title: {H(3-(t)Bupz)B(3-(t)Bupz)(2)-eta(2)}AlEt(2) and {H(3-(t)Bupz)B(3-(t)Bupz)(5-(t)Bupz)-eta(2)}AlEt(2). Structure, Dynamic Solution Behavior, and the 1,2-Borotropic Shift.
abstract: HB(3-(t)Bupz)(3)Tl and AlEt(3) in benzene yield {H(3-(t)Bupz)B(3-(t)Bupz)(2)-eta(2)}AlEt(2), 1, as a hydrocarbon-soluble crystalline solid. Compound 1 is also obtained in a related reaction involving ClAlEt(2) via a preferential metathesis of the Al-Cl bond. Crystal data for 1 at -101 degrees C: a = 11.770(3) Å, b = 11.054(3) Å, c = 21.973(6) Å, beta = 95.57(1) degrees, Z = 4, space group P2(1)/a. In 1 the Al center is four-coordinate with Al-C = 1.97(1) Å and Al-N = 1.99(1) Å and with C-Al-C = 127 degrees and N-Al-N = 101 degrees being the largest and smallest angles, respectively. The average N-B-N angle is 109(1) degrees. In toluene-d(8) and tetrahydrofuran-d(8), 1 shows two types of 3-(t)Bupz groups in the integral ratio 2:1 and two distinct ethyl ligands. At low temperature there is a broadening of the 3-(t)Bupz singlet that is assigned to the eta(2)-(t)Bupz ligands. Up to +60 degrees C, compound 1 is nonfluxional on the NMR time scale but does isomerize to {H(3-(t)Bupz)B(3-(t)Bupz)(5-(t)Bupz)-eta(2)}AlEt(2), 2. Crystal data for 2 at -172 degrees C: a = 29.235(5) Å, b = 11.298(1) Å, c = 22.033(3) Å, beta = 129.66(1) degrees, Z = 8, space group = C2/c. In 2 there is a pseudotetrahedral Al center with Al-C = 1.97(1) Å (average) and Al-N = 1.95(1) Å (average) and with C-Al-C = 119 degrees and N-Al-N = 98 degrees as the largest and smallest angles, respectively. The average N-B-N angle is 108(1) degrees. In 2 the eta(2)-tris(alkylpyrazolyl)borate ligand isomerizes by a 1,2-borotropic shift to give one 5-(t)Bupz fragment that is part of the eta(2)-N,N' aluminum-bonded ligand. Variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectra of 2 in toluene-d(8) and THF-d(8) reveal temperature-dependent exchange involving the 3-(t)Bupz moieties, with more rapid site exchange in toluene-d(8) than in THF-d(8). At low temperature there are two ethyl signals, one of which indicates diastereotopic methylene protons, as well as three (t)Bu signals in the ratio 1:1:1. The dynamic behavior of 2 is consistent with an eta(2) right harpoon over left harpoon eta(3) exchange process as opposed to an eta(2) right harpoon over left harpoon eta(1) exchange wherein the Al center is transiently three-coordinate. The isomerization of 1 to 2 has been studied in benzene-d(6) (DeltaH() = 21.0(2) kcal/mol, DeltaS() = -15(1) eu) and THF-d(8) (DeltaH() = 18.3(4) kcal/mol, DeltaS() = -15(1) eu) and compared to a related isomerization involving {H(2)B(3-(t)Bupz)(2)-eta(2)}AlMe(2) reported by Parkin and Looney [Polyhedron 1990, 9, 265] in benzene-d(6) (DeltaH() = 34.5(8) kcal/mol, DeltaS() = 6(2) eu). It is proposed that the rate-determining 1,2-borotropic shift in the 1 --> 2 reaction occurs in a noncoordinating (t)Bupz group and that this is followed by a rapid associative interchange of pz groups wherein the sterically less demanding 5-(t)Bupz moiety remains bound to the metal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Structure Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405.
authors.forename: Malcolm H.
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chisholm
authors.forename: Nancy W.
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Eilerts
authors.forename: John C.
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Huffman