Forced exo-nido rhoda and ruthenacarboranes as catalyst precursors: a review

A simple and high-yield route to iridium, rhodium, osmium and ruthenium nido-6-metalladecaborane compounds

We report a high-yield heterogeneous solid/liquid phase synthetic method to a series of nido-6-metalladecaboranes. The hydridoirida- and hydridorhoda-decaboranes, [6,6,6-H(PPh₃)₂-nido-6-MB₉H₁₃] [M = Ir (1), Rh (2)] are isolatable in 98% yields from the reaction of the square-planar M(I) complexes, [MCl(PPh₃)₃] (M = Rh, Ir), with K[B₉H₁₄]. The same synthetic procedure, but using [MCl(CO)H(PPh₃)₃] (M = Ru, Os) as metal starting reagents produces the CO-ligated clusters, [6,6,6-(CO)(PPh₃)₂-nido-6-MB₉H₁₃] [M = Ru (3), Os (4)], in yields of 83% and 95%, respectively. These highly convenient syntheses permit the investigation of the reaction chemistry of the new nido-6-metalladecaboranes. Thus, the CO-ligated compounds, 3 and 4, react with the square-planar platinum(II) complex, [PtCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₂], in the presence of potassium triethylborohydride, to give the bimetallic clusters, [1,1,1-(CO)H(PPh₃)-isocloso-1-RuB₉H₈-μ-(1,2)-{Pt(PMe₂Ph)₂}] (5) and [7,7-(PMe₂Ph)₂-9,9,9-(CO)(PPh₃)₂-nido-7,9-PtOsB₉H₁₁] (6), and the monometallic nido-5-osamadecaborane, [5,5,5-(PPh₃)₂(CO)-nido-5-OsB₉H₁₃] (7). This reactivity illustrates the potential of polyhedral boron-based clusters as molecular scaffolds ("B-frames") for the construction of multimetallic species. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses have revealed the molecular structures of 3, 5, 6 and 7; the compounds are also studied by multielement NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and in some cases computationally. Futhermore, the rotation of the {M(X)(PR₃)₂} moiety (X = H, CO), as PH₃-ligated models, is studied by means of DFT-calculated relaxed potential energy surface scans, giving some insight into the lability of the metal-to-borane fragment interaction and of the exo-polyhedral ligands.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Cycloadditions to Form Five-, Six-, and Seven-Membered Rings

Ruthenium-catalyzed cycloadditions to form five-, six-, and seven-membered rings are summarized, including applications in natural product total synthesis. Content is organized by ring size and reaction type. Coverage is limited to processes that involve formation of at least one C-C bond. Processes that are stoichiometric in ruthenium or exploit ruthenium as a Lewis acid (without intervention of organometallic intermediates), ring formations that occur through dehydrogenative condensation-reduction, σ-bond activation-initiated annulations that do not result in net reduction of bond multiplicity, and photochemically promoted ruthenium-catalyzed cycloadditions are not covered.

Palladium-promoted sulfur atom migration on carboranes: facile B(4)−S bond formation from mononuclear Pd-B(4) complexes

For the first time, carborane complexes containing a B(4)–S bond were obtained directly by heating mononuclear Pd-B(4)-bound carborane complexes. A possible mechanism involved in sulfur atom migration is presented in which the leaving group, pyridine, benzyl isocyanide or PPh3, is demonstrated to be the trigger of the reaction process. In this work, efficient routes are developed through one-pot reactions to prepare B(4)-S carborane derivatives.

Large, weakly basic bis(carboranyl)phosphines: an experimental and computational study

Bis(carboranyl)phosphines and their {AuCl} and {Se} derivatives have been the subject of experimental and computational studies.

Efficient synthesis of carborane azo derivatives and their reactivity

An iridium(iii)-catalyzed C–N-bond-forming direct synthesis of carborane azo derivatives was developed.

Blue Phosphorescent Zwitterionic Iridium(III) Complexes Featuring Weakly Coordinating nido-Carborane-Based Ligands

We report the development of a new class of phosphorescent zwitterionic bis(heteroleptic) Ir(III) compounds containing pyridyl ligands with weakly coordinating nido-carboranyl substituents. Treatment of phenylpyridine-based Ir(III) precursors with C-substituted ortho-carboranylpyridines in 2-ethoxyethanol results in a facile carborane deboronation and the formation of robust and highly luminescent metal complexes. The resulting nido-carboranyl fragments associate with the cationic Ir(III) center through primarily electrostatic interactions. These compounds phosphoresce at blue wavelengths (450-470 nm) both in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix and in solution at 77 K. These complexes display structural stability at temperatures beyond 300 °C and quantum yields greater than 40%. Importantly, the observed quantum yields correspond to a dramatic 10-fold enhancement over the previously reported Ir(III) congeners featuring carboranyl-containing ligands in which the boron cluster is covalently attached to the metal. Ultimately, this work suggests that the use of a ligand framework containing a weakly coordinating anionic component can provide a new avenue for designing efficient Ir(III)-based phosphorescent emitters.

Inductive effects of 10 and 12-vertex closo-carborane anions: cluster size and charge make a difference

The inductive effects of 10 and 12-vertex closo-carborane anion ligand substituents are elucidated for the first time. It is found that both of these cluster substituents are potent electron donating groups, which is in contrast to C-functionalized o-carborane. The fact that the 10-vertex cluster displays the strongest electron donating ability can be rationalized by its charge and size.

Unprecedented flexibility of the 1,1′-bis(o-carborane) ligand: catalytically-active species stabilised by B-agostic B–H⇀Ru interactions

The compound (p-cymene)Ru[(C₂B₁₀H₁₀)₂], an effective Lewis acid catalyst, is the precursor to a number of products in which the 1,1′-bis(o-carborane) unit displays an unprecedented range of ligating modes.

Cationic rhodium mono-phosphine fragments partnered with carborane monoanions [closo-CB11H6X6]- (X = H, Br). Synthesis, structures and reactivity with alkenes

Addition of the new phosphonium carborane salts [HPR(3)][closo-CB(11)H(6)X(6)] (R = (i)Pr, Cy, Cyp; X = H 1a-c, X = Br 2a-c; Cy = C(6)H(11), Cyp = C(5)H(9)) to [Rh(nbd)(mu-OMe)](2) under a H(2) atmosphere gives the complexes Rh(PR(3))H(2)(closo-CB(11)H(12)) 3 (R = (i)Pr 3a, Cy 3b, Cyp 3c) and Rh(PR(3))H(2)(closo-CB(11)H(6)Br(6)) 4 (R = (i)Pr 4a, Cy 4b, Cyp 4c). These complexes have been characterised spectroscopically, and for 4b by single crystal X-ray crystallography. These data show that the {Rh(PR(3))H(2)}(+) fragment is interacting with the lower hemisphere of the [closo-CB(11)H(6)X(6)](-) anion on the NMR timescale, through three Rh-H-B or Rh-Br interactions for complexes 3 and 4 respectively. The metal fragment is fluxional over the lower surface of the cage anion, and mechanisms for this process are discussed. Complexes 3a-c are only stable under an atmosphere of H(2). Removing this, or placing under a vacuum, results in H(2) loss and the formation of the dimer species Rh(2)(PR(3))(2)(closo-CB(11)H(12))(2) 5a (R = (i)Pr), 5b (R = Cy), 5c (R = Cyp). These dimers have been characterised spectroscopically and for 5b by X-ray diffraction. The solid state structure shows a dimer with two closely associated carborane monoanions surrounding a [Rh(2)(PCy(3))(2)](2+) core. One carborane interacts with the metal core through three Rh-H-B bonds, while the other interacts through two Rh-H-B bonds and a direct Rh-B link. The electronic structure of this molecule is best described as having a dative Rh(I) --> Rh(III), d(8)--> d(6), interaction and a formal electron count of 16 and 18 electrons for the two rhodium centres respectively. Addition of H(2) to complexes 5a-c regenerate 3a-c. Addition of alkene (ethene or 1-hexene) to 5a-c or 3a-c results in dehydrogenative borylation, with 1, 2, and 3-B-vinyl substituted cages observed by ESI-MS: [closo-(RHC[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)(x)CB(11)H(12-x)](-)x = 1-3, R = H, C(4)H(9). Addition of H(2) to this mixture converts the B-vinyl groups to B-ethyl; while sequential addition of 4 cycles of ethene (excess) and H(2) to CH(2)Cl(2) solutions of 5a-c results in multiple substitution of the cage (as measured by ESI-MS), with an approximately Gaussian distribution between 3 and 9 substitutions. Compositionally pure material was not obtained. Complexes 4a-c do not lose H(2). Addition of tert-butylethene (tbe) to 4a gives the new complex Rh(P(i)Pr(3))(eta(2)-H(2)C=CH(t)Bu)(closo-CB(11)H(6)Br(6)) 6, characterised spectroscopically and by X-ray diffraction, which show coordination of the alkene ligand and bidentate coordination of the [closo-CB(11)H(6)Br(6)](-) anion. By contrast, addition of tbe to 4b or 4c results in transfer dehydrogenation to give the rhodium complexes Rh{PCy(2)(eta(2)-C(6)H(9))}(closo-CB(11)H(6)Br(6)) 7 and Rh{PCyp(2)(eta(2)-C(5)H(7))}(closo-CB(11)H(6)Br(6)) 9, which contain phosphine-alkene ligands. Complex has been characterised crystallographically.

Silver Aggregation Caused by Stanna-closo-dodecaborate Coordination: Syntheses, Solid-State Structures and Theoretical Studies

Stanna-closo-dodecaborate [SnB11H11]2- reacts as a nucleophile with various silver electrophiles ([Ag(PMe3)]+, [Ag(PEt3)]+, [Ag(PPh3)]+, and Ag+) to form silver-tin bonds. Aggregation of two, three, or four units of [{Ag(SnB11H11)(PR3)}n]n- (PPh3, n = 2; PEt3, n = 3; PMe3, n = 4) was found, depending on the size of the coordinating phosphine. The structures of the silver-tin clusters in the solid state were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In these phosphine silver coordination compounds, the tin ligand exhibits micro2- and micro3-coordination with the silver atoms. From the reaction with silver nitrate, an octaanionic stanna-closo-dodecaborate coordination compound, [Et4N]8[Ag4(SnB11H11)6], was isolated. In this cluster, arranged as butterfly, the stannaborate shows various coordination modes at four silver atoms. In the reported silver-tin complexes, the silver-silver interatomic distances are in a range of 2.6326(10)-3.1424(6) A. Silver-tin distances were found between 2.6416(5) and 3.1460(6) A. Analysis of the molecular orbitals calculated by means of density functional theory shows that the LUMO of the core compound without [SnB11H11]2- units is always a totally symmetric combination of (mainly) s-orbitals of Ag atoms. This core is filled with electrons of the HOMOs of the [SnB11H11]2- units and is leading, in this way, to a stable compound.

An unprecedented, reversible coordination mode rearrangement: η3(B–H) vs. η1(Sn) stanna-closo-dodecaborate coordination

The synthesis of the ruthenium stanna-closo-dodecaborate complex [Bu(3)MeN](2)[Ru(dppb)(MeCN)(2)(SnB(11)H(11))(2)] by an unprecedented, reversible eta(3)(B-H) to eta(1)(Sn) rearrangement of [Bu(3)MeN](2)[Ru(dppb)(SnB(11)H(11))(2)] is described and the product is characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Bonding modes of stanna-closo-dodecaborate: η1(Sn) to η3(BH) rearrangement reactions in zwitterionic stanna-closo-dodecaborate ruthenium complexes

Reaction of the stanna-closo-dodecaborate salt [Bu3MeN]2[SnB11H11] with the dimeric ruthenium complex [Ru2(mu-Cl)3(triphos)2]Cl (triphos = {MeC(CH2PPh2)3}) in refluxing acetonitrile yields the zwitterionic compound [Ru(SnB11H11)(MeCN)2(triphos)] (4) which has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Refluxing the zwitterion in acetone leads to an eta1(Sn) to eta3(BH) rearrangement with formation of [Ru(SnB1)H11)(triphos)] (5) whose structure has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in solution and in the solid state. Furthermore, two isomeric zwitterions fac- and mer-[Ru(SnB11H11)(dppb)(MeCN)3] (6a, 6b) and their rearrangement reactions as well as their NMR properties are described.