Synthesis and molecular structure of trinuclear mixed-metal cluster cations containing arene and hydrido ligands

The mixed-metal trinuclear cluster cations [H₃Ru₂(C₆Me₆)₂Os(C₆H₆)(O)]⁺ (1), [H₃Ru₂(1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄)₂Os(p-MeC₆H₄ⁱPr)(O)]⁺ (2) and [H₃Ru₂(1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄)₂Os(C₆H₆)(O)]⁺ (3) have been synthesised from the corresponding dinuclear precursors [H₃Ru₂(arene)₂]⁺ and the corresponding mononuclear complexes [Os(arene)(H₂O)₃]²⁺, isolated and characterised as the tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate salts. The cations 1, 2 and 3 are heteronuclear analogues of the cluster cation [H₃Ru₃(C₆H₆)(C₆Me₆)₂(O)]⁺ that possesses a homonuclear metallic core. The single-crystal X-ray structure analyses of [1][BF₄], [2][PF₆] and [3][PF₆] reveal an equiangular metal triangle despite the presence of an osmium atom in the metallic core.     

New mono and dinuclear arene ruthenium chloro complexes containing ester substituents

The dinuclear arene ruthenium complexes [RuCl₂{C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OCO-p-C₆H₄-OC₈H₁₇}]₂ (1) and [RuCl₂{p-C₆H₄(CH₂COOCH₂CH₃)₂}]₂ (2) have been obtained by dehydrogenation of the corresponding cyclohexadiene derivative with ruthenium chloride hydrate. The single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of 2 shows the arene ligands to be involved in slipped-parallel π-π stacking interactions with neighbouring molecules, thus forming infinite chains along the b-axis. The dinuclear complexes 1 and 2 react with two equivalents of triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) to give in excellent yield the corresponding mononuclear phosphine complexes [RuCl₂{C₆H₅(CH₂)₃OCO-p-C₆H₄-OC₈H₁₇}(PPh₃)] (3) and [RuCl₂{p-C₆H₄(CH₂COOCH₂CH₃)₂}(PPh₃)] (4), respectively. The single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of 4 reveals the formation of a dimer through two C-H?Cl interactions in the solid state.     

Synthesis and isomerisation of two metallated N,O-complexes of ruthenium: Models for the Murai reaction

Two isomers of the N,O-coordinated acetylpyrrolyl complex [Ru(PPh₃)₂(CO)(NC₄H₃C(O)CH₃)H] {cis-N,H (1) and trans-N,H (2)} have been prepared as models for catalytic intermediates in the Murai reaction. Complex 2 isomerises to 1 upon heating via a dissociative pathway (ΔH^‡ = 195 ± 41 kJ mol⁻¹; ΔS^‡ = 232 ± 62 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹); the mechanism of this process has been modeled using density functional calculations. Complex 2 displays moderate catalytic activity for the Murai coupling of 2′-methylacetophenone with trimethylvinylsilane, but 1 proved to be catalytically inactive under the same conditions.     

Ruthenium(II) complex of the novel azoimine ligand, α-acetyl-α-phenylazo-4-chlorophenylazomethine

The novel azoimine ligand α-acetyl-α-phenylazo-4-chlorophenylazomethine (L) was prepared and characterized. Its coordination chemistry to Ru(II) was investigated by the preparation and characterization of the complex trans-[Ru(bpy)LCl₂] where bpy is 2,2′-bipyridine. A crystal structure of this complex showed that L is a bidentate ligand and coordinates to Ru(II) by azo-and imine-nitrogen donor atoms. Cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry were performed on this complex and the visible region absorption bands assigned. L is shown to be a strong π-acid ligand.     

Bridged dinucleating N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and their double helical mercury(II) complexes

A series of six 3,6-bis(imidazolium-3-yl)pyridazine derivatives with different imidazole-N substituents have been synthesized and isolated as the salts [H₂L]Cl₂ (1a)-(6a) and [H₂L](PF₆)₂ (1b)-(6b). Solid state structures have been determined crystallographically for eleven out of the twelve compounds, revealing diverse hydrogen bonding patterns that involve the imidazolium-C²H units and the anions. N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) mercury(II) complexes [Hg₂L₂](PF₆)₄ (7)-(9) are readily formed in good yields from ligand precursors [H₂L](PF₆)₂ and Hg(OAc)₂, as long as imidazole-N substituents are not too bulky. X-ray crystallography reveals double helical bimetallic arrangements for the stable [Hg₂L₂]⁴⁺ cations. Ligand scrambling in [Hg₂L₂]⁴⁺ occurs only in the presence of free carbene precursor, presumably via an associative mechanism.     

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).     

Ligand substitution reactions of the [ReX6] (X = Cl, Br) anions. Synthesis and crystal structure of novel oxalato complexes of rhenium(IV)

The reaction of K₂[ReX₆] (X = Cl, Br) with oxalic acid and triethylamine in dimethylformamide solution yields the substituted complexes [ReX₄(ox)]²⁻ and cis-[ReX₂(ox)₂]²⁻, which can be obtained separately depending on the amount of added amine. The crystal structures of (PPh₄)₂[ReBr₄(ox)], cis-(PPh₄)₂[ReBr₂(ox)₂] and cis-(AsPh₄)₂[ReCl₂(ox)₂] have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The anionic complexes are octahedral with only slight distortions. The direct isolation of the pure complexes as well as the formation of only the cis isomers - without the presence of trans isomers and/or [Re(ox)₃]²⁻ - is probably due to the kinetic inertness of Re(IV)-X bonds, which increases with the number of oxalato ligands bound to the metal ion.     

Mono- and binuclear copper(II) complexes containing di(2-pyridyl)sulfide (DPS) as chelating ligand: Spectroscopic characterization and crystal structures of [Cu(DPS)(H2O)Cl2] · H2O and [{Cu(DPS)Cl}2μ-(Cl)2]

The complexes [Cu(DPS)(H₂O)Cl₂] · H₂O (1a) and [{Cu(DPS)Cl}₂μ-(Cl)₂] (1b) where DPS = Di(2-pyridyl)sulfide have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, thermal analysis (TG/DSC), vibrational and electronic spectroscopies as well as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Additionally, the crystal and molecular structures of both compounds have been determined by X-ray diffraction techniques.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of bis- and tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane complexes of Ni(NO3)2

The complexes (tpm*)Ni(η²-NO₃)(η¹-NO₃) (1), [(bpm*)₂Ni(η²-NO₃)]NO₃ (2), and [(tpm*)(bpm*)Ni(η¹-NO₃)]NO₃ (3) (tpm* = tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane; bpm* = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane) have been prepared and characterized by IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. These d⁸ complexes all adopt variously distorted octahedral structures in the solid state and their magnetic moments are consistent with a paramagnetic state with two unpaired electrons. The solution ¹H NMR data show that the paramagnetism is maintained in solution.     

Robust building blocks for inorganic crystal engineering

We have prepared two ligands, 4- and 5-carboxylic acid pyrimidine, and synthesized and crystallographically characterized seven coordination complexes thereof. The need for potentially structurally disruptive counterions is eliminated by deprotonation of the carboxylic acid moieties; the carboxylates present in each structure act as counterions and balance the charge on the divalent metal ions leading to charge-neutral complex ions. The four new M(II)-complexes with 4-carboxylic acid pyrimidine (M = Ni, Cu, Zn, and Co) are isostructural as are the three M(II) complexes with 3-carboxylic acid pyrimidine (M = Ni, Cu, and Zn), indicating robust and reliable coordination modes for both ligands.