RESUMEN
The reaction of the neutral diphosphanide [((Cl)Im(Dipp))P-P(Cl)(Dipp)] (6) ((Cl)Im(Dipp) = 4,5-dichloro-1,3-bis(Dipp)-imidazol-2-yl; Dipp = 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl) with methyl triflate (MeOTf) leads to the formation of cationic diphosphane [((Cl)Im(Dipp))(Me)P-P(Cl)(Dipp)](+) (8+) in a stereoselective methylation. In contrast, reacting with the Lewis acid GaCl3 yields cationic diphosphene [((Cl)Im(Dipp))P=P(Dipp)](+) (7+), which is explained by a low P-Cl bond dissociation energy. The significantly polarized P=P double bond in 7+ allows for its utilization as an acceptor for nucleophiles - the reaction with Cl(-) regenerates diphosphanide and the reaction with PMe3 gives cation [((Cl)Im(Dipp))P-P(PMe3)(Dipp)] (9+). In depth DFT investigation provides detailed insights into the bonding situation of the reported compounds.
RESUMEN
Synthesis, characterization, and epoxidation chemistry of four new dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes [MoO(2)(L)(2)] (1-4) with aryloxide-pyrazole ligands L = L1-L4 is described. Catalysts 1-4 are air and moisture stable and easy to synthesize in only three steps in good yields. All four complexes are coordinated by the two bidentate ligands in an asymmetric fashion with one phenoxide and one pyrazole being trans to oxo atoms, respectively. This is in contrast to the structure found for the related aryloxide-oxazoline coordinated Mo(VI) dioxo complex 5. This was confirmed by the determination of the molecular structures of complexes 1-3 by X-ray diffraction analyses. Compounds 1-4 show high catalytic activities in the epoxidation of various olefins. Cyclooctene (S1) is converted to its epoxide with high activity, whereas the epoxidation of styrene (S2) is unselective. Internal olefins (S3 and S4) are also acceptable substrates, as well as the very challenging olefin 1-octene (S5). Catalyst loading can be reduced to 0.02 mol % and the catalyst can be recycled up to ten times without significant loss of activity. Supportive DFT calculations have been carried out in order to obtain deeper insights into the electronic situation around the Mo atom.