Synthesis and characterisation of a series of 1,2-phenylenedioxoborylcyclopentadienyl-metal complexes [Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Hf(IV), La(III), Ce(III), Yb(III), Sn(II) and Fe(II)]

The preparation of a series of 1,2-phenylenedioxoborylcyclopentadienyl-metal complexes is described. These are of formula [M{η⁵-C₅H₄(BX)}Cl₃] [M = Ti and X = CAT (2a), CAT^t (2b) or CAT^tt (2c); X = CAT^tt and M = Zr (4a) or Hf (4b)], [M{η⁵-C₅H₄(BX)}₂Cl₂] [M = Zr, X = CAT (3a) or CAT^t (3c); or M = Hf, X = CAT (3b) or CAT^t (3d)], [M{(μ-η⁵-C₅H₃BCAT)₂ SiMe₂}Cl₂] [M = Zr (5a) or Hf (5b)], [M{η⁵-C₅H₃(BCAT)₂}Cl₃] [M = Zr (6a) or Hf (6b)], [M{η⁵-C₅H₄BCAT}₃(THF)] [M = La (7a), Ce (7b) or Yb (7c)], [Sn{η⁵-C₅ H₄(BCAT^t)}Cl](8) and [Fe{η⁵-C₅H₄(BCAT^t)}₂] (9). The abbreviations refer to BO₂C₆H₄-1,2 (BCAT) and the 4-Bu^t (BCAT^t) and the (BCAT^tt) analogues. The compounds 2a-9 have been characterised by microanalysis, multinuclear NMR and mass spectra. The single crystal X-ray structure of the lanthanum compound 7a is presented.     

Synthesis, reactivities and catalytic carbonylation of rhodium(I) carbonyl complexes containing isomeric acetylpyridine ligands

[Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ reacts with two mole equivalent of 2-acetylpyridine (a), 3-acetylpyridine (b) and 4-acetylpyridine (c) to afford chelate [Rh(CO)Cl(η²-N∩O)] (1a) and non-chelate [Rh(CO)₂Cl(η¹-N∼O)] (1b, 1c) complexes, where, N∩O = a, N∼O = b, c. Oxidative addition (OA) of 1a-1c with CH₃I and C₂H₅I yields penta coordinate rhodium(III) complexes, [Rh(COR)ClI(η²-N∩O)] {R = -CH₃ (2a); -C₂H₅ (3a)} and [Rh(COR)(CO)ClI(η¹-N∼O)] {R = -CH₃ (2b, 2c); -C₂H₅ (3b, 3c)}. Kinetic study for the reaction of 1a-1c with CH₃I indicates a pseudo-first order reaction. The catalytic activity of 1a-1c for the carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid and its ester was evaluated at different initial CO pressures 5, 10 and 20 bar at ∼25 °C and higher turn over numbers (TON = 1581-1654) were obtained compared to commercial Monsanto’s species [Rh(CO)₂I₂]⁻ (TON = 1000) under the reaction conditions: temperature = 130 ± 1 °C, pressure = 15-32 bar, rpm = 450, time = 1 h and catalyst: substrate = 1: 1900.     

Influence of the phosphine arrangement on the reactivity of palladium(II) and platinum(II) polyphosphine complexes with copper(I) chloride

The distorted square-planar complexes [Pd(PNHP)Cl]Cl (1) (PNHP = bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]amine), [M(P₃)Cl]Cl [P₃ = bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phenylphosphine; M = Pd (2), Pt (3)] and [Pt(NP₃)Cl]Cl (5) (NP₃ = tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]amine), coexisting in the later case with a square-pyramidal arrangement, react with one equivalent of CuCl to give the mononuclear heteroionic systems [M(L)Cl](CuCl₂) [L = PNHP, M = Pd (1a); L = P₃, M = Pd (2a), Pt (3a); L = NP₃, M = Pt (5a)]. The crystal structure of 3a confirms that Pt(II) retains the distorted square-planar geometry of 3 in the cation with P₃ acting as tridentate chelating ligand, the central P atom being trans to one chloride. The counter anion is a nearly linear dichlorocuprate(I) ion. However, the five-coordinate complexes [Pd(NP₃)Cl]Cl (4), [M(PP₃)Cl]Cl (M = Pd (6), Pt (7); PP₃ = tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl] phosphine) containing three fused five-membered chelate rings undergo a ring-opening by interaction with one (4, 6, 7) and two (6, 7) equivalents of CuCl with formation of neutral MCu(L)Cl₃ [L = NP₃, M = Pd (4a); L = PP₃, M = Pd (6a), Pt (7a)] and ionic [MCu(PP₃)Cl₂](CuCl₂) [M = Pd (6b), Pt (7b)] compounds, respectively. The heteronuclear systems were shown by ³¹P NMR to have structures where the phosphines are acting as tridentate chelating ligands to M(II) and monodentate bridging to Cu(I). Further additions of CuCl to the neutral species 6a and 7a in a 1:1 ratio resulted in the achievement of the ionic complexes 6b and 7b with ions as counter anions. It was demonstrated that the formation of heterobimetallic or just mononuclear mixed salt complexes was clearly influenced by the polyphosphine arrangement with the tripodal ligands giving the former compounds. However, complexes [M(NP₃)Cl]Cl constitute one exception and the type of reaction undergone versus CuCl is a function of the d⁸ metal centre.     

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of aryl chlorides catalyzed by palladium precatalysts of N/O-functionalized pyrazolyl ligands

A series of palladium complexes, trans-[1-(R)-pz^3,5-Me₂]₂PdCl₂ {R = CH₂CONH(2,6-i-Pr₂-C₆H₃) (1b) and 2-(OH)-C₆H₁₀ (2b)}, supported over N/O-functionalized pyrazole derived ligands effectively catalyzed the more challenging Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of a variety of activated aryl chlorides with phenyl boronic acid in air in a mixed-aqueous medium (DMF:H₂O, v/v = 9:1) in moderate to excellent yields. Besides the commonly encountered C_sp2-C_sp2 coupling, the 1b and 2b precatalysts also catalyzed the relatively difficult C_sp2-C_sp3 coupling of benzyl chloride with phenyl boronic acid. The 1b and 2b complexes were synthesized by the direct reaction of the respective N/O-functionalized pyrazolyl ligands, 1a and 2a, with (COD)PdCl₂ in 62-66% yields. The stability of the pyrazole-palladium interaction in the 1b and 2b complexes has been attributed to the deeply buried N_pyrazole-Pd interaction as evidenced from the density functional theory (DFT) studies.     

Macrocyclic dinuclear gold(I) and silver(I) NHCs complexes

The ligands bis-(imidazolium) hexafluorophosphate (Himy = -C₃N₂H₃-, imidazolium; R = 1-naphthylmethylene, 1a; 9-anthracenylmethylene, 1b) with an oxoether chain were easily prepared by the reaction of substituted imidazole with the diglycol diiodide, followed by exchange of anions with . 1a and 1b reacted with Ag₂O in DMSO or CH₃CN to yield [2 + 2] dinuclear Ag(I) NHCs macrocyclic complexes 2a and 2b, which showed much different conformation in solid corresponding to the R- substituent. Carbene transmetalation reactions of 2a-b with Au(SMe₂)Cl give dinuclear Au(I) analogs 3a and 3b. The new NHCs complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and the structures of 2a-b and 3a were confirmed by X-ray diffraction determination.     

Functional mimics of catechol oxidase by mononuclear copper complexes of sterically demanding [NNO] ligands

Several mononuclear copper complexes 1(a-b) and 2(a-b) supported over sterically demanding [NNO] ligands namely, N-(aryl)-2-[(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]acetamide [aryl = 2,6-diethylphenyl (1) and mesityl (2)], exhibit catecholase-like activity in performing the aerial oxidation of 3,5-di-t-butylcatehol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di-t-butyl-catequinone (3,5-DTBQ) under ambient conditions. The 1(a-b) and 2(a-b) complexes were directly synthesized from the reaction of the respective ligands 1-2 with CuX₂·nH₂O (X = Cl, NO₃, n = 2, 3) in 55-85% yield. Mechanistic insights on the catalytic cycle as obtained by density functional theory studies for a representative complex 1a suggest that an intramolecular hydrogen transfer, from a catechol-OH moiety to a copper bound superoxo moiety, form the rate-determining step of the oxidation process, displaying an activation barrier of 18.3 kcal/mol (ΔG^‡) [6.9 kcal/mol in Δ(PE + ZPE)^‡ scale].     

Ruthenium(II) carbonyl chloride complexes containing pyridine-functionalised bidentate N-heterocyclic carbenes: Synthesis, structures, and impact of the carbene ligands on catalytic activities

A series of new ruthenium(II) carbonyl chloride complexes with pyridine-functionalised N-heterocyclic carbenes [Ru(Py-NHC)(CO)₂Cl₂], [Py-NHC = 3-methyl-1-(2-pyridyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, 1 (1a and 1b); 3-methyl-1-(2-picoyl)imidazol-2-ylidene, 2 (2a and 2b); 3-methyl-1-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazolin-2-ylidene, 3 (3b); 3-methyl-1-(2-picoyl)benzimidazolin-2-ylidene, 4 (4a and 4b); 1-methyl-4-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazoline-5-ylidene, 5 (5a and 5b)] have been prepared by transmetallation from the corresponding silver carbene complexes and characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. In these complexes with bidentate Py-NHC ligands, one CO ligand is trans to the Py ligand. In 1a, 2a, 4a, and 5a, the NHC ligand is trans to the other CO ligand, thus leaving the two Cl⁻ ligands trans to each other. In 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b, and 5b, the NHC ligands are trans to one Cl⁻ ligand, and the two Cl⁻ ligands are cis to each other. The structures for 1b, 2b, 3b and 4b have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These complexes are efficient catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone and their catalytic activities are found to be influenced by electronic effect of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligands.     

Synthesis and electrochemical aspects of group 14 iron complexes of the type (η-C5H5)Fe(L)2ER3, L2 = (CO)2, (Ph2P)2CH2; E = C, Si, Ge, Sn

The dicarbonyl and diphosphine complexes of the type (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(L)₂ER₃ (L₂ = (CO)₂ (a), (Ph₂P)₂CH₂ (b); ER₃ = CH₃ (1a/b); SiMe₃ (2a/b), GeMe₃ (3a/b), SnMe₃ (4a/b)) were synthesized and studied electrochemically. Cyclic voltammetric studies on the dicarbonyl complexes 1a-4a revealed one electron irreversible oxidation processes whereas the same processes for the chelating phosphine series 1b-4b were reversible. The E_ox values found for the series 1a-4a were in the narrow range 1.3-1.5 V and in the order Si > Sn ≈ Ge > C; those for 1b-4b (involving replacement of the excellent retrodative π-accepting CO ligands by the superior σ-donor and poorer π-accepting phosphines) have much lower oxidation potentials in the sequence Sn > Si ≈ Ge > C. This latter oxidation potential pattern relates directly to the solution ³¹P NMR chemical shift data illustrating that stronger donation lowers the E_ox for the complexes; however, simple understanding of the trend must await the results of a current DFT analysis of the systems.     

Synthesis and reactivity of osmium (VI) nitrido complexes containing pyridine-carboxylato ligands

A series of osmium(VI) nitrido complexes containing pyridine-carboxylato ligands Os^VI(N)(L)₂X (L = pyridine-2carboxylate (1), 2-quinaldinate (2) and X = Cl (a), Br (1b and 2c) or CH₃O (2b)) and [Os^VI(N)(L)X₃]⁻ (L = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (3) and X = Cl (a) or Br (b)) have been synthesised. Complexes 1 and 2 are electrophilic and react readily with various nucleophiles such as phosphine, sulfide and azide. Reaction of Os^VI(N)(L)₂X (1 and 2) with triphenylphosphine produces the osmium(IV) phosphiniminato complexes Os^VI(NPPh₃)(L)₂X (4 and 5). The kinetics of nitrogen atom transfer from the complexes Os^VI(N)(L)₂Br (2c) (L = 2-quinaldinate) with triphenylphosphine have been studied in CH₃CN at 25.0 °C by stopped-flow spectrophotometric method. The following rate law is obtained: −d[Os(VI)]/dt = k₂[Os(VI)][PPh₃]. Os^VI(N)(L)₂Cl (L = 2-quinaldinate) (2a) reacts also with [PPN](N₃) to give an osmium(III) dichloro complex, trans-[PPN][Os^III(L)₂Cl₂] (6). Reaction of Os^VI(N)(L)₂Cl (L = 2-quinaldinate) (2a) with lithium sulfide produces an osmium(II) thionitrosyl complex Os^II(NS)(L)₂Cl (7). These complexes have been structurally characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

Dicarbonyliridium(I) complexes of pyridine ester ligands and their reactivity towards various electrophiles

The reaction of dimeric precursor [Ir(CO)₂Cl]₂ with two molar equivalent of the pyridine-ester ligands (L) like methyl picolinate (a), ethyl picolinate (b), methyl nicotinate (c), ethyl nicotinate (d), methyl isonicotinate (e) and ethyl isonicotinate (f) affords the tetra coordinated neutral complexes of the type [Ir(CO)₂ClL] (1a-f). The single crystal X-ray structure of 1d reveals that the Ir atom occupies the centre of an approximately square planar geometry with two CO groups cis- to each other. Intermolecular C-H?O and Ir?C interactions greatly stabilize the supramolecular structure of 1d in the solid state. The oxidative addition (OA) reactions of 1a-f with different electrophiles such as CH₃I, C₂H₅I and I₂ undergo decarbonylation of one CO group to generate the oxidized products of the type [Ir(CO)RClIL] where R = -CH₃ (2a-f); -C₂H₅ (3a-f) and [Ir(CO)ClI₂L] (4a-f). Kinetic study of the reaction of 1c-f with CH₃I indicates a first order reaction which follow the order 1d > 1c > 1f > 1e. All the synthesized complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and structure of titanium alkoxides based on tetraphenyl substituted 2,6-dimethanolpyridine moiety

Novel titanocanes and spirobititanocanes based on 2,6-bis[hydroxy(diphenyl)methyl]pyridine (1a) and 2,6-di(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (1b) - [2,6-C₅H₃N(CPh₂O)₂]Ti(O-i-Pr)₂ (2a), [2,6-C₅H₃N(CPh₂O)₂]₂Ti (3a), [2,6-C₅H₃N(CH₂O)₂]₂Ti (3b), [2,6-C₅H₃N(CPh₂O)₂]TiCl₂ (4) - as well as the closely related N-phenyl derivative PhN(CH₂CH₂O)₂Ti(Cl)Cp (5) have been synthesized. Complexes 2-5 were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis data. The molecular structure of 3a was determined by X-ray structure analysis.     

Hydrogen-halide versus alkyl-halide oxidative addition in dimethyl platinum(II) complexes: Crystal structure of [PtBr2(bpy)]

Dimethyl platinum(II) complexes [PtMe₂(NN)] {NN = bu₂bpy (4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine) (1a), bpy (2,2′-bipyridine) (1b), phen (1,10-phenanthroline) (1c)} reacted with commercial 3-bromo-1-propanol in the presence of 1,3-propylene oxide to afford cis, trans- [PtBrMe₂{(CH₂)₃OH}(NN)] (NN = bu₂bpy (2a), bpy (2b), phen (2c)). On the other hand, [PtMe₂(NN)] (1a)-(1b) reacted with the trace of HBr in commercial 3-bromo-1-propanol to give [PtBr₂(NN)] (NN = bu₂bpy (3a), bpy (3b)). The reaction pathways were monitored by ¹H NMR at various temperatures. Treatment of 1a-1b with a large excess of 3-bromo-1-propanol at −80 °C gave the corresponding methyl(hydrido)platinum(IV) complexes [PtBr(H)Me₂(NN)] (NN = bu₂bpy (4a), bpy (4b)) via the oxidative addition of dimethyl platinum(II) complexes with HBr. The complexes [PtBr(H)Me₂(NN)] decomposed by reductive elimination of methane above −20 °C for bu₂bpy and from −20 to 0 °C for bpy analogue to give methane and platinum(II) complexes [PtBrMe(NN)] (5a)-(5b) and then decomposed at about 0 °C to yield [PtBr₂(NN)] and methane. When the reactions were performed at a molar ratio of Pt:RX/1:10, the corresponding complexes [PtBrMe(NN)] (5a)-(5b) were also obtained. The crystal structure of the complex 3b shows that platinum adopts square planar geometry with a twofold axis through the platinum atom. The Pt…Pt distance (5.164 Å) is considerably larger than the interplanar spacing (3.400 Å) and there is no platinum-platinum interaction.     

Synthesis and exploratory coordination chemistry of the new ditertiary carbinamine ligand 2,6-bis(α-aminoisopropyl)pyridine

The new pyridine-based N∩N∩N tridentate ligand 2,6-C₅H₃N(CMe₂NH₂)₂ (1) was synthesized by the treatment of 2,6-pyridinedicarbonitrile with an excess of the organocerium reagent in situ generated from CeCl₃ and methyllithium in THF. The reaction of 1 with [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃] in THF at ambient conditions afforded (OC-6-23)-[RuCl{2,6-C₅H₃N(CMe₂NH₂)₂}(PPh₃)₂]Cl (2). The corresponding dimethyl sulfoxide complex [RuCl{2,6-C₅H₃N(CMe₂NH₂)₂}{S(O)Me₂}₂]Cl (3) was isolated as a mixture of the (OC-6-23) and (OC-6-32) stereoisomers 3a and 3b from the reaction between 1 and (OC-6-22)-[RuCl₂{S(O)Me₂}₃(OSMe₂)] in toluene at 80 °C. A prolonged interaction in toluene at reflux temperature gave isomerically pure 3a. The metal trichloride hydrates MCl₃ · xH₂O (M = Ru, Rh, Ir; x ≅ 2-4) produced mer-[RuCl₃{2,6-C₅H₃N(CMe₂NH₂)₂}] (M = Ru: 4; Rh: 5; Ir: 6), when combined with 1 in refluxing ethanol. The crystal structures of the following compounds were determined: ligand 1 and complexes 2-5 as addition compounds 2 · CH₂Cl₂, 3a · C₇H₈, 4 · EtOH and .     

Synthesis and characterization of cyclopentadienyltricarbonyl tungsten selenocarboxylate and selenosulfonate complexes

Cyclopentadienyltricarbonyl tungsten selenocarboxylate complexes CpW(CO)₃SeCOR (1) (R = C₆H₅ (a), 3,5-C₆H₃(NO₂)₂ (b), 3-C₆H₄NO₂ (c), 4-C₆H₄NO₂ (d), CH₃ (e)) and cyclopentadienyltricarbonyl tungsten selenosulfonate complexes CpW(CO)₃SeSO₂R (2) (R = C₆H₅ (a), 4-C₆H₄CH₃ (b), 4-C₆H₄OCH₃ (c), 4-C₆H₄Cl (d), CH₃ (e)) have been prepared from the tungsten anion [CpW(CO)₃Se]⁻ and acid- or sulfonyl chlorides respectively. The new complexes (1 and 2) have been characterized by IR, ¹H NMR spectroscopies as well as elemental analysis. The crystal structure of CpW(CO)₃SeCO-3-C₆H₄NO₂ (1c) was determined.     

Synthesis and characterization of ruthenium(II) complexes bearing the bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine ligand

The reaction of [Ru(CO)₂Cl₂]_n with bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (bpma) in refluxing ethanol followed by anion exchange yields two products: cis,fac-[Ru(bpma)(CO)₂Cl]PF₆ (1a, 71%) and trans,fac-[Ru(bpma)(CO)₂Cl]PF₆ (1b, 29%). Reaction of 1a with AgBF₄ in acetone, followed by acetonitrile and then anion exchange gave cis,fac-[Ru(bpma)(CO)₂(CH₃CN)](PF₆)₂ (2a). In the same way, 1b afforded trans,fac-[Ru(bpma)(CO)₂(CH₃CN)](PF₆)₂ (2b). Reaction of depolymerized [Ru(CO)₂Cl₂]_n with bpma in ethanol at room temperature afforded cis,cis-[Ru(η²-bpma)(CO)₂Cl₂] (3). In refluxing ethanol, 3 was converted to cis,fac-[Ru(bpma)(CO)₂Cl]Cl (1a-Cl). Heating 3 in chlorobenzene afforded 1b-Cl, exclusively; heating 3 in ethylene glycol gave mainly 1a-Cl. Heating 1a-Cl in ethanol resulted in no isomerization, but heating in chlorobenzene gave a mixture of 3 and 1b-Cl. Anion exchange for PF₆ with 1a-Cl and 1b-Cl afforded 1a and 1b, respectively, whereas anion exchange for BPh₄ afforded 1a-BPh₄. Compounds 1a, 1b, 2a and 3 have been structurally characterized.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of mercury(II) complexes with a novel ferrocenyliminophosphine

Synthesis of the novel ligand ferrocenyliminophosphine [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe{(η⁵-C₅H₄)CHN(C₆H₄-2-PPh₂)}] (1, L) and studies on its complexation properties with mercury (II) are reported. Halogen-bridged binuclear mercury (II) complexes [HgX(μ-X)L]₂ (X = Cl (2a), Br (2b)) and a mononuclear mercury (II) complex HgCl₂L₂ (4a) have been obtained under different reaction conditions. In both cases, the ferrocenyliminophosphine acts as a P-monodentate ligand and the imino nitrogen does not participate in coordination to mercury (II). All the new compounds 1, 2a, 2b and 4a were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR and IR spectra. In addition, structures of 2a and 4a have been determined by X-ray single-crystal analysis.     

Neighbouring metal induced oxidative addition at the iron centre amongst the iron-arylpyridylphosphine complexes

Complexes of the type (η⁴-BuC₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂(P) (P = PPh₂Py 3, PPhPy₂4, PPy₃5; Py = 2-pyridyl) were satisfactorily prepared. Upon treatment of 3 with M(CO)₃(EtCN)₃ (M = Mo, 6a; W, 6b), the pyridyl N-atom could be coordinated to the metal M, which then eliminates a CO ligand from the Fe-centre and induced an oxidative addition of the endo-C-H of (η⁴-BuC₅H₅). This results in a bridged hydrido heterodimetallic complex [(η⁵-BuC₅H₄)Fe(CO)(μ-P,N-PPh₂Py)(μ-H)M(CO)₄] (M = Mo, 7a, 81%; W, 7b, 76%). The reaction of 4 or 5 with 6a,b did not give the induced oxidative addition, although these complexes contain more than one pyridyl N-atom. The reaction of 4 with M(CO)₄(EtCN)₂ (M = Mo, 9a; W, 9b) produced heterodimetallic complexes [(η⁴-BuC₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂(μ-P:N,N′-PPhPy₂)M(CO)₄] (M = Mo, 10a, 81%; W, 10b, 83%). Treatment of 5 with 6a,b gave [(η⁴-BuC₅H₅)Fe(CO)₂(μ-P:N,N′,N″-PPy₃)M(CO)₃] (M = Mo, 12a, 96%; W, 12b, 78%).     

The reactivity of NbX5 (X = F, Cl) with lactons, lactams, and the synthesis of the first nucleobase-containing niobium complex

NbX₅ (X = F, 1a; X = Cl, 1b) reacted with γ-butyrolactone (but), ε-caprolactam (cap), δ-valerolactam (val) in 1:1 M ratio in chlorinated solvent, affording either the neutral coordination adducts NbCl₅L (L = but, 2a; L = val, 2b) or the ionic ones [NbX₄L₂][NbX₆] (X = F, L = but, 3a; X = F, L = val, 3b; X = F, L = cap, 3c; X = Cl, L = cap, 3d). The reaction of 1a with equimolar amount of guanine (gua) in CH₃CN resulted in the formation of the complex [NbF₄(gua)₂][NbF₆], 3e. The addition of two equivalents of organic substrate to 1 gave selectively the compounds NbCl₅L₂ (L = but, 4a; L = val, 4b) or [NbF₄L₄][NbF₆] (L = but, 5a; L = val, 5b; L = cap, 5c). The 1:2 M reaction of 1b with ε-caprolactam proceeded with C-N bond activation and afforded the derivative , 6, in high yield.     

On the identification of ionic species of neutral halogen dimers, monomers and pincer type palladacycles in solution by electrospray mass and tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray (ESI) mass spectra analysis of acetonitrile solutions of a series of neutral chloro dimers, pincer type, and monomeric palladacycles has enabled the detection of several of their derived ionic species. The monometallic cationic complexes Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N,κ¹-S-C(CH₃S-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂]⁺ (1a) and [Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N,κ¹-S-C(CH₃S-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](CH₃CN)]⁺ (1b) and the bimetallic cationic complex [κ¹-C,κ¹-N,κ¹-S-C(CH₃S-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂]Pd-Cl-Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N,κ¹-S-C(CH₃S-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂]⁺ (1c) were detected from an acetonitrile solution of the pincer palladacycles Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N,κ¹-S-C(CH₃S-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](Cl) 1. For the dimeric compounds {Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](μ-Cl)}₂ (2, Y=H and 3, CF₃), highly electronically unsaturated palladacycles [Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂]⁺ (2d, 3d) and their mono and di-acetonitrile adducts, namely, [Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](CH₃CN)]⁺ (2e, 3e) and [Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](CH₃CN)₂]⁺ (2f and 3f) were detected together with the bimetallic complex [Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂]-Cl-Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N](CH₃)₂]⁺ (2a, 3a) and its acetonitrile adducts [κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](CH₃CN)Pd-Cl-Pd[ κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂]⁺ (2b, 3b) and [κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](CH₃CN)Pd-Cl-Pd[κ¹-C, κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂(CH₃CN)]⁺ (2c, 3c). The dimeric palladacycle {Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(CH₃O-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](μ-Cl)}₂ (4) is unique as it behaves as a pincer type compound with the OCH₃ substituent acting as an intramolecular coordinating group which prevents acetonitrile full coordination, thus forming the cationic complexes [(C₆H₄(o-CH₃O)CC(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂-κO,κC,κN)Pd]⁺ (4b), [(C₆H₄(o-CH₃O)CC(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂- κO,κC,κN)Pd(CH₃CN)]⁺ (4c) and [(C₆H₄ (o-MeO)CC(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂-κO, κC,κN)Pd-Cl-Pd(C₆H₄(o-CH₃O)CC(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂-κO,κC,κN)]⁺ (4a). ESI-MS spectra analysis of acetonitrile solutions of the monomeric palladacycles Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](Cl)(Py) (5, Y=H and 6, Y=CF₃) allows the detection of some of the same species observed in the spectra of the dimeric palladacycles, i.e., monometallic cationic 2d-3d, 2e-3e and {Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](Py)}⁺ (5a, 6a) and {Pd[κ¹-C,κ¹-N-C(Y-2-C₆H₄)C(Cl)CH₂N(CH₃)₂](CH₃CN)(Py)}⁺ (5b, 6b) and the bimetallic 2a, 3a, 2b, 3b, 2c and 3c. In all cationic complexes detected by ESI-MS, the cyclometallated moiety was intact indicating the high stability of the four or six electron anionic chelate ligands. The anionic (chloride) or neutral (pyridine) ligands are, however, easily replaced by the acetonitrile solvent.     

Synthesis and complexation of tetrakis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)calix[4]arene adopting the 1,3-alternate conformation

Novel upper-rim modified tetraphosphinocalix[4]arenes (5a-b) adopting 1,3-alternate conformation have been synthesized. Reaction of 5,11,17,23-tetrachloromethyl-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (1) with Ph₂POEt gave 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (2). Tetra-O-substitution of 2 with n-propyl iodide or benzyl bromide in the presence of K₂CO₃ carried out to afford 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxy-(3a) or -benzyloxycalix[4]arene (3b), whereas di-O-substituted calix[4]arene, 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)-25,27-dipropoxy-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene (4), was obtained exclusively when Na₂CO₃ was used as base. Reduction of 3a-b with PhSiHCl₂ afforded 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(diphosphinomethyl)-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxy-(5a) and -tetrabenzyloxycalix[4]arene (5b). ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis reveals that the phosphines (5a-b) and the tetra-O-substituted phosphine oxides (3a-b) adopt 1,3-alternate conformation, while the parent tetrahydroxy-(2) and the di-O-propylated phosphine oxide (4) adopt cone-conformation. The X-ray structure indicates that the calix[4]arene moieties in 4 a pinched-cone conformation in solid state. Complexation of the phosphine ligand (5a) with [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ affords the tetranuclear complexes, [{RuCl₂(p-cymene)}₂ · 5a] (6), as 1,3-alternate conformer.