Further reactions of some bis(vinylidene)diruthenium complexes

Whereas {Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂(μ-CCCC) (2) is the only product formed by deprotonation of [{Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂{μ(CCHCHC)}]⁺ with dbu, a mixture of 2 with Ru{CCCHCH(PPh₂)₂[RuCp*]}(dppm)Cp* (3) and {Cp*Ru(PPh₂CHCCH-)}₂ (4) is obtained with KOBu^t. A similar reaction with [{Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂{μ(CCMeCMeC)}]⁺ (5) gave Ru{CCCMeCH(PPh₂)₂[RuCp*]}(dppm)Cp* (6). X-ray structures of 4, 5 and 6 confirm the presence of the 1-ruthena-2,4-diphosphabicyclo[1.1.1]pentane moiety, which is likely formed by an intramolecular attack of the deprotonated dppm ligand on C(1) of the vinylidene ligand. Protonation of {Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂(μ-CCCC) (8-Ru) regenerates its precursor [{Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂{μ(CCHCHC)}]²⁺ (7-Ru). Ready oxidation of the bis(vinylidene) complex affords the cationic carbonyl [Ru(CO)(dppe)Cp*]PF₆ (9) (X-ray structure).     

From alkenylphosphane aminoallenylidene ruthenium(II) complexes to highly unsaturated ruthenaphosphabicycloheptene complexes

The alkenylaminoallenylidene complex [Ru(η⁵-C₉H₇){CCC(NEt₂)[C(Me)CPh₂]}{κ(P)-Ph₂PCH₂CHCH₂}(PPh₃)][PF₆] (2) has been prepared by the reaction of the allenylidene [Ru(η⁵-C₉H₇)(CCCPh₂){κ(P)-Ph₂PCH₂CHCH₂}(PPh₃)][PF₆] (1) with the ynamine MeCCNEt₂. The reaction proceeds regio- and stereoselectively, and the insertion of the ynamine takes place exclusively at the C_βC_γ bond of the unsaturated chain. The secondary allenylidene [Ru(η⁵-C₉H₇){CCC(H)[C(Me)CPh₂]}{κ(P)-Ph₂PCH₂CHCH₂}(PPh₃)][PF₆] (3) is obtained, in a one-pot synthesis, from the reaction of aminoallenylidene 2 with LiBHEt₃ and subsequent treatment with silica. Moreover, the addition of an excess of NaBH₄ to a solution of the complex 2 in THF at room temperature gives exclusively the alkynyl complex [Ru(η⁵-C₉H₇){CCCH₂[C(Me)CPh₂]}{κ(P)-Ph₂PCH₂CHCH₂}(PPh₃)] (5). The heating of a solution of allenylidene derivative 3 in THF at reflux gives regio- and diastereoselectively the cyclobutylidene complex [Ru(η⁵-C₉H₇) (PPh₃)][PF₆](4) through an intramolecular cycloaddition of the CC allyl and the C_αC_β bonds in the allenylidene complex 3. The structure of complex 4 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Ferrole-type compounds containing thiophenic or thiepinic rings in the 3,4-positions of the metallacycle

The new ferrole Fe₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Fc)CC{C(H)C(R)S}CC(SiMe₃)] [R = SiMe₃ (1) and R = Fc (2)] and ruthenoles Ru₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Me₃Si)CC{SC(Fc)C(H)}CC(Fc)] 3 and Ru₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Me₃Si)CC(SCCFc)C(H)C(Fc)] 4, have been obtained from the reactions of M₃(CO)₁₂ (M = Fe, Ru) and FcCCSCCSiMe₃ through S-C bond activations and C-C coupling reactions. Thermolysis of Ru₂(CO)₆[μ₃-η²,η⁴,η³-(Me₃Si)CC{SC(Fc)C(SCCSiMe₃}Ru(CO)₃}CC(Fc)] alone and in the presence of HCCFc, yielded the compounds Ru₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Me₃Si)CC{SC(Fc)C(SCCSiMe₃)}CC(Fc)] 5 and Ru₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Me₃Si)CC{SC(Fc)C(SCCSiMe₃)C(H)C(Fc)}CC(Fc)] 6, respectively. The crystal structures of the compounds 1, 3, 4 and 6 are reported.     

A ruthenium(II) allenylidene complex with a 4,5-diazafluorene functional group: A new building-block for organometallic molecular assemblies

The synthesis of the new ruthenium(II) allenylidene complex [ClRu(dppe)₂CCC₁₁H₆N₂][OTf] (4) (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) terminated with a 4,5-diazafluorene ligand is reported. Further coordination of that metal allenylidene to ruthenium and rhenium moieties leads to the bimetallic adducts [ClRu(dppe)₂CCC₁₁H₆N₂{Ru(bpy)₂}][B(C₆F₅)₄]₃ (5a), [ClRu(dppe)₂CCC₁₁H₆N₂{Ru(^tBu-bpy)₂}][PF₆]₃ (5b) and [ClRu(dppe)₂CCC₁₁H₆N₂{Re(CO)₃Cl}][OTf] (6). Their optical and electrochemical properties show that the allenylidene moiety is an attractive molecular clip for the access to larger original redox-active homo/heteronuclear multi-component supramolecular assemblies. The X-ray crystal structure of the allenylidene metal building block is also described.     

Protonation of manganese phosphonioallenyl complexes

The addition of phosphines to the manganese allenylidene complexes Cp(CO)₂MnCCC(Ph)R (R = H, Ph) proceeds selectively at the C_α atom to result in the α-phosphonioallenyl complexes Cp(CO)₂Mn⁻-C(⁺PR₃¹)CC(Ph)R. The protonation of the latter affords the η²-(1,2)-phosphonioallenes Cp(CO)₂Mn{η²-(1,2)-HC(⁺PR₃¹)CC(Ph)R}, rather than the phosphoniovinylcarbenes Cp(CO)₂MnC(⁺PR₃¹)-HCC(Ph)R. All complexes obtained are stereochemically rigid and do not isomerize into the η²-(2,3)-phosphonioallene isomers.     

Novel (η-arene)-ruthenium(II) complexes containing bis(iminophosphorano)methanide and methandiide ligands

The novel bis(iminophosphorano)methanes CH₂[P{NP(S)(OR)₂}Ph₂]₂ (R = Ph (1a), Et (1b)) have been obtained by oxydation of dppm with the corresponding thiophosphorylated azides (RO)₂P(S)N₃. Deprotonation of 1a,b with KH generates the methanide species KCH[P{NP(S)(OR)₂}Ph₂]₂ (R = Ph (2a), Et (2b)). The ruthenium(II) dimer [{Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(μ-Cl)Cl}₂] reacts with 2a,b to afford the cationic complexes [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(κ³-C,N,S-CH[P{NP(S)(OR)₂}Ph₂]₂)]⁺ (R = Ph (3a), Et (3b)), via selective κ³-C,N,S-coordination of the bis(iminophosphorano)methanide anions to ruthenium. The structure of [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(κ³-C,N,S-CH[P{NP(S)(OEt)₂}Ph₂]₂)][PF₆] (3b) has been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Deprotonation of complexes 3a,b with NaH leads to the neutral carbene derivatives [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(κ²-C,N-C[P{NP(S)(OR)₂}Ph₂]₂)] (R = Ph (4a), Et (4b)).     

Additions and intramolecular migrations of nucleophiles in cationic diruthenium μ-allenyl complexes

The diruthenium μ-allenyl complex [Ru₂(CO)(NCMe)(μ-CO){μ-η¹:η²-C(H)CC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂][BF₄], 3b, reacts with halide anions to yield the neutral derivatives [Ru₂(CO)₂(X){μ-η¹:η²-C(H)CC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂] [X = Cl, 4b; X = Br, 4c; X = I, 4d]. Complex 4b undergoes isomerization to the unprecedented bridging vinyl-chlorocarbene species [Ru₂(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η¹:η³- C(Cl)C(H)C(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 10, upon filtration of a CH₂Cl₂ solution through an alumina column.Complex 3b reacts with an excess of NaBH₄ to give five products: the allene complex [Ru₂(CO)₂{μ-η²:η²- CH₂CC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 5; the hydride species trans-[Ru₂(CO)₂(μ-H){μ-η¹:η²-CHCC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 6, and cis-[Ru₂(CO)₂(μ-H){μ-η¹:η²-CHCC(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 8; the vinyl-alkylidene [Ru₂(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η¹:η³- C(H)C(H)C(Me)(Ph)}(Cp)₂], 9; and the cluster [Ru₃(CO)₃(μ-H)₃(Cp)₃], 7.Studies on the thermal stabilities of 5, 6, 8 and 9 have suggested a plausible mechanism for the formation of these complexes and for the synthesis of 10.     

Further chemistry of ruthenium butatrienylidene complexes

Several complexes have been obtained from reactions carried out in early attempts to prepare the diynyl complexes Ru(CCCCR)(dppe)Cp* (R = H, SiMe₃). These have been identified crystallographically as the acyl complex Ru{CCC(O)Me}(dppe)Cp* (3), the cationic imido complex [Ru{CCC(NH₂)Me}(dppe)Cp*]PF₆ (4), the binuclear butenynylallenylidene [{Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂{μ-CCC(OMe)CHCMeCC}]PF₆ (5), and the bis(ethynyl)cyclobutenylidene [{Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂{μ-CCC₄H₂(SiMe₃)CC}]PF₆ (6). NMR studies of 5 have revealed the existence of two isomers. Plausible routes for their formation from the putative butatrienylidene intermediate [Ru(CCCCH₂)(dppe)Cp*]⁺ (A) are discussed.     

Dimerisation and reactivity of HCCCCFc at ruthenium centres

In contrast to the simple diynyl complexes formed in reactions between HCCCCFc and MCl(dppe)Cp∗; (M = Fe, Ru), an analogous reaction with RuCl(PPh₃)₂Cp∗; in the presence of KPF₆ and dbu resulted in dimerisation of the diyne at the Ru centre to afford a mixture of [Ru{η¹,η²-C(CCFc)C(L)CHCCCHFc}(PPh₃)Cp∗]PF₆ (L = dbu 1, PPh₃2). Similar reactions with RuCl(PR₃)₂L gave [Ru{η¹,η²-C(CCFc)C(dbu)CHCCCHFc}(PR₃)L]PF₆ (L = Cp, R = Ph 3, m-tol 4; L = η⁵-C₉H₇, R = Ph 5). The reaction between 3 and I₂, followed by crystallization of the paramagnetic product from MeOH, afforded the dicationic [Ru{C(CCFc)C(dbu)CHC(OMe)C(OMe)CHFc}(PPh₃)Cp](I₃)₂6. The molecular structures of 2·2CH₂Cl₂ and 6.S (S = 2CH₂Cl₂, C₆H₆) were determined by single-crystal XRD studies.