Operationally unsaturated pincer/rhenium complexes form metal carbenes from cycloalkenes and metal carbynes from alkanes

Operationally unsaturated (i.e., 16/18-electron) (PNPR)Re(H)4, where PNPR is N(SiMe2CH2PR2)2, is reactive at 22 degrees C with cyclic olefins. The first observed products are generally (PNPR)Re(H)2(cycloalkylidene), with hydrogenated olefin as the product of hydrogen abstraction from the tetrahydride. The tetrahydride complex with R = tBu generally fails to react (too bulky), that with R = cyclohexyl suffers a (controllable) tendency to abstraction of 3H from one ring, forming an eta3-cyclohexenyl compound, and that with R = iPr generally gives the richest bimolecular reactivity. The cyclic monoolefins studied show distinct reactivity, C6 giving first the carbene and then coordinated cyclohexadiene, C5 giving carbene, then diene, and then eta5-C5H5, C8 giving carbene and then eta2-cyclooctyne, and C12 giving an eta3-allyl. Norbornene gives a pi-complex of the norbornene in thermal equilibrium with its carbene isomer; at 90 degrees C, hydrocarbon ligand Calpha-Cbeta bond cleavage occurs to give, for the first time, a carbyne complex from an internal olefin. Two compounds synthesized here have the formal composition "(PNPR)Re + olefin", and each of these is capable of dehydrogenating the methyl group of a variety of alkanes at 110 degrees C to form (PNP)ReH triple bond (CR).     

Agostic interaction in the methylidene metal dihydride complexes H2MCH2 (M=Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Th, or U)

Multiconfigurational quantum chemical methods (complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF)/second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2)) have been used to study the agostic interaction between the metal atom and H(C) in the methylidene metal dihydride complexes H2MCH2, where M is a second row transition metal or the actinide atoms Th or U. The geometry of some of these complexes is highly irregular due to the formation of a three center bond CH...M, where the electrons in the CH bond are delocalized onto empty or half empty orbitals of d- or f-type on the metal. No agostic interaction is expected when M=Y, where only a single bond with methylene can be formed, or when M=Ru, because of the lack of empty electron accepting metal valence orbitals. The largest agostic interaction is found in the Zr and U complexes.     

Hydrolysis, hydrosulfidolysis, and aminolysis of imido(methyl)rhenium complexes

The tris(imido)methylrhenium complex CH3Re(NAd)3 (1a, Ad = 1-adamantyl) reacts with H2O to give CH3Re(NAd)2O (2a) and AdNH2. The resulting di(imido)oxo species can further react with another molecule of H2O to generate CH3Re(NAd)O2 (3a). The kinetics of these reactions have been studied by means of 1H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies. The second-order rate constant for the reaction of 1a with H2O at 298 K in C6H6 is 3.3 L mol-1 s-1, which is much larger than the value 1 x 10(-4) L mol-1 s-1 obtained for the reaction between CH3Re(NAr)3 (1b, Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) and H2O in CH3CN at 313 K. Both 1a and 1b react with H2S to produce the rhenium(VII) sulfide, (CH3Re(NR)2)2(mu-S)2 (4a, R = Ad; 4b, R = Ar), with second-order rate constants of 17 and 1.6 x 10(-4) L mol-1 s-1 in C6H6 and CH3CN, respectively. Complex 4b has been structurally characterized. The crystal data are as follows: space group C2/c, a = 30.4831 (19) A, b = 10.9766 (7) A, c = 18.1645 (11) A, beta = 108.268(1) degrees, V = 5771.5 (6) A3, Z = 4. The reaction between CH3Re(NAr)2O (2b) and H2S also yields the dinuclear compound 4b. Unlike 1b, 1a reacts with aniline derivatives to give mixed imido rhenium complexes.     

Insertion reactions of hydridonitrosyltetrakis(trimethylphosphine) tungsten(0)

[W(H)(NO)(PMe3)4] (1) was prepared by the reaction of [W(Cl)(NO)(PMe3)4] with NaBH4 in the presence of PMe3. The insertion of acetophenone, benzophenone and acetone into the W-H bond of 1 afforded the corresponding alkoxide complexes [W(NO)(PMe3)4(OCHR1R2)](R1 = R2 = Me (2); R1 = Me, R2 = Ph (3); R1 = R2 = Ph (4)), which were however thermally unstable. Insertion of CO2 into the W-H bond of yields the formato-O complex trans-W(NO)(OCHO)(PMe3)4 (5). Reaction of trans-W(NO)(H)(PMe3)4 with CO led to the formation of mer-W(CO)(NO)(H)(PMe3)3 (6) and not the formyl complex W(NO)(CHO)(PMe3)4. Insertion of Fe(CO)(5), Re2(CO)10 and Mn2(CO)10 into trans-W(NO)(H)(PMe3)4 resulted in the formation of trans-W(NO)(PMe3)4(mu-OCH)Fe(CO)4 (7), trans-W(NO)(PMe3)4(mu-OCH)Re2(CO)9 (8) and trans-W(NO)(PMe3)4(mu-OCH)Mn2(CO)9 (9). For Re2(CO)10, an equilibrium was established and the thermodynamic data of the equilibrium reaction have been determined by a variable-temperature NMR experiments (K(298K)= 104 L mol(-1), DeltaH=-37 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS =-86 J K(-1) mol(-1)). Both compounds 7 and 8 were separated in analytically pure form. Complex 9 decomposed slowly into some yet unidentified compounds at room temperature. Insertion of imines into the W-H bond of 1 was also additionally studied. For the reactions of the imines PhCH=NPh, Ph(Me)C=NPh, C6H5CH=NCH2C6H5, and (C6H5)2C=NH with only decomposition products were observed. However, the insertion of C10H7N=CHC6H5 into the W-H bond of led to loss of one PMe3 ligand and at the same time a strong agostic interaction (C17-H...W), which was followed by an oxidative addition of the C-H bond to the tungsten center giving the complex [W(NO)(H)(PMe3)3(C10H6NCH2Ph)] (10). The structures of compounds 1, 4, 7, 8 and 10 were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Formation of cis-enediyne complexes from rhenium alkynylcarbene complexes

Dimerization of the alkynylcarbene complex Cp(CO)(2)Re=C(Tol)C(triple bond)CCH(3) (8) occurs at 100 degrees C to give a 1.2:1 mixture of enediyne complexes [Cp(CO)(2)Re](2)[eta(2),eta(2)-TolC(triple bond)CC(CH(3))=C(CH(3))C(triple bond)CTol] (10-Eand 10-Z), showing no intrinsic bias toward trans-enediyne complexes. The cyclopropyl-substituted alkynylcarbene complex Cp(CO)(2)Re=C(Tol)C(triple bond)CC(3)H(5) (11) dimerizes at 120 degrees C to give a 5:1 ratio of enediyne complexes [Cp(CO)(2)Re](2)[eta(2),eta(2)-TolC(triple bond)C(C(3)H(5))C=C(C(3)H(5))C(triple bond)CTol] (12-E and 12-Z); no ring expansion product was observed. This suggests that if intermediate A formed by a [1,1.5] Re shift and having carbene character at the remote alkynyl carbon is involved, then interaction of the neighboring Re with the carbene center greatly diminishes the carbene character as compared with that of free cyclopropyl carbenes. The tethered bis-(alkynylcarbene) complex Cp(CO)(2)Re=C(Tol)C(triple bond)CCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)C(triple bond)CC(Tol)= Re(CO)(2)Cp (13) dimerizes rapidly at 12 degrees C to give the cyclic cis-enediyne complex [Cp(CO)(2)Re](2)[eta(2),eta(2)-TolC(triple bond)CC(CH(2)CH(2)CH(2))=CC(triple bond)CTol] (15). Attempted synthesis of the 1,8-disubstituted naphthalene derivative 1,8-[Cp(CO)(2)Re=C(Tol)C(triple bond)C](2)C(10)H(6) (16), in which the alkynylcarbene units are constrained to a parallel geometry, leads to dimerization to [Cp(CO)(2)Re](2)(eta(2),eta(2)-1,2-(tolylethynyl)acenaphthylene] (17). The very rapid dimerizations of both 13 and 16 provide compelling evidence against mechanisms involving cyclopropene intermediates. A mechanism is proposed which involves rate-determining addition of the carbene center of A to the remote alkynyl carbon of a second alkynylcarbene complex to generate vinyl carbene intermediate C, and rearrangement of C to the enediyne complex by a [1,1.5] Re shift.     

Infrared spectrum and bonding in uranium methylidene dihydride, CH2=UH2

Uranium atoms activate methane upon ultraviolet excitation to form the methyl uranium hydride CH3-UH, which undergoes alpha-H transfer to produce uranium methylidene dihydride, CH2=UH2. This rearrangement most likely occurs on an excited-quintet potential-energy surface and is followed by relaxation in the argon matrix. These simple U+CH4 reaction products are identified through isotopic substitution (13CH4, CD4, CH2D2) and density functional theory frequency and structure calculations for the strong U-H stretching modes. Relativistic multiconfiguration (CASSCF/CASPT2) calculations substantiate the agostic distorted C1 ground-state structure for the triplet CH2=UH2 molecule. We find that uranium atoms are less reactive in methane activation than thorium atoms. Our calculations show that the CH2=UH2 complex is distorted more than CH2=ThH2. A favorable interaction between the low energy open-shell U(5f) sigma orbital and the agostic hydrogen contributes to the distortion in the uranium methylidene complexes.     

Formation and characterization of thorium methylidene CH2=ThHX complexes

Laser-ablated thorium atoms react with methyl fluoride to give the CH2=ThHF molecule as the major product observed and trapped in solid argon. Infrared spectroscopy, isotopic substitution, and density functional theoretical frequency calculations confirm the identification of this methylidene complex. The four strongest computed absorptions (Th-H stretch, Th=C stretch, CH2 wag, and Th-F stretch) are the four vibrational modes observed. The CH2=ThHCl and CH2=ThHBr species formed from methyl chloride and methyl bromide exhibit the first three of these modes in the infrared spectra. The computed structures (B3LYP and CCSD) show considerable agostic interaction, similar to that observed for the Group 4 CH2=MHX (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) methylidene complexes, and the agostic angle and C=Th bond length decrease slightly in the CH2=ThHX series (X = F, Cl, Br).     

Origins of the diastereoselectivity in hydrogen bonding directed Diels-Alder reactions of chiral dienes with achiral dienophiles: a computational study

In this study, the origins of diastereoselectivity in the hydrogen bonding assisted Diels-Alder reactions of chiral dienes with achiral dienophiles have been investigated with density functional methods. The distortion/interaction model has been applied to shed light on the origins of selectivity. C9-Substituted chiral anthracene templates (R = (CH(3))(OCH(3))(H), R = (CH(3))(OH)(H), R = (CH(3))(CH(2)CH(3))(H) and R = (-CH(2)-C(CH(3))(OCH(3))(H)) are used to rationalize the role of a stereogenic center and H-bonding on the product distribution ratio. Even though hydrogen bonding increases the reactivity of the diene, the stereoselectivity is reduced because of the hydrogen bonding capacity of both diastereomeric transition states. The interaction energies of the studied anthracene templates with N-methyl maleimide at the transition state correlate linearly with an increase in reactivity. The selectivity is determined by both favorable distortion and interaction energies. The π-facial selectivity induced by the presence of a chiral auxiliary in 1-substituted 1,3-pentadienes (R1 = (CH(3))(OCH(3))(H) and R1 = (CH(3))(OH)(H)) has also been modeled in order to rationalize the role of the stereogenic center and H-bonding on the stereoselectivity of an aliphatic diene. In both parts, the product distribution ratios calculated from Boltzmann distributions based on Gibbs free energies are in reasonable agreement with the experimental results. Finally the role of OH-substituted five-membered pyrrolidine on C9 of anthracene is investigated since the successful usage of the conformationally rigid pyrrolidines in asymmetric synthesis is well known. Overall, both in the acyclic system and in anthracene, the facilitation due to H-bonding is reflected in the interaction energies: the higher the difference in interaction energies in the transition structures of the two diastereomers, the more selective the H-bonding assisted Diels-Alder reaction is.     

Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes

Reaction of aminophosphinimine [RHN(CH(2))(2)N[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh(3)] (R = H, Et) with Re(2)(CO)(10) provided the NH-functionalized carbene rhenium complex [Re(2)(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(9)] (3a, R = H, 3b, R = Et). Treatment of 3 with Br(2) provided the mono nuclear [Re(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(4)Br] (1, R = H, 2, R = Et). However, NH-functionalized carbene complexes 1-3 did not undergo N-alkylation with alkyl halides to yield the N-substituted NHC complexes. The direct ligand substitution of [Re(CO)(5)Br] with a carbene donor was employed to prepare [Re(IMes(2))(CO)(4)Br] (6a, IMes(2) = 1,3-di-mesitylimidazol-2-ylidene; 6b, IMes(2) = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene). Analyses of spectroscopic and crystal data of 6a and 6b show similar corresponding data among these complexes, suggesting the saturated and unsaturated NHCs have similar bonding with Re(I) metal centers. Reduction of 6a and 6b with LiEt(3)BH yielded the corresponding hydrido complexes 7a-b [ReH(CO)(4)(IMes(2))], but not 1 and 2. Ligand substitution of 1, 6a and 6b toward 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) was investigated. Crystal structures of 1, 3a-b, 6a-b and 7b were determined for characterization and comparison.     

16-electron elongated dihydrogen complex stabilized by agostic interaction

A 16-electron dicationic dihydrogen complex [Ru(eta2-H...H)(PP)2][OTf]2 [4; PP = (C6H5CH2)2PCH2CH2P(CH2C6H5)2] has been prepared and characterized by protonating the precursor hydride complex [Ru(H)(PP)2)][OTf] (2) using HOTf. The hydride and dihydrogen complexes are stabilized via agostic interaction of the ortho C-H fragment of the phenyl ring on the benzyl group. The intact nature of the H-H bond in this derivative was established from the short spin-lattice relaxation time and the observation of a substantial J(H,D) of 22.0 Hz for the HD isotopomer. The H-H bond distance calculated from J(H,D) is 1.05 A, which falls under the category of elongated dihydrogen ligands.     

Thiol- and thioether-based bifunctional chelates for the {M(CO)3}+ core (M = Tc, Re)

By analogy to the recently described single amino acid chelate (SAAC) technology for complexation of the {M(CO)3}+ core (M = Tc, Re), a series of tridentate ligands containing thiolate and thioether groups, as well as amino and pyridyl nitrogen donors, have been prepared: (NC5H4CH2)2NCH2CH2SEt (L1); (NC5H4CH2)2NCH2CH2SH (L2); NC5H4CH2N(CH2CH2SH)2 (L3); (NC5H4CH2)N(CH2CH2SH)(CH2CO2R) [R = H (L4); R = -C2H5 (L5). The {Re(CO)3}+ core complexes of L1-L5 were prepared by the reaction of [Re(CO)3(H2O)3]Br or [NEt4]2[Re(CO)3Br3] with the appropriate ligand in methanol and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and in the case of [Re(CO)3(L2)] (Re-2) and [Re(CO)3(L1)Re(CO)3Br2] (Re-1a) by X-ray crystallography. The structure of Re-2 consists of discrete neutral monomers with a fac-Re(CO)3 coordination unit and the remaining coordination sites occupied by the amine, pyridyl, and thiolate donors of L2, leaving a pendant pyridyl arm. In contrast, the structure of Re-1a consists of discrete binuclear units, constructed from a {Re(CO)3(L1)}+ subunit linked to a {Re(CO)3Br2}- group through the sulfur donor of the pendant thioether arm. The series of complexes establishes that thiolate donors are effective ligands for the {M(CO)3}+ core and that a qualitative ordering of the coordination preferences of the core may be proposed: pyridyl nitrogen approximately thiolate > carboxylate > thioether sulfur > thiophene sulfur. The ligands L1 and L2 react cleanly with [99mTc(CO)3(H2O)3]+ in H2O/DMSO to give [99mTc(CO)3(L1)]+ (99m)Tc-1) and [99mTc(CO)3(L2)] (99mTc-2), respectively, in ca. 90% yield after HPLC purification. The Tc analogues 99mTc-1 and 99mTc-2 were subjected to ligand challenges by incubating each in the presence of 1000-fold excesses of both cysteine and histidine. The radiochromatograms showed greater than 95% recovery of the complexes.     

Direct measurements of rate constants and activation volumes for the binding of H2, D2, N2, C2H4, and CH3CN to W(CO)3(PCy3)2: theoretical and experimental studies with time-resolved step-scan FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy

Pulsed 355 nm laser excitation of toluene or hexane solutions containing W-L (W = mer,trans-W(CO)3(PCy3)2; PCy3 = tricyclohexylphosphine; L = H2, D2, N2, C2H4, or CH3CN) resulted in the photoejection of ligand L and the formation of W. A combination of nanosecond UV-vis flash photolysis and time-resolved step-scan FTIR (s2-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to spectroscopically characterize the photoproduct, W, and directly measure the rate constants for binding of the ligands L to W to reform W-L under pseudo-first-order conditions. From these data, equilibrium constants for the binding of L to W were estimated. The UV-vis flash photolysis experiments were also performed as a function of pressure in order to determine the activation volumes, DeltaV thermodynamic, for the reaction of W with L. Small activation volumes ranging from -7 to +3 cm3 mol(-1) were obtained, suggesting that despite the crowded W center an interchange mechanism between L and the agostic W...H-C interaction of one of the PCy3 ligands (or a weak interaction with a solvent molecule) at the W center takes place in the transition state. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed at the B3LYP level of theory on W with/without the agostic C-H interaction of the PCy3 ligand and also on the series of model complexes, mer,trans-W(CO)3(PH3)2L (W'-L, where L = H2, N2, C2H4, CO, or n-hexane) in an effort to confirm the infrared spectroscopic assignment of the W-L complexes, to simulate and assign the electronic transitions in the UV-vis spectra, to determine the nature of the HOMO and LUMO of W-L, and to understand the agostic C-H interaction of the ligand vs solvent interaction. Our DFT calculations indicate an entropy effect that favors agostic W...H-C interaction over a solvent sigma C-H interaction by 8-10 kcal mol(-1).     

Synthetic and structural experiments on yttrium, cerium and magnesium trimethylsilylmethyls and their reaction products with nitriles; with a note on two cerium beta-diketiminates

The yttrium, cerium and magnesium bis(trimethylsilyl)methyls [Ln[CH(SiMe3)2]3][Ln = Y (1), Ce (2)], and the known compound Mg[[CH(SiMe3)2]2 (C) and [Mg(mu-Br)[CH(SiMe3)2](OEt2)]2 (D) formed the crystalline nitrile adducts [1(NCBut)2] (5), [2(NCPh)] (6), [C(NCR)2][R = But (8), Ph (9), C6H3Me2-2,6 (10)] and [Mg(mu-Br)[CH(SiMe3)2](NCR)]2 [R = But (11), Ph (12), C6H3Me2-2,6 (13)], rather than beta-diketiminato-metal insertion products. The beta-diketiminato-cerium complex [Ce[(N(SiMe3)C(C6H4But-4))2CH][N(SiMe3)2]2] (16) was obtained from [Ce[N(SiMe3)2]3] and the beta-diketimine H[[N(SiMe3)C(C6H4But-4)]2CH]]. The cerium alkyl 2 and [Ln[CH(SiMe3)(SiMe2OMe)]3][Ln = Y (3), Ce (4)] were obtained from the appropriate lithium alkyl precursor and [Ce(OC6H2But2-2,6-Me-4)3] or LnCl3, respectively. Heating complex 3 with benzonitrile in toluene afforded 2,2-dimethyl-4,6-diphenyl-5-trimethylsilyl-1,3-diaza-2-silahexa-1,3-diene (7), a member of a new class of heterocycles. The X-ray structures of the crystalline compounds, D, [Mg[CH(SiMe3)2]2(OEt2)2], the known [Ce(Cl)[(N(SiMe3)C(Ph))2CH]2] (E) and 16 are reported. The cerium alkyl (like 1) has one close Ce...C contact for each ligand, attributed to a gamma-C-Ce agostic interaction. The Ln alkyls and have a trigonal prismatic arrangement of the chelating ligands (each of the same chirality at Calpha) around the metal. In an arene solution at 313 K exists as two isomers, as evident from detailed NMR spectroscopic experiments.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Dirhenadehydro[12]annulenes

The 12‐membered‐ring metallacycles [mer‐Re{≡CCH=C(R)C≡C?}Cl(PMe₂Ph)₃)]₂ (R=CMe₃, 1‐adamantyl), which are organometallic analogues of antiaromatic octadehydro[12]annulene, are prepared by heating the methyl carbyne complexes mer‐Re{≡CCH=C(R)C≡CH}(CH₃)Cl(PMe₂Ph)₃. An intermolecular σ‐bond metathesis between the Re?CH₃ bond and the acetylenic C?H bond is proposed for their formation.     

Mechanistic studies on 14-electron ruthenacyclobutanes: degenerate exchange with free ethylene

The phosphonium alkylidene [(NHC)Cl2Ru=CH(PCy3)]+[B(C6F5)4]-, 1, (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene, Cy = cyclohexyl, C6H11) reacts with 2.2 equiv of ethylene at -50 degrees C to form the 14-electron ruthenacyclobutane (NHC)Cl2Ru(CH2CH2CH2), 2. NMR spectroscopic data indicates that 2 has a C2v symmetric structure with a flat, kite shaped ruthenacyclobutane ring with significant Calpha-Cbeta agostic interactions with the Ru center. Intramolecular exchange of Calpha and Cbeta is fast (14(2) s-1 at 223 K) as measured by EXSY spectroscopy. Intermolecular exchange of Calpha and Cbeta with the methylene groups of free ethylene is much slower and first order in both [Ru] and [H2C=CH2] (4.8(3) x 10-4 M-1 s-1). Activation parameters for this process are DeltaH++ = 13.2(5) kcal mol-1 and DeltaS++ = -15(2) cal mol-1 K-1, also consistent with a rate limiting associative substitution as the key step in this exchange process. On the basis of this observation, mechanisms for the intermolecular exchange process are proposed and the implications for the mechanism of the propagation steps in catalytic olefin metathesis as mediated by Grubbs catalysts are discussed.     

New approaches to high-activity transition-metal catalysts for carbon-carbon bond forming reactions. Rhenium-containing phosphorus donor ligands for palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-couplings

The rhenium complexes (eta 5-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)((CH2)nPR2:) (n/R = 0/Ph, 0/t-Bu, 0/Me, 1/Ph, 1/t-Bu), which contain electron-rich and sterically congested phosphido moieties, give active catalysts for the title reaction; typical conditions (toluene, 60-100 degrees C): aryl bromide (1.0 equiv.), PhB(OH)2 (1.5 equiv.), K3PO4 (2.0 equiv.), Pd(OAc)2 (1 mol%), and a Re(CH2)nPR2: species or a 1:2 [Re(CH2)nPR2H]+X-/t-BuOK mixture (4 mol% rhenium).     

Dynamics of silica-supported catalysts determined by combining solid-state NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations

The molecular dynamics of a series of organometallic complexes covalently bound to amorphous silica surfaces is determined experimentally using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations (DFT). The determination is carried out for a series of alkylidene-based catalysts having the general formula [([triple bond]SiO)M(ER)(=CH(t)Bu)(R')] (M = Re, Ta, Mo or W; ER = C(t)Bu, NAr or CH2(t)Bu; R' = CH2(t)Bu, NPh2, NC4H4). Proton-carbon dipolar coupling constants and carbon chemical shift anisotropies (CSA) are determined experimentally by solid-state NMR. Room-temperature molecular dynamics is quantified through order parameters determined from the experimental data. For the chemical shift anisotropy data, we validate and use a method that integrates static values for the CSA obtained computationally by DFT, obviating the need for low-temperature measurements. Comparison of the room-temperature data with the calculations shows that the widths of the calculated static limit dipolar couplings and CSAs are always greater than the experimentally determined values, providing a clear indication of motional averaging on the NMR time scale. Moreover, the dynamics are found to be significantly different within the series of molecular complexes, with order parameters ranging from = 0.5 for [([triple bond]SiO)Ta(=CH(t)Bu)(CH2(t)Bu)2] and [([triple bond]SiO)Re([triple bond]C(t)Bu)(=CH(t)Bu)(CH2(t)Bu)] to = 0.9 for [([triple bond]SiO)Mo([triple bond]NAr)(=CH(t)Bu)(R') with R' = CH2(t)Bu, NPh2, NC4H4. The data also show that the motion is not isotropic and could be either a jump between two sites or more likely restricted librational motion. The dynamics are discussed in terms of the molecular structure of the surface organometallic complexes, and the orientation of the CSAs tensor at the alkylidene carbon is shown to be directly related to the magnitude of the alpha-alkylidene CH agostic interation.     

Synthesis, characterization and ethylene reactivity of 2-diphenylphosphanylbenzamido nickel complexes

Addition of primary amines to N-[2-(diphenylphosphanyl)benzoyloxy]succinimide affords 2-diphenylphosphanylbenzamides, Ph2PC6H4C(O)NHR (R = C(CH3)3, 3; R = H, 4; R = CH2CH2CH3, 5; R = CH(CH3)2, 6). Addition of NiCl(eta3-CH2C6H5)(PMe3) to the deprotonated potassium salts of the amides and subsequent treatment of two equivalents of B(C6F5)3 to the resulting products furnishes eta3-benzyl zwitterionic nickel(II) complexes, [Ph2PC6H4C(O)NR-kappa2N,P]Ni(eta3-CH2C6H5) (R = C6H5, 9; R = C(CH3)3, 10; R = H, 11; R = CH2CH2CH3, 12; R = CH(CH3)2, 13). Solid structures of 9, 11, 13 and the intermediate eta1-benzyl nickel(II) complexes, [Ph2PC6H4C(O)NR-kappa2N,P]Ni(eta1-CH2C6H5)(PMe3) (R = C6H5, 7; R = C(CH3)3, 8) were determined by X-ray crystallography. When ethylene is added to the eta3-benzyl zwitterionic nickel(II) complexes, butene is obtained by the complexes 9-12 but complex 13 provides very high molecular-weight branched polyethylene (Mw, approximately 1300000) with excellent activity (up to 5200 kg mol-1 h-1 at 100 psi gauge).     

Ligand controlled dioxygen oxidation of rhenium nitrosyl complexes

The addition of an excess of phenyldiazomethane to chlorobenzene solutions of the cationic dinitrosyl bisphosphine rhenium(-I) complexes [Re(NO)2(PR3)2][BAr(F)4] (R = Cy 1a, R = (i)Pr 1b) gave the corresponding benzylidene complexes [Re{=CH(C6H5)}(NO)2(PR3)2][BAr(F)4] (2a and 2b) in good yields. The treatment of 2b with dioxygen resulted in the oxidation of one of the nitrosyl ligands into the corresponding eta2-nitrito (3b) and nitrato complexes (4b) both in the solid state and in solution. In the case of the tricyclohexylphosphine derivative 2a the analogous conversion was not observed. A mechanism for the reaction of 2b with O2 is proposed which is based on an initial SET to the O2 molecule and subsequent formation of a peroxynitrite complex followed by the formation of a dinuclear mU-N2O4 intermediate. This in turn would undergo fission of the peroxo bond to afford 3b. A related sequence of steps is anticipated for the transformation of 3b to 4b. Furthermore, a similar mechanism seems reasonable for the seemingly topochemical reaction of 2b to 3b and 4b in the solid state. The initial SET to dioxygen and subsequent formation of the peroxynitrite complex is supported by DFT calculations on the trimethylphosphine model complexes [Re=CH{C6H5})(NO)2(PMe3)2]n+ (n = 1 and 2).     

Hydride transfer reactivity of tetrakis(trimethylphosphine)(hydrido)(nitrosyl)molybdenum(0)

The tetrakis(trimethylphosphine) molybdenum nitrosyl hydrido complex trans-Mo(PMe(3))(4)(H)(NO) (2) and the related deuteride complex trans-Mo(PMe(3))(4)(D)(NO) (2a) were prepared from trans-Mo(PMe(3))(4)(Cl)(NO) (1). From (2)H T(1 min) measurements and solid-state (2)H NMR the bond ionicities of 2a could be determined and were found to be 80.0% and 75.3%, respectively, indicating a very polar Mo--D bond. The enhanced hydridicity of 2 is reflected in its very high propensity to undergo hydride transfer reactions. 2 was thus reacted with acetone, acetophenone, and benzophenone to afford the corresponding alkoxide complexes trans-Mo(NO)(PMe(3))(4)(OCHR'R') (R' = R' = Me (3); R' = Me, R' = Ph (4); R' = R' = Ph (5)). The reaction of 2 with CO(2) led to the formation of the formato-O-complex Mo(NO)(OCHO)(PMe(3))(4) (6). The reaction of with HOSO(2)CF(3) produced the anion coordinated complex Mo(NO)(PMe(3))(4)(OSO(2)CF(3)) (7), and the reaction with [H(Et(2)O)(2)][BAr(F)(4)] with an excess of PMe(3) produced the pentakis(trimethylphosphine) coordinated compound [Mo(NO)(PMe(3))(5)][BAr(F)(4)] (8). Imine insertions into the Mo-H bond of 2 were also accomplished. PhCH[double bond, length as m-dash]NPh (N-benzylideneaniline) and C(10)H(7)CH=NPh (N-1-naphthylideneaniline) afforded the amido compounds Mo(NO)(PMe(3))(4)[NR'(CH(2)R')] (R' = R' = Ph (9), R' = Ph, R' = naphthyl (11)). 9 could not be obtained in pure form, however, its structure was assigned by spectroscopic means. At room temperature 11 reacted further to lose one PMe(3) forming 12 (Mo(NO)PMe(3))(3)[N(Ph)CH(2)C(10)H(6))]) with agostic stabilization. In a subsequent step oxidative addition of the agostic naphthyl C-H bond to the molybdenum centre occurred. Then hydrogen migration took place giving the chelate amine complex Mo(NO)(PMe(3))(3)[NH(Ph)(CH(2)C(10)H(6))] (15). The insertion reaction of 2 with C(10)H(7)N=CHPh led to formation of the agostic compound Mo(NO)(PMe(3))(3)[N(CH(2)Ph)(C(10)H(7))] (10). Based on the knowledge of facile formation of agostic compounds the catalytic hydrogenation of C(10)H(7)N=CHPh and PhN=CHC(10)H(7) with 2 (5 mol%) was tested. The best conversion rates were obtained in the presence of an excess of PMe(3), which were 18.4% and 100% for C(10)H(7)N=CHPh and PhN=CHC(10)H(7), respectively.