A Lead(I) Dimer Supported by an Amidinate Ligand

Reaction of Li[PhC(NSiMe(3))(2)] with the complexes [Ti(NR)Cl(2)(py)(3)] affords the corresponding (N,N'-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinato)titanium imido derivatives [Ti(NR){PhC(NSiMe(3))(2)}Cl(py)(2)] [R = Bu(t) (1), 2,6-C(6)H(3)Me(2) (2), 2,6-C(6)H(3)Pr(i)(2) (3)], which, in solution, exist in temperature-dependent, dynamic equilibrium with their mono(pyridine) homologues [Ti(NR){PhC(NSiMe(3))(2)}Cl(py)] and free pyridine. Kinetic and thermodynamic data for these processes are reported, and the relative contributions of the DeltaH and DeltaS terms associated with all three equilibria are identified. The arylimido complexes 2 and 3 may also be prepared by treating 1 with the appropriate arylamine. Reaction of Li[MeC(NC(6)H(11))(2)] with [Ti(NBu(t))Cl(2)(py)(3)] gives the binuclear N,N'-bis(cyclohexyl)acetamidinato derivative [Ti(2)(&mgr;-NBu(t))(2){MeC(NC(6)H(11))(2)}(2)Cl(2)] (4). The X-ray structures of 2 and 4 have been determined. Crystal data for 2: triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 11.219(5) Å, b = 12.131(6) Å, c = 13.208(7) Å, alpha = 80.34(5) degrees, beta = 87.41(4) degrees, gamma = 75.13(3) degrees, V = 1722.1(15) Å(3), Z = 2, R = 0.054, R(w) = 0.056. Crystal data for 4: triclinic, P&onemacr;, a = 10.455(3) Å, b = 10.637(5) Å, c = 11.024(3) Å, alpha = 90.52(4) degrees, beta = 112.62(3) degrees, gamma = 114.10(3) degrees, V = 1012.8(10) Å(3), Z = 1, R = 0.0453, R(w) = 0.0495.

Functionalized N,N'-diphenylformamidines and their deprotonated silver(I) complexes have been synthesized: silver(I) N,N'-di(4-alkyl)phenylformamidinate (alkyl = methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, and n-hexadecyl) 1-4; silver(I) N,N'-di(4-trifluoromethyl)phenylformamidinate 5, silver(I) N,N'-di(3-methoxy)phenylformamidinate 6, silver(I) N,N'-di(3-methylmercapto)phenylformamidinate 7, silver(I) N,N'-di(2-methoxy)phenylformamidinate 8, silver(I) N,N'-di(2-methylmercapto)phenylformamidinate 9. The effects of increasing the coordination number of the silver(I) centers by donor substituents on the phenyl groups have been investigated by solution and solid-state studies. Variable-temperature proton NMR (223-303 K) for 1-4 shows coupling between the proton attached to the amidinate carbon and the (107/109)Ag centers at room temperature which is unaffected by cooling (2). For the four-coordinate complexes, 8 and 9, such coupling is only observed on cooling. Molecular weight measurements recorded in solution by vapor pressure osmometry at 310 K show some aggregation to higher molecular weight species than simple dimers for 1-4 and 6, but 8 and 9 exist as discrete dimeric species. Measurement of thermal stability shows the expected increase in stability with increasing coordination number. Compounds 8 and 9 were structurally characterized by X-ray methods. Both show four-coordinate silver dimers bridged by two amidinate ligands with additional longer interactions with the ether oxygens or thioether sulfurs.

The construction of a metal–metal quintuple bond has long been a challenge for chemists, since a large number of quadruple-bonded dinuclear complexes have been reported and their bonding and electronic structures extensively investigated and well understood. On the basis of theoretical work, many possible structures could be capable of accommodating a metal–metal quintuple bond, in contrast to the strict requirement of having twometal atoms embraced by eight ligands in a tetragonal geometry for a metal–metal quadruple bond. Of particular interest is that all of these model structures display a common feature: a low-coordinate environment around metal centers. From a practical point of view, the first quintuple-bonded dichromium complex [Ar’CrCrAr’] (Ar’=C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2, Cr Cr= 1.8351(4) ), which adopts a trans-bent geometry, was reported by Power and co-workers in 2005. More recently, in 2007, Theopold and co-workers reported an interesting dichromium complex supported by a-diimines, [Cr2(m-h -{C(H)N(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)}2)2], which was shown by computations to exhibit some degree of Cr Cr quintuplebond character. Since our first report on the characterization of an unconventional quadruple-bonded dimolybdenum complex [Mo2{m-h -(DippN)2SiMe2}2], where each Mo atom is ligated by only two nitrogen donors, we have been interested in the pursuit of low-coordinate and multiply-bonded dinuclear complexes. We recently characterized a mixed-valent dichromium complex stabilized by three amidinate ligands, [Cr2{ArNC(H)NAr}3] (Ar = 2,6-C6H3(CH3)2), and its oneelectron reduction partner [Cr2{Ar NC(H)NAr}3] , which exhibited the shortest metal–metal bond length of 1.7397(9) . Qualitatively, the latter is believed to incorporate a Cr Cr quintuple bond. In view of Power s and Theopold s complexes, wherein both Cr centers were coordinated by two donor atoms, we set out to prepare dichromium bis(amidinato) complexes, from which metal–metal quintuple bonds are expected. Herein we report a series of complexes of the form [Cr2{m-h -ArNC(R)NAr}2], which all exhibit very short Cr Cr quintuple-bond lengths of approximately 1.74 . Amidinate ligands, featuring substituents of different bulk, are used to stabilize these Cr Cr quintuple bonds. Prior to the synthesis of the target molecules, four green mononuclear complexes, 1a–d, of the form [CrCl2(thf)2{h ArNC(R)NAr}] were prepared in good yields by treatment of [CrCl3(thf)3] or CrCl3 with lithiated amidines (Scheme 1, see

The reactions of anionic niobium and rhodium clusters Mn−, M=Nb, Rh, n=3–28, with C6H6 are investigated under single collision conditions in a Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance mass spectrometer and compared with the results of previous studies on corresponding cationic species. This reveals strong effects of the cluster charge state on hydrocarbon activation as a function of cluster size. Both differences and parallels are observed for reactions of anions and cations. Niobium clusters with a given number of atoms react quite differently than those with a single atom more or less. The fact that almost identical such effects are in the present work found for anion clusters, as for cations with the same number of atoms but two less electrons, suggests that the observed reactivity patterns are more a function of the cluster shape and geometry, than of the details of their electronic structure. The variety of interesting trends and effects observed is interpreted in terms of simple physical models.

Isolating stable compounds with low-valent main group elements have long been an attractive research topic, because several of these compounds can mimic transition metals in activating small molecules. In addition, compounds with heavier low-valent main group elements have fundamentally different electronic properties when compared with their lighter congeners. Among group 14 elements, the heavier analogues of carbenes (R(2)C:) such as silylenes (R(2)Si:), germylenes (R(2)Ge:), stannylenes (R(2)Sn:), and plumbylenes (R(2)Pb:) are the most studied species with low-valent elements. The first stable carbene and silylene species were isolated as N-heterocycles. Among the dichlorides of group 14 elements, CCl(2) and SiCl(2) are highly reactive intermediates and play an important role in many chemical transformations. GeCl(2) can be stabilized as a dioxane adduct, whereas SnCl(2) and PbCl(2) are available as stable compounds. In the Siemens process, which produces electronic grade silicon by thermal decomposition of HSiCl(3) at 1150 °C, chemists proposed dichlorosilylene (SiCl(2)) as an intermediate, which further dissociates to Si and SiCl(4). Similarly, base induced disproportionation of HSiCl(3) or Si(2)Cl(6) to SiCl(2) is a known reaction. Trapping these products in situ with organic substrates suggested the mechanism for this reaction. In addition, West and co-workers reported a polymeric trans-chain like perchloropolysilane (SiCl(2))(n). However, the isolation of a stable free monomeric dichlorosilylene remained a challenge. The first successful attempt of taming SiCl(2) was the isolation of monochlorosilylene PhC(NtBu)(2)SiCl supported by an amidinate ligand in 2006. In 2009, we succeeded in isolating N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) stabilized dichlorosilylene (NHC)SiCl(2) with a three coordinate silicon atom. (The NHC is 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr) or 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IMes).) Notably, this method allows for the almost quantitative synthesis of (NHC)SiCl(2) without using any hazardous reducing agents. Dehydrochlorination of HSiCl(3) with NHC under mild reaction conditions produces (NHC)SiCl(2). We can separate the insoluble side product (NHC)HCl readily and recycle it to form NHC. The high yield and facile access to dichlorosilylene allow us to explore its chemistry to a greater extent. In this Account, we describe the results using (NHC)SiCl(2) primarily from our laboratory, including findings by other researchers. We emphasize the novel silicon compounds, which supposedly existed only as short-lived species. We also discuss silaoxirane, silaimine with tricoordinate silicon atom, silaisonitrile, and silaformyl chloride. In analogy with N-heterocyclic silylenes (NHSis), oxidative addition reactions of organic substrates with (NHC)SiCl(2) produce Si(IV) compounds. The presence of the chloro-substituents both on (NHC)SiCl(2) and its products allows metathesis reactions to produce novel silicon compounds with new functionality. These substituents also offer the possibility to synthesize interesting compounds with low-valent silicon by further reduction. Coordination of NHC to the silicon increases the acidity of the backbone protons on the imidazole ring, and therefore (NHC)SiCl(2) can functionalize NHC at the C-4 or C-5 position.

A novel copper(I) complex, [CuI(L)(CH3CN)]CF3SO3 (1) (L = 1,1,2-tri(pyridin-2-yl)propan-1-ol), has been synthesized, characterized, and investigated as a bioinspired model for copper monooxygenases. Under aerobic conditions in CH3CN, complex 1 undergoes conversion to a dicopper complex, [(CuIIL)(CuIIL H)(SO3CF3)2]·CF3SO3·H2O (2), whose molecular structure reveals a Cu-Cu distance of 2.96 Å. A dicopper(II) complex, [(LCuII)2(SO3CF3)2] (3), has been synthesized for comparison, which exhibits a similar Cu-Cu distance of 2.97 Å. EPR spectroscopy has ascertained the solution-state geometries of complexes 2 and 3, which displayed g∥ > g⊥ values, indicative of distorted square pyramidal geometries consistent with their solid-state structures. Complex 1 selectively hydroxylates benzene in the presence of O2 and Et3N, affording 7% phenol based on the substrate, without any side products. However, the use of H2O2 as the oxygen source under identical conditions significantly increases the phenol yield to 19%. The catalytically active intermediates generated by the reaction of complex 1 with dioxygen showed an O (π*σ) → Cu ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) transition at 360 nm and a d-d transition at 650 nm. These spectral features are more pronounced with H2O2, showing a new LMCT transition at 360 nm and a very weak d-d transition at 689 nm. This is supported by solution FT-IR spectroscopy, which showed an O-O stretching frequency at 890 cm-1 (DFT spectra at 829 cm-1), corresponding to a Cu-OOH intermediate. The structure of the [(L)CuII-OOH]+ species was optimized by DFT calculations. Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) studies using C6H6/C6D6 (1 : 1) (kH/kD = 1.03) and isotopic labeling experiments using H218O2 support our proposed mechanism of benzene hydroxylation. In contrast, dinuclear complexes 2 and 3 exhibited poor benzene hydroxylation activity even with H2O2 and yielded only 4% and 6% phenol, respectively, along with by-products such as biphenyl and quinone under identical conditions.

Two general routes to binucleating bis(amidinate) ligands based on dibenzofuran and 9,9-dimethylxanthene backbones are reported. The free-base form of one of the ligands, (Ph,Mes)L(DBF)H(2), forms a 1:1 adduct with acetone. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of this adduct reveals bidentate H-bonding of the bis(amidine) to the ketone oxygen. Bond lengths suggest that the individual H-bonds are relatively weak, yet IR spectroscopy shows a significant -26 cm(-1) shift for the carbonyl stretch relative to free acetone. Additionally, the new dialuminum complexes (i)(Pr)L(DBF)Al(2)Me(4) (3), (i)(Pr)L(Xan)Al(2)Me(4) (4), (t)(Bu,Et)L(DBF)Al(2)Me(4) (5), and (t)(Bu,Et)L(Xan)Al(2)Me(4) (6) are prepared by reaction of Al(2)Me(6) with the bis(amidines) in toluene solution. (1)H NMR spectroscopic studies indicate that 3 and 4 interact weakly with certain Lewis bases (DMSO, DMF, pyridine) to effect the exchange of the Al-bound Me groups. Other bases, such as THF and TMEDA, fail to interact. Solid-state structures for 3 and 4 are reported.

A one-pot reaction involving neosilyllithium and three different carbodiimides (RN=C=NR, R=cyclohexyl, isopropyl and tert-butyl) in diethyl ether, followed by the addition of anhydrous ZnCl2, afforded, in high yield, corresponding homoleptic zinc amidinate complexes having the molecular formulae [Zn{CyN =C(CH2SiMe3)NCy}2] (1), [Zn{ iPrN =C(CH2SiMe3)N iPr}2] (2) and [Zn{ tBuN =C(CH2SiMe3) NtBu}2] (3), respectively, and amidinato moieties in the zinc coordination sphere. Solid state structures of complexes 1-3 are reported thereafter - all the three complexes are isostructural, and each of them consists of two four-membered metallacycles. We report the syntheses and structural characterization of three homoleptic zinc amidinate complexes derived from one pot reaction of carbodiimides (RN=C=NR, R = cyclohexyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl), neosilyllithium and anhydrous zinc chloride in diethyl ether at ambient temperature 25 °C.

New dimolybdenum complexes of composition [Mo2{μ-Me}2Li(S)}(μ-X)(μ-N^N)2] (3a-3c), where S = THF or Et2O and N^N represents a bidentate aminopyridinate or amidinate ligand that bridges the quadruply bonded molybdenum atoms, were prepared from the reaction of the appropriate [Mo2{μ-O2CMe}2(μ-N^N)2] precursors and LiMe. For complex 3a, X = MeCO2, while in 3b and 3c, X = Me. Solution NMR studies in C6D6 solvent support formulation of the complexes as contact ion pairs with weak agostic Mo-CH3···Li interactions, which were also evidenced by X-ray crystallography in the solid-state structures of the molecules of 3a and 3b. Samples of 3c enriched in (13)C (99%) at the metal-bonded methyl sites were also prepared and investigated by NMR spectroscopy employing C6D6 and THF-d8 solvents. Crystallization of 3c from toluene:tetrahydrofuran mixtures provided single crystals of the solvent separated ion pair complex [Li(THF)4] [Mo2(Me)2(μ-Me){μ-HC(NDipp)2}2] (4c), where Dipp stands for 2,6-iPr2C6H3. A computational analysis of the Mo2(μ-Me)2Li core of complexes 3a and 3b has been developed, which is consistent with a small but non-negligible electron-density sharing between the C and Li atoms of the mainly ionic CH3···Li interactions.

Complexes of sterically-hindered amidinate ligands with first-row transition metals are described. The amidinate ligands feature bulky terphenyl substituents [2,6-(2,4,6-Me3Ph)2Ph or 2,6-(4-tBuPh)2Ph] attached to the backbone carbon atoms, providing bowl-shaped ligand environments. When employing divalent transition metal halides, bis-amidinate metal complexes are formed exclusively, whereas the use of Ni(acac)2 or CuCl allows access to mono-amidinate species. Additionally, the solid-state structure of one mono-amidinate [(LBut)Ni(acac)] and three bis-amidinate complexes [(LMe)2M; M = Mn, Co, Ni] are presented.

Reaction of the chiral amidine N,N′-bis(1-phenylethyl)benzamidine ((S)-HPEBA), KCH(SiMe3)2, and MI2 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) or LnI2 (Ln = Eu, Yb) in a 2:2:1 stoichiometric ratio resulted in the chiral homoleptic monomeric alkaline earth metal compounds [Ca(PEBA)2(THF)2] (1) and [Sr(PEBA)2(THF)2] (2), the dimeric barium complex [Ba(PEBA)2]2 (3), and the monomeric divalent lanthanide compounds [Eu(PEBA)2(THF)2] (4), and [Yb(PEBA)2(THF)2] (5). The solid-state structures of all compounds were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Three different structures are observed in the solid state. Compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 form distorted coordination octahedra. For the alkaline earth element complexes 1 and 2, the two THF molecules are located in a trans-position, whereas, for the lanthanide compounds 4 and 5, they are arranged in a cis-position. In contrast, the barium complex 3 is dimeric with two amidinate ligands in an unusual "side-on" bridging mode. All five complexes were used as catalysts for hydrophosphination reactions of styrene and substituted analogues.

Chemistries of Nb(V) and Ta(V) compounds are essentially identical as a result of lanthanide contraction. Hydrolysis of M(NMe2)5 (M = Nb, Ta), for example, yields [M(μ3-O)(NMe2)3]4 (M = Nb, 1; Ta, 2) reported earlier. The similar reactivities of Nb(V) and Ta(V) compounds make it challenging, for example, to separate the two metals from their minerals. We have found that the reactions of H2O with amide amidinates M(NMe2)4[MeC(NiPr)2] (M = Nb, 3; Ta, 4) show that the niobium and tantalum analogues take different principal paths. For the Nb(V) complex 3, the amidinate and one amide ligand are liberated upon treatment with water, yielding [Nb(μ3-O)(NMe2)3]4 (1). For the Ta(V) complex 4, the amide ligands are released in the reaction with H2O, leaving the amidinate ligand intact. [Ta(μ3-O)(NMe2)3]4 (2), the analogue of 1, was not observed as a product in the reaction of 4 with H2O. To our knowledge, this is the first example of the formation of two different complexes that maintain the (V) oxidation state in both metals. The new complexes M(NMe2)4[MeC(NiPr)2] (M = Nb, 3; Ta, 4) have been prepared by the aminolysis of M(NMe2)5 (M = Nb, Ta) with iPrN(H)C(Me)=NiPr (5). The hydrolysis of 3 and 4 has been investigated by DFT electronic structure calculations. The first step in each hydrolysis reaction involves the formation of a hydrogen-bonded complex that facilitates a proton transfer to the amidinate ligand in 3 and protonation of an axial dimethylamide ligand in 4. Both proton transfers furnish an intermediate metal-hydroxide species. The atomic charges in 3 and 4 have been computed by Natural Population Analysis (NPA), and these data are discussed relative to which of the ancillary ligands is protonated initially in the hydrolysis sequence. Ligand exchanges in 3 and 4 as well as the exchange in iPrN(H)C(Me)=NiPr (5) were probed by EXSY NMR spectroscopy, giving rate constants of the exchanges: 0.430(13) s-1 (3), 0.033(6) s-1 (4), and 2.23(7) s-1 (5), showing that the rate of the Nb complex Nb(NMe2)4[MeC(NiPr)2] (3) is 13 times faster than that of its Ta analogue 4.

Review: 130 refs.

We describe the synthesis and the molecular and electronic structures of the complex [Mo2 Me2 {μ-HC(NDipp)2 }2 ] (2; Dipp=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 ), which contains a dimetallic core with an Mo-Mo quadruple bond and features uncommon four-coordinate geometry and has a fourteen-electron count for each molybdenum atom. The coordination polyhedron approaches a square pyramid, with one of the molybdenum atoms nearly co-planar with the basal square plane, in which the trans coordination position with respect to the Mo-Me bond is vacant. The other three sites are occupied by two trans nitrogen atoms of different amidinate ligands and the methyl group. The second Mo atom occupies the apex of the pyramid and forms an Mo-Mo bond of length 2.080(1) Å, consistent with a quadruple bond. Compound 2 reacts with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and trimethylphosphine to yield the mono-adducts [Mo2 Me(μ-Me){μ-HC(NDipp)2 }2 (L)] (3⋅THF and 3⋅PMe3 , respectively) with one terminal and one bridging methyl group. In contrast, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (dmap) forms the bis-adduct [Mo2 Me2 {μ-HC(NDipp)2 }2 (dmap)2 ] (4), with terminally coordinated methyl groups. Hydrogenolysis of complex 2 leads to the bis(hydride) [Mo2 H2 {μ-HC(NDipp)2 }2 (thf)2 ] (5⋅THF) with elimination of CH4 . Computational, kinetic, and mechanistic studies, which included the use of D2 and of complex 2 labelled with 13 C (99 %) at the Mo-CH3 sites, supported the intermediacy of a methyl-hydride reactive species. A computational DFT analysis of the terminal and bridging coordination of the methyl groups to the Mo≣Mo core is also reported.

This account describes recent progress (>2006) in the synthesis and structural characterization of isolable N-heterocyclic silylenes (NHSi's) and their fascinating reactivities with respect to an emergent topic in main-group chemistry: metal-free small-molecule activation. Since the seminal discovery of stable N-heterocyclic silicon analogues of nucleophilic Wanzlick−Arduengo-type carbenes in 1994, new types of NHSi's have emerged with unique electronic features and strikingly different reactivities. Among them, the first zwitterionic (ylide-like) silylene LSi: (L = CH[(C═CH2)CMe][NAr]2; Ar = 2,6-Pri2C6H3) and unprecedented N-heterocyclic bis(silylenes) with amidinate ligands and Si(I)−Si(I) bonds were synthesized. Their striking electronic structures open new doorways to metal-free activation of C−H, C−X, Si−X, E−H (E = group 15, group 16 elements), P−P, E−O (E = C, N), and E−E bonds (E = O, S, Se, Te).