One‐Pot,Template‐Free Synthesis of Pd?Pt Single‐Crystalline Hollow Cubes with Enhanced Catalytic Activity

Hollow structures have attracted ever‐growing interest owing to their various excellent properties. However, a facile strategy for their fabrication is still desired. Herein, Pd? Pt alloy with three different morphologies, that is, cubes, hollow cubes, and truncated octahedrons, is synthesized by using a one‐pot, template‐free method. The mechanism and dynamics of this system is also studied in detail. In particular, the hollow cubic structure represents enhanced catalytic activity in both coupling reactions and in the electrochemical oxidation of formic acid.     

Dendron‐Functionalized Core–Shell Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles: Magnetically Recoverable and Reusable Catalysts for Suzuki C?C Cross‐Coupling Reactions

A metallodendron functionalized with dicyclohexyldiphosphino palladium complex was synthesized. The metallodendron was grafted onto core–shell superparamagnetic nanoparticles (γ‐Fe₂O₃/polymer, 200–500 nm) to give optimal catalytic reactivity in cross‐coupling reactions. The grafted nanoparticles were used as recoverable and reusable catalysts for Suzuki C? C cross‐coupling reactions. They showed remarkable reactivity towards iodo‐ and bromoarenes under mild conditions, and unprecedented reactivity towards chloroarenes. On completion of the catalytic reaction, the catalysts were readily recovered by using a simple magnet to attract the superparamagnetic grafted nanoparticles. Catalysts were recovered more than 25 times with almost no discernable loss of reactivity.     

Alkyne Insertion into the M?P and M?H Bonds (M=Pd,Ni, Pt,and Rh): A Theoretical Mechanistic Study of the C?P and C?H Bond‐Formation Steps

In hydrogen‐metal‐phosphorus (H M P) transition metal complexes (proposed as intermediates of H P bond addition to alkynes in the catalytic hydrophosphorylation, hydrophosphinylation, and hydrophospination reactions), alkyne insertion into the metal‐hydrogen bond was found much more facile compared to alkyne insertion into the metal‐phosphorus bond. The conclusion was verified for different metals (Pd, Ni, Pt, and Rh), ligands, and phosphorus groups at various theory levels (B3LYP, B3PW91, BLYP, MP2, and ONIOM). The relative reactivity of the metal complexes in the reaction with alkynes was estimated and decreased in the order of Ni>Pd>Rh>Pt. A trend in relative reactivity was established for various types of phosphorus groups: PR₂>P(O)R₂>P(O)(OR)₂, which showed a decrease in rate upon increasing the number of the oxygen atoms attached to the phosphorus center.     

Mass Spectrometric Studies on Metal-hexafluorobenzene Anionic Complexes（M=Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, Pb and Bi）

The anionic products from the reactions between metal(M=Ag, Au, Pd, Pt, Pb and Bi) vapour produced by laser ablation and hexafluorobenzene seeded in carrier gas(Ar) were studied by means of a homemade reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry(RTOF-MS). Experimental results show that the dominant products were [MmC6F6]-complexes for the reactions of Ag, Au, Pd and Pt with C6F6, while the dominant products were [MmC6F5]-complexes for the reactions of Pb and Bi with C6F6. The formation mechanisms of the prod...     

A General Approach To Fabricate Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Decorated with Pd,Au, and Rh: Magnetically Recoverable and Reusable Catalysts for Suzuki C?C Cross‐Coupling Reactions,Hydrogenation, and Sequential Reactions

A facile strategy has been explored for loading noble metals onto the surface of ferrite nanoparticles with the assistance of phosphine‐functionalized linkers. Palladium loading is shown to occur with participation of both the phosphine function and the surface hydroxyl groups. Hybrid nanoparticles containing simultaneously Pd and Au (or Rh) are obtained by successive loading of metals. Similarly, ferrite nanoparticles decorated with Pd, Au, and Rh have also been formed by using the same strategy. The catalytic properties of the new nanoparticles are evidenced in processes such as reduction of 4‐nitrophenol or hydrogenation of styrene. Besides, the sequential process involving a cross‐coupling reaction followed by reduction of 1‐nitrobiphenyl has been successfully achieved by employing Pd/Au decorated nanoferrite particles.     

Metallodendritic Grafted Core–Shell γ‐Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Used as Recoverable Catalysts in Suzuki C?C Coupling Reactions

The use of dendritic structures for the grafting of core–shell γ‐Fe₂O₃/polymer 300 nm superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) has been performed with four metallodendrons that were functionalized with diphosphinopalladium complexes. The catalytic performance of these nanocatalysts was optimized for the Suzuki C? C cross‐coupling reaction. These results demonstrated the importance of optimizing the catalytic efficiency of grafted MNPs by optimizing the dendritic structures and the nature of the peripheral phosphine ligands. All of these nanocatalysts showed remarkable reactivity towards bromoarenes and they were recovered and efficiently reused by magnetic separation with almost no loss of reactivity, even after 25 cycles.     

M4(CH2)4 Cubane‐Type Rare‐Earth Methylidene Complexes: Unique Reactivity toward Unsaturated C?O,C?N,and C?S Bonds

The reactivity of the cubane‐type rare‐earth methylidene complex [Cp′Lu(μ₃‐CH₂)]₄ ( 1 , Cp′=C₅Me₄SiMe₃) with various unsaturated electrophiles was investigated. The reaction of 1 with CO (1 atm) at room temperature gave the bis(ketene dianion)/dimethylidene complex [Cp′₄Lu₄(μ₃‐CH₂)₂(μ₃,η²‐O‐C?CH₂)₂] ( 2 ) in 86 % yield through the insertion of two molecules of CO into two of the four lutetium–methylidene units. In the reaction with the sterically demanding N,N‐diisopropylcarbodiimide at 60 °C, only one of the four methylidene units in 1 reacted with one molecule of the carbodiimide substrate to give the mono(ethylene diamido)/trimethylidene complex [Cp′₄Lu₄(μ₃‐CH₂)₃{iPrNC(=CH₂)NiPr}] ( 3 ) in 83 % yield. Similarly, the reaction of 1 with phenyl isothiocyanate gave the ethylene amido thiolate/trimethylidene complex [Cp′₄Lu₄(μ₃‐CH₂)₃{PhNC(S)=CH₂}] ( 4 ). In the case of phenyl isocyanate, two of the four methylidene units in 1 reacted with four molecules of the substrate at ambient temperature to give the malonodiimidate/dimethylidene complex [Cp′₄Lu₄(μ₃‐CH₂)₂{PhN=C(O)CH₂(O)C?NPh}₂] ( 5 ) in 87 % yield. In this reaction, each of the two lutetium–methylidene bonds per methylidene unit inserted one molecule of phenyl isocyanate. All the products have been fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and microelemental analyses.     

Density Functional Theory Study on the Adsorption of CN on Transition Metal M（100） （M = Ni,Pd, Pt,Cu, Ag and Au） Surfaces

The adsorption of cyanide on the top site of a series of transition metal M（100） （M = Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Pd, Pt） surfaces via carbon and nitrogen atoms respectively, with the CN axis perpendicular to the surface, has been studied by means of density functional theory and cluster model. Geometry, adsorption energy and vibrational frequencies have been determined, and the present calculations show that the adsorption of CN through C-end on metal surface is more favorable than that via N-end for the same surface. The vibrational frequencies of CN for C-down configuration on surface are blue-shifted with respect to the free CN, which is contrary to the change of vibrational frequencies when CN is adsorbed by N-down structure. Furthermore, the charge transfer from surface to CN causes the increase of surface work function.     

Why are the Homoleptic Diyl Complexes M(InR)4 with M = Ni and Pt Stable Compounds while only Ni(CO)4 but not Pt(CO)4 can become Isolated? A Theoretical Study of M(EMe)44 and M(CO)4 (M = Ni,Pd, Pt; E = B,Al, Ga,In, Tl)

The equilibrium geometries and first bond dissociation energies of the homoleptic complexes M(EMe)₄ and M(CO)₄ with M = Ni, Pd, Pt and E = B, Al, Ga, In, Tl have been calculated at the gradient corrected DFT level using the BP86 functionals. The electronic structure of the metal‐ligand bonds has been examined with the topologial analysis of the electron density distribution. The nature of the bonding is revealed by partitioning the metal‐ligand interaction energies into contributions by electrostatic attraction, covalent bonding and Pauli repulsion. The calculated data show that the M‐CO and M‐EMe bonding is very similar. However, the M‐EMe bonds of the lighter elements E are much stronger than the M‐CO bonds. The bond energies of the latter are as low or even lower than the M‐TlMe bonds. The main reason why Pd(CO)₄ and Pt(CO)₄ are unstable at room temperature in a condensed phase can be traced back to the already rather weak bond energy of the Ni‐CO bond. The Pd‐L bond energies of the complexes with L = CO and L = EMe are always 10 — 20 kcal/mol lower than the Ni‐L bond energies. The calculated bond energy of Ni(CO)₄ is only D_o = 27 kcal/mol. Thus, the bond energy of Pd(CO)₄ is only D_o = 12 kcal/mol. The first bond dissociation energy of Pt(CO)₄ is low because the relaxation energy of the Pt(CO)₃ fragment is rather high. The low bond energies of the M‐CO bonds are mainly caused by the relatively weak electrostatic attraction and by the comparatively large Pauli repulsion. The σ and π contributions to the covalent M‐CO interactions have about the same strength. The π bonding in the M‐EMe bonds is less than in the M‐CO bonds but it remains an important part of the bond energy. The trends of the electrostatic and covalent contributions to the bond energies and the σ and π bonding in the metal‐ligand bonds are discussed.     

Rhenium–Germanium Triple Bonds: Syntheses and Reactions of the Germylidyne Complexes mer‐[X2(PMe3)3ReGe?R] (X=Cl,I, H; R=m‐terphenyl)

A general approach to the first compounds that contain rhenium–germanium triple and double bonds is reported. Heating [ReCl(PMe₃)₅] ( 1 ) with the arylgermanium(II) chloride GeCl(C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂) ( 2 ; Trip=2,4,6‐triisopropylphenyl) results in the germylidyne complex mer‐[Cl₂(PMe₃)₃Re?Ge? C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂] ( 4 ) upon PMe₃ elimination. An equilibrium that is dependent on the PMe₃ concentration exists between complexes 1 and 4 . Removal of the volatile PMe₃ shifts the equilibrium towards complex 4 , whereas treatment of 4 with an excess of PMe₃ gives a 1:1 mixture of 1 and the PMe₃ adduct of 2 , GeCl(C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂)(PMe₃) ( 2 ‐PMe₃). Adduct 2 ‐PMe₃ can be selectively obtained by addition of PMe₃ to chlorogermylidene 2 . The NMR spectroscopic data for 2 ‐PMe₃ indicate an equilibrium between 2 ‐PMe₃ and its dissociation products, 2 and PMe₃, which is shifted far towards the adduct site at ambient temperature. NMR spectroscopic monitoring of the reaction of complex 1 with 2 and the reaction of complex 4 with PMe₃ revealed the formation of two key intermediates, which were identified to be the chlorogermylidene complexes cis/trans‐[Cl(PMe₃)₄Re?Ge(Cl)C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂] (cis/trans‐ 3 ) by using NMR spectroscopy. Labile chlorogermylidene complexes cis/trans‐ 3 can be also generated from trans‐[Cl(PMe₃)₄Re?Ge? C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂]BPh₄ ( 9 ) and (nBu₄N)Cl at low temperature, and decompose at ambient temperature to give a mixture of complexes 1 and 4 . Complex 4 reacts with LiI to give the diiodido derivative mer‐[I₂(PMe₃)₃Re?Ge? C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂] ( 5 ), which undergoes a metathetical iodide/hydride exchange with Na(BEt₃H) to give the dihydrido germylidyne complex mer‐[H₂(PMe₃)₃Re?Ge? C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂] ( 6 ). Carbonylation of 4 induces a chloride migration from rhenium to the germanium atom to afford the chlorogermylidene complex mer‐[Cl(CO)(PMe₃)₃Re?Ge(Cl)C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂] ( 7 ). Similarly, MeNC converts complex 4 into the methylisocyanide analogue mer‐[Cl(MeNC)(PMe₃)₃Re?Ge(Cl)C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂] ( 8 ). Chloride abstraction from 4 by NaBPh₄ in the presence of PMe₃ gives the cationic germylidyne complex trans‐[Cl(PMe₃)₄Re?Ge? C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂]BPh₄ ( 9 ). Heating complex 4 with cis‐[Mo(PMe₃)₄(N₂)₂] induces a germylidyne ligand transfer from rhenium to molybdenum to afford the germylidyne complex trans‐[Cl(PMe₃)₄Mo?Ge? C₆H₃‐2,6‐Trip₂] ( 10 ). All new compounds were fully characterized and their molecular structures studied by X‐ray crystallography, which led to the first experimentally determined Re? Ge triple‐ and double‐bond lengths.     

Carbon-free D3d [E3ME3]2− (E=P, As; M=Ni, Pd, Pt): The smallest inorganic sandwich complexes with aromatic η3-P 3 − and η3-As 3 − ligands

A density functional theory and wave function theory investigation on the possibility of carbon-free phosphametallocenes [P₃MP₃]^2? and arsenametallocenes [As₃MAs₃]^2? (M=Ni, Pd, Pt) is presented in this work. Staggered singlet D_3d [E₃ME₃]^2? (E=P, As)-the smallest inorganic metallocenes possible to construct-proved to be the global minima of the heptaatomic systems and may be targeted in future experiments. Cyclo-P ₃ ^? and cyclo-As ₃ ^? turned out to possess similar aromaticity to cyclo-P ₅ ^? and cyclo-As ₅ ^? and may serve as effective ligands to sandwich a wide range of transition metals. The first vertical electron detachment energies of C_s [E₃ME₃]Li^? monoanions with a staggered [E₃ME₃]^2? sandwich core were predicted to be between 2.7 and 2.9 eV; the extent of stabilization by Li⁺ suggests that such materials be viable targets for experimental characterization.     

Carbon-free D_(3d) [E_3ME_3]~(2-) (E=P,As;M=Ni,Pd,Pt):The smallest inorganic sandwich complexes with aromatic η~3-P_3~- and η~3-As_3~- ligands

A density functional theory and wave function theory investigation on the possibility of carbon-free phosphametallocenes [P3MP3]2-and arsenametallocenes [As3MAs3]2- (M=Ni, Pd, Pt) is presented in this work. Staggered singlet D3d [E3ME3]2- (E=P, As)-the smallest inorganic metallocenes possible to construct-proved to be the global minima of the heptaatomic sys- tems and may be targeted in future experiments. Cyclo-P3- and cyclo-As3- turned out to possess similar aromaticity to cyclo-P5- and cyclo-As5- and may...     

Structure and thermal properties of double complex salts [RuNO(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)]<Subscript>2</Subscript>[MCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>]Cl<Subscript>4</Subscript>·2H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O,M = Pt,Pd

Double complex salts (DCS) [RuNO(NH₃)₄(H₂O)]₂[MCl₄]Cl₄·2H₂O, M = Pt (I) and Pd (II), are prepared and characterized using IR spectroscopy, single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Crystalline phases of I and II are isostructural (P2(1)/n space group) and have the following crystallographic characteristics: a = 6.689 Å, b = 15.609 Å, c = 12.348 Å, V = 1289.1 ų, Z = 2, d _x = 2.425 g/cm³ (I) and a = 6.637 Å, b = 15.521 Å, c = 12.244 Å, V = 1261.2 ų, Z = 2, d _x = 2.255 g/cm³ (II). The thermolysis of the obtained DCS in the hydrogen atmosphere affords two-phase mixtures of limited solid solutions of the metals: hcp for ruthenium-based ones and fcc for Pt or Pd based solutions. On decomposition in the helium atmosphere the products contain a minor amount of RuO₂. For the phases obtained during thermolysis the parameters are determined and the compositions are estimated. The heating of I to 400°C in the helium-air atmosphere yields a nanocrystalline composite Pt+RuO₂ with CSR of ～20 nm.