Rhenium(VII) Monoimido Alkylidyne Complexes. The Importance of Face Selectivity in the Metathesis of Acetylenes via Rhenacyclobutadiene Intermediates

I. A. Weinstock, R. R. Schrock, William M. Davis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Re(NAr)2(CH-t-Bu)Cl (Ar = 2,6-C6H3-i-Pr2) reacts with 3 equiv of HCl in diethyl ether to give [ArNH3] [Re-(C-t-Bu)(NHAr)Cl4] (1a) as an insoluble orange powder. [NEt4][Re(C-t-Bu)(NHAr)Cl4] (1b) can be prepared from 1a by cation exchange. Addition of ZnCl2 to 1b yields [Re(C-t-Bu)(NHAr)Cl3]2 (2a), an X-ray study of which shows it to be a dimer in which each Re is a square pyramid with the neopentylidyne α-carbon atom in the apical position and a weakly bound bridging chloride ligand trans to it (space group P2/c, a = 9.953 (4) Å), b = 12.398 (9) Å, c ≈ 19.720 (6) Å, ß = 93.08 (3)°, V= 2430 (2) Å3, Z = 4, ρ = 1.473 g/cm3, R = 0.050, Rw = 0.084). Adducts of the type Re(C-t-Bu)(NHAr)Cl3(L) (L = THF, py) can be prepared from 2a. Addition of DBU to Re(C-t-Bu)(NHAr)Cl3(py) in the presence of pyridine gives Re(C-t-Bu)(NAr)Cl2(py)2 (4a). A more useful analogue, Re(C-t-Bu)(NAr)Cl2(DME) (4b), can be prepared by adding ZnCl2 to 1b followed by NEt3 in DME. Complexes of the type Re(C-t-Bu)(NAr)(OR)2 (OR = O-t-Bu (5a), OCMe2(CF3) (5b), 0–2,6-C6H3-/-Pr2 (5c), 0C(CF3)2Me (5d), or 0C(CF3)2H (as a diethyl ether adduct, 5e)) can be prepared from 1b or 4b. Reactions of 5d and 5e with symmetric internal acetylenes give fluxional rhenacyclobutadiene complexes, Re-(NAr)(C3R3)[OC(CF3)2Me]2 and Re(NAr)(C3R3)[OC(CF3)2H]2 for R = Et, n-Pr, i-Bu, and i-Pr. Crystals of Re-(NAr)(C3Et3)[0C(CF3)2Me]2 belong to the space group P21/a with a = 19.553 (8) Å,b= 9.225 (4) Å, c = 20.246 (8) Å, ß = 117.36 (3)°, K= 3243 (2) Å3, Z = 4, ρcalod = 1.73 g/cm3, µ = 40.70 cm−1. The core structure is roughly a trigonal bipyramid containing axial carbon and oxygen atoms. The rhenacyclobutadiene ring is bent and asymmetric with Re-Cα bond lengths of 1.88 (1) and 2.09 (1) Å and Cα-Cß bond lengths of 1.33 (2) and 1.46 (1) Å. All but one of the rhenacycles have analogous structures (type 1) according to NMR studies and are stable toward loss of an acetylene or further reactions with an internal acetylene for hours at 25 °C. The exception is Re(NAr)(C3-i-Pr3)[OC(CF3)2Me]2, a significantly different rhenacycle (type 2) that readily loses i-PrC ≡ C-/-Pr to give Re(C-i-Pr)(NAr)[OC(CF3)2Me]2. It is proposed that rhenacycles of type 2 are the ones that are active for metathesis of internal acetylenes, that rhenacycles of type 2 form when an acetylene attacks a C/O/O face in Re(CR′)(NAr)(OR)2, and that inactive rhenacycles of type 1 form when an acetylene attacks a C/N/O face in Re(CR′)(NAr)(OR)2. Only acetylenes containing bulky groups are metathesized and only complexes that contain OC(CF3)2Me ligands are active. The ultimate fate of Re(VII) metallacyclobutadiene complexes over a period of hours to days is reduction to yield Re(V) complexes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)135-144
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume113
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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