Carbon-nitrogen bond cleavage in pyridine ring systems mediated by organometallic thorium(IV) complexes

Thorium(IV) alkyl and aryl complexes of the type (C(5)Me(5))(2)ThR(2)(R = CH(2)Ph, Ph) have been found to mediate the facile ring-opening and dearomatization of the pyridine ring of pyridine N-oxide under ambient conditions to afford the first thorium eta(2)-(O,N)-oximate complexes.     

Alkyl-eta2-alkene niobocene and tantalocene complexes with the allyldimethylsilyl-eta5-cyclopentadienyl ligand: synthesis, NMR studies and DFT calculations

Group 5 metal complexes [M(eta5-C5H5)[eta5-C5H4SiMe2(CH2-eta]2-CH=CH2)]X] (M = Nb, X = Me, CH2Ph, CH2SiMe3; M = Ta, X = Me, CH2Ph) and [Ta(eta5-C5Me5)[eta5-C5H4SiMe2(CH2-eta2-CH=CH2)]X] (X = Cl, Me, CH2Ph, CH2SiMe3) containing a chelating alkene ligand tethered to a cyclopentadienyl ring have been synthesized in high yields by reduction with Na/Hg (X = Cl) and alkylation with reductive elimination (X = alkyl) of the corresponding metal(iv) dichlorides [M(eta5-Cp)[eta5-C5H4SiMe2(CH2CH=CH2)]Cl2] (Cp = C5H5, M = Nb, Ta, Cp = C5Me5, M = Ta). These chloro- and alkyl-alkene coordinated complexes react with CO and isocyanides [CNtBu, CN(2,6-Me2C6H3)] to give the ligand-substituted metal(III) compounds [M(eta5-Cp)[eta5-C5H4SiMe2(CH2CH=CH2)]XL] (X = Cl, Me, CH2Ph, CH2SiMe3). Reaction of the chloro-alkene tantalum complex with LiNHtBu results in formation of the imido hydride derivative [Ta(eta5-C5Me5)[eta5-C5H4SiMe2(CH2CH=CH2)]H(NtBu)]. NMR studies for all of the new compounds and DFT calculations for the alkene-coordinated metal complexes are compared with those known for related group 4 metal cations.     

Desoxo molybdenum(IV) and tungsten(IV) bis(dithiolene) complexes: monomer-dimer interconversion involving reversible thiol bridge formation

Two series of thiol-bridged dimeric desoxo molybdenum(IV) and tungsten(IV) bis(dithiolene) complexes, [Et(4)N](2)[M(IV)(2)(SR)(2)(mnt)(4)] [M = Mo, R = (1) -Ph, (2) -CH(2)Ph, (3) -CH(2)CH(3), (4) -CH(2)CH(2)OH; M = W, R = (1a) -Ph, (2a) -CH(2)Ph, (3a) -CH(2)CH(3), (4a) -CH(2)CH(2)OH] and one monomeric desoxo complex, [Et(4)N](2)[WIV(SPh)(2)(mnt)(2)] (5a) are reported. These complexes are diamagnetic, and crystal structures of each of the complex (except 5a) exhibits a dimeric {M(IV)(2)(SR)(2)} core without any metal-metal bond where each metal atom possesses hexa coordination. The M-SR distance ranges from 2.437 to 2.484 Angstrom in molybdenum complexes and from 2.418 to 2.469 Angstrom in tungsten complexes. These complexes display Mo-S(R)-Mo angles ranging from 92.84 degrees to 96.20 degrees in the case of 1-4 and W-S(R)-W angles ranging from 91.20 degrees to 96.25 degrees in the case of 1a-4a. Interestingly, both the series of Mo(IV) and W(IV) dimeric complexes respond to an unprecedented interconversion between the dimer and the corresponding hexacoordinated monomer upon change of pH. This pH-dependent interconversion establishes the fact that even the pentacoordinated Mo(IV) and W(IV) bis(dithiolene) moieties are forced to dimerize; these can easily be reverted back to the corresponding monomeric complex, reflecting the utility of dithiolene ligand in stabilizing the Mo(IV)/W(IV) moiety in synthesized complexes similar to the active sites present in native proteins.     

Oxo transfer reactions mediated by bis(dithiolene)tungsten analogues of the active sites of molybdoenzymes in the DMSO reductase family: comparative reactivity of tungsten and molybdenum.

The discovery of tungsten enzymes and molybdenum/tungsten isoenzymes, in which the mononuclear catalytic sites contain a metal chelated by one or two pterin-dithiolene cofactor ligands, has lent new significance to tungsten-dithiolene chemistry. Reaction of [W(CO)(2)(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)] with RO(-) affords a series of square pyramidal desoxo complexes [W(IV)(OR')(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)](1)(-), including R' = Ph (1) and Pr(i)() (3). Reaction of 1 and 3 with Me(3)NO gives the cis-octahedral complexes [W(VI)O(OR')(S(2)C(2)Me(2))(2)](1)(-), including R' = Ph (6) and Pr(i)() (8). These W(IV,VI) complexes are considered unconstrained versions of protein-bound sites of DMSOR and TMAOR (DMSOR = dimethylsulfoxide reductase, TMAOR = trimethylamine N-oxide reductase) members of the title enzyme family. The structure of 6 and the catalytic center of one DMSO reductase isoenzyme have similar overall stereochemistry and comparable bond lengths. The minimal oxo transfer reaction paradigm thought to apply to enzymes, W(IV) + XO --> W(VI)O + X, has been investigated. Direct oxo transfer was demonstrated by isotope transfer from Ph(2)Se(18)O. Complex 1 reacts cleanly and completely with various substrates XO to afford 6 and product X in second-order reactions with associative transition states. The substrate reactivity order with 1 is Me(3)NO > Ph(3)AsO > pyO (pyridine N-oxide) > R(2)SO > Ph(3)PO. For reaction of 3 with Me(3)NO, k(2) = 0.93 M(-)(1) s(-)(1), and for 1 with Me(2)SO, k(2) = 3.9 x 10(-)(5) M(-)(1) s(-)(1); other rate constants and activation parameters are reported. These results demonstrate that bis(dithiolene)W(IV) complexes are competent to reduce both N-oxides and S-oxides; DMSORs reduce both substrate types, but TMAORs are reported to reduce only N-oxides. Comparison of k(cat)/K(M) data for isoenzymes and k(2) values for isostructural analogue complexes reveals that catalytic and stoichiometric oxo transfer, respectively, from substrate to metal is faster with tungsten and from metal to substrate is faster with molybdenum. These results constitute a kinetic metal effect in direct oxo transfer reactions for analogue complexes and for isoenzymes provided the catalytic sites are isostructural. The nature of the transition state in oxo transfer reactions of analogues is tentatively considered. This research presents the first kinetics study of substrate reduction via oxo transfer mediated by bis(dithiolene)tungsten complexes.     

Synthesis and characterisation of mixed ligand Pt(II) and Pt(IV) oxadiazoline complexes

The nitrile ligands in trans-[PtX2(PhCN)2] (X = Cl, Br, I) undergo sequential 1,3 dipolar cycloadditions with nitrones R1R2C=N+(Me)-O(-) (R1 = H, R2 = Ph; R1 = CO2Et, R2 = CH2CO2Et) to selectively form the Delta4-1,2,4-oxadiazoline complexes trans-[PtX2(PhCN) (N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)] or trans-[PtX2(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)2] in high yields. The reactivity of the mixed ligand complexes trans-[PtX2(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)] towards oxidation and ligand substitution was studied in more detail. Oxidation with Cl2 or Br2 provides the Pt(IV) species trans-[PtX2Y2(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))] (X, Y = Cl, Br). The mixed halide complex (X = Cl, Y = Br) undergoes halide scrambling in solution to form trans-[PtX(4-n)Yn(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))] as a statistical mixture. Ligand substitution in trans-[PtCl2(PhCN)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)] allows for selective replacement of the coordinated nitrile by nitrogen heterocycles such as pyridine, DMAP or 1-benzyl-2-methylimidazole to produce mixed ligand Pt(II) complexes of the type trans- [PtX2(heterocycle)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CR1R2)]. All compounds were characterised by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR and 1H, 13C and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of (R,S)-trans-[PtBr2(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))2] and trans-[PtCl2(C5H5N)(N=C(Ph)-O-N(Me)-CH(Ph))] confirms the molecular structure and the trans configuration of the heterocycles relative to each other.     

The synthesis of [FeRu(CO)2(mu-CO)2(eta-C5H5)(eta-C5Me5)] and convenient entries to its organometallic chemistry

The synthesis, fluxionality and reactivity of the heterobimetallic complex [FeRu(CO)2(mu-CO)2(eta-C5H5)(eta-C5Me5)] are described. Complex exhibits enhanced photolytic reactivity towards alkynes compared to its homometallic analogues, forming the dimetallacyclopentenone complexes [FeRu(CO)(mu-CO){mu-eta]1:eta3-C(O)CR"CR'}eta]-C5H5)(eta-C5Me5)]( R'= R"= H; R'= R"= CO2Me; R'= H, R"= CMe2OH). Prolonged photolysis with diphenylethyne gives the dimetallatetrahedrane complex [FeRu(mu-CO)(mu-eta2:eta2-CPhCPh)(eta-C5H5)(eta-C5Me5)], which contains the first iron-ruthenium double bond. Complexes containing a number of organic fragments can be synthesised using , and . Heating a solution of gave the alkenylidene complex [FeRu(CO)2(mu-CO){mu-eta]1:eta2-C=C(CO2Me)2}(eta-C5H5)(eta-C5Me5)] through an unusual methylcarboxylate migration. Protonation and then addition of hydride to gives the ethylidene complex [FeRu(CO)2(mu-CO)(mu-CHCH3)(eta-C5H5)(eta-C5Me5)] via the ionic vinyl species [FeRu(CO)2(mu-CO)(mu-eta]1:eta2-CH=CH2)(eta-C5H5)(eta-C5Me5)][BF4]. Compound exhibits cis/trans isomerisation at room temperature. Protonation of dimetallacyclopentenone complexes gives the allenyl species [FeRu(CO)2(mu-CO)(mu-eta1:eta2-CH=C=CMe2)(eta-C5H5)(eta-C5Me5)][BF4]. Compound exist as three isomers, two cis and one trans. The two cis isomers are shown to be interconverting by sigma-pi isomerisation. The solid state structures of these compounds were established by X-ray crystallography and are discussed.     

Utilisation of an eta(3)-allyl hydride complex, formed by UV irradiation, as a controlled source of 16-electron (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Rh(CH(2)[double bond, length as m-dash]CHMe)

Low temperature UV irradiation of solutions of (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Rh(CH(2)[double bond, length as m-dash]CHMe)(2) yields (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Rh(eta(3)-CH(2)CHCH(2))(H), which provides controlled access to the 16-electron fragment (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Rh(CH(2)[double bond, length as m-dash]CHMe).     

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.     

Facile and selective aliphatic C-H bond activation at ambient temperatures initiated by Cp*W(NO)(CH2CMe3)(eta(3)-CH2CHCHMe)

Thermolysis of Cp*W(NO)(CH2CMe3)(eta(3)-CH2CHCHMe) (1) at ambient temperatures leads to the loss of neopentane and the formation of the eta(2)-diene intermediate, Cp*W(NO)(eta(2)-CH2=CHCH=CH2) (A), which has been isolated as its 18e PMe3 adduct. In the presence of linear alkanes, A effects C-H activations of the hydrocarbons exclusively at their terminal carbons and forms 18e Cp*W(NO)(n-alkyl)(eta(3)-CH2CHCHMe) complexes. Similarly, treatments of 1 with methylcyclohexane, chloropentane, diethyl ether, and triethylamine all lead to the corresponding terminal C-H activation products. Furthermore, a judicious choice of solvents permits the C-H activation of gaseous hydrocarbons (i.e., propane, ethane, and methane) at ambient temperatures under moderately elevated pressures. However, reactions between intermediate A and cyclohexene, acetone, 3-pentanone, and 2-butyne lead to coupling between the eta(2)-diene ligand and the site of unsaturation on the organic molecule. For example, Cp*W(NO)(eta(3),eta(1)-CH2CHCHCH2C(CH2CH3)2O) is formed exclusively in 3-pentanone. When the site of unsaturation is sufficiently sterically hindered, as in the case of 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene, C-H activation again becomes dominant, and so the C-H activation product, Cp*W(NO)(eta(1)-CH2CMe=CMe2)(eta(3)-CH2CHCHMe), is formed exclusively from the alkene and 1. All new complexes have been characterized by conventional spectroscopic and analytical methods, and the solid-state molecular structures of most of them have been established by X-ray crystallographic analyses. Finally, the newly formed alkyl ligands may be liberated from the tungsten centers in the product complexes by treatment with iodine. Thus, exposure of a CDCl3 solution of the n-pentyl allyl complex, Cp*W(NO)(n-C5H11)(eta(3)-CH2CHCHMe), to I2 at -60 degrees C produces n-C5H11I in moderate yields.     

Reduction of bis

The reduction of symmetric, fully-substituted titanocene dichlorides bearing two pendant omega-alkenyl groups, [TiCl2(eta5-C5Me4R)2], R = CH(Me)CH= CH2 (1a). (CH2)2CH=CH2 (1b) and (CH2)3CH=CH2 (1c), by magnesium in tetrahydrofuran affords bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanacyclopentanes [Ti(IV)[eta1:eta1: eta5:eta5-C5Me4CH(Me)CH(Ti)CH2CH(CH2(Ti))CH(Me)C5Me4]] (2a), [Ti(IV)[eta1:eta1:eta5: eta5-C5Me4(CH2)2CH(Ti)(CH2)2CH(Ti)(CH2)2C5Me4]] (2b) and [Ti(IV)[eta1:eta1:eta5:eta5-C5Me4(CH2)2CH(Ti)CH(Me)CH(Me)CH(Ti)(CH2)2C5Me4]](2c), respectively, as the products of oxidative coupling of the double bonds across a titanocene intermediate. For the case of complex 1c, a product of a double bond isomerisation is obtained owing to a preferred formation of five-membered titanacycles. The reaction of the titanacyclopentanes with PbCl2 recovers starting materials 1a from 2a and 1b from 2b, but complex 2c affords, under the same conditions, an isomer of 1c with a shifted carbon - carbon double bond, [TiCl[eta5-C5Me4(CH2CH2CH=CHMe)]2] (1c'). The titanacycles 2a-c can be opened by HCl to give ansa-titanocene dichlorides ansa-[[eta5:eta5-C5Me4CH(Me)CH2CH2CH(Me)CH(Me)C5Me4]TiCl2] (3a), ansa-[[eta5:eta5-C5Me4(CH2)8C5Me4]TiCl2] (3b), along with a minor product ansa-[[eta5:eta5-C5Me4CH2CH=CH(CH2)5C5Me4]TiCl2] (3b'), and ansa-[[eta5:eta5-CsMe4(CH2)3CH(Me)CH(Me)CH=CHCH2C5Me4]TiCl2] (3c), respectively, with the bridging aliphatic chain consisting of five (3a) and eight (3b, 3b' and 3c) carbon atoms. The course of the acidolysis changes with the nature of the pendant group; while the cyclopentadienyl ring-linking carbon chains in 3a and 3b are fully saturated, compounds 3c and 3b' contain one asymetrically placed carbon-carbon double bond, which evidently arises from the beta-hydrogen elimination that follows the HCl addition.     

1,1-ethylenedithiolato complexes of palladium(II) and platinum(II) with isocyanide and carbene ligands

The reactions of [Tl(2)[S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)]](n) with [MCl(2)(NCPh)(2)] and CNR (1:1:2) give complexes [M[eta(2)-S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)](CNR)(2)] [R = (t)Bu, M = Pd (1a), Pt (1b); R = C(6)H(3)Me(2)-2,6 (Xy), M = Pd (2a), Pt (2b)]. Compound 1b reacts with AgClO(4) (1:1) to give [[Pt(CN(t)Bu)(2)](2)Ag(2)[mu(2),eta(2)-(S,S')-[S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)](2)]](ClO(4))(2) (3). The reactions of 1 or 2 with diethylamine give mixed isocyanide carbene complexes [M[eta(2)-S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)](CNR)[C(NEt(2))(NHR)]] [R = (t)Bu, M = Pd (4a), Pt (4b); R = Xy, M = Pd (5a), Pt (5b)] regardless of the molar ratio of the reagents. The same complexes react with an excess of ammonia to give [M[eta(2)-(S,S')-S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)](CN(t)Bu)[C(NH(2))(NH(t)Bu)]] [M = Pd (6a), Pt (6b)] or [M[eta(2)-(S,S')-S(2)C=C[C(O)Me](2)][C(NH(2))(NHXy)](2)] [M = Pd (7a), Pt (7b)] probably depending on steric factors. The crystal structures of 2b, 4a, and 4b have been determined. Compounds 4a and 4b are isostructural. They all display distorted square planar metal environments and chelating planar E,Z-2,2-diacetyl-1,1-ethylenedithiolato ligands that coordinate through the sulfur atoms.     

Alkylation reactions of [WS(4)](2)(-) and [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))WS(3)](-) with 2,6-bis(bromomethyl)pyridine: the first isolation of bisalkylated tetrathiometalate WS(2)[2,6-(SCH(2))(2)(C(5)H(3)N)

The trithio and tetrathio complexes of tungsten (PPh(4))[CpWS(3)] (Cp = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) and (PPh(4))(2)[WS(4)] undergo alkylation reactions with 2,6-bis(bromomethyl)pyridine to yield [(CpWS(2))(2)[2,6-(SCH(2))(2)(C(5)H(3)N)]].CH(3)CN (1.CH3CN) (73.1% yield) and WS(2)[2,6-(SCH(2))(2)(C(5)H(3)N)] (2) (76.0% yield), respectively. In the dinuclear complex 1, two CpWS(3) units are linked by a 2,6-dimethylenepyridine bridge, and the pyridine nitrogen is not coordinated at tungsten. Complex 2 is the first example of bisalkylated tetrathiometalates, the mononuclear structure of which is stabilized by coordination of the pyridine nitrogen.     

Imidomolybdenum(IV) porphyrin complexes: synthesis, characterization, and intermetal imido transfer reactivity

The imido(meso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrinato)molybdenum(IV) complexes, (TTP)Mo=NR, where R = C6H5 (1a), p-CH3C6H4 (1b), 2,4,6-(CH3)3C6H2 (1c), and 2,6-(i-Pr)2C6H4 (1d), can be prepared by the reaction of (TTP)MoCl2 with 2 equiv of LiNHR in toluene. Upon treatment of the imido complexes with pyridine derivatives, NC5H4-p-X (X = CH3, CH(CH3)2, C[triple bond]N), new six-coordinate complexes, (TTP)Mo=NR.NC5H4-p-X, were observed. The reaction between the molybdenum imido complexes, (TTP)Mo=NC6H5 or (TTP)Mo=NC6H4CH3, and (TTP)Ti(eta2-PhC[triple bond]CPh) resulted in complete imido group transfer and two-electron redox of the metal centers to give (TTP)Mo(eta2-PhC[triple bond]CPh) and (TTP)Ti=NC6H5 or (TTP)Ti=NC6H4CH3.     

Organolutetium vinyl and tuck-over complexes via C-H bond activation

The vinyl C-H bond of tetramethylfulvene is activated in the presence of [(C5Me5)2LuH]x, 1, to form a vinyl organolutetium complex, (C5Me5)2Lu(CH=C5Me4), 2. Also formed in the reaction is the "tuck-over" complex, (C5Me5)2Lu(mu-H)(mu-eta1:eta5-CH2C5Me4)Lu(C5Me5), 3, containing a (CH2C5Me4)2- moiety long postulated to exist in organolutetium chemistry but never crystallographically characterized. Evidence for these C-H bond activations by a "(C5Me5)3Lu" intermediate, 4, is presented. Complex 3 can also be made in high yield by thermolysis of 1. Under H2, 1 catalytically hydrogenates TMF to C5Me5H.     

Eta6-mesityl,eta1-imidazolinylidene-carbene-ruthenium(II) complexes: catalytic activity of their allenylidene derivatives in alkene metathesis and cycloisomerisation reactions

The reaction of electron-rich carbene-precursor olefins containing two imidazolinylidene moieties [(2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2)CH(2))NCH(2)CH(2)N(R)Cdbond;](2) (2a: R=CH(2)CH(2)OMe, 2 b R=CH(2)Mes), bearing at least one 2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl (R=CH(2)Mes) group on the nitrogen atom, with [RuCl(2)(arene)](2) (arene=p-cymene, hexamethylbenzene) selectively leads to two types of complexes. The cleavage of the chloride bridges occurs first to yield the expected (carbene) (arene)ruthenium(II) complex 3. Then a further arene displacement reaction takes place to give the chelated eta(6)-mesityl,eta(1)-carbene-ruthenium complexes 4 and 5. An analogous eta(6)-arene,eta(1)-carbene complex with a benzimidazole frame 6 was isolated from an in situ reaction between [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2), the corresponding benzimidazolium salt and cesium carbonate. On heating, the RuCl(2)(imidazolinylidene) (p-cymene) complex 8, with p-methoxybenzyl pendent groups attached to the N atoms, leads to intramolecular p-cymene displacement and to the chelated eta(6)-arene,eta(1)-carbene complex 9. On reaction with AgOTf and the propargylic alcohol HCtbond;CCPh(2)OH, compounds 4-6 were transformed into the corresponding ruthenium allenylidene intermediates (4-->10, 5-->11, 6-->12). The in situ generated intermediates 10-12 were found to be active and selective catalysts for ring-closing metathesis (RCM) or cycloisomerisation reactions depending on the nature of the 1,6-dienes. Two complexes [RuCl(2)[eta(1)-CN(CH(2)C(6)H(2)Me(3)-2,4,6)CH(2)CH(2)N- (CH(2)CH(2)OMe)](C(6)Me(6))] 3 with a monodentate carbene ligand and [RuCl(2)[eta(1)-CN[CH(2)(eta(6)-C(6)H(2)Me(3)-2,4,6)]CH(2)CH(2)N-(CH(2)C(6)H(2)Me(3)-2,4,6)]] 5 with a chelating carbene-arene ligand were characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis, characterization and ethylene reactivity of 2-diphenylphosphanylbenzamido nickel complexes

Addition of primary amines to N-[2-(diphenylphosphanyl)benzoyloxy]succinimide affords 2-diphenylphosphanylbenzamides, Ph2PC6H4C(O)NHR (R = C(CH3)3, 3; R = H, 4; R = CH2CH2CH3, 5; R = CH(CH3)2, 6). Addition of NiCl(eta3-CH2C6H5)(PMe3) to the deprotonated potassium salts of the amides and subsequent treatment of two equivalents of B(C6F5)3 to the resulting products furnishes eta3-benzyl zwitterionic nickel(II) complexes, [Ph2PC6H4C(O)NR-kappa2N,P]Ni(eta3-CH2C6H5) (R = C6H5, 9; R = C(CH3)3, 10; R = H, 11; R = CH2CH2CH3, 12; R = CH(CH3)2, 13). Solid structures of 9, 11, 13 and the intermediate eta1-benzyl nickel(II) complexes, [Ph2PC6H4C(O)NR-kappa2N,P]Ni(eta1-CH2C6H5)(PMe3) (R = C6H5, 7; R = C(CH3)3, 8) were determined by X-ray crystallography. When ethylene is added to the eta3-benzyl zwitterionic nickel(II) complexes, butene is obtained by the complexes 9-12 but complex 13 provides very high molecular-weight branched polyethylene (Mw, approximately 1300000) with excellent activity (up to 5200 kg mol-1 h-1 at 100 psi gauge).     

Synthesis, structural characterization, reactivity, and thermal stability of [eta(5):sigma-Me2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]Ti(R)(NMe2)

Reaction of [eta:(5)sigma-Me2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]TiCl(NMe2) (1) with 1 equiv of PhCH2K, MeMgBr, or Me3SiCH2Li gave corresponding organotitanium alkyl complexes [eta:(5)sigma-Me2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]Ti(R)(NMe2) (R = CH2Ph (2), CH2SiMe3 (4), or Me (5)) in good yields. Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of n-BuLi afforded the decomposition product {[eta:(5)sigma-Me2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]Ti}2(mu-NMe)(mu:sigma-CH2NMe) (3). Complex 5 slowly decomposed to generate a mixed-valence dinuclear species {[eta:(5)sigma-Me2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]Ti}2(mu-NMe2)(mu:sigma-CH2NMe) (6). Complex 1 reacted with 1 equiv of PhNCO or 2,6-Me2C6H3NC to afford the corresponding monoinsertion product [eta:(5)sigma-Me2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]Ti(Cl)[eta(2)-OC(NMe2)NPh] (7) or [eta:(5)sigma-Me2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]Ti(Cl)[eta(2)-C(NMe2)=N(2,6-Me2C6H3)] (8). Reaction of 4 or 5 with 1 equiv of R'NC gave the titanium eta(2)-iminoacyl complexes [eta:(5)sigma-Me2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]Ti(NMe2)[eta(2)-C(R)=N(R')] (R = CH2SiMe3, R' = 2,6-Me2C6H3 (9) or tBu (10); R = Me, R' = 2,6-Me2C6H3 (11) or tBu (12)). The results indicated that the unsaturated molecules inserted into the Ti-N bond only in the absence of the Ti-C(alkyl) bond and that the Ti-C(cage) bond remained intact. All complexes were fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. Molecular structures of 2, 3, 6-8, and 10-12 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analyses.     

Synthesis, characterisation and molecular structure of Re(III) 2-oxacyclocarbenes stabilised by a benzoyldiazenido ligand

A family of new Fischer-type rhenium(III) benzoyldiazenido-2-oxacyclocarbenes of formula [(ReCl2[eta1-N2C(O)Ph][=C(CH2)nCH(R)O](PPh3)2][n = 2, R = H (2), R = Me (3); n = 3, R = H (4), R = Me (5)] have been prepared by reaction of [ReCl2[eta2-N2C(Ph)O](PPh3)2] (1) with omega-alkynols, such as 3-butyn-1-ol, 4-pentyn-1-ol, 4-pentyn-2-ol, 5-hexyn-2-ol in refluxing THF. The correct formulation of the carbene derivatives 2-5 has been unambiguously determined in solution by NMR analysis and confirmed for compounds 2-4 by X-ray diffraction methods in the solid state. All complexes are octahedral with the benzoyldiazenido ligand, Re[N2C(O)Ph], adopting a "single bent" conformation. The coordination basal plane is completed by an oxacyclocarbene ligand and two chlorine atoms. Two triphenylphosphines in trans positions with respect to each other complete the octahedral geometry around rhenium. The reactivity of 1 towards different alkynes and alkenes including propargyl- and allylamine has been also studied. With propargyl amine, monosubstituted or bisubstituted complexes, [(ReCl2[eta1-N2C(O)Ph][eta1-NH2CH2C triple bond CH]n(PPh3)(3-n)][n= 1 (6); n = 2 (7)], have been isolated depending on the reaction conditions. In contrast, the reaction with allylamine gave only the disubstituted complex [(ReCl2[eta1-N2C(O)Ph][eta1-NH2CH2CH=CH2]2(PPh3)] (8). The molecular structure of the monosubstituted adduct has been confirmed by X-ray analysis in the solid state.     

Coordinatively unsaturated W(IV)-bis(pyridine) complexes, a reactive source of W(IV)

Addition of 2 equiv of a sigma-donor ligand (L = pyridine, 4-picoline, or quinoline) to complexes of the type [W(NPh)(eta(4)-arene)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)] (arene = CH3CH2C6H5 (3), CH3CH2CH2C6H5 (4)) gave the W(IV)L2 compounds, [W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(C5H5N)2] (5), [W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(p-C6H7N)2] (6), and [W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(C9H7N)2] (7). Synthesis of compounds 5 and 6 by Na degrees reduction of [W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)Cl2] in the presence of 3 equiv of L (L = 5, pyridine or 6, 4-picoline) is also presented. Compounds 5, 6, and 7 display hindered rotation of the donor ligands about the W-N bonds, resulting from a steric interaction with the Me3Si groups of the diamide ligand. The coordinative unsaturation of 5 and 6 has also been explored. Compounds 5 and 6 readily react with either CO and PMe3 to generated the six coordinate complexes [W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(C5H5N)2(CO)] (8a), [W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(C6H7N)2(CO)] (8b), [W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(C5H5N)(PMe3)2] (10a), and [W(NPh)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)(C6H7N)(PMe3)2] (10b), respectively.