Carbon−Oxygen Bond Cleavage with η9,η5-Bis(indenyl)zirconium Sandwich Complexes

Cooperative dihydrogen activation with unsupported uranium-metal bonds and characterization of a terminal U(iv) hydride

Cooperative chemistry between two or more metal centres can show enhanced reactivity compared to the monometallic fragments. Given the paucity of actinide-metal bonds, especially those with group 13, we targeted uranium(iii)-aluminum(i) and -gallium(i) complexes as we envisioned the low-valent oxidation state of both metals would lead to novel, cooperative reactivity. Herein, we report the molecular structure of [(C5Me5)2(MesO)U-E(C5Me5)], E = Al, Ga, Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2, and their reactivity with dihydrogen. The reaction of H2 with the U(iii)-Al(i) complex affords a trihydroaluminate complex, [(C5Me5)2(MesO)U(μ2-(H)3)-Al(C5Me5)] through a formal three-electron metal-based reduction, with concomitant formation of a terminal U(iv) hydride, [(C5Me5)2(MesO)U(H)]. Noteworthy is that neither U(iii) complexes nor [(C5Me5)Al]4 are capable of reducing dihydrogen on their own. To make the terminal hydride in higher yields, the reaction of [(C5Me5)2(MesO)U(THF)] with half an equivalent of diethylzinc generates [(C5Me5)2(MesO)U(CH2CH3)] or treatment of [(C5Me5)2U(i)(Me)] with KOMes forms [(C5Me5)2(MesO)U(CH3)], which followed by hydrogenation with either complex cleanly affords [(C5Me5)2(MesO)U(H)]. All complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic and structural methods and are rare examples of cooperative chemistry in f element chemistry, dihydrogen activation, and stable, terminal ethyl and hydride compounds with an f element.

Fixation of Dinitrogen at an Asymmetric Binuclear Titanium Complex

A new type of dititanium dinitrogen complex supported by a triphenolamine (TPA) ligand is reported. Analysis by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Raman and NMR spectroscopy reveals different coordination geometries for the two titanium centers. Hence, coordination of TPA and a nitrogen ligand results in trigonal-bipyramidal geometry, while an octahedral titanium center is obtained upon additional coordination of an ethoxide generated upon C-O bond cleavage in a diethyl ether solvent molecule. The titanium complex successfully generates ammonia in the presence of an excess amount of PCy₃HI and KC₈ in 154% yield (per titanium atom). A titanium complex with a bulkier TPA does not form a dinitrogen complex, and mononuclear titanium dinitrogen complexes were not accessible, presumably because of the high tendency of early transition metals to form binuclear dinitrogen complexes.

Successive Activation of C–H and C–O Bonds of Vinyl Ethers by a Diphosphine and Hydrido-Bridged Diiridium Complex

The reaction of [(Cp*Ir)2(μ-dmpm)(μ-H)][OTf] (2) [Cp* = η5-C5Me5, dmpm = bis(dimethylphosphino)methane] with 2,3-dihydrofuran gives [(Cp*IrH)2(μ-dmpm){μ-(2,3-dihydrofuranyl)}][OTf] (3) in an isolated yield of 70% via the C–H bond activation at the 5-position of 2,3-dihydrofuran. Complex 3 is slowly converted into [(Cp*Ir)2(μ-dmpm)(μ-C=C(H)CH2CH2OH)][OTf] (4) quantitatively via the proton-mediated C–O bond activation. The reaction of 2 with ethyl vinyl ether gives [(Cp*Ir)2(μ-dmpm)(μ-CH=CH2)][OTf] (5) in the isolated yield of 64% via the successive activation of C–H and C–O bonds.

An anionic η2-naphthalene complex of titanium supported by a tripodal [O3C] ligand and its reactions with dinitrogen, anthracene and THF

An η²-naphthalene titanium complex supported by a tripodal ligand reacts with N₂ to produce a strongly activated N₂ complex.

Cyclisation of α,ω-dienes promoted by bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich and ansa-titanocene dinitrogen complexes

Metallation of a variety of α,ω-dienes has been explored with an η(9),η(5)-bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich compound and an ansa-titanocene dinitrogen complex. The η(9),η(5)-bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich compound, (η(9)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-Pr(2))(η(5)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-(i)Pr(2))Zr, served as an isolable source of Negishi's reagent and readily formed a kinetic mixture of cis and trans diastereomers of the corresponding zirconacyclopentanes upon diene metallation. For pure hydrocarbon substrates such as 1,6-heptadiene and 1,7-octadiene, an equimolar amount of cis and trans diastereomers were the kinetic products; isomerization to the thermodynamically favoured trans isomers was observed over time at ambient temperature or upon heating to 105 °C, respectively. By contrast, substitution of the methylene or ethylene spacer in the α, ω-diene with a fluorenyl group (e.g. 9,9-diallylfluorene) resulted in exclusive kinetic formation of the trans diastereomer. Amino-substituted dienes were also readily cyclised and one example was characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Similar studies were also conducted with the ansa-titanocene dinitrogen complex, [Me(2)Si(η(5)-C(5)Me(4))(η(5)-C(5)H(3)-3-(t)Bu)Ti](2)(μ(2),η(1),η(1)-N(2)), and both kinetic and thermodynamic selectivities evaluated. The use of a C(1) symmetric ansa-metallocene increases the number of isomeric possibilities. For diallyl tert-butyl amine, diene metallation was more selective than for the bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich compound and isomerization was also more rapid. Preliminary functionalisation reactivity for both the zircona- and titanocycles was also explored.

Synthesis, structural characterization, and reactivity of Group 4 metallacarboranes bearing the ligand [H2C(C5Me4)(C2B9H10)]3-

A new organic-inorganic hybrid ligand H(2)C(C(5)Me(4)H)(C(2)B(10)H(11)) (2) has been prepared. A selective deboration reaction with piperidine in ethanol resulted in the isolation of [Me(3)NH][H(2)C(C(5)Me(4)H)(C(2)B(9)H(11))] (3). An amine-elimination reaction of 3 with [Zr(NMe(2))(4)] produced a neutral metal-amide complex [η(5):η(5)-H(2)C(C(5)Me(4))(C(2)B(9)H(10))]Zr(NMe(2))(NHMe(2)) (4). The double-ring-opening reaction of 4 with tetrahydrofuran (THF) afforded [η(5):η(5)-H(2)C(C(5)Me(4))(C(2)B(9)H(10))]Zr (OCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2))(2)N(CH(3))(2) (5). Treatment of the trianionic salt of 3 with [MCl(4)(thf)(2)] gave complexes [{η(5):η(5)-H(2)C(C(5)Me(4))(C(2)B(9)H(10))}M(μ-Cl)(2)][Li(thf)(2)] (M=Zr (6), Hf (7)). Reaction of 6 with LiCH(2)TMS generated the ionic species [{η(5):η(5)-H(2)C(C(5)Me(4))(C(2)B(9)H(10))}Zr(CH(2)TMS)(2)][Li(thf)(3)] (9). Interaction of complex 6 with KCH(2)(NMe(2))-o-C(6)H(4) led to the formation of the neutral metal alkyl complex [η(5):η(5)-H(2)C(C(5)Me(4))(C(2)B(9)H(10))]Zr[σ:σ-CH(2)(NMe(2))-o-C(6)H(4)] (10). All complexes have been fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. Some were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analyses.

Experimental and computational studies on the iridium activation of aliphatic and aromatic C-H bonds of alkyl aryl ethers and related molecules

Reaction of the Ir(III) complex [(Tp(Me2))Ir(C(6)H(5))(2)(N(2))] (1N(2)) with ortho-cresol (2-methylphenol) occurs with cleavage of the O-H and two C(sp(3))-H bonds of the phenol and formation of the electrophilic hydride alkylidene derivative [(Tp(Me2))Ir(H){=C(H)C(6)H(4)-o-O}] (2). The analogous reaction of 2-ethylphenol gives a related product 3. Both 2 and 3 have been shown to be identical to the minor, unidentified products of the already reported reactions of 1 with anisole and phenetole, respectively. Thus, in addition to the route that leads to the known heteroatom-stabilized hydride carbene [(Tp(Me2))Ir(H){=C(H)OC(6)H(4)-o-}] (B), anisole can react with 1 with cleavage of the O-CH(3) bond and formation of a new carbon-carbon bond. In contrast, only C-H bond-activation products with structures akin to B result from 1N(2) and 3,5-dimethylanisole (complex 8) or 4-fluoroanisole (9). Using anisole as a model, a computational study of the triple C-H bond activation (two aliphatic C-H bonds plus an ortho-metalation reaction) that is responsible for the formation of these heteroatom-stabilized hydride carbenes has been undertaken.

Unusual room temperature activation of 1,2-dialkoxyalkanes by niobium and tantalum pentachlorides

The outcome of the reactions of MCl(5) (M = Nb, 1a; M = Ta, 1b) with 1,2-dialkoxyalkanes [i.e. MeO(CH(2))(2)OMe (dme), EtO(CH(2))(2)OEt, MeOCH(2)CH(Me)OMe, MeO(CH(2))(2)OCH(2)Cl, MeO(CH(2))(2)O(CH(2))(2)OMe (diglyme)] depends strictly on the stoichiometry. In the 1 : 1 molar ratio reactions, single C-O bond cleavage occurs, resulting in formation of alkyl chloride and of the complexes [upper bond 1 start]MCl(4)[O(R)CH(R')CH(2)O][upper bond 1 end] [M = Nb, R = Me, R' = H, 3a; M = Ta, R = Me, R' = H, 3b; M = Nb, R = Et, R' = H, 5; M = Nb, R = R' = Me, 6; M = Nb, R = CH(2)Cl, R' = H, 7; M = Nb, R = (CH(2))(2)O(Me)NbCl(5), R' = H, 8], which have been characterized spectroscopically. Moreover, minor amounts of the oxo-bridged adducts MOCl(3)(dme)MCl(5) (M = Nb, 4a; M = Ta, 4b) have been isolated in the reactions involving dme. On the other hand, compounds react with two (or more) equivalents of dme mainly via a multiple C-O bond cleavage process, affording MOCl(3)(dme) (M = Nb, 2a; M = Ta, 2b), 1,4-dioxane and methyl chloride. The oxychloride compounds MOCl(3) (M = Nb, 11a; M = Ta, 11b) have been efficiently obtained by addition of TiCl(4) to 2. Compound 2a is reduced in high yield to the Nb(III) species NbCl(3)(dme), 12, upon treatment with SnBu(3)H. The oxychloride NbOCl(3)(diglyme), 9, 1,4-dioxane, CH(3)Cl and the hexachloroniobate salt [MeOCH(2)CH(2)OCH(2)CH(2)O(H)Me][NbCl(6)], 10, have been identified as products of the reaction of 1a with two equivalents of diglyme. The 1 : 2 molar ratio reaction of 1a with MeOCH(2)CH(Me)OMe gives 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane. Compound 1a reacts with two equivalents of EtO(CH(2))(2)OEt or MeO(CH(2))(2)OCH(2)Cl yielding Cl(CH(2))(2)OCH(2)CH(3) or O(CH(2)Cl)(2) and diglyme, respectively, but not dioxane, suggesting that fragmentation pathways different from that found for dme are operating. The X-ray molecular structures of 4a, 4b and 10 have been determined.