Ortho-aryl substituted DPEphos ligands: rhodium complexes featuring C-H anagostic interactions and B-H agostic bonds

James J. Race, Arron L. Burnage, Timothy M. Boyd, Alex Heyam, Antonio J. Martínez-Martínez, Stuart A. Macgregor*, Andrew S. Weller

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)
31 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The synthesis of new Schrock-Osborn Rh(i) pre-catalysts withortho-substituted DPEphos ligands, [Rh(DPEphos-R)(NBD)][BArF4] [R = Me, OMe,iPr; ArF= 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3], is described. Along with the previously reported R = H variant, variable temperature1H NMR spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies show that these all have axial (C-H)⋯Rh anagostic interactions relative to the d8pseudo square planar metal centres, that also result in corresponding downfield chemical shifts. Analysis by NBO, QTAIM and NCI methods shows these to be only very weak C-H⋯Rh bonding interactions, the magnitudes of which do not correlate with the observed chemical shifts. Instead, as informed by Scherer's approach, it is the topological positioning of the C-H bond with regard to the metal centre that is important. For [Rh(DPEphos-iPr)(NBD)][BArF4] addition of H2results in a Rh(iii)iPr-C-H activated product, [Rh(κ3,σ-P,O,P-DPEphos-iPr′)(H)][BArF4]. This undergoes H/D exchange with D2at theiPr groups, reacts with CO or NBD to return Rh(i) products, and reaction with H3B·NMe3/tert-butylethene results in a dehydrogenative borylation to form a complex that shows both a non-classical B-H⋯Rh 3c-2e agostic bond and a C-H⋯Rh anagostic interaction at the same metal centre.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8832-8843
Number of pages12
JournalChemical Science
Volume12
Issue number25
Early online date25 May 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jul 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry

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