Multiple silicon-hydrogen bond activations at adjacent rhodium and iridium centers

The reaction of 1 equiv of primary silanes, SiH(3)R (R = Ph, Mes), with [RhIr(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)] yields mono(silylene)-bridged complexes of the type [RhIr(H)(2)(CO)(2)(μ-SiHR)(dppm)(2)] (R = Ph or Mes), while for R = Ph the addition of 2 equiv yields the bis(silylene)-bridged complexes, [RhIr(CO)(2)(μ-SiHPh)(2)(dppm)(2)]. The kinetic isomer of this bis(silylene)-bridged product has the phenyl substituent axial on one silylene unit and equatorial on the other, and in the presence of excess silane this rearranges to the thermodynamically preferred "axial-axial" isomer, in which the phenyl substituents on each bridging silylene unit are axial and parallel to one another. The reaction of 1 equiv of diphenylsilane with [RhIr(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)] produces the mono(silylene)-bridged product, [RhIr(H)(2)(CO)(2)(μ-SiPh(2))(dppm)(2)], and the subsequent addition of silane in the presence of CO yields the silyl/silylene product [RhIr(H)(SiPh(2)H)(CO)(3)(κ(1)-dppm)(μ-SiPh(2))(dppm)]. The reaction of [RhIr(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)] with 2 equiv of SiH(2)Me(2) yields the analogous product [RhIr(H)(SiMe(2)H)(CO)(3)(κ(1)-dppm)(μ-SiMe(2))(dppm)]. Low-temperature NMR spectroscopic observation of some key intermediates, such as [RhIr(H)(SiH(2)Ph)(CO)(2)(μ-CO)(dppm)(2)], formed during the formation of the mono(silylene)-bridged species provides evidence for a mechanism involving initial Si-H bond activation at Rh, followed by the subsequent Si-H bond activation at Ir. The Si-H bond activation of a second equivalent of silane seems to be initiated by dissociation of the Rh-bound end of one diphosphine. The reaction of diphenylsilane with the cationic complex [RhIr(CH(3))(CO)(2)(dppm)(2)][CF(3)SO(3)] gives rise to a different reactivity pattern in which Si-H bond activation is initiated at Ir. In this case, the cationic silyl-bridged species, [RhIr(CH(3))(CO)(2)(κ(1):η(2)-SiHPh(2))(dppm)(2)][CF(3)SO(3)], contains an agostic Si-H interaction with Rh. In solution, at ambient temperature, this complex converts to two species, [RhIr(H)(COCH(3))(CO)(μ-H)(μ-SiPh(2))(dppm)(2)][CF(3)SO(3)] and [RhIr(CO)(2)(μ-H)(μ-SiPh(2))(dppm)(2)] [CF(3)SO(3)], formed by the competing methyl migration to CO and reductive elimination of methane, respectively. In the diphenylsilylene dihydride product, a weak interaction between the bridging silicon and the terminal Ir-bound hydride is proposed on the basis of NMR evidence.     

Bonding mode of a bifunctional P approximately Si-H ligand in the ruthenium complex "Ru(PPh2CH2OSiMe2H)3"

The phosphinosilane compound PPh 2CH 2OSiMe 2H is potentially a bifunctional P approximately Si-H ligand. By treatment with the Ru (II) precursor RuH 2(H 2) 2(PCy 3) 2, the complex Ru(PPh 2CH 2OSiMe 2H) 3 ( 2), resulting from the coordination of three ligands and the displacement of two PCy 3 and two dihydrogen ligands, was formed. The different bonding modes for each of the three bifunctional P approximately Si-H ligands are discussed on the basis of multinuclear NMR, X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory studies. One ligand acts as a monodentate phosphine ligand with a pendant Si-H group, whereas the two others act as bidentate ligands with different Si-H bond activations. Indeed, an intermediate structure between two arrested forms 2a and 2b can be proposed: a dihydrido(disilyl)ruthenium(IV) species (form 2a) resulting from two Si-H oxidative additions or a hydrido(silyl)ruthenium(II) species (form 2b) presenting an agostic Si-H bond and only one oxidative addition.     

Agostic Si-H bond coordination assists C-H bond activation at ruthenium in bis(phosphinobenzylsilane) complexes

Reaction of a phosphinobenzylsilane compound with ruthenium complexes leads to C-H and/or Si-H activation. The new complex Ru{eta(2)-H-SiMe2CH(o-C(6)H(4))PPh2}2 (5) was isolated and X-ray, NMR and DFT studies reveal that 5 displays two agostic Si-H interactions and two carbon-metallated bonds.     

Silylene extrusion from organosilanes via double geminal Si-H bond activation by a Cp*Ru(kappa2-P,N)+ complex: observation of a key stoichiometric step in the glaser-tilley alkene hydrosilylation mechanism

Treatment of Cp*RuCl(kappa2-P,N-2b) (2b = 2-NMe2-3-PiPr2-indene) with TlSO3CF3 produced the cyclometalated complex [4]+SO3CF3- in 94% isolated yield. Exposure of [4]+X- (X = B(C6F5)4 or SO3CF3) to Ph2SiH2 (10 equiv) or PhSiH3 afforded the corresponding [Cp*(mu-P,N-2b)(H)2Ru=SiRPh]+X- complexes, [5]+X- (R = Ph; X = B(C6F5)4, 82%; X = SO3CF3, 39%) and [6]+X- (R = H; X = B(C6F5)4, 94%; X = SO3CF3, 95%). Notably, these transformations represent the first documented examples of Ru-mediated silylene extrusion via double geminal Si-H bond activation of an organosilane-a key step in the recently proposed Glaser-Tilley (G-T) alkene hydrosilylation mechanism. Treatment of [5]+B(C6F5)4- with KN(SiMe3)2 or [6]+SO3CF3- with NaN(SiMe3)2 afforded the corresponding zwitterionic Cp*(mu-2-NMe2-3-PiPr2-indenide)(H)2Ru=SiRPh complex in 69% (R = Ph, 7) or 86% (R = H, 8) isolated yield. Both [6]+X- and 8 proved unreactive toward 1-hexene and styrene and provided negligible catalytic turnover in the attempted metal-mediated hydrosilylation of these substrates with PhSiH3, thereby providing further empirical evidence for the required intermediacy of base-free Ru=Si species in the G-T mechanism. Isomerization of the P,N-indene ligand backbone in [6]+X-, giving rise to [Cp*(mu-1-PiPr2-2-NMe2-indene)(H)2Ru=SiHPh]+X- ([9]+X-), was observed. In the case of [9]+SO3CF3-, net intramolecular addition of the Ru=Si-H group across the styrene-like C=C unit within the ligand backbone to give 10 (96% isolated yield) was observed. Crystallographic characterization data are provided for [4]+X-, [5]+X-, [6]+X-, 8, and 10.     

A theoretical investigation of ruthenium-catalyzed alkene hydrosilation: evidence to support an exciting new mechanistic proposal

The mechanism of ethylene hydrosilation catalyzed by the ruthenium silylene cation [Cp*(P(i-Pr)3)Ru(H)2(SiH2)-OEt2]+ has been investigated with B3LYP density functional theory. Calculations using the model cation [Cp(PH3)Ru(H)2(SiH2)-OMe2]+ indicate that the most favorable catalytic cycle is the new mechanism proposed by Glaser and Tilley that involves ethylene insertion into a silicon-hydrogen bond remote from the ruthenium center. All other pathways, including those based on Chalk-Harrod and modified Chalk-Harrod mechanisms that include ethylene coordination to ruthenium, are energetically disfavored.     

Hydrogen-substituted osmium silylene complexes: effect of charge localization on catalytic hydrosilation

Addition of bulky primary silanes to the osmium benzyl compound, Cp*(iPr3P)OsCH2Ph, afforded two neutral hydrogen-substituted silylene complexes via activation of two Si-H bonds. These species have been structurally characterized, and their reactivity has been examined experimentally and computationally. Comparison of these neutral silylene complexes with their cationic analogue highlights the dramatic influence of charge distribution on the reaction chemistry of metal silylene complexes.     

Stoichiometric hydrosilylation of nitriles with hydrido(hydrosilylene)tungsten complexes: formation of W-Si-N three-membered ring complexes and their unique thermal behaviors

Reactions of hydrido(hydrosilylene)tungsten complexes, Cp'(CO)2(H)W=Si(H)[C(SiMe3)3], with nitriles (MeCN, tBuCN) at 60 degrees C gave hydrosilylation products, Cp'(CO)2W[kappa2(N,Si)-Si(H)(N=CHR'){C(SiMe3)3}] (R' = Me, tBu), with a novel W-Si-N three-membered ring structure. The product of the hydrosilylation of tBuCN underwent reversible rearrangement at 70 degrees C to a silylene complex, Cp'(CO)2(H)W=Si(N=CHtBu)[C(SiMe3)3], which was a major component in equilibrium. A reaction mechanism for the hydrosilylation involving coordination of nitriles to the silylene ligand and subsequent migration of the hydrido ligand to the nitrile carbon was proposed.     

Controlled silicon surface functionalization by alkene hydrosilylation

Immobilization of indene ligands onto two types of hydrogen-terminated surfaces, oxide-free Si [H/Si(111)] and oxidized Si [H/SiO2/Si], has been investigated by infrared absorption spectroscopy. The activity of a common catalyst (H2PtCl6) is shown to depend critically on the nature of the solvent. For instance, 2-propanol preferentially reacts with the surface, preventing any ligand attachment. Chlorobenzene is more stable, allowing some ligand attachment, but the H2PtCl6 catalyst also fosters silicon oxidation. In contrast, UV irradiation on oxide-free surfaces promotes a cleaner and more efficient reaction, leading to ligand attachment without substrate oxidation. The complete inactivity of H-terminated surfaces with a thin oxide layer [H/SiO2/Si] suggests that the UV-induced immobilization is mediated solely by the excitation of electron-hole pairs (excitons) in the substrate and is not the result of direct Si-H bond breaking.     

Analysis of an unprecedented mechanism for the catalytic hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds

This work details an in-depth evaluation of an unprecedented mechanism for the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds catalyzed by (PPh3)2Re(O)2I. The proposed mechanism involves addition of a silane Si-H bond across one of the rhenium-oxo bonds to form siloxyrhenium hydride intermediate 2 that reacts with a carbonyl substrate to generate siloxyrhenium alkoxide 4, which, in turn, affords the silyl ether product. Compelling evidence for the operation of this pathway includes the following: (a) isolation and structural characterization by X-ray diffraction of siloxyrhenium hydride intermediate 2, (b) demonstration of the catalytic competence of intermediate 2 in the hydrosilylation reaction, (c) 1H and 31P{1H} NMR and ESI-MS evidence for single-turnover conversion of 2 into 1, (d) observation of intermediate 2 in the working catalyst system, and (e) kinetic analysis of the catalytic hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds by 1.     

Insights into the making of a stable silylene

Reduction of Cl2Si[(NR)2C6H4-1,2] (R = CH2Bu(t)) with potassium is known to lead to the stable silylene Si[(NR)2C6H4-1,2] (1). However, silylene is now shown to react further with an alkali metal (Na or K) to yield the (1)(2)2-, c-(1)(3)-*, c-(1)(3)2- or c-(1)(4)2- derivatives. Reduction of Cl2Si[(NR)2C6H4-1,2] (R = CH2CH3 or CH2CHMe2) with potassium does not lead to an isolable silylene, but such a silylene is proposed to be an intermediate and, as for 1, reacts further to afford the potassium salts of c-[Si{(NR)2C6H4-1,2}]4-* and c-[Si{(NR)2C6H4-1,2}](4)2-. The pathways leading to the anionic cyclotri- and cyclotetrasilanes are discussed and supported experimentally; including by X-ray structures of relevant intermediates.     

Heterolytic activation of H-X (X = H, Si, B, and C) bonds: an experimental and theoretical investigation

The highly electrophilic, coordinatively unsaturated, 16-electron [Ru(P(OH)3)(dppe)2][OTf]2 (dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) complex 1 activates the H-H, the Si-H, and the B-H bonds, in H2(g), EtMe2SiH and Et3SiH, and H3B.L (L = PMe3, PPh3), respectively, in a heterolytic fashion. The heterolysis of H2 involves an eta2-H2 complex (observable at low temperatures), whereas the computations indicate that those of the Si-H and the B-H bonds proceed through unobserved eta1-species. The common ruthenium-containing product in these reactions is trans-[Ru(H)(P(OH)3)(dppe)2][OTf], 2. The [Ru(P(OH)3)(dppe)2][OTf]2 complex is unique with regard to activating the H-H, the Si-H, and the B-H bonds in a heterolytic manner. These reactions and the heterolytic activation of the C-H bond in methane by the model complex [Ru(POH)3)(H2PCH2CH2PH2)2][Cl][OTf], 4, have been investigated using computational methods as well, at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level. While the model complex activates the H-H, the Si-H, and the B-H bonds in H2, SiH4, and H3B.L (L = PMe3, PPh3), respectively, with a low barrier, activation of the C-H bond in CH4 involves a transition state of 57.5 kcal/mol high in energy. The inability of the ruthenium complex to activate CH4 is due to the undue stretching of the C-H bond needed at the transition state, in comparison to the other substrates.     

In situ diagnostics of the decomposition of silacyclobutane on a hot filament by vacuum ultraviolet laser ionization mass spectrometry

The gas-phase reaction products of silacyclobutane (SCB) and 1, 1-dideuterio-silacyclobutane (SCB-d(2)) from a hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) chamber were diagnosed in situ using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) laser single-photon ionization (SPI) coupled with time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry. The SCB molecule was found to decompose at a filament temperature as low as 900 degrees C. Both Si- (silylene, methylsilylene, and silene) and C-containing (ethene and propene) species were produced from the SCB decomposition on the filament. Ethene and propene were detected by the mass spectrometer. It is demonstrated that the formation of ethene is favored over that of propene. The experimental study of hot-wire decomposition of SCB-d(2) shows that propene is most likely produced by a process that is initiated by a 1,2-H(D) migration to form n-propylsilylene, followed by an equilibration with silacyclopropane, which then decomposes to propene. The detection of ethene in our experiment indicates that a competitive route of fragmentation exists for SCB decomposition on the filament. It has been shown that this competitive route occurs without H/D scrambling. The highly reactive silylene, silene, and methylsilylene species produced from SCB decomposition underwent either insertion reactions into the Si-H bonds of the parent molecule or pi-type addition reaction across the double and triple CC bonds. The dimerization product of silene, 1,3-disilacyclobutane, at m/z = 88 was also observed.     

Insertion of a stable dialkylsilylene into silicon-chlorine bonds

The reactions of a stable dialkylsilylene with chlorosilanes such as tetrachlorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, and dichlorosilane occurred smoothly at room temperature in hydrocarbon solvents to give the corresponding Si-Cl bond insertion products. In the reaction of the silylene with dichlorosilane, only the Si-Cl bond insertion product was obtained, while a similar reaction with dimethylchlorosilane gave only the Si-H insertion product, emphasizing the remarkable difference in the steric requirements between these two insertion reactions. No reaction took place during the treatment of the silylene with trimethylchlorosilane. The Si-Cl insertion reactions are expected to be applied in the synthesis of new organosilicon frameworks that cannot be obtained by conventional methods.     

Cooperative catalytic activation of Si-H bonds by a polar Ru-S bond: regioselective low-temperature C-H silylation of indoles under neutral conditions by a Friedel-Crafts mechanism

Merging cooperative Si-H bond activation and electrophilic aromatic substitution paves the way for C-3-selective indole C-H functionalization under electronic and not conventional steric control. The Si-H bond is heterolytically split by the Ru-S bond of a coordinatively unsaturated cationic ruthenium(II) complex, forming a sulfur-stabilized silicon electrophile. The Wheland intermediate of the subsequent Friedel-Crafts-type process is assumed to be deprotonated by the sulfur atom, no added base required. The overall catalysis proceeds without solvent at low temperature, only liberating dihydrogen.     

Highly stereo‐efficient synthesis and luminescence properties of novel trans‐regular vinylene– silylene–thiophene polymers

The novel trans‐stereo‐regular silylene–thiophene derivatives ( 4 , 5 ) with perfect consecutive silylene–arylene–silylene–vinylene linkage were synthesized via silylative coupling polycondensation of 2,5‐bis(vinyldimethylsilyl)thiophene ( 2 ) or 5,5′‐bis(vinyldimethylsilyl)‐2,2′‐bithiophene ( 3 ) catalyzed by ruthenium‐hydride complex [RuHCl(CO)(PCy₃)₂] ( 1 ). Their spectroscopic, absorption, and luminescence properties were characterized and compared with those of model compounds containing thiophene or bithiophene chromophores. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 127–137, 2008     

Silapropargyl/silaallenyl and silylene acetylide complexes of [Cp(CO)2W]+. Theoretical study of their interesting bonding nature and formation reaction

The geometry and bonding nature of Cp(CO)(2)W(CCH)(SiH(2)) (1) and the reaction leading to the formation of 1 from Cp(CO)(2)W(SiH(2)C triple bond CH)(9) were theoretically investigated with DFT, MP2 to MP4(SDTQ), and CCSD(T) methods, where 9 and 1 were adopted as models of the interesting new complexes reported recently, Cp*(CO)(2)W(Si(Ph)(2)C triple bond C(t)Bu) and Cp*(CO)(2)W(C triple bond C(t)Bu)(SiPh(2)), respectively. Our computational results clearly indicate that 1 involves neither a pure silacyclopropenyl group nor pure silylene and acetylide groups and that the silylene group strongly interacts with both the W center and the acetylide group. Frontier orbitals of 1 resemble those observed in the formation of silacyclopropene from silylene and acetylene. The frontier orbitals, as well as the geometry, indicate that the (CCH)(SiH(2)) moiety of 1 can be understood in terms of an interesting intermediate species trapped by the W center in that formation reaction. Complex 1 is easily formed from 9 through Si-C sigma-bond activation with moderate activation barriers of 15.3, 18.8, and 15.8 kcal/mol, which are the DFT-, MP4(SDTQ)-, and CCSD(T)-calculated values, respectively. This reaction takes place without a change of the oxidation state of the W center. Intermediate 9 is easily formed from Cp(CO)(2)W(Me)(H(3)SiC triple bond CH) via Si-H oxidative addition, followed by C-H reductive elimination. The bonding nature of 9 is also very interesting; the nonbonding pi-orbital of the H(2)SiCCH moiety is essentially the same as that of the propargyl group, but the pi-conjugation between Si and C atoms is very weak in the pi-orbital, unlike that in the propargyl group.     

Alkene hydrosilation by a cationic hydrogen-substituted iridium silylene complex

A cationic hydrogen-substituted iridium silylene complex [(PNP)(H)Ir Si(Mes)H][B(C6F5)4] (2) was synthesized via hydride abstraction from the corresponding neutral iridium silyl hydride complex. DFT calculations for 2 indicate that the cationic charge is localized at the silicon center and depict a LUMO with predominant silicon p-orbital character. Notably, complex 2 reacts rapidly with unhindered alkenes at ambient temperatures to afford disubstituted silylene complexes via Si-C bond formation. Complex 2 is also the catalyst for alkene hydrosilation of primary silanes with a high degree of anti-Markovnikov selectivity.     

Analysis of M···H-Si interactions in [{M(CpSiMe2H)Cl3}2], (M = Zr, Hf, Ti and Mo) complexes

For the d(0) complex [{Zr(CpSiMe(2)H)Cl(3)}(2)] which contains a linear Si-H···Zr interaction across the dimer, DFT calculations are in good agreement with X-ray structures. The BP86 functional shows a slightly stronger interaction than B3LYP but for qualitative purposes either functional is sufficient. QTAIM analysis shows a bond critical point (bcp) for the interaction, a small negative value for the total energy density [H((r))] and the H atomic basin decreases in energy, E(H), and atomic volume compared to the free ligand. NBO analysis showed E(2) for Si-H σ to Zr(dz(2)) donation at 42.8 kcal mol(-1) and a 34% spatial overlap for the interaction consistent with an inverse hydrogen bond. The Wiberg bond index for the interaction is 0.1735 (0.7205 for the Si-H bond), ν((Si-H)) and (1)J((Si-H)) at 2060 cm(-1) and 145.4 Hz compared to 2183 cm(-1) and 172.1 Hz in the free ligand. Using a "synthesis by computation" approach to forming like complexes, similar features were found for [{Hf(CpSiMe(2)H)Cl(3)}(2)]. The titanium complex [{Ti(CpSiMe(2)H)Cl(3)}(2)] does not contain any Si-H···Ti interaction as rotation about the C-Si bond of the ligand occurs to place the Si-H bond hydrogen closer to a terminal chloro ligand across the dimer. An increase in electron density on the metal in the d(2) complex [{Mo(CpSiMe(2)H)Cl(3)}(2)] results in a stronger interaction with a distinct QTAIM analysis bcp [ρ((r)) 0.0448 a.u.], a small negative value for H((r)) and a much reduced H atomic volume. NBO analysis shows E(2) for Si-H σ to Mo(dz(2)) donation at 143.1 kcal mol(-1) and a 29% spatial overlap. Mo(dz(2)) to Si-H σ* donation (back donation) is minimal [E(2) 1.3 kcal mol(-1), ~1% spatial overlap]. The Wiberg bond index is 0.3114 (0.5667 for the Si-H bond), ν((Si-H)) 2015 cm(-1) and (1)J((Si-H)) 120.6 Hz.     

Theoretical study of the Cp2Zr-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ethylene. Reaction mechanism including new sigma-bond activation

The Cp(2)Zr-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ethylene was theoretically investigated with DFT and MP2-MP4(SDQ) methods, to clarify the reaction mechanism and the characteristic features of this reaction. Although ethylene insertion into the Zr-SiH(3) bond of Cp(2)Zr(H)(SiH(3)) needs a very large activation barrier of 41.0 (42.3) kcal/mol, ethylene is easily inserted into the Zr-H bond with a very small activation barrier of 2.1 (2.8) kcal/mol, where the activation barrier and the energy of reaction calculated with the DFT(B3LYP) method are given and in parentheses are those values which have been corrected for the zero-point energy, hereafter. Not only this ethylene insertion reaction but also the coupling reaction between Cp(2)Zr(C(2)H(4)) and SiH(4) easily takes place to afford Cp(2)Zr(H)(CH(2)CH(2)SiH(3)) and Cp(2)Zr(CH(2)CH(3))(SiH(3)) with activation barriers of 0.3 (0.7) and 5.0 (5.4) kcal/mol, respectively. This coupling reaction involves a new type of Si-H sigma-bond activation which is similar to metathesis. The important interaction in the coupling reaction is the bonding overlap between the d(pi)-pi bonding orbital of Cp(2)Zr(C(2)H(4)) and the Si-H sigma orbital. The final step is neither direct C-H nor Si-C reductive elimination, because both reductive eliminations occur with a very large activation barrier and significantly large endothermicity. This is because the d orbital of Cp(2)Zr is at a high energy. On the other hand, ethylene-assisted C-H reductive elimination easily occurs with a small activation barrier, 5.0 (7.5) kcal/mol, and considerably large exothermicity, -10.6 (-7.1) kcal/mol. Also, ethylene-assisted Si-C reductive elimination and metatheses of Cp(2)Zr(H)(CH(2)CH(2)SiH(3)) and Cp(2)Zr(CH(2)CH(3))(SiH(3)) with SiH(4) take place with moderate activation barriers, 26.5 (30.7), 18.4 (20.5), and 28.3 (31.5) kcal/mol, respectively. From these results, it is clearly concluded that the most favorable catalytic cycle of the Cp(2)Zr-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ethylene consists of the coupling reaction of Cp(2)Zr(C(2)H(4)) with SiH(4) followed by the ethylene-assisted C-H reductive elimination.     

Dehydrogenative cyclocondensation of aldehydes, alkynes, and dialkylsilanes

The nickel-catalyzed coupling of aldehydes, alkynes, and dialkylsilanes results in an unusual dehydrogenative cyclocondensation process to afford five-membered silacyclic products. The process allows dialkylsilanes to serve as a silylene synthetic equivalent. A mechanistic pathway for the process involving the formation of an aldehyde/alkyne-derived nickel metallacycle followed by sequential sigma-bond metathesis processes involving the two Si-H bonds has been proposed.