The Ferraquinone-Ferrahydroquinone Couple: Combining Quinonic and Metal-Based Reactivity.

A ferraquinone-ferrahydroquinone organometallic redox couple was prepared and characterized. Intricate cooperativity of the metal was observed with different positions on the ligand. This allowed cooperative activation of small molecules like molecular hydrogen, oxygen, and bromine.

Reexamining Oxidation States during the Synthesis of 2-Rhodaoxetanes from Olefins.

Herein, we report experimental, spectroscopic, and computational data that indicate that a rhodium ethylene complex, formally described as rhodium(I) and which forms a 2-rhoda(III) oxetane following reaction with H2O2, is more accurately described as a rhodium(III) metallacyclopropane. X-ray absorption spectroscopy clearly demonstrates a change in the oxidation state at rhodium following ligand coordination with tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine. Both NMR and density functional theory studies suggest a high energy barrier to rotation of the coordinated ethylene, which is attributed to large geometric and electronic reorganization resulting from the loss of π-back-bonding.

Synthesis and reactivity of iron complexes with a new pyrazine-based pincer ligand, and application in catalytic low-pressure hydrogenation of carbon dioxide.

A novel pincer ligand based on the pyrazine backbone (PNzP) has been synthesized, (2,6-bis(di(tert-butyl)phosphinomethyl)pyrazine), tBu-PNzP. It reacts with FeBr2 to yield [Fe(Br)2(tBu-PNzP)], 1. Treatment of 1 with NaBH4 in MeCN/MeOH gives the hydride complex [Fe(H)(MeCN)2(tBu-PNzP)][X] (X = Br, BH4), 2·X.

Formation of substituted oxa- and azarhodacyclobutanes.

The preparation of substituted oxa- and azarhodacyclobutanes is reported. After exchange of ethylene with a variety of unsymmetrically and symmetrically substituted alkenes, the corresponding rhodium-olefin complexes were oxidized with H2O2 and PhINTs (Ts=p-toluenesulfonyl) to yield the substituted oxa- and azarhodacyclobutanes, respectively. Oxarhodacyclobutanes could be prepared with excellent selectivity for incorporation of the oxygen atom on the more substituted carbon atom of the alkene.

Ring expansion of a 2-rhodaoxetane: insertion chemistry with unsaturated molecules.

A 2-rhodaoxetane was found to react with unsaturated electrophiles, such as highly electron-deficient acetylene dicarboxylates, CS2 and various aldehydes, to form a series of six-membered metallacycles. These metallacycles were characterized by (1)H, (13)C and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, as well as HRMS and, for one complex, XRD. In some cases, the insertions were found to be reversible.

Synthesis and reactivity of 2-azametallacyclobutanes.

2-Azametallacyclobutanes have been reported for a number of metals. This Perspective provides a brief overview of 2-azametallacyclobutanes, focusing on complexes in which the ring nitrogen is anionic (amido).