Mononuclear and Dinuclear Molybdenum and Tungsten Complexes of p-tert-Butyltetrathiacalix[4]arene and p-tert-Butyltetrasulfonylcalix[4]arene: Facile Cleavage of the Calixarene Ligand Framework by Nickel

Solvent-Controlled Condensation of [Mo2 O5 (PTC4A)2 ]6- Metalloligand in Stepwise Assembly of Hexagonal and Rectangular Ag18 Nanoclusters

Stepwise assembly starting from a preassembled metalloligand is a promising approach to obtain otherwise unattainable silver nanoclusters, but hard to be intrinsically identified due to the lack of convincing evidence to justify such a process. Herein, hexagonal and rectangular Ag₁₈ nanoclusters are constructed from the [Mo₂ O₅ (PTC4A)₂ ]^6- (H₄ PTC4A=p-phenyl-thiacalix[4]arene) metalloligand through stepwise assembly. The formation of the metalloligand is confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, then assembled with silver ions to form two geometrically different Ag₁₈ nanoclusters in different solvents. The cyclization from the metalloligand to [(Mo₂ O₅ PTC4A)₆ ]^12- can be realized without alcohols and otherwise blocked by them. The installation of this metalloligand not only provides comprehensive understanding of how the solvents regulate the silver nanocluster structures, but also brings new insights for the controllable ligand metallization and subsequent condensation.

Assembly and Redox-Rich Hydride Chemistry of an Asymmetric Mo2S2 Platform

Although molybdenum sulfide materials show promise as electrocatalysts for proton reduction, the hydrido species proposed as intermediates remain poorly characterized. We report herein the synthesis, reactions and spectroscopic properties of a molybdenum-hydride complex featuring an asymmetric Mo₂S₂ core. This molecule displays rich redox chemistry with electrochemical couples at E_½ = −0.45, −0.78 and −1.99 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺. The corresponding hydrido-complexes for all three redox levels were isolated and characterized crystallographically. Through an analysis of solid-state bond metrics and DFT calculations, we show that the electron-transfer processes for the two more positive couples are centered predominantly on the pyridinediimine supporting ligand, whereas for the most negative couple electron-transfer is mostly Mo-localized.

Nickel-catalyzed release of H2 from formic acid and a new method for the synthesis of zerovalent Ni(PMe3)4

Ni(PMe₃)₄, which can be obtained by reaction of either Ni(py)₄(O₂CH)₂ or Ni(O₂CH)₂·2H₂O with PMe₃, serves as a catalyst for the release of H₂ from formic acid.

Manganese–calcium clusters supported by calixarenes

An investigation inspired by the structure of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II has resulted in the isolation and structural characterization of the first examples of Mn/Ca clusters supported by a calixarene ligand.

Unexpected bond activations promoted by palladium nanoparticles

Thioether-phosphines, 1 and 2, were applied for the stabilisation of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) synthesised by a bottom-up methodology, using [Pd2(dba)3] as an organometallic precursor. For the phenyl containing ligand 1, small (d(mean) = 1.6 nm), well-defined and dispersed nanoparticles were obtained; however, ligand 2 involving a long alkyl chain led to agglomerates. NMR and GC-MS analyses throughout the synthesis of the nanomaterials revealed partial cleavage of ligands by C-S and C-P bond activations, and XPS spectra of the isolated nanoparticles indicated the presence of both thioether-phosphines and their fragments on the metallic surface. Reactivity studies of molecular palladium systems as well as on extended palladium surfaces pointed out that cluster entities are responsible for C-heteroatom activations, triggering structure modifications of stabilisers during the synthesis of PdNPs.

p-tert-Butyltetrathiatetramercaptocalix[4]arene as a sulfur-rich platform for molybdenum, tungsten and nickel

p-tert-Butyltetrathiatetramercaptocalix[4]arene, [S(4)Calix(Bu(t))(SH)(4)], reacts with Mo(PMe(3))(6), W(PMe(3))(4)(eta(2)-CH(2)PMe(2))H and Ni(PMe(3))(4) to yield molybdenum, tungsten and nickel compounds in a sulfur-rich coordination environment.