Dinuclear Nickel and Palladium Complexes with Bridging 2,5-Diamino-1,4-benzoquinonediimines: Synthesis, Structures, and Catalytic Oligomerization of Ethylene

Dinuclear, divalent acetylacetonato (acac) complexes of the type [M(acac){mu-C6H2(--NR)4}M(acac)] (M = Ni, Pd) have been prepared by the reaction of the corresponding bis(acac) metal precursor with 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinonediimines C6H2(NHR)2(=NR)2 (4a, R = CH2-t-Bu; 4b, R = CH2Ph; 4c, R = Ph), which are metalated and become bridging ligands, also like in the complex [(C8H11)Pt{mu-C6H2(--NCH2-t-Bu)4}Pt(C8H11)] (6) obtained by the reaction of 4a with [PtCl2(COD)]. The complexes were fully characterized, including by X-ray diffraction for [Ni(acac){mu-C6H2(--NCH2Ph)4}Ni(acac)] (9b) and [Pd(acac){mu-C6H2(--NCH2-t-Bu)4}Pd(acac)] (10a). The coordination geometry around the metal ions is square-planar, and a complete electronic delocalization of the quinonoid pi system occurs between the metal centers over the two N--C--C--C--N halves of the ligand. The nature of the N substituent explains the differences between the supramolecular stacking arrangements found for [Ni(acac){mu-C6H2(--NR)4}Ni(acac)] (9a; R = CH2-t-Bu; 9b, R = CH2Ph). The Ni complexes were evaluated as catalyst precursors for ethylene oligomerization in the presence of AlEtCl(2) or MAO as the cocatalyst, in particular in order to study possible cooperative effects resulting from electronic communication between the metal centers and to examine the influence of the N substituent on the activity and selectivity. These catalysts afforded mostly ethylene dimers and trimers.

Investigation of Tetrahedral Mixed-Metal Carbonyl Clusters by Two-Dimensional 59Co COSY and DQFCOSY NMR Experiments

Two-dimensional (2D) 59Co correlation spectroscopy (COSY)/double-quantum-filtered (DQF)COSY experiments are reported for three tetrahedral mixed-metal clusters HFeCo3(CO)11L with L = PPh3, P(OMe)3, and PCy3 (Cy = cyclohexyl) in which the L-substituted Co center is chemically different from the other two. The 2D 59Co COSY and DQFCOSY NMR spectra of these clusters in solution prove the existence of a scalar coupling constant between the 59Co nuclei. To determine this value for each cluster, 2D 59Co COSY and DQFCOSY NMR spectra have been simulated by numerical density-matrix calculations. The predicted spectra mimic well the features of the experimental spectra if a scalar coupling is introduced between the Co nuclei. It was initially observed that the scalar coupling constants between the Co nuclei obtained from the 2D COSY and DQFCOSY NMR spectra differed significantly. In contrast to the 2D COSY spectra, the diagonal and cross peaks are of comparable intensity in the 2D DQFCOSY spectra, which leads to a considerable increase in the accuracy of the determination of the scalar coupling constant.

New palladium complexes with phosphino- and phosphinitopyridine ligands

Three new palladium complexes containing a difunctional P,N-chelate, namely tris(chloro{[1-methyl-1-(6-methyl-2-pyridyl)ethoxy]diphenylphospine-kappa(2)N,P}methylpalladium(II)chloroform solvate, 3[Pd(CH(3))Cl(C(21)H(22)NOP)].CHCl(3), (III), dichloro[2-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-6-(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyridine-kappa(2)N,P]palladium(II), [PdCl(2)(C(26)H(24)NP)], (IV), and chloro[2-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-6-(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyridine-kappa(2)N,P]methylpalladium(II), [Pd(CH(3))Cl(C(26)H(24)NP)], (V), are reported. Geometric data and the conformations of the ligands around the metal centers, as well as slight distortions of the Pd coordination environments from idealized square-planar geometry, are discussed and compared with the situations in related compounds. Non-conventional hydrogen-bond interactions (C-H...Cl) have been found in all three complexes. Compound (III) is the first six-membered chloro-methyl-phosphinite P,N-type Pd(II) complex to be structurally characterized.

Chelating versus bridging bonding modes of N-substituted bis(diphenylphosphanyl)amine ligands in Pt complexes and Co2Pt clusters

N-substituted dppa ligands Ph2P-NR-PPh2 [R = -CH2CH2SCH2C6H5 (1), -CH2CH2S(CH2)5CH3 (2), -(CH2)9CH3 (3), -C6H5 (4)] were used for the synthesis of cis-[PtCl2{Ph2PN(R)PPh2}] complexes [R = -CH2CH2SCH2C6H5 (5), -CH2CH2S(CH2)5CH3 (6), -(CH2)9CH3 (7), -C6H5 (8)] and heterotrinuclear clusters of formula [PtCo2(CO)7{Ph2PN(R)PPh2}] [R = -CH2CH2SCH2C6H5 (9), -CH2CH2S(CH2)5CH3 (10), -(CH2)9CH3 (11), -C6H5 (12)]. The presence of relatively bulky substituents on N resulted in a higher chelating power of the ligands. The thermodynamic study of the equilibrium between the chelate and the bridged forms of clusters 9-11 showed that the bridged form is favoured by enthalpic factors whereas entropic factors favour chelation. The structures of 5 and 9 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Intra- and inter-molecular phosphoryl migration in phosphinothiazolines; precursors to polynuclear complexes and bimetallic coordination polymers

Two tautomers of the new phosphinoaminothiazoline Ph2PNHC=NCH2CH2S, obtained from the reaction of 2-amino-2-thiazoline (ATHZ) with Ph(2)PCl, have been structurally characterized and the intermediate formation of the diphosphine Ph2PN=CN(PPh2)CH2CH2S has been demonstrated experimentally and by DFT calculations; reacts with [AuCl(THT)] to give [(AuCl)2] whereas the bidentate metalloligand cis-[Pt(1(-H))2] reacts with AgOTf to form the Ag-Pt coordination polymer [Ag(infinity)[Pt(1(-H))2](infinity)](OTf)(infinity).

On the nature of metallic nanoparticles obtained from molecular Co3Ru–carbonyl clusters in mesoporous silica matrices

We report on the impregnation of THF solutions of the low-valent heterometallic cluster NEt(4)[Co(3)Ru(CO)(12)] into two mesoporous silica matrices, amorphous xerogels and ordered MCM-41, and a study of its thermal decomposition into metallic nanoparticles by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and in situ magnetic measurements under controlled atmospheres. The decomposition of the cluster was monitored as a function of temperature by examining the chemical composition of the particles, their size distributions and their structures as well as their magnetic properties. Treatment under inert atmosphere (i.e. argon) at temperatures below 200 degrees C resulted in the formation of segregated spherical particles of hcp-ruthenium (2.3 +/- 1.0 nm) and hcp-cobalt (3.1 +/- 0.9 nm). The latter is transformed to fcc-cobalt (3.2 +/- 1.0 nm) above 270 degrees C. At higher temperatures, Co-Ru alloying takes place and the Ru content of the particles increases with increasing temperature to reach the nominal composition of the molecular precursor, Co(3)Ru. The particles are more evenly distributed in the MCM-41 framework compared to the disordered xerogel and also show a narrower size distribution. Owing to the different magnetic anisotropy of hcp- and fcc-cobalt, which results in different blocking temperatures, we were able to clearly identify the products formed at the early stages of the thermal decomposition procedure.

Insertion reactions of alkynes and organic isocyanides into the palladium–carbon bond of dimetallic Fe–Pd alkoxysilyl complexes

Insertion of MeO(2)C-C[triple bond]C-CO(2)Me (DMAD) into the Pd-C bond of the heterodimetallic complex [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]d(dmba-C)] (2) (dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2), dmba-C = metallated dimethylbenzylamine) and [(OC)(3){(MeO)(3)Si}F[upper bond 1 start]e(mu-dppm)P[upper bond 1 end]d(8-mq-C,N)] (3) (8-mq-C,N = cyclometallated 8-methylquinoline) yielded the sigma-alkenyl complexes [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]d{C(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me)(o-C(6)H(4)CH(2)NMe(2))}] (7) and [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]d{C(CO(2)Me)[double bond, length as m-dash]C(CO(2)Me)(CH(2)C(9)H(6)N)}] (8), respectively. The latter afforded the adduct [(OC)(3){(MeO)(3)Si}F[upper bond 1 start]e(mu-dppm)P[upper bond 1 end]d{C(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me)(CH(2)C(9)H(6)N)}(CNBu(t))] (9) upon reaction with 1 equiv. of Bu(t)NC. The heterodinuclear sigma-butadienyl complexes [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]d{C(Ph=C(Ph)C(CO(2)Me)=(CO(2)Me)(o-C(6)H(4)CH(2)NMe(2))}] (11) and [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]d{C(Ph)=C(CO(2)Et)C(Ph)=C(CO(2)Et)(CH(2)C(9)H(6)N)}] (13) have been obtained by reaction of the metallate K[Fe{Si(OMe)(3)}(CO)(3)(dppm-P)] (dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)) with [P[upper bond 1 start]dCl{C(Ph)=C(Ph)C(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me)(o-C(6)H(4)CH(2)N[upper bond 1 end]Me(2))}] or [P[upper bond 1 start]dCl{C(Ph)=C(CO(2)Et)C(Ph)=(CO(2)Et)}(CH(2)C(9)H(6)N[upper bond 1 end])], respectively. Monoinsertion of various organic isocyanides RNC into the Pd-C bond of 2 and 3 afforded the corresponding heterometallic iminoacyl complexes. In the case of complexes [(OC)(3){(MeO)(3)Si}F[upper bond 1 start]e(mu-dppm)P[upper bond 1 end][upper bond 1 start]d{C=(NR)(CH(2)C(9)H(6)N[upper bond 1 end])}] (15a R = Ph, 15b R = xylyl), a static six-membered C,N chelate is formed at the Pd centre, in contrast to the situation in [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]d{C(=NR)(o-C(6)H(4)CH(2)NMe(2))}] (14a R = o-anisyl, 14b R = 2,6-xylyl) where formation of a mu-eta(2)-Si-O bridge is preferred over NMe(2) coordination. The outcome of the reaction of the dimetallic alkyl complex [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]dMe] with RNC depends both on the stoichiometry and the electronic donor properties of the isocyanide employed for the migratory insertion process. In the case of o-anisylisocyanide, the iminoacyl complex [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]d{C(=N-o-anisyl)Me}] (16) results from the reaction in a 1 : 1 ratio. Addition of three equiv. of o-anisylisocyanide affords the tris(insertion) product [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]d{[C(=N-o-anisyl)](3)Me}] (18). After addition of a fourth equivalent of o-anisylNC, exclusive formation of the isocyanide adduct [(OC)(3){(MeO)(3)Si}F[upper bond 1 start]e(mu-dppm)P[upper bond 1 end]d{[C(=N-o-anisyl)](3)Me}(CN-o-anisyl)] (19) was spectroscopically evidenced. In the complex [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]d{[C(=N-o-C(6)H(4)COCH(2))](2)Me}] (20), the sigma-bound diazabutadienyl unit is part of a 12-membered organic macrocyle which results from bis(insertion) of 1,2-bis(2-isocyanophenoxy)ethane into the Pd-Me bond of the precursor complex [(OC)(3)F[upper bond 1 start]e{mu-Si(OMe)(2)([lower bond 1 start]OMe)}(mu-dppm)P[lower bond 1 end][upper bond 1 end]dMe]. In contrast, addition of two equivalents of tert-butylisocyanide to a solution of the latter afforded [(OC)(3){(MeO)(3)Si}F[upper bond 1 start]Fe(mu-dppm)P[upper bond 1 end]d{C(=NBu(t))Me}(CNBu(t))] (21) in which both a terminal and an inserted isocyanide ligand are coordinated to the Pd centre. In all cases, there was no evidence for competing CO substitution at the Fe(CO)(3) fragment by RNC. The molecular structures of the insertion products 8 x CH(2)Cl(2) and 16 x CH(2)Cl(2) have been determined by X-ray diffraction.

Organometallic building blocks with amino-substituted cyclopentadienyl and boratabenzene ligands for the synthesis of heterometallic complexes and clusters

A comparative study of the reactivity of isolobal rhenium and molybdenum carbonylmetallates containing a borole, in [Re(eta5-C4H4BPh)(CO)3]- (2), a boratanaphthalene, in [Mo(eta5-2,4-MeC9H6BMe)(CO)3]- (4a) and [Mo(eta5-2,4-MeC9H6BNi-Pr2)(CO)3]- (4b), a boratabenzene, in [Mo(eta5-3,5-Me2C5H3BNi-Pr2)(CO)3]- (6) or a dimethylaminocyclopentadienyl ligand, in [Mo(eta5-C5H4NMe2)(CO)3]- (7), toward palladium(II), gold(I), mercury(II) and platinum(II) complexes has allowed an evaluation of the role of these pi-bonded ligands on the structures and unprecedented coordination modes observed in the resulting metal-metal bonded, heterometallic complexes. The new metallate 6 was reacted with [AuCl(PPh3)], and with 1 or 2 equiv. HgCl2, which afforded the new heterodinuclear complexes [Au{Mo(eta5-3,5-Me2C5H3BNi-Pr2)(CO)3}(PPh3)] (Mo-Au) (10) and [Hg{Mo(eta5-3,5-Me2C5H3BNi-Pr2)(CO)3}Cl] (Hg-Mo) (11) and the heterometallic chain complex [Hg{Mo(eta5-3,5-Me2C5H3BNi-Pr2)(CO)3}2] (Mo-Hg-Mo) (12), respectively. Reactions of the new metallate 7 with HgCl2, trans-[PtCl2(CNt-Bu)2] and trans-[PtCl2(NCPh)2] yielded the heterodinuclear complex [Hg{Mo(eta5-C5H4NMe2)(CO)3}Cl] (Mo-Hg) (15), the heterotrinuclear chain complexes trans-[Pt{Mo(eta5-C5H4NMe2)(CO)3}2(CNt-Bu)2] (Mo-Pt-Mo) (16) and trans-[Pt{Mo(eta5-C5H4NMe2)(CO)3}2(NCPh)2] (Mo-Pt-Mo) (17), the mononuclear complex [Mo(eta5-C5H4NMe2)(CO)3Cl] (18), the lozenge-type cluster [Mo2Pt2(eta5-C5H4NMe2)2(CO)8] (19) and the heterodinuclear complex [[upper bond 1 start]Pt{Mo(eta5-C5H4N[upper bond 1 end]Me2)(CO)3}(NCPh)Cl](Mo-Pt) (20), respectively. The complexes 11, 16, 17.2THF, 18 and 20 have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and 20 differs from all other compounds in that the dimethylaminocyclopentadienyl ligand forms a bridge between the metals.

Tunable N-substitution in Zwitterionic Benzoquinonemonoimine Derivatives: Metal Coordination, Tandemlike Synthesis of Zwitterionic Metal Complexes, and Supramolecular Structures

Full details on a very efficient transamination reaction for the synthesis of zwitterionic N,N-dialkyl-2-amino-5-alcoholate-1,4-benzoquinonemonoiminium derivatives [C6H2(=NHR)2(=O)2] 5-16 are reported. The molecular structures of zwitterions 5 (R=CH3) in 5.H2O, 13 (R=CH2CH2OMe), 15 (R=CH2CH2NMe2), and of the parent, unsubstituted system [C6H2(=NH2)2(=O)2] 4 in 4.H2O have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This one-pot preparation can be carried out in water, MeOH, or EtOH and allows access to new zwitterions with N-substituents bearing functionalities such as -OMe (13), -OH (9-12), NR1R2 with R1 = or not equal R2 (14-16) or an alkene (8), leading to a rich coordination chemistry and allowing fine-tuning of the supramolecular arrangements in the solid state. As previously described for 15, which reacted with Zn(acac)2 to afford the octahedral Zn(II) complex [Zn[C6H2(NCH2CH2NMe2)O(O)(NHCH2CH2NMe2)]2] (20), ligands 13 and 16 with coordinating "arms" afforded with Zn(acac)2 the 2:1 adducts [Zn[C6H2(NCH2CH2X)O(=O)(NHCH2CH2NX)]2] 19 (X=OMe) and 21 (X=NHEt), with N2O4 and N4O2 donor sets around the octahedral Zn(II) center, respectively. Furthermore, zwitterions 15 and 16 reacted with ZnCl2 to give the stable, crystallographically characterized Zn(II) zwitterionic complexes [ZnCl2[C6H2(NCH2CH2NR1R2)O(=O)(NHCH2CH2NHR1R2)]] 22 (R1=R2=Me) and 23 (R1=Et, R2=H) by means of an unprecedented, tandemlike synthesis in which 1) the two pendant amino groups of the organic benzoquinonemonoimine zwitterionic precursor favor metal coordination and proton transfer and 2) the saturated linker prevents pi-conjugation between the charges. The nature of the structural arrangements in the solid state for both inorganic (20, 22, 23) and organic (5, 9, 13, and 15) molecules is determined by subtle variations in the nature of the N-substituent on the zwitterion precursor.

Tunable Charge Delocalization in Dinickel Quinonoid Complexes

When a 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzoquinonediimine C6H2(=NR)2(NHR)2 (2) is used as a bridging ligand, new dinickel(II) complexes [(acac)Ni[mu-C6H2(=NPh)4]Ni(acac)] (3a: R=Ph) and [(acac)Ni[mu-C6H2(=NCH2tBu)4]Ni(acac)] (3b: R=CH2tBu) are obtained; upon one-electron oxidation of these complexes delocalized mixed-valence compounds are formed. An X-ray diffraction study on 3b reveals equalization of the bond lengths within each of the ligand 6 systems and a lack of conjugation between them. The oxidized state in 3b+ involves both the bridging quinonoid ligand and the metal centers, with a major contribution coming from the bridging ligand. Electrochemical and spectroscopic methods were used to study the influence of the N-substituents of the tetranitrogen donor ligands 2. In this combined experimental and theoretical (DFT) study, it is also shown that the electronic structure within the dinickel system can be altered by addition of a coordinating ligand such as pyridine. The latter favors the high-spin configuration with semi-occupied metal-centered orbitals, leading to a metal-metal interaction in the mixed-valence Ni(II)-Ni(III) 3b+ system.

Catalytic ethylene dimerization and oligomerization: recent developments with nickel complexes containing P,N-chelating ligands

Catalytic ethylene oligomerization represents a topic of considerable current academic and industrial interest, in particular for the production of linear alpha-olefins in the C4-C10 range, whose demand is growing fast. Identifying and fine-tuning the parameters that influence the activity and selectivity of metal catalysts constitute major challenges at the interface between ligand design, coordination/organometallic chemistry, and homogeneous catalysis. In this Account, we show how comparative studies aiming at modulating the coordinating properties of functional ligands for a metal, such as nickel, which is used in industrial processes, lead to beneficial effects in catalytic ethylene oligomerization.

Metal “Capture” by a Heterotrimetalloligand, Heterometallic d10−d10Interactions, and Unexpected Iron-to-Platinum Silyl Ligand Migration: a Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

The heterotrinuclear chain complex Hg[Fe{Si(OMe)(3)}(CO)(3)(dppm-P)](2) (dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)) 1 which has a transoid arrangement of the phosphine donors was used as a versatile chelating metallodiphosphine ligand owing to the easy rotation of its metal core about the Fe-Hg sigma-bonds. Its reaction with the labile Pt(0) olefin complex [Pt(C(7)H(10))(3)] yielded [HgPt{Si(OMe)(3)}Fe(2)(CO)(6){Si(OMe)(3)}(mu-dppm)(2)] 5 which resulted, after coordination of the dangling phosphine donors to Pt, from an unprecedented intramolecular rearrangement involving a very rare example of silyl ligand migration between two different metal centers, and the first one in metal cluster chemistry. The major structural differences observed between the heterometallic complexes obtained from 1 and d(10) Cu(I), Pd(0), or Pt(0) precursors have been established by X-ray diffraction. The bonding situation in the silyl migrated Pt complex 5 was analyzed and compared to those in the isoelectronic, but structurally distinct complexes obtained from Cu(I) and Pd(0) precursors, [Hg{Fe[Si(OMe)(3)](CO)(3)(mu-dppm)}(2)Cu](+) (2) and [Hg{Fe[Si(OMe)(3)](CO)(3)(mu-dppm)}(2)Pd] (4), respectively, by means of extended Hückel interaction diagrams. DFT calculations then allowed the energy minima associated with the three structures to be compared for 2, 4, and 5. All three minima are in close competition for the Pd complex 4, but silyl migration is favored by approximately 10 kcal mol(-)(1) for 5, mainly due to the more electronegative character of Pt with respect to Pd.

Synthesis and Structure of Pt(II) Phosphonato-Phosphine Complexes and of a P,O-Stabilized Metal−Metal-Bonded Pt2Ag2 Complex

As part of our interest in the design and reactivity of P,O ligands, and because the insertion chemistry of small molecules into a metal alkyl bond is very dependent on the ancillary ligands, the behavior of Pt-methyl complexes containing the beta-phosphonato-phosphine ligand rac-Ph2PCH(Ph)P(O)(OEt)2 (abbreviated PPO in the following) toward CO insertion has been explored. New, mononuclear Pt(II) complexes containing one or two PPO ligands, [PtClMe(kappa2-PPO)] (1), [Pt{C(O)Me}Cl(kappa2-PPO)] (2), [PtMe(CO)(kappa2-PPO)]OTf (3 x OTf), [PtMe(OTf)(kappa2-PPO)] (4), trans-[PtClMe(kappa1-PPO)2] (5), [PtMe(kappa2-PPO)(kappa1-PPO)]BF4 (6 x BF4), [PtMe(kappa2-PPO)(kappa1-PPO)]OTf (6 x OTf), and [Pt{C(O)Me}(kappa2-PPO)(kappa1-PPO)]BF4 (7 x BF4) have been prepared and characterized. Hemilability of the ligands is observed in the cations 6 and 7 in which the terminally bound and chelating PPO ligands exchange their role on the NMR time-scale. The acetyl complexes 2 and 7 are stable in solution, but the former deinserts CO upon chloride abstraction. We also demonstrate the ability of PPO to behave as an assembling ligand and to stabilize a heterometallic Pt-Ag metal complex, [PtMe(kappa2-PPO){mu-(eta1-P;eta1-O)PPO)}Ag(OTf)(Pt-Ag)]OTf (8 x OTf), which was obtained by reaction of 5 with AgOTf to generate more reactive, cationic complexes. Whereas the first equivalent of AgOTf abstracted the chloride ligand, the second equivalent added to the cationic complex with formation of a Pt-Ag bond (2.819(1) A). The complexes 1, 2, 4, 5 x CH2Cl2, and (8 x OTf)2 have been structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The latter has a dimeric nature in the solid state, with two silver-bound triflates acting as bridging ligands between two Pt-Ag moieties. In addition to the Ag-Pt bond, the Ag+ cation is stabilized by a dative O -->Ag interaction involving one of the PPO ligands.

First transamination reactions for the one-pot synthesis of substituted zwitterionic quinones

A new and very efficient one-pot synthesis, in water, of 6 pi + 6 pi electron zwitterionic benzoquinonemonoimines involves the first examples of transamination reactions in quinonoid chemistry and allows the introduction of functionalities to, and the fine-tuning of the properties of, a large family of molecules with interesting potential, both in supramolecular chemistry and as multidentate ligands in coordination chemistry.