Stable Ferrous Mononitroxyl {FeNO}8 Complex with a Hindered Hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate Coligand: Structure, Spectroscopic Characterization, and Reactivity Toward NO and O2.

The iron(II)-nitroxyl complex [Fe(NO)(L3)] (1) (with L3- = a hindered hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand), a high-spin (hs)-{FeNO}8 complex in the Enemark-Feltham notation, is surprisingly stable and is the first of its kind that could be structurally characterized. We further studied this compound using a variety of spectroscopic methods. These results indicate a hs iron(II) center with a bound 3NO- ligand where the spins are antiferromagnetic coupled ( St = 1). Vibrational data show that this complex has a very strong Fe-NO bond. DFT calculations support this result and link it to very strong π-donation from the 3NO- ligand to the iron(II) center. Furthermore, a very unusual equilibrium between the hs-{FeNO}8 complex and a dinitrosyl iron complex (DNIC) of {Fe(NO)2}9 type is observed. The O2 reactivity of the complex is finally reported.

A cobalt-nitrosyl complex with a hindered hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate coligand: detailed electronic structure, and reactivity towards dioxygen.

The cobalt-nitrosyl complex [Co(NO)(L3)] is supported by a highly hindered tridentate nitrogen ligand, hydrotris(3-tertiary butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate (denoted as L3-), and shows a linear Co-N-O unit. This complex was prepared by the reaction of the potassium salt of L3- with the cobalt-nitrosyl precursor [Co(NO)2(tmeda)](BPh4) (tmeda = N,N,N,'N'-tetramethylethylenediamine). The obtained cobalt-nitrosyl complex as well as the corresponding products from the reaction with dioxygen, [Co(η2-O2N)(L3)] and [Co(η2-O2NO)(L3)], were characterised by X-ray crystallography and a number of spectroscopic methods including IR/far-IR, UV-Vis, and NMR spectroscopy. We also performed MCD measurements and DFT calculations to further elucidate the electronic structure of [Co(NO)(L3)] and the optical properties of the complex. The MCD spectra reveal two NO-to-Co charge-transfer transitions with strong excited state displacements that give rise to vibrational progressions in the MCD spectra, indicative of a very covalent Co-NO bond. These results provide new insight into the properties of the Co-NO bond and the electron distribution in the complex, which is best described as [CoII(NO-)(L3)].

Distorted tetrahedral nickel-nitrosyl complexes: spectroscopic characterization and electronic structure.

The linear nickel-nitrosyl complex [Ni(NO)(L3)] supported by a highly hindered tridentate nitrogen-based ligand, hydrotris(3-tertiary butyl-5-isopropyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate (denoted as L3), was prepared by the reaction of the potassium salt of the ligand with the nickel-nitrosyl precursor [Ni(NO)(Br)(PPh 3 ) 2 ]. The obtained nitrosyl complexes as well as the corresponding chlorido complexes [Ni(NO)(Cl)(PPh 3 ) 2 ] and [Ni(Cl)(L3)] were characterized by X-ray crystallography and different spectroscopic methods including IR/far-IR, UV-Vis, NMR, and multi-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ni K-, Ni L-, Cl K-, and P K-edges. For comparative electronic structure analysis we also performed DFT calculations to further elucidate the electronic structure of [Ni(NO)(L3)]. These results provide the nickel oxidation state and the character of the Ni-NO bond. The complex [Ni(NO)(L3)] is best described as [Ni (II) (NO (-) )(L3)], and the spectroscopic results indicate that the phosphane complexes have a similar [Ni (II) (NO (-) )(X)(PPh 3 ) 2 ] ground state.

Conversion of carbon dioxide to oxalate by α-ketocarboxylatocopper(II) complexes.

The α-ketocarboxylatocopper(II) complex [{Cu(L1)}{O2CC(O)CH(CH3)2}] can be spontaneously converted into the binuclear oxalatocopper(II) complex [{Cu(L1)}2(µ-C2O4)] upon exposure to O2/CO2 gas. (13)C-labeling experiments revealed that oxalate ions partially incorporated (13)CO2 molecules. Furthermore, the bicarbonatocopper(I) complex (NEt4)[Cu(L1){O2C(OH)}] in an Ar atmosphere and the α-ketocarboxylatocopper(I) complex Na[Cu(L1){O2CC(O)CH(CH3)2}] in an O2 atmosphere were also transformed spontaneously into the oxalato complex [{Cu(L1)}2(µ-C2O4)].