Diphenylberyllium Reinvestigated: Structure, Properties, and Reactivity of BePh2 , [(12-crown-4)BePh]+ , and [BePh3 ]. Chemistry 2020;26:9915-9922. [PMID: 31957173 PMCID: PMC7496417 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202000259]

Mono-Ortho-Beryllated Carbodiphosphoranes: Synthesis, Structure, Bonding and Reactivity

The reaction of organoberyllium compounds with hexaphenylcarbodiphosphorane yields mono-ortho-beryllated complexes, which feature a double dative Be=C bond. The bonding situation in these compounds together with a simple carbodiphosphorane and an N-heterocyclic carbene adduct was analysed with energy decomposition analysis in combination with natural orbital for chemical valence as well as with quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules. Furthermore, the driving forces accountable for mono-ortho-beryllation were elucidated along with the reactivity of the Be=C bond.

Synthesis and Derivatives of Beryllium Triflate

Various pathways for the synthesis of beryllium triflate were investigated. The reaction of triflic acid or trimethylsilyl triflate with beryllium metal in liquid ammonia led to the formation of mono-, di-, and tetra-nuclear beryllium ammine complexes. Utilization of SMe2 as a solvent gave homoleptic Be(OTf)2. Various beryllium triflate complexes with N- and O-donor ligands as well as the complex anions [Be(OTf)4]2- and [Be2(OTf)6]2- were synthesized to evaluate the reactivity and solution properties of beryllium triflate. This showed that OTf- is not a weakly coordinating anion for Be2+ cations and that it exhibits good bridging properties.

Beryllium-Mediated Halide and Aryl Transfer onto Silicon

The reactivity of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3 ) towards BeCl2 , BeBr2 , BeI2 and [Be3 Ph6 ]3 was investigated. While BeCl2 only showed unselective reactivity, BeBr2 , BeI2 and [Be3 Ph6 ] cleanly react to the trinuclear complexes [Be3 Br2 (OSiMe2 Br)4 ], [Be3 I2 (OSiMe2 I)4 ] and [Be3 Ph2 (OSiMe2 Ph)4 ]. These unprecedented bromide, iodide and phenyl transfer reactions from a group II metal onto silicon offer a versatile access to previously unknown diorgano bromo and iodo silanolates.

Schlenk-Type Equilibria of Grignard-Analogous Arylberyllium Complexes: Steric Effects

The presence of complex Schlenk equilibria is a central property of synthetically invaluable Grignard reagents substantially affecting their reactivity and selectivity in chemical transformations. In this work, the steric effects of aryl substituents on the Schlenk-type equilibria of their lighter congeners, arylberyllium bromides, are systematically studied. Combination of diarylberyllium complexes Ar2 Be(OEt2 ) (1Ar, Ar=Tip, Tcpp; Tip=2,4,6-iPr3 C6 H3 , Tcpp=2,4,6-Cyp3 C6 H3 , Cyp=c-C5 H9 ), containing sterically demanding aryl groups, and BeBr2 (OEt2 )2 (2) affords the Grignard-analogous arylberyllium bromides ArBeBr(OEt2 ) (3Ar, Ar=Tip, Tcpp). In contrast, Mes2 Be(OEt2 ) (1Mes, Mes=2,4,6-Me3 C6 H3 ) and 2 exist in a temperature-dependent equilibrium with MesBeBr(OEt2 ) (3Mes) and free OEt2 . Ph2 Be(OEt2 ) (1Ph) reacts with 2 to afford dimeric [PhBeBr(OEt2 )]2 ([3Ph]2 ). Moreover, the influence of replacing the OEt2 donor by an N-heterocyclic carbene, IPr2 Me2 (IPr2 Me2 =C(iPrNCMe)2 ), on the redistribution reactions was investigated. The solution- and solid-state structures of the diarylberyllium and arylberyllium bromide complexes were comprehensively characterized using multinuclear (1 H, 9 Be, 13 C) NMR spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, while DFT calculations were employed to support the experimental findings.

A Preference for Heterolepticity - Schlenk Type Equilibria in Organometallic Beryllium Systems

The reaction of homoleptic beryllium halide with diphenyl beryllium complexes leads to the clean formation of heteroleptic beryllium Grignard compounds [(L)1-2 BePhX]1-2 (X=Cl, Br, I; L=C-, N-, O-donor ligand). The influence of ligands and solvent on these compounds, their formation and exchange equilibria in solution were investigated, together with the factors determining the complex constitution.

Gauging ambiphilicity of pseudo-halides via beryllium-trispyrazolylborato compounds

The ambiphilicity of pseudo-halides has been the object of extensive debate. Herein, we use a series of trispyrazolylborato beryllium pseudo-halido complexes [TpBe(X')] with X' = CN-, N3-, NCO- and NCS- to explore the origins of the preferred isomers. Thus, we have synthesised and characterised through NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction these complexes. A combination with quantum chemical calculations within the DFT framework enabled an in-depth understanding of the bonding modes and preferences of the investigated pseudo-halido ligands.

Ligand exchange at tetra-coordinated beryllium centres

Mono and dinuclear phosphine complexes of beryllium halides [(PMe₃)₂BeX₂], [(PMe₃)BeX₂]₂ and [(PCy₃)BeX₂]₂ (X = Cl, Br, I) were synthesised and characterised via NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. Dissociation and ligand exchange processes at these complexes were investigated through variable temperature NMR experiments in combination with line shape analysis and complemented by quantum chemical calculations. The PMe₃ dissociation energy is smallest in [(PMe₃)₂BeCl₂], while PMe₃ exchange is similar in energy in all mononuclear [(PMe₃)₂BeX₂] complexes and follows an interchange mechanism. While [(PMe₃)BeX₂]₂ dissociates homolytically, [(PCy₃)BeX₂]₂ cleaves one phosphine ligand. These distinctive dissociation processes account for the different chemical behaviour of these complexes.

Structure and spectroscopic properties of etherates of the beryllium halides

The synthesis of beryllium halide etherates and the solution behavior in benzene, dichloromethane, and chloroform was studied by NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy. Mononuclear units of [BeX 2(L)2] (X = Cl, Br, I; L = Et2O, thf) were identified as the favorably formed species in solution. Treatment of the mononuclear diethyl ether beryllium halide adduct with one equivalent beryllium halide formed the dinuclear compounds [BeX 2(OEt2)]2 (X = Cl, Br, I). The solid-state structures of [BeCl2(thf)2] and [BeBr2(thf)2] have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. [BeI2(thf)2] decomposed in all solvents. In CD2Cl2 the salt [Be(thf)4]I2 was formed, whereas in C6D6 and CDCl3, BeI2 precipitated and [BeI(thf)3]+, [Be(thf)4]2+ together with the thf ring-opening product [Be(μ 2-O(CH2)4I)I(thf)]2 were observed in solution.

Beryllium-centred C-H activation of benzene

Reaction of BeCl₂ with the dilithium diamide, [{SiN^Dipp}Li₂] ({SiN^Dipp} = {CH₂SiMe₂NDipp}₂), provides the dimeric chloroberyllate, [{SiN^DippBeCl}Li]₂, en route to the 2-coordinate beryllium amide, [SiN^DippBe]. Lithium or sodium reduction of [SiN^DippBe] in benzene, provides the relevant organoberyllate products, [{SiN^DippBePh}M] (M = Li or Na), via the presumed intermediacy of transient Be(I) radicals.

Bonding situations in tricoordinated beryllium phenyl complexes

The bonding situation in the tricoordinated beryllium phenyl complexes [BePh₃ ]^- , [(pyridine)BePh₂ ] and [(trimethylsilyl-N-heterocyclic imine)BePh₂ ] is investigated experimentally and computationally. Comparison of the NMR spectroscopic properties of these complexes and of their structural parameters, which were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments, indicates the presence of π-interactions. Topology analysis of the electron density reveals elliptical electron density distributions at the bond critical points and the double bond character of the beryllium-element bonds is verified by energy decomposition analysis with the combination of natural orbital for chemical valence. The present beryllium-element bonds are highly polarized and the ligands around the central atom have a strong influence on the degree of π-delocalization. These results are compared to related triarylboranes.

Reactivity of Diphenylberyllium as a Brønsted Base and Its Synthetic Application

Diphenylberyllium [Be₃Ph₆] is shown here to react cleanly as a Brønsted base with a vast variety of protic compounds. Through the addition of the simple molecules tBuOH, HNPh₂ and HPPh₂, as well as the more complex 1,3‐bis‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolinium chloride, one or two phenyl groups in diphenylberyllium were protonated. As a result, the long‐postulated structures of [Be₃(OtBu)₆] and [Be(μ‐NPh₂)Ph]₂ have finally been verified and shown to be static in solution. Additionally [Be(μ‐PPh₂)(HPPh₂)Ph]₂ was generated, which is only the second beryllium‐phospanide to be prepared; the stark differences between its behaviour and that of the analogous amide were also examined. The first crystalline example of a beryllium Grignard reagent with a non‐bulky aryl group has also been prepared; it is stabilised with an N‐heterocyclic carbene.

Surprises in the Solvent-Induced Self-Ionization in the Uranium Tetrahalide UX4 (X = Cl, Br, I)/Ethyl Acetate System

The reaction of the uranium(IV) halides UCl₄, UBr₄, or UI₄ with ethyl acetate (EtOAc) leads to the formation of the complexes [UX₃(EtOAc)₄][UX₅(EtOAc)] (X = Cl, Br) or [UI₄(EtOAc)₃]. Thus, both UCl₄ and UBr₄ show self-ionization in ethyl acetate to a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal [UX₃(EtOAc)₄]⁺ cation and a distorted octahedral [UX₅(EtOAc)]^- anion. Surprisingly, the chloride and bromide compounds are not isotypic. While [UCl₃(EtOAc)₄][UCl₅(EtOAc)] crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system, space group P2₁2₁2₁ at 250 K, the bromide compound crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, P12₁/n1 at 100 K. Unexpectedly, UI₄ does not show self-ionization but forms [UI₄(EtOAc)₃] molecules, which crystallize in the monoclinic crystal system, P2₁/c, at 100 K. The compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy, as well as molecular quantum chemical calculations using solvent models.

π Back-Donation from a Beryllium Dibromide Fragment at the Expense of Its σ Strength

It is common knowledge that metal-to-ligand π back-donation requires filled atomic orbitals at the metal center. However, we show through a combined experimental and theoretical approach that Be(II)→N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) π back-donation is present in the two carbene adducts [(iPr)BeBr₂] (1) and [(iPr)₂BeBr₂] (2) (iPr = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene). These complexes were characterized with NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy as well as with single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The unusual bonding situation is understood from the results of energy decomposition analysis in combination with natural orbital for chemical valence and quantum theory of atoms-in-molecules analysis. The obtained findings shed light on the unusually high Be-C bond strength in carbene adducts to beryllium compounds and rationalize their geometry and reactivity.

An approach towards the synthesis of lithium and beryllium diphenylphosphinites

The diphenylphosphinites [(THF)Li(OPPh2)]4 and [(THF)2Be(OPPh2)2] have been synthesized via direct deprotonation of diphenylphosphine oxide with n BuLi and BePh2, respectively, as well as via salt metathesis. These compounds were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the side-products of the reactions obtained under various reaction conditions have been identified. The beryllium derivative could not be isolated and decomposed into diphosphine oxide Ph2PP(O)Ph2. The solid-state structure of this final product together with that of [(THF)Li(OPPh2)]4 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Ethylenediamine complexes of the beryllium halides and pseudo-halides

The suitability of ethylenediamine (en) as an alternative solvent to liquid ammonia in beryllium chemistry was evaluated. Therefore, BeF2, BeCl2, BeBr2, BeI2, [Be(NH3)4](N3)2, [Be(NH3)4](CN)2 and [Be(NH3)4](SCN)2 were reacted with ethylenediamine and analysed via NMR and IR spectroscopy. Additionally single crystal structures of [BeF2(en)]n, [Be(en)3]Cl2, [Be(en)3]Br2, [Be(en)2]I2·en, [Be(en)2](N3)2·en, [Be(en)2]4(SCN)7Cl and [Be3(OH)3(en)3][C2H9N2](SCN)4 were obtained. The anions were found to have a distinct influence on the solubility as well as on the species present in solution and the solid state, while ethylenediamine can act as mono- and bidentate ligand or as a crystal solvent.

Behavior of beryllium halides and triflate in acetonitrile solutions

The solution behavior of beryllium halides and triflate in acetonitrile was studied by NMR, IR and Raman spectroscopy. Thereby mononuclear units [(MeCN)2BeX 2] (X = Cl, Br, I, OTf) were identified as dominant species in these solutions. The solid state structure of [(MeCN)2Be(OTf)2] has been determined by X-ray diffraction. If only one equivalent of MeCN is used the dinuclear compounds [(MeCN)BeX 2]2 (X = Cl, Br, I) are formed. Partial halide and triflate dissociation into the monomeric complexes as well as the formation of hetero-halide complexes [(MeCN)2BeClBr], [(MeCN)2BeClI] and [(MeCN)2BeBrI] was observed.

Beryllium coordination chemistry and its implications on the understanding of metal induced immune responses

The coordination chemistry of beryllium with ligands containing biologically relevant functional groups is discussed. The geometry, speciation and reactivity of these compounds, aids a better understanding of metal ion induced immune reactions.