Unsaturation in binuclear cyclopentadienylchromium carbonyl thiocarbonyls: Viability of (η-C5H5)2Cr2(CS)2(CO)3 in contrast to (η-C5H5)2Cr2(CO)5

The cyclopentadienylchromium carbonyl thiocarbonyls Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO)_n (n = 4, 3, 2, 1) have been studied by density functional theory using the B3LYP and BP86 functionals. The lowest energy Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO)₄ structure can be derived from the experimentally characterized unbridged Cp₂Cr₂(CO)₆ structure by replacing the two terminal carbonyl groups furthest from the Cr-Cr bond with two terminal CS groups. The two lowest energy Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO)₃ structures have a single four-electron donor η²-μ-CS group and a formal Cr-Cr single bond of length ∼3.1 Å. In contrast to the carbonyl analogue Cp₂Cr₂(CO)₅ these Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO)₃ structures are viable with respect to disproportionation into Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO)₄ and Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO)₂ and thus are promising synthetic targets. The lowest energy Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO)₂ structures have all two-electron donor CO and CS groups and short CrCr distances around ∼2.3 Å suggesting the formal triple bonds required to give the chromium atoms the favored 18-electron configurations. These Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO)₂ structures are closely related to the known structure for Cp₂Cr₂(CO)₄. In addition, several doubly bridged structures with four-electron donor η²-μ-CS bridges are found for Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO)₂ at higher energies. The global minimum Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO) structure is a triply bridged triplet with a CrCr triple bond (2.299 Å by BP86). A higher energy singlet Cp₂Cr₂(CS)₂(CO) structure has a shorter Cr-Cr distance of 2.197 Å (BP86) suggesting the formal quadruple bond required to give each chromium atom the favored 18-electron configuration.     

Unsaturation in binuclear cyclopentadienylrhodium carbonyls: Comparison with their cobalt analogs

The Cp₂Rh₂(CO)_n (n = 4, 3, 2, 1) derivatives have been examined by density functional theory using the BP86 and MPW1PW91 functionals. The known tricarbonyl Cp₂Rh₂(CO)₃ is predicted to have a singly bridged structure with a predicted Rh–Rh single bond distance of ～2.70 Å in close agreement with the experimental value of 2.68 Å, determined by X-ray crystallography. In contrast to the cobalt analog, no evidence for a triply bridged Cp₂Rh₂(μ-CO)₃ structure was found. The known dicarbonyl Cp₂Rh₂(CO)₂ is predicted to have a doubly bridged structure with a predicted RhRh double bond distance of 2.58 Å in close agreement with the experimental RhRh double bond distance of 2.564 Å, found by X-ray crystallography for the permethylated derivative (η⁵-Me₅C₅)₂Rh₂(μ-CO)₂. The monocarbonyl Cp₂Rh₂(CO) is predicted to have a four-electron donor bridging carbonyl group with a Rh–O distance of ～2.5 Å and a RhRh double bond distance of ～2.54 Å. This differs from Cp₂Co₂(CO) which was previously predicted to have only a two-electron donor bridging carbonyl group with a long Co?O distance and a short CoCo distance of ～2.0 Å suggesting a formal triple bond. For Cp₂Rh₂(CO)₄ doubly bridged trans and cis isomers were found within ～1.0 kcal/mol in energy with non-bonding Rh?Rh distances of ～3.2 Å. However, these Cp₂Rh₂(CO)₄ isomers are predicted to be unstable with respect both to CO loss to give Cp₂Rh₂(CO)₃ and to fragmentation into two CpRh(CO)₂ units.     

Cyclopentadienylaluminum donor-acceptor complexes - Molecular and supramolecular structure

Lewis acid-base complexes of cyclopentadienylaluminum derivatives Me_xCp_3−x Al (x = 0-2) and trimethylaluminum with selected aromatic amines (L): dmap = 4-dimethylaminopyridine, py-Me = 4-methylpyridyne, were synthesized and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁷Al NMR: Cp₃Al · dmap (1), Cp₃Al · py-Me (2), MeCp₂Al · dmap (3), MeCp₂Al · py-Me (4), Me₂CpAl · dmap (5), Me₂CpAl · py-Me (6), Me₃Al · py-Me (7). ¹H NMR studies of 3-6 revealed small amounts of the ligand redistribution products. The crystal structures of 1, 2 and 3 were determined by single X-ray diffraction studies. The compounds 1, 2 and 3 are monomeric with Cp ligands bonded to the aluminum center in η¹(σ), η¹(π) manner. The change of Cp-Al bond character from η¹(π) to η¹(σ) was found to reasonable correlate with the aromaticity of Cp⁻ ligand described by HOMA index. Analysis of close intra- and intermolecular contacts showed presence of CH?π interactions leading to the formation of 2-D supramolecular networks. It was found that these interactions impact on the coordination sphere of aluminum and the conformation of Cp ring.     

Heterometallic complexes containing 1,1′-(CC)2Fc′ units linking two different metal centres

Proto-desilylation of 1-(Me₃SiCC)-1′-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCC}Fc′ (1) afforded the corresponding ethynyl derivative 2, from which the green Co₂(μ-dppm)_n(CO)_8−2n (n = 0, 1) adducts 3 and 4 were obtained. Replacement of the ethynyl proton in reactions between 2 and AuCl(PPh₃), Hg(OAc)₂ or FeCl(dppe)Cp^∗ gave complexes 1-(RCC)-1′-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCC}Fc′ [R = Au(PPh₃) 5, 1/2Hg 6, Fe(dppe)Cp^∗8]; the latter gave bis-vinylidene 9 with MeI, characterised (as was 2) by a single crystal X-ray study. Oxidative coupling of 2 (CuCl/tmeda/acetone, air) gave diyne 10, while coupling of 5 with Co₃(μ₃-CBr)(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ afforded 1-{Cp^∗(dppe)RuCC}-1′-{(OC)₇(μ-dppm)Co₃(μ₃-CCC)}Fc′ (11). Cyclic voltammetric measurements indicated that there was no significant electronic coupling between the end-groups through the ferrocene centre in any of these compounds.     

Octahapto cyclooctatetraene rings and metal-metal multiple bonds in binuclear niobium carbonyl chemistry

Theoretical studies on (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) predict structures mainly with octahapto and tetrahapto C₈H₈ rings. In all cases, the lowest energy singlet spin state structures lie below the corresponding lowest energy triplet spin state structures. Thus the lowest energy (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)₄ structure has two η⁸-C₈H₈ rings and an unbridged Nb-Nb single bond of length ∼3.15 Å. The lowest energy (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)₂ structure has two η⁸-C₈H₈ rings but a doubly bridged NbNb triple bond of length ∼2.64 Å. The lowest energy structure of (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)₃ also has a formal NbNb triple bond of similar length (2.66 Å) but with only one of the rings fully coordinated as an octahapto η⁸-C₈H₈ ligand. The other C₈H₈ ring in this tricarbonyl has “slipped” to form a hexahapto η⁶-C₈H₈ ligand. The lowest energy structure of the monocarbonyl (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO) again has two octahapto η⁸-C₈H₈ rings and an extremely short NbNb distance of 2.45 Å, suggesting a formal quadruple bond. The lowest energy structures for the carbonyl-richer species (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5) have one η⁸-C₈H₈ and one η⁴-C₈H₈ ring (n = 5) and two η⁴-C₈H₈ rings (n = 6). The qualitatively assigned Nb-Nb bond orders are consistent with the Wiberg bond indices obtained from the Weinhold natural bond orbital analysis. Comparison of the (C₈H₈)₂Nb₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) derivatives with the isovalent (C₇H₇)₂Mo₂(CO)_n is made.     

Reactivity of [Re2(CO)8(MeCN)2] with thiazoles: Hydrido bridged dirhenium compounds bearing thiazoles in different coordination modes

Reactions of the labile compound [Re₂(CO)₈(MeCN)₂] with thiazole and 4-methylthiazole in refluxing benzene afforded the new compounds [Re₂(CO)₇{μ-2,3-η²-C₃H(R)NS}{η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}(μ-H)] (1, R = H; 2, R = CH₃), [Re₂(CO)₆{μ-2,3-η²-C₃H(R)NS}{η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}₂(μ-H)] (3, R = H; 4, R = CH₃) and fac-[Re(CO)₃(Cl){η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}₂] (5, R = H; 6, R = CH₃). Compounds 1 and 2 contain two rhenium atoms, one bridging thiazolide ligand, coordinated through the C(2) and N atoms and a η¹-thiazole ligand coordinated through the nitrogen atom to the same Re as the thiazolide nitrogen. Compounds 3 and 4 contain a Re₂(CO)₆ group with one bridging thiazolide ligand coordinated through the C(2) and N atoms and two N-coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands, each coordinated to one Re atom. A hydride ligand, formed by oxidative-addition of C(2)-H bond of the ligand, bridges Re-Re bond opposite the thiazolide ligand in compounds 1-4. Compound 5 contains a single rhenium atom with three carbonyl ligands, two N-coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands and a terminal Cl ligand. Treatment of both 1 and 2 with 5 equiv. of thiazole and 4-methylthiazole in the presence of Me₃NO in refluxing benzene afforded 3 and 4, respectively. Further activation of the coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands in 1-4 is, however, unsuccessful and results only nonspecific decomposition. The single-crystal XRD structures of 1-5 are reported.     

Straightforward synthesis of phosphametallocenium cations of Rh and Ir

Reaction of 3,4-dimethylphospholylthallium (Tl-1) with [Cp^∗MCl₂]₂ (M = Rh, Ir) leads to the formation of the dimeric species [(Cp^∗M)₂(Me₂C₄H₂P)₃]⁺2 and 3 with bridging μ-η¹:η¹-phospholyl ligands. The phosphametallocenium sandwich complexes [Cp^∗M(Me₂C₄(SiMe₃)₂P)]⁺7 (M = Rh) and 8 (M = Ir) could be obtained from the reaction of [Cp^∗MCl₂]₂ and the 2,5-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-trimethylstannylphosphole 6, with the bulky trimethylsilyl groups preventing the phosphole from η¹- and enforcing a η⁵-coordination. The structures of phospharhodocenium cation 7 and a byproduct 9 containing a phosphairidocenium moiety could be determined by X-ray diffraction.     

A study of β-hydride abstraction from alkanediyl homobimetallic complexes [{Cp(CO)2Fe}2{μ-(CnH2n)}] (n = 4-10, Cp = η-C5H5)

The alkyl-bridged iron(II) complexes [{Cp(CO)₂Fe}₂{μ-(C_nH_2n)}] (n = 6-10, Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) undergo both single and double hydride abstraction when reacted with one equivalent of Ph₃CPF₆ to give both the monocationic complexes, [{Cp(CO)₂Fe}₂{μ-(C_nH_2n−1)}]PF₆, and the dicationic complexes, [{Cp(CO)₂Fe}₂{μ-(C_nH_2n−2)}](PF₆)₂. The ratios of monocationic to dicationic complexes decrease with the increase in the value of n. The complexes where n = 4 and 5 undergo only single hydride abstraction under similar conditions. When reacted with two equivalents of Ph₃CPF₆, the complexes where n = 6-10 undergo double hydride abstraction to give dicationic complexes only. In contrast, the complex where n = 5 gives equal amounts of the monocationic and the dicationic complexes, while the complex where n = 4 only gives the monocationic complex. ¹H and ¹³C NMR data show that in the monocationic complexes one metal is σ-bonded to the carbenium ion moiety while the other is bonded in a η²-fashion forming a chiral metallacylopropane type structure. In the dicationic complexes both metals are bonded in the η²-fashion. The monocationic complexes where n = 4-6, react with methanol to give η¹-alkenyl complexes[Cp(CO)₂Fe(CH₂)_nCHCH₂] (n = 2-4) as the major products and σ-bonded ether products [{Cp(CO)₂Fe}₂{μ-(CH₂)_nCH(OCH₃)CH₂}] as the minor products. The complex where n = 8 reacted with iso-propanol to give the η¹-alkenyl complex [Cp(CO)₂Fe(CH₂)₆CHCH₂]. The dicationic complexes where n = 5, 8 and 9 were reacted with NaI to give the respective α, ω-dienes and [Cp(CO)₂FeI].     

Formation of a four-electron donor carbonyl group in the decarbonylation of the unsaturated H2C2Fe2(CO)6 tetrahedrane as an alternative to an iron-iron triple bond

The unsaturated Fe₂C₂ tetrahedrane derivatives R₂C₂Fe₂(CO)₆ (R = Ph, ^tBu) are among the many products obtained from reactions of the alkynes RCCR with iron carbonyls. In this connection theoretical studies have been performed on the simplest such compounds H₂C₂Fe₂(CO)_n (n = 6, 5) for comparison with the experimentally known structure of the t-butyl derivative t-Bu₂C₂Fe₂(CO)₆ and in order to predict the decarbonylation pathways for such (alkyne)Fe₂(CO)₆ derivatives. These theoretical studies predict an Fe₂C₂ tetrahedrane structure for H₂C₂Fe₂(CO)₆ with a formal FeFe double bond very similar to the experimental structure for t-Bu₂C₂Fe₂(CO)₆. Decarbonylation of H₂C₂Fe₂(CO)₆ is predicted to give an H₂C₂Fe₂(CO)₅ isomer retaining the Fe₂C₂ tetrahedrane structure, with an FeFe double bond but with the unprecedented feature of a four-electron donor bridging carbonyl group in an M₂C₂ tetrahedrane structure. The formation of formal FeFe triple bonds appears to be avoided in even the higher energy H₂C₂Fe₂(CO)₅ structures. These include three triplet Fe₂C₂ tetrahedrane structures with formal FeFe double bonds as well as a coordinately unsaturated singlet structure, still with an FeFe double bond.     

A structural investigation of the carbocation complex [{Cp(CO)2Fe}2{μ-(C3H5)}]PF6

The reaction of the propanediyl complex [{Cp^∗(CO)₂Fe}₂{μ-(C₃H₆)}] (Cp^∗ = η⁵-C₅(CH₃)₅) with the hydride abstractor Ph₃CPF₆ in dry CH₂Cl₂ resulted in the formation of the carbocation complex [{Cp^∗(CO)₂Fe}₂{μ-(C₃H₅)}]PF₆. The complex formed triclinic crystals in the space group with Z = 1. In the structure one metal is bonded in the η²-fashion, forming a chiral metallacyclopropane structure with the carbocation, while the other is σ-bonded to the same carbocation ligand. However, NMR evidence indicates that the structure observed in the solid state is not preserved in solution because the metallacyclopropane ring opens up, giving a structure in which more positive charge is localized on the β-CH carbon and which could be fluxional.     

Some complexes containing carbon chains end-capped by M(CO)2Tp′ [M = Mo, W; Tp′ = HB(pz)3, HB(dmpz)3] groups

Complexes M(CCCSiMe₃)(CO)₂Tp′ (Tp′ = Tp [HB(pz)₃], M = Mo 2, W 4; Tp′ = Tp^∗ [HB(dmpz)₃], M = Mo 3) are obtained from M(CCCSiMe₃)(O₂CCF₃)(CO)₂(tmeda) (1) and K[Tp′].Reactions of 2 or 4 with AuCl(PPh₃)/K₂CO₃ in MeOH afforded M{CCCAu(PPh₃)}(CO)₂Tp′ (M = Mo 5, W 6) containing C₃ chains linking the Group 6 metal and gold centres.In turn, the gold complexes react with Co₃(μ₃-CBr)(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ to give the C₄-bridged {Tp(OC)₂M}CCCC{Co₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₇} (M = Mo 7, W 8), while Mo(CBr)(CO)₂Tp^∗ and Co₃{μ₃-C(CC)₂Au(PPh₃)}(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ give {Tp^∗(OC)₂Mo}C(CC)₂C{Co₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₇} (9) via a phosphine-gold(I) halide elimination reaction. The C₃ complexes Tp′(OC)₂MCCCRu(dppe)Cp^∗ (Tp′ = Tp, M = Mo 10, W 11; Tp′ = Tp^∗, M = Mo 12) were obtained from 2-4 and RuCl(dppe)Cp^∗ via KF-induced metalla-desilylation reactions. Reactions between Mo(CBr)(CO)₂Tp^∗ and Ru{(CC)_nAu(PPh₃)}(dppe)Cp^∗ (n = 2, 3) afforded {Tp^∗(OC)₂Mo}C(CC)_n{Ru(dppe)Cp^∗} (n = 2 13, 3 14), containing C₅ and C₇ chains, respectively. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 and 12 are reported.     

Chemistry of vinylidene complexes. XVI. Crystal and molecular structure of the novel tetranuclear μ2-μ3-bis-vinylidene complex (η-dppe)PdMn(μ3-CCHPh)PdMn(μ-CCHPh)(CO)4Cp2

The crystal and molecular structure of the novel tetranuclear complex (η²-dppe)PdMn(μ₃-CCHPh)PdMn(μ-CCHPh)(CO)₄Cp₂ (5) has been investigated. The metal core of 5 is a bent chain Pd(2)-Mn(2)-Pd(1)-Mn(1). The bond distances and angles are Mn(1)-Pd(1) 2.6025(6), Pd(1)-Mn(2) 2.8913(5), Mn(2)-Pd(2) 2.6463(4) Å, Mn(1)-Pd(1)-Mn(2) 140.2(2)°, Pd(1)-Mn(2)-Pd(2) 69.6(1)°. Complex contains two bridging vinylidene ligands coordinated to metal atoms in different ways. The CC bond lengths are 1.347(4) and 1.372(4) Å in the μ₂(η¹,η¹)-CCHPh and μ₃(η¹,η¹,η²)-CCHPh ligands, respectively. The η²-dppe ligand is coordinated to the Pd(2) atom to form the chelate cycle. Each of Mn(1) and Mn(2) atoms is bonded with the η⁵-C₅H₅ ring and two CO groups.     

Rhenium carbonyl complexes with monodentate-coordinated diphosphines: activation of terminal phosphino groups towards amine-oxide oxidation

Terminal phosphino groups of [Re₂(CO)₉(η¹-P-P)] (P-P = diphosphines) are activated towards oxidation by Me₃NO. The respective reactions of Me₃NO with [Re₂(CO)₉{η¹-P(o-anisyl)₂(CH₂)₃PPh₂}], [Re₂(CO)₉{η¹-PPh₂(CH₂)₃P(o-anisyl)₂}] and [Re₂(CO)₉(η¹-trans-PPh₂CHCHPPh₂)] were studied to investigate the mechanism of this oxidation. The results are consistent with an intramolecular pathway involving a cyclic intermediate, without exchange of the coordinated and terminal phosphino groups. A mechanism which involves an interaction of the terminal phosphino group with a carbonyl ligand is proposed. In sharp contrast to eq-[Re₂(CO)₉(η¹-P-P)] (P-P = Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂, n = 1-6), eq-[Re₂(CO)₉(η¹-trans-PPh₂CHCHPPh₂)] appears to be indefinitely stable towards equatorial → axial isomerization at room temperature, thus, allowing its crystal structure to be determined.     

Syntheses and molecular structures of some compounds containing many-atom chains end-capped by tricobalt carbonyl clusters

Several complexes containing Co₃ carbonyl clusters end-capping carbon chains of various lengths are described. Pd(0)/Cu(I)-catalysed reactions between {Co₃{μ₃-C(CC)₂Au(PPh₃)}(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ and I(CC)₂SiMe₃ or FcCCI gave {Co₃{μ₃-C(CC)_xR}(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ [x = 4, R = SiMe₃3; x = 3, R = Fc 8]; treatment of 3 with NaOMe and AuCl(PPh₃) gave 4 [x = 4, R = Au(PPh₃)]. Related preparations of Co₃{μ₃-C(CC)₂[Ru(PP)Cp′]}(μ-dppm)_n(CO)_9−2n [PP = (PPh₃)₂, Cp’ = Cp, n = 1, 5; PP = dppe, Cp′ = Cp^∗, n = 1, 6; 0, 7] are also described. Syntheses of bis-cluster complexes {Co₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₇}₂(μ-C_x) (x = 14, 12; 16, 9; 18, 11; 26, 10) - the latter being the longest cluster-capped C_x chains so far described - and the mercury-bridged compounds Hg{(CC)_xC[Co₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₇]}₂ (x = 1, 13; 2, 14) are reported. The molecular structures of 7, 12, 13 and 14, as well as of Co₃(μ₃-CCCSiMe₃)(μ-dppm)(CO)₆(PPh₃) (15) and Co₃{μ₃-CC(O)OEt}(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ (16), are reported.     

Reaction studies on some functionalized alkyl transition metal compounds and the crystal structure of [Cp(CO)3W{(CH2)3NO2}]

The reactions of the halogenoalkyl compounds [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)_nX}] (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅; n = 3-5; X = Br, I) and [Cp(CO)₂(PPhMe₂)Mo{(CH₂)₃Br}] with the nucleophiles Z = CN⁻ and gave compounds of the type [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)_nZ}] for the tungsten compounds, whilst cyclic carbene compounds were obtained from the reactions of the molybdenum compound. The reactions of [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)_nBr}] (n = 3, 4) and [Cp(CO)₂(PPhMe₂)Mo{(CH₂)₃Br}] with gave [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)_nONO₂}] and [Cp(CO)₂(PPhMe₂)Mo{(CH₂)₃ONO₂}], respectively. The reaction of [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)_nBr}] with AgNO₂ gave [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)_nNO₂}]. In the solid state the complex [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)₃NO₂}] crystallizes in a distorted square pyramidal geometry. In this molecule the nitropropyl chain deviates from the ideal, all-trans geometry as a result of short, non-hydrogen intermolecular N-O?O-N contacts. The reactions of the heterobimetallic compounds [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)₃}ML_y] {ML_y = Mo(CO)₃Cp, Mo(CO)₃Cp^∗ and Mo(CO)₂(PMe₃)Cp; Cp^∗ = η⁵-C₅(CH₃)₅} with PPh₃ and CO were found to be totally metalloselective, with the ligand always attacking the metal site predicted by the reactions of the corresponding monometallic analogues above with nucleophiles. Thus the compounds [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)₃}C(O)ML_z] {ML_z = Mo(CO)₂YCp, Mo(CO)₂YCp^∗ and Mo(CO)Y(PMe₃)Cp; Y = PPh₃ or CO} were obtained. Similarly, the reaction of [Cp(CO)₂Fe{(CH₂)₃}Mo(CO)₂(PMe₃)Cp] with CO gave only [Cp(CO)₂Fe{(CH₂)₃C(O)}Mo(CO)₂(PMe₃)Cp]. Hydrolysis of the bimetallic compound, [Cp(CO)₃W(CH₂)₃C(O)Mo(CO)(PPh₃)(PMe₃)Cp], gave the carboxypropyl compound [Cp(CO)₃W{(CH₂)₃COOH}]. Thermolysis of the compound [Cp(CO)₂Fe(CH₂)₃Mo(CO)₃(PMe₃)Cp] gave cyclopropane and propene, indicating that β-elimination and reductive processes had taken place.     

Mononuclear ruthenium complexes containing two different phosphines in trans position: II. Catalytic hydrogenation of CC and CO bonds

Bis(acetate) ruthenium(II) complexes of the general formula Ru(CO)₂(OAc)₂(PⁿBu₃)[P(p-XC₆H₄)₃] (OAc = acetate, X = CH₃O, CH₃, H, F or Cl), containing different phosphine ligands trans to PⁿBu₃, have been employed as catalyst precursors for the hydrogenation of 1-hexene, acetophenone, 2-butanone and benzylideneacetone. For comparative purposes, analogous reactions have been performed using the homodiphosphine precursors Ru(CO)₂(OAc)₂(PⁿBu₃)₂ and Ru(CO)₂(OAc)₂(PPh₃)₂. The catalytic activity of the heterodiphosphine complexes depends on the basicity of the triarylphosphine trans to PⁿBu₃ as this factor controls, inter alia, the rate of formation of hydride(acetate), Ru(CO)₂(H)(OAc)(PⁿBu₃)[P(p-XC₆H₄)₃], or dihydride, Ru(CO)₂(H)₂(PⁿBu₃)[(p-XC₆H₄)₃], complexes, by hydrogenation of the bis(OAc) precursors. The catalytic hydrogenation of the CC double bond is best accomplished by homodiphosphine dihydride catalysts, while heterodiphosphine monohydrides are more efficient catalysts than the homo- and heterodiphosphine dihydrides for the reduction of the keto CO bond.     

The oxophilicity of vanadium in unsaturated homoleptic binuclear vanadium carbonyl structures

Density functional theory has been used to explore molecular structures of possible homoleptic binuclear vanadium carbonyls V₂(CO)_n (n = 12, 11, 10, 9, and 8) with the pure DFT method BP86. Octahedral or nearly octahedral V(CO)₆ units, similar to the known monomeric V(CO)₆, are found to be fundamental building blocks in the lowest energy structures of the homoleptic binuclear vanadium carbonyls V₂(CO)_n (n = 12, 11, 10, and 9). A V(CO)₆ unit often links to a second V(CO)_n unit to form the binuclear vanadium carbonyl through one or two four-electron donor bridging CO groups as a consequence of the oxophilicity of vanadium. Single and triple vanadium–vanadium bonds are predicted to be favored whiledouble and quadruple vanadium–vanadium bonds are avoided. An interesting structure is found for V₂(CO)₈ consisting of two V(CO)₄ units linked by a vanadium–vanadium bond short enough to be the quintuple bond required by the 18-electron rule.     

C-C bond formation through olefin-thiocarbyne coupling in diiron complexes

The bridging diiron thiocarbyne complex [Fe₂{μ-CS(Me)}(μ-CO)(CO)₂(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] (1) reacts with activated olefins (methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, styrene, diethyl maleate), in the presence of Me₃NO and NaH, to give the corresponding μ-allylidene complexes [Fe₂{μ-η¹:η³-C_α(SMe)C_β(R′)C_γ(H)(R″)} (μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂] (R″ = CO₂Me, R′ = H, 3a; R″ = CN, R′ = H, 3b; R″ = C₆H₅, R′ = H, 3c; R″ = R′ = CO₂Et, 3d). The coupling reaction of olefin with thiocarbyne is regio- and stereospecific, leading to the formation of only one isomer. C-C bond formation occurs between the less substituted alkene carbon and the thiocarbyne. Moreover, olefinic hydrogens of the bridging ligands are mutually trans.The reactions of 3a-b with MeSO₃CF₃ result, selectively, in the formation of the cationic μ-sulphonium allylidene complexes [Fe₂{μ-η¹:η³-C_α(SMe₂)C_β (H)C_γ(H)(R)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂][SO₃CF₃] (R = CO₂Me, 4a; R = CN, 4b). Compound 4a undergoes displacement of the SMe₂ group by nucleophiles such as NaBH₄, NBu₄CN and NaOMe, affording the complexes [Fe₂{μ-η¹:η³-C_α(R)C_β (H)C_γ(H)(CO₂Me)}(μ-CO)(CO)(Cp)₂] (R = H, 5a; R = CN, 5b; R = OMe, 5c), respectively. The molecular structures of 3a and 5a have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies.