Berthold Kersting

Carbon Dioxide Fixation by Binuclear Complexes with Hydrophobic Binding Pockets

The unusual reactivity of binuclear complexes of the macrocyclic ligand (LR )2- can be attributed to the hydrophobic microenvironment about the free coordination site. The new compounds can be used for the stabilization of reactive intermediates or for the activation of small molecules such as carbon dioxide.

Stabilisation of a paramagnetic BH4--bridged dinickel(II) complex by a macrodinucleating hexaaza-dithiophenolate ligand

The first paramagnetic borohydrido-bridged dinuclear nickel(II) complex, [(L)Ni(II)2(mu(1,3)-BH4)]+, stabilised by a sterically demanding hexaaza-dithiophenolate macrocycle, has been obtained by the reaction of [(L)Ni(II)2(micro-ClO4)]+ with N(n)Bu4BH4.

Structure, magnetic behavior, and anisotropy of homoleptic trinuclear lanthanoid 8-quinolinolate complexes

Three complexes of the form [Ln(III)3(OQ)9] (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy; OQ = 8-quinolinolate) have been synthesized and their magnetic properties studied. The trinuclear complexes adopt V-shaped geometries with three bridging 8-quinolinolate oxygen atoms between the central and peripheral eight-coordinate metal atoms. The magnetic properties of these three complexes differ greatly. Variable-temperature direct-current (dc) magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that the gadolinium and terbium complexes display weak antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor magnetic exchange interactions. This was quantified in the isotropic gadolinium case with an exchangecoupling parameter of J = -0.068(2) cm(-1). The dysprosium compound displays weak ferromagnetic exchange. Variable-frequency and -temperature alternating-current magnetic susceptibility measurements on the anisotropic cases reveal that the dysprosium complex displays single-molecule-magnet behavior, in zero dc field, with two distinct relaxation modes of differing time scales within the same molecule. Analysis of the data revealed anisotropy barriers of Ueff = 92 and 48 K for the two processes. The terbium complex, on the other hand, displays no such behavior in zero dc field, but upon application of a static dc field, slow magnetic relaxation can be observed. Ab initio and electrostatic calculations were used in an attempt to explain the origin of the experimentally observed slow relaxation of the magnetization for the dysprosium complex.

Coordination chemistry of dinucleating P2N2S ligands: preparation and characterization of cationic palladium complexes.

The thioethers (4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl)(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBuL3) and (4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylamino)methyl)phenyl)(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBuL4) react readily with [Pd(NCMe)2Cl2] to give the dinuclear palladium thiophenolate complexes [(L3)Pd2(Cl)2]+ and [(L4)Pd2(micro-Cl)]2+ (HL3=2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylimino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol, HL4=2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylamino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol). The chlorides in could be replaced by neutral (MeCN) and anionic ligands (NCS-, N3-, I-, CN-) to give the dinuclear PdII complexes [(L3)Pd2(NCMe)2]3+, [(L3)Pd2(SCN)2]+, [(L3)Pd2(N3)2]+, [(L3)Pd2(I)2]+, and [(L3)Pd2(CN)2]+. The acetonitrile ligands in are readily hydrated to give the corresponding amidato complex [(L3)Pd2(NHCOMe)]2+. All complexes were isolated as perchlorate salts and studied by infrared, 1H, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. In addition, complexes [ClO4].EtOH, [ClO4]2, [ClO4], [ClO4].EtOH, and [ClO4]2.MeCN.MeOH have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The dipalladium complex was found to catalyse the vinyl-addition polymerization of norbornene in the presence of MAO (methylalumoxane) and B(C6F5)3/AlEt3.

Preparation and characterization of CrIII, MnII, FeII, CoII and NiII complexes of a hexaazadithiophenolate macrocycle

The ligating properties of the 24-membered macrocyclic dinucleating hexaazadithiophenolate ligand (L(Me))2- towards the transition metal ions Cr(II), Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) have been examined. It is demonstrated that this ligand forms an isostructural series of bioctahedral [(L(Me))M(II)2(OAc)]+ complexes with Mn(II) (2), Fe(II) (3), Co(II) (4), Ni(II) (5) and Zn(II) (6). The reaction of (L(Me))2- with two equivalents of CrCl2 and NaOAc followed by air-oxidation produced the complex [(L(Me))Cr(III)H2(OAc)]2+ (1), which is the first example for a mononuclear complex of (L(Me))2-. Complexes 2-6 contain a central N3M(II)(mu-SR)2(mu-OAc)M(II)N3 core with an exogenous acetate bridge. The Cr(III) ion in is bonded to three N and two S atoms of (L(Me))2- and an O atom of a monodentate acetate coligand. In 2-6 there is a consistent decrease in the deviations of the bond angles from the ideal octahedral values such that the coordination polyhedra in the dinickel complex 5 are more regular than in the dimanganese compound 2. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal the magnetic exchange interactions in the [(L(Me))M(II)2(OAc)]+ cations to be relatively weak. Intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange interactions are present in the Mn(II)2, Fe(II)2 and Co(II)2 complexes where J = -5.1, -10.6 and approximately -2.0 cm(-1) (H = -2JS1S2). In contrast, in the dinickel complex 5 a ferromagnetic exchange interaction is present with J = +6.4 cm(-1). An explanation for this difference is qualitatively discussed in terms of the bonding differences.

Ternary complexes composed of naphthalene diimides and binucleating metallocavitands: preparation, characterisation and structure of [(Ni2L)2(NDI)][BPh4]2

The synthesis and physical properties of the ternary complex 3(2+), prepared by reaction of a naphthalene diimide dicarboxylate 2 with the binucleating dinickel(II) cavitand 1, are discussed. The complex 3(2+) is characterised by cyclic voltammetry which shows a wealth of metal-centred and diimide-based processes at -1.62, -1.04 and 0.15 V vs Fc/Fc+. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of 3(2+) in CH2Cl2 compared to the components 4+ and 5, respectively, are used to characterise the complex further. In particular there is a substantial quenching (approximately 95%) of the diimide fluorescence upon complexation. X-Ray crystallography has been used to characterise complex 3(2+) in the solid state. Of particular interest is the supramolecular structure in which the naphthalene diimide is included between the two metallocavitand hemispheres.

Macrocyclic Nickel(II) Complexes Coligated by Hydrosulfide and Hexasulfide Ions: Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetic Properties of [NiII2L(μ-SH)]+ and [{LNiII2}2(μ-S6)]2+

The borohydride complex [Ni(II)2L(mu-BH4)]+ (3) where L(2-) represents a sterically demanding hexaaza-dithiophenolate ligand reacts rapidly with elemental sulfur in acetonitrile at ambient temperature to produce the cationic complexes [Ni(II)2L(mu-SH)]+ (4) and [(Ni(II)2L) 2(mu-S6)]2+ (6). Both complexes were isolated as ClO4(-) or BPh4(-) salts and characterized by IR and UV/vis spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Complex 4 (also accessible from [Ni(II)2L(ClO4)]+ (5) and Na2S.9H2O) features an unprecedented N3Ni(II)(mu-SR)2(mu-SH)Ni(II)N3 core structure, the hydrosulfide ligand being deeply buried in the binding-cavity of the bowl-shaped [Ni(II)2L]2+ complex. In 6, a helical S6(2-) chain, with a structure reminiscent to that of plastic sulfur, is almost completely encapsulated by two [Ni(II)2L]2+ subunits. In contrast to other triply sulfur-bridged N3Ni(II)(SR)3Ni(II)N3 structures whose ground states are typically of S = 0, 4 reveals an S = 2 ground-state which is attained by a ferromagnetic exchange interaction between the two Ni(II) (S = 1) ions ( J = 18 cm (-1), H = -2JS1S2). Intradimer ferromagnetic exchange interactions are also present in 6 ( J = 23 cm (-1)). A qualitative explanation for this difference is offered.

Trapping of a Thiolate→Dibromine Charge‐Transfer Adduct by a Macrocyclic Dinickel Complex and Its Conversion into an Arenesulfenyl Bromide Derivative

Stuck on sulfur: The first transition-metal complexes with S-Br units are surprisingly stable. Solid 3 is stable for at least six months and under vacuum solid 2 does not lose Br(2). The formation of the first structurally characterized transition-metal arenesulfenyl bromide complex 3 occurs with a change of the spin ground state from S = 2 to S = 0.

Reactions at the N2Ni(μ2-SR)2NiN2 Core in Dinuclear Nickel(II) Amine-Thiolate Complexes

A discrete dinickel complex with a central N2NiII(μ2-SR)2NiIIN2 core has been synthesized and investigated in the context of ligand binding and oxidation state changes. Reaction of the hexadentate amine-thiolate ligand N,N′-bis-[2-thio-3-aminomethyl-5-tert-butylbenzyl]propane-1,3-diamine (8) with Ni(ClO4)2 · 6 H2O in methanol affords [NiII28][ClO4]2 · 3 CH3OH (9), the structure of which has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Complex 9 contains a central N2Ni(μ2-SR)2NiN2 core with two approximately planar cis-N2S2Ni coordination polyhedra bridged at the thiolate sulfur atoms. The cis-N2S2Ni units differ in that one nickel atom forms a six-membered chelate ring with the two secondary amine nitrogen atoms of 8 whereas the other nickel atom is bound to the remaining primary nitrogen atoms. Complex 9 binds a variety of substrates. Binding of anions to the N2Ni(μ2-SR)2NiN2 core in 9 occurs selectively at the Ni atom bound to the secondary nitrogen atoms because of a slightly weaker ligand-field strength. This is demonstrated by X-ray structure determination of the isothiocyanate complex [NiII28(NCS)2] · MeOH (10) formed by the reaction of 9 with 2 equiv. of KSCN in methanol. Complex 10 is the first example of a complex with adjacent octahedral cis-N4S2Ni and planar cis-N2S2Ni sites. The overall dinuclear structure of the parent complex 9 is retained in 10, except for trans-axially bound isothiocyanate ions at Ni(1) and an as yet unexplained inversion of configuration at both secondary amine nitrogen atoms. In DMF solution both complexes undergo two successive reductions at potentials of –0.95 V and –1.53 V vs SCE, assigned to the formation of mixed-valent [NiINiII8]1+ and [NiI28]0 species, respectively. The similar electrochemical properties of 9 and 10 suggest that the trans-axially bound isothiocyanate ions in 10 are replaced by DMF molecules in DMF solution. Upon reduction, these solvent molecules decoordinate to produce an unsolvated [NiINiII8]1+ species with two planar N2S2Ni units.

Thiolate-Bridged Diiron(III) Complex with Spin-Crossover Behaviour

The reaction of the ligand HL · (HCl)2 (HL = 2,6- di(aminomethyl)-4-tert-butyl-thiophenol) with MCl2 in methanol in the presence of sodium methanolate and air af- fords the dinuclear complexes (L3M2)(ClO4)3 (M = Fe: 2 ,C o: 3) in 85% and 68% yield, respectively. Both complexes were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibil- ity measurements, and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. By tempera- ture-variable 57 Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy diamagnetic 2 is shown to exhibit a gradual spin transition between the spe- cies (L3(low-spin-Fe)2) 3+ ((ls,ls)-2) and (L3(high-spin-Fe)2) 3+ ((hs,hs)-2). At room temperature the relative concentrations of both species are nearly equal. Well resolved quadrupole doublets at all temperatures for both (ls,ls)-2 (C in the range 0.22(1)-0.28(1) mm s -1 ) and (hs,hs)-2 (C in the range 0.48(1)-0.53(2) mm s -1 ) are indicative of a spin conversion time longer than the half-life of the I = 3 /2 state of 57 Fe. Cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry of 2 in CH3CN solution reveal four quasi-reversible one-electron transfer processes. The first two processes were assigned to metal-centered reductions of (hs,hs)-2 and (ls,ls)-2, respec- tively, to yield the mixed-valent species (L3Fe II Fe III ) 3+ .