PNNL

Abstract

A series consisting of a tungsten anion, radical and cation, supported by the N-heterocyclic carbene IMes (1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) and spanning formal oxidation states W(0), W(I) and W(II), has been synthesized, isolated, and characterized. Reaction of the hydride CpW(CO)2(IMes)H with KH and 18 crown 6 gives the tungsten anion [CpW(CO)2(IMes)]-[K(18 crown 6)]+. The crystal structure of this complex shows that the K+ interacts not only with the oxygen atoms in the crown ether, but also with the carbonyl oxygens. The electrochemical oxidation of [CpW(CO)2(IMes)]- in acetonitrile is fully reversible (E½ = -1.65 V vs Cp2Fe+•/0) at all scan rates, indicating that CpW(CO)2(IMes)• is a persistent radical. Hydride transfer from CpW(CO)2(IMes)H to Ph3C+PF6 affords [cis-CpW(CO)2(IMes)(MeCN)]+PF6 . Comproportionation of [CpW(CO)2(IMes)]- with [CpW(CO)2(IMes)(MeCN)]+ gives the 17-electron tungsten radical CpW(CO)2(IMes)•. This complex shows paramagnetically shifted resonances in 1H NMR spectra and has been characterized by IR spectroscopy, low-temperature EPR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. CpW(CO)2(IMes)• is very stable with respect to disproportionation and dimerization. NMR studies of degenerate electron transfer between CpW(CO)2(IMes)• and [CpW(CO)2(IMes)]- are reported. DFT calculations were carried out on CpW(CO)2(IMes)H, as well as on related complexes bearing NHC ligands with N,N´ substituents Me [CpW(CO)2(IMe)H] or H [CpW(CO)2(IH)H] to compare to the experimentally studied IMes complexes with mesityl substituents. These calculations reveal W H homolytic bond dissociation energies (BDEs) to decrease with increasing steric bulk of the NHC ligand, from 67 for CpW(CO)2(IH)H to 64 for CpW(CO)2(IMe)H to 63 kcal/mol for CpW(CO)2(IMes)H. The calculated spin density at W for CpW(CO)2(IMes)• is 0.63. The W radicals CpW(CO)2(IMe)• and CpW(CO)2(IH)• are calculated to form weak W W bonds. The weakly bonded complexes [CpW(CO)2(IMe)]2 and [CpW(CO)2(IH)]2, are predicted to have W-W BDEs of 6 and 18 kcal/mol, respectively, and to dissociate readily to the W-centered radicals CpW(CO)2(IMe)• and CpW(CO)2(IH)•. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences' Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.