A Two-Coordinate Cobalt(II) Imido Complex with NHC Ligation: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity

Umpolung in a Pair of Cobalt(III) Terminal Imido/Imidyl Complexes

Reaction of the Co^I complex [(TIMMN^mes)Co^I](PF₆) (1) (TIMMN^mes=tris‐[2‐(3‐mesityl‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene)‐methyl]amine) with mesityl azide yields the Co^III imide [(TIMMN^mes)Co^III(NMes)](PF₆) (2). Oxidation of 2 with [FeCp₂](PF₆) provides access to a rare Co^III imidyl [(TIMMN^mes)Co(NMes)](PF₆)₂ (3). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry and EPR spectroscopy confirm the molecular structure of 3 and its S=1/2 ground state. ENDOR, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and computational analyses indicate a ligand‐based oxidation; thus, an imidyl‐radical electronic structure for 3. Migratory insertion of one ancillary NHC to the imido ligand in 2 gives the Co^IN‐heterocyclic imine (4) within 12 h. Conversely, it takes merely 0.5 h for 3 to transform to the Co^II congener (5). The migratory insertion in 2 occurs via a nucleophilic attack of the imido ligand at the NHC to give 4, whereas in 3, a nucleophilic attack of the NHC at the electrophilic imidyl ligand yields 5. The reactivity shunt upon oxidation of 2 to 3 confirms an umpolung of the imido ligand.

A Pair of Cobalt(III/IV) Terminal Imido Complexes

The reaction of the cobalt(I) complex [(TIMMNmes )CoI ](BPh4 ) (2) (TIMMNmes =tris-[2-(3-mesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene)methyl]amine) with 1-adamantylazide yields the cobalt(III) imido complex [(TIMMNmes )CoIII (NAd)](BPh4 ) (3) with concomitant release of dinitrogen. The N-anchor in diamagnetic 3 features an unusual, planar tertiary amine, which results from repulsive electrostatic interaction with the filled d(z2 )-orbital of the cobalt ion and negative hyperconjugation with the neighboring methylene groups. One-electron oxidation of 3 with [FeCp2 ](OTf) provides access to the rare, high-valent cobalt(IV) imido complex [(TIMMNmes )CoIV (NAd)](OTf)2 (4). Despite a half-life of less than 1 h at room temperature, 4 could be isolated at low temperatures in analytically pure form. Single-crystal X-ray diffractometry and EPR spectroscopy corroborate the molecular structure and the d5 low-spin, S= 1 / 2 , electron configuration. A computational analysis of 4 suggests high covalency within the CoIV =NAd bond with non-negligible spin density located at the imido moiety, which translates into substantial triplet nitrene character.

High-Spin Imido Cobalt Complexes with Imidyl Radical Character*

We report on the synthesis of a variety of trigonal imido cobalt complexes [Co(NAryl)L2 ]- , (L=N(Dipp)SiMe3 ), Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl) with very long Co-NAryl bonds of around 1.75 Å. Their electronic structure was interrogated using a variety of physical and spectroscopic methods such as EPR or X-Ray absorption spectroscopy which leads to their description as highly unusual imidyl cobalt complexes. Computational analyses corroborate these findings and further reveal that the high-spin state is responsible for the imidyl character. Exchange of the Dipp substituent on the imide by the smaller mesityl function (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) effectuates the unexpected Me3 Si shift from the ancillary ligand set to the imidyl nitrogen, revealing a highly reactive, nucleophilic character of the imidyl unit.

C-H Bond Activation by an Imido Cobalt(III) and the Resulting Amido Cobalt(II) Complex

The 3d-metal mediated nitrene transfer is under intense scrutiny due to its potential as an atom economic and ecologically benign way for the directed amination of (un)functionalised C-H bonds. Here we present the isolation and characterisation of a rare, trigonal imido cobalt(III) complex, which bears a rather long cobalt-imido bond. It can cleanly cleave strong C-H bonds with a bond dissociation energy of up to 92 kcal mol-1 in an intermolecular fashion, unprecedented for imido cobalt complexes. This resulted in the amido cobalt(II) complex [Co(hmds)2 (NHt Bu)]- . Kinetic studies on this reaction revealed an H atom transfer mechanism. Remarkably, the cobalt(II) amide itself is capable of mediating H atom abstraction or stepwise proton/electron transfer depending on the substrate. A cobalt-mediated catalytic application for substrate dehydrogenation using an organo azide is presented.

A Terminal Iridium Oxo Complex with a Triplet Ground State

A terminal iridium oxo complex with an open-shell (S=1) ground state was isolated upon hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from the respective iridium(II) hydroxide. Electronic structure examinations support large spin delocalization to the oxygen atom. Selected oxo transfer reactions indicate the ambiphilic reactivity of the iridium oxo moiety. Calorimetric and computational examinations of the HAT revealed a bond dissociation free energy for the IrO-H bond that is sufficient for hydrogen atom abstraction towards C-H bonds and small contributions from entropy and spin-orbit coupling to the HAT thermochemistry.

Redox Non-Innocent Behavior of a Terminal Iridium Hydrazido(2-) Triple Bond

The synthesis of the first terminal Group 9 hydrazido(2-) complex, Cp*IrN(TMP) (6) (TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine) is reported. Electronic structure and X-ray diffraction analysis indicate that this complex contains an Ir-N triple bond, similar to Bergman's seminal Cp*Ir(Nt Bu) imido complex. However, in sharp contrast to Bergman's imido, 6 displays remarkable redox non-innocent reactivity owing to the presence of the Nβ lone pair. Treatment of 6 with MeI results in electron transfer from Nβ to Ir prior to oxidative addition of MeI to the iridium center. This behavior opens the possibility of carrying out facile oxidative reactions at a formally IrIII metal center through a hydrazido(2-)/isodiazene valence tautomerization.