Syntheses and Reactivity Studies of Square-Planar Diamido-Pyridine Complexes Based on Earth-Abundant First-Row Transition Elements.

The new square-planar complexes M[NNN](pyridine) (M = Fe (1), Co(2); NNN = 2,6-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenylamidomethyl)pyridine) were synthesized and fully characterized to investigate small molecule activation on this platform and also associated ligand innocence. The equatorial pyridine solvent moiety could not be removed; a new bis-ligand species Co[NNN.H]2 (3) was synthesized in low yield while attempting to make the base-free derivative.

Regeneration of ammonia borane from spent fuel materials.

A shift to the hydrogen economy requires the development of an effective hydrogen fuel carrier with high volumetric and gravimetric storage capacity. Ammonia borane (AB) has emerged as a leading candidate due to its light weight and multiple protic (N-H) and hydridic (B-H) hydrogens. As a consequence, much work has been directed towards fine tuning the release of H2 from AB, in addition to its regeneration from the dehydrogenated "spent fuel" materials.

The role of group 14 element hydrides in the activation of C-H bonds in cyclic olefins.

Formally, triple-bonded dimetallynes ArEEAr [E = Ge (1), Sn (2); Ar = C(6)H(3)-2,6-(C(6)H(3)-2,6-(i)Pr(2))(2)] have been previously shown to activate aliphatic, allylic C-H bonds in cyclic olefins, cyclopentadiene (CpH), cyclopentene (c-C(5)H(8)) and 1,4-cyclohexadiene, with intriguing selectivity. In the case of the five-membered carbocycles, cyclopentadienyl species ArECp [E = Ge (3), Sn (4)] are formed. In this study, we examine the mechanisms for activation of CpH and c-C(5)H(8) using experimental methods and describe a new product found from the reaction between 1 and c-C(5)H(8), an asymmetrically substituted digermene ArGe(H)Ge(c-C(5)H(9))Ar (5), crystallized in 46% yield.

Reductive coupling of carbon monoxide by U(III) complexes--a computational study.

The role of U((η-C(8)H(6){Si(i)Pr(3)-1,4}(2))(η-C(5)Me(5)) and U((η-C(8)H(6){Si(i)Pr(3)-1,4}(2))(η-C(5)Me(4)H) in the reductive di- tri- and tetramerization of CO has been modelled using density functional methods and U(C(8)H(8))(C(5)H(5)) as the metal fragment. The orbital structure of U(C(8)H(8))(C(5)H(5)) is described. CO binding to form a monocarbonyl U(C(8)H(8))(C(5)H(5))(CO) is found, by a variety of methods, to place spin density on the CO ligand via back-bonding from the U5f orbitals.

C-H activation of cycloalkenes by dimetallynes (M = Ge, Sn) under ambient conditions.

Treatment of the dimetallynes Ar'EEAr' [E = Ge, Sn; Ar' = C(6)H(3)-2,6-(C(6)H(3)-2,6-iPr(2))(2)] with a cyclic olefin-cyclopentadiene (CpH), cyclopentene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene (CHD), or cyclohexene-showed that, with the exception of cyclohexene, they react readily, affording C-H activation at room temperature. Reaction of the digermyne and distannyne with CpH gave the cyclopentadienyl anion, which is bound in a π-fashion to a mononuclear group 14 element center, along with evolution of hydrogen gas. Unusually, the digermyne also reacted with cyclopentene to give the same dehydroaromatization product, formed from triple C-H activation/dehydrogenation.