Steric effects in oxidative addition and reductive elimination reactions of rhodium pentafluorophenylthiolate complexes

The complexes [cis-Rh(SC₆F₅)(PPh₃)₂(L)] (L = py, 3-Mepy, isoquin, N-Melm; py = pyridine, 3-Mepy = 3-methylpyridine, isoquin = isoquinoline, N-Melm = N-methylimidazole) readily undergo oxidative addition of HR (R = H, SC₆F₅, C₂Ph) to give [RhH(R)(SC₆F₅)(PPh₃)_n(L)_3−n] (n = 1, 2) whereas the complexes [cis-Rh(SC₆F₅)(PPh₃)₂(L′)] (L′ = 2-Mepy, 2,6-Me₂py, quin; 2-Mepy = 2-methylpyridine; 2,6-Me₂py = 2,6-dimethylpyridine, quin = quinoline) react only where R = C₂Ph. Where conditions favour the formation of [RhH(R)(SC₆F₅)(PPh₃)_n(L′)_3−n] reductive elimination of H₂ (R = H) or C₆F₅SH (R = SC₆F₅, C₂Ph) occurs.     

A molecular mechanics force field for rhodium(I) carbonyl phosphine complexes and its application on the oxidative addition reactions of these complexes

The main purpose of the development of an Rh(I) Carbonyl Phosphine force field was to predict the molecular structure of Rh(I) complexes as well as to compute possible intermediates or transition states during the oxidative addition of CH₃I to these complexes. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 692–703, 2000     

Governing the oxidative addition of iodine to gold(I) complexes by ligand tuning

While several gold(I) complexes of the type (L)AuX (X = Cl, Br) are known to undergo oxidative addition of elemental chlorine and bromine (X2), respectively, to give the corresponding gold(III) complexes (L)AuX3, the addition of iodine to (iodo)gold(I) compounds is strongly ligand-dependent, suggesting a crucial threshold in the oxidation potentials. A systematic investigation of this particular oxidative addition of iodine using a large series of tertiary phosphines as ligands L has shown that both electronic and steric effects influence the course of the reaction. The reactions were followed by 31P NMR spectroscopy and the products crystallized from dichloromethane-pentane solutions. Complexes with small triakylphosphines (PMe3, PEt3) are readily oxidized, while those with more bulky ligands (PiPr3, PtBu3) are not. With L taken from the triarylphosphine series [PPh3, P(2-Tol)3, P(3-Tol3), P(4-Tol)3] no oxidation takes place at all, but mixed alkyl/aryl-phosphines [PMenPh(3-n)] induce oxidation for n = 3 and 2, but not for n = 1 and 0. However, in cases where no oxidation of the gold atoms is observed, the synthons may crystallize as adducts with molecular iodine of the polyiodide type instead, which have an iodine rich stoichiometry. This fact explains inconsistent reports in the literature. The metal atoms in (L)AuI coordination compounds with L representing a tri(heteroaryl)phosphine [P(2-C4H3E)3, E = O, S], a phosphite [P(OR)3] or a trialkenylphosphine [PVi3] are all not subject to oxidative addition of iodine. The dinuclear complex of the ditertiary phosphine Ph2PCH2PPh2, (dppm)(AuI)2, gives an iodine adduct (without oxidation of the metal atoms), but with 1,2-Ph2P(C6H4)PPh2(dppbe) an ionic complex [(dppbe)AuI2]+I3- with a chelated gold(III) centre is obtained. The gold(I) bromide complexes with tertiary phosphines are readily oxidized by bromine to give the corresponding gold(III) tribromide complexes, as demonstrated for (BzMePhP)AuBr and (Ph3P)AuBr. With (dppm)(AuBr)2 the primary product with mixed oxidation states was also isolated: (dppm)AuBr(AuBr3). The crystal structures of the following representative examples and reference compounds have been determined: (Me3P)AuI3, (Me2PhP)AuI3, (iPr3P)AuI.1.5I2, (Ph3P)AuI.I2, [[(2-Tol)3P]AuI]2.I2, [(2-Tol)3P]AuI, (dppm)(AuX)2 (with X = Br, I), (dppm)AuBr(AuBr3) and [(dppbe)AuI2]+I3-. The structures are discussed focusing on the steric effects. It appears that e.g. the reluctance of (Ph3P)AuI to add I2 is an electronic effect, while that of (iPr3P)AuI has its origin in the steric influence of the ligand.     

Oxidative addition of dialkylphosphites to complexes of iridium(I) and rhodium(I)

The PH bond of dialkylphosphites (dimethylphosphite, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-dioxa-2-phosphorinane and 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxa-2-phospholane) oxidatively adds to irClL₂(L = PPh₃, AsPh₃) and IrCl(PMe₂Ph)₃ generated in situ to give six-coordinate hydrido(dialkylphosphonato)iridium(III) complexes, e.g. IrHClL₂[{(MeO)₂-PO}₂H] and IrHCl(PMe₂Ph)₃[PO(OMe)₂]. Addition of triphenylphosphine to a solution containing [IrCl(C₈H₁₄)₂]₂ and dimethylphosphite in a 1:2 mol ratio gives a five-coordinate hydrido (dimethylphosphonato)iridium(III) complex IrHCl(PPh₃)₂{PO(OMe)₂}, from which six-coordinate pyridine and acetylacetonato complexes IrHCl(PPh₃)₂(C₅H₅N){PO(OMe)₂} and IrH(PPh₃)₂(acac){PO(OMe)₂} can be obtained. The ligand arrangements in the various complexes are inferred from IR, ¹H and ³¹P NMR data.     

Coordination and oxidative addition at a low-coordinate rhodium(I) beta-diiminate centre

The reaction of 14e [L(Me)Rh(coe)] (1; L(Me)[double bond]ArNC(Me)CHC(Me)NAr, Ar[double bond]2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3); coe[double bond]cis-cyclooctene) with phenyl halides and thiophenes was studied to assess the competition between sigma coordination, arene pi coordination and oxidative addition of a C-X bond. Whereas oxidative addition of the C-Cl and C-Br bonds of chlorobenzene and bromobenzene to L(Me)Rh results in the dinuclear species [[L(Me)Rh(Ph)(micro-X)](2)] (X=Cl, Br), fluorobenzene yields the dinuclear inverse sandwich complex [[L(Me)Rh](2)(anti-micro-eta(4):eta(4)-PhF)]. Thiophene undergoes oxidative addition of the C-S bond to give a dinuclear product. The reaction of 1 with dibenzo[b,d]thiophene (dbt) in the ratio 1:2 resulted in the formation of the sigma complex [L(Me)Rh(eta(1)-(S)-dbt)(2)], which in solution dissociates into free dbt and a mixture of the mononuclear complex [L(Me)Rh(eta(4)-(1,2,3,4)-dbt)] and the dinuclear complex [[L(Me)Rh](2)(micro-eta(4)-(1,2,3,4):eta(4)-(6,7,8,9)-dbt)]. The latter could be obtained selectively by the 2:1 reaction of 1 and dbt. Reaction of 1 with diethyl sulfide produces [L(Me)Rh(Et(2)S)(2)], which in the presence of hydrogen loses a diethyl sulfide ligand to give [L(Me)Rh(Et(2)S)(H(2))] and catalyses the hydrogenation of cyclooctene.     

One-electron versus two-electron mechanisms in the oxidative addition reactions of chloroalkanes to amido-bridged rhodium complexes

The compound syn-[{Rh(mu-NH{p-tolyl})(CNtBu)(2)}(2)] (1) oxidatively adds C--Cl bonds of alkyl chlorides (RCl) and dichloromethane to each metal centre to give the cationic complexes syn-[{Rh(mu-NH{p-tolyl})(eta(1)-R)(CNtBu)(2)}(2)(mu-Cl)]Cl and anti-[{Rh(mu-NH{p-tolyl})Cl(CNtBu)(2)}(2)(mu-CH(2))]. Reaction of 1 with the chiral alkyl chloride (-)-(S)-ClCH(Me)CO(2)Me (R*Cl) gave [{Rh(mu-NH{p-tolyl})(eta(1)-R*)(CNtBu)(2)}(2)(mu-Cl)]Cl ([3]Cl) as an equimolecular mixture of the meso form (R,S)-[3]Cl-C(s) and one enantiomer of the chiral form [3]Cl-C(2). This reaction, which takes place in two steps, was modeled step-by-step by reacting the mixed-ligand complex syn-[(cod)Rh(mu-NH{p-tolyl})(2)Rh(CNtBu)(2)] (4) with R*Cl, as a replica of the first step, to give [(cod)Rh(mu-NH{p-tolyl})(2)RhCl(eta(1)-R*)(CNtBu)(2)] (5) with racemization of the chiral carbon. Further treatment of 5 with CNtBu to give the intermediate [(CNtBu)(2)Rh(mu-NH{p-tolyl})(2)RhCl(eta(1)-R*)(CNtBu)(2)], followed by reaction with R*Cl reproduced the regioselectivity of the second step to give (R,S)-[3]Cl-C(s) and [3]Cl-C(2) in a 1:1 molar ratio. Support for an S(N)2 type of reaction with inversion of the configuration in the second step was obtained from a similar sequence of reactions of 4 with ClCH(2)CO(2)Me first, then with CNtBu, and finally with R*Cl to give [(CNtBu)(2)(eta(1)-CH(2)R)Rh(mu-NH{p-tolyl})(2)(mu-Cl)Rh(eta(1)-R*)(CNtBu)(2)]Cl (R = CO(2)Me, [7]Cl) as a single enantiomer with the R configuration at the chiral carbon. The reactions of 1 with (+)-(S)-XCH(2)CH(CH(3))CH(2)CH(3) (X = Br, I) gave the related complexes [{Rh(mu-NH{p-tolyl})(eta(1)-CH(2)CH(CH(3))CH(2)CH(3))(CNtBu)(2)}(2)(mu-X)]X, probably by following an S(N)2 profile in both steps.     

ESR investigation of the substitution reactions in rhodium(I) complexes with spin-labeled ligands

A number of new spin-labelled Rh^I complexes containing both the 3,6-ditert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinone (3,6-SQ) fragment and n- and π-donor ligands have been prepared. The tetracoordinate derivatives of the composition L₂Rh-(3,6-SQ), where L  CO, P(OPh)₃, L  1/2 1,5-COD and the pentacoordinate complex (PPh₃)₂Rh(3,6-SQ)(CO) were isolated in individual state, the formation of other rhodium compounds was registered by ESR spectroscopy. The presence of an o-benzosemiquinolate ligand in the molecule with the unpaired electron located essentially on this fragment does not significantly influence on the reactivity of the metal ion in most cases; the n- and π-donor ligands exchange reactions studied by ESR confirm this fact. (PPh₃)₂Rh(3,6-SQ) has an abnormal distribution of spin density of the unpaired electron in the molecule, mostly located on the metal atom, this derivative bearing a close analogy to the rhodium(II) (d⁷) complexes.     

Carbonyl complexes of rhodium(I) and rhodium(III) with 2,2′-biquinoline

Novel carbonyl complexes of rhodium(I) and rhodium(III) containing the bidenate nitrogen donor ligand 2,2′-biquinoline (biq) have been prepared; they are of the types RhX(CO)₂ biq and RhX(CO)biq (X = Cl, Br, I). Cationic carbonyl and substituted carbonyl complexes of the types [Rh(CO)₂biq]ClO₄ and [Rh(CO)biqL₂]ClO₄, where L is tertiary phosphine or arsine have also been isolated. In spite of considerable steric crowding around the nitrogen atoms, 2,2′-biquinoline behaves much like 2,2′-bipyridine in forming carbonyl complexes of rhodium.     

Monocarbonyl cationic rhodium(I) complexes

Summary The preparations and characterisation of cationic complexes of the type [Rh(CO)(MeCN)(PR₃)₂]ClO₄, [Rh(CO)L(PR₃)₂]ClO₄ (L=py or 2-MeOpy), [Rh(CO)(L-L)(PR₃)₂]ClO₄ (L-L = bipy or phen) and [Rh(CO)(PR₃)₃]ClO₄ with PR₃ = P(p-YC₆H₄)₃ (Y=Cl, F, Me or MeO) are described.     

Hydrogen transfer reactions catalyzed by neutral rhodium(I) Schiff base complexes

Summary Hydrogen transfer reactions from 2-propanol to acetophenone or cyclohexene are catalyzed by neutral rhodium(I) complexes of the type [Rh(COD)L] and [Rh₂(COD)₂L] (where L and L are Schiff base ligands and COD=cycloocta-1,5-diene). Some dependency of the catalytic activity on the electronic and steric properties of the ligands are discussed.     

Oxidative addition reactions and stereochemistry on rhodium/4,5-bis(2-oxazolinyl)xanthene complexes

The oxidative addition reactions on 4,5-bis(2-oxazolinyl)-(2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl)-9H-xanthene (Xabox)/rhodium(I) complex were examined using chloroacetate and substituted diynes to give stereoselectively the corresponding methoxycarbonylmethyl-rhodium(III) complex and rhodacyclopentadiene complexes, respectively. The rhodacycle complex 7 catalyzed the cyclotrimerization of the diynes and alkynes to give arene derivatives.     

Synthesis,formation constants and reactions of cationic rhodium(I) complexes of nitriles

Reactions of Rh(ClO₄)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ with nitriles produce new cationic rhodium(I) complexes, [RhL(CO)(PPh₃)₂]ClO₄ [L = CH₃CN (1), CH₃CH₂CH₂CN (2) or C₆H₅CN (3)], whose spectral data suggest that the nitriles are coordinated through the nitrogen atom. Formation constants for the reaction Rh(ClO₄)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ + L ⇋ [RhL(CO)(PPh₃)₂]ClO₄, have been measured to be 1.01 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ (CH₃CN), 1.07 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ (CH₃CH₂CH₂CN) and 2.59 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ (C₆H₅CN) at 25°C in monochlorobenzene. The differences in the formation constants for the different nitriles seem to be predominantly due to differences in ΔH (not to differences in ΔS). The nitriles in 1–3 are readily replaced with nitrogen base ligands (unsaturated nitriles and pyridine) and PPh₃.     

Oxidative addition of acid chlorides to cationic rhodium(I) complexes of chelating diphosphines

The reaction of benzoyl chloride with [Rh(dppp)₂]Cl at 190°C and with [Rh(dppp)Cl]_{1 or 2} at 25°C where dppp  1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane has been examined. In both cases the five coordinate compound RhCl₂(COPh)-(dppp) was rapidly formed and isolated in high yield. This compound does not undergo phenyl migration to RhCl₂(CO)(Ph)(dppp) even upon warming to 190°C in benzoyl chloride solution and no decarbonylation products are observed. This is in marked contrast to the reaction of RhCl(PPh₃)₃ with benzoyl chloride where the migrated product RhCl₂(CO)(Ph)(PPh₃)₂ is formed with the eventual reductive elimination of chlorobenzene. The single crystal X-ray analysis of RhCl₂(COPh)(dppp) has been carried out (R  0.036). The compound is square pyramidal with the COPh group in the apical position. The Rh—C bond distance of 1.992(3) Å is short for a Rh^III—Cσ bond and indicates d_π → π^★ back bonding.     

Oxidative addition of dimethylphosphite to iridium(I) and rhodium(I) complexes: Stereoselective reduction of 4-t-butylcyclohexanone

Dimethylphosphite, (CH₃O)₂P(O)H, adds oxidatively to iridium(I) and rhodium(I) complexes to give hydrido-iridium(III) or -rhodium(III) dimethylphosphonate complexes. A complex Ir(H)Cl[P(O)(OCH₃)₂][P(OH)(OCH₃)₂]₃ obtained from [IrCl(C₈H₁₄)₂]₂ and dimethylphosphite catalyses the stereo-selective reduction of 4-t-butylcyclohexanone to $\text{97}\text{3}$cis/trans-4-t-butylcyclohexanol, the ratio being identical with that obtained using the Henbest catalyst iridium(IV) chloride, phosphorous acid or one of its esters, and aqueous isopropanol.     

Oxidative addition of mercury(II)cyanide toβ-diketonatobis-(triphenylphosphite)rhodium(I) complexes

Summary The kinetics of the oxidative addition of Hg(CN)₂ to [Rh(-diketone)(P(OPh)₃)₂] in acetone medium were studied. Various -diketones, with different electronic and steric properties, were used to determine their effect on the rate of the oxidative addition reactions. The structure of the product of the oxidative addition was proposed with the aid of i.r.,¹H–,¹³C– and³¹P n.m.r. spectra. A product in whichcis addition took place with the CN^– and one P(OPh)₃ group in the axial positions of an octahedron were proposed. A second order rate law, electronic and steric factors influencing the reaction rate as well as large negative values for the entropy of activation, supported an associative type of mechanism, which probably proceedsvia a cyclic three-centred transition state.     

Cationic thiocarbonyl complexes of rhodium(I)

The syntheses are described of a range of cationic rhodium(I) thiocarbonyl complexes containing tertiary phosphine, phosphinite, phosphonite and phosphonite ligands.     

The reactions of a secondary phosphite with chloro- and pentan-2,4-dionato complexes of iridium(I) and rhodium(I)

The secondary phosphite $\text{OCH}{}_2\text{CMe}{}_2\text{CH}{}_2\text{OP}$(O)H reacts with chlorobis(cyclooctene) rhodium(I) dimer to give RhX(R₂POHOPR₂)₂(R₂POH) (X=H, Cl) and RhCl₂(R₂POHOPR₂)(R₂POH)₂ where R₂PO = $\text{OCH}{}_2\text{CMe}{}_2\text{CH}{}_2\text{P}$O. The iridium analogue yields corresponding products. The phosphite reacts with bis-(cyclooctene) pentan-2,4-dionatorhodium(I)to give Rh(R₂POHOPR₂)₃ and with the corresponding iridium complex to produce Ir(acac)(R₂POHOPR₂)₂. Some of the complexes act as catalysts or catalytic precursors for the stereoselective reduction of 4-t-butylcyclohexanone.     

Carbonyl rhodium(I) complexes with α-diimines ligands

The reactions of [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ with α-diimines, RN=CR′-CR′=NR (R = c-Hex, C₆H₅, p-C₆H₄OH, p-C₆H₄CH₃, p-C₆H₄OCH₃, R′ = H; R = c-Hex, C₆H₅, p-C₆H₄OH, p-C₆H₄OCH₃; R′ = Me) in 2:1 Rh/R-dim ratio gave rise to ionic compounds [(CO)₂Rh.R-dim(R′,R′)][Rh(CO)₂Cl₂] which have been characterized by elemental analyses, electrical conductivity, ¹H-NMR and electronic and IR spectroscopy. Some of these complexes must involve some kind of metal-metal interaction. The complex [Rh(CO)₂Cl.c-Hex-dim(H,H)] has been obtained by reaction of [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ with the c-Hex-dim(H,H) ligand in 1:1 Rh/R-dim ratio. The reactions between [(CO)₂Rh.R-dim(H,H)][Rh(CO)₂Cl₂](R = c-Hex or p-C₆H₄OCH₃) with the dppe ligand have been studied. The known complex RhCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂ has been isolated from the reaction of [(CO)₂Rh.R-dim(H,H)]-[Rh(CO)₂Cl₂] (R = c-Hex or p-C₆H₄OCH₃) with PPh₃ ligand.     

Diolefin rhodium(I) complexes with tropolone and related ligands

Summary Rhodium(I) tropolonate and salicylaldehydate complexes of the general formula Rh(A)(diolefin) (A = tropolonate, -iso-propyltropolonate, -methyltropolonate and salicylaldehydate; diolefin = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, 2,5-norbornadiene and tetrafluorobenzobarrelene) have been prepared by several routes. The ability of Rh(trop)(COD) to function as an intermediate for the synthesis of other neutral and cationic rhodium(I) complexes has been studied and its hydroformylation activity has been explored briefly.