Catalytic Synthesis of an Unsymmetrical PNP-Pincer-Type Phosphaalkene Ligand

Synthesis, Coordination Chemistry, and Mechanistic Studies of P,N-Type Phosphaalkene-Based Rh(I) Complexes

The synthesis of P,N-phosphaalkene ligands, py-CH═PMes* (1, py = 2-pyridyl, Mes* = 2,4,6-tBu-C₆H₂) and the novel quin-CH═PMes* (2, quin = 2-quinolinyl) is described. The reaction with [Rh(μ-Cl)cod]₂ produces Rh(I) bis(phosphaalkene) chlorido complexes 3 and 4 with distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination environments. Complexes 3 and 4 show a pronounced metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) from Rh into the ligand P═C π* orbitals. Upon heating, quinoline-based complex 4 undergoes twofold C-H bond activation at the o-tBu groups of the Mes* substituents to yield the cationic bis(phosphaindane) Rh(I) complex 5, which could not be observed for the pyridine-based analogue 3. Using sub- or superstoichiometric amounts of AgOTf the C-H bond activation at an o-tBu group of one or at both Mes* was detected, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) studies suggest an oxidative proton shift pathway as an alternative to a previously reported high-barrier oxidative addition at Rh(I). The Rh(I) mono- and bis(phosphaindane) triflate complexes 6 and 7, respectively, undergo deprotonation at the benzylic CH₂ group of the phosphaindane unit in the presence of KOtBu to furnish neutral, distorted square-planar Rh(I) complexes 8 and 9, respectively, with one of the P,N ligands being dearomatized. All complexes were fully characterized, including multinuclear NMR, vibrational, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, as well as single-crystal X-ray and elemental analysis.

Heterotridentate organodiphosphines in Pt(η3–P1X1P2)(Y) derivatives-structural aspects

This review covers over 30 examples of monomeric Pt(II) complexes of the types: Pt(η3–P1O1P2)(Y) (Y = PL, CL, OL), Pt(η3–P1N1P2)(Y) (Y = H, NL, CL, Cl, PL) and Pt(η3–P1P2N1)(Y) (Y = Cl). The heterotridentate donor ligands create 11 types of a couple chelate rings with common central atom O1 (η3–P1O1P2), N1 (η3–P1N1P2) and P2 (η3–P1P2N1). The most frequent is P1C2N1C2P2. Some cooperative effects between chelate rings and Y donor ligands were found and discussed. A degree of distortions of square-planar geometry about Pt(II) were also calculated.

E-Selective Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of Pyridine-Phosphaalkenes: Five Ligands Produce Four Distinct Types of Ru(II) Complexes

Pyridine-phosphaalkene (PN) ligands 2a-e were prepared in an E-selective fashion using phospha-Wittig methodology. Treatment of these five ligands, varying only in their 6-substituent with RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃, produced four distinct types of coordination complexes: pyridine-phosphaalkene-derived 3b,d, cyclized 4e, and six-coordinate 5a and 6c. Prolonged heating of 3b,d in THF resulted in C-H activation of the Mes* group and cyclization to give 4b,d featuring a bidentate pyridine-phospholane ligand bound to the metal center. Complex 5a, also possessing a newly formed phospholane ring, contained a different spatial arrangement of donors to Ru(II) with an agostic Ru-H-C interaction serving as the sixth donor to the transition metal center. Ligands 2b,d,e and Ru(II) complexes 3b, 4b,e and 5a were all characterized by X-ray crystallography. Six-coordinate 6c featured a structure similar to 4b,d,e, but with the CF₃ substituent acting as a weakly bound sixth ligand to the Ru(II) center, as observed by ³¹P{¹H} and¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. The calculated structure of 6c established that the closest Ru- - -F contact was at 2.978 Å.

First-Row Transition Metal (De)Hydrogenation Catalysis Based On Functional Pincer Ligands

The use of 3d metals in de/hydrogenation catalysis has emerged as a competitive field with respect to "traditional" precious metal catalyzed transformations. The introduction of functional pincer ligands that can store protons and/or electrons as expressed by metal-ligand cooperativity and ligand redox-activity strongly stimulated this development as a conceptual starting point for rational catalyst design. This review aims at providing a comprehensive picture of the utilization of functional pincer ligands in first-row transition metal hydrogenation and dehydrogenation catalysis and related synthetic concepts relying on these such as the hydrogen borrowing methodology. Particular emphasis is put on the implementation and relevance of cooperating and redox-active pincer ligands within the mechanistic scenarios.

A Square-Planar Complex of Platinum(0)

The Pt⁰ complex [Pt(PPh₃ )(Eind₂ -BPEP)] with a pyridine-based PNP-pincer-type phosphaalkene ligand (Eind₂ -BPEP) has a highly planar geometry around Pt with ∑(Pt)=358.6°. This coordination geometry is very uncommon for formal d¹⁰ complexes, and the Pd and Ni homologues with the same ligands adopt distorted tetrahedral geometries. DFT calculations reveal that both the Pt and Pd complexes are M⁰ species with nearly ten valence electrons on the metals whereas their atomic orbital occupancies are evidently different from one another. The Pt complex has a higher occupancy of the atomic 6s orbital because of strong s-d hybridization due to relativistic effects, thereby adopting a highly planar geometry reflecting the shape and orientation of the partially unoccupied dx2-y2 orbital.

PNP-Pincer-Type Phosphaalkene Complexes of Late Transition Metals

This account summarizes our recent studies on PNP-pincer-type phosphaalkene complexes. Phosphaalkenes with a P=C bond possess an extremely low-lying π* orbital and have a marked tendency to engage in strong π back-bonding with transition metals. This particular ligand property provides PNP-pincer complexes with unique structures and reactivities. 2,6-Bis(phosphaethenyl)pyridine leads to the isolation of coordinatively unsaturated complexes of Fe(I) and Cu(I); the former adopts a trigonal monopyramidal configuration, whereas the latter has a strong affinity for PF6- and SbF6- as non-coordinating anions. Unsymmetrical PNP-pincer-type phosphaalkene complexes of Ir(I) bearing a dearomatized pyridine unit instantly cleave the N-H bond of NH₃ and the C-H bond of MeCN at room temperature. The dearomatized iridium complexes catalyze the dehydrative coupling of amines with alcohols to afford N-alkylated amines and imines in high yields.