Symmetrical and unsymmetrical pincer complexes with group 10 metals: synthesis via aryl C-H activation and some catalytic applications

Aryl-based pincer metal complexes with anionic terdentate ligands have been widely applied in organic synthesis, organometallic catalysis and other related areas. Synthetically, the most simple and convenient method for the construction of these complexes is the direct metal-induced C(aryl)-H bond activation, which can be fulfilled by choosing the appropriate functional donor groups in the two side arms of the aryl-based pincer preligands. In this perspective, we wish to summarize some results achieved by our group in this context. Successful examples include symmetrical chiral bis(imidazoline) NCN pincer complexes with Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II), bis(phosphinite) and bis(phosphoramidite) PCP pincer Pd(II) complexes, unsymmetrical (pyrazolyl)phosphinite, (amino)phosphinite and (imino)phosphinite PCN pincer Pd(II) complexes, chiral (imidazolinyl)phosphinite and (imidazolinyl)phosphoramidite PCN pincer complexes with Ni(II) and Pd(II) as well as unsymmetrical (oxazolinyl)amine and (oxazolinyl)pyrazole NCN' pincer Pd(II) complexes. Among them, the P-donor containing complexes are efficiently synthesized by the "one-pot phosphorylation/metalation" method. The obtained symmetrical and unsymmetrical pincer complexes have been used as catalysts in Suzuki-Miyaura reaction (Pd), asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indole with trans-β-nitrostyrene (Pt) as well as in asymmetric allylation of aldehyde and sulfonimine (Pd). In the Suzuki couplings conducted at 40-50 °C, some unsymmetrical Pd complexes exhibit much higher activity than the related symmetrical ones which can be attributed to their faster release of active Pd(0) species resulting from the hemilabile coordination of the ligands. Literature results on the synthesis of some related pincer complexes as well as their activities in the above catalytic reactions are also presented.     

Unsymmetrical (R)PNP(R') pincer ligands and their group 10 complexes

Two new unsymmetrical (R)PNP(R')-type pincer ligands based on a bis(tolyl)amine framework have been synthesized and characterized by a variety of techniques, including X-ray crystallography. These ligands have been coordinated to Ni, Pd, and Pt precursors to provide a number of well-characterized group 10 halides. Conversion of these metal halides to metal hydrides was accomplished using borohydride reagents, or by direct interaction of the ligand with the zerovalent metal precursor. The insertion of oxygen into these hydrides in an attempt to prepare metal hydroperoxides has been examined; however, we were unable to obtain stable and isolable hydroperoxide species.     

Choice of coordination number in d10 complexes of group 11 metals

The distribution of di-, tri-, and tetracoordination among the d(10) ions of the group 11 metals is theoretically analyzed by means of density functional calculations on more than 150 model complexes of general formula [MX(m)L(n)](1-m) (where M = Cu, Ag, or Au; L = NH(3) or PH(3); X = Cl, Br, or I; m + n = 2-4). The energy of a ligand association reaction has been found to be practically determined by two contributions: the interaction energy and the energy of deformation of the metal coordination sphere. The larger deformation energy of gold complexes compared to copper and silver ones explains the predominance of dicoordination among Au(I) complexes, in comparison with Cu(I) and Ag(I), for which dicoordination is far less common than tri- and tetracoordination. Other experimental trends can be explained by looking at the fine details of these two energetic components.     

Novel bis(azole) pincer palladium complexes: synthesis, structures and applications in Mizoroki-Heck reactions

Two novel NCN-pincer complex precursors bearing frameworks of 2,6-bis(oxazol-4-yl)benzene (A) and 2-(thiazol-4-yl)-6-(oxazol-4-yl)benzene (B) were synthesized. Palladations of A and B afforded two new bis(azole) pincer complexes, [(A-κ(3)NCN)PdBr] (1) and [(B-κ(3)NCN)PdBr] (2). Both complexes were fully characterized by NMR, MS, DSC-TGA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 1 crystallizes in a noncentrosymmetric orthorhombic space group Cmc2(1) (No. 36, Z=4). Complex 2 crystallizes in a centrosymmetric monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (No. 14, Z=4). Despite the similarity in their chemical formulas, the structures of the two complexes are subtly different: they are built up of two-dimensional supramolecular layers with identical topology, but stacked in different sequences, i.e., the layers in complex 1 are stacked in an AAAA-type fashion, while those in complex 2 are stacked in an alternating AA(-1)AA(-1) sequence (A denotes a layer; A(-1) stands for A's inversion symmetry equivalent). In addition, the complexes showed good catalytic activity toward Mizoroki-Heck reactions.     

Isolation and crystallographic characterization of solvate- and anion-stabilized PCP pincer complexes of palladium(II)

Pincer PCP-Pd(II) complex [PdCl(PCP)] (1) (PCP = ^?CH(CH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂) reacts with AgNO₃ to give [Pd(NO₃)(PCP)] (2). Similar reaction with AgBF₄ gives the aqua complex [Pd(OH₂)(PCP)][BF₄] (3) and the dinuclear complex [{Pd(PCP)}₂(μ-Cl)][BF₄] (4) with singly bridging chloro ligand. All new complexes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 and the triflate complex [Pd(OTf)(PCP)] (5) are active towards Suzuki–Miyaura coupling between aryl bromides and phenyl boronic acid.     

Deprotonation/protonation of coordinated secondary thioamide units of pincer ruthenium complexes: modulation of voltammetric and spectroscopic characterization of the pincer complexes

New pincer ruthenium complexes, [Ru(SCS)(tpy)]PF(6) (1) (SCS = 2,6-bis(benzylaminothiocarbonyl)phenyl), tpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridyl) and [Ru(SNS)(tpy)]PF(6) (2) (SNS = 2,5-bis(benzylaminothiocarbonyl)pyrrolyl), having κ(3)SCS and κ(3)SNS pincer ligands with two secondary thioamide units were synthesized by the reactions of [RuCl(3)(tpy)] with N,N'-dibenzyl-1,3-benzenedicarbothioamide (L1) and N,N'-dibenzyl-2,5-1H-pyrroledicarbothioamide (L2), respectively, and their chemical and electrochemical properties were elucidated. The structure of 1 was determined by X-ray crystallography. The complexes 1 and 2 showed a two-step deprotonation reaction by treatment with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5,4,0]undec-7-ene (DBU), and the addition of DBU led to a shift of the metal-centered redox couples to a lower potential by 720 and 550 mV, respectively. The di-deprotonated complexes were also studied by (1)H-NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The addition of methanesulfonic acid (MSA) to the di-deprotonated complexes enabled the recovery of 1 and 2, indicating that the thioamide moiety underwent a reversible deprotonation-protonation process, which resulted in regulating the redox potentials of the metal center. The Pourbaix diagram of 1 revealed that 1 underwent a one-proton/one-electron transfer process in the pH range of 5.83-10.35, and a two-proton/one-electron process at a pH of over 10.35, indicating that the deprotonation/protonation process of the complexes is related to proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET).     

Novel pincer complexes of Ag(I), coordination of toluene and their comparison with indium analogues

The bis(imino)pyridine scaffold provides for the synthesis and characterization of the unique Ag(I) pincer complexes [{ArN=CPh}(2)(NPh)]Ag(+)(OTf)(-) (Ar = 2,5-(t)Bu(2)C(6)H(3); 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)). The similar covalent radii of Ag(I) and In(I), prompted a bonding comparison of these species with their In(I) analogues. Coordination of toluene to the Ag center revealed the stronger Lewis acidity of the metal site in these compounds relative to In(I) analogues.     

The interplay of metal and supporting ligand in labile coordination to pincer complexes of Ag(I)

The bis(imino)pyridine scaffold provides support for the synthesis and characterization of unique Ag(I) pincer complexes [{ArN=CPh}(2)(NPh)]Ag(+)(OTf)(-) (Ar = 2,5-(t)Bu(2)C(6)H(3)3; 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3) 4). The bonding interactions between the cation-anion and between the bis(imino)pyridine ligand and the Ag centre are presented. Coordination of pyridine, toluene, 2-butyne and cyclooctene to the Ag centre led to the isolation and crystallographic characterization of labile transient adduct species. Bonding analysis of the adducts revealed conventional ligand-Ag coordination and important unconventional electron donation from the ligand to a π*-orbital of the bis(imino)pyridine group.     

Perfluoroalkylphosphine coordination chemistry of platinum: synthesis of (C2F5)2PPh and (C2F5)PPh2 complexes of platinum(II)

A 1:1 addition of Ph2PCl to an ethereal solution of C2F5Li (formed from the reaction of BuLi with C2F5Cl) yields Ph2P(C2F5)(abbreviated pfepp) (1). The introduction of a fluoroethyl group results in a phosphine with electronic characteristics that approximate phosphites, bridging the electronic gap between traditional donor phosphine ligands and more electrophilic phosphine ligands like PhP(C2F5)2 (2). The pfepp ligand 1 is isolated as a high boiling liquid, which crystallizes upon standing at room temperature in an inert atmosphere. A series of Pt(II) complexes of the type trans-L2PtCl2 (L = pfepp 3; PhP(C2F5)2 4) have been prepared and structurally characterized by multinuclear NMR, IR and X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure of is the first example of a structurally characterized monodentate phosphine with a pentafluoroethyl pendant group.     

Bis(isothiocyanato)bis(phosphine) complexes of group 10 metals: reactivity toward organic isocyanides

Treatment of Ni(NCS)2(PMe2Ph)2 with organic isocyanides CN-R gave five-coordinate isocyanide Ni(II) complexes, Ni(CN-R)(NCS)2(PMe2Ph)2 (R = C6H3-2,6-Me2 (1), t-Bu (2)). Interestingly, the corresponding reaction of Ni(NCS)2(P(n-Pr)3)2 with 2 equiv. of CN-t-Bu gave an unusual compound, which exists as an ion pair of the trigonal bipyramidal cation [Ni(P(n-Pr)3)2(CN-t-Bu)3]2+ (3) and the dinuclear NCS-bridged anion [Ni(1,3-micro-NCS)(NCS)3]2(2-) (4). In contrast, Pd(NCS)2(P(n-Pr)3)2 underwent substitution with 2 equiv. of CN-t-Bu to give the four-coordinate mono(isocyanide) Pd(II) complex Pd(NCS)(SCN)(CN-t-Bu)(P(n-Pr)3) (5) via phosphine dissociation. Reactions of M(NCS)2L2 (M = Pd, Pt; L = PMe3, PEt3, PMePh2, P(n-Pr)3) with two equiv. of CN-R (R = t-Bu, i-Pr, C6H3-2,6-Me2) gave the corresponding bis(isocyanide) complexes [M(CN-R)2(PR3)2](SCN)2 (7-13), except for Pd(NCS)2(PEt3)2 that reacted with CN-R' (R' = i-Pr, C6H3-2,6-Me2) and produced the mono(isocyanide) Pd(II) complexes [Pd(CN-R')(SCN)(PEt3)2](SCN) (14 and 15). Finally, treatment of M(NCS)2(PMe3)2 (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) with sterically bulky isocyanide CN-C6H3-2,6-i-Pr2 gave various products, (16-18) depending on the identity of the metal.     

Silanol-based pincer Pt(II) complexes: synthesis, structure, and unusual reactivity

Aiming at the generation of a silanone intramolecularly bound to platinum, we prepared pincer-type PSiP silanol Pt(II) complexes. While a stable silanone complex was not isolated, unusual reactivity modes, involving its possible intermediacy, were observed. Treatment of the new PSiH 2P-type ligand ( o-IPr 2PC 6H 4) 2SiH 2 ( 7) with (Me 2S) 2Pt(Me)Cl yields the pincer-type hydrosilane complex [{( o- iPr 2PC 6H 4) 2SiH}PtCl] ( 8), which upon Ir(I)-catalyzed hydrolytic oxidation gives the structurally characterized silanol complex [{( o- iPr 2PC 6H 4) 2SiOH}PtCl] ( 3). Complex 3, comprising in its structure the nucleophilic silanol fragment and electrophilic Pt(II)-Cl moiety, exhibits dual reactivity. Its reaction with the non-nucleophilic KB(C 6F 5) 4 in fluorobenzene leads to the ionic complex [{( o- iPr 2PC 6H 4) 2SiOH}Pt] (+) [(C 6F 5) 4B] (-) ( 9), which reacts with CO to yield the structurally characterized [{( o- iPr 2PC 6H 4) 2SiOH}PtCO] (+) [(C 6F 5) 4B] (-) ( 10). Treatment of 3 with non-nucleophilic bases leads to unprecedented rearrangement and coupling, resulting in the structurally characterized, unusual binuclear complex 11. The structure of 11 comprises two different fragments: the original O-Si-Pt(II)-Cl pattern, and the newly formed silanolate Pt(II)-H pattern, which are connected via a disiloxane bridge. Complex 9 undergoes a similar hydrolytic rearrangement in the presence of iPr 2NEt to give the mononuclear silanolate Pt(II)-H complex 17. Both these rearrangement-coupling reactions probably involve the inner-sphere generation of an intermediate silanone 14, which undergoes nucleophilic attack by the starting silanol 3 to yield complex 11, or adds a water molecule to yield complex 17. X-ray diffraction studies of 3, 10, and 11 exhibit a very short Si-Pt bond length (2.27-2.28 A) in the neutral complexes 3 and 11 that elongates to 2.365 A in the carbonyl complex 10. A significantly compressed geometry of the silanolate platinum(II)-hydride fragment B of the binuclear complex 11 features a Pt(2)-O(2)-Si(2) angle of 100.4 (3) degrees and a remarkably short Pt(2)...Si(2) [2.884 (3) A] distance.     

Actinide metals with multiple bonds to carbon: synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of U(IV) and Th(IV) bis(iminophosphorano)methandiide pincer carbene complexes

Treatment of ThCl(4)(DME)(2) or UCl(4) with 1 equiv of dilithiumbis(iminophosphorano) methandiide, [Li(2)C(Ph(2)P═NSiMe(3))(2)] (1), afforded the chloro actinide carbene complexes [Cl(2)M(C(Ph(2)P═NSiMe(3))(2))] (2 (M = Th) and 3 (M = U)) in situ. Stable PCP metal-carbene complexes [Cp(2)Th(C(Ph(2)P═NSiMe(3))(2))] (4), [Cp(2)U(C(Ph(2)P═NSiMe(3))(2))] (5), [TpTh(C(Ph(2)P═NSiMe(3))(2))Cl] (6), and [TpU(C(Ph(2)P═NSiMe(3))(2))Cl] (7) were generated from 2 or 3 by further reaction with 2 equiv of thallium(I) cyclopentadienide (CpTl) in THF to yield 4 or 5 or with 1 equiv of potassium hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl) borate (TpK) also in THF to give 6 or 7, respectively. The derivative complexes were isolated, and their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. All of these U (or Th)-carbene complexes (4-7) possess a very short M (Th or U)═carbene bond with evidence for multiple bond character. Gaussian 03 DFT calculations indicate that the M═C double bond is constructed by interaction of the 5f and 6d orbitals of the actinide metal with carbene 2p orbitals of both π and σ character. Complex 3 reacted with acetonitrile or benzonitrile to cyclo-add C≡N to the U═carbon double bond, thereby forming a new C-C bond in a new chelated quadridentate ligand in the bridged dimetallic complexes (9 and 10). A single carbon-U bond is retained. The newly coordinated uranium complex dimerizes with one equivalent of unconverted 3 using two chlorides and the newly formed imine derived from the nitrile as three connecting bridges. In addition, a new crystal structure of [CpUCl(3)(THF)(2)] (8) was determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Magnetic anisotropy in Ni(II)-Y(III) binuclear complexes: on the importance of both the first coordination sphere of the Ni(II) ion and the Y(III) ion belonging to the second coordination sphere

The synthesis of a new Ni(II)-Y(III) binuclear complex with a marked elongation axis in the first coordination sphere of the Ni(II) ion is presented. Its zero-field splitting (ZFS) is studied by means of magnetic data and state-of-the-art ab initio calculations. A good agreement between the experimental and theoretical ZFS parameter values is encountered, validating the whole approach. The magnetic anisotropy axes are extracted from the ab initio calculations, showing that the elongation axis around the Ni(II) ion corresponds to the hard axis of magnetization and that the sign of the axial D parameter is imposed by this axis. The Ni-Y axis is found to be an easy axis of magnetization, which is, however, not significant according to the sign of D. The already reported [(H(2)O)Ni(ovan)(2)(μ-NO(3))Y(ovan)(NO(3))]·H(2)O (ovan = o-vanillin) complex is then revisited. In this case, the elongation axis in the Ni(II) coordination sphere is less marked and the ZFS is dominated by the effect of the Y(III) ion belonging to the second coordination sphere. As a consequence, the D parameter is negative and the low-temperature behavior is dominated by the Ni-Y easy axis of magnetization. A competition between the first coordination sphere of the Ni(II) ion and the electrostatic effect of the Y(III) ion belonging to the second coordination sphere is then evidenced in both complexes, and the positive and negative D parameters are then linked to the relative importance of both effects in each complex.     

Dinuclear PCP pincer complexes from Lewis acidic [Pd(OTf)(PCP)] and basic [Pd(4-Spy)(PCP)] (OTf = triflate; 4-Spy = 4-pyridinethiolate; PCP = (-)CH(CH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))(2))

The Lewis acidic pincer with a labile triflate ligand, viz. [Pd(OTf)(PCP)] (PCP = (-)CH(CH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))(2)) was prepared from [PdCl(PCP)] with AgOTf. It reacts readily with neutral bidentate ligands [L = 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bpy) and 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf)] to give dinuclear PCP pincers [{Pd(PCP)}(2)(micro-L)][OTf](2) (L = 4,4'-bpy, 2; dppf,3). [PdCl(PCP)] also reacts with 4-mercaptopyridine in the presence of KOH to give a Lewis basic pincer with a free pyridine functional group [Pd(4-Spy)(PCP)]4. Its metalloligand character is exemplified by the isolation of an asymmetric dinuclear double-pincer complex [{Pd(PCP)}(2)(micro-4-Spy)][PF(6)] 6 bridged by an ambidentate pyridinethiolato ligand. Complexes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Novel metal complexes containing a chiral trinitrogen isoindoline-based pincer ligand: in situ synthesis and structural characterization

The first synthesis and characterization of metal coordinated complexes containing in situ prepared chiral trinitrogen 1,3-bis(4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-ylimino)isoindoline-based pincer ligands are reported. Two zinc complexes, isolated as Zn(L)(2), where L = 1,3-bis(4,5-dihydro-4-(R)-phenyloxazol-2-ylimino)isoindoline ((R,R)-5) or 1,3-bis(4,5-dihydro-4-(S)-iso-propyloxazol-2-ylimino)isoindoline ((S,S)-6), respectively, are reported. Complexes Zn((R,R)-5)(2) and Zn((S,S)-6)(2) were prepared in situ through the condensation of phthalonitrile with enantiopure 2-amino-4-(R)-phenyloxazoline ((R)-3) or 2-amino-4-(S)-iso-propyloxazoline ((S)-4) in the presence of ZnCl(2) at 80 °C in dry toluene over 3-4 days. The characterizations of Zn((R,R)-5)(2) and Zn((S,S)-6)(2) in both the solid (X-ray crystallography) and solution (multinuclear NMR spectroscopy) states are reported.     

Neutral and cationic chiral NCN pincer nickel(II) complexes with 1,3-bis(2'-imidazolinyl)benzenes: synthesis and characterization

Chiral 1,3-bis(2'-imidazolinyl)benzenes 1a-e easily undergo direct nickelation at the C2 position of the central benzene ring via the C-H bond activation in the reaction with anhydrous NiCl(2) giving neutral NCN pincer nickel(II) complexes 2a-e in 40-87% yields. Treatment of the nickel pincers 2a or 2c with AgBF(4) in CH(3)CN-CH(2)Cl(2) afforded the cationic nickel pincers 3a or 3c in good yields. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, (1)H, (13)C NMR, and IR spectra. Molecular structures of the neutral complexes 2a, 2b and 2c as well as the cationic complex 3c have been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The cationic nickel pincers 3 are found to be effective catalysts for the Michael addition of ethyl 2-cyanopropionate to methyl vinyl ketone in the presence of i-Pr(2)NEt base with a catalyst loading of 5 mol% even at -78 °C, producing the adduct in >99% yield after 24 h albeit with no ee.