Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Aqueous Speciation, and Kinetics of Substitution Reactions in a Water-Soluble Mo3S4 Cluster Bearing Hydroxymethyl Diphosphine Ligands

Bond Activation and Hydrogen Evolution from Water through Reactions with M3S4 (M = Mo, W) and W3S3 Anionic Clusters

Transition metal sulfides (TMS) are being investigated with increased frequency because of their ability to efficiently catalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction. We have studied the trimetallic TMS cluster ions, Mo₃S₄^-, W₃S₄^-, and W₃S₃^-, and probed their efficiency for bond activation and hydrogen evolution from water. These clusters have geometries that are related to the edge sites on bulk MoS₂ surfaces that are known to play a role in hydrogen evolution. Using density functional theory, the electronic structures of these clusters and their chemical reactivity with water have been investigated. The reaction mechanism involves the initial formation of hydroxyl and thiol groups, hydrogen migration to form an intermediate with a metal hydride bond, and finally, combination of a hydride and a proton to eliminate H₂. Using this mechanism, free energy profiles of the reactions of the three metal clusters with water have been constructed. Unlike previous reactivity studies of other related cluster systems, there is no overall energy barrier in the reactions involving the M₃S₄ systems. The energy required for the rate-determining step of the reaction (the initial addition of the cluster by water) is lower than the separated reactants (-0.8 kcal/mol for Mo and -5.1 kcal/mol for W). They confirm the M₃S₄^- cluster's ability to efficiently activate the chemical bonds in water to release H_2. Though the W₃S₃^- cluster is not as efficient at bond activation, it provides insights into the factors that contribute to the success of the M₃S₄ anionic systems in hydrogen evolution.

Hydroxylated phosphines as ligands for chalcogenide clusters: self assembly, transformations and stabilization

This contribution is a documentation of recent advances in the chemistry of chalcogenide polynuclear transition metal complexes coordinated with mono- and di-phosphines functionalized with hydroxo groups. A survey of complexes containing tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP) is presented. The influence of the alkyl chain in bidentate phosphines, bearing the P–(CH2)x–OH arms, is also analyzed. Finally, isolation and structure elucidation of the complexes with HP(OH)2, P(OH)3, As(OH)3, PhP(OH)2, stabilized by coordination to Ni(0) and Pd(0) centers embedded into chalcogenide clusters, is discussed.

Cycloaddition of alkynes to diimino Mo3S4 cubane-type clusters: a combined experimental and theoretical approach

Newly synthesised molibdenum diimino clusters interact with alkynes leading to dithiolene species.

Mechanism of [3+2] cycloaddition of alkynes to the [Mo3 S4 (acac)3 (py)3 ][PF6 ] cluster

A study, involving kinetic measurements on the stopped-flow and conventional UV/Vis timescales, ESI-MS, NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, has been carried out to understand the mechanism of the reaction of [Mo3 S4 (acac)3 (py)3 ][PF6 ] ([1]PF6 ; acac=acetylacetonate, py=pyridine) with two RCCR alkynes (R=CH2 OH (btd), COOH (adc)) in CH3 CN. Both reactions show polyphasic kinetics, but experimental and computational data indicate that alkyne activation occurs in a single kinetic step through a concerted mechanism similar to that of organic [3+2] cycloaddition reactions, in this case through the interaction with one Mo(μ-S)2 moiety of [1](+) . The rate of this step is three orders of magnitude faster for adc than that for btd, and the products initially formed evolve in subsequent steps into compounds that result from substitution of py ligands or from reorganization to give species with different structures. Activation strain analysis of the [3+2] cycloaddition step reveals that the deformation of the two reactants has a small contribution to the difference in the computed activation barriers, which is mainly associated with the change in the extent of their interaction at the transition-state structures. Subsequent frontier molecular orbital analysis shows that the carboxylic acid substituents on adc stabilize its HOMO and LUMO orbitals with respect to those on btd due to better electron-withdrawing properties. As a result, the frontier molecular orbitals of the cluster and alkyne become closer in energy; this allows a stronger interaction.

Synthesis and structure of trinuclear W3S4 clusters bearing aminophosphine ligands and their reactivity toward halides and pseudohalides

The aminophosphine ligand (2-aminoethyl)diphenylphosphine (edpp) has been coordinated to the W3(μ-S)(μ-S)3 cluster unit to afford trimetallic complex [W3S4Br3(edpp)3](+) (1(+)) in a one-step synthesis process with high yields. Related [W3S4X3(edpp)3](+) clusters (X = F(-), Cl(-), NCS(-); 2(+)-4(+)) have been isolated by treating 1(+) with the corresponding halide or pseudohalide salt. The structure of complexes 1(+) to 4(+) contains an incomplete W3S4 cubane-type cluster unit, and only one of the possible isomers is formed: the one with the phosphorus atoms trans to the capping sulfur and the amino groups trans to the bridging sulphurs. The remaining coordination position on each metal is occupied by X. Detailed studies using stopped-flow, (31)P{(1)H} NMR, and ESI-MS have been carried out in order to understand the solution behavior and the kinetics of interconversion among species 1(+), 2(+), 3(+), and 4(+) in solution. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been also carried out on the reactions of cluster 1(+) with the different anions. The whole set of experimental and theoretical data indicate that the actual mechanism of substitutions in these clusters is strongly dependent on the nature of the leaving and entering anions. The interaction between an entering F(-) and the amino group coordinated to the adjacent metal have also been found to be especially relevant to the kinetics of these reactions.

Synthesis and investigation of cobalt chalcogenide clusters with thienyl phosphine ligands as new acceptor materials for P3HT

In progress towards a covalently linked organic–inorganic structure, cobalt chalcogenide clusters were synthesized with thienyl phosphines ligands. Results indicate the clusters have potential as new acceptor materials for P3HT.

Influence of the ligand alkyl chain length on the solubility, aqueous speciation, and kinetics of substitution reactions of water-soluble M3S4 (M = Mo, W) clusters bearing hydroxyalkyl diphosphines

Water-soluble [M3S4X3(dhbupe)3](+) diphosphino complexes (dhbupe = 1,2-bis(bis(hydroxybutyl)phosphino)ethane), 1(+) (M = Mo, X = Cl) and 2(+) (M = W; X = Br), have been synthesized by extending the procedure used for the preparation of their hydroxypropyl analogues by reaction of the M3S4(PPh3)3X4(solvent)x molecular clusters with the corresponding 1,2-bis(bishydroxyalkyl)diphosphine. The solid state structure of the [M3S4X3(dhbupe)3](+) cation possesses a C3 symmetry with a cuboidal M3S4 unit, and the outer positions are occupied by one halogen and two phosphorus atoms of the diphosphine ligand. At a basic pH, the halide ligands are substituted by hydroxo groups to afford the corresponding [Mo3S4(OH)3(dhbupe)3](+) (1OH(+)) and [W3S4(OH)3(dhbupe)3](+) (2OH(+)) complexes. This behavior is similar to that found in 1,2-bis(bis(hydroxymethyl)phosphino)ethane (dhmpe) complexes and differs from that observed for 1,2-bis(bis(hydroxypropyl)phosphino)ethane (dhprpe) derivatives. In the latter case, an alkylhydroxo group of the functionalized diphosphine replaces the chlorine ligands to afford Mo3S4 complexes in which the deprotonated dhprpe acts in a tridentate fashion. Detailed studies based on stopped-flow, (31)P{(1)H} NMR, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry techniques have been carried out in order to understand the solution behavior and kinetics of interconversion between the different species formed in solution: 1 and 1OH(+) or 2 and 2OH(+). On the basis of the kinetic results, a mechanism with two parallel reaction pathways involving water and OH(-) attacks is proposed for the formal substitution of halides by hydroxo ligands. On the other hand, reaction of the hydroxo clusters with HX acids occurs with protonation of the OH(-) ligands followed by substitution of coordinated water by X(-).

Synthesis, spectral, and structural characterizations of imidazole oxalato molybdenum(IV/V/VI) complexes

Substitutions of trans-Na(Him)[Mo(2)O(4)(ox)(2)(H(2)O)(2)]·H(2)O (1) and trans-(Him)(2)[Mo(2)O(4)(ox)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (2) with imidazole result in the formation of the mixed-ligand molybdenum complexes cis-Na(2)[Mo(2)O(4)(ox)(2)(im)(2)]·4.5H(2)O (3), cis-K(2)[Mo(2)O(4)(ox)(2)(im)(2)]·3H(2)O (4), respectively (H(2)ox = oxalic acid; im = imidazole). Further reduction of cis-K(2)[Mo(2)O(4)(ox)(2)(im)(2)]·3H(2)O (4) gives a trinuclear molybdenum(IV) complex K(Him)[Mo(3)O(4)(ox)(3)(im)(3)]·3H(2)O (5), which contains an incomplete cubane cluster [Mo(IV)(3)O(4)](4+). Two novel trinuclear mixed-valence imidazole compounds [Mo(3)O(8)(im)(4)](im)·H(2)O (6) and [Mo(3)O(8)(im)(4)]·H(2)O (7) were obtained by the reduction of (Him)(4)[Mo(8)O(26)(im)(2)] (8). Both 6 and 7 contain a novel Mo(VI)O(4)(Mo(V)(2)O(4)) center, where the [Mo(V)(2)O(4)](2+) unit is linked by [Mo(VI)O(4)](2-) anion. The Mo-Mo bond distances in 1-7 decrease with the decrease of oxidation state of molybdenum. Solid and solution NMR spectra show that imidazole molybdenum compounds 6-8 fully dissociate in solution, where solvated imidazole and imidazolium groups in 6 and 8 could be served as internal references in their solid (13)C NMR spectra. Furthermore, mixed-ligand molybdenum species 3 and 4 are stable in water. Stabilities of 3 and 4 in solution may be attributed to the strong coordination of bidentate oxalate and the formation of hydrogen bond. Dimers 2 and 4 display quasi-reversible redox process, while trimer 6 is irreversible. Bond valence calculations for 1-8 are consistent with their oxidation states of molybdenum atoms. Calculation of the oxidation state in recent structure of iron molybdenum cofactor [MoFe(7)S(9)C(R-homocit)] (FeMo-co) is 3.318.

Water-soluble Mo3S4 clusters bearing hydroxypropyl diphosphine ligands: synthesis, crystal structure, aqueous speciation, and kinetics of substitution reactions

The [Mo(3)S(4)Cl(3)(dhprpe)(3)](+) (1(+)) cluster cation has been prepared by reaction between Mo(3)S(4)Cl(4)(PPh(3))(3) (solvent)(2) and the water-soluble 1,2-bis(bis(hydroxypropyl)phosphino)ethane (dhprpe, L) ligand. The crystal structure of [1](2)[Mo(6)Cl(14)] has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods and shows the typical incomplete cuboidal structure with a capping and three bridging sulfides. The octahedral coordination around each metal center is completed with a chlorine and two phosphorus atoms of the diphosphine ligand. Depending on the pH, the hydroxo group of the functionalized diphosphine can substitute the chloride ligands and coordinate to the cluster core to give new clusters with tridentate deprotonated dhprpe ligands of formula [Mo(3)S(4)(dhprpe-H)(3)](+) (2(+)). A detailed study based on stopped-flow, (31)P{(1)H} NMR, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry techniques has been carried out to understand the behavior of acid-base equilibria and the kinetics of interconversion between the 1(+) and the 2(+) forms. Both conversion of 1(+) to 2(+) and its reverse process occur in a single kinetic step, so that reactions proceed at the three metal centers with statistically controlled kinetics. The values of the rate constants under different conditions are used to discuss on the mechanisms of opening and closing of the chelate rings with coordination or dissociation of chloride.

A DFT and TD-DFT approach to the understanding of statistical kinetics in substitution reactions of M3Q4 (M = Mo, W; Q = S, Se) cuboidal clusters

For many years it has been known that the nine water molecules in [M(3)Q(4)(H(2)O)(9)](4+) cuboidal clusters (M = Mo, W; Q = S, Se) can be replaced by entering ligands, such as chloride or thiocyanate, and kinetic studies carried out mainly on the substitution of the first water molecule at each metal centre reveal that the reaction at the three metal centres occurs with statistical kinetics; that is, a single exponential with a rate constant corresponding to the reaction at the third centre is observed instead of the expected three-exponential kinetic trace. Such simplification of the kinetic equations requires the simultaneous fulfilment of two conditions: first that the three consecutive rate constants are in statistical ratio, and second that the metal centres behave as independent chromophores. The validity of those simplifications has been checked for the case of the reaction of [Mo(3)S(4)(H(2)O)(9)](4+) with Cl(-) by using DFT and TD-DFT theoretical calculations. The results of those calculations are in agreement with the available experimental information, which indicates that the H(2)O ligands trans to the μ-S undergo substitution much faster than those trans to the μ(3)-S. Moreover, the energy barriers for the substitution of the first water molecule at the three metal centres are close to each other, the differences being compatible with the small changes in the numerical values of the rate constants required for observation of statistical kinetics. TD-DFT calculations lead to calculated electronic spectra, which are in reasonable agreement with those experimentally measured, but the calculations do not indicate that the three metal centres behave as independent chromophores, although the mathematical conditions required for simplification of the kinetic traces to a single exponential are reasonably well fulfilled at certain wavelengths. A re-examination of the kinetics of the reaction by using global fitting procedures yields results, which are compatible with statistical kinetics, although an alternative interpretation in which substitution only occurs at a single metal centre under reversible conditions is also possible.