Synthesis and structural characterisation of rhodium hydride complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Addition of excesses of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) IEt₂Me₂, IⁱPr₂Me₂ or ICy (IEt₂Me₂ = 1,3-diethyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene; IⁱPr₂Me₂ = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene; ICy = 1,3-dicyclohexylimidazol-2-ylidene) to [HRh(PPh₃)₄] (1) affords an isomeric mixture of [HRh(NHC)(PPh₃)₂] (NHC = IEt₂Me₂ (cis-/trans-2), IⁱPr₂Me₂ (cis-/trans-3), ICy (cis-/trans-4) and [HRh(NHC)₂(PPh₃)] (IEt₂Me₂(cis-/trans-5), IⁱPr₂Me₂ (cis-/trans-6), ICy (cis-/trans-7)). Thermolysis of 1 with the aryl substituted NHC, 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (IMesH₂), affords the bridging hydrido phosphido dimer, [{(PPh₃)₂Rh}₂(μ-H)(μ-PPh₂)] (8), which is also the reaction product formed in the absence of carbene. When the rhodium precursor was changed from 1 to [HRh(CO)(PPh₃)₃] (9) and treated with either IMes (=1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene) or ICy, the bis-NHC complexes trans-[HRh(CO)(IMes)₂] (10) and trans-[HRh(CO)(ICy)₂] (11) were formed. In contrast, the reaction of 9 with IⁱPr₂Me₂ gave [HRh(CO)(IⁱPr₂Me₂)₂] (cis-/trans-12) and the unusual unsymmetrical dimer, [(PPh₃)₂Rh(μ-CO)₂Rh(IⁱPr₂Me₂)₂] (13). The complexes trans-3, 8, 10 and 13 have been structurally characterised.     

Half-sandwich rhodium complexes containing both N-heterocyclic carbene and ortho-carborane-1,2-dithiolate ligands

A new route was used to synthesize half-sandwich rhodium complexes containing both N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) and carborane ligands. The rhodium carbene complexes Cp^∗Rh(L)[S₂C₂(B₁₀H₁₀)] (Cp^∗ = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, L = 1,3-dimethylimidazolin-2-ylidene; 4) can be obtained from the reaction of Cp^∗Rh(L)Cl₂ (2) with Li₂S₂C₂(B₁₀H₁₀) or from the reaction of Cp^∗Rh[S₂C₂(B₁₀H₁₀)] (3) with silver-NHC complex prepared by direct reaction of an imidazolium precursor and Ag₂O. Complexes 2 and 4 were characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy, element analysis and X-ray structure analyses.     

Saturated and unsaturated nickelalactones with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: Synthesis and structures

Monomeric and dimeric nickelalactones with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands [(py)(im^mes)Ni(CH₂CH₂COO)] (1), [(im^mes)Ni(CH₂CH₂COO)]₂ (2), [(im^t-but)Ni(C(Et)C(Et)-COO)]₂ (3), [(im^mes)Ni(C(Et)C(Et)-COO)]₂ (4), and [(im^mes)Ni(CH₂C(CH₃)C(CH₃)-CH₂-COO)] (5) (im^mes: 1,3-dimesityimidazol-2-ylidene; im^t-but: 1,3-di-t-butylimidazol-2-ylidene) were synthesized and investigated by ¹H, ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopic measurements. The solid-state structures of 1-3 and 5 were also elucidated by X-ray diffraction analyses of single crystals. In the compounds the Ni(II) ion has square-planar geometry. The metal centers in the dimers 2 and 3 are bridged by two endocyclic oxygen donor atoms of the carboxylate groups resulting in Ni₂O₂-four-membered rings. Reaction of with 2,3-dimethylbutadiene and CO₂ resulted in an oxidative coupling of the two dienes followed by insertion of CO₂ to form the dimeric complex 6. The X-ray structure of 6 shows two substituted heptenoic acid dianions which connect the two Ni(II) centers. Each nickel atom is surrounded by a η³-allyl group, a monodentate carboxylate group and an im^mes ligand.     

Up to seven-component adducts by unprecedented multiple alkyne and carbonyl insertions in the metal-carbon bond of chromium alkoxy alkynyl carbene complexes

Chromium alkoxy alkynyl Fischer carbene complexes react with symmetrical internal alkynes to form new and different organometallic species, which result from consecutive insertions of several alkyne units and carbonyl groups into the metal-carbon bond. The insertion sequence can be controlled and, by slight modification of the reaction conditions, it can be directed to the preparation of either seven- or five-component adducts. Three molecules of alkyne, two carbonyl groups, the carbene ligand and the chromium metal moiety partake in the creation of seven new carbon-carbon bonds and two five-membered carbocycles in the first case while four new carbon-carbon bonds, a sigma Cr--C(sp(2)) bond and a cyclopentadienyl moiety are built in the second case. Evidence that five-component chromium complexes are intermediates in the formation of seven-component adducts is provided; they are also able to insert a unit of a different internal alkyne which confers more diversity to the seven-component adducts. The presence of the sigma Cr--C(sp(2)) bond has also been exploited to develop the synthesis of both cyclopentene-fused and novel spiro-cyclopentenones as well as symmetrical biscyclopentenones. Finally, the isolation of six-component adducts, when tolane was employed as the initial alkyne, provides further support to the proposed mechanism.     

Hybrid ligands with N-heterocyclic carbene and chiral phosphaferrocene components

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) possessing one or two 3,4-dimethylphosphaferrocenyl substituents and either methylene or ethylene alkyl bridges have been prepared. These carbenes turned out to be remarkably stable and were characterized by NMR methods and partly by mass spectrometry. Their molybdenum and ruthenium complexes were examined in order to determine the electronic properties and the coordination behaviour of these chiral PC- and PCP-chelate ligands, which combine a NHC unit as a strong sigma-donor with pi-accepting phosphaferrocene moieties. Crystal structures of one ligand precursor and of three complexes have been determined.     

Synthesis of yttrium,lanthanum, neodymium,praseodymium, and lutetium alkoxides and acetylacetonates

A convenient and practical method is proposed for the synthesis of lanthanide and yttrium alkoxides. The method involves dissolving the metals or their hydrides in a solution of dry HCl in the corresponding alcohol, with subsequent dehalogenation of the LnCl₃ solution by an equivalent amount of alkali metal (Na, Li), The rareearth alkoxides are easily converted into acetylacetonates Ln(acac)₃ by the action of acetylacetone.A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Elementoorganic Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117813 Moscow. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2490–2493, November, 1992.     

Discovery of powerful uranyl ligands from efficient synthesis and screening

New tripodal gem-(bis-phosphonates) uranophiles were discovered by a screening method that allowed for the selection of ligands with strong uranyl-binding properties in a convenient microtiter-plate format. The method is based on competitive uranium binding by using Sulfochlorophenol S as chromogenic chelate. This dye compound was found to present high uranyl complexation properties and allowed to highlight ligands presenting association constants for UO(2+)(2) up to 10(18) at pH 7.4 and 10(20) at pH 9. A collection of 40 known ligands including polycarboxylate, hydroxamate, catecholate, hydroxypyridonate and hydroxyquinoline derivatives was tested. Also screened was a combinatorial library prepared from seven amine scaffolds and eight acrylates bearing diverse chelating moieties. Among these 96 tested candidates, a tripod derivative bearing gem-bis-phosphonates moieties was found to present the highest complexation properties over a wide range of pH and was further studied.     

Synthesis and metathesis activity of ruthenium dimethylvinyl carbene complexes

Two new dimethylvinyl carbene complexes, RuCl₂(SIMes)(PPh₃)CHCHC(CH₃)₂ and RuCl₂(SIMes)(3BP)₂CHCHC(CH₃)₂, were synthesized from RuCl₂(PCp₃)₂CHCHC(CH₃)₂. Complex RuCl₂(SIMes)(3BP)₂CHCHC(CH₃)₂ does not suffer from the problem of incomplete initiation that has been observed for the other dimethylvinyl carbene complexes, as witnessed by complete and rapid reaction with ethyl vinyl ether. Acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of 1,9‐decadiene with these complexes was found to give polymers with chemical and thermal properties similar to those obtained with Schrock's molybdenum catalyst. These complexes are also catalysts for ring‐opening metathesis polymerization. The parent complex RuCl₂(SIMes)(PCp₃)CHCHC(CH₃)₂ was found to give polyoctenamer with high initial heats of fusion, suggesting a dependence of the “as formed” crystallinity of the polymer on the rate of the ROMP reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6134–6145, 2005     

N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of Zn(II): synthesis, X-ray structures and reactivity

The synthesis of six novel zinc (II) mono(N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes is described. 1,3-Bis(mesityl)-imidazol-2-ylidene was reacted with the zinc salts ZnX₂ (X=Cl, CH₃COO, PhCOO, and PhCH₂COO) to yield the corresponding monomeric Zn-NHC complex ZnCl₂(NHC)(THF) (1) and dimeric [Zn(OOCCH₃)₂(NHC)]₂ (2), [Zn(OOCPh)₂(NHC)]₂ (3), [Zn(OOCCH₂Ph)₂(NHC)]₂ (4) (NHC=1,3-bis(mesityl)-imidazol-2-ylidene). Reaction of 1 with 2 equivalents of silver trifluoromethanesulfonate yielded monomeric Zn(O₃SCF₃)₂(NHC)(THF) (5), reaction of 1 with sodium {[R(+)-α-2-(1-phenyl-ethylimino)-methyl]-phenolate} yielded monomeric ZnCl(OC₆H₄-2-CHN(CHPhCH₃)(NHC) (6). Compounds 1, 4-6 were structurally characterized by X-ray analysis. Selected compounds were investigated for their activity in the copolymerization of carbon dioxide with cyclohexene oxide as well as in the ring-opening polymerization of cyclohexene oxide and ε-caprolactone.     

(Diphenylphosphinoethyl)cyclopentadienyl complexes of yttrium and lutetium: synthesis and structure

The reaction of LnCl₃·xTHF with Na(C₅H₄CH₂CH₂PPh₂) followed by the in situ reaction with Na₂(C₁₄H₁₀) afforded the (C₅H₄CH₂CH₂PPh₂)Ln(C₁₄H₁₀)L complexes (Ln = Y or Lu and L = THF or DME). The structure of (C₅H₄CH₂CH₂PPh₂)Lu(C₁₄H₁₀)(DME) was established by X-ray diffraction. In solution, there is an equilibrium between the complexes with the coordinated and uncoordinated phosphorus atom. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1687–1689, September, 2007.     

Synthesis and small molecule reactivity of uranium(IV) alkoxide complexes with both bound and pendant N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

The syntheses of two tetravalent uranium alkoxide-carbene complexes are reported, [UIL3], and [UL4] where L = OCMe2CH2[1-C(NCHCHNiPr)]. The latter shows dynamic behaviour of the alkoxycarbene ligands in solution at room temperature, and the crystal structure of [UL4] shows that one carbene group remains uncoordinated. The unbound N-heterocyclic carbene group is trapped by a range of reagents such as 16-valence-electron metal carbonyl fragments and BH3 moieties, forming, for example, [UL3(mu-L)W(CO)5], [UL2(mu-L)2Mo(CO)4], and [UL(n)(L-BH3)(4-n)] (n = 1-4), demonstrating the potential for these hemilabile electropositive metal-carbene complexes to participate in the bifunctional activation of small molecules.     

Ruthenium carbene complexes containing bidentate and tridentate PO ligands

Treatment of [Ru(CHR)Cl₂(PCy₃)₂] (Cy = cyclohexyl) with Tl[N(Pr₂ⁱPO)₂] and AgL_OEt (L_OEt⁻ = [CpCo{P(O)(OEt)₂}₃]⁻) afforded the Ru carbene complexes [Ru(CHPh)(PCy₃)Cl{N(Pr₂ⁱPO)₂}] (1) and [L_OEtRu(CHR)(PCy₃)Cl] (2), respectively. Chloride abstraction of complex 2 with TlPF₆ in MeCN afforded [L_OEtRu(CHPh)(PCy₃)(MeCN)][PF₆] (3). Complexes 1 and 2 are capable of catalyzing ring-closing metathesis of diethyl 1,2-diallylmalonate. The crystal structure of complex 2 has been determined.     

N-Heterocyclic carbene functionalized iridium phosphinidene complex [Cp*(NHC)Ir=PMes*]: comparison of phosphinidene,imido, and carbene complexes

The novel phosphinidene complex [Cp*(NHC)Ir=PMes*] (3; NHC=1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) was prepared in high yield from [Cp*(NHC)IrCl(2)] (2) and [LiPHMes*].3 THF. It represents the first example of an NHC ligated transition metal phosphinidene complex. The X-ray crystal structure for 3 is also reported. DFT calculations on the N-heterocyclic carbene containing parent complexes [Cp(NHC)Ir=E] (E=PH, NH, CH(2)) show that the NHC ligand acts as good sigma-donor/weak pi-acceptor ligand and forms strong Ir-C(NHC) single bonds. The Ir=E double bonds result from strong triplet-triplet interactions between [Cp(NHC)Ir] and E.     

Rhodium(I) catalyzed four-component reaction of Fischer alkenyl carbene complexes and 1,1-diphenylallene

Alkyl substituted chromium Fischer carbene complexes react with 1,1-diphenylallene in the presence of rhodium(I) catalysts (10 mol%) to yield highly substituted dienyl indenone derivatives. In this process a catalytic chromium(0)-rhodium(I) exchange occurs, four new C-C bonds are created, and four-components (two allenes, the carbene ligand and one CO ligand) are joined in a chemo- and regioselective manner.     

N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of palladium and rhodium: cis/trans-isomers

Stable carbene complexes of palladium or rhodium are readily accessible by (i) reaction of imidazolium or triazolium salts with palladium complexes bearing basic ligands or rhodium alkoxide complexes, (ii) adduct formation of the free carbene, e.g. 1,3-dimethylimidazoline-2-ylidene, with metal compounds. In the case of palladium(II) and rhodium(I), the resulting complexes show cis/trans-isomerization and can be compared to analogous phosphine complexes.     

Expanded ring N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of zero valent platinum dvtms (divinyltetramethyldisiloxane): Highly efficient hydrosilylation catalysts

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of new 6- and 7-membered NHC (N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes 7-12 of zero valent platinum dvtms (divinyltetramethyldisiloxane), [Pt(NHC)(dvtms)] are reported. A number of the complexes were investigated as catalyst precursors in the hydrosilylation of a range of unsaturated substrates, including alkynes, alkenes and a ketone with triethylsilane and bis(trimethylsiloxy)methylsilane (MD’M), at low catalyst loading (0.005 mol %); in general, the activity, and the selectivity for 1-functionalised product was found to be high.