Photochemical activation of [(PNNH)Rh(N3)] (PNNH = 6-di-(tert-butyl)phosphinomethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) complex 2 produced the paramagnetic (S = 1/2), [(PNN)Rh=N(·)-Rh(PNN)] complex 3 (PNN(-) = methylene-deprotonated PNNH), which could be crystallographically characterized. Spectroscopic investigation of 3 indicates a predominant nitridyl radical ((·)N(2-)) character, which was confirmed computationally. Complex 3 reacts selectively with CO, producing two equivalents of [(PNN)Rh(I)(CO)] complex 4, presumably by nitridyl radical N,N-coupling.

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A question of coordination mode: Two new borane compounds are prepared. They act as bifunctional ligands as illustrated by their reaction with ruthenium polyhydrides which leads to the formation of two complexes (see scheme) displaying either a delta-agostic interaction of a eta(2)-B-H bond involving a trivalent boron atom or a dihydroborate ligation.

The first examples of reactivity at the backbone of a bidentate PN-ligand L1H relevant to N-H activation are described, leading to novel Pd(II) and Cu(I) amido complexes. Activation of the PN-ligand backbone led to selective dearomatization of the pyridyl ring structure. In the case of Pd(II), the intermediate could be efficiently stabilized using PMe(3). Selective N-H bond cleavage of e.g. trifluorosulfonylamide resulted in facile formation of mononuclear metal-amido species 2 and 4, which have been crystallographically characterized. Hydrogen-bonding dimerization is observed in these solid state structures. The results obtained with these structurally versatile and reactive scaffolds likely open up new avenues in cooperative catalysis.

The first example of an iridium(I) species bearing a terminal phosphido (PR(2)(-)) ligand is reported. This stable compound shows well-behaved reactivity toward various electrophiles, owing to its exposed phosphorus lone pair, allowing reversible protonation, selective alkylation, isolation of a phosphidoborane of iridium, and generation of a phosphido-bridged iridium(I)-gold(I) dinuclear species.