Phosphinoborenium cations stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbenes: synthesis, structure, and reactivity.

Phosphinoborenium cations stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were synthesized via the reaction of bromo(phosphino)boranes with NHCs. Their structures were investigated by heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory calculations. They possess a planar trigonal boron center directly bonded with the pyramidal phosphanyl group (PR2) and can be treated as cationic phosphinoboranes. The reactivity of the selected NHC-phosphinoborenium cation was tested toward AuCl·SMe2 and Ph2PCl. In both reactions, the titled compound acted as a phosphido group donor under heterolytic cleavage of the P-B bond. Control experiments with parent phosphinoborane emphasized differences between the reactivity of low-coordinate neutral and cationic species with P-B functionality.

Application of nonmetallic frustrated cations in the activation of small molecules.

The concept of nonmetallic frustrated cations has been used in small molecule activation. The in situ generated ambiphilic phosphinoborinium cation activated phenyl isocyanate, diisopropylcarbodiimide, and acetonitrile under very mild conditions without any catalyst, yielding single-, double-, or mixed-activation products. Furthermore, the mechanisms of the reactions of the phosphinoborinium cation with small molecules were elucidated using density functional theory calculations.

Magnetic anisotropy and structural flexibility in the field-induced single ion magnets [Co{(OPPh2)(EPPh2)N}2], E = S, Se, explored by experimental and computational methods.

During the last few years, a large number of mononuclear Co(II) complexes of various coordination geometries have been explored as potential single ion magnets (SIMs). In the work presented herein, the Co(II) S = 3/2 tetrahedral [Co{(OPPh2)(EPPh2)N}2], E = S, Se, complexes (abbreviated as CoO2E2), bearing chalcogenated mixed donor-atom imidodiphosphinato ligands, were studied by both experimental and computational techniques. Specifically, direct current (DC) magnetometry provided estimations of their zero-field splitting (zfs) axial (D) and rhombic (E) parameter values, which were more accurately determined by a combination of far-infrared magnetic spectroscopy and high-frequency and -field EPR spectroscopy studies. The latter combination of techniques was also implemented for the S = 3/2 tetrahedral [Co{(EPiPr2)2N}2], E = S, Se, complexes, confirming the previously determined magnitude of their zfs parameters. For both pairs of complexes (E = S, Se), it is concluded that the identity of the E donor atom does not significantly affect their zfs parameters. High-resolution multifrequency EPR studies of CoO2E2 provided evidence of multiple conformations, which are more clearly observed for CoO2Se2, in agreement with the structural disorder previously established for this complex by X-ray crystallography. The CoO2E2 complexes were shown to be field-induced SIMs, i.e., they exhibit slow relaxation of magnetization in the presence of an external DC magnetic field. Advanced quantum-chemical calculations on CoO2E2 provided additional insight into their electronic and structural properties.

Phosphinoborinium cation: a synthon for cationic B-P bond systems.

Herein, we report access to phosphinoborinium cations via heterolytic cleavage of the boron-bromide bond in bromophosphinoborane. The product of the reaction was isolated as a dimeric dication possessing a planar B2P2 core. Activation of the C-H and C-P bonds in the dication led to the formation of the borinium-phosphaborene adduct. Reactivity studies revealed that the title cation exhibits ambiphilic properties and intramolecular frustrated Lewis pair features.

Probing the Magnetic Anisotropy of Co(II) Complexes Featuring Redox-Active Ligands.

Coordination complexes that possess large magnetic anisotropy (otherwise known as zero-field splitting, ZFS) have possible applications in the field of magnetic materials, including single molecule magnets (SMMs). Previous studies have explored the role of coordination number and geometry in controlling the magnetic anisotropy and SMM behavior of high-spin (S = 3/2) Co(II) complexes. Building upon these efforts, the present work examines the impact of ligand oxidation state and structural distortions on the spin states and ZFS parameters of pentacoordinate Co(II) complexes. The five complexes included in this study (1-5) have the general formula, [Co(TpPh2)(LX,Y)]n+ (X = O, S; Y = N, O; n = 0 or 1), where TpPh2 is the scorpionate ligand hydrotris(3,5-diphenyl-pyrazolyl)borate(1-) and LX,Y are bidentate dioxolene-type ligands that can access multiple oxidation states. The specific LX,Y ligands used herein are 4,6-di-tert-butyl substituted o-aminophenolate and o-aminothiophenolate (1 and 2, respectively), o-iminosemiquinonate and o-semiquinonate radicals (3 and 4, respectively), and o-iminobenzoquinone (5). Each complex exhibits a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry, as revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Direct current (dc) magnetic susceptibility experiments confirmed that the complexes with closed-shell ligands (1, 2, and 5) possess S = 3/2 ground states with negative D-values (easy-axis anisotropy) of -41, -78, and -30 cm-1, respectively. For 3 and 4, antiferromagnetic coupling between the Co(II) center and o-(imino)semiquinonate radical ligand results in S = 1 ground states that likewise exhibit very large and negative anisotropy (-100 > D > -140 cm-1). Notably, ZFS was measured directly for each complex using far-infrared magnetic spectroscopy (FIRMS). In combination with high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) studies, these techniques provided precise spin-Hamiltonian parameters for complexes 1, 2, and 5. Multireference ab initio calculations, using the CASSCF/NEVPT2 approach, indicate that the strongly negative anisotropies of these Co(II) complexes arise primarily from distortions in the equatorial plane due to constrictions imposed by the TpPh2 ligand. This effect is further amplified by cobalt(II)-radical exchange interactions in 3 and 4.