Vaska's complex
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| Vaska's complex | |
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| IUPAC name | (SP-4-1)-carbonylchlorido bis(trimethylphosphane)iridium(I) |
| Other names | Iridium(I)bis(triphenylphosphine) carbonyl chloride Vaska's complex Vaska's compound |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | [14871-41-1] |
| EINECS number | |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | IrCl(CO)[P(C6H5)3]2. |
| Molar mass | 780.25 g/mol |
| Appearance | yellow crystals |
| Density | ? g/cm3, ? |
| Melting point |
215 °C (decomp.) |
| Solubility in water | insol |
| Structure | |
| Coordination geometry |
sq. planar |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | none |
| R-phrases | none |
| S-phrases | 22-24/25 |
| Related compounds | |
| Other anions | IrI(CO)[P(C6H5)3]2 |
| Other cations | RhCl(CO)[P(C6H5)3]2 |
| Related compounds | Pd[P(C6H5)3]4 |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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Vaska's complex is the trivial name for the chemical compound trans-chlorocarbonylbis(triphenylphosphine)iridium(I), which has the formula IrCl(CO)[P(C6H5)3]2. This square planar diamagnetic organometallic complex consists of a central iridium atom bound to two mutually trans triphenylphosphine ligands, carbon monoxide, and a chloride ion. The complex was first reported by Di Luzio and Vaska in 1961.[1] Vaska's complex can undergo oxidative addition and is notable for its ability to bind to O2 reversibly. It is a bright yellow crystalline solid.
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[edit] Preparation
The synthesis involves heating virtually any iridium chloride salt with P(C6H5)3 with a CO source. The most popular method uses dimethylformamide (DMF) as a solvent, and sometimes aniline is added to accelerate the reaction. Another popular solvent is 2-methoxyethanol. The reaction is typically conducted under nitrogen. In the synthesis, triphenylphosphine serves as both a ligand and a reductant, and the carbonyl ligand is derived by decomposition of dimethylformamide, probably via a deinsertion of an intermediate Ir-C(O)H species. The following is a possible balanced equation for this complicated reaction.[2]
- H2IrCl6 + 3.5P(C6H5)3 + HCON(CH3)2 + 4C6H5NH2 + 1.5H2O → IrCl(CO)[P(C6H5)3]2 + (CH3)2NH2+Cl- + 1.5 OP(C6H5)3
Typical sources of iridium used in this preparation are IrCl3.xH2O and H2IrCl6.
[edit] Reactions
Studies on Vaska's complex helped provide the conceptual framework for homogeneous catalysis. Vaska's complex, with 16 valence electrons, is considered "unsaturated" and can thus bind to one two-electron or two one-electron ligands to become electronically saturated with 18 valence electrons. The addition of two one-electron ligands is called oxidative addition. Upon oxidative addition, the oxidation state of the iridium increases from Ir(I) to Ir(III). The four-coordinated square planar arrangement in the starting complex converts to an octahedral, six-coordinate product. Vaska's complex undergoes oxidative addition with conventional oxidants such as halogens, strong acids such as HCl, and other molecules known to react as electrophiles, such as iodomethane (CH3I).
An interesting characteristic of Vaska's complex is that it binds O2 reversibly.
- IrCl(CO)[P(C6H5)3]2 + O2 ⇌ IrCl(CO)[P(C6H5)3]2O2
The dioxygen ligand is bonded to Ir via both oxygen atoms, so-called side-on bonding. In myoglobin and hemoglobin, O2 binds "end-on," attaching to the metal via only one of the two oxygen atoms. The oxygenation reaction is carried out simply by purging a solution of Vaska's complex in toluene with O2, which results in a colour change from yellow to orange. The resulting dioxgen adduct reverts to the parent complex upon heating in boiling benzene solution, or by flushing the solution with an inert gas.
[edit] Spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy can be used to analyse the products of oxidative addition to Vaska's complex because the reactions induce characteristic shifts of the stretching frequency of the coordinated carbon monoxide.[3] These shifts are dependent on the amount of π-back bonding allowed by the newly associated ligands. The CO stretching frequencies for Vaska's complex and oxidatively added ligands have been documented in the literature.[4]
- Vaska's Complex: 1967 cm-1
- Vaska's + O2: 2015 cm-1
- Vaska's + MeI: 2047 cm-1
- Vaska's + I2: 2067 cm-1
Oxidative addition to give Ir(III) products reduces the π-bonding from Ir to C, which causes the increase in the frequency of the carbonyl stretching band. The stretching frequency change depends upon the ligands that have been added, but the frequency is always greater than 2000 cm-1 for an Ir(III) complex.
[edit] References
- ^ L. Vaska and J.W. DiLuzio (1961). "Carbonyl and Hydrido-Carbonyl Complexes of Iridium by Reaction with Alcohols. Hydrido Complexes by Reaction with Acid". Journal of the American Chemical Society 83: 2784-5. doi:.
- ^ Girolami, G.S.; Rauchfuss, T.B.; Angelici, R.J. Synthesis and Technique in Inorganic Chemistry, Third ed.; University Science Books.: Sausalito, 1999, pp190. ISBN 0935702482.
- ^ Vaska, L.; John W. DiLuzio, J. W. (1962). "Activation of Hydrogen by a Transition Metal Complex at Normal Conditions Leading to a Stable Molecular Dihydride". Journal of the American Chemical Society 84: 679 - 680. doi:.
- ^ Crabtree, R. The Organometallic Chemistry of the Transition Metals; Third Ed.; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: Canada, 2001, pp152.
