One-dimensionally extended paddlewheel dirhodium complexes from metal-metal bonds with diplatinum complexes

We have succeeded in obtaining unique one-dimensional (1D) chain complexes (1, 2, and 3) comprised of two types of metal species: rhodium and platinum. These compounds are constructed from a dinuclear rhodium complex (i.e., [Rh(2)]) and a pivalamidate-bridged platinum complex (i.e., [Pt(2)]), forming an attractive quasi-1D infinite chain, expressed as -{[Rh(2)]-[Pt(2)]-[Pt(2)]}(n)-. Interestingly, the bridging ligands of [Rh(2)] can be varied with trifluoroacetate, acetate, and acetamidate groups, indicating the possibility of electronic structure modulation in the 1D chain.     

A theoretical study on the strength of multiple metal-metal bonds in binuclear complexes and transition-metal dimers by a non-local density functional method

The strength of multiple metal-metal bonds in the metal dimers M₂ (M = Cr, Mo or W) and binuclear complexes M₂(OH)₆ (M = Cr, Mo or W), M₂Cl₄(PH₃)₄ M = V, Cr, Mn, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ta, W or Re) has been studied by a non-local density functional theory. The method employed here provides metal-metal bond energies [D(M-M)] in good accord with experiments for Cr₂ and Mo₂, and predicts that W₂ of the three dimers M₂ (M = Cr, Mo or W) has the strongest metal-metal bond with D(W-W) = 426 kJ mol⁻¹ and R(W-W) = 2.03 Å. Among the binuclear complexes studied here we find the 3d elements to form relatively weak metal-metal bonds (40–100 kJ mol⁻¹), compared to the 4d and 5d elements with bonding energies ranging from 250 to 450 kJ mol⁻¹. The metal-metal bond for a homologous series is calculated to be up to 100 kJ mol⁻¹ stronger for the 5d complex, than for the 4d complex. An energy decomposition of D(M-M) revealed that the σ-bond is somewhat stronger than each of the π-bonds, and one order of magnitude stronger than the δ-bond. For the same transition metal we find D(M-M) to be larger for M₂(PH₃)₄Cl₄ (M = Cr, Mo or W) than for M₂(OH)₆ (M = Cr, Mo or W), and attribute this to a stronger π-interaction in the former series. While many of the findings here are in agreement with previous HFS studies, the order of stability D(3d-3d) « D(4d-4d) < D(5d-5d) differs from the order D(3d-3d) « D(5d-5d) < D(4d-4d) obtained by the HFS method, and the present method provides in general more modest values for D(M-M) than the HFS scheme.     

Spectral and structural characterization of amidate-bridged platinum-thallium complexes with strong metal-metal bonds

The reactions of [Pt(NH3)2(NHCOtBu)2] and TlX3 (X = NO3-, Cl-, CF3CO2-) yielded dinuclear [{Pt(ONO2)(NH3)2(NHCOtBu)}Tl(ONO2)2(MeOH)] (2) and trinuclear complexes [{PtX(RNH2)2(NHCOtBu)2}2Tl]+ [X = NO3- (3), Cl- (5), CF3CO2- (6)], which were spectroscopically and structurally characterized. Strong Pt-Tl interaction in the complexes in solutions was indicated by both 195Pt and 205Tl NMR spectra, which exhibit very large one-bond spin-spin coupling constants between the heteronuclei (1J(PtTl)), 146.8 and 88.84 kHz for 2 and 3, respectively. Both the X-ray photoelectron spectra and the 195Pt chemical shifts reveal that the complexes have Pt centers whose oxidation states are close to that of Pt(III). Characterization of these complexes by X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the Pt and Tl atoms are held together by very short Pt-Tl bonds and are supported by the bridging amidate ligands. The Pt-Tl bonds are shorter than 2.6 Angstrom, indicating a strong metal-metal attraction between these two metals. Compound 2 was found to activate the C-H bond of acetone to yield a platinum(IV) acetonate complex. This reactivity corresponds to the property of Pt(III) complexes. Density functional theory calculations were able to reproduce the large magnitude of the metal-metal spin-spin coupling constants. The couplings are sensitive to the computational model because of a delicate balance of metal 6s contributions in the frontier orbitals. The computational analysis reveals the role of the axial ligands in the magnitude of the coupling constants.     

Photoinduced electron transfer via nonbuttressed metal-metal bonds. The photochemical study of binuclear complexes with platinum-thallium bonds

The photochemistry of binuclear metal-metal bonded complexes [(NC) 5Pt-Tl(solv) x ] (solv is water or dimethylsulfoxide) has been studied in aqueous and dimethylsulfoxide solutions. Both stationary and nanosecond laser flash photolysis have been carried out on the species. The metal-metal bonded complexes have been photolyzed by irradiation into the corresponding intense MMCT absorption bands. Photoexcitation results in the cleavage of the platinum-thallium bond and the formation of a solvated thallous ion and a cyano complex of platinum(IV), [Pt(CN) 5(solv)] (-), in both cases. The species have been characterized by multinuclear NMR and optical spectroscopy. The products of the photoreaction indicate a complementary two-electron transfer occurring between platinum and thallium ions in the binuclear Pt-Tl species. Quantum yield values for the photodecomposition of the species have been determined. The intermediates of the photoinduced metal-to-metal electron transfer have been detected and characterized by optical spectroscopy. The kinetics of transient formation and decomposition have been studied, and mechanisms of the photoactivated redox reaction have been suggested.     

Technetium dichloride: a new binary halide containing metal-metal multiple bonds

Technetium dichloride has been discovered. It was synthesized from the elements and characterized by several physical techniques, including single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the solid state, technetium dichloride exhibits a new structure type consisting of infinite chains of face sharing [Tc(2)Cl(8)] rectangular prisms that are packed in a commensurate supercell. The metal-metal separation in the prisms is 2.127(2) ?, a distance consistent with the presence of a Tc≡Tc triple bond that is also supported by electronic structure calculations.     

Heterodinuclear bridged borylene complexes

Heterodinuclear bridged borylene complexes are synthesized via oxidative addition of the B-Br bond of bromoboryl complex precursors to an electron-rich palladium species. The synthetic protocol grants access to the first compound featuring the reactive bromoborylene ligand.     

Experimental and theoretical evidence of aromatic behavior in heterobenzene-like molecules with metal-metal multiple bonds

Binding two quadruply bonded dimolybdenum units [Mo₂(DAniF)₃]⁺ (DAniF=N,N′‐di‐p‐anisylformamidinate) with two chalcogen atoms generated two molecules with a central core composed of a cyclic six‐membered [Mo₂]₂(μ‐EH)₂ species (E=S in 1 and O in 3 , and [Mo₂] is a quadruple‐bonded [Mo₂(formamidinate)₃] unit). Aerobic oxidation of 1 and 3 followed by concomitant deprotonation gave rise to the corresponding [Mo₂]₂(μ‐E)₂ compounds 2 and 4 . The latter show a striking coplanarity and near‐bond equalization of the Mo/E cluster. The oxidized species 2 and 4 are diamagnetic in the measured temperature range of 5 to 300 K, which is somewhat unexpected for molecules that have dimetal units with a σ²π⁴δ¹ electronic configuration. This suggests there are strong interactions between the dimolybdenum units through the E atoms. The large electronic delocalization of the δ electrons over the entire Mo/E core is supported by the exceptionally large potential separation for the two successive one‐electron reductions of the linked Mo₂⁵⁺ units from the oxidized species (ΔE_1/2=1.7 V for the sulfur analogue). This large electronic delocalization has an important effect on the NMR spectroscopic signals for the two sets of methine (N‐(CH)‐N) protons from the DAniF ligands. Those essentially parallel to the core, H_∥, and those essentially perpendicular to the core, H_⊥, exhibit downfield and upfield chemical shifts, respectively, that are separated by δ=1.32 ppm. The structural, electronic, magnetic, and chemical behaviors for 2 and 4 are consistent with aromaticity, with the [Mo₂E₂Mo₂] cores that resemble the prototypical benzene molecule. Theoretical studies, including DFT calculations, natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses, and gauge‐independent atomic orbital (GIAO) NMR spectroscopic calculations, are also consistent with the aromaticity of the [Mo₂]₂(μ‐E)₂ units being promoted by d_δ(Mo₂)–p_π(E) π conjugation. The cyclic π conjugation of the central moiety in 2 and 4 involves a total of six electrons with 2e from δ(Mo₂) and 4e from p_π(E) orbitals, thereby conforming to Hückel’s rule when electrons in the MOs with δ character are considered part of the delocalized system.     

Octahapto cyclooctatetraene rings and metal-metal multiple bonds in binuclear niobium carbonyl chemistry

Theoretical studies on (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) predict structures mainly with octahapto and tetrahapto C₈H₈ rings. In all cases, the lowest energy singlet spin state structures lie below the corresponding lowest energy triplet spin state structures. Thus the lowest energy (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)₄ structure has two η⁸-C₈H₈ rings and an unbridged Nb-Nb single bond of length ∼3.15 Å. The lowest energy (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)₂ structure has two η⁸-C₈H₈ rings but a doubly bridged NbNb triple bond of length ∼2.64 Å. The lowest energy structure of (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)₃ also has a formal NbNb triple bond of similar length (2.66 Å) but with only one of the rings fully coordinated as an octahapto η⁸-C₈H₈ ligand. The other C₈H₈ ring in this tricarbonyl has “slipped” to form a hexahapto η⁶-C₈H₈ ligand. The lowest energy structure of the monocarbonyl (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO) again has two octahapto η⁸-C₈H₈ rings and an extremely short NbNb distance of 2.45 Å, suggesting a formal quadruple bond. The lowest energy structures for the carbonyl-richer species (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5) have one η⁸-C₈H₈ and one η⁴-C₈H₈ ring (n = 5) and two η⁴-C₈H₈ rings (n = 6). The qualitatively assigned Nb-Nb bond orders are consistent with the Wiberg bond indices obtained from the Weinhold natural bond orbital analysis. Comparison of the (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) derivatives with the isovalent (C₇H₇)₂Mo₂(CO)_n is made.     

Dinuclear metalloradicals featuring unsupported metal-metal bonds

No support required: Unlike the unobservable radical cations [{CpM(CO)(3) }(2) ](.+) (M=W, Mo), derivatives [{CpM(CO)(2) (PMe(3) )}(2) ](.+) are stable enough to be isolated and characterized. Experimental and theoretical studies show that the shortened M?M bonds are of order 1 1/2, and that they are not supported by bridging ligands. The unpaired electron is delocalized over the M?M cores, with a spin density of about 45?% on each metal atom.     

Unsaturated binuclear cyclopentadienylrhenium carbonyl derivatives: metal-metal multiple bonds and agostic hydrogen atoms

The cyclopentadienylrhenium carbonyls Cp 2Re 2(CO) n (Cp = eta (5)-C 5H 5; n = 5, 4, 3, 2) have been studied by density functional theory. The global minima for the Cp 2Re 2(CO) n ( n = 5, 4, 3, 2) derivatives are predicted to be the singly bridged structure Cp 2Re 2(CO) 4(mu-CO) with a formal Re-Re single bond; the doubly semibridged structure Cp 2Re 2(CO) 4 with a formal ReRe double bond; the triply bridged structure Cp 2Re 2(mu-CO) 3 with a formal ReRe triple bond; and the doubly bridged structure Cp 2Re 2(mu-CO) 2, respectively. The first three of these predicted structures have been realized experimentally in the stable compounds (eta (5)-C 5H 5) 2Re 2(CO) 4(mu-CO), (eta (5)-Me 5C 5) 2Re 2(CO) 4 and (eta (5)-Me 5C 5) 2Re 2(mu-CO) 3. In addition, structures of the type Cp 2Re-Re(CO) n with both rings bonded only to one metal and unknown in manganese chemistry are also found for rhenium but at energies significantly above the global minima. The unsaturated Cp 2Re-Re(CO) n structures ( n = 4, 3, 2) have agostic Cp hydrogen atoms forming C-H-Re bridges to the unsaturated Re(CO) n group with a Re-H distance as short as 2.04 A.     

Organothorium complexes containing terminal metal-ligand multiple bonds

Organoactinide complexes containing terminal metal-ligand multiple bonds have received widespread attention over the past three decades. In the last few years, significant progress has been made in the synthesis and characterization of the imido, oxo, sulfido, and carbene-containing complexes of thorium. Such thorium complexes are of interest because of their unique structural properties, their potential application in novel group transfer reactions and catalysis, as well as their ability to engage the 5f orbitals in metal-ligand bonding. This short review summarizes the synthesis and reactivity of these thorium complexes.     

Catalytic addition of C-H bonds to multiple bonds with the aid of ruthenium complexes

Ruthenium complexes, e.g., RuH2(CO)(PPh3)3, have been found to catalyze the direct addition of ortho carbon-hydrogen bonds of aromatic ketones to olefins and acetylenes with high efficiency and selectivity. The C-H/olefin coupling reaction is applicable to not only C-H bonds in aromatic ketones but also to those in a,b-enones and aro-matic esters. Catalytic addition of ortho carbon-hydrogen bonds of aromatic imines to olefins is found to be catalyzed by Ru3(CO)12.     

Four quadruple metal-metal bonds lined up: linear nonachromium(II) metal string complexes

Through a new pyrazine-modulated penta-pyridyl-tetraamine ligand, H(4)N(9)-mpz, linear nonachromium(II) complexes with four quadruple metal-metal bonds were successfully obtained, and their structure, magnetic and electrochemistry properties were studied.     

Unprecedented eight-palladium(I) crown-cycle with metal-metal unsupported bonds

Tri(N-pyrrolyl)phosphine reacted with the sigma/pi complex [Pd(mu-Cl)(COD-MeO)]2 to give the octa-cycle [Pd(mu-Cl)[P(pyrl)3]]8 containing four Pd(I)-Pd(I) unbridged bonds.     

La2Sb, a layered superconductor with metal-metal bonds

We found that La(2)Sb with a layered structure composed of alternate stacking of La square nets and LaSb layers exhibits bulk superconductivity with a critical temperature of 5.3 K. This suggests that the presence of the square net with strong La-La metal bonding is essential for the emergence of superconductivity.     

Direct bonds between metal atoms: Zn, Cd, and Hg compounds with metal-metal bonds

The synthesis and characterization of [Zn(2)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(2)], a stable molecular compound with a Zn-Zn bond and the first example of a dimetallocene structure, has opened a new chapter in the organometallic chemistry of zinc and in metallocene chemistry. The existence of two directly bonded zinc atoms demonstrates that the [Zn-Zn](2+) unit, the lightest Group 12 homologue of the well-known [Hg-Hg](2+) ion, can be stabilized by appropriate ligands. Activity in this area has increased enormously in the few years since the determination of the structure of this molecule. Numerous theoretical studies have been devoted to the investigation of the electronic, structural, and spectroscopic properties of this and related compounds, and new metal-metal coordination and organometallic compounds of zinc, cadmium, and mercury have been synthesized and structurally characterized. This Minireview gives an overview of activity in this field during the past three to four years.     

Early transition-metal perfluoroalkyl complexes

Elusive early transition-metal perfluoroalkyl complexes have been isolated and structurally characterized for the first time. Trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane, CF3SiMe3, serves as an excellent trifluoromethyl group-transfer reagent and reacts with the known Ti(IV) fluoride complex Cp2TiF2 to yield the novel Ti(IV) trifluoromethyl fluoride compound, Cp2Ti(CF3)(F) (1). Reaction of complex 1 with trimethylsilyltriflate (Me3SiOTf) affords the Ti(IV) trifluoromethyl triflate complex Cp2Ti(CF3)(OTf) (2). Both titanium perfluoroalkyl compounds have been characterized spectroscopically and by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The Ti-CF3 linkage in these complexes is remarkably robust and shows no evidence of an alpha-fluoride interaction (Ti...F-CF2) between the electrophilic Ti(IV) metal center and any of the C-F bonds in the trifluoromethyl group in the solid state or in solution.