Bis(diphenylphosphino)-methanide or -amide and its derivatives as ligands in gold chemistry: a review

Role of Bis(phosphinimino)methanides as Universal Ligands in the Coordination Sphere of Metals across the Periodic Table

The coordination chemistry of bis(phosphinimino)methanide ligands is widespread and accompanies a large number of metal ions in the periodic table ranging from lithium to neptunium. This unique class of ligand systems show copious coordination chemistry with the main-group, transition, rare-earth, and actinide metals and are considered to be among the most attractive ligand systems to researchers. The bis(phosphinimino)methanide metal complexes offer an extensive range of applications in various fields and have been demonstrated as one of the universal ligand systems to stabilize the metal ions in not only their usual but also their unusual oxidation states. The main-group and transition metal chemistry using bis(phosphinimino)methanides as ligands was last updated almost a decade ago. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of various state-of-the-art bis(phosphinimino)methanide-supported metal complexes by dealing with their synthesis, characterization, reactivity, and catalytic studies which were not included in the last critical reviews.

Heterovalent AuIII−MI (M = Cu, Ag, Au) Complexes Derived from Incorporation of [Au(tdt)2]- (tdt = Toluene-3,4-dithiolate) with [M2(dppm)2]2+ (dppm = Bis(diphenylphosphino)methane)

Polynuclear heterovalent Au(III)-M(I) (M = Cu, Ag, Au) cluster complexes [Au(III)Cu(I)8(mu-dppm)3(tdt)5]+ (1), [Au(III)3Ag(I)8(mu-dppm)4(tdt)8]+ (2), and [Au(III)Au(I)4(mu-dppm)4(tdt)2]3+ (3) were prepared by reaction of [Au(III)(tdt)2]- (tdt = toluene-3,4-dithiolate) with 2 equiv of [M(I)2(dppm)2]2+ (dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane). Complex 3 originates from incorporation of one [Au(III)(tdt)2]- with two [Au(I)2(dppm)2]2+ components through Au(III)-S-Au(I) linkages. Formation of complexes 1 and 2, however, involves rupture of metal-ligand bonds in the metal components and recombination between the ligands and the metal atoms. The Au(tdt)2 component connects to four M(I) atoms through Au(III)-S-M(I) linkages in syn and anti conformations in complexes 1 (M = Cu) and 3 (M = Au), respectively, but in both syn and anti conformations in complex 2 (M = Ag). The tdt ligand exhibits five types of bonding modes in complexes 1-3, chelating Au(III) or M(I) atoms as well as bridging Au(III)-M(I) or M(I)-M(I) atoms in different orientations. Although complexes 1 and 2 are nonemissive, Au(III)Au(I)(4) complex 3 shows room-temperature luminescence with emission maximum at 555 nm (tau(em) = 3.1 micros) in the solid state and at 570 nm (tau(em) = 1.5 micros) in acetonitrile solution.

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and crystal structure of the bimetallic complex [Ni2(mu-CO)(CO)2(mu-NH(PPh2)2)2]

The dinuclear Ni(0) complex [Ni2(mu-CO)(CO)2(mu-dppa)2] (1; dppa = bis(diphenylphosphino)amine) was synthesized by two routes in good yield. Complex 1 has a triclinic crystal system and P1 space group, with a = 13.009(1) A, b = 13.063(2) A, c = 14.664(2) A, alpha = 79.91(1) degrees, beta = 79.96(1) degrees, gamma = 71.32(1) degrees, and Z = 2. The structure of this compound exhibits two mu-coordinated dppa ligands in a cis, cis arrangement. Nickel atoms are at a 2.5824(7) A distance. Theoretical calculations predict a 0.39 bond order between metal atoms. The cyclic voltammograms show two quasi-reversible redox pairs, which correspond to the successive oxidation of the metal centers. The dinuclear complex described absorbs carbon monoxide, yielding a mixture of nickel carbonyl compounds.