Mapping the Transformation [{RuII(CO)3Cl2}2]→[RuI2(CO)4]2+: Implications in Binuclear Water-Gas Shift Chemistry

Experimental and computational investigation on the formation pathway of [RuCl2(CO)2(ERR')2] (E = S, Se, Te; R, R' = Me, Ph) from [RuCl2(CO)3]2 and ERR'

The pathways to the formation of the series of [RuCl₂(CO)₂(ERR')₂] (E = S, Se, Te; R, R' = Me, Ph) complexes from [RuCl₂(CO)₃]₂ and ERR' have been explored experimentally in THF and CH₂Cl₂, and computationally by PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP calculations. The end-products and some reaction intermediates have been isolated and identified by NMR spectroscopy, and their crystal structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The relative stabilities of the [RuCl₂(CO)₂(ERR')₂] isomers follow the order cct > ccc > tcc > ttt ≈ ctc (the terms c/t refer to cis/trans arrangement of the ligands in the order of Cl, CO, and ERR'). The yields were rather similar in both solvents, but the reactions were significantly faster in THF than in CH₂Cl₂. The highest yields were observed for the telluroether complexes, and the yields decreased with lighter chalcogenoethers. PBE0-D3/def2-TZVP calculations indicated that the reaction path is independent of the nature of the solvent. The substitution of one CO ligand of the intermediate [RuCl₂(CO)₃(ERR')] by the second ERR' shows the highest activation barrier and is the rate-determining step in all reactions. The observed faster reaction rate in THF than in CH₂Cl₂ upon reflux can therefore be explained by the higher boiling point of THF. At room temperature the reactions in both solvents proceed equally slowly. When the reaction is carried out in THF, the formation of [RuCl₂(CO)₃(THF)] is also observed, and the reaction may proceed with the substitution of THF by ERR'. The formation of the THF complex, however, is not necessary for the dissociation of the [RuCl₂(CO)₃]₂. Thermal energy at room temperature is sufficient to cleave one of the bridging Ru-Cl bonds. The intermediate thus formed undergoes a facile reaction with ERR'. This mechanism is viable also in non-coordinating CH₂Cl₂.

Azo-oximate metal-carbonyl to metallocarboxylic acid via the intermediate Ir(III) radical congener: quest for co-ligand driven stability of open- and closed-shell complexes

The redox non-innocent behavior of the diaryl-azo-oxime ligand L^NOH1 has been accentuated via the synthesis of metastable anion radical complexes of type trans-[Ir(L^NO˙-)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂] 2 (CO is trans to azo group of the ligand) by the oxidative coordination reaction of 1 with Vaska's complex. The stereochemical role of co-ligands vis-à-vis the interplay of π-bonding has been found to be decisive in controlling the aptitude of the coordinated redox non-innocent ligand to accept or reject an electron. This has been clarified via the isolation of quite a few complexes as well as the failure to synthesize some others. The oxidized analogues of type trans-[Ir(L^NO-)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂]⁺2+ (CO and azo group of the ligand are trans) as well as its cis isomer cis-[Ir(L^NO-)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂]⁺3+ (CO and azo group of the ligand are cis) have been structurally characterized but the radical anion congener of the latter could not be synthesized. Furthermore, the closed shell complexes [Ir(L^NO-)Cl₂(PPh₃)₂] 4 and [Ir(L^NO-)₂Cl(PPh₃)] 5 have been well characterized by diffraction as well as spectral techniques but their corresponding azo anion radical complexes could not be isolated and this is attributed to the trans influence of ancillary ligands. The anion radical complexes trans-[Ir(L^NO˙-)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂] 2 may be rapidly transformed to the metallocarboxylic acids trans-[Ir(L^NO-)Cl(CO₂H)(PPh₃)₂] 6via a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process, thereby demonstrating the role of odd electron over the coordinated ligand framework to trigger metal-mediated carbonyl to carboxylic acid functionalization. Complexes 6 are further stabilized via intramolecular -CO₂H⋯ON- (carboxylic acid⋯oximato) H-bonding. The optoelectronic properties as well as the origin of transitions in the complexes were analyzed by TD-DFT and theoretical analysis, which further disclose that the odd electron in trans-[Ir(L^NO˙-)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂] 2 is primarily azo-oxime centric with very low contribution from the iridium center.

Coordination Chemistry of Ru(II) Complexes of an Asymmetric Bipyridine Analogue: Synergistic Effects of Supporting Ligand and Coordination Geometry on Reactivities

The reactivities of transition metal coordination compounds are often controlled by the environment around the coordination sphere. For ruthenium(II) complexes, differences in polypyridyl supporting ligands affect some types of reactivity despite identical coordination geometries. To evaluate the synergistic effects of (i) the supporting ligands, and (ii) the coordination geometry, a series of dicarbonyl-ruthenium(II) complexes that contain both asymmetric and symmetric bidentate polypyridyl ligands were synthesized. Molecular structures of the complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography to distinguish their steric configuration. Structural, computational, and electrochemical analysis revealed some differences between the isomers. Photo- and thermal reactions indicated that the reactivities of the complexes were significantly affected by both their structures and the ligands involved.

Carbon nitride as a ligand: edge-site coordination of ReCl(CO)3-fragments to g-C3N4

IR spectroscopy and model structural studies show binding of ReCl(CO)₃-fragments to carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) occurs viaκ² N,N' bidentate coordination.

Ruthenium(II)-carbonyl complexes containing two N-monodentate 1,8-naphthyridine ligands: active catalysis in transfer hydrogenation reactions

The reaction of 2-aminonicotinaldehyde with 2- or 4-methoxyacetophenone in basic media leads to the new ligands 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine and 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine, respectively, in high yield. The reaction of these naphthyridine derivatives with [RuCl₂(CO)₂]_n leads to the respective complexes cis-dicarbonyldichloridobis[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine-κN⁸]ruthenium(II) and cis-dicarbonyldichloridobis[2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthyridine-κN⁸]ruthenium(II), both [RuCl₂(C₁₅H₁₂N₂O)₂(CO)₂], in good yield. Both ruthenium(II) complexes display a slightly distorted octahedron with two cis carbonyl, two cis chloride and two cis naphthyridine ligands, the latter coordinated in a monodentate fashion through the N atom in the 8-position. Both complexes exhibit a moderate catalytic activity in the hydrogen-transfer reaction from propan-2-ol to acetophenone in the presence of a base, with 100% selectivity.

An unexpected semi-hydrogenation of a ligand in the complexation of 2,7-bispyridinyl-1,8-naphthyridine with Ru3(CO)12

A novel formate-bridged diruthenium complex [(bpnp-H₃)Ru₂(μ-HCOO)(CO)₄] was prepared, in which the ligand bpnp was partially hydrogenated during the complexation of the ligand with Ru₃(CO)₁₂ in the presence of water.

Bimetallic catalysis involving dipalladium(I) and diruthenium(I) complexes

Dipalladium(I) and diruthenium(I) compounds bridged by two [{(5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)amino}carbonyl]ferrocene (L) ligands have been synthesized. The X-ray structures of [Pd(2)L(2)][BF(4)](2) (1) and [Ru(2)L(2)(CO)(4)][BF(4)](2) (2) reveal dinuclear structures with short metal-metal distances. In both of these structures, naphthyridine bridges the dimetal unit, and the site trans to the metal-metal bond is occupied by weakly coordinating oxygen from the amido fragment. The catalytic utilities of these bimetallic compounds are evaluated. Compound 1 is an excellent catalyst for phosphine-free, Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of aryl bromides with arylboronic acids and provides high yields in short reaction times. Compound 1 is also found to be catalytically active for aryl chlorides, although the corresponding yields are lower. A bimetallic mechanism is proposed, which involves the oxidative addition of aryl bromide across the Pd-Pd bond and the bimetallic reductive elimination of the product. Compound 1 is also an efficient catalyst for the Heck cross-coupling of aryl bromides with styrenes. The mechanism for aldehyde olefination with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) and PPh(3), catalyzed by 2, has been fully elucidated. It is demonstrated that 2 catalyzes the formation of phosphorane utilizing EDA and PPh(3), which subsequently reacts with aldehyde to produce a new olefin and phosphine oxide. The efficacy of bimetallic complexes in catalytic organic transformations is illustrated in this work.

Contrasting Reactivity of 2-Mesityl-1,8-Naphthyridine (Mes-NP) with Singly-Bonded [RhII–RhII] and [RuI–RuI] Compounds

Reaction of cis-[Rh2(CH3COO)2(CH3CN)6](BF4)2 with two equivalents of 2-mesityl-1,8-naphthyridine (Mes-NP) affords trans-[Rh2(CH3COO)2(Mes-NP)2](BF4)2 (1). X-ray structure reveals weak Rh–C(ipso) interaction, and a short Rh–Rh distance. The same ligand, in contrast, oxidatively cleaves the Ru–Ru bond in cis-[Ru2(CO)4(CH3CN)6](BF4)2 and results in trans-[Ru(Mes-NP)2(CH3CN)2](BF4)2 (2). Both compounds adopt trans geometry to relieve the steric strain. Compound 2 exhibits moderate activity for the alcohol oxidation and aldehyde olefination reactions.