Transformations of the chiral diphosphine rhodium catalyst [(1,5-COD)Rh(—)R,R-DIOP]+CF3SO3– under conditions of hydrogenation

Transformation products of the cationic rhodium complex [(1,5-COD)Rh(—)R,R-DIOP]⁺CF₃SO₃ ^– (1) (COD is cycloocta-1,5-diene and DIOP is (±)-2,3-O-isopropylidene-2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane), which were obtained in its reactions with molecular hydrogen, base (NEt₃), and solvents in the absence of a substrate, were investigated by ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The solvate complexes [(Solv)₂Rh(—)R,R-DIOP]⁺CF₃SO₃ ^–, which were generated from complex 1 in its reaction with molecular hydrogen, underwent destruction of the diphosphine ligand with elimination of benzene and were subjected to oxidation by traces of moisture and oxygen to form the DIOP dioxide complex with Rh^I. In the absence of hydrogen, complex 1 in solutions produced the diphosphine dioxide rhodium(i) complex and mono- and binuclear rhodium(i) solvate complexes. The scheme of deactivation of the complex in the absence of the substrate was proposed. The catalytic activity of the solvate complexes [(ArH)Rh(—)R,R-DIOP]⁺CF₃SO₃ ^–, which contain benzene, p-xylene, and mesitylene in the coordination sphere, was studied in hydrogenation of Z--acetamidocinnamic acid.     

Facile conversion of ammonia to a nitride in a rhenium system that cleaves dinitrogen

Rhenium complexes with aliphatic PNP pincer ligands have been shown to be capable of reductive N₂ splitting to nitride complexes. However, the conversion of the resulting nitride to ammonia has not been observed. Here, the thermodynamics and mechanism of the hypothetical N–H bond forming steps are evaluated through the reverse reaction, conversion of ammonia to the nitride complex. Depending on the conditions, treatment of a rhenium(iii) precursor with ammonia gives either a bis(amine) complex [(PNP)Re(NH₂)₂Cl]⁺, or results in dehydrohalogenation to the rhenium(iii) amido complex, (PNP)Re(NH₂)Cl. The N–H hydrogen atoms in this amido complex can be abstracted by PCET reagents which implies that they are quite weak. Calorimetric measurements show that the average bond dissociation enthalpy of the two amido N–H bonds is 57 kcal mol⁻¹, while DFT computations indicate a substantially weaker N–H bond of the putative rhenium(iv)-imide intermediate (BDE = 38 kcal mol⁻¹). Our analysis demonstrates that addition of the first H atom to the nitride complex is a thermochemical bottleneck for NH₃ generation.

Rhenium–PNP complexes split N₂ to nitrides, but the nitrides do not give ammonia. Here, the thermodynamics of the hypothetical N–H bond forming steps are evaluated through the reverse reaction, showing that the first H addition is the bottleneck.     

Synthesis and characterisation of chelated (1-cyanoethyl)ruthenium(II) carbonyl complexes

The reaction between acrylonitrile and the RuH bond in HRu(CO)Cl(PPh₃)₃ results in the formation of a binuclear ruthenium(II) complex having chlorine bridges which are easily broken by sodio-derivatives of bidentate chelating ligands giving mononuclear hexacoordinated ruthenium(II) compounds. The RuC bond in these new complexes has been found to be stable towards nucleophilic reagents. The stereochemistry for these complexes has been suggested on the basis of IR, ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectra.     

Gold(I) complexes with tertiary phosphine sulfide ligands

Phosphine sulfides and their gold(I) complexes with general formula R₃P=S—Au—X (X = Cl^–, Br^– or CN^–) were prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, i.r. and ³¹P-n.m.r. spectroscopy. A decrease in the i.r. frequency of the P=S bond in the ligands upon complexation, is indicative of S coordination to gold (I). The ³¹P-n.m.r. spectra revealed that electronegativity of the substituents and angles between them were the two most important factors influencing the ³¹P-n.m.r. chemical shifts. The phosphorus resonance was observed to be more downfield in alkyl substituted phosphine sulfides as compared to the aryl substituted phosphine sulfides. Ligand scrambling in the Cy₃P=S—Au—CN complex in solution, to form [(Cy₃P=S)₂Au]⁺ and [Au(CN)₂]^–, was investigated by ¹³C and ¹⁵N-n.m.r. spectroscopy. Equilibrium constants (K _eq) for scrambling of the Cy₃P=S—Au—CN complex and for its analogue, Cy₃P=Se—Au—CN were measured by integrating the ¹³C-n.m.r. at 297 K and were found to be 0.147 and 1.81 respectively.     

Molecular Structure of 1,3,5-Tris (Trimethylstannyl) Benzene: An Electron Diffraction Study

The molecular structure of 1,3,5-tris (trimethylstannyl) benzene has been determined by gas-phase electron diffraction. The C — C bond length is in good agreement with that in benzene. In agreement with the somewhat electron-releasing character of the substituents, the endocyclic bond angles at the substituents are somewhat smaller than 120°. The mean value of Sn — C bond lengths is greater than that in tetraphenyltin and tetramethyltin. The SnMe₃ groups appear freely rotating around the C_aryl — Sn bonds. The following bond lengths (r _g) and bond angles were determined: (Sn — C)_mean 2.150 ± 0.007 Å, C — C 1.399 ± 0.005 Å, (C — H)_mean 1.105 ± 0.006 Å, < C — C(Sn) — C 117.7 ± 1.7º, < C_aryl — Sn — C_methyl 106.7 ± 0.7º < Sn — C — H 111.5 ± 0.9º.     

Strain‐Induced Double Carbon–Carbon Bond Activations of Cycloparaphenylenes by a Platinum Complex: Application to the Synthesis of Cyclic Diketones

The carbon–carbon (C?C) bond activation of [n]cycloparaphenylenes ([n]CPPs) by a transition‐metal complex is herein reported. The Pt⁰ complex Pt(PPh₃)₄ regioselectively cleaves two C?C σ bonds of [5] CPP and [6]CPP to give cyclic dinuclear platinum complexes in high yields. Theoretical calculations reveal that the relief of ring strain drives the reaction. The cyclic complex was further transformed into a cyclic diketone by using a CO insertion reaction.     

Crown compounds for anions. Sandwich complex of cyclic trimeric perfluoro-o-phenylenemercury with [B12H11SCN]2– anion

The reaction of cyclic trimeric perfluoro-o-phenylenemercury (o-C₆F₄Hg)₃ (1) with the polyhedral [B₁₂H₁₁SCN]^2– anion in THF at 20 °C affords the {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃](B₁₂H₁₁SCN)}^2– (4) and {[(o-C₆F₄Hg)₃]₂(B₁₂H₁₁SCN)}^2– (5) complexes. Complex 5 was isolated as the tetrabutylammonium salt. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that this complex has a bent-sandwich structure in which the [B₁₂H₁₁SCN]^2– anion is located between the planes of two molecules 1 and is coordinated to both these molecules through B—H—Hg bridges and S—Hg bonds. The stability constants of complexes 4 and 5 in THF (20 °C), which were determined from the IR spectroscopic data, are 16 L mol^–1 and 992 L² mol^–2, respectively.     

Theoretical investigation on possible mechanisms on regioselective formation of (η-siloxyallyl)tungsten complexes

Selective formation of (η³-siloxyallyl)tungsten complexes by reaction of hydrido(hydrosilylene)tungsten complexes with α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds was reported experimentally. The mechanisms have been investigated by employing the model reaction of [Cp(CO)₂(H)WSi(H)–{C(SiH₃)₃}] (R), derived from the original experimental complex Cp′(CO)₂(H)WSi(H)–[C(SiMe₃)₃] (1a, Cp′ = Cp*; 1b, Cp′ = η⁵-C₅Me₄Et), with methyl vinyl ketone, under the aid of the density functional calculations at the b3lyp level of theory. It is theoretically predicted that the route involving migration of the hydride to silicon to afford a 16e intermediate [Cp(CO)₂W–SiH₂–{C(SiH₃)₃}] is inaccessible (route 2), supporting the proposition by experiments. Another route, via [2 + 4] cycloaddition followed by directly Si–H reductive elimination, is theoretically predicted to be accessible (route 1). In route 1, two possible paths with different attacking directions of the oxygen of methyl vinyl ketone at Si (WSi) are put forward. The attack at the Si atom from the hydride (H1) side of the plane W–Si–H1 in R is found to be preferred kinetically. The regioselectivity for formation of (η³-siloxyallyl)tungsten complexes, where only the exo-anti isomer was obtained, is discussed based on the consideration of thermodynamics and kinetics.     

o,o′-Alkylene dithiophosphato complexes of vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V)

Reactions of VO(acac)₂ with alkylene dithiophosphoric acids, POGOS₂H, and of VOCl₃ with the ammonium salts NH₄(POGOS₂) in 1:2 molar ratio gave the oxovanadium(IV) alkylene dithiophosphates, [VO(POGOS₂)₂], and monochloroxovanadium(V) alkylene dithiophosphates, [VOCl(POGOS₂)₂], respectively, where G = —CH₂CMe₂-CH₂—, —CH₂CEt₂CH₂—, —CHMeCH₂CMe₂— or —CMe₂CMe₂—. These complexes are green solids, soluble in common organic solvents and sensitive to moisture. They were characterized by elemental analysis, molecular weight and spectral studies including i.r. and n.m.r. (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P), which suggested bidentate bonding of the POGOS₂ ligands to give a square pyramidal for the V^IV complexes and an octahedral geometry for the V^V complexes.     

New heteroorganic betaines containing the (+)E15—C—E14—X(–) and (+)E15—C—E14(–) structural fragments (E15 = P,As; E14 = Si,Ge, Sn; X = C,S, O,NR)

The review surveys the data on the reactions of phosphorus and arsenic ylides with compounds containing E=X bonds (E = C, Si, Ge, or Sn; X = C or S), cyclic oligomers (R₂ES)_n (n = 2 or 3), and heavier analogs of carbenes. These reactions give rise to two new classes of heteroorganic betaines containing the ⁽⁺⁾E¹⁵—C—E¹⁴—X^(–) (I) and ⁽⁺⁾E¹⁵—C—E^14(–) (II) (E¹⁵ = P or As; E¹⁴ = Si, Ge, or Sn; X = C or S) structural fragments. Procedures for the synthesis of these compounds, their reactivities, the X-ray diffraction structures, and the electronic structures established by high-level quantum-chemical calculations are considered in detail. The carbon analogs of betaines of type I, viz., compounds bearing the ⁽⁺⁾P—C—C—X^(–) fragment (III), are also discussed. The latter were long considered as possible intermediates in the reactions of compounds containing the polar C=X bond (X = C, O, S, NR, etc.) with phosphorus ylides (classical Wittig and Corey—Chaykovsky reactions and related processes).     

Reactions between germylenes (silylenes) and phosphaalkenes: an experimental and theoretical study. Preparation of the first representative of germaphosphacyclopropanes

Reactions of a number of germylenes and dimethylsilylene with a phosphaalkene, 2,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-phenyl-1-phosphaethene (1), were studied. The reaction of short-lived dimethylgermylene with 1 produced a phosphagermirane 3 (the first representative of a new class of heterocyclic compounds). Compound 3 was characterized in solution by ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy. Subsequent reaction of 3 with dimethylgermylene results in 2,2,3,3-tetramethyl-4,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-phenyl-2,3-digerma-1-phosphacyclobutane 4, which has not been reported so far. In order to rationalize different reactivities of germylenes towards alkenes and phosphaalkenes, the addition products of GeH₂ to ethylene and phosphaethene (HP=CH₂) were studied using the G2 computational scheme and DFT PBE technique. The adducts of GeMe₂ (GeCl₂) with HP=CH₂ and of GeMe₂ with PhP=C(SiH₃)₂ were also calculated by the DFT PBE method. According to calculations, the exothermicity, DE, of cycloaddition of GeH₂ and GeMe₂ to the phosphaalkenes HP=CH₂ and PhP=C(SiH₃)₂ (43.5—39.7 kcal mol^–1) is nearly twice as high as the exothermicity of cycloaddition of these germylenes to ethylene. In addition to the minimum corresponding to the three-membered cycle, a number of minima corresponding to quite stable donor-acceptor complexes in which the Ge atom is coordinated by the lone electron pair of the P atom in the phosphaalkene molecule were located on the potential energy surface of the germylene—phosphaalkene system. The complexation energy of the complex of GeH₂ (GeMe₂) with phosphaethene is 25.0 (16.9) kcal mol^–1. For GeCl₂, the exothermicity of cycloaddition to HP=CH₂ decreases to 7.6 kcal mol^–1 and the complexation energy decreases to 8.2 kcal mol^–1.     

Palladium-catalyzed activation of E-E and C-E bonds in diaryl dichalcogenides (E = S,Se) under microwave irradiation conditions

The first example of palladium-catalyzed stereoselective addition of diphenyl disulfide and diphenyl diselenide to the triple bond of terminal alkynes under microwave irradiation conditions is described. It was found that both the element—element (E-E) and carbon—element bonds can be activated in the catalytic system studied. The products of both reactions were isolated in quantitative yields. According to quantum-chemical calculations, the reaction mechanism involves the oxidative addition of the E-E bond to Pd⁰. Depending on the microwave power and reaction conditions, the next stage is either the reaction with alkyne or the carbon—element bond activation. The product of the oxidative addition of Ph₂Se₂ to Pd⁰, namely, dinuclear complex [Pd₂(SePh)₄(PPh_{3 2}], was detected by ³¹P{¹H}NMR spectroscopy directly in the Ph₂Se₂/PPh₃ melt formed under microwave irradiation conditions.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 569–580, March, 2005.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activity of cobalt(II), nickel(II)and copper(II) complexes with new asymmetrical Schiff base ligands derived from 7-formyanil-substituted diamine-sulphoxine and acetylacetone

Asymmetric 7-formyanil-substituted-imino-4-(4-methyl-2-butanone)-8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulphonic acid (Schiff bases), react with Co^II, Ni^II and Cu^II ions to give 1:2, 1:1 and 2:1 complexes as established by conductometric titrations in 1:1 DMF:H₂O. The complexes were investigated by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations, molar conductance, magnetic moments, thermal analysis, i.r., u.v.–vis. and e.s.r. spectra. The complexes have an octahedral crystal structure and general formula [ML·(OH₂)₂], where M^II = Co, Ni and Cu, and L = Na[7—X—HL], (—X— = (CH₂)₂, (CH₂)₃, p-C₆H₄, o-C₆H₄). Antimicrobial activity of these new ligands and their transition metal complexes has been screened in vitro on common fungi and bacteria.     

Lutetium complexes with tetraphenylethylene dianion. Synthesis and structure

The reactions of dipotassium and disodium salts of the tetraphenylethylene dianion with LuCl₃(THF)₃ or CpLuCl₂(THF)₃ yielded the homoleptic ate-complexes [Na(THF)₅][Lu(Ph₂CCPh₂)₂] (1) and [K(THF)₅][Lu(Ph₂CCPh₂)₂] (2) or the heteroleptic complex CpLu(Ph₂CCPh₂)(THF)₂ (4), respectively. Recrystallization of complex 1 from a diglyme—THF mixture afforded [Na(diglyme)₂][Lu(Ph₂CCPh₂)₂](THF)_0,5 (3). Recrystallization of complex 4 from 1,2-dimethoxyethane gave [CpLu(Ph₂CCPh₂)(DME)](DME) (5). The structures of complexes 3 and 5 were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. In both complexes, the unusual η⁶-coordination of the (Ph₂CCPh₂)²⁻ dianion to lutetium is observed. The Lu-C distances vary from 2.441(2) to 2.643(2) Å (3) and from 2.470(3) to 2.763(3) Å (5). In complexes 3 and 5, a redistribution of the C-C bond lengths was observed in the Ph groups coordinated to lutetium. Studies by ¹H, ¹³C, and 2D NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that the η⁶-coordination of the tetraphenylethylene dianion in homoleptic ate-complexes 1 and 2 is retained in a THF solution, whereas the coordination of this dianion in heteroleptic complex 4 changes from η⁶ to η⁴.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2060–2068, October, 2004.     

Rotational isomerism in alkylgermane molecules (Alk = Bun,n-C6H13) according to Raman spectroscopy and quantum-chemistry results

Temperature study of Raman spectra of alkylgermanes (Alk = Buⁿ, n-C₆H₁₃) in liquid, polycrystalline, and glassy states was carried out. The spectra of liquid samples are complicated, because compounds exist as equilibrium mixtures of rotational isomers due to hindered rotation about C—C and Ge—C bonds. In crystals, only the most stable conformer persists, which results in simplification of the spectrum. Unlike n-hexylgermanes, n-butylgermanes crystallize on cooling with difficulties. Quantum-chemical calculations of the geometry and normal coordinate analysis of the possible conformers of the BuⁿGeH₃, BuⁿGeCl₃, and Buⁿ ₂GeCl₂ molecules were performed. The unusually large (65 cm^–1) difference between the experimental (Ge—C) stretching frequencies of the trans and gauche conformers about the C—C bond nearest to the Ge atom is attributed to the difference in the electronic structure of these conformers, which is manifested in the differences in the Ge—C bond lengths, molecular geometry, and their force fields and, consequently, affects the mode frequencies and eigenvectors.     

C–H bond activation induced by thorium metallacyclopropene complexes: a combined experimental and computational study

Inter- and intramolecular C–H bond activations by thorium metallacyclopropene complexes were comprehensively studied. The reduction of [η⁵-1,2,4-(Me₃C)₃C₅H₂]₂ThCl₂ (1) with potassium graphite (KC₈) in the presence of internal alkynes (PhCCR) yields the corresponding thorium metallacyclopropenes [η⁵-1,2,4-(Me₃C)₃C₅H₂]₂Th(η²-C₂Ph(R)) (R = Ph (2), Me (3), ⁱPr (4), C₆H₁₁ (5)). Complexes 3–5 derived from phenyl(alkyl)acetylenes are very reactive resulting in an intramolecular C–H bond activation of the 1,2,4-(Me₃C)₃C₅H₂ ligand. In contrast, no intramolecular C–H bond activation is observed for the diphenylacetylene derived complex 2, but it does activate α-C–H bonds in pyridine or carbonyl derivatives upon coordination. Density functional theory (DFT) studies complement the experimental studies and provide additional insights into the observed reactivity.     

Chemical constitution of 3d complexes and rate constants of ortho-para positronium conversion reactions

The positronium spin exchange (SE) reactions promoted by the 3d complexes Mn _aq ²⁺ , Co _aq ²⁺ , [Cr(NH₃)₆]³⁺, [Cr(NH₃)₅H₂O]³⁺, and [Cr(H₂O)₅Cl²⁺] were investigated at different temperatures in order to ascertain whether they were diffusion controlled like those promoted by Cr _aq ³⁺ , Fe _aq ²⁺ , Ni _aq ²⁺ and [Ni(NH₃)₆] _aq ²⁺ ions studied previously.It was found that the reactions are diffusion controlled and that the effective reaction radii deduced from the Smoluchowski equation are smaller than the compound radii calculated from bond lengths and angles. It was also found that the rate constants, and therefore the reaction radii, are correlated with the spin—orbit coupling of 3d unpaired electrons and ligand capabilities to cause expansion of the d-electron cloud (nephelauxetic effect). In particular the effective reaction radii of SE reactions promoted by 3d complexes increase as the electron delocalization from 3d atoms increases.Work supported by Ministero Università e Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica (M.U.R.S.T.) and by Consiglio Nazionale Ricerche (C.N.R.).     

Synthesis,crystal structures and properties of two copper(II) 2-aminomethylbenzimidazole complexes

Two new Cu^II complexes, [Cu(Hambi)₂(ClO₄)₂] and [Cu(Hambi)₂(dca)₂] (Hambi = 2-aminomethylbenzimidazole) have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, electronic paramagnetic resonance (e.p.r.) and i.r. analyses. Both complexes exhibit an elongated octahedral coordination environment with two Hambi ligands situated at the equatorial positions in a trans fashion [Cu—N bond distances range from 1.940(9) to 2.031(9) Å]. In the second complex, a new coordination mode, in which dicyanamide coordinates to copper(II) as a monodentate ligand with the amide nitrogen atom, was observed.     

Palladium(II) aryl-amido complexes of diphosphinoazines in unsymmetrical PNP’ pincer-type configuration

Square planar palladium(II) aryl-amido complexes of diphosphinoazines in monoanionic unsymmetrical PNP’ pincer-type coordination were prepared by reactions of phenyl-, o-tolyl-, or 2,6-dimethylphenyllithium with previously described chloro-amido complexes of diphosphinoazines having isopropyl, cyclohexyl and tert-butyl substituents on phosphorus atoms. The compounds were characterized by NMR showing free rotation around metal-aryl bond in the complexes; the presence of C_ipso-Pd bond was detected by two-dimensional experiments. In addition to that, crystal and molecular structure of one phenyl-amido complex, [Pd(C₆H₅){P(C₆H₁₁)₂CHC(Bu^t)NNC(Bu^t)CH₂P(C₆H₁₁)₂}], was determined by X-ray diffraction together with the structure of a chloro-amido complex [PdCl{PBu^t₂CHC(Bu^t)NNC(Bu^t)CH₂PBu^t₂}]. In both structures the ligand trans to the amide nitrogen is well surrounded by substituents on phosphorus atoms, the former complex showing significant interactions between two cyclohexyl hydrogen atoms and the π-system of the phenyl ring. The values od Pd-C and Pd-N bond distances in this complex are the same as those in a monodentate analog [Pd(PMe₃)₂(C₆H₅)(NHC₆H₅)] which contrasts with the different values in a similar PNP symmetrical pincer complex reported in the literature.     

Structural Studies on Saturated Aqueous Solutions of Manganese(II), Cobalt(II), and Nickel(II) Chlorides by X-ray Diffraction

As a part of our studies on crystallization processes of electrolytes, the structure of aqueous solutions of MCl₂ (M = Mn, Co, Ni) equilibrated with hydrate crystals, MCl₂ · mH₂O (m = 6, 4, 2), was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction at 25, 40, 55, and 70°C. The complexes formed in MnCl₂ solutions, were found to be mixed–ligand chloroaqua octahedral complexes of M²⁺ ions with the Mn—O and Mn—Cl distances of about 220 and 251 pm, respectively. The average number of Mn—Cl and Mn—O interactions increased from 1.2 to 1.9 and decreased from 4.8 to 4.1, respectively, with changing MnCl₂ solutions from Mn25 (MnCl₂ solution at 25°C) to Mn70 (MnCl₂ solution at 70°C). In the octahedral species of Co²⁺, the Co—O and Co—Cl distances were found to be about 211 and 240 pm, respectively. With an increase in the saturated concentration by changing temperature from 25 to 70°C, the average coordination number of the Co—Cl contact per Co²⁺ increased from 0.5 to 1.2, and the average number of Co—O interactions decreased from 5.5 to 4.8. The structural analysis was carried out by taking into consideration the existence of the tetrahedral species in the solutions saturated at 40, 55, and 70°C, on the assumption of the existence of [CoCl₄]^2–. The Co—Cl distance was found to be 228 pm, while the number of Co—Cl interactions in the [CoCl₄] complex was calculated to be 3.7 by the least-squares calculations. The Ni—O and Ni—Cl distances were estimated to be about 206 and 237 pm, respectively. The frequency factor n of the Ni—O and Ni—Cl interactions decreased monotonously from 5.6 to 5.0 and increased from 0.4 to 1.0, respectively, with increasing NiCl₂ concentration. The n values of the Co—Cl and Ni—Cl interactions of the octahedral complexes increased sharply with concentration at higher concentrations. Comparing structures of the complexes in the saturated solutions and the hydrate crystals of these metal ions, we discussed a role of the complexing species on crystallization of the hydrates.