Synthesis and Reactivity of Silyl and Silylene Ligands in the Coordination Sphere of the 14-Electron Fragment Cp*(iPr3P)Os+

A Ruthenophosphanorcaradiene as a Synthon for an Ambiphilic Metallophosphinidene

Reaction of the ruthenium carbene complex Cp*(IPr)RuCl (1) (IPr = 1,3-bis(Dipp)imidazol-2-ylidene; Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) with sodium phosphaethynolate (NaOCP) led to intramolecular dearomatization of one of the Dipp substituents on the Ru-bound carbene to afford a Ru-bound phosphanorcaradiene, 2. Computations by DFT reveal a transition state characterized by a concerted process whereby CO migrates to the Ru center as the P atom adds to the π system of the aryl group. The phosphanorcaradiene possesses ambiphilic properties and reacts with both nucleophilic and electrophilic substrates, resulting in rearomatization of the ligand aryl group with net P atom transfer to give several unusual metal-bound, P-containing main-group moieties. These new complexes include a metallo-1-phospha-3-azaallene (Ru─P═C═NR), a metalloiminophosphanide (Ru─P═N─R), and a metallophosphaformazan (Ru─P(═N─N═CPh2)2). Reaction of 2 with the carbene 2,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMe4) produced the corresponding phosphaalkene DippP═IMe4.

Metathesis between E-C(spn ) and H-C(sp3 ) σ-Bonds (E=Si, Ge; n=2, 3) on an Osmium-Polyhydride

The silylation of a phosphine of OsH6 (Pi Pr3 )2 is performed via net-metathesis between Si-C(spn ) and H-C(sp3 ) σ-bonds (n=2, 3). Complex OsH6 (Pi Pr3 )2 activates the Si-H bond of Et3 SiH and Ph3 SiH to give OsH5 (SiR3 )(Pi Pr3 )2 , which yield OsH4 {κ1 -P,η2 -SiH-[i Pr2 PCH(Me)CH2 SiR2 H]}(Pi Pr3 ) and R-H (R=Et, Ph), by displacement of a silyl substituent with a methyl group of a phosphine. Such displacement is a first-order process, with activation entropy consistent with a rate determining step occurring via a highly ordered transition state. It displays selectivity, releasing the hydrocarbon resulting from the rupture of the weakest Si-substituent bond, when the silyl ligand bears different substituents. Accordingly, reactions of OsH6 (Pi Pr3 )2 with dimethylphenylsilane, and 1,1,1,3,5,5,5-heptamethyltrisiloxane afford OsH5 (SiR2 R')(Pi Pr3 )2 , which evolve into OsH4 {κ1 -P,η2 -GeH-[i Pr2 PCH(Me)CH2 SiR2 H]}(Pi Pr3 ) (R=Me, OSiMe3 ) and R'-H (R'=Ph, Me). Exchange reaction is extended to Et3 GeH. The latter reacts with OsH6 (Pi Pr3 )2 to give OsH5 (GeEt3 )(Pi Pr3 )2 , which loses ethane to form OsH4 {κ1 -P,η2 -GeH-[i Pr2 PCH(Me)CH2 GeEt2 H]}(Pi Pr3 ).

Transformation of the sp2 Carbanion to Carbene with Subsequent 1,1-Migratory Insertion and Nucleophilic Substitution in Rare-Earth Metal Chemistry

The development of Fischer-type electrophilic carbene chemistry with early transition metals has been a great challenge due to the fact that such metals in their high oxidation states lack the d electrons to stabilize the electrophilic carbene. Herein, we disclose the first experimental and theoretical findings of in situ transformation of an sp² carbanion to a Fischer-type electrophilic carbene with rare-earth metals in their high oxidation state with a d⁰ electron via electron transfer. The carbene may undergo 1,1-migratory insertion into an adjacent RE-C(sp³) bond, and an unprecedented ring opening of the indole ring of the ligand occurs when the carbenes undergo nucleophilic substitution with a special organolithium reagent o-Me₂NC₆H₄CH₂Li. The key to success is the uniquely tailored novel ligand systems featuring a suitable conjugate building block (^-C═C-C═N) bearing an sp² carbanion connected to the rare-earth metal center.

Efficient and selective alkene hydrosilation promoted by weak, double Si-H activation at an iron center

Cationic iron complexes [Cp*(ⁱPr₂MeP)FeH₂SiHR]⁺, generated and characterized in solution, are very efficient catalysts for the hydrosilation of terminal alkenes and internal alkynes by primary silanes at low catalyst loading (0.1 mol%) and ambient temperature.

Cationic iron complexes [Cp*(ⁱPr₂MeP)FeH₂SiHR]⁺, generated and characterized in solution, are very efficient catalysts for the hydrosilation of terminal alkenes and internal alkynes by primary silanes at low catalyst loading (0.1 mol%) and ambient temperature. These reactions yield only the corresponding secondary silane product, even with SiH₄ as the substrate. Mechanistic experiments and DFT calculations indicate that the high rate of hydrosilation is associated with an inherently low barrier for dissociative silane exchange (product release).

Interconversion and reactivity of manganese silyl, silylene, and silene complexes

Interconversions between manganese silylene and silene complexes are reported, including those involving the first spectroscopically observed silene complexes with an SiH substituent, and their involvement in ethylene hydrosilylation is discussed.

Manganese disilyl hydride complexes [(dmpe)₂MnH(SiH₂R)₂] (4^Ph: R = Ph, 4^Bu: R = ⁿBu) reacted with ethylene to form silene hydride complexes [(dmpe)₂MnH(RHSi Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> CHMe)] (6^Ph,H: R = Ph, 6^Bu,H: R = ⁿBu). Compounds 6^R,H reacted with a second equivalent of ethylene to generate [(dmpe)₂MnH(REtSi Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> CHMe)] (6^Ph,Et: R = Ph, 6^Bu,Et: R = ⁿBu), resulting from apparent ethylene insertion into the silene Si–H bond. Furthermore, in the absence of ethylene, silene complex 6^Bu,H slowly isomerized to the silylene hydride complex [(dmpe)₂MnH( Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> SiEtⁿBu)] (3^Bu,Et). Reactions of 4^R with ethylene likely proceed via low-coordinate silyl {[(dmpe)₂Mn(SiH₂R)] (2^Ph: R = Ph, 2^Bu: R = ⁿBu)} or silylene hydride {[(dmpe)₂MnH( Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> SiHR)] (3^Ph,H: R = Ph, 3^Bu,H: R = ⁿBu)} intermediates accessed from 4^R by H₃SiR elimination. DFT calculations and high temperature NMR spectra support the accessibility of these intermediates, and reactions of 4^R with isonitriles or N-heterocyclic carbenes yielded the silyl isonitrile complexes [(dmpe)₂Mn(SiH₂R)(CNR′)] (7a–d: R = Ph or ⁿBu; R′ = o-xylyl or ^tBu), and NHC-stabilized silylene hydride complexes [(dmpe)₂MnH{ Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> SiHR(NHC)}] (8a–d: R = Ph or ⁿBu; NHC = 1,3-diisopropylimidazolin-2-ylidene or 1,3,4,5-tetramethyl-4-imidazolin-2-ylidene), respectively, all of which were crystallographically characterized. Silyl, silylene and silene complexes in this work were accessed via reactions of [(dmpe)₂MnH(C₂H₄)] (1) with hydrosilanes, in some cases followed by ethylene. Therefore, ethylene (C₂H₄ and C₂D₄) hydrosilylation was investigated using [(dmpe)₂MnH(C₂H₄)] (1) as a pre-catalyst, resulting in stepwise conversion of primary to secondary to tertiary hydrosilanes. Various catalytically active manganese-containing species were observed during catalysis, including silylene and silene complexes, and a catalytic cycle is proposed.

A phosphine-stabilized silylene rhodium complex

The first example of a phosphine stabilized silylene rhodium complex.

Optimised Syntheses of the Half-Sandwich Complexes FeCl(dppe)Cp*, FeCl(dppe)Cp, RuCl(dppe)Cp*, and RuCl(dppe)Cp

Thanks to their synthetic versatility, the half-sandwich metal chlorides MCl(dppe)(η5-C5R5) [M = Fe, Ru; dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, R = H (cyclopentadiene, Cp), CH3 (pentamethylcyclopentadiene, Cp*)] are staple starting materials in many organometallic laboratories. Here we present an overview of the synthetic methods currently available for FeCl(dppe)Cp*, FeCl(dppe)Cp, RuCl(dppe)Cp*, and RuCl(dppe)Cp, and describe in detail updated and optimised multigram syntheses of all four compounds.

σ-Silane, disilanyl, and [W(μ-H)Si(μ-H)W] bridging silylene complexes via the reactions of W(PMe3)4(η2-CH2PMe2)H with phenylsilanes

W(PMe3)4(η(2)-CH2PMe2)H reacts with PhSiH3 to give the first examples of diphenyldisilanyl compounds, W(PMe3)4(SiH2SiHPh2)H3 and W(PMe3)3(SiH2Ph)(SiH2SiHPh2)H4, via a mechanism that is proposed to involve migration of a SiHPh2 group to a silylene ligand. In addition to the formation of the aforementioned mononuclear compounds, the reaction of W(PMe3)4(η(2)-CH2PMe2)H with PhSiH3 also yields a novel dinuclear compound, [W(PMe3)2(SiHPh2)H2](μ-Si,P-SiHPhCH2PMe2)(μ-SiH2)[W(PMe3)3H2], which features a bridging silylene ligand that participates in 3-center-2-electron interactions with both tungsten centers. The bonding within the [W(μ-H)Si(μ-H)W] core can be described by a variety of resonance structures, some of which possess multiple bond character between tungsten and silicon. In this regard, [W(PMe3)2(SiHPh2)H2](μ-Si,P-SiHPhCH2PMe2)(μ-SiH2)[W(PMe3)3H2] possesses the shortest W-Si bond length reported. The corresponding reaction of W(PMe3)4(η(2)-CH2PMe2)H with Ph2SiH2 yields the σ-silane compound, W(PMe3)3(σ-HSiHPh2)H4.

Probing mesitylborane and mesitylborate ligation within the coordination sphere of Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr3)+: a combined synthetic, X-ray crystallographic, and computational study

The reaction of Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr(3))Cl (1) with MesBH(2) (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) afforded the mesitylborate complex Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr(3))(BH(2)MesCl) (2, 66%). Exposure of 2 to the chloride abstracting agent LiB(C(6)F(5))(4)·2.5OEt(2) provided [Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr(3))(BH(2)Mes)](+)B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-) (3, 54%), which features an unusual η(2)-B-H monoborane ligand. The related borate complex Cp*Ru(P(i)Pr(3))(BH(3)Mes) (5, 65%) was prepared from 1 and LiH(3)BMes. Attempts to effect the insertion of unsaturated organic substrates into the B-H bonds of 3 were unsuccessful, and efforts to dehydrohalogenate 2 using KO(t)Bu instead afforded the mesitylborate complex Cp*(P(i)Pr(3))Ru(BH(2)MesOH) (6, 48%). Treatment of 1 with benzyl potassium generated an intermediate hydridoruthenium complex (7) resulting from dehydrogenation of a P(i)Pr fragment, which in turn was observed to react with MesBH(2) to afford the mesitylborate complex Cp*(P((i)Pr)(2)(CH(3)CCH(2)))Ru(BH(3)Mes) (8, 47%). Crystallographic characterization data are provided for 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8. A combined X-ray crystallographic and density functional theory (DFT) investigation of 3 and 5, using Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) and Atoms in Molecules (AIM) analysis, revealed that 3 and 5 are best described as donor-acceptor complexes between a Cp*(P(i)Pr(3))Ru(+) fragment and a bis(η(2)-B-H) coordinating mesitylborane(borate) ligand. Significant σ-donation from the B-H bonds into the Ru(II) center exists as evidenced by the NBO populations, bond orders, and AIM delocalization indices. In the case of 3, the vacant p orbital on boron is stabilized by Ru→B π back-donation as well as by resonance with the mesityl group.

Dehydrogenation of saturated CC and BN bonds at cationic N-heterocyclic carbene stabilized M(III) centers (M = Rh, Ir)

Chloride abstraction from the group 9 metal bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes M(NHC)(2)(H)(2)Cl [M = Rh, Ir; NHC = IPr = N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene or IMes = N,N'-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene] leads to the formation of highly reactive cationic species capable of the dehydrogenation of saturated CC and BN linkages. Thus, the reaction of Ir(IPr)(2)(H)(2)Cl (1) with Na[BAr(f)(4)] in fluorobenzene generates [Ir(IPr)(2)(H)(2)](+)[BAr(f)(4)](-) (4) in which the iridium center is stabilized by a pair of agostic interactions utilizing the methyl groups of the isopropyl substituents. After a prolonged reaction period C-H activation occurs, ultimately leading to the dehydrogenation of one of the carbene (i)Pr substituents and the formation of [Ir(IPr)(IPr'')(H)(2)](+)[BAr(f)(4)](-) (5), featuring the mixed NHC/alkene donor IPr'' ligand. By contrast, the related IMes complexes M(IMes)(2)(H)(2)Cl (M = Rh, Ir), which feature carbene substituents lacking beta-hydrogens, react with Na[BAr(f)(4)] in fluorobenzene to give rare examples of NaCl inclusion compounds, viz., [M(IMes)(2)(H)(2)Cl(Na)](+)[BAr(f)(4)](-) (M = Rh, 6; M = Ir, 7). Intercalation of the sodium cation between the mesityl aromatic rings of the two NHC donors has been demonstrated by crystallographic studies of 7. Synthetically, 6 and 7 represent convenient yet highly reactive sources of the putative 14-electron [M(NHC)(2)(H)(2)](+) cations, readily eliminating NaCl in the presence of potential donors. Thus 7 can be employed in the synthesis of the dinitrogen complexes [Ir(IMes)(2)(N(2))(2)](+)[BAr(f)(4)](-) (8a) and [Ir(IMes)(2)(N(2))THF](+)[BAr(f)(4)](-) (8b) (albeit with additional loss of H(2)) by stirring in toluene under a dinitrogen atmosphere and recrystallization from the appropriate solvent system. The interactions of 6 and 7 with primary, secondary, and tertiary amineboranes have also been investigated. Although reaction with the latter class of reagent simply leads to coordination of the amineborane at the metal center via two M-H-B bridges {and formation, for example, of the 18-electron species [M(IMes)(2)(H)(2)(mu-H)(2)B(H).NMe(3)](+)[BAr(f)(4)](-) (M = Rh, 9; M = Ir, 10)}, the corresponding reactions with systems containing N-H bonds proceed via dehydrogenation of the BN moiety to give complexes containing unsaturated aminoborane ligands. Thus, for example, 6 catalyzes the dehydrogenation of R(2)NH x BH(3) (R = (i)Pr, Cy) in fluorobenzene solution (100% conversion over 6 h at 2 mol % loading) to give R(2)NBH(2); the organometallic complex isolated at the end of the catalytic run in each case is shown to be [Rh(IMes)(2)(H)(2)(mu-H)(2)BNR(2)](+)[BAr(f)(4)](-) (R = (i)Pr, 11; R = Cy, 12). In contrast to isoelectronic alkene donors, the aminoborane ligand in these complexes (and in the corresponding iridium compounds 13 and 14) can be shown by crystallographic methods to bind in end-on fashion via a bis(sigma-borane) motif. Similar dehydrogenation chemistry is applicable to the primary amineborane (t)BuNH(2) x BH(3), although in this case the rate of rhodium-catalyzed dehydrogenation is markedly slower. This enables the amineborane complex [Rh(IMes)(2)(H)(2)(mu-H)(2)B(H) x NH(2)(t)Bu](+)[BAr(f)(4)](-) (15) to be isolated at short reaction times (ca. 6 h) and the corresponding (dehydrogenated) aminoborane system [Rh(IMes)(2)(H)(2)(mu-H)(2)BNH(t)Bu](+)[BAr(f)(4)](-) (16) to be isolated after an extended period (ca. 48 h). As far as further reactivity is concerned, aminoborane systems such as 14 show themselves to be amenable to further dehydrogenation chemistry in the presence of tert-butylethylene leading ultimately to the dehydrogenation of the boron-containing ligand and to the formation of a directly Ir-B bonded system described by limiting boryl (Ir-B) and borylene (Ir=B) forms.

Multiple reaction pathways in rhodium-catalyzed hydrosilylations of ketones

A detailed density functional theory (DFT) computational study (using the BP86/SV(P) and B3LYP/TZVP//BP86/SV(P) level of theory) of the rhodium-catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones has shown three mechanistic pathways to be viable. They all involve the generation of a cationic complex [L(n)Rh(I)]+ stabilized by the coordination of two ketone molecules and the subsequent oxidative addition of the silane, which results in the Rh-silyl intermediates [L(n)Rh(III)(H)SiHMe2]+. However, they differ in the following reaction steps: in two of them, insertion of the ketone into the Rh-Si bond occurs, as previously proposed by Ojima et al., or into the Si-H bond, as proposed by Chan et al. for dihydrosilanes. The latter in particular is characterized by a very high activation barrier associated with the insertion of the ketone into the Si-H bond, thereby making a new, third mechanistic pathway that involves the formation of a silylene intermediate more likely. This "silylene mechanism" was found to have the lowest activation barrier for the rate-determining step, the migration of a rhodium-bonded hydride to the ketone that is coordinated to the silylene ligand. This explains the previously reported rate enhancement for R2SiH2 compared to R3SiH as well as the inverse kinetic isotope effect (KIE) observed experimentally for the overall catalytic cycle because deuterium prefers to be located in the stronger bond, that is, C-D versus M-D.

Alkyl dehydrogenation in a Rh(I) complex via an isolated agostic intermediate

A well-characterised 14-electron rhodium phosphine complex, [Rh(PiPr3)3][BArF4], which contains a beta-CH agostic interaction, is observed to undergo spontaneous dehydrogenation to afford [Rh(PiPr3)2(PiPr2(C3H5))][BArF4]; calculations on a model system show that while C-H activation is equally accessible from the beta-CH agostic species or an alternative gamma-CH agostic isomer, subsequent beta-H-transfer can only be achieved along pathways originating from the beta-CH agostic form.

Synthetic development and chemical reactivity of transition-metal silylene complexes

A variety of transition-metal complexes with terminal silylene ligands have become available in recent years, because of the discovery of several preparative methods. In particular, three general synthetic routes to these complexes have emerged, on the basis of anionic group abstraction, coordination of a free silylene, and alpha-hydrogen migration. The direct transformation of organosilanes to silylene ligands at a metal center (silylene extrusion) has also been observed, and this has further spurred the exploration of silylenes as ligands. This Account describes the synthetic development of silylene ligands in our laboratory and resulting investigations of stoichiometric and catalytic chemistry for these species.

Cp*(iPr3P)Ru(Cl)(η2-HSiClMe2): the first complex with simultaneous Si–H and RuCl⋯SiCl inter-ligand interactions

The addition of HSiMe2Cl to the unsaturated compound Cp*(iPr3P)RuCl gives an unstable adduct which, according to NMR (J(H-Si)= 33.5 Hz), X-ray crystal structure and DFT evidence, is a silane sigma-complex Cp*(iPr3P)Ru(Cl)(eta2-HSiMe2Cl) supported by an unprecedented, simultaneous inter-ligand RuCl...SiCl hypervalent interaction between the chloride ligand on ruthenium and the SiMe2Cl group.