A Sustainable Approach for Graphene Oxide-supported Metal N-Heterocyclic Carbenes Catalysts.

Sustainable noble metal-N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC's) are a topic of arising concern in both the chemical industry and the academic community due to a growing consciousness of environmental pollution and scarcity. Recovering and reusing homogeneous catalysts from the reaction mixture requires a tremendous amount of capital investment in the chemical manufacturing industry. Heterogeneous catalysts are proved to have better functional groups tolerance; however, catalysts support largely influences the active catalyst sites to affect catalyst efficiency and selectivity. Thus the, choice of catalyst supports plays an almost decisive role in this emerging area of catalysis research. Graphene oxide (GO)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) support has a potential growth in heterogeneous catalysis owing to their commercial availability, considerably larger surface area, inert towards chemical transformations, and easy surface functionalization to attached metal complexes via covalent and non-covalent aromatic π-conjugates. To take advantage of two independently well-established research areas of noble metal-N-heterocyclic carbenes and GO/rGO support via covalent or non-covalent interactions approach would offer novel heterogeneous complexes with improved catalytic efficiency without sacrificing product selectivity. This unique concept of marrying metal-N-heterocyclic carbenes with GO/rGO support has potential growth in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, however, limited examples are reported in the literature. In this perspective, a comprehensive summary of metal-NHC synthesis on GO/rGO support and synthetic strategies to graft M-NHC onto GO/rGO surface, catalytic efficiency, for the catalytic transformation are critically reviewed. Furthermore, a plausible mechanism for non-covalent grafting methodology is summarized to direct readers to give a better understanding of M-NHC@rGO complexes. This would also allow the designing of engineered catalysts for unexplored catalytic applications.

Fe5Mo Cluster with Iron-Carbide and Molybdenum-Carbide Bonding Motifs: Structure and Selective Alkyne Reductions.

Herein we report the synthesis, X-ray structure, and characterization of the title pentairon (molybdo)carbido cluster. The reaction of the pentairon (µ5-carbido) dianion [Fe5(µ6-C)(µ2-CO)2(CO)12]2- (1) with [Mo(CO)3(chpt)] (chpt = cycloheptatriene) forms the heterohexanuclear cluster [K(benzo-18-crown-6)]2[Fe5Mo(µ6-C)(µ2-CO)3(CO)14] (2). The dianion exhibits a Fe5Mo(µ6-C) core structure supported by three bridging (νCO = 1788 cm-1) and terminal (νCO = 1943 cm-1) CO ligands. Cluster 2 provides the selective reduction of diphenylacetylene to cis-diphenylethylene via a spectroscopically observed cluster-hydride intermediate (1H NMR: δ -26).

Structures, Interconversions, and Spectroscopy of Iron Carbonyl Clusters with an Interstitial Carbide: Localized Metal Center Reduction by Overall Cluster Oxidation.

The syntheses, interconversions, and spectroscopic properties of a set of iron carbonyl clusters containing an interstitial carbide are reported. This includes the low temperature X-ray structures of the six-iron clusters (Y)2[Fe6(µ6-C)(µ2-CO)4(CO)12] (1a-c; where Y = NMe4, NEt4, PPh4); the five-iron cluster [Fe5(µ5-C)(CO)15] (3); and the novel formulation of the five-iron cluster (NMe4)2[Fe5(µ5-C)(µ2-CO)(CO)13] (4). Also included in this set is the novel charge-neutral cluster, [Fe6(µ6-C)(CO)18] (2), for which we were unable to obtain a crystallographic structure. As synthetic proof for the identity of 2, we performed a closed loop of interconversions within a family of crystallographically defined species (1, 3, and 4): [Fe6]2- → [Fe6]0 → [Fe5]0 → [Fe5]2- → [Fe6]2-. The structural, spectroscopic, and electronic properties of this "missing link" cluster 2 were investigated by IR, Raman, XPS, and Mössbauer spectroscopies-as well as by DFT calculations. A single νCO feature (1965 cm-1) in the IR spectrum of 2, as well as a prominent Raman feature (νsymm = 1550 cm-1), are consistent with the presence of terminal carbonyls and a {(µ6-C)Fe6} arrangement of iron centers around the central carbide. The XPS of 2 exhibits a higher energy Fe 2p3/2 feature (707.4 eV) as compared to that of 1 (705.5 eV), consistent with the two-electron oxidation induced by treatment of 1 with two equivalents of [Fc](PF6) under CO atmosphere (for the two added CO ligands). DFT calculations indicate two axial and four equatorial Fe sites in 1, all of which have the same or similar oxidation states, for example, two Fe(0) and four Fe(+0.5). These assignments are supported by Mössbauer spectra for 1, which exhibit two closely spaced quadrupole doublets with δ = 0.076 and 0.064 mm s-1. The high-field Mössbauer spectrum of 2 (4.2 K) exhibits three prominent quadrupole doublets with δ = -0.18, -0.11, and +0.41 mm s-1. This indicates three pairs of chemically equivalent Fe sites. The first two pairs arise from irons of a similar oxidation state, while the last pair arises from irons in a different oxidation state, indicating a mixed-valent cluster. Variable field Mössbauer spectra for 2 were simulated assuming these two groups and a diamagnetic ground state. Taken together, the Mössbauer results and DFT calculations for 2 indicate two axial Fe(II) sites and four equatorial sites of lower valence, probably Fe(0). In the DFT optimized pentagonal bipyramidal structure for 2, the Fe(II)-Ccarbide distances are compressed (∼1.84 Å), while the Fe(0)-Ccarbide distances are elongated (∼2.05 Å). Analysis of the formulations for 1 (closo-square bipyramid) and 2 (nido-pentagonal bipyramid) is considered in the context of the textbook electron-counting rules of 14n+2 and 14n+4 for closo and nido clusters, respectively. This redox-dependent intracluster disproportionation of Fe oxidation states is concluded to arise from changes in bonding to the central carbide. A similar phenomenon may be promoted by the central carbide of the FeMoco cluster of nitrogenase, which may in turn stimulate N2 reduction.

Exploring Trends in Metal-Metal Bonding, Spectroscopic Properties, and Conformational Flexibility in a Series of Heterobimetallic Ti/M and V/M Complexes (M = Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu).

To understand the metal-metal bonding and conformational flexibility of first-row transition metal heterobimetallic complexes, a series of heterobimetallic Ti/M and V/M complexes (M = Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) have been investigated. The titanium tris(phosphinoamide) precursors ClTi(XylNPiPr2)3 (1) and Ti(XylNPiPr2)3 (2) have been used to synthesize Ti/Fe (3), Ti/Ni (4, 4THF), and Ti/Cu (5) heterobimetallic complexes. A series of V/M (M = Fe (7), Co (8), Ni (9), and Cu (10)) complexes have been generated starting from the vanadium tris(phosphinoamide) precursor V(XylNPiPr2)3 (6). The new heterobimetallic complexes were characterized and studied by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, electron paramagnetic resonance, and Mössbauer spectroscopy, where applicable, and computational methods (DFT). Compounds 3, 4THF, 7, and 8 are C3-symmetric with three bridging phosphinoamide ligands, while compounds 9 and 10 adopt an asymmetric geometry with two bridging phosphinoamides and one phosphinoamide ligand bound η2 to vanadium. Compounds 4 and 5, on the other hand, are asymmetric in the solid state but show evidence for fluxional behavior in solution. A correlation is established between conformational flexibility and metal-metal bond order, which has important implications for the future reactivity of these and other heterobimetallic molecules.

Discrete {Gd(III)4M} (M = Gd(III) or Co(II)) pentanuclear complexes: a new class of metal-organophosphate molecular coolers.

The first examples of homo- and hetero-polymetallic organophosphates of gadolinium are reported. Magnetic measurements reveal a higher magnetic entropy change for the isotropic {Gd(III)5} complex (25.8 J kg(-1) K(-1)) as compared to the heterometallic {Gd(III)4Co(II)} complex (20.3 J kg(-1) K(-1)), which is attributable to a change in magnetic coupling as estimated from DFT calculations.

Discrete and polymeric cobalt organophosphates: isolation of a 3-D cobalt phosphate framework exhibiting selective CO2 capture.

Structurally diverse mononuclear, dinuclear, and tetranuclear cobalt organophosphates and a three-dimensional framework based on a D4R cobalt phosphate are reported. The role of auxiliary ligands in determining the nuclearity of the phosphate clusters has further been established. Reaction of cobalt acetate tetrahydrate with 2,6-di-iso-propylphenylphosphate (dippH2) in methanol or DMSO in the presence of ancillary N-donor ligands leads to the formation of mononuclear octahedral cobalt phosphate [Co(dippH)2(py)4] (1), dinuclear octahedral cobalt phosphates [Co(dipp)(NN)(MeOH)2]2·2MeOH (NN = bpy 2; phen 3), tetrahedral cobalt phosphates [Co(dipp)(L)2]2·2(MeOH) (L = imz 4; dmpz 5) and symmetric and asymmetric tetranuclear tetrahedral cobalt phosphates [Co(dipp)(2-apy)]4 (6) and [Co4(dipp)4(2-apy)3(DMSO)]·(DMSO)·(H2O) (7), in nearly quantitative yields. The use of a linear N-donor ditopic linker, 3,6-di(pyridin-4-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (dptz), as the ancillary ligand leads to the formation of a robust three dimensional, four-fold interpenetrated network based on the D4R platform, {[Co(dipp)(dptz)0.5]4}n (8), under ambient conditions. The new compounds have been characterized by analytical, thermo-analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Further, the molecular structures of compounds 1-8 have been established using single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Compound 1 is a mononuclear complex in which the dippH ligands occupy trans-positions around the octahedral cobalt ion. The core structure of compounds 2-5, a Co2P2O4 ring, resembles the S4R (single-4-ring) SBU of zeolites, whereas the Co4P4O12 inorganic core found in compounds 6 and 7 resembles the D4R (double-4-ring) SBU. Cobalt organophosphate framework 8 shows significant CO2 adsorption at 273 K (7.73 wt% at 1 bar and 18.21 wt% at 15.5 bar) with high selectivity to CO2 uptake over N2 and H2 at 273 K. Magnetic studies of these symmetric complexes indicate the presence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the metal ions via the phosphate bridging moiety.

Ab initio chemical synthesis of designer metal phosphate frameworks at ambient conditions.

Stepwise hierarchical and rational synthesis of porous zinc phosphate frameworks by predictable and directed assembly of easily isolable tetrameric zinc phosphate [Zn(dipp)(solv)]4 (dippH2 = diisopropylphenyldihydrogen phosphate; solv = CH3OH or dimethyl sulfoxide) with D4R (double-4-ring) topology has been achieved. The preformed and highly robust D4R secondary building unit can be coordinatively interconnected through a varied choice of bipyridine-based ditopic spacers L1-L7 to isolate eight functional zinc phosphate frameworks, [Zn4(dipp)4(L1)1.5(DMSO)]·4H2O (2), [Zn4(dipp)4(L2)1.5(CH3OH)] (3), [Zn4(dipp)4(L1)2] (4), [Zn4(dipp)4(L3)2] (5), [Zn4(dipp)4(L4)2] (6), [Zn4(dipp)4(L5)2] (7), [Zn4(dipp)4(L6)2] (8), and [Zn4(dipp)4(L7)2] (9), in good yield. The preparative procedures are simple and do not require high pressure or temperature. Surface area measurements of these framework solids show that the guest accessibility of the frameworks can be tuned by suitable modification of bipyridine spacers.

One-electron oxidation chemistry and subsequent reactivity of diiron imido complexes.

The chemical oxidation and subsequent group transfer activity of the unusual diiron imido complexes Fe((i)PrNPPh2)3Fe≡NR (R = tert-butyl ((t)Bu), 1; adamantyl, 2) was examined. Bulk chemical oxidation of 1 and 2 with Fc[PF6] (Fc = ferrocene) is accompanied by fluoride ion abstraction from PF6(-) by the iron center trans to the Fe≡NR functionality, forming F-Fe((i)PrNPPh2)3Fe≡NR ((i)Pr = isopropyl) (R = (t)Bu, 3; adamantyl, 4). Axial halide ligation in 3 and 4 significantly disrupts the Fe-Fe interaction in these complexes, as is evident by the >0.3 Å increase in the intermetallic distance in 3 and 4 compared to 1 and 2. Mössbauer spectroscopy suggests that each of the two pseudotetrahedral iron centers in 3 and 4 is best described as Fe(III) and that one-electron oxidation has occurred at the tris(amido)-ligated iron center. The absence of electron delocalization across the Fe-Fe≡NR chain in 3 and 4 allows these complexes to readily react with CO and (t)BuNC to generate the Fe(III)Fe(I) complexes F-Fe((i)PrNPPh2)3Fe(CO)2 (5) and F-Fe((i)PrNPPh2)3Fe((t)BuNC)2 (6), respectively. Computational methods are utilized to better understand the electronic structure and reactivity of oxidized complexes 3 and 4.

Metal-metal bonding in low-coordinate dicobalt complexes supported by phosphinoamide ligands.

Homobimetallic dicobalt complexes featuring metal centers in different coordination environments have been synthesized, and their multielectron redox chemistry has been investigated. Treatment of CoX(2) with MesNKP(i)Pr(2) leads to self-assembly of [(THF)Co(MesNP(i)Pr(2))(2)(µ-X)CoX] [X = Cl (1), I (2)], with one Co center bound to two amide donors and the other bound to two phosphine donors. Upon two-electron reduction, a ligand rearrangement occurs to generate the symmetric species (PMe(3))Co(MesNP(i)Pr(2))(2)Co(PMe(3)) (3), where each Co has an identical mixed P/N donor set. One-electron oxidation of 3 to generate a mixed valence species promotes a ligand reararrangement back to an asymmetric configuration in [(THF)Co(MesNP(i)Pr(2))(2)Co(PMe(3))][PF(6)] (4). Complexes 1-4 have been structurally characterized, and their metal-metal interactions are discussed in the context of computational results.

Metal-metal interactions in C3-symmetric diiron imido complexes linked by phosphinoamide ligands.

The tris(phosphinoamide)-bridged Fe(II)Fe(II) diiron complex Fe(µ-(i)PrNPPh2)3Fe(η(2)-(i)PrNPPh2) (1) can be reduced in the absence or presence of PMe3 to generate the mixed-valence Fe(II)Fe(I) complexes Fe(µ-(i)PrNPPh2)3Fe(PPh2NH(i)Pr) (2) or Fe(µ-(i)PrNPPh2)3Fe(PMe3) (3), respectively. Following a typical oxidative group transfer procedure, treatment of 2 or 3 with organic azides generates the mixed-valent Fe(II)Fe(III) imido complexes Fe((i)PrNPPh2)3Fe≡NR (R = (t)Bu (4), Ad (5), 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (6)). These complexes represent the first examples of first-row bimetallic complexes featuring both metal-ligand multiple bonds and metal-metal bonds. The reduced complexes 2 and 3 and imido complexes 4-6 have been characterized via X-ray crystallography, Mössbauer spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and SQUID magnetometry, and a theoretical description of the bonding within these diiron complexes has been obtained using computational methods. The effect of the metal-metal interaction on the electronic structure and bonding in diiron imido complexes 4-6 is discussed in the context of similar monometallic iron imido complexes.

Utilization of phosphinoamide ligands in homobimetallic Fe and Mn complexes: the effect of disparate coordination environments on metal-metal interactions and magnetic and redox properties.

A series of homobimetallic phosphinoamide-bridged diiron and dimanganese complexes in which the two metals maintain different coordination environments have been synthesized. Systematic variation of the steric and electronic properties of the phosphinoamide phosphorus and nitrogen substituents leads to structurally different complexes. Reaction of [(i)PrNKPPh(2)] (1) with MCl(2) (M = Mn, Fe) affords the phosphinoamide-bridged bimetallic complexes [Mn((i)PrNPPh(2))(3)Mn((i)PrNPPh(2))] (3) and [Fe((i)PrNPPh(2))(3)Fe((i)PrNPPh(2))] (4). Complexes 3 and 4 are iso-structural, with one metal center preferentially binding to the three amide ligands in a trigonal planar arrangement while the second metal center is ligated by three phosphine donors. A fourth phosphinoamide ligand caps the tetrahedral coordination sphere of the phosphine-ligated metal center. Mössbauer spectroscopy of complex 4 suggests that the metals in these complexes are best described as Fe(II) centers. In contrast, treatment of MnCl(2) or FeI(2) with [MesNKP(i)Pr(2)] (2) leads to the formation of the halide-bridged species [(THF)Mn(µ-Cl)(MesNP(i)Pr(2))(2)Mn(MesNP(i)Pr(2))] (5) and [(THF)Fe(µ-I)(MesNP(i)Pr(2))(2)FeI (7), respectively. Utilization of FeCl(2) in place of FeI(2), however, leads exclusively to the C(3)-symmetric complex [Fe(MesNP(i)Pr(2))(3)FeCl] (6), structurally similar to 4 but with a halide bound to the phosphine-ligated Fe center. The Mössbauer spectrum of 6 is also consistent with high spin Fe(II) centers. Thus, in the case of the [(i)PrNPPh(2)](-) and [MesNP(i)Pr(2)](-) ligands, zwitterionic complexes with the two metals in disparate coordination environments are preferentially formed. In the case of the more electron-rich ligand [(i)PrNP(i)Pr(2)](-), complexes with a 2:1 mixed donor ligand arrangement, in which one of the ligand arms has reversed orientation relative to the previous examples, are formed exclusively when [(i)PrNLiP(i)Pr(2)] (generated in situ) is treated with MCl(2) (M = Mn, Fe): (THF)(3)LiCl[Mn(N(i)PrP(i)Pr(2))(2)(P(i)Pr(2)N(i)Pr)MnCl] (8) and [Fe(N(i)PrP(i)Pr(2))(2)(P(i)Pr(2)N(i)Pr)FeCl] (9). Bimetallic complexes 3-9 have been structurally characterized using X-ray crystallography, revealing Fe-Fe interatomic distances indicative of metal-metal bonding in complexes 6 and 9 (and perhaps 4, to a lesser extent). All of the complexes appear to adopt high spin electron configurations, and magnetic measurements indicate significant antiferromagnetic interactions in Mn(2) complexes 5 and 8 and no discernible magnetic superexchange in Fe(2) complex 4. The redox behavior of complexes 3-9 has also been investigated using cyclic voltammetry, and theoretical investigations (DFT) were performed to gain insight into the metal-metal interactions in these unique asymmetric complexes.

An OCO3- trianionic pincer tungsten(VI) alkylidyne: rational design of a highly active alkyne polymerization catalyst.

Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic alkyne polymerization results for the first trianionic pincer alkylidyne complex, [(t)BuOCO]W≡CC(CH(3))(3)(THF)(2) (6), are described. Complex 6 is a highly active catalyst for the polymerization of acetylenes and exhibits a high turnover number (4371), activity (1.05 × 10(6) g(PPA) mol(cat)(-1) h(-1)),and yield (87%) for the polymerization of 1-ethynyl-4-fluorobenzene.

Synthesis and structural characterization of high spin M/Cu (M = Mn, Fe) heterobimetallic and Fe/Cu2 trimetallic phosphinoamides.

The heterobimetallic complexes [Mn((i)PrNPPh(2))(3)Cu((i)PrNHPPh(2))] (1) and [Fe((i)PrNPPh(2))(3)Cu((i)PrNHPPh(2))] (2) have been synthesized by the one pot reaction of LiN(i)PrPPh(2), MCl(2) (M = Mn, Fe), and CuI in high yield. Addition of excess CuI into 2 or directly to the reaction mixture led to the formation of a heterotrimetallic [Fe((i)PrNPPh(2))(3)Cu(2)((i)PrNPPh(2))] (3) in good yield. Complexes 1-3 have been characterized by means of elemental analysis, paramagnetic (1)H NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and single crystal X-ray analysis. In all three complexes, Mn or Fe are in the +2 oxidation state and have a high spin electron configuration, as evidenced by solution Evans' method. In addition, the oxidation state of Fe in complex 3 is confirmed by zero-field (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. X-ray crystallography reveals that the three coordinate Mn/Fe centers in the zwitterionic complexes 1-3 adopt an unusual trigonal planar geometry.

Assembling discrete D4R zeolite SBUs through noncovalent interactions. 3. Mediation by butanols and 1,2-bis(dimethylamino)ethane.

The use of tetrameric zinc phosphate [Zn(dipp)(CH(3)OH)](4) (1; dipp = diisopropylphenylphosphate dianion) as a suitable building block for realizing new noncovalently linked extended structures, via facile replacement of coordinated methanol molecules by other alcohols, is reported herein. Compounds [Zn(dipp)(sec-butanol)](4) x 4 H(2)O (2) and [Zn(dipp)(tert-butanol)](4) x 4 H(2)O (3) have been synthesized by the addition of sec- or tert-butanol to 1 at room temperature. The reaction of zinc acetate or zinc sulfate with dippH(2) in the presence of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (tmeda) under similar reaction conditions results in the formation of [H(2)tmeda][Zn(4)(dipp)(4)(MeOH)(2)(OAc)(2)] x (CH(3)OH) (4) or [H(2)tmeda][Zn(3)(dipp)(3)(dippH)(2)(CH(3)OH)] x (CH(3)OH)(3) (5), respectively. Analytically pure compounds 2-5 have been isolated in the form of single crystals directly from the respective reaction mixtures in very good yields and characterized with the aid of analytical and spectroscopic studies. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal that compounds 2 and 3 are neutral tetranuclear zinc phosphates. Compound 4 is also a tetrameric phosphate but is anionic. The core structures of compounds 2-4 resemble the double-4-ring secondary building unit (D4R SBU) in zeolites. Compound 5 is a trinuclear ionic zinc phosphate built from three fused S4R SBUs. Compounds 4 and 5 represent the first examples of discrete anionic zinc organophosphates. The presence of coordinated sec- or tert-butanol molecules and a planar water tetramer cluster in 2 and 3, and the H(2)tmeda cations and methanol solvents in 4 and 5, leads to the formation of zigzag chainlike supramolecular assemblies in the solid state.

Noncovalent synthesis of hierarchical zinc phosphates from a single Zn(4)O(12)P(4) double-four-ring building block: dimensionality control through the choice of auxiliary ligands.

In contrast to the well-known reaction of phosphonic acids RP(O)(OH)(2) with divalent transition-metal ions that yields layered metal phosphonates [RPO(3)M(H(2)O)](n), the 2,6-diisopropylphenyl ester of phosphoric acid, dippH(2), reacts with zinc acetate in methanol under ambient conditions to afford tetrameric zinc phosphate [(ArO)PO(3)Zn(MeOH)](4) (1). The coordinated methanol in 1 can be readily exchanged by stronger Lewis basic ligands at room temperature. This strategy opens up a new avenue for building double-four-ring (D4R) cubane-based supramolecular assemblies through strong intercubane hydrogen-bonding interactions. Seventeen pyridinic ligands have been used to synthesize as many D4R cubanes [(ArO)PO(3)Zn(L)](4) (2-18) from 1. The ligands have been chosen in such a way that the majority of them contain an additional functional group that could be used for noncovalent synthesis of extended structures. When the ligand does not contain any other hydrogen-bonding donor-acceptor sites (e.g., 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (collidine)), zero-dimensional D4R cubanes have been obtained. The use of pyridine, lutidine, 2-aminopyridine, and 2,6-diaminopyridine, however, results in the formation of linear or zigzag one-dimensional assemblies of D4R cubanes through strong intermolecular C-H...O or N-H...O interactions. Construction of two-dimensional assemblies of zinc phosphates has been achieved by employing 2-hydroxypyridine or 2-methylimidazole as the exo-cubane ligand on zinc centers. The introduction of an alcohol side chain on the pyridinic ligand in such a way that the -CH(2)OH group cannot participate in intracubane hydrogen bonding (e.g., pyridine-3-methanol, pyridine-4-methanol, and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole-N-ethanol) leads to the facile noncovalent synthesis of three-dimensional framework structures. Apart from being useful as building blocks for noncovalent synthesis of zeolite-like materials, compounds 1-18 can also be thermolyzed at approximately 500 degrees C to yield high-purity zinc pyrophosphate (Zn(2)P(2)O(7)) ceramic material.

Controlling the structure of manganese(II) phosphates by the choice and ratio of organophosphate and auxiliary ligands.

Tetranuclear manganese(II) phosphates [Mn(dipp)(bpy)](4)4 H(2)O (1) and [Mn(4)(dmpp)(2)(dmppH)(4)(bpy)(4)(H(2)O)(2)]H(2)O (2) have been prepared from Mn(OAc)(2)4 H(2)O and 2,6-diisopropylphenyl phosphate (dippH(2)) or 2,6-dimethylphenyl phosphate (dmppH(2)) in the presence of 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy). In contrast, the reaction between [Mn(bpy)(2)(OAc)(ClO(4))]H(2)O and dippH(2) affords [Mn(bpy)(2)(dippH)](2)2 ClO(4)2 CH(3)OH (3). The reactions of Mn(OAc)(2)4 H(2)O, dippH(2), and pyridine (py) or 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (dmpz) in CH(3)CN under reflux afford hexanuclear complexes [Mn(6)(dipp)(6)(py)(8)]2CH(3)CN (4) and [Mn(6)(dipp)(6)(dmpz)(6)(AcOH)(2)]2 H(2)O (5), respectively. Although compounds 1 and 2 are tetrameric, the former is a closed cubane-like structure resembling the D4R secondary building unit of zeolites, whereas the latter exists in a staircase structure with fused Mn(2)O(4)P(2) rings. The core structure of 3 contains a Mn(2)O(4)P(2) eight-membered ring that resembles the S4R building block of zeolites. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies reveal that compounds 4 and 5 have a similar core structure and differ from each other by the neutral ligands coordinated to manganese ions. All six phosphate ligands exist in a doubly deprotonated [(RO)PO(3) (2-)] form and exhibit two types of binding modes [5.222] and [3.111]. An interesting feature of compounds 1-5 is that although they are oligonuclear complexes, there is an absence of oxido bridges. The magnetic properties of compounds 1-5 have been investigated in the temperature range 5-298 K, and it was found that all the compounds obey the Curie law.

Di-, tri-, tetra-, and hexanuclear copper(II) mono-organophosphates: structure and nuclearity dependence on the choice of phosphorus substituents and auxiliary N-donor ligands.

Reactions of 2,6-dimethylphenyl phosphate (dmppH(2)) and 2,6-diisopropylphenyl phosphate (dippH(2)) with copper(II) precursors have been investigated in the presence of auxiliary N-donor ligands, and new structural types of copper phosphates have been isolated. Copper acetate reacts with dmppH(2) in the presence of either 3,5-di-tert-butyl pyrazole (dbpz) or 3,5-dimethyl pyrazole (dmpz), leading to the isolation of tetrameric complex [Cu(dmpp)(dbpz)](4) 1 and hexanuclear cage complex [Cu(6)(PO(4))(dmpp)(3)(OAc)(3)(dmpz)(9)] 2, respectively. Whereas compound 1 is a cubane-shaped cluster whose Cu(4)O(12)P(4) core resembles the double-4-ring (D4R) zeolite SBU, compound 2 is a novel hexanuclear copper complex with an unprecedented structure in metal phosphate chemistry. Use of bulkier dippH(2) in the above reactions, however, yielded metal-free acid-base complexes [(dippH)(dbpz)(dbpzH)] 3 and [(dippH)(dmpz)(dmpzH)] 4, respectively. The reactions carried out between copper acetate and dmppH(2) or dippH(2) in the presence of chelating ligand 1,10-phenanthroline produced structurally similar dimeric copper phosphates [Cu(phen)(dmpp)(CH(3)OH)](2).2CH(3)OH 5 and [Cu(phen)(dipp)(CH(3)OH)](2).2CH(3)OH 6 with a S4R SBU core. Changing the copper source to [Cu(2)(bpy)(2)(OAc)(OH)(H(2)O)].2ClO(4) and carrying out reactions both with dippH(2) and with dmppH(2) result in the formation of trinuclear copper phosphates [Cu(3)(bpy)(3)(dmpp)(2)(CH(3)OH)(3)].2ClO(4).2CH(3)OH 7 and [Cu(3)(bpy)(3)(dipp)(2)(CH(3)OH)(3)].2ClO(4).2CH(3)OH 8. The three copper ions in 7 and 8 are held together by two bridging phosphate ligands to produce a tricyclic derivative whose core resembles the 4=1 SBU of zeolites. Compounds 1-8 have been characterized by elemental analysis and IR, absorption, emission, and EPR spectroscopic techniques. The crystal structures of compounds 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 have also been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.

Organic-soluble tri-, tetra-, and pentanuclear titanium(IV) phosphates.

Bulky 2,6-disubstituted aryl esters of phosphoric acid, 2,6-dimethylphenyl phosphate (dmppH 2), and 2,6-diisopropylphenyl phosphate (dippH 2) react differently with Cp*TiCl 3 (Cp* = C 5Me 5) under identical reaction conditions. While dippH 2 and Cp*TiCl 3 react in THF at 25 degrees C to yield air-stable trinuclear titanophosphate cage [(Ti 3Cp*Cl(mu 2 -O)(dipp) 2(dippH) 4(THF)].(toluene) ( 1), the similar reaction involving dmppH 2 yields the tetranuclear titanophosphate [Ti 4Cl 2(mu 2 -O) 2(dmpp) 2(dmppH) 6(THF) 2].(toluene) 2 ( 2). Interestingly, the change of titanium source to Ti(O iPr) 4 in the reaction with dippH 2 produces a pentanuclear titanophosphate, [Ti 5(mu 3-O)(O iPr) 6((dipp) 6(THF)] ( 3). Compounds 1- 3 were the only products isolated as single crystals from the respective reaction mixtures in 59, 75, and 54% yield, respectively. The new clusters 1- 3 have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR ( (1)H and (31)P) spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The structural elucidation reveals that in the reactions leading to 1 and 2, extensive Cp*-Ti bond cleavage occurs, leaving only one residual Cp*-ligand in cluster 1 and none in 2. Closer analysis of the structures of 1- 3 shows common structural features which in turn imply that the formation of all three products could have proceeded via a common Ti-O-Ti dimeric building block.

Cooperative binding of phosphate anion and a neutral nitrogen donor to alkaline-Earth metal ions. Investigation of group 2 metal-organophosphate interaction in the absence and presence of 1,10-phenanthroline.

Alkaline-earth metal phosphates containing nitrogen-donor ligands have been prepared by the reaction of alkaline-earth metal acetates M(OAc) 2. xH 2O (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) with 2,6-diisopropylphenyl phosphate (dippH 2) in the absence and presence of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen). Interaction of strontium or barium acetate with dippH 2 in methanol at room temperature leads to the isolation of ionic phosphates [{M 2(mu-H 2O) 4(H 2O) 10}{dipp} 2].4L [M = Sr, L = CH 3OH ( 1); M = Ba, L = H 2O ( 2)]. The addition of a bidentate nitrogen-donor phen to these reactions leads to the isolation of dinuclear metal phosphates [Mg(dipp)(phen)(CH 3OH) 2] 2 ( 3) and [M(dippH) 2(phen) 2(H 2O)] 2 [M = Ca ( 4), Sr ( 5), Ba ( 6)]. While ionic phosphates 1 and 2 are soluble in water, the predominately covalent dimeric compounds 3- 6 are insoluble in all common solvents including water. The new compounds have been characterized in the solid state by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis, and emission spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The cationic part in 1 and 2 is a {M 2(mu-H 2O) 4(H 2O) 10} unit, where each metal ion is surrounded by four bridging and five terminal water molecules as ligands. The dipp anion does not directly bind to the metal ions but is extensively hydrogen-bonded to the cationic unit through the phosphate oxygen and water hydrogen atoms to result in an infinitely layered structure where the hydrophobic aryl group protrudes out of the hydrophilic layer formed by the cationic part and -PO 3 (2-) units. In contrast, compounds 3- 6 are discrete dimeric molecules built around a central M 2O 4P 2 eight-membered ring. While the dippH 2 ligand exists in a doubly deprotonated form in 3, two monodeprotonated dippH 2 ligands are present per metal ion in compounds 4- 6. While 3 prefers only one phen ligand in the metal coordination sphere, two phen ligands chelate each metal ion in 4- 6. The conformations of the eight-membered rings in 3- 6 vary significantly from each other depending on the size of the cation and the coordination number around the metal. Further, intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving the phenanthroline C-H linkages result, in a gridlike structure in 1, one-dimensional chains in isostructural 2 and 3, and a two-dimensional layer arrangement in 4. Compounds 3- 6 are the only examples of alkaline-earth metal phosphate complexes with neutral M-N donor bonds. The thermal behavior of compounds 1- 6 has been examined with the help of thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry and also by bulk thermolysis followed by powder X-ray diffraction measurements. While compounds 1 and 2 yield M 2P 2O 7, decomposition of 4- 6 results in the formation of M(PO 3) 2, consistent with the M-P ratio in the precursor complexes.