Methods for the Synthesis of μ-Hydrocarbon Transition Metal Complexes without Metal–Metal Bonds

Transition metal complexes in which hydrocarbons serve as σ,σ-, σ,π- or π,π-bound bridging ligands are currently of great interest. This review presents efficient and directed syntheses for such compounds, which often have very aesthetic structures. These reactions are among the most important reaction types in modern organometallic chemistry. They can be a useful aid for the synthesis of tailor-made compounds, for example, for models of catalytic processes and, specifically, for the construction of heterometallic compounds. We will discuss reactions of electrophilic complexes with nucleophilic ones, numerous transformations of (functionalized) hydrocarbons with metal complexes, the currently very topical complexes with bridging acetylide and carbide ligands, and organometallic polymers, which can be expected to have interesting and novel materials properties. Chisholm

1 M. H. Chisholm, Polyhedron 1988 , 7, 757–1077.

has described the importance of these complexes as follows: “Central to the development of polynuclear and cluster chemistry are bridging ligands and central to organometallic chemistry are metal–carbon bonds. Thus bridging ligands hold a pivotal role ins the development of Binuclear and polynuclear organometallic chemistry”.     

On the Importance of Decarbonylation as a Side‐Reaction in the Ruthenium‐Catalysed Dehydrogenation of Alcohols: A Combined Experimental and Density Functional Study

We report a density functional study (B97‐D2 level) of the mechanism(s) operating in the alcohol decarbonylation that occurs as an important side‐reaction during dehydrogenation catalysed by [RuH₂(H₂)(PPh₃)₃]. By using MeOH as the substrate, three distinct pathways have been fully characterised involving either neutral tris‐ or bis‐phosphines or anionic bis‐phosphine complexes after deprotonation. α‐Agostic formaldehyde and formyl complexes are key intermediates, and the computed rate‐limiting barriers are similar between the various decarbonylation and dehydrogenation paths. The key steps have also been studied for reactions involving EtOH and iPrOH as substrates, rationalising the known resistance of the latter towards decarbonylation. Kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) were predicted computationally for all pathways and studied experimentally for one specific decarbonylation path designed to start from [RuH(OCH₃)(PPh₃)₃]. From the good agreement between computed and experimental KIEs (observed k_H/k_D=4), the rate‐limiting step for methanol decarbonylation has been ascribed to the formation of the first agostic intermediate from a transient formaldehyde complex.     

Reactivity Tracers of the Hydrolysis of Fe(II)‐Bis(salicylidene) Complexes: Initial–Transition States Analysis and Enhanced Impact of Tensides on the Kinetic Trends

The kinetics of the acid hydrolysis reaction of Fe(II)‐bis(salicylidene) complexes were followed under pseudo–first‐order conditions ([H⁺] >> [complex]) at 298 K. The ligands of the studied azomethine complexes were derived from the condensation of salicylaldehyde with different five α‐amino acids. The hydrolysis reactions were studied in acidic medium at different ratios (v/v) of aqua–organic mixtures. The decrease in the dielectric constant values of the reaction mixture enhances the reactivity of the reaction. The transfer chemical potentials of the initial and transition states (IS–TS) from water into mixed solvents were determined from the solubility measurements combined with the kinetic data. Nonlinear plots of logk_obs versus 1/D (the reciprocal of the dielectric constant) suggest the influence of the solvation of IS–TS on the reaction reactivity. Furthermore, the acid hydrolysis reactions were screened in the presence of different concentrations of cationic and anionic tensides. The addition of surfactants to the reaction mixture accelerates the reaction reactivity. The obtained kinetic data were used to determine the values of δ_mΔG^# (the change in the activation barrier) for the studied complexes when transferred from “water to various ratios (v/v) of water–co‐organic binary mixtures” and from “water to water containing different [surfactant].” It was found that the reactivity of the acid hydrolysis reaction was controlled by the hydrophobicity of the studied chelates.     

New Varieties of Sandwich Complexes

Metal sandwich complexes of the classical type M(C_nH_n)₂ and related structural analogs are characterized by a sandwich-like coordination of one central atom by its ligands. This structural principle has been extended in recent years now that di- and tri-nuclear sandwich-type complexes have become accessible. The best-known representatives are the triple-decker sandwich complexes. A survey of this topical field is presented in this report, which also underlines the utility of kinetic and mechanistic studies for the development of new synthetic pathways in organometallic chemistry.     

Reactions of cationic dinuclear molybdenum complexes containing μ-sulfido and μ-thiolate ligands

Cationic dinuclear molybdenum complexes with bridging sulfido and thiolate ligands of the formula [(CpMo)₂(µ-S₂CH₂)(µ-S)(µ-SR)]^– have been found to show extensive reactivity with molecular hydrogen and with organic molecules that results in the cleavage of C-C, C-N, and C-O bonds. The scope of the reactivity and mechanistic information are reviewed in this paper, and the potential relevance of the reactions to those of heterogeneous molybdenum sulfide catalysts in the hydrotreating process is discussed. Studies of the complex redox chemistry and of the electrophilic and nucelophilic sites within the dinuclear derivatives provide an important basis for understanding the bond cleavage reaction mechanisms, and these topics are also reviewed here.     

Simple Synthetic Routes to N-Heterocyclic Carbene Gold(I)–Aryl Complexes: Expanded Scope and Reactivity

The discovery of sustainable and scalable synthetic protocols leading to gold–aryl compounds bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands sparked an investigation of their reactivity and potential utility as organometallic synthons. The use of a mild base and green solvents provide access to these compounds, starting from widely available boronic acids and various [Au(NHC)Cl] complexes, with reactions taking place under air, at room temperature and leading to high yields with unprecedented ease. One compound, (N,N′-bis[2,6-(di-isopropyl)phenyl]imidazol-2-ylidene)(4-methoxyphenyl)gold, ([Au(IPr)(4-MeOC₆H₄)]), was synthesized on a multigram scale and used to gauge the reactivity of this class of compounds towards C−H/N−H bonds and with various acids, revealing simple pathways to gold–based species that possess attractive properties as materials, reagents and/or catalysts.     

Uncatalyzed Hydroamination of Electrophilic Organometallic Alkynes: Fundamental,Theoretical, and Applied Aspects

Simple reactions of the most used functional groups allowing two molecular fragments to link under mild, sustainable conditions are among the crucial tools of molecular chemistry with multiple applications in materials science, nanomedicine, and organic synthesis as already exemplified by peptide synthesis and “click” chemistry. We are concerned with redox organometallic compounds that can potentially be used as biosensors and redox catalysts and report an uncatalyzed reaction between primary and secondary amines with organometallic electrophilic alkynes that is free of side products and fully “green”. A strategy is first proposed to synthesize alkynyl organometallic precursors upon addition of electrophilic aromatic ligands of cationic complexes followed by endo hydride abstraction. Electrophilic alkynylated cyclopentadienyl or arene ligands of Fe, Ru, and Co complexes subsequently react with amines to yield trans‐enamines that are conjugated with the organometallic group. The difference in reactivities of the various complexes is rationalized from the two‐step reaction mechanism that was elucidated through DFT calculations. Applications are illustrated by the facile reaction of ethynylcobalticenium hexafluorophosphate with aminated silica nanoparticles. Spectroscopic, nonlinear‐optical and electrochemical data, as well as DFT and TDDFT calculations, indicate a strong push–pull conjugation in these cobalticenium– and Fe– and Ru–arene–enamine complexes due to planarity or near‐planarity between the organometallic and trans‐enamine groups involving fulvalene iminium and cyclohexadienylidene iminium mesomeric forms.     

Kinetics of the polycondensation and copolycondensation of bis(3‐hydroxypropyl) terephthalate and bis(4‐hydroxybutyl) terephthalate

The kinetics of the polycondensation and copolycondensation reactions of bis(3‐hydroxypropyl) terephthalate (BHPT) and bis(4‐hydroxybutyl) terephthalate (BHBT) as monomers were investigated at 270 °C in the presence of titanium tetrabutoxide as a catalyst. BHPT was prepared by the ester interchange reaction of dimethyl terephthalate and 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PD). Through the same method adopted for BHPT synthesis, BHBT was prepared with 1,4‐butanediol instead of 1,3‐PD. With second‐order kinetics applied for polycondensation, the rate constants of the polycondensation of BHPT and BHBT, k₁₁ and k₂₂, were calculated to be 4.08 and 4.18 min^?1, respectively. The rate constants of the cross reactions in the copolycondensation of BHPT and BHBT, k₁₂ and k₂₁, were calculated with results obtained from proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis. The rate constants during the copolycondensation of BHPT and BHBT at 270 °C decreased in the order k₁₂ > k₂₂ > k₁₁ > k₂₁, indicating that the reactivity of BHBT was larger than that of BHPT at 270 °C. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2435–2441, 2002     

σ‐Noninnocence: Masked Phenyl‐Cation Transfer at Formal NiIV

Reductive elimination is an elementary organometallic reaction step involving a formal oxidation state change of ?2 at a transition‐metal center. For a series of formal high‐valent Ni^IV complexes, aryl–CF₃ bond‐forming reductive elimination was reported to occur readily (Bour et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015 , 137, 8034–8037). We report a computational analysis of this reaction and find that, unexpectedly, the formal Ni^IV centers are better described as approaching a +II oxidation state, originating from highly covalent metal–ligand bonds, a phenomenon attributable to σ‐noninnocence. A direct consequence is that the elimination of aryl–CF₃ products occurs in an essentially redox‐neutral fashion, as opposed to a reductive elimination. This is supported by an electron flow analysis which shows that an anionic CF₃ group is transferred to an electrophilic aryl group. The uncovered role of σ‐noninnocence in metal–ligand bonding, and of an essentially redox‐neutral elimination as an elementary organometallic reaction step, may constitute concepts of broad relevance to organometallic chemistry.     

Mechanistic Insights into the Oxidative Coupling of N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes within the Coordination Sphere of Copper Complexes

The behavior of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands in organometallic chemistry is hugely important for catalysis, due to the effect of these ligands on catalytic pathways and their involvement in catalyst decomposition. In this report, a combined experimental and computational study is presented, which provides mechanistic understanding of the unprecedented oxidative coupling of NHCs at Cu. The presence of Cu^I–, Cu^II–, and Cu^III–NHC complexes during the process is postulated, with the unusual C_carbene–C_carbene oxidative coupling reaction occurring under extremely mild reaction conditions. This process may represent a novel pathway for the decomposition of Cu–NHC complexes.     

Non-oxidative Methane Coupling over Silica versus Silica-Supported Iron(II) Single Sites

Non-oxidative CH₄ coupling is promoted by silica with incorporated iron sites, but the role of these sites and their speciation under reaction conditions are poorly understood. Here, silica-supported iron(II) single sites, prepared via surface organometallic chemistry and stable at 1020 °C in vacuum, are shown to rapidly initiate CH₄ coupling at 1000 °C, leading to 15–22 % hydrocarbons selectivity at 3–4 % conversion. During this process, iron reduces and forms carburized iron(0) nanoparticles. This reactivity contrasts with what is observed for (iron-free) partially dehydroxylated silica, that readily converts methane, albeit with low hydrocarbon selectivity and after an induction period. This study supports that iron sites facilitate faster initiation of radical reactions and tame the surface reactivity.     

Isotope Effects in Plasmonic Photosynthesis

The photoexcitation of plasmonic nanoparticles has been shown to drive multistep, multicarrier transformations, such as the conversion of CO₂ into hydrocarbons. But for such plasmon-driven chemistry to be precisely understood and modeled, the critical photoinitiation step in the reaction cascade must be identified. We meet this goal by measuring H/D and ¹²C/¹³C kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) in plasmonic photosynthesis. In particular, we found that the substitution of H₂O with D₂O slows hydrocarbon production by a factor of 5–8. This primary H/D KIE leads to the inference that hole-driven scission of the O−H bond in H₂O is a critical, limiting step in plasmonic photosynthesis. This study advances mechanistic understanding of light-driven chemical reactions on plasmonic nanoparticles.     

Structure and Bonding in Organometallic Anions of Heavy Group 14 and 15 Elements

Alkali metal organometallic complexes (containing C–metal bonds) and the frequently structrually related alkali metal amides and alkoxides have been investigated extensively both in the solid state and in solution in the past two decades. However, until recently, the related complexes containing the heavier metallic and semi-metallic p block elements and the alkali and alkaline earth metals had rarely been studied in their own right. Recent solid-state structural studies have illustrated the immense structural diversity and bonding modes to be found within these species. One of the principal focuses of recent studies has been complexes containing organometallic anions of p block metals (e.g., triorganostannates, containing R₃Sn^?) in which metal–metal bonds occur between the heavy p block metal and the alkali or alkaline earth metal and the investigation of the nature of this bonding. The development of new synthetic routes has also allowed the preparation of a variety of anionic ligands with p block metal centers which promise new opportunities in coordination chemistry. In addition, the synthesis of a family of homologous anionic π complexes has given a fresh direction in the chemistry of p block metal metallocene complexes.     

Platinum Group Organometallics Based on “Pincer” Complexes: Sensors,Switches, and Catalysts

Since the first reports in the late 1970s on transition metal complexes containing pincer‐type ligands—named after the particular coordination mode of these ligands—these systems have attracted increasing interest owing to the unusual properties of the metal centers imparted by the pincer ligand. Typically, such a ligand comprises an anionic aryl ring which is ortho,ortho‐disubstituted with heteroatom substituents, for example, CH₂NR₂, CH₂PR₂ or CH₂SR, which generally coordinate to the metal center, and therefore support the M−C σ bond. This commonly results in a terdentate and meridional coordination mode consisting of two metallacycles which share the M−C bond. Detailed studies of the formation and the properties of a large variety of pincers containing platinum group metal complexes have provided direct access to both a fundamental understanding of a variety of reactions in organometallic chemistry and to a range of new applications of these complexes. The discovery of alkane dehydrogenation catalysts, the mechanistic elucidation of fundamental transformations (for example, C−C bond activation), the construction of the first metallodendrimers for sustainable homogeneous catalysis, and the engineering of crystalline switches for materials processing represent only a few of the many highlights which have emanated from these numerous investigations. This review discusses the synthetic methodologies that are currently available for the preparation of platinum group metal complexes containing pincer ligands and especially emphasizes different applications that have been realized in materials science such as the development and engineering of sensors, switches, and catalysts.     

Reactivity Trends and Kinetic Inspection of Hydroxide Ion Attack and DNA Interaction on Some Pharmacologically Active Agents of Fe(II) Amino Acid Schiff Base Complexes at Different Temperatures

The reactivity of few novel high‐spin Fe(II) complexes of Schiff base ligands derived from 2‐hydroxynaphthaldehyde and some variety of amino acids with the OH^? ion has been examined in an aqueous mixture at the temperature range from 10 to 40°C. Based on the kinetic investigations, the rate law and a plausible mechanism were proposed and discussed. The general rate equation was suggested as follows: rate = k_obs[complex], where k_obs. = k₁ + k₂[OH^?]. Base‐catalyzed hydrolysis kinetic measurements imply pseudo–first‐order doubly stage rates due the presence of mer‐ and fac‐isomers. The observed rate constants k_obs are correlated with the effect of substituent R in the structure of the ligands. From the effect of temperature on the rate base hydrolysis reaction, various thermodynamic parameters were evaluated. The evaluated rate constants and activation parameters are in a good agreement with the stability constants of the investigated complexes. Moreover, the reactivity of the investigated complexes toward DNA was examined and found to be in a good agreement with the reported binding constants.     

Theoretical study of N-demethylation of substituted N,N-dimethylanilines by cytochrome P450: the mechanistic significance of kinetic isotope effect profiles

The mechanism of N-demethylation of N,N-dimethylanilines (DMAs) by cytochrome P450, a highly debated topic in mechanistic bioinorganic chemistry (Karki, S. B.; Dinnocenczo, J. P.; Jones, J. P.; Korzekwa, K. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1995, 117, 3657), is studied here using DFT calculations of the reactions of the active species of the enzyme, Compound I (Cpd I), with four para-(H, Cl, CN, NO2) substituted DMAs. The calculations resolve mechanistic controversies, offer a consistent mechanistic view, and reveal the following features: (a) the reaction pathways involve C-H hydroxylation by Cpd I followed by a nonenzymatic carbinolamine decomposition. (b) C-H hydroxylation is initiated by a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) step that possesses a "polar" character. As such, the HAT energy barriers correlate with the energy level of the HOMO of the DMAs. (c) The series exhibits a switch from spin-selective reactivity for DMA and p-Cl-DMA to two-state reactivity, with low- and high-spin states, for p-CN-DMA and p-NO2-DMA. (d) The computed kinetic isotope effect profiles (KIEPs) for these scenarios match the experimentally determined KIEPs. Theory further shows that the KIEs and TS structures vary in a manner predicted by the Melander-Westheimer postulate: as the substituent becomes more electron withdrawing, the TS is shifted to a later position along the H-transfer coordinate and the corresponding KIEs increases. (e) The generated carbinolaniline can readily dissociate from the heme and decomposes in a nonenzymatic environment, which involves water assisted proton shift.     

Aminolysis of aryl dithio-2-thiophenates and dithio-2-furoates in acetonitrile

The aminolyses of the title substrates with anilines and benzylamines are investigated in acetonitrile. A clean second-order kinetics is obtained with a first-order rate law in the amine concentration, which is uncomplicated by the fast proton transfer step. The large magnitude of ρ_Z (ρ_1g) as well as ρ_X (ρ_nuc) together with relatively large positive ρ_XZ values is consistent with a stepwise mechanism in which thiophenolate ion expulsion from the intermediate is rate limiting. For the reactions of aryl dithio-2-thiophenates with benzylamines the magnitude of ρ_X and ρ_Z values is relatively smaller suggesting that both the addition and expulsion of thiophenolate are partially rate determining. Relatively large secondary kinetic isotope effects, k_H/k_D≥1.7, with deuterated nucleophiles, support involvement a concurrent proton transfer to the departing thiophenolate ion in the transition state. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 849–857, 1998     

Multicomponent Molecular Orbital–Climbing Image–Nudged Elastic Band Method to Analyze Chemical Reactions Including Nuclear Quantum Effect

To analyze the H/D isotope effects on hydrogen transfer reactions in XHCHCHCHY?XCHCHCHYH (X, Y=O, NH, or CH₂) including the nuclear quantum effect of proton and deuteron, we propose a multicomponent molecular orbital‐climbing image‐nudged elastic band (MC_MO–CI–NEB) method. We obtain not only transition state structures but also minimum‐energy paths (MEPs) on the MC_MO effective potential energy surface by using MC_MO–CI–NEB method. We find that nuclear quantum effect affects not only stationary‐point geometries but also MEPs and electronic structures in the reactions. We clearly demonstrate the importance of including nuclear quantum effects for H/D isotope effect on rate constants (k_H/k_D).     

Understanding the Mechanisms of Unusually Fast HH,CH,and CC Bond Reductive Eliminations from Gold(III) Complexes

Carbon–carbon bond reductive elimination from gold(III) complexes are known to be very slow and require high temperatures. Recently, Toste and co‐workers have demonstrated extremely rapid C?C reductive elimination from cis‐[AuPPh₃(4‐F‐C₆H₄)₂Cl] even at low temperatures. We have performed DFT calculations to understand the mechanistic pathway for these novel reductive elimination reactions. Direct dynamics calculations inclusive of quantum mechanical tunneling showed significant contribution of heavy‐atom tunneling (>25 %) at the experimental reaction temperatures. In the absence of any competing side reactions, such as phosphine exchange/dissociation, the complex cis‐[Au(PPh₃)₂(4‐F‐C₆H₄)₂]⁺ was shown to undergo ultrafast reductive elimination. Calculations also revealed very facile, concerted mechanisms for H?H, C?H, and C?C bond reductive elimination from a range of neutral and cationic gold(III) centers, except for the coupling of sp³ carbon atoms. Metal–carbon bond strengths in the transition states that originate from attractive orbital interactions control the feasibility of a concerted reductive elimination mechanism. Calculations for the formation of methane from complex cis‐[AuPPh₃(H)CH₃]⁺ predict that at ?52 °C, about 82 % of the reaction occurs by hydrogen‐atom tunneling. Tunneling leads to subtle effects on the reaction rates, such as large primary kinetic isotope effects (KIE) and a strong violation of the rule of the geometric mean of the primary and secondary KIEs.