Terminal Hydride Ligands

Already 20 years ago, Antonova et al. proposed a different mechanism, with a more active role of the transition metal fragment [3], The tautomerization takes place via an alkynyl(hydrido) metal intermediate, formed by oxidative addition of a coordinated terminal alkyne. Subsequent 1,3-shift of the hydride ligand from the metal to the P-carbon of the alkynyl gives the vinylidene complex (Figure 2, pathway b). 

The bidentate oxazoline ligands 85 and 86 (and derivatives thereof) are excellent reporter ligands, and several studies have used NOEs to determine the nature of their chiral pockets [61, 113, 114, 126]. NOESY studies on the cations [Ir(l,5-COD)(86)]+ and several cationic tri-nudear Ir(iii)(hydrido) compounds [110], e. g. [Ir3(p3-H)(H)5(86)3] +, 87, in connection with their hydrogenation activity, allowed their 3-D solution structures to be determined. In addition to the ortho P-phenyl protons, the protons of the oxazoline alkyl group are helpful in assigning the 3-D structure of both the catalyst precursors and the inactive tri-nudear dusters. Specifically, for one of these tri-nudear Ir(iii) complexes, 87 [110], with terminal hydride ligands at d -17.84 and d -21.32 (and a triply bridging hydride at 5 -7.07), the P-phenyl and oxazoline reporters define their relative positions, as shown in Scheme 1.5. 

The hydride ligand is found bound in a terminal fashion to a vast range of metal centers or as a bridging ligand... 

Location of Terminal Hydride Ligands in Transition Metal Hydrides... 

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