Dehydrogenative coupling of hydrostannanes catalyzed by transition-metal complexes

Group IV heteroadamantanes: synthesis of Si6Sn4 and site-selective derivatization of Si6Ge4

The mixed heteroadamantanes Si₆Ge₄ and Si₆Sn₄ are readily accessible from Me₂ECl₂/Si₂Cl₆/cat. Cl^- (4 × EMe₂, 2 × SiCl₂, 4 × Si-SiCl₃ vertices; E = Ge, Sn). Different from Si₆Ge₄, two skeletal isomers are formed in the case of Si₆Sn₄. Site-selective SiCl₃-methylation of Si₆Ge₄ was achieved, leaving the SiCl₂ groups untouched.

Isolable Tin(II) Hydrides Featuring Sterically Undemanding Pincer-Type Ligands and Their Dehydrogenative Sn-Sn Bond Forming Reactions to Distannynes Promoted by Lewis Acidic Tri-sec-butylborane

Unlike isolable tin(II) hydrides supported by bulky ligands reported in the literature, this research describes the synthesis and characterization of thermally stable tin(II) hydrides L^PhSnH (1-H) and ^MeLSnH (2-H) stabilized by sterically undemanding N,N,N-coordinating pincer-type ligands (L^Ph = 2,5-dipyridyl-3,4-diphenylpyrrolato; ^MeL = 2,5-bis(6-methylpyridyl)pyrrolato). The results from previous reports reveal that attempts to access tin(II) hydrides containing less-bulky ligands have had limited success, and decomposition to tin(I) distannynes often occurs. The key to the successful isolation of 1-H and 2-H is the identification of the role of Lewis acidic B^sBu₃, generated upon delivering hydride from commonly used hydride reagents M[B^sBu₃H] ("selectrides", M = Li or K). This study details compelling experimental evidence and theoretical results of the role played by B^sBu₃, which catalyzes the dehydrocoupling reactions of 1-H and 2-H to yield tin(I) distannynes L^PhSn-SnL^Ph (1₂) and ^MeLSn-Sn^MeL (2₂) with the liberation of H₂. To avoid the interference of B^sBu₃, 1-H and 2-H can be isolated in pure forms using pinacolborane as the hydride donor with L^PhSnOMe (1-OMe) and ^MeLSnOMe (2-OMe) as reactants, respectively. DFT calculations and experimental observations indicate that the coordination of the Sn-H bond of 1-H to B^sBu₃ leaves an electrophilic tin center, rendering the nucleophilic attack by the second equivalent of 1-H forming a Sn-Sn bond.

Transition Metal Chain Complexes Supported by Soft Donor Assembling Ligands

The chemistry of discrete molecular chains constituted by metals in low oxidation states, displaying metal-metal proximity and stabilized by suitable metal-bridging, assembling ligands comprising at least one soft donor atom is comprehensively reviewed; complexes with a single (hard or soft) bridging atom (e.g., μ-halide, μ-sulfide, or μ-PR₂ etc.) as well as "closed" metal arrays (that fall in the realm of cluster chemistry) are excluded. The focus is on transition metal-based systems, with few excursions to cases combining transition and post-transition elements. Most relevant supporting ligands have neutral C, P, O, or S donor (mainly, N-heterocyclic carbene, phosphine, ether, thioether) or anionic donor (mainly phenyl, ylide, silyl, phosphide, thiolate) groups. A supporting-ligand-based classification of the metal chains is introduced, using as the classifying parameter the number of "bites" (i.e., ligand bridges) subtending each intermetallic separation. The ligands are further grouped according to the number of donor atoms interacting with the metal chain (called denticity in the following) and the column of the Periodic Table to which the set of donor atoms belongs (in ascending order). A complementary metal-based compilation of the complexes discussed is also provided in a concise tabular form.

Bis(pentafluorophenyl)phenothiazylborane - an intramolecular frustrated Lewis pair catalyst for stannane dehydrocoupling

We synthesized a novel Lewis acidic aminoborane containing a phenothiazyl substituent and demonstrated its potential to catalytically promote the dehydrocoupling of tin hydrides. The observed reactivity would imply a homolytic frustrated Lewis pair type mechanism, however computational analysis suggests a heterolytic mechanism for this reaction. This result represents one of the first frustrated Lewis pair systems to dehydrocouple stannanes in a heterolytic fashion.

Diaryltin Dihydrides and Aryltin Trihydrides with Intriguing Stability

In the last few decades, organotin hydrides have proven their potential as building blocks for a great variety of organometallic compounds. In this context, organotin hydrides with sterically shielding aryl substituents have attracted special interest, as these ligands can kinetically stabilize metastable products. The selective synthesis of aryltin halide compounds Ar*₂SnCl₂ and Ar*SnI₃ featuring the highly sterically encumbered aryl ligand Ar* (^iPrAr* = 2,6-(Ph₂CH)₂-4-iPrC₆H₂; ^MeAr* = 2,6-(Ph₂CH)₂-4-MeC₆H₂) is presented. These aryltin halides were converted into corresponding aryltin hydrides Ar*₂SnH₂ and Ar*SnH₃, which exhibit a surprisingly high thermal stability and oxygen tolerance.

Reductive dehydrocoupling of diphenyltin dihydride with LiAlH4: selective synthesis and structures of the first bicyclo[2.2.1]heptastannane-1,4-diide and bicyclo[2.2.2]octastannane-1,4-diide

The reaction of diphenyltin dihydride with LiAlH4 gives access to a set of charged tin cages as their lithium salts. Variation in the ratio of reactants provides a perstannabicyclooctane dianion and a perstannanorbornane as the di- and monoanions. These compounds can be synthesised selectively by careful stoichiometric control and have been characterised by single crystal X-ray diffractometry, NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. Computational exploration of the electronic structures of these compounds was undertaken and, in agreement with structural and spectroscopic features, indicated significant σ-delocalisation in the tin skeletons.

Recent Advances in the Chemistry of the Organotin Hydrides

Advances in the chemistry of the organotin hydrides during the last decade are reviewed.

The synthesis and structure of a dianionic species with a bond between pentacoordinated tin atoms: bonding properties of the tin–tin bond

The first dianionic compound bearing a bond between two pentacoordinated tin atoms, a distannate, was synthesized and crystallographically characterized.

A nitrogen-base catalyzed generation of organotin(ii) hydride from an organotin trihydride under reductive dihydrogen elimination

Amine bases are shown to induce reductive elimination of dihydrogen from terphenyltin trihydride.

Since their first description over a decade ago, organotin(ii) hydrides have been an iconic class of compounds in molecular main group chemistry. Among other approaches they have been accessed from the hydrogenation of distannynes. We herein report their accessibility from the other direction by dehydrogenation of organotin trihydride. On reacting pyridine and amine bases with the bulky substituted organotin trihydride Ar*SnH₃ (Ar* = 2,6-trip₂(C₆H₃)–, trip = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl) hydrogen evolution was observed. In case of catalytic amounts of base the dehydro-coupling product diorganodistannane Ar*H₂SnSnH₂Ar* was obtained quantitatively whilst for excessive amounts (>4 eq.) the monomeric base adduct to known Ar*SnH was obtained almost exclusively. The base adducts were found to be remarkably thermally robust. They readily react with polar fulvenic C Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> C-bonds in hydro-stannylenylation reactions. The resulting half-sandwich complex Ar*SnCp* was structurally characterized. Moreover, on application of less nucleophilic amine bases, the uncoordinated, in solution dimeric [Ar*SnH]₂ is formed. NMR spectroscopic studies on the kinetics of the DMAP-catalysed reductive elimination of dihydrogen were performed. The activation energy was approximated to be 13.7 kcal mol^–1. Solvent dependencies and a kinetic isotope effect KIE of k_H/k_D = 1.65 in benzene and 2.04 in THF were found and along with DFT calculations support a polar mechanism for this dehydrogenation.

α-Diimine nickel complexes of ethylene and related alkenes

A series of α-diimine-supported nickel complexes with a coordinated alkene, [LNi(alkene)], were synthesized and their structure and bonding were studied.

Synthesis, Structure, and α-Elimination Chemistry of Hafnocene Triarylstannyl Complexes

New hafnocene triarylstannyl complexes were prepared and were shown to undergo clean thermal decompositions via alpha-aryl-elimination to produce the corresponding stannylene and a hafnocene aryl complex. The rate of the decomposition is highly dependent on the nature of the ancillary ligand, with the stabilities of the CpCp*Hf(SnPh(3))X compounds following the order X = NMe(2) > Np (alpha-agostic) > OMe > Cl > Me. Mechanistic information suggests that alpha-aryl-elimination may be viewed as a concerted process involving nucleophilic attack of the migrating aryl group onto the electrophilic metal center.