Preparation, Structure, and Properties of Bis(μ-oxo)dirhenium(III,IV) and -dirhenium(IV) Complexes of Tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and Its (6-Methyl-2-pyridyl)methyl Derivatives

Abstract

A series of bis(&mgr;-oxo)dirhenium complexes, [Re(2)(&mgr;-O)(2)(L)(2)](PF(6))(n)() (L = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tpa), n = 3 (1), n = 4 (1a); L = ((6-methyl-2-pyridyl)methyl)bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (Metpa), n = 3 (2), n = 4 (2a); bis((6-methyl-2-pyridyl)methyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (Me(2)tpa), n = 3 (3), n = 4 (3a)), have been prepared and characterized by several physical methods. X-ray crystallographic studies for 2, 2a.2CH(3)CN.2H(2)O (2a'), and 3a' (ReO(4)(-) salt), include the first structural determinations of (i) the bis(&mgr;-oxo)-Re(III)Re(IV) complex (2) and (ii) the pair of Re(III)Re(IV) and Re(IV)(2) complexes (2 and 2a'). All the complexes have a centrosymmetric structure, suggesting that the mixed-valence state 2 is of structurally delocalized type. The Re-Re distances for 2, 2a.2CH(3)CN.2H(2)O, and 3a' are 2.426(1), 2.368(1), and 2.383(1) Å, respectively, being consistent with the bond order of 2.5 (sigma(2)pi(2)delta(2)delta) for 2 and 3 (sigma(2)pi(2)delta(2)) for the others. Methyl substitution on the pyridyl moiety of the ligands has no significant influence to the overall structure. Cyclic voltammetry of 1 shows two reversible redox waves at -0.77 ((III,III)/(III,IV)) and 0.09 V ((III,IV)/(IV,IV)) vs Ag/AgCl in acetonitrile. The potentials are slightly more positive for 2 (-0.66 and 0.14 V) and 3(-0.64 and 0.20 V). No proton-coupled redox behavior was observed on addition of p-toluenesulfonic acid. Complexes, 1a, 2a, and 3a show a strong visible absorption band at 477 nm (epsilon, 9200 dm(3) mol(-)(1) cm(-)(1)), 482 (11200), and 485 (8700), respectively, which is assigned to the pi-pi transition within the Re(2)(&mgr;-O)(2) core. For the mixed-valence complexes 1, 2, and 3, a strong band is observed in the longer wavelength region (556-572 nm). Crystal data: 2, monoclinic, space group C2/c (No.15), a = 11.799(2) Å, b = 19.457(3) Å, c = 21.742(4) Å, beta = 98.97(1) degrees, Z = 4; 2a', triclinic, space group P&onemacr; (No. 2), a = 13.151(3) Å, b = 13.535(2) Å, c = 10.243(3) Å, alpha = 104.37(2) degrees, beta = 109.02(2) degrees, gamma = 106.87(1) degrees, Z = 1; 3a', monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n (No. 14), a = 13.384(3) Å, b = 14.243(2) Å, c = 13.215(6) Å, beta = 106.88(2) degrees, Z = 2.