Electron delocalization in mixed-valence butadienediyl-bridged diruthenium complexes

We report electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical investigations on the butadienediyl-bridged diruthenium complexes [{Ru(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl}₂(μ-C₄H₄)] (1), [{Ru(PEt₃)₃(CO)Cl}₂(μ-C₄H₄)] (2), and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl(NC₅H₄COOEt-4)}₂(μ-C₄H₄)] (3). All these complexes are oxidized in two consecutive one-electron steps separated by 315 to 680 mV, depending on the co-ligands. The first oxidation is a chemically and electrochemically reversible process whereas the second varies from nearly reversible to irreversible at room temperature. We have generated and investigated the mixed-valence monocations and observed CO band shifts of ca 25 cm⁻¹ and the appearance of new bands in the visible regime at ca 720 to 800 and 430 to 450 nm. The lower-energy band which tails into the near infrared has been assigned as a charge-resonance (or intervalence charge-transfer) absorption and used to estimate the electronic coupling parameter H _AB. Our investigations point to valence delocalization for 2 ⁺ , and nearly delocalized behavior for 1 ⁺ and 3 ⁺ . Even the complex with the smallest potential splitting is, however, fully delocalized on the longer ESR timescale, as is evident from the coupling pattern of the solution spectrum. Overall IR band shifts on full oxidation and the hyperfine splittings for 1 ⁺ argue for charge and spin delocalization onto the bridging C₄H₄ ligand. This issue has also been addressed by quantum chemical calculations employing DFT methods. Geometry optimizations at each oxidation level reveal inversion of the C–C bond pattern from a short–long–short to a long–short–long alteration and a bis(carbenic) structure at the dication stage. All spectroscopic features such as IR band shifts, average g-values and g-tensor anisotropies are fully reproduced by the calculations. Presented at the 3rd Chianti Electrochemistry Meeting, July 3.–9.2004, Certosa di Pontignano, Italy     

Binuclear ruthenium and osmium mixed-valence complexes containing fused and flexible polypyridyl bridging ligands

{Os(bpy)₂}²⁺ and {Ru(CN)₄}²⁻ mononuclear and binuclear complexes with ligands 2,3-di-(2-pyridyl)quinoxaline (dpq) and dipyrido[2,3-a:3′,2′-c]phenazine (ppb) have been prepared. For the binuclear complexes a splitting in oxidation potentials is observed consistent with the formation of mixed-valence species with comproportionation constants (K_com) ranging from 2.5 × 10⁴ to 1.8 × 10⁶. The electronic absorption spectra of the mixed-valence species reveal IVCT transitions in the near infrared region. The absorption maximum for the IVCT band ranges from 5800 to 9980 cm⁻¹ and the extinction coefficients from 80 to 6300 M⁻¹ cm⁻¹. In general the {Os(bpy)₂}²⁺ complexes show larger K_com values and more intense IVCT bands than the corresponding {Ru(CN)₄}²⁻ complexes.     

Electrochemical studies of bi- and polymetallic complexes featuring acetylide based bridging ligands

Acetylide-based bridging ligands have been widely used in the preparation of complexes that display a degree of electronic interaction between metal-based redox groups located at the ligand termini. The electrochemical response of these systems has been selectively reviewed, with a focus on the variation in properties that accompany changes in the structure of the bridging ligand and the nature of the metal groups.

Kinetics of replacement of bridging ligands in a diruthenium(II,III) cation

Tetrakis-μ-propionatodiruthenium(II,III) cation reacts with oxalate, in acidic aqueous solution (0.10 M LiCF₃SO₃, [H⁺] 0.01 M at 29.4°C) in a two-phase process. An initial rapid change results in a small decrease in absorbance. This is ascribed to replacement of one propionate ligand by oxalate. A subsequent slower reaction, of which the rate is proportional to added oxalate concentration (k_bi 1.3 M⁻¹ s⁻¹), corresponds to a relatively large increase of absorbance at 475 nm, the absorbance maximum of the product. The data indicate formation of a bis(μ-oxalato)bis(μ-propionato)diruthenium(II,III) anion with a formation constant K_f > 2 x 10⁴ M⁻¹ and an extinction coefficient of 1.3 x 10³ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 475 nm. A third, much slower, change results in decomposition of that product. The occurrence of replacement of bridging ligands under mild conditions indicates that tris-μ-carboxylatodiruthenium(II,Ill) species (otherwise unknown) function as kinetic intermediates.     

Structure of a diruthenium(II,III) complex with benzamidato bridging ligands

The compound Ru₂Cl(C₆H₅CONH)₄ has now been obtained in crystalline form and the crystal and molecular structure determined by X-ray met     

Metal complexes of bridging neutral radical ligands: pymDTDA and pymDSDA

Metal complexes of the 4-(2'-pyrimidyl)-1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl (pymDTDA) neutral radical ligand and its selenium analogue (pymDSDA) are presented. The following series of metal ions has been studied using M(hfac)(2) as the coordination fragment of choice (hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonato): Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II). The binuclear cobalt and nickel complexes of pymDTDA both exhibit ferromagnetic (FM) coupling between the unpaired electrons on the ligand and the metal ion, while the binuclear zinc complex of pymDTDA is presented as a comparative example incorporating a diamagnetic metal ion. The binuclear manganese complex of pymDTDA, reported in a preliminary communication, is compared to the pymDSDA analogue, and new insight into the magnetic behavior reveals that intermolecular magnetic coupling, mediated by chalcogen-oxygen contacts, gives rise to a significant increase in the χT product at low temperature. Surprisingly, the binuclear nickel complex of pymDSDA forms dimers in the solid state, as do the mononuclear complexes of cobalt and nickel with pymDTDA. In addition, mixed mononuclear/binuclear complexes of Mn- and Zn(pymDTDA) have been identified.     

Charge transfer and mixed-valence behavior in phtalocyanine-dimer cations

Phtalocyanine compounds deserved a considerable interest in recent times, particularly because of their possible use in the field of nanoelectronics. In particular, the charge mobility (of both electrons and holes) in phtalocyanine stacked arrangements has been recently extensively investigated. The present work focuses on the study of the hole-transfer mechanism between two phtalocyanine monomers. For an interdisk distance larger than 4.5 bohrs, the eclipsed dimer exhibits a mixed-valence behavior, with a saddle point transition state separating two equivalent minima. This behavior, however, is strongly dependent on the relative angle between the disks. In particular, the mixed-valence character of the compound is strongly enhanced for arrangements that are far from the eclipsed geometry. Moreover, for values of the angle close to π/8 and 3π/8, the ground and excited transition states have exactly the same energy, thus implying the presence of a conical intersection. These results can have deep implication in the charge transfer along phtalocyanine chains.     

A donor--acceptor--donor bridging ligand in a class III mixed-valence complex

The novel mononuclear and dinuclear complexes [Ru(trpy)(bpy)(apc)][PF(6)] and [(Ru(trpy)(bpy))(2)(mu-adpc)][PF(6)](2) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, trpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, apc(-) = 4-azo(phenylcyanamido)benzene, and adpc(2)(-) = 4,4'-azodi(phenylcyanamido)) were synthesized and characterized by (1)H NMR, UV-vis, and cyclic voltammetry. Crystallography showed that the dinuclear Ru(II) complex crystallizes from diethyl ether/acetonitrile solution as [(Ru(trpy)(bpy))(2)(mu-adpc)][PF(6)](2).2(acetonitrile).2(diethyl ether). Crystal structure data are as follows: crystal system triclinic, space group P1, with a, b, and c = 12.480(2), 13.090(3) and 14.147(3) A, respectively, alpha, beta, and gamma = 79.792(3), 68.027(3), and 64.447(3) degrees, respectively, V = 1933.3(6) A(3), and Z = 1. The structure was refined to a final R factor of 0.0421. The mixed-valence complex with metal ions, separated by a through-space distance of 19.5 A, is a class III system, having the comproportionation constant K(c) = 1.3 x 10(13) and an intervalence band at 1920 nm (epsilon(max) = 10 000 M(-1) cm(-1)), in dimethylformamide solution. The results of this study strongly suggest that the bridging ligand adpc(2-) can mediate metal-metal coupling through both hole-transfer and electron-transfer superexchange mechanisms.     

Synthesis, structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterization of high oxidation state diruthenium complexes containing four identical unsymmetrical bridging ligands

Six Ru2(6+) derivatives of the form Ru2(L)4(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(2), where L = 2-Fap, 2,3-F(2)ap, 2,4-F(2)ap, 2,5-F(2)ap, 3,4-F(2)ap, or 2,4,6-F(3)ap, are synthesized and characterized as to their electrochemical, spectroscopic, and/or structural properties. These compounds are synthesized from a reaction between LiC[triple bond]CC6H5 and Ru2(L)4Cl. Two of the investigated complexes exist in a (4,0) isomeric form while four adopt a (3,1) geometric conformation. These two series of geometric isomers are compared with previously characterized (4,0) Ru2(ap)4(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(2), (4,0) Ru2(F5ap)4(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(2), and (3,1) Ru2(F5ap)4(C[triple bond]CC6H5)(2). The overall data on the nine compounds thus provide an opportunity to systematically examine how the electrochemical and structural properties of these Ru2(6+) complexes vary with respect to isomer type and electronic properties of the bridging ligands.     

Factors affecting the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of diruthenium(III,II) complexes containing four identical unsymmetrical bridging ligands

Factors affecting the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of diruthenium(III,II) complexes containing four unsymmetrical bridging ligands are reported for seven related compounds which were isolated in one or two of the four possible isomeric forms. The investigated compounds are represented as Ru(2)(2-CH(3)ap)(4)Cl, Ru(2)(2,5-F(2)ap)(4)Cl, Ru(2)(2,6-F(2)ap)(4)Cl, and Ru(2)(2,4,6-F(3)ap)(4)Cl where 2-CH(3)ap, 2,5-F(2)ap, 2,6-F(2)ap, and 2,4,6-F(3)ap are, respectively, the 2-(2-methylanilino)pyridinate anion, the 2-(2,5-difluoroanilino)pyridinate anion, the 2-(2,6-difluoroanilino)pyridinate anion, and the 2-(2,4,6-trifluoroanilino)pyridinate anion. Ru(2)(2-CH(3)ap)(4)Cl and Ru(2)(2,5-F(2)ap)(4)Cl exist only in a (4,0) conformation while Ru(2)(2,4,6-F(3)ap)(4)Cl is present in both (3,1) and (4,0) isomeric forms. Ru(2)(2,6-F(2)ap)(4)Cl also exists in two isomeric forms, but only the (3,1) isomer was generated in sufficient quantities to be isolated and structurally characterized. This series of seven closely related metal-metal bonded complexes thus provides the first possibility to systematically examine how differences in position and number of the electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups on the anionic bridging ligands might be related to the electronic properties and structural features of the compound as well as the type and number of geometric isomers which are formed. Each diruthenium derivative undergoes three one-electron transfers in CH(2)Cl(2) containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (TBAP). The first reduction and first oxidation products were characterized by thin-layer UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry, and the spectroscopic data, along with E(1/2) values, were then related via linear free energy relationships to the type of isomer and/or position of the electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents on the anionic ap bridge. The electrogenerated Ru(2)(6+) and Ru(2)(4+) forms of the compounds were assigned on the basis of electrochemical and UV-vis spectroscopic data as having the electronic configuration sigma(2)pi(4)delta(2)pi(2) and sigma(2)pi(4)delta(2)pi(3)delta, respectively, and seemed to be independent of the isomer type ((3,1) or (4,0)). The spectral and electrochemical properties of the compounds both vary substantially as a function of the isomer type, but this is not reflected in the structural features of the compounds which are within the range of what is seen for other Ru(2)(5+) species described in the literature. The Ru-Ru bond lengths of the four structurally characterized (4,0) isomers of the ap complexes range from 2.275 to 2.296 A while those of the three structurally characterized (3,1) isomers of ap derivatives fall in the range 2.284-2.286 A and show no significant difference among the three compounds. The Ru-Cl bond lengths of the (3,1) isomers do not vary significantly with the bridging ligand and range from 2.458 to 2.471 A whereas those of the (4,0) isomers range from 2.437 to 2.487 A and show larger variations among the compounds. The Ru-Ru-Cl bond angle is virtually independent of the bridging ligand in the case of the (4,0) isomers but decreases with the electron-withdrawing effect of the substituent in the case of the (3,1) isomers.     

Electronic coupling in mixed-valence dinuclear ferrocenes and cobaltocenes with saturated bridging groups

We have synthesised a series of new dinuclear metallocenes [{M(Cp*)(C5H4)}2X] (Cp* = eta5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; M = Fe, Co, X = CMe2, SiMe2, GeMe2; M = Fe, X = Si2Me4). For the neutral dicobalt complexes, magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions of -21 and -14 cm(-1) for SiMe2- and GeMe2-bridged species, respectively, but negligible interaction for the CMe2-bridged compound. In contrast, intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) data for the mixed-valence monocations of both Fe and Co complexes show electronic coupling to decrease in the order CMe2 > SiMe2 > GeMe2. This suggests that electronic coupling is principally through-space in contrast to results found from previous studies. The IVCT data also show much stronger coupling in the dicobalt species versus their diiron analogues.     

Octanuclear cobalt and nickel cages featuring formate ligands

Two new octanuclear cages are reported which feature formate as a bridging carboxylate which has been formed in situ from decomposition of triphenylacetate used as a ligand.     

The nature of transitions in electronic absorption spectra of radical cations of dipyrroles with phenylene bridging groups

The electronic absorption spectra of radical cations of dipyrroles with a phenylene bridge were studied by laser flash photolysis and quantum chemical methods. Intense absorption bands of the radical cations in the visible region (λ_max ≈ 500 nm, ε_max > 2 · 10⁴ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹) are caused by excitation of electrons from single occupied MOs to the LUMO. In the near IR region, calculations predict additional, relatively intense (f≈ 0.27–0.29) electronic transitions associated with excitation of electrons from low-lying MOs to the single occupied MO.     

Ordered bimetallic coordination networks featuring rare earth and silver cations

Three lanthanide complexes of the ditopic ligand 3-cyanopentane-2,4-dionate (acacCN) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Longer intermolecular contacts result in ninefold coordination of the cation in Ce(acacCN)(3)(H(2)O)(2), whereas mononuclear complexes of the same stoichiometry with coordination number eight are obtained for the smaller Eu(III) and Yb(III) cations. Reaction of these labile compounds with AgPF(6) leads to re-organization of the coordination sphere of the rare earth cations: neutral extended structures are formed in which the peripheric -CN moieties of Ln(acacCN)(4) anions coordinate to silver cations. The initially formed heterometallic networks show additional coordination of water or inclusion of solvent molecules; three different structure types, two of them as isomorphous pairs, have been characterized. In the case of Eu(III) and Yb(III), these solids are instable when stored in their mother liquor and undergo a slow aging process, finally resulting in phase pure stable and solvent-free 3D networks Ln(acacCN)(4)Ag.     

Infrared activity of symmetric bridging ligand modes in pyrazine-bridged hexaruthenium mixed-valence clusters

A fully symmetric (A(g)) vibrational mode of pyrazine is observed in the infrared spectrum of four pyrazine-bridged hexaruthenium mixed-valence complexes with varying degrees of electronic coupling between clusters. Deuteration of the bridging pyrazine ligand and the accompanying shift in frequency confirm the assignment of this mode. Previous observation of infrared line coalescence in the carbonyl stretching region assigns all of these complexes to Robin-Day class II (partial localization of charge) on the picosecond time scale. The infrared activity of the fully symmetric bridging ligand mode could provide a complementary assignment of these complexes to class II on a faster, femtosecond time scale. However, the extinction coefficient for this band is much greater than that observed in similar asymmetric, non-mixed-valence complexes and suggests that its strong IR activity is due to vibronic enhancement rather than electronic asymmetry.     

Catalysis in hydrogen-bridged radical cations

Hydrogen-bridged radical cations (HBRCs) are an intriguing subclass of ion-molecule complexes. They may act as key intermediates of remarkable stability in both association and dissociation reactions of heteroatom-containing molecular ions. The H-bridge of such an HBRC can promote isomerization of its ionic component by H-transfer. Proton-transport catalysis (PTC) is a prime example. Here, a neutral molecule promotes the smooth transformation of an ion into its H-shift isomer by consecutive proton-transfer reactions. A celebrated case is the water catalyzed isomerization of CH(3)OH(?+) into its more stable distonic isomer (?)CH(2)OH(2)(+). Other early studies of PTC also deal with catalyzing 1,2-H shifts in association reactions. This short review focuses on more recent combined experimental and computational studies of catalysis in HBRCs. Mechanisms involving both proton and H atom transfers have been proposed for a variety of systems of H-shift isomers. It has also become clear that PTC is not confined to bimolecular reactions. It also features in the unimolecular chemistry of heteroatom- containing ions, which have a tendency to isomerize to HBRCs en route to their dissociation.     

Inductivity and bridging in the formation of 2-norbornyl cations

The effects of substituents at C5, C6 and C7 on the solvolysis rates of 2-norbornyl p-toluene sulfonates confirm that through space induction is directional and depends on distance and bridging strain.     

Polarization effect in radical cations and H-complexes

The effect of substituents X on the ionization potentials IP (process DX + hν ? D^+·X + e) and shifts in vibration frequencies Δν of ν(OH) in the IR spectra of phenol complexes PhO-H + DX ? PhO^δ?-H…D^δ+X for nine series of DX molecules were studied. On compiling with three conditions (a constant donor center D; the electron density donation only from D and not from X; a constant sampling size within each series) it was possible to compare the polarization effect in D^+·X and D^δ+X. In the radical cations D^+·X the polarization effect is on the average 2.2 times larger than in the systems D^δ+X. The systems D^+·X and D^δ+X are virtually indistinguishable with respect to the external delocalization of the positive charge.     

Halogen bridging in the 2-chloroethyl radical

INDO calculations predict an unsymmetrically bridged structure for the 2-chloroethyl radical with the CCl bond almost perpendicular to the radical plane.     

Charge localization in a 17-bond mixed-valence quinone radical anion

Optical spectra in dimethylformamide are reported for the radical anions of benzoquinone, its tetramethyl and tetrachloro analogues, and tetra-ortho-alkyl derivatives of biphenyl, stilbene, terphenyl, quadriphenyl, and 1,4-bis(2-phenylethenyl)benzene quinones. The first absorption bands for all but the quadriphenyl quinone show vibrational fine structure, demonstrating that they are delocalized (Class III) mixed-valence compounds. The quadriphenyl quinone radical anion shows a wide Gaussian-shaped band having a band maximum that is strongly dependent on solvent, typical of localized (Class II) mixed-valence compounds. The simple O charge-bearing unit of these compounds maintains charge delocalization in examples with unusually large bridges.