Sterically demanding hetero-substituted [2]borametallocenophanes of group IV metals: synthesis, structure and reactivity

We report the synthesis and characterisation of unprecedented unstrained [2]diborametallocenophanes of zirconium and hafnium that bear the bulky octamethylfluorenyl (η(5)-C(29)H(36)) system, the proligands of which were pre-constructed by a two-step synthesis. The compounds were fully characterised by NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and X-ray diffraction analysis. Typical reactivities relevant to olefin polymerisation such as methylation and chloride abstraction were also investigated. Finally, a sterically demanding bis(octamethylfluorenyl) metallocene was prepared.     

Controlled direct synthesis of C-mono- and C-disubstituted derivatives of [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2]- with organosilane groups: theoretical calculations compared with experimental results

Mono- and dilithium salts of [3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(11))(2)](-), (1(-)), react with different chlorosilanes (Me(2)SiHCl, Me(2)SiCl(2), Me(3)SiCl and MeSiHCl(2)) with an accurate control of the temperature to give a set of novel C(c)-mono- (C(c) = C(cluster)) and C(c)-disubstituted cobaltabis(dicarbollide) derivatives with silyl functions: [1-SiMe(2)H-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(10))(1',2'-C(2)B(9)H(11))](-) (3(-)); [1,1'-mu-SiMe(2)-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(10))(2)](-) (4(-)); [1,1'-mu-SiMeH-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(10))(2)](-) (5(-)); [1-SiMe(3)-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(10))(1',2'-C(2)B(9)H(11))](-) (6(-)) and [1,1'-(SiMe(3))(2)-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(10))(2)](-) (7(-)). In a similar way, the [8,8'-mu-(1',2'-C(6)H(4))-1,1'-mu-SiMe(2)-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(9))(2)](-) (8(-)); [8,8'-mu-(1',2'-C(6)H(4))-1,1'-mu-SiMeH-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(9))(2)](-) (9(-)) and [8,8'-mu-(1',2'-C(6)H(4))-1-SiMe(3)-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(9))(1',2'-C(2)B(9)H(10))](-) (10(-)) ions have been prepared from [8,8'-mu-(1',2'-C(6)H(4))-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(10))(2)](-) (2(-)). Thus, depending on the chlorosilane, the temperature and the stoichiometry of nBuLi used, it has been possible to control the number of substituents on the C(c) atoms and the nature of the attached silyl function. All compounds were characterised by NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry; [NMe(4)]-3, [NMe(4)]-4 and [NMe(4)]-7 were successfully isolated in crystalline forms suitable for X-ray diffraction analyses. The 4(-) and 8(-) ions, which contain one bridging -mu-SiMe(2) group between each of the dicarbollide clusters, were unexpectedly obtained from the reaction of the monolithium salts of 1(-) and 2(-), respectively, with Me(2)SiHCl at -78 degrees C in 1,2-dimethoxyethane. This suggests that an intramolecular reaction has taken place, in which the acidic C(c)-H proton reacts with the hydridic Si-H, with subsequent loss of H(2). Some aspects of this reaction have been studied by using DFT calculations and have been compared with experimental results. In addition, DFT theoretical studies at the B3 LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory were applied to optimise the geometries of ions 1(-)-10(-) and calculate their relative energies. Results indicate that the racemic mixtures, rac form, are more stable than the meso isomers. A good concordance between theoretical studies and experimental results has been achieved.     

Synthesis of asymmetrical bis(arene) iron complexes

Visible light irradiation of the [(η-C₆H₇)Fe(η-C₆H₆)]⁺ cation (1) in CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of alkyl-substituted benzenes results in arene exchange forming the [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(η-C₆R₆)]⁺ cations (2a–d: C₆R₆ is toluene, p-xylene, mesitylene, and durene). The mixed bis(arene) [(η-C₆H₆)Fe(η-C₆R₆)]²⁺ iron complexes (3a–d) were synthesized by hydride ion abstraction from 2a–d by [Ph₃C]⁺. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1864–1865, September, 2007.     

Photochemical substitution of benzene in the iron cyclohexadienyl complex [(η<Superscript>5</Superscript>-C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>7</Subscript>)Fe(η-C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>6</Subscript>)]<Superscript>+</Superscript>

The visible light irradiation of the [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(η-C₆H₆)]⁺ cation (1) in acetonitrile resulted in the substitution of the benzene ligand to form the labile acetonitrile species [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(MeCN)₃]⁺ (2). The reaction of 1 with Bu^tNC in MeCN produced the stable isonitrile complex [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(Bu^tNC)₃]⁺ (3). The photochemical reaction of cation 1 with pentaphosphaferrocene Cp*Fe(η-cyclo-P₅) afforded the triple-decker cation with the bridging pentaphospholyl ligand, [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(μ-η:η-cyclo-P₅)FeCp*]⁺ (4). The latter complex was also synthesized by the reaction of cation 2 with Cp*Fe(η-cyclo-P₅). The structure of the complex [3]PF₆ was established by X-ray diffraction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2088–2091, November, 2007.     

Photoisomerization of 2,3,6,7-tetraphenyl-1,2,3-triazolo[1,2-b]-1,2,3-triazole

Irradiation of the title compound brings about consecutive photoisomerizations via derivatives of 1,2,3-triazolyl-2H-azirine, 1,2,3-triazolo[1,2-a]-1,2,4-triazole and 1,2,4-triazolyl-2H-azirine, leading finally to a dihydrotetraazabenz [e] azulene.