Protonation reactions of dinuclear pyrazolato iridium(I) complexes

The complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)] (1) undergoes double protonation reactions with HCl and with HO(2)CCF(3) to give the neutral dihydride complexes [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(X)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)] (X = Cl, eta(1)-O(2)CCF(3)), in which the hydride ligands were located trans to the X groups and in the boat of the complexes, both in the solid state and in solution. The complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(Cl)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)] evolves in solution to the cationic complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)(mu-Cl)]Cl. Removal of the anionic chloride by reaction with methyltriflate allows the isolation of the triflate salt [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)(mu-Cl)]OTf. This complex undergoes a metathesis reaction of hydride by chloride in CDCl(3) under exposure to the direct sunlight to give the complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(Cl)(CNBu(t))(2)](2)(mu-Cl)]OTf. Protonation of both metal centers in [[Ir(mu-Pz)(CO)(2)](2)] with HCl occurs at low temperature, but eventually the mononuclear compound [IrCl(HPz)(CO)(2)] is isolated. The related complex [[Ir(mu-Pz)(CO)(P[OPh](3))](2)] reacts with HCl and with HO(2)CCF(3) to give the neutral Ir(III)/Ir(III) complexes [[Ir(mu-Pz)(H)(X)(CO)(P[OPh](3))](2)], respectively. Both reactions were found to take place stepwise, allowing the isolation of the intermediate monohydrides. They are of different natures, i.e., the metal-metal-bonded Ir(II)/Ir(II) compound [(P[OPh](3))(CO)(Cl)Ir(mu-Pz)(2)Ir(H)(CO)(P[OPh](3))] and the mixed-valence Ir(I)/Ir(III) complex [(P[OPh](3))(CO)Ir(mu-Pz)(2)Ir(H)(eta(1)-O(2)CCF(3))(CO)(P[OPh](3))].

Key factors determining the course of methyl iodide oxidative addition to diamidonaphthalene-bridged diiridium(I) and dirhodium(I) complexes

The course of methyl iodide oxidative addition to various nucleophilic complexes, [Ir2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CO)2(PiPr3)2] (1), [IrRh(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CO)2(PiPr3)2] (2), and [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CO)2(PR3)2] (R = iPr, 3; Ph, 4; p-tolyl, 5; Me, 6), has been investigated. The CH3I addition to complex 1 readily affords the diiridium(II) complex [Ir2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)I(CH3)(CO)2(PiPr3)2] (7), which undergoes slow rearrangement to give a thermodynamically stable stereoisomer, 8. The reaction of the Ir-Rh complex 2 gives the ionic compound [IrRh(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CH3)(CO)2(PiPr3)2]I (10). The dirhodium compounds, 3-5, undergo one-center additions to yield acyl complexes of the formula (Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)I(COCH3)(CO)(PR3)2] (R = iPr, 12; Ph, 13; p-tolyl, 14). The structure of 12 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Further reactions of these Rh(III)-Rh(I) acyl derivatives with CH3I are productive only for the p-tolylphosphine derivative, which affords the bis-acyl complex [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CH3CO)2I2(P(p-tolyl)3)2] (15). The reaction of the PMe3 derivative, 6, allows the isolation of the bis-methyl complex [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(mu-I)(CH3)2(CO)2(PMe3)2]I (16a), which emanates from a double one-center addition. Upon reaction with methyl triflate, the starting materials, 1, 2, 3, and 6, give the isostructural cationic methyl complexes 9, 11, 17, and 18, respectively. The behavior of these cationic methyl compounds toward CH3I, CH3OSO2CF3, and tetrabutylamonium iodide is consistent with the role of these species as intermediates in the SN2 addition of CH3I. Compounds 18 and 17 react with an excess of methyl triflate to give [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(mu-OSO2CF3)(CH3)2(CO)2(PMe3)2][CF3SO3] (19) and [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(OSO2CF3)(COCH3)(CH3)(CO)(PiPr3)2][CF3SO3] (20), respectively. Upon treatment with acetonitrile, complexes 17 and 18 give the isostructural cationic acyl complexes [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(COCH3)(NCCH3)(CO)(PR3)2][CF3SO3] (R = iPr, 21; Me, 22). A kinetic study of the reaction leading to 21 shows that formation of these complexes involves a slow insertion step followed by the fast coordination of the acetonitrile. The variety of reactions found in this system can be rationalized in terms of three alternative reaction pathways, which are determined by the effectiveness of the interactions between the two metal centers of the dinuclear complex and by the steric constraints due to the phosphine ligands.

Oxidative-Addition Reactions of Diiodine to Dinuclear Rhodium Pyrazolate Complexes

The pyrazolato (Pz) rhodium(I) complexes [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(CO)(L)}(2)] (L = CNBu(t), P(OMe)(3), PMe(2)Ph, P(OPh)(3), P(p-tolyl)(3)) result from the reaction of [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(CO)(2)}(2)] with the appropriate L ligand in a trans:cis ratio ranging from 60:40 (L = CNBu(t)) to 95:5 (L = P(p-tolyl)(3)). The pure trans isomers add 1 molar equiv of diiodine to give the dirhodium(II) complexes [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(L)}(2)] (L = CNBu(t) (6), P(OMe)(3) (7), PMe(2)Ph (8), P(OPh)(3) (9)). These complexes incorporate two iodide ligands trans to the rhodium-rhodium bond, as substantiated by the X-ray structure for 7, while the complex [(P{p-tolyl}(3))(CO)(I)Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(2)(&mgr;-CO)Rh(I)(P{p-tolyl}(3))] (10) contains a bridging ketonic CO ligand, due to the insertion of a terminal CO into the metal-metal bond. The metal-metal bond formation involves a 2e oxidation, since identical compounds (6-9) are obtained by oxidation with [Fe(Cp)(2)](PF(6)) followed by addition of potassium iodide. Further reactions of the dirhodium(II) complexes 6-9 with diiodine leading to the metal-metal rupture are electrophilic additions, as exemplified by the reactions with the positive iodine complex [I(Py)(2)](+). They start at the "endo site" (the metal-metal bond) if it is sterically accessible to the electrophile, to give directly the dirhodium(III) complexes [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(L)}(2)(&mgr;-I)](+) (L = CNBu(t), CO). Otherwise, as for the complexes with P-donor ligands, abstraction of a iodide ligand trans to the metal-metal bond (the "exo site") occurs first, to give the dirhodium(II) cationic complexes [(PR(3))(CO)(I)Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(2)Rh(CO)(PR(3))](+) and triiodide. These react again with diiodine to give dirhodium(III) complexes [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(PR(3))}(2)(&mgr;-I)](+) similar to those described above, but with triiodide or pentaiodide as counterion, as substantiated by the X-ray structure of [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(PMe(2)Ph)}(2)(&mgr;-I)]I(5) (18). The diiridium(II) complexes [{Ir(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(PR(3))}(2)] (PR(3) = P(OPh)(3), PMe(2)Ph) also react with diiodine to give the cationic diiridium(III) complexes [{Ir(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(PR(3))}(2)(&mgr;-I)]I(3) through a reaction pathway involving the "exo site", while no reaction is observed for [{Ir(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(2)}(2)]. Finally, replacement of a carbonyl ligand in [{Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(I)(CO)(L)}(2)(&mgr;-I)](+) (L = CNBu(t), CO) by iodide gives the compounds [(CO)(L)(I)Rh(&mgr;-Pz)(2)(&mgr;-I)Rh(I)(2)(L)].