Comparing the Ligand Behavior of N-Heterocyclic Phosphenium and Nitrosyl Units in Iron and Chromium Complexes.

N-Heterocyclic phosphenium (NHP) and nitrosonium (NO+) ligands are often viewed as isolobal analogues that share the capability to switch between different charge states and thus display redox "noninnocent" behavior. We report here on mixed complexes [(NHP)M(CO) n(NO)] (M = Fe, Cr; n = 2, 3), which permit evaluating the donor/acceptor properties of both types of ligands and their interplay in a single complex. The crystalline target compounds were obtained from reactions of N-heterocyclic phosphenium triflates with PPN[Fe(CO)3(NO)] or PPN[Cr(CO)4(NO)], respectively, and fully characterized (PPN = nitride-bistriphenylphosphonium cation). The structural and spectroscopic (IR, UV-vis) data support the presence of carbene-analogue NHP ligands with an overall positive charge state and π-acceptor character. Even if the structural features of the M-NO unit were in all but one product blurred by crystallographic CO/NO disorder, spectroscopic studies and the structural data of the remaining compound suggest that the NO units exhibit nitroxide (NO-) character. This assignment was validated by computational studies, which reveal also that the electronic structure of iron NHP/NO complexes is closely akin to that of the Hieber anion, [Fe(CO)3(NO)]-. The electrophilic character of the NHP units is further reflected in the chemical behavior of the mixed complexes. Cyclic voltammetry and IR-SEC studies revealed that complex [(NHP)Fe(CO)2(NO)] (4) undergoes chemically reversible one-electron reduction. Computational studies indicate that the NHP unit in the resulting product carries significant radical character, and the reduction may thus be classified as predominantly ligand-centered. Reaction of 4 with sodium azide proceeded likewise under nucleophilic attack at phosphorus and decomplexation, while super hydride and methyl lithium reacted with all chromium and iron complexes via transfer of a hydride or methyl anion to the NHP unit to afford anionic phosphine complexes. Some of these species were isolated after cation exchange or trapped with electrophiles (H+, SnPh3+) to afford neutral complexes representing the products of a formal hydrogenation or hydrostannylation of the original M═P double bond.

N-Heterocyclic Phosphenium Complex of Manganese: Synthesis and Catalytic Activity in Ammonia Borane Dehydrogenation.

A neutral N-heterocyclic phosphenium complex of manganese was synthesised by a metathesis approach and characterised by IR, NMR, and XRD studies. The short P-Mn distance suggests a substantial metal-ligand double bond character. Reaction with a hydride produced an anionic phosphine complex, which was also characterised by IR and NMR spectroscopy and, after anion exchange, a single-crystal XRD study. Protonation of the anion occurs at the metal to yield a neutral phosphine metal carbonyl hydride, which releases dihydrogen upon irradiation with UV light. These reactions confirm the electrophilic nature of the phosphenium ligand and suggest that the title complex might undergo reactions displaying metal-ligand cooperativity. Surprisingly, reaction with ammonia borane (AB) did not proceed under transfer hydrogenation of the Mn=P double bond but through the catalytic dehydrogenation of AB. The phosphenium complex behaves here as a class II catalyst, which dehydrogenates AB to NH2 BH2 that was trapped with cyclohexene. Computational model studies led to the identification of two possible catalytic cycles, which differ in the regioselectivity of the initial AB activation step. In one case, the activation proceeds as cooperative transfer hydrogenation of the Mn=P bond, whereas in the other case a H+ /H- pair is transferred to the phosphorus atom and a nitrogen atom of the phosphenium unit, resulting in a ligand-centred reaction in which the metal fragment acts merely as stabilising substituent. Unexpectedly, this pathway, which constitutes a new reaction mode for phosphenium complexes, seems to be better in accord with experimental findings on the course of the catalysis.

Phosphenium Hydride Reduction of [(cod)MX2] (M = Pd, Pt; X = Cl, Br): Snapshots on the Way to Phosphenium Metal(0) Halides and Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles.

The outcome of the reduction of [(cod)PtX2] (X = Cl, Br; cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with N-heterocyclic phosphenium hydrides RNHP-H depends strongly on the steric demand of the N-aryl group R and the nature of X. Reaction of [(cod)PtCl2] with DippNHP-H featuring bulky N-Dipp groups produced an unprecedented monomeric phosphenium metal(0) halide [(DippNHP)(DippNHP-H)PtCl] stabilized by a single phosphine ligand. The phosphenium unit exhibits a pyramidal coordination geometry at the phosphorus atom and may according to DFT calculations be classified as a Z-type ligand. In contrast, reaction of [(cod)PtBr2] with the sterically less protected MesNHP-H afforded a mixture of donor-ligand free oligonuclear complexes [{(MesNHP)PtBr}n] (n = 2, 3), which are structural analogues of known palladium complexes with µ2-bridging phosphenium units. All reductions studied proceed via spectroscopically detectable intermediates, several of which could be unambiguously identified by means of multinuclear (1H, 31P, 195Pt) NMR spectroscopy and computational studies. The experimental findings reveal that the phosphenium hydrides in these multistep processes adopt a dual function as ligands and hydride transfer reagents. The preference for the observed intricate pathways over seemingly simpler ligand exchange processes is presumably due to kinetic reasons. The attempt to exchange the bulky phosphine ligand in [(DippNHP)(DippNHP-H)PtCl] by Me3P resulted in an unexpected isomerization to a platinum(0) chlorophosphine complex via a formal chloride migration from platinum to phosphorus, which accentuates the electrophilic nature of the phosphenium ligand. Phosphenium metal(0) halides of platinum further show a surprising thermal stability, whereas the palladium complexes easily disintegrate upon gentle heating in dimethyl sulfoxide to yield metal nanoparticles, which were characterized by TEM and XRD studies.

Variable Reactivity of a N-Heterocyclic Phosphenium Complex: P-C Bond Activation or "Abnormal" Deprotonation.

The reaction of an N-heterocyclic phosphenium complex of manganese with MeLi/Et3 NHCl under formal addition of CH4 to the Mn=P double bond can be reversed upon UV photolysis, providing a rare example for selective P-C(alkyl) bond activation. Action of LDA on the phosphenium complex does not proceed via attack at phosphorus but rather via C4-deprotonation to yield a unique P-analogue of an "abnormal" carbene. A transmetalation product of the original complex was fully characterized. The C-metalation is also applicable to bis-phosphenium complexes of other metals.

New Selective Synthesis of Dithiaboroles as a Viable Pathway to Functionalized Benzenedithiolenes and Their Complexes.

A synthetic protocol to synthesize 2-bromobenzo-1,3,2-dithiaboroles in one step from easily accessible benzene bis(isopropyl thioether)s has been developed. The reaction is remarkably specific in converting substrates with two adjacent (i)PrS moieties while leaving isolated thioether functions and other functional groups intact. On the basis of the spectroscopic detection or isolation of reaction intermediates, a mechanistic explanation involving a neighbor-group-assisted dealkylation as a key step is proposed. The resulting products featuring one or two dithiaborole units were isolated in good yields and fully characterized. Subsequent methanolysis, which was carried out either as a separate reaction step or in the manner of a one-pot reaction, gave rise to functionally substituted benzenedithiols. The feasibility of a methylphosphoryl-substituted benzenedithiol to act as a dianionic S,S-chelating ligand was demonstrated with the formation of paramagnetic Ni(III) and Co(III) complexes. Selective reduction of the phosphoryl group afforded a rare example of a phosphino dithiol which was shown to act as a monoanionic P,S-bidentate ligand toward Pd(II). All complexes were characterized by spectral data and X-ray diffraction studies, and the paramagnetic ones also by superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry.

Controllable access to P-functional [3]ferrocenophane and [4]ferrocenophane frameworks.

Condensation of secondary 1,1'-diaminoferrocenes with phosphorus trihalides (PCl3 or PBr3) yielded either P-halo-1,3-diaza-2-phospha[3]ferrocenophanes or 1,1'-diaminoferrocenediyl-bis(dichlorophosphines), respectively. The latter provide controlled access to both [3]- and [4]ferrocene frameworks. Thus, reductive coupling with magnesium gave diaza-diphospha[4]ferrocenophane-annelated tetraphosphetanes, while a reaction with LiNMe2 produced a P-chloro-diazaphospha[3]ferrocenophane. Condensation of diaminoferrocenes and aminodichlorophosphines were mostly unselective, but afforded in one case a 3-amino[3]ferrocenophane. All reaction products were characterised by spectroscopic and single-crystal XRD studies. DFT studies indicate that the product selectivity in the reactions studied depends on a combination of kinetic and thermodynamic effects, which correlate subtly with the steric bulk of the N-substituents. Cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed that the ferrocenophanes can undergo multiple oxidation events, the first of which may according to DFT studies be located in both the ferrocene and aminophosphine units. The quantum chemical studies provided also insight into stereochemical aspects like ring strain in the ferrocenophane units.