AZIRIDINES AS COMPLEX LIGANDS - COORDINATION AND RING-OPENING

The photolytically induced CO substitution reactions of CpMn(CO)(3) wi th N-phenylaziridine and of W(CO)(6) with 2,2-dimethylaziridine lead t o the N-coordinated aziridine complexes Cp(CO)(2)Mn(N(Ph)CH2CH2) and ( CO)(5)W(N(H)CH2-CMe2). Both are stable with respect to thermal alkene elimination. The thermal reaction of Cp(CO)(3)MoCl with N-hydroxyethyl aziridine leads to the metallaheterocyclic compound Cp(CO)(2)MoNH(CH2C H2OH)CH2CH2C(O). It might be formed by several reaction steps includin g a Cl migration with nucleophilic ring opening, a CO insertion reacti on forming the beta-aminoacyl ligand and finally a hydrolytic process. The X-ray structure analysis of Cp(CO)(2)Mn(N(Ph)CH2CH2) and (CO)(5)W (N(H)CH2CMe2) shows three-membered-ring ligands N-bonded to the metal atoms with a trigonal pyramidal configuration at the nitrogen atoms. T he X-ray structure analysis of Cp(CO)(2)MoNH(CH2CH2OH)CH2CH2C(O) revea ls a five-membered heterocyclic ring system, including the molybdenum atom, a carbonyl function and an ammonium center.