A new mode of reactivity for pyridine N-oxide: C-H activation with uranium(IV) and thorium(IV) bis(alkyl) complexes

Uranium(IV) and thorium(IV) bis(alkyl) complexes of the type (C5Me5)2AnR2 (An = U, Th; R = CH3, CH2Ph) activate the sp2 and sp3 hybridized C-H bonds in pyridine N-oxide and lutidine N-oxide to produce the corresponding cyclometalated complexes, (C5Me5)2An(R)[eta2-(O,C)-ONC5H4] and (C5Me5)2An(R)[eta2-(O,C)-ON-2-CH2-5-CH3-C5H3]. These provide rare examples of C-H activation chemistry mediated by actinide metal centers. This chemistry is in contrast to the known oxygen atom transfer reactivity patterns of pyridine N-oxides with oxophilic metal complexes and constitutes a new mode of reactivity for pyridine N-oxides.     

Methoxycarbonylation of olefins catalyzed by palladium complexes bearing P,N-donor ligands

The methoxycarbonylation of alkenes catalyzed by palladium(II) complexes with P,N-donor ligands, 2-(diphenylphosphinoamino)pyridine (Ph2PNHpy), 2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]pyridine (Ph2PCH2py), and 2-(diphenylphosphino)quinoline (Ph2Pqn) has been investigated. The results show that the complex [PdCl(PPh3)(Ph2PNHpy)]Cl or an equimolar mixture of [PdCl2(Ph2PNHpy)] and PPh3, in the presence of p-toluensulfonic acid (TsOH), is an efficient catalyst for this reaction. This catalytic system promotes the conversion of styrene into methyl 2-phenylpropanoate and methyl 3-phenylpropanoate with nearly complete chemoselectivity, 98% regioselectivity in the branched isomer, and high turnover frequency, even at alkene/Pd molar ratios of 1000. Best results were obtained in toluene-MeOH (3 : 1) solvent. The Pd/Ph2PNHpy catalyst is also efficient in the methoxycarbonylation of cyclohexene and 1-hexene, although with lower rates than with styrene. Related palladium complexes [PdCl(PPh3)L]Cl (L = Ph2PCH2py and Ph2Pqn) show lower activity in the methoxycarbonylation of styrene than that of the 2-(diphenylphosphinoamino)pyridine ligand. Replacement of the last ligand by (diphenylphosphino)phenylamine (Ph2PNHPh) or 2-(diphenylphosphinoaminomethyl)pyridine (Ph2PNMepy) also reduces significantly the activity of the catalyst, indicating that both the presence of the pyridine fragment as well as the NH group, are required to achieve a high performing catalyst. Isotopic labeling experiments using MeOD are consistent with a hydride mechanism for the [PdCl(PPh3)(Ph2PNHpy)]Cl catalyst.     

A new series of dinuclear Au(I) complexes linked by diethynylpyridine groups

A series of novel digold complexes incorporating ethynyl pyridine derivatives as a spacer unit, [(R(3)P)Au(C[triple bond]C)X(C[triple bond]C)Au(PR(3))] (R = Ph, X = 2,5-pyridine (1); R = Cy (cyclohexane), X = 2,5-pyridine (2); R = Ph, X = 2,6-pyridine (3); R = Ph, X = 2,5'-bipyridine (4); R = Ph, X = 2,6'-bipyridine (5)), has been synthesised. All the complexes have been characterised spectroscopically and the structures determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The central (C[triple bond]C)(X)(C[triple bond]C) unit is essentially linear for complexes 1, 2 and 4 and kinked for complexes 3 and 5, but only in 1, with the shortest spacer group and the less bulky phosphine ligand, is there evidence of d(10)...d(10) Au...Au interactions (Au-Au 3.351(2) A). The solution UV/visible absorption and emission spectra for all the complexes are similar to those of the free ligands suggesting that the spectra are dominated by pi-pi* ligand-centred transitions and this is confirmed by DFT calculations.     

Rhenium(I) polypyridine biotin isothiocyanate complexes as the first luminescent biotinylation reagents: synthesis, photophysical properties, biological labeling, cytotoxicity, and imaging studies

We report here the design of the first class of luminescent biotinylation reagents derived from rhenium(I) polypyridine complexes. These complexes [Re(N-N)(CO)(3)(py-biotin-NCS)](PF(6)) (py-biotin-NCS = 3-isothiocyanato-5-(N-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)aminocarbonyl)pyridine; N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (1a), 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Me(4)-phen) (2a), 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Ph(2)-phen) (3a)), containing a biotin unit and an isothiocyanate moiety, have been synthesized from the precursor amine complexes [Re(N-N)(CO)(3)(py-biotin-NH(2))](PF(6)) (py-biotin-NH(2) = 3-amino-5-(N-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)aminocarbonyl)pyridine; N-N = phen (1c), Me(4)-phen (2c), Ph(2)-phen (3c)). To investigate the amine-specific reactivity of the isothiocyanate complexes 1a-3a, they have been reacted with a model substrate ethylamine, resulting in the formation of the thiourea complexes [Re(N-N)(CO)(3)(py-biotin-TU-Et)](PF(6)) (py-biotin-TU-Et = 3-ethylthioureidyl-5-(N-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)aminocarbonyl)pyridine; N-N = phen (1b), Me(4)-phen (2b), Ph(2)-phen (3b)). All the rhenium(I) complexes have been characterized, and their photophysical properties have been studied. The avidin-binding properties of the thiourea complexes 1b-3b have been examined by the 4'-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid (HABA) assay. Titration results indicated that the complexes exhibited emission enhancement by ca. 1.4-1.5-fold upon binding to avidin, and the lifetimes were elongated to ca. 0.8-2.0 micros. Additionally, we have biotinylated bovine serum albumin (BSA) with the isothiocyanate complexes. All the resultant rhenium-BSA bioconjugates displayed intense and long-lived orange-yellow to greenish-yellow emission upon irradiation in aqueous buffer under ambient conditions. The avidin-binding properties of the bioconjugates have been investigated using the HABA assay. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the thiourea complexes 1b-3b toward the HeLa cells has been examined by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The IC50 values were determined to be ca. 17.5-28.5 microM, which are comparable to that of cisplatin (26.7 microM) under the same conditions. The cellular uptake of complex 3b has been investigated by fluorescence microscopy, and the results showed that the complex was localized in the perinuclear region after interiorization.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of ruthenium carboxylato and 2-oxocarboxylato complexes bearing the bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetato ligand

A series of ruthenium(II) acetonitrile, pyridine (py), carbonyl, SO2, and nitrosyl complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(L)(PPh3)] (L = NCMe, py, CO, SO2) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(L)(PPh3)]BF4 (L = NO) containing the bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetato (bdmpza) ligand, a N,N,O heteroscorpionate ligand, have been prepared. Starting from ruthenium chlorido, carboxylato, or 2-oxocarboxylato complexes, a variety of acetonitrile complexes [Ru(bdmpza)Cl(NCMe)(PPh3)] (4) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(NCMe)(PPh3)] (R = Me (5a), R = Ph (5b)), as well as the pyridine complexes [Ru(bdmpza)Cl(PPh3)(py)] (6) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(PPh3)(py)] (R = Me (7a), R = Ph (7b), R = (CO)Me (8a), R = (CO)Et (8b), R = (CO)Ph) (8c)), have been synthesized. Treatment of various carboxylato complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(PPh3)2] (R = Me (2a), Ph (2b)) with CO afforded carbonyl complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(CO)(PPh3)] (9a, 9b). In the same way, the corresponding sulfur dioxide complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CMe)(PPh3)(SO2)] (10a) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CPh)(PPh3)(SO2)] (10b) were formed in a reaction of the carboxylato complexes with gaseous SO2. None of the 2-oxocarboxylato complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2C(CO)R)(PPh3)2] (R = Me (3a), Et (3b), Ph (3c)) showed any reactivity toward CO or SO2, whereas the nitrosyl complex cations [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CMe)(NO)(PPh3)](+) (11) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2C(CO)Ph)(NO)(PPh3)](+) (12) were formed in a reaction of the acetato 2a or the benzoylformato complex 3c with an excess of nitric oxide. Similar cationic carboxylato nitrosyl complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(NO)(PPh3)]BF4 (R = Me (13a), R = Ph (13b)) and 2-oxocarboxylato nitrosyl complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2C(CO)R)(NO)(PPh3)]BF4 (R = Me (14a), R = Et (14b), R = Ph (14c)) are also accessible via a reaction with NO[BF4]. X-ray crystal structures of the chlorido acetonitrile complex [Ru(bdmpza)Cl(NCMe)(PPh3)] (4), the pyridine complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CMe)(PPh3)(py)] (7a) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CC(O)Et)(PPh3)(py)] (8b), the carbonyl complex [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CPh)(CO)(PPh3)] (9b), the sulfur dioxide complex [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CPh)(PPh3)(SO2)] (10b), as well as the nitrosyl complex [Ru(bdmpza)(O2C(CO)Me)(NO)(PPh3)]BF4 (14a), are reported. The molecular structure of the sulfur dioxide complex [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CPh)(PPh3)(SO2)] (10b) revealed a rather unusual intramolecular SO2-O2CPh Lewis acid-base adduct.     

金属有机多齿配体配位化学: 双核化合物的形成促使铁卡宾键的稳定化

单核物MXn[MXn=HgCl2,HgI2,CdCl2,K2Zn(SCN)4]与1,3-二硫铁卡宾化合物Fe(CO)2.(Ph2PPy)2[CS2C2(CO2Me)2]反应生成稳定的双核铁卡宾配合物FeM(μ-Ph2PPy)2[CS2C2.(CO2Me)2](CO2)2X2(Ph2PPy为2-二苯基膦基吡啶)。这些配合物为IR,^3^1P NMR, 及元素分析所证实。     

A luminescent platinum(II) 2,6-bis(N-pyrazolyl)pyridine complex

Four platinum(II) cationic complexes were prepared with the mer-coordinating tridentate ligands 2,6-bis(N-pyrazolyl)pyridine (bpp) and 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazolyl)pyridine (bdmpp): [Pt(bpp)Cl]Cl.H(2)O; [Pt(bdmpp)Cl]Cl.H(2)O; [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF(6)); [Pt(bdmpp)(Ph)](PF(6)). The complexes were characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry, and the structures of the bpp derivatives were determined by X-ray crystallography. [Pt(bpp)Cl]Cl.2H(2)O: monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 11.3218(5) A, b = 6.7716(3) A, c = 20.6501(6) A, beta = 105.883(2) degrees, V = 1522.73(11) A(3), Z = 4. The square planar cations stack in a head-to-tail fashion to form a linear chain structure with alternating Pt...Pt distances of 3.39 and 3.41 A. [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF(6)).CH(3)CN: triclinic, P, a = 8.3620(3) A, b = 10.7185(4) A, c = 13.4273(5) A, alpha = 96.057(1) degrees, beta = 104.175(1) degrees, gamma = 110.046(1) degrees, V = 1072.16(7) A(3), Z = 2. Cyclic voltammograms indicate all four complexes undergo irreversible reductions between -1.0 and -1.3 V vs Ag/AgCl (0.1 M TBAPF(6)/CH(3)CN), attributable to ligand- and/or metal-centered processes. By comparison to related 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine complexes, the electrochemical and UV-visible absorption data are consistent with bpp being both a weaker sigma-donor and pi-acceptor than terpyridine. Solid samples of [Pt(bpp)(Ph)](PF(6)) at 77 K exhibit a remarkably intense, narrow emission centered at 655 nm, whereas the other three complexes exhibit only very weak emission.     

Intramolecular hydrogen transfer of aminocarbene complexes leading to imines

Displacement of the amino carbene ligand from complexes of the type [(CO)₅CrC(R)NHR′] [R = Ph; R′ = Ph, NHPh; R = Me, R′ = 2-(3-indolyl)ethyl] with a coordinating base such as pyridine, affords the corresponding imine, RCH = NR′, as a result of intramolecular hydrogen transfer. The intermediacy ofa hydrazinocarbene complex in the reaction of an alkoxy carbene complex with hydrazines to give a coordinated nitrile is established.     

Synthesis and characterisation of mixed ligand Pt(II) and Pt(IV) oxadiazoline complexes

The nitrile ligands in trans-[PtX2(PhCN)2] (X = Cl, Br, I) undergo sequential 1,3 dipolar cycloadditions with nitrones R1R2C=N+(Me)-O(-) (R1 = H, R2 = Ph; R1 = CO2Et, R2 = CH2CO2Et) to selectively form the Delta4-1,2,4-oxadiazoline complexes trans-[PtX2(PhCN) (N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)] or trans-[PtX2(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)2] in high yields. The reactivity of the mixed ligand complexes trans-[PtX2(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)] towards oxidation and ligand substitution was studied in more detail. Oxidation with Cl2 or Br2 provides the Pt(IV) species trans-[PtX2Y2(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))] (X, Y = Cl, Br). The mixed halide complex (X = Cl, Y = Br) undergoes halide scrambling in solution to form trans-[PtX(4-n)Yn(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))] as a statistical mixture. Ligand substitution in trans-[PtCl2(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)] allows for selective replacement of the coordinated nitrile by nitrogen heterocycles such as pyridine, DMAP or 1-benzyl-2-methylimidazole to produce mixed ligand Pt(II) complexes of the type trans- [PtX2(heterocycle)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)]. All compounds were characterised by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR and 1H, 13C and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of (R,S)-trans-[PtBr2(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))2] and trans-[PtCl2(C5H5N)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))] confirms the molecular structure and the trans configuration of the heterocycles relative to each other.     

Influence of steric hindrance on the core geometry and sulfoxidation chemistry of carboxylate-rich diiron(II) complexes

The asymmetric terphenyl-2'-carboxylate ligand 3,5-dimethyl-1,1':3',1' '-terphenyl-2'-carboxylate, -O2CArPh,Xyl, was prepared in high yield. This ligand facilitates the assembly of the diiron(II) complexes [Fe2(micro-O2CArTol)2(O2CArPh,Xyl)2(THF)2] [2, -O2CArTol=2,6-di-p-tolylbenzoate], [Fe2(micro-O2CArTol)2(O2CArPh,Xyl)2(pyridine)2] (5), [Fe2(micro-O2CArPh,Xyl)2-(O2CArPh,Xyl)2(THF)2] (3), and [Fe2(micro-O2CArPh,Xyl)2(O2CArPh,Xyl)2(pyridine)2] (6), all of which have a windmill geometry. The iron-iron distance of 3.355[10] A in 6 is approximately 1 A shorter than that in the analogue [Fe2(micro-O2CArTol)2(O2CArTol)2(pyridine)2] (4) and similar to the approximately 3.3 A metal-metal separation at the active site of the reduced diiron(II) form of the soluble methane monooxygenase hydroxylase enzyme (MMOHred). A series of ortho-substituted picolyl-based ligands, 2-picSMe, 2-picSEt, 2-picStBu, 2-picSPh, 2-picSPh(Me3) (Ph(Me3)=mesityl), and 2-picSPh(iPr3) (Ph(iPr3)=2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl), were prepared and allowed to react with [Fe2(micro-O2CAr)2(O2CAr)2(THF)2] to produce [Fe2(micro-O2CAr)3(O2CAr)(picSR)] (7-13, Ar=ArTol or ArPh,Xyl) complexes in 45-87% yields. The substrates tethered to the pyridine N-donor ligands picSR, where R=Me, Et, tBu, or Ph, coordinate to one iron atom of the diiron(II) center by the nitrogen and sulfur atoms to form a five-membered chelate ring. The Fe-S distance be-comes elongated with increasing steric hindrance imparted by the R group. The most sterically hindered ligands, 2-picSPh(Me3) and 2-picSPh(iPr3), bind to the metal only through the pyridine nitrogen atom. The reactions of several of these complexes with dioxygen were investigated, and the oxygenated products were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy and GC/MS measurements following decomposition on a Chelex resin. The amount of sulfoxidation product is correlated with the Fe...S distance. The ratio of oxidized to unoxidized thioether substrate varies from 3.5, obtained upon oxygenation of the weakly coordinated 2-picSPh ligand in 10, to 1.0, obtained for the bulky 2-picSPh(iPr3) ligand in 12, for which the iron-sulfur distance is >4 A. External thioether substrates were not oxidized when present in oxygenated solutions of paddlewheel and windmill diiron(II) complexes containing 1-methylimidazole or pyridine ligands, respectively.     

Self-assembly of polymer and sheet structures in palladium(II) complexes containing carboxylic acid substituents

A series of complexes trans-[PdCl(2)L(2)] has been prepared by the reaction of [PdCl(2)(PhCN)(2)] and/or Na(2)[PdCl(4)] with L = pyridine or quinoline ligands having one or two carboxylic acid groups. These complexes can form 1-D polymers through O-H.O hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic acid groups, as demonstrated by structure determinations of [PdCl(2)(NC(5)H(4)-4-COOH)(2)], [PdCl(2)(NC(5)H(4)-3-COOH)(2)], and [PdCl(2)(2-Ph-NC(9)H(5)-4-COOH)(2)]. In some cases, solvation breaks down the O-H.O hydrogen-bonded structures, as in the structures of [PdCl(2)(NC(5)H(4)-3-COOH)(2)].2DMSO and [PdCl(2)(2-Ph-NC(9)H(5)-4-COOH)(2)].4DMF, while pyridine-2-carboxylic acid underwent deprotonation to give the chelate complex [Pd(NC(5)H(4)-2-C(O)O)(2)]. The complexes trans-[PdCl(2)L(2)], L = pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid or 2,6-dimethyl pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid, self-assembled to give 2-D sheet structures, with hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic acid groups mediated by solvate methanol or water molecules. In the cationic complexes [PdL'(2)L(2)](2+) (L'(2) = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2), Ph(2)P(CH(2))(3)PPh(2); L = pyridine carboxylic acid; anions X(-) = CF(3)SO(3)(-)), hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic acid groups and anions or solvate acetone molecules occurred, and only in one case was a polymeric complex formed by self-assembly.     

Synthesis and characterization of diorganohydrazido(2-) tungsten complexes

Diorganohydrazido(2-) complexes of tungsten (L)Cl4W(NNR2) [R2=Me2, Ph2, -(CH2)5-; L=CH3CN, pyridine] were synthesized by reacting the corresponding 1,1-diorganohydrazine with WCl6, followed by reaction with acetonitrile or pyridine. Crystallographic structure determination of (CH3CN)Cl4W(NNMe2) and (CH3CN)Cl4W(NNPh2) allows a comparison of the structural features of the diorganohydrazido(2-) functionality with varying substituents. Mass spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, and preliminary chemical vapor deposition experiments were performed to determine the viability of these complexes as single-source precursors for deposition of WNx and WNxCy films.     

Etudes sur les composés organométalliques V [1]. Action de la pyridine sur les organomagnésiens

By the action of pyridine on various Grignard reagents at room temperature, new diorganomagnesium complexes R₂Mg · 2pyridine (R=Ph, n-Bu, t-Bu and Et) were prepared and analyzed. Anomalous results were obtained with methyl- or benzylmagnesium reagents.     

A Route to 1,2,4-oxadiazoles and their complexes via platinum-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to organonitriles

A significant activation of the Ctbd1;N group in organonitriles upon their coordination to a platinum(IV) center has been found in the reaction of [PtCl(4)(RCN)(2)] (R = Me, Et, CH(2)Ph) with the nitrile oxides 2,4,6-R'(3)C(6)H(2)CNO (R' = Me, OMe) to give the (1,2,4-oxadiazole)platinum(IV) complexes (R = Me, R' = Me (1); R = Et, R' = Me (2); R = Et, R' = OMe (3); R = CH(2)Ph, R' = Me (4)); the [2 + 3] cycloaddition was performed under mild conditions (unless poor solubility of [PtCl(4)(RCN)(2)] precludes the reaction) starting even from complexed acetonitrile and propionitrile, which exhibit low reactivity in the free state. The reaction between complexes 2-4 and 1 equiv of Ph(3)P=CHCO(2)Me in CH(2)Cl(2) leads to the appropriate platinum(II) complexes (5-7); the reduction failed only in the case of 1 insofar as this complex is insoluble in the most common organic solvents. All the platinum compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, FAB mass spectrometry, and IR and (1)H, (13)C((1)H), and (195)Pt NMR spectroscopies, and three of them also by X-ray crystallography. The oxadiazoles formed in the course of the metal-mediated reaction were liberated almost quantitatively from their Pt(IV) complexes by reaction of the latter (complexes 2-4) with an excess of pyridine in chloroform, giving free 1,2,4-oxadiazoles and trans-[PtCl(4)(pyridine)(2)]; the sequence of the Pt(IV)-mediated [2 + 3] cycloaddition and the liberation opens up an alternative route for the preparation of this important class of heterocycles.     

Synthesis and coordination properties of new bis(phosphinomethyl)pyridine N,P,P'-trioxides

In a search for more hydrocarbon solvent soluble derivatives of the parent ligand, 2,6-[Ph(2)P(O)CH(2)](2)C(5)H(3)NO (1a), a series of new ligands, 2,6-[R(2)P(O)CH(2)](2)C(5)H(3)NO [R = Bz (1b); Tol (1c); Et (1d); Pr (1e); Bu (1f); Pn (1g); Hx (1h); Hp (1i); and Oct (1j)] and 2,6-[RR'P(O)CH(2)](2)C(5)H(3)NO [R = Ph, R' = Bz (2a); R = Ph, R' = Me (2b); R = Ph, R' = Hx (2c); R = Ph, R' = Oct (2d)], have been prepared by either Arbusov or Grignard substitutions on 2,6-bis(chloromethyl)pyridine followed by N-oxidation. The new ligands have been characterized by spectroscopic methods, and their coordination chemistry with selected lanthanide ions has been surveyed. Several 1:1 and 2:1 ligand/metal complexes have been isolated, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses for Nd(2a)(NO(3))(3), Er(2a)(NO(3))(3), Yb(1d)(NO(3))(3), and [Nd(1c)(2)](NO(3))(3) are described. The new structural data are discussed in relation to the structures of complexes formed by 1a.     

Heterobimetallic reductive cross-coupling of benzonitrile with carbon dioxide, pyridine, and benzophenone

Described herein are heterobimetallic radical cross-coupling reactions between the benzonitrile adduct of the molybdenum(III) complex Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 (Ar = 3,5-C6H3Me2) and titanium(III) complexes with carbon dioxide, pyridine, and benzophenone. The titanium(III) system employed was either Ti(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 (Ar = 3,5-C6H3Me2) or Ti(N[t-Bu]Ph)3. Crystal structure studies are described for the Mo/PhCN/CO2/Ti coupled system and for an analogue of the Mo/PhCN/Ph2CO/Ti coupled system in which PhCN is replaced with 2,6-Me2C6H3CN. In the case of the couplings involving pyridine and benzophenone, C-C bond formation takes place with dearomatization, with the new C-C bond being formed between the nitrile carbon of PhCN and the para carbon of pyridine or one of the benzophenone phenyl groups. Of the radical metal complex/substrate adducts invoked in this work, that between titanium(III) and CO2 is the only one not directly observable. In all cases, the selective cross-coupling reactions are interpreted as arising by heterodimerization of titanium(III) substrate complexes (substrate = CO2, py, or Ph2CO) with the persistent molybdenum-PhCN radical adduct. All of the heterobimetallic coupling products are diamagnetic, and the metal ions Ti and Mo in them both are assigned to the formal 4+ oxidation state.     

High electrophilicity at silicon in η3-silane σ-complexes: Lewis base adducts of a silane ligand, featuring octahedral silicon and three Ru-H-Si interactions

New η(3)-silane σ-complexes [PhBP(Ph)(3)]RuH(η(3)-H(2)SiRR') (RR' = PhMe, Ph(2)) were synthesized. Lewis bases [THF, 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, and PMe(3)] coordinate to the silicon centers of these complexes to form stable adducts. The base adducts, [PhBP(Ph)(3)]Ru(μ-H)(3)SiRR'(base), feature three nonclassical Ru-H-Si interactions and hexacoordinate silicon centers, as determined by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and computational investigations.     

Synthesis and reactivity of the imido analogues of the uranyl ion

Addition of 1.5 equiv of I2 to a THF solution of UI3(THF)4, containing either 6 equiv of tBuNH2 or 2 equiv of RNH2 (R = Ph, 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3, 2,6-(iPr)2C6H3) and 4 equiv of NEt3, generates orange solutions containing U(NtBu)2I2(THF)2 (1) or U(NAr)2I2(THF)3 (Ar = Ph, 2; 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3, 3; 2,6-(iPr)2C6H3, 4), respectively, all of which can be isolated in good yields. Alternatively, 1 can be prepared by reaction of uranium metal with 3 equiv of I2 and 6 equiv of tBuNH2, also in good yield. Complexes 1-4 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, and each of these complexes exhibits linear N-U-N linkages and short U-N bonds. Using density functional theory simulations of complexes 1 and 2, two triple bonds between the metal center and the nitrogen ligands were identified. Complexes 1 and 2 readily react with neutral Lewis bases such as pyridine or Ph3PO to form U(NR)2I2(L)2 (R = tBu, L = py, 5; Ph3PO, 7; R = Ph, L = py, 6; Ph3PO, 8), and with PMe3 to form U(NR)2I2(THF)(PMe3)2 (R = tBu, 9; Ph, 10). The solid-state molecular structures of 5, 7, and 9 have been determined by X-ray crystallography, and these complexes, like their parent compounds, exhibit linear N-U-N angles and short U-N bonds. Complexes 1 and 2 also react with AgOTf in CH2Cl2, forming U(NR)2(OTf)2(THF)3 (R = tBu, 11; Ph, 12) after recrystallization from THF. Crystals of 12 grown from CH2Cl2 were found to contain a dimer, [U(NPh)2(OTf)2(THF)2]2, a complex possessing bridging triflate groups.     

Cyclometalated iridium(III) diimine bis(biotin) complexes as the first luminescent biotin-based cross-linkers for avidin

Four luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) diimine complexes [Ir(N-C)2(N-N)](PF6) (HN-C = 2-(4-(N-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)aminomethyl)phenyl)pyridine, Hppy-4-CH2NHC2NH-biotin, N-N = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, Me4-phen (1a); N-N = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, Ph2-phen (2a); HN-C = 2-(4-(N-((6-biotinamido)hexyl)aminomethyl)phenyl)pyridine, Hppy-4-CH2NHC6NH-biotin, N-N = Me4-phen (1b); N-N = Ph2-phen (2b)), each containing two biotin units, have been synthesized and characterized. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of these complexes have been investigated. Photoexcitation of these iridium(III) diimine bis(biotin) complexes in fluid solutions at 298 K and in alcohol glass at 77 K resulted in intense and long-lived luminescence. The emission is assigned to a triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) (d pi(Ir) --> pi*(N-N)) excited state. The emissive states of complexes 1a,b are probably mixed with some 3IL (pi --> pi*) (Me4-phen) character. The interactions of these iridium(III) diimine bis(biotin) complexes with avidin have been studied by 4'-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid (HABA) assays and emission titrations. The potential for these complexes to act as cross-linkers for avidin has been examined by resonance-energy transfer- (RET-) based emission quenching experiments, microscopy studies using avidin-conjugated microspheres, and HPLC analysis.     

Modular approach to tridentate N,O,N' ligands using pyrazolylborate chemistry

Two anionic tridentate N,O,N' chelators, [pz(Ph)B(mu-pz)(mu-O)B(Ph)pz](-) (3(-)) and [pz(Ph)(Ph)B(mu-pz)(mu-O)B(Ph)pz(Ph)](-) (4(-)), as well as the corresponding complexes [Fe(3)(py)Cl], [Fe(3)Cl(2)] and [Cu(3)Cl], have been synthesised and structurally characterised by X-ray crystallography (pz: pyrazolyl, pz(Ph): 3-phenylpyrazolyl, py: pyridine). Since our synthesis approach takes advantage of the highly modular pyrazolylborate chemistry, inexpensive and relatively resistant N,O,N' ligands of varying steric demand are readily accessible. The complexes [Fe(3)(py)Cl] and [Fe(3)Cl(2)] possess a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal configuration with the pyrazolyl rings occupying equatorial positions and the oxygen donor being located at an apical position. The complex [Cu(3)Cl] crystallises as chloro-bridged dimers featuring Cu(II) ions with ligand environments that are intermediate between a square-planar and a trigonal-bipyramidal geometry.