Trigonal-Bipyramidal Pt(0) and Pd(0) Anions.

Anionic Pt(0) and Pd(0) complexes with unprecedented trigonal-bipyramidal geometry have been prepared and thoroughly characterized by experimental and computational means. Coordination of a σ-acceptor borane moiety supported by three phosphine buttresses enhances the electrophilicity of M(0) and triggers the binding of soft anions (X = Br, I, CN).

Square-Planar Anionic Pt Complexes.

A T-shaped Pt complex with a diphosphine-borane (DPB) ligand was prepared. The Pt→B interaction enhances the electrophilicity of the metal and triggers the addition of Lewis bases to give the corresponding tetracoordinate complexes. For the first time, anionic Pt complexes are isolated and structurally authenticated.

Pd/Ni-Catalyzed Germa-Suzuki coupling dual Ge-F bond activation.

Pd/Ni → Ge-F interactions supported by phosphine-chelation were found to trigger dual activation of Ge-F bonds under mild conditions. This makes fluoro germanes suitable partners for catalytic Ge-C cross-coupling and enables Germa-Suzuki reactions to be achieved for the first time.

Four-Electron Reduction of Dioxygen on a Metal Surface: Models of Dissociative and Associative Mechanisms in a Homogeneous System.

Two different four-electron reductions of dioxygen (O) on a metal surface are reproduced in homogeneous systems. The reaction of the highly unsaturated (56-electron) tetraruthenium tetrahydride complex with O readily afforded the bis(μ-oxo) complex via a dissociative mechanism that includes large electronic and geometric changes, i.e.

Fluorosilane Activation by Pd/Ni→Si-F→Lewis Acid Interaction: An Entry to Catalytic Sila-Negishi Coupling.

A new mode of bond activation involving M→Z interactions is disclosed. Coordination to transition metals as σ-acceptor ligands was found to enable the activation of fluorosilanes, opening the way to the first transition-metal-catalyzed Si-F bond activation. Using phosphines as directing groups, sila-Negishi couplings were developed by combining Pd and Ni complexes with external Lewis acids such as MgBr.

Counterion Dependence of Dinitrogen Activation and Functionalization by a Diniobium Hydride Anion.

We report the synthesis of anionic diniobium hydride complexes with a series of alkali metal cations (Li , Na , and K ) and the counterion dependence of their reactivity with N . Exposure of these complexes to N initially produces the corresponding side-on end-on N complexes, the fate of which depends on the nature of countercations. The lithium derivative undergoes stepwise migratory insertion of the hydride ligands onto the aryloxide units, yielding the end-on bridging N complex.

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of an S2-type Pathway for Borate-Fluorine Bond Cleavage by Electron-Rich Late-Transition Metal Complexes.

B-F σ-bond activation of a fluoroborate has been experimentally achieved through reactions with electron-rich iridium(I) and palladium(0) complexes. The selectivity of B-F σ-bond cleavage by iridium complexes was improved through the high nucleophilicity of the iridium center, implying that a different pathway from that of well-accepted F abstraction was in effect. The palladium(0) complex was found to promote exclusive B-F σ-bond cleavage even at ambient temperature.

Palladium-Borane Cooperation: Evidence for an Anionic Pathway and Its Application to Catalytic Hydro-/Deutero-dechlorination.

Metal-Lewis acid cooperation provides new opportunities in catalysis. In this work, we report a new type of palladium-borane cooperation involving anionic Pd species. The air-stable DPB palladium complex 1 (DPB=diphosphine-borane) was prepared and reacted with KH to give the Pd borohydride 2, the first monomeric anionic Pd species to be structurally characterized.

Modulation of the coordination geometries of NCN and NCNC Rh complexes for ambidextrous chiral catalysts.

A chirality switch between novel NCN pincer Rh complexes and a related double cyclometalated NCNC Rh complex containing secondary amino groups is described. Their catalytic abilities were determined in asymmetric alkynylation of ethyl trifluoropyruvate, and the change in the coordination geometry of the Rh catalysts affected the stereochemistry of the products.

Cooperative Catalysis of Combined Systems of Transition-Metal Complexes with Lewis Acids: Theoretical Understanding.

The combination of transition-metal complexes and Lewis acids has been recently applied to several catalytic reactions, in which the Lewis acid plays a crucial role as a non-innocent additive to accelerate the reaction. In this review article, the reasons for the acceleration by the Lewis acid are discussed based on our recent theoretical studies. In the H-H σ-bond activation of a dihydrogen molecule by a nickel(0)-borane complex, the empty p orbital of the borane moiety interacts with the H-H σ bonding MO to form charge transfer (CT) from the dihydrogen molecule to the borane moiety to accelerate the reaction.

Saturated Heavier Group 14 Compounds as σ -Electron-Acceptor (Z-Type) Ligands.

This review article describes the chemistry of transition-metal complexes containing heavier group 14 elements (Si, Ge, and Sn) as the σ-electron-acceptor (Z-type) ligands and discusses the characteristics of bonds between the transition metal and Z-type ligand. Moreover, we review the iridium hydride mediated cleavage of E-X bonds (E=Si, Ge; X=F, Cl), where the key intermediates are pentacoordinate silicon or germanium compounds bearing a dative M→E bond.

Transition-Metal-Mediated Cleavage of Fluoro-Silanes under Mild Conditions.

Si-F bond cleavage of fluoro-silanes was achieved by transition-metal complexes under mild and neutral conditions. The Iridium-hydride complex [Ir(H)(CO)(PPh3 )3 ] was found to readily break the Si-F bond of the diphosphine- difluorosilane {(o-Ph2 P)C6 H4 }2 Si(F)2 to afford a silyl complex [{[o-(iPh2 P)C6 H4 ]2 (F)Si}Ir(CO)(PPh3 )] and HF. Density functional theory calculations disclose a reaction mechanism in which a hypervalent silicon species with a dative Ir→Si interaction plays a crucial role.

Activation of Strong Boron-Fluorine and Silicon-Fluorine σ-Bonds: Theoretical Understanding and Prediction.

The oxidative addition of BF3 to a platinum(0) bis(phosphine) complex [Pt(PMe3)2] (1) was investigated by density functional calculations. Both the cis and trans pathways for the oxidative addition of BF3 to 1 are endergonic (ΔG°=26.8 and 35.

Coordination and redox isomerization in the reduction of a uranium(III) monoarene complex.

Synthetic studies on the redox chemistry of trivalent uranium monoarene complexes were undertaken with a complex derived from the chelating tris(aryloxide)arene ligand ((Ad,Me) ArO)3 mes(3-) . Cyclic voltammetry of [{((Ad,Me) ArO)3 mes}U(III) ] (1) revealed a nearly reversible and chemically accessible reduction at -2.495 V vs.

Recent developments in the coordination chemistry of multidentate ligands featuring a boron moiety.

Synergistic effects between a transition metal and an appropriate ligand are required to promote a desired catalytic reaction. Ancillary ligands, provided by the versatile functionality of certain elements, give rise to an almost infinite potential for catalytic applications. Recently, the study of the synergistic effect between transition metals and boron has become easy on account of the development of various rigid multidentate frameworks.

Si-C bond cleavage by hydride complexes of rhodium and iridium: comparison of Si-C(sp(2)) and Si-C(sp(3)) activation.

Single Si-C(R) (R = Ph, Me, Et) bond activation in {o-(Ph(2)P)C(6)H(4)}(2)Si(Me)(R) induced by Rh(H)(CO)(PPh(3))(3) was developed. The efficiency of Si-C(R) bond breaking reactions increased at 60 °C in the order Si-C(Et) < Si-C(Me) < Si-C(Ph) and strongly depended on the reaction temperature. Elevating the reaction temperature promoted Si-C(Me) over Si-C(Ph) bond activation, demonstrating that Si-C(Me) cleavage is entropically favored but enthalpically unfavored in comparison with Si-C(Ph) bond cleavage.

Facile synthesis of rhodium and iridium complexes bearing a [PEP]-type ligand (E = Ge or Sn) via E-C bond cleavage.

Rhodium and iridium complexes bearing a tridentate [PEP] type ligand ([PEP] = {o-(Ph(2)P)C(6)H(4)}(2)E(Me); E = Ge or Sn) were synthesized through the phosphine exchange reaction accompanied by selective E-C bond cleavage. The ligand precursors {o-(Ph(2)P)C(6)H(4)}(2)EMe(2) (E = Ge or Sn) were readily obtained in excellent yields by treating {o-(Ph(2)P)C(6)H(4)}(2)Li with 0.5 equivalents of Me(2)ECl(2).

Synthesis of iridium complexes bearing {o-(Ph2P)C6H4}(3)E type (E = Si, Ge, and Sn) ligand and evaluation of electron donating ability of group 14 elements E.

Trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) iridium(i) complexes {o-(Ph(2)P)C(6)H(4)}(3)EIr(CO) (E = Si: 1-Ir, Ge: 2-Ir, Sn: 3-Ir) comprising group 14 element E were synthesized and converted into the corresponding cationic iridium(III) complexes [{o-(Ph(2)P)C(6)H(4)}(3)EIr(H)(CO)][BF(4)] (E = Si: 4, Ge: 5, Sn: 6) bearing octahedral geometry by protonation using (Et(2)OH)(BF(4)). The origin of trans-labilizing abilities of E was investigated through structural analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopic analysis, and density functional theory calculations. Further, the electron-donating abilities of E were investigated through proton transfer reactions.

Insights into the mechanism of carbonate formation through reductive cleavage of carbon dioxide with low-valent uranium centers.

The low-valent U(III) complexes [((t-BuArO)3mes)U] and [((AdArO)3N)U] react with CO2 to form the bridging carbonate complexes [{((t-BuArO)3mes)U}2(mu-kappa2:kappa2-CO3)] and [{((AdArO)3N)U}2(mu-eta1:kappa2-CO3)]. Uranium(IV) bridging oxo complexes have been determined to be the intermediate in these transformations.