Hydrotris(triazolyl)borate (Ttz) ligands form CuNO(x) (x = 2, 3) complexes for structural and functional models of copper nitrite reductase. These complexes have distinct properties relative to complexes of hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate (Tp) and neutral tridentate N-donor ligands. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of five-coordinate copper complexes show rare nitrogen superhyperfine couplings with the Ttz ligand, indicating strong σ donation. The copper(I) nitrite complex [PPN](+)[(Ttz(tBu,Me))Cu(I)NO(2)](-) has been synthesized and characterized and allows for the stoichiometric reduction of NO(2)(-) to NO with H(+) addition. Anionic Cu(I) nitrite complexes are unusual and are stabilized here for the first time because Ttz is a good π acceptor.

Complexes with bulky hydrotris(triazolyl)borate (Ttz) ligands, TtzCuCO, were used to probe how acids change the donor properties of Ttz ligands. (Ttz(tBu,Me))CuCO shows four distinct protonation states and a gradual increase in the CO stretch. The increased electrophilic nature of the Cu center upon protonation leads to enhanced C-H activation catalysis.

No abstract

Tris(triazolyl)borate (Ttz) is a proton responsive ligand, and the redox potential of Ttz complexes can be altered by protonation. Protonation events can therefore alter the thermodynamics of reduction of copper complexes, and this is relevant to nitrite reduction mediated by copper complexes wherein Cu(II) reduction to Cu(I) is the first step. The electrochemical behavior of tris(triazolyl)borate and the corresponding copper complexes, Ttz tBu,Me CuCl (1) and Ttz tBu,Me CuNO 2 (2), was investigated under both neutral and acidic conditions. Upon protonation, reduction of 1 is shifted more positive (E pc = 290 mV) upon addition of 1.0 equiv. of acid. This result indicates that ligand protonation facilitates the reduction process, which is also evident from the UV-Vis spectral data. In contrast, with the Ttz tBuMe CuNO 2 (2) analogue, the reduction peak shifted towards a more negative potential while UV-Vis spectra shows no significant changes as acid is added. This suggests that the protons may not be involved in assisting the redox process but rather lead to decomposition events at reducing potentials. Other electrochemical control studies on a series of compounds, namely (Ttz tBu,Me)ZnCl (3), (Ttz tBu,Me)K (4), H(Ttz tBu,Me) (5), and Htz tBu,Me (6), were also conducted with and without acid present. These studies have shown that triazole rings, by themselves and in metal complexes, are not redox active under the conditions we have used. We therefore conclude that the Ttz ligand (including in 1 and 2) is not a site for reduction in our studies.

Carbon dioxide fixation with zinc complexes of the anionic tris(triazolyl)borate (Ttz) ligand offers biomimetic structures in a hydrophilic environment. However, the synthetic result depends greatly on the steric bulk of the Ttz ligand. Synthetic routes adapted from the synthesis of (Tp)ZnOH have been applied to bulky Ttz ligands, but side products often result because Ttz frequently forms complexes with +1 metals or cations used in the synthesis. Nonetheless, (Ttz tBu,Me )-ZnOH (1) has been successfully synthesized and crystallographically characterized, but only via the hydrolysis of the zinc (hex-(1) [a] 2495 Scheme 2. The application of synthetic routes that are known in the literature to form TpZnOH leads to different results when applied to the formation of biomimetic Ttz zinc complexes. However, zinc hydroxide complexes of Ttz can be achieved in some cases. In this Scheme M = Na, K, NMe 4 and L = Tp or Ttz of varied steric bulk (this work focuses on L = Ttz tBu,Me , Ttz iPr2 , Ttz Ph,Me ). 2496Scheme 3. Successful route to (Ttz tBu,Me )ZnOH (1) via Zn amide (6). Zn amide structure is tentatively assigned as κ 3 or κ 2 .Scheme 4. Synthesis of the zinc hydroxide (2a) and zinc carbonate (2b) complexes. Two equivalents of 2a react with CO 2 to eliminate water and form one equivalent of 2b.