Tuning the electrochemistry of Re2(6+) species with divergent bicyclic guanidinate ligands and by modification of axial π interactions

Four Re(2)(6+) paddlewheel compounds with equatorial bicyclic guanidinate ligands and two monodentate anions in axial positions show a large change in the metal-metal distance that depends on the bite angle of the ligands and whether there are pi interactions between the dimetal unit and the axial ligands. These processes are accompanied by significant changes in the redox behavior. The two pairs of compounds that have been synthesized are Re(2)(tbn)(4)Cl(2), 1, and Re(2)(tbn)(4)(SO(3)CF(3))(2), 2, as well as Re(2)(tbo)(4)Cl(2), 3, and Re(2)(tbo)(4)(SO(3)CF(3))(2), 4, where tbn is the anion of a bicyclic guanidinate with six- and five-membered rings (1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-6-ene) and tbo is an analogous species with two five-membered rings (the anion of 1,4,6-triazabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-4-ene). For both 1 and 2 as well as for 3 and 4, the metal-metal distances are shorter for the triflate species than for the chloride analogues because of the π interactions of the Cl with the π bonds of the triply bonded Re(2)(6+) cores compounded by a small but symmetry allowed interaction between the antisymmetric combination of the filled σp orbitals of the chlorine atom and the empty σ* orbital of the metal atoms. In addition there is a significant increase in the Re-Re distance from that in the six/five tbn-membered ring to the five/five-membered tbo species. Electrochemical measurements show two redox processes for each set of compounds corresponding to the uncommon Re(2)(6+) → Re(2)(7+) and Re(2)(7+) → Re(2)(8+) processes, which are strongly affected by the bite angle of the guanidinate ligand as well as the ability of the axial ligands to interact with the π orbitals of the dirhenium unit. For 1 and 3, the first redox couples are at 0.146 and 0.487 V, respectively, while for 2 and 4 these are at 0.430 and 0.698 V, respectively.     

Strong reducing agents containing dimolybdenum Mo2(4+) units and their oxidized cations with Mo2(5+/6+) cores stabilized by bicyclic guanidinate anions with a seven-membered ring

The syntheses of two analogues of the bicyclic guanidinate ligand hpp (hpp = the anion of the guanidine-type compound 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2a]pyrimidine) which contain two fused rings are reported. Each compound contains one seven-membered ring while the other is either a five (Htbd) or a six (Htbu) membered ring. In THF/Bu4NPF6, the dimolybdenum compounds Mo2(tbd)4 and Mo2(tbu)4 are easily oxidized and they have signals in the differential pulse voltammograms at -1.059 and -1.009 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively and for the Mo2(5+/6+) couples and in the same order -0.242 and -0.312 V for the Mo2(6+/5+) couples. The two compounds produce the corresponding Mo2(bicyclic guanidinate)4Cl compounds immediately upon dissolution in CH2Cl2 and these easily form species with Mo2(6+) cores. In Mo2(tbd)4Cl there are two crystallographically independent molecules with Mo-Mo distances of 2.1711(7) and 2.1690(7) A. The distance between metal atoms increases to 2.206(1) A upon oxidation to Mo2(tbd)4Cl2 which has a triply bonded Mo2(6+) core. For the diamagnetic compound Mo2(tbu)4 this distance is 2.0677(9) A and it increases to 2.133(2) A upon reduction of the bond order from 4 to 3.5 in the paramagnetic compound Mo2(tbu)4Cl.     

Direct evidence from electron paramagnetic resonance for additional configurations in uncommon paddlewheel Re2(7+) units surrounded by an unsymmetrical bicyclic guanidinate

Three rare compounds have been synthesized and structurally characterized; these species have paddlewheel structures and Re(2)(7+) cores surrounded by four bicyclic guanidinates and two axial ligands along the Re-Re axis. Each possesses a formal bond order of 3.5 and a σ(2)π(4)δ(1) electronic configuration that entails the presence of one unpaired electron for each compound. The guanidinate ligands characterized by having CH(2) entities and a central C(N)(3) unit that joins two cyclic units--one having two fused 6-membered rings (hpp) and the other having a 5- and a 6-membered ring fused together (tbn)--allowed the isolation of [Re(2)(tbn)(4)Cl(2)]PF(6), 1, [Re(2)(tbn)(4)Cl(2)]Cl, 2, and [Re(2)(hpp)(4)(O(3)SCF(3))(2)](O(3)SCF(3)), 3. Because of the larger bite angle of the tbn relative to the hpp ligand, the Re-Re bond distances in 1 and 2 (2.2691(14) and 2.2589(14) ?, respectively) are much longer than that in 3 (2.1804(8) ?). Importantly, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies at both X-band (~9.4 GHz) and W-band (112 GHz) in the solid and in frozen solution show unusually low g-values (~1.75) and the absence of zero-field splitting, providing direct evidence for the presence of one metal-based unpaired electron for both 1 and 3. These spectroscopic data suggest that the unsymmetrical 5-/6-membered ligand leads to the formation of isomers, as shown by significantly broader EPR signals for 1 than for 3, even though both compounds possess what appears to be similar ideal crystallographic axial symmetry on the X-ray time scale.     

The extraordinary ability of guanidinate derivatives to stabilize higher oxidation numbers in dimetal units by modification of redox potentials: structures of Mo(2)(5+) and Mo(2)(6+) compounds

Full characterization of the first homologous series of dimolybdenum paddlewheel compounds having electronic configurations of the types sigma(2)pi(4)delta(x), x = 2, 1, 0, and Mo-Mo bond orders of 4, 3.5, and 3, respectively, has been accomplished with the guanidinate-type ligand hpp (hpp = the anion of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine). Essentially quantitative oxidation of Mo(2)(hpp)(4), 1, by CH(2)Cl(2) gives Mo(2)(hpp)(4)Cl, 2. The halide in 2 can be replaced by reaction with TlBF(4) to produce Mo(2)(hpp)(4)(BF(4)), 3. Further oxidation of 2 by AgBF(4) produces Mo(2)(hpp)(4)ClBF(4), 4. The change from bond order 4 (in 1) to 3.5 in Mo(2)(hpp)(4)Cl is accompanied by an increase in the Mo-Mo bond length of 0.061 to 2.1280(4) A. A further increase of 0.044 A in the Mo-Mo distance to 2.172(1) A is observed as the bond order decreases to 3 in 4. At the same time, the Mo-N distances decrease smoothly as the oxidation state of the Mo atoms increases. Electrochemical studies have shown two chemically reversible processes at very negative potentials, E(1)(1/2)= -0.444 V and E(2)(1/2)= -1.271 V versus Ag/AgCl. These correspond to the processes Mo(2)(6+/5+) and Mo(2)(5+/4+), respectively. The latter potential is displaced by over 1.5 V relative to those of the Mo(2)(formamidinate)(4) compounds and the first one has never been observed in such complexes. Thus, in surprising contrast to previously observed behavior of the dimolybdenum unit, when it is surrounded by the very basic guanidinate ligand hpp, there is an extraordinary stabilization of the higher oxidation numbers of the molybdenum atoms.     

Fully localized mixed-valence oxidation products of molecules containing two linked dimolybdenum units: an effective structural criterion

Two previously reported compounds [Mo(2)](CH(3)O)(2)M(CH(3)O)(2)[Mo(2)] (Cotton, F. A.; Liu, C. Y.; Murillo, C. A.; Wang, X. Inorg. Chem. 2003, 42, 4619), in which [Mo(2)] is an abbreviation for the quadruply bonded Mo(2)(4+) unit embraced by three (p-anisyl)NC(H)N(p-anisyl) anions and M = Zn (1) or Co (2), have been chemically oxidized. One-electron oxidation products [Mo(2)](CH(3)O)(2)M(CH(3)O)(2)[Mo(2)](PF(6)) (3, M = Zn; 4, M = Co) and the two-electron oxidation product [Mo(2)](CH(3)O)(2)Zn(CH(3)O)(OH)[Mo(2)](PF(6))(2) (5) have been isolated and structurally characterized. As expected, oxidations occur at the dimolybdenum units. The mono-charged cations in 3 and 4 have asymmetric molecular structures with two distinct [Mo(2)] units. In each case, one of the [Mo(2)] units has a lengthened Mo-Mo bond distance of 2.151[1] A, as expected for one-electron oxidation, whereas the other remains unchanged at 2.115[1] A. These correspond to bond orders of 3.5 (sigma(2)pi(4)delta(1)) and 4.0 (sigma(2)pi(4)delta(2)), respectively. The crystallographic results thus show unambiguously that in the crystalline state, the mixed-valence compounds (3 and 4) are electronically localized and the unpaired electron is trapped on one [Mo(2)] unit. These results are supported by the EPR spectra. The doubly oxidized compound 5 has two equivalent [Mo(2)] units, both with a Mo-Mo bond distance of 2.149[1] A. EPR and magnetic susceptibility measurements for 5 indicate that there is no significant ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic spin coupling and the species is valence-trapped.     

Oxidative scission of a Mo-Mo quadruple bond

Two compounds containing the cations Mo2(DPhIP)4n+, n = 1 or 2 and DPhIP = the anion of 2,6-diphenyliminopiperidine, have been obtained by oxidation of the quadruply-bonded Mo2(DPhIP)4 species. The first oxidation process conserves the structure but results in a slight increase of the Mo-Mo distance from 2.114(1) to 2.136(2) A in [Mo2(DPhIP)4](PF6).2CH2Cl2 (1.2CH2Cl2). However, the second oxidation process breaks the dimolybdenum bond, giving a bioctahedral complex, [Mo2(DPhIP)4](BF4)2.5CH3CN.Et2O (2.5CH3CN.Et2O), with Mo...Mo separation of 2.9954(7) A. Crystallographic data for 1.2CH2Cl2 are space group C2/c, a = 17.1891(9) A, b = 17.807(1) A, c = 24.210(2) A, beta = 106.403(4) degrees, Z = 4; for 2.5CH3CN.Et2O, space group P2(1)/n, a = 16.523(5) A, b = 27.418(5) A, c = 18.163(3) A, beta = 93.48(2) degrees, Z = 4.     

How to make a major shift in a redox potential: ligand control of the oxidation state of dimolybdenum units

A compound reported earlier (Polyhedron 1989, 8, 2339) as (Bu(n)()(4)N)(2)H(2)[Mo(2)[Mo(CO)(4)(PhPO(2))(2)](2)] has been reexamined. We find that the hydrogen atoms in this formula are not present. Therefore, the complex must be considered as having a central triply bonded Mo(2)(6+) unit, instead of a quadruply bonded Mo(2)(4+) unit. Our conclusion is based on a variety of experimental evidence, including X-ray crystal structures of four crystal forms, as well as the neutron crystal structure of one. This explains the relatively long Mo-Mo bond lengths found in the range 2.1874(7)-2.2225(7) A and the absence of a delta --> delta transition in the visible spectrum. From electrochemistry we also find that the diphosphonate ligand has such an exceptional ability to stabilize higher oxidation states that even common solvents such as CH(2)Cl(2) and C(2)H(5)OH readily oxidize the Mo(2)(4+) unit that is introduced from the Mo(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4) or [Mo(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2)(NCCH(3))(6)](BF(4))(2) employed in the preparation. The only chemically reversible wave at E(1/2) = -1.54 V vs Ag/AgCl corresponds to the reduction process Mo(2)(6+) --> Mo(2)(5+).     

Photoelectron spectroscopy and DFT calculations of easily ionized quadruply bonded Mo2(4+) compounds and their bicyclic guanidinate precursors

A series of five bicyclic guanidinate compounds containing various combinations of five- and six-membered rings and substituted alkyl groups have been shown by photoelectron spectroscopy to be easily ionized, with the one having two six-membered rings and four ethyl groups being the most easily ionized. The corresponding anions are capable of forming paddlewheel compounds having quadruply bonded Mo2(4+) units which are also easy to ionize. The most easily ionized compound is the ethyl-substituted Mo2(TEhpp)4 complex which has a broad first ionization band centered around 4.27 +/- 0.03 eV and an ionization onset at the very low energy of 3.93 +/- 0.03 eV. Even the compound with ligands containing two five-membered rings, which favors a long Mo-Mo separation because of the large ligand bite, has an ionization energy (4.78 eV) that is less than those of well-known organometallic reducing agents such as (eta5-C9Me7)2Co and (eta5-C5Me5)2Cr.     

Dinuclear and heteropolynuclear complexes containing Mo2(4+) units

The quadruply bonded compound Mo2(DpyF)4 (1), where DpyF- is the anion of N,N'-di(2-pyridyl)formamidine, has been prepared by ligand substitution reactions of Mo2(OOCCF3)4 and either the neutral ligand, HDpyF, at ambient temperature or its lithium salt, LiDpyF, under refluxing conditions. An X-ray structural analysis shows that 1 has a paddlewheel structure with a [symbol: see text] distance of 2.1108(6) A. Reaction of 1 with CoCl2 in methanol produces the paramagnetic compound [Mo2Co(DpyF)4][CoCl4].2MeOH (2). The Co(II) atom in the cation [Mo2Co(DpyF)4]2+ resides on a low-spin hexacoordinate environment (S = 1/2) with a Co...Mo separation of 2.979(6) A, suggesting there is no direct bonding interaction between the Co and Mo atoms. The Mo-Mo distance of 2.1096(5) A is similar to that in 1. Reaction of 1 and CuCl in methanol yields [Mo2Cu4(DpyF)4Cl2][CuCl2]2.2MeOHxEt2O (3). In the cation there are two copper atoms on each side of the Mo2 core. Each is coordinated to two pyridyl nitrogen atoms of the cis DpyF- ligands and loosely bridged to the other by a chloride ion. As a result, the Cu(I) atoms are not aligned with the Mo2 unit. The Cu to Mo separations are in the range 3.003(1)-3.015(1) A, and the Mo-Mo distance of 2.127(1) A is comparable to those in 1 and 2.     

Acetonitrile Activation Promoted by Divalent Nickel Species with Bicyclic Guanidinate Ligands

Three compounds are described from reactions of divalent nickel species and bicyclic guanidinate ligands. These compounds encompass a variety of nuclearities with one being triangular and having an hour-glass shape and the formula Ni₃(tbn)₆·2LiCl, 1, where tbn is a bicyclic guanidinate anion with fused 5/6 membered rings. A dinuclear compound [(??²-Imeth)Ni(??-tbo)]₂Cl₂, 2, contains two fused 5/5 membered rings (tbo) that bridge two divalent nickel atoms and also contains a chelating unit in each metal center. The neutral Imeth (1-(2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-a]imidazol-1-yl)ethanimine) is an imino-containing ligand produced by the Ni(II) catalyzed reaction of tbo with acetonitrile. A mononuclear species, [(??²-hpp)Ni(hpp)(Hhpp)]Cl, 3, is obtained from reaction of NiCl₂ with the bicyclic guanidinate ligand with two fused six-member rings in contact with moisture. In all compounds each of the Ni atoms has a local square-planar arrangement common in d⁸ species.     

Polyunsaturated dicarboxylate tethers connecting dimolybdenum redox and chromophoric centers: syntheses,structures, and electrochemistry

Compounds with two quadruply bonded Mo(2)(4+) units, Mo(2)(DAniF)(3) (DAniF = N,N '-di-p-anisylformamidinate), linked by unsaturated dicarboxylate dianions of various lengths have been prepared and their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties studied. As identified by the dicarboxylate linkers, these compounds are maleate (7), allene-1,3-dicarboxylate (10), cis,cis-muconate (11), trans,trans-muconate (12), octa-2,4,6-trans,trans,trans-hexatriene-1,8-dioate (tamuate, 13), and deca-2,4,6,8-trans,trans,trans,trans-octatetraene-1,10-dioate (texate, 14). The latter three molecules complete the five-membered (all trans) series [Mo(2)(DAniF)(3)](O(2)C(CH=CH)(n)CO(2))[Mo(2)(DAniF)(3)] (n = 0-4). Several unsymmetrical paddlewheel compounds of the type Mo(2)(DAniF)(3)(O(2)CX) (X = C triple bond CH (3), CH=CH(2) (4), (E)-CH=CH-CH=CH(2) (5)) have also been prepared for comparison to the molecules in which there are linked Mo(2) units. The precursors [Mo(2)(DAniF)(3)(MeCN)(2)](BPh(4)), [1]BPh(4), and Mo(2)(DAniF)(3)Cl(MeCN) (2) have also been isolated and characterized. The structures of all new molecules have been established by X-ray crystallography, including the methyl esters of various carboxylates used as ligands. All of the linked molecules have been examined by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, and deltaE(1/2) values, the separation between successive Mo(2)(4+)/Mo(2)(5+) oxidations, have been determined. Those compounds with highly unsaturated, fully conjugated linkers demonstrate electrochemical communication from end-to-end that is more persistent over distance than is accounted for by an electrostatic interaction alone, implying that the pi system of these dicarboxylate linkers is mediating communication. In the series [Mo(2)(DAniF)(3)](O(2)C(CH=CH)(n)CO(2))[Mo(2)(DAniF)(3)] (n = 0-4), the first oxidation potential shifts progressively to less positive values due to an increasing contribution of the polyolefinic alpha,omega-dicarboxylate to the molecular orbital undergoing oxidation. This first oxidation potential approaches a limiting value of 63 mV (vs Ag/AgCl) as n becomes infinitely long. Compound 11 can be photoisomerized to 12 in a process that is affected by the presence of the Mo(2)(4+) units, as the analogous rearrangement of dimethyl cis,cis-muconate is faster.     

A study of structural and bonding variations in the homologous series [Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)](n-) (n = 2, 1, 0)

Reaction of Mo(2)Cl(4)(dppm)(2) (dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) with 6 equiv of [n-Bu(4)N][CN] or [Et(4)N][CN] in dichloromethane yields [n-Bu(4)N](2)[Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)] (1) and [Et(4)N](2)[Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)] (2), respectively. The corresponding one- and two-electron oxidation products [n-Bu(4)N][Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)] (3) and Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2) (4)were prepared by reactions of 1 with the oxidant NOBF(4). Single-crystal X-ray structures of 2.2CH(3)CN, 3.2CH(3)CN.2H(2)O, and 4.2CH(3)NO(2) were performed, and the results confirmed that all three complexes contain identical ligand sets with trans dppm ligands bisecting the Mo(2)(mu-CN)(2)(CN)(4) equatorial plane. The binding of the bridging cyanide ligands is affected by the oxidation state of the dimolybdenum core as evidenced by an increase in side-on pi-bonding overlap of the mu-CN in going from 1 to 4. The greater extent of pi-donation into Mo orbitals is accompanied by a lengthening of the Mo-Mo distance (2.736(1) A in Mo(2)(II,II) (2), 2.830(1) A in Mo(2)(II,III) (3), and 2.936(1) A in Mo(2)(III,III) (4)). A computational study of the closed-shell members of this homologous series, [Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)](n)() (n = 2-, 0), indicates that the more pronounced side-on pi-donation evident in the X-ray structure of 4 leads to significant destabilization of the delta orbital and marginal stabilization of the delta() orbitals with respect to nearly degenerate delta and delta orbitals in the parent compound, 2. The loss of delta contributions combined with the reduced orbital overlap due to higher charges on molybdenum centers in oxidized complexes 3 and 4 is responsible for the observed increase in the length of the Mo-Mo bond.     

Systematic preparation of Mo 2 4+ building blocks for supramolecular assemblies

The preparation of additional and useful building blocks for the construction of supramolecular entities with quadruply bonded Mo(2)(4+) units has been explored, and five new mixed-ligand complexes with three types of ligands and various basicities are reported. The ligands used were the DAniF (N,N'-di-p-anisylformamidinate) anion, the acetate anion, and neutral acetonitrile molecules. The formamidinate ligands are the least labile, and the acetonitrile molecules are the most labile. This difference as well as a relatively strong trans directing influence by the formamidinate anions in ligand substitution reactions allows designed synthesis of various mixed-ligand building blocks, including rare pairs of cis and trans isomers. The new compounds are cis-Mo(2)(DAniF)(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2) (1), trans-Mo(2)(DAniF)(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2) (2), trans-[Mo(2)(DAniF)(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(CH(3)CN(eq)())(2)]BF(4) (3), trans-[Mo(2)(DAniF)(2)(CH(3)CN(eq)())(4)](BF(4))(2) (4), and [Mo(2)(O(2)CH(3))(CH(3)CN(eq)())(6)(CH(3)CN(ax)())](BF(4))(3) (5), where eq and ax designate equatorial and axial ligands, respectively. A comparison with some previously synthesized complexes is given along with a discussion of the overall reactivity of all compounds.     

Transition from a nonbonding to a bonding interaction in a tetranuclear [Mo2]2(mu-OR)4 cluster

Tetranuclear Mo4 clusters with two quadruply bonded Mo2(4+) units, [Mo2(cis-DAniF)2] (DAniF = N,N'-di-p-anisylformamidinate), linked by alkoxides (OCH3 for 1 and OC2H5 for 4) have been prepared. The nonbonding separation between the midpoints of the quadruply bonded units, ca. 3.24 A, is the shortest among compounds having two linked Mo2(4+) units. Electrochemical measurements show two redox waves for each compound with large DeltaE(1/2) values (554 and 587 mV for 1 and 4, respectively) that correspond to K(C) values on the order of 10(9). The large electronic communication is attributed to the short separation between dinuclear units that favor direct delta-to-delta orbital interactions between the two dimetal centers. Compound 1 was chemically oxidized using stoichiometric amounts of ferrocenium salts to a one-electron oxidation product 2 (in which the counteranion is PF6-) and a two-electron oxidation product 3 (which contains two BF4- anions). Upon oxidation there are significant decreases in the distance between the two [Mo2] units to 3.100 A and then to 2.945 A. The mixed-valence species 2 shows two broad absorption bands at 5900 and 7900 cm(-1) in the NIR region which are assigned to the HOMO-1 --> SOMO and HOMO-2 --> SOMO transitions. Compound 3 is fluxional in solution, as shown by variable-temperature 1H NMR spectra. The sharp signals in the NMR spectrum at -50 degrees C and the lack of an EPR signal suggest that this species is diamagnetic and that a four-center, two-electron bond is formed in the cyclometallic Mo4 cluster. To a first-order approximation, an average bond order of 0.25 is assigned to the bonding interaction between the two Mo atoms along the long edges of the rectangle defined by the four Mo atoms.     

Tuning the electronic structure of Mo-Mo quadruple bonds by N for O for S substitution

A series of quadruply bonded dimolybdenum compounds of form Mo(2)(EE'CC≡CPh)(4) (EE' = {NPh}(2), Mo(2)NN; {NPh}O, Mo(2)NO;{NPh}S, Mo(2)NS; OO, Mo(2)OO) have been synthesised by ligand exchange reactions of Mo(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4) with the acid or alkali metal salt of {PhC≡CCEE'}(-). The compounds Mo(2)NO, Mo(2)NS and Mo(2)OO were structurally characterised by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures show that Mo(2)NO adopts a cis-2,2 arrangement of the ligands about the Mo(2)(4+) core, whereas Mo(2)NS adopts the trans-2,2 arrangement. The influence of heteroatom substitution on the electronic structure of the compounds was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Simple N for O for S substitution in the bridging ligands significantly alters the electronic structure, lowering the energy of the Mo(2)-δ HOMO and reducing the Mo(2)(4+/5+) oxidation potential by up to 0.9 V. A different trend is found in the optoelectronic properties, with the energy of the Mo(2)-δ-to-ligand-π* transition following the order Mo(2)OO > Mo(2)NO > Mo(2)NN > Mo(2)NS. Electronic structure calculations employing density functional theory were used to rationalise these observations.     

Di- and trinuclear complexes with the mono- and dianion of 2,6-bis(phenylamino)pyridine: high-field displacement of chemical shifts due to the magnetic anisotropy of quadruple bonds

The monoanion of 2,6-bis(phenylamino)pyridine (HBPAP(-)) has been found to support quadruply bonded Cr(2)(4+) and Mo(2)(4+) units in Cr(2)(HBPAP)(4) (1) and Mo(2)(HBPAP)(4) (2). The corresponding dianion BPAP(2)(-) was able to stabilize the trinuclear complexes, (TBA)(2)Cr(3)(BPAP)(4) (3) and (TBA)(2)Ni(3)(BPAP)(4) (4), where TBA is the tetrabutylammonium cation. The dinuclear complexes have the typical paddlewheel configuration with Cr-Cr distances of about 1.87 A and a Mo-Mo distance of 2.0813(5) A and exhibit a high-field displacement of the corresponding N-H signals caused by the magnetic anisotropy of the quadruple bonds. For the trinuclear complexes, 3 has a linear chain of three chromium atoms arranged in an unsymmetrical fashion with two chromium atoms paired to give a quadruply bonded unit (Cr-Cr distance: 1.904(3) A) and an isolated, square planar Cr(II) unit at 2.589(3) A from the dimetal unit. On the other hand, the three nickel atoms in 4 are evenly spaced, having Ni.Ni distances of 2.3682(8) A. The trinuclear compounds show a twisted conformation with an overall torsion angle of about 30 degrees.     

M2(hpp)4Cl2 and M2(hpp)4, where M = Mo and W: preparations, structure and bonding, and comparisons with C2, C2H2, and C2Cl2 and the hypothetical molecules M2(hpp)4(H)2

The reaction between M(2)Cl(2)(NMe(2))(4), where M = Mo or W, and Hhpp (8 equiv) in a solid-state melt reaction at 150 degrees C yields the compounds M(2)(hpp)(4)Cl(2) 1a (M = Mo) and 1b (M = W), respectively, by the elimination of HNMe(2) [hpp is the anion derived from deprotonation of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine, Hhpp]. Purification of 1a and 1b is achieved by sublimation of the excess Hhpp and subsequent recrystallization from either CH(2)Cl(2) or CHCl(3) (or CDCl(3)). By single-crystal X-ray crystallography, the structures of 1a and 1b are shown to contain a central paddlewheel-like M(2)(hpp)(4) core with Mo-Mo = 2.1708(8) A (from CH(2)Cl(2)), 2.1574(5) A (from CDCl(3)), W-W = 2.2328(2) A (from CDCl(3)), and M-N = 2.09(1) (av) A. The Cl ligands are axially ligated (linear Cl-M-M-Cl) with abnormally long M-Cl bond distances that, in turn, depend on the presence or absence of hydrogen bonding to chloroform. The quadruply bonded compounds M(2)(hpp)(4), 2a (M = Mo), and 2b (M = W), can be prepared from the reactions between 1,2-M(2)R(2)(NMe(2))(4) compounds, where R = (i)()Bu or p-tolyl, and Hhpp (4 equiv) in benzene by ligand replacement and reductive elimination. The compounds 2a and 2b are readily oxidized, and in chloroform they react to form 1a and 1b, respectively. The electronic structure and bonding in the compounds 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b have been investigated using gradient corrected density functional theory employing Gaussian 98. The bonding in the M-M quadruply bonded compounds, 2a and 2b, reveals M-M delta(2) HOMOs and extensive mixing of M-M pi and nitrogen ligand lone-pair orbitals in a manner qualitatively similar to that of the M(2)(formamidinates)(4). The calculations indicate that in the chloride compounds, 1a and 1b, the HOMO is strongly M-Cl sigma antibonding and weakly M-M sigma bonding in character. Formally there is a M-M triple bond of configuration pi(4)sigma(2), and the LUMO is the M-M delta orbital. An interesting mixing of M-M and M-Cl pi interactions occurs, and an enlightening analogy emerges between these d(4)-d(4) and d(3)-d(3) dinuclear compounds and the bonding in C(2), C(2)H(2), and C(2)Cl(2), which is interrogated herein by simple theoretical calculations together with the potential bonding in axially ligated compounds where strongly covalent M-X bonds are present. The latter were represented by the model compounds M(2)(hpp)(4)(H)(2). On the basis of calculations, we estimate the reactions M(2)(hpp)(4) + X(2) to give M(2)(hpp)(4)X(2) to be enthalpically favorable for X = Cl but not for X = H. These results are discussed in terms of the recent work of Cotton and Murillo and our attempts to prepare parallel-linked oligomers of the type [[bridge]-[M(2)]-](n)().     

Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of a series of mixed-ligand diruthenium compounds

The electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of a novel series of mixed-ligand diruthenium compounds were examined. The investigated compounds having the formula Ru(2)(CH(3)CO(2))(x)(Fap)(4-x)Cl where x = 1-3 and Fap is 2-(2-fluoroanilino)pyridinate anion were made from the reaction of Ru(2)(CH(3)CO(2))(4)Cl with 2-(2-fluoroanilino)pyridine (HFap) in refluxing methanol. The previously characterized Ru(2)(Fap)(4)Cl as well as the three newly isolated compounds represented as Ru(2)(CH(3)CO(2))(Fap)(3)Cl (1), Ru(2)(CH(3)CO(2))(2)(Fap)(2)Cl (2), and Ru(2)(CH(3)CO(2))(3)(Fap)Cl (3) possess three unpaired electrons with a Ru(2)(5+) dimetal core. Complexes 1 and 2 have well-defined Ru(2)(5+/4+) and Ru(2)(5+/6+) redox couples in CH(2)Cl(2), but 3 exhibits a more complicated electrochemical behavior due to equilibria involving association or dissociation of the anionic chloride axial ligand on the initial and oxidized or reduced forms of the compound. The E(1/2) values for the Ru(2)(5+/4+) and Ru(2)(5+/6+) processes vary linearly with the number of CH(3)CO(2)(-) bridging ligands on Ru(2)(CH(3)CO(2))(x)(Fap)(4-x)Cl and plots of reversible half-wave potentials vs the number of acetate groups follow linear free energy relationships with the largest substituent effect being observed for the oxidation. The major UV-visible band of the examined compounds in their neutral Ru(2)(5+) form is located between 550 and 800 nm in CH(2)Cl(2) and also varies linearly with the number of CH(3)CO(2)(-) ligands on Ru(2)(CH(3)CO(2))(x)(Fap)(4-x)Cl. The electronic spectra of the singly oxidized and singly reduced forms of each diruthenium species were characterized by UV-visible spectroelectrochemistry in CH(2)Cl(2).     

A rare and highly oxidized Mo(2)5.5+ unit stabilized by oxo anions and supported by formamidinate bridges

A series of tetranuclear compounds consisting of two {Mo2[(m-CF3C6H4)NC(H)N(m-CF3C6H4)]3}n+ moieties linked by two OH- or two O2- ions has been characterized. Abbreviating the dimolybdenum plus three spectator bridging ligands as [Mo2], the following three compounds have been made-[Mo2](mu-OH)2[Mo2] (1), [Mo2](mu-O)2[Mo2] (2), and {[Mo2](mu-O)2[Mo2]}SbF6 (3). Compound 1, which is diamagnetic and contains quadruply bonded Mo2(4+) units, is converted to diamagnetic 2 by oxidation with O2. Compound 2, which has Mo2(5+) units, is oxidized by NOSbF6 to 3 which has a rare Mo2(5.5+) core and an odd electron delocalized over the two dimolybdenum units.