Cationic Allyl Complexes of the Rare‐Earth Metals: Synthesis,Structural Characterization,and 1,3‐Butadiene Polymerization Catalysis

Monocationic bis‐allyl complexes [Ln(η³‐C₃H₅)₂(thf)₃]⁺[B(C₆X₅)₄]^? (Ln=Y, La, Nd; X=H, F) and dicationic mono‐allyl complexes of yttrium and the early lanthanides [Ln(η³‐C₃H₅)(thf)₆]²⁺[BPh₄]₂^? (Ln=La, Nd) were prepared by protonolysis of the tris‐allyl complexes [Ln(η³‐C₃H₅)₃(diox)] (Ln=Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm; diox=1,4‐dioxane) isolated as a 1,4‐dioxane‐bridged dimer (Ln=Ce) or THF adducts [Ln(η³‐C₃H₅)₃(thf)₂] (Ln=Ce, Pr). Allyl abstraction from the neutral tris‐allyl complex by a Lewis acid, ER₃ (Al(CH₂SiMe₃)₃, BPh₃) gave the ion pair [Ln(η³‐C₃H₅)₂(thf)₃]⁺[ER₃(η¹‐CH₂CH?CH₂)]^? (Ln=Y, La; ER₃=Al(CH₂SiMe₃)₃, BPh₃). Benzophenone inserts into the La? C_allyl bond of [La(η³‐C₃H₅)₂(thf)₃]⁺[BPh₄]^? to form the alkoxy complex [La{OCPh₂(CH₂CH?CH₂)}₂(thf)₃]⁺[BPh₄]^?. The monocationic half‐sandwich complexes [Ln(η⁵‐C₅Me₄SiMe₃)(η³‐C₃H₅)(thf)₂]⁺[B(C₆X₅)₄]^? (Ln=Y, La; X=H, F) were synthesized from the neutral precursors [Ln(η⁵‐C₅Me₄SiMe₃)(η³‐C₃H₅)₂(thf)] by protonolysis. For 1,3‐butadiene polymerization catalysis, the yttrium‐based systems were more active than the corresponding lanthanum or neodymium homologues, giving polybutadiene with approximately 90 % 1,4‐cis stereoselectivity.     

Remote Multiproton Storage within a Pyrrolide‐Pincer‐Type Ligand

A chemically non‐innocent pyrrole‐based trianionic (ONO)^3? pincer ligand within [(pyr‐ONO)TiCl(thf)₂] ( 2 ) can access the dianionic [(3H‐pyr‐ONO)TiCl₂(thf)] ( 1‐THF ) and monoanionic [(3H,4H‐pyr‐ONO)TiCl₂(OEt₂)][B{3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃}₄] ( 3‐Et₂O ) states through remote protonation of the pyrrole γ‐C π‐bonds. The homoleptic [(3H‐pyr‐ONO)₂Zr] ( 4 ) was synthesized and characterized by X‐ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy in solution. The protonation of 4 by [H(OEt₂)₂][B{C₆H₃(CF₃)₂}₄] yields [(3H,4H‐pyr‐ONO)(3H‐pyr‐ONO)Zr][B{3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃}₄] ( 5 ), thus demonstrating the storage of three protons.     

Organoamido- and aryloxo-lanthanoids. XIII [1]. Organometallic compounds of the lanthanoids. CV [2]. New Lanthanoid(III) Complexes with Pyrazolate Ligands

The complexes Er(Me₂pz)₃(thf) and Ln(Ph₂pz)₃(thf)_n (Ln = Sc, Y, Gd, Er, n = 2; Ln = Lu, n = 3) (Me₂pz^? = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolate, thf = tetrahydrofuran, Ph₂pz^? = 3,5-diphenylpyrazolate) have been prepared by reaction of the lanthanoid metal with bis(pentafluorophenyl)mercury and the pyrazole in thf. The Ln(Ph₂pz)₃(thf)₂ complexes are considered to be eight coordinate with three η²-Ph₂pz ligands. Other lanthanoid pyrazolate complexes, Y(pz)₃(thf)₂, La(Me₂pz)₃(thf), Cp₂Ln(Me₂pz)(thf)_n (Ln = Y, Lu, n = 0; Ln = Lu, n = 1), (C₅Me₅)₂Y(pz)(thf), (C₅Me₅)₂Y(Mepz)(thf), (C₅Me₅)₂Y(Me₂pz)(thf)₂ (pz^? = pyrazolate, Mepz^? = 3-methylpyrazolate, Cp = cyclopentadienyl) have been synthesized by reaction of LnCl₃, Cp₂LnCl, or (C₅Me₅)₂LnCl with the appropriate sodium pyrazolate in thf. The structure of Ln(Me₂pz)₃(thf) (Ln = La or Er) is considered to be a symmetrical dimer with four chelating and two bridging Me₂pz groups, and two bridging thf ligands, whereas the cyclopentadienyl complexes are most likely dimers with bridging pyrazolate groups, and lattice thf of solvation.     

Synthesis, molecular structure, and catalytic activity of borohydride complexes [(Me3Si)2NC(NPri)2]2Nd(BH4)2Li(thf)2 and [(Me3Si)2NC(NPri)2]2Sm(BH4)2Li(thf)2

The reactions of lanthanide tris(borohydrides) Ln(BH₄)₃(thf)₃ (Ln = Sm or Nd) with 2 equiv. of lithium N,N′-diisopropyl-N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)guanidinate in toluene produced the [(Me₃Si)₂NC(NPrⁱ)₂]Ln(BH₄)₂Li(thf)₂ complexes (Ln = Sm or Nd), which were isolated in 57 and 42% yields, respectively, by recrystallization from hexane. X-ray diffraction experiments and NMR and IR spectroscopic studies demonstrated that the reactions afford monomeric ate complexes, in which the lanthanide and lithium atoms are linked to each other by two bridging borohydride groups. The complexes exhibit catalytic activity in polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 441–445, March, 2007.     

Rare-earth metal allyl and hydrido complexes supported by an (NNNN)-type macrocyclic ligand: synthesis, structure, and reactivity toward biomass-derived furanics

The preparation and characterization of a series of neutral rare‐earth metal complexes [Ln(Me₃TACD)(η³‐C₃H₅)₂] (Ln=Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) supported by the 1,4,7‐trimethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane anion (Me₃TACD^?) are reported. Upon treatment of the neutral allyl complexes [Ln(Me₃TACD)(η³‐C₃H₅)₂] with Brønsted acids, monocationic allyl complexes [Ln(Me₃TACD)(η³‐C₃H₅)(thf)₂][B(C₆X₅)₄] (Ln=La, Ce, Nd, X=H, F) were isolated and characterized. Hydrogenolysis gave the hydride complexes [Ln(Me₃TACD)H₂]_n (Ln=Y, n=3; La, n=4; Sm). X‐ray crystallography showed the lanthanum hydride to be tetranuclear. Reactivity studies of [Ln(Me₃TACD)R₂]_n (R=η³‐C₃H₅, n=0; R=H, n=3,4) towards furan derivatives includes hydrosilylation and deoxygenation under ring‐opening conditions.     

Synthese,Struktur und Reaktivität von Tris‐, Bis‐ und Mono(2,4‐dimethylpentadienyl)‐Komplexen des Neodyms,Lanthans und des Yttriums

The tris(2,4‐dimethylpentadienyl) complexes [Ln(η⁵‐Me₂C₅H₅)₃] (Ln = Nd, La, Y) are obtained analytically pure by reaction of the tribromides LnBr₃·nTHF with the potassium compound K(Me₂C₅H₅)(thf)_n in THF in good yields. The structural characterization is carried out by X‐ray crystal structure analysis and NMR‐spectroscopically. The tris complexes can be transformed into the dimeric bis(2,4‐dimethylpentadienyl) complexes [Ln₂(η⁵‐Me₂C₅H₅)₄X₂] (Ln, X: Nd, Cl, Br, I; La, Br, I; Y, Br) by reaction with the trihalides THF solvates in the molar ratio 2:1 in toluene. Structure and bonding conditions are determined for selected compounds by X‐ray crystal structure analysis and NMR‐spectroscopically in general. The dimer‐monomer equilibrium existing in solution was investigated NMR‐spectroscopically in dependence of the donor strength of the solvent and could be established also by preparation of the corresponding monomer neutral ligand complexes [Ln(η⁵‐Me₂C₅H₅)₂X(L)] (Ln, X, L: Nd, Br, py; La, Cl, thf; Br, py; Y, Br, thf). Finally the possibilities for preparation of mono(2,4‐dimethylpentadienyl)lanthanoid(III)‐dibromid complexes are shown and the hexameric structure of the lanthanum complex [La₆(η⁵‐Me₂C₅H₅)₆Br₁₂(thf)₄] is proved by X‐ray crystal structure analysis.     

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

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

Amidoliganden zum Aufbau von mehrkernigen Lanthanoidkomplexen

Amido Ligands for the Synthesis of Polynuclear Lanthanoid Complexes By 1 : 1 reaction of LnBr₃ with NaNHPh in THF the Rare-Earth Complexes [Ln₂Br₄(μ₂-NHPh)₂(thf)₅] (Ln = Sm ( 1 ), Ln = Gd ( 2 )) with two bridging anilido ligands are obtained. In the system LnBr₃/NaNHPh/(Me₂SiO)₃ the tetranuclear compounds [Ln₄(μ₄-O)(NHPh)₃(OSiMe₂NPh)₆Na₅(thf)₇] · THF (Ln = Gd ( 3 ), Ln = Yb ( 4 )) can be built up. They have a central μ₄-oxygene atom in the Ln₄-tetrahedron. It has an oxa-dimethylsilyl-N-phenylamido ligand over all edges and an anilido ligand on three vertexes. By this reaction small amount of [Na₄(thf)₆Yb₂(OSiMe₂NPhSiMe₂O)₂(OSiMe₂NPh)₂(NHPh)₂] ( 5 ) with a O- and N-bridged Yb–Na polyhedron and N-phenyl-bis(dimethylsilanolato)-ligands coordinating μ₂-η² with its oxygen atoms are obtained. Reaction of Lanthanideshalides with LiNH^tBu leads to dimeric complexes. The formation of bridging oxasilylamido ligands is also observed. The compound [Li₂Ln(OSiMe₂N^tBu)₂(HN^tBu)(thf)]₂ (Ln=Sm ( 6 ), Gd ( 7 ) and Yb ( 8 )) contains now an O- and N-bridged Ln–Li polyhedron. (Crystal Data of 1–8 see ‘‘Inhaltsverzeichnis”︁”︁).     

Synthese von Dimethoxyethan‐ und Tetrahydrofuran‐Komplexen der Selten‐Erd‐Nitrate – Festkörperstruktur von Pr(NO3)3(thf)4

Synthesis of Dimethoxyethane and Tetrahydrofuran Complexes of Rare‐Earth Nitrates – Solid State Structure of Pr(NO₃)₃(thf)₄ The solvated rare‐earth nitrates Ln(NO₃)₃(thf)_n (Ln = Pr, n = 4 ( 1 ); Ln = Ho ( 2 ), Yb ( 3 ), n = 3 and Ln(NO₃)₃(dme)₂; Ln = Pr ( 4 ), Ho ( 5 )) were obtained from Ln(NO₃)₃(H₂O)_x and HC(OCH₃)₃. Pale green thermally labile crystals of 1 were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The praseodymium atoms in two independent monomeric molecules show capped trigonal prismatic and pentagonal bipyramidal coordination, respectively.     

Activation of Aryl and Heteroaryl Halides by an Iron(I) Complex Generated in the Reduction of [Fe(acac)3] by PhMgBr: Electron Transfer versus Oxidative Addition

The mechanism of the reactions of aryl/heteroaryl halides with aryl Grignard reagents catalyzed by [Fe^III(acac)₃] (acac=acetylacetonate) has been investigated. It is shown that in the presence of excess PhMgBr, [Fe^III(acac)₃] affords two reduced complexes: [PhFe^II(acac)(thf)_n] (n=1 or 2) (characterized by ¹H NMR and cyclic voltammetry) and [PhFe^I(acac)(thf)]^? (characterized by cyclic voltammetry, ¹H NMR, EPR and DFT). Whereas [PhFe^II(acac)(thf)_n] does not react with any of the investigated aryl or heteroaryl halides, the Fe^I complex [PhFe^I(acac)(thf)]^? reacts with ArX (Ar=Ph, 4‐tolyl; X=I, Br) through an inner‐sphere monoelectronic reduction (promoted by halogen bonding) to afford the corresponding arene ArH together with the Grignard homocoupling product PhPh. In contrast, [PhFe^I(acac)(thf)]^? reacts with a heteroaryl chloride (2‐chloropyridine) to afford the cross‐coupling product (2‐phenylpyridine) through an oxidative addition/reductive elimination sequence. The mechanism of the reaction of [PhFe^I(acac)(thf)]^? with the aryl and heteroaryl halides has been explored on the basis of DFT calculations.     

The Nature of the UC Double Bond: Pushing the Stability of High‐Oxidation‐State Uranium Carbenes to the Limit

Treatment of [K(BIPM^MesH)] (BIPM^Mes={C(PPh₂NMes)₂}^2?; Mes=C₆H₂‐2,4,6‐Me₃) with [UCl₄(thf)₃] (1 equiv) afforded [U(BIPM^MesH)(Cl)₃(thf)] ( 1 ), which generated [U(BIPM^Mes)(Cl)₂(thf)₂] ( 2 ), following treatment with benzyl potassium. Attempts to oxidise 2 resulted in intractable mixtures, ligand scrambling to give [U(BIPM^Mes)₂] or the formation of [U(BIPM^MesH)(O)₂(Cl)(thf)] ( 3 ). The complex [U(BIPM^Dipp)(μ‐Cl)₄(Li)₂(OEt₂)(tmeda)] ( 4 ) (BIPM^Dipp={C(PPh₂NDipp)₂}^2?; Dipp=C₆H₃‐2,6‐iPr₂; tmeda=N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine) was prepared from [Li₂(BIPM^Dipp)(tmeda)] and [UCl₄(thf)₃] and, following reflux in toluene, could be isolated as [U(BIPM^Dipp)(Cl)₂(thf)₂] ( 5 ). Treatment of 4 with iodine (0.5 equiv) afforded [U(BIPM^Dipp)(Cl)₂(μ‐Cl)₂(Li)(thf)₂] ( 6 ). Complex 6 resists oxidation, and treating 4 or 5 with N‐oxides gives [{U(BIPM^DippH)(O)₂‐ (μ‐Cl)₂Li(tmeda)] ( 7 ) and [{U(BIPM^DippH)(O)₂(μ‐Cl)}₂] ( 8 ). Treatment of 4 with tBuOLi (3 equiv) and I₂ (1 equiv) gives [U(BIPM^Dipp)(OtBu)₃(I)] ( 9 ), which represents an exceptionally rare example of a crystallographically authenticated uranium(VI)–carbon σ bond. Although 9 appears sterically saturated, it decomposes over time to give [U(BIPM^Dipp)(OtBu)₃]. Complex 4 reacts with PhCOtBu and Ph₂CO to form [U(BIPM^Dipp)(μ‐Cl)₄(Li)₂(tmeda)(OCPhtBu)] ( 10 ) and [U(BIPM^Dipp)(Cl)(μ‐Cl)₂(Li)(tmeda)(OCPh₂)] ( 11 ). In contrast, complex 5 does not react with PhCOtBu and Ph₂CO, which we attribute to steric blocking. However, complexes 5 and 6 react with PhCHO to afford (DippNPPh₂)₂C?C(H)Ph ( 12 ). Complex 9 does not react with PhCOtBu, Ph₂CO or PhCHO; this is attributed to steric blocking. Theoretical calculations have enabled a qualitative bracketing of the extent of covalency in early‐metal carbenes as a function of metal, oxidation state and the number of phosphanyl substituents, revealing modest covalent contributions to U?C double bonds.     

Zur Reaktion der Alkin‐Kupfer(I)‐Komplexe [CuCl(S‐Alkin)] und [Cu2Br2(S‐Alkin)(dms)] (S‐Alkin = 3,3,6,6‐Tetramethyl‐1‐thia‐4‐cycloheptin,dms = Dimethylsulfid) mit den Lithiumorganylen Phenyllithium und Fluorenyllithium

Organometallic Compounds of Copper. XX On the Reaction of the Alkyne Copper(I) Complexes [CuCl(S‐Alkyne)] and [Cu₂Br₂(S‐Alkyne)(dms)] (S‐Alkyne = 3,3,6,6‐Tetramethyl‐1‐thiacyclohept‐4‐yne; dms = Dimethylsulfide) with the Lithiumorganyls Phenyllithium und Fluorenyllithium The alkyne copper(I) bromide complex [Cu₂Br₂(S‐Alkyne)(dms)] ( 3 b ) (S‐Alkyne = 3,3,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐thiacyclohept‐4‐yne; dms = dimethylsulfide) reacts with phenyllithium to form a tetranuclear copper(I) complex of the composition [Cu₄(C₆H₅)₂(S‐Alkenyl)₂] ( 7 ) in low yield (4%). The reaction of the alkyne copper(I) chloride complex [CuCl(S‐Alkyne)] ( 2 a ) with fluorenyllithium in tetrahydrofuran (thf) affords a lithium cuprate of the composition [Li(thf)₄]⁺ [Cu₂(fluorenyl)₃(S‐Alkyne)₂]^– ( 8 ) (yield 32%). The structures of both new complexes 7 and 8 were determined by X–ray diffraction.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Several Ytterbium Bis(trimethylsilyl)amides Including Base‐free [Yb{N(SiMe3)2}2(μ‐Cl)]2 — A Coordinatively Unsaturated Complex with Additional Agostic Yb···(H3C—Si) Interactions

The reaction of YbCl₃ with two equivalents of NaN‐(SiMe₃)₂ has afforded a mixture of several ytterbium bis(trimethylsilyl) amides with the known complexes [Yb{N(SiMe₃)₂}2(μ‐Cl)(thf)]₂ ( 1 ) and [Yb{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃]( 4 ) as the main products and the cluster compound [Yb₃Cl₄O{N(SiMe₃)₂}₃(thf)₃]( 2 ) as a minor product. Treatment of 1 and 2 with hot n‐heptane gave the basefree complex [Yb{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂(μ‐Cl)]₂ ( 3 ) in small yield. The structures of compounds 1—4 and the related peroxo complex [Yb₂{N(SiMe₃)₂}₄(μ‐O₂)(thf)₂]( 5 ) have been investigated by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. In the solid‐state, 3 shows chlorobridged dimers with terminal amido ligands (av. Yb—Cl = 262.3 pm, av. Yb—N = 214.4 pm). Additional agostic interactions are observed from the ytterbium atoms to four methyl carbon atoms of the bis(trimethylsilyl)amido groups (Yb···C = 284—320 pm). DFT calculations have been performed on suitable model systems ([Yb₂(NH₂)₄(μ‐Cl)₂(OMe₂)₂]( 1m ), [Yb₂(NH₂)₄(μ‐Cl)₂]( 3m ), [Yb‐(NH₂)₃]( 4m ), [Yb₂(NH2₄(μ‐O₂)(OMe₂)₂]( 5m ), [Yb{N‐(SiMe₃)₂}₂Cl] ( 3m/2 ) and Ln(NH₂)₂NHSiMe₃ (Ln = Yb ( 6m ), Y ( 7m )) in order to rationalize the different experimentally observed Yb—N distances, to support the assignment of the O—O stretching vibration (775 cm ^‐1) in the Raman spectrum of complex 5 and to examine the nature of the agostic‐type interactions in σ‐donorfree 3 .     

Preparation and Crystal Structure of the Neodymium Borohydride [Li(thf)4]2[Nd2(μ‐Cl)2(BH4)6(thf)2]

The neodymium borohydride [Li(thf)₄]₂[Nd₂(μ‐Cl)₂(BH₄)₆(thf)₂] was synthesized from neodymium chloride and lithium borohydride. The compound crystallized in the triclinic crystal system, space group (No. 2) with the cell constants a = 14.8613(11), b = 17.8715(13), c = 23.5846(18) Å, α = 100.760(6), β = 90.648(6) and γ = 103.294(6)°. Each neodymium atom is coordinated by three borohydride anions and a THF molecule whereas two neodymium cations are bridged through two chloro ligands. The charge of the [Nd₂(μ‐Cl)₂(BH₄)₆(thf)₂]²⁻ anion, which represents the first structurally characterized binuclear mixed borohydride chlorido complex, is compensated by two [Li(thf)₄]⁺ cations.     

The approach to 4d/4f-polyphosphides

The first 4d/4f polyphosphides were obtained by reaction of the divalent metallocenes [Cp*₂Ln(thf)₂] (Ln = Sm, Yb) with [{CpMo(CO)₂}₂(μ,η^2:2-P₂)] or [Cp*Mo(CO)₂(η³-P₃)]. Treatment of [Cp*₂Ln(thf)₂] (Ln = Sm, Yb) with [{CpMo(CO)₂}₂(μ,η^2:2-P₂)] gave the 16-membered bicyclic compounds [(Cp₂*Ln)₂P₂(CpMo(CO)₂)₄] (Ln = Sm, Yb) as the major products. From the reaction involving samarocene, the cyclic P₄ complex [(Cp*₂Sm)₂P₄(CpMo(CO)₂)₂] and the cyclic P₅ complex [(Cp*₂Sm)₃P₅(CpMo(CO)₂)₃] were also obtained as minor products. In each reaction, the P₂ unit is reduced and a rearrangement occurred. In dedicated cases, a P–P bond formation takes place, which results in a new aggregation of the central phosphorus scaffold. In the reactions of [Cp*₂Ln(thf)₂] (Ln = Sm, Yb) with [Cp*Mo(CO)₂P₃] a new P–P bond is formed by reductive dimerization and the 4d/4f hexaphosphides [(Cp*₂Ln)₂P₆(Cp*Mo(CO)₂)₂] (Ln = Sm, Yb) were obtained.     

Carbonyl complexes of manganese(I) with pyridazine: Synthesis and1H n.m.r. study

Summary Three new pyridazine complexes of manganese(I): [MnBr(pyr)₂(CO)₃] (1), [Mn(pyr)(CO)₅][ClO₄] (2) and [Mn(pyr)₃(CO)₃][ClO₄] (3) (pyr=pyridazine) have been prepared and their i.r. and variable-temperature¹H n.m.r. spectra investigated.     

Halide‐Free Diarylcalcium Complexes—Syntheses,Structures, and Stability

A general procedure was developed for the synthesis of diarylcalcium complexes by addition of KOtBu to arylcalcium iodides in THF. Intermediate arylcalcium tert‐butanolate dismutates immediately leading to insoluble tert‐butanolate precipitates of calcium. Depending on the steric demand and denticity of additional neutral aliphatic azabases, mononuclear or dinuclear complexes trans‐[Ca(α‐Naph)₂(thf)₄] ( 1 ), [Ca(β‐Naph)₂(thf)₄] ( 2 ), [Ca(Tol)₂(tmeda)]₂ ( 3 ), [Ca(Ph)₂(tmeda)]₂ ( 4 ), [Ca(Ph)₂(pmdta)(thf)] ( 5 ), [Ca(hmteta)(Ph)₂] ( 6 ), and [Ca([18]C‐6)(Ph)₂] ( 7 ) were isolated (Naph=naphthyl; meda=N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylenediamine; pmdta= N,N,N′,N′′,N′′‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine; hmteta=N,N,N′,N′′,N′′′,N′′′‐hexamethyltriethylenetetramine). The Ca?C bond lengths vary between 250.8 and 263.5 pm, the ipso‐carbon atoms show low‐field‐shifted resonances in the ¹³C NMR spectra.     

Synthesis and structural study of a lithium complex of 6-methyl-2-(trimethylsilylamino)pyridine and its use in the formation of some lanthanoid complexes

Lithiation of 6-methyl-2-(trimethylsilylamino)pyridine (APyTMSH) occurs smoothly in tetrahydrofuran (thf) affording [Li(APyTMS)(thf)]₂ (1). Treatment of anhydrous lanthanoid chlorides (LnCl₃, Ln=Gd, Er) with 1.5 equivalents of (1) yields the solvent-free homoleptic tris–amido complexes [Ln(APyTMS)₃], (Ln=Gd (2); Ln=Er (3)). Similar treatment of LnCl₃ (Ln=Gd, Er) with one equivalents of 1 putatively generates the heteroleptic species [Ln(APyTMS)₂Cl], (Ln=Gd (4); Ln=Er (5)) in situ, however, these compounds undergo redistribution in hexane to yield homoleptic 2 and 3 and the anhydrous lanthanoid halides (Ln=Gd, (6), Ln=Er (7)) and were therefore not fully characterised. These lanthanoid reagents are extremely moisture sensitive as examplified by the low yield isolation of [APyH₂·H]₂[ErCl₅(thf)] during one prepartion of 3. The structures of compounds 1, 2, 3 and 8 were characterised by X-ray crystallographic methods. The X-ray structure of 1 is a centrosymmetric dimer similar to its diethyl ether analogue. Compounds 2 and 3 are six-coordinate homoleptic mononuclear species and compound 8 comprises the unprecedented [ErCl₅(thf)]⁻ anion within an intricate hydrogen-bonded ionic system.     

Synthesis and Reactivity of Cationic Triruthenium Clusters Derived from 2‐Methyl‐ and 4‐Methylpyrimidines: From Conventional Cyclometalated Ligands to Novel Types of N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

The methylation of the uncoordinated nitrogen atom of the cyclometalated triruthenium cluster complexes [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ‐κ²N¹,C⁶‐2‐Mepyr)(CO)₁₀] ( 1 ; 2‐MepyrH=2‐methylpyrimidine) and [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ‐κ²N¹,C⁶‐4‐Mepyr)(CO)₁₀] ( 9 ; 4‐MepyrH=4‐methylpyrimidine) gives two similar cationic complexes, [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ‐κ²N¹,C⁶‐2,3‐Me₂pyr)(CO)₁₀]⁺( 2 ⁺) and [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ‐κ²N¹,C⁶‐3,4‐Me₂pyr)(CO)₁₀]⁺ ( 9 ⁺), respectively, whose heterocyclic ligands belong to a novel type of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) that have the C_carbene atom in 6‐position of a pyrimidine framework. The position of the C‐methyl group in the ligands of complexes 2 ⁺ (on C²) and 9 ⁺ (on C⁴) is of key importance for the outcome of their reactions with K[N(SiMe₃)₂], K‐selectride, and cobaltocene. Although these reagents react with 2 ⁺ to give [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ‐κ²N¹,C⁶‐2‐CH₂‐3‐Mepyr)(CO)₁₀] ( 3 ; deprotonation of the C²‐Me group), [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ₃‐κ³N¹,C⁵,C⁶‐4‐H‐2,3‐Me₂pyr)(CO)₉] ( 4 ; hydride addition at C⁴), and [Ru₆(μ‐H)₂{μ₆‐κ⁶N¹,N^1′,C⁵,C^5′,C⁶,C^6′‐4,4′‐bis(2,3‐Me₂pyr)}(CO)₁₈] ( 5 ; reductive dimerization at C⁴), respectively, similar reactions with 9 ⁺ have only allowed the isolation of [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ₃‐κ²N¹,C⁶‐2‐H‐3,4‐Me₂pyr)(CO)₉] ( 11 ; hydride addition at C²). Compounds 3 and 11 also contain novel six‐membered ring NHC ligands. Theoretical studies have established that the deprotonation of 2 ⁺ and 9 ⁺ (that have ligand‐based LUMOs) are charge‐controlled processes and that both the composition of the LUMOs of these cationic complexes and the steric protection of their ligand ring atoms govern the regioselectivity of their nucleophilic addition and reduction reactions.     

Bis(phosphinimino)methanide Borohydride Complexes of the Rare‐Earth Elements as Initiators for the Ring‐Opening Polymerization of ε‐Caprolactone: Combined Experimental and Computational Investigations

Rare‐earth‐metal borohydrides are known to be efficient catalysts for the polymerization of apolar and polar monomers. The bis‐borohydrides [{CH(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂}La(BH₄)₂(THF)] and [{CH(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂}Ln(BH₄)₂] (Ln=Y, Lu) have been synthesized by two different synthetic routes. The lanthanum and the lutetium complexes were prepared from [Ln(BH₄)₃(THF)₃] and K{CH(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂}, whereas the yttrium analogue was obtained from in situ prepared [{CH(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂}YCl₂]₂ and NaBH₄. All new compounds were characterized by standard analytical/spectroscopic techniques, and the solid‐state structures were established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone initiated by [{CH(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂}La(BH₄)₂(THF)] and [{CH(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂}Ln(BH₄)₂] (Ln=Y, Lu) was studied. At 0 °C the molar mass distributions determined were the narrowest values (M?_w/M?_n=1.06–1.11) ever obtained for the ROP of ε‐caprolactone initiated by rare‐earth‐metal borohydride species. DFT investigations of the reaction mechanism indicate that this type of complex reacts in an unprecedented manner with the first B? H activation being achieved within two steps. This particularity has been attributed to the metallic fragment based on the natural bond order analysis.