Stepwise synthesis, structures, and reactivity of mono-, di-, and trimetallic metal complexes with a 6pi + 6pi quinonoid zwitterion

The benzoquinonemonoimine N,N'-dineopentyl-2-amino-5-alcoholate-1,4-benzoquinonemonoiminium C(6)H(2)(NHCH(2)t-Bu)(2)(O)(2)] 6, which is a rare example of an organic zwitterion being more stable than its canonical form, is best described as constituted of two chemically connected but electronically not conjugated 6pi electron subunits. The two successive acidities of 6 allow the preparation of mono-, di-, and trimetallic complexes in which the control of the pi-system delocalization becomes possible. Reaction of 6 with NaOt-Bu results in monodeprotonation of one N-H function, and the isolated sodium salt 9, which is stable under N(2), reacts with chloride-bridged Pd(II) homodimetallic complexes, AuCl(PPh(3))] or trans-NiCl(Ph)(PPh(3))(2)], to afford the monometallic complexes 10-15 in which the pi-system is localized. A second in situ deprotonation of the remaining N-H amino function of 10 with NaH followed by reaction with Pd(8-mq)(mu-Cl)](2) (8-mq = orthometalated 8-methylquinoline) affords the homodimetallic complex 17 in which the pi-system of the quinonoid ligand is delocalized between the two metal centers. Deprotonation of both N-H amino functions of the square-planar complex trans-Ni(N,O)(2)] 15 with NaH and reaction with Pd(8-mq)(mu-Cl)](2) affords the heterotrimetallic (Pd, Ni, Pd) complex 18 in which the pi-system of the two quinonoid ligands is delocalized between the three metal centers. The crystal structures of the monometallic complexes 10 and 13 and of the dipalladium complex 17 are reported and consequences of metal coordination discussed. Complex 15 was tested in catalytic ethylene oligomerization with AlEtCl(2) as cocatalyst.