The hexadentate N6-donor podand tris[3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazolyl]hydroborate (TpPy) contains 2-pyridyl fragments attached to the pyrazolyl C3-positions such that each arm is a bidentate chelate. Three series of lanthanide(III) complexes were prepared:  [M(TpPy)(MeOH)2F][PF6] (series A), [M(TpPy)(NO3)2] (series B), and [M(TpPy)2][BPh4] (series C). Crystallographic studies showed that series A and B have a 1:1 metal:TpPy ratio, with the metal ion lying within the podand cavity and the remaining coordination sites occupied by solvent molecules and/or counterions to give 9-coordination (A, with one fluoride and two methanol ligands) or 10-coordination (B, with two bidentate nitrate ligands). The C complexes were prepared in the absence of any coordinating anions and have a 1:2 metal:TpPy ratio with an unusual icosahedral geometry arising from coordination of the 12 nitrogen donors from two interleaved podands. Conductivity studies on the B complexes show that in water the nitrates dissociate to give [M(TpPy)(H2O) q ](NO3)2; the relaxivity of [Gd(TpPy)(NO3)2] in water is 4.4 s-1 mM-1, a value comparable to those of clinically useful MRI contrast enhancement agents. Comparison of emission lifetimes of [M(TpPy)(NO3)2] (M = Eu, Tb) in H2O/D2O and CH3OH/CD3OD give values for q, the number of coordinated solvent molecules, of 3.6 (water) and 2.6 (methanol). The C complex [Tb(TpPy)2][BPh4] also has q = 2.6 in methanol, suggesting that partial ligand dissociation allows access of solvent molecules to the metal coordination sphere.

Reaction of the tris-chelating hexadentate podand ligand tris[3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-yl]hydroborate (Tp(Py)) with [Cu(MeCN)(4)][PF(6)] affords [Cu(I)(3)(Tp(Py))(2)][PF(6)] (1), which was crystallographically characterized. 1.(MeCN)(2): C(52)H(44)B(2)Cu(3)F(6)N(20)P, orthorhombic, Pna2(1); a = 24.592(7), b = 16.392(5), c = 13.365(5) Å; Z = 4. Each Cu(I) ion is four coordinated by one N,N '-bidentate arm from each ligand; each ligand therefore donates each bidentate arm to a different Cu(I) ion. The isosceles triangular arrangement of Cu(I) ions with N-donor ligands is reminiscent of the tricopper(I) site of ascorbate oxidase. One-electron oxidation of 1 affords the Cu(I)(2)Cu(II) complex [Cu(3)(Tp(Py))(2)][PF(6)](2) (2). The potentials of the Cu(I)/Cu(II) redox couples are affected by the ease with which the accompanying geometric rearrangement can occur. Thus, the first oxidation of 1 is facile (-0.52 V vs the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple, Fc/Fc(+)), but as a result of the concomitant structural rearrangement the second oxidation is rendered much more difficult (+0.12 V vsFc/Fc(+)) and results in slow decomposition of the product. A third oxidation does not occur at accessible potentials. This complex therefore exhibits negative cooperative behavior, in which the geometric change accompanying one metal-based redox change hinders further redox changes at other sites via an allosteric effect. EPR studies on the mixed-valence complex 2 show that in frozen glasses below 120 K the unpaired electron is delocalized over two metal centers (7-line spectrum), but above 160 K the electron becomes localized and gives a simple axial spectrum. The electronic spectrum of 2 in solution shows an intense band at 910 nm (epsilon 2100 dm(3) mol(-)(1) cm(-)(1)) which we believe to be an IVCT band. The combination of EPR and electronic spectral studies show that 2 is class III (fully delocalized over 2 centers) below 120 K but class II (localized but strongly interacting) at higher temperatures.

Reaction of [Mo2Cp2(mu-H)(mu-PHR*)(CO)4] with DBU followed by O2 gives the first anionic phosphinidene oxide complex (H-DBU)[MoCp{P(O)R*}(CO)2] (1) (DBU = 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0] undec-7-ene; R* = 2,4,6-C6H2tBu3). This anion displays three different nucleophilic sites located at the O, P, and Mo atoms, as illustrated by the reactions reported. Thus, reaction of 1 with excess HBF4.OEt2 gave the fluorophosphide complex [MoCp(PFR*)(CO)2] via the hidroxophosphide intermediate [MoCp{PR*(OH)}(CO)2]. Related alkoxyphosphide compounds [MoCp{P(OR)R*}(CO)2] (R = Me, C(O)Ph) were prepared by reaction of 1 with [Me3O]BF4 and PhC(O)Cl, respectively, whereas reaction of 1 with MeI or C3H5Br gave the P,O-bound phosphinite complexes [MoCp(kappa2-OPRR*)(CO)2] (R = Me, C3H5). Metal-based electrophiles were found to bind at either O or Mo positions. Thus, reaction of 1 with [ZrCl2Cp2] gave the phosphinidene oxide bridged [MoCp{P(OZrClCp2)R*}(CO)2], whereas reaction with SnPh3Cl gave trans-[MoCp{P(O)R*}(CO)2(SnPh3)], an heterometallic complex having an intact terminal P(O)R* ligand.