Binuclear complexes
[(MHP4)2(μ-HNNAr−ArNNH)](BPh4)2
[M = Fe, Ru; P = P(OMe)3, P(OEt)3,
PPh(OEt)2; Ar−Ar =
4,4‘-C6H4−C6H4,
4,4‘-(2-CH3)C6H3−C6H3(2-CH3),
4,4‘-C6H4−CH2−C6H4]
were prepared by
allowing hydride species MH2P4 to react with
bis(diazonium) salts
(N2Ar−ArN2)(BF4)2
in a 2:1 ratio at low
temperature. The compounds were characterized by 1H
and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy
(including 15N isotopic
substitution) and an X-ray crystal structure determination. The
complex
[{FeH(P(OEt)3)4}2{μ-4,4‘-HNN(2-CH3)C6H3−C6H3(2-CH3)NNH}](BPh4)2
crystallizes in the space group P1̄ with a
= 16.105(5), b = 17.551(6),
c = 11.539(3) Å; α = 96.41(2), β =
84.49(2), γ = 97.97(2)°; and Z = 2.
The structure is centrosymmetric and
consists of binuclear cations with the two iron atoms in an octahedral
environment having the hydride and the
diazene ligands in mutually cis positions. The
[(MHP4)2(μ-HNNAr−ArNNH)]2+
cations reacted with mono(diazonium) (RN2)BF4 salts to give the
binuclear bis(diazene) derivatives
[{M(RNNH)P4}2(μ-HNNAr−ArNNH)](BPh4)4 (R =
C6H5,
4-CH3C6H4,
4-CH3OC6H4). Binuclear
bis(diazenido) complexes
[(MP4)2(μ-N2Ar−ArN2)](BPh4)2 [M = Fe, Ru;
P = P(OEt)3; Ar−Ar =
4,4‘-C6H4−C6H4,
4,4‘-C6H4−CH2−C6H4]
were also prepared
by deprotonation with triethylamine of the diazene−nitrile
[M{4-CH3C6H4CN)P4}2(μ-HNNAr−ArNNH)](BPh4)4 derivatives. Characterization of
all the complexes by infrared and 1H and 31P
NMR spectroscopy is
discussed. Cyclic voltammetry of the binuclear
[(MHP4)2(μ-HNNAr−ArNNH)]2+
and of the related
mononuclear [MH(RNNH)P4]+
derivatives was also investigated. Electrochemical reduction of
binuclear
compounds, where conjugation between the metal centers is possible,
proceeds via two well-separated one-electron
reduction steps whereas, when conjugation is hindered, the two
consecutive reductions tend to merge into a one-step reduction process.