The synthesis of several novel nickel(II) and palladium(II) ferrocene-bis(phosphinimine) alkyl complexes containing iron-nickel and iron-palladium interactions is reported. The redox behavior of all complexes was evaluated electrochemically and chemically; in addition, reactions with weak nucleophiles, such as acetonitrile and olefins, were also investigated. DFT calculations were performed to understand the electronic structure of the alkyl metal complexes.

Group 3 metal (E)-stilbene complexes supported by a ferrocene diamide ligand were synthesized and characterized. Reactivity studies showed that they behave similar to analogous naphthalene complexes. Experimental and computational results indicated that the double bond was reduced and not a phenyl ring, in contrast to a previously reported uranium (E)-stilbene complex.

A new type of C-H bond activation mediated by rare-earth metals under reducing conditions is reported. The synergy between reductants and rare-earth-metal complexes allows the cleavage of unactivated aromatic C-H bonds. The reaction between rare-earth-metal iodides supported by a 1,1'-ferrocenediamide ligand and potassium graphite in benzene leads to the formation of a 1:1 metal molar ratio of the corresponding metal hydride and metal phenyl complex. A proposed mechanism involving an inverse sandwich arene bimetallic intermediate is supported by experimental and computational studies.

In contrast to the plethora of metal-catalyzed cross-coupling methods available for the installation of functional groups on aromatic hydrocarbons, a comparable variety of methods are currently not available for icosahedral carboranes, which are boron-rich three-dimensional aromatic analogues of aryl groups. Part of this is due to the limited understanding of the elementary steps for cross-coupling involving carboranes. Here, we report our efforts in isolating metal-boryl complexes to further our understanding of one of these elementary steps, oxidative addition. Structurally characterized examples of group 10 M-B bonds featuring icosahedral carboranes are completely unknown. Use of mercurocarboranes as a reagent to deliver M-B bonds saw divergent reactivity for platinum and palladium, with a Pt-B bond being isolated for the former, and a rare Pd-Hg bond being formed for the latter.

Inverse sandwich biphenyl complexes [(NN(TBS))Ln]2(μ-biphenyl)[K(solvent)]2 [NN(TBS) = 1,1'-fc(NSi(t)BuMe2)2; Ln = Gd, Dy, Er; solvent = Et2O, toluene; 18-crown-6], containing a quadruply reduced biphenyl ligand, were synthesized and their magnetic properties measured. One of the dysprosium biphenyl complexes was found to exhibit antiferromagnetic coupling and single-molecule-magnet behavior with Ueff of 34 K under zero applied field. The solvent coordinated to potassium affected drastically the nature of the magnetic interaction, with the other dysprosium complex showing ferromagnetic coupling. Ab initio calculations were performed to understand the nature of magnetic coupling between the two lanthanide ions bridged by the anionic arene ligand and the origin of single-molecule-magnet behavior.

The activity of several group 4 metal alkoxide complexes supported by ferrocene-based ligands was controlled using redox reagents during the ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide and ε-caprolactone. Switching in situ between the oxidized and reduced forms of a metal complex resulted in a change in the corresponding rate of polymerization. Opposite behavior was observed for each monomer used. One-pot copolymerization of the two monomers to give block copolymers was also achieved.

The 4-anilino-6,7-ethylenedioxy-5-fluoroquinazoline scaffold is presented as a novel model system for the characterization of the weak NH⋅⋅⋅F hydrogen bonding (HB) interaction. In this scaffold, the aniline NH proton is forced into close proximity with the nearby fluorine (d_H,F ∼2.0 Å, ∠∼138°), and a through-space interaction is observed by NMR spectroscopy with couplings (^1h J_NH,F ) of 19±1 Hz. A combination of experimental (NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography) and theoretical methods (DFT calculations) were used for the characterization of this weak interaction. In particular, the effects of conformational rigidity and steric compression on coupling were investigated. This scaffold was used for the direct comparison of fluoride with methoxy as HB acceptors, and the susceptibility of the NH⋅⋅⋅F interaction to changes in electron distribution and resonance was probed by preparing a series of molecules with different electron-donating or -withdrawing groups in the positions para to the NH and F. The results support the idea that fluorine can act as a weak HB acceptor, and the HB strength can be modulated through additive and linear electronic substituent effects.

We report a new class of redox-active vertex-differentiated dodecaborate clusters featuring pentafluoroaryl groups. These [B12(OR)11NO2] clusters share several unique photophysical properties with their [B12(OR)12] analogues, while exhibiting significantly higher (+0.5 V) redox potentials. This work describes the synthesis, characterization, and isolation of [B12(O-CH2C6F5)11NO2] clusters in all 3 oxidation states (dianion, radical, and neutral). Reactivity to post-functionalization with thiol species via SNAr on the pentafluoroaryl groups is also demonstrated.

We report a discovery that perfunctionalized icosahedral dodecaborate clusters of the type B12(OCH2Ar)12 (Ar = Ph or C6F5) can undergo photo-excitation with visible light, leading to a new class of metal-free photooxidants. Excitation in these species occurs as a result of the charge transfer between low-lying orbitals located on the benzyl substituents and an unoccupied orbital delocalized throughout the boron cluster core. Here we show how these species, photo-excited with a benchtop blue LED source, can exhibit excited-state reduction potentials as high as 3 V and can participate in electron-transfer processes with a broad range of styrene monomers, initiating their polymerization. Initiation is observed in cases of both electron-rich and electron-deficient styrene monomers at cluster loadings as low as 0.005 mol%. Furthermore, photo-excitation of B12(OCH2C6F5)12 in the presence of a less activated olefin such as isobutylene results in the production of highly branched poly(isobutylene). This work introduces a new class of air-stable, metal-free photo-redox reagents capable of mediating chemical transformations.