Chemistry of Ruthenium(II) Alkyl Binap Complexes:  Novel Bonding, Cyclometalation, and P−C Bond Splitting

Abstract

Reactions of the bis-isopropyl and bis-cyclohexyl alkyl Binap ligands, 8 and 9, respectively, with [RuCl2(η6-p-cymene)]2 afford new dinuclear chloro-bridged Ru compounds which contain the Binap ligands as six- rather than four-electron donors. A backbone double bond proximate to one of the P-donors complexes the metal atom. NMR details of the olefin bonding plus isomerization reactions involving loss of the olefin complexation are reported. Reactions of 8 or 9 with [Ru(OAc)2(η6-p-cymene)] result in slow P−C bond cleavage and cyclometalation, instead of affording the anticipated [Ru(OAc)2(Binap)] complex. The new cyclometalated complexes, 15 and 16, contain the complexed R2P−O(CO)CH3 ligand and arise (presumably) via acetate attack at phosphorus with the electrons in the P−C bond moving to the ruthenium atom. The solid-state structure of one of these, the cyclohexyl analogue, 16, is reported and represents a rare structural example of a molecule with three different chelate ligands. The complexed R2P−O(CO)CH3 ligand is readily hydrolyzed in wet triflic acid to afford the R2P(OH) donor and an η6-arene ligand (via Ru−C protonation)