Paramagnetic {[Fe(CO)2]2-µ2-η2:η2-η2:η2-(C60)2}2- Dimer Bridged by Iron Atoms and C-C Bonds: Effect of Starting Iron Carbonyls on Structures and Properties of Negatively Charged Iron-Bridged Fullerene Dimers.

The reaction between an excess of Fe(CO)5 with {Cryptand(K+)}(C60•-) produced the salt {Cryptand(K+)}2{[Fe(CO)2]2-µ2-η2:η2-η2:η2-(C60)2}2-·4C6H4Cl2 (1) containing negatively charged iron-bridged fullerene dimers. In these dimers, the C60 cages are linked via two Fe(CO)2 fragments, forming short Fe-C(C60) bonds with a length of 2.070(3) Å and via two intercage C-C bonds with a length of 1.566(3) Å. Interfullerene center-to-center distance is short, being 9.02 Å. Thus, the coordination-induced dimerization of fullerenes is observed in 1. The dimer is negatively charged, with additional negative electron density mainly localized on iron atoms and, to a lesser extent, on the C60 cages, as revealed by optical and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra. These dimers have a diamagnetic singlet ground state with a small singlet-triplet gap of 25 K; consequently, they transfer to a paramagnetic state with two S = 1/2 spins per dimer above 50 K. Previously, different dimers with isomeric structures were obtained starting from {Cryptand(K+)}(C60•-) and Fe3(CO)12. However, these dimers exhibit diamagnetic properties, owing to the formation of a Fe-Fe bond. In contrast, in dimer 1, the Fe atoms are positioned too far apart to form such a bond, preserving the spin on Fe. We assume that both dimers are formed through the same [Fe(CO)3](C60•-) intermediate, but the subsequent interaction of this intermediate with Fe3(CO)12 or its dimerization yields different dimers. Therefore, the starting carbonyls can control the structures and properties of the resulting dimers.

Cleavage of the C-H Bond in Bu3MeP+ by Zinc Porphyrin Dianions: Formation of {ZnII(CH2PBu3)(TPyPH)}- Containing Zn-C(ylide) Bond and the (TPyPH)3- Macrocycle Showing Strong NIR Absorption.

Reduction of {ZnII(TPyP)} to the {ZnII(TPyP)}2- dianions (TPyP: tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin) in the presence of Bu3MeP+ allows one to observe the C-H bond cleavage in the methyl group of Bu3MeP+ to form (Bu3MeP+){ZnII(CH2PBu3)(TPyPH)}-·0.337C6H5CH3 (1). Salt 1 is the first coordination complex of neutral CH2PBu3 ylide and metalloporphyrin. The released hydrogen atom attacks the meso-carbon atom of TPyP4- forming a TPyPH3- macrocycle related to phlorins. Decreased symmetry of the TPyPH3- allows the observation of a strong NIR absorption. We discuss the molecular structure, optical, and magnetic properties of 1 together with its formation pathways.