Stabilisation of iridium(III) fluoride complexes with NHCs

The first neutral, [IrClF(2)(NHC)(COD)] and [IrClF(2)(CO)(2)(NHC)] (NHC = IMes, IPr), and cationic, [IrF(2)py(IMes)(COD)][BF(4)] and [IrF(2)L(CO)(2)(NHC)][BF(4)] (NHC = IMes, L = PPh(2)Et, PPh(2)CCPh, py; NHC = IPr, L = py), NHC iridium(III) fluoride complexes, have been synthesised by the xenon difluoride oxidation of iridium(I) substrates. The stereochemistries of these iridium(III) complexes have been confirmed by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in solution and no examples of fluoride-trans-NHC arrangements were observed. Throughout, CO was found to be a better co-ligand for the stabilisation of the iridium(III) fluoride complexes than COD. Attempts to generate neutral trifluoroiridium(III) complexes, [IrF(3)(CO)(NHC)], via the ligand substitution reaction of [IrF(3)(CO)(3)] with the free NHCs were unsuccessful.     

Tri- and tetracoordinate copper(I) complexes bearing bidentate soft/hard SN and SeN ligands based on 2-aminopyridine

The coordination properties of the EN ligands N-(2-pyridinyl)amino-diphenylphosphine sulfide, N-(2-pyridinyl)amino-diisopropylphosphine sulfide, N-(2-pyridinyl)amino-diphenylphosphine selenide, N-(2-pyridinyl)amino-diisopropylphosphine selenide towards copper(I) precursors CuX (X = Br, I), [Cu(IPr)Cl] (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), and [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]PF(6) were studied. Treatment of CuX with EN ligands resulted in the formation of tricoordinate complexes of the type [Cu(κ(2)(E,N)-EN)X]. The reaction of [Cu(IPr)Cl] with EN ligands, followed by halide abstraction with AgSbF(6), afforded cationic tricoordinate complexes [Cu(κ(2)(S,N)-EN)(IPr)](+), while the reaction of [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)](+) with two equivalents of EN ligands yielded tetrahedral complexes [Cu(κ(2)(E,N)-EN)(2)](+). Halide removal from [Cu(κ(2)(S,N)-SN)I] with silver salts in the presence of L = CH(3)CN and CNtBu afforded dinuclear complexes of the type [Cu(κ(2)(S,N),μ(S)-SN)(L)](2)(2+) containing bridging SN ligands. With the terminal alkynes HC≡CC(6)H(4)Me and HC≡CC(6)H(4)OMe, complexes of the formula [Cu(κ(2)(S,N)-SN-iPr)(η(2)-HC≡CC(6)H(4)Me)](+) and [Cu(κ(2)(S,N)-SN-iPr)(η(2)-HC≡CC(6)H(4)OMe)](+) were obtained. The mononuclear nature of these compounds was supported by DFT calculations. Most complexes were also characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Chemistry surrounding monomeric copper(I) methyl, phenyl, anilido, ethoxide, and phenoxide complexes supported by N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: reactivity consistent with both early and late transition metal systems

Monomeric copper(I) alkyl complexes that possess the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands IPr, SIPr, and IMes [IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, SIPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene, IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene] react with amines or alcohols to release alkane and form the corresponding monomeric copper(I) amido, alkoxide, or aryloxide complexes. Thermal decomposition reactions of (NHC)Cu(I) methyl complexes at temperatures between 100 and 130 degrees C produce methane, ethane, and ethylene. The reactions of (NHC)Cu(NHPh) complexes with bromoethane reveal increasing nucleophilic reactivity at the anilido ligand in the order (SIPr)Cu(NHPh) < (IPr)Cu(NHPh) < (IMes)Cu(NHPh) < (dtbpe)Cu(NHPh) [dtbpe = 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ethane]. DFT calculations suggest that the HOMO for the series of Cu anilido complexes is localized primarily on the amido nitrogen with some ppi(anilido)-dpi(Cu) pi-character. [(IPr)Cu(mu-H)]2 and (IPr)Cu(Ph) react with aniline to quantitatively produce (IPr)Cu(NHPh)/dihydrogen and (IPr)Cu(NHPh)/benzene, respectively. Analysis of the DFT calculations reveals that the conversion of [(IPr)Cu(mu-H)]2 and aniline to (IPr)Cu(NHPh) and dihydrogen is favorable with DeltaH approximately -7 kcal/mol and DeltaG approximately -9 kcal/mol.     

Controlled synthesis of nickel(II) dihalides bearing two different or identical N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and the influence of carbene ligands on their structures and catalysis

Ni(II) dihalides bearing two different or identical NHC ligands have been prepared via a controlled indene elimination synthesis, and the former product provides a new route for the design of biscarbene Ni(II)-based catalysts. The indene elimination reaction of the indenynickel(II) complex (1-H-Ind)Ni(NHC)X (Ind = indenyl) with one equiv. of a distinct imidazolium salt at 100 °C afforded the first example of Ni(II) dihalides bearing two different NHC ligands, i.e., Ni(iPr)(IPr)X(2) [iPr = 1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-ylidene, IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), X = Cl, 1; X = Br, 2] and Ni(iPr)(IMes)Br(2) [IMes = 1,3-bis(mesityl)imidazol-2-ylidene, 3]. Alternatively, complexes 1-3 can be synthesized using a bis-indenyl Ni(II) complex (1-H-Ind)(2)Ni as starting materials via a step-by-step indene elimination at different reaction temperatures. The direct reaction of (1-R-Ind)(2)Ni (R = H or Me) with two equiv. of imidazolium salts at 100 °C afforded Ni(II) dihalides bearing two identical NHC ligands, i.e., Ni(iPr)X(2) (X = Cl, 4; X = Br, 5) and Ni(IPr)Cl(2) (6). All of these complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography for complexes 1-5. The two identical or different NHC ligands in complexes 1-6 changed the coordination sphere of the nickel center from a typical square-planar geometry to a slightly tetrahedral array. A preliminary catalytic study on the cross-coupling reactions of aryl Grignard reagents with aryl halides revealed that complexes 1 and 2 possess the highest activity. In comparison, complexes 3 and 6 exhibited moderate activity and the least active complexes were 4 and 5.     

Cationic NHC-gold(I) complexes: Synthesis, isolation, and catalytic activity

The reaction of [(NHC)AuCl] complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) with a chloride abstractor of the type AgX, where X is a non-coordinating anion, led, in the presence of a neutral coordinating solvent S, to a series of cationic gold(I) complexes of formulae [(NHC)Au(S)]X. Hence, different cationic NHC-gold(I) species bound to acetonitrile, pyridine, 2-Br-pyridine, 3-Br-pyridine, norbornadiene, and THF could be synthesized and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies. Among these, the results of X-ray diffraction studies for [(IPr)Au(NCMe)]SbF₆, [(IAd)Au(NCMe)]PF₆, [(IPr)Au(pyr)]PF₆, [(IPr)Au(2-Br-pyr)]PF₆, [(IPr)Au(3-Br-pyr)]PF₆ are discussed. As special feature, the structure of [(IPr)Au(2-Br-pyr)]PF₆ presented a secondary interaction between the gold and bromine atoms. Additionally, while attempting to obtain crystals of [(IPr)Au(nbd)]PF₆, we crystallized a decomposition product featuring a very rare anion as bridging ligand with formulae [(μ-PF₄)((IPr)Au)₂]PF₄. The observation of a possible P-F bond activation has important implications for cationic Au-based homogeneous catalysis. Finally, we compared the catalytic activities of the different cationic [(NHC)Au(S)]X complexes in the allylic acetate rearrangement reaction and notably observed the inertness of pyridine-based catalysts.     

Cleavage of X-H bonds (X = N, o, or C) by copper(I) alkyl complexes to form monomeric two-coordinate copper(I) systems

The monomeric copper(I) alkyl complexes (IPr)Cu(R) [R = Me or Et; IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene] react with substrates that possess N-H, O-H, and acidic C-H bonds to form monomeric systems of the type (IPr)Cu(X) (X = anilido, phenoxide, ethoxide, phenylacetylide, or N-pyrrolyl) and methane or ethane. Solid-state X-ray crystal structures of the anilido, ethoxide, and phenoxide complexes confirm that they are monomeric systems. Experimental studies on the reaction of (IPr)Cu(Me) and aniline to produce (IPr)Cu(NHPh) suggest that a likely reaction pathway is coordination of aniline to Cu(I) followed by proton transfer to produce methane and the copper(I) anilido complex.     

Copper(I) complexes of bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether: synthesis, reactivity, and theoretical calculations

The tricoordinated cationic Cu(I) complex [Cu(kappa2-P,P'-DPEphos)(kappa1-P-DPEphos)][BF4] (1) (DPEphos = bis(2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl) ether) containing a dangling phosphorus center was synthesized from the reaction of [Cu(CH3CN)4][BF4] with DPEphos in a 1:2 molar ratio in dichloromethane. When complex 1 is treated with MnO2, elemental sulfur, or selenium, the uncoordinated phosphorus atom undergoes oxidation to form a P=E bond resulting in the formation of complexes of the type [Cu(kappa2-P,P'-DPEphos)(kappa2-P,E-DPEphos-E)][BF4] (2, E = O; 3, E = S; 4, E = Se) containing a Cu-E bond. The zigzag polymeric CuI complex [Cu(kappa2-P,P'-DPEphos)(micro-4,4'-bpy)]n[BF4]n (5) was prepared by the reaction of [Cu(CH3CN)4][BF4] with DPEphos and 4,4'-bipyridine in an equimolar ratio. The stereochemical influences of DPEphos on its coordination behavior are examined by density functional theory calculations.     

Stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity of the N-heterocyclic carbene ruthenium hydride complexes [Ru(NHC)(L)(CO)HCl] and [Ru(NHC)(L)(CO)H(eta2-BH4)] (L=NHC, PPh3)

Thermolysis of [Ru(AsPh3)3(CO)H2] with the N-aryl heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) IMes (1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), IPr (1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) or the adduct SIPr.(C6F5)H (SIPr=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene), followed by addition of CH2Cl2, affords the coordinatively unsaturated ruthenium hydride chloride complexes [Ru(NHC)2(CO)HCl] (NHC=IMes , IPr , SIPr ). These react with CO at room temperature to yield the corresponding 18-electron dicarbonyl complexes . Reduction of and [Ru(IMes)(PPh3)(CO)HCl] () with NaBH4 yields the isolable borohydride complexes [Ru(NHC)(L)(CO)H(eta2-BH4)] (, L=NHC, PPh3). Both the bis-IMes complex and the IMes-PPh3 species react with CO at low temperature to give the eta1-borohydride species [Ru(IMes)(L)(CO)2H(eta1-BH4)] (L=IMes , PPh3), which can be spectroscopically characterised. Upon warming to room temperature, further reaction with CO takes place to afford initially [Ru(IMes)(L)(CO)2H2] (L=IMes, L=PPh3) and, ultimately, [Ru(IMes)(L)(CO)3] (L=IMes , L=PPh3). Both and lose BH3 on addition of PMe2Ph to give [Ru(IMes)(L)(L')(CO)H2](L=L'=PMe2Ph; L=PPh3, L'=PMe2Ph). Compounds and have been tested as catalysts for the hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in the presence of (i)PrOH and H2. For the reduction of acetophenone, catalytic activity varies with the NHC present, decreasing in the order IPr>IMes>SIMes.     

Single-Crystal to Single-Crystal Transformations: Stepwise CO2 Insertions into Bridging Hydrides of [(NHC)CuH]2 Complexes

Mechanistic studies of substrate insertion into dimeric [(NHC)CuH]₂ (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes with two bridging hydrides have been shown to require dimer dissociation to generate transient, highly reactive (NHC)Cu−H monomers in solution. Using single-crystal to single-crystal (SC-SC) transformations, we discovered a new pathway of stepwise insertion of CO₂ into [(NHC)CuH]₂ without complete dissociation of the dimer. The first CO₂ insertion into dimeric [(IPr*OMe)CuH]₂ (IPr*OMe=N,N′-bis(2,6-bis(diphenylmethyl)-4-methoxy-phenyl)imidazole-2-ylidene) produced a dicopper formate hydride [(IPr*OMe)Cu]₂(μ-1,3-O₂CH)(μ-H). A second CO₂ insertion produced a dicopper bis(formate), [(IPr*OMe)Cu]₂(μ-1,3-O₂CH)(μ-1,1-O₂CH), containing two different bonding modes of the bridging formate. These dicopper formate complexes are inaccessible from solution reactions since the dicopper core cleanly ruptures to monomeric complexes when dissolved in a solvent.     

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.     

Neutral copper(I) phosphorescent complexes from their ionic counterparts with 2-(2'-quinolyl)benzimidazole and phosphine mixed ligands

Neutral mononuclear Cu(I) complexes and their counterparts with counterion, i.e. Cu(qbm)(PPh(3))(2), Cu(qbm)(DPEphos), [Cu(Hqbm)(PPh(3))(2)](BF(4)) and [Cu(Hqbm)(DPEphos)](BF(4)), where Hqbm = 2-(2'-quinolyl)benzimidazole, DPEphos = bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether, have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray structure analyses. All of the four complexes in solid state exhibit a strong phosphorescence band in the orange spectral region at room temperature. The photophysical properties of these complexes in both methylene chloride solution and poly(methyl methacrylate) film have been studied. Compared to the related cationic complexes, the neutral ones show blue-shifted emissions and longer lifetimes that can be attributed to the additional ligand-centered π-π* transition beside traditional metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT). By doping these complexes in N-(4-(carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-3,6-bis(carbazol-9-yl) carbazole (TCCz), multilayer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) were fabricated with the device structure of ITO/PEDOT/TCCz: Cu(I) (10 wt%)/BCP/Alq(3)/LiF/Al. The neutral complex Cu(qbm)(DPEphos) exhibits a higher current efficiency, up to 8.87 cd A(-1), than that (5.58 cd A(-1)) of its counterpart [Cu(Hqbm)(DPEphos)](BF(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.     

Investigation of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Supported Group 12 Triflates as Pre‐catalysts for Hydrosilylation/Borylation

N‐Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of Cd and Hg triflates (OTf) were prepared and their attempted conversion into rare cadmium and mercury hydrides was explored. In contrast to zinc, which forms stable [ZnH]⁺ complexes with NHCs, the heavier Cd and Hg congeners could not be formed; the increased instability of Cd‐H and Hg‐H units was rationalized with the aid of computations. It was also discovered that the dimeric adduct [IPr?Cd(μ‐OTf)₂]₂ (IPr=[(HCNDipp)₂C:]; Dipp=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) is an active precatalyst for the hydrosilylation and hydroborylation of hindered aldehydes and ketones. The related zinc congener was inactive as a catalyst highlighting a distinct advantage of using heavy Group 12 metals to promote catalytic hydrosilylation/borylation.     

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].     

N-Heterocyclic carbenes and charge separation in heterometallic s-block silylamides

Addition of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), 1,3-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr), to equimolar quantities of group 1 and group 2 bis(trimethylsilyl)amides results in the isolation of charge separated species, [M(IPr)(2)](+)[M'{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(3)](-) (M = Li, Na, K; M' = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba). Although these systems were found to be prone to the separation of oily, most likely liquid clathrate, materials, either slow cooling or careful diffusion of the less polar solvent hexane into toluene solutions yielded nine crystalline heterobimetallic complexes in which the coordination sphere of the cationic group 1 center was found by X-ray diffraction analysis to be provided by two IPr ligands. These derivatives are the first examples of any compounds in which coordination at the central alkali metal cation is provided exclusively by NHC ligands and, for the cases where M = Na, are the first instances of any type in which an NHC ligand is bound to sodium. The anionic group 2-containing component of each compound was found to comprise three bis(trimethylsilyl)amido ligands coordinated in an approximately trigonal array about the divalent metal center. The bonding within the unusual cationic components of the compounds has been investigated by density functional theoretical (DFT) methods. Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analyses have revealed that the coordination is provided by donation of the sp-hydridized IPr lone pair into the valence s-orbital of the alkali metal cation and are consistent with weaker binding, and consequently more labile solution behavior, as group 1 is descended.     

Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene palladium(II) bis-phosphine complexes and their decomposition in the presence of aryl halides

Methylpalladium(II) carbene complexes of the type [Pd(NHC)Me(P-P)]BF(4) (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene, P-P = chelating phosphine) have been synthesised, the complex [Pd(tmiy)Me(dcype)]BF(4) (tmiy = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene, dcype = 1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane) being characterised crystallographically. Complexes bearing the tmiy ligands were shown to decompose in an analogous manner to complexes bearing monodentate phosphine ligands, with the rate of decomposition being nominally linked to the size of the chelate ring. The decomposition of these complexes in the presence of aryl halides-expected to yield Pd(Ar)X(P-P)-was studied and shown instead to yield PdX(2)(P-P) and [Pd(tmiy)X(P-P)]BF(4). Additionally, Pd(Me)X(P-P) and Pd(Ar)X(P-P) were observed in some cases. Intermolecular cross-over reactions between the starting complex and Pd(Ar)X(P-P) were found to be the source of these unexpected products.     

Transamidation of Amides and Amidation of Esters by Selective N–C(O)/O–C(O) Cleavage Mediated by Air- and Moisture-Stable Half-Sandwich Nickel(II)–NHC Complexes

The formation of amide bonds represents one of the most fundamental processes in organic synthesis. Transition-metal-catalyzed activation of acyclic twisted amides has emerged as an increasingly powerful platform in synthesis. Herein, we report the transamidation of N-activated twisted amides by selective N–C(O) cleavage mediated by air- and moisture-stable half-sandwich Ni(II)–NHC (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbenes) complexes. We demonstrate that the readily available cyclopentadienyl complex, [CpNi(IPr)Cl] (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), promotes highly selective transamidation of the N–C(O) bond in twisted N-Boc amides with non-nucleophilic anilines. The reaction provides access to secondary anilides via the non-conventional amide bond-forming pathway. Furthermore, the amidation of activated phenolic and unactivated methyl esters mediated by [CpNi(IPr)Cl] is reported. This study sets the stage for the broad utilization of well-defined, air- and moisture-stable Ni(II)–NHC complexes in catalytic amide bond-forming protocols by unconventional C(acyl)–N and C(acyl)–O bond cleavage reactions.     

Tetranuclear [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] complexes as building blocks for new inorganic architectures: synthesis of coordination polymers and heteropolynuclear complexes with electrophilic d8 and d10 metal fragments

The reaction of [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(cod)4] (PyS2 = 2,6-pyridinedithiolate, cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with CF3SO3Me gave the cationic complex [Rh(4)(mu-PyS(2)Me)(2)(cod)4][CF3SO3]2 (1) with two 6-(thiomethyl)pyridine-2-thiolate bridging ligands from the attack of Me+ at the terminal sulfur atoms of the starting material. Under identical conditions [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(tfbb)4] (tfbb = tetrafluorobenzobarrelene) reacted with CF3SO3Me to give the mixed-ligand complex [Rh(4)(mu-PyS2)(mu-PyS2Me)(tfbb)4][CF3SO3] 2. The nucleophilicity of the bridging ligands in the complexes [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] was exploited to prepare heteropolynuclear species. Reactions with [Au(PPh3)(Me2CO)][ClO4] gave the hexanuclear complexes [(PPh3)2Au2Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4][ClO4]2 (diolefin = cod (3), tfbb (4)). The structure of 4, solved by X-ray diffraction methods, showed the coordination of the [Au(PPh3)]+ fragments to the peripheral sulfur atoms in [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] along with their interaction with the neighbor rhodium atoms. Neutral coordination polymers of formula [ClMRh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4]n (M = Cu (5, 6), Au (7)) result from the self-assembly of alternating [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] ([Rh4]) blocks and MCl linkers. The formation of the infinite polymetallic chains was found to be chiroselective for M = Cu; one particular chain contains exclusively homochiral [Rh4] complexes. Cationic heterometallic coordination polymers of formula [MRh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4]n[BF4]n (M = Ag (8, 9), Cu (10, 11)) and [Rh5(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)5]n[BF4]n (12, 13) result from the reactions of [Rh4] with [Cu(CH2CN)4]BF4, AgBF4, and [Rh(diolefin)(Me2CO)2]BF4, respectively. The heterometallic coordination polymers exhibit a weak electric conductivity in the solid state in the range (1.2-2.8) x 10(-7) S cm(-1).     

Synthesis of NHC complexes by oxidative addition of 2-chloro-N-methylbenzimidazole

The oxidative addition of 2-chloro-N-methylbenzimdazole to complexes of type [M(PPh(3))(4)] yields after N-protonation compounds with NH,NMe-substituted NHC ligands. For M = Pd complex compound trans-[3]BF(4) was obtained, while the oxidative addition for M = Pt yielded a mixture of cis-[4]BF(4) (major) and trans-[4]BF(4) (minor).     

Au(CN)4]- as both an intramolecular and intermolecular bidentate ligand with [(tmeda)Cu(mu-OH)] dimers: from antiferro- to ferromagnetic coupling in polymorphs

Two polymorphic products, [[Cu(tmeda)(mu-OH)}2Au(CN)4][Au(CN)4] (1) and [Cu(tmeda)(mu-OH)Au(CN)4]2 (2), were synthesized from {Cu(tmeda)(mu-OH)}(2)X(2) (tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, X = ClO4-, BF4-) and 2 equiv of K[Au(CN)4], and their X-ray structures were determined. Both compounds have [Cu(tmeda)(mu-OH)}2(2+) dimers with [Au(CN)4]- units bound in the axial positions. However, in 1, two trans N-donor cyanides of each [Au(CN)4]- unit bind to adjacent copper(II) dimers, forming a 1-D chain, whereas complex 2 is molecular, with two mono-coordinated [Au(CN)4]- units. The 1-D polymorph 1 is formed from aqueous solution, while the molecular polymorph 2 is obtained with X = BF4- in methanol. The polymorphs have slightly different Cu-O-Cu angles, a key magnetostructural parameter, such that the 1-D chain 1, with an angle of 96.6(2) degrees, shows ferromagnetic interactions with 2J = +57.5 cm(-1) and g = 2.097, whereas the molecular complex 2, with an angle of 98.92(17) degrees, shows antiferromagnetic interactions with 2J = -143.6 cm(-1) and g = 2.047. A similar Cu(II) complex, [[Cu(tmeda)(mu-OH)]2Au(CN)4][ClO4].MeOH (3), was synthesized in methanol when X = ClO4-, in which the [Au(CN)4]- unit bridges the two Cu(II) centers within the dimer in an intramolecular fashion via cis N-donor cyanides. The average Cu-O-Cu angle of 98.4(2) degrees in 3 generates antiferromagnetic interactions with 2J = -64.8 cm(-1) and g = 2.214. Complexes 1-3 represent the first examples of [Cu(tmeda)(mu-OH)]2(2+) dimers with Cu-O-Cu angles under 100 degrees, thereby extending the range of 2J coupling constants for this moiety from 149 to 566 cm(-1). The switch to ferromagnetic interactions in 1 as a result of the coordinating, bridging [Au(CN)4]- anion suggests that cationic, dinuclear moieties that are typically antiferromagnetically coupled may, with an appropriate coordinating counterion, become ferromagnetic units.