The unsaturated complexes [W2Cp2(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2] (Cp = eta5-C5H5; R = R' = Ph, Et; R = Et, R' = Ph) react with HBF4.OEt2 at 243 K in dichloromethane solution to give the corresponding complexes [W2Cp2(H)(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2]BF4, which contain a terminal hydride ligand. The latter rearrange at room temperature to give [W2Cp2(mu-H)(mu-PR2)(mu-PR'2)(CO)2]BF4, which display a bridging hydride and carbonyl ligands arranged parallel to each other (W-W = 2.7589(8) A when R = R' = Ph). This explains why the removal of a proton from the latter gives first the unstable isomer cis-[W2Cp2(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2]. The molybdenum complex [Mo2Cp2(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2] behaves similarly, and thus the thermally unstable new complexes [Mo2Cp2(H)(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2]BF4 and cis-[Mo2Cp2(mu-PPh2)2(CO)2] could be characterized. In contrast, related dimolybdenum complexes having electron-rich phosphide ligands behave differently. Thus, the complexes [Mo2Cp2(mu-PR2)2(CO)2] (R = Cy, Et) react with HBF4.OEt2 to give first the agostic type phosphine-bridged complexes [Mo2Cp2(mu-PR2)(mu-kappa2-HPR2)(CO)2]BF4 (Mo-Mo = 2.748(4) A for R = Cy). These complexes experience intramolecular exchange of the agostic H atom between the two inequivalent P positions and at room-temperature reach a proton-catalyzed equilibrium with their hydride-bridged tautomers [ratio agostic/hydride = 10 (R = Cy), 30 (R = Et)]. The mixed-phosphide complex [Mo2Cp2(mu-PCy2)(mu-PPh2)(CO)2] behaves similarly, except that protonation now occurs specifically at the dicyclohexylphosphide ligand [ratio agostic/hydride = 0.5]. The reaction of the agostic complex [Mo2Cp2(mu-PCy2)(mu-kappa2-HPCy2)(CO)2]BF4 with CN(t)Bu gave mono- or disubstituted hydride derivatives [Mo2Cp2(mu-H)(mu-PCy2)2(CO)2-x(CNtBu)x]BF4 (Mo-Mo = 2.7901(7) A for x = 1). The photochemical removal of a CO ligand from the agostic complex also gives a hydride derivative, the triply bonded complex [Mo2Cp2(H)(mu-PCy2)2(CO)]BF4 (Mo-Mo = 2.537(2) A). Protonation of [Mo2Cp2(mu-PCy2)2(mu-CO)] gives the hydroxycarbyne derivative [Mo2Cp2(mu-COH)(mu-PCy2)2]BF4, which does not transform into its hydride isomer.

The triply bonded complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-H)-(μ-PCy2)(CO)2] (Cp = η5-C5H5) reacts readily at room temperature with a great variety of simple molecules, resulting in diverse processes, as illustrated by its reactions with CO (addition), CNtBu (insertion), and HSnPh3 (H2 elimination). This unsaturated hydride also easily incorporates 17e [MoCp(CO)3] or 16e [MnCp‘(CO)2] metal fragments to give 46e heterometallic clus-ters (Cp‘ = η5-C5H4Me).

The reactions of the phosphinidene-bridged complex [Mo(2)Cp(2)(μ-PH)(η(6)-HMes*)(CO)(2)] (1), the arylphosphinidene complexes [Mo(2)Cp(2)(μ-κ(1):κ(1),η(6)-PMes*)(CO)(2)] (2), [Mo(2)Cp(2)(μ-κ(1):κ(1),η(4)-PMes*)(CO)(3)] (3), [Mo(2)Cp(2)(μ-κ(1):κ(1),η(4)-PMes*)(CO)(2)(CN(t)Bu)] (4), and the cyclopentadienylidene-phosphinidene complex [Mo(2)Cp(μ-κ(1):κ(1),η(5)-PC(5)H(4))(η(6)-HMes*)(CO)(2)] (5) toward different sources of chalcogen atoms were investigated (Mes* = 2,4,6-C(6)H(2)(t)Bu(3); Cp = η(5)-C(5)H(5)). The bare elements were appropriate sources in all cases except for oxygen, in which case dimethyldioxirane gave the best results. Complex 1 reacted with the mentioned chalcogen sources at low temperature, to give the corresponding chalcogenophosphinidene derivatives [Mo(2)Cp(2){μ-κ(2)(P,Z):κ(1)(P)-ZPH}(η(6)-HMes*)(CO)(2)] (Z = O, S, Se, Te; P-Se = 2.199(2) Å). The arylphosphinidene complex 2 was the least reactive substrate and gave only chalcogenophosphinidene derivatives [Mo(2)Cp(2)(μ-κ(2)(P,Z):κ(1)(P),η(6)-ZPMes*)(CO)(2)] for Z = O and S (P-O = 1.565(2) Å), along with small amounts of the dithiophosphorane complex [Mo(2)Cp(2)(μ-κ(2)(P,S):κ(1)(S'),η(6)-S(2)PMes*)(CO)(2)], in the reaction with sulfur. The η(4)-complexes 3 and 4 reacted with sulfur and gray selenium to give the corresponding derivatives [Mo(2)Cp(2)(μ-κ(2)(P,Z):κ(1)(P),η(4)-ZPMes*)(CO)(2)L] (L = CO, CN(t)Bu), obtained respectively as syn (Z = Se; P-Se = 2.190(1) Å for L = CO) or a mixture of syn and anti isomers (Z = S; P-S = 2.034(1)-2.043(1) Å), with these diastereoisomers differing in the relative positioning of the chalcogen atom and the terminal ligand at the metallocene fragment, relative to the Mo(2)P plane. The cyclopentadienylidene compound 5 reacted with all chalcogens, and gave with good yields the chalcogenophosphinidene derivatives [Mo(2)Cp(μ-κ(2)(P,Z):κ(1)(P),η(5)-ZPC(5)H(4))(η(6)-HMes*)(CO)(2)] (Z = S, Se, Te), these displaying in solution equilibrium mixtures of the corresponding cis and trans isomers differing in the relative positioning of the cyclopentadienylic rings with respect to the MoPZ plane in each case. The sulfur derivative reacted with excess sulfur to give the dithiophosphorane complex [Mo(2)Cp(μ-κ(2)(P,S):κ(1)(S'),η(5)-S(2)PC(5)H(4))(η(6)-HMes*)(CO)(2)] (P-S = 2.023(4) and 2.027(4) Å). The structural and spectroscopic data for all chalcogenophosphinidene complexes suggested the presence of a significant π(P-Z) bonding interaction within the corresponding MoPZ rings, also supported by Density Functional Theory calculations on the thiophosphinidene complex syn-[Mo(2)Cp(2)(μ-κ(2)(P,S):κ(1)(P),η(4)-SPMes*)(CO)(3)].

The 30-electron benzylidyne complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(μ-PCy2)(μ-CO)] (Cp = η5-C5H5) could be conveniently prepared upon photolysis of the benzyl-bridged complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-CH2Ph)(μ-PCy2)(CO)2]. It reacted with CO to give the ketenyl complex [Mo2Cp2{μ-C(Ph)CO}(μ-PCy2)(CO)2] (2.6101(2) Å), which in turn could be selectively decarbonylated at 353 K to give the 32-electron benzylidyne derivative [Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(μ-PCy2)(CO)2] (Mo−Mo = 2.666(1) Å). Related methylidyne complexes could be obtained from the methyl-bridged complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-CH3)(μ-PCy2)(CO)2] via its trinuclear derivative [Mo3Cp2(μ3-CH)(μ-PCy2)(CO)7]. Thus, the carbonylation of the latter cluster gave the ketenyl complex [Mo2Cp2{μ-C(H)CO}(μ-PCy2)(CO)2], whereas its reaction with P(OMe)3 gave the substituted cluster [Mo3Cp2(μ3-CH)(μ-PCy2)(CO)6{P(OMe)3}], which in turn could be thermally degraded to give selectively the 30-electron methylidyne derivative [Mo2Cp2(μ-CH)(μ-PCy2)(μ-CO)] (Mo−Mo = 2.467(1) Å). DFT calculations on the phenylketenyl complex revealed that the metal−ligand interaction is intermediate between the extreme descriptions represented by the acylium (3-electron donor) and ketenyl (1-electron donor) canonical forms of this ligand.

No abstract

The title anion can be conveniently prepared from the cationwhich is easily reduced with Na-amalgam. This anion reacts with different electrophiles both at the W and O sites to give unusual unsaturated molecules such as the hydrideand phosphinoxycarbyne [W 2 Cp 2 (μ-COP t Bu 2 )(μ-PCy 2 )(μ-CO)] derivatives, all of them exhibiting novel structural features or unparalleled compositions.

The unsaturated compound [Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(μ-PCy2)(μ-CO)] (1, Cp = η5-C5H5) reacts with trace amounts of water in the presence of [FeCp2]BF4 to give a mixture of the hydroxycarbyne complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-COH)(μ-CPh)(μ-PCy2)]BF4 (minor) and the hydroxo complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(OH)(μ-PCy2)(CO)]BF4 (major product), with the latter rapidly rearranging to give the carbene isomer cis-[Mo2Cp2(μ-η1:η3-CHPh)(O)(μ-PCy2)(CO)]BF4 (Mo–Mo = 2.9435(3) Å). An analogous reaction takes place with phenol, to give selectively the related phenoxo complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(OPh)(μ-PCy2)(CO)]BF4. In contrast, the reactions of 1 with H2SiPh2 or H3BNH2 t Bu in the presence of [FeCp2]BF4 result in the selective H transfer to the O atom of the carbonyl ligand, to give the mentioned hydroxycarbyne complex. All the above reactions can be rationalized by assuming the initial formation of the radical cation [Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(μ-PCy2)(μ-CO)]+ (2), a molecule displaying a somewhat weakened intermetallic bonding (Mo–Mo = 2.537 Å vs 2.493 Å in 1) and a linear semibridging carbonyl, with both the LUMO and most of the unpaired electron density being located at a single molybdenum atom, with a much smaller distribution over the oxygen atom of the carbonyl ligand, according to density functional theory calculations. As expected, the radical 2 adds rapidly a molecule of nitric oxide to give a diamagnetic product, but spontaneous decarbonylation also takes place to eventually give the 30-electron nitrosyl complex [Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(μ-PCy2)(μ-NO)]BF4. Deprotonation of cis-[Mo2Cp2(μ-η1:η3-CHPh)(O)(μ-PCy2)(CO)]BF4 gives the neutral carbyne complex cis-[Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(O)(μ-PCy2)(CO)] (Mo–Mo = 2.8024(5) Å), which upon protonation reverts to its carbene precursor, via the corresponding hydroxo complex. Related trans isomers can be prepared through protonation reactions of trans-[Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(O)(μ-PCy2)(CO)] (Mo–Mo = 2.8206(6) Å), a complex easily prepared by reacting the dicarbonyl [Mo2Cp2(μ-CPh)(μ-PCy2)(CO)2] with air.

The title compound was prepared upon irradiation of acetonitrile solutions of the readily available hexacarbonyl [MoReCp(μ-H)(μ-PCy)(CO)]. The acetonitrile ligand in this compound could be replaced easily by donor molecules or displaced upon two-electron reduction. In most cases, the substitution step was followed by additional processes such as insertion into the M-H bonds, E-H bond cleavage, H elimination, and other transformations.