Synthesis, Structure, and Conformational Dynamics of Rhodium and Iridium Complexes of Dimethylbis(2-pyridyl)borate.

Rhodium(I) and Iridium(I) borate complexes of the structure [Me2B(2-py)2]ML2 (L2 = (tBuNC)2, (CO)2, (C2H4)2, cod, dppe) were prepared and structurally characterized (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene; dppe = 1,2-diphenylphosphinoethane). Each contains a boat-configured chelate ring that participates in a boat-to-boat ring flip. Computational evidence shows that the ring flip proceeds through a transition state that is near planarity about the chelate ring. We observe an empirical, quantitative correlation between the barrier of this ring flip and the π acceptor ability of the ancillary ligand groups on the metal. The ring flip barrier correlates weakly to the Tolman and Lever ligand parameterization schemes, apparently because these combine both σ and π effects while we propose that the ring flip barrier is dominated by π bonding. This observation is consistent with metal-ligand π interactions becoming temporarily available only in the near-planar transition state of the chelate ring flip and not the boat-configured ground state. Thus, this is a first-of-class observation of metal-ligand π bonding governing conformational dynamics.

Control of emission colour with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands in phosphorescent three-coordinate Cu(I) complexes.

A series of three phosphorescent mononuclear (NHC)-Cu(I) complexes were prepared and characterized. Photophysical properties were found to be largely controlled by the NHC ligand chromophore. Variation of the NHC ligand leads to emission colour tuning over 200 nm range from blue to red, and emission efficiencies of 0.16-0.80 in the solid state.

A Ruthenium-Catalyzed Coupling of Alkynes with 1,3-Diketones.

Ruthenium(III) chloride hydrate is a convenient catalyst for the addition of active methylene compounds to aryl alkynes. These reactions are rapid, operationally simple, and high yielding in cases. Most significantly, no precautions are required to exclude air or water from the reactions. All reagents are commercially available at reasonable prices, and the reactions can be conducted in disposable glassware with minimal solvent.

A Three-Stage Mechanistic Model for Ammonia Borane Dehydrogenation by Shvo's Catalyst.

We propose a mechanistic model for three-stage dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB) catalyzed by Shvo's cyclopentadienone-ligated ruthenium complex. We provide evidence for a plausible mechanism for catalyst deactivation, the transition from fast catalysis to slow catalysis, and relate those findings to the invention of a second-generation catalyst that does not suffer from the same deactivation chemistry.The primary mechanism of catalyst deactivation is borazine-mediated hydroboration of the ruthenium species that is the active oxidant in the fast catalysis case. This transition is characterized by a change in the rate law for the reaction and changes in the apparent resting state of the catalyst. Also, in this slow catalysis situation, we see an additional intermediate in the sequence of boron, nitrogen species, aminodiborane. This occurs with concurrent generation of NH(3), which itself does not strongly affect the rate of AB dehydrogenation.

A robust, air-stable, reusable ruthenium catalyst for dehydrogenation of ammonia borane.

We describe an efficient homogeneous ruthenium catalyst for the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB). This catalyst liberates more than 2 equiv of H(2) and up to 4.6 system wt % H(2) from concentrated AB suspensions under air. Importantly, this catalyst is robust, delivering several cycles of dehydrogenation at high [AB] without loss of catalytic activity, even with exposure to air and water.

Dehydrogenation of ammonia-borane by Shvo's catalyst.

Shvo's cyclopentadienone-ligated ruthenium complex is an efficient catalyst for the liberation of exactly two molar equivalents of hydrogen from ammonia-borane, a prospective hydrogen storage medium. The mechanism for the dehydrogenation features a ruthenium hydride resting state from which dihydrogen loss is the rate-determining step.

Thermochemistry and molecular structure of a remarkable agostic interaction in a heterobifunctional ruthenium-boron complex.

A boron-pendant ruthenium species forms a unique agostic methyl bridge between the boron and ruthenium atoms in the presence of a ligating solvent, acetonitrile. NMR inversion-recovery experiments enabled the activation and equilibrium thermochemistry for formation of the agostic bridge to be measured. The mechanism for bridge formation involves displacement of an acetonitrile ligand; thus, this is a rare example of a case where an agostic C-H ligand competitively displaces another tightly binding ligand from a coordinatively saturated complex. Characterization of this complex gives unique insights into the development of C-H activation catalysis based on this ligand-metal bifunctional motif.

Oxy-functionalization of nucleophilic rhenium(I) metal carbon bonds catalyzed by selenium(IV).

We report that SeO2 catalyzes the facile oxy-functionalization of (CO)5Re(I)-Me(delta-) with IO4(-) to generate methanol. Mechanistic studies and DFT calculations reveal that catalysis involves methyl group transfer from Re to the electrophilic Se center followed by oxidation and subsequent reductive functionalization of the resulting CH3Se(VI) species. Furthermore, (CO)3Re(I)(Bpy)-R (R = ethyl, n-propyl, and aryl) complexes show analogous transfer to SeO2 to generate the primary alcohols. This represents a new strategy for the oxy-functionalization of M-R(delta-) polarized bonds.

Facile functionalization of a metal carbon bond by O-atom transfer.

The facile conversion of M-R to M-OR that could be useful for the functionalization of electron-rich metal alkyl intermediates is shown to proceed via a Baeyer-Villiger-type pathway involving a nonredox, electrophilic, O-atom insertion in reactions with non-peroxo O-donors.

Synthesis of Pt(dpk)Cl(4) and the reversible hydration to Pt(dpk-O-OH)Cl(3).H-phenCl: X-ray, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterization.

We report on the synthesis of a platinum(IV) compound containing a di-2-pyridyl ketone (dpk) ligand that is stable both in its anhydrous form [Pt(dpk)Cl(4)] (1) and in its hydrated form [Pt(dpk-O-OH)Cl(3)].H-phenCl (2). The crystal structure of the hydrated form shows that one of the hydroxide groups from the resulting gem-diol has undergone a cyclometalation/condensation reaction resulting in an oxygen atom directly coordinated to the Pt(IV) center and the formation of H-phenCl. We correlate our physical data with predictions made by molecular modeling, and we propose an explanation for the unusual activity found for this dpk ketone. Spectroscopic and solubility studies are presented here, as well. Electrochemical studies of 1 indicate that it undergoes a highly irreversible reduction at a potential of about -0.45 V vs Ag(+)/Ag in CH(3)CN and that the irreversibility is likely due to an EC mechanism, the nature of which is currently under further investigation. Another distinct redox pair, apparently reversible, appears at a potential of about -1.1 V vs Ag(+)/Ag.