A low-coordinate iron organoazide complex

A labile organoazide iron complex is reported. Under ambient conditions, the azide adduct is subject to a dissociation equilibrium in solution, yet also undergoes intramolecular C-H bond amination. Single-crystal irradiation of the azide at 80 K leads to partial N2-extrusion and formation of a putative imido iron intermediate, which was computationally identified as a highly covalent {FeNR}8 species.

Expanding the Utility of β-Diketiminate Ligands in Heavy Group VI Chemistry of Molybdenum and Tungsten

We report the synthesis of 17 molybdenum and tungsten complexes supported by the ubiquitous BDI ligand framework (BDI = β-diketiminate). The focal entry point is the synthesis of four molybdenum and tungsten(V) BDI complexes of the general formula [MO(BDI^R)Cl₂] [M = Mo, R = Dipp (1); M = W, R = Dipp (2); M = Mo, R = Mes (3); M = W, R = Mes (4)] synthesized by the reaction between MoOCl₃(THF)₂ or WOCl₃(THF)₂ and LiBDI^R. Reactivity studies show that the BDI^Dipp complexes are excellent precursors toward adduct formation, reacting smoothly with dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and triethylphosphine oxide (OPEt₃). No reaction with small phosphines has been observed, strongly contrasting the chemistry of previously reported rhenium(V) complexes. Additionally, the complexes 1 and 2 are good precursors for salt metathesis reactions. While 1 can be chemically reduced to the first stable example of a Mo(IV) BDI complex 15, reduction of 2 resulted in degradation of the BDI ligand via a nitrene transfer reaction, leading to MAD (4-((2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino)pent-2-enide) supported tungsten(V) and tungsten(VI) complexes 16 and 17. All reported complexes have been thoroughly studied by VT-NMR and (heteronuclear) NMR spectroscopy, as well as UV-vis and EPR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis.

Activation of Dinitrogen by Polynuclear Metal Complexes

Activation of dinitrogen plays an important role in daily anthropogenic life, and the processes by which this fixation occurs have been a longstanding and significant research focus within the community. One of the major fields of dinitrogen activation research is the use of multimetallic compounds to reduce and/or activate N2 into a more useful nitrogen-atom source, such as ammonia. Here we report a comprehensive review of multimetallic-dinitrogen complexes and their utility toward N2 activation, beginning with the d-block metals from Group 4 to Group 11, then extending to Group 13 (which is exclusively populated by B complexes), and finally the rare-earth and actinide species. The review considers all polynuclear metal aggregates containing two or more metal centers in which dinitrogen is coordinated or activated (i.e., partial or complete cleavage of the N2 triple bond in the observed product). Our survey includes complexes in which mononuclear N2 complexes are used as building blocks to generate homo- or heteromultimetallic dinitrogen species, which allow one to evaluate the potential of heterometallic species for dinitrogen activation. We highlight some of the common trends throughout the periodic table, such as the differences between coordination modes as it relates to N2 activation and potential functionalization and the effect of polarizing the bridging N2 ligand by employing different metal ions of differing Lewis acidities. By providing this comprehensive treatment of polynuclear metal dinitrogen species, this Review aims to outline the past and provide potential future directions for continued research in this area.

Consecutive N2 loss from a uranium diphosphazide complex

A new 'diphosphazidosalen' ligand was synthesized and successfully transferred to uranium using salt metathesis strategies. The resultant 8-coordinate uranium(iv) diphosphazide complex [κ6-1,2-{(N3)PPh2(2-O-C6H4)}2C6H4]UCl2 (1) is unstable to consecutive N2 loss, affording the asymmetric species [κ5-1-{(N3)PPh2(2-O-C6H4)}-2-{N=PPh2(2-O-C6H4)}C6H4)]UCl2 (2), defined by a phosphazide-phosphinimine mixed-ligand framework, and ultimately, the uranium(iv) phosphasalen complex [κ4-1,2-{N=PPh2(2-O-C6H4)}2C6H4]UCl2(THF) (3).

Variable coordination geometries via an amine-tethered-enamidophosphinimine ligand on cobalt

The enamidophosphinimine ligand scaffold decorated with a pendant 2-diethylamino-ethyl group can change its coordination mode upon reaction with hydride reagents or under reducing conditions when coordinated to cobalt.