Structural and magnetic studies of the tris(cyclopentadienyl)manganese(II) "paddle-wheel" anions [Cp(3-n)(MeCp)(n)Mn](-) (n=0-3, MeCp=C(5)H(4)CH(3), Cp=C(5)H(5))

The ion-contact complexes [{(eta(5)-Cp)(2)Mn(eta(2):eta(5)-Cp)K}(3)]x0.5 THF (1x0.5 THF) and [{(eta(2)-Cp)(2)(eta(2);eta(5)-MeCp)MnK(thf)}]x2 THF (2x2 THF) and ion-separated complexes [Mg(thf)(6)][(eta(2)-Cp)(3)Mn](2) (3), [Mg(thf)(6)][(eta(2)-Cp)(eta(2)-MeCp)(2)Mn)](2)x0.5 THF (4x0.5 THF), [Mg(thf)(6)][(eta(2)-MeCp)(3)Mn)](2)x0.5 THF (5x0.5 THF) and [Li([12]crown-4)](5)[(eta-Cp)(3)Mn](5) (6) (Cp=C(5)H(5), CpMe=C(5)H(4)CH(3)), have been prepared and structurally characterised. The effects of varying the Cp and CpMe ligands in complexes 1-5 have been probed by variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements and EPR spectroscopic studies.     

Syntheses and molecular structures of eta3-[(eta5-Cp*)(CO)2Fe-AsPC(SiMe3)2]M(CO)2(eta5-Cp)(M = Mo, W): the first complexes featuring eta3-arsaphosphaallyl ligands

Reaction of (eta5-Cp)(CO)2M=P=C(SiMe3)2 4a (M = Mo) and 4b (M = W) with (eta5-Cp*)(CO)2Fe-As=C(NMe2)2 5 affords the eta3-1-arsa-2-phosphaallyl complexes [(eta5-Cp*)(CO)2Fe-AsPC(SiMe3)2]M(CO)2(eta5-Cp) 6a and 6b, the molecular structures of which were determined by X-ray analyses.     

Volatile magnesium octahydrotriborate complexes as potential CVD precursors to MgB2. Synthesis and characterization of Mg(B3H8)2 and its etherates

The solid-state reaction of MgBr2 and NaB3H8 at 20 degrees C, followed by sublimation at 80 degrees C and 0.05 Torr, affords Mg(B3H8)2 as a white solid. Similar reactions with MgBr2(Et2O) and MgBr2(Me2O)1.5 afford the crystalline ether adducts Mg(B3H8)2(Et2O)2 and Mg(B3H8)2(Me2O)2, respectively. In contrast, reactions of MgBr2 with NaB3H8, the presence of excess solvent result in the formation of nonvolatile, probably ionic, magnesium compounds of the type [MgLx][B3H8]2. The adducts Mg(B3H8)2(Et2O)2 and Mg(B3H8)2(Me2O)2 are the first crystallographically characterized magnesium complexes of the B3H8- ligand; in both structures, the magnesium center adopts a distorted cis-octahedral geometry with two bidentate B3H8 groups and two Et2O ligands. Owing to their volatility, Mg(B3H8)2(Et2O)2 and Mg(B3H8)2(Me2O)2 are potential precursors for the deposition of MgB2 thin films, although preliminary efforts to employ them as chemical vapor deposition sources produce boron-rich MgBx films instead, with x approximately 7. Finally, the synthesis and structure of Cp2Mg(thf) are described: this mono-thf adduct of Cp2Mg bears two eta5-Cp groups, unlike other Lewis base adducts of Cp2Mg, which contain one eta5-Cp group and one eta1- or eta2-Cp group.     

Ring-opening reaction of phosphorus-bridged [1]ferrocenophane via ring slippage from eta(5)- to eta(1)-Cp

A reaction mechanism was investigated for a ring-opening reaction of RP(E)-bridged [1]ferrocenophane, where RP(E) = PhP(S) (3a), PhP (3b), and MesP (3c) (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl). Irradiation of UV-vis light in the presence of an excess amount of P(OMe)(3) transformed 3a to [Fe(PhP(S)(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))(eta(1)-C(5)H(4)))(P(OMe)(3))(2)] (4a), in which one of the two cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings of 3a changed its coordination mode from eta(5) to eta(1) and vacant coordination sites thus formed on the iron center were occupied by two P(OMe)(3) ligands. The molecular structure of 4a was determined by X-ray analysis, in which eta(1)-Cp adopted a 1-Fe-2-P-1,3-cyclopentadiene structure. Under the same reaction conditions, 3b and 3c also gave similar ring-slipped products 4b and 4c, respectively. Photolysis of 3a using more strongly coordinating PMe(3) in place of P(OMe)(3) led to complete dissociation of a Cp ligand from the iron center to form [Fe(PhP(S)(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))(C(5)H(4)))(PMe(3))(3)] (5). The formation of the ring-slipped and -dissociated products on the photolysis of 3 strongly supports the view that photolytic ring-opening polymerization of 3 proceeds via an unprecedented Fe-Cp bond cleavage mechanism.     

Metallaboranes of the Early Transition Metals: Direct Synthesis and Characterization of [{(eta5-C5Me5)Ta}2BnHm] (n=4, m=10; n=5, m=11), [{(eta5-C5Me5)Ta}2B5H10(C6H4CH3)], and [{(eta5-C5Me5)TaCl}2B5H11

Reaction of [Cp*TaCl4] (Cp*=eta5-C5Me5) with a sixfold excess of LiBH(4)thf followed by BH3thf in toluene at 100 degrees C led to the isolation of hydrogen-rich metallaboranes [(Cp*Ta)2B4H10] (1), [(Cp*Ta)2B5H11] (2), [(Cp*Ta)2B5H10(C6H4CH3)] (3), and [(Cp*TaCl)2B5H11] (4) in modest yield. Compounds 1-3 are air- and moisture-sensitive but 4 is reasonably stable in air. Their structures are predicted by the electron-counting rules to be a bicapped tetrahedron (1), bicapped trigonal bipyramids (2, 3), and a nido structure based on a closo dodecahedron 4. Yellow tantalaborane 1 has a nido geometry with C2v symmetry and is isostructural with [(Cp*M)2B4H8] (M=Cr and Re); whereas 2 and 3 are C3v-symmetric and isostructural with [(Cp*M)2B5H9] (M=Cr, Mo, W) and [(Cp*ReH)2B5Cl5]. The most remarkable feature of 4 is the presence of a hydride ligand bridging the ditantalum center to form a symmetrical tantalaborane cluster with a long Ta--Ta bond (3.22 A). Cluster 4 is a rare example of electronically unsaturated metallaborane containing four TaHB bonds. All these new metallaboranes have been characterized by mass spectrometry, 1H, 11B, and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, and the structural types were unequivocally established by crystallographic analysis of 1-4.     

A general study of [(eta5-Cp')2Ti(eta2-Me3SiC2SiMe3)]-catalyzed hydroamination of terminal alkynes: regioselective formation of Markovnikov and anti-Markovnikov products and mechanistic explanation (Cp'=C5H5, C5H4Et, C5Me5)

A general study of the regioselective hydroamination of terminal alkynes in the presence of [(eta5-Cp)2Ti(eta2-Me3SiC2SiMe3)] (1), [(eta5-CpEt)2Ti(eta2-Me3SiC2SiMe3)] (CpEt=ethylcyclopentadienyl) (2), and [(eta5-Cp*)2Ti(eta2-Me3SiC2SiMe3)] (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) (3) is presented. While aliphatic amines give mainly the anti-Markovnikov products, anilines and aryl hydrazines yield the Markovnikov isomer as main products. Interestingly, using aliphatic amines such as n-butylamine and benzylamine the different catalysts lead to a significant change in the observed regioselectivity. Here, for the first time a highly selective switch from the Markovnikov to the anti-Markovnikov product is observed simply by changing the catalyst. Detailed theoretical calculations for the reaction of propyne with different substituted anilines and tert-butylamine in the presence of [(eta5-C5H5)Ti(=NR)(NHR)] (R=4-C6H4X; X=H, F, Cl, CH3, 2,6-dimethylphenyl) reveal that the experimentally observed regioselectivity is determined by the relative stability of the corresponding pi-complexes 10. While electrostatic stabilization favors the Markovnikov performance for aniline, the steric repulsive destabilization disfavors the Markovnikov performance for tert-butylamine.     

An eta(6)-dienyne transition-metal complex

The ruthenium complexes, [(eta5-C5R5)Ru(CH3CN)3]PF6 (1-Cp*, R = Me; 1-Cp, R = H), underwent reaction with both 1-(2-chloro-1-methylvinyl)-2-pentynyl-(Z)-cyclopentene (6-Z) and 1-(2-chloro-1-methylvinyl)-2-pentynyl-(E)-cyclopentene (6-E) to give (eta5-C5R5)Ru[eta6-(5-chloro-4-methyl-6-propylindan)]PF6 (7-Cp*, R = Me; 7-Cp, R = H). In a similar fashion, reaction of 1-Cp and 1-Cp* with 1-isopropenyl-2-pent-1-ynylcyclopentene (8) led to the formation of (eta5-C5R5)Ru(eta6-4-methyl-6-propylindan)]PF6 (9-Cp*, R = Me; 9-Cp, R = H). The reaction of 1-Cp* with 8 at -60 degrees C in CDCl3 solution led to observation of the eta6-dienyne complex, (eta5-C5Me5)Ru[eta6-(1-isopropenyl-2-pent-1-ynylcyclopentene)]PF6 (10), by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Complexes 7-Cp and 10 were characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Dynamic equilibration of eta 1-carbene and eta 2-alkyne moieties within an alkynylcarbene dimanganese complex

The coordination of an additional [Cp(CO)2Mn] fragment to the alkyne linkage of an alkynylcarbene complex of the type Cp(CO)2Mn=C(R')C identical to CR" yields a highly fluxional molecule, in which the [eta 1-carbene] and [eta 2-alkyne] moieties are seen to exchange rapidly on the NMR time scale.     

Diferratricarbaboranes of the subcloso-[(eta5-C5H5)2Fe2C3B8H11] type, the first representatives of the 13-vertex dimetallatricarbaborane series

Treatment of the [2-Cp-9-tBuNH-closo-2,1,7,9-FeC(3)B(8)H(10)] (1) ferratricarbollide (Cp = eta(5)-C(5)H(5) (-)) with Na(+) C(10)H(8) (-) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) at room temperature produced an air-sensitive transient anion with a tentatively identified nido-[tBuNH-CpFeC(3)B(8)H(10)](2-) constitution. In-situ reaction of this low-stability ion with [CpFe(CO)(2)I] or [CpFe(CO)(2)](2) generated three violet diferratricarbaboranes identified as paramagnetic subcloso complexes [4,5-Cp(2-)-4,5,1,6,7-Fe(2)C(3)B(8)H(11)] (2; yield 2 %), [4,5-Cp(2-)-4,5,1,7,12-Fe(2)C(3)B(8)H(11)] (3; yield 2 %), and [7-tBuNH-4,5-Cp(2-)-4,5,1,7,12-Fe(2)C(3)B(8)H(10)] (4; yield 14 %). These first representatives of the 13-vertex dimetallatricarbaborane family were characterized by EPR and IR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, and their structures were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Reduction of benzophenone and 9(10H)-anthracenone with the magnesium complex [(2,6-iPr2C6H3-bian)Mg(thf)3

The reduction of benzophenone with the magnesium complex [(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-bian)Mg(thf)(3)] (1), containing the 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene dianion, affords the pinacolato complex [(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-bian)Mg(thf)](2)[micro-O(2)C(2)Ph(4)].(C(6)H(6))(4) (2). The reaction of 1 with 9(10H)-anthracenone yields the 9-anthracenolato complex [(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-bian)Mg(OC(14)H(9))(thf)(2)] (3). Complexes 2 and 3 were characterized by elemental analyses, UV/Vis, IR, and ESR spectroscopy, as well as by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 2 dissociates in solution with splitting of the bridging pinacolato unit, forming the biradical diimino/ketyl complex [(2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-bian)Mg(thf)(OCPh(2))].     

Insertion reactions of GaCp*, InCp* and In[C(SiMe3)3] into the Ru-Cl bonds of [(p-cymene)RuIICl2]2 and [Cp*RuIICl]4

The first carbonyl free ruthenium/low valent Group 13 organyl complexes are presented, obtained by insertion of ER (ER = GaCp*, InCp*, In[C(SiMe(3))(3)]) into the Ru-Cl bonds of [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2, [Cp*RuCl]4 and [Cp*RuCl2]2. The compound [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 reacts with GaCp*, giving a variety of isolated products depending on the reaction conditions. The Ru-Ru dimers [{(p-cymene)Ru}2(GaCp*)4(mu3-Cl)2] and the intermediate [{(p-cymene)Ru}2(mu-Cl)2] were isolated, as well as monomeric complexes [(p-cymene)Ru(GaCp*)3Cl2], [(p-cymene)Ru(GaCp*)2GaCl3] and [(p-cymene)Ru(GaCp*)2Cl2(DMSO)]. The reaction of [Cp*RuCl]4 with ER gives "piano-stool" complexes of the type [Cp*Ru(ER)3Cl](ER = InCp*, In[C(SiMe3)3], GaCp*. The chloride ligand in complex can be removed by NaBPh4, yielding [Cp*Ru(GaCp*)3]+[BPh4]-. The reaction of [Cp*RuCl2]2 with GaCp* however, does not lead to an insertion product, but to the ionic Ru(II) complex [Cp*Ru(GaCp*)3]+[Cp*GaCl3]-. The ER ligands in complexes 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are equivalent on the NMR timescale in solution due to a chloride exchange between the three Group 13 atoms even at low temperatures. The solid state structures, however, exhibit a different structural pattern. The chloride ligands exhibit two coordination modes: either terminal or bridging. The new compounds are fully characterized including single crystal X-ray diffraction. These results point out the different reactivities of the two precursors and the nature of the neutral p-cymene and the anionic Cp* ligand when bonding to a Ru(II) centre.     

Syntheses and structures of mono-, di- and tetranuclear rhodium or iridium complexes of thiacalix[4]arene derivatives

The reactions of [Cp*MCl2]2(Cp*=eta5-C5Me5, M = Rh, Ir) with thiacalix[4]arene (TC4A(OH)4) and tetramercaptothiacalix[4]arene (TC4A(SH)4) gave the mononuclear complexes [(Cp*M){eta3-TC4A(OH)2(O)2}] and the dinuclear complexes [(Cp*M)2{eta3eta3-TC4A(S)4}] respectively, while the analogous reactions with dimercaptothiacalix[4]arene (TC4A(OH)2(SH)2) produced the tetranuclear complexes [(Cp*M)2(Cp*MCl2)2-{eta3eta3eta1eta1-TC4A(O)2(S)2}].     

Addition of nitriles to alkaline earth metal complexes of 1,2-bis[(phenyl)imino]acenaphthenes

Compounds [Sr(dpp-bian)(thf)4] (2), [Ba(dpp-bian)(dme)2.5] (3) and [Mg(dtb-bian)(thf)2] (4) (dpp-bian = 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene; dtb-bian = 1,2-bis[(2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene) were prepared by reduction of dpp-bian and dtb-bian with an excess of metallic Mg, Sr, or Ba in THF or DME. Reactions of [Mg(dpp-bian)(thf)3], 3, and 4 with diphenylacetonitrile gave keteniminates [Mg(dpp-bianH)(NCCPh2)(thf)2] (5), [Mg(dtb-bianH)(NCCPh2)(thf)2] (6), and [Ba(dpp-bianH)(NCCPh2)(dme)2] (7), respectively. The reaction of 2 with CH3C[triple chemical bond]N in THF gave [{Sr(dpp-bianH)[N(H)C(CH3)C(H)CN](thf)}2] (8). The compounds 2, 3, 5-8 were characterized by elemental analysis, and IR and NMR spectroscopy. Molecular structures of 2, 3, 7, and 8 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In contrast to reactions of alkali-metal reagents, magnesium amides, or yttriumalkyls with alpha-H acidic nitriles, which are accompanied by an amine or an alkane elimination, the reactions of [Mg(dpp-bian)(thf)3] (1), 2, 3, and 4 with such nitriles proceeded with formation of Mg, Sr, and Ba keteniminates and simultaneous protonation of one nitrogen atom of the bian ligand. The NMR spectroscopic data obtained for complex 5 indicated that in solution the amino hydrogen atom underwent the fast (on the NMR timescale) shuttle transfer between both nitrogen atoms of the dpp-bianH ligand.     

Formation of two isomeric closo-[(eta5-C5H5)FePC2B8H10] phosphadicarbaborane analogues of ferrocene via isolable eta1-bonded complexes of the [7-[(eta5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2]-(eta1-nido-PC2B8H10)] type

The reaction of nido-[7,8,9-PC(2)B(8)H(11)] (1) with [[CpFe(CO)(2)](2)] (Cp=eta(5)-C(5)H(5) (-)) in benzene (reflux, 3 days) gave an eta(1)-bonded complex [7-Fp-(eta(1)-nido-7,8,9,-PC(2)B(8)H(10))] (2; Fp=CpFe(CO)(2); yield 38 %). A similar reaction at elevated temperatures (xylene, reflux 24 h) gave the isomeric complex [7-Fp-(eta(1)-nido-7,9,10-PC(2)B(8)H(10))] (3; yield 28 %) together with the fully sandwiched complexes [1-Cp-closo-1,2,4,5-FePC(2)B(8)H(10)] 4 a (yield 30%) and [1-Cp-closo-1,2,4,8-FePC(2)B(8)H(10)] 4 b (yield 5%). Compounds 2 and 3 are isolable intermediates along the full eta(5)-complexation pathway of the phosphadicarbaborane cage; their heating (xylene, reflux, 24 h) leads finally to the isolation of compounds 4 a (yields 46 and 52%, respectively) and 4 b (yields 4 and 5%, respectively). Moreover, compound 3 is isolated as a side product from the heating of 2 (yield 10%). The structure of compound 4 a was determined by an X-ray structural analysis and the constitution of all compounds is consistent with the results of mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy. Multinuclear ((1)H, (11)B, (31)P, and (13)C), two-dimensional [(11)B-(11)B]-COSY, and (1)H[(11)B(selective)] magnetic resonance measurements led to complete assignments of all resonances and are in excellent agreement with the structures proposed.     

Reaktionen von Cyclostibanen (RSb)n [R = (Me3Si)2CH,n = 3; Me3CCH2, n = 4, 5] mit den Übergangsmetallcarbonyl‐Komplexen [W(CO)5(thf)], [CpxMn(CO)2(thf)], [CpxCr(CO)3]2 und [Co2(CO)8]; Cpx = MeC5H4

Reactions of Cyclostibanes, (RSb)_n [R = (Me₃Si)₂CH, n = 3; Me₃CCH₂, n = 4, 5] with the Transition Metal Carbonyl Complexes [W(CO)₅(thf)], [Cp^xMn(CO)₂(thf)], [Cp^xCr(CO)₃]₂, and [Co₂(CO)₈]; Cp^x = MeC₅H₄ (RSb)₃ [R = (Me₃Si)₂CH] reacts with [W(CO)₅(thf)], [Cp^xMn(CO)₂(thf)], or [Co₂(CO)₈] to give [(RSb)₃W(CO)₅] ( 1 ), [RSb{Mn(CO)₂Cp^x}₂] ( 2 ) or [RSbCo(CO)₃]₂ ( 3 ). The reaction of (R′Sb)_n (n = 4, 5; R′ = Me₃CCH₂) with [Cp^xCr(CO)₃]₂ leads to [(R′Sb)₄{Cr(CO)₂Cp^x}₂] ( 4 ); Cp^x = MeC₅H₄, thf = Tetrahydrofuran.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [Fe(Cp)2]3(Bi2Cl9)·thf

Single crystals of [Fe(Cp)₂]₃(Bi₂Cl₉)·thf were obtained from a thf solution containing ferrocene and BiCl₃. The structure shows disorder at room temperature which disappears upon cooling, coupled with a decrease in symmetry. The title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ [a = 1698.64(2), b = 2318.69(3), c = 1085.66(2) pm] with three ferrocenium ions, one nonachlorodibismutate ion and one molecule of thf in the asymmetric unit.     

Self-assemblies based on [Cp2Mo2(CO)4(micro,eta2-P2)]-solid-state structure and dynamic behaviour in solution

Reaction of complex [Cp2Mo2(CO)4(micro,eta 2-P2)] (Cp=C5H5 (1)) with CuPF6, AgX (X=BF4, ClO4, PF6, SbF6, Al{OC(CF3)3}4) and [(Ph3P)Au(THF)][PF6] (THF=tetrahydrofuran), respectively, results in the facile formation of the dimers 3 b-h of the general formula [M2({Cp2Mo2 (CO)4(micro,eta 2:eta 2-P2)}2)({Cp2Mo2(CO)4 (micro,eta 2:eta 1:eta 1-P2)}2)][X]2 (M=Cu, Ag, Au; X=BF4, ClO4, PF6, SbF6, Al{OC(CF3)3}4). As revealed by X-ray crystallography, all these dimers comprise dicationic moieties that are well-separated from the weakly coordinating anions in the solid state. If 1 is allowed to react with AgNO2 and LAuCl (L=CO or tetrahydrothiophene), respectively, the dimer [Ag2{Cp2Mo2 (CO)4(micro,eta 2:eta 1:eta 1-P2)}2(eta 2-NO2)2] (5) and the complex [AuCl{Cp2Mo2(CO)4(micro,eta 2:eta 1-P2)}] (6) are formed, which have also been characterised by X-ray crystallography. In compounds 5 and 6, the anions remain coordinated to the Group 11 metal centres. Spectroscopic data suggest that the dimers 3 b-h display dynamic behaviour in solution and this is discussed by using the comprehensive results obtained for 3 g (M=Ag; X=Al{OC(CF3)3}4) as a basis. The interpretation of the experimental results is facilitated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations on 3 g (structures, energetics, NMR shielding tensors). The 31P magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra recorded for the dimers 3 b (M=Cu; X=PF6) and 3c (M=Ag; X=BF4) as well as that of the previously reported one-dimensional (1 D) polymer [Ag2{Cp2Mo2(CO)4(micro,eta 2:eta 1:eta 1-P2)}3(micro,eta 1:eta 1-NO3)]n[NO3]n (4) are also discussed herein and the strong dependence of the chemical shift of the phosphorus atoms within each compound on subtle structural differences in the solid state is demonstrated. Furthermore, the X-ray crystallographic and 31P MAS NMR spectroscopic characterisation of a new polymorph of 1 is reported.     

Highly selective epoxidation of styrene using a transition metal-aluminium(III) complex containing the [MeAl(2-py)3]- anion (2-py = 2-pyridyl)

The reactions of [MeAl(2-py)3Li.thf] (1) with FeCl2 or Cp2Mn in toluene-thf give simple access to the Group 13-transition metal heterometallic complexes [{MeAl(2-py)3}2M][M = Fe (2), Mn (3)]; complex has been shown to be a highly selective styrene epoxidation catalyst in air.     

The first structural characterisation of a group 2 metal alkylperoxide complex: comments on the cleavage of dioxygen by magnesium alkyl complexes

A new high-yield synthesis of [(PhCH(2))(2)Mg(thf)(2)] and [[(PhCH(2))CH(3)Mg(thf)](2)] via benzylpotassium has allowed a simple entry into benzylmagnesium coordination chemistry. The syntheses and X-ray crystal structures of both [(eta(2)-Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))Mg(CH(2)Ph)(2)] and [eta(2)-HC[C(CH(3))NAr'](2)Mg(CH(2)Ph)(thf)] (Ar'=2,6-diisopropylphenyl) are reported. The latter beta-diketiminate complex reacts with dioxygen to provide a 1:2 mixture of dimeric benzylperoxo and benzyloxo complexes. The benzylperoxo complex [[eta(2)-HC[C(CH(3))NAr'](2)Mg(mu-eta(2):eta(1)-OOCH(2)Ph)](2)] is the first example of a structurally characterised Group 2 metal-alkylperoxo complex and contains the benzylperoxo ligands in an unusual mu-eta(2):eta(1)-coordination mode, linking the two five-coordinate magnesium centres. The O[bond]O separation in the benzylperoxo ligands is 1.44(2) A. Reaction of the benzylperoxo/benzyloxo complex mixture with further [eta(2)-HC[C(CH(3))NAr'](2)Mg(CH(2)Ph)(thf)] results in complete conversion of the benzylperoxo species into the benzyloxo complex. This reaction, therefore, establishes the cleavage of dioxygen by this system as a two-step process that involves initial oxygen insertion into the Mg[bond]CH(2)Ph bond followed by O[bond]O/Mg[bond]C sigma-bond metathesis of the resulting benzylperoxo ligand with a second Mg[bond]CH(2)Ph bond. The formation of a 1:2 mixture of the benzylperoxo and benzyloxo species indicates that the rate of the insertion is faster than that of the metathesis, and this is shown to be consistent with a radical mechanism for the insertion process.     

Construction of [(eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3]-based supramolecular compounds from preformed incomplete cubane-like clusters [PPh4][(eta5-C5Me5)WS3(CuX)3] (X = CN, Br)

Approaches to the assembly of (eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3-based supramolecular compounds from two preformed incomplete cubane-like clusters [PPh4][(eta5-C5Me5)WS3(CuX)3] (X = CN, 1a; X = Br, 1b) have been investigated. Treatment of 1a with LiBr/1,4-pyrazine (1,4-pyz), pyridine (py), LiCl/py, or 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bipy) and treatment of 1b with 4,4'-bipy gave rise to a new set of W/Cu/S cluster-based compounds, [Li[((eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3(mu3-Br))2(mu-CN)3].C6H6]infinity (2), [(eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3(mu-CN)2(py)]infinity (3), [[PPh4][(eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3(mu3-Cl)(mu-CN)(CN)].py]infinity (4), [PPh4]2[(eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3(CN)2]2(mu-CN)2.(4,4'-bipy) (5), and [[(eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3Br(mu-Br)(4,4'-bipy)].Et2O]infinity (6). The structures of 2-6 have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 displays a 1D ladder-shaped chain structure built of square-like [[(eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3(mu3-Br)(mu-CN)]4](mu-CN)2(2-) anions via two pairs of Cu-mu-CN-Cu bridges. Compound 3 consists of a single 3D diamond-like network in which each (eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3 unit, serving as a tetrahedral node, interconnects with four other nearby units through Cu-mu-CN-Cu bridges. Compound 4 contains a 1D zigzag chain array made of cubane-like [(eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3(mu3-Cl)(mu-CN)(CN)]- anions linked by a couple of Cu-mu-CN-Cu bridges. Compound 5 contains a dimeric structure in which the two incomplete cubane-like [(eta5-C5Me5)WS3(CuCN)2(mu-CN)]- anions are strongly held together via a pair of Cu-mu-CN-Cu bridges. Compound 6 contains a 2D brick-wall layer structure in which dimers of [(eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3Br(4,4'-bipy)]2 are interconnected via four Cu-mu-Br-Cu bridges. The successful construction of (eta5-C5Me5)WS3Cu3-based supramolecular compounds 2-6 from the geometry-fixed clusters 1a and 1b may expand the scope of the rational design and construction of cluster-based supramolecular assemblies.