Syntheses and characterization of cyano-bridged homo and hetero bimetallic complexes containing η and η-cyclic hydrocarbons

The reactions of [(ind)Ru(PPh₃)₂CN] (ind = η⁵-C₉H₇) (1) and [CpRu(PPh₃)₂CN] (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) (2) with [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(bipy)Cl]Cl (bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) (3) in the presence of AgNO₃/NH₄BF₄ in methanol, respectively, yielded dicationic cyano-bridged complexes of the type [(ind)(PPh₃)₂Ru(μ-CN)Ru(bipy)(η⁶-p-cymene)](BF₄)₂ (4) and [Cp(PPh₃)₂Ru(μ-CN)Ru(bipy)(η⁶-p-cymene)](BF₄)₂ (5). The reaction of [CpRu(PPh₃)₂CN] (2), [CpOs(PPh₃)₂CN] (6) and [CpRu(dppe)CN] (7) with the corresponding halide complexes and [(η⁶-p-cymene)RuCl₂]₂ formed the monocationic cyano-bridge complexes [Cp(PPh₃)₂Ru(μ-CN)Os(PPh₃)₂Cp](BF₄) (8), [Cp(PPh₃)₂Os(μ- CN)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp](BF₄) (9) and [Cp(dppe)Ru(μ-CN)Os(PPh₃)₂Cp](BF₄) (10) along with the neutral complexes [Cp(PPh₃)₂Ru(μ-CN)Ru (η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂] (11), [Cp(PPh₃)₂Os(μ-CN)Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂] (12), and [Cp(dppe) Ru(μ-CN)Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂] (13). These complexes were characterized by FT IR, ¹H NMR, ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy and the molecular structures of complexes 4, 8 and 11 were solved by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Iron(III) Chloride–Promoted Direct Conversion of Aryl/Alkyl Cyanides to Esters

Aryl/alkyl cyanides were quickly converted into the corresponding esters in the presence of iron(III) chloride in refluxing alcohols with very good yields.     

Tunable single-site ruthenium catalysts for efficient water oxidation

The catalytic water oxidation activity of mononuclear ruthenium complexes comprising a pyridine-functionalized abnormal triazolylidene ligand can be adjusted by modification of the triazolylidene substituents, which is readily achieved through click-type cycloaddition chemistry, affording some of the most active ruthenium catalysts known thus far for water oxidation (TONs > 400, TOFs close to 7000 h(-1)).     

Methyltransferase activity of an iridium center with methylpyridinium as methylene source

Hop on, hop off: An iridium center transfers a methyl group from pyridinium to an aryl unit, using exclusively the pyridine-bound methyl group as a mild methylene source. The reaction also involves cleavage of an unactivated C(aryl)?H bond and nitrile solvent activation. The process is reminiscent of DNA methylation and entails the formation of two new C(sp(2) )?C(sp(3) ) bonds within the metal coordination sphere.     

Synthesis, characterization and molecular structures of allenylidene, vinylidene-alkylidene complexes containing [CpOs(PPh3)2] fragment

The reaction of [CpOs(PPh₃)₂Br] with diphenylpropargylic alcohol HCCCPh₂(OH) in the presence of ammonium hexafluorophosphate leads to the formation of cationic osmiumallenylidene complex [CpOs(CCCPh₂)(PPh₃)₂][PF₆] (1), but when the dimethylpropargylic alcohol HCCCMe₂(OH) was used as a substrate, a dicationic diosmium vinylidene-alkylidene complex of the formula [(CpOs)₂(μ-C₁₀H₁₂)(PPh₃)₄][PF₆]₂ (2) was obtained. The structures of these complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P21/c with a=13.4083(6) Å, b=19.5700(9) Å, c=20.3806(9) Å and β=100.3620(10)°. Complex 2 crystallizes in triclinic space group with a=13.0396(11) Å, b=15.2420(13) Å, c=21.6406(19) Å and α=72.5290(10)°, β=75.1960(10)°, γ=85.6360(10)°.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Silylation of Acetophenone Derivatives: Formation of Silyl Enol Ethers versus Silyl Ethers

A series of rhodium–NSiN complexes (NSiN=bis (pyridine‐2‐yloxy)methylsilyl fac‐coordinated) is reported, including the solid‐state structures of [Rh(H)(Cl)(NSiN)(PCy₃)] (Cy=cyclohexane) and [Rh(H)(CF₃SO₃)(NSiN)(coe)] (coe=cis‐cyclooctene). The [Rh(H)(CF₃SO₃)(NSiN)(coe)]‐catalyzed reaction of acetophenone with silanes performed in an open system was studied. Interestingly, in most of the cases the formation of the corresponding silyl enol ether as major reaction product was observed. However, when the catalytic reactions were performed in closed systems, formation of the corresponding silyl ether was favored. Moreover, theoretical calculations on the reaction of [Rh(H)(CF₃SO₃)(NSiN)(coe)] with HSiMe₃ and acetophenone showed that formation of the silyl enol ether is kinetically favored, while the silyl ether is the thermodynamic product. The dehydrogenative silylation entails heterolytic cleavage of the Si?H bond by a metal–ligand cooperative mechanism as the rate‐determining step. Silyl transfer from a coordinated trimethylsilyltriflate molecule to the acetophenone followed by proton transfer from the activated acetophenone to the hydride ligand results in the formation of H₂ and the corresponding silyl enol ether.