Group 4 Metal Complexes of Chelating Cyclopentadienyl-ketimide Ligands

Reversible C-C bond formation in group 4 metal complexes: nitrile extrusion via β-aryl elimination

Pyridylamides of zirconium and hafnium with [C,N,N]-ligands reversibly insert nitriles into M-CAr bonds leading to an observable equilibrium between the starting [C,N,N]-complexes and newly formed [N,N,N]-complexes with a ketimide moiety in a 7-membered metallacycle. The discovered reversible insertion of nitriles into M-CAr bonds represents an unprecedented example of β-aryl elimination from a ketimide ligand in early transition metal complexes. Experimental and computational studies suggest thermodynamic and electronic reasons for this reactivity. Weak orbital overlap between the ketimide nitrogen and the metal, and an unfavorable 7-membered metallacycle destabilize the product of insertion into the M-CAr bond, while the pyridylamide moiety acts as a directing group making the reverse process viable. The influence of non-chelate spectator ligands on the metal center and substituents in nitrile on the thermodynamic stability of the [N,N,N]-complexes was also studied. Exploiting β-carbon elimination in complexes of early transition metals may extend the range of catalysts that are accessible for C-C activation processes in the future.

Luminescent Cationic Group 4 Metallocene Complexes Stabilized by Pendant N-Donor Groups

Cationic group 4 metallocene complexes with pendant imine and pyridine donor groups were prepared as stable crystalline [B(C₆F₅)₄]^- salts either by protonation of the intramolecularly bound ketimide moiety in neutral complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅){η⁵-C₅H₄CMe₂CMe₂C(R)═N-κN}MCl] (M = Ti, Zr, Hf; R = t-Bu, Ph) by PhNMe₂H⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^- to give [(η⁵-C₅Me₅){η⁵-C₅H₄CMe₂CMe₂C(R)═NH-κN}MCl]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^- or by chloride ligand abstraction from the complexes [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(η⁵-C₅H₄CMe₂CH₂C₅H₄N)MCl₂] (M = Ti, Zr) by Li[B(C₆F₅)₄]·2.5Et₂O to give [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(η⁵-C₅H₄CMe₂CH₂C₅H₄N-κN)MCl]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^-. Solid state structures of the new compounds were established by X-ray diffraction analysis, and their electrochemical behavior was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The cationic complexes of Zr and Hf, compared to the corresponding neutral species, exhibited significantly enhanced luminescence predominantly from triplet ligand-to-metal (³LMCT) excited states with lifetimes up to 62 μs and quantum yields up to 58% in the solid state. DFT calculations were performed to explain the structural features and optical and electrochemical properties of the complexes.

Synthesis and Characterization of Two "Tied-Back" Lithium Ketimides and Isolation of a Ketimide-Bridged [Cr2]6+ Dimer with Strong Antiferromagnetic Coupling

Reaction of 1 equiv of KN(SiMe₃)₂ with 9-fluorenone results in the formation of (Me₃Si)N═C₁₃H₈ (1) in high yield after work-up. Addition of 1 equiv of phenol to 1 results in rapid desilylation and formation of 9-fluorenone imine, HN═C₁₃H₈ (2). Subsequent reaction of 2 with 1 equiv of LiNⁱPr₂ results in deprotonation and formation of [Li(Et₂O)]₄[N═C₁₃H₈]₄ (3) in good yield. Reaction of 1 equiv of KN(SiMe₃)₂ with 2-adamantanone for 7 days at room temperature results in the formation of (Me₃Si)N═C₁₀H₁₄ (4) in good yield. Dissolution of 4 in neat MeOH results in rapid desilylation concomitant with formation of 2-adamantanone imine, HN═C₁₀H₁₄ (5). Subsequent reaction of 5 with 1 equiv of LiNⁱPr₂ results in formation of [Li(THF)]₄[N═C₁₀H₁₄]₄ (6). Both 3 and 6 were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Finally, reaction of CrCl₃ with 3.5 equiv of 6 results in formation of the [Cr₂]⁶⁺ dimer, [Li][Cr₂(N═C₁₀H₁₄)₇] (7), which can be isolated in modest yield after work-up. Complex 7 features a Cr-Cr bond length of 2.653(2) Å. Additionally, solid-state magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the two Cr centers, with J = -200 cm^-1.

Crystal structure of chlorido{[3-(η5-cyclopenta-dienyl)-2,2,3-trimethyl-1-phenylbutylidene] azanido-κN}[η2(N,O)-N,N-dimethylhydroxylaminato]titanium(IV), C20H27ClN2OTi

C20H27ClN2OTi, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 9.4006(2) Å, b = 10.8185(3) Å, c = 19.4821(5) Å, β = 97.941(1)°, V = 1962.34(9) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0270, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0731, T = 150(2) K.