Synthesis and reactivity of cationic niobium and tantalum methyl complexes supported by imido and β-diketiminato ligands

The synthesis and reactivity of the cationic niobium and tantalum monomethyl complexes [(BDI)MeM(N(t)Bu)][X] (BDI = [Ar]NC(CH(3))CHC(CH(3))N[Ar], Ar = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3); M = Nb, Ta; X = MeB(C(6)F(5))(3), B(C(6)F(5))(4)] was investigated. The cationic alkyl complexes failed to irreversibly bind CO but formed phosphine-trapped acyl complexes [(BDI)(R(3)PC(O)Me)M(N(t)Bu)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] (R = Et, Cy) in the presence of a combination of trialkylphosphines and CO. Treatment of the monoalkyl cationic Nb complex with XylNC (Xyl = 2,6-Me(2)-C(6)H(3)) resulted in irreversible formation of the iminoacyl complex [(BDI)(XylN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Me))Nb(N(t)Bu)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)], which did not bind phosphines but would add a methide group to the iminoacyl carbon to provide the known ketimine complex (BDI)(XylNCMe(2))Nb(N(t)Bu). Further stoichiometric chemistry explored i) migratory insertion reactions to form new alkoxide, amidinate, and ketimide complexes; ii) protonolysis reactions with Ph(3)SiOH to form thermally robust cationic siloxide complexes; and iii) catalytic high-density polyethylene formation mediated by the cationic Nb methyl complex.     

Synthesis and structures of niobium(V) complexes stabilized by linear-linked aryloxide trimers

The preparation and characterization of a series of niobium(V) complexes that incorporate the linear-linked aryloxide trimers 2,6-bis(4,6-dimethylsalicyl)-4-tert-butylphenol [H3(Me-L)] and 2,6-bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylsalicyl)-4-tert-butylphenol [H3(tBu-L)] are described. The chloride complex [Nb(Me-L)Cl2]2 (1) was prepared in high yield by reaction of NbCl5 with H3(Me-L) in toluene. In contrast, the analogous reaction with H3(tBu-L) gave a mixture of [Nb(tBu-L)Cl2]2 (2) and [Nb(de-tBu-L)Cl2]2 (3a). During the formation of 3a, one of tert-butyl groups at the ortho position in the tBu-L ligand was lost. When the NbCl5/H3(tBu-L) reaction was carried out in acetonitrile, Nb[H(tBu-L)]Cl3(NCMe) (4) was obtained. Heating a solution of 4 in toluene generated 2 and 3a. The isolated complex 4 underwent ligand redistribution in acetonitrile to produce Nb[H(tBu-L)]2Cl(NCMe) (5). Treatment of NbCl5 with Li3(tBu-L) in toluene afforded 2. The chloride ligands in 1 and 2 smoothly reacted with 4 equiv of MeMgI and LiStBu, resulting in [Nb(R-L)Me2]2 [R = Me (6), tBu (7)] and Nb(Me-L)(StBu)2 (8), respectively. A number of the above complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. In the structures of 1, 2, and 6, the R-L ligand is bound to the metal center with a U-coordination mode, while an alternative S-conformation is adopted for 3a and 8. Complexes 4 and 5 contain a bidentate H(tBu-L) diphenoxide-monophenol ligand.     

C-H activations at iridium(I) square-planar complexes promoted by a fifth ligand

In the presence of ligands such as acetonitrile, ethylene, or propylene, the Ir(I) complex [Ir(1,2,5,6-eta-C8H12)(NCMe)(PMe3)]BF4 (1) transforms into the Ir(III) derivatives [Ir(1-kappa-4,5,6-eta-C8H12)(NCMe)(L)(PMe3)]BF4 (L = NCMe, 2; eta2-C2H4, 3; eta2-C3H6, 4), respectively, through a sequence of C-H oxidative addition and insertion elementary steps. The rate of this transformation depends on the nature of L and, in the case of NCMe, the pseudo-first-order rate constants display a dependence upon ligand concentration suggesting the formation of five-coordinate reaction intermediates. A similar reaction between 1 and vinyl acetate affords the Ir(III) complex [Ir(1-kappa-4,5,6-eta-C8H12){kappa-O-eta2-OC(Me)OC2H3}(PMe3)]BF4 (7) via the isolable five-coordinate Ir(I) compound [Ir(1,2,5,6-eta-C8H12){kappa-O-eta2-OC(Me)OC2H3}(PMe3)]BF4 (6). DFT (B3LYP) calculations in model complexes show that reactions initiated by acetonitrile or ethylene five-coordinate adducts involve C-H oxidative addition transition states of lower energy than that found in the absence of these ligands. Key species in these ligand-assisted transformations are the distorted (nonsquare-planar) intermediates preceding the intramolecular C-H oxidative addition step, which are generated after release of one cyclooctadiene double bond from the five-coordinate species. The feasibility of this mechanism is also investigated for complexes [IrCl(L)(PiPr3)2] (L = eta2-C2H4, 27; eta2-C3H6, 28). In the presence of NCMe, these complexes afford the C-H activation products [IrClH(CH=CHR)(NCMe)(PiPr3)2] (R = H, 29; Me, 30) via the common cyclometalated intermediate [IrClH{kappa-P,C-P(iPr)2CH(CH3)CH2}(NCMe)(PiPr3)] (31). The most effective C-H oxidative addition mechanism seems to involve three-coordinate intermediates generated by photochemical release of the alkene ligand. However, in the absence of light, the reaction rates display dependences upon NCMe concentration again indicating the intermediacy of five-coordinate acetonitrile adducts.     

A well-defined magnesium enolate initiator for the living and highly syndioselective polymerisation of methylmethacrylate

The reaction of (BDI)MgiPr [BDI = HC(C(Me)=N-2,6-iPr2C6H3)2] with 2',4',6'-trimethylacetophenone in toluene affords the enolate complex [(BDI)Mg(mu-OC(=CH2)-2,4,6-Me3C6H2)]2 which is found to be an excellent initiator for the living, syndioselective (sigma r > 0.95) polymerisation of methyl methacrylate.     

Oxidation of Pt-bound bis-hydroxylamine as a novel route to unexplored dinitrosoalkane ligated species

The reaction of K 2[PtCl 4] and HO(H)NCMe 2CMe 2N(H)OH.H 2SO 4 ( BHA.H 2SO 4; 2) in a molar ratio 1:2 at 20-25 degrees C in water affords a mixture of [Pt(BHA) 2][PtCl 4] ( 5) and [Pt(BHA-H) 2] ( 6) ( BHA- H = anionic monodeprotonated form of BHA) which, upon heating at 80-85 degrees C for 12 h or on prolonged keeping at 20-25 degrees C for 2 weeks, is subject to a slow transformation giving [PtCl 2(BHA)] ( 7). The latter compound is also obtained from the reaction between K[PtCl 3(Me 2 SO)] and 2. The chlorination of [PtCl 2(BHA)] ( 7) in freshly distilled dry chloroform leads to the selective oxidation of one N(H)OH group yielding [PtCl 2{HO(H) NCMe 2CMe 2 N=O}] ( 13), while the chlorination in water produces the complex [PtCl 2(O= NCMe 2CMe 2 N=O)] ( 14) bearing the unexplored dinitrosoalkane species. Treatment of 14 with 2 equiv of 1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) in CH 2Cl 2 results in the liberation of the dinitrosoalkane ligand followed by its fast cyclization giving the alpha-dinitrone (3,3,4,4-tetramethyl-1,2-diazete-1,2-dioxide) in solution and the solid [Pt(dppe) 2](Cl) 2. The Pt (II) complexes with hydroxylamino ( intersection)oximes [PtCl 2{HO(H) NC(Me) 2C(R)= NOH}] (R = Me 8; R = Ph 9) upon their oxidation with Cl 2 in CHCl 3 afford the nitrosoalkane derivatives [PtCl 2{O= NCMe 2C(R)= NOH}] (R = Me 16; Ph 17), respectively, while the corresponding chlorination of the bis-chelates [Pt{HO(H) NCMe 2C(R)= NOH} 2] (R = Me 10; Ph 11) gives [Pt{O= NCMe 2C(R)= NO} 2] (R = Me 18; Ph 19). The formulation of 5- 19 is based on C, H, and N microanalyses, IR, 1D ( (1)H, (13)C{ (1)H}, (195)Pt) and 2D ( (1)H, (1)H-COSY, (1)H, (13)C-HSQC) NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction for five complexes ( 5, 7, and 12- 14).     

Activation of a CNXylyl ancillary ligand in the reaction of electron-deficient alkynes with a phosphido niobocene complex

The niobium phosphido complex [Nb(eta5-C5H4SiMe3)2-(CNXylyl)(PPh2)] (2) undergoes an unusual cycloaddition reaction with electron-deficient alkynes to give the novel five-membered heteroniobacycles [Nb(eta5-C5H4SiMe3)2(kappaC-C(=N(Xylyl))C(CO2Me)=C(R)PPh2-kappaP)] (R = H 3 and R = Me 4).     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of ruthenium carboxylato and 2-oxocarboxylato complexes bearing the bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetato ligand

A series of ruthenium(II) acetonitrile, pyridine (py), carbonyl, SO2, and nitrosyl complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(L)(PPh3)] (L = NCMe, py, CO, SO2) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(L)(PPh3)]BF4 (L = NO) containing the bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetato (bdmpza) ligand, a N,N,O heteroscorpionate ligand, have been prepared. Starting from ruthenium chlorido, carboxylato, or 2-oxocarboxylato complexes, a variety of acetonitrile complexes [Ru(bdmpza)Cl(NCMe)(PPh3)] (4) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(NCMe)(PPh3)] (R = Me (5a), R = Ph (5b)), as well as the pyridine complexes [Ru(bdmpza)Cl(PPh3)(py)] (6) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(PPh3)(py)] (R = Me (7a), R = Ph (7b), R = (CO)Me (8a), R = (CO)Et (8b), R = (CO)Ph) (8c)), have been synthesized. Treatment of various carboxylato complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(PPh3)2] (R = Me (2a), Ph (2b)) with CO afforded carbonyl complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(CO)(PPh3)] (9a, 9b). In the same way, the corresponding sulfur dioxide complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CMe)(PPh3)(SO2)] (10a) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CPh)(PPh3)(SO2)] (10b) were formed in a reaction of the carboxylato complexes with gaseous SO2. None of the 2-oxocarboxylato complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2C(CO)R)(PPh3)2] (R = Me (3a), Et (3b), Ph (3c)) showed any reactivity toward CO or SO2, whereas the nitrosyl complex cations [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CMe)(NO)(PPh3)](+) (11) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2C(CO)Ph)(NO)(PPh3)](+) (12) were formed in a reaction of the acetato 2a or the benzoylformato complex 3c with an excess of nitric oxide. Similar cationic carboxylato nitrosyl complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CR)(NO)(PPh3)]BF4 (R = Me (13a), R = Ph (13b)) and 2-oxocarboxylato nitrosyl complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2C(CO)R)(NO)(PPh3)]BF4 (R = Me (14a), R = Et (14b), R = Ph (14c)) are also accessible via a reaction with NO[BF4]. X-ray crystal structures of the chlorido acetonitrile complex [Ru(bdmpza)Cl(NCMe)(PPh3)] (4), the pyridine complexes [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CMe)(PPh3)(py)] (7a) and [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CC(O)Et)(PPh3)(py)] (8b), the carbonyl complex [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CPh)(CO)(PPh3)] (9b), the sulfur dioxide complex [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CPh)(PPh3)(SO2)] (10b), as well as the nitrosyl complex [Ru(bdmpza)(O2C(CO)Me)(NO)(PPh3)]BF4 (14a), are reported. The molecular structure of the sulfur dioxide complex [Ru(bdmpza)(O2CPh)(PPh3)(SO2)] (10b) revealed a rather unusual intramolecular SO2-O2CPh Lewis acid-base adduct.     

Hydrotris(pyrazolyl)borate metallacycles: conversion of a late-metal metallacyclopentene to a stable metallacyclopentadiene-alkene complex

The bis(ethene) complex [(Tp)Ir(C(2)H(4))(2)] (3) undergoes reaction with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) in acetonitrile solvent at 60 degrees C to give the trispyrazolylborate metallacyclopent-2-ene complex [(Tp)Ir (CH(2)CH(2)C(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me))(NCMe)] (4). Spectroscopic analysis of a room-temperature reaction between 3 and DMAD in acetonitrile-d(3) provides evidence for the formation of an eta(2)-alkene/eta(2)-alkyne intermediate on the path to 4. The reaction of 3 with DMAD in THF solvent leads to the formation of the THF-ligated metallacyclopent-2-ene complex [(Tp)Ir(CH(2)CH(2)C(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me))(THF)] (5), which undergoes further reaction with DMAD at 60 degrees C in benzene to give [(Tp)Ir(C(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me)C(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me))(eta(2)-CH(2)=CH(2))] (6). Complex 4 was structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Direct synthesis of (imine)platinum(II) complexes by iminoacylation of ketoximes with activated organonitrile ligands

The metal-mediated iminoacylation of ketoximes R1R2C=NOH (1a R1 = R2 = Me; 1b R1 = Me, R2 = Et; 1c R1R2 = C4H8; 1d R1R2 = C5H10) upon treatment with the platinum(II) complex trans-[PtCl2(NCCH2CO2Me)2] 2a with an organonitrile bearing an acceptor group proceeds under mild conditions in dry CH2Cl2 to give the trans-[PtCl2{NH=C(CH2CO2Me)ON=CR1R2}2] 3a-d isomers in moderate yield. The reaction of those ketoximes with trans-[PtCl2(NCCH2Cl)2] 2b under the same experimental conditions gives a 1 : 1 mixture of the isomers trans/cis-[PtCl2{NH=C(CH2Cl)ON=CR1R2}2] 3e-h and 4e-h in moderate to good yield. These reactions are greatly accelerated by microwave irradiation to give, with higher yields (ca. 75%), the same products which were characterized by IR and 1H, 13C and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies, FAB-MS, elemental analysis for the stable trans isomers, and X-ray diffraction analysis (3f). The diiminoester ligand in 3a was liberated upon reaction of the complex with a diphosphine.     

Investigations on the coupling of ethylene and alkynes in [IrTp Me2] compounds: water as an effective trapping agent

The reaction of the bis(ethylene) complex [Tp(Me(2) )Ir(C(2)H(4))(2)] (1) (Tp(Me(2) ): hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) with two equivalents of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) in CH(2)Cl(2) at 25 degrees C gives the hydride-alkenyl species [Tp(Me(2) )IrH{C(R)=C(R)C(R)=C(R)CH=CH(2)}] (2, R: CO(2)Me) in high yield. A careful study of this system has established the active role of a number of intermediates en route to producing 2. The first of these is the iridium(I) complex [Tp(Me(2) )Ir(C(2)H(4))(DMAD)] (4) formed by substitution of one of the ethylene ligands in 1 by a molecule of DMAD. Complex 4 reacts further with another equivalent of the alkyne to give the unsaturated metallacyclopentadiene [Tp(Me(2) )Ir{C(R)=C(R)C(R)=C(R)}], which can be trapped by added water to give adduct 7, or can react with the C(2)H(4) present in solution generating complex 2. This last step has been shown to proceed by insertion of ethylene into one of the Ir--C bonds of the metallacyclopentadiene and subsequent beta-H elimination. Complex 1 reacts sequentially with one equivalent of DMAD and one equivalent of methyl propiolate (MP) in the presence of water, with regioselective formation of the nonsymmetric iridacyclopentadiene [Tp(Me(2) )Ir{C(R)=C(R)C(H)=C(R)}(H(2)O)] (9). Complex 9 reacts with ethylene giving a hydride-alkenyl complex 10, related to 2, in which the C(2)H(4) has inserted regiospecifically into the Ir--C(R) bond that bears the CH functionality. Heating solutions of either 2 or 10 in CH(2)Cl(2) allows the formation of the allyl species 3 or 11, respectively, by simple stereoselective migration of the hydride ligand to the Calpha alkenyl carbon atom and concomitant bond reorganization of the resulting organic chain. All the compounds described herein have been characterized by microanalysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and for the case of 3, 7, 7CO, 8NCMe, 9, 9NCMe, and 10, also by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Reduction of (imine)Pt(IV) to (imine)Pt(II) complexes with carbonyl-stabilized phosphorus ylides

A novel method is reported for generation of the difficult-to-obtain (imine)Pt(II) compounds that involves reduction of the corresponding readily available Pt(IV)-based imines by carbonyl-stabilized phosphorus ylides, Ph3P=CHCO2R, in nonaqueous media. The reaction between neutral (imino)Pt(IV) compounds [PtCl4[NH=C(Me)ON=CR1R2]2] [R1R2 = Me2, (CH2)4, (CH2)5, (Me)C(Me)=NOH], [PtCl4[NH=C(Me)ONR2]2] (R = Me, Et, CH2Ph), (R1 = H; R2 = Ph or C6H4Me; R3 = Me) as well as anionic-type platinum(IV) complexes (Ph3PCH2Ph)[PtCl5[NH=C(Me)ON=CR2]] [R2 = Me2, (CH2)4, (CH2)5] and 1 equiv of Ph3P=CHCO2R (R = Me, Et) proceeds under mild conditions (ca. 4 h, room temperature) to give selectively the platinum(II) products (in good to excellent isolated yields) without further reduction of the platinum center. All thus prepared compounds (excluding previously described Delta4-1,2,4-oxadiazoline complexes) were characterized by elemental analyses, FAB mass spectrometry, IR and 1H, 13C[1H], 31P[1H] and 195Pt NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray single-crystal diffractometry, the latter for [PtCl2[NH=C(Me)ON=CMe2]2] [crystal system tetragonal, space group P4(2)/n (No. 86), a = b = 10.5050(10) A, c = 15.916(3) A] and (Ph3PCH2CO2Me)[PtCl3(NCMe)] [crystal system orthorhombic, space group Pna2(1) (No. 33), a = 19.661(7) A, b = 12.486(4) A, c = 10.149(3) A]. The reaction is also extended to a variety of other Pt(II)/Pt(IV) couples, and the ylides Ph3P=CHCO2R are introduced as mild and selective reducing agents of wide applicability for the conversion of Pt(IV) to Pt(II) species in nonaqueous media, a route that is especially useful in the case of compounds that cannot be prepared directly from Pt(II) precursors, and for the generation of systematic series of Pt(II)/Pt(IV) complexes for biological studies.     

1,2-Addition and cycloaddition reactions of niobium bis(imido) and oxo imido complexes

The bis(imido) complexes (BDI)Nb(N^tBu)₂ and (BDI)Nb(N^tBu)(NAr) (BDI = N,N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,5-dimethyl-β-diketiminate; Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) were shown to engage in 1,2-addition and [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with a wide variety of substrates. Reaction of the bis(imido) complexes with dihydrogen, silanes, and boranes yielded hydrido-amido-imido complexes via 1,2-addition across Nb-imido π-bonds; some of these complexes were shown to further react via insertion of carbon dioxide to give formate-amido-imido products. Similarly, reaction of (BDI)Nb(N^tBu)₂ with tert-butylacetylene yielded an acetylide-amido-imido complex. In contrast to these results, many related mono(imido) Nb BDI complexes do not exhibit 1,2-addition reactivity, suggesting that π-loading plays an important role in activating the Nb–N π-bonds toward addition. The same bis(imido) complexes were also shown to engage in [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions with oxygen- and sulfur-containing heteroallenes to give carbamate- and thiocarbamate-imido complexes: some of these complexes readily dimerized to give bis-μ-sulfido, bis-μ-iminodicarboxylate, and bis-μ-carbonate complexes. The mononuclear carbamate imido complex (BDI)Nb(NAr)(N(^tBu)CO₂) (12) could be induced to eject tert-butylisocyanate to generate a four-coordinate terminal oxo imido intermediate, which could be trapped as the five-coordinate pyridine or DMAP adduct. The DMAP adducted oxo imido complex (BDI)NbO(NAr)(DMAP) (16) was shown to engage in 1,2-addition of silanes across the Nb-oxo π-bond; this represents a new reaction pathway in group 5 chemistry.

Another slice of pi: the addition of a second π-donor ligand engenders 1,2-addition and [2 + 2] cycloaddition reactivity across Nb-imido and Nb-oxo bonds.     

Addition of arenes to ethylene and propene catalyzed by ruthenium

TpRuII(CO)(Me)(NCMe) (Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate) serves as a catalyst precursor for the conversion of benzene and ethylene or propene to alkylaromatic products. The reaction proceeds via the formation of the active catalyst TpRu(CO)(Ph)(NCMe) and is mildly selective for linear propylbenzene over isopropylbenzene.     

A transition-metal-catalyzed enediyne cycloaromatization

The pentamethylcyclopentadienyl iron cation, generated from [(eta5-C5Me5)Fe(NCMe)3]PF6, triggers the room temperature cycloaromatization of acyclic and alicyclic enediynes, in the presence of either 1,4-cyclohexadiene or terpinene as the hydrogen-atom donor, to give metal-arene products in good to excellent yields. Photolysis of the metal-arene complexes liberates the arene from the metal in excellent yield. The first demonstration of a transition-metal-catalyzed cycloaromatization of conjugated enediynes has been achieved under photochemical conditions utilizing either [(eta5-C5Me5)Fe(NCMe)3]PF6 or [(eta5-C5Me5)Fe(eta6-1,2-(Prn)2C6H4)]PF6 as the catalyst precursor. The use of a metal and light has led to a convenient method for cycloaromatization of a trans-enediyne.     

Coordination and reductive chemistry of tetraphenylborate complexes of trivalent rare earth metallocene cations, [(C5Me5)2Ln][(μ-Ph)2BPh2

The reactivity of the tetraphenylborate salts of the rare earth metallocene cations [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Ln][(μ-Ph)(2)BPh(2)] (Ln = Y, 1; Sm, 2) has been investigated with substrates that undergo reduction with f element complexes to probe metal-substrate interactions prior to reduction. Results with NaN(3), 1-adamantyl azide, acetone, benzophenone, phenanthroline, pyridine, azobenzene, and phenazine are described. Not only were coordination complexes isolated, but substrate reduction by (BPh(4))(-) was also observed. Complex 1 reacts with NaN(3) to form the azide [(C(5)Me(5))(2)YN(3)](x), 3, which crystallizes as [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Y(μ-N(3))](3), 4, when obtained from 1 and 1-adamantyl azide. The samarium analogue [(C(5)Me(5))(2)SmN(3)](x), 5, can be produced similarly from 2 and NaN(3) and crystallized from MeCN as [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm(NCMe)(μ-N(3))](3), 6, and {[(C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm(μ-N(3))][(C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm(NCMe)(μ-N(3))]}(n), 7. Complexes 1 and 2 react with stoichiometric amounts of acetone and benzophenone to form the ketone adducts [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Ln(OCMe(2))(2)][BPh(4)] (Ln = Y, 8; Sm, 9) and [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Ln(OCPh(2))(2)][BPh(4)] (Ln = Y, 10; Sm, 11), respectively. Phenanthroline (phen) coordinates to 1 to form [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Y(phen)][BPh(4)], 12. Complexes 1 and 2 react with pyridine (py) to form [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Ln(py)(2)][BPh(4)], (Ln = Y, 13; Sm, 14). Complexes 3, 8, 10, and 12 can also be made from the solvated cation [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Y(THF)(2)][BPh(4)]. The reaction of 1 with PhNNPh yields the diamagnetic adduct [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Y(PhNNPh)][BPh(4)], 15, which transforms in benzene to the radical anion complex (C(5)Me(5))(2)Y(PhNNPh), 16, via a one electron reduction by (BPh(4))(-). Complex 1 similarly reacts with phenazine (phz) to produce the first rare earth phenazine radical anion complex {[(C(5)Me(5))(2)Y](2)(phz)}{BPh(4)}, 17. Further reduction of phenazine by (BPh(4))(-) in 17 yields [(C(5)Me(5))(2)Y](2)(phz), 18, which contains the common (phz)(2-) dianion. The reduction of fluorenone by (BPh(4))(-) is also reported.     

Addition of water across Si-Ir bonds in iridium complexes with κ-P,P,Si (biPSi) pincer ligands

Electrophiles such as Me(+), Ag(+), or protons react with the five-coordinate Ir(III) complex [IrClH(biPSi)] (biPSi = κ-P,P,Si-Si(Me){(CH(2))(3)PPh(2)}(2)) by abstracting its chloride ligand. The resulting species can be stabilized by a variety of L ligands to give the cationic complexes [IrH(biPSi)L(2)](+). The derivative [IrH(biPSi)(NCMe)(2)](+) has been subjected to a kinetic study regarding the facile dissociations of its acetonitrile ligands. The presence of water changes the course of the reaction producing dihydride complexes that contain the silanol ligand κ-O,P,P-HOSi(Me){(CH(2))(3)PPh(2)}(2) (biPSiOH). The water activation product [IrH(2)(biPSiOH)(NCMe)](CF(3)SO(3)) undergoes insertion reactions with ethylene and phenylacetylene. The use of hydrolyzable fluorinated counterions such as PF(6)(-) or BF(4)(-) further modifies the reaction by provoking the incorporation of fluoride at the silicon atom of the former biPSi ligand. The dihydride resulting after such a process, [IrH(2)(biPSiF)(NCMe)(2)]BF(4) (biPSiF = κ-P(2)-FSi(Me){(CH(2))(3)PPh(2)}(2)), displays a trans-chelating diphosphine ligand. When dehydrogenating the Ir center, spontaneously or using ethylene as hydrogen acceptor, the diphosphine backbone undergoes a Si-C bond cleavage leading to a new Ir(III) species with κ-P,Si and κ-C,P chelate ligands.     

Versatile conversion of N-heterocyclic silylene to silyl metal compounds by insertion of divalent silicon into metal-carbon and metal-hydrogen bonds

The facile one-pot reaction of the stable N-heterocyclic silylene LSi: 1 (L=(ArN)C(=CH(2))CH=C(Me)(NAr), Ar=2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)) with Me(2)Zn, Me(3)Al, H(3)Al-NMe(3), and MeLi has been investigated. The silicon(II) atom in 1 is capable of insertion into the corresponding M-C and Al-H bonds under very mild reaction conditions. Thus, Me(2)Zn furnishes the bis(silyl) zinc complex LSi(Me)ZnSi(Me)L 2 as the sole product, irrespective of the molar ratio of the starting materials applied. Moreover, the reactions of 1 with Me(3)Al, H(3)Al-NMe(3), and MeLi lead directly to the 1,1-addition products LSi(Me)(Al(thf)Me(2)) 3, LSi(H)(AlH(2)(NMe(3))) 4, and LSi(Me)Li(thf)(3) 5, respectively. All new compounds 2-5 were fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Reactivity of divalent germanium alkoxide complexes is in sharp contrast to the heavier tin and lead analogues

The chemistry of β-diketiminate germanium alkoxide complexes has been examined and shown to be in sharp contrast to its heavier congeners. For instance, (BDI)GeOR (BDI = [{N(2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))C(Me)}(2)CH], R = (i)Pr, (s)Bu, (t)Bu) does not react with carbon dioxide to form a metal carbonate complex. Addition of aliphatic electrophiles, such as methyl iodide or methyl triflate, results in the net oxidative addition to the germanium, giving cationic tetravalent germanium complexes, [(BDI)Ge(Me)OR][X] (X = I, OTf). An examination of the contrasting reactivities of the alkoxide ligand and the germanium loan pair with Lewis acids yielded the unusual germanium(II)-copper(I) adduct, {μ(2)-Cu(2)I(2)}[(BDI)GeO(t)Bu](2). This complex not only displays a rare example of a divalent Ge-Cu bond, but is the first example in which a planar Cu(2)I(2) diamond core possesses a three-coordinate copper bound to another metal center.     

Diketo compounds with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane: double nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reactions

Reactions of various diketo compounds with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (Me3SiCF3) in the presence of catalytic amounts of cesium fluoride have been studied. gamma-Ketoesters, CH3COCH2CH2CO2R (R = Et, Bu), were reacted with 2 equiv of Me3SiCF3 at room temperature to give CH3C(OH)(CF3)CH2CH2COCF3 in good yield after hydrolysis. alpha-Diketones, R1COCOR2 (R1 = R2 = Ph; R1 = Ph, R2 = Me; R1 = R2 = Me; R1 = Me, R2 = Et), when reacted with Me3SiCF3, formed 1:1 or 1:2 addition products depending on the reaction conditions and stoichiometry used. Reactions of diones CH3COXCOCH3 (X = -CH2CH2-, -C6H4C6H4-, -CH2-) with Me3SiCF3 also led to the formation of the mono- or diaddition products depending on reaction conditions. With various kinds of substituted arylglyoxals, 2 equiv of Me3SiCF3 produced monoaddition products in 70-75% yield and diaddition products in 5-10% yield. One of the monoalcohols and two of the diols have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis, and the presence of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding has been confirmed.     

Organolanthanide-based synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles from nitriles and diazo compounds

The reaction of [(C5Me5)2Ln][(mu-Ph)2BPh2] complexes with the lithium salt of (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane, Li[Me3SiCN2], gave products formulated as the dimeric isocyanotrimethylsilyl amide complexes {(C5Me5)2Ln[mu-N(SiMe3)NC]}2 (Ln = Sm, 1; La, 2). Reactions of (C5Me5)2Sm and [(C5Me5)2Sm(mu-H)]2 with Me3SiCHN2 also form 1. Complexes 1 and 2 react with Me3CCN to form the 1,2,3-triazolato complexes (C5Me5)2Ln(NCCMe3)[NNC(SiMe3)C(CMe3)N] (Ln = Sm, 3; La, 4). Complex 2 reacts with Me3SiN3 to make the isocyanide ligated azide complex {(C5Me5)2La[CNN(SiMe3)2](mu-N3)}3, 5.