Dihydrogen activation, heterolytic

The reaction of OsHCl(CO)(P Pr3)2 with HC1 gives the dichloro derivative OsCl2( n2-H2)(CO)(PIPr3)2.35 In solution, this complex is stable under argon for a matter of days. However, the dihydrogen unit is highly activated toward heterolytic cleavage, as demonstrated by deprotonation with NaH and by reactions with carbon monoxide and /ert-butyl isocyanide, which afford OsHCl(CO)L(P Pr3)2 (L = CO, r-BuNC) and HC1. 

We have already reviewed the activation of alkenes, alkynes, and carbon monoxide towards nucleophilic attack. The heterolytic splitting of dihydrogen is also an example of this activation it will be discussed in Section 2.10. The reaction of nucleophiles with silanes co-ordinated to an electrophilic metal can be regarded as an example of activation towards nucleophilic attack (Figure 2.28). Complexes of Ir(III) and Pd(II) give t.o.f. for this reaction as high as 300,000 mol.mol. fh"1. 

Greg Kubas of Los Alamos National Laboratory has determined how hydrogen interacts with metals. The important part of his work is that hydrogen, a substrate that is redox inactive substrate and not Brpnsted acidic, transforms upon complexation whereupon the coordinated H2 becomes acidic. The deprotonation of a metal dihydrogen complex generates oxidizable species and in this way, H2 is connected to electrons and heterolytic activation. Rauchfuss explained that Kubas discovery has helped guide his team s effort to connect H2 binding to this redox-active iron metal. 

More recently, Taqui Khan and co-workers (70) introduced the potentially tetradentate ethylenediaminetetraacetate ligand in the ruthenium coordination sphere in order to obtain an efficient water-soluble catalyst precursor. Indeed, starting from the ruthenium(III) aquo EDTA species [Ru(EDTA)(H20)] , carbonylation gives the paramagnetic carbonyl complex [Ru(EDTA)(CO)] which is able to induce the heterolytic activation of dihydrogen (Scheme 3). The hydroformylation of hex-l-ene performed at 50 bar (CO/H2= 1/1) and 130°C in a 80/20 ethanol-water solvent... 

---