Reductive functionalization of methyl ligands by 3d metal catalysts and two possible side reactions has been studied. Selective oxidation of methane, which is the primary component of natural gas, to methanol (a more easily transportable liquid) using organometallic catalysis, has become more important due to the abundance of domestic natural gas. In this regard, reductive functionalization (RF) of methyl ligands in [M(diimine)2(CH3)(Cl)] (M: VII (d3) through CuII (d9)) complexes, has been studied computationally using density functional techniques. A SN2 mechanism for the nucleophilic attack of hydroxide on the metal-methyl bond, resulting in the formation of methanol, was studied. Similar highly exergonic pathways with very low energy SN2 barriers were observed for the proposed RF mechanism for all complexes studied. To modulate RF pathways closer to thermoneutral for catalytic purposes, a future challenge, paradoxically, requires finding a way to strengthen the metal-methyl bond. Furthermore, DFT calculations suggest that for 3d metals, ligand properties will be of greater importance than metal identity in isolating suitable catalysts for alkane hydroxylation in which reductive functionalization is used to form the C—O bond. Two possible competitive reactions for RF of metal-methyl complexes were studied to understand the factors that lower the selectivity of C—O bond forming reactions. One of them was deprotonation of the methyl group, which leads to formation of a methylene complex and water. The other side reaction was metal-methyl bond dissociation, which was assessed by calculating the bond dissociation free energies of M3d—CH3 bonds. Deprotonation was found to be competitive kinetically for most of the 1st row transition metal-methyl complexes (except for CrII, MnII and CuII), but less favorable thermodynamically as compared to reductive functionalization for all of the studied 1st row transition metal complexes. Metal-carbon bond dissociation was found to be less favorable than the RF reactions for most 3d transition metal complexes studied. The first dinitrogen dicopper (I) complex has been characterized using computational and experimental methods. Low temperature reaction of the tris(pyrazolyl)borate copper(II) hydroxide {iPr2TpCu}2(µ-OH)2 with triphenylsilane under a dinitrogen atmosphere gives the µ -N2 complex, {iPr2TpCu}2(µ -N2). X-ray crystallography reveals an only slightly activated N2 ligand (N-N: 1.111(6) Å) that bridges between two iPr2TpCuI fragments. While DFT studies of mono- and dinuclear copper dinitrogen complexes suggest a weak µ-backbonding between the d10 CuI centers and the N2 ligand, they reveal a degree of cooperativity in the dinuclear Cu-N2-Cu interaction.

Our group has been developing normal CCC-NHC pincer complexes for catalysis and OLED applications. However, synthesizing the abnormal analogs has been challenging due to the difficulty in accessing the ligand precursors. This study addresses these challenges, marking a significant step in CCC-NHC pincer chemistry. The abnormal CCC-NHC proligands were synthesized through Ullmann-type coupling of 2-phenylimidazole to 1,3-dibromobenzene. The intermediate 1,3-bis(2-phenylimidazole)benzene was alkylated with 1-iodobutane to obtain the 1,3-bis(N-butyl-2-phenylimidazole)benzene diiodide salt. The proligands 1,3-bis(N-butyl-2-phenylimidazole)benzene dichloride/diiodide were metalated with [Zr(NMe2)4] and transmetalated to group 10 metals (Ni, Pd, Pt) using [NiCl2(glyme)], [Pd(COD)Cl2], and [Pt(COD)Cl2]. Electrospray ionization of the CCC-aNHC pincer complexes [(BuCa-iCa-iCBu)MX] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt, X = Cl, I) in acetonitrile generated dinitrogen adducts [(BuCa-iCa-iCBu)M-N2]+, representing a rare example of group 10 dinitrogen complexes. The coordination of N2 to the cationic species means the pincer ligand provides the required electron density to the metals to stabilize the N2 through π-backbonding. The redox chemistry of NiII and PdII complexes bearing the super electron donating CCC-aNHC pincer ligand was investigated. The PdII complexes were cleanly oxidized with two electron oxidants, such as iodobenzene dichloride (PhICl2). The oxidation of the PdII complex with a half equiv of the oxidants gave mixed valent PdII/PdIV dimer as a thermodynamically preferred product. The oxidation of the CCC-aNHC NiII chloride complex with PhCl2 produced unstable NiIII species. However, utilizing anhydrous CuCl2 as the oxidant yielded a bis-ligated NiIV complex, a seemingly common occurrence among the first-row metals (Fe and Co). Emissive square planar Pt complexes have been utilized to produce OLEDs, but those with halides pose potential threats due to the electrochemical instability of halide complexes. Thus, it is highly desirable that halide-free square planar Pt complexes that maintain high molecular rigidity are developed. The CCC-aNHC pincer Pt halide complexes were emissive when irradiated with UV light. The pincer Pt halide complexes were converted to Pt azolate complexes and retained their emission properties. Substituting halides on Pt complexes with azolates increases the PLQY from 7 % to 24 % and the emission lifetimes from 1.0 μs to 1.4 μs in the solid states.