Metal-arene complexes chromium

The synthetic potential of transition metal atoms in organometallic chemistry was first demonstrated by the formation of dibenzenechrom-ium (127). Apart from chromium, Ti, V, Nb, Mo, W, Mn, and Fe atoms each form well-defined complexes with arenes on condensation at low temperatures. Interaction has also been observed between arenes and the vapors of Co, Ni, and some lanthanides. Most important, the synthesis of metal-arene complexes from metal vapors has been successful with a wide range of substituted benzenes, providing routes to many compounds inaccessible by conventional reductive preparations of metal-arene compounds. 

Some examples of polynuclear polymeric metal arene complexes, obtained by cryosynthetic reactions from tin, titanium, vanadium, chromium, and molybdenum, are represented [202,542,543]. However, the preparative possibilities of such syntheses are not yet clear [201,202]. 

The aromatic products often contain an arene-complexed chromium tricarbonyl unit. The metal-free product is obtained by oxidation commonly using CAN or air under irradiation. The formation of complexed adducts can be used to prepare chiral chromium tricarbonyl arene complexes (Scheme 44, see Arene Complexes). 

A second synthetic procedure for preparing silylated arene complexes, based on the metalation of a preformed rj6-arene complex, followed by treatment with an organochlorosilane, has been used only in one case so far namely, bis(benzene)chromium (47) ... 

Metal carbonyls Acylcobaltate complexes, 101 Arene(tricarbonyl)chromium complexes, 19... 

Three types of reaction systems have been designed and applied for the enantioposition-selective asymmetric cross-coupling reactions so far. First example is asymmetric induction of planar chirality on chromium-arene complexes [7,8]. T vo chloro-suhstituents in a tricarhonyl("n6-o-dichlorobenzene)chromium are prochiral with respect to the planar chirality of the 7t-arene-metal moiety, thus an enantioposition-selective substitution at one of the two chloro substituents takes place to give a planar chiral monosubstitution product with a minor amount of the disubstitution product. A similar methodology of monosuhstitution can be applicable to the synthesis of axially chiral biaryl molecules from an achiral ditriflate in which the two tri-fluoromethanesulfonyloxy groups are enantiotopic [9-11]. The last example is intramolecular alkylation of alkenyl triflate with one of the enantiotopic alkylboranes, which leads to a chiral cyclic system [12], The structures of the three representative substrates are illustrated in Figure 8F.1. 

Complexes of Cr, W, Mo, Fe, Ru, V, Mn and Rh form stable, isolable arene if -complexes. Among them, arene complexes of Cr(CO)3 have high synthetic uses. When benzene is refluxed with Cr(CO)6 in a mixture of dibutyl ether and THF, three coordinated CO molecules are displaced with six-7r-electrons of benzene to form the stable i/fi-benzene chromium tricarbonyl complex (170) which satisfies the 18-electron rule (6 from benzene + 6 from Cr(0) + 6 from 3 CO = 18). Complex formation is facilitated by electron-donating groups on benzene, and no complex of nitrobenzene is formed. Complex formation has a profound effect on reactivity of arenes, and the resulting complexes are used in synthetic reactions. The metal-free reaction products can be isolated easily after decomplexation by mild oxidation using low-valent Cr. Cycloheptatriene also forms a stable complex with Cr(CO)3 and its synthetic applications are discussed below. 

H. G. Schmalz, and F. Dehmel, Chromium-Arene Complexes, in Transition Metals for Organic Synthesis, Second Ed. (Eds. M. Beller and C. Bolm, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2006, Vol. 1, Chap. 3.12). 

A variety of transition metals, for example, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, iron, vanadium, manganese, and rhodium can be used to prepare relatively stable j -arene complexes (see Arene Complexes). Reactions of j -arene chromium tricarbonyl complexes have been extensively examined, and numerous reviews are available. Although chromium complexes are by far the most utilized in organic synthesis, complexes of iron and manganese are emerging as potentially useful alternatives. 

Arene(tricarbonyl)chromium complexes undergo a number of synthetically important transformations not usually observed for uncomplexed arenes. The chromium tricarbonyl moiety facilitates nucleophilic, electrophilic, and radical reactions at the benzylic position. Upon complexation, one side of the aromatic ring and adjacent functionalities is blocked by the metal carbonyl moiety and highly stereoselective reactions are usually observed even at relatively remote positions. In addition, the protons of the complexed aromatic ring have a substantially higher acidity and are readily removed and further substituted by electrophiles. Finally, the aromatic ring is activated toward addition reactions using a variety of nucleophiles. 

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