Dialumenes - aryl vs. silyl stabilisation for small molecule activation and catalysis.

Main group multiple bonds have proven their ability to act as transition metal mimics in the last few decades. However, catalytic application of these species is still in its infancy. Herein we report the second neutral NHC-stabilised dialumene species by use of a supporting aryl ligand (3). Different to the trans-planar silyl-substituted dialumene (3Si), compound 3 features a trans-bent and twisted geometry. The differences between the two dialumenes are explored computationally (using B3LYP-D3/6-311G(d)) as well as experimentally. A high influence of the ligand's steric demand on the structural motif is revealed, giving rise to enhanced reactivity of 3 enabled by a higher flexibility in addition to different polarisation of the aluminium centres. As such, facile activation of dihydrogen is now achievable. The influence of ligand choice is further implicated in two different catalytic reactions; not only is the aryl-stabilised dialumene more catalytically active but the resulting product distributions also differ, thus indicating the likelihood of alternate mechanisms simply through a change of supporting ligand.

CO2 Fixation and Catalytic Reduction by a Neutral Aluminum Double Bond.

CO2 fixation and reduction to value-added products is of utmost importance in the battle against rising CO2 levels in the Earth's atmosphere. An organoaluminum complex containing a formal aluminum double bond (dialumene), and thus an alkene equivalent, was used for the fixation and reduction of CO2 . The CO2 fixation complex undergoes further reactivity in either the absence or presence of additional CO2 , resulting in the first dialuminum carbonyl and carbonate complexes, respectively. Dialumene (1) can also be used in the catalytic reduction of CO2 , providing selective formation of a formic acid equivalent via the dialuminum carbonate complex rather than a conventional aluminum-hydride-based cycle. Not only are the CO2 reduction products of interest for C1 added value products, but the organoaluminum complexes isolated represent a significant step forward in the isolation of reactive intermediates proposed in many industrially relevant catalytic processes.

NHCs in Main Group Chemistry.

Since the discovery of the first stable N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) in the beginning of the 1990s, these divalent carbon species have become a common and available class of compounds, which have found numerous applications in academic and industrial research. Their important role as two-electron donor ligands, especially in transition metal chemistry and catalysis, is difficult to overestimate. In the past decade, there has been tremendous research attention given to the chemistry of low-coordinate main group element compounds. Significant progress has been achieved in stabilization and isolation of such species as Lewis acid/base adducts with highly tunable NHC ligands. This has allowed investigation of numerous novel types of compounds with unique electronic structures and opened new opportunities in the rational design of novel organic catalysts and materials. This Review gives a general overview of this research, basic synthetic approaches, key features of NHC-main group element adducts, and might be useful for the broad research community.

Experimental Realisation of Elusive Multiple-Bonded Aluminium Compounds: A New Horizon in Aluminium Chemistry.

The synthesis and isolation of stable main group compounds featuring multiple bonds has been of great interest for several decades. A plethora of such multiply bonded complexes have been obtained by using sterically demanding substituents that provide both kinetic and thermodynamic stability. Most of these compounds have unusual structural and electronic properties that challenge the classical concept of covalent multiple bonding. In contrast, analogous aluminium compounds are scarce in spite of its high natural abundance. The parent dialumene (Al2 H2 ) has been calculated to be extremely unstable, thus making compounds containing Al multiple bonds a challenging synthetic target. This Review provides an overview of the recent advances in the cutting edge synthetic approaches and the careful ligand design used to obtain aluminium homo- and heterodiatomic multiply bonded complexes. In addition, the reactivity of these novel compounds towards various small molecules and reagents will be discussed herein.

A Stable Neutral Compound with an Aluminum-Aluminum Double Bond.

Homodinuclear multiple-bonded neutral Al compounds, aluminum analogues of alkenes, have been a notoriously difficult synthetic target over the past several decades. Herein, we report the isolation of a stable neutral compound featuring an Al═Al double bond stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbenes. X-ray crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses demonstrate that the dialuminum entity possesses trans-planar geometry and an Al-Al bond length of 2.3943(16) Å, which is the shortest distance reported for a molecular dialuminum species. This new species reacts with ethylene and phenyl acetylene to give the [2+2] cycloaddition products. The structure and bonding were also investigated by detailed density functional theory calculations. These results clearly demonstrate the presence of an Al═Al double bond in this molecule.

Windmill-shaped octanuclear Zn/Ln (LnIII = Dy, Tb, Ho) heterometallic ensembles supported by a tetraferrocene scaffold.

Utilizing a new ferrocene-based compartmental ligand, H4L (1), a series of novel heterometallic complexes [{LZn(µ-OAc)Dy}4(µ4-H2O)] (2), [{LZn(µ-OAc)Tb}4(µ4-H2O)] (3), [{LZn(µ-OAc)Ho}4(µ4-H2O)] (4), [L = Fe[(C5H4){-C(Me)[double bond, length as m-dash]N-N[double bond, length as m-dash]C6H3-(o-O)(m-O)}]2] were synthesized and characterized. 2 and 3 crystallize in the monoclinic crystal system in the I2/m space group, whereas 4 crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system in the I4/m space group. The tetra deprotonated ligand L4- has two distinct coordination compartments: one pocket (2N, 2O) suitable for the transition metal (3d) ions and another pocket (4O) suitable for lanthanide (4f) metal ions. Additionally, the terminal phenoxo group can be utilized for cluster expansion. In all the complexes, the ZnII ion is in a perfect square pyramidal (2N, 3O) geometry whereas the lanthanide ion has a coordination number of eight (8O) in a distorted biaugmented trigonal-prism geometry. The electrochemical properties of 2 and 3 along with ligand H4L (1) were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). All the complexes display a similar type of electrochemical behavior viz., one quasi-reversible oxidation typical of a ferrocene/ferrocenium motif. The magnetic properties of all the complexes have also been investigated.

Homodinuclear lanthanide {Ln2} (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Eu) complexes prepared from an o-vanillin based ligand: luminescence and single-molecule magnetism behavior.

Four dinuclear lanthanide complexes [Gd2 (H2L)2 (µ-piv)2 (piv)2]·2CHCl3 (1), [Tb2 (H2L)2 (µ-piv)2 (piv)2]·2CHCl3 (2), [Dy2 (H2L)2 (µ-piv)2 (piv)2]·2CHCl3 (3) and [Eu2 (H2L)2 (µ-piv)2 (piv)2]·2CHCl3 (4) were synthesized by the reaction of appropriate Ln(III) chloride salts and a multidentate ligand, 2,2'-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylbenzylazanediyl)diethanol (H3L) in the presence of pivalic acid. 1-4 are neutral and are held by two monoanionic, [H2L](-) ligands. The two lanthanide ions are doubly bridged to each other via two phenolate oxygen atoms. Both the lanthanide ions are nine coordinated and possess a distorted capped square antiprism geometry. Photophysical studies reveal that Tb(3+) (2) and Dy(3+) (3) complexes display strong ligand-sensitized lanthanide-characteristic emission. The Tb(3+) complex (2) shows a very high overall quantum yield of 76.2% with a lifetime of 1.752 ms. Magnetic studies reveal single-molecule magnet behavior for 3 which shows in its ac susceptibility studies a two-step slow relaxation yielding two effective relaxation energy barriers of ΔE = 8.96 K and 35.51 K.

Synthesis, magnetism and Mössbauer studies of tetranuclear heterometallic {Fe(III)2Ln2}(Ln = Gd, Dy, Tb) complexes: evidence of slow relaxation of magnetization in the terbium analogue.

A new family of tetranuclear heterometallic assemblies, [Fe(III)2Gd2(H2L)4(η(2)-NO3)2]·2ClO4·2CH3OH·2H2O (1), [Fe(III)2Dy2(H2L)4(η(2)-NO3)2]·2ClO4·2CH3OH·2H2O (2), [Fe(III)2Tb2(H2L)4(η(2)-NO3)2]·2ClO4·2CH3OH·2H2O (3), have been synthesized employing a multi-dentate Schiff-base ligand, (E)-2,2'-(2-hydroxy-3-((2-hydroxyphenylimino)methyl)-5-methylbenzylazanediyl)-diethanol (H4L), Fe(ClO4)2·6H2O, and Ln(III) nitrate salts. These compounds have been structurally characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The molecular structures of 1-3 have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. All the three complexes contain two Fe(III) ions at the periphery and two Ln(III) ions in the centre. The entire assembly is held together by four doubly deprotonated [LH2](2-) ligands. All the three complexes (1-3) are dicationic in nature and possess an overall Z-type topology. Magnetic measurements reveal the presence of predominant ferromagnetic coupling for all the three compounds at low temperature. The presence of a frequency-dependent out-of-phase signal in the imaginary part of the ac susceptibility plot suggests a slow relaxation of magnetization for 3 (Fe(III)2Tb2). Furthermore, the magnetization dynamics of all the three complexes have been corroborated by Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Molecular iron(III) phosphonates: synthesis, structure, magnetism, and Mössbauer studies.

The reaction of Fe(ClO4)2·6H2O with t-BuPO3H2 or Cl3CPO3H2 in the presence of an ancillary pyrazole phenolate as a coligand, H2phpzH [H2phpzH = 3(5)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazole], afforded tetra- and pentanuclear Fe(III) phosphonate complexes [Fe4(t-BuPO3)4(HphpzH)4]·5CH3CN·5CH2Cl2 (1) and [HNEt3]2[Fe5(µ3-O)(µ-OH)2 (Cl3CPO3)3(HphpzH)5(µ-phpzH]·3CH3CN·2H2O (2). Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis reveals that 1 possesses a cubic double-4-ring (D4R) core similar to what is found in zeolites. The molecular structure of 2 reveals it to be pentanuclear. It crystallizes in the chiral P1 space group. Magnetic studies on 1 and 2 have also been carried out, which reveal that the bridging phosphonate ligands mediate weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the Fe(III) ions. Magnetization dynamics of 1 and 2 have been corroborated by a Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis.

Pentanuclear heterometallic {Mn(III)(2)Ln(3)} (Ln = Gd, Dy, Tb, Ho) assemblies in an open-book type structural topology: appearance of slow relaxation of magnetization in the Dy(III) and Ho(III) analogues.

The reaction of Ln(III) nitrate and Mn(ClO4)2·6H2O salts in the presence of a multidentate sterically unencumbered ligand, (E)-2,2'-(2-hydroxy-3-((2-hydroxyphenylimino)methyl)-5-methylbenzylazanediyl)diethanol (LH4) leads to the isolation of four isostructural pentanuclear hetereometallic complexes [Mn(III)2Gd3(LH)4(NO3)(HOCH3)]ClO4·NO3 (1), [Mn(III)2Dy3(LH)4(NO3)(HOCH3)]ClO4·NO3 (2), [Mn(III)2Tb3(LH)4(NO3)(HOCH3)]ClO4·NO3 (3), and [Mn(III)2Ho3(LH)4(NO3)(HOCH3)]ClO4·NO3 (4) with an open-book type structural topology. 1-4 are dicationic and crystallize in the achiral space group, P21/n. A total of four triply deprotonated ligands, [LH](3-), are involved in holding the pentameric metal framework, {Mn(III)2Ln3}. In these complexes both the lanthanide and the manganese(III) ions are doubly bridged, involving phenolate or ethoxide oxygen atoms. The magnetochemical analysis reveals the presence of global antiferromagnetic interactions among the spin centers at low temperatures in all the four compounds. AC susceptibility measurements show the presence of temperature dependent out-of-phase ac signal for compounds 2 and 4 indicating an SMM behavior.

Assembly of heterobimetallic Ni(II)-Ln(III) (Ln(III) = Dy(III), Tb(III), Gd(III), Ho(III), Er(III), Y(III)) complexes using a ferrocene ligand: slow relaxation of the magnetization in Dy(III), Tb(III) and Ho(III) analogues.

A family of dinuclear 3d-4f heterobimetallic complexes [LNi(H2O)(µ-OAc)Ln(NO3)2]·CH3CN; {Ln = Dy(III) (1), Tb(III) (2), Ho(III) (3), Gd(III) (4), Er(III) (5), Y(III) (6)} have been synthesized by utilizing a ferrocene-based, dual compartmental ligand H2L. 1-6 are isostructural and crystallize in the triclinic (P1) space group. In these complexes Ni(II) is present in the inner coordination sphere of the dianionic [L](2-) ligand; Ln(III) is encapsulated in the outer coordination pocket. Ni(II) shows a 2N, 4O coordination environment in a distorted octahedral geometry, while the Ln(III) ion possesses a 9O coordination environment in a distorted tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry. ESI-MS studies suggest that the structural integrity of 1-6 is retained in solution. Electrochemical studies reveal that these complexes show a reversible one-electron response typical of the ferrocene motif along with an irreversible one-electron oxidation involving the Ni(II)/Ni(III) couple. Magnetic studies revealed the presence of ferromagnetic exchange coupling between Ni(II) and Ln(III) centers as shown by the increase of χMT value upon cooling below 50 K for compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5. Further, dynamic magnetic susceptibility measurements (1-3) confirm the absence of an out-of-phase (χ'') signal at zero dc fields. However, when these measurements were carried out at 1000 Oe dc field the χ'' signal was observed, although maxima could not be detected up to 2 K.

Pentanuclear heterometallic {Ni2Ln3} (Ln = Gd, Dy, Tb, Ho) assemblies. Single-molecule magnet behavior and multistep relaxation in the dysprosium derivative.

The reaction between Ln(III) chloride and NiCl2·4H2O salts in presence of a multidentate sterically unencumbered ligand, (E)-2,2'-(2-hydroxy-3-((2-hydroxyphenylimino)methyl)-5-methylbenzylazanediyl)diethanol (LH4) leads to the synthesis of four isostructural pentanuclear hetereometallic complexes [Ni2Dy3(LH)4]Cl (1), [Ni2Gd3(LH)4]Cl (2), [Ni2Tb3(LH)3(LH2)]Cl2 (3), [Ni2 Ho3 (LH)3 (LH2)]Cl2 (4) with unprecedented topology. Here the two compounds 1 are 2 are monocationic and crystallize in chiral space group, P2(1)2(1)2(1) whereas compounds 3 and 4 are dicationic and crystallize in achiral space group P2(1)/n. The total metal framework, {Ni2Ln3} unit is held by four triply deprotonated ligands [LH](3-) in 1 and 2 whereas in case of 3 and 4 three triply deprotonated [LH](3-) and one doubly deprotonated [LH2](2-) ligands are involved. In these complexes both the lanthanide ions and the nickel(II) ions are doubly bridged and the bridging is composed of oxygen atoms derived from either phenolate or ethoxide groups. The analysis of SQUID measurements reveal a high magnetic ground state and a slow relaxation of the magnetization with two relaxation regimes for 1. For the thermally activated regime we found an effective energy barrier of U(eff) = 85 K. Micro Hall probe loop measurements directly proof the single-molecule magnet (SMM) nature of 1 with a blocking temperature of T(B) = 3 K and an open hysteresis for sweep rates faster than 50 mT/s.

A phosphorus-based compartmental ligand, (S)P[N(Me)N=CH-C6H3-2-O-3-OMe]3 (LH3), enables the assembly of luminescent heterobimetallic linear {L2Zn2Ln}+ [Ln = Gd, Tb, Nd and Eu] complexes.

The sequential reaction of a phosphorus-based trishydrazone ligand, LH3 with anhydrous ZnCl2 and LnCl3·6H2O in a 2 : 2 : 1 stoichiometric ratio in the presence of triethylamine as the base leads to the formation of monocationic trinuclear complexes [L2Zn2Ln]Cl {Ln = Gd (1), Tb (2), Nd (3), Eu (4) and L = [(S)P[N(Me)N=CH-C6H3-2-O-3-OMe]3}. All the three metal ions, in each of these compounds, are arranged in a linear fashion. The two terminal Zn(II) ions are encapsulated by three imino and three phenolate oxygen atoms while the lanthanide ion remains in the centre with an all-oxygen coordination environment. Detailed photophysical measurements reveal the complete absence of antenna sensitization in all the four complexes. However, a strong emission was found for 2 and 4 when excited directly at their f-f levels.

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of a new family of tetra-nuclear {Mn2(III)Ln2}(Ln = Dy, Gd, Tb, Ho) clusters with an arch-type topology: single-molecule magnetism behavior in the dysprosium and terbium analogues.

Sequential reaction of Mn(II) and lanthanide(III) salts with a new multidentate ligand, 2,2'-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-methylbenzylazanediyl)diethanol (LH3), containing two flexible ethanolic arms, one phenolic oxygen, and a methoxy group afforded heterometallic tetranuclear complexes [Mn2Dy2(LH)4(µ-OAc)2](NO3)2·2CH3OH·3H2O (1), [Mn2Gd2(LH)4(µ-OAc)2](NO3)2·2CH3OH·3H2O (2), [Mn2Tb2(LH)4(µ-OAc)2](NO3)2·2H2O·2CH3OH·Et2O (3), and [Mn2Ho2(LH)4(µ-OAc)2]Cl2·5CH3OH (4). All of these dicationic complexes possess an arch-like structural topology containing a central Mn(III)-Ln-Ln-Mn(III) core. The two central lanthanide ions are connected via two phenolate oxygen atoms. The remaining ligand manifold assists in linking the central lanthanide ions with the peripheral Mn(III) ions. Four doubly deprotonated LH(2-) chelating ligands are involved in stabilizing the tetranuclear assembly. A magnetochemical analysis reveals that single-ion effects dominate the observed susceptibility data for all compounds, with comparably weak Ln···Ln and very weak Ln···Mn(III) couplings. The axial, approximately square-antiprismatic coordination environment of the Ln(3+) ions in 1-4 causes pronounced zero-field splitting for Tb(3+), Dy(3+), and Ho(3+). For 1 and 3, the onset of a slowing down of the magnetic relaxation was observed at temperatures below approximately 5 K (1) and 13 K (3) in frequency-dependent alternating current (AC) susceptibility measurements, yielding effective relaxation energy barriers of ΔE = 16.8 cm(-1) (1) and 33.8 cm(-1) (3).

Octanuclear {Ln(III)8}(Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) macrocyclic complexes in a cyclooctadiene-like conformation: manifestation of slow relaxation of magnetization in the Dy(III) derivative.

The synthesis of a series of macrocyclic, isostructural octanuclear lanthanide complexes [Gd8 (LH2)4 (µ-Piv)4 (η(2)-Piv)4 (µ-OMe)4]·6CH3OH·2H2O (1), [Tb8 (LH2)4 (µ-Piv)4 (η(2)-Piv)4 (µ-OMe)4]4CH3OH·4H2O (2), [Dy8(LH2)4 (µ-Piv)4 (η(2)-Piv)4 (µ-OMe)4]·8CH3OH (3), and [Ho8(LH2)4(µ-Piv)4 (η(2)-Piv)4 (µ-OMe)4]·CH3OH·4H2O (4) have been achieved, using Ln(III) nitrate salts, pivalic acid, and a new multidentate chelating ligand (2E,N'E)-N'-(3-((bis(2- hydroxyethyl)amino)methyl)-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzylidene)-2-(hydroxyimino) propane hydrazide (LH5), containing two unsymmetrically disposed arms; one side of the phenol unit is decorated with a diethanolamine group while the other side is a hydrazone that has been built by the condensation reaction involving 2-hydroxyiminopropanehydrazide. All the compounds, 1-4, are neutral and are held by the four [LH2](3-) triply deprotonated chelating ligands. In these complexes all the lanthanide ions are doubly or triply bridged via phenolate, alkoxy, and pivalate oxygens. The metal centers are distributed over the 8 vertices of an octagon, resembling a cyclooctadiene ring core. The details of magnetochemical analysis for complexes 1-4 shows that they exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions between the Ln(3+) ions through the phenoxo, alkoxo, and pivalato bridging groups. None of the compounds exhibits slow relaxation of the magnetization at zero applied direct current (dc) magnetic field, which could be due to the existence of a fast quantum tunneling relaxation of the magnetization (QTM). In the case of 3, the application of a small dc field is enough as to fully or partly suppress the fast and efficient zero-field QTM allowing the observation of slow relaxation above 2 K.

Synthesis, structure, and two-photon absorption studies of a phosphorus-based tris hydrazone ligand (S)P[N(Me)N=CH-C6H3-2-OH-4-N(CH2CH3)2]3 and its metal complexes.

A phosphorus-supported multidentate ligand (S)P[N(Me)N=CH-C(6)H(3)-2-OH-4-N(CH (2)CH(3))(2)](3) (1) has been used to prepare mononuclear complexes LM [M = Fe (2) Co (3)] and trinuclear complexes L(2)M(3) [M = Mn (4), Ni (5), Zn (6), Mg (7), Cd (8)]. In both 2 and 3 the ligand binds the metal ion in a facial coordination mode utilizing three imino nitrogen (3N) and three phenolic oxygen (3O) atoms. The molecular structures of L(2)Mn(3), L(2)Ni(3), L(2)Zn(3), L(2)Mg(3), and L(2)Cd(3) (4-8) are similar; two trihydrazone ligands are involved in coordination to hold the three metal ions in a linear fashion. Each of the trishydrazone ligands behaves as a trianionic hexadentate ligand providing three imino and three phenolic oxygen atoms for coordination to the metal ions. The coordination environment around the two terminal metal ions is similar (3N, 3O) while the central metal ion has a 6O coordination environment. Third-order non-linear optical properties of these compounds as measured by their two-photon absorption (TPA) cross section reveals that while 1 does not possess obvious TPA activity, complexes 2 (3213 GM) and 4 (3516 GM) possess a large TPA cross section at 770 nm.