Substituted cyclopentadienylchromium(III) complexes containing neutral donor ligands. Synthesis, crystal structures and reactivity in ethylene polymerization

Lithium derivatives of substituted cyclopentadiene ligands reacted with CrCl₃(THF)₃ in THF solution to afford homodinuclear complexes of the type [{(η⁵-RCp)CrCl(μ-Cl) }₂] [R=SiMe₃ (1), CH₂C(Me)CH₂ (2)]. Complex 1 reacts with pyrazole (C₃H₄N₂) to yield the mononuclear half-sandwich complex [(η⁵-Me₃SiCp)CrCl₂(pyrazole)] (3). The similar complex [Cp*CrCl₂(pyrazole)] (4) was synthesised by reaction of [{Cp*CrCl(μ-Cl)}₂] with pyrazole. Complex 2 reacts with bidentate ligands to give binuclear complexes of the type [{(η⁵-CH₂C(Me)CH₂Cp)CrCl₂ }₂(μ-L-L)] [L-L=Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂ (5), trans-Ph₂P(O)CHCHP(O)Ph₂ (6)]. All complexes were structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction. After reaction with methylaluminoxane these complexes are active in the polymerization of ethylene. At 25 °C and 4 bar of ethylene, complex 3 yields polyethylene with a bimodal molecular weight distribution centred at 155,000 and 2000 g/mol. Complex 4 shows similar activity, yielding only the low molecular weight fraction. On the other hand, the binuclear complexes 5 and 6 under the same conditions were three times more active than mononuclear complexes. The melting point of the polymers indicates the formation of linear polyethylene.     

Synthesis, structure and ethylene polymerization behavior of titanium phosphinoamide complexes

(Phosphinoamide)(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) complexes of the type Cp*TiCl₂(η²-Ph₂PNR) [Cp*=C₅Me₅; R = t-Bu (2a), R = n-Bu (2b), R = Ph (2c)] have been prepared by the reaction of Cp*TiCl₃ with the corresponding lithium phosphinoamides. The structure of Cp*TiCl₂(η²-Ph₂PN^tBu) (2a) and Cp*TiCl₂(η²-Ph₂PNPh) (2c) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. These complexes exhibited moderate catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO). Catalytic activity of up to 2.5 × 10⁶ g/(mol Ti h) was observed when activated by i-Bu₃Al/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄.     

Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl rhodium(III) trifluorovinyl phosphine complexes and attempted intramolecular dehydrofluorinative coupling of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl and trifluorovinyl phosphine ligands

The trifluorovinyl phosphine complexes [Cp*RhCl₂{PR_3−x(CFCF₂)_x}] (1x = 1, a R = Ph, b Prⁱ, c Et; 2x = 2, R = Ph) have been prepared by treatment of [Cp*RhCl(μ-Cl)]₂ with the relevant phosphine. The salt [Cp*RhCl(CNBu^t){PPh₂(CFCF₂)}]BF₄, 3, was prepared by addition of Bu^tNC to 1a in the presence of NaBF₄. The salt [Cp*RhCl{κP,κS-(CF₂CF)PPh(C₆H₄SMe-2)}]BF₄ was prepared as a mixture of cis (5a) and trans (5b) isomers by treatment of [Cp*RhCl(μ-Cl)]₂ with the phosphine-thioether (CF₂CF)PPh(C₆H₄SMe-2), 4, in the presence of NaBF₄. The structures of 1a-c and 5a have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Intramolecular dehydrofluorinative carbon-carbon coupling between pentamethylcyclopentadienyl and trifluorovinylphosphine ligands of 1a, 3 and 5 has been attempted. No reaction was observed on treatment of the neutral complex [Cp*RhCl₂{PPh₂(CFCF₂)}], 1a, with proton sponge, however, 5a underwent dehydrofluorinative coupling to yield [{η⁵,κP,κS-(C₅Me₄CH₂CFCF)PPh(C₆H₄SMe-2)}RhCl]BF₄, 6. Other reactions, in particular addition of HF across the vinyl bonds of 5, occurred leading to a mixture of products. The cation of 3 underwent similar reactions.     

Mechanistic investigation of vinylic carbon-fluorine bond activation of perfluorinated cycloalkenes using Cp*2ZrH2 and Cp*2ZrHF

Cp*₂ZrH₂ (1) (Cp*: pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) reacts with cyclic perfluorinated olefins to give Cp*₂ZrHF (2) and hydrodefluorinated products under very mild conditions. Initial C-F bond activation occurs selectively at the vinylic positions of the cycloolefin to exchange fluorine for hydrogen. Several mechanisms are discussed for this H/F exchange: (a) olefin insertion/β-fluoride elimination, (b) olefin insertion/α-fluoride elimination, and (c) hydride/fluoride σ-bond metathesis. Following H/F σ-bond metathesis exchange of both vinylic C-F bonds of perfluorocyclobutene, 1 then reacts with allylic C-F bonds by insertion/β-fluoride elimination. A similar sequence is observed with perfluorocyclopentene. Cp*₂ZrHF reacts selectively with vinylic C-F bonds of perfluorocyclobutene to give 3,3,4,4-tetrafluorocyclobutene and Cp*₂ZrF₂ without further hydrodefluorination occurring. In the presence of excess 1 and H₂, perfluorocyclobutene and perfluorocyclopentene are reduced to cyclobutane and cyclopentane in 46% and 16% yield, respectively. DFT calculations exclude the pathway by way of the olefin insertion/α-fluoride elimination and suggest that the pathway by way of hydride/fluoride σ-bond metathesis is preferred.     

Preparation and reactivity of the heterobimetallic ReIr face-shared bioctahedral compounds Cp*Ir(μ-Cl)3Re(CO)3 and Cp*Ir(μ-SC6H4Me-4)3Re(CO)3: X-ray diffraction structures and redox behavior

Thermolysis of the dinuclear compound [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ (1) with ClRe(CO)₅ (2) leads to the formation of the confacial bioctahedral compound Cp*Ir(μ-Cl)₃Re(CO)₃ (3) in high yield. Whereas the substitution of the chloride ligands in 3 is observed on treatment with excess p-methylbenzenethiol to furnish the sulfido-bridged compound Cp*Ir(μ-SC₆H₄Me-4)₃Re(CO)₃ (4), 3 undergoes fragmentation upon reaction with tertiary phosphines [PPh₃ and P(OMe)₃] to furnish the mononuclear compounds Cp*IrCl₂P and fac-ClRe(CO)₃P₂. Both 3 and 4 have been isolated and fully characterized in solution by IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, and their solid-state structures have been established by X-ray crystallography. The redox properties of 3 and 4 have been explored by cyclic voltammetry, and the results are discussed relative to extended Hückel MO calculations.     

Cp*rhodium complexes with salicyloxazolines: Diastereoselective synthesis, configurational stability and use as asymmetric catalysts for a Diels-Alder reaction

Reaction of [RhCl₂Cp*]₂ (Cp* = η-C₅Me₅) with salicyloxazolines in the presence of NaOMe gives complexes [RhCl(R-saloxaz)Cp*] (1-4) which have been fully characterised. The diastereoselectivity of complexation depends on the substituents and the absolute configuration at the metal centre is unstable in solution. Treatment of 2 with 4-methylpyridine and NaSbF₆ in methanol at reflux gave [Rh(4-Mepy){(S)-ⁱPr-saloxaz}Cp*][SbF₆] (5) whilst [Rh(OH₂)(Me₂-saloxaz)Cp*][SbF₆] (6) was prepared by reaction of 1 with AgSbF₆. Three complexes, [RhCl(Me₂-saloxaz)Cp*] (1), [RhCl{(S)-ⁱPr-saloxaz}Cp*] (2), and [Rh(OH₂)(Me₂-saloxaz)Cp*][SbF₆] (6) have been characterised by X-ray crystallography. Some of the complexes, after treatment with AgSbF₆, have been tested as enantioselective catalysts for the Diels-Alder reaction of methacrolein with cyclopentadiene.     

Silver(I) bromide complexes of the rigid diphosphanes 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphano)benzene (dppbz) and 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphano)-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene (xantphos): Crystal structures of [Ag(μ2-Br)(dppbz)]2, [AgBr(xantphos)] and [AgBr(xantphos)(py2SH)]

Reaction of silver(I) bromide with equimolar amounts of the rigid diphos ligands 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphano)benzene (dppbz) and 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphano)-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene (xantphos) in acetone and acetonitrile led to the corresponding chelates [Ag(μ₂-Br)(dppbz)]₂ (1) and [AgBr(xantphos)] (2). Treatment of 1 and 2 with pyridine-2-thione (py2SH) in ethanol gave the mixed-ligand complexes [AgBr(dppbz)(py2SH)] (3) and [AgBr(xantphos)(py2SH)] (4), respectively. Compounds 1, 2 and 4 have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, establishing distorted tetrahedral or trigonal planar coordination geometries of the silver atoms.     

Syntheses of new Mo(II) and W(II) mono(hydrosulfido) complexes and their conversion into di- and tetranuclear sulfido-bridged heterobimetallic complexes

Treatment of [Cp′MH(CO)₃] (M = Mo, W; Cp′ = η⁵-C₅H₅ (Cp), η⁵-C₅Me₅ (Cp*)) with 1/8 equiv of S₈ in THF, followed by the reaction with dppe under UV irradiation, gave new mono(hydrosulfido) complexes [Cp′M(SH)(CO)(dppe)] (Cp′ = Cp: M = Mo (5), W (6); Cp′ = Cp*: M = Mo (7), W (8); dppe = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂). When 5 and 6 dissolved in THF were allowed to react with [RhCl(PPh₃)₃] in the presence of base, heterodinuclear complexes with bridging S and dppe ligands [CpM(CO)(μ-S)(μ-dppe)Rh(PPh₃)] (M = Mo (9), W(10)) were obtained. Semi-bridging feature of the CO ligands were also demonstrated. Upon standing in CH₂Cl₂ solutions, 9 and 10 were converted further to the dimerization products [(CpM)₂{Rh(dppe)}₂(μ₂-CO)₂(μ₃-S)₂] (M = Mo (13), W). Detailed structures of mononuclear 7 and 8, dinuclear 9 and tetranuclear 13 have been determined by the X-ray diffraction.     

Palladium mediated activation of C-F bonds in 2,4,6-trifluoropyrimidine: Synthesis and structure of palladium pyrimidyloxy and pyrimidinone derivatives

[PdMe₂(dcpm)] (1) reacts with 2,4,6-trifluoropyrimidine in the presence of water to give the palladium derivative [PdMe{4-C₄N₂F₂H(O)}(dcpm)] (2). When additional triethylamine is present complex [PdMe(2-OC₄N₂F₂H)(dcpm)] (4) in addition to 2 is formed. Compound 2 converts slowly into the binuclear complex [Pd{4-C₄N₂F₂H(O)}(μ-dcpm)]₂ (5). The molecular structure of 5 was determined by X-ray crystallography. The palladium-palladium distance is 2.5898(3) Å.     

Intermolecular versus intramolecular C-H activation reaction in the thermolysis of [Ru(Me)Cp*(PMe2Ph)2] (Cp* = η-C5Me5): formation and crystallographic characterisation of [Ru(Ph)Cp*(PMe2Ph)2]

Thermolysis of the ruthenium complex [Ru(Me)Cp*(PMe₂Ph)₂] (1) (Cp* = η⁵-C₅Me₅) in benzene gives methane and [Ru(Ph)Cp*(PMe₂Ph)₂] (2), which is converted slowly to (3) through the loss of benzene. 2 was structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. DFT calculations were performed in order to understand the behaviour of the ruthenium complex 1 towards inter- or intra-molecular C-H bond activation reactions.     

The effect of titanium alkoxides in the synthesis of heterobimetallic complexes by titanocene(III) alkoxide-induced metal-metal bond cleavage of metal carbonyl dimers

A series of titanocene(III) alkoxides L₂Ti(III)OR where L = Cp, R = Et(1b), ^tBu(1a), 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃(1c), 2,6-^tBu₂-4-Me-C₆H₂(1d), or L = Cp*, R = Me(2e), ^tBu(2a), Ph(2f) was synthesized and subjected to reaction with [CpM(CO)₃]₂ [M = Mo, W], [CpRu(CO)₂]₂, and Co₂(CO)₈. The Ti(III) precursors 1a, 1c, 2a, 2e, and 2f reacted with [CpM(CO)₃]₂ [M = Mo, W] to form heterobimetallic complexes L₂Ti(OR)(μ-OC)(CO)₂MCp [M = Mo, W], of which Ti and M are linked by an isocarbonyl bridge. Reactions of these Ti(III) complexes with Co₂(CO)₈ resulted in formation of Ti-Co₁ heterobimetallic complexes, from 2a, 2e, or 2f, or Ti-Co₃ tetrametallic complexes, Cp₂Ti(O^tBu)(μ-OC)Co₃(CO)₉ from 1a, 1b, or 1c. The products were characterized by NMR, IR, and X-ray crystallography. Reaction mechanisms were proposed from these results, in particular, from steric/electronic effects of titanium alkoxides.     

Synthetic, structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical studies of mixed sandwich Rh(III) and Ir(III) complexes involving Cp* and tridentate macrocycles

The syntheses, structures, spectroscopy, and electrochemistry for six Ir(III) and Rh(III) mixed sandwich mononuclear complexes involving tridentate macrocycles and pentamethylcyclopentadienide (Cp*) are reported. The complexes are readily prepared by direct ligand substitution reactions from the dichloro bridged binuclear complexes, [{M(Cp*)(Cl)₂}₂]. All complexes have the general formula [M(L)(Cp*)]X₂ (M = Ir(III) or Rh(III), L = macrocycle, or Cl⁻) and exhibit a distorted octahedral structure involving three donor atoms from the macrocycle and the facially coordinating carbocyclic Cp* ligand. The complex cations include: [Rh(η⁵ -Cp*)(9S3)]²⁺ (1), [Rh(η⁵-Cp*)(9N3)]²⁺ (2), [Rh(η⁵-Cp*)(10S3)]²⁺ (3), [Ir(η⁵-Cp*)(9S3)]²⁺ (4), [Ir(η⁵-Cp*)(9N3)]²⁺ (5), and [Ir(η⁵-Cp*)(10S3)]²⁺ (6), where 9S3 = 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane, 9N3 = 1,4,7-triazacyclononane, and 10S3 = 1,4,7-trithiacyclodecane. The structures for all six complexes are supported by ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectroscopy, and five complexes are also characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography (complexes 1-5). The ¹H NMR splittings between the two sets of methylene protons for both the Rh(III) and Ir(III) 9S3 complexes are much larger (0.4 vs. 0.2 ppm) compared to those in the two 9N3 complexes. Similarly, the ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra in all four thioether complexes show that the ring carbons in the Cp* ligand are shifted by over 10 ppm downfield compared to the azacrown complexes. The electrochemistry of the complexes is surprisingly invariable and is dominated by a single irreversible metal-centered reduction near −1.2 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺.     

Coordinating properties of [M(CO)5(CN)] [M=Cr; Mo; W] ligands: formation of ion pairs or dinuclear cyanide-bridged complexes, spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies

The reaction of sodium cyanopentacarbonylmetalates Na[M(CO)₅(CN)] (M=Cr; Mo; W) with cationic Fe(II) complexes [Cp(CO)(L)Fe(thf)][O₃SCF₃], [L=PPh₃ (1a), CN-Benzyl (1b), CN-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (1c); CN-Bu^t (1d), P(OMe)₃ (1e), P(Me)₂Ph (1f)] in acetonitrile solution, yielded the metathesis products [Cp(CO)(L)Fe(NCCH₃)][NCM(CO)₅] [M=W, L=PPh₃ (2a), CN-Benzyl (2b), CN-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (2c); CN-Bu^t (2d), P(OMe)₃ (2e), P(Me)₂Ph (2f); M=Cr, L=(PPh₃) (3a), CN-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (3c); M=Mo, L=(PPh₃) (4a), CN-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (4c)]. The ionic nature of such complexes was suggested by conductivity measurements and their main structural features were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Well-resolved signals relative to the [M(CO)₅(CN)] moieties could be distinguished only when ¹³C NMR experiments were performed at low temperature (from −30 to −50 °C), as in the case of [Cp(CO)(PPh₃)Fe(NCCH₃)][NCW(CO)₅] (2a) and [Cp(CO)(Benzyl-NC)Fe(NCCH₃)][NCW(CO)₅] (2b). When the same reaction was carried out in dichloromethane solution, neutral cyanide-bridged dinuclear complexes [Cp(CO)(L)FeNCM(CO)₅] [M=W, L=PPh₃ (5a), CN-Benzyl (5b); M=Cr, L=(PPh₃) (6a), CN-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (6c), CO (6g); M=Mo, L=CN-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃ (7c), CO (7g)] were obtained and characterized by infrared and NMR spectroscopy. In all cases, the room temperature ¹³C NMR measurements showed no broadening of cyano pentacarbonyl signals and, relative to tungsten complexes [Cp(CO)(PPh₃)FeNCW(CO)₅] (5a) and [Cp(CO)(CN-Benzyl)FeNCW(CO)₅] (5b), the presence of ¹⁸³W satellites of the ¹³CN resonances (J_CW ∼ 95 Hz) at room temperature confirmed the formation of stable neutral species. The main ¹³C NMR spectroscopic properties of the latter compounds were compared to those of the linkage isomers [Cp(CO)(PPh₃)FeCNW(CO)₅] (8a) and [Cp(CO)(CN-Benzyl)FeCNW(CO)₅] (8b). The characterization of the isomeric couples 5a-8a and 5b-8b was completed by the analyses of their main IR spectroscopic properties. The crystal structures determined for 2a, 5a, 8a and 8b allowed to investigate the geometrical and electronic differences between such complexes. Finally, the study was completed by extended Hückel calculations of the charge distribution among the relevant atoms for complexes 2a, 5a and 8a.     

C-NMR study of Ti(IV) species formed by Cp*TiMe3 and Cp*TiCl3 activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO)

Using ¹³C- and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, titanium(IV) species formed in the catalytic systems Cp*TiMe₃/MAO and Cp*TiCl₃/MAO (Cp*=C₅(CH₃)₅) in toluene and chlorobenzene were studied within the temperature range 253-293 K and at Al/Ti ratios 30-300. It was shown that upon activation of Cp*TiMe₃ with methylaluminoxane (MAO) mainly the ‘cation-like’ intermediate Cp*Me₂Ti⁺←Me⁻Al(MAO) (2) is formed. Three types of titanium(IV) complexes were identified in Cp*TiCl₃/MAO catalytic system. They are methylated complexes Cp*TiMeCl₂ and Cp*TiMe₂Cl, and the ‘cation-like’ intermediate 2. Complex 2 dominates in Cp*TiCl₃/MAO system in conditions approaching to those of practical polymerization (Al/Ti ratios more than 200). According to the EPR measurements, the portion of EPR active Ti(III) species in the Cp*TiCl₃/MAO system is smaller than 1% at Al/Ti=35, and is about 10% at Al/Ti=700.     

Syntheses and spectra of chromium-titanium complexes bridged by carboxylate substituted cyclopentadienyl group: The structure of Cp2Ti(CH3){[OC(O)C5H4]Cr(NO)2Cl}

Mono-demethylation of Cp₂Ti(CH₃)₂ in dichloromethane with 1 M equivalent of [η⁵-(C₅H₄COOH)]Cr(CO)₂NO (5), [η⁵-(C₅H₄COOH)]Cr(NO)₂X] (X = Cl 6, X = I 7) and [η⁵-(C₅H₄COOH)]W(CO)₃CH₃ (8) gives Cp₂Ti(CH₃){[OC(O)C₅H₄]Cr(CO)₂NO} (9), Cp₂Ti(CH₃){[OC(O)C₅H₄]Cr(NO)₂Cl} (10), Cp₂Ti(CH₃){[OC(O)C₅H₄]Cr(NO)₂I} (11) and Cp₂Ti(CH₃){[OC(O)C₅H₄]W(CO)₃CH₃} (12), respectively. The structure of 10 has been solved by X-ray diffraction studies. One of the nitrosyl groups is located at the site away from the exocyclic carbonyl carbon of the Cp(Cr) ring with twist angle of 178.1°. All the data reveals that Cp₂Ti(CH₃)- is a strong electron-donating group. The opposite correlation was observed on the chemical shift assignments of C(2)-C(5) in compounds 5-12, using HetCOR NMR spectroscopy, as compared with the NMR data of their ferrocene analogues. The electron density distribution in the cyclopentadienyl ring is discussed on the basis of ¹³C NMR data and those of 10 are compared with the calculations via density functional B3LYP correlation- exchange method.     

Unsymmetrical complexes containing the linear tetraphosphine ligand DPPEPM

The tetraphosphine DPPEPM reacts with [PtMe₂(cod)] to produce [PtMe₂(DPPEPM-PP)] (1) in near quantitative yield. On standing in solution, the free P atoms become oxidized to give [PtMe₂(DPPEPM(O)₂-PP)] (1a), which has been characterized by X-ray crystallography. In contrast, reactions of DPPEPM with [MCl₂(cod)] (M = Pd, Pt) yield ionic products of the form [M(DPPEPM-PP)₂]MCl₄ (3, 4). When a solution of the platinum complex was allowed to stand, crystals of [Pt(μ-Cl)(μ-DPPEPM)₂]Cl₃ (5) were obtained. In a third set of reactions, treatment of [PtClR(cod)] (R = Me, Ph) or [PdClMe(cod)] with DPPEPM gives species of the type [MR(DPPEPM-PPP)]Cl (6-8), in which one of the internal P atoms is uncoordinated. Reactions of [PtR₂(DPPEPM-PP)] with or [MCl₂(cod)] (M = Pd, Pt), or of [PtR(DPPEPM-PPP)]Cl with [MCl₂(cod)], lead to unsymmetrical bimetallic complexes. [PtMe₂(μ-DPPEPM)PdCl₂] (11) and [PtClPh(μ-DPPEPM)PdCl₂] (14) have been characterized crystallographically. Trimetallic complexes of the form [{PtR₂(μ-DPPEPM)}₂M][MCl₄] (M = Pd, Pt, 15-17) are produced by reaction of [PtR₂(DPPEPM-PP)] with [MCl₂(cod)].     

Mono-cyclopentadienyl complexes of lanthanum: synthesis and characterization of anilido derivatives

Use of the bulky cyclopentadienyl ligand [η⁵-C₅H₂(SiMe₃)₃-1,2,4]⁻ (Cp?) allows for the isolation of monomeric, mono-ring lanthanide species. As previously reported, (Cp?)K reacts with LaI₃(THF)₄ (THF=tetrahydrofuran) in THF/pyridine to form the mono-ring complex (Cp?)LaI₂(py)₃ (1) (py=pyridine); a minor product of this reaction is the bis-ring species (Cp?)₂LaI(py) (2). The solid state structure of 2 reveals a monomeric compound containing a pseudo-tetrahedral metal center exhibiting no unusual intramolecular contacts. Addition of one equiv of KNHAr (Ar=2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) to complex 1 in THF generates the mono-anilido compound (Cp?)LaI(NHAr)(THF)₂ (3), which may be converted to the more stable pyridine adduct (Cp?)LaI(NHAr)(py)₂ (4) by the addition of pyridine to 3. An X-ray crystal structure of 3 indicated a trigonal bipyramidal metal center with the anilido group oriented trans to the iodide atom (N1-La1-I1=123.1(3)°). A structural study on the bis-pyridine adduct 4 revealed a similar C_s-symmetric structure with a slightly increased N_anilido-La-I angle of 132.1(2)°. Addition of KNHAr to the di-iodo bipyridine adduct (Cp?)LaI₂(bipy)(py) (5), in which the two iodide atoms are cis-disposed, yields the mono-anilido complex (Cp?)LaI(NHAr)(bipy)(py) (6) (bipy=2,2^′-bipyridine); this compound may also be prepared by the addition of bipy to (Cp?)LaI(NHAr)(py)₂ (4). An X-ray diffraction study shows that the lanthanum center in 6 is octahedrally coordinated by a Cp? ring, an iodide, an anilido group, a pyridine molecule and two nitrogens of a bipy molecule. In this case, the anilido moiety and the iodide ligand are arranged in a cis fashion (N_anilido-La-I=111.2(2)°), resulting in a complex with C₁ symmetry. Both (Cp?)LaI(NHAr)(py)₂ (4) and (Cp?)LaI(NHAr)(bipy)(py) (6) are inactive as catalysts for the hydroamination/cyclization of 2-amino-hex-5-ene.     

Some ruthenium complexes containing cyanocarbon ligands: syntheses, structures and extent of electronic communication in binuclear systems

The preparation of several ruthenium complexes containing cyanocarbon anions is reported. Deprotonation (KOBu^t) of [Ru(NCCH₂CN)(PPh₃)₂Cp]PF₆ (1) gives Ru{NCCH(CN)}(PPh₃)₂Cp (2), which adds a second [Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp]⁺ unit to give [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂(μ-NCCHCN)]⁺ (3). Attempted deprotonation of the latter to give the μ-NCCCN complex was unsuccessful. Similar chemistry with tricyanomethanide anion gives Ru{NCC(CN)₂}(PPh₃)₂Cp (4) and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂{μ-NCC(CN)CN}]PF₆ (5), and with pentacyanopropenide, Ru{NCC(CN)C(CN)C(CN)₂}(PPh₃)₂Cp (6) and [{Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂{μ-NCC(CN)C(CN)C(CN)CN}]PF₆ (7). The Ru(dppe)Cp* analogues of 6 and 7 (8 and 9) were also prepared. Thermolysis of 6 (refluxing toluene, 12 h) results in loss of PPh₃ and formation of the binuclear cyclic complex {Ru(PPh₃)Cp[μ-NC{C(CN)C(CN)₂}CN]}₂ (10). The solid-state structures of 2-4 and 8-10 have been determined and the nature of the isomers shown to be present in solutions of the binuclear cations 7 and 9 by NMR studies has been probed using Hartree-Fock and density functional theory.     

Synthesis, characterization and structure of diiron organometallic derivatives of 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-dihydro-dicyclopenta[a,h]naphthalene

A new fused ring compound 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-dihydro-dicyclopenta[a,h]naphthalene (VI), (H₂L), has been synthesized from naphthalic anhydride. Two organometallic binuclear complexes, [Cp*Fe-L-FeCp*] (1) and the mixed valence compound, (2) have been characterized by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The structure resolution of (1) by single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the two organometallic fragments Cp*Fe are in an anti position. Cyclic voltammetry exhibits a potential difference of 348 mV between both redox peaks. The Mössbauer investigation at different temperatures shows a uniform environment for the neutral compound (1) and two sites, assigned to Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ for the compound (2). The information gathered by all the previously mentioned techniques indicates that the studied binuclear complex belongs to the mixed valence class II complexes according to the classification of Robin and Day.