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Reaction of [Pd(IPr)(2)] (IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) and O-2 leads to the surprising discovery that at low temperature the initial reaction product is a highly labile peroxide complex cis-[Pd(IPr)(2)(eta(2)-O-2)]. At temperatures greater than or similar to -40 degrees C, cis-[Pd(IPr)(2)(eta(2)-O-2)] adds a second O-2 to form trans-[Pd(IPr)(2)(eta(1)-O-2)(2)]. Squid magnetometry and EPR studies yield data that are consistent with a singlet diradical ground state with a thermally accessible triplet state for this unique bis-superoxide complex. In addition to reaction with O-2 , cis-[Pd(IPr)(2)(eta(2)-O-2)] reacts at low temperature with H2O in methanol/ether solution to form trans-[Pd(IPr)(2)(OH)(OOH)]. The crystal structure of trans-[Pd(IPr)(2)(OOH) (OH)] is reported. Neither reaction with O-2 nor reaction with H2O occurs under comparable conditions for cis-[Pd(IMes)(2)(eta(2)-O-2)] (IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene). The increased reactivity of cis-[Pd(IPr)(2)(eta(2)-O-2)] is attributed to the enthalpy of binding of O-2 to [Pd(IPr)(2)] (-14.5 +/- 1.0 kcal/mol) that is approximately one-half that of [Pd(IMes)(2)] (-27.9 +/- 1.5 kcal/mol). Computational studies identify the cause as interligand repulsion forcing a wider C-Pd-C angle and tilting of the NHC plane in cis-[Pd(IPr)(2)(eta(2)-O-2)]. Arene-arene interactions are more favorable and serve to further stabilize. cis-[Pd(IMes)(2)(eta(2)-O-2)]. Inclusion of dispersion effects in DFT calculations leads to improved agreement between experimental and computational enthalpies of O-2 binding. A complete reaction diagram is constructed for formation of trans-[Pd(IPr)(2)(eta(1)-O-2)(2)] and leads to the conclusion that kinetic factors inhibit formation of trans-[Pd(IMes)(2)(eta(1)-O-2)(2)] at the low temperatures at which it is thermodynamically favored. Failure to detect the predicted T-shaped intermediate trans-[Pd(NHC)(2)(eta(1)-O-2)] for either NHC = IMes or IPr is attributed to dynamic effects. A partial potential energy diagram for initial binding of O-2 is constructed. A range of low-energy pathways at different angles of approach are present and blur the distinction between pure "side-on" or "end-on" trajectories for oxygen binding.

Reaction of three equivalents of MesCNO (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) with one equivalent of [Pd(IPr)(P(p-tolyl)3)] in toluene yields the solid complex [Pd(IPr)(NCMes)(κ2-O–N C-Mes(–N–C( O)Mes))]. Three major steps are proposed to be involved in the reaction based on spectroscopic studies as well as literature precedents for related cycloadditions: i. oxidation of the coordinated phosphine ligand to phosphine oxide ii. oxygen atom transfer forming a C O bond from the N–O bond of MesCNO, and iii. cycloaddition of a final MesCNO ligand to yield product. Addition of two equivalents of NO at low temperature to the in situ generated peroxide complex [Pd(IPr)2(η2-O2)] generates the N-bonded complex trans-[Pd(IPr)2(NO2)2] in keeping with a literature precedent reported for similar complexes. Insight into the energetics of this reaction are probed by DFT calculations using the truncated ligand complex [Pd(IMe)2]. The computed enthalpy of binding of two moles of NO2 to form [Pd(IMe)2(NO2)2] is −112 kcal/mol indicating that its preparation from [Pd(IMe)2], N2 and 2O2 is thermodynamically favorable by −96 kcal/mol. Crystal structures of [Pd(IPr)(NCMes)(κ2-O–N C-Mes(–N–C( O)Mes))] and trans-[Pd(IPr)2(NO2)2] are reported.

Enthalpies of ligand substitution for [Mo(η 5 -C 5 H 5 )(CO) 2 (NO)] producing [Mo(η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Mo(CO)(L)(NO)] have been measured by solution calorimetry at 30 °C in THF for L = P(OMe) 3 2 2 Ph 3 (SIPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-bis(diisopropylphenyl)imidazolinylidene; IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-bis(diisopropylphenyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene)). The accepting metal fragment [Mo(η 5 -C 5 H 5 )(CO)(NO)] has a vacant site containing strongly π-accepting carbonyl and nitrosyl ligands and this is shown to influence the stability of the product complex. Infrared studies of both ν CO and ν NO show that metal-to-ligand backbonding increases in the order P(OMe) 3 3 5 -C 5 H 5 )(CO)(IPr)(NO)] and [Mo(η 5 -C 5 H 5 )(CO)(SIPr)(NO)] are reported.

Treatment of V(N[(t)Bu]Ar)(3) (1) (Ar = 3,5-Me(2)C(6)H(3)) with O(2) was shown by stopped-flow kinetic studies to result in the rapid formation of (η(1)-O(2))V(N[(t)Bu]Ar)(3) (2) (ΔH(‡) = 3.3 ± 0.2 kcal/mol and ΔS(‡) = -22 ± 1 cal mol(-1) K(-1)), which subsequently isomerizes to (η(2)-O(2))V(N[(t)Bu]Ar)(3) (3) (ΔH(‡) = 10.3 ± 0.9 kcal/mol and ΔS(‡) = -6 ± 4 cal mol(-1) K(-1)). The enthalpy of binding of O(2) to form 3 is -75.0 ± 2.0 kcal/mol, as measured by solution calorimetry. The reaction of 3 and 1 to form 2 equiv of O≡V(N[(t)Bu]Ar)(3) (4) occurs by initial isomerization of 3 to 2. The results of computational studies of this rearrangement (ΔH = 4.2 kcal/mol; ΔH(‡) = 16 kcal/mol) are in accord with experimental data (ΔH = 4 ± 3 kcal/mol; ΔH(‡) = 14 ± 3 kcal/mol). With the aim of suppressing the formation of 4, the reaction of O(2) with 1 in the presence of (t)BuCN was studied. At -45 °C, the principal products of this reaction are 3 and (t)BuC(═O)N≡V(N[(t)Bu]Ar)(3) (5), in which the bound nitrile has been oxidized. Crystal structures of 3 and 5 are reported.

The reactivity of a number of two-coordinate [Pd(L)(L')] (L = N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and L' = NHC or PR(3)) complexes with O(2) has been examined. Stopped-flow kinetic studies show that O(2) binding to [Pd(IPr)(P(p-tolyl)(3))] to form cis-[Pd(IPr)(P(p-tolyl)(3))(η(2)-O(2))] occurs in a rapid, second-order process. The enthalpy of O(2) binding to the Pd(0) center has been determined by solution calorimetry to be -26.2(1.9) kcal/mol. Extension of this work to the bis-NHC complex [Pd(IPr)(2)], however, did not lead to the formation of the expected diamagnetic complex cis-[Pd(IPr)(2)(η(2)-O(2))] but to paramagnetic trans-[(Pd(IPr)(2)(η(1)-O(2))(2)], which has been fully characterized. Computational studies addressing the energetics of O(2) binding have been performed and provide insight into reactivity changes as steric pressure is increased.

Net reductive elimination (RE) of MeX (X = halide or pseudo-halide: Cl(-), CF3CO2(-), HSO4(-), OH(-)) is an important step during Pt-catalyzed hydrocarbon functionalization. Developing Rh(I/III)-based catalysts for alkane functionalization is an attractive alternative to Pt-based systems, but very few examples of RE of alkyl halides and/or pseudo-halides from Rh(III) complexes have been reported. Here, we compare the influence of the ligand donor strength on the thermodynamic potentials for oxidative addition and reductive functionalization using [(t)Bu3terpy]RhCl (1) {(t)Bu3terpy = 4,4',4''-tri-tert-butylpyridine} and [(NO2)3terpy]RhCl (2) {(NO2)3terpy = 4,4',4''-trinitroterpyridine}. Complex 1 oxidatively adds MeX {X = I(-), Cl(-), CF3CO2(-) (TFA(-))} to afford [(t)Bu3terpy]RhMe(Cl)(X) {X = I(-) (3), Cl(-) (4), TFA(-) (5)}. By having three electron-withdrawing NO2 groups, complex 2 does not react with MeCl or MeTFA, but reacts with MeI to yield [(NO2)3terpy]RhMe(Cl)(I) (6). Heating 6 expels MeCl along with a small quantity of MeI. Repeating this experiment but with excess [Bu4N]Cl exclusively yields MeCl, while adding [Bu4N]TFA yields a mixture of MeTFA and MeCl. In contrast, 3 does not reductively eliminate MeX under similar conditions. DFT calculations successfully predict the reaction outcome by complexes 1 and 2. Calorimetric measurements of [(t)Bu3terpy]RhI (7) and [(t)Bu3terpy]RhMe(I)2 (8) were used to corroborate computational models. Finally, the mechanism of MeCl RE from 6 was investigated via DFT calculations, which supports a nucleophilic attack by either I(-) or Cl(-) on the Rh-CH3 bond of a five-coordinate Rh complex.

The 3,4,8,9-tetramethyl-1,6-diphospha-bicyclo-[4.4.0]deca-3,8-diene (P2(C6H10)2) framework containing a P-P bond has allowed for an unprecedented selectivity toward functionalization of a single phosphorus lone pair with reference to acyclic diphosphane molecules. Functionalization at the second phosphorus atom was found to proceed at a significantly slower rate, thus opening the pathway for obtaining mixed functional groups for a pair of P-P bonded λ(5)-phosphorus atoms. Reactivity with the chalcogen-atom donors MesCNO (Mes = 2,4,6-C6H2Me3) and SSbPh3 has allowed for the selective synthesis of the diphosphane chalcogenides OP2(C6H10)2 (87%), O2P2(C6H10)2 (94%), SP2(C6H10)2 (56%), and S2P2(C6H10)2 (87%). Computational studies indicate that the oxygen-atom transfer reactions involve penta-coordinated phosphorus intermediates that have four-membered {PONC} cycles. The P-E bond dissociation enthalpies in EP2(C6H10)2 were measured via calorimetric studies to be 134.7 ± 2.1 kcal/mol for P-O, and 93 ± 3 kcal/mol for P-S, respectively, in good agreement with the computed values. Additional reactivity with breaking of the P-P bond and formation of diphosphinate O3P2(C6H10)2 was only observed to occur upon heating of dimethylsulfoxide solutions of the precursor. Reactivity of diphosphane P2(C6H10)2 with azides allowed the isolation of monoiminophosphoranes (RN)P2(C6H10)2(R = Mes, CPh3, SiMe3), and treatment with additional MesN3 yielded symmetric and unsymmetric diiminodiphosphoranes (RN)(MesN)P2(C6H10)2 (91% for R = Mes). Metalation reactions with the bulky diiminodiphosphorane ligand (MesN)2P2(C6H10)2 (nppn) allowed for the isolation and characterization of (nppn)Mo(η(3)-C3H5)Cl(CO)2 (91%), (nppn)NiCl2 (76%), and [(nppn)Ni(η(3)-2-C3H4Me)][OTf] showing that these ligands provide an attractive preorganized binding pocket for both late and early transition metals.

Thermodynamic, kinetic, and computational studies are reported for oxygen atom transfer (OAT) to the complex V(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 (Ar = 3,5-C6H3Me2, 1) from compounds containing N-O bonds with a range of BDEs spanning nearly 100 kcal mol(-1): PhNO (108)SIPr/MesCNO (75)PyO (63)IPr/N2O (62)MesCNO (53)N2O (40)dbabhNO (10) (Mes = mesityl; SIPr = 1,3-bis(diisopropyl)phenylimidazolin-2-ylidene; Py = pyridine; IPr = 1,3-bis(diisopropyl)phenylimidazol-2-ylidene; dbabh = 2,3:5,6-dibenzo-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene). Stopped flow kinetic studies of the OAT reactions show a range of kinetic behavior influenced by both the mode and strength of coordination of the O donor and its ease of atom transfer. Four categories of kinetic behavior are observed depending upon the magnitudes of the rate constants involved: (I) dinuclear OAT following an overall third order rate law (N2O); (II) formation of stable oxidant-bound complexes followed by OAT in a separate step (PyO and PhNO); (III) transient formation and decay of metastable oxidant-bound intermediates on the same time scale as OAT (SIPr/MesCNO and IPr/N2O); (IV) steady-state kinetics in which no detectable intermediates are observed (dbabhNO and MesCNO). Thermochemical studies of OAT to 1 show that the V-O bond in O≡V(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 is strong (BDE = 154 ± 3 kcal mol(-1)) compared with all the N-O bonds cleaved. In contrast, measurement of the N-O bond in dbabhNO show it to be especially weak (BDE = 10 ± 3 kcal mol(-1)) and that dissociation of dbabhNO to anthracene, N2, and a (3)O atom is thermodynamically favorable at room temperature. Comparison of the OAT of adducts of N2O and MesCNO to the bulky complex 1 show a faster rate than in the case of free N2O or MesCNO despite increased steric hindrance of the adducts.

The enthalpies of oxygen atom transfer (OAT) from mesityl nitrile oxide (MesCNO) to Me(3)P, Cy(3)P, Ph(3)P, and the complex (Ar[(t)Bu]N)(3)MoP (Ar = 3,5-C(6)H(3)Me(2)) have been measured by solution calorimetry yielding the following P-O bond dissociation enthalpy estimates in toluene solution (±3 kcal mol(-1)): Me(3)PO [138.5], Cy(3)PO [137.6], Ph(3)PO [132.2], (Ar[(t)Bu]N)(3)MoPO [108.9]. The data for (Ar[(t)Bu]N)(3)MoPO yield an estimate of 60.2 kcal mol(-1) for dissociation of PO from (Ar[(t)Bu]N)(3)MoPO. The mechanism of OAT from MesCNO to R(3)P and (Ar[(t)Bu]N)(3)MoP has been investigated by UV-vis and FTIR kinetic studies as well as computationally. Reactivity of R(3)P and (Ar[(t)Bu]N)(3)MoP with MesCNO is proposed to occur by nucleophilic attack by the lone pair of electrons on the phosphine or phosphide to the electrophilic C atom of MesCNO forming an adduct rather than direct attack at the terminal O. This mechanism is supported by computational studies. In addition, reaction of the N-heterocyclic carbene SIPr (SIPr = 1,3-bis(diisopropyl)phenylimidazolin-2-ylidene) with MesCNO results in formation of a stable adduct in which the lone pair of the carbene attacks the C atom of MesCNO. The crystal structure of the blue SIPr·MesCNO adduct is reported, and resembles one of the computed structures for attack of the lone pair of electrons of Me(3)P on the C atom of MesCNO. Furthermore, this adduct in which the electrophilic C atom of MesCNO is blocked by coordination to the NHC does not undergo OAT with R(3)P. However, it does undergo rapid OAT with coordinatively unsaturated metal complexes such as (Ar[(t)Bu]N)(3)V since these proceed by attack of the unblocked terminal O site of the SIPr·MesCNO adduct rather than at the blocked C site. OAT from MesCNO to pyridine, tetrahydrothiophene, and (Ar[(t)Bu]N)(3)MoN was found not to proceed in spite of thermochemical favorability.