In recent years, it has become clear that the presence of redox‐inactive Lewis acidic metal ions can decisively influence the reactivity of metal–dioxygen moieties that are formed in the course of O2 activation, in molecular complexes, and metalloenzymes. Superoxide species are often formed as the primary intermediates but they are mostly too unstable for a thorough investigation. We report here a series of chromium(III) superoxide complexes [L2Cr]M2O2(THF)y (L=−OSiPh2OSiPh2O−, M+=Li+, Na+, K+ and y=4, 5), which could be accessed, studied spectroscopically and partly crystallized at low temperatures. They only differ in the two incorporated Lewis acidic alkali metal counterions (M+) and it could thus be shown that the nature of M+ determines considerably its interaction with the superoxide ligand. This interaction, in turn, has a significant influence on the stability and reactivity of these complexes towards substrates with OH groups. Furthermore, we show that stability and reactivity are also highly solvent dependent (THF versus nitriles), as donor solvents coordinate to the alkali metal ions and thus also influence their interaction with the superoxide moiety. Altogether, these results provide a comprehensive and detailed picture concerning the correlation between spectroscopic properties, structure, and behavior of such superoxides, that may be exemplary for other systems.

Novel conjugated, pyridyl-functionalised triazaphospholes with either tBu or SiMe3 substituents at the 5-position of the N3 PC heterocycle have been prepared by a [3+2] cycloaddition reaction and compared with structurally related, triazole-based systems. Photoexcitation of the 2-pyridyl-substituted triazaphosphole gives rise to a significant fluorescence emission with a quantum yield of up to 12 %. In contrast, the all-nitrogen triazole analogue shows no emission at all. DFT calculations indicate that the 2-pyridyl substituted systems have a more rigid and planar structure than their 3- and 4-pyridyl isomers. Time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations show that only the 2-pyridyl-substituted triazaphosphole exhibits similar planar geometry, with matching conformational arrangements in the lowest energy excited state and the ground state; this helps to explain the enhanced emission intensity. The chelating P,N-hybrid ligand forms a Re(I) complex of the type [(N^N)Re(CO)3 Br] through the coordination of nitrogen atom N(2) to the metal centre rather than through the phosphorus donor. Both structural and spectroscopic data indicate substantial π-accepting character of the triazaphosphole, which is again in contrast to that of the all-nitrogen-containing triazoles. The synthesis and photophysical properties of a new class of phosphorus-containing extended π systems are described.

A new class of pyridyl-functionalized triazaphospholes bearing either t Bu or SiMe 3 substituents at the 5-position of the N 3 PC heterocycle have been prepared via the "click" reaction starting from 2-(azidomethyl)pyridine and the corresponding phosphaalkynes. In order to investigate the electronic structure and donor−acceptor properties of such novel chelating and low-coordinate phosphorus heterocycles, calculations at the DFT level have been carried out. Moreover, cyclic voltammetry measurements were performed and the results were compared with those for the structurally related triazole-based systems, demonstrating a significant influence of the phosphorus atom as well as the substitution pattern on the electronic properties of the novel compounds. The P,N hybrid ligands form Re(I) complexes of the type [(N ∧m N)Re(CO) 3 Br] via coordination of the nitrogen atom N 2 to the metal center rather than via the phosphorus atom, as verified crystallographically.

A series of five compounds Tp Mes MFla (Tp Mes = hydrotris(3-mesityl)pyrazolylborate; M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn; Fla = 3-hydroxyflavonolate) has been synthesized as models for the 2,4-quercetin dioxygenase, QueD. The structures have been determined and the complexes proved to be isomorphous. Considering the structures more closely revealed that they differ in the degree of delocalization in the chelate ring formed through the binding of the two O donors of the flavonolate to the metal center, which is also supported by the results of UV−vis and IR spectroscopic investigations. The resulting trend (Zn/Fe > Co > Mn > Ni) is, however, not in line with the one that was found investigating the redox properties of the complexes by cyclic voltammetry (Zn > Fe > Ni > Co > Mn). Notably, from CV clear-cut information could be derived, as the complexes exhibited exceptionally wellbehaved quasi-reversible redox transitions, indicating that the Tp ligand stabilizes the flavonolate radical formed in the oxidation process rather well. The fact that the rates, with which the complexes react with O 2 in DMF solution, correlate with the position of the flavonolate redox couples, suggest that these reactions proceed via the initial electron transfer from the flavonolate to O 2 . After the O 2 reaction, salicylic acid was identified as one of the products, the formation of which can be explained by the hydrolysis of the depside that should form upon a dioxygenation similar to the QueD enzyme-catalyzed reaction. 18 O labeling experiments confirmed the presence of O 2 derived O atoms. Mechanistic inferences based on the above results are discussed.

The synthesis of asymmetrically substituted 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridines is reported. First, palladium‐catalyzed CH arylation of pyridine N‐oxides with substituted bromopyridines gave 2,2′‐bipyridine N‐oxides, which were further arylated in a second step to form 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine N‐oxides. Yields of up to 77 % were obtained with N‐oxides bearing an electron‐withdrawing ethoxycarbonyl substituent in the 4‐position. Pd(OAc)2 with either P(tBu)3 or P(o‐tolyl)3 was used as the catalyst. Cyclometalated complexes derived from Pd(OAc)2 and these phosphines were also effective. K3PO4 as the base gave better results than K2CO3. Subsequent deoxygenation with H2 and Pd/C as the catalyst gave the asymmetrically substituted 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridines in near quantitative yield. This reaction sequence significantly reduces the number of steps required in comparison with known cross‐coupling methods and therefore allows convenient and scalable access to substituted terpyridines.