Coordination of Lewis Acids to Transition Metals: Z-Type Ligands

Stannylenes based on pyrrole-phosphane and dipyrromethane-diphosphane scaffolds: syntheses and behavior as precursors to PSnP pincer palladium(II), palladium(0) and gold(I) complexes

2-Ditertbutylphosphanylmethylpyrrole (H₂pyrmP^tBu₂) and 2,2'-bis(diisopropylphosphanylmethyl)-5,5'-dimethyldipyrromethane ((HpyrmPⁱPr₂)₂CMe₂) have been used to synthesize new P-donor-stabilized stannylenes in which the Sn atom is attached to one, SnCl(HpyrmP^tBu₂) (1) and Sn{N(SiMe₃)₂}(HpyrmP^tBu₂) (2), or two pyrrolyl-phosphane scaffolds, Sn(HpyrmP^tBu₂)₂ (3), or to a dipyrromethane-diphosphane scaffold, Sn(pyrmPⁱPr₂)₂CMe₂ (4). It has been found that stannylenes 3 and 4 are excellent precursors to transition metal complexes containing PSnP pincer-type ligands. Their reactions with chlorido transition metal complexes have afforded [PdCl{κ³P,Sn,P-SnCl(HpyrmP^tBu₂)₂}] (6), [PdCl{κ³P,Sn,P-SnCl(pyrmPⁱPr₂)₂CMe₂}] (7) and [Au{κ³P,Sn,P-SnCl(HpyrmP^tBu₂)₂}] (8), which contain a PSnP pincer-type chloridostannyl ligand. While complexes 6 and 7 are square-planar palladium(II) complexes, compound 8 is an uncommon gold(I) complex having a T-shaped coordination geometry with a very long Sn-Au bond (3.120 Å). The T-shaped palladium(0) complex [Pd{κ³P,Sn,P-Sn(pyrmPⁱPr₂)₂CMe₂}] (9), which contains an unprecedented PSnP pincer-type stannylene that behaves as a Z-type (σ-acceptor) ligand, has been prepared from 4 and [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)(η⁵-C₅H₅)].

Low-Valent Titanium Species Stabilized with Aluminum/Boron Hydride Fragments

Low-valent titanium species were prepared by reaction of [TiCp*X₃ ] (Cp*=η⁵ -C₅ Me₅ ; X=Cl, Br, Me) with LiEH₄ (E=Al, B) or BH₃ (thf), and their structures elucidated by experimental and theoretical methods. The treatment of trihalides [TiCp*X₃ ] with LiAlH₄ in ethereal solvents (L) leads to the hydride-bridged heterometallic complexes [{TiCp*(μ-H)}₂ {(μ-H)₂ AlX(L)}₂ ] (L=thf, X=Cl, Br; L=OEt₂ , X=Cl). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations for those compounds reveal an open-shell singlet ground state with a Ti-Ti bond and can be described as titanium(II) species. The theoretical analyses also show strong interactions between the Ti-Ti bond and the empty s orbitals of the Al atom of the AlH₂ XL fragments, which behave as σ-accepting (Z-type) ligands. Analogous reactions of [TiCp*X₃ ] with LiBH₄ (2 and 3 equiv.) in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature and at 85 °C lead to the titanium(III) compounds [{TiCp*(BH₄ )(μ-X)}₂ ] (X=Cl, Br) and [{TiCp*(BH₄ )(μ-BH₄ )}₂ ], respectively. The treatment of [TiCp*Me₃ ] with 4 and 5 equiv. of BH₃ (thf) produces the diamagnetic [{TiCp*(BH₃ Me)}₂ (μ-B₂ H₆ )] and paramagnetic [{TiCp*(μ-B₂ H₆ )}₂ ] complexes, respectively.

Solid-state 11B NMR studies of coinage metal complexes containing a phosphine substituted diboraanthracene ligand

Transition metal interactions with Lewis acids (M → Z linkages) are fundamentally interesting and practically important. The most common Z-type ligands contain boron, which contains an NMR active ¹¹B nucleus. We measured solid-state ¹¹B{¹H} NMR spectra of copper, silver, and gold complexes containing a phosphine substituted 9,10-diboraanthracene ligand (B₂P₂) that contain planar boron centers and weak M → BR₃ linkages ([(B₂P₂)M][BAr^F₄] (M = Cu (1), Ag (2), Au (3)) characterized by large quadrupolar coupling (C_Q) values (4.4-4.7 MHz) and large span (Ω) values (93-139 ppm). However, the solid-state ¹¹B{¹H} NMR spectrum of K[Au(B₂P₂)]^- (4), which contains tetrahedral borons, is narrow and characterized by small C_Q and Ω values. DFT analysis of 1-4 shows that C_Q and Ω are expected to be large for planar boron environments and small for tetrahedral boron, and that the presence of a M → BR₃ linkage relates to the reduction in C_Q and ¹¹B NMR shielding properties. Thus solid-state ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy contains valuable information about M → BR₃ linkages in complexes containing the B₂P₂ ligand.

Impact of the Novel Z-Acceptor Ligand Bis{(ortho-diphenylphosphino)phenyl}zinc (ZnPhos) on the Formation and Reactivity of Low-Coordinate Ru(0) Centers

The preparation and reactivity with H₂ of two Ru complexes of the novel ZnPhos ligand (ZnPhos = Zn(o-C₆H₄PPh₂)₂) are described. Ru(ZnPhos)(CO)₃ (2) and Ru(ZnPhos)(IMe₄)₂ (4; IMe₄ = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene) are formed directly from the reaction of Ru(PPh₃)(C₆H₄PPh₂)₂(ZnMe)₂ (1) or Ru(PPh₃)₃HCl/LiCH₂TMS/ZnMe₂ with CO and IMe₄, respectively. Structural and electronic structure analyses characterize both 2 and 4 as Ru(0) species in which Ru donates to the Z-type Zn center of the ZnPhos ligand; in 2, Ru adopts an octahedral coordination, while 4 displays square-pyramidal coordination with Zn in the axial position. Under photolytic conditions, 2 loses CO to give Ru(ZnPhos)(CO)₂ that then adds H₂ over the Ru-Zn bond to form Ru(ZnPhos)(CO)₂(μ-H)₂ (3). In contrast, 4 reacts directly with H₂ to set up an equilibrium with Ru(ZnPhos)(IMe₄)₂H₂ (5), the product of oxidative addition at the Ru center. DFT calculations rationalize these different outcomes in terms of the energies of the square-pyramidal Ru(ZnPhos)L₂ intermediates in which Zn sits in a basal site: for L = CO, this is readily accessed and allows H₂ to add across the Ru-Zn bond, but for L = IMe₄, this species is kinetically inaccessible and reaction can only occur at the Ru center. This difference is related to the strong π-acceptor ability of CO compared to IMe₄. Steric effects associated with the larger IMe₄ ligands are not significant. Species 4 can be considered as a Ru(0)L₄ species that is stabilized by the Ru→Zn interaction. As such, it is a rare example of a stable Ru(0)L₄ species devoid of strong π-acceptor ligands.

Strong metal-borane interactions in low-valent cyclopentadienyl rhodium complexes

The first examples of half-sandwich Rh(i) complexes stabilized by borane coordination have been prepared and structurally characterized. As substantiated by NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, the phosphine-borane ligand iPr₂P-(o-C₆H₄)-BFxyl₂ 1 [Fxyl = 3,5-(F₃C)₂C₆H₃] engages in tight η³-BCC or η¹-B coordination, depending on the metal environment.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Adducts of Main Group Elements and Their Use as Ligands in Transition Metal Chemistry

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) are nowadays ubiquitous and indispensable in many research fields, and it is not possible to imagine modern transition metal and main group element chemistry without the plethora of available NHCs with tailor-made electronic and steric properties. While their suitability to act as strong ligands toward transition metals has led to numerous applications of NHC complexes in homogeneous catalysis, their strong σ-donating and adaptable π-accepting abilities have also contributed to an impressive vitalization of main group chemistry with the isolation and characterization of NHC adducts of almost any element. Formally, NHC coordination to Lewis acids affords a transfer of nucleophilicity from the carbene carbon atom to the attached exocyclic moiety, and low-valent and low-coordinate adducts of the p-block elements with available lone pairs and/or polarized carbon-element π-bonds are able to act themselves as Lewis basic donor ligands toward transition metals. Accordingly, the availability of a large number of novel NHC adducts has not only produced new varieties of already existing ligand classes but has also allowed establishment of numerous complexes with unusual and often unprecedented element-metal bonds. This review aims at summarizing this development comprehensively and covers the usage of N-heterocyclic carbene adducts of the p-block elements as ligands in transition metal chemistry.

Experimental evidence for hypercoordination in triorganotelluronium halides with 2-(Me2NCH2)C6H4 groups

Triorganotelluronium halides of type [{2-(Me₂NCH₂)C₆H₄}_nPh_3−nTe]⁺X⁻ (n = 1–3, X = Cl, Br, I) were prepared and structurally characterized both in solution and in the solid state, showing a (C,N)-chelating behavior of the 2-(Me₂NCH₂)C₆H₄ groups.

Gold(I) Complexes of the Geminal Phosphinoborane tBu2PCH2BPh2

In this work, we explored the coordination properties of the geminal phosphinoborane tBu₂PCH₂BPh₂ (2) toward different gold(I) precursors. The reaction of 2 with an equimolar amount of the sulfur-based complex (Me₂S)AuCl resulted in displacement of the SMe₂ ligand and formation of linear phosphine gold(I) chloride 3. Using an excess of ligand 2, bisligated complex 4 was formed and showed dynamic behavior at room temperature. Changing the gold(I) metal precursor to the phosphorus-based complex, (Ph₃P)AuCl impacted the coordination behavior of ligand 2. Namely, the reaction of ligand 2 with (Ph₃P)AuCl led to the heterolytic cleavage of the gold-chloride bond, which is favored over PPh₃ ligand displacement. To the best of our knowledge, 2 is the first example of a P/B-ambiphilic ligand capable of cleaving the gold-chloride bond. The coordination chemistry of 2 was further analyzed by density functional theory calculations.

An Efficient Method for the Synthesis of Boratrane Complexes of Late Transition Metals

In a quest for efficient precursors for the synthesis of boratrane complexes of late transition metals, we have developed a useful synthetic method using [L'M(μ-Cl)Cl_x ]₂ as precursors (L'=η⁶ -p-cymene, M=Ru, x=1; L'=COD, M=Rh, x=0 and L'=Cp*, M=Ir or Rh, x=1; COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene, Cp*=η⁵ -C₅ Me₅ ). For example, treatment of Na[(H₃ B)bbza] or Na[(H₂ B)mp₂ ] (bbza=bis(benzothiazol-2-yl)amine; mp=2-mercaptopyridyl) with [L'M(μ-Cl)Cl_x ]₂ yielded [(η⁶ -p-cymene)RuBH{(NCSC₆ H₄ )(NR)}₂ ] (2; R=NCSC₆ H₄ ), [{N(NCSC₆ H₄ )₂ }RhBH{(NCSC₆ H₄ )(NR)}₂ ] (3; R=NCS-C₆ H₄ ), [(η⁶ -p-cymene)RuBH(L)₂ ] (5; L=C₅ H₄ NS), and [Cp*MBH(L)₂ ] (6 and 7; L=C₅ H₄ NS, M=Ir or Rh). In order to delineate the significance of the ligands, we studied the reactivity of [(COD)Rh(μ-Cl)]₂ with Na[(H₃ B)bbza], which led to the formation of the isomeric agostic complexes [(η⁴ -COD)Rh(μ-H)BHRh(C₁₄ H₈ N₃ S₂ )₃ ], 4 a and 4 b, in parallel to the formation of 16-electron square-pyramidal rhodaboratrane complex 3. Compounds 4 a and 4 b show two different geometries, in which the Rh-B bonds are shorter than in the reported Rh agostic complexes. The new compounds have been characterized in solution by various spectroscopic analyses, and their structural arrangements have been unequivocally established by crystallographic analyses. DFT calculations provide useful insights regarding the stability of these metallaboratrane complexes as well as their M→B bonding interactions.

Coordination of the ambiphilic phosphinoborane tBu2PCH2BPh2 to Cu(I)Cl

A chloro-bridged dimeric copper(I) complex with the ambiphilic phosphinoborane ligand tBu2PCH2BPh2 is reported. The molecular structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, revealing a secondary η 1-C interaction of the ligand with the metal center. The complex exhibits green fluorescence when exposed to UV light at 366 nm.

Design, Synthesis, and Chemistry of Bis(σ)borate and Agostic Complexes of Group 7 Metals

A series of new bis(σ)borate and agostic complexes of group 7 metals have been synthesized and structurally characterized from various borate ligands, such as trihydrobis(benzothiazol-2-yl)amideborate (Na[(H₃ B)bbza]), trihydro(2-aminobenzothiazolyl)borate (Na[(H₃ B)abz]), and dihydrobis(2-mercaptopyridyl)borate (Na[(H₂ B)mp₂ ]) (bbza=bis(benzothiazol-2-yl)amine, abz=2-aminobenzothiazolyl, and mp=2-mercaptopyridyl). Photolysis of [Mn₂ (CO)₁₀ ] with Na[(H₃ B)bbza] formed bis(σ)borate complex [Mn(CO)₃ (μ-H)₂ BHNCSC₆ H₄ (NR)] (1; R=NCSC₆ H₄ ). Octahedral complex [Re(CO)₂ (N₃ C₂ S₂ C₁₂ H₈ )₂ ] (2) was generated under similar reaction conditions with [Re₂ (CO)₁₀ ]. Similarly, when [Mn₂ (CO)₁₀ ] was treated with Na[(H₃ B)abz], bis(σ)borate complex [Mn(CO)₃ (μ-H)₂ BH(HN₂ CSC₆ H₄ )] (3) and the agostic complex [Mn(CO)₃ (μ-H)BH(HN₂ CSC₆ H₄ )₂ ] (4) were formed. To probe the potential formation of agostic complexes of the heavier group 7 metals, we carried out the photolysis of [M₂ (CO)₁₀ ] with Na[(H₂ B)mp₂ ] and found that [M(CO)₃ (μ-H)BH(C₅ H₄ NS)₂ ] (5: M=Re; 6: M=Mn) was formed in moderate yield. Complexes 1 and 3 feature a (κ³ -H,H,N) coordination mode, whereas 4, 5, and 6 display both (κ³ -H,N,N) and (κ³ -H,S,S) modes of the corresponding ligands. To investigate the lability of the CO ligands of 1 and 3, we treated the complexes with phosphine ligands that generated novel bis(σ)borate complexes [Mn(μ-H)₂ (BHNCSC₆ H₄ )(NR)(CO)₂ PL₂ L'] (R=NCSC₆ H₄ ; 7 a: L=L'=Ph; 7 b: L=Ph, L'=Me) and [Mn(μ-H)₂ BHN(NCSC₆ H₄ )R(CO)₂ PL₂ L'] (R=NCSC₆ H₄ ; 8 a: L=L'=Ph; 8 b: L=Ph, L'=Me). Complexes 7 and 8 are structural isomers with different coordination modes of the bbza ligand. In addition, DFT calculations were performed to shed some light on the bonding and electronic structures of these complexes.

Cadmium Compounds with an [N3C] Atrane Motif: Evidence for the Generation of a Cadmium Hydride Species

Tris(2-pyridylthio)methane ([Tptm]H) has been employed to synthesize a series of cadmium carbatrane compounds that feature an [N3C] coordination environment. Specifically, [Tptm]H reacts with Cd[N(SiMe3)2]2 to afford [Tptm]CdN(SiMe3)2, which thereby provides access to other derivatives. For example, [Tptm]CdN(SiMe3)2 reacts with (i) CO2 to form {[Tptm]Cd(μ-NCO)}2 and (ii) Me3SiOH and Ph3SiOH to form {[κ3-Tptm]Cd(μ-OSiMe3)}2 and [Tptm]CdOSiPh3, respectively. The siloxide compound {[κ3-Tptm]Cd(μ-OSiMe3)}2 reacts with Me3SiX (X = Cl, Br, O2CMe) to give [Tptm]CdX, while the reaction with PhSiH3 in the presence of CO2 generates the formate complex, [Tptm]CdO2CH, thereby providing evidence for the generation of a proposed cadmium hydride intermediate, {[Tptm]CdH}.