Tale of Three Molecular Nitrides: Mononuclear Vanadium (V) and (IV) Nitrides As Well As a Mixed-Valence Trivanadium Nitride Having a V3N4 Double-Diamond Core

Divalent Titanium via Reductive N-C Coupling of a TiIV Nitrido with π-Acids

The nitrido-ate complex [(PN)2Ti(N){μ2-K(OEt2)}]2 (1) (PN-=(N-(2-PiPr2-4-methylphenyl)-2,4,6-Me3C6H2) reductively couples CO and isocyanides in the presence of DME or cryptand (Kryptofix222), to form rare, five-coordinate TiII complexes having a linear cumulene motif, [K(L)][(PN)2Ti(NCE)] (E=O, L=Kryptofix222, (2); E=NAd, L=3 DME, (3); E=NtBu, L=3 DME, (4); E=NAd, L=Kryptofix222, (5)). Oxidation of 2-5 with [Fc][OTf] afforded an isostructural TiIII center containing a neutral cumulene, [(PN)2Ti(NCE)] (E=O, (6); E=NAd (7), NtBu (8)) and characterization by CW X-band EPR spectroscopy, revealed unpaired electron to be metal centric. Moreover, 1e- reduction of 6 and 7 in the presence of Kryptofix222cleanly reformed corresponding discrete TiII complexes 2 and 5, which were further characterized by solution magnetization measurements and high-frequency and -field EPR (HFEPR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, oxidation of 7 with [Fc*][B(C6F5)4] resulted in a ligand disproportionated TiIV complex having transoid carbodiimides, [(PN)2Ti(NCNAd)2] (9). Comparison of spectroscopic, structural, and computational data for the divalent, trivalent, and tetravalent systems, including their 15N enriched isotopomers demonstrate these cumulenes to decrease in order of backbonding as TiII→TiIII→TiIV and increasing order of π-donation as TiII→TiIII→TiIV, thus displaying more covalency in TiIII species. Lastly, we show a synthetic cycle whereby complex 1 can deliver an N-atom to CO and CNAd.

Unusual Hydrogenation Reactivities of a Thiolate-Bridged Dicobalt μ-Nitride Featuring a Bent {CoIII-N-CoIII} Core

Transition metal nitrides have received considerable attention owing to their crucial roles in nitrogen fixation and nitrogen atom transfer reactions. Compared to the early and middle transition metals, it is much more challenging to access late transition metal nitrides, especially cobalt in group 9. So far, only a handful of cobalt nitrides have been reported; consequently, their hydrogenation reactivity is largely unexplored. Herein, we present a structurally and spectroscopically well-characterized thiolate-bridged dicobalt μ-nitride [Cp*CoIII(μ-SAd)(μ-N)CoIIICp*] (2) featuring a bent {CoIII(μ-N)CoIII} core. Remarkably, complex 2 can realize not only direct hydrogenation of nitride to amide but also stepwise N-H bond formation from nitride to ammonia. Specifically, 2 can facilely activate dihydrogen (H2) at mild conditions to generate a dicobalt μ-amide [Cp*CoII(μ-SAd)(μ-NH2)CoIICp*] (4) via an unusual mechanism of two-electron oxidation of H2 as proposed by computational studies; in the presence of protons (H+) and electrons, nitride 2 can convert to dicobalt μ-imide [Cp*CoIII(μ-SAd)(μ-NH)CoIIICp*][BPh4] (3[BPh4]) and to CoIICoII μ-amide 4, and finally release ammonia. In contrast to 2, the only other structurally characterized dicobalt μ-nitride Na(THF)4{[(ketguan)CoIII(N3)]2(μ-N)} (ketguan = [(tBu2CN)C(NDipp)2]-, Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) (e) that possesses a linear {CoIII(μ-N)CoIII} moiety cannot directly react with H2 or H+. Further in-depth electronic structure analyses shed light on how the varying geometries of the {CoIII(μ-N)CoIII} moieties in 2 and e, bent vs linear, impart their disparate reactivities.

A mononuclear, terminal titanium(III) imido

We report the first mononuclear TiIII complex possessing a terminal imido ligand. Complex [TptBu,MeTi{NSi(CH3)3}(THF)] (2) (TptBu,Me = hydridotris(3-tert-butyl-5-methylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) is prepared by reduction of [TptBu,MeTi{NSi(CH3)3}(Cl)] (1) with KC8 in high yield. The connectivity and metalloradical nature of 2 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, Q- and X-band EPR, UV-Vis and 1H NMR spectroscopies. The d1 complex [(TptBu,Me)TiCl(OEt2)][B(C6F5)4] (3), was prepared to spectroscopically compare it to 2. Electrochemical studies of 1 and 2 reveal a reversible 1e- process, and chemical oxidants ClCPh3 or 1/2 eq. XeF2 react cleanly with 2 yielding 1 or the fluoride derivative [TptBu,MeTi{NSi(CH3)3}(F)] (4), respectively.