Solvent and phosphine dependency in the reaction of cis-RuCl2(P-P)2 (P-P = dppm or dppe) with terminal alkynes

Reaction of cis-[RuCl₂(dppm)₂] (dppm = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) with PhCCH and NaPF₆ utilising methanol as solvent results in the formation of the η³-butenynyl complex [Ru(η³-PhCCCCHPh)(dppm)₂][PF₆] in good yield. Similar reactions with Bu^tCCH and PrⁿCCH resulted in the corresponding alkyl-substituted complexes and all three of these compounds have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The mechanism of this reaction has been probed by employing labelling experiments with both PhCCD and PhC¹³CH allowing the identity of possible intermediates in the reaction to be determined. Furthermore, [Ru(η³-PhCCCCHPh)(dppm)₂][PF₆] has been shown to be an effective regio- and stereo-selective catalyst for the dimerisation of PhCCH to Z-PhCCCHCHPh in the absence of solvent. In contrast, no evidence for the formation of alkyne coupling was obtained from the reaction of cis-[RuCl₂(dppe)₂] (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) with PhCCH and NaPF₆.     

Photochemical reactions of 1-ferrocenyl-4-phenyl-1,3-butadiyne with Fe(CO)5 and CO

Photolysis of a hexane solution containing ironpentacarbonyl, 1-ferrocenyl-4-phenyl-1,3-butadiyne at low temperature yields six new products: [Fe(CO)₂{η²:η²-PhCCCC(Fc)C(CCPh)C(Fc)Fe(CO)₃}-μ-CO] (1), [Fe₂(CO)₆{μ-η¹:η¹:η²:η²-PhCCCC(Fc)-C(O)-C(Fc)CCCPh}] (2), [Fe₂(CO)₆{μ-η¹:η¹:η²:η²-FcCC(CC Ph)-C(O)-C(Fc)CCCPh}] (3), [Fe₂(CO)₆{μ-η¹:η¹:η²:η²-FcCCCC(Fc)-C(O)-C(Fc)CCCPh}] (4), [Fe(CO)₃{μ-η²: η²-[FcCC(CCPh)C(CCPh)C(Fc)}CO] (5) and [Fe(CO)₃{μ-η²: η²-[FcCC(CCPh)C(CCPh)C(Fc)}CO] (6) formed by coupling of acetylenic moieties with CO insertion on metal carbonyl support. In presence of CO, formation of another new product 2,5-bis(ferrocenyl)-3,6-bis(tetracarbonylphenylmaleoyliron)quinone (7) was observed which on further reaction with ferrocenylacetyene gave the quinone, 2,5-bis(ferrocenyl)-3,6-bis(ethynylphenyl)quinone (8). Structures of 1-5 and 8 were established crystallographically.     

Nitrile ligands for controlled synthesis of alkynyl-ruthenium based homo and hetero bimetallic systems

Wire like mono- and poly-nuclear molecules based on alkynyl ruthenium complexes whose core unit is trans-[Ru(CC-R)(R′CN)(dppe)₂][PF₆] are readily formed in soft conditions. The electronic dual character of the metallic unit, donor through the acetylide moiety, acceptor versus the nitrile ligand is exemplified through electrochemical studies of a series of ethynylferrocene and cyanoferrocene derivatives. A single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the [(dppe)₂(PhCC)Ru(NC-C₆H₄-CN)Ru(CCPh)(dppe)₂][2PF₆] bimetallic complex 5 shows that the global structure of such complexes consists of wire type dimetallic units. With the availability of this versatile, direct, and simple route, a new class of extended rigid rod systems of nanometric size with multilevel electron transfers is readily accessed.     

Reactivity of [CpRh(η-C6H3NH2-2,6-i-Pr2)](OTf)2 toward phosphines and alkynes

The cationic aniline complex [Cp^∗Rh(η⁶-2,6-(Me₂CH)₂C₆H₃NH₂)](OTf)₂ (1) was prepared from either [Cp^∗Rh(η²-NO₃)(η¹-OTf)] or [Cp^∗Rh(OH₂)₃](OTf)₂ and 2,6-diisopropylaniline. Complex 1 underwent substitution with phosphines or phosphites, indicating the labile character of the η⁶-aniline ligand. Complex 1 mediated cycloaddition reactions of several alkynes in refluxing ethanol: the [2 + 2] dimerization for PhCCPh and the [2 + 2 + 1] trimerization for PhCCH and CH₃C₆H₄CCH. The unexpected cyclobutadiene complex [Cp^∗Rh(η⁴-C₄(C(O)CH₃)₂H(SiMe₃))] was obtained from complex 1 and Me₃SiCCCCSiMe₃ and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction.     

Formation of a cyclobutenylidene by cyclo-addition of an alkynyl-ruthenium complex to a cyano(alkynyl)ethene

In contrast to the usual formal [2+2]-cycloaddition reaction, (NC)₂CC{CC(SiPrⁱ₃)}₂, containing bulky alkynyl substituents, reacts with Ru(CCPh)(PPh₃)₂Cp to give the unprecedented cyclobutenylidene complex Ru{C(CN)₂C[CC(SiPrⁱ₃)]CC(SiPrⁱ₃)CPhC}(PPh₃)Cp, formed by addition of one of the CC(SiPrⁱ₃) groups to the Ru-CCPh moiety and subsequent electronic reorganisation.     

Carbon-carbon and carbon-chlorine bond formation on reaction of iodine(III) reagents with the bis(alkynyl)palladium(II) motif, and structural chemistry of trans-Pd(CC-o-Tol)2(PMe2Ph)2] and trans-[PdCl(CC-o-Tol)(PMe2Ph)2]

Trans-di(ortho-tolylethynyl)bis(dimethylphenylphosphine)palladium(II) reacts above −20 °C with the iodonium reagent IPhCl₂ to give predominantly o-Tol-CC-Cl, above 15 °C with IPh₂(OTf) (OTf = triflate) to give o-Tol-CC-Ph and (o-Tol-CC)₂ in ca. 3:1 ratio, and above 10 °C with IPh(CCR)(OTf) (R = Bu^t, SiMe₃) to give predominantly o-Tol-CC-CC-R and (o-Tol-CC)₂. ³¹P NMR spectra provide evidence for detection of intermediates. The complexes trans-[Pd(CC-o-Tol)₂(PMe₂Ph)₂] and trans-[PdCl(CC-o-Tol)(PMe₂Ph)₂] are obtained on reaction of trans-[PdCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₂] with Li(CC-o-Tol) and o-Tol-CCH/Et₃N, respectively, and have been characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

Syntheses and molecular structures of some phosphine-gold(I) derivatives of 1,3-diynes

The syntheses of several diynylgold(I) phosphine complexes, including Au(CCCCH){P(tol)₃} (1), Au(CCCCSiMe₃)(PR₃) (R = Ph 2-Ph, tol 2-tol), Au(CCCCFc)(PPh₃) (3), {(tol)₃P}Au(CC)_nAu{P(tol)₃} [n = 2 (4), 3 (6), 4 (7)], {(Ph₃P)Au}CCCC{Au[P(tol)₃]} (5), [ppn][Au{CCCCAu[P(tol)₃]}₂] (8), [Au₂(μ-I)(μ-dppm)₂][Au(CCCCSiMe₃)₂] (9), Hg{CCCCAu(PR₃)}₂ (R = Ph 10-Ph, tol 10-tol) and {(triphos)Cu}CCCC{Au[P(tol)₃]} (11) are described. Of these, the X-ray molecular structures of 1, 2-tol, 3, 4 and 9 have been determined.     

Dimerisation and reactivity of HCCCCFc at ruthenium centres

In contrast to the simple diynyl complexes formed in reactions between HCCCCFc and MCl(dppe)Cp∗; (M = Fe, Ru), an analogous reaction with RuCl(PPh₃)₂Cp∗; in the presence of KPF₆ and dbu resulted in dimerisation of the diyne at the Ru centre to afford a mixture of [Ru{η¹,η²-C(CCFc)C(L)CHCCCHFc}(PPh₃)Cp∗]PF₆ (L = dbu 1, PPh₃2). Similar reactions with RuCl(PR₃)₂L gave [Ru{η¹,η²-C(CCFc)C(dbu)CHCCCHFc}(PR₃)L]PF₆ (L = Cp, R = Ph 3, m-tol 4; L = η⁵-C₉H₇, R = Ph 5). The reaction between 3 and I₂, followed by crystallization of the paramagnetic product from MeOH, afforded the dicationic [Ru{C(CCFc)C(dbu)CHC(OMe)C(OMe)CHFc}(PPh₃)Cp](I₃)₂6. The molecular structures of 2·2CH₂Cl₂ and 6.S (S = 2CH₂Cl₂, C₆H₆) were determined by single-crystal XRD studies.     

Some complexes containing carbon chains end-capped with tungsten or ruthenium groups and tricobalt carbonyl clusters

The Pd(0)/Cu(I)-catalysed reactions between Co₃(μ₃-CBr) (CO)₉ and W(CCCCH)(CO)₃Cp gives the C₅ complex {Cp(OC)₃W}CCCCC{Co₃(CO)₉} (2). Similarly, Co₃(μ₃-CBr)(μ-dppm)(CO)₇ and W(CCCCH)(CO)₃Cp or Ru(CCCCH)(dppe)Cp* give {Cp(OC)₃W}CCCCC{Co₃(μ-dppm)(CO)₇} and {Cp*(dppe)Ru}CCCCC{Co₃(μ-dppmn)(CO)₇} (5). An attempt to prepare a C₃ analogue from Ru(CCH)(PPh₃)₂Cp and Co₃(μ₃-CBr)(CO)₉ gave instead the acyl derivative {Cp(Ph₃P)₂Ru}CCC(O)C{Co₃(CO)₈(PPh₃)} (7). The X-ray structures of 2, 5 and 7 are reported: the C₅ chains in 2 and 5 have an essentially unperturbed -CC-CC-C formulation.     

Some ruthenium complexes of fluorinated alkynylcyclopentenes

Reactions between 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclopentene and Ru(CCH)(dppe)Cp∗ or Ru(CCCCLi)(dppe)Cp∗ have given Ru(CC-c-C₅F₆Cl-2)(dppe)Cp∗ 4 and Ru(CCCC-c-C₅F₆Cl-2)(dppe)Cp∗ 7, respectively. Ready hydrolysis of 4 to the ketone Ru{CC[c-C₅F₄Cl(O)]}(dppe)Cp∗ 5 occurs, which can be converted to Ru{CC(c-C₅F₄Cl[C(CN)₂])}(dppe)Cp∗ 6 by treatment with CH₂(CN)₂/basic alumina. Spectroscopic, electrochemical and XRD structural studies for 4-7 are reported: for 6, these suggest that the cyanated fluorocarbon ligand is a very powerful electron-withdrawing group.     

Osmium-carbon multiple bonds: Reduction and C-C coupling reactions

This paper shows that the redox equilibria hydride-alkenylcarbyne/alkenylcarbene and alkenyl-alkenylcarbyne/dienylcarbene are readily governed by the electronic properties of the ligands of the complexes. Because we have learned to control the position of these equilibria, we are able to build, step by step, osmium derivatives with cyclic alkenylcarbene ligands and osmacyclopentapyrrole complexes. The dihydride OsH₂Cl₂(PⁱPr₃)₂ reacts with alkynols, allenes, enynes, and dienes to give hydride-alkenylcarbyne derivatives, OsHCl₂(CCR′CR₂)(PⁱPr₃)₂, which can be transformed into dicationic species by replacement of chloride ligands by acetonitrile molecules. The selective deprotonation of the alkenylcarbyne ligand of [OsH(CCHCPh₂)(CH₃CN)₂(PⁱPr₃)₂]²⁺ affords the hydride-allenylidene [OsH(CCCPh₂)(CH₃CN)₂(PⁱPr₃)₂]⁺, which undergoes the reduction of the C_α-C_β double bond of the cumulene in the presence of alcohols. The insertion of monosubstituted alkynes into the Os-H bond of the hydride-allenylidene complex leads to alkenyl-allenylidene derivatives, which are transformed into dienylcarbene compounds. The coordination of carbon monoxide to the osmium atom of the latter promotes the 4π-conrotation of the dienylcarbene ligand, to afford a cyclic alkenylcarbene complex via an η¹-cyclopentadienyl intermediate. Through a similar cyclization, in acetonitrile under reflux, the alkenyl-allenylidene complexes are converted into osmapyrrole derivatives by means of the formation of three C-C bonds involving the three carbon atoms of the cumulene, the alkenyl ligand, and an acetonitrile molecule.     

Evolution of lowest singlet and triplet excited states with transition metals in group 10-12 metallaynes containing biphenyl spacer

A new series of thermally stable group 10 platinum(II) and group 12 mercury(II) poly-yne polymers containing biphenyl spacer trans-[-Pt(PBu₃)₂CC(p-C₆H₄)₂CC-]_n and [HgCC(p-C₆H₄)₂CC-]_n were prepared in good yields by Hagihara’s dehydrohalogenation reaction of the corresponding metal chloride precursors with 4,4′-diethynylbiphenyl HCC(p-C₆H₄)₂CCH at room temperature. We report the optical spectroscopy of these polymetallaynes and compare the results with their bimetallic model complexes trans-[Pt(Ph)(PEt₃)₂CC(p-C₆H₄)₂CCPt(Ph)(PEt₃)₂] and [MeHgCC(p-C₆H₄)₂CCHgMe] as well as the group 11 gold(I) counterpart [(PPh₃)AuCC(p-C₆H₄)₂CCAu(PPh₃)]. The structural properties of all model complexes have been studied by X-ray crystallography. The influence of the heavy metal atom in these metal alkynyl systems on the intersystem crossing rate and the spatial extent of lowest singlet and triplet excitons is systematically characterized. Our investigations indicate that the organic triplet emissions can be harvested by the heavy-atom effect of group 10-12 transition metals (viz., Pt, Au, and Hg) which enables efficient intersystem crossing from the S₁ singlet excited state to the T₁ triplet excited state.     

Syntheses, structural, electrochemical and optical studies of heterobinuclear ruthenium-osmium alkynyl complexes

The complexes trans-[Os(CCC₆H₄-4-CCR)Cl(dppe)₂] (R = SiPrⁱ₃1, H 2), trans,trans-[(dppe)₂ClOs(CCC₆H₄-4-CC)RuX(dppe)₂] (X = Cl 3, CCC₆H₄-4-CCSiPrⁱ₃4), trans-[Os(CCC₆H₄-4-CCC₆H₄-4-CCR)Cl(dppe)₂] (R = SiPrⁱ₃5, H 6), and trans,trans-[(dppe)₂ClOs(CCC₆H₄-4-CCC₆H₄-4-CC)RuCl(dppe)₂] (7) have been synthesized, and the identities of 1, 2, and 6 confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Cyclic voltammetry shows that the mononuclear complexes 1, 2, 5, and 6 are oxidized at potentials within a narrow range (0.45-0.49 V), in processes centered on the osmium ethynyl neighbourhood and for simplicity assigned as Os^II/III, while the heterobinuclear complexes 3, 4, and 7 exhibit lower oxidation potentials for Os^II/III and a second oxidation process assigned in a similar fashion to Ru^II/III; the difference in potential between the Os- and Ru-localized processes decreases as the π-bridge is lengthened. UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical studies on 1 and 5 reveal the appearance on oxidation of a low-energy band ascribed to chloro to metal-ethynyl charge transfer. Osmium-centered oxidation at the heterobinuclear complexes 4 and 7 results in appearance of a low-energy band, which blue-shifts and increases in intensity on further oxidation to 4²⁺ and 7²⁺.     

Development of a well-defined silica-supported tungstenocarbyne complex as efficient heterogeneous catalyst for alkyne metathesis

The interaction of [W(C-tBu)(CH₂-tBu)(OAr)₂] (Ar = 2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃) (1), with the hydroxyl groups of a silica dehydroxylated at 700 °C leads to [(SiO)W(OAr)₂(C-tBu)] (2) which was characterized by IR, solid-state NMR and mass balance analysis. This well-defined surface species is an efficient catalyst for the metathesis of pent-2-yne.     

Ferrole-type compounds containing thiophenic or thiepinic rings in the 3,4-positions of the metallacycle

The new ferrole Fe₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Fc)CC{C(H)C(R)S}CC(SiMe₃)] [R = SiMe₃ (1) and R = Fc (2)] and ruthenoles Ru₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Me₃Si)CC{SC(Fc)C(H)}CC(Fc)] 3 and Ru₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Me₃Si)CC(SCCFc)C(H)C(Fc)] 4, have been obtained from the reactions of M₃(CO)₁₂ (M = Fe, Ru) and FcCCSCCSiMe₃ through S-C bond activations and C-C coupling reactions. Thermolysis of Ru₂(CO)₆[μ₃-η²,η⁴,η³-(Me₃Si)CC{SC(Fc)C(SCCSiMe₃}Ru(CO)₃}CC(Fc)] alone and in the presence of HCCFc, yielded the compounds Ru₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Me₃Si)CC{SC(Fc)C(SCCSiMe₃)}CC(Fc)] 5 and Ru₂(CO)₆[μ-η²,η⁴-(Me₃Si)CC{SC(Fc)C(SCCSiMe₃)C(H)C(Fc)}CC(Fc)] 6, respectively. The crystal structures of the compounds 1, 3, 4 and 6 are reported.     

Further reactions of some bis(vinylidene)diruthenium complexes

Whereas {Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂(μ-CCCC) (2) is the only product formed by deprotonation of [{Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂{μ(CCHCHC)}]⁺ with dbu, a mixture of 2 with Ru{CCCHCH(PPh₂)₂[RuCp*]}(dppm)Cp* (3) and {Cp*Ru(PPh₂CHCCH-)}₂ (4) is obtained with KOBu^t. A similar reaction with [{Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂{μ(CCMeCMeC)}]⁺ (5) gave Ru{CCCMeCH(PPh₂)₂[RuCp*]}(dppm)Cp* (6). X-ray structures of 4, 5 and 6 confirm the presence of the 1-ruthena-2,4-diphosphabicyclo[1.1.1]pentane moiety, which is likely formed by an intramolecular attack of the deprotonated dppm ligand on C(1) of the vinylidene ligand. Protonation of {Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂(μ-CCCC) (8-Ru) regenerates its precursor [{Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂{μ(CCHCHC)}]²⁺ (7-Ru). Ready oxidation of the bis(vinylidene) complex affords the cationic carbonyl [Ru(CO)(dppe)Cp*]PF₆ (9) (X-ray structure).     

The reactions of some σ-alkynylnickel complexes with 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane

The σ-alkynyl complexes Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)-CC-R (1), Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)-CC-X-CCH (2) and Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)-CC-X-CC-Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃) (3), reactwith 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane, TCNQ, at 30 °C by insertion of the alkyne CC into a CC(CN)₂ bond to give Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)-C{C₆H₄C(CN)₂}-C{C(CN)₂}-R (4), from 1, Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)-C{C₆H₄C(CN)₂}-C{C(CN)₂}-X-CCH (5), from 2, and Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)-C{C₆H₄C(CN)₂}-C{C(CN)₂}-X-CC-Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃) (6),and Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)-C{C₆H₄C(CN)₂}- C{C(CN)₂}-X-C{C(CN)₂}-C{C₆H₄C(CN)₂}-Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃) (7),from 3 {R = (a) C₆H₅, (b) 4-PhC₆H₄, (c) 4-Me₂NC₆H₄, (d) 1-C₁₀H₇ (1-naphthyl), (e) 2-C₁₀H₇ (2-naphthyl), (f) 9-C₁₄H₉ (9-phenanthryl), (g) 9-C₁₄H₉ (9-anthryl), (h) 3-C₁₆H₉ (3-pyrenyl), (i) 1-C₂₀H₁₁ (1-perylenyl), (j) 2-C₄H₃S (2-thienyl), (k) C₁₀H₉Fe (ferrocenyl = Fc) and (l) H; X = (a) nothing, (b) 1,4-C₆H₄, (c) 1,3-C₆H₄ and (d) 4,4′-C₆H₄-C₆H₄}. The reaction is regiospecificand the other possible insertion product, R-C{C₆H₄C(CN)₂}-C{C(CN)₂}-Ni(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃) etc., is not formed. Under the same conditions, there is no evidencefor the reaction of TCNQ with the -CCH of 2, PhCCH, 1,4-C₆H₄(CCH)₂ or FcCCH, or for the reaction of more than one CC(CN)₂ of TCNQ with a Ni-alkynyl moiety. Complexes 4-7 are all air-stable, purple solids which have been characterised by elemental analysis and spectroscopy (IR, UV-Vis, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR),and by X-ray diffraction for 4a, 4b and 4l. The UV-Vis spectra of 4-7 are very similar. This implies that all contain the same active chromophore which, it is suggested, is Ni-C(5)C₆H₄C(CN)₂ and not R-C(4)C(CN)₂. This isconsistent with the molecular structures of 4a, 4b and 4l which show that the first of these potentially chromophoric fragments is planar or close to it with an in-built potential for delocalisation, whilst in the second the aryl group R is almost orthogonal to the CC(CN)₂ plane. The molecular structures of 4a, 4b and 4l also reveal a short Ni?C(4) separation, indicative of a Ni → C(4) donor-acceptor interaction. The electrochemistry of 4a shows aquasi reversible oxidation at ca. 1 V and complicated reduction processes. It is typical of most 4, but 4l is different in that it shows the same quasi reversible oxidation at ca. 1 V but two reversible reductions at −0.26 and −0.47 V (vs. [Fe(η⁵-C₅Me₅)₂]^+/0 0.0 V).     

Iron(II) and iron(III) complexes containing ethynyl thiophene fragments

The synthesis of the new complexes Cp*(dppe)FeCC2,5-C₄H₂SR (Cp* = 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane; 2a, R = CCH; 2b, R = CCSi(CH₃)₃; 2c, R = CCSi(CH(CH₃)₂)₃; 3a, R = CC2,5-C₄H₂SCCH; 3c, R = CC2,5-C₄H₂SCCSi(CH(CH₃)₂)₃) is described. The ¹³C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic data indicate that the π-back donation from the metal to the carbon rich ligand increases with the size of the organic π-electron systems. The new complexes were also analyzed by CV and the chemical oxidation of 2a and 3c was carried out using 1 equiv of [Cp₂Fe][PF₆]. The corresponding complexes 2a[PF₆] and 3c[PF₆] are thermally stable, but 2a[PF₆] was too reactive to be isolated as a pure compound. The spectroscopic data revealed that the coordination of large organic π-electron systems to the iron nucleus produces only a weak increase of the carbon character of the SOMO for these new organoiron(III) derivatives.