Revisiting the polyoxometalate-based late-transition-metal-oxo complexes: the "oxo wall" stands.

Terminal oxo complexes of the late transition metals Pt, Pd, and Au have been reported by us in Science and Journal of the American Chemical Society. Despite thoroughness in characterizing these complexes (multiple independent structural methods and up to 17 analytical methods in one case), we have continued to study these structures. Initial work on these systems was motivated by structural data from X-ray crystallography and neutron diffraction and (17)O and (31)P NMR signatures which all indicated differences from all previously published compounds. With significant new data, we now revisit these studies. New X-ray crystal structures of previously reported complexes K(14)[P(2)W(19)O(69)(OH(2))] and "K(10)Na(3)[Pd(IV)(O)(OH)WO(OH(2))(PW(9)O(34))(2)]" and a closer examination of these structures are provided. Also presented are the (17)O NMR spectrum of an (17)O-enriched sample of [PW(11)O(39)](7-) and a careful combined (31)P NMR-titration study of the previously reported "K(7)H(2)[Au(O)(OH(2))P(2)W(20)O(70)(OH(2))(2)]." These and considerable other data collectively indicate that previously assigned terminal Pt-oxo and Au-oxo complexes are in fact cocrystals of the all-tungsten structural analogues with noble metal cations, while the Pd-oxo complex is a disordered Pd(II)-substituted polyoxometalate. The neutron diffraction data have been re-analyzed, and new refinements are fully consistent with the all-tungsten formulations of the Pt-oxo and Au-oxo polyoxometalate species.

Spectroscopic studies of bridge contributions to electronic coupling in a donor-bridge-acceptor biradical system.

Variable-temperature electronic absorption and resonance Raman spectroscopies are used to probe the excited state electronic structure of Tp(Cum,Me)Zn(SQ-Ph-NN) (1), a donor-bridge-acceptor (D-B-A) biradical complex and a ground state analogue of the charge-separated excited state formed in photoinduced electron transfer reactions. Strong electronic coupling mediated by the p-phenylene bridge stabilizes the triplet ground state of this molecule. Detailed spectroscopic and bonding calculations elucidate key bridge distortions that are involved in the SQ(π)(SOMO) → NN-Ph (π*)(LUMO) D → A charge transfer (CT) transition. We show that the primary excited state distortion that accompanies this CT is along a vibrational coordinate best described as a symmetric Ph(8a) + SQ(in-plane) linear combination and underscores the dominant role of the phenylene bridge fragment acting as an electron acceptor in the D-B-A charge transfer state. Our results show the importance of the phenylene bridge in promoting (1) electron transfer in D-Ph-A systems and (2) electron transport in biased electrode devices that employ a 1,4-phenylene linkage. We have also developed a relationship between the spin density on the acceptor, as measured via the isotropic NN nitrogen hyperfine interaction, and the strength of the D → A interaction given by the magnitude of the electronic coupling matrix element, H(ab).

Single molecule magnet behavior of a pentanuclear Mn-based metallacrown complex: solid state and solution magnetic studies.

The magnetic behavior of the pentanuclear complex of formula Mn(II)(O(2)CCH(3))(2)[12-MC(Mn(III)(N)shi)-4](DMF)(6), 1, was investigated using magnetization and magnetic susceptibility measurements both in the solid state and in solution. Complex 1 has a nearly planar structure, made of a central Mn(II) ion surrounded by four peripheral Mn(III) ions. Solid state variable-field dc magnetic susceptibility experiments demonstrate that 1 possesses a low value for the total spin in the ground state; fitting appropriate expressions to the data results in antiferromangetic coupling both between the peripheral Mn(III) ions (J = -6.3 cm(-1)) and between the central Mn(II) ion and the Mn(III) ones (J' = -4.2 cm(-1)). In order to obtain a reasonable fit, a relatively large single ion magnetic anisotropy (D) value of 1 cm(-1) was necessary for the central Mn(II) ion. The single crystal magnetization measurements using a microsquid array display a very slight opening of the hysteresis loop but only at a very low temperature (0.04 K), which is in line with the ac susceptibility data where a slow relaxation of the magnetization occurs just around 2 K. In frozen solution, complex 1 displays a frequency dependent ac magnetic susceptibility signal with an energy barrier to magnetization reorientation (E) and relaxation time at an infinite temperature (τ(o)) of 14.7 cm(-1) and 1.4 × 10(-7) s, respectively, demonstrating the single molecule magnetic behavior in solution.

Diamidodipyrrins: versatile bipyrrolic ligands with multiple metal binding modes.

A straightforward, facile synthesis of diamidodipyrromethenes (diamidodipyrrins, DADP (R,R')) is presented. These tetradentate ligands readily form complexes with metal ions such as Ni (2+) and Cu (2+) and can adopt different binding modes with these metals. One version of the ligand (DADP (Ph, iPr )) has been structurally characterized in its "free base" form, as a HBr salt, and as the Ni (2+) and Cu (2+) complexes. A symmetric NNOO donor set is found for the Cu (2+) complex in the solid state, involving two carbonyl oxygen atoms and two dipyrrin nitrogen atoms, and this coordination mode has been confirmed in solution by electron paramagnetic resonance. An asymmetric NNNO binding mode found for the Ni (2+) complex in the solid state persists in solution as revealed by (1)H NMR. The HBr salt form of the ligand shows an intriguing hydrogen-bonded head-to-head dimer arrangement. Experiments show that Cu (2+), but not Ni (2+), can mediate the rapid oxidation of the diamidodipyrromethane precursors to the diamidodipyrromethene ligands in the presence of dioxygen. The work here shows that diamidodipyrrins are a versatile new class of ligands in the area of nonporphyrinic pyrrole-based compounds that merit further investigation.

Donor-acceptor biradicals as ground state analogues of photoinduced charge separated states.

A Valence Bond Configuration Interaction (VBCI) model is used to relate the intraligand magnetic exchange interaction (J) to the electronic coupling matrix element (HAB) in Tp(Cum,MeZn)(SQNN), a compound that possesses a Donor-Acceptor (D-A) SemiQuinone-NitronylNitroxide (SQNN) biradical ligand. Within this framework, an SQ --> NN charge transfer state mixes with the ground state and stabilizes the spin triplet (S = 1). This charge-transfer transition is observed spectroscopically and probed using resonance Raman spectroscopy. In addition, the temperature-dependent electronic absorption spectrum of the Ni(II) complex, Tp(Cum,MeNi)(SQNN), has been studied. Exchange coupling between the S = 1 Ni(II) ion and S = 1 SQNN provides a mechanism for observing the formally spin-forbidden, ligand-based 3GC --> 1CTC transition. This provides a means of determining U, the mean GC --> CTC energy, and a one-center exchange integral, K(0). The experimental determination of J, U, and K(0) permits facile calculation of HAB, and we show that this methodology can be extended to determine the electronic coupling matrix element in related SQ-Bridge-NN molecules. As magnetic susceptibility measurements are easily acquired in the solid state, H(AB) may be effectively determined for single molecules in a known geometry, provided a crystal structure exists for the biradical complex. Thus, SQ-Bridge-NN molecules possess considerable potential for probing both geometric and electronic structure contributions to the magnitude of the electronic coupling matrix element associated with a given bridge fragment.

Using Ln(III)[15-MCCuII((N)(S)-pheHA(-5)]3+ complexes to construct chiral single-molecule magnets and chains of single-molecule magnets.

The {DyIII[15-MC-CuII(N)(S)-pheHA(-5)]}3+ complex displays slow magnetic relaxation behavior in a frozen solution at low temperature, whereas the analogous HoIII structure does not exhibit similar behavior.

Testing bridge-mediated differences in dinuclear valence tautomeric behavior.

Two structurally characterized dinuclear valence tautomers are described. Cobalt ions are bridged by p- and m-phenylene units connected to 2,2'-bipyridines. X-ray crystal structures show that the molecules are in the [(Co(III))(Co(III))] forms at ca. 125 K, while spectroscopic studies show that both molecules can achieve the [(Co(II))(Co(II))] form above 400 K and confirm the [(Co(III))(Co(III))] form below 10 K. Magnetic susceptibility studies are also included. Our results highlight the necessity of studying both crystalline and amorphous samples to distinguish the effects of intrinsic electronic structure and intermolecular forces on valence tautomeric behavior.

Metallacryptate single-molecule magnets: effect of lower molecular symmetry on blocking temperature.

The structural characterization of complexes [Mn(II)4Mn(III)22(pdol)12(OCH3)12(O)16(N3)6] (1) and [Mn(II)4Mn(III)22(pdol)12(OCH3)12(O)16(OH)2(H3O)(OCH3)3].ClO4.5CH3OH (2), where pdol(2-) is di-2-pyridyl methanediol, reveals that each has a metallacryptand shell that encapsulates a manganese oxide core. Variable-temperature direct current magnetic susceptibility measurements on 2 indicate a paramagnetic ground state that results from an overall antiferromagnetic interaction in the cluster, with chiT values decreasing from 300 K (51.2 cm3 K mol(-1)) to 2 K (19.8 cm3 K mol(-1)). Variable-temperature alternating current magnetic susceptibility measurements imply that both 1 and 2 behave as single-molecule magnets. Fitting the frequency-dependent out-of-phase magnetic susceptibility to the Arrhenius equation yields an effective energy barrier, Ueff, to magnetization relaxation of 16.5 +/- 0.7 K (11.5 +/- 0.5 cm(-1)) for 1 and 36.2 +/- 2.0 K (25.1 +/- 1.4 cm(-1)) for 2. The larger value for 2 is in agreement with the lower molecular symmetry, larger magnetoanisotropy, and higher ground spin state of 2 compared to those of 1. This observation suggests a new strategy for increasing the blocking temperatures in high-nuclearity manganese clusters.

A palladium-oxo complex. Stabilization of this proposed catalytic intermediate by an encapsulating polytungstate ligand.

A terminal Pd-oxo unit is reported. The unit is encapsulated in a cavity defined by two [A-alpha-PW9O34]9- units fused together by one [WO(OH2)]4+ center and forms from Pd(II) in buffered media in the presence of O2. Both X-ray diffraction and EXAFS data are consistent with a Pd-oxo bond distance of ca. 1.65 A. 17O NMR studies confirm that the solid-state structure is maintained in solution.

Trends in metal-biradical exchange interaction for first-row M(II)(nitronyl nitroxide-semiquinone) complexes.

We report molecular structures and temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data for several new metal complexes of heterospin triplet ground-state biradical ligands. The ligands are comprised of both nitronyl-nitroxide (NN) and semiquinone (SQ) spin carriers. Five compounds are five-coordinate M(II) complexes (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn), and one is a six-coordinate Ni(II) complex. Five compounds were structurally characterized. During copper complex formation a reaction with methanol occurs to form a unique methoxy-substituted SQ ring. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies are consistent with strong intraligand (NN-SQ and NN-PhSQ) ferromagnetic exchange coupling. For the five-coordinate Mn, Co, and Ni complexes, the S = 1 ligand is antiferromagnetically coupled to the metal. For both the five-coordinate Cu complex and the six-coordinate Ni complex, the ligand is ferromagnetically coupled to the metal spins in accordance with orbital symmetry arguments. Despite the low molecular symmetries, the predicted trend in metal-ligand exchange interactions is supported by spin dimer analysis based on extended Hückel calculations. For (NN-SQ)NiTp(Cum,Me)() (Tp(Cum,Me)() = hydro-tris(3-cumenyl-5-methylpyrazolyl)borate), an antisymmetric exchange term was required for the best fit of the magnetic susceptibility data. Antisymmetric exchange was less important for the other complexes due to inherently smaller Deltag. Finally, it is shown that intraligand exchange coupling is of paramount importance in stabilizing high-spin states of mixed metal-biradical complexes.