Irradiation of CpRh(PMe3)(C2H4) (1; Cp = η5-C5H5) in the presence of pentafluoropyridine
in hexane solution at low
temperature yields an isolable η2-C,C-coordinated pentafluoropyridine complex, CpRh(PMe3)(η2-C,C-C5NF4) (2). The molecular structure of 2 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, showing coordination
by C3–C4, unlike previous structures of pentafluoropyridine
complexes that show N-coordination. Corresponding experiments with
2,3,5,6-tetrafluoropyridine yield the C–H oxidative addition
product CpRh(PMe3)(C5NF4)H (3). In contrast, UV irradiation of 1 in hexane,
in the presence of 4-substituted tetrafluoropyridines C5NF4X, where X = NMe2, OMe, results in elimination
of C2H4 and HF to form the metallacycles CpRh(PMe3)(κ2-C,C-CH2N(CH3)C5NF3) (4) and CpRh(PMe3)(κ2-C,C-CH2OC5NF3) (5), respectively. The
X-ray structure of 4 shows a planar RhCCNC-five-membered
ring. Complexes 2–5 may also be formed
by thermal reaction of CpRh(PMe3)(Ph)H with the respective
pyridines at 50 °C.