Four‐Membered Heterometallacyclic d0 and d1 Complexes of Group 4 Metallocenes with Amidato Ligands

A study of the coordination chemistry of different amidato ligands [(R)N?C(Ph)O] (R=Ph, 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl (Dipp)) at Group 4 metallocenes is presented. The heterometallacyclic complexes [Cp₂M(Cl){κ²‐N,O‐(R)N?C(Ph)O}] M=Zr, R=Dipp ( 1 a ), Ph ( 1 b ); M=Hf, R=Ph ( 2 )) were synthesized by reaction of [Cp₂MCl₂] with the corresponding deprotonated amides. Complex 1 a was also prepared by direct deprotonation of the amide with Schwartz reagent [Cp₂Zr(H)Cl]. Salt metathesis reaction of [Cp₂Zr(H)Cl] with deprotonated amide [(Dipp)N?C(Ph)O] gave the zirconocene hydrido complex [Cp₂M(H){κ²‐N,O‐(Dipp)N?C(Ph)O}] ( 3 ). Reaction of 1 a with Mg did not result in the desired Zr(III) complex but in formation of Mg complex [(py)₃Mg(Cl) {κ²‐N,O‐(Dipp)N?C(Ph)O}] ( 4 ; py=pyridine). The paramagnetic complexes [Cp′₂Ti{κ²‐N,O‐(R)N?C(Ph)O}] (Cp′=Cp, R=Ph ( 7 a ); Cp′=Cp, R=Dipp ( 7 b ); Cp′=Cp*, R=Ph ( 8 )) were prepared by the reaction of the known titanocene alkyne complexes [Cp₂′Ti(η²‐Me₃SiC₂SiMe₃)] (Cp′=Cp ( 5 ), Cp′=Cp* ( 6 )) with the corresponding amides. Complexes 1 a , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 a , 7 b , and 8 were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The structure and bonding of complexes 7 a and 8 were also characterized by EPR spectroscopy.     

β‐Diketiminate Stabilized Magnesium Hydroxide,Heterobimetallic, and Halide Complexes: Synthesis and X‐ray Structural Studies

The controlled hydrolysis of heteroleptic magnesium amide, LMgN(SiMe₃)₂ (L = CH[C(Me)N(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)]₂) with water afforded the corresponding hydroxide [LMg(OH)·THF]₂ as air and moisture sensitive compound. The presence of a sterically bulky β‐diketiminate ligand prevents the self‐condensation reaction of this hydroxide complex. Single crystal X‐ray analysis shows that the hydroxide is dimeric in the solid state. Reaction of the magnesium amide or LMg(Me)·OEt₂ with LAlMe(OH) generates the heterobimetallic species containing the Mg–O–Al moiety. Additionally, the reaction of methylmagnesiumchloride with the free ligand leads to complex L′MgCl (L′ = CH[Et₂NCH₂CH₂N(CMe)]₂). As revealed by the crystal structure, L′MgCl is a solvent free monomeric magnesium chloride complex that is analogues to the Grignard reagent.     

Syntheses and Characterization of New Vinyl‐Borylene Complexes by the Hydroboration of Alkynes with [(μ3‐BH)(Cp*RuCO)2(μ‐CO)Fe(CO)3]

Room temperature photolysis of a triply‐bridged borylene complex, [(μ₃‐BH)(Cp*RuCO)₂(μ‐CO)Fe(CO)₃] ( 1 a ; Cp*=C₅Me₅), in the presence of a series of alkynes, 1,2‐diphenylethyne, 1‐phenyl‐1‐propyne, and 2‐butyne led to the isolation of unprecedented vinyl‐borylene complexes (Z)‐[(Cp*RuCO)₂(μ‐CO)B(CR)(CHR′)] ( 2 : R, R′=Ph; 3 : R=Me, R′=Ph; 4 : R, R′=Me). This reaction permits a hydroboration of alkyne through an anti ‐ Markovnikov addition. In stark contrast, in the presence of phenylacetylene, a metallacarborane, closo‐[1,2‐(Cp*Ru)₂(μ‐CO)₂{Fe₂(CO)₅}‐4‐Ph‐4,5‐C₂BH₂] ( 5 a) , is formed. A plausible mechanism has been proposed for the formation of vinyl‐borylene complexes, which is supported by density functional theory (DFT) methods. Furthermore, the calculated ¹¹B NMR chemical shifts accurately reflect the experimentally measured shifts. All the new compounds have been characterized in solution by mass spectrometry and IR, ¹H, ¹¹B, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies and the structural types were unequivocally established by crystallographic analysis of 2 , 5 a , and 5 b .     

Synthesis and spectral studies of diorganotin(IV) dialkyldithiophosphates

Two series of diorganotin(IV) dialkyldithiophosphates, [RR′Sn{SSP(OR″)₂}₂](R = Me or Et; R′= Ph; R″ = Et, Prⁿ, Prⁱ or Buⁿ) and [RR′Sn(Cl){SSP(OR″)₂}] (R = R′= Me, Et or Ph; R″ = Ph; R″ = Et, Prⁱ or Buⁿ) were prepared and characterised by i.r. and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P, ¹⁹⁹Sn) spectroscopy. The NMR data indicate five and six coordinate geometries for [RR′Sn(Cl){SSP(OR″)₂}] and [RR′Sn{SSP(OR″)₂}₂] complexes, respectively. The chloro complexes showed ²J (PSn) whereas such couplings were not observed in the spectra of [RR′Sn{SSP(OR″)₂}₂].     

Insertion Reactions of Carbon Disulfide into Mg‐C and Mg‐N Bonds: Syntheses and Structural Determinations of Mg(S2CY)2(THF)n(Y=NEt2, NiPr2, iPr,Ph) and BrMg(S2CZ)(THF)3(Z=Ph,iPr)

The insertion reaction of CS₂ with Mg(NR₂)₂ (R= Et, ⁱPr), MgR′₂ (R′= Et, Ph) and R″MgBr (R″= ⁱPr, Ph) respectively lead solid products, Mg(S₂CNR₂)₂(THF)_n ( 1 : R= Et, n=2; 2 : R= ⁱPr, n=1), Mg(S₂C′R)₂(THF)₂ ( 3 : ′R= Et, 4 : ′R= Ph), BrMg(S₂C″R) (THF)₃ ( 5 : ″R= ⁱPr, 6 : ″R= Ph) in which the inserted carbon disulfides act as terminal chelating ligands. These compounds were characterized with ¹H, ¹³C NMR, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and X‐ray crystallography.     

Efficient dehydration of primary amides to nitriles catalyzed by phosphorus-chalcogen chelated iron hydrides

A series of phosphorus-chalcogen chelated hydrido iron (II) complexes 1–7 , (o-(R'₂P)-p-R-C₆H₄Y)FeH (PMe₃)₃ ( 1 : R = H, R' = Ph, Y = O; 2 : R = Me, R' = Ph, Y = O; 3 : R = H, R' = ⁱPr, Y = O; 4 : R = Me, R' = ⁱPr, Y = O; 5 : R = H, R' = Ph, Y = S; 6 : R = Me, R' = Ph, Y = S; 7 : R = H, R' = Ph, Y = Se), were synthesized. The catalytic performances of 1–7 for dehydration of amides to nitriles were explored by comparing three factors: (1) different chalcogen coordination atoms Y; (2) R' group of the phosphine moiety; (3) R substituent group at the phenyl ring. It is confirmed that 5 with S as coordination atom has the best catalytic activity and 7 with Se as coordination atom has the poorest catalytic activity among complexes 1 , 5 and 7 . Electron-rich complex 4 is the best catalyst among the seven complexes and the dehydration reaction was completed by using 2 mol% catalyst loading at 60 °C with 24 hr in the presence of (EtO)₃SiH in THF. Catalyst 4 has good tolerance to many functional groups. Among the seven iron complexes, new complexes 3 and 4 were obtained via the O-H bond activation of the preligands o-ⁱPr₂P(C₆H₄)OH and o-ⁱPr₂P-p-Me-(C₆H₄)OH by Fe(PMe₃)₄. Both 3 and 4 were characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction analysis. The catalytic mechanism was experimentally studied and also proposed.     

O-Alkyl Trithiophosphate Derivatives of Triorganotin(IV) and S-Alkyl Trithiophosphate Derivatives of Diorganotin(IV) Chloride

Reactions of triorganotin chlorides with potassium salt of O-alkyl trithiophosphate [ROP(S)(SK)₂; R = Me, Prⁱ, Ph] in 2:1 molar ratio in anhydrous benzene yield triorganotin O-alkyl trithiophosphate of the type ROP(S) [SSnR′₃]₂ R = Me, Prⁱ; Ph, R′ = Prⁿ, Buⁿ, Ph] which are found to be monomeric in nature. These complexes are soluble in common organic solvents. Similar reactions of diorganotin chloride with dipotassium salt of S-alkyl trithiophosphate yield diorganotin-S-alkyl trithiophosphate of the type [(RS)P(O)S₂]₂SnR′₂; R = Me, Prⁱ; R′ = Me, Et, Ph, which also are found to be monomeric in nature and are soluble in common organic solvents. The newly synthesized derivatives have been characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques, IR, NMR (¹H, ³¹P, and ¹¹⁹Sn).     

Magnesium(I) Dimers Bearing Tripodal Diimine–Enolate Ligands: Proficient Reagents for the Controlled Reductive Activation of CO2 and SO2

The first examples of magnesium(I) dimers bearing tripodal ligands, [(Mg{κ³‐N,N′,O‐(ArNCMe)₂(OCCPh₂)CH})₂] [Ar=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃ (Dip) 7 , 2,6‐Et₂C₆H₃ (Dep) 8 , or mesityl (Mes) 9 ] have been prepared by post‐synthetic modification of the β‐diketiminato ligands of previously reported magnesium(I) systems, using diphenylketene, O?C?CPh₂. In contrast, related reactions between β‐diketiminato magnesium(I) dimers and the isoelectronic ketenimine, MesN?C?CPh₂, resulted in reductive insertion of the substrate into the Mg?Mg bond of the magnesium(I) reactant, and formation of [{(Nacnac)Mg}₂{μ‐κ²‐N,C‐(Mes)NCCPh₂}] (Nacnac=[(ArNCMe)₂CH]^?; Ar=Dep 10 or Mes 11 ). Reactions of the four‐coordinate magnesium(I) dimer 8 with excess CO₂ are readily controlled, and cleanly give carbonate [(LMg)₂(μ‐κ²:κ²‐CO₃)] 12 (L=[κ³‐N,N′,O‐(DepNCMe)₂(OCCPh₂)CH]^?; thermodynamic product), or oxalate [(LMg)₂(μ‐κ²:κ²‐C₂O₄)] 13 (kinetic product), depending on the reaction temperature. Compound 12 and CO are formed by reductive disproportionation of CO₂, whereas 13 results from reductive coupling of two molecules of the gas. Treatment of 8 with an excess of N₂O cleanly gives the μ‐oxo complex [(LMg)₂(μ‐O)] 14 , which reacts facilely with CO₂ to give 12 . This result presents the possibility that 14 is an intermediate in the formation of 12 from the reaction of 8 and CO₂. In contrast to its reactions with CO₂, 8 reacts with SO₂ over a wide temperature range to give only one product; the first example of a magnesium dithionite complex, [(LMg)₂(μ‐κ²:κ²‐S₂O₄)] 16 , which is formed by reductive coupling of two molecules of SO₂, and is closely related to f‐block metal dithionite complexes derived from similar SO₂ reductive coupling processes. On the whole, this study strengthens previously proposed analogies between the reactivities of magnesium(I) systems and low‐valent f‐block metal complexes, especially with respect to small molecule activations.     

The Simplest Amino‐borane H2B=NH2 Trapped on a Rhodium Dimer: Pre‐Catalysts for Amine–Borane Dehydropolymerization

The μ‐amino–borane complexes [Rh₂(L^R)₂(μ‐H)(μ‐H₂B=NHR′)][BAr^F₄] (L^R=R₂P(CH₂)₃PR₂; R=Ph, ⁱPr; R′=H, Me) form by addition of H₃B?NMeR′H₂ to [Rh(L^R)(η⁶‐C₆H₅F)][BAr^F₄]. DFT calculations demonstrate that the amino–borane interacts with the Rh centers through strong Rh‐H and Rh‐B interactions. Mechanistic investigations show that these dimers can form by a boronium‐mediated route, and are pre‐catalysts for amine‐borane dehydropolymerization, suggesting a possible role for bimetallic motifs in catalysis.     

Charge Effects in PCP Pincer Complexes of NiII bearing Phosphinite and Imidazol(i)ophosphine Coordinating Jaws: From Synthesis to Catalysis through Bonding Analysis

This contribution reports on a new family of Ni^II pincer complexes featuring phosphinite and functional imidazolyl arms. The proligands ^RPIMC^HOP^R′ react at room temperature with Ni^II precursors to give the corresponding complexes [(^RPIMCOP^R′)NiBr], where ^RPIMCOP^R=κ^P,κ^C,κ^P‐{2‐(R′₂PO),6‐(R₂PC₃H₂N₂)C₆H₃}, R=iPr, R′=iPr ( 3 b , 84 %) or Ph ( 3 c , 45 %). Selective N‐methylation of the imidazole imine moiety in 3 b by MeOTf (OTf=OSO₂CF₃) gave the corresponding imidazoliophosphine [(^iPrPIMIOCOP^iPr)NiBr][OTf], 4 b , in 89 % yield (^iPrPIMIOCOP^iPr=κ^P,κ^C,κ^P‐{2‐(iPr₂PO),6‐(iPr₂PC₄H₅N₂)C₆H₃}). Treating 4 b with NaOEt led to the NHC derivative [(NHCCOP^iPr)NiBr], 5 b , in 47 % yield (NHCCOP^iPr=κ^P,κ^C,κ^C‐{2‐(iPr₂PO),6‐(C₄H₅N₂)C₆H₃)}). The bromo derivatives 3–5 were then treated with AgOTf in acetonitrile to give the corresponding cationic species [(^RPIMCOP^R)Ni(MeCN)][OTf] [R=Ph, 6 a (89 %) or iPr, 6 b (90 %)], [(^RPIMIOCOP^R)Ni(MeCN)][OTf]₂ [R=Ph, 7 a (79 %) or iPr, 7 b (88 %)], and [(NHCCOP^R)Ni(MeCN)][OTf] [R=Ph, 8 a (85 %) or iPr, 8 b (84 %)]. All new complexes have been characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, whereas 3 b , 3 c , 5 b , 6 b , and 8 a were also subjected to X‐ray diffraction studies. The acetonitrile adducts 6 – 8 were further studied by using various theoretical analysis tools. In the presence of excess nitrile and amine, the cationic acetonitrile adducts 6 – 8 catalyze hydroamination of nitriles to give unsymmetrical amidines with catalytic turnover numbers of up to 95.     

A Mixed‐Valence Tri‐Zinc Complex, [LZnZnZnL] (L=Bulky Amide), Bearing a Linear Chain of Two‐Coordinate Zinc Atoms

Reduction of a variety of extremely bulky amido Group 12 metal halide complexes, [LMX(THF)_0,1] (L=amide; M=Zn, Cd, or Hg; X=halide) with a magnesium(I) dimer gave a homologous series of two‐coordinate metal(I) dimers, [L′MML′] (L′=N(Ar^?)(SiMe₃), Ar^?=C₆H₂{C(H)Ph₂}₂Prⁱ‐2,6,4); and the formally zinc(0) complex, [L*ZnMg(^MesNacnac)] (L*=N(Ar*)(SiPrⁱ₃); Ar*=C₆H₂{C(H)Ph₂}₂Me‐2,6,4; ^MesNacnac=[(MesNCMe)₂CH]^?, Mes=mesityl), which contains the first unsupported Zn? Mg bond. Two equivalents of [L*ZnMg(^MesNacnac)] react with ZnBr₂ or ZnBr₂(tmeda) to give the mixed valence, two‐coordinate, linear tri‐zinc complex, [L*Zn^IZn⁰Zn^IL*], and the first zinc(I) halide complex, [L*ZnZnBr(tmeda)], respectively. The analogues [L*ZnMZnL*] (M=Cd or Hg), were also prepared, the Cd species contains the first Zn? Cd bond in a molecular compound. Metal–metal bonding was studied by DFT calculations.     

Synthesis and Characterizations of Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl3(THF)(PhCOR) (R = H,Me, Ph) and Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl3(PhCOR)2 (R = Me,Ph). The Molecular Structure of Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl3(PhCOPh)2

A series of titanium(IV) complexes Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₃(THF)(PhCOR) (R = H ( 1 ), CH₃ ( 2 ), or Ph ( 3 )) is prepared quantitatively from reactions of [Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₂(THF)(μ‐Cl)]₂ with 2 molar equiv. PhCOR. Treatment of Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₃ with 2 molar equiv. of PhCOR affords the disubstituted complexes Ti(O‐i‐Pr)Cl₃(PhCOR)₂ (R = CH₃ ( 4 ) or Ph ( 5 )). The ¹³C NMR study of these complexes shows that the relative bonding abilities are in the order of PhCOCH₃ > PhCHO > PhCOPh. The molecular structure of 5 reveals that one of the benzophenone ligands is trans to the strongest 2‐propoxide ligand with a long Ti‐O(carbonyl) distance of 2.193(5) Å which is much longer than the other Ti‐O(carbonyl) distance of 2.097(4) Å by ?0.1 Å. All ligands cis to the alkoxide ligand are bending away from the alkoxide ligand with the RO‐Ti‐L angles ranging from 93.6(2) to 99.0(2)°.     

Vinyl polymerization of norbornene by mono‐ and trinuclear nickel complexes with indanimine ligands

A series of new indanimine ligands [ArN?CC₂H₃(CH₃)C₆H₂(R)OH] (Ar = Ph, R = Me ( 1 ), R = H ( 2 ), and R = Cl ( 3 ); Ar = 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃, R = Me ( 4 ), R = H ( 5 ), and R = Cl ( 6 )) were synthesized and characterized. Reaction of indanimines with Ni(OAc)₂·4H₂O results in the formation of the trinuclear hexa(indaniminato)tri (nickel(II)) complexes Ni₃[ArN = CC₂H₃(CH₃)C₆H₂(R)O]₆ (Ar = Ph, R = Me ( 7 ), R = H ( 8 ), and R = Cl ( 9 )) and the mononuclear bis(indaniminato)nickel (II) complexes Ni[ArN?CC₂H₃(CH₃)C₆H₂(R)O]₂ (Ar = 2,6‐i‐Pr₂C₆H₃, R = Me ( 10 ), R = H ( 11 ), and R = Cl ( 12 )). All nickel complexes were characterized by their IR, NMR spectra, and elemental analyses. In addition, X‐ray structure analyses were performed for complexes 7 , 10 , 11 , and 12 . After being activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO), these nickel(II) complexes can polymerize norbornene to produce addition‐type polynorbornene (PNB) with high molecular weight M_v (10⁶ g mol^?1), highly catalytic activities up to 2.18 × 10⁷ gPNB mol^?1 Ni h^?1. Catalytic activities and the molecular weight of PNB have been investigated for various reaction conditions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 489–500, 2008     

Reactivity of TpMe2‐Supported Yttrium Alkyl Complexes toward Aromatic N‐Heterocycles: Ring‐Opening or CC Bond Formation Directed by CH Activation

Unusual chemical transformations such as three‐component combination and ring‐opening of N‐heterocycles or formation of a carbon–carbon double bond through multiple C–H activation were observed in the reactions of Tp^Me2‐supported yttrium alkyl complexes with aromatic N‐heterocycles. The scorpionate‐anchored yttrium dialkyl complex [Tp^Me2Y(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] reacted with 1‐methylimidazole in 1:2 molar ratio to give a rare hexanuclear 24‐membered rare‐earth metallomacrocyclic compound [Tp^Me2Y(μ‐N,C‐Im)(η²‐N,C‐Im)]₆ ( 1 ; Im=1‐methylimidazolyl) through two kinds of C–H activations at the C2‐ and C5‐positions of the imidazole ring. However, [Tp^Me2Y(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] reacted with two equivalents of 1‐methylbenzimidazole to afford a C–C coupling/ring‐opening/C–C coupling product [Tp^Me2Y{η³‐(N,N,N)‐N(CH₃)C₆H₄NHCH?C(Ph)CN(CH₃)C₆H₄NH}] ( 2 ). Further investigations indicated that [Tp^Me2Y(CH₂Ph)₂(THF)] reacted with benzothiazole in 1:1 or 1:2 molar ratio to produce a C–C coupling/ring‐opening product {(Tp^Me2)Y[μ‐η²:η¹‐SC₆H₄N(CH?CHPh)](THF)}₂ ( 3 ). Moreover, the mixed Tp^Me2/Cp yttrium monoalkyl complex [(Tp^Me2)CpYCH₂Ph(THF)] reacted with two equivalents of 1‐methylimidazole in THF at room temperature to afford a trinuclear yttrium complex [Tp^Me2CpY(μ‐N,C‐Im)]₃ ( 5 ), whereas when the above reaction was carried out at 55 °C for two days, two structurally characterized metal complexes [Tp^Me2Y(Im‐Tp^Me2)] ( 7 ; Im‐Tp^Me2=1‐methyl‐imidazolyl‐Tp^Me2) and [Cp₃Y(HIm)] ( 8 ; HIm=1‐methylimidazole) were obtained in 26 and 17 % isolated yields, respectively, accompanied by some unidentified materials. The formation of 7 reveals an uncommon example of construction of a C?C bond through multiple C–H activations.     

Reactivity of [trans-R2MoO(NNPhR′)(o-phen)] toward R′PhNNH2 and R′PhNNH3+Cl−, R=Me,Ph and R′=Me,Ph. X-ray structure of [trans-MeClMoO(NNPh2)(o-phen)]

The reactivities of [trans-R₂MoO(NNPhR′)(o-phen)], R=R′=Me (1); R=Me, R′=Ph (2); R=Ph, R′=Me (3); R=R′=Ph (4), toward (i) neutral 1,1-disubstituted hydrazines, R′PhNNH₂ and (ii) 1,1-disubstituted hydrazine hydrochlorides, R′PhNNH₂·HCl, R′=Me, Ph, were studied in acetonitrile. In the first case, no condensation reaction of the free oxo group was observed under different experimental conditions. In the second case, using a 1:1 precursor/hydrazine hydrochloride molar ratio, the oxo group was also unreactive, instead one methyl or phenyl group bonded to molybdenum was displaced as methane or benzene and was subsequently substituted by one chloride ligand affording complexes formulated as [trans-RClMoO(NNPhR′)(o-phen)], R=R′=Me (5); R=Me, R′=Ph (6); R=Ph, R′=Me, (7)·MeCN; R=R′=Ph, (8)·MeCN. Finally, when a 1:2 precursor/hydrazine hydrochloride molar ratio was used, both methyl and phenyl groups were substituted affording complexes formulated as [trans-Cl₂MoO(NNPhR′)(o-phen)], R′=Me (9), R=Ph (10). The new organometallic compounds were characterised by IR, UV–Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy while the crystal and molecular structure of 6 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic esters by pincer complexes derived from alkaline earth metals

We report the synthesis and characterization of new Ca(II) and Mg(II) complexes of the type [Ph―PPP]MR (M = Ca, R = N(SiMe₃)₂ ( 1 ); M = Mg, R = ⁿBu ( 2 )) where Ph―PPP^? is a tridentate monoanionic ligand (Ph―PPP―H = bis(2‐diphenylphosphinophenyl)phosphine). Reaction of the opportune metal precursor (Ca[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂.THF₂ or MgⁿBu₂) with 1 equiv. of the pro‐ligand Ph―PPP_―H produces the corresponding calcium amido ( 1 ) or magnesium butyl ( 2 ) complex in high yield. Solution NMR studies show monomeric and kinetically stable structures for both species. The obtained complexes efficiently mediate the ring‐opening polymerization of ?‐caprolactone showing a turnover frequency of 40 000 h^?1. In the presence of a hexogen alcohol, up to 2000 equiv. of monomer are converted by using a low loading of catalyst (5 µmol). Kinetic studies show a first‐order reaction in monomer concentration. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Intramolecularly Stabilized Chiral Dimethylindium Alkoxides and their Use as Cross Coupling Reagents

The enantiomerically pure dimeric N, O‐5‐chelates [Me₂In(μ‐OCH₂CH(R)NMe₂)]₂ {R = Me (S) ( 2 ); R = ⁱPr (S) ( 3 ); R = ⁱBu (S) ( 4 ); R = Bz (S) ( 5 )}, and [Me₂In‐{μ‐(1R, 2S)‐OCH(Ph)CH(Me)NMe₂}]₂ ( 6 ), as well as the achiral dimeric N, O‐6‐chelate [Me₂In(μ‐O(CH₂)₃NMe₂)]₂ ( 7 ) have been synthesized from trimethylindium and equimolar amounts of the corresponding enantiomerically pure dimethylamino alcohols or of the achiral dimethylaminopropanol by elimination of methane. Their ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectra as well as the X‐ray single crystal structure analyses of [Me₂In{μ‐O(CH₂)₂NMe₂}]₂ ( 1 ), 3, 5, 6 and 7 are described and discussed. The coordinative N→In bonds of the five‐coordinate indium complexes show dynamic dissociation/association processes. 1—6 were found to be useful reagents for the partial kinetic resolution of 2‐carbomethoxy‐1, 1′‐binaphthyl triflate.     

The preparation and characterisation of a series of cationic bimetallic linear triphos-bridged complexes of the type [Mo (CO) (L,L′ or L″–P) (η2-RC2R′)Cp] [BF4] {L,L′ or L″= [WI2 (CO){PhP(CH2CH2PPh2)2–P,P′} (η2-RC2R′)] (L,R=R′=Me; L′,R=R′=Ph; L″,R=Me,R′=Ph}

Equimolar quantities of [Mo (CO) (η²-RC₂R′)₂Cp] [BF₄] (R=R′=Me Ph R=Me R′=Ph) and L L′ or L″ {L L′ or L″= [WI₂ (CO){PhP(CH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂-PP′} (η²-RC₂R′)]} (L R=R′=Me L′ R=R′=Ph L″ R=Me R′=Ph) react in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature to give the new bimetallic complexes[Mo (CO) (L L′ or L″–P) (η²-RC₂R′)Cp] [BF₄] (1–9) via displacement of the alkyne ligand on the molybdenum centre The complexes have been characterised by elemental analysis IR and ¹ H NMR spectroscopy and in selected cases by ³¹ P NMR spectroscopy.     

Experimental and Computational Studies of the Molybdenum‐Flanking Arene Interaction in Quadruply Bonded Dimolybdenum Complexes with Terphenyl Ligands

To clarify the nature of the Mo?C_arene interaction in terphenyl complexes with quadruple Mo?Mo bonds, ether adducts of composition [Mo₂(Ar′)(I)(O₂CR)₂(OEt₂)] have been prepared and characterized (Ar′=Ar^Xyl₂, R=Me; Ar′=ArMes₂, R=Me; Ar′=Ar^Xyl2, R=CF₃) (Mes=mesityl; Xyl=2,6‐Me₂C₆H₃, from now on xylyl) and their reactivity toward different neutral Lewis bases investigated. PMe₃, P(OMe)₃ and PiPr₃ were chosen as P‐donors and the reactivity studies complemented with the use of the C‐donors CNXyl and CN₂C₂Me₄ (1,3,4,5‐tetramethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene). New compounds of general formula [Mo₂(Ar′)(I)(O₂CR)₂( L )] were obtained, except for the imidazol‐2‐ylidene ligand that yielded a salt‐like compound of composition [Mo₂(Ar^Xyl2)(O₂CMe)₂(CN₂C₂Me₄)₂]I. The Mo?C_arene interaction in these complexes has been analyzed with the aid of X‐ray data and computational studies. This interaction compensates the coordinative and electronic unsaturation of one of the Mo atoms in the above complexes, but it seems to be weak in terms of sharing of electron density between the Mo and C_arene atoms and appears to have no appreciable effect in the length of the Mo?Mo, Mo?X, and Mo? L bonds present in these molecules.     

Stabilization of a Silaaldehyde by its η2 Coordination to Tungsten

Treatment of pyridine‐stabilized silylene complexes [(η⁵‐C₅Me₄R)(CO)₂(H)W?SiH(py)(Tsi)] (R=Me, Et; py=pyridine; Tsi=C(SiMe₃)₃) with an N‐heterocyclic carbene ^MeIⁱPr (1,3‐diisopropyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene) caused deprotonation to afford anionic silylene complexes [(η⁵‐C₅Me₄R)(CO)₂W?SiH(Tsi)][H^MeIⁱPr] (R=Me ( 1‐Me ); R=Et ( 1‐Et )). Subsequent oxidation of 1‐Me and 1‐Et with pyridine‐N‐oxide (1 equiv) gave anionic η²‐silaaldehydetungsten complexes [(η⁵‐C₅Me₄R)(CO)₂W{η²‐O?SiH(Tsi)}][H^MeIⁱPr] (R=Me ( 2‐Me ); R=Et ( 2‐Et )). The formation of an unprecedented W‐Si‐O three‐membered ring was confirmed by X‐ray crystal structure analysis.