Stepwise activation of "non-innocent" Cp* substituents--a Cp* based cascade reaction

Reactions of Cp* substituted pentelidene complexes with the primary phosphine Cp*PH(2) yield novel polycyclic phosphorus/arsenic and carbon containing cage compounds via cascade-like reactions. These reactions include a sequence of nucleophilic addition reactions, intramolecular hydrophosphination (partially hydroarsination) reactions, retro-Diels-Alder reactions with Cp*H elimination and subsequent [2+4]-cycloadditions.     

Arsenic-Rich Polyarsenides Stabilized by Cp*Fe Fragments

The redox chemistry of [Cp*Fe(η⁵-As₅)] ( 1 , Cp*=η⁵-C₅Me₅) has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, revealing a redox behavior similar to that of its lighter congener [Cp*Fe(η⁵-P₅)]. However, the subsequent chemical reduction of 1 by KH led to the formation of a mixture of novel As_n scaffolds with n up to 18 that are stabilized only by [Cp*Fe] fragments. These include the arsenic-poor triple-decker complex [K(dme)₂][{Cp*Fe(μ,η^2:2-As₂)}₂] ( 2 ) and the arsenic-rich complexes [K(dme)₃]₂[(Cp*Fe)₂(μ,η^4:4-As₁₀)] ( 3 ), [K(dme)₂]₂[(Cp*Fe)₂(μ,η^2:2:2:2-As₁₄)] ( 4 ), and [K(dme)₃]₂[(Cp*Fe)₄(μ₄,η^{4:3:3:2:2:1:1}-As₁₈)] ( 5 ). Compound 4 and the polyarsenide complex 5 are the largest anionic As_n ligand complexes reported thus far. Complexes 2 – 5 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy ( 2 ), and mass spectrometry. Furthermore, DFT calculations showed that the intermediate [Cp*Fe(η⁵-As₅)]⁻, which is presumably formed first, undergoes fast dimerization to the dianion [(Cp*Fe)₂(μ,η^4:4-As₁₀)]²⁻.     

Complexes of decamethylsilicocene: Cp2*Si(CO) and Cp2*Si(N2)

The synthesis and IR spectroscopic detection of the monocarbonyl and mononitrogen complex of decamethylsilicocen in liquid xenon (LXe) and liquid nitrogen (LN₂) is reported. The reactions were found to be highly incomplete under a few bar of CO or N₂ and reversibel when the pressure is released. Cp₂*Si(CO) is characterized by three isotopomeres and Cp₂*Si(N₂) was synthesized on two independent routes.     

Synthesis and structural studies of arene ruthenium and Cp*Rh/Cp*Ir complexes containing pyridylpyrazole- and pyridylthiazole-based ligands

The reactions of [(arene)RuCl₂]₂ (arene = p-cymene or benzene) and [Cp*MCl₂]₂ (M = Rh or Ir) with N,N′-bidentate chelating ligands 2-[3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazolyl]pyrimidine (L1) and 4-phenyl-(2-pyridyl)thiazole (L2) leads to the formation of mononuclear complexes of general formula [(arene)/Cp*M(L)Cl]PF₆. Eight such complexes have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. In addition, five of the complexes were also characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These complexes have typical piano-stool geometries around the metal center, with five-membered metellacycles in which L1 and L2 both act as N,N′-chelating ligands. Moreover, L1 prefers to coordinate through its pyrimidine and pyrazolyl nitrogen atoms, rather than the pyridine nitrogen.     

Synthesis of arylboronates via Cp*RuCl-catalyzed cycloaddition of alkynylboronates

In the presence of 5-10 mol% Cp*RuCl(cod), 1,6- and 1,7-diynes were allowed to react with an ethynylboronate at ambient temperature to give rise to bicyclic arylboronates in 64-93% isolated yields. 1,6-Diynes bearing a boronate terminal also underwent cycloaddition with monoalkynes to give the corresponding bicyclic arylboronates.     

Particle formation during oxidation catalysis with Cp* iridium complexes

Real-time monitoring of light scattering and UV-vis profiles of four different Cp*Ir(III) precursors under various conditions give insight into nanoparticle formation during oxidation catalysis with NaIO(4) as primary oxidant. Complexes bearing chelate ligands such as 2,2'-bipyridine, 2-phenylpyridine, or 2-(2'-pyridyl)-2-propanolate were found to be highly resistant toward particle formation, and oxidation catalysis with these compounds is thus believed to be molecular in nature under our conditions. Even with the less stable hydroxo/aqua complex [Cp*(2)Ir(2)(μ-OH)(3)]OH, nanoparticle formation strongly depended on the exact conditions and elapsed time. Test experiments on the isolated particles and comparison of UV-vis data with light scattering profiles revealed that the formation of a deep purple-blue color (~580 nm) is not indicative of particle formation during oxidation catalysis with molecular iridium precursors as suggested previously.     

Insertion Reactions of Heterocumulenes with Zincocene Cp*2Zn

Zincocene Cp*₂Zn reacts with carbodiimides C(NR)₂ with insertion into the Zn–Cp* bond and formation of [(Cp*C(NR)₂]₂Zn [R = Et ( 1 ), iPr ( 2 ), Cy ( 3 )]. In addition, the reaction of Cp*₂Zn with CS₂ under dry conditions gives (Cp*CS₂)₂Zn ( 4 ), whereas in the presence of a small amount of water [Zn₄(μ₄‐O)(S₂CCp*)₆] ( 5 ) is obtained. Compounds 1 – 4 were characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C) and IR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction ( 2 – 4 , 5 of poor quality). The solid‐state structure of 5 is comparable to the carboxylate complex previously obtained from the reaction of Cp*₂Zn with CO₂.     

Dinuclear Cp* cobalt complexes of the 1,2,4,5-benzenetetrathiolate bischelating ligand

The dinuclear Cp*Co dithiolene complex [Cp*Co(btt)CoCp*] ( 1) is prepared in high yield from the reaction of the bis(dibutyltin) complex of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetrathiolate (btt) with 2 equiv of [Cp*Co(CO)I 2]. Mononuclear complexes are also obtained from 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(isopropylthio)benzene ( 2) and sodium in pyridine, from benzo[1,2- d;4,5- d ']bis(1,3-dithiolane-2,6-dione) ( 3) and ( t )BuOK in tetrahydrofuran, or from benzo[ d]-1,3-dithiolane-2-one ( 7) and ( t )BuOK to afford respectively 4a, 4b, and [Cp*Co(bdt)] ( 6), while [Cp*Co(dmit)] ( 8) is obtained by literature methods. The X-ray structures of the dinuclear complex 1 and the mononuclear complexes 4a and 6 were determined. They are all characterized by Cp* . . . btt face-to-face intermolecular interactions, leading to a recurrent 4-fold symmetry motif. The cyclic voltammograms of the [Cp*Co(dithiolene)] complexes performed in CH 2Cl 2 show reversible Co (III) to Co (II) reduction but irreversible oxidation waves. The large potential difference between the two reduction waves of the bimetallic complex 1 (269 mV) indicates a stable mixed-valence Co (III)-Co (II) state for the reduced [Cp*Co(btt)CoCp*] (-) anion. Upon trimethyl phosphite addition, the mono-P(OMe) 3 adduct [ 1.P(OMe) 3] exhibits a red shift of the low-energy absorption band to the IR region (856 nm, = 13 000 M (-1).cm (-1)), while [ 8.P(OMe) 3] exhibits a 150 nm blue shift. The stability constants of these P(OMe) 3 adducts were determined from UV-vis spectroscopic titration experiments, with, for example, log( K/mol (-1).dm (3)) values of 3.1 and 0.52 for the mono- and bis-adduct of 1, respectively. The electrochemical investigation of 1 and 8 in excess phosphite shows a strong current enhancement upon oxidation, attributable to the catalytic generation of the radical cation P(OMe) 3 (*+).     

Synthesis and reactivity of bis-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl diiododialane (Cp*AlI)2: an aluminium(II) precursor to (Cp*Al)4

Use of an alternative aluminium(iii) starting material has led to the isolation of a new aluminium(ii) diiododialane, which functions as an intermediate in the synthesis of (Cp*Al)(4), reacts oxidatively with methyllithium, and undergoes oxidative cleavage of the Al-Al bond with an aryl azide.     

Synthesis and characterization of the octahydrotriborate complexes Cp*V(B3H8)2 and Cp*Cr(B3H8)2 and the unusual cobaltaborane cluster Cp*2Co2(B6H14)

The new compounds CpV(B(3)H(8))(2), CpCr(B(3)H(8))(2), and Cp(2)Co(2)(B(6)H(14)) have been synthesized by treating the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl complexes [CpVCl(2)](3), [CpCrCl(2)](2), and [CpCoCl](2) with NaB(3)H(8). X-ray crystallography shows that CpV(B(3)H(8))(2) and CpCr(B(3)H(8))(2) have the same ligand sets but different molecular structures: the vanadium compound contains two bidentate B(3)H(8) ligands (i.e., bound to the metal center via two vicinal hydrogen atoms), whereas the chromium compound has one bidentate B(3)H(8) ligand and one B(3)H(8) ligand bound in an unprecedented fashion via two geminal hydrogen atoms. The "gem-bound" B(3)H(8) group itself has an atypical structure consisting of a BH(2)-BH(2)-BH(3) triangle with one additional hydrogen atom bridging the unique BH(2)-BH(2) edge. The B-B distances are nearly identical within experimental error at 1.790(5), 1.792(5), and 1.786(6) Angstrom. The relationship between the electronic and molecular structures of the V and Cr compounds is briefly discussed. The structure of Cp(2)Co(2)(B(6)H(14)) can be viewed in two different ways: as a dicobalt complex in which two CpCo units are each bound to four adjacent boron atoms of an S-shaped B(6)H(14) ligand, or as an eight-vertex hypho cluster compound. In the former case, the B(6)H(14) ligand is best regarded as a dianionic bi-borallyl group H(3)B(mu-H)BH(mu-H)BHBH(mu-H)BH(mu-H)BH(3) in which one hydrogen at each end of the chain is involved in an agostic interaction. From a cluster point of view, the structure of Cp(2)Co(2)(B(6)H(14)) can be generated by removing three adjacent high-connectivity vertices from the eleven-vertex closo polyhedron. The Co-B distances vary from 2.008(5) to 2.183(4) Angstrom, and the B-B distances within in the S-shaped chain range from 1.734(8) to 1.889(6) Angstrom. Finally, a new synthesis of the known molybdenum compound Cp(2)Mo(2)(B(5)H(9)) is described; its structure as established by X-ray crystallography closely resembles that of the previously described (C(5)H(4)Me) analogue.     

Chemoselective transfer hydrodechlorination of aryl chlorides catalyzed by Cp*Rh complexes

An effective Cp*Rh catalyzed transfer hydrodechlorination of aryl chlorides was achieved with high tolerance towards a variety of functional groups using 2-butanol as a hydrogen source.     

The gas-phase route from Cp*2P6 to neutral hexaphosphorus

Density functional theory has been applied to gain insight into the fragmentation and redox behavior of CpnP6+/0 and Cp*nP6+/0 cations and neutral species (n = 1, 2) in the gas phase. Particular attention is paid to the previously reported generation of neutral hexaphosphorus upon high-energy collisions of the Cp*P6+ cation. Theory provides an explanation for the experimentally observed effect that collisional electron transfer to the Cp*P6+ cation is negligible in that the associated Franck-Condon factors are predicted to be unfavorable. In contrast, dissociation of Cp*P6+ into Cp*(+) + P6 has a relatively low energy demand, thereby accounting for the efficient formation of neutral P6 in the gas phase. Theoretical exploration of the parent compound Cp2P6 reveals that the unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand is much less suitable in this respect, thereby sustaining the previous suggestion that Cp* is a particularly good leaving group.     

Imidazol-2-yl complexes of Cp*Ir as bifunctional ambident reactants

Loss of chloride ion from imidazol-2-yl complex 4a activates the H-H bond of dihydrogen or the C-H bond of acetylene, forming an Ir(III) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex (3b or 9). Deprotonation of Ir(III) hydride 4b gives one new species, formulated as Ir(I) carbene complex 5. Protonation or alkylation of 5 occurs at the metal, returning the Ir(III) core of 6a,b. Deprotonation of cationic NHC complex 3a gives neutral imidazol-2-yl analogue 4a; as seen by X-ray diffraction, the Ir-C bond in 3a is shorter than that in 4a. These and other comparisons and interconversions of NHC complexes with an NH function and related imidazol-2-yl species expand the potential of NHC complexes by showing their bifunctional character.     

One-pot sequential four-component coupling via Cp*RuCl-catalyzed cyclotrimerization and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling

The catalytic intermolecular cyclotrimerization of alkynylboronates, propargyl alcohols, and terminal alkynes was accomplished by means of the ruthenium catalysis and the temporary tethering approach with the C-B-O linkage to give rise to highly substituted arylboronates with excellent selectivity. The resultant arylboronates were further converted to highly substituted biaryls via the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with various aryl iodides using Pd₂(dba)₃/PCy₃ as a catalyst precursor in aqueous toluene. As a consequence, the four-component coupling approach to highly substituted biaryls was successfully established by combining these two operations into a sequential one-pot process.     

The Cp*Si+ cation as a stoichiometric source of silicon

The Cp*Si(+) cation acts as a stoichiometric source of silicon in the reaction with the disilenide Tip(2)Si=Si(Tip)Li (Tip = 2,4,6-(i)Pr(3)C(6)H(2)) affording known neutral unsaturated silicon clusters. It thereby provides a conceptually different approach to this novel class of compounds. The proposed mechanism involves a Cp*-substituted cyclotrisilene in which Cp*(-) acts as a leaving group upon single electron reduction or in a nucleophilic substitution step.     

Remote Oxidative Activation of a [Cp*Rh] Monohydride**

Half-sandwich rhodium monohydrides are often proposed as intermediates in catalysis, but little is known regarding the redox-induced reactivity accessible to these species. Herein, the bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) ligand has been used to explore the reactivity that can be induced when a [Cp*Rh] monohydride undergoes remote (dppf-centered) oxidation by 1e⁻. Chemical and electrochemical studies show that one-electron redox chemistry is accessible to Cp*Rh(dppf), including a unique quasi-reversible Rh^II/I process at −0.96 V vs. ferrocenium/ferrocene (Fc^+/0). This redox manifold was confirmed by isolation of an uncommon Rh^II species, [Cp*Rh(dppf)]⁺, that was characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Protonation of Cp*Rh(dppf) with anilinium triflate yielded an isolable and inert monohydride, [Cp*Rh(dppf)H]⁺, and this species was found to undergo a quasireversible electrochemical oxidation at +0.41 V vs. Fc^+/0 that corresponds to iron-centered oxidation in the dppf backbone. Thermochemical analysis predicts that this dppf-centered oxidation drives a dramatic increase in acidity of the Rh−H moiety by 23 pK_a units, a reactivity pattern confirmed by in situ ¹H NMR studies. Taken together, these results show that remote oxidation can effectively induce M−H activation and suggest that ligand-centered redox activity could be an attractive feature for the design of new systems relying on hydride intermediates.     

Direct arylation of aromatic C-H bonds catalyzed by Cp*Ir complexes

The C-H bond of benzene was directly arylated by reaction with aryl iodides in the presence of a catalytic amount of a pentamethylcyclopentadienyliridium complex and potassium tert-butoxide.