The preparation of a number of iron complexes supported by ligands of the type HN{CH2CH2(PR2)}2 [R = isopropyl (((i)Pr)PNP) or cyclohexyl ((Cy)PNP)] is reported. This is the first time this important bifunctional ligand has been coordinated to iron. The iron(II) complexes (((i)Pr)PNP)FeCl2(CO) (1a) and ((Cy)PNP)FeCl2(CO) (1b) were synthesized through the reaction of the appropriate free ligand and FeCl2 in the presence of CO. The iron(0) complex (((i)Pr)PNP)Fe(CO)2 (2a) was prepared through the reaction of Fe(CO)5 with ((i)Pr)PNP, while irradiating with UV light. Compound 2a is unstable in CH2Cl2 and is oxidized to 1a via the intermediate iron(II) complex [(((i)Pr)PNP)FeCl(CO)2]Cl (3a). The reaction of 2a with HCl generated the related complex [(((i)Pr)PNP)FeH(CO)2]Cl (4a), while the neutral iron hydrides (((i)Pr)PNP)FeHCl(CO) (5a) and ((Cy)PNP)FeHCl(CO) (5b) were synthesized through the reaction of 1a or 1b with 1 equiv of (n)Bu4NBH4. The related reaction between 1a and excess NaBH4 generated the unusual η(1)-HBH3 complex (((i)Pr)PNP)FeH(η(1)-HBH3)(CO) (6a). This complex features a bifurcated intramolecular dihydrogen bond between two of the hydrogen atoms associated with the η(1)-HBH3 ligand and the N-H proton of the pincer ligand, as well as intermolecular dihydrogen bonding. The protonation of 6a with 2,6-lutidinium tetraphenylborate resulted in the formation of the dimeric complex [{(((i)Pr)PNP)FeH(CO)}2(μ2,η(1):η(1)-H2BH2)][BPh4] (7a), which features a rare example of a μ2,η(1):η(1)-H2BH2 ligand. Unlike all previous examples of complexes with a μ2,η(1):η(1)-H2BH2 ligand, there is no metal-metal bond and additional bridging ligand supporting the borohydride ligand in 7a; however, it is proposed that two dihydrogen-bonding interactions stabilize the complex. Complexes 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a, and 7a were characterized by X-ray crystallography.

A novel bulky bis(4,6-tBu-benzoxazol-2-yl)methane ligand was synthesized in a straightforward three-step synthesis. The corresponding complexes [Li{(4,6-tBu-NCOC H ) CH}THF], [K{η -(4,6-tBu-NCOC H ) CH}] , and [MgCl{(4,6-tBu-NCOC H ) CH}(THF) ] were obtained upon metalation with alkaline or alkaline-earth-metal reagents. Reduction of [MgCl{(4,6-tBu-NCOC H ) CH}(THF) ] with potassium metal or KC led to the formation of the homoleptic compound [Mg{(4,6-tBu-NCOC H ) CH} ]. All compounds were fully characterized. Their solid-state structures as well as their behavior in solution, which was analyzed with the help of advanced NMR spectroscopic techniques, are discussed in detail.

A series of phosphonate ester supported lanthanide complexes bearing functionalities for subsequent immobilisation on semi-conductor surfaces have been prepared. Six phosphonate ester ligands (L1-L6) with varying aromatic residues were synthesised....

Within this work, the field of bulky methanides in metal coordination is exceeded by the synthesis of the versatile and promising bis(4,6-isopropylbenzoxazol-2-yl)methane (7) ligand platform. As an enhancement in this class of ligands, isopropyl (iPr) substituents as steric-demanding groups have been successfully introduced in proximity to the coordination pocket, mimicking the shielding abilities of the ubiquitous NacNac ligand scaffold to improve the steric protection of a coordinated s-block metal cation. A percent buried volume (% V) calculation as well as an electronic structure analysis shades light onto the shielding and electronic abilities of the ligand in comparison to other selected methanides and diketiminates. Upon deprotonation with a variety of different group 1 and 2 metalation agents, a row of novel s-block metal complexes of the parent deprotonated monoanionic ligand 7 was obtained and structurally, as well as spectroscopically, characterized. In particular, in this context, the alkali-metal precursor complexes [Li(THF){(4,6-iPr-NCOCH)CH}] (8) and [K{μ-(4,6-iPr-NCOCH)CH}] (9) as well as the alkaline-earth-metal compounds [MgCl(THF){(4,6-iPr-NCOCH)CH}] (10) and [M(THF){(4,6-iPr-NCOCH)CH}] [M = Mg, n = 0 (11); M = Ca, n = 1 (12); M = Sr, n = 1 (13); M = Ba, n = 1 (14)] were successfully synthesized. Especially, the latter four exhibit interesting trends in the solid state as well as in solution within the metal series.