N-Heterocyclic Silylenes as Metal–Metal Bridges and Metal–Halide Activators in Transition Metal Complexes

Tuning the Inorganic Core of a reduced Ni2Ge2 Cluster

Tetranuclear cores (M-E)2 of transition metals (M) and tetrylenes (EII=Si, Ge, Sn) are key motifs in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. They exhibit a continuum of M-M and E-E bonding within the inorganic core that leads to a variety of structures for which there are no specific synthetic methods. Herein, we report a series of highly reduced [Ni0GeII]2 squares solely stabilized by bulky terphenyl (C6H3-2,6-Ar2) ligands, for which we provide complementary and high-yielding syntheses. Reactivity studies with common Lewis bases (carbene and CO) evince that the structure of the (M-E)2 core can be transformed. We have investigated this core modification by computational means, offering a rationale to better understand the continuum of bonding across these clusters.

N-Heterocyclic carbene and cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene ligated half-sandwich complexes of chromium(II) and chromium(I)

The synthesis and characterization of a series of Cr(II) N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) complexes of the type [{Cr(NHC)Cl(μ-Cl)}2] and [(Cyp)Cr(NHC)X] (Cyp = η5-C5H5, cyclopentadienyl; η5-C5Me5, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; X = Cl, η3-C3H5; NHC = IMeMe, IiPrMe, IMes, IDipp) as well as the cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene cAACMe ligated complexes [(η5-C5H5)Cr(cAACMe)X] (X = Cl, NPh2), [(η5-C9H7)Cr(cAACMe)Cl] (C9H7 = Ind, indenyl) and [(η5-C13H9)Cr(cAACMe)Cl] (C13H9 = Fl, fluorenyl) are reported. The reduction of [(η5-C5Me5)Cr(IMeMe)Cl] with KC8 in the presence of CO afforded the NHC ligated Cr(I) metallo-radical [(η5-C5Me5)Cr(IMeMe)(CO)2]. Quantum chemical calculations performed on [(η5-C5Me5)Cr(IMeMe)(CO)2] confirm for this complex a predominantly chromium centered radical.

First-Row Transition Metal Complexes of a Phosphine-Silylene-Based Hybrid Ligand

We have prepared two new silylene-phosphine-based hybrid ligands Si{N(R)C₆H₄(PPh₂)}{PhC(N^tBu)₂} [R = TMS {trimethylsilyl} (1) and TBDMS {tert-butyldimethylsilyl} (2)], which possess two donor sites. Furthermore, the treatment of the bidentate ligand 1 with base metal halides {FeBr₂, CoBr₂, NiCl₂·dme [nickel chloride(II) ethylene glycol dimethyl ether]} and 2 with NiBr₂·dme [nickel bromide(II) ethylene glycol dimethyl ether] afforded four-coordinate six-membered metal complexes 3-6, respectively, which feature coordination from both Si(II) and P(III) sites. Subsequently, complexes 3 [(FeBr₂)Si{N(SiMe₃)C₆H₄(PPh₂)}{PhC(N^tBu)₂}], 4 [(CoBr₂)Si{N(SiMe₃)C₆H₄(PPh₂)}{PhC(N^tBu)₂}], 5 [(NiCl₂)Si{N(SiMe₃)C₆H₄(PPh₂)}{PhC(N^tBu)₂}], and 6 [(NiBr₂)Si{N(Si^tBuMe₂)C₆H₄(PPh₂)}{PhC(N^tBu)₂}] are studied for their redox and magnetic properties with the help of UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, SQUID magnetometry, and theoretical calculations. Complexes 3-6 were found to display a paramagnetic behavior. All the compounds are well established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.

A square planar silylene nickel four-membered ring

Herein the new nickel silylene [PhC(NtBu)₂SiNi(C₅Me₅)]₂, which features a square planar central ring motif consisting of two silicon and two nickel atoms is presented. The title compound was obtained by an insertion of the Ni(0) precursor [Ni(cod)₂] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) in the Si-C bond of the silylene [PhC(NtBu)₂Si(C₅Me₅)]. Analytic characterisation including mass spectrometry as well as IR and Raman spectroscopies was combined with quantum chemical calculations to get an insight on the bonding situation within the four-membered Si-Ni-ring.

Intramolecularly Double-Donor-Stabilized Stannylene and Its Coordination towards Ag(I) and Au(I) Centers

The intramolecularly double-donor-stabilized stannylene 1 has been synthesized from the salt-metathesis reaction between two equivalents of lithium pyridine ene-amide L1 and SnCl₂ . Compound 1 exhibits dipolar behavior when reacted with B(C₆ F₅ )₃ leading to the zwitterionic compound 2. The reaction of 1 with one equivalent and 0.5 equivalent of AgOTf (OTf=trifluoromethane sulfonate) result in the formation of a stannylene-AgOTf complex 3 and a homoleptic distannylene-silver ionic complex 4, respectively. Analogous to complex 4, the gold(I) complex 5 has been synthesized from the reaction between two equivalents of 1 and 0.5 equivalent of AuCl.SMe₂ /Me₃ SiOTf. Complex 5 is the first example of homoleptic stannylene-Au(I) ionic complex among the very scarce reports on stannylene-gold(I) coordination complexes. All compounds have been structurally characterized using single crystal X-ray crystallography. Solution-state characterization have been performed using multinuclear NMR techniques. Detailed DFT calculations on the optimized geometries 1 o, 3 o-5 o reveal the change in sp- hybridization on the pyramidal Sn(II) center upon metal coordination and their bonding overlaps.

Progress in the preparation and characterization of silylene iron, cobalt and nickel complexes

The synthesis and characterization of Fe, Co and Ni complexes supported by silylene ligands in the past ten years are summarized. Due to the decrease of the electron cloud density on the Si atom after coordination, the downfield shift of the 29Si chemical shift is accompanied by the coordination between the free silylene ligand and metal. The strong electron-donating ability of silylene makes the metal center more electron-rich, which is conducive to the oxidative addition reaction in the metal center. In some cases, the coordination ability of silylene is stronger than those of phosphine and carbene ligands. Therefore, silylene transition metal complexes have better catalytic activity. The further challenges in this field are to develop new polydentate silylene ligands, synthesize chelate silylene-phosphine and silylene-carbene ligands, and design new silylene transition metal complexes for more catalytic research.

N-Heterocyclic silylenes as ambiphilic activators and ligands

Recent developments of the use of N-heterocyclic silylenes (NHSis), higher homologues of Arduengo-carbenes, as ambiphilic activators and ligands are highlighted and a comparison of NHSi ligands with NHC and phosphine ligands is provided.