Catenated Nitrogen Ligands Part I. Transition Metal Derivatives of Triazenes, Tetrazenes, Tetrazadienes, and Pentazadienes

Benzimidazole-diamide (bida) Pincer Chromium Complexes: Structures and Reactivity

Serendipitous discovery of bida (i.e., N1-Ar-N2-((1-Ar-1-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)methyl)benzene-1,2-diamide; Ar = 2,6-iPr-C6H3), a potentially redox noninnocent, hemilabile pincer ligand with a methylene group that may facilitate proton/H atom reactivity, prompted its investigation. Chromium was chosen for study due to its multiple stable oxidation states. Disodium salt (bida)Na2(THF)n was prepared by thermal rearrangement of (dadi)Na2(THF)4 (i.e., (N,N'-di-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenylamine)phenylglyoxaldiimine)-Na2(THF)4). Salt metathesis of (bida)Na2(THF)n (generated in situ) with CrCl3(THF)3 or Cl3V═NAr (Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) afforded (bida)CrCl(THF) (1-THF) and (bida)ClV═NAr, respectively. Substitutions provided (bida)CrCl(PMe2Ph) (1-PMe2Ph) and (bida)CrR(THF) (2-R, where R = Me, CH2CMe2Ph (Nph)). Oxidation of 1-THF with ArN3 (Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) or AdN3 (Ad = 1-adamantyl) generated (bida)ClCr═NAr (3═NAr) and (bida)ClCr═NAd (3═NAd) and subsequent alkylation converted these to (bida)R'Cr═NR (R' = Me, R = Ad, Ar, 5═NR; R' = CH2CMe2Ph (Nph), R = Ad, Ar, 6═NR). In contrast, the addition of AdN3 to 2-Nph gave the insertion product (bida)Cr(κ2-N,N-ArN3Nph) (7). Addition of N-chlorosuccinimide to 1-THF produced (bia)CrCl2(THF) (8), where bia is the pincer derived via hydrogen atom loss from bida methylene. A similar HAT afforded (bia)ClCr(CNAr')2 (9, Ar' = 2,6-Me2C6H3) when 3═NAd was exposed to Ar'NC. An empirical equation of charge was applied to each bida species, whose metric parameters are unchanging despite formal oxidation state conversions from Cr(III) to Cr(V). Calculations and Mulliken spin density assessments reveal several situations in which antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling and admixtures of integer ground states (GSs) describe a complicated electronic structure.

Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Volatile Lanthanide Dialkyltriazenides

Several dialkyltriazenide complexes of the lanthanide elements neodymium, europium, and erbium have been prepared; these include the homoleptic complex Er(Bu^tN₃Bu^t)₃, the tetrahydrofuran monoadducts Ln(Bu^tN₃Bu^t)₃(THF) where Ln = Nd or Eu, and the lithium salts [Li(THF)][Ln(MeN₃Bu^t)₄] where Ln = Eu or Er. Crystal structures, nuclear magnetic resonance data, and infrared data are reported for all complexes. The di-tert-butyltriazenide complexes are thermally stable, sublime at reasonably low temperatures, and show smooth volatilization without decomposition, which make them potentially useful in lanthanide separation processes and as chemical vapor deposition precursors for lanthanide nitrides and other phases.

Synthetic, Structural, and Computational Studies on Heavier Tetragen and Chalcogen Triazenide Complexes

The syntheses of the triazenide complexes [{N(N^Dipp)₂}₂M] (Dipp = 2,6-di-isopropylphenyl; M = Ge(II) (1), Sn(II) (2), Pb(II) (3), and Te(II) (5)) are described for the first time. These compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy. Density functional theory calculations were employed to confirm the presence and nature of the stereochemically active lone pairs in 1-5, alongside the Gibbs energy changes for their general synthesis, which enable the rationalization of observed reactivities.

Synthesis of magnesium-nitrogen salts of polynitrogen anions

The synthesis of polynitrogen compounds is of fundamental importance due to their potential as environmentally-friendly high energy density materials. Attesting to the intrinsic difficulties related to their formation, only three polynitrogen ions, bulk stabilized as salts, are known. Here, magnesium and molecular nitrogen are compressed to about 50 GPa and laser-heated, producing two chemically simple salts of polynitrogen anions, MgN4 and Mg2N4. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals infinite anionic polythiazyl-like 1D N-N chains in the crystal structure of MgN4 and cis-tetranitrogen N44- units in the two isosymmetric polymorphs of Mg2N4. The cis-tetranitrogen units are found to be recoverable at atmospheric pressure. Our results respond to the quest for polynitrogen entities stable at ambient conditions, reveal the potential of employing high pressures in their synthesis and enrich the nitrogen chemistry through the discovery of other nitrogen species, which provides further possibilities to design improved polynitrogen arrangements.

Chelate rings of different sizes with non-innocent ligands

Redox-active unsaturated chelate ligands can be realised with different ring sizes of the resulting metallacycles. An overview is presented, starting from an exposition of non-innocent behaviour and chelate effects. A systematic approach is used to describe the most familiar situation, the metal complexes of 1,4-hetero-1,3-dienes in established forms (e.g. o-quinone, α-dithiolene, and α-diimine ligands) and with less common combinations of O, S, and N heteroatoms. The different steric and electronic conditions in six-membered chelate ring systems derived from the β-diketonate structure will be discussed with examples of substituted and π extended ligands, including 9-oxidophenalenyl, formazanate, and anions derived from indigo or 9,10-anthraquinone. Four-membered chelate rings existing in at least two ligand-based oxidation states are available through steric and electronic stabilisation in amidinate or triazenide complexes. Three-membered and seven-membered chelate ring situations are discussed briefly as further alternatives.

Chlorido[1-(2-eth-oxy-phen-yl)3-(4-nitro-phen-yl)triazenido]mercury(II)

In the title compound, [Hg(C₁₄H₁₃N₄O₃)Cl], the Hg^II atom is four-coordinated by one O atom and two N atoms from a tridentate 1-(2-eth­oxy­phen­yl)-3-(4-nitro­phen­yl)triazenide ligand and one terminal chloride ion in a distorted square-planar geometry. In the crystal structure, the mononuclear complexes are linked into pairs through C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds as well as π–π and C—H⋯π stacking inter­actions. In addition, weak Hg–μ⁶-arene π-inter­actions [mean distance of 3.667 (2) Å] are present between these dimers. The π–π stacking inter­actions are between aromatic rings with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.884 (2) Å. Moreover, edge-to-face inter­actions are present between eth­oxy CH groups and aromatic rings with H⋯π distances of 2.81 Å.

Electrochemical properties of Cu4[PhN3C6H4N3(H)Ph]4(µ-O)2, a tetranuclear Copper(II) complex with 1-phenyltriazenido-2-phenyltriazene-benzene as ligand

Bis-(µ2-oxo)-tetrakis{[1-feniltriazene-1,3-diil)-2-(phenyltriazenil)benzene copper(II) is a tetranuclear complex which shows four Cu(II) ions coordinated by four 1,2-bis(phenyltriazene)benzene bridged ligands, with one diazoaminic deprotonated chain, and two O2- ligands. The complex reduces at E1/2 = -0.95 V vs Fc+/Fc, a two electrons process. Cyclic voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical studies showed a reversible process. When immobilized on carbon paste electrode, the complex electrocatalyses the reduction of O2 dissolved on aqueous solution at -0.3 V vs SCE potential. The obtained current shows linearity with O2 concentration.

Inverse Aggregation Behavior of Alkali-Metal Triazenides

Higher aggregated alkali-metal compounds are usually obtained with increasing radius of the metal. Alkali-metal salts derived from the sterically crowded triazenido ligand Tph2N3H [Tph = C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-iPr3)2] do not obey this principle. Interestingly, these compounds show inverse aggregation behavior in the solid state: the potassium and cesium salts crystallize as discrete monomers in which the cations interact with flanking arene rings of the diaryltriazenido ligands, whereas the lithium derivative is dimeric with a more conventional heteroatom-bridged structure.

Synthesis and in Solution and Solid State Structural Study of Intramolecular Pt···H Interactions in Pentafluorophenyl Platinum(II) Complexes Containing the Ligands Triazene, Formamidine, and 2-Aminopyridine

The preparation of the [NBu4][Pt(C6F5)3L] complexes (L=triazene, formamidine, 2-aminopyridine,) have been carried out. These ligands contain a hydrogen atom, with more or less acidic character, in a position suitable for establishing an intramolecular hydrogen bonding interaction with the metal center. This interaction has been detected in solution for; its 1H NMR spectrum shows that the resonance assignable to this hydrogen has platinum satellites. For, this coupling is not observed, and the interaction, if it exists, has to be weaker because of the less acidic character of the hydrogen atom. The 2-aminopyridine ligand is more flexible than the triazene or formamidine, and also in this case, no evidence of the interaction in solution is obtained. Nevertheless, if another potential proton acceptor is present, such as ClO4- in [NBu4]2[Pt(C6F5)3(C5H6N2)](ClO4), a conventional N-H...O-Cl hydrogen bond is formed. The crystal structures of complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction.

Stabilization of Unsolvated Europium and Ytterbium Pentafluorophenyls by π-Bonding Encapsulation through a Sterically Crowded Triazenido Ligand

The one-pot transmetalation/deprotonation reaction of the bulky triazene Dmp(Tph)N3H with bis(pentafluorophenyl)mercury and europium or ytterbium affords the structurally characterized unsolvated metal(II) pentafluorophenyl triazenides [Dmp(Tph)N3MC6F5] (M = Eu, Yb; Dmp = 2,6-Mes2C6H3 with Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2; Tph = 2-TripC6H4 with Trip = 2,4,6-(i)Pr3C6H2) or, depending on the molar ratio, the solvated complex [Dmp(Tph)N3YbC6F5(THF)].

Carbenerhodium complexes of the half-sandwich-type: synthesis, substitution, and addition reactions

A series of carbenerhodium(I) complexes of the general composition [(eta5-C5H5)Rh(=CRR')(L)] (2a-2i) with R = R'= aryl and L = SbiPr3 or PR3 has been prepared from the square-planar precursors trans-[RhCl(=CRR')(L)2] and NaC5H5 in excellent yields. Reaction of the triisopropylsibane derivative 2a. which contains a rather labile Rh-Sb bond, with CO, PMe3, and CNR (R = Me, CH2Ph, tBu) leads to the displacement of the SbiPr3 ligand and affords the substitution products [(eta5-C5H5)Rh(=CPh2)(L)] (3-7). In contrast, treatment of the triisopropylphosphane compound 2c with CO and CNtBu leads to the cleavage of the Rh=CPh2 bond and gives besides [(eta5-C5H5)Rh(PiPr3)(L)] (10, 12) by metal-assisted C-C coupling diphenylketene Ph2C=C=O (11) or the corresponding imine Ph2C=C=NtBu (13). While the reaction of 2a, c with C2H4 yields [(eta5-C5H5)Rh(C2H4)(L)] (14, 15) and the trisubstituted olefin Ph2C=CHCH3 (16), treatment of 2a, c with RN3 leads to the cleavage of both the Rh-EiPr3 and Rh=CPh2 bonds and gives the chelate complexes [(eta5-C5H5)Rh(kappa2-RNNNNR)] (19, 20). The substitution products 3 (L=CO) and 4 (L= PMe3) react with an equimolar amount of sulfur or selenium by addition of the chalcogen to the Rh=CPh2 bond to generate the complexes [(eta5-C5H5)Rh(kappa2-ECPh2)(L)] (21-24) with thio- or selenobenzophenone as ligand. Similarly, treatment of 3 with CuCl affords the unusual 1:2 adduct [(eta5-C5H5)(CO)Rh(mu-CPh2)(CuCl)2] (25), which reacts with NaC5H5 to form [(eta5-C5H5)(CO)Rh(muCPh2)Cu(eta5-C5H5)] (26). The molecular structures of 3 and 22 have been determined by X-ray crystallography.