Small molecule activation of nitriles coordinated to the [ReSe] core: formation of oxazine, oxazoline and carboxamide complexes.

Novel oxazine, oxazoline and carboxamide cluster complexes were prepared when different nucleophilic oxygen species reacted with nitriles coordinated to the Lewis acidic [Re6Se8]2+ cluster core. Reaction of ICH2CH2O- (generated in situ) with [Re6Se8(PEt3)5(NCR)]A2 (1A2 (R = Me) and 2A2 (R = Ph) where A = BF4-), leads to the formation of [Re6Se8(PEt3)5(2-methyloxazoline)]2+ (32+) and [Re6Se8(PEt3)5(2-phenyloxazoline)]2+ (42+). Similarly, reaction of BrCH2CH2CH2O- with the same nitrile complexes, 1A2 and 2A2 (where A = BF4- or SbF6-) leads to the corresponding oxazine complexes, [Re6Se8(PEt3)5(2-methyloxazine)]2+ (52+) and [Re6Se8(PEt3)5(2-phenyloxazine)]2+ (62+).