Transition Metal Complexes Containing All-Carbon Ligands

Bis-alkynyl Diruthenium Compounds with Built-in Electronic Asymmetry: Toward an Organometallic Aviram–Ratner Diode

Conditions to prepare trans-[Ru2(dmba)4(C[triple chemical bond]CAr)2] from [Ru2(dmba)4(NO(3))2] (DMBA=N,N'-dimethylbenzamidinate) and HC[triple chemical bond]CAr were optimized; Et2NH was found to be the most effective among a number of weak bases in facilitating the product formation. Furthermore, a series of unsymmetric trans-[(ArC[triple chemical bond]C)Ru(2)(dmba)4(C[triple chemical bond]CAr')] compounds were prepared under optimized conditions, in which one or both of Ar and Ar' are donor (NMe2)-/acceptor (NO(2))-substituted phenyls. While the X-ray crystallographic studies revealed a minimal structural effect upon donor/acceptor substitution, voltammetric measurements indicated a significant influence of substituents on the energy level of frontier orbitals. In particular, placing a donor and an acceptor on the opposite ends of trans-[(ArC[triple chemical bond]C)Ru2(dmba)4(C[triple chemical bond]CAr')] moiety results in an energetic alignment of frontier orbitals that favors a directional electron flow, a necessary condition for unimolecular rectification.

Assembly of Infinite Silver(I) Columns, Chains, and Bridged Aggregates with Supramolecular Synthon Bearing Substituted Phenylethynides

Structural correlation in a series of eight silver(I) complexes bearing substituted phenylethynide ligands was systematically investigated through variation of the position or steric bulk of substituents on the aromatic ring. All coordination frameworks are constructed with the supramolecular synthon Ar--C triple bond C superset Ag(n) (Ar=4-MeC6H4, 3-MeC6H4, 2-MeC6H4, 4-tBuC6H4, 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3; n=4, 5), and the presence of coexisting ligands was found to influence the supramolecular assembly. The role of pi-pi stacking, C--Hpi and Ag-C(aromatic) interactions in stabilizing the coordination networks is also discussed.

sp Carbon Chains Surrounded by sp3 Carbon Double Helices: Directed Syntheses of Wirelike Pt(C⋮C)nPt Moieties That Are Spanned by Two P(CH2)mP Linkages via Alkene Metathesis

Reactions of trans-(C6F5)(Ph2P(CH2)m'CH=CH2)2PtCl (1; m' = a, 6; b, 7; c, 8; d, 9; e, 10) and H(CC)2H (HNEt2, cat. CuI) give trans-(C6F5)(Ph2P(CH2)m'CH=CH2)2Pt(CC)2H (3a-e, 80-95%). Oxidative homocouplings of 3a-d under Hay conditions (O2, cat. CuCl/TMEDA, acetone) yield trans,trans-(C6F5)(Ph2P(CH2)m'CH=CH2)2Pt(CC)4Pt(Ph2P(CH2)m'CH=CH2)2(C6F5) (4a-d, 64-84%). Treatment of 3c-e with excess HCCSiEt3 under Hay conditions gives trans-(C6F5)(Ph2P(CH2)m'CH=CH2)2Pt(CC)3SiEt3 (56-73%). Homocouplings (n-Bu4N+ F-, Me3SiCl, Hay conditions) afford trans,trans-(C6F5)(Ph2P(CH2)m'CH=CH2)2Pt(CC)6Pt(Ph2P(CH2)m'CH=CH2)2(C6F5) (13c-e, 59-64%). Reactions of 4a-d and 13c-e with Grubbs' catalyst, followed by hydrogenation, give mixtures of trans,trans-(C6F5)(Ph2P(CH2)mPPh2)Pt(CC)nPt(Ph2P(CH2)mPPh2)(C6F5) with termini-spanning diphosphines and trans,trans-(C6F5)(Ph2P(CH2)mPPh2)Pt(CC)nPt(Ph2P(CH2)mPPh2)(C6F5) with trans-spanning diphosphines (m = 2m' + 2; n = 4, 6). The latter (n = 4) are independently synthesized by similar metatheses/hydrogenations of 1a-d to give trans-(C6F5)(Ph2P(CH2)mPPh2)PtCl (49-59%), followed by analogous introductions of (CC)4 chains (66-77%). Crystal structures of complexes with termini-spanning diphosphines show sp3 chains with both double-helical (m/n = 20/4) and nonhelical (m/n = 20/6) conformations, and highly shielded sp chains. The sp3 chains of complexes with trans-spanning diphosphines exhibit double half-clamshell conformations. The dynamic properties of both classes of molecules are analyzed in detail.

sp Carbon Chains Surrounded by sp3 Carbon Double Helices: Coordination-Driven Self-Assembly of Wirelike Pt(C⋮C)nPt Moieties That Are Spanned by Two P(CH2)mP Linkages

Reactions of trans,trans-(C6F5)(p-tol3P)2Pt(CC)4Pt(Pp-tol3)2(C6F5) and diphosphines Ar2P(CH2)mPAr2 yield trans,trans-(C6F5)(Ar2P(CH2)mPAr2)Pt(CC)4Pt(Ar2P(CH2)mPAr2)(C6F5), in which the platinum atoms are spanned via an sp and two sp3 carbon chains (Ar/m = 3, Ph/14, 87%; 4, p-tol/14, 91%; 5, p-C6H4-t-Bu/14, 77%; 7, Ph/10, 80%; 8, Ph/11, 80%; 9, Ph/12, 36%; only oligomers form for m > 14). Crystal structures of 3-5 show that the sp3 chains adopt chiral double-helical conformations that shield the sp chain at approximately the van der Waals distance, with both enantiomers in the unit cell. The platinum square planes define angles of 196.6 degrees -189.9 degrees or more than a half twist. Crystal structures of 7-9, which have shorter sp3 chains, exhibit nonhelical conformations. Reaction of the corresponding Pt(CC)6Pt complex and Ph2P(CH2)18PPh2 gives an analogous adduct (27%). The crystal structure shows two independent molecules, one helical and the other not. Low-temperature NMR data suggest that the enantiomeric helical conformations of 3-5 rapidly interconvert in solution. Cyclic voltammograms of 3-5 show more reversible oxidations than model compounds lacking bridging sp3 chains. These are the only double-helical molecules that do not feature bonding interactions between the helix strands, or covalent bonds to templates dispersed throughout the strands, or any type of encoding. The driving force for helix formation is analyzed.

Transition Metal−Carbon Complexes. A Theoretical Study

The equilibrium geometries and bond dissociation energies of 16VE and 18VE complexes of ruthenium and iron with a naked carbon ligand are reported using density functional theory at the BP86/TZ2P level. Bond energies were also calculated at CCSD(T) using TZ2P quality basis sets. The calculations of [Cl2(PMe3)2Ru(C)] (1Ru), [Cl2(PMe3)2Fe(C)] (1Fe), [(CO)2(PMe3)2Ru(C)] (2Ru), [(CO)2(PMe3)2Fe(C)] (2Fe), [(CO)4Ru(C)] (3Ru), and [(CO)4Fe(C)] (3Fe) show that 1Ru has a very strong Ru-C bond which is stronger than the Fe-C bond in 1Fe. The metal-carbon bonds in the 18VE complexes 2Ru-3Fe are weaker than those in the 16VE species. Calculations of the related carbonyl complexes [(PMe3)2Cl2Ru(CO)] (4Ru), [(PMe3)2Cl2Fe(CO)] (4Fe), [(PMe3)2Ru(CO)3] (5Ru), [(PMe3)2Fe(CO)3] (5Fe), [Ru(CO)5] (6Ru), and [Fe(CO)5] (6Fe) show that the metal-CO bonds are much weaker than the metal-C bonds. The 18VE iron complexes have a larger BDE than the 18VE ruthenium complexes, while the opposite trend is calculated for the 16VE compounds. Charge and energy decomposition analyses (EDA) have been carried out for the calculated compounds. The Ru-C and Fe-C bonds in 1Ru and 1Fe are best described in terms of two electron-sharing bonds with sigma and pi symmetry and one donor-acceptor pi bond. The bonding situation in the 18 VE complexes 2Ru-3Fe is better described in terms of closed shell donor-acceptor interactions in accordance with the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model. The bonding analysis clearly shows that the 16VE carbon complexes 1Ru and 1Fe are much more strongly stabilized by metal-C sigma interactions than the 18VE complexes which is probably the reason why the substituted homologue of 1Ru could become isolated. The EDA calculations show that the nature of the TM-C and TM-CO binding interactions resembles each other. The absolute values for the energy terms which contribute to Delta(Eint) are much larger for the carbon complexes than for the carbonyl complexes, but the relative strengths of the energy terms are not very different from each other. The pi bonding contribution to the orbital interactions in the carbon complexes is always stronger than sigma bonding. There is no particular bonding component which is responsible for the reversal of the relative bond dissociation energies of the Ru and Fe complexes when one goes from the 16VE complexes to the 18VE species. That the 18 VE compounds have longer and weaker TM-C and TM-CO bonds than the respective 16 VE compounds holds for all complexes. This is because the LUMO in the 16 VE species is a sigma-antibonding orbital which becomes occupied in the 18 VE species.

Wirelike Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes Connected by Bis(ethynyl)oligothiophene

Preparation and characterization of a series of rodlike binuclear ruthenium polyynediyl complexes capped with redox-active organometallic fragments [(bph)(PPh3)2Ru]+ (bph=N-(benzoyl)-N'-(picolinylidene)-hydrazine) or [(Phtpy)(PPh3)2Ru]2+ (Phtpy=4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine) have been carried out. The length of the molecular rods is extended by successive insertion of 2,5-thiophene or 1,4-phenylene spacers in the bridging ligands. Oxidation of thiophene-containing Ru2II,II complexes induces isolation of stable Ru2II,III or Ru2III,III species. Electrochemical and UV-vis-NIR spectral studies demonstrate that the polyynediyl bridges with 2,5-thiophene units are more favorable for metal-metal charge transfer compared with those containing the same number of 1,4-phenylene units. Successive increase of thiophene spacers in mixed-valence complexes {RuII}-CC(C4H2S)mCC-{RuIII} (m=1, 2, 3) induced a smooth transition from almost electronic delocalization (m=1) to localization (m=3). For binuclear ruthenium complexes with intramolecular electron transfer transmitted across nine Ru-C and C-C bonds, electronic conveying capability follows {Ru}-CC(CC)2CC-{Ru}>{Ru}-CC(C4H2S)CC-{Ru}>{Ru}-CC(C6H4)CC-{Ru}>{Ru}-CC(CH=CH)2CC-{Ru}. It is revealed that molecular wires capped with electron-rich (bph)(PPh3)2Ru endgroups are much more favorable for electronic communication than the corresponding electron-deficient (Phtpy)(PPh3)2Ru-containing counterparts. The intermetallic electronic communication is fine-tuned by modification of both the bridging spacers and the ancillary ligands.

Multinuclear Silver Ethynide Supramolecular Synthons for the Construction of Coordination Networks

The invariant appearance of the mu8 coordination mode for the C4(2-) dianion in its silver(I) complexes, with four silver(I) atoms attached to each terminal ethynide moiety, implies that the Ag4[cap]C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C[cap]Ag4 species may be considered as a new type of supramolecular synthon for the construction of 1D, 2D, and 3D coordination polymers. This Focus Review covers recent results on the synthesis and structural characterization of silver(I) arylethynide and alkylethynide complexes, which established the existence and utility of analogous polynuclear supramolecular synthons R-C[triple bond]C[cap]Ag(n) (R = aryl or alkyl; n = 4, 5) and Ag(n)[cap]C2-R-C2[cap]Ag(n) (R = p-, m-, o-C6H4; n = 4, 5). The interplay of silver-ethynide bonding, which can be classified into sigma, pi, and mixed (sigma,pi) types, with argentophilicity, pi-pi stacking, and other weak interactions highlights the complexity and challenge in building coordination networks of silver ethynide complexes.

Redox-active polyiron complexes with tetra(ethynylphenyl)ethene and [2,2]paracyclophane spacers containing ethynylphenyl units: extension to higher dimensional molecular wire

Redox active polyiron complexes with higher dimensional spacers, the tetrairon complex with the two-dimensional tetra(ethynylphenyl)ethene spacer, (C=C)[p-C(6)H(4)-C triple bond C-FeCp*(dppe)](4), and the diiron complex with the three-dimensional spacer (pseudo-m-[2,2]paracyclophane)[C triple bond C-FeCp*(dppe)](2), are prepared, and their performance as molecular wires is evaluated on the basis of their comproportionation constants for the mixed valence state.

A Synthetic Breakthrough into an Unanticipated Stability Regime: A Series of Isolable Complexes in which C6, C8, C10, C12, C16, C20, C24, and C28 Polyynediyl Chains Span Two Platinum Atoms

The reaction of trans-[PtCl(p-tol){P(p-tol)3}2] (PtCl) and H(C[triple chemical bond]C)2H (cat. CuI, HNEt2) gives PtC4H (82 %), which can be cross-coupled with excess HC[triple chemical bond]CSiEt3 (acetone, O2, CuCl/TMEDA; Hay conditions) to yield PtC6Si (77 %). The addition of nBu4N+F- in wet acetone gives PtC6H (84 %), and further addition of ClSiMe3 (F- scavenger) and excess HC[triple chemical bond]CSiEt3 (Hay conditions) yields PtC(8)Si (23 %). Similar cross-coupling reactions of PtCxH (generated in situ for x>6) and excess H(C[triple chemical bond]C)2SiEt3 give a) x=4, PtC8Si (29 %), PtC12Si (30 %), and PtC16Si (1 %); b) x=6, PtC10Si (59 %) and PtC14Si (7 %); c) x=8, PtC12Si (42 %); and d) x=10, PtC14Si (20 %). Hay homocoupling reactions of PtC4H, PtC6H, PtC8H, and PtC10H give PtC8Pt, PtC12Pt, PtC16Pt, and PtC20Pt (88-70 %), but PtC12H decomposes too rapidly. However, when PtC12Si and PtC14Si are subjected to Hay conditions, protodesilylation occurs in the presence of the oxidizing agent and PtC24Pt (36 %) and PtC28Pt (51 %) are isolated. Reactions of PtC6H and PtC10H with PtCl (CuI, HNEt2) give PtC6Pt (56 %) and PtC10Pt (84 %). The effect of the chain lengths in PtCxPt upon thermal stabilities (>200 degrees C for x< or =20), IR nu(C[triple chemical bond]C) patterns (progressively more bands), colors (yellow to orange to deep red), UV/Vis spectra (progressively red-shifted and more intense bands with epsilon>400,000 M(-1) cm(-1)), redox properties (progressively more difficult oxidations), and NMR spectra (many monotonic trends) are analyzed, including implications for the sp carbon allotrope carbyne. Whereas all other dodecaynes and tetradecaynes rapidly decompose at room temperature, PtC24Pt and PtC28Pt remain stable at >140 degrees C. Crystal structures of PtCxSi (x=6, 8, 10) and PtCxPt (x=6, 8, 10, 12) have been determined.

Suzuki Coupling at the Periphery of Diruthenium Coordination and Organometallic Compounds

A series of diruthenium compounds, Ru2(DArF)3(L")Cl (2), where the auxiliary ligand DArF is DmAniF or D(3,5-Cl2Ph)F and L" is one of the diarylformamidinate ligands containing at least one biphenyl, were prepared from Suzuki reactions between Ru2(DArF)3(L')Cl (1), where L' is (4-I-Ph)NC(H)NPh (N-(4-iodophenyl)-N'-phenylformamidinate) or D(4-I-Ph)F (N,N'-di(4-iodophenyl)formamidinate), and ArB(OH)2 (Ar = Ph and 4-CH3C(O)Ph) in satisfactory yields. Alkynylation of the type 2 compounds with LiCCPh yielded the alkynyl derivatives Ru2(DArF)3(L")(CCPh) (3). Alternatively, type 3 compounds can be prepared from the Suzuki coupling reaction between Ru2(DArF)3(L')(C2Ph) and ArB(OH)2. A structural comparison between the type 1 and 2 compounds revealed minimal changes in the coordination sphere of Ru2 core. Cyclic voltammograms of Suzuki derivatives resemble those of the parent compounds, indicating the retention of the electrophore characteristic of diruthenium species upon peripheral modification.

Novel μ5-Coordination Modes of Aryl and Alkyl Ethynides and Classification of Metal–Ligand Interactions in Silver(I) Complexes

Novel mu(5)-eta(1),eta(1),eta(1),eta(1),eta(2) and mu(5)-eta(1),eta(1),eta(1),eta(2),eta(2) coordination modes of alkyl and aryl ethynide moieties are found in silver(I) complexes 1-5, and the metal-ligand distances can be classified into sigma, pi and mixed (sigma,pi) types. With the consistent square-pyramidal capping Ag(5) baskets of the ethynide moiety as supramolecular synthons, a series of two- and three-dimensional coordination networks are obtained.

The synthesis, structure, and electrochemical properties of Fe(C≡CC≡N)(dppe)Cp and related compounds

The cyanoacetylide complex Fe(C≡CC≡N)(dppe)Cp (3) is readily obtained from sequential reaction of Fe(C≡CSiMe3)(dppe)Cp with methyllithium and phenyl cyanate. Complex 3 is a good metalloligand, and coordination to the metal fragments [RhCl(CO)2], [Ru(PPh3)2Cp]+, and [Ru(dppe)Cp*]+ affords the corresponding cyanoaceylide-bridged heterobimetallic complexes. In the case of the 36-electron complexes [Cp(dppe)Fe-C≡CC≡N-MLn]n+, spectroscopic and structural data are consistent with a degree of charge transfer from the iron centre to the rhodium or ruthenium centre via the C3N bridge, giving rise to a polarized ground state. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods reveal significant interactions between the metal centres in the oxidized (35 electron) derivatives, [Cp(dppe)Fe-C≡CC≡N-MLn](n+1)+. Key words: cyanide, cyanoacetylide, crystal structure.

Wire-like PtCCCCCCCCPt moieties surrounded by double-helical “insulation”: new motifs featuring P(CH2)20P and P(CH2)4O(CH2)2O(CH2)4P linkages

Ring-closing alkene metatheses of trans,trans-(C6F5)(Ph2P-Z-CH=CH2)2Pt(C[triple bond]C)4Pt(Ph2P-Z-CH=CH2)2(C6F5) (Z = (CH2)9, (CH2)4O(CH2)2), followed by hydrogenation, give the title compounds; the former exhibits an exceptionally twisted conformation, and the latter establishes that functional groups can be incorporated into the flexible sp3 chain.

Synthesis and redox properties of trinuclear ruthenium–acetylide complexes with tri(ethynylphenyl)amine bridge

Novel trinuclear ruthenium complexes have been prepared by using tri(4-ethynylphenyl)amine as a bridging ligand. Cyclic voltammetry of the trinuclear ruthenium complexes revealed stepwise quasi-reversible redox behavior of three ruthenium-acetylide species and the central triphenylamine unit, whereas the mononuclear analog showed two sequential quasi-reversible redox waves. The spectroelectrochemical UV-VIS spectral studies suggested that the 1e- oxidized triruthenium species was stable and showed a characteristic absorption at lambda(max) = 505 nm. Chemical oxidation of the triruthenium complex with ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate led to the isolation of the 1e- oxidized complex, the near-IR spectrum of which revealed an intervalence charge transfer band due to the electronic coupling among three ruthenium species. The 1e(-) oxidized triruthenium complexes can be classified as class II mixed-valence compounds.

Assembly of Polymeric Silver(I) Complexes of Isomeric Phenylenediethynides with the Supramolecular Synthons Agn⊂ C2RC2 ⊃Agn (R = p-, m-, o-C6H4; n = 4, 5)

New Agn subset C2-R-C2 supersetAgn (R = p-, m-, o-C6H4; n = 4, 5) supramolecular synthons have been explored in the coordination network assembly of silver(I) complexes of the isomeric phenylenediethynides. An unprecedented mu5-eta1-coordination mode for the ethynide moiety and a mixed mu4,mu5-coordination mode for the o-phenylenediethynide group are observed, providing a rationale for the abundant occurrence of C2@Agn (n </= 10) polyhedral cages in double and multiple salts of silver acetylenediide.

Strong Electronic Couplings between Ferrocenyl Centers Mediated by Bis-Ethynyl/Butadiynyl Diruthenium Bridges

A series of trans-(FcC(2n))Ru(2)(Y-DMBA)(4)(C(2m)Fc) with n, m = 1 and 2 and Y-DMBA as N,N'-dimethylbenzamidinate or N,N'-dimethyl-(3-methoxy)benzamidinate have been synthesized and characterized. The intramolecular Fc...Fc distances, established through single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies, range from 11.6 to 16.6 A. Results from both voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical studies indicate that the (-C(2n))Ru(2)(Y-DMBA)(4)(C(2m-) fragments are among the most efficient mediators of intramolecular hole transfer. Density-functional calculations offer both the insight on the ground-state electronic properties and unambiguous assignment for the observed electronic absorptions.

Di([5]trovacenyl)ethyne, di([5]trovacenyl)butadiyne, and di-1,4-([5]trovacenylethynyl)benzene: electrocommunication and magnetocommunication mediated by --C triple bond C--, --C triple bond C--C triple bond C-- and --C triple bond C--C6H4--C triple bond C-- spacers

The synthesis of dinuclear derivatives of trovacene (eta7-C7H7)V(eta5-C5H5) (1.) is reported, in which ethynyl (6..), butadiynyl (7..), and 1,4-di(ethynyl)phenyl (8..) groups serve as spacers between paramagnetic (S = 1/2) [5]trovacenyl units. The mononuclear precursors [5]trovacenylcarbaldehyde (2.) and [5]trovacenylacetylene (4.) are also described. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction has been performed for 4., 6.., 7.., and 8.. Electronic communication as gleaned from cyclic voltammetry only manifests itself in the reduction processes where redox splitting deltaE1/2(0/ 1-, 1-/2-) is resolved for 6.. (deltaE1/2 = 150 mV) and indicated for 7.. (deltaE1/2 < or approximately 80 mV). Magnetocommunication leads to exchange coupling of the two electron spins which reside in vanadium centered orbitals. The values JEPR(6..) = (-)0.92, JEPR(7..) = (-)0.56, and JEPR(8..) = (-)0.005 cm(-1) are derived from the 51V hyperfine patterns. Accordingly, attenuation of exchange interaction by oligoalkyne spacers is weak, corresponding to a factor of 0.6 only per added --C triple bond C-- unit. In the determination of very weak long distance exchange interactions, EPR excels because of the range 5 x 10(-4) < or approximately J < or approximately 1.5 cm(-1) accessible in the case of 51V as a reporting magnetic nucleus and because competing intermolecular exchange is quenched in dilute fluid solution. This is demonstrated by the value Jchi(7..) = -3.84 cm(-1) obtained from a magnetic susceptibility study, which exceeds JEPR(7..) by a factor of 7. The small magnitude of spin exchange interaction between trovacene units reflects the fact that the spin bearing V3dz2 orbital is virtually orthogonal to the pi-perimeter ligand orbitals and weakly overlapping only with the a1g(sigma) ring orbitals, creating two bottlenecks for spin-exchange in the spacer-containing ditrovacenes.