Di‐μ‐methanolato‐bis[(η4‐tetrafluorobenzobarrelene)rhodium(I)]

The versatile synthetic precursor methanolate‐bridged title rhodium complex, [Rh₂(CH₃O)₂(C₁₂H₆F₄)₂] or [Rh(μ‐OCH₃)(tfbb)]₂ [tfbb = tetrafluorobenzobarrelene or 3,4,5,6‐tetrafluorotricyclo[6.2.2.0^2,7]dodeca‐2(7),3,5,9,11‐pentaene], has been structurally characterized. The asymmetric unit contains half a molecule that can be expanded via a twofold axis. The title compound has been shown to be a dinuclear rhodium complex where each metal centre is coordinated by two O atoms from two bridging methanolate groups and by the olefinic bonds of a tfbb ligand. Comparison of the bite angles of tfbb, norbornadiene (nbd) and cyclooctadiene (cod) olefins in their η⁴‐coordination to rhodium reveals similarities between the tfbb and nbd ligands, which are much more rigid than cod. The short distance found between the distorted square‐planar metal centres [2.8351 (4) Å] has been related to the syn conformation of the folded core `RhORhO' ring.     

Formation of 18e− and 16e− Acyl(η3‐cyclooctenyl)rhodium(III) Complexes in the Reaction of Cationic (Cycloocta‐1,5‐diene)rhodium(I) Compounds with 2‐(Diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde

The reaction of cationic diolefinic rhodium(I) complexes with 2‐(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde (pCHO) was studied. [Rh(cod)₂]ClO₄ (cod=cycloocta‐1,5‐diene) reacted with pCHO to undergo the oxidative addition of one pCHO with (1,2,3‐η)cyclooct‐2‐en‐1‐yl (η³‐C₈H₁₃) formation, and the coordination of a second pCHO molecule as (phosphino‐κP)aldehyde‐κO(σ‐coordination) chelate to give the 18e⁻ acyl(allyl)rhodium(III) species [Rh(η³‐C₈H₁₃)(pCO)(pCHO)]ClO₄ (see 1 ). Complex 1 reacted with [Rh(cod)(PR₃)₂]ClO₄ (R=aryl) derivatives 3 – 6 to give stable pentacoordinated 16e⁻ acyl[(1,2,3‐η)‐cyclooct‐2‐en‐1‐yl]rhodium(III) species [Rh(η³‐C₈H₁₃)(pCO)(PR₃)]ClO₄ 7 – 10 . The (1,2,3‐η)‐cyclooct‐2‐en‐1‐yl complexes contain cis‐positioned P‐atoms and were fully characterized by NMR, and the molecular structure of 1 was determined by X‐ray crystal diffraction. The rhodium(III) complex 1 catalyzed the hydroformylation of hex‐1‐ene and produced 98% of aldehydes (n/iso=2.6).     

Polymerization of 3‐ethynylthiophene with homogeneous and heterogeneous Rh catalysts

3‐Ethynylthiophene (3ETh) was polymerized with Rh(I) complexes: [Rh(cod)acac], [Rh(nbd)acac], [Rh(cod)Cl]₂, and [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂ (cod is η²:η²‐cycloocta‐1,5‐diene and nbd η²:η²‐norborna‐2,5‐diene), used as homogeneous catalysts and with the last two complexes anchored on mesoporous polybenzimidazole (PBI) beads: [Rh(cod)Cl]₂/PBI and [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂/PBI used as heterogeneous catalysts. All tested catalyst systems give high‐cis poly(3ETh). In situ NMR study of homogeneous polymerizations induced with [Rh(cod)acac] and [Rh(nbd)acac] complexes has revealed: (i) a transformation of acac ligands into free acetylacetone (Hacac) occurring since the early stage of polymerization, which suggests that this reaction is part of the initiation, (ii) that the initiation is rather slow in both of these polymerization systems, and (iii) a release of cod ligand from [Rh(cod)acac] complex but no release of nbd ligand from [Rh(nbd)acac] complex during the polymerization. The stability of diene ligand binding to Rh‐atom in [Rh(diene)acac] catalysts remarkably affects only the molecular weight but not the yield of poly(3ETh). The heterogeneous catalyst systems also provide high‐cis poly(3ETh), which is of very low contamination with catalyst residues since a leaching of anchored Rh complexes is negligible. The course of heterogeneous polymerizations is somewhat affected by limitations arising from the diffusion of monomer inside catalyst beads. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2776–2787, 2008     

Novel isolated,L‐amino acid‐ligated rhodium catalysts that induce highly helix‐sense‐selective polymerization of an achiral 3,4,5‐trisubstituted phenylacetylene

Two novel chiral well‐defined rhodium complexes, Rh(cod)(L‐Phe) (cod = 1,5‐cyclooctadiene, Phe = phenylalanine) and Rh(cod)(L‐Val) (Val = valine) were synthesized, isolated by recrystallization, and characterized. The helix‐sense‐selective polymerization (HSSP) of an achiral 3,4,5‐trisubstituted phenylacetylene, p‐dodecyloxy‐m,m‐dihydroxyphenylacetylene (DoDHPA) was examined by using the two Rh complexes as catalysts. These catalysts provided high molecular weight polymers (M_w 28 × 10⁴?45 × 10⁴) in about 40%–85% yields. The resulting polymers exhibited a bisignated CD signal at about 300 nm and a broad signal around 470 nm, indicating that they have preferential one‐handed helical structure. The present catalysts achieved larger molar ellipticity up to [θ]₃₁₀ = 13.0 × 10⁴ deg cm²/dmol than those with binary chiral catalytic systems, [Rh(cod)Cl]₂/(L‐phenylalaninol), [Rh(cod)Cl]₂/(L‐valinol), and [Rh(nbd)Cl]₂/(R)‐PEA. All these results manifest that the present, well‐defined Rh complexes serve as excellent catalysts for the HSSP of DoDHPA. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2346–2351     

Highly Efficient [3 + 2] Cycloaddition: Click Synthesis of Novel 1H‐indol‐3‐yl‐benzo[d]imidazole Bis‐triazoles

A series of novel 1‐((1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)methyl)‐2‐(1‐((1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)methyl)‐5‐substituted‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐6‐substituted‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazoles 5a – i have been prepared using click chemistry as an ideal strategy where [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azides with terminal alkynes has been developed as the target compounds. In route‐II, 5‐substituted‐1H‐indole‐3‐carbaldehydes 1a – c react with 5‐substituted orthophenylenediamine 8 to give desired products, that is, 6‐substituted‐2‐(5‐substituted‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole 6a – i . Here, 6a – i react with 2 equiv of propargylbromide 7 to give novel 6‐substituted 2‐(5‐substituted‐1‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yl)‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐1‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazole 4a – i . 4a – i were reacted with 2 equiv of NaN₃ in t‐butanol/water (1:2) and add catalytic amount of CuSO₄.5H₂O. Stir the reaction mixture at room temperature to get the target products 5a – i . Here, obtained products contain four rings, that is, one indole, two triazoles, and one benzimidazole. The main advantages of this method are short reaction times, easy workup, higher yields (88–92%), and no by‐products formation.     

Catalytic Polymerizations of Hydrophobic,Substituted, Acetylene Monomers in an Aqueous Medium by Using a Monomer/Hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex

Ten hydrophobic, substituted, acetylene monomers were examined as to their abilities to form an inclusion complex with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HPCD). Only the monomers with suitable substitutents were found to form the monomer/HPCD complex, which was identified by NMR, FTIR, and UV‐vis spectroscopy. Polymerizations of the monomers were successfully carried out in aqueous solution by using the prepared monomer/HPCD inclusion complex and by using a water‐soluble Rh‐based catalyst, [Rh(cod)₂BF₄] or [Rh(nbd)(H₂O)OTs]. Such polymerizations provided high‐yield (>90%) polymers with a cis content of approximately 100%. The as‐prepared polymers could take an ordered helical conformation, just like their counterparts obtained in organic solvents.

     

Mono‐ and Binuclear Rhodium and Platinum Complexes of 1, 3, 5‐Trimethyl‐1, 3, 5‐triaza‐2σ3λ3‐phosphorin‐4, 6‐dionyloxy‐substituted Calix[4]arenes

The reaction behaviour of 1, 3, 5‐triaza‐2σ³λ³‐phosphorin‐4, 6‐dionyloxy‐substituted calix[4]arenes towards mono‐ and binuclear rhodium and platinum complexes was investigated. Special attention was directed to structure and dynamic behaviour of the products in solution and in the solid state. Depending on the molar ratio of the reactands, the reaction of the tetrakis(triazaphosphorindionyloxy)‐substituted calix[4]arene ( 4 ) and its tert‐butyl‐derivative ( 1 ) with [(cod)RhCl]₂ yielded the mono‐ and disubstituted binuclear rhodium complexes 2 , 3 , and 5 . In all cases, a C₂‐symmetrical structure was proved in solution, apparently caused by a fast intramolecular exchange process between cone conformation and 1, 3‐alternating conformation. The X‐ray crystal structure determination of 5 confirmed [(calixarene)RhCl]₂‐coordination through two opposite phosphorus atoms with a P ⃜P separation of 345 pm. The complex displays crystallographic inversion symmetry, and the Rh₂Cl₂ core is thus exactly planar. Reaction of 1 and of the bis(triazaphosphorindionyloxy)‐bis(methoxy)‐substituted tert‐butyl‐calix‐[4]arene ( 7 ) with (cod)Rh(acac) in equimolar ratio and subsequent reaction with HBF₄ led to the expected cationic monorhodium complexes 5 and 8 , involving 1, 3‐alternating P‐Rh‐P‐coordination. The cone conformation in solution was proved by NMR spectroscopy and characteristic values of the ¹J(PRh) coupling constants in the ³¹P‐NMR‐spectra. Reaction of equimolar amounts of 4 with (cod)Rh(acac) or (nbd)Rh(acac) led, by substitution of the labile coordinated acetylacetonato and after addition of HBF₄, to the corresponding mononuclear cationic complexes 9 and 10 . Only two of the four phosphorus atoms in 9 and 10 are coordinated to the central metal atom. Displacement of either cycloocta‐1, 5‐diene or norbornadiene was not observed. For both compounds, the cone conformation was proved by NMR spectroscopy. Reaction of 4 with (cod)PtCl₂ led to the PtCl₂‐complex ( 11 ). As for all compounds mentioned above, only two phosphorus atoms of the ligand coordinate to platinum, while two phosphorus atoms remain uncoordinated (proved by δ³¹P and characteristic values of ¹J(PPt)). NMR‐spectroscopic evidence was found for the existence of the cone conformation in the cis‐configuration of 11 .     

Exceptionally high molecular weight linear polyethylene by using N,N,N′‐Co catalysts appended with a N′‐2,6‐bis{di(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl}‐4‐nitrophenyl group

The bis(arylimino)pyridines, 2‐[CMeN{2,6‐{(4‐FC₆H₄)₂CH}₂–4‐NO₂}]‐6‐(CMeNAr)C₅H₃N (Ar = 2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃ L1 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ L2 , 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃ L3 , 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂ L4 , 2,6‐Et₂–4‐MeC₆H₂ L5 ), each containing one N′‐2,6‐bis{di(4‐fluorophenyl)methyl}‐4‐nitrophenyl group, have been synthesized by two successive condensation reactions from 2,6‐diacetylpyridine. Their subsequent treatment with anhydrous cobalt (II) chloride gave the corresponding N,N,N′‐CoCl₂ chelates, Co1 – Co5 , in excellent yield. All five complexes have been characterized by ¹H/¹⁹F NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by elemental analysis. In addition, the molecular structures of Co1 and Co3 have been determined and help to emphasize the differences in steric properties imposed by the inequivalent N‐aryl groups; distorted square pyramidal geometries are adopted by each complex. Upon activation with either methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), precatalyts Co1 – Co5 collectively exhibited very high activities for ethylene polymerization with 2,6‐dimethyl‐substituted Co1 the most active (up to 1.1 × 10⁷ g (PE) mol^?1 (Co) h^?1); the MAO systems were generally more productive. Linear polyethylenes of exceptionally high molecular weight (M_w up to 1.3 × 10⁶ g mol^?1) were obtained in all cases with the range in dispersities exhibited using MAO as co‐catalyst noticeably narrower than with MMAO [M_w/M_n: 3.55–4.77 ( Co1 – Co5 /MAO) vs. 2.85–12.85 ( Co1 – Co5 /MMAO)]. Significantly, the molecular weights of the polymers generated using this class of cobalt catalyst are higher than any literature values reported to date using related N,N,N‐bis (arylimino)pyridine‐cobalt catalysts.     

Convenient Synthesis of 1H‐Indol‐1‐yl Boronates via Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Borylation of Bromo‐1H‐indoles with ‘Pinacolborane’

An atom‐economic Pd⁰‐catalyzed synthesis of a series of pinacol‐type indolylboronates 3 from the corresponding bromoindole substrates 2 and pinacolborane (pinBH) as borylating agent was elaborated. The optimal catalyst system consisted of a 1 : 2 mixture of [Pd(OAc)₂] and the ortho‐substituted biphenylphosphine ligand L‐3 (Scheme 4, Table). Our synthetic protocol was applied to the fast, preparative‐scale synthesis of 1‐substituted indolylboronates 3a – h in the presence of different functional groups, and at a catalyst load of only 1 mol‐% of Pd.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed ortho‐Selective CF Bond Borylation of Polyfluoroarenes with BpinBpin

An ortho‐selective C? F bond borylation between N‐heterocycle‐substituted polyfluoroarenes and Bpin‐Bpin with simple and commercially available [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄ as a catalyst is now reported. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions with high efficiency and broad substrate scope, even toward monofluoroarene, thus providing a facile access to a wide range of borylated fluoroarenes that are useful for photoelectronic materials. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that a Rh^III/V catalytic cycle via a key intermediate rhodium(III) hydride complex [(H)Rh^IIIL_n(Bpin)] may be involved in the reaction.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Addition of Lithium 2‐Furyltriolborates to Unsaturated Ketones and Esters for Enantioselective Synthesis of γ‐Oxo‐Carboxylic Acids By Oxidation of the Furyl Ring with Ozone

Rhodium‐catalyzed 1,4‐addition of lithium 5‐methyl‐2‐furyltriolborate ([ArB(OCH₂)₃CCH₃]Li, Ar=5‐methyl‐2‐furyl) to unsaturated ketones to give β‐furyl ketones was followed by ozonolysis of the furyl ring for enantioselective synthesis of γ‐oxo‐carboxylic acids. [Rh(nbd)₂]BF₄ (nbd=2,5‐norbornadiene) chelated with 2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (binap) or 2,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (chiraphos) gave high yields and high selectivities in a range of 91–99 % ee at 30 °C in a basic dioxane/water solution. The corresponding reaction of unsaturated esters, such as methyl crotonate, had strong resistance under analogous conditions, but the 1,4‐adduct was obtained in 70 % yield and with 94 % ee when more electron‐deficient phenyl crotonate was used as the substrate.     

Simple and Efficient Synthesis of Novel 3‐Substituted 2‐Thioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐benzo[g]quinazolin‐4‐ones and Their Reactions with Alkyl Halides and α‐Glycopyranosyl Bromides

A series of 3‐substituted 2‐thioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐benzo[g]quinazolin‐4‐ones 4a – e were synthesized from the reaction of 3‐aminonaphthalene‐2‐carboxylic acid 1 with isothiocyanate derivatives 2a – e . The alkylation of 4a – e with alkyl halides gave 3‐substituted 2‐alkylsulfanyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐benzo[g]quinazolin‐4‐ones 5a – o . S‐Glycosylation was carried out via the reaction of 4a – e with glycopyranosyl bromides 7a and 7b under anhydrous alkaline conditions. The structure of the compounds was established as S‐nucleoside and not N‐nucleoside. Conformational analysis has been studied by homonuclear and heteronuclear two‐dimensional NMR methods (2D DFQ‐COSY, heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence, and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation). The S site of alkylation and glycosylation was determined from the ¹H and ¹³C heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence experiments.     

Neue Rhodium(I)‐Komplexe mit Donor/Akzeptor‐Chelatliganden

Alternative Ligands. XXXVI. Novel Rhodium(I) Complexes with Donor/Acceptor Chelating Ligands In order to generate metal base/Lewis‐acid interactions in rhodium(I) phosphane complexes the binuclear complex [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ was reacted in benzene with dipod ligands of the type R₂M′(OCH₂PMe₂)_x(CH₂CH₂PMe₂)_2–x (R = F, Me; M′ = Si, Ge; x = 0–2) using the Ziegler dilution principle with the aim to produce mononuclear compounds in which with formation of five‐membered chelate rings in principle Rh → M′ contacts are possible. The reactions of ligands 1 – 7 (Table 1) with [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ proceed under CO elimination and, in spite of large turnovers, lead to a variety of products 8 – 14 (Table 1), in case of 11 , 13 and 14 accompanied by degradation of the corresponding ligands. Intact ligands are present in the 16‐membered rings of the binuclear complexes 8 – 10 and 12 , for which, due to the molecular structure, Rh → M′ interactions can be excluded. In the reaction of Me₂Si(OCH₂PMe₂)₂ ( 4 ) with [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ the unusual binuclear system 11 with a central Rh₂O₂ four‐membered ring and two RhO(SiMe₂OCH₂PMe₂) six‐membered rings is formed. Small amounts of the mononuclear compounds Rh(CO)Cl(Me₂PCH₂OH)₂ ( 13 ) and Rh(CO)Cl₃(Me₂PCH₂OH)₂ ( 14 ), respectively, are obtained in crystalline form from the reaction mixtures of [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ with Me₂Ge(OCH₂PMe₂)(CH₂CH₂PMe₂) ( 6 ) or Me₂Ge(OCH₂PMe₂)₂ ( 7 ). The new complexes were characterized by analytic (C, H), spectroscopic (NMR, IR, MS) and, except for 12 , by single crystal structural analyses.     

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Some New 2,5‐Disubstituted‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole Derivatives

Synthesis of some new oxadiazole derivatives starting from 1,2,3-benzo[d]triazole-1-acetic hydrazide (1) is described. The target compounds 2-(N-substituted-aminocarbonylmethylthio)-5-(1,2,3-benzo[d]triazol-1-ylmethyl)- 1,3,4-oxadiazole (4a—4i) and 2-[2-(N-substituted-aminocarbonyl)ethylthio]-5-(1,2,3-benzo[d]triazol-1-ylmethyl)- 1,3,4-oxadiazole (5a—5i) were obtained in good yields via cyclisation of 1 and subjected to antibacterial activity test against pathogenic bacteria. The halogen containing mono- and di-substituted derivatives showed excellent antibacterial activity compared to other analogues.     

RhI‐Catalyzed Cyclizative Addition Reaction of 1,6‐Enyne and Sulfonyl Chloride by Carbophilic Activation

The π‐acid‐catalyzed cyclizations of 1,n‐enynes by carbophilic activation have been extensively studied and appear as highly attractive processes, yet the cases within a catalytic cycle based on redox principle are rare. Herein, we report the cyclizative addition reactions of 1,6‐enynes and sulfonyl chlorides by using a [Rh(cod)Cl/dppf] (dppf=1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) catalyst system. The process features the involvement of oxidative addition of sulfonyl chloride to Rh^I catalyst, which generates [(dppf)(RSO₂)RhCl₂] as a π‐acid species to trigger cyclizative addition in a 6‐endo‐dig manner by carbophilic activation. Moreover, the catalytic protocol is also applicable to 1,6‐diene analogues.     

1,2,4‐Triazol‐3‐ylidenes with an N‐2,4‐Dinitrophenyl Substituent as Strongly π‐Accepting N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of new Rh and Au complexes bearing 1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ylidenes with a N‐2,4‐dinitrophenyl (N‐DNP) substituent are described. IR, NMR, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and computational analyses of the Rh complexes revealed that the N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) behaved as strong π acceptors and weak σ donors. In particular, a natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis revealed that the contributions of the Rh→C_carbene π backbonding interaction energies (ΔE_bb) to the bond dissociation energies (BDE) of the Rh? C_carbene bond for [RhCl(NHC)(cod)] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene) reached up to 63 %. The Au complex exhibited superior catalytic activity in the intermolecular hydroalkoxylation of cyclohexene with 2‐methoxyethanol. The NBO analysis suggested that the high catalytic activity of the Au^I complex resulted from the enhanced π acidity of the Au atom.     

Bis‐cyclometalated Rhodium and Iridium Chloride Complexes Yield Different Products Upon Reaction With 9,10‐Diaminophenanthrene

The reaction of 9.10‐diaminophenanthrene with [{Rh(μ‐Cl)(ptpy)₂}₂] yields – quite unexpected – the new cyclometalated complex salts [Rh(ptpy)₂(9,10‐diiminophenanthrene)]PF₆ ( 1 ), whereas with the corresponding dinuclear iridium compound the “usual” [Ir(ptpy)₂(9,10‐diaminophenanthrene)]PF₆ ( 2 ) is obtained. The molecular structure of compound 1 was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. 1 crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n as a dichloromethane solvate. Both compounds display significant cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines with the IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range.     

Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐ and 2‐Heteroaryl‐3,5‐dimethoxy‐1,4‐benzoquinones Involving Pd‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of (2,3,4,6‐Tetramethoxyphenyl)boronic Acid

A series of 2‐aryl‐ and 2‐heteroaryl‐substituted 3,5‐dimethoxy‐1,4‐benzoquinones (compounds 27 – 36 ) have been synthesized by cross‐coupling of (2,3,4,6‐tetramethoxyphenyl)boronic acid ( 2 ) with aromatic bromides or iodides in the presence of [Pd⁰(Ph₃)₄] and Na₂CO₃, followed by AgO‐promoted oxidation of the resulting biaryl compounds 17 – 26 .     

A Metal‐Containing N‐Heterocyclic Germylene Based on an Oxalamidine Framework

A metal‐containing N‐heterocyclic germylene based on a N‐mesityl (Mes)‐substituted oxalamidine framework is reported. The precursor (MesN=)₂C–C(–N(H)Mes)₂ ( 1 H₂) was converted into its rhodium complex [Rh(κ²N‐ 1 H₂)(cod)][OTf] ( 2 ) (cod = 1,5‐cyclooctadiene; OTf = triflate) in 62 % isolated yield. Subsequent reaction of 2 with Ge{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂ gave the crystalline N‐heterocyclic germylene [Rh(cod)(μ‐ 1 )Ge][OTf] ( 3 ) in 50 % yield. The compounds under study were fully characterized by various methods, also including X‐ray crystallographic studies on single crystals of 2 and 3 . Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that π conjugation in the bridging oxalamidine framework is increased and n(N)–p(Ge) π bonding is decreased upon κ²N metal coordination; a further weakening of the Ge–N bond occurs through triflate coordination to the Ge^II atom. Nevertheless, preliminary coordination studies revealed that 3 behaves as 2‐electron (L ‐type) germylene donor ligand. Treatment of 3 with [Ir(cod)Cl]₂ furnished the heterobimetallic complex [Rh(cod)(μ‐ 1 )Ge‐Ir(cod)Cl][OTf] ( 4 ), as evidenced by NMR spectroscopic investigations and DFT calculations.     

Synthesis,characterization and hydroformylation activity of 7‐azaindolate‐bridged dinuclear rhodium(I)phosphines with pendant polar‐groups

New dinuclear Rh(I)–Phosphines of the types [Rh(µ‐azi)(CO)(L)]₂ ( 1,3 – 7 ) and [Rh(µ‐azi)(L)]₂ ( 8 ) with pendant polar groups, and a chealated mononuclear compound [Rh(azi‐H)(CO)(L)] ( 2 ) (where azi = 7‐azaindolate, L = polar phosphine) were isolated from the reaction of [Rh(µ‐Cl)(CO)₂]₂ with 7‐azaindolate followed by some polar mono‐ and bis‐phosphines ( L ₁ – L ₈ ). A relationship between Δδ³¹P‐NMR and ν(CO) values was considered to define the impact of polar‐groups on σ‐donor properties of the phosphines. These compounds were evaluated as catalyst precursors in the hydroformylation of 1‐hexene and 1‐dodecene both in mono‐ and biphasic aqueous organic systems. While the biphasic hydroformylations (water + toluene) gave exclusively the aldehydes, the monophasic one (aqueous ethanol) showed propensity to form both aldehydes and alcohols. The influence of bimetallic cooperative effects, and σ‐donor and hydrophilic properties of the phosphines with pendant polar‐groups in enhancing the yields and selectivity of hydroformylation products was emphasized. In addition, when strong σ‐donor phosphine was used, the π‐acceptor nature of pyridine ring of 7‐azaindolate spacer was found to be a considerable factor in facilitating the facile cleavage of CO group during hydroformylation and in supplementing the cooperative effects. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.