Yen Yi Chu

Construction of Copper Halide-Triiron Selenide Carbonyl Complexes: Synthetic, Electrochemical, and Theoretical Studies

A new family of CuX-, Cu(2)X(2)-, and Cu(4)X(2)-incorporated mono- or di-SeFe(3)-based carbonyl clusters were constructed and structurally characterized. When the selenium-capped triiron carbonyl cluster [Et(4)N](2)[SeFe(3)(CO)(9)] was treated with 1-3 equiv of CuX in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at low or room temperatures, CuX-incorporated SeFe(3) complexes [Et(4)N](2)[SeFe(3)(CO)(9)CuX] (X = Cl, [Et(4)N](2)[1a]; Br, [Et(4)N](2)[1b]; I, [Et(4)N](2)[1c]), Cu(2)X(2)-incorporated SeFe(3) clusters [Et(4)N](2)[SeFe(3)(CO)(9)Cu(2)X(2)] (X = Cl, [Et(4)N](2)[2a]; Br, [Et(4)N](2)[2b]), and Cu(4)X(2)-linked di-SeFe(3) clusters [Et(4)N](2)[{SeFe(3)(CO)(9)}(2)Cu(4)X(2)] (X = Cl, [Et(4)N](2)[3a]; Br, [PPh(4)](2)[3b]) were obtained, respectively, in good yields. SeFe(3)CuX complexes 1a and 1b were found to undergo cluster expansion to form SeFe(3)Cu(2)X(2) complexes 2a and 2b, respectively, upon the addition of 1 equiv of CuX (X = Cl, Br). Furthermore, complexes 2a and 2b can expand further to form Cu(4)X(2)-linked di-SeFe(3) clusters 3a and 3b, upon treatment with 1 equiv of CuX (X = Cl, Br). [Et(4)N](4)[{SeFe(3)(CO)(9)(CuCl)(2)}(2)] ([Et(4)N](4)[4a]) was produced when the reaction of [Et(4)N](2)[SeFe(3)(CO)(9)] with 2 equiv of CuCl was conducted in THF at 40 degrees C. The Cu(2)Cl(2)-linked di-SeFe(3)CuCl cluster 4a is a dimerization product derived from complex 2a. Further, it is found that complex 4a can convert to the Cu(4)Cl(2)-linked di-SeFe(3) cluster 3a upon treatment with CuCl. The nature, formation, stepwise cluster expansion, and electrochemical properties of these CuX-, Cu(2)X(2)-, and Cu(4)X(2)-incorporated mono- or di-SeFe(3)-based clusters are elucidated in detail by molecular calculations at the B3LYP level of the density functional theory in terms of the effects of selenium, iron, copper halides, and the size of the metal skeleton.

Trigonal-Bipyramidal and Square-Pyramidal ChromiumManganese Chalcogenide Clusters, [E2CrMn2(CO)n]2− (E=S, Se, Te; n=9, 10): Synthesis, Electrochemistry, UV/Vis Absorption, and Computational Studies

The reactions of E powder (E=S, Se) with a mixture of Cr(CO)6 and Mn2(CO)10 in concentrated solutions of KOH/MeOH produced two new mixed Cr-Mn-carbonyl clusters, [E2CrMn2(CO)9](2-) (E=S, 1; Se, 2). Clusters 1 and 2 were isostructural with one another and each displayed a trigonal-bipyramidal structure, with the CrMn2 triangle axially capped by two μ3-E atoms. The analogous telluride cluster, [Te2CrMn2(CO)9](2-) (3), was obtained from the ring-closure of Te2Mn2 ring complex [Te2Mn2Cr2(CO)18](2-) (4). Upon bubbling with CO, clusters 2 and 3 were readily converted into square-pyramidal clusters, [E2CrMn2(CO)10](2-) (E=Se, 5; Te, 6), accompanied with the cleavage of one Cr-Mn bond. According to SQUID analysis, cluster 6 was paramagnetic, with S=1 at room temperature; however, the Se analogue (5) was spectroscopically proposed to be diamagnetic, as verified by TD-DFT calculations. Cluster 6 could be further carbonylated, with cleavage of the Mn-Mn bond to produce a new arachno-cluster, [Te2CrMn2(CO)11](2-) (7). The formation and structural isomers, as well as electrochemistry and UV/Vis absorption, of these clusters were also elucidated by DFT calculations.

Lead-chromium carbonyl complexes incorporated with group 8 metals: synthesis, reactivity, and theoretical calculations.

The trichromium-lead complex [Pb{Cr(CO)5}3](2-) (1) was isolated from the reaction of PbCl2 and Cr(CO)6 in a KOH/MeOH solution, and the new mixed chromium-iron-lead complex [Pb{Cr(CO)5}{Fe(CO)4}2](2-) (3) was synthesized from the reaction of PbCl2 and Cr(CO)6 in a KOH/MeOH solution followed by the addition of Fe(CO)5. X-ray crystallography showed that 3 consisted of a central Pb atom bound in a trigonal-planar environment to two Fe(CO)4 and one Cr(CO)5 fragments. When complex 1 reacted with 1.5 equiv of Mn(CO)5Br, the Cr(CO)4-bridged dimeric lead-chromium carbonyl complex [Pb2Br2Cr4(CO)18](2-) (4) was produced. However, a similar reaction of 3 or the isostructural triiron-lead complex [Pb{Fe(CO)4}3](2-) (2) with Mn(CO)5Br in MeCN led to the formation of the Fe3Pb2-based trigonal-bipyramidal complexes [Fe3(CO)9{PbCr(CO)5}2](2-) (6) and [Fe3(CO)9{PbFe(CO)4}2](2-) (5), respectively. On the other hand, the Ru3Pb2-based trigonal-bipyramidal complex [Ru3(CO)9{PbCr(CO)5}2](2-) (7) was obtained directly from the reaction of PbCl2, Cr(CO)6, and Ru3(CO)12 in a KOH/MeOH solution. X-ray crystallography showed that 5 and 6 each had an Fe3Pb2 trigonal-bipyramidal core geometry, with three Fe(CO)3 groups occupying the equatorial positions and two PbFe(CO)4 or PbCr(CO)5 units in the axial positions, while 7 displayed a Ru3Pb2 trigonal-bipyramidal geometry with three equatorial Ru(CO)3 groups and two axial PbCr(CO)5 units. The complexes 3-7 were characterized spectroscopically, and their nature, formation, and electrochemistry were further examined by molecular orbital calculations at the B3LYP level of density functional theory.

CO and CO2 fixation by Se-Ru-CO hydride clusters

The selective insertion of CO and CO2 into the C-O and O-H bonds of alcohols by the Se-Ru-CO hydride clusters [(μ-H)Ru4(CO)10Se2](-) (1) and [(μ3-H)Ru5(CO)14Se](-) (2) was demonstrated by a cooperative effect of the protonic hydride, the electron-rich Ru atom, and the electronegative Se atom as well as the symmetry of the clusters. These reactions generated the first examples of Se-containing ruthenium carboxylate and alkylcarbonate clusters [{(μ-H)Ru4(CO)10Se2}2{Ru2(CO)4(μ-η(1):η(1)-OOCR)}](3-) (R = Me, 3; Et, 4) and [{(μ-H)Ru4(CO)10Se2}2{Ru2(CO)4(μ-η(1):η(1)-OOCOR)}](3-) (R = Me, 5; Et, 6), respectively. These results disclosed herein provide a new avenue for the capture and storage of CO and CO2 and useful synthetic routes to novel RCOO(-)- and ROCOO(-)-bridged ruthenium selenide clusters.