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Nicolas Mézailles

Publications and source records attributed to Nicolas Mézailles.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Lanthanide and uranium complexes with an SPS-based pincer ligand.

Reactions of Ln(BH4)3(THF)n and [Li(Et2O)]SPS(Me)], the lithium salt of an anionic SPS pincer ligand composed of a central hypervalent lambda4-phosphinine ring bearing two ortho-positioned diphenylphosphine sulfide sidearms, led to the monosubstituted compounds [Ln(BH4)2(SPS(Me))(THF)2] [Ln = Ce (1), Nd (2)], while the homoleptic complexes [Ln(SPS(Me))3] [Ln = Ce (3), Nd (4)] were obtained by treatment of LnX3 (X = I, BH4) with [K(Et2O)][SPS(Me)]. The [UX2(SPS(Me))2] complexes [X = Cl (5), BH4 (6)] were isolated from reactions of UX4 and the lithium or potassium salt of the [SPS(Me)]- anion. The X-ray crystal structures of 1.1.5THF, 2.1.5THF, 3.2THF.2Et2O, and 5.4py reveal that the flexible tridentate [SPS(Me)]- anion is bound to the metal as a tertiary phosphine with electronic delocalization within the unsaturated parts of the ligand.

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EPR and DFT studies of the one-electron reduction product of phospholium cations.

Cyclic voltammetry and EPR spectroscopy show that cationic phospholium groups are good electron acceptors whose reduction leads to a neutral radical where the unpaired electron is mainly delocalized on the carbon atoms of the five-membered ring. DFT calculations together with the crystal structure of phospholiums indicate that the electron addition causes a drastic diminution of the exocyclic CPC angle. The SOMO of reduced phospholium is compared to the SOMO of the phosphole radical anion.

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Syntheses, X-ray structures, photochemistry, redox properties, and DFT calculations of interconvertible fac- and mer-[Mn(SPS)(CO)3] isomers containing a flexible SPS-based pincer ligand.

The lithium salt of the anionic SPS pincer ligand composed of a central hypervalent lambda4-phosphinine ring bearing two ortho-positioned diphenylphosphine sulfide side arms reacts with [Mn(CO)5Br] to give fac-[Mn(SPS)(CO)3]. This isomer can be converted photochemically to mer-[Mn(SPS)(CO)3], with a very high quantum yield (0.80+/-0.05). The thermal backreaction is slow (taking ca. 8 h at room temperature), in contrast to rapid electrode-catalyzed mer-to-fac isomerization triggered by electrochemical reduction of mer-[Mn(SPS)(CO)3]. Both geometric isomers of [Mn(SPS)(CO)3] have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Both isomers show luminescence from a low-lying 3IL (SPS-based) excited state. The light emission of fac-[Mn(SPS)(CO)3] is largely quenched by the efficient photoisomerization occurring probably from a low-lying Mn-CO dissociative excited state. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations describe the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of fac- and mer-[Mn(CO)3(SPS)] as ligand-centered orbitals, largely localized on the phosphinine ring of the SPS pincer ligand. In line with the ligand nature of its frontier orbitals, fac-[Mn(SPS)(CO)3] is electrochemically reversibly oxidized and reduced to the corresponding radical cation and anion, respectively. The spectroscopic (electron paramagnetic resonance, IR, and UV-vis) characterization of the radical species provides other evidence for the localization of the redox steps on the SPS ligand. The smaller HOMO-LUMO energy difference in the case of mer-[Mn(CO)3(SPS)], reflected in the electronic absorption and emission spectra, corresponds with its lower oxidation potential compared to that of the fac isomer. The thermodynamic instability of mer-[Mn(CO)3(SPS)], confirmed by the DFT calculations, increases upon one-electron reduction and oxidation of the complex.

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4,6-bis(supermesitylphosphanylidenemethyl)dibenzofuran. Synthesis, X-ray structure and reactivity towards group 11 metals.

New kinetically stabilized mono- and bis-phosphaalkene ligands (2 and 3, respectively) were synthesized via the phospha-Wittig approach. Ligand 3 was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The coordinating behaviour of the bidentate ligand was investigated towards group 11 metal centers in order to test its capacity to bind two coordination sites located in a trans-fashion. The [Au(3)][BF4], [Ag(3)(H2O)][BF4] and [Cu(3)(CH3CN)][BF4] complexes 4 , 5 and 6, respectively, were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The peculiar geometries of 4 and 6 were rationalized by means of DFT calculations.

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Phosphine gold(I) bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate complexes as new highly efficient and air-stable catalysts for the cycloisomerization of enynes.

[reaction: see text] A study concerning the synthesis of new phosphine gold(I) complexes using the bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate moiety as a weakly coordinating counter-anion is described. These new air-stable complexes are more convenient to prepare, store, and handle and are exceedingly active for the catalysis of a wide range of enynes cycloisomerizations.

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Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of a cationic homoleptic (SPS)2Rh(III) complex and EPR study of its reduction process.

Oxidation of the square planar Rh(I) complex [Rh(SPS(Me))(PPh3)] (SPS(Me) = 1-methyl-1-P-2.6-bis(diphenylphosphinosulfide)-3,5-(bisphenyl)-phosphinine) (1) based on mixed SPS-pincer ligand with hexachloroethane yielded the Rh(III) dichloride complex [Rh(SPS(Me))(PPh3)Cl2] (2), which was structurally characterized. The homoleptic Rh(III) complex [Rh(SPS(Me))2][Cl] (4) was obtained via the stoichiometric reaction of SPS(Me) anion (3) with [Rh(tht)3Cl3] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene). Complex 4, which was characterized by X-ray diffraction, was also studied by cyclic voltammetry. Complex 4 can be reversibly reduced at E = -1.16 V (vs SCE) to give the neutral 19-electron Rh(II) complex [Rh(SPS(Me))2] (5). Accordingly, complex 5 could be synthesized via chemical reduction of 4 with zinc dust. EPR spectra of complex 5 were obtained after electrochemical or chemical reduction of 4 in THF or CH2Cl2. Hyperfine interaction with two equivalent 31P nuclei was observed in liquid solution, while an additional coupling with a spin 1/2 nucleus, probably 103Rh, was detected in frozen solution. The 31P couplings are consistent with DFT calculations that predict a drastic increase in the axial P-S bond lengths when reducing (SPS(Me))2Rh(III). In the reduced complex, the unpaired electron is mainly localized in a rhodium d(z2) orbital, consistent with the g-anisotropy measured at 100 K.

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Effect of conformational changes on a one-electron reduction process: evidence of a one-electron P-P bond formation in a bis(phosphinine).

EPR spectra show that one-electron reduction of bis(3-phenyl-6,6-(trimethylsilyl)phosphinine-2-yl)dimethylsilane (1) on an alkali mirror leads to a radical anion that is localized on a single phosphinine ring, whereas the radical anion formed from the same reaction in the presence of cryptand or from an electron transfer with sodium naphthalenide is delocalized on the two phosphinine rings. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that in the last species the unpaired electron is mainly confined in a loose P-P bond (3.479 A), which results from the overlap of two phosphorus p orbitals. In contrast, as attested by X-ray spectroscopy, the P-P distance in neutral 1 is large (5.8 A). As shown by crystal structure analysis, addition of a second electron leads to the formation of a classical P-P single bond (P-P 2.389 A). Spectral modifications induced by the presence of cryptand or by a change in the reaction temperature are consistent with the formation of a tight ion pair that stabilizes the radical structure localized on a single phosphinine ring. It is suggested that the structure of this pair hinders internal rotation around the C-Si bonds and prevents 1 from adopting a conformation that shortens the intramolecular P-P distance. The ability of the phosphinine radical anion to reversibly form weak P-P bonds with neutral phosphinines in the absence of steric hindrance is confirmed by EPR spectra obtained for 2,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-3-phenylphosphinine (2). Moreover, as shown by NMR spectroscopy, in this system, which contains only one phosphinine ring, further reduction leads to an intermolecular reaction with the formation of a classical P-P bond.

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Electron transfer between two silyl-substituted phenylene rings: EPR/ENDOR spectra, DFT calculations, and crystal structure of the one-electron reduction compound of a di(m-silylphenylenedisiloxane).

Reduction of a solution of octamethylcyclo-di(m-silylphenylenedisiloxane) 4 in THF on a potassium mirror leads to EPR/ENDOR spectra characterized by a large coupling (approximately 20 MHz) with two protons, similar to the spectra obtained after reduction of the m-disilylbenzene derivative 5, consistent with a localization of the extra electron on a single ring of 4. The spectra recorded after reduction of 4 at low temperature in the presence of an equimolar amount of 18-crown-6 exhibit couplings of approximately 10 MHz with four protons and indicate that embedding the counterion in crown-ether provokes the delocalization of the unpaired electron on the two phenyl rings of 4. The measured hyperfine interactions agree with those calculated by DFT for the optimized structure of 4(.-). Direct information on the structure of this anion is obtained from the X-ray diffraction of crystals grown at -18 degrees C in reduced solutions containing 4, potassium, and crown ether in a THF/hexane mixture. Both DFT and crystal structures clearly indicate the geometry changes caused by the addition of an electron to 4: the interphenyl distance drastically decreases, leading to a partial overlap of the two rings. The structure of 4(.-) is a model for an electron transfer (ET) transition state between the two aromatic rings. The principal reason for the adoption of this structure lies in the bonding interaction between the LUMO (pi orbitals) of these two fragments; moreover, the constraints of the macrocycle probably contribute to the stabilization of this structure.

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Dianionic platinadiphospholene complexes.

1,2,3,4-tetraphenyl-1,2-dihydrodiphosphetene 1 reacts with lithium or sodium naphthalenide to afford the corresponding dianionic salts 2 and 3. An X-ray crystal structure analysis shows that dianion 3 of general formula [(1)2-2Na3(DME)2, Na(DME)3] is a polymeric structure consisting of [(1)2-2Na3(DME)2] units which are connected together through one sodium atom. Reaction of the dianionic lithium salt 2 with [Pt(COD)Cl2] affords the 4[Li(2.2.1)]2 complex, after the addition of 2 equiv of (2.2.1) cryptate. The overall geometry around platinum in 4[Li(2.2.1)]2 can be described as distorted square planar, and only the diastereomer (1-R, 2-S, 3-R, 4-S) is formed. X-ray data indicate that no delocalization takes place within each platinadiphospholene unit and that complex 4[Li(2.2.1)]2 must be regarded as the coordination of two molecules of dianion 2 onto a Pt2+ center. Reaction of the dianionic sodium salt 3 with 1 equiv of [Pt(COD)Cl2] produces the 4[Na(DME,Et2O)]2 complex which adopts a pseudotetrahedral geometry around platinum ( between interplane angles = 35), the two cationic units [Na(DME, Et2O)] being located along a C2 axis. Four weak interactions exist between the sodium cations and the phosphorus atoms. Only the (1-S, 2-S, 3-S, 4-S) diastereomer is formed. Bond distances in the diphospholene units of 4[Na(DME,Et2O)]2 are close to that of dianion 3 indicating that, like in 4[Li(2.2.1)]2, the complex can be described as a platinum (+2) dianionic species.

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