Donor-Acceptor Couples and Late Transition Metal Complexes of Oxidation-Labile 1,4,5,8-Tetrakis(guanidino)naphthalene Superbases

In this manuscript the reactivity of the two oxidation-labile superbases 1,4,5,8-tetrakis(N,N,N',N'-tetramethylguanidino)naphthalene and the newly synthesized 1,4,5,8-tetrakis(N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-ethylene-guanidino)naphthalene (tdmegn) are discussed and compared with that of related organic electron donors. The work includes oxidation with inorganic and organic oxidation reagents, as well as the preparation and characterization of dinuclear Co-II, Ni-II and Cu-I complexes. Magnetic coupling in the dinuclear Co-II and Ni-II complexes is studied on the basis of SQUID measurements. Finally, the results of experiments on the oxidation of the dinuclear Cu-I complexes are presented.