Methylene-Bridged Heterobinuclear Complexes of Iridium and Ruthenium: Models for Bimetallic Fischer−Tropsch Catalysts

Synthesis of heterobimetallic Ru-Mn complexes and the coupling reactions of epoxides with carbon dioxide catalyzed by these complexes

The heterobimetallic complexes [(eta5-C5H5)Ru(CO)(mu-dppm)Mn(CO)4] and [(eta5-C5Me5)Ru(mu-dppm)(mu-CO)2Mn(CO)3] (dppm = bis-diphenylphosphinomethane) have been prepared by reacting the hydridic complexes [(eta5-C5H5)Ru(dppm)H] and [(eta5-C5Me5)Ru(dppm)H], respectively, with the protonic [HMn(CO)5] complex. The bimetallic complexes can also be synthesized through metathetical reactions between [(eta5-C5R5)Ru(dppm)Cl] (R = H or Me) and Li+[Mn(CO)5]-. Although the complexes fail to catalyze the hydrogenation of CO2 to formic acid, they catalyze the coupling reactions of epoxides with carbon dioxide to yield cyclic carbonates. Two possible reaction pathways for the coupling reactions have been proposed. Both routes begin with heterolytic cleavage of the RuMn bond and coordination of an epoxide molecule to the Lewis acidic ruthenium center. In Route I, the Lewis basic manganese center activates the CO2 by forming the metallocarboxylate anion which then ring-opens the epoxide; subsequent ring-closure gives the cyclic carbonate. In Route II, the nucleophilic manganese center ring-opens the ruthenium-attached epoxide to afford an alkoxide intermediate; CO2 insertion into the RuO bond followed by ring-closure yields the product. Density functional calculations at the B3LYP level of theory were carried out to understand the structural and energetic aspects of the two possible reaction pathways. The results of the calculations indicate that Route II is favored over Route I.

Various coordination modes of the bis(di(o-N,N-dimethylanilinyl)phosphino)methane ligand in mononuclear and binuclear complexes of group 8 and group 9 metals

The synthesis and characterization of a series of compounds involving the bis(di(o-N,N-dimethylanilinyl)phosphino)methane (dmapm) ligand are described. The mononuclear complexes [MCl(CO)(P,N-dmapm)] (M = Rh, Ir) have a square-planar geometry in which the dmapm ligand chelates via a phosphine functionality and an adjacent amino group. The carbonyl ligand lies opposite the amine, while the chloro ligand is trans to the phosphine. The related complex [RhI(CO)(P,N-dmapm)] has also been prepared. All compounds are highly fluxional by at least three independent processes, as discussed for the rhodium-chloro species. A diiridium complex, [Ir(2)Cl2(CO)2(P,N,P',N'-dmapm)], and the closely related rhodium/iridium analogue, [RhIrCl2(CO)2(P,N,P',N'-dmapm)], have been prepared in which the metals are bridged by the diphosphine group while an amino group at each end of the diphosphine is also coordinating to each metal on opposite faces of the MIrP2 plane (M = Ir or Rh). For the Ir2 species, the carbonyl and chloro groups are again shown to be opposite the amine and phosphine functionalites, respectively. The mononuclear complex [Ru(CO)3(P,P'-dmapm)] has also been prepared. In contrast to the mononuclear species of rhodium and iridium, the dmapm group chelates the ruthenium center through both phosphorus atoms, occupying one axial and one equatorial site of Ru in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Reaction of this Ru species with 1/2 equiv of the complexes [RhClL2]2 (L2 = COD, (C2H4)2, (CO)2) yields the unstable Rh/Ru product [RhRuCl(CO)3(P,N,P',N'-dmapm)].

2003 Alcan Award Lecture — Roles of the adjacent metals in the coupling of methylene groups promoted by heterobinuclear complexes of Group 8 and 9 metals

The reactivities of the heterobinuclear complexes, [MM′(CO)4(dppm)2][X] (MM′ = RhOs, RhRu, IrRu; dppm =

µ-Ph2PCH2PPh2; X– = BF4–, CF3SO3–) with diazomethane are reported. The RhOs species reacts to give three products of methylene-group incorporation, depending on the temperature; at –80 °C the methylene bridged product, [RhOs(CO)4(µ-CH2)(dppm)2][X], is formed exclusively, at ambient temperature only [RhOs(η1-C3H5)(CH3)(CO)3(dppm)2][X], having the allyl group bound to Rh and the methyl group bound to Os, is obtained, while at intermediate temperatures [RhOs(η1:η1-C4H8)(CO)3(dppm)2][X], having the butanediyl fragment chelating on Os, is generated. Based on labeling studies a mechanism is proposed rationalizing formation of the different products. Under the same range of conditions the Rh/Ru and Ir/Ru species yield only the methylene bridged products, [MM′(CO)4(µ-CH2)(dppm)2][X] (MM′ = RhRu, IrRu). A rationalization for the different reactivities observed and a description of the roles of the different metals in coupling of the methylene groups are presented. Attempts to model key intermediates in the methylene coupling sequence promoted by the Rh/Os complexes, through coupling of methylene groups with ethylene or alkynes, are described. Key words: heterobinuclear, rhodium/osmium, rhodium/ruthenium, iridium/ruthenium, methylene coupling, Fischer–Tropsch, alkyne insertions, bimetallic cooperativity.

Synthesis and Reactivity of the Hydrido- and Alkylrhenium Methylidene Complexes Cp*(PMe3)2(R)ReCH2 (R = H, CH3)

Protonolysis of the dimethylrhenium(III) compound Cp(PMe(3))(2)Re(CH(3))(2) (3) led to formation of the highly reactive hydridorhenium methylidene compound [Cp(PMe(3))(2)Re(CH(2))(H)][OTf] (4), which was characterized spectroscopically at low temperature. Although 4 decomposed above -30 degrees C, reactivity studies performed at low temperature indicated it was in equilibrium with the coordinatively unsaturated methylrhenium complex [Cp(PMe(3))(2)Re(CH(3))][OTf] (2). Methylidene complex 4 was found to react with PMe(3) to afford [Cp(PMe(3))(3)Re(CH(3))][OTf] (6) and with chloride anion to give Cp(PMe(3))(2)Re(Me)Cl (7). When BAr(f) anion was added to 4, the thermally stable methylrhenium methylidene complex [Cp(PMe(3))(2)Re(CH(2))(CH(3))][BAr(f)] (8) was isolated upon warming to room temperature. The mechanisms of formation of both 4 and 8 are discussed in detail, including DFT calculations. The novel carbonyl ligated complex Cp(CO)(2)Re(CH(3))OTf (12) was prepared, isolated, and found to not undergo migration reactions to form methylidene complexes.

Selective Coupling of Methylene Groups at a Rh/Os Core, Yielding C2, C3, or C4 Fragments: Roles of the Adjacent Metals in Carbon−Carbon Bond Formation

The mixed-metal complex, [RhOs(CO)(4)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (1; dppm = micro-Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)) reacts with diazomethane to yield a number of products resulting from methylene incorporation into the bimetallic core. At -80 degrees C the reaction between 1 and CH(2)N(2) yields the methylene-bridged [RhOs(CO)(3)(micro-CH(2))(micro-CO)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (2), which reacts further at ambient temperature to give the allyl methyl species, [RhOs(eta(1)-C(3)H(5))(CH(3))(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (4). At intermediate temperatures compounds 1 and 2 react with diazomethane to yield the butanediyl complex [RhOs(C(4)H(8))(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (3) by the incorporation and coupling of four methylene units. Compound 2 is proposed to be an intermediate in the formation of 3 and 4 from 1 and on the basis of labeling studies a mechanism has been proposed in which sequential insertions of diazomethane-generated methylene fragments into the Rh-C bond of bridging hydrocarbyl fragments occur. Reaction of the tricarbonyl species, [RhOs(CO)(3)(micro-CH(2))(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] with diazomethane over a range of temperatures generates the ethylene complex [RhOs(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (7a), but no further incorporation of methylene groups is observed. This observation suggests that carbonyl loss in the formation of the above allyl and butanediyl species only occurs after incorporation of the third methylene fragment. Attempts to generate C(2)-bridged species by the reaction of 1 with ethylene gave no reaction, however, in the presence of trimethylamine oxide the ethylene adducts [RhOs(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (7b; an isomer of 7a) and [RhOs(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(2)(CO)(2)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (8) were obtained. The relationship of the above products to the selective coupling of methylene groups, and the roles of the different metals are discussed.