Cyclometallation of 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine and 2-(3-thienyl)pyridine with palladium(II), rhodium(III) and ruthenium(II)

Summary 2-(2-Thienyl)pyridine H(2-tp)] and 2-(3-thienyl)pyridine H(3-tp)] react with lithium tetrachloropalladate(II), hexachlorotetrakis(tri-n-butylphosphine) dirhodium(III), and tetrachlorohexacarbonyldiruthenium(II) to give PdCl(C-N)]₂-(CN=2-tp and 3-tp), RhCl₂(C-N)PBu₃]₂ (C-N = 2-tp and 3-tp), and RuCl(2-tp)(CO)₂]₂, respectively. Some bromo analogues are also prepared. These complexes react with pyridine and tri-n-butylphosphine to give adducts in which 2-tp is chelated through pyridine-N and thiophene-3-C and 3-tp through pyridine-N and thiophene-2-C atoms. The structures of these complexes are similar to those of the corresponding complexes of cyclometallated 2-phenylpyridine.