The manganese tricarbonyl complex fac-Mn(Br)(CO)3((i)Pr2Ph-DAB) (1) [(i)Pr2Ph-DAB = (N,N'-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene)] was synthesized from the reaction of Mn(CO)5Br with the sterically encumbered DAB ligand. Compound 1 exhibits rapid CO release under low power visible light irradiation (560 nm) suggesting its possible use as a photoCORM. The reaction of compound 1 with TlPF6 in the dark afforded the manganese(I) tetracarbonyl complex, [Mn(CO)4((i)Pr2Ph-DAB)][PF6] (2). While 2 is comparatively more stable than 1 in light, it demonstrates high thermal reactivity such that dissolution in CH3CN or THF at room temperature results in rapid CO loss and formation of the respective solvate complexes. This unusual reactivity is due to the large steric profile of the DAB ligand which results in a weak Mn-CO binding interaction.

The complex Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(CNBu(t))2(H)2, 1, was obtained from the reaction of Pt(COD)2 and Bu(t)3SnH, followed by addition of CNBu(t). The two hydride ligands in 1 can be eliminated, both in solution and in the solid state, to yield Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(CNBu(t))2, 2. Addition of hydrogen to 2 at room temperature in solution and in the solid state regenerates 1. Complex 2 catalyzes H2-D2 exchange in solution to give HD. The proposed mechanism of exchange involves reductive elimination of Bu(t)3SnH from 1 to afford vacant sites on the Pt center, thus facilitating the exchange process. This is supported by isolation and characterization of Pt(SnMes3)(SnBu(t)3)(CNBu(t))2, 3, when the addition of H2 to 2 was carried out in the presence of free ligand Mes3SnH (Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2). Complex Pt(SnMes3)2(CNBu(t))2, 5, can be prepared from the reaction of Pt(COD)2 with Mes3SnH and CNBu(t). The exchange reaction of 2 with Ph3SnH gave Pt(SnPh3)3(CNBu(t))2(H), 6, wherein both SnBu(t)3 ligands are replaced by SnPh3. Complex 6 decomposes in air to form square planar Pt(SnPh3)2(CNBu(t))2, 7. The complex Pt(SnPr(i)3)2(CNBu(t))2, 8, was also prepared. Out of the four analogous complexes Pt(SnR3)2(CNBu(t))2 (R = Bu(t), Mes, Ph, or Pr(i)), only the Bu(t) analogue does both H2 activation and H2-D2 exchange. This is due to steric effects imparted by the bulky Bu(t) groups that distort the geometry of the complex considerably from planarity. The reaction of Pt(COD)2 with Bu(t)3SnH and CO gas afforded trans-Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(CO)2, 9. Compound 9 can be converted to 2 by replacement of the CO ligands with CNBu(t) via the intermediate Pt(SnBu(t)3)2(CNBu(t))2(CO), 10.

The photochemistry of two Mn(bpy)(CO)X complexes (X = PhCC, Br) has been studied in the coordinating solvents THF (terahydrofuran) and MeCN (acetonitrile) employing time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. The two complexes are found to exhibit strikingly different photoreactivities and solvent dependencies. In MeCN, photolysis of 1-(CO)(Br) [1 = Mn(bpy)(CO)] affords the ionic complex [1-(MeCN)]Br as a final product. In contrast, photolysis of 1-(CO)(CCPh) in MeCN results in facial to meridional isomerization of the parent complex. When THF is used as solvent, photolysis results in facial to meridional isomerization in both complexes, though the isomerization rate is larger for X = Br. Pronounced differences are also observed in the photosubstitution chemistry of the two complexes where both the rate of MeCN exchange from 1-(MeCN)(X) by THFA (tetrahydrofurfurylamine) and the nature of the intermediates generated in the reaction are dependent upon X. DFT calculations are used to support analysis of some of the experiments.

The displacement of a CO ligand from an unusually labile rhenium carbonyl complex containing a bidentate carboxyaldehyde pyrrolyl ligand by PPh(3) and pyridine has been investigated. The reaction is found to proceed by an associative, preequilibrium mechanism. Theoretical calculations support the experimental data and provide a complete energetic profile for the reaction. While the Re-CO bond is found to be intrinsically weak in these complexes, it is postulated that the unusual lability of this species is due to the presence of a weak aldehyde Re-O link that can easily dissociate to open a coordination site on the metal center and accommodate an incoming ligand prior to CO loss. The resulting intermediate complex has been identified by IR spectroscopy. The presence of the hemilabile pyrrolyl ligand provides a lower-energy reaction channel for the release of CO and may be of relevance in the design of CO-releasing molecules.

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The new platinum complex Pt(Sn(t)Bu(3))(2)(CN(t)Bu)(2)(H)(2), 1, was obtained in 32% yield from the reaction of Pt(COD)(2) with (t)Bu(3)SnH and CN(t)Bu at room temperature. Compound 1 is a mononuclear 18 electron platinum complex in an octahedral geometry which contains two Sn(t)Bu(3)'s, two CN(t)Bu's, and two hydride ligands. The two hydride ligands in 1 can be eliminated, both in solution and in the solid state, to yield the 16 electron complex Pt(Sn(t)Bu(3))(2)(CN(t)Bu)(2), 2. Compound 2 reacts with hydrogen at room temperature in solution and in the solid state to regenerate 1.

A palladium-catalyzed multicomponent method for the synthesis of β-lactams from imines, aryl halides, and CO has been developed. This transformation proceeds via two tandem catalytic carbonylation reactions mediated by Pd(PBu) and provides a route to prepare these products from five separate reagents. A diverse range of polysubstituted β-lactams can be generated by systematic variation of the substrates. This methodology can also be extended to the use of iodo-substituted imines to produce novel spirocyclic β-lactams in good yields and selectivity.