Insights into the Decomposition of Olefin Metathesis Precatalysts

The decomposition of a series of benzylidene, methylidene, and 3‐phenylindenylidene complexes has been probed in alcohol solution in the presence of base. Tricyclohexylphosphane‐containing precatalysts are shown to yield [RuCl(H)(H₂)(PCy₃)₂] in isopropyl alcohol solutions, while 3‐phenylindenylidene complexes lead to η⁵‐(3‐phenyl)indenyl products. The potential‐energy surfaces for the formation of the latter species have been probed using density functional theory studies.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Reactivity of a Gold Carbenoid Complex That Lacks Heteroatom Stabilization

Hydride abstraction from the neutral gold cycloheptatrienyl complex [( P )Au(η¹‐C₇H₇)] ( P =P(tBu)₂(o‐biphenyl)) with triphenylcarbenium tetrafluoroborate at ?80 °C led to the isolation of the cationic gold cycloheptatrienylidene complex [( P )Au(η¹‐C₇H₆)]⁺ BF₄^? in 52 % yield, which was characterized in solution and by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. This cycloheptatrienylidene complex represents the first example of a gold carbenoid complex that lacks conjugated heteroatom stabilization of the electron‐deficient C1 carbon atom. The cycloheptatrienylidene ligand of this complex is reactive; it can be reduced by mild hydride donors, and converted to tropone in the presence of pyridine N‐oxide.     

The Ketimide Ligand is Not Just an Inert Spectator: Heteroallene Insertion Reactivity of an Actinide–Ketimide Linkage in a Thorium Carbene Amide Ketimide Complex

The ketimide anion R₂C?N^? is an important class of chemically robust ligand that binds strongly to metal ions and is considered ideal for supporting reactive metal fragments due to its inert spectator nature; this contrasts with R₂N^? amides that exhibit a wide range of reactivities. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a rare example of an actinide ketimide complex [Th(BIPM^TMS){N(SiMe₃)₂}(N?CPh₂)] [ 2 , BIPM^TMS=C(PPh₂NSiMe₃)₂]. Complex 2 contains Th?C_carbene, Th? N_amide and Th? N_ketimide linkages, thereby presenting the opportunity to probe the preferential reactivity of these linkages. Importantly, reactivity studies of 2 with unsaturated substrates shows that insertion reactions occur preferentially at the Th? N_ketimide bond rather than at the Th?C_carbene or Th? N_amide bonds. This overturns the established view that metal‐ketimide linkages are purely inert spectators.     

Facile Synthesis of Phosphaamidines and Phosphaamidinates using Nitrilium Ions as an Imine Synthon

Readily accessible nitrilium triflates are convenient imine building blocks for the expedient synthesis of a novel class of 1,3‐P,N ligands as demonstrated for the reaction with primary phosphanes. This procedure allows variation of all substituents. X‐ray crystal structures are reported for nitrilium ions, phosphaamidines, and three phosphaamidinate complexes. The lithium phosphaamidinate is N coordinated and its reaction with [AuCl(tht)] (tht=tetrahydrothiophene) gives a unique P‐bridged gold trimer, while a P,N‐bidentate complex results from [{RhCl(cod)}₂]. The nitrilium ion methodology allows extension of the 1,3‐P,N motive to bis(imino)phosphanes, which are the neutral phosphorus analogues of the valuable β‐diketiminate ligand.     

Tuning Lanthanide Reactivity Towards Small Molecules with Electron‐Rich Siloxide Ligands

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of stable homoleptic heterometallic LnL₄K₂ complexes of divalent lanthanide ions with electron‐rich tris(tert‐butoxy)siloxide ligands are reported. The [Ln(OSi(OtBu)₃)₄K₂] complexes (Ln=Eu, Yb) are stable at room temperature, but they promote the reduction of azobenzene to yield the KPhNNPh radical anion as well as the reductive cleavage of CS₂ to yield CS₃^2? as the major product. The Eu^III complex of the radical anion PhNNPh is structurally characterized. Moreover, [Yb(OSi(OtBu)₃)₄K₂] can reduce CO₂ at room temperature. Release of the reduction products in D₂O shows the quantitative formation of both oxalate and carbonate in a 1:2.2 ratio. The bulky siloxide ligands enforce the labile binding of the reduction products providing the opportunity to establish a closed synthetic cycle for the Yb^II‐mediated CO₂ reduction. These studies show that the presence of four electron‐rich siloxide ligands renders their Eu^II and Yb^II complexes highly reactive.     

Dilithium Hexaorganostannate(IV) Compounds

Hypercoordination of main‐group elements such as the heavier Group 14 elements (silicon, germanium, tin, and lead) usually requires strong electron‐withdrawing ligands and/or donating groups. Herein, we present the synthesis and characterization of two hexaaryltin(IV) dianions in form of their dilithium salts [Li₂(thf)₂{Sn(2‐py^Me)₆}] (py^Me=C₅H₃N‐5‐Me) ( 2 ) and [Li₂{Sn(2‐py^OtBu)₆}] (py^OtBu=C₅H₃N‐6‐OtBu) ( 3 ). Both complexes are stable in the solid state and solution under inert conditions. Theoretical investigations of compound 2 reveal a significant valence 5s‐orbital contribution of the tin atom forming six strongly polarized tin–carbon bonds.     

Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones Catalyzed by Surface‐Active Ruthenium and Rhodium Complexes in Water

An improved, high‐yield, one‐pot synthetic procedure for water‐soluble ligands functionalized with trialkyl ammonium side groups H₂N(CH₂)₂NHSO₂‐p‐C₆H₄CH₂[NMe₂(C_nH_2n+1)]⁺ ( [HL ⁿ ]⁺ ; n=8, 16) was developed. The corresponding new surface‐active complexes [(p‐cymene)RuCl( L ⁿ )] and [Cp*RhCl( L ⁿ )] (Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) were prepared and characterized. For n=16 micelles are formed in water at concentrations as low as 0.6 mM , as demonstrated by surface‐tension measurements. The complexes were used for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketones with formate in water. Highly active catalyst systems were obtained in the case of complexes bearing C₁₆ tails due to their ability to be adsorbed at the water/substrate interface. The scope of these catalyst systems in aqueous solutions was extended from partially water soluble aryl alkyl ketones (acetophenone, butyrophenone) to hydrophobic dialkyl ketones (2‐dodecanone).     

Bis‐NHC Chelate Complexes of Nickel(0) and Platinum(0)

For a long time d¹⁰‐ML₂ fragments have been known for their potential to activate unreactive bonds by oxidative addition. In the development of more active species, two approaches have proven successful: the use of strong σ‐donating ligands leading to electron‐rich metal centers and the employment of chelating ligands resulting in a bent coordination geometry. Combining these two strategies, we synthesized bis‐NHC chelate complexes of nickel(0) and platinum(0). Bis(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)nickel(0) and ‐platinum(0) react with bisimidazolium salts, deprotonated in situ at room temperature, to yield tetrahedral or trigonal‐planar bis‐NHC chelate olefin complexes. The synthesis and characterization of these complexes as well as a first example of C? C bond activation with these systems are reported. Due to the enforced cis arrangement of two NHCs, these compounds should open interesting perspectives for bond‐activation chemistry and catalysis.