Rolfe H. Herber

Substituent effects in ditetrel alkyne analogues: multiple vs. single bonded isomers

The synthesis and characterization of a series of digermynes and distannynes stabilized by terphenyl ligands are described. The ligands are based on the Ar′ (Ar′ = C6H3-2,6(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2) or Ar* (Ar* = C6H3-2,6(C6H2-2,4,6-iPr3)2) platforms which were modified at the meta or para positions of their central aryl rings to yield 4-X-Ar′ (4-X-Ar′ = 4-X-C6H2-2,6(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2, X = H, F, Cl, OMe, tBu, SiMe3, GeMe3) and 3,5-iPr2-Ar′ or Ar* and 3,5-iPr2-Ar*. The compounds were synthesized by reduction of the terphenyl germanium(II) or tin(II) halide precursors with a variety of reducing agents. The precursors were obtained by the reaction of one equivalent of the lithium terphenyl with GeCl2 dioxane or SnCl2. For germanium, their X-ray crystal structures showed them to be either Ge–Ge bonded dimers with trans-pyramidal geometries or V-shaped monomers. In contrast, the terphenyl tin halides had no tin–tin bonding but existed either as halide bridged dimers or V-shaped monomers. Reduction with a variety of reducing agents afforded the digermynes ArGeGeAr (Ar = 4-Cl-Ar′, 4-SiMe3-Ar′ or 3,5-iPr2-Ar*) or the distannynes ArSnSnAr (Ar = 4-F-Ar′, 4-Cl-Ar′, 4-MeO-Ar′, 4-tBu-Ar′, 4-SiMe3-Ar′, 4-GeMe3-Ar′, 3,5-iPr2-Ar′, 3,5-iPr2-Ar*), which were characterized structurally and spectroscopically. The digermynes display planar trans-bent core geometries with Ge–Ge distances near 2.26 A and bending angles near 128° consistent with Ge–Ge multiple bonding. In contrast, the distannynes had either multiple bonded geometries with Sn–Sn distances that averaged 2.65 A and an average bending angle near 123.8°, or single bonded geometries with a Sn–Sn bond length near 3.06 A and a bending angle near 98°. The 3,5-iPr2-Ar*SnSnAr*-3,5-iPr2 species had an intermediate structure with a longer multiple bond near 2.73 A and a variable torsion angle (14–28°) between the tin coordination planes. Mossbauer data for the multiple and single bonded species displayed similar isomer shifts but had different quadrupole splittings.

Dispersion Forces and Counterintuitive Steric Effects in Main Group Molecules: Heavier Group 14 (Si–Pb) Dichalcogenolate Carbene Analogues with Sub-90° Interligand Bond Angles

The synthesis and spectroscopic and structural characterization of an extensive series of acyclic, monomeric tetrylene dichalcogenolates of formula M(ChAr)2 (M = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb; Ch = O, S, or Se; Ar = bulky m-terphenyl ligand, including two new acyclic silylenes) are described. They were found to possess several unusual features-the most notable of which is their strong tendency to display acute interligand, Ch-M-Ch, bond angles that are often well below 90°. Furthermore, and contrary to normal steric expectations, the interligand angles were found to become narrower as the size of the ligand was increased. Experimental and structural data in conjunction with high-level DFT calculations, including corrections for dispersion effects, led to the conclusion that dispersion forces play an important role in stabilizing their acute interligand angles.

Lewis acidity enhancement of organoboranes via oxidation of appended ferrocene moieties

The Lewis acidity of boron in diboradiferrocene 1 is strongly enhanced through oxidation of the iron atoms as evident from examination of X-ray structural parameters of the mixed-valent cation 1(+)PF(6) and further confirmed from the strong complexation of MeCN to the dication in 2(2+)(I(3))(2).

Coordination Chemistry of N-Heterocyclic Stannylenes: A Combined Synthetic and Mössbauer Spectroscopy Study

The N-heterocyclic stannylenes (NHSns), [(Dipp) N(CH(2))(n)N(Dipp)S n] (Dipp = 2,6- (i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3); n = 2, 1; n = 3, 5) and [((t)Bu) N(CHMe)(2)N((t)Bu)S n] (10) are competent ligands toward a variety of transition metal centers, as seen in the complexes [W(CO)(5)·1] (2), [(OC)(4)Fe(μ-1)(2)Fe(CO)(4)] (3), [(OC)(4)Fe(μ-1)Fe(CO)(4)] (4), [Fe(CO)(4)·5](n) (6, n = 1 or 2), [(OC)(4)Fe(μ-5)Fe(CO)(4)] (7), [Ph(3)PPt(μ-1)(2)PtPPh(3)] (8), [Fe(CO)(4)·10] (11), and [(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(OC)(2)Mn·10] (12). X-ray crystallographic studies show that the NHSns are structurally largely unperturbed binding to the metal, but in contrast to the parent NHCs, NHSns often adopt a bridging position across dinuclear metal units. The balance between terminal and bridging positions for the stannylene is evidently closely balanced as shown by the observation of both monomers and dimers for 6 in the solid state and in solution. (119)Sn and (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of the complexes shows the tin atoms in such complexes to be consistent with electron deficient Sn(II) centers.

Experimental and Computational Insights into the Stabilization of Low-Valent Main Group Elements Using Crown Ethers and Related Ligands

A series of tin(II) triflate and chloride salts in which the cations are complexed by either cyclic or acyclic polyether ligands and which have well-characterized single-crystal X-ray structures are investigated using a variety of experimental and computational techniques. Mössbauer spectroscopy illustrates that the triflate salts tend to have valence electrons with higher s-character, and solid-state NMR spectroscopy reveals marked differences between superficially similar triflate and chloride salts. Cyclic voltammetry investigations of the triflate salts corroborate the results of the Mössbauer and NMR spectroscopy and reveal substantial steric and electronic effects for the different polyether ligands. MP2 and DFT calculations provide insight into the effects of ligands and substituents on the stability and reactivity of the low-valent metal atom. Overall, the investigations reveal the existence of more substantial binding between tin and chlorine in comparison to the triflate substituent and provide a rationale for the considerably increased reactivity of the chloride salts.

Physical Properties of Superbulky Lanthanide Metallocenes: Synthesis and Extraordinary Luminescence of [Eu-II(Cp-BIG)(2)] (Cp-BIG=(4-nBu-C6H4)(5)-Cyclopentadienyl)

The superbulky deca-aryleuropocene [Eu(Cp(BIG))2], Cp(BIG) = (4-nBu-C6H4)5-cyclopentadienyl, was prepared by reaction of [Eu(dmat)2(thf)2], DMAT = 2-Me2N-α-Me3Si-benzyl, with two equivalents of Cp(BIG)H. Recrystallizyation from cold hexane gave the product with a surprisingly bright and efficient orange emission (45% quantum yield). The crystal structure is isomorphic to those of [M(Cp(BIG))2] (M = Sm, Yb, Ca, Ba) and shows the typical distortions that arise from Cp(BIG)⋅⋅⋅Cp(BIG) attraction as well as excessively large displacement parameter for the heavy Eu atom (U(eq) = 0.075). In order to gain information on the true oxidation state of the central metal in superbulky metallocenes [M(Cp(BIG))2] (M = Sm, Eu, Yb), several physical analyses have been applied. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data of [Yb(Cp(BIG))2] show diamagnetism, indicating stable divalent ytterbium. Temperature-dependent (151)Eu Mössbauer effect spectroscopic examination of [Eu(Cp(BIG))2] was examined over the temperature range 93-215 K and the hyperfine and dynamical properties of the Eu(II) species are discussed in detail. The mean square amplitude of vibration of the Eu atom as a function of temperature was determined and compared to the value extracted from the single-crystal X-ray data at 203 K. The large difference in these two values was ascribed to the presence of static disorder and/or the presence of low-frequency torsional and librational modes in [Eu(Cp(BIG))2]. X-ray absorbance near edge spectroscopy (XANES) showed that all three [Ln(Cp(BIG))2] (Ln = Sm, Eu, Yb) compounds are divalent. The XANES white-line spectra are at 8.3, 7.3, and 7.8 eV, for Sm, Eu, and Yb, respectively, lower than the Ln2O3 standards. No XANES temperature dependence was found from room temperature to 100 K. XANES also showed that the [Ln(Cp(BIG))2] complexes had less trivalent impurity than a [EuI2(thf)x] standard. The complex [Eu(Cp(BIG))2] shows already at room temperature strong orange photoluminescence (quantum yield: 45 %): excitation at 412 nm (24,270 cm(-1)) gives a symmetrical single band in the emission spectrum at 606 nm (νmax =16495 cm(-1), FWHM: 2090 cm(-1), Stokes-shift: 2140 cm(-1)), which is assigned to a 4f(6)5d(1) → 4f(7) transition of Eu(II). These remarkable values compare well to those for Eu(II)-doped ionic host lattices and are likely caused by the rigidity of the [Eu(Cp(BIG))2] complex. Sharp emission signals, typical for Eu(III), are not visible.

Physical Properties of Superbulky Lanthanide Metallocenes: Synthesis and Extraordinary Luminescence of [Eu[superscript II](Cp[superscript BIG])[subscript 2]] (Cp[superscript BIG]=(4-nBu-C[subscript 6]H[subscript 4])[subscript 5]-Cyclopentadienyl)

The superbulky deca-aryleuropocene [Eu(Cp(BIG))2], Cp(BIG) = (4-nBu-C6H4)5-cyclopentadienyl, was prepared by reaction of [Eu(dmat)2(thf)2], DMAT = 2-Me2N-α-Me3Si-benzyl, with two equivalents of Cp(BIG)H. Recrystallizyation from cold hexane gave the product with a surprisingly bright and efficient orange emission (45% quantum yield). The crystal structure is isomorphic to those of [M(Cp(BIG))2] (M = Sm, Yb, Ca, Ba) and shows the typical distortions that arise from Cp(BIG)⋅⋅⋅Cp(BIG) attraction as well as excessively large displacement parameter for the heavy Eu atom (U(eq) = 0.075). In order to gain information on the true oxidation state of the central metal in superbulky metallocenes [M(Cp(BIG))2] (M = Sm, Eu, Yb), several physical analyses have been applied. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data of [Yb(Cp(BIG))2] show diamagnetism, indicating stable divalent ytterbium. Temperature-dependent (151)Eu Mössbauer effect spectroscopic examination of [Eu(Cp(BIG))2] was examined over the temperature range 93-215 K and the hyperfine and dynamical properties of the Eu(II) species are discussed in detail. The mean square amplitude of vibration of the Eu atom as a function of temperature was determined and compared to the value extracted from the single-crystal X-ray data at 203 K. The large difference in these two values was ascribed to the presence of static disorder and/or the presence of low-frequency torsional and librational modes in [Eu(Cp(BIG))2]. X-ray absorbance near edge spectroscopy (XANES) showed that all three [Ln(Cp(BIG))2] (Ln = Sm, Eu, Yb) compounds are divalent. The XANES white-line spectra are at 8.3, 7.3, and 7.8 eV, for Sm, Eu, and Yb, respectively, lower than the Ln2O3 standards. No XANES temperature dependence was found from room temperature to 100 K. XANES also showed that the [Ln(Cp(BIG))2] complexes had less trivalent impurity than a [EuI2(thf)x] standard. The complex [Eu(Cp(BIG))2] shows already at room temperature strong orange photoluminescence (quantum yield: 45 %): excitation at 412 nm (24,270 cm(-1)) gives a symmetrical single band in the emission spectrum at 606 nm (νmax =16495 cm(-1), FWHM: 2090 cm(-1), Stokes-shift: 2140 cm(-1)), which is assigned to a 4f(6)5d(1) → 4f(7) transition of Eu(II). These remarkable values compare well to those for Eu(II)-doped ionic host lattices and are likely caused by the rigidity of the [Eu(Cp(BIG))2] complex. Sharp emission signals, typical for Eu(III), are not visible.

Sn(IV) phosphonates as catalysts in solvent-free Baeyer–Villiger oxidations using H2O2

We have designed a new family of layered Sn(iv)phosphonate (SnPP) materials which are very efficient catalysts in the BV oxidation of aromatic aldehydes without any solvent and using aqueous H(2)O(2) (30%) as the oxidant.

Ring rotation and anomalous metal atom motion in octamethyl ferrocene and spin-lattice relaxation in octamethyl ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate

Abstract The dynamics of the metal atom motion in sym octamethyl ferrocene ( OMF ) has been elucidated over the temperature range 85≤ T ≤350 K by 57 Fe Mossbauer effect spectroscopy, and shows a marked increase in the mean-square-amplitude of vibration at ∼348 K, some 80° below the melting point of the neat solid. Differential scanning calorimetry shows an endothermic peak at about the same temperature, and Δ H is ∼1.50 kJ mol −1 and Δ S is ∼4.31 J mol −1 K −1 . Corresponding data for OMF + PF 6 − can be fitted by a relaxation algorithm and confirm the intra -molecular nature of the transition. The spin-lattice relaxation over the above temperature range is fast compared to the characteristic Mossbauer time scale and can be accounted for by a Raman process in the high temperature limit. The transition at ∼348 K is associated with the onset of ring rotation/libration in the neat solid.

Synthesis and Mössbauer Spectroscopy of Formal Tin(II) Dichloride and Dihydride Species Supported by Lewis Acids and Bases

(119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy was performed on a series of formal Sn(II) dichloride and dihydride adducts bound by either carbon- or phosphorus-based electron pair donors. Upon binding electron-withdrawing metal pentacarbonyl units to the tin centers in LB·SnCl2·M(CO)5 (LB = Lewis base; M = Cr or W), a significant decrease in isomer shift (IS) was noted relative to the unbound Sn(II) complexes, LB·SnCl2, consistent with removal of nonbonding s-electron density from tin upon forming Sn-M linkages (M = Cr and W). Interestingly, when the nature of the Lewis base in the series LB·SnCl2·W(CO)5 was altered, very little change in the IS values was noted, implying that the LB-Sn bonds were constructed with tin-based orbitals of large p-character (as supported by prior theoretical studies). In addition, variable temperature Mössbauer measurements were used to determine the mean displacement of the tin atoms in the solid state, a parameter that can be correlated with the degree of covalent bonding involving tin in these species.