Oligonuclear Molecular Models of Intermetallic Phases: A Case Study on [Pd2Zn6Ga2(Cp*)5(CH3)3]

The synthesis, characterization, and theoretical investigation by means of quantum‐chemical calculations of an oligonuclear metal‐rich compound are presented. The reaction of homoleptic dinuclear palladium compound [Pd₂(μ‐GaCp*)₃(GaCp*)₂] with ZnMe₂ resulted in the formation of unprecedented ternary Pd/Ga/Zn compound [Pd₂Zn₆Ga₂(Cp*)₅(CH₃)₃] ( 1 ), which was analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, MS, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Compound 1 consisted of two C_s‐symmetric molecular isomers, as revealed by NMR spectroscopy, at which distinct site‐preferences related to the Ga and Zn positions were observed by quantum‐chemical calculations. Structural characterization of compound 1 showed significantly different coordination environments for both palladium centers. Whilst one Pd atom sat in the central of a bi‐capped trigonal prism, thereby resulting in a formal 18‐valence electron fragment, {Pd(ZnMe)₂(ZnCp*)₄(GaMe)}, the other Pd atom occupied one capping unit, thereby resulting in a highly unsaturated 12‐valence electron fragment, {Pd(GaCp*)}. The bonding situation, as determined by atoms‐in‐molecules analysis (AIM), NBO partial charges, and molecular orbital (MO) analysis, pointed out that significant Pd? Pd interactions had a large stake in the stabilization of this unusual molecule. The characterization and quantum‐chemical calculations of compound 1 revealed distinct similarities to related M/Zn/Ga Hume–Rothery intermetallic solid‐state compounds, such as Ga/Zn‐exchange reactions, the site‐preferences of the Zn/Ga positions, and direct M? M bonding, which contributes to the overall stability of the metal‐rich compound.     

Cyanide-bridged [Fe8M6] clusters displaying single-molecule magnetism (M=Ni) and electron-transfer-coupled spin transitions (M=Co)

Cyanide‐bridged metal complexes of [Fe₈M₆(μ‐CN)₁₄(CN)₁₀ (tp)₈(HL)₁₀(CH₃CN)₂][PF₆]₄?n CH₃CN?m H₂O (HL=3‐(2‐pyridyl)‐5‐[4‐(diphenylamino)phenyl]‐1H‐pyrazole), tp^?=hydrotris(pyrazolylborate), 1 : M=Ni with n=11 and m=7, and 2 : M=Co with n=14 and m=5) were prepared. Complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphous, and crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n. They have tetradecanuclear cores composed of eight low‐spin (LS) Fe^III and six high‐spin (HS) M^II ions (M=Ni and Co), all of which are bridged by cyanide ions, to form a crown‐like core structure. Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that intramolecular ferro‐ and antiferromagnetic interactions are operative in 1 and in a fresh sample of 2 , respectively. Ac magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 showed frequency‐dependent in‐ and out‐of‐phase signals, characteristic of single‐molecule magnetism (SMM), while desolvated samples of 2 showed thermal‐ and photoinduced intramolecular electron‐transfer‐coupled spin transition (ETCST) between the [(LS‐Fe^II)₃(LS‐Fe^III)₅(HS‐Co^II)₃(LS‐Co^III)₃] and the [(LS‐Fe^III)₈(HS‐Co^II)₆] states.     

Synthesen und Molekülstrukturen von [Cu20Ga10Cl4Se23(PEt2Ph)12] und [Cu14In6Se7(iPrSe)18]

Syntheses and Structures of [Cu₂₀Ga₁₀Cl₄Se₂₃(PEt₂Ph)₁₂] and [Cu₁₄In₆Se₇(iPrSe)₁₈] CuCl and GaCl₃ react with Se(SiMe₃)₂ in thf solution to yield in the presence of PEt₂Ph [Cu₂₀Ga₁₀Cl₄Se₂₃(PEt₂Ph)₁₂] ( 1 ). Reaction of CuCl, InCl₃ and TMEDA with iPrSeSiMe₃ in DME results in the crystallisation of [Cu₁₄In₆Se₇(iPrSe)₁₈] ( 2 ). The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by X‐ray single crystal structure analysis and display two new types of molecular clusters formed by the elements of group 11, 13, and 16. However, both cluster structures show no analogy to the structures of the related bulk phases.     

Configurations of the [Pd(NO2)4]2- Complex Anion: Crystal Structure of Ag4A2[M(NO2)4]3 (M = Pd, Pt; A = K, Rb)

An integrated Xray diffraction study was performed on polycrystals and single crystals of three new isostructural phases with general formula Ag₄A₂[M(NO₂)₄]₃ (M = Pd, Pt; A = K, Rb). Data on the crystal structure solution (CAD4 diffractometer, MoK radiation, graphite monochromator = 2–30° are presented. In one crystallographically independent [M(NO₂)₄]^2- complex anion, the planar square coordination of the central atom is completed to 4 + 2 by two oxygen atoms at a distance of 3.02–3.12 in the other anion, it is completed to 4 + 1 + 1 by an oxygen atom at a distance of 3.12–3.30 and an Ag⁺ cation at a distance of 3.04–3.11 . Part of the Ag⁺ cations form Ag - Ag dimers with a distance of 3.03–3.07. Crystalchemical analysis of known structures containing [Pd(NO₂)₄]^2- complex anions was performed. It has been established that in none of the cases do any of the possible limiting configurations occur.     

A Neutral “Aluminocene” Sandwich Complex: η1‐ versus η5‐Coordination Modes of a Pentaarylborole with ECp* (E=Al,Ga; Cp*=C5Me5)

The pentaaryl borole (Ph*C)₄BXyl^F [Ph*=3,5‐tBu₂(C₆H₃); Xyl^F=3,5‐(CF₃)₂(C₆H₃)] reacts with low‐valent Group 13 precursors AlCp* and GaCp* by two divergent routes. In the case of [AlCp*]₄, the borole reacts as an oxidising agent and accepts two electrons. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational analysis of the resulting unprecedented neutral η⁵‐Cp*,η⁵‐[(Ph*C)₄BXyl^F] complex of Al^III revealed a strong, ionic bonding interaction. The formation of the heteroleptic borole‐cyclopentadienyl “aluminocene” leads to significant changes in the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts within the borole unit. In the case of the less‐reductive GaCp*, borole (Ph*C)₄BXyl^F reacts as a Lewis acid to form a dynamic adduct with a dative 2‐center‐2‐electron Ga?B bond. The Lewis adduct was also studied structurally, spectroscopically, and computationally.     

Kinetics and mechanism of ligand substitution reactions in [cis-M(CO)4(amine)(EPh3)] complexes (M = Mo,W; amine = pyridine,piperidine; E = As,Sb)

Group 6 metal carbonyls [cis-M(CO)₄(amine)(EPh₃)] (M = Mo, W; amine = piperidine (pip), pyridine (py); E = As, Sb) have been prepared and characterized. These complexes react thermally in chlorobenzene solutions with phosphine or phosphite ligands (= L) to give cis- and trans-M(CO)₄(L)(EPh₃) products. Kinetics of amine substitution by L in these complexes, under pseudo-first-order conditions, indicate that these reactions proceed by a rate law that is first-order in concentration of the metal complex. Rate constants and activation parameters for these reactions have been determined and are discussed. Competition studies for the [M(CO)₄(EPh₃)] intermediates show that these intermediates are highly reactive and react almost indiscriminately with various incoming nucleophiles with slight preference for more basic ones.     

Mixed phosphine and group-13 metal ligator complexes [(PR3)(a)M(ECp*)b] (M = Mo, Ni; E = Ga, Al; R = C6H5, cyclo-C6H11, CH3)

Treatment of [Mo(N(2))(PMe(3))(5)] with two equivalents GaCp* (Cp* = η(5)-C(5)(CH(3))(5)) leads to the formation of cis-[Mo(GaCp*)(2)(PMe(3))(4)] (1), while AlCp* did not react with this precursor. In addition, [Ni(GaCp*)(2)(PPh(3))(2)] (2a), [Ni(AlCp*)(2)(PPh(3))(2)] (2b), [Ni(GaCp*)(2)(PCy(3))(2)] (3a), [Ni(GaCp*)(2)(PMe(3))(2)] (3b), [Ni(GaCp*)(3)(PCy(3))] (4) and [Ni(GaCp*)(PMe(3))(3)] (5) have been prepared in high yields by a direct synthesis from [Ni(COD)(2)] and stoichiometric amounts of the ligands PR(3) and ECp* (E = Al, Ga), respectively. All compounds have been fully characterized by (1)H, (13)C, and (31)P NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Theoretical determination of lowest structures of all‐metal aromatic clusters M4L2 (M = Al,Ga, In,Tl; L = Li,Na, K,Rb, Cs)

The researches of all‐metal aromatic clusters have been a thermic theme in inorganic aromaticity domain both experimentally and theoretically since the Al₄L^? (L = Li, Na, Cu) clusters were created by laser vaporization. In systemic determination of the lowest structures of 20 gaseous all‐metal aromatic clusters M₄L₂ (M = Al, Ga, In, Tl; L = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs), the isomer energy differences of four low‐lying structures of each cluster were evaluated at high‐quality quantum chemistry levels. Single point calculations at the coupled cluster level were performed at geometries optimized at the MP2, B3LYP, and B3PW91 levels, and harmonic frequency calculations and zero point energy corrections were implemented following optimizations at the B3LYP and B3PW91 levels. In addition to Li‐ and Na‐containing species, theoretical investigations came down to those new clusters including K, Rb, and Cs. For many clusters, the most convincing theoretical evidences indicate that the lowest structures are a square bipyramidal isomer rather than an edge‐caped square pyramidal species. A few discrepancies were addressed at the MP2, B3LYP, and B3PW91 levels in comparison with the coupled cluster results. These findings are significant because some clusters were generated by laser vaporization and served as theoretical prototypes to test the new means for assessing aromaticity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Structures and Stability of Complexes of E(C6F5)3 (E = B,Al, Ga,In) with Acetonitrile

Complexes formed by interaction of E(C₆F₅)₃ (E = B, Al, Ga, In) with excess of acetonitrile (AN) were structurally characterized. Quantum chemical computations indicate that for Al(C₆F₅)₃ and In(C₆F₅)₃ the formation of a complex of 1:2 composition is more advantageous than for B(C₆F₅)₃ and Ga(C₆F₅)₃, in line with experimental observations. Formation of the solvate [Al(C₆F₅)₃ · 2AN] · AN is in agreement with predicted thermodynamic instability of [Al(C₆F₅)₃ · 3AN]. Tensimetry study of B(C₆F₅)₃ · CH₃CN reveals its stability in the solid state up to 197 °C. With the temperature increase, the complex undergoes irreversible thermal decomposition with pentafluorobenzene formation.     

Unprecedented association of [Mo6Br(i) 7Y(i)Br(a) 6]3- cluster units and [Mo(III)Br6]3- complexes: synthesis, crystal structures, and properties of the double salts Rb3[Mo6Br(i) 7Y(i)Br(a) 6](Rb3[MoBr6])3 (Y=Se, Te)

The double salts Rb(3)[Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](Rb(3)[MoBr(6)])(3) (Y=Se, Te) result from the partial disproportionation of the Mo(6)Br(12) octahedral-cluster-based bromide, in the presence of corresponding chalcogenides and RbBr salt (crystal data: Rb(12)[MoBr(6)](3)[Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Te(i)Br(a) (6)] (1), Pm$\bar 3$m (No. 221), a=12.1558(2) A, Z=1, R(1)=0.028; wR(2)=0.050; Rb(12)[MoBr(6)](3)[Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Se(i)Br(a) (6)] (2), Pm$\bar 3$m, a=12.144(3) A, Z=1, R(1)=0.028; wR(2)=0.050). The structures of 1 and 2 are built up from [Mo(III)Br(6)](3-) complexes and [Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](3-) cluster units characterised by a random distribution of seven bromine and one chalcogen ligands on all the eight inner positions that face cap the Mo(6) clusters. Such a distribution implies a static orientational disorder of the [Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](3-) units around the origin of the unit cell. Close-packed anionic layers based on [Mo(III)Br(6)](3-) complexes and [Mo(6)Br(i) (7)Y(i)Br(a) (6)](3-) cluster units are stacked in the sequence ABC. This arrangement leads to very short Br(a)--Br(a) intercluster unit distances of 3.252 A, much lower than the sum of the van der Waals radii (3.70 A). The trivalent oxidation state of molybdenum in the Mo complexes and 24 valence electrons per Mo(6) cluster have been confirmed by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Salts 1 and 2 constitute the first examples of structurally characterised bromides containing discrete [Mo(III)Br(6)](3-) complexes obtained by means of solid-state synthesis.     

Synthesis,Structure and Bonding,Optical Properties of Ba4MTrQ6 (M=Cu,Ag; Tr=Ga,In; Q=S,Se)

Four new quaternary chalcogenides, Ba₄AgGaS₆ ( 1 ), Ba₄AgGaSe₆ ( 2 ), Ba₄CuInS₆ ( 3 ), and Ba₄AgInS₆ ( 4 ), were synthesized by solid‐state reactions and their structures were characterized through single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In spite of their similar chemical compositions, the flexible arrangement between the transition metals and the triel atoms leads to subtle differences in their polyanion structures. All structures feature similar [MTrQ₆]^8? 1D polyanionic chains (M=Cu, Ag; Tr=Ga, In; Q=S, Se), which are constructed from corner‐sharing MQ₄ or TrQ₄ tetrahedra. However, the transition metals and triels are mixed in 1 , 2 , and 3 , but they occupy independent crystallographic sites in 4 . As a result, compounds 1 – 3 belong to the known Ba₂CoS₃ (Pnma No. 62) or Ba₂MnS₃ (Pnma No. 62) class, whereas 4 crystallizes in its own structural type within the monoclinic P2₁/c (No. 14) space group. The structural relationship among these new phases was also studied with the aid of DFT calculations and related optical properties are presented as well.