Use of the Imine–Enamine Equilibrium in Cooperative Ligand Design

Neutral, cationic and anionic organonickel and -palladium complexes supported by iminophosphine/phosphinoenaminato ligands

We report a series of organometallic nickel and palladium complexes containing iminophosphine ligands R2PCH2C(Ph) = N-Dipp (Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl; R = iPr, La; R = Ph, Lb; and R = o-C6H4OMe, Lc), synthesized by ligand exchange or oxidative addition reactions, and we investigate the capacity of such ligands to undergo reversible deprotonation to the corresponding phosphinoenaminato species. In the attempted ligand exchange reaction of the nickel bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl precursor [Ni(CH2SiMe3)2Py2] with Lb, the iminophosphine acts as a weak acid rather than a neutral ligand, cleaving one of the Ni-C bonds, to afford the phosphinoenaminato complex [Ni(CH2SiMe3)(L'b)(Py)] (L'b = conjugate base of Lb). We disclose a general method for the syntheses of complexes [Ni(CH2SiMe3)(L)(Py)]+ (L = La, Lb or Lc), and demonstrate that iminophosphine deprotonation is a general feature and occurs reversibly in the coordination sphere of the metal. By studying proton exchange reactions of the cation [Ni(CH2SiMe3)(Lb)(Py)]+ with bases of different strength we show that the conjugate phosphinoenaminato ligand in [Ni(CH2SiMe3)(L'b)(Py)] is a base with strength comparable to DBU in THF. The acyl group in the functionalized aryl complex [Ni(p-C6H4COCH3)(Br)(La)] does not interfere in the iminophosphine deprotonation with NaH. The latter reaction affords the unusual anionic hydroxide species [Ni(p-C6H4COCH3)(OH)(L'a)]-Na+, which was isolated and fully characterized.

Synthesis and coordination chemistry of tridentate (PNN) amine enamido phosphine ligands with ruthenium

Tridentate amine-imine-phosphine ligands, R2PC5H7NC2H4NEt2 [(R)PNN(H)], where R = Pr(i) or Bu(t) are synthesized using a straightforward protocol of condensation, deprotonation, and addition of a chlorodialkylphosphine. Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy shows the ligands exist exclusively in the enamine tautomeric form in solution. Treating these ligands with RuHCl(PPr(i)3)2(CO) forms the desired coordination compounds, RuHCl[(R)PNN(H)](CO), where the imine tautomeric form of the ligands coordinates to ruthenium. Deuterium labelling experiments show Ru-H/N-D scrambling occurs during ligand coordination. Treating the RuHCl[(R)PNN(H)](CO) precursors with potassium tert-butoxide allows for the synthesis of two new ruthenium enamido-phosphine complexes, RuH[(R)PNN](CO), which were fully characterized. The structure of one of the derivatives was confirmed by X-ray crystallography (R = Pr(i)). The reactivity of the enamido-phosphine complexes with H2 and benzyl alcohol is also reported. For the enamido phosphine complex where R = Pr(i), the reaction with H2 is reversible and forms (RuH(CO)[(Pri)PNN(H)])2(μ-H)2, a hydride-bridged dimer that results from cooperative activation of H2. The reactivity of both amine-enamido-phosphine ruthenium compounds with benzyl alcohol establishes that the complexes are catalyst precursors for acceptorless dehydrogenation (AD), although the turnover frequencies measured using both catalyst precursors are modest.

Synthesis of a sterically bulky diphosphine synthon and Ru(ii) complexes of a cooperative tridentate enamide-diphosphine ligand platform

The preparation of the bulky diphosphine synthon 1 is described and used to generate a tridentate enamido diphosphine ligand platform that can be installed on Ru(ii).

Low coordinate iron derivatives stabilized by a β-diketiminate mimic. Synthesis and coordination chemistry of enamidophosphinimine scaffolds to generate diiron dinitrogen complexes

The reduction of the iron enamido-phosphinimine complex under N₂ leads to dinitrogen activation and cleavage of the phosphinimine linkage to generate a di-iron complex with a bridging imido moiety.

N2 activation by an iron complex with a strong electron-donating iminophosphorane ligand

A new tridentate cyclopentane-bridged iminophosphorane ligand, N-(2-diisopropylphosphinophenyl)-P,P-diisopropyl-P-(2-(2,6-diisopropylphenylamido)cyclopent-1-enyl)phosphoranimine (NpNPiPr), was synthesized and used in the preparation of a diiron dinitrogen complex. The reaction of the iron complex FeBr(NpNPiPr) with KC8 under dinitrogen yielded the dinuclear dinitrogen Fe complex [Fe(NpNPiPr)]2(μ-N2), which was characterized by X-ray analysis and resonance Raman and NMR spectroscopies. The X-ray analysis revealed a diiron complex bridged by the dinitrogen molecule, with each metal center coordinated by an NpNPiPr ligand and dinitrogen in a trigonal-monopyramidal geometry. The N–N bond length is 1.184(6) Å, and resonance Raman spectra indicate that the N–N stretching mode ν(14N2/15N2) is 1755/1700 cm–1. The magnetic moment of [Fe(NpNPiPr)]2(μ-N2) in benzene-d6 solution, as measured by 1H NMR spectroscopy by the Evans method, is 6.91μB (S = 3). The Mössbauer spectrum at 78 K showed δ = 0.73 mm/s and ΔEQ = 1.83 mm/s. These findings suggest that the iron ions are divalent with a high-spin configuration and that the N2 molecule has (N═N)2– character. Density functional theory calculations performed on [Fe(NpNPiPr)]2(μ-N2) also suggested that the iron is in a high-spin divalent state and that the coordinated dinitrogen molecule is effectively activated by π back-donation from the two iron ions (dπ) to the dinitrogen molecule (πx* and πy*). This is supported by cooperation between a large negative charge on the iminophosphorane ligand and strong electron donation and effective orbital overlap between the iron dπ orbitals and N2 π* orbitals supplied by the phosphine ligand.