Transition-metal allyl complex
Transition-metal allyl complexes are coordination complexes with allyl and its derivatives as ligands. Allyl is the radical with the connectivity CH2CHCH2, although as a ligand it is usually viewed as an allyl anion CH2=CH−CH2−, which is usually described as two equivalent resonance structures.
![](../I/m/-AllPdCl-2.png)
Examples and their syntheses
The allyl ligand is commonly in organometallic chemistry. Most commonly, allyl ligands bind to metals via all three carbon centers, the η3-binding mode. An example of a homoleptic allyl complex is Ir(η3-allyl)3.[1] More common are complexes with allyl and other ligands. Examples include (η3-allyl)Mn(CO)4 and CpPd(allyl).
Allyl complexes are often generated by oxidative addition of allylic halides to low-valent metal complexes. This route is used to prepare (allyl)2Ni2Cl2:[2][3]
- 2 Ni(CO)4 + 2 ClCH2CH=CH2 → Ni2(μ-Cl)2(η3-C3H5)2 + 8 CO
Other methods of synthesis involve addition of nucleophiles to η4-diene complexes and hydride abstraction from alkene complexes. Lastly allyl ligands are produced by salt metathesis reactions starting with allyl Grignard and allyl lithium reagents.
Chelating bis(allyl) complexes
![](../I/m/ChelBis(allyl)cmpx.png)
1,3-Dienes such as butadiene and isoprene dimerize in the coordination spheres of some metals, giving chelating bis(allyl) complexes. Such complexes also arise from ring-opening of divinylcyclobutane. Chelating bis(allyl) complexes are intermediates in the metal-catalyzed dimerization of butadiene to give vinylcyclohexene and cyclooctadiene.[4]
Sigma-allyl
Complexes with η1-allyl ligands are also known. One example is CpFe(CO)2(η1-allyl) where only the methylene group is attached to the Fe centre. Such compounds often convert to the η3-allyl derivatives by dissociation of a ligand:
- CpFe(CO)2(η1-allyl) → CpFe(CO)(η3-allyl) + CO
Benzyl complexes
![](../I/m/QIGLEZ.svg.png)
Benzyl and allyl ligands often exhibit similar chemical properties. Benzyl commonly adopt either η1 or η3 bonding modes. The interconversion reactions parallel those of η1- or η3-allyl ligands:
- CpFe(CO)2(η1-CH2Ph) → CpFe(CO)(η3-CH2Ph) + CO
In all bonding modes, the benzylic carbon is more strongly attached to the metal as indicated by M-C bond distances, which differ by ca. 0.2 Å in η3-bonded complexes.[6] X-ray crystallography demonstrate that the benzyl ligands in tetrabenzylzirconium are highly flexible. One polymorph features four η2-benzyl ligands, whereas another polymorph has two η1- and two η2-benzyl ligands.[5]
Applications
In terms of applications, a popular allyl complex is allyl palladium chloride.[7] Allyl ligands are susceptible to nucleophilic addition, which can be useful in organic synthesis.[8]
References
- Kevin D. John; Judith L. Eglin; Kenneth V. Salazar; R. Thomas Baker; Alfred P. Sattelberger (2014). "Tris(Allyl)Iridium and -Rhodium". Inorganic Syntheses: Volume 36. Inorganic Syntheses. 36. p. 165. doi:10.1002/9781118744994.ch32. ISBN 9781118744994.
- Martin F. Semmelhack and Paul M. Helquist (1988). "Reaction of Aryl Halides with π-Allylnickel Halides: Methallylbenzene". Organic Syntheses.; Collective Volume, 6, p. 722
- Craig R. Smith, Aibin Zhang, Daniel J. Mans, T. V. Rajanbabu (2008). "(R)-3-methyl-3-phenyl-1-pentene Via Catalytic Asymmetric Hydrovinylation". Org. Synth. 85: 248–266. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.085.0248. PMC 2723857. PMID 19672483.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- Hirano, Masafumi; Sakate, Yumiko; Komine, Nobuyuki; Komiya, Sanshiro; Wang, Xian-qi; Bennett, Martin A. (2011). "Stoichiometric Regio- and Stereoselective Oxidative Coupling Reactions of Conjugated Dienes with Ruthenium(0). A Mechanistic Insight into the Origin of Selectivity". Organometallics. 30 (4): 768–777. doi:10.1021/om100956f.
- Rong, Yi; Al-Harbi, Ahmed; Parkin, Gerard (2012). "Highly Variable Zr–CH2–Ph Bond Angles in Tetrabenzylzirconium: Analysis of Benzyl Ligand Coordination Modes". Organometallics. 31pages=8208–8217. doi:10.1021/om300820b.
- Trost, Barry M.; Czabaniuk, Lara C. (2014). "Structure and Reactivity of Late Transition Metal η3-Benzyl Complexes". Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 53: 2826–2851. doi:10.1002/anie.201305972.
- Tatsuno, Y.; Yoshida, T.; Otsuka, S. "(η3-allyl)palladium(II) Complexes" Inorganic Syntheses, 1990, volume 28, pages 342-345. ISBN 0-471-52619-3
- Hartwig, J. F. Organotransition Metal Chemistry, from Bonding to Catalysis; University Science Books: New York, 2010. ISBN 189138953X