Linear Free Energy Relationships Associated with Hydride Transfer From [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H]: A Cautionary Tale in Identifying Hydrogen Bonding Effects in the Secondary Coordination Sphere.

Six rhenium hydride complexes, [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, R = OEt, OMe, NHMe, Me, F, Br), were synthesized. These complexes insert CO2 to form rhenium formate complexes of the type [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3{OC(O)H}]. All the rhenium formate species were characterized using X-ray crystallography, which revealed that the bpy ligand is not coplanar with the metal coordination plane containing the two nitrogen donors of the bpy ligand but tilted. A solid-state structure of [(6,6'-Me2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] determined using MicroED also featured a tilted bpy ligand. The kinetics of CO2 insertion into complexes of the type [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] were measured experimentally and the thermodynamic hydricities of [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] species were determined using theoretical calculations. A Brønsted plot constructed using the experimentally determined rate constants for CO2 insertion and the calculated thermodynamic hydricities for [(6,6'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] revealed a linear free energy relationship (LFER) between thermodynamic and kinetic hydricity. This LFER is different to the previously determined relationship for CO2 insertion into complexes of the type [(4,4'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H]. At a given thermodynamic hydricity, CO2 insertion is faster for complexes containing a 6,6'-substituted bpy ligand. This is likely in part due to the tilting observed for systems with 6,6'-substituted bpy ligands. Notably, the 6,6'-(NHMe)2-bpy ligand could in principle stabilize the transition state for CO2 insertion via hydrogen bonding. This work shows that if only the rate of CO2 insertion into [(6,6'-(NHMe)2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] is compared to [(4,4'-R2-bpy)Re(CO)3H] systems, the increase in rate could be easily attributed to hydrogen bonding, but in fact all 6,6'-substituted systems lead to faster than expected rates.

Cupriphication of gold to sensitize d10-d10 metal-metal bonds and near-unity phosphorescence quantum yields.

Outer-shell s0/p0 orbital mixing with d10 orbitals and symmetry reduction upon cupriphication of cyclic trinuclear trigonal-planar gold(I) complexes are found to sensitize ground-state Cu(I)-Au(I) covalent bonds and near-unity phosphorescence quantum yields. Heterobimetallic Au4Cu2 {[Au4(µ-C2,N3-EtIm)4Cu2(µ-3,5-(CF3)2Pz)2], (4a)}, Au2Cu {[Au2(µ-C2,N3-BzIm)2Cu(µ-3,5-(CF3)2Pz)], (1) and [Au2(µ-C2,N3-MeIm)2Cu(µ-3,5-(CF3)2Pz)], (3a)}, AuCu2 {[Au(µ-C2,N3-MeIm)Cu2(µ-3,5-(CF3)2Pz)2], (3b) and [Au(µ-C2,N3-EtIm)Cu2(µ-3,5-(CF3)2Pz)2], (4b)} and stacked Au3/Cu3 {[Au(µ-C2,N3-BzIm)]3[Cu(µ-3,5-(CF3)2Pz)]3, (2)} form upon reacting Au3 {[Au(µ-C2,N3-(N-R)Im)]3 ((N-R)Im = imidazolate; R = benzyl/methyl/ethyl = BzIm/MeIm/EtIm)} with Cu3 {[Cu(µ-3,5-(CF3)2Pz)]3 (3,5-(CF3)2Pz = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolate)}. The crystal structures of 1 and 3a reveal stair-step infinite chains whereby adjacent dimer-of-trimer units are noncovalently packed via two Au(I)⋯Cu(I) metallophilic interactions, whereas 4a exhibits a hexanuclear cluster structure wherein two monomer-of-trimer units are linked by a genuine d10-d10 polar-covalent bond with ligand-unassisted Cu(I)-Au(I) distances of 2.8750(8) Å each-the shortest such an intermolecular distance ever reported between any two d10 centers so as to deem it a "metal-metal bond" vis-à-vis "metallophilic interaction." Density-functional calculations estimate 35-43 kcal/mol binding energy, akin to typical M-M single-bond energies. Congruently, FTIR spectra of 4a show multiple far-IR bands within 65-200 cm-1, assignable to vCu-Au as validated by both the Harvey-Gray method of crystallographic-distance-to-force-constant correlation and dispersive density functional theory computations. Notably, the heterobimetallic complexes herein exhibit photophysical properties that are favorable to those for their homometallic congeners, due to threefold-to-twofold symmetry reduction, resulting in cuprophilic sensitization in extinction coefficient and solid-state photoluminescence quantum yields approaching unity (ΦPL = 0.90-0.97 vs. 0-0.83 for Au3 and Cu3 precursors), which bodes well for potential future utilization in inorganic and/or organic LED applications.

2,9-Bis(5-sulfanylidene-4,5-di-hydro-1,3,4-oxa-diazol-2-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline dimethyl sulfoxide disolvate.

In the title compound, C16H8N6O2S2·2C2H6OS, the phenanthroline mol-ecule resides on a twofold axis, and the asymmetric unit also contains a slightly disordered [occupancy ratio for S atom of 0.95 (3):0.047 (3)] mol-ecule of dimethyl sulfoxide. The O atoms of the solvent mol-ecule accept hydrogen bonds from the N-H groups of the five-membered 2,3-di-hydro-1,3,4-oxa-diazole-2-thione ring. This ring is nearly coplanar with the phenanthroline ring, with a dihedral angle between their least-squares planes of 8.86 (6)°. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯O inter-actions.

Synthesis and properties of conjugated oligoyne-centered π-extended tetrathiafulvalene analogues and related macromolecular systems.

Alkynyl-substituted phenyldithiafulvenes have been found to act as versatile building blocks for the construction of π-conjugated molecular rods, shape-persistent macrocycles (SPMs), and conducting polymers. Through Cu(I)-catalyzed alkynyl homocoupling, a series of linear-shaped π-extended tetrathiafulvalene analogues (exTTFs) carrying conjugated oligoynes (ranging from diyne to hexayne) as the central π-bridge were readily prepared. The solid-state properties and reactivities of diyne- and tetrayne-centered exTTFs were characterized by X-ray crystallography and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), while the electronic properties of the oligoyne-exTTFs were elucidated by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Cyclic voltammetric analysis showed that the terminal phenyldithiafulvene groups of the oligyne-exTTFs could undergo oxidative coupling to form tetrathiafulvalene vinylogue (TTFV)-linked polymer wires. Through a different synthetic route involving oxidative dimerization and Pd/Cu-catalyzed alkynyl homocoupling, the acetylenic phenyldithiafulvene precursors led to shape-persistent macrocycles where the formation of trimeric macrocycles was particularly favored due to the small ring strain incurred. Finally, spectroelectrochemical studies on these oligoyne and TTF hybrid materials disclosed electrochromic and molecular redox-controlled switching properties applicable to molecular electronic and optoelectronic devices.

4,10-Diall-yloxy-1,2,3,6b,7,8,9,12b-octa-hydro-perylene.

In the title compound, C(26)H(28)O(2), the central atoms are coplanar, with the -CH(2)-CH(2)- links of the cyclo-hexene groups lying to either side of the plane and with the diall-yloxy residues twisted out of this plane [C-C-O-C torsion angles = 16.6 (3) and -13.9 (3)°]. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are connected into chains propagating in [100] via C-H⋯π inter-actions.

Di-µ-bromido-bis-[bromido(di-2-pyridylmethane-diol-κN,N')copper(II)] dihydrate.

The centrosymmetric title complex, [Cu(2)Br(4)(C(11)H(10)N(2)O(2))(2)]·2H(2)O, was one of three complexes isolated by slow evaporation of an acetonitrile reaction mixture of CuBr(2) with di-2-pyridyl ketone (1:1 molar ratio). The title complex contains a 1:1 metal-to-ligand ratio of copper(II) with the hydrated form of the ligand di-2-pyridylmethane-diol. The copper centers are bridged by bromide donors, leading to a Cu-Cu distance of 4.090 (6) Å. The crystals form as non-merohedral twins with two components related by a 180° rotation around the normal to [100]; the selected sample had a twin ratio of 0.63:0.37.

Tetrakis(micro-benzothiazole-2-thiolato)-1:2kappa4N:S2;1:2kappa4S2:N-dichloro-1kappaCl,2kappaCl-dirhenium(III)(Re-Re) dichloromethane solvate: a bridged complex with a long Re-Re quadruple bond.

The title compound, [Re(2)(C(7)H(4)NS(2))(4)Cl(2)].CH(2)Cl(2), consists of dirhenium molecules with bridging N,S-benzothiazole-2-thiolate ligands, axial Cl(-) ligands and intramolecular hydrogen bonding. These molecules adopt somewhat staggered conformations, with a long Re-Re quadruple bond distance of 2.2716 (3) A.

Pentachloro-1,3,6-tris(diethylphenylphosphino)dirhenium(II,III).

The title complex [systematic name: pentachloro-1kappa(3)Cl,2kappa(2)Cl-tris(diethylphenylphosphino)-1kappaP,2kappa(2)P-dirhenium(II,III)(Re-Re)], 1,3,6-Re(2)Cl(5)(PEt(2)Ph)(3) or [Re(2)Cl(5)(C(10)H(15)P)(3)], consists of dirhenium molecules with eclipsed structures similar to those of previously characterized 1,3,6-Re(2)Cl(5)(PR(3))(3) compounds. The Re-Re bond distance is 2.2262 (3) A and the metal-metal bond order is 3.5.

The lengths of molybdenum to molybdenum quadruple bonds: correlations, explanations, and corrections.

A systematic search of the Cambridge Crystallographic Database has yielded structures of 467 molecules containing, or reported to contain, a molybdenum to molybdenum quadruple bond, Mo[quadruple bond]Mo. We have arranged these data as a histogram, in order to determine the "normal" range of Mo[quadruple bond]Mo lengths, 2.06-2.17 A, as well as to examine molecules in which the Mo[quadruple bond]Mo length deviates from the norm. We discuss 24 molecules with exceptionally long Mo[quadruple bond]Mo lengths. Another molecule, Mo(2)(pyNC(O)CH(3))(4), was previously reported to have an unusually short Mo[quadruple bond]Mo bond. However, the structure is highly disordered (probably twinned); thus we have prepared and determined the structure of an analogous molecule, Mo(2)(pyNC(O)CH(2)CH(3))(4), which displays a completely normal Mo[quadruple bond]Mo bond length of over 2.08 A.

The first oxidation of a Cr(2)(4+) paddlewheel complex to an isostructural stable product.

The first cation containing a Cr(2) core surrounded by a paddlewheel arrangement of four bridging ligands has been prepared and characterized. The bridging ligands are the guanidinate anions [(PhN)(2)CN(CH(2))(4)](-). In the neutral Cr(2)(4+) compound the average Cr-Cr distance is 1.904[1] A, and in the cation (which is accompanied by a PF(6)(-) anion) the Cr-Cr distance is 1.9249(9) A. The cation has one unpaired electron, but the EPR spectrum is devoid of hyperfine structure and has g approximately 2.00. We proposed that the oxidation is essentially delocalized on the ligands.

Oxidation of Ni3(dpa)4Cl2 and Cu3(dpa)4Cl2: nickel-nickel bonding interaction, but no copper-copper bonds.

Of the known trinuclear dipyridylamido complexes of the first-row transition metals, M(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) (dpa is the anion of di(2-pyridyl)amine, M = Cr, Co, Ni, Cu), the one-electron-oxidation products of only Cr(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) and Co(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) have been isolated previously. Here we report one-electron-oxidation products of Ni(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) (1) and Cu(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) (3): Ni(3)(dpa)(4)(PF(6))(3) (2) and [Cu(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2)]SbCl(6) (4). While there are no Ni-Ni bonds in 1, the Ni-Ni distances in 2 are 0.15 A shorter than those in 1, very suggestive of metal-metal bonding interactions. In contrast, the oxidation of 3 to 4 is accompanied by a lengthening of the Cu-Cu distances, as expected for an increase in electrostatic charge between positively charged nonbonded metal ions, which is further evidence against Cu-Cu bonding in either 3 or 4. A qualitative model of the electronic structures of all [M(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2)](n+) (n = 0, 1) compounds is presented and discussed.

A pseudo-Jahn-Teller distortion in an Mo(2)(mu(2)-O)(2) ring having the shortest Mo(IV)-Mo(IV) double bond.

Four structures of edge-sharing bioctahedral compounds of the type Mo(2)(mu(2)-DArF)(2)(eta(2)-L-L)(2)(mu(2)-O)(2), where DArF is an anion of an N,N'-diarylformamidine and L-L is a chelating acetate or DArF group, are reported here. The cores of the ring formed by the Mo(2)(mu(2)-O)(2) are very similar with very short Mo-Mo distances of 2.306[2] A. These are consistent with the presence of a Mo=Mo double bond of the type sigma(2)pi(2). As expected for these electronic configurations, the compounds are diamagnetic. The most striking characteristic is the distortion of the Mo(2)(mu(2)-O)(2) ring where a set of two Mo-O distances are significantly shorter then the other set (by ca. 0.05 A). This D(2)(h)--> C(2)(h) distortion is explained on the basis of a pseudo-Jahn-Teller effect.

Filling a void: isolation and characterization of tetracarboxylato dimolybdenum cations.

Dimolybdenum tetracarboxylato cations have been prepared and structurally characterized for the first time. The reactions of the new, quadruply bonded compound, Mo(2)(TiPB)(4), where TiPB = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl carboxylate, with NOPF(6) and NOBF(4) give the ionic compounds [Mo(2)(TiPB)(4)]PF(6) and [Mo(2)(TiPB)(4)]BF(4), respectively. Each product crystallizes in space group P2(1)/n and displays an elongation of the Mo-Mo bond of 0.060 and 0.068 A, respectively, over that of the parent compound (2.076(1) A). Each complex displays a characteristic EPR signal, showing hyperfine coupling to the spin active isotopes (95)Mo and (97)Mo, with g( parallel) = g( perpendicular) = 1.936, that is consistent with the presence of an unpaired electron. Electronic spectroscopy indicates the expected red shift in the delta --> delta(*) transition for the cations, due to the loss of exchange energy in going from the two-electron to one-electron system. We have also obtained a small amount of crystalline [Mo(2)(O(2)CC(4)H(9))(4)]PF(6) from the reaction of Mo(2)(O(2)CC(4)H(9))(4) with AgPF(6). This product crystallizes in the space group C2/c, and the Mo-Mo bond is elongated by 0.063 A over that of the neutral parent compound. These ionic compounds have the first isolated and characterized [Mo(2)(O(2)CR)(4)](+) cationic species.

A trinickel dipyridylamido complex with metal-metal bonding interaction: prelude to polynickel molecular wires and devices?

The molecule Ni(3)(dpa)(4)Cl(2) (1) can be oxidized by AgPF(6) to give crystalline Ni(3)(dpa)(4)(PF(6))(3) (2) (dpa is the anion of di(2-pyridyl)amine). This reversible oxidation occurs at a potential of 0.908 V vs Ag/AgCl electrochemically. The X-ray structure of 2 shows that the oxidation causes a major structural change (even though it is reversible), namely, a contraction of the Ni-Ni distances from ca. 2.43 A to 2.284[1] A. In addition, the electronic structure changes so that from four unpaired electrons in 1 there is only one in 2. From these remarkable results, it is inferred that while 1, and all higher homologues with 5, 7, 9,... nickel atoms are poor electronic conductors, the cations obtainable from them may be much better ones. This in turn means that by controlling the oxidation state electrochemically, these molecules may be able to function as nanoscale diodes.

The extraordinary ability of guanidinate derivatives to stabilize higher oxidation numbers in dimetal units by modification of redox potentials: structures of Mo(2)(5+) and Mo(2)(6+) compounds.

Full characterization of the first homologous series of dimolybdenum paddlewheel compounds having electronic configurations of the types sigma(2)pi(4)delta(x), x = 2, 1, 0, and Mo-Mo bond orders of 4, 3.5, and 3, respectively, has been accomplished with the guanidinate-type ligand hpp (hpp = the anion of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine). Essentially quantitative oxidation of Mo(2)(hpp)(4), 1, by CH(2)Cl(2) gives Mo(2)(hpp)(4)Cl, 2. The halide in 2 can be replaced by reaction with TlBF(4) to produce Mo(2)(hpp)(4)(BF(4)), 3. Further oxidation of 2 by AgBF(4) produces Mo(2)(hpp)(4)ClBF(4), 4. The change from bond order 4 (in 1) to 3.5 in Mo(2)(hpp)(4)Cl is accompanied by an increase in the Mo-Mo bond length of 0.061 to 2.1280(4) A. A further increase of 0.044 A in the Mo-Mo distance to 2.172(1) A is observed as the bond order decreases to 3 in 4. At the same time, the Mo-N distances decrease smoothly as the oxidation state of the Mo atoms increases. Electrochemical studies have shown two chemically reversible processes at very negative potentials, E(1)(1/2)= -0.444 V and E(2)(1/2)= -1.271 V versus Ag/AgCl. These correspond to the processes Mo(2)(6+/5+) and Mo(2)(5+/4+), respectively. The latter potential is displaced by over 1.5 V relative to those of the Mo(2)(formamidinate)(4) compounds and the first one has never been observed in such complexes. Thus, in surprising contrast to previously observed behavior of the dimolybdenum unit, when it is surrounded by the very basic guanidinate ligand hpp, there is an extraordinary stabilization of the higher oxidation numbers of the molybdenum atoms.

How to make a major shift in a redox potential: ligand control of the oxidation state of dimolybdenum units.

A compound reported earlier (Polyhedron 1989, 8, 2339) as (Bu(n)()(4)N)(2)H(2)[Mo(2)[Mo(CO)(4)(PhPO(2))(2)](2)] has been reexamined. We find that the hydrogen atoms in this formula are not present. Therefore, the complex must be considered as having a central triply bonded Mo(2)(6+) unit, instead of a quadruply bonded Mo(2)(4+) unit. Our conclusion is based on a variety of experimental evidence, including X-ray crystal structures of four crystal forms, as well as the neutron crystal structure of one. This explains the relatively long Mo-Mo bond lengths found in the range 2.1874(7)-2.2225(7) A and the absence of a delta --> delta transition in the visible spectrum. From electrochemistry we also find that the diphosphonate ligand has such an exceptional ability to stabilize higher oxidation states that even common solvents such as CH(2)Cl(2) and C(2)H(5)OH readily oxidize the Mo(2)(4+) unit that is introduced from the Mo(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4) or [Mo(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2)(NCCH(3))(6)](BF(4))(2) employed in the preparation. The only chemically reversible wave at E(1/2) = -1.54 V vs Ag/AgCl corresponds to the reduction process Mo(2)(6+) --> Mo(2)(5+).

The first designed syntheses of bis-dimetal molecules in which the bridges are diamidate ligands.

The first deliberate syntheses of molecules in which pairs of quadruply bonded Mo2 units are bridged by N,N'-diarylterephthaloyldiamidate (aryl = Ph, m-CF3Ph) ligands are described. The addition of neutral N,N'-diarylterephthaloyldiamide to 2 equiv of [Mo2(DAniF)3(MeCN)2]+ (DAniF = N,N'-di-p-anisylformamidinate) followed by the introduction of excess H3CO- in MeCN results in the formation of (DAniF)3Mo2[(C6H5)NC(O)C6H4(O)CN(C6H5)]Mo2(DAniF)3 (1) and (DAniF)3Mo2[[(m-CF3)C6H5]NC(O)C6H4(O)CN[(m-CF3)C6H5]]Mo2(DAniF)3 (2). The DeltaE1/2 for the oxidation of each Mo2 unit is greater for these terephthaloyldiamidate-bridged molecules (approximately 100 mV) than for the analogous terephthalate-bridged compound (approximately 60 mV). Variation in the nature of the substituents on the diamidate nitrogen atoms offers a means to fine-tune the oxidation potentials of the Mo2 units.