skip to main content
US FlagAn official website of the United States government
dot gov icon
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
https lock icon
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Title: Mononuclear and Dinuclear Copper Complexes of Tridentate Redox‐active Ligands with Tunable H‐bonding Donors: Structure, Spectroscopy and H + /e − Reactivity
Abstract In this research article, we describe the synthesis and characterization of mononuclear and dinuclear Cu complexes bound by a family of tridentate redox‐active ligands with tunable H‐bonding donors. The mononuclear Cu‐anion complexes were oxidized to the corresponding “high‐valent” intermediates by oxidation of the redox‐active ligand. These species were capable of oxidizing phenols with weak O−H bonds via H‐atom abstraction. Thermodynamic analysis of the H‐atom abstractions, which included reduction potential measurements, pKadetermination and kinetic studies, revealed that modification of the anion coordinated to the Cu and changes in the H‐bonding donor did not lead to major differences in the reactivity of the “high‐valent” CuY complexes (Y: hydroxide, phenolate and acetate), which indicated that the tridentate ligand scaffold acts as the H+and eacceptor.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1941220
PAR ID:
10227932
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Chemistry – An Asian Journal
Volume:
16
Issue:
12
ISSN:
1861-4728
Format(s):
Medium: X Size: p. 1608-1618
Size(s):
p. 1608-1618
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract Understanding the electronic structures of high‐valent metal complexes aids the advancement of metal‐catalyzed cross coupling methodologies. A prototypical complex with formally high valency is [Cu(CF3)4](1), which has a formal Cu(III) oxidation state but whose physical analysis has led some to a Cu(I) assignment in an inverted ligand field model. Recent examinations of1by X‐ray spectroscopies have led previous authors to contradictory conclusions, motivating the re‐examination of its X‐ray absorption profile here by a complementary method, resonant diffraction anomalous fine structure (DAFS). From analysis of DAFS measurements for a series of seven mononuclear Cu complexes including1, here it is shown that there is a systematic trifluoromethyl effect on X‐ray absorption that blue shifts the resonant Cu K‐edge energy by 2–3 eV per CF3, completely accounting for observed changes in DAFS profiles between formally Cu(III) complexes like1and formally Cu(I) complexes like (Ph3P)3CuCF3(3). Thus, in agreement with the inverted ligand field model, the data presented herein imply that1is best described as containing a Cu(I) ion with dncount approaching 10. 
    more » « less
  2. The hydroxylation of C–H bonds can be carried out by the high-valent CoIII,IV2(µ-O)2complex2asupported by the tetradentate tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligand via a CoIII2(µ-O)(µ-OH) intermediate (3a). Complex3acan be independently generated either by H-atom transfer (HAT) in the reaction of2awith phenols as the H-atom donor or protonation of its conjugate base, the CoIII2(µ-O)2complex1a. Resonance Raman spectra of these three complexes reveal oxygen-isotope-sensitive vibrations at 560 to 590 cm−1associated with the symmetric Co–O–Co stretching mode of the Co2O2diamond core. Together with a Co•••Co distance of 2.78(2) Å previously identified for1aand2aby Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) analysis, these results provide solid evidence for their “diamond core” structural assignments. The independent generation of3aallows us to investigate HAT reactions of2awith phenols in detail, measure the redox potential and pKaof the system, and calculate the O–H bond strength (DO–H) of3ato shed light on the C–H bond activation reactivity of2a. Complex3ais found to be able to transfer its hydroxyl ligand onto the trityl radical to form the hydroxylated product, representing a direct experimental observation of such a reaction by a dinuclear cobalt complex. Surprisingly, reactivity comparisons reveal2ato be 106-fold more reactive in oxidizing hydrocarbon C–H bonds than corresponding FeIII,IV2(µ-O)2and MnIII,IV2(µ-O)2analogs, an unexpected outcome that raises the prospects for using CoIII,IV2(µ-O)2species to oxidize alkane C–H bonds. 
    more » « less
  3. Abstract With the aim of constructing hydrogen‐bonding networks in synthetic complexes, two new ligands derived fromcis,cis‐1,3,5‐triaminocyclohexane (TACH) have been prepared that feature pendant pyrrole or indole rings as outer‐sphere H‐bond donors. The TACH framework offers a facial arrangement of threeN‐donors, thereby mimicking common coordination motifs in the active sites of nonheme Fe and Cu enzymes. X‐ray structural characterization of a series of CuI‐X complexes (X=F, Cl, Br, NCS) revealed that these neutral ligands (H3LR, R=pyrrole or indole) coordinate in the intended facialN3manner, yielding four‐coordinate complexes with idealizedC3symmetry. The N−H units of the outer‐sphere heterocycles form a hydrogen‐bonding cavity around the axial (pseudo)halide ligand, as verified by crystallographic, spectroscopic, and computational analyses. Treatment of H3Lpyrroleand H3Lindolewith divalent transition metal chlorides (MIICl2, M=Fe, Cu, Zn) causes one heterocycle to deprotonate and coordinate to the M(II) center, giving rise to tetradentate ligands with two remaining outer‐sphere H‐bond donors. Further ligand deprotonation is observed upon reaction with Ni(II) and Cu(II) salts with weakly coordinating counteranions. The reported complexes highlight the versatility of TACH‐based ligands with pendant H‐bond donors, as the resulting scaffolds can support multiple protonation states, coordination geometries, and H‐bonding interactions. 
    more » « less
  4. Abstract We report the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of a series of iron‐carbene complexes in redox states {Fe=C(H)Ar}10–11. Pulse EPR studies of the1,2H and13C isotopologues of {Fe=C(H)Ar}11reveal the high covalency of the Fe–carbene bonding, leading to a more even spin distribution than commonly observed for reduced Fischer carbenes. 
    more » « less
  5. Abstract Undirected C(sp3)−H functionalization reactions often follow site‐selectivity patterns that mirror the corresponding C−H bond dissociation energies (BDEs). This often results in the functionalization of weaker tertiary C−H bonds in the presence of stronger secondary and primary bonds. An important, contemporary challenge is the development of catalyst systems capable of selectively functionalizing stronger primary and secondary C−H bonds over tertiary and benzylic C−H sites. Herein, we report a Cu catalyst that exhibits a high degree of primary and secondary over tertiary C−H bond selectivity in the amidation of linear and cyclic hydrocarbons with aroyl azides ArC(O)N3. Mechanistic and DFT studies indicate that C−H amidation involves H‐atom abstraction from R‐H substrates by nitrene intermediates [Cu](κ2‐N,O‐NC(O)Ar) to provide carbon‐based radicals R.and copper(II)amide intermediates [CuII]‐NHC(O)Ar that subsequently capture radicals R.to form products R‐NHC(O)Ar. These studies reveal important catalyst features required to achieve primary and secondary C−H amidation selectivity in the absence of directing groups. 
    more » « less