Intramolecular Dynamics of Tetranuclear Iridium Carbonyl Cluster Compounds. Part V. Polysubstituted derivatives of [Ir4(CO)12]

The dynamic behaviour of twelve polysubstituted derivatives of [Ir₄(CO)₁₂] has been investigated in solution, using 2D-EXSY, and VT-³¹P- and ¹³C-NMR. [Ir₄(CO)₆(μ₂-CO)₃(η⁴-diarsine) PPh₃] and [Ir₄(CO)₆(μ₂-CO)₃(η⁴-nor-bornadiene)(PMePh₂)] exhibit two isomeric forms in solution, which interconvert through an intramolecular change of basal face. The related cluster [Ir₄(CO)₆(μ₂-CO)₃(η⁴-norbornadiene)PPh₃] exists as a single isomer in solution. It displays rotation of CO ligands about the apical Ir-atom, followed by two consecutive changes of basal face. The tetrasubstituted clusters with two chelating ligands [Ir₄(CO)₅(μ₂-CO)₃(η⁴-diolefin)₂] also exhibit rotation of apical CO's, the activation energy increases with greater steric hindrance of the radical ligands. A quantitative analysis of the ³¹P- and ¹³C-2D-EXSY spectra followed by simulation of the corresponding VT-NMR spectra of [IR₄(CO)₅(μ₂-CO)₃(μ₂-L)₂] (L = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane and 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) revealed a pairwise averaging of the P-atoms, caused by two parallel changes of basal face averaging all CO ligands. In addition, the restricted rotation of ligands about the apical Ir-atom was identified at higher temperatures. The remaining clusters are either rigid on the NMR time scale, or display CO-scrambling about a single Ir-atom.     

Intramolecular Dynamics of Tetranuclear Iridium Carbonyl Cluster Compounds. Part 1. Bromotri-μ-carbonyloctacarbonyltetrairidate(1–)

A 2D and variable-temperature ¹³C-NMR study indicates that a CO-site exchange occurs in the title complex via several consecutive processes, the first being a ‘merry-go-round’ of the basal CO's, the second a switch of basal face not involving unbridged intermediates.     

Trichlorostannato(diphosphine)rhodium(I) complexes. Crystal structure of [Rh(SnCl3)(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(dppp)]

The molecular structure of [Rh(SnCl₃)(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(dppp)] [dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane] has been determined to R_F = 3.6% single-crystal X-ray techniques. The crystal contains two discrete molecules 1 and 2 per asymmetric unit. Molecule 1 is best described as distorted trigonal bipyramidal with the diolefin and the diphosphine occupying both apical and equatorial positions and the SnCl₃ group on an equatorial position, and molecule 2 as distorted square pyramidal with the equatorial positions occupied by the diolefin and the diphosphine, respectively, and the SnCl₃ fragment in the apical position. In solution at room temperature, complexes [Rh(SnCl₃)(COD)(diphosphine)] exhibit tin dissociation and various intramolecular rearrangements.     

Intramolecular Dynamics of Tetranuclear Iridium Carbonyl Cluster Compounds. Part IV. Derivatives with monodentate ligands and edge-bridging bidentate ligands

The fluxionality of [Ir₄(CO)₈(μ₂-CO)₃L] (L = Br^?, I^?, SCN^?, NO₂^?, P(4-ClC₆H₄)₃, PPh₃, P(4-MeOC₆H₄)₃, P(4-Me₂NC₆H₄)₃), as studied by 2D-¹³C-NMR in solution, is due to two successive scrambling processes: the merry-go-round of six basal CO's and CO bridging to alternative faces of the Ir₄ tetrahedron. The basicity of the ligand L has no significant effect on the activation parameters. The scrambling process of lowest activation energy in [Ir₄(CO)₇(μ₂-CO)₃(PMePh₂)₂] correspond to the two possible synchronous CO bridging about a unique face of the metal tetrahedron swapping the relative axial and radial positions of the ligands L. The disubstituted clusters [Ir₄(CO)₁₀(μ₂-L? L)] with one edge-bridging ligand have a ground-state geometry with three edge-bridging CO's (L? L = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, bis(diphenylarsino)methane, bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) or with all terminal CO's (L? L = CH₃SCH₂SCH₃). In all cases, the fluxional process of lowest activation energy in the merry-go-round of six CO's about a unique triangular face. For the P and As donor ligands, this process is followed by the rotation of terminal CO's bonded to two Ir-atoms residing on the mirror plane of the unbridged intermediate.     

Intramolecular Dynamics of Tetranuclear Iridium Carbonyl Cluster Compounds. Part III. Crystallographic and dynamic evidence for the intermediate of the ‘merry-go-round’ process in nonacarbonyl-μ3-(1,3,5-trithiane)-tetrairidium

The title complex crystallises in two C_3v, isomeric forms differing in carbonyl-ligand arrangement. In solution, the isomer 1b with three edge-bridging carbonyls on a common face of the metal tetrahedron converts via an endothermic equilibrium into the isomer 1u with no bridging carbonyls. The latter was shown by ¹³C-NMR to be the intermediate of the ‘merry-go-round’ process which exchanges the sites of the basal CO's.     

Chemistry of iridium carbonyl : I. Chemical and structural characterization of the tetranuclear anions [Ir4(μ-CO)3(CO)8(COOR)]-

1 The anions [Ir₄(CO)₁₁(COOR)^- (R  Me, Et) have been prepared by reacting Ir₄(CO)₁₂ with alkali alkoxides in dry alcohol and under an atmosphere of carbon monoxide. The reaction of [Ir₄(CO)₁₁(COOMe)]^- with primary and secondary alcohols (EtOH, PrⁱOH) gives rise to specific alcoholysis. The anions [Ir₄(CO)₁₁(COOR)^- react with acids in THF solution to give quantitatively Ir₄(CO)₁₂. The chemical, spectroscopic and crystallographic characterization of the tetranuclear anions are reported.     

Calorimetric investigation of the reaction of 1,5-cyclooctadiene with complexes of the type (acac)M(olefin)2 [M = Rh(I), Ir(I)]

The enthalpies of reaction of the complexes (acac)M(olefin)₂ (acac=acetyl-acetonate, M=Rh(I), Ir(I); olefin=ethylene, propene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, methyl acrylate and styrene) with 1,5-cyclooctadiene in n-heptane, according to the reaction [(acac)M(olefin)₂ + 1,5COD → (acac)M(1,5COD) + 2 olefin]_n.heptane have been determined by solution calorimetry. From these results the influence of substituent R in the olefin CH₂CHR on the M---(CH₂CHR) displacement enthalpy has been derived. It is concluded that π back-bonding is slightly more important in the Ir---olefin bond than in the Rh---olefin bond. Furthermore, the data show that, as a result of steric factors which inhibit the approach of solvent molecules, solvation enthalpies are not additive.     

The Photochemistry of the (Cycloalkene)(hydro)(trispyrazolylborato)iridium Complexes [Ir(η4-cod)(TpMe2)] and [Ir(η2-coe)H2(TpMe2)]: the Formation of [IrH4(TpMe2)] and [Ir(CO)H2(TpMe2)]

Photolysis of [Ir(η²-coe)H₂(Tp^Me2)] ( 1 ; Tp^Me2=hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borato, coe=(Z)-cyclooctene) in CH₃OH gives a mixture of [IrH₄(Tp^Me2)] ( 4 ) and [Ir(CO)H₂(Tp^Me2)] ( 5 ) in a ca. 1 : 1 ratio. Mass-spectral analysis of the distillate of the reaction mixture at the end of the photolysis shows the presence of coe. When pure CD₃OD is used as solvent, the deuteride complexes [IrD₄(Tp^Me2)] ((D₄)- 4 ) and [Ir(CO)D₂(Tp^Me2)] ((D₂)- 5 ) are obtained. Also the photolysis of [Ir(η⁴-cod)(Tp^Me2)] ( 3 ) (cod=cycloocta-1,5-diene) gives 4 and 5 . A key feature of this photoreaction is the intramolecular dehydrogenation of cod with formation of cycloocta-1,3,5-triene, detected by mass spectroscopy at the end of the photolysis. Labeling experiments using CD₃OD show that the hydrides in 4 originate from MeOH. When ¹³CH₃OH is used as solvent, [Ir(¹³CO)H₂(Tp^Me2)] is formed demonstrating that CH₃OH is the source of the CO ligand. The observation that the photolysis of both 1 and 3 give the same product mixture is attributed to the formation of a common intermediate, i.e., the coordinatively unsaturated 16e⁻ species {IrH₂(Tp^Me2)}.     

Solution Equilibria in Trialkyl-Phosphite Derivatives of [Ir4(CO)12]. Crystal Structure of [Ir4(CO)11{P(OCH2)3CEt}]

The monosubstituted [Ir₄(CO)₁₁L] clusters (L = P(OPh)₃, 1 ; L = P(OMe)₃, 2 ; L = P(OCH₂)₃CEt, 3 ) were obtained in good yields by the reaction of [Ir₄(CO)₁₁ I ]^? with the corresponding phosphite. In the solid state, cluster 3 has a C_s geometry with all terminal ligands as shown by an X-ray analysis. Three isomers are present in solution: one with terminal ligands ( A ) and two with three edge-bridging CO's and with L in axial ( B ) or radial ( C ) position (see Scheme). The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of isomerisations B ? A and A ? C were determined by simulation of the variable-temperature ³¹P-NMR spectra. The three isomers correspond to three minima on the kinetic pathway of CO scrambling, whose relative energies vary independently within a small range (1–9 kJ mol^?1 at 298 K). At low temperature, isomer C is always the least stable and is not observed for 1 which bears the most bulky phosphite ligand. The isomerisations are due to two intramolecular merry-go-rounds of CO groups about two unequivalent faces of the unbridged species A .     

Surface-Mediated Organometallic Synthesis: High-Yield Syntheses of [Ir4(CO)12], [Ir6(CO)15]2−, and [Ir8(CO)22]2− by Controlled Reduction of Silica-Supported IrCl3 or [Ir(cyclooctene)2(μ-Cl)]2 in the Presence of Na2CO3 or K2CO3

The controlled reductive carbonylation under 1 atm. of CO of [Ir(cyclooctene)₂(μ-Cl)]₂, supported on a silica surface added with an alkali carbonate such as Na₂CO₃ or K₂CO₃, can be directed toward the formation of [Ir₄(CO)₁₂], K₂[Ir₆(CO)₁₅] or K₂[Ir₈(CO)₂₂] by controlling (i) the nature and amount of alkali carbonate, (ii) the amount of surface water, and (iii) the temperature. [Ir₄(CO)₁₂] can also be prepared by direct controlled reductive carbonylation of IrCl₃ supported on silica in the presence of well controlled amounts of Na₂CO₃. These efficient silica-mediated syntheses are comparable to conventional synthetic methods carried out in solution or on the MgO surface. Like in strongly basic solution or on the MgO surface, the initially formed [Ir₄(CO)₁₂], the first step of nucleation which does not require a strong basicity of the silica surface, gives in a second time sequentially [Ir₈(CO)₂₂]^2? and [Ir₆(CO)₁₅]^2? according to reaction conditions and basicity of the silica surface.     

Variable-Temperature and -Pressure 31P-NMR Study of the Intramolecular PPh3 Migration in the Cluster Compound [Ir2Rh2(CO)11PPh3]

The reaction of [Ir₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂] with 1 mol-equiv. of PPh₃ yields [Ir₂Rh₂(CO)₁₁PPh₃] ( 1 ) as a mixture of two isomers with the phosphine ligand axially bound either to one basal Rh-atom in the kinetically preferred isomer 1 R or to one basal Ir-atom in the thermodynamically preferred isomer 11 . Both isomers are fluxional on the ¹³C-NMR time scale at low temperature due to CO scrambling. Around room temperature, a new type of fluxional process starts to operate which is responsible for the isomerisation 1R?11 , i.e. the intramolecular migration of the reputedly inert PPh₃ ligand from one metal centre to another. The activation volumes of conversions 1R → 11 and 11 → 1R are both positive, indicating that the migration of PPh₃ is dissociative in character. This article reports the first application of variable pressure ³¹P-NMR to mechanistic studies.