Reactivity studies of a masked three-coordinate vanadium(II) complex

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.201005029

An arene interaction can mask a low-valent and low-coordinate V ^II complex, [(nacnac)V(Ntol₂)] (see structure), which allows for facile coordination of terminal ligands on the vanadium center. Small-molecule activation by this S=3/2 complex provides facile access to a wide range of ligand frameworks such as terminal V^IV imido, V ^IV cyclopropene, V^V nitride, and the first V^V cyclo-P₃ complex (see scheme). Copyright

Full text of DOI:10.1002/anie.201005029

Angewandte
Chemie
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201005029
Vanadium(II) Complexes
Reactivity Studies of a Masked Three-Coordinate Vanadium(II)
Complex**
Ba L. Tran, Madhavi Singhal, Hyunsoo Park, Oanh P. Lam, Maren Pink, J. Krzystek,
Andrew Ozarowski, Joshua Telser, Karsten Meyer, and Daniel J. Mindiola*
Dedicated to Professor Herbert W. Roesky
The ability of vanadium to exist in various oxidation states
renders this ion ideal for multielectron reactions, and there-
fore, a suitable metal for incorporation into novel ligand
frameworks. An archetypal example of a low-valent vana-
dium species is vanadocene, [V(Cp)2] (Cpꢀ = h5-C5H5),[1] and
its hindered relative decamethylvanadocene, [V(Cp*)2]
(Cp*ꢀ = h5-C5Me5).[2] Despite these complexes being known
for quite some time, and being S = 3/2 systems, their reactivity
is often restricted given the coordinatively saturated metal
ion. Prototypical among mononuclear VII species are other
coordinatively saturated complexes, [VCl2(L)2] (L =
Me2XCH2CH2XMe2, X = N or P)[3] as well as complexes
with a three-legged piano stool geometry such as [V(Cp)-
(dmpe)(X)] (dmpe = Me2PCH2CH2PMe2, X = monoanionic
ligand).[4] However, one approach to preparing a more
reactive, low-valent metal fragment is by masking its coordi-
nation sphere with an arene, analogous to that of Rothwell
et al. 15 years ago.[5] Reminiscent of this strategy are other
masked, low-valent arene complexes having metals such as
Zr, V, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Cr, and U.[6] Of these examples, the work
by Tsai et al. has demonstrated facile access to monovalent
vanadium through the isolation of an inverted sandwich
divanadium(I) species supported by the ubiquitous nacnac
ligand (nacnacꢀ = [Ar]NC(Me)CHC(Me)N[Ar], Ar= 2,6-
(CHMe2)2C6H3).[6f] What is striking about this system is the
presence of a highly reducing metal center supported by an
innocent nacnac scaffold. The innocence of the nacnac ligand
is atypical in the context of electron-rich early transition
metals given the vulnerability of the imine functionality of
nacnac to engage in two-electron reductive cleavage.[7] The
stability of this low-valent vanadium nacnac scaffold sug-
gested that hemilabile arenes, in combination with an
appropriate ligand, could mask low-coordinate and thus
reactive vanadium fragments.
Described herein is the isolation and characterization of a
masked three-coordinate vanadium(II) complex, whereby a
tethered arene moiety protects the unsaturated and highly
reducing metal center. We investigate the electronic structure
of the VII complex and through a series of reactivity studies,
we demonstrate it to be a suitable three-coordinate template
for two- and three-electron chemistry including the formation
of the first cyclo-P3 complex of vanadium.
We reasoned that direct reduction of the VIII complex,
[(nacnac)VCl(Ntol2)] (1),[8] should provide access to a mono-
nuclear vanadium(II) species, given the unique ability of
nacnac in stabilizing vanadium(I) and (II) complexes.[6e,9,10]
Electrochemical studies of [(nacnac)VCl(Ntol2)] showed
irreversible anodic and reversible cathodic waves at + 0.47
and ꢀ1.30 V, respectively (referenced vs. [Fe(Cp2)]0/+ couple
at 0.0 V in THF).[10] Chemical reduction of 1 with KC8 or
0.5% Na/Hg in benzene produced dark red solids obtained in
54% yield after crystallization from n-pentane at ꢀ378C
[*] B. L. Tran, M. Singhal, Dr. H. Park, Dr. M. Pink,
Prof. Dr. D. J. Mindiola
Department of Chemistry and the Molecular Structure Center
Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 (USA)
Fax: (+1)812-855-8300
E-mail: mindiola@indiana.edu
O. P. Lam, Prof. Dr. K. Meyer
Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Inorganic Chemistry
University of Erlangen–Nꢀrnberg
1
(Scheme 1). H NMR spectroscopic data revealed extremely
shifted and broadened resonances consistent with a para-
magnetic metal center, while single crystal X-ray diffraction
(XRD) measurements confirmed loss of chloride ligand
concurrent with formation of the VII complex, [(nacnac)V-
(Ntol2)] (2) (Figure 1).[10] Taking into account only the
nitrogen interactions, the vanadium center in the molecular
structure of 2 adopts a distorted trigonal geometry in which
the V center lies 0.47 ꢀ above the N3 plane. However, the
Egerlandstrasse, 91058 Erlangen (Germany)
Dr. J. Krzystek, Dr. A. Ozarowski
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310 (USA)
Prof. Dr. J. Telser
Department of Biological, Chemical and Physical Sciences
Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL 60605 (USA)
[**] We thank Prof. Susanne Mossin for insightful discussions, and the
Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences Division, Office of
Basic Energy Science, Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy
(no. DE-FG02-07ER15893), as well as the NHMFL, which is funded
by the NSF through the Cooperative Agreement no. DMR-0654118,
the State of Florida, and the DOE for financial support. D.J.M.
acknowledges support from the Alexander von Humbold Stiftung.
ꢀ
most salient structural feature is the presence of V C(ipso)
ꢀ
(2.505(6) ꢀ) and V C(ortho) interactions (2.441(5) ꢀ) with
one of the aryl moieties of the Ntol2 ligand. Similar h3 bonding
interactions are commonly observed for the benzyl ligand and
have been structurally observed with bulky anilide ligands
coordinated to three-coordinate Ti, V, and U complexes.[11]
Solid-state magnetization measurements (SQUID) of two
independently prepared samples of 2 over a 2–300 K temper-
Supporting information for this article (full synthetic, spectroscopic,
and structural details for all new compounds) is available on the
WWW under http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201005029.
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ꢀ 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
9871

Communications
ature range confirmed the
presence of a VII ion with
three unpaired electrons
(Figure 2).[10] The average
magnetic moment of meff
(3.76 mB) is invariable over
the range 20–250 K. There is
a
slight decrease above
250 K, which at this point
we cannot fit or explain.
Below 20 K, the magnetic
moment sharply decreases
in accord with zero-field
splitting (zfs) effects. Fitting
of the magnetization data
using a standard spin Ham-
iltonian for S = 3/2 with
axial zfs (D ¼ 0, E = 0) and
an isotropic g value yielded
g
iso = 1.94(4) and j D j =
2.9(5) cmꢀ1
(Figure 2).
Additionally, room temper-
ature magnetic susceptibil-
ity measurement (300 K) of
2 in C6D6 by the Evans
method (meff = 4.05 mB) is
consistent with an S = 3/2
system in solution. Despite
the fact that 2 is EPR silent
at 298 K in an X-band EPR
experiment (9 GHz, perpen-
dicular mode), and which
Scheme 1. Synthesis of complexes 2–6.
was also the case for
[Cp2V],[1f] high-frequency
and -field EPR (HFEPR)
measurements of polycrystalline samples over the temper-
ature range 10–50 K at 208 GHz were also consistent with a
mononuclear complex having
a quartet ground state
(Figure 2).[12] Simulations of the HFEPR spectra of 2 yielded
the following spin Hamiltonian parameters: giso = 1.98(1),
D = + 2.99(2), E = + 0.11(2) cmꢀ1. The absolute value of D is
in excellent agreement with magnetometry, while its positive
sign (determined by comparing the relative amplitudes of
particular turning points with simulations) and the value of
the rhombic component E could be established thanks to
superiority of a resonance technique over a bulk measure-
ment. The zfs for 2, determined here by two independent
methods, is significantly larger than that reported for mono-
nuclear VII complexes, with the closest being vanadocene, for
which the zfs was indirectly determined by X- and Q-band
EPR to be j D j = 2.3 cmꢀ1.[1f] The zfs of V(II) has been
reported for a number of systems in which the ion is
coordinated in homoleptic, six-coordinate environments
with N,[12a] O,[12b] or halide[12c] donors. In these highly
symmetric cases, j D j < 0.2 cmꢀ1, and is often < 0.01 cmꢀ1,
which allowed its facile measurement by X-band EPR. Of
greater relevance to 2, we note two VII molecular complexes
of lower symmetry: trans-[VCl2(dmpe)2], for which
D ꢁ 0.46 cmꢀ1,[13a] and an organovanadium(II) complex,
Figure 1. The molecular structures of [(nacnac)V(Ntol2)] (2) and
[(nacnac)V(h2-C2Ph2)(Ntol2)] (3) with thermal ellipsoids at the 50%
probability level. Hydrogen atoms and isopropyl groups on the nacnac
ligand have been excluded for clarity. Selected bond lengths [ꢁ] and
angles [8] for 2: V1–N1 2.016(5), V1–N2 1.999(4), V1–N3 1.980(4),
V1–C30 2.441(4), V1–C31 2.505(6); N3-V1-N2 127.0(2), N3-V1-N1
125.18(19), N2-V1-N1 90.47(19), N3-V1-C30 34.67(18), N2-V1-C30
144.2(2), N1-V1-V1-C30 125.35(19), N3-V1-C31 62.52(19), N2-V1-C31
119.63(19), N1-V1-C31 136.4(2), C30-V1-C31 33.67(17). For 3: V1–N1
2.0378(15), V1–N2 2.0468(15), V1–N3 1.9169(16), V1–C44 2.0009(19),
V1–C51 2.0063(18); N1-V1-N4 99.47(10), N1-V1-N2 91.89(8), N1-V1-
N3 128.00(8), N3-V1-N4 105.62(9).
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of 2 with an alkyne is reminiscent of the reaction of
vanadocene and diphenylacetylene.[1e]
In an analogous two-electron reaction, treating 1 with an
equivalent of N3Ad (Ad = 1-adamantyl) at room temperature
leads to rapid extrusion of N2 with concomitant formation of
=
[(nacnac)V NAd(Ntol2)] (4) in 60% isolated yield from
recrystallization in diethyl ether at ꢀ378C (Scheme 1).
Formation of VIV in 4 is again confirmed by room temperature
susceptibility (Evans method, meff = 1.84 mB) as well as X-band
EPR (giso = 1.97 and Aiso(51V) = 74 MHz).[10] This hyperfine
coupling value is low compared to that of [V(Cp)2]2+
complexes[1e] and may reflect greater delocalization of the
unpaired electron onto the imido ligand. XRD studies reveal
=
= ꢀ
formation of a terminal imido (V N, 1.654(2) ꢀ, V N C,
177.4(2)8). Complex 4 resembles reported tetrahedral VV
imido complexes.[14] As with 3, and in contrast to 2, no
arene interactions are observed in the molecular structure of 4
(Figure 3).
Figure 2. Upper: DC susceptibility of a powder of 2 measured at 1 T
(squares) with a simulation (black line) based on a best fit of the data
points in the range 2–200 K, and using the following parameters:
S=3/2, giso =1.938, jDj=2.934 cmꢀ1, TIP=145ꢂ10ꢀ6 emu. Lower:
HFEPR spectra of a polycrystalline sample of 2 recorded at 10 K and
208 GHz (middle trace). Simulated traces are given above and below,
employing the parameters: S=3/2, jDj=2.99, jEj=0.11 cmꢀ1
,
g
iso =1.98, DBiso =250 G; for the upper trace, (D, E)<0 was used; for
the lower trace, (D, E)>0 was used. The asterisk indicates a minor VIV
impurity which is not simulated.
=
Figure 3. The molecular structures of [(nacnac)V( NAd)(Ntol2)] (4)
(left) and [(nacnac)V(cyclo-P3)(Ntol2)] (6) (right) with thermal ellipsoids
at the 50% probability level. Hydrogen atoms and isopropyl groups on
the nacnac ligand have been excluded for clarity. Selected bond lengths
[ꢁ] and angles [8] for 4: V1–N1 2.047(2), V1–N2 2.054(2), V1–N3
1.956(2), V1–N4 1.654(2); N1-V1-N4 106.99(10), N1-V1-N2 88.30(9),
N1-V1-N3 120.64(10), N3-V1-N4 107.64(11). For 6: V1–N1 1.988(2),
V1–N2 2.030(2), V1–N3 1.911(2), V1–P1 2.4300(9), V1–P2 2.4388(9),
V1–P3 2.4328(9); P1-V1-P2 52.07(3), P1-V1-P3 51.80(3), N1-V-N2
96.17(9), N1-V-N3 112.7(1), P1-V1-N1 138.43(7), P1-V1-N3 87.07(7).
[V(dipp)4]2ꢀ (dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenylate), with approx-
imate square-planar geometry, which exhibits a rhombic EPR
spectrum at X-band and 77 K that is indicative of D @ hn
(>0.3 cmꢀ1).[13b] HFEPR of this complex (and of vanadocene)
would be instructive by allowing direct measurement of zfs
(sign as well as magnitude) for comparison with 2.[13c]
Compound 2 is a [VII{N2N’}] template for two- and three-
electron reactions, since the arene interaction of the anilide is
readily disrupted upon treatment with various small mole-
cules. Accordingly, mixing of diphenylacetylene with 2 results
Complex 2 can also promote three-electron reactions. For
ꢀ
ꢂ
in two-electron reduction of the acetylene C C triple bond to
example, the reaction of 2 and [(tBuO)3Cr N][15] in hexanes at
afford the metallacyclopropene complex, [(nacnac)V-
(h2-C2Ph2)(Ntol2)] (3), in 63% isolated yield. Solution sus-
ceptibility measurement (300 K, Evans method, meff = 1.92 mB)
is consistent with oxidation to VIV (S = 1/2) as result of two-
electron reduction of the alkyne moiety. The presence of a VIV
ion is further corroborated by the room temperature X-band
EPR spectrum in toluene solution (giso = 1.97), which reveals
an eight line pattern arising from hyperfine coupling to 51V
(I = 7/2; 99.6%) of Aiso = 166 MHz,[10] and in the range
reported for [V(Cp)2]2+ complexes (Aiso = 120–210 MHz).[1e]
Furthermore, XRD studies unambiguously reveal formation
room temperature over 3 h results in complete intermetal
N-atom transfer with quantitative conversion to the recently
V
reported V nitride [(nacnac)V N(Ntol2)][8] (5). This result is
ꢂ
1
based on comparison of H NMR and FT-IR spectra of 5 to
authentic samples (Scheme 1).[10] To our knowledge, forma-
ꢂ
tion of 5 from 2 and [(tBuO)3Cr N] represents the first
example of complete intermetal N-atom transfer involving a
group 5 metal.[16] The fact that 2 can engage in three-electron
reactions prompted the pursuit of other substrates that could
form unusual ligand frameworks on the [(nacnac)V(Ntol2)]
scaffold.
ꢀ
ꢀ
of a metallacyclopropene (V C44, 2.0009(19) ꢀ; V C51,
When complex 2 is treated with 1 equivalent of P4 at room
temperature, the first cyclo-P3 complex of vanadium, namely
diamagnetic [(nacnac)V(cyclo-P3)(Ntol2)] (6), is isolated as a
ꢀ
2.0063(18) ꢀ; C51V C44, 38.10(8)8) moiety derived from
two-electron reduction of the alkyne (Figure 1). This reaction
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 9871 –9875
ꢀ 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
www.angewandte.org
9873

Communications
Received: August 11, 2010
Revised: September 27, 2010
Published online: November 16, 2010
golden brown solid in 68% yield subsequent to recrystalliza-
tion (Scheme 1). Moreover, 6 can also be generated inde-
pendently, and in a one-pot synthesis, through the reduction
of 1 with 0.5% Na/Hg in the presence of 1 equivalent of P4 in
40% isolated yield. The other reaction products, which
presumably would give the fate of the fourth equivalent of
P from P4, have not yet been characterized. XRD studies of
the major product unambiguously revealed the formation of
6.[17] The molecular structure of 6 is shown in Figure 3 and
features a cyclo-P3 moiety coordinated in a h3 coordination
Keywords: EPR spectroscopy · nitrides · phosphorus · reduction ·
.
vanadium
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Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 1458.
ꢀ
mode to render a tetrahedral vanadium(V) center with a V
ꢀ
P3 centroid distance of 2.10 ꢀ. The average V P distance of 6
ꢀ
at 2.44 ꢀ coupled with the internuclear P P distances
(ꢁ2.13 ꢀ) is consistent with a cyclo-P3 ligand. Complex 6
3ꢀ
can thus be viewed both as a P3V core where the vanadium
center represents one vertex of the tetrahedron, or as a
pseudo tetrahedral vanadium center with three N donors
where the cyclo-P33ꢀ ligand occupies the fourth site. Solution
state 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopic measurements at room
temperature of this diamagnetic complex revealed a broad
resonance at d = 85.0 ppm (Dn1/2 = 234 Hz), which is signifi-
cantly downfield shifted compared to related heavier con-
geners.[18] 1H NMR spectroscopic data of compound 6 indi-
cates Cs symmetry in solution as all four iPr methyl
resonances associated with the nacnac ligand are well-
resolved doublets (JHH = 7.0 Hz). However, the resonance
associated with the methyl groups on the ditolylamide ligand
is broad (Dn1/2 = 63.0 Hz) suggesting dynamic behavior of
complex 6 at room temperature.[10] Variable-temperature
1H NMR spectroscopy (25 to ꢀ608C) was performed on 6 in
[D8]toluene to gain insight into this fluxionality, and spectra
reveal two well-resolved singlets at d = 2.29 and 1.92 ppm for
the tolyl methyls as well as inequivalent aryltolyl environ-
ments.[10] In contrast, the 31P{1H} spectrum of 6 at ꢀ608C still
3ꢀ
evinces a rapidly rotating P3 framework with a broad singlet
shifted upfield at d = 76 ppm (Dn1/2 = 123 Hz). 51V NMR
spectrum of 6 recorded in [D8]toluene at 258C revealed a
broad resonance extremely downfielded at d = 2798 ppm
(Dn1/2 = 596 Hz).
In summary, we have demonstrated that combining a
monoanionic bidentate ligand (nacnac) with a sterically
demanding ditolylamide results in formation of a reactive
[VII{N2N’}] scaffold reminiscent of the masked three-coordi-
2
=
nate complex, [(H)Mo(h -iPrC NAr){N(iPr)Ar}2] reported
by Cummins et al. in 1998.[16g] Although there is a diagonal
relationship between V and Mo, complex 2 fails to activate
and split N2 under normal conditions therefore hinting that
the aryl interaction might be inhibiting such a process. This
behavior is in contrast to work by Cloke et al.[19] in which a VII
complex generated in situ from VIII cleaves N2 to give a
nitrido-bridged dimer. We are currently trying to understand
these significant differences by both experimental and
theoretical approaches. In particular, the large zfs of 2, in
contrast to that found for six-coordinate VII complexes,[12]
needs to be investigated computationally, as has been done
for certain VIII complexes of less common geometry.[20]
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D. J. Mindiola, Angew. Chem. 2004, 116, 3218; Angew. Chem. Int.
Ed. 2004, 43, 3156.
[10] See the Supporting Information. CCDC 787159–787162 contain
the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These
data can be obtained free of charge from The Cambridge
Crystallographic Data Centre via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_
request/cif.)
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Angewandte
Chemie
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Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 9871 –9875
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