Toward Frameworks with Multiple Aligned and Interactive Fe(CO)3 Rotators: Syntheses and Structures of Diiron Complexes Linked by Two trans-Diaxial α,ω-Diphosphine Ligands Ar2P(CH2)nPAr2.

Reactions of (η4-benzylideneacetone)Fe(CO)3 and the α,ω-diphosphines Ar2P(CH2)nPAr2 afford the trigonal bipyramidal diiron tetraphosphorus complexes trans,trans-(CO)3Fe[Ar2P(CH2)nPAr2]2Fe(CO)3 (n/Ar = 3/Ph 3, 4/Ph 4a, 4/p-tol 4b; 56-19%). Crystal structures establish essentially parallel P-Fe-P axes, iron-iron distances of 5.894(9)-5.782(1) Å (3) and 6.403(1)-6.466(1) Å (4a,b), and van der Waals radii of 4.45 Å for the Fe(CO)3 rotators, the planes of which are offset by 0.029-1.665 Å. Analogous reactions of Ph2P(CH2)6PPh2 yield the square pyramidal monoiron complex trans-(CO)3Fe[Ph2P(CH2)6PPh2] (6', 31%), a rare case where a diphosphine spans trans basal positions (∠P-Fe-P 147.4(2)°). Both 3 and 6' exhibit two CO 13C NMR signals at room temperature, indicating slow exchange on the NMR time scale, which in the former could entail Fe(CO)3/Fe(CO)3 gearing. Under analogous conditions, 4a,b exhibit one signal. Previously reported adducts of Fe(CO)3 and Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2 are surveyed (1:1, n = 1-5; 2:2, n = 5), and the IR νC≡O band patterns and energies of all complexes analyzed with the aid of DFT calculations. The diiron complexes are preferred thermodynamically. Attention is given to limiting types of Fe(CO)3/Fe(CO)3 interactions in the diiron complexes.

Remote Control by π-Conjugation of the Emissive Properties of Fischer Carbene-BODIPY Dyads.

The synthesis, structure, and complete characterization of mono- and bimetallic dyads joining Fischer carbene complexes and BODIPY chromophores are reported. In these organometallic species, the Fischer carbene complex is attached to the BODIPY moiety through a p-aminophenyl group linked at the C8 carbon atom of the BODIPY core. The photophysical properties, namely the corresponding UV/vis absorption and emission spectra of these new metal-carbene complexes, are analyzed and discussed. It is found that whereas the absorption of the considered dyads strongly resembles that of the parent 4-anilinyl-substituted BODIPY, the fluorescence emission is significantly reduced in these species, very likely as a result of a Förster-type energy transfer mechanism. At variance, the replacement of the pentacarbonyl-metal(0) fragment by a carbonyl group leads to high fluorescence emission intensity. In addition, the emissive properties of the BODIPY core in these organometallic dyads can be tuned by remote groups by means of π-conjugation, as supported by density functional theory calculations.

Macrobicyclic Dibridgehead Di(trialkyl)pnictogens E((CH2) n )3E (E/n = As/10, As/12, As/14, Sb/14) and Their Cage-like Metal Complexes: Syntheses, Structures, and Homeomorphic Isomerizations.

Photolyses of trans-Fe(CO)3(As((CH2) n )3As) (n = a, 10; b, 12; c, 14) in the presence of PMe3, or reactions of trans-[Fe(CO)2(NO)(As((CH2) n )3As)]+ BF4 - and n-Bu4N+ Cl-, afford the air stable title complexes As((CH2) n )3As (8a-c) in 79-34% yields. With 8a, the in, in and out, out isomers are separable and each is crystallographically characterized. With 8b,c, the isomers rapidly interconvert by homeomorphic isomerization, but each crystallizes (contrathermodynamically) as an out, out isomer. Reactions of 8c with H2O2 or 8b with BH3 give 8c·2O or 8b·2BH3, respectively (85-94%). Reactions of 8c with MCl2 (M = Pt, Pd, Ni), Rh(CO)(Cl), and Fe(CO)3 sources afford the corresponding cage-like complexes trans-ML n (As((CH2)14)3As) (86-51%). The crystal structures of 8c·2O and the PtCl2 and PdCl2 adducts are determined and compared to those of 8a-c and diphosphorus analogs. The corresponding distibine Sb((CH2)14)3Sb is analogously prepared, but precursors necessary for the bismuth analog could not be accessed due to the diminished BiR3 Lewis basicity.

Synthesis, structure, and electronic properties of extended π-conjugated Group†6 Fischer alkoxy-bis(carbene) complexes.

The synthesis, structure and electronic properties of novel Group 6 Fischer alkoxy-bis(carbene) complexes are reported. The UV/Vis spectra of these species display two main absorptions at approximately 350 and 550 nm attributable to a ligand-field (LF) and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions, respectively. The planarity of the system and the cooperative effect of both pentacarbonyl metal moieties greatly enhance the conjugation between the group at the end of the spacer and the metal carbene fragment provoking dramatic changes in the LF and MLCT absorptions. This is in contrast to related push-pull Fischer monocarbenes, where the position of the MLCT band remains mostly unaltered regardless the substituent attached to the donor fragment. In addition, the MLCT maxima can be tuned with subtle modifications of the electronic nature of the central aryl fragment in the novel A-π-D-π-A (A = acceptor, D = donor) systems. DFT and time-dependent (TD) DFT quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP/def2-SVP level have also been performed to determine the minimum-energy molecular structure of this family of compounds and to analyse the nature of the vertical one-electron excitations associated to the observed UV/Vis absorptions as well as to rationalise their electrochemical behaviour. The ability of tuning up the electronic properties of the compounds studied herein may be of future use in material chemistry.

Control over the E/Z selectivity of the catalytic dimerization of group 6 (Fischer) metal carbene complexes.

The systematic investigation of the effect of different catalysts and additives in the reaction of self-dimerization of alkoxychromium(0) (Fischer) carbene complexes resulted in the selection of Pd(P(t)Bu(3))(2) to effect this transformation with good to excellent E selectivities and acceptable to excellent chemical yields. This catalyst will allow the control of the geometry in the synthesis of polyconjugated olefins, one emerging application of these catalytic reactions.

High-Yielding and Divergent Paradigm for the Synthesis of D2h-Symmetric Octakis-Substituted Pentiptycenequinones.

With a rigid fused polyaromatic framework and a well-defined, highly symmetric molecular geometry, pentiptycenes are appealing building blocks for a variety of materials applications. Unfortunately, their use has been limited by the lengthy syntheses of their functionalized derivatives. This communication describes a highly efficient, brief, divergent paradigm for the preparation of octakis-substituted pentiptycene derivatives that starts with the preparation of an octakis(bromo) compound, which can be used as a Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling partner with suitable organometallic compounds to install a range of groups in high yields at the peripheral 2,3,6,7,14,15,19,20 positions, including methyl, allyl, vinyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and even bulky 4-(triphenylmethyl)phenyl substituents.