title: Formation and reactions of metal-metal bonded heterobimetallic (C5H4PR2)-bridged (Zr-Ir) and (Zr-Rh) complexes: evidence for the participation of metal hydride intermediates.
abstract: Treatment of the complexes [(C(5)H(4)PR(2))(2)Zr(CH(3))(2)](b: R = isopropyl; c: R = cyclohexyl) with the reagent HIr(CO)(PPh(3))(3) (2b) yield the heterobimetallic complexes [mu-C(5)H(4)PR(2))(2)(H(3)C-Zr-Ir(CO)(PPh(3)))] (4b, 4c) with evolution of methane. The reaction of the -PPh(2) substituted analogue with initially yields an intermediate [(H(3)C)(2)Zr(mu-C(5)H(4)PPh(2))(2)Ir(H)(CO)(PPh(3))] 5a, that still contains both methyl groups at zirconium and does not contain a metal-metal bond. At room temperature, the intermediate reacts further with methane formation to eventually yield the (Zr-Ir) complex 4a. The corresponding [mu-C(5)H(4)PR(2))(2)(H(3)C-Zr-Rh(CO)(PPh(3)))] complexes 3a (R = Ph) and 3b (R = isopropyl) react cleanly with isopropyl alcohol to liberate methane and yield the corresponding [mu-C(5)H(4)PR(2))(2)(Me(2)CHO-Zr-Rh(CO)(PPh(3)))] products (7a, 7b). Carefully monitoring the reaction of with Me(2)CHOH by NMR revealed that the Zr-Rh functionality is attacked first to give the intermediate [Me(Me(2)CHO)Zr([micro sign]-C(5)H(4)PR(2))(2)Rh(H)(CO)(PPh(3))] (6b). This intermediate then reacts further to cleave off methane and re-form the (Zr-Rh) metal-metal bond to yield the product 7b. The tetrametallic mu-oxo-(Zr-Rh) metallocene derivate 11a was obtained starting from the (Zr-Rh) complex 3a and it was characterized by X-ray diffraction. It may be that this reaction is also initiated by H-OH addition to the [Zr-Rh] metal-metal bond.
authors.affiliation: Organisch-Chemisches Institut der Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 40, D-48149, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erker
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kehr
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fröhlich