title: Coordination chemistry of a calix[4]arene-based NHC ligand: dinuclear complexes and comparison to I(i)Pr2Me2.
abstract: The preparation and coordination chemistry of 5,17-bis(3-methyl-1-imidazol-2-ylidene)-25,26,27,28-tetrapropoxycalix[4]arene (1) is described. Starting from the bis(imidazolium) pro-ligand 1·2HI, the free carbene 1 was readily generated in solution through deprotonation using K[O(t)Bu] and its reactivity with rhodium(i) dimers [Rh(COD)Cl]2 (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 investigated. Dinuclear complexes were isolated in both cases, where the calix[4]arene-based NHC ligand adopts a bridging μ(2)-coordination mode, and in one case characterised in the solid-state by X-ray diffraction. Using instead an isolated and well-defined (mononuclear) silver transfer agent, generated by reaction of 1·2HI with Ag2O in the presence of a halide extractor, reactions with [Rh(COD)Cl]2 and [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 produced cationic dinuclear complexes bearing μ(2)-1 and μ(2)-Cl bridging ligands. The structural formulation of the novel dinuclear adducts of 1 was aided through spectroscopic congruence with model complexes, containing monodentate 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (I(i)Pr2Me2).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. a.b.chaplin@warwick.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patchett
authors.forename: Adrian B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Chaplin