Search for: All records

The reaction of RuHCl(PPh3)3 with GaMe3 gives rise to the arene complex [(η6-C6H6)Ru(PPh3)(PPh2-o-C6H4-GaClMe], 1, with the Ga atom making part of an in situ generated ambiphilic phosphinogallyl ligand in a five-membered ruthenagallacycle ring with a tetracoordinate gallium. In the presence of excess GaMe3, 1 forms complex [(η6-C6H6)Ru(PPh3)(PPh2-o-C6H4-GaMe][GaMe3Cl], 2 also bearing a phosphinogallyl ligand. Crystals suitable for single-crystal X-ray diffraction were obtained of complex 2′, [(η6-C6H6)Ru(PPh3)(PPh2-o-C6H4-GaMe][GaMe2Cl2], showing an ion pair with two Ga atoms in different coordination environments: the first with a coordination number of three makes part of a five-membered ruthenagallacyle ring, while the second Ga atom is a gallate anion. In both complexes 1 and 2, the Ga atom binds to Ru as a σ-acceptor Z-type ligand. DFT calculations are in good agreement with the experimental single crystal X-ray diffraction data and provide Ru-Ga Wiberg bond indexes of 0.38 and 0.50, for 1 and 2 respectively. In contrast, treatment of RuHCl(PPh3)3 with GaMeCl2 and of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with GaMe3 gives rise to gallate species [(η6-C6H6)Ru(PPh3)2H][GaMeCl3], 3, and [(η6-C6H6)Ru(PPh3)2Me][GaMe2Cl2], 4, respectively. 

Herein we report an experimental and computational study of a family of four coordinated 14-electron complexes of Rh( iii ) devoid of agostic interactions. The complexes [X–Rh(κ 3 ( P,Si,Si )PhP( o -C 6 H 4 CH 2 Si i Pr 2 ) 2 ], where X = Cl (Rh-1), Br (Rh-2), I (Rh-3), OTf (Rh-4), Cl·GaCl 3 (Rh-5); derive from a bis(silyl)- o -tolylphosphine with isopropyl substituents on the Si atoms. All five complexes display a sawhorse geometry around Rh and exhibit similar spectroscopic and structural properties. The catalytic activity of these complexes and [Cl–Ir(κ 3 ( P,Si,Si )PhP( o -C 6 H 4 CH 2 Si i Pr 2 ) 2 ], Ir-1, in styrene and aliphatic alkene functionalizations with hydrosilanes is disclosed. We show that Rh-1 catalyzes effectively the dehydrogenative silylation of styrene with Et 3 SiH in toluene while it leads to hydrosilylation products in acetonitrile. Rh-1 is an excellent catalyst in the sequential isomerization/hydrosilylation of terminal and remote aliphatic alkenes with Et 3 SiH including hexene isomers, leading efficiently and selectively to the terminal anti-Markonikov hydrosilylation product in all cases. With aliphatic alkenes, no hydrogenation products are observed. Conversely, catalysis of the same hexene isomers by Ir-1 renders allyl silanes, the tandem isomerization/dehydrogenative silylation products. A mechanistic proposal is made to explain the catalysis with these M( iii ) complexes.