Fluorescence XAFS study of NaAlH(4) doped with a Ce-based precursor.

NaAlH(4) doped with CeCl(3) was prepared by ball milling and cycled under hydrogen. As-prepared samples and cycled material were investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy in order to elucidate the local structure around Ce atoms in the material. It was found that, in contrast to Ti doped NaAlH(4), the oxidation state of the Ce(iii) remains constant during preparation and cycling. Moreover, there is no formation of a bimetallic entity consisting of Ce and Al which is the case in Ti doped samples. Rather, the first shell around Ce consists of a strongly distorted Cl coordination polyhedron with a coordination number considerably below that of CeCl(3). Al atoms are visible as second next neighbors, which indicates that the ball-milled sample is an intimate mixture between CeCl(x) entities and the alanate host matrix. A steady state seems to have been reached after 8 absorption cycles, and no significant changes of the local Ce coordination environment occur after the 9th desorption.

Electronic structures of five-coordinate complexes of iron containing zero, one, or two pi-radical ligands: a broken-symmetry density functional theoretical study.

The electronic structures of a series of five-coordinate complexes of iron containing zero, one, or two bidentate, organic pi-radical ligands and a monodentate ligand (pyridine, iodide) have been studied by broken-symmetry (BS) density functional theoretical (DFT) methods. By analyzing the set of corresponding orbitals[5] (CO) a convenient division of the spin-up and spin-down orbitals into 1) essentially doubly-occupied molecular orbitals (MO), 2) exactly singly-occupied MOs, 3) spin-coupled pairs, and 4) virtual orbitals can be achieved and a clear picture of the spin coupling between the ligands (non-innocence vs. innocence) and the central metal ion (dN configuration) can be generated. We have identified three classes of complexes which all contain a ferric ion (d5) with an intrinsic intermediate spin (SFe= 3/2) that yield 1) an St=3/2 ground spin state if the two bidentate ligands are closed-shell species (innocent ligands); 2) if one pi-radical ligand is present, an St=1 ground state is obtained through intramolecular antiferromagnetic coupling; 3) if two such radicals are present, an St=1/2 ground state is obtained. We show unambiguously for the first time that the pentane-2,4-dione-bis(S-alkylisothiosemicarbazonato) ligand can bind as pi-radical dianion (L.TSC)2- in [FeIII(L.TSC)I] (St=1) (6); the description as [Fe IV(L TSC(3-))I] is incorrect. Similarly, the diamagnetic monoanion in 14 must be described as [FeIII(CN)2(L.TSC)](-) (St=0) with a low-spin ferric ion (d5, SFe=1/2) coupled antiferromagnetically to a pi-radical ligand; [FeII(CN)2(L TSC-]- is an incorrect description.

Bis(alpha-diimine)nickel complexes: molecular and electronic structure of three members of the electron-transfer series [Ni(L)(2)](z)() (z = 0, 1+, 2+) (L = 2-Phenyl-1,4-bis(isopropyl)-1,4-diazabutadiene). A combined experimental and theoretical study.

From the reaction of Ni(COD)(2) (COD = cyclooctadiene) in dry diethylether with 2 equiv of 2-phenyl-1,4-bis(isopropyl)-1,4-diazabutadiene (L(Ox))(0) under an Ar atmosphere, dark red, diamagnetic microcrystals of [Ni(II)(L*)(2)] (1) were obtained where (L*)(1-) represents the pi radical anion of neutral (L(Ox))(0) and (L(Red))(2-) is the closed shell, doubly reduced form of (L(Ox))(0). Oxidation of 1 with 1 equiv of ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate in CH(2)Cl(2) yields a paramagnetic (S = 1/2), dark violet precipitate of [Ni(I)(L(Ox))(2)](PF(6)) (2) which represents an oxidatively induced reduction of the central nickel ion. From the same reaction but with 2 equiv of [Fc](PF(6)) in CH(2)Cl(2), light green crystals of [Ni(II)(L(Ox))(2)(FPF(5))](PF(6)) (3) (S = 1) were obtained. If the same reaction was carried out in tetrahydrofuran, crystals of [Ni(II)(L(Ox))(2)(THF)(FPF(5))](PF(6)) x THF (4) (S = 1) were obtained. Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 were structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography: 1 and 2 contain a tetrahedral neutral complex and a tetrahedral monocation, respectively, whereas 3 contains the five-coordinate cation [Ni(II)(L(Ox))(2)(FPF(5))](+) with a weakly coordinated PF(6)(-) anion and in 4 the six-coordinate monocation [Ni(II)(L(Ox))(2)(THF)(FPF(5))](+) is present. The electro- and magnetochemistry of 1-4 has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and SQUID measurements. UV-vis and EPR spectroscopic data for all compounds are reported. The experimental results have been confirmed by broken symmetry DFT calculations of [Ni(II)(L*)(2)](0), [Ni(I)(L(Ox))(2)](+), and [Ni(II)(L(Ox))(2)](2+) in comparison with calculations of the corresponding Zn complexes: [Zn(II)((t)L(Ox))(2)](2+), [Zn(II)((t)L(Ox))((t)L*)](+), [Zn(II)((t)L*)(2)](0), and [Zn(II)((t)L*)((t)L(Red))](-) where ((t)L(Ox))(0) represents the neutral ligand 1,4-di-tert-butyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene and ((t)L*)(1-) and ((t)L(Red))(2-) are the corresponding one- and two-electron reduced forms. It is clearly established that the electronic structures of both paramagnetic monocations [Ni(I)(L(Ox))(2)](+) (S = 1/2) and [Zn(II)((t)L(Ox))((t)(L*)](+) (S = 1/2) are different.

Electronic structure of bis(imino)pyridine iron dichloride, monochloride, and neutral ligand complexes: a combined structural, spectroscopic, and computational study.

The electronic structure of a family of bis(imino)pyridine iron dihalide, monohalide, and neutral ligand compounds has been investigated by spectroscopic and computational methods. The metrical parameters combined with Mössbauer spectroscopic and magnetic data for ((i)PrPDI)FeCl(2) ((i)PrPDI = 2,6-(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)N=CMe)(2)C(5)H(3)N) established a high-spin ferrous center ligated by a neutral bis(imino)pyridine ligand. Comparing these data to those for the single electron reduction product, ((i)PrPDI)FeCl, again demonstrated a high-spin ferrous ion, but in this case the S(Fe) = 2 metal center is antiferromagnetically coupled to a ligand-centered radical (S(L) = (1)/(2)), accounting for the experimentally observed S = (3)/(2) ground state. Continued reduction to ((i)PrPDI)FeL(n) (L = N(2), n = 1,2; CO, n = 2; 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine, n = 1) resulted in a doubly reduced bis(imino)pyridine diradical, preserving the ferrous ion. Both the computational and the experimental data for the N,N-(dimethylamino)pyridine compound demonstrate nearly isoenergetic singlet (S(L) = 0) and triplet (S(L) = 1) forms of the bis(imino)pyridine dianion. In both spin states, the iron is intermediate spin (S(Fe) = 1) ferrous. Experimentally, the compound has a spin singlet ground state (S = 0) due to antiferromagnetic coupling of iron and the ligand triplet state. Mixing of the singlet diradical excited state with the triplet ground state of the ligand via spin-orbit coupling results in temperature-independent paramagnetism and accounts for the large dispersion in (1)H NMR chemical shifts observed for the in-plane protons on the chelate. Overall, these studies establish that reduction of ((i)PrPDI)FeCl(2) with alkali metal or borohydride reagents results in sequential electron transfers to the conjugated pi-system of the ligand rather than to the metal center.

Electronic structure of mononuclear bis(1,2-diaryl-1,2-ethylenedithiolato)iron complexes containing a fifth cyanide or phosphite ligand: a combined experimental and computational study.

A series of mononuclear square-based pyramidal complexes of iron containing two 1,2-diaryl-ethylene-1,2-dithiolate ligands in various oxidation levels has been synthesized. The reaction of the dinuclear species [Fe(III)2(1L*)2(1L)2]0, where (1L)2- is the closed shell di-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,2-ethylenedithiolate dianion and (1L*)1- is its one-electron-oxidized pi-radical monoanion, with [N(n-Bu)4]CN in toluene yields dark green crystals of mononuclear [N(n-Bu)4][Fe(II)(1L*)2(CN)] (1). The oxidation of 1 with ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate yields blue [Fe(III)(1L*)2(CN)] (1ox), and analogously, a reduction with [Cp2Co] yields [Cp2Co][N(n-Bu)4][Fe(II)(1L*)(1L)(CN)] (1red); oxidation of the neutral dimer with iodine gives [Fe(III)(1L*)2I] (2). The dimer reacts with the phosphite P(OCH3)3 to yield [Fe(II)(1L*)2{P(OCH3)3}] (3), and [Fe(III)2(3L*)2(3L)2] reacts with P(OC6H5)3 to give [Fe(II)(3L*)2{P(OC6H5)3}] (4), where (3L)2- represents 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylenedithiolate(2-). Both 3 and 4 were electrochemically one-electron oxidized to the monocations 3ox and 4ox and reduced to the monoanions 3red and 4red. The structures of 1 and 4 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. All compounds have been studied by magnetic susceptibility measurements, X-band EPR, UV-vis, IR, and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The following five-coordinate chromophores have been identified: (a) [Fe(III)(L*)2X]n, X = CN-, I- (n = 0) (1ox, 2); X = P(OR)3 (n = 1+) )3ox, 4ox) with St = 1/2, SFe = 3/2; (b) [Fe(II)(L*)2X]n, X = CN-, (n = 1-) (1); X = P(OR)3 (n = 0) (3, 4) with St = SFe = 0; (c) [Fe(II)(L*)(L)X]n <--> [Fe(II)(L)(L*)X]n, X = CN- (n = 2-) (1red); X = P(OR)3 (n = 1-) (3red, 4red) with St = 1/2, SFe = 0 (or 1). Complex 1ox displays spin crossover behavior: St = 1/2 <--> St = 3/2 with intrinsic spin-state change SFe = 3/2 <--> SFe = 5/2. The electronic structures of 1 and 1(ox) have been established by density functional theoretical calculations: [Fe(II)(1L*)2(CN)]1- (SFe = 0, St = 0) and [Fe(III)(1L*)2(CN)]0 (SFe = 3/2, St = 1/2).

Molecular and electronic structures of tetrahedral complexes of nickel and cobalt containing N,N'-disubstituted, bulky o-diiminobenzosemiquinonate(1-) pi-radical ligands.

The reaction of 2 equiv of the bulky ligand N,N'-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-1,2-phenylenediamine, H2[3L(PDI)], excess triethylamine, and 1 equiv of M(CH3CO2)2.4H2O (M = Ni, Co) in the presence of air in CH3CN/CH2Cl2 solution yields violet-black crystals of [Ni(II)(3L(ISQ))2] CH3CN (1) or violet crystals of [Co(3L)2] (3). By using Pd(CH3CO2)2 as starting material, green-blue crystals of [Pd(II)(3L(ISQ))2].CH3CN (2) were obtained. Single-crystal X-ray crystallography revealed that 1 and 3 contain (pseudo)tetrahedral neutral molecules [M(3L)2] (M = Ni, Co) whereas in 2 nearly square planar, neutral molecules [Pd(II)(3L(ISQ))2] are present. Temperature-dependent susceptibility measurements established that 1 and 2 are diamagnetic (S = 0) whereas 3 is paramagnetic with an S = 3/2 ground state. It is shown that 1 contains two pi radical benzosemiquinonate(1-)-type monoanions, ((3L(ISQ))(1-*), S(rad) = 1/2), and a central Ni(II) ion (d8; S = 1) which are antiferromagnetically coupled yielding the observed S(t) = 0 ground state. This result has been confirmed by broken symmetry DFT calculations of 1. In contrast, the S(t) = 3/2 ground state of 3 is more difficult to understand: the two resonance structures [Co(III)(3L(ISQ))(3L(PDI))] <--> [Co(II)(3L(PDI))(3L(IBQ))] might be invoked (for tetrahedral [Co(II)(3L(ISQ))2] containing an S(Co) = 3/2 with two antiferromagnetically coupled pi-radical ligands an S(t) = 1/2 is anticipated). Complex 2 is diamagnetic (S = 0) containing a Pd(II) ion (d8, S(Pd) = 0 in an almost square planar ligand field) and two antiferromagnetically coupled ligand radicals (S(rad) = 1/2). The electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry of 1, 2, and 3 have been studied, and electron-transfer series comprising the species [M(L)2]z (z = 2+, 1+, 0, 1-, 2-) have been established. All oxidations and reductions are ligand centered.

Molecular and electronic structure of five-coordinate complexes of iron(II/III) containing o-diiminobenzosemiquinonate(1-) pi radical ligands.

The reaction of the ligand N-phenyl-1,2-benzenediamine (N-phenyl-o-phenylenediamine), H2[L(PDI)], in dry acetonitrile with [FeIII(dmf)6](ClO4)3 (dmf = N,N-dimethylformamide) affords the dimer (mu-NH,NH)[FeIII(L(ISQ))(L(PDI))]2 (1), where (L(ISQ))*- represents the pi radical monoanion N-phenyl-o-diiminobenzosemiquinonate and (L(PDI))2- is its one-electron-reduced, closed-shell form. Complex 1 possesses a diamagnetic ground-state St = 0. Addition reactions of tri-n-butylphosphane, tert-butyl isocyanide, cyclohexyl isocyanide, 4,5-diphenylimidazole, and 4-(1-phenylpentyl)pyridine with 1 in acetonitrile or toluene yields [FeII(L(ISQ))2(PBu3)] (2), [Fe(II)(L(ISQ))2(CN-tBu)] (4), [FeII(L(ISQ))2(CNCy)] (5), [FeIII(L(ISQ))2(Ph2Im)] (6), and [FeIII(L(ISQ))(L(PDI))(BuPhCH-py)].BuPhCH-py (7). Oxidation of 1 with iodine affords [FeIII(L(ISQ))2I] (3), and oxidation of 2 with ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate yields [FeIII(L(ISQ))2(PBu3)](PF6) (2ox). The structures of complexes 2, 2ox, 3, 5, 6, and 7 have been determined by X-ray crystallography at 100(2) K. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and EPR, UV-vis, and Mössbauer spectroscopy have established that mononuclear complexes containing the [FeII(L(ISQ))2X] chromophore (2, 4, 5) are diamagnetic (St = 0) whereas those with an [FeIII(L(ISQ))2X]n chromophore (3, 2(ox), 6) are paramagnetic (St = 1/2) and those with an [FeIII(L(ISQ))(L(PDI))X] chromophore (7) possess an St = 1 ground state. It is established that all ferric species have an intrinsic intermediate spin (SFe = 3/2) which is intramolecularly antiferromagnetically coupled to one or two (L(ISQ))*- ligand radicals yielding an St = 1 (7) or St = 1/2 (2ox, 3, 6) ground state, respectively. In the ferrous complexes 2, 4, and 5 the intrinsic spin at the iron ion is either low spin (SFe = 0) or intermediate spin (SFe = 1). Antiferromagnetic coupling between two radicals (L(ISQ))*- or, alternatively, between the intermediate spin ferrous ion and two radicals yields then the observed diamagnetic ground state. In 1 two [FeIII(L(ISQ))(L(PDI))] halves with S = 1 couple antiferromagnetically affording an St = 0 ground state.

Molecular and electronic structure of four- and five-coordinate cobalt complexes containing two o-phenylenediamine- or two o-aminophenol-type ligands at various oxidation levels: an experimental, density functional, and correlated ab initio study.

The bidentate ligands N-phenyl-o-phenylenediamine, H(2)((2)L(N)IP), or its analogue 2-(2-trifluoromethyl)anilino-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol, ((4)L(N)IP), react with [Co(II)(CH(3)CO(2))(2)]4H(2)O and triethylamine in acetonitrile in the presence of air yielding the square-planar, four-coordinate species [Co((2)L(N))(2)] (1) and [Co((4)L(O))(2)] (4) with an S=1/2 ground state. The corresponding nickel complexes [Ni((4)L(O))(2)] (8) and its cobaltocene reduced form [Co(III)(Cp)(2)][Ni((4)L(O))(2)] (9) have also been synthesized. The five-coordinate species [Co((2)L(N))(2)(tBu-py)] (2) (S=1/2) and its one-electron oxidized forms [Co((2)L(N))(2)(tBu-py)](O(2)CCH(3)) (2 a) or [Co((2)L(N))(2)I] (3) with diamagnetic ground states (S=0) have been prepared, as has the species [Co((4)L(O))(2)(CH(2)CN)] (7). The one-electron reduced form of 4, namely [Co(Cp)(2)][Co((4)L(O))(2)] (5) has been generated through the reduction of 4 with [Co(Cp)(2)]. Complexes 1, 2, 2 a, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography (100 K). The ligands are non-innocent and may exist as catecholate-like dianions ((2)L(N)IP)(2-), ((4)L(N)IP)(2-) or pi-radical semiquinonate monoanions ((2)L(N)ISQ)(*) (-), ((4)L(N)ISQ)(*) (-) or as neutral benzoquinones ((2) L(N)IBQ)(0), ((4) L(N)IBQ)(0); the spectroscopic oxidation states of the central metal ions vary accordingly. Electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and EPR spectroscopy, as well as variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements have been used to experimentally determine the electronic structures of these complexes. Density functional theoretical (DFT) and correlated ab initio calculation have been performed on the neutral and monoanionic species [Co((1)L(N))(2)](0,-) in order to understand the structural and spectroscopic properties of complexes. It is shown that the corresponding nickel complexes 8 and 9 contain a low-spin nickel(II) ion regardless of the oxidation level of the ligand, whereas for the corresponding cobalt complexes the situation is more complicated. Spectroscopic oxidation states describing a d(6) (Co(III)) or d(7) (Co(II)) electron configuration cannot be unambiguously assigned.