Evolution of Triangular All-Metal Aromatic Complexes from Bonding Quandaries to Powerful Catalytic Platforms.

This manuscript describes an overview on the literature detailing the observation of trinuclear complexes that present delocalized metal-metal bonds similar to those of regular aromatics, which are formed combining main group elements. A particular emphasis is given to the structural and electronic features of aromatic clusters that are sufficiently stable to allow their isolation. In parallel to the description of their key bonding properties, the work presents reported catalytic applications of these complexes, which already span from elaborated C-C-forming cascades to highly efficient cross-coupling methods. These examples present peculiar aspects of the unique reactivity exerted by all-metal aromatic complexes, which can often be superior to their established, popular mononuclear peers in terms of chemoselectivity and chemical robustness.

Reactivity of the zwitterionic ligand EtNHC(S)Ph2P[double bond, length as m-dash]NPPh2C(S)NEt towards [Ru3(CO)12]. Sulfur transfer and ligand fragmentation leading to the methideylamide [-N(Et)-CH(R)-] micro3-bridging moiety.

The reaction of EtNHC(S)Ph2P[double bond, length as m-dash]NP+Ph2C(S)N(-)Et (HEtSNS) with [Ru3(CO)12] has been carried out under two different experimental conditions: in the first case [Ru3(CO)12], previously turned into the labile intermediate [Ru3(CO)10(CH3CN)2], afforded, at room temperature in dichloromethane, the trinuclear clusters [Ru3(CO)11(CNEt)] (1), [Ru3(CO)9(micro-H)[(micro-S:kappa-P)Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(S)NEt]] (2), [Ru3(CO)9(micro-H)[(micro-S:kappa-P)Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]P(S)Ph2]] (3) and [Ru3(CO)10[(micro-kappa2P)Ph2PNHPPh2]] (3). Ligand fragmentation occurs via loss of EtNC or EtNCS, without sulfur transfer to the cluster core. In the second case, [Ru3(CO)12] reacted with HEtSNS in toluene at 70 degrees C, giving the trinuclear clusters , [Ru3(CO)7(CNEt)(micro3-S)[(micro2-N:eta1-C:kappa1-P)Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(H)NEt]] (6), [Ru3(CO)8)(micro3-S)[(micro2-N:eta-C:kappa-P)Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(H)NEt]] (6) and [Ru3(CO)6(micro3-CO)(micro3-S)(EtNC)[(micro-kappa2P) Ph2PNHPPh2]] (7). The last three compounds derive from ligand fragmentation and sulfur transfer to the metal cluster. All compounds were characterized by spectroscopy (NMR, IR) and the molecular structures of , and were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Cluster preserves the original Ru3 triangular core in which an edge is bridged by a hydride ligand and by the sulfur atom of the Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(S)NEt ligand. Cluster shows an open triangle of Ru atoms capped by a micro3-sulfide and by the unprecedented methideylamide -N(Et)CH(R)-micro3-bridging moiety of the Ph2PN[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh2C(H)NEt ligand. It formally derives from cluster by substitution of ethyl isonitrile with one CO molecule. Finally, cluster displays a Ru3(micro3-S)(micro3-CO) trigonal bipyramidal core.

Zwitterionic metalates of group 11 elements and their use as metalloligands for the assembly of multizwitterionic clusters.

Reaction of RNHC(S)PPh2NPPh2C(S)NR (HRSNS; R = Me, Et) with M(I) (M = Cu, Ag, Au) salts afforded zwitterionic complexes of the general formula [M(RSNS)] (M = Cu, Ag, Au). The ligand was found in the solid state in S,S-kappa2 and S,N,S-kappa3 coordination fashions. [Cu(RSNS)] and [Ag(RSNS)] can be used as metalloligand building blocks for the assembly of pentanuclear multizwitterionic Cu5, Cu3Ag2 and Ag5 core clusters of the general formula [M'2{M(RSNS)}3]2+ (M = Cu, M' = Cu, Ag; M = M' = Ag) upon reaction with suitable M' salts. The crystal structures of the most significant compounds are reported herein. Compound [Ag2{Ag(RSNS)}2(OTf)2] was also isolated and structurally characterized, representing a model for the intermediate species of the aforementioned assembly.

On the reaction of Ph2PNHPPh2 with RNCS (R=Et, Ph, p-NO2C6H4): preparation of the zwitterionic ligand EtNHC(S)Ph2P==NPPh2C(S)NEt (HSNS) and the zwitterionic metalate [(SNS)Rh(CO)].

The reaction of Ph(2)PNHPPh(2) (PNP) with RNCS (Et, Ph, p-NO(2)(C(6)H(4))) gives addition products resulting from the attack of the P atoms of PNP on the electrophilic carbon atom of the isothiocyanate. When PNP is reacted with EtNCS in a 1:2 molar ratio, the zwitterionic molecule EtNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)Et (HSNS) is obtained in high yield. HSNS can be protonated (H(2)SNS(+)) or deprotonated (SNS(-)), behaving in the latter form as an S,N,S-donor pincer ligand. The reaction of HSNS with [(acac)Rh(CO)(2)] (acac=acetylacetonate) affords the zwitterionic metalate [(SNS)Rh(CO)]. Other products can be obtained depending on the R group, the PNP/RNCS ratio (1:1 or 1:2), and the reaction temperature. The proposed product of the primary attack of PNP on RNCS, Ph(2)PN==PPh(2)C(S)NHR (A), cannot be isolated. Reaction of A with another RNCS molecule leads to 1:2 addition compounds of the general formula RNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)R (1), which can rearrange into the non-zwitterionic product RNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2) (2) by eliminating a molecule of RNC. Two molecules of A can react together, yielding 1:1 PNP/RNCS zwitterionic products of the formula RNHCH[PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2)]PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)R (3). Compound 3 can then rearrange into RNHCH[PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2)](2) (4) by losing a RNC molecule. When R=Et (a), compounds 1 a, 2 a (HSNS), and 4 a have been isolated and characterized. When R=Ph (b), compounds 2 b and 4 b can be prepared in high yield. When R=p-NO(2)C(6)H(4) (c), only compound 3 c is observed and isolated in high yield. The crystal structures of HSNS, [(SNS)Rh(CO)], and of the most representative products have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods.