Electrophilic substitution reactions at the phenyl ring of the chelated 2-(2 '-pyridyl)phenyl ligand bound to ruthenium(II) or osmium(II)

Reaction between (PyPh)(2)Hg (PyPh = 2-(2'-pyridyl)phenyl) and MHCl(CO)(PPh 3)(3) proceeds smoothly to form M(eta(2)-PyPh)Cl(CO)(PPh3)(2) (M = Ru (1a); M = Os (1b)). In both complexes the PyPh ligand is bound as a stable five- membered chelate ring. The chloride ligand in these complexes can be remove d through reaction with a silver salt and other ligands then introduced. In this way the compounds M(eta(2)-PyPh)I(CO)(PPh3)(2) (M = Ru (2a); M = Os ( 2b)), [M(eta(2)-PyPh)(CO)(2)(PPh3)(2)]SbF6 (M = Ru (3a); M = Os (3b)), and M(eta(2)-PyPh)(eta(2)-S2CNMe2)(CO)(PPh3) (M = Ru (4a); M = Os (4b)) have be en prepared. The coordinated PyPh ligand in 1a and 1b is activated by the m etal toward electrophilic substitution at the phenyl ring. Nitration occurs in both the phenyl 4- and 6-positions of 1a or 1b, i.e., ortho and para to the metal, to give M(eta(2)-PyPh-4,6-(NO2)(2))Cl(CO)(PPh3)(2) (M = Ru (5a) ; M = Os (5b)). Under appropriate conditions the mono-nitrated derivative, Os(eta(2)-PyPh-4-NO2)Cl(CO)(PPh3)(2) (5c), can also be isolated. Brominatio n of 1a or 1b occurs in the phenyl 4-position, i.e., para to the metal, to give M(eta(2)-PyPh-4-Br)Cl(CO)(PPh3)(2) (M = Ru (6a); M = Os (6b)). With ex cess brominating agent (([PyrH][Br-3]) and a longer reaction time the unusu al mixed triphenylphosphine/pyridine complex, Os(eta(2)-PyPh-4-Br)Cl(CO)(Py r)(PPh3) (6c) (Pyr = pyridine), is formed. The brominated osmium substrate (6b) can be lithiated through reaction with BuLi. Although this intermediat e has not been isolated, further treatment with the electrophiles CO2/H+ or Bu3SnCl forms Os(eta(2)-PyPh-4-CO2H)Cl(CO)(PPh3)(2) (7a) or Os(eta(2)-PyPh -4-SnBu3)Cl(C O)(PPh3)(2) (7b), respectively. The functionalized pyridylphe nyl ligand in 6a can be removed by heating with acid, to give 2'-(3-bromoph enyl)pyridine, in modest isolated yield. The structure s of [Os(eta(2)-PyPh )(CO)(2)(PPh3)(2)]SbF6 (3b), Os(eta(2)-PyPh)(eta(2)-S-2-CNMe2)(CO)(PPh3) (4 b), Os(eta(2)-PyPh-4-NO2)Cl(CO)(PPh3)(2) (5c), Os(eta(2)-PyPh-4-Br)Cl(CO)(P Ph3)(2) (6b), and Os(eta(2)-PyPh-4-Br)Cl(CO)(Pyr)(PPh3) (6c) have all been determined by X-ray crystal structure analyses.