Pd(II) complexes with polydentate nitrogen ligands. Molecular recognition and dynamic behavior involving Pd-N bond rupture. X-ray molecular structures of [[Pd(C6HF4)2](bpzpm)] and [[Pd(eta 3-C4H7)]2(bpzpm)] (CF3SO3)2 [bpzpm = 4,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyrimidine]

Molecular squares, coordination polymers and mononuclear complexes supported by 2,4-dipyrazolyl-6H-1,3,5-triazine and 4,6-dipyrazolylpyrimidine ligands

The Fe[BF4]2 complex of 2,4-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-6H-1,3,5-triazine (L1) is a high-spin molecular square, [{Fe(L1)}4(μ-L1)4][BF4]8, whose crystals also contain the unusual HPzBF3 (HPz = pyrazole) adduct. Three other 2,4-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-6H-1,3,5-triazine derivatives with different pyrazole substituents (L2-L4) are unstable in the presence of first row transition ions, but form mononuclear, polymeric or molecular square complexes with silver(i). Most of these compounds involve bis-bidentate di(pyrazolyl)triazine coordination, which is unusual for that class of ligand, and the molecular squares encapsulate one or two BF4-, ClO4- or SbF6- ions through combinations of anionπ, AgX and/or C-HX (X = O or F) interactions. Treatment of Fe[NCS]2 or Fe[NCSe]2 with 4,6-di(pyrazol-1-yl)-2H-pyrimidine (L5) or its 2-methyl and 2-amino derivatives (L6 and L7) yields mononuclear [Fe(NCE)2L2] and/or the 1D coordination polymers catena-[Fe(NCE)2(μ-L)] (E = S or Se, L = L5-L7). Alcohol solvates of isomorphous [Fe(NCS)2L2] and [Fe(NCSe)2L2] compounds show different patterns of intermolecular hydrogen bonding, reflecting the acceptor properties of the anion ligands. These iron compounds are all high-spin, although annealing solvated crystals of [Fe(NCSe)2(L5)2] affords a new phase exhibiting an abrupt, low-temperature spin transition. Catena-[Fe(H2O)2(μ-L5)][ClO4]2 is a coordination polymer of alternating cis and trans iron centres.

Oxidative Coupling with Zr(IV) Supported by a Noninnocent Anthracene-Based Ligand: Application to the Catalytic Cotrimerization of Alkynes and Nitriles to Pyrimidines

We report the synthesis and reactivity of Zr complexes supported by a 9,10-anthracenediyl-linked bisphenoxide ligand, L. Zr^IVLBn₂ (1) undergoes facile photolytic reduction with concomitant formation of bibenzyl and Zr^IVL(THF)₃ (2), which displays a two-electron reduced anthracene moiety. Leveraging ligand-stored reducing equivalents, 2 promotes the oxidative coupling of internal and terminal alkynes to isolable zirconacyclopentadiene complexes, demonstrating the reversible utilization of anthracene as a redox reservoir. With diphenylacetylene under CO, cyclopentadienone is formed stoichiometrically. 2 is competent for the catalytic formation of pyrimidines from alkynes and nitriles. Mechanistic studies suggest that selectivity for pyrimidine originates from preferred formation of an azazirconacyclopentadiene intermediate, which reacts preferentially with nitriles over alkynes.

Phosphine-functionalized NHC Ni(ii) and Ni(0) complexes: synthesis, characterization and catalytic properties

Ni(ii) and Ni(0) complexes bearing chelating diphenylphosphine-functionalized NHC ligands have been prepared and characterized. Their catalytic behavior in various cross-coupling reactions has also been examined.

Synthesis, X-ray characterization and DFT studies of N-benzimidazolyl-pyrimidine–M(ii) complexes (M = Cu, Co and Ni): the prominent role of π-hole and anion–π interactions

Five Cu(ii), Co(ii) and Ni(ii) complexes with 2-(N-benzimidazolyl)-pyrimidine and nitrate co-ligands have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction.

Understand, elucidate and rationalize the coordination mode of pyrimidylmethylamines: an intertwined study combining NMR and DFT methods

Elucidation of the coordination modes in the pyrimidylmethylamines by NMR and DFT methods.

Self-assembly of Ligands Designed for the Building of a New Type of [2 × 2] Metallic Grid. Anion Encapsulation and Diffusion NMR Spectroscopy

The ligands 4,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)pyrimidine (bpzpm), 4,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)pyrimidine (bpz(*)pm), 4,6-bis(4-methylpyrazol-1-yl)pyrimidine (Mebpzpm), and 3,6-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)pyridazine (ppdMe) were synthesized and were made to react with Cu(I) centers in the presence of different counteranions. Different [2 x 2] metallic grids were obtained. With ligands bpzpm, bpz*pm, and Mebpzpm, a new type of grid was obtained where the facing ligands were divergent and two counteranions (BF(4-) or PF(6-)) were hosted in the resulting cavities and exhibit C-H...F and anion...pi interactions in the solid state. The presence of methyl groups on the pyrazolyl rings induced several distortions in the structure. In complexes with the ligand ppdMe, there were found two groups of parallel ligands in the grid, and the cavities generated were smaller. The counteranions were situated outside the grid, and the facing ligands exhibited aromatic pi-pi stacking interactions. Anion-pi interactions involving the pyridazine ring were found. The behavior in solution of the new derivatives with a special emphasis on the cation-anion interactions was studied by UV-vis and NMR spectroscopy. Diffusion NMR experiments performed for some complexes allowed us to conclude that weak cation-anion interactions exist in solution, with the counteranions undergoing fast exchange on the diffusion time scale between the free and ion-paired states.

Dynamic stereochemical rearrangements in chiral organometallic complexes

Organometallic complexes have long been known to display a wide variety of dynamic stereochemical processes. Classic examples of such processes include the exchange of axial and equatorial environments in trigonal bipyramidal complexes, such as Fe(CO)(5), and the migration of the metal moiety round the periphery of the cyclopentadiene ring in eta(1)-bound Cp complexes. The systematic study of fluxional processes is of interest because it can not only help provide a detailed, quantitative 'picture' of the bonding between the metals and ligands involved, but it can also help to rationalise chemical reactivity patterns. The introduction of chirality into organometallic complexes, usually in the form of a non-racemic chiral ligand, has led to an explosion in the importance such species, particularly with regard to their applications in organic functional group transformations. The presence of a chiral centre can also provide an excellent spectroscopic handle on the complex in question, enabling both novel fluxional processes to be observed and new light to be shed on old (unresolved) problems. In this critical review (101 references) the literature on metal-centred fluxional rearrangements in chiral transition and main group organometallic complexes is reviewed, complementing the recent review by Faller (see reference 8).

Mesomorphism of ionic allylpalladium(II) complexes containing pz(R2)py as ligands and [BF4]-, [PF6]- or [CF3SO3]- as counteranions

The synthesis and thermal behaviour is reported of some ionic liquid-crystalline complexes formed when a mesogenic, two-chained, pyrazolylpyridine ligand is bound to a eta3-allylpalladium(II) fragment. The phase behaviour of the complexes is dominated by the formation of the SmA phase and, while the stability of the crystal phase appears to be controlled by intermolecular solid-state interactions, the stability of the liquid crystal phases is controlled by the length of the ligand alkoxy chains. Some of the complexes also show a complex polymorphism leading to the observation of double-melting behaviour.

Theoretical, dynamic, and structural studies of the phenyl rotation in bispentafluorophenyl palladium complexes with scorpion-type ligands

A theoretical study at a DFT level has been carried out on the pentafluorophenyl rotation in the compounds [Pd(C6F5)2(bpzmPh)] (1) and [Pd(C6F5)2(bpz*mPh)] (2) (bpzm = bis(pyrazol-1-yl)phenylmethane and bpz*mPh = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)phenylmethane). The orientation of one C6F5 with respect to the coordination plane was forced to adopt specific values to simulate ring rotation and several parameters, such as the disposition of the other C6F5 group, the energy of the system, and the skeletal conformation of the bpz'm ligand, were analysed. The maximum energy value was found when the C6F5 ring was nearly coplanar with the coordination plane. In both complexes the minimum energy corresponds to a situation where the two rings are nearly parallel. A number of distortions that mainly affect the NPdN bite angle were predicted for the complex containing the bpz*mPh ligand (methylated pyrazoles). Four structures of complexes from this family were determined by X-ray diffraction and the same types of distortion were found. The differences in the free energies of activation for the pentafluorophenyl rotation in complexes containing methylated and non-methylated ligands were theoretically calculated. The calculated values were consistent with the data experimentally determined by NMR spectroscopy. The origin of the difference was attributed to the aforementioned distortions of the complexes containing the bpz*mPh ligand, which were more remarkable in the configuration of maximum energy.Key words: N ligands, palladium, theoretical studies, DFT calculations, dynamics.

Trinuclear heterobimetallic complexes with binucleating dithioxamides: stereoselective synthesis and solution behavior involving Pd-N bond rupture

Bischelate platinum(II) complexes of the type [Pt(H-R(2)-N(2)C(2)S(2))(2)] (H-R(2)-N(2)C(2)S(2)(-) = dialkyl-dithioxamidate) are ditopic receptors which, after coordination of the first Pd(eta(3)-allyl)(+) moiety, induce the orientation of the second palladium-allyl fragment. Thus, a series of trimetallic complexes of formula bis-[(eta(3)-allyl)-palladium(II)](mu-bis-dialkyl-dithioxamidate-platinum(II) kappa-S,S-kappa-S',S'-Pt-kappa-N,N-Pd-kappa-N',N'-Pd') has been prepared in which the allyl fragments are oriented toward the same side of the molecular plane. We have also prepared the trimetallic complex using a dithioxamide obtained from the racemic phenylethylamine. Only two isomers were produced in equimolar ratio: the racemate that has four homochiral alkyl substituents and the mesoform containing the meso-dithioxamide that has homochiral substituents on the same side of molecular plane. Under the effect of the temperature, the trimetallic Pd-Pt-Pd complexes undergo rapid allyl isomerization; the mechanism of the isomerization, which is similar to that found by us in an analogue Pt-Pd bimetallic complex, is discussed. The crystal and molecular structure of bis-[(eta(3)-allyl)-palladium(II)](mu-bis-[S]-phenylethyl-dithioxamidate-platinum(II) kappa-S,S-kappa-S',S'-Pt-kappa-N,N-Pd-kappa-N',N'-Pd') has been reported.

Five different fluxional processes in polyfluorophenyl palladium(II) complexes with 2,4,6-tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine. The driving effect of the solvent

The polydentate N-donor ligand 2,4,6-tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine (Me(2)-TpzT) has been used to synthesize the new palladium derivatives Pd(R)(2)(Me(2)-TpzT), R = C(6)F(5), 1; R = m-C(6)ClF(4), 2. In the case of complex 2, four different atropisomers have been detected at low temperature. The new complexes exhibit a rich dynamic behavior, including three metallotropic processes (metal-hurdling, 1,4-metallotropic shifts, and an intermolecular process) and two processes involving restricted rotation of aromatic rings (the polyfluorophenyl groups and the uncoordinated pyrazole group adjacent to the metal fragment). The fluxional behavior has been studied by (1)H and (19)F NMR spectroscopy using variable temperature NMR studies and (1)H,(1)H and (19)F,(19)F EXSY experiments. The study of solutions of 2 in 1,1',2,2'-tetrachloroethane-d(2) gave the following order for the free energy of activation: pyrazole rotation < 1,4-metallotropic shift < intermolecular exchange < polyfluorophenyl rotation. The process of metal hurdling was not found in this solvent. However, in acetone-d(6) such a process was detected and was found to be of lower energy than the 1,4-metallotropic shift. In dilute acetone-d(6) or 1,1',2,2'-tetrachloroethane-d(2 )()solutions, the intermolecular process was not observed. Conclusions concerning the different mechanisms have been deduced from the data obtained.