Multi-electron redox reactivity of a samarium(ii) hydrido complex

Well-defined low-valent molecular rare-earth metal hydrides are rare, and limited to Yb2+ and Eu2+ centers. Here, we report the first example of the divalent samarium(ii) hydrido complex [(CpAr5)SmII(μ-H)(DABCO)]2 (4) (CpAr5 = C5Ar5, Ar = 3,5-iPr2-C6H3; DABCO = 1,4-diazabicyclooctane) supported by a super-bulky penta-arylcyclopentadienyl ligand, resulting from the hydrogenolysis of the samarium(ii) alkyl complex [(CpAr5)SmII{CH(SiMe3)2}(DABCO)] (3). Complex 4 exhibits multi-electron redox reactivity toward a variety of substrates. Exposure of complex 4 to CO2 results in the formation of the trivalent samarium(iii) mixed-bis-formate/carbonate complex [(CpAr5)SmIII(μ-η2:η1-O2CH)(μ-η2:η2-CO3)(μ-η1:η1-O2CH)SmIII(CpAr5)(DABCO)] (8), mediated by hydride insertion and reductive disproportionation reactions. Complex 4 shows four-electron reduction toward four equivalents of CS2 to afford the trivalent samarium(iii) bis-trithiocarbonate complex [(CpAr5)SmIII(μ-η2:η2-CS3)(DABCO)]2 (9). A mechanistic study of the formation of complex 8 was carried out using DFT calculations.

s-Block metal complexes of superbulky (tBu3Si)2N-: a new weakly coordinating anion?

Sterically hindered amide anions have found widespread application as deprotonation agents or as ligands to stabilize metals in unusual coordination geometries or oxidation states. The use of bulky amides has also been advantageous in catalyst design. Herein we present s-block metal chemistry with one of the bulkiest known amide ligands: (tBu3Si)2N- (abbreviated: tBuN-). The parent amine (tBuNH), introduced earlier by Wiberg, is extremely resistant to deprotonation (even with nBuLi/KOtBu superbases) but can be deprotonated slowly with a blue Cs+/e- electride formed by addition of Cs0 to THF. (tBuN)Cs crystallized as a separated ion-pair, even without cocrystallized solvent. As salt-metathesis reactions with (tBuN)Cs are sluggish and incomplete, it has only limited use as an amide transfer reagent. However, ball-milling with LiI led to quantitative formation of (tBuN)Li and CsI. Structural characterization shows that (tBuN)Li is a monomeric contact ion-pair with a relatively short N-Li bond, an unusual T-shaped coordination geometry around N and extremely short Li⋯Me anagostic interactions. Crystal structures are compared with Li and Cs complexes of less bulky amide ligands (iPr3Si)2N- (iPrN-) and (Me3Si)2N- (MeN-). DFT calculations show trends in the geometries and electron distributions of amide ligands of increasing steric bulk (MeN- < iPrN- < tBuN-) and confirm that tBuN- is a rare example of a halogen-free weakly coordinating anion.

Cyclopentadienyl Complexes of the Alkaline Earths in Light of the Periodic Trends

The electron-rich cyclopentadienyl and the analogous indenyl and fluorenyl ligands (collectively denoted here as Cp') have been impactful in stabilizing electron-deficient metal centers including the highly electropositive alkaline earths. Being in the s-block, the group 2 metals follow a major periodic variation in their atomic and ionic properties which is reflected in those Cp' compounds. This article presents an overview of this class of compounds for all the five metals from beryllium to barium (radium is excluded for its radioactivity), highlighting their systematic variation.

Half-sandwich scandium dibenzyl complexes bearing penta- or tetra-arylcyclopentadienyl ligands: synthesis, structure and syndiospecific styrene polymerization activity

A series of half-sandwich scandium dibenzyl complexes has been synthesized via a reaction of KCp^(Ar*)5 or KCp^Ar5 (Ar* = 3,5-^tBu₂–C₆H₃; Ar = 3,5-ⁱPr₂–C₆H₃) or KCp^(Ar*)4H, KCp^Ar4H and KCp^Ph4H with the cationic scandium complex [Sc(p-CH₂C₆H₄-Me)₂(THF)_x][BPh₄].

Pentaarylcyclopentadienyl Iron, Cobalt, and Nickel Halides

The preparation of new stable half-sandwich transition metal complexes, having a bulky cyclopentadienyl ligand C5(C6H4-4-Et)5 (Cp(Ar1)) or C5(C6H4-4-nBu)5 (Cp(Ar2)), is reported. The tetrahydrofuran (THF) adduct [Cp(Ar1)Fe(μ-Br)(THF)]2 (1a) was synthesized by reacting K[Cp(Ar1)] with [FeBr2(THF)2] in THF, and its molecular structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 1a easily loses its coordinated THF molecules under vacuum to form the solvent-free complex [Cp(Ar1)Fe(μ-Br)]2 (1b). The analogous complexes [Cp(Ar1)Co(μ-Br)]2 (2), [Cp(Ar1)Ni(μ-Br)]2 (3), and [Cp(Ar2)Ni(μ-Br)]2 (4) were synthesized from CoBr2 and [NiBr2(1,2-dimethoxyethane)]. The mononuclear, low-spin cobalt(III) and nickel(III) complexes [Cp(Ar2)MI2] (5, M = Co; 6, M = Ni) were prepared by reacting the radical Cp(Ar2) with NiI2 and CoI2. The complexes were characterized by NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies and by elemental analyses. Single-crystal X-ray structure analyses revealed that the dimeric complexes 1a, 1b, and 3 have a planar M2Br2 core, whereas 2 and 4 feature a puckered M2Br2 ring.

A divalent heteroleptic lanthanoid fluoride complex stabilised by the tetraphenylcyclopentadienyl ligand, arising from C–F activation of pentafluorobenzene

The divalent heteroleptic lanthanoid fluoride complex, [Yb(C₅Ph₄H)(μ-F)(thf)₂]₂, as well as [Yb(C₅Ph₄H)₂(thf)] and [Yb(C₅Ph₄H)(C₆F₅)(thf)₂] were obtained from reactions of ytterbium metal with Hg(C₆F₅)₂ and tetraphenyl–cyclopentadiene under different conditions.

First structural evidence for multiple alkali metals between sandwich decks in a metallocene

A tetralithio salt (1) derived by treating 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-cyclooctatriene with (n)BuLi serves as the first structural evidence for a multi-alkali metallocene. Single-crystal XRD confirms two Li(+) each asymmetrically bind to η(3) and η(4) between two COT'' rings and two Li(+) terminally bind to η(3). Solid-state NMR studies confirm the presence of two distinct lithium ion sites while the solution NMR studies suggest the formation of an (COT'' dianion) ion-pair in solution. Further treating of the tetralithio salt with NaCl leads to linear sodium polymeric chains. Therefore, simply changing the ionic radius changes the molecular structure.

Unprecedented bending and rearrangement of f-element sandwich complexes induced by superbulky cyclooctatetraenide ligands

The use of the superbulky cyclooctatetraenide dianion ligand [C(8)H(6)(SiPh(3))(2)](2-) (= COT(BIG)) in organo-f-element chemistry leads to unprecedented effects such as the formation of a significantly bent anionic Ce(III) sandwich complex, a novel cerocene formed by sterically induced SiPh(3) group migration, as well as the first example of a bent uranocene.

Dimorphic (Ba[GaCl(4)](2))(3).2C(6)H(6): a case of coordination extremes

Two new dimorphic tris[barium bis(tetrachloro gallate]) bisbenzene formed by the same molecular building blocks have been isolated and structurally characterized, showing an unprecedented inorganic as well as mixed organic/inorganic coordination.