Oligonuclear molecular models of intermetallic phases: a case study on [Pd2Zn6Ga2(Cp*)5(CH3)3]

Synthesis and Modular Reactivity of Low Valent Al/Zn Heterobimetallics Supported by Common Monodentate Amides

Recent advances on low valent main group metal chemistry have shown the excellent potential of heterobimetallic complexes derived from Al(I) to promote cooperative small molecule activation processes. A signature feature of these complexes is the use of bulky chelating ligands which act as spectators providing kinetic stabilization to their highly reactive Al-M bonds. Here we report the synthesis of novel Al/Zn bimetallics prepared by the selective formal insertion of AlCp* into the Zn-N bond of the utility zinc amides ZnR2 (R=HMDS, hexamethyldisilazide; or TMP, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide). By systematically assessing the reactivity of the new [(R)(Cp*)AlZn(R)] bimetallics towards carbodiimides, structural and mechanistic insights have been gained on their ability to undergo insertion in their Zn-Al bond. Disclosing a ligand effect, when R=TMP, an isomerization process can be induced giving [(TMP)2AlZn(Cp*)] which displays a special reactivity towards carbodiimides and carbon dioxide involving both its Al-N bonds, leaving its Al-Zn bond untouched.

A transition metal–gallium cluster formed via insertion of “GaI”

Synthesis of a new transition metal-group 13 cluster from a low-coordinate diaryl and “GaI”, demonstrates entry into new cluster compounds.

(Multi-)Metallic Cluster Growth

This review article provides a survey of contemporary investigations on main group metal cluster formation, addressing homo- and heterometallic clusters (including small numbers of transition metal atoms), with or without an external ligand shell, thereby excluding clusters with non-metal atoms as bridging ligands. Most of the studies reflected herein represent insights into the formation of intermediates from the starting material, or the final cluster formation from established intermediates. In rare cases, the entire process was suggested as a result of comprehensive, multi-method elucidations. The article is to be understood as a state-of-the-art report, as the subject matter is currently a rising field of research, which is still in its infancy, despite some early activities that date back to the 1980s. At the same time, the article intends to point toward both the importance and the feasibility of according studies, in order to encourage researchers to gain even more knowledge in this field. Only deep understanding of cluster formation will allow for design, and ultimately control, of their syntheses, with the long-term goal of their optimization and purposeful application in catalysis or novel material synthesis.

Zn···Zn interactions at nickel and palladium centers

The analogy between ZnR fragments and the hydrogen radical represents a fruitful concept in organometallic synthesis. The organozinc(ii) and -zinc(i) sources ZnMe₂ (Me = methyl) and [Zn₂Cp*₂] (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) provide one-electron fragments ·ZnR (R = Me, Cp*), which can be trapped by transition metal complexes [L _a M], yielding [L _b (ZnR) _n ]. The addition of the dizinc compound [Zn₂Cp*₂] to coordinatively unsaturated [L _a M] by the homolytic cleavage of the Zn-Zn bond can be compared to the classic oxidative addition reaction of H₂, forming dihydride complexes [L _a M(H)₂]. It has also been widely shown that dihydrogen coordinates under preservation of the H-H bond in the case of certain electronic properties of the transition metal fragment. The σ-aromatic triangular clusters [Zn₃Cp*₃]⁺ and [Zn₂CuCp*₃] may be regarded as the first indication of this so far unknown, side-on coordination mode of [Zn₂Cp*₂]. With this background in mind the question arises if a series of complexes featuring the Zn₂M structural motif can be prepared exhibiting a (more or less) intact Zn-Zn interaction, i.e. di-zinc complexes which are analogous to non-classical dihydrogen complexes of the Kubas type. In order to probe this idea, a series of interrelated organozinc nickel and palladium complexes and clusters were synthesized and characterized as model compounds: [Ni(ZnCp*)(ZnMe)(PMe₃)₃] (1), [Ni(ZnCp*)₂(ZnMe)₂(PMe₃)₂] (2), [{Ni(CN ^t Bu)₂(μ₂-ZnCp*)(μ₂-ZnMe)}₂] (3), [Pd(ZnCp*)₄(CN ^t Bu)₂] (4) and [Pd₃Zn₆(PCy₃)₂(Cp*)₄] (5). The dependence of Zn···Zn interactions as a function of the ligand environments and the metal centers was studied. Experimental X-ray crystallographic structural data and DFT calculations support the analogy between dihydrogen and dizinc transition metal complexes.

Hume-Rothery phase-inspired metal-rich molecules: cluster expansion of [Ni(ZnMe)₆(ZnCp*)₂] by face capping with Ni⁰(η⁶-toluene) and Ni(I)(η⁵-Cp*)

The novel all-hydrocarbon ligand-stabilized binuclear clusters of metal-core composition Ni2Zn7E, [(η(5)-Cp*)Ni2(ZnMe)6(ZnCp*)(ECp*)] (1-Zn, E = Zn; 1-Ga, E = Ga) and [(η(6)-toluene)Ni2(ZnCp*)2(ZnMe)6] (2; Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), were obtained via Ga/Zn and Al/Zn exchange reactions using the starting compounds [Ni2(ECp*)3(η(2)-C2H4)2] (E = Al/Ga) and an excess of ZnMe2 (Me = CH3). Compounds 1-Zn and 1-Ga are very closely related and differ only by one Zn or Ga atom in the group 12/13 metal shell (Zn/Ga) around the two Ni centers. Accordingly, 1-Zn is EPR-active and 1-Ga is EPR-silent. The compounds were derived as a crystalline product mixture. All new compounds were characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometric analysis using liquid-injection field desorption ionization, and elemental analysis, and their molecular structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In addition, the electronic structure has been investigated by DFT and QTAIM calculations, which suggest that there is a Ni1-Ni2 binding interaction. Similar to Zn-rich intermetallic phases of the Hume-Rothery type, the transition metals (here Ni) are distributed in a matrix of Zn atoms to yield highly Zn-coordinated environments. The organic residues, ancillary ligands (Me, Cp*, and toluene), can be viewed as the "protecting" shell of the 10-metal-atom core structures. The soft and flexible binding properties of Cp* and transferability of Me substituents between groups 12 and 13 are essential for the success of this precedence-less type of cluster formation reaction.

The intermetalloid cluster [(Cp*AlCu)6H4], embedding a Cu6 core inside an octahedral Al6 shell: molecular models of Hume-Rothery nanophases

Defined molecular models for the surface chemistry of Hume-Rothery nanophases related to catalysis are very rare. The Al-Cu intermetalloid cluster [(Cp*AlCu)6H4] was selectively obtained from the clean reaction of [(Cp*Al)4] and [(Ph3PCuH)6]. The stronger affinity of Cp*Al towards Cu sweeps the phosphine ligands from the copper hydride precursor and furnishes an octahedral Al6 cage to encapsulate the Cu6 core. The resulting hydrido cluster M12H4 reacts with benzonitrile to give the stoichiometric hydrometalation product [(Cp*AlCu)6H3(N=CHPh)].

Molecular brass: Cu₄Zn₄, a ligand protected superatom cluster

The first example of ligand protected Cu-Zn clusters is described. Reaction of [CpCu(CN(t)Bu)] with [Zn2Cp*2] yields [(CuCN(t)Bu)4(ZnCp*)4] (1a) and [(CuCN(t)Bu)4(ZnCp*)3(ZnCp)] (1b). According to DFT calculations, the [Cu4Zn4] unit fulfils the unified superatom model for cluster valence shell closing.