Synthesis and reactions of isocyanate and carbamoyl complexes of rhenium

Re(CO)₂(NO)(PPh₃)₂ reacts with aroyl azides RCON₃ (R = C₆H₅, p-CH₃C₆H₄) in benzene to form isocyanate complexes of formula Re(CO)(NO)-(PPh₃)₂(RCONCO) (I). When the reaction is carried out in protic solvents such as ethanol, carbamoyl derivatives of formula Re(NCO)(NO)(PPh₃)₂-(CONHCOR) (II) are obtained, which give Re(NCO)(NO)(PPh₃)₂(CO)(NHCOR) when dissolved in chloroform, a terminal carbonyl ligand being formed from the carbamoyl group.I can be transformed into II by reaction with gaseous HCl, via Re(CO)-(NO)(PPh₃)₂ {C(OH)=NCOR}]⁺Cl^- followed by anion exchange with NaN₃. II reacts with mineral acids HX (X = Cl, BF₄) to give amide derivatives of formula Re(NCO)(NO)(PPh₃)₂(CO)(NH₂COR)]⁺ X^- which when X = Cl can be easily transformed into Re(NCO)(NO)(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl, the amide ligand being removed. Both the protonation reactions of I and II are reversible. IR and ¹H NMR data of the new compounds and the mechanisms of formation of I and II are reported and discussed.