Application of the Suzuki reaction to the asymmetric desymmetrisation of 1,2- and 1,3-disubstituted bulky cobalt metallocenes

Reaction of (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt with Hg(OAc)₂ (2.3 equiv) in 1:1 MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ followed by the addition of LiCl resulted in the formation of (η⁵-1,2-dichloromercuricyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt (33%) and its 1,3-isomer (6%). Following conversion into their corresponding diiodides these compounds were desymmetrised by Suzuki reactions with ArB(OH)₂ employing [(R)-BINAP]PdCl₂, with the highest ee of 24% being obtained for (η⁵-1-iodo-3-(2-methoxyphenyl)cyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt.     

Synthesis, reactivity and structural studies of (η-methylcyclopentadienyl)(η-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt and its derivatives

(η⁵-methylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt (1) and its derivatives, [(1-acetyl-2-methyl)η⁵-cyclopentadienyl](η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt (2) [(1-acetyl-3-methyl)η⁵-cyclopentadienyl](η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt (3) [(1-carbomethoxy-2-methyl)η⁵-cyclopentadienyl](η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt (4) and [(1-carbomethoxy-3-methyl)η⁵-cyclopentadienyl](η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene) cobalt (5) have been prepared in yields varying from 11% to 28% by introducing the substituents on the cyclopentadienyl ring of methylcyclopentadienyl sodium and then reacting with diphenylacetylene and CoCl(PPh₃)₃. The carboxylic acids [(1-carboxy-2-methyl)η⁵-cyclopentadienyl](η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt (6), [(1-carboxy-3-methyl)η⁵-cyclopentadienyl](η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt (7) have been prepared after ester hydrolysis of compounds 4 and 5 using KOH/ethanol. [(1-dimethylaminomethyl-3-methyl)η⁵-cyclopentadienyl](η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene) cobalt (8), was prepared selectively by direct substitution on the cyclopentadienyl ring of (η⁵-methylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt in 65% yield. The 1,2-isomer was formed only in traces in this reaction. Reactivity of (η⁵-methylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt and its carbomethoxy derivative have been compared with (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt. All new compounds were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, mass spectra and CHN analysis. Compounds 2, 4, 6 and 8 have also been structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray structural analysis.     

Synthesis and H NMR spectroscopic properties of substituted (η-tetraarylcyclobutadiene)(η-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt metallocenes

The reaction of diarylacetylenes with CoCl(PPh₃)₃ and sodium cyclopentadienylide or sodium carbomethoxycyclopentadienylide gave (η⁴-tetra-arylcyclobutadiene)(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt and (η⁴-tetra-arylcyclobutadiene)(η⁵-carbomethoxycyclopentadienyl)cobalt, respectively, where aryl = para-XC₆H₄ (X = CF₃, F, MeO). The reaction was unsuccessful for the synthesis of (η⁴-tetra(para-methoxyphenyl)cyclobutadiene)(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt, which was synthesised instead from dicarbonyl(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)cobalt. In all of the examples starting with CoCl(PPh₃)₃ an intermediate (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)- or (η⁵-carbomethoxycyclopentadienyl)(triphenylphosphine)-2,3,4,5-tetraarylcobaltacyclopentadiene complex was isolated, and two examples were characterised by X-ray crystallography. Heating the (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)- or (η⁵-carbomethoxycyclopentadienyl)(triphenylphosphine)-2,3,4,5-tetraarylcobaltacyclopentadiene complexes resulted in clean conversion to the corresponding metallocenes. The influence of the para-aryl substituents on the ¹H NMR of the cyclopentadienyl moiety is tabulated, together with the influence of a range of R substituents in (η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)(η⁵-RC₅H₄)cobalt (R = CO₂Me, CH₂OH, Me, CHO, CCH, CO₂H, CN, CONHR¹, 2-oxazolinyl, NH₂, NHAc, HgCl, Br, I, SiMe₃, SnMe₃, Ph).     

Planar chiral alkenylferrocene phosphanes: Preparation, structural characterisation and catalytic use in asymmetric allylic alkylation

Planar chiral alkenylferrocene phosphanes, viz. (S_p)-[Fe(η⁵-C₅H₃-1-PPh₂-2-CHCR₂)(η⁵-C₅H₅)] (R = H, (S_p)-2; Ph, (S_p)-5) and (S_p)-[Fe(η⁵-C₅H₃-1-PPh₂-2-(E)-CHCHR)(η⁵-C₅H₅)] (R = Ph, (S_p)-3; C(O)CH₃, (S_p)-6; and CO₂CH₂CH₃, (S_p)-7) have been prepared by alkenylation of (S_p)-2-(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocenecarboxaldehyde and tested as ligands for enantioselective palladium-catalysed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyprop-2-en-1-yl acetate with dimethyl malonate. All phosphanylalkenes formed active catalysts. However, the induced enantioselectivity was only poor to moderate [12-43% ee after 20 h at room temperature], with the ee’s and configuration of the preferred product strongly depending on the ligand structure. The catalytic results have been related to solution properties (NMR, ESI MS) and the solid-state structural data (X-ray diffraction) of [Pd(η³-1,3-Ph₂C₃H₃){(S_p)-2-η²:κP}]ClO₄ ((S_p)-12), which represent a model of the plausible reaction intermediate.     

Reaction of a diphenylacetylenecobalt complex with alkyl diazoacetates

The diphenylacetylene-cobalt complex, η⁵-C₅H₅Co(PPh₃)(PhCCph) (I) reacted with alkyl diazoacetates (II, alkyl = methyl, ethyl, and t-butyl) at room temperature to give two isomers of the mononuclear cobalt complex, η⁵-C₅H₅Co- (PhC₂Ph)(CHCO₂R)₂ (III and IV) and two isomers of the dinuclear cobalt complex [η⁵-C₅H₅Co(PhC₂Ph)(CHCO₂R)]₂ (V and VI).The complexes III and IV are diene complexes, syn,syn- and syn,anti- (dialkyl 2,3-diphenylmuconate)-η⁵-cyclopentadienylcobalt, respectively. The structure of Vb (R = C₂H₅) was determined by X-ray diffraction as η-[1–3-η³ : 1,4,5-μ³- 1,6-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylhexa-2,4-diene-1,1-diyl]bis(η⁵-cyclopentadienylcobalt)(CoCo. The complex VI is the bis(η³-allyl)cobalt complex, μ-[1–3-η³ : 4–6η³-1,6-anti,anti-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)-2,3,4,5,-tetraphenylhexa- 1,3,5-triene]bis(η⁵-cyclopentadienylcobalt)(CoCo) according to its ¹H NMR spectrum.The formation of these products was rationalizes in terms of a cobaltacyclobutene intermediate.     

Crystal and molecular structure of (η5-trimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl)(η4-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt

The structure of (η⁵-trimethylsilylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt, ((CH₃)₃SiC₅H₄)Co((C₆H₅)₄C₄), has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques using three-dimensional data collected on an automatic diffractometer. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, with lattice parameters a 11.551(1), b 16.352(6), c 18.324(2) », β 122.85(1)° with four molecules in the unit cell. The structure consists of discrete molecules in which a cobalt atom is sandwiched between the η⁵-cyclopentadienyl (Cp) and the η⁴-cyclobutadience (Cb) ligands bonded to the metal in the hapto mode. The perpendicular distances Co?(Cp) and Co?(Cb) of 1.688 and 1.699 », respectively, as well as the dihedral angle of 6.9° between the two rings and the distortions of their side groups, indicate steric interactions within the molecule. The Cb ring is planar within 0.015 » and has a rectangular shape with edges of 1.480(5) and 1.463(3) ». The Cp ring, which is planar to within 0.005 », appears to be highly distorted by the trimethylsilyl group, which induces a lengthening of the C—C distances involving the substituted carbon atom (1.440(7) ») and a narrowing of the corresponding bond angle (105.3(2)°).     

Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-4-hydroxyisophorone by ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketoisophorone

The first synthesis of (R)- and (S)-4-hydroxyisophorone by catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketoisophorone is reported. Ruthenium catalysts containing commercially available chiral amino alcohols afforded 4-hydroxyisophorone in up to 97% selectivity and 97% ee. (R)- or (S)-4-Hydroxyisophorones with >99% ee were isolated by crystallization. The catalyst precursors [RuCl₂((S,R)-ADPE)(η⁶-p-cymene)] ((S,R)-ADPE=(1S,2R)-amino-1,2-diphenylethanol-N) and (R_Ru)-[RuCl((S,R)-ADPE⁻¹)(η⁶-p-cymene)] (ADPE⁻¹=amino-1,2-diphenylethanolato-N,O) were isolated for the first time and the X-ray crystal structure of the latter determined.     

Synthesis and structure of chiral-at-metal complexes with the ligand (S)-2-[(Sp)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]-4-isopropyloxazoline

Half-sandwich complexes of formula [(ηⁿ-ring)MClL]PF₆ [L = (S)-2-[(S_p)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]-4-isopropyloxazoline; (ηⁿ-ring)M = (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Rh; (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Ir; (η⁶-p-MeC₆H₄iPr)Ru; (η⁶-p-MeC₆H₄iPr)Os] have been prepared and spectroscopically characterised. The molecular structures of the rhodium and iridium compounds have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The related solvate complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)ML(Me₂CO)]²⁺ (M = Rh, Ir) are active catalysts for the Diels-Alder reaction between methacrolein and cyclopentadiene.     

Resolution of cycloplatinated ferrocenylketimines

The resolution of cycloplatinated ferrocenylketimines was carried out by using S-leucine as chiral auxiliary and a pair of diastereomers was obtained. The optically active derivatives of the cycloplatinated ferrocenylketimines have been prepared and characterized. The structures and absolute configurations of (−)-(S_p,S)-[Pt{(η⁵-C₅H₃CMeNC₆H₄-4-CH₃)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)}(S-leu)] and (−)-(S_p)-[Pt{(η⁵-C₅H₃CMeNC₆H₄-4-Br)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)}(PPh₃)Cl] were determined by X-ray diffraction, on the basis of which the absolute configurations of other optically active compounds studied were ascertained.     

(η-Tetraarylcyclobutadiene)(η-formylcyclopentadienyl)cobalt(I) complexes: Facilities to finetune the electron-donating capability in dipolar organometallics

Five different (η⁴-tetraarylcyclobutadiene)(η⁵-formylcyclopentadienyl)cobalt(I) complexes (1a-1e) were synthesized in reasonable yields in a one-pot reaction of CoCl(PPh₃)₃, formylcyclopentadienyl sodium and the appropriate diarylethyne. The aryl groups of the ethyne were modified by various para-substituents X (X = Cl, H, Me, OMe, NMe₂), which were intended to alter the redox potentials of the synthesized cobalt sandwich complexes. A cyclic voltammetry study revealed a linear dependence of the first oxidation potential to the Hammett parameter σ_p. X-ray structure analyses performed for two complexes (X = Me and NMe₂) demonstrate only subtle changes in the solid state structure despite the large differences in electrochemical properties. A theoretical analysis by the density functional theory method has been performed on the geometries and electronic structures of the complex (η⁴-cyclobutadiene)(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)Co(I), its cation and dication.     

Chiral arene ruthenium complexes: Part 3. [Ruthenium(η6-arene)(η4-1,5-cyclooctadiene)] complexes with N or O donor functions in the arene side chain

Arene ruthenium(0) complexes with carbonyl side chain functionalities like [Ru(η⁶-C₆H₅COR)(η⁴-COD)] or [Ru(η⁶-o-C₆H₄{R¹}COR)(η⁴-COD)] (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene; R=H, CH₃; R¹=H, CH₃, OCH₃) are easily accessible by replacing the naphthalene ligand of [Ru(η⁶-naphthalene)(η⁴-COD)] (1) through an arene exchange reaction. These carbonyl species are susceptible to standard organic reactions of the carbonyl function, thus allowing the introduction of dangling side chains bearing highly polar functions like hydroxyl or amino groups. Aldol reaction of [Ru(o-C₆H₄{CH₃}COCH₃)(COD)] (3) with (−)-menthylchloroformate in the presence of LDA (LDA=lithium diisopropylamide) leads to a diastereomeric mixture of [Ru(menthyl-{3-oxo-3-η⁶-o-tolyl}propionate)(COD)] (10). However, treatment of 3 with LDA and o-tolylaldehyde or benzaldehyde affords the unexpected products [Ru(1-η⁶-o-tolyl-3-o-tolylpropan-1-one)(COD)] (11) and [Ru(1-η⁶-o-tolyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one)(COD)] (12). A diastereoselective addition (88% de) of deprotonated menthylacetate to [Ru(o-tolylaldehyde)(COD)] (4) results in the formation of [Ru(menthyl 3-η⁶-o-tolyl-3-hydroxypropionate)(COD)] (13). Racemic planar-chiral aldehyde complexes 2 and 4 react with amines giving the imination products in good yield. In case of reaction between 2 and (R)-N-amino-2-(methoxymethyl)-pyrrolidine (RAMP), diastereomeric [Ru(N-[[η⁶-(2-methylphenyl]methylene]-(R)-2-(methoxymethyl)-1-pyrrolidinamine)(COD)] (17) is formed. The diastereomers (R,R)-17 and (S,R)-17 have been separated by fractional crystallisation. Asymmetric arene ruthenium complexes with a defined planar-chiral configuration are thus accessible. Reduction of [Ru(3-η⁶-phenyl-(R)-methylbutyrate)(COD)] (7) with LiAlH₄ yields the chiral γ-alcohol [Ru(3-η⁶-phenyl-(R)-1-butanol)(COD)] (18). A Wittig olefination converts the aldehyde complex 4 into a mixture of E- and Z-isomeric [Ru(1-η⁶-o-tolyl-2-phenylethylene)(COD)] 21a and 21b, which were separated again by fractional crystallisation.     

Enantioselective Synthesis and Application to the Allylic Imidate Rearrangement of Amine‐Coordinated Palladacycle Catalysts of Cobalt Sandwich Complexes

The reaction of (η⁵‐(N,N‐dimethylaminomethyl)cyclopentadien‐yl)(η⁴‐tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt with sodium tetrachloropalladate and (R)‐N‐acetylphenylalanine gave planar chiral palladacycle di‐μ‐chloridebis[(η⁵‐(S_p)‐2‐(N,N‐dimethylaminomethyl)cyclopentadienyl,1‐C,3′‐N)(η⁴‐tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt]dipalladium [(S_p)‐Me₂‐CAP‐Cl] in 92 % ee and 64 % yield. Enantiopurity (>98 % ee) was achieved by purification of the monomeric (R)‐proline adducts and conversion back to the chloride dimer. Treatment with AgOAc gave (S_p)‐Me₂‐CAP‐OAc which was applied to asymmetric transcyclopalladation (up to 78 % ee). The (R)‐N‐acetylphenylalanine mediated palladation methodology was applicable also to the corresponding N,N‐diethyl (82 % ee, 39 % yield) and pyrrolidinyl (>98 % ee, 43 % yield) cobalt sandwich complexes. A combination of 5 mol % of the latter [(S_p)‐Pyrr‐CAP‐Cl] and AgNO₃ (3.8 equiv) is a catalyst for the allylic imidate rearrangement of an (E)‐N‐aryltrifluoroacetimidate (up to 83 % ee), and this catalyst system is also applicable to the rearrangement of a range of (E)‐trichloroacetimidates (up to 99 % ee). This asymmetric efficiency combined with the simplicity of catalyst synthesis provides accessible solutions to the generation of non‐racemic allylic amine derivatives.     

Synthesis and characterization of chiral mono N-heterocyclic carbene-substituted rhodium complexes and their catalytic properties in hydrosilylation reactions

Different chiral mono-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of rhodium were prepared, starting from [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ (COD = cyclooctadiene) by addition of free N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC), or an in-situ deprotonation of the corresponding iminium salt. All new complexes were characterized by spectroscopy methods. In addition, the structures of chloro(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(1,3-di-[(1R,2R,3R,5S)-2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-yl] imidazolin-2-ylidene)rhodium(I) (5a), chloro(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(1,3-di-[(1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-menthylcyclohex-1-yl]imidazol-2-ylidene)rhodium(I) (5b) and chloro(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(1,3-di-[(2R,4S,5S)-2-methyl-4-phenyl-1,3-dioxacyclohex-5-yl]imidazolin-2-ylidene)rhodium(I) (5i) were analyzed by DFT-calculations. The enantioselective hydrosilylation of acetophenone, ethylpyruvate and n-propylpyruvate with diphenylsilane and hydrolysis was carried out with chiral C₂-symmetrical mono-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene rhodium complexes giving for the first time an enantioselective excess of up to 74% ee in the case of the n-propylpyruvate.     

Self-recognition by the iron chiral auxiliary [(η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)(PPh3] in the formation of (RR,SS)-[(η5-C5H5)FE(CO)(PPh3)COCH2]2CH2

Complete self-recognition of chirality is observed in the Michael addition of the enolate derived from R,S-[η⁵-C₅H₅Fe(CO)(PPh₃-COCH₃] to the acryloyl complex R,S-[(η⁵-C₅H₅Fe(CO)(PPh₃)-COCHCH₂)] to generate exclusively the single diastereoisomer of the glutaroyl complex RR,SS-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(CO)(PPh₃)COCH₂]₂CH₂.     

Transition metal derivatives of arenediazonium ions: XIV. Reactions of arenediazomolybdenum(II) complexes with neutral and anionic Lewis bases

The reactions of arenediazomolybdenum(II) complexes such as [(η-C₅H₅)Mo(N₂C₆H₄CH₃-p)I₂]₂, (η-C₅H₅)Mo(CO species with neutral and anionic monodentate or chelating ligands have been investigated. The new arenediazo complexes isolated from these reactions include neutral species such as (η-C₅H₅)Mo(PPh₃)(N₂C₆H₄CH₃-p)I₂ and (η-C₅H₅)Mo(N₂C₆H₄CH₃-p) cations of the type [η-C₅H₅)Mo(bipy)(N₂C₆H₄CH₃-p)I]⁺ and the anion [(η-C₅H₅)Mo(N₂C₆H₄CH₃-p)I₃]^?. The structures of the new complexes are discussed.     

Regioselective, stereoselective, and conformationally controlled synthesis of (η4-tetraarylcyclobutadiene)(η5-carbomethoxycyclopentadienyl)cobalt metallocenes

The Friedel-Crafts reaction of (η(4)-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)(η(5)-carbomethoxycyclopentadienyl)cobalt with acid chlorides/aluminum chloride resulted exclusively in para-phenyl acylation. Both monoacylated (1.1 equiv of RCOCl/AlCl(3)) and tetraacylated products (>4 equiv of RCOCl/AlCl(3)) were synthesized. Reaction of PhCC(o-RC(6)H(4)) (R = Me, i-Pr) with Na(C(5)H(4)CO(2)Me) and CoCl(PPh(3))(3) gave predominantly (η(4)-1,3-diaryl-2,4-diphenylcyclobutadiene)(η(5)-carbomethoxycyclopentadienyl)cobalt metallocenes (1,3-[trans] vs 1,2-[cis] selectivity up to 6:1). Conformational control of Friedel-Crafts reactions on the major isomers gave exclusively para-acylation of the unsubstituted phenyl groups.     

Structural control in palladium(II)-catalyzed enantioselective allylic alkylation by new chiral phosphine-phosphite and pyridine-phosphite ligands

The ligands 6-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-4,8-di-tert-butyl-2,10-dimethoxy-5,7-dioxa-6-phosphadibenzo[a,c]cycloheptene, 1, (S)-4-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4a′]dinaphthalene, (S)-2, and (S)-4-[(diphenylphosphanyl)methoxy]-2,6-bis-trimethylsilanyl-3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalene, (S)-3, (S)-2-(3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalen-4-yloxymethyl)pyridine, (S)-4, and (S)-2-(3,5-dioxa-4-phosphacyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalen-4-yloxy)pyridine, (S)-5, have been easily prepared.The cationic complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)(L-L′)]CF₃SO₃ (L–L′=1–(S)-5) and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)(L–L′)]CF₃SO₃ (L–L′=(S)-2–(S)-4) were synthesized by conventional methods starting from the complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl]₂ and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)Cl]₂, respectively. The behavior in solution of all the π-allyl- and π-phenylallyl-(L–L′)palladium derivatives 6–14 was studied by ¹H, ³¹P{¹H}, ¹³C{¹H} NMR and 2D-NOESY spectroscopy. As concerns the ligands (S)-4 and (S)-5, a satisfactory analysis of the structures in solution was possible only for palladium–allyl complexes [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-4)]CF₃SO₃, 11, and [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-5)]CF₃SO₃, 12, since the corresponding species [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)((S)-4)]CF₃SO₃, 13, and [Pd(η³-PhCHCHCHPh)((S)-5)]CF₃SO₃, 14, revealed low stability in solution for a long time. The new ligands (S)-2–(S)-5 were tested in the palladium-catalyzed enantioselective substitution of (1,3-diphenyl-1,2-propenyl)acetate by dimethylmalonate. The precatalyst [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-2)]CF₃SO₃ afforded the allyl substituted product in good yield (95%) and acceptable enantioselectivities (71% e.e. in the S form). A similar result was achieved with the precatalyst [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)((S)-3)]CF₃SO₃. The nucleophilic attack of the malonate occurred preferentially at allylic carbon far from the binaphthalene moiety, namely trans to the phosphite group. When the complexes containing ligands (S)-4 and (S)-5 were used as precatalysts, the product was obtained as a racemic mixture in high yield. The number of the configurational isomers of the Pd-allyl intermediates present in solution in the allylic alkylation and the relative concentrations are considered a determining factor for the enantioselectivity of the process.     

Preparation and reactivity of p-cymene complexes of ruthenium and osmium incorporating 1,3-triazenide ligands

p-Cymene complexes MCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)L [M = Ru, Os; L = P(OEt)₃, PPh(OEt)₂, (CH₃)₃CNC] were prepared by allowing [MCl(μ-Cl)(η⁶-p-cymene)]₂ to react with phosphites or tert-butyl isocyanide. Treatment of MCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)L complexes with 1,3-ArNNN(H)Ar triazene and an excess of NEt₃ gave the cationic triazenide derivatives [M(η²-1,3-ArNNNAr)(η⁶-p-cymene)L]BPh₄ (Ar = Ph, p-tolyl). Neutral triazenide complexes MCl(η²-1,3-ArNNNAr)(η⁶-p-cymene) (M = Ru, Os) were also prepared by allowing [MCl(μ-Cl)(η⁶-p-cymene)]₂ to react with 1,3-diaryltriazene in the presence of triethylamine. p-Cymene complexes MCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)L reacted with equimolar amounts of 1,3-ArNNN(H)Ar triazene to give both triazenide complexes [M(η²-1,3-ArNNNAr)(η⁶-p-cymene)L]BPh₄ and amine derivatives [MCl(ArNH₂)(η⁶-p-cymene)L]BPh₄. A reaction path for the formation of the amine complex is also reported. The complexes were characterised by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography of RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cymene)[PPh(OEt)₂] and [Ru(η²-1,3-p-tolyl-NNN-p-tolyl)(η⁶-p-cymene){CNC(CH₃)₃}]BPh₄. Selected triazenide complexes were studied as catalysts in the hydrogenation of 2-cyclohexen-1-one and cinnamaldehyde.     

Dithiocarbamate complexes of cyclopentadienylcobalt(III), [Co(η-C5H5)(L)(S2CNR2)] (L = ligand)

The reactions of [Co(η-C₅H₅)(L)I₂] with Na[S₂CNR₂] (R = alkyl or phenyl) give [Co(η-C₅H₅)(I)(S₂CNR₂)] (I) when L = CO and [Co(η-C₅H₅)(L)(S₂CNR₂)]I (II) when L is a tertiary phosphine, phosphite or stibine, or organo-isocyanide ligand. In similar reactions [Co(η-C₅H₅)(CO)(C₃F₇)I] gives [Co(η-C₅H₅)(C₃F₇)(S₂CNMe₂)] and [Mn(η-MeC₅H₄)(CO)₂(NO)]PF₆ forms [Mn(η-MeC₅H₄)(NO)(S₂CNR₂)]. The iodide ligands in I may be displaced by L, to give II, or by other ligands such as [CN]^?, [NCS]^?, H₂O or pyridine whilst SnCl₂ converts it to SnCl₂I. The iodide counter-anion in II may be replaced by others to give [BPh₄]^?, [Co(CO)₄]^? or [NO₃]^? salts. However [CN]^? acts differently and displaces (PhO)₃P from [Co(η-C₅H₅){P(OPh)₃}(S₂CNMe)]I to give [Co(η-C₅H₅)(CN)(S₂CNMe₂)] which may be alkylated reversibly by MeI and irreversibly by MeSO₃F to [Co(η-C₅H₅)(CNMe)(S₂CNMe₂)]⁺ salts. Conductivity measurements suggest that solutions of I in donor solvents are partially ionized with the formation of [Co(η-C₅H₅)(solvent)(S₂CNR₂)]⁺ I^? species. The IR and ¹H NMR spectra of the various complexes are reported. They are consistent with pseudo-octahedral “pianostool” molecular structures in which the bidentate dithiocarbamate ligands are coordinated to the metal atoms through both sulphur atoms.     

Mononuclear ruthenium complexes containing chiral aminooxazolines: Syntheses, X-ray studies and catalytic activity

The synthesis and characterisation of three novel mononuclear ruthenium(II) complexes containing one of the following chiral auxiliary ligands: 2-amino-(4R)-phenyl-2-oxazoline (amphox), indanyl-2-amino-(4R,5S)-2-oxazoline (aminox) or indanyl-(2′-anilinyl)-(4R,5S)-2-oxazoline (aninox) is described using [Ru₂Cl₄(η⁶-p-cym)₂] (p-cym = 1-isopropyl-4-methylbenzene) as the Ru starting material. The new complexes have been identified as the neutral derivatives [RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cym)(amphox-κ¹N_ox)] (1), [RuCl₂(η⁶-p-cym)(aminox-κ¹N_ox)] (2) and the salt [RuCl(η⁶-p-cym)(aninox-κ²N,N′)]Cl (3). These materials have been fully characterised (elemental analysis, NMR, IR, conductance, MS, etc.) and, in the case of 2 and 3, structurally elucidated in the solid-state using single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. All three complexes show good catalytic activity (max. conversion >99%, TOF = 424 h⁻¹) but only modest enantio-selectivity (max. ee = 40%) for the transfer hydrogenation reaction of acetophenone with isopropyl alcohol. The complexes were also tested in an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction involving cyclopentadiene and acrolein (max. conversion >99%, TOF = 42 h⁻¹). In this case, the diastereo-selectivity was good to moderate (max. de = 84%), but the ee values were poor (max. ee = 12%).