Reactions of Isocyanides with Metal Carbyne Complexes: Isolation and Characterization of Metallacyclopropenimine Intermediates

Syntheses and reactivities of strained fused-ring metallaaromatics containing planar eleven-carbon chains

Carbolong complexes are one of the primary types of metallaaromatics, and they include metallapentalynes and metallapentalenes. A series of 7C-10C and 12C-carbolong complexes with planar ligand skeletons respectively containing 7-10 and 12 carbon atoms in their backbones, have been previously reported. Herein, two classes of strained substances, metallabenzyne-fused metallapentalenes and metallabenzene-fused metallapentalynes, were prepared, both representing 11C-carbolong complexes with a planar carbon-chain ligand. Furthermore, the former type is also the carbolong derivatives containing a metallabenzyne skeleton, another primary metallaaromatic framework. Metallabenzyne-fused metallapentalenes show versatile reactivities, and the most interesting one is the metal carbyne bond shift from a 6-membered to a more strained 5-membered ring, affording the above-mentioned metallabenzene-fused metallapentalyne. This work makes carbolong chemistry more complete, and provides a method to achieve metallabenzynes, which is anticipated to concurrently advance the development of these two types of metallaaromatics.

Ynamide and Azaalleneyl. Acid-Base Promoted Chelotropic and Spin-State Rearrangements in a Versatile Heterocumulene [(Ad)NCC(tBu)]. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024;63:e202401433. [PMID: 38433099 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

We introduce the heterocumulene ligand [(Ad)NCC(tBu)]- (Ad=1-adamantyl (C10H15), tBu=tert-butyl, (C4H9)), which can adopt two forms, the azaalleneyl and ynamide. This ligand platform can undergo a reversible chelotropic shift using Brønsted acid-base chemistry, which promotes an unprecedented spin-state change of the [VIII] ion. These unique scaffolds are prepared via addition of 1-adamantyl isonitrile (C≡NAd) across the alkylidyne in complexes [(BDI)V≡CtBu(OTf)] (A) (BDI-=ArNC(CH3)CHC(CH3)NAr), Ar=2,6-iPr2C6H3) and [(dBDI)V≡CtBu(OEt2)] (B) (dBDI2-=ArNC(CH3)CHC(CH2)NAr). Complex A reacts with C≡NAd, to generate the high-spin [VIII] complex with a κ1-N-ynamide ligand, [(BDI)V{κ1-N-(Ad)NCC(tBu)}(OTf)] (1). Conversely, B reacts with C≡NAd to generate a low-spin [VIII] diamagnetic complex having a chelated κ2-C,N-azaalleneyl ligand, [(dBDI)V{κ2-N,C-(Ad)NCC(tBu)}] (2). Theoretical studies have been applied to better understand the mechanism of formation of 2 and the electronic reconfiguration upon structural rearrangement by the alteration of ligand denticity between 1 and 2.

Rhenium Alkyne Catalysis: Sterics Control the Reactivity

Metathesis reactions, including alkane, alkene, and alkyne metatheses, have their origins in the fundamental understanding of chemical reactions and the development of specialized catalysts. These reactions stand as transformative pillars in organic chemistry, providing efficient rearrangement of carbon-carbon bonds and enabling synthetic access to diverse and complex compounds. Their impact spans industries such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and materials science. In this work, we present a detailed mechanistic study of the Re(V) catalyzed alkyne metathesis through density functional theory calculations. Our findings are in agreement with the experimental evidence from Jia and co-workers and unveil critical factors governing catalyst performance. Our work not only enhances our understanding of alkyne metathesis but also contributes to the broader landscape of catalytic processes, facilitating the design of more efficient and selective transformations in organic synthesis.

Fused metallacyclopropenes from alkynylphenols

Metallacycloprop-1-enes can be constructed from coordinated alkynes. In this work, we report a convenient synthesis of fused osmacyclopropene complexes 1 and 3 from OsCl2(PPh3)3 and alkynylphenols. Paramagnetic alkyne-coordinated phenolate complexes 2 were obtained as the key intermediates for the formation of osmacyclopropenes, demonstrating selective CC activation under different conditions.

Reshaping aromatic frameworks: expansion of aromatic system drives metallabenzenoids to metallapentalenes

Reshaping an aromatic framework to generate other skeletons is a challenging issue due to the stabilization energy of aromaticity. Such reconfigurations of aromatics commonly generate non-aromatic products and hardly ever reshape to a different aromatic framework. Herein, we present the transformation of metallaindenols to metallapentalenes and metallaindenes in divergent pathways, converting one aromatic framework to another with an extension of the conjugation framework. The mechanistic study of this transformation shows that phosphorus ligands play different roles in the divergent processes. Further theoretical studies indicate that the expansion of the aromatic system is the driving force promoting this skeletal rearrangement. Our findings offer a new concept and strategy to reshape and construct aromatic compounds.

Hetero-carbolong chemistry: experimental and theoretical studies of diaza-metallapentalenes

Four diaza-osmapentalenes were prepared by two-step reactions, through the treatment of an alkyne-coordinated osmium complex with azo compounds, followed by the addition of AgSbF₆/CO. Their aromaticity was confirmed by crystal parameters, NMR spectra and theoretical calculations. These complexes are the first diaza-metallapentalenes representing a new class of metallaaromatics.

Unique Properties and Emerging Applications of Carbolong Metallaaromatics

ConspectusAromatic compounds are important in synthetic chemistry, biomedicines, and materials science. As a special type of aromatic complex, transition-metal-based metallaaromatics contain at least one transition metal in an aromatic framework. The chemistry of metallaaromatics has seen much progress in computational studies and synthetic methods, but their properties and applications are still emerging. In recent years, we have disclosed a series of metal-centered conjugated polycyclic metallacycles in which a carbon chain is chelated to a metal center through at least three metal-carbon bonds. These are termed carbolong complexes and exhibit good stability to water, oxygen, light, and heat on account of their polydentate chelation and aromaticity, making them easy to handle. Carbolong complexes are not only special π-conjugated aromatics but also organometallics; therefore, they have the properties of both species. In this Account, we showcase the recent advances in their applications based on their different properties.First, carbolong complexes are a special kind of π-conjugated aromatic, with the ability to transmit electrons, allowing them to function as single-molecule conductors and candidates for electron transporting layer materials (ETLs) in solar cells. A series of carbolong complexes have been proved to be useful as achievable ETLs which enhance device performance in both organic solar cells and perovskite solar cells.Second, due to the involvement of d orbitals in the conjugation, carbolong complexes normally exhibit strong and broad absorption, even in some cases extending to the near-infrared region (NIR). The absorbed optical energy can be converted into light, heat, and ultrasound; consequently, carbolong compounds can be used as core moieties in smart materials. For example, 7C carbolong complexes were found to exhibit aggregation-enhanced near-infrared emission (AIEE). Some 12C carbolong complexes have been designed into the core moieties of NIR-responsive polymers, such as cylindrical NIR-responsive materials, self-healing materials, and shape memory materials. In contrast to the stereotypically toxic osmium compounds such as the highly toxic OsO₄, some osmium carbolong complexes exhibit low cell cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility; consequently, they also have potential applications in the biomedical area. For example, benefiting from broad absorption in the NIR, 9C and 12C carbolong complexes have been used in photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy, respectively. In addition, photodynamic therapeutic applications which take advantage of a carbolong peroxo complex are discussed.Third, as special transition-metal complexes chelated by carbon-based ligands, a carbolong peroxo complex has displayed catalytic activity in the dehydrogenation of alcohols and a bimetallic carbolong complex has been used to catalyze difunctionalization reactions of unactivated alkenes.Overall, aromatic carbolong complexes have been applied to photovoltaics, smart materials, phototherapy, and catalytic reactions. Moving forward, we hope that this Account will shed light on future studies and theoretical research and encourage more discoveries of the properties of other metallaaromatics.

Synthesis and characterization of bi(metallacycloprop-1-ene) complexes

In all previously reported metallacycloprop-1-ene or η²-vinyl complexes, the metal center bears only one vinyl moiety. We have now successfully synthesized and structurally characterized the first complexes bearing two η²-vinyl moieties or spiro bi(metallacycloprop-1-ene) complexes from reactions of alkynes with rhenium phosphine complexes. Computational studies indicate that the metallacycloprop-1-ene rings are aromatic and the complexes represent a rare σ-type spirometalla-aromatic system.

Alkyne Metathesis with d2 Re(V) Alkylidyne Complexes Supported by Phosphino-Phenolates: Ligand Effect on Catalytic Activity and Applications in Ring-Closing Alkyne Metathesis

A family of d² Re(V) alkylidyne complexes bearing two decorated phosphino-phenolates (POs) and a labile pyridine ligand were prepared that can efficiently promote alkyne metathesis reactions in toluene. The relative activity of these complexes varies with the PO ligands. Complexes with an electron-rich metal center have a higher activity. Ligand exchange experiments suggest that the pyridine ligands of the Re(V) alkylidynes with more electron-donating PO ligands are more labile and are more easily released to generate catalytically active species. However, complexes with electron-withdrawing PO ligands are more air-stable than those with electron-donating PO ligands. These Re(V) alkylidyne catalysts can promote the homometathesis of functionalized internal alkyl- and aryl-alkynes, as well as ring-closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM) of methyl-capped diynes, forming macrocycles with a ring size ≥12 efficiently for concentrations ≤5 mM. These reactions represent the first examples of RCAM mediated by non-d⁰ alkylidyne complexes. The Re(V) alkylidyne catalysts tolerate a wide range of functional groups including ethers, esters, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, phenols, amines, amides, and heterocycles. Moreover, the catalytic RCAM reactions promoted by robust Re(V) alkylidyne catalysts could also proceed normally in wet toluene.

Synthesis and Characterization of Rhena[10]annulynes

Most of the reported metallacycles were limited to small cyclic complexes that contain six-membered or smaller rings. Larger-membered metallacycles are still rare and mainly focus on the dimetallacycles. Herein, we...

Visible-Light-Induced Amination of Quinoline at the C8 Position via a Postcoordinated Interligand-Coupling Strategy under Mild Conditions

The postcoordinated interligand-coupling strategy provides a useful and complementary protocol for synthesizing polydentate ligands. Herein, diastereoselective photoreactions of Λ-[Ir(pq)₂(d-AA)] (Λ-d) and Λ-[Ir(pq)₂(l-AA)] (Λ-l, where pq is 2-phenylquinoline and AA is an amino acid) are reported in the presence of O₂ under mild conditions. Diastereomer Λ-d is dehydrogenatively oxidized into an imino acid complex, while diastereomer Λ-l mainly occurs via interligand C-N cross-dehydrogenative coupling between quinoline at the C8 position and AA ligands at room temperature, affording Λ-[Ir(pq)(l-pq-AA)]. Furthermore, the photoreaction of diastereomer Λ-l is temperature-dependent. Mechanistic experiments reveal the ligand-radical intermediates may be involved in the reaction. Density functional theory calculations were used to eluciate the origin of diastereoselectivity and temperature dependence. This will provide a new protocol for the amination of quinoline at the C8 position via the postcoordinated interligand C-N cross-coupling strategy under mild conditions.

Acetylenic Carbon-Containing Stable Five-Membered Metallacycles

Due to the linear property around an acetylenic carbon, the introduction of such an atom to a small cycle would result in high ring strain. Currently, the smallest isolated rings are five-membered, including metallacycloalkynes and metallapentalynes. Both types contain at least one unusual small bond angle around the acetylenic carbon, thus exhibiting abnormal reactivities. This feature article gives a comprehensive overview on these two kind complexes. The synthesis and reactivities are extensively described, the source of stability is presented, and the future prospect is discussed. The article aims to provide a better development for the chemical diversity of five-membered metallacycloalkynes and metallapentalynes.

Recent Advances in the Reactions of Cyclic Carbynes

The acyclic organic alkynes and carbyne bonds exhibit linear shapes. Metallabenzynes and metallapentalynes are six- or five-membered metallacycles containing carbynes, whose carbine-carbon bond angles are less than 180°. Such distortion results in considerable ring strain, resulting in the unprecedented reactivity compared with acyclic carbynes. Meanwhile, the aromaticity of these metallacycles would stabilize the ring system. The fascinating combination of ring strain and aromaticity would lead to interesting reactivities. This mini review summarized recent findings on the reactivity of the metal-carbon triple bonds and the aromatic ring system. In the case of metallabenzynes, aromaticity would prevail over ring strain. The reactions are similar to those of organic aromatics, especially in electrophilic reactions. Meanwhile, fragmentation of metallacarbynes might be observed via migratory insertion if the aromaticity of metallacarbynes is strongly affected. In the case of metallapentalynes, the extremely small bond angle would result in high reactivity of the carbyne moiety, which would undergo typical reactions for organic alkynes, including interaction with coinage metal complexes, electrophilic reactions, nucleophilic reactions and cycloaddition reactions, whereas the strong aromaticity ensured the integrity of the bicyclic framework of metallapentalynes throughout all reported reaction conditions.

Metallaaromatic Chemistry: History and Development

Since the prediction of the existence of metallabenzenes in 1979, metallaaromatic chemistry has developed rapidly, due to its importance in both experimental and theoretical fields. Now six major types of metallaromatic compounds, metallabenzenes, metallabenzynes, heterometallaaromatics, dianion metalloles, metallapentalenes and metallapentalynes (also termed carbolongs), and spiro metalloles, have been reported and extensively studied. Their parent organic analogues may be aromatic, non-aromatic, or even anti-aromatic. These unique systems not only enrich the large family of aromatics, but they also broaden our understanding and extend the concept of aromaticity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of metallaaromatic chemistry. We have focused on not only the six major classes of metallaaromatics, including the main-group-metal-based metallaaromatics, but also other types, such as metallacyclobutadienes and metallacyclopropenes. The structures, synthetic methods, and reactivities are described, their applications are covered, and the challenges and future prospects of the area are discussed. The criteria commonly used to judge the aromaticity of metallaaromatics are presented.

Extension of the Simmons-Smith reaction to metal-carbynes: efficient synthesis of metallacyclopropenes with σ-aromaticity

The Simmons-Smith reaction offers a direct route for conversion of an alkene into a cyclopropane with a zinc carbenoid as the active intermediate. Zinc carbenoids, however, have never delivered a methylene unit to substrates with metal-carbon multiple bonds. Herein, we describe this type of reaction and the construction of three-membered rings has now been applied in organometallic systems by combining classical zinc carbenoid reagents with a range of structurally and electronically diverse metal carbynes. A variety of metallacyclopropene derivatives prepared in this way represent rare examples with σ-aromaticity in an unsaturated three-membered ring. The structures of such products are supported by experimental observations and theoretical calculations.

Access to tetracyclic aromatics with bridgehead metals via metalla-click reactions

The never-ending pursuits for exploring aromatic molecular architectures result in the large libraries of aromatics with fascinating structures, which have greatly broadened the scope of aromaticity. Despite extensive efforts that have been paid to develop aromatic frameworks, the construction of polycyclic aromatics that share a bridgehead atom with more than three rings has never been accomplished. Here, an unprecedented family of aromatics, in which a metal center shared by 4 five-membered aromatic rings, has been achieved by using the metalla-click reactions with excellent yields and remarkable regioselectivity. The distinctive tetracyclic aromatics exhibit a broad absorption in the ultraviolet-visible near-infrared region and excellent thermal stability in air, enabling their potential applications in photoelectric materials and biomedicine. This study now makes it possible to incorporate four aromatic rings with one common sharing metal center by a straightforward strategy that would promote further development of previously unknown polycyclic complex motifs in aromatic chemistry.

Tetralithio Metalla-aromatics with Two Independent Perpendicular Dilithio Aromatic Rings Spiro-fused by One Manganese Atom

Herein, we present the realization of a class of unprecedented aromatic structures 2: metalla-aromatics with two independent and perpendicular aromatic rings spiro-fused by a transition-metal spiro atom, of which their corresponding organic analogues are impossible. Tetralithio spiro manganacycles 2 are readily synthesized from 1,4-dilithio-1,3-butadienes 1 and MnCl₂ in the presence of lithium. The aromaticity of 2 is supported by experimental measurements (X-ray structural analysis, NMR) and theoretical analyses (NICS, ACID, MOs). The spiro atom Mn in 2 uses its 3d_xz and 3d_xy orbitals to form the two perpendicular manganacycles, which are two independent 6π aromatic systems. Theoretical analyses reveal that the Li cations play an indispensable role in governing their geometric and electronic structures and hence their aromaticity. Therefore, this work contributes not only to enrich the concept of aromaticity, but also to deepen the understanding of the fundamental chemical bonding.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cyclopropaosmanaphthalenes Containing a Fused σ-Aromatic Metallacyclopropene Unit

Metalla-aromatics are important complexes that show unique properties owing to their highly conjugated systems, which show Hückel or Möbius aromaticity. Recently, several metalla-aromatics showing spiro-aromaticity or σ-aromaticity have been reported. Herein, we report the isolation of the first cyclopropametallanaphthalenes, in which the metallacyclopropene ring shows σ-aromaticity and weak hyperconjugative aromaticity. The reaction of OsCl₂ (PPh₃ )₃ with o-ethynylphenyl alkynes in the presence of PPh₃ followed by protonation with HCl yielded the first cyclopropametallanaphthalenes. The reaction mechanism and the aromaticity were also investigated by density functional theory studies.

Access to Metal-Bridged Osmathiazine Derivatives by a Formal [4+2] Cyclization

Treatment of osmacyclopentadiene derivatives 1 with phenyl or isopropyl isothiocyanate gave the fused five and six-membered osmacycles 2-5 by a formal [4+2] cyclization. The facile protonation of the newly generated exocyclic imine in complexes 2-5 afforded conjugation-extended osmacycle derivatives 6-9. Compounds 2-9 each contain two main-group heteroatoms (N and S) in the fused six-membered ring located at the ortho (for S) and para (for N) positions relative to the osmium centre; these species can be regarded as rare osma-1,3-thiazine derivatives and represent the first fused metallathiazine derivatives. In contrast to the non-planar organic 6H-1,3-thiazine, nearly coplanar metallathiazines 8 and 9 can be achieved by tuning the groups on the two nitrogen atoms. These unique metal-bridged osma-1,3-thiazine derivatives exhibit remarkable stabilities, broad spectral absorptions spanning the visible spectra, and considerable photothermal properties, which suggests their potential applications in material science.

Synthesis and characterization of metallapentalenoxazetes by the [2+2] cycloaddition of metallapentalynes with nitrosoarenes

The cycloaddition of metallapentalynes with nitrosoarenes produces metallapentalenoxazetes, in which two unstable frameworks are stabilized with a metal fragment.

Facile synthesis of polycyclic metallaarynes

Metalla-analogs of polycyclic arynes represent an interesting class of metallaaromatics with a formal M[triple bond, length as m-dash]C bond within the ring. The first examples of a bicyclic β-metallaaryne and tricyclic metallaarynes, including a metallaanthracyne and a metallaphenanthryne, were obtained in good yields by reactions of OsCl2(PPh3)3 with alkyne-functionalized phosphorus ylides.

Carbolong Chemistry: A Story of Carbon Chain Ligands and Transition Metals

The construction of metal-carbon bonds is one of the most important issues of organometallic chemistry. However, the chelation of polydentate ligands to a metal via several metal-carbon bonds is rare. Metallapentalyne, which can be viewed as a 7-carbon (7C) chain coordinated to a metal via three metal-carbon bonds, was first reported in 2013. Although metallapentalyne contains a metal-carbon triple bond in a five-membered ring (5MR) and the bond angle around the carbyne carbon is only 129.5°, metallapentalyne exhibits excellent stability to air, moisture, and heat. Metallapentalyne possesses the rare planar Möbius aromaticity, which is in sharp contrast to the Hückel antiaromaticity in pentalyne. The metal fragment not only relieves the large ring strain present in pentalyne but also results in the transformation of the antiaromaticity in pentalyne to aromaticity in metallapentalyne. With the extension of the carbon chain from 7 to 12 carbon atoms, a series of novel polycyclic frameworks were constructed via the formation of several metal-carbon bonds. Some interesting phenomena were observed for these complexes. For instance, (1) the carbyne carbon of the 7C framework could react with both nucleophilic and electrophilic reagents, leading to the formation of 16- and 18-electron metallapentalenes; (2) σ aromaticity was first observed in an unsaturated system in the 8C framework; (3) two classical antiaromatic frameworks, cyclobutadiene and pentalene, were simultaneously stabilized in the 9C framework for the first time; (4) three fused 5MRs bridged by a metal are coplanar in the 10C framework; (5) the first [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of a late transition metal carbyne complex with alkynes was realized during the construction of an 11C framework; (6) the largest number of carbon atoms coordinated to a metal atom in the equatorial plane was observed in the 12C framework; and (7) sharing of the transition metal by multiple aromatic units has seldom been observed in the metalla-aromatics. Therefore, the term carbolong chemistry has been used to describe the chemistry of these novel frameworks. More interestingly, carbolong complexes exhibit diverse properties, which could lead to potential future applications. As the discovery and creation of molecular fragments lead to advancements in chemistry, medical science, and materials chemistry, these novel polydentate carbon chain chelates might have important influences in these fields due to their facile synthesis, high stability, and unique properties.

Isocyanide insertion into Au–H bonds: first gold iminoformyl complexes

The reaction of gold hydrides with isocyanides leads to η¹-iminoformyl complexes, the first example of an isocyanide insertion in gold chemistry. Key intermediates are gold(ii) isocyanide adducts.

Photothermal Möbius aromatic metallapentalenofuran and its NIR-responsive copolymer

A novel thermally and NIR-light responsive metallopolymer was copolymerized from a photothermal aromatic metallapentalenofuran and a glycol methyl ether methacrylate.

Recent Advances in Metallaaromatic Chemistry

Metallaaromatics can be broadly defined as aromatic compounds in which one of the ring atoms is a transition metal. The metallabenzenes are one important class of these compounds that has undergone extensive study recently. Closely related species such as fused-ring metallabenzenes, heterometallabenzenes, π-coordinated metallabenzenes and metallabenzynes have also attracted considerable attention. Although many metallaaromatics can be considered as metalla-analogues of classic organic aromatic compounds, this is not always the case. Recent seminal studies have shown that metallapentalenes and metallapentalynes, which are metalla-analogues of the anti-aromatic compounds pentalene and pentalyne, are in fact aromatic and highly stable. Very unusual spiro-metallaaromatic compounds have also recently been isolated. In this concepts article, key features of all these intriguing metallaaromatic compounds are discussed with reference to the structural, spectroscopic, reactivity and theoretical studies that have been undertaken. These compounds continue to generate much interest, not only because of the contributions they make to fundamental chemical understanding, but also because of the promise of possible practical applications.

The aromatic dianion metalloles

Metalloaromatic species are unique and important both experimentally and theoretically. Significant progress has been made during the past few decades. New aromatic systems have challenged and extended the concept of aromaticity remarkably. In this perspective, recent results on the study of the dianion aromatic metalloles and their corresponding analogues are reviewed. These include the dilithio group 14 metalloles, group 13 metalloles and transition metal metalloles. X-ray crystallography has made a key contribution to the understanding of the structures. Various theoretical tools, such as NICS and AdNDP, make it possible to measure the aromaticity beyond Hückel's rule. The dianion butadiene skeletons play a key role in these metalloles and can be regarded as non-innocent ligands, which accept the electrons from the metal center and thus form the aromatic rings. By simply changing the central metals to different metals, the metallole analogues such as dicupra[10]annulenes and spiroaromatic palladoles can also be generated, which opens a door to synthesize other metalla-macrocyclic aromatics. Key challenges and envisioned opportunities for the future, such as applying these dianion metalloles as novel ligands of transition metals and generating new types of organometallic aromatic system, are also discussed.

Multiyne chains chelating osmium via three metal-carbon σ bonds

Although the formation of metal–carbon σ bonds is a fundamental principle in organometallic chemistry, the direct bonding of one organic molecule with one metal center to generate more than two metal–carbon σ bonds remains a challenge. Herein, we report an aromaticity-driven method whereby multiyne chains are used to construct three metal–carbon σ bonds in a one-pot reaction under mild conditions. In this method, multiyne chains act as ligand precursors capable of chelating an osmium center to yield planar metallapolycycles, which exhibit aromaticity and good stability. The direct assembly of various multiyne chains with commercially available metal complexes or even simple metal salts provides a convenient and efficient strategy for constructing all carbon-ligated chelates on the gram scale.

Metal-carbon σ bonds mark the basis of organometallic chemistry, but the formation of multiple such bonds between single organic and metal entities remains a challenge. Here, the authors report a one-pot aromaticity-driven method to construct osmium-based multidentate complexes containing three metal-carbon σ bonds from multiyn chains.