Phenyl-to-Oxo Migration in an Electrophilic Rhenium(VII) Dioxo Complex

Abstract

Reaction of (HBpz3)ReO(Ph)(OTf) with oxygen atom donors leads to oxidation of the phenyl group [HBpz3 = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate, OTf = triflate, OSO2CF3]. Reaction with Me2SO gives the adduct [(HBpz3)ReO(Ph)(OSMe2)]OTf, which undergoes phenyl-to-oxo migration at 25 °C to give the phenoxide complex [(HBpz3)ReO(OPh)(OSMe2)]OTf and Me2S. The Me2SO adduct readily and reversibly loses Me2S (k = 2.9(4) s-1 at 25 °C) as indicated by isotope exchange reactions and magnetization transfer. The Me2SO adduct also slowly oxidizes Me2SO to Me2SO2. These reactions all proceed via an intermediate rhenium(VII) dioxo complex, [(HBpz3)ReO2(Ph)]OTf. This dioxo complex can be observed at low temperature on reaction of (HBpz3)ReO(Ph)(OTf) with pyridine N-oxide. It rearranges at 0 °C by phenyl-to-oxo migration to give phenoxide products and the catecholate complex (HBpz3)ReO(O2C6H4). The kinetics of this migration have been measured (ΔH⧧ = 14.8(7) kcal/mol, ΔS⧧ = −20.5(25) eu). From these data and the activation parameters for reactions of [(HBpz3)ReO(Ph)(OSMe2)]OTf, a detailed free energy surface for the reactions of [(HBpz3)ReO2(Ph)]OTf is constructed. The dioxo complex reacts very rapidly with Me2S (1.7 × 105 M-1 s-1) with essentially no enthalpic barrier, consistent with the action of a highly electrophilic oxo ligand. Electrophilicity of the oxo groups is suggested to be a critical factor in facilitating the phenyl-to-oxo migration. A general explanation for the relative ease of various organometallic migration reactions, based on analogies with organic [1,2]-shifts, is presented.