Synthesis and X-ray structure of cationic β-diimine palladium complexes containing π-methallyl ligand

High yield of cationic palladium β-diimine complexes [(CH₂(MeCNAr)₂)Pd(η³-C₄H₇)][Y] (Ar = C₆H₅, Y = PF₆ (8); 2-Me-C₆H₄, Y = PF₆ (9); 2,6-Me₂-C₆H₃, Y = PF₆ (10); 2,6-iPr₂-C₆H₃, Y = PF₆ (11), Y = B(3,5-(CF₃)₂-C₆H₃)₄ (12)) have been obtained by an oxidative addition of the methallyloxyphosphonium salts (5, 6) to a preformed complex Pd(dba)₂ (7) in the presence of the β-iminoamine ligands (1-4).These complexes are thermally stable and have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR as well as IR spectroscopy. The structure of the cationic allyl palladium complex (12) has been solved by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis and X-ray structure of neutral Pd(IV) hydride complexes supported by β-ketoimine ligands

A series of neutral palladium(IV) hydride complexes supported by β-ketoimine ligands was synthesized. Reaction of dichlorobis(acetonitrile)palladium(II) with β-ketoamines (1–4) in dichloromethane at room temperature generated dark red solids of [PdCl₂(β-ketoimine)(H)] (6–9) in which the central carbon of the ketoimine ligand is σ-bound to the palladium. All the new complexes have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The structure of complex(9) has been solved by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis and reactivity of cationic niobium and tantalum methyl complexes supported by imido and β-diketiminato ligands

The synthesis and reactivity of the cationic niobium and tantalum monomethyl complexes [(BDI)MeM(N(t)Bu)][X] (BDI = [Ar]NC(CH(3))CHC(CH(3))N[Ar], Ar = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3); M = Nb, Ta; X = MeB(C(6)F(5))(3), B(C(6)F(5))(4)] was investigated. The cationic alkyl complexes failed to irreversibly bind CO but formed phosphine-trapped acyl complexes [(BDI)(R(3)PC(O)Me)M(N(t)Bu)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] (R = Et, Cy) in the presence of a combination of trialkylphosphines and CO. Treatment of the monoalkyl cationic Nb complex with XylNC (Xyl = 2,6-Me(2)-C(6)H(3)) resulted in irreversible formation of the iminoacyl complex [(BDI)(XylN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Me))Nb(N(t)Bu)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)], which did not bind phosphines but would add a methide group to the iminoacyl carbon to provide the known ketimine complex (BDI)(XylNCMe(2))Nb(N(t)Bu). Further stoichiometric chemistry explored i) migratory insertion reactions to form new alkoxide, amidinate, and ketimide complexes; ii) protonolysis reactions with Ph(3)SiOH to form thermally robust cationic siloxide complexes; and iii) catalytic high-density polyethylene formation mediated by the cationic Nb methyl complex.     

Synthesis,structure, and spectroscopy of two benzil-based α-diimine ligands and their palladium(II) complexes

Two α-diimine ligands were prepared in 60–70% yield via p-toluenesulfonic acid-catalyzed condensation reactions from benzil with 4-bromoaniline and with p-anisidine. Palladium(II) complexes were prepared from both ligands in 70–80% yield. X-ray structures were obtained for the ligand prepared from p-anisidine and its palladium(II) complex. A notable feature observed in the former was its unconjugated C–N double bonds, both in the (E)-configuration. The latter structure possessed two molecules of the metal complex in its unit cell, both of which have diimine cores with a degree of conjugation and a nonideal square-planar geometry around palladium caused by the small bite angles (79.61(3) and 79.15(3)°) of the diimine ligands. Solution-phase electronic absorption spectra of the ligands in chloroform have two bands from π→π ^? and n→π ^? transitions at 269–345?nm. Absorption spectra of the complexes in chloroform exhibited bands attributed to ligand-centered transitions that were red-shifted as compared to free ligands. Only the spectrum obtained from a chloroform solution of the palladium(II) complex with the diimine ligand prepared from p-anisidine featured a band at approximately 520?nm, which was assigned to a combination of d _π(Pd)→π ^? and n(Cl)→π ^? transitions.     

Computational insights into uranium complexes supported by redox-active α-diimine ligands

The electronic structures of two uranium compounds supported by redox-active α-diimine ligands, ((Mes)DAB(Me))(2)U(THF) (1) and Cp(2)U((Mes)DAB(Me)) (2) ((Mes)DAB(Me) = [ArN═C(Me)C(Me)═NAr]; Ar = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (Mes)), have been investigated using both density functional theory and multiconfigurational self-consistent field methods. Results from these studies have established that both uranium centers are tetravalent, that the ligands are reduced by two electrons, and that the ground states of these molecules are triplets. Energetically low-lying singlet states are accessible, and some transitions to these states are visible in the electronic absorption spectrum.     

Synthesis, characterization, and multielectron reduction chemistry of uranium supported by redox-active α-diimine ligands

Uranium compounds supported by redox-active α-diimine ligands, which have methyl groups on the ligand backbone and bulky mesityl substituents on the nitrogen atoms {(Mes)DAB(Me) = [ArN═C(Me)C(Me)═NAr], where Ar = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (Mes)}, are reported. The addition of 2 equiv of (Mes)DAB(Me), 3 equiv of KC(8), and 1 equiv of UI(3)(THF)(4) produced the bis(ligand) species ((Mes)DAB(Me))(2)U(THF) (1). The metallocene derivative, Cp(2)U((Mes)DAB(Me)) (2), was generated by the addition of an equimolar ratio of (Mes)DAB(Me) and KC(8) to Cp(3)U. The bond lengths in the molecular structure of both species confirm that the α-diimine ligands have been doubly reduced to form ene-diamide ligands. Characterization by electronic absorption spectroscopy shows weak, sharp transitions in the near-IR region of the spectrum and, in combination with the crystallographic data, is consistent with the formulation that tetravalent uranium ions are present and supported by ene-diamide ligands. This interpretation was verified by U L(III)-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and by variable-temperature magnetic measurements. The magnetic data are consistent with singlet ground states at low temperature and variable-temperature dependencies that would be expected for uranium(IV) species. However, both complexes exhibit low magnetic moments at room temperature, with values of 1.91 and 1.79 μ(B) for 1 and 2, respectively. Iodomethane was used to test the reactivity of 1 and 2 for multielectron transfer. While 2 showed no reactivity with CH(3)I, the addition of 2 equiv of iodomethane to 1 resulted in the formation of a uranium(IV) monoiodide species, ((Mes)DAB(Me))((Mes)DAB(Me2))UI {3; (Mes)DAB(Me2) = [ArN═C(Me)C(Me(2))NAr]}, which was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and U M(4)- and M(5)-edge XANES. Confirmation of the structure was also attained by deuterium labeling studies, which showed that a methyl group was added to the ene-diamide ligand carbon backbone.     

Synthesis and structure of a boron cation supported by a β-diketiminate ligand

The salt [HC(CMe)₂(NAr)₂BPh][Al₂Cl₇] (3); Ar = 2,6-i-Pr₂C₆H₃) has been synthesized via the in situ preparation of [HC(CMe)₂(NAr)₂BClPh], followed by treatment with AlCl₃. X-ray analysis of 3 reveals that the BN₂C₃ ring of the boron cation is planar and DFT calculations indicate π-type interactions in the HOMO-6 and HOMO-7 orbitals.     

Unbridged bidentate aluminum complexes supported by diaroylhydrazone ligands: Synthesis,structure and catalysis in polymerization of ε-caprolactone and lactides

A series of novel diaroylhydrazone aluminum complexes have been synthesized and well-defined structurally, and their catalytic performance in the polymerization of ε-caprolactone and lactides have also been evaluated. Complexes [(L^1–4)₂AlMe] ( 1 – 4 ) {[L¹ = (3,5-^tBu₂–2-OMe-C₆H₂)CH=NNCOC₆H₅], [L² = (3,5-^tBu₂–2-OMe-C₆H₂)CH=NNCO(C₆H₄–4-OCH₃)], [L³ = (3,5-^tBu₂–2-OMe-C₆H₂)CH=NNCO(C₆H₄–4-Br)] and [L⁴ = (2-OMe-C₆H₄)CH=NNCO(C₆H₄–4-^tBu)]} were prepared through treatment of AlMe₃ with the corresponding proligands L^1–4H in molar ratios of 1: 1 or 1: 2. Chemical structures of all the complexes were well-defined by elemental analysis, NMR spectra as well as single-crystal X-ray study. Complexes [(L^1–4)₂AlMe] ( 1 – 4 ) in this work represent the first examples of aluminum complexes of aroylhydrazone ligands with crystallographic characterization. Specifically, they are all in monomeric form with a penta-coordinated aluminum center, including two approximately co-planar five-membered metallacycles with aluminum. Introduced bulky tert-butyl substituents in aroylhydrazone ligands could affect the geometry around the central metal which is a distorted square-based pyramid in complexes 1 – 3 while being a trigonal bipyramidal in complex 4 , thus affecting their catalytic behaviors. The complexes can successfully catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and _L-lactide under mild conditions without any activator. In addition, complexes 1 – 4 could also polymerize rac-lactide, affording atactic polylactides with high conversions and good controllability in relatively short reaction time.     

Synthesis of ruthenium and palladium complexes from glycosylated 2,2′-bipyridine and terpyridine ligands

A series of glucosylated mono- and di-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridines were prepared from glucosyl azides and 2-ethynyl and 2,6-diethynyl pyridine via Click reaction. Glucosylation of the silver salt of 4-hydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine with acetobromoglucose afforded the corresponding glucosylated 2,2′-bipyridine. Treatment of five examples of the latter pyridine ligands with [cis-Ru(bipy)2Cl₂], [Ru(tpy)Cl₃] or [Pd(COD)Cl₂] gave the corresponding ruthenium(II) and palladium(II) complexes in 62%-quantitative yield.     

Synthesis of new bidentate ligands—terpene derivatives of ethylenediamine and their palladium complexes

New enantiomerically pure Schiff bases and palladium chelates based thereon were synthesized starting from (–)-α-pinene or (?)-camphor and N,N-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine.     

Synthesis, structure and norbornene polymerization behavior of nickel complexes bearing two β-ketoiminato chelate ligands

A series of nickel(II) complexes bearing two nonsymmetric bidentate β-ketoiminato chelate ligands have been prepared, and the structures of complexes [(2,6-Me₂C₆H₃)NC(CH₃)C(H)C(Ph)O]₂Ni (4a) and [(2,6-Me₂C₆H₃)NC(CH₃)C(H)C(CF₃)O]₂Ni (4c) have been confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. These nickel(II) complexes were investigated as catalysts for the vinylic polymerization of norbornene. Using modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst, these complexes display very high activities and produce high molecular weight polymers. Catalytic activity of up to 1.16 × 10⁴ kg/mol_Ni · h and the viscosity-average molecular weight of polymer of up to 870 kg/mol were observed. Catalyst activity, polymer yield, and polymer molecular weight could be controlled over a wide range by the variation of the reaction parameters such as Al/Ni molar ratio, norbornene/catalyst molar ratio, monomer concentration, polymerization reaction temperature and time.     

Synthesis and characterization of aluminum and zinc complexes supported by pyrrole-based ligands and catalysis of the aluminum complexes toward the ring-opening polymerization of ?-caprolactone

Reaction of quinolin-8-amine with 1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde or 5-tert-butyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde catalyzed by HCO₂H forms N-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)quinolin-8-amine (≡ HL, 3a) or N-((5-tert-butyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)quinolin-8-amine (≡ HL′, 3b). Treatment of 3a and 3b respectively with AlMe₃ or AlEt₃ in toluene affords corresponding aluminum complexes LAlMe₂ (4a), L′AlMe₂ (4b) and LAlEt₂ (4c). Reaction of 3a and 3b with an equivalent of ZnEt₂ in toluene generates L₂Zn and L′₂Zn, respectively. A related compound N-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)-2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)benzenamine (≡ HL″, 7) was prepared by reaction of 2-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)benzenamine with 1H-pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde in the presence of HCO₂H. Reaction of 7 with AlMe₃ gives L″₂AlMe (8), and with ZnEt₂ yields L″₂Zn (9). All new compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structures of complexes 4b, 5b and 8 were additionally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Complexes 4a-4c, and 8 were proved to be active catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ?-caprolactone (?-CL) in the presence of BnOH. The kinetic study of the polymerization reactions catalyzed by 4a and 8 was performed.     

Synthesis of bimodal polyethylene with unsymmetrical α-diimine nickel complexes: Influence of ligand backbone and unsym-substituted aniline moiety

A series of unsymmetrical α-diimine nickel complexes with various backbones and substituted aniline moieties were synthesized and characterized. The crystallographic analysis of the nickel complexes confirmed the existence of meso- and rac-configuration in solid structure. Nickel complexes after activation by MAO were screened for ethylene polymerization to evaluate backbone substituent effect on synthesis of bimodal PE. Acenaphthyl nickel complex with planar backbone afforded a bimodal PE with a broad polydispersity, whereas camphyl nickel complex with rigid and bulky backbone afforded a monomodal PE with a narrow polydispersity. Steric effect of aniline moiety for acenaphthyl nickel complex was also examined, and bimodal PE with dominant high-molecular-weight fraction was obtained by modifying substituents on aniline moiety.     

Zirconium complexes with versatile β-diketiminate ligands: Synthesis, structure, and ethylene polymerization

A series of zirconium complexes (2c, 2d, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i) containing symmetrical or unsymmetrical β-diketiminate ligands were synthesized by the reaction of ZrCl₄ · 2THF with lithium salt of the corresponding ligand in 1:2 molar ratio. X-ray crystal structures reveal that complexes 2d and 2g adopt distorted octahedral geometry around the zirconium center. These complexes showed moderate activities for ethylene polymerization, when methylaluminoxane (MAO) was used as cocatalyst. The steric and electronic effects of the substituents at the phenyl rings had considerable influence on the catalytic activities of the metal complex, as well as the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions (MWD) of produced polymers. Introduction of electron-withdrawing CF₃ group to phenyls in the ligand led to a significant increase of catalytic activities, and complex 2f (p-CF₃) exhibited the highest catalytic activity of 7.45 × 10⁵ g PE/mol-Zr · h among the investigated complexes. Complexes 2a-d could produce ultra-high molecular weight polyethylenes (UHMWPE) that were hardly dissolvable in decahydronaphthalene or 1,2-dichlorobenzene under the molecular weight measurement conditions. Nevertheless, polyethylenes with broad MWD could be afforded by complexes 2g-i, which was probably due to the introduction of bulky unsymmetrical ligands leading to the formation of multi active species under polymerization conditions. High-temperature ¹³C NMR data indicate the linear structure of obtained polyethylenes.     

Synthesis and X-ray structure of platinum(II), palladium(II) and copper(II) complexes with pyridine–pyrazole ligands: Influence of ligands’ structure on cytotoxic activity

The new pyrazole ligand 5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1-(2-pyridylo)-1H-pyrazole-4-phosphonic acid dimethyl ester (2a) has been used to obtain a series of platinum(II), palladium(II) and copper(II) complexes (3a–7a) as potential anticancer compounds. The molecular structures of the platinum(II) and copper(II) complexes 3a and 6a have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The cytotoxicity of the phosphonic ligand 2a and its carboxylic analog 2b as well as their complexes has been evaluated on leukemia and melanoma cell lines. Copper(II) complexes were found to be more efficient in the induction of melanoma cell death than the platinum(II) or palladium(II) complexes. Cytotoxic effectiveness of compound 7b against melanoma WM-115 cells was two times better than that of cisplatin. The reaction of compound 5b with 9-methylguanine has been studied.     

Sulfur-containing alkenes—A new class of chelating ligands: Synthesis,coordination to palladium,and structure of the resulting complexes

Stable 1,2-disulfanylalkene palladium complexes [(RS-CH=CR′-SR)PdCl₂] were synthesized in 85–94% yield by reaction of palladium(II) chloride with sulfur-containing ligands RS-CH=C(R′)-SR (analogs of dithiolate ligands). The structure of the complexes was studied by NMR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical methods. The binding energy in palladium complexes with bis(arylsulfanyl)- and bis(alkylsulfanyl)alkenes was estimated (DFT) at 50 and 56 kcal/mol, respectively. Variation of substituents on the sulfur atoms is a convenient tool for fine tuning of the ligand properties and controlling the strength of the complex. The bite angle of the ligands does not depend on the substituent nature and is 88–89°, which is typical of square-planar complexes. According to the bite angle, the examined ligands are analogs of well known bidentate phosphine ligands, but the former are more labile since the corresponding binding energy is lower by 36 kcal/mol.     

Structural investigations of copper(II) complexes containing unsymmetrical β-diketonate and monothio-β-diketonate ligands

The crystal structures of the complexes Cu(txhd)₂ and Cu(S-tmhd)₂ (where txhd is the anion of 2,2,6-trimethylheptane-3,5-dione and S-tmhd is the anion of 5-mercapto-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-hepten-3-one) were determined. In the solid state, both complexes are square planar. In each case, only one geometrical isomer (trans or cis) was observed in the crystals; arguments are presented that both isomers are present in bulk samples of Cu(txhd)₂, while from electronic considerations, the monothio-β-diketonate ligands probably have cis geometry in Cu(S-tmhd)₂. Calculations of molecular volumes for structurally similar Cu[t-BuC(O)CHC(O)R]₂ complexes showed that there is a slight decrease in packing efficiency as the steric bulk of R increases. More importantly, strong ring-stacking interactions, such as those found for Cu(acac)₂ are not observed, or are greatly attenuated, in complexes with bulkier peripheral substituents. [Cu(txhd)(μ₃-OEt)]₄, an impurity that co-sublimed with Cu(txhd)₂, was isolated in low yield. The tetrameric structure, which is isomorphous with known [Cu(tmhd)(μ₃-OEt)]₄ (where tmhd is the anion of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dione), has a cubane-like core.     

Chemistry of nitrosyliron complexes supported by a β-diketiminate ligand

Several nitrosyl complexes of Fe and Co have been prepared using the sterically hindered Ar-nacnac ligand (Ar-nacnac = anion of [(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)NC(Me)](2)CH). The dinitrosyliron complexes [Fe(NO)(2)(Ar-nacnac)] (1) and (Bu(4)N)[Fe(NO)(2)(Ar-nacnac)] (2) react with [Fe(III)(TPP)Cl] (TPP = tetraphenylporphine dianion) to generate [Fe(II)(NO)(TPP)] and the corresponding mononitrosyliron complexes. The factors governing NO transfer with dinitrosyliron complexes (DNICs) 1 and 2 are evaluated, together with the chemistry of the related mononitrosyliron complex, [Fe(NO)Br(Ar-nacnac)] (4). The synthesis and properties of the related cobalt dinitrosyl [Co(NO)(2)(Ar-nacnac)] (3) is also discussed for comparison to DNICs 1 and 2. The solid-state structures of several of these compounds as determined by X-ray crystallography are reported.     

Synthesis and structural analysis of titanium-μ-dinitrogen complex supported by di-anionic guanidinate ligands

The synthesis, characterization, and theoretical studies of titanium-μ-N₂ complexes with di-anionic guanidinate ligands were reported as the first example of its kind. Thus, with(Me₃Si)₂N-guanidinate ligands, the mono-anionic guanidinate-supported titanium-μ-N₂complex 1 was obtained. Then, reduction of 1 with potassium afforded the di-anionic guanidinate-supported titanium-μ-N₂complex 2 via cleavage of one N–Si bond of the(Me₃Si)<...