title: Fluxional processes in diamagnetic and paramagnetic allyl dicarbonyl and 2-methylallyl dicarbonyl molybdenum histidinato complexes as revealed by spectroscopic data and density functional calculations.
abstract: This work describes a detailed study on the structure and dynamics of pseudooctahedral low-valent complexes of the type [Mo(His-N(epsilon)-R)(eta-2-R'-allyl)(CO)(2)] (His=N(delta),N,O-L-histidinate; R=H, R'=H (1); R=C(2)H(4)CO(2)Me, R'=H (2); R=H, R'=Me (3); R=C(2)H(4)CO(2)Me, R'=Me (4)). These diamagnetic 18-electron complexes were comprehensively characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. In the solid state, the (substituted) allyl ligand is in an endo position in all compounds, but it is trans to the His-N(delta) atom in 1 and 2, whereas it is trans to the carboxylate O atom for the 2-Me-allyl compounds 3 and 4. In solution, both isomers are present in a solvent-dependent equilibrium. The third isomer (allyl trans to His-NH(2)) is not spectroscopically observed in solution. This is in agreement with the results from density functional (DFT) computations (BPW 91 functional) for 1 and 3, which predict a considerably higher energy (+6.3 and +5.9 kJ mol(-1), respectively) for this isomer. A likely path for isomerization is calculated, which is consistent with the activation energy determined by variable temperature NMR measurements. At least for 3, the preferred path involves several intermediates and a rotation of the 2-Me-allyl ligand. For the paramagnetic 17-electron congeners, DFT predicts the exo isomer of 3(+) with the 2-Me-allyl ligand trans to the carboxylate O atom to be by far the most stable isomer. For 1(+), an endo-exo equilibrium between the isomers with the allyl ligand trans to the carboxylate O atom is suggested. These suggestions are confirmed by EPR spectroscopy on the electrochemically generated species, which show signals for one- (4) and two- (2) metal-containing compounds. The appearance of the EPR spectra may be rationalized by inspection of the SOMOs from DFT calculations of the species in question. The notion of a metal-centered oxidation is also substantiated by IR spectroelectrochemistry and by UV/Vis spectra of the 17-electron complexes. Upon depleting the metal of electron density, the stretching vibrations of the carbonyl ligands shift more than 100 cm(-1) to higher wavenumbers, and the carbonyl vibration of the metal-coordinated carboxylate shifts by about 50 cm(-1). A color change from yellow to green upon oxidation is observed visually and quantified by the appearance of a new band at 622 nm (2(+)) and 546 nm (4(+)), respectively.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Strahlenchemie Stiftstrasse 34-36, 45 470 Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany.
authors.forename: Dave R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: van Staveren
authors.forename: Eckhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bill
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bothe
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bühl
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weyhermüller
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Metzler-Nolte
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D007536:Isomerism; D008024:Ligands; D008280:Magnetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000737:chemistry*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012996:Solutions; D008982:Molybdenum