Rhenium oxo compounds containing eta2-pyrazolate ligands

Reaction of potassium salts of sterically demanding pyrazolates (pz = bis-3,5-tert-butylpyrazolate, pz= bis-3,5-tert-butyl-4-methylpyrazolate) with Re2O7 affords soluble eta2-pyrazolate complexes of the type (eta2-pz)ReO3(THF)n](1: pz, n= 1 and 2: pz, n= 0). They were characterized by spectroscopic methods and by X-ray crystallography confirming the eta2-coordinate ligands. Complex 1 employing the ligand with a proton in the 4-position retains one molecule of THF, whereas the additional methyl group in 2 leads to the base-free compound 2. Compound 1 reacts with pyridine and 3,5-dimethylpyridine to form Lewis base adducts of the type (eta2-pz)ReO3(L)](3: L = py; 4: L = 3,5-Me2py). The pronounced sensitivity towards water of these complexes is demonstrated by the reaction of 1 with one equivalent of water forming the corresponding pyrazolium perrhenate ReO4]pzH2](5). Its solid state structure shows a hydrogen bonded dimeric assembly. Catalytic activity of 1 is established in oxygen atom transfer-reactions (OAT) from dimethylsulfoxide to triphenylphosphine, and in epoxidations of cyclooctene employing bis(trimethylsilyl) peroxide (BTSP).