The purple osmabenzene complex Os(C5H4{SMe-1})(CF3SO3)(CO)(PPh3)2 (1) is formed in high yield through reaction between Os(C5H4{S-1})(CO)(PPh3)2 and methyl triflate.
The neutral blue osmabenzenes Os(C5H4{SMe-1})(cis-X)(CO)(PPh3)2 (X = I (2a), Cl (2b), SCN (2c), CF3CO2 (2d)) are readily obtained through treatment
of 1 with the appropriate anion X−.
In these complexes the geometry about osmium is approximately octahedral,
with the two PPh3 ligands being mutually trans and X being
cis to the SMe-substituted carbon of the metallabenzene ring. When
solutions of 2a in benzene are heated under reflux, the
I and CO ligands interchange positions and the brown isomeric osmabenzene
Os(C5H4{SMe-1})(trans-I)(CO)(PPh3)2 (3a) is formed. However, if a solution
of either 2a or 3a is heated under reflux
in toluene, the metal-bound carbon atoms of the osmabenzene fragment
couple and a mixture of the two cyclopentadienyl complexes [Os(η5-C5H4SMe)(CO)(PPh3)2]I (4a) and Os(η5-C5H4SMe)I(CO)(PPh3) (5a) is formed. Heating
solutions of 2b−d is not a viable
route to the corresponding brown isomers of these compounds, because
cyclopentadienyl products are formed directly. In the case of 2b a mixture of the cyclopentadienyl complexes [Os(η5-C5H4SMe)(CO)(PPh3)2]Cl (4b) and Os(η5-C5H4SMe)Cl(CO)(PPh3) (5b) is formed, while
in the case of 2c [Os(η5-C5H4SMe)(CO)(PPh3)2]SCN (4c) and Os(η5-C5H4SMe)(SCN)(CO)(PPh3) (5c) are formed. In contrast, [Os(η5-C5H4SMe)(CO)(PPh3)2](CF3CO2) (4d) is the only cyclopentadienyl
complex formed on heating solutions of 2d. The brown
osmabenzene isomers Os(C5H4{SMe-1})(trans-X)(CO)(PPh3)2 (X = Cl (3b), SCN (3c), CF3CO2 (3d)) are accessible through treatment of 3a with
AgCF3SO3, followed by addition of the appropriate
anion X−. Heating the brown isomers 3a,b under the same conditions gives the same mixture
of cyclopentadienyl complexes that are formed when 2a,b, respectively, are heated. However, 3c,d are resistant to thermal rearrangement and remain
unchanged when heated under reflux in toluene. The crystal structures
of 2c, 3c, 4d, and 5a have been obtained.