and the tricarbonyl complexes as carbene‐like species with a formal E=Co double bond. A similar reactivity towards Tl[Co(CO)₄] was also inferred for 1,3,2‐diazastibolenes although the products were not isolable and their constitution remained uncertain. Evaluation of structural and computational data suggests that the weak and polarized Co–As bond in [Co(AsR₂)(CO)₄] can be characterized as an “inverse” M→L donor‐acceptor bond. The computational studies disclosed further η²(EN)‐coordination of the EN₂C₂ heterocycle as an alternative to the formation of a carbene‐like structure for [Co(ER₂)(CO)₃]. The η²‐complex is less stable for E = P but close in energy for E = As and more stable than the carbene‐like complex for E = Sb.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct C2‐Arylation of an N‐Heterocyclic Carbene: An Atom‐Economic Route to Mesoionic Carbene Ligands

Blocking the C2 position of an imidazole‐derived classical N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) with an aryl group is an essential strategy to establish a route to mesoionic carbenes (MICs), which coordinate to the metal via the C4 (or C5) carbon atom. An efficient catalytic route to MIC precursors by direct arylation of an NHC is reported. Treatment of 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene (IPr) with an aryl iodide (RC₆H₄I) in the presence of 0.5 mol % of [Pd₂(dba)₃] (dba=dibenzylideneacetone) precatalyst affords the C2‐arylated imidazolium salts {IPr(C₆H₄R)}I (R=H, 4‐Me, 2‐Me, 4‐OMe, 4‐COOMe) in excellent (up to 92 %) yields. Treatment of {IPr(C₆H₅)}I with CuI and KN(SiMe₃)₂ exclusively affords the MIC–copper complex [(IPrPh)CuI].