posted on 2000-08-25, 00:00authored byRobert M. Stoop, Stephan Bachmann, Massimiliano Valentini, Antonio Mezzetti
The five-coordinate complexes of the type [RuCl(PNNP)]PF6 (PNNP = tetradentate ligand
with a P2N2 donor set) are prepared by chloride abstraction from [RuCl2(PNNP)]. A mixture
of Δ-cis-β- and Λ-cis-β-[RuCl2(1a-κ4P,N,N,P)] (2a; 1a = N,N‘-bis[o-(diphenylphosphino)benzylidene]-2,2‘-diimino-1,1‘-(S)-binaphthylene), prepared by reaction of 1a with [RuCl2(PPh3)3], reacts with Tl[PF6], giving the five-coordinate [RuCl(1a-κ4P,N,N,P)]PF6 (3a). The
related trans-[RuCl2(1b-κ4P,N,N,P)] (2b; 1b = N,N‘-bis[o-(diphenylphosphino)benzylidene]-(1S,2S)-diiminocyclohexane) reacts with Tl[PF6] to give [RuCl(1b-κ4P,N,N,P)]PF6 (3b). With
the amino ligand N,N‘-bis[o-(diphenylphosphino)benzylidene]-(1S,2S)-diaminocyclohexane
(1c), the aqua complex [RuCl(OH2)(1c-κ4P,N,N,P)]PF6 (5c) is obtained by reaction of Tl[PF6] with [RuCl2(PPh3)(1c-κ3P,N,N)] (4), which has been isolated and structurally characterized. The reactivity of the five-coordinate 2b with CO and oxygen donors such as water,
Et2O, THF, and methanol is reported. Both 3 and 5 catalyze the asymmetric epoxidation of
olefins with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. Enantiomeric excesses up to 42% were obtained
in the enantioselective epoxidation of styrene and of other unfunctionalized olefins. The
reaction is highly stereospecific, as the epoxidation of (Z)-2-methylstyrene gives a cis:trans
ratio of 99:1.