Syntheses of polyfluorophenylcobalt(III) schiff base complexes using organothallium reagents

The complexes RCo(acacen) [R = C₆F₅, p-HC₆F₄, or o-HC₆F₄; H₂acacen = N,N′-ethylenebis(acetylacetonimine)] and RCo(salen) [R = C₆F₅ or p-HC₆F₄; H₂salen = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylaldimine)] have been prepared by reaction between Co(acacen) or Co(salen) and the appropriate bromobis(polyfluorophenyl)thallium(III) compounds, and have been isolated as pyridinates. Spectroscopic evidence for formation of C₆F₅Co(salophen) [H₂salophen = _N,N′-o-phenylenebis(salicylaldimine)] has also been obtained. The reactivity of the thallium compounds increased in the sequence Ph₂TlBr ? (o-HC₆F₄)2TlBr < (p-HC₆F₄)₂TlBr < (C₆F₅)₂TlBr, and of the cobalt complexes in the sequence Co(salophen) < Co(salen) < Co(acacen). Possible mechanisms are discussed.     

Reduction of carbodiimides by samarium(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)amides-formation of oxalamidinates and amidinates through C-C coupling or C-H activation

The reaction of [Sm{N(SiMe3)2}2(THF)2] (THF=tetrahydrofuran) with carbodiimides RN=C=NR (R=Cy, C6H3-2,6-iPr2) led to the formation of dinuclear SmIII complexes via differing C-C coupling processes. For R=Cy, the product [{(Me3Si)2N}2Sm(micro-C2N4Cy4)Sm{N(SiMe3)2}2] (1) has an oxalamidinate [C2N4Cy4]2- ligand resulting from coupling at the central C atoms of two CyNCNCy moieties. In contrast, for R=C6H3-2,6-iPr2, H transfer and an unusual coupling of two iPr methine C atoms resulted in a linked formamidinate complex, [{(Me3Si)2N}2Sm{micro-(RNC(H)N(Ar-Ar)NC(H)NR)}Sm{N(SiMe3)2}2] (2) (Ar-Ar=C6H3-2-iPr-6-C(CH3)2C(CH3)2-6'-C6H3-2'-iPr). Analogous reactions of RN=C=NR (R=Cy, C6H3-2,6-iPr2) with the SmII "ate" complex [Sm{N(SiMe2)3Na] gave 1 for R=Cy, but a novel C-substituted amidinate complex, [(THF)Na{N(R)C(NR)CH2Si(Me2)N(SiMe3)}Sm{N(SiMe3)2}2] (3), for R=C6H3-2,6-iPr2, via gamma C-H activation of a N(SiMe3)2 ligand.     

Solvothermal vs. bench-top reactions: control over the formation of discrete complexes and coordination polymers

The formation of discrete complexes [M(mcoe)2S2] (M = Cu, Ni; S = MeOH, H2O) vs. a nitroso-bridged ferromagnetically-coupled Cu(II) coordination polymer [Cu(mcoe)2] is influenced by the use of solvothermal reaction conditions.     

Steric modulation of coordination number and reactivity in the synthesis of lanthanoid(III) formamidinates

Reactions of a range of the readily prepared and sterically tunable N,N'-bis(aryl)formamidines with lanthanoid metals and bis(pentafluorophenyl)mercury (Hg(C6F5)2) in THF have given an extensive series of tris(formamidinato)lanthanoid(III) complexes, [Ln(Form)3(thf)n], namely [La(o-TolForm)3(thf)2], [Er(o-TolForm)3(thf)], [La(XylForm)3(thf)], [Sm(XylForm)3], [Ln(MesForm)3] (Ln=La, Nd, Sm and Yb), [Ln(EtForm)3] (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Ho and Yb), and [Ln(o-PhPhForm)3] (Ln=La, Nd, Sm and Er). [For an explanation of the N,N'-bis(aryl)formamidinate abbreviations used see Scheme 1.] Analogous attempts to prepare [Yb(o-TolForm)3] by this method invariably yielded [{Yb(o-TolForm)2(mu-OH)(thf)}2], but [Yb(o-TolForm)3] was isolated from a metathesis synthesis. X-ray crystal structures show exclusively N,N'-chelation of the Form ligands and a gradation in coordination number with Ln3+ size and with Form ligand bulk. The largest ligands, MesForm, EtForm and o-PhPhForm give solely homoleptic complexes, the first two being six-coordinate, the last having an eta1-pi-Ar--Ln interaction. Reaction of lanthanoid elements and Hg(C6F5)2 with the still bulkier DippFormH in THF resulted in C--F activation and formation of [Ln(DippForm)2F(thf)] (Ln=La, Ce, Nd, Sm and Tm) complexes, and o-HC6F4O(CH2)4DippForm in which the formamidine is functionalised by a ring-opened THF that has trapped tetrafluorobenzyne. Analogous reactions between Ln metals, Hg(o-HC6F4)2 and DippFormH yielded [Ln(DippForm)2F(thf)] (Ln=La, Sm and Nd) and 3,4,5-F3C6H2O(CH2)4DippForm. X-ray crystal structures of the heteroleptic fluorides show six-coordinate monomers with two chelating DippForm ligands and cisoid fluoride and THF ligands in a trigonal prismatic array. The organometallic species [Ln(DippForm)2(C[triple chemical bond]CPh)(thf)] (Ln=Nd or Sm) are obtained from reaction of Nd metal, bis(phenylethynyl)mercury (Hg(C[triple chemical bond]CPh)2) and DippFormH, and the oxidation of [Sm(DippForm)2(thf)2] with Hg(C[triple chemical bond]CPh)2, respectively. The monomeric, six-coordinate, cisoid [Ln(DippForm)2(C[triple chemical bond]CPh)(thf)] complexes have trigonal prismatic geometries and rare (for Ln) terminal C[triple chemical bond]CPh groups with contrasting Ln--C[triple chemical bond]C angles (Ln=Nd, 170.9(4) degrees; Ln=Sm, 142.9(7) degrees). Their formation lends support to the view that [Ln(DippForm)2F(thf)] complexes arise from oxidative formation and C--F activation of [Ln(DippForm)2(C6F5)] intermediates.     

New structural features in heavy alkaline earth-metal chemistry--molecular heterobimetallic group 1, Ba complexes

The preparation of heterobimetallic complexes consisting of alkali and heavy alkaline earth metals remains a challenge due to limited available synthetic strategies. Here we present a new class of group 1, Ba compounds of the type [M(n){Ba(Odpp)(2+n)}] (M=Na(n=1) (1), K(n=1) (2), Cs(n=1) (3), Li(n=2) (4); HOdpp=2,6-diphenylphenol) and the Lewis base adducts [Li(2)(thf)(2){Ba(Odpp)(4)}]PhMe (5) and [K{Ba(Odpp)(3)(diglyme)}] (6) (diglyme=[bis(2-methoxy)ethyl ether]) as the first representatives of heterobimetallic group 1, Ba species of low nuclearity. The compounds display a significant degree of metal-arene interaction, believed to be a key factor in stabilizing these highly reactive species. Obtained by solid-state direct metalation, the target compounds are available without further work-up.     

Developments in heterobimetallic s-block systems: synthesis and structural survey of molecular M/Ae (M=Li, Na, K, Cs; Ae=Ca, Sr) aryloxo complexes

A series of novel heterobimetallic group 1/strontium and group 1/calcium aryloxo complexes having the composition [MAe(Odpp)3] [Ae=Sr and M=Na (1), K (2, 3), Cs (4); Ae=Ca and M=Na (5), K (6), Cs (7)] or [M2Ae(Odpp)4] [M=Li and Ae=Sr (9), Ca (10)] have been prepared using 2,6-diphenylphenol (HOdpp) as the ligand. Through the use of solid-state direct metalation, these compounds were obtained either directly from the reaction vessel or after workup in toluene. The Lewis base adduct [KCa(Odpp)3(thf)] (8) was obtained by treatment of [KCa(Odpp)3] (6) with tetrahydrofuran (thf). All of the compounds displayed extensive metal-pi-arene interactions, which provide significant stabilization in these reactive species. The thermal stabilities and volatilities of representative heterobimetallic strontium and calcium complexes were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis.     

When Metathesis Reactions Go Wrong: Novel Structural Consequences

The complex [Yb(Ph₂pz)₃(LiOBu)]₂ ( 1 ) (Ph₂pz = 3,5‐diphenylpyrazolate), fortuitously obtained from reaction of Yb metal with a lithium containing sample of [SnMe₃(Ph₂pz)] at elevated temperatures forms a centrosymmetric butoxy‐ and pyrazolate‐bridged open box structure. Each ytterbium atom is eight coordinate with one chelating Ph₂pz ligand, one μ‐η²:η² bridging pyrazolate, one μ‐η²(Yb):η⁴(Li) Ph₂pz group and two bridging butoxide ligands. Each lithium atom is unsymmetrically chelated by an η²‐Ph₂pz group, η⁴(N,C(pz)C₂(Ph)) bonded by another pyazolate group, and bridged through a butoxide oxygen atom to two ytterbium atoms. The type of η⁴‐pyrazolate coordination is unprecedented and is the first observation of interactions to a metal by the Ph rings of the Ph₂pz ligand. The complex [Li(dme)₃][Eu(Ph₂pz)₃(dme)] ( 2 ) obtained from reaction of Eu metal with the same sample of [SnMe₃(Ph₂pz)] in dme at room temperature is a charged separated species with the first anionic pyrazolatolanthanoidate(II) complex in which europium is eight coordinate with three chelating Ph₂pz ligands and a chelating dme.     

A Novel Alkene(alkyl)(aqua)(aryl)platinum(II) Complex – [Pt{CH(CH2C6F5)CH2CH2CH=CH2}(C6F5)(OH2)]

From the reaction of PtCl₂(hex) (hex = hexa‐1,5‐diene) with LiC₆F₅ in diethyl ether, the complex [Pt{CH(CH₂C₆F₅)CH₂CH₂CH=CH₂}(C₆F₅)(OH₂)] ( 1 ) was isolated. The crystal structure (monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), Z = 8, a = 15.241(3), b = 16.579(2), c = 16.225(2) Å, β = 111.12(2)°) shows a complex with square planar coordination around platinum with a template formed 1‐pentafluorophenylhex‐5‐en‐2‐yl ligand, and C₆F₅ and aqua ligands trans to the double bond and alkyl carbon, respectively.     

Engineering of efficient panchromatic sensitizers for nanocrystalline TiO(2)-based solar cells.

A new series of panchromatic ruthenium(II) sensitizers derived from carboxylated terpyridyl complexes of tris-thiocyanato Ru(II) have been developed. Black dye containing different degrees of protonation [(C(2)H(5))(3)NH][Ru(H(3)tcterpy)(NCS)(3)] 1, [(C(4)H(9))(4)N](2)[Ru(H(2)tcterpy)(NCS)(3)] 2, [(C(4)H(9))(4)N](3)[Ru(Htcterpy)(NCS)(3)] 3, and [(C(4)H(9))(4)N](4)[Ru(tcterpy)(NCS)(3)] 4 (tcterpy = 4,4',4' '-tricarboxy-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) have been synthesized and fully characterized by UV-vis, emission, IR, Raman, NMR, cyclic voltammetry, and X-ray diffraction studies. The crystal structure of complex 2 confirms the presence of a Ru(II)N6 central core derived from the terpyridine ligand and three N-bonded thiocyanates. Intermolecular H-bonding between carboxylates on neighboring terpyridines gives rise to 2-D H-bonded arrays. The absorption and emission maxima of the black dye show a bathochromic shift with decreasing pH and exhibit pH-dependent excited-state lifetimes. The red-shift of the emission maxima is due to better pi-acceptor properties of the acid form that lowers the energy of the CT excited state. The low-energy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer absorption band showed marked solvatochromism due to the presence of thiocyanate ligands. The Ru(II)/(III) oxidation potential of the black dye and the ligand-based reduction potential shifted cathodically with decreasing number of protons and showed more reversible character. The adsorption of complex 3 from methoxyacetonitrile solution onto transparent TiO(2) films was interpreted by a Langmuir isotherm yielding an adsorption equilibrium constant, K(ads), of (1.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M(-1). The amount of dye adsorbed at monolayer saturation was (n(alpha) = 6.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(-)(8) mol/mg of TiO(2), which is around 30% less than that of the cis-di(thiocyanato)bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate)ruthenium(II) complex. The black dye, when anchored to nanocrystalline TiO(2) films achieves very efficient sensitization over the whole visible range extending into the near-IR region up to 920 nm, yielding over 80% incident photon-to-current efficiencies (IPCE). Solar cells containing the black dye were subjected to analysis by a photovoltaic calibration laboratory (NREL, U.S.A.) to determine their solar-to-electric conversion efficiency under standard AM 1.5 sunlight. A short circuit photocurrent density obtained was 20.5 mA/cm(2), and the open circuit voltage was 0.72 V corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 10.4%.