Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex
Published on: July 27, 2022
Ligand controlled dioxygen oxidation of rhenium nitrosyl complexes
C M Frech1, O Blacque, H W Schmalle
1Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The addition of an excess of phenyldiazomethane to chlorobenzene solutions of the cationic dinitrosyl bisphosphine rhenium(-I) complexes [Re(NO)2(PR3)2][BAr(F)4] (R = Cy 1a, R = (i)Pr 1b) gave the corresponding benzylidene complexes [Re{=CH(C6H5)}(NO)2(PR3)2][BAr(F)4] (2a and 2b) in good yields. The treatment of 2b with dioxygen resulted in the oxidation of one of the nitrosyl ligands into the corresponding eta2-nitrito (3b) and nitrato complexes (4b) both in the solid state and in solution. In the case of the tricyclohexylphosphine derivative 2a the analogous conversion was not observed. A mechanism for the reaction of 2b with O2 is proposed which is based on an initial SET to the O2 molecule and subsequent formation of a peroxynitrite complex followed by the formation of a dinuclear mU-N2O4 intermediate. This in turn would undergo fission of the peroxo bond to afford 3b. A related sequence of steps is anticipated for the transformation of 3b to 4b. Furthermore, a similar mechanism seems reasonable for the seemingly topochemical reaction of 2b to 3b and 4b in the solid state. The initial SET to dioxygen and subsequent formation of the peroxynitrite complex is supported by DFT calculations on the trimethylphosphine model complexes [Re=CH{C6H5})(NO)2(PMe3)2]n+ (n = 1 and 2).
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids
[4+2] Cycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes: Diels–Alder Reaction
ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH3
Diels–Alder Reaction: Characteristics of Dienophiles
Characteristics of Dienophiles
Generally, the best dienophiles are alkenes containing electron-withdrawing substituents such as carbonyl, nitrile, and nitro groups. The feasibility of a Diels–Alder reaction depends on...

