Molecular hydrogen and water activation by transition metal frustrated Lewis pairs containing ruthenium or osmium components: catalytic hydrogenation assays†
Abstract
The transition metal frustrated Lewis pair compounds [(Cym)M(κ3S,P,N-HL1)][SbF6] (Cym = η6-p-MeC6H4iPr; H2L1 = N-(p-tolyl)-N′-(2-diphenylphosphanoethyl)thiourea; M = Ru (5), Os (6)) have been prepared from the corresponding dimer [{(Cym)MCl}2(μ-Cl)2] and H2L1 by successive chloride abstraction with NaSbF6 and AgSbF6 and NH deprotonation with NaHCO3. Complexes 5 and 6 and the previously reported phosphano–guanidino compounds [(Cym)M(κ3P,N,N′-HL2)][SbF6] [H2L2 = N,N′-bis(p-tolyl)-N′′-(2-diphenylphosphanoethyl) guanidine; M = Ru (7), Os (8)] and pyridinyl–guanidino compounds [(Cym)M(κ3N,N′,N′′-HL3)][SbF6] [H2L3 = N,N′-bis(p-tolyl)-N′′-(2-pyridinylmethyl) guanidine; M = Ru (9), Os (10)] heterolytically activate H2 in a reversible manner affording the hydrido complexes [(Cym)MH(H2L)][SbF6] (H2L = H2L1; M = Ru (11), Os (12); H2L = H2L2; M = Ru (13), Os (14); H2L = H2L3; M = Ru (15), Os (16)). DFT calculations carried out on the hydrogenation of complex 7 support an FLP mechanism for the process. Heating 9 and 10 in methanol yields the orthometalated complexes [(Cym)M(κ3N,N′,C-H2L3-H)][SbF6] (M = Ru (17), Os (18)). The phosphano–guanidino complex 7 activates deuterated water in a reversible fashion, resulting in the gradual deuteration of the three cymene methyl protons through sequential C(sp3)–H bond activation. From DFT calculations, a metal–ligand cooperative reversible mechanism that involves the O–H bond activation and the formation of an intermediate methylene cyclohexenyl complex has been proposed. Complexes 5–10 catalyse the hydrogenation of the CC double bond of styrene and a range of acrylates, the CO bond of acetophenone and the CN bond of N-benzylideneaniline and quinoline. The CC double bond of methyl acrylate adds to catalyst 9, affording complex 19 in which a new ligand exhibiting a fac κ3N,N′,C coordination mode has been incorporated.