Distinct modes of Si-H binding to Rh in complexes of a phosphine-diarylamido-silane (SiNP) pincer ligand.

Syntheses of Rh complexes of the phosphine-amido-silane SiNP ligand are reported. The reaction of the parent (SiNP)H ligand (4) with 0.5 equiv. [(COE)RhCl]2 (COE = cis-cyclooctene) in the presence of NaN(SiME3)2 resulted in the formation of (SiNP)Rh(COE) (5). Compound 5 was converted to a series of (SiNP)Rh(P(OR)3) complexes 6-10 (R = Ph, iPr, nBu, Et, or Me) by treatment with the corresponding phosphite. NMR and XRD structural data, as well as the DFT computational analysis indicate that compounds 5-10 are divided into two structural Types (A and B), differing in the nature of the interaction of the Si-H bond of the SiNP ligand with Rh.

Designing ionic liquids with boron cluster anions: alkylpyridinium and imidazolium [nido-C(2)B(9)H(11)] and [closo-CB(11)H(12)] carborane salts.

A range of new alkylpyridinium and imidazolium carborane salts with [nido-C(2)B(9)H(12)](-), [closo-CB(11)H(12)](-), and [RC(2)B(11)H(11)](-) (R = methyl or butyl) anions have been prepared and characterized by physical and thermal methods, including the solid state structures of five of the salts determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The tendency of the salts to form low-melting ionic liquids has been assessed; all the salts studied with [nido-C(2)B(9)H(12)](-) anions melted below 100 degrees C and, significantly, have melting points that are 25-85 degrees C lower than those of the corresponding [closo-CB(11)H(12)](-) analogs, demonstrating that a wider range of boron-rich ionic liquid materials can be readily accessed.

Hydrogen atom transfer from iron(II)-tris[2,2'-bi(tetrahydropyrimidine)] to TEMPO: a negative enthalpy of activation predicted by the Marcus equation.

The transfer of a hydrogen atom from iron(II)-tris[2,2'-bi(tetrahydropyrimidine)], [FeII(H2bip)3]2+, to the stable nitroxide, TEMPO, was studied by stopped-flow UV-vis spectrophotometry. The products are the deprotonated iron(III) complex [FeIII(H2bip)2(Hbip)]2+ and the hydroxylamine, TEMPO-H. This reaction can also be referred to as proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). The equilibrium constant for the reaction is close to 1; thus, the reaction can be driven in either direction. The rate constants for the forward and reverse reactions at 298 K are k1 = 260 +/- 30 M-1 s-1 and k-1 = 150 +/- 20 M-1 s-1. Interestingly, the rate constant for the forward reaction decreases as reaction temperature is increased, implying a negative activation enthalpy: DeltaH1 = -2.7 +/- 0.4 kcal mol-1, DeltaS1 = -57 +/- 8 cal mol-1 K-1. Marcus theory predicts this unusual temperature dependence on the basis of independently measured self-exchange rate constants and equilibrium constants: DeltaHcalcd = -3.5 +/- 0.5 kcal mol-1, DeltaScalcd = -42 +/- 10 cal mol-1 K-1. This result illustrates the value of the Marcus approach for these types of reactions. The dominant contributor to the negative activation enthalpy is the favorable enthalpy of reaction, DeltaH1 degrees = -9.4 +/- 0.6 kcal mol-1, rather than the small negative activation enthalpy for the H-atom self-exchange between the iron complexes.

Electron and hydrogen-atom self-exchange reactions of iron and cobalt coordination complexes.

Reported here are self-exchange reactions between iron 2,2'-bi(tetrahydro)pyrimidine (H(2)bip) complexes and between cobalt 2,2'-biimidazoline (H(2)bim) complexes. The (1)H NMR resonances of [Fe(II)(H(2)bip)(3)](2+) are broadened upon addition of [Fe(III)(H(2)bip)(3)](3+), indicating that electron self-exchange occurs with k(Fe,e)(-) = (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) at 298 K in CD(3)CN. Similar studies of [Fe(II)(H(2)bip)(3)](2+) plus [Fe(III)(Hbip)(H(2)bip)(2)](2+) indicate that hydrogen-atom self-exchange (proton-coupled electron transfer) occurs with k(Fe,H.) = (1.1 +/- 0.2) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) under the same conditions. Both self-exchange reactions are faster at lower temperatures, showing small negative enthalpies of activation: DeltaH++(e(-)) = -2.1 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1) (288-320 K) and DeltaH++(H.) = -1.5 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1) (260-300 K). This behavior is concluded to be due to the faster reaction of the low-spin states of the iron complexes, which are depopulated as the temperature is raised. Below about 290 K, rate constants for electron self-exchange show the more normal decrease with temperature. There is a modest kinetic isotope effect on H-atom self-exchange of 1.6 +/- 0.5 at 298 K that is close to that seen previously for the fully high-spin iron biimidazoline complexes.(12) The difference in the measured activation parameters, E(a)(D) - E(a)(H), is -1.2 +/- 0.8 kcal mol(-1), appears to be inconsistent with a semiclassical view of the isotope effect, and suggests extensive tunneling. Reactions of [Co(H(2)bim)(3)](2+)-d(24) with [Co(H(2)bim)(3)](3+) or [Co(Hbim)(H(2)bim)(2)](2+) occur with scrambling of ligands indicating inner-sphere processes. The self-exchange rate constant for outer-sphere electron transfer between [Co(H(2)bim)(3)](2+) and [Co(H(2)bim)(3)](3+) is estimated to be 10(-)(6) M(-1) s(-1) by application of the Marcus cross relation. Similar application of the cross relation to H-atom transfer reactions indicates that self-exchange between [Co(H(2)bim)(3)](2+) and [Co(Hbim)(H(2)bim)(2)](2+) is also slow, < or =10(-3) M(-1) s(-1). The slow self-exchange rates for the cobalt complexes are apparently due to their interconverting high-spin [Co(II)(H(2)bim)(3)](2+) with low-spin Co(III) derivatives.

Molecular structure of the solvated proton in isolated salts. Short, strong, low barrier (SSLB) H-bonds.

Large, inert, weakly basic carborane anions of the icosahedral type CHB(11)R(5)X(6)(-) (R = H, Me; X = Cl, Br) allow ready isolation and structural characterization of discrete salts of the solvated proton, [H(solvent)(x)][CHB(11)R(5)X(6)], (solvent = common O-atom donor). These oxonium ion Brønsted acids are convenient reagents for the tuned delivery of protons to organic solvents with a specified number of donor solvent molecules and with acidities leveled to those of the chosen donor solvent. They have greater thermal stability than the popular [H(OEt(2))(2)][BAr(F)] acids based on fluorinated tetraphenylborate counterions because carborane anions can sustain much higher levels of acidity. When organic O-atom donors such as diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, benzophenone, and nitrobenzene are involved, the coordination number of the proton (x) in [H(solvent)(x)()](+) is two. A mixed species involving the [H(H(2)O)(diethyl ether)](+) ion has also been isolated. These solid-state structures provide expectations for the predominant molecular structures of solvated protons in solution and take into account that water is an inevitable impurity in organic solvents. The O.O distances are all short, lying within the range from 2.35 to 2.48 A. They are consistent with strong, linear O.H.O hydrogen bonding. Density functional theory calculations indicate that all H(solvent)(2)(+) cations have low barriers to movement of the proton within an interval along the O.H.O trajectory, i.e., they are examples of so-called SSLB H-bonds (short, strong, low-barrier). Unusually broadened IR bands, diagnostic of SSLB H-bonds, are observed in these H(solvent)(2)(+) cations.

Hydrocarbon oxidation by Bis-mu-oxo manganese dimers: electron transfer, hydride transfer, and hydrogen atom transfer mechanisms.

Described here are oxidations of alkylaromatic compounds by dimanganese mu-oxo and mu-hydroxo dimers [(phen)(2)Mn(IV)(mu-O)(2)Mn(IV)(phen)(2)](4+) ([Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+)), [(phen)(2)Mn(IV)(mu-O)(2)Mn(III)(phen)(2)](3+) ([Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+)), and [(phen)(2)Mn(III)(mu-O)(mu-OH)Mn(III)(phen)(2)](3+) ([Mn(2)(O)(OH)](3+)). Dihydroanthracene, xanthene, and fluorene are oxidized by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+) to give anthracene, bixanthenyl, and bifluorenyl, respectively. The manganese product is the bis(hydroxide) dimer, [(phen)(2)Mn(III)(mu-OH)(2)Mn(II)(phen)(2)](3+) ([Mn(2)(OH)(2)](3+)). Global analysis of the UV/vis spectral kinetic data shows a consecutive reaction with buildup and decay of [Mn(2)(O)(OH)](3+) as an intermediate. The kinetics and products indicate a mechanism of hydrogen atom transfers from the substrates to oxo groups of [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+) and [Mn(2)(O)(OH)](3+). [Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+) is a much stronger oxidant, converting toluene to tolyl-phenylmethanes and naphthalene to binaphthyl. Kinetic and mechanistic data indicate a mechanism of initial preequilibrium electron transfer for p-methoxytoluene and naphthalenes because, for instance, the reactions are inhibited by addition of [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+). The oxidation of toluene by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+), however, is not inhibited by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+). Oxidation of a mixture of C(6)H(5)CH(3) and C(6)H(5)CD(3) shows a kinetic isotope effect of 4.3 +/- 0.8, consistent with C-H bond cleavage in the rate-determining step. The data indicate a mechanism of initial hydride transfer from toluene to [Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+). Thus, oxidations by manganese oxo dimers occur by three different mechanisms: hydrogen atom transfer, electron transfer, and hydride transfer. The thermodynamics of e(-), H(*), and H(-) transfers have been determined from redox potential and pK(a) measurements. For a particular oxidant and a particular substrate, the choice of mechanism is influenced both by the thermochemistry and by the intrinsic barriers. Rate constants for hydrogen atom abstraction by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](3+) and [Mn(2)(O)(OH)](3+) are consistent with their 79 and 75 kcal mol(-)(1) affinities for H(*). In the oxidation of p-methoxytoluene by [Mn(2)(O)(2)](4+), hydride transfer is thermochemically 24 kcal mol(-)(1) more facile than electron transfer; yet the latter mechanism is preferred. Thus, electron transfer has a substantially smaller intrinsic barrier than does hydride transfer in this system.