The Chemistry of Pincer Complexes of 13–15 Main Group Elements. In: van Koten G, Milstein D, editors. Organometallic Pincer Chemistry. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2013. pp. 175-202. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-31081-2_6]

Recent advances in the stabilization of monomeric stibinidene chalcogenides and stibine chalcogenides

The elucidation of novel bonding situations at heavy p-block elements has greatly advanced recent efforts to access useful reactivity at earth-abundant main-group elements. Molecules with unsaturated bonds between heavier, electropositive elements and lighter, electronegative elements are often highly polarized and competent in small-molecule activations, but the reactivity of these molecules may be quenched by self-association of monomers to form oligomeric species where the polar, unsaturated groups are assembled in a head-to-tail fashion. In this Frontier, we discuss the synthetic strategies employed to isolate monomeric σ2,λ3-stibinidene chalcogenides (RSbCh) and monomeric σ4,λ5-stibine chalcogenides (R3SbCh). These classes of molecules each feature polarized antimony-chalcogenide bonds (Sb = Ch/Sb+-Ch-). We highlight how the synthesis and isolation of these molecules has led to the discovery of novel reactivity and has shed light on fundamental aspects of inorganic structure and bonding. Despite these advances, there are critical aspects of this chemistry that remain underdeveloped and we provide our perspective on yet-unrealized synthetic targets that may be achieved with the continued development of the strategies described herein.

Platinum thiolate complexes supported by PBP and POCOP pincer ligands as efficient catalysts for the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds

Diphosphino-boryl-based PBP pincer platinum thiolate complexes, [Pt(SR){B(NCH₂P^tBu₂)₂-1,2-C₆H₄}] (R = H, 1a; Ph, 1b), and benzene-based bisphosphinite POCOP pincer platinum thiolate complexes, [Pt(SR)(^tBu₂PO)₂-1,3-C₆H₃] (R = H, 2a; Ph, 2b), were prepared and fully characterized by multinuclear NMR, X-ray crystallography, HRMS and elemental analyses. The application of these complexes in the catalytic hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones was investigated. It was found that these platinum thiolate complexes are efficient catalysts for the hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones at 65-75 °C. Comparatively, the PBP complexes are more active than the corresponding POCOP complexes. Both phenylsilane and polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) can be used as silyl reagents. The expected alcohols were obtained in good to excellent yields after the basic hydrolysis of the hydrosilylation products and many functional groups were not affected. With turnover frequencies (TOFs) of up to 67 000 h^-1, the present catalytic system represents the most effective platinum catalytic system for the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds. The reactions were likely catalysed by the in situ generated platinum hydride species.

The Stability of Diphosphino-Boryl PBP Pincer Backbone: PBP to POP Ligand Hydrolysis

Since moisture may frequently be present in many solvents, it is important to know the reactivity of a catalyst against water for catalytic reactions. In order to explore the stability and understand the transformation process of diphosphino-boryl-based PBP pincer platform, [PdCl{B(NCH₂ P^t Bu₂ )₂ -o-C₆ H₄ }] (1) was treated with PdCl₂ , HB(NCH₂ PPh₂ )₂ -o-C₆ H₄ was reacted with [PdCl₂ (cod)] (cod=cyclo-octa-1,5-diene) and [Pd₂ (dba)₃ ] (dba=dibenzylideneacetone), respectively, in the presence of water. Some novel palladium POP complexes, [Pd₂ Cl₂ (μ-Cl){μ-κ³ -P,O,P-OB(NCH₂ P^t Bu₂ )₂ -o-C₆ H₄ }] (2 a), [Pd₄ (μ-Cl)₂ (μ-O)₂ {μ-κ³ -P,O,P-OB(NCH₂ PPh₂ )₂ -o-C₆ H₄ }₂ ] (2 b), [Pd₂ {μ-κ⁴ -P,P,P,P-O(B(NCH₂ PPh₂ )₂ -o-C₆ H₄ )₂ }{μ-κ² -P,P-(NHCH₂ PPh₂ )₂ -o-C₆ H₄ }] (3), were obtained. It was found that the PBP pincer backbone can easily be converted into a POP backbone in the presence of water. From the crystal structures of the resultant palladium complexes, possible pincer backbone transformation pathways were discussed.

A reaction of [2,6-(tBu2PO)2C6H3]NiSCH2Ph with BH3·THF: borane mediated C–S bond cleavage

C–S bond cleavage of the thiolato ligand of [2,6-(^tBu₂PO)₂C₆H₃]NiSCH₂Ph mediated by BH₃ as a suitable model for the transition metal catalyzed C–S bond activation of mercaptans.