Metal Complexes of Singly,Doubly and Triply Linked Porphyrins and Corroles: An Insight into the Physicochemical Properties

Metal complexes of multi-porphyrins and multi-corroles are unique systems that display a host of extremely interesting properties. Availability of free meso and β positions allow formation of different types of directly linked bis-porphyrins giving rise to intriguing optical and electronic properties. While the fields of metalloporphyrin and corroles monomer have seen exponential growth in the last decades, the chemistry of metal complexes of bis-porphyrins and bis-corroles remain rather underexplored. Therefore, the impact of covalent linkages on the optical, electronic, (spectro)electrochemical, magnetic and electrocatalytic activities of metal complexes of bis-porphyrins and -corroles has been summarized in this review article. This article shows that despite the (still) somewhat difficult synthetic access to these molecules, their extremely exciting properties do make a strong case for pursuing research on these classes of compounds.     

Three Bis‐BODIPY Analogous Diruthenium Redox Series: Characterization and Electronic Structure Analysis

The dianion derived from (2Z,6Z)‐3,7‐diphenyl‐N2,N6‐di(pyridin‐2‐yl)pyrrolo[2,3‐f]indole‐2,6(1H,5H)‐diimine (H₂BL), a modified BODIPY ligand precursor, is shown to be capable of bridging two metal complex fragments RuL₂, L=2,4‐pentanedionato (acac^?), 2,2’‐bipyridine (bpy) or 2‐phenylazopyridine (pap) in [Ru(acac)₂Ru(μ‐BL)Ru(acac)₂] ( 1 / 2 ), [Ru(bpy)₂Ru(μ‐BL)Ru(bpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ ([ 3 ](ClO₄)₂) and [Ru(pap)₂Ru(μ‐BL)Ru(pap)₂](ClO₄)₂ ([ 4 ](ClO₄)₂). The compounds, including a diastereoisomeric pair 1 (meso) and 2 (rac) were spectroscopically and structurally characterized. Reversible electron transfers as revealed by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry allowed for an EPR and UV‐vis‐NIR spectroelectrochemical investigation of several neighboring charge states. Together with susceptibility measurements and TD‐DFT calculations the assignment of oxidation states reveals that 1 , 2 are diruthenium(III) species which can be oxidized or reduced by one electron whereas 3 ²⁺ and 4 ²⁺ contain ruthenium(II) and get reduced or oxidized mainly at the dianionic bridge ( 3 ²⁺) or are reduced at the ancillary ligands pap ( 4 ²⁺).     

Strong oscillations in molecular valence photoemission intensities

Photoemission from the two outermost ionizations [highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO and HOMO-1)] of Mg(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(2) has been studied with synchrotron radiation in the gas phase. Strong oscillations in the HOMO-1/HOMO ratio, qualitatively similar to those well-known for fullerenes, are found. Excellent agreement with the experimental ratio is provided by accurate cross section calculations both at the density-functional theory and time-dependent density-functional theory level, indicating that a many electron response has a minor role for this effect. A comparison with the calculated values for other metal sandwich compounds indicate that the presence of oscillations is a widespread phenomenon, and a potential source of interesting information on the structural and electronic properties of the target molecule.     

Iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation of N-heterocyclic compounds under mild conditions by an outer-sphere pathway

A new homogeneous iridium catalyst gives hydrogenation of quinolines under unprecedentedly mild conditions-as low as 1 atm of H(2) and 25 °C. We report air- and moisture-stable iridium(I) NHC catalyst precursors that are active for reduction of a wide variety of quinolines having functionalities at the 2-, 6-, and 8- positions. A combined experimental and theoretical study has elucidated the mechanism of this reaction. DFT studies on a model Ir complex show that a conventional inner-sphere mechanism is disfavored relative to an unusual stepwise outer-sphere mechanism involving sequential proton and hydride transfer. All intermediates in this proposed mechanism have been isolated or spectroscopically characterized, including two new iridium(III) hydrides and a notable cationic iridium(III) dihydrogen dihydride complex. DFT calculations on full systems establish the coordination geometry of these iridium hydrides, while stoichiometric and catalytic experiments with the isolated complexes provide evidence for the mechanistic proposal. The proposed mechanism explains why the catalytic reaction is slower for unhindered substrates and why small changes in the ligand set drastically alter catalyst activity.     

Thiocyanate linkage isomerism in a ruthenium polypyridyl complex

Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes have seen extensive use in solar energy applications. One of the most efficient dye-sensitized solar cells produced to date employs the dye-sensitizer N719, a ruthenium polypyridyl thiocyanate complex. Thiocyanate complexes are typically present as an inseparable mixture of N-bound and S-bound linkage isomers. Here we report the synthesis of a new complex, [Ru(terpy)(tbbpy)SCN][SbF(6)] (terpy = 2,2';6',2'-terpyridine, tbbpy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine), as a mixture of N-bound and S-bound thiocyanate linkage isomers that can be separated based on their relative solubility in ethanol. Both isomers have been characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. At elevated temperatures the isomers equilibrate, the product being significantly enriched in the more thermodynamically stable N-bound form. Density functional theory analysis supports our experimental observation that the N-bound isomer is thermodynamically preferred, and provides insight into the isomerization mechanism.     

Selective methylative homologation: an alternate route to alkane upgrading

InI3 catalyzes the reaction of branched alkanes with methanol to produce heavier and more highly branched alkanes, which are more valuable fuels. The reaction of 2,3-dimethylbutane with methanol in the presence of InI3 at 180-200 degrees C affords the maximally branched C7 alkane, 2,2,3-trimethylbutane (triptane). With the addition of catalytic amounts of adamantane the selectivity of this transformation can be increased up to 60%. The lighter branched alkanes isobutane and isopentane also react with methanol to generate triptane, while 2-methylpentane is converted into 2,3-dimethylpentane and other more highly branched species. Observations implicate a chain mechanism in which InI3 activates branched alkanes to produce tertiary carbocations which are in equilibrium with olefins. The latter react with a methylating species generated from methanol and InI3 to give the next-higher carbocation, which accepts a hydride from the starting alkane to form the homologated alkane and regenerate the original carbocation. Adamantane functions as a hydride transfer agent and thus helps to minimize competing side reactions, such as isomerization and cracking, that are detrimental to selectivity.     

Electrochemistry and Spin-Crossover Behavior of Fluorinated Terpyridine-Based Co(II) and Fe(II) Complexes

Due to their ability to form stable molecular complexes that have tailor-made properties, terpyridine ligands are of great interest in chemistry and material science. In this regard, we prepared two terpyridine ligands with two different fluorinated phenyl rings on the backbone. The corresponding Co^II and Fe^II complexes were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis, electrochemistry and temperature-dependent SQUID magnetometry. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses at 100 K of these complexes revealed Co−N and Fe−N bond lengths that are typical of low spin Co^II and Fe^II centers. The metal centers are coordinated in an octahedral fashion and the fluorinated phenyl rings on the backbone are twisted out of the plane of the terpyridine unit. The complexes were investigated with cyclic voltammetry and UV/Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry. All complexes show a reversible oxidation and several reduction processes. Temperature dependent SQUID magnetometry revealed a gradual thermal SCO behavior in two of the complexes, while EPR spectroscopy provided further insights on the electronic structure of the metal complexes, as well as site of reduction.     

Conversion of methanol to 2,2,3-trimethylbutane (triptane) over indium(III) iodide

InI3 is able to catalyze the conversion of methanol to a mixture of hydrocarbons at 200 degrees C with one highly branched alkane, 2,2,3-trimethylbutane (triptane), being obtained in high selectivity. The mechanism for InI3-catalyzed reactions appears to be basically the same as that proposed for the previously studied ZnI2-catalyzed system in which sequential methylation of olefins is followed by competing reactions of the resulting carbocation: proton loss to give the next olefin vs hydride transfer to give the corresponding alkane. Although the reaction conditions and typical triptane yields achievable with ZnI2 and InI3 are quite similar, the two systems behave rather differently in a number of important particulars, including significant differences between the detailed product distributions. Most of the differences in behavior can be ascribed to the stronger Lewis acidity of InI3, including the ability to activate some alkanes, the higher activity for methylation of arenes, and the fact that methanol conversion can be observed at somewhat lower temperatures with InI3 than with ZnI2.     

Reductive cyclotetramerization of CO to squarate by a U(III) complex: the X-ray crystal structure of [(U (eta-C8H6{SiiPr3-1,4}2)(eta-C5Me4H)]2(mu-eta2: eta2-C4O4)

The U(III) mixed-sandwich compound [U(eta-C5Me4H)(eta-C8H6{SiiPr3-1,4}2)(THF)] 1 may be prepared by sequential reaction of UI3 with K[C5Me4H] in THF followed by K2[C8H6{SiiPr3-1,4}2]. 1 reacts with carbon monoxide at -30 degrees C and 1 bar pressure in toluene solution to afford the crystallographically characterized dimer [(U(eta-C8H6{SiiPr3-1,4}2)(eta-C5Me4H)]2(mu-eta2: eta2-C4O4) 2, which contains a bridging squarate unit derived from reductive cyclotetramerization of CO. DFT computational studies indicate that addition of a 4th molecule of CO to the model deltate complex [U(eta-COT)(eta-Cp)]2(mu-eta1: eta2-C3O3)] to form the squarate complex [U(eta-COT)(eta-Cp)]2(mu-eta2: eta2-C4O4)] is exothermic by 136 kJ mol-1.