Some highlights from the development and use of bulky monodentate ligands

The development of bulky monodentate alkoxide, chalcogenolate (ER, E = S, Se or Te), amide, pnictide (ER₂ = N, P, As), alkyl, aryl and silyl ligands is briefly surveyed. These ligands have played a key role in the advancement of the modern organometallic and inorganic chemistry of all the major blocks (s, p, d, and f) of the periodic table. Most importantly, they have permitted numerous new classes of compounds to be isolated and studied. The investigation of steric effects induced by these ligands has led to, inter alia, transition metal alkylidene and alkylidyne complexes, room temperature cleavage of dinitrogen, and a wide range of transition metal and lanthanide complexes with two or three coordination. In addition, their use has sparked a revolution in main group chemistry which has led to the isolation of stable species with bonds and/or oxidation states hitherto unknown in stable compounds.     

Phosphinines and Diphosphaferrocenes: Recent Advances

Recent developments in the chemistry of phosphinines and phosphaferrocenes are reviewed. Phosphinine-based macrocycles such as silacalix-[4]-phosphinines efficiently stabilize gold(0). 2,2'Biphosphinines which behave as powerful chelates show a greater ability than their nitrogen counterparts for the stabilization of highly reduced and electron-excessive transition metal centers. On the other hand, diphosphaferrocenes coordinate various metal centers via a side-on bonding mode. Palladium(0) complexes of octa-alkyl diphosphaferrocenes behave as efficient catalysts both in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction and in the synthesis of arylboronic esters.     

联三吡啶配体及其衍生物合成进展

金属-配体间的配位作用是超分子化学中最重要的相互作用之一, 寡聚吡啶配体可以与许多过渡金属离子配位, 形成具有独特磁、光物理和电化学性质的过渡金属络合物, 因此联三吡啶配体的合成及其过渡金属络合物性能研究引起化学家的广泛关注. 综述了联三吡啶配体及其衍生物的合成方法, 主要包括成环缩合反应、过渡金属催化的偶联反应以及其它方法, 并选取具有代表性的实例对联三吡啶配体的结构和合成方法进行详细地阐述.     

New anionic and dianionic polydentate systems featuring ancillary phosphinosulfides as ligands in coordination chemistry and catalysis

This article provides an overview of the chemistry of monoanionic S–P–S and dianionic S–C–S ligands featuring two phosphinosulfide ligands as pendant groups. These new pincer-type structures are easily assembled from phosphinines and the bis-sulfide derivative of the bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, respectively. Monoanionic S–P–S pincer ligands easily coordinate group 10 and group 9 metal fragments through displacement reactions. Palladium(II) complexes of S–P–S ligands efficiently catalyze cross-coupling processes, allowing the formation of boronic esters and biphenyl derivatives. Rh(I) complexes of S–P–S ligands react in a regioselective way with small molecules (O₂, SO₂, CS₂, MeI) to afford the corresponding Rh(I) or Rh(III) derivatives. S–C–S dianonic ligands, which are readily obtained through a bis-metallation at the central carbon atom of Ph₂P(S)CH₂P(S)Ph₂, react with Pd(II) and Ru(II) precursors to afford new carbene complexes. Samarium and thulium alkylidene complexes of these S–C–S dianionic ligands were synthesized in a similar way. Reaction of the lanthanide derivatives with ketones or aldehydes yields olefinic derivatives through a ‘Wittig-like’ process.     

Halohydroxylation of alkylidenecyclopropanes using N-halosuccinimide (NXS) as the halogen source: an efficient synthesis of halocyclopropylmethanol and 3-halobut-3-en-1-ol derivatives

A variety of halocyclopropyl-methanol and 3-halo-but-3-en-1-ol derivatives were prepared in moderate to excellent yields via the simple halohydroxylation reaction of alkylidenecyclopropanes with convenient and mild sources of electrophilic halogen NXS (X = I, Br, Cl, F) and H₂O. A plausible mechanism for the halohydroxylation has been proposed.     

Carboranyl C-σ-bonded and C-functionalized carboranes as ligands in gold and silver chemistry

This report summarizes gold and silver chemistry with C-functionalized carborane ligands and also organometallic complexes with Au-C_carboranyl σ bonds. The presence of different fragments bonded to the carbon atoms leads to ligands with different coordination preferences. Furthermore, through the partial degradation of the carborane cage the ligand charge can be modified and thus, anionic ligands are afforded. Consequently, for the synthesis of metal complexes, neutral and anionic ligands are available. These two aspects have been used to synthesise and stabilise a wide diversity of gold and silver coordination compounds. The use of carborane fragments as building blocks leads in some cases to unusual structures, clusters, rod like complexes and also to interesting properties like luminescent emissions.     

Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric halohydrin reactions of chiral α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives with N-halosuccinimide (NXS) as the halogen source

Lewis acid catalyzed asymmetric halohydrin reactions—(halohydroxylation as well as halomethoxylation) of chiral α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives were performed using N-halosuccinimide (NXS; X = Br, I) as the halogen source. Regio- and anti-selectivity of 100% and moderate to good diastereoselectivity with good yields were observed when Oppolzer’s sultam was used as the chiral auxiliary. Among the Lewis acids, Yb(OTf)₃ was found to be the best catalyst. Alkenoyl and cinnamoyl substrates smoothly underwent bromohydrin reactions and the more electron-rich cinnamoyl substrates preferred to undergo iodohydrin reactions. However, electron-deficient cinnamoyl substrates did not respond to this Lewis acid catalyzed halohydrin reaction with NXS (X = Cl, Br, I).     

Nickel(II)-aryl complexes as catalysts for the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of chloroarenes and arylboronic acids

A series of air- and moisture-stable Ni(II)-(σ-aryl) complexes, Ni(PPh₃)₂(aryl)X (X = Cl, Br), were employed as catalyst precursors in the Ni-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. These pre-catalysts easily form the catalytically active Ni(0) species in situ without the need of additional reducing agents. A general catalytic system involving Ni(PPh₃)₂(1-naph)Cl and PPh₃ proved to be highly effective for the Suzuki reaction of aryl chlorides under mild conditions (at 60 °C in THF in the presence of K₂CO₃ as the base).     

Synthesis,crystal structure and biological activities of dehydroacetic acid complexes of Ru(II) and Ru(III) containing PPh3/AsPh3

A series of Ru(II) and Ru(III) complexes of the types [RuX(CO)(EPh₃)₂L] (X = H, E = P; X = Cl, E = P or As) and [RuX₂(EPh₃)₂L] (X = Cl, E = P or As; X = Br, E = As, L = monoanion of dehydroacetic acid) have been synthesized in order to explore their biological activities, such as DNA-binding and antibacterial activity. The complexes were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The crystal and molecular structure of [RuCl₂(AsPh₃)₂(L)] has been determined by single crystal XRD. The cyclic voltammograms of the complexes in acetonitrile displayed either quasi-reversible or irreversible redox couples based on the metal centre. The ligand, dehydroacetic acid (DHA) and its metal complexes were tested against five pathogenic bacteria. Absorption titration and cyclic voltammetric studies revealed that the complexes interact with Herring Sperm ds DNA through different binding modes to different extents.     

Si?H and C?H Activation by Transition Metal Complexes: A Step Towards Isolable Alkane Complexes?

The recognition of the fundamental contributions by G. A. Olah on the elucidation of the structure of nonclassical carbocations, in the form of the award of the Nobel prize for chemistry, has recently emphasized the importance of electron-deficient bonds in the understanding of chemical bonding in organic chemistry. In the field of coordination chemistry, the formulation of electron-deficient bonds has been used for some time to describe nonclassical interactions between atoms. Traditional ligands in coordination chemistry such as amines and phosphanes bond to metal centers through their lone pair of electrons. Synergistic bonding effects dominate in the coordination of π-bonded ligands such as alkenes. In the mid-1980s the discovery of dihydrogen complexes having side-on coordination of H₂ gave fresh impetus to transition metal chemistry as well as to the understanding of the interaction of σ-coordinating ligands with transition metals. In the meantime, transiton metal complexes can be obtained with a variety of σ-coordinated X-H fragments, and their mode of bonding can be understood by a common and quite general model. The chemistry of σ-bound silane ligands is particularly varied and well-investigated. These silane ligands enable the investigation of a large range of σ-coordinated metal complex fragments up to complete oxidative addition with cleavage of the Si? H bond and formation of silyl(hydrido) complexes, which has thus also widened our general understanding of the bonding of other σ-bound ligands. Whilst there is a large range of isolable and stable H₂ and SiR₄ complexes available, there are no such alkane analogues known at present. Only when the C? H bond is part of a ligand that is already directly bonded to the transition metal center will the resulting chelate effect stabilize this agostic C-H-M interaction. The complexation of SiH₄, the simplest heavier homologue of CH₄, was achieved recently. This is a further step towards the understanding of the factors which govern σ-complexation of ligands at transition metal centers.     

Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes with bispyridine ligands attached to sulfur-rich core: Syntheses, structures and properties

Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes with bispyridine ligands bearing sulfur-rich pendant, Re(CO)₃(Medpydt)X (Medpydt = dimethyl 2-(di(2-pyridyl)methylene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate; X = Cl, 1; X = Br, 2) and Re(CO)₃(MebpyTTF)X (MebpyTTF = 4,5-bis(methyloxycabonyl)-4′,5′-(4′-methyl-2,2′-dipyrid-4-ylethylenedithio)-tetrathiafulvalene; X = Cl, 5; X = Br, 6), were prepared from the reactions between Re(CO)₅X (X = Cl, Br) and Medpydt or MebpyTTF, respectively. Hydrolysis of the above complexes afforded the analogues with carboxylate derivatives, Re(CO)₃(H₂dpydt)X (X = Cl, 3; X = Br, 4) and Re(CO)₃(H₂bpyTTF)X (X = Cl, 7; X = Br, 8). The crystal structures for complexes 1 · 2H₂O, 5 and 6 were determined using X-ray single crystal diffraction. UV-Vis absorption spectra of the rhenium complexes show the intraligand and MLCT transitions. Electrochemical behaviors of all new compounds were studied with cyclic voltammetry. Upon irradiation, complexes 3-6 exhibit blue to red emissions in fluid solutions at the room temperature. The performance of complexes 3, 4, 7 and 8 as photosensitizers for anatase TiO₂ solar cells was preliminarily investigated as well.     

Synthesis and ROMP activity of aminophenol-substituted tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(VI) complexes

Tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(VI) complexes [MO(L¹)Cl₂] and [M(X)(L²)Cl₃] (X = O, NPh) with tridentate aminobis(phenolate) ligand L¹ = methylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dimethylphenolate) and bidentate aminophenolate ligand L² = 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenolate) were prepared and characterised. These complexes are principally stable in open atmosphere under ambient conditions. When activated with Et₂AlCl, they exhibited high activity in ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) of 2-norbornene (NBE) and its derivatives. Especially complexes [M(NPh)(L²)Cl₃], which are easily available from corresponding metal oxides MO₃ by a simple three-step synthesis, were found very efficient ROMP catalysts for NBE (M = Mo, W) and 2-norbornen-5-yl acetate (M = Mo).     

Synthesis and properties of new π-conjugated pyridine ligands with tetrathiafulvalene derivatives and the rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes

Three new π-conjugated pyridine ligands with redox-active tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives, L₁-L₃, have been synthesized and characterized. The Diels-Alder reaction is the key step for this multistep synthetic strategy. The crystal structures of L₁ and L₃ have been studied. The electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of these new ligands, as well as the corresponding tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes (ReL₁(CO)₃X, X = Cl, 5; X = Br, 6) have also been investigated.     

Coordination compounds of N,N′-olefin functionalized imidazolin-2-ylidenes

N-Heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC) were metalated with Pd(OAc)₂ or [Ni(CH₃CN)₆](BF₄)₂ by in situ deprotonation of imidazolium salts to give the N-olefin functionalized biscarbene complexes [MX₂(NHC)₂] 3-7 (3: M = Pd, X = Br, NHC = 1,3-di(3-butenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; 4: M = Pd, X = Br, NHC = 1,3-di(4-pentenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene; 5: M = Pd, X = I, NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 6: M = Ni, X = I, NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 7: M = Ni, X = I, NHC = 1-methyl-3-allylimidazolin-2-ylidene). Molecular structure determinations for 4-7 revealed that square-planar complexes with cis (5) or trans (4, 6, 7) coordination geometry at the metal center had been obtained. Reaction of nickelocene with imidazolium bromides afforded the η⁵-cyclopentadienyl (η⁵-Cp) monocarbene nickel complexes [NiBr(η⁵-Cp)(NHC)] 8 and 9 (8: NHC = 1-methyl-3-allylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 9: NHC = 1,3-diallylimidazolin-2-ylidene). The bromine abstraction in complexes 8 and 9 with silver tetrafluoroborate gave complexes [NiBr(η⁵-Cp)(η³-NHC)] 10 and 11. The X-ray structure analysis of 10 and 11 showed a trigonal-pyramidal coordination geometry at the nickel(II) center and coordination of one N-allyl substituent.     

Paramagnetic ruthenium(III) complexes bearing O,O chelating ligands: Synthesis, spectra, molecular structure and electron transfer properties

Paramagnetic Ru(III) complexes of the type [RuX₂(EPh₃)₂(L)] (where X = Cl or Br; E = P or As; L = monobasic bidentate benzophenone ligand) have been synthesized from the reaction of ruthenium(III) precursors, viz. [RuX₃(EPh₃)₃] (where X = Cl, E = P; X = Cl or Br, E = As) or [RuBr₃(PPh₃)₂(CH₃OH)] and substituted hydroxy benzophenones in a 1:1 molar ratio in benzene under reflux for 6 h. The hydroxy benzophenone ligands behave as monoanionic bidentate O,O donors and coordinate to ruthenium through the phenolate oxygen and ketonic oxygen atoms, generating a six-membered chelate ring. The compositions of the complexes have been established by analytical and spectral (FT-IR, UV-Vis, EPR) and X-ray crystallography methods. The single crystal structure of the complex [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₂(L₁)] (1) has been determined by X-ray crystallography and indicates the presence of a distorted octahedral geometry in these complexes. The magnetic moment values of the complexes are in the range 1.75-1.89 μ_B, which reveals the presence of one unpaired electron in the metal ion. EPR spectra of liquid samples at liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT) show a rhombic distortion (g_x ≠ g_y ≠ g_z) around the ruthenium ion. The complexes are redox active and display quasi-reversible oxidation and quasi-reversible reduction waves versus Ag/AgCl.     

Photophysical properties and computational investigations of tricarbonylrhenium(I)[2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]-X-azole]L and tricarbonylrhenium(I)[2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]L derivatives (X = N-CH3, O, or S; L = Cl, pyridine)

We report a combined experimental and computational study of new rhenium tricarbonyl complexes based on the bidentate heterocyclic N-N ligands 2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]-X-azole (X = N-CH₃, O, or S) and 2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline (X = N-CH₃, O, or S). Two sets of complexes are reported. Chloro complexes, described by the general formula Re(CO)₃[2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]-X-azole]Cl (X = N-CH₃, 1; X = O, 2; X = S, 3) and Re(CO)₃[2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]Cl (X = N-CH₃, 4; X = O, 5; X = S, 6) were synthesized heating at reflux Re(CO)₅Cl with the appropriate N-N ligand in toluene. The corresponding pyridine set {Re(CO)₃[2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo-X-azole]py}PF₆ (X = N-CH₃, 7; X = O, 8; X = S, 9) and {Re(CO)₃[2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]py}PF₆ (X = N-CH₃, 10; X = O, 11; X = S, 12) was synthesized by halide abstraction with silver nitrate of 1-6 followed by heating in pyridine and isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. All complexes have been fully characterized by IR, NMR, electrochemical techniques and luminescence. The crystal structures of 1 and 7 were obtained by X-ray diffraction. DFT and time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations were carried out for investigating the effect of the organic ligand on the optical properties and electronic structure of the reported complexes.     

Ground-state properties of ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) tin trihydride complexes: A DFT study

DFT methods have been applied for the calculation of several ground-state properties of neutral and charged ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) tin trihydride complexes bearing N-donor, P-donor and C-donor ancillary ligands in their coordination sphere. Complexes of the type M(SnH₃)(Tp)(PPh₃)P(OMe)₃, M(SnH₃)(Cp)(PPh₃)P(OMe)₃ and [M(SnH₃)(Bpy)₂P(OMe)₃]⁺ (M = Ru, Os; Tp = tris(pyrazol-1-yl)borate; Cp = cyclopentadienyl ion; Bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been studied using the EDF2 and B3PW91 functionals. The same calculations have been carried out also on the corresponding [M]-CH₃ and [M]-H compounds, to compare the electronic features of the different reactive ligands coordinated to the same metal fragments. Charge distribution analyses were used to give insight into the roles of the transition metal centres and the ancillary ligands on the properties of the coordinated SnH₃ group. The molecular orbitals of the methyl- and trihydrostannyl-complexes were compared to understand the nature of the [M]-SnH₃ bond and the electronic transitions of these species.     

Si-Fluoro substituted quasisilatranes (N → Si) FYSi(OCH2CH2)2NR

The reaction of fluorosilanes XYSiF₂ (X = Y = F; X = F, Y = Ph; X = Ph, Y = Me) with diethanolamines and their O-trimethylsilyl derivatives affords novel Si-fluoro substituted quasisilatranes 3, 5 and 9. These compounds were characterized by the multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Experimental and theoretically calculated electron density distribution functions in crystal structure of 9 have shown that the N → Si coordination bond corresponds to polar bond with pronounced ionic contribution. Calculated N → Si bond order in the compound 9 does not exceed 1/3 of the normal Si-N bond. A strong N → Si coordination bond exists in compounds 3, 5 and 9 the length of which varies in the range 1.98-2.175 Å.     

Axial and equatorial carbene ligands of dimanganese and dirhenium monocarbene complexes: Synthesis, characterisation and structural studies

The binuclear alkoxycarbene complexes [M₂(CO)₉{C(OEt)C₄H₃Y}] (M = Mn, Y = S(1), O(2); Re, Y = S(3), O(4)) were synthesised and characterised, giving axial carbene ligands for the dimanganese complexes, and equatorial carbene ligands for the dirhenium complexes. Aminolysis of these complexes with ammonia and n-propylamine yielded complexes [M₂(CO)₉{C(NHR)C₄H₃Y}] (R = H, M = Mn, Y = S(5), O(6); Re, Y = S(7), O(8); R = propyl, M = Mn, Y = S(9), O(10); Re, Y = S(11), O(12)). For the smaller NH₂-substituted carbene ligands, the X-ray structures determined showed equatorial carbene ligands for both dimanganese and dirhenium complexes, while the NHPr-substituted carbene complexes retained the original configurations of the precursor alkoxy carbene complex, indicating that the steric effects of both the M(CO)₅-fragment and the carbene ligand substituent can affect the coordination site of the carbene ligands of Group VII transition metal complexes in the solid state.     

Theoretical studies of the oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PX3)2 and Pd(X2PCH2CH2PX2) (X = Me, H, Cl)

The density functional theory calculations were used to study the influence of the substituent at P on the oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PX₃)₂ and Pd(X₂PCH₂CH₂PX₂) where X = Me, H, Cl. It was shown that the C_ipso-Br activation energy by Pd(PX₃)₂ correlates well with the rigidity of the X₃P-Pd-PX₃ angle and increases via the trend X = Cl < H < Me. The more rigid the X₃P-Pd-PX₃ angle is, the higher the oxidative addition barrier is. The exothermicity of this reaction also increases via the same sequence X = Cl < H < Me. The trend in the exothermicity is a result of the Pd(II)-PX₃ bond strength increasing faster than the Pd(0)-PX₃ bond strength upon going from X = Cl to Me. Contrary to the trend in the barrier to the oxidative addition of PhBr to Pd(PX₃)₂, the C_ipso-Br activation energy by Pd(X₂PCH₂CH₂PX₂) decreases in the following order X = Cl > H > Me. This trend correlates well with the filled d_π orbital energy of the metal center. For a given X, the oxidative addition reaction energy was found to be more exothermic for the case of X₂PCH₂CH₂PX₂ than for the case of PX₃. This effect is especially more important for the strong electron donating phosphine ligands (X = Me) than for the weak electron donating phosphine ligands (X = Cl).