Encapsulation of Thallium(I) by Tetranuclear Rhodium or Iridium Complexes: Synthesis and Molecular Structure of Heterobimetallic Complexes Stabilized by s2−d8 Bonding Interactions

Heterometallic bond activation enabled by unsymmetrical ligand scaffolds: bridging the opposites

Heterobi- and multimetallic complexes providing close proximity between several metal centers serve as active species in artificial and enzymatic catalysis, and in model systems, showing unique modes of metal-metal cooperative bond activation. Through the rational design of well-defined, unsymmetrical ligand scaffolds, we create a convenient approach to support the assembly of heterometallic species in a well-defined and site-specific manner, preventing them from scrambling and dissociation. In this perspective, we will outline general strategies for the design of unsymmetrical ligands to support heterobi- and multimetallic complexes that show reactivity in various types of heterometallic cooperative bond activation.

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.

Dinuclear pyridine-4-thiolate-bridged rhodium and iridium complexes as ditopic building blocks in molecular architecture

A series of dinuclear pyridine-4-thiolate (4-Spy)-bridged rhodium and iridium compounds [M(μ-4-Spy)(diolef)]2 [diolef = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod), M = Rh (1), Ir (2); diolef = 2,5-norbornadiene (nbd), M = Rh (3)] were prepared by the reaction of Li(4-Spy) with the appropriate compound [M(μ-Cl)(diolef)]2 (M = Rh, Ir). The dinuclear compound [Rh(μ-4-Spy)(CO)(PPh3)]2 (4) was obtained by the reaction of [Rh(acac)(CO)(PPh3)] (acac = acetylacetonate) with 4-pySH. Compounds 1-4 were assessed as metalloligands in self-assembly reactions with the cis-blocked acceptors [M(cod)(NCCH3)2](BF4) [M = Rh (a), Ir (b)] and [M(H2O)2(dppp)](OTf)2 [M = Pd (c), Pt (d); dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane]. The homometallic hexanuclear metallomacrocycles [{M2(μ-4-Spy)2(cod)2}2{M(cod)}2](BF4)2 (M = Rh [(1a)2], Ir [(2b)2]) and the heterometallic hexanuclear metallomacrocycles [{Rh2(μ-4-Spy)2(cod)2}2{Ir(cod)}2](BF4)2 [(1b)2], [{Rh2(μ-4-Spy)2(cod)2}2{M'(dppp)}2](OTf)4 (M' = Pd [(1c)2], Pt [(1d)2]), and [{Ir2(μ-4-Spy)2(cod)2}2{M'(dppp)}2](OTf)4 (M' = Pd [(2c)2], Pt [(2d)2]) were obtained. NMR spectroscopy in combination with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to elucidate the nature of the metalloligands and their respective supramolecular assemblies. Most of the synthesized species were found to be nonrigid in solution, and their fluxional behavior was studied by variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy. An X-ray diffraction study of the assemblies (1a)2 and (1d)2 revealed the formation of rectangular (9.6 Å × 6.6 Å) hexanuclear metallomacrocycles with alternating dinuclear (Rh2) and mononuclear (Rh or Pt) corners. The hexanuclear core is supported by four pyridine-4-thiolate linkers, which are bonded through the thiolate moieties to the dinuclear rhodium units, exhibiting a bent-anti arrangement, and through the peripheral pyridinic nitrogen atoms to the mononuclear corners.

Tri-[Pt2Tl]3- and Polynuclear Chain [Pt−Tl]∞- Complexes Based on Nonbridged PtII−TlI Bonds: Solid State and Frozen Solution Photophysical Properties

Treatment of (NBu4)2[PtR4] (R = C6F5) with 1 or 0.5 equiv of TlNO3 in EtOH/H(2)O produces colorless crystals of trinuclear complex (NBu4)3[Tl{PtR4}2], 1, in which the Tl+ center is complexed by two [PtR4]2- fragments (Pt-Tl = 2.9777(4) and 3.0434(4) A). The expected mixed complex with a Pt/Tl composition of 1:1, 2, is generated as an orange microcrystalline solid by treating [PtR4]2- with a large excess of TlNO3 (approximately 8 equiv). Crystallographic analysis of 2 reveals the formation of a novel one-dimensional (1D) heterometallic linear chain (NBu4)(infinity)[Tl{PtR4}](infinity), 2, formed by alternating a [PtR4]2- fragment and a Tl+ center with a uniform Pt-Tl bond separation along the chain of 3.0321(2) A. Surprisingly, treatment of (NBu4)2[PtR4] with 1 equiv of TlPF6 in EtOH yields pale greenish-yellow needles of an unusual adduct, 2.{(NBu4)(PF6)}(infinity) (3), which was found to form a similar extended linear chain, {TlPtR4}(infinity), constructed by two alternating Pt-Tl separations, a shorter (3.1028(6) A) one and a longer (3.2306(6) A) one. The solid state and solution photophysical properties have been examined. While complex 1 shows a high-energy MM'CT blue phosphorescence (450 nm), the extended chain in 2 exhibits a lower-energy emission (582 nm) than that in adduct 3 (505 nm). For products 2 and 3, interesting luminescence thermochromism is observed in frozen solutions. The emissions are found to be strongly dependent on the solvent, concentration, and excitation wavelength.

Novel Luminescent Mixed-Metal PtTl-Alkynyl-Based Complexes: The Role of the Alkynyl Substituent in Metallophilic and η2(π⋅⋅⋅Tl)-Bonding Interactions

A novel series of [PtTl(2)(C[triple chemical bond]CR)(4)](n) (n = 2, R = 4-CH(3)C(6)H(4) (Tol) 1, 1-naphthyl (Np) 2; n = infinity, R = 4-CF(3)C(6)H(4) (Tol(F)) 3) complexes has been synthesized by neutralization reactions between the previously reported [Pt(C[triple chemical bond]CR)(4)](2-) (R = Tol, Tol(F)) or novel (NBu(4))(2)[Pt(C[triple chemical bond]CNp)(4)] platinum precursors and Tl(I) (TlNO(3) or TlPF(6)). The crystal structures of [Pt(2)Tl(4)(C[triple chemical bond]CTol)(8)]4 acetone, 14 acetone, [Pt(2)Tl(4)(C[triple chemical bond]CNp)(8)]3 acetone1/3 H(2)O, 23 acetone 1/3 H(2)O and [[PtTl(2)(C[triple chemical bond]CTol(F))(4)](acetone)S](infinity) (S = acetone 3 a; dioxane 3 b) have been solved by X-ray diffraction studies. Interestingly, whereas in the tolyl (1) and naphthyl (2) derivatives, the thallium centers exhibit a bonding preference for the electron-rich alkyne entities to yield crystal lattices based on sandwich hexanuclear [Pt(2)Tl(4)(C[triple chemical bond]CR)(8)] clusters (with additional Tlacetone (1) or Tlnaphthyl (2) secondary interactions), in the C(6)H(4)CF(3) (Tol(F)) derivatives 3 a and 3 b the basic Pt(II) center forms two unsupported Pt-Tl bonds. As a consequence 3 a and 3 b form an extended columnar structure based on trimetallic slipped PtTl(2)(C[triple chemical bond]CTol(F))(4) units that are connected through secondary Tl(eta(2)-acetylenic) interactions. The luminescent properties of these complexes, which in solution (blue; CH(2)Cl(2) 1,2; acetone 3) are very different to those in solid state (orange), have been studied. Curiously, solid-state emission from 1 is dependent on the presence of acetone (green) and its crystallinity. On the other hand, while a powder sample of 3 is pale yellow and displays blue (457 nm) and orange (611 nm) emissions, the corresponding pellets (KBr, solid) of 3, or the fine powder obtained by grinding, are orange and only exhibit a very intense orange emission (590 nm).

Tetranuclear [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] complexes as building blocks for new inorganic architectures: synthesis of coordination polymers and heteropolynuclear complexes with electrophilic d8 and d10 metal fragments

The reaction of [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(cod)4] (PyS2 = 2,6-pyridinedithiolate, cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with CF3SO3Me gave the cationic complex [Rh(4)(mu-PyS(2)Me)(2)(cod)4][CF3SO3]2 (1) with two 6-(thiomethyl)pyridine-2-thiolate bridging ligands from the attack of Me+ at the terminal sulfur atoms of the starting material. Under identical conditions [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(tfbb)4] (tfbb = tetrafluorobenzobarrelene) reacted with CF3SO3Me to give the mixed-ligand complex [Rh(4)(mu-PyS2)(mu-PyS2Me)(tfbb)4][CF3SO3] 2. The nucleophilicity of the bridging ligands in the complexes [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] was exploited to prepare heteropolynuclear species. Reactions with [Au(PPh3)(Me2CO)][ClO4] gave the hexanuclear complexes [(PPh3)2Au2Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4][ClO4]2 (diolefin = cod (3), tfbb (4)). The structure of 4, solved by X-ray diffraction methods, showed the coordination of the [Au(PPh3)]+ fragments to the peripheral sulfur atoms in [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] along with their interaction with the neighbor rhodium atoms. Neutral coordination polymers of formula [ClMRh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4]n (M = Cu (5, 6), Au (7)) result from the self-assembly of alternating [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] ([Rh4]) blocks and MCl linkers. The formation of the infinite polymetallic chains was found to be chiroselective for M = Cu; one particular chain contains exclusively homochiral [Rh4] complexes. Cationic heterometallic coordination polymers of formula [MRh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4]n[BF4]n (M = Ag (8, 9), Cu (10, 11)) and [Rh5(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)5]n[BF4]n (12, 13) result from the reactions of [Rh4] with [Cu(CH2CN)4]BF4, AgBF4, and [Rh(diolefin)(Me2CO)2]BF4, respectively. The heterometallic coordination polymers exhibit a weak electric conductivity in the solid state in the range (1.2-2.8) x 10(-7) S cm(-1).

Linear heterotrinuclear complexes derived from an alkyl platinum(II) twelve-membered macrocycle

The P,N,P-tridentate ligand 2,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)pyridine, L, was employed to generate a twelve-membered metallomacrocyclic host species cis-Pt(2)Me(4)(mu-L)(2) that encapsulates Tl(I) and Cu(I) guest ions. The ligand was also used to synthesize another two linear heterotrinuclear complexes, [Me(2)Pt(mu-L)(2)Ag(2)(MeCN)(2)](BF(4))(2).MeCN and [(CO)(3)Fe(mu-L)(2)Ag(2)(Et(2)O)](ClO(4))(2), both containing a metal-metal dative bond (Pt-->Ag and Fe-->Ag, respectively) and stabilized by the d(10)-d(10) argentophilic interaction.

Synthesis of paramagnetic tetranuclear rhodium and iridium complexes with the 2,6-pyridinedithiolate ligand. Redox-induced degradation to diamagnetic triiridium compounds

The tetranuclear complexes [M4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] [PyS2 = 2,6-pyridinedithiolate; M = Rh, diolefin = cod (1,5-cyclooctadiene) (1), tfbb (tetrafluorobenzo[5,6]bicyclo[2.2.2]octa-2,5,7-triene) (2); M = Ir, diolefin = cod (3), tfbb (4)] exhibit two one-electron oxidations at a platinum disk electrode in dichloromethane at potentials accessible by chemical reagents. The rhodium tetranuclear complexes were selectively oxidized to the monocationic complexes [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4](+) (1(+), 2(+)) by mild one-electron oxidants such as [Cp2Fe](+) or [N(C6H4Br-4)3](+) and isolated as the PF6(-), BF4(-), and ClO4(-) salts. Silver salts behave as noninnocent one-electron oxidants for the reactions with the rhodium complexes 1 and 2 since they give sparingly soluble coordination polymers. The complex [Ir4(mu-PyS2)2(cod)4](+) (3(+)) was obtained as the tetrafluoroborate salt by reaction of 3 with 1 molar equiv of AgBF4, but the related complex 4(+) could not be isolated from the chemical oxidation of [Ir4(mu-PyS2)2(tfbb)4] (4) with AgBF4. Oxidation of 3 and 4 with 2 molar equiv of common silver salts resulted in the fragmentation of the complexes to give the diamagnetic triiridium cations [Ir3(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)3](+). The molecular structure of [Ir3(mu-PyS2)2(cod)3]BF4, determined by X-ray diffraction methods, showed the three metal atoms within an angular arrangement. Both 2,6-pyridinedithiolate tridentate ligands bridge two metal-metal bonded d(7) centers in pseudo octahedral environments and one d(8) square-planar iridium center. An interpretation of the EPR spectra of the 63-electron mixed-valence paramagnetic tetranuclear complexes suggests that the unpaired electron is delocalized over two of the metal atoms in the complexes 1(+)-3(+).