Chemistry of osmium in N₂P₂Br₂ coordination sphere: synthesis, structure and reactivities

Abstract

A family of three mixed-ligand osmium complexes of type [Os(PPh₃)₂(N-N)Br₂], where N-N=2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (Me2bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), have been synthesized and characterized. The complexes are diamagnetic (low-spin d⁶, S=0) and in dichloromethane solution they show intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. The two bromide ligands have been replaced from the coordination sphere of [Os(PPh₃)₂(phen)Br₂] under mild conditions by a series of anionic ligands L (where L=quinolin-8-olate (q), picolinate (pic), oxalate (Hox) and 1-nitroso-2-naphtholate (nn)) to afford complexes of type [Os(PPh₃)₂(phen)(L)]⁺, which have been isolated and characterized as the perchlorate salt. The structure of the [Os(PPh₃)₂(phen)(pic)]ClO₄ complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The PPh₃ ligands occupy trans positions and the picolinate anion is coordinated to osmium as a bidentate N,O-donor forming a five-membered chelate ring. The [Os(PPh₃)₂(phen)(L)]⁺ complexes are diamagnetic and show multiple MLCT transitions in the visible region. The [Os(PPh₃)₂(N-N)Br₂] complexes show an osmium(II)-osmium(III) oxidation (-0.02 to 0.12 V vs. SCE) followed by an osmium(III)-osmium(IV) oxidation (1.31 to 1.43 V vs. SCE). The [Os(PPh₃)₂(phen)(L)]⁺ complexes display the osmium (II)-osmium (III) oxidation (0.26 to 0.84 V vs. SCE) and one reduction of phen (-1.50 to -1.79 V vs. SCE). The osmium (III)-osmium (IV) oxidation has been observed only for the L=q and L=Hox complexes at 1.38 V vs. SCE and 1.42 V vs. SCE respectively. The osmium(III) species, viz. [Os^III(PPh₃)₂(N-N)Br₂]⁺and [Os^III(PPh₃)₂(phen)(L)]²⁺, have been generated both chemically and electrochemically and characterized in solution by electronic spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.