The Impact of Ligand Design on the Coordination Chemistry and Reactivity of Metal Pincer Complexes

Pincer ligands are uninegative tridentate metal-coordinating agents of the form [XZY]- where Z is the central, anchoring Lewis donor while X and Y are flanking Lewis donors. Ever since initial reports of transition metal pincer complexes were published in the late 1970\u27s, there has been burgeoning interest in such complexes because of their desirable robust nature, generally simple syntheses, and the spectacular chemical transformations that they can mediate. In this research project, two new sets of pincer ligands with a diarylamido anchor and either two pyrazolyl nitrogenous flanking donors (NNN pincer) or one pyrazolyl and one diphenylphosphine donor (NNP pincer) have been prepared and their late transition metal complexes have been studied. First, for tricarbonylrhenium(I) complexes it was demonstrated that the NNN pincers bind in bidentate or fac- tridentate modes. By increasing steric bulk at the 3-pyrazolyl position near the metal, the fac-Re(CO)3 moiety distorts the ligand to enhance ligand-centered reactivity. Second, for carbonylrhodium(I) complexes, (NNN)Rh(CO), substitution at the para-aryl positions predictably modulates the electronic properties and chemical reactivity. Oxidative addition reactions of the (NNN)Rh(CO) with iodoalkanes proceed about three orders of magnitude faster than those reported for the Monsanto catalyst, [Rh(CO)2I2]-. Third, there is also interest in metal complexes of redox-active ligands because it is hoped that one could use the ligand as an electron reservoir to help arbitrate difficult multi-electron processes. For (NNN)RhIIIXYZ, varying non-pincer ligands(X, Y, and Z) changes the (NNN)/(NNN)+ oxidation potential by 700 mV. An empirical ligand additivity model was discovered that predicts the half wave potential of the ligand-based redox couple. Such a model is envisioned to be important for future considerations when designing complexes for exothermic electron transfer reactions. Finally, a comparison of related (NNN)Rh(CO), (NNP)Rh(CO) and (PNP)Rh(CO) complexes revealed that substitutions of pyrazolyl for diphenylphosphine primarily impacts sterics (not electronics), thereby affecting kinetics of reactions. The PPh2 moiety permits the isolation of a coordinatively-unsaturated 16-electron rhodium(III) complex that showed metal ligand cooperativity in its reactions with HI. The hemilability of the (NNP)Rh fragment was also demonstrated by reactions with t-BuNC

Chemical Switching Behaviour of Tricarbonylrhenium(I) Complexes of a New Redox Active ‘Pincer’ Ligand

The structures and optoelectronic properties of tricarbonylrhenium(I) complexes of di(2-pyrazolyl-p-tolyl)amine in its neutral and deprotonated (uninegative amido) form were investigated. Reactions of the complexes with Brønsted acids or bases result in distinctive changes of colour and electrochemical activity owing to the non-innocent nature of the ligand

Using Sterics to Promote Reactivity in \u3cem\u3efac\u3c/em\u3e-Re(CO)\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e Complexes of Some ‘Non-Innocent’ NNN-Pincer Ligands

Two new redox active ligands based on di(2-(3-organopyrazolyl)-p-tolyl)amine have been prepared in order to investigate potential effects of steric bulk on the structures, electronic properties, or reactivity of tricarbonylrhenium(I) complexes. Replacing the hydrogens at the 3-pyrazolyl positions with alkyl groups causes significant distortion to the ligand framework due to potential interactions between these groups when bound to a fac-Re(CO)3 moiety. The distortions effectively increase the nucleophilic character of the central amino nitrogen and ligand-centered reactivity of the metal complexes

Rhodium Complexes of a New Structurally Adaptive PNN-Pincer Type Ligand

A new PNN-pincer type ligand with pyrazolyl and diphenylphosphine flanking donors on a diarylamido anchor has been prepared. Its bis(tert-butyl isocyanide)rhodium(I) complex exhibits hemilabile behavior in solution, and its solid-state structure verified the elusive κ2P,N coordination mode for this type of ligand. Reactions between (PNN)Rh(CNtBu)2 and iodomethane afford both fac- and cis,mer-[(PNN)Rh(CNtBu)2(Me)](I), which further showcases the structural versatility of the ligand

Preparation, Properties, and Reactivity of carbonylrhodium(I) Complexes of di(2-pyrazolylaryl)amido-pincer Ligands

A series of six carbonylrhodium(I) complexes of three new and three previously reported di(2-3R-pyrazolyl)-p-Z/X-aryl)amido pincer ligands, (RZX)Rh(CO), (R is the substituent at the 3-pyrazolyl position proximal to the metal; Z and X are the aryl substituents para- to the arylamido nitrogen) were prepared. The metal complexes were studied to assess how their properties and reactivities can be tuned by varying the groups along the ligand periphery and how they compared to other known carbonylrhodium(I) pincer derivatives. This study was facilitated by the discovery of a new CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction between 2-(pyrazolyl)-4-X-anilines (X = Me or CF3) and 2-bromoaryl-1H-pyrazoles that allow the fabrication of pincer ligands with two different aryl arms. The NNN-pincer scaffolds provide an electron-rich environment for the carbonylrhodium(I) fragment as indicated by carbonyl stretching frequencies that occur in the range of 1948–1968 cm−1. As such, the oxidative addition (OA) reactions with iodomethane proceed instantaneously to form trans-(NNN-pincer)Rh(Me)(CO)(I) in room temperature acetone solution. The OA reactions with iodoethane proceeded at a convenient rate in acetone near 45 °C which allowed detailed kinetic studies. The relative order of reactivity was found to be (CF3CF3)Rh(CO) \u3c (iPrMeMe)Rh(CO) \u3c (MeMeMe)Rh(CO) ∼ (CF3Me)Rh(CO) \u3c (MeH)Rh(CO) \u3c (MeMe)Rh(CO) with the second order rate constant of the most reactive in the series, k2 = 8 × 10−3 M−1 s−1, being about three orders of magnitude greater than those reported for [Rh(CO)2I2]− or CpRh(CO)(PPh3). After oxidative addition, the resultant rhodium(III) complexes were found to be unstable. Although a few trans-(RMeMe)Rh(E = Me, Et, or I)(CO)(I) could be isolated in pure form, all were found to slowly decompose in solution to give different products depending on the 3R-pyrazolyl substituents. Those with unsubstituted pyrazolyls (R = H) decompose with CO dissociation to give insoluble dimeric [(RMeMe)Rh(E)(μ-I)]2 while those with 3-alkylpyrazolyls (R = Me, iPr) decompose to give soluble, but unidentified products

Tricarbonylrhenium(I) and Manganese(I) Complexes of 2-(pyrazolyl)-4-toluidine

A series of tricarbonyl rhenium(I) and manganese(I) complexes of the electroactive 2-(pyrazolyl)-4-toluidine ligand, H(pzAnMe), has been prepared and characterized including by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The reactions between H(pzAnMe) and M(CO)5Br afford fac-MBr(CO)3[H(pzAnMe)] (M = Mn, 1a; Re, 1b) complexes. The ionic species {fac-M(CH3CN)(CO)3[H(pzAnMe)]}(PF6) (M = Mn, 2a; Re, 2b) were prepared by metathesis of 1a or 1b with TlPF6 in acetonitrile. Complexes 1a and 1b partly ionize to {M(CH3CN)(CO)3[H(pzAnMe)]+}(Br−) in CH3CN but retain their integrity in less donating solvents such as acetone or CH2Cl2. Each of the four metal complexes reacts with (NEt4)(OH) in CH3CN to give poorly-soluble crystalline [fac-M(CO)3(μ-pzAnMe)]2 (M = Mn, 3a; Re, 3b). The solid state structures of 3a and 3b are of centrosymmetric dimeric species with bridging amido nitrogens and with pyrazolyls disposed trans- to the central planar M2N2 metallacycle. In stark contrast to the diphenylboryl derivatives, Ph2B(pzAnMe), none of the tricarbonyl group 7 metal complexes are luminescent

Electronic Communication Across Diamagnetic Metal Bridges: A Homoleptic Gallium(III) Complex of a Redox-Active Diarylamido-Based Ligand and Its Oxidized Derivatives

Complexes with cations of the type [Ga(L)2]n+ where L = bis(4-methyl-2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl)amido and n = 1, 2, 3 have been prepared and structurally characterized. The electronic properties of each were probed by electrochemical and spectroscopic means and were interpreted with the aid of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The dication, best described as [Ga(L–)(L0)]2+, is a Robin-Day class II mixed-valence species. As such, a broad, weak, solvent-dependent intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) band was found in the NIR spectrum in the range 6390–6925 cm–1, depending on the solvent. Band shape analyses and the use of Hush and Marcus relations revealed a modest electronic coupling, Hab of about 200 cm–1, and a large rate constant for electron transfer, ket, on the order of 1010 s–1 between redox active ligands. The dioxidized complex [Ga(L0)2]3+ shows a half-field ΔMs = 2 transition in its solid-state X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum at 5 K, which indicates that the triplet state is thermally populated. DFT calculations (M06/Def2-SV(P)) suggest that the singlet state is 21.7 cm–1 lower in energy than the triplet state

Pyrazolyl Methyls Prescribe the Electronic Properties of Iron(II) Tetra(pyrazolyl)lutidine Chloride Complexes

A series of iron(II) chloride complexes of pentadentate ligands related to α,α,α′,α′-tetra(pyrazolyl)-2,6-lutidine, pz4lut, has been prepared to evaluate whether pyrazolyl substitution has any systematic impact on the electronic properties of the complexes. For this purpose, the new tetrakis(3,4,5-trimethylpyrazolyl)lutidine ligand, pz**4lut, was prepared via a CoCl2-catalyzed rearrangement reaction. The equimolar combination of ligand and FeCl2 in methanol gives the appropriate 1:1 complexes [FeCl(pzR4lut)]Cl that are each isolated in the solid state as a hygroscopic solvate. In solution, the iron(II) complexes have been fully characterized by several spectroscopic methods and cyclic voltammetry. In the solid state, the complexes have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, and, in some cases, by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The Mössbauer studies show that the complexes remain high spin to 4 K and exclude spin-state changes as the cause of the surprising solid-state thermochromic properties of the complexes. Non-intuitive results of spectroscopic and structural studies showed that methyl substitution at the 3- and 5- positions of the pyrazolyl rings reduces the ligand field strength through steric effects whereas methyl substitution at the 4-position of the pyrazolyl rings increases the ligand field strength through inductive effects

Homoleptic Nickel(II) Complexes of Redox-Tunable Pincer-type Ligands

Different synthetic methods have been developed to prepare eight new redox-active pincer-type ligands, H(X,Y), that have pyrazol-1-yl flanking donors attached to an ortho-position of each ring of a diarylamine anchor and that have different groups, X and Y, at the para-aryl positions. Together with four previously known H(X,Y) ligands, a series of 12 Ni(X,Y)2 complexes were prepared in high yields by a simple one-pot reaction. Six of the 12 derivatives were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which showed tetragonally distorted hexacoordinate nickel(II) centers. The nickel(II) complexes exhibit two quasi-reversible one-electron oxidation waves in their cyclic voltammograms, with half-wave potentials that varied over a remarkable 700 mV range with the average of the Hammett σp parameters of the para-aryl X, Y groups. The one- and two-electron oxidized derivatives [Ni(Me,Me)2](BF4)n (n = 1, 2) were prepared synthetically, were characterized by X-band EPR, electronic spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (for n = 2), and were studied computationally by DFT methods. The dioxidized complex, [Ni(Me,Me)2](BF4)2, is an S = 2 species, with nickel(II) bound to two ligand radicals. The mono-oxidized complex [Ni(Me,Me)2](BF4), prepared by comproportionation, is best described as nickel(II) with one ligand centered radical. Neither the mono- nor the dioxidized derivative shows any substantial electronic coupling between the metal and their bound ligand radicals because of the orthogonal nature of their magnetic orbitals. On the other hand, weak electronic communication occurs between ligands in the mono-oxidized complex as evident from the intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) transition found in the near-IR absorption spectrum. Band shape analysis of the IVCT transition allowed comparisons of the strength of the electronic interaction with that in the related, previously known, Robin–Day class II mixed valence complex, [Ga(Me,Me)2]2+

Syntheses and Electronic Properties of Rhodium(III) Complexes Bearing a Redox-Active Ligand

A series of rhodium(III) complexes of the redox-active ligand, H(L = bis(4-methyl-2-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)phenyl)amido), was prepared, and the electronic properties were studied. Thus, heating an ethanol solution of commercial RhCl3·3H2O with H(L) results in the precipitation of insoluble [H(L)]RhCl3, 1. The reaction of a methanol suspension of [H(L)]RhCl3 with NEt4OH causes ligand deprotonation and affords nearly quantitative yields of the soluble, deep-green, title compound (NEt4)[(L)RhCl3]·H2O, 2·H2O. Complex 2·H2O reacts readily with excess pyridine, triethylphosphine, or pyrazine (pyz) to eliminate NEt4Cl and give charge-neutral complexes trans-(L)RhCl2(py), trans-3, trans-(L)RhCl2(PEt3), trans- 4, or trans-(L)RhCl2(pyz), trans-5, where the incoming Lewis base is trans- to the amido nitrogen of the meridionally coordinating ligand. Heating solutions of complexes trans-3 or trans-4 above about 100 °C causes isomerization to the appropriate cis-3 or cis-4. Isomerization of trans-5 occurs at a much lower temperature due to pyrazine dissociation. Cis-3 and cis- 5 could be reconverted to their respective trans- isomers in solution at 35 °C by visible light irradiation. Complexes [(L)Rh(py)2Cl](PF6), 6, [(L)Rh(PPh3)(py)Cl](PF6), 7, [(L)Rh(PEt3)2Cl](PF6), 8, and [(L)RhCl(bipy)](OTf = triflate), 9, were prepared from 2·H2O by using thallium(I) salts as halide abstraction agents and excess Lewis base. It was not possible to prepare dicationic complexes with three unidentate pyridyl or triethylphosphine ligands; however, the reaction between 2, thallium(I) triflate, and the tridentate 4′-(4-methylphenyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (ttpy) afforded a high yield of [(L)Rh(ttpy)]- (OTf)2, 10. The solid state structures of nine new complexes were obtained. The electrochemistry of the various derivatives in CH2Cl2 showed a ligand-based oxidation wave whose potential depended mainly on the charge of the complex, and to a lesser extent on the nature and the geometry of the other supporting ligands. Thus, the oxidation wave for 2 with an anionic complex was found at +0.27 V versus Ag/AgCl in CH2Cl2, while those waves for the charge-neutral complexes 3−5 were found between +0.38 to +0.59 V, where the cis- isomers were about 100 mV more stable toward oxidation than the trans- isomers. The oxidation waves for 6−9 with monocationic complexes occurred in the range +0.74 to 0.81 V while that for 10 with a dicationic complex occurred at +0.91 V. Chemical oxidation of trans-3, cis-3, and 8 afforded crystals of the singly oxidized complexes, [trans- (L)RhCl2(py)](SbCl6), cis-[(L)RhCl2(py)](SbCl4)·2CH2Cl2, and [(L)Rh(PEt3)2Cl](SbCl6)2, respectively. Comparisons of structural and spectroscopic features combined with the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations between nonoxidized and oxidized forms of the complexes are indicative of the ligand-centered radicals in the oxidized derivatives