Agostic interaction versus small molecule binding in [RuH(CO)(PPhNiPrPPh)]BAr4F complex

Abstract

Coordinatively unsaturated, 16 electron, cationic [RuH(CO)(PPhNiPrPPh)]BAr4F complex (2) (PPhNiPrPPh = [(CH3)2CHN(CH2CH2PPh2)2]) was prepared and characterized in solution using NMR spectroscopy. Complex 2 shows close contact of the iPr C−H bond with the vacant coordination site of the metal center and is involved in an agostic interaction. Reactivity of complex 2 with X−H (X = H, H2B·NMe3, SiEt3, CH3) bond of small molecules to obtain σ-complexes via displacement of the agostic interaction was explored. The σ-complexes, [RuH(η2-H2)(CO)(PPhNiPrPPh)]BAr4F (4) and [RuH(η1-HSiEt3)(CO)(PPhNiPrPPh)]BAr4F (6) have been characterized at low temperature (213 K - 183 K) using NMR spectroscopy.