Artem L. Gushchin

Synthesis and Characterization of Mixed Chalcogen Triangular Complexes with New Mo3(μ3-S)(μ2-Se2)34+ and M3(μ3-S)(μ2-Se)34+ (M = Mo, W) Cluster Cores

In our pursuit of mixed chalcogen-bridged cluster complexes, solids of the compositions Mo(3)SSe(6)Br(4) and W(3)SSe(6)Br(4) were prepared using high-temperature synthesis from the elements. Treatment of Mo(3)SSe(6)Br(4) with Bu(4)NBr in a vibration mill yielded (Bu(4)N)(3){[Mo(3)(mu(3)-S)(mu(2)-Se(2))(3)Br(6)]Br} (I). Its all-selenide analogue (Bu(4)N)(3){[Mo(3)(mu(3)-Se)(mu(2)-Se(2))(3)Br(6)]Br} (II) was prepared from Mo(3)Se(7)Br(4) in a similar way. Both compounds were characterized by IR, Raman, and (77)Se NMR spectroscopy. The structure of II was determined by X-ray single-crystal analysis. Compound I is isostructural with II and contains the new Mo(3)(mu(3)-S)Se(6)(4+) cluster core. By treatment of a 4 M Hpts solution of I with PPh(3) followed by cation-exchange chromatography, the new mixed chalcogenido-molybdenum aqua ion, [Mo(3)(mu(3)-S)(mu(2)-Se)(3)(H(2)O)(9)](4+), was isolated and characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy and, after derivatization into [Mo(3)(mu(3)-S)(mu(2)-Se)(3)(acac)(3)(py)(3)](+), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. From HCl solutions of the aqua ion, a supramolecular adduct with cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]), {[Mo(3)(mu(3)-S)(mu(2)-Se)(3)(H(2)O)(6)Cl(3)](2)CB[6]}Cl(2) x 11 H(2)O (III), was isolated and its structure determined using X-ray crystallography. W(3)SSe(6)Br(4) upon reaction with H(3)PO(2) gave a mixture of all of the [W(3)S(x)Se(4-x)(H(2)O)(9)](4+) species. After repeated chromatography, crystals of {[W(3)(mu(3)-S)(mu(2)-Se)(3)(H(2)O)(7)Cl(2)](2)CB[6]}Cl(4) x 12 H(2)O (IV) were crystallized from the fraction rich in [W(3)(mu(3)-S)Se(3)(H(2)O)(9)](4+) and structurally characterized.

Photogeneration of Hydrogen from Water by Hybrid Molybdenum Sulfide Clusters Immobilized on Titania

Two new hybrid molybdenum(IV) Mo3 S7 cluster complexes derivatized with diimino ligands have been prepared by replacement of the two bromine atoms of [Mo3 S7 Br6 ](2-) by a substituted bipyridine ligand to afford heteroleptic molybdenum(IV) Mo3 S7 Br4 (diimino) complexes. Adsorption of the Mo3 S7 cores from sample solutions on TiO2 was only achieved from the diimino functionalized clusters. The adsorbed Mo3 S7 units were reduced on the TiO2 surface to generate an electrocatalyst that reduces the overpotential for the H2 evolution reaction by approximately 0.3 V (for 1 mA cm(-2) ) with a turnover frequency as high as 1.4 s(-1) . The nature of the actual active molybdenum sulfide species has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In agreement with the electrochemical results, the modified TiO2 nanoparticles show a high photocatalytic activity for H2 production in the presence of Na2 S/Na2 SO3 as a sacrificial electron donor system.

New {RuNO} Polyoxometalate [PW11O39RuII(NO)]4-: Synthesis and Reactivity

New Ru-containing polyoxometalate [PW11O39Ru(II)(NO)](4-) (1(4-)) was obtained in high yield by reaction of [Ru(NO)Cl5](2-) with [PW11O39](7-) and characterized by multinuclear NMR, cyclic voltammetry, IR spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The intrinsic reactivity of the {RuNO} site in 1(4-) toward various reagents has been studied using a versatile and simple ESI tandem mass spectrometric methodology for identification of the L attached at the Ru site; this approach relies on the preferential liberation of the L ligands attached at the Ru sites upon mass-selecting desired intermediates and subsequent promotion of their fragmentation. Reactions with both hydrazine and hydroxylamine lead to elimination of the nitroso group and quantitative formation of [PW11O39Ru(III)(H2O)](4-) (2(4-)) in aqueous solution. In the reaction with hydroxylamine, an intermediate with coordinated dinitrogen has been detected. An easy access to the NH3-coordinated [PW11O39RuNH3](4-) (3(4-)) complex was achieved upon reduction of 1(4-) with Sn(2+) in water.

Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Nitroarenes Catalyzed by Molybdenum Sulphide Clusters

Herein, we describe an atom efficient and general protocol for the chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines catalyzed by well‐defined diimino and diamino cubane‐type Mo3S4 clusters. The novel diimino [Mo3S4Cl3(dnbpy)3]+ ([5]+) (dnbpy=4,4′‐dinonyl‐2,2′‐dipyridyl, L1) trinuclear complex was synthesized in high yields by simple ligand substitution reactions starting from the thiourea (tu) [Mo3S4(tu)8(H2O)]Cl4⋅4 H2O (3) precursor. This strategy has also been successfully adapted for the isolation of the diamino [Mo3S4Cl3(dmen)3](BF4) ([6](BF4)), (dmen=N,N′‐dimethylethylenediamine) salt. Applying these catalysts, high selectivity in the hydrogenation of functionalized nitroarenes has been accomplished. Over thirty anilines bearing synthetically functional groups have been synthesized in 70 to 99 % yield. Notably, the integrity of the cluster core is preserved during catalysis. Based on kinetic studies on the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene and other potential reaction intermediates, the direct reduction to aniline is the preferential route.

Luminescent CuI thiocyanate complexes based on tris(2-pyridyl)phosphine and its oxide: from mono-, di- and trinuclear species to coordination polymers

Tris(2-pyridyl)phosphine oxide reacts with CuSCN to form a variety of luminescent complexes, depending on the specified metal-to-ligand ratio and the solvent used, viz. mononuclear [Cu(N,N′,N′′-Py3PO)(NCS)], dinuclear (N,N′-Py3PO)Cu(SCNNCS)Cu[(N,N′-Py3PO)], their co-crystal (2:1, correspondingly) and trinuclear {Cu(NCS)[SCNCu(N,N′,N′′-Py3PO)]2}. In the solid state, these complexes feature red-orange emission upon UV photoexcitation. The reaction of tris(2-pyridyl)phosphine with CuSCN quantitatively produces an almost insoluble coordination polymer, [Cu(Py3P)NCS]n, which exhibits bright green emission. The synthesized compounds are the first members of the hitherto unknown family of Cu(I) thiocyanate complexes supported by tripodal ligands.

Dithiolene dimetallic molybdenum(V) complexes displaying intraligand charge transfer (ILCT) emission.

Bifunctional dithiolene ligands have been coordinated to the Mo(V)(O)(μ-S2)Mo(V)(O) unit to afford [Mo2O2(μ-S)2(BPyDTS2)2](2-) (1(2-)) (BPyDTS2 (2-bis-(2-pyridyl)methylene-1,3-dithiolene) dianions. Reaction of the 1(2-) molybdenum dimer with pentacarbonylchlorothenium(i) affords a tetrametallic complex of formula [Mo2O2(μ-S)2(BPyDTS2)2{Re(CO)3Cl}2](2-) (2(2-)). The monomeric (CH3)2Sn(BPyDTS2) (3) tin complex has also been prepared for comparative purposes. In the structure of (Et4N)2[1], the two metal atoms are in a square pyramidal coordination environment defined by two bridging sulfur atoms, one terminal oxygen atom and the two sulfur atoms of the bifunctional dithiolene ligand. This arrangement leaves two nitrogen atoms on each side which coordinate to two Re atoms in the 2(2-) tetrametallic complex. Compound 3 has a distorted tetrahedral structure defined by two carbon atoms of the methyl groups and two sulfur atoms of the dithiolene ligand. The luminescence properties of all three complexes in acetonitrile have been investigated. Detailed studies supported on quantum mechanical calculations revealed that complex 1(2-) shows photoluminescence in the 600-800 nm region with a maximum wavelength of 628 nm and an emission quantum yield of 0.092, associated with an intraligand charge transfer (ILCT) transition. Coordination of two Re(CO)3Cl fragments to 1(2-) to afford 2(2-) does not affect the emission spectrum and shape although it decreases the quantum yield, approximately by a factor of 4.6. Compound 3 exhibits a similar emission spectrum to those of the complexes 1(2-) and 2(2-) in good agreement with the ILCT assignment. The quantum yield of 3 lies between that of the 1(2-) and 2(2-) complexes.

Cycloaddition of alkynes to diimino Mo3S4 cubane-type clusters: a combined experimental and theoretical approach

A heterocyclic ligand 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dbbpy) has been coordinated to the Mo3S4 cluster unit affording the complex [Mo3S4Cl3(dbbpy)3]+ ([1]+) in a one-step ligand-exchange protocol from [Mo3S4(tu)8(H2O)]Cl4·4H2O (tu = thiourea). The new cluster was isolated as [1]PF6 and [1]Cl salts in high yields and the crystal structure of the latter determined by X-ray analysis. The synthetic procedure was extended to tungsten to afford [W3S4Cl3(dbbpy)3]+ ([2]+). Kinetic and NMR studies show that [1]+ reacts with several alkynes to form dithiolene species via concerted [3+2] cycloaddition reactions whereas [2]+ remains inert under similar conditions. The different rates for the reactions of [1]+ are rationalised by computational (DFT) calculations, which show that the more electron-withdrawing the substituents of the alkyne the faster the reaction. The inertness of [2]+ is due to the endergonicity of its reactions, which feature ΔGr values systematically 5–7 kcal mol−1 more positive than for those of [1]+.

On the Critical Effect of the Metal (Mo vs. W) on the [3+2] Cycloaddition Reaction of M3S4 Clusters with Alkynes: Insights from Experiment and Theory

Whereas the cluster [Mo3 S4 (acac)3 (py)3 ](+) ([1](+) , acac=acetylacetonate, py=pyridine) reacts with a variety of alkynes, the cluster [W3 S4 (acac)3 (py)3 ](+) ([2](+) ) remains unaffected under the same conditions. The reactions of cluster [1](+) show polyphasic kinetics, and in all cases clusters bearing a bridging dithiolene moiety are formed in the first step through the concerted [3+2] cycloaddition between the C≡C atoms of the alkyne and a Mo(μ-S)2 moiety of the cluster. A computational study has been conducted to analyze the effect of the metal on these concerted [3+2] cycloaddition reactions. The calculations suggest that the reactions of cluster [2](+) with alkynes feature ΔG(≠) values only slightly larger than its molybdenum analogue, however, the differences in the reaction free energies between both metal clusters and the same alkyne reach up to approximately 10 kcal mol(-1) , therefore indicating that the differences in the reactivity are essentially thermodynamic. The activation strain model (ASM) has been used to get more insights into the critical effect of the metal center in these cycloadditions, and the results reveal that the change in reactivity is entirely explained on the basis of the differences in the interaction energies Eint between the cluster and the alkyne. Further decomposition of the Eint values through the localized molecular orbital-energy decomposition analysis (LMO-EDA) indicates that substitution of the Mo atoms in cluster [1](+) by W induces changes in the electronic structure of the cluster that result in weaker intra- and inter-fragment orbital interactions.

Mechanism of [3+2] Cycloaddition of Alkynes to the [Mo3S4(acac)(3)(py)(3)][PF6] Cluster

A study, involving kinetic measurements on the stopped-flow and conventional UV/Vis timescales, ESI-MS, NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, has been carried out to understand the mechanism of the reaction of [Mo3 S4 (acac)3 (py)3 ][PF6 ] ([1]PF6 ; acac=acetylacetonate, py=pyridine) with two RCCR alkynes (R=CH2 OH (btd), COOH (adc)) in CH3 CN. Both reactions show polyphasic kinetics, but experimental and computational data indicate that alkyne activation occurs in a single kinetic step through a concerted mechanism similar to that of organic [3+2] cycloaddition reactions, in this case through the interaction with one Mo(μ-S)2 moiety of [1](+) . The rate of this step is three orders of magnitude faster for adc than that for btd, and the products initially formed evolve in subsequent steps into compounds that result from substitution of py ligands or from reorganization to give species with different structures. Activation strain analysis of the [3+2] cycloaddition step reveals that the deformation of the two reactants has a small contribution to the difference in the computed activation barriers, which is mainly associated with the change in the extent of their interaction at the transition-state structures. Subsequent frontier molecular orbital analysis shows that the carboxylic acid substituents on adc stabilize its HOMO and LUMO orbitals with respect to those on btd due to better electron-withdrawing properties. As a result, the frontier molecular orbitals of the cluster and alkyne become closer in energy; this allows a stronger interaction.

Synthesis, structure and NMR studies of trinuclear Mo3S4 clusters coordinated with dithiophosphate and chiral carboxylate ligands

New chiral cluster complexes containing (S)-mandelate and (S)-phenyllactate ligands, [Mo3S4(dtp)3(μ-(S)-mandelate)(py)] (1) and [Mo3S4(dtp)3(μ-(S)-phenyllactate)(py)], were prepared from [Mo3S4(dtp)3(μ-dtp)(H2O)] (dtp = (EtO)2PS2) by ligand substitution. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray diffraction. Detailed variable-temperature 31P{1H} and 1H NMR studies of solutions of 1 and 2 in non-coordinating solvents (CDCl3, CD2Cl2) demonstrated three dynamic processes at the Mo–Py coordination site: diastereomer interconversion [(PS) to (MS)] which is inhibited at low temperatures; pyridine rotation around the Mo–py bond (180°-flip), and pyridine exchange in the presence of added pyridine. Activation parameters for all exchange processes have been estimated.