Carbon-chalcogen wires: alkynyltellurolatocarbynes

The reactions of [W(CBr)(CO)2(Tp*)] (Tp* = tris(dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) with LiTeCCR (R = SiMe3, SiiPr3, iPr, nBu, tBu, Ph, C6H4Me-4, methylimidazol-2-yl) afford the first alkynyltellurolatocarbynes [W(CTeCCR)(CO)2(Tp*)]. Both the WC and CC multiple bonds are prone to metal addition as exemplified by treatment with [MCl(SMe2)] (M = Cu, Au) to afford the hexametallic complex [W2Cu4(μ-CTeCCSiiPr3)2Cl4(CO)4(Tp*)2] and [WAu(μ-CTeCCSiMe3)Cl(CO)2-(Tp*)] which evolves to the unusual hypervalent [WAu(μ-CTeCl4)(SMe2)(CO)2(Tp*)].

Spodium bonding in bis(alkynyl)mecurials

The new bis(alkynyl)mercurial Hg{CCSeCW(CO)2(Tp*)}2 (Tp* = tris(dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) forms adducts with fluoride and phenathroline, the structures of which are interpreted in the context of two-coordinate mercury presenting a σ-torroid for spodium bonding.

Heterobimetallic μ2-Halocarbyne complexes

The halocarbyne complexes [M(≡CX)(CO)2(Tp*)] (M = Mo, W; X = Cl, Br; Tp* = hydrotris(dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) react with [AuCl(SMe2)], [Pt(-H2C=CH2)(PPh3)2] or [Pt(nbe)3] (nbe = norbornene) to furnish rare examples of μ2-halocarbyne...

The significance of phosphoniocarbynes in halocarbyne cross-coupling reactions

Competent intermediates as well as productive and non-productive tangents have been identified in the catalytic cycle for palladium(0)–copper(i) mediated synthesis of propargylidynes via cross coupling reactions of bromocarbyne complexes with alkynes.

Auriferous alkynylselenolatoalkylidynes

Gold plating carbynes – The incorporation of gold(i) centres, either terminal or bridging, into alkynylselenolatocarbynes provides models for how such metallated carbon-wires might bind to metal surfaces.

New binding modes for CSe: coinage metal coordination to a tungsten selenocarbonyl complex

The reaction of the new tungsten selenocarbonylate [Et₄N][W(CSe)(CO)₂(Tp*)] (Tp* = hydrotris(dimethyl-pyrazolyl)borate) with coinage metal based electrophiles provides access to a range of new bridging modes for the selenocarbonyl ligand.