Selenium−Manganese Carbonyl Clusters: Synthesis, Reversible Transformation, Electrochemical Properties, and Theoretical Calculations

Stabilization of dichalcogenide ligands in the coordination sphere of a ruthenium system

The synthesis, structure and electronic properties of tetraruthenium dichalcogenide complexes displaying the exclusive coordination mode of dichalcogenide ligands have been discussed. The reactions of Li[BH₂E₃] (E = S or Se) with [ClRu(μ-Cl)(p-cymene)]₂ (p-cymene = η⁶-{p-C₆H₄(ⁱPr)Me}) at room temperature yielded tetrametallic dichalcogenide complexes [{Ru₂Cl₂(p-cymene)₂}₂(μ₄,η²-E₂)], 1-2 (E = S (1) and Se (2)). The solid-state X-ray structure of 1 shows that two {(p-cymene)RuCl}₂ moieties are bridged by a S-S bond. In addition to 2, the reaction of Li[BH₂Se₃] with [ClRu(μ-Cl)(p-cymene)]₂ also yielded a mononuclear tris-homocubane analogue [Ru(p-cymene){Se₇(BH)₃}] (3) which is an analogue of 1,3,3-tris-homocubane and possesses D₃ symmetry. In order to isolate the Cp* analogue of 1, the reaction of [Cp*Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ with Li[BH₂S₃] was carried out, which led to the formation of bis/tris-homocubane derivatives [(Cp*Ru)₂{μ-S_n(BH)₂}] (n = 7 (4) and 6 (5)) along with the formation of ruthenium disulfide complexes [(RuCp*)₂(μ,η²:η²-S₂)(μ,η¹:η¹-S₂)] and [(RuCp*)₂(μ-SBHS-κ¹B:κ²S:κ²S)(μ,η¹:η¹-S₂)]. Complexes 1-5 have been characterized by multi-nuclear NMR, IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry and their molecular formulations (except 2) have been determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, DFT calculations were performed that rationalize the stabilization of the dichalcogenide units (E₂^2-) by the tetrametallic systems in 1-2.

Manganese Telluride Carbonyl Complexes: Facile Syntheses and Exotic Properties-Reversible Transformations, Hydrogen Generation, Paramagnetic, and Semiconducting Properties

A novel family of five Mn-Te-CO complexes was prepared via facile syntheses: mono spirocyclic [Mn₄Te(CO)₁₆]^2- (1), four-membered Mn₂Te₂ ring-type [Mn₂Te₂(CO)₈]^2- (2), hydride-containing square pyramidal [HMn₃Te₂(CO)₉]^2- (3), and dumbbell-shaped [Mn₆Te₆(CO)₁₈]^4- (4) and [Mn₆Te₁₀(CO)₁₈]^4- (5). Electron-precise complexes 4 and 5 exhibit unusual paramagnetism arising from two types of Mn atoms in different oxidation states, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The structural transformations from small-sized Mn₄Te 1 and Mn₂Te₂ 2 to the largest Mn₆Te₁₀ 5 were controllable, the off/on magnetic-switched transformation between HMn₃Te₂ 3 and 5 was reversible, and the magnetic transformation between Mn₆Te₆ 4 and 5 was observed. Interestingly, the reversible dehydridation and hydridation between the HMn₃Te₂-based cluster 3 and [Mn₃Te₂(CO)₉]^- were successfully accomplished, in which the release of a high yield of H₂ was detected by gas chromatography. In addition, upon the addition of CO, cluster 3 first forms a carbonyl-inserted intermediate [HMn₃Te₂(CO)₁₀]^2- (3'), detected by the high resolution ESI-MS, which is readily transformed to a dimeric dihydrido cluster [{HMn₃Te₂(CO)₁₀}₂]^2- (6) with the introduction of O₂. These low- to high-nuclearity complexes exhibit rich redox properties with semiconducting behavior in solids, possessing low but tunable energy gaps (1.06-1.62 eV) due to efficient electron transport via nonclassical C-H···O(carbonyl) interactions. The structural nature, reversible structural transformations, controllable on/off magnetic switches, electron communication networks, and associated chemical properties for hydrogen generation are discussed in detail and supported by DFT calculations, density of states, band structures, and noncovalent interaction analyses.

Trigonal-bipyramidal and square-pyramidal chromium-manganese chalcogenide clusters, [E2CrMn2(CO)n](2-) (E=S, Se, Te; n=9, 10): synthesis, electrochemistry, UV/Vis absorption, and computational studies

The reactions of E powder (E=S, Se) with a mixture of Cr(CO)6 and Mn2(CO)10 in concentrated solutions of KOH/MeOH produced two new mixed Cr-Mn-carbonyl clusters, [E2CrMn2(CO)9](2-) (E=S, 1; Se, 2). Clusters 1 and 2 were isostructural with one another and each displayed a trigonal-bipyramidal structure, with the CrMn2 triangle axially capped by two μ3-E atoms. The analogous telluride cluster, [Te2CrMn2(CO)9](2-) (3), was obtained from the ring-closure of Te2Mn2 ring complex [Te2Mn2Cr2(CO)18](2-) (4). Upon bubbling with CO, clusters 2 and 3 were readily converted into square-pyramidal clusters, [E2CrMn2(CO)10](2-) (E=Se, 5; Te, 6), accompanied with the cleavage of one Cr-Mn bond. According to SQUID analysis, cluster 6 was paramagnetic, with S=1 at room temperature; however, the Se analogue (5) was spectroscopically proposed to be diamagnetic, as verified by TD-DFT calculations. Cluster 6 could be further carbonylated, with cleavage of the Mn-Mn bond to produce a new arachno-cluster, [Te2CrMn2(CO)11](2-) (7). The formation and structural isomers, as well as electrochemistry and UV/Vis absorption, of these clusters were also elucidated by DFT calculations.

Stepwise construction of manganese-chromium carbonyl chalcogenide complexes: synthesis, electrochemical properties, and computational studies

When trigonal-bipyramidal clusters, [PPN][E(2)Mn(3)(CO)(9)] (E = S, Se), were treated with Cr(CO)(6) and PPNCl in a molar ratio of 1:1:2 or 1:2:2 in 4 M KOH/MeCN/MeOH solutions, mono-Cr(CO)(5)-incorporated HE(2)Mn(3)-complexes [PPN](2)[HE(2)Mn(3)Cr(CO)(14)] (E = S, [PPN](2)[1a]; Se, [PPN](2)[1b]), respectively, were formed. X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that 1a and 1b were isostructural and each displayed an E(2)Mn(3) square-pyramidal core with one of the two basal E atoms externally coordinated with one Cr(CO)(5) group and one Mn-Mn bond bridged by one hydrogen atom. However, when the TMBA(+) salts for [E(2)Mn(3)(CO)(9)](-) were mixed with Cr(CO)(6) in a molar ratio of 1:1 in 4 M KOH/MeOH solutions and refluxed at 60 °C, mono-Cr(CO)(3)-incorporated E(2)Mn(3)Cr octahedral clusters [TMBA](3)[E(2)Mn(3)Cr(CO)(12)] (E = S, [TMBA](3)[2a]; Se, [TMBA](3)[2b]), respectively, were obtained. Clusters 2a and 2b were isostructural, and each consisted of an octahedral E(2)Mn(3)Cr core, in which each Mn-Mn or Mn-Cr bond of the Mn(3)Cr plane was semibridged by one carbonyl ligand. Clusters 1a and 1b (with [TMBA] salts) underwent metal core closure to form octahedral clusters 2a and 2b upon treatment with KOH/MeOH at 60 °C. In addition, 1a and 1b were found to undergo cluster expansion to form di-Cr(CO)(5)-incorporated HE(2)Mn(3)-clusters [HE(2)Mn(3)Cr(2)(CO)(19)](2-) (E = S, 3a; Se, 3b), respectively, upon the addition of 1 or 2 equiv of Cr(CO)(6) heated in refluxing CH(2)Cl(2). Clusters 3a and 3b were structurally related to clusters 1a and 1b, but with the other bare E atom (E = S, 3a; Se, 3b) further externally coordinated with one Cr(CO)(5) group. The nature, cluster transformation, and electrochemical properties of the mixed manganese-chromium carbonyl sulfides and selenides were systematically discussed in terms of the chalcogen elements, the introduced chromium carbonyl group, and the metal skeleton with the aid of molecular calculations at the BP86 level of the density functional theory.