The synthesis of PNP-supported low-spin nitro manganese(I) carbonyl complexes

Abstract

The coordination chemistry of Mn(CO)5Br was investigated with a series of PNP-pincer ligands. The ligands iPrPONOP (iPrPONOP=2,6-bis(diisopropylphosphinito)pyridine) and iPrPNHP (iPrPNHP=HN{CH2CH2(PiPr2)}2) gave the desired organometallic manganese complexes (iPrPONOP)Mn(CO)2Br and (iPrPNHP)Mn(CO)2Br, respectively, upon chelation to Mn(CO)5Br. The reactivity of iPrPNNNP (iPrPNNNP=N,N′-bis(diisopropylphosphino)-2,6-diaminopyridine) with Mn(CO)5Br yielded a pair of products, [(iPrPNNNP)Mn(CO)3][Br] and (iPrPNNNCO)Mn(CO)3. The formation of the asymmetric chelate arises from a formal loss of iPr2PBr and C–N bond formation from a carbonyl ligand and NH, yielding a Mn(I) amide core. The nitration reactions of (iPrPONOP)Mn(CO)2Br and (iPrPNHP)Mn(CO)2Br were carried out using silver nitrite, yielding the nitro compounds (iPrPONOP)Mn(CO)2(NO2) and (iPrPNHP)Mn(CO)2(NO2), respectively. The analogous iron complex (iPrPONOP)Fe(CO)Cl2 was nitrated under the same conditions to yield the salt pair [(iPrPONOP)Fe(CO)2][FeCl3NO]. This reactivity underlines the difference between iso-valent iron and manganese centers. The manganese complexes (iPrPONOP)Mn(CO)2(NO2) and (iPrPNHP)Mn(CO)2(NO2) were ineffective as oxygen atom transfer reagents for a variety of substrates.