C−H versus Ir−X (X = H, Cl) Reactivity in a Tropylium PCP Pincer Iridium Complex 1

Cationic ligands - from monodentate to pincer systems

For a long time, the small group of cationic ligands stood out as obscure systems within the general landscape of coordinative chemistry. However, this situation has started to change rapidly during the last decade, with more and more examples of metal-coordinated cationic species being reported. The growing interest in these systems is not only of purely academic nature, but also driven by accumulating evidence of their high catalytic utility. Overcoming the inherently poor coordinating ability of cationic species often required additional structural stabilization. In numerous cases this was realized by functionalizing them with a pair of chelating side-arms, effectively constructing a pincer-type scaffold. This comprehensive review aims to encompass all cationic ligands possessing such pincer architecture reported to date. Herein every cationic species that has ever been embedded in a pincer framework is described in terms of its electronic structure, followed by an in-depth discussion of its donor/acceptor properties, based on computational studies (DFT) and available experimental data (IR, NMR or CV). We then elaborate on how the positive charge of these ligands affects the spectroscopic and redox properties, as well as the reactivity, of their complexes, compared to those of the structurally related neutral ligands. Among other systems discussed, this review also surveys our own contribution to this field, namely, the introduction of sulfonium-based pincer ligands and their complexes, recently reported by our group.

Trianionic Carbocyclic NCN Pincer Ligand: Coordination Chemistry and Reactivity Studies

(BCHT-NCN)H3 (1) [1,6-bis(methylene(bis-2,6-diisopropylaniline)(benzo)cycloheptatriene)] was synthesized by nucleophilic substitution treating 1,6-bis(methylenebromide)(benzo)cycloheptatriene with 2 equiv of Li[2,6-iPr2C6H3NH], Li[Dipp-NH]. Triple deprotonation of (BCHT-NCN)H3 (1) using n-BuLi yields the deprotonation product [(BCHT-NCN)Li3] (2), which crystallizes as a dimer [{[BCHT-NCN]Li3(Et2O)2}2] (2)2. Coordination compounds of the trianionic pincer ligand were obtained with SnCl2, YCl3(THF)3.5, and HfCl4(THF)2: [(BCHT-NCN)SnLi] (3), [(BCHT-NCN)Y(THF)2] (4), [(BCHT-NCN)HfCl2][Li(THF)4] (5), respectively. A hafnium hydride complex [(BCHT-NCN)HfH(HBEt3)][K(Et2O)2] (6) was isolated after reaction of 5 with K[HBEt3]. A MeNHC substitution product [(BCHT-NCN)HfCl(MeNHC)] (7) was synthesized treating compound 5 with MeNHC at rt. Following an n-BuLi reaction of 7 gives an alkyl complex [(BCHT-NCN)Hf(n-Bu)(MeNHC)] (8). Thermolysis of 7 yields the isomerization product [(BCHT-NCN#)HfCl(MeNHC)] (9), which was transferred into a methyl complex [(BCHT-NCN#)HfMe(MeNHC)] (10) upon treatment with MeMgBr. Hydride abstraction from complex 9 leads to a cationic complex [(BCHT-NCN+)HfCl(MeNHC)][Al(OtBuF)4] (11).

Synthesis and reactivity of PC(sp3)P-pincer iridium complexes bearing a diborylmethyl anion

Novel PCP-pincer iridium complexes bearing a diborylmethyl anion were synthesized. Strong σ-electron-donation to the metal and significant π-backdonation from the metal to boron atoms at the β-position were observed both experimentally and computationally. H/D exchange of the aromatic C-H bond proceeded smoothly and, in addition, the α-methine-hydrogen between boron atoms was found to be replaced with deuterium in benzene-d₆ solution possibly through diborylcarbene metal complexes as intermediates.

Carbocyclic pincer carbene complexes of ruthenium: syntheses and reversible hydrogenation

The ruthenium carbene pincer complex 2 was synthesized treating the benzo annulated cycloheptatriene bisphosphine 1 with RuCl₃. Addition of three equivalents of hydrogen to the carbocyclic carbene complex 2 was achieved in reaction of 2 with hydrogen at elevated temperatures. Hydrogenated complex 4, exhibiting a rigid chair conformation in solution, was dehydrogenated by heating a toluene solution of complex 4 to reflux for 5-7 d. In reaction with ethylene, complex 4 transfers one equivalent of hydrogen, forming ethane and alkyl complex 5.

Conformation controlled stepwise hydride shuffling from the metal to the ligand backbone

The protonation of the benzo annulated cycloheptatriene PCP pincer ruthenium hydrido dicarbonyl complex using the superacid [H(Et₂O)₂][BArF₂₄] launches a cascade of hydride shifts which lead to the hydrogenation of the ligand backbone.

Crystal structure of an iridium(III) complex of the [C(dppm)2] PCP pincer ligand system and its conjugate CH acid form

The crystal structures of [Ir^III(CO)(C(dppm)₂-κ³P,C,P′)ClH]Cl and [Ir^III(CO)(CH(dppm)₂-κ³P,C,P′)ClH]Cl₂ have been determined. Both complexes show a slightly distorted octa­hedral coordinated Ir^III centre. The PCP pincer ligand system is arranged in a meridional manner.

After the successful creation of the newly designed PCP carbodi­phospho­rane (CDP) ligand [Reitsamer et al. (2012 ▸). Dalton Trans.41, 3503–3514; Stallinger et al. (2007 ▸). Chem. Commun. pp. 510–512], the treatment of this PCP pincer system with the transition metal iridium and further the analysis of the structures by single-crystal diffraction and by NMR spectroscopy were of major inter­est. Two different iridium complexes, namely (bis­{[(di­phenyl­phosphan­yl)meth­yl]di­phenyl­phosphanyl­idene}methane-κ³P,C,P′)carbonyl­chlorido­hydridoiridium(III) chloride di­chloro­methane tris­olvate, [Ir^III(CO){C(dppm)₂-κ³P,C,P′}ClH]Cl·3CH₂Cl₂ (1) and the closely related (bis­{[(di­phenyl­phosphan­yl)meth­yl]di­phenyl­phosphanyl­idene}methanide(1+)-κ³P,C,P′)carbonyl­chlorido­hy­dridoirid­ium(III) dichloride–hydro­chloric acid–water (1/2/5.5), [Ir^III(CO){CH(dppm)₂-κ³P,C,P′)ClH]Cl}₂ (2), have been designed and both complexes show a slightly distorted octa­hedral coordinated Ir^III centre. The PCP pincer ligand system is arranged in a meridional manner, the CO ligand is located trans to the central PCP carbon and a hydride and chloride are located perpendicular above and below the P₂C₂ plane. With an Ir—C_CDP distance of 2.157 (5) Å, an Ir—CO distance of 1.891 (6) Å and a quite short C—O distance of 1.117 (7) Å, complex 1 presents a strong carbonyl bond. Complex 2, the corresponding CH acid of 1, shows an additionally attached proton at the carbodi­phospho­rane carbon atom located anti­periplanar to the hydride of the metal centre. In comparison with complex 1, the Ir—C_CDP distance of 2.207 (3) Å is lengthened and the Ir—C—O values indicate a weaker trans influence of the central carbodi­phospho­rane carbon atom.

Brønsted-Lowry Acid Strength of Metal Hydride and Dihydrogen Complexes

Transition metal hydride complexes are usually amphoteric, not only acting as hydride donors, but also as Brønsted-Lowry acids. A simple additive ligand acidity constant equation (LAC for short) allows the estimation of the acid dissociation constant Ka(LAC) of diamagnetic transition metal hydride and dihydrogen complexes. It is remarkably successful in systematizing diverse reports of over 450 reactions of acids with metal complexes and bases with metal hydrides and dihydrogen complexes, including catalytic cycles where these reactions are proposed or observed. There are links between pKa(LAC) and pKa(THF), pKa(DCM), pKa(MeCN) for neutral and cationic acids. For the groups from chromium to nickel, tables are provided that order the acidity of metal hydride and dihydrogen complexes from most acidic (pKa(LAC) -18) to least acidic (pKa(LAC) 50). Figures are constructed showing metal acids above the solvent pKa scales and organic acids below to summarize a large amount of information. Acid-base features are analyzed for catalysts from chromium to gold for ionic hydrogenations, bifunctional catalysts for hydrogen oxidation and evolution electrocatalysis, H/D exchange, olefin hydrogenation and isomerization, hydrogenation of ketones, aldehydes, imines, and carbon dioxide, hydrogenases and their model complexes, and palladium catalysts with hydride intermediates.

Benzo annulated cycloheptatriene PCP pincer iridium complexes

Chemical conversions of a cycloheptatriene iridium pincer complex were studied by NMR and MS techniques as well as DFT calculations.

CH Activation and CC Double Bond Formation Reactions in Iridiumortho-Methyl Arylphosphane Complexes

The Vaska-type iridium(I) complex [IrCl(CO){PPh(2)(2-MeC(6)H(4))}(2)] (1), characterized by an X-ray diffraction study, was obtained from iridium(III) chloride hydrate and PPh(2)(2,6-MeRC(6)H(3)) with R=H in DMF, whereas for R=Me, activation of two ortho-methyl groups resulted in the biscyclometalated iridium(III) compound [IrCl(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}(2)] (2). Conversely, for R=Me the iridium(I) compound [IrCl(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))}(2)] (3) can be obtained by treatment of [IrCl(COE)(2)](2) (COE=cyclooctene) with carbon monoxide and the phosphane in acetonitrile. Compound 3 in CH(2)Cl(2) undergoes intramolecular C-H oxidative addition, affording the cyclometalated hydride iridium(III) species [IrHCl(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}{PPh(2)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))}] (4). Treatment of 2 with Na[BAr(f) (4)] (Ar(f)=3,5-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)) gives the fluxional cationic 16-electron complex [Ir(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}(2)][BAr(f) (4)] (5), which reversibly reacts with dihydrogen to afford the delta-agostic complex [IrH(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-CH(2)MeC(6)H(3))}{PPh(2)(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3))}][BAr(f)(4)] (6), through cleavage of an Ir-C bond. This species can also be formed by treatment of 4 with Na[BAr(f)(4)] or of 2 with Na[BAr(f)(4)] through C-H oxidative addition of one ortho-methyl group, via a transient 14-electron iridium(I) complex. Heating of the coordinatively unsaturated biscyclometalated species 5 in toluene gives the trans-dihydride iridium(III) complex [IrH(2)(CO){PPh(2)(2,6-MeC(6)H(3)CH=CHC(6)H(3)Me-2,6)PPh(2)}][BAr(f) (4)] (7), containing a trans-stilbene-type terdentate ligand, as result of a dehydrogenative carbon-carbon double bond coupling reaction, possibly through an iridium carbene species.

Influence of Chelate Substituents on the Structure and Spin State of Unsaturated [N(SiMe2CH2PtBu2)2]Ru−X

Density functional theory calculations on the conformational preferences in the two fused five-membered rings of anionic N(SiR2CH2PR'2)2 chelated to RuX+ are compared to several experimental structures (X=halide). The calculations consider the structures of both singlet and triplet states and reveal that both the four tBu groups and the crowded juncture (N(SiMe2)2) of the two rings must be included computationally to understand the observed structures. Computational experiments with different substituents R and R' show the reality of N-->Ru pi donation. The cases where X=H and CH3 are also studied.