ABSTRACT
The synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of several group 4 metal complexes featuring a central anionic pyrrole moiety connected via CH2 linkers to two phosphine donors is described. Treatment of [P(NH)P-iPr] with [MCl4(THF)2] (M = Zr, Hf) in the presence of base yields the dimeric complexes [M(PNPiPr)(µ-Cl)(Cl)2]2 featuring two bridging chloride ligands. These complexes react with sodium cyclopentadienyl and SiMe3I to give the mononuclear complexes [M(PNPiPr)(η5-Cp)(Cl)2] and [M(PNPiPr)(I)3], respectively. The latter react with MeMgBr to form the trialkyl complexes [M(PNPiPr)(Me)3]. Upon treatment of [Ti(NMe2)4] with [P(NH)P-iPr] a complex with the general formula [Ti(PNPiPr)(NMe2)3] is obtained. DFT calculations revealed that the most stable species is [Ti(κ1N- PNPiPr)(NMe2)3] featuring a κ1N-bound PNP ligand. When [P(NH)P-iPr] is reacted with [Ti(NMe2)4] in CH2Cl2 complex [Ti(PNPiPr)(Cl)2(NMe2)] is formed. Treatment of a solution of [P(NH)P-iPr] and [Zr(NMe2)4] with SiMe3Br affords the anionic seven-coordinate tetrabromo complex [Zr(PNPiPr)(Br)4][H2NMe2]. The corresponding hafnium complex [Hf(PNPiPr)(Br)4][H2NEt2] is obtained in similar fashion by utilizing [Hf(NEt2)4] as metal precursor. All complexes are characterized by means of NMR spectroscopy. Representative complexes were also characterized by X-ray crystallography. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00706-024-03171-x.
ABSTRACT
The synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of pyrrole-based Ti(III) and Ti(IV) PNP pincer complexes are described. [P(NH)P-iPr] (1) reacts with [TiCl4(THF)2] at room temperature in the presence of NEt3 to afford the Ti(IV) complex [Ti(PNPiPr)(Cl)3]. This complex reacts with acetone and cyclopentanone to give complexes [Ti(PNOacet-iPr)(Cl)3] and [Ti(PNOcyclo-iPr)(Cl)3], respectively. Insertion of the ketone into the Ti(IV)-P bond took place, forming a new tridendate PNO-ligand. Treatment of [TiCl3(THF)3] with the lithium salt of [P(NH)P-iPr] afforded, upon workup, complex [Ti(PNP-iPr)(Cl)2(THF)], a paramagnetic complex with an µeff value of 1.8(1) µB which corresponds to one unpaired electron and a formal oxidation state of +III. This compound does not react with ketones. A mechanistic proposal based on DFT calculations is presented. Ketone insertion proceeds via an associative reaction initiated by ketone coordination at the metal center, followed by the opening of the five-membered chelate ring, and finally an intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the noncoordinated phosphine arm at the carbonyl atom of the ketone. All complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography.
ABSTRACT
A series of cobalt complexes, stabilized by a monoanionic tridentate NCN pincer ligand, was synthetized and characterized. Preparation of the paramagnetic 15 VE complex [Co(NCNCH2-Et)Br] (1) was accomplished by transmetalation of Li[2,6-(Et2NCH2)2C6H3] with CoBr2 in THF. Treatment of this air-sensitive compound with NO gas resulted in the formation of the diamagnetic Co(III) species [Co(NCNCH2-Et)(NO)Br] (2) as confirmed by X-ray diffraction. This complex features a strongly bent NO ligand (Co-N-Oâ 135.0°). The νNO is observed at 1609â cm-1 which is typical for a bent metal-N-O arrangement. Coordinatively unsaturated 1 could further be treated with pyridine, isocyanides, phosphines and CO to form five-coordinate 17â VE complexes. Oxidation of 1 with CuBr2 led to the formation of the Co(III) complex [Co(NCNCH2-Et)Br2]. Treatment of [Co(NCNCH2-Et)Br2] with TlBF4 as halide scavenger in acetonitrile led to the formation of the cationic octahedral complex [Co(NCNCH2-Et)(MeCN)3](BF4)2. A combination of X-ray crystallography, IR-, NMR- and EPR-spectroscopy as well as DFT/CAS-SCF calculations were used to characterize all compounds.
ABSTRACT
Efficient alkylations of amines by alcohols catalyzed by well-defined Co(II) complexes are described that are stabilized by a PCP ligand (N,N'-bis(diisopropylphosphino)-N,N'-dimethyl-1,3-diaminobenzene) based on the 1,3-diaminobenzene scaffold. This reaction is an environmentally benign process implementing inexpensive, earth-abundant nonprecious metal catalysts and is based on the acceptorless alcohol dehydrogenation concept. A range of primary alcohols and aromatic amines were efficiently converted into mono-N-alkylated amines in good to excellent isolated yields.