Evaluation of attractive interactions in the second coordination sphere of iron complexes containing pendant amines

Flexible interactions of the rare-earth elements Y, La, and Lu with phosphorus in metallacyclohexane rings

A geometrically flexible bifunctional (bis)aminophosphine ligand was synthesized in a three-component, one-pot Kabachnik-Fields reaction using tert butylphosphine, paraformaldehyde, and 3,5-dimethyl aniline. The product, bis((3,5-dimethylphenyl)aminomethyl) tert butylphosphine (ArBiAMP t Bu), containing two secondary amines and a tertiary phosphine, was isolated in good yields. Deprotonation of both N-H groups with (trimethylsilyl)methylpotassium (K-CH2SiMe3), followed by salt metathesis with LaI3, YI3, and LuI3 generated the corresponding MI(ArBiAMP t Bu)(thf)3 complexes (M = Y (1), La (2), and Lu (3)) in good yields. A sterically encumbered indene, 1,3-diisopropyl-4,7-dimethyl-1H-indene, iPrMeInd, was deprotonated in situ and installed via salt-metathesis to generate the organometallic series of η5-indenide complexes, M(ArBiAMP t Bu)(η5-iPrMeInd)(thf) (M = Y (4), La (5), and Lu (6)). 1H, 31P, 13C, and 89Y NMR experiments, IR spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), were used to characterize these complexes. The Y-P coupling constant was found to be variable depending on the modifiable coordination environment of the metal center, indicating potential as both a spectroscopic handle as well as providing insight into the influence of additional ligands on the metal center.

Direct Aerobic Generation of a Ferric Hydroperoxo Intermediate Via a Preorganized Secondary Coordination Sphere

Enzymes exert control over the reactivity of metal centers with precise tuning of the secondary coordination sphere of active sites. One particularly elegant illustration of this principle is in the controlled delivery of proton and electron equivalents in order to activate abundant but kinetically inert oxidants such as O2 for oxidative chemistry. Chemists have drawn inspiration from biology in designing molecular systems where the secondary coordination sphere can shuttle protons or electrons to substrates. However, a biomimetic activation of O2 requires the transfer of both protons and electrons, and molecular systems where ancillary ligands are designed to provide both of these equivalents are comparatively rare. Here, we report the use of a dihydrazonopyrrole (DHP) ligand complexed to Fe to perform exactly such a biomimetic activation of O2. In the presence of O2, this complex directly generates a high spin Fe(III)-hydroperoxo intermediate which features a DHP• ligand radical via ligand-based transfer of an H atom. This system displays oxidative reactivity and ultimately releases hydrogen peroxide, providing insight on how secondary coordination sphere interactions influence the evolution of oxidizing intermediates in Fe-mediated aerobic oxidations.

Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity of a Zinc Porphyrin for CO2 Reduction: Cooperative Effects of Triazole Units in the Second Coordination Sphere

The control of the second coordination sphere in a coordination complex plays an important role in improving catalytic efficiency. Herein, we report a zinc porphyrin complex ZnPor8T with multiple flexible triazole units comprising the second coordination sphere, as an electrocatalyst for the highly selective electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂ ) to carbon monoxide (CO). This electrocatalyst converted CO₂ to CO with a Faradaic efficiency of 99 % and a current density of -6.2 mA cm^-2 at -2.4 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺ in N,N-dimethylformamide using water as the proton source. Structure-function relationship studies were carried out on ZnPor8T analogs containing different numbers of triazole units and distinct triazole geometries; these unveiled that the triazole units function cooperatively to stabilize the CO₂ -catalyst adduct in order to facilitate intramolecular proton transfer. Our findings demonstrate that incorporating triazole units that function in a cooperative manner is a versatile strategy to enhance the activity of electrocatalytic CO₂ conversion.

Synthesis and Structure of Iron (II) Complexes of Functionalized 1,5-Diaza-3,7-Diphosphacyclooctanes

In order to synthesize new iron (II) complexes of 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctanes with a wider variety of the substituents on ligands heteroatoms (including functionalized ones, namely, pyridyl groups) and co-ligands, it was found that these ligands with relatively small phenyl, benzyl, and pyridin-2-yl substituents on phosphorus atoms in acetonitrile formed bis-P,P-chelate cis-complexes [L₂Fe(CH₃CN)₂]²⁺ (BF₄)₂⁻, whereas P-mesityl-substituted ligand formed only monoligand P,P-complex [LFe(CH₃CN)₄]²⁺ (BF₄)₂⁻. 3,7-dibenzyl-1,5-di(1′-(R)-phenylethyl)-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane reacted with hexahydrate of iron (II) tetrafluoroborate in acetone to give an unusual bis-ligand cationic complex of the composition [L₂Fe(BF₄)]⁺ BF₄⁻, where two fluorine atoms of the tetrafluoroborate unit occupied two pseudo-equatorial positions at roughly octahedral iron ion, according to X-ray diffraction data. 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctanes replaced tetrahydrofurane and one of the carbonyl ligands of cyclopentadienyldicarbonyl(tetrahydrofuran)iron (II) tetrafluoroborate to form heteroligand complexes [CpFeL(CO)]⁺BF₄⁻. The structural studies in the solid phase and in solutions showed that diazadiphosphacyclooctane ligands of all complexes adopted chair-boat conformations so that their nitrogen atoms were in close proximity to the central iron ion. The redox properties of the obtained complexes were performed by the cyclic voltammetry method.

Synthetic models of hydrogenases based on framework structures containing coordinating P, N-atoms as hydrogen energy electrocatalysts – from molecules to materials

Nowadays, hydrogen has become not only an extremely important chemical product but also a promising clean energy carrier for replacing fossil fuels. Production of molecular H2 through electrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions is crucial for the development of clean-energy technologies. The development of economically viable and efficient H2 production/oxidation catalysts is a key step in the creation of H2-based renewable energy infrastructure. Intrinsic limitations of both natural enzymes and synthetic materials have led researchers to explore enzyme-induced catalysts to realize a high current density at a low overpotential. In recent times, highly active widespread numerous electrocatalysts, both homogeneous or heterogeneous (immobilized on the electrode), such as transition metal complexes, heteroatom- or metal-doped nanocarbons, metal-organic frameworks, and other metal derivatives (calix [4] resorcinols, pectates, etc.), which are, to one extent or another, structural or functional analogs of hydrogenases, have been extensively studied as alternatives for Pt-based catalysts, demonstrating prospects for the development of a “hydrogen economy”. This mini-review generalizes some achievements in the field of development of new electrocatalysts for H2 production/oxidation and their application for fuel cells, mainly focuses on the consideration of the catalytic activity of M[P2N2]2 2+ (M = Ni, Fe) complexes and other nickel structures which have been recently obtained.

3D Ni and Co redox-active metal–organic frameworks based on ferrocenyl diphosphinate and 4,4′-bipyridine ligands as efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

New 3D Ni and Co redox-active metal–organic frameworks based on ferrocenyl diphosphinate and 4,4′-bipyridine ligands have been explored as efficient electrocatalysts with superior long-term durability in a hydrogen evolution reaction.