Reactions of [(dmpe)2MnH(C2H4)] with hydrogermanes to form germylene, germyl, hydrogermane, and germanide complexes.

Reactions of the ethylene hydride complex trans-[(dmpe)2MnH(C2H4)] (1) with secondary hydrogermanes H2GeR2 at 55-60 °C afforded the base-free terminal germylene hydride complexes trans-[(dmpe)2MnH(GeR2)] (R = Ph; 2a, R = Et; 2b). Room temperature reactions of 2a or 2b with an excess of the primary hydrogermanes H3GeR' (R' = Ph or nBu) afforded trans-[(dmpe)2MnH(GeHR')] (R' = Ph; 3a, R' = nBu; 3b) in rapid equilibrium with small amounts of 2a/b, as well as the digermyl hydride complex mer-[(dmpe)2MnH(GeH2R')2] {R' = Ph (4a) or nBu (4b)} and the trans-hydrogermane germyl complex trans-[(dmpe)2Mn(GeH2R')(HGeH2R')] {R' = Ph (5a) or nBu (5b)}. Pure 3b was isolated from the reaction of 2b with H3GenBu, whereas 3a decomposed readily in solution in the absence of free H3GePh, and a pure bulk sample was not obtained. Reactions of 1 with H3GeR' (R' = Ph or nBu) also proceeded at 55-60 °C to afford mixtures of 3a/b, 4a/b and 5a/b, accompanied by remaining 1. However, upon continued heating to consume 1, various unidentified manganese-containing intermediates were formed, ultimately affording the germanide complex [{(dmpe)2MnH}2(µ-Ge)] (6) in 17-49% spectroscopic yield. Pure trans,trans-6 was isolated in 27% yield from the reaction of 1 with H3GenBu, and it is notable that this reaction involves stripping of all four substituents from the hydrogermane. Complexes 2a, 3a, and 6 were crystallographically characterized, and the nature of the MnGe bonding in these species (as well as in 2b and 3b) was probed computationally.

Rare earth dialkyl cations and monoalkyl dications supported by a rigid neutral pincer ligand: synthesis and ethylene polymerization.

A palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction between 4,5-dibromo-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene and 2 equiv. of 1,3-diisopropylimidazolin-2-imine afforded the rigid neutral 2,7-di-tert-butyl-4,5-bis(1,3-diisopropylimidazolin-2-imino)-9,9-dimethylxanthene (XII2) pincer ligand. Reaction of XII2 with YCl3(THF)3.5 provided [(XII2)YCl3] (1). However, compound 1 failed to react cleanly with 3 equiv. of LiCH2SiMe3, and the reaction of XII2 with [Y(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] afforded a complex mixture of products. To access group 3 alkyl complexes without the intermediacy of [(XII2)M(CH2SiMe3)3], the XII2 ligand was protonated using [H(OEt2)2][B(C6F5)4] to form [H(XII2)][B(C6F5)4], and subsequent reaction with [M(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2] (M = Y, Sc) directly afforded the cationic scandium and yttrium dialkyl complexes [(XII2)M(CH2SiMe3)2][B(C6F5)4] {M = Y (2) and Sc (3)}. Reaction of 3 with B(C6F5)3 in C6D5Br afforded dicationic [(XII2)Sc(CH2SiMe2CH2SiMe3)][MeB(C6F5)3][B(C6F5)4] (4) featuring a CH2SiMe2CH2SiMe3 ligand, formed as a result of methyl anion abstraction from silicon, with concomitant migration of the neighbouring CH2SiMe3 group from scandium to silicon. The MeB(C6F5)3 anion in 4 forms a contact ion pair. By contrast, reaction of 1 with [CPh3][B(C6F5)3] in C6D5Br/toluene or o-C6H4F2/toluene afforded dicationic [(XII2)Sc(CH2SiMe3)(ηx-toluene)n][B(C6F5)4]2 (5). Compounds 2-4 showed negligible ethylene polymerization activity, whereas 5 is highly active (up to 870 kg mol-1 h-1 atm-1 in o-C6H4F2/toluene under 1 atm of ethylene at room temperature).

Trans Ligand Determines the Stability of Paramagnetic Manganese(II) Hydrides of the Type trans-[MnH(L)(dmpe)2]+ Where L is PMe3, C2H4, or CO.

Paramagnetic metal hydride (PMH) complexes play important roles in catalytic applications and bioinorganic chemistry. 3d PMH chemistry has largely focused on Ti, Mn, Fe, and Co. Various MnII PMHs have been proposed as intermediates in catalysis, but isolated MnII PMHs are limited to dimeric high-spin MnII structures with bridging hydrides. In this paper, a series of the first low-spin monomeric MnII PMH complexes are generated by chemical oxidation of their MnI analogues. This series is of the type trans-[MnH(L)(dmpe)2]+/0 where the trans ligand L is PMe3, C2H4, or CO [dmpe is 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane], and the thermal stability of the MnII hydride complexes was found to be strongly dependent on the identity of the trans ligand. When L is PMe3, the complex is the first example of an isolated monomeric MnII hydride complex. In contrast, when L is C2H4 or CO, the complexes are only stable at low temperatures; upon warming to room temperature, the former decomposed to afford [Mn(dmpe)3]+, accompanied by ethane and ethylene, whereas the latter eliminated H2, generating [Mn(MeCN)(CO)(dmpe)2]+ or a mixture of products including [Mn(κ1-PF6)(CO)(dmpe)2], depending on the reaction conditions. All PMHs were characterized by low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and stable [MnH(PMe3)(dmpe)2]+ was further characterized by UV-vis and IR spectroscopy, Superconducting Quantum Interference Device magnetometry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Noteworthy spectral properties are the significant EPR superhyperfine coupling to the hydride (∼85 MHz) and an increase (+33 cm-1) in the Mn-H IR stretch upon oxidation. Density functional theory calculations were also employed to gain insights into the acidity and bond strengths of the complexes. MnII-H bond dissociation free energies are estimated to decrease in the series of complexes from 60 (L = PMe3) to 47 kcal/mol (L = CO).

Uranium(iv) alkyl cations: synthesis, structures, comparison with thorium(iv) analogues, and the influence of arene-coordination on thermal stability and ethylene polymerization activity.

Reaction of [(XA2)U(CH2SiMe3)2] (1; XA2 = 4,5-bis(2,6-diisopropylanilido)-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene) with 1 equivalent of [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] in arene solvents afforded the arene-coordinated uranium alkyl cations, [(XA2)U(CH2SiMe3)(η n -arene)][B(C6F5)4] {arene = benzene (2), toluene (3), bromobenzene (4) and fluorobenzene (5)}. Compounds 2, 3, and 5 were crystallographically characterized, and in all cases the arene is π-coordinated. Solution NMR studies of 2-5 suggest that the binding preferences of the [(XA2)U(CH2SiMe3)]+ cation follow the order: toluene ≈ benzene > bromobenzene > fluorobenzene. Compounds 2-4 generated in C6H5R (R = H, Me or Br, respectively) showed no polymerization activity under 1 atm of ethylene. By contrast, 5 and 5-Th (the thorium analogue of 5) in fluorobenzene at 20 and 70 °C achieved ethylene polymerization activities between 16 800 and 139 200 g mol-1 h-1 atm-1, highlighting the extent to which common arene solvents such as toluene can suppress ethylene polymerization activity in sterically open f-element complexes. However, activation of [(XA2)An(CH2SiMe3)2] {M = U (1) or Th (1-Th)} with [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] in n-alkane solvents did not afford an active polymerization catalyst due to catalyst decomposition, illustrating the critical role of PhX (X = H, Me, Br or F) coordination for alkyl cation stabilization. Gas phase DFT calculations, including fragment interaction calculations with energy decomposition and ETS-NOCV analysis, were carried out on the cationic portion of 2'-Th, 2', 3' and 5' (analogues of 2-Th, 2, 3 and 5 with hydrogen atoms in place of ligand backbone methyl and tert-butyl groups), providing insight into the nature of actinide-arene bonding, which decreases in strength in the order 2'-Th > 2' ≈ 3' > 5'.

Uranium(IV) Thio- and Selenoether Complexes: Syntheses, Structures, and Computational Investigation of U-ER2 Interactions.

Rigid thioether- and selenoether-containing pincer proligands H[AS2 Ph 2 ] (1) and H[ASe2 Ph 2 ] (2) were synthesized, and deprotonation provided the potassium salts [K(AS2 Ph 2 )(dme)] (3) and [K(ASe2 Ph 2 )(dme)2 ] (4). Reaction of two equivalents of 3 or 4 with [UI4 (dioxane)2 ] afforded the uranium thioether complex [(AS2 Ph 2 )2 UI2 ] (5) and the first example of a uranium-selenoether complex, [(ASe2 Ph 2 )2 UI2 ] (6). X-ray structures revealed distorted square antiprismatic geometries in which the AE2 Ph 2 ligands are κ3 -coordinated. The nature of the U-ER2 bonding in 5 and 6, as well as methyl-free analogues of 5 and 6 and a hypothetical ether analogue, was investigated computationally (including NBO, AIM, and ELF calculations) illustrating increasing covalency from O to S to Se.

Reactions of [(dmpe)2MnH(C2H4)]: synthesis and characterization of manganese(i) borohydride and hydride complexes.

Reactions of trans-[(dmpe)2MnH(C2H4)] (1) with BH3(NMe3), 9-BBN, and HBMes2 yielded the manganese(i) borohydride complexes [(dmpe)2Mn(µ-H)2BR2] (3: R = H, 4: R2 = C8H14, 5: R = Mes). The reaction of 1 with BH3(NMe3) proceeds via ethylene substitution. By contrast, a detuerium labelling study indicates that the reaction of 1 with HBMes2 involves initial isomerization of 1 to an unobserved 5-coordinate ethyl intermediate, [(dmpe)2MnEt], which reacts with the hydroborane to afford EtBR2 and [(dmpe)2MnH], followed by reaction with a second equivalent of hydroborane to generate 5 (an analogous pathway is likely followed for other base-free hydroboranes such as 9-BBN). Identification of 3-5 as κ2-borohydride complexes, as opposed to boryl dihydride or hydroborane hydride isomers, is supported by 11B NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Atoms in Molecules calculations. Two byproducts were observed in the syntheses of 3-5: [{(dmpe)2MnH}2(µ-dmpe)] (6) and [(dmpe)2MnH(κ1-dmpe)] (7). These complexes were independently prepared by exposure of 1 to free dmpe under an atmosphere of Ar or H2, and the generality of this synthetic route was demonstrated by the reaction of 1 with PMe3 (under H2) to form [(dmpe)2MnH(PMe3)] (8). Complexes 6-8 can exist as isomers with either a trans or a cis relationship between the hydride and κ1-coordinated phosphine ligands on manganese. trans to cis isomerization of 6-8 is photochemically induced, whereas the reverse reaction occurs under thermal conditions. X-ray crystal structures were obtained for 3-5, trans,trans-6, cis,cis-6, trans-7, and trans-8.

Interconversion and reactivity of manganese silyl, silylene, and silene complexes.

Manganese disilyl hydride complexes [(dmpe)2MnH(SiH2R)2] (4Ph : R = Ph, 4Bu : R = n Bu) reacted with ethylene to form silene hydride complexes [(dmpe)2MnH(RHSi[double bond, length as m-dash]CHMe)] (6Ph,H : R = Ph, 6Bu,H : R = n Bu). Compounds 6R,H reacted with a second equivalent of ethylene to generate [(dmpe)2MnH(REtSi[double bond, length as m-dash]CHMe)] (6Ph,Et : R = Ph, 6Bu,Et : R = n Bu), resulting from apparent ethylene insertion into the silene Si-H bond. Furthermore, in the absence of ethylene, silene complex 6Bu,H slowly isomerized to the silylene hydride complex [(dmpe)2MnH([double bond, length as m-dash]SiEt n Bu)] (3Bu,Et ). Reactions of 4R with ethylene likely proceed via low-coordinate silyl {[(dmpe)2Mn(SiH2R)] (2Ph : R = Ph, 2Bu : R = n Bu)} or silylene hydride {[(dmpe)2MnH([double bond, length as m-dash]SiHR)] (3Ph,H : R = Ph, 3Bu,H : R = n Bu)} intermediates accessed from 4R by H3SiR elimination. DFT calculations and high temperature NMR spectra support the accessibility of these intermediates, and reactions of 4R with isonitriles or N-heterocyclic carbenes yielded the silyl isonitrile complexes [(dmpe)2Mn(SiH2R)(CNR')] (7a-d: R = Ph or n Bu; R' = o-xylyl or t Bu), and NHC-stabilized silylene hydride complexes [(dmpe)2MnH{[double bond, length as m-dash]SiHR(NHC)}] (8a-d: R = Ph or n Bu; NHC = 1,3-diisopropylimidazolin-2-ylidene or 1,3,4,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolin-2-ylidene), respectively, all of which were crystallographically characterized. Silyl, silylene and silene complexes in this work were accessed via reactions of [(dmpe)2MnH(C2H4)] (1) with hydrosilanes, in some cases followed by ethylene. Therefore, ethylene (C2H4 and C2D4) hydrosilylation was investigated using [(dmpe)2MnH(C2H4)] (1) as a pre-catalyst, resulting in stepwise conversion of primary to secondary to tertiary hydrosilanes. Various catalytically active manganese-containing species were observed during catalysis, including silylene and silene complexes, and a catalytic cycle is proposed.

Manganese Silylene Hydride Complexes: Synthesis and Reactivity with Ethylene to Afford Silene Hydride Complexes.

Reaction of the ethylene hydride complex trans-[(dmpe)2 MnH(C2 H4 )] (1) with Et2 SiH2 at 20 °C afforded the silylene hydride [(dmpe)2 MnH(=SiEt2 )] (2 a) as the trans-isomer. By contrast, reaction of 1 with Ph2 SiH2 at 60 °C afforded [(dmpe)2 MnH(=SiPh2 )] (2 b) as a mixture of the cis (major) and trans (minor) isomers, featuring a Mn-H-Si interaction in the former. The reaction to form 2 b also yielded [(dmpe)2 MnH2 (SiHPh2 )] (3 b); [(dmpe)2 MnH2 (SiHR2 )] (R=Et (3 a) and Ph (3 b)) were accessed cleanly by reaction of 2 a and 2 b with H2 , and the analogous reactions with D2 afforded [(dmpe)2 MnD2 (SiHR2 )] exclusively. Both 2 a and 2 b engaged in unique reactivity with ethylene, generating the silene hydride complexes cis-[(dmpe)2 MnH(R2 Si=CHMe)] (R=Et (4 a), Ph (4 b)). Compounds trans-2 a, cis-2 b, 3 b, and 4 b were crystallographically characterized, and bonding in 2 a, 2 b, 4 a, and 4 b was probed computationally.