Toward Transition-Metal-Templated Construction of Arylated B4 Chains by Dihydroborane Dehydrocoupling

The reactivity of a diruthenium tetrahydride complex towards three selected dihydroboranes was investigated. The use of [DurBH₂] (Dur=2,3,5,6-Me₄C₆H) and [(Me₃Si)₂NBH₂] led to the formation of bridging borylene complexes of the form [(Cp*RuH)₂BR] (Cp*=C₅Me₅; 1 a : R=Dur; 1 b : R=N(SiMe₃)₂) through oxidative addition of the B−H bonds with concomitant hydrogen liberation. Employing the more electron-deficient dihydroborane [3,5-(CF₃)₂-C₆H₃BH₂] led to the formation of an anionic complex bearing a tetraarylated chain of four boron atoms, namely Li(THF)₄[(Cp*Ru)₂B₄H₅(3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃)₄] ( 4 ), through an unusual, incomplete threefold dehydrocoupling process. A comparative theoretical investigation of the bonding in a simplified model of 4 and the analogous complex nido-[1,2(Cp*Ru)₂(μ-H)B₄H₉] ( I ) indicates that there appear to be no classical σ-bonds between the boron atoms in complex I , whereas in the case of 4 the B₄ chain better resembles a network of three B−B σ bonds, the central bond being significantly weaker than the other two.     

M2B5 or M2B4? A Reinvestigation of the Mo/B and W/B System

The literature states different compositions (M/B = 1:2 vs. 2:5) and structures for diborides of molybdenum and tungsten. Using X‐ray and neutron powder diffraction as well as energy and wavelength dispersive electron microprobe analysis, the Mo/B and W/B systems were now reinvestigated. Molybdenum diboride crystallizes as a stoichiometric compound Mo₂B₄ (formerly described as Mo₂B₅) in space group (No. 166, a, b = 3.01375(2) Å, c = 20.9541(3) Å), and as a non‐stoichiometric compound MoB_2?x (formerly described as MoB₂) in P6/mmm (No. 191, a, b = 3.043(2) Å, c = 3.067(2) Å), whereas stoichiometric tungsten diboride W₂B₄ (formerly described as W₂B₅) is found to crystallize in space group P6₃/mmc (No. 194, a, b = 2.9864(4) Å, c = 13.896(2) Å). These results seem to be supported by DFT calculations which show the instability of a hypothetic W₂B₅.     

Electron-sponge behavior and electronic structures in cobalt-centered pentagonal prismatic Co11Te7(CO)10 and Co11Te5(CO)15 cluster anions

The novel cluster anion [Co(11)Te(5)(CO)15]- ([3]-) has been isolated and structurally characterized as part of the salt [Cp*(2)Nb(CO)2][3] (Cp* = C(5)Me(5)). The cobalt-centered Co10 pentagonal prism is surrounded by a shell of two mu5-Te, three mu4-Te ligands, and 15 CO groups in terminal, symmetrical, and sigma-semibridging bonding modes. The hybrid carbonyl-telluride character of the ligand shell is reflected in the solid state by a one-dimensional assembly of polyhedral prisms along a backbone of [Cp*(2)Nb(CO)2]+ cations. Electrochemical studies reveal the presence of four redox couples of [3]n (n = -1 to -5). The electronic structures of various metal-centered and empty pentagonal-prismatic (PP) M10 clusters (M = Co, Ni) are calculated and compared to those of pentagonal-antiprismatic (PA) M10 structures. Closed-shells of 152 and 156 metal valence electrons, respectively, are found to determine the electronic structures and chemical properties of these geometries. From these considerations, magnetic properties have been predicted. They have been verified for the [Co(11)Te(7)(CO)10]- cluster anion, which exhibits a singlet-triplet gap of 0.318 kcal/mol.     

Structural Diversity Within the Series of 68-Electron M4L n E2 (L = 2-Electron Ligand; M = Fe, Ru, Os, Co; E = CH, N, P, NR, PR, S) Organometallic Clusters: A Theoretical Investigation

Four different skeletal structural arrangements with very different connectivities are known for 6-vertex/68-electron of M₄E₂ core (M = transition metal; E = main-group atom or ligand). DFT calculations on a large number of title model compounds allow to rationalize the preferences between these structural shapes with respect to the nature of the metal and main-group elements constituting the cluster cage. In particular, the electronegativity of M and the “size” (first-row vs. second-row element) of E play an important role in the stability preference of a particular isomer. For several compounds, although only one type of structure is known, other low-energy isomeric forms are also likely to exist. Moreover, two structural types, so far unreported, are predicted to be stable enough for being synthesized.     

Bonding Analysis of Square-Antiprismatic and Fused Square-Antiprismatic Copper(I)-Selenium Clusters

The electronic structure of the Cu_2(4n+2)Se_4n+2(PH₃)₈ (n = 1–4) D _4h series of model clusters has been analyzed by means of density functional theory calculations. The fused square antiprismatic structure of the metal framework is found to be always preferred over the fused cuboctahedral one because it reinforces the Cu-P bonds. Thus, the presence of the terminal phosphine ligands tends to strengthen the Cu...Cu (d¹⁰...d¹⁰) bonding by mixing bonding combinations of the vacant Cu 4s and 4p orbitals into the occupied 3d combinations. The calculations indicate that the compounds corresponding to n = 3 and 4 should be easily two-electron-reduced, leading to stable dianionic species.