Low-Valent Transition Metalate Anions in Synthesis, Small Molecule Activation, and Catalysis

This review surveys the synthesis and reactivity of low-oxidation state metalate anions of the d-block elements, with an emphasis on contributions reported between 2006 and 2022. Although the field has a long and rich history, the chemistry of transition metalate anions has been greatly enhanced in the last 15 years by the application of advanced concepts in complex synthesis and ligand design. In recent years, the potential of highly reactive metalate complexes in the fields of small molecule activation and homogeneous catalysis has become increasingly evident. Consequently, exciting applications in small molecule activation have been developed, including in catalytic transformations. This article intends to guide the reader through the fascinating world of low-valent transition metalates. The first part of the review describes the synthesis and reactivity of d-block metalates stabilized by an assortment of ligand frameworks, including carbonyls, isocyanides, alkenes and polyarenes, phosphines and phosphorus heterocycles, amides, and redox-active nitrogen-based ligands. Thereby, the reader will be familiarized with the impact of different ligand types on the physical and chemical properties of metalates. In addition, ion-pairing interactions and metal-metal bonding may have a dramatic influence on metalate structures and reactivities. The complex ramifications of these effects are examined in a separate section. The second part of the review is devoted to the reactivity of the metalates toward small inorganic molecules such as H2, N2, CO, CO2, P4 and related species. It is shown that the use of highly electron-rich and reactive metalates in small molecule activation translates into impressive catalytic properties in the hydrogenation of organic molecules and the reduction of N2, CO, and CO2. The results discussed in this review illustrate that the potential of transition metalate anions is increasingly being tapped for challenging catalytic processes with relevance to organic synthesis and energy conversion. Therefore, it is hoped that this review will serve as a useful resource to inspire further developments in this dynamic research field.

Reduced Arene Complexes of Hafnium Supported by a Triamidoamine Ligand

A series of hafnium complexes with a reduced arene of the general formula [K(L)][Hf(Xy-N3 N)(arene)] (Xy-N3 N={(3,5-Me2 C6 H3 )NCH2 CH2 }3 N3- , L=THF, 18-crown-6; arene=C10 H8 2- , C14 H10 2- ) mimic the chemistry of hafnium in its formal oxidation state +II. All compounds were obtained upon reduction of the chlorido complex [HfCl(Xy-N3 N)(thf)] with two equivalents of potassium naphthalenide or anthracenide. The reducing nature and the basicity of the reduced anthracene ligand were explored in the reaction of benzonitrile and azobenzene, and by deprotonation of tert-butylacetylene, respectively. The reduction of benzonitrile provides an initial double nitrile insertion product under kinetic control that rearranges after extrusion of one of the inserted nitriles to a hafnium imido complex as the thermodynamic product. The reduction of azobenzene resulted in a diphenylhydrazido(2-) complex. Treatment of terminal alkynes with the anthracene or diphenylhydrazido(2-) complex led to the selective protonation of the corresponding dianionic ligand.

Reduced Arene Complexes of Scandium

Alkali metal naphthalenide or anthracenide reacted with scandium(III) anilides [Sc(X){N(tBu)Xy}2 (thf)] (X=N(tBu)Xy (1); X=Cl (2); Xy=C6 H3 -3,5-Me2 ) to give scandium complexes [M(thf)n ][Sc{N(tBu)Xy}2 (RA)] (M=Li-K; n=1-6; RA=C10 H8 2- (3-Naph-K) and C14 H10 2- (3-Anth-M)) containing a reduced arene ligand. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed the scandium(III) center bonded to the naphthalene dianion in a σ2 :π-coordination mode, whereas the anthracene dianion is symmetrically attached to the scandium(III) center in a σ2 -fashion. All compounds have been characterized by multinuclear, including 45 Sc NMR spectroscopy. Quantum chemical calculations of these intensely colored arene complexes confirm scandium to be in the oxidation state +3. The intense absorptions observed in the UV/Vis spectra are due to ligand-to-metal charge transfers. Whereas nitriles underwent C-C coupling reaction with the reduced arene ligand, the reaction with one equivalent of [NEt3 H][BPh4 ] led to the mono-protonation of the reduced arene ligand.

Trianionic binucleating bis(trityl)/aryloxide ligands and their lithium, magnesium, and zinc complexes

A series of lithium complexes with trianionic bis(trityl)/aryloxide ligands were prepared by triple deprotonation of phenols with two ortho-diarylmethyl substituents. Transmetalation with one of the lithium complexes via salt metathesis resulted in the synthesis of corresponding Mg and Zn complexes, which showed distinct coordination stoichiometry and structures. The metal complexes were characterized by multi-nuclear NMR, UV–vis, and infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, the redox property of a trilithium compound was investigated by electrochemical methods. X-ray crystallography revealed that the new bis(trityl)/aryloxide ligands could simultaneously bind to two nearby metal centers both in chelating κ2-O,C fashion, making themselves rare examples of tridentate binucleating alkyl/aryloxo scaffolds.

Organometallic Zirconium Compounds in an Oxygen-Rich Coordination Environment: Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Tris(oxoimidazolyl)hydroboratozirconium Compounds

A series of tris(oxoimidazolyl)hydroborato ligands, which serve as L₂X [O₃] donors, have been employed to obtain organometallic zirconium compounds in an uncommon oxygen-rich coordination environment. For example, Cp[To^MeBenz]ZrCl₂ has been synthesized via the reaction of [To^MeBenz]Na with CpZrCl₃ and bears a structural resemblance to the bent metallocene dichloride derivative Cp₂ZrCl₂. In addition, the half-sandwich counterparts [To^MeBenz]ZrCl₃ and [To^But]ZrCl₃ have been obtained by metathesis of ZrCl₄ with [To^MeBenz]Na and [To^But]Na, respectively. The structurally related zirconium benzyl compounds [To^RBenz]Zr(CH₂Ph)₃ (R = Me, Bu^t, 1-Ad) have also been synthesized via the reactions of [To^RBenz]Tl with Zr(CH₂Ph)₄, and X-ray diffraction studies demonstrate that the benzyl ligands in these compounds are conformationally flexible and exhibit a large range of Zr-CH₂-Ph bond angles (94.7-131.7°). Protolytic cleavage of one of the benzyl ligands of [To^RBenz]Zr(CH₂Ph)₃ (R = Bu^t, 1-Ad) may be achieved by treatment with [PhNHMe₂][B(C₆F₅)₄] to generate {[To^RBenz]Zr(CH₂Ph)₂}[B(C₆F₅)₄], which are catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene. The molecular structure of the ether adduct, {[To^ButBenz]Zr(CH₂Ph)₂(OEt₂)}[B(C₆F₅)₄], has been determined by X-ray diffraction. In addition to the use of tris(oxoimidazolyl)hydroborato ligands, bis(oxoimidazolyl)hydroborato ligands have also been used to obtain zirconium benzyl compounds in oxygen-rich environments, namely, [Bo^MeBenz]₂Zr(CH₂Ph)₂ and [Bo^AdBenz]₂Zr(CH₂Ph)₂.

An anionic η2-naphthalene complex of titanium supported by a tripodal [O3C] ligand and its reactions with dinitrogen, anthracene and THF

An η²-naphthalene titanium complex supported by a tripodal ligand reacts with N₂ to produce a strongly activated N₂ complex.

Tris[(1-isopropylbenzimidazol-2-yl)dimethylsilyl]methyl metal complexes, [TismPriBenz]M: a new class of metallacarbatranes, isomerization to a tris(N-heterocyclic carbene) derivative, and evidence for an inverted ligand field

The tris[(1-isopropylbenzimidazol-2-yl)dimethylsilyl]methyl ligand, [TismPriBenz], has been employed to form carbatrane compounds of both the main group metals and transition metals, namely [TismPriBenz]Li, [TismPriBenz]MgMe, [TismPriBenz]Cu and [TismPriBenz]NiBr. In addition to the formation of atranes, a zinc compound that exhibits κ3-coordination, namely [κ3-TismPriBenz]ZnMe, has also been obtained. Furthermore, the [TismPriBenz] ligand may undergo a thermally induced rearrangement to afford a novel tripodal tris(N-heterocyclic carbene) variant, as shown by the conversion of [TismPriBenz]Cu to [κ4-C4-TismPriBenz*]Cu. The transannular M-C bond lengths in the atrane compounds are 0.19-0.32 Å longer than the sum of the respective covalent radii, which is consistent with a bonding description that features a formally zwitterionic component. Interestingly, computational studies demonstrate that the Cu-Catrane interactions in [TismPriBenz]Cu and [κ4-C4-TismPriBenz*]Cu are characterized by an "inverted ligand field", in which the occupied antibonding orbitals are localized more on carbon than on copper.