The semiquinone radical anion of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione: synthesis and rare earth coordination chemistry

Reduction of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (pd) with CoCpR2 resulted in the first molecular compounds of the pd˙− semi-quinone radical anion, [CoCpR2]+[pd]˙− (R = H, (1); R = Me4, (2)). Furthermore compounds 1 and 2 were reacted with [Y(hfac)3(thf)2] (hfac = 1,1,1-5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate) to synthesise the rare earth-transition metal heterometallic compounds, [CoCpR2]+[Y(hfac)3(N,N′-pd)]˙− (R = H, (3); R = Me4, (4))

The modular synthesis of rare earth-transition metal heterobimetallic complexes utilizing a redox-active ligand

We report a robust and modular synthetic route to heterometallic rare earth-transition metal complexes. We have used the redox-active bridging ligand 1,10-phenathroline-5,6-dione (pd), which has selective N,N′ or O,O′ binding sites as the template for this synthetic route. The coordination complexes [Ln(hfac)3(N,N’-pd)] (Ln = Y [1], Gd [2]; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) were synthesised in high yield. These complexes have been fully characterised using a range of spectroscopic techniques. Solid state molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by X-ray crystallography and display different pd binding modes in coordinating and non-coordinating solvents. Complexes 1 and 2 are unusually highly coloured in coordinating solvents, for example the vis-NIR spectrum of 1 in acetonitrile displays an electronic transition centred at 587 nm with an extinction coefficient consistent with significant charge transfer. The reaction between 1 and 2 and VCp2 or VCpt2 (Cpt = tetramethylcyclopentadienyl) resulted in the isolation of the heterobimetallic complexes, [Ln(hfac)3(N,N′-O,O′-pd)VCp2] (Ln = Y [3], Gd [4]) or [Ln(hfac)3(N,N′-O,O′-pd)VCpt2] (Ln = Y [5], Gd [6]). The solid state molecular structures of 3, 5 and 6 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The spectroscopic data on 3–6 are consistent with oxidation of V(II) to V(IV) and reduction of pd to pd2− in the heterobimetallic complexes. The spin-Hamiltonian parameters from low temperature X-band EPR spectroscopy of 3 and 5 describe a 2A1 ground state, with a V(IV) centre. DFT calculations on 3 are in good agreement with experimental data and confirm the SOMO as the dx2−y2 orbital localised on vanadium

Molecular and electronic structure of the dithiooxalato radical ligand stabilised by rare earth coordination

Heterometallic rare earth transition metal compounds of dithioxalate (dto)2–, [NiII{(dto)LnIIITp2}2] (Ln = Y (1), Gd (2); Tp = hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)borate) were synthesised. The Lewis acidic rare earth ions are bound to the dioxolene and chemical reduction of 1 and 2 with cobaltocene yielded [CoCp2]+[NiII{(dto)LnIIITp2}2]˙− Ln = Y (3), Gd (4). The reduction is ligand-based and 3 and 4 are the first examples of both molecular and electronic structural characterisation of the dithiooxalato radical (dto)3˙−

Synthesis and reactivity of bis-tris(pyrazolyl)borate lanthanide-aluminium heterobimetallic trihydride complexes

Molecular heterobimetallic hydride complexes of lanthanides (Ln) and main group (MG) metals exhibit chemical properties unique from their monometallic counterparts and are highly reactive species, making their synthesis and isolation challenging. Herein, molecular Ln/Al heterobimetallic trihydrides [Ln(Tp)2(μ-H)2Al(H)(Nʹʹ)] 2-Ln (Ln = Y, Sm, Dy, Yb; Tp = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate; Nʹʹ = N(SiMe3)2) have been synthesised by facile insertion of aminoalane [Me3N•AlH3] into the Ln–N amide bonds of [Ln(Tp)2(Nʹʹ)] 1-Ln. Thus, providing a simple synthetic strategy to access a range of Ln/Al hydrides. Reactivity studies demonstrate that 2-Ln is a heterobimetallic hydride, with evidence for the cooperative nature of 2-Ln shown by the catalytic amine-borane dehydrocoupling under ambient conditions in contrast to its monomeric counterparts

New chemistry from an old reagent:Mono- and dinuclear macrocyclic uranium(III) complexes from [U(BH₄)₃(THF)₂]

A new robust and high-yielding synthesis of the valuable UIII synthon [U(BH4)3(THF)2] is reported. Reactivity in ligand exchange reactions is found to contrast significantly to that of uranium triiodide. This is exemplified by the synthesis and characterization of azamacrocyclic UIII complexes, including mononuclear [U(BH4)(L)] and dinuclear [Li(THF)4][{U(BH4)}2(μ-BH4)(LMe)] and [Na(THF)4][{U(BH4)}2(μ-BH4)(LA)(THF)2]. The structures of all complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and display two new UIII2(BH4)3 motifs

Reduction chemistry yields stable and soluble divalent lanthanide tris(pyrazolyl)borate complexes †

Reduction of the heteroleptic Ln(iii) precursors [Ln(Tp)2(OTf)] (Tp = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate; OTf = triflate) with either an aluminyl(i) anion or KC8 yielded the adduct-free homoleptic Ln(ii) complexes dimeric 1-Eu [{Eu(Tp)(μ-κ1:η5-Tp)}2] and monomeric 1-Yb [Yb(Tp)2]. Complexes 1-Ln have good solubility and stability in both non-coordinating and coordinating solvents. Reaction of 1-Ln with 2 Ph3PO yielded 1-Ln(OPPh3)2. All complexes are intensely coloured and 1-Eu is photoluminescent. The electronic absorption data show the 4f–5d electronic transitions in Ln(ii). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data reveal first μ-κ1:η5-coordination mode of the unsubstituted Tp ligand to lanthanides in 1-Eu

Uranium(III) coordination chemistry and oxidation in a flexible small-cavity macrocycle

U(III) complexes of the conformationally flexible, small-cavity macrocycle trans-calix[2]benzene[2]pyrrolide (L)2–, [U(L)X] (X = O-2,6-tBu2C6H3, N(SiMe3)2), have been synthesized from [U(L)BH4] and structurally characterized. These complexes show binding of the U(III) center in the bis(arene) pocket of the macrocycle, which flexes to accommodate the increase in the steric bulk of X, resulting in long U–X bonds to the ancillary ligands. Oxidation to the cationic U(IV) complex [U(L)X][B(C6F5)4] (X = BH4) results in ligand rearrangement to bind the smaller, harder cation in the bis(pyrrolide) pocket, in a conformation that has not been previously observed for (L)2–, with X located between the two ligand arene rings

Organometallic neptunium(III) complexes

Studies of transuranic organometallic complexes provide a particularly valuable insight into covalent contributions to the metal–ligand bonding, in which the subtle differences between the transuranium actinide ions and their lighter lanthanide counterparts are of fundamental importance for the effective remediation of nuclear waste. Unlike the organometallic chemistry of uranium, which has focused strongly on UIII and has seen some spectacular advances, that of the transuranics is significantly technically more challenging and has remained dormant. In the case of neptunium, it is limited mainly to NpIV. Here we report the synthesis of three new NpIII organometallic compounds and the characterization of their molecular and electronic structures. These studies suggest that NpIII complexes could act as single-molecule magnets, and that the lower oxidation state of NpII is chemically accessible. In comparison with lanthanide analogues, significant d- and f-electron contributions to key NpIII orbitals are observed, which shows that fundamental neptunium organometallic chemistry can provide new insights into the behaviour of f-elements

Heteroleptic lanthanide(III) complexes: synthetic utility and versatility of the unsubstituted bis-scorpionate ligand framework

The unsubstituted bis-hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate) (Tp) ligand framework has been used to synthesise a range of heteroleptic Ln(III) coordination complexes [Ln(Tp)2(X)]. The precursor complexes [Ln(Tp)2(OTf)] 1-Ln (Ln = Y, Eu, Gd, Yb; OTf = triflate) were synthesised by reaction of Ln(OTf)3 with two equivalents of K(Tp). The 8-coordinate β-diketonate complexes [Ln(Tp)2(hfac)] 2-Ln (Ln = Y, Eu, Yb; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) were synthesised from Ln(OTf)3 by reacting 1-Ln generated in situ with an equivalent of K(hfac). The 7-coordinate amide complexes [Ln(Tp)2(N″)] 3-Ln (Ln = Y, Yb; N″ = bis(trimethylsilyl)amide) were synthesised from 1-Ln by reaction with K(N″). Reactivity of 3-Ln towards protonolysis was demonstrated by the isolation of the hydroxide dimer [{Y(Tp)2(μ-OH)}2] 4-Y from adventitious reaction with water and the aryloxide complex [Ln(Tp)2(OAr)] 5-Ln (Ln = Y, Yb; OAr = 2,6-tBu2-4-Me-phenoxide) from reaction with H(OAr). Full characterisation data are presented for all complexes, including solid-state molecular structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction