From Ion‐Like Ethylzinc Aluminates to [EtZn(arene)2]+[Al(ORF)4]− Salts

Attempts to prepare previously unknown simple and very Lewis acidic [RZn]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^? salts from ZnR₂, AlR₃, and HO?R^F delivered the ion‐like RZn(Al(OR^F)₄) (R=Me, Et; R^F=C(CF₃)₃) with a coordinated counterion, but never the ionic compound. Increasing the steric bulk in RZn⁺ to R=CH₂CMe₃, CH₂SiMe₃, or Cp*, thus attempting to induce ionization, failed and led only to reaction mixtures including anion decomposition. However, ionization of the ion‐like EtZn(Al(OR^F)₄) compound with arenes yielded the [EtZn(arene)₂]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^? salts with arene=toluene, mesitylene, or o‐difluorobenzene (o‐DFB)/toluene. In contrast to the ion‐like EtZn(η³‐C₆H₆)(CHB₁₁Cl₁₁), which co‐crystallizes with one benzene molecule, the less coordinating nature of the [Al(OR^F)₄]^? anion allowed the ionization and preparation of the purely organometallic [EtZn(arene)₂]⁺ cation. These stable materials have further applications as, for example, initiators of isobutene polymerization. DFT calculations to compare the Lewis acidities of the zinc cations to those of a large number of organometallic cations were performed on the basis of fluoride ion affinity. The complexation energetics of EtZn⁺ with arenes and THF was assessed and related to the experiments.     

Univalent Gallium Complexes of Simple and ansa‐Arene Ligands: Effects on the Polymerization of Isobutylene

Using [Ga(C₆H₅F)₂]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^?( 1 ) (R^F=C(CF₃)₃) as starting material, we isolated bis‐ and tris‐η⁶‐coordinated gallium(I) arene complex salts of p‐xylene (1,4‐Me₂C₆H₄), hexamethylbenzene (C₆Me₆), diphenylethane (PhC₂H₄Ph), and m‐terphenyl (1,3‐Ph₂C₆H₄): [Ga(1,4‐Me₂C₆H₄)_2.5]⁺ ( 2⁺ ), [Ga(C₆Me₆)₂]⁺ ( 3⁺ ), [Ga(PhC₂H₄Ph)]⁺ ( 4⁺ ) and [(C₆H₅F)Ga(μ‐1,3‐Ph₂C₆H₄)₂Ga(C₆H₅F)]²⁺ ( 5²⁺ ). 4⁺ is the first structurally characterized ansa‐like bent sandwich chelate of univalent gallium and 5²⁺ the first binuclear gallium(I) complex without a Ga?Ga bond. Beyond confirming the structural findings by multinuclear NMR spectroscopic investigations and density functional calculations (RI‐BP86/SV(P) level), [Ga(PhC₂H₄Ph)]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^?( 4 ) and [(C₆H₅F)Ga(μ‐1,3‐Ph₂C₆H₄)₂Ga(C₆H₅F)]²⁺{[Al(OR^F)₄] ^?}₂ ( 5 ), featuring ansa‐arene ligands, were tested as catalysts for the synthesis of highly reactive polyisobutylene (HR‐PIB). In comparison to the recently published 1 and the [Ga(1,3,5‐Me₃C₆H₃)₂]⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^? salt ( 6 ) (1,3,5‐Me₃C₆H₃=mesitylene), 4 and 5 gave slightly reduced reactivities. This allowed for favorably increased polymerization temperatures of up to +15 °C, while yielding HR‐PIB with high contents of terminal olefinic double bonds (α‐contents=84–93 %), low molecular weights (M_n=1000–3000 g mol^?1) and good monomer conversions (up to 83 % in two hours). While the chelate complexes delivered more favorable results than 1 and 6 , the reaction kinetics resembled and thus concurred with the recently proposed coordinative polymerization mechanism.     

Addition des O'Donnell Reagenzes [Ph2C=NCHCO2Me]– an π-koordinierte,ungesättigte Kohlenwasserstoffe in [(C6H7)Fe(CO)3]+, [(C7H9)Fe(CO)3]+, [(C7H7)M(CO)3]+ (M = Cr,Mo) und [(C2H4)Re(CO)5]+. α-Aminosäuren mit metallorganischen Seitenketten

Metal Complexes of Biologically Important Ligands. CXVII [1] Addition of the O'Donnell Reagent [Ph₂C=NCHCO₂Me]^– to Coordinated, Unsaturated Hydrocarbons of [(C₆H₇)Fe(CO)₃]⁺, [C₇H₉Fe(CO)₃]⁺, [(C₇H₇)M(CO)₃]⁺ (M = Cr, Mo), and [(C₂H₄)Re(CO)₅]⁺. α-Amino Acids with Organometallic Side Chains The addition of [Ph₂C=NCHCO₂Me]^– to [(C₆H₇)Fe(CO)₃]⁺, [(C₇H₉)Fe(CO)₃]⁺, [(C₇H₇)M(CO)₃]⁺ (M = Cr, Mo) and [(C₂H₄)Re(CO)₅]⁺ gives derivatives of α-amino acids with organometallic side chains. The structure of [(η⁴-C₆H₇)CH(N=CPh₂)CO₂Me]Fe(CO)₃ was determined by X-ray diffraction. From the adduct of [Ph₂C=NCHCO₂Me]^– and [(C₇H₇)Mo(CO)₃]⁺ the Schiff base of a new unnatural α-amino acid, Ph₂C=NCH(C₇H₇)CO₂Me, was obtained.     

Long‐Lived Radical Cation Salts Obtained by Interaction of Monocyclic Arenes with Niobium and Tantalum Pentahalides at Room Temperature: EPR and DFT Studies

The 1:3 reactions of the alkoxy arenes 1,4‐(MeO)₂C₆H₄ and 1,4‐F₂‐2,5‐(MeO)₂C₆H₂ with TaF₅ in chloroform at 40–50 °C resulted in formation in about 35 % yield of the long‐lived radical cation salts [1,4‐(MeO)₂C₆H₄][Ta₂F₁₁] ( 2 a ) and [1,4‐F₂‐2,5‐(MeO)₂C₆H₂][Ta₂F₁₁] ( 2 b ), respectively. The non‐alkoxy‐substituted [arene][M₂X₁₁] [M=Ta, X=F: arene=C₆H₅Me ( 2 c ), 1,4‐C₆H₄Me₂ ( 2 d ), C₆H₅F ( 2 e ), C₆H₅NO₂ ( 2 f ); M=Nb, X=F: arene=C₆H₅Me ( 4 a ), 1,4‐C₆H₄Me₂ ( 4 b ), C₆H₅F ( 4 c ), C₆H₅NO₂ ( 4 d ); M=Ta, X=Cl: arene=1,4‐C₆H₄Me₂ ( 5 )] were obtained from the 3:1 reactions of MX₅ with the appropriate arene in chloroform at temperatures in the range 40–90 °C. Compounds 2 – 5 were detected by EPR spectroscopy (in CHCl₃) at room temperature, and their gas‐phase structures were optimized by DFT calculations. Formation of the M^IV species [MX₄(NCMe)₂] [M=Ta, X=F ( 3 a ); M=Nb, X=F ( 3 b ); M=Ta, X=Cl ( 3 c )] was ascertained by EPR spectroscopy on solutions obtained by treatment of the reaction mixtures with acetonitrile. Non‐selective reactions occurred upon combination of 1,4‐F₂‐2,5‐(MeO)₂C₆H₂ with AgNbF₆ (in CH₂Cl₂) and 1,4‐(MeO)₂C₆H₄ with SbF₅.     

Syntheses and structural studies of mononuclear arene ruthenium complexes with nitrogen-based chelating ligands

Dinuclear arene ruthenium complexes [(η⁶-arene)Ru(μ-Cl)Cl]₂ (arene?=?C₆H₆; p ⁱPrC₆H₄Me; C₆Me₆) and monomeric cyclopentadienyl complexes [(η⁵-Cp)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl] (Cp?=?cyclopentadienyl) react with polypyridyl nitrogen ligands L¹ (3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole) and L² (1,3-bis(di-2-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene) in methanol to afford cationic mononuclear compounds [(η⁶-arene)Ru(L¹)Cl]⁺ (arene?=?C₆H₆, 1; p ⁱPrC₆H₄Me, 2; C₆Me₆, 3), [(η⁶arene)Ru(L²)Cl]⁺ (arene?=?C₆H₆, 4; p ⁱPrC₆H₄Me, 5; C₆Me₆, 6), [(η⁵-Cp)Ru(L¹)(PPh₃)]⁺ (7), and [(η⁵Cp)Ru(L²)(PPh₃)]⁺ (8). All cationic mononuclear compounds were isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts and characterized by elemental analyses, NMR, and IR spectroscopic methods and some representative complexes by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The solid state structures of two derivatives, [6]PF₆ and [7]PF₆, have been determined by the X-ray structure analysis.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Gallium(I) and Indium(I) Cations Coordinated by Pentamethylethylenediamine

Herein we report on the facile access to a Ga^I and In^I complex salt of pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDTA) with the weakly coordinating counterion [Al(OR^F)₄]^– [R^F = C(CF₃)₃]. Thus, the low temperature reaction of [M(PhF)₂]⁺ (M = Ga, In) solutions in 1,2-F₂C₆H₄ (oDFB) with PMDTA yielded the title compounds M(PMDTA)⁺[Al(OR^F)₄]^– (M = Ga 1 , in 2 ) in non-optimized yields. Both compounds are highly sensitive towards air and moisture, have a rather limited lifetime at room temperature, but were structurally characterized.     

Facile access to the pnictocenium ions [Cp*ECl]+ (E = P, As) and [(Cp*)2P]+: chloride ion affinity of Al(OR(F))3

The pnictocenium salts [Cp*PCl]⁺[μCl]^? ( 1 a ), [Cp*PCl]⁺[ClAl(OR^F)₃]^? ( 1 b ), [Cp*AsCl]⁺[ClAl(OR^F)₃]^? ( 2 ), and [(Cp*)₂P]⁺[μCl]^? ( 3 ), in which Cp*=Me₅C₅, μCl=(^FRO)₃Al? Cl? Al(OR^F)₃, and OR^F=OC(CF₃)₃, were prepared by halide abstraction from the respective halopnictines with the Lewis superacid PhF→Al(OR^F)₃. 1 The X‐ray crystal structures of 1 a , 2 , and 3 established that in the half as well as in the sandwich cations the Cp* rings are attached in an η²‐fashion. By using one or two equivalents of the Lewis acid, the two new weakly coordinating anions [μCl]^? and [ClAl(OR^F)₃]^? resulted. They also stabilize the highly reactive cations in PhF or 1,2‐F₂C₆H₄ solution at room temperature. The chloride ion affinities (CIAs) of a range of classical strong Lewis acids were also investigated. The calculations are based on a set of isodesmic BP86/SV(P) reactions and a non‐isodesmic reference reaction assessed at the G3MP2 level.     

Thermal arene exchange in the naphthalene complex [CpRu(η<Superscript>6</Superscript>-C<Subscript>10</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript>)]<Superscript>+</Superscript>

Naphthalene in the [CpRu(⁶−C₁₀H₈)]⁺ complex (1) is substituted for other arenes under reflux in 1,2-dichloroethane to form the [CpRu(⁶-arene)]⁺ cations (arene = C₆H₆, 1,2-C₆H₄Me₂, 1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄, or C₆Me₆) in 70–80% yields. The reaction is accelerated in the presence of a catalytic amount of acetonitrile. The structure of [1]PF₆ was established by X-ray diffraction.     

Group 6 Hexacarbonyls as Ligands for the Silver Cation: Syntheses,Characterization, and Analysis of the Bonding Compared with the Isoelectronic Group 5 Hexacarbonylates

The syntheses of the two novel complexes [Ag{Mo/W(CO)₆}₂]⁺[F-{Al(OR^F)₃}₂]⁻ (R^F=C(CF₃)₃) are reported along with their structural and spectroscopic characterization. The X-ray structure shows that three carbonyl ligands from each M(CO)₆ fragment bend towards the silver atom within binding Ag−C distance range. DFT calculations of the free cations [Ag{M(CO)₆}₂]⁺ (M=Cr, Mo, W) in the electronic singlet state give equilibrium structures with C₂ symmetry with two bridging carbonyl groups from each hexacarbonyl ligand. Similar structures with C₂ symmetry (M=Nb) and D₂ symmetry (M=V, Ta) are calculated for the isoelectronic group 5 anions [Ag{M(CO)₆}₂]⁻ (M=V, Nb, Ta). The electronic structure of the cations is analyzed with the QTAIM and EDA-NOCV methods, which provide detailed information about the nature of the chemical bonds between Ag⁺ and the {M(CO)₆}₂^q (q = −2, M = V, Nb, Ta; q = 0, M = Cr, Mo, W) ligands.     

A mass spectral study of 1-(aryldimethylsilyl)-2-propanones and their isomeric 2-(aryldimethylsiloxy)-1-propenes

The mass spectra of a series of β-ketosilanes, p-Y? C₆H₄Me₂SiCH₂C(O)Me and their isomeric silyl enol ethers, p-Y? C₆H₄Me₂SiOC(CH₃)?CH₂, where Y = H, Me, MeO, Cl, F and CF₃, have been recorded. The fragmentation patterns for the β-ketosilanes are very similar to those of their silyl enol ether counterparts. The seven major primary fragment ions are [M? Me·]⁺, [M? C₆H₄Y·]⁺, [M? Me₂SiO]⁺˙, [M? C₃H₄]⁺˙, [M? HC?CCF₃]⁺˙, [Me₂SiOH]⁺˙ and [C₃H₆O]⁺˙ Apparently, upon electron bombardment the β-ketosilanes must undergo rearrangement to an ion structure very similar to that of the ionized silyl enol ethers followed by unimolecular ion decompositions. Substitutions on the benzene ring show a significant effect on the formation of the ions [M? Me₂SiO]⁺˙ and [Me₂SiOH]⁺˙, electron donating groups favoring the former and electron withdrawing groups favoring the latter. The mass spectral fragmentation pathways were identified by observing metastable peaks, metastable ion mass spectra and ion kinetic energy spectra.     

Isolation and Structure of Germylene‐Germyliumylidenes Stabilized by N‐Heterocyclic Imines

The ditopic germanium complex FGe(NIPr)₂Ge[BF₄] ( 3 [BF₄]; IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) is prepared by the reaction of the amino(imino)germylene (Me₃Si)₂NGeNIPr ( 1 ) with BF₃?OEt₂. This monocation is converted into the germylene‐germyliumylidene 3 [BAr^F₄] [Ar^F=3,5‐(CF₃)₂‐C₆H₃] by treatment with Na[BAr^F₄]. The tetrafluoroborate salt 3 [BF₄] reacts with 2 equivalents of Me₃SiOTf to give the novel complex (OTf)(GeNIPr)₂[OTf] ( 4 [OTf]), which affords 4 [BAr^F₄] and 4 [Al(OR^F)₄] [R^F=C(CF₃)₃] after anion exchange with Na[BAr^F₄] or Ag[Al(OR^F)₄], respectively. The computational, as well as crystallographic study, reveals that 4 ⁺ has significant bis(germyliumylidene) dication character.     

Positive chemical ionization mass spectra of (η6-arene) tricarbonylchromium complexes with ammonia and isobutane

Summary The positive chemical ionization mass spectra, with ammonia and isobutane at 0.5 torr of (⁶-arene)Cr(CO)₃, where arene is C₆H₅COMe, C₆H₅COEt, C₆H₅COC₃H₇, C₆H₅COCMe₃, 2-MeC₆H₄COC₃H₇, C₆H₅COOMe, C₆H₅CH₂ COEt, C₆H₅Me and 1,3,5-Me₃C₆H₃ are reported. All these compounds exhibit [M + H]⁺ as base peak, with isobutane. In the presence of ammonia, [M + NH₄]⁺ is the most abundant ion, when the arene is a ketone or an ester and the addition site is suggested to be the ligand. Conversely [M + H]⁺ is the base peak when arene is toluene and mesitylene and the protonation site is likely to be the metal atom. In the presence of ammonia, ions such as [M — 3 CO + NH₃]⁺ and [M — 3 CO + 2 NH₃]⁺ are also observed and their abundances strongly depend on the pressure of the reagent gas.     

A Janus‐Headed Lewis Superacid: Simple Access to,and First Application of Me3Si‐F‐Al(ORF)3

Upon reaction of gaseous Me₃SiF with the in situ prepared Lewis acid Al(OR^F)₃, the stable ion‐like silylium compound Me₃Si‐F‐Al(OR^F)₃ 1 forms. The Janus‐headed 1 is a readily available smart Lewis acid that differentiates between hard and soft nucleophiles, but also polymerizes isobutene effectively. Thus, in reactions of 1 with soft nucleophiles (Nu), such as phosphanes, the silylium side interacts in an orbital‐controlled manner, with formation of [Me₃Si?Nu]⁺ and the weakly coordinating [F?Al(OR^F)₃]^– or [(^FRO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR^F)₃]^– anions. If exchanged for hard nucleophiles, such as primary alcohols, the aluminum side reacts in a charge‐controlled manner, with release of FSiMe₃ gas and formation of the adduct R(H)O?Al(OR^F)₃. Compound 1 very effectively initiates polymerization of 8 to 21 mL of liquid C₄H₈ in 50 mL of CH₂Cl₂ already at temperatures between ?57 and ?30 °C with initiator loads as low as 10 mg in a few seconds with 100 % yield but broad polydispersities.     

Preparation of High-Purity Ammonium Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate for the Activation of Olefin Polymerization Catalysts

Homogeneous olefin polymerization catalysts are activated in situ with a co-catalyst ([PhN(Me)₂-H]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ or [Ph₃C]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻) in bulk polymerization media. These co-catalysts are insoluble in hydrocarbon solvents, requiring excess co-catalyst (>3 eq.). Feeding the activated species as a solution in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent may be advantageous over the in situ activation method. In this study, highly pure and soluble ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borates ([Me(C₁₈H₃₇)₂N-H]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ and [(C₁₈H₃₇)₂NH₂]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻) containing neither water nor Cl⁻ salt impurities were prepared easily via the acid–base reaction of [PhN(Me)₂-H]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ and the corresponding amine. Using the prepared ammonium salts, the activation reactions of commercial-process-relevant metallocene (rac-[ethylenebis(tetrahydroindenyl)]Zr(Me)₂ (1-ZrMe₂), [Ph₂C(Cp)(3,6-^tBu₂Flu)]Hf(Me)₂ (3-HfMe₂), [Ph₂C(Cp)(2,7-^tBu₂Flu)]Hf(Me)₂ (4-HfMe₂)) and half-metallocene complexes ([(η⁵-Me₄C₅)Si(Me)₂(κ-N^tBu)]Ti(Me)₂ (5-TiMe₂), [(η⁵-Me₄C₅)(C₉H₉(κ-N))]Ti(Me)₂ (6-TiMe₂), and [(η⁵-Me₃C₇H₁S)(C₁₀H₁₁(κ-N))]Ti(Me)₂ (7-TiMe₂)) were monitored in C₆D₁₂ with ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Stable [L-M(Me)(NMe(C₁₈H₃₇)₂)]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ species were cleanly generated from 1-ZrMe₂, 3-HfMe₂, and 4-HfMe₂, while the species types generated from 5-TiMe₂, 6-TiMe₂, and 7-TiMe₂ were unstable for subsequent transformation to other species (presumably, [L-Ti(CH₂N(C₁₈H₃₇)₂)]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻-type species). [L-TiCl(N(H)(C₁₈H₃₇)₂)]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻-type species were also prepared from 5-TiCl(Me) and 6-TiCl(Me), which were newly prepared in this study. The prepared [L-M(Me)(NMe(C₁₈H₃₇)₂)]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻-, [L-Ti(CH₂N(C₁₈H₃₇)₂)]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻-, and [L-TiCl(N(H)(C₁₈H₃₇)₂)]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻-type species, which are soluble and stable in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, were highly active in ethylene/1-octene copolymerization performed in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents.     

Heavy Carbene Analogues: Donor‐Free Bismuthenium and Stibenium Ions

Kinetically stabilized congeners of carbenes, R₂C, possessing six valence electrons (four bonding electrons and two non‐bonding electrons) have been restricted to Group 14 elements, R₂E (E=Si, Ge, Sn, Pb; R=alkyl or aryl) whereas isoelectronic Group 15 cations, divalent species of type [R₂E]⁺ (E=P, As, Sb, Bi; R=alkyl or aryl), were unknown. Herein, we report the first two examples, namely the bismuthenium ion [(2,6‐Mes₂C₆H₃)₂Bi][BAr^F₄] ( 1 ; Mes=2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂, Ar^F=3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃) and the stibenium ion [(2,6‐Mes₂C₆H₃)₂Sb][B(C₆F₅)₄] ( 2 ), which were obtained by using a combination of bulky meta‐terphenyl substituents and weakly coordinating anions.     

The Non-Ancillary Nature of Trimethylsilylamide Substituents in Boranes and Borinium Cations

The known boranes (R(Me₃Si)N)₂BF (R=Me₃Si 1 , tBu 2 , C₆F₅ 3 , o-tol 4 , Mes 5 , Dipp 6 ) and borinium salts (R(Me₃Si)N)₂B][B(C₆F₅)₄] (R=Me₃Si 7 , tBu 8 ) are prepared and fully characterized. Compound 7 is shown to react with phosphines to generate [R₃PSiMe₃]⁺ and [R₃PH]⁺ (R=Me, tBu). Efforts to generate related borinium cations via fluoride abstraction from (R(Me₃Si)N)₂BF (R=C₆F₅ 3 , o-tol 4 , Mes 5 ) gave complex mixtures suggesting multiple reaction pathways. However for R=Dipp 6 , the species [(μ-F)(SiMe₂N(Dipp))₂BMe][B(C₆F₅)₄] was isolated as the major product, indicating methyl abstraction from silicon and F/Me exchange on boron. These observations together with state-of-the-art DFT mechanistic studies reveal that the trimethylsilyl-substituents do not behave as ancillary subsitutents but rather act as sources of proton, SiMe₃ and methyl groups.     

Arene complexes [(η-C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>)M(η-C<Subscript>6</Subscript>R<Subscript>6</Subscript>)]<Superscript>2+</Superscript> (M = Rh,Ir)

The dicationic arene complexes [CpM(arene)](BF₄)₂ (arene = C₆H₆, 1,3,5-C₆H₃Me₃, or C₆Me₆) were synthesized by the reactions of the solvated complexes [CpM(MeNO₂)₃](BF₄)₂ (M = Rh, Ir) with benzene and its derivatives. The solvated complexes were generated in situ by abstraction of I^– from [CpMI₂]₂ with AgBF₄. A procedure was developed for the synthesis of the iodide [CpRhI₂]₂ based on the reaction of the cyclooctadiene derivative CpRh(1,5-C₈H₁₂) with I₂. The structure of the [CpRh(C₆Me₆)](BF₄)₂ complex was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1871–1874, September, 2004.     

Regioselectivity of reactions of vinyl- and isopropenylcyclopentadienide anions with electrophilic agents. Synthesis and crystal structures of complexes [C5H4C(Me)=CH2]ZrCl3 · 2THF and [C5Me4CH=CH2]ZrCl3 · 2THF

Regioselectivity of the reactions of lithium vinyl- and isopropenylcyclopentadienides C₅H₄C(R)=CH₂ ^-Li⁺(R = H, Me) and lithium tetramethylvinylcyclopentadienide C₅Me₄CH=CH₂ ^-Li⁺ with various electrophilic agents (Me₃SiCl, Me₃SnCl, Et₂PCl, 2-chloro-1, 3-dioxaphospholane, and MeI) was studied. Two new monocyclopentadienyl zirconium complexes, [C₅H₄C(Me) = CH₂]ZrCl₃ · 2THF and [C₅Me₄CH=CH₂]ZrCl₃ · 2THF, were synthesized. Their crystal structures were established by X-ray diffraction. The results of quantum chemical calculations for the C₅H₄C(R) = CH₂ ^- (R = H, Me) and C₅Me₄CH=CH₂ ^- anions by the DFT method (RMPW1PW91) with the 6-311+G(d, p) split valence basis set are in good agreement with experimental data on the regioselectivity of their reactions with electrophilic agents.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 390–399, February, 2005.     

Kinetics of nucleophilic attack on coordinated organic moieties : VI. Mechanism of addition of tri-n-butylphosphine to [(C7H7)M(CO)3]BF4 (M = Cr, Mo, W) and related cations

Phosphonium adduct formation via attack of tri-n-butylphosphine on the cations [(C₇H₇)M(CO)₃]⁺ (M = Cr, Mo, W) obeys the rate law, Rate = k [complex] [PBu₃]. The very similar rate constants for the Cr, Mo and W complexes confirm the similar electrophilicities of the tropylium rings in these cations, and also support the view that there is direct addition to the rings. The related complexes [(C₆H₇)Fe(CO)₃]BF₄ and [(C₆H₆)Mn(CO)₃]BF₄ also form adducts with PBu₃, and the quantitative reactivity order [(C₆H₇)Fe(CO)₃]⁺ > [(C₇H₇)Cr(CO)₃]⁺ » [(C₆H₆)Mn(CO)₃]⁺ (160:60:1) has been established.     

Aluminum(III) Cations [(NHC) ⋅ AlMes2]+: Synthesis,Characterization, and Application in FLP-Chemistry

The three-coordinate aluminum cations ligated by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) [(NHC) ⋅ AlMes₂]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ (NHC=IMe^Me 4 , IiPr^Me 5 , IiPr 6 , Mes=2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) were prepared via hydride abstraction of the alanes (NHC) ⋅ AlHMes₂ (NHC=IMe^Me 1 , IiPr^Me 2 , IiPr 3 ) using [Ph₃C]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ in toluene as hydride acceptor. If this reaction was performed in diethyl ether, the corresponding four-coordinate aluminum etherate cations [(NHC) ⋅ AlMes₂(OEt₂)]⁺ [B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ 7 – 9 (NHC=IMe^Me 7 , IiPr^Me 8 , IiPr 9 ) were isolated. According to a theoretical and experimental assessment of the Lewis-acidity of the [(IMe^Me) ⋅ AlMes₂]⁺ cation is the acidity larger than that of B(C₆F₅)₃ and of similar magnitude as reported for Al(C₆F₅)₃. The reaction of [(IMe^Me) ⋅ AlMes₂]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ 4 with the sterically less demanding, basic phosphine PMe₃ afforded a mixed NHC/phosphine stabilized cation [(IMe^Me) ⋅ AlMes₂(PMe₃)]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ 10 . Equimolar mixtures of 4 and the sterically more demanding PCy₃ gave a frustrated Lewis-pair (FLP), i.e., [(IMe^Me) ⋅ AlMes₂]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻/PCy₃ FLP-11 , which reacts with small molecules such as CO₂, ethene, and 2-butyne.