Electrochemical oxidation of ethanol using Nafion electrodes modified with heterobimetallic catalysts

Chemically modified electrodes were prepared by adsorption of Nafion/catalyst films of the type Nafion/Cp(PPh₃)Ru(μ-I)(μ-dppm)PdCl₂ (N1), Nafion/[η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂(NHMe₂)⁺]Ru(PPh₃)(μ-I)(μ-dppm)PtCl₂ (N2), Nafion/[η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂(NHMe₂)⁺]Ru(PPh₃)(μ-Cl)(μ-dppm)PdCl₂ (N3), Nafion/Cp(CO)Fe(μ-I)(μ-dppm)PdI₂ (N4) and Nafion/Cp(CO)Ru(μ-I)(μ-dppm)PtI₂ (N5) on glassy and vitreous carbon electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry and bulk electrolysis experiments were performed to assess the ability of these modified electrodes to electrocatalytically oxidize ethanol. Cyclic voltammograms using the N1-N5 modified glassy carbon electrodes displayed significant catalytic activity compared to oxidation of ethanol catalyzed by 1 in homogeneous solution. Bulk electrolysis of ethanol using electrodes coated with Nafion supported complexes 1-3 resulted in formation of the two- and four-electron oxidation products acetaldehyde and acetic acid, respectively, whilst bulk electrolysis using the complexes 4 and 5 produced only acetaldehyde.     

Pd(II) complexes containing N-alkyl-3-pyridine-5-trifluoromethyl pyrazole ligands: Synthesis, NMR studies and X-ray crystal structures

Palladium [PdCl₂(L)] complexes with N-alkylpyridylpyrazole derived ligands [2-(5-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (L¹), 2-(1-ethyl-5-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (L²), 2-(1-octyl-5-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (L³), and 2-(3-pyridin-2-yl-5-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol (L⁴) were synthesised. The crystal and molecular structures of [PdCl₂(L)] (L = L², L³, L⁴) were resolved by X-ray diffraction, and consist of monomeric cis-[PdCl₂(L)] molecules. The palladium centre has a typical square-planar geometry, with a slight tetrahedral distortion. The tetra-coordinate metal atom is bonded to one pyridinic nitrogen, one pyrazolic nitrogen and two chlorine ligands in cis disposition. Reaction of L (L², L⁴) with [Pd(CH₃CN)₄](BF₄)₂, in the ratio 1M:2L, gave complexes [Pd(L)]₂(BF₄)₂. Treatment of [PdCl₂(L)] (L = L², L⁴) with NaBF₄ and pyridine (py) and treatment of the same complexes with AgBF₄ and triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) yielded [Pd(L)(py)₂](BF₄)₂ and [Pd(L)(PPh₃)₂](BF₄)₂ complexes, respectively. Finally, reaction of [PdCl₂(L⁴)] with 1 equiv of AgBF₄ yields [PdCl(L⁴)](BF₄).     

Rhenium(III) and technetium(III) complexes with 2-mercapto-1,3-azole ligands and X-ray crystal structures

Reactions of labile [MCl₃(PPh₃)₂(NCMe)] (M = Tc, Re) precursors with 1H-benzoimidazole-2-thiol (H₂L¹), 5-methyl-1H-benzoimidazole-2-thiol (H₂L²) and 1H-imidazole-2-thiol (H₂L³), in the presence of PPh₃ and [AsPh₄]Cl gave a new series of trigonal bipyramidal M(III) complexes [AsPh₄]{[M(PPh₃)Cl(H₂L^1-3)₃]Cl₃} (M = Re, 1-3; M = Tc, 4-6). The molecular structures of 1 and 3 were determined by X-ray diffraction. When the reactions were carried out with benzothiazole-2-thiol (HL⁴) and benzoxazole-2-thiol (HL⁵), neutral paramagnetic monosubstituted M(III) complexes [M(PPh₃)₂Cl₂(L^4,5)] (M = Re, 8, 9; M = Tc, 10, 11) were obtained. In these compounds, the central metal ions adopt an octahedral coordination geometry as authenticated by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 8 and 11. Rhenium and technetium complexes 1, 4 and rhenium chelate compounds 8, 9 have been also synthesized by reduction of [MO₄]⁻ with PPh₃ and HCl in the presence of the appropriate ligand. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis, characterization and molecular structures of the trichloro-η-benzoyldiazenido [ReCl3{η-NNC(O)Ph}(PPh3)2] and oxorhenium [ReOCl2(OMe)(PPh3)2] complexes derived from reactions of [ReCl2{η-NNC(O)Ph}(PPh3)2] with a peroxide or dioxygen

The reactions of [ReCl₂{η²-NNC(O)Ph}(PPh₃)₂] (1) with t-BuOOH, in C₆H₆ or chlorinated solvents, at room temperature or with MeOH upon reflux in air lead to the trichloro-η¹-benzoyldiazenido [ReCl₃{η¹-NNC(O)Ph}(PPh₃)₂] (2) or the methoxy-oxo [ReOCl₂(OMe)(PPh₃)₂] (3) compound, respectively, which have been characterized by spectroscopic and FAB⁺-MS methods, elemental and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. They show distorted octahedral coordinaiton geometries with trans triphenylphosphine ligands, an essentially linear η¹-diazenido moiety in 2 and the methoxy group in 3 in trans position to the oxo ligand.     

Synthesis, molecular structure, substitution and C-C coupling reactions of ruthenium complexes containing (η-C9H7)Ru(PPh3) as a molecular unit

The 2-methallyl complex [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru(η³-2-MeC₃H₄)(PPh₃)] (3), prepared from [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl] (2) and 2-MeC₃H₄MgCl, reacts with HX (X = Cl, CF₃CO₂) in the presence of ethene to give the chiral-at-metal compounds [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru(C₂H₄)(PPh₃)X] (4, 5) in nearly quantitative yields. Treatment of 2 with AgPF₆ and ethene affords [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru(C₂H₄)(PPh₃)₂]PF₆ (6), which reacts with acetone to give the substitution product [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru(OCMe₂)(PPh₃)₂]PF₆ (7). The molecular structure of 7 has been determined crystallographically. Whereas treatment of 4 with CH(CO₂Et)N₂ yields the olefin complex [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru{η²-(Z)-C₂H₂(CO₂Et)₂}(PPh₃)Cl] (8), the reactions of 4 and 5 with Ph₂CN₂, PhCHN₂ and (Me₃Si)CHN₂ lead to the formation of the carbeneruthenium(II) derivatives [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru(CRR′)(PPh₃)Cl] (9-11) and [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru(CRR′)(PPh₃)(κ¹-O₂CCF₃)] (12-14), respectively. Treatment of 9 (R = R′ = Ph), 10 (R = H, R′ = Ph) and 11 (R = H, R′ = SiMe₃) with MeLi produces the hydrido(olefin) complexes [(η⁵-C₉H₇)RuH(η²-CH₂CPh₂)(PPh₃)] (15), [(η⁵-C₉H₇)RuH(η²-CH₂CHPh)(PPh₃)] (18a,b) and [(η⁵-C₉H₇)RuH(η²-CH₂CHSiMe₃)(PPh₃)] (19) via C-C coupling and β-hydride shift. The analogous reactions of 11 with PhLi gives the η³-benzyl compound [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru{η³-(Me₃Si)CHC₆H₅}(PPh₃)] (20). The η³-allyl complex [(η⁵-C₉H₇)Ru(η³-1-PhC₃H₄)(PPh₃)] (17) was prepared from 10 and CH₂CHMgBr by nucleophilic attack.     

Synthesis and characterisation of pyrazolic palladium compounds containing alcohol functionality:: rotation around the Pd-N bond

The ligands 1-hydroxymethylpyrazole (hl¹), 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrazole (hl²) and 1-(3-hydroxypropyl)pyrazole (hl³) react with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂] to give trans-[PdCl₂(hl)₂] compounds. Due to a hindered rotation around the Pd-bond, these compounds present two different conformations in solution: anti and syn. The conformation presented depends on the relative disposition of the hydroxyalkylic chains of the two pyrazolic ligands. The present study was carried out on the basis of NMR experiments. The present paper reports the crystal structure of trans-[PdCl₂(hl²)₂]. The synthesis and characterisation of compounds [Pd(hl)₄](BF₄)₂ (hl = hl¹, hl² and hl³) starting from [Pd(CH₃CN)₄](BF₄)₂ and the corresponding chlorocomplexes trans-[PdCl₂(hl)₂] are also described.     

Insertion of heteroallenes into the rhenium-hydride bond

Dithioformato [Re{η²-SC(H)S}(NO)P₃]BPh₄ (1), thioformamido [Re{η²-RNC(H)S}(NO)P₃]BPh₄ (2) (R = Et, p-tolyl), formamido [Re{η²-PhNC(H)O}(NO)P₃]BPh₄ (3) and formamidinato [Re{η²-p-tolylNC(H)Np-tolyl}(NO)P₃]BPh₄ (4) (P = PPh₂OEt) complexes were prepared by allowing the hydride ReH₂(NO)P₃ to react first with triflic acid and then with the appropriate heteroallene CS₂, RNCS, PhNCO and p-tolylNCNp-tolyl. Treatment of the ReH₂(NO)L(PPh₃)₂ [L = P(OEt)₃, PPh(OEt)₂] and ReH₂(NO)(PPh₃)₃ hydrides first with triflic acid and then with isothiocyanate RNCS (R = Et, p-tolyl) gave the [Re{η²-RNC(H)S}(NO){P(OEt)₃}(PPh₃)₂]BPh₄ (5, 6) and [Re(η²-RNC(H)S)(NO)(PPh₃)₃]BPh₄ (7) derivatives. Depending on the nature of the phosphite, instead, the reaction of ReH₂(NO)L(PPh₃)₂ and ReH₂(NO)(PPh₃)₃ hydrides first with CF₃SO₃H and then with isocyanate R1NCO (R1 = Ph, p-tolyl) gave the chelate [Re{η²-R1NC(H)O}(NO){P(OEt)₃}(PPh₃)₂]BPh₄ (8) and [Re{η²-R1NC(H)O}(NO)(PPh₃)₃]BPh₄(10) complexes with P(OEt)₃ or PPh₃, while the η¹-coordinate [Re{η¹-RNC(H)S}(NO){PPh(OEt)₂}₂(PPh₃)₂]BPh₄ (9) derivative was obtained with the PPh(OEt)₂ phosphite ligand. η¹-Coordinate dithioformato [Re{η¹-SC(H)S}(NO){PPh(OEt)₂}₂(PPh₃)₂]BPh₄ (11) and formato [Re{η¹-OC(H)O}(NO){PPh(OEt)₂}₂(PPh₃)₂]BPh₄ (12) complexes, as well as the formamidinato [Re{η²-p-tolylNC(H)Np-tolyl}(NO){P(OEt)₃}(PPh₃)₂]BPh₄ (13) derivative were also prepared.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of the bimetallic cyano-bridged [(η-C5H5)(PPh3)2Ru(μ-CN)Ru(PPh3)2(η-C5H5)][PF6]

The bimetallic cyano-bridged [(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)₂Ru(μ-CN)Ru(PPh₃)₂(η⁵-C₅H₅)][PF₆] (1) was prepared by reaction of [(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)₂RuCl] with N,N′-bis(cyanomethyl)ethylenediamine. The single crystal structure determined by X-ray diffraction showed crystallization on the triclinic P1 space group with a perfect alignment of the cyanide bridges. This accentric crystallization was explored having in view the NLO properties at the macroscopic level, determined by the Kurtz Powder technique. Besides the very low efficiency values for the second harmonic generation, the value obtained for the bimetallic complex 1 showed to be higher than one of the parent complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PPh₃)₂RuCN] (2).     

Reaction of [MCl2(CH3CN)2] (M = Pd(II), Pt(II)) compounds with N1-alkylpyridylpyrazole-derived ligands

Palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with N-alkylpyridylpyrazole-derived ligands, 2-(1-ethyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (L¹) and 2-(1-octyl-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine (L²), cis-[MCl₂(L)] (M = Pd(II), Pt(II)), have been synthesised. Treatment of [PdCl₂(L)] (L = L¹, L²) with excess of ligand (L¹, L²), pyridine (py) or triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) in the presence of AgBF₄ and NaBPh₄ produced the following complexes: [Pd(L)₂](BPh₄)₂, [Pd(L)(py)₂](BPh₄)₂ and [Pd(L)(PPh₃)₂](BPh₄)₂. All complexes have been characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity, IR and NMR spectroscopies. The crystal structures of cis-[PdCl₂(L²)] (2) and cis-[PtCl₂(L¹)] (3) were determined by a single crystal X-ray diffraction method. In both complexes, the metal atom is coordinated by one pyrazole nitrogen, one pyridine nitrogen and two chlorine atoms in a distorted square-planar geometry. In complex 3, π-π stacking between pairs of molecules is observed.     

1,3-Bis(α-aminoisopropyl)benzene, meta-C6H4(CMe2NH2)2: An N,N-bridging and N,C,N-cyclometalating ligand

Saponification of the bis(carbamic acid ester) 1,3-C₆H₄(CMe₂NHCO₂Me)₂ (1), made by the addition of methanol to commercial 1,3-C₆H₄(CMe₂NCO)₂, yielded the meta-phenylene-based bis(tertiary carbinamine) 1,3-C₆H₄(CMe₂NH₂)₂ (2). Dinuclear [{(η⁴-1,5-C₈H₁₂)RhCl}₂{μ-1,3-C₆H₄(CMe₂NH₂)₂}] (3) resulted from the action of 2 on [{(η⁴-1,5-C₈H₁₂)Rh(μ-Cl)}₂] in toluene. Combination of 2 with PdCl₂ or K₂[PdCl₄] gave the dipalladium macrocycle trans,trans-[{μ-1,3-C₆H₄(CMe₂NH₂)₂}₂(PdCl₂)₂] (4) along with cyclometalated [{2,6-C₆H₃(CMe₂NH₂)₂-κN,κC¹,κN′}PdCl] (5). Substitution of PEt₃ for the labile chlorido ligand of 5 afforded [{2,6-C₆H₃(CMe₂NH₂)₂-κN,κC¹, κN′}Pd(PEt₃)]Cl (6). The crystal structures of the following compounds were determined: bis(carbamic acid ester) 1, ligand 2 as its bis(trifluoroacetate) salt [1,3-C₆H₄(CMe₂NH₃)₂](O₂CCF₃)₂, 2 · (HAc_f)₂, complexes 3 and 6, as well as 1,3-C₆H₄(CMe₂OH)₂ (the diol analogue of 2).     

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%).     

Dimeric palladium and platinum complexes isolated in Lewis-acidic media

The synthesis and X-ray characterization of binuclear dipalladium(I) and diplatinum(I) p-xylene complexes [Pd₂(η⁶-C₈H₁₀)₂(μ-Cl/Br)₂(GaCl₃)₂] (1) and [Pt₂(η⁶-C₈H₁₀)₂(Ga₂Br₇)₂] (5) are reported. It was established that the toluene ligands in the palladium complex [Pd₂(η⁶-C₇H₈)₂(GaCl₄)₂] (3) can be substituted by naphthalene without disruption of the metal-metal bond. The reaction of 3 with Pd(PPh₃)₄ leads to the formation of a dipalladium(II) μ-diphenylphosphido compound [Pd₂(μ-PPh₂)(PPh₃)₄] (GaCl₄)₂ · 4(C₇H₈) (4), most likely also involving a bridging μ-H⁻ ligand.     

Strong 1,4 P-O intramolecular interactions as a source of conformational preferences in α-stabilised phosphorus ylides. Part 2: metallic complexes

The complexes cis-[PdCl₂{η²-[C(H)PH₃]₂CO}] (2) in two different stereochemical arrangements (cisoid-cisoid, 2cc; cisoid-transoid, 2ct) have been studied by DFT methods at the B3LYP level. The (2cc) structure is energetically more stable than the (2ct), being the main responsible of the energy difference between the two complexes the energetic gap between the cc and ct isomers of the free bis-ylide ligand [H₃PC(H)-C(O)-C(H)PH₃] (1). In (1) these differences arise from the presence of 1,4-intramolecular interactions between the phosphorus atoms and the carbonyl oxygen. That is, the conformational preferences observed in (1) due to the establishment of 1,4-P?O interactions are directly transferred to the metallic complexes (2) in such a way that the most stable structure for the free ligand gives the most stable complex. In the absence of the carbonyl group (e.g. [H₃PC(H)-C(CH₂)-C(H)PH₃] (3) or [H₃PC(H)-CH₂-C(H)PH₃] (5)) all isomers of a given bis-ylide (cc, ct and tt) become isoenergetic. The absence of discrimination in the free bis-ylides (3) and (5) gives isoenergetic cc and ct structures for the corresponding complexes cis-[PdCl₂{η²-[C(H)PH₃]₂CCH₂}] (4), cis-[PdCl₂{η²-[C(H)PH₃]₂CH₂}] (6) and [CpNi{η²-[C(H)PH₃]₂CH₂}] (7), as stated by NMR spectroscopy for (7). The influence of other factors (change of the heteroatom at C_β, change of the P substituents) in the energy of the different isomers of the bis-ylides and in the energy of the corresponding complexes has also been studied and discussed.     

Heterocyclic thioamide derivatives of coinage metals (Cu, Ag): Synthesis, structures and spectroscopy

Heterocyclic thioamides, namely, imidazolidine-2-thione (imdzSH), 1-methyl-1, 3-imidazoline-2-thione (mimzSH), thiazolidine-2-thione (tzdSH) and 2,4-dithiouracil (dtucH₂) with silver(I)/copper(I) salts in presence of triphenyl phosphine (PPh₃) have yielded complexes of different nuclearity: mononuclear, [Ag(η¹-S-HL)(PPh₃)₂Cl] (HL = imdzSH 1, mimzSH 2, tzdSH 3), dinuclear, [Ag₂(η¹-S-tzdSH)₂(μ-S-tzdSH)₂(PPh₃)₂](NO₃)₂4, and polynuclear, {Cu(μ-S,S-dtucH₂)(PPh₃)₂X} (X = Cl 5, Br 6, I 7). All complexes have been characterized using analytical data, IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P) and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The thio-ligands are bonded to the metal centers as neutral sulfur donors. The geometry around each metal center is distorted tetrahedral. Complexes 5-7 represent first examples of polymers of 2,4-dithiouracil in its coordination chemistry with metal salts. The hydrogen bonding interactions lead to the formation of 1D (2, 3, 7) and 2D (1, 4-6) sheet structures.     

New pyridyl modified phosphines: Synthesis and late transition-metal coordination studies

Using a phosphorus based Mannich condensation reaction the new pyridylphosphines {5-Ph₂PCH₂N(H)}C₅H₃(2-Cl)N (1-Cl) and {2-Ph₂PCH₂N(H)}C₅H₃(5-Br)N (1-Br) have been synthesised in good yields (60% and 88%, respectively) from Ph₂PCH₂OH and the appropriate aminopyridine. The ligands 1-Cl and 1-Br display variable coordination modes depending on the choice of late transition-metal complex used. Hence P-monodentate coordination has been observed for the mononuclear complexes AuCl(1-Cl) (2), AuCl(1-Br) (3), RuCl₂(p-cymene)(1-Cl) (4), RuCl₂(p-cymene)(1-Br) (5), RhCl₂(Cp^∗)(1-Cl) (6), RhCl₂(Cp^∗)(1-Br) (7), IrCl₂(Cp^∗)(1-Cl) (8), IrCl₂(Cp^∗)(1′-Cl) (8′), IrCl₂(Cp^∗)(1-Br) (9), cis-/trans-PdCl₂(1-Cl)₂ (10), cis-/trans-PdCl₂(1-Br)₂ (11), cis-PtCl₂(1-Cl)₂ (12) and cis-PtCl₂(1-Br)₂ (13). Reaction of Pd(Me)Cl(cod) (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) with either 1 equiv. of 1-Br or the known pyridylphosphines 1′-Cl, 1-OH or 1-H gave the P/N-chelate complexes Pd(Me)Cl(1-Br-1-H) (14)-(17). All new compounds have been fully characterised by spectroscopic and analytical methods. Furthermore the structures of 4, 5, 10 and 16 · (CH₃)₂SO have been elucidated by single crystal X-ray crystallography. A crystal structure of the dinuclear metallocycle trans,trans-[PdCl₂{μ-P/N-{Ph₂PCH₂N(H)}C₅H₄N}]₂ · CHCl₃, 18 · CHCl₃, has also been determined. Here 1-H bridges, using both P and pyridyl N donors, two dichloropalladium centres affording a 12-membered ring with the PdCl₂ units adopting a head-to-tail arrangement.     

A cyclic osmastannyl complex, Os(κ(Sn,P)-SnMe2C6H4PPh2)(κ-S2CNMe2)(CO)(PPh3) derived from the osmastannol complex, Os(SnMe2OH)(κ-S2CNMe2)(CO)(PPh3)2

Treatment of the six-coordinate trimethylstannyl complex, Os(SnMe₃)(κ²-S₂CNMe₂)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (1) with SnMe₂Cl₂ produces Os(SnMe₂Cl)(κ²-S₂CNMe₂)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (2), which in turn reacts readily with hydroxide ion to give, Os(SnMe₂OH)(κ²-S₂CNMe₂)(CO)(PPh₃)₂ (3). The osmastannol complex 3 undergoes a reaction with 2 equivalents of ^tBuLi, in which one of the phenyl rings of a triphenylphosphine ligand is “ortho-stannylated”, without cleavage of the Os-Sn bond, to give the cyclic complex, Os(κ²(Sn,P)-SnMe₂C₆H₄PPh₂)(κ²-S₂CNMe₂)(CO)(PPh₃) (4). This novel cyclic complex is selectively functionalised at the tin atom by reaction with SnMe₂Cl₂ which exchanges one methyl group for chloride giving the diastereomeric mixture, Os(κ²(Sn,P)-SnMeClC₆H₄PPh₂)(κ²-S₂CNMe₂)(CO)(PPh₃) (5a/5b). Crystal structure determination reveals that both diastereomers occur in the unit cell. The mixture, 5a/5b, undergoes reaction with hydroxide ion to give the diastereomeric osmastannol complexes, Os(κ²(Sn,P)-SnMeOHC₆H₄PPh₂)(κ²-S₂CNMe₂)(CO)(PPh₃) (6a/6b) and with sodium borohydride to give the corresponding tin-hydride mixture, Os(κ²(Sn,P)-SnMeHC₆H₄PPh₂)(κ²-S₂CNMe₂)(CO)(PPh₃) (7a/7b). Crystal structure determinations for 2, 4, and 5a/5b have been obtained.     

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.     

Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry: two-electron variations in intercluster bonding intimacy. Contrasting structures of 19-vertex [(η-C5Me5)HIrB18H19(PHPh2)] and [(η-C5Me5)IrB18H18(PH2Ph)]

Fused double-cluster [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrB₁₈H₁₈(PH₂Ph)] (8), from syn-[(η⁵-C₅Me₅)IrB₁₈H₂₀] (1) and PH₂Ph, retains the three-atoms-in-common cluster fusion intimacy of 1, in contrast to [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)HIrB₁₈H₁₉(PHPh₂)] (6), from PHPh₂ with 1, which exhibits an opening to a two atoms-in-common cluster fusion intimacy. Compound 8 forms via spontaneous dihydrogen loss from its precursor [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)HIrB₁₈H₁₉(PH₂Ph)] (7), which has two-atoms-in-common cluster-fusion intimacy and is structurally analogous to 6.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic properties and structural characterisation of Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes with 1,3,5-pyrazole derived ligands. Rotation around the metal-N bond

Reactions of ligands 1-ethyl-5-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole (L¹) and 5-methyl-1-octyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole (L²) with [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ and K₂PtCl₄ gave complexes trans-[MCl₂(L)₂] (L = L¹, L²). The new complexes were characterised by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, infrared, ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectroscopies and X-ray diffraction. The NMR study of the complex [PdCl₂(L¹)₂], in CDCl₃ solution, is consistent with a very slow rotation of ligands around the Pd-N bond, so that two conformational isomers can be observed in solution (syn and anti). Different behaviour is observed for complexes [PdCl₂(L²)₂] and [PtCl₂(L)₂] (L = L¹, L²), which present an isomer in solution at room temperature (anti). The crystal structure of [PdCl₂(L¹)₂] complex is described, where the Pd(II) presents a square planar geometry with the ligands coordinated in a trans disposition.     

Rhodium and iridium complexes bearing an alkyloxazoline-substituted indenyl ligand (Indox ligand) and their stereoselective construction of metal-centered chirality

The Indox ligands, [{(S)-(ⁱPr)Indox}_n]H (1) [n=2 (a), 3 (b)] and [{(H)Indox}_n=3]H (2), in which an indenyl group and an oxazoline ring are connected by an ethylene or propylene spacer, have been prepared. Reaction of [Ir(coe)₂Cl]₂ or [RhCl(C₂H₄)₂]₂ with the potassium salt of 1 afforded η⁵-[{(S)-(ⁱPr)Indox}_n]Ir(coe)₂ (3) or η⁵-[{(S)-(ⁱPr)Indox}_n]Rh(C₂H₄)₂ (6) as a 1:1 mixture of two diastereomers. The oxazoline ring in 3 and 6 did not coordinate to the metal center. When the complexes 3 or 6 reacted with iodine in diethyl ether, oxidative addition proceeded and the oxazoline ring coordinated to the metal center to give diiodoiridium(III) or rhodium(III) complexes, η⁵:η¹-[{(S)-(ⁱPr)Indox}_n]M(I)₂ [M=Ir (4), Rh (7)]. The corresponding diiodoiridium(III) complex bearing the Indox ligand 2, η⁵:η¹-[{(H)Indox}_n=2]Ir(I)₂ (5), was also prepared by a similar method. Reaction of 4 or 7 with PPh₃ in THF afforded diiodo-phosphine complexes, η⁵-[{(S)-(ⁱPr)Indox}_n]M(PPh₃)(I)₂ [M=Ir (8), Rh (9)] as a 1:1 mixture of two diastereomers in which the oxazoline ring dissociated from the metal center. The related reaction of 8 or 9 with more than 2 equiv. of AgOTf afforded the cationic complexes, [η⁵:η¹-[{(S)-(ⁱPr)Indox}_n]M(PPh₃)(OTf)]OTf [M=Ir (10), Rh (11)], having a stereogenic center at the metal center as a mixture of only two diastereomers. From ¹H and ³¹P NMR analyses, each diastereomer of 8 or 9 afforded only a single isomer of 10 or 11. The corresponding iridium(III) complex bearing the Indox ligand 2, [η⁵:η¹-[{(H)Indox}_n=3]Ir(PPh₃)(OTf)]OTf (12) was also prepared. The coordinated triflate ligand of 12 was slowly replaced by water in CDCl₃ to afford the dicationic aquo complex, (S^*_pl,R^*_Ir)-[η⁵:η¹-[{(H)Indox}_n=3]Ir(PPh₃)(H₂O)](OTf)₂ (13). The monocationic complex, [η⁵:η¹-[{(S)-(ⁱPr)Indox}_n=2]Ir(PPh₃)(I)]OTf (14a), having metal-centered chirality, was observed as a mixture of only two diastereomers in the reaction of 10a (a mixture of two diastereomers) with 1 equiv. of AgOTf. These observations indicated that the ligand exchange reaction of 8 or 9 with AgOTf contained the following three steps: (i) abstraction of one of the two prochiral iododes by AgOTf, (ii) recoordination of the oxazoline ring, and (iii) exchange of the remaining iodide for the triflate by AgOTf. The stereochemistry around the metal center was determined at the second step. All complexes have been characterized by usual spectroscopic methods as well as elemental analyses, and 4 and 13 have been characterized by X-ray analyses.