Molybdenum oxo-imido aryloxide complexes: oxo analogues of olefin metathesis catalysts

The novel 16-electron molybdenum oxo-imido bis(aryloxide) complexes [Mo(NtBu)(O)(2,6-Me2C6H3O)2(py)] (1) and [Mo(NtBu)(O)(2,6-iPr2C6H3O)2(py)] (2) have been prepared by the salt elimination reactions of [Mo(NtBu)(O)Cl2(DME)] with the appropriate lithium aryloxide and from the cycloaddition reactions of tert-butyl isocyanate with the appropriate molybdenum dioxo bis(aryloxide) complex [Mo(O)2(OAr)2(py)n]. Complexes 1 and 2 are the first isolable and crystallographically characterized molybdenum oxo-imido aryloxide complexes. The geometry around the metal in complexes 1 and 2 is best described as a distorted trigonal bipyramid, with the imido and pyridine ligands occupying the axial positions and the oxo and aryloxide ligands in the equatorial plane. X-ray and IR data have confirmed that the imido ligand is the dominant pi donor in the complexes, resulting in an Mo-O bond order of less than 2.5. Reaction of [Mo(NtBu)(O)Cl2(DME)] with Li(OCH2tBu) instead gave the novel complex [Mo(NtBu)(OCH2tBu)3Cl(py)] (3).     

DFT calculations of d0 M(NR)(CHtBu)(X)(Y) (M = Mo, W; R = CPh3, 2,6-iPr-C6H3; X and Y = CH2tBu, OtBu, OSi(OtBu)3) olefin metathesis catalysts: structural, spectroscopic and electronic properties

DFT(B3PW91) calculations have been carried out to rationalise the structural, electronic and spectroscopic properties of Mo and W imido M(NR1)(CHR2)(X)(Y) olefin metathesis catalysts by using either simplified or actual ligands of the experimental complexes. The calculated structures, energetics (preference for the syn isomer and alkylidene rotational barrier for the syn/anti interconversion), and spectroscopic properties (NMR J(C-H) coupling constants) are in good agreement with available experimental data. Additionally, the alkylidene nu(C-H) stretching frequencies, not available experimentally, have been calculated. These quasi-tetrahedral complexes have a linear imido group and a C-H alkylidene agostic interaction, which stabilizes the syn isomer. Whether looking at M(NR1)(CHR2)(X)(Y), M = Mo, W, or the isolobal Re complexes, Re(CR1)(CHR2)(X)(Y), a linear correlation is obtained between both the alkylidene nu(C-H) stretching frequencies and J(C-H) coupling constants with the calculated alkylidene C-H bond lengths. These correlations show that the strength of the alpha-C-H agostic interaction increases from alkylidyne Re to imido group 6 complexes and from Mo to W. The NBO and AIM Bader analyses show firstly that the imido and alkylidyne groups are both triply bonded to the metal, but that the triply bonded imido ligand is a weaker electron donor than the alkylidyne, hence the stronger alpha-C-H agostic interaction for group 6 imido complexes. Secondly, one of the pi bonds of the triply bonded ligand is weakened at the transition state of the alkylidene rotation: while no lone pair is formed, the metal-ligand triple bond is polarized. This is more favourable for an imido than for an alkylidyne ligand, hence the lower alkylidene rotational barrier for the former complexes. Conversely, the aryl imido is even less of an electron donor than the alkyl imido group, which in turn strengthens the alpha-C-H agostic interaction and lowers the alkylidene rotational barrier even more.     

Synthesis, structure, and characterization of molybdenum(VI) imido complexes with N-salicylidene-2-aminophenol

Diimido complexes of the type Mo(NAr)2Cl2(dme) (dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) react with N-salicylidene-2-aminophenol (sapH2) in methanol in the presence of 2 equiv of triethylamine to form complexes with the general formula Mo(NAr)(1,2-OC6H4NH)(sap). The structures of three of these compounds (NAr = 2,6-dimethylphenylimido (1), 2,4,6-trimethylphenylimido (2), 2-tert-butylphenylimido3) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The coordination sphere around the Mo is a distorted octahedron. The oxygen from the 2-aminophenol is trans to the imido nitrogen, whereas the amido nitrogen and the tridentate sap occupy the four equatorial positions. The Mo-N-C imido linkages have angles of 167.5(2) degrees (1), 163.2(2) degrees (2), and 162.4(1) degrees (3). A precursor complex to the imido-amido complex, Mo(NAr)(sap)(OCH3)2 (4, NAr = 2,4,6-trimethylphenylimido), has been isolated and characterized. Compound 4 reacts with 2-aminophenol to form 2, with 2-aminothiophenol to form Mo(NAr)(1,2-SC6H4NH)(sap) (5), with catechol to form Mo(NAr)(1,2-OC6H4O)(sap) (6), with naphthalene-2,3-diol to form Mo(NAr)(naphthalene-2,3-diolate)(sap) (7), with 1,2-benzenedithiol to form Mo(NAr)(1,2-SC6H4S)(sap) (8), and with 1,2-phenylenediamine to form Mo(NAr)(1,2-HNC6H4NH)(sap) (9). The structures of compounds 5-9 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. With the exception of compound 8, the structures are similar to those of 1,2, and 3, with the bidentate ligand occupying one axial and one equatorial position. In 8, 1,2-benzendithiolate occupies two equatorial positions, and the nitrogen from sap is located trans to the imido nitrogen. All complexes were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and UV-vis spectroscopy. When a solution of 4 is exposed to moisture-containing air, MoO2(sap)(CH3OH) (10) is formed. The structure of 10 was also determined.     

Synthetic, spectroscopic, and structural studies on organoimido molybdenum, tungsten, and rhenium phthalocyanines

Unprecedented imido phthalocyaninato complexes of pentavalent refractory metals [PcM(NR)Cl] (M = Mo, W, Re; R = tBu: 1, 3, 6, Mes: 2, 4, 7 or Ts: 5) have been synthesized by reductive cyclotetramerization of phthalonitrile in the presence of appropriate bis(imido) complexes of Mo, W and Re as templates. While d(1) Mo(V) and W(V) species 1-5 show distinctive EPR spectra corresponding to metal centered radicals with hyperfine coupling of two magnetically non-equivalent nitrogen atoms (4 equatorial and 1 axial N), corresponding d(2) Re(V) compounds 6 and 7 are diamagnetic. [PcMo(NtBu)Cl] 1 crystallizes from 1-chloronaphthalene in the tetragonal space group P4/n. The molecular structure reveals, that the metal center is located above the plane of the equatorial N4 and displaced towards the axial π-donor ligand. Due to the thermodynamic trans effect the Mo-Cl bond trans to the imido group is elongated to about 2.600(2) ?.     

Molecular and electronic structure of chromium(V) nitrido complexes with azide and isothiocyanate ligands

The first use of [Cr(N)Cl4]2- as a starting material in chromium(v) nitrido chemistry is demonstrated in simple, high yield, metathesis reactions with the pseudohalogens SCN- and N3- yielding five-coordinate, labile complexes: [Cr(N)(NCS)4]2- and [Cr(N)(N3)4]2-, which have been crystallized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Reaction of [Cr(N)(NCS)4]2- with 1,10-phenanthroline furnishes six-coordinate [Cr(N)(NCS)3(phen)]- wherein phenanthroline coordinates to the position trans to the nitrido ligand. The trans influence of the nitrido ligand leads to a bond length difference of 0.223 A between the axial and equatorial ligators from the phenanthroline ligand. The absorption band with lowest energy in these pseudo-linear complexes is assigned as the electric dipole forbidden transition d(xy) --> d(x-y) based on intensities and its variation with the nature of the equatorial ligators. This absorption provides the spectrochemical series for the equatorial ligands, which is found to be numerically almost identical to that determined for chromium(III). DFT calculations reproduce the observed structures and corroborate the ligand field picture of the electronic structure of these complexes.     

Group-4 eta(1)-pyrrolyl complexes incorporating N,N-di(pyrrolyl-alpha-methyl)-N-methylamine

Syntheses and properties of group-4 complexes incorporating the tridentate, dianionic ligand N,N-(dipyrrolyl-alpha-methyl)-N-methylamine, dpma, have been investigated. Addition of 1 equiv of H(2)dpma to Ti(NMe(2))(4) and Zr(NMe(2))(4) results in transamination with 2 dimethylamides providing Ti(NMe(2))(2)(dpma) and Zr(NMe(2))(2)(NHMe(2))(dpma), respectively. Addition of 2 equiv of H(2)dpma to Zr(NMe(2))(4) and Hf(NMe(2))(4) results in production of the homoleptic complexes Zr(dpma)(2) and Hf(dpma)(2). Conversely, treatment of Ti(NMe(2))(4) with 2 equiv of H(2)dpma does not provide Ti(dpma)(2), which was available by addition of 2 Li(2)dpma to TiCl(4). The properties of the isostructural series M(dpma)(2) were investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, (14)N NMR, and other techniques. By (14)N NMR, it was found that the pyrrolyl resonance chemical shift changes approximately linearly with the electronegativity of the metal center, which was attributed to pi-interaction between the pyrrolyl nitrogen lone pair and the metal. Other complexes produced during this study include Ti(CH(2)SiMe(3))(NMe(2))(dpma), TiCl(2)(THF)(dpma), and Ti(OCH(2)CF(3))(2)(THF)(dpma). Two isomers for Ti(CH(2)SiMe(3))(NMe(2))(dpma) were isolated and characterized.     

Photodissociation of the phosphine-substituted transition metal carbonyl complexes Cr(CO)(5)L and Fe(CO)(4)L: a theoretical study

The photochemistry of the phosphine-substituted transition metal carbonyl complexes Cr(CO)(5)PH(3) and ax-Fe(CO)(4)PH(3) is studied with time-dependent DFT theory to explore the propensity of the excited molecules to expel their ligands. The influence of the PH(3) ligand on the properties of these complexes is compared with the photodissociation behavior of the binary carbonyl complexes Cr(CO)(6) and Fe(CO)(5). The lowest excited states of Cr(CO)(5)PH(3) are metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states, of which the first three are repulsive for PH(3) but modestly bonding for the axial and equatorial CO ligands. The repulsive nature is due to mixing of the initial MLCT state with a ligand field (LF) state. A barrier is encountered along the dissociation coordinate if the avoided crossing between these states occurs beyond the equilibrium distance. This is the case for expulsion of CO but not for the PH(3) group as the avoided state crossing occurs within the equilibrium Cr-P distance. The lowest excited state of ax-Fe(CO)(4)PH(3) is a LF state that is repulsive for both PH(3) and the axial CO. Excited-state quantum dynamics calculations for this state show a branching ratio of 99 to 1 for expulsion of the axial phosphine ligand over an axial CO ligand. The nature of the phosphorus ligand in these Cr and Fe complexes is only of modest importance. Complexes containing the three-membered phosphirane or unsaturated phosphirene rings have dissociation curves for their lowest excited states that are similar to those having a PH(3) ligand. Analysis of their ground-state Cr-P bond properties in conjunction with frontier orbital arguments indicate these small heterocyclic groups to differ from the PH(3) group mainly by their enhanced sigma-donating ability. All calculations indicate that the excited Cr(CO)(5)L and Fe(CO)(4)L molecules (L = PH(3), PC(2)H(5), and PC(2)H(3)) prefer dissociation of their phosphorus substituent over that of an CO ligand. This suggests that the photochemical approach may be a viable complement to the ligand exchange and redox methods that are currently employed to demetalate transition metal complexed organophosphorus compounds.     

Titanium hydrazido and imido complexes: synthesis, structure, reactivity, and relevance to alkyne hydroamination

Treatment of Ti(NMe(2))(2)(dpma) (1) with aniline results in the protonation of the dimethylamido ligands, which are retained as dimethylamines, and generation of a titanium imido complex Ti(NPh)(NHMe(2))(2)(dpma) (2) in 94% yield. The monomeric imido 2 is converted to the reactive dimeric micro-imido [Ti(NPh)(dpma)](2) (3) on removal of the labile dimethylamine donors. The dimer 3 is converted to monomeric terminal imido complexes in the presence of added donors, e.g., 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Bu(t)-bpy) and DME. Compounds 1-3 exhibit the same rate constant for 1-phenylpropyne hydroamination by aniline and are all kinetically competent to be involved in the catalytic cycle. Attempts to use 1 as a catalyst for hydroaminations involving 1,1-dimethylhydrazine resulted in only a few turnovers under the best conditions. Consequently, the chemistry of 1 with hydrazines to generate hydrazido complexes was scrutinized for comparison with the imido species. Through these studies, titanium hydrazido complexes including Ti(eta(2)-NHNC(5)H(10))(2)(dpma) (5), Ti(eta(2)-NHNMe(2))(2)(dpma) (6), and [Ti(micro:eta(1),eta(2)-NNMe(2))(dpma)](2) (7) were characterized. In addition, a terminal hydrazido(2-) complex was available by addition of Bu(t)-bpy to 1 prior to 1,1-dimethylhydrazine addition, which provided Ti(eta(1)-NNMe(2))(Bu(t)-bpy)(dpma) (8). Compound 8 was structurally characterized and compared to Ti(NPh)(Bu(t)-bpy)(dpma) (4b), an imido derivative with the same ancillary ligand set. Compound 8 has a nucleophilic beta-nitrogen consistent with a hydrazido(2-) formulation, as determined by reaction with MeI to form the ammonium imido complex [Ti(NNMe(3))(Bu(t)-bpy)(dpma)]I (9). Analogous pyridinium imido complexes [Ti(N-1-pyridinium)(Bu(t)-bpy)(dpma)](+) (10) are available by addition of 1-aminopyridinium iodide to 1. From the investigations, some conclusions regarding the activity of titanium pyrrolyl complexes in hydroamination were drawn. The lack of conversion of the bis[micro-hydrazido(2-)] 7 to monomeric species in the presence of donor ligands is put forth as one explanation for the poor hydrazine hydroamination activity of 1. This problem was combated in the synthesis of Ti(NMe(2))(2)(dap)(2), which is an active catalyst for hydrazine hydroamination of alkynes.     

Electronic structure of the hydroxo and methoxo oxometalate anions MO3(OH)- and MO3(OCH3)- (M = Cr, Mo, and W)

The electronic structure of the mononuclear hydroxo MO3(OH)- and methoxo MO3(OCH3)- Group 6 oxometalate anions (M = Cr, Mo, and W) were examined by photodetachment photoelectron spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations at the density functional and CCSD(T) levels of theory. All of the anions exhibited high electron binding energies (>4.9 eV), with the lowest-energy detachment features arising from oxygen 2p-based orbitals. The combined experimental and theoretical results allowed the change in molecular orbital energy levels to be investigated as a function of metal (Cr, Mo, or W) and ligand (-OH, -OCH3). A number of fundamental thermodynamic properties of the anions and corresponding neutrals were predicted on the basis of the theoretical calculations. The calculations indicate high O-H bond dissociation energies for MO2(OR)(O-H) (R = H, CH3) and MO3(O-H), consistent with their high Br?nsted acidities (just below that of H2SO4 in the gas phase) and the high ionization energies of their conjugate base anions. This suggests that the corresponding radicals should readily abstract H atoms from organic molecules.     

High-valent imido complexes of manganese and chromium corroles

The oxidation reaction of M(tpfc) [M = Mn or Cr and tpfc = tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole] with aryl azides under photolytic or thermal conditions gives the first examples of mononuclear imido complexes of manganese(V) and chromium(V). These complexes have been characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry, UV-vis, EPR, elemental analysis, and cyclic voltammetry. Two X-ray structures have been obtained for Mn(tpfc)(NMes) and Cr(tpfc)(NMes) [Mes = 2,4,6-(CH(3))(3)C(6)H(2)]. Short metal-imido bonds (1.610 and 1.635 Angstroms) as well as nearly linear M-N-C angles are consistent with triple M triple-bond NR bond formation. The kinetics of nitrene [NR] group transfer from manganese(V) corroles to various organic phosphines have been defined. Reduction of the manganese(V) corrolato complex affords phosphine imine and Mn(III) with reaction rates that are sensitive to steric and electronic elements of the phosphine substrate. An analogous manganese complex with a variant corrole ligand containing bromine atoms in the beta-pyrrole positions, Mn(Br(8)tpfc)(NAr), has been prepared and studied. Its reaction with PEt(3) is 250x faster than that of the parent tpfc complex, and its Mn(V/IV) couple is shifted by 370 mV to a more positive potential. The EPR spectra of chromium(V) imido corroles reveal a rich signal at ambient temperature consistent with Cr(V) triple-bond NR (d(1), S = 1/2) containing a localized spin density in the d(xy) orbital, and an anisotropic signal at liquid nitrogen temperature. Our results demonstrate the synthetic utility of organic aryl azides in the preparation of mononuclear metal imido complexes previously considered elusive, and suggest strong sigma-donation as the underlying factor in stabilizing high-valent metals by corrole ligands.     

Regioselective and reversible carbon-nitrogen bond formation: synthesis, structure and reactivity of ureato-bridged complexes [Mo2(NAr)2(mu-X){mu-ArNC(O)NAr}(S2CNR2)2](Ar = Ph, p-tol; X = S, NAr; R = Me, Et, Pr)

Reaction of ArNCO with syn-[MoO(mu-O)(S2CNR2)]2 or syn-[MoO(mu-NAr)(S2CNR2)]2 at 110 degrees C leads to the facile formation of bridging ureato complexes [Mo2(NAr)2(mu-NAr){mu-ArNC(O)NAr}(S2CNR2)2](Ar = Ph, p-tol; R = Me, Et, Pr), formed upon substitution of all oxo ligands and addition of a further equivalent of isocyanate across one of the bridging imido ligands. Related sulfido-bridged complexes [Mo2(NAr)2(mu-S){mu-ArNC(O)NAr}(S2CNR2)2] have been prepared from syn-[Mo2O2(mu-O)(mu-S)(S2CNR2)2]. When reactions with syn-[MoO(mu-NAr)(S2CNEt2)]2 were followed by NMR, intermediates were observed, being formulated as [Mo2O(NAr)(mu-NAr){mu-ArNC(O)NAr}(S2CNEt2)2], which at higher temperatures convert to the fully substituted products. A crystallographic study of [Mo2(N-p-tol)2(mu-S){mu-p-tolNC(O)N-p-tol}(S2CNPr2)2] reveals that the bridging ureato ligand is bound asymmetrically to the dimolybdenum centre-molybdenum-nitrogen bonds trans to the terminal imido ligands being significantly elongated with respect to those cis-a result of the trans-influence of the terminal imido ligands. This trans-influence also leads to a trans-effect, whereby the exchange of aryl isocyanates can occur in a regioselective manner. This is followed by NMR studies and confirmed by a crystallographic study of [Mo2(N-p-tol)2(mu-N-p-tol){mu-p-tolNC(O)NPh}(S2CNEt2)2]--the PhNCO occupying the site trans to the terminal imido ligands. Ureato complexes also react with PhNCS, initially forming [Mo2(NAr)2(mu-S){mu-ArNC(O)NAr}(S2CNR2)2], resulting from exchange of the bridging imido ligand for sulfur, together with small amounts of [Mo2(NAr)2(mu-S)(mu-S2)(S2CNEt2)2], containing bridging sulfide and disulfide ligands. The ureato complexes [Mo2(NAr)2(mu-S){mu-ArNC(O)NAr}(S2CNR2)2] react further with PhNCS to give [Mo2(NAr)2(mu-S)2(S2CNR2)2]n (n = 1, 2), which exist in a dimer-tetramer equilibrium. In order to confirm these results crystallographic studies have been carried out on [Mo2(N-p-tol)2(mu-S)(mu-S2)(S2CNEt2)2] and [Mo2(N-p-tol)2(mu-S)2(S2CNPr2)2]2.     

金属串配合物[MoMoCo(npo)4(NCS)2]的配位结构及其与电场的关系

应用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法研究了具有分子导线潜在应用的金属串配合物[MoMoCo(npo)4(NCS)2](npo=1,8-萘基-2-酮)的配位结构及其受电场作用的影响。配位方式记为(n,m),其中n、m分别表示4个赤道配体npo^-的O与Co和Mo配位的个数:n=0,1,2,3,4;m=4,3,2,1,0。结果表明:(1)零电场下,基态能量高低为(0,4)>(4,0)>(3,1)≈(1,3)>(2,2),5种配位方式均可稳定存在且互为竞争态。Z方向偶极矩μ(Z)值大小为(0,4)(+)>(1,3)(+)>(2,2)(-)>(3,1)(-)>(4,0)(-)(+、-表示μ(Z)值的正负,与Z方向相同即为正,相反即为负),4个npo^-趋向越一致能量越高极性越大。(2)Mo-Mo具有四重键,键长随μ(Z)值减小而减小,而Mo-Co键长则相反。随μ(Z)值减小前线轨道中πNCS(1)轨道能降低,π'NCS(2)轨道能升高。(3)Z方向电场作用下,除(0,4)外所有配位方式的Mo1-N8键显著增长,结构不稳定。(4)电场作用下前线轨道能级交错,μ(Z)为正值的(0,4)、(1,3)的能隙E_LUMO-HOMO在-Z方向电场中降低更显著,μ(Z)为负值的(2,2)、(3,1)和(4,0)的能隙在Z方向电场中降低更显著。分子极性越大,随电场强度增强能隙降低越显著,分子导电性可能越好。(0,4)、(3,1)和(4,0)可能具有整流效应,但(3,1)和(4,0)的稳定性较低。     

A periodic walk: a series of first-row transition metal complexes with the pentadentate ligand PY5

A series of transition metal complexes derived from the pentadentate ligand PY5, 2,6-(bis-(bis-2-pyridyl)methoxymethane)pyridine, illustrates the intrinsic propensity of this ligand to complex metal ions. X-ray structural data are provided for six complexes (1-6) with cations of the general formula [M(II)(PY5)(Cl)](+), where M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn. In complexes 1-4 and 6, the metal ions are coordinated in a distorted-octahedral fashion; the four terminal pyridines of PY5 occupy the equatorial sites while the axial positions are occupied by the bridging pyridine of PY5 and a chloride anion. Major distortions from an ideal octahedral geometry arise from displacement of the metal atom from the equatorial plane toward the chloride ligand and from differences in pyridine-metal-pyridine bond angles. The series of complexes shows that M(II) ions are consistently accommodated in the ligand by displacement of the metal ion from the PY5 pocket, a tilting of the axial pyridine subunit, and nonsymmetrical pyridine subunit ligation in the equatorial plane. The displacement from the ligand pocket increases with the ionic radius of M(II). The axial pyridine tilt, however, is approximately the same for all complexes and appears to be independent of the electronic ground state of M(II). In complex 5, the Cu(II) ion is coordinated by only four of the five pyridine subunits of the ligand, resulting in a square-pyramidal complex. The overall structural similarity of 5 with the other complexes reflects the strong tendency of PY5 to enforce a distorted-octahedral coordination geometry. Complexes 1-6 are further characterized in terms of solution magnetic susceptibility, electrochemical behavior, and optical properties. These show the high-spin nature of the complexes and the anticipated stabilization of the divalent oxidation state.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of group 6 transition metal complexes with terminal fluoromethylidyne (CF) ligands; a DFT/NBO/NRT comparison of bonding characteristics of terminal NO, CF and CH ligands

A family of group 6 transition metal complexes M(C(5)R(5))(CO)(2)(CF) [M = Cr, Mo, W; R = H, Me] with terminal fluoromethylidyne ligands have been synthesized through the reduction of the corresponding trifluoromethyl precursors with potassium graphite or magnesium graphite. They have been characterized spectroscopically and in some cases crystallographically, although the structures show disorder between the CO and CF ligands. The M[triple bond]CF subunit reacts as a triple bond to form cluster complexes containing μ(3)-CF ligands on reaction with Co(2)(CO)(8). Computational (DFT/NBO/NRT) studies on M(C(5)H(5))(CO)(2)(CF) [M = Cr, Mo, W] and the corresponding cationic fragments M(CO)(2)(XY)(+) illustrate significant differences in the metal-ligand bonding between CF and its isoelectronic analogue NO, as well as with its hydrocarbon analogue CH.     

A study of structural and bonding variations in the homologous series [Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)](n-) (n = 2, 1, 0)

Reaction of Mo(2)Cl(4)(dppm)(2) (dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) with 6 equiv of [n-Bu(4)N][CN] or [Et(4)N][CN] in dichloromethane yields [n-Bu(4)N](2)[Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)] (1) and [Et(4)N](2)[Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)] (2), respectively. The corresponding one- and two-electron oxidation products [n-Bu(4)N][Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)] (3) and Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2) (4)were prepared by reactions of 1 with the oxidant NOBF(4). Single-crystal X-ray structures of 2.2CH(3)CN, 3.2CH(3)CN.2H(2)O, and 4.2CH(3)NO(2) were performed, and the results confirmed that all three complexes contain identical ligand sets with trans dppm ligands bisecting the Mo(2)(mu-CN)(2)(CN)(4) equatorial plane. The binding of the bridging cyanide ligands is affected by the oxidation state of the dimolybdenum core as evidenced by an increase in side-on pi-bonding overlap of the mu-CN in going from 1 to 4. The greater extent of pi-donation into Mo orbitals is accompanied by a lengthening of the Mo-Mo distance (2.736(1) A in Mo(2)(II,II) (2), 2.830(1) A in Mo(2)(II,III) (3), and 2.936(1) A in Mo(2)(III,III) (4)). A computational study of the closed-shell members of this homologous series, [Mo(2)(CN)(6)(dppm)(2)](n)() (n = 2-, 0), indicates that the more pronounced side-on pi-donation evident in the X-ray structure of 4 leads to significant destabilization of the delta orbital and marginal stabilization of the delta() orbitals with respect to nearly degenerate delta and delta orbitals in the parent compound, 2. The loss of delta contributions combined with the reduced orbital overlap due to higher charges on molybdenum centers in oxidized complexes 3 and 4 is responsible for the observed increase in the length of the Mo-Mo bond.     

Synthesis, structure, and physical properties for a series of trigonal bipyramidal M(II)-Cl complexes with intramolecular hydrogen bonds

A series of transition metal chloro complexes with the tetradentate tripodal tris(2-amino-oxazoline)amine ligand (TAO) have been synthesized and characterized. X-Ray structural analyses of these compounds demonstrate the formation of the mononuclear complexes [M(II)(TAO)(Cl)](+), where M(II) = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn. These complexes exhibit distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, coordinating the metal through an apical tertiary amine, three equatorial imino nitrogen atoms, and an axial chloride anion. All the complexes possess an intramolecular hydrogen-bonding (H-bonding) network within the cavity occupied by the metal-bound chloride ion. The metal-chloride bond distances are atypically long, which is attributed to the effects of the H-bonding network. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of the Zn complex suggests that the solid-state structures are representative of that observed in solution, and that the H-bonding interactions persist as well. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to probe the electronic structures of the complexes.     

Reaction of the uranyl(VI) ion (UO(2)(2+)) with a triamidoamine ligand: preparation and structural characterization of a mixed-valent uranium(V/VI) oxo-imido dimer

The synthesis and structural characterization of a mixed-valent uranium(V/VI) oxo-imido complex are reported. Reaction of the uranyl chloride complex [K(18-crown-6)](2)[UO(2)Cl(4)] (1) with the triamidoamine ligand Li(3)[N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiBu(t)Me(2))(3)] yields oxo-imido [K(18-crown-6)(Et(2)O)][UO(mu(2)-NuCH(2)CH(2)N(CH(2)CH(2)NSiBu(t)Me(2))(2))](2) (2) as the major isolated uranium product in moderate yield. The reaction that forms 2 involves activation of both the triamidoamine ligand and the uranyl dioxo unit of 1. An X-ray crystal structure determination of 2 reveals a dimeric complex in which the coordination geometry at each uranium center is that of a capped trigonal bipyramid. The multidentate triamidoamine ligand coordinates to uranium through the capping amine and two of the three pendant amido ligands, while the third pendant amido donor has been activated to generate a bridging imido ligand by loss of the silyl substituent. One of the uranyl oxo groups is retained as a terminal ligand to complete the coordination sphere for each uranium center. The oxo and imido nitrogen may be regarded as the axial ligands of the trigonal bipyramid, while the two amido ligands and the other imido donor occupy equatorial coordination sites. The central amine of the tripodal set serves as the capping ligand. Distortion of the axial O-U-N angle from 180 degrees emanates from the proximity of the capping amine and the bridging interaction to the other uranium center. The structure and bonding in 2 are assessed in the context of metal-ligand multiple bonding in high-valent actinide complexes. The possibility of valence averaging [5.5/5.5 vs 5.0/6.0] via delocalization or rapid intramolecular electron-transfer dynamics of the unpaired electron is also discussed in the context of crystallographic, spectroscopic (NMR, IR, Raman, and EPR), and electrochemical data. Crystal data for 2: triclinic space group P1 macro, a = 12.1144(6) A, b = 12.6084(6) A, c = 14.5072(7) A, alpha = 101.374(1) degrees, beta = 103.757(1) degrees, gamma = 109.340(1) degrees, z = 1, R1 = 0.0523, wR2 = 0.1359.     

Ultrafast photochemical dissociation of an equatorial CO ligand from trans(X,X)-[Ru(X)2(CO)2(bpy)] (X = Cl, Br, I): a picosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopic and DFT computational study

Ultrafast photochemistry of the complexes trans(X,X)-[Ru(X)(2)(CO)(2)(bpy)] (X = Cl, Br, I) was studied in order to understand excited-state reactivity of equatorial CO ligands, coordinated trans to the 2,2'-bipyridine ligand (bpy). TD-DFT calculations have identified the lowest electronic transitions and singlet excited states as mixed X -->bpy/Ru --> bpy ligand to ligand/metal to ligand charge transfer (LLCT/MLCT). Picosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy in the region of nu(CO) vibrations has revealed that, for X = Cl and Br, subpicosecond CO dissociation is accompanied by bending of the X-Ru-X moiety, producing a pentacoordinated intermediate trans(X,X)-[Ru(X)(2)(CO)(bpy)]. Final movement of an axial halide ligand to the vacant equatorial position and solvent (CH(3)CN) coordination follows with a time constant of 13-15 ps, forming the photoproduct cis(X,X)-[Ru(X)(2)(CO)(CH(3)CN)(bpy)]. For X = I, the optically populated (1)LLCT/MLCT excited state undergoes a simultaneous subpicosecond CO dissociation and relaxation to a triplet IRuI-localized excited state which involves population of an orbital that is sigma-antibonding with respect to the axial I-Ru-I bonds. Vibrationally relaxed photoproduct cis(I,I)-[Ru(I)(2)(CO)(CH(3)CN)(bpy)] is formed with a time constant of ca. 55 ps. The triplet excited state is unreactive, decaying to the ground state with a 155 ps lifetime. The experimentally observed photochemical intermediates and excited states were assigned by comparing calculated (DFT) and experimental IR spectra. The different behavior of the chloro and bromo complexes from that of the iodo complex is caused by different characters of the lowest triplet excited states.     

Structural and spectroscopic properties of trans-dichlorobis(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane)chromium(III) chloride

The structure of trans-[CrCl(2)(Me(2)tn)(2)]Cl (Me(2)tn=2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diamine) has been determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study at 150K. The analysis reveals that there are two independent Cr(III) complex cations in the structure, one with crystallographic inversion symmetry and the other with two-fold rotation symmetry, which are conformational isomers of each other. In both conformations, the chromium atom adopts a distorted octahedral structure with the four nitrogen atoms of two Me(2)tn ligands occupying the equatorial plane and two chlorine atoms occupying trans-axial positions. The six-membered chelate rings are in stable chair conformations with N-Cr-N angles of 87.03(8) degrees and 88.99(8) degrees . The two chelate rings in the centrosymmetric complex cation 1 are anti, while those in the rotation-symmetric complex cation 2 are in syn conformations. The mean Cr-N and Cr-Cl bond lengths are 2.0922 and 2.3253 A, respectively. The infrared and UV-visible absorption spectra of trans-[CrCl(2)(Me(2)tn)(2)]Cl have also been measured. The resolved band maxima of the electronic d-d spectrum are fitted with a secular determinant for a quartet energy state of the d(3) configuration in a tetragonal field including configurational but neglecting spin-orbit coupling. It is confirmed that the nitrogen atoms of the Me(2)tn ligand have a strong sigma-donor character, but the chloro ligand has weak sigma- and pi-donor properties toward the chromium(III) ion.