Direct coupling of nitriles and aniline to form the triazapentadiene species RhIII{NHC(R)N(Ph)C(R)NH}

Abstract

The facile and high-yield reaction between aniline and cis-positioned nitriles of [(^tbpy)₂Rh(NCR)₂][OTf]₃ [R = Me (2), Ph (3); ^tbpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine; OTf = CF₃SO₃⁻] produces the Rh^III-triazapentadiene species [(^tbpy)₂Rh{NHC(R)N(Ph)C(R)NH}][OTf]₃ [R = Me (4), Ph (5)]. It represents the first example of direct coupling between two RCN ligands and a primary amine to form this type of metallacycle. X-ray structures of 2 and 4 are reported.