Si-H bond activation by electrophilic phosphinidene complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om900944v

The terminal electrophilic phosphinidene complex [CpFe(CO) ₂(PN-i-Pr₂}][AlCl₄] (2), generated via chloride abstraction from [CpFe(CO)₂{P(Cl)N-i-Pr₂}] (1), reacts with primary, secondary, and tertiary silanes to form the silyl phosphine complexes [CpFe(CO)₂(P(H)(SiR₃)N-i-Pr₂}] [AlCl₄] (3, SiR₃ = SiPhH₂; 4, SiR₃ = SiPh₂H; 5, SiR₃ = SiEt₃), in which the phosphinidene has inserted into the Si - H bond. A computational study shows that the insertion is concerted and has a triangular transition state. The silyl phosphine complexes 3, 4, and 5 are very susceptible to nucleophilic attack, which leads to P - Si bond cleavage and formation of the bridging phosphido complex [{CpFe-(CO)}₂(μ-CO){μ-P(H)N-i-Pr₂}] [AlCl₄](6).

Full text of DOI:10.1021/om900944v

484 Organometallics 2010, 29, 484–490
DOI: 10.1021/om900944v
Si-H Bond Activation by Electrophilic Phosphinidene Complexes
Kandasamy Vaheesar, Timothy M. Bolton, Allan L. L. East, and Brian T. Sterenberg*
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina,
Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0A2
Received October 28, 2009
The terminal electrophilic phosphinidene complex [CpFe(CO)2{PN-i-Pr2}][AlCl4] (2), generated
via chloride abstraction from [CpFe(CO)2{P(Cl)N-i-Pr2}] (1), reacts with primary, secondary, and
tertiary silanes to form the silyl phosphine complexes [CpFe(CO)2{P(H)(SiR3)N-i-Pr2}][AlCl4]
(3, SiR3=SiPhH2; 4, SiR3=SiPh2H; 5, SiR3=SiEt3), in which the phosphinidene has inserted into
the Si-H bond. A computational study shows that the insertion is concerted and has a triangular
transition state. The silyl phosphine complexes 3, 4, and 5 are very susceptible to nucleophilic attack,
which leads to P-Si bond cleavage and formation of the bridging phosphido complex [{CpFe-
(CO)}2(μ-CO){μ-P(H)N-i-Pr2}][AlCl4] (6).
Introduction
examples of C-H activation by terminal phosphinidene
complexes have also been observed.14 Of these bond activa-
tion reactions, the one with the most potential synthetic
utility is C-H activation. Carbene complexes, particularly
transient carbene complexes generated by diazoalkane de-
composition in the presence of metal catalysts, also undergo
bond insertion reactions, and these reactions form the basis
of a well-established synthetic methodology.15 More re-
cently, stable electrophilic phosphinidenes have been iso-
lated;9,16 however, their reactivity is not yet as well studied as
that of the transient phosphinidenes.7,17-20 Here we discuss
bond insertion reactions of the stable electrophilic terminal
phosphinidene complex [CpFe(CO)2{PN-i-Pr2}][AlCl4]. It
belongs to a class of cationic phosphinidene complexes
generated by chloride abstraction from chloro-phosphido
ligands.9,16,18 These complexes are thermally stable and
isolable, being stabilized by a heteroatom substituent that
acts as a π-donor to the electron-deficient phosphorus atom.
In contrast to the transient phosphinidenes W(CO)5PR,
which are generated by thermal decomposition of precursor
complexes,5,6 stable, isolable phosphinidene complexes al-
low us to carry out reactions at room temperature or lower.
Lower temperature reactions allow us to take a more detailed
look at the mechanism of bond insertion reactions and can
also be expected to lead to different reactivity. However, the
Transition metal terminal phosphinidene complexes can
be considered analogous to transition metal carbene com-
plexes, and like carbenes, their reactivity ranges between
nucleophilic and electrophilic extremes.1 Stable nucleophilic
phosphinidenes have been known since 1987,2 and charac-
teristic reactivity of nucleophilic phosphinidenes includes
[2þ2] cycloaddition, nucleophilic attack by P, and proton-
ation at P.3 The first electrophilic phosphinidenes were
transient species generated in situ,4 and their reactivity has
been well studied using trapping reactions with a wide variety
of reagents.5,6 Characteristic reactions of electrophilic phos-
phinidenes include nucleophilic attack at P,7,8 [1þ2] cyclo-
additions with unsaturated substrates,4,9 and bond inser-
tions. In particular, insertion reactions of phosphinidenes
into O-H and N-H bonds,4 strained C-N and C-O
bonds,10 carbon-transition metal bonds,11 and carbon-
halogen bonds12,13 have been described. A few isolated
*Corresponding author. E-mail: brian.sterenberg@uregina.ca.
(1) Cowley, A. H. Acc. Chem. Res. 1997, 30, 445.
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Soc., Chem. Commun. 1988, 1325.
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pubs.acs.org/Organometallics
Published on Web 12/22/2009
2009 American Chemical Society

Article
Organometallics, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2010 485
Scheme 1
Figure 1. ORTEP diagram showing the crystal structure of
[CpFe(CO)2{P(H)(SiHPh2)(N-i-Pr2)}][AlCl4] (4). Thermal ell-
ipsoids are shown at the 50% level. Hydrogen atoms, except
those on P and Si, and the AlCl4- counterion have been omitted.
stability of these complexes also has the disadvantage of
lowering the reactivity, and the stablilized phosphinidenes
are not generally electrophilic enough to activate C-H
bonds directly. As a result, we looked for analogous but
weaker X-H bonds to activate and have focused here on
Si-H bond activation reactions. Transition metal phosphi-
do and phosphinidene complexes have been used in P-E
bond forming reactions (E=P, C, Si, B, S), and the metal-
mediated reactions often provide facile and safe routes to
compounds that are difficult to synthesize by conventional
main-group chemistry.21 However, Si-H activation by
terminal phosphinidenes has not been described.
˚
Selected distances (A) and angles (deg): Fe-P=2.2522(6), Si-
P=2.2927(6), P-N=1.669(2), N-P-Fe=121.48(8), N-P-Si=
109.03(8), Fe-P-Si = 113.14(3), C20-Si-C14 = 113.2(1),
C20-Si-P=109.77(8), C14-Si-P=107.99(7).
on the amine substituent. The 31P NMR of 3 shows a singlet
at δ 13.0, while the 29Si spectrum shows a doublet at δ 34.1,
with an Si-P coupling of 38 Hz. Silicon satellite peaks are
also apparent in the 31P spectrum, and their coupling con-
stant matches the 31P coupling constant observed in the 29Si
spectrum. The Si-P, P-H, and H-H couplings clearly
establish the formation of the new Si-P bond.
The infrared spectrum of 3 shows carbonyl stretching
frequencies of 2064 and 2021 cm-1 and a band at 2146
cm-1 that is attributed to the Si-H stretch. The observed
carbonyl stretching frequencies are comparable to those of
known analogous CpFe(CO)2(PR3)þ complexes.22 For com-
parison, the carbonyl stretching frequencies of the phosphi-
nidene complex 2 are 2074 and 2036 cm-1. The shift to lower
frequency upon silane addition suggests that the silyl phos-
phine ligand in 3 is a stronger donor and weaker acceptor
than the phosphinidene ligand in 2.
Results and Discussion
The cationic terminal aminophosphinidene complex
[CpFe(CO)2{PN-i-Pr2}][AlCl4] (2) is readily formed by abs-
traction of chloride from the chloroaminophosphido com-
plex [CpFe(CO)2{P(Cl)N-i-Pr2}] (1).19 Compound 2 reacts
at room temperature with primary, secondary, and tertiary
silanes, resulting in insertion of the phosphinidene phos-
phorus into the Si-H bonds and formation of secondary silyl
amino phosphine complexes 3-5 (see Scheme 1). In solution,
the additions are essentially quantitative. Isolated yields
range from 53% to 69%. The reactions of 2 with silanes
can be carried out using isolated samples of 2. Alternately,
solutions of 2 can be prepared in situ by dissolving 1 and
AlCl3 in dichloromethane. Silanes are then added to the
solution to form 3-5. However, optimal yields and purity
are obtained by first dissoving 1 and the silane in CH2Cl2 and
then adding this solution to solid AlCl3. Compound 1 does
not react directly with the silane, but reacts with 2 as it is
generated in situ. All three methods result in the formation of
compounds 3-5 as the only significant product.
The compound [CpFe(CO)2{P(H)(SiHPh2)(N-i-Pr2)}]-
[AlCl4] (4) has been structurally characterized. An ORTEP
diagram of the X-ray crystal structure is shown in Figure 1.
The cation consists of a CpFe(CO)2 fragment coordinated by
an amino-silyl secondary phosphine. The P-Si bond length
23
˚
of 2.2927(6) A is typical for P-Si single bonds, and the
substituents on the tetrahedral P and Si centers are staggered,
with the two H substituents in anti positions (H-P-Si-H
˚
dihedral angle=178°). The P-N bond length of 1.669(2) A is
consistent with a nitrogen-phosphorus single bond.24 This
distance is significantly longer than the typical P-N distance
in analogous amino-phosphinidene complexes (1.629-1.634
The resulting compounds have been characterized by 1H,
31P, and 29Si NMR spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy.
The spectral features of compound 3, which results from
reaction of 2 with PhSiH3, will be used to illustrate the
general spectral features. The 1H NMR spectrum of 3 shows
a doublet of doublets of doublets at δ 7.82, which corre-
A).16 The lengthening of the P-N bond upon reaction with
˚
the silane results from the loss of the N-to-P π-donation that
stabilizes the phosphinidene (see below). Similar lengthening
of the P-N bond has been observed upon reaction of related
amino-phosphinidene complexes with phosphines7,17 and
alkynes.9
1
sponds to the P-H. The large JPH coupling of 386.6 Hz
indicates a direct P-H bond. Small couplings of 4.4 and 4.1
Hz are observed to two diastereotopic silicon-bound hydro-
gen atoms. The two Si-H resonances appear at δ 5.02 and
4.87 and are coupled to each other (5.9 Hz), to phosphorus
(20.5 and 31.1 Hz, respectively), and to the P-H (4.4 and 4.1
(22) Davison, A.; Green, M. L. H.; Wilkinson, G. J. Chem. Soc. 1961,
3172. K€uckmann, T. I.; Dornhaus, F.; Bolte, M.; Lerner, H.-W; Holthausen,
M. C.; Wagner, M. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2007, 2007, 1989. McNamara, W.
F.; Reisacher, H. U.; Duesler, E. N.; Paine, R. T. Organometallics 2002, 7,
1313.
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(23) Chen, T.; Jackson, J.; Jasper, S. A.; Duesler, E. N.; Noth, H.;
1
Paine, R. T. J. Organomet. Chem. 1999, 582, 25. Plass, W.; Schwarz, W. Z.
Anorg. Allg. Chem. 1996, 622, 1786. McCampbell, T. A.; Kinkel, B. A.;
Miller, S. M.; Helm, M. L. J. Chem. Cryst. 2006, 36, 271.
Hz). The H NMR shows additional peaks for the phenyl
group, the cyclopentadienyl ligand, and the isopropyl groups
(24) Orpen, A. G.; Brammer, L.; Allen, F. H.; Kennard, O.; Watson,
(21) Waterman, R. Dalton Trans. 2009, 18.
D. G.; Taylor, R. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1989, S1.

486 Organometallics, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2010
Vaheesar et al.
þ
˚
Figure 2. Calculated geometries for the addition of SiH4 to [CpFe(CO)2(PNMe2)] . Selected distances (A) and angles (deg) in
transition state 1 (þ25 kcal/mol): Si-P=2.62, Si-H=1.85, P-H=1.50. P-Si-H=33.9, Si-P-H=43.7, P-H-Si=102.4. Selected
˚
distances (A) and angles (deg) in transition state 2 (þ32 kcal/mol): Si-P=2.47, Si-H=1.75, P-H=1.59. P-Si-H=40.0, Si-P-
H=45.0, P-H-Si=95.0.
The Si-H activation reaction has been examined compu-
tationally using SiH4 addition to [CpFe(CO)2{PN(CH3)2}]
as a model system and Gaussian 0325 with density functional
theory B3LYP26 and orbital basis sets LANL2DZ for the Fe
atom and 6-31G(d) for other atoms.25 The addition of SiH4
to [CpFe(CO)2{PN(CH3)2}] was found to be concerted,
occurring via a triangular transition state. No intermediates
were identified. Calculated reactant, transition state, and
product geometries are shown in Figure 2. The overall
Figure 3. Schematic representation of silane orientation in two
reaction is exergonic by 7 kcal/mol. Two possible pathways
calculated transition states.
and transition states were identified, with activation barriers
of 25 and 32 kcal/mol. The transition states differ in the
orientation of the silane relative to the phosphinidene
(Figure 3). Mulliken partial charges for the key atoms in
reactants, transition state, and product are shown in Table 1,
and selected distances are given in Table 2.
The bonding in the electrophilic phosphinidene is viewed
as being analogous to the bonding in a Fischer carbene. The
phosphinidene ligand can be considered to be formally deri-
ved from free singlet phosphinidene, which donates one lone
pair to the cationic iron center. This leaves on phosphorus a
second lone pair and an empty pz orbital perpendicular to the
Table 1. Calculated Mulliken Partial Charges for Key Atoms in
Si-H Activation Reaction
reactant
transition statea
product
Fe
P
H
Si
N
-0.708
0.585
-0.118
0.265
-0.639
0.438
-0.071
0.381
-0.679
0.482
0.02
0.337
-0.498
-0.417
-0.473
a Transition state values are those of the lower energy transition state.
˚
Table 2. Selected Distances (A) in Optimized Reactant, Transi-
tion State, and Product
(25) Frisch, M. J.; Trucks, G. W.; Schlegel, H. B.; Scuseria, G. E.;
Robb, M. A.; Cheeseman, J. R.; Montgomery, J. A., Jr.; T. Vreven,
K. N. K.; J. C. Burant, J. M. M.; Iyengar, S. S.; Tomasi, J.; , V. B.;
Mennucci, B.; Cossi, M.; Scalmani, G.; Rega, N.; Petersson, G. A.;
Nakatsuji, H.; Hada, M.; Ehara, M.; Toyota, K.; Fukuda, R.; Hasegawa,
J.; Ishida, M.; Nakajima, T.; Honda, Y.; Kitao, O.; Nakai, H.; Klene, M.;
Li, X.; Knox, J. E.; Hratchian, H. P.; Cross, J. B.; Bakken, V.; Adamo, C.;
Jaramillo, J.; Gomperts, R.; Stratmann, R. E.; Yazyev, O.; Austin, A. J.;
Cammi, R.; Pomelli, C.; Ochterski, J. W.; Ayala, P. Y.; Morokuma, K.;
Voth, G. A.; Salvador, P.; Dannenberg, J. J.; Zakrzewski, V. G.;
Dapprich, S.; Daniels, A. D.; Strain, M. C.; Farkas, O.; Malick, D. K.;
Rabuck, A. D.; Raghavachari, K.; Foresman, J. B.; Ortiz, J. V.; Cui, Q.;
Baboul, A. G.; Clifford, S.; Cioslowski, J.; Stefanov, B. B.; Liu, G.;
Liashenko, A.; Piskorz, P.; Komaromi, I.; Martin, R. L.; Fox,
D. J.; Keith, T.; Al-Laham, M. A.; Peng, C. Y.; Nanayakkara, A.;
Challacombe, M.; Gill, P. M. W.; Johnson, B.; Chen, W.; Wong, M. W.;
Gonzalez, C.; Pople, J. A. Gaussian 03, Revision C.02; Gaussian, Inc.:
Wallingford, CT, 2004.
reactant
transition statea
product
Fe-P
P-N
Si-H
P-H
Si-P
2.193
1.650
1.497
2.352
1.679
1.485
1.591
2.469
2.293
1.706
1.429
2.297
a Transition state values are those of the lower energy transition state.
plane formed by Fe, P, and N. The empty pz orbital is
stabilized by π-donation from the N lone pair and π-back-
donation from an appropriate filled metal d orbital.27 Thus,
in the starting phosphinidene complex, the positive charge is
(27) Grigoleit, S.; Alijah, A.; Rozhenko, A. B.; Streubel, R.; Schoeller,
W. W. J. Organomet. Chem. 2002, 643-644, 223. Ehlers, A. W.; Baerends,
E. J.; Lammertsma, K. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 2831.
(26) Becke, A. D. J. Chem. Phys. 1993, 98, 5648. Lee, C.; Yang, W.;
Parr, R. G. Phys. Rev. B 1988, 37, 785.

Article
Organometallics, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2010 487
primarily localized on the P as a result of the PfFe donor
interaction, with some positive charge delocalized onto N as
a result of N-to-P π-donation and some back onto the metal
through π-back-donation.28 Nucleophilic attack is expected
to occur at the empty phosphorus pz orbital, and in the
calculated transition states, the silane nucleophile app-
roaches the phosphinidene from this direction (Figure 2).
Of the two calculated transition states, the lower energy state
is the one in which the Si is oriented toward the phosphorus
lone pair and the H is oriented toward the pz orbital
(Figure 3). The preferred orientation thus aligns the partially
positive silicon atom with the phosphorus lone pair, and
the partially negative hydrogen atom with the empty pz
orbital.
In the transition state, approach of the silane nucleophile
decreases the charge at P, as the empty pz orbital overlaps
with the incoming filled Si-H bonding orbital. The charge
on N also decreases because N-to-P π-donation to the
phosphorus pz orbital is displaced by the incoming nucleo-
phile. Upon formation of the final product, the charge at
phosphorus again increases as the electropositive SiH3 frag-
ment is added to P. However, the charge at N does not
increase from transition state to product because the positive
charge at P can no longer be delocalized onto N, as there is no
longer an empty pz orbital on P capable of accepting π-
donation from N. For the same reasons, the calculated P-N
distance (Table 2) increases from the reactant phosphinidene
Figure 4. ORTEP diagram showing the crystal structure of
[{CpFe(CO)}2(μ-CO){μ-P(H)N-i-Pr2}][AlCl4] (6). Thermal ellip-
soids are shown at the 50%level. Hydrogen atoms, except the one
-
on P, and the AlCl4 counterion have been omitted. Selected
˚
distances (A) and angles (deg): Fe(1)-P=2.1751(8), Fe(2)-P=
2.1897(8), P-N=1.651(2), N-P-Fe(1)=127.9(1), N-P-Fe(2)
=127.7(1), Fe(1)-P-Fe(2)=73.37(2).
Scheme 2
˚
˚
(1.650 A) to the transition state (1.679 A) to the product
˚
(1.706 A) as the N-to-P π-donor interaction is displaced by
proton transfer, although the mechanism has not been
studied in detail.6 A similar mechanism has been described
for C-Br activation by phosphinidenes, where the initial
step is coordination of a Br lone pair to P, followed by bond
insertion.12 Silanes, however, lack lone pairs so the initial
Lewis acid/base coordination is not possible and the addition
to the phosphinidene is concerted.
Attempts to explore the reaction chemistry of the silyl
phosphine complexes were generally unsuccessful, as the silyl
phosphine complexes are extremely sensitive to P-Si bond
cleavage. Most reactions attempted led to loss of the silyl
group and formation of the bridging phosphido complex
[{CpFe(CO)}2(μ-CO){μ-P(H)N-i-Pr2}][AlCl4] (6) (Scheme
2). Compound 6 was also observed during attempts to
crystallize the silyl phosphine complexes, presumably as a
result of reactions with trace water. It is structurally analo-
gous to several known di-iron bridging phosphido com-
plexes.29,30 Di-iron and iron-group VI heterobimetallic
complexes containing bridging i-Pr2NPH phosphido groups
have also been described.31
the incoming nucleophile. This increase correlates well with
the P-N bond distance increase observed experimentally
upon Si-H addition to the phosphinidene (see above).
Calculated Fe-P distances also increase from reactant to
product as π-back-donation from iron to the phosphorus pz
orbital is eliminated.
A comparison of the iron partial charges suggests that the
silyl phosphine in the product is a weaker donor/stronger
acceptor than the phosphinidene in the starting material.
However, this is not corroborated by IR spectroscopy, where
the formation of the silyl phosphine results in a shift of the
carbonyl stretching bands to lower frequency (2: 2074, 2036
cm-1, 4: 2064, 2021 cm-1). The experimental infrared data
support our bonding model because the loss of Fe-to-P back-
donation upon reaction of the phosphinidene with silane will
lead to an increase in Fe to carbonyl back-donation and a
corresponding decrease in carbonyl stretching frequency.
For comparison, insertion of the phosphinidene into the
C-H bond of methane and the H-H bond of dihydrogen
was also studied. Like the Si-H insertion, both of these
reactions are concerted and exergonic, with ΔG values of -7
and -11 kcal/mol, respectively. However, the activation
barriers of 52 and 40 kcal/mol are significantly higher than
that of the Si-H insertion, suggesting that modification of
the phosphinidene complex to increase electrophilicity will
be necessary to achieve C-H or H-H activation.
Compound 6 can be formed rationally and in good yield by
reaction of any of the silyl phosphine complexes with phenol,
allowing us to propose a mechanism for the decomposition
(29) Decken, A.; Bottomley, F.; Wilkins, B. E.; Gill, E. D. Organo-
€
metallics 2004, 23, 3683. Lorenz, I.-P.; Pohl, W.; Noth, H.; Schmidt, M.
J. Organomet. Chem. 1994, 475, 211. Pfeiffer, M.; Stey, T.; Jehle, H.;
Klupfel, B.; Malisch, W.; Stalke, D.; Chandrasekhar, V. Chem. Commun.
2001, 337. Decken, A.; Neil, M. A.; Dyker, C. A.; Bottomley, F. Can. J.
Chem. 2002, 80, 55. Fenske, D.; Schottm€uller, H. Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem.
1998, 624, 443. Sugiura, J.; Kakizawa, T.; Hashimoto, H.; Tobita, H.; Ogino,
H. Organometallics 2005, 24, 1099.
Bond activation by electrophilic phosphinidene complexes
is well established. Transient phosphinidenes have been
shown to react with X-H bonds and have been trapped by
water, alcohols, and amines. These reactions likely occur via
initial coordination of the N or O lone pair to P, followed by
(30) Lorenz, I.-P.; Maier, M.; Polborn, K. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2002,
2002, 327.
(31) Li, Y. W.; Newton, M. G.; King, R. B. Inorg. Chem. 2002, 32,
5720. Kumar, V.; Lee, D. W.; Newton, M. G.; King, R. B. J. Organomet.
Chem. 1996, 512, 1. King, R. B.; Fu, W. K.; Holt, E. M. Inorg. Chem. 2002,
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(28) An alternative, equivalent description of the phosphinidene
complex is a metallaphosphenium ion, with the positve charge localized
on P and a nondative bond between P and Fe.

488 Organometallics, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2010
Vaheesar et al.
Scheme 3
of the silyl phosphines as shown in Scheme 3. Initial nucleo-
philic attack by phenol at Si breaks the P-Si bond. The
leaving group is a neutral iron phosphido complex A, which
is then protonated to form the primary aminophosphine
complex B. In the reaction of 5 (SiR3=SiEt3) with phenol,
the side product PhOSiEt3 was identified by GC-MS (m/z=
208) and was the only significant volatile component of the
reaction mixture. Support for the intermediacy of B comes
from its observation as a fragment in electrospray mass
spectra of all of the silyl phosphine complexes, where it likely
forms through reaction of the silyl phosphine with adventi-
tious water. Attempts to observe or isolate B in solution were
not successful. Direct experimental evidence for the final
dimerization step of the mechanism could not be found, as
the proposed side product, PH2N-i-Pr2, was not observed in
solution. This compound has been synthesized but is known
to be unstable and likely decomposes under our reaction
conditions.32 However, support for this step of the mechan-
ism comes from related work, where hydrolysis of P-Si
bonds in silyl phosphine complexes has been used to form
bridging phosphido complexes.30
GC-MS experiments were carried out using a Finnigan-Matt
INCOS 50 connected to an HP-5890A gas chromatograph
equipped with a J&W DB-5MS column. The MS was operated
in positive ion mode with electron impact ionization.
a. Synthesis of [CpFe(CO)2{P(Cl)N-i-Pr2}] (1). This com-
pound was synthesized using a modification of the published
precedure.19 Excess sodium/potasium alloy (NaK2.8, 2.0 mL,
1.14 g, 24 mmol K) was added to a vigorly stirred solution of
[CpFe(CO)2]2 (1.0 g, 2.8 mmol) in THF (75 mL). The mixture
was stirred for 3 h and then filtered via inverse filtration. The
filtrate was added in small portions via canula to a solution of
Cl2PN-i-Pr2 (1.06 mL, 1.44 g, 7.2 mmol) in THF (75 mL) at
-78 °C. After the addition was complete, the solution was
warmed to room temperature and stirred for 30 min. The solvent
was removed in vacuo, and the residue was extracted into
pentane (5 ꢀ 10 mL). The pentane extracts were filtered and
cooled to -25 °C for 24 h, resulting in the formation of red-
orange crystals. The supernatant was decanted and the solid
was dried in vacuo. Yield: 0.90 g, 46%.
b. Synthesis of [CpFe(CO)2{PN-i-Pr2}][AlCl4] (2). This com-
pound was synthesized using a modification of the published
procedure.19 In a typical experiment, a solution of 2 was
prepared by dissolving [CpFe(CO)2{P(Cl)N-i-Pr2}] (1) (30 mg,
0.087 mmol) and AlCl3 (17 mg, 0.13 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (0.5 mL)
and then reacted in situ. Conversion of 1 to 2 is essentially
quantitative by NMR spectroscopy. Compound 2 is not routi-
nely isolated because it is extremely air and water sensitive, and
isolated yields are poor.
In summary, we have shown that terminal electrophilic
phosphinidene complexes activate Si-H bonds, resulting in
insertion of phosphorus in the Si-H bond and leading to
secondary silyl phosphines. The addition occurs via a con-
certed mechanism and results in the formaion of a new P-Si
bond, as well as a P-H bond, which may serve as a site for
further functionalization. This reaction respresents a facile
new method of P-Si bond formation.
c. Synthesis of [CpFe(CO)2{P(H)(SiH2Ph)(N-i-Pr2)}][AlCl4]
(3). The compound [CpFe(CO)2(P(Cl)N-i-Pr2)] (50 mg, 0.146
mmol) was dissolved in CH2Cl2 (2 mL), and H3SiPh (36.0 μL,
0.292 mmol) was then added. The resulting solution was added
to AlCl3 (29.2 mg, 0.219 mmol) and stirred for 30 min. Pentane
(5 mL) was added slowly with mixing, and the resulting cloudy
solution was cooled at -30 °C for 3 days, resulting in the
formation of a red oil and yellow-orange crystals. The super-
natant was decanted, and the oil was triterated with pentane (3 ꢀ
1 mL), resulting in the formation of a semicrystalline oily solid,
which was dried under vacuum. Yield: 45 mg, 53%. IR (CH2Cl2
Experimental Section
General Comments. All procedures were carried out under a
nitrogen atmosphere using standard Schlenk techniques or in an
inert atmosphere glovebox. THF was distilled from Na/benzo-
phenone. Dichloromethane and hexane were purified using
solvent purification columns containing alumina (dichloro-
methane) or alumina and copper catalyst (hexane). Deuterated
chloroform was distilled from P2O5. The NMR spectra were
recorded in CDCl3 or CD2Cl2 using a Varian Mercury 300 at
300.179 MHz (1H), 121.515 MHz (31P{1H}), or 59.637 MHz
(29Si{1H}). Infrared spectra were recorded in CH2Cl2 solution.
Compounds 3, 4, and 5 are extremely water sensitive, and
crystalline samples rapidly revert to oils upon supernatant
removal. As a result, satisfactory elemental analysis could not
be obtained for these compounds. However, their formulations
and purity are well supported by mass spectrometry and spec-
troscopy. Mass spectra of metal complexes were carried out
using a Finnigan-Matt TSQ-700 mass spectrometer equipped
with electrospray ionization and a Harvard syringe pump.
1
solution, cm-1): νSi-H=2146; νCO=2064, 2021. H NMR:
δ 7.82 (ddd, 1H, PH, 1J(HP)=386.6 Hz, 3J(HH)=4.1, 4.4 Hz),
7.8-7.4 (m, Ph), 5.17 (s, 5H, C5H5), 5.02 (ddd, 1H, SiH,
2
3
2J(HP) = 20.5 Hz, J(HH) = 5.9 Hz, J(HH) = 4.1 Hz), 4.87
(ddd, 1H, SiH, 2J(HP)=31.1 Hz, 2J(HH)=5.9 Hz, 3J(HH)=4.4
Hz), 3.28 (sept, 1H, CH(CH3)2, 3J(HH)=6.6 Hz), 3.24 (sept, 1H,
3
CH(CH3)2, J(HH) = 6.3 Hz), 1.19 (doublet, 6H, CH(CH3)2,
3J(HH)=6.3 Hz), 1.09 (doublet, 6H, CH(CH3)2, 3J(HH)=6.6
Hz). 31P NMR: δ 13.0 (s w satellites, 1JSiP=38 Hz). 29Si NMR:
1
34.1 (d, JSiP = 38 Hz). MS (electrospray, CH2Cl2 solution):
m/z = 416 (Mþ), 308 (M - SiH3Ph)þ. Note: although com-
pounds 3-5 are routinely synthesized by generating the phos-
phinidene complex 2 in the presence of the silane, they can also
be formed by first synthesizing and isolating 2 and then reacting
it with silane. The procedure described above gives better yields
and purity.
(32) King, R. B.; Sadanani, N. D. Inorg. Chem. 2002, 24, 3136.

Article
d. Synthesis of [CpFe(CO)2{P(H)(SiHPh2)N-i-Pr2}][AlCl4]
Organometallics, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2010 489
Table 3. Crystal Data and Structure Refinement for 4 and 6
(4). The compound [CpFe(CO)2(P(Cl)N-i-Pr2)] (50 mg, 0.146
mmol) was dissolved in CH2Cl2 (0.5 mL), and H2SiPh2 (54.2 μL,
0.292 mmol) was then added. The resulting solution was added
to AlCl3 (29.2 mg, 0.219 mmol) and stirred for 30 min. Pentane
(5 mL) was added slowly with mixing, and the resulting cloudy
solution was cooled at -30 °C for 4 days, resulting in the
formation of a dark orange oil. The supernatant was decanted,
and the oil was triterated with pentane (3 ꢀ 1 mL), resulting in
the formation of a semicrystalline oily solid, which was dried
under vacuum. Yield: 66 mg, 68%. IR (CH2Cl2 solution, cm-1):
νPH=2251, νSiH=2146, νCO=2064, 2021. 1H NMR: δ 7.62
(dd, 1H, 1J(HP)=350 Hz, 3J(HH)=6 Hz, PH), 7.3-7.9 (m, Ph),
5.53 (dd, 1H, 2J(PH)=28 Hz, 3J(HH)=6 Hz, SiH), 3.2 (d sept,
2H, 3J(HH) = 7 Hz, 3J(HP) = 16 Hz, CH(CH3)2), 1.19 (d,
4
6
empirical
formula
fw
temperature (K)
˚
wavelength (A)
C
25H31AlCl4-
FeNO2PSi
C
19H25AlCl4-
Fe2NO3P
661.20
173(2)
626.85
173(2)
0.71073
orthorhombic
Pna21
0.71073
monoclinic
P21
cryst syst
space group
unit cell dimens
˚
a (A)
24.434(3)
10.191(1)
12.795(1)
10.321(2)
12.557(2)
10.334(2)
98.259(2)
1325.5(4)
2
˚
b (A)
˚
c (A)
β (deg)
volume (A )
3
˚
3186.0(6)
4
1.378
3
3J(HH)=7 Hz, CH3), 0.91 (d, J(HH)=7 Hz, CH3). 31P{1H}
Z
density (calcd) (Mg/m3)
1.571
1.612
636
NMR: δ 15.9 (s w satellites, 1J(SiP)=36 Hz). 29Si{1H} NMR: δ
-9.8 (d, 1J(SiP)=36 Hz). MS (electrospray, CH2Cl2 solution):
m/z=492 (Mþ), 310 (M - SiPh2)þ, 308 ([M - H2SiPh2]þ).
e. Synthesis of [CpFe(CO)2{P(H)(SiEt3)N-i-Pr2}] (5). The
compound [CpFe(CO)2(P(Cl)N-i-Pr2)] (50 mg, 0.146 mmol)
was dissolved in CH2Cl2 (0.5 mL), and HSiEt3 (46.6 μL, 0.292
mmol) was then added. The resulting solution was added to
AlCl3 (23.4 mg, 0.175 mmol) and mixed well. Pentane (5 mL)
was added slowly, and the resulting solution was kept at -30 °C
for 4 days, resulting in the formation of an orange precipitate.
The supernatant was decanted, and the solid was washed with
pentane and then dried under vacuum. Yield: 60 mg, 69%. IR
absorp coeff (mm-1
F(000)
)
0.947
1360
cryst size (mm3)
θ range (deg)
index ranges
0.37 ꢀ 0.36 ꢀ 0.19
1.67 to 27.48
-31 e h e 31
-13 e k e 13
-16 e l e 16
25 971
7253 [R(int) =
0.0317]
100.0%
0.53 ꢀ 0.26 ꢀ 0.26
1.62 to 27.48
-13 e h e 13
-16 e k e 16
-13 e l e 13
11 453
5979 [R(int) =
0.0160]
99.3%
reflns collected
indep reflns
completeness
to θ = 27.48°
max. and min transmn
data/restraints/params
goodness-of-fit on F2
final R indices
[I > 2σ(I)]
0.8406 and 0.7208
7253/1/333
1.094
0.6793 and 0.4821
5979/1/287
1.067
1
(CH2Cl2 solution, cm-1): νPH=2223, νCO=2062, 2019. H
NMR: δ 7.26 (d, 1H, PH, 1J(HP)=340 Hz), 5.35 (s, 5H, C5H5),
3.21 (d sept, 2H, CH(CH3)2, 3J(HH)=6.6 Hz, 3J(HP)=15 Hz),
1.22 (d, 6H, CH(CH3)2, J(HH) = 6.6 Hz), 1.21 (d, 6H, CH-
3
(CH3)2, 3J(HH)=6.6 Hz), 1.16 (t, 9H, SiCH2CH3, 3J(HH)=7.5
Hz), 0.58 (q, 6H, SiCH2, 3J(HH) = 7.5). 31P{1H} NMR:
R1
wR2
0.0330
0.0722
0.0236
0.0585
R indices (all data)
R1
wR2
1
δ 9.9 (s w satellites, J(SiP)=20 Hz). 29Si{1H} NMR: δ 24.1
0.0392
0.0750
0.0240
0.0589
(d, 1J(SiP)=20 Hz). MS (electrospray, CH2Cl2 solution): m/z=
424 (Mþ), 310 ([M - SiEt3 þ H]þ).
absolute struct param
largest diff peak
-0.01(1)
0.422 and -0.214
f. Synthesis of [{CpFe(CO)}2(μ-CO){μ-P(H)N-i-Pr2}][AlCl4]
(6). A solution of [CpFe(CO)2{P(H)(SiEt3)(N-i-Pr2)][AlCl4] in 2
mL of CH2Cl2 was prepared from [CpFe(CO)2(P(Cl)N-i-Pr2)]
(50 mg, 0.146 mmol) as described above. Phenol (8.1 mg, 0.146
mmol) was added, and the resulting solution was stirred for 15
min. The solvent was removed under vacuum, and the residue
was extracted into 1 mL of CH2Cl2. Pentane (5 mL) was slowly
added with stirring, and the resulting slightly cloudy solution
was cooled to -30 °C for 15 h, resulting in the formation of a
dark red precipitate. The supernatant was decanted, and the
precipitate was washed with 3 ꢀ 5 mL of pentane, dried under
vacuum, and then re-extracted into CH2Cl2 (0.3 mL). Pentane
(3 mL) was added, and resulting solution was again cooled to
-30 °C for 15 h, resulting in the formation of dark red crystals,
which were collected and dried under vacuum. Yield: 26 mg,
57%. IR (cast, cm-1): νCO=2045, 2037, 2002, 1950, 1823. 1H
NMR: δ 7.15 (dd, 1H, 1J(HP)=402 Hz, PH), 5.45 (m, 5H, Cp),
3.7 (bm, 1H, NCH(CH)3), 3.4 (m, 1H, NCH(CH)3), 1.54 (d, 6H,
0.485 and -0.374
3
and hole (e A )
˚
the Fe atom and 6-31G(d) for all others.25 Transition state
structures were located using opt=ts or opt=ts,ef (i.e., no
synchronous transit) algorithms. Each optimized transition
state structure was subjected to a vibrational frequency analysis,
to ensure that the structure was indeed a transition state: there
should be 1 imaginary frequency only, and the magnitudes of all
frequencies should be greater than the residual noise (the six
“zero frequencies” for translations and rotations from normal
mode diagonalization). The appropriateness of each located
transition state and the single-step nature of the reactions were
verified by “plus-and-minus-displacement” minimization runs:
˚
the transition state is displaced ∼0.05 A or 5° along the imagin-
ary-frequency normal mode in both directions, and the two
displaced structures are optimized toward the nearest minimum-
energy structures. Gibbs energies (298.15 K) were computed using
the rigid-rotor/harmonic-oscillator assumptions. Partial charges
are according to a Mulliken population analysis.
3
3J(HH)=6.3 Hz, CH3), 1.25 (d, 6H, J(HH)=6.6 Hz, CH3).
31P{1H} NMR: δ 12.7. MS (electrospray, CH2Cl2 solution):
m/z = 458 (Mþ), 419, 402. GC-MS. A solution of [CpFe-
(CO)2{P(H)(SiEt3)N-i-Pr2}] (5) (0.058 mmol) in CH2Cl2
(2 mL) was prepared as described above. Phenol (5.5 mg,
0.058 mmol) was added, and the resulting solution was stirred
for 15 min. A 5 μL aliquot was withdrawn from the solution
and injected into the GC-MS. The only significant volatile
component observed was PhOSiEt3 (retention time=12.5 min,
m/z=208 (Mþ), 179 ([M - Et]þ), 151 ([M - Et - H2CdCH2]þ,
123 ([M - Et - 2 H2CdCH2]þ), 77 (Phþ).
h. X-ray Crystallography. Suitable crystals of compounds 4
and 6 were mounted on glass fibers. Programs for diffract-
ometer operation, data collection, cell indexing, data reduc-
tion, and absorption correction were those supplied by Bruker
AXS Inc., Madison, WI. Diffraction measurements were made
on a PLATFORM diffractometer/SMART 1000 CCD using
graphite-monochromated Mo KR radiation at -100 °C. The
unit cell was determined from randomly selected reflections
obtained using the SMART CCD automatic search, center,
index, and least-squares routines. Integration was carried out
using the program SAINT, and an absorption correction
was performed using SADABS. Crystal data and collection
g. Computational Chemistry. All calculations were performed
using the Gaussian 03 software package, revisions C.02 and
E.01.25 The level of approximation was the density-functional
theory B3LYP,26 and the orbital basis sets were LANL2DZ for

490 Organometallics, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2010
Vaheesar et al.
parameters are listed in Table 3. Structure solution was carried
out using the SHELX9733 suite of programs and the WinGX
graphical interface.34 Initial solutions were obtained by direct
methods and refined by successive least-squares cycles. All
non-hydrogen atoms were refined anisotropically. During
solution of 6, the PLATON35 routine TWINROTMAT was
used to identify a 2-fold twin axis about [1 0 1], which was
accounted for with the twin law 0 0 1 0 -1 0 1 0 0. Racemic
twinning was also identified, resulting in a total of four twin
components.
Acknowledgment. This work was financially supported
by NSERC (Discovery Grant to B.T.S.) and the Uni-
versity of Regina. Computations were performed on a
supercomputer funded by the CFI (New Opportunities
Grant to A.L.L.E.) and Parallel Quantum Solutions,
Arkansas (in-kind contribution). We also thank Bob
McDonald and Mike Ferguson (University of Alberta)
for X-ray data collection, and Ron Treble (University of
Regina) for GC-MS analysis.
Supporting Information Available: Tables giving full coordi-
nates, energies, and Mulliken charges for calculated structures, CIF
files giving full details of X-ray crystal structures. This material is
available free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.
(33) Sheldrick, G. M. SHELX97, Programs for Crystal Structure
Analysis, Release 97-2; 1998.
(34) Farrugia, L. J. J. Appl. Crystallogr. 1999, 32, 837.
(35) Spek, A. L. J. Appl. Crystallogr. 2003, 36, 7.