Synthesis and reactivity of ruthenium tetrazolate complexes containing a tris(pyrazolyl)borato (Tp) ligand

Facile ligand substitutions are observed when the neutral ruthenium cyclopropenyl complex (PPh₃)Ru]-CC(Ph)CHCN (1, Ru] = Tp(PPh₃)Ru) is treated with MeCN and pyrazole yielding the nitrile substituted ruthenium cyclopropenyl complex (MeCN)Ru]-CC(Ph)CHCN (4a) and the ruthenium metallacyclic pyrazole complex (C₃H₃NN)Ru]-CC(Ph)CH₂CN (7a), respectively. The reactions of Me₃SiN₃ with 1, 4a and 7a are investigated. Treatment of 1 with Me₃SiN₃ affords in high yield the cationic N-coordinated nitrile complex {(PPh₃)Ru]NCCH(Ph)CH₂CN}N₃ (3). Interestingly, the reaction of 4a with Me₃SiN₃ in CH₂Cl₂ in the presence of NH₄PF₆ results in an insertion of four nitrogen atoms into the Ru-C_α bond to form a diastereomeric mixture of the bright yellow zwitterionic tetrazolate complex (MeCN)Ru]-N₄CCH(Ph)CH₂CN (6a) in a 3:2 ratio. The reaction of 7a with Me₃SiN₃ gives the zwitterionic tetrazolate complex (C₃H₃NNH)Ru]-N₄CCH(Ph)CH₂CN (9a). The two cationic tetrazolate complexes {(C₃H₃NNH)Ru]-N₄(R)CCH(Ph)CH₂CN}⁺ (12a, R = CH₃, 12b, R = C₆H₅CH₂) are prepared by electrophilic addition of organic halides to 9a. All of the complexes are identified by spectroscopic methods as well as elemental analysis. Pathways for the synthesis of these compounds are proposed.