Tuning the Inorganic Core of a reduced Ni2Ge2 Cluster.

Tetranuclear cores (M-E)2 of transition metals (M) and tetrylenes (EII=Si, Ge, Sn) are key motifs in homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. They exhibit a continuum of M-M and E-E bonding within the inorganic core that leads to a variety of structures for which there are no specific synthetic methods. Herein, we report a series of highly reduced [Ni0GeII]2 squares solely stabilized by bulky terphenyl (C6H3-2,6-Ar2) ligands, for which we provide complementary and high-yielding syntheses. Reactivity studies with common Lewis bases (carbene and CO) evince that the structure of the (M-E)2 core can be transformed. We have investigated this core modification by computational means, offering a rationale to better understand the continuum of bonding across these clusters.

Dehydrogenative Double C-H Bond Activation in a Germylene-Rhodium Complex*.

Transition metal tetrylene complexes offer great opportunities for molecular cooperation due to the ambiphilic character of the group 14 element. Here we focus on the coordination of germylene [(ArMes2 )2 Ge :] (ArMes =C6 H3 -2,6-(C6 H2 -2,4,6-Me3 )2 ) to [RhCl(COD)]2 (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene), which yields a neutral germyl complex in which the rhodium center exhibits both η6 - and η2 -coordination to two mesityl rings in an unusual pincer-type structure. Chloride abstraction from this species triggers a singular dehydrogenative double C-H bond activation across the Ge/Rh motif. We have isolated and fully characterized three rhodium-germyl species associated to three C-H cleavage events along this process. The reaction mechanism has been further investigated by computational means, supporting the key cooperative action of rhodium and germanium centers.

Structural Snapshots of π-Arene Bonding in a Gold Germylene Cation.

Heavier group 14 element cations exhibit a remarkable reactivity that has typically hampered their isolation. For the few available examples, the role of π-arene interactions is crucial to provide kinetic stabilization, but dynamic and structural information on those contacts is yet limited. In this study we have accessed the metalogermylenium cation [(PMe2 ArDipp2 )AuGe(ArDipp2 )Cl]+ (4+ ) (ArDipp2 =C6 H3 -2,6-(C6 H3 -2,6-iPr2 )2 ) that has been structurally characterized with three different non-coordinating counter anions. These studies provide for the first time dynamic information about the conformational rearrangement that characterizes π-arene bonding thorough a series of X-ray diffraction structural snapshots. Computational studies reveal the weak character of the π-arene bonding (ca. 2 kcal mol-1 ) that can be described as the donation from a πC=C bond toward the empty p valence orbital of germanium.

Metal-only Lewis Pairs of Rhodium with s, p and d-Block Metals.

Metal-only Lewis pairs (MOLPs) in which the two metal fragments are solely connected by a dative M→M bond represent privileged architectures to acquire fundamental understanding of bimetallic bonding. This has important implications in many catalytic processes or supramolecular systems that rely on synergistic effects between two metals. However, a systematic experimental/computational approach on a well-defined class of compounds is lacking. Here we report a family of MOLPs constructed around the RhI precursor [(η5 -C5 Me5 )Rh(PMe3 )2 ] (1) with a series of s, p and d-block metals, mostly from the main group elements, and investigate their bonding by computational means. Among the new MOLPs, we have structurally characterized those formed by dative bonding between 1 and MgMeBr, AlMe3 , GeCl2 , SnCl2 , ZnMe2 and Zn(C6 F5 )2, as well as spectroscopically identified the ones resulting from coordination to MBArF (M=Na, Li; BArF - =[B(C6 H2 -3,5-(CF3 )2 )4 ]- ) and CuCl. Some of these compounds represent unique examples of bimetallic structures, such as the first unambiguous cases of Rh→Mg dative bonding or base-free rhodium bound germylene and stannylene species. Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, including 103 Rh NMR, is used to probe the formation of Rh→M bonds. A comprehensive theoretical analysis of those provides clear trends. As anticipated, greater bond covalency is found for the more electronegative acids, whereas ionic character dominates for the least electronegative nuclei, though some degree of electron sharing is identified in all cases.

Preparation of Tris-Heteroleptic Iridium(III) Complexes Containing a Cyclometalated Aryl-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand.

A new class of phosphorescent tris-heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes has been discovered. The addition of PhMeImAgI (PhMeIm = 1-phenyl-3-methylimidazolylidene) to the dimer [Ir(µ-Cl)(COD)]2 (1; COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) affords IrCl(COD)(PhMeIm) (2), which reacts with 1-phenylisoquinoline, 2-phenylpyridine, and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine to give the respective dimers [Ir(µ-Cl){κ2- C, C-(C6H4-ImMe)}{κ2- C, N-(C6H4-isoqui)}]2 (3), [Ir(µ-Cl){κ2- C, C-(C6H4-ImMe)}{κ2- C, N-(C6H4-py)}]2 (4), and [Ir(µ-Cl){κ2- C, C-(C6H4-ImMe)}{κ2- C, N-(C6F2H2-py)}]2 (5), as a result of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)- and N-heterocycle-supported o-CH bond activation of the aryl substituents and the hydrogenation of a C-C double bond of the coordinated diene. In solution, these dimers exist as a mixture of isomers a (Im trans to N) and b (Im trans to Cl), which lie in a dynamic equilibrium. The treatment of 3-5 with Kacac (acac = acetylacetonate) yields isomers a (Im trans to N) and b (Im trans to O) of Ir{κ2- C, C-(C6H4-ImMe)}{κ2- C, N-(C6H4-isoqui)}(κ2- O, O-acac) (6a and 6b), Ir{κ2- C, C-(C6H4-ImMe)}{κ2- C, N-(C6H4-py)}(κ2- O, O-acac) (7a and 7b), and Ir{κ2- C, C-(C6H4-ImMe)}{κ2- C, N-(C6F2H4-py)}(κ2- O, O-acac) (8a and 8b), which were separated by column chromatography. The treatment of 6a with HX in acetone-water produces the protonation of the acac ligand and the formation of the bis(aquo) complex [Ir{κ2- C, C-(C6H4-ImMe)}{κ2- C, N-(C6H4-isoqui)}(H2O)2]X [X = BF4 (9a[BF4]), OTf (9a[OTf])]. The salt 9a[BF4] reacts with 2-(2-pinacolborylphenyl)-5-methylpyridine in the presence of 40 equiv of K3PO4 to afford Ir{κ2- C, C-(C6H4-ImMe)}{κ2- C, N-(C6H4-isoqui)}{κ2- C, N-(C6H4-Mepy)} (10a). Complexes 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, and 10a are phosphorescent emitters (λem = 465-655 nm), which display short lifetimes in the range of 0.2-5.6 µs. They show high quantum yields both in doped poly(methyl methacrylate) films (0.34-0.87) and in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran at room temperature (0.40-0.93). From the point of view of their applicability to the fabrication of organic-light-emitting-diode devices, a notable improvement with regard to those containing two cyclometalated C,N ligands is achieved. The introduction of the cyclometalated aryl-NHC group allows one to reach a brightness of 1000 cd/m2 at a lower voltage and appears to give rise to higher luminous efficacy and power efficacy.

Pyrazolylamidino ligands from coupling of acetonitrile and pyrazoles: a systematic study.

Mixed pyrazole-acetonitrile complexes, both neutral fac-[ReBr(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)] (pz*H = pzH, pyrazole; dmpzH, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole; or indzH, indazole) and cationic fac-[Re(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)2]A (A = BF4, ClO4, or OTf), are described. Their role as the only starting products to obtain final pyrazolylamidino complexes fac-[ReBr(CO)3(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)] and fac-[Re(CO)3(pz*H)(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)]A, respectively, is examined. Other products involved in the processes, such as fac-[ReBr(CO)3(pz*H)2], fac-[Re(CO)3(NCMe)(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)]A, and fac-[Re(CO)3(pz*H)2(OTf)] are also described. Warming CD3CN solutions of fac-[Re(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)2]A at 40 °C gives cleanly the pyrazolylamidino complexes [Re(CO)3(pz*H)(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)]A as the only products, pointing to an intramolecular process. This is confirmed by carrying out reactions in the presence of one equivalent of a pyrazole different from that coordinated, which affords complexes where the pyrazolylamidino ligand contains only the pyrazole previously coordinated. When the reactions lead to an equilibrium mixture of the final and starting products, the reverse reaction gives the same equilibrium mixture, which indicates that the coupling reaction of pyrazoles and nitriles to obtain pyrazolylamidino ligands is a reversible intramolecular process. A systematic study of the possible factors which may affect the reaction gives the following results: (a) the yields of the direct reactions are higher for lower temperatures; (b) the tendency of the pyrazoles to give pyrazolylamidino complexes follows the sequence indzH > pzH > dmpzH; and (c) the reaction rates do not depend on the nature of the anion even when a large excess is added. The presence of a small amount of aqueous solution of NaOH catalyzes the reaction. Thus, addition of 0.5-1% of NaOH (aq) to solutions of fac-[ReBr(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)] (in CD3CN) or fac-[Re(CO)3(NCMe)(pz*H)2]A (in CD3CN, CD3NO2 or (CD3)2CO) allowed the syntheses of the corresponding pyrazolylamidino complexes [ReBr(CO)3(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)] or [Re(CO)3(pz*H)(NH═C(Me)pz*-κ(2)N,N)]A with better yields, more rapidly, and in milder conditions.

Mechanistic Investigations on Hydrogenation, Isomerization and Hydrosilylation Reactions Mediated by a Germyl-Rhodium System.

We recently disclosed a dehydrogenative double C-H bond activation reaction in the unusual pincer-type rhodium-germyl complex [(ArMes)2ClGeRh] (ArMes=C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-Me3)2). Herein we investigate the catalytic applications of this Rh/Ge system in several transformations, namely trans-semihydrogenation of internal alkynes, trans-isomerization of olefins and hydrosilylation of alkynes. We have compared the activity and selectivity of this catalyst against other common rhodium precursors, as well as related sterically hindered rhodium complexes, being the one with the germyl fragment superior in terms of selectivity towards E-isomers. To increase this selectivity, a tandem catalytic protocol that incorporates the use of a heterogeneous catalyst for the trans-semihydrogenation of internal alkynes has been devised. Kinetic mechanistic investigations provide important information regarding the individual catalytic cycles that comprise the overall trans-semihydrogenation of internal alkynes.

Aldehydes and ketones influence reactivity and selectivity in nickel-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura reactions.

The energetically-favorable coordination of aldehydes and ketones - but not esters or amides - to Ni0 during Suzuki-Miyaura reactions can lead either to exquisite selectivity and enhanced reactivity, or to inhibition of the reaction. Aryl halides where the C-X bond is connected to the same π-system as an aldehyde or ketone undergo unexpectedly rapid oxidative addition to [Ni(COD)(dppf)] (1), and are selectively cross-coupled during competition reactions. When aldehydes and ketones are present in the form of exogenous additives, the cross-coupling reaction is inhibited to an extent that depends on the strength of the coordination of the pendant carbonyl group to Ni0. This work advances our understanding of how common functional groups interact with Ni0 catalysts and how these interactions affect workhorse catalytic reactions in academia and industry.

Reactivity of a gold(i)/platinum(0) frustrated Lewis pair with germanium and tin dihalides.

The reactivity of germanium and tin dichlorides with a transition metal-only frustrated Lewis pair based on Au(i) and Pt(0) compounds bearing bulky phosphine ligands is described in this work. We have examined both the reactivity of tetrylene dihalides towards the individual components of the metallic pair, as well as under metal/metal cooperative conditions. These studies allowed us to isolate several uncommon homo- and heterometallic structures. Computational methods have been employed to investigate the bonding scheme of one of these highly-reduced metallic aggregates. In addition, we have developed a tin-promoted strategy to access heteroleptic diphosphine platinum(0) compounds.