Eric J. Schelter

Organometallic Uranium(V)−Imido Halide Complexes: From Synthesis to Electronic Structure and Bonding

Reaction of (C5Me5)2U(=N-2,4,6-(t)Bu3-C6H2) or (C5Me5)2U(=N-2,6-(i)Pr2-C6H3)(THF) with 5 equiv of CuX(n) (n = 1, X = Cl, Br, I; n = 2, X = F) affords the corresponding uranium(V)-imido halide complexes, (C5Me5)2U(=N-Ar)(X) (where Ar = 2,4,6-(t)Bu3-C6H2 and X = F (3), Cl (4), Br (5), I (6); Ar = 2,6-(i)Pr2-C6H3 and X = F (7), Cl (8), Br (9), I (10)), in good isolated yields of 75-89%. These compounds have been characterized by a combination of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible-NIR absorption spectroscopy, and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility. The uranium L(III)-edge X-ray absorption spectrum of (C5Me5)2U(=N-2,4,6-(t)Bu3-C6H2)(Cl) (4) was analyzed to obtain structural information, and the U=N imido (1.97(1) A), U-Cl (2.60(2) A), and U-C5Me5 (2.84(1) A) distances were consistent with those observed for compounds 3, 5, 6, 8-10, which were all characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. All (C5Me5)2U(=N-Ar)(X) complexes exhibit U(V)/U(IV) and U(VI)/U(V) redox couples by voltammetry, with the potential separation between these metal-based couples remaining essentially constant at approximately 1.50 V. The electronic spectra are comprised of pi-->pi* and pi-->nb(5f) transitions involving electrons in the metal-imido bond, and metal-centered f-f bands illustrative of spin-orbit and crystal-field influences on the 5f(1) valence electron configuration. Two distinct sets of bands are attributed to transitions derived from this 5f(1) configuration, and the intensities in these bands increase dramatically over those found in spectra of classical 5f(1) actinide coordination complexes. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibilities are reported for all complexes with mu(eff) values ranging from 2.22 to 2.53 mu(B). The onset of quenching of orbital angular momentum by ligand fields is observed to occur at approximately 40 K in all cases. Density functional theory results for the model complexes (C5Me5)2U(=N-C6H5)(F) (11) and (C5Me5)2U(=N-C6H5)(I) (12) show good agreement with experimental structural and electrochemical data and provide a basis for assignment of spectroscopic bands. The bonding analysis describes multiple bonding between the uranium metal center and imido nitrogen which is comprised of one sigma and two pi interactions with variable participation of 5f and 6d orbitals from the uranium center.

Cation–Cation Interactions, Magnetic Communication, and Reactivity of the Pentavalent Uranium Ion [U(NtBu)2]+

Communication is important: The dimeric bis(imido) uranium complex [{U(NtBu)(2)(I)(tBu(2)bpy)}(2)] (see picture; U green, N blue, I red) has cation-cation interactions between [U(NR)(2)](+) ions. This f(1)-f(1) system also displays f orbital communication between uranium(V) centers at low temperatures, and can be oxidized to generate uranium(VI) bis(imido) complexes.

NiXantphos: A Deprotonatable Ligand for Room-Temperature Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings of Aryl Chlorides

Although the past 15 years have witnessed the development of sterically bulky and electron-rich alkylphosphine ligands for palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings with aryl chlorides, examples of palladium catalysts based on either triarylphosphine or bidentate phosphine ligands for efficient room temperature cross-coupling reactions with unactivated aryl chlorides are rare. Herein we report a palladium catalyst based on NiXantphos, a deprotonatable chelating aryldiphosphine ligand, to oxidatively add unactivated aryl chlorides at room temperature. Surprisingly, comparison of an extensive array of ligands revealed that under the basic reaction conditions the resultant heterobimetallic Pd–NiXantphos catalyst system outperformed all the other mono- and bidentate ligands in a deprotonative cross-coupling process (DCCP) with aryl chlorides. The DCCP with aryl chlorides affords a variety of triarylmethane products, a class of compounds with various applications and interesting biological activity. Additionally, the DCCP exhibits remarkable chemoselectivity in the presence of aryl chloride substrates bearing heteroaryl groups and sensitive functional groups that are known to undergo 1,2-addition, aldol reaction, and O-, N-, enolate-α-, and C(sp2)–H arylations. The advantages and importance of the Pd–NiXantphos catalyst system outlined herein make it a valuable contribution for applications in Pd-catalyzed arylation reactions with aryl chlorides.

Probing the chemistry, electronic structure and redox energetics in organometallic pentavalent uranium complexes.

A series of organometallic pentavalent uranium complexes of the general formula (C(5)Me(5))(2)U(=N-2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3))(Y) (Y = monoanionic, non-halide ligand) have been prepared using a variety of routes. Utilizing the direct oxidation of (C(5)Me(5))(2)U(=N-2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3))(THF) (2) with the appropriate copper(I) salt yielded the triflate (Y = OTf (OSO(2)CF(3)), 11), thiolate (Y = SPh, 12), and acetylide (Y = C[triple bond]CPh, 13) complexes, while a salt metathesis route between the U(V)-imido (C(5)Me(5))(2)U(=N-2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3))(I) (10) and various alkali salts gave the diphenylamide (Y = NPh(2), 14), aryloxide (Y = OPh, 15), alkyl (Y = Me, 16), and aryl (Y = Ph, 17) complexes. Paired with 13, the isolation of 16 and 17 shows that U(V) can support the full range of carbon anions (sp, sp(2), and sp(3)), and these are, to the best of our knowledge, the first examples of pentavalent uranium complexes with anionic carbon moieties other than carbocyclic (C(5)R(5), C(7)H(7), C(8)H(8)) ligands. Finally, both protonolysis and insertion pathways afforded the U(V)-imido ketimide complex (C(5)Me(5))(2)U(=N-2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3))(N=CPh(2)) (18). The complexes have been isolated in good yield and characterized using various combinations of (1)H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, single crystal X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible-NIR absorption spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. All (C(5)Me(5))(2)U(=N-Ar)(X) (X = F, Cl, Br, I) and (C(5)Me(5))(2)U(=N-Ar)(Y) complexes exhibit U(VI)/U(V) and U(V)/U(IV) redox couples by voltammetry. The potential separation between these couples remains essentially constant at approximately 1.50 V, but both processes shift in tandem in potential by approximately 700 mV across the series of X/Y ligands. No significant differences between mu(eff) values or temperature dependencies in the magnetic susceptibility were observed for these complexes regardless of the identity of the ancillary X/Y ligand. However, an excellent linear correlation was observed between the chemical shift values of C(5)Me(5) ligand protons in the (1)H NMR spectra and the oxidation potentials of (C(5)Me(5))(2)U(=N-2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3))(X/Y), suggesting that there is a common origin, overall sigma-/pi-donation from the ancillary X/Y ligand to the metal, contributing to both observables. Combined, these data confer the following trend in increasing sigma/pi-donating ability of the X/Y ligand to the U(V) metal center: OTf < I < Br < Cl < SPh < C[triple bond]CPh < F < [OPh approximately Me approximately Ph] << NPh(2) < N=CPh(2). These (C(5)Me(5))(2)U(=N-2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3))(X/Y) complexes also show distinct hallmarks of a covalent bonding interaction between the metal and the imide ligand that is modulated to varying degrees by the interaction between the X/Y ancillary ligand and the U(V) metal center. These signatures of covalency include stabilization of multiple metal oxidations states [U(VI), U(V), and U(IV)] and enhanced intensities in the intraconfiguration (f-f) transitions. Of particular note in this regard is the more than 20-fold enhancement in the f-f intensities observed for Y = C[triple bond]CPh and N=CPh(2), which is a clear reflection of the covalent metal-ligand bonding interactions sustained by the acetylide and ketimide ligands in these pentavalent systems.

Synthesis, characterization, and multielectron reduction chemistry of uranium supported by redox-active α-diimine ligands.

Uranium compounds supported by redox-active α-diimine ligands, which have methyl groups on the ligand backbone and bulky mesityl substituents on the nitrogen atoms {(Mes)DAB(Me) = [ArN═C(Me)C(Me)═NAr], where Ar = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (Mes)}, are reported. The addition of 2 equiv of (Mes)DAB(Me), 3 equiv of KC(8), and 1 equiv of UI(3)(THF)(4) produced the bis(ligand) species ((Mes)DAB(Me))(2)U(THF) (1). The metallocene derivative, Cp(2)U((Mes)DAB(Me)) (2), was generated by the addition of an equimolar ratio of (Mes)DAB(Me) and KC(8) to Cp(3)U. The bond lengths in the molecular structure of both species confirm that the α-diimine ligands have been doubly reduced to form ene-diamide ligands. Characterization by electronic absorption spectroscopy shows weak, sharp transitions in the near-IR region of the spectrum and, in combination with the crystallographic data, is consistent with the formulation that tetravalent uranium ions are present and supported by ene-diamide ligands. This interpretation was verified by U L(III)-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and by variable-temperature magnetic measurements. The magnetic data are consistent with singlet ground states at low temperature and variable-temperature dependencies that would be expected for uranium(IV) species. However, both complexes exhibit low magnetic moments at room temperature, with values of 1.91 and 1.79 μ(B) for 1 and 2, respectively. Iodomethane was used to test the reactivity of 1 and 2 for multielectron transfer. While 2 showed no reactivity with CH(3)I, the addition of 2 equiv of iodomethane to 1 resulted in the formation of a uranium(IV) monoiodide species, ((Mes)DAB(Me))((Mes)DAB(Me2))UI {3; (Mes)DAB(Me2) = [ArN═C(Me)C(Me(2))NAr]}, which was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and U M(4)- and M(5)-edge XANES. Confirmation of the structure was also attained by deuterium labeling studies, which showed that a methyl group was added to the ene-diamide ligand carbon backbone.

Harnessing redox activity for the formation of uranium tris(imido) compounds

Classically, late transition-metal organometallic compounds promote multielectron processes solely through the change in oxidation state of the metal centre. In contrast, uranium typically undergoes single-electron chemistry. However, using redox-active ligands can engage multielectron reactivity at this metal in analogy to transition metals. Here we show that a redox-flexible pyridine(diimine) ligand can stabilize a series of highly reduced uranium coordination complexes by storing one, two or three electrons in the ligand. These species reduce organoazides easily to form uranium-nitrogen multiple bonds with the release of dinitrogen. The extent of ligand reduction dictates the formation of uranium mono-, bis- and tris(imido) products. Spectroscopic and structural characterization of these compounds supports the idea that electrons are stored in the ligand framework and used in subsequent reactivity. Computational analyses of the uranium imido products probed their molecular and electronic structures, which facilitated a comparison between the bonding in the tris(imido) structure and its tris(oxo) analogue.

Systematic studies of early actinide complexes: uranium(IV) fluoroketimides.

The reaction of (C5Me5)2U(CH3)2 with 2 equiv of N[triple bond]C-ArF gives the fluorinated uranium(IV) bis(ketimide) complexes (C5Me5)2U[-N=C(CH3)(ArF)]2 [where ArF=2-F-C6H4 (4), 3-F-C6H4 (5), 4-F-C6H4 (6), 2,6-F2-C6H3 (7), 3,5-F2-C6H3 (8), 2,4,6-F3-C6H2 (9), 3,4,5-F3-C6H2 (10), and C6F5 (11)]. These have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, 1H and 19F NMR, cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible-near-IR absorption spectroscopy, and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility. Density functional theory (DFT) results are reported for complexes 6 and 11 for comparison with experimental data. The most significant structural perturbation imparted by the F substitution in these complexes is a rotation of the fluorinated aryl (ArF) group out of the plane defined by the N=C(CMe)(Cipso) fragment in complexes 7, 9, and 11 when the ArF group possesses two o-fluorine atoms. Excellent agreement is obtained between the DFT-calculated and experimental crystal structures for 11, which displays the distortion, as well as for 6, which does not. In 7, 9, and 11, the out-of-plane rotation results in large angles (phi=53.7-89.4 degrees) between the planes formed by ketimide atoms N=C(CMe)(Cipso) and the ketimide aryl groups. Complexes 6 and 10 do not contain o-fluorine atoms and display interplanar angles in the range of phi=7-26.8 degrees. Complex 4 with a single o-fluorine substituent has intermediate values of phi=20.4 and 49.5 degrees. The distortions in 7, 9, and 11 result from an unfavorable steric interaction between one of the two o-fluorine atoms and the methyl group [-N=C(CH3)] on the ketimide ligand. All complexes exhibit UV/UIV and UIV/UIII redox couples, although the distortion in 7, 9, and 11 appears to be a factor in rendering the UIV/UIII couple irreversible. The potential separation between these couples remains constant at 2.15+/-0.03 V. The electronic spectra are dominated by unusually intense f-f transitions in the near-IR that retain nearly identical band energies but vary in intensity as a function of the fluorinated ketimide ligand, and visible and near-UV bands assigned to metal (5f)-to-ligand (pi*) charge-transfer and interconfiguration (5f2-->5f16d1) transitions, respectively. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data for these complexes indicate a temperature-independent paramagnetism (TIP) below approximately 50 K that results from admixing of low-lying crystal-field excited states derived from the symmetry-split 3H4 5f2 manifold into the ground state. The magnitude of the TIP is smaller for the complexes possessing two o-fluorine atoms (7, 9, and 11), indicating that the energy separation between ground and TIP-admixed excited states is larger as a consequence of the greater basicity of these ligands.

Actinide Redox-Active Ligand Complexes: Reversible Intramolecular Electron-Transfer in U(dpp-BIAN)2/U(dpp-BIAN)2(THF)

Actinide complexes of the redox-active ligand (dpp-BIAN)(2-) (dpp-BIAN = 1,2-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)acenaphthylene), U(dpp-BIAN)(2) (1), U(dpp-BIAN)(2)(THF) (1-THF), and Th(dpp-BIAN)(2)(THF) (2-THF), have been prepared. Solid-state magnetic and single-crystal X-ray data for complex 1 indicate a ground-state U(IV)-pi*(4) configuration, whereas a (dpp-BIAN)(2-)-to-uranium electron transfer occurs for 1-THF, resulting in a U(III)-pi*(3) ground configuration. The solid-state magnetic data also indicate that interconversion between the two forms of the complex is possible, limited only by the ability of tetrahydrofuran (THF) vapor to penetrate the solid upon cooling of the sample. In contrast to those in the solid state, spectroscopic data acquired in THF indicate only the presence of the U(IV)-pi*(4) form for 1-THF in solution, evidenced by electronic absorption spectra and by measurement of the solution magnetic moment in THF-d(8) using the Evans method. Also reported is the electrochemistry of the complexes collected in CH(2)Cl(2), CF(3)C(6)H(5), and THF. As expected from the solution spectroscopic data, only small differences are observed in half-wave potentials of ligand-based processes in the presence of THF, consistent with the solution U(IV)-pi*(4) configuration of the complexes in all cases. Density functional theory calculations were undertaken for complexes 1 and 1-THF to determine if intrinsic energetic or structural factors underlie the observed charge-transfer process. While the calculated optimized geometries agree well with experimental results, it was not possible to arrive at a convergent solution for 1-THF in the U(III)-pi*(3) configuration. However, perturbations in the orbital energies in 1 versus 1-THF for the U(IV)-pi*(4) configuration do point to a diminished highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gap in 1-THF, consistent with the solid-state magnetic data. These results represent the first example of a stable and well-defined, reversible intramolecular electron transfer in an actinide complex with redox-active ligands.

Homoleptic cerium(III) and cerium(IV) nitroxide complexes: significant stabilization of the 4+ oxidation state.

Electrochemical experiments performed on the complex Ce(IV)[2-((t)BuNO)py]4, where [2-((t)BuNO)py](-) = N-tert-butyl-N-2-pyridylnitroxide, indicate a 2.51 V stabilization of the 4+ oxidation state of Ce compared to [(n)Bu4N]2[Ce(NO3)6] in acetonitrile and a 2.95 V stabilization compared to the standard potential for the ion under aqueous conditions. Density functional theory calculations suggest that this preference for the higher oxidation state is a result of the tetrakis(nitroxide) ligand framework at the Ce cation, which allows for effective electron donation into, and partial covalent overlap with, vacant 4f orbitals with δ symmetry. The results speak to the behavior of CeO2 and related solid solutions in oxygen uptake and transport applications, in particular an inherent local character of bonding that stabilizes the 4+ oxidation state. The results indicate a cerium(IV) complex that has been stabilized to an unprecedented degree through tuning of its ligand-field environment.

Stable Uranium(VI) Methyl and Acetylide Complexes and the Elucidation of an Inverse Trans Influence Ligand Series

Thermally stable uranium(VI)-methyl and -acetylide complexes: U(VI)OR[N(SiMe3)2]3 R = -CH3, -C≡CPh were prepared in which coordination of the hydrocarbyl group is directed trans to the uranium-oxo multiple bond. The stability of the uranium-carbon bond is attributed to an inverse trans influence. The hydrocarbyl complexes show greater ITI stabilization than that of structurally related U(VI)OX[N(SiMe3)2]3 (X = F(-), Cl(-), Br(-)) complexes, demonstrated both experimentally and computationally. An inverse trans influence ligand series is presented, developed from a union of theoretical and experimental results and based on correlations between the extent of cis-destabilization, the complexes stabilities toward electrochemical reduction, the thermodynamic driving forces for U═O bond formation, and the calculated destabilization of axial σ* and π* antibonding interactions.