Rhodium complexes with the chelating and binucleating ligands P(CH2CH2Py)nPh3-n (Py = 2-pyridyl; n = 1,2): structures and fluxional behavior

Several rhodium(I) complexes of the type [RhX(CO)(PePy2)], [Rh(diene)(PePy)]+, and [Rh(diene)(PePy2)]+ (PePyn = P(CH2CH2Py)nPh3-n; Py = 2-pyridyl; n = 1, 2) have been prepared. The two former are square planar; the latter are pentacoordinated for diene = tetrafluorobenzobarrelene or norbornadiene (confirmed by X-ray diffraction), but an equilibrium of 4- and 5-coordinate isomers exists in solution for diene = 1,5-cyclooctadiene. The fluxional behavior of all these complexes is studied by NMR spectroscopy. The complex [Rh(NBD)(PePy2)]PF6.Cl2CH2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 8.455(1) A, b = 18.068(3) A, c = 19.729(3) A, beta = 99.658(3)degrees, and Z = 4. The complexes [Rh(diene)(PePy2)]+ react with CO to give the dimeric complex [Rh2(CO)2[P(CH2CH2Py)2Ph]2](BF4)2 with the pyridylphosphine acting as P,N-chelating and P,N-bridging.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 1,3-Dienes from Allenes and Organic Halides

A wide range of aryl and vinylic halides react with 1,1-dimethylallene (2a) and potassium carbonate in the presence of Pd(dba)(2) (dba = dibenzylideneacetone) in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) at temperature 100-120 degrees C to give the corresponding dienes CH(2)C(CH(3))CRCH(2) (3a-o), where R is aryl or vinylic, in good to excellent yields. Higher yields of diene products were obtained for aryl bromides than for the corresponding aryl iodides and chlorides. Under similar reaction conditions, tetramethylallene (2b), 1-methyl-1-phenylallene (2c), 1-methyl-3-phenylallene (2d), and 1-cyclohexylallene (2e) also react with aryl and vinylic halides to give diene products (3p-w). For 2d, both E and Z isomers 3t and 3u of the diene product were observed. For 2e, two regioisomers 3vand 3w were isolated with 3w likely from alkene isomerization of 3v. Various palladium systems were tested for the catalytic activity of diene formation. In addition to Pd(dba)(2)/PPh(3), Pd(OAc)(2)/PPh(3), PdCl(2)(PPh(3))(2), and PdCl(2)(dppe) are also very effective as catalysts for the reaction of 2a with p-bromoacetophenone (1a) to give 3a. Studies on the effect of solvents and bases show that DMA and K(2)CO(3) are the solvent and base that give the highest yield of diene 3a. Possible mechanisms for this catalytic diene formation are proposed.     

Stereoselectivity in nucleophilic addition to unsaturated ligands bound to molybdenum : Allylic alkylation of cyclohexanone

The stereochemistry and regiochemistry of nucleophilic addition to olefinic, allylic, or diene moieties can be controlled in reactions of molybdenum complexes. The synthesis of a wide range of -allylic cyclohexanones is feasible using (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)Mo(CO)(NO)(allyl) cations. The stereoselective preparation of (RS,SR)-2-(1-methyl-2-butenyl)cyclohexanone from the reaction of 1-pyrrolidino-1-cyclohexene with [CpMo(CO)(NO)(η³-1,3-dimethylallyl)]BF₄ illustrates the methodology.     

Anionic platinum complexes with 2-pyridylphosphines as ligands for rhodium: synthesis of zwitterionic Pt-Rh organometallic compounds

Bimetallic zwitterionic platinum(II)-rhodium(I) complexes of the type [(C(6)F(5))(3)Pt(micro-PPy(n)Ph(3)(-)(n)Rh(CO)(2))] and [(C(6)F(5))(3)Pt(micro-PPy(n)Ph(3)(-)(n)())Rh(diene))] (n = 2, 3; Py = 2-pyridyl) have been prepared. The P end of the bridging ligands (micro-PPy(n)Ph(3)(-)(n)) is always coordinated to the Pt center, while the N-donor ends chelate the Rh atom, giving metallacycles comparable to pyrazolylborate-Rh complexes. These metallacycles can adopt two conformations, either with the Pt complex in pseudoaxial position approaching the Rh center or with the Pt complex in a remote position. The preferred conformation depends on the steric hindrance at the rhodium center. In less sterically demanding Rh-carbonyl complexes the Pt moiety gets close to the Rh moiety as this brings closer the opposite charges of the zwitterion. For diene complexes mixtures of conformers are obtained. The X-ray structures of [(C(6)F(5))(3)Pt(micro-PPhPy(2))Rh(COD)] (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and [(C(6)F(5))(3)Pt(micro-PPhPy(2))Rh(CO)(2)] are reported.     

Verknüpfung von 1,3-dienen mit acrylsäuremethylester durch photochemische umsetzung mit pentacarbonyleisen

Pentacarbonyliron and methyl acrylate/1,3-diene (2,3-dimethylbutadiene, isoprene, butadiene) mixtures react photochemically via diene—Fe(CO)₃ and methyl acrylate—Fe(CO)₄ to give products in which a methyl acrylate—diene adduct is 1,4,5,6-η-coordinated to the Fe(CO)₃ moiety. (η²-diene)(η²-methyl acrylate)Fe(CO)₃ is proposed to be an intermediate.     

Ruthenium hydride-catalyzed addition of aldehydes to dienes leading to beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones

An efficient cross-addition reaction of dienes with aldehydes was developed by using RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 as a catalyst to give a wide variety of beta,gamma-unsaturated ketones, where a pi-allylruthenium species, derived from hydroruthenation of diene, may be involved as a key intermediate.     

Ligand-controlled highly stereoselective syntheses of e- and z-allylsilanes from dienes and aldehydes using nickel complex

Synthetic methods of highly stereocontrolled E- and Z-allylsilanes were developed. When a toluene solution of diene having a silicon moiety and aldehyde was refluxed in the presence of silane using a catalytic amount of Ni(cod)(2) bearing PPh(3), E-allylsilane was obtained in high yield. On the other hand, when the reaction was carried out in THF upon heating in the presence of Ni(cod)(2), imidazolium salt, Cs(2)CO(3), and PPh(3), Z-allylsilane was formed as a sole product.     

Reactivity of alkynes containing alpha-hydrogen atoms with a triruthenium hydrido carbonyl cluster: alkenyl versus allyl cluster derivatives

The reactions of the hydrido-triruthenium cluster complex [Ru3(mu-H)(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(CO)9] (1; H2NNMe2 = 1,1-dimethylhydrazine) with alkynes that have alpha-hydrogen atoms give trinuclear derivatives containing edge-bridging allyl or face-capping alkenyl ligands. Under mild conditions (THF, 70 degrees C) the isolated products are as follows: [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu-kappa(3)-1-syn-Me-3-anti-EtC3H3)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (2) and [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu-kappa(3)-1-syn-Me-3-syn-EtC3H3)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (3) from 3-hexyne; [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu-kappa(3)-3-anti-PhC3H4)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (4), [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu-kappa(2)-MeCCHPh)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (5) and [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu3-kappa(2)-PhCCHMe)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (6) from 1-phenyl-1-propyne; [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu-kappa(2)-3-anti-PrC3H4)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (7), [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu3-kappa(2)-BuCCH2)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (8), and [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu3-kappa(2)-HCCHBu)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (9) from 1-hexyne; [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu3-kappa(2)-HOH2CCCH2)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (10) from propargyl alcohol; and [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu3-kappa(2)-MeOCH2CCH2)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (11) from 3-methoxy-1-propyne. The regioselectivity of these reactions depends upon the nature of the alkyne reagent, which affects considerably the kinetic barriers of important reaction steps and the stability of the final products. It has been established that the face-capped alkenyl derivatives are not precursors to the allyl products, which are formed via edge-bridged alkenyl intermediates. At higher temperature (toluene, 110 degrees C), the complexes that have allyl ligands with an anti substituent are isomerized into allyl derivatives with that substituent in the syn position, for example, 4 into [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu-kappa(3)-3-syn-PhC3H4)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (14). The diene complex [Ru3(mu-H)(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu-kappa(4)-trans-EtC4H5)(CO)7] (13) has been obtained from the thermolysis of compounds 2 and 7 at 110 degrees C (3 and [Ru3(mu3-kappa(2)-HNNMe2)(mu-kappa(2)-3-syn-PrC3H4)(mu-CO)2(CO)6] (12) are also formed in these reactions). A DFT theoretical study has allowed a comparison of the thermodynamic stabilities of isomeric compounds and has helped rationalize the experimental results. Mechanistic proposals for the synthesis of the allyl complexes and their isomerization processes are also provided.     

Simultaneous and stereoselective formation of planar and axial chiralities in enantiopure sulfinyl iron diene complexes

[reaction: see text] Enantiopure (1Z,3E)-1-sulfinyl dienes bearing an o-dithianylphenyl group can be prepared and complexed with (bda)Fe(CO)(3) to afford the corresponding sulfinyl diene iron(0) tricarbonyl complexes. This diastereoselective complexation introduces planar and axial chirality simultaneously, with a high degree of facial selectivity as well as atropselectivity. Dynamic kinetic resolution is likely to be the origin of the atropselectivity.     

Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of ruthenium diene/diamine complexes including catalytic hydrogenation of ketones

Thermal reactions between [RuCl2(diene)]n (diene = 2,5-norbornadiene, nbd; 1,5-cyclooctadiene, cod) with an excess of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylene diamine (tmeda) afforded derivatives [RuCl2(diene)(tmeda)] (diene = nbd, 1; cod, 2) as a mixture of cis and trans isomers. When thermolysis was performed under H2 mixtures of hydride species [RuCl(H)(diene)(tmeda)] (diene = nbd, 3; cod, 4) and the bis-tmeda adduct trans-[RuCl2(tmeda)2] (5) were obtained in different ratios depending upon the reaction conditions and reaction times. Heating polymeric Ru(II) precursors in toluene in the presence of a 5-fold excess of the bulkier N,N,N',N'-tetraethylethylene diamine (teeda) resulted in a rare diamine dealkylation process with formation of trans-[RuCl2(nbd)(Et2NCH2CH2NHEt)] (6) and trans-[RuCl2(cod)(EtHNCH2CH2NHEt)] (7) in high yields. The presence of N-H functionalities in the coordinated diamine ligands of 6 and 7 was unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The dealkylation process of the teeda ligand seems to proceed intramolecularly as shown by solution NMR studies performed with the soluble Ru(II) precursors trans-[RuCl2(amine)2(diene)] (diene = nbd, amine = morpholine, 9; diene = cod, amine = Et2NH, 10). The above complexes [RuCl2(diene)(diamine)] have been tested as precatalysts in the hydrogenation of ketones both for transfer as well as direct hydrogenation, the latter route being the most effective.     

Trifluoromethyl substituted ring systems: synthesis,and reactivity towards metal carbonyls

Hexafluoro-but-2-yne and actafluoro-but-2-ene both readily add to cyclopentadiene. Similar Diels-Alder reactions occur between hexafluoro-but-2-yne and cycloheptatriene and cyclooctatetraene. 2,3-Bis(trifluoromethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene reacts with chromium and molybdenum hexacarbonyls, and with enneacarbonyl di-iron to give metal complexes [M(diene)(CO)₄] (M = Cr, Mo) and [Fe(diene)(CO)₃], respectively. 6,7-Bis-(trifluoromethyl)tricyclo[3.2.2.0^2,4]nona-6,8-diene obtained from hexafluoro-but-2-yne and cycloheptatriene and 7,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)tricyclo[4.2.2.0^2,5]deca-3,7,9-triene formed from hexafluoro-but-2-yne and cyclooctatetraene also react with molybdenum hexacarbonyl to form complexes of molybdenum di- and tetracarbonyl groups, respectively. ¹H, ¹⁹F and ¹³C n.m.r. spectra of the compounds are described.     

Complexation-Initiated Intramolecular Diels-Alder Reaction

A complexation-initiated intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction was demonstrated for the first time. On adsorbing the alkyne-Co(2)(CO)(6) complexes having a diene and a dienophile on opposite ends of the alkyne on silica gel, the Diels-Alder reaction was accelerated and the equilibrium was shifted toward the adduct formation to a greater extent compared to that in solution. Seven-membered ring formation was apparently favorable in this system.     

Square-planar rhodium(I) complexes partnered with [arachno-6-SB(9)H(12)]- : a route toward the synthesis of new rhodathiaboranes and organometallic/thiaborane salts

Treatment of [RhCl(eta4-diene)]2 (diene = nbd, cod) with the N-heterocyclic ligands 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Me2bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and pyridine (py) followed by addition of Cs[arachno-6-SB9H12] affords the corresponding salts, [Rh(eta4-diene)(L2)][SB9H12] [diene = cod, L2 = bpy (1), Me2bpy (3), phen (5), (py)2 (7); diene = nbd, L2 = bpy (2), Me2bpy (4), phen (6), (py)2 (8)]. These compounds are characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and in addition, the cod-Rh species 1 and 3 are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. These saltlike reagents are stable in the solid state, but in solution the rhodium(I) cations, [Rh(eta4-diene)(L2)]+, react with the polyhedral anion [SB9H12]- leading to a chemistry that is controlled by the d8 transition element chelates. The nbd-Rh(I) complexes react faster than the cod-Rh(I) counterparts, leading, depending on the conditions, to the synthesis of new rhodathiaboranes of general formulas [8,8-(L2)-nido-8,7-RhSB9H10] [L2 = bpy (9), Me2bpy (10), phen (11), (py)2 (12)] and [8,8-(L2)-8-(L')-nido-8,7-RhSB9H10] [L' = PPh3, L2 = bpy (13), Me2bpy (14), phen (15); L' = NCCH3, L2 = bpy (16), Me2bpy (17), phen (18)]. Compound 13 is characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis confirming the 11-vertex nido-structure of the rhodathiaborane analogues 14-18. In dichloromethane, 1 and 3 yield mixtures that contain the 11-vertex rhodathiaboranes 9 and 10 together with new species. In contrast, the cod-Rh(I) reagent 5 affords a single compound, which is proposed to be an organometallic rhodium complex bound exo-polyhedrally to the thiaborane cage. In the presence of H2(g) and stoichiometric amounts of PPh3, the cod-Rh(I) reagents, 1, 3, and 5, afford the salts [Rh(H)2(L2)(PPh3)2][SB9H12] [L2 = bpy (19), Me2bpy (20), phen (21)]. Similarly, in an atmosphere of CO(g) and in the presence of PPh3, compounds 1-6 afford [Rh(L2)(PPh3)2(CO)][SB9H12] (L2 = bpy (22), Me2bpy (23), phen (24)]. The structures of 19 and 24 are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The five-coordinate complexes [Rh(L2)(PPh3)2(CO)]+ undergo PPh3 exchange in a process that is characterized as dissociative. The observed differences in the reactivity of the nbd-Rh(I) salts versus the cod-Rh(I) analogues are rationalized on the basis of the higher kinetic lability of the nbd ligand and its faster hydrogenation relative to the cod diene.     

Reactions of Singlet Oxygen with Organometallic Compounds. 4. Photooxidation of Cationic Iridium(I) and Rhodium(I) Complexes with Weakly Bonded Ligands

Cationic complexes of the type [M(CO)S(PPh(3))(2)](+) (M = Ir, Rh; S = CH(3)CN) react with singlet oxygen to form the corresponding peroxo complexes [M(CO)S(PPh(3))(2)(O(2))](+). The solvent molecule remains coordinated to the metal in the oxygen adducts. The novel cationic iridium-peroxo complex is stable at room temperature, while the rhodium-peroxo complex is only stable below 0 degrees C. Rate constants for physical and chemical interaction of the complexes with singlet oxygen are somewhat smaller than those for related neutral complexes. Upon addition of alkenes (tetramethylethylene or 1-octene) to the peroxo complexes, neither oxidation of the olefins nor substitution of the acetonitrile ligand was observed. 1-Octene was isomerized to give mostly 2- and 3-octene by the cationic rhodium(I) complex. A cationic iridium complex which already possesses a coordinated diene ligand ([Ir(COD)(PPh(3))(2)](+)) did not react with or quench singlet oxygen.     

Selective oxygenation of amphiphilic thiacalix[3]pyridine Rh(I) diene complexes in both water and organic solvents

Thiacalix[3]pyridine (Py3S3) reacted with [Rh(diene)(mu-Cl)]2(diene = 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod), 2,5-norbornadiene (nbd)) to give amphiphilic trigonal bipyramidal complexes, [Rh(Py3S3)(diene)]Cl. Sulfur bridges of the Py3S3 ligand in these complexes were selectively oxygenated by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid in dichloromethane to give sulfinylcalix[3]pyridine complexes, [Rh(Py3(SO)3)(diene)]+, in which all three oxygen atoms of the SO groups occupy the equatorial positions. Structures of the complexes were analysed by X-ray crystallography and the oxidation reaction was investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry showing that the oxygenation of the sulfur atoms in the ligand proceeded stepwise and further oxygenation of the SO moiety occurred only for the nbd complex having the smaller diene ligand resulting in [Rh(Py3(SO)2(SO2))(nbd)]+. On the other hand, the oxidation of [Rh(Py3S3)(cod)]+ by H2O2 in water did not result in oxygenation of the sulfur bridges but the cod ligand is hydroxygenated to give 1,4,5,6-eta4-2-hydroxycycloocta-4-ene-1,6-di-yl.     

Coordination chemistry of diphenylphosphinoferrocenylthioethers on cyclooctadiene and norbornadiene rhodium(i) platforms

Complexes [RhCl(diene)(P,SR)] with chiral ferrocenyl phosphine-thioethers ligands (diene = norbornadiene, NBD, 1(R), or 1,5-cyclooctadiene, COD, 3(R); P,SR = CpFe(1,2-η(5)-C(5)H(3)(PPh(2))(CH(2)SR); R = tBu, Ph, Bz, Et) and the corresponding [Rh(diene)(P,SR)][BF(4)] (diene = NBD, 2(R); COD, 4(R)) have been synthesized from [RhCl(diene)](2) and the appropriate P,SR ligand. The molecular structure of the cationic complexes 2(tBu), 4(Ph) and 4(Bz), determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, shows the expected slightly distorted square planar geometry. For the neutral chloride complexes, a combination of experimental IR and computational DFT investigations points to an equally four coordinate square planar geometry with the diene ligand, the chlorine and the phosphorus atoms in the coordination sphere and with a dangling thioether function. However, a second isomeric form featuring a 5-coordinated square planar geometry with the thioether function placed in the axial position is easily accessible in some cases.     

Spectrophotometric studies on complex formation in dilute benzene solutions of [{Rh(diene)(μ–Cl)}2]–PR3–SnCl2 systems

There is no correlation between the stability of complexes formed in dilute solutions of [{Rh(diene)(–Cl)}2]–PR3–SnCl2 systems [with ligand combinations cod+PPh3, nbd+PPh3, cod+PPhMe2 and cod+ PCy3 (Cy=cyclohexyl)] and the possibility of isolating them as solids. In general, high dilution favours the formation of pentacoordinate complexes that decompose upon attempted crystallization. [RhCl(cod)(PPhMe2)2], [Rh(SnCl3)(cod)(PPh3)2], [Rh(SnCl3)(cod)(PCy3)2], [Rh(SnCl3)(cod)(PPhMe2)2] and [Rh(SnCl3)(nbd)(PPh3)2] have been identified in solution, but only the last two, previously known, have been isolated in the solid state. The steric properties of the coordinated phosphine seem to be the most important factor in determining the stabilities of [RhCl(diene)(PR3)2] complexes, whilst in the case of [Rh(SnCl3)(diene)(PR3)2] complexes the steric properties of the phosphine and the diene appear to have similar importance.     

Formation and coordination modes of the C4E4 moiety (E = COOMe) bound to two palladium(II) moieties

The transmetallation of the palladacyclopentadiene complex Pd{C(COOMe)C(COOMe)C(COOMe)C(COOMe)}(bipy) with the dicationic Pd(II) complex [Pd(bipy)(CH(3)CN)(2)][BF(4)](2) afforded a terminally σ-palladated diene complex [Pd(2){μ-η(1):η(1)-C(COOMe)C(COOMe)C(COOMe)C(COOMe)}(bipy)(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)][BF(4)](2). It was revealed by X-ray crystallographic analysis that replacement of the acetonitrile ligands in a terminally σ-palladated diene complex with PPh(3) ligands resulted in the conformation change of the σ-palladated diene moiety from skewed s-cis to planar s-trans. Treatment of a bis-triphenylphosphine dipalladium complex [Pd(2)(PPh(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(4)][PF(6)](2) with dimethoxyacetylene dicarboxylate (DMAD) (1 equiv.) in acetonitrile resulted in the insertion of DMAD to the Pd-Pd bond to afford [Pd(2){μ-η(1):η(1)-C(COOMe)C(COOMe)}(PPh(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(4)][PF(6)](2). Addition of the second DMAD gave the ylide-type complex [Pd(2){μ-η(2):η(3)-C(COOMe)C(COOMe)C(COOMe)C(COOMe)(PPh(3))}(PPh(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(3)][PF(6)](2) of which the structure was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Reactions of dodecacarbonyltriosmium with dienic ligands

Dodecacabonyltriosmium reacts with diene ligands (D) such as 2,4-trans, trans- and 2,4-cis, trans-hexadiene and 1,6- and 1,5-heptadiene to give H₂Os₃D(CO)₉, H₄Os₄(CO)₁₂ and two isomers of molecular formula HOs₃-(D  H)(CO)₉ in addition to Os₂(D  2H)(CO)₆ and OsD(CO)₃. The structures of the trimetal complexes show that dehydrogenation, isomerization and rearrangement of the organic substrates occur before the coordination to the metal cluster. 2,3-Dimethyl-1,3-butadiene and dodecacabonyltriosmium give only the well known bi- and mono-metal complexes. The results are compared with those obtained in the reactions of the some organic molecules with dodecacabonyltriruthenium.     

Trifluorosulfane ligand as an analogue of the nitrosyl ligand: highly exothermic fluorine transfer reactions from sulfur to metal in the chemistry of SF3 metal carbonyls of the first row transition metals

The variety of known very stable PF(3) metal derivatives analogous to metal carbonyls suggests the synthesis of SF(3) metal derivatives analogous to metal nitrosyls. However, the only known SF(3) metal complex is the structurally uncharacterized (Et(3)P)(2)Ir(CO)(Cl)(F)(SF(3)) synthesized by Cockman, Ebsworth, and Holloway in 1987 and suggested by electron counting to have a one-electron donor SF(3) group rather than a three-electron donor SF(3) group. In this connection, the possibility of synthesizing SF(3) metal derivatives analogous to metal nitrosyls has been investigated using density functional theory. The [M]SF(3) derivatives with [M] = V(CO)(5), Mn(CO)(4), Co(CO)(3), Ir(CO)(3), (C(5)H(5))Cr(CO)(2), (C(5)H(5))Fe(CO), and (C(5)H(5))Ni analogous to known metal nitrosyl derivatives are all predicted to be thermodynamically disfavored with respect to the corresponding [M](SF(2))(F) derivatives by energies ranging from 19.5 kcal/mol for Mn(SF(3))(CO)(4) to 5.4 kcal/mol for Co(SF(3))(CO)(3). By contrast, the isoelectronic [M]PF(3) derivatives with [M] = Cr(CO)(5), Fe(CO)(4), Ni(CO)(3), (C(5)H(5))Mn(CO)(2), (C(5)H(5))Co(CO), and (C(5)H(5))Cu are all very strongly thermodynamically favored with respect to the corresponding [M](PF(2))(F) derivatives by energies ranging from 64.3 kcal/mol for Cr(PF(3))(CO)(5) to 31.6 kcal/mol for (C(5)H(5))Co(PF(3))(CO). The known six-coordinate (Et(3)P)(2)Ir(CO)(Cl)(F)(SF(3)) is also predicted to be stable relative to the seven-coordinate (Et(3)P)(2)Ir(CO)(Cl)(F)(2)(SF(2)). Most of the metal SF(3) complexes found in this work are singlet structures containing three-electron donor SF(3) ligands with tetrahedral sulfur coordination. However, two examples of triplet spin state metal SF(3) complexes, namely, the lowest energy (C(5)H(5))Fe(SF(3))(CO) structure and a higher energy Co(SF(3))(CO)(3) structure, are found containing one-electron donor SF(3) ligands with pseudo square pyramidal sulfur coordination with a stereochemically active lone electron pair.