Formation of Gas‐Phase Formate in Thermal Reactions of Carbon Dioxide with Diatomic Iron Hydride Anions

The hydrogenation of carbon dioxide involves the activation of the thermodynamically very stable molecule CO₂ and formation of a C−H bond. Herein, we report that HCO₂⁻ and CO can be formed in the thermal reaction of CO₂ with a diatomic metal hydride species, FeH⁻. The FeH⁻ anions were produced by laser ablation, and the reaction with CO₂ was analyzed by mass spectrometry and quantum‐chemical calculations. Gas‐phase HCO₂⁻ was observed directly as a product, and its formation was predicted to proceed by facile hydride transfer. The mechanism of CO₂ hydrogenation in this gas‐phase study parallels similar behavior of a condensed‐phase iron catalyst.     

Importance of iron as the metal ion in peptide deformylase: a biomimetic computational study

Peptide deformylase (PDF), a metalloamidase which catalyzes a deformylation step during eubacterial protein biosynthesis, shows a peculiar preference for Fe^II as its active site metal ion (in particular, as opposed to Zn^II, which is far more common among this class of enzymes). In order to explore the origin of this preference, density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been carried out using a biomimetic heteroscorpionate N₂S_thiolate ligand system (L) and the metal centers Fe^II, Zn^II, and Co^II. Comparison of computed ML(formate) complexes to crystal structures of PDF?Cformate complexes illustrates the viability of the biomimetic ligand for investigating the PDF chemistry. pK_a calculations on [ML(H₂O)]⁺ complexes show that the metal centers are effective Lewis acids in activating the water molecule to allow formation of a nucleophilic hydroxide ligand. Computed oxidation potentials predict the ML(OH) and ML(formate) complexes not to be unstable with respect to oxidation. However, while each of the metal centers was therefore seen to be suitable for PDF chemistry, examination of the entire deformylation reaction showed Fe^II to be uniquely suited to PDF. The deformylation reaction was thermodynamically and kinetically optimal with Fe^II as the metal center. This is attributed to the charge transfer that occurs from the thiolate ligand to the Fe^II center during the reaction and to the relative coordinative flexibility of Fe^II that allows for facile interconversion between tetra- and pentacoordination, leading to greater activation of the substrate carbonyl at the nucleophilic attack transition state.     

Fluorinated Derivatives of 4-Phosphino- and 4-Iminophosphorano-2,5-Dimethyl-2H-1,2,3-Diazaphospholes and Their Metal Complexes

Abstract

Although there has been considerable interest in the chemistry and metal complexation of low coordinate phosphines, there are very few examples of bisphosphine systems where both phosphorus atoms are trivalent and only one of the centers is two-coordinate^1,2. An example of such a system is the 4-phosphino-2,5-dimethyl-1,2,3-diazaphosphole obtained from acetone methylhydrazone and phosphorus trichloride³. This bisphosphine contains a two-coordinate endocyclic phosphorus and a three-coordinate exo phosphorus center. The exo phosphorus preferentially coordinates to metals but under certain conditions the two-coordinate phosphorus will also coordinate⁴.     

Cobaltocenium Carboxylate Transition Metal Complexes: Synthesis,Structure, Reactivity,and Cytotoxicity

Cobaltocenium carboxylate is an unusual betaine that functions as a formally neutral carboxylate ligand with late transition metal centers comprising Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Rh⁺. Structurally, a rich coordination chemistry is observed – from simple monomeric homoleptic complexes to heteroleptic dimeric, trimeric, and polymeric compounds, as shown by X‐ray diffraction of 11 compounds. Chemically, thermal decarboxylation was investigated aiming at the formation of cobaltocenium‐carbene transition metal complexes, in analogy to such chemistry of imidazolium carboxylate betaines. Cytotoxicity studies of cobaltocenium carboxylate transition metal complexes were performed to evaluate the medicinal bioorganometallic potential of these compounds. While cobaltocenium carboxylate was inactive, its complexes with Ag⁺, Cd²⁺, and Hg²⁺ triggered significant cytotoxic effects.     

Pyridinylidenaminophosphines: Facile Access to Highly Electron-Rich Phosphines

Electron-rich tertiary phosphines are valuable species in chemical synthesis. However, their broad application as ligands in catalysis and reagents in stoichiometric reactions is often limited by their costly synthesis. Herein, we report the synthesis and properties of a series of phosphines with 1-alkylpyridin-4-ylidenamino and 1-alkylpyridin-2-ylidenamino substituents that are accessible in a very short and scalable route starting from commercially available aminopyridines and chlorophosphines. The determination of the Tolman electronic parameter (TEP) value reveals that the electron donor ability can be tuned by the substituent pattern at the aminopyridine backbone and it can exceed that of common alkylphosphines and N-heterocyclic carbenes. The potential of the new phosphines as strong nucleophiles in phosphine-mediated transformations is demonstrated by the formation of Lewis base adducts with CO₂ and CS₂. In addition, the coordination chemistry of the new phosphines towards Cu^I, Au^I, and Pd^II metal centers has been explored, and a convenient procedure to introduce the most basic phosphine into metal complexes starting from air-stable phosphonium salt is described.     

Alkane Activation Initiated by Hydride Transfer: Co‐conversion of Propane and Methanol over H‐ZSM‐5 Zeolite

Co‐conversion of alkane with another reactant over zeolite catalysts has emerged as a new approach to the long‐standing challenge of alkane transformation. With the aid of solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and GC‐MS analysis, it was found that the co‐conversion of propane and methanol can be readily initiated by hydride transfer at temperatures of ≥449 K over the acidic zeolite H‐ZSM‐5. The formation of ¹³C‐labeled methane and singly ¹³C‐labeled n‐butanes in selective labeling experiments provided the first evidence for the initial hydride transfer from propane to surface methoxy intermediates. The results not only provide new insight into carbocation chemistry of solid acids, but also shed light on the low‐temperature transformation of alkanes for industrial applications.     

Si?H and C?H Activation by Transition Metal Complexes: A Step Towards Isolable Alkane Complexes?

The recognition of the fundamental contributions by G. A. Olah on the elucidation of the structure of nonclassical carbocations, in the form of the award of the Nobel prize for chemistry, has recently emphasized the importance of electron-deficient bonds in the understanding of chemical bonding in organic chemistry. In the field of coordination chemistry, the formulation of electron-deficient bonds has been used for some time to describe nonclassical interactions between atoms. Traditional ligands in coordination chemistry such as amines and phosphanes bond to metal centers through their lone pair of electrons. Synergistic bonding effects dominate in the coordination of π-bonded ligands such as alkenes. In the mid-1980s the discovery of dihydrogen complexes having side-on coordination of H₂ gave fresh impetus to transition metal chemistry as well as to the understanding of the interaction of σ-coordinating ligands with transition metals. In the meantime, transiton metal complexes can be obtained with a variety of σ-coordinated X-H fragments, and their mode of bonding can be understood by a common and quite general model. The chemistry of σ-bound silane ligands is particularly varied and well-investigated. These silane ligands enable the investigation of a large range of σ-coordinated metal complex fragments up to complete oxidative addition with cleavage of the Si? H bond and formation of silyl(hydrido) complexes, which has thus also widened our general understanding of the bonding of other σ-bound ligands. Whilst there is a large range of isolable and stable H₂ and SiR₄ complexes available, there are no such alkane analogues known at present. Only when the C? H bond is part of a ligand that is already directly bonded to the transition metal center will the resulting chelate effect stabilize this agostic C-H-M interaction. The complexation of SiH₄, the simplest heavier homologue of CH₄, was achieved recently. This is a further step towards the understanding of the factors which govern σ-complexation of ligands at transition metal centers.     

Complexation between α-alkenylaluminum compounds and diisobutylaluminum hydride: The nature of organoaluminum intermediates responsible for the inhibited hydralumination of alkynes

In order to understand the nature of organoaluminum intermediates encountered in the hydralumination of alkynes, NMR spectral and kinetic studies have been carried out on the alkenyl(dialkyl)aluminum systems (I) resulting from the addition of diisobutylaluminum hydride to 4-octyne and to di-t-butylacetylene. A kinetic study of the reaction of a 1/1 mixture of I and diisobutylaluminum hydride with 5-decyne at 50° followed the rate expression v = k(5-decyne)^1.0 (AlH)^0.5. The E^X (apparent) was 23.0 kcal/mole.The aluminum adducts of 4-octyne with one or two equivalents of diisobutylaluminum hydride did not show any temperature-dependence in their NMR spectra. However, those derived from di-t-butylacetylene did reveal the existence of several components, both for the alkenyl(dialkyl)aluminum itself, as well as for the 1/1 admixture of the alkenyl(dialkyl)aluminum with diisobutylaluminum hydride. However, in the temperature range of hydralumination, namely 50°, the diisobutyl(E-4-octenyl)aluminum was shown to be in equilibrium, with triisobutylaluminum.A proposed rationale for the NMR spectral data, formulated with the aid of data from model systems such as bis(E-4-octenyl)aluminum hydride, also offers an insight into the nature and kinetic behavior of organoaluminum intermediates in the hydralumination reaction.     

Cross- and Multi-Coupling Reactions Using Monofluoroalkanes

Carbon-fluorine bonds are stable and have demonstrated sluggishness against various chemical manipulations. However, selective transformations of C−F bonds can be achieved by developing appropriate conditions as useful synthetic methods in organic chemistry. This review focuses on C−C bond formation at monofluorinated sp³-hybridized carbons via C−F bond cleavage, including cross-coupling and multi-component coupling reactions. The C−F bond cleavage mechanisms on the sp³-hybridized carbon centers can be primarily categorized into three types: Lewis acids promoted F atom elimination to generate carbocation intermediates; nucleophilic substitution with metal or carbon nucleophiles supported by the activation of C−F bonds by coordination of Lewis acids; and the cleavage of C−F bonds via a single electron transfer. The characteristic features of alkyl fluorides, in comparison with other (pseudo)halides as promising electrophilic coupling counterparts, are also discussed.     

Morphology-Dependent Stability of Complex Metal Hydrides and Their Intermediates Using First-Principles Calculations

Complex light metal hydrides are promising candidates for efficient, compact solid-state hydrogen storage. (De)hydrogenation of these materials often proceeds via multiple reaction intermediates, the energetics of which determine reversibility and kinetics. At the solid-state reaction front, molecular-level chemistry eventually drives the formation of bulk product phases. Therefore, a better understanding of realistic (de)hydrogenation behavior requires considering possible reaction products along all stages of morphological evolution, from molecular to bulk crystalline. Here, we use first-principles calculations to explore the interplay between intermediate morphology and reaction pathways. Employing representative complex metal hydride systems, we investigate the relative energetics of three distinct morphological stages that can be expressed by intermediates during solid-state reactions: i) dispersed molecules; ii) clustered molecular chains; and iii) condensed-phase crystals. Our results verify that the effective reaction energy landscape strongly depends on the morphological features and associated chemical environment, offering a possible explanation for observed discrepancies between X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. Our theoretical understanding also provides physical and chemical insight into phase nucleation kinetics upon (de)hydrogenation of complex metal hydrides.     

Reversible M−M Bonding by Alkaline Earth Metals (Mg,Ca, Sr,Ba) in Graphite Intercalation Compounds

The alkaline earth metals (M=Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) exhibit a +2 oxidation state in nearly all known stable compounds, but M^I dimeric complexes with M−M bonding, [M₂(en)₂]²⁺, (en=ethylenediamine) of all these metals can be stabilized within the galleries of donor-type graphite intercalation compounds (GICs). These metals can also form GICs with more conventional metal (II) ion complexes, [M(en)₂]²⁺. Here, the facile interconversion between dimeric-M^I and monomeric-M^II intercalates upon the addition/removal of en are reported. Thermogravimetry, powder X-ray diffraction, and pair distribution function analysis of total scattering data support the presence of either [M₂(en)₂]²⁺ or [M(en)₂]²⁺ guests. This phase conversion requires coupling graphene and metal redox centers, with associated reversible M−M bond formation within graphene galleries. This chemistry allows the facile isolation of unusual oxidation states, reveals M⁰→M²⁺ reaction pathways, and present new opportunities in the design of hybrid conversion/intercalation materials for applications such as charge storage.     

Scorpionate‐Type Coordination in MFU‐4l Metal–Organic Frameworks: Small‐Molecule Binding and Activation upon the Thermally Activated Formation of Open Metal Sites

Postsynthetic metal and ligand exchange is a versatile approach towards functionalized MFU‐4l frameworks. Upon thermal treatment of MFU‐4l formates, coordinatively strongly unsaturated metal centers, such as zinc(II) hydride or copper(I) species, are generated selectively. Cu^I‐MFU‐4l prepared in this way was stable under ambient conditions and showed fully reversible chemisorption of small molecules, such as O₂, N₂, and H₂, with corresponding isosteric heats of adsorption of 53, 42, and 32 kJ mol^?1, respectively, as determined by gas‐sorption measurements and confirmed by DFT calculations. Moreover, Cu^I‐MFU‐4l formed stable complexes with C₂H₄ and CO. These complexes were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. The demonstrated hydride transfer to electrophiles and strong binding of small gas molecules suggests these novel, yet robust, metal–organic frameworks with open metal sites as promising catalytic materials comprising earth‐abundant metal elements.     

Interaction of Hydrogen with Ceria: Hydroxylation,Reduction, and Hydride Formation on the Surface and in the Bulk

The study reports the first attempt to address the interplay between surface and bulk in hydride formation in ceria (CeO₂) by combining experiment, using surface sensitive and bulk sensitive spectroscopic techniques on the two sample systems, i.e., CeO₂(111) thin films and CeO₂ powders, and theoretical calculations of CeO₂(111) surfaces with oxygen vacancies (O_v) at the surface and in the bulk. We show that, on a stoichiometric CeO₂(111) surface, H₂ dissociates and forms surface hydroxyls (OH). On the pre-reduced CeO_2−x samples, both films and powders, hydroxyls and hydrides (Ce−H) are formed on the surface as well as in the bulk, accompanied by the Ce³⁺ ↔ Ce⁴⁺ redox reaction. As the O_v concentration increases, hydroxyl is destabilized and hydride becomes more stable. Surface hydroxyl is more stable than bulk hydroxyl, whereas bulk hydride is more stable than surface hydride. The surface hydride formation is the kinetically favorable process at relatively low temperatures, and the resulting surface hydride may diffuse into the bulk region and be stabilized therein. At higher temperatures, surface hydroxyls can react to produce water and create additional oxygen vacancies, increasing its concentration, which controls the H₂/CeO₂ interaction. The results demonstrate a large diversity of reaction pathways, which have to be taken into account for better understanding of reactivity of ceria-based catalysts in a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.     

Coordination and Redox Isomerization in the Reduction of a Uranium(III) Monoarene Complex

Synthetic studies on the redox chemistry of trivalent uranium monoarene complexes were undertaken with a complex derived from the chelating tris(aryloxide)arene ligand (^Ad,MeArO)₃mes^3?. Cyclic voltammetry of [{(^Ad,MeArO)₃mes}U^III] ( 1 ) revealed a nearly reversible and chemically accessible reduction at ?2.495 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺—the first electrochemical evidence for a formally divalent uranium complex. Chemical reduction of 1 indicates that reduction induces coordination and redox isomerization to form a uranium(IV) hydride, and addition of a crown ether results in hydride insertion into the coordinated arene to afford uranium(IV) complexes. This stoichiometric reaction sequence provides structural insight into the mechanism of arene functionalization at diuranium inverted sandwich complexes.     

Single-Electron Transfer in Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry

Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) are well known for their ability to activate small molecules. Recent reports of radical formation within such systems indicate single-electron transfer (SET) could play an important role in their chemistry. Herein, we investigate radical formation upon reacting FLP systems with dihydrogen, triphenyltin hydride, or tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (TCQ) both experimentally and computationally to determine the nature of the single-electron transfer (SET) events; that is, being direct SET to B(C₆F₅)₃ or not. The reactions of H₂ and Ph₃SnH with archetypal P/B FLP systems do not proceed via a radical mechanism. In contrast, reaction with TCQ proceeds via SET, which is only feasible by Lewis acid coordination to the substrate. Furthermore, SET from the Lewis base to the Lewis acid–substrate adduct may be prevalent in other reported examples of radical FLP chemistry, which provides important design principles for radical main-group chemistry.     

POTENTIOMETRIC,POLAROGRAPHIC AND SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF THE Cu(II)-D-GLUCOSAMINE-D-LACTOBIONIC ACID TERNARY SYSTEMS

Abstract

Our recent work on Cu(II) and VO(IV) interactions with lactobionic acid have shown^1,2 that this sugar acid has an unusually high ability to coordinate both metal ions. The carboxyl group is not a very effective donor for cupric ions^3,4 and metal interations with the set of the protonated hydroxyl groups should have considerable effects on complex stability. This high stability of the lactobionic acid complexes can lead to the involvement of this ligand in formation of ternary complexes with ligands such as aminosugars.^3–6 Both ligands are important chelating agents for Cu(II) ions in medicine, agriculture and food chemistry.^7–9 Since ternary complexes may play an important role in natural systems we have decided to follow complex formation in solutions containing lactobionic acid and one an aminosugar, D-glucosamine. The anchoring group in D(+)-glucosamine (2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose) is an amino group which is much more effective donor than carboxylate which acts as an anchor in sugar acids. Thus in our study we have used excess lactobionic acid to promote the formation of ternary complexes as major species in the solutions studied.     

In situ catalyst systems for ring-opening metathesis polymerization

Several new in situ tungsten catalyst systems for ring-opening metathesis polymerizations (ROMP) by reaction injection molding (RIM) have been developed by adding BF₃ promoter to binary catalyst systems, by using metal hydride cocatalysts, and by altering the ligands on the procatalyst metal center. BF₃ etherates improved catalyst efficiency and reduced induction times for formation of active catalysts from reaction of aryloxytungsten complexes [e.g., (ArO)_y(WX_x)] with organotin hydrides. Coordinatively unsaturated cationic intermediates, such as [(ArO)_yWX_x-1]⁺ BF₃X⁻, are proposed to facilitate formation of the active catalysts. Tougher poly(dicyclopentadiene) (polyDCPD) composites were produced using < 5 wt % of styrene-butadiene block copolymers due to formation of small “shell-core” rubber morphologies when BF₃ promoter was added to the catalyst system. Nonalkylating metal hydrides besides R₃SnH, including (PPh₃)₂CuBH₄, (PPh₃CuH)₆, and Cp₂ZrClH, were shown to be cocatalysts. The optimum 2 : 1 stoichiometric ratio of organotin hydride cocatalyst to tungsten, revealed by BF₃-promoted catalyst systems, and W^V EPR resonances (g ∼ 1.7) observed in the reaction of aryloxytungsten with organotin hydride are consistent with an overall reduction and reoxidation mechanism for formation of the active metathesis catalysts. Some tungsten complexes derived from 9-hydroxyfluorene, 2,2′-(and 4,4′)-biphenols, and 1,4-hydroquinones were found to be very reactive procatalysts, even in the absence of cocatalyst in some cases. These procatalysts also were paramagnetic, characterized by unusual EPR spectra consistent with W^V (g = 1.6–1.9) and “ligand-centered” (g = 2.003) resonances. Valence tautomeric species, analogous to catecholate-semiquinonate complexes, are proposed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3027–3047, 1997     

Metal@COFs: Covalent Organic Frameworks as Templates for Pd Nanoparticles and Hydrogen Storage Properties of Pd@COF‐102 Hybrid Material

Three‐dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been demonstrated as a new class of templates for nanoparticles. Photodecomposition of the [Pd(η³‐C₃H₅)(η⁵‐C₅H₅)]@COF‐102 inclusion compound (synthesized by a gas‐phase infiltration method) led to the formation of the Pd@COF‐102 hybrid material. Advanced electron microscopy techniques (including high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography) along with other conventional characterization techniques unambiguously showed that highly monodisperse Pd nanoparticles ((2.4±0.5) nm) were evenly distributed inside the COF‐102 framework. The Pd@COF‐102 hybrid material is a rare example of a metal‐nanoparticle‐loaded porous crystalline material with a very narrow size distribution without any larger agglomerates even at high loadings (30 wt %). Two samples with moderate Pd content (3.5 and 9.5 wt %) were used to study the hydrogen storage properties of the metal‐decorated COF surface. The uptakes at room temperature from these samples were higher than those of similar systems such as Pd@metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). The studies show that the H₂ capacities were enhanced by a factor of 2–3 through Pd impregnation on COF‐102 at room temperature and 20 bar. This remarkable enhancement is not just due to Pd hydride formation and can be mainly ascribed to hydrogenation of residual organic compounds, such as bicyclopentadiene. The significantly higher reversible hydrogen storage capacity that comes from decomposed products of the employed organometallic Pd precursor suggests that this discovery may be relevant to the discussion of the spillover phenomenon in metal/MOFs and related systems.     

Molecular Organometallic Chemistry on Surfaces: Reactivity of Metal Carbonyls on Metal Oxides

Metal carbonyls react on metal oxide surfaces to give a wide range of structures analogous to those of known compounds. The reactions leading to formation of surface-bound metal carbonyls are explained by known molecular organometallic chemistry and the functional group chemistry of the surfaces. The reaction classes include formation of acid-base adducts as the oxygen of a carbonyl group donates an electron pair to a Lewis acidic center; nucleophilic attack at CO ligands by basic surface hydroxyl groups or O^2? ions; ion-pair formation by deprotonation of hydrido carbonyls to give carbonylate ions; interaction of bifunctional complexes with surface acid-base pair sites such as [Mg^2⊕O^2?]; and oxidative addition of surface hydroxyl groups to metal clusters. The reactions of surface-bound organometallic species include redox condensation and cluster formation on basic surfaces (paralleling the reactions in basic solution) as well as oxidation of mononuclear metal complexes and oxidative fragmentation of metal clusters by reaction with surface hydroxyl groups. Most supported metal carbonyls are unstable at high temperatures, but some, including osmium carbonyl cluster anions on the basic MgO surface, are strongly stabilized in the presence of CO and are precursors of catalysts for CO hydrogenation at 550 K.