Synthesis and Structural Characterisation of [Ir4(CO)8(CH3)(mu4-eta3-Ph2PCCPh)(mu-PPh2)] and of the Carbonylation Product [Ir4(CO)8{C(O)CH3}(mu4-eta3-Ph2PCCPh)(mu-PPh2)]; First Evidence for the Formation of a CO Cluster Adduct before CO Insertion

Abstracts

Deprotonation of [(mu-H)Ir4(CO)10(mu-PPh2)], 1, gives [Ir4(CO)10(mu-PPh2)]- that reacts with Ph2PCCPh and CH3I to afford [Ir4(CO)8(CH3)(mu4-eta³-Ph2PCCPh)(mu-PPh2)], 2 (34%), besides [Ir4(CO)9(mu3-eta³-Ph2PC(H)CPh)(mu-PPh2)] and [(mu-H)Ir4(CO)9(Ph2PC<FONT FACE=Symbol>º</FONT>CPh)(mu-PPh2)]. Compound 2 was characterised by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and exhibits a flat butterfly of metal atoms, with the Ph2PCCPh ligand interacting with all four Ir atoms and the methyl group bonded terminally to a wingtip Ir atom. Carbonylation of 2 yields initially (25 °C, 20 min) a CO addition product that, according to VT 31P{¹H} and 13C{¹H} studies, exists in solution in the form of two isomers 4A and 4B (8:1), and then (40 °C, 7 h), the CO insertion product [Ir4(CO)8{C(O)CH3}(mu4-eta³-Ph2PCCPh)(mu-PPh2)], 5. The molecular structure of 5, established by an X-ray analysis, is similar to that of 2, except for the acyl group that remains bound to the same Ir atom. The process is reversible at both stages. Treatment of 2 with PPh3 and P(OMe)3 affords the CO substitution products [Ir4(CO)7L(CH3)(mu4-eta³-Ph2PCCPh)(mu-PPh2)] (L = PPh3, 6 and P(OMe)3, 7), instead of the expected CO inserted products. According to the ¹H and 31P{¹H} NMR studies, the PPh3 derivative 6 exists in the form of two isomers (1:1) that differ with respect to the position of this ligand.

migratory insertion; iridium carbonyl clusters; alkyl clusters; carbonylation

A desprotonação do cluster [(mi-H)Ir4(CO)10(mi-PPh2)], 1, leva à formação de [Ir4(CO)10(mi-PPh2)]- que reage com Ph2PCCPh e CH3I para dar [Ir4(CO)8(CH3)(mi4-eta³-Ph2PCCPh)(mi-PPh2)], 2 (34%), além de [Ir4(CO)9(mi3-eta³-Ph2PC(H)CPh)(mi-PPh2)] e [(mi-H)Ir4(CO)9(Ph2PC<FONT FACE=Symbol>º</FONT>CPh)(mi-PPh2)]. O composto 2, caracterizado por uma análise de difração de raios-X, contem um arranjo metálico na forma de uma borboleta, com o ligante Ph2PCCPh interagindo com os quatro átomos de Ir e a metila ligada de modo terminal. A carbonilação de 2 resulta, inicialmente (20 min, 25 °C), na formação de um produto de adição ao poliedro metálico que, de acordo com estudos de espectroscopia de RMN de 31P{¹H} e 13C{¹H} a várias temperaturas, existe na forma de dois isomeros 4A and 4B (8:1) que diferem com relação à posição do grupo metila, e em seguida (40 °C, 7 h), à formação do produto de inserção de CO, [Ir4(CO)8{C(O)CH3}(mi4-eta³-Ph2PCCPh)(mi-PPh2)], 5. A carbonilação é reversível em ambos os estágios. A estrutura molecular de 5 é semelhante à de 2, com uma acila no lugar da metila. As reações de 2 com PPh3 e P(OMe)3 resultam nos produtos de substituição de CO, [Ir4(CO)7L(CH3)(mi4-eta³-Ph2PCCPh)(mi-PPh2)] (L = PPh3, 6 e P(OMe)3 7, respectivamente, ao invés dos produtos esperados de inserção de CO. Segundo estudos de RMN de¹H e 31P{¹H}, o composto 6 existe na forma de dois isômeros (1:1) que diferem com relação à posição da PPh3.

Article

Synthesis and Structural Characterisation of [Ir ₄ (CO) ₈ (CH ₃ )(m₄-h³-Ph ₂ PCCPh)(m-PPh ₂ )] and of the Carbonylation Product [Ir ₄ (CO) ₈ {C(O)CH ₃ }(m₄-h³-Ph ₂ PCCPh)(m-PPh ₂ )]; First Evidence for the Formation of a CO Cluster Adduct before CO Insertion

Dario Braga ^a , Fred Y. Fujiwara ^b , Fabrizia Grepioni ^a , Regina M.S. Pereira ^b , and Maria D. Vargas ^b*

^a Dipartimento di Chimica "G.Ciamician", Universitá degli Studi di Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy

^b Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6154, 13083-970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

A desprotonação do cluster [(m-H)Ir₄(CO)₁₀(m-PPh₂)], 1, leva à formação de [Ir₄(CO)₁₀(m-PPh₂)]^- que reage com Ph₂PCCPh e CH₃I para dar [Ir₄(CO)₈(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 2 (34%), além de [Ir₄(CO)₉(m₃-h³-Ph₂PC(H)CPh)(m-PPh₂)] e [(m-H)Ir₄(CO)₉(Ph₂PCºCPh)(m-PPh₂)]. O composto 2, caracterizado por uma análise de difração de raios-X, contem um arranjo metálico na forma de uma borboleta, com o ligante Ph₂PCCPh interagindo com os quatro átomos de Ir e a metila ligada de modo terminal. A carbonilação de 2 resulta, inicialmente (20 min, 25 °C), na formação de um produto de adição ao poliedro metálico que, de acordo com estudos de espectroscopia de RMN de ³¹P{¹H} e ¹³C{¹H} a várias temperaturas, existe na forma de dois isomeros 4A and 4B (8:1) que diferem com relação à posição do grupo metila, e em seguida (40 °C, 7 h), à formação do produto de inserção de CO, [Ir₄(CO)₈{C(O)CH₃}(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 5. A carbonilação é reversível em ambos os estágios. A estrutura molecular de 5 é semelhante à de 2, com uma acila no lugar da metila. As reações de 2 com PPh₃ e P(OMe)₃ resultam nos produtos de substituição de CO, [Ir₄(CO)₇L(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)] (L = PPh₃, 6 e P(OMe)₃7, respectivamente, ao invés dos produtos esperados de inserção de CO. Segundo estudos de RMN de¹H e ³¹P{¹H}, o composto 6 existe na forma de dois isômeros (1:1) que diferem com relação à posição da PPh₃.

Deprotonation of [(m-H)Ir₄(CO)₁₀(m-PPh₂)], 1, gives [Ir₄(CO)₁₀(m-PPh₂)]^- that reacts with Ph₂PCCPh and CH₃I to afford [Ir₄(CO)₈(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 2 (34%), besides [Ir₄(CO)₉(m₃-h³-Ph₂PC(H)CPh)(m-PPh₂)] and [(m-H)Ir₄(CO)₉(Ph₂PCºCPh)(m-PPh₂)]. Compound 2 was characterised by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and exhibits a flat butterfly of metal atoms, with the Ph₂PCCPh ligand interacting with all four Ir atoms and the methyl group bonded terminally to a wingtip Ir atom. Carbonylation of 2 yields initially (25 °C, 20 min) a CO addition product that, according to VT ³¹P{¹H} and ¹³C{¹H} studies, exists in solution in the form of two isomers 4A and 4B (8:1), and then (40 °C, 7 h), the CO insertion product [Ir₄(CO)₈{C(O)CH₃}(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 5. The molecular structure of 5, established by an X-ray analysis, is similar to that of 2, except for the acyl group that remains bound to the same Ir atom. The process is reversible at both stages. Treatment of 2 with PPh₃ and P(OMe)₃ affords the CO substitution products [Ir₄(CO)₇L(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)] (L = PPh₃, 6 and P(OMe)₃, 7), instead of the expected CO inserted products. According to the ¹H and ³¹P{¹H} NMR studies, the PPh₃ derivative 6 exists in the form of two isomers (1:1) that differ with respect to the position of this ligand.

Keywords: migratory insertion, iridium carbonyl clusters, alkyl clusters, carbonylation

Introduction

The isolobal analogy between the H and R fragments¹ has been very little explored in carbonyl cluster chemistry, although it has been shown to hold true for a number of mononuclear compounds. Structurally analogous hydride and alkyl clusters are rather rare in the literature. To our knowledge, the following series of compounds, [HIr₄(CO)₁₁]^-(2) and [Ir₄(CO)₁₁(CH₂COOMe)]^-(3), [H₂Ir₄(CO)₁₀]^{2- (4)} and [Ir₄(CO)₁₀(CH₂COOMe)₂]^{2- (3)} and [Ru₆C(CO)₁₆(CH₃)],^{- (5)} and [HRu₆C(CO)₁₆]^{- (6)} are the only documented examples. It is probably significant that these hydride clusters contain terminal hydride ligands, which are very rarely encountered in cluster chemistry, instead of commonly found bridging hydrides⁷. This observation would explain the scarcity of alkyl carbonyl clusters in the literature. We recently reported the synthesis⁸ and the molecular structure⁹ of the only other Ir₄ cluster with a terminal hydride ligand, [HIr₄(CO)₉(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], via the deprotonation of [(m-H)Ir₄(CO)₁₀(m-PPh₂)], reaction in situ with Ph₂PCºCPh, followed by reprotonation. We therefore attempted to produce the analogous methyl containing cluster, by methylating, instead of protonating, the mixture above.

Carbon monoxide insertion into metal alkyl or aryl bonds is a textbook reaction¹⁰, but this process in alkyl and aryl containing carbonyl clusters has only been documented in rare cases^5,11-13. We have recently described the first study involving the carbonylation of a phenyl group co-ordinated to a cluster, [Ir₄(CO)₈(h¹-Ph)(m₃-h³-PhPC(H)CPh)(m-PPh₂)]¹². In this report, we describe the synthesis and characterisation of the methyl containing cluster [Ir₄(CO)₈(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)] and its facile quantitative carbonylation to the isostructural acyl product [Ir₄(CO)₈{C(O)CH₃}(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)] via a CO addition intermediate, characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a fully characterised stepwise reversible process involving a CO addition and CO insertion into a M-C_alkyl bond in a cluster compound. A preliminary communication of part of this work has appeared¹⁴.

Experimental

General

All manipulations and reactions were carried out under dry argon, unless otherwise specified, using standard Schlenk techniques. CH₂Cl₂ was dried over CaH₂, hexane and toluene over sodium and THF over potassium. Solvents were freshly distilled under Ar and freed from dissolved oxygen, where compatible, by freeze degassing before use. BuLi (1.6 M hexane solution), CH₃I and ¹³CH₃I (Aldrich) were used as received, Ph₂PCºCPh¹⁵, [(m-H)Ir₄(CO)₁₀(m-PPh₂)]¹⁶ and CO¹⁷ were prepared by literature methods. The reactions were monitored by IR and NMR spectroscopies. Preparative TLC was carried out in air by using ca 2 mm thick glass backed silica plates (20 x 20 cm) prepared from silica gel GF 254 Type, Fluka, CH₂Cl₂-hexane (1:3) as eluent, unless otherwise specified, and the compounds were extracted from silica with CH₂Cl₂. IR spectra were obtained on a Bomen MB series IR instrument scanning between 2200 and 1500 cm^-1, using CaF₂ cells. ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ³¹P{¹H} NMR data were obtained on a Bruker AC 300/P instrument using deuterated solvents as lock and reference [¹H and ¹³C, SiMe₄, ³¹P, 85% H₃PO₄ (external)]. Microanalyses were performed on a Perkin Elmer 2401 Elemental Analysis instrument at the Chemistry Institute of UNICAMP. FAB Mass spectrum was obtained on a VG 7070E-HF mass spectrometer using nitrobenzyl alcohol as the matrix at the Chemistry Department the University of Minnesota.

Preparation of [Ir₄(CO)₈(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 2

To an orange solution of 1 (100 mg, 0.08 mmol) in THF (30 mL) cooled to 0 °C were added sequentially BuLi (50.0 mL, 0.08 mmol), Ph₂PCºCPh (23.2 mg, 0.08 mmol) and CH₃I (5.0 mL, 0.08 mmol). The resulting mixture was allowed to warm slowly to room temperature and left stirring for 30 min. The solvent was evaporated and the residue dissolved in CH₂Cl₂; TLC of the solution gave red compound 2 (34.0 mg, 34%; Rf = 0.65), yellow [Ir₄(CO)₉(m₃-h³-Ph₂PC(H)CPh)(m-PPh₂)] (27.0 mg, 23%; Rf = 0.60) and orange [(m-H)Ir₄(CO)₉(Ph₂PCºCPh)(m-PPh₂)] (36.0 mg, 30%; Rf = 0.55). Compound 2 was crystallised from CH₂Cl₂-hexane (1:3) at 15 °C. Anal. Calc for C₄₁H₂₈O₈P₂Ir₄2: C, 33.3; H 1.9 %. Found: C, 33.4; H, 1.7%. IR (hexane, cm^-1) n_CO 2070m, 2066s, 2046s, 2030m, 2012m.

Reaction of [Ir₄(CO)₈(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 2 with CO

CO was bubbled through a solution of 2 (40.0 mg, 0.028 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) in a Schlenk tube at 0 °C for 20 min, after which time the dark red solution turned yellow with formation of 4. IR (hexane, cm^-1) 4: n_CO 2062w, 2042s, 2032s, 2002m, 1987m, 1851vw. When this yellow solution was stirred under Ar at 25 °C for 20 min, 2 was obtained quantitatively. Heating the yellow CH₂Cl₂ solution of 4 at 40 °C under CO for 7 h resulted in an orange solution. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure, the residue dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ and separated by TLC to give unreacted 2 (7.6 mg, 19%; Rf = 0.65) and [Ir₄(CO)₈{C(O)CH₃}(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 5 (32.0 mg, 80%; Rf = 0.40), which was crystallised from CH₂Cl₂-hexane (1:3) at 15 °C. Anal. Calc. for C₄₂H₂₈O₉P₂Ir₄: C, 33.4; H 1.8 %. Found: C, 33.4; H, 1.7%. IR (hexane, cm^-1) n_CO 2074m, 2062m, 2026s, 1995wbr, 1960w, 1695w.

Preparation of the NMR sample of 4 for VT experiments

A solution of 2 (20.0 mg, 0.014 mmol) in CD₂Cl₂ (1.5 mL) was added to a 5 mm NMR tube. CO was bubbled through the solution for 15 min at 0 °C. The NMR tube was sealed under a positive pressure of CO.

CO de-insertion reaction of the cluster [Ir₄(CO)₈{C(O)CH₃}(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 5

Compound 5 (20.0 mg, 0.014 mmol) was heated in THF (20 mL) under Ar at 60 °C for 4 h, after which time the solvent was evaporated and the residue dissolved in CH₂Cl₂. TLC of the red solution gave compound 2 quantitatively.

Reaction of [Ir₄(CO)₈(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 2, with PPh₃

A solution of 2 (40.0 mg, 0.028 mmol) and PPh₃ (7.1 mg, 0.028 mmol) in THF (30 mL) was stirred for 2.5 h at 28 °C. The solvent was evaporated, the green residue dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ and separated by TLC to give an olive green compound 6 (20.0 mg, 35%; Rf = 0.65); heavy decomposition was noted on the base line. Microcrystals were obtained from CH₂Cl₂/hexane at 4 °C. Anal. Calc. for C₅₈H₄₃O₈P₃Ir₄: C, 40.4; H 2.5%. Found: C, 40,2; H, 2.6%. IR (hexane, cm^-1): n_CO 2052s, 2036w, 2016m, 1993s, 1966m, 1944wbr.

Reaction of [Ir₄(CO)₈(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 2, with P(OMe)₃

Addition of P(OMe)₃ (3.2 mL, 0.028 mmol) to a solution of 2 (40.0 mg, 0.028 mmol) in THF (30 mL) resulted in an immediate colour change from red to yellow and then dark green. After 10 min stirring at 28 °C, the solvent was evaporated and the residue dissolved in CH₂Cl₂; TLC of the solution gave an olive green compound 7 (10 mg, 25%; Rf = 0.60); heavy decomposition was noted on the base line. IR (hexane, cm^-1): n_CO 2054s, 2016s, 1993w, 1967m, 1953vw, 1944vw.

Crystal structure characterisation

Diffraction data collections for 2 and 5 were carried out on an Enraf-Nonius CAD4. Crystal data for 2: C₄₁H₂₈Ir₄O₈P₂, M = 1475.4, triclinic, space group P-1, a = 11.452(2), b = 17.386(7), c= 11.231(5) Å, a = 94.38(5), b = 113.59(2), g = 89.50(2)°, U = 2043 ų, Z = 2, D_c = 2.40 g cm^-3, F(000) = 1352, m(Mo-Ka) = 12.6 cm^-1, 2.5 < q < 25°, final R value 0.043, R_w = 0.049 for 5682 out of 7798 independent reflections [I > 2s(I)]. Crystal data for 5: C₄₂H₂₈Ir4O₉P₂, M = 1503.4, triclinic, space group P-l, a =11.426(4), b = 17.537(6), c = 11.335(5) Å, a = 93.96(3), b = 113.24(3), g = 88.86(3)°, U = 2082 ų, Z = 2, D_c = 2.40 g cm^-3, F(000) = 1380, m(Mo-Ka) = 12.4 cm^-1, 2 < q < 25°, final R value 0.078, R_w = 0.075 for 3983 out of 7696 independent reflections [I > 2s(I)]. SHELX86¹⁸ and SHELXL76¹⁹ were used for data treatment and refinement based on F². Absorption correction was applied by the Walker and Stuart method²⁰ (correction ranges 0.61 - 1.00 for 2 and 0.55 - 1.00 for 5, respectively). All non-H atoms were allowed to vibrate anisotropically. H atoms were added in calculated positions (C-H 0.93 Å) and refined "riding" on the corresponding C atoms. Additional details of measurements and refinement, atomic coordinates, thermal parameters and a full list of bond lengths and angles have been deposited at the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre. SCHAKAL92²¹ was used for the graphical representation of the results.

Results and Discussion

Treatment of [(m-H)Ir₄(CO)₁₀(m-PPh₂)], 1, with BuLi at 0 °C in THF affords [Ir₄(CO)₁₀(m-PPh₂)]^- that reacts in situ with Ph₂PCCPh and MeI to afford the novel compound [Ir₄(CO)₈(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 2, in 34% yield, after purification by TLC. The known species [Ir₄(CO)₉(m₃-h³-Ph₂PC(H)CPh)(m-PPh₂)] (23%) and [(m-H)Ir₄(CO)₉(Ph₂PCºCPh)(m-PPh₂)] (30%) were also isolated, probably due to the presence of moisture in the reaction mixture, and identified by IR and NMR spectroscopies⁸. Compound 2 was characterised by a combination of IR spectroscopy, satisfactory microanalysis (see Experimental), FAB MS and ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopies (see Table 1). The FAB mass spectrum of 2 contains peaks at 1482 (M⁺) = M’; 1454 (M-CO)⁺; 1383 (M’-3CO-CH₃)⁺; 1243 (M’-8CO-CH₃) ⁺ and 957 (M’-8CO-CH₃-Ph₂PCCPh)⁺. Only terminal n_CO bands are observed in the IR spectrum of 2. The ¹H-NMR at 22 °C contains signals assigned to phenyl groups and to a cluster bound methyl group at d 1.28 (s). This resonance is in the chemical shift range characteristic of methyl ligand bound to neutral clusters in which no M...C...H interactionis present¹¹ (e.g. [(CH₃)Os₃(CO)₁₀(m-I)], d 1.34) and neutral Ir(I) mononuclear species (e.g. trans-[MeIr(CO)L₂], L = P(p-C₆H₄OMe)₃, d 1.29, PPh₂Me, d 1.80)²². The ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectrum at 22 °C of a sample enriched with ¹³CH₃ exhibits a singlet at d -24.09, indicating that this group is not bound to the same Ir atom as the PPh₂ and Ph₂PCCPh ligands, as is observed in the hydride compound [HIr₄(CO)₉(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 3. Analysis of the carbonyl region of this spectrum was not possible because the cluster was not enriched with ¹³CO. Discussion of the ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectrum is deferred until the solid state structure is presented.

Molecular structure of 2

The molecular structure of 2 in the solid state is shown in Fig. 1 together with the labeling scheme. Relevant structural parameters are shown in Table 2. It exhibits a flat butterfly arrangement of metal atoms, all of which interact with the 6 electron donor m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh ligand, via two s-interactions [Ir(1)-C(22) 2.09(1) and Ir(4)-C(23) 2.07(1) Å], one p-interaction [Ir(2)-C(22) 2.33(1) and Ir(2)-C(23) 2.30(1) Å] and one two-electron P-Ir bond {Ir(3)-P(1) 2.29(3) Å]. Metal-metal bond distances range from 2.65(2) to 2.91(1) Å, the longest bond being "edge spanned" by the diphenylphosphido ligand. The methyl group is bonded terminally to a wingtip Ir atom [C(9)-Ir(4) 2.14(0.01) Å], contributing with one-electron to the polyhedron. Eight CO ligands are terminally bound, two to each iridium atom, four in radial and the remaining four in axial positions with respect to the metal frame. This cluster contains 62 valence electrons, as predicted by Wade rules²³, but so far it is the first Ir₄ cluster that does not obey the 18 electron rule at each metal centre: Ir(1) and Ir(4) have formally 17 and Ir(2) and Ir(3), 19 valence electrons, which explains the difficulty in proposing a structure based on spectroscopic data. The only two CO ligands that deviate from linearity [Ir(2)-C(3)-O(3) 167.8(1.2)°] and Ir(3)-C(6)-O(6) 169.2(1.3)°] interact with the electron poor centres Ir(4) and Ir(1), respectively, thus helping to redistribute the electron density in the metal frame. Similar Ir₄ butterfly systems have been described previously, for example hydride 3⁹, [Ir₄(CO)₈(h¹-Ph)(m₃-h³-PhPC(H)CPh)(m-PPh₂)]¹² and [Ir₄(CO)₈(m₄-h³-Ph₂PC(H)C(Ph)PCBu^t)(m-PPh₂)]²⁴.

The structure of compound 2 is markedly different from that of the hydrido cluster [HIr₄(CO)₉(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)-(m-PPh₂)], 3 (see Fig. 2)⁹, and a comparison of structural and spectroscopic parameters for these two clusters is instructive. Compound 3 bears one additional CO ligand on Ir(4), in place of the methyl group on 2, and a hydride ligand bonded to Ir(3), that is, to the opposite wing of the butterfly to where the methyl group is bound in 2. In both cases, the Ph₂PCCPh ligand interacts with all four metal atoms, however, in cluster 3, the acetylene moiety p-interacts with Ir(1) and s-interacts with Ir(2) and Ir(4), i.e. the C-C bond is parallel to the Ir(2)-Ir(4) segment, whilst in 2 this bond is parallel to the Ir(1)-Ir(4) bond. In both clusters the phosphido ligand bridges the Ir(2)-Ir(3) segment, but only in the 62 butterfly methyl cluster 2 these two metal atoms interact formally. As a result of the additional CO ligand, in the 64 electron spiked triangular cluster 3, this distance is rather long [Ir(2)---Ir(3) 3.686(2) Å]. Furthermore, the PPh₂ ligand in 3 is pushed towards the Ir(1)-Ir(2)-Ir(3) plane, compared to the methyl cluster 2, possibly due to the presence of the additional hydride on Ir(3) and to the lengthening of the Ir(2)-Ir(3) distance.

Solution structure of 2

The structural differences observed in 2 and 3 are reflected in the ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectra of these compounds that have been extremely useful for rapid diagnosis of the structure of derivatives of this class of compounds²⁴. Correlations between the M-PR₂-M angles and the ³¹P chemical shifts in closely related phosphido containing compounds show that the larger this angle (and consequently the longer the M-M vector), the lower the chemical shift frequency of the phosphido P²⁵. As expected, the increase in the Ir(2)-P(2)-Ir(3) angle from 78.1(1)° in 2 to 103.3(3)° in 3 results in a rather drastic shift from d 73.8 to 29.8, respectively. The Ph₂PCCPh phosphorus (P1) appears at d -47.2 in 2 and at d -2.3 in 3, and the decrease in the P(1)-Ir(3)-P(2) angle from 135.6 (0.1)° in 2 to 85.4 (0.1)° in 3 results in a marked decrease in the observed J_P1-P2 from193 to 42 Hz, respectively.

These rather dramatic structural differences are noteworthy, considering that the methyl cluster 2 and the hydride compound 3 are obtained from analogous synthetic routes, i.e. from the addition of the isolobal fragments Me⁺ and H⁺, respectively, to the same anionic precursor.

It has been shown that the metal atoms and the oxygen of the carbonyl ligands are potential sites for eletrophilic attack. It is clear, however, that the nature of the product may not reflect the actual site of attack of the electrophile, as cluster rearrangements may occur. Also, the different electronic and steric requirements of the two electrophiles may lead to the stabilisation of structures containing the H and Me in different positions (metal or oxygen). For example, low temperature ¹H-NMR studies have evidenced that protonation (at -60 °C) of [(m-H)Ru₃(m-CO)(CO)₁₀]^- occurs at the oxygen atom of a bridging CO ligand to give [(m-H)Ru₃(m-COH)(CO)₁₀], with a subsequent rearrangement (> -30 °C) to the thermodynamically stable dihydride [H(m-H)Ru₃(CO)₁₁], via migration of the hydrogen to the metal frame^26,27. The methylation (at 25 °C) of [(m-H)Ru₃(m-CO)(CO)₁₀]^-, however, gives the thermodynamically stable [(m-H)Ru₃(m-COCH₃)(CO)₁₀]²⁸.

Assuming that formation of compounds 2 and 3 involves initial electrophilic attack of Me⁺ and H⁺, respectively, at the oxygen of a carbonyl group of the anionic product from the reaction of [Ir₄(CO)₁₀(m-PPh₂)]^- with Ph₂PCºCPh, the different positions occupied by the Me and H groups in the respective products, probably reflect: i) the relative ease of migration of these groups to the metal frame, i.e. the relative rates of CO de-insertion and also of CO dissociation; ii) the different steric and electronic requirements of the two groups. Steric effects probably play a minor role in the final position of the H and Me groups, considering that the ethyl cluster [Ir₄(CO)₈(CH₂CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], analogous to 2, and recently obtained from the reaction of the hydride compound 3 with ethylene, contains the ethyl group in the position occupied by the hydride ligand in the precursor 3²⁹. With this argument in mind, the carbonylation reactions of the methyl and hydride clusters 2 and 3, respectively, were investigated.

Reactions of 2 and 3 with CO

Compound 3 does not react with CO (> 1 atm, toluene, 60 °C, 24 h)⁹. In contrast, compound 2 reacts with CO under mild conditions (1 atm, CH₂Cl₂, room temperature, 20 min) to give a yellow product 4 which, in the absence of CO, quickly reverts to the red starting material. Stirring yellow 4 under an atmosphere of CO for 24 h or heating it at 40 °C under CO for 7 h resulted in the CO insertion product [Ir₄(CO)₈{C(O)CH₃}(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)], 5 (Scheme 1). This compound is stable under Ar, however when heated in THF, at 60 °C, under Ar, for 6 h, it looses CO to give 2 quantitatively. This behaviour is in contrast with that observed for the acyl cluster [Os₃(CO)₁₀(m-I){C(O)CH₃}] which, in the absence of CO, reacts to give, not only the CO de-insertion product, [Os₃(CO)₁₀(m-I)CH₃], but also [Os₃(CO)₁₀(m-I){m₂-h²-C(O)CH₃}] as the result of a change in the co-ordination mode of the acyl ligand from terminal to bridging¹¹. Compound 5 was fully characterised by analytical and spectroscopic data (see Experimental and Table 1) and by an X-ray diffraction analysis.

Solution structure of 5

The IR spectrum of 5 in the n_CO region shows a weak absorption at 1695 cm^-1, characteristic of an acyl group, besides terminal n_CO bands. The ¹H-NMR spectrum consists of a singlet at d 2.43 attributed to methyl group of the C(O)CH₃ ligand and a multiplet at d 6.60-8.30 attributed to the Ph hydrogens. The ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectrum of 5 enriched with ¹³CH₃ exhibits a singlet at d 48.43, attributed to the methyl group of the C(O)CH₃ ligand. The similarity of the ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectra of 5 and 2 with respect to both chemical shifts and J_P-P (see Table 1) strongly suggests that the two compounds have very similar structures, only with an acyl group in 5 in place of the methyl in 2.

Molecular structure of 5

An X-ray diffraction study of compound 5 confirms that the solid state structure of 5 is very similar to that of 2 indeed (Fig. 3). Their crystals are isomorphous (i.e. the two complexes crystallise with extremely similar packing arrangements). Relevant structure parameters are compared to those of 2 in Table 2. The major structural difference resides in the C(O)CH₃ ligand, bonded in place of CH₃. Metal-metal bond distances range from 2.656(1) to 2.912(2) Å, the longest bond being edge spanned by the diphenylphosphino ligand, and the butterfly hinge the smallest [Ir(1)-Ir(2) 2.656(1)]. The structural parameters within the Ph₂PCCPh ligand conform to the values found for 2: [Ir(1)-C(22) 2.09(0.01) and Ir(4)-C(23) 2.07(0.01) Å; Ir(2)-C(22) 2.38(0.01) and Ir(2)-C(23) 2.30(0.01) Å and Ir(3)-P(1) 2.29(3) Å. The C(22)-C(23) 1.36(2) is slightly shorter than the corresponding distance in 2 [1.40(4) Å]. The Ir-C [C(O)CH₃] distance [C(9)-Ir(4) 2.14(0.01) Å] is the same as the corresponding distance in 2, while the C=O separation is 1.20(6) Å. The Ir(4)-C(9)-C(9M) angle of 118(4)° corresponds to a sp² hybridised atom.

Solution structure of 4

The various attempts at crystallising this compound for an X-ray diffraction analysis only led to crystals of the starting material 2 (under Ar, at -5 °C) or to those of the CO insertion product 5 (under CO at -5 °C). As it could not be obtained in its pure form in the solid state, compound 4 was characterised only by solution IR and NMR spectroscopies. Terminal n_CO bands and a weak bridging n_CO at 1851 cm^-1 were observed in the IR spectrum of 5 which is rather different from that of 2 (see Experimental).

The room temperature ¹H-NMR spectrum of 4 in CD₂Cl₂ consists a multiplet at d 6.50-7.60 attributed to the phenyl groups and of a very broad peak at about d 0.7 possibly due to a methyl group; peaks at d 1.28 and 2.43 due to small amounts of compounds 2 and 5 were also noted. As this spectrum suggested some kind of fluxionality, the ¹H, ³¹P{¹H} and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra of 4 were investigated at 298, 273 and 190 K and are shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The limiting ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectrum of 4 in CD₂Cl₂, at 190 K displays two sets of signals of approximate relative intensities 8:1 consisting of two doublets at d -13.2 and 136.7 (J_P-P = 18 Hz) assigned to compound 4A, and two peaks at d 0.1 (d, J_P-P = 24 Hz) and 127.9 (dd, J_P-C = 13 Hz) assigned to compound 4B, besides peaks due to small amounts of compounds 2 and 5. In both cases, the high frequency peaks were attributed to the phosphido P2 and the other ones to the Ph₂PCCPh P1 nuclei. As the temperature is raised all signals broaden and the room temperature spectrum shows only two broad singlets at d -14.4 and 134.9. The limiting ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectrum of a sample of 4 enriched with ¹³CH₃ in CD₂Cl₂, at 190 K consists of a singlet at d -36.7 and a doublet at -26.8 (J_C-P = 13 Hz) assigned to the methyl groups of compound 4A and 4B, respectively. As the samples were not enriched with ¹³CO, and due to solubility problems, the carbonyl and phenyl regions could not be studied. Raising the temperature also led to the broadening of these resonances, and the room temperature spectrum shows only a broad peak at d -36.10.

The limiting ¹H-NMR spectrum of the same sample of 4 at 183K shows only one doublet at d 0.71 (J_H-C = 120.8 Hz) assigned to the methyl group of 4A, besides signals due to the phenyl protons at d 8.16 - 5.34; the fact that the signal due to isomer 4B could not be observed might be due, not only to its low concentration (additionally, the protons would couple both with the carbon and P2), but also because the region was not totally free of impurities. Furthermore, no signal was detected in the acyl region (d 2.43 for 5) which is an indication that 4A and 4B are the products from the addition of one or more CO molecules to 2.

The VT ¹³C{¹H} and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectra show that 4A and 4B undergo inter-conversion, therefore suggesting that the two compounds are isomers. The fact that the 64 electron hydrido species 3 does not undergo CO addition under the same conditions²⁹ strongly suggests that 4A and 4B result from the addition of a single CO to the 62 electron compound 2. The drastic changes observed both in the ³¹P chemical shifts and in the J_P1-P2 values indicate that the CO addition to the metal polyhedron of 2 leads to important structural changes involving both Ph₂PCCPh and m-PPh₂ ligands (see Table 1). Thus, the 64 electron clusters "[Ir₄(CO)₉(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)]", 4A and 4B, would be analogous to 3, that is they must exhibit a distorted butterfly metal frame without one of the wing edges, however, it is clear, from the ³¹P-NMR data, that the missing edge in the polyhedron of 4A and 4B is different from that in 3. Indeed, whilst the metal atoms bridged by the phosphido group [Ir(2) and Ir(3)] do not interact in 3 (d 29.8), in 4A and 4B they do (d 136.7 and 127.9, respectively). As in the precursor 2 the two electron deficient sites are Ir(1) and Ir(4), it seems reasonable to suggest that nucleophilic attack of the CO may have occurred at either positions, leading, in both cases, to the cleavage of the Ir(1)-Ir(4) bond, as illustrated in Scheme 2. This metal frame opening was accompanied by a decrease in the P(1)-Ir(3)-P(2) angle, as indicated by the decrease in the J_P1-P2 values from 193 Hz (135.6°) in the precursor 2 to 18 and 24 Hz in isomers 4A and 4B, respectively, close to the value observed for the hydride 3 (42.2 Hz; 103.3°). These data suggest that CO addition to 2 has led to a rearrangement of the m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh ligand, which is proposed to interact with the metal frame of 4A and 4B as in the hydride 3. The two isomers 4A and 4B would only differ with respect to the position of the CH₃ ligand on the Ir(4) atom. In 4B, this ligand would occupy a transoid position with respect to the phosphide P(2) (position a in Scheme 2), as suggested by the 3 bond J_P2-C = 13 Hz. In compound 4A, the CH₃ ligand could occupy positions b or c which do not favour geometrically this coupling.

Reactions of 2 with P(OMe)₃ and PPh₃

In order to find out whether nucleophiles other than CO, such as tertiary phosphines and phosphites, would induce migratory CO insertion in cluster 2, as observed for various mononuclear systems³⁰, and also in an attempt to determine the possible sites of nucleophilic attack on this cluster, the reactions of 2 with one equivalent of PPh₃ and P(OMe)₃ were investigated. In both cases the reactions proceed in CH₂Cl₂, at room temperature, to yield the green CO substitution species, [Ir₄(CO)₇L(CH₃)(m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)] (L = PPh₃6 and P(OMe)₃7), instead of the expected CO inserted products. Compounds 6 and 7 were isolated, after purification by TLC, in 35 and 25% yields, respectively, besides some unreacted starting material (around 20%); in both reactions, a fair amount of decomposition material was noted on the base line of the TLC plates. It is interesting that, only in the case of the reaction with P(OMe)₃, an initial colour change occurs, from red to yellow, which only lasts for a few seconds, before the solution turns dark green. This observation suggests formation of a transient P(OMe)₃ addition intermediate of the type "[Ir₄(CH₃)(CO)₈{P(OMe)₃}(m₄-h-h³-Ph₂PCCPh)(m-PPh₂)]", possibly analogous to the yellow CO addition intermediate 4. Compound 7 was characterised only by IR spectroscopy as it undergoes decomposition in solution. The PPh₃ derivative was characterised by spectroscopic and analytical data (see Experimental and Table 1), however, suitable crystals for an X-ray analysis could not be obtained.

The IR spectra of 6 and 7 are very similar and show the presence of only terminal CO ligands; compared to the spectrum of compound 2, both spectra are shifted towards lower n_CO by about 15 cm^-1, as expected for a CO mono-substitution. The ¹H-NMR spectrum of 6 in CDCl₃ at 22 °C contains signals assigned to phenyl groups and to two cluster bound methyl groups at d 0.28 and 0.43, of approximate intensities 1:1, suggesting the presence of two isomers.

The room temperature ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectrum of 6 consists of two sets of three signals with relative intensities 1:1, thus confirming that the compound exists as a mixture of two isomers, 6A and 6B. The P1 nucleus (Ph₂PCCPh) in 6A and 6B appears at d -52.2 (J_P1-P2 = 228; J_P1-P3 = 13 Hz) and -41.90 (J_P1-P2 = 189 and J_P1-P3 = 10 Hz), respectively, and P2 (m-PPh₂) in 6A and 6B appears at d 77.30 (J_P1-P3 = 10 Hz ) d 65.9, respectively. A comparison of these chemical shifts and J_P1-P2 values with those observed for 2 (d-47.2, P1 and 73.8, P2; J_P1-P2 = 193 Hz) suggests that the basic phosphorus ligands arrangement in 2 is maintained in both isomers. The fact that the P(1)-Ir(3)-P(2) angle seems to have been more disturbed in 6A than in 6B, and that P3 (PPh₃) in isomer 6A (d 13.7) couples with both P2 and P1 (~13 Hz), whilst in 6B (d -9.1) it only couples with P1 (10 Hz), tends to indicate that PPh₃ is bonded to Ir(3) in 6A and to Ir(1) in 6B (see Scheme 3). Assuming that the CO ligands disposition on the metal polyhedron of 2 remains the same upon substitution of a CO for a PPh₃, as is often the case, it is possible to propose plausible structures for isomers 6A and 6B, based on a correlation between the phosphorus nuclei coupling constants in 2, 6A and 6B and specific dihedral angles in 2. In the case of isomer 6A, the PPh₃ on Ir(3) could occupy the positions of either CO(5) or CO(6). It is impossible to differentiate between the two possibilities, as P(1)-Ir(3)-C(5) [95.5(0.4)°] and P(1)-Ir(3)-C(6) [102.0(0.4)°] on the one hand and P(2)-Ir(3)-C(5) [100.4(0.4)°] and P(2)-Ir(3)-C(6) [109.9(0.4)°] on the other hand would lead to similar J values. In the case of isomer 6B, calculated values for the [C(1)-Ir(1)-C(22)-P(1), 129.4°] and [C(2)-Ir(1)-C(22)-P(1), 75. °] dihedral angles of compound 2 (see Fig. 1) suggest that the PPh₃ (P3) could occupy the positions of either CO(1) or CO(2) and couple with the Ph₂PCCPh (P1) ligand. As no J_P2-P3 is observed in the spectrum of this isomer, the calculated values for the [C(1)-Ir(1)-Ir(2)-P(2), 63.9°] and [C(2)-Ir(1)-Ir(2)P(2), 143.3 °] dihedral angles strongly suggest that replacement of pseudo-axial CO(1) in 2 with PPh₃ is most probable.

Considering that Ir(1) and Ir(4) are the electron deficient metal centres of compound 2 (vide supra), nucleophilic attack of L [L = PPh₃ or P(OMe)₃] could be expected to occur at either position to yield L addition, CO substitution or even CO insertion products. Although migratory CO insertion is usually the preferred path in mononuclear chemistry^10,30, not a single example involving a carbonyl cluster has been described in the literature yet. Our work indicates a clear preference for the CO substitution path which, in the case of the reaction with P(OMe)₃, seems to occur via formation of a transient P(OMe)₃ adduct. In other words, in this system, CO dissociation from the adduct is faster than CO migratory insertion. Finally, contrarily to expectation, isomer 6A contains the PPh₃ ligand bonded to Ir(3), instead of Ir(4). It is possible that ligand rearrangement occurred, after addition of L, or even after CO substitution. Recent studies have evidenced that migration of phosphine ligands on cluster compounds is not an uncommon process^31,32.

Concluding Remarks

The lability of compound 2 might be associated with the charge imbalance in the cluster, which would favour nucleophilic attack of CO or phosphines at one of the electron poor metal centres, to yield addition products. In contrast with mononuclear 18 electron species, cluster compounds can accommodate additional ligands via cleavage of M-M bonds. In this context, the role of the m₄-h³-Ph₂PCCPh bridging ligand is crucial in maintaining the metal atoms together and in inducing the polarisation of the Ir-Ir bonds.

Acknowledgement

We thank FAPESP, PADCT and CNPq of Brazil (F.Y.F., M.D.V. and R. M.S.P.) and the Ministero della Universitá e della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica of Italy (D.B. and F.G.) for research grants

29. Araujo, M.H.; Vargas, M. D. unpublished results.

35. Braga, D.; Grepioni, F.; Vargas, M. D.; Ziglio, C. M. manuscript in preparation.

Received: December 10, 1998

FAPESP helped in meeting the publication costs of this article

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  23 Oct 2002
• Date of issue
  Jan 1999

History

• Received
  10 Dec 1998