New versatile organyltellurium(IV) halides: Synthesis and X-ray structural features of the telluronium tellurolate salts [PhTe(CH3)2]2[TeX6] (X = Cl, Br) and [Ph3Te][PhTeX4] (X = Cl, Br, I)

TeX₄ (X = Cl, Br) react in HCl/HBr with [Ph(CH₃)₂Te]X (X = Cl, Br) to give [PhTe(CH₃)₂]₂[TeCl₆] (1) and [PhTe(CH₃)₂]₂[TeBr₆] (2). The reaction of PhTeX₃ (X = Cl, Br, I) in cooled methanol with [(Ph)₃Te]X (X = Cl, Br, I) leads to [Ph₃Te][PhTeCl₄] (3), [Ph₃Te][PhTeBr₄] (4) and [Ph₃Te][PhTeI₄] (5). In the lattices of the telluronium tellurolate salts 1 and 2, octahedral TeCl₆ and TeBr₆ dianions are linked by telluronium cations through Te?Cl and Te?Br secondary bonds, attaining bidimensional (1) and three-dimensional (2) assemblies. The complexes 3, 4 and 5 show two kinds of Te?halogen secondary interactions: the anion-anion interactions, which form centrosymmetric dimers, and two identical sets of three telluronium-tellurolate interactions, which accomplish the centrosymmetric fundamental moiety of the supramolecular arrays of the three compounds, with the tellurium atoms attaining distorted octahedral geometries. Also phenyl C-H?halogen secondary interactions are structure forming forces in the crystalline structures of compounds 3, 4 and 5.     

Diphenylphosphino(phenyl pyridin-2-yl methylene)amine palladium(II) complexes: Chemoselective alkene hydrocarboxylation initiators

The heteroditopic, P-N-chelating ligand diphenylphosphino(phenyl pyridin-2-yl methylene)amine (1) has been synthesised via a simple ‘one-pot’ procedure and its donor characteristics assessed. The neutral [MX(Y)(1-κ²-P-N)] (3, M = Rh, X = Cl, Y = CO; 4, M = Pd, X = Y = Cl; 5, M = Pd, X = Cl, Y = Me; 6, M = Pt, X = Y = Cl; 7, M = Pt, X = Cl, Y = Me; 8, M = Pt, X = Y = Me) and cationic [Pd(Me)(MeCN)(1-κ²-P-N)][Z] (9, Z = B{3,5-(CF₃)₂-C₆H₃}4; 10, Z = PF₆) complexes of 1 have been prepared and characterised. The solid-state structures of complexes 3, 4, 6 and 7 have been established by X-ray crystallography. Reactions of [PdCl(Me)(1-κ²-P-N)] towards CO and ^tBuNC have been investigated, affording the corresponding η¹-acyl (12) and -iminoacyl (14) complexes, respectively. Similar insertion chemistry is observed for the cationic derivative 9. Treatment of the acyl complex 12 with ethene at elevated pressure establishes an equilibrium between the starting material and the product resulting from insertion, 13. Under catalytic conditions, combination of palladium(II) with 1 in MeOH affords a selective initiator for the formation of 4-oxo-hexanoic acid methyl ester (15) from CO/ethene (38 bar, 90 °C).     

The interplay of secondary Te?N, Te?O, Te?I and I?I interactions, Te?π contacts and π-stacking in the supramolecular structures of [{2-(4-nitrobenzylideneamino)-5-methyl}phenyl](4-methoxyphenyl)tellurium dihalides

The unsymmetrically substituted diorganotellurium dihalides [2-(4,4′-NO₂C₆H₄CHNC₆H₃Me]RTeX₂ (R = 4-MeOC₆H₄, X = Cl, 1a; Br, 1b; I, 1c; R = 4-MeC₆H₄; X = Cl, 2; R = C₆H₅, X = Cl, 3) were prepared in good yields and characterized by solution and solid-state ¹²⁵Te NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. In the solid-state, molecular structures of 1a and 1c possess scarcely observed 1,4-type intramolecular Te?N secondary interaction. Crystal packing of these compounds show an unusually rich diversity of intermolecular secondary, Te?O, Te?I and I?I interactions, Te?π contacts as well as extensive π-stacking of the organic substituents.     

α-Telluration of 2,4,6-trimethylacetophenone under mild conditions: Role of steric factor in the solid state structures of Te(II and IV) compounds

Elemental tellurium inserts into the C_sp3-Br bond of α-bromomesitylmethyl ketone and due to its strong carbophilic character affords the crystalline C-tellurated derivative of 2,4,6-trimethylacetophenone, (MesCOCH₂)₂TeBr₂, 1b in over 80% yield. Electrophilic substitution of the parent ketone with aryltellurium trichlorides, at room temperature, gives nearly quantitative yields of unsymmetrical alkylaryltellurium dichlorides (MesCOCH₂)ArTeCl₂ (Ar = mesityl, Mes, 2a; 1-naphthyl, Np, 3a; anisyl, Ans, 4a). Fairly stable mesitoylmethyltellurium(II) derivatives, (MesCOCH₂)₂Te, 1 and (MesCOCH₂)ArTe (Ar = Mes, 2; Np, 3 and Ans, 4) obtained as the reduction products of their dihalotellurium(IV) analogues, readily undergo oxidative addition of dihalogens to afford the corresponding (MesCOCH₂)₂TeX₂ (X = Cl, 1a; Br 1b; I, 1c) and (MesCOCH₂)ArTeX₂ (X = Cl, Br, I, Ar = Mes, 2a, 2b, 2c; Np, 3a, 3b, 3c and Ans, 4a, 4b, 4c). Crystallographic structural characterization of 1, 1b, 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3, 3a and 4c illustrates that the steric demand of mesityl group appreciably influences primary geometry around the 5-coordinate Te(IV) atom when it is bound directly to it. It also makes the Te atom inaccessible for the ubiquitous Te?X intermolecular secondary bonding interactions that result in supramolecular structures. In the crystal lattice of symmetrical telluroether 1, an interesting supramolecular synthon based upon reciprocatory weak C-H?O H-bonding interaction gives rise to chains via self-assembly.     

Synthesis of chromium(III) bis(benzamidinate) complexes via single electron oxidation

Single-electron oxidation of the known Cr(II) bis(amidinate) Cr[(Me₃SiN)₂CPh]₂ (1) provides synthetic access to neutral Cr(III) complexes. The complexes Cr[(Me₃SiN)₂CPh]₂X were prepared by reaction of 1 with AgO₂CPh (X = O₂CPh, 2), of 1 with iodine in THF (X = I/THF, 3), or of 1 with iodine in pentane, followed by addition of 2-adamantanone (X = I/2-adamantanone, 4). Treatment of 2 or 3 with C₃H₅MgCl resulted in the thermally stable allyl complex (X = η³-C₃H₅, 5). A preliminary kinetics study of the reaction of 1 with excess allyl benzoate and allyl acetate was performed. The molecular structures of 2, 3 and 5 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

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.     

Influence of the transannular interaction in spiro-heterocycles containing Ge(IV) and Sn(IV). A comparative study

[D(CH₂CH₂S)₂]M(XCH₂CH₂Y) 1-8 (M = Ge, Sn; D = O, S; X = Y = S, O and X = S, Y = O) spirocycles were synthesized to analyze the influence of the metal center replacement and the donor atom hardness on the strength of the transannular bond and the hypercoordination phenomena. The compounds were characterized by IR, Raman and NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy, E.I. mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The molecular and crystal structures of compounds 3, 4, 6-8 and Ge(SCH₂CH₂S)₂ (9) were obtained by X-ray diffraction analyses. They all exhibit five-coordinate central atoms due to transannular metal coordination (M?D) except 4, which displays a dimeric structure formed by the fusion of two five-membered rings resulting in a cyclic-distannoxane unit, {[O(CH₂CH₂S)₂]Sn(SCH₂CH₂O)}₂. The relationship between the nature of the metal center and the differences found between the two germanium and tin series are discussed.     

Furan derivatives of tellurium: Synthesis and structural comparison with the thiophene analogues

α-Bromo-2-acetylfuran adds oxidatively to elemental tellurium and aryltellurium(II) bromide at ambient temperature to afford (2-furoylmethyl)tellurium(IV) dibromides, (FuCOCH₂)₂TeBr₂ (1b) and Ar(FuCOCH₂)TeBr₂ (Fu = 2-C₄H₃O; Ar = 1-C₁₀H₇, 2b; 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂, 3b). The iodo analogues 1c-3c can be obtained by metathesis of the bromides with an alkali iodide. Condensation reactions of the parent methyl ketone with Te(IV) chlorides results in the corresponding chloro analogues, (FuCOCH₂)₂TeCl₂ (1a) and Ar(FuCOCH₂)TeCl₂ (2a, 3a and Ar = 4-MeOC₆H₄ (4a)). These diorganotellurium dihalides are reduced with aqueous bisulfite to diorganotellurides 1-3, which can be oxidized readily with dihalogens to the desired diorganotellurium(IV) dihalides. The tellurated furan derivative, bis(2-furyl)tellurium(II), Fu₂Te (5), obtained by detelluration of bis(2-furyl)ditelluride with electrolytic copper, gives crystalline bis(2-furyl)tellurium(IV) dichloride (5a) upon chlorination. Crystal structures of Te(IV) compounds 1a, 1b, 2a-4a, and the telluride 3 together with its thiophene analogue (2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂)((2-C₄H₃S)COCH₂)Te, 6 have been studied. Among the Te(IV) compounds, the functionalized organic moiety, FuCOCH₂-, behaves as a (C, O) chelating ligand, resulting in a intramolecular 1,4-Te?O secondary bonding interaction. Such an interaction is absent in Te(II) compounds 3 and 6, though they differ in the conformation adopted by the organic ligand. The chalcogen atoms in the heteroaroyl moiety are trans in 3 but cis in 6 which also possesses intermolecular Te?O interaction in its lattice.     

The preparation, properties and X-ray structures of gold(I) trithiophosphite complexes

The first gold(I) trithiophosphite complexes were synthesised and fully characterised. Reaction of (tht)AuX (X = Cl, C₆F₅; tht = tetrahydrothiophene) with trithiophosphites (RS)₃P (R = Me, Ph) and the bicyclic [(SCH₂CH₂S)PSCH₂]₂ (²L) afforded the corresponding molecular complexes (RS)₃PAuX [R = Me, X = Cl (1); R = Me, X = C₆F₅ (2); R = Ph, X = Cl (3); R = Ph, X = C₆F₅ (4)], and ²L(AuX)₂ [X = Cl (5), X = C₆F₅ (6)]. Reacting (tht)AuCl consecutively with two mole equivalents of (MeS)₃P and then AgOTf, gave the ionic compound {[(MeS)₃P]₂Au}OTf (7). The compounds were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR measurements and mass spectrometry, and the crystal and molecular structures of 1, 3, 6, two polymorphs of 2 as well as the known (MeO)₃PAuCl (8) were determined by X-ray diffraction. The halide complexes 1 and 8 are isostructural and exhibit infinite chains of “crossed-sword”-type aurophilic interactions with Au?Au contact distances of 3.2942(3) and 3.1635(4) Å, respectively. Complex 6 exhibits a long Au?Au contact of 3.4671(9) Å. Au?S interactions between 3.3455(7) and 3.520(2) Å are present in the structures of 1 and one polymorph of 2.     

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.     

The stereoselective thermal rearrangement of chiral lophine peroxides

The thermal reaction of chiral 2-phenyl-4-(p-X-phenyl)-5-(p-Y-phenyl)-4-tert-butyldimethylsilylperoxy-4H-isoimidazoles (5b: X = CF₃, Y = OMe; 5c: X = CF₃, Y = F) was carried out in DMSO. The chiral 2-phenyl-5-(p-X-phenyl)-5-(p-Y-phenyl)-5H-imidazol-4-ones (4b: X = CF₃, Y = OMe; 4c: X = CF₃, Y = F) were quantitatively obtained in 50-60% enantiomer excess (ee). The mechanism for the reaction was proved to be stereoselective 1,5-phenyl migration. Although the sigmatropic 1,5-phenyl migration should be thermally allowed according to the Woodward-Hoffmann rule, the migration actually includes a stepwise process.     

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.     

Structural characterization of rare intramolecularly (1,4-Te?N) bonded diorganotellurides and their monomeric complexes with mercury(II) halides: Metal assisted C-H?X (Hg) interactions leading to supramolecular architecture

Monomeric tellurides 4-RC₆H₄(SB)Te [SB = 2-(4,4′-NO₂C₆H₄CHNC₆H₃-Me); R = H, 1a; Me, 1b; OMe, 1c], which incidentally represent the first example of a telluride with 1,4-Te?N intramolecular interaction, have been prepared and characterized by solution and solid-state ¹²⁵Te NMR, ¹³C NMR and X-ray crystallography. Interplay of weak C-H?O and C-H?π interactions in the crystal lattice of 1b and 1c are responsible for the formation of supramolecular motifs. These tellurides undergo expected oxidative addition reactions with halogens and interhalogens and also interact coordinatively with mercury(II) halides to give 1:2 complexes, HgX₂[4-RC₆H₄(SB)Te]₂ (X = Cl, R = H, 2a; Me, 2b; OMe, 2c and X = Br, R = H, 3a; Me, 3b; and OMe, 3c) with no sign of Te-C bond cleavage, as has been reported for some 1,5-Te?N(O) intramolecularly bonded tellurides. The complexes 2a and 3c are the first structurally characterized monomeric 1:2 adducts of mercury(II) halides with Te ligands. The 1,4-Te?N intramolecular interactions in the solid-state are retained in the complexes highlighting simultaneously the Lewis acid and base character of the Te(II) atom. Packing of molecules in the crystal lattice of 2a and 3c reveals that non-covalent C-H?Cl/Br interactions involving metal-bound halogen atoms possess significant directionality and in combination with coordinative covalent interactions may be of potential use in creating inorganic supramolecular synthons.     

1-Naphthyl- and mesityltellurium(IV, II) derivatives of small bite chelating organic ligands: Effect of steric bulk and intramolecular secondary bonding interaction on molecular geometry and supramolecular association

The synthesis and characterization of unsymmetric diorganotellurium compounds containing a sterically demanding 1-naphthyl or mesityl ligand and a small bite chelating organic ligand capable of 1,4-Te?N(O) intramolecular interaction is described. The reaction of ArTeCl₃ (Ar = 1-C₁₀H₇, Np; 2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂, Mes) with (SB)HgCl [SB = the Schiff base, 2-(4,4′-NO₂C₆H₄CHNC₆H₃-Me)] or a methyl ketone (RCOCH₃) afforded the corresponding dichlorides (SB)ArTeCl₂ (Ar = Np, 1Aa; Mes, 1Ba) or (RCOCH₂)ArTeCl₂ (Ar = Np; R = Ph (2Aa), Me (3Aa), Np (4Aa); Ar = Mes, R = Ph (2Ba)). Reduction of 1Aa and 1Ba by Na₂S₂O₅ readily gave the tellurides (SB)ArTe (Ar = Np (1A), Mes, (1B)) but that of dichlorides derived from methylketones was complicated due to partial decomposition to tellurium powder and diarylditelluride (Ar₂Te₂), resulting in poor yields of the corresponding tellurides 2A, 2B and 3A. Oxidation of the isolated tellurides with SO₂Cl₂, Br₂ and I₂ yielded the corresponding dihalides. All the synthesized compounds have been characterized with the help of IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹²⁵Te NMR and in the case of 2Aa, and 2Ba by X-ray crystallography. Appearance of only one ¹²⁵Te signal indicated that the unsymmetric derivatives were stable to disproportionation to symmetric species. Intramolecular 1,4-Te?O secondary bonding interactions (SBIs) are exhibited in the crystal structures of both the tellurium(IV) dichlorides, 2Aa, and 2Ba. Steric repulsion of the mesityl group in the latter dominates over lone pair-bond pair repulsion, resulting in significant widening of the equatorial C-Te-C angle. This appears to be responsible for the lack of Te?Cl involved supramolecular associations in the crystal structure of 2Ba.     

Synthesis and characterization of some new mononuclear ruthenium complexes containing 4-(un)substituted dipyridylpyrazole ligands

A mononuclear ruthenium complex [Ru(bpy)₂(bpp)](PF₆) (1) and its halogenated and nitro derivatives [Ru(bpy)₂(Xbpp)](PF₆) (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; bpp = 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazole; X = Cl, 2; X = Br, 3; X = I, 4; X = NO₂, 5) have been synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, HRMS, elemental analysis. Complexes 2–5 have been further confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Their UV–Vis and emission spectroscopies, electrochemical measurements and acid–base properties are described. The results presented here reveal that the introduction of Cl, Br, I and NO₂ groups to the coordinated bpp⁻ ligand makes the absorption and emission maxima of the parent complex 1 blue-shifted, the oxidation potential of the Ru^II/Ru^III couple increased and the pK_a value decreased obviously. In addition, significant quenching of the emission by these groups is also observed.     

Syntheses and structures of N-polyfluorophenyl- and N,N′-bis(polyfluorophenyl)ethane-1,2-diaminato(1- or 2-)platinum(II) complexes

The reaction of [PtX₂(L)] (X = Cl, Br, I; L = NH₂CH₂CH₂NY₂; Y = Et, Me) with thallium(I) carbonate and a polyfluorobenzene (RF) in pyridine (py) yields the platinum(II) complexes, [Pt{N(R)CH₂CH₂NY₂}X(py)] (R = C₆F₅, 4-HC₆F₄, 4-BrC₆F₄, or 4-IC₆F₄, Y = Et (1), Me (2), X = Cl, Br or I) in an improved synthesis. From the reaction of [PtCl₂(H₂NCH₂)₂)] with Tl₂CO₃ and 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorobenzene or 2-bromo-1,3,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene in py, the new complexes [Pt(NRCH₂)₂(py)₂] (3) (R = C₆H₂F₃-2,3,6 and C₆HBrF₃-2,3,5,6) have been isolated but the latter preparation also gave product(s) with a 4-bromo-2,3,5-trifluorophenyl group. From an analogous preparation in 4-ethylpyridine (etpy), [Pt(N(4-HC₆F₄)CH₂)₂(etpy)₂] (4) was obtained. The X-ray crystal structures of (3) (R = C₆HBrF₃-2,3,5,6) and (4) were determined as well as that of the previously prepared (3) (R = 4-BrC₆F₄) and a more precise structure of (3) (R = 4-HC₆F₄) has been obtained.     

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.     

Structural studies of two-coordinate complexes of tris(2-methoxylphenyl)phosphine and tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine with gold(I) halides

A series of five gold(I) halide complexes with the two isomeric methoxy-substituted triarylphosphines, tris(2-methoxyphenyl)phosphine [P(oanis)₃], [AuP(oanis)₃X] [for X = Cl, (1); X = Br, (2) and X = I, (3)] and tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine [P(panis)₃], [AuP(panis)₃X] [for X = Br (4) and X = I (5)] have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and solution ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy. The structure determinations confirm the expected presence of linear two-coordination about the gold centres in all five complexes with bond distance and angle data typical of this type of compound [Au–P, 2.239(2)–2.259(3) Å; Au–Cl, 2.294(2) Å; Au–Br, 2.385(2)–2.402(2) Å; Au–I, 2.546(1)–2.554(1) Å; P–Au–X; 175.3(1)–180°]. All analogues except the iodo complex 5 crystallize with one complex molecule in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The bromo and iodo complexes 2 and 3 constitute a trigonal isomorphous set while the bromo complex 4 is also isomorphous with the previously determined chloro complex [AuP(panis)₃Cl]. The 2-methoxy analogues are stabilized by significant methoxy-O?Au interactions.     

Incorporation of a tripodal ligand with a (N,O,O)-donor set into a new family of nickel and cobalt spin clusters

The reaction of Ni(OAc)₂, NiX₂ (X = Cl, Br) or CoCl₂ with the proligand 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (ampdH₂) affords a new family of tetranuclear complexes. The syntheses of [Ni₄(OAc)₄(ampdH)₄] (1) and [M₄X₄(ampdH)₄] (M = Ni, X = Cl, 2; M = Ni, X = Br, 3; M = Co, X = Cl, 4) are reported, together with the single crystal X-ray structures of 1, 2 and 4 and the magnetochemical characterization of 1, 3 and 4. Each member of this family of complexes displays a low symmetry structure that incorporates a {M₄O₄} core unit based on a distorted cubane. Magnetic measurements reveal ferromagnetic exchange interactions for 1, 3 and 4. These give rise to S = 4 ground state spins for the tetranuclear Ni complexes and an anisotropic effective S′ = 2 ground state for the Co complex.     

Direct insertion of sulfur, selenium and tellurium atoms into metallaborane cages using chalcogen powders

Reaction of [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)MCl₄], 1-2 (1: M = Mo and 2: W) with six fold excess of [LiBH₄·thf] followed by thermolysis with excess chalcogen powders (S, Se and Te) yielded dichalcomolybda- and tungstaboranes, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅M)₂B₄H₄E₂], 5-8 (5: M = Mo, E = S; 6: M = Mo, E = Se; 7: M = Mo, E = Te; 8: M = W, E = Se) in modest yields. The geometry of 5-8 resembles a hexagonal bipyramid with a missing connectivity of two chalcogen vertices and a very short cross cage metal-metal bonding. All these new dichalcometallaboranes have been characterized by mass, ¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and the structural types were unequivocally established by crystallographic analysis of compound 6.