Linking Multiple Bonds between Metal Atoms: Clusters, Dimers of “Dimers”, and Higher Ordered Assemblies

Molecular Pairs and A Propeller Containing Quadruply Bonded Dimolybdenum Units Linked by Polyamidate Ligands

Two molecular pairs [Mo2(DAniF)3]2[N,N'-diethylterephthalamidate] (1) and [Mo2(DAniF)3]2{1,3-C6H4[C(O)NP]} (2) where DAniF = N,N'-di-p-anisylformamidinate) and the propeller ([Mo2(DAniF)3]3{1,3,5-C6H3[C(O)NPh]3} (3)) have been prepared in good yield and high purity by directly combining Mo2(DAniF)3(O2CCH3) with the corresponding polyamidates. Electrochemical measurements of these complexes show unresolved redox waves, which indicate that the dimetal centers are only electronically weakly coupled. Compound 1 was chemically oxidized by ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate to the two-electron oxidation product 4, where one electron was removed from each of the [Mo2] units. The hyperfine coupling in the EPR spectrum (A = 22 x 10-4 cm-1 ) suggests that 4 is an electron-trapped species with one electron residing on each of the two dimolybdenum units, as suggested also by electrochemical measurements.

Symmetric and Unsymmetric “Dumbbells” of Ru2−Alkynyl Units via C−C Bond Formation Reactions

Oxidative homocoupling (Glaser) reaction of Ru2 compounds bearing peripheral ethyne resulted in symmetric dimers. Cross-coupling (Sonogashira) reaction between Ru2 compounds bearing peripheral iodo and ethyne groups yielded an unsymmetric dimer. Voltammetric data indicated that Ru2 units in the symmetric dimers are noninteracting, and the unsymmetric dimer is best described as a weakly coupled push-pull compound.

A Rare and Highly Oxidized Mo25.5+ Unit Stabilized by Oxo Anions and Supported by Formamidinate Bridges

A series of tetranuclear compounds consisting of two {Mo2[(m-CF3C6H4)NC(H)N(m-CF3C6H4)]3}n+ moieties linked by two OH- or two O2- ions has been characterized. Abbreviating the dimolybdenum plus three spectator bridging ligands as [Mo2], the following three compounds have been made-[Mo2](mu-OH)2[Mo2] (1), [Mo2](mu-O)2[Mo2] (2), and {[Mo2](mu-O)2[Mo2]}SbF6 (3). Compound 1, which is diamagnetic and contains quadruply bonded Mo2(4+) units, is converted to diamagnetic 2 by oxidation with O2. Compound 2, which has Mo2(5+) units, is oxidized by NOSbF6 to 3 which has a rare Mo2(5.5+) core and an odd electron delocalized over the two dimolybdenum units.

Strong Electronic Communication by Direct Metal−Metal Interaction in Molecules with Halide-Bridged Dimolybdenum Pairs

Reactions of [cis-Mo2(DAniF)2(NCCH3)4](BF4)2, DAniF = N,N'-di-p-anisylformamidinate, with an excess of anhydrous Bu(n)4NX (X = Cl, Br, I), produced the halide-bridged tetranuclear clusters, [cis-Mo2(DAniF)2]2(mu-X)4, X = Cl (1), Br (2), and I (3). All three compounds show two reversible one-electron oxidation processes with potential separations (DeltaE(1/2)) between the two oxidation processes of 540, 499, and 440 mV, respectively. These DeltaE(1/2) values show that the strength of the electronic coupling between the dimetal units decreases as the Mo2...Mo2 distance increases from 1 to 2, and then to 3. The structures, EPR spectra, and near-IR (NIR) spectra of the corresponding mixed-valence species (1-PF6, 2-PF6, and 3-PF6) indicate that the clusters are electronically delocalized. Calculations at the DFT level indicate that the strong electronic communication is principally due to a direct overlap between the delta orbitals from the adjacent dimetal units.

Transition from a nonbonding to a bonding interaction in a tetranuclear [Mo2]2(mu-OR)4 cluster

Tetranuclear Mo4 clusters with two quadruply bonded Mo2(4+) units, [Mo2(cis-DAniF)2] (DAniF = N,N'-di-p-anisylformamidinate), linked by alkoxides (OCH3 for 1 and OC2H5 for 4) have been prepared. The nonbonding separation between the midpoints of the quadruply bonded units, ca. 3.24 A, is the shortest among compounds having two linked Mo2(4+) units. Electrochemical measurements show two redox waves for each compound with large DeltaE(1/2) values (554 and 587 mV for 1 and 4, respectively) that correspond to K(C) values on the order of 10(9). The large electronic communication is attributed to the short separation between dinuclear units that favor direct delta-to-delta orbital interactions between the two dimetal centers. Compound 1 was chemically oxidized using stoichiometric amounts of ferrocenium salts to a one-electron oxidation product 2 (in which the counteranion is PF6-) and a two-electron oxidation product 3 (which contains two BF4- anions). Upon oxidation there are significant decreases in the distance between the two [Mo2] units to 3.100 A and then to 2.945 A. The mixed-valence species 2 shows two broad absorption bands at 5900 and 7900 cm(-1) in the NIR region which are assigned to the HOMO-1 --> SOMO and HOMO-2 --> SOMO transitions. Compound 3 is fluxional in solution, as shown by variable-temperature 1H NMR spectra. The sharp signals in the NMR spectrum at -50 degrees C and the lack of an EPR signal suggest that this species is diamagnetic and that a four-center, two-electron bond is formed in the cyclometallic Mo4 cluster. To a first-order approximation, an average bond order of 0.25 is assigned to the bonding interaction between the two Mo atoms along the long edges of the rectangle defined by the four Mo atoms.

Equatorially Connected Diruthenium(II,III) Units toward Paramagnetic Supramolecular Structures with Singular Magnetic Properties

The reaction of Ru2Cl(O2CMe)(DPhF)3 (DPhF = N,N'-diphenylformamidinate) with mono- and polycarboxylic acids gives a clean substitution of the acetate ligand, leading to the formation of complexes Ru2Cl(O2CC6H5)(DPhF)3 (1), Ru2Cl(O2CC6H4-p-CN)(DPhF)3 (2), [Ru2Cl(DPhF)3(H2O)]2(O2C)2 (3), [Ru2Cl(DPhF)3]2[C6H4-p-(CO2)2] (4), and [Ru2Cl(DPhF)3]3[C6H3-1,3,5-(CO2)3] (5). The preparation of [Ru2(NCS)(DPhF)3]3[C6H3-1,3,5-(CO2)3] (6) and {[Ru2(DPhF)3(H2O)]3[C6H3-1,3,5-(CO2)3]}(SO3CF3)3 (7) from 5 is also described. All complexes are characterized by elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, and variable-temperature magnetic measurements. The crystal structure determinations of complexes 2.0.5THF and 3.THF.4H2O (THF = tetrahydrofuran) are reported. The reactions carried out demonstrate the high chemical stability of the fragment [Ru2(DPhF)3]2+, which is preserved in all tested experimental conditions. The stability of this fragment is also corroborated by the mass spectra. Electrochemical measurements reveal in all complexes one redox process due to the equilibrium Ru2(5+) <--> Ru2(6+). In the polynuclear complex 7, some additional oxidation processes are also observed that have been ascribed to the presence of two types of dimetallic units rather than two consecutive reversible oxidations. The magnetic behavior toward temperature for complexes 1-7 from 300 to 2 K is analyzed. Complexes 1-7 show low values of antiferromagnetic coupling in accordance with the molecular nature in 1 and 2 and the absence of important antiferromagnetic interaction through the carboxylate bridging ligands in 3-7, respectively. In addition, the magnetic properties of complex 7 do not correspond to any magnetic behavior described for diruthenium(II,III) complexes. The experimental data of compound 7 are simulated considering a physical mixture of S = 1/2 and 3/2 spin states. This magnetic study demonstrates the high sensitivity of the electronic configuration of the unit [Ru2(DPhF)3]2+ to small changes in the nature of the axial ligands. Finally, the energy gap between the pi and delta orbitals in these types of compounds allows the tentative assignment of the transition pi --> delta.

Uniquely Strong Electronic Communication between [Mo2] Units Linked by Dioxolene Dianions

Unprecedented strong electronic communication has been found in dimolybdenum pairs containing quadruply bonded Mo2(DAniF)3(+) (DAniF = N,N'-di-p-anisylformamidinate) units linked by dioxolene (C6X2O4(2-)) anions. The neutral compounds [Mo2(DAniF)3]2(C6X2O4) (1, X = H; 2, X = Cl; 3, X = NO2) and the singly oxidized products {[Mo2(DAniF)3]2(C6X2O4)Mo2}PF6 (4, X = H; 5, X = Cl) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and spectroscopic methods. Unusually short Mo-O distances (approximately 2.05 A for 1 and 2, and approximately 2.01 A for 4 and 5) are implicated in the remarkably strong interaction between [Mo2] units via the linkers. This leads to an extensive charge delocalization in the mixed-valence species, which is mediated by the dioxolene linker, as revealed by the large deltaE(1/2) values (763, 795, and 816 mV for 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Additional evidence for the strong electronic coupling is provided by UV-vis, NIR, and EPR spectroscopies and DFT calculations.

Syntheses and reactivity studies of solvated dirhenium acetonitrile complexes

Fully and partially solvated triply-bonded [Re2]4+ complexes have been synthesized and their X-ray structures are described. A fully solvated dirhenium salt with BArf [tetrakis(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)borate] as the counter anion [Re2(CH3CN)10][BArf]4 () has been characterized. The solubility of the complex in CH2Cl2 and THF in addition to CH3CN offers the possibility of improved reactivity. The structure of [Re2(micro-O)(CH3CN)10][BF4]4 () that possesses a linear [Re(III)-O-Re(III)]4+ unit is reported. Protonation reactions of cis-Re2Cl2(dppm)2(O2CCH3)2 and trans-Re2Cl4(dppm)2 with HBF4.Et2O in acetonitrile afforded cis and trans [Re2(dppm)2(CH3CN)6][BF4]4 ( and ), respectively. Prolonging the reaction time, however, does not lead to fully solvated complex [Re2(CH3CN)10][BF4]4. The neutral nitrogen donor ligands pynp (2-(2-pyridyl)-1,8-naphthyridine) and tznp (2-(2-thiazolyl)-1,8-naphthyridine) react readily with [Re2(CH3CN)10][BF4]4 to provide trans-[Re2(pynp)2(CH3CN)4][BF4]4 and trans-[Re2(tznp)2(CH3CN)4][BF4]4. The X-ray structures trans-[Re2(pynp)2(CH3CN)4][BF4]4 () and trans-[Re2(tznp)2(CH3CN)4][BF4]3[PF6] () have been determined.

Unligated Diruthenium(II,II) Tetra(trifluoroacetate): The First X-ray Structural Study, Thermal Compressibility, Lewis Acidity, and Magnetism

The title compound, [Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4)] (1), has been obtained without any exogenous ligands and crystallized by deposition from the gas phase at 170 degrees C. Its crystal structure has been determined for the first time to confirm an infinite chain motif built on axial Ru...O interactions of the diruthenium(II,II) units. The X-ray diffraction studies at variable temperatures showed no phase transitions in the range of 295-100 K but revealed a significant decrease in the volume per atom from 14.2 to 13.3 A(3). This noticeable thermal compressibility effect is discussed in connection with the solid-state packing of the [Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4)](infinity) chains. The highly electrophilic character of the diruthenium(II,II) units has been shown by the gas-phase deposition reaction of [Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4)] with an aromatic donor substrate, namely [2.2]paracyclophane (C(16)H(16)). As a result of the above reaction, a new arene adduct [Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4).C(16)H(16)] (2) has been isolated in crystalline form. It has an extended one-dimensional (1D) chain structure comprised of alternating building units and based on the rare bridging mode of [2.2]paracyclophane, [Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(4).(mu(2)-eta(2):eta(2)-C(16)H(16))](infinity). The magnetic susceptibility of 1 and 2 has been measured and compared in the range of 1.8-300 K. In addition, in the course of synthesis of 1 by the carboxylate exchange reactions, a new mixed-carboxylate diruthenium(II,II) core complex [Ru(2)(O(2)CCF(3))(3)(O(2)CC(2)H(5))] (3), bearing no exogenous ligands, has also been isolated and structurally characterized. It exhibits an interesting polymeric structure in which the ruthenium(II) centers selectively form axial interdimer contacts with the O-atoms of the propionate groups only.