Formation and structure of a sterically protected molybdenum hydride complex with a 15-electron configuration: [(1,2,4-C5H2tBu3)Mo(PMe3)2H]+.
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Biomedical subjects
Rinaldo Poli
Publications and source records attributed to Rinaldo Poli.
Dihydrogen to dihydride isomerization mechanism in [(C5Me5)FeH2(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)]+ through the experimental and theoretical analysis of kinetic isotope effects.
The isomerization of complex [Cp*Fe(dppe)(eta2-H2)]+, generated in situ by low-temperature protonation of Cp*Fe(dppe)H with either HBF4 or CF3COOH, to the dihydride tautomer trans-[Cp*Fe(dppe)(H)2]+ is irreversible and follows first-order kinetics in the -10 to +15 degrees C range with Delta H double dagger = 21.6 +/- 0.8 kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS double dagger = 5 +/- 3 eu. The isomerization rate constant is essentially independent of the nature and quantity of a strong acid. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on various models, including the complete system at both the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and full QM levels, probe the relative importance of steric and electronic effects for the relative stability of the nonclassical and classical isomers and identify two likely isomerization mechanisms: a "direct" pathway involving simultaneous H-H bond breaking and cis-trans isomerization and a "via Cp" pathway involving agostic C5Me5H intermediates. Both pathways are characterized by activation energies in close correspondence with the experimental value (21.3 and 22.2 kcal mol(-1), respectively). Further kinetic studies were carried out for the Cp*Fe(dppe)H + CF3COOD and Cp*Fe(dppe)D + CF3COOD systems at 273 K. The [Cp*Fe(dppe)(eta2-HD)]+ complex establishes a very rapid isotope redistribution equilibrium with the eta2-H2 and eta2-D2 analogues. The equilibrium constant value (K = 3.3 +/- 0.3) indicates a significant equilibrium isotope effect. Simulation of the rate data provides access to the individual isomerization rate constants kHH, kHD, and kDD for the three isotopomers, yielding kinetic isotope effects: kHH/kHD = 1.24 +/- 0.01 and kHD/kDD = 1.58 +/- 0.01 (and, consequently, kHH/kDD = 1.96 +/- 0.02). The analysis of the DFT-calculated frequencies, using the [Cp*Fe(dhpe)H2]+ model system, for the [Cp*Fe(dhpe)(eta2-XY)]+ isotopomers as well as transition states for the "direct" (TSdir) and "via Cp" (TSrot) pathways (X = H, D) allowed the computation of the expected isotope effects. A comparison with the experiment strongly suggests that the mechanism occurs via the "direct" pathway for the present system, although the small difference in the calculated energy barriers suggests that the "via Cp" pathway may be preferred in other cases.
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Relationship between one-electron transition-metal reactivity and radical polymerization processes.
Controlled radical polymerization has come along in leaps and bounds following the development of efficient transition-metal catalysts for atom-transfer radical polymerization. Another type of controlled radical polymerization process, namely organometallic radical polymerization, uses the reversible formation of metal-carbon bonds. Metals are also implicated in catalytic chain transfer, a process that involves the abstraction of hydrogen atoms. This Minireview discusses the importance of one-electron transition-metal reactivity in metal-mediated controlled radical polymerization processes.
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Parahydrogen studies of H2 addition to Ir(I) complexes containing chiral phosphine-thioether ligands: implications for catalysis.
Ir(CO)[CpFe{eta5-C5H3(PPh2)CH2SR}]Cl [R = Ph and (t)Bu], containing a kappa2:P,S ligand, undergoes H2 addition across the S-Ir-CO axis under kinetic control to form two distinct diastereoisomeric products, which then rearrange via S dissociation in a process that can be hijacked for useful catalysis, but ultimately form a single diastereoisomer of the thermodynamic product where the hydride ligands are trans to chloride and phosphine.
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Contrasting photochemical and thermal reactivity of Ru(CO)2(PPh3)(dppe) towards hydrogen rationalised by parahydrogen NMR and DFT studies.
The synthesis, characterisation and thermal and photochemical reactivity of Ru(CO)2(PPh3)(dppe) 1 towards hydrogen are described. Compound proved to exist in both fac (major) and mer forms in solution. Under thermal conditions, PPh3 is lost from 1 in the major reaction pathway and the known complex Ru(CO)2(dppe)(H)2 2 is formed. Photochemically, CO loss is the dominant process, leading to the alternative dihydride Ru(CO)(PPh3)(dppe)(H)2 3. The major isomer of 3, viz. 3a, contains hydride ligands that are trans to CO and trans to one of the phosphorus atoms of the dppe ligand but a second isomer, 3b, where both hydride ligands are trans to distinct phosphines, is also formed. On the NMR timescale, no interconversion of 3a and 3b was observed, although hydride site interchange is evident with activation parameters of DeltaH(double dagger) = 95 +/- 6 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS(double dagger) = 26 +/- 17 J K(-1) mol(-1). Density functional theory confirms that the observed species are the most stable isomeric forms, and suggests that hydride exchange occurs via a transition state featuring an eta2-coordinated H2 unit.
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A two-state computational investigation of methane C--H and ethane C--C oxidative addition to [CpM(PH3)]n+ (M = Co, Rh, Ir; n = 0, 1).
Reductive elimination of methane from methyl hydride half-sandwich phosphane complexes of the Group 9 metals has been investigated by DFT calculations on the model system [CpM(PH(3))(CH(3))(H)] (M = Co, Rh, Ir). For each metal, the unsaturated product has a triplet ground state; thus, spin crossover occurs during the reaction. All relevant stationary points on the two potential energy surfaces (PES) and the minimum energy crossing point (MECP) were optimized. Spin crossover occurs very near the sigma-CH(4) complex local minimum for the Co system, whereas the heavier Rh and Ir systems remain in the singlet state until the CH(4) molecule is almost completely expelled from the metal coordination sphere. No local sigma-CH(4) minimum was found for the Ir system. The energetic profiles agree with the nonexistence of the Co(III) methyl hydride complex and with the greater thermal stability of the Ir complex relative to the Rh complex. Reductive elimination of methane from the related oxidized complexes [CpM(PH(3))(CH(3))(H)](+) (M = Rh, Ir) proceeds entirely on the spin doublet PES, because the 15-electron [CpM(PH(3))](+) products have a doublet ground state. This process is thermodynamically favored by about 25 kcal mol(-1) relative to the corresponding neutral system. It is essentially barrierless for the Rh system and has a relatively small barrier (ca. 7.5 kcal mol(-1)) for the Ir system. In both cases, the reaction involves a sigma-CH(4) intermediate. Reductive elimination of ethane from [CpM(PH(3))(CH(3))(2)](+) (M = Rh, Ir) shows a similar thermodynamic profile, but is kinetically quite different from methane elimination from [CpM(PH(3))(CH(3))(H)](+): the reductive elimination barrier is much greater and does not involve a sigma-complex intermediate. The large difference in the calculated activation barriers (ca. 12.0 and ca. 30.5 kcal mol(-1) for the Rh and Ir systems, respectively) agrees with the experimental observation, for related systems, of oxidatively induced ethane elimination when M = Rh, whereas the related Ir systems prefer to decompose by alternative pathways.
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The radical trap in atom transfer radical polymerization need not be thermodynamically stable. A study of the MoX(3)(PMe(3))(3) catalysts.
The molybdenum(III) coordination complexes MoX(3)(PMe(3))(3) (X = Cl, Br, and I) are capable of controlling styrene polymerization under typical atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conditions, in conjunction with 2-bromoethylbenzene (BEB) as an initiator. The process is accelerated by the presence of Al(OPr(i))(3) as a cocatalyst. Electrochemical and synthetic studies aimed at identifying the nature of the spin trap have been carried out. The cyclic voltammogram of MoX(3)(PMe(3))(3) (X = Cl, Br, I) shows partial reversibility (increasing in the order Cl < Br < I) for the one-electron oxidation wave. Addition of X(-) changes the voltammogram, indicating the formation of MoX(4)(PMe(3))(3) for X = Cl and Br. On the other hand, I(-) is more easily oxidized than the MoI(3)(PMe(3))(3) complex; thus, the putative MoI(4)(PMe(3))(3) complex is redox unstable. Electrochemical studies of MoI(3)(PMe(3))(3) in the presence of X(-) (X = Cl or Br) reveal the occurrence of facile halide-exchange processes, leading to the conclusion that the MoI(3)X(PMe(3))(3) products are also redox unstable. The oxidation of MoX(3)(PMe(3))(3) with (1)/(2)Br(2) yields MoX(3)Br(PMe(3))(3) (X = Cl, Br), whose molecular nature is confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analyses. On the other hand, the oxidation of MoI(3)(PMe(3))(3) by I(2) slowly yields a tetraiodomolybdate(III) salt of iodotrimethylphosphonium, [Me(3)PI][MoI(4)(PMe(3))(3)], as confirmed by an X-ray study. This product has no controlling ability in radical polymerization. The redox instability of MoI(3)X(PMe(3))(3) can be reconciled with its involvement as a radical trapping species in the MoI(3)(PMe(3))(3)-catalyzed ATRP, given the second-order nature of its decomposition rate.
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An experimental and computational study on the effect of Al(OiPr)3 on atom-transfer radical polymerization and on the catalyst-dormant-chain halogen exchange.
Compound Al(OiPr)3 is shown to catalyze the halide-exchange process leading from [Mo(Cp)Cl2(iPrN=CH-CH=NiPr)] and CH3CH(X)COOEt (X=Br, I) to the mixed-halide complexes [Mo(Cp)ClX(iPrN=CH-CH=NiPr)]. On the other hand, no significant acceleration is observed for the related exchange between [MoX3(PMe3)3] (X=Cl, I) and PhCH(Br)CH3, by analogy to a previous report dealing with the Ru(II) complex [RuCl2(PPh3)3]. A DFT computation study, carried out on the model complexes [Mo(Cp)Cl2(PH3)2], [MoCl3(PH3)3], and [RuCl2(PH3)3], and on the model initiators CH3CH(Cl)COOCH3, CH3Cl, and CH3Br, reveals that the 16-electron Ru(II) complex is able to coordinate the organic halide RX in a slightly exothermic process to yield saturated, diamagnetic [RuCl2(PH3)3(RX)] adducts. The 15-electron [MoCl3(PH3)3] complex is equally capable of forming an adduct, that is, the 17-electron [MoCl3(PH3)3(CH3Cl)] complex with a spin doublet configuration, although the process is endothermic, because it requires an energetically costly electron-pairing process. The interaction between the 17-electron [Mo(Cp)Cl2(PH3)2] complex and CH3Cl, on the other hand, is repulsive and does not lead to a stable 19-electron adduct. The [RuCl2(PH3)3(CH3X)] system leads to an isomeric complex [RuClX(PH3)3(CH3Cl)] by internal nucleophilic substitution at the carbon atom. The transition state of this process for X=Cl (degenerate exchange) is located at lower energy than the transition state required for halogen-atom transfer leading to [RuCl3(PH3)3] and the free radical CH3. On the basis of these results, the uncatalyzed halide exchange is interpreted as the result of a competitive S(N)i process, whose feasibility depends on the electronic configuration of the transition-metal complex. The catalytic action of Al(OiPr)3 on atom-transfer radical polymerization (and on halide exchange for the 17-electron half-sandwich Mo(III) complex) results from a more favorable Lewis acid-base interaction with the oxidized metal complex, in which the transferred halogen atom is bound to a more electropositive element. This conclusion derives from DFT studies of the model [Al(OCH3)3]n (n=1,2,3,4) compounds, and on the interaction of Al(OCH3)3 with CH3Cl and with the [Mo(Cp)Cl3(PH3)2] and [RuCl3(PH3)3] complexes.
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Experimental and computational studies of hydrogen bonding and proton transfer to [Cp*Fe(dppe)H].
The present contribution reports experimental and computational investigations of the interaction between [Cp*Fe(dppe)H] and different proton donors (HA). The focus is on the structure of the proton transfer intermediates and on the potential energy surface of the proton transfer leading to the dihydrogen complex [Cp*Fe(dppe)(H2)]+. With p-nitrophenol (PNP) a UV/Visible study provides evidence of the formation of the ion-pair stabilized by a hydrogen bond between the nonclassical cation [Cp*Fe(dppe)(H2)]+ and the homoconjugated anion ([AHA]-). With trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), the hydrogen-bonded ion pair containing the simple conjugate base (A-) in equilibrium with the free ions is observed by IR spectroscopy when using a deficit of the proton donor. An excess leads to the formation of the homoconjugated anion. The interaction with hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) was investigated quantitatively by IR spectroscopy and by 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy at low temperatures (200-260 K) and by stopped-flow kinetics at about room temperature (288-308 K). The hydrogen bond formation to give [Cp*Fe(dppe)H]HA is characterized by DeltaH degrees =-6.5+/-0.4 kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS degrees = -18.6+/-1.7 cal mol(-1) K(-1). The activation barrier for the proton transfer step, which occurs only upon intervention of a second HFIP molecule, is DeltaH(not equal) = 2.6+/-0.3 kcal mol(-1) and DeltaS(not equal) = -44.5+/-1.1 cal mol(-1) K(-1). The computational investigation (at the DFT/B3 LYP level with inclusion of solvent effects by the polarizable continuum model) reproduces all the qualitative findings, provided the correct number of proton donor molecules are used in the model. The proton transfer process is, however, computed to be less exothermic than observed in the experiment.
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Al(OPr i)3-catalysed halogen exchange processes of relevance to atom transfer radical polymerization: the effect depends on the metal electronic structure.
Whether or not tri(isopropoxo)aluminium catalyses halogen exchange for an ATRP catalyst depends on the number of valence electrons.
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A combined parahydrogen and theoretical study of H2 activation by 16-electron d8 ruthenium(0) complexes and their subsequent catalytic behaviour.
The photochemical reaction of Ru(CO)(3)(L)(2), where L = PPh(3), PMe(3), PCy(3) and P(p-tolyl)(3) with parahydrogen (p-H(2)) has been studied by in-situ NMR spectroscopy and shown to result in two competing processes. The first of these involves loss of CO and results in the formation of the cis-cis-trans-L isomer of Ru(CO)(2)(L)(2)(H)(2), while in the second, a single photon induces loss of both CO and L and leads to the formation of cis-cis-cis Ru(CO)(2)(L)(2)(H)(2) and Ru(CO)(2)(L)(solvent)(H)(2) where solvent = toluene, THF and pyridine (py). In the case of L = PPh(3), cis-cis-trans-L Ru(CO)(2)(L)(2)(H)(2) is shown to be an effective hydrogenation catalyst with rate limiting phosphine dissociation proceeding at a rate of 2.2 s(-1) in pyridine at 355 K. Theoretical calculations and experimental observations show that H(2) addition to the Ru(CO)(2)(L)(2) proceeds to form cis-cis-trans-L Ru(CO)(2)(L)(2)(H)(2) as the major product via addition over the pi-accepting OC-Ru-CO axis.
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The reaction of M(CO)3(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)(M = Fe, Ru) with parahydrogen: probing the electronic structure of reaction intermediates and the internal rearrangement mechanism for the dihydride products.
The photochemical reaction of Ru(CO)(3)(dppe) and Fe(CO)(3)(dppe)(dppe = Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2)) with parahydrogen has been studied by in situ-photochemistry resulting in NMR spectra of Ru(CO)(2)(dppe)(H)(2) that show significant enhancement of the hydride resonances while normal signals are seen in Fe(CO)(2)(dppe)(H)(2). This effect is associated with a singlet electronic state for the key intermediate Ru(CO)(2)(dppe) while Fe(CO)(2)(dppe) is a triplet. DFT calculations reveal electronic ground states consistent with this picture. The fluxionality of Ru(CO)(2)(dppe)(H)(2) and Fe(CO)(2)(dppe)(H)(2) has been examined by NMR spectroscopy and rationalised by theoretical methods which show that two pathways for ligand exchange exist. In the first, the phosphorus and carbonyl centres interchange positions while the two hydride ligands are unaffected. A second pathway involving interchange of all three ligand sets was found at slightly higher energy. The H-H distances in the transition states are consistent with metal-bonded dihydrogen ligands. However, no local minimum (intermediate) was found along the rearrangement pathways.
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High oxidation state organometallic chemistry in aqueous media: new opportunities for catalysis and electrocatalysis.
Molybdenum has been used as a case study for the rational development of a new domain of organometallic chemistry, combining oxo-stabilized high oxidation state metals and aqueous media. The pH-dependent conversion of oxo, hydroxo, and aqua ligands allows the opening of free coordination sites, while the use of a redox active metal opens possible pathways for coupled proton and electron transfer to and from activated substrates. While our work has so far only concentrated on synthesis and analytical investigations, the development of catalytic and electrocatalytic processes in water or aqueous media is a promising application of this new research area.
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Tris(bis(trimethylsilyl)amido)samarium: X-ray structure and DFT study.
The compound Sm[N(SiMe(3))(2)](3) has been investigated experimentally by X-ray crystallography and computationally by DFT methods. The structure is analogous to that of other tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]lanthanides, featuring positional disorder of the metal atom above and below the plane defined by the three N donor atoms, resulting in a trigonal pyramidal configuration. One of the methyl groups of each amido ligand is placed above the apex of the pyramid at close distance to the metal center suggesting the presence of agostic interactions. The DFT calculations have been carried out on the real molecule and on a Si[N(SiH(3))(SiH(2)Me)](3) model where the unique Me group was placed above the apex of the pyramid to probe the agostic interaction. In both cases, the optimized geometry reproduces very well the experimental structure and indicates the presence of beta-Si-C agostic interactions. A comparison of the optimized geometries obtained in the presence/absence of the Sm d and the Si d orbitals serves to illustrate the relevance of these orbitals for (i). the establishment of the pyramidal configuration at Sm, (ii). the Sm-N bond length, and (iii). the Sm-(beta-Si-C) bond length. The bonding analysis, which was carried out by both Mulliken and NBO methods, not only confirms the importance of the metal d orbitals for the Sm-N and Sm-(beta-Si-C) chemical bonding but also illustrates the relevance of electrostatic terms in the agostic interaction. Sm-N and N-Si pi bonding is present according to the bonding analysis but is not important for enforcing the planar configuration at N, nor the pyramidal configuration at Sm.
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Kinetics and mechanism of the proton transfer to CpFe(dppe)H: absence of a direct protonation at the metal site.
The reaction between CpFe(dppe)H and a number of different proton donors (2-fluoroethanol, MFE; 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, TFE; hexafluoro-2-propanol, HFIP; perfluoro-tert-butyl alcohol, PFTB; and trifluoroacetic acid, TFA) has been investigated spectroscopically by variable-temperature infrared, UV-visible, and NMR spectroscopy, and has been measured kinetically by the stopped-flow technique with UV-visible detection. The low-temperature IR study shows the establishment of hydrogen-bonding interactions which involve the hydride ligand as the proton accepting site. This investigation quantifies the thermodynamics of the hydrogen-bonding interaction and the basicity factor (E(j)) of the hydride complex. All techniques agree in indicating an equilibration process, after the immediate hydrogen-bond formation, between the hydride complex and an intermediate dihydrogen complex, [CpFe(dppe)(H(2))](+). The equilibrium is shifted toward the dihydrogen complex to a greater extent for the stronger alcohols and for higher alcohol/Fe ratios. The observed equilibration rate constant is linearly dependent on the alcohol concentration, in agreement with the involvement of two alcohol molecules and the formation of a homoconjugate pair. The rate constant increases with the acidity of the proton donor (TFE < HFIP < PFTB < TFA). The rate of the subsequent irreversible isomerization leading to the classical dihydride complex, [CpFe(dppe)H(2)](+), is first order, and the rate constant does not depend on the proton donor nature. The reaction continues, if conducted in CH(2)Cl(2), with a third, slower step leading to the paramagnetic [CpFe(dppe)Cl](+) product. The kinetic data are in accord with an isomerization mechanism consisting of an intramolecular reorganization, leading in one step from the dihydrogen complex to the classical dihydride species, and disagree with the occurrence of a proton-transfer process at the metal site.
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Rh(I) coordination chemistry of chiral alpha-aminophosphine(eta6-arene)chromium tricarbonyl ligands.
The diastereoselective addition of Ph(2)PH to the chiral ortho-substituted eta(6)-benzaldimine complexes (eta(6)-o-X-C(6)H(4)CH=NAr)Cr(CO)(3) (1, X = MeO, Ar = p-C(6)H(4)OMe; 2, X = Cl, Ar = Ph) leads to the formation of the corresponding chiral aminophosphines (alpha-P,N) Ph(2)P-CH(Ar(1))-NHAr(2) (3, Ar(1) = o-C(6)H(4)(OCH(3))[Cr(CO)(3)], Ar(2) = p-C(6)H(4)OCH(3); 4, Ar(1) = o-C(6)H(4)Cl[Cr(CO)(3)], Ar(2) = Ph) in equilibrium with the starting materials. The uncomplexed benzaldimine (o-ClC(6)H(4)CH=NPh), 2', analogously produces an equilibrium amount of the corresponding aminophosphine Ph(2)P-CH(Ar(1))-NHAr(2) (4', Ar(1) = o-C(6)H(4)Cl, Ar(2) = Ph). Depending on the equilibrium constant, the subsequent addition of (1)/(2) equiv of [RhCl(COD)](2) (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) leads to either Ph(2)PH oxidative addition in the case of 3 or to the corresponding [RhCl(COD)(alpha-P,N)] complexes [RhCl(COD)(Ph(2)P-CH[o-C(6)H(4)Cl[Cr(CO)(3)]]-NHPh)] (5) and [RhCl(COD)(Ph(2)P-CH(o-C(6)H(4)Cl)-NHPh)] (5') in the cases of the aminophosphines 4 and 4'. The addition of the latter ligands, as racemic mixtures, to (1)/(4) equiv of [Rh(CO)(2)Cl](2) leads to the [RhCl(CO)(alpha-P,N)(2)] complexes [RhCO(Ph(2)P-CH[o-C(6)H(4)Cl[Cr(CO)(3)]]-NHPh)(2)Cl] (7) or [RhCO(Ph(2)P-CH(o-C(6)H(4)Cl)-NHPh)(2)Cl] (7') as mixtures of (R(C),S(C))/(S(C),R(C)) and (R(C),R(C))/(S(C),S(C)) diastereomers. The rhodium complexes 5 and 7' have been fully characterized by IR and (31)P NMR spectroscopies and X-ray crystallography. These compounds exhibit intramolecular Rh-Cl.H-N interactions in the solid state and in solution. The stability of the new rhodium complexes has been studied under different CO pressures. Under 1 atm of CO, 5 is converted to an unstable complex [RhCl(CO)(2)(alpha-P,N)], 6, which undergoes ligand redistribution leading to 7 plus an unidentified complex. This reaction is inhibited under higher CO or syngas pressure, as confirmed by the observation of the same catalytic activity in hydroformylation when styrene was added to a catalytic mixture that was either freshly prepared or left standing for 20 h under high CO pressure.
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Spin forbidden chemical reactions of transition metal compounds. New ideas and new computational challenges.
Many reactions of transition metal compounds involve a change in spin. These reactions may proceed faster, slower--or at the same rate as--otherwise equivalent processes in which spin is conserved. For example, ligand substitution in [CpMo(Cl)2(PR3)2] is faster than expected, whereas addition of dinitrogen to [Cp*Mo(Cl)(PMe3)2] is slow. Spin-forbidden oxidative addition of ethylene to [Cp*Ir(PMe3)] occurs competitively with ligand association. To explain these observations, we discuss the shape of the different potential energy surfaces (PESs) involved, and the energy of the minimum energy crossing points (MECPs) between them. This computational approach is of great help in understanding the mechanisms of spin-forbidden reactions, provided that accurate calculations can be used to predict the relevant PESs. Density functional theory, especially using gradient-corrected and hybrid functionals, performs reasonably well for the difficult problem of predicting the energy splitting between different spin states of transition metal complexes, although careful calibration is needed.
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Synthesis, coordination to Rh(I), and hydroformylation catalysis of new beta-aminophosphines bearing a dangling nitrogen group: an unusual inversion of a Rh-coordinated P center.
Variants of the beta-aminophosphine L(1) [Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(Ph)NHPh] containing additional nitrogen donor functions have been prepared. These functions are branched off the C atom adjacent to the P atom, or the P atom itself. Ligand [Ph(2)PCH(o-C(6)H(4)NMe(2))CH(Ph)NHPh] has been obtained as a mixture of two diastereomers L(3A) and L(3B) by lithiation of L(2) [Ph(2)PCH(2)(o-C(6)H(4)NMe(2))] with n-BuLi followed by PhCH=NPh addition and hydrolysis. The diastereomers have been separated by fractional crystallization from ethanol. Ligand Et(2)NCH(2)P(Ph)CH(2)CH(Ph)NHPh has been obtained as a mixture of two diastereomers L(5A) and L(5B)(starting with P-Ph reductive cleavage of L(1) by lithium and subsequent hydrolysis to give PhP(H)CH(2)CH(Ph)NHPh (mixture of two diastereomers L(4A) and L(4B)). The latter reacts with diethylamine and formaldehyde to afford the L(5) diastereomeric mixture. Complexes RhCl(CO)(L) (L = L(3A), 1(A); L(3B), 1(B); L(5A/B), 2(A/B)) were obtained by reaction of [RhCl(CO)(2)](2) and the appropriate ligand or ligand mixture. Complexes 1(A), 1(B), and 2(A) have been isolated in pure form and characterized by classical techniques and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All structures exhibit a bidentate kappa-P,kappa-N(NHPh) mode similar to the complex containing L(1). While complexes 1(A) or 1(B) are stable in CDCl(3) solution, complex 2(A) slowly converts to its diastereomer 2(B). This unexpected epimerization appears to take place by inversion at the Rh-coordinated P center, an apparently unprecedented phenomenon. A mechanism based on a reversible P-C bond oxidative addition is proposed. The influence of the pendant nitrogen function of the diaminophosphines L(3A) and L(5A/B) on the rhodium catalytic activity in styrene hydroformylation has been examined and compared to that of the aminophosphines L(1) or L(2). The observed trends are related to the basicity of the dangling amine function and to its proximity to the metal center.
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