Synthesis and characterization of pyrrole-based group 4 PNP pincer complexes.

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.

Pyrrole-Based Ti(III) and Ti(IV) PNP Pincer Complexes: Insertion of Ketones into the Ti(IV)-Phosphorus Bond.

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.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt NCN Pincer Complexes.

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-O∠135.0°). The νNO is observed at 1609 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 17 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.

Co(II) PCP Pincer Complexes as Catalysts for the Alkylation of Aromatic Amines with Primary Alcohols.

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.