abstract: The late first row transition metals, being inexpensive and environmentally benign, have become very attractive for sustainable catalyst development. However, to overcome the detrimental one electron redox processes exhibited by these metals, the employment of redox non-innocent chelates turned out to be very useful. The Trovitch group has designed a series of pentadentate bis(imino)pyridine ligands (pyridine diimine, PDI) that are capable of binding the metal center beyond their 3-N,N,N core and also possess coordination flexibility. My research is focused on developing PDI-supported manganese catalysts for organic transformations and renewable fuel production. The thesis presents synthesis and characterization of a family of low valent (PDI)Mn complexes. Detailed electronic structure evaluation from spectroscopic and crystallographic data revealed electron transfer from the reduced metal center to the accessible ligand orbitals. One particular (PDI)Mn variant, (5-Ph2PPrPDI)Mn has been found to be the most efficient carbonyl hydrosilylation catalyst reported till date, achieving a maximum turnover frequency of up to 4950 min-1. This observation demanded a thorough investigation of the operative mechanism. A series of controlled stoichiometric reactions, detailed kinetic analysis, and relevant intermediate isolation suggest a mechanism that involves oxidative addition, carbonyl insertion, and reductive elimination. Noticing such remarkable efficiency of the (PDI)Mn system, it has been tested for application in renewable fuel generation. A modest efficiency for H2 production at an apparent pH of 8.4 have been achieved using a cationic Mn complex, [(Ph2PPrPDI)Mn(CO)]Br. Although, a detailed mechanistic investigation remained challenging due to complex instability, a set of relevant Mn(-I) intermediates have been isolated and characterized thoroughly. The dissertation also includes synthesis, characterization, and electronic structure evaluation of a series of Triphos supported iron complexes. Using this pincer chelate and either 2,2’-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene (COT), a set of electronically interesting complexes have been isolated. Detailed electronic structure investigation using spectroscopy, magnetometry, crystallography, and DFT calculations revealed redox non-innocent behavior in the Bpy and COT ligands. Additionally, CO binding to the (Triphos)Fe system followed by reaction with borohydride reagents allowed for the isolation of some catalytically relevant and reactive iron hydride complexes. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Chemistry 2016

Les ligands phosphasalen développés au sein du laboratoire peuvent être considérés comme les analogues phosphorés des ligands salen dont ils diffèrent par la présence de groupements iminophosphorane à la place des imines. L’introduction de ces fonctions a d’importantes conséquences sur les propriétés de ces ligands, qui sont plus électrodonneurs et plus flexibles que les dérivés salen correspondants, capables de stabiliser des métaux à haut degré d’oxydation. Ces ligands ont également un caractère redox non-innocent, une propriété très étudiée de nos jours tant en chimie de coordination qu’en catalyse.Dans la cadre de cette thèse, différents ligands ont été synthétisés en modifiant les différents paramètres au sein du ligand : les substituants du cycle phenolate, MeO vs. tBu (PsalentBu et PsalenOMe); les substituants du phosphore, alkyl vs. aryl (iPrPsalen); et le lien entre les deux azotes, avec l’introduction de différentes o-phenylenediamines à la place d’ethylenediamine, qui donne les ligands Psalophen, PsalophenOMe2, PsalophenMe and PsalophenCF3.Les complexes neutres de cuivre et nickel, ainsi que les produits de mono-oxydation ont été synthétisés et caractérisés. Pour déterminer précisément la structure électronique des complexes différentes techniques ont été utilisés : des spectroscopies UV-visible, RMN et RPE, voltampérométrie cyclique, diffraction de rayons X, mesures magnétiques à l’état solide (SQUID), ainsi que des calculs DFT.De manière générale ces travaux montrent que les phosphasalen sont mieux à même de stabiliser la densité de spin sur le métal, donnant en certains cas des complexes à haute valence (NiIII, CuIII) encore rares dans la littérature. Dans certains cas les observations expérimentales et les calculs pointent vers un état fondamental multiconfigurationel. Contrairement aux ligands salen, les complexes portant un lien aromatique entre les deux azotes dimerisent lors de l’oxydation. Afin de contrôler la densité électronique sur ce cycle, une série des complexes à ligands phosphasalophen ont été également étudies.Une synthèse de complexes phosphasalen de manganèse(II) et (III) a été également réalisée. La stabilisation des complexes oxo ou nitrido, ainsi que la catalyse d’oxydation ont été envisagés avec ces complexes et des résultats prometteurs ont été obtenus. / Phosphasalen ligands developed in our laboratory can be considered as the phosphorous analogues of salen ligands where the imines have been substituted by iminophosphorane functions. The presence of the P-N bond makes these ligands more electro-donating and more flexible than salen analogues. They are able to stabilize high-valent metal complexes, as in the case of a Ni phosphasalen complex, which was characterized as a NiIII complex in solution and in solid state. This was never obtained before with salen-type ligands.Phosphasalen ligands, as the salen ones, can act as redox non-innocent ligands. Therefore, upon oxidation either the ligand or the metal center can be oxidized depending on the relative energy of metal and ligand orbitals. This behavior has been deeply investigated in coordination chemistry and in catalysis.In order to elucidate the factors that influence the oxidation locus different ligands have been synthetized modifiying the phenolate subtituents, MeO vs. tBu (PsalentBu and PsalenOMe); the phosphorous substituents, alkyl vs. aryl (iPrPsalen); and the linker between the two nitrogen atoms, ethylenediamine vs. phenylenediamine (Psalophen, PsalophenOMe2, PsalophenMe and PsalophenCF3).The neutral and one-electron oxidized copper and nickel complexes were synthetized and characterized. In order to determine the electronic structure of the complexes a combination of different characterization techniques were used: UV-vis, EPR and NMR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction, magnetic measurements (SQUID), as well as theoretical calculations.In a general manner, phosphasalen ligands favor a metal center oxidation in a higher extent than salen derivatives, leading in some cases to high-valent metal complexes (NiIII, CuIII), remaining rare cases in the literature. For some complexes, experimental observations and theoretical calculations point to the presence of multiconfigurational ground states. Contrary to salen, complexes bearing an aromatic linker between the two nitrogen atoms dimerize upon oxidation. In order to tune the electronic density in the central ring, a series of phosphasalophen complexes displaying different substituents in the aromatic bridge, have been studied.Manganese (II) and (III) phosphasalen complexes has been also studied. The stabilization of oxo and nitride complexes as well as catalytic applications have been targeted for these complexes and encouraging results have been obtained.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Os resultados apresentados neste trabalho envolvem a sÃntese de compostos de coordenaÃÃo contendo fosfinas e ligantes redox ativos (ligantes nÃo-inocentes) na esfera de coordenaÃÃo do rutÃnio. Este trabalho està inserido em uma linha de pesquisa do Grupo de BioinorgÃnica que visa, como objetivo final, a aplicaÃÃo dos compostos isolados na catÃlise de reaÃÃes de hidrogenaÃÃo. Durante o desenvolvimento das atividades de doutorado, perÃodo de marÃo de 2010 a janeiro de 2015, foram sintetizados seis (06) compostos inÃditos na literatura, um dos quais sendo classificado como complexo precursor, [RuIICl2(binap)(PPh3)], onde binap = 2,2′-bis(difenilfosfina)-1,1′-dinaftaleno. Todos estes compostos foram caracterizados por ressonÃncia magnÃtica nuclear de fÃsforo (RMN 31P{1H}), anÃlise elementar e espectroscopias vibracional na regiÃo do infravermelho e eletrÃnica nas regiÃes do ultravioleta e visÃvel. A despeito das diversas tentativas de formaÃÃo de cristais dos complexos isolados, apenas o composto trans-[RuIICl2(dppb)(opda-Clcat)], onde dppb = 1,4-bis(difenilfosfina)butano e opda-Clcat = 4-cloro-1,2-fenilenodiamina, forneceu cristais passÃveis de anÃlise por difraÃÃo de raios X. A partir dos resultados obtidos durante o perÃodo citado, dois trabalhos foram publicados em periÃdicos indexados (Polyhedron 2010, 29, 3349â3354 e Polyhedron 2012, 31, 104â109) e cinco trabalhos foram apresentados em congressos nacionais e internacionais. Os espectros de RMN 31P{1H} dos compostos sintetizados apresentaram um Ãnico sinal indicando que os Ãtomos de fÃsforo ocupam posiÃÃes equivalentes e trans aos Ãtomos doadores dos ligantes nÃo-inocentes. Apenas o composto trans-[RuIICl2(dppb)(opda-Clcat)] apresentou um dubleto de dubleto que foi atribuÃdo à assimetria do ligante opda-Cl, sendo confirmado pelos dados de difraÃÃo de raios X. Os dados de espectroscopia eletrÃnica indicaram o estado oxidado dos ligantes o-fenilÃnicos apÃs coordenaÃÃo ao centro metÃlico sendo possÃvel, portanto, a observaÃÃo de interaÃÃes de retrodoaÃÃo. Os ensaios de atividade catalÃtica foram monitorados por cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massa utilizando a reaÃÃo padrÃo de hidrogenaÃÃo da molÃcula de acetofenona ao Ãlcool 1-feniletanol. AlÃm dos complexos originalmente apresentados nesta tese, [RuIICl2(binap)(PPh3)](1), trans-[RuIICl2(binap)(opda-Clcat)](2), trans-[RuIICl2(binap)(fenantq)](3), trans-[RuIICl2(PPh3)2(opdaq)](5) e trans-[RuIICl2(PPh3)2(fenantq)](6), onde fenantq e opdaq sÃo, respectivamente, 9,10-fenantrequinona e 1,2-fenilenodiamina, tais ensaios foram, tambÃm, realizados com compostos previamente sintetizados durante a dissertaÃÃo de mestrado e por outros membros do Grupo de BioinorgÃnica, resultando em um total de vinte (20) catalisadores estudados. Destes complexos, dois foram estudados em condiÃÃes heterogÃneas apÃs imobilizaÃÃo sobre esferas hÃbridas de sÃlica/quitosana. Dentre os sistemas estudados, os complexos trans-[RuIICl2(dppb)(Quinone)](10), cis-[RuIICl2(dppb)(opda-Clq)](13), trans-[RuIICl2(dppb)(tabq,cat)](15) e cis-[RuIICl2(dppb)(tabq,cat)](16), onde tabq,cat = 3,3â,4,4â-tetraaminobifenil, apresentaram os mais altos valores de conversÃo (> 90%) em todas as condiÃÃes analisadas. Os valores de conversÃo observados para os sistemas heterogÃneos, ~ 60%, embora menores que aqueles calculados para os sistemas homogÃneos em condiÃÃes similares, nÃo representam desvantagem, uma vez que implicam na reduÃÃo da etapa de separaÃÃo. Os compostos que apresentaram maiores valores de conversÃo em meio homogÃneo apresentam, em comum, a presenÃa de ligantes nÃo-inocentes no estado oxidado. Essa observaÃÃo indica a presenÃa de efeitos sinÃrgicos que influenciam na afinidade do substrato, a citar: (i) aumento da acidez de Lewis do metal pela oxidaÃÃo do ligante e (ii) funÃÃo de reservatÃrio de densidade eletrÃnica do ligante redox ativo que permitir o metal estocar (doar) densidade eletrÃnica no (para o) ligante durante as etapas elementares do ciclo catalÃtico, evitando a localizaÃÃo excessiva de carga sobre o metal. / The results presented in this thesis involve the synthesis of coordination compounds containing phosphine ligands and redox active (non-innocent ligands) in the ruthenium coordination sphere. This work is part of a research line of Bioinorganic Group research aimed, as the ultimate goal, the application of the isolated compounds in catalysis of hydrogenation reactions. During the development of PhD activities, from March 2010 to January 2015, six compounds (06) unpublished in the literature were synthesized; one of which being classified as a precursor complex, [RuIICl2(binap)(PPh3)], where binap = 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphine)-1,1′-dinaphthalene. All of these complexes were characterized by means of phosphorous nuclear resonance magnetic (RMN 31P{1H}), elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and electronic spectroscopy in the ultraviolet and visible regions. Despite several attempts to produce crystals of the synthesized compounds, only the trans-[RuIICl2(dppb)(opda-Clcat)] complex, where dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphine)butane and opda-Clcat = 4-cloro-1,2-phenylenediamine, yielded suitable crystals for determination of X-ray structure. From the results obtained during the cited time, two papers were published in indexed journals ((Polyhedron 2010, 29, 3349â3354 and Polyhedron 2012, 31, 104â109) and five works were shown in national and international meetings. The RMN 31P{1H} spectra of the isolated compounds presented only one signal indicating that the phosphorous atoms lie in equivalent positions and trans in relation to the donor atoms of the non-innocent ligands. For the trans-[RuIICl2(dppb)(opda-Clcat)] complex, however, a dublet of dublet was observed and was assigned to the assimetry of the opda-Cl moiety, which was confirmed by X ray diffraction. The electronic spectroscopic data indicated the oxidized state of the o-phenylene ligands upon coordination to the metal atom thus making possible the back-bonding interaction. The catalytic activity assays were monitored by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry using the standard hydrogenation reaction of the alcohol molecule acetophenone to 1-phenyl ethanol. In addition to the complex originally presented in this thesis, [RuIICl2(binap)(PPh3)](1), trans-[RuIICl2(binap)(opda-Clcat)](2), trans-[RuIICl2(binap)(fenantq)](3), trans-[RuIICl2(PPh3)2(opdaq)](5) and trans-[RuIICl2(PPh3)2(fenantq)](6), where fenantq and opdaq are, respectively, 9,10-phenanthraquinone and 1,2-phenylenediamine, such assays were also carried out for compounds which were previously synthesized during the master course and by other researchers of the Bioinorganic Group resulting resulting in a total of twenty (20) studied catalysts. Among these complexes, two were studied in heterogeneous condition upon immobilization on hybrid spheres of silica chitosan. By accounting for all the studied conditions, the highest values of conversion (> 90%) were observed for trans-[RuIICl2(dppb)(Quinone)](10), cis-[RuIICl2(dppb)(opda-Clq)](13), trans-[RuIICl2(dppb)(tabq,cat)](15) and cis-[RuIICl2(dppb)(tabq,cat)](16), where tabq,cat = 3,3â,4,4â-tetraaminobiphenyls. The values of conversion observed for the heterogeneous systems, c.a. 60%, although lower than those calculated for the homogeneous systems under similar conditions, do not constitute a disadvantage, since separation step is no longer needed. The compounds that showed the higher conversion values in homogeneous medium feature in common the presence of non-innocent ligands in the oxidized state. This observation indicates, very probably, two synergistic effects which influence the affinity of the substrate: (i) the increase of the Lewis acidity of the metal by the oxidation of the ligand and (ii) the function of electron density reservoir of the redox active ligand that allows the metal to store (donate) electron density from (to) the ligand during the elementary steps of the catalytic cycle by preventing excessive charge density on the metal.

La caractérisation complète d’intermédiaires réactionnels intervenants dans des procédés de catalyse homogène est une tâche ardue en raison de leur réactivité et de leur faible concentration. Ceci est particulièrement vrai pour les espèces radicalaires telles que les complexes organométalliques réduits, qui sont des intermédiaires en photocatalyse ou lorsque ces complexes possèdent des ligands non-innocents. Par conséquent, leur structure électronique est encore mal comprise, sachant que l'électron ajouté peut être situé sur différents sites de la molécule.Dans ce contexte, nous avons développé une méthode d'analyse pour étudier en phase gazeuse des complexes organométalliques radicalaires. Des complexes organométalliques multichargés du zinc et du ruthénium avec des ligands bidentes de type bipyridine ou tridente de type bis(imino)pyridine ont d’abord été obtenus et isolés en phase gazeuse. Ils sont ensuite réduits avec les méthodes d’activation par un électron spécifiques à la spectrométrie de masse, la dissociation par capture ou transfert d’électron (ECD/ETD), permettant de former des espèces métalliques radicalaires monochargées. Celles-ci sont enfin isolés et leur spectre infrarouge est obtenu à l’aide de la spectroscopie d’action basée sur la dissociation induite par l’absorption de plusieurs photons dans l’infrarouge (IRMPD). Les méthodes DFT fournissent un complément pour modéliser la structure électronique et le spectre IR de ces espèces.Les challenges à relever pour développer ce nouvel outil d'analyse étaient de deux ordres. Tout d'abord, nous devions être en mesure d'obtenir les complexes souhaités en phase gazeuse. Ceci nous a conduit à examiner de multiples paramètres, tels que la nature des ligands ou l’énergie interne déposée lors de l’étape de réduction. Le deuxième défi portait sur l'utilisation des méthodes de modélisation. Nous avons montré l’absence de fiabilité des méthodes standards de modélisation pour décrire à la fois la structure électronique et le spectre infrarouge des complexes réduits. Les données expérimentales obtenues durant ce travail ont donc été utilisées comme références pour identifier les fonctionnelles DFT les plus appropriées pour l’étude de ces complexes radicalaires. / The complete characterization of reaction intermediates in homogeneous catalytic processes is often a difficult task owing to their reactivity and low concentration. This is particularly true for radical species such as reduced organometallic complexes, which are intermediates in photocatalysis, or when these complexes included non-innocent ligands. Consequently, their electronic structure in the ground state is still poorly understood, knowing that the added electron can be located on different sites of the molecule.In this contect, we developed an analytical method to study radical organometallic complexes in the gas phase. We started with formation of suitable multi-charged zinc organometallic complexes in the gas phase from mixture of zinc metal cation and bipyridine-type bidentate or bis(imino)pyridine tridentate ligands. Multicharged ruthenium complexes with similar ligands have also been studied. Under ideal circumstances these complexes were isolated and reduced in the gas phase to form monocationic metal species. Electron activated methods such as electron capture dissociation (ECD) and electron transferred dissociation (ETD) techniques, available in FT-ICR mass spectrometers, have been used to that end. The resulting Zn and Ru radical cation complexes are then isolated in the gas phase and probed via infrared multi photon dissociation (IRMPD) action spectroscopy. In support, DFT theoretical calculations were performed to model their electronic structure and IR spectra.Two main issues were faced during the development of this new analytical tool. First, we had to be able to obtain the desired complexes in the gas phase. This has lead to monitor various parameters, such as the nature of the ligands or the internal energy provided by the reduction step. The second challenge dealt with the use of modeling methods. We have shown that standard modelling tools lack the accuracy to predict both electronic structure and spectral signatures of reduced complexes. The experimental data gathered in this work have therefore been used as benchmarks for the identification of DFT functionals that are most appropriate for the study of these radical complexes.