Bi- and tridentate coordination behaviour of a novel bis(phosphinimino)methanide ligand

Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel ferrocenyl-functionalized bis(phosphinimino)methane ligand (CH2 (PPh2 NFc)2 ). Deprotonation of CH2 (PPh2 NFc)2 with KN(SiMe3 )2 gave the dimeric species [K{CH(PPh2 NFc)2 }]2 , which was further reacted with ECl2 (E=Ge, Sn) to yield the tetrylene compounds [{CH(PPh2 NFc)2 }ECl]. The ligand and the resulting tetrylenes were examined for their electrochemical properties with the aid of cyclic voltammetry. Furthermore, the reaction of the tetrylenes [{CH(PPh2 NFc)2 }ECl] with [AuC6 F5 (tht)] resulted in the bimetallic complexes [{(AuC6 F5 )CH(PPh2 NFc)2 }ECl] with an unusual Au coordination on the ligand backbone.

A diamino-substituted carbodiphosphorane as strong C-donor and weak N-donor: isolation of monomeric trigonal-planar L·ZnCl2

The isolation, structural characterization and coordination chemistry of a di(amino)-substituted carbodiphosphorane (CDP) are reported. Compared to the analogue, dianionic bis(iminophosphoryl)methandiides, the CDP is a stronger C-, but much weaker N-donor which led to the isolation of solely C-coordinated metal complexes amongst an unusual monomeric trigonal-planar L·ZnCl₂ complex.

Cerium-carbon dative interactions supported by carbodiphosphorane

A set of complexes containing dative interactions between a rare-earth metal and carbon are reported. Complex 2, Br₃Ce(CDP)(THF), with a Ce←C bond was synthesized by the reaction of CeBr₃ with a carbon(0) ligand, carbodiphosphorane (CDP). More significantly, a trivalent cerium complex 3, [BrCe(CDP)₂](BPh₄)₂, with two σ dative interactions C→Ce←C was also isolated, which represents an unusual example of two dative interactions formed with the same atom in a molecule. Furthermore, π donation by the second lone-pair electrons of the CDP ligand is rather weak. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the Ce-C bond lengths in these complexes are comparable with those in cerium(iii)-carbene species. Density functional theory calculations support the dative interaction formation in these complexes and the strength of σ-donation in 3 is stronger than that in 2.

Geminal Dianions Stabilized by Main Group Elements

This review is dedicated to the chemistry of stable and isolable species that bear two lone pairs at the same C center, i.e., geminal dianions, stabilized by main group elements. Three cases can thus be considered: the geminal-dilithio derivative, for which the two substituents at C are neutral, the yldiide derivatives, for which one substituent is neutral while the other is charged, and finally the geminal bisylides, for which the two substituents are positively charged. In this review, the syntheses and electronic structures of the geminal dianions are presented, followed by the studies dedicated to their reactivity toward organic substrates and finally to their coordination chemistry and applications.

Highly Reactive Scandium Phosphinoalkylidene Complex: C-H and H-H Bonds Activation

The first scandium phosphinoalkylidene complex was synthesized and structurally characterized. The complex has the shortest Sc-C bond lengths reported to date (2.089(3) Å). DFT calculations reveal the presence of a three center π interaction in the complex. This scandium phosphinoalkylidene complex undergoes intermolecular C-H bond activation of pyridine, 4-dimethylamino pyridine and 1,3-dimethylpyrazole at room temperature. Furthermore, the complex rapidly activates H₂ under mild conditions. DFT calculations also demonstrate that the C-H activation of 1,3-dimethylpyrazole is selective for thermodynamic reasons and the relatively slow reaction is due to the need of fully breaking the chelating effect of the phosphino group to undergo the reaction whereas this is not the case for H₂.

Lutetium-methanediide-alkyl complexes: synthesis and chemistry

The first four-coordinate methanediide/alkyl lutetium complex (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 )2 (μ2 -CHSiMe3 )(THF)2 (BODDI=ArNC(Me)CHCOCHC(Me)NAr, Ar=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 ) (1) was synthesized by a thermolysis methodology through α-H abstraction from a Lu-CH2 SiMe3 group. Complex 1 reacted with equimolar 2,6-iPrC6 H3 NH2 and Ph2 C+O to give the corresponding lutetium bridging imido and oxo complexes (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 )2 (μ2 -N-2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 )(THF)2 (2) and (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 )2 (μ2 -O)(THF)2 (3). Treatment of 3 with Ph2 C=O (4 equiv) caused a rare insertion of Lu-μ2 -O bond into theC=O group to afford a diphenylmethyl diolate complex 4. Reaction of 1 with PhN=C=O (2 equiv) led to the migration of SiMe3 to the amido nitrogen atom to give complex (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 )2 -μ-{PhNC(O)CHC(O)NPh(SiMe3 )-κ(3) N,O,O}(THF) (5). Reaction of 1 withtBuN=C formed an unprecedented product (BODDI)Lu2 (CH2 SiMe3 ){μ2 -[η(2) :η(2) -tBuN=C(=CH2 )SiMe2 CHC=NtBu-κ(1) N]}(tBuN=C)2 (6) through a cascade reaction of N=C bond insertion, sequential cyclometalative γ-(sp(3) )-H activation, C=C bond formation, and rearrangement of the newly formed carbene intermediate. The possible mechanistic pathways between 1, PhN=C=O, and tBuN=C were elucidated by DFT calculations.

Titanium imido complexes stabilised by bis(iminophosphoranyl)methanide ligands: the influence of N-substituents on solution dynamics and reactivity

The synthesis, structural study and assessment in catalytic hydroamination of Ti imido complexes with bis(iminophosphoranyl)methanide ligands are reported.

A tetracoordinated phosphasalen nickel(III) complex

The oxidation of a Ni(II) complex bearing a tetradentate phosphasalen ligand, which differs from salen by the presence of an iminophosphorane (PN) in place of an imine unit, was easily achieved by addition of a silver salt. The site of this oxidation was investigated with a combination of techniques (NMR, EPR, UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, magnetic measurements) as well as DFT calculations. All data are in agreement with a high-valent Ni(III) center concentrating the spin density. This markedly differs from precedents in the salen series for which oxidation on the metal was only observed at low temperature or in the presence of additional ligands or anions. Therefore, thanks to the good electron-donating properties of the phosphasalen ligand, [Ni(Psalen)](+) represents a rare example of a tetracoordinated high-valent nickel complex in presence of a phenoxide ligand.

Palladium complexes derived from N,N-bidentate NH-iminophosphorane ligands: synthesis and use as catalysts in the Sonogashira reaction

The addition of primary amines to the C=C bond of diphenylalkenyl iminophosphoranes yielded a new subtype of N,N-bidentate ligands bearing N=P(V)-C-C-NH backbones. These donor ligands reacted with PdCl(2)(COD) to give the corresponding σN,σN-palladium complexes containing secondary amino groups, bearing an intrinsically chiral nitrogen atom, and iminophosphorane units. These new complexes have been fully characterized by the use of spectroscopic techniques and X-ray crystallography. The comparison of the data extracted from their solution NMR spectra with their solid state structures demonstrated the conformational stability of their six-membered chelate ring and also the configurational stability of the chiral nitrogen atom, thus ruling out an arm-off racemization process. The addition of the chiral, racemic α-methylbenzylamine to the prochiral P-alkenyl iminophosphoranes yielded mixtures of the two expected diasteroisomeric ligands in low diastereoisomeric ratios. One of these mixtures was resolved into their components, each one in turn giving rise to a pair of diasteromeric palladium complexes epimeric at the amino nitrogen atom. One selected example of the new complexes efficiently catalyzes the copper- and amine-free Sonogashira reaction of aryl halides with acetylenes.

Ln4(CH2)4 cubane-type rare-earth methylidene complexes consisting of "(C5Me4SiMe3)LnCH2" units (Ln = Tm, Lu)

Tetranuclear cubane-type rare-earth methylidene complexes consisting of four "Cp'LnCH(2)" units, [Cp'Ln(μ(3)-CH(2))](4) (4-Ln; Ln = Tm, Lu; Cp' = C(5)Me(4)SiMe(3)), have been obtained for the first time through CH(4) elimination from the well-defined polymethyl complexes [Cp'Ln(μ(2)-CH(3))(2)](3) (2-Ln) or mixed methyl/methylidene precursors such as [Cp'(3)Ln(3)(μ(2)-Me)(3)(μ(3)-Me)(μ(3)-CH(2))] (3-Ln). The reaction of the methylidene complex 4-Lu with benzophenone leads to C═O bond cleavage and C═C bond formation to give the cubane-type oxo complex [Cp'Lu(μ(3)-O)](4) and CH(2)═CPh(2), while the methyl/methylidene complex 3-Tm undergoes sequential methylidene addition to the C═O group and ortho C-H activation of the two phenyl groups of benzophenone to afford the bis(benzo-1,2-diyl)ethoxy-chelated trinuclear complex [Cp'(3)Tm(3)(μ(2)-Me)(3){(C(6)H(4))(2)C(O)Me}] (6-Tm).

Early metal bis(phosphorus-stabilised)carbene chemistry

Since the discovery of covalently-bound mid- and late-transition metal carbenes there has been a spectacular explosion of interest in their chemistry, but their early metal counterparts have lagged behind. In recent years, bis(phosphorus-stabilised)carbenes have emerged as valuable ligands for metals across the periodic table, and their use has in particular greatly expanded covalently-bound early metal carbene chemistry. In this tutorial review we introduce the reader to bis(phosphorus-stabilised)carbenes, and cover general preparative methods, structure and bonding features, and emerging reactivity studies of early metal derivatives (groups 1-4 and the f-elements).

Regioselective C-H activation and sequential C-C and C-O bond formation reactions of aryl ketones promoted by an yttrium carbene

Rare earth carbenes exclusively exhibit Wittig-type reactivity with carbonyl compounds to afford alkenes. Here, we report that yttrium carbenes can effect regioselective ortho-C-H activation and sequential C-C and C-O bond formation reactions of aryl ketones to give iso-benzofurans and hydroxymethylbenzophenones. With MeCOPh, cyclotetramerization occurs giving a substituted cyclohexene. This demonstrates new rare earth carbene reactivity which complements existing Wittig-type reactivity.