Evaluation of the Stereoelectronic Parameters of Fluorinated Phosphorus(III) Ligands. The Quantitative Analysis of Ligand Effects (QALE)

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of CF3AuCNR Precursors for Focused Electron Beam-Induced Deposition of Gold

The Au(I) complexes CF₃AuCNMe (1a) and CF₃AuCN ^tBu (1b) were investigated as Au(I) precursors for focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID) of metallic gold. Both 1a and 1b are sufficiently volatile for sublimation at 125 ± 1 mTorr in the temperature range of roughly 40-50 °C. Electron impact mass spectra of 1a-b show gold-containing ions resulting from fragmenting the CF₃ group and the CNR ligand, whereas in negative chemical ionization of 1a-b, the major fragment results from dealkylation of the CNR ligand. Steady-state depositions from 1a in an Auger spectrometer produce deposits with a similar gold content to the commercial precursor Me₂Au(acac) (3) deposited under the same conditions, while the gold content from 1b is less. These results enable us to suggest the likely fate of the CF₃ and CNR ligands during FEBID.

Quantitation of the ligand effect in oxo-transfer reactions of dioxo-Mo(VI) trispyrazolyl borate complexes

The oxygen atom transfer reactivity (OAT) of dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes of hydrotrispyrazolyl borate (hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate, Tp(Me2); hydrotris(3-isopropylpyrazol-1-yl)borate, Tp(iPr)) with tertiary phosphines (PMe(3), PMe(2)Ph, PEt(3), PEt(2)Ph, PBu(n)(3), PMePh(2), or PEtPh(2)) has been investigated. In acetonitrile, these reactions proceed via the formation of a phosphoryl intermediate complex that undergoes a solvolysis reaction. We report the synthesis and characterization of several phosphoryl complexes. The rates of formation of phosphoryl complexes and their solvation were determined by spectrophotometry. The rates of the reactions and the properties of the phosphoryl species were investigated using the Quantitative Analysis of Ligand Effect (QALE) methodology. The results show that, at least in this system, the first step of the reaction is controlled primarily by the steric factor, and in the second step, both electronic and steric factors are important. We also analyzed the effect of ligands on the reaction rate i.e., Tp(Me2)vs. Tp(iPr).

Tuning the Electronic Properties of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

The electron-donating properties of N-heterocyclic carbenes ([N,N'-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)imidazol]-2-ylidene and the respective dihydro ligands) with 4,4'-R-substituted aryl rings (4,4'-R=NEt2, OC(12)H(25), Me, H, Br, S(4-tolyl), SO(4-tolyl), SO2(4-tolyl)) were studied. Twelve new N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands were synthesized as well as the respective iridium complexes [IrCl(cod)(NHC)] and [IrCl(CO)2(NHC)]. Cyclic voltammetry (DeltaE1/2) and IR (nu (CO)) can be used to measure the electron-donating properties of the carbene ligands. Modifying the 4-positions with electron-withdrawing substituents (4-R=-SO(2)Ar, DeltaE1/2=+0.92 V) results in NHC ligands with virtually the same electron-donating capacity as a trialkylphosphine in [IrCl(cod)(PCy3)] (DeltaE1/2 =+0.95 V), while [IrCl(cod)(NHC)] complexes with 4-R=NEt2 (DeltaE1/2= +0.59 V) show drastically more cathodic redox potentials and significantly enhanced donating properties.

The natural bite angle — Seen from a ligand's point of view

The natural bite angle concept is examined using N,N′-bisphosphino urea ligands as rigid scaffolds. The ligand has an upper limit of about 95° for the observed bite angle in chelate complexes, but prefers a much lower one. The ligand can be described as possessing downward flexibility. The dependence of the bite angle on the P—P distance within the ligand and the M—P bond length is illustrated. The metal tries to force the ligand into its own preferred structure, whereas the ligand wants to achieve a short P—P distance. A truly rigid ligand such as the N,N′-bisphosphino urea family is thus seen to clearly discriminate between metal atoms according to their individual assertiveness, using the P—P distance in the complex as a measure. Although the natural bite angle concept is valid and helpful in determining the possible bite-angle range for ligands before it is actually synthesised, its practical applicability seems to be limited to those cases where the flexibility range of the ligand allows for only one metal-preferred bite angle to be realized.Key words: natural bite angle, ligand effects, ligand design.

Synthesis of the First Chiral Bidendate Bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphane Ligand through Stabilization of the Bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphanide Anion in the Presence of Acetone

Lewis acid/Lewis base adduct formation of the P(CF3)2- ion and acetone leads to a reduced negative hyperconjugation and, therefore, limits the C--F bond activation. The resulting increased thermal stability of the P(CF3)2- ion in the presence of acetone allows selective substitutions and enables the synthesis of the first example of a chiral, bidentate bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphane ligand: a DIOP derivative, [(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-diyl)bis(methylene)]bis(diphenylphosphane), in which the phenyl groups at the phosphorus atoms are replaced by strong electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl groups. The resulting high electron-acceptor strength of the synthesized bidentate (CF3)2P ligand is demonstrated by a structural and vibrational study of the corresponding tetracarbonyl-molybdenum complex. The stabilization of the P(CF3)2- ion in the presence of acetone is based on the formation of a dynamic Lewis acid/Lewis base couple, (CF3)2PC(CH3)2O-. Although there is no spectroscopic evidence for the formation of the formulated alcoholate ion, the intermediate formation of (CF3)2PC(CH3)2O- could be proved through the reaction with (CF3)2PP(CF3)2, which yields the novel phosphane-phosphinite ligand (CF3)2PC(CH3)2OP(CF3)2. This ligand readily forms square-planar Pt(II) complexes upon treatment with solid PtCl2.

Molecular Electrostatic Potential Approach to Determining the Steric Effect of Phosphine Ligands in Organometallic Chemistry

A two-layer ONIOM(B3LYP/6-31G(d,p):UFF) quantum mechanics (QM)-molecular mechanics (MM) optimization of PR3 ligands, where the QM layer is always constructed as PH3, followed by molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) analysis of the QM layer is suggested as a simple and effective method for evaluating the steric effect of PR3 ligands. The subtle variations in the electron distribution that arise as a result of the steric bulkiness as well as the conformational changes in the substituent groups is well reflected in the value of the MESP minimum (Vmin) located in the QM region. In general, a sterically bulky group has always shown a more negative Vmin than a sterically less bulky group. The difference between the Vmin value of free PH3 and the Vmin value at the QM region of PR3 is used as a measure of the steric effect of the PR3 ligand. This value, designated as MESPsteric, showed a good linear correlation with the cone angle values as well as the average of the intervalence HPH angles found in the QM layer. Further, the difference between the Vmin value at the QM region of PR3 (an indicator of the steric effect) and the Vmin value of the completely optimized PR3 ligand (an indicator of the combined effect of steric and electronic effects) showed a good linear correlation with the Hammett Sigmasigmap constants, which further confirmed the present approach to understanding the steric effect separately from the electronic effect.

The synthesis of tris(perfluoroalkyl)phosphines

Tris(perfluoroalkyl)phosphines, of interest as tunable alternatives to the carbon monoxide ligand, can be synthesised by the nucleophile mediated reaction of perfluoroalkyltrimethylsilanes with triphenylphosphite; the method can be extended to diphosphines.

σ→σ* Transitions in Mn2(CO)8L2 complexes (L = P-donor ligands): π-acidity and oxygen pendant group effects in phosphite ligands

Comparison of the energies assigned to the sigma-->sigma* transitions in bis-axial Mn2(CO)8L2 complexes when L = phosphites and phosphinites with those when L = alkyl and aryl phosphines shows that the oxygen-containing ligands do show effects associated with their pi-acidity. However, the data also strongly suggest that the energies are affected by the presence of the oxygen atoms themselves to an extent that increases linearly with the number of oxygen atoms connected to the P-donor atoms. This "oxygen effect" is analogous to, but distinct from, the aryl effect that is also simply proportional to the number of aryl groups attached to the P-donor atoms. This resolves the incongruity of the claim that phosphites also show an "aryl effect", and suggests that specific "pendant group effects" due to the nature and number of atoms attached to the phosphorus atoms of P-donor ligands (aryl, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur etc.) may be quite general.

QALE analysis of CO dissociative kinetics of Ru(CO)4L (L = P-donor ligands): accelerating effects of hydrogen in PHnR(3 - n) ligands (n = 1-2)

Studies of CO-dissociative substitution reactions of the complexes Ru(CO)4L (L = a wide variety of P-donor ligands) have been extended and analysis of the results by the QALE methodology has been refined (QALE = quantitative analysis of ligand effects). Rates increase substantially with increasing size of L, mainly as a consequence of increasingly favourable activation entropies. These can be associated with increasing Ru-CO bond breaking that is compensated enthalpically by increasing Ru-P bond making allowed by release of steric strain. Explicit allowance for pi-acidity shows that these effects are just significant while sigma-donor and aryl effects are negligible. However, pendent hydrogen atoms, attached directly to the phosphorus atoms, have a pronounced and unique positive effect on the rates, with significant kinetic isotope effects (KIE). This is associated with the novel occurrence of direct Ru-H or incipient Ru-(eta2-P-H) agostic bond making as the CO ligand departs.