Arene displacement, C-H activation and acetonitrile insertion reactions enabled by coordination of a functionalized iminophosphorane to a RuII-p-cymene scaffold.

Reaction of a sterically demanding iminophosphorano-phosphine, Ph2PCH2Ph2PNAr* (here onwards referred to as PCPNAr*; Ar* = 2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-methylphenyl), (1) with [Ru(η6-p-cymene)Cl2]2 yielded three different types of complex, [RuCl2{(η6-p-cymene)(PCPNAr*)-κ1-P}] (2), [RuCl{(P(O)CPNAr*)(κ2-N,C)(C-η6-arene)}] (3) and [RuCl{(POCPNAr*)(κ2-N,C-o)(C-η6-arene)}] (4), depending on the reaction conditions via CH activation, tethered η6-arene coordination, ortho-metallation or PN bond cleavage/rearrangement reactions. Interestingly, a similar reaction in CH3CN in the presence of AgBF4 resulted in the insertion of CH3CN into the PN bond to form a novel metallacycle [Ru(NCMe)3{(PC2PN(CH3)CNAr*)-κ3-N,N,P}][BF4]2 (5) containing 4- and 5-membered rings via an aza-Wittig type reaction. Complex 4 showed very good catalytic activity in the transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds.

Synthesis and Photophysical Properties of Heavier Pnictogen Complexes.

Recent success in the synthesis of π-conjugated heavier pnictogen (As, Sb, and Bi) compounds and their transition metal complexes has led to the current surge in interest that led to significant development in the field of photophysical and optoelectronic properties of heavier pnictogens and their transition metal complexes. The presence of heavier pnictogens (As, Sb and Bi) in the molecular skeleton promotes inter-system crossing (ISC) and reverse inter-system crossing (RISC), because of the heavy atom effect, via altering the intermolecular interactions and orbital energy levels. As a result, π-conjugated heavier pnictogen compounds such as arsines, dibenzoarsepins, arsinoquinoline, heterofluorene, benzo[b]heterole (heterole=arsole, bismole, and stibole) show unique optoelectronic properties such as narrow bandgap, low-energy absorption, and long-wavelength emission than lighter pnictogen-based compounds. This review focuses on recent advances in the synthesis and photophysical properties of heavier pnictogen compounds. The synthesis and photophysical properties of heavier pnictogens are discussed and elaborated.

Novel 1,2,3-triazolyl phosphine with a pyridyl functionality: synthesis, coinage metal complexes, photophysical studies and Cu(I) catalyzed C-O coupling of phenols with aryl bromides.

This manuscript describes the synthesis and coinage metal complexes of pyridine appended 1,2,3-triazolyl-phosphine [2-{(C6H4N)(C2(PPh2)N3C6H5)}] (1), photophysical studies and their catalytic application. The reactions of 1 with copper salts afforded dimeric complexes [{Cu(µ2-X)}2{2-(C6H4N)(C2(PPh2)N3C6H5)}2] (2, X = Cl; 3, X = Br; and 4, X = I). The crystal structure indicates that the Cu⋯Cu distance in 4 (2.694 Å) is significantly shorter than that in complexes 3 (3.0387 Å) and 2 (3.104 Å), indicating strong cuprophilic interactions which is also supported by NBO calculations, signifying the involvement of 3dz2 orbitals from each Cu atom contributing to the bonding interaction. The fluorescence studies on complexes 2-4 carried out in the solid state showed broad emission bands around 560 nm on excitation at λex = 420 nm. Complex 4 on treatment with two equivalents of 1,10-phenanthroline yielded a mononuclear complex 5 which showed almost complete quenching of fluorescence in the solid state, clearly indicating that the emissive properties of 4 are mainly due to the Cu⋯Cu interaction, along with (M + X)LCT. The reactions of 1 with silver salts led to the isolation of dimeric complexes [{Ag(µ2-X)}2{2-(C6H4N)(C2(PPh2)N3C6H5)}2] (6, X = Cl; 7, X = Br; and 8, X = I) in good yield. The reaction between 1 and [AuCl(SMe2)] yielded [{AuCl}{2-(C6H4N)(C2(PPh2)N3C6H5)}] (9). The molecular structures of 2-5 and 7-9 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. The complex 4 is found to be an excellent catalyst for C-O coupling under mild conditions.

RuII complexes of 1,2,3-triazole appended tertiary phosphines, [P(Ph){(o-C6H4)(1,2,3-N3C(Ph)CH}2] and [P(Ph){o-C6H4(CCH)-(1,2,3-N3-Ph)}2]: highly active catalysts for transfer hydrogenation of carbonyl/nitro compounds and for α-alkylation of ketones.

The synthesis of two new 1,2,3-triazole appended monophosphines [P(Ph){(o-C6H4)(1,2,3-N3C(Ph)CH}2] (1) and [P(Ph){o-C6H4(CCH)(1,2,3-N3-Ph)}2] (2) and their RuII complexes is described. The reactions of 1 and 2 with [Ru(PPh3)3Cl2] in a 1 : 1 molar ratio produced cationic complexes 3 and 4, respectively. Both the complexes showed very high catalytic activity towards transfer hydrogenation, nitro reduction, and α-alkylation reactions and afforded the corresponding products in good to excellent yields. The free energy of ß-hydride elimination from the respective Ru-alkoxide intermediates, a key mechanistic step common to all the three catalytic pathways, was calculated to be close to ergoneutral by density functional theory-based calculations, which is posited to rationalize the catalytic activity of 3. The reduction of aromatic nitro compounds was found to be highly chemoselective and produced the corresponding amines as major products even in the presence of a carbonyl group. The triazolyl-N2 coordinated RuII-NPN complex 3 showed better catalytic activity compared to the triazolyl-N3 coordinated complex 4.

1,2,3-Triazole based ligands with phosphine and pyridine functionalities: synthesis, PdII and PtII chemistry and catalytic studies.

This manuscript describes the syntheses of pyridine appended triazole-based mono- and bisphosphines, [o-Ph2P(C6H4){1,2,3-N3C(Py)C(H)}] (2), [o-Br(C6H4){1,2,3-N3C(Py)C(PPh2)}] (3), [C6H5{1,2,3-N3C(Py)C(PPh2)}] (4), [Ph2P(C6H4){1,2,3-N3C(Py)C(PPh2)}] (5) and [3-Ph2P-2-{1,2,3-N3C(Ph)C(PPh2)}C5H3N] (6), their palladium and platinum chemistry and catalytic applications. These ligands upon treatment with [M(COD)Cl2] (M = Pd or Pt) yielded complexes with different coordination modes, depending on the reaction conditions. Both κ2-P,N and κ2-P,P coordination modes were observed in many of the complexes indicating the ambidentate nature of these ligands. Monophosphine 2 in the presence of a base afforded rare fused-5,6-membered PCN pincer complexes [MCl{o-Ph2P(C6H4){1,2,3-N3C(Py)C(H)}}-κ3-P,C,N] (7, M = Pd; 8, M = Pt), whereas the reactions of 4 with [M(COD)Cl2] (M = Pd, Pt) produced κ2-P,N chelate complexes [MCl2{C6H5{1,2,3-N3C(Py)C(PPh2)}-κ2-P,N}] (9, M = Pd; 10, M = Pt). Similar reactions of 5 and 6 resulted in κ2-P,P chelate complexes [MCl2{{3-Ph2P-2-{1,2,3-N3C(Ph)C(PPh2)}C5H3N}-κ2-P,P}] (11, M = Pd; 12, M = Pt) and [MCl2{3-Ph2P-2-{1,2,3-N3C(Ph)C(PPh2)}C5H3N}-κ2-P,P}] (13, M = Pd; 14, M = Pt), respectively. The palladium(II) complexes have shown excellent catalytic activity in the α-alkylation reaction of acetophenone derivatives.

Group 11 metal complexes of the dinucleating triazole appended bisphosphine 1,4-bis(5-(diisopropylphosphaneyl)-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene.

The synthesis of a triazole appended dinucleating bisphosphine 1,4-bis(5-(diisopropylphosphaneyl)-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene (2) and its coinage metal complexes are described. The dinucleating bisphosphine 2 was obtained by the temperature-controlled lithiation of 1,4-bis(1-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene (1a) and 1,4-bis(1-(2-bromophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)benzene (1b) followed by the reaction with iPr2PCl. The reactions of 2 with copper(I) halides in 1 : 2 molar ratios yielded the [Cu(µ2-X)]2 dimeric complexes [{Cu(µ2-X)}2(PiPr2N3PhC2)2C6H4] (3, X = Cl; 4, X = Br; and 5, X = I), whereas the reaction of 2 with AgBr resulted in the formation of hetero-cubane complex [{Ag4(µ3-Br)4}{(PiPr2N3PhC2)2C6H4}2] (7). Similar reactions of 2 with AgX in 1 : 2 molar ratios yielded disilver complexes [{Ag(µ2-X)}2{(PiPr2N3PhC2)2C6H4}] (6, X = Cl and 8, X = I). Treatment of 2 with AgOAc in a 1 : 2 molar ratio afforded a dinuclear complex [Ag2(µ2-OAc)2{(PiPr2N3PhC2)2(C6H4)}] (9) with one of the acetate ligands bridging the two metal centres in the side-on mode, whereas the other one adopting the end-on mode keeping the >CO group uncoordinated. The reaction of 2 with two equivalents of [AuCl(SMe2)] afforded the digold complex [(AuClPiPr2N3PhC2)2C6H4] (10). The molecular structures of 2-5 and 7-10 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Non-covalent interactions between Cu and Carene were observed in the molecular structures of 3, 4 and 5. These weak interactions were also assessed by DFT calculations in terms of their non-covalent interaction plots (NCI) and QTAIM analyses.

Rare Au···H Interactions in Gold(I) Complexes of Bulky Phosphines Derived from 2,6-Dibenzhydryl-4-methylphenyl Core.

Gold(I) complexes of sterically demanding phosphines derived from 2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-methylphenyl core viz: 2,6-dibenzhydryl-N,N-bis((diphenylphosphane)-methyl)-4-methylaniline (1), (2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-methylphenyl)-diphenylphosphane (2), N-(2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-methylphenyl)-1,1-diphenylphosphanamine (3), and (2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-methylphenoxy)-diphenylphosphane (4) are described. The reaction of 1 with 2 equiv of [AuCl(SMe2)] in dichloromethane yielded [{AuCl}2{Ar*N(CH2PPh2)2}] (5), which on further treatment with 2 equiv of AgSbF6 and 1 equiv of 1 produced 12-membered dimeric complex [Au2{µ-(Ar*N(CH2PPh2)2)2}][(SbF6)2] (6). A similar reaction of 5 with AgSbF6 in CH3CN afforded [{Au(NCCH3)}2{Ar*N(CH2PPh2)2}][(SbF6)2] (7). Equimolar reactions of bulky phosphines 2, 3, and 4 with [AuCl(SMe2)] resulted in [AuCl(PPh2Ar*)] (8), [AuCl(PPh2NHAr*)] (9), and [AuCl(PPh2OAr*)] (10). Complexes 9 and 10 on treatment with AgSbF6 in CH3CN produced the cationic complexes [Au(NCCH3)(PPh2NHAr*)][(SbF6)] (11) and [Au(NCCH3)(PPh2OAr*)][(SbF6)] (12), respectively. The molecular structure of complex 6 revealed the presence of a strong intramolecular aurophilic interaction with a Au···Au distance of 2.9720(4) Å. Careful analysis of molecular structure of 5 revealed the presence of rare Au···H-C (sp3) interactions between the gold(I) atom and one of the methylene protons of -NCH2PPh2 groups. The solution 1H NMR signals of the methylene protons of 5 showed a considerable downfield shift (∼1 ppm) compared to that of the free ligand indicating their interactions (Au···H) with the Au atom. Complexes 8 and 10 also showed Au···H interactions in their molecular structures. The existence of the Au···H interaction was studied by variable temperature 1H NMR data in the case of complex 5 and further evinced by the QTAIM analysis in complexes 5, 8, and 10.