Synthesis of Chelate-Supported Dialkyl and Alkylidene Complexes of Molybdenum(VI)

Origin of Decomposition in a Family of Molybdenum Precursor Compounds

The bis(tert-butylimido)-molybdenum(VI) framework has been used successfully in the design of vapor-phase precursors for molybdenum-containing thin films, so understanding its thermal behavior is important for such applications. Here, we report the thermal decomposition mechanism for a series of volatile bis(alkylimido)-dichloromolybdenum(VI) adducts with neutral N,N'-chelating ligands, to probe the stability and decomposition pathways for these molecules. The alkyl groups explored were tert-butyl, tert-pentyl, 1-adamantyl, and a cyclic imido (from 2,5-dimethylhexane-2,5-diamine). We also report the synthesis of the new tert-octyl imido adducts, (^tOctN)₂MoCl₂·L (L = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine or 2,2'-bipyridine), which have been fully characterized by spectroscopic techniques as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. We found that the decomposition of all compounds follows the same general pathway, proceeding first by the dissociation of the chelating ligand to give the coordinatively unsaturated species (RN)₂MoCl₂. Subsequent dimerization results in either an imido bridged adduct, [(RN)Mo(μ-NR)Cl₂]₂, or a chloride bridged adduct, [(RN)₂Mo(μ-Cl)Cl]₂, depending on the size of the R group. The dimeric species then likely undergoes an intramolecular γ-hydrogen transfer to yield a nitrido-amido adduct, (RHN)MoNCl₂, and an alkene. Ultimately, the resulting molybdenum species appears to decompose into free tert-alkylamine and Mo₂N or Mo₂C. The thermolysis reactions have been monitored using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and the volatile decomposition products were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A key intermediate has also been detected using electron ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry. Finally, a detailed computational investigation supports the mechanism outlined above and helps explain the relative stabilities of different N,N'-chelated bis(alkylimido)-dichloromolybdenum(VI) adducts.

Diphenylamido Precursors to Bisalkoxide Molybdenum Olefin Metathesis Catalysts

We have found that Mo(NAr)(CHR')(NPh(2))(2) (R' = t-Bu or CMe(2)Ph) and Mo(NAr')(CHCMe(2)Ph)(NPh(2))(2) (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3); Ar' = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3)) can be prepared through addition of two equivalents of LiNPh(2) to Mo(NR″)(CHR')(OTf)(2)(dme) species (R″ = Ar or Ar' dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane), although yields are low. A high yield route consists of addition of LiNPh(2) to bishexafluro-t-butoxide species. An X-ray structure of Mo(NAr)(CHCMe(2)Ph)(NPh(2))(2) reveals that the two diphenylamido groups are oriented in a manner that allows an 18 electron count to be achieved. The diphenylamido complexes react readily with t-BuOH and (CF(3))(2)MeCOH, but not readily with the sterically demanding biphenol H(2)[Biphen] (Biphen(2-) = 3,3'-Di-t-butyl-5,5',6,6'-tetramethyl-1,1'-Biphenyl-2,2'-diolate). The diphenylamido complexes do react with various 3,3'-disubstituted binaphthols to yield binaphtholate catalysts that can be prepared in situ and employed for a simple asymmetric ring-closing metathesis reaction. In several cases conversions and enantioselectivities were comparable to reactions in which isolated catalysts were employed.

Dioxomolybdenum(VI) and dioxotungsten(VI) complexes supported by an amido ligand

Stepwise addition of one equivalent of n-butyllithium and trimethylsilyl chloride to 2-tert-butylmercaptoaniline affords the new ligand 1-(Me3SiNH)-2-(t-BuS)C6H4 (LH), that reacts with one equivalent of butyllithium to its lithium salt LLi. Dioxodichloromolybdenum [MoO2Cl2] and dioxodichlorotungsten dimethoxyethane [WO2Cl2(dme)] react in tetrahydrofuran solution at low temperature with two equivalents LLi to monomeric dioxomolybdenum(VI) [MoO2L2] (1) and dioxotungsten(VI) complex [WO2L2] (2) employing two bidentate amido thioether ligands. The crystallographic determination of the molecular structures of 1 and 2 show evidence for M...S contacts. The reaction of [MoO2Cl2] with LLi in tetrahydrofuran solution at room temperature leads next to 1 to two compounds where silyl group migration from nitrogen to oxygen atoms occurs forming [Mo(=NL')2(OSiMe)2] (3) and [Mo(=NL')2(OSiMe3)L] (4, L' = N-2-t-BuSC6H4) as determined by NMR spectroscopy. Compound 4 was isolated in low yield and its molecular structure determined by X-ray crystallography. Higher yields of a bisimido complex can be obtained by the direct reaction of one equivalent of LLi with [Mo(NAr)2Cl2(dme)] (Ar = 2,6-Me2C6H4) forming [Mo(NAr)2LCl] (5).

Group 6 imido complexes supported by diamido-donor ligands

Reactions of the lithiated diamido-pyridine or diamido-amine ligands Li(2)N(2)N(py) or Li(2)N(2)N(am) with [W(NAr)Cl(4)(THF)] (Ar = Ph or 2,6-C(6)H(3)Me(2); THF = tetrahydrofuran) afforded the corresponding imido-dichloride complexes [W(NAr)(N(2)N(py))Cl(2)] (R = Ph, 1, or 2,6-C(6)H(3)Me(2), 2) or [W(NAr)(N(2)N(am))Cl(2)] (R = Ph, 3, or 2,6-C(6)H(3)Me(2), 4), respectively, where N(2)N(py) = MeC(2-C(5)H(4)N)(CH(2)NSiMe(3))(2) and N(2)N(am) = Me(3)SiN(CH(2)CH(2)NSiMe(3))(2). Subsequent reactions of 1 with MeMgBr or PhMgCl afforded the dimethyl or diphenyl complexes [W(NPh)(N(2)N(py))R(2)] (R = Me, 5, or Ph, 6), respectively, which have both been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Reactions of Li(2)N(2)N(py) or Li(2)N(2)N(am) with [Mo(NR)(2)Cl(2)(DME)] (R = (t)Bu or Ph; DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) afforded the corresponding bis(imido) complexes [Mo(NR)(2)(N(2)N(py))] (R = (t)Bu, 7, or Ph, 8) and [Mo(N(t)Bu)(2)(N(2)N(am))] (9).

Alkylidene and metalacyclic complexes of tungsten that contain a chiral biphenoxide ligand. synthesis, asymmetric ring-closing metathesis, and mechanistic investigations

Two complexes that contain the racemic or enantiomerically pure (S) form of the 3,3'-di-tert-butyl-5,5',6,6'-tetramethyl-1,1'-biphenyl-2,2'-diolate (Biphen(2-)) ligand, W(NAr)(CHCMe(2)Ph)(Biphen) (2a) and W(NAr')(CHCMe(2)Ph)(Biphen) (2b) (Ar = 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3); Ar' = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3)), were prepared and shown to be viable catalysts for several representative ring-closing reactions to give products in good yields in most cases and high % ee in asymmetric reactions. Exploration of the reaction between 2a and a stoichiometric amount of one desymmetrization substrate allowed two intermediate tungstacyclobutane complexes to be observed, in addition to the final and quite stable tungstacyclobutane complex formed in a reaction between the ring-closed product and a tungsten methylene complex. Reactions involving (13)C labeled ethylene allowed for the observation of an unsubstituted tungstacyclobutane complex, an ethylene complex, an unsubstituted tungstacyclopentane complex, and a heterochiral dimeric form of a methylene complex. The tungstacyclopentane complex was found to catalyze the dimerization of ethylene to 1-butene slowly.

The synthesis and reactivity of a molybdenum (IV) stretched-dihydrogen complex

Reaction of [Mo(NPh)(PMe3)3(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)] (1) with molecular hydrogen (ca. 1 atm) at -10 degrees C in toluene-d8 results in the formation of dihydrogen complex [Mo(NPh)(PMe3)2(H2)(o-(Me3SiN)2C6H4)] (2) by 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy. In solution at -50 degrees C 1 and 2 are present in a 1:3 ratio, respectively. The nature of dihydrogen ligand bonding in 2 was probed by T1 analysis and analysis of the JH-D coupling constant in the deuterium hydride isotopomer of 2 giving H-H distances of 1.18 A and 1.17 A, respectively. When allowed to warm to 30 degrees C, 2 reacts affording [Mo(NPh)(PMe3)3(o-(Me3SiN)(NH)C6H4)] (3) over a 1 h period. The X-ray structures of 1 and 3 are reported.