The Reaction of [Cp*RhCl2]2, Aniline, and a Terminal Alkyne: Formation of Cyclometalated Rhodium(III) Complexes

A Half-Sandwich Rhodium(III) Complex with 4-Bromo-N-(1-Pyrenylidene)Aniline: Regioselective Cyclorhodation of the 1-Pyrenyl Group

Reaction of [RhCp*Cl2]2 (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl anion), 4-bromo-N-(1-pyrenylidene)aniline (Hpyan, H represents a proton of the 1-pyrenyl ring) and CH3CO2Na in 1:2:6 mole ratio in dichloromethane provides the half-sandwich, cyclometallated rhodium(III) complex [RhCp*(pyan)Cl]. X-ray crystallographic study confirms the bidentate 1-pyrenyl ortho-C and azomethine-N coordination mode of (pyan)−and the half-sandwich ‘piano-stool’ structure of [RhCp*(pyan)Cl]. In dichloromethane, the diamagnetic, redox active complex displays a metal-centred oxidation at E1/2 = 1.14 V (versus Ag/AgCl).

Synthesis and Reactivity toward H2 of (η(5)-C5Me5)Rh(III) Complexes with Bulky Aminopyridinate Ligands

Electrophilic, cationic Rh(III) complexes of composition [(η(5)-C5Me5)Rh(Ap)](+), (1(+)), were prepared by reaction of [(η(5)-C5Me5)RhCl2]2 and LiAp (Ap = aminopyridinate ligand) followed by chloride abstraction with NaBArF (BArF = B[3,5-(CF3)2C6H3]4). Reactions of cations 1(+) with different Lewis bases (e.g., NH3, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, or CNXyl) led in general to monoadducts 1·L(+) (L = Lewis base; Xyl = 2,6-Me2C6H3), but carbon monoxide provided carbonyl-carbamoyl complexes 1·(CO)2(+) as a result of metal coordination and formal insertion of CO into the Rh-Namido bond of complexes 1(+). Arguably, the most relevant observation reported in this study stemmed from the reactions of complexes 1(+) with H2. (1)H NMR analyses of the reactions demonstrated a H2-catalyzed isomerization of the aminopyridinate ligand in cations 1(+) from the ordinary κ(2)-N,N' coordination to a very uncommon, formally tridentate κ-N,η(3) pseudoallyl bonding mode (complexes 3(+)) following benzylic C-H activation within the xylyl substituent of the pyridinic ring of the aminopyridinate ligand. The isomerization entailed in addition H-H and N-H bond activation and mimicked previous findings with the analogous iridium complexes. However, in dissimilarity with iridium, rhodium complexes 1(+) reacted stoichiometrically at 20 °C with excess H2. The transformations resulted in the hydrogenation of the C5Me5 and Ap ligands with concurrent reduction to Rh(I) and yielded complexes [(η(4)-C5Me5H)Rh(η(6)-ApH)](+), (2(+)), in which the pyridinic xylyl substituent is η(6)-bonded to the rhodium(I) center. New compounds reported were characterized by microanalysis and NMR spectroscopy. Representative complexes were additionally investigated by X-ray crystallography.

Reactivity of vinylidene complexes of ruthenium with hydrazines and hydroxylamines

Reaction of vinylidene complexes of Ru with hydrazines and hydroxylamines affords nitrile derivatives and amine or water. A reaction path based on ¹⁵N NMR studies and DFT calculations is proposed.

Primary amines by transfer hydrogenative reductive amination of ketones by using cyclometalated Ir(III) catalysts

Cyclometalated iridium complexes are found to be versatile catalysts for the direct reductive amination (DRA) of carbonyls to give primary amines under transfer-hydrogenation conditions with ammonium formate as both the nitrogen and hydrogen source. These complexes are easy to synthesise and their ligands can be easily tuned. The activity and chemoselectivity of the catalyst towards primary amines is excellent, with a substrate to catalyst ratio (S/C) of 1000 being feasible. Both aromatic and aliphatic primary amines were obtained in high yields. Moreover, a first example of homogeneously catalysed transfer-hydrogenative DRA has been realised for β-keto ethers, leading to the corresponding β-amino ethers. In addition, non-natural α-amino acids could also be obtained in excellent yields with this method.

Versatile iridicycle catalysts for highly efficient and chemoselective transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds in water

Cyclometalated iridium complexes are shown to be highly efficient and chemoselective catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of a wide range of carbonyl groups with formic acid in water. Examples include α-substituted ketones (α-ether, α-halo, α-hydroxy, α-amino, α-nitrile or α-ester), α-keto esters, β-keto esters and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes. The reduction was carried out at substrate/catalyst ratios of up to 50 000 at pH 4.5 and required no organic solvent. The protocol provides a practical, easy and efficient way for the synthesis of β-functionalised secondary alcohols, such as β-hydroxyethers, β-hydroxyamines and β-hydroxyhalo compounds, which are valuable intermediates in pharmaceutical, fine chemical, perfume and agrochemical synthesis.

A highly active cyclometallated iridium catalyst for the hydrogenation of imines

A cyclometallated iridium complex containing an imino ligand has been shown to catalyse the hydrogenation of imines. The catalyst is highly active and selective for imino bonds, with a wide variety of imines being hydrogenated in less than 1 hour at a substrate/catalyst (S/C) ratio of 2000 at 20 bar H2 pressure and 75 °C.

Cyclometalated [Cp*M(C^X)] (M = Ir, Rh; X = N, C, O, P) complexes

Isolated and well-defined cyclometalated iridium/rhodium complexes that contain a Cp*M–C (M = Ir, Rh) bond stabilised by the intramolecular coordination of neutral donor atoms (N, C, O or P), together with their applications, were summarized.

Room temperature tandem hydroamination and hydrosilation/protodesilation catalysis by a tricarbonylchromium-bound iridacycle

A chromiumtricarbonyl-bound iridacycle displays novel catalytic virtues for the conversion of terminal aromatic alkynes into racemic N-phenyl, 1-arylethylamines by tandem hydro-amination and hydrosilation/protodesilation reactions under mild "one pot" conditions.