skip to main content


Title: Copper(I) SNS pincer complexes: Impact of ligand design and solvent coordination on conformer interconversion from spectroscopic and computational studies
The syntheses and detailed characterizations (X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, infrared spectroscopy, electrospray mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses) of two new Cu(I) pincer complexes are reported. The pincer ligand coordinates through one nitrogen and two sulfur donor atoms and is based on bis-imidazole or bis-triazole precursors. These tridentate SNS ligands incorporate pyridine and thione-substituted imidazole or triazole functionalities with connecting methylene units that provide flexibility to the ligand backbone and enable high bite-angle binding. Variable temperature 1H NMR analysis of these complexes and of a similar zinc(II) SNS system shows that all are fluxional in solution and permits the determination of delta G double dagger and delta S double dagger. DFT calculations are used to model the fluxionality of these complexes and indicate that a coordinating solvent molecule can promote hemilability of the SNS ligand by lowering the energy barrier involved in the partial rotation of the methylene units.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1827854
PAR ID:
10148222
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Inorganica Chimica Acta
ISSN:
0020-1693
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. null (Ed.)
    We report a series of redox-active bis(pincer) Pd( ii ) complexes in which the redox active units are based on either a diarylamido or a carbazolide framework. Compounds 1 and 2 contain two full diarylamido/bis(pincer) PNP units connected either via an Ar–O–Ar linker ( 1 ) or an Ar–Ar bond ( 2 ). Compound 3 is a fused bis(pincer) where the two PNP units share an aromatic ring. Compound 4 is built around an indolo[3,2- b ]carbazole core in which two NNN pincers share an aromatic ring similarly to 3 . These metal complexes all display two reversible oxidation waves with the Δ E values increasing in the order of 1 < 2 < 4 < 3 . The same trend in increasing electronic coupling emerges from the analysis of the IV-CT bands in the NIR portion of the optical spectra. The analysis of these compounds was further advanced by data from EPR spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and DFT calculations. It is concluded that the monooxidized cations 2+–4+ belong to Class III on the Robin-Day classification of mixed-valence compounds. Compound 4 possesses enforced near-planarity that enables delocalization of the unpaired electron in 4+ across a broader conjugated system compared to 3+ . 
    more » « less
  2. Robust earth-abundant transition metal-based photocatalysts are needed for photocatalytic CO2 reduction. A series of six Ni(II) complexes have been synthesized with a tridentate CNC pincer ligand composed of two imidazole or benzimidazole derived N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) rings and a pyridyl ring with different R substituents (R = OMe, Me, H) para to N of the pyridine ring. These complexes have been characterized using spectroscopic, analytic, and crystallographic methods. The electrochemical properties of all complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry under N2 and CO2 atmospheres. Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO and HCO2– was analyzed using all the complexes in the presence and absence of an external photosensitizer (PS). All of these complexes are active as photocatalysts for CO2 reduction with and without the presence of an external PS with appreciable turnover numbers (TON) for formate (HCO2–) production and typically lower amounts of CO. Notably, all Ni(II) CNC-pincer complexes in this series are also active as self-sensitized photocatalysts. Complex 4Me with a benzimidazole derived CNC pincer ligand was found to be the most active self-sensitized photocatalyst. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) experiments and computational studies were performed to understand the mechanism of these catalysts. Whereas sensitized catalysis involves halide loss to produce more active complexes, self-sensitized catalysis requires some halide to remain coordinated to allow for a favorable electron transfer between the excited nickel complex and the sacrificial electron donor. This then allows the nickel complex to undergo CO2 reduction catalysis via NiI or Ni0 catalytic cycles. The two active species (NiI¬ and Ni0) demonstrate distinct reactivity and selectivity which influences the formation of CO vs. formate as the product. 
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    A new method to synthesize complexes of the type [(CNC)RuII(NN)L]n+has been introduced, where CNC is a tridentate pincer composed of two (benz)imidazole derived NHC rings and a pyridyl ring, NN is a bidentate aromatic diimine ligand, L=bromide or acetonitrile, and n=1 or 2. Following this new method a series of six new complexes has been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic, analytic, crystallographic, and computational methods. Their electrochemical properties have been studiedviacyclic voltammetry under both N2and CO2atmospheres. Photocatalytic reduction of CO2to CO was performed using these complexes both in the presence (sensitized) and absence (self‐sensitized) of an external photosensitizer. This study evaluates the effect of different CNC, NN, and L ligands in sensitized and self‐sensitized photocatalysis. Catalysts bearing the benzimidazole derived CNC pincer show much better activity for both sensitized and self‐sensitized photocatalysis as compared to catalysts bearing the imidazole derived CNC pincer. Furthermore, self‐sensitized photocatalysis requires a diimine ligand for CO2reduction with catalyst2ACNbeing the most active catalyst in this series with TON=85 and TOF=22 h−1with an electron donating 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridyl (dmb) ligand and a benzimidazole derived CNC pincer.

     
    more » « less
  4. We report the synthesis of molybdenum and tungsten bromo dicarbonyl complexes (POCOPtBu)MIIBr(CO)2(M  =  Mo or W; POCOPtBu  =  κ3-C6H3-1,3-[OP( tBu)2]2) supported by an anionic PCP pincer ligand, and the chromium complex (PNPtBu)Cr0(CO)3(PNPtBu  =  2,6-bis(di- tert-butyl-phosphinomethyl)pyridine) bearing a neutral PNP pincer scaffold. The three group six complexes described in this study have been characterized by Liquid Injection Field Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry (LIFDI-MS), NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies show the MoIIand WIIcomplexes adopt a six-coordinate distorted trigonal prismatic geometry, whereas the Cr0complex exhibits a distorted octahedral geometry.

     
    more » « less
  5. Agostic interactions were observed in the bound mesityl group in a series of iron compounds bearing a bis(NHC) pincer CCC ligand. The L-type ligand on [(CCC)Fe II Mes(L)] complexes influences the strength of the agostic interaction and is manifested in the upfield shift of the 1 H NMR resonance for the mesityl methyl resonances. The nature of the interaction was further investigated by density functional theory calculations, allowing rationalization of some unexpected trends and proving to be a powerful predictive tool. 
    more » « less