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New compounds of the general formulas [M(Ar-BIAN)(2)]BF(4) and [M(Ar-BIAN)(NCMe)(2)]BF(4), where M=Cu(1) or Ag(1) and Ar-BIAN = bis(aryl)acenaphthenequinonediimine, were synthesized by the direct reaction of [Cu(NCMe)(4)]BF(4) or [Ag(NCMe)(4)]BF(4) with the corresponding Ar-BIAN ligand in dried CH(2)Cl(2). The synthesized compounds are [M(o, d, p-Me(3)C(6)H(2)-BIAN)(2)]BF(4) where M = Cu(1) (1) and Ag(1) (2), [M(o,d-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-BIAN)(NCMe)(2)]BF(4) where M = Cu(1) (3) and Ag(1) (4), and [Ag(o,d-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-BIAN)(2)]BF(4) (5). The crystal structures of compounds 1-3 and 5 were solved by singlecrystal X-ray diffraction. In all cases copper(I) or silver(I) are in a distorted tetrahedron that is constructed from the four nitrogen atoms of the two a-diimine ligands or, in 3, from one a-diimine ligand and two acetonitrile molecules. All compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and IR, UV-vis, and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The analysis of the molecular geometry and the energetic changes for the formation reactions of the complexes, in a CH(2)Cl(2) solution, were evaluated by density functional theory calculations and compared with the experimental results.

The coordination properties of the beta-keto phosphine ligands R(2)PCH(2)C(O)Ph (HL(1), R = i-Pr; HL(2), R = Ph), of the new acetamide-derived phosphine ligand (i-Pr)(2)PNHC(O) Me (HL(3)) and of Ph(2)PNHC(O) Me (HL(4)) have been examined towards Ni(II) complexes. Comparisons are made between systems in which the PCH(2) function of the ketophosphine has been replaced with an isoelectronic PNH group in amide-derived ligands, or the PCH functionality of phosphinoenolates with a PN group in phosphinoiminolate complexes. Furthermore, ligands HL(2) and HL(4) reacted with [(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))CoI(2)(CO)] to afford the phosphine mono-adducts [(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))CoI(2){Ph(2)PCH(2)C(O)Ph}] (1) and [(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))CoI(2){Ph(2)PNHC(O)Me}] (3), respectively, which upon reaction with excess NEt(3) yielded the phosphinoenolate complex [(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))CoI{Ph(2)PCH (center dot center dot center dot) under barC((center dot center dot center dot) under barO)Ph}] (2) and the phosphinoiminolate complex [(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))CoI{Ph(2)PN (center dot center dot center dot) under barC((center dot center dot center dot) under barO)Me}] (4), respectively. The complexes cis-[Ni{(i-Pr)(2)PN (center dot center dot center dot) under barC((center dot center dot center dot) under barO)Me}(2)] (6) and cis-[Ni{Ph(2)PN (center dot center dot center dot) under barC((center dot center dot center dot) under barO)Me}(2)] (7) were obtained similarly from NiCl(2) and HL(3) and HL(4), respectively, in the presence of a base. The phosphinoenolate complex [Ni{(i-Pr)(2)PCH (center dot center dot center dot) under barC((center dot center dot center dot) under barO) Ph}(2)] (5) exists in ethanol as a mixture of the cis and trans isomers, in contrast to cis-[Ni{(Ph(2)PCH (center dot center dot center dot) under barC((center dot center dot center dot) under barO)Ph}(2)], and the solid-state structure of the trans isomer of 5 was established by X-ray diffraction. The structures of the ligand HL3 and of the complexes 1, 3 in 3 center dot 3/2CH(2)Cl(2), 4, 6 and 7 have also been determined by X-ray diffraction and are compared with those of related complexes. Complexes 4, 6 and 7 contain a five-membered heteroatomic metallocyclic moiety, which is constituted by five different chemical elements. The structural consequences of the steric bulk of the P substituents and of the electronic characteristics of the P, O chelates are discussed.

A series of cobalt(II) compounds of the type [CoX2(alpha-diimine)] were synthesised by direct reaction of anhydrous CoCl2 or CoI2 and the corresponding alpha-diimine ligand, in CH2Cl2: [CoI2(o,o',p-Me3C6H2-DAB)] ( 1), [ CoI2(o,o'-(Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i-DAB)] ( 2), ( where Ar-DAB = 1,4-bis(aryl)-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene), and [CoCl2(o,o',p-Me3C6H2- BIAN)] (3), [CoCl2(o,o'- (Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i-BIAN)] (4), and [CoI2(o,o'-(Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i-BIAN)] (5) (where Ar-BIAN = bis(aryl) acenaphthenequinonediimine). All compounds were characterised by elemental analyses, IR, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction whenever possible. The crystal structures of compounds 2-4 showed, in all cases, distorted tetrahedral geometries about the Co, built by two halogen atoms and two nitrogen atoms of the alpha-diimine ligand. Compounds 3 and 4, as well as [ CoCl2(o,o',p-Me3C6H2-DAB)] (1a), and [ CoCl2( o,o'- (Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i- DAB)] (2a), were activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO) and tested as catalysts for ethylene polymerisation, showing low catalytic activities. Selected polyethylene ( PE) samples were characterised by H-1 and C-13 NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies, and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), revealing branching microstructures (2.5-5.5%). (c) 2007 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Cobalt compounds of the general formula [COX2(alpha-diimine)], where X = Cl or I and the alpha-diimines are 1,4-diaryl-2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene (Ar-DAB) and bis(aryl)acenaphthenequinonediimine (Ar-BIAN) were synthesized by the direct reaction of the anhydrous cobalt salts CoCl2 or CoI2 and the corresponding alpha-diinline ligand in dried CH2Cl2. The synthesized compounds are [Co(Ph-DAB)Cl-2] (1a), [Co(o,o',p-Me3C6H2-DAB)Cl-2] (1b), and [Co(o,o'iPr(2)C(6)H(3)-DAB)Cl-2] (1c) with the ligands Ar-DAB, and also [Co(o,o',p-Me3C6H2-BIAN)I-2] (2'b) with the ligand Ar-BIAN. The crystal structures of all the compounds were solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In all cases the cobalt atom is in a distorted tetrahedron, which is built up of two halide atoms and two nitrogen atoms of the alpha-dimune ligand. X-band EPR measurements of polycrystalline samples performed on compounds 1b, 1c, and 2'b indicate a high-spin Col, ion (S = 3/2) in an axially distorted environment. Single-crystal EPR experiments on compounds 1b and 1c allowed us to evaluate the orientation of the g tensor in the molecular frame. (c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.

Rhodium complexes modified by simple trialkylphosphines can be used to carry out homogeneous hydroformylation in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)). The catalyst derived from PEt3 is more active and slightly more selective for the linear products in scCO2 than in toluene, and under the same reaction conditions [100degreesC, 40 bar of CO/H-2 (1:1)] P(OPri)(3) is also an effective ligand giving good catalyst solubility and activity. Other ligands such as PPh3, POct(3), PCy3, and P(4-C6H4But)(3) are less effective because of the low solubility of their rhodium complexes in scCO(2). P(4-C6H4SiMe3)(n) Ph3-n (n = 3 or 1) and P(OPh)(3) impart activity despite their complexes only being poorly soluble in scCO(2). Under subcritical conditions, using PEt3 as the ligand, C7-alcohols from hydrogenation of the first formed aldehydes are the main products whilst above a total pressure of 200 bar, where the solution remains supercritical (monophasic) throughout the reaction, aldehydes are obtained with 97% selectivity. High pressure IR studies in scCO(2) using PEt3 as the ligand are reported.