Electronic Structure of Four-Coordinate Iron(I) Complex Supported by a Bis(phosphaethenyl)pyridine Ligand

Metalloradical Cations and Dications Based on Divinyldiphosphene and Divinyldiarsene Ligands

Metalloradicals are key species in synthesis, catalysis, and bioinorganic chemistry. Herein, two iron radical cation complexes (3‐E)GaCl₄ [(3‐E)^.+ = [{(IPr)C(Ph)E}₂Fe(CO)₃]^.+, E = P or As; IPr = C{(NDipp)CH}₂, Dipp = 2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃] are reported as crystalline solids. Treatment of the divinyldipnictenes {(IPr)C(Ph)E}₂ (1‐E) with Fe₂(CO)₉ affords [{(IPr)C(Ph)E}₂Fe(CO)₃] (2‐E), in which 1‐E binds to the Fe atom in an allylic (η³‐EEC_vinyl) fashion and functions as a 4e donor ligand. Complexes 2‐E undergo 1e oxidation with GaCl₃ to yield (3‐E)GaCl₄. Spin density analysis revealed that the unpaired electron in (3‐E)^.+ is mainly located on the Fe (52–64 %) and vinylic C (30–36 %) atoms. Further 1e oxidation of (3‐E)GaCl₄ leads to unprecedented η³‐EEC_vinyl to η³‐EC_vinylC_Ph coordination shuttling to form the dications (4‐E)(GaCl₄)₂.

Paddlewheel Complexes with Azulenes: Electronic Interaction between Metal Centers and Equatorial Ligands

Rhodium dinuclear complexes (1-3) with azulene moieties as equatorial ligands were obtained by reacting Rh₂ (OAc)₄ with guaiazulene-2-carboxylic acid, azulene-2-carboxylic acid, and azulene-1-carboxylic acid, respectively. The molecular structures in their crystalline states were determined by X-ray diffraction to be 1 ⋅ (H₂ O)₂ , 1 ⋅ (MeCN)₂ , 2 ⋅ (MeCN)₂ , and 3 ⋅ (DMF)₂ , which were coordinated with the crystallization solvent at the axial positions. Among these, the crystal packing of 1 ⋅ (H₂ O)₂ , 1 ⋅ (MeCN)₂ , and 3 ⋅ (DMF)₂ revealed the formation of one-dimensional stacked chains nearly along the axial direction and of two-dimensional stacked sheets along the equatorial direction. In addition, it was found that 1 ⋅ (H₂ O)₂ contained cavities that could adsorb CO₂ , thereby inducing structural changes. Furthermore, redox measurements revealed the stepwise one-electron redox behaviors of these complexes, indicating the intramolecular interactions between the azulene units. In addition, transient absorption measurements suggested the presence of an ultrafast intersystem crossing caused by the heavy-atom effect of rhodium, and an extended lifetime of the triplet state due to the energy migration among the azulene ligands.

E-Selective Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of Pyridine-Phosphaalkenes: Five Ligands Produce Four Distinct Types of Ru(II) Complexes

Pyridine-phosphaalkene (PN) ligands 2a-e were prepared in an E-selective fashion using phospha-Wittig methodology. Treatment of these five ligands, varying only in their 6-substituent with RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃, produced four distinct types of coordination complexes: pyridine-phosphaalkene-derived 3b,d, cyclized 4e, and six-coordinate 5a and 6c. Prolonged heating of 3b,d in THF resulted in C-H activation of the Mes* group and cyclization to give 4b,d featuring a bidentate pyridine-phospholane ligand bound to the metal center. Complex 5a, also possessing a newly formed phospholane ring, contained a different spatial arrangement of donors to Ru(II) with an agostic Ru-H-C interaction serving as the sixth donor to the transition metal center. Ligands 2b,d,e and Ru(II) complexes 3b, 4b,e and 5a were all characterized by X-ray crystallography. Six-coordinate 6c featured a structure similar to 4b,d,e, but with the CF₃ substituent acting as a weakly bound sixth ligand to the Ru(II) center, as observed by ³¹P{¹H} and¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. The calculated structure of 6c established that the closest Ru- - -F contact was at 2.978 Å.

Tuning ligand field strength with pendent Lewis acids: access to high spin iron hydrides

Geometrically flexible 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl units within the secondary coordination sphere enable isolation of high-spin Fe(ii)-dihydrides stabilized by boron-hydride interactions and a rare example of an isolable S = 3/2 reduction product. The borane-capped Fe(ii)-dihydride: (1) rapidly deprotonates E-H (E = N, O, P, S) bonds to afford borane-stabilized Fe adducts and (2) releases H2 upon exposure to π-acids. The Lewis acids provide an avenue for redox-leveling in analogy to the near constant operating potential for N2 reduction in nitrogenase.

First-Row Transition Metal (De)Hydrogenation Catalysis Based On Functional Pincer Ligands

The use of 3d metals in de/hydrogenation catalysis has emerged as a competitive field with respect to "traditional" precious metal catalyzed transformations. The introduction of functional pincer ligands that can store protons and/or electrons as expressed by metal-ligand cooperativity and ligand redox-activity strongly stimulated this development as a conceptual starting point for rational catalyst design. This review aims at providing a comprehensive picture of the utilization of functional pincer ligands in first-row transition metal hydrogenation and dehydrogenation catalysis and related synthetic concepts relying on these such as the hydrogen borrowing methodology. Particular emphasis is put on the implementation and relevance of cooperating and redox-active pincer ligands within the mechanistic scenarios.

Versatile Coordination Modes of Triphospha-1,4-pentadiene-2,4-diamine

1,3,5-Triphospha-1,4-pentadiene-2,4-diamine reacts with [M(CO)₄L] (M = Mo, L = nbd (norbornadiene); M = W, L = 2 CH₃CN) to give the chelate complexes [M(CO)₄(PMes{C(NHCy)PMes}₂-κ P¹ ,P³)]. In contrast, an unusual intramolecular rearrangement occurred with [Cu(CH₃CN)₄]PF₆ leading to the dimeric copper(I) complex [Cu(CNCy){PHMesPMesC(NHCy)PMes-κ P¹ ,P³}]₂(PF₆)₂. The mechanism of the rearrangement was supported by quantum-mechanical calculations. The transition-metal complexes were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography.

PNP-Pincer-Type Phosphaalkene Complexes of Late Transition Metals

This account summarizes our recent studies on PNP-pincer-type phosphaalkene complexes. Phosphaalkenes with a P=C bond possess an extremely low-lying π* orbital and have a marked tendency to engage in strong π back-bonding with transition metals. This particular ligand property provides PNP-pincer complexes with unique structures and reactivities. 2,6-Bis(phosphaethenyl)pyridine leads to the isolation of coordinatively unsaturated complexes of Fe(I) and Cu(I); the former adopts a trigonal monopyramidal configuration, whereas the latter has a strong affinity for PF6- and SbF6- as non-coordinating anions. Unsymmetrical PNP-pincer-type phosphaalkene complexes of Ir(I) bearing a dearomatized pyridine unit instantly cleave the N-H bond of NH₃ and the C-H bond of MeCN at room temperature. The dearomatized iridium complexes catalyze the dehydrative coupling of amines with alcohols to afford N-alkylated amines and imines in high yields.

Synthesis of a 1-Aryl-2,2-chlorosilyl(phospha)silene Coordinated by an N-Heterocyclic Carbene

Phosphasilenes, P=Si doubly bonded compounds, have received considerable attention due to their unique physical and chemical properties. We report on the synthesis and structure of a chlorophosphasilene coordinated by an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), which has the potential of functionalization at the Si–Cl moiety. Treatment of a silylphosphine, ArPH–SiCl₂R_Si (Ar = bulky aryl group, R_Si = Si(SiMe₃)₃) with two equivalents of Im-Me₄ (1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene) afforded the corresponding NHC-coordinated phosphasilene, ArP=SiClR_Si(Im-Me₄) as a stable compound. Bonding properties of the P=Si bond coordinated to an NHC will be discussed on the basis of theoretical calculations.

Reactions of [Cu(X)(BPEP-Ph)] (X = PF6, SbF6) with silyl compounds. Cooperative bond activation involving non-coordinating anions

Bond activation of silyl compounds, assisted by the cooperative action of non-coordinating anions, is achieved using Cu(i) complexes coordinated with a PNP-pincer type phosphaalkene ligand, [Cu(X)(BPEP-Ph)] (X = PF₆, SbF₆).

Density functional theory study of bis(imino) N-heterocyclic carbene iron(II) complexes

Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/DGDZVP and UB3LYP/TZVP levels were performed on 1,3-bis[1-(2,6-dimethylphenylimino)ethyl]imidazolium and on the corresponding imidazol-2-ylidene iron(II) dichloride complex, respectively. The resulting geometrical parameters of the optimized structures were in good agreement with previously reported X-ray structures. The ground state for the high-spin (quintet multiplicity) iron complex is 82.4 kJ/mol lower in energy compared to the low-spin (triplet) configuration, in agreement with magnetic susceptibility measurements. Further calculations were carried out on related benzimidazol-2-ylidene and pyrimidin-2-ylidene ligands and on the corresponding iron complexes to gain insight into their electronic properties and reactivities. The energy of the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals of all three carbenes suggests that the pyrimidin-2-ylidene and the benzimidazol-2-ylidene are the best σ-donor and best π-acceptor, respectively. Using those results, the metal center in the pyrimidin-2-ylidene iron dichloride complex was predicted to bear the highest electron density. This was supported by the high relative energy of its highest occupied molecular orbital compared to that of the corresponding imidazole-2-ylidene and benzimidazol-2-ylidene iron complexes. The electrostatic potential maps of all three metal complexes furthermore indicated a marked decrease in electron density for the coordinated imine group, supporting a greater reactivity towards nucleophiles.

Reduction of an Fe(I) mesityl complex induced by π-acid ligands

Treatment of the Fe(I) mesityl complex [Fe(Mes)(BPEP-Ph)] (BPEP-Ph = 2,6-bis[1-phenyl-2-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-2-phosphaethenyl]pyridine) with π-acid ligands (L = CO, RNC) leads to one-electron reduction via Mes group migration from Fe to P, followed by homolytic elimination of the 2,4,6-tBu3C6H2 group, to afford Fe(0) complexes of the formula [Fe(L)2(BPEP-Ph*)] (BPEP-Ph* = 2-[1-phenyl-2-mesityl-2-phosphaethenyl]-6-[1-phenyl-2-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-2-phosphaethenyl]pyridine). This reduction process is supported by radical trapping experiments and theoretical studies. The 2,4,6-tBu3C6H2˙ radical is captured by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) in high yield. DFT calculations reveal the mechanism of Mes group migration with a reasonable energy profile.

Silica nanospheres supported diazafluorene iron complex: an efficient and versatile nanocatalyst for the synthesis of propargylamines from terminal alkynes, dihalomethane and amines

A novel silica nanosperes supported diazafluorene iron complex has been fabricated and found to be effective in three-component coupling reaction of terminal alkynes, dichloromethane and amines.

Two- and three-coordinate formal iron(i) compounds featuring monodentate aminocarbene ligands

Monodentate aminocarbene ligands, both NHC and cAAC, are capable of stabilizing low-coordinate iron(i) compounds.

Synthesis and ligand non-innocence of thiolate-ligated (N4S) Iron(II) and nickel(II) bis(imino)pyridine complexes

The known iron(II) complex [Fe(II)(LN3S)(OTf)] (1) was used as starting material to prepare the new biomimetic (N4S(thiolate)) iron(II) complexes [Fe(II)(LN3S)(py)](OTf) (2) and [Fe(II)(LN3S)(DMAP)](OTf) (3), where LN3S is a tetradentate bis(imino)pyridine (BIP) derivative with a covalently tethered phenylthiolate donor. These complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopic analysis, (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Mössbauer spectroscopy, as well as electrochemistry. A nickel(II) analogue, [Ni(II)(LN3S)](BF4) (5), was also synthesized and characterized by structural and spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammetric studies showed 1-3 and 5 undergo a single reduction process with E(1/2) between -0.9 V to -1.2 V versus Fc(+)/Fc. Treatment of 3 with 0.5% Na/Hg amalgam gave the monoreduced complex [Fe(LN3S)(DMAP)](0) (4), which was characterized by X-ray crystallography, UV-vis spectroscopic analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy (g = [2.155, 2.057, 2.038]), and Mössbauer (δ = 0.33 mm s(-1); ΔE(Q) = 2.04 mm s(-1)) spectroscopy. Computational methods (DFT) were employed to model complexes 3-5. The combined experimental and computational studies show that 1-3 are 5-coordinate, high-spin (S = 2) Fe(II) complexes, whereas 4 is best described as a 5-coordinate, intermediate-spin (S = 1) Fe(II) complex antiferromagnetically coupled to a ligand radical. This unique electronic configuration leads to an overall doublet spin (S(total) = 1/2) ground state. Complexes 2 and 3 are shown to react with O2 to give S-oxygenated products, as previously reported for 1. In contrast, the monoreduced 4 appears to react with O2 to give a mixture of sulfur oxygenates and iron oxygenates. The nickel(II) complex 5 does not react with O2, and even when the monoreduced nickel complex is produced, it appears to undergo only outer-sphere oxidation with O2.

Fe-N2/CO complexes that model a possible role for the interstitial C atom of FeMo-cofactor (FeMoco)

We report here a series of four- and five-coordinate Fe model complexes that feature an axial tri(silyl)methyl ligand positioned trans to a substrate-binding site. This arrangement is used to crudely model a single-belt Fe site of the FeMo-cofactor that might bind N2 at a position trans to the interstitial C atom. Reduction of a trigonal pyramidal Fe(I) complex leads to uptake of N2 and subsequent functionalization furnishes an open-shell Fe-diazenido complex. A related series of five-coordinate Fe-CO complexes stable across three redox states is also described. Spectroscopic, crystallographic, and Density Functional Theory (DFT) studies of these complexes suggest that a decrease in the covalency of the Fe-C(alkyl) interaction occurs upon reduction and substrate binding. This leads to unusually long Fe-C(alkyl) bond distances that reflect an ionic Fe-C bond. The data presented are contextualized in support of a hypothesis wherein modulation of a belt Fe-C interaction in the FeMo-cofactor facilitates substrate binding and reduction.

Facile N-H bond cleavage of ammonia by an iridium complex bearing a noninnocent PNP-pincer type phosphaalkene ligand

A novel PNP-pincer type phosphaalkene complex of iridium bearing a dearomatized pyridine unit (3) has been prepared. Complex 3 rapidly reacts with ammonia at room temperature to afford a parent amido complex in high yield. DFT calculations indicate that the phosphaalkene unit with a strong π-accepting property effectively facilitates the N-H bond cleavage of ammonia via metal-ligand cooperation.

Magnetic blocking in a linear iron(I) complex

Single-molecule magnets that contain one spin centre may represent the smallest possible unit for spin-based computational devices. Such applications, however, require the realization of molecules with a substantial energy barrier for spin inversion, achieved through a large axial magnetic anisotropy. Recently, significant progress has been made in this regard by using lanthanide centres such as terbium(III) and dysprosium(III), whose anisotropy can lead to extremely high relaxation barriers. We contend that similar effects should be achievable with transition metals by maintaining a low coordination number to restrict the magnitude of the d-orbital ligand-field splitting energy (which tends to hinder the development of large anisotropies). Herein we report the first two-coordinate complex of iron(I), [Fe(C(SiMe3)3)2](-), for which alternating current magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal slow magnetic relaxation below 29 K in a zero applied direct-current field. This S =  complex exhibits an effective spin-reversal barrier of Ueff = 226(4) cm(-1), the largest yet observed for a single-molecule magnet based on a transition metal, and displays magnetic blocking below 4.5 K.

Synthesis and coordination behavior of Cu(I) bis(phosphaethenyl)pyridine complexes

Cu(I) complexes bearing BPEP as a PNP-pincer type phosphaalkene ligand undergo effective bonding interactions with SbF(6)(-) and PF(6)(-) as non-coordinating anions to give [Cu(SbF(6))(BPEP)] and [Cu(2)(BPEP)(2)(μ-PF(6))](+), respectively [BPEP = 2,6-bis(1-phenyl-2-phosphaethenyl)pyridine]. NMR and theoretical studies indicate a reduced anionic charge of the μ-PF(6) ligand, which is induced by the strong π-accepting ability of BPEP.