Solvent Dependence of the Reaction of (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Ir(CO)(2) with Aryldiazonium Ions. Synthesis and Characterization of Mono- and Diiridium Carbonyl Complexes Including the X-ray Structures of [{(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))Ir(CO)}(2)(1-eta(1)-1,2-eta(2)-p-C(6)H(4)OMe)][BF(4)] and [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))(CO)(2)Ir-Ir(CO)(Cl)(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))][BF(4)

Abstract

Reaction of CpIr(CO)(2) (3, Cp = eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) with [N(2)Ar][BF(4)] (Ar = p-C(6)H(4)OMe) in acetone at -78 degrees C affords the nitrogen extrusion product [CpIr(CO)(2)(Ar)][BF(4)] (5), but in dichloromethane it yields a dinuclear product [Cp(CO)(2)Ir-Ir(Cl)(CO)Cp][BF(4)] (6). By carrying out this very reaction in ethanol solution, a nitrogen-retained product [CpIr(CO)(OEt)(NHNAr)][BF(4)] (7) is obtained, containing an aryldiazene ligand. Deprotonation of 7 gives quantitatively the neutral doubly-bent aryldiazenido complex CpIr(CO)(OEt)(N(2)Ar) (8). The IR nu(CO) absorptions measured for the dinuclear compound 6 indicate no bridging carbonyl, but a (13)C NMR study in solution shows that 6 is stereochemically nonrigid at ambient temperature; its three carbonyl ligands are all involved in a fast exchange process, and this process is frozen at -86 degrees C. Exchange of the CO groups via a terminal-bridging-terminal process accompanied by rotation about the Ir-Ir axis is suggested. The molecular structure of 6 in the solid state has been established by single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis and is consistent with the solution spectra. By reaction of [N(2)Ar][BF(4)] with the dinuclear complex [CpIr(CO)](2) (4) in acetone, the complex [{CpIr(CO)}(2)(1-eta(1)-1,2-eta(2)-p-C(6)H(4)OMe)][BF(4)] (9) with a rare sigma,pi-bridging aryl group has been obtained and crystallized. The molecular structure containing an asymmetric bridging aryl group is established for 9 in the solid state by a single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. However, the identical (1)H NMR features observed at ambient temperature and -90 degrees C in solution (i.e., a singlet resonance for the two Cp ligands and a symmetric AA'BB' pattern for the p-C(6)H(4)OMe) indicate a static or time-averaged symmetrical molecular geometry for 9. Compound 6 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 10.583(2) Å, b = 14.256(3) Å, c= 16.818(4) Å, beta = 95.91 (2) degrees, V = 2523.9 Å(3), and Z = 4. Refinement yielded R(F)() = 0.027 and R(w)(F)() = 0.033 for 3299 observed reflections (I(o) >/= 2.5sigma(I(o))) of 4427 unique reflections. Compound 9 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 11.695(2) Å, b = 19.911(3) Å, c= 12.539(2) Å, beta = 96.54(1) degrees, V = 2900.8 Å(3), and Z = 4. Refinement yielded R(F)() = 0.025 and R(w)(F)() = 0.035 for 3444 observed reflections (I(o) >/= 2.5sigma(I(o))) of 4526 unique reflections.