Facet Tunability of Aluminum Nanocrystals

Aluminum nanocrystals (Al NCs) with a well-defined size and shape combine unique plasmonic properties with high earth abundance, potentially ideal for applications where sustainability and cost are important factors. It has recently been shown that single-crystal Al {100} nanocubes can be synthesized by the decomposition of AlH₃ with Tebbe's reagent, a titanium(IV) catalyst with two cyclopentadienyl ligands. By systematically modifying the catalyst molecular structure, control of the NC growth morphology is observed spectroscopically, as the catalyst stabilizes the {100} NC facets. By varying the catalyst concentration, Al NC faceted growth is tunable from {100} faceted nanocubes to {111} faceted octahedra. This study provides direct insight into the role of catalyst molecular structure in controlling Al NC morphology.

Transition Metal-(μ-Cl)-Aluminum Bonding in α-Olefin and Diene Chemistry

Olefin and diene transformations, catalyzed by organoaluminum-activated metal complexes, are widely used in synthetic organic chemistry and form the basis of major petrochemical processes. However, the role of M−(μ-Cl)−Al bonding, being proven for certain >C=C< functionalization reactions, remains unclear and debated for essentially more important industrial processes such as oligomerization and polymerization of α-olefins and conjugated dienes. Numerous publications indirectly point at the significance of M−(μ-Cl)−Al bonding in Ziegler−Natta and related transformations, but only a few studies contain experimental or at least theoretical evidence of the involvement of M−(μ-Cl)−Al species into catalytic cycles. In the present review, we have compiled data on the formation of M−(μ-Cl)−Al complexes (M = Ti, Zr, V, Cr, Ni), their molecular structure, and reactivity towards olefins and dienes. The possible role of similar complexes in the functionalization, oligomerization and polymerization of α-olefins and dienes is discussed in the present review through the prism of the further development of Ziegler−Natta processes and beyond.

[(CH3 )Al(CH2 )]12 : Methylaluminomethylene (MAM-12)

The molecular structure of enigmatic "poly(aluminium-methyl-methylene)" (first reported in 1968) has been unraveled in a transmetalation reaction with gallium methylene [Ga8 (CH2 )12 ] and AlMe3 . The existence of cage-like methylaluminomethylene moieties was initially suggested by the reaction of rare-earth-metallocene complex [Cp*2 Lu{(μ-Me)2 AlMe2 }] with excess AlMe3 affording the deca-aluminium cluster [Cp*4 Lu2 (μ3 -CH2 )12 Al10 (CH3 )8 ] in low yield (Cp*=C5 Me5 ). Treatment of [Ga8 (CH2 )12 ] with excess AlMe3 reproducibly gave the crystalline dodeca-aluminium complex [(CH3 )12 Al12 (μ3 -CH2 )12 ] (MAM-12). Revisiting a previous approach to "poly(aluminium-methyl-methylene" by using a (C5 H5 )2 TiCl2 /AlMe3 (1 : 100) mixture led to amorphous solids displaying solubility behavior and spectroscopic features similar to those of crystalline MAM-12. The gallium methylene-derived MAM-12 was used as an efficient methylene transfer reagent for ketones.

A Dual Catalyst Strategy for Controlling Aluminum Nanocrystal Growth

The synthesis of Al nanocrystals (Al NCs) is a rapidly expanding field, but there are few strategies for size and morphology control. Here we introduce a dual catalyst approach for the synthesis of Al NCs to control both NC size and shape. By using one catalyst that nucleates growth more rapidly than a second catalyst whose ligands affect NC morphology during growth, one can obtain both size and shape control of the resulting Al NCs. The combination of the two catalysts (1) titanium isopropoxide (TIP), for rapid nucleation, and (2) Tebbe's reagent, for specific facet-promoting growth, yields {100}-faceted Al NCs with tunable diameters between 35 and 65 nm. This dual-catalyst strategy could dramatically expand the possible outcomes for Al NC growth, opening the door to new controlled morphologies and a deeper understanding of earth-abundant plasmonic nanocrystal synthesis.

Trinuclear scandium methylidyne complexes stabilized by pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands

The first examples of scandium methylidyne complexes [(Cp*)Sc(μ2-X)]3(μ3-CH) (Cp* = C5Me5; X = Br, Me, OMe), free of Lewis acids, can be achieved in high yields from [(Cp*)ScMe2]2 through a facile route. The chemical and geometrical flexibility to incorporate organic substrates indicates a rich chemistry of complex [(Cp*)Sc(μ2-OMe)]3(μ3-CH).

Structural elucidation of a methylenation reagent of esters: synthesis and reactivity of a dinuclear titanium(iii) methylene complex

Transmetallation of a zinc methylene complex [ZnI(tmeda)]₂(μ-CH₂) with a titanium(iii) chloride [TiCl₃(tmeda)(thf)] produced a titanium methylene complex. The X-ray diffraction study displayed a dinuclear methylene structure [TiCl(tmeda)]₂(μ-CH₂)(μ-Cl)₂. Treatment of an ester with the titanium methylene complex resulted in methylenation of the ester carbonyl to form a vinyl ether. The titanium methylene complex also reacted with a terminal olefin, resulting in olefin-metathesis and olefin-homologation. Cyclopropanation by methylene transfer from the titanium methylene proceeded by use of a 1,3-diene. The mechanistic study of the cyclopropanation reaction by the density functional theory calculations was also reported.

Transmetallation of a zinc methylene complex [ZnI(tmeda)]₂(μ-CH₂) with a titanium(iii) chloride [TiCl₃(tmeda)(thf)] produced a titanium methylene complex.

Insight into the Decomposition Mechanism of Donor-Acceptor Complexes of EH2 (E = Ge and Sn) and Access to Germanium Thin Films from Solution

Electron-donating N-heterocyclic carbenes (Lewis bases, LB) and electron-accepting Lewis acids (LA) have been used in tandem to yield donor-acceptor complexes of inorganic tetrelenes LB·EH₂·LA (E = Si, Ge, and Sn). Herein, we introduce the new germanium (II) dihydride adducts ImMe₂·GeH₂·BH₃ (ImMe₂ = (HCNMe)₂C:) and ImⁱPr₂Me₂·GeH₂·BH₃ (ImⁱPr₂Me₂ = (MeCNⁱPr)₂C:), with the former complex containing nearly 40 wt % germanium. The thermal release of bulk germanium from ImMe₂·GeH₂·BH₃ (and its deuterated isotopologue ImMe₂·GeD₂·BD₃) was examined in solution, and a combined kinetic and computational investigation was undertaken to probe the mechanism by which Ge is liberated. Moreover, the thermolysis of ImMe₂·GeH₂·BH₃ in solution cleanly affords conformal nanodimensional layers of germanium as thin films of variable thicknesses (20-70 nm) on silicon wafers. We also conducted a computational investigation into potential decomposition pathways for the germanium(II)- and tin(II)-dihydride complexes NHC·EH₂·BH₃ (NHC = [(HCNR)₂C:]; R = 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃ (Dipp), Me, and H; and E = Ge and Sn). Overall, this study introduces a mild and convenient solution-only protocol for the deposition of thin films of Ge, a widely used semiconductor in materials research and industry.

Twenty-five years of bis-pentafluorophenyl borane: a versatile reagent for catalyst and materials synthesis

Highlights of the extensive chemistry and applications of bis-pentafluorophenyl borane (“Piers’ borane”) from the 25 years since its first appearance are featured.

Aluminum Nanocubes Have Sharp Corners

Of the many plasmonic nanoparticle geometries that have been synthesized, nanocubes have been of particular interest for creating nanocavities, facilitating plasmon coupling, and enhancing phenomena dependent upon local electromagnetic fields. Here we report the straightforward colloidal synthesis of single-crystalline {100} terminated Al nanocubes by decomposing AlH₃ with Tebbe's reagent in tetrahydrofuran. The size and shape of the Al nanocubes is controlled by the reaction time and the ratio of AlH₃ to Tebbe's reagent, which, together with reaction temperature, establish kinetic control over Al nanocube growth. Al nanocubes possess strong localized field enhancements at their sharp corners and resonances highly amenable to coupling with metallic substrates. Their native oxide surface renders them extremely air stable. Chemically synthesized Al nanocubes provide an earth-abundant alternative to noble metal nanocubes for plasmonics and nanophotonics applications.

Titanium Carbene Complexes Stabilized by Alkali Metal Amides

Facile α-H elimination from tetrakis(trimethylsilylmethyl)titanium precursors to give adducts of (alkylidene)bis(alkyl)titanium complexes is induced by light alkali metal amides of the NNNN-type macrocyclic anionic ligand Me₃ TACD [(Me₃ TACD)H=1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane]. In the crystal, the alkali metal interacts with the carbene carbon atom or with the CH₂ group of the trimethylsilymethyl ligand. The nucleophilic character of the carbene carbon atom was shown by the reaction with benzophenone and terminal acetylenes.

Rare-earth metal and actinide organoimide chemistry

Elaborate synthesis schemes pave the way to f-element and group 3 complexes with multiply bonded imido ligands displaying intriguing reactivity.

Two Discrete RuCp* (Cp*=Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) Binding Modes of N-Confused Porphyrins: Peripheral π Complex and Sitting Atop Ruthenocenophane Complex by Skeletal Transformation

Complexation of a RuCp* cation with N-confused tetraarylporphyrins (NCPs) forms directly bound ruthenium(II) pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) π-complex on a specific meso-aryl group (e.g., phenyl) neighboring peripheral imino nitrogen of NCPs in high yields. In contrast, in the case of NCPs bearing bulky meso-substituents (e.g., 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl), new ruthenocenophane-like complex embedded on an N-confused calix[4]phyrin was formed through multiple C-H bond activation of methyl groups of Cp* ligand. The mechanistic insight into the formation of the ruthenocenophane was derived from DFT calculations.

Insight into the nature of M–C bonding in the lanthanide/actinide-biscarbene complexes: a theoretical perspective

The An/Ln–C bonding nature was explored using relativistic theory. Inclusion of Np and Pu extends understanding to later actinides bonding.

Structural elucidation of a mononuclear titanium methylidene

The first example of a structurally characterized titanium methylidene, (PN)₂TiCH₂, has been prepared via one-electron oxidation of (PN)₂Ti(CH₃) followed by deprotonation with an ylide or by H-atom abstraction using an aryloxyl radical.

A radical coupled pathway to a stable and terminally bound titanium methylidene

Radical coupling or oxidation of the titanium(iii)dimethyl precursor (PNP)Ti(CH₃)₂ produced the dimethyl compounds, (PNP)Ti(CH₃)₂(X) (X = TEMPO, OMes*, OTf), which then thermally extrude methane to cyclometallate (X = TEMPO) or form the methylidene (X = OMes* or OTf).

Alkali-Controlled C-H Cleavage or N-C Bond Formation by N2-Derived Iron Nitrides and Imides

Formation of N-H and N-C bonds from functionalization of N2 is a potential route to utilization of this abundant resource. One of the key challenges is to make the products of N2 activation reactive enough to undergo further reactions under mild conditions. This paper explores the strategy of "alkali control," where the presence of an alkali metal cation enables the reduction of N2 under mild conditions, and then chelation of the alkali metal cation uncovers a highly reactive species that can break benzylic C-H bonds to give new N-H and Fe-C bonds. The ability to "turn on" this C-H activation pathway with 18-crown-6 is demonstrated with three different N2 reduction products of N2 cleavage in an iron-potassium system. The alkali control strategy can also turn on an intermolecular reaction of an N2-derived nitride with methyl tosylate that gives a new N-C bond. Since the transient K(+)-free intermediate reacts with this electrophile but not with the weak C-H bonds in 1,4-cyclohexadiene, it is proposed that the C-H cleavage occurs by a deprotonation mechanism. The combined results demonstrate that a K(+) ion can mask the latent nucleophilicity of N2-derived nitride and imide ligands within a trimetallic iron system and points a way toward control over N2 functionalization.

Small molecule activation by mixed methyl/methylidene rare earth metal complexes

Diverse reactivity patterns of mixed tetramethyl/methylidene rare-earth complexes bearing bulky benzamidinate coligands with PhCN, alkynes, and CS₂ have been established and fully characterized.

Palladium carbene complexes as persistent radicals

A series of palladium(ii) radical carbene complexes, [PC˙(sp2)P]PdI, [PC˙(sp2)P]PdBr, and [PC˙(sp2)P]PdCl (PC(sp3)H2P = bis[2-(di-iso-propylphosphino)-phenyl]methane), is described. Compound [PC˙(sp2)P]PdI dimerizes to {[PC(sp2)P]PdI}2 in the solid state, akin to the formation of Gomberg's dimer. While the bromo and the iodo derivatives could be obtained from the oxidation of [PC(sp2)P]Pd(PMe3) by the respective dihalogens, a halogen transfer reaction from CH2Cl2 was used for the formation of [PC˙(sp2)P]PdCl. The halogen transfer from CH2X2 (X = Cl, Br, I) could be used to obtain all three radical carbene palladium complexes and also allowed the isolation of [PC(CH2)P]Pd(PMe3), which is the result of methylene group transfer from CH2X2. Compound [PC(CH2)P]Pd(PMe3) was independently synthesized from [PC(CH3)HP]PdCl2, which contains a supporting ligand analogous to that of the radical carbene complexes but has one of the hydrogen atoms replaced by a methyl group. All three carbene radical species abstract a hydrogen from 9,10-dihydroanthracene or n Bu3SnH.

Frustrated Lewis pair-like reactions of nucleophilic palladium carbenes with B(C6F5)3

Nucleophilic palladium carbenes react with the strong Lewis acid B(C₆F₅)₃via remote nucleophilic attack at the para-carbon of the supporting ligand or C–F activation of B(C₆F₅)₃; these reactions indicate frustrated Lewis pair-like behaviour given the steric inaccessibility of the nucleophilic carbene center.

Lutetium-methanediide-alkyl complexes: synthesis and chemistry

The first four-coordinate methanediide/alkyl lutetium complex (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 )2 (μ2 -CHSiMe3 )(THF)2 (BODDI=ArNC(Me)CHCOCHC(Me)NAr, Ar=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 ) (1) was synthesized by a thermolysis methodology through α-H abstraction from a Lu-CH2 SiMe3 group. Complex 1 reacted with equimolar 2,6-iPrC6 H3 NH2 and Ph2 C+O to give the corresponding lutetium bridging imido and oxo complexes (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 )2 (μ2 -N-2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 )(THF)2 (2) and (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 )2 (μ2 -O)(THF)2 (3). Treatment of 3 with Ph2 C=O (4 equiv) caused a rare insertion of Lu-μ2 -O bond into theC=O group to afford a diphenylmethyl diolate complex 4. Reaction of 1 with PhN=C=O (2 equiv) led to the migration of SiMe3 to the amido nitrogen atom to give complex (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 )2 -μ-{PhNC(O)CHC(O)NPh(SiMe3 )-κ(3) N,O,O}(THF) (5). Reaction of 1 withtBuN=C formed an unprecedented product (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 ){μ2 -[η(2) :η(2) -tBuN=C(=CH2 )SiMe2 CHC=NtBu-κ(1) N]}(tBuN=C)2 (6) through a cascade reaction of N=C bond insertion, sequential cyclometalative γ-(sp(3) )-H activation, C=C bond formation, and rearrangement of the newly formed carbene intermediate. The possible mechanistic pathways between 1, PhN=C=O, and tBuN=C were elucidated by DFT calculations.

Endohedral fullerene with μ3-carbido ligand and titanium-carbon double bond stabilized inside a carbon cage

In all metallofullerenes known before this work, metal atoms form single highly polar bonds with non-metal atoms in endohedral cluster. This is rather surprising for titanium taking into account the diversity of organotitanium compounds. Here we show that the arc-discharge synthesis of mixed titanium-lutetium metallofullerenes in the presence of ammonia, melamine or methane unexpectedly results in the formation of TiLu2C@I(h)-C80 with an icosahedral Ih(7) carbon cage. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic studies of the compound reveal an unprecedented endohedral cluster with a μ3-carbido ligand and Ti-C double bond. The Ti(IV) in TiLu2C@I(h)-C80 can be reversibly reduced to the Ti(III) state. The Ti = C bonding and Ti-localized lowest unoccupied molecular orbital in TiLu2C@Ih-C80 bear a certain resemblance to titanium alkylidenes. TiLu2C@I(h)-C80 is the first metallofullerene with a multiple bond between a metal and the central, non-metal atom of the endohedral cluster.

Binary role of an ylide in formation of a terminal methylidene complex of niobium

The methylidene complex can be prepared readily in high yield from the reaction of [(Ar′O)₂Nb(CH₃)₂Cl] (Ar′ = (2,6-CHPh₂)₂-4-^tBu-C₆H₂) and two equivalents of H₂CPPh₃. The nucleophilic methylidene of [(Ar′O)₂NbCH₂(CH₃)(H₂CPPh₃)] can undergo Wittig-like or protonation chemistry to form structurally similar molecules.

M4(CH2)4 cubane-type rare-earth methylidene complexes: unique reactivity toward unsaturated C-O, C-N, and C-S bonds

The reactivity of the cubane-type rare-earth methylidene complex [Cp'Lu(μ(3)-CH(2))](4) (1, Cp' = C(5)Me(4)SiMe(3)) with various unsaturated electrophiles was investigated. The reaction of 1 with CO (1 atm) at room temperature gave the bis(ketene dianion)/dimethylidene complex [Cp'(4)Lu(4)(μ(3)-CH(2))(2)(μ(3),η(2)-O-C=CH(2))(2)] (2) in 86 % yield through the insertion of two molecules of CO into two of the four lutetium-methylidene units. In the reaction with the sterically demanding N,N-diisopropylcarbodiimide at 60 °C, only one of the four methylidene units in 1 reacted with one molecule of the carbodiimide substrate to give the mono(ethylene diamido)/trimethylidene complex [Cp'(4)Lu(4)(μ(3)-CH(2))(3) {iPrNC(=CH(2))NiPr}] (3) in 83% yield. Similarly, the reaction of 1 with phenyl isothiocyanate gave the ethylene amido thiolate/trimethylidene complex [Cp'(4)Lu(4)(μ(3)-CH(2))(3) {PhNC(S)=CH(2)}] (4). In the case of phenyl isocyanate, two of the four methylidene units in 1 reacted with four molecules of the substrate at ambient temperature to give the malonodiimidate/dimethylidene complex [Cp'(4)Lu(4)(μ(3)-CH(2))(2) {PhN=C(O)CH(2)(O)C=NPh}(2)] (5) in 87% yield. In this reaction, each of the two lutetium-methylidene bonds per methylidene unit inserted one molecule of phenyl isocyanate. All the products have been fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microelemental analyses.