Substituted lithiumtrimethylsiloxysilanides LiSiRR′(OSiMe3) - Investigations of their synthesis, stability and reactivity

The reactions of the trimethylsiloxychlorosilanes (Me₃SiO)RR′SiCl (1a-h: R′ = Ph, 1a: R = H, 1b: R = Me, 1c: R = Et, 1d: R = ⁱPr, 1e: R = ^tBu, 1f: R = Ph, 1g: R = 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂ (Mes), 1h: R = 2,4,6-(Me₂CH)₃C₆H₂ (Tip); 1i: R = R′ = Mes) with lithium metal in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at −78 °C and in a mixture of THF/diethyl ether/n-pentane in a volume ratio 4:1:1 at −110 °C lead to mixtures of numerous compounds. Dependent on the substituents silyllithium derivatives (Me₃SiO)RR′SiLi (2b-i), Me₃SiO(RR′Si)₂Li (3a-g), Me₃SiRR′SiLi (4a-h), (LiO)RR′SiLi (12e, 12g-i), trisiloxanes (Me₃SiO)₂SiRR′ (5a-i) and trimethylsiloxydisilanes (6f^∗, 6h^∗, 6i^∗) are formed. All silyllithium compounds were trapped with Me₃SiCl or HMe₂SiCl resulting in the following products: (Me₃SiO)RR′SiSiMe₂R″ (6b-i: R″ = Me, 7c-i: R″ = H), Me₃SiO(RR′Si)₂SiMe₂R″ (8a-g: R″ = Me, 9a-g: R″ = H), Me₃SiRR′SiSiMe₂R″ (10a-h: R″ = Me, 11a-h: R″ = H) and (HMe₂SiO)RR′SiSiMe₂H (13e, 13g-i). The stability of trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums 2 depends on the substituents and on the temperature. (Me₃SiO)Mes₂SiLi (2i) is the most stable compound due to the high steric shielding of the silicon centre. The trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums 2a-g undergo partially self-condensation to afford the corresponding trimethylsiloxydisilanyllithiums Me₃SiO(RR′Si)₂Li (3a-g). (Me₃)Si-O bond cleavage was observed for 2e and 2g-i. The relatively stable trimethylsiloxysilyllithiums 2f, 2g and 2i react with n-butyllithium under nucleophilic butylation to give the n-butyl-substituted silyllithiums ⁿBuRR′SiLi (15g, 15f, 15i), which were trapped with Me₃SiCl. By reaction of 2g and 2i with 2,3-dimethylbuta-1,3-diene the corresponding 1,1-diarylsilacyclopentenes 17g and 17i are obtained.X-ray studies of 17g revealed a folded silacyclopentene ring with the silicon atom located 0.5 Å above the mean plane formed by the four carbon ring atoms.     

Metal complexes of 2-aza-2-benzyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-carbaporphyrin: M(2-NCH2C6H5NCTPP) (M = Ni, Pd) and Mn(2-NCH2C6H5NCTPP)Br (NCTPP = N-confused 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl porphyrinate)

The crystal structures of (2-aza-2-benzyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-carbaporphyrinato-N,N′,N″) nickel(II) methylene chloride solvate [Ni(2-NCH₂C₆H₅NCTPP); 4], (2-aza-2-benzyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-carbaporphyrinato-N,N′,N″) palladium(II) [Pd(2-NCH₂C₆H₅NCTPP); 5] and bromo(2-aza-2-benzyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21-carbaporphyrinato-N,N′,N″) manganese(III) toluene solvate [Mn(2-NCH₂C₆H₅NCTPP)Br·C₆H₅CH₃; 3·C₆H₅CH₃] have been established. The coordination sphere around the Ni²⁺ ion in 4 (or Pd²⁺ ion in 5) is distorted square planar (DSP), whereas for Mn³⁺ in 3·C₆H₅CH₃, it is a square-based pyramid with the Br atom lying in the axial site. The g value of 11.34, measured from parallel polarization of the X-band EPR spectra at 4 K, is consistent with a high spin mononuclear manganese(III) centre (S = 2) in 3. The magnitude of the axial (D) zero-field splitting (ZFS) for the mononuclear Mn(III) centre in 3 was determined approximately to be 1.4 cm⁻¹ by paramagnetic susceptibility measurements and conventional EPR spectroscopy.     

Cationic arene ruthenium complexes containing chelating 1,10-phenanthroline ligands

The monocationic chloro complexes containing chelating 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands [(arene)Ru(N∩N)Cl]⁺ (1: arene = C₆H₆, N∩N = phen; 2: arene = C₆H₆, N∩N = 5-NO₂-phen; 3: arene = p-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ, N∩N = phen; 4: arene = p-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ, N∩N = 5-NO₂-phen; 5: arene = C₆Me₆, N∩N = phen; 6: arene = C₆Me₆, N∩N = 5-NO₂-phen; 7: arene = C₆Me₆, N∩N = 5-NH₂-phen) have been prepared and characterised as the chloride salts. Hydrolysis of these chloro complexes in aqueous solution gave, upon precipitation of silver chloride, the corresponding dicationic aqua complexes [(arene)Ru(N∩N)(OH₂)]²⁺ (8: arene = C₆H₆, N∩N = phen; 9: arene = C₆H₆, N∩N = 5-NO₂-phen; 10: arene = p-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ, N∩N = phen; 11: arene = p-MeC₆H₄Prⁱ, N∩N = 5-NO₂-phen; 12: arene = C₆Me₆, N∩N = phen; 13: arene = C₆Me₆, N∩N = 5-NO₂-phen; 14: arene = C₆Me₆, N∩N = 5-NH₂-phen), which have been isolated and characterised as the tetrafluoroborate salts. The catalytic potential of the aqua complexes 8-14 for transfer hydrogenation reactions in aqueous solution has been studied: complexes 12 and 14 catalyse the reaction of acetophenone with formic acid to give phenylethanol and carbon dioxide with turnover numbers around 200 (80 °C, 7 h). In the case of 12, it was possible to observe the postulated hydrido complex [(C₆Me₆)Ru(phen)H]⁺ (15) in the reaction with sodium borohydride; 15 has been characterised as the tetrafluoroborate salt, the isolated product [15]BF₄, however, being impure. The molecular structures of [(C₆Me₆)Ru(phen)Cl]⁺ (1) and [(C₆Me₆)Ru(phen)(OH₂)]²⁺ (12) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of [1]Cl and [12](BF₄)₂.     

Synthesis of novel terdentate N,C,N′-coordinated butyltin(IV) complexes and their redistribution reactions with SnCl4

The Sn(IV) butyl complexes [Bu_nSnCl_3 − n(NCN)] (NCN = [C₆H₃(CH₂NMe₂)₂-2,6]⁻, n = 1 (1), 2 (2), 3 (3)) were prepared. Spectroscopic analysis of 1-3 by ¹H and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR gave evidence for the presence of intramolecular N → Sn interactions in solution. The molecular structure of 1, as determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study, revealed that it contained a six-coordinate Sn(IV) center with intramolecular N → Sn coordination of both ortho-amine substituents. Addition of SnCl₄ to 1 resulted in the isolation of the HCl adduct [BuSnCl₃(NCN⁺H)] (6). Reactions of 2 and 3 with SnCl₄ each resulted in the HCl salt [SnCl₄(NCN⁺H)] (8) and the corresponding butyltin chloride, Bu₂SnCl₂ and Bu₃SnCl, respectively. The formation of HCl adducts 6 and 8 was ascribed to transfer of the NCN ligand to SnCl₄ and the presence of HCl (from partial hydrolysis of the product or SnCl₄ during the work up procedure). The molecular structures of 6 and 8 have been determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction and revealed the presence of a [BuSnCl₃(aryl)]⁻ or [SnCl₄(aryl)]⁻ stannate anion, respectively, with in each case one coordinated ortho-amine function and one protonated amine moiety involved in N-H?Cl-Sn hydrogen bonding in both compounds (2.14 Å for 6 and 2.18 Å for 8).     

Synthesis and crystal structures of boratranes with methyl substituents on the atrane cage

Three monomeric boratranes B[(OCH₂CH₂)_nN(CH₂CMe₂O)_3−n] (n = 0, 1; n = 1, 2; n = 2, 3) have been synthesized by the reaction of B(OMe)₃ with a series of triethanolateamines such as [(OCH₂CH₂)_nN(CH₂CMe₂O)_3−n]³⁻ (n = 0, L1; n = 1, L2; n = 2, L3), where the number of CMe₂ groups adjacent to the OH functionality varied from 3 (L1H₃) to 2 (L2H₃) to 1 (L3H₃). These boratranes 1-3 have been characterized by solution ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ¹¹B NMR, and the crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Substituting group induced structural transformation from 1D zigzag chain to 2D grid network in cyano-bridged dimetallic complexes derived from Mn(Schiff-base) and [Cr(CN)5NO]: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

Two cyano-bridged dimetallic complexes derived from Mn^III(Schiff-base) and [Cr^I(CN)₅NO]³⁻, [Mn(3-CH₃)salen]₃[Cr(CN)₅NO]·2.5H₂O (1) and [Mn(5-CH₃)salen]₆[Cr(CN)₅NO]₂·2CH₃OH·16H₂O (2) [salen = N,N′-ethylenebis (salicylideneiminato)dianion] were synthesized and characterized. The reaction conditions of the two complexes are identical. The substituting group (CH₃-) in the salen-type ligands gives different assembly styles for the two complexes, 1D zigzag chain for 1 while 2D grid network for 2. The magnetic investigation indicates the dominant antiferromagnetic interactions between the Mn(III) and Cr(I) mediated by the CN bridge. Due to the weak interchain antiferromagnetic interactions, no magnetic ordering phase was observed in complex 1. Interestingly, complex 2 showed the long range ferrimagnetic magnetic ordering with T_c = 9 K, in contrast to 1. Furthermore, the hysteresis loop confirms the nature of complex 2 as soft ferrimagnet.     

New 3d–4f supramolecular systems constructed by [Fe(bipy)(CN)4] and partially blocked lanthanide cations

The reaction of acetonitrile (1–5) and mixed acetonitrile/water 1:1 (6–9) solutions containing the cyanide-bearing [Fe(bipy)(CN)₄]⁻ building block (bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) and the partially blocked [Ln(bpym)]³⁺ cation (Ln = lanthanide trivalent cation and bpym = 2,2′-bipyrimidine) has afforded two new families of 3d–4f supramolecular assemblies of formula [Ln(bpym)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₃][Fe(bipy)(CN)₄] · H₂O · CH₃CN [Ln = Sm (1), Gd (2), Tb (3), Dy (4) and Ho (5)] and [Ln(bpym)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₄][Fe(bipy)(CN)₄] [Ln = Pr (6), Nd (7), Sm (8), Gd (9)]. They crystallize in the P2₁/c (1–5) and P2/c (6–9) space groups and their structures are made up of [Fe(bipy)(CN)₄]⁻ anions (1–9) and [Ln(bpym)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)_n]⁺ cations [n = 3 (1–5) and 4 (6–9)] with uncoordinated water and acetonitrile molecules (1–5) which are interlinked through an extensive network of hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking into three-dimensional motifs. Both families have in common the occurrence of the low-spin iron(III) unit [Fe(bipy)(CN)₄]⁻ where two bipy–nitrogen and four cyanide–carbon atoms build a somewhat distorted octahedral surrounding around the iron atom [Fe–N = 1.980(3)–1.988(3) Å (1–5) and 1.988(2)–1.992(2) Å (6–9); Fe–C = 1.904(5)–1.952(4) Å (1–5) and 1.911(2)–1.948(3) Å (6–9)]. The main structural difference between both families concerns the environment of the lanthanide atom which is nine- (1–5)/10-coordinated (6–9) with a chelating bpym, two bidentate nitrate and three (1–5)/four (6–9) water molecules building distorted monocapped (1–5)/bicapped (6–9) square antiprisms. This different lanthanide environment is at the origin of the different hydrogen bonding pattern of the two families of compounds.     

Carbonylation of four-membered ruthenium and osmium metallacycles incorporating an orthometallated phenolic function: New acylruthenium and arylosmium complexes

The solution reaction of Ru(QL¹)(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl (3) and Os(QL¹)(PPh₃)₂(CO)Br (4) with carbon monoxide at one atmosphere pressure has respectively afforded the orange acylruthenium system Ru(QL²)(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl (5) and the yellow arylosmium dicarbonyl system Os(QL³)(PPh₃)₂(CO)₂Br (6) in excellent yields. (QL¹ is C₆H₂O-2-CHNHC₆H₄Q(p)-3-Me-5, QL² is C₆H₂(CO-1)O-2-CHNHC₆H₄Q(p)-3-Me-5 and QL³ is C₆H₂OH-2-CHNC₆H₄Q(p)-3-Me-5 and Q is Me, OMe and Cl.) It is proposed that in the case of 3 a dicarbonyl complex similar to 6 is formed as an intermediate which rapidly undergoes aryl migration with concomitant phenolato coordination furnishing 5. The stability of 6 is consistent with the greatly diminished ability of osmium in promotion of migratory reactions. In the reaction 4 → 6 the Os-O(phenolato) bond is cleaved and the Schiff base moiety undergoes iminium-phenolato → imine-phenol tautomerization. The observed cis geometry of 6 may arise by a concerted route involving edge displacement of the halide ligand. The crystal and molecular structure of 5(Q = Cl) has revealed the presence of a distorted octahedral RuC₂P₂OCl coordination sphere and a highly planar acyl chelate ring characterized by a Ru-C distance of 2.013(4) Å. In the hydrogen bonded zwitterionic iminium-phenolato ring the N ? O distance is 2.561(6) Å. The acyl complexes of type 5 display an MLCT band near 500 nm which is absent in 6. The Schiff base CN stretch in 5 (∼1630 cm⁻¹) is significantly higher than that in 6 (∼1600 cm⁻¹) which displays two strong CO stretches near 2020 and 1940 cm⁻¹ (cis-Os(CO)₂ configuration). A single ³¹P NMR signal occurs in both 5 and 6 near 37 and −6 ppm, respectively (trans-M(PPh₃)₂ configuration). The voltammetric reduction potentials of the M^III/M^II couple is observed near 1.0 and 0.8 V vs. SCE in 5 and 6, respectively. Both are significantly higher than those in parent complexes (3 and 4) due to stabilization of the bivalent state upon carbonylation.     

Mononuclear Fe(III) and tetranuclear [Fe(III)Gd(III)]2 complexes with a Schiff-base ligand derived from the o-vanillin: Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties

The mononuclear high-spin iron(III) complexes [Fe(3-MeOsalpn)Cl(H₂O)] (1) and [Fe(3-MeOsalpn)(NCS)(H₂O)]·0.5CH₃CN (2) and the tetranuclear oxo-bridged compound [{Fe(3-MeOsalpn)Gd(NO₃)₃}₂(μ-O)]·CH₃CN (3) [3-MeOsalpn²⁻ = N,N′-propylenebis(3-methoxysalicylideneiminate)] have been prepared and magneto-structurally characterised. The iron(III) ion in 1 and 2 is six-coordinated in a somewhat distorted octahedral surrounding with the two phenolate-oxygens and two imine-nitrogens from the Schiff-base building the equatorial plane and a water (1 and 2) and a chloro (1)/thiocyanate-nitrogen (2) in the axial positions. The neutral mononuclear units of 1 and 2 are assembled into centrosymmetric dinuclear motifs through hydrogen bonds between the axially coordinated water molecule of one iron centre and methoxy-oxygen atoms from the Schiff-base of the adjacent iron atom. The values of the intradimer metal-metal distance within the supramolecular dimers are 4.930 (1) and 4.878 Å (2). The tetranuclear of 3 can be described as two {Fe^III(3-MeOsalpn)} units connected through an oxo-bridge, each one hosting a [Gd^III(NO₃)₃] entity in the outer cavity defined by the two phenolate- and two methoxy-oxygen atoms. The values of the intramolecular Fe?Fe and Fe?Gd distances in 3 are 3.502 and 3.606 Å, respectively. The analysis of the magnetic data of 1-3 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K shows the occurrence of weak intermolecular antiferromagnetic interactions in 1 and 2 [J = −0.76 (1) and −0.75 cm⁻¹ (2) with the Hamiltonian defined as H = −JS_Fe1·S_Fe1] whereas two intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions coexist in 3, one very strong between the two iron(III) ions (J₁) through the oxo bridge and the other much weaker between the iron(III) and the Gd(III) ions (J₂) across the double phenoxo oxygens [J₁ = −275 cm⁻¹ and J₂ = −3.25 cm⁻¹, the Hamiltonian being defined as H=-J₁S_Fe1·S_Fe1^′-J₂(S_Fe1·S_Gd1+S_Fe1^′·S_Gd1^′)]. These values are analysed in the light of the structural data and compared with those of related systems.     

Structural characterization of [Fe(NO)(mnt)2] salts

The iron dithiolene compounds [Fe₂(mnt)₄]²⁻ [1]²⁻ and [Fe(NO)(mnt)₂]ⁿ (n = 1−, [2]¹⁻; n = 2−, [2]²⁻) ([mnt]²⁻ = maleonitriledithiolate = [(NC)₂C₂S₂]²⁻) have been characterized structurally by X-ray diffraction as their [Et₄N]⁺ salts at 100 K. Dianion [2]²⁻ is prepared from [2]¹⁻ by reduction with Na[Et₃BH] and is observed to have a bent Fe-NO angle at 149.9(5)° in contrast to the linear configuration of Fe-NO in [2]¹⁻ (180.0°). The change from linear to bent binding mode for NO, an increase of more than 0.1 Å in the Fe-N bond length, and the relative invariance of the Fe-S distances for [2]²⁻ versus [2]¹⁻ indicate that the NO ligand is the site of reduction. The [Et₃NH]⁺ complex of [2]¹⁻ was also identified by crystallography and found to have hydrogen bonding contacts between [Et₃NH]⁺ and the cyano nitrogen atom of an [mnt]²⁻ ligand. Furthermore, relatively close S?S contacts (3.602-3.615 Å) occur between [2]¹⁻ anions, which pack together in an offset, head-to-head fashion. These S?S contacts are absent in the structure of [Et₄N][2]. Infrared spectra show an energy decrease for, and a significant broadening of, the NO bond stretching absorption peak in [2]²⁻, which is consistent with a bent NO ligand sampling a range of conformations both by facile pivoting about the Fe-N axis and by a breathing of the Fe-NO angle.     

Synthesis and characterization of α,ω-disubstituted quaterthiophenes functionalized with polar groups for solution processed OTFTs

A series of soluble quaterthiophenes (4Ta-g) bearing ester groups in the α,ω-terminal positions separated from the quaterthiophene core by ethylene (4Ta-c), vinylene (4Td-f) or ethynylene (4Tg) spacers was synthesized by means of a Pd-catalyzed homocoupling of bithiophenes proceeding via C-H bond activation. The synthetic approach gave satisfying yields of 4Ta-f but resulted in only 3% yield of 4Tg due to the competitive hydrofluorination of the triple bond. The quaterthiophenes 4Ta-g were characterized by NMR, FTIR, UV-vis, PL spectroscopies, HRMS, TGA and CV. Thin-films of 4Ta-g were deposited either by spin-coating or by thermal evaporation on Si/SiO₂ for the fabrication of top-contact OTFTs. The devices prepared using 4Ta-c bearing the ester functional group separated from the quaterthiophene core by an ethylene spacer showed average hole field-effect mobility up to 2.7×10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and up to 6×10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ for solution processed and for thermally evaporated OTFTs, respectively. The remarkably high solubility of 4Ta-c, along with their respectable performances in OTFTs render these molecules promising for practical applications as active layers in chemically-sensitive devices.     

pH-dependent self-assembly of copper(II) complexes with a new imidazole-containing polyamine ligand: Synthesis,structure and magnetic property

Four copper(II) complexes were synthesized by reactions of new imidazole-containing polyamine ligand N¹-(2-aminoethyl)-N¹-(1H-imidazol-4-ylmethyl)-ethane-1,2-diamine (HL) with Cu(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O under different pH and their structures were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Interestingly, the complexes have diverse structures from protonated ligand [H₃(HL)][CuCl₄] · Cl (1), dinuclear [Cu₂(HL)₂Cl](ClO₄)₃ · H₂O (2), one-dimensional chain polynuclear {[Cu(L)](ClO₄)}_n (3) to cyclic-tetranuclear [Cu₄(L)₄](ClO₄)₄ · 3CH₃CN (4) coordination compounds by varying reaction pH from acidic to basic. The results indicate that the reaction pH has great impact on the formation and structure of the complexes. The magnetic measurements show that there are antiferromagnetic interactions between the Cu(II) centers with g = 2.09, J = −39.0 cm⁻¹ and g = 2.17, J = −36.8 cm⁻¹ for 3 and 4, respectively.     

Synthesis,structure, and electrochemistry of pyridinecarboxamide cobalt(III) complexes; the effect of bridge substituents on the redox properties

Two series of complexes of the types trans-[Co^III(Mebpb)(amine)₂]ClO₄ {Mebpb²⁻ = N,N-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)-4-methylbenzene dianion, and amine = pyrrolidine (prldn) (1a), piperidine (pprdn) (2a), morpholine (mrpln) (3a), benzylamine (bzlan) (4a)}, and trans-[Co^III(cbpb)(amine)₂]X {cbpb²⁻ = N,N-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)-4-chlorobenzene dianion, and amine = pyrrolidine (prldn), X = PF₆ (1b), piperidine (pprdn), X = PF₆ (2b), morpholine (mrpln), X = ClO₄ (3b), benzylamine (bzlan), X = PF₆ (4b)} have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–Vis, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of 1a has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical behavior of these complexes, with the goal of evaluating the effect of axial ligation and equatorial substitution on the redox properties, is also reported. The reduction potential of Co^III, ranging from −0.53 V for (1a) to −0.31 V for (3a) and from −0.48 V for (1b) to −0.22 V for (3b) show a relatively good correlation with the σ-donor ability of the axial ligands. The methyl and chloro substituents of the equatorial ligand have a considerable effect on the redox potentials of the central cobalt ion and the ligand-centered redox processes.     

Selective synthesis of monomeric or dimeric titanatranes via fine tuning in triethanolateamine ligand

Monomeric titanatrane i-PrOTi(OCMe₂CH₂)₃N (1) and dimeric titanatranes [i-PrOTi(OCH₂CH₂)_nN(CH₂CMe₂O)_3−n]₂ (n = 1, 2; n = 2, 3) were synthesized by the reaction of Ti(O-i-Pr)₄ with a series of triethanolateamines such as (OCH₂CH₂)_nN(CH₂CMe₂O)_3−n³⁻ (n = 0, Lig¹; n = 1, Lig²; n = 2, Lig³), which vary by the number of CMe₂ groups adjacent to a OH functionality from 3 (Lig¹H₃) to 2 (Lig²H₃) to 1 (Lig³H₃). The resultant titanatranes 1–3 have been characterized by solution ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR and their solid state structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Whereas compound 1 is monomeric in the solid state, compounds 2 and 3 are dimeric, due to the reduction of the steric congestion in the vicinity of the Ti.     

Dependence of the product on the P–P ligand in reactions of [RuCl3(NO)(P–P)] complexes (P–P = aromatic diphosphines) with 2-mercaptopyridine

This study presents the syntheses and characterization of 2-mercaptopyridine (pyS⁻) complexes containing ruthenium(II) with the following general formula [Ru(pyS)₂(P–P)], P–P = (c-dppen) = cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene) (1); (dppe) = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (2); (dppp) = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (3) and (dppb) = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (4). The complexes were synthesized from the mer- or fac-[RuCl₃(NO)(P–P)] precursors in the presence of triethylamine in methanol solution with dependence of the product on the P–P ligand. The reaction of pyS⁻ with a ruthenium complex containing a bulky aromatic diphosphine dppb disclosed a major product with a dangling coordinated dppbO-P, the [Ru(pyS)₂(NO)(η¹-dppbO-P)]PF₆(5). In addition, this work also presents and discusses the spectroscopic and electrochemical behavior of 1–5, and report the X-ray structures for 1 and 5.     

Copper(II) complexes of tridentate selenobisphenolate ligand in mixed ligand environments: Synthesis, crystal structure, EPR and electrochemical studies

A series of square-pyramidal copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L^Se)(N^∧N)] (H₂L^Se = seleno-bisphenolate; N^∧N = bipyridyl, phenanthroline or N,N-dimethylethylenediamine) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic measurements, IR, EPR, and electronic spectral studies. Single crystal X-ray structures of [Cu(L^Se)(bpy)]·H₂O (2), [Cu(L^Se)(phen)]·CH₂Cl₂ (3) and [Cu(L^Se)(N,N-Me₂en)] (4) showed that all the complexes have approximately square-pyramidal geometry. In complexes 2 and 3, the square plane is occupied by O(1), O(2), N(1) and N(2) and the apical position by Se atom of L^{Se 2−} ligand. The asymmetric unit of complex 4 contains two crystallographically independent discrete molecules A and B with CuN₂OSe chromophore comprising the square plane and the axial position being occupied by another phenolate oxygen atom. Complexes 2, 3 and 4 are found to be paramagnetic and EPR parameters extracted are: g_∥ = 2.232, g_⊥ = 2.069; 〈g_eff〉 = 1.95; and g_∥ = 2.232, g_⊥ = 2.083 for complexes 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Both the complexes 2 and 4 show three reduction processes: (a) a quasi-reversible reduction of Cu^II to Cu^I, (b) an irreversible reduction of Cu^I to Cu⁰ with the release of free ligand, and (c) a reduction process occurs at this coordinated ligand. They also show a well-defined quasi-reversible oxidation of Cu^II to Cu^III and an irreversible oxidation peak at ∼1.30 and 1.40 V vs. Ag/AgCl for 4 and 2, respectively, with no cathodic counterpart, and were attributed to the oxidation of the metal coordinated ligand.     

Ruthenium and rhodium nitrosyl complexes containing dichalcogenoimidodiphosphinate ligands

Interaction of [Ru(NO)Cl₃(PPh₃)₂] with K[N(R₂PS)₂] in refluxing N,N-dimethylformamide afforded trans-[Ru(NO)Cl{N(R₂PS)₂}₂] (R = Ph (1), Prⁱ (2)). Reaction of [Ru(NO)Cl₃(PPh₃)₂] with K[N(Ph₂PSe)₂] led to formation of a mixture of trans-[Ru(NO)Cl{N(Ph₂PSe)₂}₂] (3) and trans-[Ru(NO)Cl{N(Ph₂PSe)₂}{Ph₂P(Se)NPPh₂}] (4). Reaction of Ru(NO)Cl₃ · xH₂O with K[N(Ph₂PO)₂] afforded cis-[Ru(NO)(Cl){N(Ph₂PO)₂}₂] (5). Treatment of [Rh(NO)Cl₂(PPh₃)₂] with K[N(R₂PQ)₂] gave Rh(NO){N(R₂PQ)₂}₂] (R = Ph, Q = S (6) or Se (7); R = Prⁱ, Q = S (8) or Se (9)). Protonation of 8 with HBF₄ led to formation of trans-[Rh(NO)Cl{HN(Prⁱ₂PS)₂}₂][BF₄]₂ (10). X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the nitrosyl ligands in 2 and 4 are linear, whereas that in 9 is bent with the Rh–N–O bond angle of 125.7(3)°.     

Synthesis,structure, thermal studies on Zn(II), Cd(II) complexes of N-(2-pyridylmethyl)pyridine-2-carbaldimine and N-(2-pyridylmethyl)pyridine-2-methylketimine

The bivalent zinc and cadmium complexes of two Schiff bases N-(2-pyridylmethyl)pyridine-2-carbaldimine (L1), N-(2-pyridylmethyl)pyridine-2-methylketimine (L2), tridentate ligands with an N₃ chromophore and coordinating with two five-membered chelate rings, were synthesized. Complexes [Zn(L1)(NO₃)₂] (1), [Zn(L2)(NO₃)₂] (2), [Cd(L1)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)] (3) and [Cd(L2)(NO₃)₂(CH₃OH)] (4) were characterized by X-ray crystallography. In 1 and 2, Zn(II) has a distorted square-pyramidal geometry where as in 3 and 4, Cd(II) possesses a pseudo-pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry. The following trends in the bond lengths are observed: M–N_im < M–N_py; Zn–N > Zn–O; Cd–N < Cd–O. The final residues from the thermogravimetric analysis are ZnO and CdO, the SEM studies revealed, respectively, their porous and spherical natures. The average activation energy (E) for the loss of pyridine rings obtained from the Friedman fitting of the DSC data, for 1, 2, 3, and 4 are 193.8(2), 114.5(3), 127.1(4), and 63.7(3) kJ mol⁻¹ and their logarithmic pre-exponential factor (A) are 11.22, 5.31, 6.88, and 2.09, respectively.     

Synthesis, characterization and Schlenk equilibrium studies of methylmagnesium compounds with O- and N-donor ligands - the unexpected behavior of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (pmdta = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine)

MgMe₂ (1) was found to react with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) in tetrahydrofuran (thf) yielding a binuclear complex [{MgMe₂(thf)}₂(μ-dabco)] (2). Furthermore, from reactions of MgMeBr with diglyme (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether), NEt₃, and tmeda (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) in etheral solvents compounds MgMeBr(L), (L = diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) were obtained as highly air- and moisture-sensitive white powders. From a thf solution of 7 crystals of [MgMeBr(thf)(tmeda)] (8) were obtained. Reactions of MgMeBr with pmdta (N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) in thf resulted in formation of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in nearly quantitative yield. On the other hand, the same reaction in diethyl ether gave MgMeBr(pmdta) · MgBr₂(pmdta) (10) and [{MgMe₂(pmdta)}₇{MgMeBr(pmdta)}] (11) in 24% and 2% yield, respectively, as well as [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) as colorless needle-like crystals in about 26% yield. The synthesized methylmagnesium compounds were characterized by microanalysis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The coordination-induced shifts of the ¹H and ¹³C nuclei of the ligands are small; the largest ones were found in the tmeda and pmdta complexes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed in 2 a tetrahedral environment of the Mg atoms with a bridging dabco ligand and in 8 a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination of the Mg atom. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) showed them to be monomeric with five-coordinate Mg atoms. The square-pyramidal coordination polyhedra are built up of three N and two C atoms in 12 and three N and two Br atoms in 13. The apical positions are occupied by methyl and bromo ligands, respectively. Temperature-dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements (from 27 to −80 °C) of methylmagnesium bromide complexes MgMeBr(L) (L = thf (4); diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) in thf-d₈ solutions indicated that the deeper the temperature the more the Schlenk equilibria are shifted to the dimethylmagnesium/dibromomagnesium species. Furthermore, at −80 °C the dimethylmagnesium compounds are predominant in the solutions of Grignard compounds 4-6 whereas in the case of the tmeda complex7 the equilibrium constant was roughly estimated to be 0.25. In contrast, [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in thf-d₈ revealed no dismutation into [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) even up to −100 °C. In accordance with this unexpected behavior, 1:1 mixtures of 12 and 13 were found to react in thf at room temperature yielding quantitatively the corresponding Grignard compound 9. Moreover, the structures of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9c), [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12c), and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13c) were calculated on the DFT level of theory. The calculated structures 12c and 13c are in a good agreement with the experimentally observed structures 12 and 13. The equilibrium constant of the Schlenk equilibrium (2 9c ? 12c + 13c) was calculated to be K_gas = 2.0 × 10⁻³ (298 K) in the gas phase. Considering the solvent effects of both thf and diethyl ether using a polarized continuum model (PCM) the corresponding equilibrium constants were calculated to be K_thf = 1.2 × 10⁻³ and K_ether = 3.2 × 10⁻³ (298 K), respectively.