PNNL

Abstract

A series of vanadium(III) diiodide complexes of the formula CpV(PRNR'PR)I2 (Cp = 5-C5H5; PRNR'PR = (R2PCH2)2N(R)), where R = Et, R = Me (1a), R = Ph (1b); R = Ph, R = Me (1c)) is reported. The corresponding vanadium(II) monoiodide complexes of the formula CpV(PRNR'PR)I, where R = Et, R = Me (2a), R = Ph (2b); R = Ph, R = Me (2c)) were prepared in THF by reduction of 1a-c with Zn powder. The paramagnetic complexes 1a-c and 2a-c are characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and by cyclic voltammetry for complexes 2b and 4b. Complexes 1c and 2a-c were also characterized in the single crystal by X-ray crystallography. We report the preparation of the vanadium(II) complexes CpV(PPh2NPh2)I (3) (PPh2NPh2 = 1,5-diphenyl-3,7-diphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane) and trans-[VCl2(PEtNMePEt)2] (4a) and trans-[VCl2(PEtNPhPEt)2] (4b). These complexes represent initial coordination chemistry of vanadium complexes with PRNR'PR and PPh2NPh2 diphosphine ligands, which contain a pendant amine in the second coordination sphere. This research was supported as part of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy.