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)].     

Cationic half-sandwich complexes (Rh, Ir, Ru) containing 2-substituted-1,8-naphthyridine chelating ligands: Syntheses, X-ray structure analyses and spectroscopic studies

Reactions of the dinuclear complexes [(η⁶-arene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (arene = C₆H₆, p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)M(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (M = Rh, Ir) with 2-substituted-1,8-naphthyridine ligands, 2-(2-pyridyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (pyNp), 2-(2-thiazolyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (tzNp) and 2-(2-furyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (fuNp), lead to the formation of the mononuclear cationic complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(L)Cl]⁺ {L = pyNp (1); tzNp (2); fuNp (3)}, [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)Ru(L)Cl]⁺ {L = pyNp (4); tzNp (5); fuNp (6)}, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(L)Cl]⁺ {L = pyNp (7); tzNp (8); fuNp (9)} and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(L)Cl]⁺ {L = pyNp (10); tzNp (11); fuNp (12)}. All these complexes are isolated as chloro or hexafluorophosphate salts and characterized by IR, NMR, mass spectrometry and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The molecular structures of [1]Cl, [2]PF₆, [4]PF₆, [5]PF₆ and [10]PF₆ have been established by single crystal X-ray structure analysis.     

Mono and dinuclear rhodium, iridium and ruthenium complexes containing chelating 2,2′-bipyrimidine ligands: Synthesis, molecular structure, electrochemistry and catalytic properties

The mononuclear cations [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(bpym)]⁺ (1), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(bpym)]⁺ (2), [(η⁶-p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl(bpym)]⁺ (3) and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl(bpym)]⁺ (4) as well as the dinuclear dications [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(bpym)]²⁺ (5), [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(bpym)]²⁺ (6), [{(η⁶-p-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(bpym)]²⁺ (7) and [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl}₂(bpym)]²⁺ (8) have been synthesised from 2,2′-bipyrimidine (bpym) and the corresponding chloro complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl₂]₂, [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl₂]₂, [(η⁶-PrⁱC₆H₄Me)RuCl₂]₂ and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuCl₂]₂, respectively. The X-ray crystal structure analyses of [3][PF₆], [5][PF₆]₂, [6][CF₃SO₃]₂ and [7][PF₆]₂ reveal a typical piano-stool geometry around the metal centres; in the dinuclear complexes the chloro ligands attached to the two metal centres are found to be, with respect to each other, cis oriented for 5 and 6 but trans for 7. The electrochemical behaviour of 1-8 has been studied by voltammetric methods. In addition, the catalytic potential of 1-8 for transfer hydrogenation reactions in aqueous solution has been evaluated: All complexes catalyse the reaction of acetophenone with formic acid to give phenylethanol and carbon dioxide. For both the mononuclear and dinuclear series the best results were obtained (50 °C, pH 4) with rhodium complexes, giving turnover frequencies of 10.5 h⁻¹ for 1 and 19 h⁻¹ for 5.     

Partial incorporation of a cyclopentadienyl ligand into a molybdaborane to form a molybdacarbaborane

Reaction of the molybdaborane arachno-2-[Mo(η-C₅H₅)(η⁵:η¹-C₅H₄)B₄H₇] (I) with NEt₃ in toluene at 120 °C for 7 days gives a 90% yield of the molybdacarbaborane nido-1-[Mo(η-C₅H₅)(η³:η²-C₃H₃)C₂B₃H₅] (II). Two of the carbon atoms in the substituted cyclopentadienyl ring in I are incorporated into the metallacarbaborane cluster II. The carbaborane {C₂B₃H₅} fragment in II is attached to an allylic {C₃H₃} group and can be thought of as a new non-planar {C₅B₃H₈} ligand providing seven electrons to the molybdenum atom. Reaction of I with KH in thf at 20 °C gives the anion via deprotonation of a B-H-B bridging proton.     

Mono and dinuclear complexes of half-sandwich platinum group metals (Ru, Rh and Ir) bearing a flexible pyridyl-thiazole multidentate donor ligand

The mononuclear cationic complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl(L)]⁺ (1), [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)RuCl(L)]⁺ (2), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)(L)]⁺ (3), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(PPh₃)(L)]⁺ (4), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl(L)]⁺ (5), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl(L)]⁺ (6) as well as the dinuclear dicationic complexes [{(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (7), [{(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (8), [{(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)}2(L)]²⁺ (9), [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(PPh₃)}₂(L)]²⁺ (10), [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (11) and [{(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (12) have been synthesized from 4,4′-bis(2-pyridyl-4-thiazole) (L) and the corresponding complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl)], [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl], [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, respectively. All complexes were isolated as hexafluorophosphate salts and characterized by IR, NMR, mass spectrometry and UV-vis spectroscopy. The X-ray crystal structure analyses of [3]PF₆, [5]PF₆, [8](PF₆)₂ and [12](PF₆)₂ reveal a typical piano-stool geometry around the metal centers with a five-membered metallo-cycle in which 4,4′-bis(2-pyridyl-4-thiazole) acts as a N,N′-chelating ligand.     

Bimetallic complexes with ruthenium and tantalocene moieties: Synthesis and use in a catalytic cyclopropanation reaction

The reaction of the tantalocene dichloride monophosphines (1-2) with the binuclear complex [(p-cymene)RuCl₂]₂ gives the heterobimetallic compounds (p-cymene)[(η⁵-C₅H₅)(μ-η⁵:η¹-C₅H₄(CH₂)₂PR₂)TaCl₂]RuCl₂ (3-4). The air oxidation of these bimetallic species 3-4, leads to the cationic hydroxo tantalum ruthenium derivatives 5-6. The last ones are easily deprotonated by a base to afford the oxo analogues 7-8. A preliminary assessment in catalytic cyclopropanation of styrene with tantalum ruthenium bimetallic complexes 3-8 as precatalysts revealed a cooperative effect with a subtle role of the early metal fragment.     

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.     

The effect that 6-tert-butoxyhexyl functionalization has on ethylene polymerization in ansa-zirconocene dichlorides

Ethylene polymerization studies have been carried out with novel precatalysts of the type: [(η⁵-C₁₃H₈)-X(t-BuOC₆H₁₂)Me-(η⁵-C₅H₄)]ZrCl₂ [X=C [1a], Si [2a]], [(η⁵-C₁₃H₈)-XMe₂-(η⁵-(t-BuOC₆H₁₂C₅H₃))] ZrCl₂ [X=C [3a], Si [4a]] in the presence of excess methylalumoxane (MAO) to compare their catalytic activity and to delineate the effect of the 6-t-butoxyhexyl functionality on ethylene polymerization. The precatalysts [1a] and [2a] with the bridge functionality showed higher activity in ethylene polymerization than the corresponding complexes [3a] and [4a] which have it on the Cp ring moiety. On the other hand the silyl bridged complexes [2a] and [4a] produced a higher molecular weight polyethylene than the carbon-bridged one, regardless of the location of functional group.     

Polyhedral metallathiaborane chemistry: Synthesis and characterisation of metallathiaboranes based on the twelve-vertex icosahedral closo-{MSB10H10} unit, where M is Rh or Ir

The reaction of [nido-7-SB₁₀H₁₂] with [RhCl(PPh₃)₃] in the presence of N,N,N′N′-tetramethylnaphthalene-1,8-diamine (tmnd) in CH₂Cl₂ gives twelve-vertex [2,2-(PPh₃)₂-2-H-closo-2,1-RhSB₁₀H₁₀] (1) and eleven-vertex [8,8-(PPh₃)₂-nido-8,7-RhSB₉H₁₀] (2), as major products, plus the dimeric species [{(PPh₃)-closo-RhSB₁₀H₁₀}₂] (3) as a minor product. Reaction of 1 with PMe₂Ph in CH₂Cl₂ results in phosphine exchange and hydride substitution, affording the chloro analogue of 1, [2,2-(PMe₂Ph)₂-2-Cl-closo-2,1-RhSB₁₀H₁₀] (4). By contrast, reaction between [IrCl(PPh₃)₃] and [nido-7-SB₁₀H₁₂] in CH₂Cl₂ with tmnd affords only one product, twelve-vertex [2,2-(PPh₃)₂-2-H-closo-2,1-IrSB₁₀H₁₀] (5). [RhCl₂(η⁵-C₅Me₅)]₂ with [nido-7-SB₁₀H₁₂] under the same conditions gives twelve-vertex [2-(η⁵-C₅Me₅)-closo-2,1-RhSB₁₀H₁₀] (6). All the compounds are characterised by NMR spectroscopy, and by mass spectrometry, and the molecular structure of [2,2-(PMe₂Ph)₂-2-Cl-closo-2,1-RhSB₁₀H₁₀] (4) was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. This last rhodathiaborane 4 is fluxional in solution through a process that involves a reversible partial rotation of the {RhCl(PMe₂Ph)₂} unit above the {SB₄} pentagonal face of the {SB₁₀H₁₀} fragment.     

Amidoamine-based dendrimers with end-grafted Pd-Fe units: Synthesis, characterization and their use in the Heck reaction

The synthesis and characterization of novel amidoamine-based metallodendrimers with heterobimetallic end-grafted amidoferrocenyl-palladium-allyl chloride units is described. Dendrimer (Fe((η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)(η⁵-C₅H₄))C(O)HNCH₂CH₂NHC(O)CH₂CH₂)N[CH₂CH₂N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NH-C(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)))₂]₂ (9-Fe) and the corresponding metal species (Fe((η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))(η⁵-C₅H₄))C(O)HNCH₂CH₂NHC(O)CH₂CH₂)N[CH₂CH₂N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))))₂]₂ (9-Fe-Pd) were prepared by a consecutive divergent synthesis methodology including addition-amidation cycles, standard peptide coupling, and coordination procedures. For comparative reasons also the monomeric and dimeric molecules (Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)(η⁵-C₅H₄C(O)NHⁿC₃H₇)) (5-Fe) and [Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)(η⁵-C₅H₄C(O)NHCH₂)]₂ (6-Fe) as well as N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)))₃ (7-Fe) and [CH₂N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)))₂]₂ (8-Fe) were prepared from Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂)(η⁵-C₅H₄CO₂H) (3). Using [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl]₂ (4) as palladium source heterobimetallic metallodendrimers (Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))(η⁵-C₅H₄C(O)NHⁿC₃H₇)) (5-Fe-Pd), [Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))(η⁵-C₅H₄C(O)NHCH₂)]₂ (6-Fe-Pd), N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))))₃ (7-Fe-Pd) and [CH₂N(CH₂CH₂C(O)NHCH₂CH₂NHC(O)(Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄PPh₂(Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl))))₂]₂ (8-Fe-Pd) were synthesized. Additionally, seleno-phosphines of 5-Fe-Se and 9-Fe-Se, respectively, were prepared by addition of elemental selenium to 5-Fe or 9-Fe to estimate their σ-donor properties.The palladium-containing amidoamine supports are catalytically active in the Heck-Mizoroki cross-coupling of iodobenzene with tert-butyl acrylate. The catalytic data are compared to those obtained for the appropriate mononuclear and dinuclear compounds 5-Fe-Pd and 6-Fe-Pd. This comparison confirms a positive cooperative effect. The mercury drop test showed that (nano)particles were formed during catalysis, following on heterogeneous carbon-carbon cross-coupling.     

Study of novel η-cyclopentadienyl and η-arene platinum group metal complexes containing a N4-type ligand and their structural characterization

The mononuclear η⁵-cyclopentadienyl complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl], [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os(PPh₃)₂Br] and pentamethylcyclopentadienyl complex [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl] react in the presence of 1 eq. of the tetradentate N,N′-chelating ligand 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazole (bpp-H) and 1 eq. of NH₄PF₆ in methanol to afford the mononuclear complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)(bpp-H)]PF₆ ([1]PF₆), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Os(PPh₃)(bpp-H)]PF₆ ([2]PF₆) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru(PPh₃)(bpp-H)]PF₆ ([3]PF₆), respectively. The dinuclear η⁵-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ as well as the dinuclear η⁶-arene ruthenium complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ and [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ react with 2 eq. of bpp-H in the presence of NH₄PF₆ or NH₄BF₄ to afford the corresponding mononuclear complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh(bpp-H)Cl]PF₆ ([4]PF₆), [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir(bpp-H)Cl]PF₆ ([5]PF₆), [(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(bpp-H)Cl]BF₄ ([6]BF₄) and [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)Ru(bpp-H)Cl]BF₄ ([7]BF₄). However, in the presence of 1 eq. of bpp-H and NH₄BF₄ the reaction with the same η⁶-arene ruthenium complexes affords the dinuclear salts [(η⁶-C₆H₆)₂Ru₂(bpp)Cl₂]BF₄ ([8]BF₄) and [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)₂Ru₂(bpp)Cl₂]BF₄ ([9]BF₄), respectively. These compounds have been characterized by IR, NMR and mass spectrometry, as well as by elemental analysis. The molecular structures of [1]PF₆, [5]PF₆ and [8]BF₄ have been established by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies and some representative complexes have been studied by UV–vis spectroscopy.     

Anticancer activity of new organo-ruthenium, rhodium and iridium complexes containing the 2-(pyridine-2-yl)thiazole N,N-chelating ligand

The dinuclear dichloro complexes [(η⁶-arene)₂Ru₂(μ-Cl)₂Cl₂] and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂M₂(μ-Cl)₂Cl₂] react with 2-(pyridine-2-yl)thiazole (pyTz) to afford the cationic complexes [(η⁶-arene)Ru(pyTz)Cl]⁺ (arene = C₆H₆1, p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me 2 or C₆Me₆3) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)M(pyTz)Cl]⁺ (M = Rh 4 or Ir 5), isolated as the chloride salts. The reaction of 2 and 3 with SnCl₂ leads to the dinuclear heterometallic trichlorostannyl derivatives [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)Ru(pyTz)(SnCl₃)]⁺ (6) and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(pyTz)(SnCl₃)]⁺ (7), respectively, also isolated as the chloride salts. The molecular structures of 4, 5 and 7 have been established by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses of the corresponding hexafluorophosphate salts. The in vitro anticancer activities of the metal complexes on human ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and A2780cisR (cisplatin-resistant), as well as their interactions with plasmid DNA and the model protein ubiquitin, have been investigated.     

A synthetic, structural and reactivity study of [(η-C4R4)Co(η-C5H4X)] complexes, R = Me or Et; X = CHO, CHCHFc, CHCH(η-C5H4)Co(η-C4Ph4), CHC(CN)2: Unexpected formation of [(η-cyclopentadienyl)(η-3,4,5,6-tetraethyl-α-pyrone)cobalt]

The tetraethyl- and tetramethyl-cyclobutadiene complexes [(η⁴-C₄R₄)Co(η⁵-C₅H₄CHO)] R = Et, 5, R = Me, 7, and [(η⁴-C₄R₄)Co(η⁵-C₅H₄CO₂Me)] R = Et, 6, R = Me, 8, are conveniently prepared by photolysis of the corresponding isocobaltocenium cations [(η⁴-C₄R₄)Co(η⁶-C₆H₅Me)]⁺ in acetonitrile, and subsequent treatment with Na[C₅H₄CHO] or Na[C₅H₄CO₂Me]. The aldehydes 5 and 7 undergo Wittig and Knoevenagel reactions with [FcCH₂PPh₃]I and CH₂(CN)₂, to form [(η⁴-C₄R₄)Co(η⁵-C₅H₄CH=CHFc)] and [(η⁴-C₄R₄)Co(η⁵-C₅H₄CH=C(CN)₂], 11 and 15, respectively. The Horner-Wittig reaction of [(η⁴-C₄R₄)Co(η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂P(O)(OEt)₂] with [(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)Co(η⁵-C₅H₄CHO)] yields [(η⁴-C₄R₄)Co(η⁵:η⁵-C₅H₄CHCH-C₅H₄)Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)], 12 and 13. [(η⁴-C₄Me₄)Co(η⁵-C₅H₄CHO)] also reacts with t-BuLi and FcLi to furnish the corresponding secondary alcohols, 16 and 17, respectively. Surprisingly, the attempted direct synthesis of 5 by reaction of Na[C₅H₅] and ethyl formate with [(η⁴-C₄Et₄)Co(CO)₂I], 1, instead yielded [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Co(η⁴-3,4,5,6-tetraethyl-α-pyrone)], 18, and a mechanistic proposal is advanced. The X-ray crystal structures of 1, 7, 8, 11(Z), 15 and 18, and also the isocobaltocenium salts [(η⁴-C₄Et₄)Co(η⁶-C₆H₅Me)][PF₆], 2, and [(η⁴-C₄Et₄)Co(η⁶-1,3,5-C₆H₃Me₃)][PF₆], 4, are reported.     

Reactivity studies of (η-arene)ruthenium dimeric complexes towards pyrazoles: isolation of amidines, bis pyrazoles and chloro bridged pyrazole complexes

The complex [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂1 reacts with pyrazole ligands (3a-g) in acetonitrile to afford the amidine derivatives of the type [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(L)(3,5-HRR′pz)](BF4)₂ (4a-f), where L = {HNC(Me)3,5-RR′pz}; R, R′ = H (4a); H, CH₃ (4b); C₆H₅ (4c); CH₃, C₆H₅ (4d) OCH₃ (4e); and OC₂H₅ (4f), respectively. The ligand L is generated in situ through the condensation of 3,5-HRR′pz with acetonitrile under the influence of [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl₂]₂. The complex [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂2 reacts with pyrazole ligands in acetonitrile to yield bis-pyrazole derivatives such as [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru (3,5-HRR′pz)₂Cl](BF₄) (5a-b), where R, R′ = H (5a); H, CH₃ (5b), as well as dimeric complexes of pyrazole substituted chloro bridged derivatives [{(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl) (3,5-HRR′pz)}₂](BF₄)₂ (5c-g), where R, R′ = CH₃ (5c); C₆H₅ (5d); CH₃, C₆H₅ (5e); OCH₃ (5f); and OC₂H₅ (5g), respectively. These complexes were characterized by FT-IR and FT-NMR spectroscopy as well as analytical data. The molecular structures¹ of representative complexes [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru{3(5)-Hmpz}₂Cl]⁺5b, [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl)(3,5-Hdmpz)]₂²⁺5c and [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)Ru(μ-Cl){3(5)Me,5(3)Ph-Hpz}]₂²⁺5e were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Mono and dinuclear half-sandwich platinum group metal complexes bearing pyrazolyl-pyrimidine ligands: Syntheses and structural studies

Reactions of 0.5 eq. of the dinuclear complexes [(η⁶-arene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (arene = η⁶-C₆H₆, η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me) and [(Cp∗)M(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (M = Rh, Ir; Cp∗ = η⁵-C₅Me₅) with 4,6-disubstituted pyrazolyl-pyrimidine ligands (L) viz. 4,6-bis(pyrazolyl)pyrimidine (L1), 4,6-bis(3-methyl-pyrazolyl)pyrimidine (L2), 4,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazolyl)pyrimidine (L3) lead to the formation of the cationic mononuclear complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(L)Cl]⁺ (L = L1, 1; L2, 2; L3, 3), [(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)Ru(L)Cl]⁺ (L = L1, 4; L2, 5; L3, 6), [(Cp∗)Rh(L)Cl]⁺ (L = L1, 7; L2, 8; L3, 9) and [(Cp∗)Ir(L)Cl]⁺ (L = L1, 10; L2, 11; L3, 12), while reactions with 1.0 eq. of the dinuclear complexes [(η⁶-arene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ and [(Cp∗)M(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ give rise to the dicationic dinuclear complexes [{(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (L = L1, 13; L2, 14; L3, 15), [{(η⁶-p-ⁱPrC₆H₄Me)RuCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (L = L1, 16; L2, 17; L3, 18), [{(Cp∗)RhCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (L = L1, 19; L2, 20; L3, 21) and [{(Cp∗)IrCl}₂(L)]²⁺ (L = L1 22; L2, 23; L3 24). The molecular structures of [3]PF₆, [6]PF₆, [7]PF₆ and [18](PF₆)₂ have been established by single crystal X-ray structure analysis.     

An unexpected cluster opening upon the formation of electronically unsaturated η-(cyclooctenyl)metallacarboranes of rhodium(III) and iridium(III) with sterically reduced [(PhCH2)2C2B9H9] ligand

The room-temperature metallation reactions of the K⁺ salt of the [7,8-(PhCH₂)₂-7,8-nido-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻ anion (1) with the COD-metal μ-chloride dimers [(η⁴-C₈H₁₂)₂Rh₂(μ-Cl)₂] (2) and [(η⁴-C₈H₁₂)₂Ir₂(μ-Cl)₂] (3) in benzene/ethanol solution gave formally 16-electron pseudocloso-type complexes with the η³-cyclooctenyl ligand at the metal vertices, [3-{(1-3-η³)-C₈H₁₃}-1,2-(PhCH₂)₂-pseudocloso-3,1,2-MC₂B₉H₉] [4, M = Rh(III); 5, M = Ir(III)]. No evidence supporting the existence of an agostic C-H?M bonding interaction in these compounds was obtained either from the crystallographic or the phase-sensitive 2-D [¹H-¹H] NOESY/EXSY studies of 4. The extraordinary stability of complexes 4 and 5 can therefore be associated with their cage-deformed cluster structures, where electronically-deficient (16-electron) metal centers are believed to be stabilized by additional electron density released from the polyhedral C-C bond cleavage. DFT solid-state calculations performed for closo (18-electron) and pseudocloso (16-electron) Rh(III) complexes, [3-(η⁵-C₅Me₅)-1,2-(PhCH₂)₂-closo-3,1,2-RhC₂B₉H₉] (6, C-C, 1.7397 Å) and [3-{(1-3-η³)-C₈H₁₃}-1,2-(4′-MeC₆H₄)₂-pseudocloso-3,1,2-RhC₂B₉H₉] (9, C?C, 2.420(2) Å), showed that the electron density transfer from the carborane moiety to the rhodium center is marginally greater for complex 9, in accordance with the idea that electronics rather than sterics play a crucial role in the stabilization of 16-electron pseudocloso-metallacarborane species.     

Mono- and bis-[2-(P,P-dimethylphosphanyl)ethyl]tetramethylcyclopentadienyl zirconium(IV) complexes: Synthesis and structural studies in crystalline state and in solutions

Synthetic routines for a new ligand C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂ (2b) in forms of its Li- (2b-Li), Na- (2b-Na) salts and in the CH-form (2b-H), as well as for silanes Me₃Si-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂ (3a) and Me₃Si-C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂ (3b) have been developed. On the basis of it, new half-sandwich [η⁵:η¹-κP-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂]ZrCl₃ (4a), [η⁵:η¹-κP-C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂]ZrCl₃ (4b) and sandwich [η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂]₂ZrCl₂ (5), [η⁵-C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂PMe₂][η⁵-C₅Me₅]ZrCl₃ (6) complexes of Zr(IV) have been prepared and characterized. Along with them, the first example of X-ray structurally characterized dinuclear Zr(IV) complex incorporating both sandwich (6) and half-sandwich (4b) moieties linked one to another by means of Zr ← P coordination bond 7, has been described. Formation of an analogously organized trinuclear complex 8, built from one sandwich fragment of 5 and two half-sandwich fragments of 4b was proved by NMR spectroscopy methods. Molecular structures of half-sandwich complexes in their solvent-free dimeric forms (4a and 4b) and as 1:1 adducts with THF (4a-THF and 4b-THF) along with those of dinuclear complex 7 have been established by X-ray diffraction analyses. The dynamic behavior for di- and trinuclear complexes 7 and 8, due to the intermolecular dissociation-coordination of the Me₂P-groups in THF-d₈ solutions has been studied by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy.     

One ligand different metal complexes: Biological studies of titanium(IV), tin(IV) and gallium(III) derivatives with the 2,6-dimethoxypyridine-3-carboxylato ligand

The reaction of 2,6-dimethoxypyridine-3-carboxylic acid (DMPH) with different precursors [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂Cl₂], [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Me)₂Cl₂], [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)(η⁵-C₅H₅)Cl₂], [Ti(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Cl₃], SnMe₃Cl and Ga^tBu₃ yielded the complexes [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂(DMP-κO)₂] (1), [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Me)₂(DMP-κO)₂] (2), [Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄SiMe₃)(η⁵-C₅H₅)(DMP-κO)₂] (3), [Ti(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(DMP-κ²O,O′)₃] (4), [SnMe₃(μ-DMP-κO:κO′)]_∞ (5), and [Ga^tBu₂(μ-DMP-κO:κO′)]₂ (6). 1-6 have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and the molecular structure of the complexes 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The cytotoxic activity of 1-6 was tested against the tumour cell lines human adenocarcinoma HeLa, human myelogenous leukaemia K562, human malignant melanoma Fem-x and human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-361. The results of this study show a higher cytotoxicity of the tin(IV) and gallium(III) derivatives in comparison to their titanium(IV) counterparts. Furthermore, the different titanium compounds showed differences in their cytotoxicities with a higher activity of complex 4 (mono-(cyclopentadienyl) derivative) compared to that of 1-3 (bis-(cyclopentadienyl) complexes). A qualitative UV-vis study of the interactions of these complexes with DNA has also been carried out.     

A new look at the nido-undecaborate system

The structure of the nido-undecaborate anion, [B₁₁H₁₄]⁻, has been re-examined because of what appear to be discrepancies that were observed between our determination of the structure of the anion in [(Cp₂Zr)₂B₅H₈][B₁₁H₁₄] (1) and previously published structures. The structure of 1 indicated the presence of two bridging H atoms and another pseudo-bridging one whereas those of a series of published structures indicate the presence of a plane of symmetry with two bridging H atoms and one endo-H atom. Thus, we undertook a series of structural determinations and also a computational study at the B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) level. In addition to 1, the species studied included [NBnEt₃][B₁₁H₁₄] (2), [NBnEt₃][7-Br-nido-B₁₁H₁₃] (3) and [NBnEt₃][7-(η¹-dppm)-nido-B₁₁H₁₂] (4). Our structure of 2 indicated the presence of two bridging H atoms and an endo-hydrogen atom with some bridging character but that of 3 contained three bridging atoms. As expected the structure of 4 contains two bridging H atoms. Calculations of bond parameters fit well with the experimental data as do the ¹¹B NMR chemical shifts. The latter were calculated for the average of the two open face configurations, one with two bridging and one endo-hydrogen and the other with three bridging hydrogen atoms. The difference in energies for these two open face configurations is calculated to be 0.36 kJ/mol, which effectively suggests that the two structures are equally favored.     

Reactivity of electron-poor decamethyl-1,3-diboraruthenocene with sulfur and phosphorus compounds

Decamethyl-1,3-diboraruthenocene [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru{η⁵-(CMe)₃(BMe)₂}] (1) reacts with cyclo-octasulfur in hexane to give [(η⁵-C₅Me₅){η⁵-(CMe)₃(BMe)₂}RuS] (3), which may also be obtained from 1 and propylene sulfide. 1 reacts with H₂S to form the ruthenathiacarboranyl complex [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru{η⁴-(CMe)₃(BMe)₂S}] (6), for which a nido-structure is proposed. The isomeric compounds 3 and 6 have different stabilities: 3 loses sulfur and unexpectedly the closo-cluster [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂Ru₂H(CMe)₃(BMe)₂] (4) is formed with hydrogen bridging the basal and apical Ru centers. Reaction of 1 with carbonylsulfide (COS) yields the dinuclear ruthenium compound [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru{η⁵-(CMe)₃(BMe)₂(S)(COBMe)}]₂ (7) in which two B-O groups bridge two ruthenium complexes. Its formation results from a complex reaction sequence: sulfur inserts into the diborolyl ring and the ligand CO forms an oxygen-boron bridge to a second molecule, followed by insertion of the carbonyl carbon into the double bond of the diboraheterocycle. Carbon disulfide reacts with 1 to give the dinuclear complex 8 with two CS₂ molecules connecting the ruthenium centers. When 1 and P₄ are heated in toluene, the sandwich 9 is obtained by formal insertion of a P-H group into the diborolyl ring of 1 and the triple-decker [{η⁵-(C₅Me₅)Ru}₂{μ-(MeC)₃P(MeB)₂} (10) is detected in the mass spectrum. The phosphaalkyne PCtBu inserts into 1 to give the ruthenaphosphacarborane [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ru{(CMe)₂(BMe)(PCtBu)(CMe)(BMe)}] (11) in high yield. Phosphanes react with 1 to give weak donor-acceptor complexes 1 · PH₂R (12) (R=Ph, H). The compositions of the compounds are deduced from spectroscopic and analytical data and are confirmed for 4 and 7 by X-ray structural analyses.