Regioselective formation of beta-alkyl-alpha-phenyliridabenzenes via unsymmetrical 3-vinylcyclopropenes: probing steric and electronic influences by varying the alkyl ring substituent

Stable cyclopropenylvinyl ligands via insertion into a transient cyclopropenyl metal bond

Treatment of the rhodium pincer complexes [RhCl(RPm)] (RPm = N,N'-bis(di-R-phosphinomethyl)perimidinylidene, R = Ph, Cy) with triphenylcyclopropenium hexafluorophosphate affords rhodacyclobutadiene complexes. These in turn react with activated alkynes (RCCCO2Me, R = H, CO2Me) to afford unusually stable cyclopropenylvinyls, implicating the intermediacy of σ-cyclopropenyl isomers. In contrast, treatment of [RhCl{py(NHPtBu2)2-2,6}] with the same reagent instead results in double functionalisation (SEAr) at the pincer backbone.

Pentacyclic and Hexacyclic Osmaarynes and Their Derivatives

Although osmabenzyne, osmanaphthalyne, osmaphenanthryne, and osmaanthracyne have been previously reported, the synthesis of polycyclic osmaarynes is still a challenge. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of the first pentacyclic osmaarynes (pyreno[b]osmabenzynes 1 a and 2 a) and hexacyclic osmaaryne (peryleno[b]osmabenzyne 3 a). Nucleophilic reaction of osmaarynes was used to obtain the corresponding pyreno[b]osmium complexes (1 and 2) and peryleno[b] osmium complex (3), which exhibited near-infrared luminescence and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties. Complexes 2 and 3 are resistant to photodegradation, and complex 2 has better photothermal conversion properties than 3.

The spin–orbit effects on platinabenzene: a ring current and electron delocalization approach

The aromaticity of platinabenzene was studied using the electronic structure and magnetic descriptors with relativistic corrections. It presents aromatic character following the Hückel's rule, negative NICS values, and diatropic current densities.

Iridaaromatics via Methoxy(alkenyl)carbeneiridium Complexes

This review describes the development of a versatile methodology to synthesize polycyclic metallaaromatic hydrocarbons based on iridium, as well as the studies that helped us to determine and understand what is required in order to broaden the scope and the selectivity of the methodology and stabilize the complexes obtained. This methodology aims to open the door to new materials based on graphene fragments.

Metallaaromatic Chemistry: History and Development

Since the prediction of the existence of metallabenzenes in 1979, metallaaromatic chemistry has developed rapidly, due to its importance in both experimental and theoretical fields. Now six major types of metallaromatic compounds, metallabenzenes, metallabenzynes, heterometallaaromatics, dianion metalloles, metallapentalenes and metallapentalynes (also termed carbolongs), and spiro metalloles, have been reported and extensively studied. Their parent organic analogues may be aromatic, non-aromatic, or even anti-aromatic. These unique systems not only enrich the large family of aromatics, but they also broaden our understanding and extend the concept of aromaticity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of metallaaromatic chemistry. We have focused on not only the six major classes of metallaaromatics, including the main-group-metal-based metallaaromatics, but also other types, such as metallacyclobutadienes and metallacyclopropenes. The structures, synthetic methods, and reactivities are described, their applications are covered, and the challenges and future prospects of the area are discussed. The criteria commonly used to judge the aromaticity of metallaaromatics are presented.

Rhodafuran from a methoxy(alkenyl)carbene by the rhoda-1,3,5-hexatriene route

A methoxy(alkenyl)carbenerhodium complex [RhCp*Cl{[double bond, length as m-dash]C(OMe)CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CPh2}(PMe3)]PF6 (2) has been synthesized and used as the starting material for the study of the effect of the metal center (Rh vs. Ir) in the formation of new rhodacycle complexes. While η3 and η5 indenylrhodium complexes have been achieved by the C-H bond activation of a phenyl ring, insertion of terminal alkynes into the rhodium-carbene bond led to the first example of the synthesis of rhodafuran complexes through rhoda-1,3,5-hexatriene intermediates. This new method represents an efficient process to obtain metallafuran complexes.

Predicting an unconventional facile route to metallaanthracenes

DFT calculations reveal an unconventional facile route to metallaanthracenes caused by stabilisation of phosphonium substituents.

Recent Advances in Metallaaromatic Chemistry

Metallaaromatics can be broadly defined as aromatic compounds in which one of the ring atoms is a transition metal. The metallabenzenes are one important class of these compounds that has undergone extensive study recently. Closely related species such as fused-ring metallabenzenes, heterometallabenzenes, π-coordinated metallabenzenes and metallabenzynes have also attracted considerable attention. Although many metallaaromatics can be considered as metalla-analogues of classic organic aromatic compounds, this is not always the case. Recent seminal studies have shown that metallapentalenes and metallapentalynes, which are metalla-analogues of the anti-aromatic compounds pentalene and pentalyne, are in fact aromatic and highly stable. Very unusual spiro-metallaaromatic compounds have also recently been isolated. In this concepts article, key features of all these intriguing metallaaromatic compounds are discussed with reference to the structural, spectroscopic, reactivity and theoretical studies that have been undertaken. These compounds continue to generate much interest, not only because of the contributions they make to fundamental chemical understanding, but also because of the promise of possible practical applications.

Five-membered cyclic metal carbyne: synthesis of osmapentalynes by the reactions of osmapentalene with allene, alkyne, and alkene

The synthesis of small cyclic metal carbynes is challenging due to the large angle strain associated with the highly distorted nonlinear triple bonds. Herein, we report a general route for the synthesis of five-membered cyclic metal carbyne complexes, osmapentalynes, by the reactions of an osmapentalene derivative with allene, alkyne, and alkene. Experimental observations and theoretical calculations document the aromaticity in the fused five-membered rings of osmapentalynes. The realization of transforming osmapentalene to osmapentalyne through this general route would not only allow further exploration of metallapentalyne chemistry but also show promising applications of this novel aromatic system with broad absorption band and high molar absorption coefficient.

Aromaticity of metallabenzenes and related compounds

In this review, we focus on the aromaticity of a particular family of organometallic compounds known as metallabenzenes, which are characterized by the formal replacement of a CH group in benzene by an isolobal transition metal fragment.

EFFECTS OF STRUCTURAL MODIFICATION ON THE GROUND STATE OF METALLABENZENES: SINGLET VERSUS TRIPLET STATE

Extensive density functional calculations were used to explore the geometries and relative stabilities of metallabenzenes with various spin multiplicities. The structural modification effects on the energy splittings between the singlet and triplet states, including the replacement of metal, the change of ligand environment, and the substitution of hydrogen and carbon atoms in the aromatic ring, were investigated. Calculations show that the stability of the singlet and triplet metallabenzenes strongly depends on the metal center, and the first-row transition metal metallabenzenes most probably have the triplet ground state. The stability of the triplet state can be enhanced by the strong π- and weak-field ligands as well as the electron-withdrawing substituent for hydrogen at the aromatic carbon such as - PPh3+ . Present results can help us understand the magnetic properties of metallabenzenes and construct the function-orientated metallacyclic compounds.

Electrophilic substitution reactions of metallabenzynes

The electrophilic substitution reactions of metallabenzynes Os(≡CC(R)═C(CH(3))C(R)═CH)Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2) (R = SiMe(3), H) were studied. These metallabenzynes react with electrophilic reagents, including Br(2), NO(2)BF(4), NOBF(4), HCl/H(2)O(2), and AlCl(3)/H(2)O(2) to afford the corresponding bromination, nitration, nitrosation, and chlorination products. The reactions usually occur at the C2 and C4 positions of the metallacycle. These observations support the notion that metallabenzynes exhibit aromatic properties.

New highly stable metallabenzenes via nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction

Treatment of the ruthenabenzene [Ru{CHC(PPh(3))CHC(PPh(3))CH}Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2)]Cl (1) with excess 8-hydroxyquinoline in the presence of CH(3)COONa under air atmosphere produced the S(N)Ar product [(C(9) H(6)NO)Ru{CHC(PPh(3))CHC(PPh(3))C}(C(9)H(6)NO)(PPh(3))]Cl(2) (3). Ruthenabenzene 3 could be stable in the solution of weak alkali or weak acid. However, reaction of 3 with NaOH afforded a 7:1 mixture of ruthenabenzenes [(C(9)H(6)NO)Ru{CHC(PPh(3))CHCHC}(C(9)H(6)NO)(PPh(3))]Cl (4) and [(C(9)H(6)NO)Ru{CHCHCHC(PPh(3))C}(C(9)H(6)NO)(PPh(3))]Cl (5), presumably involving a P-C bond cleavage of the metallacycle. Complex 3 was also reactive to HCl, which results in a transformation of 3 to ruthenabenzene [Ru{CHC(PPh(3))CHC(PPh(3))C}Cl(2)(C(9)H(6)NO)(PPh(3))]Cl (6) in high yield. Thermal stability tests showed that ruthenabenzenes 4, 5, and 6 have remarkable thermal stability both in solid state and in solution under air atmosphere. Ruthenabenzenes 4 and 5 were found to be fluorescent in common solvents and have spectral behaviors comparable to those organic multicyclic compounds containing large π-extended systems.

Functionalization of metallabenzenes through nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen

The cationic metallabenzenes [Ir(C(5)H(4){SMe-1})(κ(2)-S(2)CNEt(2))(PPh(3))(2)]PF(6) (1) and [Os(C(5)H(4){SMe-1})(CO)(2)(PPh(3))(2)][CF(3)SO(3)] (2) undergo regioselective nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen at the metallabenzene ring position γ to the metal in a two-step process that first involves treatment with appropriate nucleophiles and then oxidation. Thus, reaction between compound 1 and NaBH(4), MeLi, or NaOEt gives the corresponding neutral iridacyclohexa-1,4-diene complexes Ir(C(5)H(3){SMe-1}{H-3}{Nu-3})(κ(2)-S(2)CNEt(2))(PPh(3))(2) (Nu = H (3), Me (4), OEt (5)). Similarly, reaction between 2 and NaBH(4) or MeLi gives the corresponding osmacyclohexa-1,4-diene complexes Os(C(5)H(3){SMe-1}{H-3}{Nu-3})(CO)(2)(PPh(3))(2) (Nu = H (8), Me (9)). The metallacyclohexa-1,4-diene rings in all these compounds are rearomatized on treatment with the oxidizing agent O(2), CuCl(2), or 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ). Accordingly, the cationic metallabenzene 1 or 2 is returned after reaction between 3 and DDQ/NEt(4)PF(6) or between 8 and DDQ/NaO(3)SCF(3), respectively. The substituted cationic iridabenzene [Ir(C(5)H(3){SMe-1}{Me-3})(κ(2)-S(2)CNEt(2))(PPh(3))(2)]PF(6) (6) or [Ir(C(5)H(4){SMe-1}{OEt-3})(κ(2)-S(2)CNEt(2))(PPh(3))(2)]PF(6) (7) is produced in a similar manner through reaction between 4 or 5, respectively, and DDQ/NEt(4)PF(6), and the substituted cationic osmabenzene [Os(C(5)H(3){SMe-1}{Me-3})(CO)(2)(PPh(3))(2)]Cl (10) is formed in good yield on treatment of 9 with CuCl(2). The starting cationic iridabenzene 1 is conveniently prepared by treatment of the neutral iridabenzene Ir(C(5)H(4){SMe-1})Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2) with NaS(2)CNEt(2) and NEt(4)PF(6), and the related starting cationic osmabenzene 2 is obtained by treatment of Os(C(5)H(4){S-1})(CO)(PPh(3))(2) with CF(3)SO(3)CH(3) and CO. The stepwise transformations of 1 into 6 or 7 as well as 2 into 10 provide the first examples in metallabenzene chemistry of regioselective nucleophilic aromatic substitutions of hydrogen by external nucleophiles. DFT calculations have been used to rationalize the preferred sites for nucleophilic attack at the metallabenzene rings of 1 and 2. The crystal structures of 1, 3, 6, and 7 have been obtained.

Osmabenzenes from osmacycles containing an eta2-coordinated olefin

Treatment of HC[triple bond]CC(CH3)(OH)CH=CH2 with [OsCl2(PPh3)3] in dichloromethane yielded the eta2-olefin-coordinated osmacycle [Os{CH=C(PPh3)C(=CH2)-eta2-CH=CH2}Cl2(PPh3)2] (9). Transformations of osmacycle 9 by treatment with benzonitrile under various conditions have been investigated. Reaction of 9 with excess benzonitrile at room temperature afforded the dicationic osmacycle [Os{CH=C(PPh3)C(=CH2)-eta2-CH=CH2}(PhCN)2(PPh3)2]Cl2 (11) by ligand substitution, which reacted further to the intramolecularly coordinated eta2-allene complex [Os{CH=C(PPh3)C(CH3)=(eta2-C=CH2)}(PhCN)2(PPh3)2]Cl2 (12). In contrast, heating a chloroform solution of 9 to the reflux temperature in the presence of excess benzonitrile generated osmabenzene [Os{CHC(PPh3)C(CH3)CHCH}(PhCN)2(PPh3)2]Cl2 (14). Complexes 11, 12 and 14 are in fact isomers. In the absence of excess benzonitrile, the isolated dicationic 12 and 14 readily dissociate the benzonitrile ligands in solution to produce the neutral complex [Os{CH=C(PPh3)C(CH3)=(eta2-C=CH2)}Cl2(PPh3)2] (13) and the monocationic osmabenzene [Os{CHC(PPh3)C(CH3)CHCH}Cl(PhCN)(PPh3)2]BPh4 (15), respectively. Mechanisms for the formation of osmabenzene 14 from 11 and 12 are proposed based on DFT calculations.