S‐Alkylation of Soft Scorpionates

The alkylation reactions of soft scorpionates are reported. The hydrotris(S‐alkyl‐methimazolyl)borate dications (alkyl=methyl, allyl, benzyl), which were prepared by the reaction of Tm^Me anion and primary alkyl halides, have been isolated and structurally characterised. The reaction is, however, not universally successful. DFT analysis of these alkylation reactions (C?S versus B? H alkylation) indicates that the observed outcome is driven by kinetic factors. Extending the study to incorporate alternative imine thiones (mercaptobenzothiazole, bz; thiazoline, tz) led to the structural characterisation of di[aquo‐μ‐aquohydrotris(mercaptobenzothiazolyl)boratosodium], which contains sodium atoms in the κ³‐S,S,S coordination mode. Alkylation of Na[Tbz] and Na[tzTtz] leads to decomposition resulting in the formation of the simple S‐alkylated heterocycles. The analysis of the species involved in these reactions shows an inherent weakness in the B? N bond in soft scorpionates, which has implications for their use in more advanced chemistry.     

A New Synthesis of Charge‐Neutral Tris‐Pyrazolyl and ‐Methimazolyl Borate Ligands

The dimethylamine in the adducts [(HNMe₂)B(azolyl)₃] (azolyl=methimazolyl, pyrazolyl), obtained by reaction of the azole with B(NMe₂)₃, can readily be substituted with a range of nitrogen donors to provide new charge‐neutral, tripodal ligands in high yield. This observation has led to a revision of an earlier interpretation of the mechanism of the formation of these species. The donor properties of the ligands [(nmi)B(azolyl)₃] (nmi=N‐methylimidazole) have been compared with their anionic analogues [HB(azolyl)₃]^? by synthesis of their manganese(I)–tricarbonyl complexes and comparison of their infrared ν_CO energies. This comparison indicates that the new neutral ligands are only marginally weaker donors than the corresponding anionic hydrotris(azolyl)borate ligands. This may be explained by the ability of the attached nmi ring to stabilize a positive charge remotely from the coordinated metal, which may also account for the fact that the [(nmi)B(pyrazolyl)₃] ligand is a substantially stronger donor than the similarly neutral tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand.     

Soft Scorpionate Anions as Platforms for Novel Heterocycles

Soft scorpionates have thus far been seen mainly as a family of ligands. Their chemistry is extended here to the production of novel cationic macrocycles using dihaloalkanes. By replacing the dihaloalkanes with mild oxidising agents (NO⁺, I₂) we obtain two unique polycyclic heterocycles. The mechanism which leads to the formation of these polycyclic heterocycles is investigated using ab initio DFT calculations.     

Templated Synthesis of Copper(II) Azacyclam Complexes Using Urea as a Locking Fragment and Their Metal‐Enhanced Binding Tendencies towards Anions

Copper(II) azacyclam complexes 3 ²⁺ and 4 ²⁺ were obtained through a metal‐templated procedure involving the pertinent open‐chain tetramine, formaldehyde and a phenylurea derivative as a locking fragment. Both metal complexes can establish interactions with anions through the metal centre and the amide NH group. Equilibrium studies in DMSO by a spectrophotometric titration technique were carried out to assess the affinity of 3 ²⁺ and 4 ²⁺ towards anions. While the NH group of an amide model compound and the metal centre of the plain Cu^II(azacyclam)²⁺ complex do not interact at all with anions, 3 ²⁺ and 4 ²⁺ establish strong interactions with oxo anions, profiting from a pronounced cooperative effect. In particular, 1) they form stable 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with H₂PO₄^? ions in a stepwise mode with both hydrogen‐bonding and metal–ligand interactions, and 2) in the presence of CH₃COO^?, they undergo deprotonation of the amido NH group and thus profit from axial coordination of the partially negatively charged carbonyl oxygen atom in a scorpionate binding mode.     

Potential Precursors for Terminal Methylidene Rare-Earth-Metal Complexes Supported by a Superbulky Tris(pyrazolyl)borato Ligand

A series of solvent-free heteroleptic terminal rare-earth-metal alkyl complexes stabilized by a superbulky tris(pyrazolyl)borato ligand with the general formula [Tp^tBu,MeLnMeR] have been synthesized and fully characterized. Treatment of the heterobimetallic mixed methyl/tetramethylaluminate compounds [Tp^tBu,MeLnMe(AlMe₄)] (Ln=Y, Lu) with two equivalents of the mild halogenido transfer reagents SiMe₃X (X=Cl, I) gave [Tp^tBu,MeLnX₂] in high yields. The addition of only one equivalent of SiMe₃Cl to [Tp^tBu,MeLuMe(AlMe₄)] selectively afforded the desired mixed methyl/chloride complex [Tp^tBu,MeLuMeCl]. Further reactivity studies of [Tp^tBu,MeLuMeCl] with LiR or KR (R=CH₂Ph, CH₂SiMe₃) through salt metathesis led to the monomeric mixed-alkyl derivatives [Tp^tBu,MeLuMe(CH₂SiMe₃)] and [Tp^tBu,MeLuMe(CH₂Ph)], respectively, in good yields. The SiMe₄ elimination protocols were also applicable when using SiMe₃X featuring more weakly coordinating moieties (here X=OTf, NTf₂). X-ray structure analyses of this diverse set of new [Tp^tBu,MeLnMeR/X] compounds were performed to reveal any electronic and steric effects of the varying monoanionic ligands R and X, including exact cone-angle calculations of the tridentate tris(pyrazolyl)borato ligand. Deeper insights into the reactivity of these potential precursors for terminal alkylidene rare-earth-metal complexes were gained through NMR spectroscopic studies.     

Structural studies of (prop‐2‐en‐1‐yl)bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methylidene]amine hetero‐scorpionate copper complexes

The structures of five compounds consisting of (prop‐2‐en‐1‐yl)bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methylidene]amine complexed with copper in both the Cu^I and Cu^II oxidation states are presented, namely chlorido{(prop‐2‐en‐1‐yl)bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methylidene]amine‐κ³N,N′,N′′}copper(I) 0.18‐hydrate, [CuCl(C₁₅H₁₇N₃)]·0.18H₂O, (1), catena‐poly[[copper(I)‐μ₂‐(prop‐2‐en‐1‐yl)bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methylidene]amine‐κ⁵N,N′,N′′:C²,C³] perchlorate acetonitrile monosolvate], {[Cu(C₁₅H₁₇N₃)]ClO₄·CH₃CN}_n, (2), dichlorido{(prop‐2‐en‐1‐yl)bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methylidene]amine‐κ³N,N′,N′′}copper(II) dichloromethane monosolvate, [CuCl₂(C₁₅H₁₇N₃)]·CH₂Cl₂, (3), chlorido{(prop‐2‐en‐1‐yl)bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methylidene]amine‐κ³N,N′,N′′}copper(II) perchlorate, [CuCl(C₁₅H₁₇N₃)]ClO₄, (4), and di‐μ‐chlorido‐bis({(prop‐2‐en‐1‐yl)bis[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methylidene]amine‐κ³N,N′,N′′}copper(II)) bis(tetraphenylborate), [Cu₂Cl₂(C₁₅H₁₇N₃)₂][(C₆H₅)₄B]₂, (5). Systematic variation of the anion from a coordinating chloride to a noncoordinating perchlorate for two Cu^I complexes results in either a discrete molecular species, as in (1), or a one‐dimensional chain structure, as in (2). In complex (1), there are two crystallographically independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. Complex (2) consists of the Cu^I atom coordinated by the amine and pyridyl N atoms of one ligand and by the vinyl moiety of another unit related by the crystallographic screw axis, yielding a one‐dimensional chain parallel to the crystallographic b axis. Three complexes with Cu^II show that varying the anion composition from two chlorides, to a chloride and a perchlorate to a chloride and a tetraphenylborate results in discrete molecular species, as in (3) and (4), or a bridged bis‐μ‐chlorido complex, as in (5). Complex (3) shows two strongly bound Cl atoms, while complex (4) has one strongly bound Cl atom and a weaker coordination by one perchlorate O atom. The large noncoordinating tetraphenylborate anion in complex (5) results in the core‐bridged Cu₂Cl₂ moiety.     

A family of four-coordinate iron(II) complexes bearing the sterically hindered tris(pyrazolyl)borato ligand Tp(tBu,Me)

A new family of 14‐electron, four‐coordinate iron(II) complexes of the general formula [Tp^tBu,MeFeX] (Tp^tBu,Me is the sterically hindered hydrotris(3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐methyl‐pyrazolyl) borate ligand and X=Cl ( 1 ), Br, I) were synthesized by salt metathesis of FeX₂ with Tp^tBu,MeK. The related fluoride complex was prepared by reaction of 1 with AgBF₄. Chloride 1 proved to be a good precursor for ligand substitution reactions, generating a series of four‐coordinate iron(II) complexes with carbon, oxygen, and sulphur ligands. All of these complexes were fully characterized by conventional spectroscopic methods and most were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic analysis. Magnetic measurements for all complexes agreed with a high‐spin (d⁶, S=2) electronic configuration. The halide series enabled the estimation of the covalent radius of iron in these complexes as 1.24 Å.     

Polymorphism of 2,5‐[(diphenylphosphanyl)methyl]‐1,1,2,4,4,5‐hexaphenyl‐1,4‐diphospha‐2,5‐diboracyclohexane

2,5‐[(Diphenylphosphanyl)methyl]‐1,1,2,4,4,5‐hexaphenyl‐1,4‐diphospha‐2,5‐diboracyclohexane shows polymorphism as two tetrahydrofuran (THF) disolvates [C₆₄H₅₈B₂P₄·2C₄H₈O, (Ia) and (Ib)] and pseudo‐polymorphism as its toluene monosolvate [C₆₄H₅₈B₂P₄·C₇H₈, (Ic)]. In each of polymorphs (Ia) and (Ib), the diphosphadiboracyclohexane molecule is located on a centre of inversion. The THF molecule of (Ib) is disordered over two sites, with a site‐occupation factor of 0.612 (8) for the major‐occupied site. Both structures crystallize in the same space group (P2₁/n), but they display a different crystal packing. For pseudo‐polymorph (Ic), although the space group is P2₁/c, which is just a different setting of the P2₁/n space group of (Ia) and (Ib), the crystal packing is completely different. Although the crystal packing in these three structures is significantly different, their molecular conformations are surprisingly the same.     

Soft scorpionate coordination at alkali metals

Reported here are the single‐crystal X‐ray structure analyses of bis‐μ‐methanol‐κ⁴O:O‐bis{[hydrotris(3‐phenyl‐2‐sulfanylidene‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,3‐imidazol‐1‐yl)borato‐κ³H,S,S′](methanol‐κO)sodium(I)}, [Na₂(C₂₇H₂₂BN₆S₃)₂(CH₄O)₄] (NaTm^Ph), bis‐μ‐methanol‐κ⁴O:O‐bis{[hydrotris(3‐isopropyl‐2‐sulfanylidene‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,3‐imidazol‐1‐yl)borato‐κ³H,S,S′](methanol‐κO)sodium(I)}–diethyl ether–methanol (1/0.3333/0.0833), [Na₂(C₁₈H₂₈BN₆S₃)₂(CH₄O)₄]·0.3333C₄H₁₀O·0.0833CH₃OH (NaTm^iPr), and a novel anhydrous form of sodium hydrotris(methylthioimidazolyl)borate, poly[[μ‐hydrotris(3‐methyl‐2‐sulfanylidene‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,3‐imidazol‐1‐yl)borato]sodium(I)], [Na(C₁₂H₁₆BN₆S₃)] ([NaTm^Me]_n). NaTm^iPr and NaTm^Ph have similar dimeric molecular structures with κ³H,S,S′‐bonding, but they differ in that NaTm^Ph is crystallographically centrosymmetric (Z′ = 0.5) while NaTm^iPr contains one crystallographically centrosymmetric dimer and one dimer positioned on a general position (Z′ = 1.5). [NaTm^Me]_n is a one‐dimensional coordination polymer that extends along the a direction and which contains a hitherto unseen side‐on η²‐C=S‐to‐Na bond type. An overview of the structural preferences of alkali metal soft scorpionate complexes is presented. This analysis suggests that these thione‐based ligands will continue to be a rich source of interesting alkali metal motifs worthy of isolation and characterization.     

Lower main-group element complexes with a soft scorpionate ligand: the structural influence of stereochemically active lone pairs

The syntheses and structures of complexes of the fifth period elements indium and antimony, and the sixth period element bismuth with the soft scorpionate ligand, hydrotris(methimazolyl)borate (Tm(Me)) are reported. A considerable variety of structural motifs were obtained by reaction of the main-group element halide and NaTm(Me). The indium(III) complexes took the form [In(kappa(3)-Tm(Me))(2)](+). This motif could not, however, be isolated for antimony(III), the dominant product being [Sb(kappa(3)-Tm(Me))(kappa(1)-Tm(Me))X] (X = Br, I). An iodo-bridged species [Sb(kappa(3)-Tm(Me))I(mu(2)-I)](2), analogous to a previously reported bismuth complex, was also isolated. Reaction of antimony(III) acetate with NaTm(Me) results in a remarkable species in which three different ligand binding modes are observed. In each antimony complex the influence of the nonbonded electron pair is observed in the structure. Bismuth halides form complexes analogous to those of antimony, with directional lone pairs, but in addition, reaction of Bi(NO(3))(3) with NaTm(Me) results in a complex with a regular S(6) coordination sphere and a nonstereochemically active lone pair. Comparisons are drawn with known Tm(Me) complexes of As, Sn, and Bi in which the stereochemical influence of the lone pairs is negligible and with Tm(Me) complexes of Te and Bi in which the lone pairs are stereochemically active. This study highlights the ability of Tm(Me) to coordinate in a variety of modes as dictated by the metal centre with no adverse effects on the stability of the complexes formed.