Redox and Acid-Base Properties of Binuclear 4-Terphenyldithiophenolate Complexes of Nickel

Catalyst Deactivation of a Monoligated CyJohnPhos-bound Nickel(0) Complex

Cross-coupling catalysts are prone to unproductive side reactivity that can limit their practical use in synthetic chemistry. A detailed understanding of these pathways and the conditions that enable them is important for reaction optimization and rational catalyst design. In this work, we report the off-cycle reactivity of a monoligated, CyJohnPhos-bound Ni0 complex following product-forming reductive elimination. In the absence of substrate, free phosphine ligand, or π-accepting additives, dimerization of (CyJohnPhos)Ni0 occurs, followed by C-P bond activation of the ligand to form a phosphido-bridged Ni0/NiII dimer; both the Ni0/Ni0 and Ni0/NiII dimers were structurally characterized. Monomeric (CyJohnPhos)Ni0 must be intercepted by substrate or free ligand to prevent irreversible dimerization and catalyst deactivation.

Redox-Neutral Transformations of Carbon Dioxide Using Coordinatively Unsaturated Late Metal Silyl Amide Complexes

Two-coordinate silylamido complexes of nickel and copper rapidly react with CO₂ to selectively form a new cyanate ligand along with hexamethyldisiloxane byproducts. Mechanistic insight into these reactions was obtained from the synthesis of proposed intermediates, several silyl- and phenyl- substituted amido analogues, and their subsequent reactivity with CO₂. These studies suggest that a unique intramolecular double silyl transfer step facilitates CO₂ deoxygenation, which likely contributes to the rapid rates of reaction. The deoxygenation reactions create a platform for a synthetic cycle in which copper amido complexes convert CO₂ to organic silylcarbamates.

Modulating Effect of Ligand Charge on the Electronic Properties of 2Ni-2S Structures and Implications for Biological 2M-2S Sites

Sulfur-bridged bimetallic 2M-2S type structures are essential cofactors that participate in biological long-range electron transport and metabolism. Metal-sulfur bond covalency is a decisive property for inner sphere (through-bond) type electron transfer that dominates in buried or hydrophobic protein environments. This work reports on a combined experimental and computational study of the effect of ligand charge on the electronic structure of a 2Ni-2S model site that adopts the biologically relevant S = ¹/₂ redox state. Starting out from an isostructural dinickel(1.5+)-dithiophenolate platform with sulfur-bridged tetrahedral Ni sites, η²:η²-μ-coordination of the S = ¹/₂ [2Ni-2S]⁺ core to either a neutral π-system or strongly σ-donating cyclohexadienido renders its electronic structure substantially different. Density functional theory analysis corroborates pulse and continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance data that associate co-ligand charge with the significant change in the mechanism and size of electron-³¹P nuclear spin hyperfine coupling to a phosphine reporter ligand at each nickel center. An increasing level of charge donation attenuates direct and through-bridge electronic coupling of the metal sites, resulting in a stronger electronic coupling of the 2Ni-2S core to its terminal phosphine donors. Drawing a connection to biological 2M-2S sites, our 2Ni-2S system indicates that a fine balance of intracore and core-protein electronic coupling is key to biological function for which the degree of charge donation by peripheral donors appears to be a significant parameter.

Conformational Effects of [Ni2 (μ-ArS)2 ] Cores on Their Electrocatalytic Activity

Two nickel complexes supported by tridentate NS₂ ligands, [Ni₂ (κ-N,S,S,S'-N^Ph {CH₂ (MeC₆ H₂ R')S}₂ )₂ ] (1; R'=3,5-(CF₃ )₂ C₆ H₃ ) and [Ni₂ (κ-N,S,S,S'-N^iBu {CH₂ C₆ H₄ S}₂ )₂ ] (2), were prepared as bioinspired models of the active site of [NiFe] hydrogenases. The solid-state structure of 1 reveals that the [Ni₂ (μ-ArS)₂ ] core is bent, with the planes of the nickel centers at a hinge angle of 81.3(5)°, whereas 2 shows a coplanar arrangement between both nickel(II) ions in the dimeric structure. Complex 1 electrocatalyzes proton reduction from CF₃ COOH at -1.93 (overpotential of 1.04 V, with i_cat /i_p ≈21.8) and -1.47 V (overpotential of 580 mV, with i_cat /i_p ≈5.9) versus the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple. The electrochemical behavior of 1 relative to that of 2 may be related to the bent [Ni₂ (μ-ArS)₂ ] core, which allows proximity of the two Ni⋅⋅⋅Ni centers at 2.730(8) Å; thus possibly favoring H⁺ reduction. In contrast, the planar [Ni₂ (μ-ArS)₂ ] core of 2 results in a Ni⋅⋅⋅Ni distance of 3.364(4) Å and is unstable in the presence of acid.

Easily reduced bis-pincer (NS2)2molybdenum(iv) to (NHS2)2Mo(ii) by alcohols vs. redox-inert (NS2)(NHS2)iron(iii) complexes

Iron and molybdenum complexes supported by a pincer-type dianionic [NS₂]²⁻ donor were prepared to compare their structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties.

Reactant or reagent? Oxidation of H2 at electronically distinct nickel-thiolate sites [Ni2(μ-SR)2]+ and [Ni–SR]+

The chemical bond between a Lewis-acidic metal and a Brønsted/Lewis-basic sulphur donor provides M–S structures with functional properties that are relevant for a variety of processes such as the heterolytic cleavage of H₂.

Redox-enhanced hemilability of a tris(tert-butoxy)siloxy ligand at cerium

Combined structural/electrochemical/computational studies of ceric Ce[OSi(OtBu)₃]₄ and cerous [Ce{OSi(OtBu)₃}₄][K(2.2.2-crypt)] suggest a redox-modulated coordination switch of a tris(tert-butoxy)siloxy ligand.

Mechanistic Aspects of Redox-Induced Assembly and Disassembly of S-Bridged [2M-2S] Structures

Sulfur-bridged binuclear structures [2M-2S] play a pivotal role in a variety of chemical processes such as bond breaking and formation and electron transfer. In general, structural persistence is deemed essential to the respective function but owing to the lack of a suitable molecular model system, the current understanding of the factors that control the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of [2M-2S] cores clearly is limited. This work reports a series of binuclear complexes of nickel derived from a 1,4-terphenyldithiophenol ligand platform that is ideally suited for mechanistic work to overcome this limitation. Redox-induced assembly and disassembly of S-bridged [2M-2S] fragments have been investigated at the molecular level. As part of an extended square scheme, metastable binuclear structures that are significant mechanistically have been identified, characterized, and their reactivity studied quantitatively. Electronic properties that are inherent to [2M-2S] structures and determine thermodynamic and kinetic stability are differentiated from steric effects imposed by co-ligands.

Complexes of Ni(i): a “rare” oxidation state of growing importance

The synthesis and diverse structures, reactivity (small molecule activation and catalysis) and magnetic properties of Ni(i) complexes are summarized.