C–F or C–H bond activation and C–C coupling reactions of fluorinated pyridines at rhodium: synthesis, structure and reactivity of a variety of tetrafluoropyridyl complexes

Reactions of [RhH(PEt3)3] (1) or [RhH(PEt3)4] (2) with pentafluoropyridine or 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoropyridine afford the activation product [Rh(4-C5NF4)(PEt3)3] (3). Treatment of 3 with CO, 13CO or CNtBu effects the formation of trans-[Rh(4-C5NF4)(CO)(PEt3)2] (4a), trans-[Rh(4-C5NF4)(13CO)(PEt3)2] (4b) and trans-[Rh(4-C5NF4)(CNtBu)(PEt3)2] (5). The rhodium(III) compounds trans-[RhI(CH3)(4-C5NF4)(PEt3)2] (6a) and trans-[RhI(13CH3)(4-C5NF4)(PEt3)2] (6b) are accessible on reaction of 3 with CH3I or 13CH3I. In the presence of CO or 13CO these complexes convert into trans-[RhI(CH3)(4-C5NF4)(CO)(PEt3)2] (7a), trans-[RhI(13CH3)(4-C5NF4)(CO)(PEt3)2] (7b) and trans-[RhI(13CH3)(4-C5NF4)(13CO)(PEt3)2] (7c). The trans arrangement of the carbonyl and methyl ligand in 7a-7c has been confirmed by the 13C-13C coupling constant in the 13C NMR spectrum of 7c. A reaction of 4a or 4b with CH3I or 13CH3I yields the acyl compounds trans-[RhI(COCH3)(4-C5NF4)(PEt3)2] (8a) and trans-[RhI(13CO13CH3)(4-C5NF4)(PEt3)2] (8b), respectively. Complex 8a slowly reacts with more CH3I to give [PEt3Me][Rh(I)2(COCH3)(4-C5NF4)(PEt3)](9). On heating a solution of 7a, the complex trans-[RhI(CO)(PEt3)2] (10) and the C-C coupled product 4-methyltetrafluoropyridine (11) have been obtained. Complex 8a also forms 10 at elevated temperatures in the presence of CO together with the new ketone 4-acetyltetrafluoropyridine (12). The structures of the complexes 3, 4a, 5, 6a, 8a and 9 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. 19F-1H HMQC NMR solution spectra of 6a and 8a reveal a close contact of the methyl groups in the phosphine to the methyl or acyl ligand bound at rhodium.