Synthesis and Characterization of Zirconium and Iron Complexes Containing Substituted Indenyl Ligands: Evaluation of Steric and Electronic Parameters

Stabilized borata-alkene formation: structural features, reactions and the role of the counter cation

A stable borata-alkene was prepared starting from dimethylbenzofulvene and Piers' borane [HB(C₆F₅)₂]. It undergoes a cycloaddiiton reaction with chalcone.

Homoleptic permethylpentalene complexes: "double metallocenes" of the first-row transition metals

The synthesis of the bimetallic permethylpentalene complexes Pn*2M2 (M = V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni; Pn* = C8Me6) has been accomplished, and all of the complexes have been structurally characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Pn*2V2 (1) and Pn*2Mn2 (3) show very short intermetallic distances that are consistent with metal-metal bonding, while the cobalt centers in Pn*2Co2 (4) exhibit differential bonding to each side of the Pn* ligand that is consistent with an eta(5):eta(3) formulation. The Pn* ligands in Pn*2Ni2 (5) are best described as eta(3):eta(3)-bonded to the metal centers. (1)H NMR studies indicate that all of the Pn*2M2 species exhibit D(2h) molecular symmetry in the solution phase; the temperature variation of the chemical shifts for the resonances of Pn*2Cr2 (2) indicates that the molecule has an S = 0 ground state and a thermally populated S = 1 excited state and can be successfully modeled using a Boltzmann distribution (DeltaH(o) = 14.9 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS(o) = 26.5 J K(-1) mol(-1)). The solid-state molar magnetic susceptibility of 3 obeys the Curie-Weiss law with mu(eff) = 2.78 muB and theta = -1.0 K; the complex is best described as having an S = 1 electronic ground state over the temperature range 4-300 K. Paradoxically, attempts to isolate the "double ferrocene" equivalent, Pn*2Fe2, led only to the isolation of the permethylpentalene dimer Pn*2 (6). Solution electrochemical studies were performed on all of the organometallic compounds; 2-5 exhibit multiple quasi-reversible redox processes. Density functional theory calculations were performed on this series of complexes in order to rationalize the observed structural and spectroscopic data and provide estimates of the M-M bond orders.

Diazene dehydrogenation follows H2 addition to coordinated dinitrogen in an ansa-zirconocene complex

An activated side-on-bound ansa-zirconocene dinitrogen complex, [Me2Si(eta5-C5Me4)(eta5-C5H3-3-tBu)Zr]2(mu2,eta2,eta2-N2), has been prepared by sodium amalgam reduction of the corresponding dichloride precursor under an atmosphere of N2. Both solution spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction data establish diastereoselective formation of the syn homochiral dizirconium dimer. Addition of 1 atm of H2 resulted in rapid hydrogenation of the N2 ligand to yield one diastereomer of the hydrido zirconocene diazenido complex. Kinetic measurements have yielded the barrier for H2 addition and in combination with isotopic labeling studies are consistent with a 1,2-addition pathway. In the absence of H2, the hydrido zirconocene diazenido product undergoes swift diazene dehydrogenation to yield an unusual hydrido zirconocene dinitrogen complex. The N=N bond length of 1.253(5) A determined by X-ray crystallography indicates that the side-on-bound N2 ligand is best described as a two-electron reduced [N2]2- fragment. Comparing the barrier for deuterium exchange with [Me2Si(eta5-C5Me4)(eta5-C5H3-3-tBu)ZrH]2(mu2,eta2,eta2-N2H2) to diazene dehydrogenation is consistent with rapid 1,2-elimination of dihydrogen followed by rate-determining hydride migration to the zirconium. This mechanistic proposal is also corroborated by H2 inhibition and the observation of a normal, primary kinetic isotope effect for dehydrogenation.

Amineborane dehydrogenation promoted by isolable zirconium sandwich, titanium sandwich and N2 complexes

Catalytic dehydrogenation of R(2)NHBH(3) (R = Me, H) promoted by a family of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium and bis(indenyl)zirconium compounds is reported; structure-reactivity relationships as a function of cyclopentadienyl and indenyl substituents have been examined.

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

Treatment of the eta9,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich complex, (eta9-C9H5-1,3-(SiMe3)2)(eta5-C9H5-1,3-(SiMe3)2)Zr, with dialkyl ethers such as diethyl ether, CH3OR (R=Et, nBu, tBu), nBu2O, or iPr2O resulted in facile C-O bond scission furnishing an eta5,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium alkoxy hydride complex and free olefin. In cases where ethylene is formed, trapping by the zirconocene sandwich yields a rare example of a crystallographically characterized, base-free eta5,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium ethylene complex. Observation of normal, primary kinetic isotope effects in combination with rate studies and the stability of various model compounds support a mechanism involving rate-determining C-H activation to yield an eta5,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium alkyl hydride intermediate followed by rapid beta-alkoxide elimination. For isolable eta6,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium THF compounds, thermolysis at 85 degrees C also resulted in C-O bond cleavage to yield the corresponding zirconacycle. Both mechanistic and computational studies again support a pathway involving haptotropic rearrangement to eta5,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium intermediates that promote rate-determining C-H activation and ultimately C-O bond scission.

Synthesis of Bis(indenyl)zirconium Dihydrides and Subsequent Rearrangement to η5,η3-4,5-Dihydroindenediyl Ligands: Evidence for Intermediates during the Hydrogenation to Tetrahydroindenyl Derivatives

Exposure of eta9,eta5-bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich complexes to 4 atm of H2 resulted in facile oxidative addition to furnish the corresponding zirconocene dihydrides, (eta5-C9H5-1,3-R2)2ZrH2 (R = SiMe3, SiMe2Ph, CHMe2). Continued hydrogenation completed conversion to the tetrahydroindenyl derivatives, (eta5-C9H9-1,3-R2)2ZrH2. Deuterium labeling studies established that dihydrogen (dideuterium) addition to the benzo rings is intramolecular and stereospecific, occurring solely from the endo face of the ligand, proximal to the zirconium. In the absence of dihydrogen, the bis(indenyl)zirconium dihydrides rearranged to new zirconium monohydride complexes containing an unusual eta5,eta3-4,5-dihydroindenediyl ligand, arising from metal-to-benzo ring hydrogen transfer. Mechanistic studies, including a normal, primary kinetic isotope effect measured at 23 degrees C, are consistent with a pathway involving regio- and stereoselective insertion of a benzo C=C bond into a zirconium hydride. The stereochemistry of the insertion reaction, and hence the eta5,eta3-4,5-dihydroindenediyl product, is influenced by the presence of donor ligands and controlled by the preferred conformation of the indenyl rings. Exposure of the zirconium hydrides containing the eta5,eta3-4,5-dihydroindenediyl rings to 1 atm of dihydrogen afforded the tetrahydroindenyl zirconium dihydride complexes, establishing the intermediacy of this unusual coordination environment during benzo ring hydrogenation.

Ligand-Induced Haptotropic Rearrangements in Bis(indenyl)zirconium Sandwich Complexes

Addition of principally sigma-donating ligands such as THF, chelating diethers, or 1,2-bis(dimethyl)phosphinoethane to eta(9),eta(5)-bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich complexes, (eta(9)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-R(2))(eta(5)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-R(2))Zr (R = alkyl or silyl), induces haptotropic rearrangement to afford (eta(6)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-R(2))(eta(5)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-R(2))ZrL adducts. Examples where L = THF and DME have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and revealed significant buckling of the eta(6) benzo ring, consistent with reduction of the arene, and highlight the importance of the zirconium(IV) canonical form. For the THF-induced haptotropic rearrangements, the thermodynamic driving force for ring migration has been measured as a function of indenyl substituent and demonstrates silylated sandwiches favor THF coordination and the eta(6),eta(5) bonding motif over their alkylated counterparts. In the case of chelating diethers, measurement of the corresponding equilibrium constants establish more stable eta(6),eta(5) adducts with five- over four-membered chelates and with smaller oxygen and carbon backbone substituents. Kinetic studies on both THF and DME addition to (eta(9)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-(SiMe(3))(2))(eta(5)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-(SiMe(3))(2))Zr established a first-order dependence on the incoming ligand, consistent with a mechanism involving direct attack of the incoming nucleophile on the eta(9),eta(5) sandwich. These results further highlight the ability of the indenyl ligand to smoothly adjust hapticity to meet the electronic requirements of the metal center.

Zirconium Sandwich Complexes with η9 Indenyl Ligands: Well-Defined Precursors for Zirconocene-Mediated Coupling Reactions

A family of isolable, well-defined bis-indenyl zirconium sandwich complexes, (eta(5)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-R(2))(eta(9)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-R(2))Zr (R = silyl, alkyl), have been prepared by either alkane reductive elimination or alkali metal reduction of a suitable zirconium(IV) dihalide precursor. Crystallographic characterization of two of these derivatives, R = SiMe(2)CMe(3) and CHMe(2), reveals unprecedented eta(9) coordination of one of the indenyl ligands. Variable-temperature and EXSY NMR studies establish that the eta(5) and eta(9) rings are rapidly interconverting in solution. The sandwich complexes serve as effective sources of low-valent zirconium reacting rapidly with both olefins and alkynes at ambient temperature. In contrast to bis-cyclopentadienyl chemistry, the olefin adducts of the bis-indenyl zirconium sandwiches undergo preferential C-H activation to yield the corresponding allyl hydride compounds, although reaction with excess olefin proceeds through the eta(2)-olefin adduct, forming the corresponding zirconacyclopentane.