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Abstract Neutral three‐coordinate iron alkylidenes of the form PN−Fe=CHR have been proposed as viable candidates for alkene metathesis. Indeed, during the final stages of preparing this current study, a separate report disclosed that dearomatized PN−Fe‐alkyl complexes are active precatalysts for ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene implicating PN−Fe=CHR species as possible intermediates. In yet another separate report, we prepared Zn analogues of PN−Fe‐alkyl complexes and herein provide an account for the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of some new iron complexes with the sametBu substituted PN platform. 

Abstract Dinuclear manganese hydride complexes of the form [Mn₂(CO)₈(μ‐H)(μ‐PR₂)] (R=Ph,1; R=iPr,2) were used inE‐selective alkyne semi‐hydrogenation (E‐SASH) catalysis. Catalyst speciation studies revealed rich coordination chemistry and the complexes thus formed were isolated and in turn tested as catalysts; the results underscore the importance of dinuclearity in engendering the observedE‐selectivity and provide insights into the nature of the active catalyst. The insertion product obtained from treating2with (cyclopropylethynyl)benzene contains acis‐alkenyl bridging ligand with the cyclopropyl ring being intact. Treatment of this complex with H₂affords exclusivelytrans‐(2‐cyclopropylvinyl)benzene. These results, in addition to other control experiments, indicate a non‐radical mechanism forE‐SASH, which is highly unusual for Mn−H catalysts. The catalytically active species are virtually inactive towardscistotransalkene isomerization indicating that theE‐selective process is intrinsic and dinuclear complexes play a critical role. A reaction mechanism is proposed accounting for the observed reactivity which is fully consistent with a kinetic analysis of the rate limiting step and is further supported by DFT computations. 

Abstract This work details the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of reactive low‐coordinate organozinc complexes. The complexes activate hydrogen and they appear to be more active in hydrogenation of ketones and imines than their tridentate pincer analogs. This is thought, in part, to be due to the lack of trailing third phosphorus arm present in previous work. DFT computations reveal a sigma‐bond metathesis mechanism is comparable to an alternative aromatization/dearomatization metal‐ligand cooperative mechanism. 

Abstract A new nonheme iron(II) complex, Fe^II(Me₃TACN)((OSi^Ph2)₂O) (1), is reported. Reaction of1with NO_(g)gives a stable mononitrosyl complex Fe(NO)(Me₃TACN)((OSi^Ph2)₂O) (2), which was characterized by Mössbauer (δ=0.52 mm s⁻¹, |ΔE_Q|=0.80 mm s⁻¹), EPR (S=3/2), resonance Raman (RR) and Fe K‐edge X‐ray absorption spectroscopies. The data show that2is an {FeNO}⁷complex with anS=3/2 spin ground state. The RR spectrum (λ_exc=458 nm) of2combined with isotopic labeling (¹⁵N,¹⁸O) reveals ν(N‐O)=1680 cm⁻¹, which is highly activated, and is a nearly identical match to that seen for the reactive mononitrosyl intermediate in the nonheme iron enzyme FDPnor (ν(NO)=1681 cm⁻¹). Complex2reacts rapidly with H₂O in THF to produce the N‐N coupled product N₂O, providing the first example of a mononuclear nonheme iron complex that is capable of converting NO to N₂O in the absence of an exogenous reductant. 

Abstract Inclusion of a second nitrogen atom in the aromatic core of phosphorus‐nitrogen (PN) heterocycles results in unexpected tautomerization to a nonaromatic form. This tautomerization, initially observed in the solid state through X‐ray crystallography, is also explained by computational analysis. We prepared an electron deficient analogue (2 e) with a fluorine on the pyridine ring and showed that the weakly basic pyridine resisted tautomerization, providing key insights to why the transformation occurs. To study the difference in solution vs. solid‐state heterocycles, alkylated analogues that lock in the quinoidal tautomer were synthesized and their different¹H NMR and UV/Vis spectra studied. Ultimately, we determined that all heterocycles are the aromatic tautomer in solution and all but2 eswitch to the quinoidal tautomer in the solid state. Better understanding of this transformation and under what circumstances it occurs suggest future use in a switchable on/off hydrogen‐bond‐directed receptor that can be tuned for complementary hydrogen bonding.