Novel rhenium(V) oxo complexes containing bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate and bis(pyrazol-1-yl) sulfonate as tripodal N,N,O-heteroscorpionate ligands

Reactions of [NBu4][Re(O)Cl4] with bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane (bpzm) and bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate (Hbpza) and with the lithium salts lithium [bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetate] (Libdmpza) and lithium [bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methanesulfonate] (Libdmpzs) produce a series of new compounds containing either a kappa2-N,N bidentate pyrazolyl ligand [Re(O)(bpzm)Cl3 (1), Re(O)(bpzm)(OMe)Cl2 (2), Re(O)(bpzaOMe)(OMe)Cl2 (4)] or a kappa3-N,N,O heteroscorpionate [Re(O)(bpza)Cl2 (3), Re(O)(bdmpza)Cl2 isomers 5 and 6, Re(O)(bdmpza)(OMe)Cl (7), Re(O)(bdmpza)(OEt)Cl (8), Re(O)(bdmpzs)(OMe)Cl (9), Re(O)(bdmpzs)(OEt)Cl (10)]. X-ray analyses of 1 and 3 show in both cases a distorted octahedral environment around the rhenium atom. The nature and the geometry of the products are strongly determined by the reaction solvent and by the heteroscorpionate ligand itself. When scorpionates bear methylated pyrazolyl rings mixed heterocomplexes Re(O)(bdmpza)(glycol) (11) and Re(O)(bdmpzs)(glycol) (12) are obtained (H2glycol = ethylene glycol). Also 11 shows an octahedral geometry as assessed by X-ray study.     

New multidentate heteroscorpionate ligands: N-Phenyl-2,2-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)thioacetamide and ethyl 2,2-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)dithioacetate as well as their derivatives

New multidentate heteroscorpionate ligands, N-phenyl-2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)thioacetamide PhHNCSCH(3,5-Me₂Pz)₂ (1), N-phenyl-2,2-bis(3,4,5-trimethylpyrazol-1-yl)thioacetamide PhHNCSCH(3,4,5-Me₃Pz)₂ (2), and ethyl 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)dithioacetate EtSCSCH(3,5-Me₂Pz)₂ (8), have been synthesized and their coordination chemistry studied. These heteroscorpionate ligands can act as monodentate, bidentate, or tridentate ligands, depending on the coordinate properties of different metals. Reaction of W(CO)₆ with 1 or 2 under UV irradiation yields monosubstituted carbonyl tungsten complexes W(CO)₅L (L = 1 or 2), in which N-phenyl-2,2-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)thioacetamide acts as a monodentate ligand by the s-coordination to the tungsten atom. In addition, these monosubstituted tungsten complexes have also been obtained by heating ligand 1 or 2 with W(CO)₅THF in THF. While similar reaction of Fe(CO)₅ with 1, 2, or 8 under UV irradiation results in tricarbonyl iron complexes PhHNCSCH(3,5-Me₂Pz)₂Fe(CO)₃ (5), PhHNCSCH(3,4,5-Me₃Pz)₂Fe(CO)₃ (6), and EtSCSCH(3,5-Me₂Pz)₂Fe(CO)₃ (9), respectively, in which N-phenyl-2,2-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)thioacetamide or ethyl 2,2-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)dithioacetate acts as a bidentate ligand through one pyrazolyl nitrogen atom and the CS π-bond in an η²-C,S fashion side-on bonded to the iron atom to adopt a neutral bidentate κ²-(π,N) coordination mode. Treatment of the lithium salt of 1 with Co(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O gives complex [PhNCSCH(3,5-Me₂Pz)₂]₂Co(ClO₄) with the oxidation of cobalt(II) to cobalt(III), in which N-phenyl-2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)thioacetamide acts as a tridentate monoanionic κ³-(N,N,S) chelating ligand by two pyrazolyl nitrogen atoms and the sulfur atom of the enolized thiolate anion.     

Spin-crossover in complexes of iron(II) carboranes with tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane

Synthesis procedures for coordination compounds of iron(II) 1,5,6,10-tetra(R)-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborates(-1) (carboranes) with tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane (HC(pz)₃) of the composition [Fe{HC(pz)₃}₂]A₂·nH₂O (A = (7,8-C₂B₉H₁₂)^? (I), (1,5,6,10-Br₄-7,8-C₂B₉H₈)^? (II), (1,5,6,10-I₄-7,8-C₂B₉H₈)^? (III), n = 0–2) are developed. The compounds are studied by static magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range of 160–500 K, electron (diffuse reflectance spectra), IR, and Mössbauer spectroscopy methods. It is shown that the complexes have high-temperature spin-crossover ¹ A ₁ ? ⁵ T ₂. Transition temperatures (T _c) for I–III are 370 K, 380 K, and 400 K respectively. Spin-crossover is accompanied by thermochromism (color change: pink ? white).     

Spin crossover in iron(II) complexes with tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane

Mononuclear iron(II) coordination compounds with tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane (HC(Pz)₃) described as [Fe{HC(Pz)₃}₂]A₂ × nH₂O, where A = Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, 1/2 SO₄²⁻, n = 0–7, were synthesized. The compounds were studied by static magnetic susceptibility measurements, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. The crystal and molecular structures of all compounds were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Redox-active p-quinone-based Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane ligands: synthesis and coordination behaviour

The synthesis, structural characterisation and coordination behaviour of mono- and ditopic p-hydroquinone-based bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane ligands is described (i.e., 2-(pz2CH)C6H3(OH)2 (2a), 2-(pz2CH)-6-(tBu)C6H2(OH)2 (2b), 2-(pz2CH)-6-(tBu)C6H2(OSiiPr3)(OH) (2c), 2,5-(pz2CH)2C6H2(OH)2 (4)). Ligands 2a, 2b and 4 can be oxidised to their p-benzoquinone state on a preparative scale (2a ox, 2b ox, 4 ox). An octahedral Ni II complex [trans-Ni(2c)2] and square-planar Pd II complexes [Pd2bCl2] and [Pd2b ox Cl2] have been prepared. In the two Pd II species, the ligands are coordinated only through their pyrazolyl rings. The fact that [Pd2bC12] and [Pd2b oxC12] are isolable compounds proves that redox transitions involving the p-quinone substituent are fully reversible. In [Pd2b oxCl2], the methine proton is highly acidic and can be abstracted with bases as weak as NEt(3). The resulting anion dimerises to give a dinuclear macrocyclic Pd II complex, which has been structurally characterised. The methylated ligand 2-(pz2CMe)C6H3O2 (11 ox) and its Pd II complex [Pd11 oxCl2] are base-stable. A new class of redox-active ligands is now available with the potential for applications both in catalysis and in materials science.     

Gaseous iron(II) and iron(III) complexes with BINOLate ligands

Electrospray ionization (ESI) of dilute solutions of 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) and iron(II) or iron(III) sulfate in methanol/water allows the generation of monocationic complexes of iron and deprotonated BINOL ligands with additional methanol molecules in the coordination sphere, and the types of complexes formed can be controlled by the valence of the iron precursors used in ESI. Thus, iron(II) sulfate leads to [(BINOLate)Fe(CH3OH)n]+ complexes (n=0-3), whereas usage of iron(III) sulfate allows the generation of [(BINOLdiate)-Fe(CH3OH)n]+ cations (n=0-2); here, BINOLate and BINOLdiate stand for singly and doubly deprotonated BINOL, respectively. Upon collision-induced dissociation, the mass-selected ions with n>0 first lose the methanol ligands and then undergo characteristic fragmentations. Bare [(BINOLdiate)Fe]+, a formal iron(III) species, undergoes decarbonylation, which is known as a typical fragmentation of ionized phenols and phenolates either as free species or as the corresponding metal complexes. The bare [(BINOLate)Fe]+ cation, on the other hand, preferentially loses neutral FeOH to afford an organic C20H12O+* cation radical, which most likely corresponds to ionized 1,1'-dinaphthofurane.     

Spin crossover in homo- and heteroligand iron(II) complexes with tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane derivatives

The studies concerning coordination compounds of various salts of iron(II) with tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane derivatives (HC(pz)₃) are discussed. The results of a number of studies on the synthesis and investigation of the homo- and heteroligand iron(II) complexes with tris(3,5- dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane (HC(3,5-Me₂pz)₃) are considered. The study of the temperature dependence μ_eff (T) showed that the spin crossover (SCO) ¹A₁?⁵T₂ observed in a series of the compounds discussed is accompanied by thermochromism (color change pink (purple) ? colorless). Specific features of the SCO and their dependence on the outer-sphere anion in the iron(II) complexes are discussed. The data of the recently published work devoted to the synthesis of the iron(II) complexes with three N-substituted HC(pz)₃ derivatives (general formula ^xL, where x = H, CH₂C₆H₅ (Bn) and p-SO₃C₆H₄CH₃ (Ts)) are considered.     

Iron(II) closo-borate complexes with 1,2,4-triazole derivatives: Spin crossover in the iron(II) closo-borate complexes with tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane

Methods of synthesis of iron(II) complexes containing cluster closo-borate anions—[Fe(Htrz)₃]B₁₀Cl₁₀ (I) (HTrz is 1,2,4-triazole), [Fe(NH₂Trz)₃]B₁₀Cl₁₀ · 2H₂O (II) (NH₂Trz is 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole), [Fe{HC(pz)₃}₂]B₁₀Cl₁₀ (III), [Fe{HC(pz)₃}₂]B₁₀H₁₀ (IV), and [Fe{HC(pz)₃}₂]B₁₂H₁₂ · 2H₂O (V) (HC(pz)₃ is tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane)—have been developed. The compounds have been studied by the static magnetic susceptibility method (78–500 K) and electronic, IR, and EXAFS spectroscopy. Complexes I and II in the temperature range under consideration remain in the high-spin state. Low-spin complex III shows incomplete spin crossover and decomposes on heating above 440 K. Complexes IV and V are characterized by reversible spin crossover ¹ A ₁ ? ⁵ T ₂ accompanied by thermochromism (the pink ? white color change). The crossover temperature (T _c) for IV and V is 375 and 405 K, respectively.     

High-temperature spin transition in the iron(II) trifluoromethylsulfonate,perrhenate, and tetraphenylborate complexes with tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane

New coordination compounds of iron(II) trifluoromethylsulfonate, perrhenate, and tetraphenylborate with tris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane (HC(Pz)₃) of the composition [Fe(HC(Pz)₃)₂]A₂ (A = CF₃SO₃ ⁻ (I), ReO₄ ⁻ (II), and B(C₆H₅)₄ ⁻ (III)) were synthesized and studied by the method of static magnetic susceptibility and IR and electronic spectroscopies. The crystal and molecular structures of compounds I and II were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The magnetochemical study of complexes I—III in the interval from 275 to 500 K showed that they possessed the high-temperature spin transition ¹ A ₁ ⇄ ⁵ T ₂ accompanied by thermochromism.     

Synthesis of organometallic hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)boratoruthenium(II) complexes

The reactions of K[HB(pz)₃] (pz = pyrazol-1-yl) with the coordinatively unsaturated σ-vinyl complexes [Ru(CRCHR)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂] (R = H, Me, C₆H₅) proceed with loss of a chloride and a phosphine ligand to provide the compounds [Ru(CRCHR)(CO)(PPh₃){HB(pz)₃}] in high yield. Similar treatment of the complex [Ru(C₆H₄Me-4)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂] leads to the related σ-aryl derivative [Ru(C₆H₄Me-4)(CO)(PPh₃){HB(pz)₃}] whilst the complex [RuClH(CO)(PPh₃)₃] treated successively with diphenylbutadiyne and K[HB(pz)₃] provides the unusual derivative [Ru{C(CCPh)CHPh}(CO)(PPh₃){HB(pz)₃}].     

Structural diversity in iron(II) complexes of 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine and 2,6-di(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)pyridine

The syntheses, magnetochemistry and crystallography of [Fe(L1)2]I0.5[I3]1.5 (1), [Fe(L1)2][Co(C2B9H11)2]2 (2) and [Fe(L2)2][SbF6]2 (3) (L1 = 2,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridine; L2 = 2,6-di(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)pyridine) are described. Compounds 1 and 3 are high-spin between 5-300 K. For 1, this reflects a novel variation of an angular Jahn-Teller distortion at the iron centre, which traps the molecule in its high-spin state. No such distortion is present in 3; rather, the high-spin nature of this compound may reflect ligand conformational strain caused by an intermolecular steric contact in the crystal lattice. Compound 2 exhibits a gradual high --> low spin transition upon cooling with T(1/2) = 318 +/- 3 K, that is only 50% complete. This reflects the presence of two distinct, equally populated iron environments in the solid. One of these unique iron centres adopts the same angular structural distortion shown by 1 and so is trapped in its high-spin state, while the other, which undergoes the spin-crossover, has a more regular coordination geometry. In contrast with 3, the solvated salts [Fe(L2)2][BF4]2 x 4 CH3CN and [Fe(L2)2][ClO4]2 x (CH3)2CO both undergo gradual thermal spin-transitions centred at 175 +/- 3 K.     

Synthesis, characterization, and structures of copper(II)-thiosulfate complexes incorporating tripodal tetraamine ligands

The reaction of [Cu(L)(H(2)O)](2+) with an excess of thiosulfate in aqueous solution produces a blue to green color change indicative of thiosulfate coordination to Cu(II) [L = tren, Bz(3)tren, Me(6)tren, and Me(3)tren; tren = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, Bz(3)tren = tris(2-benzylaminoethyl)amine, Me(6)tren = tris(2,2-dimethylaminoethyl)amine, and Me(3)tren = tris(2-methylaminoethyl)amine]. In excess thiosulfate, only [Cu(Me(6)tren)(H(2)O)](2+) promotes the oxidation of thiosulfate to polythionates. Products suitable for single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses were obtained for three thiosulfate complexes, namely, [Cu(tren)(S(2)O(3))].H(2)O, [Cu(Bz(3)tren)(S(2)O(3))].MeOH, and (H(3)Me(3)tren)[Cu(Me(3)tren)(S(2)O(3))](2)(ClO(4))(3). Isolation of [Cu(Me(6)tren)(S(2)O(3))] was prevented by its reactivity. In each complex, the copper(II) center is found in a trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) geometry consisting of four amine nitrogen atoms, with the bridgehead nitrogen in an axial position and an S-bound thiosulfate in the other axial site. Each structure exhibits H bonding (involving the amine ligand, thiosulfate, and solvent molecule, if present), forming either 2D sheets or 1D chains. The structure of [Cu(Me(3)tren)(MeCN)](ClO(4))(2) was also determined for comparison since no structures of mononuclear Cu(II)-Me(3)tren complexes have been reported. The thiosulfate binding constant was determined spectrophotometrically for each Cu(II)-amine complex. Three complexes yielded the highest values reported to date [K(f) = (1.82 +/- 0.09) x 10(3) M(-1) for tren, (4.30 +/- 0.21) x 10(4) M(-1) for Bz(3)tren, and (2.13 +/- 0.05) x 10(3) M(-1) for Me(3)tren], while for Me(6)tren, the binding constant was much smaller (40 +/- 10 M(-1)).     

Syntheses, structures, and photoluminescence properties of metal(II) halide complexes with pyridine-containing flexible tripodal ligands

Seven coordination compounds, [Zn(L3)Cl2] . MeOH . H2O (1), [Mn(L3)2Cl2] . 0.5EtOH . 0.5H2O (2), [Cu3(L2)2Cl6] . 2DMF (3), [Cu3(L2)2Br6] . 4MeOH (4), [Hg2(L4)Cl4] (5), [Hg2(L4)Br4] (6), and [Hg3(L4)2I6] . H2O (7), were synthesized by the reactions of ligands 1,3,5-tris(3-pyridylmethoxyl)benzene (L3), 1,3,5-tris(2-pyridylmethoxyl)benzene (L2), and 1,3,5-tris(4-pyridylmethoxyl)benzene (L4) with the corresponding metal halides. All the structures were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In complexes 1 and 2, L3 acts as a bidentate ligand using two of three pyridyl arms to link two metal atoms to result in two different 1D chain structures. In complexes 3 and 4, each L2 serves as tridentate ligand and connects three Cu(II) atoms to form a 2D network structure. Complexes 5 and 6 have the same framework structure, and L4 acts as a three-connecting ligand to connect Hg(II) atoms to generate a 3D 4-fold interpenetrated framework, while the structure of complex 7 is an infinite 1D chain. The results indicate that the flexible ligands can adopt different conformations and thus can form complexes with varied structures. In addition, the coordination geometry of the metal atom and the species of the halide were found to have great impact on the structure of the complexes. The photoluminescence properties of the complexes were investigated, and the Zn(II), Mn(II) and Hg(II) complexes showed blue emissions in solid state at room temperature.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of Group 6 metal carbonyl complexes containing S-rich bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane ligands

The reaction of 3(5)-methylthio-5(3)-phenylpyrazole with dibromomethane under phase-transfer catalytic conditions only affords a new ligand, bis(3-phenyl-5-methylthiopyrazol-1-yl)methane. However, the reaction of 3(5)-methylthio-5(3)-p-methoxyphenylpyrazole or 3(5)-methylthio-5(3)-tert-butylpyrazole with dibromomethane under the same conditions yields three isomers, respectively, indicating that the substituents significantly affect the steric and electronic properties of pyrazole ring during the formation of ligands. Treatment of these potential polydentate ligands with M(CO)₆ (M=Cr, Mo or W) under UV irradiation at room temperature affords (NN)M(CO)₄ derivatives, in which some complexes contain asymmetric substituted bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane ligands. The X-ray crystal structure analyses indicate that the sulfur atoms in these complexes do not take part in the coordination to the metal centers, and S-rich bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methanes actually act as bidentate chelating ligands by two nitrogen atoms. It is also interesting that in order to reduce the repulsion of methyl groups with carbonyls, the methyl groups in these complexes are oriented away from the metal centers.     

Four copper(II) complexes with potentially tetradentate tripodal ligands

The four title Cu^II compounds are chloro­[(2‐furyl­methyl)­bis(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amine‐N,N′,N′′]copper(II) perchlorate, [CuCl(C₁₇H₁₇N₃O)]ClO₄, (I), chloro{2‐[bis(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amino]­ethano­lato‐N,N′,N′′,O}­copper(II) hemi­[tetra­chloro­copper(II)], [CuCl(C₁₄H₁₇N₃O)][CuCl₄]_1/2, (II), chloro­[(2‐morpholino­ethyl)­bis(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amine‐N,N′,N′′,N′′′]copper(II) perchlorate, [CuCl(C₁₈H₂₄N₄O)]ClO₄, (III), and chloro­[(2‐piperidinyl­ethyl)­bis(2‐pyridyl­methyl)­amine‐N,N′,N′′,N′′′]­copper(II) hexa­fluoro­phosphate, [CuCl(C₁₉H₂₆N₄)]­PF₆, (IV). They have tripodal potentially tetradentate ligands. In (I), the O atom of the furan moiety weakly coordinates to the Cu atom at a distance of 2.750 (3) Å.     

Reversible anion exchanges between the layered organic-inorganic hybridized architectures: syntheses and structures of manganese(II) and copper(II) complexes containing novel tripodal ligands

Six noninterpenetrating organic-inorganic hybridized coordination complexes, [Mn(3)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2).2 H(2)O (5), [Mn(3)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(2) (6), [Mn(3)(2)(N(3))(2)].2 H(2)O (7), [Cu(3)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (8), [Mn(4)(2)(H(2)O)(SO(4))].CH(3)OH.5 H(2)O (9) and [Mn(4)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (10) were obtained through self-assembly of novel tripodal ligands, 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene (3) and 1,3-bis(1-imidazolyl)-5-(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (4) with the corresponding metal salts, respectively. Their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. The results of structural analysis of complexes 5, 6, 7, and 8 with rigid ligand 3 indicate that their structures are mainly dependant on the nature of the organic ligand and geometric need of the metal ions, but not influenced greatly by the anions and metal ions. While in complexes 9 and 10, which contain the flexible ligand 4, the counteranion plays an important role in the formation of the frameworks. Entirely different structures of complexes 5 and 10 indicate that the organic ligands greatly affect the structures of assemblies. Furthermore, in complexes 5 and 6, the counteranions located between the cationic layers can be exchanged by other anions. Reversible anion exchanges between complexes 5 and 6 without destruction of the frameworks demonstrate that 5 and 6 can act as cationic layered materials for anion exchange, as determined by IR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, and X-ray powder diffraction.     

Dinuclear nickel(II) complexes with Schiff base ligands: syntheses, structures and bio-relevant catalytic activities

Three Ni(II) complexes of cresol-based Schiff-base ligands, namely [Ni₂(L¹)(NCS)₃(H₂O)₂], (1) [Ni₂(L²)(CH₃COO)(NCS)₂(H₂O)] (2) and [Ni₂(L³)(NCS)₃] (3), (where L¹ = 2,6-bis(N-ethylpyrrolidineiminomethyl)-4-methylphenolato, L² = 2,6-bis(N-ethylpiperidineiminomethyl)-4-methylphenolato and L³ = 2,6-bis{N-ethyl-N-(3-hydroxypropyl iminomethyl)}-4-methylphenolato), have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction in addition to routine physicochemical techniques. Density functional theory calculations have been performed to understand the nature of the electronic spectra of the complexes. Complexes 1?C3 when reacted with 4-nitrophenyl phosphate in 50:50 acetonitrile?Cwater medium promote the cleavage of the O?CP bond to form p-nitrophenol and smoothly convert 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (3,5-DTBQ) either in MeOH or in MeCN medium. Phosphatase- and catecholase-like activities were monitored by UV?Cvis spectrophotometry and the Michaelis?CMenten equation was applied to rationalize all the kinetic parameters. Upon treatment with urea, complexes 1 and 2 give rise to [Ni₂(L¹)(NCS)₂(NCO)(H₂O)₂] (1??) and [Ni₂(L²)(CH₃COO)(NCO)(NCS)(H₂O)] (2??) derivatives, respectively, whereas 3 remains unaltered under same reaction conditions.     

Homoleptic trimethylsilylacetylide complexes of chromium(III), iron(II), and cobalt(III): syntheses, structures, and ligand field parameters

A straightforward method for synthesizing soluble homoleptic trimethylsilylacetylide complexes of first-row transition metal ions is presented. Reaction of anhydrous CrCl2 with an excess of LiCCSiMe3 in THF at -25 degrees C affords orange Li3[Cr(CCSiMe3)6].6THF (1), while analogous reactions employing M(CF3SO3)2 (M = Fe or Co) generate pale yellow Li4[Fe(CCSiMe3)6].4LiCCSiMe3.4Et2O (2) and colorless Li3[Co(CCSiMe3)6].6THF (3). Slightly modified reaction conditions lead to Li8[Cr2O4(CCSiMe3)6].6LiCCSiMe3.4glyme (4), featuring a bis-mu-oxo-bridged binuclear complex, and Li3[Co(CCSiMe3)5(CCH)].LiCF3SO3.8THF (5). The crystal structures of 1-3 show the trimethylsilylacetylide complexes to display an octahedral coordination geometry, with M-C distances of 2.077(3), 1.917(7)-1.935(7), and 1.908(3) angstroms for M = Cr(III), Fe(II), and Co(III), respectively, and nearly linear M-C[triple bond]C angles. The UV-visible absorption spectrum of [Cr(CCSiMe3)6]3- in hexanes exhibits one spin-allowed d-d transition (4T2g <-- 4A1g) and three lower-energy spin-forbidden d-d transitions. The spectra of [Fe(CCSiMe3)6]4- and [Co(CCSiMe3)6]3- in acetonitrile display high-intensity charge-transfer bands, which obscure all d-d transitions except for the lowest-energy spin-allowed band (1T1g <-- 1A1g) of the latter complex. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations were employed as an aide in assigning the observed transitions. Taken together, the results are most consistent with the ligand field parameters delta(o) = 20,200 cm(-1) and B = 530 cm(-1) for [Cr(CCSiMe3)6]3-, delta(o) = 32 450 cm(-1) and B = 460 cm(-1) for [Fe(CCSiMe3)6]4- and delta(o) = 32 500 cm(-1) and B = 516 cm(-1) for [Co(CCSiMe3)6]3-. Ground-state DFT calculations support the conclusion that trimethylsilylacetylide acts as a pi-donor ligand.