The clusters [Ma(ECp*)b] (M=Pd, Pt; E=Al, Ga, In): structures, fluxionality, and ligand exchange reactions

The synthesis and structural characterization of the novel homoleptic cluster complexes [Pd2(GaCp*)2(mu2-GaCp*)3] (1c), [Pd3(GaCp*)4(mu2-GaCp*)4] (2b) and [Pd3(AlCp*)2(mu2-AlCp*)2(mu3-AlCp*)2] (3) (Cp*=C5Me5) are presented. Furthermore, ligand exchange reactions of these cluster complexes are explored. In contrast to the electronically and sterically saturated complexes [M(ECp*)4] (M=Ni, Pd, Pt), the new unsaturated analogues [M(a)(ER)b] (E=Al, Ga, In) react with a variety of typical ligands (Cp*Al, CO, phosphines, isonitriles) to give new di- and tri-substituted compounds like [Pt2(GaCp*)2(mu2-AlCp*)3] (1d), [PdPt(GaCp*)(PPh3)(mu2-GaCp*)3] (4b), or [Pd3(PPh3)3(mu2-InCp*)(mu3-InCp*)2] (8). The trends of the reactivity of [M(a)(ER)b] as well as their fluxional behavior in solution has been elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, resulting in a mechanistic rationale for the ligand exchange reactions as well as the fluxional processes.     

Synthese und Molekülstruktur von [1,3-(Me3Si)2C5H3](Me3SiC5H4)ZrCl2

Synthesis and Molecular Structure of [1,3-(Me₃Si)₂C₅H₃](Me₃SiC₅H₄)ZrCl₂ . The unsymmetrically substituted zirconocene dichloride was prepared by reaction of trimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl lithium and 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyl lithium with ZrCl₄ · 2 THF. The molecular structure was determined (P2₁/a; a = 1 357.9, b = 1 900.0, c = 1 043.2 pm, β = 105,16°). The Zr? Cl distance are remarkably short.     

Synthesen und Molekülstrukturen von [Cu20Ga10Cl4Se23(PEt2Ph)12] und [Cu14In6Se7(iPrSe)18]

Syntheses and Structures of [Cu₂₀Ga₁₀Cl₄Se₂₃(PEt₂Ph)₁₂] and [Cu₁₄In₆Se₇(iPrSe)₁₈] CuCl and GaCl₃ react with Se(SiMe₃)₂ in thf solution to yield in the presence of PEt₂Ph [Cu₂₀Ga₁₀Cl₄Se₂₃(PEt₂Ph)₁₂] ( 1 ). Reaction of CuCl, InCl₃ and TMEDA with iPrSeSiMe₃ in DME results in the crystallisation of [Cu₁₄In₆Se₇(iPrSe)₁₈] ( 2 ). The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by X‐ray single crystal structure analysis and display two new types of molecular clusters formed by the elements of group 11, 13, and 16. However, both cluster structures show no analogy to the structures of the related bulk phases.     

Synthesis, solid-state structure, and bonding analysis of the beryllocenes [Be(C5Me4H)2], [Be(C5Me5)2], and [Be(C5Me5)(C5Me4H)

The beryllocenes [Be(C(5)Me(4)H)(2)] (1), [Be(C(5)Me(5))(2)] (2), and [Be(C(5)Me(5))(C(5)Me(4)H)] (3) have been prepared from BeCl(2) and the appropriate KCp' reagent in toluene/diethyl ether solvent mixtures. The synthesis of 1 is facile (20 degrees C, overnight), but generation of decamethylberyllocene 2 demands high temperatures (ca. 115 degrees C) and extended reaction times (3-4 days). The mixed-ring beryllocene 3 is obtained when the known [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))BeCl] is allowed to react with K[C(5)Me(4)H], once more under somewhat forcing conditions (115 degrees C, 36 h). The structures of the three metallocenes have been determined by low-temperature X-ray studies. Both 1 and 3 present eta5/eta1 geometries of the slip-sandwich type, whereas 2 exhibits an almost regular, ferrocene-like, sandwich structure. In the mixed-ring compound 3, C(5)Me(5) is centrally bound to beryllium and the eta(1)-C(5)Me(4)H ring bonds to the metal through the unique CH carbon atom. This is also the binding mode of the eta(1)-ring of 1. To analyze the nature of the bonding in these molecules, theoretical calculations at different levels of theory have been performed on compounds 2 and 3, and a comparison with the bonding in [Be(C(5)H(5))(2)] has been made. As for the latter molecule, energy differences between the eta5/eta5 and the eta5/eta1 structures of 2 are very small, being of the order of a few kcal mol(-1). Constrained space orbital variations (CSOV) calculations show that the covalent character in the bonding is larger for [Be(C(5)Me(5))(2)] than for [Be(C(5)H(5))(2)] due to larger charge delocalization and to increased polarizability of the C(5)Me(5) fragment.     

The β‐Agostic Structure in (C5Me5)2Sc(CH2CH3): Solid‐State NMR Studies of (C5Me5)2Sc−R (R=Me,Ph, Et)

Multinuclear solid‐state NMR studies of Cp*₂Sc?R (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; R=Me, Ph, Et) and DFT calculations show that the Sc?Et complex contains a β‐CH agostic interaction. The static central transition ⁴⁵Sc NMR spectra show that the quadrupolar coupling constants (C_q) follow the trend of Ph≈Me>Et, indicating that the Sc?R bond is different in Cp*₂Sc?Et compared to the methyl and phenyl complexes. Analysis of the chemical shift tensor (CST) shows that the deshielding experienced by Cβ in Sc?CH₂CH₃ is related to coupling between the filled σ_C‐C orbital and the vacant orbital.     

A Neutral “Aluminocene” Sandwich Complex: η1‐ versus η5‐Coordination Modes of a Pentaarylborole with ECp* (E=Al,Ga; Cp*=C5Me5)

The pentaaryl borole (Ph*C)₄BXyl^F [Ph*=3,5‐tBu₂(C₆H₃); Xyl^F=3,5‐(CF₃)₂(C₆H₃)] reacts with low‐valent Group 13 precursors AlCp* and GaCp* by two divergent routes. In the case of [AlCp*]₄, the borole reacts as an oxidising agent and accepts two electrons. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational analysis of the resulting unprecedented neutral η⁵‐Cp*,η⁵‐[(Ph*C)₄BXyl^F] complex of Al^III revealed a strong, ionic bonding interaction. The formation of the heteroleptic borole‐cyclopentadienyl “aluminocene” leads to significant changes in the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts within the borole unit. In the case of the less‐reductive GaCp*, borole (Ph*C)₄BXyl^F reacts as a Lewis acid to form a dynamic adduct with a dative 2‐center‐2‐electron Ga?B bond. The Lewis adduct was also studied structurally, spectroscopically, and computationally.     

Substituent‐Free Gallium by Hydrogenolysis of Coordinated GaCp*: Synthesis and Structure of Highly Fluxional [Ru2(Ga)(GaCp*)7(H)3]

All change : Complete ligand exchange through the hydrogenation of [Ru(η⁴‐cod)(η⁶‐cot)] in the presence of GaCp* under mild conditions leads to the title complex featuring a “naked” gallium atom bridging two ruthenium centers (see structure: C white, Ga blue, Ru red). This cluster can be considered as a trapped intermediate on the way to mixed‐metal nanoparticles; cot=1,3,5‐cyclooctatriene; cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, Cp*=C₅Me₅.

     

Tertiary Amine and N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Coordinated Haloalanes—Synthesis,Structure, and Application

The preparation of several tertiary amine and N‐heterocyclic carbene coordinated chloro‐ and bromoalanes has been studied and routes to their gram‐scale synthesis optimized. This provides a catalogue of well‐characterized, thermally stable haloalanes for future application. All complexes have been investigated by spectroscopy (IR, NMR) and, where possible, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction structure determination. A particular focus of this article is the relative thermal stabilities of the complexes, which provides a useful handle for the aerobic stability of Group 13 hydride complexes. These thermal data have been elucidated in full and rationalized relative to one another on the basis of Lewis base donation, steric shielding, and relative inductive halide strengthening of the aluminum hydride bonds by halides. All of the four‐coordinate complexes reported exist as distorted tetrahedra in the solid state with aluminum to N/C‐donor bonds that shorten with the increasing Lewis acidity of the aluminum Lewis acid. The five‐coordinate complexes [AlBrH₂(Quin)₂] and [AlBr₂H(Quin)₂] (Quin=quinuclidine) exist in a trigonal‐bipyramidal geometry in the solid state with the amine donors situated in the apical positions. Five chloroalanes; [AlClH₂(Quin)], [AlClH₂(Quin)₂], [AlCl₂H(Quin)₂], [AlClH₂(IMes)], and [AlCl₂H(IMes)] (IMes=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene), the latter two of which are aerobically stable, have been applied to the hydroalumination of carbonyl and heterocycle substrates and their chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselectivities compared to those of Group 13 hydride reagents cited in the literature. Overall, the reactivities of these species are comparable to non‐halogenated alane complexes with the additional benefit of aerobic stability, non‐pyrophoricity, and enhanced regioselectivity borne out of greater Lewis acidity.     

Addition of Hydrogen or Ammonia to a Low‐Valent Group 13 Metal Species at 25 °C and 1 Atmosphere

Mild‐mannered : The low‐valent aryl gallium(I) species :GaAr′ (Ar′=2,6‐(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)₂C₆H₃) undergoes addition to H₂ or NH₃ at room temperature and one atmosphere of pressure to afford 1 or 2 (see scheme), which were characterized by X‐ray crystallography and NMR and IR spectroscopy.

     

Air‐Stable {(C5H5)Co} Catalysts for [2+2+2] Cycloadditions

Cobalt cyclopentadienyl complexes incorporating a fumarate and a CO ligand (see picture) efficiently catalyze inter‐ and intramolecular [2+2+2] cycloadditions of alkynes, nitriles, and/or alkenes to give benzenes, pyridines, or 1,3‐cyclohexadienes. Unlike catalysts such as [CpCo(CO)₂] or [CpCo(C₂H₄)₂] (Cp=C₅H₅), they are air‐stable, easy to handle, compatible with microwave conditions, and do not necessarily require irradiation to be active.