Metal clusters featuring carbon and sulfur donors have coordination environments comparable to the active site of nitrogenase enzymes. Here, we report a series of di-iron clusters supported by the dianionic yldiide ligands, in which the Fe sites are bridged by two µ2-C atoms and four pendant S donors.The [L2Fe2] (L = {[Ph2P(S)]2C}2-) cluster is isolable in two oxidation levels, all-ferrous Fe2II and mixed-valence FeIIFeIII. The mixed-valence cluster displays two peaks in the Mössbauer spectra, indicating slow electron transfer between the two sites. The addition of the Lewis base 4-dimethylaminopyridine to the Fe2II cluster results in coordination with only one of the two Fe sites, even in the presence of an excess base. Conversely, the cluster reacts with 8 equiv of isocyanide tBuNC to give a monometallic complex featuring a new C-C bond between the ligand backbone and the isocyanide. The electronic structure descriptions of these complexes are further supported by X-ray absorption and resonant X-ray emission spectroscopies.
Chloride ions are efficient catalysts for the synthesis of phosgene from carbon monoxide and elemental chlorine at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Control experiments rule out a radical mechanism and highlight the role of triethylmethylammonium trichloride, [NEt3Me][Cl3], as active species. In the catalytic reaction, commercially available [NEt3Me]Cl reacts with Cl2 to form [NEt3Me][Cl3], enabling the insertion of CO into an activated ClâCl bond with a calculated energy barrier of 56.9 to 77.6 kJ mol−1. As [NEt3Me]Cl is also a useful chlorine storage medium, it could serve as a catalyst for phosgene production and as chlorine storage in a combined industrial process.
A synthetic strategy for the preparation of novel doubly yldiide bridged iron(II) high spin dimers ([(µ2-C)FeL]2, L = N(SiMe3)2, Mesityl) has been developed. This includes the synthesis of ylide-iron(II) monomers [(Ylide)FeL2] via adduct formation. Subsequent self-protolysis at elevated temperatures by in situ deprotonation of the ylide ligands results in a dimerization reaction forming the desired bridging µ2-C yldiide ligands in [(µ2-C)FeL]2. The comprehensive structural and electronic analysis of dimers [(µ2-C)FeL]2, including NMR, Mössbauer, and X-ray spectroscopy, as well as X-ray crystallography, SQUID, and DFT calculations, confirm their high-spin FeII configurations. Interestingly, the Fe2C2 cores display very acute Fe-C-Fe angles (averaged: 78.6(2)°) resulting in short Fe···Fe distances (averaged: 2.588(2) Å). A remarkably strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the Fe centers has been identified. Strongly polarized Fe-C bonds are observed where the negative charge is mostly centered at the µ2-C yldiide ligands.
The mechanism of the synthesis of copper(i) phosphide (Cu3-xP) in the ionic liquid (IL) trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium chloride ([P66614][Cl]) was investigated. The phosphide formation is promoted by a transformation of red phosphorus (Pred) into mobile P4 molecules and a surface activation of copper caused by the IL including the Brønsted acidic impurity. The surface activation is important to obtain a quantitative product yield. Moreover, we demonstrate that single-phase Cu3-xP can also be synthesized in the nitrogen-based IL tetrabutylammonium chloride ([N4444][Cl]). Further substitution of the anion of the IL using tetrabutylammonium bromide ([N4444][Br]) or the complete replacement of the IL by a deep eutectic solvent consisting of adipic acid and betaine do not lead to single-phase Cu3-xP. Therefore, the nature of the anions present in the IL also seems to be relevant for the convenient phosphidization reaction.
Tri(phosphonio)methanide dication 32+ , prepared from a trifluoromethylsulfanylphosphonium dication (12+ ) via an intramolecular electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction, is an unexpected P-based, water-resistant Lewis acid that is capable to selectively and reversibly bind fluoride ions from organic/aqueous biphasic solution. The formed complex is an unusual fluorophosphorane ([3-F]OTf). The multiple donor-acceptor interactions of 32+ that are crucial for the fluoride fixation have been elucidated by quantum chemical calculation. Compound [3-F]OTf can also be used as a convenient anhydrous fluoride ion source and was probed as a suitable catalyst of the silylotrifluoromethylation of various aldehydes.
The synthesis of inorganic N-P(III)-Ch-based macrocycles [-PhP-NMe-PPh-Ch-]2 (8Ch; Ch = S, Se) is presented by incorporating two nitrogen, two chalcogen, and four phosphorus atoms. The macrocycles are conveniently obtained via the cyclocondensation reaction of Na2Ch (Ch = S, Se) with the acyclic dichlorodiphosphazane ClPhP-NMe-PClPh (9). Treatment with elemental sulfur (S8) or gray selenium (Segray) results in an oxidative ring contraction to give 1,3,2,4-thiazadiphosphetidine 2,4-disulfide (10S) and 1,3,2,4-selenazadiphosphetidine 2,4-diselenide (10Se), respectively. Macrocycles 8Ch are excellent multidentate ligands for transition metal complexation, as demonstrated by the isolation of mono-, di- tri-, and tetranuclear silver sandwich complexes. The polynuclear silver complexes are comprehensively characterized, including detailed NMR and X-ray analysis.
The synthesis of anionic chalcogenidometalate superspheres can be achieved from [Ge4 Se10 ]4- salts and SnCl4 in ionic liquids with 1-alkyl-(2,)3-(di)methylimidazolium cations, denoted as (Cn (C1 )C1 Im)+ (alkyl = butyl for n=4, hexyl for n=6, octyl for n=8). Their formation is apparently independent from the lengths of the Cn chain, and the presence or absence of a second methyl group at the ionic liquid cation (that are exchanged for alkali metal cations in precursor compounds during the reactions), although this may appear counterintuitive. In contrast, and equally counterintuitive, the ionic liquid anion was found to play a crucial role for both the general observability as well as the crystal yield and quality of the products, although they are not part of the product: a minimum content of chloride is needed, while ionic liquids with [BF4 ]- anions alone do not support the product formation/crystallization. The observation suggests a subtle equilibrium of SnCl4 with according halidostannate anions that decreases the reactivity of the tin source. The finding is of particular interest, as chloride anions were shown to have been major impurities of former "chloride-free" ionic liquid charges, which potentially led to irreproducible synthesis protocols in the literature.
A high-yielding and facile synthesis for diphosphane monochalcogenides (1(Ch)((R))) and their constitutional isomers, diphosphanylchalcoganes (2(Ch)((R))), was developed, featuring a condensation reaction between chlorophosphanes (R2PCl) and sodium chalcogenides (Na2Ch, Ch = S, Se, (Te)). The optimized protocol selectively yields either 1(Ch)((R)) (R2(Ch)PPR2) or 2(Ch)((R)) (Ch(PR2)2) depending upon the steric demand of the substituents R. Reaction pathways consistent with the distinct reaction outcomes are proposed. The application of 1(Ch)((R)) and 2(Ch)((R)) as an interesting class of ligands is exemplarily demonstrated by the preparation of selected transition metal complexes.
