Hsiu L. Li

Base-Mediated Conversion of Hydrazine to Diazene and Dinitrogen at an Iron Center

The treatment of the hydrazine complex cis-[Fe(N(2)H(4))(dmpe)(2)](2+) with base afforded the diazene complex cis-[Fe(N(2)H(2))(dmpe)(2)]. This reaction is reversed by the treatment of the diazene complex with a mild acid, while treatment of the hydrazine complex with a mixture of KOBu(t) and Bu(t)Li afforded the dinitrogen complex [Fe(N(2))(dmpe)(2)].

The first side-on bound metal complex of diazene, HN[double bond]NH.

The side-on bound metal complex of diazene cis-[Fe(NH[double bond]NH)(dmpe)(2)] was synthesised by reaction of [Fe(dmpe)(2)Cl(2)] with hydrazine in the presence of potassium graphite and characterised by (15)N NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.

Side-on bound diazene and hydrazine complexes of ruthenium

The reaction of cis-[RuCl(2)(PP)(2)] (PP = depe, dmpe) with hydrazine afforded end-on bound ruthenium(II) hydrazine complexes. Treatment of the hydrazine complexes with strong base afforded the side-on bound ruthenium(0) diazene complexes cis-[Ru(eta(2)-NH=NH)(PP)(2)]. Treatment of cis-[Ru(eta(2)-NH=NH)(depe)(2)] with weak acid under chloride-free conditions afforded the side-on bound hydrazine complex cis-[Ru(eta(2)-N(2)H(4))(depe)(2)](2+). These are the first reported side-on bound diazene and hydrazine complexes of ruthenium, and they have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (31)P, (15)N) and by X-ray crystallography. The interconversion between the ruthenium diazene and the ruthenium hydrazine by acid-base treatment was reversible.

Synthesis and Characterization of Iron(II) and Ruthenium(II) Hydrido Hydrazine Complexes

Treatment of trans-[MHCl(dmpe)(2)] (M = Fe, Ru) with hydrazine afforded the hydrido hydrazine complexes cis- and trans-[MH(N(2)H(4))(dmpe)(2)](+) which have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy ((1)H, (31)P, and (15)N). Both cis and trans isomers of the Fe complex and the trans isomer of the Ru complex were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Reactions with acid and base afforded a range of N(2)H(x) complexes, including several unstable hydrido hydrazido complexes.

Nitrogen Fixation Revisited on Iron(0) Dinitrogen Phosphine Complexes

A reinvestigation of the treatment of [Fe(N2)(PP)2] (PP = depe, dmpe) with acid revealed no ammonium formation. Instead, rapid protonation at the metal center to give hydride complexes was observed. Treatment of [Fe(N2)(dmpe)2] with methylating agents such as methyl triflate or methyl tosylate resulted in methylation of the metal center to afford [FeMe(N2)(dmpe)2](+). Treatment of [Fe(N2)(dmpe)2] with trimethylsilyl triflate, however, resulted in reaction at dinitrogen affording NH4(+) on subsequent treatment with acid. The side-on bound hydrazine complex [Fe(N2H4)(dmpe)2](2+) and bis(ammonia) complex [Fe(NH3)2(dmpe)2](2+) were identified by (15)N NMR spectroscopy as other species formed in the reaction mixture.

Base-Induced Dehydrogenation of Ruthenium Hydrazine Complexes

Treatment of [RuCl(PP(3)(iPr))](+)Cl(-) (PP(3)(iPr) = P(CH(2)CH(2)P(i)Pr(2))(3)) with hydrazine, phenylhydrazine, and methylhydrazine afforded side-on bound hydrazine complexes [RuCl(η(2)-H(2)N-NH(2))(η(3)-PP(3)(iPr))](+), [RuCl(η(2)-H(2)N-NHPh)(η(3)-PP(3)(iPr))](+), and [RuCl(η(2)-H(2)N-NHMe)(η(3)-PP(3)(iPr))](+). The analogous reactions of [RuCl(2)(PP(3)(Ph))] (PP(3)(Ph) = P(CH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))(3)) with hydrazine, phenylhydrazine, and methylhydrazine afforded end-on bound hydrazine complexes [RuCl(η(1)-H(2)N-NH(2))(PP(3)(Ph))](+), [RuCl(η(1)-H(2)N-NHPh)(PP(3)(Ph))](+), and [RuCl(η(1)-H(2)N-NHMe)(PP(3)(Ph))](+). Treatment of parent hydrazine complex [RuCl(N(2)H(4))(PP(3)(iPr))](+) with strong base afforded the dinitrogen and dihydride complexes [Ru(N(2))(PP(3)(iPr))] and [RuH(2)(PP(3)(iPr))]. Treatment of phenylhydrazine complex [RuCl(NH(2)NHPh)(PP(3)(iPr))](+) with strong base afforded the hydrido ruthenaindazole complex [RuH(η(2)-NH═NC(6)H(4))(η(3)-PP(3)(iPr))] while similar treatment of methylhydrazine complex [RuCl(NH(2)NHMe)(PP(3)(iPr))](+) afforded the hydrido methylenehydrazide complex [RuH(NHN═CH(2))(PP(3)(iPr))]. Treatment of the hydrazine complexes [RuCl(NH(2)NHR)(PP(3)(Ph))](+) (R = H, Ph, Me) with strong base afforded the dinitrogen complex [Ru(N(2))(PP(3)(Ph))].

Side-on Bound Complexes of Phenyl- and Methyl-diazene

Treatment of trans-[FeCl(2)(dmpe)(2)] with phenylhydrazine and 1 equiv of base afforded the side-on bound phenylhydrazido complex cis-[Fe(η(2)-NH(2)NPh)(dmpe)(2)](+). Further deprotonation of the phenylhydrazido complex afforded the side-on bound phenyldiazene complex cis-[Fe(η(2)-HN═NPh)(dmpe)(2)] as a mixture of diastereomers. Treatment of cis-[RuCl(2)(dmpe)(2)] with phenylhydrazine or methylhydrazine afforded the end-on bound phenylhydrazine or methylhydrazine complexes cis-[RuCl(η(1)-NH(2)NHR)(dmpe)(2)](+) (R = Ph, Me). Treatment of the substituted hydrazine complexes with base afforded the side-on bound phenylhydrazido complex cis-[Ru(η(2)-NH(2)NPh)(dmpe)(2)](+) as well as the phenyldiazene and methyldiazene complexes cis-[Ru(η(2)-HN═NR)(dmpe)(2)] (R = Ph, Me). cis-[RuCl(η(1)-NH(2)NHR)(dmpe)(2)](+) (R = Ph, Me), cis-[M(η(2)-NH(2)NPh)(dmpe)(2)](+) (M = Fe, Ru) and cis-[Ru(η(2)-HN═NPh)(dmpe)(2)] were characterized structurally by X-ray crystallography. cis-[Ru(η(2)-HN═NPh)(dmpe)(2)] is the first side-on bound phenyldiazene complex to be structurally characterized. In the structure of cis-[Ru(η(2)-HN═NPh)(dmpe)(2)], the geometry of the coordinated diazene fragment is significantly nonplanar (CNNH angle 137°) suggesting that the complex is probably better described as a Ru(II) metallodiaziridine than a Ru(0) diazene π-complex.

Cyclization of Acetylenic Amides Using a Cationic Rhodium(I) Complex

The cationic Rh(I) dicarbonyl complex [{Rh(bim)(CO)2}+BPh4–] 1, containing a bidentate bisimidazolylmethane ligand [bim refers to bis(N-methylimidazol-2-yl)methane] acts as a catalyst for the cyclization of alkynyl amides to produce lactams and N-acyl heterocyclic compounds.