title: Magnetic Susceptibility Trends in Oxo-Bridged, Dinuclear Chromium(III) Complexes. Crystal Structure of [(tmpa)Cr(&mgr;-O)(&mgr;-CO(3))Cr(tmpa)](ClO(4))(2).2H(2)O.
abstract: The synthesis and physical characterization of oxo-bridged [Cr(2)(tmpa)(2)(&mgr;-O)(X)](n)()(+) complexes (tmpa = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) containing a variety of complementary ligands (X = CO(3)(2)(-), PhPO(4)(2)(-), HS(-)) are described, with the objective of understanding factors underlying variations in the antiferromagnetic coupling constant J. We also present the crystal structure of [(tmpa)Cr(&mgr;-O)(&mgr;-CO(3))Cr(tmpa)](ClO(4))(2).2H(2)O, for comparison with previous findings on [(tmpa)Cr(&mgr;-O)(&mgr;-CH(3)CO(2))Cr(tmpa)](ClO(4))(3). The carbonate-bridged complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 11.286(10) Å, b = 18.12(2) Å, c = 20.592(12) Å, beta = 95.99(5) degrees, and V = 4190 Å(3) and Z = 4. Asymmetric tmpa ligation pertains, with apical N atoms situated trans to bridging oxo and acido O atoms. Key structural parameters include Cr-O(b) bond lengths of 1.818(6) and 1.838(6) Å, Cr-OCO(2) distances of 1.924(7) and 1.934(7) Å, and a bridging bond angle of 128.3(3) degrees. Several attempts to prepare oxo, amido-bridged dimers were unsuccessful, but the nearlinear [Cr(tmpa)(N(CN)(2))](2)O(ClO(4))(2).3H(2)O complex was isolated from the reaction of dicyanamide ion with [Cr(tmpa)(OH)](2)(4+). In contrast to the behavior of analogous diiron(III) complexes, antiferromagnetic coupling constants of [Cr(2)(tmpa)(2)(&mgr;-O)(X)](n)()(+) dinuclear species are highly responsive to the X group. Considering the complexes with X = CO(3)(2)(-), PhPO(4)(2)(-), HS(-), SO(4)(2)(-), and RCO(2)(-) (10 R substituents), we find a reasonably linear, empirical relationship between J and oxo bridge basicity, as measured by pK(a) (Cr(OH)Cr) values in aqueous solution. While there is no theoretical basis for such a correlation between solid-state and solution-phase properties, this relationship demonstrates that CrOCr pi-bonding contributes significantly to antiferromagnetic exchange. Thus, J tends to become less negative with increasing &mgr;-O(2)(-) basicity, showing that greater availability of a bridging oxo group lone pair toward the proton, with decreasing CrOCr pi-interaction, reduces the singlet-triplet gap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409.
authors.forename: N. Kent
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Dalley
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kou
authors.forename: Charles J.
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Robert A.
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Holwerda