Novel sandwich complexes of zirconium [C9H5(SiMe3)2](C5Me4R)ZrCl2 (R = CH3, CH2CH2NMe2): Synthesis and reduction behavior

Novel half-sandwich [C₉H₅(SiMe₃)₂]ZrCl₃ (3) and sandwich [C₉H₅(SiMe₃)₂](C₅Me₄R)ZrCl₂ (R = CH₃ (1), CH₂CH₂NMe₂ (2)) complexes were prepared and characterized. The reduction of 2 by Mg in THF lead to (η⁵-C₉H₅(SiMe₃)₂)[η⁵:η²(C,N)-C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂N(Me)CH₂]ZrH (7). The structure of 7 was proved by NMR spectroscopy data. Hydrolysis of 2 resulted in the binuclear complex ([C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂NMe₂]ZrCl₂)₂O (6). The crystal structures of 1 and 6 were established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of two (cyclopentadienyl)titanium(III) hydroborate complexes, [CpTiCl(BH4)]2 and Cp2Ti(B3H8)

Treatment of Cp^∗TiCl₃ and Cp₂TiCl₂ with NaB₃H₈ affords the titanium(III) hydroborate compounds [Cp^∗TiCl(BH₄)]₂ and Cp₂Ti(B₃H₈), respectively. The former compound arises by means of a new reaction, the metal-induced fragmentation of the B₃H₈ anion, and can also be made by treating Cp^∗TiCl₃ with LiBH₄. The latter compound has been previously described, but not characterized crystallographically. Both compounds have been studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Dimeric [Cp^∗TiCl(BH₄)]₂ has bridging chloride ligands and terminal Cp^∗ and BH₄ ligands. The Ti-Ti distance is 3.452(1) Å, which indicates that there is no metal-metal bonding interaction. The Ti-Cl distances are 2.440(2) Å and the Ti-Cl-Ti and Cl-Ti-Cl angles of 89.97(8) and 90.03(8)° so that the Ti₂Cl₂ unit is nearly a perfect square. The BH₄ groups are each tridentate, with a Ti-B distance of 2.220(9) Å and an average Ti-H distance of 1.98(5) Å. In Cp₂Ti(B₃H₈), the B₃H₈ ligand is bidentate, as is usually seen, and the Ti-B and Ti-H distances are 2.600(3) and 1.96(2) Å. The dihedral angle between the Ti-B(1)-B(2) plane and the B(1)-B(2)-B(3) plane is 123.4°. The Ti-B distances are 0.04 Å longer than those in niobium analog, Cp₂Nb(B₃H₈), despite the fact that the single bond metallic radius of Ti is 0.02 Å smaller than that of Nb. This lengthening of the bond is probably a consequence of the presence of one fewer skeletal bonding electron in Cp₂Ti(B₃H₈).     

Synthesis and structure of ansa-cyclopentadienyl pyrrolyl titanium complexes: [(η-C5H4)CH2(2-C4H3N)]Ti(NMe2)2 and [1,3-{CH2(2-C4H3N)}2(η-C5H3)]Ti(NMe2)

Reaction of ansa-cyclopentadienyl pyrrolyl ligand (C₅H₅)CH₂(2-C₄H₃NH) (2) with Ti(NMe₂)₄ affords bis(dimethylamido)titanium complex [(η⁵-C₅H₄)CH₂(2-C₄H₃N)]Ti(NMe₂)₂ (3) via amine elimination. A cyclopentadiene ligand with two pendant pyrrolyl arms, a mixture of 1,3- and 1,4-{CH₂(2-C₄H₃NH)}₂C₅H₄ (4), undergoes an analogous reaction with Ti(NMe₂)₄ to give [1,3-{CH₂(2-C₄H₃N)}₂(η⁵-C₅H₃)]Ti(NMe₂) (5). Molecular structures of 3 and 5 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Structural preferences of cyclopentadienyl and indenyl rings in iridium(I) carbene complexes

Cleavage of the [Ir(η⁴-COD)Cl]₂ dimer in the presence of the corresponding imidazolium salts and the strong base tBuO⁻ leads to the formation of Ir(I) derivatives of N-heterocyclic carbenes. When halide is replaced by NaCp, a mixture of [Ir(η⁴-COD)(NHC^R)(η¹-Cp)] and [Ir(η²-COD)(NHC^R)(η⁵-Cp)] is obtained. The latter is favored for R = Cy, while the former predominates for R = Me. Conversely, [Ir(η⁴-COD)(NHC^R)(η¹-Ind)] is the only product of the reaction with NaInd, despite the R substituent. DFT/B3LYP calculations confirmed that the η¹ coordination mode of the ring gives rise to the most stable structures, namely square planar complexes of 5d⁸ Ir(I). The energy of the 18 electron species containing η²-COD and η⁵-Ind or Cp is higher by 13 and 5 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. The fluxional behaviour of indenyl, detected by NMR in the solutions of [Ir(η⁴-COD)(NHC^R)(η¹-Ind)], is associated to the low energy of the η³-Ind species required in the conversion process, and is not easily observed in the cyclopentadienyl derivatives, where a similar intermediate is disfavored.     

Synthesis and characterization of (CHCH)n-bridged (n = 1, 2, 3) heterobimetallic and trimetallic ferrocene-ruthenium complexes

A series of heterobinuclear ferrocene-ruthenium complexes Fc(CHCH)_nRuCl(CO)(PMe₃)₃ (n = 1, 3; n = 2, 12), Fc(CHCH)RuCl(CO)(Py)(PPh₃)₂ (4), and trimetallic Fc(CHCH)RuCl(CO)(PPh₃)₂(Py-E-(CHCH)Fc) (6) have been prepared. The length of the molecular rods is extended by successive insertion of CHCH spacers in the bridging ligands or the ancillary ligands. The respective products have been fully characterized and the structures of 3 and 12 have been established by X-ray crystallography. Electrochemical studies have revealed that ethenyl heterobimetallic complexes display two successive one-electron processes, and that intermetallic electronic communication between the two endgroups is attenuated with the increase of the length of the conjugated bridge. The electrochemical behavior of the trimetallic complex reveals strong electronic communication between ruthenium and ferrocene transmitted through the ethenyl bridge, however, it also reveals a very weak interaction between ruthenium and ferrocene transmitted through the (E)-CHCH-Py bridge.     

Synthesis and characterization of methyl-phenyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl zirconium complexes

The trisubstituted methyl-phenyl-silyl-cyclopentadienes [Me-Ph-C₅H₃(SiMe₂X)] (X = Me, Cl, NHt-Bu) and [(Me-Ph-C₅H₃)₂SiMe₂] and the lithium salts Li₂[Me-Ph-C₅H₂(SiMe₂Nt-Bu)] and Li₂[(Me-Ph-C₅H₂)₂SiMe₂] have been isolated by conventional methods and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Desilylation of [Me-Ph-C₅H₃(SiMe₃)] with ZrCl₄(SMe₂)₂ gave the monocyclopentadienyl complex [Zr(η⁵-1-Ph-3-Me-C₅H₃)Cl₃]. The ansa-metallocene [Zr{(η⁵-2-Me-4-Ph-C₅H₂)SiMe₂(η⁵-2-Ph-4-Me-C₅H₂)}Cl₂] was obtained from the mixture of isomers formed by transmetallation of Li₂[(Me-Ph-C₅H₂)₂SiMe₂] to ZrCl₄ and characterized as the meso-diastereomer by X-ray diffraction methods. Similar transmetallation of Li₂[Me-Ph-C₅H₂(SiMe₂Nt-Bu)] gave the silyl-η-amido complex [Zr{η⁵-2-Me-4-Ph-C₅H₂(SiMe₂-η-Nt-Bu)}Cl₂] that was further alkylated to give [Zr{η⁵-2-Me-4-Ph-C₅H₂(SiMe₂-η-Nt-Bu)}R₂] (R = Me, CH₂Ph) and used as a catalyst precursor, activated with MAO, for ethene and propene polymerization. All of the new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis, characterization and molecular structures of allenylidene, vinylidene-alkylidene complexes containing [CpOs(PPh3)2] fragment

The reaction of [CpOs(PPh₃)₂Br] with diphenylpropargylic alcohol HCCCPh₂(OH) in the presence of ammonium hexafluorophosphate leads to the formation of cationic osmiumallenylidene complex [CpOs(CCCPh₂)(PPh₃)₂][PF₆] (1), but when the dimethylpropargylic alcohol HCCCMe₂(OH) was used as a substrate, a dicationic diosmium vinylidene-alkylidene complex of the formula [(CpOs)₂(μ-C₁₀H₁₂)(PPh₃)₄][PF₆]₂ (2) was obtained. The structures of these complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P21/c with a=13.4083(6) Å, b=19.5700(9) Å, c=20.3806(9) Å and β=100.3620(10)°. Complex 2 crystallizes in triclinic space group with a=13.0396(11) Å, b=15.2420(13) Å, c=21.6406(19) Å and α=72.5290(10)°, β=75.1960(10)°, γ=85.6360(10)°.     

Olefin uptake as tool for linking platinum(II) and iridium(III) in heterobinuclear complexes: Synthesis and characterization of [PtI2(Me2phen){(C5Me4CH2CH2CHCH2)Ir(Me)(CO)(Ph)}]

The ability of [PtX₂(Me₂phen)] (Me₂phen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, X = Cl, Br, I) to act as olefin scavengers, easily giving stable trigonal bipyramidal five-coordinated platinum species [PtX₂(Me₂phen)(η²-olefin)], has been checked toward [(C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂CHCH₂)Ir(Me)(CO)(Ph)], a cyclopentadienyl complex containing an olefinic function introduced by ring methyl activation in the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl iridium(III) complex [(C₅Me₅)Ir(Me)(CO)(Ph)]. The reaction of [PtI₂(Me₂phen)] with [(C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂CHCH₂)Ir(Me)(CO)(Ph)] results in the formation of the heterometallic binuclear complex [PtI₂(Me₂phen){(C₅Me₄CH₂CH₂CHCH₂)Ir(Me)(CO)(Ph)}] which is stable and has been completely characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy.     

Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}-Zr{RN(CH2)3NR}, structural analyses of rac-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}Zr{RN(CH2)3NR} (where R is SiMe3 or Ph), and meso to rac isomerization

Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂}Zr{Me₃SiN(CH₂)₃NSiMe₃} (rac-3/meso-3) and rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂}Zr{PhN(CH₂)₃NPh} (rac-4/meso-4) were achieved by metallation of K₂[PhP(3-t-Bu-C₅H₃)₂] · 1.3 THF (2) with Zr{RN(CH₂)₃NR}Cl₂(THF)₂ (where R = SiMe₃ or Ph, respectively) using ethereal solvent. These isomeric pairs were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy; rac-3 and rac-4 were also examined via single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures of rac-3 and rac-4 are notable in the tendency of the cyclopentadienyl rings towards η³ coordination. While isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 slowly isomerize in tetrahydrofuran-d₈ to equilibrium ratios, the isomerization rate for 3 is more than 15-fold greater than that for 4. In addition, equilibrium ratios are rapidly reached when isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 are exposed to tetrabutylammonium chloride in tetrahydrofuran-d₈ solvent. We propose that a nucleophile (either chloride or the phosphine interannular linker) brings about dissociation of one cyclopentadienyl ring, thus promoting the rac/meso isomerization mechanism.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of unsymmetrical osmocenes containing the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligand

Treatment of dibromo(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)osmium(III) dimer with alkali metal salts of a variety of cyclopentadienyl derivatives provides a simple approach to the synthesis of unsymmetrical osmocenes containing the pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligand. Furthermore, the reaction of dibromo(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)osmium(III) with alkali metal salts of pyrrole and 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole afforded the corresponding pentamethylcyclopentadienylosmium complexes containing η⁵-pyrrolyl or η⁵-3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolato ligands. This overall synthetic approach afforded pentamethylosmocene (64%), (η⁵-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁵-indenyl)osmium (36%), (η⁵-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁵-fluorenyl)osmium (30%), (η⁵-pyrrolyl)(η⁵-pentamethylyclopentadienyl)osmium (30%), and (η⁵-3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolato)(η⁵-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)osmium (38%). The new complexes were characterized by spectroscopic and analytical techniques, and by single crystal X-ray structural determinations. In the solid state, all of the new complexes exist as eclipsed metallocenes.     

Synthesis and reactivity of substituted cyclopentadienyl rhodium(I) and (III) complexes

New cyclopentadienyl derivatives of rhodium COD complexes [Cp*=C₅H₄COOCH₂CHCH₂ (1); C₅H₄CH₂CH₂CHCH₂ (2); C₅H(i-C₃H₇)₄ (3)] and carbonyl complex [Cp*=C₅H(i-C₃H₇)₄ (4)] were synthesized from [RhCl(COD)]₂ and [RhCl(CO)₂]₂. 1, 2 and 3 oxidized by iodine gave iodine bridged dimers 5, 6 and 7, respectively. Triphenyl phosphine, carbon monoxide and carbon disulfide molecules broke down the iodine bridged structure easily and produced monomer products Cp*RhI₂L [Cp*=C₅H₄COOCH₂CHCH₂, L=CS₂ (8); L=PPh₃ (9). Cp*=C₅H(i-C₃H₇)₄, L=CO (10)]. All of these new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, IR, UV-Vis and mass spectroscopy. The crystal structure of 1 was solved in the triclinic space group with one molecule in the unit cell, the dimensions of which are a=7.082(9) Å, b=8.392(3) Å, c=13.889(5) Å, α=101.19(3)°, β=99.06(6)°, γ=105.11(5)°, and V=763(1) ų. The crystal structure of 3 was solved in the orthorhombic space group Pn21a with four molecules in the unit cell, the dimensions of which are a=9.748(3) Å, b=16.054(5) Å, and V=2319(1) ų. Least squares refinement leads to values for the conventional R₁ of 0.0251 for 1 and 0.0558 for 3, respectively. Compared to that in 1, a shorter metal-ligand bond length in 3 was observed and this is attributed to the rich electron density on Rh(I) metal center piled up by the C₅H(i-C₃H₇)₄ ligand.     

Synthesis and reactivity of di(silylamido)cyclopentadienyl titanium and zirconium complexes

We present in this account the synthesis and recent developments of a new class of group 4 metal complexes with the tridentate di(silylamido)cyclopentadienyl ligand. These doubly silyl-bridged group 4 metal amido chelates are receiving increasing interest as they are efficient catalysts for ethene polymerization when activated with MAO despite generating 14-electron d⁰ cationic species free of the alkyl group required for the first insertion reaction in the polymerization process.     

Synthesis, structure and some reactions of (C5Me4hex)2Ru2(CO)4

The synthesis of the new cyclopentadiene, C₅Me₄(hex)H is described and its reaction with Ru₃(CO)₁₂ to yield (C₅Me₄hex)₂Ru₂(CO)₄ (hex = n-hexyl) is reported. The X-ray crystal structure of the dimer confirms the structure with bridging and terminal CO groups. Reactions of the dimer to yield (C₅Me₄hex)Ru(CO)₂X (X = Cl, Br, I) are reported. IR, NMR and mass spectra are reported for all new compounds. The solubility of the dimer is found to be 10 times greater than that for (C₅Me₅)₂Ru₂(CO)₄.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of new polynuclear complexes of 1-hydroxymethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole with Ni(II) and Fe(II)

The complexation of the simple 1-hydroxymethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (HL) ligand with Fe and Ni salts leads to interesting polynuclear complexes in good yield. X-ray diffraction reveals that the resulting complexes (μ₄-L)₄Ni₄Cl₄(H₂O)₄ and (μ₂-L)₄(μ₃-L)₂Fe₈Cl₁₆(μ₄-O)₆ adopt cubane-type and open-cubane-type structures in the solid state.     

Formation and structural characterization of mercury complexes from Te(R)CH2SiMe3 (R = Ph, CH2SiMe3) and HgCl2

The reaction of HgCl₂ and Te(R)CH₂SiMe₃ [R = CH₂SiMe₃ (1), Ph (2)] in ethanol yielded a mononuclear complex [HgCl₂{Te(R)CH₂SiMe₃}₂] (R = Ph, 3a; R = CH₂SiMe₃, 3b). The recrystallization of 3a or 3b from CH₂Cl₂ produced a dinuclear complex [Hg₂Cl₂(μ-Cl)₂{Te(R)CH₂SiMe₃}₂] (R = Ph, 4a; R = CH₂SiMe₃, 4b). When 3a was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂, the solvent quickly removed, and the solid recrystallized from EtOH, a stable ionic [HgCl{Te(Ph)CH₂SiMe₃}₃]Cl·2EtOH (5a·2EtOH) was obtained. Crystals of [HgCl₂{Te(CH₂SiMe)₂}]·2HgCl₂·CH₂Cl₂ (6b·2HgCl₂·CH₂Cl₂) were obtained from the CH₂Cl₂ solution of 3b upon prolonged standing. The complex formation was monitored by ¹²⁵Te-, and ¹⁹⁹Hg NMR spectroscopy, and the crystal structures of the complexes were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis and structures of cyclopentadienyl N-heterocyclic carbene copper(I) complexes

A series of cyclopentadienyl N-heterocyclic carbene copper complexes CpCu(NHC) were synthesized and structurally characterized. The effect of the substituents at the nitrogen atom of the NHC ligands on the structures and thermally stability was discussed.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of new mixed-ring indenyl derivatives of molybdenum containing phosphorus ligands

Reaction of NaBH₄ with [IndCpMo(dppe)](BF₄)₂ (1) in acetone yields [IndMo(η⁴-C₅H₆)(dppe)]BF₄ (2) quantitatively. The hydride addition takes place at the external face of the Cp ring. Dissolution of 2 in dichloromethane gives [IndMo(η⁴-C₅H₅-exo-CH₂Cl)(dppe)]BF₄, as confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The similar dication [IndCpMo{P(OMe)₃}₂](BF₄)₂ (4) reacts with NaBH₄, in a solvent dependent manner. In acetonitrile, [IndMo(η⁴-C₅H₆){P(OMe)₃}₂]BF₄ (5) is obtained and in acetone a P(OMe)₃ ligand is lost resulting in the asymmetric phosphite-hydride, [IndCpMoH{P(OMe)₃}]⁺ (6). The molecular structures of [IndMo(η⁴-C₅H₆){P(OMe)₃}₂]PF₆ and [IndCpMoH{P(OMe)₃}]PF₆ were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Photocatalytic properties of new cyclopentadienyl and indenyl rhodium(I) carbonyl complexes with water-soluble 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) and tris(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine

Reactions of [(η⁵-R)Rh(CO)₂] (R = cp, ind) with water-soluble phosphines (L = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane and tris(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine) give the new rhodium(I) complexes of the types [Rh(η⁵-cp)(CO)(PTA)] (1), [Rh(η⁵-cp)(CO)(P(CH₂CH₂CN)₃)] (2), [Rh(η⁵-ind)(CO)(PTA)] (3) and [Rh(η⁵-ind)(CO)(P(CH₂CH₂CN)₃)] (4) in isolated yields of 52-75%. All these compounds have been fully characterized by IR, ¹H, ³¹P{¹H} and ¹³C{¹H} NMR, FAB-MS spectroscopies and elemental analyses. Reactivity for the substitution of phosphine is greater for [(η⁵-ind)Rh(CO)(L)] comparing to [(η⁵-cp)Rh(CO)(L)] because of a flexibility of the indenyl ligand to undergo facile η⁵-η³ coordinative isomerizations. The obtained complexes are active catalyst precursors for the dehydrogenation of propan-2-ol, octane and cyclooctane under photoassisted conditions without any organic hydrogen transfer acceptors, giving TOFs of 26-56 using 3 as precatalyst.     

Synthesis, structural determination and magnetic properties of layered hybrid organic-inorganic, iron (II) propylphosphonate, Fe[(CH3(CH2)2PO3)(H2O)], and iron (II) octadecylphosphonate, Fe[(CH3(CH2)17PO3)(H2O)]

Fe[(CH₃(CH₂)₂PO₃)(H₂O)] (1) and Fe[(CH₃(CH₂)₁₇PO₃)(H₂O)] (2) were synthesized by reaction of FeCl₂·6H₂O and the relevant phosphonic acid in water in presence of urea and under inert atmosphere. The compounds were characterized by elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, UV-visible and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of (1) was determined from X-ray single crystal diffraction studies at room temperature: monoclinic symmetry, space group P2₁, , , , and β=98.62(3)°. The compound is lamellar and the structure is hybrid, made of alternating inorganic and organic layers along the c direction. The inorganic layers consist of Fe(II) ions octahedrally coordinated by five phosphonate oxygen atoms and one from the water molecule, separated by bi-layers of propyl groups. A preliminary structure characterization of compound (2) suggests a similar layered structure, but with an interlayer spacing of 40.3 Å. The magnetic properties of the compounds were both studied by a dc and ac SQUID magnetometer. Fe[(CH₃(CH₂)₂PO₃)(H₂O)] (1) obeys the Curie-Weiss law at temperatures above 50 K (, ), indicating a Fe +II oxidation state, a high-spin d⁶ (S=2) electronic configuration and an antiferromagnetic exchange couplings between the near-neighbouring Fe(II) ions. Below , Fe[(CH₃(CH₂)₂PO₃)(H₂O)] exhibits a weak ferromagnetism. The critical temperature of has been determined by ac magnetic susceptibility measurements. Compound (2) shows the same paramagnetic behaviour of the iron (II) propyl derivative. The values of C and θ were found to be and −44 K, respectively, thus suggesting the presence of Fe +II ion in the S=2 spin state and antiferromagnetic interactions between Fe(II) ions at low temperatures. Zero-field and field cooled magnetic susceptibility vs. T plots do not overlap below , suggesting the presence of an ordered magnetic state. The critical temperature, T_N, has been located by the peaks at from the ac susceptibility (χ′and χ″) vs. T plots. Below T_N hysteresis loops recorded in the temperature region show an S-shape, while below 15 K assume an ellipsoid form. They reveal that compound (2) is a weak ferromagnet. The critical temperature T_N in these layered Fe(II) alkylphosphonates is independent of the distance between the inorganic layers.