The Bonding Situation in the Dinuclear Tetra-Hydrido Complex [{5CpFe}2(µ-H)4] Revisited by Hard X-Ray Spectroscopy.

High energy resolution fluorescence detected XANES (HERFD-XANES) and valence-to-core X-ray emission spectroscopy (VtC-XES) are introduced as powerful tools to investigate hydride-iron interaction, the possible iron-iron bond, and iron spin state of the dinuclear tetra-hydrido complex [{5CpFe}2(µ-H)4] (1H, 5Cp = η5-C5 iPr5) by thoroughly accessing the geometric and electronic structure of this complex in comparison to the nonhydride reference [5CpCpFe] (1, Cp = C5H5). The so far observed most intense hydride induced signals in the pre-edge feature of the HERFD-XANES and in the VtC-XES spectra at the iron K-edge allow a precise analysis of the LUMO and HOMO states, respectively, by application of time-dependent density function theory (TD-DFT) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results of these calculations are further employed to understand the oxidation state, spin states, and potential Fe-Fe bonds in this complex.

How big is a Cp? Novel cycloheptatrienyl zirconium complexes with tri-, tetra- and pentasubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligands.

The new bulky cyclopentadienyl anions 1,2,4-tri(cyclopentyl)cyclopentadienide and 2,3-diisopropyl-1,4-dimethyl-5-trimethylsilyl-cyclopentadienide were prepared. These and the already known 1,2,4-tri(cyclohexyl)-, 1,2,4-tri(isopropyl)-, 2,3-diisopropyl-1,4-dimethyl-, 1,3,4-triisopropyl-2,5-dimethyl-, pentaphenyl-, and p-butylphenyl-tetraphenyl-cyclopentadienide as well as tert-butylindenide were coordinated to the cycloheptatrienylzirconium fragment [(CHT)ZrCl(tmeda)]. The nine zirconium complexes of the [(CHT)Zr(Cp)] type were characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy. For five of the sandwich complexes X-ray crystal structure determination could be carried out; structures of the four others were obtained by DFT calculations. The data serve as a basis for cone angle measurements of cyclopentadienyl ligands to evaluate the steric demand of these ligands.

How big is a Cp? Cycloheptatrienyl zirconium complexes with bulky cyclopentadienyl and indenyl ligands.

A combination of phase-transfer and traditional alkylation strategies has been employed to synthesise sterically encumbered 1,3-di(cyclohexyl) and 1,3-di(tert-butyl) substituted indenes in multi-gram quantities. These indenyl ligands and sterically demanding alkyl cyclopentadienyl ligands have been used to prepare a series of [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))Zr(η(5)-L)] (L = Cp and Ind) complexes by straightforward salt metathesis between [(η(7)-C(7)H(7))ZrCl(tmeda)] and the corresponding sodium indenide or cyclopentadienide. All of these Zr complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structural information derived from these studies was employed to evaluate the steric demand of these ligands in a realistic manner.

1,1'-Bis[bis-(4-tert-butyl-phen-yl)meth-yl]ferrocene.

The molecule of the title compound, [Fe(C26H31)2], is located on an inversion center. The two cyclopentadienyl rings exhibit a staggered conformation, which results from the bulky bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)methyl substituents situated on opposite sides of the molecule.

Bis(η-1-tert-butyl-inden-yl)nickel(II).

The title compound, [Ni(C(13)H(15))(2)], shows a slightly distorted sandwich structure with two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. Both Ni atoms are located on crystallographic centres of inversion.

Exploring the concept of aromaticity on complexes of a fourfold benzannulated cyclopentadienyl ligand.

The ligand dibenzo[c,g]fluorenide (Dbf(-)), combines a cyclopentadienide ligand and 1,1'-binaphthyl fragment in one molecule. Preliminary investigations confirmed the special electronic situation in this 6pi-electron donor by way of a series of novel transition-metal complexes. Herein, the electron delocalization was investigated in detail by means of DFT calculations in combination with calculations on the nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS). These results clearly prove that the Dbf(-) ion gains the largest aromatic stabilization among all benzannulated fluorenides, and there are two almost olefinic C=C bonds in this structure. These bonds undergo cyclopropanation when treated with ZnEt(2) and ClCH(2)I in a modified Simmons-Smith reaction.

Half-sandwich bis(tetramethylaluminate) complexes of the rare-earth metals: synthesis, structural chemistry, and performance in isoprene polymerization.

The protonolysis reaction of [Ln(AlMe(4))(3)] with various substituted cyclopentadienyl derivatives HCp(R) gives access to a series of half-sandwich complexes [Ln(AlMe(4))(2)(Cp(R))]. Whereas bis(tetramethylaluminate) complexes with [1,3-(Me(3)Si)(2)C(5)H(3)] and [C(5)Me(4)SiMe(3)] ancillary ligands form easily at ambient temperature for the entire Ln(III) cation size range (Ln=Lu, Y, Sm, Nd, La), exchange with the less reactive [1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(3)] was only obtained at elevated temperatures and for the larger metal centers Sm, Nd, and La. X-ray structure analyses of seven representative complexes of the type [Ln(AlMe(4))(2)(Cp(R))] reveal a similar distinct [AlMe(4)] coordination (one eta(2), one bent eta(2)). Treatment with Me(2)AlCl leads to [AlMe(4)] --> [Cl] exchange and, depending on the Al/Ln ratio and the Cp(R) ligand, varying amounts of partially and fully exchanged products [{Ln(AlMe(4))(mu-Cl)(Cp(R))}(2)] and [{Ln(mu-Cl)(2)(Cp(R))}(n)], respectively, have been identified. Complexes [{Y(AlMe(4))(mu-Cl)(C(5)Me(4)SiMe(3))}(2)] and [{Nd(AlMe(4))(mu-Cl){1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)}}(2)] have been characterized by X-ray structure analysis. All of the chlorinated half-sandwich complexes are inactive in isoprene polymerization. However, activation of the complexes [Ln(AlMe(4))(2)(Cp(R))] with boron-containing cocatalysts, such as [Ph(3)C][B(C(6)F(5))(4)], [PhNMe(2)H][B(C(6)F(5))(4)], or B(C(6)F(5))(3), produces initiators for the fabrication of trans-1,4-polyisoprene. The choice of rare-earth metal cation size, Cp(R) ancillary ligand, and type of boron cocatalyst crucially affects the polymerization performance, including activity, catalyst efficiency, living character, and polymer stereoregularity. The highest stereoselectivities were observed for the precatalyst/cocatalyst systems [La(AlMe(4))(2)(C(5)Me(4)SiMe(3))]/B(C(6)F(5))(3) (trans-1,4 content: 95.6 %, M(w)/M(n)=1.26) and [La(AlMe(4))(2)(C(5)Me(5))]/B(C(6)F(5))(3) (trans-1,4 content: 99.5 %, M(w)/M(n)=1.18).

Calcium, strontium, barium, and ytterbium complexes with cyclooctatetraenyl or cyclononatetraenyl ligands.

Neutral triple-decker complexes of the heavy alkaline earth metals and ytterbium with tetraisopropylcyclopentadienide anions as terminal ligands and a cyclooctatetraene dianion as a middle deck have been synthesized from tetraisopropylcyclopentadienyl metal halide precursors and disodium cyclooctatetraenide. The pentaisopropylcyclopentadienyl analogue [{(C5iPr5)Yb}2(C8H8)] was prepared from ytterbium metal, cyclooctatetraene, and the free pentaisopropylcyclopentadienyl radical. X-ray crystal structure determinations for the barium and the calcium derivative show an almost linear arrangement of ring centers and metal atoms in both cases with metal-ring center distances of 2.33 A (Ca-Cp), 1.99/1.98 A (Ca-COT) and 2.71 A (Ba-Cp), 2.40 A (Ba-COT). The geometrical features of these molecules could be modeled quite accurately with density functional calculations. With potassium cyclononatetraenide, sparingly soluble bis(cyclononatetraenyl)barium could be prepared and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Cyclononatetraenyl(tetraisopropylcyclopentadienyl)barium was obtained from [(C5HiPr4)BaI(THF)2]2 and KC9H9 as a 1:1 mixture with octaisopropylbarocene. Density functional calculations predict sandwich structures with parallel rings and a 2.37 A Ba-ring distance for [Ba(C9H9)2] and a 174 bending with metal-ring distances of 2.72 A (Ba-Cp) and 2.35 A (Ba-CNT) for [(C5HiPr4)Ba(C9H9)]. All alkaline earth sandwich and triple-decker complexes mentioned above have been heated to 250 degrees C without decomposition and have been sublimed in oil pump vacuum.

Synthesis of Symmetric Metallocenes from Metallic Calcium, Strontium, or Barium and Pentaisopropylcyclopentadienyl Radicals.

The largest interplanar distance known to date between adjacent parallel rings of any sandwich compound (5.497(3) Å) is displayed by decaisopropylbarocene, the first heavy alkaline earth metal sandwich compound to possess axial symmetry. A new efficient metallocene formation [Eq. (1)] utilizes the free cyclopentadienyl radical [C5 R5 ]. (R=CHMe2 ) as an oxidizing agent for elemental Ca, Sr, and Ba (M).