The formation of diazoalkane and diazenido-complexes from the reaction of methyl bromide with trans-bis[1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ethane]bis(dinitrogen)tungsten in various solvents

Abstract

The reaction of trans-[W(N₂)₂(Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂] with MeBr in solvents such as tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, and tetrahydropyran leads to new diazenido-complexes via a route which is now well understood. These new complexes undergo reversible rings opening with protic acids to yield substituted-diazoalkane complexes. N-Methylpyrrolidine and tetrahydrothiophen similarly form diazenido-derivatives, which react with acids to form hydrazido(2–)-compounds and do not undergo ring opening.