2-[(Diphenylphosphino)methyl]-6-methylpyridine (PN) coordination chemistry at triosmium clusters: Regiospecific ligand activation and DFT evaluation of the isomeric Os3(CO)10(PN) clusters

• New triosmium clusters that contain 2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]-6-methylpyridine (PN).
• Computational analysis of the ground-state structures of Os3(CO)10(PN).
• Thermal P–C and photochemical C–H bond activation processes at 1,1-Os3(CO)10(PN).

The reaction of 2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]-6-methylpyridine (PN) with Os3(CO)12−n(MeCN)n [where n = 0 (1), 1 (2), 2 (3)] has been investigated. Os3(CO)12 reacts with PN in the presence of Me3NO to afford the clusters Os3(CO)11(κ1-PN) (4) and 1,2-Os3(CO)10(κ1-PN)2 (5). X-ray diffraction analyses confirm the equatorial coordination of the phosphine(s) in 4 and 5, with the two phosphines in the latter cluster exhibiting a 1,2-trans orientation about the Os–Os vector that contains the two ligands. Treatment of the MeCN-substituted cluster Os3(CO)11(MeCN) and PN (1:1 ratio) in CH2Cl2 gives clusters 4 and 5, in addition to HOs3(η1-Cl)(CO)10(κ1-PN) (6) as a result of competitive activation of the reaction solvent. Cluster 6 contains 48e and the diffraction structure reveals the presence of axial chloride and equatorial phosphine ligands which are located on adjacent osmium atoms. The bridging hydride ligand in 6 spans the Cl,P-substituted Os–Os vector. The reaction of Os3(CO)10(MeCN)2 with PN furnishes 5, 6, and 1,1-Os3(CO)10(κ2-PN) (7) in yields that are dependent on the reagent stoichiometry and reaction solvent. The solid-state structure of 7 confirms the chelation of the PN ligand to a single osmium atom via the pyridine and phosphine moieties at axial and equatorial sites, respectively. The bonding in 7 relative to other possible stereoisomers has been explored by DFT calculations, and the diffraction structure is computed as the thermodynamically most stable form of this cluster. Cluster 4 is photosensitive and CO loss gives 7, in addition to the formation of the dihydride H2Os3(CO)8[μ-CH(NC5H3)CH2PPh2] (8), whose origin derives from the double metalation of the C-6 methyl group of the PN ligand in 7. Photolysis of 7 yields 8 without detectable observation of the expected intermediate hydride HOs3(CO)9[μ-CH2(NC5H3)CH2PPh2]. The PN ligand in 7 undergoes P–C bond activation in toluene at 110 °C to afford the 50e cluster Os3(CO)9(μ-C6H4)(μ-PPh) (9), which contains face-capping benzyne and phosphinidene moieties. The bonding between the benzyne moiety and the opened Os3 frame in 9 has been examined computationally, and these data are discussed relative to σ and π bonding contributions from the metalated aryl ring to the cluster polyhedron.

The reaction of 2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]-6-methylpyridine (PN) with Os3(CO)12-n(MeCN)n [where n = 0 (1), 1 (2), 2 (3)] has been investigated. Depending upon the reaction conditions, the new clusters Os3(CO)11(κ1-PN) (4), 1,2-Os3(CO)10(κ1-PN)2 (5), HOs3(η1-Cl)(CO)10(κ1-PN) (6), 1,1-Os3(CO)10(κ2-PN) (7), H2Os3(CO)8[μ-CH(NC5H3)CH2PPh2] (8), and Os3(CO)9(μ-C6H4)(μ-PPh) (9) have been isolated.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide