The reaction of amidinato(pyridine) complexes of molybdenum and tungsten with triethylborane adduct of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC · BEt3): Investigation on the reactivity of NHC · BEt3 as carbene precursor toward transition metal complexes

Abstract The reaction of triethylborane adduct of N -heterocyclic carbene, NHC · BEt 3 , (NHC = I i Pr = 1,3-diisopropylimidazol-2-ylidene (I i Pr · BEt 3 ; 1a ), NHC = IMes = 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMes · BEt 3 ; 1b )), which was prepared by the reaction of the corresponding imidazolium salt with one equivalent of LiBEt 3 H, with amidinato(pyridine) complex, [M(η 3 -allyl){η 2 -(NPh) 2 CH}(CO) 2 (NC 5 H 5 )] (M = Mo; 2-Mo M = W; 2-W ), was investigated. The reaction of compound 1 with complex 2 under toluene-reflux conditions resulted in the formation of carbene complex [M(η 3 -allyl){η 2 -(NPh) 2 CH}(CO) 2 (NHC)] (M = Mo, NHC = I i Pr; 3a-Mo , M = Mo, NHC = IMes; 3b-Mo , M = W, NHC = I i Pr; 3a-W , M = W, NHC = IMes; 3b-W ). These complexes were characterized spectroscopically as well as by X-ray analyses. Complex 3a-Mo was formed in various solvents such as 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), 1,2-dichloroethane, and acetonitrile under refluxing conditions for 3 h. In toluene, 3a-Mo was obtained in a good yield by heating at 70 °C for only 20 min. Employment of NHC · BEt 3 ( 1 ) was found to afford convenient route for the introduction of the carbene ligand to the transition metal complexes.