Morgan C. MacInnis
Published: 2011
Total Pages: 504
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ABSTRACT continued: These transfer hydrogenation studies are among the first catalytic studies of silyl-pincer complexes and establish [R-PSiP]M species as viable candidates for catalysis. The synthesis and reactivity of 4- and 5-coordinate RuII complexes featuring the [Cy-PSiP] ligand were explored. Reaction of [Cy-PSiP]H with [(p-cymene)RuCl2]2 in the presence of NEt3 and PCy3 resulted in the formation of ([Cy-PSiP]RuCl)2, which serves as a precursor to a series of unprecedented 4-coordinate, formally 14-electron [Cy-PSiP]RuX (X = NHAr, N(SiMe3)2, OtBu) complexes that feature an unusual trigonal pyramidal geometry at Ru. The reactivity of these novel diamagnetic complexes is described, including the reaction of [Cy-PSiP]RuOtBu with amine-boranes resulting in the formation of rare bis(?-BH) complexes. Computational studies confirmed the key role of the strongly ?-donating silyl group of the Cy-PSiP ligand in facilitating the synthesis of such low-coordinate Ru species and enforcing the unusual trigonal pyramidal geometry. The mechanism of ammonia-borane activation was also examined computationally. Lastly, the synthesis and structural characterization of PdII complexes supported by the pincer-like bis(amino)phosphido ligand [?3-(2-Me2NC6H4)2P]- ([NPN]) is described. Examples of ?1-, ?2-, and ?3-NPN coordination to Pd are described, as is the catalytic activity of ([NPN]PdX)2 (X = Cl, OAc, OTf) complexes in the Heck olefin arylation reaction. In an effort to discourage the formation of phosphido-bridged dinuclear complexes, pre-coordination of the Lewis acid BPh3 to [NPN] was pursued. Upon reaction of [N(P?BPh3)N]K with [PdCl(C3H5)]2, the ?1-allyl complex [?3-N(P?BPh3)N]Pd(?1-C3H5) was isolated, which establishes the coordination of a Lewis acid to the phosphido donor of the [NPN] ligand as a viable strategy for encouraging the formation of mononuclear ?3-NPN complexes.
