Ligand effect on the insertion reactions of allenes with MHCl(CO)(PPh 3)3 and MHCl(PPh3)3 (M = Ru, Os)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om700629x

Treatment of RuHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃ with CH ₂=C=CHCO₂Me gives the allyl complex Ru(η³- CH₂-CHCHCO₂Me)Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂. The analogous allyl complexes Os(η³

Full text of DOI:10.1021/om700629x

Organometallics 2007, 26, 5581-5589
5581
Ligand Effect on the Insertion Reactions of Allenes with
MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 and MHCl(PPh3)3 (M ) Ru, Os)
Tao Bai,† Jun Zhu,‡ Peng Xue,‡ Herman Ho-Yung Sung,‡ Ian Duncan Williams,‡
Shengming Ma,*,† Zhenyang Lin,*,‡ and Guochen Jia*,‡
State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, 354 Fenglin Lu, Shanghai 200032, People’s Republic of China, and Department of
Chemistry, The Hong Kong UniVersity of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon,
Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
ReceiVed June 23, 2007
Treatment of RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 with CH2dCdCHCO2Me gives the allyl complex Ru(η3-CH2-
CHCHCO2Me)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2. The analogous allyl complexes Os(η3-CH2CHCHR)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (R )
Ph, CH2Ph) are also produced from the reactions of OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 with CH2dCdCHR. In contrast,
MHCl(PPh3)3 (M ) Ru, Os) react with CH2dCdCHR to give the vinyl complexes MCl(C(CH3)dCHR)-
(CH2dCdCHR)(PPh3)2 (M ) Ru, R ) CMe3, M ) Os, R ) CMe3, Ph, CO2Et). The difference in the
reaction pathways for the reactions of allenes with MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 and MHCl(PPh3)3 (M ) Ru, Os)
has been studied by computational chemistry. The theoretical study shows that the observed different
reactivity can be related to the significant difference in the electron density increase at the central carbon
of the allene ligand upon coordination to the metal fragments.
and aryl) to give transition metal allyl complexes are now well
documented.
Introduction
Transition metal-catalyzed reactions of allenes have found
increasing applications in organic and polymer synthesis.1,2 In
many of the catalytic reactions of allenes, insertion of allenes
into M-R bonds is one of the most important fundamental steps.
Allene insertion reactions with LnM-R complexes can, in
principle, give either transition metal allyl complexes A or vinyl
complexes B as illustrated in eq 1. The insertion of allenes into
M-R bonds to give allyl intermediates A has been frequently
invoked in the mechanisms of transition metal-catalyzed reac-
tions of allenes. In support of the proposed mechanisms,
stoichiometric insertion reactions of allenes with mononuclear
complexes LnM-R (e.g., M ) Ni,3 Pd,4 Pt,5 Co,6 Rh,7 Ir,7d Fe,8
Ru,9 Mo,10 Ta,11 Zr,12 Hf;13 R ) H, acyl, allyl, vinyl, alkyl,
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‡ The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
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10.1021/om700629x CCC: $37.00 © 2007 American Chemical Society
Publication on Web 10/02/2007

5582 Organometallics, Vol. 26, No. 23, 2007
Bai et al.
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Figure 1. X-ray structure of Ru(η3-CH2CHCHC(O)OMe)Cl(CO)-
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Figure 2. X-ray structure of Os(η3-CH2CHCHPh)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2
(4).
mixture of vinyl and allyl complexes;18 Erker et al. reported
that Cp2M(CH2CHCHCH2B(C6F5)3 (M ) Zr, Hf) react with
allene to give the vinyl complexes Cp2M(C(dCH2)CH2CH2-
CHCHCH2B(C6F5)3.19 One may wonder why formation of allyl
complexes prevails over vinyl complexes in the majority of
allene insertion reactions and how one can tune the properties
of LnM-R so that they undergo insertion reactions with allenes
to give vinyl complexes rather than allyl complexes. The
answers to these questions may help to develop new catalytic
reactions of allenes.
This work concerns allene insertion reactions of MHCl(PPh3)3
(M ) Ru, Os) and MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 (M ) Ru, Os). The
reactions of RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 with simple allenes such as
CH2dCdCH2, CH2dCdCHPh and CH2dCdCMe2 have been
reported to give η3-allyl complexes.9 Interestingly, the osmium
hydride complex OsHCl(PPh3)3 reacts with CH2dCdCHR (R
(17) Hills, A.; Hughes, D. L.; Jimenez-Tenorio, M.; Leigh, G. J.;
McGeary, C. A.; Rowley, A. T.; Bravo, M.; McKenna C. E.; McKenna,
M. C. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1991, 522.
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(19) Karl, J.; Erker, G. Chem. Ber. 1997, 120, 1261.

Insertion Reactions of Allenes with MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3
Organometallics, Vol. 26, No. 23, 2007 5583
Table 1. Crystal Data and Structure Refinement for Ru(η3-CH2CHCHCO2Me)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (2) and
Os(η3-CH2CHCHPh)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (4)
2
4
empirical formula
fw
C42H37ClO3P2Ru
788.18
C46H39ClOOsP2
895.36
wavelength, Å
cryst syst
space group
0.71073
monoclinic
P2(1)/n
0.71073
monoclinic
P2(1)/n
a, Å
b, Å
c, Å
18.0573(14)
10.1691(8)
19.5850(15)
98.765(2)
15.3034(9)
10.0384(6)
24.8593(14)
106.2710(10)
3666.0(4)
â,deg
volume, Å3
3554.3(5)
Z
4
4
density (calcd), Mg/m3
absorp coeff, mm-1
F(000)
1.473
0.646
1616
1.622
3.675
1784
θ range, deg
2.26 to 26.00
18 831
6910 [R(int) ) 0.0920]
1.00 and 0.82
6910/0/443
1.009
1.41 to 24.99
24 570
6214 [R(int) ) 0.0310]
1.00 and 0.80
6214/0/460
0.987
no. of reflns collected
no. of indep reflns
max. and min. transmn
no. of data/restraints/params
goodness-of-fit on F2
final R indices [I > 2σ(I)]
largest diff peak/hole, e Å-3
R1 ) 0.0448, wR2 ) 0.0777
0.619/-0.477
R1 ) 0.0194, wR2 ) 0.0409
0.889/-0.398
Table 2. Bond Lengths (Å) and Angles (deg) for
) CMe3, Ph, CO2Et) to give the vinyl complexes OsCl-
(C(CH3)dCHR)(CH2dCdCHR)(PPh3)2 rather than the usually
observed allyl complexes.20 It is not clear whether the different
pathways for the reactions are due to the effect of metals or
ligands. To address this question, we have studied the insertion
reactions of allenes with RuHCl(PPh3)3 and OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3.
The insertion reaction pathways have also been investigated by
computational chemistry, in order to understand the experimental
observations.
Ru(η3-CH2CHCHCO2Me)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (2)
RuC(1)
1.835(5)
2.202(4)
Ru-C(2)
Ru-C(4)
2.247(4)
2.248(4)
2.4111(12)
1.141((5)
1.421(6)
Ru-C(3)
Ru-P(1)
Ru-Cl(1)
C(2)-C(3)
C(4)-C(5)
2.4012(12) Ru-P(2)
2.4598(11) O(1)-C(1)
1.402(6)
1.481(6)
C(3)-C(4)
C(1)-Ru-C(2)
C(1)-Ru-C(4)
C(1)-Ru-P(2)
C(2)-Ru-C(3)
C(2)-Ru-P(1)
C(2)-Ru-Cl(1)
C(3)-Ru-P(1)
C(3)-Ru-Cl(1)
C(4)-Ru-P(2)
P(1)-Ru-P(2)
P(2)-Ru-Cl(1)
Ru-C(3)-C(2)
Ru-C(4)-C(3)
95.88(19)
97.12(18)
92.12(14)
36.72(16)
90.87(12)
83.89(12)
123.63(13)
95.75(13)
94.68(12)
107.08(4)
89.39(4)
C(1)-Ru-C(3)
C(1)-Ru-P(1)
C(1)-Ru-Cl(1)
C(2)-Ru-C(4)
C(2)-Ru-P(2)
C(3)-Ru-C(4)
C(3)-Ru-P(2)
C(4)-Ru-P(1)
C(4)-Ru-Cl(1)
P(1)-Ru-Cl(1)
Ru-C(2)-C(3)
Ru-C(3)-C(4)
Ru-C(4)-C(5)
80.82(19)
88.84(15)
178.35(14)
66.72(16)
160.50(13)
37.24(16)
128.40(14)
157.23(12)
83.41(12)
90.08(4)
Results and Discussion
Insertion Reactions of Allenes with MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 (M
) Ru, Os) Forming Allyl Complexes. The reactions of RuHCl-
(CO)(PPh3)3 with simple allenes such as CH2dCdCH2, CH2d
9
CdCHPh, and CH2dCdCMe2 have been shown previously
to give allyl complexes RuCl(η3-allyl)(CO)(PPh3)2. In order to
further study the effect of substituents of allenes on the reaction
pathway, we have studied the reaction of RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3
(1) with CH2dCdCHCO2Me, which has the electron-withdraw-
ing group CO2Me. The reaction was found also to give the allyl
complex Ru(η3-CH2CHCHCO2Me)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (2) (eq 2).
Complex 2 must have a structure similar to that of other reported
complexes Ru(η3-allyl)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 as inferred from the NMR
data. The presence of the η3-allyl ligand is indicated by the 13C-
{1H} and 1H NMR spectra. In the 1H NMR spectrum, the central
allylic proton signal was observed at 5.80 ppm, and the terminal
allylic proton signals were observed in the region 2.95-3.19
ppm. The 13C{1H} NMR spectrum showed the three allylic
signals at 103.5, 67.8, and 60.7 ppm. The 31P{1H} NMR
spectrum of 2 showed two doublets at 39.5 and 28.9 ppm, due
to the unsymmetrical nature of the allyl ligand.
69.9(3)
73.1(2)
73.4(3)
69.6(2)
127.3(3)
C(3)-C(4)-C(5) 116.2(4)
C(2)-C(3)-C(4) 122.2(4)
crystallographic details and selected bond distances and angles
are given in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Complex 2 has a
trigonal bipyramidal geometry with two PPh3 and the allyl ligand
at the equatorial positions and the Cl and CO ligands at the
axial positions. The P(1)-Ru(1)-P(2) angle is 107.08(4)°. The
allyl complex is in the endo form, in which the H on the central
allylic carbon points toward the CO ligand, which is expected
from the results of a recent theoretical analysis of similar allyl
complexes.9b The bond distances and angles associated with the
Ru(η3-allyl) unit are normal, compared with those of the reported
ruthenium allyl complex Ru(η3-CH2CHCHPh)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2.9b
It appears that insertion reactions of RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 with
allenes always give allyl complexes, whether the substituents
of allenes are electron-withdrawing or electron-donating. In
order to see the effect of metal on the insertion reactions, we
have studied the reactions of the closely related hydride complex
OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 (3) with CH2dCdCHR (R ) Ph, CH2Ph).
Treatment of OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 with CH2dCdCHPh produced
the analogous allyl complex Os(η3-CH2CHCHPh)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2
(4) (eq 3).
The structure of 2 has been confirmed by an X-ray diffraction
study. The molecular structure of 2 is shown in Figure 1. The
The structure of 4 has also been confirmed by X-ray
diffraction studies. The molecular structure of 4 is depicted in
Figure 2, and selected bond distances and angles are given in
(20) Xue, P.; Zhu, J.; Sung, H. S. Y.; Williams, I. D.; Lin, Z.; Jia, G.
Organometallics 2005, 24, 4896.

5584 Organometallics, Vol. 26, No. 23, 2007
Bai et al.
Table 3. Bond Lengths (Å) and Angles (deg) for
Os(η3-CH2CHCHPh)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (4)
Os(1)-C(10)
Os(1)-C(1)
Os(1)-P(2)
Os(1)-Cl(1)
C(1)-C(2)
C(3)-C(4)
1.857(3)
2.245(3)
Os(1)-C(2)
Os(1)-C(3)
2.221(3)
2.304(2)
2.3837(7)
1.132(3)
1.416(4)
2.3816(7) Os(1)-P(1)
2.4657(6) O(1)-C(10)
1.409(4)
1.482(4)
C(2)-C(3)
Table 3. The structure of complex 4 can be described as a
trigonal bipyramid with two PPh3 and the allyl ligand at the
equatorial positions and the Cl and CO ligands at the axial
positions. The P(1)-Os(1)-P(2) angle is 103.39(2)°. Like
complexes RuCl(η3-allyl)(CO)(PR3)2, the osmium allyl complex
is in the endo form, in which the hydrogen on the central allylic
carbon points toward the CO ligand. The allyl ligand is
coordinated to osmium in an unsymmetrical fashion, with the
Os-C(central) bond (2.221(3) Å) being slightly shorter than
the Os-C(terminal) bonds (2.245(3), 2.304(2) Å). The C-C
and Os-C bond distances associated with the Os(η3-allyl) unit
are similar to those of reported osmium allyl complexes, for
example, CpOs(η3-CH2CHCHPh)(PiPr3),21 CpOs(η3-CH2-
CHCHCH2Ph)(PiPr3),22 (C5H4SiPh3)Os(η3-CH2CPhCH2)(Pi-
Pr3)23 and [Cp*Os(Me)(H2O)(CH2C(Me)CH2)]BF4.24
C(10)-Os(1)-C(1)
C(10)-Os(1)-C(3)
C(10)-Os(1)-P(2)
C(1)-Os(1)-(2)
C(1)-Os(1)-P(1)
C(1)-Os(1)-Cl(1)
C(2)-Os(1)-P(1)
C(2)-Os(1)-Cl(1)
C(3)-Os(1)-P(2)
P(1)-Os(1)-P(2)
P(2)-Os(1)-Cl(1)
C(1)-C(2)-C(3)
C(3)-C(2)-Os(1)
C(2)-C(3)-Os(1)
97.34(11)
95.84(10)
97.04(8)
36.78(9)
94.18(7)
82.12(8)
125.51(7)
98.05(7)
95.74(7)
103.39(2)
83.47(2)
123.6(3)
75.01(15)
68.58(14)
C(10)-Os(1)-C(2)
C(10)-Os(1)-P(1)
C(10)-Os(1)-Cl(1) 179.45(8)
81.47(11)
85.50(8)
C(1)-Os(1)-C(3)
C(1)-Os(1)-P(2)
C(2)-Os(1)-C(3)
C(2)-Os(1)-P(2)
C(3)-Os(1)-P(1)
C(3)-Os(1)-Cl(1)
P(1)-Os(1)-Cl(1)
C(2)-C(1)-Os(1)
C(1)-C(2)-Os(1)
C(2)-C(3)-C(4)
C(4)-C(3)-Os(1)
66.36(9)
158.06(8)
36.42(10)
130.57(7)
160.53(7)
83.89(7)
94.58(2)
70.66(15)
72.56(14)
121.4(2)
125.94(17)
shown that reactions of OsHCl(PPh3)3 (5) with CH2dCdCHR
(R ) CMe3, Ph, CO2Et) gave the vinyl complexes OsCl-
(C(CH3)dCHR)(CH2dCdCHR)(PPh3)2 (7, R ) CMe3; 8, R
) Ph, 9, R ) CO2Et) (eq 4).20 The results described in the
previous section clearly show that OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 behaves
similarly to RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3: their reactions with allenes
always give η3-allyl complexes, suggesting that ligands play a
very important role in determining the reaction pathways. By
analogy with the reactions of MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 with allenes,
one might expect that RuHCl(PPh3)3, like OsHCl(PPh3)3, reacts
with allenes to give vinyl complexes. To test this hypothesis,
we have studied the reactions of RuHCl(PPh3)3 with allenes.
Consistent with the X-ray structure, the 31P{1H} NMR
spectrum of 4 at room temperature (298.7 K) showed two signals
at 5.2 and -5.2 ppm, due to the unsymmetrical nature of the
allyl ligand. In the 1H NMR spectrum, the allylic proton signals
were observed at 3.19 (CH2), 3.29 (CH2), 4.27 (CHPh), and
5.79 (central CH) ppm.
Reported complexes closely related to 4 include the TBP allyl
complexes Os(η3-C3H5)Cl(CO)(PiPr3)2,25 OsH(η3-C3H5)(CO)-
(PR3)2 (PR3 ) PiPr3, PMetBu2),26 OsH(η3-CH2CRCH2)(CO)-
(PPh3)2 (R ) H, CH3),27 and [OsH(η3-PhCHCHCHPh)(CO)2-
(PiPr3)2]BF4.28 The complexes Os(η3-C3H5)Cl(CO)(PiPr3)2 and
OsH(η3-CH2C(Me)CH2)(CO)(PPh3)2 have a structure similar to
4, in which the two PR3 ligands are in the equatorial positions
of the TBP structure. In complexes OsH(η3-C3H5)(CO)(PR3)2
(PR3 ) PiPr3, PMetBu2)26 and [OsH(η3-PhCHCHCHPh)(CO)2-
(PiPr3)2]BF4,28 the two PR3 ligands are trans to each other and
both in the axial positions. However, in OsH(η3-CH2CHCH2)-
(CO)(PPh3)2, the two PPh3 ligands are cis to each other. One is
in the axial position, and the other one is in the equatorial
position.
Treatment of OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 with CH2dCdCHCH2Ph
also gave the analogous allyl complex Os(η3-CH2CHCHCH2-
Ph)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (5) (eq 3). Complex 5 must have a structure
similar to that of 4, as judged on the basis of the spectroscopic
data. In particular, the 31P NMR spectrum of 5 shows two signals
at 0.2 and 5.1 ppm, due to the unsymmetrical nature of the allyl
ligand. The 13C{1H} NMR spectrum displays signals associated
with η3-CH2CHCHCH2Ph at 40.1 (s, CH2Ph), 58.7 (dCH2), 69.0
(CHCH2Ph), and 98.0 (s, CH2dCH) ppm.
Indeed, the vinyl complex 11 was isolated from the reaction
of the ruthenium complex RuHCl(PPh3)3 (10) with CH2dCd
CHCMe3 (eq 5). We have also carried out reactions of RuHCl-
(PPh3)3 (10) with other allenes, such as CH2dCdCHPh, and
CH2dCdCHCO2Et. Unfortunately, these reactions produced a
mixture of species, and we have not been able to separate and
fully characterize these products.
Insertion Reactions of Allenes with MHCl(PPh3)3 (M )
Ru, Os) Forming Vinyl Complexes. We have previously
(21) Esteruelas, M. A.; Gonzalez, A. I.; Lopez, A. M.; Olivan, M.; Onate,
E. Organometallics 2006, 25, 693.
(22) Esteruelas, M. A.; Gonza´lez, A. I.; Lo´pez, A. M.; On˜ate, E.
Organometallics 2003, 22, 414.
(23) Baya, M.; Esteruelas, M. A.; Onate, E. Organometallics 2001, 20,
4875.
(24) Mui, H. D.; Brumaghim, J. L.; Gross, C. L.; Girolami, G. S.
Organometallics 1999, 18, 3264.
(25) Werner, H.; Stuer, W.; Wolf, J.; Laubender, M.; Weberndorfer, B.;
Herbst-Irmer, R.; Lehmann, C. Eur. J. Inorg. 1999, 1889.
(26) Schlunken, C.; Werner, H. J. Organomet. Chem. 1993, 454, 243.
(27) Conway, C.; Kemmit, R. D. W.; Platt, A. W. G.; Russel, D. R.;
Sherry, L. J. S. J. Orgnomet. Chem. 1985, 292, 419.
(28) Buil, M. L.; Esteruelas, M. A.; Lo´pez, A. M.; On˜ate, E. Organo-
metallics 1997, 16, 3169.
The structure of complex 11 can be readily assigned on the
basis of the NMR spectroscopic data. The 31P{1H} NMR
spectrum of 11 in CD2Cl2 showed a singlet at 22.0 ppm. The
1H NMR spectrum displayed the dCH2 signal at 0.30 ppm and
two dCH signals at 4.53 and 5.85 ppm. The presence of a
â-agostic interaction is indicated by the observation of a methyl
proton signal at 0.13 ppm. The chemical shift is unusually
upfield for a typical CH3 group attached to an sp2-hybridized
carbon but is close to that of the methyl group with an agostic
interaction in [IrPh(C(CHdCHCMe3)dCHCMe3)(PMe3)3]PF6

Insertion Reactions of Allenes with MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3
Organometallics, Vol. 26, No. 23, 2007 5585
Scheme 1
1
(-0.7 ppm).29 The H NMR data of 11 are similar to those of
kinetically and thermodynamically more favorable, although the
TS2-ally is not significantly lower in energy than TS2-vinyl.
Different from TS1-allyl, TS2-allyl does not connect the
precursor complex PC2-allyl with an η1-allyl species similar
to PR1-allyl, but with the η3-allyl species PR2-allyl. The
difference is probably related to the fact that the Os-CO bond
in TS2-allyl is more rigid than the corresponding Os-P bond
in TS1-allyl.
complex 7, which has been characterized structurally.
Theoretical Studies. The insertion reactions of allenes with
MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 and MHCl(PPh3)3 presumably proceed through
similar intermediates MHCl(η2-allene)(L)(PPh3)2 (L ) CO,
PPh3), but lead to very different products as described above.
In order to better understand the results, density functional theory
calculations were carried out on the model reactions shown in
Scheme 1. Energetic calculations of the model reactions allow
us to delineate how a different ligand environment influences
the reaction products. The ligand arrangement of the OsHCl-
(CO)(PH3)2 metal fragment in the PC2 intermediates is the same
as that used in an early study on acetylene insertion in MHCl-
(η2-acetylene)(CO)(PPh3)2.30
The potential energy profiles, calculated for the formation
of the vinyl (PR1-vinyl) and allyl (PR1-allyl) model complexes
from OsHCl(η2-allene)(PH3)3 (PC1), have been briefly men-
tioned in a preliminary report and are reproduced in Figure 3.
The results indicate that the pathway leading to the formation
of the vinyl complex PR1-vinyl is kinetically more favorable.
The high barrier for the reverse process, PR1-vinyl f PC1-
vinyl, prevents the observation of the thermodynamically more
stable η3-allyl complex. An important implication of the results
is that although vinyl complexes are in general thermodynami-
cally less stable than η3-allyl complexes (in view of the dominant
allyl complexes in the literature), formation of vinyl complexes
is still kinetically possible. OsHCl(PPh3)3 provides an example
for such a possibility to be realized.
To study the steric effect missed from the small model
calculations, we also carried out two-layer ONIOM calculations
with the real PPh3 ligands for all the species in Figure 4 (see
the data in italics) and the two transition state structures in Figure
3. From Figure 4, we can see that the PPh3 and PH3 results are
similar, in particular for the PC and TS species. When PPh3 is
used, PR2-vinyl is relatively more stable and PR2-allyl becomes
relatively destabilized. The results are expected because the
former is five-coordinate and the latter is six-coordinate with a
sterically demanding η3-allyl ligand. The final product in which
the two PPh3 ligands are cis to each other is relatively
destabilized even more because of the cis arrangement of the
two bulky PPh3 ligands. The energy difference between TS1-
allyl and TS1-vinyl shown in Figure 3 is 2.5 kcal/mol in free
energy and 2.1 kcal/mol in electronic energy. When PPh3 is
used, both TS1-allyl and TS1-vinyl are relatively destabilized
by ca. 2-3 kcal/mol, and the energy difference between them
becomes 2.5 kcal/mol in free energy and 3.2 kcal/mol in
electronic energy. All these additional ONIOM calculations
suggest that the PH3 results are qualitatively correct. The
qualitative reliability of the PH3 results is understandable
because the steric effect of the PPh3 ligands is similar for the
reactants and the transition states.
The potential energy profiles, calculated for the formation
of the vinyl (PR2-vinyl) and allyl (PR2-allyl) model complexes
from OsHCl(η2-allene)(CO)(PH3)2 (PC2), are shown in Figure
4. Overall, the reaction barriers are smaller than those for the
reactions of OsHCl(η2-allene)(PH3)3 (PC1). The pathway leading
to the formation of the η3-allyl complex is found to be both
Earlier theoretical studies show that olefin insertion into an
M-R bond is kinetically and thermodynamically less favorable
when a metal(d)-to-olefin(π*) back-bonding interaction is
present.31 The back-bonding interaction makes the olefin carbons
“electron-rich”, leading to a high activation barrier for the
migration of the alkyl ligand to form the new σC-R bond. This
(29) Selnau, H. E.; Merola, J. S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1991, 113, 4008.
(30) Marchenko, A. V.; Gerard, H.; Eisenstein, O.; Caulton, K. G. New
J. Chem. 2001, 25, 1244.

5586 Organometallics, Vol. 26, No. 23, 2007
Bai et al.
Figure 3. Energy profiles of the two possible insertion pathways calculated for OsHCl(allene)(PPh3)3. P stands for PH3 used in the calculations.
The calculated relative free energies and electronic energies (in parentheses) are given in kcal/mol.
Figure 4. Energy profiles of the two possible insertion pathways calculated for OsHCl(allene)(CO)(PPh3)2. P stands for PH3 used in the
calculations. The calculated relative free energies and electronic energies (in parentheses) are given in kcal/mol. Two sets of energy data
are given. The first set was obtained from the calculations using PH3 as the model phosphine ligand. The second set (in italics) was
obtained from the ONIOM calculations considering the steric effect of the PPh3 ligands.
early finding explains why the insertion pathways of OsHCl-
(η2-allene)(CO)(PH3)2 have lower barriers than those of OsHCl-
(η2-allene)(PH3)3. The presence of the CO ligand makes the
back-bonding interaction relatively weaker, as evidenced by the

Insertion Reactions of Allenes with MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3
Organometallics, Vol. 26, No. 23, 2007 5587
Figure 6. Atomic charges obtained from Mulliken population
analysis using both the ECP and all-electron (in parentheses) basis
sets.
with a more electron-rich metal center that the charge of the
central carbon of allene changes from positive in the free allene
to negative in the allene complex. The calculated structures of
the precursor complexes (Figure 5) also show that in each
complex the metal center has a shorter Os-C bond with the
central carbon of the allene ligand. Because of the difference
in the degree of back-bonding interactions from the metal center
to the central carbon and to the terminal carbons, we have the
following two scenarios: (1) the back-donation to allene is not
significant enough, so that the migration of the hydride to the
central carbon is still more favorable; (2) the back-donation to
allene is significant enough to make the migration of the hydride
to the central carbon less favorable. The first scenario is
apparently more prevalent in view of the fact that insertion
reactions of allenes with LnM-R normally give allyl complexes.
Clearly, that insertion of allene into the Os-H bond in OsHCl-
(PPh3)3 gives a vinyl product observed experimentally provides
an example for the latter scenario.
Figure 6 shows that upon coordination the central carbon of
the allene ligand in PC1 gains more electrons than the central
carbon of the allene ligand in PC2. The significant difference
in the electron density increase at the central carbon of the allene
ligand upon coordination between the two precursor complexes
leads to the reactivity difference observed. The back-donation
is less significant in PC2 due to the presence of the strong
π-acccepting CO ligand. At first glance of the charge distribution
in PC1 and PC2 shown in Figure 6, one may have the feeling
that PC1 should also evolve to an allyl complex, as the central
carbon is still less electron-rich than the terminal ones. In Figure
6, the partial atomic charges represent the charges derived from
both σ and π components. However, we expect that it is the
π-electron density, which is more significantly affected by back-
donation, that determines the regiochemistry. Computationally,
we have difficulty in separating the π component from the σ
component. The data given in Figure 6 are intended to show
the qualitative trend in order to support the plausible explanation
and should not be taken as a criterion to understand the reverse
regiochemistry observed experimentally.
Figure 5. Calculated structures of OsHCl(allene)(PH3)3 and
OsHCl(allene)(CO)(PH3)2.
longer metal-carbon(allene) bond distances in PC2-vinyl and
PC2-allyl when compared to those in PC1-vinyl and PC1-allyl
(Figure 5).
The preferred insertion reaction pathways of OsHCl(η2-
allene)(CO)(PH3)2 (PC2) and OsHCl(η2-allene)(PH3)3 (PC1) are
clearly reversed. The theoretical calculations accurately repro-
duce the trend observed experimentally. Replacement of one
phosphine ligand by a carbonyl ligand drastically changes the
preferred insertion reaction pathways. A plausible explanation
of the above-mentioned calculation results is given below.
In allene insertion into a M-H bond, a hydride migrates to
the allene ligand to form a new C-H bond. Therefore, it is a
reasonable assumption that the migratory hydride looks for a
carbon center that is more electron-deficient. The central carbon
of a free allene is especially electron-deficient when compared
with the two terminal carbons (see Figure 6 for the charge
distribution of a free allene). Thus one would expect that a
nucleophile such as a hydride will normally attack the central
carbon. However, when an allene is η2-coordinated to a metal
center, the charge distribution will be altered due to the metal-
allene interaction. The metal(d)-to-allene(π*) back-donation is
expected to be much more significant between the metal center
and the central carbon of the allene ligand.
The charge distribution shown in Figure 6, obtained from
the Mulliken population analysis using both ECP and all-electron
basis sets, indeed indicates that from a free allene to a
coordinated allene, the central carbon of the allene in each
precursor complex gains electrons while the terminal carbons
lose electrons upon coordination. The gain of electrons by the
central carbon of allene is so significant for the complex PC1
Conclusion. Allene insertion reactions with MHCl(PPh3)3 and
MH(CO)(PPh3)3 (M ) Ru, Os) have been carefully investigated.
(31) Margl, P.; Deng, L.; Ziegler, T. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 5517.
Niu, S.; Hall, M. B. Chem. ReV. 2000, 100, 353.

5588 Organometallics, Vol. 26, No. 23, 2007
Bai et al.
Os(η3-CH2CHCHPh)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (4). To a suspension of
OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 (215 mg, 0.207 mmol) in dichloromethane (8
mL) was added a solution of phenylallene (70 mg, 0.60 mmol) in
hexane (0.3 mL). After the resulting mixture was stirred for 14 h,
the solution was filtered, the filtrate was concentrated to dryness
under vacuum, and the oily residue was treated with ether (2 mL)
to give a solid. The solid was then redissolved in benzene (5 mL).
After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated to dryness and the
residue was washed with hexane and dried under vacuum to give
It was found that MHCl(PPh3)3 reacts with allenes to give vinyl
complexes, while MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 reacts with allenes to give
η3-allyl complexes. To understand the difference, allene insertion
reactions involving OsHCl(PPh3)3 and OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 have
also been investigated by computational chemistry. On the basis
of the computational results, the following plausible explanation
is given. Since the central carbon of free allene is electron-
deficient when compared with the two terminal carbons,
insertion of allene into a metal-hydride will normally give an
allyl complex. However, when an allene is η2-coordinated to a
metal fragment, the charge distribution will be altered due to
the metal-allene interaction. In particular, the metal(d)-to-
allene(π*) back-donation is much more significant between the
metal center and the central carbon of the allene ligand. Thus
insertion reactions involving a more electron-rich metal center
could give vinyl complexes rather than the usual allyl com-
plexes. To test the scope and limitation of this explanation, we
will carry out experiments involving varieties of allenes, metals,
and ligands.
1
a yellow solid. Yield: 86 mg, 48%. H NMR (300 MHz, C6D6,
298 K): δ 3.19 (dd, J(PH) ) 4.5 Hz, J(HH) ) 11.7 Hz, 1 H, d
CH2), 3.29 (m, 1 H, dCH2), 4.27 (dd, J(PH) ) 5.7 Hz, J(HH) )
11.2 Hz, 1 H, CHPh), 5.79 (m, 1 H, CdCHC), 7.06-7.24 (m, 23
H, CH-Ph, P-Ph), 7.74-7.88 (m, 12 H, P-Ph). 31P{1H} NMR (121.5
MHz, C6D6, 298 K): δ 5.2 (s), -5.2 (s). Anal. Calcd for C46H39-
ClOOsP2: C, 61.70; H, 4.39. Found: C, 61.90; H, 4.55.
Os(η3-CH2CHCHCH2Ph)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (5). A mixture of
OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 (200 mg, 0.19 mmol) and buta-2,3-dienylben-
zene (74 mg, 0.57 mmol) in dichloromethane (15 mL) was stirred
for 2 days at room temperature to give a clear yellow solution.
The resulting solution was concentrated to dryness under vacuum.
The oily residue was treated with ether (15 mL) to give a white
solid, which was collected by filtration, washed with ether (3 ×
Experimental Section
1
All manipulations were carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere
using standard Schlenck techniques unless otherwise stated. Solvents
were distilled under nitrogen from sodium benzophenone (hexane,
ether, THF), sodium (benzene), or calcium hydride (CH2Cl2). The
starting materials OsHCl(PPh3)3,32 RuHCl(PPh3)3,33 RuHCl(CO)-
(PPh3)3,34 OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3,34 4,4-dimethyl-1,2-pentadiene,35 phe-
nylallene,35 CH2dCdCHCO2Me,35 and CH2dCdCHCH2Ph35 were
prepared following the procedures described in the literature. All
other reagents were used as purchased from Aldrich Chemical Co.
Microanalyses were performed by M-H-W Laboratories (Phoe-
nix, AZ) or collected on a VARIO EL III analyzer at Shanghai
15 mL), and dried under vacuum. Yield: 63 mg, 35%. H NMR
(300 MHz, C6D6, 298 K): δ 2.67-2.62 (m, 1 H, CH2Ph), 2.96-
2.80 (m, 2 H, 1 H of CH2dCH and 1 H of CH2Ph), 3.03-2.96 (m,
1 H, CH2dCH), 3.42-3.30 (m, 1 H, CH-CH2Ph), 4.96 (dd, J(HH)
) 18.7 Hz, J(PH) ) 10.8 Hz, 1 H, CdCH-C), 7.15-6.85 (m, 24
H, CH2-Ph, P-Ph), 7.61-7.55 (m, 6 H, P-Ph), 7.84-7.78 (m, 24
H, P-Ph). 31P{1H} NMR (121.5 MHz, C6D6): δ 0.19 (s), 5.08 (s).
13C{1H} NMR (75. 4 MHz, C6D6): δ 40.1 (s, CH2Ph), 58.7 (d,
J(PC) ) 24.8 Hz, dCH2), 69.0 (d, J(PC) ) 27.1 Hz, CHCH2Ph),
98.0. (s, CH2dC), 144.8-126.1 (m, Ph), 180.0 (t, J(PC) ) 8.9 Hz,
CO). Anal. Calcd for C47H41ClOOsP2: C, 62.07; H, 4.54. Found:
C, 61.83; H, 4.63.
1
Institute of Organic Chemistry. H, 13C{1H}, and 31P{1H} spectra
were collected on a Varian Mercury spectrometer (300 MHz) or a
Bruker ARX-300 spectrometer (300 MHz). 1H and 13C NMR shifts
are relative to TMS, and 31P chemical shifts are relative to 85%
H3PO4.
Ru(C(CH3)dCHCMe3)(η2-1,2-CH2dCdCHCMe3)Cl(PPh3)2
(11). To a solution of RuHCl(PPh3)3 (308 mg, 0.333 mmol) in
dichloromethane (8 mL) was added dropwise a solution of 4,4-
dimethyl-1,2-pentadiene (65 mg, 0.67 mmol) in pentane (0.5 mL)
at room temperature. The resulting solution was allowed to stir for
7 h. After the mixture was concentrated to dryness, a paste was
formed. Addition of diethyl ether (5 mL) to the residue produced
a yellow solid, which was collected by filtration, washed with ether
Ru(η3-CH2CHCHCO2Me)Cl(CO)(PPh3)2 (2). A mixture of
RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 (143 mg, 0.15 mmol) and methyl buta-2,3-
dienoate (29 mg, 0.30 mmol) in dichloromethane (6 mL) was stirred
at room temperature for 15 min to give a clear green solution. The
resulting solution was concentrated to dryness under vacuum, and
the oily residue was treated with ether (25 mL) to give a pale yellow
solid. The solid was collected by filtration, washed with ether (25
mL), and dried under vacuum. Yield: 115 mg, 83%. 1H NMR (300
MHz, CDCl3): δ 2.94-3.00 (m, 1 H, CHCO2Me), 3.06-3.20 (m,
2 H, CH2d), 3.10 (s, OCH3), 5.75-5.86 (m, 1 H, CdCHC), 7.19-
7.40 (m, 26 H, Ph), 7.47-7.53 (m, 4 H, Ph). 31P{1H} NMR (121.5
MHz, CDCl3): δ 28.9 (d, J(PP) ) 10.9 Hz), 39.5 (d, J(PP) ) 10.9
Hz). 13C{1H}NMR (75.47 MHz, CDCl3): δ 51.7 (s, OCH3), 60.7
(d, J(PC) ) 28.2 Hz, CH), 67.8 (d, J(PC) ) 21.9 Hz, CH2), 103.5
(s, CH), 127.5-134.8 (m, Ph), 174.7 (d, J(PC) ) 2.8 Hz, CO),
200.0 (dd, J(PC) ) 16.5, 11.8 Hz, CO). Anal. Calcd for C42H37-
ClO3P2Ru: C, 64.00; H, 4.73. Found: C, 63.31; H, 4.77. As
indicated by 1H NMR, the sample contains ca. 15 mol %
dichloromomethane. Anal. Calcd for C42H37ClO3P2Ru‚0.15CH2-
Cl2: C, 63.21; H, 4.69.
1
(3 mL × 3), and dried under vacuum. Yield: 100 mg, 35%. H
NMR (300 MHz, CD2Cl2, 298 K): δ 0.13 (s, 3 H, agostic CH3),
0.30 (m, 2 H, CH2), 0.68 (s, 9 H, CMe3), 0.97 (s, 9 H, CMe3), 4.53
(br s, 1 H, CHd), 5.85 (br t, 1 H, CHd), 7.16-7.32 (m, 18 H,
Ph), 7.46-7.62 (m, 12 H, Ph). 31P{1H} NMR (121.5 MHz, CD2-
Cl2, 298 K): δ 22.0 (s). Anal. Calcd for C50H55ClP2Ru: C, 70.28;
H, 6.49. Found: C, 70.12; H, 6.32.
Crystal Structure Analyses of 2 and 4. Crystals of 2 were
grown from a CH2Cl2 solution of 2 layered with ether. The
compound is sufficiently air stable, and a crystal of dimensions
0.36 × 0.17 × 0.06 mm3 was mounted on a glass fiber with epoxy
adhesive. Crystals of 4 were grown from CH2Cl2 solutions of 4
layered with hexane. A crystal of dimensions 0.20 × 0.15 × 0.10
mm3 was selected for data collection. The diffraction intensity data
were collected with a Bruker Smart APEX CCD diffractometer with
graphite-monochromated Mo KR radiation (λ ) 0.71073 Å) at 298
K for 2 and 100 K for 4. Lattice determination and data collection
were carried out using SMART v.5.625 software. Data reduction
and absorption correction by empirical methods were performed
using SAINT v 6.26 and SADABS v 2.03, respectively. Structure
solution and refinement were performed using the SHELXTL v.6.10
software package. Both the structures were solved by direct
methods, expanded by difference Fourier syntheses, and refined
by full matrix least-squares on F2. All non-hydrogen atoms were
(32) Ferrando, G.; Caulton, K. G. Inorg. Chem. 1999, 38, 4168.
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8, Synthesis of Acetylene, Allenes and Cumulenes; Elsevier: Amsterdam,
1981. (b) Trost, B. M.; Pinkerton, A. B.; Seidel, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
2001, 123, 12466.

Insertion Reactions of Allenes with MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3
Organometallics, Vol. 26, No. 23, 2007 5589
refined anisotropically with a riding model for the hydrogen atoms.
Further details on crystal data and data collection and refinements
parameters are summarized in Table 1.
calculations with Huzinaga’s all-electron basis set (4322211/42211/
4221/3)38 for Os and 6-31G** for the rest of the atoms.
In our DFT calculations, we used PH3 as a model for PPh3. To
study the steric effect missed from the small model calculations,
we performed two-layer ONIOM (B3LYP/BSI:HF/Lanl2MB)41
calculations with the real PPh3 ligand for several selected species.
In the ONIOM calculations, the phenyl groups on the phosphine
ligand were treated as the second layer while the rest were treated
as the first layer. BSI represents the ECP basis set described above.
Computational Details. Molecular geometries were optimized
at the Becke3LYP (B3LYP) level of density functional theory.36
Frequency calculations at the same level of theory have also been
performed to identify all stationary points as minima (zero
imaginary frequency). The effective core potentials (ECPs) of Hay
and Wadt with a double-ú valence basis sets (LanL2DZ)37 were
used to describe Os, P, and Cl atoms, while the standard 6-31G**
basis set was used for C, O, and H atoms. Polarization functions
were added for Cl (ú(d) ) 0.514) and P (ú(d) ) 0.34).38 Calculations
of intrinsic reaction coordinates (IRC)39 were also performed on
transition states to confirm that such structures are indeed connecting
two minima. All the calculations were performed with the Gaussian
03 software package.40
Acknowledgment. This work was supported by the National
Natural Science Foundation of China through the Outstanding
Young Investigator Award Fund (Project No. 20429201), the
Hong Kong Research Grant Council (Project Nos. HKUST601804
and DAG05/06.SC19), and the Chinese Academy of Science.
In order to test the reliability of the atomic charges obtained
from the Mulliken population analysis on the basis of the ECP basis
set utilized in the calculations, we also performed single-point SCF
Supporting Information Available: Complete ref 40 and
Cartesian coordinates of the calculated structures (PDF). X-ray
crystallographic files (CIF). This material is available free of charge
via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.
(36) (a) Becke, A. D. J. Chem. Phys. 1993, 98, 5648. (b) Miehlich, B.;
Savin, A.; Stoll, H.; Preuss, H. Chem. Phys. Lett. 1989, 157, 200. (c) Lee,
C.; Yang, W.; parr, G. Phys. ReV. B 1988, 37, 785.
(37) Hay, P. J.; Wadt, W. R. J. Chem. Phys. 1985, 82, 299.
(38) Huzinaga, S. Gaussian Basis Sets for Molecular Calculations;
Elsevier Science Pub. Co.: Amsterdam, 1984.
(39) (a) Fukui, K. J. Phys. Chem. 1970, 74, 4161. (b) Fukui, K. Acc.
Chem. Res. 1981, 14, 363.
(40) Frisch, M. J.; et al. Gaussian 03, revision B05; Gaussian, Inc.:
Pittsburgh, PA, 2003.
OM700629X
(41) For references of the ONIOM method, see: (a) Dapprich, S.;
Koma´romi, I.; Byun, K. S.; Morokuma, K.; Frisch, M. J. J. Mol. Struct.
(THEOCHEM) 1999, 462, 1. (b) Vreven, T.; Morokuma, K. J. Comput.
Chem. 2000, 21, 1419. For a similar two-layer ONIOM calculation, see:
(c) Ananikov, V. P.; Szilagyi, R.; Morokuma, K.; Musaev, D. G.
Organometallics 2005, 24, 1938.