Synthesis and characterization of O,N-chelated vanadium(IV) oxo phenolate complexes: Electronic effect of meta and para substituents on the vanadium center

A series of O,N-chelated vanadium(IV) oxo bis(phenolate) complexes (1a-i) h ave been prepared from [VOCl2(THF)(2)] and several ortho-amino-functionaliz ed phenols in the presence of a base. The intermediates in the synthesis of these compounds are mono(phenolato)vanadate complexes, as was shown by the reaction of [VOCl2(THF)(2)] with 1 equiv of HOC6H2(CH2NMe2)(2)-2,6-Me-4 in the absence of base. This yielded [VOCl2(OC6H2(CH2NMe2)2-Me-4-(CH2NHMe2)-6 )] (2), in which the second amine function acts as an internal base, assist ing in binding the formed equivalent of HCl. Complex 2 exists in the solid state as the dichlorovanadate(IV) species with the protonated amine functio n forming a three-centered intramolecular hydrogen bridge in which both a c hloride atom and the oxygen atom of the phenolate ligand participate. EPR, UV-vis, and cyclic voltammetry analysis of the complexes with meta or para substituents (1a-g) on the aryloxy ring showed the hyperfine coupling const ant, the HOMO-LUMO transition, and the oxidation potential, respectively, t o be linearly related to the Hammett sigma constants of the substituents on the monoanionic aryloxy ring. The oxidation potential shows a large depend ence (dE(ox)/d sigma = 170 mV (per phenoxy ligand)) on the Hammett constant . Crystal data: 1a, orthorombic, Pbca, a = 9.4321(7) Angstrom, b = 14.1919( 14) Angstrom, c = 26.5484(14) Angstrom, V = 3553.8(5), Angstrom(3), Z = 8; 2, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 17.9977(15) Angstrom, b = 15.7445(9) Angstrom, c = 14.4986(6) Angstrom, beta = 113.206(5)degrees, V = 3776.0(4) Angstrom(3), Z = 4.