Reactivity of the Electron-Rich Allenylidene−Ruthenium Complexes [Cp*Ru{CCC(R)Ph}(dippe)][BPh4] (R = H, Ph). X-Ray Crystal Structure of a Novel Dicationic Ruthenium Carbyne (Cp* = C5Me5; dippe = 1,2-bis(diisopropylphosphine)ethane)

Reactions of ruthenium-allenylidene complexes tethering a cyclopropyl group

Two cyclopropyl allenylidene complexes [Ru]=C=C=C(R)(C(3)H(5)) ([Ru]=[RuCp(PPh(3))(2)], Cp=Cyclopentadienyl; R=thiophene (2a) and R=Ph (2b)) are prepared from the reactions of [Ru]Cl with the corresponding 1-cyclopropyl-2-propyn-1-ol in the presence of KPF(6). Thermal treatment, halide-anion addition, and palladium-catalyzed reactions of 2a and 2b all lead to a ring expansion of the cyclopropyl group, giving the vinylidene complexes 4a and 4b, respectively, each with a five-membered ring. This ring expansion proceeds by C-C bond formation between Cβ of the cumulative double bond and a methylene group of the cyclopropyl ring. In the reaction of 2a with pyrrole, consecutive formation of two C-C bonds, one between C-2 of pyrrole and Cγ of 2a and the other between C-3 of pyrrole and Cα, results in the formation of 6a. The reaction proceeds by addition of pyrrole and 1,3-proton shifts. The hydrogenation of 2a by NaBH(4) is carried out in different solvents. The cumulative double bonds are reduced regioselectively to give a mixture of 7a and 8a. Interestingly, use of different solvents leads to different ratios of 7a and 8a. Presence of a protic solvent like methanol in dichloromethane or chloroform solution increases the yield of 8a, thus revealing that both the rates of hydroboration and deboronation increase. The structures of two new complexes 4a and 6a have been firmly established by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Correlation between thermal and mass spectral techniques for the characterization of allenylidene and carbene complexes

The fragmentation pathways of allenylidene and carbene complexes have been studied using FAB mass spectrometry in comparison with thermal analyses (TGA, DrTG and DTA). Both the decomposition modes are investigated and the possible fragmentation pathways are suggested. The use of mass and thermal analyses (TGA and DTA) in the analyses of allenylidene and carbene complexes allowed the characterization of the fragmentation pathways in MS. The major pathway includes successive loss of carbon monoxide followed by fragmentation of the organic part of the allenylidene or carbene molecules. This is also confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) where the first step involves the loss of carbon monoxide followed by the organic ligand. The nature of each step; exothermic or endothermic, is also studied using DTA technique. The kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition are also studied using the Coates-Redfern method.

Formation of a coordinated 2-aminoethylidene ligand and its rearrangement by deprotonation into a phosphinoallyl ligand containing a pyrrolidin-2-yl ring

The activation of 1,1-diphenyl-2-propyn-1-ol by the metallic fragment [(eta (5)-C 5Me 5)Ru(dippae)] (+) {dippae = 1,2-bis[(diisopropylphosphanyl)amino]ethane}, followed by dehydration, produces a cationic complex that, by deprotonation and rearrangement, leads to a neutral complex with a phosphinoallyl ligand containing a pyrrolidin-2-yl ring.

Chiral Ruthenium–Allenylidene Complexes That Bear a Fullerene Cyclopentadienyl Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization, and Remote Chirality Transfer

Ruthenium complexes that bear both a fullerene and an allenylidene ligand, [Ru(C60Me5)((R)-prophos)=C=C=CR1R2]PF6 (prophos = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane), were prepared by the reaction of [Ru(C60Me5)Cl((R)-prophos)] and a propargyl alcohol in better than 90% yields, and characterized by 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR, IR, and UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy and MS. Cyclic voltammograms of these complexes showed one reversible or irreversible reduction wave due to the allenylidene part, and two reversible reduction waves due to the fullerene core. Nucleophilic addition of RMgBr or RLi proceeded regioselectively at the distal carbon atom of the allenylidene array. The reaction took place with a 60:40-95:5 level of diastereoselectivity with respect to the original chirality in the (R)-prophos ligand, which is located six atoms away from the electrophilic carbon center.

Allenylidene-to-Indenylidene Rearrangement in Arene−Ruthenium Complexes: A Key Step to Highly Active Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis Reactions

The allenylidene-ruthenium complexes [(eta6-arene)RuCl(=C=C=CR2)(PR'3)]OTf (R2 = Ph; fluorene, Ph, Me; PR'3 = PCy3, P(i)Pr3, PPh3) (OTf = CF3SO3) on protonation with HOTf at -40 C are completely transformed into alkenylcarbyne complexes [(eta6-p-cymene)RuCl([triple bond]CCH=CR2)(PR3)](OTf)2. At -20 degrees C the latter undergo intramolecular rearrangement of the allenylidene ligand, with release of HOTf, into the indenylidene group in derivatives [(eta6-arene)RuCl(indenylidene)(PR3)]OTf. The in situ-prepared indenylidene-ruthenium complexes are efficient catalyst precursors for ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene and cyclopentene, reaching turnover frequencies of nearly 300 s(-1) at room temperature. Isolation of these derivatives improves catalytic activity for the ring-closing metathesis of a variety of dienes and enynes. A mechanism based on the initial release of arene ligand and the in situ generation of the active catalytic species RuCl(OTf)(=CH2)(PR3) is proposed.

Hydride-Alkenylcarbyne to Alkenylcarbene Transformation in Bisphosphine-Osmium Complexes

The elongated dihydrogen complex [formula: see text](1) reacts with 1,1-diphenyl-2-propyn-1-ol and 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol to give the hydride-hydroxyvinylidene-pi-alkynol derivatives [OsH{=C=CHC(OH)R2}{eta2-HC(triple bond)CC(OH)R2}(PiPr3)2]BF4 (R = Ph (2), Me (3)), where the pi-alkynols act as four-electron donor ligands. Treatment of 2 and 3 with HBF(4) and coordinating solvents leads to the dicationic hydride-alkenylcarbyne compounds [OsH((triple bond)CCH=CR2)S2(PiPr3)2][BF4]2 (R = Ph, S = H(2)O (4), CH(3)CN (5); R = Me, S = CH(3)CN (6)), which in acetonitrile evolve into the alkenylcarbene complexes [Os(=CHCH=CR2)(CH3CN)3(PiPr3)2][BF4](2) (R = Ph (7), Me (8)) by means of a concerted 1,2-hydrogen shift from the osmium to the carbyne carbon atom. Treatment of 2-propanol solutions of 5 with NaCl affords OsHCl2((triple bond)CCH=CPh2)(PiPr3)2 (10), which reacts with AgBF(4) and acetonitrile to give [OsHCl((triple bond)CCH=CPh2)(CH3CN)(PiPr3)2]BF(4) (11). In this solvent complex 11 is converted to [OsCl(=CHCH=CPh2)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2]BF(4) (12). Complex 5 reacts with CO to give [Os(=CHCH=CPh2)(CO)(CH3CN)2(PiPr3)2][BF(4)](2) (15). DFT calculations and kinetic studies for the hydride-alkenylcarbyne to alkenylcarbene transformation show that the difference of energy between the starting compounds and the transition states, which can be described as eta(2)-carbene species [formula: see text] increases with the basicity of the metallic center. The X-ray structures of 4 and 7 and the rotational barriers for the carbene ligands of 7, 8, and 12 are also reported.