Putting chromium on the map for N2 reduction: production of hydrazine and ammonia. A study of cis-M(N2)2 (M = Cr, Mo, W) bis(diphosphine) complexes.

The first complete structurally and spectroscopically characterized series of isostructural Group 6 N2 complexes is reported. Protonolysis experiments on cis-[M(N2)2(P(Et)N(R)P(Et))2] (M = Cr, Mo, W; R = 2,6-difluorobenzyl) reveal that only Cr affords N2H5(+) and NH4(+) from the reduction of the N2 ligands.

Protonation studies of a mono-dinitrogen complex of chromium supported by a 12-membered phosphorus macrocycle containing pendant amines.

The reduction of fac-[CrCl3(P(Ph)3N(Bn)3)], (1(Cl3)), (P(Ph)3N(Bn)3 = 1,5,9-tribenzyl-3,7,11-triphenyl-1,5,9-triaza-3,7,11-triphosphacyclododecane) with Mg in the presence of dmpe (dmpe = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane) affords the first example of a monodinitrogen Cr(0) complex, Cr(N2)(dmpe)(P(Ph)3N(Bn)3), (2(N2)), containing a pentaphosphine coordination environment. 2(N2) is supported by a unique facially coordinating 12-membered phosphorus macrocycle containing pendant amine groups in the second coordination sphere. Treatment of 2(N2) at -78 °C with 1 equiv of [H(OEt2)2][B(C6F5)4] results in protonation of the metal center, generating the seven-coordinate Cr(II)-N2 hydride complex, [Cr(H)(N2)(dmpe)(P(Ph)3N(Bn)3)][B(C6F5)4], [2(H)(N2)](+).

Deuteration of boranes: catalysed versus non-catalysed processes.

A dichotomy in the reactivity of B-H bonds is reported. A bis(N-heterocyclic carbene)-ligated iridium(III) complex can effect rapid deuteration of boronate esters at room temperature with low catalyst loadings; however, borane and 9-BBN both undergo deuteration in the absence of catalyst, and do not react with the iridium complexes. This is proposed to result from the inductive electron-withdrawing properties of the boronic ester substituents.

Tandem deuteration/hydrosilylation reactions catalyzed by a rhodium carbene complex under solvent-free conditions.

The complex [Rh(I(t)Bu)(2)HCl] has been shown to be an active catalyst in the hydrosilylation of carbonyl and imine complexes. This reactivity, combined with the previously reported H/D exchange catalyzed by these complexes allows for a one pot, two step reaction using a single catalyst for both H/D exchange and hydrosilylation. Using triethylsilane, [Rh(I(t)Bu)(2)Cl] catalyst, and D(2) gas, deuterated silyl-ethers can be synthesized in an atom-economical, solvent-free reaction.

Activation of hydrogen by palladium(0): formation of the mononuclear dihydride complex trans-[Pd(H)2(IPr)(PCy3)].

An even split: In sharp contrast with the general behavior of Pd(0) complexes, [Pd(IPr)(PCy(3))] is able to activate the H-H bond. The resulting trans-[Pd(H)(2)(IPr)(PCy(3))] is the first isolated mononuclear dihydride palladium compound. Its formation is supported by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, density functional calculations, and X-ray diffraction studies.