From Isonitrile Complexes

Fig. 2.6. Preparation of aminocarbene complexes from isonitrile complexes (Z electron withdrawing group X=Y dipolarophile).

Table 2.4. Heteroatom-substituted carbene complexes prepared from isonitrile complexes.

Figure 35 Hydrogen-bonded mesogens formed from isonitrile complexes of noble metals.

The conversion of isothiocyanates to isonitriles under microwave conditions has been studied by Ley and Taylor using a polymer-supported [l,3,2]oxaphospholidine [119]. The use of 3-methyl-2-phenyl-[l,3,2]oxaphospholidine in solution is less favored [120] due to the associated toxicity and instability of the phosphorus-derived reagent, as well as the need to isolate the products from a complex reaction mixture by vacuum distillation. This drawback has been resolved by attaching the active [l,3,2]oxaphospholidine to a polymer matrix. 

The structure of rhodium(II) carboxylate-derived carbene complexes has been assessed both by quantum mechanical calculations [19,20] and by the study of rhodium(II) carboxylate isonitrile complexes [20,21]. Recent investigations [20] suggest, that also in these highly electrophilic carbene complexes there is a significant n backbonding from rhodium to carbon. 

Isomer shift data, Fe,S4 clusters, 38 20, 50 Isomorphic substitution, 39 179, 186 p-Isonicotinamide complexes, osmium, 37 307 p-lsonicotinamidepoly(proline) complexes, osmium, 37 307 Isonitrile complexes osmium, 37 245 technetium(I), 41 13-14 technetium(II), 41 31 technetium(IIl), 41 45 Isopolymolybdates, 19 239ff 19 265-280 crystallization from aqueous solution, 19 265-269... 

The syntheses of iron isonitrile complexes and the reactions of these complexes are reviewed. Nucleophilic reagents polymerize iron isonitrile complexes, displace the isonitrile ligand from the complex, or are alkylated by the complexes. Nitration, sulfonation, alkylation, and bromina-tion of the aromatic rings in a benzyl isonitrile complex are very rapid and the substituent is introduced mainly in the para position. The cyano group in cyanopentakis(benzyl isonitrile)-iron(ll) bromide exhibits a weak "trans" effect-With formaldehyde in sulfuric acid, benzyl isonitrile complexes yield polymeric compositions. One such composition contains an ethane linkage, suggesting dimerization of the transitory benzyl radicals. Measurements of the conductivities of benzyl isonitrile iron complexes indicate a wide range of A f (1.26 e.v.) and o-o (1023 ohm-1 cm.—1) but no definite relationship between the reactivities of these complexes and their conductivities. 

The problem of to what extent and how the reactivity of the isonitrile ligand is altered by coordination to a metal has an important bearing on the function of transition metals as homogeneous catalysts. It is also of interest from the standpoint of energy transfer in vivo, to determine whether or not there is any correlation between the reactivities of isonitrile complexes and their conductivities. In this paper we summarize some recent work on the syntheses and reactions of iron isonitrile complexes. 

Esterification of Hexacyanoferric(II) Acid. When hexacyanoferric (II) acid is heated with ethyl alcohol, esterification of the acid takes place (15, 21). The initial partially esterified hexacyanoferric (II) acid polymerizes with the evolution of hydrogen cyanide or is further esterified. Both reactions appear to take place concurrently. Addition of hydrogen cyanide to the reaction mixture causes liberation of ethyl isonitrile from the complex. Hence it is possible to synthesize isonitriles on a continuous basis—i.e., esterification of the strong hexacyanoferric (II) acid, replacement of the isonitrile in the complex by hydrogen cyanide, re-esterification, etc. (15). The over-all reaction is complex, and the precise course of the reaction has not been elucidated. 

When labeled potassium cyanide reacted with the complex in an aqueous methanol solution, the bromide was rapidly replaced and the labeled cyanide ion entered slowly into the coordination complex. When the reaction was conducted at higher temperatures in ethylene glycol dimethyl ether as the solvent, the label was distributed among the benzyl isonitrile, benzyl formamide, and the polymer resulting from benzyl isonitrile and the iron isonitrile complexes. 

In a simple displacement of benzyl isonitrile by K14CN from II, all the labeled atoms should appear in the isonitrile complex and none in the benzyl isonitrile. But the label was present in all of the products isolated and in each to a different extent. For example, the benzyl isonitrile was more radioactive than the N-benzyl formamide which must have been formed by addition of water to benzyl isonitrile. The results indicate that the internal isomerization (III V, Equation 7), the generation of benzyl isonitrile and N-benzyl formamide, and the polymerization of benzyl isonitrile are concomitant reactions. 

Clearly the isonitrile complexes are involved in an equilibrium which is similar to the virtually irreversible shift from P-450 to P-420 in the carbon monoxide complexes. 

Fig. 31. A comparison of the 1H chemical shifts for the E11 valine 72-CH3 protons of the various isonitrile complexes of isolated a chains (o) and p chains (A) of Hb A, the o ( ) and p ( ) chains as identified within an intact Hb A molecule, and sperm whale myoglobin ( ). Ligands CO, carbon monoxide M, methyl isocyanide E, ethyl isocyanide P, n-propyl isocyanide B, n-butyl isocyanide iP, isopropyl isocyanide and tB, tert-butyl isocyanide. [From Mims et al. (1983a)].

Isonitriles are isoelectronic with carbon monoxide bnt homoleptic see Homoleptic Compound) isonitrile complexes are more difficnlt to prepare than carbonyl complexes. The reduction of OsXg with ethanol in the presence of methylisonitrile gives OsX2(CNMe)4. The osmium(II) isonitrile complex [Os(CNMe)6] + results from the alkylation of [Os(CN)6]" with MeOS02CF3. More generally, [Os(CNR)6] + can be prepared by reaction of 0s2(02CMe)4Cl2 with alkyl isonitriles. 

The isolation of cyclopentanecarboxylates from 1,3-diiodopropane and an acrylate in the presence of metallic copper and an alkyl isonitrile has been reported by Saegusa and coworkers (equation 39). The reaction is proposed to involve formation of a transient 3-iodopropylcopper-isonitrile complex (47) from the diiodopropane, which then adds to the unsaturated ester in a Michael fashion (equation 40). The nonconcertedness of this reaction results in stereoselective cycloaddition. For example, Iratfa diethyl ma-leate and fumarate produce the same cyclopentane adduct in identical yields (equation 41). The generality of this cycloaddition has not been explored. 

In 1988 Lalor reported the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of some new poly(benzo-triazolyl)borate salts (Scheme 8).180 The regiospecifity of the synthesis of I I B( Btz)4 differs from that of pyrazole/BH4 reaction in that B—N bond formation takes place in a manner that maximizes steric crowding at boron (i.e., at the triazole N(l) atoms). In 1989 Shiu describes some new metal carbonyls of HB(Btz)3.181 The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of some first-row transition metal complexes was reported by Cecchi,182 whereas Hill described some new Rh183 and Ru184 carbonyl and isonitrile complexes. The formation of isonitrile derivatives was proposed to proceed through an associative mechanism involving an intermediate complex... 

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