Inorganic Chemistry
Article
Synthesis of Fe(NCtBu2)2(acac) (3). Method A. To a stirring
red-orange solution of Fe(NCtBu2)4 (1) (103 mg, 0.17 mmol) in
Et2O (2 mL) was added an orange solution of Fe(acac)3 (28.3 mg,
0.084 mmol) in Et2O (2 mL). After 21 h of being stirred, the deep
purple solution was filtered through a Celite column supported on
glass wool (0.5 × 2 cm). The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to 1
mL. Subsequent storage at −25 °C for 24 h resulted in the deposition
of purple blocks, which were isolated by decanting off the supernatant
(58 mg, 53% yield). Anal. Calcd for FeN2O2C23H43: C, 63.44; H, 9.95;
N, 6.43. Found: C, 63.14; H, 9.97; N, 6.26.
basic alumina column supported on glass wool (0.5 × 4 cm). The
vibrant purple filtrate was dried in vacuo, and the purple solid was
washed with acetonitrile (5 mL) (11.5 mg, 21% yield based upon 1-
1
norbornyllithium). H NMR (benzene-d6, 25 °C, 400 MHz) δ: 1.08
(br s, 24H), 1.46 (br s, 8H), 1.60 (br s, 8H), 2.33 (br s, 4H).
Synthesis of [Li(12-crown-4)2][Fe(NCtBu2)4] (5). To a brown
solution of [Li(DME)][Fe(NCtBu2)4] (115.3 mg, 0.16 mmol) in
Et2O (2 mL) was added a solution of 12-crown-4 (65.4 mg, 0.37
mmol) in pentane (3 mL). Storage of the resulting solution at −25 °C
for 24 h resulted in the deposition of a maroon solid, which was
isolated by decanting off the supernatant (132.0 mg, 84% yield). Anal.
Calcd for FeN4C52H104O8Li: C, 63.98; H, 10.74; N, 5.74. Found: C,
63.77; H, 11.02; N, 5.64. 1H NMR (pyridine-d5, −36 °C, 500 MHz) δ:
31.1 (br s), 3.67 (s, 12-crown-4). 7Li{1H} NMR (pyridine-d5, −36 °C,
500 MHz) δ: 3.4 (br s). 1H NMR (pyridine-d5, −28 °C, 500 MHz) δ:
Method B. To a red-orange solution of Fe(NCtBu2)4 (1) (39.9
mg, 0.065 mmol) in toluene (3 mL) was added acetylacetone (7 μL,
0.09 mmol). After 16 h of being stirred, a deep purple solution was
obtained, and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The purple solid was
extracted into hexanes (1 mL). Subsequent storage at −25 °C for 24 h
resulted in the deposition of purple blocks, which were isolated by
7
57.0 (br s), 45.4 (br s), 30.9 (br s), 3.67 (s, 12-crown-4). Li{1H}
1
decanting off the supernatant (14.2 mg, 50% yield). H NMR (C6D6,
NMR (pyridine-d5, −28 °C, 500 MHz) δ: 3.4 (br s). 1H NMR
(pyridine-d5, −20 °C, 500 MHz) δ: 55.0 (br s), 45.3 (br s), 30.6 (br s),
25 °C, 400 MHz) δ: 59.2 (br s, 36H, Fe(NCtBu2)(acac)), −8.2 (br
s, 6H, Fe(NCtBu2)(O(CH3)CH(CH3)O)). IR (Et2O, cm−1): 1654
(s, ν(NC)), 1579 (m, ν(NC)).
7
3.67 (s, 12-crown-4). Li{1H} NMR (pyridine-d5, −20 °C, 500 MHz)
Monitoring the Formation of Fe(NCtBu2)2(acac) (3) by
NMR Spectroscopy. To a red-orange solution of Fe(NCtBu2)4 (1)
(8 mg, 0.02 mmol) in C6D6 (0.5 mL) was added acetylacetone (2.5
μL, 0.03 mmol). After 10 min, a deep orange solution was obtained,
δ: 3.4 (br s). 1H NMR (pyridine-d5, −3 °C, 500 MHz) δ: 51.7 (br s),
41.5 (br s), 30.0 (br s), 3.67 (s, 12-crown-4). 7Li{1H} NMR (pyridine-
d5, −3 °C, 500 MHz) δ: 3.3 (br s). 1H NMR (pyridine-d5, 11 °C, 500
MHz) δ: 49.3 (br s), 39.7 (br s), 29.4 (br s), 3.66 (s, 12-crown-4).
1
1
and a H NMR spectrum was recorded. H NMR (C6D6, 25 °C, 400
MHz) δ: 20.3 (br s, 18H, Fe(O(CH3)CH(CH3)O)3), −23.8 (br s, 3H,
Fe(O(CH3)CH(CH3)O)3). The formation of Fe(acac)3 was con-
firmed by comparison to the 1H NMR spectrum of commercially
prepared Fe(acac)3. The reaction mixture was allowed to stand, and
after 21 h the 1H NMR spectrum of the now deep purple solution was
1
7Li{1H} NMR (pyridine-d5, 11 °C, 500 MHz) δ: 3.2 (br s). H NMR
(pyridine-d5, 25 °C, 500 MHz) δ: 46.9 (br s), 37.8 (br s), 28.7 (br s),
3.66 (s, 12-crown-4). 7Li{1H} NMR (pyridine-d5, 25 °C, 500 MHz) δ:
3.2 (br s). 1H NMR (pyridine-d5, 42 °C, 500 MHz) δ: 44.5 (br s), 35.9
7
(br s), 28.0 (br s), 3.66 (s, 12-crown-4). Li{1H} NMR (pyridine-d5,
42 °C, 500 MHz) δ: 3.2 (br s). UV−vis (C4H8O, 7.05 × 10−5 M): 480
nm (ε = 3237 L mol−1 cm−1). IR (KBr, cm−1): 1650 (s, ν(NC)),
1620 (m, ν(NC)), 1479 (s), 1444 (m), 1387 (m), 1360 (s), 1302
(w), 1288 (m), 1246 (m), 1203 (s), 1136 (s), 1093 (s), 1022 (s), 945
(m), 924 (br, m), 916 (s), 843 (s), 552 (m), 484 (m).
1
recorded. H NMR (C6D6, 25 °C, 400 MHz) δ: 59.2 (br s, 36H,
Fe(NCtBu2)(acac)), −8.2 (br s, 6H, Fe(NCtBu2)(O(CH3)CH-
(CH3)O)). The γ-proton on the acetylacetonate ligand was not
1
observed in the H NMR spectra.
Synthesis of Fe(1-norbornyl)4 from FeCl3. To a cold (−25 °C),
stirring, yellow solution of FeCl3 (45.7 mg, 0.28 mmol) in a mixture of
Et2O (0.2 mL) and pentane (2 mL) was added a cold (−25 °C)
solution of 1-norbornyllithium (83.9 mg, 0.82 mmol) in pentane (4
mL). The solution immediately turned deep purple, concomitant with
the deposition of a fine black precipitate. The reaction mixture was
allowed to stir for 4 h, whereupon the mixture was filtered through a
basic alumina column supported on glass wool (0.5 × 3 cm). The
volume of the deep purple filtrate was reduced in vacuo to 1 mL and
layered on acetonitrile (12 mL). Storage at −25 °C for 24 h resulted in
the deposition of a dark purple solid. The solid was isolated by
decanting off the supernatant (22.7 mg, 25% yield based upon 1-
norbornyllithium). Anal. Calcd for FeC28H44: C, 77.05; H, 10.16.
Found: C, 76.73; H, 9.98. 1H NMR (benzene-d6, 25 °C, 600 MHz) δ:
0.98−1.2 (m, 24H), 1.45 (br s, 8H), 1.58 (br s, 8H), 2.33 (br s, 4H).
13C{1H} NMR (benzene-d6, 25 °C, 150 MHz) δ: 30.25 (C3, C5),
33.07 (C2, C6), 34.66 (C4), 42.73 (C7), 51.39 (C1). IR (KBr mull,
cm−1): 742 (m), 829 (w), 921 (w), 972 (m), 1087 (m), 1138 (m),
1206 (m), 1245 (m), 1280 (m), 1300 (m), 1314 (m).
X-ray Crystallography. Data for 3 and 4 were collected on a
Bruker KAPPA APEX II diffractometer equipped with an APEX II
CCD detector using a TRIUMPH monochromator with a Mo Kα X-
ray source (α = 0.71073 Å). The crystals of 3 and 4 were mounted on
a cryoloop under Paratone-N oil, and the data were collected at
100(2) K using an Oxford nitrogen gas cryostream system. Data for 5
were collected on a Bruker 3-axis platform diffractometer equipped
with a SMART-1000 CCD detector using a graphite monochromator
with a Mo Kα X-ray source (α = 0.71073 Å). The crystal of 5 was
mounted on a glass fiber under Paratone-N oil, and data were collected
at 150(2) K using an Oxford nitrogen gas cryostream system. A
hemisphere of data was collected using ω-scans with 0.5° frame widths
for 3 and 4 and 0.3° frame widths for 5. Frame exposures of 25 and 10
s were used for 3 and 5, respectively, while frame exposures of 5 s (low
angle) and 15 s (high angle) were used for 4. Data collection and cell
parameter determinations were conducted using the SMART
program.60 Integration of the data frames and final cell parameter
refinements were performed using SAINT software.61 Absorption
correction of the data for 3 and 4 was carried out using the multiscan
method SADABS,62 while the absorption correction of the data for 5
was carried out empirically based on reflection ψ-scans. Subsequent
calculations were carried out using SHELXTL.63 Structure determi-
nation was done using direct or Patterson methods and difference
Fourier techniques. All hydrogen atom positions were idealized and
rode on the atom of attachment. Structure solution, refinement,
graphics, and creation of publication materials were performed using
SHELXTL.63
Synthesis of Fe(1-norbornyl)4 from FeCl2. To a cold (−25 °C)
stirring suspension of FeCl2 (39.2 mg, 0.31 mmol) in a mixture of
Et2O (1 mL) and pentane (4 mL) was added a cold (−25 °C) solution
of 1-norbornyllithium (63.3 mg, 0.62 mmol) in pentane (6 mL). The
solution was allowed to stir for 45 min, whereupon the color became
deep purple and a fine black solid was deposited. This solid adhered to
the stir bar once the stirring was stopped. The mixture was filtered
through a basic alumina column supported on glass wool (0.5 × 3 cm).
The solvent was removed in vacuo, and the purple solid was washed
with acetonitrile (5 mL) (14.5 mg, 21% yield based upon 1-
1
norbornyllithium). H NMR (benzene-d6, 25 °C, 400 MHz) δ: 1.08
Complex 4 exhibits positional disorder about each quaternary
carbon bound to iron. Alternate positions for the 1-norbornyl groups
were not assigned. Only the iron center and the α-carbon atoms were
refined anisotropically. Idealized hydrogen atoms were not assigned to
the isotropic carbon atoms. A summary of the relevant crystallographic
data for 3−5 are presented in Table 2.
(br s, 24H), 1.46 (br s, 8H), 1.598 (br s, 8H), 2.33 (br s, 4H).
Synthesis of Fe(1-norbornyl)4 from Fe(acac)3. To a cold (−25
°C) stirring solution of 1-norbornyllithium (51.8 mg, 0.51 mmol) in
pentane (10 mL) was added Fe(acac)3 (44.0 mg, 0.12 mmol). This
was allowed to stir for 3 h, during which time the solution darkened
and a white solid was deposited. The mixture was filtered through a
H
dx.doi.org/10.1021/ic401096p | Inorg. Chem. XXXX, XXX, XXX−XXX