Divergent Synthesis of Bimetallic Bisdipyrromethane Complexes

Nicole Giorgi and Keith Searles

University of Florida

Early transition metal complexes bearing dipyrromethane ligand scaffolds namely zirconium and titanium-based systems have demonstrated catalytic efficacy towards amination reactions. These systems also exhibit rich coordination chemistry accommodated by the dipyrromethane ligand scaffold. However, the coordination chemistry and reactivity of late transition metal dipyrromethane complexes remains widely under explored in the literature. In this work, a series of novel bisdipyrromethane ligands were synthesized and metalated with late transition metals namely iron (II) and cobalt (II). Divergent metalation routes were discovered via salt metathesis affording both four-coordinate and three-coordinate bimetallic iron (II) and cobalt (II) bisdipyrromethane complexes. These complexes were characterized utilizing spectroscopic and crystallographic techniques. Furthermore, the chemical reduction and oxidation of these complexes is being explored, in addition to their reactivity towards atom and group transfer reagents.