Study of the mechanism of hydroformylation at industrial reaction conditions

With a newly developed analytical technique, i.e. high temperature/pressure IR cell coupled to the reactor, it was possible to study the mechanism of hydroformylation at reaction conditions. It has been conclusively found that the hydrogenolysis of the acyl cobalt complex is performed by HCo(CO)₄ and not by molecular H₂, as proposed byHeck andBreslow.Therefore the formation of HCo(CO)₄ from Co₂(CO)₈ is an intermediate step in the sequence of hydroformylation reaction steps. The rate of hydroformylation of any of the olefins is smaller than the rate of formation of HCo(CO)₄ from Co₂(CO)₈. The IR spectra reveal that always more than 30% of the cobalt is in the form of HCo(CO)₄ under the reaction conditions.It is found that the formation of HCo(CO)₄ from Co₂(CO)₈ is the slowest and most temperature-dependent step of the hydroformylation reaction. Also the reaction between olefin and HCo(CO)₄ is slower than the hydrogenolysis of the acyl complex.The experiments were carried out under industrial oxo conditions. The diffusional effects were eliminated.With 6 FiguresPart of the Ph.D. dissertation 1974. N. H. Alemdarolu, J. M. L. Penninger, andE. Oltay, Mechanism of Hydroformylation, Part II. Mh. Chem.107, 1043 (1976).     

Silylation of γ-nitro ketones as a convenient approach to the synthesis of 2-[N,N-bis(silyloxy)amino]-2,3-dihydrofurans and conjugated enoximes

Silylation of -nitro ketones of the general formula R¹COCH(R²)CH(R³)CH(R⁴)NO₂ proceeded stereoselectively to give 2-[N,N-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)amino]-2,3-dihydrofurans, conjugated enoximes, silylation products of the carbonyl group or both functional groups, or N,N-bis(trimethylsilyloxy)enamine depending on the nature and positions of the substituents in the carbon skeleton. Dihydrofuran derivatives are formed for R¹ = Ar or cyclo-C₃H₅. Enoximes are generated as the silylation products of the starting ketones with enhanced -proton mobility (R³ = CO₂Me or 4-NO₂C₆H₄). The presence of an alkyl group at the carbonyl function (R¹ = Alk) is favorable for the formation of enoximes. Finally, the introduction of a substituent at the position with respect to the nitro group (R⁴ = Me, CO₂Me, or Ph) leads to the formation of silyl enolates. Under the action of NH₄F in MeOH, dihydrofurans can be transformed into substituted furans in moderate yields.     

An absolute integrated infrared intensity study of (η6C6H5R)Cr(CO)2(CS) (R = H,Me, Cl,CO2Me)

The absolute integrated i.r. intensities of the CO and CS stretching bands of the thiocarbonyl complexes (η⁶C₆H₅R)Cr(CO)₂(CS), where R = H, Me, Cl and CO₂Me, have been determined in CS₂ solutions. The intensities have been correlated with each other and with the band wavenumbers, and have been shown to be dependent on the nature of the substituent R in the aromatic ring. The intensities have been demonstrated to be better probes of the electronic effects occurring in these complexes than are the wavenumbers, and correlate well with the Hammett substituent parameters, σ⁰.     

Electronic spectra and electrochemistry of disubstituted 2,2′-bipyridinetetracarbonylmolybdenum complexes. Solvent and substituent effects

Electronic absorption spectra of cis-[Mo(CO)₄(n,n′-X₂-bipy)] (n = 4, X = NMe₂, NH₂, OMe, CMe₃, Me, H, Ph, CH:CHPh, CO₂H, Cl, CO₂Me, NO; n=5, X = Me, CO₂H) have been measured at ambient temperature in a variety of solvents of different polarity. Emission spectra from glasses containing the complexes at 77 K have also been measured. The influence of the substituent X on the spectroscopic properties is correlated with the Hammett parameters, σ_p (X) and σ_p⁺ (X). The effect of solvent is correlated with the Taft-Kamlet parameter, π^★, indicating charge redistribution along the permanent dipole axis of the complex. The oxidation and reduction potentials in solution are simply related to the electronic effect of the substituent group, X, and are relatively independent of the solvent. The influence of the metal on these properties is not significant.     

Chemistry of Fischer-type rhenacyclobutadiene complexes. II. Reactions with alkynes and sulfonium ylides, and rearrangements induced by nitriles and pyridine

Further investigations into the chemistry of the rhenacyclobutadiene complexes (CO)₄Re(η²-C(R)C(CO₂Me)C(X)) (1: R=Me, X=OEt (1a), O(CH₂)₃CCH (1b), NEt₂ (1c); R=CHEt₂, X=OEt (1d); R=Ph, X=OEt (1e)) are reported. Reactions of 1 with alkynes at reflux temperature of toluene and at ambient temperature either under photochemical conditions or in the presence of PdO yield ring-substituted η⁵-cyclopentadienylrhenium tricarbonyl complexes, 2. The symmetrical alkynes R^′CCR^′ (R^′=Ph, Me, CO₂Me) afford the pentasubstituted complexes (η⁵-C₅(Me)(CO₂Me)(OEt)(Ph)(Ph))Re(CO)₃ (2d), (η⁵-C₅(Me)(CO₂Me)(OEt)(Me)(Me))Re(CO)₃ (2e), (η⁵-C₅(Me)(CO₂Me)(OEt)(CO₂Me)(CO₂Me))Re(CO)₃ (2f), and (η⁵-C₅(Me)(CO₂Me)(NEt₂)(CO₂Me)(CO₂Me))Re(CO)₃ (2i) on reaction with the appropriate 1, whereas the unsymmetrical alkynes R^′CCR″ (R^′=Ph; R″=H, Me) give either only one, (η⁵-C₅(Me)(CO₂Me)(OEt)(Ph)H)Re(CO)₃ (2a)), or both, (η⁵-C₅(Me)(CO₂Me) (OEt)(Ph)(Me))Re(CO)₃ (2b) and (η⁵-C₅(Me)(CO₂Me)(OEt)(Me)(Ph))Re(CO)₃ (2c), (η⁵-C₅(Ph)(CO₂Me)(OEt)(Ph)H)Re(CO)₃ (2g) and (η⁵-C₅(Ph)(CO₂Me)(OEt)(H)(Ph))Re(CO)₃ (2h), of the possible products of [3 + 2] cycloaddition of alkyne to η²-C(R)C(CO₂Me)C(X). Thermolysis of (CO)₄Re(η²-C(Me)C(CO₂Me)C(O(CH₂)₃CCH)) (1b) containing a pendant alkynyl group proceeds to (η⁵-C₅(Me)(CO₂Me)(O(CH₂)₃)H)Re(CO)₃ (2j), a η⁵-cyclopentadienyl-dihydropyran fused-ring product. Competition experiments showed that each of PhCCH and MeO₂CCCCO₂Me reacts faster than PhCCPh with 1a. The results with unsymmetrical alkynes are rationalized by steric properties of substituents at the CC and ReC bonds and by a preference of ReC(Me) over ReC(OEt) to undergo alkyne insertion. A mechanism is proposed that involves substitution of a trans CO by alkyne in 1, insertion of alkyne into ReC bond to give a rhenabenzene intermediate, and collapse of the latter to 2. Complexes 1a and 1d undergo rearrangement in MeCN at reflux temperature to give rhenafuran-like products, (CO)₄Re(κ²-OC(OMe)C(CHCR₂)C(OEt)) (R=H (3a) or Et (3b)). The reaction of 1d also proceeds in EtCN, PhCN, and t-BuCN at comparable temperature, but is slower (especially in t-BuCN) than in MeCN. In pyridine at reflux temperature, 1a undergoes a similar rearrangement, with CO substitution, to give (CO)₃(py)Re(κ²-OC(OMe)C(CHCEt₂)C(OEt)) (4). A mechanism is proposed for these reactions. The sulfonium ylides Me₂SCHC(O)Ph and Me₂SC(CN)₂ (Me₂SCRR^′) react with 1a in acetonitrile at reflux temperature by nucleophilic addition of the ylide to the ReC(Me) carbon, loss of Me₂S, and rearrangement to a rhenafuran-type structure to yield (CO)₄Re(κ²-OC(OMe)C(C(Me)CRR^′)C(OEt)) (R=H, R^′=C(O)Ph (5a); R=R^′CN (5b)). All new compounds were characterized by a combination of elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and IR and NMR spectroscopy.     

Chemistry of Fischer-type rhenacyclobutadiene complexes. I. Deprotonation, addition/substitution of nucleophilic reagents at α-carbon, and insertion of heteroatoms into rhenium-carbon bonds

The rhenacyclobutadienes (CO)₄Re(η²- C(R)C(CO₂Me)C(OR^′)) (2) undergo a number of reactions that mirror those of Fischer alkoxycarbene complexes. Thus, (CO)₄Re(η²-C(Me)C(CO₂Me)C(OEt)) (2a) can be deprotonated by LDA, Na[OBu-t], or Na[CH(CO₂Me)₂] to give the ylide-like conjugate base [(CO)₄Re(η²-C(CH₂)C(CO₂Me)C(OEt)]⁻ (3), which was isolated as PPN(3). Li(3) undergoes deuteriation with DCl/D₂O and alkylation with Et₃OPF₆ at ReCCH₂, with the latter reaction affording (CO)₄Re(η²-C(CH₂Et)C(CO₂Me)C(OEt)) (4). Repetition of the sequence deprotonation-ethylation on 4 generates (CO)₄Re(η²-C(CHEt₂)C(CO₂Me)C(OEt)) (5). The nature of the alkoxy substituent in 2 can be varied by use of the rhenacyclobutenones Na[(CO)₄Re(η²-C(R)C(CO₂Me)C(O))] (Na(1)) in conjunction with AcCl and R^′OH to produce a series of new complexes (R=Ph, R^′=Et (2b); R=Me, R^′=CH₂CHCH₂ (2c), (CH₂)₃CCH (2d), Me (2e)). Aminolysis of 2a with the primary and secondary amines PhNH₂, HO(CH₂)₂NH, p-TolNH₂, and Et₂NH yields the aminorhenacyclobutadiene complexes (CO)₄Re(η²-C(Me)C(CO₂Me)C(NHR^′ or NR^′₂)) (R₂^′=Et₂ (6a); R^′=Ph (6b), (CH₂)₂OH (6c), p-Tol (6d)). These complexes display lesser carbene-like character than their alkoxy counterparts 2, as evidenced by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic properties and lack of reactivity toward LDA by 6a. Reactions of each 2a and 6a with PPhMe₂ at low temperature afford (CO)₄Re(η²-C(Me)(PPhMe₂)C(CO₂Me)C(OEt)) (7) and (CO)₃(PPhMe₂)Re(η²-C(Me)C(CO₂Me)C(NEt₂)) (9), respectively, further in agreement with the more carbenoid nature of 2a than 6a. 7 undergoes conversion to (CO)₃(PPhMe₂)Re(η²-C(Me)C(CO₂Me)C(OEt)) (8) upon heating. 2a reacts with each of (NH₄)₂[Ce(NO₃)₆], DMSO, EtNO₂/Et₃N, and Me₃NO under various conditions to afford one or both of the oxygen atom insertion products into the ReC bonds, (CO)₄Re(κ²-OC(Me)C(CO₂Me)C(OEt)) (10) and (CO)₄Re(κ²-C(Me)C(CO₂Me)C(OEt)O) (11). In contrast, no reaction occurred between 2a and S₈ on heating. However, 6a was converted to the NH insertion product (CO)₄Re(κ²-NHC(Me)C(CO₂Me)C(NEt₂)) (12) by the action of H₂NNH₂ · H₂O at 0 °C. All new compounds were characterized by a combination of elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and IR and NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and structure of new Zn(II) and Co(II) coordination polymers with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid

Two new Zn(II) and Co(II) compounds obtained by reactions of tetrafluoroborates of these metals with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic (trimesic) acid (H₃Btc) and 1,3-bis(pyridyl)propane (Bpp) as an additional ligand were studied by X-ray diffraction. The formation of coordination polymers of various dimensionality, {[Zn₄(Bpp)₄(HBtc)₃((Me)Btc)]{(Me)₂HBtc} · 2H2O} _n (I), 1D, and {[Co₄(μ₃-OH)₂(Btc)₂(H₂O)₈] · 4(H₂O)} _n (II), 2D (CIF files CCDC no. 1552167 (I), 1552168 (II)) was demonstrated. Since H3Btc is partially methylated during the reaction, in I, this acid is stabilized in three forms: HBtc^2–, (Me)Btc^2–, and (Me)₂HBtc. The tetrahedral Zn(II) coordination polyhedron is formed by the N₂O₂ set of donor atoms: the O atoms belong to two different carboxylate ligands, HBtc^2– and (Me)Btc^2–, while the N atoms belong to two Bpp ligands. In II, the Bpp ligand is not incorporated in the complex and H₃Btc is coordinated to five metal atoms as a triply deprotonated ligand. Two carboxyl groups are coordinated to Co atoms as bidentate bridging ligands, while the third group is monodentate. The octahedral coordination polyhedra of Co(II) atoms in II are supplemented by terminal water molecules and μ₃-bridging OH^– groups.     

Reactions of Diazo Compounds with Alkenes Catalysed by [RuCl(cod)(Cp)]: Effect of the Substituents in the Formation of Cyclopropanation or Metathesis Products

The reaction of diazo compounds with alkenes catalysed by complex [RuCl(cod)(Cp)] (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene, Cp=cyclopentadienyl) has been studied. The catalytic cycle involves in the first step the decomposition of the diazo derivative to afford the reactive [RuCl(Cp){?C(R¹)R²}] intermediate and a mechanism is proposed for this step based on a kinetic study of the simple coupling reaction of ethyl diazoacetate. The evolution of the Ru–carbene intermediate in the presence of alkenes depends on the nature of the substituents at both the diazo N₂?C(R¹)R² (R¹, R²=Ph, H; Ph, CO₂Me; Ph, Ph; C(R¹)R²=fluorene) and the olefin substrates R³(H)C?C(H)R⁴ (R³, R⁴=CO₂Et, CO₂Et; Ph, Ph; Ph, Me; Ph, H; Me, Br; Me, CN; Ph, CN; H, CN; CN, CN). A remarkable reactivity of the complex was recorded, especially towards unstable aryldiazo compounds and electron‐poor olefins. The results obtained indicate that either cyclopropanation or metathesis products can be formed: the first products are favoured by the presence of a cyano substituent at the double bond and the second ones by a phenyl.     

Regiospecific insertion into the Co–Co bond of the mixed-metal cluster Co2Rh2(CO)12 by an electron-poor alkyne: X-ray diffraction structure of the butterfly cluster Co2Rh2(CO)10(μ-HCCCO2Me)

The reaction between the mixed-metal tetrahedral cluster Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂ (1) and the electron-poor alkyne methyl propiolate in hexane at room temperature furnishes a mixture of products consisting of Co₃Rh(CO)₁₂ (2), Co₃Rh(CO)₁₀(μ-HCCCO₂Me) (3), Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₀(μ-HCCCO₂Me) (4), and CoRh₃(CO)₉(μ-HCCCO₂Me)₃ (5). The isolation and solution spectroscopic data of these compounds are described, and the solid-state structure of Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₀(μ-HCCCO₂Me) determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The title cluster crystallizes in the triclinic space group. The solid-state structure of Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₀(μ-HCCCO₂Me) provides proof for the regiospecific insertion of the methyl propiolate ligand into the Co–Co bond of the starting cluster Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂. The stability of clusters 3 and 4 in the presence of added methyl propiolate is discussed.     

Rhenium(V) complexes with vinyl amides

Summary The reactions oftrans-ReOCl₃(PPh₃)₂ with vinyl amides such as RCOCH=C(R)NH₂, where R = CH₂CH₂CO₂H and R = Ph and C₆H₁₃; or R = Me, CH₂CH₂CO₂Me and R = Ph, give complexes of the type ReOCl₂-[RC(O^–)=CHC(R)=NH]PPh₃, the coordination geometry of which have been deduced from i.r. and¹H n.m.r. spectroscopic data.     

Reactions of a phosphido-bridged unsymmetrical diiron complex (η-C5Me5)Fe2(CO)4(μ-CO)(μ-PPh2) with various alkynes

A phosphido-bridged unsymmetrical diiron complex (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe₂(CO)₄(μ-CO)(μ-PPh₂) (1) was synthesized by a new convenient method; photo-dissociation of a CO ligand from (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe₂(CO)₆(μ-PPh₂) (2) that was prepared by the reaction of Li[Fe(CO)₄PPh₂] with (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe(CO)₂I. The reactivity of 1 toward various alkynes was studied. The reaction of 1 with ^tBuCCH gave a 1:1 mixture of two isomeric complexes (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe₂(CO)₃(μ-PPh₂)[μ-CHC(^tBu)C(O)] (3) containing a ketoalkenyl ligand. The reactions of 1 with other terminal alkynes RCCH (R=H, CO₂Me, Ph) afforded complexes incorporating one or two molecules of alkynes and a carbonyl group. The principal products were dinuclear complexes bridged by a new phosphinoketoalkenyl ligand, (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe₂(CO)₃(μ-CO)[μ-CR¹CR²C(O)PPh₂] (4a: R¹=H, R²=H; 4b: R¹=CO₂Me, R²=H; 4c: R¹=H, R²=Ph). In the cases of alkynes RCCH (R=H, CO₂Me), dinuclear complexes having a new ligand composed of two molecules of alkynes, a carbonyl group, and a phosphido group; i.e. (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe₂(CO)₃[μ-CRCHCHCRC(O)PPh₂] (5a: R=H; 5b: R=CO₂Me), were also obtained. In all cases, mononuclear complexes, (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe(CO)[CR¹CR²C(O)PPh₂] (6a: R¹=H, R²=H; 6b: R¹=H, R²=CO₂Me; 6c: R¹=H, R²=Ph) were isolated in low yields. The structures of 1, 4c, 5b, and 6a were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The detailed structures of the products and plausible reaction mechanisms are discussed.     

Reactions of conjugated dienes with cobalt carbonyls under hydroformylation conditions. a high pressure i.r. spectroscopic study

Summary The chemistry of cobalt carbonyls in the presence of dienes and high pressure of synthesis gas was studied by online i.r. spectroscopy. Dicobalt octacarbonyl reacts with butadiene under 95 bar CO/H₂ and 80°C to give [³-C₄H₇Co(CO)₃] (1) and [⁴-C₄H₆)₂Co₂(CO)₄] (2). Hydrogenation or hydroformylation are observed only with [HCo(CO)₄] as the starting catalyst, and only at the beginning of the reaction. The results are explained by formation of an alkenyl complex, [-C₄H₇Co(CO)₄], which either reacts with [HCo(CO)₄] to give butene and [Co₂(CO)₈], or loses CO to give (1), depending on the [HCo(CO)₄] concentration. The butene is hydroformylated. At temperatures >100°C (1) is transformed into a CO-free species, which catalyzes the oligomerisation of butadiene. Addition of tributylphosphine (L) leads to the formation of [³-C₄H₇Co(CO)₂L] (5) and [Co₂(CO)₆L₂] (6). In (5) the -allyl moiety is more labile than in (1) and a slow hydrogenation and hydroformylation of the butadiene is observed. In methanol solution the reaction of the cobalt carbonyls to give (1) is incomplete and the remaining H⁺ and [Co(CO)₄]^– catalyze the hydroformylation of butadiene. Isoprene is less reactive than butadiene but otherwise behaves similarly.     

Gas Phase Composition and Vaporization Thermodynamics of Cobalt(II) Pivalate Complexes

Vaporization of cobalt(II) pivalate [Co(Piv)₂] (1, HPiv = HO₂CCMe₃) and cobalt(II) oxopivalate [Co₄O(Piv)₆] (2) complexes has been studied by Knudsen effusion technique in combination with mass-spectral analysis of gas phase composition. The congruent sublimation of the prepared compounds has occurred, it has been accompanied by partial thermal decomposition in the case of complex 1. Saturated vapor over complex 1 has been found to consist mainly of monomeric Co(Piv)₂, dimeric Co₂(Piv)₄, and small amount of tetrameric Co₄(Piv)₈ molecules, as well as Co₄O(Piv)₆, CO₂, and 2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentanone ones. Saturated vapor over complex 2 contains only Co₄O(Piv)₆ species. The absolute values of partial pressure and sublimation enthalpies of gas phase components have been calculated.     

Synthesis and characterization of complexes of the first transition series cations with 2,2′-biimidazole and 2,2′-biimidazolate

Mononuclear [M(hfacac)₂(H₂biim)] complexes, where M = Mn^II, Fe^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II or Zn^II, hfacac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate, H₂biim = 2,2-biimidazole; dinuclear K₂[M₂(acac)₄(-biim)] (M = Cu^II or Zn^II) and tetranuclear K₂[M₄(acac)₈( ₄-biim)] (M = Co^II or Ni^II) complexes have been prepared and characterized by chemical analysis, conductance measurements, i.r., electronic and e.p.r. spectroscopies and by magnetic susceptibility measurements (in the 2–300 K range). Mn^II, Fe^II and Co^II are in a high spin state. The e.p.r. spectra of Cu^II and Mn^II compounds have been recorded.     

Organometallic chemistry and homogeneous catalysis of Rh and Rh-Co mixed metal carbonyl clusters

The reactions of hydrosilane and/or alkyne as well as isonitriles with rhodium and rhodium cobalt mixed metal carbonyl clusters, e.g., Rh₄(CO)₁₂ and Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂, are studied. Novel mixed metal complexes, e.g., CoRh(CO)₅ (HCCBu ⁿ ), (R₃Si)₂Rh(CO) _n Co(CO)₄, Rh(R–NC)₄Co(CO)₄, Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₀(HCCR), and Co₂Rh₂(CO)₉(HCCBu ⁿ ), are synthesized and identified. The catalytic activities of these rhodium and rhodium-cobalt mixed metal complexes are examined in hydrosilyation, silylformylation, and novel silylcarbocyclization reactions. Possible mechanisms for these reactions are proposed and discussed.     

Theoretical investigation on hydroformylation reactions : I. Structures and reactivities of cobalt carbonyls and hydrocarbonyls

Extended Hückel Theory calculations have been carried out in a study of the most important cobalt carbonyls and hydrocarbonyls involved in the hydroformylation reaction. The geometries of the stable isomers of Co₂(CO)₈, Co₂(CO)₇, Co(CO)₄, Co(CO)₃ have been calculated and used to interpret the changes in the IR spectrum of Co₂(CO)₈ observed on varying the temperature. The reaction paths for the interconversions of the stable isomers have also been investigated. The optimized geometry of HCo(CO)₄ agrees well with the experimental structure. The C_s symmetry found for the most stable isomer of HCo(CO)₃ is of much interest, serves to explain the formation of the complex with olefins.     

Reactivity of TpIr(C2H4)(DMAD) with carboxylic acids. A DFT study on geometrical isomers and structural characterization

The thermally unstable adduct Tp^Me2Ir(C₂H₄)(DMAD), which was generated “in situ” by the reaction of DMAD with Tp^Me2Ir(C₂H₄)₂ (1) at low temperature, reacted with different carboxylic acids to produce the following compounds: Tp^Me2Ir(E-C(CO₂Me)CH(CO₂Me))(H₂O)(OC(O)C₆H₄R), (R = H, 2a; o-OH, 2b; o-Cl, 2c; m-Cl, 2d; o-NO₂, 2e; m-NO₂, 2f;o-Me, 2g;p-Me, 2h) and Tp^Me2Ir(E-C(CO₂Me)CH(CO₂Me))(H₂O)(OC(O)Me) 3. In the reaction of derivative 2a with Lewis bases, Tp^Me2Ir(E-C(CO₂Me)CH(CO₂Me))(L)(OC(O)C₆H₅), (L = Py, 4a; m-Br-Py, 4b; m-Cl-Py, 4c; NCMe, 5) were obtained, of which 4b and 4c were isolated as a mixture of two isomers in which the substituted pyridine ring was present at different rotational orientations. All new compounds prepared were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectroscopy, the structure of compounds 2d, 2h and 4a being determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. DFT was used to analyze the relative stability and the structural orientation of the isomers.     

Evidence for the synchronous cleavage of C—C and C—H bonds bis(2,2′-bipyridyl)copper(II) permanganate oxidation of cobalt(III) bound and unbound α-hydroxy acids

The kinetics of bis(2,2-bipyridyl)copper(II) permanganate oxidation of Co^III bound and unbound -hydroxy acids such as mandelic, lactic and glycolic acids have been studied in aqueous MeCO₂H. The reaction exhibits second order kinetics: first order in each reactant. The formation of Co^II, PhCHO and CO₂ to the extent of 24% [Co^III]_initial indicate C—bonds;H cleavage occurring to the extent of 24% and ca. 76% yield of the phenylglyoxylato-pentaamminecobalt(III) complex indicate C—H cleavage occurring to the extent of 76%.     

Reaction of metal carbonyl anions with electrophilic alkynes: Synthesis of isomeric η-acryloyl and σ-vinyl complexes

Treatment of the metal carbonylate anions [CpMo(CO)₂(L)]⁻ (Cp = η-C₅H₅; L = PPh₂Me, PPh₂Et) with the electrophilic alkynes methyl propiolate or DMAD (RCCCO₂Me, where R = H or CO₂Me, respectively) followed by protonation affords the η³-acryloyl (1-oxoallyl) complexes [CpMo(η³-COCRCHCO₂Me)(CO)(L)] (3a-d) as the major products, together with the isomeric vinyl complexes trans-[CpMo(CRCHCO₂Me)(CO)₂(L)] (4a-d). On the basis of the regioselectivity of the reaction, it is proposed that nucleophilic attack of the carbonylate anion occurs at the alkyne carbon bearing R; migration of the anionic vinyl ligand to a CO followed by protonation gives 3, whereas protonation without insertion gives 4. The X-ray structures of the acryloyl complex [CpMo(η³-COCHCHCO₂Me)(CO)(PPh₂Me)] (3b) and its vinyl isomer [CpMo(σ-CHCHCO₂Me)(CO)₂(PPh₂Me)] (4b) have been determined.     

Synthesis and catalysis of a silica-supported cobalt carbonyl cluster

The supported metal cluster, Co₄(CO)₈(μ₂-CO)₂(μ₄-PC₆H₄)/(SiO₂) (2), which decomposed at 290°C, was synthesized. The cobalt and phosphorus contents were 10.51 and 2.64%, respectively. The IR spectrum of 2 exhibits absorptions at 2010 and 1840 cm⁻¹ assigned to the terminal carbonyl and bridged carbonyl, respectively. The effects of the reaction conditions and the structure of olefins on the hydroformylation using 2 have been investigated. Nearly 100% conversion and selectivity could be reached by hydroformylation of 1-hexene under conditions of 130°C, 40 kg/cm², H₂/CO = 1, for 6 h. The rate order of hydroformylation of olefins was as follows: 1-hexene > cyclohexene > diisobutene > styrene. The catalytic activity was kept almost constant after ten-time repeated use (240 h).