Access to and Reactivity of Fe0 , Fe-I , FeI , and FeII PCcarbene P Pincer Complexes

Thermodynamic Modulation of Dihydrogen Activation Through Rational Ligand Design in GeII-Ni0 Complexes

A family of chelating aryl-functionalized germylene ligands has been developed and employed in the synthesis of their corresponding 16-electron Ni0 complexes (PhiPDippGeAr·Ni·IPr; PhiPDipp = {[Ph2PCH2Si(iPr)2](Dipp)N}-; IPr = [{(H)CN(Dipp)}2C:]; Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3). These complexes demonstrate the ability to cooperatively and reversibly activate dihydrogen at the germylene-nickel interface under mild conditions (1.5 atm H2, 298 K). We show that the thermodynamics of the dihydrogen activation process can be modulated by tuning the electronic nature of the germylene ligands, with an increase in the electron-withdrawing character displaying more exergonic ΔG298 values, as ascertained through NMR spectroscopic Van't Hoff analyses for all systems. This is also shown to correlate with experimental 31P NMR and UV/vis absorption data as well as with computationally derived parameters such as Ge-Ni bond order and Ni/Ge NPA charge, giving a thorough understanding of the modulating effect of ligand design on this reversible, cooperative bond activation reaction. Finally, the utility of this modulation was demonstrated in the catalytic dehydrocoupling of phenylsilane, whereby systems that disfavor dihydrogen activation are more efficient catalysts, aligning with H2-elimination being the rate-limiting step. A density functional theory analysis supports cooperative activation of the Si-H moiety in PhSiH3.

Iron Olefin Metathesis: Unlocking Reactivity and Mechanistic Insights

Olefin metathesis catalyzed by iron complexes has garnered substantial interest due to iron's abundance and nontoxicity relative to ruthenium, yet its full potential remains untapped, largely because of the propensity of iron carbenes to undergo cyclopropanation instead of cycloreversion from a metallacycle intermediate. In this report, we elucidate the reactions of [{PC(sp2)P}Fe(L)(N2)], ([PC(sp2)P] = bis[2-(diisopropylphosphino)phenyl]methylene) with strained olefins, unveiling their capability to yield metathesis-related products. Our investigations led to the isolation of a structurally characterized metallacyclobutane during the reaction with norbornadiene derivatives, ultimately leading to a ring-opened iron alkylidene. These findings provide compelling evidence that iron complexes adhere to the Chauvin olefin metathesis mechanism.

Low-Valent Transition Metalate Anions in Synthesis, Small Molecule Activation, and Catalysis

This review surveys the synthesis and reactivity of low-oxidation state metalate anions of the d-block elements, with an emphasis on contributions reported between 2006 and 2022. Although the field has a long and rich history, the chemistry of transition metalate anions has been greatly enhanced in the last 15 years by the application of advanced concepts in complex synthesis and ligand design. In recent years, the potential of highly reactive metalate complexes in the fields of small molecule activation and homogeneous catalysis has become increasingly evident. Consequently, exciting applications in small molecule activation have been developed, including in catalytic transformations. This article intends to guide the reader through the fascinating world of low-valent transition metalates. The first part of the review describes the synthesis and reactivity of d-block metalates stabilized by an assortment of ligand frameworks, including carbonyls, isocyanides, alkenes and polyarenes, phosphines and phosphorus heterocycles, amides, and redox-active nitrogen-based ligands. Thereby, the reader will be familiarized with the impact of different ligand types on the physical and chemical properties of metalates. In addition, ion-pairing interactions and metal-metal bonding may have a dramatic influence on metalate structures and reactivities. The complex ramifications of these effects are examined in a separate section. The second part of the review is devoted to the reactivity of the metalates toward small inorganic molecules such as H2, N2, CO, CO2, P4 and related species. It is shown that the use of highly electron-rich and reactive metalates in small molecule activation translates into impressive catalytic properties in the hydrogenation of organic molecules and the reduction of N2, CO, and CO2. The results discussed in this review illustrate that the potential of transition metalate anions is increasingly being tapped for challenging catalytic processes with relevance to organic synthesis and energy conversion. Therefore, it is hoped that this review will serve as a useful resource to inspire further developments in this dynamic research field.

Carbene Radicals in Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Reactions

Discovered as organometallic curiosities in the 1970s, carbene radicals have become a staple in modern-day homogeneous catalysis. Carbene radicals exhibit nucleophilic radical-type reactivity orthogonal to classical electrophilic diamagnetic Fischer carbenes. Their successful catalytic application has led to the synthesis of a myriad of carbo- and heterocycles, ranging from simple cyclopropanes to more challenging eight-membered rings. The field has matured to employ densely functionalized chiral porphyrin-based platforms that exhibit high enantio-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. Thus far the focus has largely been on cobalt-based systems, but interest has been growing for the past few years to expand the application of carbene radicals to other transition metals. This Perspective covers the advances made since 2011 and gives an overview on the coordination chemistry, reactivity, and catalytic application of carbene radical species using transition metal complexes and catalysts.

Experimental and Theoretical Study of NiII - and PdII -Promoted Double Geminal C(sp3 )-H Bond Activation Providing Facile Access to NHC Pincer Complexes: Isolated Intermediates and Mechanism

We report the first examples of metal-promoted double geminal activation of C(sp3 )-H bonds of the N-CH2 -N moiety in an imidazole-type heterocycle, leading to nickel and palladium N-heterocyclic carbene complexes under mild conditions. Reaction of the new electron-rich diphosphine 1,3-bis((di-tert-butylphosphaneyl)methyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (1) with [PdCl2 (cod)] occurred in a stepwise fashion, first by single C-H bond activation yielding the alkyl pincer complex [PdCl(PCsp 3 H P)] (3) with two trans phosphane donors and a covalent Pd-Csp 3 bond. Activation of the C-H bond of the resulting α-methine Csp 3 H-M group occurred subsequently when 3 was treated with HCl to yield the NHC pincer complex [PdCl(PCNHC P)]Cl (2). Treatment of 1 with [NiBr2 (dme)] also afforded a NHC pincer complex, [NiBr(PCNHC P)]Br (6), but the reactions leading to the double geminal C-H bond activation of the N-CH2 -N group were too fast to allow identification or isolation of an intermediate analogous to 3. The determination of six crystal structures, the isolation of reaction intermediates and DFT calculations provided the basis for suggesting the mechanism of the stepwise transformation of a N-CH2 -N moiety in the N-CNHC -N unit of NHC pincer complexes and explain the key differences observed between the Pd and Ni chemistries.

Tuning Ruthenium Carbene Complexes for Selective P-H Activation through Metal-Ligand Cooperation

The use of iminophosphoryl-tethered ruthenium carbene complexes to activate secondary phosphine P-H bonds is reported. Complexes of type [(p-cymene)-RuC(SO2 Ph)(PPh2 NR)] (with R = SiMe3 or 4-C6 H4 -NO2 ) were found to exhibit different reactivities depending on the electronics of the applied phosphine and the substituent at the iminophosphoryl moiety. Hence, the electron-rich silyl-substituted complex undergoes cyclometallation or shift of the imine moiety after cooperative activation of the P-H bond across the M=C linkage, depending on the electronics of the applied phosphine. Deuteration experiments and computational studies proved that cyclometallation is initiated by the activation process at the M=C bond and triggered by the high electron density at the metal in the phosphido intermediates. Consistently, replacement of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) group by the electron-withdrawing 4-nitrophenyl substituent allowed the selective cooperative P-H activation to form stable activation products.

Alkali Metal Adducts of an Iron(0) Complex and Their Synergistic FLP-Type Activation of Aliphatic C-X Bonds

We report the formation and full characterization of weak adducts between Li⁺ and Na⁺ cations and a neutral iron(0) complex, [Fe(CO)₃(PMe₃)₂] (1), supported by weakly coordinating [BAr^F₂₀] anions, [1·M][BAr^F₂₀] (M = Li, Na). The adducts are found to synergistically activate aliphatic C-X bonds (X = F, Cl, Br, I, OMs, OTf), leading to the formation of iron(II) organyl compounds of the type [FeR(CO)₃(PMe₃)₂][BAr^F₂₀], of which several were isolated and fully characterized. Stoichiometric reactions with the resulting iron(II) organyl compounds show that this system can be utilized for homocoupling and cross-coupling reactions and the formation of new C-E bonds (E = C, H, O, N, S). Further, we utilize [1·M][BAr^F₂₀] as a catalyst in a simple hydrodehalogenation reaction under mild conditions to showcase its potential use in catalytic reactions. Finally, the mechanism of activation is probed using DFT and kinetic experiments that reveal that the alkali metal and iron(0) center cooperate to cleave C-X via a mechanism closely related to intramolecular FLP activation.