Preparation, Aromaticity, and Bromination of Spiro Iridafurans

Iridium centers of [Ir(μ-Cl)(C8H14)2]2 (1) activate the Cβ(sp2)-H bond of benzylideneacetone to give [Ir(μ-Cl){κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}2]2 (2), which is the starting point for the preparation of the spiro iridafurans IrCl{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}2(PiPr3) (3), [Ir{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}2(MeCN)2]BF4 (4), [Ir(μ-OH){κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}2]2 (5), Ir{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}2{κ2-C,N-[C6MeH3-py]} (6), and Ir{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}2{κ2-O,O-[acac]} (7). The five-membered rings are orthogonally arranged with the oxygen atoms in trans in an octahedral environment of the iridium atom. Spiro iridafurans are aromatic. The degree of aromaticity and the negative charge of the CH-carbon of the rings depend on ligand trans to the carbon directly attached to the metal. Aromaticity has been experimentally confirmed by bromination of iridafurans with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS). Reactions are sensitive to the degree of aromaticity of the ring and the negative charge of the attacked CH-carbon. Iridafurans can be selectively brominated, when different ligands lie trans to metalated carbons. Bromination of 3 occurs in the ring with the metalated carbon trans to chloride, whereas the bromination of 6 takes place in the ring with the metalated carbon trans to pyridyl. The first gives IrCl{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CBrC(Me)O]}{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}(PiPr3) (8), which reacts with more NBS to form IrCl{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CBrC(Me)O]}2(PiPr3) (9). The second yields Ir{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CBrC(Me)O]}{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}{κ2-C,N-[C6MeH3-py]} (10). The origin of the selectivity is kinetic, with the rate-determining step of the reaction being the NBS attack. The activation energy depends on the negative charge of the attacked atom; a higher negative charge allows for a lower activation energy. Accordingly, complex 7 undergoes bromination in the acetylacetonate ligand, giving Ir{κ2-C,O-[C(Ph)CHC(Me)O]}2{κ2-O,O-[acacBr]} (11).

Hetero-carbolong chemistry: experimental and theoretical studies of diaza-metallapentalenes

Four diaza-osmapentalenes were prepared by two-step reactions, through the treatment of an alkyne-coordinated osmium complex with azo compounds, followed by the addition of AgSbF₆/CO. Their aromaticity was confirmed by crystal parameters, NMR spectra and theoretical calculations. These complexes are the first diaza-metallapentalenes representing a new class of metallaaromatics.

Osmathiazole Ring: Extrapolation of an Aromatic Purely Organic System to Organometallic Chemistry

An osmathiazole skeleton has been generated starting from the cation of the salt [OsH(OH)(≡CPh)(IPr)(PiPr3)]OTf (1; IPr = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolylidene; OTf = CF3SO3) and thioacetamide; its aromaticity degree was compared with that of thiazole, and its aromatic reactivity was confirmed through a reaction with phenylacetylene. Salt 1 reacts with the thioamide to initially afford the synthetic intermediate [OsH{κ2-N,S-[NHC(CH3)S]}(≡CPh)(IPr)(PiPr3)]OTf (2). Thioamidate and alkylidyne ligands of 2 couple in acetonitrile at 70 °C, forming a 1:1 mixture of the salts [OsH{κ2-C,S-[C(Ph)NHC(CH3)S]}(CH3CN)(IPr)(PiPr3)]OTf (3) and [Os{κ2-C,S-[CH(Ph)NHC(CH3)S]}(CH3CN)3(IPr)]OTf (4). Treatment of 3 with potassium tert-butoxide produces the NH-deprotonation of its five-membered ring and gives OsH{κ2-C,S-[C(Ph)NC(CH3)S]}(IPr)(PiPr3) (5). The osmathiazole ring of 5 is slightly less aromatic than the osmathiazolium cycle of 3 and the purely organic thiazole. However, it is more aromatic than related osmaoxazoles and osmaoxazoliums. There are significant differences in behavior between 3 and 5 toward phenylacetylene. In acetonitrile, the cation of 3 loses the phosphine and adds the alkyne to afford [Os{η3-C3,κ1-S-[CH2C(Ph)C(Ph)NHC(CH3)S]}(CH3CN)2(IPr)]OTf (6), bearing a functionalized allyl ligand. In contrast, the osmathiazole ring of 5 undergoes a vicarious nucleophilic substitution of hydride, by acetylide, via the dihydride OsH2(C≡CPh){κ2-C,S-[C(Ph)NC(CH3)S]}(IPr)(PiPr3) (7), which releases H2 to yield Os(C≡CPh){κ2-C,S-[C(Ph)NC(CH3)S]}(IPr)(PiPr3) (8).