Metal-arene complexes reduction

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. 

The literature on arene - arene interactions in ternary metal-ion complexes, as reviewed in Section 3.2.3, indicates that these interactions are generally enthalpy-driven and counteracted by a reduction... 

The only route to dibenzenetitanium so far described is the reaction of titanium atoms with benzene the reductive routes that give access to arene complexes of Group V and VI metals fail for titanium. Although yields of about 30% are reported for the preparation of dibenzene-, ditoluene-, and dimesitylenetitanium, the reactions are more sensitive than most to the effect of excess metal. Unless the ligand-to-titanium ratio is high and the rate of deposition of titanium vapor kept low, the products seem to be catalytically decomposed by finely divided Ti metal 4a, 7). 

Arene complexes are usually prepared by the following methods (i) metal vapor synthesis (see Metal Vapor Synthesis of Transition Metal Compounds).(ii) AEAIX3 reduction of a metal halide in the presence of the arene and (hi) alkyne cyclotrimerization (see Cyclodimerization -tri-merization Reactions). Synthetic procedmes to obtain r] -arene derivatives have been reviewed by Pampaloni and Calderazzo. Over the past ten years, studies in this... 

Reduction of NbCl4(thf)2 or Ta2Cli0 with alkali metal arenides in ether solvents at — 60 °C provided, after work-up, salts of the homoleptic arene complexes [M IL3] ((271) L = -naphthalene, 1 -4- 74-anthracene).663 664... 

Similarly, the transition metal catalyzed cyclopropanation of alkenes or arenes with diazo compounds, in general, involves short-lived metal-carbene complexes which react with the alkene with concomitant reductive elimination of the metal fragment. Although not involving free carbenes, such reactions are covered fully in this section. 

Well-defined arene complexes of Group 4 metals in various oxidation states have been isolated. The air- and moisture-sensitive complexes Ti(r -arene)2 (56) have a sandwich structure similar to that of the related chromium compounds [176-178]. They have been used for deoxygenation of propylene oxide and coupling reaction of organic carbonyl compounds [179]. The first synthesis of 56 was cocondensation of metal vapor with arene matrix [176]. Two more convenient methods are reduction of TiCl4 with K[BEt3H] in arene solvent [180] and reaction of TiCl4(THF)2 with arene anions followed by treatment with iodine [170,176]. The latter method involves the formation of an anionic titanate complex, [Ti(ri -arene)2] (57), which can also be formed from KH and 56 [181]. 

Alkali metal arene radical anion complexes are useful sources of solvated electrons for reductive desulfonylation reactions.14 Aromatic compounds such... 

Use of Lithium Naphthalenide. Lithium arene radical anion complexes are mild and highly effective reagents for the reductive desulfonylation process of functionalized sulfones. These reagents have only rarely been used with vinylic and allylic sulfones. In addition to high yields and their operational simplicity, metal arene radical anion complexes demonstrate high chemoselectivity (Eq. 67).123... 

From the experimental point of view, reductive desulfonylations with alkali metal arene radical anion complexes require a large excess of the radical anion, very short reaction times at low temperatures, and must be run under an inert atmosphere. Sodium or lithium naphthalenides in tetrahydrofuran at —78° or lower temperatures are typical reaction conditions. Tetrahydrofuran solutions of lithium naphthalenide are dark green. This color is lost when the substrate is added and restored once the reaction is finished. Upon completion, the excess reagent is quenched with a saturated aqueous solution of ammonium chloride or low molecular alcohols such as methanol or ethanol. 

Although some cyclohexadienes are readily available, many can be obtained easily by Birch reduction, which involves reduction with solutions of alkali metals in liquid ammonia, a source of solvated electrons, in the presence of alcohol as a proton source.8-10 In previous years, the Bouveault-Blanc procedure, which uses sodium metal and alcohol in liquid ammonia, was frequently employed for direct reduction of aromatic esters however, it gave rise mainly to the corresponding substituted benzoic acid.11 Rabideau et al. reported a modified procedure 12 however, in our hands, this resulted in the reduction of the ester function to give benzoic acid. We have found that the Birch reduction of benzoic acid, followed by esterification, is an efficient procedure for the preparation of the corresponding 1,4-dihydro compound prior to the coordination of the arene to produce functionalized dimeric ruthenium-arene complexes.13... 

---