Synthesis, structural characterization and reactivity of ruthenium complexes incorporating linked cyclopentadienyl-carboranyl ligands

A new class of ruthenium-COD complexes containing carbon-bridged carboranyl-cyclopentadienyl (-indenyl or -fluorenyl) ligands was synthesized. These complexes showed a different reactivity in COD displacement reactions in comparison with the classical LRuCl(COD) (L = Cp, indenyl) complexes presumably due to the presence of sterically bulky and constrained organic-inorganic hybrid ligands. However, the COD ligands in these complexes can be replaced by bidentate tertiary phosphines, 2,2'-bipyridine, mono-phosphites with small cone angles, primary amines or N-heterocyclic carbene to give the corresponding COD displacement complexes. The ruthenium-amine complexes are much more labile than the ruthenium-COD ones. The amine ligands can be substituted by CH3CN to afford more active ruthenium-acetonitrile complex.;Reactions of the ruthenium-amine complex with alkynes gave ruthenium aminocarbene or enamine complexes depending on the electronic properties of alkynes. Electron-rich alkynes gave aminocarbene complexes, whereas electron-deficient alkynes afforded enamine ones. The [eta5:sigma-Me 2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]Ru fragment remained intact during the reactions, which may play a role in these controlled reactions.;Reactions of the ruthenium-acetonitrile complex with SiMe3 substituted alkynes afforded mononuclear bis(vinylidene)metal or vinylvinylidenemetal, respectively, indicating that sterically demanding ancillary ligand and bulky alkynes are both important components to stabilize the above complexes. Treatment of the ruthenium-acetonitrile complex with internal alkynes afforded eta 4-Ru cyclobutadiene or ruthenacyclopentatriene complexes, respectively. Interestingly, interaction of ruthenium-acetonitrile complex with terminal aromatic alkynes gave ruthenium tricyclic complexes involving coupling reactions between Cp and alkynes. The possible reaction mechanism was proposed with the help of the DFT calculations.;Reactions of dilithium salt of linked cyclopentadienyl-carboranyl ligands with 1 equiv of RuCl2(PPh3)3 in THF afforded the corresponding doubly-linked cyclopentadienyl-carboranyl ruthenium(II) hydride complexes. Such intramolecular coupling of a cyclopentadienyl with an o-carboranyl unit is driven by steric factors. Both carboranyl and phosphines with large cone angles are essential for such coupling reactions. The doubly-linked cyclopentadienyl-carboranyl compound was released from the corresponding ruthenium hydride complex by treatment with excess HBF 4·OEt2, followed by hydrolysis. This ligand is not accessible by any other known methods.