Christoph Förster

Oligonuclear Ferrocene Amides: Mixed-Valent Peptides and Potential Redox-Switchable Foldamers

Trinuclear ferrocene tris-amides were synthesized from an Fmoc- or Boc-protected ferrocene amino acid, and hydrogen-bonded zigzag conformations were determined by NMR spectroscopy, molecular modelling, and X-ray diffraction. In these ordered secondary structures orientation of the individual amide dipole moments approximately in the same direction results in a macrodipole moment similar to that of α-helices composed of α-amino acids. Unlike ordinary α-amino acids, the building blocks in these ferrocene amides with defined secondary structure can be sequentially oxidized to mono-, di-, and trications. Singly and doubly charged mixed-valent cations were probed experimentally by Vis/NIR, paramagnetic ¹H NMR and Mössbauer spectroscopy and investigated theoretically by DFT calculations. According to the appearance of intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) bands in solution, the ferrocene/ferrocenium amides are described as Robin-Day class II mixed-valent systems. Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates trapped valences in the solid state. The secondary structure of trinuclear ferrocene tris-amides remains intact (coiled form) upon oxidation to mono- and dications according to DFT calculations, while oxidation to the trication should break the intramolecular hydrogen bonding and unfold the ferrocene peptide (uncoiled form).

Stereochemical consequences of oxygen atom transfer and electron transfer in imido/oxido molybdenum(IV, V, VI) complexes with two unsymmetric bidentate ligands.

Two equivalents of the unsymmetrical Schiff base ligand (L(tBu))(-) (4-tert-butyl phenyl(pyrrolato-2-ylmethylene)amine) and MoCl(2)(NtBu)O(dme) (dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) gave a single stereoisomer of a mixed imido/oxido Mo(VI) complex 2(tBu). The stereochemistry of 2(tBu) was elucidated using X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. The complex is active in an oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reaction to trimethyl phosphane. The putative intermediate five-coordinate Mo(IV) imido complex coordinates a PMe(3) ligand, giving the six-coordinate imido phosphane Mo(IV) complex 5(tBu). The stereochemistry of 5(tBu) is different from that of 2(tBu) as shown by NMR spectroscopy, DFT calculations, and X-ray diffraction. Single-electron oxidation of 5(tBu) with ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate gave the stable cationic imido phosphane Mo(V) complex [5(tBu)](+) as the PF(6)(-) salt. EPR spectra of [5(tBu)](PF(6)) confirmed the presence of PMe(3) in the coordination sphere. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of [5(tBu)](PF(6)) revealed that electron transfer occurred under retention of the stereochemical configuration. The rate of OAT, the outcome of the electron transfer reaction, and the stabilities of the imido complexes presented here differ dramatically from those of analogous oxido complexes.

Persistent Radicals of Trivalent Tin and Lead

In this report we present synthetic, crystallographic, and new electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic work that shows that the synthetic route leading to the recently reported, first persistent plumbyl radical *PbEbt3 (Ebt = ethylbis(trimethylsilyl)silyl), that is, the oxidation of the related PbEbt3-anion, was easily extended to the synthesis of other persistent molecular mononuclear radicals of lead and tin. At first, various novel solvates of homoleptic potassium metallates KSnHyp3 (4a), KPbHyp3 (3a), KSnEbt3 (4b), KPbIbt3 (3c), and KSnIbt3 (4c) (Hyp = tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl, Ibt = isopropylbis(trimethylsilyl)silyl), as well as some heteroleptic metallates, such as [Li(OEt2)2][Sn(n)BuHyp2] (3d), [Li(OEt2)2][Pb(n)BuHyp2] (4d), [Li(thf)4][PbPhHyp2] (3e), and [K(thf)7][PbHyp2{N(SiMe3)2}] (3f), were synthesized and crystallographically characterized. Through oxidation by tin(II) and lead(II) bis(trimethylsilyl)amides or the related 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxides, they had been oxidized to yield in most cases the corresponding radicals. Five novel persistent homoleptically substituted radicals, that is, *SnHyp3 (2a), *PbHyp3 (1a), *SnEbt3 (2b), *SnIbt3 (2c), and *PbIbt3 (1c), had been characterized by EPR spectroscopy. The stannyl radicals 2a and 2c as well as the plumbyl radical 1c were isolated as intensely colored crystalline compounds and had been characterized by X-ray diffraction. Persistent heteroleptically substituted radicals such as *PbHyp2Ph (1e) or *PbHyp2Et (1g) had also been generated, and some selected EPR data are given for comparison. The plumbyl radicals *PbR3 exhibit a clean monomolecular decay leading to the release of a temperature-dependent stationary concentration of branched silyl radicals. They may thus serve as tunable sources of these reactive species that may be utilized as reagents for mild radical silylations and/or as initiators for radical polymerizations. We present EPR-spectroscopic investigations for the new tin- and lead-containing compounds giving detailed insights into their electronic and geometric structure in solution, as well as structural studies on the crystalline state of the radicals, some of their anionic precursors, and some side-products.

Molybdenum Complex with Bulky Chelates as a Functional Model for Molybdenum Oxidases

The novel bulky Schiff base chelate ligand [(4,5-diisopropyl-1H-pyrrole-2-yl)methylene]-4-(tert-butyl)aniline ((iPr2)HL) bearing two isopropyl groups close to the pyrrole nitrogen atom reacts with MoCl2(dme)O2 (dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) to give the sterically congested complex Mo(VI)((iPr2)L)2O2 ((iPr2)1; OC-6-4-4 configuration). In spite of the increased steric shielding of the [MoO2] unit (iPr2)1 is active in oxygen-atom transfer to PMe3 and PPh3 to give OPMe3 and OPPh3, respectively. Because of the increased steric bulk of the chelate ligand, formation of dinuclear complexes [Mo(V)((iPr2)L)2O]2(μ-O) ((iPr2)3) by comportionation is effectively prevented in contrast to the highly favored formation of [Mo(V)((H2)L)2O]2(μ-O) ((H2)3) with the less bulky ligand (H2)HL. Instead, the smaller PMe3 ligand coordinates to the resulting pentacoordinate intermediate Mo(IV)((iPr2)L)2O ((iPr2)5), giving the hexacoordinate complex Mo(IV)((iPr2)L)2O(PMe3) ((iPr2)2) with OC-6-3-3 configuration. The larger potential ligands PPh3 and OPPh3 are only able to weakly coordinate to (iPr2)5, giving labile and sensitive Mo(IV)((iPr2)L)2O(L) complexes ((iPr2)6, L = PPh3; (iPr2)7, L = OPPh3). Traces of water and dioxygen in solutions of (iPr2)6/(iPr2)7 yield the di(μ-oxido) complex [Mo(V)((iPr2)L)O]2(μ-O)2 ((iPr2)4) with reduced steric congestion due to dissociation of the bulky chelate ligands. According to electron paramagnetic resonance studies, the much more strongly bound small PMe3 ligand in (iPr2)2 can be slowly liberated by one-electron oxidation to Mo(V), with Ag(+) leaving a free coordination site at Mo(V). Hence, essentially pentacoordinate Mo(IV) and Mo(V) complexes are accessible as a result of the increased steric bulk.

Intramolecular electron transfer between molybdenum and iron mimicking bacterial sulphite dehydrogenase

Diferrocenyl/diferrocenium substituted dioxido molybdenum(VI) complexes [Fe2MoO2] 2(Fc)/[2(FC)]²⁺ mimic the catalytic active site including the redox subunits as well as the catalytic function of bacterial sulphite oxidases.

Ligand Dynamics of tert-Butyl Isocyanide Oxido Complexes of Molybdenum(IV)

The six-coordinate molybdenum(IV) oxido isocyanide complex 1 [Δ,Λ-OC-6-2-3-[MoO(N(p)∩N(i))2(CN(t)Bu)]; N(p)∩N(i) = 4-tert-butylphenyl(pyrrolato-2-ylmethylene)amine] is obtained in diastereomerically pure form in the solid state, as revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In solution, this stereoisomer equilibrates with the Δ,Λ-OC-6-2-4 diastereomer 2 at ambient temperature. The stereochemistry of both isomers has been elucidated by NMR, IR, and UV/vis spectroscopy in combination with density functional theory (DFT)/polarizable continuum model and time-dependent DFT calculations. The isomerization 1 → 2 is suggested to proceed via a dissociative trigonal twist with dissociation of the imine nitrogen donor N(i) of one chelate ligand (hemilabile ligand) rather than dissociation of the monodentate isocyanide ligand. The isomerization barrier has been experimentally determined as 91 and 95 kJ mol(-1) in tetrahydrofuran and toluene, respectively.

On the mechanism of imine elimination from Fischer tungsten carbene complexes

Summary (Aminoferrocenyl)(ferrocenyl)carbene(pentacarbonyl)tungsten(0) (CO)5W=C(NHFc)Fc (W(CO) 5 ( E -2)) is synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of the ethoxy group of (CO)5W=C(OEt)Fc (M(CO) 5 (1 Et )) by ferrocenyl amide Fc-NH– (Fc = ferrocenyl). W(CO) 5 ( E -2) thermally and photochemically eliminates bulky E-1,2-diferrocenylimine (E -3) via a formal 1,2-H shift from the N to the carbene C atom. Kinetic and mechanistic studies to the formation of imine E -3 are performed by NMR, IR and UV–vis spectroscopy and liquid injection field desorption ionization (LIFDI) mass spectrometry as well as by trapping experiments for low-coordinate tungsten complexes with triphenylphosphane. W(CO) 5 ( E -2) decays thermally in a first-order rate-law with a Gibbs free energy of activation of ΔG ‡ 298K = 112 kJ mol−1. Three proposed mechanistic pathways are taken into account and supported by detailed (time-dependent) densitiy functional theory [(TD)-DFT] calculations. The preferred pathway is initiated by an irreversible CO dissociation, followed by an oxidative addition/pseudorotation/reductive elimination pathway with short-lived, elusive seven-coordinate hydrido tungsten(II) intermediates cis (N,H)-W(CO) 4 (H)( Z -15) and cis (C,H)-W(CO) 4 (H)( Z -15).

Consequences of the One‐Electron Reduction and Photoexcitation of Unsymmetric Bis‐imidazolium Salts

Coupling of uronium salts with in situ generated N-heterocyclic carbenes provides straightforward access to symmetrical [4](2+) and unsymmetrical bis-imidazolium salts [6](2+) and [9](2+) . As indicated by cyclic and square-wave voltammetry, [6](2+) and [9](2+) can be (irreversibly) reduced by one electron. The initially formed radicals [6](.+) and [9](.+) undergo further reactions, which were probed by EPR spectroscopy and density functional calculations. The final products of the two-electron reduction are the two carbenes. Upon irradiation with UV light both [6](2+) and [9](2+) emit at room temperature in solution but with dramatically different characteristics. The different fluorescence behavior is analyzed by emission spectroscopy and interpreted by using time-dependent density functional calculations as largely due to different excited-state dynamics of [6](2+) and [9](2+) . The geometries of both radicals [6](.+) and [9](.+) and excited states {[6](2+) }* and {[9](2+) }* are substantially different from those of the parent ground-state molecules.

A Strongly Luminescent Chromium(III) Complex Acid

The synthesis, structure, reactivity, and photophysical properties of a novel acidic, luminescent chromium(III) complex [Cr(H2 tpda)2 ]3+ (23+ ) bearing the tridentate H2 tpda (2,6-bis(2-pyridylamino)pyridine) ligand are presented. Excitation of 23+ at 442 nm results in strong, long-lived NIR luminescence at 782 nm in water and in acetonitrile. X-ray diffraction analysis and IR spectroscopy reveal hydrogen-bonding interactions of the counter ions to the NH groups of 23+ in the solid state. Deprotonation of the NH groups of 23+ by using a non-nucleophilic Schwesinger base in CH3 CN switches off the luminescence. Re-protonation by using HClO4 restores the emission. In water, the pKa value of 23+ amounts to 8.8, yet deprotonation is not reversible in the presence of hydroxide ions. Dioxygen quenches the emission of 23+ , but to a weaker extent than expected. This is possibly due to the strong ion-pairing properties of 23+ even in solution, reducing the energy transfer efficiency to O2 . Deuteration of the NH groups of 23+ approximately doubles the quantum yield and lifetime in water, demonstrating the importance of multiphoton relaxation in these NIR emitters.

Polysubstituted ferrocenes as tunable redox mediators

A series of four ferrocenyl ester compounds, 1-methoxycarbonyl- (1), 1,1’-bis(methoxycarbonyl)- (2), 1,1’,3-tris(methoxycarbonyl)- (3) and 1,1’,3,3’-tetrakis(methoxycarbonyl)ferrocene (4), has been studied with respect to their potential use as redox mediators. The impact of the number and position of ester groups present in 1–4 on the electrochemical potential E 1/2 is correlated with the sum of Hammett constants. The 1/1 +–4/4 + redox couples are chemically stable under the conditions of electrolysis as demonstrated by IR and UV–vis spectroelectrochemical methods. The energies of the C=O stretching vibrations of the ester moieties and the energies of the UV–vis absorptions of 1–4 and 1 +–4 + correlate with the number of ester groups. Paramagnetic 1H NMR redox titration experiments give access to the chemical shifts of 1 +–4 + and underline the fast electron self-exchange of the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couples, required for rapid redox mediation in organic electrosynthesis.