Synthesis, NMR Study, and Reactivity of Isomeric Early−Late Heterobimetallic Dihydrides. X-ray Crystal Structure of (PPh₃)HRu(μ-H)(μ-PMe₂C₅Me₄)₂(μ-Cl)ZrCl

The new isomeric ruthenium/zirconium dihydrides of the formula (PPh(3))HRuH(-PMe(2)Cp)(2)ClZrCl (1, 2) (Cp = C(5)Me(4)) have been characterized by elemental analysis and NMR ((1)H, (31)P and (1)H relaxation data). Complex 1, stabilized by Cl and H bridges, has been isolated from the room temperature reaction between RuH(2)(H(2))(PPh(3))(3) and (PMe(2)Cp)(2)ZrCl(2). The X-ray crystallographic study of 1 revealed a bimetallic complex. The six-coordinate Ru atom and the five-coordinate Zr atom are held together by two bifunctional phosphinocyclopentadienyl ligands and by H and Cl bridges. Crystal data for 1: monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, a = 13.901(2) Å, b = 18.205(6) Å, c = 16.633(3) Å, beta = 92.43(1) degrees, V = 4206 Å(3), Z = 4, d(calc) = 1.472 g cm(-)(3), R(F) = 0.056, R(w)(F) = 0.058. Complex 2 with two H bridges and terminal Cl ligands at Ru and Zr has been obtained by an irreversible isomerization of 1 in the presence of HNEt(3)BPh(4). This transformation has been proposed to occur through slow protonation of one of the phosphorus ligands with the five-coordinate Ru center formed by undergoing rapid pseudorotation. Complexes 1 and 2 do not react with H(2), N(2), or 3,3-dimethyl-but-1-ene. Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of NaHBEt(3) in C(6)D(6) gives a mixture of new trihydrides (PPh(3))HRu(-Cl)(-H)(-PMe(2)Cp)(2)ZrH (3) and (PPh(3))HRu(-H)(2)(-PMe(2)Cp)(2)ZrCl (4). Complex 3 transforms to 4 upon standing in solution for a period of several days. Under the same conditions, complex 2 leads smoothly to trihydride 4. Both trihydrides are new and have been characterized by (1)H, (31)P NMR, and (1)H NMR relaxation data. Complexes 1 and 4 are fluxional in solution at room temperature, showing hydride exchange between the terminal and bridging positions. The variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectra allowed determinations of the DeltaG() values of 16.4 (313 K, THF-d(8)) and 13.5 kcal/mol (295 K, toluene-d(8)) for the exchange in complexes 1 and 4, respectively. Possible exchange mechanisms have been discussed. Complex 2 is rigid on the NMR time scale.