Synthesis and coordinating properties of the facultative Sb2O- and As2O-donor ligands O{(CH2)2ER2}2 (E = Sb or As; R = Ph or Me)

The new mixed Sb₂O-donor ligands O{(CH₂)₂SbR₂}₂ (R = Ph, 1; R = Me, 2) with flexible backbones have been prepared in good yields as air-sensitive oils from reaction of NaSbR₂ with 0.5 mol equivalents of O(CH₂CH₂Br)₂ in thf solution. The As₂O-donor analogues, O{(CH₂)₂AsR₂}₂ (R = Ph, 3; R = Me, 4) were obtained similarly from LiAsPh₂ or NaAsMe₂, respectively and O(CH₂CH₂Br)₂, although ligand 4 appears to be considerably less stable with respect to C-O bond fission under some conditions than the other ligands. Using O(CH₂CH₂Cl)₂ leads only to partial substitution by the SbPh₂⁻ or AsPh₂⁻ nucleophile. These ligands behave as bidentate chelating Sb₂- or As₂-donors in the distorted tetrahedral [M(L-L)₂]BF₄ (M = Cu or Ag; L-L = 1-4) on the basis of solution ¹H and ⁶³Cu NMR spectroscopic studies, mass spectrometry and microanalyses. Crystal structures of three representative examples with Cu(I) and Ag(I) confirm the distorted tetrahedral Sb₄ or As₄ coordination at the metal and allow comparisons of geometric parameters. The crystallographic identification of an unexpected Cu(I)-Cu(I) complex, [Cu₂{Me₂As(CH₂)₂OH}₃](BF₄)₂, obtained as a by-product via C-O bond fission within ligand 4 is also reported. The distorted octahedral [RhCl₂(L-L)₂]Cl and the distorted square planar cis-[PtCl₂(L-L)] (L-L = 1 or 2) are also described. The ether O atoms are not involved in coordination to the metal ion in any of the late transition metal complexes isolated.     

Alkaline earth metal poly(hydrogen fluorides) hexafluoroarsenates(V) and hexafluorophosphate(V): M2(H2F3)(HF2)2(AF6) (M = Ca, A = As; M = Sr, A = As, P)

New compounds of the type M₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(AF₆) with M = Ca, A = As and M = Sr, A = As, P) were isolated. Ca₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(AsF₆) was prepared from Ca(AsF₆)₂ with repeated additions of neutral anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF). It crystallizes in a space group P4₃22 with a = 714.67(10) pm, c = 1754.8(3) pm, V = 0.8963(2) nm³ and Z = 4. Sr₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(AsF₆) was prepared at room temperature by dissolving SrF₂ in aHF acidified with AsF₅ in mole ratio SrF₂:AsF₅ = 2:1. It crystallizes in a space group P4₃22 with a = 746.00(12) pm, c = 1805.1(5) pm, V = 1.0046(4) nm³ and Z = 4. Sr₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(PF₆) was prepared from Sr(XeF₂)_n(PF₆)₂ in neutral aHF. It crystallizes in a space group P4₁22 with a = 737.0(3) pm, c = 1793.7(14) pm, V = 0.9744(9) nm³ and Z = 4. The compounds M₂(H₂F₃)(HF₂)₂(AF₆) gradually lose HF at room temperature in a dynamic vacuum or during being powdered for recording IR spectra or X-ray powder ray diffraction patterns. All compounds are isotypical with coordination of nine fluorine atoms around a metal center forming a distorted Archimedian antiprism with one face capped. This is the first example of the compounds in which H₂F₃⁻ and HF₂⁻ anions simultaneously bridge metal centers forming close packed three-dimensional network of polymeric compounds with low solubility in aHF. The HF₂⁻ anions are asymmetric with usual F?F distances of 227.3-228.5 pm. Vibrational frequency (ν₁) of HF₂⁻ is close to that in NaHF₂. The anion H₂F₃⁻ exhibits unusually small F?F?F angle of 95.1°-97.6° most probably as a consequence of close packed structure.     

Backbone modified small bite-angle diphosphines: Synthesis and molecular structures of [M(CO)4{X2PC(RR)PX2}] (M = Mo, W; X = Ph, Cy; R = H, Me, Et, Pr, allyl, R = Me, allyl)

A range of new small bite-angle diphosphine complexes, [M(CO)₄{X₂PC(R¹R²)PX₂}] (M = Mo, W; X = Ph, Cy; R¹ = H, Me, Et, Pr, allyl, R² = Me, allyl), have been prepared via elaboration of the methylene backbones in [M(CO)₄(X₂PCH₂PX₂)] as a result of successive deprotonation and alkyl halide addition. When X = Ph it proved possible to replace both methylene protons but for X = Cy only one substitution proved possible. This is likely due to the electron-releasing nature of the cyclohexyl groups but may also be due to steric constraints. Attempts to prepare the bis(allyl) substituted complex [Mo(CO)₄{Ph₂PC(allyl)₂PPh₂}] were only moderately successful. The crystal structures of nine of these complexes are presented.     

Ruthenium carbonyl clusters containing PMe2(nap) and derived ligands (nap = 1-naphthyl): generation of naphthalyne derivatives

Bis(dimethylphosphino)naphthalene, 1,8-(PMe₂)₂C₁₀H₆ (dmpn), reacts readily with Ru₃(CO)₁₂ or Ru₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₁₀ with replacement of one of the PMe₂ groups by H to give Ru₃(CO)_12 − n{PMe₂(nap)}_n (n = 1 2, 2 3) or Ru₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₉{PMe₂(nap)} 4; the complex Ru₃(CO)₁₀(dmpn) 1 is obtained only in small amount. Thermolysis of 2 or 4 gives Ru₃(μ-H)₂{μ₃-PMe₂(C₁₀H₅)}(μ-dppm)_n (CO)_8-2n (n = 0 5, 1 6, respectively) containing μ₃-naphthalyne groups.     

Dinuclear oxomolybdenum(VI) acetylacetonates: Crystal and molecular structure of Mo2O5(acac)2L2 (L = D2O,DMF)

The behavior of MoO₂(acac)₂ (acac = acetylacetonate) towards representative amines, amides, sulfoxides and phosphine oxides in common solvents has been examined. Compounds of the composition Mo₂O₅(acac)₂L₂ [L = H₂O, D₂O, dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethylacetamide (DMA), dimethylbenzamide (DMBA), tetramethylurea (TMU), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dibutylsulfoxide (Bu₂SO), p-tolylsulfoxide (p-Tol₂SO), tributylphosphine oxide (OPBu₃), triphenylphosphine oxide (OPPh₃), hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA)], derived from partial hydrolysis of MoO₂(acac)₂ followed by condensation and coordination of L, can readily be isolated. The crystal and molecular structures of Mo₂O₅(acac)₂L₂ (L = D₂O, DMF) have been established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Reactivity of ZrCl4 and HfCl4 with silylamines and thermal decomposition of the compounds [MCl4{NH(R)(SiR′3)}] (M = Zr,Hf, R = tBu,R′ = Me; R = SiR′3 = SiMe3, SiMe2H)

The Lewis acid/base adducts [MCl₄{NH(R)(SiR′₃)}] (M = Zr, Hf; R = tBu, R′ = Me; R = SiR′₃ = SiMe₃, SiMe₂H) were synthesized by the 1:1 reaction of MCl₄ with NH(R)(SiR′₃) in dichloromethane solution at room temperature. The decomposition of [MCl₄{NH(R)(SiR′₃)}] proceeds with the elimination of R′₃SiCl, as shown by thermogravimetric analysis. Pyrolysis of the compounds at 620 °C under inert conditions (N₂, vacuum) afforded powders of composition [ClMN] or [Cl₂MNH]. Preliminary low pressure chemical vapour deposition experiments show that [MCl₄{NH(R)(SiR′₃)}] deposits thin films of metal nitride contaminated with metal oxide.     

Synthesis,structure and properties of eight novel molybdenum(VI) complexes of the types: [MoO2LD] and [{MoO2L}2D] (L = thiosemicarbazonato ligand,D = N-donor molecule)

Eight new molybdenum(VI) complexes with 4-(diethylamino)salicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazones have been prepared. They were characterized as mononuclear [MoO₂LD] or dinuclear [{MoO₂L}₂D] complexes. In all the compounds the MoO₂²⁺ core is coordinated by a tridentate ONS thiosemicarbazonato ligand and by the N-donor molecule (imidazole, pyridine or γ-picoline). All the complexes were characterized by chemical analysis, IR spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. Three of the mononuclear complexes, dioxo[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazonato)(pyridine)]molybdenum(VI), dioxo[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazonato)(γ-picoline)]molybdenum(VI) and dioxo[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazonato)(imidazole)]molybdenum(VI) were also characterized by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. A spectrophotometric method for the determination of molybdenum based on extraction of ion-pairs formed by the cationic surfactant and the [MoO(SCN)₄]⁻ anion is described.     

Synthesis and structures of bimetallic silicon-containing imido alkylidene complexes of tungsten (R′O)2(ArN)WCH-SiR2-CHW(NAr)(OR′)2 (R = Me, Ph) and (R′O)2(ArN)WCH-SiMe2SiMe2-CHW(NAr)(OR′)2

Bimetallic alkylidene complexes of tungsten (R′O)₂(ArN)WCH-SiR₂-CHW(NAr)(OR′)₂ (R = Me (1), Ph (2)) and (R′O)₂(ArN)WCH-SiMe₂SiMe₂-CHW(NAr)(OR′)₂ (3) (Ar = ; R′ = CMe₂CF₃) have been prepared by the reactions of divinyl silicon reagents R₂Si(CHCH₂)₂ with known alkylidene compounds R′′-CHMo(NAr)(OR′)₂. (R′′ = Bu^t, PhMe₂C) Complexes 1-3 were structurally characterized. Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclooctene using compounds 1-3 as initiators led to the formation of high molecular weight polyoctenamers with predominant trans-units content in the case of 1 and 3 and predominant cis-units content in the case of 2.     

Dimeric and trimeric diorganosilicon chalcogenides (PhRSiE)2,3 (E = S, Se, Te; R = Ph, Me)

Ph₂SiCl₂ and PhMeSiCl₂ react with Li₂E (E = S, Se, Te) under formation of trimeric diorganosilicon chalcogenides (PhRSiE)₃ (R = Ph: 1a-3a, R = Me: cis/trans-4a (E = S), cis/trans-5a (E = Se)). In case of E = S, Se dimeric four-membered ring compounds (PhRSiE)₂ (R = Ph: 1b-2b, R = Me: cis/trans-4b (E = S), cis/trans-5b (E = Se)) have been observed as by-products. 1a-5b have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si, ⁷⁷Se, ¹²⁵Te). Four- and six-membered ring compounds differ significantly in ²⁹Si and ⁷⁷Se chemical shifts as well as in the value of ¹J_SiSe.The molecular structures of 2a, 3a and trans-5a reported in this paper are the first examples of compounds with unfused six-membered rings Si₃E₃ (E = Se, Te). The Si₃E₃ rings adopt twisted boat conformations. The crystal structure of 3a reveals an intermolecular Te-Te contact of 3.858 Å which yields a dimerization in the solid state.     

Reactivity of TpRu(L)(NCMe)R (L = CO, PMe3; R = Me, Ph) systems with isonitriles: Experimental and computational studies toward the intra- and intermolecular hydroarylation of isonitriles

The Ru(II) phenyl complex TpRu(PMe₃)(NCMe)Ph {Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate} reacts with isonitriles to form complexes of the type TpRu(PMe₃)(CNR)Ph (R = ^tBu, CH₂Ph, CH₂CH₂Ph). Neither thermal nor photolytic reactions of these systems with excess isonitrile and benzene resulted in the production of corresponding imines. DFT studies that probed the energetics of the desired catalytic transformations revealed that (Tab)Ru(PH₃)(CNCH₂CH₂Ph)Ph {Tab = tris(azo)borate} is the most stable species in a proposed catalytic cycle. Exclusive of calculated transition states, the highest points on the calculated free energy surface are 34 kcal/mol, for (Tab)Ru(PH₃)(o,η²-C,C-CNCH₂CH₂Ph)Ph {relative to the starting material (Tab)Ru(PH₃)(CNCH₂CH₂Ph)Ph}, and 27 kcal/mol for the C-H activation product (Tab)Ru(PH₃)(o-C₆H₄CH₂CH₂NC) and benzene. The substantial increases in free energy result primarily from the loss of the stable ruthenium-η¹-isonitrile interaction.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of the first germanium-containing alkylidene complexes of molybdenum R3Ge-CHMo(NAr)(OR′)2 (R = Me, Ph) with direct germanium-carbene carbon bond

The novel germanium-containing alkylidene complexes of molybdenum R₃Ge-CHMo(NAr)(OCMe₂CF₃)₂ (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr₂C₆H₃; R = Me, Ph) have been prepared by the reaction of organogermanium vinyl reagents R₃ GeCHCH₂ with known alkylidene compounds Alkyl-CHMo(NAr)(OCMe₂CF₃)₂ (Alkyl = Bu^t, PhMe₂C). The titled compounds were isolated as crystalline solids and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. The geometry of the Mo atoms in the compounds can be described as a distorted tetrahedron.     

Reductive elimination of halogens assisted by phosphine ligands in Fe(CO)4X2 (X = I, Br) complexes

Fe(CO)₄X₂ complexes [X = I (1), Br(1′)] react with phosphine ligands L (L = PMe₃, PEt₃, PMe₂Ph, PMePh₂, PPh₃) via a two-step mechanism: in the first step fac-Fe(CO)₃LX₂ complexes are formed; in the second step two parallel pathways, a and b, are observed; in pathway a, reductive elimination with formation of equimolar amounts of Fe(CO)₃L₂ (5) and phosphonium salts [LX]⁺X⁻ is observed; in pathway b, disubstituted dihalide complexes cis,trans,cis-Fe(CO)₂L₂X₂ are formed. The relative weights of pathways a and b depend on the basicity, steric hindrance and concentration of ligand L, on the nature of the halogen and on temperature. A radical mechanism which accounts for most of the experimental results is proposed.     

Some complexes containing carbon chains end-capped by M(CO)2Tp′ [M = Mo, W; Tp′ = HB(pz)3, HB(dmpz)3] groups

Complexes M(CCCSiMe₃)(CO)₂Tp′ (Tp′ = Tp [HB(pz)₃], M = Mo 2, W 4; Tp′ = Tp^∗ [HB(dmpz)₃], M = Mo 3) are obtained from M(CCCSiMe₃)(O₂CCF₃)(CO)₂(tmeda) (1) and K[Tp′].Reactions of 2 or 4 with AuCl(PPh₃)/K₂CO₃ in MeOH afforded M{CCCAu(PPh₃)}(CO)₂Tp′ (M = Mo 5, W 6) containing C₃ chains linking the Group 6 metal and gold centres.In turn, the gold complexes react with Co₃(μ₃-CBr)(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ to give the C₄-bridged {Tp(OC)₂M}CCCC{Co₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₇} (M = Mo 7, W 8), while Mo(CBr)(CO)₂Tp^∗ and Co₃{μ₃-C(CC)₂Au(PPh₃)}(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ give {Tp^∗(OC)₂Mo}C(CC)₂C{Co₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₇} (9) via a phosphine-gold(I) halide elimination reaction. The C₃ complexes Tp′(OC)₂MCCCRu(dppe)Cp^∗ (Tp′ = Tp, M = Mo 10, W 11; Tp′ = Tp^∗, M = Mo 12) were obtained from 2-4 and RuCl(dppe)Cp^∗ via KF-induced metalla-desilylation reactions. Reactions between Mo(CBr)(CO)₂Tp^∗ and Ru{(CC)_nAu(PPh₃)}(dppe)Cp^∗ (n = 2, 3) afforded {Tp^∗(OC)₂Mo}C(CC)_n{Ru(dppe)Cp^∗} (n = 2 13, 3 14), containing C₅ and C₇ chains, respectively. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 12 are reported.     

Preparation, crystal structures, EPR and reflectance spectra of two new charge-transfer salts, [CpFeCpCH2N(CH3)3]4[XMo12O40] · nCH3CN (n = 0 for X = P or n = 1 for X = Ge)

Two new charge-transfer salts, [CpFeCpCH₂N(CH₃)₃]₄[PMo₁₂O₄₀] · CH₃CN (1) and [CpFeCpCH₂N(CH₃)₃]₄[GeMo₁₂O₄₀] (2), were synthesized by the traditional solution synthetic method and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Salt 1 belongs to the triclinic space group P1, and salt 2 belongs to the triclinic space group . There exist the complex interactions of the cationic ferrocenyl donor and Keggin polyanion in the solid state. The solid state UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra indicate the presence of a charge-transfer band climbing from 450 nm to well beyond 900 nm for 1, a charge-transfer band from 460 to 850 nm with λ_max = 630 nm for 2.The EPR spectra of salts 1 and 2 at 77 K show a signal at g = 2.0048 and 1.9501, respectively, ascribed to the delocalization of one electron in reduced Keggin ion in salt 1 and the Mo^VI in [GeMo₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ is partly reduced to Mo^V owing to the charge-transfer transitions taking place between the ferrocenyl donors and the POM acceptors. The two compounds were also characterized by IR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.     

Oxidative addition to dimethylplatinum (II) compounds containing bulky nitrogen ligands: crystal structures of compounds [PtMe3I{(Me2NCH2CH2NCH)Ar}] (Ar = phenanthryl or anthryl)

Oxidative addition of methyl iodide to platinum (II) compounds [PtMe₂{(Me₂NCH₂CH₂NCH)Ar}] (Ar = phenanthryl or anthryl) produced the corresponding platinum (IV) compounds. Processes aimed at reducing the steric crowding at the coordination sphere of the platinum (IV) centre such as C-C restricted rotation of the pendant part of the ligand leading to rotamers and isomerisation of the CN moiety have been detected in solution. The obtained platinum (IV) compounds were characterised by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. According to the crystallographic characterisation, the anthracene derivative gave an E conformer while a Z conformation was obtained for the phenanthrene derivative. In order to rationalize the experimental results, DFT calculations have been performed.     

Dihalogen-halogenomethyl complexes of indium(III) X2InCH2X (X = Br, I): Simultaneous coordination of soft and hard ligands

Halogenomethyl-dihalogen-indium(III) compounds X₂InCH₂X (X = Br, I) obtained from indium monohalides and methylene dihalides were reacted with the soft donor ligands dialkylsulfides, R₂S (R = CH₃, CH₂Ph) to afford the corresponding dialkylsulfonium methylide complexes of InX₃, X₃InCH₂SR₂ (X = Br, R = CH₃, 1; X = I, R = CH₃, 2; X= I, R = CH₂Ph, 3). Compound 1 was reacted with the hard donor ligands dimethylsulfoxide or triphenylphosphine oxide to give the corresponding 1:1 adduct, Br₃(L)InCH₂S(CH₃)₂ (L = (CH₃)₂SO, 4; L = (C₆H₅)₃PO, 5). Compounds 1-5 were fully characterized in solution by NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray methods.     

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.     

Synthetic, X-ray structural and protonation studies of CpCr(CO)2SPy and CpCr(CO)2SPym (SPy = C5H4NS, SPym = C4H3N2S)

The facile reaction of [CpCr(CO)₃]₂ (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) (1) with one mole equivalent of 2,2′-dithiodipyridine ((C₅H₄NS)₂(SPy)₂) at ambient temperature led to the isolation of dark brown crystalline solids of CpCr(CO)₂(η²-SPy) (2) in ca. 72% yield. 2 undergoes quantitative conversion to CpCrCl₂(η¹-SPyH) (3) with HCl. The reaction 1 with one mole equivalent of 2-mercaptopyrimidine (C₄H₃N₂SHHSPym) at ambient temperature led to the isolation of reddish-brown crystalline solids of CpCr(CO)₂(η²-SPym) (4) and green solids of CpCr(CO)₃H (5) in yields of ca. 42% and 46%, respectively. Reaction of 4 with HCl and subsequent workup in acetonitrile resulted in the cleavage of the thiolate ligand, giving the 15-electron chromium(III) species CpCrCl₂(CH₃CN) (6) and free 2-mercaptopyrimidine. The complexes 2-4 have been determined by single X-ray diffraction analysis.