Heterobimetallic Complexes That Bond Vanadium to Iron, Cobalt, and Nickel

Zero-valent iron, cobalt, and nickel were installed into the metalloligand V[N(o-(NCH2P(iPr)2)C6H4)3] (1, VL), generating the heterobimetallic trio FeVL (2), CoVL (3), and NiVL (4), respectively. In addition, the one-electron-oxidized analogues [FeVL]X ([2ox]X, where X– = BPh4 or PF6) and [CoVL]BPh4 ([3ox]BPh4) were prepared. The complexes were characterized by a host of physical methods, including cyclic voltammetry, X-ray crystallography, magnetic susceptibility, electronic absorption, NMR, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and Mossbauer spectroscopies. The CoV and FeV heterobimetallic compounds have short M–V bond lengths that are consistent with M–M multiple bonding. As revealed by theoretical calculations, the M–V bond is triple in 2, 2ox, and 3ox, double in 3, and dative (Ni → V) in 4. The (d–d)10 species, 2 and 3ox, are diamagnetic and exhibit large diamagnetic anisotropies of −4700 × 10–36 m3/molecule. Complexes 2 and 3ox are also characterized by intense visible bands at 760 and 610 nm (e > ...