Issue 18, 2009

Rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes containing bidentate phosphine-imidazolyl donor ligands as catalysts for the hydroamination and hydrothiolation of alkynes

Abstract

A series of novel cationic and neutral rhodium and iridium complexes containing bidentate phosphine-imidazolyl donor ligands of the general formulae [M(ImP)(COD)]BPh4 (M = Rh, ImP = ImP2, 3; ImP1a, 4a; ImP1b, 4b and M = Ir, ImP = ImP2, 5; ImP1a, 6a and ImP1b, 6b), [Ir(ImP)(CO)2]BPh4 (ImP = ImP2, 7; ImP1a, 8a and ImP1b, 8b), [Rh(ImP1b)(CO)2]BPh4 (10b) and [M(ImP)(CO)Cl] (M = Rh, ImP = ImP2, 11; ImP1b, 12 and M = Ir, ImP = ImP2, 13; ImP1b, 14) where COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, ImP2 = 1-methyl-2-[(2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]imidazole, 1; ImP1a = 1-methyl-2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]imidazole, 2a and ImP1b = 2-[(diisopropylphosphino)methyl]-1-methylimidazole, 2b were successfully synthesised. The solid state structures of 3, 6a, 11 and 12 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. A number of these complexes are effective as catalysts for the intramolecular hydroamination of 4-pentyn-1-amine to 2-methyl-1-pyrroline. The cationic complexes are significantly more effective than analogous neutral complexes. The cationic iridium complex 8b, containing the phosphine-imidazolyl ligand with the bulky isopropyl groups on the phosphorus donor, is more efficient than analogous complexes with the phenyl substituents on the phosphorus donor atom, 7 and 8a. The complexes 7–8b are also moderately effective in catalysing the addition of thiophenol to a range of terminal alkynes. In contrast to the hydroamination reaction, placement of the isopropyl group on the phosphorus donor leads to a decrease in the reactivity of the resulting metal complexes as catalysts for the hydrothiolation reaction.

Graphical abstract: Rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes containing bidentate phosphine-imidazolyl donor ligands as catalysts for the hydroamination and hydrothiolation of alkynes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Huk 2008
Accepted
16 Yan 2009
First published
13 Kul 2009

Dalton Trans., 2009, 3599-3614

Rhodium(I) and iridium(I) complexes containing bidentate phosphine-imidazolyl donor ligands as catalysts for the hydroamination and hydrothiolation of alkynes

L. D. Field, B. A. Messerle, K. Q. Vuong and P. Turner, Dalton Trans., 2009, 3599 DOI: 10.1039/B821188D

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