The reaction of β-keto phosphines
Ph2PCH(R‘)C(O)R (a, R =
But, R‘ = H; b, R = Ph, R‘
= H; c, R = But, R‘ = Me) with
[RuCl(η5-C
n
H
m
)(PPh3)2]
complexes (1,
C
n
H
m
=
cyclopentadienyl; 1
‘,
C
n
H
m
= indenyl) affords
neutral
[RuCl(η5-C
n
H
m
)(PPh3){η1(P)-keto
phosphine}]
(2a,b and 2
‘
a).
Cationic derivatives,
[Ru(η5-C
n
H
m
)(PPh3){η2(P,O)-keto
phosphine}][PF6] (3a,b
and 3
‘
a
−
c),
are obtained by the reactions of complexes 1 and
1
‘ with the keto phosphines in
the presence of NH4PF6. Complex
3
‘
c is diastereoselectively obtained
as the
S
Ru
,R
C
/R
Ru
,S
C
enantiomeric pair, as shown by an X-ray crystal structure analysis.
Owing to the hemilabile
ability of the keto phosphine ligand, complexes 3a and
3
‘
a easily react with
1,1-diphenyl-2-propyn-1-ol to yield the allenylidene complexes
[Ru(CCCPh2)(η5-C
n
H
m
)(PPh3){η1(P)-Ph2PCH2C(O)But}][PF6]
(5a and 5
‘
a, respectively).
Treatment of complexes 3a and
3
‘
a
with K2CO3 in methanol leads to the
deprotonation of the coordinated keto phosphine to
give the neutral phosphino enolate derivatives
[Ru(η5-C
n
H
m
)(PPh3){η2(P,O)-Ph2PCHC(But)O}] (6a and
6
‘
a, respectively). In contrast,
allenylidene complexes 5a and
5
‘
a react
with K2CO3 or KOH in methanol to afford
the alkynyl complexes
[Ru{C⋮CC(OMe)Ph2}(η5-C
n
H
m
)(PPh3){η1(P)-Ph2PCH2C(O)But}]
(7a and 7
‘
a), which are
formed through the nucleophilic addition of the methoxy group to the Cγ atom of the
allenylidene chain. Similarly,
the ethoxy alkynyl derivative 8a is obtained by the reaction
of 5a with KOH in ethanol.
Under mild basic conditions
(K2CO3/THF) complexes 5a
and 5
‘
a are deprotonated,
resulting
in conversion into the neutral
and 9
‘
a, respectively)
through the generation of a novel phosphametallacyclobutane ring and in accord with a diastereoselective process.
The molecular structure
of 9
‘
a, determined by an X-ray crystal
structure analysis, discloses a
S
Ru
,R
C
/R
Ru
,S
C
configuration and shows a nearly planar Ru−P(2)−C(2B)−C(1) ring
bearing an almost linear
η1(C)-coordinated allenyl group (C(1)−C(2A)−(3A)
= 169.6(8)°). The formation of the four-membered ring probably takes place in a putative intermediate arising
from the deprotonation of the η1(P)-keto phosphine ligand
in 5a and 5
‘
a. The
subsequent intramolecular
carbon−carbon bond formation between the allenylidene group and the
nucleophilic η1(P)-phosphino enolate ligands is geometrically constrained to occur at the
electrophilic Cα site
of the allenylidene ligand, and the ruthenium fragment efficiently
directs the configuration
of the new stereogenic carbon atom in the resulting metallacycle ring.