Influence of the electronics of the phosphine ligands on the H-H bond elongation in dihydrogen complexes

Five new monocationic dihydrogen complexes of ruthenium of the type trans-[RuCl(eta(2)-H(2))(PP)(2)][BF(4)] (PP = bis-1,2(diarylphosphino)ethane, aryl = p-fluorobenzyl, 1a, benzyl, 2a, m-methylbenzyl, 3a, p-methylbenzyl, 4a, p-isopropylbenzyl, 5a) have been prepared by protonating the precursor hydride complexes trans-[RuCl(H)(PP)(2)] using HBF(4).OEt(2). The dihydrogen complexes are quite stable and have been isolated in the solid state. The intact nature of the H-H bond in these derivatives has been established from the short spin-lattice relaxation times (T1, ms) and observation of substantial H, D couplings in the HD isotopomers. The H-H bond distances (dHH, A) increase systematically from 0.97 to 1.03 A as the electron-donor ability of the substituent on the diphosphine ligand increases from the p-fluorobenzyl to the p-isopropylbenzyl moiety. The d(HH) in trans-[Ru(eta(2)-H(2))(Cl)((C(6)H(5)CH(2))(2)PCH(2)CH(2)P(CH(2)C(6)H(5))(2))(2)][BF(4)], 2a, was found to be 1.08(5) A by X-ray crystallography. In addition, two new 16-electron dicationic dihydrogen complexes of the type [Ru(eta(2)-H(2))(PP)(2)][OTf](2) (PP = (ArCH(2))(2)PCH(2)CH(2)P(CH(2)Ar)(2), Ar = m-CH(3)C(6)H(4-), 6a, p-CH(3)C(6)H(4)-, 7a) have also been prepared and characterized. These derivatives were found to possess elongated dihydrogen ligands.     

16-electron elongated dihydrogen complex stabilized by agostic interaction

A 16-electron dicationic dihydrogen complex [Ru(eta2-H...H)(PP)2][OTf]2 [4; PP = (C6H5CH2)2PCH2CH2P(CH2C6H5)2] has been prepared and characterized by protonating the precursor hydride complex [Ru(H)(PP)2)][OTf] (2) using HOTf. The hydride and dihydrogen complexes are stabilized via agostic interaction of the ortho C-H fragment of the phenyl ring on the benzyl group. The intact nature of the H-H bond in this derivative was established from the short spin-lattice relaxation time and the observation of a substantial J(H,D) of 22.0 Hz for the HD isotopomer. The H-H bond distance calculated from J(H,D) is 1.05 A, which falls under the category of elongated dihydrogen ligands.     

Synthesis and spectral studies on Ni(II) complexes involving N-furfuryl-N-substituted benzyldithiocarbamates and PPh3: Anagostic and C–H…π(chelate) interactions in (N-furfuryl-N-(4-fluorobenzyl)dithiocarbamato-S,S′)(thiocyanato-N)(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II)

Twelve new nickel(II) complexes of functionalized dithiocarabamates [Ni(S₂CNRR')₂](1-6) and [Ni(S₂CNRR')(NCS)(PPh₃)](7-12) [where R=furfuryl; R'=2-hydroxy benzyl (1,7), 3-hydroxy benzyl (2,8), 4-hydroxy benzyl (3,9), 4-methoxy benzyl (4,10), 4-fluoro benzyl (5,11), 4-chloro benzyl (6,12)] have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopy. IR spectra of the complexes support the bidentate coordination of dithiocarbamate ligands. Electronic spectral studies on complexes 1-12 indicate square planar geometry around the nickel(II) central atom. In the ¹³C NMR spectra, the upfield shift of NCS₂ carbon signal for heteroleptic complex (7-12) compared to homoleptic complexes (1-6) is due to the effect of PPh₃ on the mesomeric drift of electron density toward nickel through thioureide C-N bond. Single crystal X-ray structural analysis of complex 11 confirms that the coordination geometry about the Ni(II) is distorted square planar. A rare intramolecular anagostic interaction C–H^…Ni [Ni???H=2.804 Å] is observed. The packing of complex 11 is stabilized by non-conventional C–H^…S, C–H?F and C–H?π(chelate, NiS₂C) bonding interactions.     

Terpyridine Diphosphine Ruthenium Complexes as Efficient Photocatalysts for the Transfer Hydrogenation of Carbonyl Compounds

The cationic achiral and chiral terpyridine diphosphine ruthenium complexes [RuCl(PP)(tpy)]Cl (PP=dppp ( 1 ), (R,R)-Skewphos ( 2 ) and (S,S)-Skewphos ( 3 )) are easily obtained in 85–88 % yield through a one-pot synthesis from [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃], the diphosphine and 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (tpy) in 1-butanol. Treatment of 1 – 3 with NaPF₆ in methanol at RT affords quantitatively the corresponding derivatives [RuCl(PP)(tpy)]PF₆ (PP=dppp ( 1 a ), (R,R)-Skewphos ( 2 a ) and (S,S)-Skewphos ( 3 a )). Reaction of [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃] with (S,R)-Josiphos or (R)-BINAP in toluene, followed by treatment with tpy in 1-butanol and finally with NaPF₆ in MeOH gives [RuCl(PP)(tpy)]PF₆ (PP=(S,R)-Josiphos ( 4 a ), (R)-BINAP ( 5 a )) isolated in 78 % and 86 % yield, respectively. The chiral derivatives have been isolated as single stereoisomers and 3 a , 4 a have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The tpy complexes with NaOiPr display high photocatalytic activity in the transfer hydrogenation (TH) of carbonyl compounds using 2-propanol as the only hydrogen donor and visible light at 30 °C, at remarkably high S/C (up to 5000) and TOF values up to 264 h⁻¹. The chiral enantiomers 2 , 2 a and 3 , 3 a induce the asymmetric photocatalytic TH of acetophenone, affording (S)- and (R)-1-phenylethanol with 51 and 52 % ee, respectively, in a MeOH/2-propanol mixture.     

Cyclometallation of 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine and 2-(3-thienyl)pyridine with palladium(II), rhodium(III) and ruthenium(II)

Summary 2-(2-Thienyl)pyridine [H(2-tp)] and 2-(3-thienyl)pyridine [H(3-tp)] react with lithium tetrachloropalladate(II), hexachlorotetrakis(tri-n-butylphosphine) dirhodium(III), and tetrachlorohexacarbonyldiruthenium(II) to give [PdCl(C-N)]₂-(CN=2-tp and 3-tp), [RhCl₂(C-N)PBu₃]₂ (C-N = 2-tp and 3-tp), and [RuCl(2-tp)(CO)₂]₂, respectively. Some bromo analogues are also prepared. These complexes react with pyridine and tri-n-butylphosphine to give adducts in which 2-tp is chelated through pyridine-N and thiophene-3-C and 3-tp through pyridine-N and thiophene-2-C atoms. The structures of these complexes are similar to those of the corresponding complexes of cyclometallated 2-phenylpyridine.     

Formation of Trinuclear Rhodium‐Hydride Complexes [{Rh(PP*)H}3‐ (μ2‐H)3(μ3‐H)][anion]2—During Asymmetric Hydrogenation?

Recently described and fully characterized trinuclear rhodium‐hydride complexes [{Rh(PP*)H}₃(μ₂‐H)₃(μ₃‐H)][anion]₂ have been investigated with respect to their formation and role under the conditions of asymmetric hydrogenation. Catalyst–substrate complexes with mac (methyl (Z)‐ N‐acetylaminocinnamate) ([Rh(tBu‐BisP*)(mac)]BF₄, [Rh(Tangphos)(mac)]BF₄, [Rh(Me‐BPE)(mac)]BF₄, [Rh(DCPE)(mac)]BF₄, [Rh(DCPB)(mac)]BF₄), as well as rhodium‐hydride species, both mono‐([Rh(Tangphos)‐ H₂(MeOH)₂]BF₄, [Rh(Me‐BPE)H₂(MeOH)₂]BF₄), and dinuclear ([{Rh(DCPE)H}₂(μ₂‐H)₃]BF₄, [{Rh(DCPB)H}₂(μ₂‐H)₃]BF₄), are described. A plausible reaction sequence for the formation of the trinuclear rhodium‐hydride complexes is discussed. Evidence is provided that the presence of multinuclear rhodium‐hydride complexes should be taken into account when discussing the mechanism of rhodium‐promoted asymmetric hydrogenation.     

Chemistry of dihydrogen complexes containing only phosphorus co-ligands

A series of new dicationic dihydrogen complexes of ruthenium of the typecis-[(dppm)₂Ru(η₂-H₂)(L)][BF₄]₂ (dppm = Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂; L = phosphite) have been prepared by protonating the precursor hydride complexescis-[(dppm)₂Ru(H)(L)][BF₄] using HBF₄•Et₂O. The precursor hydride complexes have been obtained fromtrans-[(dppm)₂Ru(H)(L)][BF₄] (L = phosphite) via a rare acid-catalysed isomerization reaction in six coordinate species. Thetrans-[(dppm)₂Ru(H)(L)][BF₄] complexes (L = phosphine) upon protonation gave the isomerized derivatives, however, further addition of acid resulted in a five-coordinate species, [(dppm)₂RuCl]⁺ presumably via an intermediate phosphine dihydrogen complex. The electronic as well as the steric properties of the co-ligands seem to strongly influence the structure-reactivity behaviour of this series of complexes.     

Ruthenium Catalyzed Reactions of Aldehydes: Molecular Structures of Ruthenium Complexes with Aldehyde Ligands

[RuCl(H)(CO)(PPh₃)₃] (2) was found to catalyze, in the presence of H₂C=CHSiMe₃ (3), the trimerisation of aldehydes RCHO [R=Et (4a), i-Bu (4b)] yielding 1,3,5-trioxanes (5) and the aldol condensation yielding α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (6). When (4a) was used as a reactant, from these reaction mixtures, the ruthenium complex [RuCl₂(CO)(PPh₃)₂(i-BuCHO-κO)] (7) having the aldol condensation product as the ligand crystallized. In the analogous reaction with (4b), the complex [RuCl₂(CO)(PPh₃)₂(i-BuCHO-κO)] (8) with the aldehyde as ligand was obtained. The constitution of these complexes was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. The ruthenium centers are octahedrally coordinated having the aldehyde and the carbonyl ligand in mutually trans positions (coordination index: OC-6-12). The aldehydes are monodentately coordinated via the carbonyl oxygen atom (κO). The coordination induced elongations of the C=O double bonds [1.242(4) Å (7), 1.234(4) Å (8)] indicate an activation of the aldehydes. Furthermore, the Ru-CO bond lengths [1.842(4) Å (7), 1.823(4) Å (8)] exhibit a relatively low trans influence of the aldehyde ligands. The formation of the complexes (7) and (8) give an indication that the Lewis acidity of the ruthenium center is of importance for aldehyde activation in the catalytic process.     

Synthesis,Structures, and Reactivities of Pincer‐Type Ruthenium Complexes Bearing Two Proton‐Responsive Pyrazole Arms

A new metal–ligand bifunctional, pincer‐type ruthenium complex [RuCl( L1‐H2 )(PPh₃)₂]Cl ( 1 ; L1‐H2 =2,6‐bis(5‐tert‐butyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine) featuring two proton‐delivering pyrazole arms has been synthesized. Complex 1 , derived from [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃] with L1‐H2 , underwent reversible deprotonation with potassium carbonate to afford the pyrazolato–pyrazole complex [RuCl(L1‐H)(PPh₃)₂] ( 2 ). Further deprotonation of 1 and 2 with potassium hexamethyldisilazide in methanol resulted in the formation of the bis(pyrazolato) complex [Ru(L1)(MeOH)(PPh₃)₂] ( 3 ). Complex 3 smoothly reacted with dioxygen and dinitrogen to give the side‐on peroxo complex [Ru(L1)(O₂)(PPh₃)₂] ( 4 ) and end‐on dinitrogen complex [Ru(L1)(N₂)(PPh₃)₂] ( 5 ), respectively. On the other hand, the reaction of [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃] with less hindered 2,6‐di(1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl)pyridine ( L3‐H2 ) led to the formation of the dinuclear complex [{RuCl₂(PPh₃)₂}₂(μ₂‐ L3‐H2 )₂] ( 6 ), in which the pyrazole‐based ligand adopted a tautomeric form different from L1‐H2 in 1 and the central pyridine remained uncoordinated. The detailed structures of 1 , 2 , 3 , 3.MeOH , 4 , 5 , 6 were determined by X‐ray crystallography.     

Dihydrogen complexes of the transition metals

Summary The binding and activation of dihydrogen by simple transition metal complexes is of fundamental importance in processes as diverse as the homogeneous or heterogeneous hydrogenation of unsaturated organic molecules⁽¹⁾ and understanding how metalloenzymes such as nitrogenase⁽²⁾ and the hydrogenases⁽³⁾ work at the atomic level.Simple consideration of the oxidative-addition of dihydrogen to a coordinatively-unsaturated complex {or its reverse (reductive-elimination)} reveals that the reactions are compelled to proceed via a dihydrogen complex as shown in Equation (1). However until recently it was considered that the dihydrogen complex had only a fleeting existence. Although there had been some reports in the literature such as that by Ashworth and Singleton⁽⁴⁾ that the formally Ru^IV trihydride, [RuH₃(PMe₂Ph₂]⁺ was better formulated as the Ru¹¹ species [RuH(H₂)(PMe₂Ph)₂]⁺, these could not be substantiated. In 1984, though, Kubas showed that the apparently innocuous complex [WH₂(CO)₃(PPr ₃ ⁱ )₂] contained the side-on bonded dihydrogen molecule, established unambiguously by x-ray, and neutron crystallography and spectroscopy⁽⁵⁾. In this highlight the current status of dihydrogen complexes, their structure, identification and in particular their reactivity will be discussed.