Reactivity of [(PNP)Mn(CO)2] with Organophosphates.

Organophosphorus nerve agents (OPAs) are a toxic class of synthetic compounds that cause adverse effects with many biological systems. Development of methods for environmental remediation and passivation has been ongoing for years. However, little progress has been made in therapeutic development for exposure victims. Given the postexposure behavior of OPA materials in enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), development of electrophilic compounds as therapeutics may be more beneficial than the currently employed nucleophilic countermeasures. In this report, we present our studies with an electrophilic, 16-electron manganese complex (iPrPNP)Mn(CO)2 (1) and the nucleophilic hydroxide derivative (iPrPNHP)Mn(CO)2(OH) (2). The reactivity of 1 with phosphorus acids and the reactivity of 2 with the P-F bond of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DIPF) were studied. The role of water in both nucleophilic and electrophilic reactivity was investigated with the use of 17O-labeled water. Promising results arising from reactions of both 1 and 2 with organophosphorus substrates are reported.

Influence of Coordinated Triflate Anions on the Solution Magnetic Properties of a Neutral Iron(II) Complex.

In an effort to probe the impacts of speciation on spin-state switching, the synthesis and unique solution-phase magnetic properties of [((TIPSC≡C)3tren)Fe(OTf)2] (1) are described. Analysis of the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data shows that the tris(iminoalkyne) ligand coordinates to the iron(II) center through all four nitrogen atoms, while the other two coordination sites are filled by the oxygen atoms from triflate anions. Solid-state variable-temperature (VT) magnetic studies show that 1 remains high-spin (HS) at all temperatures. In the presence of moderately strong coordinating solvents, solvent replaces the two bound triflate counteranions, as observed by 19F NMR spectroscopy and supported by conductivity measurements. VT solution measurements show 1 to be in the HS state when this solvent is oxygen-donating but low-spin (LS) with a nitrogen-donating solvent. In the noncoordinating solvent dichloromethane, both triflates are bound to the iron(II) center at room temperature, but upon cooling, 1 undergoes a coordination change, resulting in the loss of one triflate, as shown by 19F NMR. With the moderately coordinating solvent acetone, triflate dissociation upon cooling results in a spin-switching species with a T1/2 value of 171 K, characterized via 19F NMR, Evans' method, and solution magnetometry measurements. Solution magnetic measurements collected in structurally similar cyclopentanone suggest that the spin-state switching event is exclusive to the acetone environment, suggesting the influence of both the local coordination environment and aggregation. Additionally, a comparison of the solvodoynamic diameters via dynamic light scattering suggests that aggregation of 1 is significantly different in (CH3)2CO and (CD3)2CO, leading to the observation of spin-switching behavior in the former and fully HS behavior in the latter. This study highlights the sensitivity of solution magnetic properties to solvent choice.

Heterotrimetallic {LnOVPt} complexes with antiferromagnetic Ln-V coupling and magnetic memory.

The new PtVO(SOCR)4 lantern complexes, 1 (R = CH3) and 2 (R = Ph) behave as neutral O-donor ligands to Ln(OR)3 with Ln = Ce, Nd. Four heterotrimetallic complexes with linear {LnOVPt} units were prepared: [Ln(ODtbp)3{PtVO(SOCR)4}] (Ln = Ce, 3Ce (R = CH3), 4Ce (R = Ph); Nd, 3Nd (R = CH3), 4Nd (R = Ph); ODtbp = 2,6-ditertbutylphenolate). Magnetic characterization confirms slow magnetic relaxation behaviour and suggests antiferromagnetic coupling across {Ln-O[double bond, length as m-dash]V} in all four complexes, with variations tunable as a function of Ln and R.

Understanding the Origin of One- or Two-Step Valence Tautomeric Transitions in Bis(dioxolene)-Bridged Dinuclear Cobalt Complexes.

Valence tautomerism (VT) involves a reversible stimulated intramolecular electron transfer between a redox-active ligand and redox-active metal. Bis(dioxolene)-bridged dinuclear cobalt compounds provide an avenue toward controlled two-step VT interconversions of the form {CoIII-cat-cat-CoIII} ⇌ {CoIII-cat-SQ-CoII}⇌{CoII-SQ-SQ-CoII} (cat2- = catecholate, SQ•- = semiquinonate). Design flexibility for dinuclear VT complexes confers an advantage over two-step spin crossover complexes for future applications in devices or materials. The four dinuclear cobalt complexes in this study are bridged by deprotonated 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobi(indan)-5,5',6,6'-tetraol (spiroH4) or 3,3,3',3'-tetramethyl-1,1'-spirobi(indan)-4,4',7,7'-tetrabromo-5,5',6,6'-tetraol (Br4spiroH4) with Mentpa ancillary ligands (tpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, n = 0-3 corresponds to methylation of the 6-position of the pyridine rings). Complementary structural, magnetic, spectroscopic, and density functional theory (DFT) computational studies reveal different electronic structures and VT behavior for the four cobalt complexes; one-step one-electron partial VT, two-step VT, incomplete VT, and temperature-invariant {CoIII-cat-cat-CoIII} states are observed. Electrochemistry, DFT calculations, and the study of a mixed-valence {ZnII-cat-SQ-ZnII} analog have allowed elucidation of thermodynamic parameters governing the one- and two-step VT behavior. The VT transition profile is rationalized by (1) the degree of electronic communication within the bis(dioxolene) ligand and (2) the matching of cobalt and dioxolene redox potentials. This work establishes a clear path to the next generation of two-step VT complexes through incorporation of mixed-valence class II and class II-III bis(dioxolene) bridging ligands with sufficiently weak intramolecular coupling.

Self-assembly of an organometallic Fe9O6 cluster from aerobic oxidation of (tmeda)Fe(CH2tBu)2.

Aerobic oxidation of (tmeda)Fe(CH2tBu)2 in toluene or THF solution leads to the self-assembly of a magic-sized all-ferrous oxide cluster containing the Fe9O6 subunit and bearing organometallic and diamine ligands. Mössbauer studies of the cluster are consistent with an all-ferrous assignment and magnetometry reveals complex intracluster and intercluster magnetic interactions.

Anionic guest-dependent slow magnetic relaxation in Co(ii) tripodal iminopyridine complexes.

We report the syntheses and magnetic property characterizations of four mononuclear cobalt(ii) complex salts featuring a tripodal iminopyridine ligand with external anion receptor groups, [CoL5-ONHtBu]X2 (X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3) and ClO4 (4)). While all four salts exhibit anion binding through pendant amide moieties, only in the case of 1 is field-induced slow relaxation of magnetisation observed, whereas in the other salts this phenomenon is absent at the limits of our instrumentation. The effect of chloride inducing a seventh Co-N interaction and concomitant structural distortion is hypothesized as the origin of the observed dynamic magnetic properties observed in 1. Ab initio computational studies carried out on a 7-coordinate Co(ii) model species survey the complex interplay of coordination number and trigonal twisting on the sign and magnitude of the axial anisotropy parameter (D), and identify structural features whose distortions can trigger large switches in the sign and magnitude of magnetic anisotropy.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Neutral U(II) Arene Sandwich Complex.

Reduction of IU(NHAriPr6)2 (AriPr6 = 2,6-(2,4,6-iPr3C6H2)2C6H3) results in a rare example of a U(II) complex, U(NHAriPr6)2, and the first example that is a neutral species. Here, we show spectroscopic and magnetic studies that suggest a 5f46d0 valence electronic configuration for uranium, along with characterization of related U(III) complexes.

Low-Spin Fe(III) Macrocyclic Complexes of Imidazole-Appended 1,4,7-Triazacyclononane as Paramagnetic Probes.

Two macrocyclic complexes of 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (TACN), one with N-methyl imidazole pendants, [Fe(Mim)]3+, and one with unsubstituted NH imidazole pendants, [Fe(Tim)]3+, were prepared with a view toward biomedical imaging applications. These low-spin Fe3+ complexes produce moderately paramagnetically shifted and relatively sharp 1H NMR resonances for paraSHIFT and paraCEST applications. The [Fe(Tim)]3+ complex undergoes pH-dependent changes in NMR spectra in solution that are consistent with the consecutive deprotonation of all three imidazole pendant groups at high pH values. N-Methylation of the imidazole pendants in [Fe(Mim)]3+ produces a complex that dissociates more readily at high pH in comparison to [Fe(Tim)]3+, which contains ionizable donor groups. Cyclic voltammetry studies show that the redox potential of [Fe(Mim)]3+ is invariant with pH ( E1/2 = 328 ± 3 mV vs NHE) between pH 3.2 and 8.4, unlike the Fe(III) complex of Tim which shows a 590 mV change in redox potential over the pH range of 3.3-12.8. Magnetic susceptibility studies in solution give magnetic moments of 0.91-1.3 cm3 K mol-1 (µeff value = 2.7-3.2) for both complexes. Solid-state measurements show that the susceptibility is consistent with a S = 1/2 state over the temperature range of 0 to 300 K, with no crossover to a high-spin state under these conditions. The crystal structure of [Fe(Mim)](OTf)3 shows a six-coordinate all-nitrogen bound Fe(III) in a distorted octahedral environment. Relativistic ab initio wave function and density functional theory (DFT) calculations on [Fe(Mim)]3+, some with spin orbit coupling, were used to predict the ground spin state. Relative energies of the doublet, quartet, and sextet spin states were consistent with the doublet S = 1/2 state being the lowest in energy and suggested that excited states with higher spin multiplicities are not thermally accessible. Calculations were consistent with the magnetic susceptibility determined in the solid state.

Redox-Active Bis(phenolate) N-Heterocyclic Carbene [OCO] Pincer Ligands Support Cobalt Electron Transfer Series Spanning Four Oxidation States.

A new family of low-coordinate Co complexes supported by three redox-noninnocent tridentate [OCO] pincer-type bis(phenolate) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands are described. Combined experimental and computational data suggest that the charge-neutral four-coordinate complexes are best formulated as Co(II) centers bound to closed-shell [OCO]2- dianions, of the general formula [(OCO)CoIIL] (where L is a solvent-derived MeCN or THF). Cyclic voltammograms of the [(OCO)CoIIL] complexes reveal three oxidations accessible at potentials below 1.2 V vs Fc+/Fc, corresponding to generation of formally Co(V) species, but the true physical/spectroscopic oxidation states are much lower. Chemical oxidations afford the mono- and dications of the imidazoline NHC-derived complex, which were examined by computational and magnetic and spectroscopic methods, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The metal and ligand oxidation states of the monocationic complex are ambiguous; data are consistent with formulation as either [(SOCO)CoIII(THF)2]+ containing a closed-shell [SOCO]2- diphenolate ligand bound to a S = 1 Co(III) center, or [(SOCO•)CoII(THF)2]+ with a low-spin Co(II) ion ferromagnetically coupled to monoanionic [SOCO•]- containing a single unpaired electron distributed across the [OCO] framework. The dication is best described as [(SOCO0)CoII(THF)3]2+, with a single unpaired electron localized on the d7 Co(II) center and a doubly oxidized, charge-neutral, closed-shell SOCO0 ligand. The combined data provide for the first time unequivocal and structural evidence for [OCO] ligand redox activity. Notably, varying the degree of unsaturation in the NHC backbone shifts the ligand-based oxidation potentials by up to 400 mV. The possible chemical origins of this unexpected shift, along with the potential utility of the [OCO] pincer ligands for base-metal-mediated organometallic coupling catalysis, are discussed.

Spin-state diversity in a series of Co(ii) PNP pincer bromide complexes.

We describe the structural and electronic impacts of modifying the bridging atom in a family of Co(ii) pincer complexes with the formula Co(t-Bu)2PEPyEP(t-Bu)2Br2 (Py = pyridine, E = CH2, NH, and O for compounds 1-3, respectively). Structural characterization by single crystal X-ray diffraction indicates that compounds 1 and 3 are 5-coordinate complexes with both bromides bound to the Co(ii) ion, while compound 2 is square planar with one bromide in the outer coordination sphere. The reduction potentials of 1-3, characterized by cyclic voltammetry, are consistent with the increasing electron-withdrawing character of the pincer ligand as the linker (E) between the pyridine and phosphine arms becomes more electronegative. Magnetic property studies of compounds 1 and 2 confirm high- and low-spin behavior, respectively, through a broad temperature range. However, complex 3 features an unusual combination of high spin S = 3/2 Co(ii) and temperature dependent spin-crossover between S = 3/2 and S = 1/2 states. The different magnetic behaviors observed among the three CoBr2 pincer complexes reflects the importance of small ligand perturbations on overall coordination geometry and resulting spin state properties.

Solvation effects on transition metal hydricity.

The free energy of hydride donation (hydricity) for [HNi(DHMPE)2][BF4] (DHMPE = 1,2-bis(dihydroxymethylphosphino)ethane was experimentally determined versus the heterolytic cleavage energy of hydrogen in acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, and water to be 57.4, 55.5, and 30.0 kcal/mol, respectively. This work represents the first reported hydricity values for a transition metal hydride donor in three different solvents. A comparison between our values and the hydricity of hydrogen and formate reveals a narrowing in the range of values with increasing solvent polarity. The thermochemical values also reveal solvation effects that impact the overall thermodynamic favorability of hydride generation from hydrogen and transfer to carbon dioxide. The quantitative solvation effects described herein have important consequences to the design and reactivity of catalysts for transformations that have hydride transfer steps throughout synthetic chemistry.