Superbasic amidine monodentate ligands in fac-[Re(CO)3(5,5'-Me2bipy)(amidine)]BF4 complexes: dependence of amidine configuration on the remote nitrogen substituents.

Addition of various RNH(2) to fac-[Re(CO)(3)(5,5'-Me(2)bipy)(CH(3)CN)]BF(4) (1) converts the acetonitrile ligand to the amidine ligand (a superbase) in fac-[Re(CO)(3)(5,5'-Me(2)bipy)(HNC(CH(3))NHR)]BF(4) products. Each complex has four conceivable isomers (E, E', Z, and Z') because the amidine CN bonds have double-bond character, and the two remote NHR group substituents are different. The reaction of 1 in acetonitrile is complete in 6 to 96 h (25 degrees C) and forms fac-[Re(CO)(3)(5,5'-Me(2)bipy)(HNC(CH(3))NHR)]BF(4) E' and Z isomers. Only the E' isomer formed crystals (R = methyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, and benzyl). Upon dissolution of such crystals in acetonitrile-d(3), NMR spectra with highly dominant E' signals gradually changed (approximately 15 min at room temperature) to spectra with signals for an equilibrium mixture of E' and Z isomers. Such slow E'-to-Z isomer interchange is also indicated by 2D ROESY NMR data used primarily to assign solution structure. Equilibrium ratios (E':Z) of approximately 65:35 for R = methyl, isopropyl, and isobutyl and 83:17 for R = tert-butyl demonstrate that increasing the remote NHR group steric bulk above a threshold size favors the E' isomer. Consistent with this trend, fac-[Re(CO)(3)(5,5'-Me(2)bipy)(HNC(CH(3))NH(2))]BF(4), with a remote NH(2) (low bulk) group, favors the Z isomer. In contrast, although the remote NH(benzyl) group in fac-[Re(CO)(3)(5,5'-Me(2)bipy)(HNC(CH(3))NH(CH(2)C(6)H(5))]BF(4) has only moderate bulk, the E' isomer has high abundance as a result of favorable 5,5'-Me(2)bipy/benzyl stacking, evidence for which is present in both solid and solution states. The fac-[Re(CO)(3)(5,5'-Me(2)bipy)(HNC(CH(3))NHR)]BF(4) E isomer can be detected in solvents of low polarity. However, the Z' isomer was not observed, undoubtedly because unfavorable remote-group clashes with the equatorial ligands destabilize this isomer. Challenge studies with a 5-fold excess of 4-dimethylaminopyridine in acetonitrile-d(3) establish that fac-[Re(CO)(3)(5,5'-Me(2)bipy)(HNC(CH(3))NHCH(CH(3))(2))]BF(4) is robust because the isopropylamidine ligand was not displaced, consistent with the superbase character of amidine ligands.