Reversible coordination of N2 and H2 to a homoleptic S = 1/2 Fe(i) diphosphine complex in solution and the solid state

The synthesis and characterisation of the S = 1/2 Fe(i) complex [Fe(depe)₂]⁺[BArF4]^- ([1]⁺[BArF4]^-), and the facile reversible binding of N₂ and H₂ in both solution and the solid state to form the adducts [1·N₂]⁺ and [1·H₂]⁺, are reported. Coordination of N₂ in THF is thermodynamically favourable under ambient conditions (1 atm; ΔG ₂₉₈ = -4.9(1) kcal mol^-1), while heterogenous binding is more favourable for H₂ than N₂ by a factor of ∼300. [1·H₂]⁺[BArF4]^- represents a rare example of a well-defined, open-shell, non-classical dihydrogen complex, as corroborated by ESR spectroscopy. The rapid exchange between N₂ and H₂ coordination under ambient conditions is unique for a paramagnetic Fe complex.

Grasping hydrogen adsorption and dynamics in metal-organic frameworks using (2)H solid-state NMR

Record greenhouse gas emissions have spurred the search for clean energy sources such as hydrogen (H2) fuel cells. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising H2 adsorption and storage media, but knowledge of H2 dynamics and adsorption strengths in these materials is lacking. Variable-temperature (VT) (2)H solid-state NMR (SSNMR) experiments targeting (2)H2 gas (i.e., D2) shed light on D2 adsorption and dynamics within six representative MOFs: UiO-66, M-MOF-74 (M = Zn, Mg, Ni), and α-M3(COOH)6 (M = Mg, Zn). D2 binding is relatively strong in Mg-MOF-74, Ni-MOF-74, α-Mg3(COOH)6, and α-Zn3(COOH)6, giving rise to broad (2)H SSNMR powder patterns. In contrast, D2 adsorption is weaker in UiO-66 and Zn-MOF-74, as evidenced by the narrow (2)H resonances that correspond to rapid reorientation of the D2 molecules. Employing (2)H SSNMR experiments in this fashion holds great promise for the correlation of MOF structural features and functional groups/metal centers to H2 dynamics and host-guest interactions.

A Molecular Rotor Possessing an H-M-H "Spoke" on a P-M-P "Axle": A Platinum(II) trans-Dihydride Spins Rapidly Even at 75 K

A new class of low-barrier molecular rotors, metal trans-dihydrides, is suggested here. To test whether rapid rotation can be achieved, the known complex trans-H2Pt(P(t)Bu3)2 was experimentally studied by (2)H and (195)Pt solid-state NMR spectroscopy (powder pattern changes with temperature) and computationally modeled as a (t)Bu3P-Pt-P(t)Bu3 stator with a spinning H-Pt-H rotator. Whereas the related chloro-hydride complex, trans-H(Cl)Pt(P(t)Bu3)2, does not show rotational behavior at room temperature, the dihydride trans-H2Pt(P(t)Bu3)2 rotates fast on the NMR time scale, even at low temperatures down to at least 75 K. The highest barrier to rotation is estimated to be ∼3 kcal mol(-1), for the roughly 3 Å long rotator in trans-H2Pt(P(t)Bu3)2.

High-resolution 2H MAS NMR applied to deuterium analogs of hydrido eta2-dihydrogen complexes

(2)H solid-state, variable temperature magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra of precipitated samples of the deutero dideuterium complexes Ru(D)(2)(eta(2)-D(2))(2)(PCy(3))(2) and RuD(eta(2)-D(2))I(PCy(3))(2) [Cy=cyclohexyl] are presented. They show that even at moderate MAS speed, high resolution is achieved at 7 and 14T allowing (2)H chemical shifts and quadrupole couplings to be obtained and assigned to different solid and gaseous (2)H species. These two parameters allow identifying chemically different hydrogen species in the material. The analysis of these parameters in this study reveals the presence of three different species in the sample, namely the complexes RuD(eta(2)-D(2))I(PCy(3))(2) and RuD(eta(2)-D(2))(2)I(PCy(3))(2), and highly mobile HD/D(2). These assignments are supported by (2)H T(1) relaxation times and (31)P MAS NMR spectra. Moreover, variable temperature MAS NMR spectra reveal temperature-dependent line-shape changes, which are clear indications of intramolecular hydrogen exchange of the deutero and the dideuterium ligands and which give an estimate for the activation energy of this process.

Effect of weak interactions on the H...H distance in stretched dihydrogen complexes

Computational and experimental results presented in this paper demonstrate that the H-H distance in stretched dihydrogen complexes can be hypersensitive to a variety of weak intra- and intermolecular interactions, including those with bulky ligands and solvent molecules, hydrogen-bonding interactions, or ion-pairing. Particularly, the complex IrH(H...H)Cl(2)(P(i)Pr(3))(2) which contains a stretched dihydrogen ligand in the crystalline form, as shown by neutron diffraction, is a trihydride in solution. The difference is due to the intermolecular Ir-Cl...H-Ir hydrogen bonding in the solid.

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of elongated ruthenium dihydrogen complexes: temperature and isotope dependence of H-H distances

Several dihydrogen complexes of ruthenium of the form [Cp/Cp*Ru(P-P)H(2)](+) (P-P = chelating diphosphine ligand) have been prepared by reaction of the corresponding neutral chloride complexes with H(2) in the presence of NaB(ArF)(4). Treatment with D(2) or T(2) gas leads to incorporation of deuterium or tritium in the dihydrogen ligand. Measurement of the resulting H-D and H-T couplings as a function of the temperature and magnetic field gives results consistent with computational studies which predict that the H-H bond distance will increase with temperature and will be significantly shortened by isotopic substitution. The degree of the observed temperature dependence is found to be a critical function of the ancillary ligand set.

1H- and 2H-T1 relaxation behavior of the rhodium dihydrogen complex [(triphos)Rh(eta 2-H2)H2]+

Protonation of the classical trihydride [(triphos)RhH3] (2) at 210 K in either THF or CH2Cl2 by either HBF4.OMe2 or CF3SO2OH gives the nonclassical eta 2-H2 complex [(triphos)Rh(eta 2-H2)H2]+ (1) [triphos = MeC(CH2PPh2)3]. Complex 1 is thermally unstable and highly fluxional in solution. In THF above 230 K, 1 transforms into the solvento dihydride complex [(triphos)Rh(eta 1-THF-d8)H2]+ (5) that, at room temperature, quickly converts to the stable dimer trans-[[(triphos)RhH]2(mu-H)2]2+ (trans-6). In CH2Cl2, 1 is stable up to 240 K. Above this temperature, the eta 2-H2 complex begins to convert into a mixture of trans- and cis-6, which, in turn, transform into the bridging-chloride dimers trans- and cis-[[(triphos)RhH]2(mu-Cl)2]2+ at room temperature. Complex 1 contains a fast-spinning H2 ligand with a T1min of 38.9 ms in CD2Cl2 (220 K, 400 MHz). An NMR analysis of the bis-deuterated isotopomer [(triphos)RhH2D2]+ (1-d2) did not provide a J(HD) value. At 190 K, the perdeuterated isotopomers [(triphos)RhD3] (2-d3) and 1-d4 show T1min values of 16.5 and 32.6 ms (76.753 MHz), respectively, for the rapidly exchanging deuterides. An analogous 2-fold elongation of T1min is also observed on going from [(triphos)IrD3] to [(triphos)Ir(eta 2-D2)D2]+. A rationale for the elongation of T1min in nonclassical polyhydrides is proposed on the basis of both the results obtained and recent literature reports.