Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Iridium-1,4-benzoquinone Complexes of Tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane Ligand: Decarbonylation, Protonation, and Substitution Reactions

Atom Swapping on Aromatic Rings: Conversion from Phosphinine Pincer Metal Complexes to Metallabenzenes Triggered by O2 Oxidation

Herein, we report a novel method for the synthesis of metallabenzenes by swapping the phosphorus atom in an aromatic phosphinine ring with transition metal fragments. The oxidation of a phosphine-phosphinine-phosphine pincer iridium complex by O₂ triggered the replacement of the phosphorus atom of the phosphinine ring by an iridium fragment to afford iridabenzene. Dianionic rhodabenzene was also synthesized from a phosphinine rhodium complex by oxidation of the phosphorus atom, followed by subsequent reduction using metallic potassium. The aromaticity of the newly synthesized irida- and rhoda-benzenes was evaluated both experimentally and theoretically.

Metallaaromatic Chemistry: History and Development

Since the prediction of the existence of metallabenzenes in 1979, metallaaromatic chemistry has developed rapidly, due to its importance in both experimental and theoretical fields. Now six major types of metallaromatic compounds, metallabenzenes, metallabenzynes, heterometallaaromatics, dianion metalloles, metallapentalenes and metallapentalynes (also termed carbolongs), and spiro metalloles, have been reported and extensively studied. Their parent organic analogues may be aromatic, non-aromatic, or even anti-aromatic. These unique systems not only enrich the large family of aromatics, but they also broaden our understanding and extend the concept of aromaticity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of metallaaromatic chemistry. We have focused on not only the six major classes of metallaaromatics, including the main-group-metal-based metallaaromatics, but also other types, such as metallacyclobutadienes and metallacyclopropenes. The structures, synthetic methods, and reactivities are described, their applications are covered, and the challenges and future prospects of the area are discussed. The criteria commonly used to judge the aromaticity of metallaaromatics are presented.

Synthesis and reactivity at the Ir-MeTpm platform: from κ1-N coordination to κ3-N-based organometallic chemistry

Reaction of [Ir(μ-Cl)(COE)2]2 (COE = cis-cyclooctene) with tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane (MeTpm) affords [IrCl(κ1-N-MeTpm)(COD)] (1) (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene). The formation of 1 implies the transfer dehydrogenation of a COE ligand to give COD and COA (cyclooctane). A mechanistic proposal based on DFT calculations that explains this iridium promoted process has been disclosed. Additionally, reactivity studies have allowed the preparation and characterization, including determination of the molecular structures of a number of iridium complexes with the MeTpm ligand in κ1, κ2 or κ3-N coordination modes. Moreover, the first example of an Ir-cyclooctyl complex featuring hydride and carbonyl ligands, whose solid state structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods, is reported.

Solventless Synthesis of Poly(pyrazolyl)phenyl-methane Ligands and Thermal Transformation of Tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)phenylmethane

The solventless synthesis of tris(pyrazolyl)phenylmethane ligands of formula C₆H₅C(Pz^R2)₃ (R = H, Me), starting from PhCCl₃ and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (Pz^Me2) or pyrazole (Pz) was performed. The sterically crowded C₆H₅C(Pz^Me2)₃ is thermally transformed into the bis(pyrazolyl)(p-pyrazolyl)phenylmethane ligand Pz^Me2-C₆H₄CH(Pz^Me2)₂. In this compound both Pz^Me2 rings are linked through the N-atom to the methine C-atom. At higher temperatures, the binding mode of Pz^Me2 changes from N1 to C4. All transformations occurred via quinonoid carbocation intermediates that undergo an aromatic electrophilic substitution on the 4-position of Pz^Me2. Reaction conditions were established to obtain five tris(pyrazolyl)phenylmethane ligands in moderate to good yields. ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction of single crystals support the proposed structures.

Reactions of osmapyridinium with terminal alkynes

The reactions of osmapyridinium with terminal alkynes are presented, which lead to the formation of ten-membered osmacycles and η⁴-coordinated cyclopentadiene complexes.

Hydrogen and oxygen activation by an iridium precursor containing the 4,5-bis(diphenylthiophosphinoyl)-1,2,3-triazolate ligand

Complex [Ir(κ²-S,N-(4,5-(P(S)Ph₂)₂Tz))(coe)₂] (coe = cyclooctene) was prepared upon reaction of potassium 4,5-bis(diphenylthiophosphinoyl)-1,2,3-triazolate with [Ir(coe)₂(μ-Cl)]₂. Its phosphorus derivatives were susceptible of oxidative addition processes.

m-Metallaphenol: synthesis and reactivity studies

Treatment of the osmium complex [Os{CHC-(PPh3 )CH(OH)-η(2) -C≡CH}(PPh3 )2 (NCS)2 ] (1) with excess triethylamine produces the first m-metallaphenol complex [Os{CHC(PPh3 )CHC(OH)CH}(PPh3 )2 (NCS)2 ] (2). The NMR spectroscopic and structural data as well as the nucleus-independent chemical-shift (NICS) values suggest that osmaphenol 2 has aromatic character. The reactivity studies demonstrate that 2 can react with different isocyanates to form the annulation reaction products [Os{CHC(PPh3 )CHC(OCONR)C}(PPh3 )2 (NCS)2 ] (R=Ph (3), iPr (7), Bn (8)) via the carbamate intermediates [Os{CHC(PPh3 )CHC(O-CONHR)CH}(PPh3 )2 (NCS)2 ] (R=Ph (4), iPr (5), Bn (6)). In addition, the similar annulation reactions can be extended to other unsaturated compounds containing N-C multiple bonds, for example, isothiocyanates, pyridine, and sodium thiocyanate, which can produce the corresponding fused osmabenzene complexes. In contrast, the reactions of 2 with common electrophiles, such as NOBF4 , NO2 BF4 , N-bromosuccinimide, and N-chlorosuccinimide only led to the decomposition of the metallaphenol ring. The experimental results suggest that 2 is very electrophilic and readily reacts with nucleophiles, which is mainly due to the metal center and the strong electron-withdrawing phosphonium group.

Carbonyl-carbonyl and carbonyl-π interactions as directing motifs in the supramolecular structure of carbonyl(3-oxopenta-1,4-diene-1,5-diyl)[tris(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN2)methane]iridium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate

In the title complex salt, [Ir(C(5)H(4)O)(C(16)H(22)N(6))(CO)](CF(3)O(3)S), the Ir(III) centre adopts a distorted octahedral geometry with a facial coordination of the tris(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methane ligand. The C-C distances of the iridacycle are in agreement with its iridacyclohexa-2,5-dien-4-one nature, which presents a nonsymmetric boat-like conformation with the C-Ir-C vertex more bent than the C-C(=O)-C vertex. The supramolecular architecture is mainly directed by CO...CO and CO...π and Csp(3)-H...O interactions, the arrangement of which depends on the anion.