Unsymmetrical alkyne binding to a triruthenium centre: Oxidative-addition of diphenyl ditelluride to the furyne cluster [Ru3(CO)7(μ-H)(μ3-η-C4H2O){μ-P(C4H3O)2}(μ-dppm)]

Oxidative-addition of PhTe₂Ph to the furyne cluster [Ru₃(CO)₇(μ-H)(μ₃-η²-C₄H₂O){μ-P(C₄H₃O)₂}(μ-dppm)] (1) results in the isolation of four complexes; (i) the previously reported 54-electron cluster [Ru₃(CO)₆(μ₃-Te)₂(μ-TePh)₂(μ-dppm)] (5) which results from elimination of trifuryl phosphine, (ii) the furenyl cluster [Ru₃(CO)₅(μ-η²-C₄H₃O){μ-P(C₄H₃O)₂}(μ-TePh)₂(μ-dppm)] (6) which results from carbon-hydrogen bond formation and (iii) two new 50-electron complexes [Ru₃(CO)₅(μ-H)(μ₃-η²-C₄H₂O){μ-P(C₄H₃O)₂}(μ-TePh)₂(к²-dppm)] (7) and [Ru₃(CO)₄(μ-H){P(C₄H₃O)₃}(μ₃-η²-C₄H₂O){μ-P(C₄H₃O)₂}(μ-TePh)₂(к²-dppm)] (8) both containing unsymmetrical furyne ligands. The structures of all the new compounds have been unambiguously established by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Further reactivity studies have provided a clear understanding of the relative sequence of the key oxidative-addition and reductive-elimination processes, showing that 6 is an intermediate in the formation of 7. DFT calculations have been used to shed light on the unsymmetrical binding of the furyne ligand in 7 and also to show that the adopted position of the heteroatom within the furyne ring can vary within complexes of this type.     

Free Amino Group Transfer via α-Amination of Native Carbonyls

We report herein a straightforward transfer of a free amino group (NH₂) from a commercially available nitrogen source to unfunctionalized, native carbonyls (amides and ketones) resulting in direct α-amination. Primary α-amino carbonyls are readily produced under mild conditions, further enabling diverse in situ functionalization reactions—including peptide coupling and Pictet–Spengler cyclization—that capitalize on the presence of the unprotected primary amine.     

Rhenium Complexes with p-Fluorophenylisocyanide

p-Fluorophenylisocyanide (CNPh^pF) reacts with [Re(CO)₅Br] under stepwise exchange of the carbonyl ligands depending on the conditions applied. The reaction stops with the formation of fac-[Re(CO)₃Br(CNPh^pF)₂] in boiling THF. An ongoing carbonyl exchange is observed at higher temperatures, e. g. in refluxing toluene, with the final formation of the [Re(CNPh^pF)₆]⁺ cation. The progress of the reactions has been studied by ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and the structures of [Re(CO)Br(CNPh^pF)₄] and [Re(CNPh^pF)₆](BPh₄) have been elucidated by X-ray diffraction.