Syntheses and structures of missing links among polybromocyclopentadienyl rhenium and manganese tricarbonyl complexes

Reactions of diazocyclopentadiene and NBS at appropriate stoichiometries give 2,5-dibromodiazocyclopentadiene and 2,3,5-tribromodiazocyclopentadiene in 40% and 30% yields, respectively, after chromatography. These react with BrRe(CO)₅ or BrMn(CO)₅ (80 °C, CF₃C₆H₅) to give (η⁵-1,2,3-C₅H₂Br₃)M(CO)₃ (3; M = a, Re; b, Mn) and (η⁵-C₅HBr₄)M(CO)₃ (4a,b) in 75-85% yields. In the case of 4a, the intermediate η¹-cyclopentadienyl complex (η¹-C₅HBr₄)Re(CO)₅ (4′a) can be isolated (44%). An isomer of 3b, (η⁵-1,2,4-C₅H₂Br₃)Mn(CO)₃, is accessed by desilylating previously reported (η⁵-1,2,4-C₅(SiMe₃)₂Br₃)Mn(CO)₃ with CsF/MeOH (85%). The reaction of tetrabromodiazocyclopentadiene and BrRe(CO)₅ at 80 °C in CF₃C₆H₅ gives the η¹-cyclopentadienyl complex (η¹-C₅Br₅)Re(CO)₅ (5′a, 74%) which cannot be induced to decarbonylate to (η⁵-C₅Br₅)Re(CO)₃ (5a) under a variety of conditions. However, 5a can be isolated (45%) when a similar reaction is conducted at 120 °C. The IR properties of the preceding complexes are compared, and the crystal structures of 3a, 3b, 5a, and 5′a are determined and analyzed.