Reaktive π-Komplexe der elektronenreichen Übergangsmetalle, IV. Cyclisierungsreaktionen von t-Butylphosphaacetylen an π-Areneisen-Komplexen

Low-Valent Transition Metalate Anions in Synthesis, Small Molecule Activation, and Catalysis

This review surveys the synthesis and reactivity of low-oxidation state metalate anions of the d-block elements, with an emphasis on contributions reported between 2006 and 2022. Although the field has a long and rich history, the chemistry of transition metalate anions has been greatly enhanced in the last 15 years by the application of advanced concepts in complex synthesis and ligand design. In recent years, the potential of highly reactive metalate complexes in the fields of small molecule activation and homogeneous catalysis has become increasingly evident. Consequently, exciting applications in small molecule activation have been developed, including in catalytic transformations. This article intends to guide the reader through the fascinating world of low-valent transition metalates. The first part of the review describes the synthesis and reactivity of d-block metalates stabilized by an assortment of ligand frameworks, including carbonyls, isocyanides, alkenes and polyarenes, phosphines and phosphorus heterocycles, amides, and redox-active nitrogen-based ligands. Thereby, the reader will be familiarized with the impact of different ligand types on the physical and chemical properties of metalates. In addition, ion-pairing interactions and metal-metal bonding may have a dramatic influence on metalate structures and reactivities. The complex ramifications of these effects are examined in a separate section. The second part of the review is devoted to the reactivity of the metalates toward small inorganic molecules such as H2, N2, CO, CO2, P4 and related species. It is shown that the use of highly electron-rich and reactive metalates in small molecule activation translates into impressive catalytic properties in the hydrogenation of organic molecules and the reduction of N2, CO, and CO2. The results discussed in this review illustrate that the potential of transition metalate anions is increasingly being tapped for challenging catalytic processes with relevance to organic synthesis and energy conversion. Therefore, it is hoped that this review will serve as a useful resource to inspire further developments in this dynamic research field.

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.

The First Coordination Polymers Based on 1,3-Diphosphaferrocenes and 1,1',2,3',4-Pentaphosphaferrocenes

Phosphaferrocenes in combination with coinage metal salts proved to be excellent building blocks in supramolecular chemistry for the buildup of oligomeric and polymeric assemblies. The synthesis of a series of novel phosphaferrocenes containing the 1,3‐P₂C₃iPr₃ and/or the 1,2,4‐P₃C₂iPr₂ ligand is described herein. The self‐assembly processes of the 1,3‐diphospha‐, 1,2,4‐triphospha‐, and 1,1′,2,3′,4‐pentaphosphaferrocenes with Cu^I halides led to the formation of 1D or 2D polymers. With [Cp*Fe(η⁵‐P₂C₃iPr₃)] (Cp* = η⁵‐C₅Me₅), infinite chains are formed, whereas with [(η⁵‐P₃C₂iPr₂)Fe(η⁵‐P₂C₃iPr₃)] 1D ladderlike structures are obtained. These are the first polymers containing such a di‐ and pentaphosphaferrocene, respectively. On the other hand, the use of [Cp*Fe(η⁵‐P₃C₂iPr₂)] leads to the construction of 2D networks with intact sandwich complexes, which is uncommon for this class of complexes.

µ-η3:η4-Lithiocene and η3:η3-zincocene incorporating 1,2-diaza-3,5-diborolyl, a cyclopentadienyl analog

A heterocyclic cyclopentadienyl analog containing only one carbon atom in the ring was prepared and a polymeric lithiocene and a monomeric zincocene containing this novel ligand have been isolated and crystallographically characterized.