Ligand-controlled synthesis of vanadium(I) β-diketiminates and their catalysis in cyclotrimerization of alkynes

Three dimeric vanadium(I) β-diketiminates [V{μ-(η(6)-ArN)C(Me)CHC(Me)C(N-Ar)}](2) (Ar = 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3) (2), 2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3) (3), 9-anthracenyl (4)) were prepared and isolated upon reduction of their corresponding dichloro precursors VCl(2)(Nacnac). Compounds 2-4 all show a structure with each vanadium atom being η(2) bonded to the β-diketiminate framework and η(6) bonded to a flanking ring of a β-diketiminato ligand, attached to the other vanadium centre within the dimer. No metal-metal bonding interactions are observed in these dimers due to long vanadium-vanadium separations. Compounds 2-4 display an antiferromagnetic exchange between the two vanadium centres. An imido azabutadienyl complex (η(2)-PhCC(H)C(Ph)NC(6)H(3)-2,6-(i)Pr(2))VN(C(6)H(3)-2,6-(i)Pr(2))(OEt(2)) (5) was isolated from the reduction of VCl(2)(HC(C(Ph)NC(6)H(3)-2,6-(i)Pr(2))(2)) by KC(8). Compounds 2-4 and the inverted-sandwich divanadium complex (μ-η(6):η(6)-C(6)H(5)Me)[V(HC(C(Me)NC(6)H(3)-2,6-(i)Pr(2))(2))](2) (1) reduce Ph(2)S(2) to give two vanadium dithiolates V(SPh)(2)[(HC(C(Me)NC(6)H(3)-2,6-R(2))(2))] (R = Et (6), (i)Pr (7)) through an oxidative addition. Most notably, 1 and 3 catalyze the cyclotrimerization of alkynes, giving tri-substituted benzenes in good yields and a 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene coordinated intermediate 8 was isolated and characterized.