Heavier tetrylene- and tetrylyne-transition metal chemistry: it's no carbon copy

Since the late 19th century, heavier tetrylene- and tetrylyne-transition metal chemistry has formed an important cornerstone in both main-group and organometallic chemistry alike. Driven by the success of carbene systems, significant efforts have gone towards the thorough understanding of the heavier group 14 derivatives, with examples now known from across the d-block. This now leads towards applications in cooperative bond activation, and moves ultimately towards well-defined catalytic systems. This review aims to summarise this vast field, from initial discoveries of tetrylene and tetrylyne complexes, to the most recent developments in reactivity and catalysis, as a platform to the future of this exciting, blossoming field.

Synthesis of a Cyclic Co2Sn2 Cluster Using a Co- Synthon

[Ar'SnCo]2 (1, Ar' = C6H3-2,6{C6H3-2,6- iPr2}2), a rare metal-metal bonded cobalt-tin cluster with low-coordinate tin atoms, was prepared by the reaction of [K(thf)0.2][Co(1,5-cod)2] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with [Ar'Sn(μ-Cl)]2. This reaction illustrates a promising synthetic strategy to access uncommon metal clusters. The structure of 1 features a rhomboidal Co2Sn2 core with strong metal-metal bonds between tin and cobalt and a weaker tin-tin interaction. Reaction of 1 with white phosphorus afforded [Ar'2Sn2Co2P4] (2), the first molecular cluster compound containing phosphorus, cobalt and tin.

Flexibility and lability of a phenyl ligand in hetero-organometallic 3d metal-Sn(iv) compounds and their catalytic activity in Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone

The single compartmental Schiff base N,N'-ethylenebis(salicylaldimine) (H₂L) and [SnPh₂Cl₂] were utilized to synthesize heterobimetallic 3d metal-Sn complexes, the Co^IIISn^IV compound [{SnPhCl₂}(1κO²N²,2κO²-μ-L)(μ-OMe){CoPh}] (1), the Ni^IISn^IV compound [{SnPh₂Cl₂}(1κO²N²,2κO²-μ-L)Ni] (2) and the Cu^IISn^IV compound [{SnPh₂Cl₂}(1κO²N²,2κO²-μ-L)Cu] (3). Attempting to prepare the ethoxido bridged compound analogous to 1 (in ethanol) gives the phenylcobalt(iii) complex [Co(κO²N²)Ph(H₂O)] (1A). Single crystal X-ray structure analyses reveal that 1 is derived from an intermetallic (Sn to Co) phenyl shift and that 1A is a transmetallated product; in compounds 2 and 3, the phenyl groups remain coordinated to Sn^IV but one of the π rings interacts with the 3d-metal. Thus, while systems 1 and 1A show the lability of the phenyl ligand, 2 and 3 reveal its flexible nature. Theoretical DFT calculations demonstrate that the conceivable Ph group shift occurs in the oxidized Co^III intermediate [{Sn^IVPh₂Cl₂}(κO₂N₂-μ-L){Co^III(MeO)}] (5) rather than in the corresponding Co^II species [{Sn^IVPh₂Cl₂}(κO₂N₂-μ-L){Co^II(MeOH)}] (4). Their catalytic studies in the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone into ε-caprolactone with two different oxidants reveal that the sacrificial aldehyde method (with dioxygen/benzaldehyde) is better than that with aqueous H₂O₂ (30%). The effects of various reaction parameters such as solvent, catalyst amount, temperature, time and heating method were studied allowing the achievement of yields up to 83% with 89% selectivity.

N-HO and N-HCl supported 1D chains of heterobimetallic CuII/NiII-SnIV cocrystals

The Schiff base H₂L¹ [N,N'-ethylenebis(3-methoxysalicylaldimine)] or H₂L² [N,N'-ethylenebis(3-ethoxysalicylaldimine)] was reacted with MCl₂·xH₂O and SnCl₄·5H₂O to afford the supramolecular heterobimetallic systems (H₂ED)²⁺·2[ML]·[SnCl₆]^2- [M = Cu, L = L¹ (1), L = L² (2); M = Ni, L = L¹ (3), L = L² (4); ED = 1,2-ethylenediamine], whose structures were established by single crystal X-ray analyses. Each structure includes different entities, viz. a mononuclear [CuL]/[NiL] neutral complex (coformer), a hexachlorostannate dianion [SnCl₆]^2-, a 1,2-ethylenediammonium dication (H₂ED²⁺) and, only in 2 and 4, a methanol molecule. Based on the work of Grothe et al. (Cryst. Growth Des., 2016, 16, 3237-3243), compounds 1 and 3 are cocrystal salts, 2 and 4 are cocrystal salt solvates. The ionic pairs (H₂ED)²⁺·[SnCl₆]^2- in 1-4 are encapsulated by the Cu- or Ni-complexes, and stabilized by N-HO and one N-HCl bond interactions leading to infinite 1D chains. The antimicrobial studies of 1-4 against yeasts (C. albicans and S. cerevisiae) and Gram-positive (S. aureus and E. faecalis) and -negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa and E. coli) indicate that the Ni₂Sn systems (3 and 4) are more active than the analogous Cu₂Sn ones (1 and 2).

(Schiff base) divalent group 14 element species: manganese and iron complexes (Salen)M=Mn(Co)2(eta 5-C5H5) (M14 = Ge, Sn, Pb) and (Salen)Sn=Fe(CO)4

Syntheses of the (divalent group 14 species)dicarbonyl(cyclopentadienyl)manganese (Salen)M=Mn(CO)2(eta 5-C5H5) [M = Ge (1), Sn (2), Pb (3)] and [(Salen)tin(II)]tetracarbonyliron (Salen)Sn=Fe(CO)4 (4) are reported. The structures of 2 and 4 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The observed Sn-Mn bond length, 2.4428(7) A, is the shortest distance observed for this type of bond and corresponds to considerable multiple bonding between these atoms. In complex 4, the iron atom has a slightly distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination sphere; the (Salen)tin(II) ligand occupies an axial site, indicating that it functions in this complex as a strong sigma-donor and weak pi-acceptor ligand. Crystal data for 2: orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 6.972(1) A, b = 15.678(2) A, c = 19.032(2) A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees, V = 2080.3(5) A3, T = 173(2) K, Z = 4. Crystal data for 4: triclinic, P1, a = 8.465(2) A, b = 9.795(3) A, c = 13.213(4) A, alpha = 105.55(3) degrees, beta = 105.15(3) degrees, gamma = 100.84(3) degrees, V = 978.7(5) A3, T = 173(2) K, Z = 2.