More Like this

1. Unexpected alkyl isomerization at the silicon ligand of an unsaturated Rh complex: combined experiment and theory

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D3DT02087H  

   Abeynayake, Niroshani S; Le, Nghia; Sanchez-Lecuona, Gabriela; Donnadieu, Bruno; Webster, Charles Edwin; Montiel-Palma, Virginia (November 2023, Dalton Transactions)

   The formation of dimer [(μ-Cl)Rh-(κ3(P,Si,Si)PhP(o-C6H4CH2SiiPr2)(o-C6H4CH2SiiPrnPr))]2 (Rh-3) with an n-propyl group on one of the silicon atoms as a minor product was affected by the reaction of [RhCl(COD)]2 with proligand PhP(o-C6H4CH2SiHiPr2)2, L1. The major product of the reaction was monomeric 14-electron Rh(III) complex [ClRh(κ3(P,Si,Si)PhP(o-C6H4CH2SiiPr2)2)] (Rh-1). Computations revealed that the monomer–dimer equilibrium is shifted toward the monomer with four isopropyl substituents on the two Si atoms of the ligand as in Rh-1; conversely, the dimer is favored with only one n-propyl as in Rh-3, and with less bulky alkyl substituents such as in [ClRh(κ3(P,Si,Si)PhP(o-C6H4CH2SiMe2)2]2 (Rh-2). Computations on the mechanism of formation of Rh-3 directly from [RhCl(COD)]2 are in agreement with the experimental findings and it is found to be less energetic than if stemming from Rh-1. Additionally, a Si–O–Si complex, [μ-Cl-Rh{κ3(P,Si,C)PPh(o-C6H4CH2SiiPrO SiiPr2CH-o-C6H4)}]2, Rh-4, is generated from the reaction of Rh-1 with adventitious water as a result of intramolecular C–H activation. 

   more » « less
2. Origin of the ²⁹ Si NMR chemical shift in R ₃ Si–X and relationship to the formation of silylium (R ₃ Si ⁺ ) ions

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D0DT02099K  

   Huynh, Winn; Conley, Matthew P. (November 2020, Dalton Transactions)

   null (Ed.)

   The origin in deshielding of 29 Si NMR chemical shifts in R 3 Si–X, where X = H, OMe, Cl, OTf, [CH 6 B 11 X 6 ], toluene, and O X (O X = surface oxygen), as well as i Pr 3 Si + and Mes 3 Si + were studied using DFT methods. At the M06-L/6-31G(d,p) level of theory the geometry optimized structures agree well with those obtained experimentally. The trends in 29 Si NMR chemical shift also reproduce experimental trends; i Pr 3 Si–H has the most shielded 29 Si NMR chemical shift and free i Pr 3 Si + or isolable Mes 3 Si + have the most deshielded 29 Si NMR chemical shift. Natural localized molecular orbital (NLMO) analysis of the contributions to paramagnetic shielding ( σ p ) in these compounds shows that Si–R (R = alkyl, H) bonding orbitals are the major contributors to deshielding in this series. The Si–R bonding orbitals are coupled to the empty p-orbital in i Pr 3 Si + or Mes 3 Si + , or to the orbital in R 3 Si–X. This trend also applies to surface bound R 3 Si–O X . This model also explains chemical shift trends in recently isolated t Bu 2 SiH 2 + , t BuSiH 2 + , and SiH 3 + that show more shielded 29 Si NMR signals than R 3 Si + species. There is no correlation between isotropic 29 Si NMR chemical shift and charge at silicon. 

   more » « less
3. N ₃ -Ligated nickel( ii ) diketonate complexes: synthesis, characterization and evaluation of O ₂ reactivity

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d0dt01338b  

   Elsberg, Josiah G.; Peterson, Austin; Fuller, Amy L.; Berreau, Lisa M. (January 2020, Dalton Transactions)

   Interest in O 2 -dependent aliphatic carbon–carbon (C–C) bond cleavage reactions of first row divalent metal diketonate complexes stems from the desire to further understand the reaction pathways of enzymes such as DKE1 and to extract information to develop applications in organic synthesis. A recent report of O 2 -dependent aliphatic C–C bond cleavage at ambient temperature in Ni( ii ) diketonate complexes supported by a tridentate nitrogen donor ligand [(MBBP)Ni(PhC(O)CHC(O)Ph)]Cl ( 7-Cl ; MBBP = 2,6-bis(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine) in the presence of NEt 3 spurred our interest in further examining the chemistry of such complexes. A series of new TERPY-ligated Ni( ii ) diketonate complexes of the general formula [(TERPY)Ni(R 2 -1,3-diketonate)]ClO 4 ( 1 : R = CH 3 ; 2 : R = C(CH 3 ) 3 ; 3 : R = Ph) was prepared under air and characterized using single crystal X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis, 1 H NMR, ESI-MS, FTIR, and UV-vis. Analysis of the reaction mixtures in which these complexes were generated using 1 H NMR and ESI-MS revealed the presence of both the desired diketonate complex and the bis-TERPY derivative [(TERPY) 2 Ni](ClO 4 ) 2 ( 4 ). Through selective crystallization 1–3 were isolated in analytically pure form. Analysis of reaction mixtures leading to the formation of the MBBP analogs [(MBBP)Ni(R 2 -1,3-diketonate)]X (X = ClO 4 : 5 : R = CH 3 ; 6 : R = C(CH 3 ) 3 ; 7-ClO4 : R = Ph; X = Cl: 7-Cl : R = Ph) using 1 H NMR and ESI-MS revealed the presence of [(MBBP) 2 Ni](ClO 4 ) 2 ( 8 ). Analysis of aerobic acetonitrile solutions of analytically pure 1–3 , 5 and 6 containing NEt 3 and in some cases H 2 O using 1 H NMR and UV-vis revealed evidence for the formation of additional bis-ligand complexes ( 4 and 8 ) but suggested no oxidative diketonate cleavage reactivity. Analysis of the organic products generated from 3 , 7-ClO4 and 7-Cl revealed unaltered dibenzoylmethane. Our results therefore indicate that N 3 -ligated Ni( ii ) complexes of unsubstituted diketonate ligands do not exhibit O 2 -dependent aliphatic C–C bond clevage at room temperature, including in the presence of NEt 3 and/or H 2 O. 

   more » « less
4. A surprise landing on the terra incognita of macrocyclic dibridgehead diorganoarsines: syntheses, structures, and reactivities

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d2cc03235j  

   Zarcone, Samuel R.; Verardi, Peter J.; Bhuvanesh, Nattamai; Gladysz, John A. (July 2022, Chemical Communications)

   Reactions of trans-[[upper bond 1 start]Fe(CO)2(NO)(As((CH2)n)3As[upper bond 1 end])]+ BF4− (n = 10, 12, 14) and Bu4N+ Cl− afford the title compounds As((CH2)n)3As, which upon reaction (n = 14) with MCl2 (M = Pt, Ni), Rh(CO)(Cl), and Fe(CO)3 sources reconstitute cage like complexes trans-[upper bond 1 start]MLn(As((CH2)14)3A[upper bond 1 end]s). Reactions with H2O2 and BH3 give the corresponding arsine oxides and boranes. Crystal structures of metal-free species reveal out,out isomers, but cage complex formation is proposed to entail homeomorphic isomerization to in,in isomers with endo directed lone pairs. 

   more » « less
5. Crystal structures of phosphine-supported (η ⁵ -cyclopentadienyl)molybdenum(II) propionyl complexes

   https://doi.org/10.1107/S2056989021008008  

   Whited, Matthew T.; Ball, Margaret A.; Block, Alison; Brewster, Benjamin A.; Ferrer, LouLou; Jin-Lee, Helen J.; King, Colby J.; North, Jamie D.; Shelton, Inger L.; Wilson, David G. (September 2021, Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications)

   Three cyclopentadienylmolybdenum(II) propionyl complexes featuring triarylphosphine ligands with different para substituents, namely, dicarbonyl(η 5 -cyclopentadienyl)propionyl(triphenylphosphane-κ P )molybdenum(II), [Mo(C 5 H 5 )(C 3 H 5 O)(C 18 H 15 P)(CO) 2 ], ( 1 ), dicarbonyl(η 5 -cyclopentadienyl)propionyl[tris(4-fluorophenyl)phosphane-κ P ]molybdenum(II), [Mo(C 5 H 5 )(C 3 H 5 O)(C 18 H 12 F 3 P)(CO) 2 ], ( 2 ), and dicarbonyl(η 5 -cyclopentadienyl)propionyl[tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphane-κ P ]molybdenum(II) dichloromethane solvate, [Mo(C 5 H 5 )(C 3 H 5 O)(C 21 H 21 O 3 P)(CO) 2 ]·CH 2 Cl 2 , ( 3 ), have been prepared from the corresponding ethyl complexes via phosphine-induced migratory insertion. These complexes exhibit four-legged piano-stool geometries with molecular structures quite similar to each other and to related acetyl complexes. The extended structures of the three complexes differ somewhat, with the para substituent of the triarylphosphine of ( 2 ) (fluoro) or ( 3 ) (methoxy) engaging in non-classical C—H...F or C—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions. The structure of ( 3 ) exhibits modest disorder in the position of one Cl atom of the dichloromethane solvent, which was modeled with two sites showing approximately equivalent occupancies [0.532 (15) and 0.478 (15)]. 

   more » « less