Synthesis and characterization of 11-vertex platinaborane compounds having nido-PtB10H12 and nido-Pt2B9H10 skeletons

The reaction of closo-[B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻ with [PtCl₂(PPh₃)₂] in MeOH at reflux affords the B-methoxy substituted 11-vertex nido-platinaborane compound [(PPh₃)₂PtB₁₀H₁₀-8-H_0.5(OCH₃)_0.5-10-(OCH₃)] (1) and the known species [(PPh₃)₂PtB₁₀H₁₁-8-(OCH₃)] (2) and 1,6-(PPh₃)₂B₁₀H₈ (3). The same reaction under solvothermal condition gives the partially degraded diplatinaborane [(PPh₃)₂(μ-PPh₂)Pt₂B₉H₇-3,9,11-(OMe)₃] (4) with a novel nido-Pt₂B₉H₁₀ skeleton. The new metallaborane compounds have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray analyses. In particular, computational/theoretical chemistry supports the ultimate structural confirmation of 4. The structures of these metallaboranes exhibit interesting intra- and/or intermolecular C-H?O hydrogen bonding interactions.     

Reactions of pentaborane(9) with electron-rich molybdenum and tungsten phosphine polyhydrides

Reaction of [W(PMe₂Ph)₃H₆] with pentaborane(9) gives nido-2-[W(PMe₂Ph)₃H₂B₄H₈] (1) as well as nido-2-[W(PMe₂Ph)₃HB₅H₁₀] (2). The crystal structure of (2) has been determined. Compound (2) has a novel metallaborane structure containing an edge-bridging {BH₃} group between the tungsten atom and one of the basal boron atoms in a “nido-WB₄” pyramid. Reaction of [W(PMe₃)₄(η²-CH₂PMe₂)H] with pentaborane(9) gives nido-2-[W(PMe₃)₃H₂B₄H₈] (3) whilst reaction of [Mo(L)₄H₄] with pentaborane(9) gives nido-2-[Mo(L)₃H₂B₄H₈] [L = PMe₃ (4), PMe₂Ph (5)]. Treatment of [Mo(PMe₃)₄H₄] with excess BH₃ · thf gives the known borohydride [Mo(PMe₃)₄H(η²-BH₄)].     

Reactions of small boranes with ruthenium phosphine hydrides: Oligomerisation of monoborane-tetrahydrofuran to a nido-hexaruthenaborane

Reaction of [Ru(PPh₃)₄H₂] with BH₃ · thf at room temperature gives borane oligomerisation with the formation of the 6-vertex metallaborane nido-2-[Ru(PPh₃)₂(H)B₅H₁₀] (1). This cluster is also formed by reaction of [Ru(PPh₃)₄H₂] with nido-B₅H₉. Compound (1) is readily deprotonated by KH in thf at the unique basal B-H-B bridge to give (2). In contrast to [Ru(PPh₃)₄H₂] reaction of [cis-Ru(PMe₃)₄H₂] with BH₃ · thf gives initially the known borohydride [Ru(PMe₃)₃(H)(η²-BH₄)] which reacts with excess BH₃ · thf to give the 5-vertex metallaborane nido-2-[Ru(PMe₃)₃B₄H₈] (3). Reaction of [cis-Ru(PMe₃)₄H₂] with nido-B₅H₉ also gives (3) and nido-2-[Ru(PMe₃)₃B₉H₁₃] (4). [cis-Ru(PMe₃)₄H₂] is conveniently prepared in high yield in a one-pot synthesis by the sodium amalgam reduction of RuCl₃ · 3H₂O in thf with excess PMe₃ under dinitrogen.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of four Pd(II) complexes containing nido or closo carborane diphosphine ligands

Three Pd(II) complexes [Pd₂(μ-Cl)₂{7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}₂] · 0.25CH₂Cl₂ (1), [Pd{7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}₂] · 4CHCl₃ (2) and [PdCl₂(1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀)] (3) have been synthesized by the reactions of 1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ with PdCl₂ in acetonitrile, cyanophenyl and dichloromethane, respectively. A fourth complex, [PdI₂(1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀)] (4), was obtained by a ligand exchange reaction through the substitution of the Cl⁻ of complex 3 with I⁻. All four complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structure determination. Single crystal X-ray determination showed that the carborane cage, nido for 1, 2 and closo for 3, 4, was coordinated bidentately to the Pd atom through the two P atoms, and the geometry at the Pd atom was square-planar in all the complexes.     

Formation of ferraboranes from pentaborane(9) or BH3 · thf and an electron-rich cyclopentadienyl iron phosphine hydride

[(η⁵-C₅R₅)Fe(PMe₃)₂H] (R = H, Me) can be made in good yields in a simple one-pot reaction between FeCl₂, PMe₃, C₅R₅H (R = H, Me) and Na/Hg in thf. Reaction of [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(PMe₃)₂H] with pentaborane(9) gives the known metallaborane [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₁₀] (1) in improved yield as well as the new metallaboranes [(η-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₈{μ-5,6-Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PMe₃)(μ-6,7-H)}] (2), [(η-C₅H₅)(PMe₃)-arachno-2-FeB₃H₈] (3), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂-capped-nido-2,3-Fe₂B₄H₈] (4), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₄H₇(PMe₃)] (5) and [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₈(PMe₃)] (6). Reaction of [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe(PMe₃)₂H] with pentaborane(9) gives predominantly [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₁₀] (7) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(PMe₃)-arachno-2-FeB₃H₈] (8). Reaction of [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(PMe₃)₂H] with 2 equiv. of BH₃ · thf gives low yields of ferrocene and compound 3. Compound 7 thermally isomerises to the apical isomer [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₁₀] (9) in low yield. Compounds 1 and 7 deprotonate cleanly in the presence of KH at the unique B-H-B bridge to give [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₉⁻][K⁺] (10) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₉⁻][K⁺] (11) respectively, whilst 6 deprotonates more slowly at one of two equivalent B-H-B bridges to give the fluxional anion [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₇(PMe₃)⁻] (12).     

Polyhedral monocarbaborane chemistry : Reactions of the [6-Ph-nido-6-CB9H11] anion with two-electron donors to yield a series of neutral arachno and closo ten-vertex monocarbaborane derivatives

Reaction of the ten-vertex [6-Ph-nido-6-CB₉H₁₁]⁻ anion (1) with two-electron donor ligands L, where L is SMe₂, NH₂Ph, NC₅H₅, NC₅H₄-para-CH₂Ph, NC₅H₄-para-Ph or NC₉H₇ (where NC₉H₇ is quinoline) in the presence of {FeCl₃(OH₂)₆} gives the six neutral arachno ten-vertex monocarbaboranes [6-Ph-9-L-arachno-6-CB₉H₁₂], compounds 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 11, respectively, isolatable in yields of up to 63%. On prolonged treatment with {FeCl₃(OH₂)₆} oxidative cluster closure of the four compounds 4, 7, 9 and 11 that have pyridine-type ligands gives the neutral closo ten-vertex monocarbaboranes [1-Ph-6-L-closo-1-CB₉H₈], compounds 6, 8, 10 and 12, respectively, in yields of 49-92%. All new species 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and NMR spectroscopy. [This paper is an annotated exposition of parts of an oral presentation at the Third Pan-European Meeting of Boron Chemists, EUROBORON-3, Pruhonice, The Czech Republic, September 2004, of which the proceedings constitute this volume of Journal of Organometallic Chemistry.]     

New approaches to cluster modification in the 12-vertex metallatricarbollide series

Cluster opening of [2-Cp-9-^tBuNH-closo-2,1,7,9-FeC₃B₈H₁₀] (1) , followed by oxidation, generates complexes [2-Cp-8-^tBuNH-closo-2,1,8,10-FeC₃B₈H₁₀] (2), [2-Cp-4-^tBuNH-closo-2,1,4,12-FeC₃B₈H₁₀] (3), [2-Cp-1-^tBuNH-closo-2,1,7,10-FeC₃B₈H₁₀] (4), and [1-Cp-10-^tBuNH-closo-1,2,3,10-FeC₃B₇H₉] (5). Another variation of the syntheses led to compounds [2-Cp-closo-2,1,8,10-FeC₃B₈H₁₁] (6), [4-Cp-1-^tBuNH-closo-4,1,6,8,-FeC₃B₉H₁₁] (7) and to two isomeric, not yet fully characterized, 13-vertex compounds of general nido structure [^tBuNH-Cp-FeC₃B₉H₁₂] (8 and 9).     

The preparation of [closo-1-CB9H8-1-COOH-10-(4-C3H7C5H9S)] as intermediate to polar liquid crystals

The preparation of iodo acid [closo-1-CB₉H₈-1-COOH-10-I]⁻ (1) is optimized and scaled from 1 to 40 g of B₁₀H₁₄. The improved preparation of the [arachno-6-CB₉H₁₃-6-COOH]⁻ (5) uses four times smaller volume and can be run conveniently in up to 40 g scale in a 3-L vessel. The optimized oxidation of 5 to [closo-2-CB₉H₉-2-COOH]⁻ (4) requires less oxidant, 12 times smaller volume, and significantly shorter reaction time. The overall yields of the iodo acid 1 as the [NMe₄]⁺ salt are typically 8-10% (10-12 g) for 40 g of B₁₀H₁₄. The iodo acid 1 was transformed to amino acid 8, then to dinitrogen acid 10, and finally to sulfonium acid 2[3] in overall yield of about 13%. The search for a more efficient phosphine ligand for the Pd-catalyzed amination process was not fruitful. Three routes to the sulfonium acid 2[n] were investigated, and the best yield of about 47% was obtained for Cs₂CO₃-assisted cycloalkylation. Liquid crystalline ester of acid 2[3] and 4-butoxyphenol was prepared and investigated.     

Metallacarborane chemistry of the hypho-[6,7-C2B6H13] anion: Reaction with nickelocene and the formation of three multimetallic nickel-boron clusters

The reaction of the hypho-[6,7-C₂B₆H₁₃]⁻ anion (1) with nickelocene and an excess of ‘proton sponge’ (1,8-bis-(dimethylamino-naphthalene)) in boiling acetonitrile leads to the formation of a pair of isomeric trimetallic nickel-boron clusters, [6,7,8-(CpNi)₃-1-CB₅H₆] (2) and [6,7,8-(CpNi)₃-2-CB₅H₆] (3), in a combined yield of 55%. Isomer (2) had been previously prepared from nido-2-CB₅H₉ but in much lower yield. Isomer (3) is without precedent and has been characterized using multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Isomer (3) undergoes conversion to (2) via heating in boiling toluene. In addition to this isomeric pair, an interesting nido dimetallacarborane of constitution [6,6′-(CpNi)₂-7,7′-C₂B₆H₈] (4) has been isolated from the same reaction in 5% yield and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Reaction of nido-1,2-(CpRuH)2B3H7 with ethynylferrocene to yield new metallacarboranes

Addition of ethynylferrocene to nido-1,2-(Cp^∗RuH)₂B₃H₇ (1) at ambient temperature leads to nido-1,2-(Cp^∗Ru)₂(1,5-μ-C{Fc}Me)B₃H₇ (2, 3) and closo-4-Fc-1,2-(Cp^∗RuH)₂-4,6-C₂B₂H₃ (4). Compounds 2 and 3 represent a pair of geometric isomers, nido-species in which the regiochemistry of the alkyne reduction conforms to the Markovnikoff rule. Compound 4 is an octahedral structure in which the inserted alkyne is on an open face of the closo cluster.     

Reactivity differences between nickel and palladium complexes bearing 1,2-diphosphino-1,2-dicarba-dodecaborane ligand

AgOTf (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) shows the reactivity differences when it reacts with carborane complexes [MCl₂{(PPh₂)₂(C₂B₁₀H₁₀)}] (M = Ni (2), Pd (3)). The reaction of AgOTf with the palladium complex 3 affords [Pd₂(μ-OTf)₂{(PPh₂)₂(C₂B₉H₁₀)}₂] (4) in high yields, while corresponding reaction between the nickel complex 2 and AgOTf leads to the formation of binuclear complexes [Ni{(PPh₂)₂(C₂B₉H₁₀)}](μ-Cl)₂[Ag{(PPh₂)₂(C₂B₁₀H₁₀)}] (5) and [Ag₂(μ-Cl)₂ {(PPh₂)₂ (C₂B₁₀H₁₀)}₂] (6). The carborane cage of complexes 4 and 5 were broken to form nido-carboranes. It is believed the group 10 metals themselves play an important role in opening the closo-carborane skeleton. Directly stirring [(PPh₂)₂(C₂B₁₀H₁₀)] with AgOTf afforded [Ag₂(μ-OTf)₂{(PPh₂)₂(C₂B₁₀H₁₀)}₂] (7), which is also used to react with 2 and 3. The reaction between 2 and 7 gives only 4 in high yields, however, stirring the mixture of 3 and 7 affords [Pd₂(μ-Cl)₂{(PPh₂)₂(C₂B₉H₁₀)}₂] (8), [Pd{(PPh₂)₂(C₂B₉H₁₀)}₂] (9) and 6. All these complexes have been characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹¹B NMR and elemental analyses. Complexes 2, 4-9 have also been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Structural investigations on new iron-acyl derivatives of B(C6F5)3

Reactions between [Fe(η-C₅H₅)(MeCO)(CO)(L)], L = PPh₃ (1), PMe₃ (2), PPhMe₂ (3), PCy₃ (4), CO (5), and B(C₆F₅)₃ give new complexes [Fe(η-C₅H₅){MeCOB(C₆F₅)₃}(CO)(L)] L = PPh₃ (7), PMe₃ (8), PPhMe₂ (9), PCy₃ (10), CO (11), where B(C₆F₅)₃ coordinates selectively to the O-acyl groups. Hydrolysis of 7 gives [Fe(η-C₅H₅){HOB(C₆F₅)₃}(CO)(PPh₃)] (6). The X-ray structures of 6, 8 and 11 have been determined. Calculations, using density functional theory, demonstrate that the charge transfer to the acyl group on Lewis acid coordination is more significant in the σ than the π system. Both effects lead to a lengthening of the acyl C-O bond thus π populations cannot be inferred from the distance changes.     

Synthesis and X-ray structural characterization of the triphenylphosphine derivative of the closo-dodecaborate anion, closo-[B12H11P(C6H5)3][N(n-C4H9)4]

The reaction of a molar excess of closo-[B₁₂H₁₁I][N(n-C₄H₉)₄]₂ (1) with tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0), Pd(0)L₄, yields to the formation of the title monoanionic compound, closo-[1-B₁₂H₁₁P(C₆H₅)₃][N(n-C₄H₉)₄] (2). The structure of 2 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis performed on a single crystal. The mechanism of formation of 2 is also discussed. We suggested a two-step mechanism for the formation of 2 consisting in a oxidative addition of the palladium complex followed by a reductive elimination involving P(C₆H₅)₃ and assisted by Na₂CO₃. To our knowledge, this is the first example of monosubstitution of B₁₂ with formation of boron-phosphorus bond.     

Syntheses and catalytic activities of Group 4 metal complexes derived from C(cage)-appended cyclohexyloxocarborane trianion

The reaction of Li[closo-1-Me-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀] with cyclohexene oxide produced closo-1-Me-2-(2′-hydroxycyclohexyl)-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (1) in 86% yield. Decapitation of (1) with potassium hydroxide in refluxing ethanol gave the corresponding cage-opened potassium salt of the carborane anion, [nido-1-Me-2-(2′-hydroxycyclohexyl)-1,2-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻ (2) in 82% yield. Deprotonation of (2) with two equivalents of n-butyllithium in THF at −78 °C, followed by its further reaction with anhydrous MCl₄ · 2THF (M = Ti, Zr) produced the corresponding d⁰-half-sandwich metallacarboranes, closo-1-M(Cl)-2-Me-3-(2′-σ-O-cyclohexyl)-η⁵-2,3-C₂B₉H₉ (3 M = Zr; 4 M = Ti), in 59% and 51% yields, respectively. Reaction of Li[closo-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₁] with Merrifield’s peptide resin (1%) in refluxing THF gave the ortho-carborane-functionalized polymer (5) in 88% yield. The corresponding closo-1-polystyryl-2-(2′-hydroxycyclohexyl)-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ (6) was produced in 94% yield by refluxing a mixture of the lithium salt of (5) and cyclohexene oxide in THF for 2 days. Compound (6) was decapitated, deprotonated and then reacted with ZrCl₄ · 2THF to produce a polymer-supported d⁰-half-sandwich metallacarborane closo-1-Zr(Cl)-2-polystyryl-3-(2′-σ-O-cyclohexyl)-η⁵-2,3-C₂B₉H₉ (7) in 41% yield. Compounds (3) and (7), in the presence of MMAO-7 (13% ISOPAR-E), were found to catalyze the polymerization of ethylene and vinyl chloride in toluene to give high molecular weight PE (9.4 × 10³ (M_w/M_n = 1.8)) and PVC (2.1 × 10³ (M_w/M_n = 1.6)), respectively.     

Synthesis and structure of halogen derivatives of 9-dimethylsulfonium-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborane [9-Me2S-7,8-C2B9H11]

Halogenation of 9-dimethylsulfonium-7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborane [9-SMe₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁] with N-chlorosuccinimide, bromine and iodine gave the expected corresponding halogen derivatives [9-SMe₂-11-X-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀], where X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3). In the bromination reaction, [9-SMe₂-6-Br-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀] (4) was isolated as a minor product being the first example of substitution at a “lower” belt of the 7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate cage. The use of excess of bromine resulted in dibromo derivative [9-SMe₂-6,11-Br₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₉] (5). Structures of the compounds prepared were determined using ¹¹B-¹¹B COSY NMR spectroscopy (for all halogen derivatives) and single crystal X-ray diffraction (for compounds 2, 3, and 5).     

Rhodathiaboranes with `anomalous' electron counts: synthesis, structure and reactivity

Analysis of the structures of 8,8-(PPh₃)₂-8,7-nido-RhSB₉H₁₀ and 9,9-(PPh₃)₂-9,7,8-nido-RhC₂B₈H₁₁ by RMS misfit calculations has confirmed that these rhodaheteroboranes possess nido 11-vertex cluster geometries in apparent contravention of Wade's rules. However, examination of the molecular structures of both species shows that the {RhP₂} planes are inclined by ca. 66° with respect to the metal-bonded SB₃ or CB₃ faces, and that two weak ortho-CHRh agostic interactions occupy the vacant co-ordination position thereby created. As a consequence of these agostic bonds the Rh atom, and hence the overall cluster, is provided with an additional electron pair, meaning that their nido structures are now fully consistent with Wade's rules. The chelated diphosphine compound 8,8-(dppe)-8,7-nido-RhSB₉H₁₀ is similar to the PPh₃ compound in showing the same agostic bonding. Attempts to prepare a bis-P(OMe)₃ analogue result in ligand scavenging and the formation of 8,8,8-{P(OMe)₃}₃-8,7-nido-RhSB₉H₁₀. Similarly, reaction between Cs[6-arachno-SB₉H₁₂] and RhCl(dmpe)CO does not result in CO loss but in formation of 8,8-(dmpe)-8-(CO)-8,7-nido-RhSB₉H₁₀, shown to exist as a mixture of two of three possible rotamers. Deprotonation of 8,8-(PPh₃)₂-8,7-nido-RhSB₉H₁₀ and 8,8-(dppe)-8,7-nido-RhSB₉H₁₀ with MeLi yields the anions [1,1-(PPh₃)₂-1,2-closo-RhSB₉H₉]⁻ and [1,1-dppe-1,2-closo-RhSB₉H₉]⁻, respectively, with octadecahedral cage structures. It is argued that anion formation causes the agostic bonding to be `switched-off' and results in the cluster adopting the closo architecture predicted by Wade's rules. This structural change is fully reversible on reprotonation, and if reprotonation of [1,1-(dppe)-1,2-closo-RhSB₉H₉]⁻ is carried out in MeCN, the product 8,8-(dppe)-8-(MeCN)-8,7-nido-RhSB₉H₁₀ forms. Interestingly, 8,8-(dppe)-8-(MeCN)-8,7-nido-RhSB₉H₁₀ reconverts to 8,8-(dppe)-8,7-nido-RhSB₉H₁₀ on standing in CDCl₃, suggesting that the agostic bonding is sufficiently strong to displace co-ordinated MeCN. All new compounds are fully characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and, in many cases, by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Iridium(I) complex of chelating pyridine-2-thiolate ligand: Synthesis, reactivity, and application to the catalytic E-selective terminal alkyne dimerization via C-H activation

A novel iridium(I) complex bearing a chelate-coordinated pyridine-2-thiolate ligand [Ir(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (2) was prepared by the reaction of iridium ethylene complex [IrCl(C₂H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (1) with lithium salt of pyridine-2-thiol (Li[SNC₅H₄]). On the treatment of iridium(I) complex 2 with chloroform, iridium(III) dichloro-complex [IrCl₂(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (3) was formed. Reactions of complex 2 with methyldiphenylsilane, acetic acid, and p-tolylacetylene afforded iridium(III) hydride complexes [IrH(SiMePh₂)(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (4), [IrH(O₂CCH₃)(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (5), and [IrH(CC(p-tolyl))(η²-SNC₅H₄)(PPh₃)₂] (6), respectively. Complex 2 catalyzed dimerization of terminal alkynes leading to enynes (7) with high E-selectivity via C-H bond activation.     

Intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds in [Ag(PPh3)3(HL)] complexes [H2L: H2xspa = 3(aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoic acids; H2cpa = 2-cyclopentylidene-2-sulfanylacetic acid]

Compounds of the type [Ag(PPh₃)₃(HL)] {H₂xspa=3(aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoic acids: x = Clp [3-(2-chlorophenyl)-], -o-mp [3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-], -p-mp [3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-], -o-hp [3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-], -p-hp [3-(4-hydroxyphenyl-); H₂cpa = 2-cyclopentylidene-2-sulfanylacetic acid} were synthesized and characterised by IR and NMR (¹H ¹³C and ³¹P) spectroscopy and by FAB mass spectrometry. The crystal structures of [Ag(PPh₃)₃(HClpspa)], [Ag(PPh₃)₃(H-o-mpspa)], [Ag(PPh₃)₃(H-p-mpspa)] and [Ag(PPh₃)₃(Hcpa)] reveal the presence of discrete molecular units containing an intramolecular O-H···S hydrogen bond between the S atom and one of the O atoms of the COOH group. This intramolecular hydrogen bond remains in [Ag(PPh₃)₃(H-o-hpspa)]·EtOH and [Ag(PPh₃)₃(H-p-hpspa)] but in both cases polymeric structures are built on the basis of O-H···O interactions that involve the -OH substituent of the phenyl group of the sulfanylpropenoate fragment.     

Synthesis and characterization of palladium(II) complexes with chiral aminophosphine ligands: Catalytic behaviour in asymmetric hydrovinylation. Crystal structure of cis-[PdCl2(PPh((R)-NHCHCH3Ph)2)2]

Optically active ligands of type Ph₂PNHR (R = (R)-CHCH₃Ph, (a); (R)-CHCH₃Cy, (b); (R)-CHCH₃Naph, (c)) and PhP(NHR)₂ (R = (R)-CHCH₃Ph, (d); (R)-CHCH₃Cy, (e)) with a stereogenic carbon atom in the R substituent were synthesized. Reaction with [PdCl₂(COD)₂] produced [PdCl₂P₂] (1) (P = PhP(NHCHCH₃Ph)₂), whose molecular structure determined by X-ray diffraction showed cis disposition for the ligands. All nitrogen atoms of amino groups adopted S configuration. The new ligands reacted with allylic dimeric palladium compound [Pd(η³-2-methylallyl)Cl]₂ to gave neutral aminophosphine complexes [Pd(η³-2-methylallyl)ClP] (2a-2e) or cationic aminophosphine complexes [Pd(η³-2-methylallyl)P₂]BF₄ (3a-3e) in the presence of the stoichiometric amount of AgBF₄. Cationic complexes [Pd(η⁴3-2-methylallyl)(NCCH₃)P]BF₄ (4a-4e) were prepared in solution to be used as precursors in the catalytic hydrovinylation of styrene. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy showed the existence of an equilibrium between the expected cationic mixed complexes 4, the symmetrical cationic complexes [Pd(η³-2-methylallyl)P₂]BF₄ (3) and [Pd(η³-2-methylallyl)(NCCH₃)₂]BF₄ (5) coming from the symmetrization reaction. The extension of the process was studied with the aminophosphines (a-e) as well as with nonchiral monodentate phosphines (PCy₃ (f), PBn₃ (g), PPh₃ (h), PMe₂Ph (i)) showing a good match between the extension of the symmetrization and the size of the phosphine ligand. We studied the influence of such equilibria in the hydrovinylation of styrene because the behaviour of catalytic precursors can be modified substantially when prepared ‘in situ’. While compounds 3 and bisacetonitrile complex 5 were not active as catalysts, the [Pd(η³-2-methylallyl)(η²-styrene)₂]⁺ species formed in the absence of acetonitrile showed some activity in the formation of codimers and dimers. Hydrovinylation reaction between styrene and ethylene was tested using catalytic precursors solutions of [Pd(η³-2-methylallyl)LP]BF₄ ionic species (L = CH₃CN or styrene) showing moderate activity and good selectivity. Better activities but lower selectivities were found when L = styrene. Only in the case of the precursor containing Ph₂PNHCHCH₃Ph (a) ligand was some enantiodiscrimination (10%) found.     

Synthesis and characterization of isomeric 4- and 8-(σ-CHCHPh)-closo-ruthenacarboranes with η:η-phosphacarbocyclic ligand

Reactions of [3,3-(PPh₃)₂-3-Cl-3-H-3,1,2-closo-RuC₂B₉H₁₁] (1) and its exo-nido isomer [exo-5,6,10-{Ru(Ph₃P)₂Cl}-5,6,10-(μ-H)₃-10-H-7,8-nido-C₂B₉H₈] (2) with NH₄PF₆ in methanol or ethanol solution followed by heating in the presence of an excess of phenylacetylene (3) affords a mixture of two isomeric closo species [3,3-{(1′-3′-η³):(5′,6′-η²)-ortho-C₆H₄PPh₂CHC(Ph)CHCHPh}-8-(σ-CHCHPh)-3,1,2-closo-RuC₂B₉H₁₀] (4) and [3,3-{(1′-3′-η³):(5′,6′-η²)-ortho-C₆H₄PPh₂CHC(Ph)CHCHPh}-4-(σ-CHCHPh)-3,1,2-closo-RuC₂B₉H₁₀] (5) in which boron vertexes in β- and α-sites with respect to the cage carbons bear the (E)-CHCHPh group. The X-ray diffraction study of 4 together with the multinuclear NMR data for 4 and 5 revealed that such an unusual η³:η²-phosphacarbocyclic ligand in both isomeric complexes is formed by specific insertion of the initially metal-bound PPh₃ group into the chain of two alkyne molecules coupled in a “head-to-tail” fashion around the metal vertex.