Electrical Behaviour of Heterobimetallic [MM′(EtCS2)4] (MM′=NiPd,NiPt, PdPt) and MM′X‐Chain Polymers [PtM(EtCS2)4I] (M=Ni,Pd)

Herein, we report the isolation of new heterobimetallic complexes [Ni_0.6Pd_1.4(EtCS₂)₄] ( 1 ), [NiPt(EtCS₂)₄] ( 2 ) and [Pd_0.4Pt_1.6(EtCS₂)₄] ( 3 ), which were constructed by using transmetallation procedures. Subsequent oxidation with iodine furnished the MM′X monodimensional chains [Ni_0.6Pt_1.4(EtCS₂)₄I] ( 4 ) and [Ni_0.1Pd_0.3Pt_1.6(EtCS₂)₄I] ( 5 ). The physical properties of these systems were investigated and the chain structures 4 and 5 were found to be reminiscent of the parent [Pt₂(EtCS₂)₄I] species. However, they were more sensitively dependent on the localised nature of the charge on the Ni ion, which caused spontaneous breaking of the conduction bands.     

Coexistence of Two Thermally Induced Intramolecular Electron Transfer Processes in a Series of Metal Complexes [M(Cat‐N‐BQ)(Cat‐N‐SQ)]/[M(Cat‐N‐BQ)2] (M=Co,Fe, and Ni) bearing Non‐Innocent Catechol‐Based Ligands: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

The different thermally induced intermolecular electron transfer (IET) processes that can take place in the series of complexes [M(Cat‐N‐BQ)(Cat‐N‐SQ)]/[M(Cat‐N‐BQ)₂], for which M=Co ( 2 ), Fe ( 3 ) and Ni( 4 ), and Cat‐N‐BQ and Cat‐N‐SQ denote the mononegative (Cat‐N‐BQ^?) or dinegative (Cat‐N‐SQ^2?) radical forms of the tridentate Schiff‐base ligand 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1,2‐quinone‐1‐(2‐hydroxy‐3,5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl)imine, have been studied by variable‐temperature UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopies. Depending on the metal ion, rather different behaviors are observed. Complex 2 has been found to be one of the few examples so far reported to exhibit the coexistence of two thermally induced electron transfer processes, ligand‐to‐metal (IET^LM) and ligand‐to‐ligand (IET^LL). IET^LL was only found to take place in complex 3 , and no IET was observed for complex 4 . Such experimental studies have been combined with ab initio wavefunction‐based CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations. Such a strategy allows one to solicit selectively the speculated orbitals and to access the ground states and excited‐spin states, as well as charge‐transfer states giving additional information on the different IET processes.     

A wheel-shaped single-molecule magnet of [MnII 3MnIII 4]: quantum tunneling of magnetization under static and pulse magnetic fields

The reaction of N-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)iminodiethanol (=H3(5-NO2-hbide)) with Mn(OAc)2* 4 H2O in methanol, followed by recrystallization from 1,2-dichloroethane, yielded a wheel-shaped single-molecule magnet (SMM) of [MnII 3MnIII 4(5-NO2-hbide)6].5 C2H4Cl2 (1). In 1, seven manganese ions are linked by six tri-anionic ligands and form the wheel in which the two manganese ions on the rim and the one in the center are MnII and the other four manganese ions are MnIII ions. Powder magnetic susceptibility measurements showed a gradual increase with chimT values as the temperature was lowered, reaching a maximum value of 53.9 emu mol(-1) K. Analyses of magnetic susceptibility data suggested a spin ground state of S=19/2. The zero-field splitting parameters of D and B 0 4 were estimated to be -0.283(1) K and -1.64(1)x10(-5) K, respectively, by high-field EPR measurements (HF-EPR). The anisotropic parameters agreed with those estimated from magnetization and inelastic neutron scattering experiments. AC magnetic susceptibility measurements showed frequency-dependent in- and out-of-phase signals, characteristic data for an SMM, and an Arrhenius plot of the relaxation time gave a re-orientation energy barrier (DeltaE) of 18.1 K and a pre-exponential factor of 1.63x10(-7) s. Magnetization experiments on aligned single crystals below 0.7 K showed a stepped hysteresis loop, confirming the occurrence of quantum tunneling of the on magnetization (QTM). QTM was, on the other hand, suppressed by rapid sweeps of the magnetic field even at 0.5 K. The sweep-rate dependence of the spin flips can be understood by considering the Landau-Zener-Stückelberg (LZS) model.     

Generation and coupling of [Mn(dmpe)2(C triple bond CR)(C triple bond C)]* radicals producing redox-active C4-bridged rigid-rod complexes

The symmetric d(5) trans-bis-alkynyl complexes [Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CSiR(3))(2)] (R = Me, 1 a; Et, 1 b; Ph, 1 c) (dmpe = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane) have been prepared by the reaction of [Mn(dmpe)(2)Br(2)] with two equivalents of the corresponding acetylide LiC triple bond CSiR(3). The reactions of species 1 with [Cp(2)Fe][PF(6)] yield the corresponding d(4) complexes [Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CSiR(3))(2)][PF(6)] (R = Me, 2 a; Et, 2 b; Ph, 2 c). These complexes react with NBu(4)F (TBAF) at -10 degrees C to give the desilylated parent acetylide compound [Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CH)(2)][PF(6)] (6), which is stable only in solution at below 0 degrees C. The asymmetrically substituted trans-bis-alkynyl complexes [Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CSiR(3))(C triple bond CH)][PF(6)] (R = Me, 7 a; Et, 7 b) related to 6 have been prepared by the reaction of the vinylidene compounds [Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CSiR(3))(C=CH(2))] (R = Me, 5 a; Et, 5 b) with two equivalents of [Cp(2)Fe][PF(6)] and one equivalent of quinuclidine. The conversion of [Mn(C(5)H(4)Me)(dmpe)I] with Me(3)SiC triple bond CSnMe(3) and dmpe afforded the trans-iodide-alkynyl d(5) complex [Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CSiMe(3))I] (9). Complex 9 proved to be unstable with regard to ligand disproportionation reactions and could therefore not be oxidized to a unique Mn(III) product, which prevented its further use in acetylide coupling reactions. Compounds 2 react at room temperature with one equivalent of TBAF to form the mixed-valent species [[Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CH)](2)(micro-C(4))][PF(6)] (11) by C-C coupling of [Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CH)(C triple bond C*)] radicals generated by deprotonation of 6. In a similar way, the mixed-valent complex [[Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CSiMe(3))](2)(micro-C(4))][PF(6)] [12](+) is obtained by the reaction of 7 a with one equivalent of DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene). The relatively long-lived radical intermediate [Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CH)(C triple bond C*)] could be trapped as the Mn(I) complex [Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CH)(triple bond C-CO(2))] (14) by addition of an excess of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) to the reaction mixtures of species 2 and TBAF. The neutral dinuclear Mn(II)/Mn(II) compounds [[Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CR(3))](2)(micro-C(4))] (R = H, 11; R = SiMe(3), 12) are produced by the reduction of [11](+) and [12](+), respectively, with [FeCp(C(6)Me(6))]. [11](+) and [12](+) can also be oxidized with [Cp(2)Fe][PF(6)] to produce the dicationic Mn(III)/Mn(III) species [[Mn(dmpe)(2)(C triple bond CR(3))](2)(micro-C(4))][PF(6)](2) (R = H, [11](2+); R = SiMe(3), [12](2+)). Both redox processes are fully reversible. The dinuclear compounds have been characterized by NMR, IR, UV/Vis, and Raman spectroscopies, CV, and magnetic susceptibilities, as well as elemental analyses. X-ray diffraction studies have been performed on complexes 4 b, 7 b, 9, [12](+), [12](2+), and 14.     

Ba2[Ni3N2]: a low-valent nitridonickelate-synthesis, crystal structure, and physical properties

The ternary alkaline-earth nitridonickelate Ba2[Ni3N2] (Ba2[NiI2Ni0N2]) was prepared by the reaction of mixtures of Ba2N and Ni in nitrogen gas of ambient back-pressure at 1173 K. The crystal structure determined by X-ray single-crystal and powder diffraction methods as well as from neutron diffraction data at various temperatures between 2 and 298 K is orthorhombic (Cmca (no. 64), 298 K: a=715.27(18) pm, b=1032.99(21) pm, c=740.12(20) pm) and provides the first example of a nitridonickelate with a two-dimensional complex anion. The Ni2 atom is described with a split position and the corresponding superstructure variants are investigated by theoretical full-potential nonorthogonal local-orbital calculations (FPLO). The average oxidation state of Ni in Ba2[Ni3N2] is +0.67, the lowest average value observed in nitridonickelates so far. Investigations of the physical properties demonstrate that Ba2[Ni3N2] acts as a "poor" metal with a large resistivity of approximately 2.7 mOmega cm at 300 K and exhibits low-dimensional magnetism with antiferromagnetic ordering at T approximately 90 K. XAS spectra correspond with low-valent Ni states.     

Structural and magnetic investigations of the mixed-valence Fe(II,III) two-dimensional layer complex, [Fe2(II) Fe2(III)(HCOO)10(C6H7N)6]n.

The structure of the complex, [Fe2(II)Fe2(III)(HCOO)10(C6H7N6)n, (1) exhibits a neutral two-dimensional layer network of alternating iron(II) and iron(III) ions, bridged equatorially by formate groups. All iron atoms are octahedrally coordinated, with iron(III) coordinating axially to one gamma-picoline and one formate group, while the iron(II) centers interact axially with two gamma-picoline groups, above and below the layer plane. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 at all studied temperatures [at 120 K, the cell dimensions are: a = 10.228(1), b = 12.071(1), c = 12.072(1) A, alpha = 89.801(2), beta = 71.149(2), gamma = 73.371(2) degrees]. An intralayer antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of J = -2.8 cm(-1) between iron(II) and iron(III) was observed in the magnetic studies. Decreasing the temperature to close to 20 K causes a magnetic-ordering phenomenon to occur and a low-temperature phase with a long-range antiferromagnetic spin orientation appears. The magnetic phase transition was confirmed by M?ssbauer spectroscopic studies at temperatures above and below the critical temperature. Structural information of 1 from synchrotron X-ray diffraction data collected at room temperature and 16 K suggests that the antiferromagnetic ordering is caused by an enhanced pi-pi interaction between chi-picoline groups from adjacent layers.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Tetrakis(tetramethylammonium) Bis[decabromotetraselenate(II)]‐bis[dibromodiselenate(I)], [(CH3)4N]4[(Se4Br10)2(Se2Br2)2], the Salt of a Mixed‐Valence Bromoselenate(II/I) Anion

Brown crystals of [NMe₄]₄[(Se₄Br₁₀)₂(Se₂Br₂)₂] ( 1 ) were obtained from the reaction of selenium and bromine in acetonitrile in the presence of tetramethylammonium bromide. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by X‐ray diffraction and refined to R = 0.0297 for 8401 reflections. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c with Z = 4 and a = 12.646(3) Å, b = 16.499(3) Å, c = 16.844(3) Å, β = 101.70(3)° (123 K). In the solid‐state structure, the anion of 1 is built up of two [Se₄Br₁₀]^2– ions. Each shows a triangular arrangement of three planar SeBr₄ units sharing a common edge through two μ₃‐bridging bromine atoms, and one SeBr₂ molecule, which is linked to the Se^II atoms of two SeBr₄ units; between the Se₄Br₁₀^2– ions a dimerized Se₂Br₂ molecule (Se₄Br₄) is situated and one Se^I atom of each Se₂Br₂ molecule has two weak contacts [3.3514(14) Å and 3.3952(11) Å] to two bromine atoms of one SeBr₄ unit. Four Se^I atoms of a dimerized Se₂Br₂ molecule are in a almost regular planar tetraangular arrangement. Contacts between the Se^II atom of the SeBr₂ molecule and the Se^II atoms of two SeBr₄ units are 3.035(1) Å and 3.115(1) Å, and can be interpreted as donor‐acceptor type bonds with the Se^II atoms of SeBr₄ units as donors and the SeBr₂ molecule as acceptor. The terminal Se^II–Br and μ₃‐Br–Se^II bond lengths are in the ranges 2.3376(10) to 2.4384(8) Å and 2.8036(9) to 3.3183(13) Å, respectively. The bond lengths in the dimerized Se₂Br₂ molecule are: Se^I–Se^I = 2.2945(8) Å and 3.1398(12), Se^I–Br = 2.3659(11) and 2.3689(10) Å.     

Theoretical study on inverse sandwiches [M(AIP)]2(C4H4) (M = V,Cr): High spin multiplicity of septet and nonet

The experimental synthesis of quintet [V(AIP)]₂(μ‐C₆H₆) and septet [Cr(AIP)]₂(μ‐C₆H₆) analogues provide a new strategy to produce high spin multiplicity by utilizing inverse sandwiches. Aiming to design higher spin multiplicity, [M(AIP)]₂(μ‐C₄H₄) (M = Cr, V) using C₄H₄ as central ligand are theoretically proposed. For [V(AIP)]₂(μ‐C₄H₄), the most stable isomer group contains the septet and the open‐shell singlet isomers, which have three unpaired electrons on each V atoms. For [Cr(AIP)]₂(μ‐C₄H₄), the most stable isomer group contains the septet and the nonet isomers, which have three and four unpaired electrons on each Cr atoms, respectively. The dissociation energies indicate that the above [M(AIP)]₂(μ‐C₄H₄) are as stable as the available [M(AIP)]₂(μ‐C₆H₆). It would be a reasonable strategy using C₄H₄ as central ligand to induce the higher spin multiplicity of inverse sandwiches.