Organometallic cerium(iv) complexes have been challenging to isolate and characterize due to the strongly oxidizing nature of the cerium(iv) cation. Herein, we report two cerium(iv) alkynyl complexes, Ce(TriNOx)(C[triple bond, length as m-dashC-SiMe3)] (1-CeTMS) and Ce(TriNOx)(C[triple bond, length as m-dashC-Ph)] (1-CePh) (TriNOx3- = tris(2-tert-butylhydroxylaminato)benzylamine), that include terminal alkyne moieties. The isostructural thorium analogue Th(TriNOx)(C[triple bond, length as m-dashC-SiMe3)] (1-ThTMS) was also synthesized and compared with 1-CeTMS in bond distance, 13C-NMR spectra, vibrational spectra and electronic structure. The Ce-C bond distances were 2.501(3) Å for 1-CePh and 2.513(5) Å for 1-CeTMS on the shorter end of the few reported CeIV-C single bonds (2.478(3)-2.705(2) Å), possibly indicating significant Ce 5d- and 4f-orbital involvement. 13C-NMR spectroscopy was also consistent with Ce-C covalency, with significantly deshielded resonances ranging from 185-213 ppm. Such 13C-NMR shifts demonstrate a strong influence from spin-orbit coupling (SOC) effects, corroborated by computational studies. Raman analysis showed ν Ctriple bond, length as m-dashC stretching frequencies of 2000 cm-1 (1-CeTMS) and 2052 cm-1 (1-CePh), indicating the cerium(iv)-alkynyl interaction, compared to the parent HCtriple bond, length as m-dashCPh (IR = 2105 cm-1 and Raman = 2104 cm-1). L3-edge X-ray absorption measurements revealed a predominant Ce(iv) electronic configuration, and magnetic measurements revealed temperature-independent paramagnetism. Electrochemical studies similarly revealed the electron donating ability of the alkynyl ligands, stronger than either fluoride or imido ligands for the Ce(iv)(TriNOx)-framework, with a cerium(iv/iii) reduction potential of E pc = -1.58 to -1.66 V vs. Fc/Fc+. Evidence for a trans-influence has been observed by evaluating a series including previously reported CeIV(TriNOx)X+/0 complexes with axial ligands X = THF, I-, Br-, Cl-, F-, -Ctriple bond, length as m-dashC-Ph, -Ctriple bond, length as m-dashC-SiMe3, -NH(3,5-(CF3)2-Ar), -OSiPh3, -N(M(L))(3,5-(CF3)2-Ar) M(L) = Li(TMEDA), K(DME)2 or Cs(2,2,2-crypt). These data stand in contrast with previous reports of an inverse trans-influence at cerium(iv) and point to differences in involvement of cerium 4f- versus 5d-orbitals in the electronic structures of the complexes.
Yang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.