Molecular Lanthanide Switches for Magnetism and Photoluminescence.

Solvation of [(CNT)Ln(η8 -COT)] (Ln=La, Ce, Nd, Tb, Er; CNT=cyclononatetraenyl, i.e., C9 H9 - ; COT=cyclooctatetraendiid, i.e., C8 H8 2- ) complexes with tetrahydrofuran (THF) gives rise to neutral [(η4 -CNT)Ln(thf)2 (η8 -COT)] (Ln=La, Ce) and ionic [Ln(thf)x (η8 -COT)][CNT] (x=4 (Ce, Nd, Tb), 3 (Er)) species in a solid-to-solid transformation. Due to the severe distortion of the ligand sphere upon solvation, these species act as switchable luminophores and single-molecule magnets. The desolvation of the coordinated solvents can be triggered by applying a dynamic vacuum, as well as a temperature gradient stimulus. Raman spectroscopic investigations revealed fast and fully reversible solvation and desolvation processes. Moreover, we also show that a Nd:YAG laser can induce the necessary temperature gradient for a self-sufficient switching process of the Ce(III) analogue in a spatially resolved manner.

Room-Temperature Synthesis of [BMIm][Sn5O2Cl7] with ∞1(Sn2OCl2) Strands in a Saline [BMIm][SnCl3] Matrix.

The novel tin(II) oxychloride [BMIm][Sn5O2Cl7] (BMIm = 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) is obtained by the room-temperature reaction (25 °C) of black SnO and SnCl2 in [BMIm]Cl/SnCl2 as an ionic liquid. The title compound can be described as composed of noncharged, infinite ∞1(Sn2OCl2) strands that are embedded in a saline matrix of [BMIm]+ and [SnCl3]-. The ∞1(Sn2OCl2) strands consist of a backbone of edge-sharing OSn4/2 tetrahedra, which represent one-dimensional (1D) strands cut out of the layer-type structure of SnO. In [BMIm][Sn5O2Cl7], the ∞1(Sn2OCl2) strands, which mimic a 1D semiconductor, are terminated by chlorine atoms, whereas they are interconnected by oxygen atoms in the 2D semiconductor SnO. The view of the noncharged ∞1(Sn2OCl2) strands in a saline [BMIm][SnCl3] matrix is validated by dissolution experiments. Thus, electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy show a deconstruction of [BMIm][Sn5O2Cl7] single crystals after treatment with chloroform with a dissolution of [BMIm][SnCl3], the formation of SnCl2 needles, and tin oxide as a solid remain.

Stimuli Responsive Silylene: Electromerism Induced Reversible Switching Between Mono- and Bis-Silylene.

Electromerism is a very well-known phenomenon in transition metal chemistry. In main group chemistry, this concept has only started getting attention recently. We report stimuli responsive low-valent silicon compounds exhibiting electromerism. A mixed-valent silaiminyl-silylene 1, [LSi-Si(NDipp)L] (L=PhC(Nt Bu)2 ), was synthesized in a single step from amidinate-chlorosilylene. Compound 1 has two interconnected Si atoms in formally +I and +III oxidation states. Upon treatment with Lewis acidic CuI X (X=mesityl, Cl, Br, I), electron redistribution occurs resulting in the formation of [{LSi(NDipp)Si(L)}-CuX], in which both silicon atoms are in the +II formal oxidation state. Removal of the copper center from [{LSi(NDipp)Si(L)}-CuX] by using a Lewis basic carbene led to reformation of the precursor [LSi-Si(NDipp)L]. Thus, the process is fully reversible. This showcases the first example of Lewis acid/base-induced reversible electromerism in silicon chemistry.

Application of the Redox-Transmetalation Procedure to Access Divalent Lanthanide and Alkaline-Earth NHC Complexes*.

Divalent lanthanide and alkaline-earth complexes supported by N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been accessed by redox-transmetalation between air-stable NHC-AgI complexes and the corresponding metals. By using the small ligand 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMe), two series of isostructural complexes were obtained: the tetra-NHC complexes [LnI2 (IMe)4 ] (Ln=Eu and Sm) and the bis-NHC complexes [MI2 (IMe)2 (THF)2 ] (M=Yb, Ca and Sr). In the former, distortions in the NHC coordination were found to originate from intermolecular repulsions in the solid state. Application of the redox-transmetalation strategy with the bulkier 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMes) ligand yielded [SrI2 (IMes)(THF)3 ], while using a similar procedure with Ca metal led to [CaI2 (THF)4 ] and uncoordinated IMes. DFT calculations were performed to rationalise the selective formation of the bis-NHC adduct in [SrI2 (IMe)2 (THF)2 ] and the tetra-NHC adduct in [SmI2 (IMe)4 ]. Since the results in the gas phase point towards preferential formation of the tetra-NHC complexes for both metal centres, the differences between both arrangements are a result of solid-state effects such as slightly different packing forces.

Synthesis of Unprecedented 4d/4f-Polypnictogens.

A series of 4d/4f-polyarsenides, -polyarsines and -polystibines was obtained by reduction of the Mo-pnictide precursor complexes [{Cpt Mo(CO)2 }2 (µ,η2:2 -E2 )] (E=As, Sb; Cpt =tBu substituted cyclopentadienyl) with two different divalent samarocenes [Cp*2 Sm] and [(CpMe4nPr )2 Sm]. For the reductive conversion of the Mo-stibide only one product was isolated, featuring a planar tetrastibacyclobutadiene moiety as an unprecedented ligand for organometallic compounds. For the corresponding Mo-arsenide a tetraarsacyclobutadiene and a second species with a side-on coordinated As2 2- anion was isolated. The latter can be considered as reaction intermediate for the formation of the tetraarsacyclobutadiene.

Enantiopure Calcium Iminophosphonamide Complexes: Synthesis, Photoluminescence, and Catalysis.

The synthesis of calcium complexes ligated by three different chiral iminophosphonamide ligands, L-H (L=[Ph2 P{N(R)CH(CH3 )Ph}2 ]), L'-H (L'=[Ph2 P{NDipp}{N(R)CH(CH3 )Ph}]), (Dipp=2,6-i Pr2 C6 H3 ), and L''-H (L''=[Ph2 P{N(R)CH(CH3 )naph}2 ]), (naph=naphthyl) is presented. The resulting structures [L2 Ca], [L'2 Ca], and [L''2 Ca] represent the first examples of enantiopure homoleptic calcium complexes based on this type of ligands. The calcium complexes show blue-green photoluminescence (PL) in the solid state, which is especially bright at low temperatures. Whereas the emission of [L''2 Ca] is assigned to the fluorescence of naphthyl groups, the PL of [L2 Ca] and [L'2 Ca] is contributed by long-lived phosphorescence and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), with a strong variation of the PL lifetimes over the temperature range of 5-295 K. Furthermore, an excellent catalytic activity was found for these complexes in hydroboration of ketones at room temperature, although no enantioselectivity was achieved.

Highly Selective Substitution and Insertion Reactions of Silylenes in a Metal-Coordinated Polyphosphide.

Selective substitution and insertion reactions of silylenes into the cyclo-P5 ring of [Cp*Fe(η5-P5)] are reported. The selective substitution of one P atom by an isoelectronic [LSi] fragment (L = PhC(NtBu)2) leads to [(η4-P4SiL)FeCp*] and [LSi(Cl)═P-SiL(Cl)2]. To elucidate the reaction mechanism, [{LSi(N(SiMe3)2)}{(η4-P5)FeCp*}], in which the silicon atom binds to the cyclo-P5 ring, was synthesized as a model compound for the reaction intermediate. The insertion of [LSi-SiL] into the cyclo-P5 ring of [Cp*Fe(η5-P5)] resulted in [{η4-P5(SiL)2}FeCp*] featuring a cyclo-P5(SiL)2 ring, which corresponds to the largest silicon-polyphosphorus ring known in a complex.

Regioselective Insertion of Aluminum(I) in the cyclo-P5 Ring of Pentaphosphaferrocene.

A route to directly access mixed Al-Fe polyphosphide complexes was developed. The reactivity of pentaphosphaferrocene, [Cp*Fe(η5 -P5 )] (Cp*=C5 Me5 ), with two different low-valent aluminum compounds was investigated. The steric and electronic environment around the [AlI ] centre are found to be crucial for the formation of the resulting Al-Fe polyphosphides. Reaction with the sterically demanding [Dipp-BDIAlI ] (Dipp-BDI={[2,6-i Pr2 C6 H3 NCMe]2 CH}- ) resulted in the first Al-based neutral triple-decker type polyphosphide complex. For [(Cp*AlI )4 ], an unprecedented regioselective insertion of three [Cp*AlIII ]2+ moieties into two adjacent P-P bonds of the cyclo-P5 ring of [Cp*Fe(η5 -P5 )] was observed. The regioselectivity of the insertion reaction could be rationalized by isolating an analogue of the reaction intermediate stabilized by a strong σ-donor carbene.

[SnI8 {Fe(CO)4 }4 ]2+ : Highly Coordinated Sn+II I8 Subunit with Fragile Carbonyl Clips.

[SnI8 {Fe(CO)4 }4 ][Al2 Cl7 ]2 contains the [SnI8 {Fe(CO)4 }4 ]2+ cation with an unprecedented highly coordinated, bicapped SnI8 prism. Given the eightfold coordination with the most voluminous stable halide, it is all the more surprising that this SnI8 arrangement is surrounded only by fragile Fe(CO)4 groups in a clip-like fashion. Inspite of a predominantly ionic bonding situation in [SnI8 {Fe(CO)4 }4 ]2+ , the I- ⋅⋅⋅I- distances are considerably shortened (down to 371 pm) and significantly less than the van der Waals distance (420 pm). The title compound is characterized by single-crystal structure analysis, spectroscopic methods (EDXS, FTIR, Raman, UV/Vis, Mössbauer), thermogravimetry, and density functional theory methods.

A Stable Aromatic Tetrasilacyclobutadiene Dication.

The isolation and characterization of the first silicon analogue of the aromatic cyclobutadiene dication is reported. The aromatic 2π-electron tetrasilacyclobutadiene dication in [(LPhSi)4](BPh4)2 (LPh = PhC(NtBu)2) has been obtained in a simple and straightforward synthesis, from [LPhSiCl], [LPhSiSiLPh] and NaBPh4, and fully characterized. The molecular structure reveals a four-membered Si4-dication in an almost perfect square-planar geometry. Theoretical calculations support the interpretation of the title compound as a classical 2π-aromatic species with a singlet ground state.

Tungsten Borides: On the Reaction of Tungsten with Boron(III) Bromide.

The crucible-free reaction between heated tungsten wires and gaseous boron tribromide yields different tungsten borides. The experiments were carried out at various reaction temperatures and times, revealing the formation of W2 B, WB and WB2 phases. The underlying reactions were analyzed by using thermodynamic model calculations. The stability of the gaseous tungsten bromides was evaluated using quantum chemical methods. While the developed synthesis of phase-pure borides is only possible to a limited extent, it offers a potential route for a formation of protective coatings with high chemical and thermal resistance.

Open Chain Polyarsenides of the Lanthanides.

The reaction of [(Cp'''Co)2 (µ,η2:2 -As2 )2 ] with the decamethylsamarocenes [Cp*2 Sm(THF)2 ] or [Cp*2 Sm], or the bis(tetramethyl-n-propyl)samarocene [(C5 Me4 (n-propyl))2 Sm] resulted in the mixed d/f polyarsenides [(Cp'''Co)2 As4 Sm(η5 -C5 Me4 R)2 ] (R=Me, n-propyl). They are the first structural representatives of open chain-like polyarsenides as ligands in the coordination sphere of lanthanides. Their formation can be explained by an intramolecular As-As coupling within the cobalt polyarsenide complex after reduction by the divalent samarium complex. Density functional theory calculations give insight into the structural change of the (As2 )2 unit in [{Cp'''Co(µ,η2:2 -As2 )}2 ] upon reduction.

A General Synthesis of Phosphorus- and Arsenic-Containing Analogues of the Thio- and Seleno-cyanate Anions.

A general synthetic protocol for the synthesis of phosphorus- and arsenic-containing analogues of the thio- and seleno-cyanate anions is reported. This procedure allows for the isolation of three unprecedented species: the phosphaethynselenolate, PCSe- (1), the arsaethynthiolate, AsCS- (2), and the arsaethynselenolate, AsCSe- (3), anions. The structures, electronic properties, and spectroscopic signatures of these species are reported.

Intensely Photoluminescent Diamidophosphines of the Alkaline-Earth Metals, Aluminum, and Zinc.

The positively charged and weakly polarizable s-block metals commonly do not usually have phosphine ligands in molecular complexes. Herein, we report mono- and dinuclear small diamidophosphine complexes of the alkaline-earth metals Mg, Ca, and Sr, which were prepared from simple precursors and a phosphine-functionalized diamine ligand N,N-bis(2-(diphenyl-phosphino)phenyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (PNHNHP). The alkaline-earth metal based complexes [(PNNP)Mg]2 and [(PNNP)M(thf)3 ] (M=Ca, Sr), exhibit unusual coordination spheres and show bright fluorescence, both in the solid state and in solution. For comparison, the even stronger luminescent Al and Zn complexes [(PNNP)Zn]2 and [(PNNP)AlCl] were prepared. Emission lifetimes in the nanosecond range and high photoluminescence quantum yields up to 93 % are observed at room temperature.

A Redox-Switchable Germylene and its Ligating Properties in Selected Transition Metal Complexes.

The synthesis, structure, and full characterization of a redox-switchable germylene based on a [3]ferrocenophane ligand arrangement, [Fc(NMes)2 Ge] (4), is presented. The mesityl (Mes)-substituted title compound is readily available from Fc(NHMes)2 (2) and Ge{N(SiMe3 )2 }2 , or from the dilithiated, highly air- and moisture-sensitive compound Fc(NLiMes)2 ⋅3 Et2 O (3) and GeCl2 . Cyclic voltammetry studies are provided for 4, confirming the above-mentioned view of a redox-switchable germylene metalloligand. Although several 1:1 RhI and IrI complexes of 4 (5-7) are cleanly formed in solution, all attempts to isolate them in pure form failed due to stability problems. However, crystalline solids of [Mo(κ1 Ge-4)2 (CO)4 ] (8) and [W(κ1 Ge-4)2 (CO)4 ] (9) were isolated and fully characterized by common spectroscopic techniques (8 by X-ray diffraction). DFT calculations were performed on a series of model compounds to elucidate a conceivable interplay between the metal atoms in neutral and cationic bimetallic complexes of the type [Rh(κ1 E-qE)(CO)2 Cl]0/+ (qE=[Fc(NPh)2 E] with E=C, Si, Ge). The bonding characteristics of the coordinated Fc-based metalloligands (qE/qE+ ) are strongly affected upon in silico oxidation of the calculated complexes. The calculated Tolman electronic parameter (TEP) significantly increases by approximately 20 cm-1 (E=C) to 25 cm-1 (E=Si, Ge) upon oxidation. The change in the ligand-donating abilities upon oxidation can mainly be attributed to Coulombic effects, whereas an orbital-based interaction appears to have only a minor influence.

More Than 50 Years after Its Discovery in SiO2 Octahedral Coordination Has Also Been Established in SiS2 at High Pressure.

SiO2 exhibits a high-pressure-high-temperature polymorphism, leading to an increase in silicon coordination number and density. However, for the related compound SiS2 such pressure-induced behavior has not been observed with tetrahedral coordination yet. All four crystal structures of SiS2 known so far contain silicon with tetrahedral coordination. In the orthorhombic, ambient-pressure phase these tetrahedra share edges and achieve only low space filling and density. Up to 4 GPa and 1473 K, three phases can be quenched as metastable phases from high-pressure high-temperature to ambient conditions. Space occupancy and density are increased first by edge and corner sharing and then by corner sharing alone. The structural situation of SiS2 up to the current study resembles that of SiO2 in 1960: Then, in its polymorphs only Si-O4 tetrahedra were known. But in 1961, a polymorph with rutile structure was discovered: octahedral Si-O6 coordination was established. Now, 50 years later, we report here on the transition from 4-fold to 6-fold coordination in SiS2, the sulfur analogue of silica.

Investigations of the Nature of Zn(II) -Si(II) Bonds.

A series of zinc(II) silylenes was prepared by using the silylene {PhC(NtBu)2 }(C5 Me5 )Si. Whereas reaction of the silylene with ZnX2 (X=Cl, I) gave the halide-bridged dimers [{PhC(NtBu)2 }(C5 Me5 )SiZnX(µ-X)]2 , with ZnR2 (R=Ph, Et, C6 F5 ) as reagent the monomers [{PhC(NtBu)2 }(C5 Me5 )SiZnR2 ] were obtained. The stability of the complexes and the Zn-Si bond lengths clearly depend on the substitution pattern of the zinc atom. Electron-withdrawing groups stabilize these adducts, whereas electron-donating groups destabilize them. This could be rationalized by quantum chemical calculations. Two different bonding modes in these molecules were identified, which are responsible for the differences in reactivity: 1) strong polar Zn-Si single bonds with short Zn-Si distances, Zn-Si force constants close to that of a classical single bond, and strong binding energy (ca. 2.39 Å, 1.33 mdyn Å(-1) , and 200 kJ mol(-1) ), which suggest an ion pair consisting of a silyl cation with a Zn-Si single bond; 2) relatively weak donor-acceptor Zn-Si bonds with long Zn-Si distances, low Zn-Si force constants, and weak binding energy (ca. 2.49 Å, 0.89 mdyn Å(-1) , and 115 kJ mol(-1) ), which can be interpreted as a silylene-zinc adduct.

Early-Late Heterometallic Complexes of Gold and Zirconium: Photoluminescence and Reactivity.

OH functionalized triarylphosphines were used to assemble zirconocene-based metalloligands with phosphine donor sites in varying positions. These complexes were subsequently treated with different gold precursors to obtain early-late heterometallic compounds in which the metal atoms exhibit different intermetallic distances. All compounds were fully investigated by spectroscopic techniques, photoluminescence measurements and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Quantum chemical calculations were also performed. Some compounds show bright emission even at room temperature with quantum yields of up to 19 % (excitation at 350 nm). Furthermore, the reactivity of dimethyl zirconocene derivatives towards gold complexes was investigated, revealing simultaneous ligand exchange and transmetallation reactions.

Molecular Polyarsenides of the Rare-Earth Elements.

Reduction of [Cp*Fe(η(5)-As5)] with [Cp''2Sm(thf)] (Cp''=η(5)-1,3-(tBu)2C5H3) under various conditions led to [(Cp''2Sm)(µ,η(4):η(4)-As4)(Cp*Fe)] and [(Cp''2Sm)2As7(Cp*Fe)]. Both compounds are the first polyarsenides of the rare-earth metals. [(Cp''2Sm)(µ,η(4):η(4)-As4)(Cp*Fe)] is also the first d/f-triple decker sandwich complex with a purely inorganic planar middle deck. The central As4(2-) unit is isolobal with the 6π-aromatic cyclobutadiene dianion (CH)4(2-). [(Cp''2Sm)2As7(Cp*Fe)] contains an As7(3-) cage, which has a norbornadiene-like structure with two short As-As bonds in the scaffold. DFT calculations confirm all the structural observations. The As-As bond order inside the cyclo As4 ligand in [(Cp''2Sm)(µ,η(4):η(4)-As4)(Cp*Fe)] was estimated to be in between an As-As single bond and a formally aromatic As4(2-) system.

Two high-pressure phases of SiS2 as missing links between the extremes of only edge-sharing and only corner-sharing tetrahedra.

The ambient pressure phase of silicon disulfide (NP-SiS2), published in 1935, is orthorhombic and contains chains of distorted, edge-sharing SiS4 tetrahedra. The first high pressure phase, HP3-SiS2, published in 1965 and quenchable to ambient conditions, is tetragonal and contains distorted corner-sharing SiS4 tetrahedra. Here, we report on the crystal structures of two monoclinic phases, HP1-SiS2 and HP2-SiS2, which can be considered as missing links between the orthorhombic and the tetragonal phase. Both monoclinic phases contain edge- as well as corner-sharing SiS4 tetrahedra. With increasing pressure, the volume contraction (-ΔV/V) and the density, compared to the orthorhombic NP-phase, increase from only edge-sharing tetrahedra to only corner-sharing tetrahedra. The lattice and the positional parameters of NP-SiS2, HP1-SiS2, HP2-SiS2, and HP3-SiS2 were derived in good agreement with the experimental data from group-subgroup relationships with the CaF2 structure as aristotype. In addition, the Raman spectra of SiS2 show that the most intense bands of the new phases HP1-SiS2 and HP2-SiS2 (408 and 404 cm(-1), respectively) lie between those of NP-SiS2 (434 cm(-1)) and HP3-SiS2 (324 cm(-1)). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm these observations.