Terminal Iron Carbyne Complexes Derived from Arrested CO 2 Reductive Disproportionation

High-Spin [FeI3] Cluster Capable of Pnictogen Atom Capture

Using a new hexanucleating anildophosphine ligand tBuLH3 (1,3,5-C6H9(NHC6H3-5-F-2-P(tBu)2)3), the all-monovalent [FeI3] compound (tBuL)Fe3 (1) was isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, SQUID magnetometry, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The molecular structure of 1 reveals very close Fe-Fe distances of 2.3825(7), 2.4146(8), and 2.3913(8) Å which results in significant Fe-Fe interactions and a maximum high-spin S = 9/2 spin state as determined by SQUID magnetometry and further supported by quantum chemical calculations. Compound 1 mediates the multielectron, oxidative atom transfer from inorganic azide ([Bu4N][N3]), cyanate (Na[NCO]), and phosphonate (Na(dioxane)2.5[PCO]) to afford the [Fe3]-nitrido (N3-) and [Fe3]-phosphido (P3-) pnictides, (tBuL)Fe3(μ3-N) (2) and [(tBuL)Fe3(μ3-P)(CO)]- (3), respectively. Compounds 1-3 exhibit rich electrochemical behavior with three (for 1), four (for 2) and five (for 3) distinct redox events being observed in the cyclic voltammograms of these compounds. Finally, the all-monovalent 1 and the formally FeII/FeII/FeI compound 3, were investigated by alternating current (ac) SQUID magnetometry, revealing slow magnetic relaxation in both compounds, with 3 being found to be a unique example of a [Fe3]-phosphido single-molecule magnet having an energy barrier relaxation reversal of U = 30.7(6) cm-1 in the absence of an external magnetic field. This study demonstrates the utility of an all low-valent polynuclear cluster to perform multielectron redox chemistry and exemplifies the redox flexibility and unique physical properties that are present in the corresponding midvalent oxidation products.

Formal Nickelate(-I) Complexes Supported by Group 13 Ions

Formal nickelate(-I) complexes bearing Group 13 metalloligands (M=Al and Ga) were isolated. These 17 e^- complexes were synthesized by one-electron reduction of the corresponding Ni⁰ →M^III precursors, and were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, EPR spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations. Collectively, the experimental and computational data support: 1) the strengthening of the Ni-M bond upon one-electron reduction, and 2) the delocalization of the unpaired spin across the Ni and M atoms. An intriguing electronic configuration is revealed where three valence electrons occupy two σ-type bonding interactions: Ni(3dz2 )² →M and σ-(Ni-M)¹ . The latter is an unusual Ni-M σ-bonding molecular orbital that comprises primarily the Ni 4p_z and M np_z /ns atomic orbitals.