Barium phosphidoboranes and related calcium complexes.

The attempted synthesis of [{Carb}BaPPh2] (1) showed this barium-phosphide and its thf adducts, 1·thf and 1·(thf)2, to be unstable in solution. Our strategy to circumvent the fragility of these compounds involved the use of phosphinoboranes HPPh2·BH3 and HPPh2·B(C6F5)3 instead of HPPh2. This allowed for the synthesis of [{Carb}Ae{PPh2·BH3}] (Ae = Ba, 2; Ca, 3), [{Carb}Ca{(H3B)2PPh2}·(thf)] (4), [{Carb}Ba{PPh2·B(C6F5)3}] (5), [{Carb}Ba{O(B(C6F5)3)CH2CH2CH2CH2PPh2}·thf] (6), [Ba{O(B(C6F5)3)CH2CH2CH2CH2PPh2}2·(thf)1.5] (7) and [Ba{PPh2·B(C6F5)3}2·(thp)2] (8) that were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (thp = tetrahydropyran). The molecular structures of 4, 6 and 8 were validated by X-ray diffraction crystallography, which revealed the presence of Ba⋯F stabilizing interactions (ca. 9 kcal mol-1) in the fluorine-containing compounds. Compounds 6 and 7 were obtained upon ring-opening of thf by their respective precursors, 5 and the in situ prepared [Ba{PPh2·B(C6F5)3}2]n. By contrast, thp does not undergo ring-opening under the same conditions but affords clean formation of 8. DFT analysis did not highlight any specific weakness of the Ba-P bond in 1·(thf)2. The instability of this compound is instead thought to stem from the high energy of its HOMO, which contains the non-conjugated P lone pair and features significant nucleophilic reactivity.

Iron(II)-Catalyzed Activation of Si-N and Si-O Bonds Using Hydroboranes.

We report the activation and functionalization of Si-N bonds with pinacol borane catalyzed by a three-coordinate iron(II) ß-diketiminate complex. The reactions proceed via the mild activation of silazanes to yield useful hydrosilanes and aminoboranes. The reaction is studied by kinetic analysis, along with a detailed investigation of decomposition pathways using catecholborane as an analogue of the pinacol borane used in catalysis. We have extended the methodology to develop a polycarbosilazane depolymerization strategy, which generates hydrosilane quantitatively along with complete conversion to the Bpin-protected diamine. The analogous Si-O bond cleavage can also be achieved with heating, using silyl ether starting materials to generate hydrosilane and alkoxyborane products. Depolymerization of poly(silyl ether)s using our strategy successfully converts the polymer to 90% Bpin-protected alcohols.

Bonding analysis in ytterbium(II) distannyl and related tetryls.

The syntheses of the ytterbium(II) distannyl [Yb{Sn(SiMe3)3}2·(thf)4] (Yb-Sn) and of its digermyl analogue [Yb{Ge(SiMe3)3}2·(thf)3] (Yb-Ge) are presented. The compounds were characterised by multinuclear high-resolution solution NMR spectroscopy, including 171Yb NMR, and by X-ray diffraction crystallography. The bonding and electronic properties of the two complexes, along with those of the known ytterbium(II) disilyl derivative [Yb{Si(SiMe3)3}2·(thf)3] (Yb-Si) and those of the congeneric calcium distannyl [Ca{Sn(SiMe3)3}2·(thf)4] (Ca-Sn), were investigated in detail by DFT calculations. This analysis points at a primarily ionic Yb-tetrel bonding, with a small covalent contribution, attributed principally to the 5d(Yb) participation. This weak covalent character is found to be larger for the distannyl Yb-Sn than for its lighter Si- and Ge-derivatives. The covalent component is also found to be greater in Yb-Sn than in Ca-Sn, due to the availability of the 5d(Yb) orbitals for bonding.

Bis(imino)carbazolate lead(II) fluoride and related halides.

The versatility of a bulky bis(imino)carbazolate ligand in lead(ii) chemistry is illustrated by the synthesis of a soluble, heteroleptic lead(ii) fluoride and several halide (Cl, Br and I), amide and hydrocarbyl congeners. All complexes have been structurally authenticated, and a full set of 207Pb NMR data is discussed.

Bonding in Barium Boryloxides, Siloxides, Phenoxides and Silazides: A Comparison with the Lighter Alkaline Earths.

Barium complexes ligated by bulky boryloxides [OBR2 ]- (where R=CH(SiMe3 )2 , 2,4,6-i Pr3 -C6 H2 or 2,4,6-(CF3 )3 -C6 H2 ), siloxide [OSi(SiMe3 )3 ]- , and/or phenoxide [O-2,6-Ph2 -C6 H3 ]- , have been prepared. A diversity of coordination patterns is observed in the solid state for both homoleptic and heteroleptic complexes, with coordination numbers ranging between 2 and 4. The identity of the bridging ligand in heteroleptic dimers [Ba(µ2 -X1 )(X2 )]2 depends largely on the given pair of ligands X1 and X2 . Experimentally, the propensity to fill the bridging position increases according to [OB{CH(SiMe3 )2 }2 )]- <[N(SiMe3 )2 ]- <[OSi(SiMe3 )3 ]- <[O(2,6-Ph2 -C6 H3 )]- <[OB(2,4,6-i Pr3 -C6 H2 )2 ]- . This trend is the overall expression of 3 properties: steric constraints, electronic density and σ- and π-donating capability of the negatively charged atom, and ability to generate Ba ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ F, Ba ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ C(π) or Ba ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ H-C secondary interactions. The comparison of the structural motifs in the complexes [Ae{µ2 -N(SiMe3 )2 }(OB{CH(SiMe3 )2 }2 )]2 (Ae = Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba) suggest that these observations may be extended to all alkaline earths. DFT calculations highlight the largely prevailing ionic character of ligand-Ae bonding in all compounds. The ionic character of the Ae-ligand bond encourages bridging coordination, whereas the number of bridging ligands is controlled by steric factors. DFT computations also indicate that in [Ba(µ2 -X1 )(X2 )]2 heteroleptic dimers, ligand predilection for bridging vs. terminal positions is dictated by the ability to establish secondary interactions between the metals and the ligands.

Metal-metal bonded alkaline-earth distannyls.

The first families of alkaline-earth stannylides [Ae(SnPh3)2·(thf) x ] (Ae = Ca, x = 3, 1; Sr, x = 3, 2; Ba, x = 4, 3) and [Ae{Sn(SiMe3)3}2·(thf) x ] (Ae = Ca, x = 4, 4; Sr, x = 4, 5; Ba, x = 4, 6), where Ae is a large alkaline earth with direct Ae-Sn bonds, are presented. All complexes have been characterised by high-resolution solution NMR spectroscopy, including 119Sn NMR, and by X-ray diffraction crystallography. The molecular structures of [Ca(SnPh3)2·(thf)4] (1'), [Sr(SnPh3)2·(thf)4] (2'), [Ba(SnPh3)2·(thf)5] (3'), 4, 5 and [Ba{Sn(SiMe3)3}2·(thf)5] (6'), most of which crystallised as higher thf solvates than their parents 1-6, were established by XRD analysis; the experimentally determined Sn-Ae-Sn' angles lie in the range 158.10(3)-179.33(4)°. In a given series, the 119Sn NMR chemical shifts are slightly deshielded upon descending group 2 from Ca to Ba, while the silyl-substituted stannyls are much more shielded than the phenyl ones (δ 119Sn/ppm: 1', -133.4; 2', -123.6; 3', -95.5; 4, -856.8; 5, -848.2; 6', -792.7). The bonding and electronic properties of these complexes were also analysed by DFT calculations. The combined spectroscopic, crystallographic and computational analysis of these complexes provide some insight into the main features of these unique families of homoleptic complexes. A comprehensive DFT study (Wiberg bond index, QTAIM and energy decomposition analysis) points at a primarily ionic Ae-Sn bonding, with a small covalent contribution, in these series of complexes; the Sn-Ae-Sn' angle is associated with a flat energy potential surface around its minimum, consistent with the broad range of values determined by experimental and computational methods.

Modular Synthesis of 9,10-Dihydroacridines through an ortho-C Alkenylation/Hydroarylation Sequence between Anilines and Aryl Alkynes in Hexafluoroisopropanol.

9,10-Dihydroacridines are frequently encountered as key scaffolds in OLEDs. However, accessing those compounds from feedstock precursors typically requires multiple steps. Herein, a modular one-pot synthesis of 9,10-dihydroacridine frameworks is achieved through a reaction sequence featuring a selective ortho-C alkenylation of diarylamines with aryl alkynes followed by an intramolecular hydroarylation of the olefin formed as an intermediate. This transformation was accomplished by virtue of the combination of hexafluoroisopropanol and triflimide as a catalyst that triggers the whole process.

Alkaline-earth complexes with macrocyclic-functionalised bis(phenolate)s and bis(fluoroalkoxide)s.

The synthesis and structural features of several families of unsolvated molecular complexes of the heavy alkaline earths (Ae = calcium, strontium and barium) supported by bis(phenolate)s or bis(fluoroalkoxide)s are described. These dianionic, multidentate ligands are built around diaza-macrocycles that contain either five or six N- and O-heteroatoms. Several of these complexes have been characterised by X-ray diffraction crystallography. A list of comparative features was drawn upon close examination of the molecular structures of these complexes. It highlights the subtle influences of the identity of the central Ae metal, denticity and nature -fluoroalkoxide vs. phenolate- of the anionic tethers in the ligands. All complexes are seven- or eight-coordinate. It is observed in particular that a decrease of the number of heteroatoms in the macrocyclic backbone of the ligand will be compensated by the establishment of intramolecular AeF interactions (accounting for ca. 3.8-6.4% of the pertaining coordination spheres according to bond valence sum analysis), dimerisation of the complex, or, in one case, solvent (thf) retention. Attempts to gauge the Lewis acidity in these series of complexes were carried out by three independent methods (Childs, Gutmann-Beckett and global electrophilicity index). However, conflicting results were obtained and no clear trend can be delineated, even if on the whole, these measurements concur to suggest relatively low Lewis acidity.

A versatile nitrogen ligand for alkaline-earth chemistry.

The tridentate ligand 1,8-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino-3,6-di-tert-butyl-carbazolate, {CarbDiPP}-, has been used to prepare a variety of complexes of the large alkaline earths (Ae) calcium, strontium and barium. A complex of their smaller congener, magnesium, has also been synthesised. The range of coligands that have been utilised include alkyls, amides, halides and tetrelides. All structurally characterised complexes presented herein are stable in solution and do not undergo ligand redistribution that is otherwise well-known to pollute the chemistry of the alkaline-earth metals. Detailed structural and spectroscopic data for these compounds are discussed. They provide compelling evidence that this nitrogen ligand allows for the kinetic stabilisation of Ae complexes through optimal steric encapsulation of the voluminous metal centres. Its ease of access combined to its evident versatility make {CarbDiPP}H stand out in the portfolio of proligands that have been devised for similar purposes in the past decade. Yet, it fell short in our attempts to synthesise heteroleptic Ae-hydrides upon action of PhSiH3 onto Ae-amides, as the crystallised products showed the imine groups were prone to hydride reduction and formal hydrosilylation.

Barium-Catalysed Dehydrocoupling of Hydrosilanes and Borinic Acids: A Mechanistic Insight.

Invited for the cover of this issue are the groups of Yann Sarazin at the University of Rennes and Laura Falivene at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. The image depicts two barium figures working in tandem to mimic the dinuclear nature of the active species in the catalytic cycle described in the manuscript. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201904933.

Bis(imino)carbazolate: A Master Key for Barium Chemistry.

Reported here is a readily available bis(imino)carbazole-based proligand that constitutes a convenient entry point into the challenging synthetic molecular chemistry of barium. It enables the preparation of rare or even, up to now, unknown, solution-stable heteroleptic barium complexes. The syntheses and structural features for the first molecular barium fluoride and the first barium stannylide, with an unsupported Ba-Sn bond, are described, along with other carbazolate barium species: an amide (both a remarkably stable starting material and an excellent hydrophosphination precatalyst), iodide, and silanylide. DFT analysis of bonding patterns in the barium stannylide and barium silanylide highlights a prevailingly ionic barium-tetrelide bond with a small covalent contribution.

Synthesis of Bridged Tetrahydrobenzo[b]azepines and Derivatives through an Aza-Piancatelli Cyclization/Michael Addition Sequence.

Herein, we report the preparation of bridged tetrahydrobenzo[b]azepines, which was accomplished through an aza-Piancatelli cyclization/Michael addition sequence in a one-pot fashion from readily available precursors. It is noteworthy that a general method to access these scaffolds was hitherto unprecedented. Additionally, the multifaceted aspects of this process have been exemplified through its application to the synthesis of 2-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octanes and bridged tetrahydrobenzo[b]oxepines, along with post-derivatizations.

Barium-Catalysed Dehydrocoupling of Hydrosilanes and Borinic Acids: A Mechanistic Insight.

Two very rare cases of barium boryloxides, the homoleptic [Ba(OB{CH(SiMe3 )2 }2 )2 ⋅C7 H8 ] and the heteroleptic [{LONO4 }BaOB{CH(SiMe3 )2 }2 ] stabilised by the multidentate aminoetherphenolate {LONO4 }- , are presented, and their structural properties are discussed. The electron-deficient [Ba(OB{CH(SiMe3 )2 }2 )2 ⋅C7 H8 ] shows, in particular, resilient η6 -coordination of the toluene molecule. Together with its amido parents [Ba{N(SiMe3 )2 }2 ⋅thf2 ] and [Ba{N(SiMe3 )2 }2 ]2 , this complex catalyses the fast and chemoselective dehydrocoupling of borinic acids R2 BOH and hydrosilanes HSiR'3 , yielding borasiloxanes R2 BOSiR'3 in a controlled fashion. The assessment of substrate scope indicates that, for now, the reaction is limited to bulky borinic acids. Kinetic analysis shows that the rate-limiting step of the catalytic manifold traverses a dinuclear transition state. A detailed mechanistic scenario is proposed on the basis of DFT computations, the results of which are fully consistent with experimental data. It consists of a stepwise process with rate-determining nucleophilic attack of a metal-bound O-atom onto the incoming hydrosilane, involving throughout dinuclear catalytically active species.

Lead(II) Siloxides.

Although PbII -siloxides have been known until now to decompose to oxoclusters, here [{ROF }PbOSi(SiMe3 )3 ] (ROF =fluoroalkoxide) and, most importantly, [Pb2 {OSi(SiMe3 )3 }{µ2 -OSi(SiMe3 )3 }3 ], are presented. The unusual bonding pattern in the latter thermally stable dinuclear complex was investigated by crystallographic and computational methods. Its stability is much higher than that of the simple, yet elusive "[Pb(OSiPh3 )2 ]", for which decomposition pathways towards [Pb4 (µ4 -O)(µ2 -OSiPh3 )6 ] have been clearly established.

Barium Siloxides and Catalysed Formation of Si-O-Si' Motifs.

The first unsupported barium siloxide, the homoleptic dimer [Ba2 {µ2 -OSi(SiMe3 )3 }3 {OSi(SiMe3 )3 }], is presented, and its structural features are discussed in the light of DFT computations. This complex, together with the related [Ba{µ2 -OSi(SiMe3 )3 }{N(SiMe3 )2 }]2 and their parent [Ba{N(SiMe3 )2 }2 ]2 , mediates the formation of asymmetric siloxanes R3 Si-O-SiR'3 through the first case of main group metal-mediated dehydrocoupling of silanols and hydrosilanes. Early kinetic analysis highlights an unusual catalytic manifold.

Aminofluoroalkoxide amido and boryloxo lead(ii) complexes.

We report here on the utilisation of a readily available bidentate aminofluoroalkoxide in lead(ii) chemistry. Stable heteroleptic three-coordinate complexes can be produced in high yields, including a convenient amido synthetic precursor and a rare case of PbII-boryloxide.

Barium complexes with crown-ether-functionalised amidinate and iminoanilide ligands for the hydrophosphination of vinylarenes.

The detailed multistep syntheses of two nitrogen-based sterically congested iminoanilidine and amidine proligands bearing a tethered 15-member aza-ether-crown macrocycle, namely {I^Acrown}H and {Amcrown}H, are reported. These proligands react with [Ba{N(SiMe2H)2}2·(thf)n] to generate the heteroleptic barium complexes [{I^Acrown}BaN(SiMe2H)2] (5) and [{Amcrown}BaN(SiMe2H)2] (6) in high yields. These complexes exhibit high coordination numbers (resp. eight and seven) and are in addition stabilised by mild BaH-Si interactions. Unusually for oxophilic elements such as barium, the amidinate ligand in 6 is only η1-coordinated. Complexes 5 and 6 mediate the intermolecular hydrophosphination of styrene with primary (PhPH2) and secondary (HPPh2) phosphines. Their catalytic performance compares favourably with those of other barium precatalysts for these reactions. During the course of the hydrophosphination of styrene with HPPh2 catalysed by 5, the phosphide complex [{I^Acrown}BaPPh2] (7) could be intercepted and crystallographically characterised.

Metal⋠⋠⋠F-C Bonding in Low-Coordinate Alkaline Earth Fluoroarylamides.

A set of calcium and barium complexes containing the fluoroarylamide N(C6 F5 )2 - is presented. These compounds illustrate the key role of stabilising M⋅⋅⋅F-C secondary interactions in the construction of low-coordinate alkaline earth complexes. The nature of Ca⋅⋅⋅F-C bonding in calcium complexes is examined in the light of structural data, bond valence sum (BVS) analysis and DFT computations. The molecular structures of [Ca{N(C6 F5 )2 }2 (Et2 O)2 ] (4'), [Ca{µ-N(SiMe3 )2 }{N(C6 F5 )2 }]2 (52 ), [Ba{µ-N(C6 F5 )2 }{N(C6 F5 )2 }⋅toluene]2 (62 ), [{BDIDiPP }CaN(C6 F5 )2 ]2 (72 ), [{N^NDiPP }CaN(C6 F5 )2 ]2 (82 ), and [Ca{µ-OB(CH(SiMe3 )2 )2 }{N(C6 F5 )2 }]2 (92 ), where {BDIDiPP }- and {N^NDiPP }- are the bidentate ligands CH[C(CH3 )NDipp]2 - and DippNC6 H4 CNDipp- (Dipp=2,6-iPr2 -C6 H3 ), are detailed. Complex 62 displays strong Ba⋅⋅⋅F-C contacts at around 2.85 Å. The calcium complexes feature also very short intramolecular Ca-F interatomic distances at around 2.50 Å. In addition, the three-coordinate complexes 72 and 82 form dinuclear structures due to intermolecular Ca⋅⋅⋅F-C contacts. BVS analysis shows that Ca⋅⋅⋅F-C interactions contribute to 15-20 % of the bonding pattern around calcium. Computations demonstrate that Ca⋅⋅⋅F-C bonding is mostly electrostatic, but also contains a non-negligible covalent contribution. They also suggest that Ca⋅⋅⋅F-C are the strongest amongst the range of weak Ca⋅⋅⋅X (X=F, H, Cπ ) secondary interactions, due to the high positive charge of Ca2+ which favours electrostatic interactions.

Heterobimetallic Ba/Li and Ca/Li amides and diphenylmethanide.

The structures of the heterobimetallic Ca/Li and Ba/Li amides [CaLi2{µ2-N(SiMe2H)2}4]∞ and [Ba2Li2{µ2-N(SiMe2H)2}6]∞, stabilised by metalH-Si interactions, and that of a diphenylmethanide calcium salt, [Li(tmeda)2+·Ca(CHPh2)3(thf)-], are presented. These well-defined, storable compounds are inert towards Et2O and thf.

Low-Coordinate Barium Boryloxides: Synthesis and Dehydrocoupling Catalysis for the Production of Borasiloxanes.

The first soluble barium boryloxides [Ba]- OB{CH(SiMe3 )2 } are presented. These mono- or dinuclear complexes feature low coordination numbers, as low as two for [Ba(OB{CH(SiMe3 )2 }2 )2 ], which is further stabilized by intra- and intermolecular Ba⋅⋅⋅H3 C agostic interactions. Barium boryloxides and the parent [Ba{N(SiMe3 )2 }2 ⋅(thf)2 ] catalyze the dehydrocoupling of borinic acids with hydrosilanes, providing borasiloxanes under mild conditions.