The transition metal coordination chemistry of anion radicals

Manifestations of noninnocent ligand behavior

The potential of redox-active ligands to behave "noninnocently" in transition-metal coordination compounds is reflected with respect to various aspects and situations. These include the question of establishing "correct" oxidation states, the identification and characterization of differently charged radical ligands, the listing of structural and other consequences of ligand redox reactions, and the distinction between barrierless delocalized "resonance" cases M(n)/L(n) ↔ M(n+1)L(n-1) versus separated valence tautomer equilibrium situations M(n)/L(n) ⇌ M(n+1)L(n-1). Further ambivalence arises for dinuclear systems with radical bridge M(n)(μ-L(•))M(n) versus mixed-valent alternatives M(n+1)(μ-L(-))M(n), for noninnocent ligand-bridged coordination compounds of higher nuclearity such as (μ(3)-L)M(3), (μ(4)-L)M(4), (μ-L)(4)M(4), or coordination polymers. Conversely, the presence of more than one noninnocently behaving ligand at a single transition-metal site in situations such as L(n)-M-L(n-1) or L(•)-M-L(•) may give rise to corresponding ligand-to-ligand interaction phenomena (charge transfer, electron hopping, and spin-spin coupling) and to redox-induced electron transfer with counterintuitive oxidation-state changes. The relationships of noninnocent ligand behavior with excited-state descriptions and perspectives regarding material properties and single-electron or multielectron reactivity are also illustrated briefly.

Tuning the oxidation level, the spin state, and the degree of electron delocalization in homo- and heteroleptic bis(alpha-diimine)iron complexes

The four-coordinate heteroleptic complex [Fe(III)((F)pda(2-))((F)dad*-)] (1) and its homoleptic analogue [Fe(II)((F)dad*-)2] (2), where (F)pda(2-) is the closed-shell ligand N,N'-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-o-phenylenediamide(2-) and (F)dad*- is the singly reduced N,N'-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diazabutadiene pi-radical anion, have been synthesized. X-ray crystallographic studies reveal a twisted tetrahedral geometry of the FeN4 coordination polyhedron in both 1 and 2. The electronic structures of 1 and 2 were probed by magnetic susceptibility measurements, 57Fe Mössbauer and electronic spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In spite of their similar geometries and a common triplet ground state (S(t) = 1), the electronic structures of 1, 2, and the previously reported homoleptic analogue [Fe(III)((F)pda(2-))((F)pda*-)] (3), where (F)pda*- is a one-electron-oxidized form of (F)pda(2-), differ. The electronic structure of 2 consists of two (F)dad*- radicals coupled antiferromagnetically to a high-spin Fe(II) center, whereas in 3, only one (F)pda*- radical is coupled antiferromagnetically to an intermediate-spin Fe(III) ion. This ligand mixed-valent species exhibits class-III behavior. Heteroleptic 1 contains a single (F)dad*- radical coupled antiferromagnetically to an intermediate-spin Fe(III) center but behaves as a class-II ligand mixed-valent species. The observed diversity in the electronic structures of 1-3 is ascribed to the difference in the redox potentials of the ligands. Analysis of reduced orbital charges and spin densities obtained from DFT calculations also suggests that the electronic structures of 1-3 are best described as either a high-spin Fe(II) ion coordinated to two radical monoanions (2) or as an intermediate-spin Fe(III) ion coordinated to one radical monoanion and one closed-shell dianion (1, 3).

A series of metal complexes with the non-innocent N,N'-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-o-phenylenediamido ligand: twisted geometry for tuning the electronic structure

A series of homoleptic complexes with non-innocent ligands derived from N,N'-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-o-phenylenediamine (H(2)(F)pda) are reported. [Ni(II)((F)sbqdi)(2)] (1), [Pd(II)((F)sbqdi)(2)] (2), [Co(II)((F)sbqdi)(2)] (3), and [Cu(II)((F)sbqdi)(2)] (4) were synthesized, where ((F)sbqdi)(1-) represents a radical anion formed by one-electron oxidation of the doubly deprotonated H2(F)pda. The oxidation states of ligands and metals in complexes 1-4 were assigned by single crystal X-ray crystallography performed at low temperatures. Complex 4 is the first Cu(II) complex where both o-phenylenediamine derived ligands are monoanionic radicals. The bulky N-C6F5 substituents force the complexes 1, 3, and 4 to adopt a twisted geometry (intermediate between square-planar and tetrahedral). The electronic structures of the neutral compounds 1-4 and of some of their cationic and/or anionic neighboring redox states were probed using EPR and UV-VIS-NIR spectroelectrochemistry. The twisted geometry of the complexes results in considerable changes in their electronic structures compared to the well known square-planar complexes while the strongly electron withdrawing N-C6F5 groups have a great influence on redox properties.

Singlet Diradical Complexes of Chromium, Molybdenum, and Tungsten with Azo Anion Radical Ligands from M(CO)6 Precursors

The homoleptic diamagnetic complexes M(mer-L)(2), M = Cr, Mo,W (1a,b, 2a,b, and 4a,b), were obtained by reacting the hexacarbonyls M(CO)(6) with the tridentate ligands 2-[(2-N-arylamino)phenylazo]pyridine (HL = NH(4)C(5)N=NC(6)H(4)N(H)C(6)H(4)(H) (HL(a)) or NH(4)C(5)N=NC(6)H(4)N(H)C(6)H(4)(CH(3)) (HL(b))) in refluxing n-octane. In the case of M = Mo, the dinuclear compounds [Mo(L)(pap)](2)(mu-O) (3a,b) (pap = 2-(phenylazo)pyridine), were obtained as second products in moist solvent. X-ray diffraction analysis for Cr(L(b))(2) (1b), Mo(L(a))(2) (2a), and W(L(a))(2) (4a) reveals considerably distorted-octahedral structures with trans-positioned azo-N atoms and cis-positioned 2-pyridyl-N and anilido nitrogen atoms. Whereas the N(azo)-M-N(azo) angle is larger than 170 degrees, the other two trans angles are smaller, at about 155 degrees (M = Cr, 1b) or 146 degrees (M = Mo, W; 2a, 4a), due to the overarching bite of the mer-tridentate ligands. The bonds from M to the neutral 2-pyridyl-N atoms are distinctly longer by more than 0.08 A than those to the anilido or azo nitrogen atoms, reflecting negative charge on the latter. The N-N bond distances vary between 1.339(2) A for 1b and 1.373(3) A for 4a, clearly indicating the azo radical anion oxidation state. Considering the additional negative charge on anilido-N, the mononuclear complexes are thus formulated as M(IV)(L*(2-))(2). The diamagnetism of the complexes as shown by magnetic susceptibility and (1)H NMR experiments is believed to result from spin-spin coupling between the trans-positioned azo radical functions, resulting in a singlet diradical situation. The experimental structures are well reproduced by density functional theory calculations, which also support the overall electronic structure indicated. The dinuclear 3a with N-N distances of 1.348(10) A for L(a) and 1.340(9) A for pap is also formulated as an azo anion radical-containing molybdenum(IV) species, i.e., [Mo(IV)(L*(2-))(pap*-)](2)(mu-O). All compounds can be reversibly reduced; the Cr complexes 1a,b are also reversibly oxidized in two steps. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy indicates metal-centered spin for 1a+ and 1a- and g approximately 2 signals for 2a-, 3a+, 3a-, and 4a-. Spectroelectrochemistry in the UV-vis-NIR region showed small changes for the reduction of 2a, 3a, and 4a but extensive spectral changes for the reduction and oxidation of 1a.

Tetranuclear Complexes of [Fe(CO)2(C5H5)]+ with TCNX Ligands (TCNX = TCNE, TCNQ, TCNB): Intramolecular Electron Transfer Alternatives in Compounds (μ4-TCNX)[MLn]4

The complexes {(mu4-TCNX)[Fe(CO)2(C5H5)]4}(BF4)4 were prepared as light-sensitive materials from [Fe(CO)2(C5H5) (THF)](BF4) and the corresponding TCNX ligands (TCNE = tetracyanoethene, TCNQ=7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane, TCNB=1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene). Whereas the TCNE and TCNQ complexes are extremely easily reduced species with reduction potentials>+0.3 V vs ferrocenium/ferrocene, the tetranuclear complex of TCNB exhibits a significantly more negative reduction potential at about -1.0 V. Even for the complexes with strongly pi-accepting TCNE and TCNQ, the very positive reduction potentials, the unusually high nitrile stretching frequencies>2235 cm(-1), and the high-energy charge-transfer transitions indicate negligible metal-to-ligand electron transfer in the ground state, corresponding to a largely unperturbed (TCNX degrees)(FeII)4 formulation of oxidation states as caused by orthogonality between the metal-centered HOMO and the pi* LUMO of TCNX. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirms the low-spin iron(II) state, and DFT calculations suggest coplanar TCNE and TCNQ bridging ligands in the complex tetracations. One-electron reduction to the 3+ forms of the TCNE and TCNQ complexes produces EPR spectra which confirm the predominant ligand character of the then singly occupied MO through isotropic g values slightly below 2, in addition to a negligible g anisotropy of frozen solutions at frequencies up to 285 GHz and also through an unusually well-resolved solution X band EPR spectrum of {(mu4-TCNE)[Fe(CO)2(C5H5)]4}3+ which shows the presence of four equivalent [Fe(CO)2(C5H5)]+ moieties through 57Fe and 13C(CO) hyperfine coupling in nonenriched material. DFT calculations reproduce the experimental EPR data. A survey of discrete TCNE and TCNQ complexes [(mu4-TCNX)(MLn)4] exhibits a dichotomy between the systems {(mu4-TCNX)[Fe(CO)2(C5H5)]4}4+ and {(mu4-TCNQ)[Re(CO)3(bpy)]4}4+ with their negligible metal-to-ligand electron transfer and several other compounds of TCNE or TCNQ with Mn, Ru, Os, or Cu complex fragments which display evidence for a strong such interaction, i.e., an appreciable value delta in the formulation {(mu4-TCNXdelta-)[Mx+delta/4Ln]4}. Irreversibility of the first reduction of {(mu4-TCNB)[Fe(CO)2(C5H5)]4}(BF4)4 precluded spectroelectrochemical studies; however, the high-energy CN stretching frequencies and charge transfer absorptions of that TCNB analogue also confirm the exceptional position of the complexes {(mu4-TCNX)[Fe(CO)2(C5H5)]4}(BF4)4.

Reversibly Reducible cis-Dichloroplatinum(II) and cis-Dichloropalladium(II) Complexes of Bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)glyoxal

Complexes cis-MCl2(big), big=bis(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)glyoxal, M=Pt, Pd, were prepared and characterized through electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and for M=Pt, by X-ray structure analysis. The seven-membered chelate ring formed through N,N' coordination of the ligand big shows a boat conformation in agreement with density functional theory (DFT) calculation results. No significant intermolecular interactions were observed for the platinum compound. Both the PdII and PtII complexes undergo reversible one-electron reduction in CH2Cl2/ 0.1 M Bu4NPF6; the reduced palladium compound disintegrates above -30 degrees C. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), UV-vis, and IR spectroelectrochemistry studies were employed to study the monoanions. The anion radical complex [cis-PtCl2(big)]*- exhibits a well-resolved EPR spectrum with small but well-detectable g anisotropy and an isotropic 195Pt hyperfine coupling of 12.2 G. DFT calculations confirm the spin concentration in the alpha-semidione part of the radical complex with small delocalization to the bis(imidazolyl)metal section. The results show that EPR and electroactive moieties can be linked to the cis-dichloroplatinum(II) group via imidazole coordination.