Selective alcohol oxidation with molecular oxygen catalyzed by Os-Cr and Ru-Cr complexes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja982171y

The heterobimetallic complexes [Y][M(N)R₂(μ-O)₂CrO₂] (where Y is either N(n-Bu)₄⁺ or PPh₄⁺; M is either Ru or Os; and R is an alkyl or aryl ligand) catalyze the selective oxidation of alcohols with molecular oxygen. The rate of the reaction is higher with a ruthenium-containing complex than with an analogous osmium-containing catalyst. The rate decreases with steric bulk in either the catalyst or substrate. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of [N(n-Bu)₄][Ru(N)(CH₂SiMe₃) ₂(μ-O)₂CrO₂] and [PPh₄][Os(N)Me(CH₂SiMe₃)(μ-O) ₂CrO₂] show the chromate group coordinated to each nitrido(dialkyl)metal center through two oxo ligands. The oxidation of benzyl alcohol by [N(K-Bu)₄][Os(N)(CH₂SiMe₃) ₂(μ-O)₂CrO₂] was examinined in detail. It is first order in alcohol and substrate, and, when oxygen partial pressure is low, the rate depends directly on the O₂ partial pressure. A mechanism in which alcohol coordinates to the osmium center and is oxidized by β-hydrogen elimination is consistent with the data. [N(n-Bu)₄] [Os(N)(CH₂SiMe₃)₂(μ-O)₂CrO ₂] catalyzes the oxidation of dppe with O₂ through a different pathway.

Full text of DOI:10.1021/ja982171y

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 1079-1091
1079
Selective Alcohol Oxidation with Molecular Oxygen Catalyzed by
Os-Cr and Ru-Cr Complexes
Patricia A. Shapley,* Najie Zhang, Jana L. Allen, Douglas H. Pool, and Hong-Chang Liang
Contribution from the Department of Chemistry, UniVersity of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 02168
ReceiVed June 22, 1998. ReVised Manuscript ReceiVed May 17, 1999
+
+
Abstract: The heterobimetallic complexes [Y][M(N)R2(µ-O)2CrO2] (where Y is either N(n-Bu)4 or PPh4
;
M is either Ru or Os; and R is an alkyl or aryl ligand) catalyze the selective oxidation of alcohols with molecular
oxygen. The rate of the reaction is higher with a ruthenium-containing complex than with an analogous osmium-
containing catalyst. The rate decreases with steric bulk in either the catalyst or substrate. Single-crystal X-ray
diffraction studies of [N(n-Bu)4][Ru(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] and [PPh4][Os(N)Me(CH2SiMe3)(µ-O)2CrO2]
show the chromate group coordinated to each nitrido(dialkyl)metal center through two oxo ligands. The oxidation
of benzyl alcohol by [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] was examinined in detail. It is first order in
alcohol and substrate, and, when oxygen partial pressure is low, the rate depends directly on the O2 partial
pressure. A mechanism in which alcohol coordinates to the osmium center and is oxidized by â-hydrogen
elimination is consistent with the data. [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] catalyzes the oxidation of
dppe with O2 through a different pathway.
Introduction
oxidize alcohols by abstracting a hydride, giving an oxygen-
stabilized carbocation.4,5,8 In other studies, the mechanistic data
are ambiguous and the pathway may change depending on the
substrate, or there may be only partial C-H bond cleavage in
the rate-determining step.9,10
Secondary oxidants used in metal-catalyzed oxidation of
alcohols include dialkyl sulfoxides, NaIO4, NaClO, and H2O2.
Molecular oxygen can also be used as the secondary oxidant
for the oxidation of alcohols.11,12 In some cases, molecular
oxygen reacts with metal complexes to generate catalytically
active oxo or peroxo complexes.
Many researchers have prepared heterometallic complexes
with the goal of using these in catalysis.13 Some enzymes use
two or more metals in the active site to activate molecular
oxygen and oxidize some substrate.14 Most heterobimetallic
complexes are coordinatively saturated and unreactive. In an
interesting recent study, Brown et al. found that the presence
of a second metal actually impedes alcohol oxidation by
ruthenium.12
Oxidation reactions can increase the number of functional
groups and are useful in the synthesis of complex organic
molecules. The oxidation of alcohols is an important process.1
While many metal complexes catalytically convert alcohols to
carbonyl compounds, ruthenium compounds are particularly
useful for this process.2-5
Mechanistic studies demonstrate that metal-mediated alcohol
oxidation can proceed through electron transfer to the metal
complex, through abstraction of a hydride by the metal oxo unit,
or through a concerted â-hydrogen elimination pathway.
Complexes of Co(III) oxidize alcohols by an electron-transfer
mechanism with a radical intermediate, R2(OH)C•.6 In other
cases, the alcohol reacts with the metal complex to form an
intermediate alkoxide complex. â-Hydrogen elimination pro-
duces carbonyl compounds from the alkoxides in trans-(RO)-
Ir(CO)(PPh3)2.7 Ruthenium tetraoxide and related oxo complexes
(1) (a) G. Cainelli, G.; Cardillo, G. Chromium Oxidations in Organic
Chemistry; Springer-Verlag: Berlin, 1984. (b) Muzart, J. Bull. Soc. Chim.
Fr. 1986, 65-77. (c) Sheldon, R. A.; Kochi, J. K. Metal Catalyzed
Oxidations of Organic Compounds; Academic Press: New York, 1981;
Chapter 6. (d) Wiberg, K. B. Oxidation in Organic Chemistry; Academic
Press: New York, 1965.
(2) (a) Lima, E. C.; Fenga, P. G.; Romero, J. R.; Degiovani, W. F.
Polyhedron 1998, 17, 313-318. (b) Boelrijk AEM. Neenan TX. Reedijk J.
J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1997, 4561-4570. (c) Boelrijk, A. E. M.;
van Velzen, M. M.; Neenan, T. X.; Reedijk, J.; Kooijman, H.; Spek, A. L.
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1995, 2465-2467. (d) Ley, S. V.; Norman,
J.; Griffith, W. P.; Marsden, S. P. Synthesis 1994, 639-666. (e) Murahashi,
S.-I.; Naota, T. Synthesis 1993, 433-440. (f) Morris, P. E.; Kiely, D. E. J.
Org. Chem. 1987, 52, 1149-1152. (g) Griffith, W. P.; Ley, S. V.;
Whitcombe, G. P.; White, A. D. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1987,
1625-1627. (h) Gagne, R. R.; Marks, D. N. Inorg. Chem. 1984, 23, 65-
74. (i) Sharpless, K. B.; Akashi, K.; Oshima, K. Tetrahedron Lett. 1976,
29, 2503-2506.
In a brief communication, we reported that the heterobime-
tallic Os-Cr complexes [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2-
(7) Bernard, K. A.; Rees, W. M.; Atwood, J. D. Organometallics 1986,
5, 390-391.
(8) (a) Rankin, K. N.; Liu, Q.; Hendry, J.; Yee, H.; Noureldin, N. A.;
Lee, D. G. Tetrahedron Lett. 1998, 39, 1095-1098. (b) Cheng, W. C.; Yu,
W. Y.; Li, C. K.; Che, C. M. J. Org. Chem. 1995, 60, 6840-6846. (c) Lee,
D. G.; Van Den Engh, M. Can. J. Chem. 1972, 50, 3129-3134.
(9) Lorber, C. Y.; Pauls, I.; Osborn, J. A. Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 1996,
133, 755-758.
(10) Scott, S. L.; Bakac, A.; Espenson, J. H. J. Am. Chem Soc. 1992,
114, 4205-4213.
(11) (a) Marko´, I. E.; Giles, P. R.; Tsukazaki, M.; Brown, S. M.; Urch,
C. J. Science 1996, 274, 2044-2046. (b) Ba¨ckvall, J.-E.; Chowdhury, R.
L.; Karlsson, U. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1991, 473-475. (c)
Bilgrien, C.; Davis, S.; Drago, R. S. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1987, 109, 3786-
3787. (d) Matsumoto, M.; Watanabe, N. J. Org. Chem. 1984, 49, 3435-
3437. (e) Tang, R.; Diamond, S. E.; Neary, N.; Mares, F. J. Chem. Soc.,
Chem. Commun. 1978, 562. (f) Neumann, R.; Dahan, M. Nature 1997, 388,
353-355. (g) Prati, L.; Rossi, M. J. Mol. Catal. A 1996, 110, 221-226.
(12) Marko´, I. E.; Giles, P. R.; Tsukazaki, M.; Chelle´-Regnaut, I.; Urch,
C. J.; Brown, S. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 12661-12662.
(3) Muller, J. G.; Acquaye, J. H.; Takeuchi, K. J. Inorg. Chem. 1992,
31, 4552-4557.
(4) Roecker, L.; Meyer, T. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1987, 109, 746-754.
(5) Lee, D. G.; Van Den Engh, M. Can. J. Chem. 1972, 50, 2000-
2009.
(6) Kochi, J. K. Organometallic Mechanisms and Catalysis; Academic
Press: New York, 1978; pp 106-113 and references therein.
10.1021/ja982171y CCC: $19.00 © 2000 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 01/27/2000

1080 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000
Shapley et al.
Scheme 1
CrO2] and [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] catalyze the
selective oxidation of alcohols with molecular oxygen.15 We
also showed that one of these complexes reacts with dppe and
catalyzes the oxidation of this phosphine with O2.16 In this
report, we present a complete study on the oxidation of alcohols
by [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] and related het-
erobimetallic complexes.
Results
Figure 1. Cyclic voltammogram of 1, volts vs Ag/AgCl.
Syntheses of Os-Cr and Ru-Cr Complexes. The reactions
of the anionic osmium(VI) and ruthenium(VI) complexes
[Os(N)(H2SiMe3)2Cl2]-, [Os(N)Me2Cl2]-, [Os(N)Me(CH2SiMe3)-
Cl2]-, [Ru(N)Me2Cl2]-, and [Os(N)Ph2Cl2]- with aqueous
potassium chromate produce stable organometallic complexes
containing a bidentate chromate group. Alternatively, these
osmium and ruthenium complexes react with silver chromate
in dry CH2Cl2 solution to produce the chromate complexes
(Scheme 1). These reactions with silver chromate require light
and do not proceed when the reaction vessel is wrapped in
aluminum foil.
In a typical preparation, we combined [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2-
SiMe3)2Cl2] and excess Ag2CrO4 in CH2Cl2 and stirred them
for 12 h at room temperature under a UV lamp. The color of
the solution changed from orange to dark purple over this time.
Filtration removed the AgCl and unreacted Ag2CrO4. The
product, [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] (1a), crys-
tallized from hexane/methylene chloride solution in 94% yield.
Crystals melted sharply at 119 °C without decomposition. The
reaction between [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2] in CH2Cl2
and K2CrO4 in water also gave 1a, but the yield and purity of
product were lower.
spaced doublets (JHH ) 7.1 Hz) at 2.09 and 2.17 ppm in CDCl3
solution. The IR spectrum shows a medium-intensity sharp band
for the osmium-nitride stretching vibration at 1111 cm-1, very
similar to the observations for other five-coordinate alkylosmium
nitrido complexes.17 The chromate group is clearly a bidentate
ligand of the osmium with two strong, sharp bands at 948 and
928 cm-1 for the Cr-O asymmetric and symmetric stretching
vibrations for the two terminal oxides. This is similar to the
observations for other bidentate metal complexes of chromate.18
The bridging Os-O-Cr stretching vibration should occur close
to 800 cm-1, but it is obscured by stronger bands associated
with the alkyl ligands. The purple color of the complex is due
to an intense visible absorption band at 504 nm.
The cyclic voltammogram of 1a in CH2Cl2 shows the Ep of
an irreversible oxidation wave at +1.88 V and the E1/2 of a
quasi-reversible reduction wave at -0.50 V vs Ag/AgCl (Figure
1). The irreversible oxidation is superimposed on background
(0.1 M [N(n-Bu)4][BF4] in CH2Cl2) at the top of Figure 1.
Controlled potential electrolysis indicates that each of these
waves is associated with a one-electron process. The reduction
is quasi-reversible with approximately equal anodic and cathodic
currents and a peak-to-peak separation of 329 mV at a scan
rate of 100 mV/s. The ∆Ep increases as the scan rate is
increased. The reduction appears to be diffusion-controlled as
indicated by the linearity of the plot of ip vs ν1/2 over the range
50-2000 mV/s.
The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of 1a show resonances
associated with the alkylammonium cation and the alkyl groups.
The two (trimethylsilyl)methyl ligands are equivalent with
diastereotopic methylene protons. The shape of the resonance
for the R protons is strongly solvent dependent. The four protons
appear to be a singlet at 2.08 ppm in CD2Cl2 but are closely
The tetraphenylphosphonium salt of the chromate complex,
[PPh4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] (1b), results from the
reaction of [PPh4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2] and Ag2CrO4 or K2-
CrO4. The solubility of 1b is lower than that of 1a in organic
solvents, and this complex is more difficult to crystallize, but
the other physical properties and spectroscopic data are very
similar or identical to those of 1a.
(13) (a) Sterenberg, B. T.; McDonald, R.; Cowie, M. Organometallics
1997, 16, 2297-2312. (b) Mantovani, L.; Ceccon, A.; Gambaro, A.; Santi,
S.; Ganis, P. Organometallics 1997, 16, 2682-2690. (c) Desmurs, P.;
Visseaux, M.; Baudry, D.; Dormond, A.; Nief, F.; Ricard, F. Organome-
tallics 1996, 15, 4178-4181. (d) Aubart, M. A.; Bergman, R. G J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 1793-1794. (e) Askham, F. R.; Carroll, K. M.;
Briggs, P. M.; Rheingold, A. L.; Haggerty, B. S. Organometallics 1994,
13, 2139-2140. (f) Butts, M. D.; Bergman, R. G. Organometallics 1994,
13, 2668-2676. (g) New Frontiers in Catalysis; Guczi, L., Solymosi, F.,
Te´te´nyi, P., Eds.; Elsevier Science Publishers: Amsterdam, 1993; Vol. 75,
Part C. (h) Fraser, C.; Johnston, L.; Rheingold, A. L.; Haggerty, B. S.;
Williams, G. K.; Whelan, J.; Bosnich, B. Inorg. Chem. 1992, 31, 1835-
1844. (i) Stephan, D W. Coord. Chem. ReV. 1989, 95, 41-107.
(14) Lippard, S. J.; Berg, J. M. Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry;
University Science Books: Mill Valley, CA, 1994; Chapter 11.
(15) Zhang, N.; Mann, C.; Shapley, P. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988, 110,
6591-6592.
The reaction of [N(n-Bu)4][Ru(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2] and Ag2-
CrO4 produced [N(n-Bu)4][Ru(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] (2)
1
in 54% yield. The H and 13C NMR spectra of 1a and 2 are
very similar. The ruthenium complex is dark orange rather than
purple in solution because it lacks the visible absorption band
found in 1. The terminal Cr-O stretching vibrations shift by
only 4 cm-1 from the position of those bands in 1. The
(17) Marshman, R. W.; Shapley, P. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112,
8369-8378.
(18) Coomber, R.; Griffith, W. P. J. Chem. Soc. (A) 1968, 1128-1131.
(16) Allen, J. L.; Shapley, P. A.; Wilson, S. R. Organometallics 1994,
13, 3749-3751.

SelectiVe Alcohol Oxidation with O2
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000 1081
Table 1. Selected Bond Distances and Angles for 2 and 6
2
6
Distances, Å
Ru-Cr
Ru-O1
Ru-O2
Ru-N1
Ru-C1
Ru-C2
Cr-O1
Cr-O2
Cr-O3
Cr-O4
2.617(2)
Os-Cr
Os-O1
Os-O2
Os-N1
Os-C1
Os-C2
Cr-O1
Cr-O2
Cr-O3
Cr-O4
2.5627(1)
1.996(5)
2.017(4)
1.650(6)
2.085(8)
2.091(6)
1.746(5)
1.756(4)
1.587(5)
1.603(5)
2.061(6)
2.049(5)
1.612(7)
2.099(9)
2.098(8)
1.722(6)
1.728(6)
1.604(7)
1.602(6)
Angles, deg
101.8(4)
102.6(4)
113.9(3)
117.1(3)
85.3(3)
N-Ru-C1
N-Ru-C2
O1-Ru-N
O2-Ru-N
C1-Ru-C2
O1-Ru-O2
O1-Cr-O2
O3-Cr-O4
O1-Cr-O4
O1-Cr-O3
Cr-O1-Ru
Cr-O2-Ru
N-Os-C1
N-Os-C2
O1-Os-N
O2-Os-N
C1-Os-C2
O1-Os-O2
O1-Cr-O2
O3-Cr-O4
O1-Cr-O4
O1-Cr-O3
Cr-O1-Os
Cr-O2-Os
101.8(3)
Figure 2. ORTEP diagram of [Ru(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2]-.
101.5(3)
114.4(3)
116.4(3)
84.6(3)
81.0(2)
84.2(2)
101.4(3)
110.8(4)
111.6(3)
111.6(3)
87.0(2)
100.4(2)
111.3(3)
109.4(3)
113.7(3)
86.2(2)
87.3(2)
85.3(2)
Figure 3. ORTEP diagram of [Os(N)Me(CH2SiMe3)(µ-O)2CrO2]-.
Scheme 2
ruthenium-nitride stretching vibration is at 1082 cm-1 in the
IR spectrum.
We prepared [PPh4][Os(N)(CH3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] (3) from
[PPh4][Os(N)(CH3)2Cl2], [PPh4][Ru(N)(CH3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] (4)
from [PPh4][Ru(N)(CH3)2Cl2], and [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)Ph2(µ-O)2-
CrO2] (5) from [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)Ph2Cl2]. The chromate anion
substituted for the chloride ligands in racemic [PPh4][Os(N)Me-
(CH2SiMe3)Cl2] and produced both enantiomers of the chiral
Os-Cr complex, [PPh4][Os(N)Me(CH2SiMe3)(µ-O)2CrO2] (6).
The IR spectra of each of these complexes clearly indicate the
presence of a terminal nitride and bidentate chromate group.
Molecular Structures of 2 and 6. We determined the
molecular structures of 2 and 6 by single-crystal X-ray diffrac-
tion. For each salt, the anion and cation are well separated. A
molecule of CH2Cl2 crystallized with 6. Figure 2 shows a view
of [Ru(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2]-, and one of the two enan-
tiomers of [Os(N)Me(CH2SiMe3)(µ-O)2CrO2]- is shown in
Figure 3. Table 1 includes selected bond distances and angles
of both complexes.
The ruthenium center in 2 has a distorted square pyramidal
geometry with the nitrido ligand in the apical position. The
ruthenium atom is above the plane of the four basal ligands.
This is common in five-coordinate nitridoruthenium complexes.
The nitrogen-ruthenium-oxygen angles are greater than the
nitrogen-ruthenium-carbon angles, probably due to repulsion
between lone pairs on the nitride and the bridging oxides. The
ruthenium-nitrogen distance and the average ruthenium-carbon
distance in 2 are 1.612(7) and 2.099 Å, respectively. The
ruthenium-nitrogen distance is longer than the Ru-N distances
of 1.570(7) Å in [Ph4As][Ru(N)Cl4] and 1.580(1) Å in [N(n-
Bu)4][Ru(N)(CH3)4].19,20 Presumably, the steric requirements
imposed by the (trimethylsilyl)methyl ligand are responsible for
the increase in this bond length.21 The average terminal CrdO
distance is 1.603 Å, while the average bridging Cr-O distance
is 1.725 Å. These Cr-O bond lengths are longer than the bond
distances found in [L2Fe2(µ-CrO4)3]‚H2O (1.678, 1.574 Å).22
The ruthenium-chromium distance is 2.617(2) Å.
Complex 6 is structurally similar to 2. The osmium center in
6 has a distorted square pyramidal geometry with the nitrido
ligand in the apical position and the osmium atom above the
plane of the four basal ligands. The nitrogen-osmium-oxygen
angles are greater than the nitrogen-osmium-carbon angles
by as much as 12°. The osmium-nitrogen distance of 1.650(6)
Å is slightly longer than the Ru-N distance in 2 and longer
than the Os-N distance in [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)4],
1.631(8) Å.23 The osmium-chromium distance in 6 is shorter
than the ruthenium-chromium distance in 2 by 0.05 Å, and
the Cr-O-M angle is more acute in 6 than in 2.
Reaction Chemistry of 1. The osmium chromate complex
1 is stable in the presence of triphenylphosphine, cyclohexene,
carbon monoxide, ethers, ferrocene, and dimethyl sulfide. This
is surprising because chromium(VI) oxides are active oxidizing
agents. They are capable of oxidizing triaryl- and trialkylphos-
phines, dialkyl sulfides, alcohols, aldehydes, alkenes, and even
some activated hydrocarbons.1,24
Acids and other electrophiles react rapidly with 1. The
addition of HCl(g) to a purple solution of 1a at -78 °C causes
the color to change to blue (Scheme 2). The absorption band at
504 nm broadens considerably with the addition of the acid.
(22) Chaudhuri, P.; Winter, M.; Wieghardt, K.; Gehring, S.; Haase, W.;
Nuber, B.; Weiss, L. Inorg. Chem. 1988, 27, 1564.
(23) Belmonte, P. A.; Own, Z. Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, 106, 7493-
7496.
(24) (a) Piancatelli, G.; Scettri, A.; D′Auria, M. Synthesis 1982, 245-
258. (b) Collins, J. C.; Hess, W. W.; Frank, F. J. Tetrahedron Lett. 1968,
3363-3366.
(19) Shapley, P. A.; Kim, H. S.; Wilson, S. R. Organometallics 1988,
7, 928-933.
(20) Phillips, F. L.; Skapski, A. C. Acta Crystallogr. 1975, B31, 2667-
2670.
(21) Bright, D.; Ibers, J. A. Inorg. Chem. 1969, 8, 709.

1082 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000
Shapley et al.
Table 2. Catalytic Oxidation of Alcohols by 1a
Scheme 3
As the solution warms to room temperature, the initially formed
complex decomposes and [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2]
forms. The addition of HBF4‚OMe2 to 1 in toluene solution gives
a blue solution with a visible spectrum identical to that of the
protonated complex. Addition of an equivalent of CH3OSO2-
CF3 to 1 also gives a blue product. The methylation product,
presumably [Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)CrO2(OCH3)], is stable for
hours at room temperature. Because it is highly soluble in
hexane, we have not been able to isolate it in pure form. The
product is paramagnetic, and its IR spectrum contains bands
due to Os-N and terminal Cr-O stretching vibrations.
Methanol forms a complex with 1. The resonances for the R
1
protons of the alkyl groups in 1a shift significantly in the H
NMR spectrum when methanol or methanol-d3 is added to the
solution. The osmium-nitrogen stretching vibration shifts to
lower energy in the solution IR spectrum, but the energy of the
terminal chromium-oxo stretches does not change. We see these
changes in the IR and NMR spectra of 1 only in high
concentrations of methanol. We do not observe adduct formation
with bulkier alcohols.
a Reactions were run with a 20/1 ratio of alcohol to catalyst in toluene
at 70 °C, and turnovers (TO) were measured after 3 h.
Table 3. Competition between Oxidation of Primary and
Secondary Alcohols by 1aa
The osmium chromate complexes react with bis(diphe-
nylphosphino)ethane to give dppe complexes. The addition of
dppe to either 1a or 1b produces [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2-
(dppe)CrO4] (7a) or [PPh4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(dppe)CrO4] (7b)
(Scheme 3). They form analytically pure, yellow crystals from
methylene chloride/hexane solutions. A single-crystal X-ray
diffraction study of the molecular structure of 7b shows that
the dppe chelates the osmium center, which has a distorted
octahedral geometry.16 The chromate group is monodentate with
a distorted tetrahedral geometry around the chromium center.
Complex 1a does not react with the arsenic analogue, Ph2-
AsCH2CH2AsPh2.
The anionic complex [Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2]- reacts
with hydrogen peroxide. When 1b is treated with a stoichio-
metric amount of 30% hydrogen peroxide in water, the color
Scheme 4
1
of the solution changes from purple to orange. The IR and H
NMR spectra indicate the presence of tetraphenylphosphonium
cation and (trimethylsilyl)methyl ligands. In the IR spectrum,
the terminal nitride is evident, but the chromium-oxo stretching
vibrations are significantly modified. The complex is unstable,
and it decomposes to 1b and an insoluble brown material. The
reaction between 1 and Na2O2 in water gives similar results.
The reaction of 1 with excess 30% hydrogen peroxide in H2O/
CH2Cl2 gives an intensely colored blue product. The elemental
analysis for this complex indicates an empirical formula of [N(n-
Bu)4]2[OsCrO5].
Catalysis by 1 of Alcohol Oxidation in Air. Complex 1
oxidizes benzylic, primary, and secondary alcohols to the
corresponding carbonyl compounds (Table 2). In air, these
reactions are catalytic. Alcohol oxidation reactions are slow at
room temperature, and the rate of the reaction depends on the
steric bulk of the alcohol. In competition experiments, primary
alcohols are always oxidized faster than secondary alcohols
(Table 3). Oxidation of primary alcohols produces only alde-
hydes. There is no skeletal isomerization with the cyclopropyl-
substituted alcohol. With unsaturated alcohols, there is no
oxidation of the double bond and no isomerization. The rate of
oxidation of all the para-substituted benzyl alcohols (p-XC6H4-
CH2OH; X ) Cl, H, CH3, OCH3) by 1a in air is the same within
experimental error. p-Nitrobenzyl alcohol reacts irreversibly with
the catalyst.
We investigated the stoichiometry of benzyl alcohol oxidation
to benzaldehyde by 2H NMR spectroscopy. The reaction of 1a
and C6H5CD2OH in C6H6 at 60 °C in the probe of the NMR
spectrometer produced water (HDO, D2O, H2O) and C6H6CDO
in a 1:1 ratio (Scheme 4). When 1a reacted with C6H5CH(D)-
OH, a mixture of C6H5CHO and C6H5CDO formed in a 1:1.9
ratio.
When O2 was insufficient, the reaction between 1 and benzyl
alcohol produced a green, paramagnetic organometallic product
(8), along with benzaldehyde and water. The ESR spectrum of

SelectiVe Alcohol Oxidation with O2
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000 1083
Scheme 5
8 at room temperature showed two resonances at g ) 3.3842,
1.9803. The spectrum is quite different from that of either Cr-
(IV) or Os(IV) and may contain Os(V) and Cr(V) centers.25
The UV-visible spectrum showed a weak, broad absorption
centered at 560 nm. The IR spectrum includes two very strong
bands at 954, 832 cm-1 which can be assigned to the terminal
Cr-O stretching vibrations. Complex 8 is thermally unstable,
but it reacts with molecular oxygen to form 1 (Scheme 5).
When 1 reacted with benzyl alcohol under 17O2, the recovered
catalyst contained labeled oxygen in the bridging but not the
terminal oxo positions. The 17O NMR spectrum of the recrystal-
lized, recovered 1 contained a single resonance in the bridging
metal oxide region at 537 ppm.26 The IR spectrum showed no
shift in the positions of the terminal CrdO stretching vibrations.
In a separate experiment, we followed the stoichiometric reaction
Figure 4. Plots of -ln [PhCH2OH] vs time (seconds) for the oxidation
reaction catalyzed by 1 in toluene-d8 and acetonitrile-d3.
by 5 is first order in alcohol and first order in catalyst
concentration, with a second-order rate constant of 5.4 × 10-2
M-1 s-1 at 65 °C. As with 1, the oxidation reaction is faster in
solvents of low polarity than in more polar solvents. Benzylic
alcohols are oxidized at a higher rate than primary alcohols,
and primary alcohols are oxidized faster than secondary alcohols.
There is no reaction between 5 and alkenes, pyridine, or PPh3.
In contrast to 1, in the oxidation of geraniol catalyzed by 5,
there is some isomerization of the C-C double bond, and both
geranial and neral are formed.
1
between benzyl alcohol, 17O2, and 1a by H and 17O NMR
spectroscopy. The water initially produced in the reaction
contained no labeled oxygen, but there was some 17O substitu-
tion in the bridging oxo position. After additional benzyl alcohol
and 17O2 were added to the reaction mixture, 17O-labeled water
was produced.
All of the bimetallic complexes 1-6 oxidize alcohols in a
similar manner. We obtained rate data under various conditions
for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol by 1a and 5, but we obtained
rate data for benzyl alcohol oxidation only under a single set
of conditions for 2 and 4. The oxidation of benzyl alcohol is
first order in catalyst and first order in alcohol. For reactions in
toluene at 70 °C, the reaction rate constant decreases: 2 (3.8 ×
10-1 M-1 s-1) > 5 (5.4 × 10-2 M-1 s-1) > 1 (2.9 × 10-2 M-1
s-1). The rate for the other ruthenium-chromium catalyst, 4,
is intermediate between those of 2 and 5 with a second-order
rate constant of 6.3 × 10-2 M-1 s-1. However, the solvent for
oxidation reactions with 4 was CH3NO2 because of the
insolubility of 4 in toluene, and this certainly affects the rate.
These catalyzed oxidation reactions are faster in solvents of low
dielectric constant. Toluene is a better solvent for these reactions
than acetonitrile or nitromethane (Figure 4).
The dependence of the reaction rate on O2 concentration is
more complex. At low partial pressure of O2, the rate is directly
proportional to O2 partial pressure (Figure 5). At high concen-
trations of O2, there is an inverse dependence of the partial
pressure on the rate constant.
The activation parameters were calculated from the depen-
dence of the rate contant with temperature. For the oxidation
of benzyl alcohol by 1 in air at 1 atm pressure in C6D6 solution,
∆Hq was 10.6 kcal/mol and ∆Sq was -34 eu.
In studying the reactivity of 5, we observed that this complex
reduces benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol in the presence of water.
The oxidation of benzyl alcohol catalyzed by 5 is a reversible
reaction (Scheme 6).
Catalytic Oxidation of dppe by 1. Although 1 does not react
with PPh3 even at elevated temperatures, it does react with more
basic phosphines and can function as a phosphine oxidation
catalyst. Complex 1 reacts with dppe to produce a product (7)
in which the phosphine ligand is bidentate and the chromate
ligand is monodentate. Yellow solutions of 7a are air sensitive
and decompose over a period of several days at room temper-
ature to give a purple solution consisting of 1a and Ph2P(O)CH2-
CH2P(O)Ph2 (Scheme 7, R ) CH2SiMe3). In the presence of
excess dppe, the reaction is catalytic.
The related osmium complexes [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2-
(SO4)] and [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(CO3)] react with
dppe and O2 at 60-70 °C in toluene to give a 20-30% yield
of Ph2P(O)CH2CH2P(O)Ph2, but the oxidations are not catalytic.
The dppe complex [Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(dppe)(NCMe)][BF4]
decomposes in the presence of O2 under these conditions to
give a small amount of phosphine oxide and a black, insoluble
solid. The quantity of the phosphine oxide is not increased when
the decomposition reaction is carried out in the presence of
excess dppe or chromate ion. A similar complex prepared in
the absence of acetonitrile, [Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(dppe)][BF4],
does not form the phosphine oxide when exposed to air, even
in the presence of excess dppe. We prepared a monometallic
complex very similar to 7 by the reaction of [N(n-Bu)4][Os-
(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(SO4)] with dppe. There is no reaction between
either Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(dppe)Cl or Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(dppe)-
(OSO3) and O2.
Comparison of 1a and 5 in the Oxidation of Alcohols.
Complex 5 is similar to 1 in the oxidation of alcohols. The rate
of reaction of benzyl alcohol with molecular oxygen catalyzed
(25) (a) Wertz, J. E.; Bolton, J. R. Electron Spin Resonance; Chapman
and Hall: New York, 1986; Chapter 10. (b) Abragam, A.; Bleaney, B.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance of Transition Ions; Dover Publications:
New York, 1986; p 480. (c) Hoskins, R. H.; Soffer, B. H. Phys ReV. 1964,
133A, 490.
(26) (a) Kintzinger, J. P. Oxygen-17 and Silicon-29; Springer-Verlag:
New York, 1981; pp 33-34. (b) Rodger, C.; Sheppard, N.; Mcfarlane, C.;
Mcfarlane, W. NMR and the Periodic Table; Academic Press: New York,
1978; pp 383-400. (c) Figgis, B. N.; Kidd, R. G.; Nyholm, R. S. Can. J.
Chem. 1965, 43, 145-153. (d) Jackson, J. A.; Taube, H. J. Phys. Chem.
1965, 69, 1844-1849.
Kinetic Studies of the Catalytic Oxidation of dppe by 1.
Complex 1 catalyzes the oxidation of dppe by O2 in toluene
solution under air at 60 °C with a turnover number of 13 per
hour. More than 40 equiv of dppe per equivalent of catalyst 1

1084 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000
Shapley et al.
Figure 5. Plots of second-order rate constants k (M-1 s-1) vs % O2 in an O2/N2 gas mixture.
Scheme 6
for osmium(VI) than is chromate, and these dianions substitute
for chloride ligands much more rapidly than does chromate.29
Silver chromate reacts more rapidly than potassium chromate
with [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2] and related dihalides
because the silver chloride product is insoluble and a back
reaction is not possible.
Electrochemical studies of 1a show that the chromate is not
a strong σ donor ligand. Changing ligands on the osmium(VI)
center changes the electron density of the metal and its oxidation
potential. The oxidation potential in the series of complexes
[N(n-Bu)4] [Os(N)Cl4-n(CH2SiMe3)n] (n ) 0, 2, 4) decreases
significantly with the substitution of electron-withdrawing
chloride ligands for electron-donating alkyl groups. The oxida-
tion potentials decrease from 2.12 V for [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)Cl4]
to 1.05 V for trans-[N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2] to 0.64
V for [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)4].17 The osmium atom in
[N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] (1a) has an oxida-
tion wave at +1.88 V and is more electron-poor than trans-
[N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2].
Structural studies of 2 and 6 show a significant interaction
between the chromate ligand and the π orbitals of the terminal
nitride ligand on each complex. Nitridoosmium(VI) and nitri-
doruthenium(VI) distort from the square pyramidal geometry
(increasing the nitrido-basal ligand angle) due to interactions
between lone pairs on the basal ligand and the nitrido π orbital
or due to steric interactions.20,23,30 In both 2 and 6, the N-M-O
angles are greater than the N-M-C angles. Because the
chromate ligand is less sterically demanding than the alkyl
ligands on these complexes, the distortion must be due to
electronic repulsion. The nitrido-metal bond distances in these
two complexes are significantly longer than those in all related
nitridoruthenium(VI) and nitridoosmium(VI) complexes, indi-
cating that the repulsion between electrons on the bridging oxo
groups and electrons in the nitrido-metal π orbitals weakens
the M-N bond.
Scheme 7
is oxidized without loss of catalytic activity. Under identical
conditions in the absence of 1, there is no measurable oxidation
of dppe. Meyer and Dovletoglou27 reported that the reduction
of ruthenium and osmium oxides by dppe produces the mono-
oxide Ph2P(O)CH2CH2PPh2, but none of this mono-oxide results
from the oxidation with 1. The oxidation of dppe by 1 in air
was second order (first order in 1 and in dppe), with ∆Hq )
15.2 kcal/mol and ∆Sq ) -12 eu.
Oxygen Labeling Studies of the Catalytic Oxidation of
dppe by 1. When a solution of 7 in toluene reacted with 18O2
(95% isotopic purity) under stoichiometric conditions, the
products were 1, 0.5 equiv of dppe, and 0.5 equiv of Ph2P(O)CH2-
CH2P(O)Ph2. An EI mass spectrum showed that the Ph2P(O)CH2-
CH2P(O)Ph2 in the product mixture contained 91.8% unlabeled
phosphine oxide, 6.7% with a single 18O label, and 1.5% with
two 18O atoms per molecule. Under catalytic conditions, 7
reacted with dppe and 18O2/16O2 (24% 18O2 in 16O2) to give
Ph2P(O)CH2CH2P(O)Ph2 with a statistical amount of 18O.
Both metal centers in 1 are coordinatively unsaturated. The
chromium is formally a Cr(VI), four-coordinate, 12-electron
center, and the osmium is an Os(VI), five-coordinate, 16-electron
center. Given the lower number of electrons on the chromium,
it would be reasonable to assume that Lewis bases would
coordinate to it in preference to the more electron-rich osmium.
Interestingly, donors coordinate to the osmium center, not the
Discussion
Five-coordinate osmium and ruthenium complexes, such as
[N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2], weakly coordinate donors
trans to the nitride ligand.28 Substitution of the two chloride
ligands for a chromate dianion probably goes through an
associative pathway. Carbonate and sulfate are better ligands
(27) Dovletoglou, A.; Meyer, T. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 215-
223.
(28) Shapley, P. A.; Marshman, R. R.; Shusta, J. M.; Gebeyehu, Z.;
Wilson, S. R. Inorg. Chem. 1994, 33, 498-502.
(29) Zhang, N.; Shapley, P. A. Inorg. Chem. 1988, 27, 976-977.
(30) Nugent, W. A.; Mayer, J. M. Metal-Ligand Multiple Bonds; John
Wiley & Sons: New York, 1988; Chapter 4.

SelectiVe Alcohol Oxidation with O2
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000 1085
chromium center in 1. The bidentate donor dppe coordinates to
the osmium center when it forms 7. There is no evidence for
dppe coordination to Cr in solution or in the solid state.
Methanol coordinates weakly to the Os(VI) atom in solution.
This is clear from the lowering of the energy of the Os-N
stretching vibration, consistent with coordination of a donor
molecule trans to the nitride.17,30 We see no shift to lower energy
of the Cr-O stretching bands as would be expected if the alco-
hol coordinated and donated electron density to the chromium
atom. The equilibrium between [Os(N)(HOCH3)(CH2SiMe3)2-
(CrO4)]- and [Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(CrO4)]- favors the five-
coordinate osmium complex, and we are able to observe the
methanol adduct only in high concentrations of methanol. We
can readily observe complex formation with methanol because
this alcohol is only slowly oxidized by 1. We assume that other
alcohols also reversibly coordinate to this site on osmium prior
to oxidation. Although the initial step in oxidation of alcohols
by chromate salts and related species involves interaction of
the alcohol with chromium(VI) and formation of a chromium
alkoxide complex,31 the first step in alcohol oxidation by 1 is
probably coordination of the alcohol to osmium.
Acid reacts with 1 to generate an unstable, paramagnetic
complex, and methylation with MeOSO2CF3 gives a similar but
more stable complex. There are three basic sites in the
molecule: the terminal nitride and the two bridging oxo groups.
The terminal chromium oxo groups are electrophilic,32 like
electrophilic terminal oxides in other metal oxo complexes,33
and are not likely to be protonated by acid. The nitride ligand
in [NOs(CH2SiMe3)4]- does not reversibly add a proton but is
probably involved in the protonolysis of Os-CH2SiMe3 bonds
with strong acid.17 Electrophilic attack on 1 by methyl trifluo-
romethanesulfonate gives a stable, diamagnetic methylimido
complex.34 In the IR spectra of the protonation and methylation
products derived from 1, the Os-N stretching vibration of the
terminal nitride remains intact, and there is no evidence of Os-
NH or Os-NMe groups. Protonation or methylation of 1
probably gives [Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(OCrO2OH)] or [Os(N)
(CH2SiMe3)2(OCrO2OCH3)], respectively.
should also be diamagnetic. Dissociation of the hydroxo group
would produce a distorted trigonal pyramidal complex, (N)-
(Me3SiCH2)2Os(µ-O)CrO2(OE). In this geometry, the dxy and
dx -y orbitals would be similar in energy, and occupation of
both orbitals would give a paramagnetic complex.
2
2
The coordination of an alcohol molecule to osmium would
increase the acidity of the hydroxy proton. Proton transfer from
the coordinated alcohol RCH2OH to one of the bridging oxo
groups would give an alkoxide intermediate, [(RCH2O)(Me3-
SiCH2)2(N)Os(µ-O)CrO2(OH)]-. The osmium center in this
intermediate, unlike that in (N)(Me3SiCH2)2Os(µ-O)CrO2(OH),
would be five-coordinate, square pyramidal, and diamagnetic.
The alkoxy group in [(RCH2O)(Me3SiCH2)2(N)Os(µ-O)CrO2-
(OH)]- is likely oxidized through a concerted â-hydrogen
elimination mechanism. We can rule out hydride abstraction
by a chromium oxo group because this would give a carbocation
intermediate. In the oxidation of para-substituted benzyl alco-
hols, electron-donating substituents in the para position should
accelerate the reaction by stabilizing the intermediate, and
electron-withdrawing substitutents should decelerate it, but we
observed no affect of the para substituent on the rate of the
reaction.36 A reaction that proceeds through hydrogen atom
abstraction and formation of a radical intermediate should show
the same type of electronic effect (although of a smaller
magnitude) as the hydride abstraction mechanism. The lack of
isomerization in the oxidation of cis- and trans-allylic alcohols,
and oxidation of cyclopropylmethanol without ring-opening, also
argue against a radical mechanism. The deuterium isotope effect
on the rate of the reaction is in the range of those of other
concerted â-hydrogen elimination reactions37 and smaller than
those typically observed in oxidation reactions with radical10,38
or carbocation intermediates. 3,39
We found that kH/kD was 1.9 in the oxidation of PhCHDOH.
Use of this substrate (with both a hydrogen and a deuterium at
the proto-carbonyl carbon) gives us an accurate intramolecular
determination of the KIE. Isotope effects for the oxidation of
benzyl alcohol by transition metal catalyts vary widely from
small values on the order of ours to 50 (indicating quantum
mechanical tunneling of the hydrogen). The value we see is
quite small. This is expected for reactions in which the
C-H(D)-X angle in the transition state is not linear.
Elimination of water from an [(H)(Me3SiCH2)2(N)Os(µ-O)-
CrO2(OH)]- intermediate could produce 8. Complex 8 is a
thermally unstable, reactive intermediate in the reaction and is
poorly characterized. A possible structure for 8 is given in
Scheme 8. Binuclear reductive elimination reactions usually
involve loss of a hydride on one metal along with another
anionic ligand on the second metal and form a metal-metal
bond. Both proton-transfer and hydrogen atom-transfer mech-
anisms have been proposed for these reactions.40
Decomposition of [Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(OCrO2OH)] in the
absence of a donor, such as chloride, probably results from
loss of alkane. This is common in the chemistry of osmium-
(VI) alkyl complexes. The protonated product is more likely to
lose Me4Si than the methylated product is to lose Me3SiCH2-
CH3, so the methylated product is more thermally stable. In
the presence of Cl-, chloride adds to the unsaturated intermedi-
ate, and the oxyanion is displaced. The dialkyldichloro complex
[Os(N)Cl2(CH2SiMe3)2]- is stable to acid.17
The protonated and alkylated products are paramagnetic,
indicating trigonal pyramidal rather than square pyramidal
geometry of the osmium center. In all of these complexes, the
Cr centers have a d0 electron configuration and the Os centers
d2. Square pyramidal 1 is diamagnetic because the HOMO, the
(36) Topsom, R. D. Prog. Phys. Org. Chem. 1976, 12, 1-20.
(37) The kinetic isotope effect on the decomposition of many metal alkyl
complexes is in the range 1.4-2.3, but Boncella et al. found a deuterium
isotope effect of 6.5 for a â hydrogen elimination in a tungsten complex.
See: (a) Wang, S.-Y. S.; Abboud, K. A.; Boncella, J. M. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 1997, 119, 11990-11991. (b) Burger, B. J.; Thompson, M. E.; Cotter,
W. D.; Bercaw, J. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 1566-1577. (c)
Whitesides, G. M. Pure Appl. Chem. 1981, 53, 287. (d) McCarthy, T. J.;
Nuzzo, R. G.; Whitesides, G. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1981, 103, 1676; 3396;
3404. (e) Ozawa, F.; Ito, T.; Yamamoto, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1980, 102,
6457. (f) Ikariya, T.; Yamamoto, A. J. Organomet. Chem. 1976, 120, 257-
284. (g) Evans, J.; Schwarts, J.; Urguhart, P. W. J. Organomet. Chem. 1974,
81, C37-C39.
2
2
dxy orbital, is well separated in energy from the empty dx -y
orbital.35 Electrophilic addition to a bridging oxo, giving (N)-
(Me3SiCH2)2Os(µ-O)(µ-OE)CrO2 (where E ) H, CH3), does
not change the geometry around the osmium, and this compound
(31) Rocek, J.; Westheimer, F. H.; Eshenmoser, A.; Moldovanyi, L.;
Schreiber, J. HelV. Chim. Acta 1962, 45, 2554.
(32) (a) Sharpless, K. B.; Teranishi, A. Y.; Ba¨ckvall, J.-E. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 1977, 99, 3120-3128. (b) Samsel, E. G.; Srinivasan, K.; Kochi, J. K.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 7606-7617.
(33) Dumez, D. D.; Mayer, J. M. Inorg. Chem. 1995, 34, 6396-6401.
(34) Shapley, P. A.; Own, Z. Y.; Huffman, J. C. Organometallics 1986,
5, 1269-1271.
(38) Bockman, T. M.; Hubig, S. M.; Kochi, J. K. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1998, 120, 2826-2830.
(39) (a) Che, C.-M.; Tang, W.-T.; Lee, W.-O.; Wong, K.-Y.; Lau, T.-C.
J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1992, 1551-1556. (b) Roecker, L.; Meyer,
T. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1987, 109, 746-754.
(35) Cowman, C. D.; Trogler, W. C.; Mann, K. R.; Poon, C. K.; Gray,
H. B. Inorg. Chem. 1976, 15, 1747-1751.

1086 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000
Shapley et al.
Scheme 8. Proposed Catalytic Cycle for the Oxidation of
Benzyl Alcohol by 1
Scheme 9. Proposed Catalytical Cycle for the Oxidation of
dppe by 1
Conclusion
We prepared a series of heterobimetallic complexes contain-
ing a chromate anion chelated to a nitrido(dialkyl)ruthenium-
(VI) or a nitrido(dialkyl)osmium(VI) center. These complexes
are selective alcohol oxidation catalysts. They oxidize primary
and secondary alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl com-
pounds using molecular oxygen. The evidence points to a
mechanism for oxidation that involves initial coordination of
the alcohol to the osmium or ruthenium center, proton transfer
from alcohol to a bridging oxo group, and â-hydrogen elimina-
tion.
Molecular oxygen adds to the reactive Os-Cr bond in 8 and
produces 1. Initially, a µ-peroxide complex could be formed.41
The peroxide complex could combine with an additional
equivalent of 8 and transfer one of the peroxo oxygen atoms.
This would explain why, when labeled O2 adds to the complex,
the labeled oxygens in the product bridge the two metals. At
low partial pressures of O2, the rate of the reaction depends
directly on the concentration of O2 because the rate-determining
step under these conditions is the addition of oxygen to the Os-
Cr bond. At high concentrations of O2, the rate actually
decreases with additional oxygen pressure. More of 8 converts
to [(Me3SiCH2)2(N)Os(µ-O)(µ-O2)CrO2]-, and the concentration
of 8 decreases. This reduces the rate of the oxygen atom-transfer
step. Another possibility is that O2 reacts reversibly with one
of the intermediates to form a species outside the catalytic cycle
so that under high oxygen concentration, the concentration of
active catalyst is reduced.
Experimental Section
All reactions were conducted under N2 using standard air-sensitive
techniques unless otherwise indicated. Anhydrous (C2H5)2O, THF, and
C6H14 were distilled from Na/benzophenone, while C6H5CH3 was
distilled from Na. CH2Cl2 and CH3CN were distilled from CaH2. The
corresponding deuterated solvents were dried in the same manner and
were stored over 4-Å molecular sieves. The compounds [N(n-Bu)4]-
[Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2],17 [PPh4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2], [N(n-Bu)4]-
[Ru(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2], [PPh4][Os(N)(CH3)2Cl2], [PPh4][Ru(N)(CH3)2-
Cl2],19 [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(SO4)], [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)-
(CH2SiMe3)2(CO3)],28 [Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(dppe)(NCMe)][BF4],43 [N(n-
Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(dppe)CrO4], and [PPh4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2-
(dppe)CrO4]16 were prepared according to literature methods.
The rates of alcohol oxidation by all of the Os-Cr and Ru-
Cr complexes were similar but did depend on both the metal,
Os or Ru, and the ligands around that metal. Bulky alkyl groups
on the osmium or ruthenium center reduced the rate of the
alcohol oxidation reaction. Steric bulk at this metal would
impede coordination of alcohol. For complexes with the same
alkyl ligands, the Ru-Cr complexes are better catalysts than
the Os-Cr analogues. We attribute this to the increased lability
of the second row metal over the third row metal.
NMR spectra were recorded on one of the following spectrometers:
GE QE300, Varian U-400, or GE GN500 FT NMR. IR spectra were
recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 1600 series FTIR spectrophotometer.
Electronic spectra were recorded on a Hewlett-Packard 8452A diode
array UV-visible spectrophotometer. Gas chromatographic experiments
were performed on a Hewlett-Packard 5790 series gas chromatograph.
Elemental analyses were performed at the University of Illinois School
of Chemical Sciences Microanalytical Laboratory. Mass spectra were
recorded at the University of Illinois School of Chemical Sciences Mass
Spectrometry Laboratory. Electrochemical measurements were made
with a BAS 100 electrochemical analyzer. All electrochemistry was
done in a Vacuum Atmospheres drybox. Measurements were taken on
an approximately 0.01 M solution of the compound of interest using
[N(n-Bu)4][BF4] as the supporting electrolyte. A solution of 0.1 M [N(n-
Bu)4][BF4] in CH2Cl2 was prepared from freshly distilled solvent.
Potentials are reported vs Ag/AgCl.
The oxidation of dppe by 1 clearly proceeds through a
different pathway than does the oxidation of alcohols by the
catalyst (Scheme 9). In this reaction, the terminal oxo groups
on the chromium center transfer to the coordinated diphosphine.
Molecular oxygen reoxidizes the reduced chromium unit and,
with labeled molecular oxygen, scrambles with the bridge and
Synthesis of [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] (1a).
Method A. An orange solution of [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2]
(0.040 g, 0.058 mmol) in 30 mL of CH2Cl2 was added to solid Ag2-
CrO4 (0.076 g, 0.23 mmol) in a 100-mL flask, and the flask was closed
with a septum cap. The heterogeneous mixture was magnetically stirred
terminal oxo ligands. The chromium oxo complex CrO(H2O)x2+
,
formed from the reaction of O2 with Cr(II) in aqueous solution,
oxidizes PPh3 to OdPPh3.10 Free phosphines react with other
oxo-metal complexes to generate phosphine oxide by an attack
of the phosphine on a terminal oxo group, followed by
displacement of phosphine oxide from the complex.42 Unlike
1, there is no Os-Cr interaction in 7, and the chromate group
in this molecule would be more likely to react as a free chromate
ion and oxidize phosphines.
(42) (a) Cheng, S. Y. S.; James, B. R. J. Mol. Catal. A 1997, 117, 91-
102. (b) Lemaux, P.; Bahri, H.; Simonneaux, G.; Toupet, L. Inorg. Chem.
1995, 34, 4691-4697. (c) Che, C.-M.; Wong, K.-Y. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton
Trans. 1989, 2065-2067. (d) Groves, J. T.; Ahn, K.-H. Inorg. Chem. 1987,
26, 3831-3833. (e) Moyer, B. A.; Sipe, B. K.; Meyer, T. J. Inorg. Chem.
1981, 20, 1475-1480.
(40) Halpern, J. Inorg. Chim. Acta 1982, 62, 31-37.
(41) Karlin, K. D.; Gultneh, Y. Prog. Inorg. Chem. 1987, 35, 219.
(43) Shapley, P. A.; Schwab, J. J.; Wilson, S. R. J. Coord. Chem. 1994,
32, 213-232.

SelectiVe Alcohol Oxidation with O2
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000 1087
under a low-intensity UV lamp (model UVGL-25 Mineralight lamp)
for 12 h. The color of the solution changed from orange to brown within
1 h. After 12 h, the solution was dark purple. The mixture was filtered.
Solvent was removed from the purple filtrate under vacuum. The residue
was dissolved in a few milliliters of CH2Cl2. The volume was doubled
with hexane, and the solution was filtered. The solution was cooled to
-30 °C, and red-purple crystals formed. The crystals were collected
in a fritted glass filter and dried under vacuum to give analytically
pure [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] (0.040 g, 0.054 mmol,
94% yield).
When a mixture of [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2] ((0.040 g,
0.058 mmol) and Ag2CrO4 (0.076 g, 0.23 mmol)) in 30 mL of CH2Cl2
was stirred for 24 h in an aluminum foil covered flask, there was no
reaction, and starting material was recovered. Under ambient light,
conversion of reactants to [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2]
required 3-7 d.
Si2C24H58: C, 44.49; H, 9.02; N, 4.32. Found: C, 44.29; H, 8.98; N,
4.14. UV-visible (λmax, nm, CH2Cl2 (ꢀ)): 356 nm (1708). Melting
point: 95-96 °C. Decomposition: 124 °C.
Synthesis of [PPh4][Os(N)Me2(µ-O2)CrO2] (3). To a solution of
[PPh4][NOsMe2Cl2] (0.080 g, 0.12 mmol) in 20 mL of CH2Cl2 was
added excess Ag2CrO4 (0.080 g, 0.24 mmol). The solution was stirred
under a low-intensity UV lamp (model UVGL-25 Mineralight lamp)
for 4.5 h. The dark purple solution was filtered and concentrated to 3
mL under vacuum. Diethyl ether was added, and the solution was cooled
to -30 °C. Cotton-like purple crystals (0.076 g, 0.11 mmol, 92%) were
collected and dried under vacuum. IR (KBr, pellet, cm-1): 1109 (s,
1
Os-N), 956 (vs, Cr-O), 922 (vs, Cr-O), 795 (m, Cr-O). H NMR
(CDCl3, 200 MHz, 293 K): δ 2.25 (s, 3H, OsCH3), 7.95-7.55 (m,
10H, PPh). Anal. Calcd for OsCrNPO4C26H26: C, 45.28; H, 3.80; N,
2.03. Found: C, 45.11; H, 3.85; N, 1.94.
Preparation of [PPh4][Ru(N)Me2(µ-O2)CrO2] (4). Method A.
Orange crystals of [PPh4][Ru(N)(CH3)2Cl2] (0.180 g, 0.32 mmol) were
dissolved in 50 mL of CH2Cl2. Two equivalents of Ag2CrO4 (0.22 g,
0.65 mmol) was added, and the mixture was stirred for 4 d at room
temperature. The heterogeneous mixture was filtered to yield a red-
brown solution. The solvent was removed under vacuum, and the
residue was dissolved in 15 mL of CH2Cl2. Pentane was added, and
the solution was cooled to -30 °C. Crystals of 4 (0.17 g, 0.29 mmol,
89%) were collected by filtration and dried under vacuum.
Method B. To a 100-mL round flask were added a solution of [N(n-
Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2] (0.50 g, 0.72 mmol) and [N(n-Bu)4]Br
(0.4 g, 1.24 mmol) in 60 mL of CH2Cl2 and a solution of K2CrO4 (1
g, 5.2 mmol) in 15 mL of H2O. The mixture was loosely capped (in
air) and stirred for 3 d at room temperature. The mixture was transferred
to a separatory funnel. It consisted of a violet-purple organic layer and
a bright yellow aqueous layer. The organic layer was separated, washed
with water (3 × 20 mL), and dried over anhydrous MgSO4. The solvent
was removed under vacuum. The residue was purified either by
crystallization as above or by column chromatography on silica gel
(10% CH3CN in CH2Cl2 eluant). Purple crystals (0.040 g, 0.54 mmol,
75%) were obtained. IR (KBr, cm-1): 1111 (s, Os-N), 948 (vs, Cr-
O), 928 (vs, Cr-O). 1H NMR (CD2Cl2, 500 MHz, 293 K): δ 3.18 (m,
4H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 2.08 (s, 2H, OsCH2), 1.63 (m, 4H, NCH2CH2),
1.43 (m, 4H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.02 (t, 6H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 0.09
(s, 9H, SiCH3). 13C{1H} NMR (CD2Cl2, 125.76 MHz, 293 K): δ 59.27
(NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 24.25 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 20.12 (NCH2CH2CH2-
CH3), 13.78 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 5.59 (OsCH2), 0.81 (SiCH3). Anal.
Calcd for OsCrN2Si2O4C24H58: C, 39.11; H, 7.93; N, 3.80. Found: C,
39.07; H, 8.02; N, 3.81. Melting point: 119 °C. Decomposition: 180
°C. UV-visible (λmax, nm, CH2Cl2 (ꢀ)): 350 (3741), 504 (2667).
Synthesis of [PPh4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O)2CrO2] (1b). In a 50-
mL round-bottom flask, a solution of [PPh4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2]
(0.100 g, 0.127 mmol) in 35 mL of CH2Cl2 was stirred vigorously with
a 5-mL solution of K2CrO4 (0.235 g, 1.21 mmol) in H2O. The mixture
was stirred vigorously for 3 d, and aliquots were taken periodically
Method B. A solution of [PPh4][Ru(N)Me2Br2] (0.010 g, 0.016
mmol) in 5 mL of CH2Cl2 was added to an aqueous solution of K2-
CrO4 (0.030 g, 0.15 mmol, 5 mL H2O). The mixture was stirred at
room temperature for 2 h under air. The organic layer was separated
and filtered. Solvent was removed under vacuum. The residue consisted
of a deep orange solid. The product, [PPh4][RuNMe2CrO4] (0.007 g,
0.012 mmol, 73%), was obtained after crystallization from CH2Cl2/
C6H14. IR (KBr, pellet, cm-1): 1087 (s, Ru-N), 953 (vs, Cr-O), 923
(vs, Cr-O), 810 (m, Cr-O). 1H NMR (CD2Cl2, 300 MHz, 293 K): δ
1
8.0-7.5 (m, 10H, PPh), 1.76 (s, 3H, RuCH3). H NMR (400 MHz,
CDCl3, 16.9 °C): δ 7.92 (m, 4H, p-PC6H5), 7.77 (m, 8H, o-PC6H5),
7.60 (m, 8H, m-PC6H5), 1.78 (s, 6H, RuCH3). 13C{1H} NMR (100 MHz,
CDCl3, 16.9 °C): δ 135.72 (d, p-C6H5, J ) 2.3 Hz), 134.39 (d,
m-PC6H5, J ) 9.9 Hz), 130.69 (d, o-PC6H5, J ) 12.9 Hz), 117.42 (d,
ipso-PC6H5, J ) 89.5 Hz), 3.55 (s, RuCH3). UV-visible (λmax, nm,
CH2Cl2 (ꢀ)): 354 (2422). Anal. Calcd for C26H26NRuO4PCr: C, 52.00;
H, 4.36; N, 2.33. Found: C, 52.05; H, 4.36; N, 2.34.
Preparation of [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(C6H5)4]. Purple crystals of [N(n-
Bu)4][Os(N)Cl4] (0.150 g, 0.26 mmol) were suspended in 40 mL of a
1:1 mixture of diethyl ether/THF. A THF solution of PhMgCl (2.0 M,
0.56 mL, 1.12 mmol) was added to the mixture with stirring. The
solution immediately turned orange and then yellow. After 5 min, the
mixture was filtered, and solvent was removed under vacuum. The
residue was dissolved in CH2Cl2 and filtered through Celite. Hexane
was added, and the solution was cooled to -30 °C. Yellow needles
(0.171 g, 0.23 mmol, 89%) were collected and dried under vacuum.
IR (KBr, cm-1): 3049 (w, phenyl νCH), 2963 (m, νCH), 2932 (w, νCH),
2874 (w, νCH), 1568 (s), 1560 (w), 1481 (m), 1472 (m, δCH), 1458
(m), 1420 (w), 1382 (w, δCH), 1252 (w), 1177 (w), 1151 (w), 1123 (m,
1
and examined by H NMR spectroscopy. The reaction mixture was
transferred to a separatory funnel, and the two phases were separated.
The organic phase was washed once with 15 mL of H2O and dried
over anhydrous Na2SO4. Solvent was removed from the purple filtrate
under vacuum. The residue was dissolved in a few milliliters of CH2-
Cl2. Hexane was added dropwise until the solution became cloudy, and
the solution was filtered. The solution was cooled to -30 °C, and purple
crystals formed. Purple crystals (0.065 g, 0.078 mmol, 61%) were
obtained. IR (KBr, cm-1): 1122 (s, νOs≡N), 1108 (s, δPC), 956 (vs, νCrd
O), 926 (vs, νCrdO). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, 20 °C): δ 7.64-7.78
(m, 20H, Ph), 2.07 (d, J ) 10.6 Hz, 2H, OsCHaHb), 1.99 (d, J ) 10.6
Hz, 2H, OsCHaHb), 0.062 (s, 18H, SiCH3). MS (ES, m/z): 495.9 [(CH3-
SiCH2)2(N)Os(µ-O2)CrO2]-. Melting point: 136 °C.
ν
Os≡N), 1062 (m), 1020 (s), 882 (w), 734 (s, δar-CH), 700 (s, δar-CH),
1
647 (w, δar-CH). H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3, 19.8 °C): δ 7.23 (m,
2H, m-C6H5), 6.68 (m, 2H, o-C6H5), 6.92 (m, 1H, p-C6H5), 2.58 (m,
2H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.27 (m, 4H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 0.97 (t, 3H,
J ) 6.82 Hz, NCH2CH2CH2CH3). 13C{1H} NMR (125.76 MHz, CDCl3,
19.8 °C): δ 168.9 (i-C6H5), 139.6 (Ph), 126.6 (Ph), 121.6 (p-C6H5),
58.3 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 23.9 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 19.6 (NCH2-
CH2CH2CH3), 13.7 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3). Anal. Calcd for C40H56N2-
Os: H, 7.48; C, 63.63; N, 3.71. Found: H, 7.66; C, 63.54; N, 4.01.
Decomposition: 170 °C.
Synthesis of [N(n-Bu)4][RuN(CH2SiMe3)2(µ-O2)CrO2] (2). A
solution of [N(n-Bu)4][Ru(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2] (0.020 g, 0.033 mmol)
in 5 mL of CH2Cl2 was added dropwise to a suspension of Ag2CrO4
(0.022 g, 0.066 mmol) in 30 mL of CH2Cl2. The mixture was stirred
under a low-intensity UV lamp (model UVGL-25 Mineralight lamp)
for 60 h, and then solvent was removed under vacuum, and the residue
was extracted with CH2Cl2 and filtered. Hexane was added to the filtrate,
and it was cooled to -30 °C. Brown crystals (0.011 g, 0.017 mmol,
51%) were collected and dried under vacuum. IR (KBr, cm-1): 1082
Preparation of [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(C6H5)2Cl2]. A solution of HCl
in (C2H5)2O (1.0 M, 0.38 mL, 0.38 mmol) was added dropwise to a
stirred solution of [N(n-Bu)4][(C6H5)4Os(N)] (0.142 g, 0.188 mmol) in
30 mL of CH2Cl2. After 15 min, the solution was concentrated under
vacuum to 5 mL. Hexane was added, and the solution was cooled to
-30 °C. Orange crystals (0.099 g, 0.15 mmol, 78%) were collected
and dried under vacuum. IR (KBr, cm-1): 3053 (w, phenyl νCH), 2962
(s, νCH), 2932 (m, νCH), 2873 (m, νCH), 1482 (s), 1468 (m), 1381 (w),
1
(s, νRu-N), 944 (vs, νCrdO), 923 (vs, νCrdO). H NMR (CDCl3, 200 M
Hz, 294 K): δ 3.31 (m, 8H, NCH2), 1.72 (d, 2H, J ) 10 Hz, OsCHaHb),
1.68 (d, 2H, J ) 10 Hz, OsCHaHb), 1.65-1.41 (m, 16H, NCH2CH2CH2-
CH3), 0.98 (t, 12H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 0.05 (s, 18H, SiCH3). 13C-
{1H}NMR (CDCl3, 75.5 MHz, 295 K): δ 58.41 (NCH2), 23.57
(NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 19.40 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 13.33 (NCH2CH2-
CH2CH3), 11.64 (OsCH2), 0.384 (SiCH3). Anal. Calcd for RuCrN2O4-

1088 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000
Shapley et al.
1152 (w), 1130 (m, νOsN), 1070 (m), 1063 (m), 1022 (m), 884 (w), 744
(s, δar-CH), 735 (s, δar-CH), 701 (m, δar-CH), 696 (m, δar-CH). 1H NMR
(500 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.1 (m, 2H, m-C6H5), 6.9 (m, 2H, o-C6H5), 6.7
(m, 1H, p-C6H5), 3.1 (m, 2H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.6 (m, 2H,
NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.4 (m, 2H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.0 (t, 3H, NCH2-
CH2CH2CH3). 13C{1H} NMR (125.76 MHz, CDCl3): δ 151.9 (i-C6H5),
136.8 (m-C6H5), 127.4 (o-C6H5), 123.9 (p-C6H5), 58.7 (NCH2CH2CH2-
CH3), 24.0 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 19.7 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 13.7 (NCH2-
CH2CH2CH3). UV-visible (λmax, nm, CH2Cl2 (ꢀ)): 452 (305). Anal.
Calcd for C28H46N2Cl2Os: H, 6.9; C, 50.06; N, 4.17. Found H, 7.17;
C, 49.68; N, 4.30. Melting point: 136 °C.
Preparation of [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)Ph2(µ-O2)CrO2] (5). A solution
of [N(n-Bu)4][(C6H5)2(N)OsCl2] (0.107 g, 0.159 mmol) in 15 mL of
CH2Cl2 was combined with a solution of K2CrO4 (0.195 g, 1.0 mmol)
in 15 mL of H2O in a 100-mL flask. The solution was stirred at room
temperature under air for 4 d. The organic layer was separated and
dried over anhydrous MgSO4. The solvent was evaporated under
vacuum to give a purple, oily residue (0.098 g, 0.136 mmol, 86%).
The product was pure by 1H NMR spectroscopy. IR (KBr, cm-1): 1120
(s, νOsN), 901 (νCrO), 893 (νCrO). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CD2Cl2, 24 °C):
δ 7.27 (d, J ) 7.7 Hz, 4H, Ph), 7.14 (t, J ) 7.4 Hz, 4H, Ph), 7.03 (m,
2H, Ph), 3.06 (m, 8H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.53 (m, 8H, NCH2CH2-
CH2CH3), 1.37 (m, 8H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 0.99 (t, 12H, J ) 7.1 Hz,
NCH2CH2CH2CH3). 13C{1H} NMR (125.76 MHz, CD2Cl2, 20 °C): δ
139.3, 128.4, 125.6, 59.1 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 24.1 (NCH2CH2CH2-
CH3), 20.1 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 13.8 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3). UV-visible
(λmax, nm, CH2Cl2 (ꢀ)): 520 (1500).
CDCl3, 21.7 °C): δ 135.7 (d, J ) 4 Hz, p-Ph), 134.5 (d, J ) 10.2 Hz,
m-Ph), 130.7 (d, J ) 12.9 Hz, o-Ph), 117.5 (d, J ) 90.2 Hz, q-Ph), 4.9
(s, CH3), 0.48 (s, CH2Si(CH3)3), -2.2 (s, CH3SiM). IR (CH2Cl2 solution,
cm-1): 1115 (s, OstN), 957 (vs, CrdO), 928 (vs, CrdO). UV-vis
(λmax, nm, CH2Cl2) 348, 498 (v br). Mass spectrum (ESI, CH3CN
solution, m/z): 424.2 ([CrOsNSiO4C5H14]-).
Structure Determination of 2. A transparent, orange, platy crystal,
grown from CH2Cl2/C6H14 solution, of dimensions 0.03 mm × 0.1 mm
× 0.6 mm was used. The crystal was bound by the forms {0 1 0} and
{0 0 1} and faces {-1 0 -3}, {-1 0 2}, and {1 0 0}. Distances from
the crystal center to these facial boundaries were 0.015, 0.07, 0.18,
0.25, and 0.31 mm, respectively. The sample uniformly extinguished
plane-polarized light. An Enraf-Nonius CAD4 automated k-axis dif-
fractometer with graphite crystal monochromator was used. The crystal
was triclinic, space group P1h, and there were two molecules per unit
cell. The structure was solved by Patterson methods (SHELXS-86);
correct ruthenium and chromium atom positions were deduced from a
vector map, and partial structure expansion gave positions for the
oxygen, N1, C1, and C2 atomic positions.44 Subsequent least-squares
difference Fourier calculations revealed positions for the remaining
nonhydrogen atom positions. Hydrogen atom were included as fixed
contributors in idealized positions. In the final cycle of least squares,
anisotropic thermal coefficients were refined for the non-hydrogen
atoms, and group isotropic thermal parameters were varied for the
methyl and methylene hydrogen atoms. The high thermal parameter
associated with the methyl hydrogen atoms may indicate a possible
disorder. Successful convergence was indicated by the maximum shift/
error for the last cycle. There were no significant features in the final
difference Fourier map. A final analysis of variance between observed
and calculated structure factors showed no apparent systematic errors.
The final agreement factors were R ) 0.048 and Rw ) 0.061.
Preparation of [PPh4][Os(N)Me3(CH2SiMe3)]. A solution of Mg-
(CH2SiMe3)2 (0.30 mmol) in 5 mL of diethyl ether was added to a
stirred suspension of [PPh4][OsNMe3Cl] (0.188 g, 0.301 mmol) in 20
mL of diethyl ether with stirring. After 0.5 h, the reaction mixture was
filtered through Celite. The yellow filtrate was concentrated to
approximately 12 mL under vacuum, hexane was added, and the mixture
was cooled to -30 °C. Yellow-orange crystals of [PPh4][Os(N)-
Me3(CH2SiMe3)] were collected and dried under vacuum (0.054 g,
Structure Determination of 6. Crystals were grown from CH2Cl2/
C6H14. The data crystal was mounted using oil (Paratone-N, Exxon) to
a thin glass fiber with the (0 -1 0) scattering planes roughly normal
to the spindle axis. Systematic conditions suggested the unambiguous
space group. Structure was solved by Patterson methods.45 The proposed
model includes both enantiomers in equal proportions. The space group
choice was confirmed by successful convergence of the full-matrix least-
squares refinement on F2.46 The highest peaks in the final difference
Fourier map were in the vicinity of Os; the final map had no other
significant features. A final analysis of variance between observed and
calculated structure factors showed no dependence on amplitude or
resolution. Crystal data for 2a and 6b are summarized in Table 4.
Reaction of 1a with HBF4‚O(CH3)2. In a 5-mm NMR tube, 1a
(0.007 g, 0.0095 mmoL) was dissolved in 0.6 mL of toluene-d8. One
equivalent of HBF4‚O(CH3)2 (0.972 µL, 0.0095 mmoL) was injected
by syringe. The color of the solution immediately changed from purple
1
32%). H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, 21 °C): δ 7.95-7.55 (m, 20H,
P(C6H5), 1.30 (s, 6H, CH3), 1.27 (s, 3H, CH3), 0.97 (s, 2H, CH2SiMe3),
0.03 (s, 9H, CH2Si(CH3)3. 13C{1H} NMR (125.6 MHz, CDCl3, 22.4
°C): δ 135.9 (d, J ) 6.4 Hz, p-Ph), 134.4 (d, J ) 10.2 Hz, m-Ph),
130.8 (d, J ) 12.9 Hz, o-Ph), 117.4 (d, J ) 89.2 Hz, q-Ph), 13.3 (CH2-
SiMe3), 4.6 (cis-CH3), 3.9 (trans-CH3), 1.9 (CH2Si(CH3)3). Anal. Calcd
for C31H40NOsPSi: C, 55.09; H, 5.96; N, 2.07. Found: C, 55.05; H,
5.93; N, 1.90.
Preparation of [PPh4][Os(N)Me(CH2SiMe3)Cl2]. Solid [C5H5NH]-
[Cl] (0.018 g, 0.160 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of [PPh4]-
[Os(N)Me3(CH2SiMe3)] (0.045 g, 0.067 mmol) in 10 mL of CH2Cl2.
The color or the solution changed from yellow to orange within minutes.
After 0.5 h, the solvent and pyridine were removed under vacuum.
The residue was extracted with 10 mL of THF, and the extract was
filtered through Celite. The THF solution was concentrated to ap-
proximately 2 mL, and diethyl ether was added to precipitate
[PPh4][Os(N)Me2Cl2]. The mixture was filtered. The solvent was
removed from the filtrate under vacuum, and the residue was crystallized
from THF/hexane at -30 °C. Red crystals of [PPh4][Os(N)Me(CH2-
SiMe3)Cl2] (xx g, xx mmol) were collected and dried under vacuum.
1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, 27.0 °C): δ 7.95-7.60 (m, 20H, P(C6H5)4),
2.80 (q, JAB ) 8.4 Hz, 2H, OsCHAHBSiMe3), 2.66 (s, 3H, OsCH3),
0.03 (s, 9H, OsCH2Si(CH3)3). 13C{1H} NMR (125.6 MHz, CDCl3, 22.4
°C): δ 135.8 (s, p-Ph), 134.7 (d, J ) 10.1 Hz, m-Ph), 130.9 (d, J )
12.9 Hz, o-Ph), 117.5 (d, J ) 90.2 Hz, q-Ph), 10.3 (s, CH2SiMe3), 2.2
(s, CH3), 0.3 (s, CH2Si(CH3)3).
Synthesis of [PPh4][Os(N)Me(CH2SiMe3)(µ-O2)CrO2] (6). In a
5-mL vial, a solution of [PPh4][Os(N)Me(CH2SiMe3)Cl2] (0.010 g,
0.014 mmol) in 2 mL of CH2Cl2 was stirred vigorously with Ag2CrO4
(0.010 g, 0.030 mmol) in sunlight for 7 d. The solution changed from
orange to deep purple. The mixture was filtered. Diethyl ether was
added to the filtrate, and it was cooled to -30 °C. Purple crystals (0.009
g, 0.012 mmol, 86%) were collected. 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3, 21.7
°C): δ 7.95-7.60 (m, 20H, P(C6H5)4), 2.28 (s, 3H, OsCH3), 2.18 (d,
J ) 10.5 Hz, 1H, OsCH2SiMe3), 1.62 (d, J ) 10 Hz, 1H, OsCH2-
SiMe3), 0.31 (s, 9H, OsCH2Si(CH3)3). 13C{1H} NMR (125.6 MHz,
1
to dark blue. A H NMR spectrum showed only very broad peaks for
the N(n-Bu)4 cation and Me2O. IR (KBr, cm-1): 3433 (m, O-H), 1111
(s, OstN), 950 (vs, CrdO), 927 (vs, CrdO). ESR-300 (toluene): g1
) 4.1856, g2 ) 1.9983. UV-visible (λmax, nm, toluene): 540, 660 (v
br).
Reaction of 1a with HCl(aq). A solution of 1a (0.020 g, 0.027 mmol)
in 10 mL of CH2Cl2 was cooled to 0 °C under air. An aqueous solution
of HCl (0.5 mL, 12 M) was added, and the mixture was stirred. The
color of the organic layer immediately changed from purple to blue.
The mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 1 d. The
organic layer slowly changed to orange. The aqueous solution was
yellow-brown. The orange organic layer was separated, and solvent
was removed under vacuum. The residue was crystallized from
(C2H5)2O/C6H14 to give [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl2] (0.012 g,
1
0.017 mmol, 64%). H NMR spectroscopy showed this to be the cis
isomer.
(44) (a) Sheldrick, G. M., Kruger, C., Goddard, R., Eds. SHELX-86. In
Crystallographic Computing 3; Oxdord University: Oxford, UK, 1985; pp
175-189. (b) Ibers, J. A., Hamilton, W. C., Eds. International Tables for
X-ray Crystallography; Kynoch: Birmingham, England, 1974; Vol. IV, pp
61-66, 99-101, 149-150.
(45) Sheldrick, G. M. SHELXS-86. Acta Crystallogr. 1990, A46, 467-
473.
(46) Sheldrick, G. M. SHELXL-93; Program for crystal structure refine-
ment. Institute fur Anorg. Chemie: Gottingen, Germany, 1993.

SelectiVe Alcohol Oxidation with O2
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000 1089
Table 4. Summary of Crystal Data for 2a and 6b
CH2CH3), 3.20 (m, 8H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3). UV-visible (λmax, nm,
CH2Cl2): 572. Anal. Calcd for N2C32H72OsCrO5: C, 47.62; H, 8.99;
N, 3.47. Found: C, 47.38; H, 9.06; N, 3.79.
2a
6bxe1 CH2Cl2
chemical formula
space group
a, Å
b, Å
c, Å
R, deg
â, deg
γ, deg
V, Å3
RuCrSi2O4N2C24H58
P1h
OsCrPSiCl2O4C30H36
P212121
9.41350(10)
10.81600(10)
33.35820(10)
90
90
90
Reaction of 1b with 2 Equiv of 30% H2O2. To a stirred solution
of 1b (0.045 g, 0.054 mmol) in 15 mL of CH3CN was added 12 µL of
a 30% hydrogen peroxide solution in water. The color slowly changed
from purple to orange. Solvent was evaporated under vacuum, and the
residue was dissolved in 1 mL of CH2Cl2 and 5 mL of (C2H5)2O.
Hexane was layered on the solution until orange crystals began to form.
IR (KBr, cm-1): 3058 (w, phenyl νCH), 2951 (w, νCH), 2889 (w, νCH),
1438 (s, δCH), 1109 (s, δPC and νOsN), 940 (b, νCrO), 890 (m, νOO), 834
10.013(2)
10.192(2)
17.726(4)
104.87(1)
94.40(1)
98.80(1)
1715(1)
3396.41(5)
1
(m, γSiCH ), 723 (m, δar-CH), 690 (m, δar-CH), 527 (m). H NMR (300
Z
2
4
3
MHz, C6D6): δ 3.55 (m, 1H, OsCHcHd), 2.88 (br, 1H, OsCHcHd), 2.48
(br, 1H, OsCHaHb), 1.37 (br, 1H, OsCHaHb), 0.46 (s, 9H, SiCH3), 0.43
(s, 9H, SiCH3). UV-visible (λmax, nm, CH3CN): 466.
density calcd, g/cm3 1.255
1.656
198
temperature, K
radiation
300
Mo KR (graphite)
KR1 ) 0.709 30, KR2 ) 0.713 59
λ ) 0.710 73 Å
Preparation of C6H5CD2OH. To a 200-mL, two-necked round-
bottomed flask equipped with a stir bar, a dropping funnel, and reflux
condenser were added LiAlD4 (1.7 g, 0.0405 mol) and 30 mL of
(C2H5)2O. A solution of PhCO2C2H5 (10 g, 0.066 mol) in 15 mL of
(C2H5)2O was added slowly with vigorous stirring at such a rate that
the solvent refluxed gently. After the addition was completed, the
mixture was heated to reflux for 3 h. Ethyl acetate (5 mL) and then
aqueous HCl (6 M, 45 mL) were added. The organic layer was dried
over K2CO3. The (C2H5)2O was removed under vacuum, and the product
abs coeff (m), cm-1 60.75
43.31
collection method
1.50 (1.00 + 0.35 tan φ) 0.25 deg/ω scans,
deg ω, variable from 3
0.3333 min/scan
6830
to 16 deg/min‘
5001
reflections with
I > 2.58σ(I)
R
Rw
0.048
0.061
0.0470
0.0721
1
(5.8 g, 80%) was purified by distillation under reduced pressure. H
NMR (CDCl3, 200 MHz, 296 K): δ 7.25 (m, 5H, C6H5). 2.02 (m, 1H,
OH). Anal. Calcd for C6H5CD2OH: C, 76.26; H, 7.46. Found: C, 75.68.
H, 7.32.
Reaction of 1a with CH3OSO2CF3. A solution of CH3OSO2CF3
(7.8 µL, 0.068 mmol) in 10 mL of (C2H5)2O was added dropwise to a
solution of 1a (0.050 g, 0.068 mmol) in 10 mL of THF at -78 °C.
The mixture was stirred at -78 °C for 10 h. The color of solution
changed from purple to deep blue. The solution was warmed to room
temperature. Solvent was removed under vacuum to give a blue oil. A
1H NMR spectrum in C6D6 showed only very broad peaks for the N(n-
Bu)4 cation. IR (KBr, cm-1): 1108 (s, OstN), 951 (s, CrdO), 917 (s,
CrdO). UV-visible (λmax, nm, toluene): 540, 660 (v br).
Preparation of [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(SO4)(dppe)]. A
solution containing [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(SO4)] (0.053 g, 0.074
mmol) and dppe (0.030 g, 0.075 mmol) in 10 mL of CH2Cl2 was stirred
for 20 min. The solvent was removed under vacuum, and the yellow
residue was dissolved in 1 mL of (C2H5)2O. The solution was cooled
to -30 °C. Hexane was added, and yellow crystals (0.064 g, 0.057
mmol, 76%) formed. IR (KBr, cm-1): 3055 (w, phenyl νCH), 2961 (m,
Preparation of PhCH(D)OH. To a solution of PhCHO (6.26 g, 59
mmol) in 30 mL of THF was added LiAlD4 (1.0 g, 23.8 mmol). The
mixture was heated to reflux and stirred overnight. Aqueous HCl (10
mL, ∼4 M) was then added to hydrolyze the aluminum alkoxide and
any unreacted LiAlD4. The reaction mixture was filtered and the filtrate
washed with (C2H5)2O. The filtrate was distilled. The fraction boiling
at 205-206 °C was collected. 13C{1H} (CDCl3, 125.76 MHz, 20 °C):
δ 140.8 (s), 127.2 (s), 128.2 (s) 126.6 (s), 65.4 (t, JCD ) 20 Hz).
Reaction 1a with C6H5CD2OH. In a 5-mm NMR tube, 1a (0.014
mg, 0.02 mmol) and PhCD2OH (2.0 µL, 0.02 mmol) were dissolved
in 0.5 mL of C6H6. The solution was heated to 70 °C for 10 h under
air. CD3CN (1.5 µL, 0.03 mmol) was injected to the solution as a
internal standard, and the deuterated species were analyzed by 2H NMR
2
spectroscopy. H NMR (C6H6, 46 MHz, 293 K): δ 9.62 (s, 0.18D,
νCH), 2876 (m, νCH), 1436 (m, δCH), 1255 (w), 1241 (m, δSi-C sym),
PhCDO), 4.78 (s, 0.36D, D2O/HOD).
1144 (s, νSO), 1119 (s, νOsN), 1090 (s, νSO), 1028 (w), 1000 (w), 856
(s, γSiCH ), 829 (s, γSiCH ), 745 (m δar-CH), 692 (m δar-CH), 678 (w),
Reaction of 1a with C6H5CDHOH. A solution of 1a (0.018 g, 0.024
mmol) and PhCH(D)OH (0.050 mL, 0.048 mmol) in 0.75 mL of C6D6
was added to a 5-mm NMR tube, and the tube was capped with a
septum. Dry oxygen was added to the mixture via a syringe adapter,
and the solution was heated to 70 °C. After 2 h, a H NMR spectrum
was obtained. All of the alcohol had been converted to aldehyde. The
ratio of PhCHO to PhCDO was 1:1.9 by integration.
Reaction of 1a with PhCH2OH. A solution of 1a (0.025 g, 0.034
mmol) in 5 mL of PhCH3 and 1.0 equiv of PhCH2OH (3.5 mL, 0.034
mmol) was prepared under N2. The purple solution was heated to 70
°C with magnetic stirring. After 2 h, the color of the solution had
changed from purple to green. UV-visible (λmax, nm, PhCH3 (ꢀ)): 560
(138). IR (PhCH3, cm-1): 1545 (s), 1400 (s, δCH), 1375 (s, δCH), 1240
(s, δSi-C), 1123 (s, νOs-N), 1026 (s), 954 (vs, νCrdO), 832 (vs, νCrdO),
728 (s), 717 (s). ESR (PhCH3, 293 K): 2060 G, g1 ) 3.3842; 3525 G,
g2 ) 1.9803.
The green solution was heated to 70 °C, and O2 was bubbled through
the solution for 2 h. Some black solid precipitated from the solution.
The color of the solution gradually changed from green to purple. The
IR and UV-visible spectra of purple species show that it is identical
with 1a. IR (toluene, cm-1): 1110 (s, νOs-N), 950 (s, νCrdO), 927 (s,
3
3
1
618 (s), 528 (m), 518 (m), 487 (w). H NMR (300 MHz, C6D6, 20.8
°C): δ 7.0-8.0 (m, 10H, Ph), 3.65 (m, 1H, PCHaHb), 3.38 (m, 4 H,
NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 2.68 (m, 1H, PCHaHb), 2.26 (m, 1H, OsCHaHb),
2.20 (m, 1H, OsCHaHb), 1.63 (m, 4H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.45 (m,
4H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 0.986 (t, 6H, J ) 7.2 Hz, NCH2CH2CH2CH3),
-0.22 (s, 9H, SiCH3). 13C{1H} NMR (125.76 MHz, CDCl3, 19.8 °C):
δ 134.53 (t, J ) 4.6 Hz, o-Ph), 133.84 (t, J ) 5.3 Hz, o′-Ph), 130.52
(t, J ) 18.1 Hz, i-Ph), 130.37 (s, p-Ph), 129.95 (t, J ) 22 Hz, i′-Ph),
129.65 (s, p′-Ph), 127.99 (m, m-Ph and m′-Ph), 58.76 (NCH2CH2CH2-
CH3), 28.67 (t, JPC ) 20.7 Hz, PCH2), 24.31 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 19.87
(NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 13.81 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 12.55 (t, JPC ) 24.5
Hz, SiCH2), 2.21 (SiCH3). 31P NMR (121.6 MHz, CDCl3, 24.4 °C): δ
39.11. UV-visible (λmax, nm, CH2Cl2 (ꢀ)): 232 (28 000). Anal. Calcd
for C50H82N2O4OsP2SSi2: C, 53.83; H, 7.41; N, 2.51; S, 2.87. Found
C, 51.05; H, 7.53; N, 2.57; S, 3.18. Melting point: 150-152 °C.
Reaction of 1a with Excess 30% H2O2. A solution of 1a (0.048 g,
0.065 mmol) in 20 mL of CH2Cl2 was stirred with two drops of 30%
H2O2. The purple solution changed to yellow-green, black-green, purple-
blue, and finally a brilliant cobalt blue over the course of 5 min. The
organic layer was separated, and the solvent was removed under
vacuum. The oil was crystallized from chloroform/pentane at -30 °C
to yield dark blue crystals of [N(n-Bu)4]2[OsCrO5] (0.015 g, 0.019
mmol, 57%). The solid material decomposed at room temperature to a
white solid. IR (KBr, cm-1): 2360, 2341, 1474, 1458, 949, 902, 668.
1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, 19.5 °C): δ 0.99 (m, 12H, NCH2CH2-
CH2CH3), 1.42 (m, 8H, NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 1.62 (m, 8H, NCH2CH2-
1
νCrdO). UV-visible (λmax, nm, toluene): 502. Based on the absorbance
of this band, 45% (0.015 mmol) of 1a was regenerated. Hexane was
added to the toluene solution, and it was cooled to -30 °C. Purple
crystals of 1 (0.009 g, 0.012 mmol, 36%) were collected by filtration.
Catalytic Oxidation of Alcohols by 1a. (a) Variation of Alcohol.
For each reaction, a solution of 1a (0.0082 g, 0.011 mmol), alcohol
(0.22 mmol), and anisole (12.2 µL, 0.10 mmol) in 4.0 mL of PhCH3

1090 J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000
Shapley et al.
was prepared and added to a 15-mL flask equipped with a magnetic
stir bar and condenser. Each solution was heated to 70 °C and stirred
at that temperature under air for 3 h. The yield and identity of oxidized
product were determined by GC analysis and comparison with authentic
samples.
(b) Competition between Primary and Secondary Alcohols. For
each reaction, a solution of 1a (0.008 g, 0.01 mmol), primary alcohol
(0.23 mmol), secondary alcohol (0.023 mmol), and anisole (12.2 µL,
0.10 mmol) in 4.0 mL of PhCH3 was prepared and added to a 25-mL
flask equipped with a magnetic stir bar and condenser. Each solution
was stirred at 70 °C under air for 3 h. The ratio of aldehyde/ketone
was obtained by GC analysis.
Reaction of 1a with 17O2. A solution of 1a (0.020 g, 0.027 mmoL)
and PhCH2OH (2.8 µL, 0.027 mmol) in 3 mL of C6H6 was injected
through a septum into a flask containing 25 mL of 17O2 (1 mmol, 49%
label). The vessel was sealed and heated to 70 °C for 24 h. The purple
solution was then concentrated to 1 mL under vacuum, and C6H14 was
added. Purple crystals (0.008 g, 40%) of 1a were collected and dried
under vacuum. 17O NMR (C6H6, 40.7 MHz, 293 K): δ 537 ppm. IR
(KBr, cm-1): 1111 (s, νOs≡N), 948 (vs, νCrdO), 928 (vs, νCrdO).
A solution of 1a (0.22 g, 0.32 mmol) and PhCH2OH (90 µL, 0.86
mmol) in 1.5 mL of C6D6 was injected through a septum into a flask
containing 100 mL of 17O2 (49% label). The vessel was sealed and
heated to 60 °C for 12 h. A sample was transferred to a 5-mm NMR
tube, and a 13C{1H} NMR spectrum was obtained.13C{1H} NMR (C6D6,
125.76 MHz, 293 K): δ 196 (PhCHO), 144-120 (Ph), 65 (PhCH2-
OH), 60 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 25 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 20 (NCH2-
CH2CH2CH3), 14 (NCH2CH2CH2CH3), 2 (SiCH3). The spectrum was
broad, but resonances due to 1a, PhCHO, and PhCH2OH were present.
17O NMR (C6H6, 40.7 MHz, 293 K): δ 565 (sh, low intensity), 537
(br, Os-O-Cr). Additional PhCH2OH (90 µL, 0.86 mmol) was added
to the sample in the NMR tube, and it was heated to 70 °C under O2
for 2 h. 17O NMR (C6H6, 40.7 MHz, 293 K): δ 565 (sh), 537 (br s,
Os-O-Cr), 0 (br s, H2O).
Figure 6. Temperature dependence of the rate of PhCH2OH oxidation
by 1a.
Rate of Oxidation of PhCH2OH by 2. To a 15-mL flask equipped
with a magnetic stir bar and condenser were added 2 (0.002 g, 0.003
mmol), PhCH2OH (6.7 µL, 0.064 mmol), PhOCH3 (3.4 µL, 0.026
mmol), and 2 mL of PhCH3. The flask was maintained at 72 °C, and
the solution was stirred vigorously under air. Samples of the solution
were removed every 20 min, and the concentrations of PhCH2OH,
PhCHO, and PhOCH3 were analyzed by GC. The observed rate
constant, 5.7 × 10-4 s-1, was obtained from the slope of a plot of -ln
[PhCH2OH] vs time (s).
Rate of Oxidation of PhCH2OH by 4. To a 15-mL flask equipped
with a magnetic stir bar and condenser were added 2 (0.002 g, 0.003
mmol), PhCH2OH (6.7 µL, 0.064 mmol), PhOCH3 (3.4 µL, 0.026
mmol), and 2 mL of nitromethane. The flask was maintained at 72 °C,
and the solution was stirred vigorously under air. Samples of the
solution were removed every 20 min, and the concentrations of PhCH2-
OH, PhCHO, and PhOCH3 were analyzed by GC. The observed rate
constant, 9.8 × 10-5 s-1, was obtained from the slope of a plot of -ln
[PhCH2OH] vs time (s).
Catalytic Oxidation of PhCH2OH by 1a. (a) Variation of Solvent.
For each reaction, a solution of 1a (0.013 g, 0.0176 mmol) and PhOCH3
(19.3 µL, 0.176 mmol) in 0.6 mL of solvent was added to a 5-mm
NMR tube under air. The temperature was maintained at 40 °C in the
1
probe of the NMR spectrometer, and H NMR spectra were recorded
and stored every 2 min. The observed rate constant was obtained from
the slope of a plot of -ln [PhCH2OH] vs time (s).
Rate of Oxidation of PhCH2OH by 5. Benzyl alcohol (0.1933 M)
and 5 (0.010 M) were added to a small flask containing PhOCH3 (1
µL as internal standard) and PhCH3. The reaction was stirred under air
at 65 °C. Aliquots were removed and analyzed by gas chromatography
at intervals. A plot of -ln [PhCH2OH] vs time (s) gave a slope, or kobs
(b) Variation of Catalyst Concentration. A 2.0-mL solution of
1a (0.040 g, 0.05 mmoL) and anisole (64 µL, 0.6 mmol) in C6D6 was
prepared in a volumetric flask. To each of four 5-mm NMR tubes was
added a quantity of this solution, 0.2 mmol of PhCH2OH, and sufficient
C6D6 to give a total volume of 0.60 mL. The temperature of the NMR
spectrometer probe was maintained at 70 °C, and a 1H NMR spectrum
was collected and stored every 2 min. The observed rate constant was
obtained from the slope of a plot of -ln [PhCH2OH] vs time (s). The
second-order rate constant, 2.9 × 10-2 M-1 s-1, was obtained from
the slope of a plot of kobs vs [1a].
) 6.46 × 10-5 s-1
.
Oxidation of Alcohols by 5. For each reaction, 5 (7.9 mg, 0.011
mmoL), alcohol (0.23 mmol), and PhOCH3 (10.0 µL, 0.092 mmol) in
4.0 mL of PhCH3 was added to a 15-mL flask equipped with a stir bar
and condenser. The mixture was heated under air for 24 h. Aliquots
were taken periodically, and the concentrations of alcohol, oxidized
product(s), and PhOCH3 were determined by GC analysis.
(c) Variation in O2 Concentration. A solution of 1a (0.10 g, 0.136
mmol), PhCH2OH (0.294 g, 2.72 mmol), and PhOCH3 (0.015 g, 0.136
mmol,) in 25.0 mL of PhCH3 was prepared in a volumetric flask. Each
2.5-mL sample was transferred to a flask equipped with a gas inlet,
stir bar, and condenser. The temperature was maintained at 70 °C, and
a mixture of N2 and O2 was bubbled through the solution. The total
pressure was 1 atm. Aliquots were taken by syringe every 2 min and
analyzed by GC. The observed rate constants, kobs, were obtained from
plots of -ln [PhCH2OH] vs time (s). The second-order rate constants,
k, were obtained by dividing kobs by [1a].
Competition by 5 for the Oxidation of PhCH2OH and PhCH-
(OH)CH3. A solution of 5 (0.0013 g, 0.0018 mmol), PhCH2OH (4.3
µL, 0.041 mmol), and PhCH(OH)CH3 (5 µL, 0.041 mmol) in 0.72 mL
of PhCH3 was stirred at 67 °C under air for 1 h (20% completion).
The ratio of products was determined by GC analysis (aldehyde/ketone
) 7:1).
Solvent Effects on the Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol. For each
reaction, a solution of 5 (0.007 g, 0.010 mmol), PhCH2OH (0.021 g,
0.193 mmol), and PhOCH3 (1.0 µL, 0.009 mmol) in 1.0 mL of solvent
was added to a small flask under air. The reaction was stirred under
air at 60-65 °C. Aliquots were removed and analyzed by gas
chromatography at intervals. The observed rate constant was obtained
from the slope of a plot of -ln [PhCH2OH] vs time (s).
(d) Variation in Temperature. To each 5-mm NMR tube was added
0.50 mL of a C6D6 solution of 1a (0.044 g, 0.006 mmol), PhCH2OH
(0.020 mmol), and PhOCH3 (0.06 mmol). Each solution, open to air,
was placed in the probe of the NMR spectrometer that had been
Dependence of the Rate on [5]. A solution of 5, PhCH2OH (0.019
g, 0.180 mmol), and PhOCH3 (2.2 µL, 0.020 mmol) in 1.0 mL of PhCH3
was added to a small flask. The reaction was stirred under air at 65
°C. Aliquots were removed and analyzed by gas chromatography at
intervals. The observed rate constant was obtained from the slope of a
plot of -ln [PhCH2OH] vs time (s). For 0.00179 M 5, k ) 10.3 ×
1
maintained at the temperature of interest. A H NMR spectrum was
collected and stored every 2 min. Concentrations of PhCHO, PhCH2-
OH, and PhOCH3 were obtained by integration of these spectra. The
observed rate constant was obtained from the slope of the plot of -ln
[PhCH2OH] vs time (s). The equation of the line from the plot shown
in Figure 6 is ln(k/T) ) 65.7 - 53310(1/T).
10-5 s-1, and for 0.000447 M 5, k ) 2.30 × 10-5 s-1
.

SelectiVe Alcohol Oxidation with O2
J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 122, No. 6, 2000 1091
Anaerobic Reaction of 5 with PhCH2OH. Under N2, PhCH2OH
(0.80 µL, 0.00773 mmol) and 5 (0.000958 mmol) were dissolved in
dry, degassed C6D6 and transferred to an NMR tube. The NMR tube
was free-pump-thawed three times and then flame-sealed under
vacuum. The tube was heated at 95 °C for 48 h. The ratio of aldehyde
(1H) to alcohol (28H) protons was measured by 1H NMR spectroscopy.
The measurement was repeated with PhCH2OH (0.99 µL, 0.00958
mmol) and 5 (0.000958 mmol) under the same conditions. The ratio
of aldehyde (1H) to alcohol (26H) protons was measured by 1H NMR
spectroscopy.
Reaction of 5 with PhCHO and H2O. Under N2, PhCHO (2.0 µL,
0.0197 mmol) and 5 (0.00120 mmol) were dissolved in dry, degassed
C6D6 and transferred to an NMR tube. The tube was heated at 80 °C
for 1 h. Water (25 µL) was added. After the tube was heated an
additional 48 h, the ratio of alcohol R protons (3H) to aldehyde R
protons (1H) was measured by proton NMR (1.57).
Reaction of 7a with O2. A sample of 7a (0.010 g, 0.009 mmol)
was dissolved in 0.75 mL of CDCl3 in air. After 7 days, the solution
had turned from yellow to purple, and 1H NMR indicated that 1a was
now the major organometallic species present in solution. The
phosphorus-containing material was entirely Ph2P(O)CH2CH2P(O)Ph2,
identical to a pure sample of the oxidized phosphine. MS (EI, 70 eV,
m/z (relative abundance)): 429 (M+ - H, 1.02), 353 (M+ - Ph, 100),
229 (Ph2P(O)CH2CH2+, 64.87), 201 (P(O)Ph2+, 32.35), 77 (Ph+, 37.87).
1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, 20.0 °C): δ 2.52 (d, 4H, J ) 2.5 Hz,
CH2), 7.4-7.6 (m, Ph), 7.6-7.8 (m, Ph).
CD3 were prepared in 5-mm NMR tubes in air. Each reaction mixture
was maintained at a constant temperature, and the product formation
was monitored by H NMR spectroscopy. A preacquisition delay of
1
7.5 s was used to allow complete relaxation of all nuclei.
Stoichiometric Addition of 18O2 to 7a. A solution of 7a (0.030 g,
0.026 mmol) in 15 mL of PhCH3 was degassed by three successive
freeze-pump-thaw cycles. The solution was frozen in N2(l), and 20
mL of 18O2 (95%) was added by gastight syringe. The mixture was
warmed to 70 °C with magnetic stirring and maintained at that
temperature for 2 h. The solution changed from yellow to purple over
this time, indicating formation of 1a. The isotope ratio of the intense
[Ph2P(O)CH2CH2P(O)Ph]+ peak in the EI mass spectrum was analyzed
(m/z (relative abundance)): 353 (100), 354 (35.30), 355 (9.99), 356
(2.10), 357 (1.82), 358 (0.87).
Addition of 18O2/16O2 to 7a and dppe. A solution of 7a (0.020 g,
0.018 mmol) and dppe (0.070 g, 0.18 mmol) in 15 mL of PhCH3 in a
100-mL flask was degassed by three successive freeze-pump-thaw
cycles. The solution was frozen in N2(l), and the flask was filled with
a mixture of 18O2/16O2 (ratio 13:37). The reaction mixture was stirred
at 70-80 °C for 2 h. The isotope ratio of the intense [Ph2P(O)CH2-
CH2P(O)Ph]+ peak in the EI mass spectrum was analyzed (m/z (relative
abundance)): 353 (100), 354 (24.32), 355 (85.31), 356 (18.77), 357
(23.09), 358 (5.59).
Acknowledgment. We gratefully acknowledge the financial
support of the National Science Foundation (CHE 95-26350)
in this work. NMR spectra were obtained in the Varian Oxford
Instrument Center for Excellence in NMR Laboratory. Funding
for this instrumentation was provided in part from the W. M.
Keck Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (PHS 1 S10
RR10444-01), and the National Science Foundation (NSF CHE
96-10502). Purchase of the Siemens Platform/CCD diffracto-
meter by the School of Chemical Sciences was supported by
National Science Foundation (CHE 9503145). We thank Scott
R. Wilson and Theresa Prussak-Wieckowska for collection of
crystal data and helpful discussions in the solving of the crystal
structures.
Reactions of Other Osmium Complexes, dppe, and O2. The
following compounds were tested as catalysts for the oxidation of dppe
with O2: [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(SO4)], [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2-
SiMe3)2(SO4)(dppe)], [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(CO3)], [Os(N)(CH2-
SiMe3)2(dppe)(NCMe)][BF4], [Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(dppe)][BF4], and
Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2Cl(dppe). In each reaction, the osmium compound
(0.014-0.017 mmol) and dppe (0.008 mg, 0.02 mmol) were dissolved
in 0.75 mL of C6D6. The sample was exposed to air and was warmed
to 75 °C for 24 h. The quantity of Ph2P(O)CH2CH2P(O)Ph2 was
1
determined by integration of the H NMR spectrum. [N(n-Bu)4][Os-
(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(SO4)], [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(SO4)(dppe)], and
[N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(CO3)] converted 0.30-0.40 equiv of
dppe to the phosphine oxide. The other compounds either did not react
or converted only a trace of the dppe to an oxidized product.
Reaction of dppe and O2. Dppe (0.008 mg, 0.02 mmol) was
dissolved in 0.75 mL of C6D6, and a 1H NMR spectrum was obtained.
The mixture was heated at 60-70 °C and monitored by 1H NMR
spectroscopy. After 3 d, only a trace of oxide was formed.
Supporting Information Available: For 2 and 6, tables of
additional crystal data collection and refinement parameters,
atomic coordinates, thermal parameters, tables of distances and
angles, and tables of additional kinetic data (PDF). This material
is available free of charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org.
Method for the Catalysis of dppe Oxidation by 7a. Solutions of
dppe, 7a, and PhOCH3 (2 µL, internal standard) in 0.75 mL of C6D5-
JA982171Y