Osmium assisted C–H activation and Cdouble bond; length as m-dashN cleavage of N-(2′-hydroxyphenyl) benzaldimines. Synthesis, structure and electrochemical properties of some organoosmium complexes

Reaction of N-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-4-R-benzaldimines (L-R, R = OCH3, CH3, H, Cl and NO2) with [Os(PPh3)3Br2] in refluxing 2-methoxyethanol in the presence of triethylamine affords two families of organoosmium complexes (1-R and 2-R). In both 1-R and 2-R complexes a benzaldimine ligand is coordinated to the metal center as tridentate C,N,O-donor. In the 1-R complexes, a bidentate N,O-donor imionsemiquinonate ligand, derived from the hydrolysis of another benzaldimine, and a PPh3 ligand are also coordinated to osmium. In the 2-R complexes, a carbonyl, derived from decarbonylation of 4-R-benzaldehyde (derived from the same hydrolysis stated above), and two PPh3 ligands take up the remaining coordination sites on osmium. Structures of the 1-Cl and 2-OCH3 complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. All the 1-R and 2-R complexes are diamagnetic, and show characteristic 1H NMR signals and intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on the 1-R complexes shows a reversible Os(III)–Os(IV) oxidation within 0.47–0.67 V (vs SCE), followed by an irreversible oxidation of the imionsemiquinonate ligand within 1.10–1.36 V. An irreversible Os(III)–Os(II) reduction is also displayed by the 1-R complexes within −1.02 to −1.14 V. Cyclic voltammetry on the 2-R complexes shows a reversible Os(II)–Os(III) oxidation within 0.29–0.51 V, followed by a quasi-reversible oxidation within 1.04–1.29 V, and an irreversible reduction of the coordinated benzaldimine ligand within −1.16 to −1.31 V.