Syntheses, characterization, density functional theory calculations, and activity of tridentate SNS zinc pincer complexes

A series of tridentate SNS ligand precursors were metallated with ZnCl2 to give new tridentate SNS pincer zinc complexes. The zinc complexes serve as models for the zinc active site in liver alcohol dehydrogenase (LADH) and were characterized with single crystal X-ray diffraction, 1H, 13C, and HSQC NMR spectroscopies and electrospray mass spectrometry. The bond lengths and bond angles of the zinc complexes correlate well to those in horse LADH. The zinc complexes feature SNS donor atoms and pseudotetrahedral geometry about the zinc center, as is seen for liver alcohol dehydrogenase. The SNS ligand precursors were characterized with 1H, 13C, and HSQC NMR spectroscopies and cyclic voltammetry, and were found to be redox active. Gaussian calculations were performed and agree quite well with the experimentally observed oxidation potential for the pincer ligand. The zinc complexes were screened for the reduction of electron poor aldehydes in the presence of a hydrogen donor, 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH). The zinc complexes enhance the reduction of electron poor aldehydes. Density functional theory calculations were performed to better understand why the geometry about the zinc center is pseudo-tetrahedral rather than pseudo-square planar, which is seen for most pincer complexes. For the SNS tridentate pincer complexes, the data indicate that the pseudo-tetrahedral geometry was 43.8 kcal/mol more stable than the pseudo-square planar geometry. Density functional theory calculations were also performed on zinc complexes with monodentate ligands and the data indicate that the pseudo-tetrahedral geometry was 30.6 kcal/mol more stable than pseudo-square planar geometry. Overall, the relative stabilities of the pseudo-tetrahedral and pseudo-square planar systems are the same for this coordination environment whether the ligand set is a single tridentate SNS system or is broken into three separate units. The preference of a d10 Zn center to attain a tetrahedral local environment trumps any stabilization gained by removal of constraints within the ligand set

Reversible H_2 Addition across a Nickel−Borane Unit as a Promising Strategy for Catalysis

We report the synthesis and characterization of a series of nickel complexes of the chelating diphosphine-borane ligands ArB(o-Ph_2PC_6H_4)_2 ([^(Ar)DPB^(Ph)]; Ar = Ph, Mes). The [^(Ar)DPB^(Ph)] framework supports pseudo-tetrahedral nickel complexes featuring η^2-B,C coordination from the ligand backbone. For the B-phenyl derivative, the THF adduct [^(Ph)DPB^(Ph)]Ni(THF) has been characterized by X-ray diffraction and features a very short interaction between nickel and the η^2-B,C ligand. For the B-mesityl derivative, the reduced nickel complex [^(Mes)DPB^(Ph)]Ni is isolated as a pseudo-three-coordinate “naked” species that undergoes reversible, nearly thermoneutral oxidative addition of dihydrogen to give a borohydrido-hydride complex of nickel(II) which has been characterized in solution by multinuclear NMR. Furthermore, [^(Mes)DPB^(Ph)]Ni is an efficient catalyst for the hydrogenation of olefin substrates under mild conditions

Extending Metal-to-Polyoxometalate Charge Transfer Lifetimes: The Effect of Heterometal Location

In an effort to develop robust molecular sensitizers for solar fuel production, the electronic structure and photodynamics of transition-metal-substituted polyoxometalates (POMs), a novel class of compound in this context, was examined. Experimental and computational techniques including femtosecond (fs) transient absorption spectroscopy have been used to study the cobalt-containing Keggin POMs, [CoIIW12O40]6− (1 a), [CoIIIW12O40]5− (2 a), [SiCoII(H2O)W11O39]6− (3 a), and [SiCoIII(H2O)W11O39]5− (4 a), finding the longest lived charge transfer excited state so far observed in a POM and elucidating the electronic structures and excited-state dynamics of these compounds at an unprecedented level. All species exhibit a bi-exponential decay in which early dynamic processes with time constants in the fs domain yield longer lived excited states which decay with time constants in the ps to ns domain. The initially formed states of 1 a and 3 a are considered to result from metal-to-polyoxometalate charge transfer (MPCT) from CoII to W, while the longer-lived excited state of 1 a is tentatively assigned to a localized intermediate MPCT state. The excited state formed by the tetrahedral cobalt(II) centered heteropolyanion (1 a) is far longer-lived (τ=420 ps in H2O; τ=1700 ps in MeCN) than that of 3 a (τ=1.3 ps), in which the single CoII atom is located in a pseudo-octahedral addendum site. Short-lived states are observed for the two CoIII-containing heteropolyanions 2 a (τ=4.4 ps) and 4 a (τ=6.3 ps) and assigned solely to OCoIII charge transfer. The dramatically extended lifetime for 1 a versus 3 a is ascribed to a structural change permitted by the coordinatively flexible central site, weak orbital overlap of the central Co with the polytungstate framework, and putative transient valence trapping of the excited electron on a single W atom, a phenomenon not noted previously in POMs

Synthesis and Structures of Co Bis-Trifluoromethylpyrazolate Complexes

Reactions of Co(PMe3)(3)Cl or CoCl2 with 3,5-(CF3)(2)-PzNa in hexane give Co(PMe3)(3)(3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz) (1) and Co(PMe3)(3)(3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz)(2) (2) respectively (3,5-(CF3)(2)-PzNa = sodium bis-trifluoromethylpyrazolate). Reaction of (3,5-(CF3)(2)-PzH) with Co(PMe3)(4) produces the unusual complex [cis-Co(PMe3)(4)H-2][Co(PMe3)(3,5-( CF3)(2)-Pz)(3)] (3) which formally contains a [Co(III)](+)[Co(II)](-) complex ion pair. Reaction of 3,5-(CF3)(2)-PzLi with an oxygenated suspension of CoCl2 and 3 equivalents of PMe3 gives (3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz)(2)Co(mu-3,5-(CF3)(2)Pz)(mu-OPMe3)Li(OPMe3)(2) (4), while 2 reacts with LiOH to give [(PMe3)Co(mu-3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz)(2)(mu(3)-OH)Li](2) (5). Both 2 and 3 react with O-2 in toluene solution to give Co(OPMe3)(2)(3,5-(CF3)(2)-Pz)(2) (6). All compounds have been characterized spectroscopically and by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.Welch Foundation F-816Petroleum Research Fund 47014-ACSNSF 0741973Chemistr

Flipping Cubical Meshes

We define and examine flip operations for quadrilateral and hexahedral meshes, similar to the flipping transformations previously used in triangular and tetrahedral mesh generation.Comment: 20 pages, 24 figures. Expanded journal version of paper from 10th International Meshing Roundtable. This version removes some unwanted paragraph breaks from the previous version; the text is unchange

Anion receptor chemistry: highlights from 2011 and 2012

This review covers advances in anion complexation in the years 2011 and 2012. The review covers both organic and inorganic systems and also highlights the applications to which anion receptors can be applied such as self-assembly and molecular architecture, sensing, catalysis and anion transport

Reactivity difference between protolytic forms of some macrocyclic chromium(III) complexes in ligand substitution and electron transfer processes

The review provides insight into the mechanism of ligand substitution and electron transfer (from chromium( III) to iron(III)) by comparison of the reactivity of some tetraazamacrocyclic chromium(III) complexes in the conjugate acid-base forms. Use of two geometrical isomers made possible to estimate the influence of geometry and protolytic reactions in trans and cis position towards the leaving group on the rate enhancement. Studies on the reaction rates in different media demonstrated the role played by outer sphere interactions in a monodentate ligand substitution