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1. Bis(N-xylyl-imino)phenyl “NCN” Iridium Pincer Complexes. Thermodynamics of Ligand Binding and C-C Bond Cleavage

   https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2023-r4jt6  

   Das, Soumyadipa; Mandal, Souvik; Malakar, Santanu; Emge, Thomas J; Goldman, Alan S (November 2023, ChemRxiv)

   Iridium dibromide complexes of the phenyldiimine ligand 2,6-bis(1-((2,6-dimethylphenyl)imino)ethyl)phenyl, trans-(XyPhDI)IrBr2L, have been synthesized, and relative Ir-L BDFEs have been experimentally determined for a wide range of corresponding adducts of ligands L. An estimate of the absolute enthalpy of Ir-L binding has been obtained from dynamic NMR measurements. The results of DFT calculations are in very good agreement with the relative and absolute experimental values. Computational studies were extended to the formation of adducts of (XyPhDI)IrH2 and (XyPhDI)Ir(I), as well as other (pincer)Ir(I) fragments, (Phebox)Ir(I) and (PCP)Ir(I), to enable a comparison of electronic and steric effects with these archetypal pincer ligands. Attempts to reduce (XyPhDI)IrBr2(MeCN) to a hydride or an Ir(I) complex yielded a dinuclear CN-bridged complex with a methyl ligand on the cyanide-C-bound Ir center (characterized by scXRD), indicating that C-CN bond cleavage took place at that Ir center. DFT calculations indicate that the C-CN bond cleavage occurs at one Ir center with strong assistance by coordination of the CN nitrogen to the other Ir center. 

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2. Pincer-ligated Iridium Complexes with Low-Field Ancillary Ligands: Complexes of (iPrPCP)IrCl2 and Comparison with (iPrPCP)IrHCl

   https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2023-5l8mq  

   Parihar, Ashish; Emge, Thomas J; Goldman, Alan S (December 2023, ChemRxiv)

   Pincer-ligated iridium complexes have been widely developed, and (pincer)Ir(III) complexes, particularly five-coordinate, are central to their chemistry. Such complexes typically bear two formally anionic ligands in addition to the pincer ligand itself. Yet despite the prevalence of halides as anionic ligands in transition metal chemistry there are relatively few examples in which both of these ancillary anionic ligands are halides or even other monodentate low-field anions. We report a study of the fragment (iPrPCP)IrCl2 (iPrPCP = 3-2,6-C6H3(CH2PiPr2)), and adducts thereof. These species are found to be thermodynamically disfavored relative to the corresponding hydridohalides. For example, DFT calculations and experiment indicate that one Ir-Cl bond of (iPrPCP)IrCl2 complexes will undergo reaction with H2 to give the (iPrPCP)IrHCl or an adduct thereof. In the presence of aqueous HCl, (iPrPCP)IrCl2 adds a chloride ion to give an unusual example of an anionic transition metal complex ((iPrPCP)IrCl3–) with a Zundel cation (H5O2+). (iPrPCP)IrCl2 is not stable as a monomer at room temperature but exists in solution as a mixture of clusters which can add various small molecules. DFT calculations indicate that dimerization of (iPrPCP)IrCl2 is more favorable than dimerization of (iPrPCP)IrHCl, in accord with its observed tendency to form clusters. 

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3. Pincer-Ligated Iridium Complexes with Low-Field Ancillary Ligands: Complexes of ( ^iPr PCP)IrCl ₂ and Comparison with ( ^iPr PCP)IrHCl

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.4c00162  

   Parihar, Ashish; Emge, Thomas J; Chakravartula, Srinivas_V S; Goldman, Alan S (June 2024, Organometallics)

   Pincer-ligated iridium complexes have been widely developed, and (pincer)Ir(III) complexes, particularly five-coordinate, are central to their chemistry. Such complexes typically bear two formally anionic ligands in addition to the pincer ligand itself. Yet despite the prevalence of halides as anionic ligands in transition metal chemistry there are relatively few examples in which both of these ancillary anionic ligands are halides or even other monodentate low-field anions. We report a study of the fragment (iPrPCP)IrCl2 (iPrPCP = 3 2,6 C6H3(CH2PiPr2)), and adducts thereof. These species are found to be thermodynamically disfavored relative to the corresponding hydridohalides. For example, DFT calculations and experiment indicate that one Ir-Cl bond of (iPrPCP)IrCl2 complexes will undergo reaction with H2 to give (iPrPCP)IrHCl or an adduct thereof. In the presence of aqueous HCl, (iPrPCP)IrCl2 adds a chloride ion to give an unusual example of an anionic transition metal complex ((iPrPCP)IrCl3–) with a Zundel cation (H5O2+). (iPrPCP)IrCl2 is not stable as a monomer at room temperature but exists in solution as a mixture of clusters which can add various small molecules. DFT calculations indicate that dimerization and trimerization of (iPrPCP)IrCl2 is more favorable than the analogous reactions of (iPrPCP)IrHCl, in accord with cluster formation being observed only for the dichloride complex. 

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4. Room-Temperature Aerobic C–CN Bond Activation in Nickel(II) Cyanomethyl Dicarboranyl Complex

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.3c00216  

   Islam, Mohammad Jahirul; Park, Kyoung Chul; Manley, Olivia M.; Smith, Mark D.; Makris, Thomas M.; Peryshkov, Dmitry V. (July 2023, Organometallics)

   We report the synthesis and characterization of a nickel(II) complex of the dicarboranyl CNC dianionic pincer ligand, which activates acetonitrile by C–C bond cleavage. Deprotonation of the relatively acidic C–H bond of the coordinated acetonitrile with potassium t-butoxide led to the formation of the C-bound cyanomethylene ligand at the metal center. Unlike most previously characterized Ni(II) cyanoalkyls, the resulting complex exhibited quick transformation under aerobic conditions at room temperature to afford CNC-ligated nickel(II) cyanide, indicating facile cleavage of the C–CN bond. The cyanoalkyl and cyanide complexes were isolated in excellent yields and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Carbon-containing products of the aerobic C–CN bond activation are hydroxyacetonitrile, formaldehyde, cyanomethyl formate, and carbon dioxide. 

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5. Cooperative C–H activation of pyridine by PBP complexes of Rh and Ir can lead to bridging 2-pyridyls with different connectivity to the B–M unit

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC01850G  

   Cao, Yihan; Shih, Wei-Chun; Bhuvanesh, Nattamai; Zhou, Jia; Ozerov, Oleg V. (November 2021, Chemical Science)

   Pyridine and quinoline undergo selective C–H activation in the 2-position with Rh and Ir complexes of a boryl/bis(phosphine) PBP pincer ligand, resulting in a 2-pyridyl bridging the transition metal and the boron center. Examination of this reactivity with Rh and Ir complexes carrying different non-pincer ligands on the transition metal led to the realization of the possible isomerism derived from the 2-pyridyl fragment connecting either via B–N/C–M bonds or via B–C/N–M bonds. This M–C/M–N isomerism was systematically examined for four structural types. Each of these types has a defined set of ligands on Rh/Ir besides 2-pyridyl and PBP. A pair of M–C/M–N isomers for each type was computationally examined for Rh and for Ir, totaling 16 compounds. Several of these compounds were isolated or observed in solution by experimental methods, in addition to a few 2-quinolyl variants. The DFT predictions concerning the thermodynamic preference within each M–C/M–N isomeric match the experimental findings very well. In two cases where DFT predicts <2 kcal mol −1 difference in free energy, both isomers were experimentally observed in solution. Analysis of the structural data, of the relevant Wiberg bond indices, and of the ETS-NOCV partitioning of the interaction of the 2-pyridyl fragment with the rest of the molecule points to the strength of the M–C(pyridyl) bond as the dominant parameter determining the relative M–C/M–N isomer favorability. This M–C bond is always stronger for the analogous Ir vs. Rh compounds, but the nature of the ligand trans to it has a significant influence, as well. DFT calculations were used to evaluate the mechanism of isomerization for one of the molecule types. 

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