A mechanistic insight into metal-cluster π-envelopment: a dual binding mode involving bent and planar ligand-conformers.

Metal clusters are effectively stabilized by bridging π-coordination of planar π-conjugated unsaturated hydrocarbons. However, the mechanism of π-envelopment of a metal cluster has been elusive. By employing 1,2-bis(4-aryl-1,3-butadienyl)benzene as the π-conjugated ligand, we found that the π-envelopment of a Pd4 cluster proceeded in a stepwise manner, where the sp(2)-carbon ligands initially envelop the Pd4 cluster through a bent binding mode, and then isomerized to a thermodynamically more stable planar mode under mild heating or visible light irradiation.

Redox-induced reversible metal assembly through translocation and reversible ligand coupling in tetranuclear metal sandwich frameworks.

Sandwich structures formed by metal atoms intercalated between sp(2)-carbon planes can be found either in metal-graphite-based materials or discrete multinuclear sandwich complexes. Their reactivity, and in particular their dynamic behaviour, has recently attracted interest both from a structural and a practical aspect, for example in catalysis. However, progress in this area has been rather slow, and it remains difficult to elucidate their structure and behaviour at the molecular level.