Nickel nitrosyl complexes in a sulfur-rich environment: The first poly(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate derivatives

The diamagnetic nickel mononitrosyl complexes (Tm^R)Ni(NO) (R = Bu^t, p-Tol) and (Bm^R)Ni(PPh₃)(NO) (R = Me, Bu^t) have been readily prepared from Ni(PPh₃)₂(NO)Br and the appropriate Na(Tm^R) or Na(Bm^R) reagents, respectively. These species constitute the first nickel nitrosyl complexes supported by these ligand systems. An X-ray diffraction study of (Tm^p-Tol)Ni(NO) confirmed its pseudo-tetrahedral geometry and the presence of a nearly linear nitrosyl ligand. In contrast, (Bm^Me)Ni(PPh₃)(NO) can be best described as having a trigonal pyramidal geometry, a spatial arrangement unprecedented in nickel nitrosyl chemistry, which is facilitated by the disposition of the Bm^Me ligand and the presence of a weak intramolecular Ni?H–B interaction opposite to the apical triphenylphosphine ligand.     

Synthesis and characterization of two new bulky tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate ligands and their zinc and cadmium complexes

The sodium salts of the tris(2-mercapto-1-benzylimidazolyl)borate [Tm^Bz]⁻ and tris(2-mercapto-1-p-tolylimidazolyl)borate [Tm^p-Tol]⁻ anions have been readily prepared in very good yield from NaBH₄ and 2-mercapto-1-benzylimidazole or 2-mercapto-1-p-tolylimidazole, respectively. These new monoanionic tripodal sulfur-donor ligands have been used to prepare the Group 12 derivatives (Tm^R)MBr (M=Zn, Cd; R=Bz, p-Tol), all of which have been characterized by a combination of analytical and spectroscopic techniques, including electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) and, in the case of both benzyl-substituted derivatives, single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Cationic tris(pyrazolyl)borate bipyrimidine complexes

The cationic complexes, [Tp^RNi(bpym)]⁺ {Tp^R = tris(3,5-diphenylpyrazolyl)borate, R = Ph₂ 1; tris(3-phenyl-5-methylpyrazolyl)borate, R = Ph,Me 2} were synthesized by reacting [Tp^RNiBr] (R = Ph₂; Ph,Me) with bipyrimidine followed by subsequent addition of KPF₆ in CH₂Cl₂. The green solids have been characterized by IR, UV–Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Crystallographic studies of [Tp^Ph,MeNi(bpym)]PF₆ reveal a five-coordinate square pyramidal nickel centre with a κ³-coordinated Tp^Ph,Me ligand and a chelating bipyrimidine ligand. Cyclic voltammetric studies show irreversible reduction with the degree of reversibility dependent on the type of Tp^R ligand.     

Oxo-molybdenum(VI,V,IV) complexes of the facially coordinating tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate ligand: synthesis, characterization, and oxygen atom transfer reactivity

A series of monooxo-Mo(IV,V) and dioxo-Mo(VI) complexes of the "soft" tripodal ligand, sodium tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate (NaTm(Me)), have been synthesized as potential oxygen atom transfer (OAT) models for sulfite oxidase. Complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and EPR, where appropriate. Oxygen atom transfer kinetics of Tm(Me)MoO(2)Cl, both stoichiometric and catalytic, have been studied by a combination of UV-vis and (31)P NMR spectroscopies under a variety of conditions. OAT rates are consistent with previously established relationships between redox potential/reactivity and mechanistic studies. The analysis of these complexes as potential structural and functional analogues of relevance to molybdoenzymes is further discussed.     

Photochemistry of tris(pyrazolyl)borate titanium(IV) complexes

The electronic features and photochemistry of TpTiCl₃ (1) (Tp = hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)borate) and Tp*TiCl₃ (2) (Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate) were studied in THF. Reactive decay of the excited states produced either (or ) and metal center Ti(III) radicals via homolytic cleavage of the Tp → Ti (Tp* → Ti) bond. Cleavage of the Tp → Ti and the Tp* → Ti bond as a primary photoprocess is shown to be consistent with LMCT Tp → Ti and Tp* → Ti excitation. TpTiCl₂(THF) (3) and Tp*TiCl₂(THF) (4) were also prepared by stoichiometric reduction of 1 and 2 with Li₃N. The THF ligand in 3 and 4 was replaced by the stable nitroxyl radical TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) to provide the new complexes TpTiCl₂(TEMPO) (5) and Tp*TiCl₂(TEMPO) (6) in which the TEMPO ligand is η¹ coordinated to Ti(IV). Photolysis of 5 and 6 generate Ti(III) and the TEMPO radical in the primary photochemical step.     

Tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate complexes of the coinage metals: syntheses and molecular structures of the first gold compounds and related copper and silver derivatives

The first tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate complexes of gold, Au(Tm(tBu)) and (Tm(tBu))Au(PPh3), have been prepared and structurally characterized. Together with their copper and silver analogues M(Tm(tBu)) and (Tm(tBu))M(PPh3)(M = Cu, Ag), these compounds constitute the first two complete series of Tm(R) derivatives to be isolated for the coinage metals. In order to evaluate the steric and electronic effects of the bulky tert-butyl substituents in these species, comparative structural analyses with the known methyl-substituted analogue Ag(Tm(Me)) and various (Tm(Me))M(PR3) derivatives (M = Cu, Ag) are also presented.     

Unusual reactivity of tris(pyrazolyl)borate zirconium benzyl complexes

The synthesis and reactivity of [Tp*Zr(CH2Ph)2][B(C6F5)4] (2, Tp* = HB(3,5-Me2pz)3, pz = pyrazolyl) have been explored to probe the possible role of Tp'MR2+ species in group 4 metal Tp'MCl3/MAO olefin polymerization catalysts (Tp' = generic tris(pyrazolyl)borate). The reaction of Tp*Zr(CH2Ph)3 (1) with [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] in CD2Cl2 at -60 degrees C yields 2. 2 rearranges rapidly to [{(PhCH2)(H)B(mu-Me2pz)2}Zr(eta2-Me2pz)(CH2Ph)][B(C6F5)4] (3) at 0 degrees C. Both 2 and 3 are highly active for ethylene polymerization and alkyne insertion. Reaction of 2 with excess 2-butyne yields the double insertion product [Tp*Zr(CH2Ph)(CMe=CMeCMe=CMeCH2Ph)][B(C6F5)4] (4). Reaction of 3 with excess 2-butyne yields [{(PhCH2)(H)B(mu-Me2pz)2}Zr(Cp*)(eta2-Me2pz)][B(C6F5)4] (6, Cp* = C5Me5) via three successive 2-butyne insertions, intramolecular insertion, chain walking, and beta-Cp* elimination.     

Elucidating drug-metalloprotein interactions with tris(pyrazolyl)borate model complexes

The tetrahedral zinc complex [(Tp(Me,Ph))ZnOH] (Tp(Me,Ph) = hydrotris(5,3-methylphenylpyrazolyl)borate) was combined with acetohydroxamic acid, 3-mercapto-2-butanone, N-(methyl)mercaptoacetamide, beta-mercaptoethanol, 3-mercapto-2-propanol, and 3-mercapto-2-butanol to generate the complexes [(Tp(Me,Ph))Zn(ZBG)] (ZBG = zinc-binding group). These complexes were prepared to determine the mode of binding for three different types of thiol-derived matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors. The solid-state structures of all six metal complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography. The structures reveal that while beta-mercaptoketones and beta-mercaptoamides bind the zinc ion in a bidentate fashion, the three beta-mercaptoalcohol compounds only demonstrate monodentate coordination via the sulfur atom. Prior to this work, no experimental data were available for the binding conformation of these types of inhibitors to the zinc active site of MMPs. The results of these model studies reveal different binding modes for these ZBGs and are useful for explaining the results of inhibition assays and in second-generation drug design. This work demonstrates the utility of model complexes as a tool for revealing drug-metalloprotein interactions.     

Tripodal borate ligands from tris(dimethylamino)borane: the first synthesis of a chiral tris(methimazolyl)borate ligand, and the crystal structure of a single diastereomer pseudo-C3-symmetric Ru(II) complex

The activation of tris(dimethylamino)borane towards reaction with a chiral methimazole by N-methylimidazole has been used to prepare the first example of a chiral tris(methimazolyl)borate ligand. Coordination of this neutral ligand to Ru(II) has been achieved by reaction with [(p-cymene)RuCl(2)](2) to provide a single diastereomer complex in which the chirality of the methimazolyl substituents dictate the chirality of the bicyclo[3.3.3]cage formed by the ligand on coordination to the metal. The alternative approach to chiral tris(methimazolyl)borate ligands involving the introduction of a chiral group onto the boron atom has been explored by replacing N-methylimidazole in the above reaction by chiral oxazolines as activating bases in reaction with simple methimazole. However, although the B(NMe(2))(3) is activated to reaction with methimazole by these oxazolines, an intramolecular oxazoline ring-opening by a coordinated methimazolyl sulfur occurs and prevents the successful synthesis of these ligands.     

Sterically bulky tris(triazolyl)borate ligands as water-soluble analogues of tris(pyrazolyl)borate

The recently synthesized 3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazole reacted with KBH4 to give the new potassium tris(3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolyl)borate K(Ttz(tBu,Me)) ligand. Ttz(tBu,Me) formed a four-coordinate (Ttz(tBu,Me))CoCl complex and five-coordinate (Ttz(tBu,Me))CoNO3 and (Ttz(tBu,Me))ZnOAc complexes. When these complexes were compared to their Tp(tBu,Me) analogues, it was found that Ttz(tBu,Me) resulted in negligible steric differences. K(Ttz(tBu,Me)) is more water-soluble than K(Tp(tBu,Me)), so bulky tris(triazolyl)borate ligands should lead to functional models for enzyme active sites in an aqueous environment and the creation of water-soluble analogues of Tp catalysts.     

Redox-active nickel and cobalt tris(pyrazolyl)borate dithiocarbamate complexes: air-stable Co(II) dithiocarbamates

A series of new cobalt(II) and nickel(II) tris(3,5-diphenylpyrazolyl)borate (Tp(Ph2)) dithiocarbamate complexes [Tp(Ph2)M(dtc)] (M = Co, dtc = S?CNEt? 1, S?CNBz? 2 and S?CN(CH?)? 3; M = Ni, dtc = S?CNEt? 4, S?CNBz? 5 and S?CN(CH?)? 6) have been prepared by the reaction of [Tp(Ph2)MBr] with Nadtc in CH?Cl?. IR spectroscopy indicates that the Tp(Ph2) ligand is κ3 coordinated while the dithiocarbamate ligand is κ2 coordinated. 1H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy are consistent with high spin, five-coordinate metal centres. X-ray crystallographic studies of 1, 3 and 6 confirm the κ3 coordination of the Tp(Ph2) ligand and reveal an intermediate five-coordinate geometry with an asymmetrically coordinated dithiocarbamate ligand. Electrochemical studies of 1-6 reveal a metal centred reversible one-electron oxidation to M(III). Attempted oxidation of [Tp(Ph2)Co(dtc)] with [FeCpCp(COMe)]BF? yields [Co(dtc)?], Hpz(Ph2) and a further product which may be [Tp(Ph2)CoBp(Ph2)]. DFT calculations indicate that the low redox potentials in these complexes result from a strongly antibonding M-S σ* HOMO.     

Rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes derived from tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate ion

Treatment of [Re(CO)₄Cl]₂ with K[HB(3,5-Me₂C₃HN₂)₃] giving Re{HB(3,5-Me₂C₃HN₂)₃} (CO)₃ and Re(3,5-Me₂C₃HN₂)₂(CO)₃Cl, and bromination of the former to give Re{HB(3,5-Me₂-4-BrC₃N₂)₃}(CO)₃, without displacement of CO, is described.     

Structure-function correlations in Iron(II) tris(pyrazolyl)borate spin-state crossover complexes

Iron(II) poly(pyrazolyl)borate complexes have been investigated to determine the impact of substituent effects, intramolecular ligand distortions, and intermolecular supramolecular structures on the spin-state crossover (SCO) behavior. The molecular structure of Fe[HB(3,4,5-Me3pz)3]2 (pz = pyrazolyl ring), a complex known to remain high spin when the temperature is lowered, reveals that this complex has an intramolecular ring-twist distortion that is not observed in analogous complexes that do exhibit a SCO at low temperatures, thus indicating that this distortion greatly influences the properties of these complexes. The structure of Fe[B(3-(cy)Prpz)4]2.(CH3OH) ((cy)Pr = cyclopropyl ring) at 294 K has two independent molecules in the unit cell, both of which are high spin; only one of these high-spin iron(II) sites, the site with the lesser ring-twist distortion, is observed to be low-spin iron(II) in the 90 K structure. A careful evaluation of the supramolecular structures of these complexes and several similar complexes reported previously revealed no strong correlation between the supramolecular packing forces and their SCO behavior. Magnetic and M?ssbauer spectral measurements on Fe[B(3-(cy)Prpz)4]2 and Fe[HB(3-(cy)Prpz)3]2 indicate that both complexes exhibit a partial SCO from fully high-spin iron(II) at higher temperatures, respectively, to a 50:50 high-spin/low-spin mixture of iron(II) below 100 K. These results may be understood, in the former case, by the differences in ring-twisting and, in the latter case, by a phase transition; in all complexes in which a phase transition is observed, this change dominates the SCO behavior. A comparison of the M?ssbauer spectral properties of these two complexes and of Fe[HB(3-Mepz)3]2 with that of other complexes reveals correlations between the M?ssbauer-effect isomer shift and the average Fe-N bond distance and between the quadrupole splitting and the average FeN-NB intraligand dihedral torsion angles and the distortion of the average N-Fe-N intraligand bond angles.     

Syntheses and structures of lanthanide(III) complexes with some bis(pyrazolyl)borate and tris(pyrazolyl)borate podand ligands

Two new poly(pyrazolyl)borate ligands have been prepared: potassium tris[3-{(4-^tbutyl)-pyrid-2-yl}-pyrazol-1-yl]hydroborate (KTp^BuPy) which has three bidentate arms and is therefore hexadentate; and potassium bis[3-(2-pyridyl)-5-(methoxymethyl)pyrazol-1-yl]-dihydroborate (KBp^(COC)Py) which has two bidentate arms and is therefore tetradentate. The crystal structures of their lanthanide complexes [La(Tp^BuPy)(NO₃)₂] and [La(Bp^(COC)Py)₂X] (X=nitrate or triflate) have been determined. In [La(Tp^BuPy)(NO₃)₂] the metal ion is ten-coordinate, from the hexadentate N-donor podand ligand and two bidentate nitrates. [La(Bp^(COC)Py)₂(NO₃)] is also ten-coordinate, from two tetradentate ligands and a bidentate nitrate, but in [La(Bp^(COC)Py)₂(CF₃SO₃)] the metal ion is nine-coordinate because the triflate anion is monodentate. Two unexpected new complexes which arose from partial decomposition of the poly(pyrazolyl)borate ligands have also been characterised structurally. In [La(^BuPypzH)₃(O₃SCF₃)₃] the metal ion is nine-coordinate from three bidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine arms (liberated by decomposition of KTp^BuPy) and three triflate anions; there is extensive NH· · · O hydrogen-bonding between the pyrazolyl and triflate ligands. [Nd(Tp^Py)(Bp^Py)][Nd(PypzH)(NO₃)₄] was isolated from the reaction of hexadentate tris[3-(2-pyridyl)-pyrazol-1-yl]hydroborate (Tp^Py) with Nd(NO₃)₃. One of the Tp^Py ligands has lost one bidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine ‘arm’ (PypzH) to leave tetradentate tris[3-(2-pyridyl)-pyrazol-1-yl]dihydroborate (Bp^Py). In this structure, the cation [Nd(Tp^Py)(Bp^Py)]⁺ is ten-coordinate from inter-leaved hexadentate and tetradentate ligands, and the anion [Nd(PypzH)(NO₃)₄]⁻ is also ten-coordinate from the bidentate N-donor ligand PypzH and four bidentate nitrates.     

Manganese(I) poly(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate complexes: spectroscopic and structural characterization of Mn...H-B interactions in solution and in the solid state

The manganese(I) tricarbonyl complexes (Bm(R))Mn(CO)3(R = Me, Bz, But, p-Tol) and (PhBmMe)Mn(CO)3, the first bis(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate derivatives for this metal, have been readily prepared and fully characterized. In particular, the presence of three-center-two-electron Mn...H-B interactions in these species, both in solution and in the solid state, has been investigated using a combination of IR and NMR spectroscopies and, in the case of the methyl-, tert-butyl- and para-tolyl-substituted derivatives, by X-ray crystallography. To complement these synthetic and structural studies, the tris(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate complexes (TmMe)Mn(CO)3(R = Me, Bz, But, p-Tol) and (PhTm(Me))Mn(CO)3, as well as the related pyrazolylbis(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate (pzBmMe)Mn(CO)3, have also been synthesized and characterized by a combination of analytical and spectroscopic techniques.     

Highly fluorinated aryl-substituted tris(indazolyl)borate thallium complexes: diverse regiochemistry at the B-N bond

The synthesis and characterization (mainly by (19)F NMR and X-ray diffraction) of highly fluorinated aryl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazoles and their corresponding thallium hydrotris(indazolyl)borate complexes are reported [aryl = phenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]. Thanks to N-H···N hydrogen bonds, the indazoles crystallize as dimers that pack differently depending on the nature of the aryl group. The thallium hydrotris(indazolyl)borate complexes Tl[Fn-Tp(4Bo,3aryl)] resulting from the reaction of aryl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazoles [aryl = phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] with thallium borohydride adopt overall C(3v) symmetry with the indazolyl groups bound to boron via their N-1 nitrogen in a conventional manner. When the perfluorinated pentaphenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazole is reacted with thallium borohydride, a single regioisomer of C(s) symmetry having one indazolyl ring bound to boron via its N-2 nitrogen, TlHB(3-pentafluorophenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazol-1-yl)(2)(3-pentafluorophenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazol-2-yl) Tl[F27-Tp((4Bo,3C6F5)*)], is obtained for the first time. Surprisingly, the perfluorinated dihydrobis(indazolyl)borate complex Tl[F(18)-Bp(3Bo,3C6F5)], an intermediate on the way to the hydrotris(indazolyl)borate complex, has C(s) symmetry with two indazolyl rings bound to boron via N-2. The distortion of the coordination sphere around Tl and the arrangement of the complexes in the crystal are discussed.     

Electronic communication in oligometallic complexes with ferrocene-based tris(1-pyrazolyl)borate ligands

Ferrocene-based tris(1-pyrazolyl)borate ligands 1R-Li and 1R-Tl have been synthesized and used to generate a variety of heterotrinuclear transition metal complexes, 3R-M [R = H, SiMe(3), cyclohexyl, (cyclohexyl)methyl, phenyl; M(II) = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn]. The poor solubility of 3H-M is greatly enhanced by the introduction of large organic substituents into the 4-positions of all pyrazolyl rings. The unsubstituted ligand 1H-Li and the trinuclear complex 3Cym-Cu [Cym = (cyclohexyl)methyl] have been investigated by X-ray crystallography. 1H-Li, which represents the first example of a structurally characterized lithium tris(1-pyrazolyl)borate, forms centrosymmetric dimers in the solid state. A severe Jahn-Teller distortion was observed for the (Bpz(3))(2)Cu fragment in 3Cym-Cu. Compared to the parent compounds [(HBpz(3))(2)M], the presence of uncharged ferrocenyl substituents in 3R-M tends to shift the M(2+)/M(3+) redox potential to significantly more cathodic values. The opposite is true if the ferrocenyl fragments are in their cationic state, which results in an anodic shift of the M(2+)/M(3+) transition. Most interestingly, the two ferrocenyl fragments in 3R-Cu appear to be electronically communicating.     

Synthesis of high-purity tris(trimethylsilyl) borate

A method was developed for synthesis of high-purity tris(trimethylsilyl) borate by reaction of trimethylacetoxysilane with powdered boric acid.     

The co-ordination chemistry of tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane manganese carbonyl complexes: synthetic, electrochemical and DFT studies

The tricarbonyl [Mn(CO)(3){HC(pz')(3)}][PF(6)] 1(+)[PF(6)](-) (pz' = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) reacts with a range of P-, N- and C-donor ligands, L, in the presence of trimethylamine oxide to give [Mn(CO)(2)L{HC(pz')(3)}](+) {L = PEt(3)3(+), P(OEt)(3)4(+), P(OCH(2))(3)CEt 5(+), py 6(+), MeCN 7(+), CNBu(t)8(+) and CNXyl 9(+)}. The complex [Mn(CO)(2)(PMe(3)){HC(pz')(3)}](+)2(+) is formed by reaction of 7(+) with PMe(3). Complexes 2(+) and 6(+) were structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction methods. Reaction of 7(+) with half a molar equivalent of 4,4'-bipyridine gives a purple compound assumed to be the bridged dimer [{HC(pz')(3)}Mn(CO)(2)(μ-4,4'-bipy)Mn(CO)(2){HC(pz')(3)}](2+)10(2+). The relative electron donating ability of HC(pz')(3) has been established by comparison with the cyclopentadienyl and tris(pyrazolyl)borate analogues. Cyclic voltammetry shows that each of the complexes undergoes an irreversible oxidation. The correlation between the average carbonyl stretching frequency and the oxidation potential for complexes of P- and C-donor ligands is coincident with the correlation observed for [Mn(CO)(3-m)L(m)(η-C(5)H(5-n)Me(n))]. The data for complexes of N-donor ligands, however, are not coincident due to the presence of a node (and phase change) between the metal and the N-donor in the HOMO of the complex as suggested by preliminary DFT calculations.     

Ruthenium tris(pyrazolyl)borate diazo complexes: preparation of aryldiazenido, aryldiazene, and hydrazine derivatives

Tris(pyrazolyl)borate aryldiazenido complexes [RuTpLL'(ArN(2))](BF(4))(2) (1-3) [Ar = C(6)H(5), 4-CH(3)C(6)H(4); Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate; L = P(OEt)(3) or PPh(OEt)(2), L' = PPh(3); L = L' = P(OEt)(3)] were prepared by allowing dihydrogen [RuTp(eta(2)-H(2))LL'](+) derivatives to react with aryldiazonium cations. Spectroscopic characterization (IR, (15)N NMR) using the (15)N-labeled derivatives strongly supports the presence of a linear [Ru]-NN-Ar aryldiazenido group. Hydrazine complexes [RuTp(RNHNH(2))LL']BPh(4) (4-6) [R = H, CH(3), C(6)H(5), 4-NO(2)C(6)H(4); L = P(OEt)(3) or PPh(OEt)(2), L' = PPh(3); L = L' = P(OEt)(3)] were also prepared by reacting the [RuTp(eta(2)-H(2))LL'](+) cation with an excess of hydrazine. The complexes were characterized spectroscopically (IR and NMR) and by X-ray crystal structure determination of the [RuTp(CH(3)NHNH(2))[P(OEt)(3)](PPh(3))]BPh(4) (4d) derivative. Tris(pyrazolyl)borate aryldiazene complexes [RuTp(ArN=NH)LL']BPh(4) (7-9) (Ar = C(6)H(5), 4-CH(3)C(6)H(4)) were prepared following three different methods: (i). by allowing hydride species RuHTpLL' to react with aryldiazonium cations in CH(2)Cl(2); (ii). by treating aryldiazenido [RuTpLL'(ArN(2))](BF(4))(2) with LiBHEt(3) in CH(2)Cl(2); (iii). by oxidizing arylhydrazine [RuTp(ArNHNH(2))LL']BPh(4) complexes with Pb(OAc)(4) in CH(2)Cl(2) at -30 degrees C. Methyldiazene complexes [RuTp(CH(3)N=NH)LL']BPh(4) were also prepared by the oxidation of the corresponding methylhydrazine [RuTp(CH(3)NHNH(2))LL']BPh(4) with Pb(OAc)(4).