Cyclometalated Compounds. XI.1 Single and Double Cyclometalations of Poly(pyrazolylmethyl)benzenes

Nickel(II) and Palladium(II) Complexes Bearing an Unsymmetrical Pyrrole-Based PNN Pincer and Their Norbornene Polymerization Behaviors versus the Symmetrical NNN and PNP Pincers

Unsymmetrical pincers have been shown to be better than the corresponding symmetrical pincers in several catalysis reactions. A new unsymmetrical PNN propincer, 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolylmethyl)-5-(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyrrole (1), was synthesized from pyrrole through Mannich bases in a good yield. In addition, the new byproduct 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolylmethyl)-5-(dimethylaminomethyl)- N-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrole was also isolated. The reaction of 1 with [PdCl₂(PhCN)₂] and Et₃N in toluene yielded [PdCl{C₄H₂N-2-(CH₂Me₂pz)-5-(CH₂PPh₂)-κ³ P,N,N}] (2). The analogous reaction between 1 and [NiCl₂(DME)] or NiX₂ (X = Br, I) in the presence of NEt₃ in acetonitrile afforded [NiX{C₄H₂N-2-(CH₂Me₂pz)-5-(CH₂PPh₂)-κ³ P,N,N}] (3; X = Cl, Br, I). All complexes were structurally characterized. The norbornene polymerization behaviors of the unsymmetrical pincer complexes 2 and 3 in the presence of MMAO or EtAlCl₂ were compared with those of the symmetrical pincer complexes chloro[2,5-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolylmethyl)pyrrolido]palladium(II) (NNN), chloro[2,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyrrolido]palladium(II), and chloro[2,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyrrolido]nickel(II) (PNP) at different temperatures. The PNN and NNN complexes exhibited far greater activity on the order of 10⁷ g of PNB/mol/h, with quantitative yields in some cases, in comparison to the PNP pincer palladium and nickel complexes. This trend was also supported by the ⁱPr group substituted PNP nickel and palladium pincer complexes. These polymerization behaviors are explained using steric crowding around the metal atom with the support of NMR studies and suggested that the activity increases as the N_pyrazole donor increases. Polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, TGA, and powder XRD methods.

Group IV organometallic compounds based on dianionic "pincer" ligands: synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity in intramolecular hydroamination reactions

Neutral Zr(IV) and Hf(IV) diamido complexes stabilized by unsymmetrical dianionic N,C,N' pincer ligands have been prepared through the simplest and convenient direct metal-induced Caryl-H bond activation. Simple ligand modification has contributed to highlight the non-innocent role played by the donor atom set in the control of the cyclometallation kinetics. The as-prepared bis-amido catalysts were found to be good candidates for the intramolecular hydroamination/cyclization of primary aminoalkenes. The ability of these compounds to promote such a catalytic transformation efficiently (by providing, in some cases, fast and complete substrate conversion at room temperature) constitutes a remarkable step forward toward catalytic systems that can operate at relatively low catalyst loading and under milder reaction conditions. Kinetic studies and substrate-scope investigations, in conjunction with preliminary DFT calculations on the real systems, were used to elucidate the effects of the substrate substitution on the catalyst performance and to support the most reliable mechanistic path operative in the hydroamination reaction.

1,2-Bis[(3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl]benzene

The title compound, C₃₈H₃₀N₄, a potentially mono- and bidentate ligand, does not seem to form palladium complexes similar to other poly(pyrazol-1-ylmeth­yl)benzenes due to the large steric size of the phenyl substituents on the pyrazole rings. The pyrazole rings have a 21.09 (5)° angle between their mean planes and exhibit a trans-like geometry in which the in-plane lone pairs of electrons on the 2-N nitrogen atoms point in opposite directions.

{1,2-Bis[(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl-κN2)methyl]benzene}dichloridozinc(II)

The title zinc complex, [ZnCl₂(C₁₈H₂₂N₄)], contains a bidentate 1,2-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-ylmeth­yl)benz­ene ligand that binds to the zinc atom, forming a nine-membered metallocyclic ring. The geometry about the Zn atom is distorted tetra­hedral, with the largest deviation observed in the magnitude of the Cl—Zn—Cl angle. Similar distortions are observed in the cobalt analogue and related zinc compounds containing metallocyclic rings with more than six members. The copper analogue exhibits a more severe distortion of the metal coordination sphere than is observed in the title compound.

{μ-1,3-Bis[(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)meth-yl]benzene-κN:N}di-μ-chlorido-bis-[chloridopalladium(II)] toluene solvate

In the title complex, [Pd₂Cl₄(C₁₈H₂₂N₄)]·C₇H₈, each of the two four-coordinated Pd^II atoms is in a slightly distorted square-planar geometry, defined by one N atom from the ligand, two bridging Cl atoms and one terminal Cl atom. Inter­molecular C—H⋯π inter­actions between the pyrazole ring H atom and the toluene ring stabilize the crystal structure.

Reactivity of 1,3-bis(2-pyridyl)benzene, N--CH--N, with gold(III) chlorides: salts, adducts and cyclometalated pincer derivatives. Crystal and molecular structures of [HN--CH--N][AuCl4], [Au(N--C--N)Cl][PF6] and [Au(N--C--N)Cl(PPh3)2][PF6]

The reaction of 1,3-bis(2-pyridyl)benzene, N--CH--N, with H[AuCl(4)] has been studied under different conditions. Mono- ([N--CH--NH][AuCl(4)]) and di-protonated salts ([HN--CH--NH][AuCl(4)](2)), as well as an adduct, [(N--CH--N)(AuCl(3))(2)], have been isolated. Very rare cyclometalated pincer derivatives, [Au(N--C--N)Cl](+) have been obtained as different salts, either by transmetallation from the corresponding mercury(ii) derivative, [Hg(N--C--N)Cl], or by direct C-H activation. The structures in the solid state of [N--CH--NH][AuCl(4)] and [Au(N--C--N)Cl][PF(6)] have been solved by X-ray diffraction. Reaction of the pincer derivatives with PPh(3), dppm (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) and dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) occurs with displacement of the coordinated nitrogen atoms to afford [Au(N--C--N)(Cl)(PPh(3))(2)](+), [Au(N--C--N)(Cl)(dppm)(2)](+) and [Au(N--C--N)(Cl)(dppe)](+), respectively. The X-ray structure of [Au(N--C--N)(Cl)(PPh(3))(2)][PF(6)] confirms that the ligand N--C--N is only sigma-carbon bonded and the PPh(3) molecules are in a trans-arrangement. The pattern of the (31)P{(1)H}NMR spectrum of [Au(N--C--N)(Cl)(dppm)(2)](+), a pair of "triplets", deserves comments: the spectrum is not of the A(2)X(2) type but a case of a deceptively simple AA'XX' spin system.

N,N-Dialkyl-2-iodoanilines: A versatile source for the synthesis of Pd(ii) complexes. Synthesis of novel OCP- and CCN-pincer palladium complexes

The reactivity of a series of N,N-dimethyl-2-iodoanilines bearing different chelating "arms" at the 3-position with Pd(2)(dba)(3) has been explored. 3-[(Diphenylphosphino)methyl]-2-iodo-N,N-dimethylaniline reacted with Pd(2)(dba)(3) and PPh(3) under aerobic conditions to give the OCP-pincer complex , which was formed by sequential C(sp(3))-H activation/oxidation at the alpha-position of the aniline N atom. On the other hand, under similar reaction conditions, 3-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-2-iodo-N,N-dimethylaniline afforded the CCN-pincer complex , after a second C-H activation process at the formyl group of the initially formed OCN-pincer complex. In contrast, 2-iodo-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-N,N-dimethylaniline and 2-iodo-3-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)-N,N-dimethylaniline reacted with Pd(2)(dba)(3) and PPh(3), respectively, to give the 6-membered azapalladacycles and , in which the aniline nitrogen is merely a spectator substituent. Finally, treatment of iodide complex with Tl(TfO) afforded the CN-bidentate cationic complex. Solid-state structures of palladium complexes, and CH(2)Cl(2).3CH(3)OH.5H(2)O were determined by X-ray analysis.

Unexpected Photoisomerization of a Pincer-type Amido Ligand Leads to Facial Coordination at Pt(IV)

The divalent complex (BQA)PtMe undergoes oxidative addition with MeI to afford the octahedral complex cis-(mer-BQA)PtMe2I {(BQA)- = bis(8-quinolinyl)amide}. When this molecule is irradiated with visible light, it isomerizes to (fac-BQA)PtMe2I, where the BQA ligand adopts an unexpected facial coordination mode. The amide nitrogen in this molecule is sp3 hybridized and can be easily quarternized with HBF4, resulting in [H(fac-BQA)PtMe2I][BF4], with only minor perturbation to the coordination sphere.

Platinum Group Organometallics Based on "Pincer" Complexes: Sensors, Switches, and Catalysts

Since the first reports in the late 1970s on transition metal complexes containing pincer-type ligands-named after the particular coordination mode of these ligands-these systems have attracted increasing interest owing to the unusual properties of the metal centers imparted by the pincer ligand. Typically, such a ligand comprises an anionic aryl ring which is ortho,ortho-disubstituted with heteroatom substituents, for example, CH₂ NR₂ , CH₂ PR₂ or CH₂ SR, which generally coordinate to the metal center, and therefore support the M-C σ bond. This commonly results in a terdentate and meridional coordination mode consisting of two metallacycles which share the M-C bond. Detailed studies of the formation and the properties of a large variety of pincers containing platinum group metal complexes have provided direct access to both a fundamental understanding of a variety of reactions in organometallic chemistry and to a range of new applications of these complexes. The discovery of alkane dehydrogenation catalysts, the mechanistic elucidation of fundamental transformations (for example, C-C bond activation), the construction of the first metallodendrimers for sustainable homogeneous catalysis, and the engineering of crystalline switches for materials processing represent only a few of the many highlights which have emanated from these numerous investigations. This review discusses the synthetic methodologies that are currently available for the preparation of platinum group metal complexes containing pincer ligands and especially emphasizes different applications that have been realized in materials science such as the development and engineering of sensors, switches, and catalysts.