Pd-catalyzed boronations and cross-coupling reactions of aromatic cobaltadithiolene complexes with aryl halides

The Pd-catalyzed reaction of CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(Bpin))] (1, Bpin = 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaboronate) with 1-iodonaphthalene or 2-bromothiophene gave the cross-coupling product CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(Ar))] (Ar = 1-Np (4) or 2-Th (5)), although an early paper described the reaction of 1 with 3-bromopyridine or 9-bromoanthracene (Ar = 3-Py (2) or 9-Anth (3)). The boronation of the brominated precursor CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Br)(H))] (7) with Bpin-H in the presence of Pd catalyst gave the expected boronated product CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Bpin)(H))] (8) but also underwent an unexpected direct boronation on the dithiolene carbon to form CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Br)(Bpin))] (9). The brominated complex 7 or CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(p-C6H4Br))] (10) was synthesized by thermal reaction and the microwave-enhanced reaction relatively gave better yield with shorter reaction time than that of the conventional heating reaction. The cross-coupling reactions of the boronated or CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(p-C6H4Bpin))] (11) with aryl halides successfully produced the corresponding cross-coupling products such as CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Py)(H))] (12) or CpCo(S2C2(p-C6H4Anth)(H))] (13) from 8 and CpCo(S2C2(Ph)(p-C6H4Py))] (14) from 11. The structures of 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 14 were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Electronic absorption maxima (λ_max) due to dithiolene LMCT in dichloromethane solution can be modified in the range of 574-602 nm by a substituent effect on the dithiolene ring. Redox potentials obtained from CV measurement were also reported.