Preparation and structures of the cluster dimers consisting of Rh2Mo2S4 single-cubane units connected by two bidentate N-donor ligands

Reactions of a single-cubane cluster [{Rh(cod)}₂{MoCl(dtc)}₂(μ₃-S)₄] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, dtc = diethyldithiocarbamate) with 1 equiv. of L (L = pyrazine, 4,4′-bipyridyl, trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene) in the presence of 2 equiv. of AgBF₄ in CH₂Cl₂ gave doubly bridged double-cubane clusters [({Rh(cod)}₂{Mo(dtc)}₂(μ₃-S)₄)₂(μ-L)₂][BF₄]₄, whose structures were determined by the single-crystal X-ray analysis.     

Fragmentation of realgar,As4S4, controlled by transition metalligand systems

The chemical behavior of the realgar molecule, As₄S₄, toward various (triphos)M moieties has been investigated. The reaction of As₄S₄ with [{MCl(cod)}₂] (M=Rh or Ir; cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) in the presence of the ligand triphos [triphos=1,1,1- tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane] yields compounds of formula [(triphos)M(η³-As₃S₃)]·C₆H₆ containing the new As₃S₃ unit, which is trihapto bonded to the metal atom through one sulfur and two arsenic atoms. Such a As₃S₃ fragment is the largest one so far extruded from the realgar molecule. The As₄S₄ molecule undergoes more drastic disruptions in the reactions with Co(BF₄)₂·6H₂O and Ni(BF₄)₂·6H₂O in the presence of triphos. These results suggest that the fragmentation of the As₄S₄ molecule is controlled by the nature of the metal atom involved in the reaction.     

New acylhydridorhodium(III) complexes containing terdentate PNN ligands from the reaction of diolefinic rhodium(I) complexes with o-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde in the presence of chelating amino ligands

[{Rh(cod)Cl}₂] (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) reacts with o-(diphenylphosphino)benzaldehyde (PPh₂(o-C₆H₄CHO)) (Rh:P=1:1) in the presence of aromatic diamines or 8-aminoquinoline (NN) to give acylhydride [Rh(Cl)(H){PPh₂(o-C₆H₄CO)}(NN)] species. The oxidative addition of PPh₂(o-C₆H₄CHO) in the presence of (NN) and PPh₃ gives cationic species [Rh(H){PPh₂(o-C₆H₄CO)} (PPh₃)(NN)]⁺ containing mutually trans phosphorus atoms. When (NN)=8-aminoquinoline, a mixture of two isomers is obtained. These isomers differ in the nitrogen cis to the hydride, amino or quinolinic. By using Rh:PPh₂(o-C₆H₄CHO)=1:2 stoichiometric ratios, oxidative addition of one PPh₂(o-C₆H₄CHO) and P-coordination of another PPh₂(o-C₆H₄CHO) occurs. The aldehyde group undergoes then a condensation reaction with the coordinated amine to afford new PNN terdentate ligands, phosphine-amino-imine when (NN)=diamine or phosphine-diimine when (NN)=8-aminoquinoline. These reactions give selectively the corresponding complexes [Rh(H){PPh₂(o-C₆H₄CO)}(PNN)]⁺ containing trans phosphorus atoms and the hydride cis to the new imino group. X-ray diffraction studies of the PNN complexes are reported.     

A 31P1H NMR study of the reactions of [Rh2(μ-Cl)2(cod)2] with unsymmetrical,bidentate ligands and hydrogen

[Rh₂(μ-Cl)₂(cod)₂] reacts with Ph₂PCH₂CH₂OMe (PC₂O), Ph₂P(CH₂)₃NMe₂ (PC₃N), PBuⁿPh₂ or PPh₃ to give [Rh(cod)L₂]Cl (L = PC₂O, PC₃N, PBuⁿPh₂, PPh₃). In the presence of hydrogen, [Rh(cod)L₂]Cl is converted to [RhClH₂L₃]. In contrast, [Rh(cod)(PC₂O)₂]BPh₄ reacts with H₂ to give [RhH₂(PC₂O)₂S₂]BPh₄ (S = solvent). With Ph₂PCH₂CH₂NMe₂ (PC₂N) or Ph₂PCH₂CH₂SMe (PC₂S), [Rh₂(μ-Cl)₂(cod)₂] reacts to form the chelate complexes cis- [Rh(PC₂N)₂]⁺ or cis-[Rh(PC₂S)₂]⁺, neither of which reacts with hydrogen under ambient conditions. The products of the reactions are characterized in situ by ³¹P¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Enantioselective hydrogenation in ionic liquids: Recyclability of the [Rh(COD)(DIPAMP)]BF4 catalyst in [bmim][BF4]

Asymmetric hydrogenation of (Z)-α-acetamidocinnamic acid and methyl-(Z)-α-acetamidocinnamate by [Rh(COD)(DIPAMP)][BF₄] catalyst was studied in ionic liquid/isopropanol two-phase catalytic system. In this system 97–100% conversion was achieved and the enantioselectivity values were over 90%. Application of [bmim][BF₄] ionic liquid made it possible to recycle the catalyst in consecutive cycles. After four cycles, neither significant conversion nor enantioselectivity decrease was observed.     

Aliphatic and aromatic C-H activation of benzo[h]quinolines by Rh(I). Unique precursor dependent formation of mono-, di- and trinuclear complexes

Treatment of 7,8-benzo[h]quinoline (bhq-H, 1) and 10-methyl benzo[h]quinoline (bhq-Me, 3) with [Rh(C₂H₄)₂(THF)₂][BF₄] resulted in double C-H activation of aliphatic and aromatic C-H bonds, yielding the Rh(III) complexes 4 and 5, respectively. The structures of 4 and 5 were revealed by X-ray diffraction. The reaction of 1 with two other slightly different rhodium precursors, [Rh(olefin)_n(THF)₂][BF₄] (COE (n = 2), COD (n = 1)), led to completely different products, a dinuclear complex 7 and a trinuclear complex 6, respectively, which were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Complex 6 exhibits a rare linear Rh-Rh-Rh structure. Utilizing excess of 1 with [Rh(COD)(THF)₂][BF₄] led to the formation of a new product 8 with no C-H bond activation taking place. Additional C-H activation products of 1, cationic and neutral, in the presence of PⁱPr₃ (9a, 9b and 10) are also presented.     

Mononuclear and dinuclear bromo bridged iridium(I) complexes with N-allyl substituted imidazolin-2-ylidene ligands

The reaction of 1-methyl-3-(2-propenyl)imidazolium bromide (1) or 1,3-bis(2-propenyl)-imidazolium bromide (2) with [Ir(μ-OMe)(cod)]₂ afforded the five coordinated iridium(I) carbene complexes [IrBr(L)(cod)] (3) (L=1-methyl-3-(2-propenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) and (4) (L=1,3-bis(2-propenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene). The reaction proceeds via an in situ deprotonation of the imidazolium salt. Molecular structure determinations on 3 and 4 confirmed the coordination of the carbene ligands via the carbene carbon atom and one allyl group in both complexes. Treatment of complex 3 with an excess of AgBF₄ gave the dinuclear bromo bridged complex [(Ir(μ-Br)(L)(cod)]₂BF₄ (5) (L=1-methyl-3-(2-propenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene). The reaction of complex 4 with an excess of AgBF₄ led to the mononuclear complex [Ir(L)(cod)]BF₄ (6) (L=1,3-bis(2-propenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) where both N-allyl substituents are coordinated to the iridium(I) center.     

Rh and Ir dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraene complexes: Chloro, hydroxo, and mixed Au oxo complexes

New and improved procedures are reported for the synthesis of [M(DBCOT)(μ-Cl)]₂ (M = Rh, Ir; DBCOT = dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraene) from MCl₃(H₂O)_x or [M(COD)(μ-Cl)]₂ and DBCOT. Treatment of [M(DBCOT)(μ-Cl)]₂ with [(LAu)₃(μ-O)]BF₄(L = PPh₃, P^tBu₃) yields the mixed-metal oxo complexes [M(DBCOT)(μ⁴-O)(AuL)₂]₂(BF₄)₂. Dimeric [Rh(DBCOT)(μ-OH)]₂ is obtained from the reaction of [M(DBCOT)(μ-Cl)]₂ with KOH in EtOH/H₂O. All complexes except [Rh(DBCOT)(μ-Cl)]₂ have been structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Reactions of the borole complex CpRh(η-C4H4BPh) with monocationic organometallic fragments

The B-phenylborole complex CpRh(η⁵-C₄H₄BPh) (1) reacts with [ML]⁺ fragments to give the arene-type cationic complexes [CpRh(μ-η⁵:η⁶-C₄H₄BPh)ML]⁺ (ML = RuCp^∗ (3), Co(C₄Me₄) (4), Rh(cod) (5), and Ir(cod) (6)). Cation 4 undergoes a reversible rearrangement into the triple-decker complex [CpRh(μ-η⁵:η⁵-C₄H₄BPh)Co(C₄Me₄)]⁺ (7) under visible light irradiation in CH₂Cl₂ solution. DFT calculations revealed greater stability of arene-type complexes over triple-decker isomers. The structure of [3]BF₄ was determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Trinuclear iridium and rhodium complexes: the solution to a puzzle involving the multiple coordination possibilities of 1,8-naphthyridine-2-one ligands

The multiple coordination possibilities of 1,8-naphthyridine-2-one (HOnapy) and 5,7-dimethyl-1,8-napthyridine-2-one (HOMe₂napy) ligands allow the synthesis of a variety of tri- di- and mononuclear complexes, showing fluxional behaviour and frequent exchange of the coordinated ML₂ fragments. Thus, reactions of [M₂(μ-OMe)₂(cod)₂] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with HOnapy and HOMe₂napy yield the compounds of the general formula [M(μ-OR₂napy) (cod)]_n (M = Ir, R = Me (1a, 1b, H (2); M = Rh, R = Me (3a, 3b). They crystallise as inconvertible yellow (a) and purple/orange (b) forms and also show a puzzling behaviour in solution. X-ray diffraction studies on both forms (3a, 3b) and spectroscopic data reveal that the yellow forms are mononuclear complexes whilst the dark-coloured crystals contain dinuclear complexes. In solution, the nuclearity of the complexes depends on the solvent. In addition both types of complexes are fluxional. The mixed-ligand complexes [M₂(μ-OMe₂napy)₂(CO)₂(cod)] M = Ir (5), Rh (6) have been isolated and characterised; they are found to be intermediates in the synthesis of the trinuclear complexes [M₃(μ₃-OMe₂napy)₂(CO)₂(cod)₂]⁺ M = Rh (8), Ir (9). Reactions of [IrCl(CO)₂(NH₂-p-tolyl] with the complexes [Rh(μ-OR₂napy)(diolefin)]_n followed by addition of a poor donor anion is a general one-pot synthesis for the hetertrinuclear complexes [Rh₂Ir(μ₃-OR₂napy)₂(CO)₂(diolefin)₂]⁺ (R=Me, DIOLEFIN = cod (10), tetrafluorobenzo-barrelene (tfbb) (11), 2,5-norbornadiene (nbd) (12); R=H, DIOLEFIN=cod (13)). This synthesis follows a stepwise mechanism from the mononuclear to the trinuclear complexes in which mixed-ligand heterodinuclear complexes are involved as intermediates of the type [(diolefin)Rh(μ-OMe₂napy)₂Ir(CO)₂]. Heteronuclear complexes which possess the core [RhIr₂]³⁺, such as [RhIr₂(μ₃-OR₂napy)₂(CO)₂(cod)₂]BF₄ (R=Me (14), H (15)), result from the reaction of 1 or 2 with [Rh(CO)₂S_x]⁺ (S = solvent). The trinuclear complexes undergo two chemically reversible one-electron oxidation processes. The chemical oxidation of 10, 14 and 9 with silver salts gives the mixed-valence trinuclear radicals [Rh₂Ir(μ₃-OMe₂napy)₂(CO)₂(cod)₂]²⁺ (16), [RhIr₂(μ₃-OMe₂napy)₂(CO)₂(cod)₂]²⁺ (17) and [Ir₃(μ₃-OMe₂napy)₂(CO)₂(cod)₂]²⁺ (18), which have been isolated as the perchlorate and tetrafluoroborate salts. The EPR spectrum of 16 indicates that the unpaired electron is essentially in an orbital delocalised on the metals. The molecular structures of the complexes 3a, 3b, 6, 10b and 16a are described. Crystals of 3a are triclinic, P-1, with a = 9.7393(2), b = 14.0148(4), c = 16.0607(4) Å, α = 88.122(3), β = 83.924(3), γ = 87.038(3)°, Z = 4; 3b crystallises in the Pna2_i orthorhhombic space group, with a = 16.7541(3), B = 11.7500(8), c = 17.7508(7) Å, Z = 4; complex 6 is packed in the monoclinic space group P2_i/c, a = 9.6371(1), b = 11.8054(4), c = 27.2010(9) Å, β = 90.556(4)°, Z = 4; crystals of 10b are monoclinic, P2₁/n, with a = 17.546(7), b = 13.232(6), c = 17.437(8) Å, β = 106.18(1)°, Z = 4; crystals of 16a are triclinic, P-1, with a = 10.318(4), b = 12.562(6), C = 19.308(8) Å, α = 92.12(8), β = 97.65(9), γ = 90.68(5)°, Z = 2. The five different structures show the coordination versatility of the OMe₂napy molecule as ligand, which behaves as a N,N′-chelating (3a), bidentate N,O-donor (3b, 6), or as a tridentate N,N′,O-donor bridging ligand (10b, 16a).     

A stereodynamic phosphoramidite ligand derived from 3,3′‐functionalized ortho‐biphenol and its rhodium(I) complex

Stereodynamic ligands and complexes bearing functional groups to attach chiral or achiral binding sites and auxiliaries are highly attractive due to the interesting opportunities for controlling the stereochemical outcome of enantioselective transformations. In this study we report the preparation of a 3,3′‐functionalized biphenol (BIPOL) phosphoramidite ligand (P_Am) bearing 3,5‐dichlorobenzoyl (3,5‐DCB) amide binding sites for noncovalent interactions. Upon coordination to [Rh(COD)₂]BF₄ this substitution pattern directs one of the 3,5‐DCB binding sites in close proximity of the metal center resulting in liberation of both COD ligands and the formation of a [Rh(P_Am)₂]BF₄ complex. Coordination of the amide carbonyl unit was found to be reversible, since the complex acted as an active catalyst in the hydrogenation of dehydroamino acid derivatives. X‐ray crystallographic investigation revealed that the second 3,5‐DCB unit is capable of forming noncovalent π–π interactions connecting both phosphoramidite ligands.     

Rh(I) complexes containing tris(pyrazolyl)amine and bis(pyrazolyl)amine ligands: synthesis and NMR studies

The tris(pyrazolyl)amine ligands: tris[2-(1-pyrazolyl)methyl]amine (tpma), tris [3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)methyl]amine (tdma), tris[2-(1-pyrazolyl)ethyl]amine (tpea), tris[2-(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)ethyl]amine (tdea) and bis(pyrazolyl)amine ligands: bis[2-(1-pyrazolyl)ethyl]amine (bpea) and bis[2-(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)ethyl]amine (bdea) react with [RhCl(cod)]₂ in presence of NaBF₄ (tpma, tdma and bdea) or AgBF₄ (tpea, tdea and bpea) to lead to [Rh(cod)L] (BF₄) (L=tpma (1), tdma (2), bdea (3), tpea (4), tdea (5) and bpea (6)). These complexes have been characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and liquid mass (with electrospray) spectrometry. The ¹H NMR spectra of 1, 2 show the presence of two isomers in solution in a 3:1 ratio (coordination κ² or κ³ type) in a thermodynamic equilibrium. The steric bulk of cyclo-octa-1,5-diene causes it to prefer the κ² mode of bonding as majority. Similar to previous published results, complexes 4 and 5 exist in a sole form in solution (probably κ² isomer). Finally, the complexes 3 and 6 are fluxional. A NMR study shows that this fluxional process is not frozen at 183 K.     

Alkyne hydrophosphinylation catalyzed by rhodium pyrazolylborate complexes

Despite numerous examples of stoichiometric bond activation reactions using rhodium pyrazolylborate complexes, the use of these complexes in catalytic reactions is still uncommon. We have evaluated the activity of Tp¹Rh(PPh₃)₂ [Tp¹ = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate] and Tp¹Rh(cod) (cod = cyclooctadiene) in alkyne hydrophosphinylation relative to a series of known catalysts for this reaction. Both Tp¹Rh(PPh₃)₂ and Tp¹Rh(cod) are active catalysts for alkyne hydrophosphinylation, although neither is as active as Wilkinson’s catalyst. The ability of Tp¹Rh(PPh₃)₂ to effect hydrophosphinylation of a series of alkyne substrates with diphenylphosphine oxide is also presented. In addition, we report the crystal structures of the products of the reactions between diphenylphosphine oxide and both [μ-ClRh(cod)]₂ and Tp¹Rh(PPh₃)₂. The former is a possible catalytically relevant intermediate, while the latter is inactive.     

A density functional theory study on the interactions between dibenzothiophene and tetrafluoroborate-based ionic liquids

The interactions between dibenzothiophene (DBT) and N-butyl-N-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF₄]), N-butyl-N-methylmorpholinium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmmorpholinium][BF₄]), N-butyl-N-methylpiperdinium tetrafluoroborate ([BMPiper][BF₄]), N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate ([BMPyrro][BF₄]), and N-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate ([BPY][BF₄]) were investigated using density functional theory approach. Geometric, electron, and topological properties were analyzed using natural bond orbital, atoms in molecules theory, and noncovalent interaction methods in order to understand intermolecular interactions between DBT and ionic liquids. The result shows that hydrogen bond and van der Waals interactions are widespread in all the ionic liquids-DBT systems. Ion-π interactions between DBT and cation or anion are also observed, while π⁺-π interactions are only found in the [BMIM][BF₄]-DBT and [BPY][BF₄]-DBT systems. The order of interaction energy is [BPY][BF4]-DBT > [BMIM][BF₄]-DBT >> [BMPiper][BF₄]-DBT > [BMPyrro][BF₄]-DBT > [BMmorpholinum][BF₄]-DBT. The energies between DBT and the two ionic liquids containing aromatic cations are significantly higher.     

Substrate stabilization and noncompetitive inhibition effects of a water-miscible ionic liquid [BMPy][BF<Subscript>4</Subscript>] in the catalysis of horseradish peroxidase

The inhibition mechanism of a water-miscible ionic liquid, N-butyl-3-methypyridinium tetrafluoroborate ([BMPy][BF₄]), on the catalysis of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was investigated. The K _m value for the oxidation of guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol) with H₂O₂ catalyzed by HRP increased from 2.8 mM in 100% water to 12.6 mM in 25% (v/v) [BMPy][BF₄]. This increase of K _m by the ionic liquid was elucidated to be caused by the strong stabilization of the ground state of guaiacol by the ionic liquid. On the contrary, the k _cat value for the HRP-catalyzed reaction decreased from 13.8/sec in 100% water to 6.7/sec in 25% (v/v) [BMPy][BF₄]. Such decrease of k _cat value of HRP catalysis by the increasing content of [BMPy][BF₄] was described using the noncompetitive inhibition of the enzyme by the ionic liquid. The value of the inhibition constant of [BMPy][BF₄] was 1.48 M indicating that the ionic liquid exerts a weak noncompetitive inhibition effect on the HRP catalysis.     

Reactivity of [PdCl(bdtp)](BF4) with monodentate neutral and anionic ligands. Structure of [Pd(bdtp)(PPh3)](BF4)2 (bdtp = 1,5-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)-3-thiapentane)

Complex [PdCl(bdtp)](BF₄), in presence of AgBF₄ or NaBF₄, reacts with pyridine (py), triphenylphosphine (PPh₃), cyanide (CN⁻), thiocyanate (SCN⁻) or azide (N₃⁻) ligands, leading to the formation of the following complexes: [Pd(bdtp)(py)](BF₄)₂ [1](BF₄)₂, [Pd(bdtp)(PPh₃)](BF₄)₂ [2](BF₄)₂, [Pd(CN)(bdtp)](BF₄) [3](BF₄), [Pd(SCN)(bdtp)](BF₄) [4](BF₄) and [Pd(N₃)(bdtp)](BF₄) [5](BF₄). These complexes were characterised by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, conductivity measurements, infrared and NMR spectroscopies. The crystal structure of [2](BF₄)₂ was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The metal atom is coordinated by two azine nitrogen atoms, and one sulfur atom of the thioether-pyrazole ligand and one triphenylphosphine in a distorted square-planar geometry.     

Water‐miscible ionic liquids as novel effectors for the firefly luciferase reaction

Ionic liquids (IL) are used as a new class of solvents for various reactions. Especially using IL in biocatalysis in an aqueous milieu has attracted considerable attention because enzymes show remarkable differences in their catalytic features in IL‐containing reaction media. Firefly luciferase is widely used in many analytical techniques, because light production of firefly luciferase is one of the most sensitive analytical measures in the ultrasensitive detection of adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate, e.g. for measuring microbial contamination and monitoring gene expression, as well as for monitoring tumor growth and metastasis in whole animals. Firefly luciferase is an unstable enzyme and its inactivation can lead to low sensitivity in the above‐mentioned assays. The present study addresses the comparative influence of six different water‐immiscible IL, the 3‐methylimidazolium derivatives [BMIM]Cl, [HMIM]Cl, [BMIM]Br, [EMIM]Br, [HMIM]Br, and [BMIM]BF₄, on the kinetic properties, structural stability, and function of firefly luciferase from Photinus pyralis using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and a bioluminescence assay. The incubation of luciferase with various IL showed that, with the exception of [BMIM]BF₄, the activity and stability of luciferase was considerably increased in the presence of IL, compared to luciferase in aqueous medium. Moreover, K_m for the substrate adenosine‐5′‐triphosphate in the presence of IL (except for [BMIM]BF₄) decreased while K_m for luciferin remained constant.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of the first iridium complexes with m- and p-terphenyl (tp). {[Ir2(p-tp)(cod)2](BF4)2 · 2CH2Cl2}3 and [Ir(m-tp)(η-C5Me5)](BF4)2

Novel two iridium terphenyl complexes were prepared and their structures were characterized crystallographically. The reaction of [Ir(cod)₂]BF₄ with p-terphenyl (p-tp) in CH₂Cl₂ was carried out to afford dinuclear Ir(I) complex {[Ir₂(p-tp)(cod)₂](BF₄)₂ · 2CH₂Cl₂}₃ (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) (1 · 2CH₂Cl₂), whereas the reaction of the intermediate [Ir(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(Me₂CO)₃]³⁺ in Me₂CO with m-terphenyl (m-tp) was done to provide mononuclear Ir(III) complex [Ir(m-tp)(η⁵-C₅Me₅)](BF₄)₂ (2). In complex 1 · 2CH₂Cl₂, two Ir atoms are η⁶-coordinated to both sides of terminal benzene rings from the upper and lower sides in the p-tp ligand, while one Ir atom is η⁶-coordinated to one side of the terminal benzene ring in the m-tp ligand in complex 2. Each crystal structure describes the first coordination mode found in metal complexes with the m- and p-tp ligands.     

A series of thiolato-bridged di- and trinuclear complexes derived from [Tp∗Rh(SPh)2(MeCN)] (Tp∗ = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate)

Treatment of the Rh(III) complex [Tp∗Rh(SPh)₂(MeCN)] (1) with a series of late transition metal complexes resulted in the formations of thiolate-bridged di- and trinuclear complexes, which include the Rh(III)-Rh(I) complexes, [Tp∗RhCl(μ-SPh)₂Rh(cod)] (2) and [Tp∗RhCl(μ-SPh)₂Rh(PPh₃)₂], the Rh(III)-Pd(II) complexes, [Tp∗RhCl(μ-SPh)₂Pd(η³-C₃H₅)] (4), [{Tp∗Rh(MeCN)}(μ-SPh)₂PdCl₂] (5), and [{Tp∗RhCl(μ-SPh)₂}₂Pd] (6), and the Rh(III)-Pt(II) complex [{Tp∗RhCl(μ-SPh)₂}₂Pt] (7). Early-late transition metal complexes containing the Rh(III)-Re(I) and Rh(III)-Mo(0) metal centers, [Tp∗RhCl(μ-SPh)₂Re(CO)₄] and [{Tp∗Rh(CO)}(μ-SPh)₂Mo(CO)₄] were also prepared from 1. The X-ray analysis has been carried out to confirm the structures for 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.     

3,5-Bis(diphenylphosphinoethyl)pyrazolate ligand (PNNP) and its dirhodium complexes: Comparison with related quadridentate dinucleating diphenylphosphinomethyl (PNNP) and phthalazine derivatives (PNNP)

Dirhodium carbonyl complex with the 3,5-bis(diphenylphosphinoethyl)pyrazolato ligand (PNNP^C2), [(μ-κ²:κ²-PNNP^C2)Rh₂(CO)₃]BF₄, is prepared and its reactivity is studied as compared with the previously reported 3,5-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyrazolate (PNNP), [(μ-κ²:κ²-PNNP){Rh(CO)₂}₂]BF₄, and 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phthalazine (PNNP^Ph) derivatives, [(μ-κ²:κ²-PNNP^Ph){Rh(CO)₂}₂](BF₄)₂. The three quadridentate ligands are different in the size of the central ring and the charge; six-membered ring/neutral (PNNP^C2) vs. five-membered ring/mono-negative (PNNP) vs. six-membered ring/neutral (PNNP^Ph). The number of the carbonyl ligands (n) in the dirhodium carbonyl complexes, [(μ-PNNP)Rh₂(CO)_n](BF₄)_x, is dependent on the dinucleating ligand: n = 2 (PNNP^Ph), 3 (PNNP^C2) and 4 (PNNP^Py). The three dirhodium carbonyl complexes serve as 4e-acceptors, and their reactivities turn out to be very similar as can be seen from formation of the analogous, unique tetranuclear μ₄-acetylide ([(μ-PNNP)₂{Rh(CO)}₄(μ₄-CC-R)](BF₄)_x) and μ₄-dicarbide complexes ([(μ-PNNP)₂{Rh(CO)}₄(μ₄-C₂)](BF₄)_x).