Step-by-Step Introduction of Silazane Moieties at Ruthenium: Different Extents of Ru–H–Si Bond Activation

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry Vol. 52; no. 5; pp. 2654 - 2661
• Main Authors: Smart, Katharine A, Grellier, Mary, Vendier, Laure, Mason, Sax A, Capelli, Silvia C, Albinati, Alberto, Sabo-Etienne, Sylviane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 04.03.2013
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Coordination chemistry; Crystallography, X-Ray; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; Organometallic Compounds - chemical synthesis; Organometallic Compounds - chemistry; Organosilicon Compounds - chemistry; Ruthenium - chemistry
• ISSN: 0020-1669; 1520-510X
• DOI: 10.1021/ic302682f

The coordination of pyridine-2-amino(methyl)dimethylsilane ligands to ruthenium has afforded access to a family of novel complexes that display multicenter Ru–H–Si interactions according to the number of incorporated ligands. The new complexes Ru[κ-Si,N-(SiMe2)N(Me)(C5H4N)](η4-C8H12)(η3-C8H11) (1), Ru2(μ-H)2(H)2[κ-Si,N-(SiMe2)N(Me)(C5H4N)]4 (2), and Ru(H)[κ-Si,N-(SiMe2)N(Me)(C5H4N)]3 (3) were isolated and fully characterized. The complexes exhibit different degrees of Si–H activation: complete Si–H cleavage, secondary interactions between the atoms (SISHA), and η2-Si–H coordination. Reversible protonation of 3 leading to the cationic complex [RuH{(η2-H-SiMe2)N(Me)κ-N-(C5H4N)}{κ-Si,N-(SiMe2)N(Me)(C5H4N)}2]+[BArF 4]− (5) was also demonstrated. The coordination modes in these systems were carefully studied with a combination of X-ray and neutron diffraction analysis, DFT geometry optimization, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy.