Diastereoselective synthesis of a “chiral-at-Ru” secondary phosphine complex

Synthesis of the half-sandwich ruthenium complex [RuCl(η⁵-indenyl){P(Bu^t)(Ph)H}(PPh₃)], 2, containing an unsymmetrically-substituted secondary phosphine, is described. A 60:40 kinetic distribution of the resulting diastereomers 2a and 2b shifts in solution at room temperature to give predominantly 2a. The relative stereochemistries at ruthenium and the secondary phosphine in each diastereomer have been assigned based on ¹H NOESY NMR and crystallographic data.     

Molecular structures of nickel(II) monochelates of a racemic tridentate ligand and co-ligand induced structural variations

Using a racemic mixture of the tridentate ligand, (((2-pyridyl)ethylamine)methyl)phenolate ion (L⁻) and , NCS⁻, (NC)₂N⁻, OAc⁻ as coligands, complexes having the formula [Ni(L)(N₃)] (1), [Ni(L)(NCS)]₂ (2), [Ni₂(L)₂(OAc)(N(CN)₂)]_n (3) were prepared and structurally characterized. In 1, Ni(II) has a square planar geometry and phenolate oxygen is involved in dipolar ?N^δ+ interaction with electrophilic central nitrogen atom of coordinated azide ion. Complex 2 is dimeric in nature and nickel(II) is penta-coordinated. Compounds 1 and 2 exist as centrosymmetric dimers made up of a pair of R and S enantiomers of L. In 3, an acetate and phenoxo bridged dinickel complex is present which is further linked to a zig-zag coordination polymer by the dicyanamide ion. In a given chain of 3, both L have same enantiomeric form and either RR or SS dimers are repeated along the chain. The magnetic properties are described.     

Zinc complexes of a tripodal ligand containing three different N-heterocyclic donor functions

The coordination chemistry of a chiral tripodal ligand L containing pyridyl, imidazolyl and pyrazolyl donor functions has been investigated in combination with zinc(II). While the reaction of a racemic mixture of L with ZnX₂ (X = Cl, Br) leads to complexes LZnX₂ with tetrahedrally coordinated zinc centres (the pyridyl donor function remains pending), the employment of Zn(ClO₄)₂ leads to the sandwich complex [L₂Zn](ClO₄)₂ which due to the two possible configurations for L (S and R) occurs in form of two diastereomers (the meso form and the enantiomeric pair SS/RR). The crystal structures of all three compounds are discussed.     

Organotin(IV) 4-methoxyphenylethanoates: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, X-ray structures and in vitro anticancer activity against human prostate cell lines (PC-3)

A series of organotin(IV) carboxylates, [Bu₂SnL₂] (1), [Et₂SnL₂] (2), [Me₂SnL₂] (3), [Bu₃SnL]_n(4), [Me₆Sn₂L₂]_n(5), [Ph₃SnL]_n(6) and [Oct₂SnL₂] (7), where L = O₂CCH₂C₆H₄OCH₃-4, have been synthesized. These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn). Based on spectroscopic results, the ligand appeared to coordinate to the Sn atom through COO moiety. Single crystal analysis has shown a bridging behavior of ligand in tributyl- and trimethyltin(IV) derivatives, and a chelating bidentate mode in diethyltin(IV) complex. Bioassay results have shown that these compounds have good antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor activity. The activity against prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3) decreased in the order 1 > 5 > 2 > 3 > 7.     

Rhodium and iridium olefin complexes with bulky cyclopentadienyl and hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands

The synthesis of a series of rhodium and iridium complexes bearing bulky cyclopentadienyl or hydro(trispyrazolyl)borate ligands is described. The rhodium cyclopentadienyl and hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate diene compounds, [(η⁵-C₅Me₄Bu^t)Rh(η⁴-2,3-MeRC₄H₄] (R = H, 1; Me, 2) and Tp^MsRh(η⁴-2,3-MeRC₄H₄) (R = H, 3; Me, 4; Tp^Ms is hydrotris(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)borate), respectively, have been prepared from the corresponding Rh(I) diene precursors and Zn(C₅Me₄Bu^t)₂ (for 1 and 2), or TlTp^Ms (for 3 and 4), as effective C₅Me₄Bu^t or Tp^Ms transfer reagents. In contrast with these results, attempts to obtain a bis(ethylene) derivative of the Tp^tolIr(I) unit (Tp^tol stands for hydrotris(3-p-tolylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) have provided instead the Ir(III) complex [(κ⁴-N,N′,N″,C-Tp^tol)-Ir(C₂H₅)(C₂H₄)] (5), whose formation requires C-H bond activation of a molecule of ethylene and of one of the Tp^tolp-tolyl substituents. In refluxing toluene 5 experiences metalation of a second p-tolyl substituent to give [(κ⁵-N,N′,N″,C,C′-Tp^tol)-Ir(C₂H₄)] (6), which features unusual κ⁵-Tp^tol coordination. The latter compound reacts with carbon monoxide to yield the corresponding carbonyl, 7.     

Structural variety and stereochemical features of bis(diphenylphosphinyl)[3]ferrocenophane gold(I) complexes

The P,N-[3]ferrocenophane ligand 3 forms a (κP-ligand)AuCl complex (5) upon treatment with (Me₂S)AuCl. The corresponding P,P-[3]ferrocenophane system 4 yields a binuclear (κP,κP-chelate ligand)(AuCl)₂ complex (6) when reacted with 2 equivalents of the (Me₂S)AuCl reagent. Complex 6 features an intramolecular aurophilic Au?Au interaction. Treatment of the P,P-[3]ferrocenophane 4 with 1.0 equiv. of (PPh₃)AuCl gives the tetra-coordinated mono-gold(I) complex (P,P-ligand)(PPh₃)AuCl (7), whereas the cationic [(P,P-ligand)₂Au]⁺[Cl⁻] system is obtained from 4 and 0.5 equivalents of (Me₂S)AuCl. The [(P,P-ligand)₂Au]⁺ system is obtained in different diastereoisomeric forms (8 and 9) depending on the stereochemistry of the pair of P,P-[3]ferrocenophane chelate ligand used. Examples of the complexes 5, 6, 7 and 8 were characterized by X-ray diffraction.     

S-nitrosothiol and nitric oxide reactivity at β-diketiminato zinc thiolates

The β-diketiminato zinc halide [Me₂NN]ZnCl₂Li(THF)₃ (1) is prepared in 51% isolated yield by addition of the lithium β-diketiminate Li[Me₂NN] to ZnCl₂ in THF. Reaction of 1 with 2 equiv. of the thallium thiolate TlSCy provides {[Me₂NN]Zn(μ-SCy)₂Tl}₂ (2), a TlSCy adduct of [Me₂NN]ZnSCy, as colorless crystals in 51% yield. Reaction of 1 with 1 equiv. TlSR provides the dinuclear {[Me₂NN]Zn(μ-SR)}₂ (R = Cy (3), ^tBu (4)) which possess unsymmetrically bridging thiolate ligands with pairs of dissimilar Zn-S distances in the solid state (2.350(3) and 2.417(3) Å for 3; 2.312(1) and 2.415(1) Å for 4). Reaction of 1 with LiSCPh₃ results in the mononuclear zinc thiolates [Me₂NN]ZnSCPh₃(THF) (5) and [Me₂NN]ZnSCPh₃ (6) with shorter, but similar Zn-SR distances of 2.225(2) and 2.214(1) Å. Variable temperature ¹H NMR studies of 3 and 4 in CDCl₃ suggest that the aliphatic thiolates exist predominately as monomeric species in solution near room temperature, though at −50 °C two different β-diketiminato species are observed for 3. Thiolate exchange among 3, 4, and 6 also takes place on the NMR timescale near room temperature. Both 4 and 6 undergo transnitrosylation with CySNO in CDCl₃ to give {[Me₂NN]ZnSCy}₂ (3) and the corresponding S-nitrosothiol ^tBuSNO or Ph₃CSNO. Nitric oxide does not react with 4 or 6 under anaerobic conditions, but in the presence of O₂, NO cleaves the zinc-thiolate bond of 4 to rapidly give ^tBuSNO. Similarly, anaerobic NO₂ reacts with 4 to give ^tBuSNO providing insight into the active nitrogen oxide species capable of cleaving Zn-SR bonds.     

Syntheses and characterization of diorganotin(IV) derivatives with areneseleninic acid: X-ray crystal structures of 1D infinite chains containing eight-membered ring

Three new diorganotin(IV) complexes, [Bu₂Sn(O₂SeC₆H₅)₂]_n (1), [Bu₂Sn(O₂SeC₆H₄Me)₂]_n (2), [Me₂Sn(O₂SeC₆H₄Bu)₂]_n (3) have been synthesized by the reaction of benzeneseleninic acid, p-tolueneseleninic acid, and 4-tert-butylbenzeneseleninic acid with Me₂SnCl₂ or Bu₂SnCl₂ in the presence of sodium ethoxide in methanol at 50 °C. All of the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. X-ray diffraction studies of 1, 2, 3 show that the areneseleninate groups behave as double bridges between the tin atoms leading to polymeric chain structure with Sn₂O₄Se₂ eight-membered ring. The organic groups bonded to the tin atoms are in trans-position in the resulting octahedral arrangement.     

New arene ruthenium complexes with planar chirality

1,2,4-Trimethyl-cyclohexadiene reacts with RuCl₃ · nH₂O in refluxing ethanol to afford quantitatively [RuCl₂(1,2,4-C₆H₃Me₃)]₂ (1), the coordination of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene to the ruthenium atom introducing planar chirality at the η⁶-arene ligand. The dinuclear complex 1 reacts with two equivalents of triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) to give quantitatively, as a racemic mixture of enantiomers, [RuCl₂(1,2,4-C₆H₃Me₃)(PPh₃)] (2), the structure of which has been determined by a single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of (rac)-2. Similarly, 1 reacts with two equivalents of the enantiopure phosphine (1S,2S,5R)-(+)-neomenthyldiphenylphosphine (nmdpp) to afford in good yield [RuCl₂(1,2,4-C₆H₃Me₃)(nmdpp)] (3) as a mixture of diastereoisomers, from which the isomer 3a was isolated by crystallisation. A single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of 3a allowed the determination of the absolute configuration at the planar chiral η⁶-arene moiety. Finally, complex 1 reacts with one equivalent of the diphosphine ligand 1,1^′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppfc) to give the heteronuclear complex [RuCl₂(1,2,4-C₆H₃Me₃) (dppfc)RuCl₂(1,2,4-C₆H₃Me₃)] (4). All complexes were fully characterised by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, NMR and IR spectroscopies.     

Acid-base behavior of a simple metal bis(dithiolate) system: Synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopy of [Bu4N]2[M(ppdt)2] (M = Ni, Pt; ppdt = pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine-2,3-dithiolate)

The syntheses, crystal structures and properties of compounds [Bu₄N]₂[Ni(ppdt)₂] (1) and [Bu₄N]₂[Pt(ppdt)₂] (2) (ppdt = pyrido[2,3-b]pyrazine-2,3-dithiolate) have been described. Compound 1 crystallizes in P2₁/c space group (monoclinic system), whereas compound 2 crystallizes in C2/c space group (monoclinic system). The crystal structures of both compounds 1 and 2 have been characterized by C-H?S and C-H?N hydrogen bonding interactions between cation and anions resulting in three-dimensional supramolecular networks in the crystals of 1 and 2, respectively. The acid-base behavior of the ground states of both [Bu₄N]₂[Ni(ppdt)₂] (1) and [Bu₄N]₂[Pt(ppdt)₂] (2) and also the excited state of compound [Bu₄N]₂[Pt(ppdt)₂] (2) in solutions has been studied. The pH dependent changes in the charge transfer absorption and emission spectra are attributed to the protonation on an imine nitrogen of the ppdt ligand. The ground-state basicity constants of the two complexes 1 and 2 have been determined from spectrophotometric analysis by titrating with an weak acid, yielding pK_b1 = 8.0 for complex [Bu₄N]₂[Ni(ppdt)₂] (1) and pK_b1 = 7.8 for complex [Bu₄N]₂[Pt(ppdt)₂] (2). The excited-state basicity constant pK_b1^* for complex [Bu₄N]₂[Pt(ppdt)₂] (2) has been determined by a thermodynamic equation using a Förster analysis yielding the value of 1.8. The complex 2 is electrochemically irreversible with an oxidation potential of E_1/2 = +0.41 V versus Ag/AgCl in methanol.     

Homo- and heteronuclear complexes based on arene ruthenium complexes bearing bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphine (dpmp)

Reactions of [(p-cymene)RuCl₂]₂ (1a) with dpmp ((Ph₂PCH₂)₂PPh) in the absence or presence of KPF₆ afforded the ionic complexes [{(p-cymene)RuCl₂}(dpmp-P¹,P³;P²){RuCl(p-cymene)}](X) (2a₁: X=Cl; 2a₂: X=PF₆). A (p-cymene)RuCl moiety constructs a 6-membered ring coordinated by two terminal P atoms of the dpmp ligand and another one binds to a central P atom of the ligand. Reactions of [(C₆Me₆)RuCl₂]₂ (1b) with an excess of dpmp in the presence of KPF₆ gave a 4-membered complex [(C₆Me₆)RuCl(dpmp-P¹,P²)](PF₆) (3b), chelated by a terminal and a central P atom and another terminal atom is free. Use of Ag(OTf) instead of KPF₆ gave [{(C₆Me₆)RuCl₂(dpmp)Ag} ₂](OTf)₂ (5b) that the Ag atoms were coordinated by a terminal and a central P atom of each dpmp ligand. Reaction with an equivalent of dpmp in the presence of KPF₆ gave [{(C₆Me₆)RuCl}(dpmp-P¹,P²;P³){(C₆Me₆)RuCl₂}](PF₆) 4b. Complex has a structure that the (C₆Me₆)RuCl₂ moiety coordinated to the free P atom of 3b. Complex 3b was treated with MCl₂(cod) (M=Pd, Pt), [Pd(MesNC)₄](PF₆)₂ (MesNC=2,4,6-Me₃C₆H₂NC) or [Pt₂(XylNC)₆](PF₆)₂ (XylNC=2,6-Me₂C₆H₃NC), generating [{(C₆Me₆)RuCl(dpmp)}₂MCl₂](PF₆)₂ (8b: M=Pd; 9b: M=Pt), [{(C₆Me₆)RuCl(dpmp)}₂{Pt(MesNC)₂}](PF₆)₄ (10b) and [{(C₆Me₆)RuCl(dpmp)}₂{Pt₂(XylNC)₄}](PF₆)₄ (11b), respectively. Complex 3b reacted readily with [Cp*MCl₂]₂ (M=Rh, Ir) or AuCl(SC₄H₈), affording the corresponding hetero-binuclear complexes [{(C₆Me₆)RuCl}(dpmp-P¹,P²;P³)(MCl₂Cp^*](PF₆) (6b: M=Rh; 7b: M=Ir) and [{(C₆Me₆)RuCl}(dpmp-P¹,P²;P³)(AuCl)](PF₆) (12b). These complexes have two chiral centers. Some complexes were separated as two diastereomers by successive recrystallization. The structures of 3b, 5b, 6b, 8b and 12b were confirmed by X-ray analyses.     

New phospholyl complexes of groups 4 and 6: Syntheses, characterisation and polymerisation studies

[M(P₃C₂^tBu₂)(CO)₃I] (M = Mo, 1, W, 2) have been synthesised and reacted with PCl₅ for oxidation study purposes. Compounds Ti(P₃C₂^tBu₂)(Ind)Cl₂], 3, and [Zr(P₃C₂^tBu₂)(Cp)Cl₂], 4, were detected spectroscopically, but showed to be too unstable to be isolated. A Ti(IV) complex, [Ti(P₃C₂^tBu₂)Cl₃], 5, has been formed from the reaction of [TiCl₄] with the base-free ligand K(P₃C₂^tBu₂), while the Ti(III) species, [Ti(P₃C₂^tBu₂) Cl₂(THF)], 6, was prepared from [TiCl₃(THF)₃]. Compounds 5 and 6 were studied as ethylene catalyst precursors after activation with MAO. In the studied conditions, complex 5 is the most active one with an activity of 2.2 × 10⁵ g(molTi [E] h)⁻¹, one order of magnitude higher than compound 6. The produced polymer is linear polyethylene.     

Phosphane effects on formation and reactivity of [Ru(L)(PR3)(`N2Me2S2')] complexes with L=N2, N2H4, NH3, and CO

Metal-sulfur complex fragments, to which small molecules like N₂, N₂H₂, N₂H₄, NH₃, or CO can bind, are desirable model compounds concerning enzymatic N₂ fixation.This paper reports on the effects of the phosphane co-ligand on formation and reactivity of [Ru(L)(PR₃)(`N<sub>2</sub>Me<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub>')] [`N₂Me₂S₂'²⁻=1,2-ethanediamine-N,N^′-dimethyl-N,N^′-bis(2-benzenethiolate)(2−)] complexes with nitrogenase relevant ligands, especially N₂, N₂H₄, NH₃, and CO.Treatment of [Ru(NCCH₃)₄Cl₂] with Li₂`N<sub>2</sub>Me<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub>', excessive LiOMe, bulky PPh<sub>3</sub> or PCy<sub>3</sub>, respectively, led to the formation of two series of [Ru(L)(PR<sub>3</sub>)(`N₂Me₂S₂')] complexes [for R=Ph: 1b, 1c (L=NCCH₃), 6b (L=N₂H₄), 7b (L=N₂), 8b_1-3 (L=CO), 9b (L=NH₃); for R=Cy: 1a (L=NCCH₃), 6a (L=N₂H₄), 7a (L=N₂), 8a (L=CO), 9a (L=NH₃)]. While the use of PPh₃ (θ=145°) yielded cis,trans and cis,cis isomers of [Ru(NCCH₃)(PPh₃)(`N<sub>2</sub>Me<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub>')] (1b, 1c), no isomer formation was observed with the bulkier phosphane PCy<sub>3</sub> (θ=170°). Sterically less demanding phosphanes (θ=118-132°) afforded bisphosphane complexes [Ru(PR<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(`N₂Me₂S₂')] [2d (R=Me), 2e (R=Et), 2f (R=nPr), and 2g (R=nBu)], which were practically inert and could only be converted in two cases and under drastic reaction conditions into the CO complexes [Ru(CO)(PR₃)(`N<sub>2</sub>Me<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub>')] [4e (R=Et), 4f (R=nPr)]. The chelating bidentate phosphane dppe (bisdiphenylphosphanoethane) yielded exclusively the mononuclear complex [Ru(dppe)(`N₂Me₂S₂')] (3).     

Half-sandwich ruthenium thiocarbonate complexes: Structures of CpRu(PPh3)2SCO2Bu, CpRu(dppe)SCO2Bu and CpRu(PPh3)(CO)SCO2Bu

Thiocarbonate ruthenium complexes of the form CpRu(L)(L′)SCO₂R (L = L′ = PPh₃ (1), 1/2 dppe (2), L = PPh₃, L′ = CO (3); R = Et (a), Buⁿ (b), C₆H₅ (c), 4-C₆H₄NO₂ (d)) have been synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding sulfhydryl complexes, CpRu(L)(L′)SH, with chloroformates, ROCOCl, at low temperature. The bis(triphenylphosphine) complexes 1 can be converted to 3 under CO atmosphere. The crystal structures of CpRu(PPh₃)₂SCO₂Buⁿ (1b), CpRu(dppe)SCO₂Buⁿ (2b), and CpRu(PPh₃)(CO)SCO₂Buⁿ (3b) are reported.     

Synthesis and structural analysis of calix[4]arene-supported iron(III) complexes

The paper describes the reactivity of calix[4]arene dialkyl- or -silylethers H₂R₂calix, R=Me (1), Bz (2), or SiMe₃ (3) (p-tert.butyl-calix[4]arene=H₄calix), towards the iron(III) complex [FeCl(NSiMe₃)₂(thf)] 4. Bis(silylation) of H₄calix was achieved using a mixture of NEt₃ and Me₃SiCl as silylating agent, which is probably the most convenient and cheapest way for the preparation of H₂(Me₃Si)₂calix 3. [FeCl(N{SiMe₃}₂)₂(thf)] 4 has been obtained from the reaction of [FeCl₃] and commercially available K[N(SiMe₃)₂] in THF. The reactions of 4 with H₂Me₂calix and H₂Bz₂calix afford mononuclear iron(III) chloro compounds [FeCl(R₂calix)] 5 (R=Me) and 6 (R=Bz). The usage of calix[4]arene silyl ether 3 leads to a dinuclear complex [Fe₂({Me₃Si}calix)₂] 7, presumably under Me₃SiCl cleavage of a mononuclear calixarene iron(III) chloro complex. The calix[4]arene ether stabilized iron(III) chloro complexes are susceptible to nucleophilic substitution reactions, as exemplified by the reaction of 5 with sodium azide yielding an azido complex [Fe(N₃)(Me₂calix)] 8. The molecular structures of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 in the solid state have been determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis of [SnPh2(SR)2] SR = SC6F4-4-H, SC6F5: Reactivity towards group 10 transition metal complexes

The organometallic tin(IV) complexes [SnPh₂(SR^F)₂] SR^F = ⁻SC₆F₄-4-H (1), ⁻SC₆F₅ (2), were synthesized and their reactivity with [MCl₂(PPh₃)₂] M = Ni, Pd and Pt explored. Thus, transmetallation products were obtained affording polymeric [Ni(SR^F)(μ-SR^F)]_n, monomeric cis-[Pt(PPh₃)₂(SC₆F₄-4-H)₂] (3) and cis-[Pt(PPh₃)₂(SC₆F₅)₂] (4) and dimeric species [Pd(PPh₃)(SC₆F₄-4-H)(μ-SC₆F₄-4-H)]₂ (5) and [Pd(PPh₃)(SC₆F₅)(μ-SC₆F₅)]₂ (6) for Ni, Pt and Pd, respectively. The crystal structures of complexes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 were determined.     

Syntheses and characterization of titanium malonato and amino acid complexes: [Ti(cp)2(OOCCH2NMe2)] - The first structurally characterized α-amino acid titanium(III) complex

The reaction of [Ti(cp^∗)₂(BTMSA)] (1) (cp^∗ = η⁵-C₅Me₅, BTMSA = bis(trimethylsilyl)acetylene) with malonic acids ((HOOC)₂CR₂, R = H, Me) and N,N-dimethylglycine resulted in the formation of titanium(IV) dicarboxylato complexes [Ti(cp^∗)₂{(OOC)₂CR₂}] (R = H, 2; R = Me, 3) and an α-amino acid titanium(III) complex [Ti(cp^∗)₂(OOCCH₂NMe₂)] (4). The identities of complexes 2-4 were confirmed by microanalysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy (2, 3), ESI-MS and CID experiments (2, 3) as well as by ESR and magnetic measurements (μ_eff = 1.81, 298 K) for 4. Single X-ray diffraction analyses of 2 and 4 exhibited monomolecular complexes in which the titanium atom is distorted tetrahedrally coordinated by two η⁵-C₅Me₅ rings and by the chelating bound malonato-κ²O,O′ (2) and N,N-dimethylglycinato-κ²O,O′ ligand (4).     

A new gold(III)-aminoethyl imidazolium aurate salt: Synthesis, characterization and reactivity

Tetrachloroauric acid HAuCl₄ reacts with the ionic liquid 1-(2-aminoethyl)-3-methylimidazolium nitrate [NH₂(CH₂)₂ImMe]NO₃, (2b) or its dicationic ammonium salt [NH₃(CH₂)₂ImMe][NO₃]₂, (3) in methanolic solutions to give the novel gold(III)-aminoethyl imidazolium aurate salt [Cl₃AuNH₂(CH₂)₂ImMe][AuCl₄] (4). The reaction of 4 with [ⁿBu₄]Cl gives [NH₂(CH₂)₂ImMe][AuCl₄] (2c) whereas with acetone the dicationic, iminium-functionalized, imidazolium aurate salt [Me₂C=N(H)(CH₂)₂ImMe][AuCl₄]₂ (5) has been isolated. The structures in the solid state of 2c, 3, 4, and 5 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical behaviour of 4 has been examined by Cyclic voltammetry in acetonitrile and compared with 2c and KAuCl₄.     

Structural comparison of alkylated derivatives of (bmmp-dmed)Ni and (bmmp-dmed)Zn

The sulfur-alkylation of the nickel (1) and zinc (2) complexes of the dithiolate N₂S₂ ligand N,N′-bis-2-methyl-mercaptopropyl-N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine, H₂(bmmp-dmed), have been investigated. Reactions with iodomethane yield [(Me-bmmp-dmed)Ni]PF₆ (3), [(Me₂-bmmp-dmed)NiI₂] (4), and [(Me₂-bmmp-dmed)ZnI]₂[ZnI₄] (5). Addition of iodoacetamide yields [(AA₂-bmmp-dmed)Ni]I₂ (6) and [(AA₂-bmmp-dmed)Zn]I₂ (7). Each of the metal-thioether products (3-7) have been characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. Structural data is compared with that of the previously reported thiolato precursors 1 and 2. Sulfur-alkylation of 1 results in small relative changes in the nickel-sulfur bond distance, whereas for 2, the zinc-sulfur bond distance increases significantly, but is not cleaved. The difference between nickel and zinc is attributed to the release of a π*-bonding interaction between the metal and sulfur upon alkylation that compensates for the decreased σ-donor ability of the thioether in the case of nickel, but not for zinc.     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of metallated aminomethylanilines

Reaction of [1-{Me₃SiNH}-2-{Me₃SiNHCH₂}]C₆H₄ (1) and [1-{tBuMe₂SiNH}-2-{tBuMe₂SiNHCH₂}]C₆H₄ (2) in tetrahydrofuran with two equivalents of n-butyllithium gave the lithium amides [1-{Me₃SiN(Li)}-2-{Me₃SiN(Li)CH₂}]C₆H₄(thf)₃ (3) and [1-{tBuMe₂SiN(Li)}-2-{tBuMe₂SiN(Li)CH₂}]C₆H₄(thf)₂ (4). The molecular structures of both 3 and 4, which were established by X-ray diffraction studies, differ in the number of thf molecules coordinated to the Li centres. Depending on the size of the amidomethyl-bonded silyl groups two (4) or three thf-coligands (3) were found to bind to the lithium centres rendering them tri- or tetracoordinate, respectively. In the Me₃Si-substituted derivative 3 a rare example of a thf molecule as a bridging ligand was found which appears to pertain as such in solution. The reaction of the lithium amides 3 and 4 with two molar equivalents of TlCl in n-pentane gave the thallium(I) amides [1-{Me₃SiN(Tl)}-2-{Me₃SiN(Tl)CH₂}]C₆H₄ (5) and [1-{tBuMe₂SiN(Tl)}-2-{tBuMe₂SiN(Tl)CH₂}]C₆H₄ (6) which are stable in hydrocarbon solutions but rapidly decompose in polar solvents.