High oxidation state multiple metal-carbon bonds.

Cleavage of the relatively inert dinitrogen (N(2)) molecule, with its extremely strong N identical withN triple bond, has represented a major challenge to the development of N(2) chemistry. This report describes the reductive cleavage of N(2) to two nitrido (N(3-)) ligands in its reaction with Mo(NRAr)(3), where R is C(CD(3))(2)CH(3) and Ar is 3,5-C(6)H(3)(CH(3))(2'), a synthetic three-coordinate molybdenum(III) complex of known structure. The formation of an intermediate complex was observed spectroscopically, and its conversion (with N identical withN bond cleavage) to the nitrido molybdenum(VI) product N identical withMo(NRAr)(3) followed first-order kinetics at 30 degrees C. It is proposed that the cleavage reaction proceeds by way of an intermediate complex in which N(2) bridges two molybdenum centers.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/268/5212/861.full.pdf

Dinitrogen Cleavage by a Three-Coordinate Molybdenum(III) Complex

Transition metal complexes are indispensable tools for any synthetic chemist. Ideally, any metal-mediated process should be fast, clean, efficient, and selective and take place in a catalytic manner. These criteria are especially important considering that many of the transition metals employed in catalysis are rare and expensive. One of the ways of modifying and controlling the properties of transition metal complexes is the use of appropriate ligand systems, such as pincer ligands. Usually consisting of a central aromatic backbone tethered to two two-electron donor groups by different spacers, this class of tridentate ligands have found numerous applications in various areas of chemistry, including catalysis, due to their combination of stability, activity, and variability. As we focused on pincer ligands featuring phosphines as donor groups, the lack of a general method for the preparation of both neutral (PNP) and anionic (PCP) pincer ligands using similar precursor compounds as well as the difficulty of introducing chirality into the structure of pincer ligands prompted us to investigate the use of amines as spacers between the aromatic ring and the phosphines. By introduction of aminophosphine and phosphoramidite moieties into their structure, the synthesis of both PNP and PCP ligands can be achieved via condensation reactions between aromatic diamines and electrophilic chlorophosphines (or chlorophosphites). Moreover, chiral pincer complexes can be easily obtained by using building blocks obtained from the chiral pool. Thus, we have developed a modular synthetic strategy with which the steric, electronic, and stereochemical properties of the ligands can be varied systematically. With the ligands in hand, we studied their reactivity towards different transition metal precursors, such as molybdenum, ruthenium, iron, nickel, palladium, and platinum. This has resulted in the preparation of a range of new pincer complexes, including various iron complexes, as well as the first heptacoordinated molybdenum pincer complexes and several pentacoordinated nickel complexes by using a controlled ligand decomposition pathway. In addition, we have investigated the use of some of the complexes as catalysts in different C-C coupling reactions: for example, the palladium PNP and PCP pincer complexes can be employed as catalysts in the well known Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, while the iron PNP complexes catalyze the coupling of aromatic aldehydes with ethyl diazoacetate under very mild reaction conditions to give selectively 3-hydroxyacrylates, which are otherwise difficult to prepare. While this Account presents an overview of current research on the chemistry of P-N bond containing pincer ligands and complexes, we believe that further investigations will give deeper insights into the reactivity and applicability of aminophosphine-based pincer complexes.

Modularly designed transition metal PNP and PCP pincer complexes based on aminophosphines: synthesis and catalytic applications.

ion upon treatment with B(C6F5)3 in THF to generate the cationic species [(MAC)Y(CH2SiMe3)][B(C6F5)3(CH2SiMe3)]. However, this salt was found to be highly unstable and could not be isolated as a pure material.97 Fryzuk et al. have developed a remarkable organoyttrium chemistry around the phosphorus-containing macrocycle syn-{P2N2} ({P2N2} ) [PhP(CH2SiMe2NSiMe2CH2)2PPh]). The starting material was the chloride-bridged dimer [{P2N2}Y(μ-Cl)]2, which can be prepared in 95% yield by the reaction of synLi2(THF){P2N2} with YCl3(THF)3 in THF solution. Straightforward metathesis using the very bulky alkyllithium reagent LiCH(SiMe3)2 according to eq 29 (methyl groups on Si omitted for clarity) afforded the monomeric yttrium alkyl species {P2N2}YCH(SiMe3)2 in 92% yield. Use of the less sterically hindered alkyl moiety CH2SiMe3 followed by addition of THF resulted in formation of the THF adduct {P2N2}YCH2SiMe3(THF), whereas the THF-free compound could only be isolated as a highly reactive oily material.98 A quite remarkable samarium alkyl complex of complicated molecular structure was reported by Gambarotta et al.99 Samarium diiodide acted as reducing agent in the reaction with (phenylenebis(3,5-tBu4-salicylidene)iminato)sodium, (3,5tBu4salophen)Na2(THF)3, to give dimeric [Sm2(SBSB)(THF)3]‚2toluene (SB-SB ) C-C bonded 3,5tBu4salophen dimer). The new ligand resulted from the reductive coupling of two imino functional groups of two 3,5-tBu4salophenSm units. Subsequent treatment with MeLi resulted in a novel oxo-bridged dimer (24), featuring alkylation of both samarium atoms and arising from cleavage of the C-C bond connecting the two units, as well as complete reduction of the imine groups of the salophen ligands and THF deoxygenation. In the formula drawing depicted here the bridging phenylene rings are omitted for clarity.99 Carbene complexes of the lanthanide elements have first become available through the use of the stable Arduengo-type carbenes.100,101 Organolanthanide derivatives are readily accessible by adding the heterocyclic carbene ligands to various diand trivalent rare earth complexes such as decamethylsamarocene. Cyclopentadienyl-free derivatives have been obtained by reacting 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene with the tris(2,2,6,6-tetramethylheptane-3,5-dionato) complexes of yttrium and europium, Ln(THD)3 (Ln ) Y, Eu). The two carbene complexes 25 were isolated as white solids in quantitative yield. The europium complex was structurally characterized by X-ray analysis. Despite the differences in the ionic radii of the two metals 7-coordinate monocarbene adducts are formed in both cases. With 266.3(4) pm the Eu-C distance in (1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene)Eu(THD)3 is comparable to Pr(III)-C and Sm(III)-C distances reported for some isonitrile complexes.102,103 In the 13C NMR spectrum of the yttrium complex the resonance for the former carbene carbon is at δ 199.38 (cf. δ 214 for the free carbene ligand) and shows a 13C-89Y coupling of 33 Hz which indicates that the Y-C bond does not dissociate rapidly on the NMR time scale.101 The bulkier 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (iPr-Carb) has been used to synthesize a mixed carbene-THF alkyl Lu(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)(Pr-Carb) (26).22d Due to its higher steric demand, the carbene ligand occupies an equatorial position (Lu-C(Carb) ) 249 pm). Somewhat related to the carbene complexes is a highly unusual monomeric samarium bis(iminophosphoranyl) chelate complex which has been reported by Cavell et al.104 Addition of H2C(Ph2PdNSiMe3)2 to a toluene solution of samarium tris(dicyclohexylamide) afforded bright yellow [κ-C,N,N′-C(Ph2Pd NSiMe3)2]Sm(NCy2)(THF) (27). The core of the molecule consists of two nearly planar, fused fourmembered rings with a Sm-C shared edge. With 246.7(4) pm the Sm-C bond length is considerably shorter (10%) than the average samarium-carbon distances, indicating that 27 can be formulated as a carbene complex. Non-Cyclopentadienyl Organolanthanide Complexes Chemical Reviews, 2002, Vol. 102, No. 6 1865

Synthesis and structural chemistry of non-cyclopentadienyl organolanthanide complexes.

The continuing story of dinitrogen activation

The preparation of a series of dinuclear complexes of zirconium and tantalum is presented in an effort to determine factors involved in the coordination mode of the bridging dinitrogen ligand. Reduction of ZrCl 3 [N(SiMe 2 -CH 2 PR 2 ) 2 ] (R=Pr i and Bu t ) with Na/Hg under N 2 generates the corresponding dinitrogen complexes ([(R 2 PCH 2 -SiMe 2 ) 2 N]ZrCl) 2 (μ-η 2 :η 2 -N 2 ); the X-ray crystal structure of the dark blue derivative having R=Pr i shows that the dinitrogen unit is bridging in a planar, side-on bonding mode.

End-on versus side-on bonding of dinitrogen to dinuclear early transition-metal complexes

Reduction of dinitrogen by a zirconium phosphine complex to form a side-on-bridging N2 ligand. Crystal structure of {[Pri2PCH2SiMe2)2N]ZrCl}2(.mu.-.eta.2:.eta.2-N2)

Complexes of groups 3, 4, the lanthanides and the actinides containing neutral phosphorus donor ligands

Phosphine complexes of yttrium, lanthanum, and lutetium. Synthesis, thermolysis, and fluxional behavior of the hydrocarbyl derivatives MR[N(SiMe2CH2PMe2)2]2. X-ray crystal structure of [cyclic] Y[N(SiMe2CHPMe2)(SiMe2CH2PMe2)][N(SiMe2CH2PMe2)2]

T. S. Haddad

Papers

End-on versus side-on bonding of dinitrogen to dinuclear early transition-metal complexes

Reduction of dinitrogen by a zirconium phosphine complex to form a side-on-bridging N2 ligand. Crystal structure of {[Pri2PCH2SiMe2)2N]ZrCl}2(.mu.-.eta.2:.eta.2-N2)

Complexes of groups 3, 4, the lanthanides and the actinides containing neutral phosphorus donor ligands

Phosphine complexes of yttrium, lanthanum, and lutetium. Synthesis, thermolysis, and fluxional behavior of the hydrocarbyl derivatives MR[N(SiMe2CH2PMe2)2]2. X-ray crystal structure of [cyclic] Y[N(SiMe2CHPMe2)(SiMe2CH2PMe2)][N(SiMe2CH2PMe2)2]

Mono(amido-diphosphine) complexes of yttrium: synthesis and x-ray crystal structure of {Y(.eta.3-C3H5)[N(SiMe2CH2PMe2)2]}2(.mu.-Cl)2