The synthesis and characterization of a new family of (η5-indenyl)MLn complexes (MLn = Mn(CO)3,
Cp*Ru, or Cp*Fe; Cp* = η5-C5Me5) derived from 3-P
i
Pr2-indene, 1-P
i
Pr2-2-NMe2-indene (1a[H]), or
1-P(S)
i
Pr2-2-NMe2-indene (1b[H]) are described. Lithiation of 1b[H] followed by treatment with BrMn(CO)5, 0.25 equiv of [Cp*RuCl]4, or Cp*Li/FeCl2 provided the corresponding (η5-1b)MLn complexes
(MLn = Mn(CO)3, 2a, 96%; Cp*Ru, 2b, 87%; or Cp*Fe, 2c, 55%). Similarly, treatment of 1a[Li] with
0.25 equiv of [Cp*RuCl]4 or Cp*Li/FeCl2 provided the corresponding (η5-1a)MLn complexes (MLn =
Cp*Ru, 3b, 74%; or Cp*Fe, 3c, 62%). Whereas combination of 3b and 0.5 equiv of [(COD)RhCl]2
afforded [(COD)Rh(κ2-P,N-3b)]+Cl- ([4b]
+
Cl
-
; 49% isolated yield), under similar conditions 3c was
observed to undergo a decomposition reaction resulting in the formation of the zwitterionic complex
(COD)Rh(κ2-P,N-1a) (5; COD = η4-1,5-cyclooctadiene). Each of 3a−c was observed to react cleanly
with [(COD)Rh(THF)2]+BF4
- (prepared in situ) to give the corresponding [(COD)Rh(κ2-P,N-3a−c)]+BF4
-
complex ([4a
−
c]
+
BF
4
-
; 87%, 96%, and 89% isolated yield, respectively). Whereas lithiation of 3-P
i
Pr2-indene followed by the addition of BrMn(CO)5 generated a complex mixture of products, similar
reactions employing 0.25 equiv of [Cp*RuCl]4 or Cp*Li/FeCl2 afforded 6b or 6c in 98% and 43% yield,
respectively. Treatment of 6b with 0.5 equiv of [(COD)RhCl]2 allowed for the isolation of (COD)RhCl(κ1-P-6b) 7 in 96% isolated yield. Each of [4a
−
c]
+
BF
4
-
proved to be an active catalyst for addition of
pinacolborane to styrene, with the observed regioselectivity being dependent on the nature of the η5-coordinated metal fragment, as well as the solvent employed. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data for
2a, 2b, 2c, 3b, [4c]
+
BF
4
-
, and 7 are provided.