Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes Incorporating a New Septadentate Polyimidazole Ligand.

The dinuclear copper(II) complexes [Cu(2)(tmihpn)(prz)](ClO(4))(2).2CH(3)CN (6) and [Cu(2)(tmihpn)(O(2)CCH(3))](ClO(4))(2).CH(3)CN (7) were prepared, where tmihpn is the deprotonated form of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis[(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol and prz is the pyrazolate anion. The crystal structures of 6 and 7 were determined and revealed that both complexes contain bridging alkoxide ligands as well as bridging pyrazolate and acetate ions, respectively. Crystal data: compound 6, triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 18.089(2) Å, b = 22.948(3) Å, c = 9.597(2) Å, alpha = 93.37(2) degrees, beta = 94.49(2) degrees, gamma = 81.69(2) degrees, V = 3925.1 Å(3), Z = 4; compound 7, triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 12.417(2) Å, b = 15.012(3) Å, c = 10.699(2) Å, alpha = 104.76(2) degrees, beta = 102.63(2) degrees, gamma = 99.44(2) degrees, V = 1830.1 Å(3), Z = 2. In compound 6, the coordination geometry around both copper centers resembles a distorted square pyramid, while the stereochemistry around the copper centers in 7 is best described as trigonal bipyramidal. Both complexes display well-resolved isotropically shifted (1)H NMR spectra. Selective substitution studies and integration data have been used to definitively assign several signals to specific ligand protons. Results from the solution (1)H NMR studies suggest that the basal and apical imidazole groups do not exchange rapidly on the NMR time scale and the solid state structures of the complexes are retained in solution. In addition, the magnetochemical characteristics of 6 and 7 were determined and provide evidence for "magnetic orbital switching". Antiferromagnetic coupling in 6 (J = -130 cm(-)(1)) is strong, while the copper centers in compound 7 are ferromagnetically coupled (J = +16.4 cm(-1)). Differences in the magnetic behavior of the two copper centers have been rationalized using the "ligand orbital complementary" concept. The ground state magnetic orbitals involved in spin coupling in 6 (d(x)()()2(-)(y)()()2) are different from those in 7 (d(z)()()2).

Activation of Ligand Reactivity: Thiolate C-S and Dithiophosphate Ester C-O Heterolyses within a Dimolybdenum(V) System.

Ligand reactivity was demonstrated for sulfide alkylation, thiolate dealkylation, and dithiophosphate de-esterification within molybdenum(V) dimers. The cationic complex [Mo(2)(NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(S(2)P(OEt)(2))(2)(&mgr;-O(2)CMe)(&mgr;-SR)(2)](+) was inductively activated toward thiolate C-S and dithiophosphate C-O heterolyses. The dealkylations were studied using anionic nucleophiles, and various reactivity patterns were characterized. The de-esterification of the diethyl dithiophosphate ligands produced complexes containing the rare monoester EtO(O)PS(2)(2)(-) ligand. This ligand's phosphoryl group was poorly nucleophilic but weakly basic. Crystallographic comparisons between the activated cation and the neutral complex [Mo(2)(NC(6)H(4)Me)(2)(S(2)P(OEt)(2))(2)(&mgr;-O(2)CMe)(&mgr;-S)(&mgr;-SMe)] were conducted to delineate structural differences related to the activation. A crystallographic study was also done of the complex [Mo(2)(NC(6)H(4)CH(3))(2)(S(2)P(OEt)(2))(S(2)P(O)OEt)(&mgr;-O(2)CMe)(&mgr;-SEt)(2)], which provided internal comparison of monoester EtO(O)PS(2)(2)(-) and diester (EtO)(2)PS(2)(-) ligand types.