Phosphorus-boron multiple-bonds are of interest because of their predicted reactivity with small molecules; their potential as reagents for the synthesis of molecules isosteric to carbon analogues which exhibit conjugation; and because they have potential as nucleation sites for the solution-phase synthesis of boron phosphide. Phosphaborenes (RP=BR') have not yet been reported due to their propensity to oligomerise to dimers or trimers, even with bulky and electronically-stabilising substituents upon phosphorus and boron. Base-stabilisation at boron allows the isolation of phosphaborenes by preventing oligomerisation, although this alters the reactivity of the phosphaborene unit. An alternative method of studying phosphaborenes free of base or acid coordination is via their thermal generation from a phosphaborene dimer and subsequent in situ reactions with suitable substrates. Chapter 1 examines the potential uses of phosphaborenes in the context of other low-valent main group molecules. The likely reactivity of phosphorus-boron multiple bonds is discussed in the context of the iminoboranes (RNBR') and the isoelectronic heavier group 14 alkyne and alkene analogues. The use of unsaturated main group fragments to build molecular clusters is considered along with the potential role that phosphorus boron multiple bonds could play in preparing boron phosphide fragments. The uses and methods of preparation of group 13/15 containing molecules exhibiting conjugation are discussed, along with the possibility that phosphaborenes would be useful reagents to prepare new P-B/C-C isosteres. Chapter 2 looks at how base-promoted trimethylsilylchloride elimination can be used to prepare base-stabilised phosphaborenes from suitable precursors (RP(SiMe₃)B(X)R' and the mechanism of these reactions. The reactivity of base-stabilised phosphaborenes with Lewis acids is also examined. Chapter 3 covers how base-promoted (L = base) trimethylsilyl halide abstraction from functionalised precursors ((Me₃Si)₃P·BBr₃) can be harnessed to prepare new functionalised phosphinoboranes ((Me₃Si)₂PB(L)Br₂) and phosphaborenes (Me₃SiP=B(L)Br). A 1-dihydro-2-dibromo functionalised phosphinoborane H₂PB(Br₂)L can be prepared from Me₃Si)₂PB(Br₂)L. A subsequent base-promoted dehydrohalogenation yields the hydro-bromo substituted phosphaborene HP=B(L)Br. Chapter 4 examines the in situ thermal generation of a phosphaborene generated from a phosphaborene dimer and its reactivity with bases and unsaturated organic molecules to prepare 1,2-phosphaboretes and 1,2-phosphaboretanes. Chapter 5 explores the diverse reactivity of the 1,2-phosphaboretes. 1,2- phosphaboretes are capable of FLP-like insertion reactions with an isonitrile and carbon monoxide. They are also ring-opened by the coordination of a Lewis acid or base to phosphorus or boron respectively to give P-B containing butadiene analogues. The reaction of the 1,2-phosphaborete with phenyl acetylene proceeds via an unusual carbon-carbon bond cleavage to generate the first example of a 1,3- phosphaborine benzene analogue, rather than the expected 1,4-phosphaborine.

In this thesis, the synthesis and reactivity of metal complexes containing phosphido (PR2−) and phosphenium (PR2+) ligands for the hydrophosphination of alkenes were investigated. The mechanisms of hydrophosphination mediated by these M-PR2 fragments were explored. Based on previous work in the Rosenberg group, Ru(η5-indenyl) complexes were explored and developed as catalysts for hydrophosphination. It was determined that Ru-phosphido complexes are key intermediates in the hydrophosphination of electron-deficient alkenes. A detailed study on the mechanisms of hydrophosphination catalyzed by the phosphido complexes Ru(η5-indenyl)(PPh2)(L)(PPh3) (4a, L = NCPh; b, L = PPh2H; c, L = CO) was performed. Evidence for product inhibition was found for this catalyst system using Reaction Progress Kinetic Analysis. Product inhibition is consistent with the observed catalyst resting state of a complex containing product phosphines and the determination that substitution of the product phosphine from Ru is rate-limiting. The ancillary ligands (L) of 4 were found to influence catalytic activity by enabling catalyst deactivation (L = NCPh) or off-cycle processes including alkene telomerization (L = CO). Proposed mechanisms for catalysis were devised based on these findings. These results are important mechanistic insights that will be useful for designing new catalysts for hydrophosphination. The unprecedented viability of metal phosphenium complexes as intermediates in hydrophosphination was also explored. Three Mo phosphenium complexes were synthesized via P-H bond hydride abstraction from coordinated secondary phosphines, PR2H. These complexes were found to mediate the stoichiometric hydrophosphination of alkenes and ketones. In particular, trans-[Mo(CO)3(PPh2H)2(PPh2)]+ (13) mediates the hydrophosphination of a wide scope of alkenes that includes ethylene, propene and 1-hexene, which are challenging substrates for metal-catalyzed hydrophosphination. Preliminary attempts were conducted to render this synthetic phosphenium-mediated hydrophosphination catalytic. These results provide evidence for the putative steps of a hydrophosphination cycle utilizing metal phosphenium complexes as intermediates. The phosphenium complexes trans-[Mo(CO)4(PR2H)(PR2)] (12a R = Tolp2, b R = Ph) were also investigated as Lewis acid catalysts for hydrosilylation. A tentatively-assigned η1-HSiEt3 adduct of 12a, [Mo(CO)4(PTolp2H)(PTolp2{HSiEt3})] (20a), was observed by low temperature 31P{1H} NMR and was studied computationally. Complex 12b is proposed to behave as a Lewis acid catalyst for hydrosilylation. An off-cycle equilibrium is proposed that results in the formation of EtSi+. This work is a unique example of P(III) Lewis acid catalysis, of which there are few examples in the literature. / Graduate / 2020-07-29

The chemistry of the tetrameric low-valent aluminium compoud (Cp*Al)4 (Cp* = 1,2,3,4,5- pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) is relatively undeveloped compared to its monomeric cousin dippNacNacAl (dippNacNac = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl-β-diketiminate). Given that the former can be formed by the reductive elimination of Cp*H from Cp*2AlH, a process common to transition metals yet rare with light main-group elements, using the Cp* ligand could unlock an abundance of unexpected reactivity for aluminium. An overview of the literature regarding the synthesis and reactivity of low oxidation state aluminium compounds is provided in chapter 1, as well as an introduction to relevant magnesium chemistry for this work. Chapter 2 studies the mechanism of C-H reductive elimination from Cp*2AlH to form (Cp*Al)4, and the properties which allow reductive elimination to take place are revealed. A transition state is identified where the Cp* group has a higher hapticity than in the starting material, a process which is thought to enable the reductive elimination. Using this insight, aluminium hydride and halide complexes featuring 9-methylfluorenyl ligands are synthesised and reduction of the aluminium centre is investigated. The reactivity of (Cp*Al)4 is considered in chapter 3 of this thesis. The formal cycloaddition reaction between (Cp*Al)4 and diphenylacetylene produces a Lewis acidic 1,4- dialuminacylohexadiene derivative. The inner Al2C4 ring of this complex is stable, with onward reactions happening at the complex's periphery. Insertion reactions in the Al-CCp* bonds are observed with unsaturated C-N species. With 2,6-dimethylphenylisonitrile the Al2C4 complex forms a zwitterionic aluminate, featuring a stable carbocation derived from the Cp* group. An amidinate complex with an unusual Cp* backbone is formed from the insertion of carbodiimides into the Al-CCp* bond of the 1,4-dialuminacyclohexadiene. Extending this, the insertion of carbon dioxide into the same bond is explored. The use of amidine ligands is common in main-group chemistry, however literature relating to the related phosphaamidinate ligands ([RPC(R)NR]-) is only reported sporadically. They have not been applied in a general manner to main-group chemistry thus far. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis of five new phosphaamidinate pro-ligands where the steric bulk of both the phosphorus and nitrogen components is increased systematically. To evaluate these new ligands, their coordination chemistry with magnesium was investigated. Three examples of heteroleptic LMgnBu (L = phosphaamidinate) complexes are synthesised, which all show high activity for the ring-opening polymerisation of racemic lactide. The resulting polylactide chains show good molecular weights and polydispersity indices. The synthesis of homoleptic L2Mg complexes is also described. Chapter 5 applies these new phosphaamidinate ligands to aluminium chemistry. An aluminium hydride species is isolated, which is shown to form via a probable lithium aluminate intermediate. The lifetime of this intermediate is found to be heavily dependent on the reaction solvent.

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of titanium bis(diimine) complexes supported by 1,2-alternate dimethylsilyl-bridged p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene dianion and 2,2' methylene-bridged 4-methyl, 6-tertbutyl phenol ligands is reported. The molecular structure of [(DMSC)Ti(bpy)2] (28) and [(MBMP)Ti(bpy)2] (55) was characterized by X-ray crystallography. Complexes [(DMSC)Ti(bpy)2] (28), [(DMSC)Ti(dmbpy)2] (29), and [(DMSC)Ti(phen)2] (30) undergoes light-assisted reactions with two or more equivalents of (C6H5)2CO or (p-MeC6H4)2CO to give the corresponding 1-aza-5-oxa-titanacyclopentene complexes 37-42. Similar reactivity was observed with [(MBMP)Ti(bpy)2] (55), [(MBMP)Ti(dmbpy)2] (56), and [(MBMP)Ti(phen)2] (57). The molecular structure of [(MBMP)Ti{kappa-3-OC(C6H5)2C10H7N2}{OCH(C6H5)2}] (58) was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR as well as X-Ray crystallography.

Page 39 was included twice in the thesis. / <p> This thesis describes reactions involving low valent technetium nitrosyl complexes. O-Substituted hydroxylamines were reacted with [TcOCl4]- in methanol producing [Tc(NO)Cl4]-. NMR studies have shown that two species are present besides the starting material during this reaction. One of these species was confirmed by NMR to be the corresponding alcohol of the O-substituted hydroxylamine. The other species is believed to be a hydroxylamine intermediate that is in equilibrium with the final product, [Tc(NO)Cl4]-. A plausible mechanism for this reaction was proposed that included an oxo group attack of the α-carbon of the O-substituted hydroxylamine which would lead to the formation of the corresponding alcohol. In an attempt to confirm the mechanism, O-18 labeled [TcOCl4]- was synthesized, however, there is no conclusive evidence that the label is transferred to the corresponding alcohol at the present time. Substitution reactions of [Tc(NO)Cl4]- with phenanthroline and bipyridyl ligands were also investigated. Reactions with these ligands produced [Tc^(II)(NO)Cl3phen] (4a) and [Tc^(II)(NO)Cl3bipy] (5), respectively. The crystal structures of these complexes showed that the meridonial isomer is produced with one nitrogen atom of the bidentate ligand trans to the nitrosyl moiety. EPR spectra of these compounds confirm the Tc(II) oxidation state of the metal. All of the chloride ligands of 4a and 5 can be displaced using AgBF4 in acetonitrile solvent, which, in the case of bipyridyl, produces [Tc^(I)(NO)(bipy)2(MeCN)]2+ (6). Other technetium nitrosyl containing complexes are formed in these reactions and are currently awaiting x-ray structure determination.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Olefin metathesis is a powerful tool for the making and breaking of carbon-carbon double bonds. Among well-defined homogenous catalysts for olefin metathesis, ruthenium-based alkylidenes stand out for their robustness and relative ease-of-use. Synthesis of the most active Ru-based metathesis catalysts remains challenging, however, and there is continued interest in new and improved routes to alkylidene installation as metathesis begins to see wide uptake in industry. The first part of this thesis focuses on developing new routes to known catalysts. Magnesium carbenoids are investigated as a potential alkylidene source, and in the process a novel route to benzylmagnesium carbenoids is developed. Initially promising results showing ca. 40% conversion to first generation metathesis catalysts failed to lead to a viable high-yield route to Ru-alkylidenes. A high yield route to RuCl2(H2IMes)(py)4 (previously reported in low yields as a decomposition product of the third-generation Grubbs’ metathesis catalyst) is developed and this complex is investigated as a precursor to indenylidene-based catalysts. Although RuCl2(H2IMes)(py)4 is shown to be substitutionally labile, indenylidene installation could not be achieved. Finally, zinc aryloxides are investigated as an alternative to thallium and silver reagents for the installation of aryloxide ligands. Initial results indicate that zinc aryloxides are kinetically, though not thermodynamically, competent for the installation of the challenging aryloxide C6F5O- on the second-generation Hoveyda catalyst. The second part of this thesis concerns progress towards the development of a new low-valent catalyst platform. Initial experiments involving treating the second-generation Hoveyda catalyst with various reducing agents fail to produce low-valent alkylidenes, leading instead to decomposition of alkylidene. Drawing inspiration from early transition metal systems, the remainder of the second part focuses on alpha-hydride elimination from a RuII alkyl as a means of accessing low-valent alkylidenes. To this end, a novel benzylruthenium complex as well as bis-benzyl and mono-aryloxide derivatives are developed. While attempts to induce benzyl-to-benzyl hydride abstraction or intramolecular deprotonation of the benzyl ligand failed to produce alkylidenes, ligand-induced benzyl-to-aryloxide hydride abstraction appears to be successful, leading to the observation of a broad 1H NMR signal in the region characteristic for low-valent Ru-alkylidenes.

No description available.

This thesis describes selected reactivity studies of the N-heterocyclic carbene, IPr, towards a range of main group compounds. The synthesis and characterisation of sixty-three compounds, all of which incorporate IPr as a ligand in one of three coordination modes, are detailed herein. The deprotonation of IPr allowed for the isolation of an anionic source of the aIPr: ligand which was synthesised as a novel potassium salt and along with the previously reported lithium salt, was employed in reactions with group 12 and 14 bis(trimethylsilyl)amides and tetrahalides. The further chemistry of such novel products was investigated towards both electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents making use of both the pendant nucleophilic carbene functionality and the electrophilic main group centre. An alternative route to such species was investigated by the spontaneous isomerisation of IPr in the coordination sphere of group 14 tetrabromides and group 15 tribromides. The scope of this reactivity was subsequently investigated and was found to provide a simpler route to access the abnormal coordination mode of IPr. The aIPr ligand which is generated may be deprotonated by additional IPr thereby affording aIPr: ligands. The addition of halide abstracting agents allowed for the synthesis of cationic species stabilised by the coordination of either IPr or aIPr ligands. A unique, spontaneous reductive coupling of two phosphorus centres was discovered to take place upon heating a THF solution of (IPr)PBr₃. This allowed for the isolation of a bromide bridged P–P bond with reduced phosphorus centres. This facile reduction chemistry was further explored by reaction with mild reducing agents which provide access to low oxidation state phosphorus compounds in high yields. This chemistry was found to be possible (and more effective) due to the presence of the weaker phosphorus bond to bromine relative to the commonly employed chlorine ligands.

Ce projet de recherche porte sur l’étude de complexes de nickel à différents degrés d’oxydation (de 0 à +IV) dans le but de promouvoir la formation de liaisons C–C et C–CF3. Dans une première partie, l’étude porte sur l’utilisation de complexes de nickel à basse valence en tant que catalyseurs pour les réactions de couplage croisé de Negishi et de Suzuki-Miyaura. Si la formation de liaisons C–C est une réaction parfaitement maîtrisée au palladium, l’emploi de complexes de nickel comme catalyseurs est plus difficile à appréhender d’un point de vue mécanistique. Dans ce travail, l’utilisation d’un ligand bis-phosphine a permis de synthétiser et d’isoler des complexes de nickel(0). Une étude mécanistique complète alliant expériences et calculs DFT démontre que la réaction de Negishi fonctionne uniquement sur un régime Ni(0)/Ni(II). Des études préliminaires montrent en revanche que le mécanisme est tout autre lorsqu’on s’intéresse à la réaction de Suzuki-Miyaura. Dans une deuxième partie, l’objectif est la formation de liaisons C–CF3 en utilisant des complexes de nickel à haute valence. La formation de ces liaisons à partir de métaux de transition reste un défi puisque les méthodologies utilisées à ce jour au niveau industriel nécessitent l’utilisation de conditions drastiques et conduisent à la formation de composés nocifs pour l’environnement. Ce n’est que très récemment que des travaux de recherche ont porté sur l’utilisation du nickel comme support à la formation de liaisons C–CF3. Ce projet décrit la synthèse de complexe de nickel(III) portant deux groupements CF3 et l’utilisation d’un complexe dimérique de nickel(III) comme plateforme pour l’accès à d’autres complexes [NiIII(CF3)2]. Si ces complexes ne permettent pas de former de liaisons C–CF3, une espèce de nickel(IV) permet la formation de telles liaisons. Il s’agit de plus du premier complexe de nickel(IV) portant deux atomes de fluor et deux groupements CF3 capable de promouvoir l’activation de liaisons C–H. / This research project aims at the study of nickel complexes in different oxidation states (from 0 to +IV) in order to promote C–C and C–CF3 bond formation. In a first part, low-valent nickel complexes are used as catalysts to perform Negishi and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. If the C–C bond formation is a well-known reaction using palladium catalysts, the use of nickel complexes as catalysts is more complicated to understand in the mechanistic aspect. In this work, the key point is the use of a bis-phosphine ligand which allows the synthesis and isolation of nickel(0) complexes. A full mechanistic study via stoichiometric reactions as well as DFT calculations confirms that the Negishi cross-coupling works only on a Ni(0)/Ni(II) catalytic cycle. Surprisingly, preliminary studies on the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions show that the mechanism pathway is completely different. In a second part, our interest is focused on the C–CF3 bond formation using high-valent nickel complexes. In chemical industries, the C–CF3 bond formation requires harsh conditions and also produces toxic waste for the environment. This mainly explains why the use of transition metals is still challenging in this topic. However in the last few years, the interest for the use of nickel complexes as coupling agent for C–CF3 bond formation has grown. This work deals with the synthesis of nickel(III) complexes bearing two CF3 substituents and the use of a dimeric nickel(III) complex as a building block for the formation [NiIII(CF3)2] type complexes. If these species do not promote the C–CF3 cross coupling, a nickel(IV) complex shows its ability to create this bond. Moreover, this is the first nickel(IV) species bearing both fluorine and CF3 substituents at the same metal center and promoting C–H bond activation.

No description available.