Europium is Different: Solvent and Ligand Effects on Oxidation State Outcomes and C-F Activation in Reactions Between Europium Metal and Pentafluorophenylsilver

Unique outcomes have emerged from the redox transmetallation/ protolysis (RTP) reactions of europium metal with [Ag(C₆F₅)(py)] (py=pyridine) and pyrazoles (RR′pzH). In pyridine, a solvent not normally used for RTP reactions, the products were mainly Eu^II complexes, [Eu(RR′pz)₂(py)₄] (RR′pz=3,5-diphenylpyrazolate (Ph₂pz) 1 ; 3-(2-thienyl)-5-trifluoromethylpyrazolate (ttfpz) 2 ; 3-methyl-5-phenylpyrazolate (PhMepz) 3 ). However, use of 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole (tBu₂pzH) gave trivalent [Eu(tBu₂pz)₃(py)₂] 4 , whereas the bulkier N,N′-bis(2,6-difluorophenyl)formamidine (DFFormH) gave divalent [Eu(DFForm)₂(py)₃] 5 . In tetrahydrofuran (thf), the usual solvent for RTP reactions, C−F activation was observed for the first time with [Ag(C₆F₅)(py)] in such reactions. Thus trivalent [{Eu₂(Ph₂pz)₄(py)₄(thf)₂(μ-F)₂}{Eu₂(Ph₂pz)₄(py)₂(thf)₄(μ-F)₂}] ( 6 ), [Eu₂(ttfpz)₄(py)₂(dme)₂(μ-F)₂] ( 7 ), [Eu₂(tBu₂pz)₄(dme)₂(μ-F)₂] ( 8 ) were obtained from the appropriate pyrazoles, the last two after crystallization from 1,2-dimethoxyethane (dme). Surprisingly 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (Me₂pzH) gave the divalent cage [Eu₆(Me₂pz)₁₀(thf)₆(μ-F)₂] ( 9 ). This has a compact ovoid core held together by bridging fluoride, thf, and pyrazolate ligands, the last including the rare μ₄-1η⁵(N₂C₃): 2η²(N,N′): 3κ(N): 4κ(N′) pyrazolate binding mode. With the bulky N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)formamidine (DippFormH), which often favours C−F activation in RTP reactions, neither oxidation to Eu^III nor C−F activation was observed and [Eu(DippForm)₂(thf)₂] ( 10 ) was isolated. By contrast, Eu reacted with Bi(C₆F₅)₃ and Ph₂pzH or tBu₂pzH in thf without C−F activation, to give [Eu(Ph₂pz)₂(thf)₄] ( 11 ) and [Eu(tBu₂pz)₃(thf)₂] ( 12 ) respectively, the oxidation state outcomes corresponding to that for use of [Ag(C₆F₅)(py)] in pyridine.     

Supramolecular Architecture and a New Mode of Pyrazolate Coordination (η3) in the First Homoleptic Lanthanide Pyrazolate Complexes

A linear supramoleculecular array of anions and cations is present in the solvent-free potassium salt of the homoleptic erbium pyrazolate complex [K{Er(η²-tBu₂pz)₄}_n] ( 1 ). Treatment of 1 with [18]crown-6 in toluene/dimethoxyethane leads to formation of a charge-separated salt [Eq. (a)] in which the methyl group of a toluene molecule interacts with the potassium ion. tBu₂pz=3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolate.     

The X‐ray Crystal Structures of Hg(C6F4X‐p)2 (X = NH2, OMe,or Me) – Two Examples of Supramolecular Lewis Acid/Base Complexes

The X‐ray crystal structures of Hg(C₆F₄X‐p)₂ (X = NH₂, OMe, or Me) show the compounds to have almost linear C–Hg–C stereochemistry (X = NH₂, 176.3(4)°; X = OMe, 179.5(2)°; X = Me, 176.3(2)°), and the two tetrafluoroaryl rings rotated ca. 52–62° with respect to each other. Substantial conjugation of NH₂ and OMe groups with the aromatic rings is evident from N–C and O–C(Ar) distances. For X = NH₂ or OMe, two weak N(O)–Hg coordination interactions per mercury lead to a two dimensional supramolecular chain structure containing pairs of π‐stacked aromatic rings at near van der Waals contact distances rotated at 62.2° (X = NH₂) or 52.9° (X = OMe) to each other. In Hg(C₆F₄Me‐p)₂, which does not have potential donor atoms, no supramolecular structure is obtained, the molecules being laterally displaced from one another.     

Homoleptic 12-coordinate lanthanoids with eta(2)-nitroso ligands

The complexes [Et(4)N](3)[Ln(eta(2)-dcnm)(6)] (Ln = La, Ce, Nd, Gd, dcnm = dicyanonitrosomethanide) have discrete N, O 12-coordination owing to symmetrical chelation of the nitroso donor groups.