Thermodynamic and Kinetic Activity Descriptors for the Catalytic Hydrogenation of Ketones.

Activity descriptors are a powerful tool for the design of catalysts that can efficiently utilize H2 with minimal energy losses. In this study, we develop the use of hydricity and H- self-exchange rates as thermodynamic and kinetic descriptors for the hydrogenation of ketones by molecular catalysts. Two complexes with known hydricity, HRh(dmpe)2 and HCo(dmpe)2, were investigated for the catalytic hydrogenation of ketones under mild conditions (1.5 atm and 25 °C). The rhodium catalyst proved to be an efficient catalyst for a wide range of ketones, whereas the cobalt catalyst could only hydrogenate electron-deficient ketones. Using a combination of experiment and electronic structure theory, thermodynamic hydricity values were established for 46 alkoxide/ketone pairs in both acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran solvents. Through comparison of the hydricities of the catalysts and substrates, it was determined that catalysis was observed only for catalyst/ketone pairs with an exergonic H- transfer step. Mechanistic studies revealed that H- transfer was the rate-limiting step for catalysis, allowing for the experimental and computation construction of linear free-energy relationships (LFERs) for H- transfer. Further analysis revealed that the LFERs could be reproduced using Marcus theory, in which the H- self-exchange rates for the HRh/Rh+ and ketone/alkoxide pairs were used to predict the experimentally measured catalytic barriers within 2 kcal mol-1. These studies significantly expand the scope of catalytic reactions that can be analyzed with a thermodynamic hydricity descriptor and firmly establish Marcus theory as a valid approach to develop kinetic descriptors for designing catalysts for H- transfer reactions.

Molecular Catalysts with Diphosphine Ligands Containing Pendant Amines.

Pendant amines play an invaluable role in chemical reactivity, especially for molecular catalysts based on earth-abundant metals. As inspired by [FeFe]-hydrogenases, which contain a pendant amine positioned for cooperative bifunctionality, synthetic catalysts have been developed to emulate this multifunctionality through incorporation of a pendant amine in the second coordination sphere. Cyclic diphosphine ligands containing two amines serve as the basis for a class of catalysts that have been extensively studied and used to demonstrate the impact of a pendant base. These 1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctanes, now often referred to as "P2N2" ligands, have profound effects on the reactivity of many catalysts. The resulting [Ni(PR2NR'2)2]2+ complexes are electrocatalysts for both the oxidation and production of H2. Achieving the optimal benefit of the pendant amine requires that it has suitable basicity and is properly positioned relative to the metal center. In addition to the catalytic efficacy demonstrated with [Ni(PR2NR'2)2]2+ complexes for the oxidation and production of H2, catalysts with diphosphine ligands containing pendant amines have also been demonstrated for several metals for many different reactions, both in solution and immobilized on surfaces. The impact of pendant amines in catalyst design continues to expand.

Mechanistic Studies on the Insertion of Carbonyl Substrates into Cu-H: Different Rate-Limiting Steps as a Function of Electrophilicity.

We report mechanistic studies on the insertion reactions of [(NHC)Cu(µ-H)]2 complexes with carbonyl substrates by UV-vis and 1 H NMR spectroscopic kinetic studies, H/D isotopic labelling, and X-ray crystallography. The results of these comprehensive studies show that the insertion of Cu-H with an aldehyde, ketone, activated ester/amide, and unactivated amide consist of two different rate limiting steps: the formation of Cu-H monomer from Cu-H dimer for more electrophilic substrates, and hydride transfer from a transient Cu-H monomer for less electrophilic substrates. We also report spectroscopic and crystallographic characterization of rare Cu-hemiacetalate and Cu-hemiaminalate moieties from the insertion of an ester or amide into the Cu-H bond.

Thermodynamic Hydricity of [FeFe]-Hydrogenases.

After remaining elusive for many years, terminal hydride states have now been identified in several native and mutant [FeFe]-hydrogenases. In this Perspective, hydride states of [FeFe]-hydrogenases are considered on the basis of hydricity, a thermodynamic parameter that has been instrumental for the rational design of synthetic molecular catalysts. Importantly, it is shown how the hydricity of [FeFe]-hydrogenases can inspire future research efforts in both the study of hydrogenases and the design of molecular catalysts. By using hydricity, quantitative linear free energy relationships can be developed to relate the driving force and rate of different [FeFe]-hydrogenase variants. Further development of these correlations across a wide range of hydrogenase variants can potentially lead to new insights into the structure-activity relationships of [FeFe]-hydrogenases. The hydricity of [FeFe]-hydrogenase is also compared to select transition metal hydride complexes, which emphasizes the strong electronic communication between the diiron active site and the extended protein scaffold of the enzyme. A mechanism is proposed for how key hydrogen bonding interactions might affect the hydricity of [FeFe]-hydrogenases, providing a basis for the emulation of these structural features in synthetic molecular complexes.

Understanding and Design of Bidirectional and Reversible Catalysts of Multielectron, Multistep Reactions.

Some enzymes, including those that are involved in the activation of small molecules such as H2 or CO2, can be wired to electrodes and function in either direction of the reaction depending on the electrochemical driving force and display a significant rate at very small deviations from the equilibrium potential. We call the former property "bidirectionality" and the latter "reversibility". This performance sets very high standards for chemists who aim at designing synthetic electrocatalysts. Only recently, in the particular case of the hydrogen production/evolution reaction, has it been possible to produce inorganic catalysts that function bidirectionally, with an even smaller number that also function reversibly. This raises the question of how to engineer such desirable properties in other synthetic catalysts. Here we introduce the kinetic modeling of bidirectional two-electron-redox reactions in the case of molecular catalysts and enzymes that are either attached to an electrode or diffusing in solution in the vicinity of an electrode. We emphasize that trying to discuss bidirectionality and reversibility in relation to a single redox potential leads to an impasse: the catalyst undergoes two redox transitions, and therefore two catalytic potentials must be defined, which may depart from the two potentials measured in the absence of catalysis. The difference between the two catalytic potentials defines the reversibility; the difference between their average value and the equilibrium potential defines the directionality (also called "preference", or "bias"). We describe how the sequence of events in the bidirectional catalytic cycle can be elucidated on the basis of the voltammetric responses. Further, we discuss the design principles of bidirectionality and reversibility in terms of thermodynamics and kinetics and conclude that neither bidirectionality nor reversibility requires that the catalytic energy landscape be flat. These theoretical findings are illustrated by previous results obtained with nickel diphosphine molecular catalysts and hydrogenases. In particular, analysis of the nickel catalysts highlights the fact that reversible catalysis can be achieved by catalysts that follow complex mechanisms with branched reaction pathways.

Making a Splash in Homogeneous CO2 Hydrogenation: Elucidating the Impact of Solvent on Catalytic Mechanisms.

Molecular catalysts for hydrogenation of CO2 are widely studied as a means of chemical hydrogen storage. Catalysts are traditionally designed from the perspective of controlling the ligands bound to the metal. In recent years, studies have shown that the solvent can also play a key role in the mechanism of CO2 hydrogenation. A prominent example is the impact of the solvent on the thermodynamic hydride donor ability, or hydricity, of metal hydride complexes relative to the hydride acceptor ability of CO2 . In some cases, simply changing from an organic solvent to water can reverse the direction of hydride transfer between a metal hydride and CO2 . Additionally, the solvent can impact catalysis by converting CO2 into carbonate species, as well as activate intermediate products for hydrogenation to more reduced products. By understanding the substrate and product speciation, as well as the reactivity of the catalyst towards the substrate, the solvent can be used as a central design component for the rational development of new catalytic systems.

Thermodynamic Hydricity of Transition Metal Hydrides.

Transition metal hydrides play a critical role in stoichiometric and catalytic transformations. Knowledge of free energies for cleaving metal hydride bonds enables the prediction of chemical reactivity, such as for the bond-forming and bond-breaking events that occur in a catalytic reaction. Thermodynamic hydricity is the free energy required to cleave an M-H bond to generate a hydride ion (H(-)). Three primary methods have been developed for hydricity determination: the hydride transfer method establishes hydride transfer equilibrium with a hydride donor/acceptor pair of known hydricity, the H2 heterolysis method involves measuring the equilibrium of heterolytic cleavage of H2 in the presence of a base, and the potential-pKa method considers stepwise transfer of a proton and two electrons to give a net hydride transfer. Using these methods, over 100 thermodynamic hydricity values for transition metal hydrides have been determined in acetonitrile or water. In acetonitrile, the hydricity of metal hydrides spans a range of more than 50 kcal/mol. Methods for using hydricity values to predict chemical reactivity are also discussed, including organic transformations, the reduction of CO2, and the production and oxidation of hydrogen.

H2 Oxidation Electrocatalysis Enabled by Metal-to-Metal Hydrogen Atom Transfer: A Homolytic Approach to a Heterolytic Reaction.

Oxidation of H2 in a fuel cell converts the chemical energy of the H-H bond into electricity. Electrocatalytic oxidation of H2 by molecular catalysts typically requires one metal to perform multiple chemical steps: bind H2 , heterolytically cleave H2 , and then undergo two oxidation and two deprotonation steps. The electrocatalytic oxidation of H2 by a cooperative system using Cp*Cr(CO)3 H and [Fe(diphosphine)(CO)3 ]+ has now been invetigated. A key step of the proposed mechanism is a rarely observed metal-to-metal hydrogen atom transfer from the Cr-H complex to the Fe, forming an Fe-H complex that is deprotonated and then oxidized electrochemically. This "division of chemical labor" features Cr interacting with H2 to cleave the H-H bond, while Fe interfaces with the electrode. Neither metal is required to heterolytically cleave H2 , so this system provides a very unusual example of a homolytic reaction being a key step in a molecular electrocatalytic process.

Catalytic N2 Reduction to Silylamines and Thermodynamics of N2 Binding at Square Planar Fe.

The geometric constraints imposed by a tetradentate P4N2 ligand play an essential role in stabilizing square planar Fe complexes with changes in metal oxidation state. The square pyramidal Fe0(N2)(P4N2) complex catalyzes the conversion of N2 to N(SiR3)3 (R = Me, Et) at room temperature, representing the highest turnover number of any Fe-based N2 silylation catalyst to date (up to 65 equiv N(SiMe3)3 per Fe center). Elevated N2 pressures (>1 atm) have a dramatic effect on catalysis, increasing N2 solubility and the thermodynamic N2 binding affinity at Fe0(N2)(P4N2). A combination of high-pressure electrochemistry and variable-temperature UV-vis spectroscopy were used to obtain thermodynamic measurements of N2 binding. In addition, X-ray crystallography, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and EPR spectroscopy were used to fully characterize these new compounds. Analysis of Fe0, FeI, and FeII complexes reveals that the free energy of N2 binding across three oxidation states spans more than 37 kcal mol-1.

Ammonia Oxidation by Abstraction of Three Hydrogen Atoms from a Mo-NH3 Complex.

We report ammonia oxidation by homolytic cleavage of all three H atoms from a [Mo-NH3]+ complex using the 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenoxyl radical to yield a Mo-alkylimido ([Mo═NR]+) complex (R = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one). Chemical reduction of [Mo═NR]+ generates a terminal Mo≡N nitride complex upon N-C bond cleavage, and a [Mo═NH]+ complex is formed by protonation of the nitride. Computational analysis describes the energetic profile for the stepwise removal of three H atoms from [Mo-NH3]+ and formation of [Mo═NR]+.

Hydrogenation of CO2 at Room Temperature and Low Pressure with a Cobalt Tetraphosphine Catalyst.

Large-scale implementation of carbon neutral energy sources such as solar and wind will require the development of energy storage mechanisms. The hydrogenation of CO2 into formic acid or methanol could function as a means to store energy in a chemical bond. The catalyst reported here operates under low pressure, at room temperature, and in the presence of a base much milder (7 pKa units lower) than the previously reported CO2 hydrogenation catalyst, Co(dmpe)2H. The Co(I) tetraphosphine complex, [Co(L3)(CH3CN)]BF4, where L3 = 1,5-diphenyl-3,7-bis(diphenylphosphino)propyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane (0.31 mM), catalyzes CO2 hydrogenation with an initial turnover frequency of 150(20) h-1 at 25 °C, 1.7 atm of a 1:1 mixture of H2 and CO2, and 0.6 M 2-tert-butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine.

Changing the Mechanism for CO2 Hydrogenation Using Solvent-Dependent Thermodynamics.

A critical scientific challenge for utilization of CO2 is the development of catalyst systems that function in water and use inexpensive and environmentally friendly reagents. We have used thermodynamic insights to predict and demonstrate that the HCoI (dmpe)2 catalyst system, previously described for use in organic solvents, can hydrogenate CO2 to formate in water with bicarbonate as the only added reagent. Replacing tetrahydrofuran as the solvent with water changes the mechanism for catalysis by altering the thermodynamics for hydride transfer to CO2 from a key dihydride intermediate. The need for a strong organic base was eliminated by performing catalysis in water owing to the change in mechanism. These studies demonstrate that the solvent plays a pivotal role in determining the reaction thermodynamics and thereby catalytic mechanism and activity.

Electrochemical Detection of Transient Cobalt Hydride Intermediates of Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

A large variety of molecular cobalt complexes are used as electrocatalysts for H2 production, but the key cobalt hydride intermediates are frequently difficult to detect and characterize due to their high reactivity. We report that a combination of variable scan rate cyclic voltammetry and foot-of-the-wave analysis (FOWA) can be used to detect transient Co(III)H and Co(II)H intermediates of electrocatalytic H2 production by [Co(II)(P(tBu)2N(Ph)2)(CH3CN)3](2+) and Co(II)(dmgBF2)2(CH3CN)2. In both cases, reduction of a transient catalytic intermediate occurs at a potential that coincides with the Co(II/I) couple. Each reduction displays quasireversible electron-transfer kinetics, consistent with reduction of a Co(III)H intermediate to Co(II)H, which is then protonated by acid to generate H2. A bridge-protonated Co(I) species was ruled out as a catalytic intermediate for Co(II)(dmgBF2)2(CH3CN)2 from voltammograms recorded at 1000 psi of H2. Density functional theory was used to calculate Co(III)-H and Co(II)-H bond strengths for both catalysts. Despite having very different ligands, the cobalt hydrides of both catalysts possess nearly identical heterolytic and homolytic Co-H bond strengths for the Co(III)H and Co(II)H intermediates.

Kinetic Analysis of Competitive Electrocatalytic Pathways: New Insights into Hydrogen Production with Nickel Electrocatalysts.

The hydrogen production electrocatalyst Ni(P(Ph)2N(Ph)2)2(2+) (1) is capable of traversing multiple electrocatalytic pathways. When using dimethylformamidium, DMF(H)(+), the mechanism of H2 formation by 1 changes from an ECEC to an EECC mechanism as the potential approaches the Ni(I/0) couple. Two electrochemical methods, current-potential analysis and foot-of-the-wave analysis (FOWA), were performed on 1 to measure detailed kinetics of the competing ECEC and EECC pathways. A sensitivity analysis was performed on the methods using digital simulations to understand their strengths and limitations. Chemical rate constants were significantly underestimated when not accounting for electron-transfer kinetics, even when electron transfer was fast enough to afford a reversible noncatalytic wave. The EECC pathway of 1 was faster than the ECEC pathway under all conditions studied. Buffered DMF:DMF(H)(+) mixtures afforded an increase in the catalytic rate constant (k(obs)) of the EECC pathway, but k(obs) for the ECEC pathway did not change when using buffered acid. Further kinetic analysis of the ECEC path revealed that base increases the rate of isomerization from exo-protonated Ni(0) isomers to the catalytically active endo-isomers, but decreases the rate of protonation of Ni(I). FOWA did not provide accurate rate constants, but FOWA was used to estimate the reduction potential of the previously undetected exo-protonated Ni(I) intermediate. Comparison of catalytic Tafel plots for 1 under different conditions reveals substantial inaccuracies in the turnover frequency at zero overpotential when the kinetic and thermodynamic effects of the conjugate base are not accounted for properly.

Experimental and Computational Mechanistic Studies Guiding the Rational Design of Molecular Electrocatalysts for Production and Oxidation of Hydrogen.

Understanding how to control the movement of protons and electrons is crucial to the design of fast, efficient electrocatalysts for H2 production and oxidation based on earth-abundant metals. Our work seeks to address fundamental questions about proton movement. We have demonstrated that incorporating a pendant amine functioning as a proton relay in the second coordination sphere of a metal complex helps proton mobility, resulting in faster and more energy-efficient catalysts. Proton-transfer reactions can be rate-limiting and are influenced by several factors, such as pKa values, steric effects, hydrogen bonding, and solvation/desolvation of the exogenous base and acid employed. The presence of multiple protonation sites introduces branching points along the catalytic cycle, making less productive pathways accessible or leading to the formation of stable off-cycle species. Using ligands with only one pendant amine mitigates this problem and results in catalysts with high rates for production of H2, although generally at higher overpotentials. For H2 oxidation catalysts, iron complexes with a high H2 binding affinity were developed. However, these iron complexes had a pKa mismatch between the protonated metal center and the protonated pendant amine, and consequently intramolecular proton movement was slow. Taken altogether, our results demonstrate the necessity of optimizing the entire catalytic cycle because optimization of a specific catalytic step can negatively influence another step and not necessarily lead to a better catalytic performance. We discuss a general procedure, based on thermodynamic arguments, which allows the simultaneous minimization of the free-energy change of each catalytic step, yielding a nearly flat free-energy surface, with no large barriers due to energy mismatches from either high- or low-energy intermediates.

Combined Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Detection of a Ni(I) ⋠⋠⋠H-N Bonding Interaction with Relevance to Electrocatalytic H2 Production.

The [Ni(P(R) 2 N(R') 2 )2 ](2+) family of complexes are exceptionally active catalysts for proton reduction to H2 . In this manuscript, we explore the first protonation step of the proposed catalytic cycle by using a catalytically inactive Ni(I) complex possessing a sterically demanding variation of the ligand. Due to the paramagnetic nature of the Ni(I) oxidation state, the protonated Ni(I) intermediate has been characterized through a combination of cyclic voltammetry, electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy, and hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) spectroscopy. Both the electrochemical and spectroscopic studies indicate that the Ni(I) complex is protonated at a pendant amine that is endo to Ni, which suggests the presence of an intramolecular Ni(I) ⋅⋅⋅HN bonding interaction. Using density functional theory, the hydrogen bond was found to involve three doubly-occupied, localized molecular orbitals: the 3dxz , 3d z 2, and 3dyz orbitals of nickel. These studies provide the first direct experimental evidence for this critical catalytic intermediate, and implications for catalytic H2 production are discussed.

Thermochemical insight into the reduction of CO to CH3OH with [Re(CO)](+) and [Mn(CO)](+) complexes.

To gain insight into thermodynamic barriers for reduction of CO into CH3OH, free energies for reduction of [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CO)](+) into CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OH) have been determined from experimental measurements. Using model complexes, the free energies for the transfer of H(+), H(-), and e(-) have been determined. A pKa of 10.6 was estimated for [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHOH)](+) by measuring the pKa for the analogous [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CMeOH)](+). The hydride donor ability (ΔG°H(-)) of CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OH) was estimated to be 58.0 kcal mol(-1), based on calorimetry measurements of the hydride-transfer reaction between CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHO) and [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHOMe)](+) to generate the methylated analogue, CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OMe). Cyclic voltammograms recorded on CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CMeO), CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OMe), and [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHOMe)](+) displayed either a quasireversible oxidation (neutral species) or reduction (cationic species). These potentials were used as estimates for the oxidation of CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHO) or CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CH2OH) or the reduction of [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CHOH)](+). Combination of the thermodynamic data permits construction of three-dimensional free energy landscapes under varying conditions of pH and PH2. The free energy for H2 addition (ΔG°H2) to [CpRe(PPh3)(NO)(CO)](+) (+15 kcal mol(-1)) was identified as the most significant thermodynamic impediment for the reduction of CO. DFT computations on a series of [Cp(X)M(L)(NO)(CO)](+) (M = Re, Mn) complexes indicate that ΔG°H2 can be varied by 11 kcal mol(-1) through variation of both the ancillary ligands and the metal.

Thermochemical and mechanistic studies of electrocatalytic hydrogen production by cobalt complexes containing pendant amines.

Two cobalt(tetraphosphine) complexes [Co(P(nC-PPh2)2N(Ph)2)(CH3CN)](BF4)2 with a tetradentate phosphine ligand (P(nC-PPh2)2N(Ph)2 = 1,5-diphenyl-3,7-bis((diphenylphosphino)alkyl)-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane; alkyl = (CH2)2, n = 2 (L2); (CH2)3, n = 3 (L3)) have been studied for electrocatalytic hydrogen production using 1:1 [(DMF)H](+):DMF. A turnover frequency (TOF) of 980 s(-1) with an overpotential at Ecat/2 of 1210 mV was measured for [Co(II)(L2)(CH3CN)](2+), and a TOF of 980 s(-1) with an overpotential at Ecat/2 of 930 mV was measured for [Co(II)(L3)(CH3CN)](2+). Addition of water increases the TOF of [Co(II)(L2)(CH3CN)](2+) to 18,000 s(-1). The catalytic wave for each of these complexes occurs at the reduction potential of the corresponding HCo(III) complex. Comprehensive thermochemical studies of [Co(II)(L2)(CH3CN)](2+) and [Co(II)(L3)(CH3CN)](2+) and species derived from them by addition/removal of protons/electrons were carried out using values measured experimentally and calculated using density functional theory (DFT). Notably, HCo(I)(L2) and HCo(I)(L3) were found to be remarkably strong hydride donors, with HCo(I)(L2) being a better hydride donor than BH4(-). Mechanistic studies of these catalysts reveal that H2 formation can occur by protonation of a HCo(II) intermediate, and that the pendant amines of these complexes facilitate proton delivery to the cobalt center. The rate-limiting step for catalysis is a net intramolecular isomerization of the protonated pendant amine from the nonproductive exoisomer to the productive endo isomer.

Synthesis and electrochemical studies of cobalt(III) monohydride complexes containing pendant amines.

Two new tetraphosphine ligands, P(nC-PPh2)2N(Ph)2 (1,5-diphenyl-3,7-bis((diphenylphosphino)alkyl)-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane; alkyl = (CH2)2, n = 2 (L2); (CH2)3, n = 3 (L3)), have been synthesized. Coordination of these ligands to cobalt affords the complexes [Co(II)(L2)(CH3CN)](2+) and [Co(II)(L3)(CH3CN)](2+), which are reduced by KC8 to afford [Co(I)(L2)(CH3CN)](+) and [Co(I)(L3)(CH3CN)](+). Protonation of the Co(I) complexes affords [HCo(III)(L2)(CH3CN)](2+) and [HCo(III)(L3)(CH3CN)](2+). The cyclic voltammetry of [HCo(III)(L2)(CH3CN)](2+), analyzed using digital simulation, is consistent with an ErCrEr reduction mechanism involving reversible acetonitrile dissociation from [HCo(II)(L2)(CH3CN)](+) and resulting in formation of HCo(I)(L2). Reduction of HCo(III) also results in cleavage of the H-Co bond from HCo(II) or HCo(I), leading to formation of the Co(I) complex [Co(I)(L2)(CH3CN)](+). Under voltammetric conditions, the reduced cobalt hydride reacts with a protic solvent impurity to generate H2 in a monometallic process involving two electrons per cobalt. In contrast, under bulk electrolysis conditions, H2 formation requires only one reducing equivalent per [HCo(III)(L2)(CH3CN)](2+), indicating a bimetallic route wherein two cobalt hydride complexes react to form 2 equiv of [Co(I)(L2)(CH3CN)](+) and 1 equiv of H2. These results indicate that both HCo(II) and HCo(I) can be formed under electrocatalytic conditions and should be considered as potential catalytic intermediates.

Synthesis of molybdenum nitrido complexes for triple-bond metathesis of alkynes and nitriles.

Complexes of the type N≡Mo(OR)(3) (R = tertiary alkyl, tertiary silyl, bulky aryl) have been synthesized in the search for molybdenum-based nitrile-alkyne cross-metathesis (NACM) catalysts. Protonolysis of known N≡Mo(NMe(2))(3) led to the formation of N≡Mo(O-2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))(3)(NHMe(2)) (12), N≡Mo(OSiPh(3))(3)(NHMe(2)) (5-NHMe(2)), and N≡Mo(OCPh(2)Me)(3)(NHMe(2)) (17-NHMe(2)). The X-ray structure of 12 revealed an NHMe(2) ligand bound cis to the nitrido ligand, while 5-NHMe(2) possessed an NHMe(2) bound trans to the nitride ligand. Consequently, 17-NHMe(2) readily lost its amine ligand to form N≡Mo(OCPh(2)Me)(3) (17), while 12 and 5-NHMe(2) retained their amine ligands in solution. Starting from bulkier tris-anilide complexes, N≡Mo(N[R]Ar)(3) (R = isopropyl, tert-butyl; Ar = 3,5-dimethylphenyl) allowed for the formation of base-free complexes N≡Mo(OSiPh(3))(3) (5) and N≡Mo(OSiPh(2)(t)Bu)(3) (16). Achievement of a NACM cycle requires the nitride complex to react with alkynes to form alkylidyne complexes; therefore the alkyne cross-metathesis (ACM) activity of the complexes was tested. Complex 5 was found to be an efficient catalyst for the ACM of 1-phenyl-1-butyne at room temperature. Complexes 12 and 5-NHMe(2) were also active for ACM at 75 °C, while 17-NHMe(2) and 16 did not show ACM activity. Only 5 proved to be active for the NACM of anisonitrile, which is a reactive substrate in NACM catalyzed by tungsten. NACM with 5 required a reaction temperature of 180 °C in order to initiate the requisite alkylidyne-to-nitride conversion, with slightly more than two turnovers achieved prior to catalyst deactivation. Known molybdenum nitrido complexes were screened for NACM activity under similar conditions, and only N≡Mo(OSiPh(3))(3)(py) (5-py) displayed any trace of NACM activity.