C−H Activation and Functionalization of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons by Transition-Metal Boryl Complexes

Transition-metal boryl complexes of the form Cp'Fe(CO)LBcat and (CO)5MBcat, where Cp' = C5H5, C5Me5, M = Mn, Re, L = CO, PMe3, and cat = 1,2-O2C6H4, were synthesized by reaction of ClBcat with [Cp'Fe(CO)L]- or [M(CO)5]-. X-ray crystal structures of CpFe(CO)2Bcat, Cp*Fe(CO)2Bcat, and (CO)5MnBcat were obtained. Upon irradiation, these metal boryl complexes reacted with arenes and alkenes to form aryl- and vinylboronate ester products in moderate to high yields. Monosubstituted arenes with methyl, chloro, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, and dimethylamino substituents were used as substrates, and the resulting ratios of ortho- to meta- to para-substituted arene products were measured. No significant electronic effects were observed, indicating that the chemistry is not occurring through a typical electrophilic aromatic substitution pathway. Competition experiments between toluene and other substituted arenes were conducted. Reactivity differences were small, but anisole was found to have the fastest rate of reaction. Kinetic isotope effects were measured for the reaction of CpFe(CO)2Bcat, (CO)5MnBcat, or (CO)5ReBcat with benzene/benzene-d6 mixtures and were found to be 3.3 ± 0.4, 2.1 ± 0.1, and 5.4 ± 0.4, respectively. This difference in isotope effect along with differences in selectivities with substituted arsenic reagents rules out a mechanism by which a common free Bcat radical attacks free substrate. Several experiments were also conducted to probe for CO loss. A 13CO-labeling experiment, CO inhibition experiment, and PMe3 trapping experiment indicate that the mechanism most likely proceeds through irreversible CO loss to form a 16-electron intermediate. Functionalization of alkenes to form vinylboronate esters was also observed, and mechanistic studies showed the absence of a measurable kinetic isotope effect for reaction of CpFe(CO)2Bcat or (CO)5ReBcat with ethylene/ethylene-d4 mixtures or for reaction with ethylene-d2.