Calix[4]arene stabilized transition metal imido complexes

The usage of calix[n]arenes as ancillary poly(phenolate) ligands is a rapidly developing area in coordination chemistry. This article focuses on the synthesis, structure and reactivity of calix[4]arene- and calix[4]arene ether-stabilized imido complexes of group 4 - 6 transition metals as well as on the comparison of calix[4]arene dialkyl ethers in particular with other widely employed related ligand systems such as salenes, porphyrins and tetraazaannulenes. Contrary to these nitrogen containing systems, it is much easier to control the charge of the ligand system through the degree of alkylation of the calixarene's lower rim without a major change in the geometry of the resulting metal complex. This could lead to isoelectronic and structurally closely related transition metal complex fragments for metals in neighboring groups of the periodic table or for metals in different oxidation states. The "intrinsic" reactivity of metal imido linkages might therefore be explored using calix[4]arenes and calix[4]arene ethers and first results are summarized in this research report.