Highly efficient metal(iii) porphyrin and salen complexes for the polymerization of rac-lactide under ambient conditions.

Ligated metal(iii) complexes, Al(iii), In(iii), Cr(iii), and Co(iii), containing tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and cyclohexylsalen (Cy-salen) ligands were investigated for the polymerization of rac-lactide (rac-LA). A combination of metal complexes, co-catalyst, and co-initiator was shown to be highly efficient for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-LA at room temperature. Influences of metal centers, ligands, and co-catalysts were investigated. Higher Lewis acidity of metal centers and ligands enhanced catalytic activity. Ionic co-catalysts showed increased polymerization rates. Polymerization of rac-LA catalyzed by tetraphenylporphyrin aluminum chloride ((TPP)AlCl) and bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride (PPN+Cl-) in cyclohexene oxide (CHO) as a solvent produced isotactic-enriched polylactide. The order of reactivities based on the metals supported by the TPP ligand is Cr(iii) > Al(iii) > In(iii) > Co(iii) while the reactivities of the catalysts supported by Cy-salen ligands are in the order In(iii) > Cr(iii) > Al(iii) > Co(iii).

Probing Interligand Electron Transfer in the 1MLCT S1 Excited State of trans-Mo2L2L'2 Compounds: A Comparative Study of Auxiliary Ligands and Solvents.

The interligand charge dynamics of the lowest singlet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer states (1MLCT S1 states) of a series of quadruply bonded trans-Mo2(NN)2(O2C-X)2 paddlewheel compounds are investigated, where NN is a π-accepting phenylpropiolamidinate ligand and O2C-X (X = Me, tBu, TiPB, or CF3) is an auxiliary carboxylate ligand. The compounds show strong light absorption in the visible region due to MLCT transitions from the Mo2 center to the NN ligands. The transferred electron density was followed by femtosecond time-resolved infrared (fs-TRIR) spectroscopy with vibrational reporters such as the ethynyl groups on the NN ligands. The observed fs-TRIR spectra show that these compounds have asymmetric 1MLCT S1 excited states where the transferred electron mainly resides on a single NN ligand. The presence of interligand electron transfer (ILET) is suggested to explain the shape of the ν(C≡C) bands and the influence of auxiliary ligands and solvents on the interligand electronic coupling. The ILET in the 1MLCT S1 state is shown to be sensitive to the functional groups on the auxiliary ligands while being less responsive to changes in solvents.

A new route for the preparation of enriched iso-polylactide from rac-lactide via a Lewis acid catalyzed ring-opening of an epoxide.

Tetraphenylporphyrin aluminum(iii) salts, TPPAlX, where X = Me, OEt, OiPr, OCHMeCH2Cl, and Cl, and bis(triphenylphosphine)imminium chloride, PPN+Cl- (1 : 1) react with rac-lactide, rac-LA, in neat propylene oxide, PO, to yield chains of enriched isotactic polylactide, PLA, with end groups of PO-Cl and with time these yield cyclic polymers (PO)n(PLA) where n = 2 or 3 and even higher. There is no reaction between TPPAlOR (R = Et or iPr), PPN+Cl-, and rac-LA in neat THF at 25 °C even though TPPAlOR (R = Et or iPr) and PPN+Cl- in neat PO yields polypropylene oxide with a terminal OR group, H(PO)nOR. Taken together, Al(iii) acts as a Lewis acid in the ring-opening of PO, in which PPN+Cl- is present and the incipient ClCH2CHMeO- initiates the ROP of LA to yield anion chains of [(PLA)-OCHMeCH2Cl]-, and then the ring-opening of PO yields cycles, (PO)n(PLA), with the liberation of Cl-. The polymer was isolated by the addition of MeOH/HCl and end group analysis by mass spectrometry.

Femtosecond Study of Dimolybdenum Paddlewheel Compounds with Amide/Thioamide Ligands: Symmetry, Electronic Structure, and Charge Distribution in the 1MLCT S1 State.

Four photophysically interesting dimolybdenum paddlewheel compounds are synthesized and characterized: I and II contain amide ligand (N,3-diphenyl-2-propynamide), and III and IV contain thioamide ligand (N,3-diphenyl-2-propynethioamide). I and III are trans-Mo2L2(O2C-TiPB)2-type compounds, and II and IV are Mo2L4-type compounds, where O2C-TiPB is 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate. I-IV display strong light absorption due to metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions from molybdenum to the amide/thioamide ligands. Charge transfer dynamics in the MLCT excited states of I-IV have been examined using femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) spectroscopy and femtosecond time-resolved infrared (fs-TRIR) spectroscopy. The asymmetric amide/thioamide ligands show two forms of regioarrangements in the paddlewheel compounds. Analyses of the ν(C≡C) bands in the fs-TRIR spectra of I and II show similar electron density distribution over ligands in their 1MLCT S1 states where only two amide ligands are involved and the transferred electron is mainly localized on one of them. The fs-TRIR spectra of III and IV, however, show different charge distribution patterns where the transferred electron is fully delocalized over two thioamide ligands in III and partially delocalized in IV. Fast interligand electron transfer (ILET) was recognized as the explanation for the various charge distribution patterns, and ILET was shown to be influenced by both the ligands and the ligand arrangements.

Synthesis, Structure, and Photophysical Properties of Mo2(NN)4 and Mo2(NN)2(T(i)PB)2, Where NN = N,N'-Diphenylphenylpropiolamidinate and T(i)PB = 2,4,6-Triisopropylbenzoate.

Two dimolybdenum compounds featuring amidinate ligands with a C≡C bond, Mo2(NN)4 (I), where NN = N,N'-diphenylphenylpropiolamidinate, and trans-Mo2(NN)2(T(i)PB)2 (II), where T(i)PB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate, have been prepared and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Together with Mo2(DAniF)4 (III), where DAniF = N,N'-bis(p-anisyl)formamidinate, all three compounds have been studied with steady-state UV-vis, IR, and time-resolved spectroscopy methods. I and II display intense metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT). Singlet state (S1) lifetimes of I-III are determined to be 0.7, 19.1, and 2.0 ps, respectively. All three compounds have long-lived triplet state (T1) lifetimes around 100 µs. In femtosecond time-resolved infrared (fs-TRIR) experiments, one ν(C≡C) band is observed at the S1 state for I but two for II, which indicate different patterns of charge distribution. The electron would have to be localized on one NN ligand in I and partially delocalized over two NN ligands in II to account for the observations. The result is a standard showcase of excited-state mixed valence in coordination compounds.

Metal-Metal Quadruple Bonds (M = Mo or W) Supported by 4-[2-(4-Pyridinyl)ethenyl] Benzoates and their Complexes with Tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron.

From the reactions between M2(T(i)PB)4 and two equivalents of the acids LH, the compounds trans-M2(T(i)PB)2L2 were isolated where M = Mo, compound I, and M = W, II, T(i)PB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate, and LH = 4-[2-(4-Pyridinyl)ethenyl]benzoic acid. In related reactions when tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron, A, was added, the Lewis acid-Lewis base complexes Mo2(T(i)PB)2(LA)2, IB, and W2(T(i)PB)2(LA)2, IIB, were isolated. Compounds I and IB are red and purple, respectively, while II and IIB are green. The new compounds have been characterized by (1)H NMR, UV-visible-NIR absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical studies, which are tied together with density functional theory, DFT, and time-dependent DFT calculations. Chemical reduction of IB and IIB yields anions where the single electron occupies a ligand-based orbital as indicated by EPR spectroscopy. The LUMO and LUMO+1 are ligand-based, and are close in energy, and upon reduction, no IVCT is observed.

MM Quadruply Bonded Complexes Supported by Vinylbenzoate Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization, Photophysical Properties and Application as Synthons.

From the reactions between M2(T i PB)4 compounds and meta and para - vinylbenzoic acids (2 equiv) in toluene at room temperature the compounds trans-M2(T i PB)2L2, where L = m-vinylbenzoate 1A (M = Mo) and 1B (M = W) and T i PB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate, and where L = p-vinylbenzoate 2A (M = Mo) and 2B (M = W) have been isolated. Compounds 1A and 2A have been shown to undergo Heck carbon-carbon coupling reactions with phenyliodide to produce trans-Mo2(T i PB)2(O2CC6H4-m-CH=CH-C6H5)2,3A and trans-Mo2(T i PB)2(O2CC6H4-p-CH=CH-C6H5)2, 4A. The molybdenum compounds 1A and 2A have been structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. All the new compounds have been characterized by 1H NMR, IR, UV-Visible absorption and emission spectroscopy, high resolution MALDITOF MS, fs- and ns- transient absorption spectroscopy and fs- time-resolved IR spectroscopy. Electronic structure calculations employing density functional theory, DFT, and time-dependent DFT have been employed to aid in the interpretation of spectral data. All compounds show intense absorptions in the visible region corresponding to M2δ to Lπ* charge transfer transitions. The lifetimes of the 1MLCT state fall in the range of 1 - 10 ps and for the molybdenum complexes the T1 states are 3δδ* with lifetimes ~50 µs while for the tungsten complexes the T1 are 3 MLCT with lifetimes in the range of 3 - 10 ns.

Electronic and spectroscopic properties of avobenzone derivatives attached to ditungsten quadruple bonds.

From the reactions between W2(T(i)PB)4, where T(i)PB is 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate, and 2 equiv of acid, 4-formylbenzoic acid, HBzald, 4-(3-oxo-3-phenylpropanoyl)benzoic acid, HAvo, or 4-(2,2-difluoro-6-phenyl-2H-1λ(3),3,2λ(4)-dioxaborinin-4-yl)benzoic acid, HAvoBF2, three new compounds W2(T(i)PB)2(Bzald)2, I, W2(T(i)PB)2(Avo)2, II, and W2(T(i)PB)2(AvoBF2)2, III, have been prepared. As solid compounds I and II are blue while compound III is green. Characterization of these compounds has been carried out by means of (1)H NMR, MALDI-TOF MS, steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopies, and femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption and time-resolved infrared spectroscopies. Compounds I and II have strong metal to ligand charge transfer, MLCT, transitions in the visible region of their spectra while compound III exhibits MLCT absorption in the near-infrared (λmax = 1017 nm). All three have S1 states that have corresponding lifetimes of ∼3-30 ps and are (1)MLCT in character. The triplet states are (3)MLCT with lifetimes in the range 3-10 ns. Density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory were employed to perform electronic structure calculations in order to aid in the interpretation of these data. The spectroscopic properties of I and II are similar while the planarity of the ligand in III greatly lowers the energy of the MLCT state. The W2 unit enables direct observation of intersystem crossing from the (1)MLCT state to (3)MLCT state via the use of ultrafast spectroscopy.

Bismuth-lithium bonding in the ion pairs: LiBiL2, where L = a porphyrin or a salen ligand.

From the reaction between BiCl3 (1 equiv.) and LiN(SiMe3)2 (4 equiv.) and LH2 (2 equiv.), where L = a tetraphenylporphyrin, TPP, an octaethylporphyrin, OEP and phsalen in THF the title compounds have been obtained LiBiTPP2, LiBiOEP2, and LiBi(phsalen)2 and LiBi(phsalen)2·THF. Crystals grown from CH2Cl2-hexanes are colored; (green), (red-purple) and and (red-orange). The molecular structures of compound , and were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and are shown to have short LiBi bonds of distance 2.8 Å involving the LiL(-)BiL(+). Compound shows a slipped structure involving Li to two oxygens and a LiBi distance of 3.1 Å. Compounds and undergo a rapid reversible exchange in toluene-d8 at 90 °C. The MALDI-MS yields weak molecular ions due to LiBiL2(+/-) with more intense ions due to BiL(+) and LiL(-) in the positive and negative modes. The short Li(+) to Bi(3+) distances are comparable to those seen in LiBi compounds, such a LiBiR2, and are comparable to those seen by Pyykkö (P. Pyykkö, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2015, 119, 2326; P. Pyykkö and M. Atsumi, Chem. - Eur. J., 2009, 15, 186; P. Pyykkö and M. Atsumi, Chem. - Eur. J., 2009, 15, 12770) for Li-Bi bonds. These can be seen to be involving Bi6s6p hybrid lone-pairs to Li(+) atoms. The lithium bis(bistrimethylsilyl)amide (2 equiv.) and phsalenH2 in THF gave a compound having Li2L·2THF, . Crystallographically compound contains two Li(+) atoms, one coordinated to five atoms LiO2N2·THF. and the other being coordinated to three atoms, LiO2·THF. By (7)Li and (1)H NMR both lithium atoms share an equivalent environment.

Electronic and Spectroscopic Properties of Avobenzone Derivatives Attached to Mo2 Quadruple Bonds: Suppression of the Photochemical Enol-to-Keto Transformation.

From the reactions between Mo2(T(i)PB)4, where T(i)PB is 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate, and 2 equiv of the acids 4-formylbenzoic acid, HBzald; 4-(3-oxo-3-phenylpropanoyl)benzoic acid, HAvo; and 4-(2,2-difluoro-6-phenyl-2H-1λ(3),3,2λ(4)-dioxaborinin-4-yl)benzoic acid, HAvoBF2, the compounds Mo2(T(i)PB)2(Bzald)2, I; Mo2(T(i)PB)2(Avo)2, II; and Mo2(T(i)PB)2(AvoBF2)2, III, have been isolated. Compounds I and II are red, and compound III is blue. The new compounds have been characterized by (1)H NMR, MALDI-TOF MS, steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopies, and femtosecond and nanosecond time-resolved transient absorption and infrared spectroscopies. Electronic structure calculations employing density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory have been carried out to aid in the interpretation of these data. These compounds have strong metal-to-ligand charge transfer, MLCT, and transitions in the visible region of their spectra, and these comprise the S1 states having lifetimes ∼5-15 ps. The triplet states are Mo2δδ* with lifetimes in the microseconds. The spectroscopic properties of I and II are similar, whereas the planarity of the ligand in III greatly lowers the energy of the MLCT and enhances the intensity of the time-resolved spectra. The Mo2 unit shifts the ground state equilibrium entirely to the enol form and quenches the degradation pathways of the avobenzone moiety.

Photophysical studies of metal to ligand charge transfer involving quadruply bonded complexes of molybdenum and tungsten.

Photoinduced metal-to-ligand charge transfer transitions afford numerous applications in terms of photon energy harvesting. The majority of metal complexes studied to date involve diamagnetic systems of d(6), d(8), and d(10) transition metals. These typically have very short-lived, ∼100 fs, singlet metal to ligand charge transfer ((1)MLCT) states that undergo intersystem crossing to triplet metal to ligand charge transfer ((3)MLCT) states that are longer lived and are responsible for much of the photophysical studies. In contrast, the metal-metal quadruply bonded complexes of molybdenum and tungsten supported by carboxylate, O2CR, and related amidinate ligands (RN)2C(R') have relatively long-lived (1)MLCT states arising from M2δ to Lπ* transitions. These have lifetimes in the range 1-20 ps prior to intersystem crossing to T1 states that may be (3)MLCT or (3)MMδδ* with lifetimes of 1-100 ns and 1-100 µs, respectively. The M2 quadruply bonded complexes take the form M2L4 or M2L4-nL'n where n = 1-3. Thus, in their photoexcited MLCT states, these compounds pose the question of how the charge resides on the ligands. This Account reviews the current knowledge of how charge is positioned with time in S1 and T1 states with the aid of active IR reported groups located on the ligands, for example, C≡X multiple bonds (X = C, N, or O). Several examples of localized and delocalized charge distributions are noted along with kinetic barriers to the interconversion of MLCT and δδ* states. On the 50th anniversary of the recognition of the MM quadruple bond, these complexes are revealing some remarkable features in the study of the photophysical properties of metal-ligand charge transfer states.

Coupling of propylene oxide and lactide at a porphyrin chromium(III) center.

5,10,15,20-Tetraphenylporphyrin chromium chloride (TPPCrCl) with added [Ph3P═N═PPh3](+)Cl(-) (PPN(+)Cl(-)) selectively polymerizes lactide (L and rac) dissolved in neat propylene oxide (PO) to yield polylactide (PLA) terminated by the -OCHMeCH2Cl group. At 0 °C and below, rac-LA yields polymers highly enriched in isotactic tetrads (iii). At 25 °C, some stereoselectivity is lost as transesterification becomes significant, and at 60 °C and above, enchainment of PO leads to the formation of 3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxan-2-one by a backbiting mechanism. At 0 °C, after the enchainment of L-(S,S)-LA in neat (R)-(+)-PO, the formation of (3S,6R)-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxan-2-one occurs, while at higher temperatures the ratio of (3S,6R)-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxan-2-one to (3R,6R)-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxan-2-one falls to 3:2.

Photophysical properties of cis-Mo2 quadruply bonded complexes and observation of photoinduced electron transfer to titanium dioxide.

The compounds cis-Mo2(DAniF)2(L)2 have been prepared, where DAniF = (N,N')-p-dianisyl formamidinate and L = thienyl-2-carboxylate (Th), 2,2'-bithienyl-5-carboxylate (BTh), and 2,2':5',5″-terthienyl-5-carboxylate (TTh). The compounds have been characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption and emission, differential pulse voltammetry, and time-resolved transient absorption and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. An X-ray crystal structure was obtained for the thienyl complex. The related salt [(n)Bu4N]2[Mo2(DAniF)2(TTh-CO2)2], where TTh-CO2 = 2,2':5',2″-terthienyl-5,5″-dicarboxylate, has also been prepared and employed in the attachment of the complex to TiO2 nanoparticles. The latter have been characterized by ground-state Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and femtosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy. The time-resolved data provide evidence for sub-picosecond charge injection from the Mo2 center to the semiconducting oxide particle.

4-Nitrophenyl- and 4'-nitro-1,1'-biphenyl-4-carboxylates attached to Mo2 quadruple bonds: ground versus excited state M2δ-ligand conjugation.

From the reactions between Mo2(T(i)PB)4, where T(i)PB = 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate and two equivalents of the carboxylic acid LH (LH = 4-nitrobenzoic acid and 4'-nitro[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-carboxylic acid) the compounds trans-M2(T(i)PB)2L2 have been prepared: I (L = 4-nitrobenzoate and M = Mo), II (L = 4'-nitro-1,1'-biphenylcarboxylate and M = Mo) and III (L = 4-nitrobenzoate and M2 = MoW). The compounds have been characterized by (1)H NMR, UV-Vis and steady state emission spectroscopy, ns and fs transient absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. These data are compared with predictions based on electronic structure calculations on model compounds where T(i)PB is substituted for formate. Together these data indicate stronger ground-state coupling of the Mo2δ and ligand π* systems in I relative to II but this order is reversed in the photo excited S1(1)MLCT state. Attempts to prepare the W2 containing analogs were unsuccessful.

Ethyl 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoate derivatives of magnesium and zinc. The effect of chelation on the homo- and copolymerization of lactide and ε-caprolactone.

The preparation, single crystal and molecular structures of the compounds (BDI)Mg(OCMe2COOEt)(L) are described where BDI = 2-[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)amino]-4-[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]pent-2-ene and L = pyridine (py) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). In the solid-state the molecules have five coordinate Mg(2+) ions that may be considered as derived from a trigonal bipyramid where the chelating BDI and OCMe2COOEt ligands span equatorial-axial sites. IR spectroscopic data obtained in CH2Cl2 indicate that the chelating nature of the OCMe2COOEt ligand is maintained in solution and variable temperature NMR studies reveal that the ligands py or DMAP undergo a rapid reversible dissociation in toluene-d8 and especially in THF-d8. This leads to a facile exchange involving coordinated and free L upon the addition of L and evidence is presented to support the view that this occurs exclusively by a dissociative interchange mechanism. Zinc forms a related complex (BDI)Zn(OCMe2COOEt) lacking additional coordination of L but maintaining the chelating nature of the OCMe2COOEt ligand and undergoing reversible coordination of L in the presence of added ligands L. The magnesium and zinc complexes will initiate and sustain the living polymerization of lactide (L- or rac-LA) but not the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone.

Mo2 paddlewheel complexes functionalized with a single MLCT, S1 infrared-active carboxylate reporter ligand: preparation and studies of ground and photoexcited states.

From the reactions between Mo2(DAniF)3pivalate (DAniF = N,N'-di(p-anisyl)formamidinate) and the carboxylic acids LH, the title compounds Mo2(DAniF)3L have been prepared and characterized: compounds I (L = O2CC≡CPh), II (L = O2CC4H2SC≡CH), and III (L = O2CC6H4-p-CN). The new compounds have been characterized in their ground states by spectroscopy ((1)H NMR, ultraviolet-visible absorption, near-infrared absorption, and steady state emission), cyclic voltammetry, and density functional theory calculations. The compounds show strong metal Mo2 to ligand L δ-π* transitions in their visible spectra. The nature of the S1 (1)MLCT and T1 states has been probed by time-resolved (femtosecond and nanosecond) transient absorption and infrared spectroscopy. The observed shifts of the C≡C and C≡N vibrational modes are found to be consistent with the negative charge being localized on the single L in the S1 states, while the T1 states are (3)Mo2 δδ*. The present results are compared to earlier studies of the photoexcited states of trans-Mo2(2,4,6-triisopropylbenzoate)2L2 compounds that have been assigned as either localized or delocalized.

On the molecular structure and bonding in a lithium bismuth porphyrin complex: LiBi(TPP)(2).

A new BiLi porphyrin sandwich compound, LiBi(TPP)2 has been synthesized and characterized (TPP=tetraphenylporphyrin). The unique molecular structure of LiBi(TPP)2 is such that the Bi sits between the porphyrins and is directed towards the Li. This complex was shown to remain intact in solution by temperature-dependent 2D NMR spectroscopy. In order to investigate the potential interaction between these two metals, DFT calculations were used and showed a Bi 6s orbital polarized towards Li which could be indicative of a BiLi dative bond. This bond is remarkably short, 2.87 Å, and is among the shortest BiLi distances seen in a small molecule.

Ring-opening polymerization reactions of propylene oxide catalyzed by porphyrin metal 3+ complexes of aluminum, chromium and cobalt.

In today's world, a major scientific challenge is preserving the delicate balance between industrial growth and a pollutant free terrestrial environment. Thus, "greener" syntheses of commodity materials, capture and utilization of gaseous industrial by-products have become research areas of increasing significance. The pioneering work of Inoue showed a potential utilization of CO2, a major petrochemical by-product, and opened a new field of research. Inoue discovered the (porphyrin)Al(III)X catalyst systems, (X=Cl(-) or alkoxide) which copolymerize CO2 with epoxides to produce polycarbonates. This catalyst can also copolymerize epoxides and cyclic anhydrides to form polyesters. The current record describes our research aimed towards mechanistic understanding and further developments of (porphyrin)M(III)X catalyst systems. This detailed account shows the influence of the porphyrin ligands (tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), octaethylporphyrin (OEP), tetrakis-pentafluorophenylporphyrin (TFPP)), metal centers (Al, Cr, and Co) and Lewis base co-catalysts on the individual reaction steps and equilibria involved in the copolymerization processes.

Concerning the ground state and S1 and T1 photoexcited states of the homoleptic quadruply bonded complexes Mo2(O2CC6H4-p-X)4, where X = C≡C-H or C≡N.

The preparation of the homoleptic MM quadruply bonded complexes Mo2(O2CC6H4-p-X)4, where X = C≡C-H (I) or C≡N (II), is reported along with the solution characterization data and electronic structure calculations employing density functional theory. The compounds are colored orange (I) and red (II) due to the metal-to-ligand charge transfer involving the HOMO, Mo2δ, and LUMO, which is a ligand-based π* combination. Studies of the S1 state, (1)MLCT, by femtosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopy indicate that the negative charge is distributed principally over two trans ligands. The T1 states are (3)MoMoδδ* as determined by NIR emission and nanosecond transient absorption.