Reversible Binding of Dioxygen by a Non-Transition-Metal Complex

Bis(amidophenolato)phosphonium: Si-H Hydride Abstraction and Phosphorus-Ligand Cooperative Activation of C-C Multiple Bonds

The first bis(amidophenolato)phosphonium salts are prepared and fully characterized. The perfluorinated derivative represents the strongest monocationic phosphorus Lewis acid on the fluoride and hydride ion affinity scale isolable to date. This affinity enables new reactions, such as hydride abstraction from Et₃ SiH, the first phosphaalkoxylation of an alkyne or a phosphorus catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation. All properties and reactions are scrutinized by theory and experiment. Substantial σ- and π-acidity provides the required affinity for substrate activation, while phosphorus-ligand cooperativity substantially enriches the reactivity portfolio of phosphonium ions.

Dioxygen Activation and Pyrrole α-Cleavage with Calix[4]pyrrolato Aluminates: Enzyme Model by Structural Constraint

The present work describes the reaction of triplet dioxygen with the porphyrinogenic calix[4]pyrrolato aluminates to alkylperoxido aluminates in high selectivity. Multiconfigurational quantum chemical computations disclose the mechanism for this spin‐forbidden process. Despite a negligible spin–orbit coupling constant, the intersystem crossing (ISC) is facilitated by singlet and triplet state degeneracy and spin–vibronic coupling. The formed peroxides are stable toward external substrates but undergo an unprecedented oxidative pyrrole α‐cleavage by ligand aromatization/dearomatization‐initiated O−O σ‐bond scission. A detailed comparison of the calix[4]pyrrolato aluminates with dioxygen‐related enzymology provides insights into the ISC of metal‐ or cofactor‐free enzymes. It substantiates the importance of structural constraint and element–ligand cooperativity for the functions of aerobic life.

Reversible Addition of Carbon Dioxide to Main Group Metal Complexes at Temperatures about 0 °C

The reaction of dialane [LAl-AlL] (1; L=dianion of 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene, dpp-bian) with carbon dioxide results in two different products depending on solvent. In toluene at temperatures of about 0 °C, the reaction gives cycloadduct [L(CO₂ )Al-Al(O₂ C)L] (2), whereas in diethyl ether, the reaction affords oxo-bridged carbamato derivative [L(CO₂ )(Et₂ O)Al(μ-O)AlL] (3). The DFT and QTAIM calculations provide reasonable explanations for the reversible formation of complex 2 in the course of two subsequent (2+4) cycloaddition reactions. Consecutive transition states with low activation barriers were revealed. Also, the DFT study demonstrated a crucial effect of diethyl ether coordination to aluminium on the reaction of dialane 1 with CO₂ . The optimized structures of key intermediates were obtained for the reactions in the presence of Et₂ O; calculated thermodynamic parameters unambiguously testify the irreversible formation of the product 3.

One-Electron Reduction of 2-Mono(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)acenaphthene-1-one (dpp-mian)

The electrochemical characteristics of 2-mono(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)acenaphthene-1-one (dpp-mian) have been investigated. One-electron reduction of dpp-mian involves the iminoketone fragment, which is revealed by the EPR spectrum obtained after the electrolysis of the dpp-mian solution in tetrahydrofuran (THF). The reduction of dpp-mian with one equivalent of metallic potassium leads to a similar EPR spectrum. The sodium complex [(dpp-mian)Na(dme)]₂ (1) produces an EPR signal with hyperfine coupling on the nitrogen atom of the iminoketone fragment of the dpp-mian ligand. Dpp-mian can also be reduced in a one-electron process by SnCl₂ ×(dioxane). In this case, complex (dpp-mian)₂ SnCl₂ (2) is formed, with the tin atom displaying an oxidation state of +4. Tin(II) chloride dihydrate, SnCl₂ ×2(H₂ O), also reduces dpp-mian, but the two ligands bound to tin in the product form a new carbon-carbon bond between the ketone moieties of the dpp-mian monoanions to form complex (bis-dpp-mian)HSnCl₃ (3). Metallic tin reduces dpp-mian to form the (bis-dpp-mian)₂ Sn (4) species. Compounds 1-4 were characterized by X-ray diffraction.

Reversible binding of molecular oxygen to catecholate and amidophenolate complexes of SbV: electronic and steric factors

Edge of reactivity: The reactions of reversible binding of molecular oxygen to catecholate and amidophenolate complexes of Sb(V) are investigated by analyzing the position of electronic (E(HOMO)) and steric (G-parameter) factors. The optimal electronic and steric parameters for such type reactions are found.

Triphenylantimony(v) Catecholates ando-Amidophenolates: Reversible Binding of Molecular Oxygen

Novel neutral antimony(V) complexes were isolated as crystalline materials and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy: o-amidophenolate complexes [4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-o-amidophenolato]triphenylantimony(V) (Ph3Sb[AP-Me], 1) and [4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-o-amidophenolato]triphenylantimony(v) (Ph3Sb[AP-iPr], 2); catecholate complexes (3,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxycatecholato)triphenylantimony(V) (Ph3Sb[(MeO)Cat], 3), its methanol solvate 3CH3OH (4); (3,6-di-tert-butyl-4,5-di-methoxycatecholato)triphenylantimony(V) (Ph3Sb[(MeO)2Cat], 5) and its acetonitrile solvate 5CH3CN (6). Complexes 1-7 were synthesized by oxidative addition of the corresponding o-iminobenzoquinones or o-benzoquinones to Ph3Sb. In the case of the phenanthrene-9,10-diolate (PhenCat) ligand, two different complexes were isolated: Ph3Sb[PhenCat] (7) and [Ph4Sb]+[Ph2Sb(PhenCat)2]- (8). Complexes 7 and 8 were found to be in equilibrium in solution. Molecular structures of 2, 4, 6, and 8 were determined by X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1-7 reversibly bind molecular oxygen to yield Ph3Sb[L-Me]O2 (9), Ph3Sb[L-iPr]O2 (10), Ph3Sb[(MeO)L']O2 (11), Ph3Sb[(MeO)2L']O2 (12) and Ph3Sb[PhenL']O2 (13), which contain five-membered trioxastibolane species (where L is the O,O',N-coordinated derivative of a 1-hydroperoxy-6-(N-aryl)-iminocyclohexa-2,4-dienol, and L' the O,O',O''-coordinated derivative of 6-hydroperoxy-6-hydroxycyclohexa-2,4-dienone). Complexes 9-13 were characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.