Molybdenum complexes bearing a diaminosubstituted-phosphiteboryl ligand: Syntheses, structures, and reactivity involving the Mo–B, B–P, and B–H activation

Photoreaction of diaminosubstituted-phosphiteborane, BH3P(NMeCH2)2(OMe) with a methyl molybdenum complex, (η5-C5R5)Mo(CO)3Me (R5 = Me5, Me4H, H5) yielded a phosphiteboryl molybdenum complex, (η5-C5R5)Mo(CO)3BH2{P(NMeCH2)2(OMe)} (R5 = Me5: 2, Me4H: 3, H5: 4). In the reaction of 2 with MeI, the Mo–B bond was activated to give (η5-C5Me5)Mo(CO)3Me, in the reaction with PMe3, the B–P bond was activated to give (η5-C5Me5)Mo(CO)3(BH2PMe3). Complex 2 in solution was gradually converted into (η5-C5Me5)MoH(CO)2{P(NMeCH2)2(OMe)} (8) via the B–H bond activation of 2. Structures of 2, 3, and 8 were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.