Ligand- and Metal-Based Reactivity of a Neutral Ruthenium Diolefin Diazadiene Complex: The Innocent, the Guilty and the Suspicious

Metal-ligand synergy driven functionalisation of alkylene linked bis(aldimine) on a diruthenium(II) platform. Cyclisation versus oxygenation

This article addresses the impact of metal-ligand redox cooperativity on the functionalisation of coordinated ligands. It demonstrates the structure-reactivity correlation of bis(aldimine) derived bis-bidentate L (Py-CHN-(CH2)n-NCH-Py, with n = 2 (L1), 3 (L2), 4 (L3)) as a function of the conformation (syn/anti) of its alkylene linker as well as the overall structural form (cis/trans) of (acac)2RuII(μ-L)RuII(acac)2 complex moieties (1-5) possessing an electron-rich acetylacetonate (acac) co-ligand. A systematic variation of the bridging alkylene unit of L in RuII/RuII-derived 1-5 led to the following reactivity/redox events, which were validated through structural, spectroscopic, electrochemical and theoretical evaluations: (i) Cyclisation of the ethylene linked (syn conformation) bis-aldimine unit of L1 via C-C coupling yielded pyrazine bridged (acac)2RuII(μ-L1')RuII(acac)2, 1a, while the corresponding anti-form (ethylene linker) of the metal-bound L1 in 2 ((acac)2RuII(μ-L1)RuII(acac)2) led to oxygenation at the ligand backbone (bis-aldimine (L) → bis(carboxamido) (L'')) via O2 activation to generate RuIIIRuIII-derived (acac)2RuIII(μ-L1''2-)RuIII(acac)2 (2a). (ii) Consequently, propylene and butylene linked L2 and L3 bridged between two {Ru(acac)2} units in 3 and 4/5 underwent oxygenation of L to L'' to yield diruthenium(III) complexes 3a and 4a/5a, respectively. (iii) In contrast, analogous L bridged oxidised [(acac)2RuIII(μ-L)RuIII(acac)2](ClO4)2 ([2](ClO4)2-[5](ClO4)2) and [{(PPh3)2(CO)(H)RuII}2(μ-L)](ClO4)2 ([6](ClO4)2-[8](ClO4)2) involving electron poor co-ligands failed to undergo the oxygenation of L irrespective of its n value, reemphasising the effective role of redox interplay between RuII and L particularly in the presence of an electron-rich acac co-ligand in the functionalisation of the latter in 1a-5a.

Selective dehydrogenation of ammonia borane to polycondensated BN rings catalysed by ruthenium olefin complexes

Dehydrogenation of ammonia borane to well-defined products is an important but challenging reaction. A dinuclear ruthenium complex with a Ru-Ru bond bearing a diazadiene (dad) unit and olefins as non-innocent ligands catalyzes the highly selective formation of conjugated polycondensed borazine oligomers (BxNxHy), predominantly B21N21H18, the BN analogue of superbenzene.

Ruthenium complexes of 1,4-diazabutadiene ligands with a cis-RuCl2 moiety for catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols: DFT evidence of chemically non-innocent ligand participation

The acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling (ADC) of primary alcohols to esters by diazabutadiene-coordinated ruthenium compounds is reported. Treatment of cis-Ru(dmso)4Cl2 in acetone at 56 °C with different 1,4-diazabutadienes [p-XC6H4N[double bond, length as m-dash]C(H)(H)C[double bond, length as m-dash]NC6H4X-p; X = H, CH3, OCH3, and Cl; abbreviated as DAB-X], gives trans-Ru[κ2-N,N-DAB-X]2Cl2 as the kinetic product of substitution. Heating these products in o-xylene at 144 °C gives the thermodynamically favored cis-Ru[κ2-N,N-DAB-X]2Cl2 isomers. Electronic structure calculations confirm the greater stability of the cis diastereomer. The molecular structures for each pair of geometric isomers have been determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. Cyclic voltammetry experiments on the complexes show an oxidative response and a reductive response within 0.50 to 0.93 V and -0.76 to -1.24 V vs. SCE respectively. The cis-Ru[κ2-N,N-DAB-X]2Cl2 complexes function as catalyst precursors for the acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of primary alcohols to H2 and homo- and cross-coupled esters. When 1,4-butanediol and 1,5-pentanediol are employed as substrates, lactones and hydroxyaldehydes are produced as the major dehydrogenation products, while secondary alcohols afforded ketones in excellent yields. The mechanism for the dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate and H2 using cis-Ru[κ2-N,N-DAB-H]2Cl2 (cis-1) as a catalyst precursor was investigated by DFT calculations. The data support a catalytic cycle that involves the four-coordinate species Ru[κ2-N,N-DAB-H][κ1-N-DAB-H](κ1-OCH2Ph) whose protonated κ1-diazabutadiene moiety functions as a chemically non-innocent ligand that facilitates a β-hydrogen elimination from the κ1-O-benzoxide ligand to give the corresponding hydride HRu[κ2-N,N-DAB-H][κ1-N-DAB-H](κ2-O,C-benzaldehyde). H2 production follows a Noyori-type elimination to give (H2)Ru[κ2-N,N-DAB-H][κ1-N-DAB-H](κ1-O-benzaldehyde) as an intermediate in the catalytic cycle.

Computational mechanistic studies of ruthenium catalysed methanol dehydrogenation

Homogeneous ruthenium catalysed methanol dehydrogenation could become a key reaction for hydrogen production in liquid fuel cells. In order to improve existing catalytic systems, mechanistic insight is paramount in directing future studies. Herein, we describe what computational mechanistic research has taught us so far about ruthenium catalysed dehydrogenation reactions. In general, two mechanistic pathways can be operative in these reactions: a metal-centered or a metal-ligand cooperative (Noyori-Morris type) minimum energy reaction pathway (MERP). Discerning between these mechanisms on the basis of computational studies has proven to be highly input dependent, and to circumvent pitfalls it is important to consider several factors, such as solvent effects, metal-ligand cooperativity, alternative geometries, and complex electronic structures of metal centres. This Frontiers article summarizes the reported computational research performed on ruthenium catalyzed dehydrogenation reactions performed in the past decade, and serves as a guide for future research.

Controlling Radical-Type Single-Electron Elementary Steps in Catalysis with Redox-Active Ligands and Substrates

Advances in (spectroscopic) characterization of the unusual electronic structures of open-shell cobalt complexes bearing redox-active ligands, combined with detailed mapping of their reactivity, have uncovered several new catalytic radical-type protocols that make efficient use of the synergistic properties of redox-active ligands, redox-active substrates, and the metal to which they coordinate. In this perspective, we discuss the tools available to study, induce, and control catalytic radical-type reactions with redox-active ligands and/or substrates, contemplating recent developments in the field, including some noteworthy tools, methods, and reactions developed in our own group. The main topics covered are (i) tools to characterize redox-active ligands; (ii) novel synthetic applications of catalytic reactions that make use of redox-active carbene and nitrene substrates at open-shell cobalt-porphyrins; (iii) development of catalytic reactions that take advantage of purely ligand- and substrate-based redox processes, coupled to cobalt-centered spin-changing events in a synergistic manner; and (iv) utilization of redox-active ligands to influence the spin state of the metal. Redox-active ligands have emerged as useful tools to generate and control reactive metal-coordinated radicals, which give access to new synthetic methodologies and intricate (electronic) structures, some of which are yet to be exposed.

Metrical Oxidation States of 1,4-Diazadiene-Derived Ligands

The conventional method of assigning formal oxidation states (FOSs) to metals and ligands is an important tool for understanding and predicting the chemical reactivity, in particular, in catalysis research. For complexes containing redox-noninnocent ligands, the oxidation state of the ligand can be ambiguous (i.e., their spectroscopic oxidation state can differ from the FOS) and thus frustrates the assignment of the oxidation state of the metal. A quantitative correlation between the empirical metric data of redox-active ligands and their oxidation states using a metrical oxidation state (MOS) model has been developed for catecholate- and amidophenoxide-derived ligands by Brown. In the present work, we present a MOS model for 1,4-diazabutadiene (DADⁿ) ligands. This model is based on a similar approach as reported by Brown, correlating the intra-ligand bond lengths of the DADⁿ moiety in a quantitative manner with the MOS using geometrical information from X-ray structures in the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Center (CCDC) database. However, an accurate determination of the MOS of these ligands turned out to be dependent on the coordination mode of the DAD^2– moiety, which can adopt both a planar κ²-N₂-geometry and a η⁴-N₂C₂ π-coordination mode in (transition) metal complexes in its doubly reduced, dianionic enediamide oxidation state. A reliable MOS model was developed taking the intrinsic differences in intra-ligand bond distances between these coordination modes of the DAD^2– ligand into account. Three different models were defined and tested using different geometric parameters (C=C → M distance, M–N–C angle, and M–N–C–C torsion angle) to describe the C=C backbone coordination with the metal in the η⁴-N₂-C₂ π-coordination mode of the DAD^2– ligand. Statistical analysis revealed that the C=C → M distance best describes the η⁴-N₂-C₂ coordination mode using a cutoff value of 2.46 Å for π-coordination. The developed MOS model was used to validate the oxidation state assignment of elements not contained within the training set (Sr, Yb, and Ho), thus demonstrating the applicability of the MOS model to a wide range of complexes. Chromium complexes with complex electronic structures were also shown to be accurately described by MOS analysis. Furthermore, it is shown that a combination of MOS analysis and FOD calculations provides an inexpensive method to gain insight into the electronic structure of singlet spin state (S = 0) [M(trop₂dad)] transition-metal complexes showing (potential) singlet biradical character.

Assigning oxidation states to metals and ligands is an important tool for understanding and predicting the chemical reactivity. For complexes containing redox-noninnocent ligands, the oxidation state of the ligand can be ambiguous. We present a metrical oxidation state model for 1,4-diazabutadiene ligands, correlating the intra-ligand bond lengths with the oxidation state using information from X-ray structures. This model accounts for the difference in bond length distances between the different coordination modes of the fully reduced ligand.

Unprecedented metal-metal bonded {Ru4(μ3-O)2} butterfly core in oxido-carboxylato bridged mixed valence cluster-structural elucidation and electronic forms in accessible redox states

Unprecedented metal-metal bonded oxido-carboxylato bridged mixed valence tetraruthenium cluster [(acac)₆Ru(μ₃-O)₂(μ-CH₃COO)₃] 1 (S = 1/2) (acac = acetylacetonate) with {Ru₄(μ₃-O)₂} "butterfly" core has been achieved via the reaction of Ru(acac)₂(CH₃CN)₂ with excess CH₃COONa (Ru : CH₃COONa = 1 : 15) in refluxing EtOH-H₂O (5 : 1). Structural analysis of 1 ascertained a unique Ru-Ru bonded (Ru2-Ru3: 2.5187(6) Å (DFT: 2.560 Å)) {Ru₂(Ru-Ru)(μ₃-O)₂} butterfly core, unlike the reported other Fe₄ or Mn₄ derived "butterfly" core. The connectivity of Ru₄(μ₃-O)₂ core in 1 with three Ru₂(μ-CH₃COO)₃ and two each Ru-(acac)₂/Ru-acac units resulted in interconnected four RuO₆ octahedral entities. The doubly bridged μ₃-O^2- ions of the nearly planar central metal-metal bonded Ru₂O₂ core (Ru2-Ru3, "body" or "hinge") linked to the remaining two "wing-tip" Ru atoms (Ru1 and Ru4). Complex 1 with a S = 1/2 spin state displayed paramagnetically shifted ¹H NMR over a wide chemical shift range in CDCl₃ (δ, 13 to -30 ppm) and a metal based anisotropic EPR (g₁ = 2.17, g₂ = 2.01, g₃ = 1.86; Δg = g₁-g₃ = 0.31 and 〈g〉 = [1/3(g₁² + g₂² + g₃²]^1/2 = 2.01) at 100 K in CH₃CN-toluene. The metal based one-electron reversible oxidation at 0.49 V and reduction at 0.485 V versus SCE of 1 led to the EPR inactive (even at 4 K) spin-coupled Ru^IIIRu^IIIRu^IVRu^IV (S = 0) and Ru^IIIRu^IIIRu^IIIRu^III (S = 0) electronic configurations for 1⁺ and 1^-, respectively. Mixed valence 1 and 1⁺ exhibited low-energy near-infrared (NIR) absorption bands at 1350 nm and 1156 nm, respectively, in CH₃CN. A combined experimental (UV-vis-NIR and EPR spectroelectrochemistry) and theoretical (DFT) analysis indicated a delocalised mixed valence form of 1 ({Ru₂(Ru-Ru)(μ₃-O)₂}).

Gianetti T, Ostendorf D, Dey S, Mougel V, Grützmacher H. Synthesis and Characterization of Ion Pairs between Alkaline Metal Ions and Anionic Anti-Aromatic and Aromatic Hydrocarbons with π-Conjugated Central Seven- and Eight-Membered Rings

The synthesis, isolation and full characterization of ion pairs between alkaline metal ions (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) and mono-anions and dianions obtained from 5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptenyl (C₁₅H₁₁ = trop) is reported. According to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray analysis and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, the trop^‒ and trop^2−• anions show anti-aromatic properties which are dependent on the counter cation M⁺ and solvent molecules serving as co-ligands. For comparison, the disodium and dipotassium salt of the dianion of dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraene (C₁₆H₁₂ = dbcot) were prepared, which show classical aromatic character. A d⁸-Rh(I) complex of trop⁻ was prepared and the structure shows a distortion of the C₁₅H₁₁ ligand into a conjugated 10π -benzo pentadienide unit—to which the Rh(I) center is coordinated—and an aromatic 6π electron benzo group which is non-coordinated. Electron transfer reactions between neutral and anionic trop and dbcot species show that the anti-aromatic compounds obtained from trop are significantly stronger reductants.

Radical-Type Reactivity and Catalysis by Single-Electron Transfer to or from Redox-Active Ligands

Controlled ligand-based redox-activity and chemical non-innocence are rapidly gaining importance for selective (catalytic) processes. This Concept aims to provide an overview of the progress regarding ligand-to-substrate single-electron transfer as a relatively new mode of operation to exploit ligand-centered reactivity and catalysis based thereon.

Rhodium(ii)-catalyzed C-H aminations using N-mesyloxycarbamates: reaction pathway and by-product formation

N-Mesyloxycarbamates are practical nitrene precursors that undergo C-H amination reactions in the presence of rhodium dimer catalysts. Under these conditions, both oxazolidinones and chiral amines have been prepared in a highly efficient manner. Given the elevated reactivity of the intermediates involved in the catalytic cycle, mechanistic details have remained hypothetical, relying on indirect experiments. Herein a density functional theory (DFT) study is presented to validate the catalytic cycle of the rhodium-catalyzed C-H amination with N-mesyloxycarbamates. A concerted pathway involving Rh-nitrene species that undergoes C-H insertion is found to be favored over a stepwise C-N bond formation manifold. Density functional calculations and kinetic studies suggest that the rate-limiting step is the C-H insertion process rather than the formation of Rh-nitrene species. In addition, these studies provide mechanistic details about competitive by-product formation, resulting from an intermolecular reaction between the Rh-nitrene species and the N-mesyloxycarbamate anion.

DFT Provides Insight into the Additive-Free Conversion of Aqueous Methanol to Dihydrogen Catalyzed by [Ru(trop2dad)]: Importance of the (Electronic) Flexibility of the Diazadiene Moiety

The mechanism for complete dehydrogenation of aqueous methanol to CO₂ and three equivalents of H₂ catalyzed by [Ru(trop₂dad)] was investigated with DFT (trop₂dad = 1,4-bis(5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-yl)-1,4-diazabuta-1,3-diene). To date, this is the only catalyst that promotes the acceptorless dehydrogenation of aqueous methanol in homogeneous phase under mild conditions without the addition of an additive (base, acid, or a secondary catalyst). A detailed understanding of the mechanism of this transformation may therefore be of significant importance for the conversion of liquid organic fuels. Previous computational studies using simplified models of the catalyst suggested entirely ligand-centered reaction pathways with rather high-energy barriers for complete dehydrogenation of aqueous methanol. These are, however, not consistent with the experimental data. In the present paper, we reveal a different reaction mechanism for aqueous methanol dehydrogenation that involves metal–ligand cooperativity involving the diazadiene (dad) ligand and has substantially lower barriers, in good agreement with the experimental data. The dad moiety of the ligand actively participates in the alcohol activation mechanism. In the first step of the reaction, the dad ligand rearranges from a σ- to a π-bound coordination mode. This adjusts the electronic structure of both the metal and the ligand, leading to an enhanced Brønsted basicity of the nitrogen centers and higher Lewis acidity of the ruthenium center. As a result, concerted proton-hydride transfer to/from metal-hydride and N-protonated dad-ligand moieties becomes possible, leading to low-barrier metal–ligand cooperative elementary steps for alcohol activation and H₂ elimination.

Ligand- and Metal-Based Reactivity of a Neutral Ruthenium Diolefin Diazadiene Complex: The Innocent, the Guilty and the Suspicious

Coordination of the diazadiene diolefin ligand (trop2 dad) to ruthenium leads to various complexes of composition [Ru(trop2 dad)(L)]. DFT studies indicate that the closed-shell singlet (CSS), open-shell singlet (OSS), and triplet electronic structures of this species are close in energy, with the OSS spin configuration being the lowest in energy for all tested functionals. Singlet-state CASSCF calculations revealed a significant multireference character for these complexes. The closed-shell singlet wavefunction dominates, but these complexes have a significant (≈8-16 %) open-shell singlet [d7 -RuI (L)(trop2 dad.- )] contribution mixed into the ground state. In agreement with their ambivalent electronic structure, these complexes reveal both metal- and ligand-centered reactivity. Most notable are the reactions with AdN3 , diazomethane, and a phosphaalkyne leading to scission of the C-C bond of the diazadiene (dad) moiety of the trop2 dad ligand, resulting in net (formal) nitrene, carbene, or P≡C insertion in the dad C-C bond, respectively. Supporting DFT studies revealed that several of the ligand-based reactions proceed via low-barrier radical-type pathways, involving the dad.- ligand radical character of the OSS or triplet species.