Ir3Co6 and Co3Fe3 Dithiolene Cluster Complexes: Multiple Metal–Metal Bond Formation and Correlation between Structure and Internuclear Electronic Communication

Electronic Communication in Binuclear Osmium- and Iridium-Polyhydrides

Reactions of polyhydrides OsH₆(PⁱPr₃)₂ (1) and IrH₅(PⁱPr₃)₂ (2) with rollover cyclometalated hydride complexes have been investigated in order to explore the influence of a metal center on the MH_n unit of the other in mixed valence binuclear polyhydrides. Hexahydride 1 activates an ortho-CH bond of the heterocyclic moiety of the trihydride metal–ligand compounds OsH₃{κ²-C,N-[C₅RH₂N-py]}(PⁱPr₃)₂ (R = H (3), Me (4), Ph (5)). Reactions of 3 and 4 lead to the hexahydrides (PⁱPr₃)₂H₃Os{μ-[κ²-C,N-[C₅RH₂N-C₅H₃N]-N,C-κ²]}OsH₃(PⁱPr₃)₂ (R = H (6), Me (7)), whereas 5 gives the pentahydride (PⁱPr₃)₂H₃Os{μ-[κ²-C,N-[C₅H₃N-C₅(C₆H₄)H₂N]-C,N,C-κ³]}OsH₂(PⁱPr₃)₂ (8). Pentahydride 2 promotes C—H bond activation of 3 and the iridium-dihydride IrH₂{κ²-C,N-[C₅H₃N-py]}(PⁱPr₃)₂ (9) to afford the heterobinuclear pentahydride (PⁱPr₃)₂H₃Os{μ-[κ²-C,N-[C₅H₃N-C₅H₃N]-N,C-κ²]}IrH₂(PⁱPr₃)₂ (10) and the homobinuclear tetrahydride (PⁱPr₃)₂H₂Ir{μ-[κ²-C,N-[C₅H₃N-C₅H₃N]-N,C-κ²]}IrH₂(PⁱPr₃)₂ (11), respectively. Complexes 6–8 and 11 display HOMO delocalization throughout the metal–heterocycle-metal skeleton. Their sequential oxidation generates mono- and diradicals, which exhibit intervalence charge transfer transitions. This notable ability allows the tuning of the strength of the hydrogen–hydrogen and metal–hydrogen interactions within the MH_n units.

The influence of a metal center on the MH_n unit of the other in binuclear osmium- and iridium-polyhydride complexes bearing rollover cyclometalated bipyridines as a bridging ligand has been studied.

Copper-incorporated mono- and di-TeRu5 metal carbonyl complexes: syntheses, structures, and an unusual skeletal arrangement

Two sandwich-type Cu3Cl- or Cu2{Te2Ru4(CO)10}-bridging di-TeRu5 clusters, [{TeRu5(CO)14}2Cu3Cl](2-) () and [{TeRu5(CO)14}2Cu2{Te2Ru4(CO)10}](4-) (), were obtained from the reaction of [TeRu5(CO)14](2-) with 1 equiv. of [Cu(MeCN)4][BF4] in CH2Cl2 or THF at 0 °C, respectively, depending on the solvents. The chloride-abstracted was structurally characterized to have two TeRu5 cores that were linked by a Cu3Cl moiety with two Cu-Cu bonds. If the reaction was carried out in a molar ratio of 1 : 2 at 0 or 30 °C in CH2Cl2, the structural isomers [TeRu5(μ-CO)2(CO)12(CuMeCN)2] () and [TeRu5(μ-CO)3(CO)11Cu2(MeCN)2] () were produced, respectively, as the major product. Cluster displayed a TeRu5 core with two adjacent Ru3 triangles each capped by a μ3-Cu(MeCN) fragment, while contained a TeRu5 core with one triangle Ru3 plane capped by a Cu2(MeCN)2 fragment with two Cu atoms covalently bonded. Upon heating, the isomerization of into proceeded to undergo an unusual skeletal arrangement of Cu(MeCN) and migration of CO, with the TeRu5 core remaining intact. An electrochemical study revealed that and each exhibited only one oxidation while cluster had two consecutive oxidations, suggesting significant electronic communication between the two TeRu5 metal cores in via the Cu3 moiety. This work describes the facile synthesis of a series of semiconducting Cux-bridging Te-Ru carbonyl clusters, in which the incorporation of the Cux fragments has significantly influenced their resulting structures, rearrangements, and electronic properties, which was further elucidated by DFT calculations.

A stepwise assembly of a molecular box from 16-electron half-sandwich precursors [Cp*M(pdt)] (M = Rh, Ir)

The coordinatively unsaturated 16-electron half-sandwich precursors [Cp*M(pdt)] (M = Rh and Ir, pdt = pyrazine-2,3-dithiol) have been synthesized. Their bridging and unsaturated attributes are further used in stepwise assembly reactions with binuclear blocks to give a closed molecular box.

Hydrogen generation: aromatic dithiolate-bridged metal carbonyl complexes as hydrogenase catalytic site models

The design, syntheses and characteristics of metal carbonyl complexes with aromatic dithiolate linkers reported as bioinspired hydrogenase catalytic site models are described and reviewed. Among these the complexes capable of hydrogen generation have been discussed in detail. Comparisons have been made with carbonyl complexes having alkyl dithiolates as linkers between metal centers.

π-Conjugated trinuclear group-9 metalladithiolenes with a triphenylene backbone

Previously, we synthesized π-conjugated trinuclear metalladithiolene complexes based on benzenehexathiol (J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans.1998, 2651; Dalton Trans.2009, 1939; Inorg. Chem.2011, 50, 6856). Here we report trinuclear complexes with a triphenylene backbone. A reaction with triphenylenehexathiol and group 9 metal precursors in the presence of triethylamine gives rise to trinuclear complexes 9-11. The planar structure of 11 is determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The ligand-to-metal charge transfer bands of 9-11 move to longer wavelengths compared with those of mononuclear 12-14. Electrochemical measurements disclose that the one-electron and two-electron reduced mixed-valent states are stabilized thermodynamically. UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy for the reduced species of 9 identifies intervalence charge transfer bands for 9(-) and 9(2-), substantiating the existence of electronic communication among the three metal nuclei. These observations prove that the triphenylene backbone transmits π-conjugation among the three metalladithiolene units.

Synthesis of protected benzenepolyselenols

Previously unknown benzenepolyselenols have been synthesized and isolated in their acetyl-protected form. The two molecules 1,3,5-tris(acetylseleno)benzene and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(acetylseleno)benzene were synthesized by the reductive dealkylation in Na/NH(3) of 1,3,5-tris(tert-butylseleno)benzene and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(tert-butylseleno)benzene, respectively. Hexakis(tert-butylseleno)benzene was also synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, but it was not possible to isolate hexakis(acetylseleno)benzene. The synthetic methodology is likely to be useful in the synthesis of other areneselenols.