A Low-Valent Molybdenum Nitride Complex: Reduction Promotes Carbonylation Chemistry

Toward nitrogen functionalization, reactive terminal transition metal nitrides with high d‐electron counts are of interest. A series of terminal Mo^(IV) nitride complexes were prepared within the context of exploring nitride/carbonyl coupling to cyanate. Reduction affords the first Mo^(II) nitrido complex, an early metal nitride with four valence d‐electrons. The binding mode of the para‐terphenyl diphosphine ancillary ligand changes to stabilize an electronic configuration with a high electron count and a formal M−N bond order of three. Even with an intact Mo≡N bond, this low‐valent nitrido complex proves to be highly reactive, readily undergoing N‐atom transfer upon addition of CO, releasing cyanate anion

Lewis Acid Enhancement of Proton Induced CO_2 Cleavage: Bond Weakening and Ligand Residence Time Effects

Though Lewis acids (LAs) have been shown to have profound effects on carbon dioxide (CO_2) reduction catalysis, the underlying cause of the improved reactivity remains unclear. Herein, we report a well-defined molecular system for probing the role of LA additives in the reduction of CO_2 to carbon monoxide (CO) and water. Mo(0) CO_2 complex (2) forms adducts with a series of LAs, demonstrating CO_2 activation that correlates linearly with the strength of the LA. Protons induce C–O cleavage of these LA adducts, in contrast to the CO_2 displacement primarily observed in the absence of LA. CO_2 cleavage shows dependence on both bond activation and the residence time of the bound small molecule, demonstrating the influence of both kinetic and thermodynamic factors on promoting productive CO_2 reduction chemistry

Terminal Molybdenum Phosphides with d Electrons: Radical Character Promotes Coupling Chemistry

A terminal Mo phosphide was prepared via group transfer of both P- and Cl-atoms from chloro-substituted dibenzo-7λ^3-phosphanorbornadiene. This compound represents the first structurally characterized terminal transition metal phosphide with valence d electrons. In the tetragonal ligand field, these electrons populate an orbital of d_(xy) parentage, an electronic configuration that accommodates both metal d-electrons and a formal M≡P triple bond. Single electron oxidation affords a transient open shell terminal phosphide cation with significant spin density on P, as corroborated by CW and pulsed EPR characterization. Facile P-P bond formation occurs from this species via intermolecular phosphide coupling

Mechanism of Molybdenum-Mediated Carbon Monoxide Deoxygenation and Coupling: Mono- and Dicarbyne Complexes Precede C–O Bond Cleavage and C–C Bond Formation

Deoxygenative coupling of CO to value-added C_(≥2) products is challenging and mechanistically poorly understood. Herein, we report a mechanistic investigation into the reductive coupling of CO, which provides new fundamental insights into a multielectron bond-breaking and bond-making transformation. In our studies, the formation of a bis(siloxycarbyne) complex precedes C–O bond cleavage. At −78 °C, over days, C–C coupling occurs without C–O cleavage. However, upon warming to 0 °C, C–O cleavage is observed from this bis(siloxycarbyne) complex. A siloxycarbyne/CO species undergoes C–O bond cleavage at lower temperatures, indicating that monosilylation, and a more electron-rich Mo center, favors deoxygenative pathways. From the bis(siloxycarbyne), isotopic labeling experiments and kinetics are consistent with a mechanism involving unimolecular silyl loss or C–O cleavage as rate-determining steps toward carbide formation. Reduction of Mo(IV) CO adducts of carbide and silylcarbyne species allowed for the spectroscopic detection of reduced silylcarbyne/CO and mixed silylcarbyne/siloxycarbyne complexes, respectively. Upon warming, both of these silylcarbynes undergo C–C bond formation, releasing silylated C_2O_1 fragments and demonstrating that the multiple bonded terminal Mo≡C moiety is an intermediate on the path to deoxygenated, C–C coupled products. The electronic structures of Mo carbide and carbyne species were investigated quantum mechanically. Overall, the present studies establish the elementary reactions steps by which CO is cleaved and coupled at a single metal site

Ethylene Tetramerization Catalysis: Effects of Aluminum-Induced Isomerization of PNP to PPN Ligands

Diphosphinoamines (PNP) are commonly used to support Cr-catalyzed ethylene trimerization and tetramerization. Although isomerization of PNP to a PPN (iminobisphosphine) species has been established, such reactivity has not been studied in detail in the context of Cr-based selective ethylene oligomerization catalysis. Herein, we show that precursors that are stable as PNP frameworks can isomerize to PPN species in the presence of chlorinated aluminum activators relevant to ethylene oligomerization catalysis. Isomerization changes the pattern of reactivity of the ligands, making them more susceptible to nucleophilic attack by alkyl groups, resulting in a variety of degradation products. The isomerization-mediated degradation of PNP ligands leads to the formation of unwanted polymerization catalysts in ethylene tetramerization systems, thus providing insight into the formation of Cr species that affect the overall selectivity and activity values. For example, independently prepared [R_2PNR]^— leads to potent Cr polymerization catalysts. The susceptibility for isomerization is dependent on the nature of the N-substituent of the PNP precursor. Electron donating N-substituent i-Pr, which disfavors the PPN isomer compared to p-tolyl, and minimization of water contamination correlate with higher oligomerization activity and lower polymer byproducts. More broadly, the present study demonstrates the significant impact that Al-activators can have on the structure and behavior of the supporting ligand leading to detrimental reactivity

A Low-Valent Molybdenum Nitride Complex: Reduction Promotes Carbonylation Chemistry

Toward nitrogen functionalization, reactive terminal transition metal nitrides with high d‐electron counts are of interest. A series of terminal Mo^(IV) nitride complexes were prepared within the context of exploring nitride/carbonyl coupling to cyanate. Reduction affords the first Mo^(II) nitrido complex, an early metal nitride with four valence d‐electrons. The binding mode of the para‐terphenyl diphosphine ancillary ligand changes to stabilize an electronic configuration with a high electron count and a formal M−N bond order of three. Even with an intact Mo≡N bond, this low‐valent nitrido complex proves to be highly reactive, readily undergoing N‐atom transfer upon addition of CO, releasing cyanate anion

Mild electrochemical synthesis of metal phosphides with dibenzo-7-phosphanorbornadiene derivatives: mechanistic insights and application to proton reduction in water

Transition metal phosphide films were synthesized using a mild electrochemical method. Dibenzo-7-phosphanorbornadiene derivatives (XPA) are introduced as versatile precursors to amorphous metal phosphide electrocatalysts for proton reduction in acidic water. Homogeneous model reactions reveal distinct reactivity between XPA and nickel in different oxidation states, with Ni(0) resulting in Ni_xP_y formation

CO Coupling Chemistry of a Terminal Mo Carbide: Sequential Addition of Proton, Hydride, and CO Releases Ethenone

The mechanism originally proposed by Fischer and Tropsch for carbon monoxide (CO) hydrogenative catenation involves C–C coupling from a carbide-derived surface methylidene. A single molecular system capable of capturing these complex chemical steps is hitherto unknown. Herein, we demonstrate the sequential addition of proton and hydride to a terminal Mo carbide derived from CO. The resulting anionic methylidene couples with CO (1 atm) at low temperature (−78 °C) to release ethenone. Importantly, the synchronized delivery of two reducing equivalents and an electrophile, in the form of a hydride (H– = 2e– + H+), promotes alkylidene formation from the carbyne precursor and enables coupling chemistry, under conditions milder than those previously described with strong one-electron reductants and electrophiles. Thermodynamic measurements bracket the hydricity and acidity requirements for promoting methylidene formation from carbide as energetically viable relative to the heterolytic cleavage of H2. Methylidene formation prior to C–C coupling proves critical for organic product release, as evidenced by direct carbide carbonylation experiments. Spectroscopic studies, a monosilylated model system, and Quantum Mechanics computations provide insight into the mechanistic details of this reaction sequence, which serves as a rare model of the initial stages of the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

Lewis Acid Enhancement of Proton Induced CO_2 Cleavage: Bond Weakening and Ligand Residence Time Effects

Though Lewis acids (LAs) have been shown to have profound effects on carbon dioxide (CO_2) reduction catalysis, the underlying cause of the improved reactivity remains unclear. Herein, we report a well-defined molecular system for probing the role of LA additives in the reduction of CO_2 to carbon monoxide (CO) and water. Mo(0) CO_2 complex (2) forms adducts with a series of LAs, demonstrating CO_2 activation that correlates linearly with the strength of the LA. Protons induce C–O cleavage of these LA adducts, in contrast to the CO_2 displacement primarily observed in the absence of LA. CO_2 cleavage shows dependence on both bond activation and the residence time of the bound small molecule, demonstrating the influence of both kinetic and thermodynamic factors on promoting productive CO_2 reduction chemistry

Terminal Molybdenum Phosphides with d Electrons: Radical Character Promotes Coupling Chemistry

A terminal Mo phosphide was prepared via group transfer of both P- and Cl-atoms from chloro-substituted dibenzo-7λ^3-phosphanorbornadiene. This compound represents the first structurally characterized terminal transition metal phosphide with valence d electrons. In the tetragonal ligand field, these electrons populate an orbital of d_(xy) parentage, an electronic configuration that accommodates both metal d-electrons and a formal M≡P triple bond. Single electron oxidation affords a transient open shell terminal phosphide cation with significant spin density on P, as corroborated by CW and pulsed EPR characterization. Facile P-P bond formation occurs from this species via intermolecular phosphide coupling