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As key intermediates in metal-catalyzed nitrogen-transfer chemistry, terminal imido complexes of iron have attracted significant attention for a long time. In search of versatile model compounds, the recently developed second-generation

Whereas triplet-nitrene complexes of the late transition metals are isolable and key intermediates in catalysis, singlet-nitrene ligands remain elusive. Herein we communicate three such palladium terminal imido complexes with singlet ground states. UV-vis-NIR electronic spectroscopy with broad bands up to 1400 nm as well as high-level computations (DFT, STEOM-CCSD, CASSCF/NEVPT2, EOS analysis) and reactivity studies suggest significant palladium(0) singlet-nitrene character. Although the aliphatic nitrene complexes proved to be too reactive for isolation in analytically pure form as a result of elimination of isobutylene, the aryl congener could be characterized by SC-XRD, elemental analysis, IR-, NMR spectroscopy, and HRMS. The complexes' distinguished ambiphilicity allows them to activate hexafluorobenzene, triphenylphosphine, and pinacol borane, catalytically dehydrogenate cyclohexene, and aminate ethylene via nitrene transfer at or below room temperature.

Employing the newly developed, hepta-dentate tris(aryloxide) ligand cyclen(Me)(t-Bu,t-BuArOH)3 provides controlled access to the first U(iv/v) hydroxido and U(iv/v/vi) oxido complex pairs in a retained ligand environment.

Novel cobalt and zinc complexes with the tetradentate ppq (8-(1″,10″-phenanthrol-2″-yl)-2-(pyrid-2'-yl)quinoline) ligand have been synthesized and fully characterized. Electrochemical measurements have shown that the formal monovalent complex [Co(ppq)(PPh3)]+ (2) undergoes two stepwise ligand-based electroreductions in DMF, affording a [Co(ppq)DMF]-1 species. Theoretical calculations have described the electronic structure of [Co(ppq)DMF]-1 as a low-spin Co(II) center coupling with a triple-reduced ppq radical ligand. In the presence of triethylammonium as the proton donor, the cobalt complex efficiently drives electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution with a maximum turnover frequency of thousands per second. A mechanistic investigation proposes an EECC H2-evolving pathway, where the second ligand-based redox process (E), generating the [Co(ppq)DMF]-1 intermediate, initiates proton reduction, and the second proton transfer process (C) is the rate-determining step. This work provides a unique example for understanding the role of redox-active ligands in electrocatalytic H2 evolution by transition metal sites.

Octahedral coordination complexes of the general formula trans-[MX2(R2ECH2CH2ER2)2] (MII = Ti, V, Cr, Mn; E = N, P; R = alkyl, aryl) are a cornerstone of both coordination and organometallic chemistry, and many of these complexes are known to have unique electronic structures that have been incompletely examined. The trans-[CrCl2(dmpe)2] complex (dmpe = Me2PCH2CH2PMe2), originally reported by Girolami and co-workers in 1985, is a rare example of a six-coordinate d4 system with an S = 1 (spin triplet) ground state, as opposed to the high-spin (S = 2, spin quintet) state. The ground-state properties of S = 1 systems are challenging to study using conventional spectroscopic methods, and consequently, the electronic structure of trans-[CrCl2(dmpe)2] has remained largely unexplored. In this present work, we have employed high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance (HFEPR) spectroscopy to characterize the ground-state electronic structure of trans-[CrCl2(dmpe)2]. This analysis yielded a complete set of spin Hamiltonian parameters for this S = 1 complex: D = +7.39(1) cm-1, E = +0.093(1) (E/D = 0.012), and g = [1.999(5), 2.00(1), 2.00(1)]. To develop a detailed electronic structure description for trans-[CrCl2(dmpe)2], we employed both classical ligand-field theory and quantum chemical theory (QCT) calculations, which considered all quintet, triplet, and singlet ligand-field states. While the high density of states suggests an unexpectedly complex electronic structure for this "simple" coordination complex, both the ligand-field and QCT methods were able to reproduce the experimental spin Hamiltonian parameters quite nicely. The QCT computations were also used as a basis for assigning the electronic absorption spectrum of trans-[CrCl2(dmpe)2] in toluene.

The synthesis of a tripodal, S-based ligand, namely the mesitylene-anchored, tris-thiophenolate-functionalized (mes(Me,AdArS)3)3- (1)3-, and its coordination chemistry with low-valent uranium to form [UIII((SArAd,Me)3mes)] (1-U) are reported. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals a C3-symmetric molecular structure. Full characterization of 1-U was performed using nuclear magnetic resonance, UV-vis-NIR electronic absorption, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopies as well as SQUID magnetometry, thus confirming the U(III) oxidation state. Alternating current magnetic studies show that 1-U exhibits single-molecule magnet behavior at low temperatures in a non-zero external field. Comparison of these results to those of the previously reported mesitylene-anchored complexes, [UIII((OArAd,Me)3mes)] and [UIII((OArtBu,tBu)3mes)], indicates a drastic change in the electronic structure when moving from phenolate-based ligands to thiophenolate-based 1, which is further discussed by means of computational analysis (NBO, DFT, and QTAIM). Despite the U-O bonds being stronger, a much higher covalency was found for the U-S analogue.

With a view to developing multimetallic molecular catalysts that mimic the oxygen‐evolving catalyst (OEC) in Nature's photosystem II, the synthesis of various dicubanoid manganese clusters is described and their catalytic activity investigated for water oxidation in basic, aqueous solution. Pyridinemethanol‐based ligands are known to support polynuclear and cubanoid structures in manganese coordination chemistry. The chelators 2,6‐pyridinedimethanol (H2L1) and 6‐methyl‐2‐pyridinemethanol (HL2) were chosen to yield polynuclear manganese complexes; namely, the tetranuclear defective dicubanes [MnII 2MnIII 2(HL1)4(OAc)4(OMe)2] and [MnII 2MnIII 2(HL1)6(OAc)2] (OAc)2⋅2 H2O, as well as the octanuclear‐dicubanoid [MnII 6MnIII 2(L2)4(O)2(OAc)10(HOMe/OH2)2]⋅3MeOH⋅MeCN. In freshly prepared solutions, polynuclear species were detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, whereas X‐band electron paramagnetic resonance studies in dilute, liquid solution suggested the presence of divalent mononuclear Mn species with g values of 2. However, the magnetochemical investigation of the complexes’ solutions by the Evans technique confirmed a haphazard combination of manganese coordination complexes, from mononuclear to polynuclear species. Subsequently, the newly synthesized and characterized manganese molecular complexes were employed as precursors to prepare electrode‐deposited films in a buffer‐free solution to evaluate and compare their stability and catalytic activity for water oxidation electrocatalysis., Film star: Cubanoid tetranuclear and octanuclear manganese complexes are synthesized and electrodeposited on an active surface to compare their electrocatalytic activity for the water oxidation reaction. A simple, direct relationship is derived between the manganese content in the precursor and the oxygen evolution activity of the deposited films.

Herein, the synthesis in conjunction with the structural, electrochemical, and photophysical characterization of a 5,5'-bisphenanthroline (phenphen) linked heterodinuclear RuPt complex (Ru(phenphen)Pt) and its light-driven hydrogen formation activity are reported. A single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) analysis identified a perpendicular orientation of the two directly linked 1,10-phenanthroline moieties. The disruption of π-conjugation blocks intramolecular electron transfer as evidenced by a comparative time-resolved optical spectroscopy study of Ru(phenphen)Pt and the reference complexes Ru(phenphen) and Ru(phenphen)Ru. However, reductive quenching is observed in the presence of an external electron donor such as triethylamine. Irradiating Ru(phenphen)Pt with visible light (470 nm) leads to H

We report a series of uranium complexes stabilized by the pentakis-benzyl-derivatized cyclopentadienyl ligand, CpBn5. Treatment of [UCl4] and [UI3(1,4-dioxane)1,5] with 2 equiv of the potassium salt, CpBn5K, yielded the corresponding complexes [(CpBn5)2UIV(Cl)2] (1) and [(CpBn5)2UIII(I)] (4). Subsequently, tetravalent 1 is either methylated to give [(CpBn5)2UIV(Me)2] (2) or reduced to form trivalent [(CpBn5)2UIII(μ-Cl)2K(OEt2)3] (3). Oxidation of 4 with AgI yields [(CpBn5)2UIV(I)2] (5), which was found to generate rarely observed, linear uranium metallocenes [(CpBn5)2UIV(NCMe)5][X]2 (X = PF6– (6), BPh4– (7)) upon abstraction of the iodide ligands with thallium salts in acetonitrile. All complexes were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, CHN elemental analysis, UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy, and SQUID magnetization measurements. The solid-state molecular structures of 1–7 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. An in-depth computational analysis revealed the peculiar electronic structure of the linearly coordinated title complex 7 and its closely related, parent [(Cp*)2UIV(NCMe3)5]2+ dication.

Die Umsetzung des CoI-Komplexes [(TIMMNmes)CoI](PF6) (1) (TIMMNmes=tris-[2-(3-Mesityl-imidazolin-2-yliden)-methyl]amin) mit Mesitylazid ergibt das CoIII-Imid [(TIMMNmes)CoIII(NMes)](PF6) (2). Folgende Oxidation mit [FeCp2](PF6) ermöglicht den Zugang zu dem seltenen CoIII-Imidylkomplex [(TIMMNmes)Co(NMes)](PF6)2 (3). Einkristall-Röntgenstrukturanalyse und ESR-Spektroskopie bestätigen die molekulare Struktur von 3 und seinen S=urn:x-wiley:00448249:media:ange202206848:ange202206848-math-0001 Grundzustand. ENDOR, Röntgenabsorptionsspektroskopie und quantenchemische Rechnungen belegen eine ligandenbasierte Oxidation und damit eine Imidyl-radikalische elektronische Struktur für 3. Die Insertion einer verfügbaren NHC-Einheit in den Imidoliganden in 2 ergibt innerhalb 12 Stunden das CoI-N-heterocyclische Imin 4. Im Gegensatz dazu dauert es nur eine halbe Stunde, bis sich 3 in das CoII-Kongener 5 umsetzt. Es wurde weiterhin festgestellt, dass die Insertionsreaktion von 2 zu 4 durch einen nukleophilen Angriff des Imidoliganden am NHC erfolgt, wohingegen sich 3 zu 5 durch einen nukleophilen Angriff des NHCs am elektrophilen Imidylliganden umsetzt. Der Reaktivitätswechsel bei der Oxidation von 2 zu 3 bestätigt eine Umpolung des Imidoliganden.

A well-defined intermolecular toluene complex of lead(II) supported by a pincer-type saNHC (saturated N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand was prepared through deprotonation of the bis(imidazolinium) salt with Pb[N(SiMe3)2]2 or metalation of the free carbene and subsequent salt metathesis with Tl(OTf), followed by crystallization from toluene. Combined computational and experimental results indicate that noncovalent interactions with the lead atom (σ-sss-hole type interaction, dispersion) and the diisopropylphenyl side groups of the ligand (dispersion) stabilize the complex.

The reaction of the cobalt(I) complex [(TIMMNmes)CoI](BPh4) (2) (TIMMNmes=tris‐[2‐(3‐mesitylimidazolin‐2‐ylidene)methyl]amine) with 1‐adamantylazide yields the cobalt(III) imido complex [(TIMMNmes)CoIII(NAd)](BPh4) (3) with concomitant release of dinitrogen. The N‐anchor in diamagnetic 3 features an unusual, planar tertiary amine, which results from repulsive electrostatic interaction with the filled d(z2)‐orbital of the cobalt ion and negative hyperconjugation with the neighboring methylene groups. One‐electron oxidation of 3 with [FeCp2](OTf) provides access to the rare, high‐valent cobalt(IV) imido complex [(TIMMNmes)CoIV(NAd)](OTf)2 (4). Despite a half‐life of less than 1 h at room temperature, 4 could be isolated at low temperatures in analytically pure form. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry and EPR spectroscopy corroborate the molecular structure and the d5 low‐spin, S=1/2 , electron configuration. A computational analysis of 4 suggests high covalency within the CoIV=NAd bond with non‐negligible spin density located at the imido moiety, which translates into substantial triplet nitrene character., Straightforward access to a cobalt(IV) terminal imido complex was provided by one‐electron oxidation of a cobalt(III) terminal imido precursor. The cobalt(IV) monoimido complex could be isolated at low temperatures in analytically pure form. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry and EPR spectroscopy corroborate the molecular structure and the d5 low‐spin, S=1/2 , electron configuration.

Lithium trimethylsilyldiazomethanide and a cobalt (II) precursor with an N-anchored tris-NHC (TIMENmes ) ligand provide access to the cobalt nitrilimide 1. Complex 1 was structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry (SC-XRD) and its electronic structure was examined in detail, including EPR spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry and computational analyses. The desilylation of the C-(trimethylsilyl)nitrilimide reveals a transient complex with an elusive diazomethanediide ligand, which substitutes one of the mesitylene rings of the ancillary ligand through C-N bond cleavage. This transformation results in the cyclometalated cobalt(II) complex 2, featuring a rare isocyanoamido-κ-C ligand.

Lithium trimethylsilyldiazomethanide and a cobalt (II) precursor with an N‐anchored tris‐NHC (TIMENmes) ligand provide access to the cobalt nitrilimide 1. Complex 1 was structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry (SC‐XRD) and its electronic structure was examined in detail, including EPR spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry and computational analyses. The desilylation of the C‐(trimethylsilyl)nitrilimide reveals a transient complex with an elusive diazomethanediide ligand, which substitutes one of the mesitylene rings of the ancillary ligand through C−N bond cleavage. This transformation results in the cyclometalated cobalt(II) complex 2, featuring a rare isocyanoamido‐κ‐C ligand., Trimethylsilylium abstraction from a cobalt nitrilimide complex generates a transient cobalt diazomethanediide complex, which forms a terminal isocyanoamido ligand through a radical de‐arylation.

The response of the spin state to in situ variation of the coordination number (CISSS) is a promising and viable approach to smart sensor materials, yet it suffers to date from insensitive detection. Herein, we present the synthetic access to a family of planar nickel(II) complexes, whose CISSS is sensitively followed by means of fluorescence detection. For this purpose, nickel(II) complexes with four phenazine-based Schiff base-like ligands were synthesized and characterized through solution-phase spectroscopy (NMR and UV-vis), solid-state structure analysis (single-crystal XRD), and extended theoretical modeling. All of them reveal CISSS in solution through axial ligating a range of N- and O-donors. CISSS correlates nicely with the basicity of the axial ligand and the substitution-dependent acidity of the nickel(II) coordination site. Remarkably, three out of the four nickel(II) complexes are fluorescent in noncoordinating solvents but are fluorescence-silent in the presence of axial ligands such as pyridine. As these complexes are rare examples of fluorescent nickel(II) complexes, the photophysical properties with a coordination number of 4 were studied in detail, including temperature-dependent lifetime and quantum yield determinations. Most importantly, fluorescence quenching upon adding axial ligands allows a "black or white", i.e. digital, sensoring of spin state alternation. Our studies of fluorescence-detected CISSS (FD-CISSS) revealed that absorption-based CISSS and FD-CISSS are super proportional with respect to the pyridine concentration: FD-CISSS features a higher sensitivity. Overall, our findings indicate a favored ligation of these nickel(II) complexes in the excited state in comparison to the ground state.

Reaction of the Co

One-way photoisomerization of ligands within metal complexes is an almost unknown phenomenon. We disclosed that a diarylethene-based ligand L-o undergoes quantitative irreversible photoisomerization to a photo- and thermostable annulated isomer L-a both in a metal-free state and within a spin-crossover iron(II) complex. The modulation of the electronic structure of the ligand upon L-o to L-a photoisomerization provides a unique opportunity to change the physical properties, in this case magnetic properties, of the corresponding metal complexes permanently, which is highly attractive for constructing non-volatile permanent memories and components for emerging molecular electronics and spintronics. Importantly, destructive thermal back-switching, which is commonly observed in metal complexes with photochromic ligands, is completely suppressed with our strategy.

The homolytic cleavage of O−H and N−H or weak C−H bonds is a key elementary step in redox catalysis, but is thought to be unfeasible for palladium. In stark contrast, reported here is the room temperature and reversible oxidative addition of water, isopropanol, hexafluoroisopropanol, phenol, and aniline to a palladium(0) complex with a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) and a labile pyridino ligand, as is also the case in popular N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladium(II) precatalysts. The oxidative addition of protic solvents or adventitious water switches the chemoselectivity in catalysis with alkynes through activation of the terminal C−H bond. Most salient, the homolytic activation of alcohols and amines allows atom‐efficient, additive‐free cross‐coupling and transfer hydrogenation under mild reaction conditions with usually unreactive, yet desirable reagents, including esters and bis(pinacolato)diboron., The oxidative addition of OH, NH, and weak CH bonds to a palladium(0) complex is facile, allows for additive‐free catalysis, and suggests the non‐innocence of water in palladium catalysis. The oxidative addition of protic solvents or adventitious water switches the chemoselectivity in catalysis with alkynes through activation of the terminal C−H bond.

Magnetic bistability in single-molecule magnets (SMMs) is a potential basis for new types of nanoscale information storage material. The standard model for thermally activated relaxation of the magnetization in SMMs is based on the occurrence of a single Orbach process. Here, we show that incorporating a phosphorus atom into the framework of the dysprosium metallocene [(CpiPr5)Dy(CpPEt4)]+[B(C6F5)4]− (CpiPr5 is penta-isopropylcyclopentadienyl, CpPEt4 is tetraethylphospholyl) leads to the occurrence of two distinct high-temperature Orbach processes, with energy barriers of 1410(10) and 747(7) cm–1, respectively. These barriers provide experimental evidence for two different spin–phonon coupling regimes, which we explain with the aid of ab initio calculations. The strong and highly axial crystal field in this SMM also allows magnetic hysteresis to be observed up to 70 K, using a scan rate of 25 Oe s–1. In characterizing this SMM, we show that a conventional Debye model and consideration of rotational contributions to the spin–phonon interaction are insufficient to explain the observed phenomena.

Adding to the versatile class of ionic liquids, we report the detailed structure and property analysis of a new class of asymmetrically substituted imidazolium salts, offering interesting thermal characteristics, such as liquid crystalline behavior, polymorphism or glass transitions. A scalable general synthetic procedure for N-polyaryl-N’-alkyl-functionalized imidazolium salts with para-substituted linker (L) moieties at the aryl chain, namely [LPhmImHR]+ (L=Br, CN, SMe, CO2Et, OH; m=2, 3; R=C12, PEGn; n=2, 3, 4), was developed. These imidazolium salts were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), NMR spectroscopy and thermochemical methods (DSC, TGA). Furthermore, these imidazolium salts were used as N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand precursors for mononuclear, first-row transition metal complexes (MnII, FeII, CoII, NiII, ZnII, CuI, AgI, AuI) and for the dinuclear Ti-supported Fe-NHC complex [(OPy)2Ti(OPh2ImC12)2(FeI2)] (OPy=pyridin-2-ylmethanolate). The complexes were studied concerning their structural and magnetic behavior via multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy, SC-XRD analyses, variable temperature and field-dependent (VT-VF) SQUID magnetization methods, X-band EPR spectroscopy and, where appropriate, zero-field 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Octahedral coordination complexes of the general formula

Iron methylidene species are alleged intermediates in the Fischer-Tropsch process and in olefin cyclopropanation, yet iron methylidene complexes with unambiguously established molecular and electronic structures remain elusive. In this study, we characterize an iron terminal methylidene complex by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry (scXRD), CHN combustion elemental analysis, 1H/13C/31P/1H-13C NMR, and zero-field 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy and study its reactivity. A series of closely related complexes in different oxidation states were synthesized, isolated and characterized in order to validate the electronic structure of the title methylidene complex. The computational analysis substantiates the proposed Fischer-type electronic description while emphasizing high Fe═CH2 bond covalency, considerable double bond order, and thus, substantial alkylidene character.

Transmetalation of the β-diketiminate salt [M][MenacnacPh] (M+ = Na or K; MenacnacPh– = {PhNC(CH3)}2CH–) with UI3(THF)4 resulted in the formation of the homoleptic, octahedral complex [U(MenacnacPh...

A closed synthetic cycle for the transformation of carbon dioxide to carbonate with a mid-valent tris(aryloxide)-ligated uranium(IV) terminal oxo complex is presented herein. Starting from the previously reported uranium(III) complex, [UIII(OArAd,Ad,Me)3], the uranium(V) terminal oxo complex, obtained by oxidation with N2O or NO, can be reduced with KC8 to yield CO2 activating anionic uranium(IV) oxo complexes [(Ad,Ad,MeArO)3UIV(O)]−. The cycle proceeds with the formation of [(Ad,Ad,MeArO)2(κ2-Ad,Ad,MeArOCO2)UIV(μ-κ1:κ2-CO3)]− upon reaction of the oxo anion with excess CO2 that adds to the terminal oxido ligand and inserts into the uranium–aryloxide bond. Treating this complex with trimethylsilyl halide eliminates both carbonates and generates, for instance, [K(2.2.2-crypt)][(Ad,Ad,MeArO)3UIV(I)2], which can ultimately be reduced with KC8 to recover the trivalent starting material, thus closing the cycle. In contrast, reaction of the 18-crown-6 stabilized U(IV) oxo analogue with CO2 yields a rare and isol...

Manipulating the equilibrium between a ketone and an enol by light opens up ample opportunities in material chemistry and photopharmacology. By incorporating β-ketoester into the ethene bridge of a photoactive diarylethene, we achieved reversible light-induced tautomerization to give thermally stable enol. In a pristine state, the tautomeric equilibrium is almost completely shifted toward the ketone. Photocyclization of diarylethene results in a new equilibrium containing a significant fraction of the enol tautomer.

We elucidate why some electron rich-olefins such as tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) or paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinylidene) form persistent radical cations, whereas others such as the dimer of N,N′-dimethyl benzimidazolin-2-ylidene (benzNHC) do not. Specifically, three heterodimers derived from cyclic (alkyl) (amino) carbenes (CAAC) with N,N′-dimethyl imidazolin-2-ylidene (NHC), N,N′-dimethyl imidazolidin-2-ylidene (saNHC) and N-methyl benzothiazolin-2-ylidene (btNHC) are reported. Whereas the olefin radical cations with the NHC and btNHC are isolable, the NHC compound with a saturated backbone (saNHC) disproportionates instead to the biscation and olefin. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of the electron-rich olefins derived from the dimerization of the saNHC and btNHC were assessed. Based on the experiments, we propose a general computational method to model the electrochemical potentials and disproportionation equilibrium. This method, which achieves an accuracy of 0.07 V (0.06 V with calibration) in reference to the experimental values, allows for the first time to rationalize and predict the (in)stability of olefin radical cations towards disproportionation. The combined results reveal that the stability of heterodimeric olefin radical cations towards disproportionation is mostly due to aromaticity. In contrast, homodimeric radical cations are in principle isolable, if lacking steric bulk in the 2,2′ positions of the heterocyclic monomers. Rigid tethers increase accordingly the stability of homodimeric radical cations, whereas the electronic effects of substituents seem much less important for the disproportionation equilibrium., Only sterics and aromaticity control whether radical olefin cations are stable.

A novel method for the N−N bond cleavage of trimethylsilyl diazomethane is reported for the synthesis of terminal nitride complexes. The lithium salt of trimethylsilyl diazomethane was used to generate a rare terminal nitrilimine transition metal complex with partially occupied d‐orbitals. This iron complex 2 was characterized by CHN combustion analysis, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic analysis, single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, SQUID magnetometry, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and computational analysis. The combined results suggest a high‐spin d 6 (S=2) electronic configuration and an allenic structure of the nitrilimine ligand. Reduction of 2 results in release of the nitrilimine ligand and formation of the iron(I) complex 3, which was characterized by CHN combustion analysis, 1H NMR spectroscopic analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. Treatment of 2 with fluoride salts quantitatively yields the diamagnetic FeIV nitride complex 4, with concomitant formation of cyanide and trimethylsilyl fluoride through N−N bond cleavage., Chain reaction: A fluoride salt cleaves the N–N bond of an iron trimethylsilyl nitrilimine complex and generates the terminal nitride, fluorotrimethylsilane, and cyanide. The complementary reactivity of nitrilimine and azido ligands provides a new approach for the synthesis of metal terminal nitrido complexes.

A new family of photochromic diarylethene-based ligands bearing a 2-(imidazol-2-yl)pyridine coordination unit has been developed. Four members of the new family have been synthesized. The photoactive ligands feature non-aromatic ethene bridges (cyclopentene, cyclopentenone, and cyclohexenone), as well as closely spaced photoactive and metal coordination sites aiming a strong impact of photocyclization on the electronic structure of the coordinated metal ion. The ligands with cyclopentenone and cyclohexenone bridges show good cycloreversion quantum yields of 0.20–0.32. The thermal stability of closed-ring isomers reveals half-lives of up to 20 days in solution at room temperature. The ligands were used to explore coordination chemistry with iron(II) targeting photoswitchable spin-crossover complexes. Unexpectedly, dinuclear and tetranuclear iron(II) complexes were obtained, which were thoroughly characterized by X-ray crystallography, magnetic measurements, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The formation of multinuclear complexes is facilitated by two coordination sites of the diarylethene, acting as a bridging ligand. The bridging nature of the diarylethene in the complexes prevents photocyclization.

Iron–nitrosyls have fascinated chemists for a long time due to the noninnocent nature of the NO ligand that can exist in up to five different oxidation and spin states. Coordination to an open-shel...

The trans(O5O6) isomer of the Na[Rh(eddadp)]·4H2O and the K[Co(eddadp)]·3H2O (eddadp = ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetate-N,N′-di-3-propionate) were synthesized and Na[Rh(eddadp)]·4H2O structure was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The percentage of particular isomers found in reaction equilibrium mixtures of [M(eddadp)]− complex has been reported. Single crystal X-ray diffraction of the complex revealed an octahedral geometry of the Rh(III) centre. Improved structural distortion analysis of M(III) (M = Rh, Co) complexes with symmetric edta-type of ligands containing mixed carboxylate and diamine rings was made. Structural distortion analysis has determined high values of total deviation of the octahedral angles (Δ(Oh)) for both existing trans(O5) (34°) and trans(O5O6) (41°) isomers of [Rh(eddadp)]− complex, while in the case of a similar Co(III) complex, relatively low value (31°) for trans(O5) has been established. Extensive QM/NBO calculations were made for both systems [M(eddadp)]− and [M(1,3-pddadp)]− using different DFT methods (B3LYP/SDD, M06/SDD, MP2/SDD). By correlating the structural parameters obtained from X-ray and DFT optimized 3D structures, the B3LYP/SDD method was used as the method of choice. Based on the correlation between the energies of the optimized systems and the strain parameters, the existence of the trans(O6) isomer of the [Rh(1,3-pddadp)]− complex was predicted. NRT (Natural Resonance Theory) analysis gave the best resonances for each isomer. Here the stability of particular isomer has been described in terms of 3-CHB bonds involving metal ions and Second Order Perturbation Theory analysis using Donor/Acceptor energies. Further, to explain the bonding nature of M-edta-type complexes the Natural Coulomb Electrostatics (NCE) analysis has been done as well. The pairwise steric exchange interaction EI,Jpwx results obtained for the best-ranked resonances of different isomers are in excellent agreement with favored isomers reported so far. For the energy limit of the possibility of forming geometric isomers, a value of about 6 kcal mol−1 is proposed.

A new supporting ligand, tris-[2-(3-mesityl-imidazol-2-ylidene)methyl]amine (TIMMNMes), was developed and utilized to isolate an air-stable iron(V) complex bearing a terminal nitrido ligand, which was synthesized by one-electron oxidation from the iron(IV) precursor. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of both complexes reveal that the metal-centered oxidation is escorted by iron nitride (Fe≡N) bond elongation, which in turn is accompanied by the accommodation of the high-valence iron center closer to the equatorial plane of a trigonal bipyramid. This contrasts with the previous observation of the only other literature-known Fe(IV)≡N/Fe(V)≡N redox pair, namely, [PhB(tBuIm)3FeN]0/+. On the basis of 57Fe Mossbauer, EPR, and UV/vis electronic absorption spectroscopy as well as quantum chemical calculations, we identified the lesser degree of pyramidalization around the iron atom, the Jahn-Teller distortion, and the resulting nature of the SOMO to be the decisive factors at play.

In this manuscript, we report the solvent‐dependent synthesis of 1D coordination polymers derived from two planar N2O2‐coordinate iron(II) complexes FeL1 and FeL2, which incorporate TTF(py)2 as a bridging bis‐monodentate ligand. The obtained 1D polymers were characterized through elemental analysis, Mossbauer spectroscopy, single crystal structure analysis for 2a·2 DMF, magnetic susceptibility measurements, X‐ray powder diffraction, cyclic voltammetry and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, supplemented by DFT computation. The results revealed additive electronic properties of the sub‐units FeL and TTF(py)2 with only minor mutual influence. Intriguingly however, the solvent‐of‐synthesis is found to be a steering factor of the magnetic spin crossover properties of the resulting materials, yielding divergent behavior if obtained from DMF, MeCN or EtOH. This becomes strikingly evident for the magnetic properties of the DMF‐derived polymer which is found trapped in the low‐spin state in the single crystal 2a· 2 DMF, but shows a gradual spin crossover if all solvent is removed.

Stable coordination complexes of TiII (3d2) are relatively uncommon, but are of interest as synthons for low oxidation state titanium complexes for application as potential catalysts and reagents for organic synthesis. Specifically, high-spin TiII ions supported by redox-inactive ligands are still quite rare due to the reducing power of this soft ion. Among such TiII complexes is trans-[TiCl2(tmeda)2], where tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethane-1,2-diamine. This complex was first reported by Gambarotta and co-workers almost 30 years ago, but it was not spectroscopically characterized and theoretical investigation by quantum chemical theory (QCT) was not feasible at that time. As part of our interest in low oxidation state early transition metal complexes, we have revisited this complex and report a modified synthesis and a low temperature (100 K) crystal structure that differs slightly from that originally reported at ambient temperature. We have used magnetometry, high-frequency and -field EPR (HFEPR), and variable-temperature variable-field magnetic circular dichroism (VTVH-MCD) spectroscopies to characterize trans-[TiCl2(tmeda)2]. These techniques yield the following S = 1 spin Hamiltonian parameters for the complex: D = -5.23(1) cm-1, E = -0.88(1) cm-1, (E/D = 0.17), g = [1.86(1), 1.94(2), 1.77(1)]. This information, in combination with electronic transitions from MCD, was used as input for both classical ligand-field theory (LFT) and detailed QCT studies, the latter including both density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio methods. These computational methods are seldom applied to paramagnetic early transition metal complexes, particularly those with S > 1/2. Our studies provide a complete picture of the electronic structure of this complex that can be put into context with the few other high-spin and mononuclear TiII species characterized to date.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of homoleptic iron complexes [Fe(benzNHCOCO)2]2–/1–/0/1+ supported by the tridentate bis-aryloxide benzimidazolin-2-ylidene pincer ligand benzNHCOCO2–...

A stereodivergent synthesis using inexpensive reagents, i.e., dibenzazepine and glucose-derived t-Bu-sulfinate diastereomers (RS)-6 or (SS)-6, affords respective S(O)-alkene hybrid ligands (S)-7 and (R)-7 on gram scales and in excellent optical purity (ee > 99%). Phenyl substitution of the dibenzoazepine backbone generates planar chirality to give epimerization-resistant (pS,RS)-10 diastereoisomer in high isomeric purity. Furthermore, the crystal structure of widely used sulfinate (RS)-6 is disclosed for the first time since its discovery a quarter of a century ago. Ligands 7 and 10 coordinate Rh(I) in a bidentate fashion through the S atoms and the alkene functions as evidenced by the crystal structures of complexes (R)-11 and (SN,SS)-12. (R)-11 catalyzes the conjugate addition of arylboronic acids to enones with enantioselectivities of up to 77% ee. The reaction proceeds smoothly also under base-free conditions at 40 °C. The planar chirality in ligand (pS,RS)-10 is shown to override and invert the sense...