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The reaction of the phosphorus and arsenic dihalides (WCA-IDipp)ECl2 (E = P, As) that bear an anionic N-heterocyclic carbene ligand with a weakly coordinating borate moiety (WCA = B(C6F5)3, IDipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) with (IDipp)PSiMe3 afforded the monochlorides (WCA-IDipp)E(Cl)P(IDipp), which can be transformed into the cationic dipnictenes [(WCA-IDipp)EP(IDipp)][GaCl4] or neutral radicals [(WCA-IDipp)EP(IDipp)] by treatment with GaCl3 or reduction with 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-dihydropyrazine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic monophosphide (AsP) species supported by two different N‐heterocyclic carbenes were prepared by reaction of (IDipp)PSiMe3 (1) (IDipp=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) with (IMes)AsCl3 (2) (IMes=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) to afford the dichloride [(IMes)As(Cl)P(IDipp)]Cl (3), which upon reduction with KC8 furnished heteroleptic [(IMes)AsP(IDipp)] (4). The corresponding mono‐ and dications [(IMes)AsP(IDipp)][PF6], [5]PF6, and [(IMes)AsP(IDipp)][GaCl4]2, [6][GaCl4]2, respectively, were prepared by one‐electron oxidation of 4 with ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate, [Fc]PF6, or by chloride abstraction from 3 with two equivalents of GaCl3, respectively. Compounds 4–6 represent rare examples of heterodiatiomic interpnictogen compounds, and X‐ray crystal structure determinations together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a consecutive shortening of the As−P bond lengths and increasing bond order, in agreement with the presence of an arsenic–phosphorus single bond in 4 and a double bond in 62+. The EPR signal of the cationic radical [5]+. indicates a symmetric spin distribution on the AsP moiety through strong hyperfine coupling with the 75As and 31P nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel synthesis for dialkyl cobalt compounds [(tmeda)CoR2] is presented. In these complexes tmeda is readily replaced by an NHC or a bidentate phosphine ligand to form 3- and 4-coordinate compounds, respectively. [(ItBu)Co(CH2SiMe3)2] (ItBu = 1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-ylidene) serves as an efficient, homogeneous olefin hydrogenation pre-catalyst and allows the preparation of the novel cobalt bis(alkyne) complex [(ItBu)Co(η2-PhCCPh)2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heteroleptic N-heterocyclic dicarbene–diphosphorus species were prepared by reaction of the carbene–phosphinidene adduct (IPr)PSiMe3 (1, IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) with the carbene–phosphorus trichloride adduct (IMes)PCl3 (2, IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene), which furnished the dichloride [(IPr)PPCl(IMes)]Cl (3). Reduction of 3 with potassium graphite (KC8) afforded [(IPr)PP(IMes)] (4). The corresponding radical cation [(IPr)PP(IMes)]Ṗ+ (5Ṗ+) is isolated as [5]PF6 by reaction of 4 with ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate, whereas complexes containing the corresponding dication [(IPr)PP(IMes)]2+ (62+) can be isolated as the gallate and borate salts [6](GaCl4)2 and [6](BArF)2 by chloride abstraction from 3 with GaCl3 or sodium tetrakis[bis(3,5-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (NaBArF), respectively. The asymmetric set of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands allows to establish 1JPP coupling constants of 249 Hz for 4 and 543 Hz for [6](GaCl4)2. Based on X-ray diffraction analyses, the molecular structures of 4, 5Ṗ+ and 62+ reveal a consecutive shortening of the P–P bond lengths, in agreement with the presence of a phosphorus–phosphorus single bond in 4 and a double bond in 62+, which is best described as a dicationic diphosphene according to density functional theory (DFT) calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 15-valence electron (VE), high-spin (S = 3/2) half-sandwich complex [Cp′Fe(IiPr2Me2)] (3; IiPr2Me2 = 1,3-di-iso-propyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yildene) reversibly coordinates N2 to form the 17VE, low-spin (S = 1/2) compound [Cp′Fe(IiPr2Me2)(η1-N2)] (4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the marine bacterium, Dinoroseobacter shibae the transcription factor rhizobial iron regulator A (RirA) is involved in the adaptation to iron-limited growth conditions. In vitro iron and sulfide content determinations in combination with UV/Vis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic analyses using anaerobically purified, recombinant RirA protein suggested a [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster as a cofactor. In vivo Mössbauer spectroscopy also corroborated the presence of a [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster in RirA. Moreover, the cluster was found to be redox stable. Three out of four highly conserved cysteine residues of RirA (Cys 91, Cys 99, Cys 105) were found essential for the [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster coordination. The dimeric structure of the RirA protein was independent of the presence of the [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster. Electro mobility shift assays demonstrated the essential role of an intact [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster for promoter binding by RirA. The DNA binding site was identified by DNase I footprinting. Mutagenesis studies in combination with DNA binding assays confirmed the promoter binding site as 30-TTAAN10AATT-50. This work describes a novel mechanism for the direct sensing of cellular iron levels in bacteria by an ironresponsive transcriptional regulator using the integrity of a redox-inactive [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster, and further contributes to the general understanding of iron regulation in marine bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The half-sandwich complex [Cp′Fe(μ-I)]2 (1; Cp′ = η5-1,2,4-(Me3C)3C5H2) is cleaved when heated in toluene to form a cation–anion pair [{Cp′Fe(η6-toluene)}+{Cp′FeI2}−] (2), in which the two Fe(ii) atoms adopt different spin states, i.e., a low-spin (S = 0) and a high-spin (S = 2) configuration. Upon oxidation of 1 with C2H4I2, the thermally stable 15VE species [Cp′FeI2] (3) can be isolated, in which the Fe(iii) atom adopts an intermediate spin (S = 3/2) configuration. Complex 3 is an excellent starting material for further functionalizations and it reacts with Mg(CH2SiMe3)2 to form the unprecedented Fe(iii) (S = 3/2) bis(alkyl) complex [Cp′Fe(CH2SiMe3)2] (4). The respective spin states of complexes 2–4 are confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, zero-field 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, and solid-state magnetic susceptibility measurements. In contrast to the related 14VE high-spin (S = 2) Fe(ii) alkyl species [Cp′FeCH(SiMe3)2], which resists the reaction with H2 as a consequence of a spin-induced reaction barrier, complex 4 reacts cleanly with H2 (8 bar) in cyclohexane to yield iron hydrides [{Cp′Fe}2(μ-H)3] (5) and [Cp′Fe(μ-H)2]2 (6) in a 1 : 4 ratio. However, when the hydrogenation of 4 is carried out in benzene, a green 19VE [Cp′Fe(η6-C6H6)] (A) intermediate is formed, which dimerizes to the bis(cyclohexadienyl)-bridged product [(Cp′Fe)2(μ2–η5:η5-C12H12)] (7). Further evidence for the intermediacy of [Cp′Fe(η6-C6H6)] (A) was gathered by X-band EPR and UV/vis spectroscopy. Interestingly, attempts to oxidize 7 with AgSbF6 proceeded via C–C bond cleavage instead of metal oxidation to form [Cp′Fe(C6H6)][SbF6] (8). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically inert oxidometal(V) corrols of molybdenum and rhenium undergo clean ligand-exchange reactions upon the action of SiCl4. The resulting dichlorido complexes show trigonal prismatic coordination of the metal ion with the chlorine atoms residing in a cis configuration, and were studied by optical and resonance spectroscopy as well as DFT calculations. In situ reactivity studies with carbon nucleophiles indicate high reactivity for chlorine replacement. Treatment with sodium cyclopentadienide paves the way to robust molybdenum corrolocene half-sandwich complexes. These organometallic compounds are the first corrole species that stabilize an air-stable and diamagnetic low spin d2-MoIV center. Structural, spectroelectrochemical, and chemical investigations prove a reversible MoIV/MoV redox couple close to the Fc/Fc+ potential for these systems. The high stability of the compounds in both redox states calls for future applications in catalysis and as redox switch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]