Cyclooctatetraene Poly(azolyl)borate Complexes of Zirconium: [Zr(κ2-L)Cl(η-C8H8)] (L = H2B(pz)2, HB(pzMe2)3, H2B(mt)2; pz = Pyrazolyl, mt = Methimazolyl)

Relative hemilabilities of H2B(az)2 (az = pyrazolyl, dimethylpyrazolyl, methimazolyl) chelates in the complexes [M(η-C3H5)(CO)2{H2B(az)2}] (M = Mo, W)

The question of B–H–Mo hemilability in a range of dihydrobis(azolyl)borate scorpionate ligands is discussed with reference to η³-allyl complexes [Mo(η³-C₃H₅)(CO)₂{H₂B(az)₂}] [az = pyrazolyl (pz), dimethylpyrazolyl (pz*), mercaptoimidazolyl (mt)].

Molecular structures of tris(1-tert-butyl-2-mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborate complexes of titanium, zirconium and hafnium

Cyclopentadienyl and tris(pyrazolyl)hydroborate have found much use as supporting ligands in the chemistry of titanium, zirconium and hafnium, especially with respect to applications involving olefin polymerization catalysis. In contrast, closely related tris(1-alkyl-2-mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborate, [Tm^R], ligands have so far found little application to the chemistry of these elements, despite the fact that such ligands are currently used extensively in coordination chemistry. In view of the fact that a substituent in the 2-position exerts a direct influence on the steric environment of the metal center, we report here the application of the sterically demanding tris(1-tert-butyl-2-mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborate [Tm^t-Bu] ligand to these metals. Dichlorido(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)[tris(1-tert-butyl-2-sulfanylidene-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazol-3-yl)borato-κ³S,S',H]zirconium(IV) benzene hemisolvate, [Zr(C₂₁H₃₄BN₆S₃)(C₅H₅)Cl₂]·0.5C₆H₆, (I), dichlorido(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)[tris(1-tert-butyl-2-sulfanylidene-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazol-3-yl)borato-κ³S,S',H]titanium(IV) benzene hemisolvate, [Ti(C₂₁H₃₄BN₆S₃)(C₅H₅)Cl₂]·0.5C₆H₆, (II), [bis(1-tert-butyl-2-sulfanylidene-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazol-3-yl)borato-κ³S,S',H]dichlorido(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium(IV), [Zr(C₁₄H₂₄BN₄S₂)(C₅H₅)Cl₂], (III), (1-tert-butyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazole-2-thione-κS)(1-tert-butyl-2-sulfanylidene-1H-imidazol-3-ido-κ²N³,S)dichlorido(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium(IV) benzene monosolvate, [Zr(C₇H₁₁N₂S)(C₇H₁₂N₂S)(C₅H₅)Cl₂]·C₆H₆, (IV), and tribenzyl[tris(1-tert-butyl-2-sulfanylidene-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazol-3-yl)borato-κ³S,S',S'']hafnium(IV) benzene tetrasolvate, [Hf(C₇H₇)₃(C₂₁H₃₄BN₆S₃)]·4C₆H₆, (V), have been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. The [Tm^t-Bu] ligand coordinates to Ti and Zr in Cp[κ³S₂,H-Tm^t-Bu]MCl₂ [M = Zr, (I), and Ti, (II)] in a κ³S₂,H mode, while the benzyl compounds [Tm^t-Bu]M(CH₂Ph)₃ [M = Zr and Hf, (V)] exhibit κ³S₃ coordination.

Molecular structures of tris(2-mercapto-1-tert-butylimidazolyl)hydroborato and tris(2-mercapto-1-adamantylimidazolyl)hydroborato sodium complexes: analysis of [Tm(R)] ligand coordination modes and conformations

The tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborato complexes, [κ(3)-S2H-Tm(Bu(t))]Na(THF)3 and [κ(3)-S2H-Tm(Ad)]Na(THF)3, which feature t-butyl and adamantyl substituents, have been synthesized via the reactions of the respective 1-R-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazole-2-thiones with NaBH4 in THF (R = Bu(t), 1-Ad). X-ray diffraction studies indicate that the compounds are monomeric and that the [Tm(R)] ligands coordinate to the metal in a κ(3)-S2H manner via two of the sulfur donors and the hydrogen attached to boron, a combination that is unprecedented for sodium derivatives. Analysis of the tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborato compounds that are listed in the Cambridge Structural Database has allowed for the formulation of a set of criteria that enables κ(x)-S(x) and κ(x+1)-S(x)H coordination modes to be identified. Furthermore, the various κ(x)-S(x) and κ(x+1)-S(x)H coordination modes have also been analyzed with respect to the conformations of the [Tm(R)] ligands, which differ by rotation of the imidazolethione moieties about the B-N bond.

Synthesis and structural characterization of bis and tris(2-mercapto-1-methylbenzimidazolyl)hydroborato complexes: benzannulation promotes κ³-coordination

The benzannulated bis and tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borohydride compounds, [BmMeBenz]Na and [TmMeBenz]Na, have been synthesized via the reactions of NaBH4 with two and three equivalents of 1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-thione, respectively. X-ray diffraction studies on the THF adducts, {μ-[BmMeBenz]Na(THF)₂}₂ and {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃, indicate that both compounds are dinuclear but differ according to the nature of the bridging ligand. Specifically, {μ-[BmMeBenz]Na(THF)₂}₂ possesses bridging [BmMeBenz] ligands and terminal THF ligands, while {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃ possesses terminal [TmMeBenz] ligands and bridging THF ligands. The tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borohydride ligand of {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃ coordinates in a κ³-manner, which is in marked contrast to the κ²-, κ¹- and κ⁰-modes that have been reported for various [TmMe]Na derivatives. Density functional theory (DFT) geometry optimization calculations of the anions [TmMeBenz]⁻ and [TmMe]⁻ in the gas phase indicate that the conformation required for κ³-S₃ coordination, i.e. one in which the three sulfur donors point away from the B-H group, is relatively more stable for [TmMeBenz]⁻ than for [TmMe]⁻, and thus provides a rationalization for the observation that benzannulation enables κ³-coordination of tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borohydride ligand in {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃. Furthermore, comparison of the molecular structure and IR spectroscopic properties of [TmMeBenz]Re(CO)₃ with those of [TmMe]Re(CO)₃ indicates that benzannulation reduces the electron donating properties of the ligand, but has little effect on its steric properties. {μ-[BmMeBenz]Na(THF)₂}₂ and {[TmMeBenz]Na}₂(μ-THF)₃ react with [Me₃PCuCl]₄ to give [BmMeBenz]CuPMe₃ and [TmMeBenz]CuPMe₃, the first pair of structurally related bis and tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)hydroborato copper(I) compounds.