On the Origin of Reactivity Enhancement/Suppression upon Sequential Ligation: [Re(CO)x]+/CH4 (x=0–3) Couples

The thermal gas‐phase reactions of rhenium carbonyl complexes [Re(CO)_x ]⁺ (x =0–3) with methane have been explored by using FT‐ICR mass spectrometry complemented by high‐level quantum chemical calculation. While it had been concluded in previous studies that addition of closed‐shell ligands in general decreases the reactivity of metal ions, the current work provides an exception: the previously demonstrated inertness of atomic Re⁺ towards methane is completely changed upon ligation with CO. Both [Re(CO)]⁺ and [Re(CO)₂]⁺ bring about efficient dehydrogenation of the hydrocarbon under ambient conditions. However, addition of a third ligand to form [Re(CO)₃]⁺ completely quenches the reactivity.     

Darstellung und Strukturen von (Et4N)2[Re(CO)3(NCS)3] und (Et4N)[Re(CO)2Br4]

Syntheses and Structures of (Et₄N)₂[Re(CO)₃(NCS)₃] and (Et₄N)[Re(CO)₂Br₄] Rhenium(I) and rhenium(III) carbonyl complexes can easily be prepared by ligand exchange reactions starting from (Et₄N)₂[Re(CO)₃Br₃]. Using nonoxidizing reagents the facial Re^I(CO)₃ unit remains and only the bromo ligands are exchanged. Following this procedure, (Et₄N)₂[Re(CO)₃(NCS)₃] can be obtained in high yield and purity using trimethylsilylisothiocyanate. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n, a = 18.442(5), b = 17.724(3), c = 18.668(5) Å, β = 92.54(1)°, Z = 8. The NCS^? ligands are coordinated via nitrogen. The reaction of [Re(CO)₃Br₃]^2? with Br₂ yields the rhenium(III) anion [Re(CO)₂Br₄]^?. The tetraethylammonium salt of this complex crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric, orthorhombic space group Cmc2₁, a = 8.311(1), b = 25.480(6), c = 8.624(1) Å, Z = 4. The carbonyl ligands are positioned in a cis arrangement. Their strong trans influence causes a lengthening of the Re? Br bond distances by at least 0.05 Å.     

Imidazole-based bifunctional chelates for the “fac-[Re(CO)3]” core

Three monocationic rhenium(I) complexes of the type [Re(CO)₃(L)]Br, containing the bis-imidazole tridentate ligands bis-(2-(1-methylimidazolyl)methyl)amine (L¹), bis-(2-(1-methylimidazolyl)methyl)aminoethanol (L²) and bis-(2-(benzimidazolyl)ethyl)sulfide (L³), were prepared and characterized by ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy. The complex salt [Re(CO)₃(L²)]Br (2) was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. The structure consists of discrete monocationic monomers with a fac-[Re(CO)₃]⁺ coordination unit, and the remaining three sites are occupied by one amine and two imidazolyl nitrogen donor atoms.     

Coordination behaviour of the multidentate Schiff base 2,6-bis(2-hydroxyphenyliminomethyl)pyridine towards the fac-[Re(CO)3] and [ReO] cores

The seven-coordinate rhenium(III) complex cation [Re^III(dhp)(PPh₃)₂]⁺ was isolated as the iodide salt from the reaction of cis-[Re^vO₂I(PPh₃)₂] with 2,6-bis(2-hydroxyphenyliminomethyl)pyridine (H₂dhp) in ethanol. In the complex fac-[Re(CO)₃(H₂dhp)Br], prepared from [Re(CO)₅Br] and H₂dhp in toluene, the H₂dhp ligand acts as a neutral bidentate N,N-donor chelate. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.     

Ag[Fe(CO)5]2+: A Bare Silver Complex with Fe(CO)5 as a Ligand

Attempts to prepare Fe(CO)₅⁺ from Ag[Al(OR^F)₄] (R^F=C(CF₃)₃) and Fe(CO)₅ in CH₂Cl₂ yielded the first complex of a neutral metal carbonyl bound to a simple metal cation. The Ag[Fe(CO)₅]₂⁺ cation consists of two Fe(CO)₅ molecules coordinating Ag⁺ in an almost linear fashion. The ν(CO) modes are blue‐shifted compared to Fe(CO)₅, with one band above 2143 cm^?1 indicating that back‐bonding is heavily decreased in the Ag[Fe(CO)₅]₂⁺ cation.     

Organometallic Lewis Acids,Part LIX[1] Pentacarbonylrhenium Complexes with Phosphorus Tricyanide and Di­cyanophosphide

The addition of Re(CO)₅⁺ [as Re(CO)₅FBF₃] to P(CN)₃ and to P(CN)₂^– affords the complexes [Re(CO)₅]₃P(CN)₃(BF₄)₃ and Re(CO)₅P(CN)₂, respectively. The spectroscopic data indicate that Re(CO)₅⁺ is coordinated to each of the three cyano groups of P(CN)₃ to give {P[C≡N‐Re(CO)₅]₃}[BF₄]₃, whereas the pseudohalide P(CN)₂^– is bonded to the rhenium cation through the phosphorus atom.     

Isolation of fac-[Re(CO)3(HMPA)3][BF4]. Structural characterization of a key cationic intermediate in the exchange reaction between [Re(CO)6][BF4] and acetylferrocene. Implications in radiopharmaceutical chemistry

[Re(CO)₆][BF₄] reacts with HMPA to form [Re(CO)₃(HMPA)₃][BF₄] (4), whose structure was determined by X-ray crystallography and proves to be a key intermediate in the ligand exchange reaction between three CO and Cp; and may be related to other cations such as [Re(CO)₃(H₂O)₃]⁺, [Re(CO)₃(CH₃CN)₃]⁺, [Re(CO)₃(DMSO)₃]⁺, obtained by different ways, and important in the field of organometallic radiopharmaceuticals.     

Synthese und Eigenschaften der heteronuklearen Metallatomcluster Re4(CO)12[μ3-GaRe(CO)5]4 und Re2(CO)3[μ-GaRe(CO)5]2

Synthesis and Properties of Heteronuclear Metal Atom Clusters Re₄(CO)₁₂[μ₃-GaRe(CO)₅]₄ and Re₂(CO)₈[μ-GaRe(CO)₅]₂ The title compounds were prepared by the reaction of gallium halides and dirhenium decacarbonyl. Crystals of the four-membered cluster Re₂(CO)₈[μ-GaRe(CO)₅]₂ gave at 300⁰C with aggregation of four Re atoms to an inner Re₄ tetrahedron the product Re₄(CO)₁₂(CO)[μ₃-GaRe(CO)₅]₄and with Ga₂I₃ shown by mass spectroscopic measurements the molecule ion Re₄(CO)₁₆+. In tetra-hydrofuran solution the cluster Re₄(CO)₁₂[μ₃-GaRe(CO)₅]₄ and the hydride Li[C₂H₅)₃BH] have formed the formyl complex Li₄{Re₄(CO)₁₂[μ₃ -GaRe(CO)₄(CHO)] ₄}, which was estimated by ¹H n. m. r. and i. r. spectroscopic data. Both synthesized gallium rhenium carbonyl clusters were characterized by i.r. spectroscopic measurements. The comparison of these results with those of the structurally known indium rhenium carbonyl clusters led to proposals of the molecule structure of the analogous gallium rhenium compounds.     

Insertion Reactions of [ReH(CO)5–n(PMe3)n] Complexes (n = 2–4) with aldehydes,CO2, and activated acetylenes

The complexes of the type [ReH(CO)_5–n(PMe₃)_n] (n = 4, 3) were reacted with aldehydes, CO₂, and RC?CCOOMe (R = H, Me) to establish a phosphine-substitutional effect on the reactivity of the Re–H bond. In the series 1–3 , benzaldehyde showed conversion with only 3 to afford a (benzyloxy)carbonyltetrakis(trimethylphosphine)rhenium complex 4 . Pyridine-2-carbaldehyde allowed reaction with all hydrides 1–3 . With 1 and 2 , the same dicarbonyl[(pyridin-2-yl)methoxy-O, N]bis(trimethylphosphine)rhenium 5b was formed with the intermediacy of a [(pyridin-2-yl)methoxy-O]-ligated species and extrusion of CO or PMe₃, respectively. The analogous conversion of 3 afforded the carbonyl[(pyridin-2-yl)methoxy-O,N]tris(trimethylphosphine)rhenium ( 1 ) 7b . While 1 did not react with CO₂, 2 and 3 yielded under relatively mild conditions the formato-ligated [Re(HCO₂)(CO)(L)(PMe₃)₃] species ( 8 (L = CO) and 9 (L = PMe₃)). Methyl propiolate and methyl butynoate were transformed, in the presence of 1 , to [Re{C(CO₂Me)?CHR}(CO)₃(PMe₃)₂] systems ( 10a (R = H), and 10b (R = Me)), with prevailing α-metallation and trans-insertion stereochemistry. Similarly, HC≡CCO₂Me afforded with 2 and 3 , the α-metallation products [Re{C(CO₂Me)?CH₂}(CO)(L)(PMe₃)₃] 11 (L = CO) and 12 (L = PMe₃). The methyl butyonate insertion into 2 resulted in formation of a mixture of the (Z)- and (E)-isomers of [Re{C(CO₂Me)?CHMe} (CO)₂(PMe₃)₃] ( 13a , b ). In the case of the conversion of 3 with MeC?CCO₂Me, a Re–H cis-addition product [Re{(E)-C(CO₂Me)?CHMe}(CO)(PMe₃)₄] ( 14 ) was selectively obtained. Complex 11 was characterized by an X-ray crystal-structure analysis.     

Komplexe mit Antimon‐Liganden: [tBu2(Cl)SbW(CO)5], [tBu2(OH)SbW(CO)5], O[SbPh2W(CO)5]2, E[SbMe2W(CO)5]2 (E = Se,Te), cis‐[(Me2SbSeSbMe2)2Cr(CO)4]

Complexes Containing Antimony Ligands: [^tBu₂(Cl)SbW(CO)₅], [^tBu₂(OH)SbW(CO)₅], O[SbPh₂W(CO)₅]₂, E[SbMe₂W(CO)₅]₂ (E = Se, Te), cis‐[(Me₂SbSeSbMe₂)₂Cr(CO)₄] Syntheses of [^tBu₂(Cl)SbW(CO)₅] ( 1 ), [^tBu₂(OH)SbW(CO)₅] ( 2 ), O[SbPh₂W(CO)₅]₂ ( 3 ), Se[SbMe₂W(CO)₅]₂ ( 4 ), cis‐[(Me₂SbSeSbMe₂)₂Cr(CO)₄] ( 5 ) Te[SbMe₂W(CO)₅]₂ ( 6 ) and crystal structures of 1 – 5 are reported.     

Functionalised Tris(pyrazolyl)methane Ligands and Re(CO)3 Complexes Thereof

The synthesis of new tripodal nitrogen ligands derived from tris(pyrazolyl)methane (Tpm^R, R = H, tBu, Ph in 3‐position) is described. After deprotonation of the parent tris(pyrazolyl)methane Tpm^R, the carbanion reacts readily with ethylene oxide to yield the 3,3,3‐tris(3′‐substituted pyrazolyl)propanol ligands[(3‐Rpz)₃CCH₂CH₂OH, R = H, tBu, Ph, 1a – c ]. These ligands can be easily derivatised at the alcohol function. Microwave‐assisted reactions of these ligands and [Re(CO)₅Br] yields the complex [( 1a )Re(CO)₃]Br ( 4 ) in the case of ligand 1a , whereas in the case of the substituted ligands 1b and 1c degradation was observed. The degradation products are identified as [(Hpz^R)₂Re(CO)₃Br] [R = tBu ( 7b ), Ph ( 7c )]. These complexes were also prepared directly from [Re(CO)₅Br] and the corresponding pyrazoles by microwave‐assisted synthesis. The Re(CO)₃ complexes 4 and [( 1a )Re(CO)₃]OTf ( 5 ) are water‐soluble. The structures of 5· H₂O and [{(pz)₃CCH₂CH₃}Re(CO)₃]OTf · 1.5H₂O · ¹/₂CH₃CN ( 6· 1.5H₂O · ¹/₂CH₃CN) as well as the structure of 7b have been elucidated by X‐ray crystallography.     

[M(CO)2(NO)], a new core in bioorganometallic chemistry: model complexes of [Re(CO)2(NO)] and [Tc(CO)2(NO)]

In this study selected bidentate (L²) and tridentate (L³) ligands were coordinated to the Re(I) or Tc(I) core [M(CO)₂(NO)]²⁺ resulting in complexes of the general formula fac-[MX(L²)(CO)₂(NO)] and fac-[M(L³)(CO)₂(NO)] (M = Re or Tc; X = Br or Cl). The complexes were obtained directly from the reaction of [M(CO)₂(NO)]²⁺ with the ligand or indirectly by first reacting the ligand with [M(CO)₃]⁺ and subsequent nitrosylation with [NO][BF₄] or [NO][HSO₄]. Most of the reactions were performed with cold rhenium on a macroscopic level before the conditions were adapted to the n.c.a. level with technetium (^99mTc). Chloride, bromide and nitrate were used as monodentate ligands, picolinic acid (PIC) as a bidentate ligand and histidine (HIS), iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) as tridentate ligands. We synthesised and describe the dinuclear complex [ReCl(μ-Cl)(CO)₂(NO)]₂ and the mononuclear complexes [NEt₄][ReCl₃(CO)₂(NO)], [NEt₄][ReBr₃(CO)₂(NO)], [ReBr(PIC)(CO)₂(NO)], [NMe₄][Re(NO₃)₃(CO)₂(NO)], [Re(HIS)(CO)₂(NO)][BF₄], [⁹⁹Tc(HIS)(CO)₂(NO)][BF₄], [^99mTc(IDA)(CO)₂ (NO)] and [^99mTc(NTA)(CO)₂(NO)]. The chemical and physical characteristics of the Re and Tc-dicarbonyl-nitrosyl complexes differ significantly from those of the corresponding tricarbonyl compounds.     

Probing defect sites on TiO2 with [Re3(CO)12H3]: spectroscopic characterization of the surface species

Samples of the anatase phase of titania were treated under vacuum to create Ti(3+) surface-defect sites and surface O(-) and O(2) (-) species (indicated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra), accompanied by the disappearance of bridging surface OH groups and the formation of terminal Ti(3+)-OH groups (indicated by IR spectra). EPR spectra showed that the probe molecule [Re(3)(CO)(12)H(3)] reacted preferentially with the Ti(3+) sites, forming Ti(4+) sites with OH groups as the [Re(3)(CO)(12)H(3)] was adsorbed. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra showed that these clusters were deprotonated upon adsorption, with the triangular metal frame remaining intact; EPR spectra demonstrated the simultaneous removal of surface O(-) and O(2) (-) species. The data determined by the three complementary techniques form the basis of a schematic representation of the surface chemistry. According to this picture, during evacuation at 773 K, defect sites are formed on hydroxylated titania as a bridging OH group is removed, forming two neighboring Ti(3+) sites, or, when a Ti(4+)-O bond is cleaved, forming a Ti(3+) site and an O(-) species, with the Ti(4+)-OH group being converted into a Ti(3+)-OH group. When the probe molecule [Re(3)(CO)(12)H(3)] is adsorbed on a titania surface with Ti(3+) defect sites, it reacts preferentially with these sites, becoming deprotonated, removing most of the oxygen radicals, and healing the defect sites.     

Darstellung,Strukturen und EPR-Spektren der Rhenium(II)Thionitrosylkomplexe trans-[Re(NS)Cl3(MePh2P)2] und trans-[Re(NS)Br3(Me2PhP)2]

Preparation, Structures, and EPR Spectra of the Rhenium(II) Thionitrosyl Complexes trans -[Re(NS)Cl₃(MePh₂P)₂] and trans -[Re(NS)Br₃(Me₂PhP)₂] The paramagnetic rhenium(II) thionitrosyl compounds trans-[Re(NS)Cl₃(MePh₂P)₂] and trans-[Re(NS)Br₃(Me₂PhP)₂] are characterized by crystal structure diffraction and EPR spectroscopy. Trans-[Re(NS)Cl₃(MePh₂P)₂] is formed during the reduction of (a) [ReNCl₂(MePh₂P)₃] with disulphur dichloride or (b) of mer-[ReCl₃(MePh₂P)₃] with trithiazyl chloride. Trans-[Re(NS)Br₃(Me₂PhP)₂] is the final product of the ligand exchange reaction of mer-[Re(NS)Cl₂(Me₂PhP)₃] with bromine whereby the metal occurred to be simultaneusly oxidized. The crystal structure analyses show for trans-[Re(NS)Cl₃(MePh₂P)₂] (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 13.831(3) Å, b = 13.970(1) Å, c = 14.682(2) Å, β = 95.33(1), Z = 4) and trans-[Re(NS)Br₃(Me₂PhP)₂] (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 33.292(5) Å, b = 8.697(1) Å, c = 17.495(3) Å, β = 115.65(1), Z = 8) linear co-ordinated NS ligands (Re–N–S-angles 180° and 174.8°). The metal atom is octahedrally co-ordinated with the phosphine ligands in trans position to each other. X-band and Q-band EPR spectra of the rhenium(II) thionitrosyl complexes (5 d⁵ “low-spin” configuration, S = 1/2) are detected in the temperature range 295 ≥ T ≥ 130 K. They are characterized by well resolved ^185,187Re hyperfine patterns. The hyperfine parameters are used to get information about the spin-density distribution of the unpaired electron in the complexes under study.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of novel neutral fac-M(CO)3(NSO) complexes (M = Re,Tc) with N-acetylcysteine derivatives as tridentate NSO ligands

The reaction of [NEt₄]₂[Re(CO)₃Br₃] with equimolar amount of a tridentate NSO ligand in methanol leads to the formation of neutral tricarbonyl rhenium(I) complexes of the general formula Re(CO)₃(NSO), where the NSO ligand is o-C₅H₄N-CH₂CH₂-S-CH₂CH(NHCOCH₃)COOH (L₁H), complex 1 or o-C₅H₄N-CH₂CH₂-S-C(CH₃)₂CH(NHCOCH₃)COOH (L₂H), complex 2. Both complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic methods, while complex 2 has also been characterized by X-rays analysis. At technetium-99m level, the corresponding fac-[^99mTc(CO)₃(NSO)] complexes 3 and 4, were obtained in high yield by reacting ligands L₁H or L₂H with the fac-[^99mTc(CO)₃(H₂O)₃]⁺ precursor in water. Their structure was established by chromatographic comparison to the prototype rhenium complex using high-performance liquid chromatographic techniques.     

Characterization and application of the fac-[188Re(CO)3(H2O)3]+ core

Summary Fac-[¹⁸⁸Re(CO)₃(H₂O)₃]⁺ was synthesized with an overall radiochemical yield of 80±5%, and more than 95% radiochemical purity after a QMA Sep-Pak column separation. Fac-[Re(CO)₃(H₂O)₃]⁺ was also synthesized as a reference sample. The structure of the precursor, fac-[¹⁸⁸Re(CO)₃(H₂O)₃]⁺, was confirmed by high performance of liquid chromatography (HPLC). MN-His (magnetic nanoparticles coated with silica and modified with an amino silane coupling agent, N-[3-(trimethyoxysilyl)propyl]-ethylenediamine (SG-Si900) and immobilized with histidine) was labeled with fac-[¹⁸⁸Re(CO)₃(H₂O)₃]⁺ and an initial animal test of MN-His was conducted for a magnetic targeting study.     

Dimeric Rhenium(I) Carbonyl Complexes with Thiosemicarbazone Backbone

Dimeric, neutral rhenium(I) complexes of the composition [Re₂(CO)₆X(L^R)] (X = Cl or Br) are formed when [NEt₄]₂[Re(CO)₃Br₃] or [Re(CO)₃Cl(CH₃CN)₂] react with 2, 2′-dipyridylketone thiosemicarbazones (HL^R, R = H, Ph). The thiosemicarbazones deprotonate during the reaction and connect two tricarbonylrhenium(I) units as formally pentadentate bridging ligands. This results in an extremely rare coordination mode, in which the two nitrogen atoms of the hydrazone unit bind to each one of the rhenium atoms. The bond lengths inside the thiosemicarbazonato backbone reflect a large degree of delocalization of electron density.     

Re4(CO)12[μ3-InRe(CO)5]4 und Re2(CO)8[μ-InRe(CO)5]2-cluster aus dem reaktionssystem In/Re2(CO)10 in xylol

The thermally stable solids Re₂(CO)₈[μ-InRe(CO)₅]₂ and Re₄(CO)₁₂[μ₃-InRe(CO)₅]₄ could be obtained by treatment of In with Re₂(CO)₁₀ in a bomb tube. A mechanism of the formation of the latter cluster from the first one is proposed. Compared with Re₂(CO)₈[μ-InRe(CO)₅]₂, Re₄(CO)₁₂[μ₃_InRe(CO)₅]₄ shows in polar solvents an unusual high stability, which can be explained by the higher coordination number of In with rhenium carbonyl ligands. Re₄(CO)₁₂-[μ₃-InRe(CO)₅]₄ dissolves monomerically in acetone, where as Re₂(CO)₈[μ-InRe(CO)₅]₂ dissociates yielding Re(CO)₅^? anions. Single-crystal X-ray analyses of Re₄(CO)₁₂[μ₃-InRe(CO)₅]₄ establish the metal skeleton. The central molecular fragment Re₄(CO)₁₂ contains a tetrahedral arrangement of four bonded Re atoms [ReRe 302.8 (5) pm]. The triangles of this fragment are capped with a μ₃-InRe(CO)₅ group each [InRe(terminal) 273.5 (7) pm; InRe (polyhedral) 281.8 (7) pm]. The bridging type of In atoms with the Re₄ tetrahedron and the metal skeleton was realized for the first time. By treating Re₄(CO)₁₂[μ₃-InRe(CO)₅]₄ with Br₂ the existence of Re(CO)₅ ligands could be proved by isolating BrRe(CO)₅.     

Reactions of RSe− (R = Me,Ph) Groups in [RSeFe(CO)4I and [RSeCr(CO)5−]

The anionic [MeSeFe(CO)₄] and [MeSeCr(CO)₅] complexes were synthesized by reaction of [PPN][HFe(CO)₄] and [PPN][HCr(CO)₅] with MeSeSeMe respectively via nucleophilic cleavage of the Se-Se bond. The ease of cleavage of the Se-Se bond follows the nucleophilic strength of metal-hydride complexes. Methylation of [RSeCr(CO)₅^?] by the soft alkylating agent MeI resulted in the formation of neutral (MeSeMe)Cr(CO)₅ in THF at 0°C. In contrast, the [ICr(CO)₅^?] was isolated at ambient temperature. Reaction of [MeSeFe(CO)₄^?] or [MeSeCr(CO)₅^?] with HBF₄ yielded (CO)₃Fc(μ-SeMe)₂Fe(CO)₃ dimer and anionic [(CO )₅Cr (μ-SeMe)Cr(CO)₅^?] respectively, and no neutral (HSeMe)Fe(CO)₄ and (HSeMe)Cr(CO)₅ were detected spectrally (IR) even at low temperature. Reaction of NOBF₄ or [Ph₃C][BF₄] and [MeSeCr(CO)₅^?] resulted in the neutral monodentate (MeSeSeMe)Cr(CO)₅ complex. Addition of 1 equiv CpFe(CO)₂I to 2 equiv [MeSeCr(CO)₅^?] gave CpFe(CO)₂(SeMe) and the anionic [(CO)₅Cr(μ-SeMe)Cr(CO)₅^?] in THF at ambient temperature.     

CC Coupling of N‐Heterocycles at the fac‐Re(CO)3 Fragment: Synthesis of Pyridylimidazole and Bipyridine Ligands

A new family of cationic rhenium tricarbonyl complexes with either two N‐alkylimidazole (N‐RIm) and one pyridine (Py) ligand, or two pyridine and one N‐RIm ligand, [Re(CO)₃(N‐RIm)_(3?x)(Py)_x]⁺, has been prepared. The reaction of these complexes with a strong base, followed by an oxidant, selectively afforded 2,2’‐pyridylimidazole complexes as the result of intramolecular dehydrogenative C?C coupling reactions. For tris(pyridine) complexes [Re(CO)₃(Py)₃]⁺ the reaction pattern upon a deprotonation/oxidation sequence is maintained, which allows the generation of complexes with 2,2’‐bipyridine ligands. In the particular combination of two different types of pyridine ligand in the cationic fac‐Re(CO)₃ complexes only the cross‐coupling products with asymmetric 2,2’‐bipyridine ligands were obtained; the homocoupling products were not observed.