Redox-Active Metallodithiolene Groups Separated by Insulating Tetraphosphinobenzene Spacers.

Compounds of the type [(S2C2R2)M(µ-tpbz)M(S2C2R2)] (R = CN, Me, Ph, p-anisyl; M = Ni, Pd, Pt; tpbz = 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)benzene) have been prepared by transmetalation with [(S2C2R2)SnR'2] reagents, by direct displacement of dithiolene ligand from [M(S2C2R2)2] with 0.5 equiv of tpbz, or by salt metathesis using Na2[S2C2(CN)2] in conjunction with X2M(µ-tpbz)MX2 (X = halide). X-ray crystallography reveals a range of topologies (undulating, chair, bowed) for the (S2C2)M(P2C6P2)M(S2C2) core. The [(S2C2R2)M(µ-tpbz)M(S2C2R2)] (R = Me, Ph, p-anisyl) compounds support reversible or quasireversible oxidations corresponding to concurrent oxidation of the dithiolene terminal ligands from ene-1,2-dithiolates to radical monoanions, forming [(-S•SC2R2)M(µ-tpbz)M(-S•SC2R2)]2+. The R = Ph and p-anisyl compounds support a second, reversible oxidation of the dithiolene ligands to their α-dithione form. In contrast, [(S2C2(CN)2)Ni(tpbz)Ni(S2C2(CN)2)] sustains only reversible, metal-centered reductions. Spectroscopic examination of [(-S•SC2( p-anisyl)2)Ni(µ-tpbz)Ni(-S•SC2( p-anisyl)2)]2+ by EPR reveals a near degenerate singlet-triplet ground state, with spectral simulation revealing a remarkably small dipolar coupling constant of 18 × 10-4 cm-1 that is representative of an interspin distance of 11.3 Å. This weak interaction is mediated by the rigid tpbz ligand, whose capacity to electronically insulate is an essential quality in the development of molecular-based spintronic devices.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy systematics at the tungsten L-edge.

A series of mononuclear six-coordinate tungsten compounds spanning formal oxidation states from 0 to +VI, largely in a ligand environment of inert chloride and/or phosphine, was interrogated by tungsten L-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The L-edge spectra of this compound set, comprised of [W(0)(PMe3)6], [W(II)Cl2(PMePh2)4], [W(III)Cl2(dppe)2][PF6] (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), [W(IV)Cl4(PMePh2)2], [W(V)(NPh)Cl3(PMe3)2], and [W(VI)Cl6], correlate with formal oxidation state and have usefulness as references for the interpretation of the L-edge spectra of tungsten compounds with redox-active ligands and ambiguous electronic structure descriptions. The utility of these spectra arises from the combined correlation of the estimated branching ratio of the L3,2-edges and the L1 rising-edge energy with metal Zeff, thereby permitting an assessment of effective metal oxidation state. An application of these reference spectra is illustrated by their use as backdrop for the L-edge X-ray absorption spectra of [W(IV)(mdt)2(CO)2] and [W(IV)(mdt)2(CN)2](2-) (mdt(2-) = 1,2-dimethylethene-1,2-dithiolate), which shows that both compounds are effectively W(IV) species even though the mdt ligands exist at different redox levels in the two compounds. Use of metal L-edge XAS to assess a compound of uncertain formulation requires: (1) Placement of that data within the context of spectra offered by unambiguous calibrant compounds, preferably with the same coordination number and similar metal ligand distances. Such spectra assist in defining upper and/or lower limits for metal Zeff in the species of interest. (2) Evaluation of that data in conjunction with information from other physical methods, especially ligand K-edge XAS. (3) Increased care in interpretation if strong π-acceptor ligands, particularly CO, or π-donor ligands are present. The electron-withdrawing/donating nature of these ligand types, combined with relatively short metal-ligand distances, exaggerate the difference between formal oxidation state and metal Zeff or, as in the case of [W(IV)(mdt)2(CO)2], exert the subtle effect of modulating the redox level of other ligands in the coordination sphere.

Ancillary ligand effects upon dithiolene redox noninnocence in tungsten bis(dithiolene) complexes.

An expanded set of compounds of the type [W(S2C2Me2)2L1L2](n) (n = 0: L1 = L2 = CO, 1; L1 = L2 = CN(t)Bu, 2; L1 = CO, L2 = carbene, 3; L1 = CO, L2 = phosphine, 4; L1 = L2 = phosphine, 5. n = 2-: L1 = L2 = CN(-), [6](2-)) has been synthesized and characterized. Despite isoelectronic formulations, the compound set reveals gradations in the dithiolene ligand redox level as revealed by intraligand bond lengths, υ(CCchelate), and rising edge energies in the sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectra (XAS). Differences among the terminal series members, 1 and [6](2-), are comparable to differences seen in homoleptic dithiolene complexes related by full electron transfer to/from a dithiolene-based MO. The key feature governing these differences is the favorable energy of the CO π* orbitals, which are suitably positioned to overlap with tungsten d orbitals and exert an oxidizing effect on both metal and dithiolene ligand via π-backbonding. The CN(-) π* orbitals are too high in energy to mix effectively with tungsten and thus leave the filled dithiolene π* orbitals unperturbed. This work shows how, and the degree to which, the redox level of a noninnocent ligand can be modulated by the choice of ancillary ligands(s).

High-resolution molybdenum K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyzed with time-dependent density functional theory.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a widely used experimental technique capable of selectively probing the local structure around an absorbing atomic species in molecules and materials. When applied to heavy elements, however, the quantitative interpretation can be challenging due to the intrinsic spectral broadening arising from the decrease in the core-hole lifetime. In this work we have used high-energy resolution fluorescence detected XAS (HERFD-XAS) to investigate a series of molybdenum complexes. The sharper spectral features obtained by HERFD-XAS measurements enable a clear assignment of the features present in the pre-edge region. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) has been previously shown to predict K-pre-edge XAS spectra of first row transition metal compounds with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Here we extend this approach to molybdenum K-edge HERFD-XAS and present the necessary calibration. Modern pure and hybrid functionals are utilized and relativistic effects are accounted for using either the Zeroth Order Regular Approximation (ZORA) or the second order Douglas-Kroll-Hess (DKH2) scalar relativistic approximations. We have found that both the predicted energies and intensities are in excellent agreement with experiment, independent of the functional used. The model chosen to account for relativistic effects also has little impact on the calculated spectra. This study provides an important calibration set for future applications of molybdenum HERFD-XAS to complex catalytic systems.

Redox-controlled interconversion between trigonal prismatic and octahedral geometries in a monodithiolene tetracarbonyl complex of tungsten.

The tetracarbonyl compounds [W(mdt)(CO)(4)] (1) and [W(Me(2)pipdt)(CO)(4)] (2) both have dithiolene-type ligands (mdt(2-) = 1,2-dimethyl-1,2-dithiolate; Me(2)pipdt = 1,4-dimethylpiperazine-2,3-dithione) but different geometries, trigonal prismatic (TP) and octahedral, respectively. Structural data suggest an ene-1,2-dithiolate ligand description, hence a divalent tungsten ion, for 1 and a dithioketone ligand, hence W(0) oxidation state, for 2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on 1 show the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to be a strong W-dithiolene π bonding interaction and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) its antibonding counterpart. The TP geometry is preferred because symmetry allowed mixing of these orbitals via a configuration interaction (CI) stabilizes this geometry over an octahedron. The TP geometry for 2 is disfavored because W-dithiolene π overlap is attenuated because of a lowering of the sulfur content and a raising of the energy of this ligand π orbital by the conjugated piperazine nitrogen atoms in the Me(2)pipdt ligand. A survey of the Cambridge Structural Database identifies other W(CO)(4) compounds with pseudo C(4v) disposition of CO ligands and suggests a d(4) electron count to be a probable common denominator. Reduction of 1 induces a geometry change to octahedral because the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) is at lower energy in this geometry. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 in CH(2)Cl(2) reveals a reduction wave at -1.14 V (vs Fc(+)/Fc) with an unusual offset between the cathodic and the anodic peaks (ΔE(p)) of 0.130 V, which is followed by a second, reversible reduction wave at -1.36 V with ΔE(p) = 0.091 V. The larger ΔE(p) observed for the first reduction is evidence of the trigonal prism-to-octahedron geometry change attending this process. Tungsten L(1)-edge X-ray absorption (XAS) data indicate a higher metal oxidation state in 1 than 2. Electron paramagnetic resonance data for [1](-) and [2](-) are both diagnostic of dithiolene ligand-based sulfur radical, indicating that one-electron reduction of 1 involves two-electron reduction of tungsten and one-electron oxidation of dithiolene ligand.

A five-coordinate cobalt bis-(di-thiol-ene)-phosphine complex [Co(pdt)2(PTA)] (pdt = phenyl-dithiol-ene; PTA = 1,3,5-tri-aza-7-phosphaadamantane).

The title compound, bis-(1,2-diphenyl-2-sulfanyl-idene-ethane-thiol-ato-κ2 S,S')(1,3,5-tri-aza-7-phosphaadamantane-κP)cobalt(II) dichloromethane hemisolvate, [Co(pdt)2(PTA)]·0.5C2H4Cl2 or [Co(C14H10S2)2(C6H12N3P)]·0.5C2H4Cl2, contains two phenyl-dithiol-ene (pdt) ligands and a 1,3,5-tri-aza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) ligand bound to cobalt with the solvent 1,2-di-chloro-ethane mol-ecule located on an inversion center. The cobalt core exhibits an approximately square-pyramidal geometry with partially reduced thienyl radical monoanionic ligands. The supra-molecular network is consolidated by hydrogen-bonding inter-actions primarily with nitro-gen, sulfur and chlorine atoms, as well as parallel displaced π-stacking of the aryl rings. The UV-vis, IR, and CV data are also consistent with monoanionic di-thiol-ene ligands and an overall CoII oxidation state.

Crystal structure of a palladium(II) complex containing the wide bite-angle bis-(selenium) ligand, cis-[( t BuNH)(Se)P(µ-N t Bu)2P(Se)(NH t Bu)].

A palladium(II) complex {systematic name: dichlorido[1,3-di-tert-butyl-2,4-bis(tert-butylamino)-1,3,2λ5,4λ5-diazadiphosphetidine-2,4-diselone-κ2Se,Se']pal-ladium(II)}, cis-[PdCl2{I}], (II), containing a bis-(selenium) ligand based on cyclo-diphosph(V)azane, cis-[( t BuNH)(Se)P(µ-N t Bu)2P(Se)(NH t Bu)], (I), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The crystal structure of complex II reveals that the ligand chelates through selenium donors with the natural bite-angle of 110.54 (1)° and a Pd-Se bond distance of 2.444 (1) Å. The coordination around PdII shows a slightly distorted square-planar geometry, as indicated by the angle between the [PdCl2] and [PdSe2] planes of 5.92 (3)°. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are inter-linked through weak N-H⋯Cl and C-H⋯Cl hydrogen-bonding inter-actions.

Crystal structure of unsymmetrical α-di-imine palladium(II) complex cis-[{ArN=C(Me)-(Et)C=NAr}PdCl2] [Ar = 2,6-(iPr)2C6H3].

The unsymmetrical α-di-imine ligand N-{2-[2,6-bis-(propan-2-yl)phenylimino]pentan-3-yl-idene}-2,6-bis-(propan-2-yl)aniline, [ArN=C(Me)-(Et)C=NAr] [Ar = 2,6-(iPr)2C6H3], (I), and the corresponding palladium complex, cis-(N-{2-[2,6-bis-(propan-2-yl)phenylimino]pentan-3-yl-idene}-2,6-bis-(propan-2-yl)aniline)di-chlor-ido-palladium(II) 1,2-di-chloro-ethane monosolvate, [PdCl2(C29H42N2)]·C2H4Cl2 or cis[PdCl2{I}], (II), have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal and mol-ecular structure of the palladium(II) complex have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallized along with a 1,2-di-chloro-ethane solvent of crystallization. The coordination plane of the PdII atom shows a slight tetra-hedral distortion from square-planar, as indicated by the dihedral angle between the PdCl2 and PdN2 planes of 4.19 (8)°. The chelate ring is folded along the N⋯N vector by 7.1 (1)°.

Metal-only Lewis pairs between group 10 metals and Tl(i) or Ag(i): insights into the electronic consequences of Z-type ligand binding.

Complexes bearing electron rich transition metal centers, especially those displaying coordinative unsaturation, are well-suited to form reverse-dative σ-interactions with Lewis acids. Herein we demonstrate the generality of zerovalent, group 10 m-terphenyl isocyanide complexes to form reverse-dative σ-interactions to Tl(i) and Ag(i) centers. Structural and spectroscopic investigations of these metal-only Lewis pairs (MOLPs) has allowed insight into the electronic consequences of Lewis-acid ligation within the primary coordination sphere of a transition metal center. Treatment of the bis-isocyanide complex, Pt(CNArDipp2)2 (ArDipp2 = 2,6-(2,6-(i-Pr)2C6H3)2C6H3) with TlOTf (OTf = [O3SCF3]-) yields the Pt/Tl MOLP [TlPt(CNArDipp2)2]OTf (1). 1H NMR and IR spectroscopic studies on 1, and its Pd congener [TlPd(CNArDipp2)2]OTf (2), demonstrate that the M → Tl interaction is labile in solution. However, treatment of complexes 1 and 2 with Na[BArF4] (ArF = 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3) produces [TlPt(CNArDipp2)2]BArF4 (3) and [TlPd(CNArDipp2)2]BArF4 (4), in which Tl(i) binding is shown to be static by IR spectroscopy and, in the case of 3, 195Pt NMR spectroscopy as well. This result provides strong evidence that the M → Tl linkages can be attributed primarily to σ-donation from the group 10 metal to Tl, as loss of ionic stabilization of Tl by the triflate anion is compensated for by increasing the degree of M → Tl σ-donation. In addition, X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy (XANES) on the Pd/Tl and Ni/Tl MOLPs, [TlPd(CNArDipp2)2]OTf (2) and [TlNi(CNArMes2)3]OTf, respectively, is used to illustrate that the formation of a reverse-dative σ-interaction with Tl(i) does not alter the spectroscopic oxidation state of the group 10 metal. Also reported is the ability of M(CNArDipp2)2 (M = Pt, Pd) to form MOLPs with Ag(i), yielding the complexes [AgM(CNArDipp2)2]OTf (5, M = Pt; 6, M = Pd). As was determined for the Tl-containing MOLPs 1-4, it is shown that the spectroscopic oxidation states of the group 10 metal in 5 and 6 are essentially unchanged compared to the zerovalent precursors M(CNArDipp2)2. However, in the case of 5 and 6, the formation of a dative M → Ag σ-bonding interaction facilitates the binding of Lewis bases to the group 10 metal trans to Ag, illustrating the potential of acceptor fragments to open up new coordination sites on transition metal complexes without formal, two-electron oxidation.

A tungsten-mediated closed cycle of reactivity for the reduction of CO(2) to CO.

The recycling of CO(2) by reduction to CO is an important objective in the context of renewable carbon feedstock chemicals. A tungsten-mediated reduction of CO(2) to CO reported by Mayer and coworkers has been re-examined, and it is shown that a series of four well-defined stoichiometric steps can be executed which form a closed cycle and sum as CO(2) + 2H(+) + 2e(-)→ CO + H(2)O. Energetic parameters of this system are probed by cyclic voltammetry, by calculations of gas-phase reaction enthalpies for each of the four steps, and by calculation of the W[triple bond, length as m-dash]O bond dissociation energy for the tungsten species that results from oxidation addition of CO(2).