Ligand substitution reactions high oxidation state complexes

The reactions of the polynuclear W(IV) complexes [Wj( - S)(/i-S)3 (H20)9] and [W3(/i- S)(/i-0)3(H20)9], in which an aquo ligand on one of the three six-coordinate W(IV) is substituted by SCN , have been studied. The reactions of the [W3S4] species are labile, but those of the [W303S] species occur at conventional rates. Analogous to the more commonly encountered Fe(III) and Cr(III) complexes, the water ligands coordinated to high-oxidation-state metal ion are prone to hydrolysis = 0.4 M in this case), and the parallel base catalyzed and uncatalyzed pathways have been resolved. 

The cleavage of the C—H bond by direct participation of a transition metal ion proceeds via an oxidative addition mechanism or an electrophilic substitution mechanism. Metals in low oxidation states undergo oxidative addition while high oxidation state metals take part in electrophilic substitutions. Another function of the metal complex in these reactions consists of abstracting an electron or a hydrogen atom from the hydrocarbon, RH. The RH radical ions or R radicals which are formed then interact with other species, such as molecular oxygen which is present in the solution or in one of the ligands of the metal complex (21). 

In this chapter, we will consider the reactions of C-H compounds, such as alkanes, arenes as well as some others, with platinum complexes containing mainly chloride ligands. The reactions of alkanes with platinum(II) complexes have been the first examples of true homogeneous activation of saturated hydrocarbons in solution. Complexes of Pt(II) exhibit both nucleophilic and electrophilic properties, they do not react with alkanes via a typical oxidative addition mechanism nor can they be regarded as typical oxidants. Due to this, it is reasonable to discuss their reactions in a special chapter which is a bridge between previous chapters (devoted to the low-valent complexes) and further sections of the book that consider mainly complexes in a high oxidation state. Chloride cortplexes of platinum(IV) are oxidants and electrophiles and they will constitute the first subjects in our discussion of processes of electrophilic substitution in arenes and alkanes as well as their oxidation. 

In the preparative section 3.2 devoted to metal-carbene complexes, it is shown how the a-elimination reaction from high oxidation state early-transition-metal-alkyl complexes is one of the general methods of synthesis of Schrock s Ta and Nb alkylidene complexes. The other direction, formation of an alkylidene from an alkylidyne complex, can also be a valuable route to metal alkylidenes. For instance, Schrock s arylamino-tungsten-carbynes can be isomerized to imido-tungsten-carbene by using a catalytic amount of NEts as a base. These compounds are precursors of olefin metathesis catalysts by substitution of the two Cl ligands by bulky alkoxides (dimethoxyethane then decoordinates for steric reasons), and this route was extended to Mo complexes ... 

Normally, hydride can be readily a-abstracted from alkyl complexes when the metal is in a low oxidation state and bound to good n-accepting ligands. In complexes with p-hydrogen, P-elimination might become the main reaction, specially when highly substituted alkenes are formed (Figure 3.10). 

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