Tris(trimethylsilyl)silanides of the Heavier Alkali Metals—A Structural Study

Persistent radicals of trivalent tin and lead

In this report we present synthetic, crystallographic, and new electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic work that shows that the synthetic route leading to the recently reported, first persistent plumbyl radical *PbEbt3 (Ebt = ethylbis(trimethylsilyl)silyl), that is, the oxidation of the related PbEbt3-anion, was easily extended to the synthesis of other persistent molecular mononuclear radicals of lead and tin. At first, various novel solvates of homoleptic potassium metallates KSnHyp3 (4a), KPbHyp3 (3a), KSnEbt3 (4b), KPbIbt3 (3c), and KSnIbt3 (4c) (Hyp = tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl, Ibt = isopropylbis(trimethylsilyl)silyl), as well as some heteroleptic metallates, such as [Li(OEt2)2][Sn(n)BuHyp2] (3d), [Li(OEt2)2][Pb(n)BuHyp2] (4d), [Li(thf)4][PbPhHyp2] (3e), and [K(thf)7][PbHyp2{N(SiMe3)2}] (3f), were synthesized and crystallographically characterized. Through oxidation by tin(II) and lead(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)amides or the related 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxides, they had been oxidized to yield in most cases the corresponding radicals. Five novel persistent homoleptically substituted radicals, that is, *SnHyp3 (2a), *PbHyp3 (1a), *SnEbt3 (2b), *SnIbt3 (2c), and *PbIbt3 (1c), had been characterized by EPR spectroscopy. The stannyl radicals 2a and 2c as well as the plumbyl radical 1c were isolated as intensely colored crystalline compounds and had been characterized by X-ray diffraction. Persistent heteroleptically substituted radicals such as *PbHyp2Ph (1e) or *PbHyp2Et (1g) had also been generated, and some selected EPR data are given for comparison. The plumbyl radicals *PbR3 exhibit a clean monomolecular decay leading to the release of a temperature-dependent stationary concentration of branched silyl radicals. They may thus serve as tunable sources of these reactive species that may be utilized as reagents for mild radical silylations and/or as initiators for radical polymerizations. We present EPR-spectroscopic investigations for the new tin- and lead-containing compounds giving detailed insights into their electronic and geometric structure in solution, as well as structural studies on the crystalline state of the radicals, some of their anionic precursors, and some side-products.

Alkali-Metal Pyrazolate Complexes with Unusual Pyrazolate Coordination Modes and Pseudocubane Motifs

The dimeric complex [Li(Ph2pz)(OEt2)]2 (1) and tetrameric cluster [Na(Ph2pz)(thf)]4 (2) were prepared by treatment of alkali-metal reagents (nBuLi and Na{N(SiMe3)2}, respectively) with 3,5-diphenylpyrazole (Ph2pzH) in Et2O (1) or THF (2). The polymer [Na(tBu2pz)]n (3) was obtained from reaction at elevated temperature in a sealed tube between Na metal and 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole (tBu2pzH). The complex [Na4(tBu2pz)2(thf)3(obds)]2 (4; obds = (OSiMe2)2O) was obtained as a minor product from prolonged treatment of tBu2pzH with elemental sodium in a silicone-greased flask. All four alkali-metal pyrazolato complexes were characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.The Li dimer 1 displays mu-eta(2):eta(1) lithium-pyrazolato binding, in which both lithium atoms are four-coordinate. Room- and variable-temperature NMR studies (1H, 13C, and 7Li) of 1 suggest similar behavior in solution, with peaks coalescing at low temperatures. Complexes 2 and 4 display distorted cubane structures. In 2, all the sodium atoms are five-coordinate, whereas 4 contains two sodium/pyrazolate/thf clusters (4:2:3 ratio) bridged by two obds(2-) units, as well as two four-coordinate and two five-coordinate sodium atoms. Compound 3 is composed of two independent chains with the unusual coordination modes mu3-eta(5):eta(2):eta(2), mu3-eta(5):eta(2):eta(1), and mu3-eta(4):eta(2):eta(1), with five-, six-, and seven-coordinate sodium atoms. Two oxo-centered M8 cage complexes [(tBu2pz)6Li8O] (5) and [(tBu2pz)6Na8O] (6) were obtained as by-products from attempted preparation of [Li(tBu2pz)] and [Na(tBu2pz)], respectively, and their structures were determined.

Synthesis and characterisation of yttrium complexes supported by the β-diketiminate ligand {ArNC(CH3)CHC(CH3)NAr}– (Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3)

Reaction of YI(3)(THF)(3.5) with one equivalent of the potassium beta-diketiminate (BDI) complex [HC{C(CH(3))NAr}(2)K] (Ar = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)C(6)H(3)) affords the monomeric, mono-substituted yttrium BDI complex [HC{C(CH(3))NAr}(2)YI(2)(THF)] in good yield. Reaction of with DME affords [HC{C(CH(3))NAr}(2)YI(2)(DME)] in quantitative yield, which is monomeric also. Reaction of the primary terphenyl phosphane Ar*PH(2) (Ar* = 2,6-(2,4,6-Pr(i)(3)C(6)H(2))(2)C(6)H(3)) with potassium hydride, and recrystallisation from hexane, affords the potassium primary terphenyl phosphanide complex [{Ar*P(H)K(THF)}(2)] in high yield. Compound is dimeric in the solid state, constructed around a centrosymmetric K(2)P(2) four-membered ring, the coordination sphere of potassium is supplemented with an eta(6) K[dot dot dot]C(aryl) interaction. The reaction of with one molar equivalent of in THF affords the THF ring-opened compound [HC{C(CH(3))NAr}(2)Y{O(CH(2))(4)P(H)Ar*}(I)(THF)]. Compound is formed as a mixture of endo(OR) and exo(OR) isomers (: = approximately 2 : 1) which may be separated by fractional crystallisation from hexane-toluene to give pure . Attempted alkylation of with two equivalents of KCH(2)Si(CH(3))(3) affords the potassium yttriate complex [Y{micro-eta(5):eta(1)-ArNC(CH(3))[double bond, length as m-dash]CHC([double bond, length as m-dash]CH(2))NAr}(2)K(DME)(2)] in moderate yield; contains two dianionic dianilide ligands, which are derived from C-H activation of a backbone methyl group, each bonded eta(5) to yttrium in the solid state. The reaction of with one equivalent of KC(8) affords [{HC(C[CH(3)]NAr)(2)YI(micro-OCH(3))}(2)], derived from C-O bond activation of DME, as the only isolable product in very low yield. Compounds , , , , , and have been characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy and CHN microanalyses.

Reactions of Hypersilyl Potassium with Rare-Earth Metal Bis(Trimethylsilylamides): Addition versus Peripheral Deprotonation

The scope of hypersilyl potassium, KHyp [Hyp = Si(SiMe3)3], as a silylation or deprotonation agent for some rare-earth bis(trimethylsilyl)amides has been explored. Thus, the reaction with Yb{N(SiMe3)2}2 affords the addition product [K][YbHyp{N(SiMe3)2}2] (2) in high yield, which contains a three-coordinate ytterbium atom, therefore representing the first example of a lanthanide silyl with a coordination number lower than 6. In contrast, deprotonation on the periphery is observed with the tris(amides) Ln{N(SiMe3)2}3 (Ln = Y, Yb) and compounds of the type [K][CH2Si(Me)2N(SiMe3)Ln{N(SiMe3)2}2] (Ln = Y (3), Yb (4)) are isolated. Crystallization of 3 from a mixture of benzene and heptane afforded the bis(benzene) solvate [(C6H6)2K][CH2Si(Me)2N(SiMe3)Y{N(SiMe3)2}2] (3a). The reaction between the strong bases nBuLi/tetramethylenediamine (TMEDA) or tBuLi with Y{N(SiMe3)2}3 or Yb{N(SiMe3)2}3 yielded the deprotonation product [(tmeda)Li][CH2Si(Me)2N(SiMe3)Y{N(SiMe3)2}2] (6) and the reduction product [LiYb{N(SiMe3)2}3] (7), respectively. Instead of the expected bimetallic product, the reaction between YbI(2) and 2 equiv of 3 gave the neutral complex [Y{CH2Si(Me)2N(SiMe3)}{N(SiMe3)2}(thf)] (8) in good yield. The compounds have been characterized by melting point, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography and for selected species by 1H, 13C, 29Si, and 171Yb NMR spectroscopy. For 3a and 4, the nature of the bonding between the carbanionic centers and the lanthanide and potassium cations was studied by density functional theory calculations.

A Close Look at Short CCH3⋅⋅⋅Potassium Contacts: Synthetic and Theoretical Investigations of [M2Co2(μ3-OtBu)2(μ2-OtBu)4(thf)n] (M=Na, K, Rb, thf=tetrahydrofuran)

Agostic interactions of the type Si-CH3M+ (M = alkali metal) are frequently mentioned in discussions of solid-state structures of trimethylsilyl compounds and the purpose of this work was to elucidate if they also exist in the related tert-butyl species by using density functional theory. The compounds [M2Co2(mu3-OtBu)2(mu2-OtBu)4(thf)n] (M = Na, n = 2; M = K, n = 0; M = Rb, n = 1) have been synthesised and their crystal structures determined. Close contacts of methyl groups with K atoms are observed in the solid-state structure of [K2Co2(mu3-OtBu)2(mu2-OtBu)4], and calculations of the rotational barrier of a tert-butoxy group about the axis through the C-O bond were performed. It was shown that apparent short C-CH3K distances are in this case a consequence of the packing in the extended solid-state structure.

Insights into the making of a stable silylene

Reduction of Cl2Si[(NR)2C6H4-1,2] (R = CH2Bu(t)) with potassium is known to lead to the stable silylene Si[(NR)2C6H4-1,2] (1). However, silylene is now shown to react further with an alkali metal (Na or K) to yield the (1)(2)2-, c-(1)(3)-*, c-(1)(3)2- or c-(1)(4)2- derivatives. Reduction of Cl2Si[(NR)2C6H4-1,2] (R = CH2CH3 or CH2CHMe2) with potassium does not lead to an isolable silylene, but such a silylene is proposed to be an intermediate and, as for 1, reacts further to afford the potassium salts of c-[Si{(NR)2C6H4-1,2}]4-* and c-[Si{(NR)2C6H4-1,2}](4)2-. The pathways leading to the anionic cyclotri- and cyclotetrasilanes are discussed and supported experimentally; including by X-ray structures of relevant intermediates.

Crystal Structures of the Chiral Lithiosilanes [(Lis)-PhMe2SiLi·THF·(−)-Sparteine] and [Ph2(NEt2)SiLi·(−)-Sparteine]

The (-)-sparteine-coordinated lithiosilanes (Lis)-4 and 5 crystallize as monomers with coordination numbers of 4 and 3 on lithium and represent the first structurally characterized enantiopure lithiosilanes. Both systems are also monomeric in solution with Si-Li contacts detected by 29Si-7Li couplings in the 29Si NMR spectrum (for 5 even at room temperature).

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Oxo-Centered Phosphanylzincates of Potassium and Cesium with a Central Zn6O2P4 Double-Heterocubane Cage

The hydrolysis reaction of K(2)(MeZn)(2)(PSitBu(3))(2) in THF/toluene solution yields the [(MeZn)(4)Zn(2)(mu(3)-PSitBu(3))(4)(mu(4)-O)(2)](4-) anions independent of the applied stoichiometry. If the applied molar ratio resembles the composition of the anion, [(thf)K](2)[(eta(6)-toluene)K](2)[(MeZn)(4)Zn(2)(mu(3)-PSitBu(3))(4)(mu(4)-O)(2)] (1) crystallizes from a mixture of THF and toluene. In the case with less water, a phosphanediylzincate moiety is bonded to this anion, and [Zn(PSitBu(3))(2)K(4)(thf)(6)](2)[(MeZn)(4)Zn(2)(mu(3)-PSitBu(3))(4)(mu(4)-O)(2)] (2) crystallizes. However, again the major product is 1. The same anion is also observed with larger and softer cations, and [(thf)(3)Cs(2)](2)[(MeZn)(4)Zn(2)(mu(3)-PSitBu(3))(4)(mu(4)-O)(2)] (3) is obtained if the cesium zincate is used in this reaction. In all of these compounds, the anion is a slightly distorted Zn(6)O(2)P(4) double-heterocubane cage with a central Zn(2)O(2) ring having Zn-O bond lengths of approximately 207 pm.

Silyl Anions or Silylenoids?—A DFT Study of Silyllithium Compounds with π-Donating Substituents

Geometry optimizations at the B3LYP/6-31 + G(d) level for a set of X(SiH3)MeSiLi molecules (X = F, OH, NH2, Cl, SH, and PH2) show that the tetrahedral structure prevails in polar solutions; however, it readily isomerizes into a silylenoid with energy barriers of less than 15 kJ mol(-1). Inverted structures, which predominate in the gas phase, could not be located in solution. Configuration inversion is unfavorable, with energy barriers between 80 and 220 kJ mol(-1). The alpha elimination into a silylene moiety and the corresponding LiX is only likely to occur in solution, particularly for X = Cl and SH.

Syntheses and Structures of the First Heavy-Alkali-Metal Tris(trimethylsilyl)germanides

The first heavy-alkali-metal tris(trimethylsilyl)germanides were obtained in high yield and purity by a simple one-pot reaction involving the treatment of tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)germane, Ge(SiMe3)4, with various alkali metal tert-butoxides. The addition of different sizes of crown ethers or the bidentate TMEDA (TMEDA=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) provided either contact or separated species in the solid state, whereas in aromatic solvents the germanides dissociate into separated ions, as shown by 29Si NMR spectroscopic studies. Here we report on two series of germanides, one displaying M-Ge bonds in the solid state with the general formula [M(donor)n Ge(SiMe3)3] (M=K, donor=[18]crown-6, n=1, 1; Rb, donor=[18]crown-6, n=1, 4; and M=K, donor=TMEDA, n=2, 6). The silicon analogue of 6, [K(tmeda)2Si(SiMe3)3] (7) is also included to provide a point of reference. The second group of compounds consists of separated ions with the general formula [M(donor)2][Ge(SiMe3)3] (M=K, donor=[15]crown-5, 2; M=K, donor=[12]crown-4, 3; and M=Cs, donor=[18]crown-6, 5). While all target compounds are highly sensitive towards hydrolysis, use of the tridentate nitrogen donor PMDTA (PMDTA=N,N,N',N'',N''-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) afforded even more reactive species of the composition [K(pmdta)2Ge(SiMe3)3] (8). We also include the silanide analogue [K(pmdta)2Si(SiMe3)3] (9) for sake of comparison. The compounds were typically characterized by X-ray crystallography, and 1H, 13C, and 29Si NMR and IR spectroscopy, unless extremely high reactivity, as observed for the PMDTA adducts 8 and 9, prevented a more detailed characterization.

Synthesis and characterisation of a series of alkylmagnesium amide and related oxygen-contaminated "alkoxy" compounds

Synthesised either by an unusual tert-butyl metathesis between tert-butyllithium and a n,s-butylmagnesium amide or by reaction of an alkyl Grignard reagent and a sodium amide, five tert-butylmagnesium amides, Bu(t)MgDBA (5)(DBA=dibenzylamide), Bu(t)MgDA (6)(DA=diisopropylamide), Bu(t)MgHMDS (7)(HMDS=1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazide), Bu(t)MgTMP (8)(TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide) and Bu(t)MgNCy2 (9)(cy=cyclohexyl) have been isolated as crystalline solids. All five amides have been characterised by X-ray crystallography and solution NMR spectroscopic studies. The former studies reveal a common dimeric molecular structure with amido bridges in a planar (MgN)2 ring and terminal Bu(t) ligands on the Mg atoms. Also described is the dodecameric primary amide [Bu(n)MgN(H)Dipp]12 (10a) and its monomeric solvate Bu(n)MgN(H)Dipp.TMEDA (10b)(Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl; TMEDA=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine). The crystal structures of the oxo-insertion products Bu(t)MgOBu(t).THF (11), Bu(t)Mg(mu-OBu(t))(mu-TMP)MgTMP (12) and Mg(OBu(n))HMDS.solv [solv=THF (13a) or Et2O (13b)], made fortuitously during the course of this work, are also presented.

Cadmium(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes of Benziporphyrins. A Study of Weak Intramolecular Metal−Arene Interactions

Weak metal-arene interactions have been investigated in Zn, Cd, Hg, and Ni complexes of meso-tetraaryl m- and p-benziporphyrin (1 and 2) and of the new compound, m-benziporphodimethene (3). Compounds 1-3 incorporate the phenylene moiety into a macrocyclic structure so as to facilitate the interaction between the arene and coordinated metal ion. X-ray studies performed on Cd(II) and Ni(II) complexes show that the arene fragment approaches the ion at a distance much shorter than the sum of van der Waals radii. In chloronickel(II) m-benziporphyrin, a weak agostic bond is actually formed. In the NMR spectra of the Cd(II) and Hg(II) species, unusual (1)H-M and (13)C-M scalar couplings have been observed that are transmitted directly between the metal and the arene. DFT calculations performed for two Cd(II) species and subsequent AIM analysis show that the accumulation of electron density between the metal and arene necessary to induce these couplings is fairly small and the interaction is steric in nature. In the paramagnetic Ni(II) complexes of 1 and 3, the agostic proton of the m-phenylene exhibits large downfield (1)H NMR shifts (386 and 208 ppm at 298 K, respectively). An agostic mechanism of spin density transfer is proposed to explain these shifts as resulting from electron donation from the CH bond to the metal. In chloronickel(II) p-benziporphyrin, the inner protons of the p-phenylene have a contrastingly small shift (0.0 ppm at 298 K), indicating that in this case the agostic interaction is inefficient, in agreement with the X-ray data.