Homoleptic tris(dithiolene) and tetrakis(dithiolene) complexes of uranium(IV)

Reaction of UCl4 with 3 or 4 mol equiv of Na2dddt (dddt = 5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiine-2,3-dithiolate) in THF afforded the first example of a tetrakis(dithiolene) metal compound, [Na4(THF)8U(dddt)4](infinity) (1). The red crystals of 1 are composed of infinite zigzag chains in which Na2(micro-THF)3 fragments ensure the linking of Na2(THF)5U(dddt)4 moieties; the uranium atom is in a dodecahedral environment of eight sulfur atoms. Treatment of UCl4 with 3 mol equiv of Na2dddt in pyridine gave a mixture of tris- and tetrakis(dithiolene) compounds. After addition of 18c6 (18-crown-6), only the tris(dithiolene) complex was obtained and crystallized as orange crystals of [Na(18c6)(py)2]2[U(dddt)3].2py (2.2py) in which the isolated [U(dddt)3]2- anion adopts a slightly distorted trigonal prismatic configuration. A few red crystals of the unsolvated complex 2 and the trinuclear anionic compound [Na(18c6)(py)2]3[Na{U(dddt)3}2] (3) were also obtained along with orange crystals of 2.2py. All the tris(dithiolene) compounds exhibit large folding of the dddt ligand and significant interaction between the C=C double bond and the metal center.     

Desoxo molybdenum(IV) and tungsten(IV) bis(dithiolene) complexes: monomer-dimer interconversion involving reversible thiol bridge formation

Two series of thiol-bridged dimeric desoxo molybdenum(IV) and tungsten(IV) bis(dithiolene) complexes, [Et(4)N](2)[M(IV)(2)(SR)(2)(mnt)(4)] [M = Mo, R = (1) -Ph, (2) -CH(2)Ph, (3) -CH(2)CH(3), (4) -CH(2)CH(2)OH; M = W, R = (1a) -Ph, (2a) -CH(2)Ph, (3a) -CH(2)CH(3), (4a) -CH(2)CH(2)OH] and one monomeric desoxo complex, [Et(4)N](2)[WIV(SPh)(2)(mnt)(2)] (5a) are reported. These complexes are diamagnetic, and crystal structures of each of the complex (except 5a) exhibits a dimeric {M(IV)(2)(SR)(2)} core without any metal-metal bond where each metal atom possesses hexa coordination. The M-SR distance ranges from 2.437 to 2.484 Angstrom in molybdenum complexes and from 2.418 to 2.469 Angstrom in tungsten complexes. These complexes display Mo-S(R)-Mo angles ranging from 92.84 degrees to 96.20 degrees in the case of 1-4 and W-S(R)-W angles ranging from 91.20 degrees to 96.25 degrees in the case of 1a-4a. Interestingly, both the series of Mo(IV) and W(IV) dimeric complexes respond to an unprecedented interconversion between the dimer and the corresponding hexacoordinated monomer upon change of pH. This pH-dependent interconversion establishes the fact that even the pentacoordinated Mo(IV) and W(IV) bis(dithiolene) moieties are forced to dimerize; these can easily be reverted back to the corresponding monomeric complex, reflecting the utility of dithiolene ligand in stabilizing the Mo(IV)/W(IV) moiety in synthesized complexes similar to the active sites present in native proteins.     

Generation of bis(dithiolene)dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes from bis(dithiolene)monooxomolybdenum(IV) complexes by proton-coupled electron transfer in aqueous media

Electron transfer oxidation reaction of bis(dithiolene)monooxomolybdenum(iv) (Mo(IV)OL(x)) complexes is studied as a model of oxidative-half reaction of arsenite oxidase molybdenum enzymes. The reactions are revealed to involve proton-coupled electron transfer. Electrochemical oxidation of Mo(IV)OL(x) yields the corresponding bis(dithiolene)dioxomolybdenum(vi) complexes in basic solution, where the conversion of Mo(IV)OL(dmed) supported by a smaller electron donating dithiolene ligand (1,2-dicarbomethoxyethylene-1,2-dithiolate, L(dmed)) to Mo(VI)O(2)L(dmed) is faster than that of Mo(IV)OL(bdt) with a larger electron donating dithiolene ligand (1,2-benzenedithiolate, L(bdt)) under the same conditions. Titration experiments for the electrochemical oxidation reveal that the reaction involves two-electron oxidation and two equivalents of OH(-) consumption per Mo(IV)OL(x). In the conversion process of Mo(IV)OL(x) to Mo(VI)O(2)L(x), the five-coordinate bis(dithiolene)monooxomolybdenum(v) complex (Mo(V)OL(x)) being a one-electron oxidized species of Mo(IV)OL(x) is suggested to react with OH(-). Mo(V)OL(x) reacts with OH(-) in CH(3)CN or C(2)H(5)CN in a 2?:?2 ratio to give one equivalent Mo(IV)OL(x) and one equivalent Mo(VI)O(2)L(x), which is confirmed by the UV-vis and IR spectroscopies. The low temperature stopped-flow analysis allows investigations of the mechanism for the reaction of Mo(V)OL(x) with OH(-). The kinetic study for the reaction of Mo(V)OL(dmed) with OH(-) suggests that Mo(V)OL(dmed) reacts with OH(-) to give a six-coordinate oxo-hydroxo-molybdenum(v) species, Mo(V)O(OH), and, then, the resulting species undergoes successive deprotonation by another OH(-) and oxidation by a remaining Mo(V)OL(dmed) to yield the final products Mo(IV)OL(dmed) and Mo(VI)O(2)L(dmed) complexes in a 1?:?1 ratio. In this case, the Mo(V)O(2) species are involved as an intermediate in the reaction. On the other hand, in the reaction of Mo(V)OL(bdt) with OH(-), coordination of OH(-) to the Mo(V) centre to give a six-coordinate Mo(V)O(OH)L(bdt) species becomes the rate limiting step and other intermediates are not suggested. On the basis of these results, the ligand effects of the dithiolene ligands on the reactivity of the bis(dithiolene)molybdenum complexes are discussed.     

A density functional study of oxygen atom transfer reactions between biological oxygen atom donors and molybdenum(IV) bis(dithiolene) complexes

Density functional calculations have been used to investigate oxygen atom transfer reactions from the biological oxygen atom donors trimethylamine N-oxide (Me(3)NO) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to the molybdenum(IV) complexes [MoO(mnt)(2)](2-) and [Mo(OCH(3))(mnt)(2)](-) (mnt = maleonitrile-1,2-dithiolate), which may serve as models for mononuclear molybdenum enzymes of the DMSO reductase family. The reaction between [MoO(mnt)(2)](2-) and trimethylamine N-oxide was found to have an activation energy of 72 kJ/mol and proceed via a transition state (TS) with distorted octahedral geometry, where the Me(3)NO is bound through the oxygen to the molybdenum atom and the N-O bond is considerably weakened. The computational modeling of the reactions between dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and [MoO(mnt)(2)](2-) or [Mo(OCH(3))(mnt)(2)](-) indicated that the former is energetically unfavorable while the latter was found to be favorable. The addition of a methyl group to [MoO(mnt)(2)](2-) to form the corresponding des-oxo complex not only lowers the relative energy of the products but also lowers the activation energy. In addition, the reaction with [Mo(OCH(3))(mnt)(2)](-) proceeds via a TS with trigonal prismatic geometry instead of the distorted octahedral TS geometry modeled for the reaction between [MoO(mnt)(2)](2-) and Me(3)NO.     

Electronic structure of bispidine iron(IV) oxo complexes

The electronic structure, based on DFT calculations, of a range of FeIV=O complexes with two tetra- (L1 and L2) and two isomeric pentadentate bispidine ligands (L3 and L4) is discussed with special emphasis on the relative stability of the two possible spin states (S = 1, triplet, intermediate-spin, and S = 2, quintet, high-spin; bispidines are very rigid diazaadamantane-derived 3,7-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ligands with two tertiary amine and two or three pyridine donors, leading to cis-octahedral [(X)(L)FeIV=O]2+ complexes, where X = NCCH3, OH2, OH-, and pyridine, and where X = pyridine is tethered to the bispidine backbone in L3, L4). The two main structural effects are a strong trans influence, exerted by the oxo group in both the triplet and the quintet spin states, and a Jahn-Teller-type distortion in the plane perpendicular to the oxo group in the quintet state. Due to the ligand architecture the two sites for substrate coordination in complexes with the tetradentate ligands L1 and L2 are electronically very different, and with the pentadentate ligands L3 and L4, a single isomer is enforced in each case. Because of the rigidity of the bispidine ligands and the orientation of the "Jahn-Teller axis", which is controlled by the sixth donor X, the Jahn-Teller-type distortion in the high-spin state of the two isomers is quite different. It is shown how this can be used as a design principle to tune the relative stability of the two spin states.     

Monoanionic molybdenum and tungsten tris(dithiolene) complexes: a multifrequency EPR study

Numerous Mo and W tris(dithiolene) complexes in varying redox states have been prepared and representative examples characterized crystallographically: [M(S(2)C(2)R(2))(3)](z) [M = Mo, R = Ph, z = 0 (1) or 1- (2); M = W, R = Ph, z = 0 (4) or 1- (5); R = CN, z = 2-, M = Mo (3) or W (6)]. Changes in dithiolene C-S and C-C bond lengths for 1 versus 2 and 4 versus 5 are indicative of ligand reduction. Trigonal twist angles (Θ) and dithiolene fold angles (α) increase and decrease, respectively, for 2 versus 1, 5 versus 4. Cyclic voltammetry reveals generally two reversible couples corresponding to 0/1- and 1-/2- reductions. The electronic structures of monoanionic molybdenum tris(dithiolene) complexes have been analyzed by multifrequency (S-, X-, Q-band) EPR spectroscopy. Spin-Hamiltonian parameters afforded by spectral simulation for each complex demonstrate the existence of two distinctive electronic structure types. The first is [Mo(IV)((A)L(3)(5-?))](1-) ((A)L = olefinic dithiolene, type A), which has the unpaired electron restricted to the tris(dithiolene) unit and is characterized by isotropic g-values and small molybdenum superhyperfine coupling. The second is formulated as [Mo(V)((B)L(3)(6-))](1-) ((B)L = aromatic dithiolene, type B) with spectra distinguished by a prominent g-anisotropy and hyperfine coupling consistent with the (d(z(2)))(1) paramagnet. The electronic structure disparity is also manifested in their electronic absorption spectra. The compound [W(bdt)(3)](1-) exhibits spin-Hamiltonian parameters similar to those of [Mo(bdt)(3)](1-) and thus is formulated as [W(V)((B)L(3)(6-))](1-). The EPR spectra of [W((A)L(3))](1-) display spin-Hamiltonian parameters that suggest their electronic structure is best represented by two resonance forms {[W(IV)((A)L(3)(5-?))](1-) ? [W(V)((A)L(3)(6-))](1-)}. The contrast with the corresponding [Mo(IV)((A)L(3)(5-?))](1-) complexes highlights tungsten's preference for higher oxidation states.     

Oxo-tricyano complexes of molybdenum(IV) with salicylaldehydehydrazone

[Mo(CN)₄O(H₂O)]^2– reacts with hydrazine and salicylaldehyde in aqueous solution to give [Mo(CN)₃O(salhy)]^2– (Hsalhy = salicylaldehydehydrazone), isolated as green (Ph₄P)₂[Mo(CN)₃O(salhy)] · 6H₂O. In CHCl₃, the product converts within seconds into (Ph₄P)₂[Mo(CN)₃O(salhy)] · H₂O · 2CHCl₃ yielding microcrystals having a metallic golden sheen. The complexes were characterised by elemental analysis, t.g. and d.t.a., u.v.–vis. absorption, i.r., ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy and by magnetic susceptibility measurements. The visible spectra in various solvents are dominated by the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer bands with absorption maxima linearly dependent on the Reichardt E _T parameter. In halogenated alkanes, the unusual hipsochromic band shift is interpreted in terms of possibile solvent bonding to the metal centre. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that the salt undergoes reversible one electron oxidation with E _1/2 = –0.473 V in DMSO versus ferrocene.     

X-ray spectroscopy of enzyme active site analogues and related molecules: bis(dithiolene)molybdenum(IV) and -tungsten(IV,VI) complexes with variant terminal ligands

The X-ray absorption spectra at the molybdenum and selenium K-edges and the tungsten L2,3-edges are acquired for a set of 14 Mo(IV) and W(IV,VI) bis(dithiolene) complexes related to the active sites of molybdo- and tungstoenzymes. The set includes square pyramidal [MoIVL(S2C2Me2)2]- (L = O2-, R3SiO-, RO-, RS-, RSe-) and [WIV(OR)(S2C2Me2)2]-, distorted trigonal prismatic [MoIV(CO)(SeR)(S2C2Me2)2]- and [WIV(CO)L(S2C2Me2)2]- (L = RS-, RSe-), and distorted octahedral [WVIO(OR)(S2C2Me2)2]-. The dithiolene simulates the pterin-dithiolene cofactor ligand, and L represents a protein ligand. Bond lengths are determined by EXAFS analysis using the GNXAS protocol. Normalized edge spectra, non-phase-shift-corrected Fourier transforms, and EXAFS data and fits are presented. Bond lengths determined by EXAFS and X-ray crystallography agree to < or = 0.02 A as do the M-Se distances determined by both metal and selenium EXAFS. The complexes [MoIV(QR)(S2C2Me2)2]- simulate protein ligation by the DMSO reductase family of enzymes, including DMSO reductase itself (Q = O), dissimilatory nitrate reductase (Q = S), and formate dehydrogenase (Q = Se). Edge shifts of these complexes correlate with the ligand electronegativities. Terminal ligand binding is clearly distinguished in the presence of four Mo-S(dithiolene) interactions. Similarly, five-coordinate [ML(S2C2Me2)2]- and six-coordinate [M(CO)L(S2C2Me2)2]- are distinguishable by edge and EXAFS spectra. This study expands a previous XAS investigation of bis(dithiolene)metal(IV,V,VI) complexes (Musgrave, K. B.; Donahue, J. P.; Lorber, C.; Holm, R. H.; Hedman, B.; Hodgson, K. O. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 10297) by including a larger inventory of molecules with variant physiologically relevant terminal ligation. The previous and present XAS results should prove useful in characterizing and refining metric features and structures of enzyme sites.     

Mono-oxo bis(dithiolene) Mo(IV)/W(IV) complexes as building blocks for sulfide bridged Bi- and Tri-nuclear complexes

A new electron precise, six-electron, sulfide-bicapped trinuclear cluster complex [Et4N]4[Mo(IV)3(mu3-S)2(mnt)6] (1) has been synthesized, where each Mo(IV) atom is seven coordinated. Identical reaction conditions yielded a dimeric complex, [PNP]2[W(V)2(mu2-S)2(mnt)4] (2) from the starting W(IV) analogue due to oxidation by sulfur formed by the auto-oxidation of H2S. Two stepwise reversible reductions and no oxidation of 2 as observed by cyclic voltammetry are correlated with the nonbonding nature of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and deeply buried highest occupied molecular orbital by theoretical calculations at the density-functional theory level.     

DNA binding studies of new valine derived chiral complexes of tin(IV) and zirconium(IV)

Valine derived chiral complexes of SnCl4 (1) and ZrCl4 (2) were designed as potent antitumor agents. These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, 119Sn NMR and ESI mass spectroscopy. In vitro binding studies of complexes 1 and 2 under physiological conditions at room temperature with CT-DNA were carried out employing UV-vis absorption titration, fluorescence studies and viscosity measurements. The extent of binding was quantified by Kb values of complexes 1 and 2 which were found to be 1.97×10(4) and 1.17×10(3) M(-1), respectively, suggesting that complex 1 has significantly greater DNA binding propensity in contrast to the complex 2. The mode of action at the molecular level was ascertained by the interaction of complex 1 with 5'GMP and 5'TMP which revealed that complex 1 binds via electrostatic mode with the oxygen of the negatively charged surface phosphate group of the DNA helix. The supercoiled pBR322 plasmid DNA cleavage activity of complex 1 was ascertained by gel electrophoresis assay.     

Octahedral non-heme oxo and non-oxo Fe(IV) complexes: an experimental/theoretical comparison

Electron-transfer series are described for three ferric complexes of the pentadentate ligand 4,8,11-trimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1-acetate (Me(3)cyclam-acetate) with axial chloride, fluoride, and azide ligands. These complexes can all be reduced coulometrically to their Fe(II) analogs and oxidized reversibly to the corresponding Fe(IV) species. The Fe(II), Fe(III), and Fe(IV) species have been studied spectroscopically and their UV-vis, M?ssbauer, EPR, and IR spectra are presented. The fluoro species [(Me(3)cyclam-acetate)FeF](n+) (n = 0, 1, 2) have been studied computationally using density functional theory (DFT), and the electronic structure of the Fe(IV) dication [(Me(3)cyclam-acetate)FeF](2+) is compared with that of the isoelectronic Fe(IV) oxo cation [(Me(3)cyclam-acetate)FeO](+); the different properties of the two species are mainly due to the significantly covalent Fe=O pi bonds in the latter.     

A new family of conjugated metallopolymers from electropolymerised bis[(terthiophene)dithiolene] complexes

Bis(dithiolene) metal complexes incorporating fused terthiophene units have been prepared; the nickel analogue undergoes electropolymerisation to afford a low bandgap material with very broad absorption characteristics.     

Oxo-tricyano complexes of molybdenum(IV) and tungsten(IV) with bidentate Schiff bases

Summary The reaction of [M(CN)₄O(OH₂)]^2– (M = Mo or W) with 2-acetylpyridine and methyl-or butyl-amine in a water-MeOH mixture gave [M(CN)₃O(L-L)]^- (L-L= Schiff base ligand), isolated as [AsPh₄]⁺ salts. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, and electronic, i.r. and¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The Schiff base ligands complex in a bidentate manner through the two nitrogen atoms giving mixed-ligand compounds similarly to 2,2-bipyridyl or 1,10-phenanthroline.On leave from the Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Kraków.     

DFT investigation of molybdenum (oxo)carbide formation from MoO3

The present paper summarizes theoretical investigations of geometry and electronic structure of molybdenum (oxo)carbide, whose formation is modeled by systematic replacement of lattice oxygen atoms in MoO₃ by carbon atoms or by CH₂ groups. Both, in bulk and in the small surface cluster, the formation of molybdenum (oxo)carbide is accompanied by by-products observed in experiment, namely C₂ species and CO. The present theoretical studies reveal that these are formed without reaction barrier, even though in bulk the atom mobility is limited. The thermodynamic considerations based on the obtained DFT results indicate that the process of MoO₃ reduction to yield (oxo)carbides is endoenergetic and there is no synergy between the amount of carbon already introduced to the system and the energetic cost of replacing oxygen atoms by CH₂.     

Mechanism of oxidation of benzaldehyde by polypyridyl oxo complexes of Ru(IV)

The oxidation of benzaldehyde and several of its derivatives to their carboxylic acids by cis-[Ru(IV)(bpy)2(py)(O)]2+ (Ru(IV)=O2+; bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, py is pyridine), cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ (Ru(III)-OH2+), and [Ru(IV)(tpy)(bpy)(O)]2+ (tpy is 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine) in acetonitrile and water has been investigated using a variety of techniques. Several lines of evidence support a one-electron hydrogen-atom transfer (HAT) mechanism for the redox step in the oxidation of benzaldehyde. They include (i) moderate k(C-H)/k(C-D) kinetic isotope effects of 8.1 +/- 0.3 in CH3CN, 9.4 +/- 0.4 in H2O, and 7.2 +/- 0.8 in D2O; (ii) a low k(H2O/D2O) kinetic isotope effect of 1.2 +/- 0.1; (iii) a decrease in rate constant by a factor of only approximately 5 in CH3CN and approximately 8 in H2O for the oxidation of benzaldehyde by cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ compared to cis-[Ru(IV)(bpy)2(py)(O)]2+; (iv) the appearance of cis-[Ru(III)(bpy)2(py)(OH)]2+ rather than cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2(py)(OH2)]2+ as the initial product; and (v) the small rho value of -0.65 +/- 0.03 in a Hammett plot of log k vs sigma in the oxidation of a series of aldehydes. A mechanism is proposed for the process occurring in the absence of O2 involving (i) preassociation of the reactants, (ii) H-atom transfer to Ru(IV)=O2+ to give Ru(III)-OH2+ and PhCO, (iii) capture of PhCO by Ru(III)-OH2+ to give Ru(II)-OC(O)Ph+ and H+, and (iv) solvolysis to give cis-[Ru(II)(bpy)2(py)(NCCH3)]2+ or the aqua complex and the carboxylic acid as products.     

Electron-deficient molybdenum/cobalt/sulfido clusters: Chemistry related to hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysis

The author's work on the reactions of Cp₂Mo₂Co₂S₃(CO)₄ (1) and Cp₂Mo₂ Co₂S₄(CO)₂ (2) with organosulfur compounds is reviewed. Reaction pathways that lead to C S bond scission are proposed, and the relexance of these results to HDS reactions mer commercial CoMoS catalysts is discussed.     

cis-Dioxomolybdenum(VI) and oxo(phosphine oxide)molybdenum(IV) complexes: steric and electronic fine-tuning of cis-[MoOS]2+ precursors

The complexes cis-Tp(iPr)Mo(VI)O2(OAr) (Tp(iPr) = hydrotris(3-isopropylpyrazol-1-yl)borate, -OAr = phenolate or naphtholate derivative) are formed upon metathesis of Tp(iPr)MoO2Cl and HOAr/NEt3 in dichloromethane. The orange, diamagnetic dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes exhibit strong nu(MoO2) IR bands at ca. 930 and 905 cm(-1) and NMR spectra indicative of C(s) symmetry. They undergo electrochemically reversible, one-electron reductions at potentials in the range -0.714 to -0.855 V vs SCE (in MeCN) and react with PEt3 to produce Tp(iPr)Mo(IV)O(OAr)(OPEt3). The green, diamagnetic oxo-Mo(IV) complexes display a single nu(MoO) IR band at ca. 950 cm(-1) and exhibit NMR spectra indicative of C1 symmetry. The crystal structures of eight dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes have been determined to assess the degree of frontal (O3-donor face) steric congestion at the Mo center, to identify complexes amenable to conversion into monomeric oxosulfido-Mo(VI) derivatives. The complexes display distorted octahedral geometries, with a cis arrangement of terminal oxo ligands, with d(Mo=O)av = 1.694 A and angle(MoO2)av = 103.4 degrees. Maximal frontal steric congestion is observed in the 2-phenolate derivatives, and these are identified as precursors for strictly monomeric(solid and solution state) oxosulfido-Mo(VI) counterparts.     

Tin(IV) complexes ofSchiff bases derived from salicylaldehyde and aminoalcohols

11 and 12 molar reactions of tin(IV) chloride with theSchiff bases, HO–C₆H₄CHNROH [where R=–(CH₂)₂–, –CH₂–, –CH(CH₃)–, –(CH₂)₃–, and –CH(C₂H₅)CH₂–] have been studied in different stoichiometric ratios and derivatives of the type SnCl₄(SBH₂) and SnCl₄(SBH₂)₂ (whereSBH₂ represents theSchiff base molecule) have been isolated. These have been characterised by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements and I.R. spectral studies.