Reactivity of Liquid Ammonia Solutions of the Zintl Phase K12Sn17 towards Mesitylcopper(I) and Phosphinegold(I) Chloride

To gain more insight into the reactivity of intermetalloid clusters, the reactivity of the Zintl phase K₁₂Sn₁₇, which contains [Sn₄]^4? and [Sn₉]^4? cluster anions, was investigated. The reaction of K₁₂Sn₁₇ with gold(I) phosphine chloride yielded K₇[(η²‐Sn₄)Au(η²‐Sn₄)](NH₃)₁₆ ( 1 ) and K₁₇[(η²‐Sn₄)Au(η²‐Sn₄)]₂(NH₂)₃(NH₃)₅₂ ( 2 ), which both contain the anion [(Sn₄)Au(Sn₄)]^7? ( 1 a ) that consists of two [Sn₄]^4? tetrahedra linked through a central gold atom. Anion 1 a represents the first binary Au?Sn polyanion. From this reaction, the solvate structure [K([2.2.2]crypt)]₃K[Sn₉](NH₃)₁₈ ( 3 ; [2.2.2]crypt=4,7,13,16,21,24‐hexaoxa‐1,10‐diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane) was also obtained. In the analogous reaction of mesitylcopper with K₁₂Sn₁₇ in the presence of [18]crown‐6 in liquid ammonia, crystals of the composition [K([18]crown‐6)]₂[K([18]crown‐6)(MesH)(NH₃)][Cu@Sn₉](thf) ( 4 ) were isolated ([18]crown‐6=1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxacyclooctadiene, MesH=mesitylene, thf=tetrahydrofuran) and featured a [Cu@Sn₉]^3? cluster. A similar reaction with [2.2.2]crypt as a sequestering agent led to the formation of crystals of [K[2.2.2]crypt][MesCuMes] ( 5 ). The cocrystallization of mesitylene in 4 and the presence of [MesCuMes]^? ( 5 a ) in 5 provides strong evidence that the migration of a bare Cu atom into an Sn₉ anion takes place through the release of a Mes^? anion from mesitylcopper, which either migrates to another mesitylcopper to form 5 a or is subsequently protonated to give MesH.     

Titanium ketimide complexes as α-olefin homo- and copolymerisation catalysts. X-ray diffraction structures of [TiCp(NCBu2)Cl2] (Cp=Ind, Cp*)

The synthesis of [TiInd(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] and the applications of [TiCp^′(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] (Cp^′=Ind, Cp*, Cp) as ethylene and propylene homopolymerisation catalysts, as well as its behaviour as catalysts of ethylene and 10-undecen-1-ol copolymerisation are described. The optimisation of the catalytic reactions showed that all compounds are very active homopolymerisation catalysts, particularly [TiInd(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] that gives 123.37 × 10⁶ g/(molTi [E] h) and 50.77 × 10⁶ g/(molTi [P] h) of linear polyethylene and atatic polypropylene, respectively. The less active homopolymerisation catalyst, [TiCp(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂], is the most effective ethylene/10-undecen-1-ol copolymerisation catalyst, leading to the highest degree of polar monomer incorporation. The polymers obtained were characterised by NMR and DSC. The molecular structures of [TiCp^′(NC^tBu₂)Cl₂] (Cp^′=Ind, Cp*) were determined by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Reactions of titanocene dihalides with N,N′,N″-chelates: Preparation,X-ray structure and characterization of bis(chloro){2,6-bis[(3,5-dimethyl)pyrazol-1-yl]pyridine}(η-peroxo)titanium(IV)

The reaction of [Ti^IV(Cp)₂Cl₂] (Cp⁻ = η⁵-C₅H₅⁻) and 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl-1-yl)pyridine (bdmpp) in Me₂CO has afforded complex [Ti^IVCl₂(O₂)(bdmpp)] (1). The complex can also be prepared from the 1:1:1 [Ti(Cp)₂Cl₂]/bdmpp/H₂O₂ reaction mixture in various solvents. Single-crystal, X-ray crystallography has revealed that the Ti^IV center is in a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal environment in both of the two, crystallographically independent molecules that are present in the asymmetric unit; the equatorial positions are occupied by the two O atoms of the side-on (η²) O₂²⁻ group and the three N-atoms of the tridentate chelate, while the two chloro ligands are on the axial positions. IR, Raman, electronic and ¹H NMR data are discussed in terms of the known structure and the coordination modes of the peroxo and bdmpp ligands.     

Niob- und Tantalkomplexe mit P2- und P4-Liganden

Niobium and Tantalum Complexes with P₂ and P₄ Ligands The photolysis of [Cp″Ta(CO)₄] 1 (Cp″ = C₅H₃^tBu₂?1,3) and P₄ affords Cp″(CO)₂Ta(η⁴?P₄) 2 , [{Cp″(CO)Ta}₂(m??η^2:2?P₂)₂] 3 and [Cp₃″(CO)₃Ta₃(P₂)₂] 4 . In a photochemical reaction 2 and [Cp*Nb(CO)₄] 5 form [{Cp*(CO)Nb}{Cp″(CO)Ta}(m??η^2:2?P₂)₂] 6 and [{Cp*(CO)₂Nb} {Cp*Nb}{Cp″(CO)Ta}(m?₃?η^2:1:1?P₂)₂] 7 , a compound with the novel m?₃?η^2:2:1?P₂-coordination mode. The reaction of 2 and [Cp*Co(C₂H₄)₂] 8 leads to [{Cp*Co} {Cp″(CO)Ta}(m??η^2:2?P₂)₂] 9 , a heteronuclear complex with an ?early”? and a ?late”? transition metal. Complexes 2, 3, 7 and 9 have been further characterized by X-ray structure analyses.     

Iodination of cyclo‐E5‐Complexes (E=P,As)

In a high‐yield one‐pot synthesis, the reactions of [Cp*M(η⁵‐P₅)] (M=Fe ( 1 ), Ru ( 2 )) with I₂ resulted in the selective formation of [Cp*MP₆I₆]⁺ salts ( 3 , 4 ). The products comprise unprecedented all‐cis tripodal triphosphino‐cyclotriphosphine ligands. The iodination of [Cp*Fe(η⁵‐As₅)] ( 6 ) gave, in addition to [Fe(CH₃CN)₆]²⁺ salts of the rare [As₆I₈]^2? (in 7 ) and [As₄I₁₄]^2? (in 8 ) anions, the first di‐cationic Fe‐As triple decker complex [(Cp*Fe)₂(μ,η^5:5‐As₅)][As₆I₈] ( 9 ). In contrast, the iodination of [Cp*Ru(η⁵‐As₅)] ( 10 ) did not result in the full cleavage of the M?As bonds. Instead, a number of dinuclear complexes were obtained: [(Cp*Ru)₂(μ,η^5:5‐As₅)][As₆I₈]_0.5 ( 11 ) represents the first Ru‐As₅ triple decker complex, thus completing the series of monocationic complexes [(Cp^RM)₂(μ,η^5:5‐E₅)]⁺ (M=Fe, Ru; E=P, As). [(Cp*Ru)₂As₈I₆] ( 12 ) crystallizes as a racemic mixture of both enantiomers, while [(Cp*Ru)₂As₄I₄] ( 13 ) crystallizes as a symmetric and an asymmetric isomer and features a unique tetramer of {AsI} arsinidene units as a middle deck.     

Construction of tetranuclear macrocycles through C-H activation and structural transformation induced by [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction

A series of binuclear complexes [{Cp*Ir(OOCCH₂COO)}₂(pyrazine)] ( 1 b ), [{Cp*Ir(OOCCH₂COO)}₂(bpy)] ( 2 b ; bpy=4,4′‐bipyridine), [{Cp*Ir(OOCCH₂COO)}₂(bpe)] ( 3 b ; bpe=trans‐1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethylene) and tetranuclear metallamacrocycles [{(Cp*Ir)₂(OOC‐C?C‐COO)(pyrazine)}₂] ( 1 c ), [{(Cp*Ir)₂(OOC‐C?C‐COO)(bpy)}₂] ( 2 c ), [{(Cp*Ir)₂(OOC‐C?C‐COO)(bpe)}₂] ( 3 c ), and [{(Cp*Ir)₂[OOC(H₃C₆)‐N?N‐(C₆H₃)COO](pyrazine)}₂] ( 1 d ), [{(Cp*Ir)₂[OOC(H₃C₆)‐N?N‐(C₆H₃)COO](bpy)}₂] ( 2 d ), [{(Cp*Ir)₂[OOC(H₃C₆)‐N?N‐(C₆H₃)COO](bpe)}₂] ( 3 d ) were formed by reactions of 1 a – 3 a {[(Cp*Ir)₂(pyrazine)Cl₂] ( 1 a ), [(Cp*Ir)₂(bpy)Cl₂] ( 2 a ), and [(Cp*Ir)₂(bpe)Cl₂] ( 3 a )} with malonic acid, fumaric acid, or H₂ADB (azobenzene‐4,4′‐chcarboxylic acid), respectively, under mild conditions. The metallamacrocycles were directly self‐assembled by activation of C? H bonds from dicarboxylic acids. Interestingly, after exposure to UV/Vis light, 3 c was converted to [2+2] cycloaddition complex 4 . The molecular structures of 2 b , 1 c , 1 d , and 4 were characterized by single‐crystal x‐ray crystallography. Nanosized tubular channels, which may play important roles for their stability, were also observed in 1 c , 1 d , and 4 . All complexes were well characterized by ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy, as well as elemental analysis.     

Hydrogen Generation by Water Reduction with [Cp*2Ti(OTf)]: Identifying Elemental Mechanistic Steps by Combined In Situ FTIR and In Situ EPR Spectroscopy Supported by DFT Calculations

A detailed mechanism of hydrogen production by reduction of water with decamethyltitanocene triflate [Cp*₂Ti^III(OTf)] has been derived for the first time, based on a comprehensive in situ spectroscopic study including EPR and ATR‐FTIR spectroscopy supported by DFT calculations. It is demonstrated that two H₂O molecules coordinate to [Cp*₂Ti^III(OTf)] subsequently forming [Cp₂*Ti^III(H₂O)(OTf)] and [Cp*Ti^III(H₂O)₂(OTf)]. Triflate stabilizes the water ligands by hydrogen bonding. Liberation of hydrogen proceeds only from the diaqua complex [Cp*Ti^III(H₂O)₂(OTf)] and involves, most probably, abstraction and recombination of two H atoms from two molecules of [Cp*Ti^III(H₂O)₂(OTf)] in close vicinity, which is driven by the formation of a strong covalent Ti? OH bond in the resulting final product [Cp*₂Ti^IV(OTf)(OH)].     

Synthesis and Reactivity of Boron‐, Silicon‐, and Tin‐Bridged ansa‐Cyclopentadienyl–Cycloheptatrienyl Titanium Complexes (Troticenophanes)

A novel one‐pot method was developed for the preparation of [Ti(η⁵‐C₅H₅)(η⁷‐C₇H₇)] (troticene, 1 ) by reaction of sodium cyclopentadienide (NaCp) with [TiCl₄(thf)₂], followed by reduction of the intermediate [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)₂TiCl₂] with magnesium in the presence of cycloheptatriene (C₇H₈). The [n]troticenophanes 3 (n=1), 4 , 8 , 10 (n=2), and 11 (n=3) were synthesized by salt elimination reactions between dilithiated troticene, [Ti(η⁵‐C₅H₄Li)(η⁷‐C₇H₆Li)] ? pmdta ( 2 ) (pmdta=N,N′,N′,N′′,N′′‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine), and the appropriate organoelement dichlorides Cl₂Sn(Mes)₂ (Mes=2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl), Cl₂Sn₂(tBu)₄, Cl₂B₂(NMe₂)₂, Cl₂Si₂Me₄, and (ClSiMe₂)₂CH₂, respectively. Their structural characterization was carried out by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The stanna[1]‐ and stanna[2]troticenophanes 3 and 4 represent the first heteroleptic sandwich complexes bearing Sn atoms in the ansa bridge. The reaction of 3 with [Pt(PEt₃)₃] resulted in regioselective insertion of the [Pt(PEt₃)₂] fragment into the Sn? C_ipso bond between the tin atom and the seven‐membered ring, which afforded the platinastanna[2]troticenophane 5 . Oxidative addition was also observed upon treatment of 4 with elemental sulfur or selenium, to produce the [3]troticenophanes [Ti(η⁵‐C₅H₄SntBu₂)(η⁷‐C₇H₆SntBu₂)E] ( 6 : E=S; 7 : E=Se). The B? B bond of the bora[2]troticenophane 8 was readily cleaved by reaction with [Pt(PEt₃)₃] to form the corresponding oxidative addition product [Ti(η⁵‐C₅H₄BNMe₂)(η⁷‐C₇H₆BNMe₂)Pt(PEt₃)₂] ( 9 ). The solid‐state structures of compounds 5 , 6 , and 9 were also determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Fine Tuning of Metallaborane Geometries: Chemistry of Metallaboranes of Early Transition Metals Derived from Metal Halides and Monoborane Reagents

Reaction of [Cp_nMCl_4?x] (M=V: n=x=2; M=Nb: n=1, x=0) or [Cp*TaCl₄] (Cp=η⁵‐C₅H₅, Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅), with [LiBH₄?thf] at ?70 °C followed by thermolysis at 85 °C in the presence of [BH₃?thf] yielded the hydrogen‐rich metallaboranes [(CpM)₂(B₂H₆)₂] ( 1 : M=V; 2 : M = Nb) and [(Cp*Ta)₂(B₂H₆)₂] ( 3 ) in modest to high yields. Complexes 1 and 3 are the first structurally characterized compounds with a metal–metal bond bridged by two hexahydroborate (B₂H₆) groups forming a symmetrical complex. Addition of [BH₃?thf] to 3 results in formation of a metallaborane [(Cp*Ta)₂B₄H₈(μ‐BH₄)] ( 4 ) containing a tetrahydroborate ligand, [BH₄]^?, bound exo to the bicapped tetrahedral cage [(Cp*Ta)₂B₄H₈] by two Ta‐H‐B bridge bonds. The interesting structural feature of 4 is the coordination of the bridging tetrahydroborate group, which has two B? H bonds coordinated to the tantalum atoms. All these new metallaboranes have been characterized by mass, ¹H, ¹¹B, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis and the structural types were established unequivocally by crystallographic analysis of 1 – 4 .     

Reactions of 2‐Substituted Pyridines with Titanocenes and Zirconocenes: Coupling versus Dearomatisation

Reactions of group 4 metallocene sources with 2‐substituted pyridines were investigated to evaluate their coordination type between innocent and reductive dearomatisation as well as to probe the possibility for couplings. A dependence on the cyclopentadienyl ligands (Cp, Cp*), the metals (Ti, Zr), and the substrates (2‐phenyl‐, 2‐acetyl‐, and 2‐iminopyridine) was observed. While 2‐phenylpyridine is barely reactive, 2‐acetylpyridine reacts vigorously with the Cp‐substituted complexes and selectively with their Cp* analogues. With 2‐iminopyridine, in all cases selective reactions were observed. In the isolated [Cp₂Ti], [Cp₂Zr], and [Cp*₂Zr] compounds the substrate coordinates by its pyridyl ring and the unsaturated side‐chain. Subsequently, the pyridine was dearomatised, which is most pronounced in the [Cp*₂Zr] compounds. Using [Cp*₂Ti] leads to the unexpected paramagnetic complexes [Cp*₂Ti^III(N,O‐acpy)] and [Cp*₂Ti^III(N,N′‐impy)]. This highlights the non‐innocent character of the pyridyl substrates.     

Nanoscale Organolanthanum Clusters: Nuclearity-Directing Role of Cyclopentadienyl and Halogenido Ligands

Tetramethylaluminato/halogenido(X) ligand exchange reactions in half-sandwich complexes [Cp^RLa(AlMe₄)₂] are feasible in non-coordinating solvents and provide access to large coordination clusters of the type [Cp^RLaX₂]_x. Incomplete exchange reactions generate the hexalanthanum clusters [Cp^R₆La₆X₈(AlMe₄)₄] (Cp^R=Cp*=C₅Me₅, X=I; Cp^R=Cp′=C₅H₄SiMe₃, X=Br, I). Treatment of [Cp*La(AlMe₄)₂] with two equivalents Me₃SiI gave the nonalanthanum cluster [Cp*LaI₂]₉, while the exhaustive reaction of [Cp′La(AlMe₄)₂] with the halogenido transfer reagents Me₃GeX and Me₃SiX (X=I, Br, Cl) produced a series of monocyclopentadienyl rare-earth-metal clusters with distinct nuclearity. Depending on the halogenido ion size the homometallic clusters [Cp′LaCl₂]₁₀ and [Cp′LaX₂]₁₂ (X=Br, I) could be isolated, whereas different crystallization techniques led to the aggregation of clusters of distinct structural motifs, including the desilylated cyclopentadienyl-bridged cluster [(μ-Cp)₂Cp′₈La₈I₁₄] and the heteroaluminato derivative [Cp′₁₀La₁₀Br₁₈(AlBr₂Me₂)₂]. The use of the Cp′ ancillary ligand facilitates cluster characterization by means of NMR spectroscopy.     

Comparison of Characteristic Structural Features among the Triade of Tris(cyclopentadienyl)(Group-4 Metal) Complex Cations: a Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study

A density functional theory computational chemistry study has revealed a fundamental structural difference between [Ti(Cp)₃]⁺ and its congeners [Zr(Cp)₃]⁺ and [Hf(Cp)₃]⁺/(Cp=cyclopentadienyl). Whereas the latter two are found to contain three uniformely η⁵-coordinated Cp ligands (3η⁵-structural type), [Ti(Cp)₃]⁺ is shown to prefer a 2η⁵η² structure. [Ti(Cp)₃]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₃(Me)]⁻ ( 10 ⋅[B(C₆F₅)₃(Me)]⁻) was experimentally generated by treatment of [Ti(Cp)₃(Me)] ( 7a ) with B(C₆F₅)₃ (Scheme 3). Low-temperature ¹H-NMR spectroscopy in CDFCl₂ (143 K, 600 MHz; Fig. 8) showed a splitting of the Cp resonance into five lines in a 2 : 5 : 2 : 5 : 1 ratio which would be in accord with the theoretically predicted 2η⁵η²-type structure of [Ti(Cp)₃]⁺. The precursor [Ti(Cp)₃(Me)] ( 7a ) exhibits two ¹H-NMR Cp resonances in a 10 : 5 ratio in CD₂Cl₂ at 223 K. Treatment of [HfCl(Cp)₂(Me)] ( 6c ) with sodium cyclopentadienide gave [Hf(Cp)₃(Me)] ( 7c ) (Scheme 1). Its reaction with B(C₆F₅)₃ furnished the salt [Hf(Cp)₃]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₃(Me)]⁻ ( 8 ⋅[B(C₆F₅)₃(Me)]⁻), which reacted with tert-butyl isocyanide to give the cationic complex [Hf(Cp)₃(C=N−CMe₃)]⁺ ( 9a ; with counterion [B(C₆F₅)₃(Me)]⁻ (Scheme 2). Complex cation 9a was characterized by X-ray diffraction (Fig. 7). Its Hf(Cp₃) moiety is of the 3η⁵-type. The structure is distorted trigonal-pyramidal with an average D−Hf−D angle of 118.8° and an average D−Hf−C(1) angle of 96.5° (D denotes the centroids of the Cp rings; Table 6). Cation 9a is a typical d⁰-isocyanide complex exhibiting structural parameters of the C≡N−CMe₃ group (d(C(1)−N(2))=1.146 (5) Å; IR: v˜(C≡N) 2211 cm⁻¹) very similar to free uncomplexed isonitrile. Analogous treatment of 8 with carbon monoxide yielded the carbonyl (d⁰-group-4-metal) complex [Hf(Cp)₃(CO)]⁺ ( 9b ; with counterion [B(C₆F₅)₃(Me)]⁻) (Scheme 2) that was also characterized by X-ray crystal-structure analysis (Fig. 6). Complex 9b is also of the 3η⁵-structural type, similar to the peviously described cationic complex [Zr(Cp)₃(CO)]⁺, and exhibits properties of the CO ligand (d(C−O)=1.11 (2) Å; IR: v˜(C≡O) 2137 cm⁻¹) very similar to the free carbon monoxide molecule.     

Heterometall-Komplexe mit E6-Liganden (E = P,As)

Heterometallic Complexes with E₆ Ligands (E = P, As) The reaction of [Cp*Co(μ-CO)]₂ 1 with the sandwich complexes [Cp*Fe(η⁵-E₅)] 2 a: E = P, 2 b: E = As in decalin at 190°C affords besides [CpCo₂E₄] 4: E = P, 7: E = As and [CpFe₂P₄] 5 the trinuclear complexes [(Cp*Fe)₂(Cp*Co)(μ-η²-P₂)(μ₃-η^1:2:1-P₂)₂] 3 as well as [(Cp*Fe)₂(Cp*Co)(μ₃-η^2:2:2-As₃)₂] 6 . With [Mo(CO)₅(thf)] 3 and 6 form in a build-up reaction the tetranuclear clusters [(Cp*Fe)₂(Cp*Co)E₆{Mo(CO)₃}] 10: E = P, 11: E = As. 3, 6 and 11 have been further characterized by an X-ray crystal structure determination.     

Nickelkomplexe mit Px-Liganden

Thermolysis of [Cp′Ni(μ-CO)]₂ (1), Cp′ = η⁵C₅H₄R, R = CH₃ (1a), t-Bu (1b); [Cp^*Ni(μ-CO)]₂ (1c), Cp^* = η⁵-C₅Me₅ and [Cp″Ni(μ-CO)]₂ (1d), Cp″ = η⁵-C₅H₃R₂-1,3, R = t-Bu, with white phosphorus (P₄) gives the nickelaphosphacubanes [Cp′Ni(μ₃-P)]₄ (2a,2b), [(Cp^*Ni)₃P₅] (3) and the cyclo-P₃ sandwich [(η³-P₃)Ni″η⁵-C₅H₃(t-Bu)₂] (4), the structure of which has been determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Cyclopentadienyl Complexes of IrIII for Attempted C−D Bond Activation

The complexes Cp(MeIm)IrI₂ and Cp^Me4(MeIm)IrCl₂ have been prepared and subsequently methylated to form Cp(MeIm)IrMe₂ and Cp^Me4(MeIm)IrMe₂ (Cp=η⁵-C₅H₅, Cp^Me4=η⁵-C₅HMe₄, MeIm=1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene). We attempted unsuccessfully to use the dimethyl complexes to study C−D bond activation via methyl-group abstraction. Protonation with one equivalent of a weak acid, such as 2,6-dimethylpyridinium chloride, affords methane and Ir^III methyl chloride complexes. ¹H-NMR experiments show addition of pyridinium [BArF₂₀]⁻ (BArF₂₀=[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻) to the dimethyl species forms [Cp(MeIm)IrMe(py)]⁺[BArF₂₀]⁻ (py=pyridine) or [Cp^Me4(MeIm)IrMe(py)]⁺[BArF₂₀]⁻ respectively, alongside methane, while use of the [BArF₂₀]⁻ salts of more bulky 2,6-dimethylpyridinium and 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridinium gave an intractable mixture. Likewise, the generation of 16 e⁻ species [Cp^Me4(MeIm)IrMe]⁺[BArF₂₀]⁻ or [Cp(MeIm)IrMe]⁺[BarF₂₀]⁻ at low temperature using 2,6-dimethylpyridinium or 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridinium in thawing C₆D₆ or toluene-d₈ formed an intractable mixture and did not lead to C−D bond activation. X-ray structures of several Ir^III complexes show similar sterics as that found for the previously reported Cp* analogue.     

Extraction of Ternary Alloys: Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [K([2.2.2]crypt)]Cs7[Sn9]2(en)3

The compound [K([2.2.2]crypt)]Cs₇[Sn₉]₂(en)₃ ( 1 ) was synthesized from an alloy of formal composition KCs₂Sn₉ by dissolving in ethylenediamine (en) followed by the addition of [2.2.2]crypt and toluene. 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pcca with a = 45.38(2), b = 9.092(4), c = 18.459(8) Å, and Z = 4. The structure consists of Cs₇[Sn₉]₂ layers which contain [Sn₉]^4– anions and Cs⁺ cations. The layers are separated by [K([2.2.2]crypt)]⁺ units. In the intermetallic slab (Cs₇[Sn₉]₂)^– compares the arrangement of pairs of symmetry‐related [Sn₉]^4– anions with the dimer ([Ge₉]–[Ge₉])^6– in [K([2.2.2]crypt)]₂Cs₄([Ge₉]–[Ge₉]), in which the clusters are linked by a cluster‐exo bond. The shortest distance between atoms of such two clusters in 1 is 4.762 Å, e. g. there are no exo Sn‐Sn bonds. The [Sn₉]^4– anion has almost perfect C_4v‐symmetry.     

Reactions of Group 4 Metallocenes with Monosubstituted Acetonitriles: Keteniminate Formation versus CC Coupling

The reactions of the Group 4 metallocene dichlorides [Cp′₂MCl₂] ( 1 a : M=Ti, Cp′=Cp*=η⁵‐pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, 1 b : M=Zr, Cp′=Cp=η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl) with lithiated MesCH₂?C?N gave [Cp*₂TiCl(N=C=C(HMes))] ( 3 ; Mes=mesityl) in the case of 1 a . For compound 1 b , a nitrile–nitrile coupling resulted in a five‐membered bridge in 4 . The reaction of the metallocene alkyne complex [Cp*₂Zr(η²‐Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃)] ( 2 ) with PhCH₂?C?N led in the first step to the unstable product [Cp*₂Zr(η²‐Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃)(NC?CH₂Ph)] ( 5 ). After the elimination of the alkyne, a mixture of products was formed. By variation of the solvent and the reaction temperature, three compounds were isolated: a diazadiene complex 6 , a bis(keteniminate) complex 7 , and 8 with a keteniminate ligand and a five‐membered metallacycle. Subsequent variation of the Cp ligand and the metal center by using [Cp₂Zr] and [Cp*₂Ti] with Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃ in the reactions with PhCH₂?C?N gave complex mixtures.     

Reactions of [Cp*Ru(H2O)(NBD)]+ with alkynes

Formal [2 + 2 + 2] addition reactions of [Cp*Ru(H₂O)(NBD)]BF₄ (NBD = norbornadiene) with PhC?CR (R = H, COOEt) give [Cp*Ru(η⁶‐C₆H₅? C₉H₈R)] BF₄ (1a, R = H; 2a, R = COOEt). Treatment of [Cp*Ru(H₂O)(NBD)]BF₄ with PhC?C? C?CPh does not give [2 + 2 + 2] addition product, but [Cp*Ru(η⁶‐C₆H₅? C?C? C?CPh)] BF₄(3a). Treatment of 1a, 2a, 3a with NaBPh₄ affords [Cp*Ru(η⁶‐C₆H₅? C₉H₈R)] BPh₄ (1b, R = H; 2b, R = COOEt) and [Cp*Ru(η⁶‐C₆H₅? C?C? C?CPh)] BPh₄(3b). The structures of 1b, 2b and 3b were determined by X‐ray crystallography. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reactions of Beryllium Halides in Liquid Ammonia: The Tetraammineberyllium Cation [Be(NH3)4]2+, its Hydrolysis Products,and the Action of Be2+ as a Fluoride‐Ion Acceptor

The first structural characterization of the text‐book tetraammineberyllium(II) cation [Be(NH₃)₄]²⁺, obtained in the compounds [Be(NH₃)₄]₂Cl₄ ? 17NH₃ and [Be(NH₃)₄]Cl₂, is reported. Through NMR spectroscopic and quantum chemical studies, its hydrolysis products in liquid ammonia were identified. These are the dinuclear [Be₂(μ‐OH)(NH₃)₆]³⁺ and the cyclic [Be₂(μ‐OH)₂(NH₃)₄]²⁺ and [Be₃(μ‐OH)₃(NH₃)₆]³⁺ cations. The latter species was isolated as the compound [Be₃(μ‐OH)₃(NH₃)₆]Cl₃ ? 7NH₃. NMR analysis of solutions of BeF₂ in liquid ammonia showed that the [BeF₂(NH₃)₂] molecule was the only dissolved species. It acts as a strong fluoride‐ion acceptor and forms the [BeF₃(NH₃)]^? anion in the compound [N₂H₇][BeF₃(NH₃)]. The compounds presented herein were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis, ⁹Be, ¹⁷O, and ¹⁹F NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy, deuteration studies, and quantum chemical calculations. The extension of beryllium chemistry to the ammine system shows similarities but also decisive differences to the aquo system.     

Reactions of the metallocene dichlorides [M(Cp)2Cl2] (M = Zr, Hf) and [Ti(MeCp)2Cl2] with the pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate(−2) ligand: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and X-ray structures of the products

The reactivity pattern of the 16-electron species [M(Cp)₂Cl₂] (M = Zr, Hf; Cp⁻ = η⁵-C₅H₅⁻) and [Ti(MeCp)₂Cl₂] (MeCp⁻ = η⁵-C₅H₄CH₃⁻) towards the dipicolinate(−2) (dipic²⁻) ligand under mild (ambient temperature) and convenient (aerobic reactions, aqueous media) conditions have been investigated. The syntheses, molecular structures and spectroscopic (IR, ¹H NMR) characterization are reported for the 18-electron products [Zr(Cp)₂(dipic)] (1), [Hf(Cp)₂(dipic)] (2) and [Ti(MeCp)₂(dipic)] (3). The dipic²⁻ ion behaves as N,O,O′-chelating ligand in the three complexes, while the centroids of the Cp⁻ (1, 2) and MeCp⁻ (3) rings formally occupy the fourth and fifth coordination sites about the central metal. The two identical/very similar bite angles of only ∼70° make the dipic²⁻ ligand particularly suited to form stable metallocene derivatives with 5-coordinate geometry. IR and ¹H NMR data are discussed in terms of the known structures and the tridentate chelating mode of the dipic²⁻ ligand.