Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties of a new dinuclear copper(II) amino acid complex [Cu2(l-arg)2(μ-HPO4-O)(μ-HPO4-O,O′)(μ-OH)] · (H3O) · (H2O)6

A novel dinuclear copper(II) complex with the amino acid l-arginine (l-arg), with mono and bidentate HPO₄²⁻ oxoanions and an OH⁻ anion. [Cu₂(l-arg)₂(μ-HPO₄-O)(μ-HPO₄-O,O′)(μ-OH)]⁻ · (H₃O)⁺ · 6H₂O (1) was prepared and its structure was determined by X-ray diffraction methods. The two independent copper ions are in a distorted square pyramidal coordination, each bonded to one l-arginine molecule. These two Cu(l-arg) units are bridged by two monoatomic equatorial–apical oxygen ligands belonging to a monodentate hydrogenphosphate group, and to the hydroxyl group. The copper ions in the dinuclear unit at d = 3.1948(8) Å are also connected by two equatorial oxygen belonging to a bidentate hydrogenphosphate. This dinuclear character and bridging scheme, not common for metal–amino acid compounds, is a consequence of the properties of the phosphate anions. The magnetic susceptibility at temperatures between 2 and 300 K and the isothermal magnetization curves at T = 2.29(1) K with applied fields up to 9 T were measured. The magnetic data indicate an antiferromagnetic intradinuclear exchange coupling J/k_B = −3.7(1) K and using a molecular field approximation we estimated a weaker ferromagnetic interaction J′/k_B ∼ 0.3 K between neighbour dinuclear units.     

Synthesis,structural characterisation and thermal decomposition of a new organic–inorganic hybrid material (C5H14N2)[Cu(SO4)2(H2O)4] · H2O

The crystal structure of copper sulfate templated by 2-methylpiperazine, (C₅H₁₄N₂)[Cu(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄] · H₂O, was investigated using single crystal X-ray diffraction data. At room temperature, it crystallises in the monoclinic P2₁/n space group with the following unit-cell parameters: a = 6.9153(1), b = 23.1295(3), c = 10.4472(1) Å, β = 104.227(1)°, V = 1619.75(4) Å³ and Z = 4. The Cu^II cation adopts a slightly distorted octahedral geometry, arising from four water molecules and two sulfate tetrahedra leading to the formation of [Cu(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄] units. The structure consists of isolated [Cu(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄]²⁻ anions, 2-methylpiperazinediium cations (C₅H₁₄N₂)²⁺ and water molecules connected by a three-dimensional hydrogen-bond network. The thermal decomposition of the precursor, studied by thermogravimetry and temperature-dependent X-ray powder diffraction, proceeds through four stages giving rise to the copper oxide.     

Segregated aromatic π-π stacking interactions involving fluorinated and non-fluorinated benzene rings: Cu(py)2(pfb)2 and Cu(py)2(pfb)2(H2O) (py = pyridine and pfb = pentafluorobenzoate)

The syntheses, physical characterization and crystal structures of two new molecular copper(II) complexes of composition [Cu(C₅H₅N)₂(C₇F₅O₂)₂] (1) and [Cu(C₅H₅N)₂(C₇F₅O₂)₂(H₂O)] (2) (C₅H₅N = py = pyridine and C₇F₅O₂⁻ = pfb = pentafluorobenzoate) are reported. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations revealed that in 1, the Cu²⁺ ion, which lies on a crystallographic inversion centre, is coordinated to two py molecules and two oxygen atoms from two monodentate pfb anions, resulting in a trans-CuN₂O₂ square planar geometry. In 2, the Cu²⁺ ion is also coordinated to two py and two pfb species in addition to a water molecule in the apical site of a distorted CuN₂O₃ square pyramid. In the crystal packing, both 1 and 2 show segregated aromatic π-π stacking interactions in which (py + py) and (pfb + pfb) ring-pairings are seen, but no (py + pfb) pairings occur. Crystal data: 1: C₂₄H₁₀CuF₁₀N₂O₄, M_r = 643.88, space group , a = 8.0777 (3) Å, b = 8.0937 (3) Å, c = 10.5045 (5) Å, α = 90.916 (3)°, β = 93.189 (2)°, γ = 118.245 (3)°, V = 603.36 (4) Å³, Z = 1. 2: C₂₄H₁₂CuF₁₀N₂O₅, M_r = 661.90, space group , a = 7.5913 (5) Å, b = 15.6517 (6) Å, c = 21.1820 (14) Å, α = 95.697 (4)°, β = 94.506 (2)°, γ = 91.492 (4)°, V = 2495.2 (3) Å³, Z = 4.     

Hydrothermal synthesis,crystal structures,and properties of two 3-D network nickel nicotinate coordination polymers: [Ni4(μ-H2O)2(nicotinate)8 · 2H2O] and [Ni2(H2O)2(nicotinate)4(4,4′-bpy)]

The three-dimensional coordination polymers [Ni₄(μ-H₂O)₂(nic)₈ · 2H₂O] (nic = nicotinate, 3-pyridylcarboxylate) (1) and [Ni₂(H₂O)₂(nic)₄(4,4′-bpy)] (2) were prepared by the hydrothermal reaction of nickel(II) chloride, nicotinic acid, sodium hydroxide and an organoimine (several choices for 1, 4,4′-bipyridine for 2). The non-centrosymmetric crystal structure of 1 is constructed from binuclear [Ni₂(μ-H₂O)(μ₃-nic)₂]²⁺ subunits joined into 3-D via μ₂- and μ₃-nicotinate ligands, forming “bird”-shaped cavities that contain water molecule dimers. The crystal structure of 1 is compared and contrasted to two previously reported nickel(II) nicotinate phases. In contrast, the crystal structure of 2 is assembled from neutral [Ni(H₂O)(μ₂-nic)₂] layers, connected into 3-D via tethering 4,4′-bpy moieties. 1 exhibits weak antiferromagnetic coupling across its binuclear subunits (J = −1.61(2) cm⁻¹ for g = 2.233(2)), although anisotropy due to single-ion zero-field-splitting (D) cannot be excluded. The 3-D structures of 1 and 2 remain stable above 300 °C and 200 °C, respectively.     

Spin fluctuations and orbital ordering in quasi-one-dimensional α-Cu(dca)2(pyz) {dca = dicyanamide = N(CN)2; pyz = pyrazine}, a molecular analogue of KCuF3

The magnetic properties of α-Cu(dca)₂(pyz) were examined by magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, inelastic neutron scattering (INS), muon-spin relaxation (μSR) measurements and by first-principles density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations and quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) simulations. The χ versus T curve shows a broad maximum at 3.5 K, and the data between 2 and 300 K is well described by an S = 1/2 Heisenberg uniform chain model with g = 2.152(1) and J/k_B = −5.4(1) K. μSR measurements, conducted down to 0.02 K and as a function of longitudinal magnetic field, show no oscillations in the muon asymmetry function A(t). This evidence, together with the lack of spin wave formation as gleaned from INS data, suggests that no long-range magnetic order takes place in α-Cu(dca)₂(pyz) down to the lowest measured temperatures. Electronic structure calculations further show that the spin exchange is significant only along the Cu–pyz–Cu chains, such that α-Cu(dca)₂(pyz) can be described by a Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain model. Further support for this comes from the M versus B curve, which is strongly concave owing to the reduced spin dimensionality. α-Cu(dca)₂(pyz) is a molecular analogue of KCuF₃ owing to d_x2-y2${\text{d}}_{x^2-y^2}$ orbital ordering where nearest-neighbor magnetic orbital planes of the Cu²⁺ sites are orthogonal in the planes perpendicular to the Cu–pyz–Cu chains.     

Synthesis and characterization of mono and polymeric cyclopalladated compounds: Crystal and molecular structure of [{Pd(dmba)(ONO2)}2(μ-pz)] · H2O (pz = pyrazine)

In the treatment of cyclometallated dimer [Pd(dmba)(μ-Cl)]₂ (dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine) with AgNO₃ and acetonitrile the result was the monomeric cationic precursor [Pd(dmba)(NCMe)₂](NO₃) (NCMe = acetonitrile) (1). Compound 1 reacted with m-nitroaniline (m-NAN) and pirazine (pz), originating [Pd(dmba)(ONO₂)(m-NAN)] (2) and [{Pd(dmba)(ONO₂)}₂(μ-pz)] · H₂O (3), respectively. These compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy. The IR spectra of (2–3) display typical bands of monodentade O-bonded nitrate groups, whereas the NMR data of 3 are consistent with the presence of bridging pyrazine ligands. The structure of compound 3 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. This packing consists of a supramolecular chain formed by hydrogen bonding between the water molecule and nitrato ligands of two consecutive [Pd₂(dmba)₂(ONO₂)₂(μ-pz)] units.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of new heterometal alkoxide clusters Ln2Na8(OCH2CF3)14(THF)6 (Ln = Sm, Y, Yb): Highly active catalysts for polymerization of ε-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate

The new polynuclear heterometal alkoxide clusters Ln₂Na₈(OCH₂CF₃)₁₄(THF)₆ (Ln = Sm 1, Y 2, Yb 3) have been synthesized by the reaction of anhydrous LnCl₃ with 7 equiv. of NaOCH₂CF₃ in 68–75% yields. Crystal structural analysis revealed clusters 1–3 are isomorphous composed of two cubanes and a double open cubane, with one face of an Ln₁Na₂O₄ open cubane capped by an additional Ln₁O₂ layer. Clusters 1–3 show extremely high activity for the polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) and trimethylene carbonate (TMC). The reactivity is much higher than those found for the monometallic alkoxides lanthanide complexes previously reported. The dependence of catalytic activity on lanthanide metals is observed: Yb ≈ Y < Sm for ε-CL and Yb < Y < Sm for TMC. The polymers obtained with these clusters all show a unimodal molecular weight distribution with moderate molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.4–1.7), indicating that clusters 1–3 can really be used as single-component catalysts. The bimetallic cooperation and the coordination–insertion mechanism were proposed.     

Syntheses, structures, and dynamic properties of M(CO)2(η-C3H5)(en)(X) (M = Mo, W; X = Br, N3, CN) and [(en)(η-C3H5)(CO)2M(μ-CN)M(CO)2(η-C3H5)(en)]Br (M = Mo, W)

Mononuclear compounds M(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₅)(en)(X) (X = Br, M = Mo(1), W(2); X = N₃, M = Mo(3), W(4); X = CN, M = Mo(5), W(6)) and cyanide-bridged bimetallic compounds [(en)(η³-C₃H₅)(CO)₂M(μ-CN)M(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₅)(en)]Br (M = Mo (7), W(8)) were prepared and characterized. These compounds are fluxional and display broad unresolved proton NMR signals at room temperature. Compounds 1-6 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy at −60 °C, which revealed isomers in solution. The major isomers of 1-4 adopt an asymmetric endo-conformation, while those of 5 and 6 were both found to possess a symmetric endo-conformation. The single crystal X-ray structures of 1-6 are consistent with the structures of the major isomer in solution at low temperature. In contrast to mononuclear terminal cyanide compounds 5 and 6, cyanide-bridged compounds 7 and 8 were found to adopt the asymmetric endo-conformation in the solid state.     

Trimetallic complexes containing 1,1′-Rc′(CC)2 units [Rc′ = ruthenocene-1,1′-diyl, Ru(η-C5H4-)2]

Reactions between 1,1′-(Me₃SiCC)₂Rc′ [Rc′ = ruthenocen-1,1′-diyl, Ru(η-C₅H₄-)₂] and RuCl(PP)Cp′ in the presence of KF gave 1,1′-{Cp(PP)RuCC}₂Rc′ [Cp′ = Cp, PP = PPh₃1, P(m-tol)₃2, dppe 3, dppf 4; Cp′ = Cp^∗, PP = dppe 5]. Compounds 1 and 2 react with tcne to give two diastereomers a/b of the allylic (vinylcarbene) complexes 6 and 7, while methylation of 5 gave the bis-vinylidene [1,1′-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCCMe}₂Rc′](BPh₄)₂ (8). The X-ray structures of 4, 6b and 8 have been determined. Cyclic voltammograms indicate that there is some electronic communication between the ruthenium end-groups through the Rc′ centre.     

Reactions of Cu3(dppm)3(μ3-OH)(ClO4)2 (dppm = bis-(diphenylphosphino) methane) with Soft Heterocumulenes

The reaction of [Cu₃(dppm)₃(μ₃-OH)](ClO₄)₂ (1) with heterocumulenes (XCS; X = NPh, NMe and S) has been studied. The μ₃-OH ligand inserts into PhNCS and MeNCS only in the presence of methanol. Insertion products are formed in accord with earlier observations made with copper(I)-aryloxides. On heating, the insertion products convert to a S bridged cluster [Cu₄(dppm)₄(μ₄-S)](ClO₄)₂ (8), having a tetrameric core. However, in the reaction with CS₂, 1 is converted to 8 even at room temperature in the presence of methanol. On the other hand, the dimeric complex [Cu₂(dppm)₂(CH₃CN)₄](ClO₄)₂, reacts with CS₂ to give (diphenylphosphinomethyl)-diphenylphosphine sulfide, Ph₂P-CH₂-P(S)Ph₂ (dppmS), which forms the complex [Cu(dppmS)₂]ClO₄ (9). A single crystal X-ray crystallographic study of 9, the first copper(I) complex of dppmS has been taken up to confirm the mono-oxidation of the dppm ligand and the nuclearity of the complex. Reactions of complex 1 with heterocumulenes and with elemental sulfur, are compared.     

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, and reactivity of Pd2(μ-dotpm)2 (dotpm = bis(di-ortho-tolylphosphino)methane)

Alkylation of PdCl₂(dotpm) (dotpm = bis(di-ortho-tolylphosphino)methane) with n-butyllithium produces the binuclear Pd(0) complex Pd₂(μ-dotpm)₂ and the elimination byproducts 1-butene, cis-2-butene, trans-2-butene, butane, and octane. The dibutyl complex, Pd(dotpm)(n-Bu)₂, is presumed to be the reaction intermediate. The crystal structure of Pd₂(μ-dotpm)₂ reveals that the methylene groups of the bridging dotpm ligands are located on opposite sides of the Pd₂P₄ unit, forming an 8-membered ring that is in an elongated chair conformation. The four phosphorus atoms are not coplanar, and the P1-P2-P3-P4 ring has a torsion angle of 13.8°, which minimizes the spatial interactions among the o-tolyl rings. The Pd-Pd bond distance is 2.8560(6) Å, which indicates that there is a weak “closed-shell” bonding interaction between the d¹⁰-d¹⁰ metal centers. Each palladium atom has a nearly linear geometry, and the eight methyl groups of the dotpm ligands shield the open coordination sites on the metal centers. Four methyl groups shield the metal atoms above and below the Pd₂P₄ ring cavity, and four methyl groups block the open metal sites outside of the Pd₂P₄ ring. The Pd₂(μ-dotpm)₂ complex readily undergoes oxidative addition of dichloromethane to form the rigid A-frame complex Pd₂Cl₂(μ-CH₂)(μ-dotpm)₂.     

Syntheses, structures, and dynamic properties of M(CO)2(η-C3H5)(L-L)(NCBH3) (M = Mo, W; L-L = dppe, bipy, en)

Compounds M(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₅)(L-L)(NCBH₃) (L-L = dppe, M = Mo(1), W(2); L-L = bipy, M = Mo(3), W(4); L-L = en, M = Mo(5), W(6)) were prepared and characterized. The single crystal X-ray analyses of 2-6 revealed that the cyanotrihydroborate anion bonds to the metal through a nitrogen atom, the open face of the allyl group being pointed toward the two carbonyls (endo-isomer). In compounds 2, 5, and 6, the two donor atoms of the bidentate ligand occupy equatorial and axial positions, respectively. In the solid state structures of compounds 3 and 4 both nitrogen atoms of the bipy ligand occupy equatorial positions. The NMR spectroscopy reveals a fluxional behavior of compounds 1, 2, 5, and 6 in solution. Although the fluxional behavior of compounds 5 and 6 ceased at about −40 °C, that of compound 1 could not be stopped even at −90 °C. Their low temperature conformations are consistent with their solid state structures. Both the endo- and exo-isomers coexist in solution for compounds 3 and 4.     

Centrosymmetric [Mn2(CO)6(μ-thpymS)2] (thpymS = tetrahydropyrimidine-2-thionato) as a synthon to mixed-metal clusters

Reaction of [Mn₂(CO)₉(NCMe)] with tetrahydropyrimidine-2-thione (thpymSH) at 25 °C furnishes the mono- and dinuclear complexes [Mn(CO)₄(κ¹:η¹-SCNHC₃H₆NCO)] (2) and [Mn₂(CO)₆(μ-thpymS)₂] (1), respectively. Carbon-nitrogen coupling is observed in compound 2 resulting in the formation of κ¹:η¹-SCNHC₃H₆NCO ligand while compound 1 adopts a centrosymmetric structure. Reaction of 1 with [Os₃(CO)₁₀(NCMe)₂] at 80 °C affords the mixed Mn-Os cluster [MnOs₃(CO)₁₃(μ₃-thpymS)] (3) which possesses a butterfly skeleton of four metal atoms whereas with Ru₃(CO)₁₂ at 110 °C gives the mixed Mn-Ru complex [MnRu₃(CO)₁₄(μ₄-S)(κ¹:η¹-thpym)] (4). In contrast, treatment of 1 with Fe₃(CO)₁₂ at 80 °C furnishes two triiron complexes [Fe₃(CO)₉(μ₃-S)(μ₃-κ¹:η¹-C₄H₆N₂)] (5) and [Fe₃(CO)₈(μ₃-S)₂(η¹-C₄H₈N₂)] (6). The former also results from the direct reaction of thpymSH with Fe₃(CO)₁₂ and reacts with H₂S to afford 6. The molecular structures of all these new complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies.     

[M(dipicH2)(H2O)3], M = Ni,Cu, Zn (dipicH2 = dipicolinic acid) – A combined crystallographic,spectroscopic and computational study

Cationic metal complexes of dipicolinic acid (dipicH₂) are stabilized by [Ce(dipic)₃]²⁻ ions in the three isomorphous crystals [M(dipicH₂)(OH₂)₃][Ce(dipic)₃] · 3H₂O (M = Ni, 1; Cu, 2; Zn, 3). Magnetic dilution provided by the bulky anions leads to well-resolved EPR spectra in polycrystalline samples of 2. The cations have 4+2 coordination, the carbonyl atom of the carboxylic acid groups coordinating weakly from trans positions. In the case of 2 this steric distortion is augmented by Jahn–Teller distortion. All the three structures are satisfactorily modelled by calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The switch of the Jahn–Teller axis upon deprotonation of the complex, leading to the neutral species Cu(dipic)(H₂O)₃, is also reproduced by DFT. Electronic transition energies as well as the g-tensor component of the d⁹ complex obtained are in good agreement with experiment. However, the calculated hyperfine coupling constants are in error. DFT also fails to satisfactorily account for the electronic transition in the d⁸ ion in 1.     

Di- and tri-nuclear molybdenum-palladium complexes bearing strong π-acceptor “P-N-P” ligands, MeN{P(OR)2}2 (R = CH2CF3 or Ph)

The dipalladium complexes, [PdCl(μ-MeN{P(OR)₂}₂)]₂ (R = CH₂CF₃, 1a; Ph, 1b) react with [Mo₂(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂(CO)₆] in boiling benzene to afford the molybdenum-palladium heterometallic complexes, [(η⁵-C₅H₅)(CO)Mo(μ-MeN{P(OR)₂}₂)₂PdCl] (R = CH₂CF₃, 3a; Ph, 3b), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Mo(μ₃-CO)₂(μ-MeN{P(OR)₂}₂)₂Pd₂Cl], (R = CH₂CF₃, 5a; Ph, 5b), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)(Cl)Mo(μ₂-CO)(μ₂-Cl)(μ-MeN{P(OR)₂}₂)PdCl], (R = CH₂CF₃, 6a; Ph, 6b) and also the mononuclear complex [Mo(CO)Cl(η⁵-C₅H₅)(κ²-MeN{P(OR)₂}₂)], (R = Ph, 4b). These complexes have been separated by column chromatography and are characterised by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ³¹P{¹H} NMR data. The structures of 1a, 3a, 4b, 5b and 6a have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The CO ligands in 5b and 6a adopt a semi-bridging mode of bonding; the Mo-CO distances (1.95-1.97 Å) are shorter than the Pd-CO distances (2.40-2.48 Å). The Pd-Mo distances fall in the range, 2.63-2.86 Å. The reaction of [Mo₂(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂(CO)₆] with MeN{P(OPh)₂}₂ in toluene gives [Mo₂(CO)₄(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂(κ¹-MeN{P(OPh)₂}₂)₂] (2) in which the diphosphazane acts as a monodentate ligand.     

Insertion reaction of elemental sulfur into the Ln–C bond: Synthesis and characterization of [(C5H4SiMe2Bu)2Ln(μ-SR)]2 (R = Me,Ln = Yb,Er, Dy,Y; R = Bu,Ln = Yb,Dy)

Treatment of (C₅H₄SiMe₂^tBu)₂LnR with 1 equiv of elemental sulfur in toluene at ambient temperature gives dimeric complexes [(C₅H₄SiMe₂^tBu)₂Ln(μ-SR)]₂ [R = Me, Ln = Yb (1), Er (2), Dy (3), Y (4); R = ⁿBu, Ln = Yb (5), Dy (6)]. All these complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and mass spectroscopies. The structures of complexes 1, 3, 5 and 6 are also determined through X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis, indicating that only one sulfur atom from elemental sulfur inserts into Ln–C σ-bond.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of the cationic samarium phenoxide complex [(ArO)2Sm(DME)2][BPh4] · THF and its catalytic activity for the polymerization of ε-caprolactone

The first cationic samarium phenoxide complex, [(ArO)₂Sm(DME)₂][BPh₄] · THF (ArO = 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-metyl-phenoxide) (1), has been synthesized by one-electron oxidation reaction of (ArO)₂Sm(THF)₃ with AgBPh₄ in high yield and structurally characterized. The complex 1 can be used as a single-component catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) with high activity. The activity of the complex 1 is much higher than that of the parent neutral complex (ArO)₃Sm(THF)₂, and is comparable to that of the divalent complex (ArO)₂Sm(THF)₃. A coordination-insertion polymerization mechanism was supposed according to the end-group analysis.