The concerned azoles are 2-(2-pyridyl)benzoxazole (pbo) and 2-(2-pyridyl)benzthiazole (pbt). These react with ReOCl(3)(PPh(3))(2) in benzene, affording Re(V)OCl(3)(pbo) and Re(V)OCl(3)(pbt), which undergo facile oxygen atom transfer to PPh(2)R (R = Ph, Me) in dichloromethane solution, furnishing Re(III)(OPPh(2)R)Cl(3)(pbo) and Re(III)(OPPh(2)R)Cl(3)(pbt). The oxo species react with aniline in toluene solution, yielding the imido complexes Re(V)(NPh)Cl(3)(pbo) and Re(V)(NPh)Cl(3)(pbt). The X-ray structures of pbt, ReOCl(3)(pbt), Re(OPPh(3))Cl(3)(pbt), and Re(NPh)Cl(3)(pbo) are reported. The lattice of pbt consists of stacked dimers. In all the complexes the azole ligand is N,N-chelated and the ReCl(3) moiety is meridionally disposed. In ReOCl(3)(pbt) the metal-oxo bond length is 1.607(9) A. The second-order rates and the associated activation parameters of the oxygen atom transfer reactions of the Re(V)O chelates with PPh(2)R are reported. The large and negative entropy of activation (approximately -24 eu) is consistent with an associative pathway involving nucleophilic phosphine attack. The rate increases with phosphine basicity (PPh(2)Me > PPh(3)) and azole heteroatom electronegativity (O(pbo) > S(pbt)). Logarithmic rate constants for ReOCl(3)(pbo), ReOCl(3)(pbt), and ReOCl(3)(pal) are found to correlate linearly with Re(VI)O/Re(V)O reduction potentials (pal is pyridine-2-(N-p-tolyl)aldimine). The relatively low rate constant of ReOCl(3)(pbt) compared to that of ReOCl(3)(pal) is consistent with the observed shortness of the metal-oxo bond in the former. Crystal data are as follows: (pbt) empirical formula C(12)H(8)N(2)S, crystal system orthorhombic, space group Pca2(1), a = 13.762(9) A, b = 12.952(8) A, c = 11.077(4) A, V = 1974(2) A(3), Z = 8; (ReOCl(3)(pbt)) empirical formula C(12)H(8)Cl(3)N(2)OSRe, crystal system monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 11.174(7) A, b = 16.403(10) A, c = 7.751(2) A, beta = 99.35(4) degrees, V = 1401.8(13) A(3), Z = 4; (Re(NPh)Cl(3)(pbo)) empirical formula C(18)H(13)Cl(3)N(3)ORe, crystal system monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 9.566(6) A, b = 16.082(8) A, c = 11.841(5) A, beta = 94.03(4) degrees, V = 1817(2) A(3), Z = 4.

The concerned azooximes (L1OH, 1) are of type p-X-C6H4C(N2Ph)(NOH) (X = H, Me, Cl). The reaction of [Re(MeCN)Cl3(PPh3)2] with [Ag(L1OH)(L1O)] in cold dichloromethane-acetonitrile solvent has furnished the green colored ionized azoimine complex [ReV(O)Cl(PPh3)2(L1)](PF6), 2. In effect L1O- has undergone oxidative addition, the oxygen atom being transferred to the metal site. Upon treatment of [ReV(NPh)Cl3(PPh3)2] with L1OH in solution, the neutral azoimine complex [ReV(NPh)Cl3(L1H)], 3, resulted due to the spontaneous transfer of the oxime oxygen atom to a PPh3 ligand, which is eliminated as OPPh3. In contrast, the oxime of 2-acetylpyridine (L2OH, 4) did not undergo oxygen atom transfer and simply afforded the imine-oxime complex [ReV(NC6H4Y)Cl2(PPh3)(L2O)], 5, upon reacting with [ReV(NC6H4Y)Cl3(PPh3)2] (Y = H, Me, Cl). The spectral and electrochemical properties of 2, 3, and 5 and the structures of three representative compounds are reported. In the cation of 2 (X = H) the two PPh3 ligands lie trans to each other and the equatorial plane is defined by the five-membered azoimine chelate ring and the oxo and chloro ligands. The oxo ligand which forms a model triple bond (Re-O length 1.616(6) A) lies cis to the imine-N atom. In 3 (X = Cl) the ReCl3 fragment has meridional geometry and the imido nitrogen lies trans to the imine nitrogen of the planar azoimine chelate ring. In 5 x H2O (Y = Me), the Cl, oximato-N, and P atoms define an equatorial plane and the pyridine-N lies trans to the imido-N. The water of crystallization is hydrogen bonded to the oximato oxygen atom (O...O, 2.829(5) A). Reaction models in which chelation of the azooxime precedes oxygen atom transfer are proposed on the basis of oxophilicity of trivalent rhenium, Lewis acid activity of pentavalent rhenium, electron withdrawal by the azo group, and observed relative disposition of ligands in products.

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