Intramolecular rearrangement of six-coordinate structures

Chiral-at-Metal Racemization Unraveled for MX2 (a-chel)2 by means of a Computational Analysis of MoO2 (acnac)2

Octahedral chiral-at-metal complexes MX2 (a-chel)2 (a-chel=asymmetric chelate) can rearrange their ligands by four mechanisms known as the Bailar (B), Ray-Dutt (RD), Conte-Hippler (CH), and Dhimba-Muller-Lammertsma (DML) twists. Racemization involves their interconnections, which were computed for MoO2 (acnac)2 (acnac=β-ketoiminate) using density functional theory at ωB97x-D with the 6-31G(d,p) and 6-311G(2d,p) basis sets and LANL2DZ for molybdenum. Racemizing the cis(NN) isomer, being the global energy minimum with trans oriented imine groups, is a three step process (DML-CH-DML) that requires 17.4 kcal/mol, while all three cis isomers (cis(NN), cis(NO), and cis(OO)) interconvert at ≤17.9 kcal/mol. The B and RD twists are energetically not competitive and neither are the trans isomers. The interconnection of all enantiomeric minima and transition structures is summarized in a graph that also visualizes valley ridge inflection points for two of the three CH twists. Geometrical features of the minima and twists are given. Lastly, the influence of N-substitution on the favored racemization pathway is evaluated. The present comprehensive study serves as a template for designing chiral-at-metal MX2 (a-chel)2 catalysts that may retain their chiral integrity.

Racemization Pathway for MoO2(acac)2 Favored over Ray-Dutt, Bailar, and Conte-Hippler Twists

Chiral cis-MoO₂(acac)₂ racemizes via four pathways that agree with and extend upon Muetterties' topological analysis for dynamic MX₂(chel)₂ complexes. Textbook Ray-Dutt and Bailar twists are the least favored with barriers of 27.5 and 28.7 kcal/mol, respectively. Rotating both acac ligands of the Bailar structure by 90° gives the lower Conte-Hippler twist (20.0 kcal/mol), which represents a valley-ridge inflection that invokes the trans isomer. The most favorable is a new twist that was found by 90° rotation of only one acac ligand of the Bailar structure. The gas-phase barrier of 17.4 kcal/mol for this Dhimba-Muller-Lammertsma twist further decreases upon inclusion of the effects of solvents to 16.3 kcal/mol (benzene), 16.2 kcal/mol (toluene), and 15.4 kcal/mol (chloroform), which are in excellent agreement with the reported experimental values.

Thermal Isomerization of [Co(acac)2(N3)(py)] in Liquid Solution Studied by Time-Resolved Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The thermally induced stereochemical interconversion between the trans and cis isomers of [Co(acac)2(N3)(py)] in liquid solution is investigated with time-resolved Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The complex is synthesized stereo-selectively in its trans-form. Upon dissolution of the trans-form, the kinetic build-up of the cis-form is evidenced by the spectro-temporal evolution of the FTIR-spectrum. The individual isomer-specific component spectra are in good agreement with calculated spectra obtained from density functional theory. The rate constants of the forward and backward reactions responsible for the trans-cis isomerization equilibrium are derived from the kinetic traces in combination with existing thermochemical data from the literature. Moreover, the temperature-dependence of the rate constants are in line with Arrhenius activation energies of (122 ± 8) kJ/mol and (109 ± 8) kJ/mol for the forward and backward reactions, respectively. DFT-calculations suggest that the stereochemical rearrangement is caused by a pyridine rebound mechanism involving penta-coordinated square-pyramidal [Co(acac)2(N3)]-intermediates.

d-Orbital Effects on Stereochemical Non-Rigidity: Twisted TiIV Intramolecular Dynamics

The isomerization dynamics of tris-catecholate complexes have been investigated by variable-temperature NMR methods, demonstrating that the intramolecular racemization of Delta and Lambda enantiomers of d0 Ti(IV) is facile and faster than that of d10 Ga(III) and Ge(IV) analogues. Activation parameters for the racemization of K2[Ti2(3)] (H(2)2 = 2,3-dihydroxy-N,N'-diisopropylterephthalamide) were determined from line shape analysis of 1H NMR spectra [methanol-d4: deltaH++ = 47(1) kJ/mol; deltaS++ = -34(4) J/mol K; deltaG++(298) = 57(3) kJ/mol; DMF-d7: deltaH++ = 55(1) kJ/mol; deltaS++ = -16(4) J/mol K; deltaG++(298) = 59(3) kJ/mol; D2O (pD* = 8.6, 20% MeOD): deltaH++ = 48(3) kJ/mol; deltaS++ = -28(10) J/mol K; deltaG++(298) = 56(3) kJ/mol]. The study of K2[Ti4(3)] (H(2)4 = 2,3-dihydroxy-N-tert-butyl-N'-benzylterephthalamide) reveals two distinct isomerization processes: faster racemization of mer-[Ti4(3)]2- by way of a Bailar twist mechanism (D3h transition state) [T(c) approximately 242 K, methanol-d4], and a slower merright harpoon over left harpoonfac [Ti4(3)]2- isomerization by way of a Rây-Dutt mechanism (C2v transition state) [T(c) approximately 281 K, methanol-d4]. The solution behavior of the Ti(IV) complexes mirrors that reported previously for analogous Ga(III) complexes, while that of analogous Ge(IV) complexes was too inert to be detected by 1H NMR up to 400 K. These experimental findings are augmented by DFT calculations of the ML3 ground states and Bailar and Rây-Dutt transition states, which correctly predict the relative kinetic barriers of complexes of the three metal ions, in addition to faithfully reproducing the ground-state structures. Orbital calculations support the conclusion that participation of the Ti(IV) d orbitals in ligand bonding contributes to the greater stabilization of the prismatic Ti(IV) transition states.

Intramolecular rearrangements in six-coordinate ruthenium and iron dihydrides

Molecular orbital calculations at the ab initio level are used to study polytopal rearrangements in H2Ru(PH3)4 and H2Fe(CO)4 as models of 18-electron, octahedral metal dihydrides. It is found that, in both cases, the transition state for these rearrangements is a dihydrogen species. For H2Fe(CO)4, this is a square pyramidal complex where the H2 ligand occupies an apical position and is rotated by 45 degrees from its original orientation. This is precisely analogous to the transition state for Fe-olefin rotation in (olefin)Fe(CO)4 complexes and has a very similar electronic origin. Another transition state very close in energy is found wherein the basic coordination geometry is a trigonal bipyramid and the H2 ligand is coordinated in the axial position. For H2Ru(PH3)4, the former stationary point lies at a much higher energy and the latter clearly serves as the transition state for hydride exchange. The reason for this difference is discussed along with the roles of electron correlation in the two compounds.

Structural distortions in mer-M(H)3(NO)L2 (M = Ru, Os) and their influence on intramolecular fluxionality and quantum exchange coupling

Molecules of the type mer-M(H)3(NO)L2 [M = Ru (1), Os (2); L = PR3] are characterized on the basis of 1H NMR T1min values and IR spectra as pseudo-octahedral trihydrides significantly distorted by compression of the cis H-M-H angles to approximately 75 degrees. The distortion, uncharacteristic of six-coordinate d6 complexes, is rationalized with DFT (B3LYP) calculations as being driven by increased H-to-M sigma donation and by the exceptional pi-accepting ability of linear NO+. In both 1 and 2, hydrides undergo intramolecular site exchange with delta HHH++(1) = 10-11 kcal/mol and delta HHH++(2) = 16-20 kcal/mol, depending on L, whereas for mer-Ru(H)3(NO)(PtBu2Me)2 (1b), moderate exchange couplings (up to 77 Hz) are featured in the low-temperature 1H NMR spectra, in addition to chemical exchange. On the basis of experimental and theoretical results, a dihydrogen intermediate is suggested to mediate hydride site exchange in 1. The cis H-M-H distortion shortens the tunneling path for the exchanging hydrides in 1, thereby increasing the tunneling rate; diminishes the "conflict" between trans hydrides in the mer geometry; and decreases the nucleophilicity of the hydrides. The generality of the observed structural distortion and its dependence on the ligand environment in late transition metal tri- and dihydrides are discussed. A less reducing metal center is generally characterized by greater distortion.

Synthesis, NMR Study, and Reactivity of Isomeric Early-Late Heterobimetallic Dihydrides. X-ray Crystal Structure of (PPh(3))HRu(&mgr;-H)(&mgr;-PMe(2)C(5)Me(4))(2)(&mgr;-Cl)ZrCl

The new isomeric ruthenium/zirconium dihydrides of the formula (PPh(3))HRuH(&mgr;-PMe(2)Cp)(2)ClZrCl (1, 2) (Cp = C(5)Me(4)) have been characterized by elemental analysis and NMR ((1)H, (31)P and (1)H relaxation data). Complex 1, stabilized by Cl and H bridges, has been isolated from the room temperature reaction between RuH(2)(H(2))(PPh(3))(3) and (PMe(2)Cp)(2)ZrCl(2). The X-ray crystallographic study of 1 revealed a bimetallic complex. The six-coordinate Ru atom and the five-coordinate Zr atom are held together by two bifunctional phosphinocyclopentadienyl ligands and by H and Cl bridges. Crystal data for 1: monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, a = 13.901(2) Å, b = 18.205(6) Å, c = 16.633(3) Å, beta = 92.43(1) degrees, V = 4206 Å(3), Z = 4, d(calc) = 1.472 g cm(-)(3), R(F) = 0.056, R(w)(F) = 0.058. Complex 2 with two H bridges and terminal Cl ligands at Ru and Zr has been obtained by an irreversible isomerization of 1 in the presence of HNEt(3)BPh(4). This transformation has been proposed to occur through slow protonation of one of the phosphorus ligands with the five-coordinate Ru center formed by undergoing rapid pseudorotation. Complexes 1 and 2 do not react with H(2), N(2), or 3,3-dimethyl-but-1-ene. Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of NaHBEt(3) in C(6)D(6) gives a mixture of new trihydrides (PPh(3))HRu(&mgr;-Cl)(&mgr;-H)(&mgr;-PMe(2)Cp)(2)ZrH (3) and (PPh(3))HRu(&mgr;-H)(2)(&mgr;-PMe(2)Cp)(2)ZrCl (4). Complex 3 transforms to 4 upon standing in solution for a period of several days. Under the same conditions, complex 2 leads smoothly to trihydride 4. Both trihydrides are new and have been characterized by (1)H, (31)P NMR, and (1)H NMR relaxation data. Complexes 1 and 4 are fluxional in solution at room temperature, showing hydride exchange between the terminal and bridging positions. The variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectra allowed determinations of the DeltaG() values of 16.4 (313 K, THF-d(8)) and 13.5 kcal/mol (295 K, toluene-d(8)) for the exchange in complexes 1 and 4, respectively. Possible exchange mechanisms have been discussed. Complex 2 is rigid on the NMR time scale.

Three-Dimensional Hückel Theory for closo-Carboranes

We have recently developed a 3-dimensional Hückel method for cluster compounds. The method uses a set of approximations for Coulomb, resonance, and overlap integrals very similar to those employed in the familiar 2-dimensional Hückel theory for the pi electrons of planar conjugated hydrocarbons. The method can be adapted to heteroatomic clusters by introducing heteroatomic Coulomb integrals, alpha(Y) = alpha(X) + hbeta, whereh is a parameter for heteroatom Y. In this paper, we use the 3-dimensional Hückel method to study the properties of the closo-carboranes, C(2)B(n)()(-)(2)H(n)(). We calibrate the method by choosing a value of the heteroatomic parameter h that distinguishes positional isomers by energy and gives them relative energies in rough agreement with those established by observation and ab initio calculations. We obtain modest improvement in matching ab initio relative energies of isomers by means of a three-parameter, first-order perturbation treatment. We use the calibrated method to evaluate various mechanisms proposed for the isomerizations of C(2)B(4)H(6), C(2)B(5)H(7), and C(2)B(6)H(8), all of which have been observed to undergo intramolecular isomerizations. Rearrangements of C(2)B(6)H(8) have been satisfactorily explained by a single-DSD (diamond-square-diamond) process. Those for C(2)B(5)H(7) require at least two DSD processes, concerted, consecutive, or overlapping. Several different mechanisms have been proposed for the rearrangement of C(2)B(4)H(6). In evaluating intermediate and transition state structures, the 3-dimensional Hückel method gives higher energies to those structures with a larger number of nontriangular faces, a plausible conclusion except that occasionally it is wrong. In comparison with ab initio results, the 3-dimensional Hückel method fails to give low energies for classical structures.