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).