Chemical structures from the analysis of domain-averaged Fermi holes: multiple metal-metal bonding in transition metal compounds

The recently proposed approach based on the analysis of domain-averaged Fermi holes was applied to the study of the nature of metal-metal bonding in transition metal complexes and clusters. The main emphasis was put on the scrutiny of the systems assumed to contain direct multiple metal-metal bonds. The studied systems involve: (1) systems of the type M(2)X(6) (M = Mo, W, X = CH(3)) anticipated to contain metal-metal triple bonds; (2) the molecule of W(2)Cl(8) ((4-)) as the representative of the systems with quadruple metal-metal bonding; (3) diatomic molecules Mo(2) and V(2) considered as the potential candidates for higher than quadruple metal-metal bonding. Although the resulting picture of bonding has been usually shown to agree with the original expectations based on early simple MO models, some examples were also found in which the conclusions of the reported analysis display dramatic sensitivity to the quality of the wave function used for the generation of the Fermi holes. In addition to this we also report some examples where the original theoretical predictions of multiplicity of metal-metal bonds have to be corrected.     

Synthese und Kristallstruktur der Spiro-Verbindung [(i-Pr)2P(S)NSiMe3]2SnCl2

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the Spirocycle [(i-Pr)₂P(S)NSiMe₃]₂SnCl₂ The reaction of (i-Pr)₂P(S)N(SiMe₃)₂ ( 1 ) with SnCl₄ in 2:1 ratio yields under elimination of ClSiMe₃ the four-membered spirocycle [(i-Pr)₂P(S)NSiMe₃]₂SnCl₂ ( 2 ). The molecular structure of 2 was investigated by an X-ray structure analysis. Compound 2 crystallises in the monoclinic space group P2₁, Z = 2, a = 938.1(1), b = 1 424.1(2), c = 1 207.2(1) pm, β = 110.59(1)°, R = 2.05% for 4 102 reflexions. Compound 2 is a spirocycle with two Sn? N? P? S-rings joined at tin. The two rings are in cis-position.     

Methylene transfer from SnMe groups mediated by a rhodium(I) pincer complex: Sn-C, C-C, and C-H bond activation

The PCP-Rh(I) complex 1a based on the [1,3-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(diisopropylphosphine) ligand reacts with [diazo(phenyl)methyl]trimethylstannane (2) at room temperature to give novel pincer-type phenyl(dimethylstannyl)methylene]hydrazinato complex 3a. The reaction sequence involves a unique combination of Sn-C bond cleavage, C-C bond formation, C-H activation and intramolecular deprotonation of a rhodium hydride intermediate, which results in methylene transfer from an SnMe group to the pincer system and PCP-chelate expansion. A methylene-transfer reaction was also demonstrated with tetramethyltin as the methylene source in the presence of KOC(CH(3))(3) at room temperature. The resulting unstable "chelate-expanded" Rh(I) complex [(C(10)H(5)(CH(2)PiPr(2))(2))(CH(2))Rh(L)] (L=N(2), THF; 4a) was isolated as its carbonyl derivative 5a. Heating 4a in benzene yielded an equimolar amount of toluene and 1a, which demonstrates the ability of the Rh(I) pincer complex to extract a methylene group from an unactivated alkyl tin substrate and transfer it, via C-C followed by C-H activation, to an arene. Use of fluorobenzene resulted in formation of fluorotoluene. Catalytic methylene-group transfer mediated by 1a was not possible, because of formation of o-xylylene complex 8 under the reaction conditions. Steric parameters play a decisive role in the reactivity with tin compounds; while iPrP derivative 1 a underwent facile reactions, tBuP complex 1b was inert.     

Synthese und Kristallstruktur eines μ-Methylen-μ-hydrido-dialanats [R2Al(μ-CH2)(μ-H)AlR2]− (R = CH(SiMe3)2)

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a μ-Methylene-μ-hydrido-dialanate [R₂Al(μ-CH₂)(μ-H)AlR₂]^? (R = CH(SiMe₃)₂) tert-Butyl lithium reacts with the recently synthesized methylene bridged dialuminium compound [(Me₃Si)₂CH]₂Al? CH₂? Al[CH(SiMe₃)₂]₂ 2 in the presence of TMEDA under β-elimination; the thereby formed hydride anion is bound in a chelating manner by both unsaturated aluminium atoms forming a 3c–2e–Al? H? Al bond. The crystal structure of the product shows two independent molecules differing only slightly in bond lengths and angles, but significantly in conformation. While one of the Al₂CH heterocycles deviates little from planarity with a rough C₂ symmetry for the whole anion, the other one is folded with an angle of 21.1° and the arrangement of the substituents is best described by C_s symmetry.     

Application of unsymmetrical indirect covariance NMR methods to the computation of the (13)C <--> (15)N HSQC-IMPEACH and (13)C <--> (15)N HMBC-IMPEACH correlation spectra

Utilization of long-range (1)H--(15)N heteronuclear chemical shift correlation has continually grown in importance since the first applications were reported in 1995. More recently, indirect covariance NMR methods have been introduced followed by the development of unsymmetrical indirect covariance processing methods. The latter technique has been shown to allow the calculation of hyphenated 2D NMR data matrices from more readily acquired nonhyphenated 2D NMR spectra. We recently reported the use of unsymmetrical indirect covariance processing to combine (1)H--(13)C GHSQC and (1)H--(15)N GHMBC long-range spectra to yield a (13)C--(15)N HSQC-HMBC chemical shift correlation spectrum that could not be acquired in a reasonable period of time without resorting to (15)N-labeled molecules. We now report the unsymmetrical indirect covariance processing of (1)H--(13)C GHMBC and (1)H--(15)N IMPEACH spectra to afford a (13)C--(15)N HMBC-IMPEACH spectrum that has the potential to span as many as six to eight bonds. Correlations for carbon resonances long-range coupled to a protonated carbon in the (1)H--(13)C HMBC spectrum are transferred via the long-range (1)H--(15)N coupling pathway in the (1)H--(15)N IMPEACH spectrum to afford a much broader range of correlation possibilities in the (13)C--(15)N HMBC-IMPEACH correlation spectrum. The indole alkaloid vincamine is used as a model compound to illustrate the application of the method.     

Umsetzungen des Tetrakis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]dialans(4) mit Methylisothiocyanat und Phenylisocyanat – Insertion in die Al?Al-Bindung bzw. Fragmentierung

Reactions of Tetrakis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]dialane(4) with Methylisothiocyanate and Phenylisocyanate – Insertion into the Al? Al Bond and Fragmentation Tetrakis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]dialane(4) 1 reacts with methyl isothiocyanate under cleavage of the C?S double bond and insertion of the remaining isonitrile fragment into the Al? Al bond. As shown by crystal structure determination a three-membered AlCN heterocycle ( 4 ) is formed by the interaction of the nitrogen lone pair with one unsaturated Al atom leading to an acute angle at the aluminium center N? Al? C of 36.6°. In contrast the reaction with the hard base phenyl isocyanate yields a mixture of many unknown compounds, from which only one ( 5 ) could be isolated in a very poor yield. The crystal structure of 5 reveals only one dialkyl aluminium fragment and a chelating ligand formed by the trimerization of the isocyanate under loss of one CO group and addition of a hydrogen atom. 5 was also synthesized by the specific reaction of the chloro dialkyl aluminium compound (R = CH(SiMe₃)₂) with Li[H₅C₆? N?C(O)? N(C₆H₅)? C(O)? N(H)? C₆H₅].     

Iron-catalyzed C2-C3 bond cleavage of phenylpyruvate with O2: insight into aliphatic C-C bond-cleaving dioxygenases

Iron(II)-phenylpyruvate complexes of tetradentate tris(6-methyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine (6-Me3-TPA) and tridentate benzyl bis(2-quinolinylmethyl)amine (Bn-BQA) were prepared to gain insight into C-C bond cleavage catalyzed by dioxygenase enzymes. The complexes we have prepared and characterized are [Fe(6-Me3-tpa)(prv)][BPh4] (1), [Fe2(6-Me3-tpa)2(pp)][(BPh4)2] (2), and [Fe2(6-Me3-tpa)2(2'-NO2-pp)][(BPh4)2] (3), [Fe(6-Me3-tpa)(pp-Me)][BPh4] (4), [Fe(6-Me3-tpa)(CN-pp-Et)][BPh4] (5), and [Fe(Bn-bqa)(pp)] (8), in which PRV is pyruvate, PP is the enolate form of phenylpyruvate, 2'-NO2-PP is the enolate form of 2'-nitrophenylpyruvate, PP-Me is the enolate form of methyl phenylpyruvate, and CN-PP-Et is the enolate form of ethyl-3-cyanophenylpyruvate. The structures of mononuclear complexes 1 and 5 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both the PRV ligand in 1 and the CN-PP-Et ligand in 5 bind to the iron(II) center in a bidentate manner and form 5-membered chelate rings, but the alpha-keto moiety is in the enolate form in 5 with concomitant loss of a C-H(beta) proton. The PP ligands of 2, 3, 4, and 8 react with dioxygen to form benzaldehyde and oxalate products, which indicates that the C2-C3 PP bond is cleaved, in contrast to cleavage of the C1-C2 bond previously observed for complexes that do not contain alpha-ketocarboxylate ligands in the enolate form. These reactions serve as models for metal-containing dioxygenase enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of aliphatic C-C bonds.     

Periphere Anbindung von Quecksilber(II)-iodid an dreikernige Molybdän-Schwefel-Dithiophosphinatocluster: [Mo3S4(R2PS2)4HgI2] (R = Et,Pr)

Peripheral Bonding of Mercury(II) Iodide to Trinuclear Molybdenum-Sulfur-Dithiophosphinato Clusters: [Mo₃S₄(R₂PS₂)₄HgI₂] (R = Et, Pr) Reaction of Mo₃S₄(R₂PS₂)₄ 1 (a : R = Et, b : R = Pr) with HgI₂ in THF yields the diamagnetic title complexes [Mo₃S₄(R₂PS₂)₄HgI₂] 3 . The crystal structure of [ 3a (H₂O)] · 2 CH₂Cl₂ shows the complexes to consist of a triangular array of Mo atoms which are bridged by μ₂? S atoms and capped by a μ₃? S atom. Each of the Mo atoms is chelated by a dithiophosphinato ligand Et₂PS₂^? and in addition two Mo atoms are bridged by a Et₂PS₂^? ligand while the H₂O molecule is bonded weakly to the third Mo atom. Thus, all Mo atoms reveal a distorted octahedral coordination sphere. HgI₂ is ?peripherally”? bonded to the cluster via two S atoms, one of which belongs to a chelating ligand and the other one to the bridging ligand. Space group P1 , lattice constants a = 12.157(2), b = 15.284(3), c = 16.049(3) Å, α = 115.56(1), β = 107.35(1), and γ = 94.62(1)°; Z = 2, d_calc = 2.23 mg/mm³; 4 236 observed reflections, R = 0.068. In organic solvents complexes 3 are strong electrolytes. VT-³¹P NMR data suggest a stepwise dissociation of 3 with formation of [Mo₃S₄(R₂PS₂)₃] ⁺[(R₂PS₂)HgI₂]^? and elimination of the bridging ligand from the cluster.     

C-H activation and C=C double bond formation reactions in iridium ortho-methyl arylphosphane complexes

The Vaska-type iridium(I) complex [IrCl(CO){PPh(2)(2-MeC(6)H(4))}(2)] (1), characterized by an X-ray diffraction study, was obtained from iridium(III) chloride hydrate and PPh(2)(2,6-MeRC(6)H(3)) with R=H in DMF, whereas for R=Me, activation of two ortho-methyl groups resulted in the biscyclometalated iridium(III) compound [IrCl(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}(2)] (2). Conversely, for R=Me the iridium(I) compound [IrCl(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))}(2)] (3) can be obtained by treatment of [IrCl(COE)(2)](2) (COE=cyclooctene) with carbon monoxide and the phosphane in acetonitrile. Compound 3 in CH(2)Cl(2) undergoes intramolecular C-H oxidative addition, affording the cyclometalated hydride iridium(III) species [IrHCl(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}{PPh(2)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))}] (4). Treatment of 2 with Na[BAr(f) (4)] (Ar(f)=3,5-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)) gives the fluxional cationic 16-electron complex [Ir(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}(2)][BAr(f) (4)] (5), which reversibly reacts with dihydrogen to afford the delta-agostic complex [IrH(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}{PPh(2)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))}][BAr(f)(4)] (6), through cleavage of an Ir-C bond. This species can also be formed by treatment of 4 with Na[BAr(f)(4)] or of 2 with Na[BAr(f)(4)] through C-H oxidative addition of one ortho-methyl group, via a transient 14-electron iridium(I) complex. Heating of the coordinatively unsaturated biscyclometalated species 5 in toluene gives the trans-dihydride iridium(III) complex [IrH(2)(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-MeC(6)H(3)CH=CHC(6)H(3)Me-2,6)PPh(2)}][BAr(f) (4)] (7), containing a trans-stilbene-type terdentate ligand, as result of a dehydrogenative carbon-carbon double bond coupling reaction, possibly through an iridium carbene species.     

Cover Picture: Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation and Cleavage of Organo(hydro)fullerenes (Chem. Eur. J. 19/2009)

An unexpected C? H bond dimerization reaction and C? C bond‐cleavage reaction in organo(hydro)fullerenes have been discovered. In their Communication on page 4760 ff. , K. Itami and M. Nambo describe the use of Pd catalysts for a number of interesting reactions of such fullerenes.

     

Antibacterial Behavior of Pyridinecarboxylatesilver(I) Complexes

FT‐IR spectroscopy of carboxylic groups and viability tests were useful to understand the antibacterial properties of six highly efficient silver(I) pyridinecarboxylate (nicotinic, picolinic and isonicotinic acids) and bipiridinecarboxylate (pyridine‐2,3‐dicarboxylic, pyridine‐2,4‐dicarboxylic and pyridine‐2,5‐dicarboxylic acids) complexes with Ag? O and Ag? N bonds against E. coli (ATCC 25922) and Streptococcus agalactiae (ISP 329‐09). The results show a tendency between the nature of Ag? X (X=oxygen and nitrogen) bonds and the rate or efficiency of antibacterial behavior.