Main Group Element Complexes Research Articles

Syntheses and Characterization of Main Group, Transition Metal, Lanthanide, and Actinide Complexes of Bidentate Acylpyrazolone Ligands.

The synthesis of acylpyrazolone salts and their complexes of main group elements, transition metals, lanthanides, and actinides are described and characterized inter alia by means of single-crystal X-ray crystallography, NMR, and IR spectroscopies. The complexes consist of two, three, or four acylprazolone ligands bound to the metal atom, resulting in a structurally diverse set of coordination complexes with (distorted) octahedral, pentagonal-bipyramidal, or antiprismatic arrangements. Several complexes proved to be polymeric in the solid state including heterobimetallic sodium/lanthanide coordination polymers. A selection of the polymeric compounds was analyzed via TG/DTA measurements to establish their stability. The ligands, in turn, were readily synthesized in good yields from commercially available hydrazine hydrochloride salts. These findings demonstrate that acylpyrazolone ligands can form complexes with metals of varying ionic radii, highlighted by their utility in other areas such as analytical and metal organic framework chemistry.

Chelating Bis-silylenes As Powerful Ligands To Enable Unusual Low-Valent Main-Group Element Functions.

ConspectusSilylenes are divalent silicon species with an unoccupied 3p orbital and one lone pair of electrons at the SiII center. Owing to the excellent σ-donating ability of amidinato-based silylenes, which stems from the intramolecular imino-N donor interaction with the vacant 3p orbital of the silicon atom, N-heterocyclic amidinato bis(silylenes) [bis(NHSi)s] can serve as versatile strong donating ligands for cooperative stabilization of central atoms in unusually low oxidation states. Herein, we present our recent achievement on the application of bis(NHSi) ligands with electronically and spatially different spacers to main-group chemistry, which has allowed the isolation of a variety of low-valent compounds consisting of monatomic zero-valent group 14 E0 complexes (named "metallylones", E = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb); monovalent group 15 EI complexes (E = N, P, isoelectronic with metallylones); and diatomic low-valent E2 complexes (E = Si, Ge, P) with intriguing electronic structures and chemical reactivities.The role of the SiII···SiII distance was revealed to be crucial in this chemistry. Utilizing the pyridine-based bis(NHSi) (Si···Si distance: 7.8 Å) ligand, germanium(0) complexes with additional Fe(CO)4 protection at the Ge0 site have been isolated. Featuring a shorter Si···Si distance of 4.3 Å, the xanthene-based bis(NHSi) has allowed the realization of the full series of heavy zero-valent group 14 element E0 complexes (E = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb), while the o-carborane-based bis(NHSi) (Si···Si distance: 3.3 Å) has enabled the isolation of Si0 and Ge0 complexes. Remarkably, reduction of the o-carborane-based bis(NHSi)-supported Si0 and Ge0 complexes induces the movement of two electrons into the o-carborane core and provides access to SiI-SiI and GeI-GeI species as oxidation products. Additionally, the o-carborane-based bis(NHSi) reacts with adamantyl azide, leading to a series of nitrogen(I) complexes as isoelectronic species of a carbone (C0 complex). Moreover, cooperative activation of white phosphorus gives bis(NHSi)-supported phosphorus complexes with varying and unexpected electronic structures when employing the xanthene-, o-carborane-, and aniline-based bis(NHSi)s. With the better kinetic protection provided by the xanthene-based bis(NHSi), small-molecule activation and functionalization of the bis(NHSi)-supported central E or E2 atoms (E = Si, Ge, P) are possible and furnish several novel functionalized silicon, germanium, and phosphorus compounds.With knowledge of the ability of chelating bis(NHSi)s in coordinating and functionalizing low-valent group 14 and 15 elements, the application of these ligand systems to other main-group elements such as group 2 and 13 is quite promising. To fully understand the role of the NHSi in a bis(NHSi) ligand, introducing a mixed ligand, i.e., the combination of an NHSi with other functional groups, such as Lewis acidic borane or Lewis basic borylene, in one chelating ligand could lead to new types of low-valent main-group species. Furthermore, the development of a genuine acyclic silylene, without an imino-N interaction with the vacant 3p orbital at the silicon(II) atom, as part of a chelating bis(acyclic silylene) has the potential to form very electronically different main-group element complexes that could achieve even more challenging bond activations such as N2 or unactivated C-H bonds.

N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes Carrying Weakly Coordinating Anions

In this Concept article we provide a brief overview of the design and preparation of N‐heterocyclic carbenes carrying weakly coordinating anions (WCA‐NHCs). The anionic charge in these ligand systems is located on an exocyclic group, for example, B(C6F5)3, tethered to the backbone of the imidazole ring, thus resembling a weakly coordinating moiety. With the general guiding principle behind the application of WCA‐NHCs being the conversion of otherwise cationic NHC complexes into their overall neutral congeners, numerous transition metal as well as main group element complexes were isolated during the last decade, which are summarized herein.

Carbene-mediated synthesis of a germanium tris(dithiolene)dianion.

While the 1 : 1 reaction of 3 with an N-heterocyclic carbene ({(Me)CN(i-Pr)}2C:) in THF resulted in ligand-substituted product 4, the corresponding 1 : 2 reaction (in the presence of H2O) gives the first structurally characterized germanium tris(dithiolene)dianion 5 as the major product and the "naked" dithiolene radical 6˙ as a minor by-product. The structure and bonding of 4 and 5 were probed by experimental and theoretical methods. Our study suggests that carbene-mediated partial hydrolysis may represent a new method to access tris(dithiolene) complexes of main-group elements.

Sulfur Dioxide Complexes of Main-Group Elements: from SO20 to SO2- and SO22- upon Coordination to Aluminum and Silicon Difluorides.

The AlF2(O2S) and SiF2(O2S) complexes with bidentately coordinated sulfur dioxide ligands were prepared via the reactions of aluminum and silicon atoms with SO2F2 under UV-vis irradiation in cryogenic matrixes. The products were identified by infrared spectroscopy as well as DFT frequency calculations, and nonplanar C2v structures with the SO2 ligand bound to Al/Si via two oxygen atoms were established. In spite of the similarity in geometric structures, the electronic structures of AlF2(O2S) and SiF2(O2S) are completely different. The longer S-O bond length and the lower O-S-O stretching vibrational frequencies of SiF2(O2S) in comparison to those of AlF2(O2S) indicate that SiF2(O2S) possesses a singlet SO22--like ligand while the SO2 ligand is better described as SO2- in AlF2(O2S), which is further confirmed by bonding and population analysis. Linear correlations were established between the experimental O-S-O stretching frequencies and calculated S-O bond lengths of SO2, AlF2(O2S), and SiF2(O2S), suggesting that the S-O bond is gradually activated when SO2 is coordinated to AlF2 and SiF2.

Hexaethylbenzene: A Sterically Crowded Arene and Conformationally Versatile Ligand.

The syntheses, structures and dynamic behaviour of hexaethylbenzene and its transition metal and main group element complexes are reviewed. Sterically protected intermediates in the metal-catalysed trimerisation of 3-hexyne to form hexaethylbenzene are described, and the organic chemistry of hexaethylbenzene and of hexamethylbenzene are compared and contrasted.

A New Area in Main-Group Chemistry: Zerovalent Monoatomic Silicon Compounds and Their Analogues.

Monoatomic zerovalent main-group element complexes emerged very recently and attracted increasing attention of both theoretical and experimental chemists. In particular, zerovalent silicon complexes and their congeners (metallylones) stabilized by neutral Lewis donors are of significant importance not only because of their intriguing electronic structure but also because they can serve as useful building blocks for novel chemical species. Featuring four valence electrons as two lone pairs at the central atoms, such complexes may form donor-acceptor adducts with Lewis acids. More interestingly, with the central atoms in the oxidation state of zero, they could pave a way to new classes of compounds and functional groups that are otherwise difficult to realize. In this Account, we mainly describe our contributions in the chemistry of monatomic zerovalent silicon (silylone) and germanium (germylone) supported by a chelate bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (bis-NHC) ligand in the context of related species developed by other groups in the meantime. Utilizing the bis-NHC stabilized chlorosilyliumylidene [:SiCl]+ and chlorogermyliumylidene [:GeCl]+ as suitable starting materials, we successfully isolated silylone (bis-NHC)Si and germylone (bis-NHC)Ge, respectively. The electronic structures of the latter complexes established by theoretical calculations and spectroscopic data revealed that they are genuine metallylone species with electron-rich silicon(0) and germanium(0) centers. Accordingly, they can react with 1 molar equiv of GaCl3 to form Lewis adducts (bis-NHC)E(GaCl3) (E = Si, Ge) and with 2 molar equiv of ZnCl2 to furnish (bis-NHC)Si(ZnCl2)2. Conversion of the metallylones with elemental chalcogens affords isolable monomeric silicon(II) and germanium(II) monochalcogenides (bis-NHC)EX(GaCl3) (X = Se, Te), representing molecular heavier congeners of CO. Moreover, their reaction with elemental chalcogens can also yield monomeric silicon(IV) and germanium(IV) dichalcogenides (bis-NHC)EX2 (X = S, Se, Te) as the first isolable complexes of the molecular congeners of CO2. Moreover, (bis-NHC)Si could even activate CO2 to afford the monomolecular silicon dicarbonate complex (bis-NHC)Si(CO3)2 via the formation of SiO and SiO2 complexes as intermediates. Furthermore, starting with a chelate bis-N-heterocyclic silylene supported [:GeCl]+, we developed two bis-N-heterocyclic silylene stabilized germylone→Fe(CO)4 complexes. Our achievements in the chemistry of metallylones demonstrate that the characteristic of monatomic zerovalent silicon and its analogues can provide novel reaction patterns for access to unprecedented species and even extends the series of functional groups of these elements. With this, we can envision that more interesting zerovalent complexes of the main-group elements with unprecedented reactivity will follow in the near future.

Electronic Structure of Corrole Derivatives: Insights from Molecular Structures, Spectroscopy, Electrochemistry, and Quantum Chemical Calculations.

Presented herein is a comprehensive account of the electronic structure of corrole derivatives. Our knowledge in this area derives from a broad range of methods, including UV-vis-NIR absorption and MCD spectroscopies, single-crystal X-ray structure determination, vibrational spectroscopy, NMR and EPR spectroscopies, electrochemistry, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations, the latter including both density functional theory and ab initio multiconfigurational methods. The review is organized according to the Periodic Table, describing free-base and main-group element corrole derivatives, then transition-metal corroles, and finally f-block element corroles. Like porphyrins, corrole derivatives with a redox-inactive coordinated atom follow the Gouterman four-orbital model. A key difference from porphyrins is the much wider prevalence of noninnocent electronic structures as well as full-fledged corrole•2- radicals among corrole derivatives. The most common orbital pathways mediating ligand noninnocence in transition-metal corroles are the metal(dz2)-corrole("a2u") interaction (most commonly observed in Mn and Fe corroles) and the metal(dx2-y2)-corrole(a2u) interaction in coinage metal corroles. Less commonly encountered is the metal(dπ)-corrole("a1u") interaction, a unique feature of formal d5 metallocorroles. Corrole derivatives exhibit a rich array of optical properties, including substituent-sensitive Soret maxima indicative of ligand noninnocence, strong fluorescence in the case of lighter main-group element complexes, and room-temperature near-IR phosphorescence in the case of several 5d metal complexes. The review concludes with an attempt at identifying gaps in our current knowledge and potential future directions of electronic-structural research on corrole derivatives.

ChemInform Abstract: Review: Structurally Characterized α‐Diimine Complexes of S‐ and P‐Block Elements

AbstractReview: 74 refs.

Synthesis and Structure of Base-Stabilized Germanium(II) Diazide IPrGe(N3)2

Coordination of a strong σ-base has been shown to be an effective method for the stabilization of low valent main group element complexes. This general method was now used for the synthesis of the divalent germanium diazide. IPrGe(N3)21 represents the first neutral homoleptic germanium diazide that could be structurally characterized.

N—H Bond Activation of Ammonia by Transition Metal and Main Group Element Complexes

Activation of ammonia has received increasing attention in recent years due to its important role both in nature and industry processes. A series of transition metal (such as Ir, Rh, Ru, Fe, Pd, etc.) and main group element (such as Si, Ge, Sn, etc.) complexes have been reported to activate N—H bond of ammonia in the past three decades. This review includes the recent progresses in homogeneous N—H bond activation of ammonia by transition metal and main group element complexes. Keywords Ammonia; N—H bond; activation ; transition metal complex; main group element complex

Chemical Bonding in Phosphane and Amine Complexes of Main Group Elements and Transition Metals

The geometries and bond dissociation energies of the main group complexes X3B-NX3, X3B-PX3, X3Al-NX3, and X3Al-PX3 (X = H, Me, Cl) and the transition metal complexes (CO)5M-NX3 and (CO)5M-PX3 (M = Cr, Mo, W) have been calculated using gradient-corrected density functional theory at the BP86/TZ2P level. The nature of the donor-acceptor bonds was investigated with an energy decomposition analysis. It is found that the bond dissociation energy is not a good measure for the intrinsic strength of Lewis acidity and basicity because the preparation energies of the fragments may significantly change the trend of the bond strength. The interaction energies between the frozen fragments of the borane complexes are in most cases larger than the interaction energies of the alane complexes. The bond dissociation energy of the alane complexes is sometimes higher than that of the borane analogues because the energy for distorting the planar equilibrium geometry of BX3 to the pyramidal from in the complexes is higher than for AlX3. Inspection of the three energy terms, DeltaE(Pauli), DeltaE(orb), and DeltaE(elstat), shows that all three of them must be considered to understand the trends of the Lewis acid and base strength. The orbital term of the donor-acceptor bonds with the Lewis bases NCl3 and PCl3 have a higher pi character than the bonds of EH3 and EMe3, but NCl3 and PCl3 are weaker Lewis bases because the lone-pair orbital at the donor atoms N and P has a high percent s character. The calculated DeltaE(int) values suggest that the trends of the intrinsic Lewis bases' strengths in the main-group complexes with BX3 and AlX3 are NMe3 > NH3 > NCl3 and PMe3 > PH3 > PCl3. The transition metal complexes exhibit a somewhat different order with NH3 > NMe3 > NCl3 and PMe3 > PH3 > PCl3. The slightly weaker bonding of NMe3 than that of NH3 comes from stronger Pauli repulsion. The bond length does not always correlate with the bond dissociation energy, nor does it always correlate with the intrinsic interaction energy.

Lower Main-Group Element Complexes with a Soft Scorpionate Ligand: The Structural Influence of Stereochemically Active Lone Pairs

The syntheses and structures of complexes of the fifth period elements indium and antimony, and the sixth period element bismuth with the soft scorpionate ligand, hydrotris(methimazolyl)borate (Tm(Me)) are reported. A considerable variety of structural motifs were obtained by reaction of the main-group element halide and NaTm(Me). The indium(III) complexes took the form [In(kappa(3)-Tm(Me))(2)](+). This motif could not, however, be isolated for antimony(III), the dominant product being [Sb(kappa(3)-Tm(Me))(kappa(1)-Tm(Me))X] (X = Br, I). An iodo-bridged species [Sb(kappa(3)-Tm(Me))I(mu(2)-I)](2), analogous to a previously reported bismuth complex, was also isolated. Reaction of antimony(III) acetate with NaTm(Me) results in a remarkable species in which three different ligand binding modes are observed. In each antimony complex the influence of the nonbonded electron pair is observed in the structure. Bismuth halides form complexes analogous to those of antimony, with directional lone pairs, but in addition, reaction of Bi(NO(3))(3) with NaTm(Me) results in a complex with a regular S(6) coordination sphere and a nonstereochemically active lone pair. Comparisons are drawn with known Tm(Me) complexes of As, Sn, and Bi in which the stereochemical influence of the lone pairs is negligible and with Tm(Me) complexes of Te and Bi in which the lone pairs are stereochemically active. This study highlights the ability of Tm(Me) to coordinate in a variety of modes as dictated by the metal centre with no adverse effects on the stability of the complexes formed.

Donor–Acceptor Bond in Nontransition and Transition Element Complexes: Studies with Natural Bonding Orbital Approach

Electronic structures of tin, antimony, titanium, and niobium chloride complexes were analyzed using density functional theory. Parameters of nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra calculated using pseudopotential and all-electron basis states were compared with the experimental values. It was shown that the use of the central atom pseudopotential leads to a significant deviation of the atomic quadrupole coupling constants from their experimental values. The bonding in complexes was analyzed by making use of the natural orbitals of metal–chlorine and metal–ligand bonds. Donor–aceptor interactions in complexes of main group elements are described within the framework of sp-hybridization, while those in the transition element complexes, within the sd-hybridization framework.

Sandwich‐artige Cyclopentadienylkomplexe von Hauptgruppenelementen

AbstractCyclopentadienyl (Cp) complexes of maingroup elements are classified and compared in terms of structural types, bonding features, and characteristic reactions. Halfsandwich, sandwich and multidecker sandwich arrangements of different type are observed including cluster species with weak or strong metal‐metal bonds. The Cp‐El bonding ranges from mainly covalent to purely ionic with important structure‐determining intermolecular contacts in the latter. π‐Complexation allows the stabilisation of compounds with low‐valent elements such as AI(I), Ga(I), and Si(I1). Important reaction principles and applications are shortly described.

The synthesis and X-ray structure of five co-ordinate imidodiphosphinate complexes of indium(III)

We report the synthesis and structural characterisation of three five co-ordinate indium(III) bis-chelate complexes of imidodiphosphinates with general formula InCl{N(PR 2X) 2} 2, (R=Ph or Pr i, X=S or Se), formed from the 1:2 reaction of indium(III) trichloride and the potassium or sodium salt of the ligand in methanol/THF. The complexes consist of discrete monomeric, molecules and show a trigonal–bipyramidal co-ordination pattern. These are the first examples of five co-ordinate complexes containing this type of ligand, in contrast to other indium(III) and main group element complexes of similar ligands in which only the six co-ordinate tris-chelates are known.

Supported metals derived from organometallics

This article reviews recent progress in the application of organometallic compounds for the preparation of supported metal catalysts. The approach is a very general one in that the organometallics considered are the main group element complexes, the mononuclear complexes and clusters of transition metals (in different oxidation states). The surfaces can be that of metal oxides, the internal or external surface of zeolites or the surface of supported metal particles in a zero-valent state. Volatile complexes with the right size and reactivity have been used to prepare zeolite-entrapped metals and supported catalysts via chemical vapour deposition technique.

Phosphorane iminato complexes of main group elements

Phosphorane iminato complexes of main group elements

Surface organometallic chemistry on zeolites: A tool for modifying the sorption properties of zeolites

The shape selective properties of zeolites can be modified by reaction of their surface functional groups with hydride, alkyl or alkoxy complexes of main group elements. The different methods are reviewed and their effects analyzed.

Two Modifications of a Cyclopentadienylthallium(I) Complex Linking the Chemistry of the Cp and Arene Complexes of Main Group Elements

Two Modifications of a Cyclopentadienylthallium(<scp>I</scp>) Complex Linking the Chemistry of the Cp and Arene Complexes of Main Group Elements